I understand that in the millennial kingdom that Satan is bound, Jesus has set up shop on earth, and all unbelievers are gone. Scripture paints a picture that life will be the Utopia man has always dreamed about. Question. How will those being born during the millennial reign know what the concept of sin is and have to make a choice for Jesus or not? I know that even though Satan is bound, sin is not and theres enough residual sin left in man’s heart, what kind of behavior would there be to evidence to others that something called “sin” exists? Since it seems obvious that the “big sins” like murder, thieving, etc are gone, what about lustful thoughts, anxiety, worry, anger or the like?

In the parable of the Shrewed Manager in Luke 16, Jesus said in verse 8 “The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of light.”

Even though the manager was dishonest, he was still commended for his shrewdness.

Is this a gentle, but firm rebuke against Christians (followers, believers) because they are not wisely handling money or because of poor stewardship? Does he suggest that we could “learn” from the ways of the world when it comes to money? Is he suggesting that, we as Christians must be wiser and shrewd in our business dealings? What if we engage in a financial transaction with our family and things don’t work out, do we need to be shrewd with our own family members?

I have been a Believer for many years (several decades, actually), and have sat under the Church’s teaching on evangelism feeling condemned for not “doing my part” in the Great Commission. To tell you the truth, I can not recall praying with anyone to lead them to the Savior.

Several years ago, I experienced an extreme personal revival through which time I came to love and “thirst” after Jesus like never before. It was like a consuming thing – so intense that I thought that I would explode. While this intensity has subsided (can’t imagine anyone living in that for very long), I have been permanently changed. During that time, the LORD challenged many of my religious ideas, one of which is the carrying out of the “Great Commission”. There are many individuals within the Church who are driven by their gift of evangelism. While every Believer is a Light-bearer and should be ready to give a reason for the hope within them, not all have the gift of evangelism where they see the LORD work them them to bring people to Himself.

I believe that I have a gift of teaching and used to get so frustrated with fellow-Believers that they don’t have a clear understand or love for the Bible. I see now that I was being driven by my gift of teaching in the same manner as the evangelist.

The Church today seems to be in a cycle where the key thrust is to “reach the lost”. I recall that several years ago, the thrust was a deeper relationship with God. Could it be that we Believers tend to emphasize our passion/gifts (whether witnessing, teaching, helps, etc) as the most important function of the Church, leaving each other bruised as a result?

I have a question about a question that was asked previously. Someone asked a question concerning apparitions and I wanted to continue the thought.

First off, I don’t believe in ghosts of our dearly departed. “To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord” explains it all, so I don’t believe that someone great aunt Caroline is coming back to check on the family home or hanging around for no apparent reason. I have seen television shows though, such as Ghost Hunters etc, where people do experience paranormal phenomenon such as apparitions, footsteps, even dark figures whose movements defy explanation, ie. moving up spiral staircases at incredible speed, thermal imaging that shows figures where there are none, disembodied voices, footsteps and so on.

Now I understand that television is for entertainment and paranormal things mean ratings. The premise of these show though is that they are “real” ghost hunters and it is not faked for TV. If that’s the case then can you offer any explanation as to what these manifestations might be caused by?

In your response to a Catholic who asked: “Who will go in the Rapture”, you wrote: “The only qualification is our belief that Jesus died for our sins, and that when we asked for His forgiveness, He granted us salvation unto Eternal Life.” I agree with your response at a high level, but my fear is that Catholics will filter this response through their understanding of Catholic practice, think they are A-OK, and miss the key message.

As a former Catholic, I found that I was not born-again of the spirit even though I met the requirement as you stated it. I was only born-again when I believed that my salvation was ONLY based on the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ and that I needed to activate and personalize the offer of salvation with Jesus myself, basically exchanging my sinfulness for His righteousness, face to face.

It may sound like a fine point to some, but since Catholic doctrine adds a variety of things to the salvation formula (ex. membership in the Catholic church, infant baptism, etc….as well as teaching additional personal payment for sin over and above that of Christ’s sacrifice, ex. penance, purgatory, etc.), one could meet your definition, and not actually believe in the SUFFICIENCY of Christ’s sacrifice for their salvation. Even the focus of the Mass, the Eucharist, is an ongoing sacrifice for sin, so the concept of Christ’s work as partial payment or as an act to open the way for forgiveness of sins, is a fairly common interpretation for Catholics.

In addition, most Catholics confess to a priest, not to Christ, so the personal relationship is a foreign concept from a doctrinal perspective. I don’t think confessing and asking for forgiveness of Jesus through a mediator such as a priest, will yield the same result. However, that is what most Catholics would assume was meant by “asking for forgiveness”.

I have such a concern for Catholics to hear the biblical gospel. You have such an awesome platform to speak the Truth of the Gospel, so just wanted to make sure all understand, with clarity, any differences in their religious doctrine, so that they can remove any barrier to receiving the Spirit of Christ and be born again as a child of God.

Many of the Christians I meet assume that Catholics are born-again because they use similar words, and profess a similar creed. But the difference is in the details. I continue to pray that we don’t give anyone false hope, but the clear Truth, so they may know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.

I have been thinking about this problem for some time. Here it is:

Based on my observation and understanding, through the ages after the Genesis Flood, there are four groups of people living in this world. They are:

1. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

2. Those who were exposed to the Gospel but have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior.

3. Those who have been exposed to the Old Testament only and are waiting for the coming of their Messiah.

4. Those who have not been exposed to either the Old or New Testament. At the present time, this group of people although they are living in the present time, are no different from those who lived in the day after the Genesis Flood.

In John 14:6, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” How can one apply this statement to the people in group 3 and 4 either in the past or present?

In John 15:22, Jesus said, “If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin” In the KJV, it is translated as, “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin”

Do you see my problem? How do you apply John 14:6? I let God be the judge, I am just trying to gain understanding of the scripture.

I guess you might call me a YEC. A young earth creationist. I tend to favor the idea that God created the world in 6 twenty-four hour days and rested. This is opposed to the DAC (Day Age Creationists)concept.

However, I am told that China has had a documented existence extending well beyond 5000 years. If this were true the argument is made that a world-wide flood and other “miraculous” events surely would have been recorded in their history.

Does this hold water?

In your article, another chance to be saved, you state: “Those who miss the Rapture will still have a chance to be saved during the time leading up to and including the Great Tribulation. But they won’t be part of the Church, won’t be guaranteed not to fall away, and may well be martyred for their faith. Tell them it’s much better to decide now.”

But Paul said that those who believed not the truth would be caused to believe a lie. How do you explain this?

Regarding the “Pre Wrath Rapture?” question. I have this question for you since the person made a good point and I’ve wondered it as well – plus I really didn’t understand your answer. You are clear many times on your site that the rapture happens in Rev. 4, but why? Is it possible that the rapture might happen with the opening of the 6th seal? That would meet the requirement of the church not being present for the wrath of God. It would also allow God to concentrate on Israel during the Great tribulation. Also I don’t see prior to the 6th seal being opened of the church being present in heaven, however, right after the 6th seal the church is clearly present. Isn’t is possible? And what would the reasonings be for your anticipated answer?

I was reading your new article “Failed Prophecies” and I was wondering about Egypt being uninhabited for 40 years. Does this have to happen before the rapture and if not how could it happen? I believe that God fulfills everything he says so I just want to add this to my time line so to speak.