All Discussion PAGE 1267

Short answer-no. Elisha had the unfortunate task of satisfying the curiousity of those who thought he was dropped someplace on a mountain after God took Elijah up. ( 2 Kings 2:16-18). Enoch was also taken up as he pleased God.

There is some controversy as to the identity of the 2 prophets in Revelation; although Elijah was stated to return according to Malachi before the great and dreadful Day of the Lord. Hebrews 9:27 states that man is destined to die once then face the judgment. Since the 2 prophets die at the hands of Antichrist someday; it certainly could be those two the only ones raptured as it were.

Christ began the resurrection of those during the "church age." He was the first of the "firstfruits"; followed by "many who rose from their graves" after the Resurrection of Christ ( Matthew 27:52-53). Some according to 1 Cor. 15:51-52will not "sleep" or die physically either. What is hard to explain is how in still mortal bodies these saints can be in God's presence. Perhaps they are as those saints in Revelation; under the throne or removed from being so close to God that they would perish. If this theory is wrong in regard to Enoch then perhaps he will undergo some transformation into a new body. It would seem though that it took Christ's resurrection removing those in hades (who used to be in a pleasant part such as Lazarus) ( Luke 16:22). Post Resurrection; to be "absent from the body is to be present with the Lord." ( 2 Cor. 5:8).

There are many interesting analogies with Elijah and Elisha in terms of those today who are ready for the Rapture. Elisha didn't want to talk of the event. ( 2 Kings 2:3). We should seek to be as those taken (such as Noah) FROM trouble in the Rapture rather than those who narrowly escaped (typified by Lot). If we are like Lot's wife; we may be swept up in destruction.

It is nice to know that if we are removed from our earthly tabernacle before the Rapture we will be in His presencce ( 2 Cor. 5:1).

Dear Tina,

Here's some possible related verses on this page: Link

I don't believe gambling is inherently a sin. the definition is "Wagering of money on a game of chance or event with an uncertain outcome." But there's way more things that fit that description that just pulling a slot machine or playing cards, such as betting your friend a free lunch if you win something, hot dog eating contest, couponing, investing, buying a house, buying a car, protecting against inflation, buying a lottery ticket, staying at a hotel with no online reviews, prize money for local fair contests, all sporting events, spending money on a movie you hope is good. These all fit the definition.

Some of these activites are actually supported by scripture, such as the parable of the talents, not burying our money, but investing wisely. Also not putting a house on sand but solid ground, being responsible and prudent.

But the Bible doesn't specifically say gambling is a sin, I believe its just tradition from fundamentalists who assumed that, similar to dancing. But what is clearly defined as sin is if we make something an idol and put it as a false god above God. Addiction to anything can be a sin, whether gambling, food, alcohol, bad movies, images, sugar, or anything that abuses ourselves (which is like abusing God's creation).

Interesting; in the fact that it came up in discussion in small group tonight. 1 Tim. 5:8 gives us a clue; as to the effect of such action; and states that those who do not care for the needs of their family are worse than an infidel. There is; simply put no specific verse about gambling. But there is the verse that states if we know the right thing to do and don't do it to us it is sin ( James 4:7).

In theory; one could be a genius who can memorize a deck of cards; or who has proven to win more than lose in a particular game; or balance out amounts bet so that in time they are ahead or in the black. If they were willing to provide for others including their own budget and needs by allocating earnings and expenses as one would with any other method of employment and strictly stopped when they had spent the amount allocated; and had enough invested on the side to sustain them; and or other means of income then conceivably they could make such an occupation a career or side job. Most casinos; of course would tire having losses themselves with such individuals present at their establishment.

The temptations for overspending; greed; and the other vices such as drinking; and pornography so often available at such establishments; and not doing such things around others who have an addiction to gambling would be very hard to avoid. The specific question of someone with an offering made under gambling raises these issues. The vast majority of those who play games of chances are from those who are at best seduced by the world; and are likely to be ensnared while they systematically destroy their lives and that of their family. There is the warning of a "double minded man" being unstable in all his ways ( James 1:8). We cannot love both God and mammon according to Christ. I cannot see how such an occupation can be an effective witness; nor how it can demonstrate trusting God to provide for our needs; even if it isn't specifically listed as a sin.

Dear Margaret, I'm sorry to hear about your concerns and have compassion for what you are going through and many challenges that poses, especially to your mental outlook. But why the desire to end your life, just because you might become blind? Do you have any blind friends or know others who are blind or disabled in other ways? If so, do you think they should end their lives? Do you not think their lives have value and meaning, and do you truly see them as a "burden"? I have many problems and handicaps too, but does that automatically mean I don't have value? Who says? God or someone else?

Nearly everyone has a handicap of some kind or another that poses a challenge to us and most aren't apparent to each other. Blindness is noticeable to others, but doesn't mean you can't have a meaningful life and can't serve the Lord? As long as there's breath in our lungs and we can pray and honor God, do we really need anything else? We aren't entitled to anything so whatever we're blessed with we should be grateful. This life is very short and temporary and it seems like one big test of our character. Please don't let satan boss you around and get into your head. Resist, stay in God's word, stay in the truth, put the armor of God on and fight back, one of the ways is to trust God that He's in control and that He created you with value. Regardless of your circumstances you have great value you may not even see.

I recommend rigorously fighting back any negative assumptions that have infiltrated your thoughts. Phil 4:8 Besides praying, listening to KJV audio, you can watch inspirational youtube videos. Some have huge handicaps that are motivational speakers who travel the world, such as one man with no arms or legs. Think of how many people he's inspired to not hurt themselves, just because of some physical challenges. A handicap doesn't have to define anyone, we are so much more than that. 1 John 4:18- there's no fear in love so what if you used this to your advantage to love more (God, others and yourself)? God bless you.

I want to buy a latest version of kjv of Bible in American English.please help me. I can have soft copy also.

Yes because i love Jesus my God my savior

The Bible doesn't say that.

Question meaning of numbers, chapter 14, verse 35? Were the Israelites in the wilderness 40 years or 80years?

Dear Lord Jesus, I read today so many disheartened souls crying out to you!! Praying for all kinds of things!! Your people, oh Lord are trying to hold on to Your word and not fall away!! We will never stop thanking You, loving You, praising You for You gave Your life for me so I can live again in eternity with You!!!! No one ever suffered as You did obeying Your Father, to complete Your choosing of Your elect from before the foundations of the world!!! May my family and I be worthy of Your love!!!! I pray in Jesus's name, Amen!!!!

Number of years the Israelites were in the wilderness

In October I suffered from an Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion. I am at risk for vision loss. My eye is not healing and I do have some vision remaining but that could change if the eye doesn't heal. I am receiving monthly injections but the medicine don't doing well enough. I am 41 years old, I always wanted to have a bigger family but now that dream is dead. I am also scared that I will not be able to work and care for my toe children, ages 4 and 7. My oldest has special needs and we struggle a lot already. She has a hard time and is depressed, it well accepted. I am so scared and depressed myself. If I go blind I will most likely end my life, as I do not want to be a burden to anyone. I cry every day and Am sad that God wants this for me. I know his will, ut it's so much suffering and fear. I am Terrie's and depressed and loosing hope. I am so scared and so very sad.

were in the Bible tells you about gambling,its a sin

Mark 2:27 "And He (Jesus) said unto them, "The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath:" 28 "Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath."

Jesus became our sabbath. The word sabbath taken back to it's prime (Strong's concordance 7676 from 7673)in the Hebrew means 'to rest.'

Jesus speaking in Matt 11:28 "Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." 29 "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." 30 For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light."

When we stay in the Word and walk in His light we keep the sabbath daily which gives us restful peace knowing the world has no power over us as we wear the armour of God.

Naomi,

I agree with your pastor. At the point of our physical death (And by the way, the word death means separation), but at the point of physical death, our physical body will be buried in the ground and will await the resurrection, and that's when our spirit will reunite with our risen body that has been changed from a corruptible body to an incorruptible glorified body.



Again, the word death means separation. When we die (physically), our spirit will depart our body to go to be immediately with the Lord. The word sleep or sleeping in the bible refers to physical death (See the story of Lazarus). When our body dies and is lying in the grave, and if you ever been to a funeral viewing, the dead body that is lying in the coffin looks like it is sleeping. But the spirit of that person is very much alive.

Ask yourself, where is their spirit? If their spirit has separated their body, where did their spirit go. If that person has the Spirit of Christ in them, where is Christ's Spirit right now? Definitely not in the grave!

Again, I believe your pastor is correct in his teaching about this part. I cannot speak to everything else he teaches, as I do not know your pastor. However, if you believe you are being misled by your pastor, or that he is spreading false teaching, I would encourage you to seek another church.

2 Cor. 5, 1-8

My granddaughter has bacterial meningitis and she is 1year old. She is on life support. I'm asking anyone to pray for her . Asking the Lord to spare her. I thankyou in advance.

Actually in Matthew 5, Jesus reaffirms some commandments as being relevant to society and issues. Things that come up a lot like divorce. We should speak the truth in love of course, but not softsell on issues that tear the fabric of society.

Lord Jesus, I come boldly to Your throne of grace.

I lift up Jeff's urgent Need to You. Come quicky

Lord. Step in for him. For Your glory Lord Jesus. Alleluia. Amen.

Psalm 38:22 kjv: Make haste to help me, O Lord my salvation.

Jeremiah 32:27: Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh:

Is there anything to hard for me?

John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Psalm 32:8: I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which

thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day

and for ever.

Dear Brooke.

Go to Matthew 5 and read all chapter. It is Jesus's teaching called The Blessings. Pay attention to verses 21-22, 27-28, 31-32, 33-34, 38-39 etc .Jesus says there " You have heard that it was said by them of old time..." This means it was said to Israeletes by God in the old times (Jesus means Moeses's Law) and Jesus continued "But i say unto you..." . And He changes the Law that was given by God to Moese.. If i was there i would ask Jesus " who are you that you dare change God's Law?" I beleive His answer would be " I am the God who gave that Law and I have the authority to change It" Who else would dare change God's Law but God himself? And you will notice that He changes a lot of commandments. Example given we are not allowed now to swear but people in OT could do that. We are allowed to separate for any reason except for adultery but people in OT could and so on.

Most of the 10 commandments are still valid in NT, actually only the fourth about Sabbath is not valid.

Please read what apostole Paul writes to Colossians 2:16 to christians He asks them not to allow people judge them for not following OT's law including keeping Sabbath. Sabbath is not a christian holiday. Rejecting Sabbath is not a Vatican Doctrine, it was done as long as apostoles were still alive.

It's good to ask those questions so you get the answers you are looking for.

God Bless You

Hi Bill , I agree . All living things are part of God's gorgeous creation , I know that God loves us humans and I can't imagine that He doesn't love all the other amazing creatures that He created . I have to say that I do wonder how God feels when He sees all the awful things that we have done on His earth and to it . He sees everything and I'm guessing that a lot of it isn't a pretty sight . Does He feel sad ? Or angry ? I can't wait for the day that He will make all things new .

Samuel was devoted to God , there's no way he would break any laws by doing things that only a Levite was allowed to do , unless he himself was a Levite . I love Samuel , I love how he was so sad about Saul's downfall , he could also be ruthless ! I wouldn't want to be an Amalekite any where near him , smiley face . Much love to you Alex .

I've always marveled the reason for Samuels birth. His mother, etc.

Israel was sliding into sin and ASKING TO BE RULED BY A KING. It angered God, but he gave them what they asked for.

Later, David would be anointed by Samuel to be the king; years before he would step into the role.

The Books of Chronicles, Kings, and Samuel are interlocking; a harmony of time periods, so you have to read them all together in order to get all the details of Israel's fall into sin as a nation.

Something that we should do so we can understand why OUR NATION is falling into sin and ungodly leadership too. We cannot deny its reality.

The entire nation will not repent, but the Christians can. We can forget "party" and follow what Israel eventually did. They followed King David.

You might enjoy some Nelson Walters videos on YouTube. He sticks real close to scripture.

A Book by Author Dan Alice,

"A man is born as a child , grows to adulthood , and consequently enters old age , when he deteriorates and reverts to a childish state. (proverb)"

As we become older we may need someone else to make these decisions for us. This is the concept of "once an adult, twice a child." Same as children need parents or guardians, we may age into a period where we must be reliant on a caregiver.

BIBLE examples:

Psalms 62:11

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.

1 Corinthians 13:11

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man [born again]. I put away childish things.

Job 40:5

Once have I spoken; but I will not answer: yea, twice; but I will proceed no further.

Job 33:14

For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not.

Mishael

Amen, Brother Alex:

An ISRAEL OF GOD:

Zechariah 14:20 In that day (of the Lord) shall there be upon the bells of the horses ( Zechariah 10:3), HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the Lord's house shall be like the bowls before the alter.

Zechariah 14:21 Yea every pot in (new) Jerusalem and in Judah (from which the new priesthood sprang) shall be holiness unto the Lord of host: and all they that sacrifice shall come and take of them, and seethe therein: and in that day shall there be no more the CANAANITE in the house of the Lord of host.

The first Israel of God FAILED to destroy the Canaanites out of the land, the second ISRAEL OF GOD WILL NOT FAIL to destroy the Canaanites from the earth.

And GOD WILL BE ALL IN ALL!

God Bless You!

Paul's sobering words in the previous verse raised a serious question for believers. He said that to participate in communion without "discerning the body" will bring judgment on the one who eats the bread and drinks the cup.

That reference seems to refer to those who treat the bread and wine as just like any other meal or snack: to be careless or shallow about it

Or, it might refer to those who fail to recognize how commemorating the death of Christ expresses unity with other believers. Or, it might refer to some combination of both. But what judgment comes from not discerning the body?

Mishael

Some believe that while Jesus' body was in the tomb, His spirit was in hell.Scripture doesn't support that position when it is taken in context and we look at the meaning of the word "hell." In the Old Testament, the place of the dead or the place of departed souls was called "SHEOL." It was to this place that all souls of the dead went to await resurrection.

In the New Testament, we find the story of Lazarus and the rich man who both died and went to Hades ( Luke 16:19-31). The KJV translates the Greek word "HADES" as hell but most other translations use the Greek word. HADES had two separated parts: Those who died in faith believing in God's promise waited for the resurrection in Abraham's Bosom. Those who died spiritually separated from God wait in torment for the resurrection unto death, eternal separation from God. The rich man was on the torment side and Lazarus was in ABRAHAMS BOSOM which was called "PARADISE" by the LORD Jesus Christ himself when He addressed the thief who found faith the day Jesus was crucified ( Luke 23:42-43)

For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment ( 2 Peter 2:4). The word translated "HELL" here is not the Greek word "HADES" but is the Greek word "TARTARUS" meaning ABYSS or the lowest regions. This could very well be the gulf that was fixed between the PLACE OF TORMENT and Abraham's Bosom ( Luke 16:26).

Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that He ascended, what is it but that He also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that He might fulfill all things( Ephesians 4:8-10). Leading captivity captive seems to refer to Jesus taking all those that waited in PARADISE to heaven to be with Him. The descending into the "lower parts" then refers to Jesus mission of declaring Victory

Hey Clint,

Heaven, facts, or personal beliefs could be quite diverse. The Bible tells us heaven is God's dwelling place, 2 Chronicles 36:15, God's holy temple and throne are in heaven, Psalms 11:4, and the angels are in heaven, Matthew 22:30. The tabernacle Moses was instructed to build was a copy of the one in heaven, Hebrews 8:5.

The Bible tells us no man has ascended up to heaven, John 3:13. The Bible tells us heaven even the heavens are the LORDs and the earth is for the children of men, Psalms 115:16. We are told several times, that heaven along with the earth will be changed and made new, Isaiah 65:17 Isaiah 66:22 2 Peter 3:13 Revelation 21:1, and the new earth is where those whose names are in the book of life will be and God will dwell with us, and we will see His face Revelation 21,22.

If you are thinking, like the question, we hear, are you going to heaven when you die? That is something else. My understanding of scripture is the only way man will see heaven is in a vision like Paul, 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 and John, Revelation.

God bless,

RLW

Acts 7:59

And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Acts 8:2

And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

Luke 23:46

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my SPIRIT: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Mishael: these are other scriptures that show awareness of the spirit in Jesus, and those that are born again.

The fleshly body Sleeps, wherever it fell dead, or was buried. The born again to heaven someday.

The unsaved, wicked dead to judgement one day.

When you Google this, be sure you are not on a Catholic doctrine website. The King James Bible which was canonized is the standard for being born again. See the Book of John. I write this in love and concern for all of Gods people.

To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.