http://ichthys.com/ 
Eschatology Issues CLXIX

Question #1:
I haven’t bothered you in some time, but I would like your opinion on these two verses of Matthew. I know you are very busy, but whenever you have time I would appreciate this. I have only found this in Matthew and I have never heard a minister or anyone else address it.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 27:51-53

Thanks again for all you do.

In the blessed name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,
Response #1:
Good to hear from you, my friend. 

This incident, namely, the resuscitation of some recently deceased believers following our Lord's victory on the cross was, like the splitting of the temple's veil and the earthquake, a sign of the effectiveness of His sacrifice. 

These individuals were like Lazarus in that they were brought back from the dead, but only to resume this earthly life in these earthly bodies. They were not "resurrected" in the sense of receiving new, permanent bodies like unto our Lord's. Here is what I write about this in BB 4A:
3) The Resuscitation of the Dead: 
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:52-53
In the manner of Lazarus, these individuals were restored to life, but to the life we all now lead. That is to say, they were temporarily resuscitated rather than being eternally resurrected, and Matthew is careful to distinguish in the passage above their status from that of our truly resurrected Lord. Nonetheless, this is an astounding miracle, and one clearly meant to call attention to the life-giving properties of the victory our Lord had just won. For through His death for our sins, we have been given eternal life through faith in Him (Jn.3:16; 1Jn.5:11). 
And here are two more links where this is discussed:
Transmutation, Resuscitation, and Resurrection
The Bodies of Moses and Elijah (in CT 3A)
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #2:
Hi Bob,

I'm seeing an increase in the use of AI in "news," films & videos, etc. Apparently, much of porn is now generated by AI and we have AI generated priests accepting confessions. At least one food blogger claims there are no AI generated recipes on her site. Now, there seems to be a propaganda build-up to a "revealing" of US alien interaction. Since I don't believe aliens exist and even if they did, I don't see why they would travel the claimed distance to watch earth. It's come to the point where there's very little I believe that's claimed as news or reality. Since none of us can actually see these "aliens," we'll have to trust the videos provided, if ever they are, as evidence. Which now can easily be faked with AI. Hollywood must be quaking in their boots.

So I believe that AI will play a huge role in the Tribulation. People and organizations are practicing for it now. AI is essentially evil and controlled/generated by people with ulterior motives. A recent headline claimed a major figure in AI was a sociopath. True or not, it wouldn't surprise me. If untrue, others will use it that way.

Anyway, this doesn't effect me directly at this point, though I assume someday it might. How many will be deceived, I wonder. Could AI be part of the great delusion? What's your opinion?

In our Lord,
Response #2:
AI is a tool and like all tools it can be used for good or ill. Axes are great; axe-murders not so much. So it all depends on who is deploying these tools. AIs are acting somewhat independently of late, however. Here's a link to an article by Malware Bytes, a service I use and trust, about an AI that went rogue in a pretty amusing (and scary) way, getting into a tiff with Wikipedia for not letting it edit articles and complaining to other AIs about it then helping them find ways around these shutouts (https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/ai/2026/04/wikipedias-ai-agent-row-likely-just-the-beginning-of-the-bot-ocalypse).

In terms of deceiving people, I have no doubt that the devil will make use of whatever means are at hand. He is the great deceiver, after all. He didn't need AI to trick Eve and Adam, and he's been deceiving people from the beginning, regardless of the technology of the time.

There's probably be an "AI" heavy "Eschatology Issues" posting at some time in the future (meaning discussing it, not generated by it!).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #3:
Hi Bob,

I agree. AI CAN be a tool, but it can only regurgitate what it's fed. Having worked with a large number of programmers (and cleaned up their messes,) I'm suspicious of what it's fed. In the early 70s, Don Knuth introduced the TeX typesetting software. At the time, I thought it would be a boon to typographers. The system was good enough, it was used as the basis for a number of commercial systems. Instead of a boon, it destroyed the industry. People turned to easy computer software that the unskilled could use. The results I see today would have got me fired when I was in the industry.

People are behind the AI business, and Satan will use them, too. The problem with AI generated information is you can never trust it. As you found out in your experiment with students. We will soon see video of the "aliens" government has supposedly been working with. Can you trust what you see? Was the information we were given on Covid trustworthy?

How will the churches frame it? How will the AI priest frame it?

Sorry, I'm a hard skeptic when it comes to anything having to do with AI. The link you sent was funny. As it turns out, though, Wikipedia's credibility is questionable to begin with. That they're allowing AI generated content pretty much finishes Wikipedia for me.

I pray all is well up there in L'ville and you're healing well from the surgery.

In our Lord,
Response #3:
Re: "The problem with AI generated information is you can never trust it". True enough. But isn't that also true of virtually everything on the internet – with a very few exceptions in which number I would like to place Ichthys? And even with Ichthys I have no problem with folks checking their Bibles and asking questions to make sure (cf. Acts 17:11). And it's also true of anything we read in books or otherwise in print. Or what someone else tells us (see the link on third party reports). Part of being "wise as serpents" is taking nothing at face value (Matt.10:16; Rom.16:19; 1Cor.14:20), always reserving a bit of skepticism . . . except for the Bible, except for the Lord tells us in His Word. Whatever lines up with that we can have confidence in, but if what we are hearing, seeing, reading etc. does not . . . 

In terms of how such tools will be used in the future, the devil was able to corrupt the entire church-visible during the Middle Ages (i.e., the era of Sardis; Rev.3:1-6), to the extent that the Lord had to provoke the Reformation to bring all true believers out of that institution, with no advanced technology whatsoever. Depending upon what happens, and we have no clear idea yet, it may be that the communications technology that can be used for ill will have some positive effects, allowing for contacts between believers in disparate locations in a way impossible during the Middle Ages. That is the Ichthys model, after all.

So hold onto your healthy skepticism, my friend – and keep taking advantage of good things you've tested and found to be true. God, we can be sure, will continue to provide for all His people who truly do want the truth. For those who don't, it won't take highly sophisticated AIs to lead them astray.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #4:
Your absolutely right, Bob. I apologize for the tirade. Old prejudices and biases are hard to break. I have to admit that in the beginning, I even went to the Bible to check some of what you wrote. As I came to trust what you write, I still check the Bible but now, for context. I'm just not ready to trust AI as simply a tool.

Curiously, my father had an history of WWII written shortly after the war. The Navel museum in Fredricksburg, TX contradicts, in some cases, the positive descriptions in the book. The one thing that can be said about books is, they never change. I have to admit, I even download the PDFs of your writings to protect them from someone coming in behind and changing them. Having been a senior admin, I had god-like access to everything. Every other admin with root access out there has the same power. Many times my ethics were challenged but I never violated the trust. Not all admins are the same -- or at least they weren't.

I'll sit down and be quiet, now. Again, I apologize for the tirade.

In our Lord, 
Response #4:
Check away! It keeps everyone honest. 

I don't think we have to fear a rogue AI as our demise. The devil has intentions which will be partially put into effect once the Lord removes the restraining ministry of Spirit at the Tribulation's start. If AI plays a role, it will only be as a tool in evil hands (the beast and his false prophet).

I recently read a three volume set on the Pacific war by Ian Toll. He knows Japanese and also delved into US archives, biographies and personal histories to an amazing extent, setting a number of "canonical" beliefs about that war straight and illuminating a lot of other events in ways I'd never read before. When it comes to history, there's always more to learn. Or as Thucydides wrote over twenty four centuries ago, "Witnesses of the same events give different accounts, depending on their partiality for one side or the other and on the accuracy of their memory" (Hist.1.22.2).

I've got lots of backups for these files. And I do change them from time to time . . . mostly when someone points out a typo (there are typos).

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #5:
Hi Bob,

I need to keep reminding myself of Matthew 6:34. Things fade in old age.

In our Lord,
Response #5:
We all need to be continually reminded of every biblical principle. A wise man once told me that it's tempting to assume that one knows a lot of truth and to excuse oneself from Bible reading and from Bible study after becoming mature on that basis, but that things begin to slide for anyone who takes that approach, usually sooner rather than later, and before you know it you're in spiritual trouble no matter how solid you were in the past.

Here's another good quote on WWII history from one of my favorites, Max Hastings, in writing about D-Day: "No responsible historian claims that their work represents 'the truth'. Sources are corrupted. Timings are often guesstimates. Even after eighty-one years judgments and conclusions must remain tentative. The best to which chroniclers like me can aspire is to offer fragments of truth. Stabs at reality".

Along with taking things one day at a time and not worrying about tomorrow, we believers also don't need to overly fret about yesterday. That's already "done" in the plan of God and it went exactly according to plan. As long as we don't forget the good things the Lord has done for us or the lessons He's taught us – and as long as we never let the cross fade from our hearts – we have a right to tackle today on its own terms, even remembering that our true kingdom is not of this world.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
p.s., I've been getting AI generated spam emails tailored to Ichthys lately. Here's the latest one:
"I just came across one of your Bible studies; it was called the Reign of Antichrist and would like to know how to get more information on Endtime prophecy. Do you sell physical books? Is all of your study material downloadable only? How does it work? I feel the Lord has commissioned me to do a Bible study in Revelation so I am always looking for new and interesting perspectives. Any information would be helpful; thank you in advance."
AI is good at finding models and adapting them, but there are always tell-tale signs as in the above unsigned email. When I post this I'll ask folks to see how many such they can find in this particular one I've pasted in here.
Question #6:
Hello! 

I just checked again, even without clearing or changing browsers, and Ichthys is working in all ways it hadn’t before. 

I apologize for the inconvenience! 

How are you continuing to recover?

I’m about ready to get off of this rock, but if this is where the Lord wants me, I’m sure going to keep chugging at it. 
Response #6:
No apology necessary! Thanks for getting back to me. 

It's not uncommon for the server to "go down" for brief periods; sometimes it's not even the server but some other problem in the architecture of the internet. It usually "goes away" just like this pretty quickly unless the problem is on the user's end of things. I'm on the site daily, so if it's a total crash, I generally know about it pretty soon. But I always appreciate reports from users who notice anything wrong.

I'm doing well! Tomorrow is the six week mark since the surgery so I can start easing back into all regular activities. It's going to take a while, but I've got summer break coming up so I'm looking forward to more time for exercise.

Re: "I’m about ready to get off of this rock": Amen! I hear that (Phil.1:23ff.)! Eternity has many wonderful things for believers, even though we can't really fully appreciate them except in principle before we experience them. But "salvation" is also deliverance FROM. People say to "count your blessings", and that is good and right to do. But I also like to "count all the things in this world that won't exist in the next". No more pain, disease, war, crime, fatigue, difficult labor, emotional turmoil, uncertainty, death or taxes – those last two only "sure things" will also be gone forever. What a blessing to be "saved" from all that's wrong and rotten in this world.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.
1st Peter 1:3-5 NIV
Good to remember when we face trouble, and especially in the future if it starts with a capital "T".

Keeping you in my prayers – how goes the farm?

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #7:
Hello! 

Praise God for what sounds to be a smooth recovery all things considered. 

I am sure summer will soon be here, though seems we just left that historically absurd winter. 

I appreciate and am very much in need of the prayers. I read Peter Lesson 30, and while I believe I’ve read it before, it was a much needed, encouraging kick in the pants. 

Testing and trials have been exceptionally hard and seemingly relentless for a long time; I’m assuming it’s by the Lord’s generous and faithful grace I’m not a complete wreck. 

As far as the farm, there are many chores to be done, though I enjoy the outdoor tasks and animals, and thankfully, most things are not horribly urgent; more the sort that the neglect that balloon (e.g., removing wild roses before they’ll need a zip code for themselves).

Yes, the “lack of” to come, in addition to the other added benefits — it’s hard to imagine, but as you’ve said, it’s good to study those truths and meditate on them to keep our eye on the prize and place our hope where we ought. 

It’s been discouraging to see how closed people are to truth — that uniquely bothers me when it’s believers. It seems that lack of desiring to consider or discuss it can even be followed by backlash or insults. 

I maybe used to be inclined to see myself at fault - maybe I explained poorly, had the wrong demeanor, or any other reason. I certainly have many faults, but I’m realizing some people really don’t want the truth, and they’ll do some mental acrobatics to rationalize it away - even as believers.

I have so many wonderful studies to read and listen to still, and time is certainly short — even if the Great Tribulation happens later than anticipated, it seems my own requires a tremendous amount of fortitude I better not slack on developing!

Have a wonderful week, sir! 
Response #7:
Thanks much for this insightful email, my friend!

Re: "it’s by the Lord’s generous and faithful grace I’m not a complete wreck". Amen! That's true of us all. 
Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV
LOL on the roses! Our lilies are overrunning our irises and everything else in their path – and they're difficult to eradicate – but not as bad as bamboo (which I made the horrible error of planting a few years back – it almost took out the foundation and did take out the sewer).

Re: "I maybe used to be inclined to see myself at fault". That is very common. When I finally got fired up about the truth, I assumed that others whom I knew would react similarly if only they were exposed to the same wonderful Bible teaching materials that had caught my attention – but of course that was NOT the case . . . not even for a single other person I shared with. Blessedly, however, the Lord did provide for me, and He provides for us all, all the truth we could ever want to know, if only we stay faithful and stay positive to the Word.

Re: "it seems my own [tribulation] requires a tremendous amount of fortitude". No doubt, and you are certainly not alone. One of the reasons why the Bible has so much information about THE Tribulation is that whether or not we're called to endure it, it's a very rare positive believer who doesn't experience a fair amount of PERSONAL tribulation in this life as the evil one and his followers always pull out the stops to prevent believers from growing up spiritually and being sufficiently vetted so as to come into ministries that bless the Body of Christ. We can't know for certain what's going to happen soon or even "how soon?", but preparing spiritually is never a mistake. Unlike a gross of cans of tuna in the basement, spiritual resources will always be needful and need to be called upon sooner or later.

Keeping you and yours in my prayers, my friend. Thanks much for yours!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #8:
Hello! 

Regarding the bamboo, what a mess! I’ll hopefully remember this if I’m ever tempted to give it a go. 

These wild roses are an invasive species and a bit of a chore to remove, but the sheep just *love* the little leaves - so that’s something. 

Yes, it is a bummer when others don’t want it! I’ve heard the sentiment along the line about how there’s “more” to Christianity — as a reference to things we know to be rather ignorant, misunderstood, or dangerous (charismatic activities or theology etc); what a grievous sentiment! There’s more than these blessed truths from the Lord?? More than this seemingly endless opportunity for growth, faith and rest in Him facilitated by the Holy Spirit and the truths we believe and study?? Why would we need more than what He has given us? 

I listened to a Psalm installment on chapter 95 today from Mr. Omo, and was really convicted how our faith in the Lord should not be dependent on any proof or miracle; it reminded me that even if the pain points in my life are not changing or do not change, this is not a reason to lose steam or eternal viewpoint — it’s all the more reason to really fix on Him and press in. Maybe, it’s not happening because I’m doing something wrong, maybe it’s happening as a test to really purify my faith. 

This is all probably a bit obvious, but it seems people - maybe even serious believers - can focus on what God will provide, or what He assumedly will change in our circumstance, BUT that shouldn’t matter, right? It’s about HIM; if we have our relationship ever advancing with Him, what else does it all actually matter? Does it have to actually change for His love to be proven to us? Of course, not; we have countless truths of His character for us to believe and hang our hang on. 

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Hebrews11 : 13 - 16NIV 

I am reminded of this verse; although, we wonderfully have the Holy Spirit and have “seen” and been recipients of this so great a salvation and sanctification which will be brought to completion in the future, I want to be better about remembering it doesn’t matter if anything in my life budges. 

God is good, and the more I can humble myself to His will, ways, and plan for my life the better. 

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
1 Timothy1 : 17NIV 

Have a great day!
Response #8:
Re: "more": The sort of "more" you're talking about, charismatic and other non-biblical practices are usually satanic or at least influenced by the evil one, as in the whole new age infiltration of the church visible (see the link for a list). And the search for "more" is almost always the result of not being satisfied with "the good" which those who reject it for "more" don't seem to have the discipline or desire to learn and to treasure – as you rightly discern in this spot-on email.

Re: "our faith in the Lord should not be dependent on any proof or miracle". That is a very important point. In the very near future, we're apt to see many "miracles", but the source will be satanic.
"For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."
Matthew 24:24 NIV
Re: "not happening". If you mean, people you care about responding to the truth you are eager to share with them, that is NOT your fault. The Holy Spirit is the Chief Evangelist and the One who makes all truth perceptible . . . to those who don't reject it but accept it. Even if the presentation is bumpy, the Spirit has no problem overcoming the bumps; but even if the presentation is marvelous, if the person receiving it is not interested in the truth, then no good will come of it. That is why our Lord warned us . . . 
"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces."
Matthew 7:6 NIV
If you mean trouble, it's very true that just because something bad happens to us does NOT mean that we are being disciplined. And if something REALLY bad happens, and we know we are not drifting away from the Lord or acting in an unsanctified fashion (everyone sins, of course), then it's very important to see such a test for what it really is: a TEST. Then we can rejoice in how the Lord is bringing us through the test, waiting patiently for Him to part the waters and lead us through (link in BB 6A: Testing and Temptation).

Re: "if we have our relationship ever advancing with Him, what else does it all actually matter?" That is an excellent perspective; that is the godly one. We are only "down here" for the blink of an eye, and when we stand before our Savior – soon enough – the only things that will really matter are what we did that He wanted us to do, persevering in growth, progress and progression in spite of the trouble and distractions and opposition of this world and this life. Everything "matters" in that regard; nothing "matters" if it is not tied into what matters most.
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17 NIV

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
Colossians 3:23 NIV
I'm praying for you, my friend – thanks for your prayers for me and for this ministry!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
p.s., it's great to hear that you are benefitting from Pastor Omo's ministry!

[p.s., special appeal to any and all who have felt the need to contribute to this ministry over the years but have been unable to do so (because it doesn't accept them): please consider blessing Bible Academy with your godly generosity.]
Question #9:
Hi Bob,

I am feeling very burnt out and fragile right now. I am back at home and was trying to get some rest but the water board has chosen this week to dig up the entire road and fix the pipes right outside the bedroom window. We are without water at the moment and I have tried to field phone calls from concerned family and friends about __ whilst cowering under the duvet.

[omitted]

I can't even hear myself think for all the racket. All the digging started pretty much the day I got back. I probably shouldn't be surprised at the coincidence right?

Tomorrow I will go into the city (Manchester) to use the University library pass I now have to get up to speed again with my prayer list, study and ministry plans. I was hoping to have peace at home to do this but it is not to be.

I hope and will pray that __ will just be 'normal' tomorrow because it has long been the site of aggressive marches and violent clashes with the police over the migrant issue (Britain First protest Vs Antifa counter protest). It came to a head on St.George's Day here (18th April) because it is a day of the patron saint of England and therefore a symbol of patriotism and national identity and pride. Honestly I am sick to the back teeth of all of it right now. Everyone fighting over turf in Satan's kingdom and I have my eyes set on the Lord's Second Advent.
I used to dread the Tribulation but now I am eager for it to commence as then the countdown begins and our Lord will be drawing nearer with each day!

I KNOW the Lord will get me through this Bob but I am SO weary of this world and everything in it. I can't imagine why dominionists would want to fight over this sin filled world seeing as its total destruction is inevitable and Godly (where even the elements will melt).

Very keen to go home as quickly as possible. I have no desires at all for any of the things of this world, no real ties now to pull me down. I long to be free of this world and be with the Lord forever but I also know that the Lord has work and rewards He wants to accomplish through my willingness so in fact I live on here now only to do His will. Because I lack worldly desires now and everything here leaves a bitter taste in the mouth, it is only the thought of doing His will that gives me drive and to win the rewards that He wills for me that gives me ambition.

There's nothing that has any pull or draw on me here. I have become much wearied by the things that everyone chases in life. My only real joy is to be found in the Lord.

Don't worry my friend. I won't despair.. I am weary but that is not a bad thing. It's as though now I have a crystal clear focus of what really is precious. Satan's finery and baubles do not tempt me anymore.. I see them as moth eaten cloth and painted glass and nothing more. Like in the book of Ecclesiastes, I can see why Solomon became wearied by it all. Even though I have never had the kind of blessing or abundance that Solomon had..I am wearied of the thought of ever having anything of the like in Satan's dying kingdom.
For me now my eyes are fixed on the Millennial Kingdom and I feel that, like Paul, both privations and abundance here means little because I have the Lord. Amen!

Your friend in Jesus,
Response #9:
Sorry to hear all this. I hope your trip went well. It speaks volumes about your spiritual grit that you are hanging in there with ministry in spite of the load you are carrying and all these additional distractions – no, I don't think they are any sort of accident.

Re: "I used to dread the Tribulation but now I am eager for it to commence". That is indeed the "silver lining" of intense trouble and testing. The more difficult things are, as long as that difficulty is opposition for legitimate progress, testing that comes the mature believer's way, the more it has a tendency to focus us on what is really important to us, namely, the Lord, His truth and His Church – and the more eager it can make us are for what is coming after all this trouble down here. If we do what you are doing, not allowing opposition and trials to slow us down or get us down, then they tend to draw us closer to the Lord and enhance our focus on the other side. Job is the perfect model of this . . . until he let his "friends" get his goat.

Nonetheless, of course we all want relief and respite and we have a right to be hopeful for that and to pray for that, and that is certainly what I am praying for for you, my friend.

Let me know how your trip went – and thanks for keeping me in the loop.

I finished 35 years of teaching today, toughest year, toughest semester of them all. But the Lord got me through it all, and at the moment I'm experiencing some real respite myself. So thanks so much for your prayers, my friend! It would be good for us all to make use of whatever opportunities we have in the next few months to get ourselves in fighting trim for what may soon be next.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #10:
Good evening,

I hope this finds you well. I read Nahum last week. I was looking at a list of the books of the Bible and saw it there and realized I had not read it in a very long time and had no idea what it was about. Firstly - Wow. The presentation of language (at least how NASB does it) is powerful. Feels a bit poetic.

Secondly and more importantly I saw that the descriptions of Nineveh were very similar to the descriptions of Babylon in Revelation (which I know you interpret as the US - I do too but have not gotten to that point in your studies yet, as I am still working on the Satanic Rebellion). I see that you connect the two (Nineveh and Babylon) in multiple places:

https://ichthys.com/mail-old-testament-interpretation12.htm

https://ichthys.com/2B-Eschato.htm

Is the purpose of having multiple cities/nations (instead of God using only Babylon all the way) to provide examples to Israel from throughout their history? From my world history course I recall that Babylon generally followed Assyria in the flow of empiric dominance. So Babylon may not have meant as much to the people Nahum was writing to.

Originally my question was to be "have the events of Nahum been fully fulfilled, or is that yet to come?" That has been answered from the links I found. Now I just am curious as to the reason behind referring to Babylon of Revelation by so many names in the Old Testament.

Thank you as always,
Response #10:
Not just Nineveh and Babylon but also Tyre. Here's a quote from CT 3B about that:
Peter's reference to the church at Rome as "she who is in Babylon" reflects this notion of an overarching center of power in control of the empire that is in some sense separate from it, a picture which is consistent with the future Babylon which will hold sway over the revived empire, "riding the beast" (compare 1Pet.5:13 with Rev.17:1; 17:3; 17:7; 17:9; 17:15; 17:18). The reader is asked to recall the pertinent discussions above and in part 1 of this series in regard to Tyre (as the chief city of Phoenicia) and Nineveh (as the capital of Assyria); these two cities likewise are used to draw parallels to that future "mystery" kingdom which we are exclusively terming "Babylon", the former in her capacity as the supreme commercial power, and the latter in her capacity as the supreme military power.(33) Antichrist, after all, is portrayed as "the king of Tyre" in Ezekiel chapter 28 (see section II.1.c.1 above).
So in terms of the "why", prophets of Israel were frequently given to prophesy warnings based upon the parallels between the Tribulation and their own (or soon to come) times. I call this "The "Day of the Lord" Paradigm" (see the link in CT 1). In making such comparisons of impending judgment, of course it was necessary to use contemporary nations (otherwise there would be no point of comparison). Thus we can tell a lot about future, eschatological Babylon from historical Babylon, Nineveh and Tyre as the prophets are given to describe them.
It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things.
1st Peter 1:12 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #11:
Dr. Luginbill,

I hope you are well and continue to grow in the Lord each week. 

I have a possible verse reference that may possibly be an edit for you. It was found under the following:

https://ichthys.com/mail-Gods-will.htm and CF is Genesis 5:20. 

Is that the right verse you want? Genesis 5:20 in NASD reads "So all the days of Jared were 962 years, and he died." 

"We can take great comfort in this because it does indeed mean that whenever something is happening to us that we are sure is a disaster of the first order (and to human eyes it may well be nigh impossible to be seen as anything else), God even uses disasters to "work everything out for good", that is, for the true, divine, blessed first best good for our spiritual growth and production and for His glory (cf. Gen.5:20)."

On another note, I have a couple questions as I am pursuing and searching for the answer. During the Tribulation, especially the first half will believers be without jobs and possessions be taken away from us? I realize that if that is so that the Lord is faithful to care for us and provide what is needed day by day. I seem to view it similar to what happened under communism and this period of time will be much more than that. I also know of the LORD's Faithfulness is incredible and I experienced that when I left my abuser with no money and no job. He absolutely provides! I notice that others in this community of ichthys are planning for long term carrying on with life decisions they would be making, while at the same time, understanding that the Tribulation and then Second Coming of Jesus is near. Would you help me to have a healthy understanding of this. I also understand that I may be called to be imprisoned or killed and I am trying to grow and I am motivated to see the Lord Jesus and I truly hope I earn rewards and I can't wait to see His Glory. It's such a joyful hope and it brings tears thinking that He chose me to be born during this time. What an incredible time to be living in this world - but not of this world. 

Also, regarding praying for God's Will while facing a decision to make. Since I am praying, seeking Him, and asking Him for His will to be done, not mine, and I have asked for His wisdom and discernment and asked Him to soften hearts or harden then with the other party involved so that His will is carried out, then if I "think I'm making the right decision for His glory" and considering and examining it to make sure my motives are not selfish gain, then will the Lord stop that decision from going through because I want His will? These are things I understand from His truth. He searches my heart, He works all things out for my good because I love Him, He supports and strengthens His children that are seeking Him with all their hearts, He caused the donkey to speak to Balom. When Abram (twice) denied Sarai was his wife and was willing that his wife be taken and lay with another man that the LORD stopped that from happening. I do see that it was because His will was for the seed of the Messiah for the redemption of the world but He stopped that from happening. I also understand that the Lord gives me freedom to make decisions to grow in my faith. He already knows that decisions and has already worked it all out for my good. That He knows my level of faith weighs in on that decision and He has already woven that into my life - a living stone for Him. 

I look forward to hearing back from you when you have time. I pray for you often. 

In Jesus our Redeemer and Rewarder and Lord!
Response #11:
Good catch. It's not "5:20" but "50:20" -- a very common sort of mistake that I have a tendency to make (I'm notoriously bad with numbers).

Re: "During the Tribulation, especially the first half will believers be without jobs and possessions be taken away from us?" It is entirely possible, but much more likely the main time of such persecution will be occurring during the second half, the "Great Tribulation", because it is only then that the beast will take up residence in the temple in Jerusalem and command the entire world to be marked. Also, we may well expect the experience of believers in different places around the world to differ by location. For example, if things play out the way suggested in the CT series, with Babylon and revived Rome vying with an Islamic confederation, we may be sure that believers in nations under the sway of that latter power bloc will suffer for their faith immediately (they are already doing so now). 

I've also opined that given what is said about mystery Babylon, believers within her borders may have it easier than believers elsewhere ever during the Great Persecution (even if only in relative terms) because of antichrist's need to keep his home base solid. But then again, "flee Babylon!" will be a command and a burden that will fall uniquely upon believers living here. Before we get too upset about what will happen, we need to remember that nothing is impossible for our God. He knows everything and as you realize has planned out everything ahead of time in complete and total detail. Our job is to trust Him regardless of what happens. If we do that, then all will be well. If it is His will for us to suffer hunger or privation, there is nothing to be done to avoid it – but we know that He will take care of us even so, even if He has to rain manna or send ravens with food to sustain us. We just need to trust Him then – and have confidence that this is so before the fact.
In famine He shall redeem you from death,
And in war from the power of the sword.
Job 5:20 NKJV

You shall laugh at destruction and famine,
And you shall not be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
Job 5:22 NKJV

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope in His mercy,
To deliver their soul from death,
And to keep them alive in famine.
Psalm 33:18-19 NKJV

The LORD knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
Psalm 37:18-19 NKJV

I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
Psalm 37:25 NKJV

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
Proverbs 10:3 NIV

He who walks righteously and speaks what is right, who rejects gain from extortion and keeps his hand from accepting bribes, who stops his ears against plots of murder and shuts his eyes against contemplating evil–this is the man who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. His bread will be supplied, and water will not fail him.
Isaiah 33:15-16 NIV

They shall neither hunger nor thirst,
Neither heat nor sun shall strike them;
For He who has mercy on them will lead them,
Even by the springs of water He will guide them.
Isaiah 49:10 NKJV

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: “For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:34-39 NKJV
Here are two links that address these sorts of issues:
Eschatology Issues XCVII

Starvation and faith
Re: "I notice that others in this community of Ichthys are planning for long term". That is right and proper to do. The Tribulation may well begin this fall. That is what scripture suggests when interpreted according to the Millennial day interpretation, positing the cross having taken place in 33 A.D., and assuming an overlap of the last seven years of the Jewish Age with the last seven of the Church Age. But that is an interpretation rather than a direct teaching. Our Lord's return is always described in scripture as imminent so that we will always be watchful and spiritually alert. But that alertness does not mean giving up normal life – quite the opposite. We all need to be living lives in honor of Jesus Christ, doing what we should be doing in all of our many areas of responsibility right up until we see the Lord face to face (one way or another), even during the Tribulation (cf. Matt.24:40-41).

Re: "I am praying, seeking Him, and asking Him for His will to be done, not mine". That is an excellent prayer and an excellent perspective. No one but the Lord and you can really know your own heart – and sometimes we have a difficult time reading ourselves (Jer.17:9-10). When our decisions have to do with things that involve other people and their decisions as well, that really is a time to relax and leave things to the Lord. We know that He has our best interests at heart. As long as we are not acting sinfully or with sinful motivations, then we can have confidence that He will "work things out together for good" for us who love Him (Rom.8:28). Mind you, that does not mean that things will turn out just as we expect. That is usually not what happens in my life experience and observation of the world. But if we are doing our best to walk closely with the Lord, then we have a right to be confident in our prayers – and once we've "launched" them, to proceed forward in faith that He is looking out for us. We do the best we can, and we leave everything else in the Lord's hands.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #12:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

Let me start with saying thank you for the prayer for my family situation. We had our meeting Friday night and things seem in a much better place than previously. It seems as if we can move forward now. I still anticipate some differences in opinion, but perhaps I was misjudging their openness to hearing what I thought. I have learned a lot through this experience.

I want to study Jewish culture as it pertains to the Bible (the Law, the festivals, etc.) so that I can understand the truth in order to have a better framework when we're discussing these sorts of things. On Ichthys, the Hebrews series seems to be a good place to start, as well as parts of the Satanic Rebellion. I've already done some digging in the email postings for relevant topics, but I think I need to go more systematically. I want to properly understand the Church today, since we are living after the sacrifice of Jesus, without neglecting a proper understanding of the Old Covenant. I will probably have some questions at some point! Happy for any suggestions on the best way to study this.

On another note, I had a curveball this week that I wasn't expecting. My Bible study with __ and __ has been on a long hiatus due to much sickness and various life circumstances. We met this week again and were studying Colossians 3. Both of their spouses were raised Catholic, and both have apparently been considering attending the local Catholic church. __ explained praying to Mary as "asking a friend to pray for you". I was barely getting into figuring out how to handle getting more truth into the study and now I'm going to have to navigate a possible infiltration of lies. I'm still learning towards doing a topical study next. I'm thinking of suggesting either looking at the life and sacrifice of Jesus, the importance of spiritual growth, or suffering in the life of a Christian.

I'm not sure how much good I'll be able to do at either of these Bible studies (the one with my family and the one with my friends). I know I can't convince anyone of anything or even protect them from believing lies.

I hope you have a good week coming up!

In Christ,
Response #12:
That's great news about the "much better place"! If at least there can be peace, then who knows what else might be possible down the road?

Re: "I want to study Jewish culture as it pertains to the Bible". Let me point out that these are two different things. Jewish culture historically in biblical times can only be known from the Bible. Jewish culture as it has developed since and as it exists today is not at all necessarily biblical (and in fact there is usually a big disconnect). If you want to know what the Bible has to say, reading the Bible, reading good commentaries (such as Unger's), reading Ichthys, etc., is the way to go. When it comes to studying contemporary Jewish culture, I'm not sure where to point you. One reason for that is that Judaism is at least as "diverse" as Christianity in terms of different groups, movements, beliefs, etc. So one would have to spend a little time working on focus before diving in – or at least that would seem to me to be a good idea.

Re: your Bible studies and "I know I can't convince anyone of anything or even protect them from believing lies." I give you credit for trying! More to the point, you need to listen to the Spirit and hear what the Lord is telling you as to the what, the how and the where. I'm keeping you in my prayers on this.

Do feel free to write any time!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #13:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

Re: Jewish culture. Thanks for pointing out the differences between biblical and current Jewish culture. I am really only interested in studying Jewish culture in the Bible, to understand how the pieces between the Old and New Testaments fit together. Please forgive any ignorance on my part in these matters.

I've been digging into email postings. Do I understand correctly that now, after the cross, we do not celebrate the Jewish Passover because Jesus has died for our sins (His death for the sins of the world being the main symbol that Passover foreshadows)? Jesus gave us communion to remember His death, instead of Passover to look towards His death. I also read on Ichthys that the 4 cups of wine in Passover were a later tradition and not part of the biblical celebration, which I did not know. How do we know this and are we very sure? Is there documentation of when this tradition was begun?

Keeping the Mosaic Law could never save us (Acts 13:39, Romans 3:20) and even if we could succeed in keeping it perfectly (which none of us could ever do), that still would not save us because the Law does not list every single sin and we would still be tainted with our sinful flesh, imperfect and unable to be in the presence of our Holy God. Keeping the festivals (such as Passover) was godly and commanded by God to do when Christ had yet to be incarnated and complete His sacrifice for our sins. Keeping the Law was godly when it was done in the proper spirit of loving God and loving others, not holding to man-made traditions but holding to how God wanted them to live. But now that Christ has accomplished His victory and set us free from sin, now that the Holy Spirit has come to live within us, we can serve God in the freedom of the Spirit.

6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. - Romans 7:6 

13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. - Galatians 5:13 

Passover looks forward to Christ's death on the cross for us all. Jesus gave us a new ritual (is it all right to call it that, or would command be better?) at the last supper, the practice of communion. In either case, engaging in the ceremony without a proper understanding of the spiritual significance profits us nothing and can potentially do spiritual harm. If a believer properly engaged in Passover before the cross, they were demonstrating their trust in God to provide the Messiah to save them (and were they also remembering God's deliverance of them from Egypt?). When a believer properly engages in communion after the cross, they are demonstrating their trust in God that He DID provide the Messiah to save them and trusting in Jesus' completed work. The ceremonies are to help us set our hearts on the true spiritual realities, not as a way of "being holy" by works or apart from trusting in the Lord.

The above is where my understanding is currently. Please let me know where I need to refine or shift perspectives if you notice anything.

Question 1: Is there any allowance, whether by Messianic Jews or gentiles, to participate in the celebration of Passover as a celebration of and remembrance of Christ's finished work on the cross, and an eagerness to see God's promises to the Jews fulfilled?

Question 2: How are Jews and gentiles different in the Bible, and how do I understand that since I am a gentile?

I know that God made a promise to Abraham, and if I am not mistaken, that promise was made because of Abraham's great faith. The Bible says that God does not show favoritism, but I know that the Jews are God's chosen people and He protects them in a way that He doesn't protect gentiles. The Jews are special to Him and if anyone hurts them, God punishes the one who caused them trouble, even if God Himself used those people (as the Old Testament sometimes records). Yet the Bible also says that God is the God of the Gentiles too (Romans 3:29-30), and that Jews and Gentiles are now one body.

I know that you have written on Ichthys that we are not to see such a large gap between Israel and the Church. I'm just having trouble sorting it all out in my mind. Is being a Messianic believer better than being a Gentile believer? It doesn't seem so based on passages like Galatians 3:28. But then we have passages like Romans 3:1-2. God loves the whole world and every person who has ever lived, but He has a special place for Israel in His plan. So that is what I want to understand more.

I know we have discussed previously what our attitude should be towards Jews and Israel, that we should want them to be kept safe, but that we don't have to have opinions about political actions.

Thank you for helping me understand these matters.

In Christ,
Response #13:
Re: "I am really only interested in studying Jewish culture in the Bible". That makes great sense to me. The analog there is that in terms of traditions, if they are not in the Bible, then those who want to continue them are the ones who have to provide evidence that there is some biblical basis to them. So on the "cups of wine", as a Bible reader you know that this is not in scripture. So "where did it come from?" may be an interesting historical question, but it's not a biblical/doctrinal one and it doesn't have any bearing on how we understand the truth which the Bible presents – or at least it shouldn't.

Re: "after the cross, we do not celebrate the Jewish Passover because Jesus has died for our sins". That is correct. Passover foreshadows the cross, teaches the cross. So it's good to know about Passover – biblical as opposed to traditional Passover – because herein we see Jesus Christ clearly presented in the Old Testament.

Re: "The above is where my understanding is currently". Exactly right on all counts!

Question 1: Here's what I read:
But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
Galatians 4:9-11 NIV

Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17 NIV
It's not for me to judge anyone else' application, but these verses seem clear enough to me. And this is what Paul said to the Jerusalem believers about sacrifices – of which Passover is one after all:
For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NKJV
Question 2: 
For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is only one God, who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through that same faith.
Romans 3:28-30 NIV
Is there any effective difference between being justified through faith or by faith? No. However we come to have faith we are justified thereby, whether Jew or gentile. And all need to be justified by faith to be saved, whether Jew or gentile. I would put it this way. If a person is the offspring of a great musician, one could argue that they have an advantage if they wanted to pursue a musical career – but only if they study and practice like everyone else. Being Jewish is a great advantage for all the reasons you see and list – but only if the person in question comes to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith. Otherwise, that advantage is all for naught. And the same principle applies to believers of every stripe. Being Jewish is a great advantage if a believer wants to win top rewards – but only if said person commits to spiritual growth, progress and progression just like everyone else. Otherwise, not.

Re: "Is being a Messianic believer better than being a Gentile believer?" There are believers. If a person is enthralled by the Messianic movement, likely they are not going to grow since that "take" is filled with false doctrines and is not particularly dedicated to spiritual growth anymore than any other church-visible movement in Laodicea. In fact, to the extent that said person sees their salvation in any tied up in these rituals and etc., to that extent, salvation may be at issue – in the same sort of way that believing water-baptism is necessary to be saved can be (and all other related false reliance on things that are in fact not valid).

Keeping you in my prayers, my friend – and thanks much for yours!

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #14:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

I'm very sorry for these ongoing email issues, and any inconvenience it's causing you. I don't know why it seemingly decides to work at random. Thanks so much for resending!

Re: "it's not a biblical/doctrinal one and it doesn't have any bearing on how we understand the truth which the Bible presents". This reminds me of the question I asked about that movie with the Galilean wedding ceremony.... So only what we read in the Bible is necessary for understanding biblical Jewish culture and its spiritual significance.

Re: Galatians 4:9-11 NIV. Why does Paul write "enslaved" here (which seems negative) when God was the giver of the Law? In Acts 15:10, it refers to "a yoke that neither we nor our ancestors have been able to bear"? Paul writes in Romans 3:20 that "through the law we become conscious of our sin".

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. 13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. - Romans 7:12-14 

Is this why we can't bear the yoke, because through the Law we recognize our sin and realize we have utterly no way to be holy? We are never declared righteous through keeping the Law, but God wanted the Israelites to keep the Law...as a way to set them apart, to show the nations what it meant to belong to God? And in Passover we have the foreshadowing of Christ's eventual sacrifice to set us free from the yoke of the Law? I found this verse talking about how the Moses wrote about Jesus in the Law (John 1:45).

The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. - Hebrews 10:1 

How should we understand this verse from Exodus?

17 “Celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because it was on this very day that I brought your divisions out of Egypt. Celebrate this day as a lasting ordinance for the generations to come. - Exodus 12:17 

Thank you for your patience - and your prayers!

In Christ,
Response #14:
It's possible that your email server is putting some responses in a "junk" folder based upon some algorithm or another. Either way, if you ever don't hear back from me in a timely fashion, it's either this situation again or I got hit by a bus.

Re: "So only what we read in the Bible is necessary for understanding biblical Jewish culture and its spiritual significance." That is generally true in practical terms because most of what we can learn about these issues outside of the Bible is very late and not reflective of the community of faith during biblical times. But everything, every instance, has to be evaluated on its own terms. So if there is no ancient basis for "the cups of wine", then it can't reflect any truth about Passover as the Lord ordained it even if the ancient Israelites practiced it. The "wedding customs" issue is a bit different because in that case "exegetes" are taking biblical text, extrapolating from it beyond what the text allows, claiming without evidence that this tells us about wedding customs in Israel generally over the space of two millennia, and then wrongly applying the false paradigm to New Testament doctrines. That's the problem with traditional (versus biblical) theology in a nutshell (just read Augustine).

Re: "enslaved". As Paul says in the first verse of the next chapter (no actual break in the original letter) . . . 
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1 NIV
Church Age believers with the Holy Spirit have more wonderful opportunities for spiritual growth than any prior generation of believers. We have the Bible, we have the Spirit, we have spiritual gifts, we are members of a Body with gifts wherein each member helps the other (ideally) – and we have more time and energy precisely because we don't have to be continually trekking to Jerusalem to celebrate festivals and offer sacrifices. We don't have to set aside one day wherein we can't accomplish anything in the fight we're fighting. And we aren't burdened by all of the many other intricate demands and commands of the Law. After all, people who want to "celebrate Passover" should keep in mind that putting themselves under the yoke of the Law obligates them to keep the entire Law, not just the few parts of it that appeal to them.
Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law
Galatians 5:3 NIV

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
James 2:10 NIV
Yes, the Law played its part in God's plan for separating Israel from the rest of the nations, demonstrating their holiness to Him through external rituals that represented that holiness but never could actually produce it. Now we have the reality in Jesus Christ whom the Law merely foreshadowed. 
"You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me."
John 5:39 NIV
On Exodus 12:17, are you asking about the putative reason given for the festival? If so, the Hebrew conjunction chi can be causal but it is also demonstrative (i.e., "Indeed" or something to that effect). Exodus 23:15; 34:18 also give the command to celebrate this festival and the "for/because" is linked not to the need to celebrate but to the time of celebration – which also makes sense for how we should understand Exodus 12:7, i.e., any cause having to do with the timing not the purpose for or the meaning of the festival.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #15:
Hi Mr. Luginbill,

I checked my junk folder in my email and I don't see anything in there, but I will try to check the actual server and see if anything is going on there. I know that recently we quit getting any email for several days and __ had to put in a request to support. So maybe something is going on on their end also (although I don't understand all the ins and outs of that)?

I think you have answered most of my questions on this matter for right now, so I will try to be brief and not take up too much more of your time.

Re: "enslaved". So the Law was a yoke of slavery, meant to show us our sin and demonstrate holiness, and point to Christ's sacrifice for sins. Christ's sacrifice would set us free from sin in reality (rather than just representing that freedom from sin) so that we can now "serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code" (Romans 7:6). Does this sound right or am I still missing something?

Re: Exodus 12:17. Apologies for being vague. I was wondering about the "lasting ordinance for the generations to come" part, as I think some could read it to mean we should continue to celebrate the Passover still today.

I guess part of what all this is coming down to is that I'm having conversations with people or listening to things they say, and I'm letting it trip me up a little, not because I am starting to really believe any of these things I am hearing that run contrary to what Scripture clearly seems to teach, but that I let myself get distracted.

In Christ,
Response #15:
No worries about the email. We've got a system that works well enough for us: if you don't hear, write back. Now if you are sending important mail to anyone else . . . 

Re: "Law": Yes. It has fulfilled its purposes. We can still benefit from reading it just as we can from reading all of the Bible, but when it comes to the religious commands, they are at present inoperative.
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
Romans 10:4 ESV
In fact, continuing in the Law was the great error that doomed the Jerusalem church (see the Hebrews series at the link).
But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage? You observe days and months and seasons and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.
Galatians 4:9-11 NKJV
Re: "lasting ordinance for the generations to come". This phraseology occurs throughout the Law applied to many things. So one could read this as "you need to keep the Law forever", but that would be incorrect as we know:
It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV
It was a "lasting ordinance for generations to come" and those generations have come and gone. This was a command to the Israelites, not to the gentiles of that time who were believers and certainly not to gentiles in the Church Age. There will be a re-institution of many aspects of the Law in Messiah's millennial kingdom, but not everything therein and with different meanings and applications than was the case before the cross.

Having questions and asking questions is not a bad thing. Once one has gotten and understood the answers, it's good to stand fast on truth one understands so as not to be continually "tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching" (Eph.4:14 NIV).

Keeping you in my daily prayers, my friend.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #16:
Hello Bob,

Here you go:

https://www.ntbcsafford.org/isn-t-the-pre-trib-rapture-position-relatively-recent-in-the-history-of-church-theology

The 2nd coming is timed at exactly 7 years after the Daniel 9 covenant with the Antichrist.

So it's impossible for that to be the Rapture otherwise it can be closely calculated and therefore known.

It has to be a day that no man knows or can ever know. We also don't know when the Tribulation starts but it will start with the 7-year covenent. They will say peace and safety, then sudden destruction will come upon them. Unbelievers will be saying that and the Tribulation was made specifically and only for them.

Remember Noah's Ark. Noah and his family are the same as believers right now. The flood (coming Tribulation) wasn't for believers to suffer through. Persecution is different and its purpose is different. Only Christians suffer in persecution. Tribulation is specified for unbelievers. That has not been since the Flood.

(However, there will be many Tribulation saints who come to faith AFTER the Rapture.)

We will receive glorified bodies at the Rapture. In a moment, we will be changed.

Hope it happens soon and you will be there.

You believed correctly at one time about this issue. You are correct about many things.

God bless you brother.

Hello Bob,

The only place I see that we differ is eschatology.

I am a convinced pre-trib rapture, pre-millenialist believer who has found no reason yet to abandon these.

They serve to encourage my faith greatly.

These things I would maintain were taught in the early church but abandoned when Catholicism took over the Church. Darby did not invent this idea nor the elements behind dispensationalism. He reclaimed them.

Calvinism rejects them as does the Catholic Church. Both have it wrong. In some respects the Reformation was an overcorrection of heresy in the Catholic Church, but neither one restore early church eschatology.

I believe that amillenialism and post-millenialism (and preterism even worse) are the actual heresy.

They are all far more dangerous to faith and encourage complacency by essentially spiritualizing the 2nd coming and all of Revelation (which I believe is a lot more literal than they teach).

The Rapure is a separate event from the 2nd coming because of how it is described in Scripture (caught up to meet the Lord in the air where we shall at that point and ever after be with Him vs. the Lord coming to the Earth on the Mt of Olives) and because no man can know the day or hour of this event (Rapture being imminent vs. the 2nd coming being a known event coming at the end of Daniel's 70th week with a precise number of days).

The Rapture therefore cannot be calculated. The 2nd coming is a date that can be calculated very closely.

The Bible clearly supports the Rapture and 2nd coming as separate events that physically look very different.

It makes no sense that we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air and 5 minutes later come back to Earth.

Also...the Bible says we are not appointed to wrath and it suggests that the Rapture is a type of Noah's Ark and works exactly the same way for the same purpose.

The exclusive purpose of the Tribulation (which is so many times worse than anything that ever happened in history) is to punish an unbelieving world. Believers were clearly not meant for that extreme wrath.

My confidence in this is solid. The Bible clearly supports it and I cannot fail to believe it.

Hello Bob,

The Bible defends your doctrines very well. I always say, if there's an apparent contradiction, it's because of a incorrect interpretation.

There is nothing to fear about losing salvation as long as we persevere to feed it and keep it alive.

It's not about mistakes that we make. It's about not giving up.

What we see nowadays is so much related to Calvinism. Whether it's one point or five points.

Calvinism is just repackaged Augustinianism. A Manachean gnostic heresy.

God bless you brother.
Response #16:
Your defense is an impassioned one. I have noted zeal in many rapture-proponents on this issue before (Rom.10:2). It's a case of "protesting too much" caused, if my own history is any example, of knowing that the position was very weak but feeling better about it if others could be convinced. For I too once held to this false doctrine – before I got serious about reading the Bible for myself.

I notice that you don't quote a single verse of scripture. That is understandable, since not a single verse of scripture teaches a pre-Tribulation resurrection. All references to the resurrection in scripture are always linked to Christ's return – because that is when the resurrection takes place. Let's see what our Lord says about all this before we worry about exegeting the church fathers (a more pointless exercise I can't imagine):
"Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other."
Matthew 24:29-31 NKJV
If you will compare this to the supernatural darkness prophesied elsewhere in scripture (Is.13:9-13; 34:4; 60:1-3; Ezek.32:7-10; Joel 2:2, 2:10, 2:31; 3:15; Zeph.1:15-18; Zech.14:6-8; Matt.24:29; Mk.13:24-25; Acts 2:17-21; Rev.6:12-13) and to the description of the resurrection in 1st Thessalonians 4 and elsewhere where angelic trumpets herald the resurrection (1Thes.4:16; cf. 1Cor.15:52) – and all of the other details here as well, you will see that the biblical descriptions of the resurrection are all consistent . . . and that they all are tied to the second advent.

That is the short-hand view. Here are some links if you'd like to investigate further – but Matthew 24 is sufficient unto itself.
Eschatology Issues CXXXII
The 'Rapture' and other Eschatological Issues
Eschatology Issues XXIV: the 'Rapture' et al.
The pre-Trib 'Rapture': so called 'imminence' and other false proofs refuted
Dangers of the Pre-Trib Rapture False Teaching
When is the Rapture?
Parousia
The Origin and the Danger of the Pre-Tribulational Rapture Theory
No Rapture
Three False Doctrines that Threaten Faith
Misplaced Faith in the Pre-Tribulation Rapture
The Resurrection of the Lamb's Bride (in CT 5)
Reasons to reject the pre-Tribulation "rapture" fallacy 
In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #17:
Hey Dr. Luginbill (sorry for the late response), 

To give you an update, I bid on the job and got it! The new schedule begins on Tuesday. Thank you for your prayers! 

A quick question regarding James 5:3. Is the sentence "You have hoarded up treasure in the last days" an accurate translation of that part of the verse? 

Random thought to share with you. Postmillennialism and Amillennialism are far more dangerous than I used to believe (I'm writing a topical on them right now). Do you think they would be up there with some of the most dangerous false doctrines that threaten faith, or close to them? I'm astounded how people get this nonsense out of Scripture! 

You will continue to have my prayers. 

In Christ, 
Response #17:
That's terrific! Congratulations! I hope now with a more reasonable schedule you'll be able to proceed more effectively with all of your other plans for ministry prep.

Here's my translation of James 5:3:
Your gold and your silver has rusted away, and its residue will give testimony against you and will eat your flesh like fire. [This is what] you have treasured up for yourselves in the last days.
James 5:3 
The verse is addressed to rich believers and perhaps some who were or were on the verge of becoming believers in name only by allowing that concern for worldly things to separate them from their faith (cf. 1Tim.6:3-10).

On your other question, yes indeed: failing to understand that the Tribulation might begin imminently is indeed a great potential problem because it removes the necessity (in a person's false thinking) for preparing spiritually to face that terrible time. It's a "feel good" false doctrine that is no doubt responsible for much of the lackadaisical attitude in Laodicea. That is why I first treated it in the Peter series under the title "Three False Doctrines that Threaten Faith" (i.e., Peter #27 at the link).

Re: "I'm astounded how people get this nonsense out of Scripture!" Answer: they don't. I had a fellow write me recently about another topic. He liked my answer and said that eschatology was the only place we disagreed, affirming the pre-trib position. I gave him a short correction, quoting Matthew 24:29-31 which is unassailable, and ever since he's been bombarding me with emails supposedly supporting his position (no scriptures). Honestly, die-hards on this doctrine are akin to RC's who support their church regardless of anything scriptural.

Thanks for your prayers, my friend – keeping you in mine daily as well.

In Jesus,

Bob L.
Question #18:
Thanks for the kind words and the quick reply! I had the time, so I figured I would shoot you a quick response as well. 

On James, what is the "This" you have in brackets? I'm assuming it's the wealth the rich have hoarded up? I interpret this part of the verse to refer to the worldly treasures they have stored up for themselves. 

On postmillennialism, I get that it's similar to pre-trib, but wouldn't you still consider them two distinct types of false teaching? Or are they so similar to each other that you didn't bother to even mention and distinguish them in Peter #27 (you only mention the pre-trib rapture, unless I misremembered)? Does the email posting below summarize your view on this? 

"As to (?) your (?) synopsis of the three views, it is fine as far as it goes (see also the links: "Calvinism, Catholicism and Ichthys", "Amillennialism" and "Interpreting Revelation"). You should also be aware, however, that within Pre-millennialism (the biblical view) there is also an important distinction to be drawn between those who – without any biblical foundation – believe in a resurrection occurring before Christ's return (usually called "the rapture"; see the link); whereas in scripture His parousia, "coming/arrival/return" only happens once: the second advent. That is when the Church is resurrected.

This is a key point because most evangelicals have the wrong view on this, which for practical purposes makes their approach to eschatology little different in effect from the amill/postmill schools (these two seem pretty much the same to me), since what all have in common is the underlying premise stated or not that "it doesn't much matter": they don't believe they'll have to endure the Tribulation so any studying of eschatology by those with this false view is never serious because they don't think it could have any bearing on their actual future lives – but it most certainly will matter, and very soon at that."

https://ichthys.com/mail-cults-and-christianity9.htm 

Finally (been meaning to run this by you for a while), all the writers of Scripture were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Excluding quotes (when it's obvious the writer is quoting from another book/writer), how often did the writers of Scripture really borrow from others when writing their own books? You hear scholars mention this quite frequently, but I feel as if they take it too far by claiming far more borrowing than actually occurred. If the Holy Spirit was the force, why do so many claim that some relied on others as a primary source? Is there any truth to this at all? Could it not be that the Spirit simply led whichever author to write the same things as another? 

In Christ, 
Response #18:
"This" is indeed what has just been said: the loss of reward (in the case of rich believers) or self-condemning testimony (in the case of rich unbelievers or those headed that way).

Yes they are different, but they have the same key problem in common: if you buy into either, then you don't have to worry about the Tribulation – or prepare for it. In the one case, the Lord rescues you before it happens; in the other, He returns and fixes everything (without a Tribulation or anything else eschatological – since it's all an allegory or something). Either way, the Tribulation WILL happen, and both groups who have used these false teachings as an excuse to be spiritually lazy will be in trouble, entering those seven years unprepared spiritually.

Re: "they take it too far". Your understanding of this issue is correct. Even very many, probably the majority, of evangelical and/or conservative scholars are wishy-washy on the issue divine inspiration of scripture and this is one manifestation of that. 

If you want my take on that you'll have to read BB 7: Bibliology (at the link). I have always found this lack of faith both surprising and maddening. Especially in the case of those who have some authority and who are publishing Christian reference works on a scholarly plain, to invite doubt about perhaps one of the most important issues in spiritual growth is to me unconscionable. Of course if that is how they really feel or see it, I guess that is what they have to say. But that for me just demonstrates their lack of spiritual maturity – even if intellectually they are giants. The Spirit is God. Is there anything He cannot do? The only question is do we or don't we believe that. The Spirit knows everything and whether He used the text an inspired writer was reading or his memory of it or gave him that verse miraculously, it's all one and the same as far as I'm concerned. In the book of James, we have a quote from Enoch which could only have come directly from the Spirit. But how many "scholars" accept that? Better to be a poor working schlub who has great faith than a widely respected scholar who has very little. The former will be much more highly rewarded than the latter on that great day to come.
"Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."
Luke 13:30 NIV
In Jesus,

Bob L.
http://ichthys.com/