What Happens When A Believer Dies?

Have you ever had to explain to others, believers or non-believers, the Biblical teaching of what happens when a Christian believer dies? While many Christian believers do not share my belief in a PreTribulation Rapture; others will also argue that the believer goes to a temporary place, or that believers stay in the grave until Christ resurrects us just before taking all believers into eternity. Surprisingly, even among Christian believers -- there is great disagreement about this very important issue: What happens when the believer dies?

My Religion Forum Friend, B50, recently told us that she is a New Age/Christian/Wiccan -- so, it is not surprising that she is confused. The New Age and Wiccan world religions are polar opposites of Christianity. A person accepting the teachings of these world religions most likely will not be mature in Biblical knowledge. Otherwise, he/she could not be lured into those religions.

However, her question has given me an opportunity to explain Biblically what happens at death -- and the difference between a believer dying now and a believer who lives to see the Rapture occur.

If you find this useful, please feel free to share this dialogue with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Gospel with the world -- and by sharing, help all of us grow spiritually and, daily, become more mature in our knowledge of God's Word. Until He returns; share the Gospel.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In an earlier discussion titled "VPLee123....Thank you!" -- I wrote, "We believe, from the Bible, that when a believer dies -- he/she is immediately in the presence of Jesus Christ and God the Father."

And, B50 asks me, "I thought you had to wait for the Rapture, Bill. So heaven immediately or not?"

Good question! Glad you asked. True, for all Christian believers, upon death, the next moment they are alive in the presence of Jesus Christ -- more alive than ever before. Our mortal bodies are in the grave; but, our spirit, the true essence of all people -- will have a great "Home Coming" celebration -- and all Christ believing loved ones and friends who have gone on before -- will be standing with Jesus Christ -- to greet us -- to welcome us home!

Yes, Jesus Christ is coming one day, a day no one knows. This is why we call it imminent, for it could happen at any moment -- or it might not happen for many years. We just have to be ready (Luke 12:40). His coming will be in the air, in the clouds, and He will call all Christian believers, His church, His Bride, to join Him in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). This is the Rapture.

For all believers who have died in Christ, i.e, died being believers in Jesus Christ -- their mortal bodies will be in the grave; but their spirits are with the Lord. For all non-believers, their mortal bodies are in the grave; but, their spirits are in the Torment side of Hades -- where they will stay until they are resurrected to stand before Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment.

These Christian believers whose bodies are in the grave will rise, be resurrected, first. Then, a split second later, we who are still alive will join them in the air to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. At this time, we all will receive our immortal bodies and will be like Him -- not divine, but in our immortal bodies (1 John 3:2).

Now this is a point where many people, believers and non-believers, will ask, "Bill, that works for those who died and were buried. But, what about people who were cremated? What about people who were eaten by animals, by sharks, etc. -- their bodies no longer exist. Their bodies are ashes or part of animal or fish waste. How can they be raised from the grave to be Raptured?"

That is a very valid question. Yet, we are told in Luke 12:6-7, "Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows."

God created us; God knows every hair on our head (for some, just a memory); God knows every cell which makes up our bodies -- for He created those cells, those bodies -- so, I have no doubt that, in His omniscience, in His omnipotence -- He will have no trouble bringing together all the required elements to create our immortals bodies.

Jesus, when He ascended into heaven, was in His immortal body with the nail scars and the sword scar still evident. After His resurrection, but, before His ascension -- he was in His immortal body which closely resembled His older mortal body. This is why He could eat with His apostles after His resurrection (John 21:12-15). We believers will have such an immortal body also at the Rapture (1 John 3:2).

So, to clarify: For believers who have already died, their bodies are in the grave -- but, their essence, their spirit, is in heaven. When Christ returns to Rapture His church -- their bodies will rise from the grave, or wherever, and will become immortal bodies, once again reunited with their essence, their spirit.

Then, a brief moment later, we believers who are still alive when Christ returns in the air to Rapture His church will rise -- we will not taste death -- but, will go to meet Him in the air to gain our immortal bodies.

Is this described in the Bible? Yes, in 1 Corinthians 15:49-54 we learn that we, our bodies, will be changed in the twinkling of an eye -- pretty quick -- from mortal to immortal, i.e., our glorified bodies. We we be in our glorified bodies just like Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:49-54, "Just as we have borne the image of the earthy (mortal), we will also bear the image of the heavenly (immortal). Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory."

And, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are told that we believers who are still alive, will be CAUGHT UP to meet Christ, our Lord, in the air. In the Greek language, the English phrase "will be caught up" is the word "harpazo" meaning: "to snatch out or away."

When the Pope commissioned Jerome to translate the Bible into Latin, the language favored by the Roman Catholic church, the Greek word "harpazo" became the Latin word "rapiemur" -- from which we get the English transliteration RAPTURE. So, yes, the word "Rapture" -- the prophecy of the Rapture -- and the description of the Rapture -- are all in the Bible.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, "But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words."

Yes, B50, we have His, Jesus Christ's, promises of eternal life for all who believe (Matthew 19:29, John 3:15, John 3:16, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 6:54, John 10:28).

And, the apostle John writes to us in John 20:30-31, "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."

So, yes, eternal life in Christ is assured, by Jesus Christ Himself, for ALL who, by grace, through faith, believe in Him and receive His "free gift" of eternal life. Based upon His promises, we have eternal security in Him -- and whether we die before He comes to Rapture His church, or whether we are still alive -- ALL believers will be Raptured to be with Him forever.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Are New Age, Wicca, And Christianity Compatible?

So often, over the years, I have heard people say, "I'm a Christian, but, I see nothing wrong with psychics, astrology, and superstitions." That is basically what my Forum Friend was saying when she told us she is a New Age/Christian/Wiccan. Sorry, no way. New Age and Wiccan are the antithesis, the total opposite, of Christianity. One cannot be short and tall, one cannot be fat and skinny -- and one cannot be New Age or Wiccan and be a Christian believer. Yet, on the Religion Forum I am chastised for pointing this out to my misguided Friend.

Yet, we all know that when we share the Gospel, there will be many who will disagree, many who will attempt to discredit us and the Gospel. Jesus told us, in Luke 6:22, "Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man." And, in 1 Peter 4:14, we are told that this brings us blessings. So, praise God -- I am blessed!

Please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's all keep sharing the Word of God, sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ -- until He returns.

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In another discussion begun by O No titled "Why We Are Here" my Forum Friend, B50, wrote, "It was a humbling moment. So I guess God can work through a New Age/Christian/Wiccan."

And, I responded to her with, "Not that I want to burst your bubble -- but, there is NO WAY a person can be New Age and Wiccan -- and be a Christian believer. The two are totally polar opposites. If you think you can wear both coats -- you are only fooling yourself."

Then, O No tells me, "I truly do believe that Bill, wittingly or unwittingly, IS working for the other side. The way he slams people who he KNOWS are believers, the way he insults people and tries to denigrate them. We all KNOW that is not Christian behavior! Bill pushes people AWAY from Christ by his actions and his venomous words."

O No, my Friend, when B50 tells us that she follows the New Age religion, this is what is meant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Age

The New Age (also referred to as the New Age movement, New Age spirituality, and Cosmic Humanism) is a decentralized Western social and spiritual movement . . . It includes aspects of Occultism, astrology, esotericism, metaphysics, alternative medicine, music, collectivism, sustainability, and nature.

The New Age movement includes elements of older spiritual and religious traditions ranging from atheism and monotheism through classical pantheism, . . . New Age practices and philosophies sometimes draw inspiration from major world religions: Buddhism, Chinese folk religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism; with particularly strong influences from East Asian religions, Gnosticism, Neopaganism, New Thought, Spiritualism, Theosophy, Universalism, and Western esotericism.

When B50 tells us that she follows the Wiccan religion, this is what is meant:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

Wicca is a Neopagan religion and a form of modern witchcraft. It is often referred to as Witchcraft or the Craft by its adherents, who are known as Wiccans or Witches. Its disputed origins lie in England in the early 20th century, though it was first popularized during the 1950s by Gerald Gardner, a retired British civil servant, who at the time called it the "witch cult" and "witchcraft", and its adherents "the Wica." >From the 1960s the name of the religion was normalized to "Wicca."

Wicca is typically a duotheistic religion, worshipping a Goddess and a God, who are traditionally viewed as the Triple Goddess and Horned God. These two deities are often viewed as being facets of a greater pantheistic Godhead, and as manifesting themselves as various polytheistic deities. Nonetheless, there are also other theological positions within the Craft, ranging from monotheism to atheism.

So, anyone telling us that he/she can follow a New Age religion, can follow the Wiccan religion -- and still be a Christian believer -- has NO idea what it means to be a Christian believer. As I have said many times before, New Age/Wiccan and Christianity are polar opposites.

One cannot be both. That would be analogous to saying, "I am going to spend eternity in heaven and in hell." No. Not possible. Sorry, my Friend -- that is totally impossible. One has to make a choice between the two -- just as one HAS to make a choice between world religions and Christianity.

O No, if you consider what I write to be "venomous words" -- I must suggest that you confuse the Gospel with "venomous words." And, as the apostle Paul tells us in Romans 1:16, "For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. . ." The key words here are "everyone who believes" -- and one cannot believe in and follow Jesus Christ while following antiChristian world religions.

My Friend, you accuse me of serving the wrong side. Do you think that, maybe, by trying to hold hands with all sides; you may be doing just what you accuse me of doing?

Joshua 24:15, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."

If you still disagree with me, you might want to do more research on the New Age, Wiccan, and other world religions -- and their relationships with Christianity. And, just possibly, you might want to take an introspective look inside to see if it is Bill Gray with whom you disagree -- or God.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

Two Extremes: Calvinism & Arminianism - Let's Meet In The Middle!

Recently, a Friend sent me a message asking, "I have been reading a lot lately about theology. What is your view regarding Calvinism and Arminianism? Where do you stand on both -- and why?"

Where do I stand on Calvinism and Arminianism? Pretty much in the middle between the two. While there are teachings in both theologies which I agree with -- there are issues in both which I believe are not Biblical. Let's take a look at each:

CALVINISM: The doctrines and teachings of Calvinism are defined by the Five Points of Calvinism which are usually illustrated by the acronym T U L I P.

T -- Total Depravity: Sin has affected all parts of man. The heart, emotions, will, mind, and body are all affected by sin. We are completely sinful. We are not as sinful as we could be -- but we are completely affected by sin.

U -- Unconditional Election: Some are elected into salvation, others are not (Rom. 9:15, 21). God chooses to save people unconditionally; that is, they are not chosen on the basis of their own merit. The reason it is called Unconditional Election -- is because there is "no condition" through which man can choose, of his own "free will" -- to follow Jesus Christ and have eternal salvation. Those saved are chosen arbitrarily; like in a lotto; some win, some lose.

L -- Limited Atonement: The sacrifice of Christ on the cross was only for the purpose of saving the elect, those "predestined" -- chosen before the Creation to be saved. His death was not meant to offer salvation to all people. Jesus died only for the elect. Though Jesus' sacrifice was sufficient for all, it was not meant for all. Jesus only bore the sins of the elect.

I -- Irresistible Grace: When God has chosen to save someone, He will. When God calls his elect into salvation, they cannot resist. God offers to all people the Gospel message. This is called the external call. But to the elect, God extends an internal call and it cannot be resisted.

P -- Perseverance Of The Saints: You cannot lose your salvation. Because the Father has elected, the Son has redeemed, and the Holy Spirit has applied salvation -- those thus saved are eternally secure. Those people God chooses cannot lose their salvation; they will continue to believe. If they fall away, it will be only for a time.

The doctrines and teachings of Calvinism which I believe are not Biblical are:

U - Unconditional Election, which is another name for Predestination -- lotto style salvation; some win, some lose. Nothing a person can do to gain salvation if he/she was not chosen before the Creation. How secure does that make YOU feel?

L - Limited Atonement, which teaches that Jesus Christ did not die for all people as we are told in John 3:16; but, only for those chosen, i.e., predestined, before the Creation to be saved. If you were not chosen before the Creation -- on the cross, He did not know you. Can you believe that Jesus Christ -- did NOT die for YOU on the cross? If you believe Calvinism -- maybe He did not. But, how are YOU to know?

I -- Irresistible Grace: When God has chosen to save someone, He will be saved, whether he wants to be saved or not. In other words, man does not have the "free will" to choose to follow Jesus Christ or to deny Jesus Christ.

Calvinism teaches Predestination, that ONLY those people chosen before the Creation to be saved -- will be saved. And, it teaches that everyone chosen before Creation to be saved -- will be saved, regardless. They will have no choice. In other words, Calvinism teaches that we do not have the "free will" to choose to follow Jesus Christ or to deny Him.

Ephesians 1:13 tells us, "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the Gospel of your salvation — having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise."

This tells me that those who heard the Gospel being preached and believed -- were saved, sealed in Him by the Holy Spirit. Are the Calvinists telling us that God closed the ears of those He did not want saved -- so that they could not hear the Gospel and believe?

Calvinist, themselves, do not believe this -- for under Irresistible Grace above, we are told, "God offers to all people the Gospel message." If God offers the Gospel message to all people -- and some believe -- can they not be saved as Ephesians 1:13 tell us? Not according to the Calvinist doctrine of Predestination.

I do not believe my God would do that to a person who sincerely wants to hear and believe.

Where I agree with Calvinism is their teaching of Total Depravity, that man, with his sin nature inherited from Adam, is lost in sin and only the Holy Spirit can lead him to salvation in Jesus Christ. Yet, I will state that I believe Jesus Christ gave us the Great Commandment (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15) because we are to be Sowers of Salvation Seeds -- to all people, not just those predestined to be saved. And, when we are evangelizing; how do we know who was predestined -- and who was not?

I believe that we Christian believers sow seeds of salvation through our evangelism; that others water and nourish those seeds through their evangelism -- but, only the Holy Spirit can harvest those seeds and bring the person to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

If we witness to people not predestined to be saved; aren't we wasting the Gospel on them? Would it not be better to put all of our witnessing effort toward evangelizing only those predestined to be saved? But, how do we know the difference?

And, I agree with Calvinism that one cannot lose his/her salvation. Yet, Calvinism teaches "once saved, always saved" only for those arbitrarily chosen by God before the Creation. I believe that ALL can, by grace, through faith in Jesus Christ, be saved. And, once saved, always saved -- for if a person can lose his salvation this makes a liar of Jesus Christ who tells us, "He who believes HAS eternal life" (John 6:47).

Calvinism says: because of man's sinfulness, God must predestine people into salvation -- or none would be saved. This is because Calvinism denies the gift of "free will" which God gave to man.

ARMINIANISM: The Five Points of Arminianism are:

• Human Free Will: This states that, though man is fallen and will always have the curse of his sin nature -- he still has the "free will" to make a choice to follow God and be saved. His will is not restricted and enslaved by his sinful nature. All people have the God-given attribute of "free will" -- the ability to choose to follow Jesus Christ or to deny Jesus Christ.

• Conditional Election: God, in His omniscience, knows all things; there is nothing He does not know -- from eternity past to eternity future. Therefore, in His "foreknowledge" -- His knowing what you and I will do throughout our entire life -- He knows who will follow Jesus Christ -- and who will deny Jesus Christ. Those who will follow Jesus Christ -- are predestined to eternal life with God.

• Universal Atonement: Jesus Christ died on the cross to offer salvation to ALL (". . . whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" -- John 3:16) -- who will, by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ -- believe and receive His "free gift."

• Resistible Grace: That because God had given man the gift of "free will" -- man can choose to resist the grace of God and reject salvation in Jesus Christ.

• Fall From Grace: The Teaching that a person can fall from grace and lose his salvation.

While I agree with the first four Points of Arminianism; the last, to fall from grace and lose your salvation, is totally unBiblical.

Arminianism teaches that everyone can be saved -- if we will, by grace, through faith, believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation. However, the Arminians go over the cliff on the other side -- saying that a person can loose his/her salvation by sinning. If that were true -- absolutely no one would be saved -- for we all sin (Romans 3:23).

And, since we are told in Ephesians 4:30, "Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption" -- the teaching that we can lose our salvation makes a liar of God. God, in this Scripture verse, tells us we are sealed for, or until, the day of redemption. Yet, the Arminian teaching tells us that this is not true -- and that, if one sins, he/she will lose his/her salvation.

Personally, I stand where I believe the Bible stands -- right in the middle between these two teachings. I agree with Arminianism that Jesus Christ died on the cross to make salvation available to everyone who will, by grace, through faith -- believe and receive His "free gift" of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9).

And, I agree with the Calvinist that once a person is saved, sealed with the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption, he/she cannot lose that salvation. Salvation is a "free gift" from God -- and God does not give a gift -- and then take it away.

Several points come to mind regarding Calvinism:

Calvinist believe that God predestined before Creation, i.e., God arbitrarily decided before He created the heavens and the earth -- who will be saved and spend eternity with Him. And, He arbitrarily chose before the Creation who will spend eternity in hell with Satan.

If that is true, YOU have to ask yourself: If God created man for fellowship, to love, worship, and honor Him -- if He created man from His love; why would He allow Satan to have the "free will" to turn from Him; but, will not allow man to have that same "free will"? Does this sound like the God of the Bible, where we read, "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 4:16).

If Calvinism is true and God did indeed predetermine, before the Creation, who will be saved and who will spend eternity in hell -- how do YOU know that YOU were predestined for salvation? Do those who have been predestined for eternal life with God have a special mark on them?

Does the Holy Spirit give the chosen people a "special revelation" telling each chosen person that he/she has been saved? If this is true -- have YOU been given that "special revelation" -- that special message from the Holy Spirit? If not, do you really believe that God has turned His back on you and that you cannot be saved? That is what Calvinism teaches.

Calvinism will tell you that if, in God's foreknowledge, He predestined people according to His foreknowledge of the choice each person will make in his/her lifetime -- then, that negates "free will." First, Calvinism tells us that they do not believe God gave us "free will" -- then, they use the loss of "free will" to allow them to negate His foreknowledge. They seem to want their cake and to eat it, too.

Romans 8:29-30, "For those whom He foreknew -- He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified."

This tells me that God foreknew who He would predestine. What does this mean, to foreknow? It means that God knew from the foundation of the earth who will choose to follow Jesus Christ and who will reject Him. Calvinists will say that this takes away our "free will" to make a choice. No. It says that God foreknew -- it does not say that God fore-destined. Man still has the "free will" to believe or deny; nothing changes that. However, since God is omniscient -- He foreknew the decision YOU will make regarding Jesus Christ. Now, doesn't this sound more like the God you have chosen to worship?

Regarding Arminianism:

If, as Arminianism teaches, we can lose our salvation if we sin -- and given the fact that we all sin (Romans 3:23) -- how can anyone know they are saved, how can anyone be saved?

1 John 1:8, "If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us."

1 John 1:10, "If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us."

REGARDING BOTH CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM: Let's take a look at the teachings of Jesus Christ:

John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son HAS eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

John 5:24 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, HAS eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but HAS passed out of death into life.

John 6:47 "Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes HAS eternal life."

John 3:15, "So that whoever believes will in Him HAVE eternal life."

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but HAVE eternal life."

John 6:40, "For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will HAVE eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

1 John 5:13, "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may KNOW that you HAVE eternal life."

Does anyone see, in any of those Scripture verses, a single instance where it reads, "will have eternal life IF. . ." or "may have eternal life IF. . ." or "could have eternal life IF. . ."? No, Jesus Christ is telling us that, ". . .he who believes HAS eternal life."

Notice that these verses do not say, "He, who was predestined before Creation, and believes, HAS eternal life."

One point I would like to emphasize: When interpreting the Bible, i.e., hermeneutics, if you have several Scripture verses or passage that you believe say one thing -- but, you find another verse or passage which you know says something different; you do not have the correct interpretation.

While both Calvinism and Arminianism base their theologies on Scripture verses and passages -- both are establishing their theology by ignoring other verses and passages which contradict their interpretation. The Bible cannot contradict the Bible. So, when Calvinism quotes Scripture passages which they use to support their doctrine of predestination and limited atonement -- they are refusing to look at other Biblical verses and passages which absolutely deny that doctrine.

And, when Arminianism quotes Scripture verses and passages which they use to support their doctrine of salvation lost, they are ignoring other Biblical verses and passages, shown above, which absolutely deny that doctrine.

The Bible shines light upon the Bible -- however, the Bible NEVER contradicts the Bible.

Although a person may teach Calvinism or Arminianism; this does not mean he is not our Christian brother. However, Jesus Christ came to assure us that "whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but HAVE eternal life."

Romans 5:1, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ."

How can a Calvinist have "peace with God" if he does not know for sure that he was elected, chosen, before Creation? How can this person have "peace with God" and want to follow Jesus Christ -- if he does not know if he was predestined before Creation to have eternal life with God?

How can an Arminianist have "peace with God" if he is always worried that he will sin and lose the salvation which Jesus Christ purchased with His blood on the cross? How can an Arminianist have "peace with God" -- if he cannot accept that Jesus Christ "paid in full" his sin debt to God when He died on the cross?

In Hebrews 2:17 we are told that we have a High Priest, Jesus Christ, to make propitiation for the sins of the people -- not just the elect -- but the PEOPLE -- all who will, by grace, through faith, believe and receive Him.

Hebrews 10:19-23, "Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

I cannot accept either Calvinism or Arminianism -- because I do have a High Priest in Jesus Christ, and with a heart in full assurance of faith -- I look forward to eternal life with Him -- "for He who promised is faithful."

I pray that YOU have that same assurance of faith -- and that you will share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the complete Word of God; let's keep sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all we meet -- until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

Are We "Dumbing Down" Our Young People?

Hi to my Forum Friends,

If you ask your children, or grandchildren, to tell you the meaning of the Fourth of July -- what will they tell you? If you tell them it was the American War of Independence -- will they know who we fought for our independence? According to this report; most of them cannot answer either question.

On the PBS NewsHour show last night with news anchor, Judy Woodruff, during the Political Wrap session, a weekly session of political analysis with syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks -- they discussed an alarming fact about the American education system today.

The following is a transcript of that portion of the show which really caught my attention -- 25% of Americans polled (40% of those 19-29 years old) -- DID NOT know who American fought to win our Independence. Tomorrow is our Independence Day, July 4th -- and one fourth to almost one half of Americans do now know what we really celebrate:

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JUDY WOODRUFF: Speaking of the Fourth of July, a poll I noticed today -- Marist College in New York did a poll which showed that a fourth of Americans, when you ask them from what country did the United States win its independence, one-fourth of Americans said they weren't sure or they didn't know. And 40 percent of 18-to-29-year-olds in this country said they didn't know or weren't sure.

What does that say?

DAVID BROOKS: Yes. I think it is an insult to Abraham Lincoln's leadership of the Revolutionary War. (He was making a joke!)

DAVID BROOKS: No. To me, the substance of it is that we have traded history for social studies in schools, that we don't do the ABCs, here is what happened when.

And I notice this when I talk to kids, including sometimes my own kids. They just don't get the dates. They don't get the dates. They don't have the scaffolding of history. And they do a lot more social structure. They do cultures. They do this. They do that.

But they don't have the basic -- the facts and lineage of what happened when. And, so, those basic facts if, you don't have the scaffolding, you are not going to remember. You're not going to know how to organize it and put it all together into some sort of theory.

MARK SHIELDS: We're a lot more sensitive, but we're a lot less informed.

What is rather terrifying is the figure you cited about 40 percent of the people under the age of 29. And 80 percent, close to, over -- those over 45 do know. There was something going on in schools. The people, the older people are less likely to have gone to college than are the younger ones.

And the idea that somebody is going through college and graduating and not knowing a fundamental fact like that is terrifying and it's depressing. And...

JUDY WOODRUFF: I mean, when I saw the poll, I looked at it and looked at it again, and checked the validity, checked it with another pollster, and they said, these are real numbers.

MARK SHIELDS: Yes. It's not good news.

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Now, contrast that with Naturalized Americans -- those who are born in another country, then immigrate to America -- and, on a very proud day years later; become American Citizens! I am proud to say my wife is one of these Naturalized American Citizens.

But, they do not just raise their hands, swear allegiance, and then are handed a certificate. No, they have to pass a test to become an American Citizen. I wonder, if we who were so fortunate to be born in America -- if we had to take this same test to affirm and keep our American Citizenship; how many could pass the test?

A major part of that test is about American History and the American Government. Right now, I am looking at one of the books my wife, Dory, had to study for her citizenship. The title is "Our American Government" -- not a pamphlet; no, this book is a text book, one inch thick.

We have to take our hats off to the Naturalized American Citizens -- for they most likely know more about America, our history and our government, than most young Americans who have graduated from college in the last few decades.

As news anchor, Judy Woodruff, asks us, "What does that say?" Yes, what does that say about the American Education System? It tells me that we have traded our American Heritage, our American History -- for a Liberal Social Agenda.

This tells me that we in America are "dumbing down" our young people and getting them into "lock step" with a Liberal Socialist Agenda. We have begun to emulate China as we systematically "dumb down" the American citizenry.

Wake up! America! It is time for a rebirth of the America which was born on July 4th, 1776!

Our Pledge of Allegiance tells us: I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

True, the phrase one nation under God was not in the Pledge of Allegiance until 1954, when it was incorporated by an act of Congress. The original Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy (1855 - 1931), a Baptist minister -- who was also a Socialist.

As chairman a committee of state superintendents of education in the National Education Association, he prepared the program for the public schools' quadricentennial celebration for Columbus Day in 1892. He structured this public school program around a flag raising ceremony and a flag salute, for which he wrote his "Pledge of Allegiance."

But, being a Christian who was also a Socialist; he left God out of the picture. In 1891, he was pressured into leaving his church because of his socialist sermons.

However, praise God, our national leaders in Congress were led, in 1954, to acknowledge what God has done in raising up America as a freedom loving nation and a beacon to oppressed people from around the world.

Yes, we have had our dark moments, such as that shadow cast upon our nation by the institution of slavery. That is a sign of our human weaknesses; while still serving under our omnipotent God. Being a Christian nation, we eventually drove that institution of darkness, slavery followed by segregation -- out of our American society.

But, unfortunately, in 1963, our Supreme Court also evicted God from much of America. In 1963, the Supreme Court held hands with the ACLU in evicting God from our schools -- and progressively, systematically, the ACLU has been working to evict God and the Ten Commandments from all aspects of the American society.

Maybe, if our Pledge of Allegiance had included God back in 1892 -- the Supreme Court emboldened ACLU attacks upon our Christian heritage and God would not be occurring.

Continue to pray for our nation, for our Christian American society, and for our American leaders. But, remember all of this when you vote in November.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

How Would You AnswerA Question About Suicide?

Late last night, unable to sleep, I decided to have a yogurt while I watched my local PBS station on television. The program was a documentary about a man, fifty-nine years old, who was in the advanced stages of ALS, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease). The program, taped in 2006, followed this man and his wife in his decision to commit assisted suicide.

The couple were Americans, living in England; a very intelligent, educated man -- who faced nothing but further deterioration, until he reached the point where he would not even be able to move a muscle to alert a care giver that he was in pain or needed anything. In other words, he would be just a living corpse, lying there, waiting to die.

The man explained that he did not want to put his family through this. And, he did not want to put himself through this. So, he had chosen to travel to Sweden, where Assisted Suicide is legal, and end his ordeal.

The man was not in obvious pain; but, he could not do anything for himself -- he could not feed himself, he could not brush his own teeth, he could not even lift his arm or hand. All he could do was to sit in the chair where his care giver, his wife, had placed him -- and talk. Yes, he could still talk. But, that was about all he could do -- and, soon, he would not be able to do this.

This program, and this man's situation, was very sad for several reasons. Yes, it was sad that he had chosen to end his own life. But, what disturbed me the most was when he told us, "I do not believe there is an afterlife." With that statement, he was saying that he did not believe in God. So, it was obvious that he was soon to enter the afterlife in which he did not believe -- without God. This broke my heart.

Was his choice to end his own life wrong? Yes and no. Some will say, "He should have waited, for who knows when a cure will be discovered" -- or "He should have had more faith in God." Well, for one thing, he obviously did not believe in God. That is the sad part. Several times during the show, he said, "I am scared." And, as his wife pushed his wheel chair toward the limo to fly to Sweden, we heard him say several times, "I am scared." That is very understandable; for he was entering the unknown, eternity, without God.

Was his choice to end his own life wrong? In 1938, doctors at the Mayo Clinic diagnosed Lou Gehrig with a very rare form of degenerative disease: amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Lou died in 1941.

The Phoenix Neurological Associates web site: http://www.phoenixneurology.com/als_cure.shtml tells us this about ALS:

As there is no known cause for the disease we do not have a cure yet. Once the disease begins the average life expectancy is 3-5 years. Patients pass away from an inability to swallow effectively or breathe effectively. At present there are numerous research trials looking to explore avenues to find cures.

So, I can empathize with this man. The world, and the world of science, has been acutely aware of this horrible disease since we lost the renown Lou Gehrig to it in 1941. Yet, we are told today that science still does not have any idea of a cure.

Could God have healed this man? Absolutely. There is no doubt in my mind that God could have healed him. I have read about and personally seen and experienced God's miraculous healing. Yet, this man did not believe in God. So, how could he have hope that the God he does not believe exists -- will heal him?

I can understand this man's decision to end his life while he could still at least speak. I can understand this man's desire to not put his family or himself through the horrible final stages. And, most acutely, I can understand the man's fear when he said, "I am scared." -- for he was leaving this life without God.

So, was his choice to end his own life wrong? Suicide is most often wrong; it is a sin -- but, it DOES NOT separate a person from God, it does not cause a person to loose his eternal life with God, it does not cause a person to loose his salvation.

I know, I can hear many Friends, especially my Roman Catholic Friends, practically screaming, "Bill, how can you say such a thing?"

First, let me say that I do believe that suicide is wrong. For it really hurts the ones left behind. People are left with the unanswered question, "What could I have done to prevent this?" or "Why didn't I see this coming?" or "Did I do anything which caused him/her to do this?"

And, for the young children or grandchildren, it is even worse -- for they have yet to understand death. And, now, they have to face this self-inflicted death of someone they love. Suicide may solve a person's immediate problem -- but, it creates a mountain of problems for his/her loved ones left behind. For this reason, suicide is wrong.

Yet, for this man in the documentary, I have a level of understanding -- for he faced a hopeless future; his disease has no cure, just a continual deterioration; and he did not have God. So, this man had no hope whatsoever. Could a Christian have come to him, witnessed to him, and led him to the Lord? Yes, that is possible.

Yet, recall what happened to Pharaoh. In Exodus 8:15, "But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and did not listen to them, as the LORD had said."

And, again in Exodus 8:32 and Exodus 9:34, we are told that Pharaoh hardened his heart against God. And, finally, in Exodus 10:1, God basically tells Pharaoh, "You wanted to harden your heart against Me -- fine, I have completely hardened your heart." God allowed Pharaoh's heart to be hardened past the point of salvation. We read the same of King Zedekiah in 2 Chronicles 36:13, that he had hardened his heart against God.

There is a point where a person can so harden his heart against God -- that God will allow this to become permanent. Keep in mind that we are speaking about non-believers hardening their hearts against God and losing all opportunity for salvation. This does not apply when we are speaking of Christian believers.

When a person has become a Christian believer, a Christ Follower, he/she is indwelled, sealed with the Holy Spirit. And, no one or nothing, can evict the Holy Spirit. We have the promise of Jesus on this, in John 6:47.

And, I believe, from listening to this man in the documentary, that, because of his previous world view and mindset, solidified by his disease, that this man would have rejected any attempt to share God with him. Of course, only God knows that for sure.

The subject of suicide is very hard for most pastors and mature Christians to discuss; for very good reason. On the KWVE Christian Radio show "Pastor's Perspective" -- I have heard Pastor Chuck Smith, whom I admire very much, dance around the question when asked if suicide is a sin and will cause one to lose salvation. Over the past twenty-three years as a Christian believer, I have heard many pastors dance around that question.

Why? Because one never truly knows the person's reason for asking the question. Is he/she asking the question -- looking for justification which will allow him/her to commit suicide? If we say it will not cause a person to lose his salvation, will this encourage this person to commit suicide? It is a very difficult question.

Yet, as mature Christians, we are called to share the "truth" of God's Word. And, the truth is: As horrible as suicide is, as much as it hurts so many, many people -- it does not cause a Christian believer to lose his/her salvation.

In all my years as a Christian, I have only heard one pastor, Dr. Harold Sala, of Guidelines International Ministries, answer this question in a direct manner. In his Guidelines radio commentary, he said clearly, "No. Suicide does not cause a believer to lose his/her salvation." And, to the best of my knowledge, no one has ever committed suicide leaving a note that Dr. Sala gave him/her permission.

On the other hand, I have seen harm come from answering the question wrong. About eighteen years ago, a visitor came to our Bible study, a young lady in her twenties. During the study, she told us that she recently had a friend who had taken his own life and she wanted to know how this affected his salvation, did he lose his salvation?

One of our members, a young adult in our College Ministry, immediately told her, "Yes, he did lose his salvation!" And, to support this, he quoted 1 Corinthians 6:19, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?"

This young man was right and he was wrong. Yes, he was right that our bodies, when we are saved and have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, is a temple of God -- for God, the Holy Spirit, is living within us.

But, where he was wrong was in not aligning that Scripture verse with other parts of the Bible. Scripture cannot contradict Scripture. So, when we build a theology, or a doctrine, upon one Scripture verse -- and there are other verses or passages which tell us something different -- we must align the two to more fully understand what God is telling us.

Yes, this Scripture verse is telling us that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, and as such, is holy. Yet, we are also told, in John 1:12, that all who have believe and received Jesus Christ, are children of God. God does not adopt us and then renege on it.

We are told in John 6:47, "He who believes HAS eternal life." That means that we HAVE eternal life; not "could have if" or "will have if" or "may have if." No, it means that we HAVE eternal life in Jesus Christ. And, we are assured, in Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

We are told in John 10:27-30, "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one."

Taking all these Scripture passages together -- we know that our body, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, is the temple of God and should not be destroyed; particularly by self destruction. Yet, we are also assured that when we believe and receive Jesus Christ -- we HAVE eternal life and no one, nothing, can snatch us out of His hands or out of the Father's hands.

So, how do we reconcile this difference?

We are told in 2 Corinthians 5:10, and it is confirmed in Romans 14:10, "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

One day, we will ALL stand before Jesus Christ in judgment; believers to a judgment of rewards, or lack of rewards; non-believers to a judgment of punishment. In the believer's judgment (Bema Seat Judgment), we will have to answer to Jesus Christ for every deed and every word committed in this mortal life. At that time, I feel sure, He will ask, "Why did you destroy your body, the holy temple of God?" Would you, could you, have a satisfactory answer for this question?

We are assured in 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 that the Foundation of the Christian church, and the Christian believer, is Jesus Christ. And, depending upon how we build upon that Foundation, our Christian fruit, our Christian life -- either with indestructible stones, metals, and gems -- or with destructible wood, hay, or straw -- our fruit, our Christian life, will be tested when we stand before Jesus Christ.

It will be tested by the holy fire of the Refiner, Jesus Christ, and if we have built our Christian life upon destructible, worldly things -- it will burn up. Yet, we are told in 1 Corinthians 3:15, "If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire."

So, while my College Ministry Friend in our Bible study was right; he was also wrong. And, this wrong answer hurt this young lady. That night, I could see the anguish in her face. And, what hurt most was -- she never again came to our Bible studies. Was she already saved? Was she only seeking? Did she find another Christian fellowship where she could continue to learn, grow, and mature in God's Word -- or to receive Jesus Christ? We do not know -- for she never returned.

Yes, the question of suicide is probably the toughest question a pastor or other mature Christian will ever be asked. But, we are obligated to share the "truth" of God's Word. However, beyond that, we are also obligated to further explain to this person asking the question, God's full view of this very wrong action and salvation -- and to help him/her through whatever caused the question.

What we should have done that night, in our Bible study eighteen years ago, was to forego the planned Bible study lesson -- and concentrate on this young lady, her question, and her anguish over losing her friend in this horrible way. We should have taken her hand and made sure she was walking with Jesus Christ. We did not. We just gave her a blunt, wrong answer -- and went on with our business of Bible study. One day, we will have to explain this to Jesus Christ -- face to face.

I pray that this sheds light on this very touchy subject; that we all have a better understanding of the issue and what God's Written Word, His full revelation to us, tells us about the sin of suicide and the need of the person asking the question.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

Prophecy And The Rest Of The Bible

Earlier, I wrote an article titled "When Is The Bible Literal And When Is it Symbolic?" and posted it on the TimesDaily Religion Forum. As you might expect, I have had a few responses -- from believers and from my atheist Friends. The one below seemed to be a good segue into talking about prophecy.

If you find this useful, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing His Gospel with the world -- and looking forward to His imminent return.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi Tigrtrek,

You tell us, "Making a determination of what's literal and what's symbolic is part of what is called rightly dividing the word of truth. When the Bible says that Jesus is the stone that the builders rejected it does not literally mean he is a rock. This is easy to pick out, but prophecy, which is largely symbolic, is more open to interpretation.

Many people dedicate their lives to studying prophecy and still don't have all the answers. I prefer to focus on the Gospels, the Epistles and the Old Testament. Whatever the future holds God will work out."

That is a good example of Biblical allegory -- Jesus the Rock. Thank you.

Like you, I enjoy the Gospels, Epistles, and the Old Testament. However, since about 30% of the Bible is prophecy -- how can we not focus on this? True, many people spend their lives studying prophecy -- but, that does not mean that we lay people should not also study it.

Often times, the Holy Spirit will give us a special insight when studying His Word. I remember, about twenty years ago, when I first began to study the End Times prophecies -- I was totally confused about who would be in the Millennial Kingdom and where would Satan, who had been locked in the abyss for one thousand years, raise his large army of non-believers to do battle against Jesus Christ and the holy city, Jerusalem.

One afternoon, as I was driving home from work, I was sitting at a traffic light. My mind was on the traffic light and getting home; not on the book of Revelation or even the Bible. Yet, all of a sudden, a thought came into my mind: When Jesus Christ returns at the end of the seven year Tribulation -- even though many, many people will have been killed by the Antichrist -- there will be many people who have survived the horrible Tribulation. This group will consist of both believers and non-believers.

These people will stand in judgment before Jesus Christ -- the Sheep and Goat Judgment found in Matthew 25:31-46 for the Gentile nations, and the Judgment of Israel found in Ezekiel 20:32-38 for the Jews. Those who are not believers will "go away into eternal punishment" (Matthew 25:46). To those who are believers, He will say, "Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you. . ." (Matthew 25:34). That kingdom is His Millennial Kingdom -- and, later, the eternal kingdom.

And, to the Jews, He will say, "'And I will bring you into the wilderness of the peoples, and there I will enter into judgment with you face to face. As I entered into judgment with your fathers in the wilderness of the land of Egypt, so I will enter into judgment with you,' declares the Lord GOD. 'I will make you pass under the rod, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant'" (Ezekiel
20:35-37)

This will be the remnant of Israel, His chosen people, who, with the believers from the Sheep and Goat Judgment, will enter the Millennial Kingdom, God's Kingdom on earth, in their mortal bodies.

So, the inhabitants of the Millennial Kingdom, ruled by Jesus Christ from the throne of David in Jerusalem, will consist of the Raptured church and the Old Testament saints in our immortal bodies -- and the believers who survive the Tribulation, both Jew and Gentile, in their mortal bodies. Those in their mortal bodies will continue to marry and bear children.

During the Millennial Kingdom, Satan will be locked in the abyss, so his demonic temptations will not exist on earth for that one thousand years. Those who enter the Millennial Kingdom will be believers. Yet, they and those born during the Millennial Kingdom will still bear the sin curse of Adam, they will have the Adamic sin nature curse. Only death or the Rapture can remove this curse.

And, having this sin nature -- the only way to have eternal salvation is still through Jesus Christ. Keep in mind -- He is the ONLY Way to God the Father. So, the people born during the Millennial Kingdom will still have to confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior to be saved.

Even though the Satanic influence has been removed for one thousand years; there will still be people born during this time who will, for whatever reason, not invite Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior. These people will not be causing death and destruction as we have on earth today -- for Jesus Christ will be the ruler of this world. Yet, some will choose not to follow Him and will not receive His imputed righteousness.

When Satan is released from the abyss after one thousand years; these people who have not made a commitment to Jesus Christ will be easy prey for him, as he lures them into his army. This is the army which will come against Jesus Christ and the holy city at the end of the Millennial Kingdom -- and they will all be supernaturally destroyed (Revelation 20:7-10).

Now, did the Holy Spirit reveal all this to me that day as I sat at the traffic light? No. He revealed to me about the people, the Tribulation survivors, who will enter the Millennial Kingdom in their mortal bodies. This so piqued my interest that I began my study of the End Times and Revelation in earnest.

And, over the years, layer after layer has been peeled back, as the Holy Spirit revealed to me more and more knowledge of the End Times. You might say that, although I had already been studying End Times prophecy -- that traffic light revelation birthed my desire to really understand End Time prophecy.

Another example of the Holy Spirit leading as we study Scripture: For years I had tried to read the book of Job -- and could not get past chapter one. One evening I was sitting on my patio studying the book of John. A cross reference sent me to Job 42:10, "The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold."

Once again, my interest was piqued -- and I began to read Job. For whatever reason, that night reading Job was as easy as reading an interesting novel -- it just flowed. That night I read and had a fairly good understanding of the book of Job -- and have since led a Bible study on it. Who or what led me to Job 42:10 that night? The Holy Spirit, of course.

John 14:26, "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you."

Tigr, no part of the Bible is insignificant; but, most especially not God's revelations which He sends to us through His prophecies. Do not neglect 30% of His Written Word.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill

When Is The Bible LiteralAnd When Is it Symbolic?

This is a question we often hear: When do we read the Bible literally and when as symbolism? Actually, it is not an either/or situation. Most often, we read the Bible literally. But, how do we handle it when it cannot be read literally?

My Friend, VP, is in a church which reads the entire Bible as symbolism and allegory. So, his question is meant to be a "trick question" -- a "gotcha!" But, this is a very valid question and, I am sure is often confusing to Christian believers -- and, even more so, to new Christians and to new seekers only beginning their Biblical journey.

I pray that this dialogue will be a wee bit of help to you. If so, please feel free to share it with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let's keep sharing the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ with all we meet -- until He returns.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray

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Hi to my Forum Friends,

In the discussion which I began titled "An Open Letter From The Son Of Madalyn Murray O'Hair" -- my Friend, VP, tells me, "But I would really like an answer to the question -- WHO decides which parts of the 'literal' word of God is symbolic? When there is no mention of symbolism in the text. I am really trying to follow your logic. Help me understand."

Thank you, VP. That is a valid question -- and a very good question. Since we know the Bible is the Holy Spirit inspired (authored by God), inerrant (authored by God, and God does not make mistakes), literal (God says what He means, and means what He says) Written Word of God -- there must be a way to know when to read the Bible literally and when to apply symbolism and allegory to our interpretation. Yes, there is, my Friend.

When studying the Bible, first, as you begin your study, you interpret the Scripture passage or verse you are reading literally. If this fits, and, you can tell if it makes sense -- that is the proper interpretation. If not, then look at that same passage under the lens of symbolism or allegory. If symbolism is used; you will be able to find the meaning for that symbolism in other parts of the Bible. This may require some dedicated study -- but, then, you are studying God's Word to gain more knowledge from it; so, what's a wee bit more work -- when the rewards are so great?

An example: In Revelation 1:16 we read, "In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength."

And, this symbolism is explained in Revelation 1:20, "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches."

Another example is found in Ezekiel 37:1-10 when the prophet Ezekiel is given a prophetic vision by God.

Ezekiel 37:1-3, "The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know.'"

And, in Ezekiel 37:11 we find, "Then He said to me, "'on of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel;. . .'"

This passage is symbolic and allegorical -- and, at the same time, it is prophetic. It is prophesying about the future return of the nation so Israel -- which we have seen fulfilled in 1948, when the nation Israel returned to its homeland, the promised land given to Israel by God in the days of Moses and Joshua.

And, then we move on with Israel to the End Times, the seven year Tribulation, which is decreed by God as the time of refining for His chosen people, Israel. In the Tribulation, a remnant of Israel will come to faith in their Messiah, Jesus Christ -- and God will bring them through the times of trial, Jacob's Trouble, the Tribulation.

In Isaiah 10:20-23, we find, "Now in that day the remnant of Israel, and those of the house of Jacob who have escaped, will never again rely on the one who struck them (the Antichrist), but will truly rely on the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. A remnant will return, the remnant of Jacob, to the mighty God. For though your people, O Israel, may be like the sand of the sea, Only a remnant within them will return; A destruction is determined, overflowing with righteousness. For a complete destruction, one that is decreed, the Lord GOD of hosts will execute in the midst of the whole land."

This passage, while, at first, seeming to be symbolic, is truly to be read literally. God is going to put the nation Israel, and with them the Gentile nations, through a time of Tribulation. And, in this horrible seven year Tribulation, only a remnant of Israel will accept Jesus Christ as their Messiah and be saved. Although the Tribulation is not for the Gentile nations; many Gentiles will also be saved during the Tribulation. All others will perish with the Antichrist.

In Daniel 9:27, we read, "And he (the Antichrist) will make a firm covenant with the many (Israel) for one week (seven years), but in the middle of the week (3 1/2 years) he will put a stop to sacrifice and grain offering; and on the wing of abominations will come one who makes desolate, even until a complete destruction, one that is decreed, is poured out on the one who makes desolate."

This passage uses symbolic language and is verified by Jesus Christ in Matthew 24.

In Matthew 24:15, we are told by Jesus Christ, "Therefore when you see the 'abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand)." Here, Jesus Christ is referring to Daniel 9:27, the "abominations will come one who makes desolate."

This passage should be read literally; the Temple will be made desolate by the Antichrist at the midpoint of the seven year Tribulation.

The seven year Tribulation, the Time of Jacob's Trouble, will begin when the Antichrist signs a peace covenant with the nation Israel (Daniel 9:27). This will occur after the church has been raptured out of the world (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

During the first 3 1/2 years there will be an unusual peace, or seeming peace, throughout the world. The Antichrist will somehow be able to bring the Jews and the Muslims together in an agreement which will allow the Jewish Temple to be rebuilt on the Temple Mount, where the large Islamic mosque now stands. It most likely will not replace the mosque; but, will share the Temple Mount with the mosque.

But, Israel will have her Temple once more and will be offering sacrifices to God in the newly rebuilt temple. However, in the middle of the seven years, after 42 months, the Antichrist will begin to show his true evil personality. It is my belief that this is the time when Satan actually enters and possesses the body of the Antichrist and all his evil is brought to the surface.

At this time, he will enter the Temple and declare himself to be God and demand worship. This is the "abomination of desolation" -- the "abominations will come one who makes desolate" spoken of in Daniel and by Jesus Christ.

This is the beginning of the Great Tribulation, the last 3 1/2 years of the Tribulation. From that midpoint on, the Antichrist will do everything in his power to completely destroy the nation Israel.

VP, do you see that so much of the Bible can be read literally -- and when He does use symbolism, He will give us an interpretation. He is not a God of confusion; He is not trying to hide His plan of salvation from us. He has given us His complete plan for our salvation and He has given us the Complete Christian User's Manual for living the Christian life. Believe me, there are no "trick questions" in the Bible. God says what He means -- and He means what He says!

And, that is the truth.

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill