Question: I have always felt that hell is a temporary place. I don’t understand a separation from God for eternity especially in an eternity of pain. I don’t understand how God who knows everything would justify a person being born if that person were to ultimately reject God and go to hell. Wouldn’t God have […]
Question: I am very interested in your beliefs. Do you believe in the Bible as a literal source? When the Bible says that it the world was created in 6 days, why do you feel it wasn’t actually 6 days? Answer: My answer is that when the Bible is written so that it is obviously to […]
Question: (note, this is actually a series of two questions and responses) We’ve been studying the book of Daniel here in Athens, GA. I’m teaching a lesson to the women, primarily using information from your book. In studying what information I could find online about Domitian, I could not find anywhere that he demanded disciples […]
Comment: Your Question/Answer topic on hell, and specifically quoting Daniel 12:2 as pointing to the doctrine of hell in the OT, is a serious lie and error. You surely know the Hebrew word ‘oulm’ means eon or age. Why paint the face of God with your destructive and carnal brush strokes. It is a lie […]
Question: I am the son of a Baptist minister and admit that I long ago dismissed Christianity as the most convoluted, indefensible patchwork of complete nonsense perpetrated on mankind in the last 2000 years. I believe this as strongly as you apparently believe in your inherited Jewish God from the magnanimous Jesus (oh, we lucky […]
Question: I was watching a show on T.V. and the "experts" were arguing that the Christians borrowed their concept of Hell from the Greeks concept of Hades. According to these individuals, Hades has different levels and the last level is where individuals are punished eternally by fire and other ways similar to the way explained […]
Question: (note, this is a rather long question, with many scripture references. The answer is below) I came across this site. It deals with preterism which I don’t buy into. But its scriptural evidence for the early return of Christ is rather overwhelming. What is your explanation in view of the words of Christ and His […]
Question: I am questioning information I read on the page:https://www.evidenceforchristianity.org/index.php?option=com_custom_content&task=view&id=3954 Dr. John Oakes uses Mark 1:2 as an example of Byzantine copyists attempting to improve a text. He states, "The quote following in Mark 1:2 is taken both from Isaiah and Malachi. Presumably a copier took the role of an editor, removing what hethought of […]
Science and Religion are Not Enemies. An essay by John Oakes, PhD. This essay was written for inclusion in a new college textbook for a class titled "Intro to Scientific Thought." Because of the nature of the class, the essay is about the relationship between science and religion in general, and does not deal specifically […]
Question: What do you think about demonic possession? How does one respond to a Christian who claims that they have had a demon tormenting them (so much that they cannot forget the pain of it and makes it hard for them to go to sleep)? Having studied out mental disorders, I am a bit skeptical […]
Question: I was reading some Wikipedia articles about early Israel and came across and interesting section regarding the origin of Yahweh http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_ancient_Israel_and_Judah#Religion Ill let you read it but I’m adding quotes from it that I was hoping you could respond to. "It is generally accepted among modern scholars that the narrative of […]
Question: Do you know of an Old Testament scripture that alludes to us having the authority to use OT scripture as allegory for future events? I’m pondering, praying and studying with one of my best friends and former pastor John Wickes. He asked me what gives us the right or authority to use Old Testament […]
Comments: In regard to your article about Genocide in the O.T., I would have to believe that the LYING PEN of the scribes have attributed to God, words and events that He is not responsible for. Not only did God NOT murder people in the Old Testament era, he NEVER asked Abraham to commit child sacrifice […]
Question: I’ve been doing some research on extra Biblical evidences as I continue studying the Bible with Chinese people. In my search I came across something about the moon turning to blood. Every time I study out that section in Acts 2, I’m not really sure whether that’s going to happen in the future, or […]
Question: I am a Christian, but I am tempted to let go of my faith. My faith is based on fear (eternal damnation, hell, etc.). I just want to know any evidence of the authenticity of Christianity which is different from other religions. Others also have their divine scriptures and revelations. What makes Christianity different […]
An Article by John Oakes, PhD describing four Christian views of evolution, along with strengths and weaknesses of the four views. This essay is intended as a guide for the upcoming forum at the 2010 ICEC in Irvine, CA. Four Christian Views of Evolution John Oakes 6/3/10 We at ARS will be sponsoring a […]
Question/Comment: I believe that Genesis should not be read literally as it conflicts with our current scientific models such as the dating of the universe and Evolution. As a result I believe that we must read Genesis as a theological poem not a scientific textbook. Thus I see that we were created and we fell […]
Comment: I`m no scholar but to say that the Bible has no scientific arrors is totally false. One huge mistake occurs on the first page when God says let there be light and the sun was not yet created. Also the Bible claims that the earth is only 6000 years old and that man and […]
See below for an essay on the Christian World View by John Oakes, PhD Apologetics and the Christian World View A number of years ago I wrote and published a book which I thought at the time covered all of the important basic topics relating to Christian Evidence for those trying to build […]
See below for the fourth part in a series of classes on World View by John Oakes, PhD. Apologetics and the Christian World View Part IV In the previous three essays, I have attempted to define the idea of a world view and shown why it is an extremely important thing for all of […]
Logical arguments for the existence of God. A power point. Notes included below. Existence of God 130.50 Kb Arguments for the Existence of God A philosophic question: Does God reveal his nature both through general (natural) and special revelation? On some level, both the cosmological and the teleological arguments assume general revelation is valid. […]
Question: I was recently researching the historical reliability of the Bible and I got a tiny bit confused. The reason is that the Old Testament seems to be not very reliable (e.g. the Genesis account, many scholars thinking that the books are not written by original authors, ect.), but the New Testament seems to be […]
Questions: I have compiled the following article of pure historical events as they relate to the Christian religion. Can you please proof read it and critique it? I believe it to be 100% accurate. Please let me know. Answer: Normally, I do not like to get into one denomination versus another denomination as this is definitely […]
Question: Could you point me towards any resources that would help me preach the gospel to one of my former students who has embraced Taoism? Answer: Forgive me for stating the obvious, but your best resource is the Bible, and more specifically Jesus. I would point my Taoist friend toward the scriptures and toward Jesus. […]
Question: If the bible was written so long ago and interpreted in many different ways and has been re-written so many times how can we be sure the version we read today is not complete fiction? Answer: I have answered this question a number of times and in various ways at the web site. I […]
Question: I am studying the timelines in the Bible regarding the lifetime of both Daniel and Esther for a school project and I’m hoping to get all my facts straight. I am confused about the dates from my research and was hoping for some clarity. When I research the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, I find that […]
Question: What do you think about the convictions of Charles Finney about the power of Holy Spirit today? It´s possible pray to receive a miracle? Answer The biblical evidence is that the events at Pentecost (Acts chapter 2) and when Cornelius and his friends were baptized (Acts chapter 10) were unique. The apostles certainly saw […]
Jesus and Christian Apologetics. A class taught by John Oakes PhD 9/26/09, on question, Who is Jesus Christ and evidence that the real Jesus is the Jesus of the gospels. See the notes below and the attached Power Point. Power Point Jesus and Christian Apologetics 2.25 Mb Who was Jesus of Nazareth? Our recent […]
Question: I read "Daniel, Prophet to the Nations" recently and was quite awestruck by the prophesies! I’ve been reading online that the Christian persecution under Domitian was historically uncertain and debated. Although the early church fathers routinely mention Domitian, the persecution is seemingly absent from the writings of Tacitus and Suetonius (and other Roman historians). […]
Question: On the site http://bibleblunders.com, many claims are made based on failed prophecies and contradictions. Can you please address some of them, Dr. Oakes? Answer: Which ones do you want me to address? I have already responded to most of these supposed contradiction at my web site. If you go the question and answer section, then […]
Question: A couple of my buddies always ask about God in the Old Testament: especially about how harsh he can seem to be at times. Have any advice or recommended reading about the topic? Answer: Clearly this is a good question. I have gotten one version or another many times. If you do a […]
Question: A- Deuteronomy 30:11-12 says: "For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?" […]
A class taught by John Oakes, PhD at Christian Evidences Conference 6/12/09 on theism and reasons to believe in special creation. See below for notes. Special Creation 3.95 Mb Special Creation Natural creation or Special creation of life and of human beings? We will look at the evidence for evolution, but first let us think […]
Teaching Trip to Monterrey, Mexico 1/30-2/1/2009 Teaching Trip to Monterrey, Mexico 1/30-2/1/2009 Jan and I traveled for a teaching weekend in Monterrey, Mexico. Unfortunately, the airline cancelled our flights without informing us. A last-minute standby flight got me to the city nearly on time, but left Jan behind in Tijuana, to fly through Guadalajara. […]
Questions and Answers: 1] In Matthew 8;12 Who are the subjects that Jesus is talking about? "The subjects of the kingdom" are the Jews who do not receive Jesus. One can generalize this to include anyone who has been saved but later chooses to ignore his own calling, but in the context, Jesus is telling […]
Question: Someone told me that theres is no hell because sheol means grave and when we die we go to the grave and sleep. Answer; Your friend is partly right. Both the New and the Old Testament describe a place where the soul goes after life which is a sort of in-between existence before the […]
Question: How would I go about defending the Bible translation as accurate in comparison to the New World Translation that the Jehovah Witnesses use? Answer: First of all, I do not want to discourage you, but I am afraid that the majority of Jehovah’s Witness believers are so well trained to not think or ask […]
Question: I have a friend who is a member of Seventh Day Adventist. He mentioned the observance of Sabbath days (Saturday), and the Law according to the Old Testament. He said that when Jesus died the ceremonial law has been fulfilled while the moral law still stands. is this true? They don’t eat pork and […]
Question: I have read your Q&A’s about Armageddon and the end of times. I have noticed that you have stated that not all prophecy has been fulfilled, “Any passage which describes the coming again of Jesus or the final Judgment Day will clearly be fulfilled in the future”. I was wondering if you are stating […]
I have a friend who is growingly convinced that Jesus has already returned (fall of the temple 70 AD). I have been seeking to understand his point of view and while it answers some questions it presents a myriad of others. Do you have any thoughts that you might be able to share? Answer: One […]
Question: Who put all of the books of the Bible together in one book, and how do we know that they were right? Answer: The logic of the answer to this question is fairly simple, but the evidence is a bit involved. In order to give you a sufficient answer, I suggest you read the […]
A message by Philip about the relationship between Hannukah and Christmas (with a little apologetics thrown in!) Messiah and the Lights of Hanukkah Hanukkah, the Jewish winter holiday also known as the "festival of Lights" derives its name from the idea of "rededication." It commemorates deeds of courage and faith among a Jewish army […]
Question: Why does the God of the Old Testament seem so mean, and unmerciful, but God in the New Testament is gracious, loving, and merciful? Answer: Yours is a very common misconception of both the Old and the New Testament. There are two misconceptions here. First, it is common to view the portrayal of God […]
Question: Why didn’t God simply destroy Satan from the beginning? Answer: God did not tell us so this requires me speculating, so please take my answer for what it is worth/with a grain of salt. Why did God not destroy you when you sinned? Because he loves you and because he wants you to repent […]
Question: Have you had any success talking to Mormons? I have a Mormon friend who is trying to convert me! My experience is that when I try to talk sensibly with Mormons they start shaking and literally sweating. My friend asked me why I do not believe in the Book of Mormon. When I explained, […]
See below for notes on the twelve "Minor Prophets" from a series of classes taught by John Oakes in San Diego. Introduction to "The Twelve" In the Hebrew Bible, they formed one book and were not the last books in the canon. The Prophets: 2 Peter 1:19-21 Prophet = spokesperson, one who speaks for […]
Question: Everybody is foreknown, because God knows everyone before they are born, so everyone is predestined "For those God foreknew he also predestined", and therefore everybody is called in their life time "those he predestined he also called". Therefore everybody is judged on the extent of their calling, and even if you are not baptised […]
Question: In reference to the question of whether or not Jesus actually used the word synagogue rather than church, it is highly unlikely in my humble opinion for two reasons. First of all, my copy of Lamsa’s translation from the Aramaic of the Peshitta says "church." Secondly, the word "ekklesia" is a combination of 2 […]
This is a report from a Presbyterial organization on interpretation of Genesis One. I disagree with some of what is here, but it is about as thorough as I have seen. It is copyrighted, so I only include the first few pages, as well as a link to read the whole article. John Oakes […]
Question: If God/Jesus Christ has great power and can perform everything as he would want, why did he delay to come to the earth? And he certainly knew that the humans are full of sins, why did he need time to come; why he let people sin further before he comes, why did he let Satan stay on […]
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