Deborah_

Not really. We already know what amino acids each group of three nucleotides codes for. We already know the amino acid sequences for thousands of proteins. So it's not difficult to recognise chimp haemoglobin or earthworm digestive enzymes or whatever.

But then 144,000 is a symbolic number - it means all of us, the exact total is immaterial.

The Chinese scholar analogy is inappropriate. The genome isn't random letters, and many genes are fully sequenced and well studied. Take haemoglobin, for example - a fundamental protein found in all vertebrates with only minor differences between one species and another. Multiply that several thousand times for all the other proteins that govern basic life processes common to all species, (such as digestion, regulation of blood sugar level, oxygen transport, kidney function, etc, etc) It's not surprising that we have a lot of DNA in common with other apes - in fact, it's to be expected, given that our physical bodies work in pretty much the same way. But it's wrong to say that we're "98% chimp" - more accurate to say that both humans and chimps are 100% mammals, but we didn't need genetics to tell us that! NB A difference doesn't have to be large in order to be significant.

Context helps. In the previous verses (verse 11,12), Jesus tells Nicodemus that we can only testify to something of which we have first-hand experience. Most of us can only speak with authority of earthly things, but Jesus can also speak with authority of heavenly things. Elijah (and Enoch also) were taken into heaven at the end of their lives, but Jesus is in a totally different category because He came from heaven.

No, and it may be that because Israel has returned without repenting, the times of thee Gentiles are being extended. God is very patient...

That's what it says

The passage in Jeremiah that I quoted (Jeremiah 18:1-10)

In my experience, most modern translations put John 5:4 in a footnote.

Jacob, David etc are not included in that group because they were saved by faith.

Even though God tells Jeremiah that in certain circumstances it may not in fact happen after all?

1) God "permitted" a lot of things (e.g. divorce) because of "the hardness of our hearts" 2) All our revered Biblical characters were sinners, and sometimes their sins are spelled out in great detail without comment. We're called to copy their faith, but not necessarily their behaviour. When Jesus was asked a question on the general area of marriage, He answered by pointing to the relationship between Adam and Eve. This was God's original plan: one man plus one woman. This is what Christians aim for (whatever the rest of the world may be doing).

There's no reason why there shouldn't be both a physical return (which has of course already happened) and a spiritual one. The physical return hasn't in fact put an end to 'the times of the Gentiles', because the Gospel is still being preached to them. But it can still be an essential step in the process of restoration, and a signal that the times of the Gentiles are nearing their end. There may be a parallel here with the return of the exiles from Babylon in the 6th century BC. There were many prophecies linking this return with an outpouring of God's blessing - but it never happened at the time, and there was 500 years of waiting before Jesus' birth. Prophecy seems to be flexible in its fulfilment (see Jeremiah 18:1-10).

I think this is the main difference: You believe that Israel's return is a physical one, in 1967. I believe that it's a spiritual return which is yet to happen (Romans 11:25,26).

That's because there are two sides to the argument. As in many life situations, there are conflicting principles in operation and no straightforward answer as to what 'should' be done. On the one hand, Vashti is supposed to obey her husband (who is, after all, the emperor) in all matters. Her disobedience made the most powerful man on earth look weak. On the other hand, women and men were strictly segregated in ancient Persian culture. For Vashti to be paraded in all-male company (as if she was just one more item in the emperor's treasury) would have violated a deep-seated taboo and shamed her for the rest of her life. If there's a moral lesson to be learned here, it's this: DON'T ever put your partner in such a difficult and embarrassing position by making unreasonable demands of them.

Revelation 22:6-21 We have now arrived at New Jerusalem, where “we will all live happily ever after.” There’s nothing more to add; we now know all that we need to know to sustain us on our journey. Some prophetic revelations were not for immediate consumption, but were recorded for future generations for whom they would be relevant (see Daniel 12:4). But Revelation doesn’t fall into that category (verse 10); it is for us and for now, because the last days have arrived! Even now, we are by our choices and our actions determining our final destiny. But once we arrive at the gates of New Jerusalem, our choice becomes final. From that point, we will continue along the trajectory we have established - either to eternal glory inside the city, or to eternal shame outside it. So shall we be dreading Christ’s return, or looking forward to it? Jesus is the Judge to whom all will have to give account - the Creator of space and time, the Eternal One (Isaiah 48:12). At His command all things began, and by His command all things will be wound up and brought to their conclusion. But the overall message of Revelation is one of hope. The whole human race was barred from Paradise because of Adam’s rebellion (Genesis 3:24). But now the way has been re-opened! The only difference between the sinners who are ‘inside’ and the sinners who are ‘outside’ is that the former have been forgiven, and are accounted righteous through Christ’s death. Those who have spurned this offer and are determined to cling to their sinful ways will be excluded forever. Cut off from God’s presence and from the tree of life, they will die (though, like Adam, not necessarily immediately). The choice is ours! The invitation to join in is issued, through the Church, to the whole world. Anyone and everyone can come and share these blessings! No-one will be forced to come against their will; and no-one will be turned away. The only entry requirement is desire; the only disqualification is pride. Eternal life can be ours - if we want it. Revelation ends with a solemn warning for anyone who dares tamper with its message. This applies only to the book of Revelation; but it’s probably no accident that it also comes at the end of the whole Bible. God has nothing more to say; and so the canon of Scripture is closed. All we have to do now is wait for Jesus to return - which could be at any time. So let us, by God’s grace, repent now; tomorrow may be too late.