Search Results

I’m going through a very painful breakup. While in the relationship, I fell away from the Lord big time. I believe He is using this to get my attention. My question is this-What scriptures should I be memorizing to help with my broken heart, forgiveness towards her, and continuing my walk with Him?

I have a question about Rev. 3:10: “I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.” Is this a literal “hour”? How does this compare to the other uses of the word hour in Revelation, especially the destruction of Babylon in “a single hour”, Rev. 18:10, “the hour of his (God’s) judgment”, Rev. 14:7, and the 1/2 hour of silence in Rev. 8. The implication that you use from Rev. 3:10 is that hour refers to the 7 years of tribulation. How do we know what actual period of time “hour” refers to?

Re: Are We Sure About The Pre-Trib Rapture? I have some friends who used to be pre-trib, but now believe we’ve misinterpreted the Bible and in fact the 7 year tribulation has already begun. How can I dispute this?

Why don’t Christians walk into synagogues at all to preach about Christ, as Paul did in the book of Acts? Or is this just “unacceptable” in today’s culture? Maybe some do, but I haven’t heard of any. Thanks again for your ministry!

Many people say that our rights as Americans are from God. Could you tell me where in the Bible these rights are stated? For instance the right to life, liberty, and property.

My 90 year old Uncle, who is not a believer, is feeling God’s tugging on behalf of prayers. He has not been open to spiritual conversation however, due to many health problems, he recently questioned the existence of Heaven. What scriptures would help convince him of the reality of Heaven?

I saw your post on the 4 scriptures concerning the “thief in the night” and how that phrase doesn’t refer to the rapture but the 2nd Coming. I was wondering how that works out for Rev. 3:3. If this reference is written for the church and the church doesn’t experience the 2nd coming, why here is the Lord threatening some of the church with having to go through the tribulation, according to your post?

I have always been a little confused concerning the 12 tribes of Israel. Jacob had 12 sons, which became the 12 tribes. When land was given to the tribes, Levi received no land, and the 2 sons of Joseph were each given land making them 2 independent tribes. That makes 13 total.

After King Solomon’s death, God separated the nation. In 1 Kings, it says that God separated the nation into the northern 10 tribes (counting Joseph’s sons as separate tribes) and the tribe of Judah (10+1=11 tribes). Assuming that Levi was not included in this count because they received no land, that makes 12 tribes accounted for, but, since in the 10 northern tribes Joseph’s sons are counted as separate tribes, there should be a total of 13. The missing tribe appears to be Simeon, which was completely surrounded by the tribe of Judah. Can you explain why the tribes were counted like this?

How can believing human survivors of the Great Tribulation be allowed into the millennial kingdom as mortals when Paul states clearly in 1 Corinthians 15: 50 that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God?

A Bible Study by Jack Kelley

This is the latest in our series on the minor prophets called “The Prophets Speak Again”. As in the past, we’ll take a message from the Lord to ancient Israel and see if there’s a parallel application in our world today.

In regards to a generation of years, God stated that no one would live longer than 120 years after the great flood. As far as I am aware some individuals have come to live very close to 120 years but not to 120. So does this mean that the average life span could be longer than 70-80?

I was reading a website and they are actively advocating disaster preparation. While this sounds reasonable, I and my daughter, sons and grandchildren do not have the means to prepare as indicated. By that I mean, I am elderly and just not young enough to lead the group in preparing. Some people are saying prepare for at least 7 years. That brings up the thought of such chaos, it sounds like the tribulation. What does the Bible say?

I wanted to ask you about whether or not we have specific demons with their own personalities that attack us on a regular basis. I am in the word daily and take my relationship with Jesus Christ very seriously. I am very careful about the media I subject myself to and have a genuine love for God’s discipline and refining nature. I do, however, have very specific attacks involving mental pictures that are terrible, and don’t seem to make any sense at all, but have a unique “stamp” on them. I’ve prayed and thought about these attacks a lot. Does this sound like a common theme… from a single demonic entity? If so, are there any specific ways to more permanently fend this thing off?

My friend says although in the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness it was legitimate when Satan offered the kingdoms of the world to Jesus, everything changed after the cross and because of Matthew 28:18 all the world, authority, and power was once again in Jesus ownership. I tried to explain that although this is true, the consummation of both our salvation, as well as His kingdom will occur in a future time – our bodies at our glorification and His kingdom at His second coming. Are there scriptures I can use to help him understand that Satan is still the god of this world and in control, as God allows him to be?

There are 4 riders of chapter 6 – although I wish to understand what the horses represent, I am more interested in who the riders are. I understand the first rider to be the Antichrist, but who are the other 3 riders, since “he” is used of all of them?

I am currently leading a study of the Torah with an effort to draw from Jewish Rabbinic teaching. I am finding the impact on translations into our language challenging. Genesis 1:2 (a) is a prime example. The first word of verse 2 is interpreted “And the earth” with the possibility of being “But the earth.” The second word is translated “was” while the Hebrew reads “she became.” Verse 2 when translated seems to read more like this given the Hebrew meanings: “But (or Now) the earth became chaos and vacant; and (now or but) darkness (was) over the abyss.” As you can see the meaning is much different than the English translations. While I want to be careful to remain faithful to the Word, it is a struggle, as I know there are those who translate in ways to justify their preconceptions. Can you give me any recommendations for a faithful translation of the Hebrew into English that is true to the Hebrew?

Re: Ishmaelites Or Midianites you wrote; “The Ishmaelites were descendants of Ishmael, a son of Abraham and Hagar (Genesis 16:1-16). The Midianites were descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham and Keturah, the wife he took after Sarah died (Genesis 25:1-2). Therefore the two groups were related and both being nomadic probably traveled together.”

I just finished reading this and was wondering if these two groups split at some point? If they did can you please point out where it is in the Bible? The reason I ask is because I was of the opinion that Islam came from the descendants of Ishmael the son of Hagar. Who would the descendants of the Midianities be or did the two groups become one?

I was reading 2 Cor. 12: 2-5 again where Paul speaks about a man that was caught up into the third heaven. I have always believed that Paul is speaking about himself although I had questions about why he would speak as if he is referring to the second person. My understand was recently challenged by an opinion of a friend who says Paul was perhaps more speaking about Stephen in Acts 7: 54-58 who when he was stoned saw heaven opening, Glory of God and Lord Jesus standing at the right hand of God. I have to be honest with you that this new view kept me thinking hence I ask for your view. Is Paul speaking about himself here or about Stephen perhaps? If he is speaking about himself then why he refers to himself as a second person?

I was studying Genesis chapter 37 and observed that Joseph’s brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites (verse 26 and the end of verse 28). But there is a mention of Midianite merchants at the beginning of verse 28 and finally it seems like the Midianites are the ones selling Joseph in verse 36. I am a little confused, was Joseph sold to the Ishmaelites then sold again to the Midianites who then sold Joseph to Potiphar?

Re: 2 Timothy 2;3-4: “Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer.”

What did Paul really mean by “civilian affairs?” Is he talking about being involved in politics and other matters in the community that has nothing to do with the church, or something else? I’d appreciate your opinion on this.

I have a question concerning the difference between “believers” and “true believers” and the Rapture. I have many friends and relatives who believe that Jesus is the son of God and believe that he died on the cross for our sins, but they do not have Jesus as Lord of their lives and it seems they have no relationship or fellowship with Christ. According to John 3:16 will they be taken in the Rapture just based on their belief in Jesus or will they have to endure the Tribulation?

In a study I am doing there was a reference to Luke 17:7-10 as a reason to not only do God’s will but to do our own will for God. In another commentary it explains in these verses that no matter what what we do, even though it is through His will we are still only doing what God commands, and as such in the overall scheme we will always be unworthy. I would appreciate your opinion.

I have kind of a complicated question but you’ve never steered me wrong yet.

I’m a normal everyday type person who grew up in church, heard I was a sinner, (and knew I was one too) needed a Savior and that Jesus Christ died, was buried and rose again so I could be saved and I accepted Him as a Teenager based on that. Real simple.

Now, as an Adult I’m very well acquainted with the Word and being an avid reader am very interested in the spiritual. But now I have more questions than ever. I’ve never taken a theology course or read the Church Fathers until yesterday when I went through a little of an online Theology Course.

Wow! I guess I can summarize my question as this. Can a normal person who reads the Word be saved for sure? One cannot deny that the Word uses words like the elect, predestined, foreknew, persevere. Can one not be saved by just believing Jesus Christ just as He says to do? The book of John is full of the word believe. I’m finding out my simple faith is not so simple after all.

In the New Testament, Peter says we should not just hear the word but it what it says. I have read the New Testament and have a general understanding of all of Jesus’ teachings but I also know many were directed toward Jews in Israel and the Pharisees and teachers of the law.

Do you have reference to a listing of what Jesus taught to those who would follow him? Like love your neighbor as yourself, love your God with all your heart and all your soul, etc. I know that belief in the one who was sent is the key to salvation but I know as Christians, we need to do what Jesus said.

Many of the things Jesus discussed were about following him such as hating his mother, brother, etc where more allegory than direct teaching but I am trying to iron out what Jesus wants us to do to “do what he says” as Peter commented on.

I am in my seventies and have been a christian since my late teens and have truly been trying to live a christian life since my late twenties. I have raised 2 sons that are saved, but, about a couple of years ago I was ill and the medicine the doctor put me on gave me a panic attack. They put me to sleep and I dreamed that I went to heaven and was told, “Depart from me you workers of iniquity, I never knew you”.

When I awakened I was terrified so they put me to sleep again and since then I feel void of my relationship with the Lord and half dead. Of course I know it is due a lot to the medication, but, my question is: Could the Devil have deluded me all of these years? I love going to Church and have taught several times during the years and sang duets and solos when needed. I feel like David when he prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of my salvation”.