I was hoping you could give me your understanding of Rev. 17:11.

“And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.”

Thank you and God bless.

I’m confused about apostasy. In the book of Timothy and other places, it speaks of those who depart from the faith and fall away. Are these real believers who fall and lose their salvation? Or are they people who only professed to believe with their intellect didn’t really believe in their heart? I believe those truly saved will not fall or be lost again by departing from the faith, but these passages sure sound as if believers actually depart from believing the truth. I thought I knew the answer, now I’m not so sure. Thanks for your faithfulness.

Having read through your website regarding the two witnesses I understand that you believe that they will be Moses and Elijah. Elijah because God tells us he will be one of them and Moses because of the character traits and probably the Mt of Transfiguration appearance.

My question is have you read a recent article regarding John being the possible second witness? If so would you care to comment on it? Though I realize that this is not a salvation issue and is highly speculative, I really value your opinion. You seem to have a gift to discern details I often miss.

I heard a Bible teacher on the radio say that one reason our salvation is a mystery to the angels is because they have no soul. Is this true they have no soul? Would this fit with the fact that they were once given the choice to follow God or Lucifer?

I have been teaching the prophecy in Isaiah and when reading chapter 5 I could see us , the US, as the vineyard that was established to produce good fruit and we have, until recently. Now we kill the innocent, kick God out of public places etc. I now see chapter 5 as a warning to us and an explanation as to why our country is suffering. We no longer as a nation are producing what God intended for us to produce and as a result the woes are directed at us today. My question is , am I reading to much into this or is it possible this is a prophecy that applies to us and to any nation that fails to do what God established them to do?

I thank God for your researched and thoughtful insights. Your Q & A’s are always such a joy to read.

Maybe you can help me with this question. Are those who have passed on ahead of us aware of the daily actions of those of us who still remain? Thank you for your response.

A friend and I have been discussing whether Jesus cleansed the Temple once or twice. As you know Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention it in connection with Palm Sunday, but John’s account seems to place it at the beginning of the Lord’s ministry. Here’s my friend’s defense for two cleansings.

Josephus records that construction of the temple began in the eighteenth year of Herod’s reign. His reign began in 37 B.C. This puts the beginning of the construction around 19 B.C. If we add 46 years to that (how long the priests told Jesus it has been in building), we get to 27

Matt. 16:18 says the gates of hell shall not prevail against the church. And yet we see that the anti-Christ will prevail against the tribulation saints.

Christians have been killed for the last 2000 years and trib saints will be killed during Daniels 70th week, so it seems that the words “will prevail against the saints” is not to mean prevailed by physical death. So what is really meant by, the anti-christ will prevail against the saints? What would the difference be between the bride and trib saints pertaining to the word “Prevail”?

Please consider I Corinthians 7:14 in your discussion of this topic. It seems to indicate here that children belonging to unbelievers are unclean. Children who have a believing parent seem to have a different status than children who don’t. I realize that our salvation is based on what Jesus did, not on what our parents do and that each person is responsible for their own decision to serve or not serve God.

However in a discussion of “innocent” children before the age of accountability, I have this question: Are they saved from the wrath to come, the tribulation? In the Old Testament judgment came upon “unclean” nations and the children were not saved from destruction. (I think they were not judged and sent to hell upon death, but it doesn’t look like God saved them from judgment upon the earth)

I have been a children’s pastor for over twenty years and have worked diligently to bring young ones to the Lord, not knowing when the age of accountability might be for each of them. I can believe that the innocent will not see eternal judgment upon death, but I think that is a separate issue from the issue of being in the rapture. I have always believed that the innocent children of believing parents would go in the rapture, but that the children of unbelievers would probably have to go thru the tribulation. Any thoughts?

You stated in an answer to someone else that when we get to heaven, we will be able to appear and disappear at will and that we will be able to travel at the speed of thought. This sounds wonderful, a fantastic game of hide and seek.

Does it say somewhere in the Bible about these abilities we will have or is this your perception based on other abilities that it talks about?