Results 121 - 140 of 380
|
||||||
Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Author: biblicalman Ordered by Date |
||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
121 | Pharisees and Saducees | Matthew | biblicalman | 229135 | ||
Hi Aileen, The Sadducees were mainly chief priests and priests and their adherents. They mainly died out with the destruction of the Temple. The Pharisees continued on in the Rabbis and their adherents, and to that extent survive today. Best wishes |
||||||
122 | rev.7:4 | Revelation | biblicalman | 229124 | ||
hi searcher, You will note that it does not say that 'he saw' the 144,000, only that he heard their number. Thus the number was important depicting 12 x 12, the patriarchs and the Apostles (Rev 21). Then he looked, and what did he see? That what he had heard numbered was a multitude which no man could number. Thus they were the chosen of God, numbered by Him and yet innumerable. But the New Testament makes clear that the true Israel is the Israel who believed in the Messiah. They were the believing remnant. They WERE Israel and as Israel had always done they accepted Gentiles into their number. They were the olive tree which is Israel (Jer 11.16). It would be very strange if God took up the position of discounting those large number of Jews who believed in the Messiah, in order to favour the unbelieving who were accursed from Christ. Best wishes |
||||||
123 | rev.7:4 | Revelation | biblicalman | 229120 | ||
It should be noted that the term 'the twelve tribes of Israel' is used by James to refer to the whole church (James 1.1). It is quite clear that James is not simply addressing Christian Jews because in his letter, which is full of moral exhortation, no reference is made to how Jewish Christians should see Gentile Christians, which was a burning topic at the time. Had James been writing to Jewish Christians only he would unquestionably have dealt with this topic at least once. Furthermore it is clear that his letter would have been read out in all the churches that received it (there were no separate Jewish churches as far as we know) and had he not intended it to be a letter to all he would certainly have sent a greeting to Gentile Christans. That being so 'the twelve tribes of Israel who are scattered abroad' is a reference to the church as a whole. This ties in with the idea that the Apostles would sit on the thrones of David (Psalm 122.5) on behalf of the Messiah overseeing 'the twelve tribes of Israel' i.e. the church of the Messiah. Whilst we have lost sight of the fact the early church laid great emphasis on the fact that the true church were the true Israel. They were founded on the early believers in the Messiah who were all ex-Jews, and thus formed the true remnant of Israel (Rom 9.6; 11.1 ff). And as Paul makes clear in Romans 11.16-24 the believing Gentiles were engrafted into Israel, whilst the unbelieving among the Jews were cut off. For the teaching that the true church is the true Messiah-believing Israel see Rom 11.16-24; Gal. 3.29; 6.16; Eph 2.11-22; 1 Peter 2.9; James 1.1. The reason that the names of Ephraim and Dan were omitted is not difficult to determine. It is because those names were especially associated with idolatry in the OT. Abstention from idolatry is an emphasis of Revelation. (That Ephraim is included as Joseph indicates that the issue was over the names not over the tribes). In Rev 21.12, 14, 17, the bride of Christ (the New Jerusalem), and therefore the Old and New Testament church, combines the twelve patriarchs with the twelve Apostles, and this in connection with 144000. There could be no clearer indication that the bride of Christ is in mind in Rev 7 and 14. Best wishes |
||||||
124 | how do you explain 1 corithians 6:11 | 1 Cor 6:11 | biblicalman | 229108 | ||
Hi Pammy, Welcome to the Forum. 1 Cor 6.11. is informing us that when a person becomes a true Christian through saving faith in Jesus Christ three things happen to them: Firstly they are washed clean from all sin (compare John 13.10; 1 John 1.7) and made pure in God's sight. Secondly they beoome 'sanctifed ones' (1.Cor 1.2), set apart and made holy in God's eyes in Christ. Thirdly they are accounted as righteous before God in Christ (Rom 3.24-25). And all this by the working of the Spirit of God. Best wishes |
||||||
125 | how is satan and lucifer diffrent? | Isaiah | biblicalman | 229099 | ||
Hi In Biblical terms they were different because Satan was God's constant adversary throughout Scripture as a powerful spiritual being, whilst Lucifer was merely a human king over-exalting himself in ritual terms. In modern popular thought Satan and Lucifer are identical. |
||||||
126 | is lucifer and satan the same? | Is 14:12 | biblicalman | 229095 | ||
Hi Welcome to the forum. If you mean Biblically the answer is No. The name Lucifer (Latin for light-bearer) comes from the mistranslation of the Hebrew word for 'shining one' in Isaiah 14.12. NASB translates as 'star of the morning'. RSV translates as 'Day Star'. NIV translates as 'Morning Star'. It is spoken to the King of Babylon who like all kings in those days was exalted in myths which were acted out at their New Year festivals. In this case he was seen as exalting himself above the stars of God and becoming the chief god (the most high). But God tells him that instead of achieving that position he will be brought down to the grave, to the depths of the underworld. There those who are present will stare at him with derision, and cry out, 'Is this the MAN who made the earth to tremble, who shook kingdoms -- who did not let his prisoners go home.' -- you will not be joined with them (the kings of the earth) in burial, because you have destroyed your land, you have slain your people.' This makes it quite clear that in context it is the King of Babylon who is being referred to. In their eagerness to find an explanation for Satan's fall some Bible students have tried to refer this to Satan. But in doing so they have to ignore the context, which is quite clear. However popularly Lucifer and Satan are seen as the same, mainly arising from the above misconception. Best wishes |
||||||
127 | divorce-effect on family | Mal 2:16 | biblicalman | 229088 | ||
The answer is that it is usually catastrophic, which is one reason why Jesus forbade divorce (Mark 10.1-12). We talk glibly of children being 'adaptable'. Sadly they have to be. But if we mean by that they are only slightly affected we would be wholly off the mark. When two parents break up it almost always has a deep and unhelpful psychological impact on the children. It is also looked on very seriously by God. |
||||||
128 | What does begotten mean on this verse? | Heb 1:5 | biblicalman | 229077 | ||
You asked the question, 'how is begotten used in the Bible?' It is used of fathers begetting their sons. This is a direct begetting (as in Heb 1.5). It is used of ancestors 'begetting' descendants (e.g. Matt 1.8 where Uzziah was a descendant of Joram, not hs son). It is probably used in Matt 1.16 of the adoption of a relative as heir (that is how Joseph could have two fathers, and how Jesus could be heir to the throne of Israel). It is also probably use in Psalm 2.7 of the adoption by God of Israel's king as His 'son' (compare 2 Sam 7.14). This as a type of the coming Messiah. No one in the Psalmist's time would have seen it as indicating what it did come to mean. No one was expecting God's own Son to come into the world. But as Seth has pointed out its meaning in Heb 1.5 is determined by the context. It is speaking of One 'begotten' as an only trueborn Son of God. |
||||||
129 | why are there rewards in heaven | 1 Corinthians | biblicalman | 229076 | ||
Not wishing for a moment to disagree wth Seth's excellent posting. but there are just two points I would wish to raise. Firstly that when Jesus said of John the Baptist, 'Among men that are born of women there is none greater than John the Baptist but he who is least in the Kingly Rule of Heaven is greater than He', I do not see it as referring to their comparative righteouness. Indeed John the Baptist has entered Heaven through the righteousnes of Christ in the same way as we will. For Romans 3.24-25 applies to 'sins done aforetime', that is prior to Christ's coming. In my view it is referring to status. It is bringing out that Jesus was saying that what He had come to introduce was far, far more significant than all that had gone before. God's Kingly Rule had come into the world in Jesus, and thus all Who respond to Him and come under the Kingly Rule of Heaven achieve a status unknown in the Old Testament. They are adopted as 'sons of God' (Galatians 4.1-7), a term never used of God's people, certainly in this sense, in the Old Testament. They call God 'Abba Father' becaue they have received the Spirit of His Son (Galatians 4.6). They have been made one with Christ. They are 'greater', because their King is greater,and they share in His glory. And they are greater because they humble themselves as servants. Who is greatest among them? The one who is least among them (Luke 9.46, 48; 22.24-27). Secondly that when the mother of James and John spoke of their sitting on Jesus' right hand and left, what she was really asking was that they might take the positions of prime importance in what she saw as the soon coming kingdom. Like most who followed Jesus she was expecting Him soon to make the move that would drive out the Romans, establishing God's kingdom in Israel. Jesus of course sits on two thrones (made clear in Rev 3.21). One is the throne of His Father, at which in His manhood He sits at God's right hand (Heb 1.3 etc), while in His Godhood He sits in the midst of the throne (Rev 5.6). The other is His Messianic throne on which we as overcomers will sit with Him (better than being at His right hand). This was the one at which one would sit on His right hand and the other on His left, a position reserved for those whom God determines. (But does this mean that they will not sit on His throne. Of course not. They will be overcomers. This reminds us that thrones are earthly things. They magnify the one who sits on them. In Heaven we will not be seeking a throne. we will be longing to be servants along with the great Servant (Matthew 20.25-28; Mark 9.35; Luke 12.37; 17.8). Those who are looking forward to sitting on thrones have the wrong spirit. They should be looking forward to being the servants all. Heaven should not alter what our attitude should be. How sad if we enter Heaven wanting a throne. (It is quite another thing what God decides to give us). Nor does God sit on a throne except when he is making a theophany for our sake. He is Spirit. What is being indicated is that God is Lord over all. |
||||||
130 | islam/Christians | Bible general Archive 4 | biblicalman | 229057 | ||
To a large extent the difference between us lies in the fact that I presented what Muhammad taught in the Quran whilst you are describing Islam as it has become. I thus pointed out that in their attitude today Islam did not obey the whole of the Quran. In other words they deny the teaching of their own holy book. As this is not a site for discussing Islam I wil merely say that Muhammed did not include Christians and Jews as infidels in the Quran. It was polytheists who were called Infidels. Muhammad in fact gained a large part of his ideas from Jews and heretical Christians. No doubt you will be able to cite me the verses in the Quran to which you refer where Christians and Jews are called infidels? Sura 2.62 says, 'Those who believe, and those who are Jews and Christians, and Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last Day and does righteous good deeds shall have their reward with the Lord, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.' Sura 5.69 says, 'Surely those who believe (Muslims) and those who are the Jews and the Sabians and the Christians --- whoever believed in God and in the Last Day, and worked righteousness, on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.' Now I must stress that I do not believe that the doctrine thus taught is true. Nor do I suggest that Islam is an alternative truth. Islam is a total distortion of Christianity. But we must be honest in our presentations. Best wishes |
||||||
131 | rev.7:4 | Revelation | biblicalman | 229053 | ||
Hi Dyke, Welcome to the Forum. This is a highly controversial subject and you will receive many answers. You will notice that it does not say that John saw the 144,000, who were sealed, he only heard 'the number of them'. Thus the number was important. In my view the 12 x 12 x 1000 represents the whole people of God, 12 for the 12 tribes of Israel, and 12 for the 12 Apostles. Compare for this Rev 21 where the city of God which is the bride of Christ (the church of the Messiah) has 12 gates representing Israel and 12 foundations representing the Apostles. In the New Testament the true Israel are those who believe in the Messiah (whether ex-Jew or ex-Gentile). See Rom 11.16-24; Gal 3.29; 6.16; Ephe 2.11-22; 1 Peter 2.9; James 1.1; John 15.1-6; Matt. 21 43. Furthermore those whom Scripture shows to be sealed by God are the whole church of Jesus Christ (Eph 1.13). Having heard the numbering John then saw those who were numbered. They were a multititude which no man could number (only God could number them). In Rev 6 the whole of history has been outlined in terms of Matt 24; Mark 13. False Messiahs, war, famine; earthquake and pestilence, the persecuted saints, Christ's coming. So now John is demonstrating that through all this God's people are sealed and are safe. Notice how the same description is given of the multitude as was given of the dead saints awaiting resurrection in Rev 6.11. Through history God's people have experienced great tribulation, and are still doing so. But their final security is guaranteed by the seal of God. Best wishes |
||||||
132 | Angels | NT general | biblicalman | 229046 | ||
I suspect that the verse that you have in mind is Rev. 5.8 where the 24 heavenly elders (representing the 24 priestly courses of the Old Testament) offer the prayers of the saints to God. It is a reminder that the whole of Heaven is concerned about the welfare of God's people on earth. Are angels not ministering spirits sent to minister to the heirs od salvation (Hebrews 1.14). But we must not see them as omnipresent or omniscient. Their abilities and tasks are limited. They are angels, not divine beings. There is only One Who is always aware of all that goes on in Heaven and earth, and that is the Triune God. They are His servants to do His bidding when asnd where He says. Best wishes. |
||||||
133 | islam/Christians | Bible general Archive 4 | biblicalman | 229042 | ||
Theoretically, if they followed the teaching of Muhammad Muslims would welcome Christians as the people of the word and would acknowledge the Gospels. Muhammad accepted the Gospels of his day as the word of God, and bade his people to welcome Christians and Jews and not interfere with them. Although they were required to pay a poll tax. In practise Muslims make the excuse that the Gospels have been interfered with and that they can no longer be relied on (even though we have papyri and MS from long before the ones accepted by Muhammad). They have to do this because the Gospels contradict the Hadith (Islamic later tradition). As the Gospels as we have them were accepted by Muhammad this is clearly s deliberate refusal to follow what Muhammad and the Quran taught. But that does not seem to worry them. In theory they believe the Quran. In practise they put the Hadith (later traditions) above the Quran. They also believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but refuse to believe that He died on the cross. The latter on the authority, not of the Quran, but of the Hadith, which says that somehow Judas replaced Jesus on the cross, Jesus being raised to Heaven. The Quran is vague on the subject of the cross and never hints at any part played by Judas. The Hadith also teach that Jesus is coming back again, but will die in battle fighting for Islam. They also reject the fact that Jesus was the son of God (i.e. the son of Allah and Mariam). But that was because Muhammad had a very strange view about the Triunity of God. He had only met heretical Christians and believed that in Christian eyes the Trinity was composed of Allah, Mariam (Mary) and Isa (Jesus). Thus Muhammad never rejected the Trinity as we know it. (He also mixed up Mariam, Moses' sister, and Mary). In fact the Quran exalts Jesus well above Muhammad. It states that He was virginally born, was able to argue and dispute from birth, and turned clay birds into living birds. And that finally He was exalted to Heaven without dying. It is clear from all this last that its ideas are based on the later heretical so-called gospels. |
||||||
134 | Where was Pergamos located? | Deuteronomy | biblicalman | 229036 | ||
Hi Chrissy, welcome to the forum. Pergamos was one of the seven churches in Asia Minor mentioned in Rev 2-3. It was in the west of what is now Asiatic Turkey (in ancient Lydia). It is to the seaward end of the valley of Caicus. It was the northernmost of the seven churches which were clustered in a group. It was the site of the first Temple of theos (God) which celebrated the worship of the emperor. Revelation said of it that it was where Satan's throne is (Rev 2.13). This was probably the Temple of theos mentioned in 2 Thess 2.4. It only became important in 282 BC and there are no good grounds for linking it with the priests of Babylon who actually welcomed Cyrus into Babylon, for he restored to them their ancient cultic rites. BEST WISHES |
||||||
135 | Does the Spirit leave during fornication | Eph 4:30 | biblicalman | 229035 | ||
Hi Karel, Welcome to the forum. The sealing of the Holy Spirit is permanent once accomplished, and is the guarantee of our inheritance (eph 1.13-14). If we are true Christians we are sealed unto the day of redemption. We are thereby Temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6.19-20). We are limbs of Christ (1 Cor 6.15). To commit fornication is a heinous offence for it makes the limbs of Christ sin. It defiles the Temple of the HOLY Spirit. However if we are truly Christ's then the Holy Spirit will not leave us. But He will be deeply grieved. We must not underestimate that grief (eph 4.30). Fornication is the gravest sin we can commit for it is a sin against our own body (1 Cor 6.18), and against Christ's body (1 Cor 6.17). We may lapse through weakness, but anyone who continues in such sin must question whether they are truly Christians at all. It is no light matter. The Holy Spirit comes to us personally to bring about our continuing salvation (2 Cor 3.18). If we are truly God's He will never desert us. But He will chasten us, sometimes very severely (Heb 12.4-11; 1 Cor 11.30-32). If we escape chastening in such crcumstances, unless there has been deep repentance, it must raise the question as to whether we are truly sons and daughters of God (Heb 12.8). When David prayed, 'do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me' (Psalm 51.11) he was recognising the heinousness of his sin. But he did not really think that God would do it. He was aware of God's great mercy. He was simply expressing what he knew he deserved. But if we are His God never leaves us or forsakes us (Heb 13.5). Best wishes. |
||||||
136 | Samuel 1 - the Ark of the LORD | Ex 25:10 | biblicalman | 229033 | ||
Hi Aileen, The Ark (or Chest) of the Lord was a wooden (acacia wood) box overlaid with gold, which contained within it the tablets containing the basic covenant of Exodus 20.2-17.(The tablets of Testimony). The lid of the chest was of pure gold, and two cherubim of gold were on the lid and spread their wings over the Ark, lookng inwards towards each other. The space between was probably seen as the throne of the invisible God (Ezekiel 1.26). It was the place from which God met with His people (Exod 25.22). For its construction see Exod 25.10-22. It was not to be touched by the hand of man under any circumstances and was carried on poles which went through rings on the side of the Ark. It was situated in the Holy of Holies, hidden behind the veil. When being borne by the Levites on its travels it was covered with curtains. But the priests would carry it before Israel uncovered when there was possible danger of attack (Numbers 10.33-36) or during battle (1 Sam 4.3-9). But for it to be effective the hearts of the people had to be right. It symbolised the presence of God among His people. The vision of Ezekiel in Ezekiel 1 pictured it in terms of God's travelling throne. |
||||||
137 | what day should the sabbath be? | Bible general Archive 4 | biblicalman | 229029 | ||
It should be noted that Gen 2.3 says nothing about the Sabbath. It should also be noted that there was no evening or morning on the seventh 'day'. It was a day without end. Thus the sanctifying of the seventh 'day' was not necessarily the inauguration of the Sabbath. It was rather an indication of God's blessing on the future of His creation, having finalised His creation in the previous six time periods (yom). The first actual mention of the Sabbath is in Exodus 16. Then it was fixed as the seventh day after the commencement of the manna. And it is clear that 'all the rulers' at least did not then know of the Sabbath day (verse 22). It had to be explained by Moses. And it was not based on the seventh day of creation, but on the seventh day of the gathering of the manna. It was not necessarily in line with the seventh day of creation. There is no suggestion that it was. It is true that in the ten words in Exodus 20 God related the sabbath to the seventh day of creation, but it is only used as an example. God did it thus they must do it. Scripture gives no impression that the sabbath day was observed before Exodus 16. The Sabbath thus arises out of the Mosaic Law. God blessed and sanctified the first day of the week when He raised His Son from the dead (Luke 24.1; John 20.1). This was why it changed. Was the change warranted? Certainly the early church began meeting on the first day of the week (Acts 20.7). It was also the day for setting aside money for the poor (1 Cor 16.2). This would appear to suggest that it was the day on which Christians met. We must remember that while the Sabbath could be observed by Jews by special order of the Roman empire, the same was not true for Christians. Thus many Christian slaves could not observe the sabbath. Certainly by the time of Ignatius of Antioch (110 AD) and the Epistle of Barnabas (135 AD) Sunday had replaced the Sabbath in many places, and even where it was observed it was not as a day of rest but as a day of doing good, following Jesus' example. But Paul had previously authorised this in Romans 14.5-6. And he had underlined it in Col 2.16. The shadow had been replaced by Christ. Thus the shadow no longer applied. After all Jesus was Lord of the Sabbath (Mk 2.28) and could determine how it be observed contrary to current Jewish practise. |
||||||
138 | Old Testament punishment for fornication | Deut 22:22 | biblicalman | 229015 | ||
hi michael, Your question is answered in Deut 22.22-29. If a man lies with a married or betrothed woman he will be put to death. The woman also unless she was forced. In the case of an unbetrothed woman (whether forced or not)the punishment is a fine and a sentence to marry the girl (giving her her dowry) with no rights of divorce. This was for the woman's protection. She would be unmarriageable. If she or her family is unwilling for a marriage to take place he must pay her her dowry (Exod 22.16-17). Best wishes. |
||||||
139 | Can the devil read your thoughts or mind | 2 Tim 2:15 | biblicalman | 229013 | ||
Hi Michael, Welcome to the forum. There is no certain answer to your question, but it is probable that your friends are correct. Satan does not seem to have been able to read Job's mind. Rather he surmised how he would behave if treated in a certain way. He was wrong. He could not discern how deeply Job loved God. He was wrong again when he sought to accuse Joshua the High Priest before God and was rebuked for his pains (Zechariah 3.1-2). He finds God difficult to understand. True love is something outside his sphere. We gain the impression that Satan could not read Jesus' mind in the Temptation narratives. As with Job he thought that Jesus would succumb to pressure and be tempted to carry out His Messiahship the easy way. He was wrong again. It is even questionable whether at that stage he even realised precisely Who Jesus was ('son of God' was an ambiguous phrase and could indicate a number of things). How else could he have hoped to be able to tempt Him? And the same applies at the end of Jesus' life. Satan hurried Jesus on to His death (Luke 22.3), not recognising what the consequences would be for himself. He knew that somehow Jesus was sent in order to thwart his plans. He did not know how God intended to do it. He also thought that he could bring Peter down, not realising that he would make him only stronger (Luke 22.31-32). And as Jesus prayed for Peter so does He pray for us. For He is omnipresent. You must not make the mistake of thinking that Satan is omnipresent or omniscient. It is very possible that in fact Satan has never taken much notice of you. He has probably left you to his numerous minions. (Jesus calls them Satan as well - Mark 3.23). See Ephesians 6.10-18. He does, of course, have a very good idea of what will cause people to succumb to temptation, and he and his minions can soon observe us in order to discover our weaknesses, but it is probably not by reading our minds. And we should remember that if we are Christians we come under the protection of the blood of Jesus. It may well be good advice not to speak your thoughts aloud, even though it is probable that at least some of the time you are not under observation. Best wishes |
||||||
140 | Are we Under Mosiac Law? or Jesus Law? | Bible general Archive 4 | biblicalman | 229004 | ||
We are under the Law of Christ. Basically this is summed up in 'you shall love the Lord your God with heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbour as yourself' (Galatians 5.14 6.2). Jesus reinterpreted the Mosaic Law in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). We seek to live it out in Christ's strength because we are counted as righteous in God's eyes through the cross and through the blood of Christ. If we are true Christians the Law of Moses can no more condemn us, because it was fulfilled on our behalf by Jesus Christ. Through Him we have been given the gift of righteousnss. His righteusness has been set to our account (Rom 3.24-25). But the whole law (Old and New Testaments) is like a mirror into which we can look and see what kind of people we are, so that we can then let Christ put us right (James 1.22-25) and live it out in order to please Him.. |
||||||
Result pages: << First < Prev [ 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 ] Next > Last [19] >> |