Q: Who exactly was Paul referring to as “the lawless one” in 2 Thessalonians 2:8? A: Here is the relevant passage in 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12: “Now regarding the arrival of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to be with him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to be easily shaken from your […]
Question: What is your take on the strange passage Exodus 4:24-27 in which God almost kills Moses? Answer: I found a web site which presents a range of responses from a Judaic Christian perspective, which I think might be the best. Bottom line, we are not sure why God wanted to kill Moses, but we […]
The Miracles Jesus Did Not Do Note: This is a chapter in an upcoming book by David Eastman and John Oakes on Miracles, to be published by Illumination Publishers, International in late 2007 or early 2008. It is a truism that you learn almost as much about a person by what they do […]
QUESTION: How does one conclude that morality exists and is given directly by the Christian God? I am a Christian, and have been raised in a very conservative Christian home, but I’m afraid I’m growing weaker all the time. It’s getting especially harder for me to understand the whole morality issue. It seems that many […]
Question: It is taught that by some that only 144,000 people will receive eternal life in heaven with Jesus Christ as co-rulers over the earth. Witnesses believe that in the war of Armageddon, which they believe to be imminent, the wicked will be destroyed. The survivors of this event, along with individuals deemed worthy of […]
? Knowing the Mind and the Heart (and Knowing the Future) [Note: this article is a chapter from a book by John Oakes and Dave Eastman on miracles to be published in 2007] The miracles we have looked at thus far involve Jesus violating physical laws of nature. We will now consider a […]
Question: What was the law before the mosaic laws? What was the penalty that goes with sin under that law? Answer: As far as we know, the law given to Israel under Moses was the first formal covenant between God and a nation or large group of people as a whole. The time before Moses […]
Question: After studying through the book of Esther and trying to draw parallels, I had a few things that I just could not make sense of. First, I had a hard time figuring out King Xerxes and Queen Vashti?s interaction in the first chapter. I could not be sure who was the villain and who […]
Question: Is there such thing as speaking in tongues? In the Bible Paul said he had that spiritual gift and it was his greatest gift (1CO 14), and then I read a study Bible and it said that as Christians we could have the gift but it is not of help to others but just […]
Question: I feel sad for Judas Iscariot for commiting suicide.I wish he could have waited, but my understanding is after Jesus’s death on the cross he was preaching to the dead. Somewshre in Hebrew or Peter it’s mentioned & Jesusmakes acomparison toJonahwhowas inside the fish for 3 days. In the same waythe son of man […]
Question: I hear a lot of talk about prophecy concerning Israeland that what is going on with current events invloving Israelas fulfilling this prophecy. I suppose they are referring to scriptures such as Ezekiel 37:21 and Psalm 83:4. I always interpret these scriptures about the “nation” or “people Israel” as being symbolic for true Christians, […]
QUESTION: Are miracles real and still happening today? In other words, if you believe for a loved one to be healed of a certain disease, the miracle can take place? ANSWER: The short answer to your question is “yes.” God is the Sovereign Creator of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1), so He possesses all the […]
THE BOOK OF MORMON Joe Fields, Tuscon, Arizona Introduction: The Book of Mormon claims to be the record of God?s dealings with the inhabitants of ancient Mesoamerica (2000 BC to 421 AD). The record tracks the history of two civilizations. The first nation, known as the Jaredites, claims to have come to the […]
Note: This excellent article on the date of writing of Daniel was not written by an ARS author. It is taken from the web site www.Christian-ThinkTank.com Good question….Was Daniel written AFTER the events he foretold? [Draft May 16, 1998; 3rd revision draft Dec/2000……………..Intro/Menu] Section One: The Dead Sea Scrolls Manuscript Data ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. […]
?The secret account of the revelation that Jesus spoke in conversation with Judas Iscariot.? These words begin a startling new discovery, announced to the world in April of this year. First there was the Da Vinci Code, now there is the Gospel of Judas. It seems like when it rains it pours. On […]
Question: Ezekiel 37:1-11 talks about dry bones. How could this be appliciable to ones life? Answer: The passage you ask about is a prophecy about the return of Israel to the promised land. In order to understand this, you must know the background to the book. The nation of Israel had separated into two states […]
Question: Mark 16:16 says that signs would accompany those who believe and John says that we can do greater work then Jesus Christ. What are these greater works? Answer: Although I can certainly see how one might make the connection, I would be cautious about using Mark 16:16 to interpret John 14:12. Let me start […]
Question: Mark 16:16 says that signs would be with those who believe and John says that we can do greater work then Jesus Christ. What are these greater works? Answer: Although I can certainly see how one might make the connection, I would be cautious about using Mark 16:16 to interpret John 14:12. Let me […]
Question: Who were the books of the new Testament written by and what was the relationship of these authors to Jesus? Answer: In some cases, it is hard to prove who wrote which books. Many of the letters of Paul were “signed” by him, making it fairly certain, but even this is not proof. Some […]
Question: I have read arguments that the church really shaped the Bible for their own purposes.That is implied by the Da Vinci Code. Some of the people I’ve talked to don’t believe in Jesus because they don’t think the Bible is legitimate, but that Jesus was just a teacher andthat the church turned in him […]
Question: I was recently told that the original Hebrew word for Satan, is in fact a different word completely, when compared to the word “devil” which is used in the New Testament. The claim is that Satan, and the devil are actually two different entities. What do we actually know about Satan and the Devil […]
Question: My question is partly related to the problem of theodicy. In Joshua 7 we see Achan and all his family executed for a sin which only Achan is responsible for. For years i’ve wrestled trying to reconcile this passage in light of clear divine instruction in Deut 24:16 and Ezekiel 18:4,20. I will acknowledge […]
Question: Do Good Friday, Easter Sunday represent the actual date that Jesus was crucified. and what is the significance of Church on Sunday? Answer: Jesus was crucified on a Friday; on the eve of the Passover. He was raised on the day after the Passover, which was a Sunday. The early church began to commemorate […]
Question: Please help me understand the prophecy about 666. Is it literal? Will some people really get forehead markings? Answer: As far as I know, the only use of the number 666 is in Revelation 13:18. Almost without question this number is to be taken symbolically, not literally. Of course, many have used the actual […]
How can you disprove Mormonism? I am currently a Mormon now. Also, why are there so many diffrent versions of the Bible? I have produced a fair amount of material on Mormonism at the web site. One can consider the validity of this religion from two main perspectives. First of all, are the teachings of […]
Question: Some Muslims believe that soon everyone in the world will be Islamic, and this will be started by the return of the perfect one who they regard to be Jesus. Could this supposed Jesus be one of the anti-Christs, who we are warned of repeatedly in the Bible? I was also thinking that maybe […]
Question: Do you think that it is possible that Judgement Day is near because many of the signs are happening such as earthquakes famines and pestilences? Also, it is now possible to have battles of 200,000,000 men as described in Revelation. Answer: I think it is possible that Judgement Day is near, but I do […]
Consider a second example of a criticism of the Qur’an which was raised by a questioner. This involves what the Qur’an appears to say about the nature of earth’s mountains and their purpose. Examples include Suras 16:15,21:31,31:10,78:6- 7. Sura 16:15 says, "And He has cast great mountains in the earth lest it might be […]
Question: Is Partial Preterism wrong? Answer: If partial preterism is wrong, then I am wrong as well, as that is a fair description of how I view the book of Revelation. I am confident you know the meaning of this term, but for the sake of anyone else reading this question and answer, let me […]
Author’s Note. The article below is a response to a question, so it will begin with the question which motivated its writing. I was looking online about the Qur’an and found claims of errors which seem impossible to deny. For example, With regard to Sura 18:83-100 which is about Alexander the Great, which seems proposterous […]
Question(s): I was looking online about the Qur’an and I found some amazing errors which it is hard to imagine how they could explain it. They are: With regards to Alexander the Great it says that he was given his power from Allah, which is proposterous as he is said to have the importance of […]
Question: The instructor in my religious class at college (VCU) teaches that 1-2 Timothy, Titus and 2 Peter where written in the early 2nd century. Why do they think that? How do we know the letters really were written by the apostles? What would it mean to us if they were written in the 2nd […]
The bible teaches in Acts that the miraculous gifts were given at the laying on of the apostles hands. Therefore, they could have still been in existence in the late 2nd century (up to 100 years after John the apostle died). Is there any reference to miraculous gifts by the early ‘Church Fathers’ in their […]
Power Point: Daniel, Prophet to the Nations 2.87 Mb Notes on Daniel Class: see below. NOTES FOR FULL DANIEL CLASS Background to Daniel: Theme: God Rules the Nations, Do Not Fear! Main messages: 1. How to stay pure and uncorrupted-to maintain your integrity in a world in which you are surrounded by […]
JEHOVAH?S WITNESS Background and History. Founded by Charles Russel Russel was influenced by the Adventist movement (let to the 7th Day Adventis t Church) The Adventist/Millerite movement began in the 1830?s William Miller used Daniel 8:14 and Daniel 9:25 (a very odd connection) to calculate that the millennial reign […]
Note: This is a very long question. The answer is several paragraphs down the page. I am presently taking a Comparative Religion course on the New Testament and have been struggling with some of the themes that have surfaced so far. Our course text is “The New Testament: A Historical Introduction to Early Christian Writings” […]
I am still in doubt about the age of OT descendants. Several hundred years seem a little hard to swallow. Is there any evidence, or other interpretation I should consider? On your question, I do not have an easy answer. One thing I try to keep separate in my mind is the things I know […]
In what way will the earth be destroyed as described in 2 Peter 3 and other scriptures? Will it be destroyed in the sense of non-existence or in the sense of being destroyed like in the days of Noah where the earth wasn’t totally destroyed, but the people were? Should this be a matter of […]
In the NT when it refers to Jesus as the firstborn (Rom 8:29, Heb 1:6 & 12:23, Rev 1:5, Col 1:15,16,18) does that mean that he is first to be “born again” by his baptism? A great question! To answer this question, one must understand what “firstborn” meant to the Jews. For the Jews, the […]
The words “new heavens & a new earth” are found in 2 Peter 3:10-13 & Revelation 21:1. Does that mean a literal new physical universe and earth or is it a way we as humans can relate to heaven? Well, put it this way. If we can assume that the “new earth” is a physical […]
In Daniel 7:27 it says “Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the most high. My question is in what way were the sovereignty, power and greatness of the those kingdoms handed over to saints? Being somewhat prideful, I […]
In Matthew 5:5 why does it say that the gentle (meek) will inherit the earth? Is it talking about the new heaven and the “new earth” when Jesus returns or is it something else? “The meek shall inherit the earth” is a truism. A truism is a general statement which can be applied to a […]
How much of the book of Daniel was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls & what is the agreed dating for it? What is the latest it has been dated? The reason I am asking is to know of the earliest proven evidence for Daniel, relative to the date of his 2 prophecies in the […]
In Daniel 2:44, when he says “setup a kingdom” does it mean the one in heaven or the church? to me it seems heavenly. Also can you let me know some scriptures where it says “kingdom…” which refer to the heavenly kingdom and some which refer to the church (OT & NT).If you cant answer […]
Is it considered anti-Christian to believe in the concepts of the zodiac, such as reading your horoscope and taking it to heart, or of psychic abilities? That is an easy one. Yes, from the perspective of the Bible and of belief in Jesus Christ, it definitely is a sin to rely on one’s horoscope rather […]
Why did Jesus tell Judas he would be the head of one of the twelve tribes if Judas was going to betray him? Who were the Twelve who saw the risen Christ in Paul’s account of the resurrection. If Judas was dead how could he be one of the “twelve” who saw Christ. Jesus did […]
Could you please give me some black/white, concrete, and clear evidence that proves The Koran to be false? I have been reading a researching myself, but whenever I find something that I can say, “ha! I’ve got it. This proves The Koran is false and not the word of God,” I then find someone who […]
Was Satan kicked out of Heaven? There is a very common belief that Satan was kicked out of heaven. Yet, perhaps surprisingly, you will not find this clearly stated in the Bible. This is one of many examples of a common misconception taking on the appearance of authority or truth simply because it is repeated […]
What are the names of the seven angels listed in the New Testament? what is the name of the beast of the New Testament? I have heard the claim in the past that there are seven named angels in the Bible, but I cannot confirm this claim from studying the Bible itself. The specific named […]
I was wondering if you could provide me with a list of the New Testament books in chronological order. I’m trying to prepare for an upcoming discussion about the reliability of Bible texts so if you could point me in any specific direction…that would be great Do you mean chronological order of when they were […]
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