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You responded to a reader that Tribulation people who died from other causes than martyrdom and went to heaven would be asked to “wait a little longer” for deaths to be avenged. I thought, “if there is no time, what does waiting a little longer feel like?” In fact, both my parents are now with God and do they have any concept of time on earth? I thought once we arrived in the New Jerusalem, time was no longer apparent and the time between being saved and dying (my Dad died in 1995) and our arrival, say 40 or 50 years later, would be non existent. How does one understand this?

I’m having a difficult time separating God’s chosen people from God’s elect. I’ve always thought that Israel is God’s “chosen” people, but when we get into verse like cutting short for the Elects sake in Matt. 24 I get a little confused. Is Israel both the “Chosen” and the “Elect” and if so what is a Christian to identify with? I ask this because I find it nearly impossible to convince post-trib believers that the verses in Matt. 24 are only about Israel and the 2nd coming, not the rapture of the church. Is there a way to convince them with scripture that show clearly that Jesus is speaking of Israel and not the church?

Re: Phil. 2:12-13 “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” I read an article where the author uses these verses to deny OSAS. He agrees we are saved by grace and cannot earn or deserve our salvation. But we must do our part to receive and keep it, or else we’ll lose it.

Thanks for your ministry. Recently my 15 year old daughter, who is a Christian, asked me how the various races came to be since we are all descendants of Noah and his sons. Can you shed any Biblical light on this question?

In Matthew chapter 5 Jesus was explaining the physical sins of adultery, murder, etc. Then He explained that even if a man thinks these in his heart he has committed these sins. Was Jesus teaching us to live more purely or was He teaching us that it is impossible to live a sinless life and we need a savior?

Can you help me to understand what happens to the people that lived before Abraham? I understand the difference between the Church and Israel and even the nations as it pertains to end times but where do the Old Testament people before Abraham fit in? If you could expand on this to cover were they will live, New Earth, New Jerusalem, Israel or New Heaven? Also what judgment will they be in the Bema seat, Sheep and the Goats or the Great White Throne?

Yours is my favorite website and I have learned so much from your answers. After reading the questions about miscarriages, it brought up a thought I have often wondered about. Will there be babies in Heaven? Old people? Young people? I once read a comment from a man who said that he believed we would all be the age that Jesus was when he was crucified. His reason for this is that we will have a body just like Jesus. Your thoughts please?

When Jesus was born there was a king called Herod who wanted him dead but when Jesus was on trail Pilate sent him to Herod. I thought Herod died after Jesus was born.

In your article about miscarriage, you wrote, “The Bible says life begins at conception (Psalm 139:13-14) and children under the age of understanding have eternal life (Romans 7:9).” I fail to understand how Romans 7:9 has anything to say about the age of children, or their understanding. Please explain.

If a person is saved once and for all time why does Satan even bother tempting them to sin? Why would he waste his time on something he can’t change?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

(Note: If you haven’t already done so, I suggest reading “Occupy Until I Come” as an introduction to this study.)

Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit,

Would you please address the proper order of prayer? I realize that there was a proper order (or to use the secular term “protocol”) that was observed in the Temple worship. Does a proper order also apply to our prayers? All during the day, I find myself just talking with either God or Jesus without much formality, very much like I talk with my best friends here on earth. Is this being disrespectful to who God and Jesus are? They are too important to me to ever be disrespectful to who they are and what they have done for me.

I read something today that upset me and I would like your opinion on it. I know that you have mentioned that we will all stand before the Bema Seat of Christ for rewards but this is what I read…

Everything I ever did will be analyzed and scrutinized openly by the Lord Jesus Christ. Every good thing. . . and every bad thing. I’ll be called on to give account of every word, every deed, every thought.

Now even as a Christian I ‘try’ to live as good as I can because I love the Lord but I have done things that I’m not proud of but I always ask for forgiveness and I asked the Lord to help me with my attitude about people and situations but I fail at times.

Question…Are not all my sins covered by the blood and if not why not? There is a chorus that says…When He (God) looks at me He sees not what I used to be but He sees Jesus.

It sounds like for most believers, the Judgment Seat of Christ will be an excruciating experience.

My sister and I were raised in a pentecostal church, although I am nondenominational at this time in my life. She is saved but has fallen out of fellowship with God for a while now. I am trying to get her back into fellowship and going to church again. Last Sunday they served communion and she refused to take it. I thought it had to do with her falling away, but she said it was because she was taught that if she wasn’t baptized (water baptism) then she should not take communion. I told her as long as she’s saved baptism isn’t required for communion, but she doesn’t agree. Who’s correct?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

One of our Q&A posts received more comments than any other we’ve ever posted by a wide margin. It concerned a woman’s frustration because in a recent conversation her friends confirmed that they believe in an any-moment rapture but then went on to tell her their plans for the next 10-20 years,

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

No portion of scripture provides a more succinct view of our need for a savior than Mark 9-10. When praying recently about how to best present this passage in a Bible study, the Lord clearly said, “Get the big picture.”

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

It was the clearest message the Lord has given me in a long time.  I was in bed and half asleep when it came to me. Fearful of forgetting it, I got up and made a bunch of random notes and then went back to bed.

Commentary by Jack Kelley

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways,

Could you explain the message given by John the Baptist to “bear fruit in keeping with repentance?” Is that more referring to salvation or proof of salvation? Would you explain the principle of repentance and the significance to the Christian life?

Re: The Watchman. What’s the difference between being a ‘watchman on the wall’ specifically appointed by God as Ezekiel was or a watchman in society watching the signs of the times? If we are all to watch and wait, seems like all God’s kids are appointed to be aware and share that awareness with others. I don’t see a big difference other than one is very specific and one is general.

In your article entitled Fruit Inspectors you stated that “It is humanly impossible to tell who is saved and who is not…” Is it safe to assume that we do not know if Hitler was saved or if the mass murderers of Islamic terrorism are saved? You get my point. We are commanded to exercise righteous judgment which must be based on conclusive evidence. We may not judge on the basis of appearance, personal opinions or unsubstantiated suspicions.

Question, both Mattew and Luke talk about “Judge not and you will not be judged” but we are to inspect for good fruit, right? I have a sister that I try to witness to but she makes me feel guilty because of this. She is a great person but used to be part of a church that thinks everyone is going to heaven.

I love the OSAS (once saved, always saved) view but it would seem that Paul’s statement in Colossians 1:21-23 is a proof-text against the notion that it is impossible to forfeit your own salvation through disbelief. It seems that there is no way to tie this statement of Paul’s to rewards rather than to salvation. Can you help here?