Are we all born righteous and only become sinner when we choose to sin? In one statement (Romans 5:19) it seems clear that Adam’s sin has infected us, but other scripture tell us we do not bear the punishment of our fathers (Ezekiel 18:19-20). Then you have those who are adamant in stating we are all born pure and that sin is a choice. Because of Adam the flesh dies but the spirit only dies if one chooses to sin. As one person put it so directly: “Original sin is a doctrine of demons, we became a sinner by choice, not because of Adam.” Please help explain this subject?

I am a born again, Bible believing Christian and I also believe in a pre-trib rapture. But I must admit that lately I have been feeling so guilty asking for my family and I to be found worthy to be taken in the rapture considering the ongoing slaughter of my Christian brothers and sisters in the middle east. I feel so helpless about not giving them anything other than prayer (which is the most important thing I could do). I live in the US and I feel that all of us here in America take for granted the freedom, safety and blessings that the Lord has given us. I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around the thought that Christians in America can live a blessed life without any fear of losing our lives for our faith, not having to endure the hardship that our brothers and sisters in Christ are going thru in the middle East and then be taken in the rapture. Why should we expect to not go thru what they are going thru – isn’t that having our cake and eating it too?

I have a bible tract that suggests we could be tortured or killed for our faith here in America before the rapture or tribulation begin. Do you think this is possible? What about people who do like Peter did and deny Christ out of fear? I know that you are supposed to love God more than your own life but thinking of torture and the ways you could be tortured are scary. Peter was forgiven but how do you deal with something like that?

I am currently reading through Isaiah. One chapter/verse has stuck with me, and I need some insight. Do you think that Isa 26:20-21 is speaking prophetically about the Church, or is he speaking to the remnant of Israel that will be supernaturally protected in Petra during the Great Trib? I read the NIV, and it uses the word “rooms”. Upon reading Isaiah’s statement, I immediately thought of John 14:2, where the NIV also uses the word “rooms”, and I understand its a more literal translation of Jesus’ statement, as opposed to Mansions in the KJV. Could it simply be a coincidence, and Isaiah is really just speaking to Israel?

How does one sort out false teachers/prophets from the correct ones? Ever since I became a Christian, I’ve noticed how clever false teachers are with scripture and how imaginative they can be. They seem to talk about personal revelations that God gives them, and the scariest thing is that they talk so passionately about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit. How can we know one from the other?

If the plagues of Egypt are a type of Tribulation and God doesn’t spare the Isrealites until the 5th plague(in fact their lives get much worse as they begin), is this symbolic of a mid trib rapture? I believe in the pre-trib, but haven’t been able to come up with an answer to the above with any satisfaction.

Am I still saved if I keep sinning the same sin? I feel that not going to church is a sin because of the Commandments yet I still continue to decline going, will this affect my salvation?

Your recent answer regarding the time-frame of God’s wrath gave me pause. In Revelation we see a multitude of martyred saints gathered about the Throne, beseeching God to avenge their deaths. He tells them to wait a little longer. (Perhaps there are still some post rapture believers that haven’t been martyred yet?) Wouldn’t this suggest that His Wrath is poured out after the last martyr enters Heaven? It’s like Sodom and Gomorrah, where God established that He wouldn’t destroy the towns if even one righteous were still found there. I suspect that His Wrath is gonna be for a period towards the end of the tribulation, and might even follow the flood and Egypt patterns in the neighborhood of 40 days.

The blood of animals (sacrifices) are not required in the Church Age for believers. The Israelites stopped sacrificing after their return from Babylon and even today are not slaughtering animals as offerings. Why?

Some time ago our son died after a long illness. This was the hardest thing I have ever been through. I felt so abandoned by God that for months I lashed out and I even called him names and vowed to become an atheist.

I am finally starting to deal with my son’s death and I also feel so ashamed that I lashed out at my Lord, and turning on him the way I did. I’m afraid he could never forgive me for such an act. Every day I try to get closer to Him again. Can I be forgiven for the way I acted toward him? I need to know because it is a tormenting feeling to be separated from God.