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I have a question about 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. It seems to me this is a problem for the pre-trib rapture. Paul states “we who are alive and remain until the coming of the LORD shall not proceed those who have fallen asleep…” In other words, believers are on the earth just before the resurrection of the saved, which clearly occurs after the tribulation, then after they are raised (on the last day as JESUS stated several times in John 6) we who are alive and remain will be caught up with them…” Paul includes himself in a group that remains until the resurrection of the saved, so they have come through the tribulation. This is a major problem for me. How do you explain it?

I was brought up with Roman Catholic faith but started going to a Baptist church and became born again. At the same time (of being born again) I met a guy – a Catholic & very much into his faith. We are very much in love and want to get married but have a serious obstacle which is faith & ways of worship.

I don’t know what to do! I’ve been praying about it & doing a lot of research, sharing it with him to show him why I believe what I do, but so far it’s all pointless! I need your prayers (for I know you are a brother in Christ) as well as encouragement or tips on the major issues of difference between the 2 sects. To tell you the truth I feel sick and tired of all the major sects and the way Christ has been divided.

What was God doing before He created the earth?

I met a young man recently, who is a pastor of a church I began attending a few months ago. From the first week he met me, he has been very kind and attentive. His interest in me was quite obvious. I like him a lot but he is separated from his wife. The reasons he gave being that she left him when he decided to go into the ministry. He met her when he was still in the world. According to him, he did not ask her to leave but she chose to leave him. He is currently trying to initiate a relationship with me but I don’t know what response to give.

We have been attending this Biblically sound church now for some years. The teaching is amazing and accurate. The leaders have announced that they will change the Saturday evening worship service to include more upbeat music (admitting it will sound louder) and occasionally include lasers and smoke during the worship. My problem is that, even though their motives seem to be that they want to attract more young people, I can’t help but think that this is appealing to the flesh, and not allowing the Holy Spirit to draw them to himself. Young people already hear this stuff in the world, and we don’t need to duplicate it in the church. Should we try to attract young people (as the Church has been trying to do for over 20 years now) at any cost and by any method?

I really feel uncomfortable in all the churches I’ve attended bar one when I lived in London. I don’t attend anymore as I work long hrs and also have a health problem that can be very painful and very draining. When I get home at night after working I just want to sit in front of the TV and relax. Is this wrong as a Christian to be spending more time on work, TV, and family than with the Lord? I’m worried that I’ll be one to whom He says. “I never knew you.” I used to be on fire for the Lord. What’s wrong with me?

I’m wondering if it is accepted to use books other than the original books of the bible for bible study. I ask, because my wife & I are currently attending a Bible study Sunday evenings and the book of Jasher is given as much (if not more) credence than the book of Genesis that we are supposed to be studying. Do you think this is OK?

I have a question regarding my Salvation. I was required to attend Church by my Grandmother. I can clearly recall the Pastor giving the Altar Call and without any outside influence, I went forward at age 12. I was Baptized and continued to attend Church. You mention that our Salvation depends on acknowledging that we are sinners and need a Savior and that we believe God raised Jesus from the Grave. I now believe all of that. However, at the time I answered the Altar Call, no had told me I was a sinner and even my Grandmother did not tell me that I needed to be saved and how to be saved. My question is was God providing for my Salvation without my knowing it? Also, I spent 4 years on an aircraft carrier during Viet Nam and can assure you I completely forgot about God. After returning, I realized I needed Church and returned. How does that relate to my Salvation?

Was Peter ever in Rome? I have a friend who is catholic, and she thinks Peter was the first pope. I can’t convince her this is not true. I know Paul went to Rome, he was to minister to the gentiles. Wasn’t Peter to minister to the circumcised? Thank You for taking the time to help me with this.

Re: The onlookers in Ezekiel 38:13. Who is likely characterized as Sheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish (and all of their young lions) in this passage? I’ve heard that it may be a reference to a placated US government as well as some veiled reference to Revived Rome. It appears by the passage that they are questioning the apparent invasion in an effort to push diplomacy.

How do the sheep who survive the tribulation avoid taking the mark of the beast during the tribulation? The way the scripture reads “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.” leads me to believe that those who do not take the mark will be killed by the beast. Which means there would be no believers left, unless of course this is what Yeshua meant when he said he would shorten the days for the elect’s sake because if he didn’t, there would be no flesh left alive.

For encouragement, I read the story of how God rescued Noah from the flood and also how Abraham prayed for Lot and God heard and rescued him from Sodom. But recently I have been reading through Ezekiel and was struck in Chapter 21 with how God decided he was going to bring judgment on everyone -righteous and wicked alike! The only comment I can find in my references simply says to compare the story with Noah and Lot. Well, sure, but WHY? is the question. Do you have any thoughts on the difference? Why God rescued the righteous earlier but in this case did not? We have just been praying for God’s mercy because the righteous do often suffer along with the wicked and what’s ahead is not going to be good.

In Zechariah 14:16-18 it says, “Then the survivors from all the nations that have attacked Jerusalem will go up year after year to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, and to celebrate the Festival of Tabernacles. If any of the peoples of the earth do not go up to Jerusalem to worship the King, the Lord Almighty, they will have no rain. If the Egyptian people do not go up and take part, they will have no rain.”

I have thought that all unbelievers would be removed and held for judgment after the Tribulation when Jesus comes the second time, but this seems to be saying different. Will there still be unbelievers who have fought against Jerusalem on this earth during the Millennial reign?

I have a friend who is a devout Christian, but worries that her husband may not be saved because he believes that there are other ways to salvation besides Jesus, like being a good person, etc. Is there any place in scripture that because a married couple are “one” the one saved automatically brings salvation to the other?

In your recent article Seven Major Prophetic Signs Of The Second Coming, Heading #4, The Ancient Roman Empire Will Re-Emerge As A Political Force, explaining about Islam being the fastest growing and upcoming religion. Where does this leave the Roman Catholic church and Catholicism?

As always, thank you for your beautiful site and for teaching us according to the Bible. I was wondering how do the Jews of today cleanse themselves of their sins without offering animal sacrifices?

The tar paper and plywood shanty in the first picture below is home to a husband and wife, their two children, and two teenage nephews.  They do all their cooking and eating outside and use the “house” for sleeping.  When we met them they had already poured part of a concrete floor for a new house but didn’t have any way to complete it.  We poured the rest of the floor and have begun building a new three bedroom house with indoor kitchen and eating area, electricity, and a full bath. Click on any picture for an enlarged slide show.

Can you tell me where the idea came from that the seven churches in Revelation are seven church ages, and does the word of God teach this?

Is it is possible that Jesus was abandoned by the Holy Spirit in his last hours on the cross? My idea is that he was abandoned just like many people are going to find out that the Holy Spirit is no longer among them after the rapture. What is your opinion on this please?

I had a question concerning Revelation chapter 5, I know tradition says that the Church is in heaven in chapter 5 because of the rapture in chapter 4 verse 1. I think this view is held because of reading the Revelation strictly from a chronological perspective as opposed to reading it first from a spiritual perspective. I read chapter 5 backwards and forward and didn’t see the Church when the living creatures the 24 four elders and the angels are praising the Almighty.

I write this question with a broken heart. I am wondering how, in Heaven, God will wipe away tears over lost romantic relationships. We are told that there is no marriage in heaven. God created the beautiful feelings, and deep emotional and physical bond between a man and woman. As humans we have only known them in a sinful world, and yet they are still so strong and can create immense joy, or heartbreak if things do not work out. My heart goes out to people who go through divorce if their spouse chooses it against their will. How is that void, how are those tears wiped away in heaven if there is (apparently) no expression of romantic intimacy?

I realize it points to a relationship with Christ and His bride, yet there must be more to this. I understand that being with Christ will be amazing, and that this is a temporal life. At the very beginning of creation God created a partner for the man, and He gave them pleasurable work to do in taking care of the Garden. The joy of the humans was not to simply be in God’s presence, they were made for each other, and given joyful tasks to do. How can it be that God would take something so amazing, and something we have only known in a fallen state, and discontinue it?

It’s only natural, I suppose, for us to hope and pray that our Savior will soon lift us from this life and take us to be with Him. It still hurts me deeply that so many will be left behind, knowing what they are facing in eternity. I want more to come with us, especially members of my family and friends who I know are not ready, but fear keeps slipping in because of not knowing God’s timetable and it prevents me from being more assertive in my evangelism. My question is, how do you personally stand up to this? Can you give me a little something more to hold on to?

One of the arguments you use that Jesus was willing for us to be healed was when the man asked “Lord, if you are willing…” in Mathew 8:1-3 and the Lord’s answer was “I am willing”.

However, it seems the Lord was not always willing in all cases. For instance concerning the Cananite woman in Mathew 15:22-28. Even though in the end he does heal her daughter, at first He was reluctant. Would this reluctance continue with all gentiles, or was this limited only to his earthly ministry before his death and resurrection?

I pray that God blesses you and your family greatly for all the insight you share with all of us on a daily basis!

I have a question. Do we own our souls or are they God’s property? What I’m really asking is, can a person “sell their soul” to the devil?