I have thought long and hard about the ‘predestination’ argument and I think that ‘pre’ meaning before, and ‘destination’ meaning ‘the end of the journey’ simply tells us that those of us He foreknew would reach our destination, previously prepared for us. Does this fit with the Greek of which I know nothing?

Absent a “professional” explanation, I have always thought that the dispute over the body of Moses and the reason God secretly buried it was to prevent a subsequent apotheosis of Moses and his burial place becoming a shrine of towering importance to rival even the Temple in the minds of the people. What, in your thinking, was the reason for the dispute?

A Bible teacher whom I respect greatly wrote an article concerning our judgment for sins after we die as Christians. My whole Christian life I have been painfully aware of my sins. The only hope I have is the knowledge that all my sins are covered by the blood of Jesus. I have been looking forward to the Rapture when all the things of this life will be no more and we will be free from this burden of sin.

But according to the Bible teacher this won’t happen. As soon as we die or are raptured we will face God’s judgment and and have to answer for every sinful thought and deed we ever had. I am almost in tears thinking of the shame I will feel. Now the rapture doesn’t seem like something we can look forward to but is something to dread. How can we encourage each other about the rapture if there’s a big judgment coming right after it?

I was having a conversation with a friend of mine the other night and she asked me what you have to do and what does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I tried explaining to her that you repent of your sins, ask the Lord for forgiveness, and ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. I also said that once you are (filled with the Holy Spirit) you will feel conviction when you have done something wrong because the Holy spirit within you will grieve. Then she asked how do you know conviction from guilt? Can you please explain these things to me in a way that I can explain to her without confusing her more? Thank you so much.

Your website is wonderful and I believe Holy Spirit led! You have helped me tremendously with 2 other questions I had and I have another one today that is weighing on my mind. I know we must forgive others. I have worked hard and work hard daily to forgive others as I am so graciously and wonderfully forgiven by Jesus Christ my GOD.

What is bothering me though is forgiving on behalf of others. For instance one circumstance I am having difficulty with is forgiving a step-mother who is divorcing my Dad and being very selfish and greedy about it in my humble opinion. Another instance is forgiving my father-in-law who we recently found out molested at least 2 of our nieces.

My guilt about not forgiving and the anger I feel in these situations is driving me to seek the counsel of someone like you who may be able to shed some light on how Jesus wants us to handle the situation.

I would like scripture to back up your answer; if you have an answer or some guidance for me. If you feel led to help me with my questions I would be very grateful. Of course I know to pray for all parties and I know how to say I forgive; but I don’t know how to REALLY forgive or if the Lord even expects me to. Can you help?

My question concerns your “End Times According to Ezekiel Part 2“:

” ‘My servant David will be king over them, and they will all have one shepherd. They will follow my laws and be careful to keep my decrees. They will live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children will live there forever, and David my servant will be their prince forever. I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people. Then the nations will know that I the LORD make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:24-28) You clearly state in the study that these verses describe the circumstances that will exist during the Millennium. Would you please clarify the last sentence a bit more. The use of the word “forever” at least implies that the discribed circumstance might extend past the end of the Millennium into eternity. I don’t believe that is the case and that “forever” in this case may have some limitation.

Can you please give me your opinion on fire walking, walking over a bed of glowing coal. A motivation speaker uses it to curb peoples fear. I have looked around but can not find much about it from an Christian view point. It seems wrong to me though. The said speaker offers other useful services but I would rather distance myself from him if fire walking is against the Lords will.Your opinion will be much appreciated.

First, thank you so much for all the added insight to scripture, tradition and other resources; it has been very helpful.

My question is whether or not Adam and Eve were the literal first two people created who then went on to populate the earth, if they were two of a tribe of people or if they were symbolic of the human race in its creation.

Two women in my Sunday school class from different backgrounds both stated that they had been taught that Adam and Eve were two of a large tribe created all at once. When I asked them how then the entire human species was then judged because of Adams sin they replied because Adam had some kind of special anointing that made the curse of sin not only pass downward among his generations, but also laterally among the rest of mankind.

I have a hard time believing this. The only argument they presented that I was unable to flat out refute was after Cain murdered Abel he pleaded with God not to send him away in fear of the other people who would seek and kill him. Seeing as at the time Adam, Eve, Cain and Abel were the only people alive the only people he would have been in fear of would now have only been his parents. I took the stance that he is foreseeing a future clan of kinsman seeking retribution, but I didn’t know if you had any more insight or if you’ve ever been confronted with this line of teaching. Thanks again for all of your help.

Hi! I have a few questions about life in Heaven…I’m wondering when we go to heaven will our new lives carry out – not so much the same as our earthly lives – but more with the same tendencies and emotions (but without sin of course) as on earth? Do you think we will have ‘relationships’ with fellow believers (i.e. best friends, lovers, parents, children) as we do on earth?

I guess the reason I’m wondering is that we were made in God’s image with similar emotions (love,joy,sadness etc) and there must be a reason that we are drawn to certain people in life more so than others…will we recognize family and friends, husbands and wives in heaven and still have stronger feelings for those people than others, or will it be every ‘believer’ for themselves – our earthly relationships diminished and a new ‘family’ developed with our fellow believers?

Thanks, and keep up the good work. You’ve been a great inspiration!

I heard a sermon about God’s blessings and success in our earthly life. The preacher said that evil spiritual beings and forces are more of an obstacle to God’s blessings than earthly circumstances. He said most times trying to live a life pleasing to God, although essential, isn’t enough. What is required to lead a successful Christian life and partake of all of God’s blessings is the anointing of the Holy Spirit.