In Luke 13:23-30 Jesus commands some followers who question Him about ‘Are there just a few who are being saved’ to “strive to enter through the narrow door”. Well, the word ‘strive’ sounds like ‘work’ to me and I thought we were saved by faith and not by works (Eph 2:8-9)? Could you explain this passage?

Everywhere you look in the Bible there’s 7 of something–and many times that 7 is divided in half, becoming 2 parts at 3 1/2. Jesus led his ministry for 3 1/2 years. Where do you think the other 3 1/2 is?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.