I’m in an ongoing debate with a friend of mine (who is a preacher) about healing. According to him, we never need to die, as we merely need to come to the realization of who we are in Christ. Once we have done that, we would be able to heal ourselves (and probably everybody around us), and would not have to die.

My question is: what do I say to him? He is very much trying to “convert” me to his beliefs. (Not that it will affect either of our eternal lives, as we’re both born again, Spirit-filled Christians.) I guess I’m just tired of the debate.

Hebrews 10:1-2 reads, “The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming–not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins.”

If we flip this verse around it’s also saying, promising actually, the reverse, i.e. that those who have accepted Christ’s sacrifice on their behalf and have accepted Him as Personal Savior will no longer experienced guilt. Why then are so many Christians tortured with guilt?

I recently heard two Christians say, “Who cares when the Rapture occurs? We should be busy tearing down the devil’s strongholds.” Something about this really bothered me. Isn’t there a crown for those watching and waiting for Jesus to return? And doesn’t the devil have his day with the AC until Jesus Himself returns to tear it down?

I’ve been having thoughts of past hurts in my life caused by others. I have handed it over to God and have forgave them and have prayed for them as well. But at times when things get tough for me I resort back to the past hurts. I don’t want to blame others and I believe I’ve gained knowledge and strength over it. But since I think of it when things start going wrong or I feel overwhelmed, it makes things worse for me. So is it unforgiveness I’m holding on to or the devil taunting me to make me hurt worse? I’ve tried everything. Is it a sin if I can’t control it?

Genesis says that God told Abram He would forgive (preserve) Sodom if He could find just a few good men there. In America today I see many men who are “good”. I don’t mean sinless, of course. I mean honorable men and women who do try to follow God’s rules. Why can’t He forgive us, then? We have lots of people who have repented and want to follow God, including me. Why doesn’t God save America, where there are a few good men?

Revelation 20:5 refers to the “First Resurrection.” I myself am a Pre-tribber and see the many strong arguments supporting a Pre-trib rapture. However, I can not satisfactorily resolve for myself the fact that Revelation 20:5-6 calls the Post-trib resurrection the “first resurrection” and the Pre-trib rapture seems to be, apparently, not counted as a resurrection for one reason or another. I am much looking forward to your insight on this. Can you clear it up for me?

My husband is a commuter and listens to the Christian radio station on his way home from work. Tonight he said there was a preacher on saying that God causes bad things to happen for the “greater good”. I told him that is a false teacher because God is light and there is no darkness in Him the bible tells us. We started talking and he brought up things like the flood and Exodus 11, where the first born Egyptian males were killed. I told him the angel of death killed them not God but then I looked it up. God says in verses 4-7 that in essence it was Him. Then I thought that was the old testament and since Jesus came, it’s different. But God is the same and doesn’t change the bible tells us. How exactly do I answer him based on God’s word?

Recently I started reading your book, Understanding Revelation. Coming to chapter 7, you commented that perhaps the multitude of believers that John sees who have come out the great tribulation came to faith from knowing the Rapture had taken place. I have always taken the position that those who heard the Gospel before the Rapture, but rejected it because they did not come to love the truth (2 Thess. 9-12) will then be forced to believe the lie, whom I see as the anti-christ. No doubt there are millions of people who have not heard the Gospel, who will be given the chance to come to faith as a result of the faithful Jewish witnesses of chapter 7.

I was recently studying 2 Peter Ch 2 when verses 20-22 kind of hit me strange. Do I understand that if we were sinners then came to Christ then sinned again, we are worse off than before? I came to Christ 5 years ago but know I sin every day. Does this mean I am worse off than before? Sure, I am trying to walk like Christ but we all, as humans, sin.

I have read and heard people speak about near death experiences and it is usually recounted as a joyful feeling. I am wondering if the bible says anything about when judgement comes? Do non-believers get to experience this joyful time before being cast out? Or is judgement first and people who experience this joyful reunion with family are entering their eternal reward in heaven to stay?