Q&A
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Questian: When Will God come?
Answer: Thank you for your question and for looking for answers on our website. When you ask,
“When will God Come,” I believe you are asking when Jesus Christ will return? We happen to have an
article on this subject titled “When Will Jesus?Return?” Many have thought that Jesus saying “that day
and hour” (Matthew 24:36) meant that we could calculate the year of His return. But the point of Jesus’
words was that we must always be prepared for His return, rather than attempt to calculate the timing of
it.
Emphasizing this point, Jesus said or inspired a warning to believers that He will come “like a thief in
the night” (Matthew 24:43; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; and Revelation 16:15). A
thief comes at an unexpected time.
We hope you find this article helpful. You should be able to open our article by clicking on the title
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Questian: If what you are saying is true, then what did Christ mean when He said to the thief on the cross TODAY
you will be with Me in paradise?
Answer: Thank you for writing. This question has been asked by many. It deals with the thief who waa
crucified with Jesus Christ (Luke 23:43). Nearly all modern English translations seem to say that Christ
promised he would enter into the Kingdom of God that very day. However, there is something we need
to consider, and that is the punctuation.
The Greek manuscripts of the New Testament do not have the punctuation marks, such as commas, that
we generally use. Those marks were inserted by the translators to try to clarify what they felt the text
was trying to say. Consider the following:
I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.
I say to you today, you will be with Me in Paradise.
Both use exactly the same words, but when the comma is moved to after “today,” the meaning is
changed from when the thief would be granted this blessing to when Christ was saying it. In order to
determine which understanding is correct, we need to look at what else is revealed in Scripture. God is
very consistent throughout the Bible!
The Bible does not speak of a consciousness after death. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 9:5 that the dead
do not know anything. Paul echoed the same thought in 1 Corinthians 15:50-54, where he describes
death as sleep—we are not conscious or aware. And Jesus stated clearly in John 3:13 that “no one has
ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven.”
When we consider just these few verses, we realize it would be inconsistent to believe Jesus decided to
change the rest of revealed Scripture and take the crucified thief someplace no one else had gone!
There is much more to consider, but rather than repeat it all here, allow me to direct you to a couple of
articles on our website: “What Happened to the Thief on the Cross?” and “Do We Go to Heaven When
We Die?”
Questian: I just have questions about salvation. How can a person be save according to the bible?
Answer: Thank you for your question. This is such an important topic that we have dedicated an entire
section of our website to it. The introductory article “Salvation: What Are We Saved From and How?”
says, “Salvation is a gift of God, given by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Upon repentance and
baptism, God forgives us from our past sins. We then begin a lifelong process of repentance and
growing in grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
You can also scroll down for many additional articles on this important topic. For example, our article
“What Is Salvation?” answers your question. Jesus came to die for our sins, which are actions that break
God’s law. He paid the penalty of death for us so that we can have eternal life. He reconciled us to God
the Father and justified us of our past sins through His blood. Hence, upon our repentance of sins and
the acceptance of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our salvation—our deliverance from eternal death—is
possible. At this point in the process, we must, with God’s help, resist sin and endure until Christ
returns.
Questian:. Is the Bible hate speech? I don’t understand why God make some people rich some people poor like
me, homeless and also jobless?
Answer: With careful study of its historical, cultural and literary context, you will find that the Bible
contains love, compassion and forgiveness. It encourages believers to love their neighbors, care for the
poor and marginalized, and seek justice and peace.
The divisions you are talking about are common in our society today. There is extreme poverty for some
and extreme wealth for others, but these are not God-created divisions. They are man-made divisions
and are largely a consequence of man choosing to violate God’s laws. See our article “The Tree of Life”
to learn more about how man’s wrong choices have produced many of the evils in the world today.
There are many verses in the Bible that affirm all human beings are created equal in God’s eyes as to
His love for them and His ultimate purpose for their lives. For example, Genesis 1:27 tells us that “God
created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”
All human beings are created in the image of God, and God values all equally.
The apostle Paul affirmed this when he wrote, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor
free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28). This tells us
that when it comes to God’s ultimate purpose and plan for mankind, all human beings have equal
opportunity.
To learn more about God’s purpose for all human beings, see our article “What Is the Real Purpose of
Life?” and download our free booklet" God’s Purpose for You".
Questian: How can you know if you’re going to heaven? I don’t know where I will go.
Answer: Your question about life after death is a frequently asked one, and we have several articles that
address it. As I’m sure you know, there is a great deal of confusion in the world of religion about what
really happens after we die. But if we will take the Bible for what it says, we can have the solid
assurance of Scripture to know the answer.
Many are surprised to learn that the Bible does not teach that heaven is the reward of the saved. As our
article “Do We Go to Heaven When We Die?” explains, “The Bible likens death to sleep (an
unconscious state) for all people. That means that even Christians do not go anywhere upon death.
Scripture does, however, reveal that God’s people will be resurrected at the return of Jesus Christ and
will reign with Him on the earth."
The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ will return to this earth at the sound of the seventh trumpet of
Revelation to establish the Kingdom of God on the earth (Revelation 11:15; Daniel 2:44; 1
Thessalonians 4:16). At that time the dead saints (those who died “in Christ”) will be resurrected from
their graves, and both they and the living saints will be changed from mortal flesh and blood to immortal
spirit bodies (1 Thessalonians 4:17; 1 Corinthians 15:50-54). They will meet Jesus Christ in the air as He
returns to this earth and will rule with Him in the Kingdom of God (Zechariah 14:3-5; Revelation 20:4).
Please read our article “What Are the Resurrections?” for more on what the Bible teaches.
Our most comprehensive biblical resource on this subject is our booklet "The Last Enemy:
What Really Happens After Death?" You can download it free of charge.
Our most comprehensive biblical resorce on this subject is our booklet The Last Enemy: What Really Happens After Death? You can download it free of charge.
Questian:. Are the people of Israel God"s chosen people? The Bible says, you have to except Jesus has your Lord
and Savior to enter into His Father's House/Heaven.
With the war in the Middle East it"s just sad to see the killing on both sides.
Does God and Jesus talk like we do? They must because this world has gotten so bad. People need to
seek Jesus. Also, if you die and you have not accepted Jesus, do you still have another chance after
death?
I'm so happy that I have Jesus and I have a relationship with HIM.
Answer: God did choose the nation of Israel to be His people. We have dedicated a section of our
website to this topic. The introductory article “12 Tribes of Israel” is a lead-in to many additional
articles on this topic. Be sure to scroll down and notice the additional material.
We have another article titled “12 Tribes of Israel Today” that states: “Although the Bible does not
specifically name the modern nations representing all of these people, there is biblical, historical and
archaeological evidence that make it possible for us to positively identify the United States, Britain and
many of the nations of Western Europe as the nations where descendants of the 12 tribes of Israel
largely reside today. While this historical knowledge is not critical for salvation, it does help one
understand end-time prophecy.”
I recommend reading the article in full to understand the background and reasoning.
Your statement on accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior is correct. The Church of God, a Worldwide
Association, believes that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. John 4:42 states, “Now we believe, not
because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ,
the Savior of the world.”
The Old Testament spoke of a Messiah to come that would provide a path of reconciliation back to the
Father. Jesus Christ was with God for all eternity, and He is the One who came to the earth in human
form to die for humanity’s sins (John 1:1, 14). We invite you to read our Fundamental Beliefs. This will
show you our belief in God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
You also asked if God and Jesus talk like we do. They do talk, but not like you and I, since they are spirit
beings and we are physical. We know that God spoke through His prophets to reveal prophecy and His
will to His people. Then later, Jesus Christ spoke to His apostles and many of His words were recorded
for us. We read in Hebrews 1:1-2: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to
the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son.”
Your last question has to do with what happens when we die, especially those who have not accepted
Jesus Christ as their Savior. I encourage you to download the booklet, The Last Enemy: What Really
Happens After Death? for an in-depth look at this topic.
Questian:. Is there archeological evidence of a worldwide flood in the time of Noah?
Answer: Thank you for your question. There is a great deal of evidence, even outside the Bible, that
supports a worldwide flood. I encourage you to read our article “The Biblical Flood: Fact or Fiction?” It
looks at the number of flood stories from a variety of cultures around the world and the geological
evidence of a worldwide flood. It also examines the flawed dating methods that have caused
skepticism about the Flood. As well, you might find it helpful to read “Questions and Answers About
the Genesis Flood.”
God caused the worldwide Flood in Noah’s day as punishment for a world gone badly astray from His
laws (Genesis 6:5-7). Is our world today like in the days of Noah? See our article “Return of Christ: As
the Days of Noah Were” to learn more about mankind’s only hope for solutions to its problems—the
return of Jesus Christ.
Please also take time to read “How Do We Know the Bible Is True?” (especially the section under the
subhead “Does science disprove the Bible?”), “Science and the Bible: Do You Have to Choose?” and
“Intelligent Design: Can Science Answer, Does God Exist?”.
Questian: I am just trying to discover the Truth about the Rapture.
I have read several stories mainly from Dr Jeremaih but i find that there is some discrepancy there
between his and your Bible teachings.
An example is the Rapture comes first before the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are unleashed.
Would you agree with that?
Answer: There are many who believe in a pretribulation rapture, but neither the word rapture nor the
concept of it is in the English Bible. In fact, the theory of a secret rapture (where God takes His true
followers into heaven during the final Great Tribulation on earth) didn’t enter mainstream Christianity
until the 19th century. Most scholars agree that the concept is largely credited to John Nelson Darby
(1800-1882) and further developed by Cyrus Scofield (1843-1921).
The main verse used to support this theory is 1 Thessalonians 4:17: “Then we who are alive and remain
shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall
always be with the Lord.” The Latin word for “caught up” is rapere. Darby, Scofield and others used
that Latin word to describe their new theory.
When studying the Bible, it is important to understand the context surrounding a single verse. Notice
the topic Paul was discussing: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who
have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). The people of
Thessalonica were anxiously awaiting the return of Jesus Christ. But as the years passed, and He hadn’t
returned, some of those faithful members had died.
Paul was explaining what would happen to those who had died in the faith. “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 by no means
precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the
voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1
Thessalonians 4:15-16).
Paul was comforting them that those faithful friends would not only be with the returning Christ, but
they would be the first to rise in the resurrection! Then, in verse 17, Paul explains that those still alive
would also be changed into spirit and rise to meet Christ in the air.
Not only is this not a secret, Paul tells them that it will occur with a shout from an archangel and a
trumpet blast! It also says that those who attain this resurrection will meet Christ in the air as He is
returning to earth. It does not say that we will be taken away into heaven.
This subject is a large one, and we have a lot of material written on it. We encourage you to read our
articles “Will There Be a Secret Rapture?” and “Left Behind: The Truth About the Rapture.” These
articles go into more detail than we can in a single email.
Questian: Do you have any material on unequally yoked marriages?
Answer: That’s an important topic, one that quite a few people have asked about. Believing the same
way establishes the basis for a relationship to thrive. Our religious beliefs are most important in
establishing permanent relationships.
Marrying someone who has different beliefs could cause quite a few challenges. Many would want to
gloss over differences, assuming that they would not affect their relationship. But for people who hold
their religious convictions sincerely and deeply, agreeing on issues of faith is paramount to a lasting
and happy marriage.
The biblical examples in the Old Testament (for example, Genesis 24; 1 Kings 11:1-2; 16:31; Nehemiah
13:27), as well as the counsel on this issue in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 7:39; 2 Corinthians
6:14; etc.), teach that Christian believers should not marry unbelievers. God desires each believer to
make good judgments.
Many problems can arise because of a Christian believer marrying someone of a different faith or
someone with no faith at all. Our ministers include this advice when counseling members of our faith
for marriage. In the blush of romance, couples are prone to minimize differences in religion. Before
marriage, the nonbeliever typically assures the believer, “I will always respect your religious views.”
But that is very different from sharing the same faith.
The reality is that religion can be a huge factor in marital happiness. And after settling into marriage, a
couple of mixed faith or religious backgrounds typically encounters conflicts that stem from one or
both wanting to practice his or her faith. Regular worship practices, managing money and rearing
children are three areas in which conflict often occurs. The differences can pressure the believer to
compromise his or her convictions to please his or her mate.
Marriage involves not only blending two different personalities, experiences and visions for the future,
but it also involves our sets of beliefs, which should be the foundation of our life. Attempting to
combine two sets of beliefs can create many difficulties and problems—sometimes immediately,
sometimes later in life.
Here is a short article I believe would be helpful for you to read. It goes into some detail on Paul’s
instructions in 2 Corinthians 6:14, which has implications in many aspects of our lives—especially
marriage and family. It is “Meaning of Equally or Unequally Yoked.” We also have a Marriage section of
our website that you may be interested in.
Questian: I find your information very interesting, but was not Jesus the end of the law as stated in Romans
10:4?
Answer: Often in the Bible the word law refers to the law of God—the eternal principles based on
God’s characteristic of love. Paul discussed God’s 10 Commandments in this light in Romans 13:8-10,
for example. Paul called God’s laws and commandments “holy and just and good” and “spiritual”
(Romans 7:12, 14). Our free booklet God’s 10 Commandments: Still Relevant Today gives more
information about this important subject.
You mentioned Romans 10:4: “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who
believes.” Our article “Christ Is the End of the Law? How?” will give more insight into this verse and
explain what we believe.
Another use of the word law that you many have questions about is in connection with justification
(such as in Romans 2:13 and 3:28). Our article “What Is Justification?” goes through many passages in
Romans and other places to give a biblical understanding of this important teaching. We encourage
you to read it on our website.