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I am having a hard time trying to understand that animals such as sharks didn’t eat fish until Adam & Eve sinned and would have possibly eaten something like seaweed or other oceanic plant life. It sounds like a really weak argument especially since sharks are clearly designed to be brutal killing machines. I don’t understand how sharks could possibly get all the nutrients it needed from plant life one day, and then everything changed due to sin and it’s body needed blood the day after…Just like I can’t see a rattlesnake, another animal clearly designed to kill, picking off a flower before the Fall and then taking down a mouse after.

I understand that the Bible is a book of salvation and doesn’t always give specifics on non-salvation issues, but there has to be a way to reconcile this somehow.

I’m trying to believe everything the Bible teaches and thus that no death existed before the Fall, but any answer I’ve heard really seems to be far fetched and without substance. Any ideas? Thanks!

2nd Timothy 3 talks about peoples behavior in the last days When addressing these behaviors and the “last days” in particular do you believe the time frame is the present time we are living in, or during the 7 year tribulation period?

In the past you have said: “Feelings are almost never a good indicator for behavior.” Would you say that the guide of the Holy Spirit comes through feelings as well as other ways? What’s your take on this?

What exactly is going on with the gathering of the elect in Matthew 24:31 and Mark 13:27, since the Church has already been raptured by that point? Also, does “the elect” strictly refer to the believing remnant of Israel? Even so, what is the point of this gathering, which seems to imply only believers so as to exclude this from being part of the “sheep and goats” gathering/judgment?

I do not agree with the statement you made that all children and the mentally impaired will be raptured with true believers. I believe that there are some children who will be left, except those who are under a certain age of accountability. I think of Esau and how God knew he would never accept Messiah. As to the mentally impaired, I really think that God looks at the heart and knows if that person were to hear the gospel would he chose God or not? My niece just died from cancer, and she was mentally impaired, and was basically 9 years old. I honestly don’t know if she is in heaven or not. I want to believe that, but I know the decision is God’s.

Do Timothy and Titus teach that a divorced man is unqualified to be a pastor?

I’ve become convinced that the antichrist will hail from Islam. As we look at the world today and over the past thirty years or so, the big question that comes to my mind is “How did we not see this all along?” How did so many hang on so long to the classical notion of the “revived Roman empire?” If we truly believe we’re in the end times–and I do–how have we not been able to see that the epic struggle playing out is Islam vs. God? Nothing about the classical notion remotely fits with the geopolitical reality around us, while everything about a massive Islamic rise fits the geopolitical reality like a glove.

My question is in regards to Christian living and marriage. Since my wife had 2 children via cesarean, she has been left with some very loose skin and it has caused her to feel very insecure and apparently prevents her from certain exercises. She understands that I love her and am still attracted to her but she really wants to get a procedure done to remove the flap of skin that is causing her grief. I believe her motives are pure and we have prayed about it. My concern is that it costs a lot of money and I want to be a good steward of what God has given our family, is this a lack of compassion for my wife’s desires on my part? We can pay for the procedure with out using credit. What are your thoughts on this matter?

I’ve been reading someone’s articles on another website. He’s a great writer and I’ve learned a lot from him, so I wrote recently to ask his opinion regarding the issue of “un-walled villages”, Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39. He believes that because of the construction that has gone on outside the Old City that the “un-walled villages” requirement has already been met, making the attacks of Psalm 83 and Ezekiel 38-39 imminent. (Personally I think it’ll be Psalm 83–the Rapture–Ezekiel 38, but I’m only a layman–laywoman?) Do you have an opinion or clarification regarding this particular issue? Thank you so much for your continued faithfulness and guidance.

My question is regarding Revelation 20:5, where it says this is the first resurrection. If this is the first, then how could there be a rapture beforehand?

I believe I have a serious case of social avoidance disorder (self diagnosed) and this has caused me to quit attending Church, work only from home, and have barely any contact other than e-mail with acquaintance-level friends. I don’t even like to be ‘bothered’ by family members. And it has only gotten worse over the last few years. I used to be very active in Church, was raised in a Christian home and was saved when young.

I wonder if this could be demonic oppression or not? I know for a fact I can’t be possessed, as a believer, but have you heard of demonic attacks in this form to keep someone from accomplishing God’s will?

My question is, how do you interpret Ezekiel 18:24 in the light of OSAS? I believe fully that the saved person can’t be lost, but wondered about this text. I have been greatly helped by your website, thank you very much.

Commentary by Jack Kelley

For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way (2 Thes 2:7).

The number of emails I receive from people who are discouraged,

I am trying to research the bible on a couple who deceived either God or Jesus concerning earned monies and their profit. Who was the couple and what is the bible reference?

In Isaiah 53:5 I believe ” and by his stripes we are healed”, Is speaking of a spiritual healing not a physical healing. It sounds like you believe it is a physical healing. (A well known commentator) says it is not a physical healing. I’m confused…Can you help me?

As members of the Church, are we going to marry the Lord in the literal sense? The Bible mentions a marriage supper and the Church is currently the Bride of Christ and we are brides individually not just parts of the Bride, at least that’s what I believe. Does that mean that in Eternity Jesus will be our Husband on an individual level too?

I know you have answered this in the past but one again the “America is Babylon” scenario is being offered up. I’ve been pretty much on board with your thinking that America is not Babylon the Great Nevertheless, there are some valid points to consider especially about the seeming lack of time to build it along with all the infrastructure that needs to be put in place. It seems to be less and less plausible the nearer we get to the rapture. Do you still hold to your position?

I am a believer in Christ who is married to a believer. My husband and I invite all of our friends to attend our assembly and all but two have done so. A few days ago one of the two came to visit. She said she would never visit any ones “church” because of how the pastors behave. One of our other friends who was there asked if she was an atheist. She stated that she was sometimes.

Would it be wise to continue to spending time with her? I personally feel that she should not be welcome in our home. But my husband feels that the visits should continue because he wants to show her an example of a believing couple. What do you think?

I just became friends with someone at work who is a Mormon. She told me she believes Jesus died for her sins, but then later stated that when we die, we don’t go to Heaven to be with God (instead, they believe in lower levels of Heaven). She said the reason for this is because we are not worthy to be in God’s presence because of sin. So I am very confused, because those two statements completely contradict each other. Can someone be saved if they don’t believe that God’s forgiveness is eternal? Thank you for your input.

I’m a recovering drug addict/alcoholic of 20+ years who Christ took mercy on and freed from the chains of addiction one night whilst in rehab. I’ll be clean 3 years in July–praise Jesus. Nowadays, AA and NA meetings are part of my life and the thing that really rubs me wrong is the “God as I understand Him” bit. Its basically a free for all for whatever you want God to be. Since Christ is the only way to mortify sin in ones life, how are these besetting sins removed from those who don’t acknowledge Him?

In Daniel 7:25 it says the saints will be oppressed by the Antichrist for 3 1/2 years. That must be the first half of the tribulation 7 years. If the rapture takes place before the 7 year tribulation (which I believe) then who are the saints referred to as all saints have been raptured and there will be none on earth for him to oppress? Please straighten out my confusion – because Daniel 7:25 reads to me as a mid- trib. rapture verse.

I understand we are saved by faith and I’ve read where you said our actions or how we live don’t matter when it comes to being saved…we only have to believe. Does repentance therefore only have to do with our relationship to God? The Bible says we are given a new heart when we believe…how then can someone say they believe in what Jesus did for us yet continue to grievously sin? I’m still confused.

If we are to walk in the spirit so as not to sin, why do we still fall prey to sin? I try hard not to sin but I find that I keep slipping up, letting temptation get the better of me. I’m afraid God will just give up on me. What can I do?

My father and I live together. He and I are both disabled, so its hard for both of us to do things. I am in better shape than him but I still have a hard time doing things around the house. He gets demanding sometimes, expecting me to help him do even ordinary things. The doctor told him to go to a rehab place for therapy to strengthen his muscles so he can take better care of himself, but he stopped going and now he’s so weak he can’t do much of anything. I get angry at him and say nasty things, trying to get him to go back to therapy. Then I feel guilty about it. Is it natural for family members to get mad at each other and say nasty things? Can I be forgiven?

After reading your response to the question “Do We Have Our New Heart Yet?”, you stated that we will not get a new heart until after the rapture when we are changed. What about 2 Corinthians 5:17? It states that we are made new creatures the moment we believe and are saved. Doesn’t that include a new heart?