I was reading the questions and answers for 10/3/11 and saw the word Essenes. I have never heard of this word before. Would you please enlighten me as to who they were and how John the Baptist happened to be associated with them?

My question is about the prescribed way and the motive behind new testament giving. In Luke 6: 38 and 2 Cor 9: 6-11. The kind of blessing associated with this way of giving far surpasses the blessings associated with tithing in Malachi. It even includes physical, spiritual, mental and social blessing. Why do we still dwell so much on tithing instead of this kind of giving? And shouldn’t we give where we are fed, or should it automatically be given to our local assembly?

Paul prophesied the removal of a “someone” or “something” that restrains the Antichrist from being revealed. (2 Thes 2:6-8). Paul describes the restrainer as a “what” (neuter in gender in 2:6) and as a “He” (masculine gender in 2:7). Paul taught that the governing authorities are appointed by God to restrain evil (Rom 13:1-4). Could the “what” be the existence of national governments that will not allow the Antichrist’s government to emerge, and the “He” to be God and His sovereign decree to bring the ten nation confederation into unity with the Antichrist (Rev 17:17)?

Does the Holy Spirit know when the Rapture will occur? This question arose a few weeks ago when a missionary friend of mine was in town and shared several words of knowledge with me. He told me I would have a certain ministry. I was excited about my upcoming ministry, but at the same time I was disappointed because I think if I have a ministry that the Holy Spirit has ordained but that I haven’t even started yet, the Rapture can’t occur yet. How do you think these things can fit together?

Is there any idea as to when/how The Great Wealth Transfer will happen on Earth? And to whom will it be given to?

My question concerns the precise nature of the rapture, to whatever extent that can be known. Many people believe we will instantly disappear as in 1 Cor. 15:51-52; others believe we will rise up into the clouds in a visible manner citing 1 Thess. 4:17. It seems to me you could argue either way. Jesus rose visibly at the Ascension (Acts 1:9-11) but could also disappear and reappear at will (Luke 24:36). Could be that after we are changed in the twinkling of an eye, our ascent to meet the Lord in the air will be in a dimension not visible to folks on earth, to whom we will have simply vanished. What do you think?

I have a question about stewardship. From what I understand, and from my experiences in a few church congregations, most people/pastors define stewardship as “having to do” something physically by the “law” which tends to show others an “outward” appearance of obedience to the law. Can you elaborate on the meaning of stewardship?

Re: What Does It Take? I agree wholeheartedly until you reach the last point, where you say we have to ask for salvation to receive it. Although I personally have asked Jesus through a sinner’s prayer, I do not consider it to have any impact on my salvation. What really made me born-again was my response in faith to the atoning power of the Lord’s blood and so on. The prayer was simply an expression of that faith.

Does the Greek word translated as “taken” in 2 Thessalonians 2:7 appear anywhere else in the New Testament, and is it translated consistently with the same meaning?

In your studies you show that there are three groups of saints, old testament, church, and tribulation. Are the disciples considered old testament or church saints?