Sylvia; No, it definitely is not true that only 144,000 people will go to heaven, despite the fact that the Jehovah’s Witness has famously interpreted the passage that way. First of all, you should know that most of the book of Revelation is in what is known as apocalyptic language. This is a type of […]
Someone told me that most scholars say that Revelation was written after AD 70. Where can I find what scholars say regarding the date of Revelations? If it’s after AD 70, is it possible that most of Revelation has not happened, which is this individual’s view? From what I understand it was written more so […]
It’s been a while since I posed any questions however I’m currently reading several of your articles and in your article Biblical Prophecies Fulfilled you state the following: While the writings of John preceded the persecutions of Domitian and his successors by less than a generation, they nevertheless show the continuity of the New and […]
Question: The teachings of the Koran are not a new or strange thing. All former prophets and messengers have also taught the same, that real life is the life of the hereafter and no soul bears the burdens of another soul, and the same has been said in the former books, the books of Abraham […]
Questions: Could you do an exhaustive defense of Sola Scriptura? I heard Roman Catholics using arguments, claiming that Sola Scriptura is never mentioned in the Bible. I also have heard that since the Bible doesn’t give us a list of what is inspired scriptures, we have to look outside to know what is inspired and […]
Dr. John Oakes gave a number of lessons when traveling in Accra, Ghana and Monrovia, Liberia. Notes and PPT are available elsewhere at the web site. Great Bible Study Audio Prob Pain Suff Audio Worldview Ghana Daniel Ghana Revelation Ghana The Holy Spirit Liberia Freedom in Christ Liberia ...
Question: Hello Dr. Oakes. Hopefully all is well! My question today is regarding the entire Old Testament. Just as a disclaimer I absolutely believe that there are no contradictions in the Bible and believe that anyone who disagrees is simply being intellectually dishonest with Scripture and its context or simply is unaware of the context. In […]
Question: Ezek. 38:17 mentions the Israelite prophets who prophesied about Gog, but no prophecy earlier than Ezekiel’s prophecy talks about Gog. Then who were those Israelite prophets and why did Ezekiel not name them? Answer: I do not know for sure what prophets Ezekiel is referring to. He does not tell us. However, it is […]
Question: Theologian Bernhard Duhm (1912) wrote: “This process of editing the Prophetic Writings, with such added expositions, enlargements, and supplementation, went on to so large an extent that now no single prophetic writing exists in its original form. Indeed, more than once we find that what was originally not at all the work of Prophets […]
Question: Is the New Covenant everlasting? Will we be under the New Covenant in heaven? Answer: Believe it or not, this is a difficult question. Logically, it would seem that if the answer to the first question is yes, then the answer to the second question also needs to be yes, but this is not […]
Question: Where does your soul go when you die? Some say heaven (or hell) but if that’s true then the people that were raised from the dead were taken out of heaven and brought back to earth…? Jesus raised people before his crucifixion and Peter and Paul did too after Jesus died and rose again. […]
Question: Why does the Bible not record the words of Jonah referred to in 2 Ki 14:25? What about prophets/seers alluded to in 2 Chr 33:10, 18? Hosea prophesied more than 80 years but only small quantity survived. Why? Answer: My Bible is already about 1150 pages long. If the Scriptures were to record all […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: I just finished 19 days teaching in Ghana, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal. Our monthly newsletter will consist mostly of my personal journal from the trip. A week before the trip, I completed a new book on the Christian Worldview. Illumination Publishers will be putting out the book in the coming months. […]
Dr. John Oakes is doing a missionary teaching trip to West Africa Feb 16-Mar 5, 2023. He will be posting all or nearly all of his lessons, outlines and ppts here. Great Bible Study Time Notes Great Bible Study PPT Great Bible Study Audio Reliability of the Bible notes Reliability of […]
Ghana, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire and Senegal I am now in Cote d’Ivoire, and will leave for Senegal tomorrow. Accra, Ghana Feb 16-20 This is my second time in Accra, Ghana. My last visit was ten years ago. Ghana is a country of 32 million souls. It is a fairly small country, the size of […]
Question: What is the meaning in Genesis 1:26 where God says, “Let us make man in our image”? My NIV study notes that “us” refers to members of His heavenly court? I was always led to believe it referred to the Trinity. Thank you Answer: Commentators give three possible interpretations of the words “us” and […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: As we approach the Christmas season, I wanted to get a last newsletter out for the year. I end the year, eager for the final publishing of volume 4 of my series The Christian Story: Finding the Church in Church History. Hopefully, we will see it in January. I am currently putting […]
Rabbi Tovia Singer has published an anti-Christian polemic which has created doubts in some Christian believers. Dr. John Oakes has published a review of this book. We are attaching the document and copying and pasting below. Review of Let’s Get Biblical In addition, here is an article by Jeff Chacon Why I Believe Jesus is […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: In this month’s newsletter, we will continue with our series of essays which will be appearing in the very near future when volume IV of my series on Church History The Christian Story is completed. This article is on the question of millenialism in the history of Christianity. I ask which is the […]
Question: Dr Oakes, how do you respond to Muslims’ argument such as this: “Even if your Bible is 99,5% accurate, the Quran is more. It is 100% accurate. Unlike your Bible that have forgery verses added and changed many times, the Quran didn’t have anything like this and perfectly preserved from the start. All our […]
Dr. John Oakes is teaching a 14-hour New Testament Survey class for the Southwest Ministry Training Program. The first class will be Fri/Sat 2/18-19 at the Orange County building of the Los Angeles International Church of Christ. 10 Goodyear, Irvine, CA. I will be posting notes, PPT and audio. NT Survey Syllabus New […]
Question: How would you respond to the following Muslim claim made in https://www.islamic-awareness.org/quran/miracle/ijaz ‘The Qur’an in many places challenges the people to produce a surah like it. It appears that the Christian missionaries who call the challenge irrelevent or an utterly subjective criterion are pretty much unaware of how the Arabic poetry and prose compares with […]
John Oakes is now preaching regularly for the Bakersfield Church of Christ. We will be posting all of his sermons here. Services are now live streamed Sundays at 1:00 at www.bakersfieldchurchofchrist.com. 1 Thess 2 Paul’s Ministry Notes Combined Acts Sermons I – VI Acts Combined Sermons I – VI Notes Acts Combined Sermons […]
Question: Jesus had no traits of a King who would save Jews from their enemies as the OT prophets anticipated. Why are these prophecies fabricated? Answer: I assume that this criticism is coming from a Muslim source. You begin with an erroneous premise, which makes your question a nonsense question. I will share with you […]
Question: It is impossible for any part of God, even if incarnate, to decompose in any way and still be considered God. The everlasting, one God, in whole or in part, does not die, disintegrate, or decompose: ‘For I the Lord do not change.’ (Malachi 3:6). Did Paul invent God-Son concept to attract Romans? Answer: […]
Question: In Matthew 26: 64 Jesus said: “From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” What did he mean by “from now”! Did Jesus really come on the clouds of heaven from the moment he said these […]
Question: The theology of the Prophets before the exile had no place for the priestly blood sacrifice system. There was no atonement. The law of forgiveness worked directly and without any ritual. If Abraham, Moses, David, etc. were saved without sacrifice, it is hard to understand how blood sacrifice became necessary for salvation from the […]
Question: 1) Are Christians supposed to love everyone? Are Christians supposed to love the following: a) false prophets in general b) the false prophet mentioned in the book of Revelation c) the antichrist mentioned in the book of Revelation d) Satan 2) Does God love (or hate) a) false prophets b) the false prophet mentioned […]
Question: 1) Are Christians supposed to love everyone? Are Christians supposed to love the following: a) false prophets in general b) the false prophet mentioned in the book of Revelation c) the antichrist mentioned in the book of Revelation d) Satan 2) Does God love (or hate) a) false prophets b) the false prophet mentioned […]
Dear EFC subscribers: This month I have gotten a lot of question, both from Muslim critics of Christianity and from believers who are trying to respond to such criticisms. The main content of this newsletter will be a few of these Q & As. They are at the end of the newsletter. Enjoy. Church Planting: […]
Question: Should Christians pray the imprecatory Psalms? [Editor’s note: The imprecatory Psalms are ones in which the Psalmist, usually David, calls on God to judge or to defeat his enemies. For example, look at Psalm 69 or 109.] Answer: Christians will have a range of responses to this. I believe that what we pray is […]
Editor’s note: This article appeared first as a Q & A at the website, but I am including it as an article. I have gotten a lot of comments and questions lately from Muslims in which they attempt to undermine the authority of the Bible by comparison to the Qur’an, so I decided to post […]
Question: Why did the prophets use polytheistic description of God. For e.g. Daniel described God as old man (Dan. 7:9) which might be borrowed by appearance of Greek God Zeus? Answer: Please forgive me, but I got a bit of a laugh from this question. You are misunderstanding Daniel 7:9 (and Revelation 1:14). The whiteness […]
Question: Why do writers of the Bible blend God’s words i.e. “thus says the Lord” with human words such as speeches and human histories? Answer: A good question. The Bible has several different genres of literature, depending on what God is trying to accomplish. Sometimes he wants to simply speak to us directly. Then he […]
Question: Biblically, is it a sin to not remember and keep the 7th day Sabbath set apart? If not, then why would the remaining commandments still be binding for believers in Messiah such as: you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not bear false witnes, etc. For example in Revelation 21 […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: A lot has happened since the last newsletter went out. One fun thing is that William Lane Craig quotes me in a recent podcast. WLC’s podcast about his upcoming book In Quest of the Historical Adam. He says some nice things. I respond to one small criticism, clearing up a misunderstanding in […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: Speaking of God The big “news” of this newsletter is that, thanks to Toney Mulhollen and IPI Books, I now have a new book published. The title is Speaking of God. It is definitely not like any other book I have put together. It is a how-to guide to leading small groups, […]
Dear EFC Subscribers: Just a quick note. I will be featured in a podcast sponsored by “The TribeExchange” on Wed July 14th. The interviewers will be Elias and Rachel Delault as well as Christian Ray Flores. The topic will be church history, but the discussion ranges into modernism, postmodernism and much more. The podcast will […]
Comments: Can you show the continuity of the chain of transmission of So-called Gospels? These were not revealed by God but promote a pagan concept of God/Son or Man-God which was in fashion during times of Jesus. You will know after your death that what have you done to yourself. Good Luck! For your kind information, […]
Question: Skeptics say that the Bible is at error because of verses that have Jesus saying that some of you standing here will not taste death until they see son of man coming in his kingdom, Truly I tell you, you will not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man […]
Questions: What is exactly the Devil? Is it not arrogant for God to tell everyone to love him over all things? When someone behaves in an evil way for example stealing money, is it because the Devil is making him do that? Answers: Perhaps it is a big surprising, but the Bible does not actually […]
Question: Dr. William Lane Craig and others have pointed out that first century Jews were not waiting for humble Messiah who will suffer, let alone will rise from the dead. They waited for king who would free them from the Romans. But I found information in a video about Dr. Knohl who decoded an inscription […]
Question: Please respond to this article: https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/jesus-body/ Is it true that Jesus’ resurrected body was a spiritual one only according to 1 Peter 3:18, and that we too will have spirit, not physical bodies in heaven? Answer: First of all, you will do well to not listen to Jehovah Witnesses, both in person and […]
Dear EFC subscribers: Repent, Return, Restore, Rebuild We want to announce a new class that will be taught by Dr. John Oakes live starting Saturday Sept 5 9:00-10:45 AM Pacific time. The class will run for five consecutive Saturdays. The class will cover the post-exile books of the Old Testament–Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi, Ezra, Nehemiah and […]
Question: Why was The book of Enoch taken out of the Old Testament and why has this book been forgotten since New Testament times? Answer: The answer is that the Book of Enoch, also known as 1st Enoch, certainly has not been lost, and neither has it been forgotten. It was not taken out of […]
Question: What did Jesus mean he said “I am the resurrection and life and those who believe in will live and those who live and believe in me will never die? The fact is that those who believe in him are still dying. So, what did Jesus mean? When he said that those who follow […]
Question: Will there be a New World Order government over the United States in the end times? I watch the end times show on TBN and the host says the United States will end up backing out of New World Order or One World Government? Revelation makes it clear of the Antichrist’s role in end […]
Question: In Matthew 11:25-27 (Luke 10:21-22) Jesus says, “I praise you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned…this is what you were please to do…no one knows the father except the son and those to whom the son chooses to reveal him…come to me all…” […]
Dear EFC Subscribers; There is a bit less news from us lately, as, like the rest, we are on lockdown. We do have some new material at the web site, of course. There is a new ten-hour class on Revelation, a nearly complete Old Testament survey class, and an on-going series of sermons from Matthew, […]
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