I have always heard men talk about the teaching of the Immanency of Christ’s return; that he can return at any moment and that there aren’t any “signs” that have to occur first. I really don’t understand this. It seems to me that, there were some signs and are others still, that have to happen before the Lord returns for us at the Rapture.

For example, didn’t Israel have to be reestablished as an independent nation again, first? If so, then throughout prior church history until Israel was a nation again, how could his return have been imminent? One other example is the battle described in Ezek.38-39. This battle can’t happen until, as Ezek.38:14 says, it happens “In that day when my people of Israel dwell safely,”. They are not dwelling safely (or securely) today. They are attacked frequently. I really can’t see how the doctrine (or teaching) of Imminence can stand. Do you have any views on this?

In Genesis 3:1, the serpent is described as in it’s Edenic form, which is not a writhing reptile. In Genesis 3:14, God cursed the serpent by telling it: “On your belly you shall go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life.” It seems that Genesis 3:14 describes the serpents (snakes) of today’s world. However, there are serpents in today’s world which have appendages which appear to the remnant of legs or feet. Is there any correlation between these serpents of today, which have these appendages, and the serpents of Edenic period, described in Genesis 1:26 as “….every creeping things that creeps on the earth”?

My problem has to do with serving in the military. When I graduate, I plan on joining the marines. The problem lies with my Jehovah’s Witness father. He believes that by me joining the marines, voting, and getting involved in other “worldly” things, I’m serving Satan. He brings out their “reasoning from the scriptures” book to twist God’s word around. He gets angry and yells about how I’m “a servant of the devil”, and threatens to have noting to do with me.

I could live with this, even though we are very close, except for the fact that this would keep me from seeing my younger sister. I know, in the bottom of my heart, that God has a plan for me that involves the military, and I have asked Him multiple times if this is His will, and He has confirmed it every time. What verses in the Bible can I use to try and persuade my dad that the marines are okay, and is there any hope of convincing him that they are not satanic? I want to praise God for giving me a great mother who is a strong christian woman, and who kept me straight as I grew up!!

Since the horses were killed in the hail and fire Exodus 9:25, where do you reckon they got the horses for the chariots to pursue the Israelites? I know there is a good explanation, because every word He wrote is true. Also, is there any indication of how long the whole set of plagues took?

Through out the Old Testament, there are several personal encounters between Bible characters and Jesus (Angel of the Lord). My heart skips a beat when I read about them, just imagining what it would be like to have a personal encounter with the Lord. This is my question – why did those personal encounters stop? Or haven’t they? Do you have any thoughts on this?

I was just wondering what evidence there is to point to the timing of Satan’s fall. Particularly as it pertains to it being before or after the creation of man.

A friend at work asked me who created God. In Genesis 1:1 it says, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth.” I believe that with my whole mind, heart and soul, but it doesn’t answer the question of who created God, where did He come from, or how did He come into being?

I recently read that the idea of eternal punishment came about “because of a preconceived, unbiblical notion that the soul is immortal (see 1 Tim. 6:15-16). We have read eternal torment into the Scriptures when it was never intended for mankind. Hell was created for Satan and his Angels, not for Mankind and it is Satan and his demonic hordes who will be consigned to Hell and its torments eternally.” Do you believe 1 Tim. 6:15-16 actually means mans soul is not immortal and that it could be destroyed after serving a period of time in Hell?

I believe that the reason the earth and the light from the stars appear old or mature is because God created them in a mature state. I take my theory from the creation of man and woman as they were created in mature state.

I screw up every day! What a surprise, huh? I needed the article you sent me on forgiveness (Psalm 3). I feel bad and ask for forgiveness as soon as I mess up. I know the Lord forgives me, I just have a hard time forgiving myself! I never want to hurt my Father’s feelings, or cause Him shame, but sometimes I act before I think. Am I the only one who does this?