As I understand scripture and your explanations, it seems that there will be two flights from Jerusalem. First is the immediate flight into the desert to Bosrah/Petra, taking not even a moment to grab a coat, at the news of the Abomination and the start of the Great Tribulation. Then there’ll will be a second flight at the fall of the City during Armageddon. At least three and one-half years must elapse between the two flights to allow time for the Great Tribulation to take place. Am I correct thus far?

Are we told why the rush to escape the city? Should one assume that God will be enraged by the Abomination and begin raining fire, etc. immediately? Should one assume the Elect will be protected during their escape if they have obeyed the command to be quick? Is there a planned, quick get-away, escape route for the first evacuation at that time?

I’ve often heard it said that Satan cannot read minds. The reason, people say, is that it is because he is a created being. But that is no real answer. Since Satan was created by God, seems to me that God could have given him whatever abilities He wanted to, even knowing thoughts. Frankly, though, in most cases, Satan’s intelligence gathering demonic ‘network’ is very likely so efficient that he might seem to know thoughts. So, can Satan know our thoughts or not, and, if not, what is the biblical reason for that stance?

I do not believe the bible addresses this but it’s a valid question and I do not know how to answer it.

Why did God wait 4,000 years to send Jesus and another 2,000 + before bringing things to a close (the close obviously having not happened yet)? Why not have provided the sacrifice up front and wipe out the following 6,000 + years of suffering?

I was taught that Salvation has 3 parts as we have 3 parts (spirit, soul and body as shown in 1 Thess 5:23). When we believed in Christ, our spirit is saved. We have eternal life and will not be in the lake of fire. However, our soul (emotion, mind and will) is slowly being saved by denying oneself and transforming more to be like Christ. Phil. 2:12 says we must work out our own salvation (of the soul) with fear and trembling) as we have to face the judgment seat of Christ when the Lord returns. If we don’t, we will face the outer darkness and not have a part to reign in the millennium kingdom (but only have a part in the new heaven and earth in the new Jerusalem). Our bodies are finally saved when they are transformed at the second coming of Christ. Can I have your comments about this?

In Matthew 11:12, who is taking the kingdom by force, what does this passage mean?? I have tried to find a commentary on it but to no avail.

Some say that 2 Cor. 5:6-8 means we Christians when we die, our spirit will go to be with the Lord. Our bodies and souls (mind, will, emotions) stay asleep until Christ returns at the last trumpet. I am confused as to whether the body with the soul is asleep and the spirit goes to be with the Lord. If the soul is asleep with the body, then what does the spirit do with the Lord and what about those who are alive will be caught up in the air with those who are raised from sleep?

So where do we, and what part of us go, when we die?

I have a friend who thinks we’re already experiencing the seal judgments. I told him that the Tribulation can’t officially start until the covenant is signed and confirmed between Israel and the Antichrist, and that has not happened yet. So the four seals are not in the process of being opened. Nor will they be, until we, the Church, are out of here. I said what we are experiencing now are birth pangs. The seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments won’t commence until the Age of Grace is finished and the last 7 years of the Age of the Law begin. We’ll be in Heaven with Jesus by then. He asked me for the scripture references for the points I made. Any aid you can give me on this will be greatly appreciated.

The gifts of the Spirit in the Bible lists speaking in tongues. Why do only Charismatic type churches practice this gift. Most other churches say it ended, I am confused. Where does it say it ended. The Bible does not say the other gifts ended, why that one?

I have been a Believer for many years (several decades, actually), and have sat under the Church’s teaching on evangelism feeling condemned for not “doing my part” in the Great Commission. To tell you the truth, I can not recall praying with anyone to lead them to the Savior.

Several years ago, I experienced an extreme personal revival through which time I came to love and “thirst” after Jesus like never before. It was like a consuming thing – so intense that I thought that I would explode. While this intensity has subsided (can’t imagine anyone living in that for very long), I have been permanently changed. During that time, the LORD challenged many of my religious ideas, one of which is the carrying out of the “Great Commission”. There are many individuals within the Church who are driven by their gift of evangelism. While every Believer is a Light-bearer and should be ready to give a reason for the hope within them, not all have the gift of evangelism where they see the LORD work them them to bring people to Himself.

I believe that I have a gift of teaching and used to get so frustrated with fellow-Believers that they don’t have a clear understand or love for the Bible. I see now that I was being driven by my gift of teaching in the same manner as the evangelist.

The Church today seems to be in a cycle where the key thrust is to “reach the lost”. I recall that several years ago, the thrust was a deeper relationship with God. Could it be that we Believers tend to emphasize our passion/gifts (whether witnessing, teaching, helps, etc) as the most important function of the Church, leaving each other bruised as a result?

In the parable of the Shrewd Manager in Luke 16, Jesus said in verse 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light.”

Even though the manager was dishonest, he was still commended for his shrewdness.

Is this a gentle, but firm rebuke against Christians (followers, believers) because they are not wisely handling money or because of poor stewardship? Does he suggest that we could “learn” from the ways of the world when it comes to money? Is he suggesting that, we as Christians must be wiser and shrewd in our business dealings? What if we engage in a financial transaction with our family and things don’t work out, do we need to be shrewd with our own family members?