Category: Bible

Question:

I have a friend who insist that the doctrine of the rapture started as the result of a vision by a Scotish girl by the name of Margaret McDonald in the spring of 1830. Do you know where I can find out when this doctrine started to be taught? Let me say now that I am a pre-tributlational rapture believer because I believe that this is what the Bible teaches. What I would like is something to open the eyes of my friend. Something that proves that this Biblical teaching start much earlier.

Answer:

I have never heard this excuse from anyone, as to why he would not accept the teaching of the Pre-Tribulation, Pre-Millennial Rapture, but I would not worry about using outside sources to prove what the Bible clearly teaches. There is nothing as powerful as Bible verses to prove the truth. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”Continue reading

Question:

As I read the Bible I understand that the New Covenant began at the cross, with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Does this mean that some of Jesus’ answers were for those under the old covenant rather that the new covenant? An example would be what is called the “Lord’s Prayer” or the “Disciple’s Prayer”. It seems that forgiveness as understood in this prayer is not according to the New Covenant.

Answer:

Whether a person was under the “old” covenant, or whether a person is under the “new” covenant, salvation has always been the same. Acts 10:38-43 says, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and showed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. TO HIM GIVE ALL THE PROPHETS WITNESS, THAT THROUGH HIS NAME WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHALL RECEIVE REMISSION OF SINS.”Continue reading

Question:

I’m glad you are a King James proponent. I am too. But please explain to me why the Apocrypha was included in the original 1611 version and was not removed for many years after. If the KJV is God’s Bible in English as I believe it is, how could the 1611 committee have made this grave mistake and included these uninspired writings that contain errors as part of Holy Scripture?

Answer:

It was included, at first, like maps or a concordance is often included in the Bible — as a reference, not as part of Scripture. Corrupt manuscripts included it right in the text, as if it was Scripture; but not so in the King James Bible. Including it as a reference in a separate section was a decision that was later reversed, and it was removed totally. Sometimes things are done based upon tradition, and not actually in the best interest of people, spiritually speaking. Such was the case with including the Apocrypha in the Bible at all. Its historical value is rendered of no value at all, when considering the spiritual detriment that it is to the people reading it (like the false teachings of purgatory, prayers for the dead, etc.). Remember, it is not the King James translators that were inspired, but the Scripture itself. God used the translators to bring His perfect, preserved Word into English, but that does not make the translators themselves perfect—no more than us holding to the King James Bible as God’s perfect, preserved Word makes everything that we do perfect. We are sinners saved by grace, and we sometimes do not make the wisest decisions, but that is where growth comes into our lives. We believe that God has preserved His Word perfect, because He promised to do so. Psalm 12:6,7 says, “The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times. Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever.” God did give us His perfect, preserved Word in the English language, and as men read it, they saw that it was in error to include things for historical value, when they were well known to include many false statements and teachings, so the Apocrypha was removed totally from the Bible.

Question:

I Chr. 29:29 mentions 2 books (the book of Nathan the prophet) and (the book of Gad the seer). Have these books never been found? Is the Bible really complete without them? what if somehow these book are found, would you not say that they should be added?

Answer:

1 Chronicles 29:29 says, “Now the acts of David the king, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Samuel the seer, and in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the book of Gad the seer.” There are three books mentioned here: the book of Samuel, the book of Nathan, and the book of Gad. There are two Books in the Bible named after Samuel, First and Second Samuel. Samuel died in 1 Samuel 25:1 (“And Samuel died…”), so we know that those two books bear his name, but that he could not have entirely written even the first Book that bears his name, because it goes on for another 6 chapters after his death.Continue reading

Question:

Were Joseph and Mary actually married (not just engaged) at the time of Jesus’ birth? Luke and Matthew seem to tell different stories here.

Answer:

Matthew 1:18-25 reads: “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. THEN JOSEPH BEING RAISED FROM SLEEP DID AS THE ANGEL OF THE LORD HAD BIDDEN HIM, AND TOOK UNTO HIM HIS WIFE: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”Continue reading