Ask a Bible Teacher

Controlling Gog

Published: September 9, 2024
Q

In Ezekiel 38:1-6 what does the phrase “turn you around” mean? Where is Gog being turned around from? This has always puzzled me, and I have never found anyone mention it in a study of Ezekiel 38. Most teachers jump over that phrase to “put hooks in your jaws.” I feel that The Holy Spirit guided the writing of our Bible and that phrase is no accident, but I am at a loss as to what it means. Can you help?

 


Great White Throne Judgment

Published: September 9, 2024
Q

Recently I was watching a very popular television evangelist and his sermon was on the Judgments. He stated that at the White Throne judgment, he, and everybody in the congregation, all those watching on television and listening on the radio would have to account for every bad/wrong word spoken and all our bad deeds during our lifetime (Rev 20: 12). How does this stack up with the belief that we confess our sins, have a heartfelt belief that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and arose on the third day, then our sins are forgiven and cast into the deepest sea, never to be remembered?

 


153 Large Fish

Published: September 9, 2024
Q

I forgot what I was listening to the other day but the person said that there is a symbolic representation of the 153 fishes in John 21:11. I remember it had something to do with the 3 troops of 51 soldiers from the old testament. I was wondering if you can expand on this idea?


What’s The Motivation Behind Amillennialism?

Published: September 6, 2024
Q

I understand what Amillennialists think and I know how it is not biblical and has to spiritualize things. My question is why do they think this way? I mean the truth is the truth, but usually when people are not sticking to the truth they have some benefit in mind to them for their way of thinking. So what motivates the Amillennialist?


When Did The Old Testament End?

Published: September 6, 2024
Q

Is the BC/AD time thing man made? Between Malachi and Mark nothing was written. That’s about 485 years. Were there other prophets during that time? Would Jesus be the first prophet since the old testament, or would John the Baptist be the first?


The Literal Interpretation

Published: September 6, 2024
Q

I was discussing something with a family member and they said ‘You just can’t interpret the Bible literally because so many people argue over what the literal interpretation of that verse is.’ He makes a good point. In what way should we go about finding the ‘literal’ interpretation of a verse? And another question, when do we know when to not interpret a passage of Scripture literally?


Seeing The Face Of God

Published: September 5, 2024
Q

I am trying to understand what gives the appearance of conflicts in the Scripture. First and foremost, I am NOT questioning the infallible Word of God. In Exodus 33:20, we are told that no one can see the face of God and live. In John 1:18, Jesus reminds us that “no man has seen the face of God.” Yet in Genesis 3:8-12, we read that “the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God….” In the following verses, God conversed with the man and then his wife. In Genesis 3:20, the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. Didn’t Adam and his wife see the Lord God at these times?


Is Drinking Alcohol A Sin?

Published: September 5, 2024
Q

Question–Eph.5:18, says “Do not get drunk on wine which leads to debauchery” and there are at least 10 or 12 more references on this topic. I was taught that consuming alcohol was a sin. I don’t think there is a reference to directly support this but the Bible does discourage this practice. As a medical practitioner I have witnessed the terrible consequences of drinking to excess, and therefore do not participate in this practice.

I am troubled by the condoning of drinking by many pastors almost to the point of encouraging this practice! They will point to the fact that Jesus must have supported this because he made water into wine! However, there are even some Bible teaching pastors that are alcoholics.


Life Before The Commandments

Published: September 5, 2024
Q

I know that when God made a covenant with Abraham, he was defining his descendants as a people set apart for Himself (the Jews). I believe that it was through the Jews that God would reach the rest of the world, first by using His relationship with them to be a witness of His love, then ultimately through our Beloved Saviour Jesus Christ.

If the law in the form of the commandments had not yet been given, how did the people at that time know what was sin? It is written that faith alone can please God and this is why Abraham is named ‘the father of faith’, but what was the fate of the those who didn’t know God and didn’t have the law to point them in the right direction? Also, were Abraham’s descendants – up to, including and beyond the time of Moses – aware that the only way to Heaven was through the Messiah and was this awareness due to the fact that they knew they were a chosen people?

Thank you in advance – it truly is a blessing to be able to ask you these things!


More On The Sower And The Seed

Published: September 4, 2024
Q

How do you interpret the parable of the sower in view of your stance on OSAS. Would you suggest that the seed that fell on rocky ground equates to those who do not receive the word and therefore are not saved? But what then of those who fall away in the heat of testing, and the ones whose growth is choked by the cares and worries of this life? Are they “Saved” in the first place? Or would you say that they never really received the word in the first place?