I read an article, in which the following was written: “People are leaving Christianity in droves. About 106 million Christians are expected to switch affiliation from 2010 to 2050 while only about 40 million people are expected to enter Christianity. The religiously unaffiliated (atheists, agnostics) are expected to see the largest net gains from switching, adding more than 61 million followers”. What do you think of reports like this?

Re: 2 John 1:7. It is apparent if you read this literally it means any one who denies either the incarnation or the literal bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is a deceiver who has the spirit of the antichrist instead of the Holy Spirit. No confusion on that. My question is where does this leave those who deny a literal physical second coming.

What are the old and new covenants? Like Our Lord Jesus said the law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist, after which the good news is being preached. Does this mean that all the people after John the Baptist, won’t be judged by Moses’ Law but would instead be saved by Our Lord’s grace thru our faith in him and that all the people before John the Baptist would only be saved by Moses’ law and not their faith in the coming Messiah?

In Acts 8:14-17, we read that the Word of God had been received in Samaria and they had been baptized in the Lord’s name but the Holy Spirit had not come upon them until John and Peter came to them and laid hands on them. Since God’s Word cannot contradict itself, what does this mean in light of passages like Ephesians 1:13-14 where we are told we are sealed with the Holy Spirit the moment we believe? I have looked at the context of this passage with regard to Simon the magician and the rest of the Samaritians, but I still feel a bit confused. It’s such an extraordinary passage and puts light on seeking the Lord for the wrong reasons and having a wrong heart. Is this the reason for the delay in the Holy Spirit?

The Internet is abuzz with Jade Helm rumors, US military exercises all over the SW and Ca. Some claim it is to round up American resistors, others to fight ISIS at our borders. Is there anything prophetic about this other than the wars and rumors of wars scenario? Frankly, the lies in the news just makes me sick but I don’t want to have a head in the ground mentality either.

I pray for the pretrib rapture but prepare for the prewrath rapture. But recently, I just came across an understanding that I hadn’t seen before. The mystery of the harpazo hadn’t been given to the church until about 55 AD by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15. Matthew 24 was a description of Jesus’s Second Coming written many years before Paul’s letters to the Corinthians. So Paul describing what was to happen in the twinkling of an eye as a mystery suggests this was never taught before, even by Jesus. I’m encouraged about the pretrib harpazo. What’s your take on this?

One day I believe the pretrib rapture argument is sound, the next day I don’t. So, let’s get down to the basics. What difference does it make what I believe about the timing of the rapture? I know it’s going to happen but scripture, as I read it, does not define for certain its timing. If I don’t believe in the pretrib rapture and it happens that way, does that disqualify me from being raptured with those who believe it? Does my doubt about the timing make me unworthy to escape that what is coming upon the whole world?

I’m asking for your opinion on an apparent contradiction regarding why people just cannot believe. In approximately 20 verses, Jesus explains that in order for people to believe, Father God must “grant” them to ability to believe, and He must “give” them to Jesus. But, in 2 Corinthians 4:3, Paul says the reason is that Satan has blinded the minds of those who cannot believe. Perhaps we need to view this as God over-riding Satan’s work in the lives of the “elect” because of His foreknowledge.

In 2 Thessalonians 2:11 it says that God will send them a strong delusion. I’ve often wondered what that would be. With all the talk of aliens and in movies from Hollywood, do you think that fallen angels in the form of aliens might appear? Do you think the Antichrist might explain away the rapture that us Christians were taken off of the earth because we were inferior and were preventing a better earth?

The following quote is from your lesson of October 18, 2008:

“The only reason Paul performed greater miracles than we do is because he had bigger faith. The only reason he had bigger faith is because he fought bigger battles”

Really? If I had the same amount of faith as Paul I could perform the same miracles? Is this “level” of faith available to all believers? If so, how do I know when I “arrived” at this level? How do I “work” toward this achievement? I thought we are saved by grace not by works lest any man should boast.

Maybe the truth is I cannot perform the same miracles because I do not have the same gifts and it has nothing to do with the amount of my faith? Maybe you need to read I Corinthians 12, where Paul says not all Christians have all gifts, and different Christians have different gifts, yet ALL are valuable members of the body of Christ.