What God wants you to know

Forward

I’m always amazed how most people have so little interest in reading the Bible (maybe because it's such a big book). But the Bible claims to be the word of God and even if you don't believe in God, are you infallible? Have you never made a mistake? Is this not something you would want to investigate for yourself? Don't you need to be sure of your own conclusions? What if you're wrong? What if it really is a message from our Creator? Do you want to gamble your eternal life on something you have not fully investigated? If the Bible truly is the written word of God, why wouldn't you want to know everything He has to say? How could you not want to know exactly what God’s message is for us? Why would you trust others to tell you what is written in it without reading it for yourself?

Early in my life I too had no interest in the Bible or Christianity. From what I gathered from the people I knew and the education I received, religion and Christianity seemed to make no sense at all, a fairy tale for the masses. But I found out later that that was because I had absolutely no first-hand knowledge of the subject. Everything I believed was based on second hand knowledge and hearsay from people who were either as ignorant or as biased as I was, people who had no true knowledge of the subject at all.

It wasn't until my younger brother had died that I felt the overwhelming need to find out more about death and what follows. His death shook me to my foundation. It was a crushing and terrible experience. If you ever had someone you love die you know what I mean. His death though tragic, saved my life. It put me on a quest to find out if there really was a God and if there really was life after death. Something I really hadn't concerned myself with until it affected me personally. I studied many different views and cultures on this subject. Edgar Cayce, the noted psychic, was one of the first people I looked into. I read many of his books and found them fascinating. I kept up on the New Age books and read about different philosophies and religions. I studied about out-of body-experiences and spirit guides, Shamans and Gurus, anything I could find that had a theory about the afterlife. But always I found flaws and when examined in depth these theories fell flat with no real substance or evidence of truth. Then I decided to look into the Bible because I had never really read the Bible for myself and I felt I needed to give it the same attention I was giving everything else. My biggest mistake was thinking that because I had heard so much about the Bible and Christianity, I had a good knowledge of it. I couldn't have been further from the truth. But God is faithful, loving and kind. He has said (Luke 11:9-10) "ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. And in (Deuteronomy 4:29) if you seek God, your God, you’ll be able to find him if you’re serious, looking for him with your whole heart and soul." And I was seeking, I was looking for the truth. So He revealed Himself to me. He sent loving Christian people into my life who had knowledge, kindness and understanding. People with solid answers. And the questions I had that they couldn't answer they showed me that they relied on their faith, a faith that was based on an honest love for God. I began to read the Bible for myself starting with the New Testament. This awakened me to Jesus, and Jesus opened my eyes to the Scriptures. I read the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelations. To be honest, a lot of the Old Testament was hard to understand, but that was because much of it had to do with rituals and Laws that were given to the Jews. So I needed to do further research to find out more about what they meant. It was amazing to find out most of what was written was written to direct the people to Jesus. As I studied and prayed, more and more was revealed to me. The Holy Spirit guided me into understanding the truth of Scripture. I finally realized, belief in God is not based on blind faith. It is faith given by God’s revelation to those who are honestly seeking the truth. John 14:16) Jesus is "the way, the truth, and the life." So if you honestly want the truth, you will find it in Him. You can read that for yourself in the New Testament if you read it with an open mind and a humble heart.

Anyway, the things that were revealed to me are in this book, so I hope you will read it and form your own opinion. I hope it inspires you to pick up the Bible and read it for yourself. I hope you can put aside your preconceived ideas and take a fresh look at something you’ve probably never really looked at before. The Bible. The written Word of God.

One of the strongest evidences for the truth of the Bible is predictive prophecy. The Scriptures describe future events before they actually happen. Many unbelievers claim all that was written was written after the fact. But to believe that, you have to disregard all the ancient writings that have been uncovered, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. These writings are thousands of years old and predate the predicted events described in them. Many of the things written in the books of Daniel and Revelation are happening now. We are actual eye witnesses to some of the most awesome events written in the

Bible. Some unbelievers try to explain away these things by claiming that there are logical reasons for some of these events that happen. Such as a sea turning blood red. They say geological factors create this phenomena. Or the devastating changes in weather, unprecedented occurrences of earthquakes, tornados, hurricanes, etc. It's all because of global warming they say. They seem to think that just because they can provide a logical explanation for an event, it isn't miraculous and that they have proven the Bible isn't true. But no where is it said that what is written doesn't have perfectly reasonable and natural explanations. The miracle is in the fact that the events were recorded thousands of years before they happened.

I believe all of what I have written here is by inspiration of the Holy Spirit and it is up to everyone who reads this book to decide for themselves. I have written this book in the form of questions and answers to make it easier to read and search for the answers you seek. Most of the answers here are backed by Scripture, but the few that have no Scripture reference do make sense, and are reasonable answers that I believe were revealed to me through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The Scripture references are labeled by letters in parentheses and follow after the answer to each question.

I would also like to mention that I used several versions of the Bible as reference for this book. I tried to use the versions that were the most easily understood. It’s clear to me that all versions of the Bible have the same meaning but are just worded differently.

In this book I hope you will find as I did, inspiration and sound intelligent answers to some of the most perplexing questions about the things of God. I believe this book enlightens and reveals truths that have been hidden to many over the ages (even many of the faithful who fervently study and pray and preach Gods word). I pray that in these pages you will come to see God’s truth and understand His great love for you.

For those who are already believers, I pray this book will give you inspiration and understanding that will help you in your walk with God.

For those who are unbelievers, I pray this book will

reveal the truth and draw you into the kingdom of God. May God bless you all through Jesus Christ our Lord.

What God Wants You to Know

by Paul Bonanno

The Bible is not an ordinary book. It is the written message of God. Written down by men using their words to express God’s message. To better understand the message you should look at the book in its entirety. It is not like a regular book having a story that you read from start to finish. It is more like a compendium covering many different aspects of what God wants you to know. It does not always follow thoughts or events in chronological order. Some things are spoken of figuratively and some things literally. To get to the true meaning of what is being said you must read it with a humble heart and a reverence for God.

What are angels?

(a) Angels are spirits who carry out God’s will. They are guardians over creation, supernatural creatures working throughout the universe, carrying out God’s commands. They are in direct contact with God and serve His will. (b) There are different types of angels, different levels or ranks in their order. Like an organization or military, there are different categories and levels that they work in.

The fallen angels (demons) are angels who chose to rebel against the creator and separated themselves from the power and glory of God. They no longer do God’s will and are working to destroy all that is good. They are poisoned by hatred because they no longer have God’s love and connection to guide them. (c) Their leader, Satan was originally at the very top of God’s angel force, but his pride let him believe he was better than God Himself. He thought himself so clever that he could dethrone God and take over creation. His foolishness has doomed him and his followers. Their actions in this world have caused much misery and corrupted much of creation. Their freedom is coming to an end and they will finally be put away from all creation.

(a) Psalm 103:20-21) Bless the LORD, you His angels, Who excel in strength, who do His word, Heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.

(b) Jude 1:9) Yet Michael the archangel

Isaiah 6:2) Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

Genesis 2:24) After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

(c) Isaiah 14:12-14) How you have fallen from heaven,
       O morning star, son of the dawn!
       You have been cast down to the earth,
       you who once laid low the nations!

You said in your heart,
       "I will ascend to heaven;
       I will raise my throne
       above the stars of God;
       I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
       on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.

I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."

Revelation 12:7-12) And war broke out in heaven: Michael and his angels fought with the dragon; and the dragon and his angels fought, but they did not prevail, nor was a place found for them in heaven any longer. So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth,

and his angels were cast out with him. Therefore rejoice,

O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

I don’t see any mention in Genesis when the angels were created and it starts off with “ In the beginning” so when were the angels created?

The spirit realm where God lives exists outside of time and is without beginning or end because it is where God dwells. When the Bible starts "In the beginning" it is the beginning of this dimension of existence, our physical reality. This physical reality that has linear time. The spiritual realm existed before or "outside" of this realm. Angels were created in the spiritual realm, mankind was created in the physical realm and subject to the laws of nature that God created for this dimension.

When God said " Let us make man in our image, after our likeness" He was talking to the angels then?

No. The answer to this is difficult to understand in this reality because it is so different from the spiritual realm. (a) God is not a man that he is subject to any of the laws of this world. (b) He is Spirit which exists three personalities in one Being coexisting eternally with no beginning or ending of existence. There is no disagreement between the personalities, they are of one mind. This as I said is hard to understand because we do not live in the spiritual realm. When God created us in his image and likeness, he also created us in a similar way. (c) We are flesh, we are soul, and we are spirit. But because of sin we are not in harmony with our entire being. We are constantly at war within ourselves. For example, our body may say yes I want candy or cigarettes, but our soul (or mind) may say no and there is discord, one needs to win over the other because they each want different things. (d) The spirit, when it is separated from God because of sin, is lost and cannot help. If the spirit is born again through the rebirth in the Lord we can overcome many of the problems of the triune nature, but the body is still dying because of sin. When our flesh dies those who have a reborn spirit will enter the spiritual realm of the Father and will also be given a new body as was the Lord, a body that can move between the dimensions as easily as we move through the air. (e) Those who are not born of the spirit because they rejected the truth will be thrown into the dimension (lake of fire) where they will be destroyed.

(a) John 4:24) God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."

(b) Matthew 28:19) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

(c) 1 Thessalonians 5:23) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(d) John 3:3) In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.

1 Peter 1:23) having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever,

John 11:25-26) Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.

1 Corinthians 15: 35-58) Some skeptic is sure to ask, "Show me how resurrection works. Give me a diagram; draw me a picture. What does this 'resurrection body' look like?" If you look at this question closely, you realize how absurd it is. There are no diagrams for this kind of thing. We do have a parallel experience in gardening. You plant a "dead" seed; soon there is a flourishing plant. There is no visual likeness between seed and plant. You could never guess what a tomato would look like by looking at a tomato seed. What we plant in the soil and what grows out of it doesn't look anything alike. The dead body that we bury in the ground and the resurrection body that comes from it will be dramatically different.You will notice that the variety of bodies is stunning. Just as there are different kinds of seeds, there are different kinds of bodies—humans, animals, birds, fish—each unprecedented in its form. You get a hint at the diversity of resurrection glory by looking at the diversity of bodies not only on earth but in the skies—sun, moon, stars—all these varieties of beauty and brightness. And we're only looking at pre-resurrection "seeds"—who can imagine what the resurrection "plants" will be like! This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we're raised, we're raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that's planted is no beauty, but when it's raised, it's glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality!

    We follow this sequence in Scripture: The First Adam received life, the Last Adam is a life-giving Spirit. Physical life comes first, then spiritual—a firm base shaped from the earth, a final completion coming out of heaven. The First Man was made out of earth, and people since then are earthly; the Second Man was made out of heaven, and people now can be heavenly. In the same way that we've worked from our earthly origins, let's embrace our heavenly ends. I need to emphasize, friends, that our natural, earthly lives don't in themselves lead us by their very nature into the kingdom of God. Their very "nature" is to die, so how could they "naturally" end up in the kingdom of Life? But let me tell you something wonderful, a mystery I'll probably never fully understand. We're not all going to die—but we are all going to be changed. You hear a blast to end all blasts from a trumpet, and in the time that you look up and blink your eyes—it's over. On signal from that trumpet from heaven, the dead will be up and out of their graves, beyond the reach of death, never to die again. At the same moment and in the same way, we'll all be changed. In the resurrection scheme of things, this has to happen: everything perishable taken off the shelves and replaced by the imperishable, this mortal replaced by the immortal. Then the saying will come true:
   Death swallowed by triumphant Life!
   Who got the last word, oh, Death?
   Oh, Death, who's afraid of you now?
It was sin that made death so frightening and law-code guilt that gave sin its leverage, its destructive power. But now in a single victorious stroke of Life, all three—sin, guilt, death—are gone, the gift of our Master, Jesus Christ. Thank God! With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

Luke 24:36-53) While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high."

The Ascension

When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed

continually at the temple, praising God.

(e) Revelation 20:12-15) I [also] saw the dead, great and small; they stood before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is [the Book] of Life. And the dead were judged (sentenced) by what they had done [their whole way of feeling and acting, their aims and endeavors] in accordance with what was recorded in the books. And the sea delivered up the dead who were in it, death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) surrendered the dead in them, and all were tried and their cases determined by what they had done [according to their motives, aims, and works]. Then death and Hades (the state of death or disembodied existence) were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's [name] was not found recorded in the Book of Life, he was hurled into the lake of fire.

How can a God of love send any one to eternal suffering?

(a) It is not God’s will that anyone should perish, but if you reject him you cannot enter into his realm. (b) If you reject God’s offer, after the resurrection of the dead on judgment day, you will be thrown into the lake of fire and be burnt up and destroyed (this is the second death). You will not suffer for eternity, (c) only the fallen angels who new God fully and turned against him will suffer eternally in the lake of fire.

Something you need to understand is that God is eternal, He has no beginning or end. He created time and exists outside of it. Time exists only for mortals. (d) We have a beginning and an end if we refuse God’s gift of immortality. (e) The angels on the other hand were created as immortal beings to serve God. (f) Those who rebelled however, got themselves thrown out of Heaven (some to Hell, others to earth) and the evil they have done condemned them all to eternal torment in the lake of fire.

(a)1 Timothy 2:3-4) This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

(b) Revelation 20:14 & 15) Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.

(c) Revelation 20:10) The Devil who deceived them will be hurled into Lake Fire and Brimstone, joining the Beast and False Prophet, the three in torment around the clock for ages without end.

(d) 1 Corinthians 15:51 to 53) I’m telling you a mystery. Not all of us will die, but we will all be changed. It will happen in an instant, in a split second at the sound of the last trumpet. Indeed, that trumpet will sound, and then the dead will come back to life. They will be changed so that they can live forever. This body that decays must be changed into a body that cannot decay. This mortal body must be changed into a body that will live forever.

Although I could find only one scripture that says angels are immortal, (e) (Luke 20:35-36) But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.) I believe they are, based on the fact that God did not just completely end their existence when they rebelled against Him, and also if they were not immortal why would they think they could overthrow God? Were they so foolish they thought they could defeat their Creator? I think their boldness came from the fact that they knew they could not be destroyed. Unfortunately for them they did not think that there could be something worse than termination (banishment from all of God’s creation into the dimension called the lake of fire).

2 Peter 2:4) God didn’t spare angels who sinned. He threw them into hell, where he has secured them with chains of darkness and is holding them for judgment.

Revelation 12:7-9) War broke out in Heaven. Michael and his Angels fought the Dragon. The Dragon and his Angels fought back, but were no match for Michael. They were cleared out of Heaven, not a sign of them left. The great Dragon—ancient Serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, the one who led the whole earth astray—thrown out, and all his Angels thrown out with him, thrown down to earth.

So why did God create us if some of us are doomed to destruction?

It is your choice. Should the Creator not create because some choose not to follow. Should God never have the joy and the love of his children because some refuse to face the truth? God created you out of love. If you do not want to love him back that is your choice. People don't stop having children because they know some of them will reject their parents. They do their best to give them the love and guidance they need and hope it is enough. Still, many turn away from their parents and are lost, but people continue to have children.

Why did God create such a horrible place as hell? Isn't that contrary to a loving nature?

Hell was created so the angels and man would know there is a price to be paid for their rebellion. To have no penalty for evil actions would result in chaos. Anyone with free will would want to try things their way, because there simply was no reason why they should not. (a) No one goes to hell by accident. Everyone knows the difference between good and evil, even unbelievers. It is written into the human soul. So no one is excused from judgment. Hell is a place of torment because those who are there are there of their own accord. They decided to do evil and this is the result. It is not God’s wish that anyone winds up in hell, but again it is a result of free will, and no one gets there by accident. So hell was created as a deterrent to evil. It is a way that God tries to keep people’s free will from leading them to disaster.

Adam and Eve were never told they would go to hell. Hell came later. And God did not even say He would kill them if they disobeyed. He warned them "If you eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil you will die." The Lord said death would be the result of their actions to disregard His warning. When they decided to disobey God their spirit was separated from God’s life force and they began to age and eventually died.

(a) Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

So then God did not condemn Adam and Eve to death?

That is correct, God did not condemn Adam and Eve to death. The Lord warned them "Do not eat the fruit of this tree or you will die!" He made it clear that the results of eating that fruit would cause death. That is quite different from killing someone for disobeying you. But common thinking among men is that they don't want to accept responsibility for their actions. They blame someone else. Look at all the people who smoke cigarettes. They have been warned for decades that it can kill them and yet they keep on smoking. In many cases they blame the producers of cigarettes for their sickness and although the manufacturers are not without blame they are not the ones making the decision to smoke. Abuse of drugs is dangerous and many times will lead to death, yet people continue to do this. Drugs, when used properly, are a great help to mankind. When used improperly they cause serious problems and in many cases, death. Everyone is warned about this and yet drug abuse is rampant. Then they wonder who did this to them. They blame everyone but themselves. It is the same with the problems people have in their lives. All the misery and horror that has come about as the result of people’s sin, they blame God. God did none of this. He has warned mankind time and time again. The Commandments were given. They are warnings against some of the most serious sins men can do, and yet people ignore them or say they were just created to keep them from having fun. People would rather believe nonsense than take responsibility for their actions. (a) That is why so few will enter into the Kingdom of God.

In order to gain entrance into God’s realm you must first confess you are a sinner. If you cannot do that you will never enter Heaven. That is the first step. The second is repentance, being genuinely sorry for your sins. The third is to ask for forgiveness. The final step to assure eternal life in God’s Kingdom is to accept the Lord Jesus’ sacrifice for your sins and make Him Lord of your life. God loves you and wants this for everyone. It is a personal decision to be made by every individual who has the capacity to understand. If you cannot do this you only have yourself to blame.

(a) Matthew 7:13) Enter through the narrow gate because the gate and road that lead to destruction are wide. Many enter through the wide gate. But the narrow gate and the road that lead to life are full of trouble. Only a few people find the narrow gate.

Why does God make it so hard to believe?

It is not hard to believe, not at all. (a) The Word was given and the truth is undeniable to those with an open heart. The evidence is everywhere, you just have to look. Seek and you shall find, knock and the door will open to you. If you really want the truth you will see it. Sadly, many people refuse to see the truth because they think it won’t be what they want. They are mislead by their arrogance and pride into thinking that their way is better. They think they know better but they are foolishly following a road to destruction. Satan and a third of the angels also had this arrogance and pride in themselves and rebelled against God. They have only condemned themselves. And the real shame is that it doesn't have to be that way. People are believing in lies constantly. (b) Evil creatures twist the truth and turn many on a path to destruction. You can see this in many ways in this reality. People are lead by con men to all sorts of trouble. A man seems nice and friendly and seems to speak the truth until he has what he wants from you and then you realize you have been tricked and it is too late. This is how the evil one works. He tells half truths and lies to lead you down a path to destruction, because that is what he wants, your destruction. He knows he is doomed and he wants to take as many as he can down with him. Do not be mislead by him. The Word of God is truth. In it you will find what you need to have eternal life and clarity to see the devil’s lies.

(a) Romans 1:20) For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

(b) John 8:44) You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

James 3:14-16) But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

Is evolution a lie?

Yes, it is probably the devil’s most damaging lie. Many confuse evolution with adaptation or the corruption of life forms by sin. Adaptation is a natural phenomenon God has programed into the life cycle for creation to survive. Things change and life adapts to the changes. That's part of God’s diagram for life. Corruption of life forms is the result of the sin of the fallen angels. They have power to influence the physical world in many ways. Their sinful actions have changed many life forms on earth from good to evil.

Evolution is supposedly when one form of life changes into another form of life. Like an ape changing into a man. This theory proposes that multiple mutations over millions, even billions of years, changes one form of life into another. If this were so there should be evidence abounding in the fossil records of the intermediate forms of life. There is none. The few missing links that they claim as evidence have either been hoaxes, mistakes, or forms of life that they are unaware of. Claiming long periods of time allows one species to mutate to another doesn't really make sense. There is no evidence. Think in real time, how for instance does one form, say a fish, grow lungs and breath air or grow legs and walk on land? If a fish mutated to have lungs it would drown. By saying this took millions of years, how does that explain the change?

Mutations are random and they usually cause harm to the original form, not make it better. Think about the mutations you are aware of. Animals with two heads, three legs, one eye. All the mutations you know about are degrading to the original form. Have you ever heard of an animal mutating to a better form? How can random mutations over long periods of time make changes from one form of life to another? There would have to be millions of mutations working in unison to do that, and the nature of mutation is that it is an aberration. In order for this type of change to happen you would need something to direct the changes so they all work together to create a complete workable creature. No matter how you look at this you need something more than time and random mutation to change one form to another and make a viable life form. Creation needs a Creator. Everything you use today, from the atomic reactor to a hair brush was designed by someone. Not one thing formed itself, and these things that mankind creates are simple compared to the complexities of living things. Yet many people believe in evolution.

The evolutionist claims natural selection is the cause of life and everything that comes along with it, including consciousness, intelligence, and creativity. It doesn't really make sense. Selection requires a decision. Does nature have a consciousness to make a decision? If nature can select, you are saying nature is intelligent. Nature is the designer. The evolutionist’s god is nature. They want a god they don't have to answer to. Let's see if I can make this clearer and more simply. Take a painted portrait of a man. The portrait was painted by an artist. He used paint, brushes and his knowledge, skill and creativity to render this portrait. It did not form itself. This is creation.

Now if you were to take all the colors of paint, put them on the brushes and keep stroking them on the canvas, how long would it take to create the image of a man? Ten hours, ten years, ten billion years? I assure you no matter how many billions of times you put that brush to canvas you will never get the image of a man. The artist, the creator forms the picture. Without the artist you just get mud on a canvas, no matter how many times you try. This is evolution.

They claim that creation is the result of natural design. In other words, all creatures and things came into being as a result of things just randomly coming together. The trouble with that is that there is no evidence for it. All living things are incredibly complex right down to the molecular structure. They live by everything working exactly the way they should in order to sustain life. To believe all this happened by accident billions and billions of times over for all the complex organisms in life, well, think about that. What do you think?

They say that there is evidence. For instance a snow flake. It shows design and all are different. But a snow flake is not the result of intelligent design, it is natural design or what could be called random design. Random design is the design resulting from a natural order of things. It may look complicated but it is not. Take for instance a drop of colored water on a sheet of paper. The result will give you a natural design. This is quite different from someone taking a brush with colored water and painting a scene. That would be intelligent design. That is what you see in life. No matter how many billions of snowflakes fall you will never see one in the shape of a man or animal or anything other than an unrecognizable form.

Another popular lie is that "the truth is relative, what's true for one may be entirely different for another." Here's an example of relative truth showing the absurdity of this lie. If I flap my arms I can fly. Even if you did believe that, it wouldn't be true. The nature of truth is that it is an absolute unchangeable fact. There can be no interpretation of truth. Because people see different versions of an event doesn't mean there are different truths for each of them. The police see this all the time when they interview witnesses. Differing observations don't change reality, just their perception of it.

Here is another one. All religions lead to God. That's another lie that is similar to relative truth. Most religions lead people away from the true God. They sound good until you examine them closely and then they start to fall apart. Unfortunately, most people do not take time to examine them closely. It sounds good to them so they go along.

Those are just a few of the many lies that people believe.

The Old and New Testaments of the Bible are God’s words given to man so he may know the truth. God explains in His book why we are in such a mess, how we got that way, and what we can do about it. He explains why we die and how we can live forever. If you are wise you will read these books with a humble heart and an open mind and if you seek the truth God will reveal it to you.

In Genesis, God creates the universe in six days and rests on the seventh. How can this be 24 hour days if

the sun wasn't created until the fourth day?

If God wanted to He could have created the universe in seven seconds, but He created a structure of the seven day week for man’s benefit. On the first day He created light and with light, time began. Now God certainly did not need the sun to keep track of time, He created time and keeps it ticking at his pleasure. The sun, the moon and the stars were created for man to keep track of the time that God had created.

Genesis 1:14) And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years,

How can I believe that God created the heavens and the earth only thousands of years ago when all the evidence proves it has been here for millions of years?

God did create the entire universe, and only thousands of years ago. God does not lie. Just because man has estimated that the earth was here for millions of years doesn't make it a fact. After all, if Adam was examined by scientists and doctors the same day he was created they would have never said he was a day old, they would have claimed with absolute certainty that he was a man of adult age. And they would have been absolutely wrong! When God created things, He created them fully mature. Man’s attempt to estimate the age of things is based on his flawed knowledge of the universe. It is based on a misconception that the universe came into being by accident. This assumption disregards a Creator. If you look at the evidence instead of opinions you will see the truth. Do not be lazy or let other people do your thinking for you. Seek the truth with an open mind and you will find it.

How did Adam know what death was?

Adam and Eve were both aware of what death was. They saw what happened to a fruit if you pick it and just leave it alone. It withers and dies. The same for a flower when you pick it, it withers and dies. When you separate something from its life force it dies. This is what happened to Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God. They were separated from God’s life force and they withered and died. This continues today. (a) In the resurrection those who are His will be given a new immortal body that will remain connected to God’s life force forever. (b) Those who reject God’s offer will remain separated and after judgment will be cast into the dimension created for the angels who rebelled. There they will perish. But before that there will be nothing but emptiness, pain and despair, because they have refused to acknowledge God. They will realize too late that they have no power on their own, everything they had was a gift from God.

(a) Luke 20:36) and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection.

(b) Jude 1:6) And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.

2 Peter 2:4) For God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but cast them into hell, delivering them to be kept there in pits of gloom till the judgment and their doom.

Revelation 20:14-15) The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

What happens to people when they die?

(a) People who have accepted the Lord’s great gift and have pledged themselves to Him go into Heaven when they die. (b) Those who understand his offer and reject his gift go to a place of bondage (hell) awaiting the final judgment when they will be cast into the lake of fire (the dimension reserved for the rebels) and destroyed. (c) The others (those who have not heard the word or were kept from the truth) sleep in the grave until the resurrection day when they will stand and be judged before the throne of God and give an account for themselves. (d) Fewer will enter Heaven, most will be condemned.

(a) Romans 10:9-10) That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

Matthew 10:32-33) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.

Revelations 6:9-10) When the lamb opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of God’s word and the testimony they had given about him. They cried out in a loud voice, “Holy and true Master, how long before you judge and take revenge on those living on earth who shed our blood?”

Revelations 7:9) After these things I saw a large crowd from every nation, tribe, people, and language. No one was able to count how many people there were. They were standing in front of the throne and the lamb.

When Jesus was hanged on the cross with two convicted criminals hanging beside Him we see the difference between the lost and the forgiven. One attempts to manipulate Jesus on the possibility that He might be able to save them from death. The other recognizes who Jesus is and confesses his guilt and asks for mercy. Jesus answers with love and grace. (a) Luke 23:29-43) Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

(b) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven.

Luke 16:22) In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap.

Matthew 5:29) It is better for you to lose a part of your body than to have all of it thrown into hell.

Matthew 10:28) Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Instead, fear the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Luke 12:5) I’ll show you the one you should be afraid of. Be afraid of the one who has the power to throw you into hell after killing you.

(c) Revelation 11-15) I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire.

(d) Matthew 7:14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

What about the people before Christ came?

(a) The souls of the Jews and Gentiles who followed the Law and carried God’s Word in their hearts were put in a holding place when they died. It was a place of peace and tranquility as opposed to Hell which is a place of torment. These believers where released from their holding place by Jesus when He died on the cross. Their spirits were reborn and they followed Jesus into Heaven. You see, they could not enter Heaven under the old covenant because that was just for the covering of sin, not the cleansing of sin. Those sacrificial offerings were symbolic of what Jesus was to do in the flesh. They had to wait until Jesus paid the sacrifice for their sin. They are now in Heaven with him.

(a) Luke 16:22-26) "Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, 'Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I'm in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It's not like that here. Here he's consoled and you're tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.”

Now, you might believe that this is just a made up parable

Jesus told to make a point. But why would Jesus tell a story that would lead people to a false belief about the afterlife? And why would he use a specific man’s name when his other stories didn’t identify anyone in particular? And who is to say the other parables are not true stories also? Just because they tell a moral story doesn’t mean they were made up. If we

accept this as a made up story, then are we to believe that Adam and Eve and the creation story are also made up stories? I think a lot of people tend to believe this is a made up story because they have trouble believing in a hell where people are in torment, but the Bible is pretty clear on hell. It’s mentioned many, many times as a place where the evil dead are suffering in torment. I think a lot of people are troubled about a loving God that would send people (even evil people) to an eternal punishment, suffering for all eternity. So let’s examine that belief in our next question.

Why would a loving God send anyone to eternal suffering?

Many people have been convinced that this life is all that there is. So they make up their own moral code which suits their own convenience. But seeing as their life is limited, they really have no reason to keep to a certain code of conduct and will inevitably fall back on “whatever is best for me”. They reason, “If I only have so much time to live I might as well do whatever I want to satisfy myself. Kill, steal, destroy, anything if I can get away with it.” And that may actually make sense if this is all the life there is. But if there is an afterlife and one where their is an accounting for one’s actions with no getting away with evil behavior, we have a different view of our lives. Just as most people obey the law because their are consequences if we break it, their are also consequences for breaking God’s laws. Jail is where we send lawbreakers and hell is where God sends those who break His law. The amount of torment is never discussed in scripture so we don’t actually know if their are different degrees or lengths applied to each individual. We only know that God says He will repay those who do evil. We will have to have faith in His fairness and ability to punish the unjust. But most Christians believe the Bible condemns the lost to eternal punishment. Let’s examine the scriptures that talk about that and see if that is actually what it says.

Looking through the scriptures I found many, many references to eternity and forever having to do with God saving His people, but I only found three Scriptures pertaining to eternal punishment.

The first in 2 Thessalonians 1:6-9 Certainly, it is right for God to give suffering to those who cause you to suffer. It is also right for God to give all of us relief from our suffering. He will do this when the Lord Jesus is revealed, coming from heaven with His mighty angels in a blazing fire. He will take revenge on those who refuse to acknowledge God and on those who refuse to respond to the Good News about our Lord Jesus. They will pay the penalty by being destroyed forever, by being separated from the Lord’s presence and from his glorious power. This sounds to me like being destroyed and never being able to come back to life, not an indication of eternal suffering.

The second scripture in (Revelation 14:9-11) Then a third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives his mark on his forehead or on his hand, (note also here that this sentence does not say anyone who receives the mark on his forehead or hand is damned, it says that anyone who worships the beast and takes the mark are damned.) he himself shall also drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out full strength into the cup of His indignation. He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever; and they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Looking closely at this Scripture, it says "the smoke of their torment ascends forever and ever." This does not say the people will be tormented forever, it says the smoke will ascend forever which to me means the evidence of their destruction will be seen forever. And "they have no rest day or night, who worship the beast and his image" which seems to be talking about the living people who are following the evil one and not having any peace because they are living an evil life. To me the term "day or night" is an expression of the living state, not the dead. Also, note the word worship is used, not worshiped, which would have indicated punishment for past acts. This description is of an event that is happening in this life, not the afterlife. So this Scripture may also be understood as not being eternal suffering.

The third scripture is (Matthew 25:46) “These people will go away into eternal punishment, but those with God’s approval will go into eternal life.” I think this can be understood in two ways. One meaning an ongoing punishment forever and life going on forever. The other (which makes sense to me) meaning their punishment is final, there is no coming back, gone forever. So the belief of eternal damnation is based on only a few scriptures. Scriptures which can be understood differently than what has become the accepted opinion of most Christians. Would a God of love and mercy send people to eternal suffering or just put them out of their misery? You decide.

Why did God give us the Ten Commandments?

God’s Commandments were written for our good not his pleasure. Every law he gave us was for our benefit because he knows what bad things will happen if we do certain things. You can see the results yourself. Examine the Commandments...

1) "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

If you put something ahead of God no matter what, false gods, money, whatever. It will lead you away from the truth and lead you down a path of destruction.

2) "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,"

Creating idols to worship will keep you from the truth and lead you astray. An idol doesn't necessarily have to be an image. Anything or person you idolize can lead you away from God.

3) "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain";

Taking God’s name lightly without reverence shows a lack of fear and respect for God. This makes you vulnerable to evil thoughts and susceptible to evil influences that will cause you harm.

4) "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy."

This was given so man could have a day of rest and not constantly work and become stressed out.

5) "Honor thy father and thy mother:"

This will give you dignity and lasting love for family which is in itself a great reward.

6) "Thou shalt not murder."

Everyone knows the problems that come about if you murder someone. You can see the agony in the friends and relatives of the ones who are murdered.

7) "Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Not only will this expose you to disease, but the complications that come about from this action causes much suffering for all involved.

8) "Thou shalt not steal."

Those that steal put their own wants above others. causing problems not only with those they steal from, but also within themselves.

9) "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor."

Many believe that this means not to lie, but not all lies are sin. This law is for not lying about someone to their detriment or for your personal gain. Lies aimed at someone else that are for putting that person down for your own personal benefit cause conflict and many other problems. But don’t get this wrong, almost every lie is sin because at it’s root is deception for personal gain and not the welfare of another. If you examine why you lie you will see this to be true.

10) "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house...nor anything that is thy neighbor's

Wanting what belongs to someone else leads to a false belief that you deserve more than what you have and your neighbor does not deserve what he has. An assumption that makes you justify your thinking and actions against him, which in reality is not justified. This causes complications in dealing with others.

Tell me which one of these is not good advice. These commandments where given to all people for their benefit. There were also many more commandments given specifically to the Jewish people to help them survive and prosper so that they could carry the word of God and see the Holy One reveal Himself in human form and save those who would believe in Him.

Where did Cain get his wife?

Cain lived hundreds of years and took a wife from the descendants of Adams children. Let me explain something. After Cain, Able and Seth, Adam and Eve had many other children. They are not all accounted for in the written Scripture because the Scriptures would be almost endless if everyone were mentioned. When Adam and Eve were originally created they were created perfect and without sin. When they sinned, corruption came into this world, but the corruption was just beginning in their time. They still had the advantage of a near perfect world and body. Over time the corruption has gotten worse and worse. Scientists tell you, you are using less than ten percent of your brain. Adam and Eve used one hundred percent. Their bodies and the world were not at a high level of corruption as it is now. Today, offspring from close relatives causes terrible problems. Back then it did not. Nor was it wrong to do so. It is only over generations of corruption that these problems occurred. So don't be shocked at the realization that you all came from the children of Adam and Eve.

I would also like to mention here that many people who find it hard to believe that they are all descendants of one couple have no problem believing that they came from the sea and became apes and eventually humans. Think about that.

Who was Cain talking about when he said "anyone who finds me will kill me", if the only other people alive at that time were Adam and Eve?

Remember they had life spans of hundreds of years and the population grew rapidly. So there were other people alive at the time. There were also angels who roamed the earth at that time. They traversed both the heavens and the earth. As it was recorded, Angels have the ability to transform into other shapes and also inhabit other forms of life. Satan (the serpent) and the other rebellious angels appeared in human and animal forms.

Genesis 19:1-5) The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. "My lords," he said, "please turn aside to your servant's house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning." "No," they answered, "we will spend the night in the square. "But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house. He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate. Before they had gone to bed, all the men from every part of the city of Sodom—both young and old—surrounded the house. They called to Lot, "Where are the men who came to you tonight?

Hebrews 13:2) Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Luke 22:3) Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve.

Matthew 8:16) When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.

Matthew 8:28-32) When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. The demons begged Jesus, "If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs." He said to them, "Go!" So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.

Job 1:7) The LORD said to Satan, "Where have you come from?" Satan answered the LORD, "From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it."

How could a serpent speak to Eve? Serpents don’t have the ability to talk.

That is true, but this serpent was possessed by the angel Satan and angels can communicate with humans. The communication is done on a spiritual level.

Can you tell us a something about the early world and the Garden of Eden?

God created the Garden of Eden (the most beautiful place on earth, a paradise) as a place where He would meet and converse with Adam and Eve. Adam had dominion over all the earth, but Eden was a special place where the Lord would dwell with man. God granted Adam and Eve permission to eat from all the trees of the garden except one. The tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The fruit from this tree was good but the results of eating it was death. Not because the fruit was poison, but because eating it was defiance against God. This action was a crime (breaking the law) because God’s word is law. The results of breaking the law was immediate separation of one’s spirit from connection to God’s Holy Spirit, because crime (sin) has no connection to God. Now it hadn't entered into Adam and Eves mind to disobey God, but Satan saw this as an opportunity to gain control over the earth. He and many of the other angels loved going back and forth into the earth. They enjoyed all the beauty and wonders that God had created here. He thought if he could gain control of earth he could convince the angels to join him in rebellion against the Lord. He was a master of deceit. He convinced many of the angels that if he could get dominion of earth from Adam and Eve they would be able to do whatever they wanted, and that God was not so Almighty if he (Satan) could get Adam and Eve to rebel against Him. So Satan entered the form of a serpent allowing him a vessel to experience some of the things of this world. He got great pleasure from experiencing the various forms of life on this planet as did many of the angels. But this day he was to begin his devious plan. He enticed Eve to listen to him and go against the word of God. Eve, not wanting to be alone, offered the fruit to Adam and he also sinned against God. Immediately they lost their connection to God through their spirit and also lost their place over the earth. Satan was amazingly pleased with himself. He thought he had successfully destroyed God’s plan by doing this and in so doing showed that God could be beaten. God though, was quite aware of all that Satan was doing. The Lord knew that free will had to be tested in order to see who was loyal to His kingdom. God used Satan's actions for His purpose. Everyone has a choice and Satan's plans were used by God to expose all those who would choose evil.

After Adam and Eve were cast out of the Garden of Eden the world began to decay. (a) Many of the rebellious angels began to corrupt the forms of life on earth. They were not as devious as Satan and outwardly began to do evil in God’s sight. They took on various forms of creatures, changing their nature from passive to aggressive. They created abominations, forms of life that where never meant to be. (b) As man multiplied on the earth these dark angels took on human forms and had sexual relations with human females creating offspring of a demonic nature. Giants and other misshapen forms of humans. Satan watched in delight from his cover of deceit. He did not openly disobey as many of these other angels did. He was smarter than that.

The evil on the earth got so bad God had to send a worldwide flood to wipe it away. (c) Eventually Satan's boldness got the best of him and he challenged God openly. He thought he could destroy the Lord and take the throne from God. The best way to describe Satan's thinking in human terms would be delusions of grandeur. (d) When Satan and his remaining followers openly rebelled against God they where thrown out of Heaven to the earth. (e) They now rule over the earth through the spiritual dimension, still going in and out of physical reality, but staying hidden as to not alert those who don't believe. (f) Do not think that God has left you defenseless. Those who follow Him have power to overcome all of the evil ones attacks. The power of God’s Word is absolute and no rebel can overcome it. The Lord’s plan, as always, is to gather those who are loyal to Him and cast out those who are not.

(a)Genesis 6:11-12) As far as God was concerned, the Earth had

become a sewer; there was violence everywhere. God took one look and saw how bad it was, everyone corrupt and corrupting—life itself corrupt to the core.

(b) Genesis 6:1-4) When the human race began to increase, with more and more daughters being born, the sons of God noticed that the daughters of men were beautiful. They looked them over and picked out wives for themselves. This was back in the days (and also later) when there were giants in the land. The giants came from the union of the sons of God and the daughters of men. These were the mighty men of ancient lore, the famous ones.

(c) Luke 4:1-2) Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil.

(d) Isaiah 14:12-14)

“How you are fallen from heaven,
      O shining star, son of the morning!
You have been thrown down to the earth,
      you who destroyed the nations of the world.
For you said to yourself,
      ‘I will ascend to heaven and set my throne above God’s stars.
I will preside on the mountain of the gods
      far away in the north.

I will climb to the highest heavens
and be like the Most High.”

(e) John 12:31) Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

John 14:30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.

John 16:11) of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

1 John 5:19) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

(f) Ephesians 6:10-18)

be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. Put on God's whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people).

I still find these things hard to believe. How can I be sure the Bible is the truth?

What year are we in? Our calendar begins from the life of Christ. Our ages are chronicled, before and after His life. What human being could command such importance? Thousands upon thousands have died rather than disavow their belief in Him. What human being could command such devotion that they would die rather than deny Him? Surely this demands an investigation on your part. If there is even a small possibility that the Bible is the true Word of God and that Jesus was God in the flesh what fool would not want to know this? If you are reading these words because you are searching for the truth then the truth will be revealed.

Your eternal life is not something you want to make a mistake about. Put away your personal bias and read the Scriptures with an open heart and mind. Seek the truth. Ask God to give you understanding and wisdom. If you ask He will give. Don't be impatient. You will not gain all knowledge at once, it will come in time. Be grateful for what God has given you. Even the poor have wonderful gifts from God, to be able to see, to touch, to smell, to taste, to laugh, to love. These are great gifts, do not take them for granted. The material things you want and collect will perish. God’s gifts will be with you always, through eternity.

The evidence that the Word of God is true is not really the problem, because it is overwhelming. The problem is that people refuse to believe in the evidence no matter how much is revealed to them. They do not want to accept it because they don’t want to stand before a just God. This would expose their evil hearts and they don’t want to believe that they are evil. The tragic thing is that whether they believe it or not they will still stand before God and be judged. Refusing to see the truth will not hide them from God’s righteous judgment.

God knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. He created the universe and all the wonders thereon. He lives forever and His knowledge and wisdom are infinite. His thoughts are written in words that you may know His Glory and understand the light of His love. It is written...

”In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Believe this and you will begin to understand.

Author’s note: If you want to read about the evidence of the Bible as fact, here are several books that should help.

The Signature of God by Grant Jeffrey

Evidence that Demands a Verdict 1&2 by Josh McDowell

Unlocking the Mysteries of Creation by Dennis R.

Petersen

There are many more if you want to look for them, but these are some of my favorites.

There are some who claim Jesus was just a teacher, a spiritual guide like others throughout history. Like Gandhi, Buddha, Seth, and so many others. They say that His claims to being the Son of God and the miracles He performed were created by His followers after He was gone. Why should I believe the Bible and not them?

In a court of Law who would you believe, a man that professes he knows the truth about what happened because he has personal insight into the case based on no evidence or first hand knowledge, or the testimony of several honest eye witnesses who give you an accurate in detail account of what they have seen? Do not be fooled by fancy talkers and those who appear to be knowledgeable but have no real basis in fact. They (like the devil) believe they are above everyone else. They will perish if they do not awaken to the truth.

Why is it necessary to study the Scriptures if believers are already saved?

(a) The Lord has written in the Scriptures vital knowledge to mankind. Ignoring this truth is a path to disaster. If you are not grounded in the word of God you can easily be mislead.

Here is an example using something from everyday life... Suppose you are watching a movie and there is a scene in a library. Someone leans against a bookcase and it topples over, knocking down all the other bookcases like dominos. This works well in the story and everything is quite believable. The whole movie is convincing and you are totally satisfied at the end. The movie works because of your lack of knowledge. But if you know the truth (bookcases in libraries are bolted to the floor) you would not have been tricked. Now with a movie this is harmless and even enjoyable because it is good to suspend belief for a movie. But in life lack of knowledge will lead you into all kinds of trouble.

Here is another example. You want to transfer a piece of property to someone else. You sign the deed over. You have done what you thought was good and proper, but then you get a bill from the government for taxes due for transferring property. If you had knowledge of the tax law you could have worked something out or chose not to take that action. There are many such problems in life.

There are also people in the world who will use your lack of knowledge to gain your trust in order to steal from you or hurt you. You constantly hear about these con men and how they deceive people. Those who are knowledgeable to their tactics are prepared for their deceptions and not taken in. The evil one works in this way. (b) He works in this world with spiritual powers, deceiving those who lack knowledge and leading them to destruction. You may not even be aware until it is too late. The only defense against them is God’s knowledge. Those who choose to fight evil in their own might are fighting without armor or weapons. Satan has vast experience and supernatural powers that make him an unbeatable opponent for any human. Yet he is powerless against God. (c) When you accept God and study His word you will have put on His armor and taken up His sword which is more than a match for the Devil’s attacks.

The Scriptures tell you that the devil has great powers. He is ruler of this world. (d) But in the end you will look upon this pathetic creature and find it hard to believe that he was the one that was powerful enough to deceive the whole world.

(a) Hosea 4:6) "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge"

(b) Job 2:7) So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

Revelation 12:7-12) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

But woe to you, O earth and sea, for the devil has come down to you in great wrath, because he knows that his time is short!"

John 12:31) Now the judgment (crisis) of this world is coming on [sentence is now being passed on this world]. Now the ruler (evil genius, prince) of this world shall be cast out (expelled).

John 14:30) “I don’t have much more time to talk to you, because the ruler of this world approaches. He has no power over me,

2 Thessalonians 2:9-10) The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs and wonders, and in every sort of evil that deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.

1 John 5:19) We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.

(c)Ephesians 6:11-17) Put on God's whole armor [the armor of

a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God's complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God.

(d) Isaiah 14:15-17) Instead, you will be brought down to the place of the dead, down to its lowest depths. Everyone there will stare at you and ask, Can this be the one who shook the earth and made the kingdoms of the world tremble? Is this the one who destroyed the world and made it into a wasteland? Is this the king who demolished the world’s greatest cities and had no mercy on his prisoners?’

Why does God want us to preach His word? Isn't that what priests and pastors are for?

Priests and pastors are for building up the body of Christ. It is up to every believer to carry the gospel to everyone they know. Think of this. If you were dying of a deadly disease what would you want, a medicine that makes you feel better but has no healing properties, or one that will cure your disease and save your life? People are dying. They are dying of the disease of sin. The world offers them pleasures of the flesh and mind to try and make them forget that they are dying, but no cure for that death. God offers them the cure for death. It is up to believers to tell them of this cure. Do not be distracted by the world. Tell them of God’s great gift. It is given at great cost. His Son paid for our sins with his life. His sacrifice paid the debt for our sins so we can be set free from our bonds of death. Share that news with others. Be part of god’s mission to save the world. If people reject the Word, at least you will know you informed them of the truth and they are without excuse.

Mark 16:15-16) He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Does God hate people that do evil things?

God hates evil. He doesn't hate His creation, He hates the perversion of it. If God hated people that do evil things He would have to hate everyone. There are those though that have totally given themselves up to evil. Those who are beyond hope provoke hatred within the Creator.

Psalm 11:5) The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence His soul hates.

Psalm 5:4-6) You are not the kind of God who is pleased with evil. Sinners can't stay with you. No one who boasts can stand in your presence, LORD, and you hate evil people. You destroy every liar, and you despise violence and deceit.

You see there is a difference between people who do evil (which everyone does) and those who are evil (those who devote themselves to it). Neither can enter into the Kingdom, but those who are devoted to evil cannot be cleansed of their sin. Those who abandon evil and turn from their sin can be forgiven.

Do not think you can discern who is evil, only God can see the heart. Only He can tell who will or will not turn from their evil ways.

Jesus spoke about the "sin of the heart". How is this sin different from actual sin?

Matthew 5:21-22 "You're familiar with the command to the ancients, 'Do not murder.' I'm telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder.

Matthew 5:27-28) "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. 'But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

To God there is no difference, sinful thoughts are the same as sinful deeds. People judge others by their actions because they have no way to judge a man’s true intentions. God, who knows the heart, judges you by the intent of your heart not just your actions. So if a person has evil in his heart but does not act on it no one can know his evil intent, but if he does act on it his true nature is exposed. God sees both the intent and the action as sin. The actual harm done by committing sin is exposed to everyone who sees it. The harm done to those who harbor sins in their heart are not obvious to the outside world, but it will fester in a person’s soul and cause harm (even leading to damnation) to those who do not cast it out. That is what Jesus was saying when he continued (Matthew 5:29) "If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

What will our resurrected bodies be like?

Our new bodies will no longer be tied to blood for life. They will be flesh and bone and live through the life force of God. They will walk through the dimensions as easily as we now walk through the air. The laws of nature will no longer rule over us, but we will rule over them. Gravity will no longer bind us. We will be like the angels of God.

Luke 24:38-39) He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet.

It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

Luke 24:51) While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

Acts 1:9) After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.

Luke 20:35-36) But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are

children of the resurrection.

Do spirit mediums really contact the dead?

There are two kinds of spirit mediums. One is a con artist using suggestion, manipulation and probability to deceive people for the con artists own benefit. The other is far worse. (a) It is a person who is being deceived by evil spirits into believing they are communicating with the dead. Evil spirits are everywhere, watching and gathering information to be used against people. They are like con artists and terrorists. (b) To the medium and others they appear friendly and helpful. Wonderful beings of peace and messengers of light, but that is a deception. They are the fallen ones. Angels who have rebelled against God and are doomed to destruction. Just like many terrorists they appear benevolent, even friendly and nice, until they show their true self in an evil act of destruction. They want to lure people away from the truth and on a road to hell because they are angry, bitter and hateful. Their goal is to kill and destroy and take as many souls with them to hell as they can. They deceive many with this tactic. People believe they are communicating with dead relatives and loved ones and are relieved to find they are safe and in a wonderful place. They are told whatever they need to hear to relieve their suffering over their loss. Then they are told lies about how Jesus was just a wonderful guiding spirit like themselves out to lead people into the light, but in truth they are evil spirits leading people into darkness and away from the one true God. The Word of God warns against people contacting spirits, because of how easily you are swayed. Do not fall into that trap!

(a) Isaiah 8:19-20) Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark.

(b) 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.

If death is not the end of life or nonexistence, what is it then?

It is the separation from the physical universe. Nothing ceases to exist, it only changes form. Matter changes to energy, but it never stops existing. Physical death is not nonexistence because you are in essence a spirit being. The human spirit that is dead to God (separated from God) still exists, it is just not alive in the original form as it was created. Just like the fallen angels who are spirits. They are disconnected from the Creator. When Jesus said we must be born again He was saying our spirit will be resurrected from the dead, reborn, brought back to life, a new spirit of life, just like the original spirit before sin killed (separated) it. So our spirit still exists, however where it will end up in eternity is what is important.

Jesus said that (John 11:25)"Those who believe in me will live even if they die. Everyone who lives and believes in me will never die", but believers have been dying for the past 2,000 years. How can He say they don't die?

Physical death is the destruction of the body. You are more than your body! (a) You are body, soul, and spirit. Your body is the host of the soul and spirit. It is the means by which you live in this world. Your soul is your intellect, personality, memories, all that you have experienced in life. It is the sum of all that you are. The spirit is the life force created by God. When God created Adam He created a unique creature. (b) He created a body from the elements of this world to house the spirit He put in him, which created a living soul. A human being that would live on the earth. Unlike the Angels who live in the heavenly dimension, man was created to populate the earth. Unfortunately when man rebelled against God sin entered the world and has been corrupting everything here since. Physical death releases your soul and spirit from this world. What happens after death depends on what you do here. Let me go back to the beginning and see if I can make this clear. A physical child is born into this world, a world corrupted by sin. The child is given the spirit of life by God. That life becomes a living soul. (c) The corruption of this world contaminates the child and it is also corrupted. The sin of Adam is like a hereditary disease passed on to all generations. No human is immune. This disease is not physical, it is spiritual. One of the results of this disease is physical death, but true death is the separation of the human spirit from God’s Holy Spirit. Sin severs the connection of the human spirit with God’s Spirit. Everyone sins, it is the nature of the corrupted world you are born into. Adam and Eve’s sin corrupted everything in the world and continues to corrupt everything. When God said to Adam and Eve you will surely die, he was talking about spiritual death (the separation of the human spirit from God’s Holy Spirit) which in turn eventually kills the physical body. Many people today have been deceived into believing death is only physical and that the only world that exists is physical. When the Lord said "you must be born again", He was speaking of spiritual birth which is given to those who accept Him and His sacrificing of His life in our place. So when Jesus said you will never die He was talking about the reborn spirit which is the real you. Your body is just the casing and the way you move through the physical world.

(a) 1 Thessalonians 5:23) May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(b) Genesis 2:7) And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

(c) Romans 5:12) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned

Why does the world seem to be becoming more evil as the days go on?

You wonder why the world is getting worse and worse? We are told we only use less than 10% of our brain. That is because of the corruption caused by sin. When Adam and Eve where created they used 100% of their brains. It is like when you use a copy (not digital*) machine, and you make a copy of a copy of a copy, and so on. The copies keep getting worse and worse until you can barely make out the original. If God does not intervene you would become unrecognizable as his creations. Some of you already are, those of you who are filled with hatred. You are nothing like the originals. But there is still hope. If you would humble yourself and ask God’s forgiveness. (a) His love is boundless and He is forgiving to those who are truly sorry for their sins. There is no sin so great that he will not forgive if you are truly sorry. Look in the Scriptures. David had someone killed so he could have his wife. Paul had caused the deaths of many of God’s people before he saw the light. (b) Everyone in the Bible is a sinner except the Lord Jesus. The greatness of the sin doesn't matter it is the repentance of the heart that God looks at.

(a) Luke 3:3) He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Acts 10:43) All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

(b) Hebrews 4:15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

*Before digital, the copy machines used a different process for imaging and if

you copied the copy over and over again the image would keep degrading.

How can a believer overcome the nature of evil?

Don't let the evil one confuse you. You must understand this... A believer is a member of the family of God once you have accepted the Lord Jesus. You become a legitimate member of His family. Adopted into and heir to all that is His. Remember when the Lord was talking to the multitudes and His mother and brothers stood outside seeking to speak to Him and He said in Matt 12:48-50) “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” He was speaking figuratively, but in the spirit literally. Once our spirit is reborn it is a member of God’s family. It is connected to Gods Holy Spirit. Look at what was revealed in Romans 8:14-17) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. You are children of God. You have great authority in the Lord’s name. Look at what the Lord says in John 15:7) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. Now don't get me wrong, the Lord is not a genie that grants selfish wishes. He is saying if you walk in his ways and follow His teachings your desire will be to carry out His will and it will be done. What ever you need to accomplish His will will be granted. You are endowed with great power in His name.

(Mark 16:17-18) And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

This power is there for us to use in His name, don't ignore it. The evil one will cast you with doubts and tell you that you are not worthy to use the Lord’s name, but that is a lie. He will tell you that you are a sinner and this is true, but Jesus died for your sins and you are cleansed by His sacrifice. The power you possess is God’s power to heal, to command demons and angels, to cast fear aside, to battle evil and triumph. Don't be hindered by the lies from the devil. He'll tell you that you are weak and undeserving, that you are no good and bring to your mind all the bad things you have done. What you must realize is even with all you have sinned and still sin, God has forgiven you and adopted you into his family. It is like a Royal family. A King who has many sons. The eldest son is just like the Father and has ultimate authority and power over the kingdom, but some of the younger sons are troublemakers and cause problems. They're like the black sheep of the family, but they are still Royalty. They still have authority over the people and command over the guards. And they are still loved by the father. Even though they cause problems, they still love their father and want to do what is right. If they follow the father’s direction they will earn more power and be given greater authority over the Kingdom. When they have learned what the King has given them to learn they will be just like the eldest son.

Follow God’s direction which he has revealed in His book and you will overcome all obstacles and be with Him in His Kingdom.

Why do so many people get away with the evil they do?

Is this Justice?

No one escapes justice. Even if one seems to have. On the day of judgment his evil will be exposed and he will face his sentence. You mistakenly believe that justice must be served according to your time schedule and punishments, but God is not bound by your time or your scales of justice. (a) If you stand before Him for judgment you will wish for man’s meager sentences. There is no reprieve from eternal damnation. Those of you who think you are justified in your hatred for those who have done evil against you stand on the abyss. Hatred is a consuming fire that burns so bright it blinds one to the truth. If you do not quench that fire it will consume you. Do not fool yourselves into thinking that your justice will satisfy you. If you have been hurt or wronged, no matter how severe, nothing you can do will change that. If you kill someone who has killed someone you love, will that satisfy you? No! Your loved one is still dead. (b) Trust in God who will punish those who deserve punishment. Do not think you are working on God’s behalf. The Lord does not need you to punish those who have done you evil. No one can hide from God. He will deal with them. Do not add yourself to the list of those who need to be punished. God’s justice is final and given to those who deserve it.

(a) Hebrews 10:30-31) For we know him who said, "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," and again, "The Lord will judge his people." It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(b) Romans 12:18-19) If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Then why should we have laws and prisons?

Most laws are made for the benefit of society, so all can live in peace. If people break the law they must be put away from the society that they wish to damage. Punishment should only be used to keep the law breaker from causing more harm. If your jail is just for punishment, if you beat or torture those confined, you are not living by God’s law. You are taking vengeance. Vengeance is God’s, not yours. If you are acting in vengeance you are acting out of hatred. You will add yourself to those who face God’s wrath.

Romans 12:19) Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.

Why can't believers do the miracles today like the ones that were done by the early disciples?

They can. (a) The same power that the early disciples had is available to the believers of today. The problem lies in the minds of current believers. Their minds have been programmed to believe many lies. With the passing of time the ability of the human mind to connect to the spirit has been greatly diminished. Even those who have a reborn spirit have difficulty communicating with it. The mind has been programmed over time to accept the physical and reject the spiritual. The early believers did not have this barrier of unbelief in their minds. The people of that time were taught about the spiritual world and their minds were trained to accept it. When people were told about miracles or other supernatural happenings they believed it because their minds were not programed to reject the spiritual world but to accept it.

Although believers have this power available to them, most of them do not know how to use it. It is as though they have access to a limitless power plant, but don't know how to turn it on, it does them no good. The Word of God can break through the barrier of the mind. (b) Renewing or reprogramming your mind with Gods word will release a person from the bondage of these lies. You wonder why you can't defeat the enemy. (c) Study the Bible and you will understand how the power works. Ask the Creator and author of the Bible if there are things you do not understand. Your spirit understands and if you are led by your spirit your mind and body will follow. Don't be frustrated if you don't understand right away. It takes time and persistence to learn things that are worthwhile. Remember there is an order to things. If you jump ahead and miss something that you needed to complete a task you may get the right results, but fail to learn the proper lesson. Then when you try again you may have the wrong results and be puzzled by your failure.

(a) Mark 16:17-18) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

(b) Romans 12:2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(c) Romans 15:4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Some believe that we shouldn't use doctors or medicine to cure our bodies, that our faith in God’s healing power should be enough. Is this true? Is our sicknesses and our inability to heal because of our lack of faith?

No. Sickness and disease are a manifestation brought about because of sin. Not just sin in the individual’s life but sin in the world in general. There is a great corruption happening throughout the physical universe. There is a breakdown from the original creation. Your bodies were not created to fend off disease, because in the beginning there was no disease. Your bodies do however have the ability to repair itself from damage done to it. This ability can also work in destroying disease and sickness. But this ability has been sorely damaged by sin. The amount of damage varies from person to person.

God can work supernaturally to heal and He does on many occasions. Jesus performed many healing’s while He walked among men and this was possible because of their faith, but mostly God will work through the existing laws of nature. That is why you find certain things in nature that can work to heal sickness and disease. (a) Do you think that all the medicines you find and all the vitamins and minerals and such are accidents found in nature? All these things were put there for our benefit. (b) Scientists, doctors and others discover how to apply them to heal the sick. It is not a lack of faith to use what God has put here for our welfare.

Also realize that although God has not caused a disease, He may use that disease to make someone stronger or more compassionate or maybe something else that can be helpful to you or others. Sometimes suffering has positive results. If your suffering enables you to snatch someone from the fires of destruction isn't that worth it?

God moves in many ways. Do not hold back what He can do because you don't know why or how He is doing something. Have faith that God knows exactly what He is doing even if you do not.

(a) 1 Timothy 5:23) Drink water no longer exclusively, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

(b) Matthew 9:12) On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

The Bible talks about the end times and many Christians believe we are now in it. Are we?

Yes. The world is being readied for the reign of the antichrist. It is becoming clearer as each day passes. The collapsing world economy, the weakening and corruption of the United States and other world leading countries, corporate greed destroying people’s livelihoods and savings. Computer chips replacing cash currency, religious fanaticism driving the escalation of terrorism, the rush to save the planet from global warming, extremely severe weather conditions, hundreds of thousands of animals dying for no apparent reason, the zeal to purge Christianity out of every aspect of our lives. All these things are happening to unify the world in preparation for the anti-christ to take over. Those who have never bothered to study the scriptures are totally unaware of the deception.

The book of Revelation reveals much about the end times. In the past little could be understood from this book, but today much of it can be understood because it pertains to modern life. It was written 2,000 years ago when people carried swords for weapons, but it talks about destruction on a massive scale that is only possible today because of technological advances. It talks about fire coming down from the sky and you only have to view modern warfare videos to see this in action. It talks about the earth shaking and if you have ever been near a current battle you know what that is like. It talks about the stars not giving their light and you just have to read the account of the kuwait oil fields burning to understand this. It talks about lightning, thunder, earthquakes and hailstones weighing a ton falling to the earth. How would you describe modern warfare 2,000 years ago? It mentions a big thriving and sinful city laid waste in one hour. Absolutely possible today, but would never have even been conceived in the mind of men 2,000 years ago. It talks about a deceiving leader who will force people to take a mark and without the mark no one will be able to buy or sell. This indicates a cashless society with technology to keep track of all its citizens. How close are we to this? We already have computer chips being used in animals and in some humans. Credit cards and ID cards further make using cash unnecessary. Surveillance cameras and GPS devices are everywhere. All these things seemed like just fantasy one hundred years ago yet this was written 2,000 years ago, but today they are the world we live in.

Here is what Jesus had to say about the end of the age. Matthew 24:3-51) Later as he was sitting on Mount Olives, his disciples approached and asked him, "Tell us, when are these things going to happen? What will be the sign of your coming, that the time's up?" Jesus said, "Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities, claiming, 'I am Christ, the Messiah.' They will deceive a lot of people. When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history; this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing compared to what is coming. "They are going to throw you to the wolves and kill you, everyone hating you because you carry my name. And then, going from bad to worse, it will be dog-eat-dog, everyone at each other's throat, everyone hating each other. "In the confusion, lying preachers will come forward and deceive a lot of people. For many others, the overwhelming spread of evil will do them in—nothing left of their love but a mound of ashes. "Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come. "But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up in the Temple sanctuary. The prophet Daniel described this. If you've read Daniel, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you're working in the yard, don't return to the house to get anything; if you're out in the field, don't go back and get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won't happen during the winter or on a Sabbath. "This is going to be trouble on a scale beyond what the world has ever seen, or will see again. If these days of trouble were left to run their course, nobody would make it. But on account of God's chosen people, the trouble will be cut short. "If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, 'Here's the Messiah!' or points, 'There he is!' don't fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and dazzling performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. But I've given you fair warning. "So if they say, 'Run to the country and see him arrive!' or, 'Quick, get downtown, see him come!' don't give them the time of day. The Arrival of the Son of Man isn't something you go to see. He comes like swift lightning to you! Whenever you see crowds gathering, think of carrion vultures circling, moving in, hovering over a rotting carcass. You can be quite sure that it's not the living Son of Man pulling in those crowds. "Following those hard times, Sun will fade out, moon cloud over, Stars fall out of the sky, cosmic powers tremble. "Then, the Arrival of the Son of Man! It will fill the skies—no one will miss it. Unready people all over the world, outsiders to the splendor and power, will raise a huge lament as they watch the Son of Man blazing out of heaven. At that same moment, he'll dispatch his angels with a trumpet-blast summons, pulling in God's chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole. "Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer's just around the corner. So it is with you: When you see all these things, you'll know he's at the door. Don't take this lightly. I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for all of you. This age continues until all these things take place. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out. 36) "But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven's angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows. "The Arrival of the Son of Man will take place in times like Noah's. Before the great flood everyone was carrying on as usual, having a good time right up to the day Noah boarded the ark. They knew nothing—until the flood hit and swept everything away. "The Son of Man's Arrival will be like that: Two men will be working in the field—one will be taken, one left behind; two women will be grinding at the mill—one will be taken, one left behind. So stay awake, alert. You have no idea what day your Master will show up. But you do know this: You know that if the homeowner had known what time of night the burglar would arrive, he would have been there with his dogs to prevent the break-in. Be vigilant just like that. You have no idea when the Son of Man is going to show up. "Who here qualifies for the job of overseeing the kitchen? A person the Master can depend on to feed the workers on time each day. Someone the Master can drop in on unannounced and always find him doing his job. A God-blessed man or woman, I tell you. It won't be long before the Master will put this person in charge of the whole operation. "But if that person only looks out for himself, and the minute the Master is away does what he pleases—abusing the help and throwing drunken parties for his friends—the Master is going to show up when he least expects it and make hash of him. He'll end up in the dump with the hypocrites, out in the cold shivering, teeth

chattering."

Some say there is no God, that there is nothing more than what is visible. Most don't even bother to seek the truth. They look at the civilizations and cultures from long ago and say they worshiped fantasies. They hear their stories of the gods that were worshiped and tell themselves that they were made up. Some stories were made up, but many of the beings that were worshiped were real. (a) The fallen angels manifested themselves in the flesh with supernatural power and many men followed them. Mans lust for this power and position over others led them to worship these fallen ones. Look at the past. Almost every culture has records of these beings. Look at the pyramids. You marvel at how they where built. They had no modern machinery to build such amazing structures, nor the intelligence to design them. It was the supernatural power of the fallen angels that made it possible. Even in the time of Moses these beings were worshiped and their power was seen. The Scriptures reveal much. (b) When Moses went to Pharaoh and turned his staff into a serpent, the followers of these gods turned their staffs into serpents also. The people were not surprised by the display of the supernatural, they were quite aware of it. What surprised them was the tremendous power of the almighty God. The demon god’s wizardry paled in the presence of the Lord’s power. The Pharaoh and his army called out to the demon god’s for help, but they were powerless in the face of the one true God, the Almighty Creator.

Remember Noah, he spoke of the fallen ones? (a) He recorded how they became flesh and took human wives, creating offspring, hybrids that were giants and powerful men. The contamination of mankind was so wide and corrupting that God had to wash clean the planet to rid the world of this disease. Noah and his family where the only ones not infected by this contamination. Because he remained pure Noah escaped the judgment of God. Now mankind is again faced with the manifestation of the supernatural. The old occult has taken on a new name. The New Age. It is presenting itself as both good and evil. White magic and black magic. Many are lost in this deception. The truth is that all the occult is evil. There is no good there. If you are into that you are being deceived. It is a way to lead you away from the truth of Jesus Christ. TV shows, movies and books, both fantasy and documentaries push this line of thought. It is preparation for the antichrist. The world is being prepared for the return of the supernatural. They must again believe in it, because the antichrist wants to reign as god among men. In order to be accepted as god he will do supernatural acts and lead many to their destruction. If you are caught up in this, turn away from these lies. Turn to the one true God and he will guide you to the truth. The way, the truth, the life, is found in one person only. Jesus Christ.

As Jesus said... “the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.” Through technology and the faithful missionaries sent out to all the world, how close are we to seeing this day? Do not fool yourselves, it is very near.

(a) Genesis 6:4) The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.

(b) Exodus 7:10-12) So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and did just as the LORD commanded. Aaron threw his staff down in front of Pharaoh and his officials, and it became a snake. Pharaoh then summoned wise men and sorcerers, and the Egyptian magicians also did the same things by their secret arts: Each one threw down his staff and it became a snake. But Aaron's staff swallowed up their staffs.

Do not let yourselves be deceived by the so called intelligent and enlightened people of the world who’s self righteousness leads them on a path to destruction. There is more truth in one sentence from the Word of God than there are in all the texts ever written by the fallen mind of man. Wake up people, you are running out of time!

The Trinity doesn't make sense to me. Is there One God or three Gods?

Many are troubled because you do not understand how God can be three personalities. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

How do you describe color to a blind man? How do you explain music to a deaf person? How can you understand the spiritual world with the physical mind? Words and visuals of this world are inadequate to describe the spiritual realm, but that is all we have to communicate with. When our spirit is reborn and is alive with the mind of Christ and connected to the Spirit of God, our understanding of the spiritual world is opened because our spirit bears witness to it.

It is written..."We will make man in our image and our likeness." Who is God talking to? It is not the angels. You were made in the image of God, not the angels. In the image of God you are also three in one. God created man from the dust of the earth (the body). He breathed in the spirit of life, and created a human soul. You can see this now, because unlike God and the original creation there is discord between the personalities. When sin entered the world it split apart the unity of our being. We are beings of Spirit, soul, and flesh. These three are one, but unlike God our parts are no longer united as one. You can see this if you are honest with yourself. For instance if you are addicted to something your body craves it, but your mind (soul) tells you to quit because it is harmful. Your spirit wants to reconnect to God but your mind tells you otherwise. There is continual conflict between our triune nature that started with original sin.

Can you show us in the Scriptures where it says Jesus is God?

Yes. One of the clearest explanations of this is in Hebrews 1:2-14) [But] in the last of these days He has spoken to us in [the person of a] Son, Whom He appointed Heir and lawful Owner of all things, also by and through Whom He created the worlds and the reaches of space and the ages of time [He made, produced, built, operated, and arranged them in order]. He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power. When He had by offering Himself accomplished our cleansing of sins and riddance of guilt, He sat down at the right hand of the divine Majesty on high, [Taking a place and rank by which] He Himself became as much superior to angels as the glorious Name (title) which He has inherited is different from and more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did [God] ever say, You are My Son, today I have begotten You [established You in an official Sonship relation, with kingly dignity]? And again, I will be to Him a Father, and He will be to Me a Son? [II Sam. 7:14; Ps. 2:7.] Moreover, when He brings the firstborn Son again into the habitable world, He says, Let all the angels of God worship Him.) Referring to the angels He says, [God] Who makes His angels winds and His ministering servants flames of fire; But as to the Son, He says to Him, Your throne, O God, is forever and ever (to the ages of the ages), and the scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of absolute righteousness (of justice and straightforwardness). You have loved righteousness [You have delighted in integrity, virtue, and uprightness in purpose, thought, and action] and You have hated lawlessness (injustice and iniquity). Therefore God, [even] Your God (Godhead), has anointed You with the oil of exultant joy and gladness above and beyond Your companions. And [further], You, Lord, did lay the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the works of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain and continue permanently; they will all grow old and wear out like a garment. Like a mantle [thrown about one's self] You will roll them up, and they will be changed and replaced by others. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end nor come to failure. Besides, to which of the angels has He ever said, Sit at My right hand [associated with Me in My royal dignity] till I make your enemies a stool for your feet? Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?

You see, Jesus (the Word of God) existed eternally with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. They are one. This is a mystery to the physical world because it is only understood in the spirit. Because you do not understand does not mean it is untrue. The Scriptures do not lie.

God the Holy Spirit impregnated Mary with a human life. Into that life entered God the word, becoming Jesus the Son of man. Human and God together forming one body. Jesus the only sinless human, because He was God in the flesh, and was the only one capable of being the sacrifice for mankind’s sins. This was necessary to serve justice. The results of sin was death. But if someone was willing to pay for your sins by dying for you this was acceptable, but it had to be someone who was not already under the sentence of death himself, because that person would not have a life to offer as a sacrifice. That is why God became the man Jesus, a sinless human soul to pay for the lives of those who were sorry for their sin and wanted to live. No human could do this, nor angel, because angels are not men and angels can be corrupted as seen by Satan and the other fallen angels. So God was the only one who could do this.

Here are more scriptures declaring Jesus is God...

Isiah 7:14) Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign: Behold, the young woman who is unmarried and a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel [God with us].

9:6) For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.

John 1:1) IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

1:2) He was present originally with God.

1:3) All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

1:14) And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.

John 14:9) Jesus replied, Have I been with all of you for so long a time, and do you not recognize and know Me yet, Philip? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say then, Show us the Father?

John 20:28) Thomas answered Him, My Lord and my God!

1 Timothy 3:16) And great and important and weighty, we confess, is the hidden truth (the mystic secret) of godliness. He [God] was made visible in human flesh, justified and vindicated in the [Holy] Spirit, was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, [and] taken up in glory.

Philippians 2:5-7) Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:] Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped or retained, But stripped Himself [of all privileges and rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.

Titus 2:13) Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the

realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Colossians 1:15-19) [Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him. And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently.

Romans 9:5) To them belong the patriarchs, and as far as His natural descent was concerned, from them is the Christ, Who is exalted and supreme over all, God, blessed forever! Amen (so let it be).

1 Corinthians 8:6) Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist].

Revelation 1:8) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, says the Lord God, He Who is and Who was and Who is to come, the Almighty (the Ruler of all).

Revelation 1: 17) When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as if dead. But He laid His right hand on me and said, Do not be afraid! I am the First and the Last, 18) And the Ever-living One [I am living in the eternity of the eternities]. I died, but see, I am alive forevermore; and I possess the keys of death and Hades (the realm of the dead).

Some people claim God is in control, everything happens according to His will. Is this true?

If this were true you would have to think that God is doing a lousy job. With all the horrible things that happen in this world how could you believe that God would do these things? Don't misunderstand though, God does have the ultimate power and authority over all things, but that doesn't mean He controls everything according to His will. If He did there would be no free will for his creation. If God did not give you free will you would be like robots with no life in you. You would not feel, you would not be able to choose what direction you wish to go. You would not be alive, you would be like a computer program. (a) The Lord has said His people will have troubles and tribulations in the world, but in the end it will be nothing compared to the glory of eternal happiness. Do not blame God for the misery in this world, it is a result of our own sin. (b) He will act to help you if you ask for His help, but do not expect to know what is the best way for you to receive His help. The best thing for you may be to go through a difficult or painful experience so that you can learn something, or be strengthened by it. Life is full of adversities that have to be overcome. (c) This does not mean that God is not there or that He has abandoned you.

In the beginning God created the earth as a paradise. He created Adam and Eve with free will to run this paradise. They were given control over the earth. When they disobeyed God and sinned, they lost their control over the earth. From that point on Satan took action to gain control over the earth and when he and the rest of the fallen angels were cast out of heaven to the earth they ruled over it. Earth has been in a constant state of corruption ever since the first sin. The misery, hatred, and all the horrors that befall mankind are a result of mans rejection of Gods Word. But have faith, God has set in motion a plan to reset His natural order and save those who follow Him. (d) The plan is almost complete and if you wish to be one of those who enter the Kingdom you must follow Jesus Christ for He is the way, the truth and the life.

(a ) John 16:33) "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

Romans 2:9) There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil

2 Corinthians 4:17) For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

2 Corinthians 6:4) Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;

(b) James 5:13) [The Prayer of Faith] Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray.

(c) Hebrews 13:5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

(d) John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Why do the innocent suffer?

If you bring an innocent into a world of corruption what do you expect to happen. Will it escape the corruption? Absolutely not. Mankind constantly blames God when the blame lies within themselves. They convince themselves, "I'm not a bad person, I don't steal or kill or any of those terrible things that bad people do." But no one is free of sin. Have you ever lied, took something (even small) that belonged to someone else, or wanted to take something from someone else that wasn't yours. (a) The smallest sin is still sin and we are all guilty of it, no matter how good you think you are. God’s Kingdom is a Kingdom without sin and we can not be a part of it if we have any spot of sin. So no one of this world can be a part of God’s Kingdom. But God has provided a way for you to be cleansed of your sin. (b) He Himself was born in the flesh, sinless because (c) He was manifested by the Holy Spirit and not by the seed of a sinful man. He lived a sinless life, as you should have, and died in the place of those who would accept his life as a sacrifice in their place. (d) Those who accept the Lord Jesus and his sacrifice are given a new reborn spirit. A spirit no longer corrupted by sin. This is the first of God’s great gifts to those who believe in Him. (e) Later when our bodies finally die from the corruption of this world we will be given the gift of a new uncorrupted body. (f) A body of flesh and bone, not dependent on blood for life, but sustained by the power of God. A body that can traverse between the worlds of the Heavens and earth, just like the resurrected body of Jesus.

(a) Romans 3:22-24) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

(b) Hebrews 4:15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

(c) Matthew 1:20) But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

(d) 1 Peter 1:23) For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.

(e) 1 Corinthians 15:42-43) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;

(f) Luke 24:39) Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.

Why did God allow Satan to heap such misery on His faithful servant Job? Was He trying to save Satan from his evil ways?

No. God knew where Satan was headed. Even though at that time Satan had not yet openly rebelled against God. Satan’s ego foolishly led him to believe he could deceive God. (a) Job’s ordeal was allowed so that he and everyone else who hears the story can understand. God is master of all creation. No one can deceive or best Him. His reign is supreme and absolute. Know this...(b) even a righteous man is still sinful, as Job finally realized. No amount of good deeds or self rightousness can make you innocent in the eyes of the Almighty. Job thought himself innocent and unjustly being punished. Because of this he did not realize that he was not being unfairly punished, he was serving God’s will by having a part in showing God’s glory. Because Job suffered these things, many of the Lord’s people can see how God can take the Devil’s works and turn it to good. (c) They can see how a God of infinite power, glory and love who could create such a vast and wonderful universe, can bless a man and save a humble soul. This is the message in the story of Job.

(a) Romans 15:4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

(b) Job 9:21) “I am blameless, yet I do not know myself; I despise my life.

Job10:7) Although You know that I am not wicked, And there is no one who can deliver from Your hand?

(c) Job 42:10) And the LORD restored Job’s losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before.

Why does God want worship?

Worship can best be understood as an expression of love and appreciation. God made you as an expression of His love. What parent does not want his children to hug them and say "I love you" and thank them for all that the parent gives them? What parent is not hurt by the child that rebels against them and ignores them? Unfortunately, that is a pattern of the sinful world. The child in its ignorance and pride turns to self and others that do not have the experience or love to guide them, and walks a path toward destruction. When you worship God you keep your mind on Him and look to His guidance in your life. This will keep you centered and not distracted by the ways of the world.

If God has pre-determined everything, how can we have free will?

You misunderstand, you think because God knows all things all things are pre-arranged. Your misunderstanding comes from your inability to perceive the spiritual realm. We live in a linear time frame. For us, one moment follows the next, and this is how life moves in the physical realm. God is not limited by linear time. He is the creator of it. To God all things exist at the same time. To give an example for you to understand, it's like a man standing and watching a parade go by. He sees things in the order that they pass him. God on the other hand is way up high like on the top of a tall building. He sees the parade in it's entirety. From up there he sees the beginning, the end, and everything in between. Now understand this, God is the producer of the parade, not the director. As the producer, He has given the participant’s everything they need to have the parade, but he has left the individuals the right to choose their own acts that they wish to perform. So everyone has a choice to do whatever they want. When the producer sends a message to the man watching the parade that the juggler is coming up after the clowns and he is wearing a green outfit and juggling bowling balls he has not predicted the future he has just told the man what he has seen.

Another way of explaining this is like two people who go to see a new movie. As they watch the movie, one of them knows what is about to happen. How is that possible? It turns out that the one who knows what is about to happen was the producer of the movie. He was there when it was made. He even had a say in how it was made. But when it was being made, the writer, director, actors and everyone else working on it had their own input into the movie to make it into the finished production. They all had the freedom to express their creativity over their own parts in the film. The producer didn't demand that they do it a certain way. He gave them a guide to help them do it correctly so it would be a successful film, but he never forced them to do it his way. He watched and let them make the film their way. So when it was finished he knew everything about the movie. Now, it's no surprise he knows all this, but he didn't control the film, he was just there when it was made.

It seems to me that if God is answering prayers, He is not listening to mine. Why pray if God is not going to answer my prayers?

Prayer is important. God calls people to pray and there are many reasons for it. Foremost is that prayer is an affirmation to God (and yourself) that you believe He exists. Prayer is a way to express your love and appreciation for what He has done, and a way to ask for help with the problems you are having in this life. You think that because God has not solved your problems He does not listen to your prayers, but He does. God hears your prayers, and acts on your behalf, if you allow Him to.

Let me explain. There are many ways that prayer requests are hindered. First, you must have faith; Without faith, you are essentially saying to God, "I'm not sure you can do this or want to do this." I assure you God created all things and can do anything and if you’re asking for help He will help you. But understand, His actions to help you may be totally different from what you expect. What you need to realize is unless God is working supernaturally (suspending the laws of nature) He works within the framework of His creation. In other words, He will not break the rules that govern this reality unless He feels a supernatural act is called for. He works mainly within the structure of this world to get results. This may take time and you may never even notice how events lead up to the help you requested.

One thing that God will not do is take away someone's free will. We are given free will to choose good or evil. If someone decides to do evil, God will not change that person’s mind. However, God will work in other ways to help in the situation. The requirement on your part is to have faith and patience, for God has to work indirectly through circumstances and events that you may not even notice are going on.

When you pray be careful what you pray for, and not with bitterness in your heart, for this also will hinder your request. Although anger may be justified at times, it is not a good way to approach God. If someone has done a great evil towards you, or someone you love, take comfort in the knowledge that no one escapes His judgment and His punishment is far worse than anything you could possibly give out. Don't trouble yourself over what you think is fair or unfair. God is just and no one will escape judgment. If anything, you should pity those who are lost in sin and evil. It is a terrible thing to face the wrath of God. If the evil that is done to you is not so bad as to grieve your heart, you would do well to forgive them, for you also have done evil to others. All are sinners and have need of forgiveness. So if you are forgiven you also should forgive others.

When Jesus was asked, "How should we pray?" He answered, (Matthew 6:9-15) "Pray this: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

He first acknowledges God is our Father and is Holy. Next, that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven, indicating that what is happening on earth is not His will, but He will work toward making earth like heaven. Then says "Give us this day our daily bread." indicating prayer should be done every day. And for daily food, which is to sustain life, and forgiveness which will sustain spiritual life. These are conditioned on your forgiveness of others, because if you are holding something against someone it hurts you – not someone else. It is you that become miserable not them. God sees unwillingness as sin, because it is not an act of love and that is what God requires. In conclusion the prayer ends with a request to overcome temptation and protection from evil. This prayer pretty much covers all the important things in life.

He also told this story, (Luke 11:5-11) “One who has a friend and goes to him at midnight, and asks him, ‘lend me food for a friend of mine who is visiting, I have nothing to feed him,’ And the friend he has come to for help says to him ‘go away, my house is locked up, I'm in bed and my children are asleep, don't bother me now.’ Even though this man is his friend, and does not want to get out of bed, he will get up if the man is persistent and does not give up. And so, if you ask it will be given you, if you seek you will find, and if you knock the door will be opened to you. As a father gives food to his child that asks for it, so will God the Father give to His children that ask of Him. “

You wonder why God asks for such persistence when He can simply answer at the first request? In some cases one

request is all that is needed, but in others, people need to show an earnest and continual plea because there may be things interfering with your prayer. For instance, in the story the friend’s kids are asleep, everything is locked up and he’s in bed. This shows how other things affect your request for help. In your life things get in the way of having your prayers answered, specifically a request out of anger or if you want someone punished for some evil done to you.

If you want things in your life to go a certain way and they don’t, it may be because God is trying to get your attention. You may see this as God ignoring your prayers when actually He is trying to get you to listen to him. Are you studying His word? Are you showing the proper faith in Him? Are you a good example of what He asks of you? It is so easy to be distracted by the things of this world. You must not let that discourage you or keep you from feeding off the word of God. Your spirit needs this like your body needs food and water. If you do not read Gods word you are starving your spirit. If your spirit is starving your whole body and soul will suffer.

God also understands that forgiveness is not always possible for some people, or even warranted. If an evil has been done that is so grievous, like the torture and death of a loved one, He knows how hard it is to see through that pain. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can someone deal with this kind of tragedy.

Remember what Jesus said on the cross. "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do." If you realize that many people don't know what they are doing when they hurt you, that they are acting out of ignorance or a selfish nature, and you yourself have done similar things, you will find it easier to forgive. Then again there are those that know perfectly well the evil they do. These people will not ask for forgiveness, because they believe in their own mind that they are justified in their actions. These people no matter how well they seem to have it in this life are never satisfied. Look to God’s direction on forgiveness. He asks for real repentance before you are granted forgiveness. If someone is not sorry for their sins they will not be forgiven them. This is how you should determine forgiveness. If someone is honestly sorry for what they have done and asks for forgiveness you should give it to them. Also, if you can see that someone is just ignorant or foolish, you would be wise to forgive them too without them asking for forgiveness, because that is an act of love which is what God is all about.

In several passages in the Bible, God is described as a jealous God. Is God so insecure He needs to be the only God in our life?

God is not insecure, but He is the only God that is God. All the other Gods that men follow are false. The Creator of all things does not share His glory with false gods that promise lies and deceptions.

The problem here lies in your understanding of the word jealous. The most often thought of definition for this word has negative connotations. It invokes feelings of over zealous emotions and envy. This is the most common use of the word in regards to men. However, the use of this word in reference to God has another meaning. It demands faithfulness and

exclusive worship for recognition of Gods Righteous and Holy position as the Almighty Creator. No one can compare to God and all worship belongs to Him. This word is used to show His exclusive Divine right, not an insecure emotional feeling.

Those who assign mankind's sinful and limited understanding to God who has eternal knowledge, wisdom and power only show their inability to see the magnitude of the Almighty God. How someone can think that their understanding can comprehend the thinking of God only shows the true fallen nature of that person. Of course we can all relate to God because we were created in His image, but to think you could be equal in knowledge or understanding, this is the same foolishness that Satan believes.

Is God a pacifist?

No, God is not a pacifist. (a )The nature of evil is to war against God, to dominate, control, kill and destroy. It is the way of evil to steal your free will, to take what was given you by God. (b) God does not tolerate evil, He acts against it. Man should not tolerate evil either. Those who do not stand against evil will be destroyed by it. Those who try to fight evil in their own might will fail. Evil is a consuming fire and can only be put out by the power of God. (c) When you join God’s family you will have the means to destroy evil. Not by your power but by God’s.

(a) John 10:10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy

(b) Revelation 12:7- 8) And there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven.

Luke 22:36-37) He (Jesus) said, "This is different. Get ready for trouble. Look to what you'll need; there are difficult times ahead. Pawn your coat and get a sword.

(c) Luke 10:19-20) I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

John 1:12-13) Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God.

Why do so many relationships fail today?

Because too many people mistake passion for love. That is why so many marriages fail. Passion is a wonderful thing, but if it is not driven by love it turns into lust which is driven by selfishness. In order to be truly happy in life people must act out of love. When people act in their own interests they are never satisfied. They look to all different remedies for their unhappiness, drugs, sex, music, power, anything that will distract them from their pain. In all these cases things just get worse. That is because people are made in God’s image and God is love. Rejecting God is rejecting love and this leads to an unhappy life. There are some that have love but have rejected God. To understand this you need to realize that some people reject God with their mind but not their heart. They have been convinced by lies and their mind keeps them from seeing the truth. Every spirit knows there is a God because it came from God. If a person listens to their spirit they would believe in God. Many people are only lead by their mind. This goes back to the original sin. Adam and Eve believed in their minds that what the devil told them was the truth. When they acted on that their minds conflicted with their spirit and their spirit was separated from God. Without the connection to God’s Holy Spirit their bodies began to die and eventually perished. The only hope for them and their descendants was through Grace which came through Jesus Christ. His life, death and resurrection accomplished a new way to reconnect to God. Those who accept Jesus and His sacrifice are given a new spirit connected to God. Few realize how amazing this truly is. Many people don't ever get past the basic principles of what has happened. They think (the mind again) their sins are forgiven and when they die they will go to Heaven. This is correct of course if they stay faithful, but there is so much more. If they were to let their spirit (the spirit connected to God) guide them instead of their minds, the knowledge and power of God would lead them into amazing discoveries. Those who seek out the mysteries of God using the newborn spirit are rewarded way beyond the riches of man. To touch the Spirit of God is not something that can be explained in words. Just look at what some of the early disciples were privileged to see and do. People were raised from the dead, healed of sickness and pain, demons were defeated and angels walked among them. The only thing keeping this from happening today is that Gods people are defeated and confused in their minds. The devil has governed in the arena of mens minds and kept them from the truth. Sadly even many of the believers minds. Instead of calling forth the power and glory of God through their spirit they are hindered by the lies the mind believes. Faith, true faith will move mountains, but faith is continuously defeated in people’s minds. Reach past your limited mind into your spirit and let God’s Spirit guide you. The Word of God is your handbook. It was given so you could triumph over evil and know the power and wonder of God. It will feed your soul. (Matthew 4:4) Your life is not sustained by food alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God. It is written (Hosea 4:6) "My people are destroyed for their lack of knowledge." Knowledge of God comes through His written word. Power and understanding come through His Holy Spirit. Live for God for God is love and eternal happiness will be your reward.

1 John 4:8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Why do believers get sick and some even die from sickness?

Several reasons. Some believers fall into continuous sin and as a result the body suffers. If they refuse to reject this sin or do not recognize it as sin the body will decay at a faster rate. (a) If God sees that this sin will lead a believer away from the truth and to their ultimate destruction of the soul He may cause the breath of life to be taken from that person rather than let that person continue on the road to damnation.

Sickness comes from the corruption of the world. It is a result of sin and effects every living thing. When a believer is not healed from some sickness it may also be because God needs to use them in some way. It is important that God’s people are able to relate to others. They may need to feel sickness or pain to understand how another feels in order to help that person. Jesus felt all of the pains of this world even without being sick. Even the heartbreak of the death of loved ones. His earthly father died when He was young and He felt the loss and the suffering of His family. He was physically tortured, humiliated and put to death for sins He didn't commit. He cried out on the cross "My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me?" and felt the fear and suffering of being separated from God the Father. Everything He went through He did so He could relate to our suffering. He knows exactly how we feel because He felt it. (b) He was also tempted as we are by the things of this world, but never gave in to that temptation, unlike all the rest of mankind. The Lord can use an infirmity or sickness to build us into someone who can relate to another and help that person deal with their pain. To give you an example, there is a man who's son was killed by an evil man. That man’s suffering led him to a crusade against evil people, and his actions saved the lives and suffering of many people like himself. His actions led to the capture of many and this prevented them from continuing with their evil ways. Now not everyone will lead a crusade against evil, but those who are faithful and continue in God’s ways will influence others. Their actions and compassion toward others will have results. They may not even see these results, because they may work in a chain of events. Their actions can affect just one person and that one person can affect another and another and that one may affect the lives of countless thousands. Because of the faithful many can be saved from suffering and death. Those who stand fast in faith can be assured that they will be working for God’s glory even though they may not see it now.

(a) 1 Corinthians 5:5) hand this man over to Satan, so that the

sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

(b) Hebrews 4:15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.

If we all came from Adam and Eve, how do you explain the different races?

There is only one race and that is the human race. The so called races are variations that came about because of the corruption of this world. The variations in physical appearance of our bodies are changes due to living things having the ability to adapt to different environments.

The same corruption has affected the blood line. In the beginning there was only one type of blood, but because of the decaying of the human body there are now several different blood types. It has also affected the other forms of life. Cats, dogs and many other animals have now various different types within its own kind. The same has happened within all forms of life. God has set this in the natural order so life can adapt to the different environments created by the continuing deterioration of His creation.

People seem to fight over some of the stupidest things. Why do so many people have a hard time getting along with each other?

Foolish arguments over insignificant things are usually predicated on people’s refusal to understand that everyone has different opinions and beliefs based on what has happened in their individual lives. Everybody's experiences are unique to them and their thinking is formed by what they live through. There may be similarities which bind certain people together, but there are always other things that they disagree on. Some people like liver, others detest it. Some people love dogs, others love cats. Everybody has their own personal tastes and opinions. One person’s favorite color is green another is blue. One person thinks their government should have more control, others less. In these cases of opinion where the argument is not over actual facts (which in the case of facts there is a correct answer) there is no right or wrong. There is however a right and wrong when it comes to actual facts and the recognition of good and evil, and every sane person knows the difference between good and evil. (a) God has written it into the human soul. When a person understands this they can see that the other person’s view is not a personal attack against their beliefs, it is just their opinion based on conclusions they have drawn from their own life experiences. The reason people don't get along is because they mistake opinion for facts and believing this they insist that their way is the right way and they become angry when someone disagrees with them.

A more serious contention is created when discussing facts

and one person refuses to admit the truth because they do not want to be wrong. This is sin because they are allowing pride in themselves to keep them from admitting the truth. There are also other severe problems brought about by built-up anger over issues that have caused them pain or received injustice. The problem here is when they focus their anger on innocent people and not the specific people who have caused them harm. This is sin because they are also committing injustice by directing their anger on innocent people. In their minds they justify their actions with the excuse that all these types of people are the same. They refuse to understand that individuals are responsible for their own actions. You cannot blame groups of people for the actions of a specific few.

It is also a grave sin when someone wishes to force their way on another. Even God doesn't force His way on people and He certainly could. But He has left it up to each person to decide for themselves what they believe. There are however tragic consequences for those who believe a lie instead of the truth. So make sure you investigate all things thoroughly. Make sure pride does not keep you from seeing the truth before you make a decision that will affect your life and the condition of your soul. Anyone who takes things lightly without looking for the truth puts them-self in danger of hellfire and there is no one else to blame but themselves.

(a) Romans 2:15) They show that God's law is not something alien, imposed on us from without, but woven into the very fabric of our creation. There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman.

There is a big conflict in the world and in the church about homosexuality. Is it a choice or is it something people are born with? And if it is something that comes from birth is it sin?

It is sin. It comes both ways. There are those who choose to do this and others who are compelled from birth. The corruption of the flesh from sin causes many problems. Just because someone is compelled from birth toward this doesn't mean it is right. Others are born with an inclination toward alcohol and drug abuse, or other mental and physical problems. That is a result of the decay in the world but it doesn't excuse one’s actions. Those who have these problems fight a major conflict within themselves. (a) The body is compelled to satisfy these wants. The mind wants to reject them. The separated spirit is unable to help. It is extremely difficult for the mind to overcome the urges of the body. Think about it. Try not to scratch when you itch or how difficult it is to lose weight or stop smoking. Because the mind has so much trouble with the body it begins to rationalize the situation. It makes excuses to allow for its inability to control the urges of the body. In their minds homosexuality becomes the norm. Many convince themselves that they are not driven by abnormal behavior but by love. They try to copy the normal male, female relationship to legitimize their feelings. Most refuse to see this as sin and because of that they follow a path toward destruction. The Scriptures say that homosexuality is an abomination to God. Do not use that as an excuse to hate these people. God loves people and if you accept His Word He willingly forgives those who are truly sorry for their sins and ask for forgiveness. The problem lies with those who convince themselves that there is nothing wrong. If they believe that lie they are calling God a liar and are rejecting the only way they can be forgiven. I must also add that I strongly urge those people who hate homosexuals to examine this hatred because it is not of God. They are also on the road to destruction because they falsely believe in their minds that they are doing God’s will and they are not. The Lord gives a strong warning in the Scriptures about these people. (Mt 7:21/22/23) “Not every one that says to Me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord did we not prophesy by your name, and by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works? And then will I profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” Do not be one of these people. Turn from your hatred, for hatred is a consuming fire that will burn you up. For those of you who are caught in the web of homosexuality or any of the other sins that compel you to continue in a sinful way. The first step to freeing yourself is to acknowledge your sin. Then you must look to the Lord, for His strength is what you need. Accept Jesus as Lord and He will forgive your sins and direct your path to Him. In Him you will find the way, the truth and eternal life. Your mind may tell you that physical life is all that there is, but your spirit knows the truth. This life is just a blink in the eye of eternity. Prepare yourself for eternal life by following God’s word.

(a) Romans 7:21-25) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

How can someone be assured that they will go to heaven and not hell? If they lead a good life will they get into heaven and if they lead a bad life will they go to hell?

Where you go is not determined by how good or bad you are. All have sinned and have a sinful nature that has been passed down from Adam and Eve. The spirit of man was corrupted by sin and separated from God. That spirit cannot enter into God’s kingdom. Your sinful spirit must be born anew without sin in order to enter the kingdom. The Lord will give you a new sinless spirit if you accept the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and follow Him. The more you read the Word and follow Jesus the more your sinless spirit will direct your life. Your flesh and mind will still be at war and still be capable of sin, but your spirit will now be connected to God and be capable of overcoming your sinful nature if you let it. Many of God’s people are so ignorant of the Word they do not realize they are being led by the natural mind which is still at war with God. They need to feed on God’s Word and renew their mind so as to be led by their newborn spirit. This will help them lead a life pleasing to God. A life pleasing to God will bare many good things.

Those who reject Jesus condemn themselves to hell and the dimension of fire, because they cannot enter heaven and God has created only one other place they can go. The spirit world is beyond human description and words are inefficient to really explain it. The descriptions in the Bible are as close as words can be to explain it, but you must realize it is beyond our ability to visualize it. Hell is not a place you would even want to see, let alone spend time there, and not believing in it will not save you from it. If you are wondering about the dimension (lake) of fire, it is a place created by God outside of creation for the devil and the other rebellious angels. It is also where everyone else that rejects God will be thrown into. It is like a burning garbage pit that will eventually be burned up and never seen again.

The people that die who lived before Jesus and those who have never heard the message sleep in the grave until the (a) resurrection day when they will stand before the judgment seat of God. There the records of all that they have done will be revealed and they will be judged by their works which will reveal the condition of their heart. Those who's works were evil will be condemned. Those who's works were done out of love will know the mercy of God. Few will see Gods mercy. Do not fool yourself, you have heard the message and you must decide. If you think you are good enough to stand before God on judgment day and escape justice you are greatly mistaken. The only way to insure your escape from damnation is to accept and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

(a) Revelation 20: 11-15) I saw a Great White Throne and the One Enthroned. Nothing could stand before or against the Presence, nothing in Heaven, nothing on earth. And then I saw all the dead, great and small, standing there—before the Throne! And books were opened. Then another book was opened: the Book of Life. The dead were judged by what was written in the books, by the way they had lived. Sea released its dead, Death and Hell turned in their dead. Each man and woman was judged by the way he or she had lived. Then Death and Hell were hurled into Lake Fire. This is the second death—Lake Fire. Anyone whose name was not found inscribed in the Book of Life was hurled into Lake Fire.

Can we make up for our sins with good deeds?

Do not be so foolish as to think that your goodness and good deeds can cancel out any evil that you have done. It does not. Only God’s forgiveness can eliminate sin. Look at this in the physical world. If you hit someone on the head and steal his money, nothing you can do will change that event. Even if you repent, return his money, pay his doctor bills and give him additional money. That does not erase what you have done. Only forgiveness can set this right, because you cannot change what has already happened. Always remember this, doing good does not excuse the evil that you do. Do good because it is God’s will, not because you think it can erase the evil you have done. You can be forgiven for the evil you have done if your heart is right with God. The heart becomes right with God when you repent of sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. There is only one sure way you can escape Hell and that is by accepting Jesus Christ as Lord.

Is fear caused by a lack of faith in God?

Fear is caused by various reasons. A lack of faith in God is one. You must realize though that fear is not always bad. A healthy fear will keep a person from making foolish decisions. For instance running through traffic or leaping the gap between two tall buildings. It is an abnormal (or unreasonable) fear that is bad. It is fear without reason which many people have because they lack faith in the Lord. Many of God’s people have these fears because they do not read the Word of God (Bible). They in essence starve their spirit. This hinders their spirit from helping the body and mind which would normally keep it healthy and free of fear.

Let me explain something. God gave the body certain senses, to see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. These are great gifts the Creator has built into the body to enjoy life. If used properly they enhance life, if used improperly they dull your life. Each sense can perceive either good or bad sensations. He also gave the soul senses (emotions), love, hate, fear, sorrow, anger and elation. The physical senses give pleasure or pain to the body. The soul’s senses give pleasure or pain to the entire being. The emotions direct the mind as the physical senses direct the body. Originally the spirit was the director of mind and body but sin killed its ability to have control. Now there is a raging conflict between your parts. In order to regain control your spirit must be renewed by God and your mind must be renewed by His Word. That will restore harmony.

What is evil?

Evil is the rejection of God’s authority. God is the Creator and ruler of all things. His knowledge is absolute, He cannot make a mistake. He is eternal and all things are held together by Him and nothing can exist without Him. His Being is made up of three persons (this word is the closest word you have to communicate this meaning and it is inadequate to explain it) consisting in perfect harmony as one being. This is impossible for the human mind to comprehend because it is finite and can only grasp a limited understanding of God’s universe. Evil is any thought or act that conflicts with God’s Word (law). Both man and angels were made to love and serve God. Don't misunderstand this point. God did not create you to serve as slaves to follow His every wish. He created you out of love like a parent who wants children. He gave you free will so your love for Him would be genuine and true. His intention is for you to serve Him as a child obeys a loving father.

He also gave free will to the angels. The results of free will are that some refuse to follow God’s way. Satan was the first to reject God’s will. He thought more of himself than he should and convinced himself that he was better than God. A third of the angels joined him in this rebellion. Mankind was created different from the angels. They were meant to procreate and multiply the human race, unlike the angels that were created all at once. The first of mankind was created Adam and Eve. They were influenced by Satan and sinned against God. The result was death and God severed His Spirit from their spirit and they withered and died. But God had a plan to save the human race. Through the descendants of Adam and Eve He would come in human form and live and die as a substitute (sacrifice) for the sins of men. This allowed for His word to be carried out and for mankind to be redeemed for their sins. But let me get back to the original question about evil. The nature of man is evil and has been passed down the generations from Adam and Eve. All of creation suffers from the affects of that evil. The world tries to convince itself of its goodness but the results are obvious. People act in all sorts of evil ways and convince themselves that their actions are justified. Either they say there is no God or they create an image of a god that will allow them to continue in their evil ways. The fallen spirit of man knows the truth just as the fallen angels know the truth. To continue on this path is to continue on to destruction. The rebellious angels being spirits and having worked directly for God are without hope. Mankind on the other hand was created lower (different) than the angels and has the opportunity (hope) to gain entrance into Heaven. All they need do is accept the sacrifice Jesus has made and follow Him.

Did God create evil?

No. God created everything perfect and pure. Evil is a result of free will, it is not a creation. Let me give you an example. God created light. Because of light, shadow (darkness) is a result (from the absence or blocking of light). Now if your question is did God know this would happen the answer is yes, but God chose to create anyway. If you are thinking God can do anything, why didn't He make it so people would not do evil? That is because you are under the mistaken view that if God can do anything, anything can be done. But there are things that God cannot or will not do. He cannot make a mistake. He will not lie. He cannot do evil. He cannot give a person free will and at the same time keep that person from using free will. If He did that then it wouldn't be free will at all.

When John the Baptist told the people that someone else was coming and He would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire what did he mean?

(a) John’s baptism was water baptism which is symbolic of what was to come. Like the sacrifices in the Old Testament it was a covering for sin but not the cleansing of sin. Only Jesus could forgive sin and cleanse the spirit. This is what Jesus did, He was our sacrifice and His death enabled those who followed Him to connect with the Holy Spirit. (b) The meaning of fire is that those who follow Him shall go through the process of refining and purification. Like when you put a knife in a fire to sterilize it, it burns away the impurities.

Casting into the fire is what you do to garbage when you want to destroy it.

There are two parts to the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The first is when a believer receives a new spirit. That spirit is connected to the Holy Spirit of God like it was originally with Adam and Eve. (d) The second part is when a believer receives the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This is Gods Holy Spirit entering into the believer’s soul. With this comes power and the ability to pray and speak to God in His Spiritual language. You may not understand the words that come out of your mouth, but God understands. In the Scripture this is called speaking in tongues.

(a) Matthew 3:11) "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

(b) 1 Corinthians 3:13-16) It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (Understand here, that some people during the refining process can lose what they have gained by not standing firm in their Christian walk. Although they may lose their rewards they will still enter into Heaven.) Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

(d) Mark 16:17) And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;

Acts 2:4) All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 19:6) When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

1 Corinthians 12:4-13) Now there are distinctive varieties and distributions of endowments (gifts, extraordinary powers distinguishing certain Christians, due to the power of divine grace operating in their souls by the Holy Spirit) and they vary, but the [Holy] Spirit remains the same. And there are distinctive varieties of service and ministration, but it is the same Lord [Who is served]. And there are distinctive varieties of operation [of working to accomplish things], but it is the same God Who inspires and energizes them all in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the [Holy] Spirit [the evidence, the spiritual illumination of the Spirit] for good and profit. To one is given in and through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] a message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] a word of knowledge and understanding according to the same [Holy] Spirit; To another [wonder-working] faith by the same [Holy] Spirit, to another the extraordinary powers of healing by the one Spirit; To another the working of miracles, to another prophetic insight (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose); to another the ability to discern and distinguish between [the utterances of true] spirits [and false ones], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, to another the ability to interpret [such] tongues. All these [gifts, achievements, abilities] are inspired and brought to pass by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, Who apportions to each person individually [exactly] as He chooses. For just as the body is a unity and yet has many parts, and all the parts, though many, form [only] one body, so it is with Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). For by [means of the personal agency of] one [Holy] Spirit we were all, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free, baptized [and by baptism united together] into one body, and all made to drink of one [Holy] Spirit.

1 Corinthians 14:1-3) Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.

1 Corinthians 14:39) Therefore, my brothers, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.

1 Thessalonians 1:5) because our gospel came to you not

simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.

Many people wonder about the apostle Paul. When he asked the Lord to take away the spirit who was a thorn in his flesh. Was he talking about an infirmity he had in his eyes?

No. Thorn in the flesh is an expression. If you say someone has a thorn in their flesh (or thorn in their side) you mean someone is a pain (annoyance) to you. Paul had a spirit that was constantly annoying him. He asked the Lord to take it away because he couldn't get rid of it. But the Lord didn't take it away. He told Paul that His Grace was sufficient for him. In other words, God’s forgiveness was good enough to handle the spirit. You see, Paul's conscience bothered him about his past deeds against Christ's followers. His actions haunted him and the spirit constantly reminded him of what he had done. If you are wondering why the Lord did not take away that spirit it was because Paul had a problem with pride. Paul was a bold and prideful man. God used that boldness to build him into a better apostle, but allowed the spirit to remind him what his pride had caused him to do to God's chosen people. God had forgiven Paul's sins against Him, but those who are forgiven do not forget what they have done. In Paul's case, because of his prideful nature God allowed the spirit to annoy him so he would not get puffed up (swelled head, prideful) about being an apostle.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9) And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

That leads me to another question I have about Paul. You say he was an apostle, but weren't there only twelve apostles for the twelve tribes of Israel? Wasn't Judas replaced by Matthias? Didn't that complete the twelve?

Yes, Matthias completed the twelve. Paul was a thirteenth apostle, the apostle to the gentiles. Romans 11:13) I am talking to you Gentiles. Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles

Because man was created first, does this mean he is superior to a woman?

No. Woman was created from man, and as part of man she is equal to man. Man was created from the dust of the earth. Does that mean he is less than dirt? No. Men and women are equal in God’s eyes, but being equal does not mean being the same. A pound of lead equals a pound of feathers, but they are completely different. This is the same with men and women. The physical bodies are similar but different. So are their emotional processes. Woman was made to be a companion to man, but this also makes man the companion to woman. The reason for the two is so a human is not alone as one of a kind. After sin entered the world man and woman were no longer connected by the Spirit. This has caused complications between the sexes. God has set certain responsibilities to each sex. If they work together properly, obeying God’s rules created for their benefit, they create a family unit that will function well in this life. If they disregard God’s plans the structure of the family unit will suffer. The essential ingredient for a successful marriage and family is love for each other. Without love the family cannot endure successfully. Many people get married without real love. They mistake their passion for love and when their marriage begins to crumble they do not understand why. Also, because of the sinful nature of the world they are lead to believe that the differences between a man and woman are not valid. They are taught that these ways are interchangeable. Usurping the ways of the opposite sex only causes problems.

1 Corinthians 11:3) I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man. The husband is the head of his wife. God is the head of Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:8-12) Man was not made from woman. Woman was made from man, and man was not made for woman. Woman was made for man. In God's plan women need men and men need women. Woman was made from man, but man is born of woman. God made all things.

Galatians 3:28) There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Didn't the apostle Paul preach that women are to be

subservient to men?

No, he did not. In Ephesians 5:21 through 33, Paul was explaining the proper order of things in marriage. If you do not wish to follow God’s plan for marriage, do not marry.

Ephesians 5:21-33) Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favor—since they're already "one" in marriage. No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

And in 1 Timothy 2:9 through 15, Paul was explaining how to act properly in church gatherings and to show respect for the congregation. This was in response to improper behavior by some of the woman there.

Also [I desire] that women should adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and sensibly in seemly apparel, not with [elaborate] hair arrangement or gold or pearls or expensive clothing, But by doing good deeds (deeds in themselves good and for the good and advantage of those contacted by them), as befits women who profess reverential fear for and devotion to God. Let a woman learn in quietness, in entire submissiveness. I allow no woman to teach or to have authority over men; she is to remain in quietness and keep silence [in religious assemblies]. For Adam was first formed, then Eve;

Some women were disruptive and trying to lord it over the men, showing off their knowledge in front of the others. Paul was an apostle and revered among the Christians. He was using his authority to make everyone aware that this was not right nor proper behavior. He was saying that there was a respectable way to act and conduct oneself in the presence of others. God has set things in the order He wants them. Do not judge God’s decisions, you will regret it.

When Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 "But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart." Does that mean we are committing real sin when we just think about a woman?

If a man has a desire or is aroused by a woman, that is natural. But when he starts to nurture that desire and becomes lustful, his mind gives in to sinful thoughts. That is a sin of the heart (or mind) which is just a step away from the actual act of sin. He may not commit the actual sin, but if he could he would and that intent is sin. It is the same for a woman who lusts after a man.

Jesus was teaching about the Commandment " You shall not commit adultery" and was explaining that if you have a specific problem with a sin you must get rid of it before it leads you to destruction. He used the human eye and hand to express the personal nature mankind has for sin. Sin is as much a part of someone as a member of the body. Matthew 5:27-30) “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. Think about it, neither your eye nor your hand causes sin on its own. It is the mind that utilizes these members for sin. It is these thoughts that must be cast out in order to serve God. This was Jesus’ way of expressing how difficult it is to cast away sin, but also how important it is not to give way to it. That there is a price to be paid for those who don't turn from their sins.

There is a big controversy over abortion. Is abortion an act of murder or just the disposal of non living tissue?

Life begins when the female egg is fertilized by the male sperm. Just because it is not fully formed does not mean it is not life. God has given the child a spirit of life and to terminate a pregnancy is to kill a human being. The baby is in its most vulnerable form and relies on the mother’s body for protection. Many people prefer to think of a baby in the womb as just potential life. This allows them to believe they can do anything they want because it's their body and they are not doing anything wrong. This is just the mind trying to justify the decision to get rid of the child. The mind tries to come up with all sorts of rationalizations for ending an unwanted pregnancy, but in the end it is still taking a life. For those who have committed this act they must seek the forgiveness of God, and God will forgive those who honestly repent of this sin. No sin is beyond forgiveness for those who honestly are sorry for their sins. Here are several Scriptures referring to life in the womb.

Jeremiah 20:17) Because he did not kill me from the womb, That my mother might have been my grave,

Luke 1:15) For he will be great and distinguished in the sight of the Lord. And he must drink no wine nor strong drink, and he will be filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit even in and from his mother's womb.

Luke 1:41) And it occurred that when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with and controlled by the Holy Spirit.

What about the unforgivable sin...blasphemy against the Holy Spirit?

This sin is for those who know God and His Glory and are so corrupted they hate the truth. Like the fallen angels they know His Glory and reject it. This soul is lost and cannot turn from its path of destruction. Do not be confused by the unbelievers who say there is no Holy Spirit. How can they blaspheme God if they don't believe He exists? Their words are empty foolishness spoken because of their sinful nature. They can still see the light if they want to. So pray that they may come out of the darkness and join the forgiven.

Hebrews 6:4-6) For it is impossible [to restore and bring again to repentance] those who have been once for all enlightened, who have consciously tasted the heavenly gift and have become sharers of the Holy Spirit, And have felt how good the Word of God is and the mighty powers of the age and world to come, If they then deviate from the faith and turn away from their allegiance--[it is impossible] to bring them back to repentance,

Why do so many unbelievers seem angry and in some cases hateful toward believers?

There are several reasons for the way they are. In their experience they have seen evil ones masquerading as Christians and they mistakenly believe that these people who represent themselves as Christians are authentic. So they believe that Christians are hypocrites and liars or fools. They also deal with many young and uneducated (in the word) Christians who mistakenly believe it is their job to condemn unbelievers. Christ came not to condemn but to set people free. This is the message Jesus gave his followers to carry to the world. Condemnation will come soon enough on judgment day. Until then Christians must carry the message of God’s love to a world that desperately needs it.

If God gave us sex why is it wrong to have sex?

It is not wrong to have sex, but everything God has given us has a proper way to experience it. Our world has become sex obsessed. It has become an expression of self gratification of the flesh and is used as a marketing tool for selling things. People are in a constant state of sexual arousal. That is not the application it was intended for. Sex was created for the enjoyment and procreation of a man and woman who love each other. It is a gift of pleasure for those who commit to one another for the companionship of a lifetime and to carry on a family. Sin has corrupted sex just as it has corrupted everything else. The transmission of many diseases (some fatal) are spread by the casual and thoughtless act of sex with someone other than your lifetime mate. It not only spreads disease but also causes many emotional problems between people. Sex is a most intimate act and should not be taken lightly. It should be reserved for someone you can love and trust and who will love and trust you. The world has made it a toy to play with. A leisure time pursuit. It has taken away its true meaning. Instead of it being an expression of love between a man and a woman it has become a tool of self gratification, each partner only interested in their own pleasure. Mankind has taken something wonderful and turned it into a state of mutual gratification of the flesh. You may think that there is nothing wrong with that, but because of this most of you can no longer experience the true nature of sexual love between a man and a woman. You have settled for something far inferior than what was originally created. The sexual act between two people who love each other should create a bond for life. Unfortunately, because of the lust of the flesh and the casual attitude towards sex, you may no longer be able to create that bond. That is one of the reasons there are so many divorces. The bond is weak because it has been damaged by prior inappropriate use. The urge for sex is one of the body’s strongest urges. Once the body has experienced it, it wants it more and more. That is why it is best to abstain from sex. The urge is not as strong if you haven’t experienced it.

Just as food satisfies hunger, water satisfies thirst, and scratching satisfies an itch, sex satisfies a physical passion that builds up in the body. And just as the smell or sight of most food will awaken the urge to eat so can the sight or touch of someone who is appearing provocatively arouse the need for sex. That is why most of your free societies are sex obsessed. Everywhere you turn there is stimulation for the need to have sex. You wonder why your children are sexually active at such early ages. It is because they are constantly stimulated by their surroundings. Look around you, it’s everywhere. And besides that, you send the message that it is alright to satisfy this need, even necessary.

Many of you who are corrupted by sin cannot control your urges and turn to rape and sexual abuse. This is the result of turning away from what God has set as proper behavior. Staying chaste until married. Not partaking in the lusts of the flesh. Keeping away from temptations. If you did this you would not be in such a sorry state.

Why can’t we admire the beauty of the human form as an expression of art in photography, paintings and other media?

You can, but most of you use these forms to provoke sexual stimulation not as an expression of art. The human body is one of God’s most beautiful creations. If you present it as that and not as a means of sexual gratification your intent is not sinful. But how do you determine what will and what will not stimulate someone’s sexual arousal? It is better to keep from becoming a part in someone’s temptation to sin.

Most of your society has replaced their devotion to beauty to a devotion of sex. Women once were interested in being beautiful, now they are interested in being sexy. Inner and outer beauty attracts people because it is a manifestation of God. Sexuality attracts people because it is a manifestation of the flesh. If you wonder why your relationships are not strong and continue to fail, ask yourself what drew you two together. Was it that you were drawn to the inner and outer beauty of a person, or were you drawn in by their sexuality, and what were they drawn in by? If you dress to be sexually provocative this is the type of person you will attract. Someone who is interested in satisfying their sexual needs. If you do not dress in that manner you will attract someone that is interested in you and not their sexual drive. There may be less people attracted to you, but those who are, are worth more than all who are not. A loyal companion that truly loves you will give you happiness. Someone that is there until they tire of being with you and are drawn away to their next sexual attraction is not someone worth your time. That type of person puts you in danger of physical disease and mental heartache.

Has anything escaped the corruption of sin?

Nothing and no one, but the son of God, and it is only He who can bring the dead to life. All things are in a state of decay and are dying. He alone is the cure for a dying world. Believe and trust in Him and you will not be disappointed. Follow Him and you will be greatly rewarded. Obey His commands and love one another and you will receive everlasting life.

How can I trust the Bible to be accurate and unabridged? Aren’t there different versions and aren’t they subject to different interpretations?

You can trust that God has the power to keep his word safe and without corruption. The different versions are just the different use of language to best express the meaning of the Scriptures. The meaning remains the same, just the use of the wording is different. The Bible you have has been translated into different languages so all people can read the word of God. They are not interpretations, they are translations. They keep the true meaning of Gods message, but are expressed in the best way using each individual language.

There are however problems of interpretation when words are taken out of context. Some people take certain passages and misuse them causing confusion and misdirection. Scripture must always be read in context of what is being said. Some people who seek power and others who are not humble enough to believe themselves wrong concoct whole religions based on inaccurate interpretations of pieces of the Scriptures taken out of context. This is dangerous and leads many astray, some even to death.

Many are confused by what is said in the Bible because their minds do not want to accept the supernatural aspect of the Scriptures. (a) To fully understand the meaning of the word of God is not possible with the human mind. It can only be truly understood by the spirit. For instance, the human mind cannot understand the nature of God being three persons in one. It has no physical reference for this. But the human spirit understands because it exists in that world. Many people are lost because they refuse to trust God’s word and only want to accept what the human mind can understand. This is a great tragedy because it is their stubbornness that keeps them from the truth. After all, they accept gravity, magnetism and many other things in life that they do not understand, yet they refuse to accept the Word of God.

(a) 1 Corinthians 2:14) The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.

What about animals? Did God give us animals to eat for food?

God did not create animals as food. They became food because of man’s evil nature. When the corrupted angels wondered the earth and mingled with mankind they brought about many perverse ways into the world. One of them was the slaughter of animals for food. At that time the world became overwhelmed by sin and they reveled in it. That is why the Lord opened up the heavens and washed away mankind in a flood of water. Only Noah and his family survived. After the flood God allowed mankind to continue to eat the meat of animals. Probably because the other sources of protein at the time were not enough to satisfy the body’s needs.

What were the people of Noah's time like?

They were very much like most of the people are today. They followed after their own lusts, debasing themselves in God’s eyes. They did whatever they wanted to please themselves. Never giving thanks to God for what they had. They idolized the fallen angels and followed their evil ways. Instead of standing for honor, integrity and praise to God they worshiped angels and sought after fame, fortune and the lusts of the flesh. They substituted self righteousness for the righteousness of God. Those of you who still have a conscience toward God can see this evil in the world today. Those of you who do not see this evil think they can make the world better by their own hand, excusing evil as just ignorance. They believe they can make everything right by educating people and filling their needs. Not that education or helping people is wrong, on the contrary it is a good thing, but it will never solve the problem of evil. Look at many of the people who are rich and successful, do they not have problems too? Many live with depression, drug, sex, and alcohol addictions, deviant behavior and many other problems. Many die young and people wonder why. You cannot deny or ignore the true God of Creation and think you can lead a happy and fulfilling life. You can try to fill up the hole in your soul with the things of this world but you will not be successful. Only God can fill that hole. That is what’s missing.

Many people see the God of the Old Testament as angry and vengeful, and the God of the New Testament as

loving and kind. How do you explain the difference?

God remains the same always. He is loving and forgiving in both the Old and New Testaments. What you perceive as an inconsistency in God’s behavior is your inability to understand that God is also righteous and just. Do you think your human compassion is greater than God’s? Do you actually believe that you can judge the motives and actions of the Creator of all things? Why would God put up with such arrogance if He wasn’t loving and kind? Do you think that because you are bound by laws God should also be bound by laws? God created these laws and they are for our benefit not His. Keep this in mind when you dare to believe you can judge the actions of the Almighty God.

Maybe you think that God was not just when He told the Hebrews to kill the inhabitants of the promised land. What you fail to understand is that no one is dead to God. Only the flesh dies. The spirit and soul still exists and must stand before the Lord on judgment day. Now as to why God told the Hebrews to kill the inhabitants...They where lost in sin and if they were not eliminated completely that sin would also infect the chosen people, which it did because they didn’t listen to God. They did not cleanse the land, and because of that they suffered greatly. Today they are surrounded by enemies and are constantly on the edge of war.

Maybe you think it was unfair that a man was struck dead because he touched the Ark of the Covenant. That man was not destroyed, he is in the kingdom today. But God is holy and anyone tainted by sin cannot survive even near Him. Touching the Ark was too close of a contact for a sinner to survive.

Maybe you think that God was cruel to ask Abraham to sacrifice his son. But that was a lesson in faith for Abraham and all that follow. It was also to show that God would substitute an innocent sacrificial lamb (His Son Jesus) to save those who were meant to die for their sins. The Old Testament is full of stories leading you to the Son of God.

You must also understand that the Old Testament is God working through the Law and the Prophets. It’s about the chosen people who were to carry the Word of God through the ages so that mankind would have hope of salvation from sin. The New Testament is the fulfillment of the Old. It is how God lowered Himself and became a sinless human being, showing all of humanity how they should live. Jesus is the perfect example of what we should be, but because of our sinful nature are unable to be. So He died in our place to save us from death (the separation from God).

I'm a bit confused on the subject of judging people. Are we to judge or not?

A lot of believers have been causing problems because they mistakenly believe they are to condemn sinners. It is not their job to condemn anyone. It is their job to show the love of Jesus Christ. To reveal His truth. To walk in His ways. To live His kind of life. (a) (Even the Lord Jesus did not come to condemn, He came to save.) Judgment belongs to God not His followers. Those who take what belongs to God put themselves in danger of hellfire. This is not to say that we cannot judge peoples actions of right or wrong. We know because of the scriptures and our conscience toward God what is right and wrong. It is not wrong to speak out about a person’s actions of good or evil. What is wrong is to condemn someone who has done evil. We have all done evil and continue to do so. If we condemn someone we condemn ourselves. It is right to expose evil but it is not our place to pass judgment. This is what Jesus meant when He said

(Matthew 7:1-2) "Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

(b) You may also feel you should not associate with peoplewho do evil. If this were so we would not be able to keep company with anyone, because everyone does evil. Beside that, we do need to relate to these people, just as Jesus did. This is how they are exposed to the Word of God through his followers. How will they see His love if we do not show it to them?

(c) About the followers who do not act according to the Word of the Lord. They should be corrected for their wrong behavior and if they do not repent of their sins but continue in their contrary ways they should be shunned by the Church.

(a) John 12:47-49) "As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it.

1 Corinthians 4:2-5) Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

(b)1 Corinthians 5:9-13) I have written you in my letter not to

associate with sexually immoral people—not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside.

(c) Matthew 18:15–17) If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

2 Thessalonians 3:6) In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we command you, brothers, to keep away from every brother who is idle and does not live according to the teaching you received

from us.

There is a great deal of controversy over Jesus’ comments in Matthew 16 about Peter being the rock. Some say that Jesus made Peter the head of the church. Some say that Jesus was talking about the fact that He was the Christ. Can you explain this?

The head of the church is Christ Jesus. He never set one disciple above another. (a) Jesus asked His disciples “Who do people say that I am?” and the disciples told Him the people had different ideas of who He was. Then He asked who they thought He was? Simon spoke up and said that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. The Lord replied “ Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.” Then Jesus called Simon, Peter (a large piece of rock), because Simon understood who Jesus really was. This name was descriptive indicating that this piece of knowledge was a great revelation to man. (b) Jesus continued “and on this rock (a huge rock) I will build My church.” The two words are different. The first is “petros” meaning a large piece of rock and the second was “petra” meaning a huge rock like the rock of Gibraltar. (e) This huge rock is the fact that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God (God in human form). The piece of rock is the realization by man that Jesus is the Christ. The church is built on the fact that Jesus is the Christ and no power on earth can shake that fact.

Most of the confusion here comes from (c) Jesus saying He will give Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Notice that Jesus did not say “Here are the keys to heaven.” He said that He will give him the keys to heaven. Future tense. He was telling Peter that he would be able to enter into heaven because he believed that Jesus was the Christ. Every one who believes this and follows Jesus gets the keys to heaven. When Jesus told Peter that he could bind and loose things on earth He was saying that Peter would follow the ways that were already in heaven and declare them on earth.

Think about this...(d) shortly after this happened Jesus revealed to the disciples that He was to suffer and die. Peter was then influenced by Satan into trying to stop Jesus from going through with his mission. Peter also denied Jesus three times. Would Jesus put the church in the hands of someone who could be influenced by Satan or was too afraid to admit he even knew Jesus? No, I don't think so, and that is why no man can head up the church. Only the sinless Son of God can hold the church together. Jesus is alive and is the head of the church. He reaches out to the reborn spirits of all those who follow Him.

(a) Matthew 16:13-23) (Amplified Bible) Now when Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, who do people say that the Son of Man is? And they answered, Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.

He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? Simon Peter replied, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Then Jesus answered him, Blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood [men] have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

(b) And I tell you, you are Peter [Greek, Petros-a large piece of rock], and on this rock [Greek, petra-a huge rock like Gibraltar] I will build My church, and the gates of Hades (the powers of the infernal region) shall not overpower it [or be strong to its detriment or hold out against it].

(c) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven. Then He sternly and strictly charged and warned the disciples to tell no one that He was Jesus the Christ. From that time forth Jesus began [clearly] to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders and the high priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised from death. Then Peter took Him aside to speak to Him privately and began to reprove and charge Him sharply, saying, God forbid, Lord! This must never happen to You!

(d) But Jesus turned away from Peter and said to him, Get behind Me, Satan! You are in My way [an offense and a hindrance and a snare to Me]; for you are minding what partakes not of the nature and quality of God, but of men.

(e) 1 Corinthians 10:4) and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.

Isaiah 17:10) You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress.

Isaiah 26:4) Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal.

Isaiah 30:29) And you will sing as on the night you celebrate a holy festival; your hearts will rejoice as when people go up with flutes to

the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.

Isaiah 44:8) Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one."

Psalm 62:7) My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Psalm 78:35) They remembered that God was their Rock, that God Most High was their Redeemer.

Psalm 89:26) He will call out to me, 'You are my Father, my God,

the Rock my Savior.

Are you saying that Catholicism is not Christian?

Catholicism is a part of Christ’s church in its recognition that Jesus is the Christ, but it has deviated greatly from the truth. It has built it’s structure on false principles and created a system ruled by men. It has caused much grief and misunderstanding, turning many people away from the true path. It has caused many problems and is still causing problems. Those in power who are leading people astray arein danger of hellfire.

In what way is Catholicism turning people away from the truth?

There are many who turn away from Christ because they can see the falseness in the teachings presented by the Catholic church. They see a repressive nature heaped upon them with rules created by man. They are told they must confess their sins to a priest and are given multiple prayers that are supposed to balance the scales. Repeating the same prayer over and over again will avail you nothing, especially if those prayers are aimed at dead saints or any one else other than the Lord Almighty. People see the outward appearance of Godliness but they also see the hidden sin under the mask of the Catholic Church. Many turn away thinking that Christianity is a hypocritical and repressive religion based on their experience with the Catholic church. Do not think though that the Catholic church is the only one guilty of this, there are many that distort the Word of God, whether by mistake or evil intent doesn’t matter, the result is the same. It is up to you however, if you seek the truth, to study the Scriptures for yourselves and pray to God for wisdom and understanding so that you may know the will of God.

The true Christian knows that the message Jesus brought was a message of love, hope and faith that will set you free from the bondage of man’s religious doctrines. Jesus did not come to condemn, He came to set people free. The Old Testament was about the Law of sin, how everyone was under condemnation because no one was without sin. The New Testament is about how Jesus paid the price for our sins (to those who accept Him) and set you free from them. Following Jesus is not by a set of rules and regulations. It is the understanding that the Word of God is a declaration of love and everything He says is for our benefit. Knowing that God has only your best interests at heart, that His actions and words are without mistake and infallible. It is foolish to think that your way is better than His. The smart follower of Christ does not question God’s word he listens to it. Don’t misunderstand here, this does not mean you will never sin. You live in a world drowning in sin and you are still in the world. Your flesh and mind are still subject to sin, but your new uncorrupted spirit working with the Holy Spirit can train your mind and body to walk a path pleasing to God. The more you walk according to the spirit the less you will sin. The less you sin the more you will see God’s light in your life. You will have real freedom and not be chained down by sin.

Can you give us some specifics of where the Catholic Church has gone wrong?

As I explained before Peter was not the head of the Church, Jesus is. The Christian Church is not based on a hierarchy. It is a body, all parts working together for the good of the whole and directed by the head which is Christ Jesus. Each member has a function in the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:27) “Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.” No man is above another. The Catholic Church has placed a man at its head and has allowed men to rule instead of God’s word. They have created laws contrary to God’s word. They pray to saints and to Mary (the mother of Jesus), using them for intercessory prayers, when it is written (1 Timothy 2:5) “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,” turning what is rightfully God’s over to idols. Prayer is a part of worship and if you are praying to anyone other than God you are praying to idols. No where in the Scriptures does it say to pray to anyone but God.

They have set aside certain people to be a special class of believers called saints. The Scriptures tell you that all believers are saints. They have beads that they pray repeated prayers over. Yet it is written (Matthew 6:7) “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” God wants you to pray from your heart not mindlessly repeating words over and over. They call their priests father when the scripture says (Matthew 23:9) “And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” They burden their priests with a law not to marry, yet Peter was married (Matthew 8:14) Now when Jesus had come into Peter’s house, He saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. And Paul spoke of himself and other disciples (1 Corinthians 9:5) “Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?” He was explaining that they do have this right. Paul further goes on with a strong warning in (1 Timothy 4:1-5) “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron, forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.”

They have a belief in a place after death called purgatory. This belief is based on a misunderstanding of Scripture. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines purgatory as a "purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven". Indicating that a believer who dies is still impure and needs to be further cleansed in order to enter Heaven. This is not true. Jesus died for our sins and those who accept Him are given a new clean and pure spirit. At death the body expires and so does the sin nature that was tied to the living body. Our spirit is free and will enter into Heaven. On the day of resurrection we will be given a new incorruptible body like Jesus. One that has no place for sin. Their mistake is in their understanding. They look at Peter’s comments on Christ's preaching to the spirits in prison and mistakenly believe that He was giving them good news that Heaven was open to them. This was not so. Christ was proclaiming who He was and what He had done. Look at the Scripture (1 Peter 3:18-20) “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the Divine long suffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. The Lord was preaching to the spirits from Noah’s time, those who rejected God and followed after their evil hearts. The ones that were so corrupt that God had to wash away the entire world because of their sin. If the Lord was to release them from their bondage, would this be justice? No, what Jesus was doing was proclaiming Himself to them that they may see their guilt and know that they are rightly imprisoned. As to the fact that they were in some place other than hell, this is untrue as Peter clarifies that in (2 Peter 2:4) “For God did not [even] spare angels that sinned, but cast them into hell, delivering them to be kept there in pits of gloom till the judgment and their doom.” The dead were sent with the fallen angels to a place of bondage (hell) for them to be held until judgment day. Jude also speaks of this place (Jude 1:6) “And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.” These angels were the ones who entered into the physical world and took on physical bodies corrupting the world in Noah’s time. There are many other fallen angels who did not make their home in the physical world, but instead work through the spirit world only going in and out of the physical world as they want. These have put off for a time their judgment. But let me get back to the point. Before Jesus’ resurrection no one who died could enter into Heaven because there was no fulfillment of the law. All the sacrifices were to cover sins not to cleanse sins. Everyone was still under the law of death because there was no way to free the spirit from sin. The sacrifices were symbolic of what was to be done by Jesus. Those who believed God’s word and participated in the sacrifices were covered until their sentence was paid for. Those who died could not enter into the kingdom because of their corrupted spirit so they were kept in a holding place. Jesus told of this place in (Luke 16:19-26) "There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.”“But Abraham replied, Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.” The spirits of the righteous men were still unable to enter heaven because they were not yet cleansed by Jesus’ sacrifice. They were kept in a holding place next to hell where those who rejected God’s law were sent when they died. But when Jesus completed his mission all those who were waiting received a new spirit and were released from their holding place and entered into Heaven. So now no one goes there anymore.

Remember what Jesus said to the criminal who hung on a cross “Truly I tell you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” The criminal accepted Jesus as Lord and Jesus accepted him into the kingdom of heaven. There was no need for him to go and wait anywhere. His spirit was reborn when he accepted Jesus as Lord and when Jesus died He took him into paradise.

They also mistakenly believe that Matt. 12:32) “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” is speaking about being freed after death from the consequence of sin. The age to come Jesus is talking about is the time after the tribulation period. At the end of that time many shall turn away from the truth and be sent into the lake of fire.

Again they err in their understanding of 1 Corinthians 3:15 “But if any person's work is burned up [under the test], he will suffer the loss [of it all, losing his reward], though he himself will be saved, but only as [one who has passed] through fire.” This is not a reference to some place outside of the world. Think about it. What happens when someone goes through a fire? Things get burned up. He may lose everything but he has come through it. In other words when someone’s good deeds are nullified by their bad deeds they have lost all they have worked for (their rewards), but they themselves have survived.

They mistakenly claim that purgatory is a final place of purification that is needed in order to enter the kingdom of heaven. They refer to Romans 5:3-5 stating that sanctification involves suffering, but the Scripture refers only to the living not the dead. (Romans 5:3-5) “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”

Don’t be mislead by false teachers and doctrines. As Paul wrote to the Colossians (2:16-23) “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

And don’t be mislead by the vain philosophy of men as Paul spoke to the Colossians 2:8-10) Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

You said that there are others who also preach false

doctrine. Can you elaborate on that?

There are many that wish to pick and choose what they want to believe from the Bible. If they don’t agree with something they claim it’s either irrelevant (unimportant), or obscure. This allows them to still claim their Christianity but hold onto their own opinions. This is a most dangerous view to hold. In essence what they are saying is that God is either a liar or just not as intelligent as they are. They are reconstructing a God that they can live with. One that fits their own standards and ideas. This is idolatry. They are in grave danger of hellfire. This attitude is saying that their opinion is better than God’s Word. Kind of like the devil’s frame of mind. There is nothing in God’s Word that is irrelevant (unimportant), and the obscure passages can be understood by those who want to know the truth. To disagree with God is a fool’s idea.

Understanding God’s ways is not necessary to be a Christian (although it is a good thing), just as understanding gravity is not necessary to keep you from flying off into space. Trust in God, not your understanding.

How important is it to pick a Christian denomination to belong to?

(a) Denominations are not God ordained. They separate and put at odds God’s people. Do you think that God is pleased with Catholics and Protestants killing each other? Do not be seduced by man’s religious institutions. Follow Christ and the written Word of God. Read the Word for yourself and do not be swayed by (b) false teachers who appear to be knowledgable but are in truth leading people to destruction.

(a) 1 Corinthians 1:10-19) I have a serious concern to bring up with you, my friends, using the authority of Jesus, our Master. I'll put it as urgently as I can: You must get along with each other. You must learn to be considerate of one another, cultivating a life in common. I bring this up because some from Chloe's family brought a most disturbing report to my attention—that you're fighting among yourselves! I'll tell you exactly what I was told: You're all picking sides, going around saying, "I'm on Paul's side," or "I'm for Apollos," or "Peter is my man," or "I'm in the Messiah group." I ask you, "Has the Messiah been chopped up in little pieces so we can each have a relic all our own? Was Paul crucified for you? Was a single one of you baptized in Paul's name?" I was not involved with any of your baptisms—except for Crispus and Gaius—and on getting this report, I'm sure glad I wasn't. At least no one can go around saying he was baptized in my name. (Come to think of it, I also baptized Stephanas's family, but as far as I can recall, that's it.) God didn't send me out to collect a following for myself, but to preach the Message of what he has done, collecting a following for him. And he didn't send me to do it with a lot of fancy rhetoric of my own, lest the powerful action at the center—Christ on the Cross—be trivialized into mere words. The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out. It's written, I'll turn conventional wisdom on its head, I'll expose so-called experts as crackpots.

(b) 2 Peter 2:1-3) But there were also lying prophets among the people then, just as there will be lying religious teachers among you. They'll smuggle in destructive divisions, pitting you against each other—biting the hand of the One who gave them a chance to have their lives back! They've put themselves on a fast downhill slide to destruction, but not before they recruit a crowd of mixed-up followers who can't tell right from wrong. They give the way of truth a bad name. They're only out for themselves. They'll say anything, anything, that sounds good to exploit you. They won't, of course, get by with it. They'll come to a bad end, for God has never just stood by and let that kind of thing go on.

Most of us never get what we want out of life. How can

we be happy?

The devil has convinced most of you that fame, fortune, and power are the road to happiness. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. True happiness comes from love, and the security and peace of mind that comes from faith in God. Fame, fortune and power are elusive at best and few attain these things. Love, security and peace (happiness) however are all attainable through God. If you would only understand. God already loves you. He has your best interests at heart. The only thing that keeps you from seeing his love is sin. Sin is a barrier between you and God. The more you sin the further you get from God. You already know what is right, but you refuse to do it. You have bought into the devil’s lies thinking that if you don’t follow the ways of the world you won’t get what you want. What you fail to understand is that what you want may not be what is best for you. This is shown to you in the very beginning. Eve wanted to eat the fruit and she wanted Adam to join her. This certainly was not in their best interests. This is why so many of you fall into temptation. What you want is not always right for you. What God wants you to have, is. He is the Supreme being. He knows absolutely what is right for you. You are a created being with limited understanding. You have little idea what is best for you. If you did you would be leading a wonderful and happy life. Are you? Is everything in your life going well? Are you content and happy all the time? Probably not. You are surrounded by misery, death and destruction. You are living in a corrupted world and only the peace of God can relieve you from the burdens you live with. Those who love and have someone who loves them know what happiness is. But because of your sinful nature this love can be short and unfulfilling. The temptations, the wear and tear of everyday life, these things can destroy the love in your life if it is not grounded in God’s love. God’s love is this...

(1Corinthians 13:4-8) “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails ” Do you have that kind of love? If you do you are truly blessed and you know happiness. If you do not, this is what you need to be happy. Can you achieve this kind of love? Not by following the ways of the world. The ruler of this world (Satan) tells you to put yourself first, your needs are the most important, get what you want for yourself. This is not the way of love (God). It is the way of the devil. Who do you follow? Who do you want to follow? Think carefully. Do not ally yourself with the evil one. Here is how the apostle Paul explained God’s way of love to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 13:1-13) (from “The Message” a modern day worded version of the Bible)

The Way of Love

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.

Love doesn't strut,

Doesn't have a swelled head,

Doesn't force itself on others,

Isn't always "me first,"

Doesn't fly off the handle,

Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn't revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incomplete’s will be canceled. When I was an infant at my mother's breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good. We don't yet see things clearly. We're squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won't be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We'll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us! But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

1 John 4:8) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:16) And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Some churches claim that people must pay a 10% tithe to the church. Is this what God wants?

The main reason for the tithe was to support the Levites

because they were busy serving God. They needed food, clothing and shelter for themselves and their families. The tithe freed them up to focus on the works of God. This is still the reason for giving to the Church today. Pastors and workers for the church need the support of its members in order to continue in the work the Lord has given them to do, whether it be preaching, missions, or any other good works. But the 10% tithe was under the Old Testament laws and whether we still need to follow this particular law is something each of us must decide for ourselves. But I can tell you this much. Based on the New Testament each believer today has no claim to earthly possessions. (a) All that you have is Gods and you are the caretakers over what the Lord has given you. You need to support the church in its works for the Lord. You must remain faithful in this as the Lord gives you prosperity. If you are to poor to give do not be troubled, God knows your heart. Give when you can. Do not deprive your family of food, shelter or clothes. Those who have abundance should give more as is proper. Do not let greed keep you from helping those in need and those who carry on the good works of the church. Do not think to horde your wealth. You cannot take it with you when you leave this world, so you must make the best use of it while you are here. (b) Be careful who you give your money to, there are many who prey on the good-hearted. There are those who claim to be messengers of God, but in truth are messengers of Satan. Do not be fooled by these people, they preach false doctrine and use their profits to live a life of luxury and excess. They foolishly give up eternity in paradise for the fleeting pleasures of this world.

(a) Acts 2:44-45) All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need.

Acts 4:32-35) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2) Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

(b) Romans 16:17-18) One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They're only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren't above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents.

Many Christians claim that the Jews will go to hell when they die. Is this true?

There is no mass condemnation of people. Each individual is judged on their own. The judgment is determined by God. Those who have accepted Jesus as Christ their Savior have the promise of eternal life. Those who reject Jesus condemn themselves because they have rejected God’s Word and they cannot expect to enter into heaven if they have rejected the invitation. There are many however who have never known the true Jesus. They have been lied to or misinformed as to His true nature. They in essence have never been shown the true Jesus. These people will be judged by the nature of their heart and their deeds. Because man has a sinful nature inherent in him few will escape condemnation.

Most of the misunderstanding on this issue comes from Jesus statement (John 14:6) " I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Notice that He did not say If you don’t know me you will not get to the Father. He said you can only get to the Father through Him. In other words He will determine whether someone enters into the presence of the Father. (a) It’s as if He is standing at the doorway to heaven and someone comes up to get in. If you know Jesus and He knows you (as one of His) you have entrance into the kingdom. If you don’t know Jesus but He knows you (as one of His) He will let you in. If you come to the door and know who Jesus is, but He doesn’t know you (as one of His) you will not get in. Don’t be puzzled by the fact Jesus knows people who do not know who He is. (b) There are many people throughout the ages who never heard of Jesus or the coming of the Christ. Would God be just in condemning them? Of course not. He will judge them by the condition of their heart and their actions in this life.

(a) Luke 13:22-27) Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Sir, open the door for us.' But he will answer, “I don’t know you or where you come from” Then you will say, “We are and drank with you, and you taught in our streets” "But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!'

(b) Romans 2:12-16) All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. (Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.) This will take place on the day when God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Does God only hear the prayers of Christians?

No. God hears the prayers of anyone who prays to Him (the one true God). But if you are praying to some other false god your prayers will go unheard. Let me explain. If someone prays to the Almighty for help God will hear that prayer and act to help that person. He loves the lost just as He loves the saved. God will not however answer the prayers that are sent to idols. He does not get those prayers because they are not sent to Him, but to some false God. So make sure you know who the true God is.

Now God also knows the heart and He knows who are His even before they do. If you are a believer and you think back on your life before you came to know Christ you will be able to see how God worked in your life before you ever knew HIm. There will be people you've met and things that happened in your life that eventually lead you to Christ. This is because God already knew you were His and acted to draw you to Him. This is also happening today to many other people but they don't realize it. I will call them pre-believers and no one knows who they are, not even themselves, but God knows and He is working in their lives to bring them into the kingdom. That is why no one can say who is going to hell except God. He is the only one who knows the true heart of a man and who will enter into the kingdom.

To those who pray to false gods, they are worshiping idols and God does not respect or honor the prayers to idols. If you want help from God you must believe in Him first. If you are unsure of God’s real name direct your prayers to the Creator of all things. The one true God is known by many names and titles in all the different languages throughout the ages, but the "Creator of all things" is something no one can be unsure about.

There seems to be a great divide in how Americans view their country today. Some say America is heartless and only interested in wealth while others say America is compassionate and concerned with the welfare of it’s citizens and others. Who is right?

Both are right. There is something very wrong about a system that champions an individuals right to make more money than he can possibly spend in over a thousand lifetimes while leaving others in the position where they can’t feed, clothe, and shelter themselves or their families. Yet there is something incredibly noble about a country that has shed it’s blood, sweat and tears in the defense of freedom not only for itself but for others around the world. The problem lies in the fact that people pick one point of view over the other and are blinded to the reality of both. When people are at odds with each other they don’t work together and if you don’t work together you will accomplish nothing but wasting time. This is another device of the devil. He wants you hating each other. Hatred bares bitter fruit. No one ever benefits from hate.

How do I know what God wants me to do with my life? I mean beside accepting Jesus, studying the bible and spreading His word. How do I make decisions regarding what to do to make a living or the other things in life?

God gives to everyone talents and abilities. It is up to every individual to recognize what those are and develop them. This should be one of the joys of your life, finding a passion for something and developing it. For example some people are drawn to art. Even if you find you cannot draw well, there are many different ways to express yourself as an artist. You may have an ability for design or craft making, or writing stories. The ways to satisfy a creative nature are many and varied.

There are some who love numbers, others music, others cooking or organizing skills. This in most cases are what your younger years are for. Finding what you love to do and are good at. Do not be lazy, or use excuses to keep you from this. Everyone can make something of themselves and every job you do is needed to be done, otherwise it wouldn't exist. Everything that needs to be done is important to the working of society and when everything is working as it should everyone benefits. Just like the parts of your body work together for the health and welfare of the whole, so does a society. If there is a problem with one part of the body the whole body suffers.

You can train yourself in different jobs as you go along to achieve your goal. Everything you do can help you towards achieving what you want. You must have patience and understand that the process you go through will make you a better person if you let it. Challenges make you stronger and in most cases wiser. Even if you fail the challenge you learn something and that knowledge will be available for your next challenge. Look at sports events. Someone always wins and someone always loses. The wise person learns from his defeat and trains himself to be better for the next event. Both the winner and the loser enjoy the game otherwise they would not be playing. In life there are things that will go right and things that will go wrong. It is a wise person that learns from both. If you remain faithful to God, when your journey through life is finished you will receive a reward of eternal happiness. So everything you do, do to the best of your ability for this is pleasing to the Lord. When you find yourself at a low point do not grumble or be impatient for God knows what is best for His people and He will supply your needs. Even when you can't see a good outcome, have faith and God will help you. Remember this always, God will never leave you or give up on you.

Hebrews 13:5) Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never

will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

End note:

Please understand this...God created man (Adam, Eve and their future children) to live forever. They lost this immortality when they decided to sin by rejecting His authority and rebelled against Him. They were warned “Do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or you will die.” By eating from this tree they did gain the knowledge of good and evil, but the price of that knowledge was death. God’s love however, is greater than sin and death. He became a man to give His life as a sacrifice for those who wanted to be with Him. Those who accept His sacrifice and turn to Him receive a new spirit, alive and joined to the Holy Spirit of God. When their flesh dies their spirit is released from this world and they will be rewarded with a new incorruptible and immortal body. This is the simplicity that is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

For those of you who are still struggling with the story of Adam and Eve (you just can't rap your head around a talking serpent and a tree with knowledge of good and evil) you may want to accept it as a simplification of what actually happened (because there are actually no words that can really describe the infinite workings of God and what He created). The point being, God created humanity, they rejected his rule, and were cast out from their homeland to a world of their own making. The world around you is the result. Don't reject the story because it's told simply so everyone can understand. The message is clear. The hope we have lies in our faith in the God of the Bible and His promise of eternal life. To accept it or not? That is entirely up to you.