Many Christians find it difficult to understand Jesus' parable about the rich man and Lazarus. Some believe that it is not a parable but a literal story. It is also supposed to support life after death. The one obvious issue is that the rich man has been judged and sent to Hades. The scriptures state … Continue reading Detailed look at Lazarus and the Rich man
Were Samuel, Moses & Elijah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - Alive Before the Resurrection? Three passages of Scripture are sometimes advanced in support of the view that the dead are alive before the resurrection. 1. The episode related in 1 Samuel 28 concerns a so-called appearance of Samuel after his death. There are good reasons … Continue reading Were Samuel, Moses & Elijah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – Alive Before the Resurrection?
Luke 23:42-43 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." 43 And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." A single verse in the Gospel according to Luke has been held to provide evidence that Jesus expected an immediate … Continue reading Did the Thief on the Cross go to Heaven that Day?
Much has been written on the subject of death, primarily because so many Christians have been led to believe that we don't really die but go on to live with Jesus in Heaven. In John W. Schoenheit's book "The Christian's Hope,*" chapter 7, The Origin of Orthodoxy he says, The vast majority of Christian denominations … Continue reading Greek Philosophy’s Impact on our Understanding of Death
Hebrews 11:5 By trust Enoch was moved so that he would not see death, and he could not be found, because God moved him, for before he was moved he obtained the testimony that he pleased God. “moved.” The record of Enoch is in Genesis 5, and this verse specifically refers to Genesis 5:24. The … Continue reading Did Enoch go to Heaven?
By Jim Punton and Anthony Buzzard Hebrews 11:5: “By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, and was not found, because God had taken him; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Other heroes of faith are then listed in this hall of fame. … Continue reading Enoch and Elijah: Where Are They Now?
If we were to look for one single theme that seems to be the most central and most important theme of the entire gospel of Matthew, it would be the theme of the coming of the kingdom. We see in the first instance that the term gospel refers to the gospel of the kingdom — … Continue reading Why does Matthew use “the Kingdom of Heaven”?
Copyright © Tim Warner http://www.4windsfellowships.net Where did the idea of an eternity in heaven come from? Certainly not from Judaism, from which Christianity sprang! There is no such concept in the Old Testament. As we saw in the article, (The Kingdom in the Gospels), it definitely did not come from Jesus' teaching, and therefore could … Continue reading Origins of the Heavenly Destiny – Not The Bible
We have a sophisticated view of the world and the universe. 5,000 years ago that was not the case. Our knowledge has led us to over complicate bible scriptures and read into scripture that which was not intended at all. This is called eisegesis. We can all make this mistake. God always spoke to the … Continue reading How the Israelites saw Earth as Land, Sea and Sky
The below passage is well known and has been interpreted in a number of ways. Have you ever thought that it relates to Paul’s conversion on the road to Damascus? The timeline fits and Paul refers to his conversion experience a number of times for example in Galatians 1:13-17. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4 It is doubtless … Continue reading Paul Caught Up to the Third Heaven
Living as a Christian in this World 