In response to ‘A Losing Strategy’, I was wondering why you think God allows Satan to persecute and afflict believers? I have read somewhere that the devil has to ask God’s permission to attack a believer , so why would God grant it? I also know that God will not allow suffering beyond one’s ability to deal with it.

When discussing Jacob’s wrestle with the angel, a well known preacher concluded that God afflicts us in order to bless us. Does this mean that the reason God allows us to suffer is to show loving discipline? If this is true then why does he allow affliction when discipline is not needed for instance in the case of abuse or rape. I believe in an all powerful God so why can he not protect those who place their trust in Him?

I have read with dismay several news articles this week suggesting the possibility of PM Ehud Olmert giving away the Temple Mount to the Palestinians. My question is this: From a Scriptural, prophetic viewpoint, would the LORD allow the temple mount to be given away?

I was wondering what you knew about the secret meetings of the North American Union. I heard on a Christian radio program a guy was talking about how the NAU and the other Unions around the world could make up the 10 horns? I hope you understand what I am talking about because I am not sure I do.

If a couple have been married for over 50 years, and have been faithful and loving toward each other, but the husband is not a believer (although he has said he ‘would like to believe, as everything would make sense then’) and the wife is a believer, are they to be separated at death, and one go to heaven while the other goes to hell?

How could God do that? Surely what he has joined together should not be ‘put asunder’? How could the wife ever be happy in heaven knowing that her husband with whom she shared her whole life and who she loved with all their heart has gone to hell simply because he could not believe?

These people are my dear parents. I am a born-again Christian living in the same house with them. I pray frequently for them. Surely, surely, God in all his love and mercy could not, would not separate them for all eternity after death…….????

Your thoughts on this would be most welcome, as it is causing me great concern.

My mother was raised as a Catholic and feels that it is the one true church and is upset that we (her children) have turned to Bible based churches. My biggest concern is her praying to Mary and her siblings veneration of Mary. They travel to Lourdes every year to pray and bring home holy water She has started reading the bible, but interprets it as she feels the Catholic church believes. She is afraid that if the Catholic Church is wrong then her parents and family may not be saved…so I believe that fear is keeping her prisoner to these beliefs. I would love for her to have peace and unconditional love in her life Do you have any suggestions?

I was on a website you recommended and read an article by E.W. Bullinger on The Rich Man and Lazarus. An Intermediate state? He says that when we die our body goes into the grave and our spirit falls into a sleep mode and won’t be awakened until the Rapture when it will be rejoined with our body.

I have always understood that when we die our spirit goes immediately into the presence of the Lord. Jesus told the thief on the cross that today you will be with me in Paradise. Like wise 2nd Corinthians states that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

What do you think happens to our spirit when we die? If it goes to be with the lord do we have a temporary body and what do we do There while here on earth the church is waiting for the rapture.

This week, I watched a report about the Stigmata, where certain pious Catholics exhibit wounds in the palms of their hands and feet, mimicking Christ’s wounds while He was being crucified. I can’t find any scriptural evidence on this. I am skeptical of these “signs and wonders”. Please share your thoughts on this.

I’ve been wondering about this for a while now – is there a difference between directly lying to someone and tricking them? There must be, because didn’t God essentially trick Satan when Jesus was crucified? Perhaps I’m misinterpreting the situation.

On a similar note, would “covering up evidence” be a form of lying, as well? For example, deleting one’s history on an internet browser.

What verses in the Bible state that a man and woman (involved in a relationship) should not live together before they are married? While it would obviously be sinful if they were sexually involved with each other, what if they weren’t?

I remember reading about a verse that admonished such a thing, but in reading some of your answers regarding cohabitation, it seems as though you defined it as sinful when the partners were active with each other.

Comparing James 5: 1-3 with Ezekiel 7: 19 , It seems the world money system will crash, with people throwing their silver in the streets. This is linked to God’s wrath in Ezekiel. Do you think that the ultimate economic crash will then be reserved for the tribulation period ?