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In my small group’s Bible study of Acts chapter 9, the question was raised as to whether Saul had a choice in becoming an apostle. I pointed to verse 6 in my NKJ Bible which records Saul’s response to Jesus. “So, he trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” To my amazement, none of the Bible translations my class members were using included Saul’s question. Do you know why?

Re: Is Alcohol a Sin? I go to a Church where it is preached that it is sinful. Proverbs 23:31 is often used. From my search and study I believe that it is sinful in excess, just as overeating is sinful, but moderate drinking is not. I’ve looked through commentaries and I still believe it’s only condemning drinking to excess. Does Prov. 23:31 say to not drink at all?

The following comment was posted on another website in response to a lady questioning your “Psalm 83 – Preview of A Coming Attraction” article. I have always thought that Psalm 83 was about a future war but not sure what to make of it.

“Psalm 83 is an imprecatory Prayer, and in no way a war. Isaiah 17 is Gods answer to that Prayer. Isaiah 17:2-3, yes, Israel will take down Jordan and the West Bank. However, Israel has not been, nor will be any kind of conquerors. The condition of this land after battle will not make it habitable. From this point on, he skips (as many others do) the continuation of Gods description of what happens next. Israel will suffer a severe blow, to the point of “desolation” as God tells us.”

My understanding is that the Jewish calendar is based on a 360 day year. How then, do they keep the Festivals at the same time of year each year? Spring and Fall, etc. Among other problems, they would lose 5 days a year, each year. Every 73 years, or so, they would lose a full year. And the festivals would move around throughout the seasons – Hanukkah in summer, etc. How does that work?

Re: Leviticus 16:7-10. I was reading Leviticus 16 as it refers to the use of a goat as a sin offering. Some English translations use the word goat and others use azazel. Who is Azazel? Why is a goat sent away for him into the wilderness? What does this mean?

I am confused in regard to the marriage supper of the Lamb in Rev 19:7. Who is the wife spoken of there for it says the wife has made herself ready…is this reference to the church or Israel? Why would the church have to make herself ready, in what respect? Is there more than one wedding in scripture? If Christ to be married to both Israel (Isaiah 54:5) and the church (Ephes 5:25) this would have to be the case. If so, then who is the bride of Christ?

In Exodus 24:9-18 (KJV) Moses, Aaron, Nadab, & Abihu & 70 elders went up (v10) and they saw the God of Israel; (v11) also they saw God, and did eat & drink. Was God holding back His glory so as not to hurt these leaders?

This isn’t a smart alec question, just something I wonder about. If Solomon was so wise, why did he end up following false idols?

With regard to 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is explaining the importance of the resurrection and in verse 29 he mentions the “baptism for the dead”. I’ve talked to a lot of people about it without getting a satisfactory explanation and wonder if you could shed some light on this. Is it mentioned anywhere else in scripture?

Did Noah really preach for 120 years as some say and based on what’s written in Genesis 6:3, or did he preach for 100 years according to what I understand in Genesis 5:32 when connected with Genesis 7:6? Thanks in advance for making this topic more clear to me because when I read the passage in Genesis 6, I understand that the days of man from that point on decreased to 120 years because of the deterioration of the atmosphere after the flood.

In Revelation 3:12, it is written that “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more.” What does this mean when Jesus says “he shall go out no more”? Will we spend eternity in the New Jerusalem without being able to go out? I fully believe the New Jerusalem is awesome beyond imagination, but it would be nice to take a walk on planet earth every now and then.

Thank you for your very insightful website, it is truly a blessing to me. I have a question about Hebrews 9:27, which states that it is “appointed unto man once to die….”, and 1 Corinthians 15:51, which states “we shall not all sleep…..” Is there a conflict here, or is my understanding of what is meant not correct?

I was reading your latest article about New Jerusalem as being the home of the redeemed Church. I was wondering is New Jerusalem considered Heaven? Revelation depicts the Church in Heaven around God’s throne in Chapter 4 I believe. So is this city the same place? Why not just call it Heaven?

My bible, which is a New King James translation, describes the size of the New Jerusalem as 12,000 furlongs high, deep and wide. All the conversions I have found tell me that 1 mile is equal to 8 furlongs. Therefore, 12,000 furlongs is equal to 1,500 miles. I notice that your writings on the New Jerusalem describe it as 1,400 miles high, deep and wide. Praise God there will be enough room for all of us whatever the size! I am just curious about how you arrived at your 1,400-mile conclusion.

My friends and I recently watched a documentary that outlined the foretold biblical prophecies both fulfilled and to be fulfilled. One of the prophecies was the reinstatement of the shekel based on Ezekiel 45:9-12. Israel has already reinstated the shekel, but this verse seems unclear to me as to how this is a prophetic claim. Can you clarify?

My wife and I understand clearly that our safety is solely in the capable hands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our question concerns home security and surveillance devices installed to dissuade would be perpetrators from choosing our home as a target. Also, as we live in south Florida and are permitted to carry a concealed weapon. We often wonder how the Lord feels about all this.

I know that God will not let us suffer through the Great Tribulation or any part of Daniel’s 70th week. But will He allow us to suffer through the fall of our nation which I see rapidly approaching? Will the Rapture occurs first and contribute to the fall of the US? How do Isaiah 17, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38 fit in? I am just glad that I have learned to have total trust in the Lord.

What does “the seventh year, the year of remission” mean in Deuteronomy 15:7-9? I have lent rent money twice to a Christian friend who is in need. I am concerned he may ask me again next month. What should I do?

What do Dominion Theology / post-millennial believers think about the anti-Christ and the Great Tribulation?

I’ve heard and read many stories of people describing instances where they’ve felt the Lord’s presence during prayer or they’ve felt God “place something on their hearts” or they’ve heard Him speak to them. I am somewhat new to my relationship with Christ, but I have yet to experience an interaction with Him like these. I do spend time on my knees in prayer daily and I know he hears me because I’ve witnessed many answers to prayer. Is it normal that I haven’t had one of these one-on-one experiences with the Lord then?

Recently at a Bible study I attend, it was mentioned that the Ark of the Covenant was a very heavy object and that it required supernatural strength in order for the four men to carry it between them on the poles. I did some research online and have come up with calculated weights for it ranging from 188 lbs up to 4000 lbs, needless to say, that is quite a discrepancy. My question is, do you think that it actually was heavy enough that God had to provide the carriers with increased strength in order to transport it?

I have a question about the Court of the Gentiles and why the Gentiles would have gone into the Temple in the first place, especially if they weren’t regarded as being worthy of being accepted by God. I know animals were sold in the Court of the Gentiles and the Gentiles probably went to sell their animals to the Jewish people.

I have a question regarding the doctrines of eternal security and also the rapture. It seems very clear that these are biblical, but looking at what the early Church believed creates conflict for me. I know that the Bible is the final authority, but if Christians this soon after the cross believed in loss of salvation, works righteousness, etc. could we be wrong in your interpretation of God’s word? What’s also unnerving is just how many people are like that today. Some even say that OSAS and the rapture are only very modern ideas. What is the explanation for this?

I have been doing some study on Sin and I came across a verse from Psalm 32:2 “Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not impute iniquity”. First of all I thought the psalmist was referring to Jesus Christ but then why does the word “man” not have a capital M. Who does the Lord spare from imputed iniquity? I thought we were all imputed with sin from Adam’s sin. Please help me here.

Concerning the meaning of Jesus words to Nicodemus in John 3:8 about the work of the Holy Spirit. ‘ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’ The NIV study notes (revised 2008) says this about this verse: The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as He pleases in His renewal of human hearts. I don’t know what to believe about this verse, what Jesus said or the explanation I read. Can you help?