Question #1:
A question regarding your CV - are the titles going from Ph.D. upwards the names of your academic title or your position at the university (it impacts the translation and the US and European academic systems differ in that regard)?
Could you give me both the academic titles and university positions starting at Ph.D?
Also, is the title at the top the so called 'full professor'?
Response #1:
Certainly: B.A. = Bachelor of Arts (i.e., the standard four year university degree); M.A. = Master of Arts (i.e., the intermediate level between B.A. and Ph.D., generally requiring two additional years of course work and a thesis or a series of exams; mine was the latter); M.A.B.S = Master of Arts in Biblical Studies (this is Talbot's equivalent to the secular M.A., and in this case I did a thesis which is the basis of the Exodus 14 study posted to Ichthys); Ph.D. = Doctor of Philosophy (i.e., the terminal degree for any field; in my case it took four years after the M.A., including nine written exams; an oral exam; the dissertation; and public defense of the dissertation). U.S. universities have a three tiered system of rank for professors on the tenure track (i.e., those given permanent positions): 1) assistant professor: the rank at point of initial entry; one has 5-6 years to establish a body of published work sufficient to be granted tenure and promotion (i.e., "publish or perish" – those whose record is found insufficient are kept on for one year and then must find employment elsewhere); 2) associate professor: the rank to which one is promoted after passing the tenure gauntlet; many (half?) tenured professors serve out their career at this rank; 3) professor (aka "full professor): attaining this rank requires more publication; the standard is often (as it is at U of L) the attainment of an "international reputation". Other factors such as service and teaching are considered at both promotion points, but without significant publication suffice it to say that success is rare.
Question #2:
In your translation of Deuteronomy 29:18-21 in Hamartiology, Hebrews 12:15 has not been included by Reftagger, so it does not give me a box with the scripture when I hover over it with the mouse.
Response #2:
One of the problems with Reftagger is that it will not "tag" any reference which is within an html "bookmark". In some of the older files, I book-marked the actual verse citations (as in this case); later on, I started putting the bookmark up above the actual verse when I realized that in some browsers linking to the verse in that way would result in the verse citation showing up at the top of the browser window but with the reader having to scroll up to see the actual verse. I have so many of these like the example you cite that it will be a long time until I can get around to fixing this issue in every case.
Question #3:
Good Morning:
Am wondering if you have a timeline in mind for publishing Part 6a, The Christian Walk, of the Bible Basics series?
Thanks,
Response #3:
Long time! Good to hear from you.
As to your question, I am currently working on part 5 of Bible Basics, Pneumatology, and it is taking a long time (for a number of reasons); among other things, the teaching about the Spirit has turned out to be a challenging subject, both because of the complicated nature of some of the questions and also because He is ubiquitous in the Bible (and much more so than I had realized before getting into this study deeply). When I do finish part 5 (and that is still many months away), Part 6A will be next on the list most likely. Of course I still have to circle back and complete 2A Eschatology as well (a less pressing need since the two major series on this area of doctrine are already available).
I do appreciate your interest! And I have to say that a good deal of the material in the questions and answers section is really on the same area as 6A will be. So there is a good chance your questions are answered somewhere – and I am always willing to entertain new ones.
Your question will help me stay motivated to keep pressing.
Thank you my friend.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #4:
Okay. Just happy to know it's still in the works. I think of all things there are to dig into where the Bible is concerned the "walk" itself to me is the most meaningful. I imagine many questions I have would be covered in the e-mail dialogue you offer daily, but I just like the way your studies are mapped out and can't help but to look forward to that particular one being put forth in your usual style. I think it's been over ten years since I first started downloading and reading your material...sharing it as well...so I can indeed wait a little longer. Good to hear form you as well.
God Bless
Response #4:
Thanks for understanding!
It's a very legitimate question – seems like I should have had all these things done many years ago (it's just that I didn't anticipate they would be as long as they have, of necessity, turned out to be).
And I do appreciate your observation and do agree that putting these doctrines forward in a systematic and unified way is different from what I do in the email responses (also of necessity), and that both approaches have their benefits.
I appreciate your patience, friend! I do mean to get to it.
Yours in Jesus our dear Lord,
Bob L.
Question #5:
Hello Bob,
I really need your help, I believe the Holy Spirit can and does reveal and teach the Word of God to anyone including children. Do you have a study or can you suggest a study for children from age 5 to 14? For now I pray and ask that the Spirit of the Living God teach us, as we read through the Psalms.
I’m a grandma and I want more for my grandkids than what I received at their age. We sit down together and read the bible once a week, but I want a course of action that will lead them to understand the word of God….in the face of a kind-of-sort of believing parent, who has her own philosophy about God intermingled with all kinds of other religions like thanking and praying to the ancestors father/woman God, she allows me to read with them with minimum input. Help while I have their attention.
In Christ,
Response #5:
Good to make your acquaintance. I am no expert on kids (to say the least), but 5 - 14 strikes me as quite a range. I think I might have been receptive to the materials at Ichthys at the farther end (I was shaving and drilling with the ROTC at 12-13). Five is another matter (though I was saved by that age). One of my best memories as a child was my Dad reading Bible stories to me and my brother before church on Sunday morning. Daniel impressed me then and I tried to keep his example firmly in mind throughout my life ever since (with mixed results I hasten to add – I'm still working on it).
I have a good friend and former fellow seminarian who is in the process of developing a series of web-videos on the pattern of the Khan Academy videos. The latter were created originally for the developer's children, and my friend, a family man and a natural teacher, will no doubt have an eye to making these offerings accessible to children as well. The younger among us seem to be much more at ease with all things cyber and video in any case.
*[Now posted at Ichthys and at YouTube (where they play better) – see the links]*
I will forward this email to him. Perhaps he also has some suggestions on materials in the meantime (developing and launching a ministry such as discussed above is no small task and takes a lot of lead time). I had only one stepson who is turning 30 this year. I used to read the Bible with him – in English and in Greek (but that is not everyone's cup of tea).
Best wishes in your noble and very important endeavor of helping your grandchildren get a good and solid start with the Lord!
In Jesus our dear Savior,
Bob Luginbill
Question #6:
Sir, compliments. I hope in God that all is well. I have sent the book manuscript for you to read through and give an endorsement, but, I've not heard from you since then. God blessings all the way.
Regards,
Response #6:
Dear Friend,
I did have a look at your booklet. I thought I had written you back, but after checking my folders it appears I may have overlooked this. Apologies for the oversight.
First, I am afraid I will have to disappoint you on the endorsement. I had thought you were writing a strictly biblical treatise, not a political one. I can certainly understand your point of view and do wish you success in your endeavor, both as to your cause, and also for this particular work. However, Ichthys is a Bible-study ministry which has no political associations and I have always scrupulously avoided having anything to do with political causes – or causes which are being furthered through political means. I do understand that many (and probably the vast majority) of "Christian" organizations take a different view. But my position on this is firm and unchangeable.
I do have one piece of advice for you. You have a long section of quotations in the book and, much to my surprise, you include one from Tom Metzger. Metzger is an American Nazi / white supremacist, and an anti-Semite – as the quote you include shows very well. I would strongly advise taking this out, especially since that movement and its views are absolutely antithetical to what you believe and what you are trying to accomplish.
Best wishes for your project,
In Jesus Christ in whom we are all one Church,
Bob L.
Question #7:
How does one pronounce "Ichthys"? Thanks!
Response #7:
I pronounce it ICKTH-ees.
Yours in Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #8:
Dear Professor,
I would like to ask you for prayer in one more area. I know that I need to trust God on this and the matter will hopefully become clearer as I grow, but at the moment I don't know how will I be able to bear the fruit for our Lord.
I study the resources from your website, I have just finished the Christology study. I commenced by study of ancient Greek and Hebrew. Today I was browsing through the translations that with a help of my friend who edits these we managed to complete and it occurred to me that at the moment my prospects of fulfilling any role for our Lord to the best possible degree are looking dim.
On one hand, Polish is my mother tongue and I could focus on translations, on the other, like I mentioned to you some time ago, my exposure to Polish is now very limited and that directly influences the quality of my translations and time I need to complete them. I have lived in England for nearly 7 years and I'm, at least at the moment, highly unlikely to move back, I read your resources in English, use English Bible translations and I study biblical languages using English textbooks. If it is God's will, I would love to see these resources rendered in Polish and I don't want to shy away from the task just because it's painstaking and very time-consuming.
I realized that if I don't translate these resources, what other contribution will I be able to make? Again, it is God's will that is most important, but I've got a great desire to be a teacher and I am keen to understand the Bible in its entirety, but at least temporarily I cannot devote all the time I would like to the study of Hebrew and Greek, I've got no academic background related to the Bible. My professional circumstances could never allow me to engage in the Bible study as much as I would like to (i.e., maybe I could never attend Greek and Hebrew academic courses) - I don't know what fruit would I then bear.
I would like to ask you for prayer that these things become clearer and all decisions I make are in accordance with God's will. In no small part these problems and dilemmas are the 'fruits' of my decisions made in the past, but now I feel that I may be spreading myself thin by studying your writings, studying Hebrew and Greek and trying to translate at least some of the resources, while earning the money needed to sustain myself. I know I need to grow in order to discern these things and see what God wants me to do, but in one way or another I want to bear the fruit, I feel the time is running away.
In our Lord,
Response #8:
I suppose it depends on one's perspective. From my point of view you are fighting a terrifically wonderful fight. We can always fine-tune things, of course, but your performance as an advancing Christian seems phenomenal from where I sit. On translation, I well know just how difficult a chore it is. Of course I would be thrilled to have you continue to translate these materials into Polish, but certainly not at the expense of the ministry God has planned for you. Everyone must judge for himself as to what his role is, but your "quick study" of theology and your disciplined approach certainly suggest that you should at least consider the very likely (in my view) possibility that you have been called to minister the Word. If so, there are some competing things (even good things like this translation effort) which may very well have to get tossed overboard in order to have the time and energy to make a success of "job #1". Outside of the US, the largest amount of interest this ministry attracts is from the UK, so it seems to me that there is interest in hearing the Word taught in depth right where you now find yourself.
I will certainly continue to pray for you on this issue and everything else, my friend. You are running well, and as long as you continue to do so, there is no need to be overly concerned about time (or anything else). God will work all these things out in His perfect way.
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #9:
Dear Bob,
I come with another question about scripture, and some clarification about what he meaning of it is. This time, it's specific: Mark 10: 29-31. While I understand what the message of a lot of it is, I am confused by what Jesus means by 'give up' in this context? Is he speaking of not having children, or leaving one's family for the sake of the gospel? Or am I thinking too specifically? I think Jesus is referring to staying on the path no matter what, if one is forced to choose, even if it means giving up what one truly desires if the price is too high. Am I right in this, or what do you think of this passage?
Response #9:
Yes, I think you have this right. The specific context of our Lord's reply is Peter's statement about he and the other disciples having left behind "everything" to follow Jesus, so I think it's fair to say that the main thrust of our Lord's words here apply to those who are making sacrifices in the area of serving the Lord. Certainly, there would also be application here for Christians making sacrifices to become Christian in the first place, to grow up spiritually, and to walk with the Lord through the testing that comes with spiritual growth and progress (even though all of these very good things may alienate them or separate them from family, friends and loved ones in certain cases). However, both from the context here and also from my own observation and experience it is generally true that what really causes the most serious geographic and life-style dislocations is the decision to serve the Lord in ministry in a serious way, both in preparing to do so and also in the implementation of a substantial ministry. Even if family, friends and loved ones are entirely supportive, it is often the case of having to leave them behind (at least temporarily) in order to carry out the course of preparation or the specific ministries the Lord has in mind. But as Jesus tells us here, God always compensates those who choose for His Son, and abundantly so for those who are willing to do everything He has called them to do.
In our dear Lord Jesus,
Bob L.
Question #10:
Thank you for your reply, and it has helped me gain some understanding, but I think I asked the wrong question, in hindsight. Instead of a general meaning, I think I was asking myself (well, an you) how this could apply directly to my life. I still don't know what God has called me to do, or what I'll have to give up to do it. I'm not unwilling to give up anything for the Lord, I just can't seem to figure out what I've been called to do, you know?
Response #10:
I do understand. That is the way scriptural guidance goes. We learn the principles from the Bible – and believe them. Then we trust the Lord through His Spirit to guide us into the correct path.
Very few people are immediately and absolutely sure of their particular gifts – not to mention the areas of service to which they have been called – until after many years of growing up spiritually. So you are doing exactly what you should be doing in growing closer to Jesus through learning and believing His truth. As you become more spiritually mature, you will necessarily also become more aware and more convinced of the gift(s) the Spirit has given you, and He will stir your heart to follow in the direction of service our Lord has in mind for you. It's hard to put the cart before the horse in these matters. We would all like to know much more about what is coming than we do know (but in my experience and observation in many matters it is often a very good thing we do not).
I am confident that as you keep learning God's truth and committing it to your heart by believing it, then applying it to your life as you are doing, that all these things will become clear to you in God's good time. You are already grappling with the concept of sacrifice. I can tell you God will never place anything on your shoulders that is truly unbearable, and that He will lead you into whatever He has for you in a do-able way – as long as you remain willing to be led. Paul didn't start out teaching the Bible all day and all night. He went back to Tarsus after being saved and spent a number of years on his own preparing for service. God honored that preparation just as much as He honored the inclination for service. There is a right way to go about everything, and the Lord will lead you into the right path on this and all other matters to the degree that you let Him do so.
Keep marching forward, my friend!
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #11:
Hello,
I have a question concerning your article The Purpose, Creation of Angels.
I would like permission to post this article on my website raptureorwrath.com.
I'll understand if you say no.
Thanks.
Response #11:
Good to make your acquaintance. I assume you are referring to Bible Basics 2A: Angelology (to which "The Purpose, Creation and Nature of Angels" is the introductory section)?
If so, I would be happy to have you post the PDF version (linked here) with the following conditions:
1) You link back to Ichthys.com
2) The file is not altered in any way.
3) You comply with the three (simple and reasonable) usage guidelines at the link: About Ichthys.
As long as you are in agreement with the above, feel free to post the file.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob Luginbill
Question #12:
Hi Bob,
Glad to meet you as well. I'm very impressed with your work.
I would be more than happy to comply with your conditions, and I will provide a link back to your website.
Thank you for the opportunity to help share you work.
Thanks again, take care.
Response #12:
You're most welcome,
Thanks for your good words, and best wishes for you and your efforts for our dear Lord Jesus!
In Him,
Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Bob,
First, I am not a supporter of human literature, being mimesis and all that. But I found this analogy so good, I cannot help but use it.
Eternal live without having to answer to God is like The Ring from Lord of the Rings. Atheists are like Saruman, twisted and totally depraved, yet thinking they're wise beyond mortal comprehension and can wield this power oh, yeah, no problem; then you've got the legalists who are Boromir, thinking true-hearted men will not be corrupted NOW GIVE ME THE RING OR I'LL THROTTLE YOU, and you've got true holy men who eschew the power, because they understand that nobody is immune to its corruptions.
Sincerely,
Response #13:
Life without God is pointless in every way. It would only even begin to make sense in that case if it went on forever – which of course it does not. Only by distracting themselves from the truth do unbelievers "get by" until their time runs out.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #14:
Does you ministry have any connection to Southern Seminary there in Louisville?
Response #14:
Dear Friend,
No. I have had a goodly number of students from Southern and from Boyce (their undergraduate school) take part in my upper division Greek and Latin classes over the years, but there is no formal connection.
In Jesus,
Bob Luginbill
Question #15:
Dear Dr. Luginbill,
Your reference to Acts 4:19 was enlightening. I never considered it in relation to my current dilemma. I do rely on the Holy Spirit for guidance and have found 2 Corinthians 6:14 to be, for me, the best approach.
I appreciate the links you included and am working my way through. Some of the connections you pointed out with the four beasts, four heads, etc., in the "Restraining Ministry" link opened up a completely new course of investigation for me. Thank you. In fact, I've noticed that there are generally three layers of application to any given scripture that applies to the immediate time frame, the near future and the end times. Now, you've given me a new key and it's time for me to start back at the beginning to integrate this new understanding.
As an aside, you have such a wealth of material on your site that it's sometimes difficult to find an answer to a given question. Or perhaps only I have that problem. I will never be offended if you tell me, "I've addressed that here: <link" rather than suffer answering yet another previously asked question.
Thanks for your work.
In Jesus Christ,
Response #15:
Thank you Friend!
I certainly appreciate these good and encouraging words. I do send folks to appropriate links, but have also learned that, more often than not, someone who asks a specific question needs something a little different from the way I may have addressed it previously. In any case, good teaching is highly dependent upon repetition. Few of us can understand, learn and remember something said only once and most of us will often need something rephrased or put a different way before we "get it" (especially if communicated imperfectly). I appreciate your sentiment though, very much!
Yours in our Lord Jesus whom we love with all our hearts,
Bob L.
Question #16:
Dear Professor,
Thank you for your reply. Over the course of last year and a half you devoted so much time to answering my questions and it has changed my life. I wanted to say this is something I deeply appreciate. We know that time is short and you never hesitated to give yours in abundance. With spiritual growth will come further discernment, but even though it seems impossible to achieve in a lifetime, one day I would like to be like you - equipped to teach the word of God and strengthening the faith of others (a teacher in your image, even if I may have to settle for according to your likeness). It is absolutely not a problem if a reply takes a little longer, in fact, considering the volume of questions you always get back very quickly.
Through God's grace and your help I'm making progress and apart from my professional commitments my goal is to devote all possible time to study. There are, as you will know, many things getting in the way, but the clock is ticking and I certainly feel I have wasted more than enough time in my life.
I wanted to thank you for all your prayers, they are very appreciated. And so are your prayers for my friend. I will send you more questions soon.
With constant prayer for you and your ministry and in our Lord,
Response #16:
And thank you for your generous words, my friend, and for the constant encouragement of your enthusiastic example. I am also confident that with your fine work ethic and determination you will be ministering to others in a very short time.
I am happy to have your questions as soon as you are ready to send them (this being a standard semester, I might have to take some time to get them all done, but I will start chipping away as soon as they arrive).
I am also very happy to hear your good news, and I will keep praying that God works this out for the good in every way.
My own situation is unchanged. Things are still in limbo here, but at least I have the comfort of knowing that they cannot go on as they are much longer. So I remain confident of the Lord's deliverance, and certain that with strong believers like yourself willing to aid in prayer in my behalf that the deliverance I am hoping for will be coming very soon.
Your good friend in Jesus Christ our Lord,
Bob L.
Question #17:
Dr. Luginbill,
I am amazed that I got a note from you and I am so relieved at what you have to say about this. In my opinion, like you said when a person goes to the extreme about something other than the real truth of Jesus then I think it is more harmful for them.
My sister and I have been reading through your study of the End Times/Tribulations and have totally enjoyed what we have read. I'm not sure if we understand it all but I do believe with all my heart that one day when I (we) are with the Lord we will understand it all!
We would also like to come to your college or wherever you may be speaking. If you are doing that these days. If you could direct me to programs that you have with dates and so forth we would really appreciate that.
Thank you so much for the links that you sent. I will read them all!
Response #17:
Good to hear back from you again. You are very welcome – I'm happy to hear you found this helpful.
As to understanding, there is, it is true, a good deal of information in the Coming Tribulation series, probably too much to get familiar with the first time through. The Satanic Rebellion series constitutes an introduction to the CT series and may help to give you some perspective for many of the issues broached therein. I am always available to answer questions in any case.
As to public speaking, I don't make a habit of it (aside from teaching my university classes – lots of them). Between my full time day job, this ministry, and "life" (which has its complications), my time is booked-up. I do appreciate the interest, though! Perhaps some day . . .
In the meantime, as I said, I am always happy to address questions: odds are, if you have a question about something, there are plenty of others out there who have the same one.
Yours in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Bob L.
Question #18:
Dr. Luginbill,
My sister is in Italy right now and I am reading the lessons on my own. She has made three notebooks of The Satanic Rebellion, The Coming Tribulation: A History of the Apocalypse Part 1-3 (we've finished reading through both of these once) and The Coming Tribulation: A History of the Apocalypse Part 4-6 (I'm reading by myself till she returns next month).
We probably should read the series again because when we learn something new about our wonderful and mighty Lord then other things will click when we read over them again.
Sorry, I thought you did give lectures ... but I do understand. What you have on your website for people like me to enjoy and learn from is wonderful and very time consuming so I'm very happy that we happened upon your website. My sister and I both can not believe how easy it is to read and follow what you have written.
I have another question now if you don't mind ... when asked the question at my church they tell me that the church is not spoken of any more after Revelation chapter 3 so that means that the church will be raptured up before the CT. (Revelation 4:1). However, that, I know is not what you believe and for me it's not enough to make me 'sure' on what to believe. I have always believed that saved ones will be raptured and will not be here when the tribulations begin but after reading your studies ... I am wondering about this more. We might have read this in the studies but it wasn't clear to me ... so if you know where it is written, you might could direct me to that part of the studies? Thank you!
Although, I am fine with whatever happens, I do want to learn all I can about what the Bible tells me that I need to be doing but I'm not worried about what will take place. I don't mean to say that I'm not interested because I am very much. But I just believe that it is all in God's plan and He will take care of me. That's why I think it's silly to spend so much on outer space when people are hungry here on Earth. That's just me though and I'm sure that some of the things that NASA does might prove to be a good thing.
Sorry so long. I will stop now! Thank you so much for writing to me!
Response #18:
It's no problem at all! I would like to do more but at present it's not feasible. Maybe in time.
As to your question, I was a committed believers in the "rapture" when I was younger – because this was what I had been taught by a ministry for which I still have great respect. However, in reading my Bible more and more intensively, I came to see that it's not scriptural. I have heard the "no church in Revelation" argument before, but it strikes me as a very weak one. After all, we do find believers throughout the book of Revelation, even dying for the Lord in martyrdom. How are why are they not part of Jesus' Church (even if that particular word is not used)? We know from 1st Corinthians 15:23-24 that there are only three echelons of the resurrection of the saved: 1) Jesus (who has been resurrected), 2) "they who are His at His coming", and 3) "the end". The "end" has to be the end of the Millennium. So the Church consists of all from Adam and Eve who believe until "His coming". This Greek word, parousia, means "the 2nd Advent" wherever it occurs in speaking about the end times (see the link), and I think it is fair to say that such would be the natural interpretation of 1st Corinthians 15:23 as well (at least for all who have not been indoctrinated to take it differently against the grain of the passage). I have much about this at the following two links. I know you have a lot to look through, but these two quite detailed email responses give an overview of the problem and its solution from a number of different angles:
The Origin and the Danger of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture Theory.
I certainly hear what you are saying, and I firmly do believe too that for rare individuals like yourself and your sister who are "gung-ho" for the truth of the Word even so, the issue is not perhaps so critical. However, there are a very large number of Christians in our lukewarm era of Laodicea who are not concerned with scripture much at all, and use the rapture as an excuse for paying no heed whatsoever to eschatology. My concern as a teacher is that these persons will be all the more vulnerable to becoming spiritually disoriented once the Tribulation begins and may even end up falling away in the Great Apostasy as a result. For that reason, I tend to be fairly direct about this issue.
Thanks again for all your encouraging words – and especially for your thirst for the Word of God!
In Jesus Christ who is the Word, the One who is our all in all.
Bob L.
Question #19:
Hello again Dr. Luginbill,
I've been reading! Thank you so much for all the links and the complete study of the End Times. It is beginning to click for me! I can't explain how I 'know' or what makes it clearer for me but it is. Like what I just read in Jeremiah 31:2 ... that and when the Jewish people will 'run' to the mountains. Why would God have this in the Bible if we were all going to be raptured up before the Tribulation?
I'll continue to study and believe me I don't want anyone to miss out on any knowledge that will help them during these horrific times. My sister and I have said at the beginning of this study, 'we may believe that we won't go through this but this is still what we need to be studying so that we will know all we can about Jesus and His true Word'.
I hope you are having a good Saturday! God Bless You and thank you for emailing me! I miss my sister during my reading but she will be back soon. I have another sister that is totally lost! I hate to put it that way but I have faced facts! I don't know what to do or say to her but I just have to pray and have faith that God will softener her heart! It's really bad, Bob. She doesn't believe that God wants us to have a personal relationship with Him. She doesn't believe that Jesus is the Messiah. She did when we were all living with our mother and she was saved at a young age. I just pray that she was really truly saved and God will bring her back to Him.
In His Grace
Response #19:
You are most welcome – I'm very happy to hear that these materials are proving helpful to you. You make a very good point about Jeremiah 31:2, and it's one that certainly applies throughout scripture. The end times are one of the most voluminously covered areas of doctrine in the Bible. Why, for example, would we have the book of Revelation if we were not going to need it on account of the "rapture"? I also very much like your and your sister's application: it's the Word of God, so we should study it in any case. It would be great to miss the Tribulation, and many of us may be taken home early by natural causes. My concern remains with those who are living lukewarm Christian lives but who might just get spiritually motivated in general if they really understood what is coming fast down the track. I understand your concern for your sister. It's the rare Christian who does not have someone very close whose salvation is in doubt (or absolutely lacking). I do promise to say a prayer for her.
Thanks again for all your good words and for your enthusiasm for the Word of God!
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #20:
Hi. Dr. Luginbill. We conversed like 2 months ago. I am still going through the Satanic Rebellion. Lord have mercy! I am truly enjoying it. You are one of the best biblical teachers that I have ever read. PLEASE GET WRITING FOR JESUS. HE WILL BLESS YOU IN ETERNITY AND ON THE NEW EARTH. Who knows you may be a teacher there.
Be blessed!
P.S.
I am so sorry for my informal email. I am just so full of joy because I have found your great works.
Response #20:
Thank you Friend!
Your kindness and enthusiasm are greatly appreciated.
In Jesus our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #21:
I want to thank you and this fantastic ministry from the bottom of my heart. The teachings are transformative. Question that I have asked GOD for years are being answered now. I love this ministry. Please stay encouraged.
Your brother in CHRIST,
Response #21:
Good to make your acquaintance!
Thank you so much for your warm words of encouragement. It means a lot to me whenever I hear that these studies have helped my brothers and sisters in Jesus move forward spiritually.
Please feel free to write any time!
Your brother in our dear Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Bob Luginbill
Question #22:
Dear Robert,
I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for you sharing your study into the bible with the world! I have been asking the Lord to help me better understand His word and how blessed I am to have found your website yesterday! Thank you for this blessing ! I would like to please find out, when will you be uploading the remaining sections please i.e. - I would be most grateful for your update in this regard?
Part 5: Pneumatology: The Study of the Holy Spirit
Part 6A: Peripateology: The Study of the Christian Walk
Part 6B: Ecclesiology: The Study of the Church
Part 7: Bibliology: The Study of the Bible
Robert, again, Thank you for not expecting financial gain for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for doing all you do to the glory of our Lord and Saviour. I hope to hear from you real soon.
Stay blessed.
Kind Regards,
Response #22:
You're very welcome – and thanks so much for your encouraging words.
I am currently in the process of working on Bible Basics 5: Pneumatology. After that, I do plan to work on parts 6A, 6B, and 7 in sequence. However, these things take me quite a long time to complete (it will be some months at least before I am done with part 5), so please, in the meantime, do feel free to email me on any questions you may have not covered at the site.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob Luginbill
Question #23:
Hello, I stumbled-actually I think the Holy Spirit led me to your site last night. I just want to say thank you for all the good information you make available. I was raised a roman catholic, until 2 years ago pretty much was dead to a relationship with Jesus. I now claim no denomination except to be a disciple of the Lord. I have learned so much with my Bible and sites like yours. God has blessed You!
Response #23:
Thank you for your good words!
Feel free to write any time.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #24:
Hi there,
Thank you for your site.
I am presently studying online for a BA in Theology and I dig into Ichthys regularly. So well researched and truthfully dividing the Word of God.
Thank you,
Response #24:
You're very welcome!
Thank you for your good words of encouragement.
Write any time.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob Luginbill
Question #25:
Dear Bob,
Just wanted to send holiday greetings to my dear Bible teacher and brother in Christ, whose ministry in Ichthys made possible my hearing of the Gospel and opened up the riches in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior. The Bible study provided by your ministry continues to be my primary resource when I seek encouragement in the Word of God in the face of trials and suffering accompanying my pursuit of spiritual growth. May the Lord God Almighty continue to bless you and your ministry.
You are in my prayers, my dear brother.
Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
Your brother in Christ,
Response #25:
Thank you Friend!
This means a lot. Apologies for the delay in response – I was out of town visiting family for Christmas.
Here's wishing you and yours a blessed 2013!
And thank you especially for your prayers.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #26:
I stumbled across this website while seeking answers about hell being a literal place. I have been neglecting reading my bible and I know that God has spoken to me today, even providing simple guidelines about how to do it.
Thank you so much for being such a blessing.
God bless
Response #26:
Very good to make your acquaintance.
Thank you for your encouraging email – it's always a blessing to hear when these materials have been of some help to my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Please feel free to visit Ichthys and to write any time.
Here's wishing you and yours a blessed 2013!
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob Luginbill
Question #27:
Hello Dr. Lunginbill,
Just another Thank You for your work and insights - I hope the coming year will be filled with even more joy; knowing the help you are to so many of us.
I am still wearing the "blinders" (must confess though that I do "peek" once in a while) and feel that I am winning more battles than I am losing. Prayer and studies are gradually making it easier for the Holy Spirit to guide my thinking - even my dreams - which as a result has affected my daily walk.
Fellowship in Christ remains elusive for me as I find out how few have any real interest in discussing and meditating on the Word of God.
May God continue bless you in this life as I know He will in the next,
Response #27:
Very good to hear from you! And thanks so much for this thoughtful and encouraging email. I pray that 2013 will be a year of spiritual breakthrough for you – and I am very heartened to hear that you are making such good progress. Jesus is walking with you every step of that way forward, and you will begin to see the invisible One more clearly with every forward stride. Persevere. It is always a struggle to move forward. It is the way backward that is easy and slopes downward. Keep on running the good race, my friend! There is great reward in so doing, more blessed than we can at present come close to imagining.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob L.
Question #28:
Dear Brother Luginbill,
Thank you for your Biblical insight, and sharing your knowledge with us. You made a point in this week's emails that has had a profound effect on me. You told your correspondent not to take troubles personally. I've been struggling recently with various troubles, including recovery from major surgery, a child in a sinful lifestyle, financial issues, and other family problems. I've spent hours in prayer, and know God hears, but I've found no peace. But those three little words brought me a sense of hope.
Thank you.
Response #28:
Very good to make your acquaintance. Thank you so much for taking the time to write this encouraging email. Whenever a good Christian such as yourself demonstrates such courage in the fight as you are doing, it is motivation to all of the rest of us to try and do better day by day. When we see others with a heavy load bearing it cheerfully and trusting God, it does help to do just what you find encouraging here: not to take it personally, remembering that we are all involved in a bigger plan, the perfect Plan of God, and that He will work it all out perfectly in the end.
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.
1st Peter 5:8-10 NASB
Here's wishing you and your family a blessed 2013 in Jesus Christ our Lord,
Bob Luginbill
Question #29:
Thanks so much Dr. Luginbill. Your friendship and encouragement is a great help to me. I apologize for my long silence. Nearly six additional weeks in the hospital and a couple at home thus far. It looks like another round is going to be necessary pretty soon as well.
There is a doctor at the clinic I used to visit twice a week for my regular transfusions. She is a nominally Muslim woman with a sincere heart that just shines. I was blessed today to visit her at the clinic and gave her a copy of Henry Morris' commentary on Genesis. I thought she might be interested in learning about the patriarchs from a Christian perspective. She was so excited. It was absolutely wonderful to see. In addition, she told me her daughter "is going to love reading it" too. She also told me a heart-wrenching story about a little boy who just underwent an operation for a brain tumor.
God bless you in this new year as well, Dr. Luginbill. Thanks so much for thinking of me,
In Our Great Saviour, Wonderful Comfortor, and Eternal Father,
Response #29:
And thank you for your encouragement, your prayers, and your excellent Christian witness. I will say some prayers for your friends. Keep up the good work! I know that the power of your faith is becoming visible to many. And I do hope things take a turn for the better for you, my friend. That is a daily prayer.
Yours in Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior
Question #30:
Thank you for remembering my friend and her own requests to me for prayer on her friends' behalf. I know how busy you must be and can only guess there are many out there who lean on you very hard and I feel very strongly about not adding to your already heavy table of burdens in your service to others. All believers have equal access to heaven - and I know I can say this without offending you - I do not think you are any more special in this regard than any other believer. You are, though, a mature and faithful Christian and friend. I enjoyed sharing my little stories with you because it's been such a fine blessing to me. I trust we rejoice equally in these things. But I will keep it in mind to minimize any additional work for you by keeping in mind that I am also able to carry these loads as well in God our strength.
Hope this bit of rambling is somehow understandable and you see the 'gist' of my meaning despite the clumsy way I've conveyed it. May all your burdens be lifted from your shoulders through Christ our Lord, Dr. Luginbill. Do keep up the good work, and may you always know His comfort and peace to carry you along in the grace and joy of the Holy Spirit.
Kind Regards,
Response #30:
You put this very well indeed! And I heartily concur. My dad was a Presbyterian minister and believe me I do understand the tendency of the "congregation" to think that the preacher's prayers "cut more rug" – whereas while it is true that "the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (Jas.5:16 KJV), we are all called to pray, and God honors all prayer. Perhaps the most dangerous aspect of over-rating the prayers of someone else (aside from the swelled head it might give that person), is the really wrong-headed notion that once said person is asked to pray, well, that problem is solved. Sure, ask your pastor/teacher etc. to pray, but ask all of your other Christian friends and acquaintances too, and pray yourself "without ceasing", using the crisis in question as an opportunity to get closer to the Lord and build your faith. Even when our prayers seem not be answered, believe me, they count. God hears everything and knew about every prayer before He made the world. Everything we pray has already been entered into the plan. We may not know of the effect now, but that is part of the testing and the struggle of faith. For a believer to continue to have faith and pray resiliently even when no obvious results are forthcoming is a blessed thing which no doubt makes the angels sing – and it will not lack its reward on that glorious day.
Once again, thank you for your frankness and your powerful witness. I know you are undergoing tough times, my friend, but it is true that the words of faith coming from someone who is under the gun as you are carry many times more weight than those of someone at ease. It is easy for a believer to proclaim Jesus as Lord – but if he is about to be martyred for it (as will be the case soon enough for a large portion of the Church in the very near future), that is a different story entirely for those who observe the declaration, men and angels both.
Stay strong in faith – you are leading others forward with your example.
In Jesus our dear Lord,
Bob L.
Question #31:
Dr Luginbill:
I am a long time student of the materials provided through Berachah Church and RB Thieme Jr Bible Ministries; your first letter to LtCol RB Thieme JR was read on one of those tapes, MANY years ago. I have since begun work on a project entitled "Abbott's Word Studies", which is based on the "Online Bible" software; I hope to eventually "migrate" to a MICROSOFT WORD application.
I have seen parts of your publications, through the "Ichthys" downloads; these are valuable works and worthy of recognition.
Yours in Christ,
Response #31:
Good to make your acquaintance. I'm happy to hear that you are finding the materials at Ichthys valuable. To be honest, I don't ever remember writing Col. Thieme any letters, except one time when I sent him a book. But that was a long time ago and memory has a tendency to fade over time. I am sure I never heard before of him ever reading anything from me and putting it on tape (I was pretty sure he didn't know of my existence).
Best wishes for your ambitious project and also for your current situation.
Feel free to write me any time.
In Jesus Christ our dear Lord and Savior,
Bob Luginbill