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What is the Commonwealth of Israel?
Question: What is the Commonwealth of Israel? Answer: I assume you are referring to the small religious group that calls itself “Twelve Tribes: The Commonwealth of Israel.” It was started in the 1970s by Gene Spriggs in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It contains an odd blend of beliefs arising from its attempt to blend Old and New…
Read MoreI believe some people are born with homosexual tendencies
Question: I am almost 69 years old. I married a man when I was twenty, and he was twenty. He never liked me sexually. I was married to him for seven years, and we had sex five times. Under the influence of sodium pentathol, he admitted he liked men sexually. After this, he became involved…
Read MoreWhat happens if you swear to tell the truth, but you don’t?
Question: What happens if you put your hand on the Bible and someone asks you a question to reply to and you swear to God you are telling the truth, but you don’t? Answer: Jesus stated, “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil…
Read MoreAre recent natural disasters signs?
Question: What about the sign that is happening in recent times where natural disasters become such a frequent thing? What is your view toward it? Answer: There is built within your question an assumption that frequent natural disasters are a sign. A sign of what, I’m not told, but it obviously must be a sign…
Read MoreWhy shouldn’t people drink alcohol?
Question: Why shouldn’t people drink alcohol? Answer: See the article “New Testament Beverages” for details. The brief answer is that the New Testament allows Christians to use alcohol for medicinal purposes, but not for recreational purposes. Christians are to strive to be sober and watchful at all times.
Read MoreIs Talmudism different from Zionism?
Question: Is Talmudism different from Zionism? Answer: Zionism is the movement dedicated to creating and maintaining a country for Jewish people in the region that is now called Israel. Talmud is the Hebrew word for “instruction.” It has come to mean the body of rabbinical commentary on Jewish law, ethics, customs, and stories. The Torah…
Read MoreHow can I help someone who attempted suicide?
Question: I have a problem that I have never had to deal with before and pray that I will not experience anything like it again. One of our member’s granddaughter attempted suicide, by an overdose of prescription medication, last night. She is only fifteen years old, a very sweet young girl, but one that is…
Read MoreWhy does my son lie about his homework?
Question: Why does my son lie about his homework? Answer: People commit sins because they determine that momentary pleasure exceeds the consequences. The Bible mentions: “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy…
Read MoreWill Catholics go to hell?
Question: Will Catholics go to hell? Answer: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do…
Read MoreShould a Christian use medicinal drugs that may affect the mind?
Question: Should a Christian use medicinal drugs that may affect the mind? Answer: The Bible teaches Christians to be sound of mind. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Peter 5:8). The Greek word translated as “sober” is nepho, which literally means…
Read MoreThe mistranslation of “Jesus” is the 666 in Revelation
Question: Does it mean that the verb “count” in Revelation 13:18 must be ignored? Does it mean that the counting operation in Revelation 13:18 leads to no result at all? I have found that if you assign numeric values to the alphabet from 1 to 26, then Iesvs (74) + Jesus (74) + Joshua (74) + Messiah (74) =…
Read MoreIs “Jesus” the name used in the New Testament?
Question: Can you demonstrate that “Jesus” is a very old name mentioned by the writers of the New Testament? Answer: The New Testament was originally written in Greek. The name for our Lord was spelled “Iesous” in Greek (using English letters). Four people in the New Testament are mentioned having this name: The Christ (Acts…
Read MoreWhat did the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments look like?
Question: What are stone tablets like the one that had the Ten Commandments on them? Please send me a picture. Answer: As far as we know, the tablets no longer exist. They, like most of the items in the temple, have disappeared. We know what the lampstand roughly looked like because there is an image…
Read MoreWhat advantage is there to being religious?
Question: What are the advantages of being religious? Answer: Much would depend on what you have in mind when you refer to someone as “religious.” Many religions in the world do not offer their followers an advantage. But since you asked me, I will assume that you are equating Christianity to being religious. In this…
Read MoreAre cherubim angels?
Question: Are cherubim angels? Answer: Though traditionally counted among the angels, the Bible does not call cherubim or seraphim angels. The word “angel” means “messenger.” Seraphim means “fiery ones” and cherubim means “ones who hold fast.” All are spiritual beings, but since they appear to serve different roles, it would be a mistake to intermingle…
Read MoreWhere did Cain get his wife?
Question: Where did Cain get his wife? Answer: Genesis 5:3-4 tells us, “And Adam lived one hundred and thirty years, and begot a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Seth. After he begot Seth, the days of Adam were eight hundred years; and he had sons and daughters.” Though Cain and…
Read MoreDoes the definition of marriage change?
Question: If you have another look at the Bible you would see there is no condemnation actually against same-sex marriage. Thankfully a lot of Christians are seeing this now and same-sex unions are at last being made legal. Here, on December 5th, in the United Kingdom, same-sex couples will be able to marry. Also, marriage…
Read MoreWhat constitutes a marriage?
Question: What is marriage to start with? It cannot be what it is today — a man-made ceremony. Answer: “Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, with whom you have dealt treacherously; yet she is your companion and your wife by covenant.…
Read MoreHow do I deal with a financially irresponsible wife?
Question: How do I deal with a wife who forges my name on checks, applies for credit cards in my name without my approval, hides the bills when they come in the mail, and then makes it my fault for what is going on financially? I am torn because I have a 9-year-old daughter whom…
Read MoreWhen is Passover?
Question: When is Passover? Answer: “On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the LORD’S Passover” (Leviticus 23:5). While the answer is straight forward, mapping this day to our calendar is more challenging because Israel used lunar months. As a result, most years had 12 months but periodically they had a leap-month…
Read MoreWere all Levitical Priests left-handed?
Question: Is it true that all Levite Priest were left-handed? If so, why? Answer: In Israel, left-handedness was rare enough that it received mention at times. Ehud was left-handed (Judges 3:15). This allowed Ehud to smuggle in a sword to assassinate King Eglon by strapping the sword to his right thigh (the guards only thought…
Read MoreYou’re too harsh on public schools
Question: Not all schools are bad. I work for a middle school in South Carolina teaching special education. I know that our school district promotes abstaining until marriage, and it is taught in the classroom. I would say that 75% or more of our faculty and staff are Christians. Instead of condemning public education, you…
Read MoreWhere is Edom today?
Question: What is Edom’s name today? Answer: The country of Edom was founded by Jacob’s brother Esau. He picked up the nickname “Edom” or “Red” when he sold half of his massive inheritance for a simple bowl of red bean stew. Edom was located in the region to the southeast of Israel. Mount Seir was…
Read MoreIs God cleansing the earth with these recent storms?
Question: Is God cleansing the earth with these recent storms? If so, is it because of divorce and the return of the Nephilim? Answer: While the Bible discloses that God has used storms in the past to accomplish His will, the Bible warns man not to try and second guess God. “”For My thoughts are…
Read MoreWho are the false prophets among us today?
Question: Who are the false prophets among us today? Answer: If you are looking for names of specific people, I’m afraid the list would be too large and ever-changing to appropriately answer. The Bible warns us that there will always be false prophets. “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they…
Read MoreHow did the twelve apostles die?
Question: How did each of the 12 original apostles die, and where are the records of their deaths found in the Bible? Answer: The New Testament, for the most part, was written by the apostles or those close to them. As such you would expect the records to end before the authors died, and such…
Read MoreHow do I help someone who almost committed suicide?
Question: I have a problem that I have never had to deal with before and pray that I will not experience anything like it again. One of our member’s granddaughter attempted suicide, by an overdose of prescription medication, last night. She is only fifteen years old, a very sweet young girl, but one that is…
Read MoreWhat does “you shall have no other gods before me” mean?
Question: What does “you shall have no other gods before me” mean? Answer: See the lesson “No Other Gods” from the workbook The Ten Commandments. If you have further questions, please write again.
Read MoreAre there exceptions to withdrawal?
Question: I have been studying the issue of fellowship within the family. In other words, I have family who are erring brethren and walk not as God has commanded. In accordance with I Corinthians 5 and other verses which say “not even to eat,” are there guidelines or principles for us to follow? I want to…
Read MoreIs same-gender love wrong?
Question: I need to ask a question about love. I have asked before about boy-boy or girl-girl relationships. Is there such a case that you can say it is proper if you’re a guy to be infatuated (or have a crush) on another guy, or for a girl (this is more common, I think) to…
Read MoreHow do I get someone to believe the truth about homosexuality?
Question: I know a guy who says he’s bi-sexual but is faithful to his wife. He agrees that the Bible is the word of God, but where the Bible condemns homosexuality, he insists that it is mistranslated. What do I say to that? How do I get him to believe the truth? Answer: Your complaint…
Read MoreHow do I answer someone who believes all religions are equal?
Question: One non-Christian I spoke with, a Unitarian, once said to me “No one has shown me anything that proves the Bible is more valid than any other holy book.” When I persisted he said, “How would you feel if a Muslim friend kept telling you that your soul was damned to hell if you…
Read MoreWhy don’t Muslim believing governments allow their people to break Islamic law?
Question: Why won’t Muslim governments who won’t let their people do anything “un-Islamic” just back off, let the people do what they want, and if “Allah” wants anyone punished for it, let him do it for himself? It’s like they’re saying “Allah obviously can’t take care of things himself, so we’re going do it for…
Read MoreWhy do even non-Christians look down on men with long hair?
Question: Why it is that, even among non-Christians, men are looked down on for having long hair? What harm does it do? Nothing. Not one thing at all. I’ve yet to see one even a slightly logical argument against men having long hair. It could even be said that looking down on men for having…
Read MoreMove into the twenty-first century
Question: You’re a freak and you should move into the 21st century! Answer: “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before…
Read MoreHow could Samuel offer a burnt offering when he was not a Levite?
Question: How could Samuel offer a burnt offering when he was not a Levite? Answer: Samuel was a descendant of Levi, his lineage being traced in I Chronicles 6:33-38. Samuel was born in the territory of Ephriam, where his family had lived for several generations. “Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the…
Read MoreDid Onesimus later become an elder?
Question: I heard a preacher say one time that Onesimus ended up becoming an elder of the church. Is that not speculation and conjecture? Answer: Ignatius, a Christian who wrote at the beginning of the second century, to the church in Ephesus said, “Seeing, then, that we have become acquainted with your multitude in the…
Read MoreCould masters under the Old Testament law beat or kill their slaves?
Question: I know what the Scriptures teach about how we Christians today are to treat our fellow man and that it is a serious sin to murder, that being so, Is it true that during the Old Testament age the slave masters had the right to severely beat or to even kill their slaves? Answer: The slave laws…
Read MoreWas Rome a safe haven for runaway slaves?
Question: Was Rome at one time a safe haven for runaway slaves? Answer: Roman law in regard to slaves was quite severe. A Roman master could treat his slave as he pleased — sell him, beat him, or put him to death. However, morality and practical matters caused most masters to restrain their hands. After…
Read MoreCan we say for sure that Onesimus stole from his master?
Question: In regards to Philemon 18, can we say for sure that Onesimus stole from his master? Answer: Paul tells us in the book of Philemon that Onesimus was a slave (Philemon 16) who became a Christian after meeting Paul while Paul was in prison in Rome (Philemon 10). Paul makes it clear that Onesimus…
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