I always taught and thought the anti-Christ would be revealed at the signing of the peace treaty between himself and the leader of Israel. And that the rapture would take place right before. And that the first 3 1/2 years of the anti’s rule would be peaceful, then he would be indwelt by Satan for the last 3 1/2 years of the Great Tribulation. Where am I going wrong?

First I just want to thank you and say how much your site has meant to me, your answers are always well thought out and clear up a lot of difficult scriptures. Revelation 22:2 shows the river flowing down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. What is the meaning of the leaves of the tree of life for the healing of the nations? Aren’t we all in our new bodies and all the curses are gone? Aren’t we in the new heaven new earth and new Jerusalem? Thanks again for any insight you can provide.

Thank you for your devotion to the saints! My lastest question has to do with our(my wife & me) attendance at church. We have been having trouble with finding a church in our area that preaches sound doctrine. So many churches have gone over to the emergent/purpose-driven camp, and we cannot sit there, or serve in an apostate church, so we’ve been meeting in our home.

My parents tell me that I’m falling away from the faith, but I study and pray every day, throughout much of the day (I’m a disabled vet). They attend what we believe to be one of those churches mentioned above (amillennial). I’ve asked them why they attend that church, and they said, “for the fellowship”. They don’t mind that the church leadership doesn’t preach sound, Biblical doctrine.

My thoughts are on God’s word, His love for me, and seek His will for my life continually. They want me to go to any church, because of Hebrews 10:25, but I believe it is our responsibility to attend the right church. What thoughts could I convey to my parents, so they would understand? Thanks!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:3 Paul states that when they say peace and safety then sudden destruction will come. Is this referring to the beginning of the Tribulation, or the middle of the 7 years? And if it is in the beginning wouldn’t the fighting have to stop for a while before a surprise attack?

Most Bible scholars believe that the feast of Pentecost was fulfilled by the establishment of the church. I believe Christ must fulfill all the feasts while He is on earth like He did for Passover, Unleavened Bread, and First-fruits. If Christ left 10 days before Pentecost, how did He fulfill the feast? I don’t buy He did it by sending the Holy Spirit because He said ” I will pray to the Father and He will send the Holy Spirit.” I also believe the Rapture is represented in the Old Testament in Exodus chapter 19 and that will be how Christ fulfills the feast. Can you show me where I am wrong?

Can you explain to me how those “left behind” after the rapture will come to a saving knowledge of Christ? 2 Thessalonian 2:6-7 states that He who now restrains will be removed before the man of lawlessness (Antichrist?) is revealed. Many scholars think that “He who now restrains” is the Holy Spirit with the church which will be both removed at the rapture, but then without the Holy Spirit on Earth how can people come to Christ? Also some support the idea that salvation during the tribulation will be a mix of faith + good deeds. If this is so it sounds completely like a new paradigm in which what we now know about the doctrine of salvation will change. Is this “new paradigm” anywhere explained in the Bible?

There is much talk on the Internet about the Nephilim. Most seem to adhere to the idea that they were all physical giants because of the word gigantis which seemed to be transliterated as giants in the KJV. I know there are also mention of giants, probably real giants, in other passages of the Bible, but what do you think of the continuing statement in Genesis 6:4 where it says: …the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown? Could this also mean that some were perhaps just mental giants? I have heard that the fallen angels or perhaps the Nephilim also taught mankind many things. Do you think that maybe all the Nephilim were not physical giants and some might account for these bursts of knowledge?

In your answer to the question regarding the “First Seal and the 7 Year Covenant,” you wrote, “The rider on the white horse (anti-Christ) is bent on conquest, but the fact that he carries a bow with no arrows implies his true intent is hidden. A man with a bow is presumed to have arrows because the bow is useless without them. If you can’t see the arrows it simply means he’s keeping them out of sight.” Where do you see the arrows are hidden in that context?. I would think at that point of the First Seal the anti-Christ isn’t fully armed yet even though he’s bent on destruction. I don’t see “hidden” in the literal interpretation of that passage. What am I missing?

Re: There Is No 7 Year Tribulation. You say there is no 7 year tribulation and the church will go through the world, but not suffer the wrath of God. In Matthew 24, Jesus says in verse 13, whoever endures to the end [of the events in verses 6-12], the same shall be saved. Can you explain how this pertains to tribulation survivors? I believe it does apply to tribulation survivors since church age believers have eternal security, but I just want to know how it pertains to tribulation saints if there is no 7 year tribulation.

How much time do you think will pass between the signing of the 7 year covenant of Daniel 9 and the first seal of Rev. 6?