wingnut-

I'll try to explain this in my own words, I hope you find this more helpful. When God has presented Himself to anyone throughout the bible, it was Jesus they were seeing, not the Father. When someone heard God, it was either Jesus or the Spirit of God they were hearing, not God the Father. In the case of John or Stephen, they were both in the Spirit, not in the flesh, so it was more like a vision or a dream. Have you ever had a dream, where someone else is part of your dream, but you can't see their face, yet somehow know that you know this individual? Sometimes you may not ever know who it was, but you know it was someone that you know. That is how I see those occasions. It's also important to note that in the Acts passage it does not say Stephen saw God, it says he saw the glory of God. I can't say what that means precisely, but I liken it to maybe a brightness that drowns out the shape of what is behind it. God bless

To clarify something that I haven't seen mentioned, at least not in the latest discussion, but matters to this discussion. The 12 tribes mentioned in Revelation are not the same 12 tribes as the original 12 tribes of Israel, 2 are different. I would recommend a comparison. God bless

I appreciate the offer, but I don't struggle with this myself. I see that the passage separates three distinct entities in heaven, three that are one, and three that agree as one. God bless

I hope this helps a bit for you behold, this scripture is the best summary. I John 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

I John 5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. God bless

Yes, not possible because of the plastic buckle. And yes, I praise the Lord for medical advances, so glad you were able to get yours fixed as well. God is good.

I can tell you if you have a good hand or not, that's about the extent of my knowledge on it.

Keep in mind there are often two-fold meanings incorporated in symbolism. Also important to remember that the fourth rider is named, Death. So this isn't really open for speculation in my mind. Two of the four are clearly identified, satan seems a fairly straight up one to me for the second rider, and the third rider is not necessarily Adam, it could be simply the original sin. Also note that with the fourth rider it is a plural usage in what follows.... they were given power over a fourth of the earth, not he was given. Statistically speaking over the course of time, 25% would be about right for the number who have died by disease, another's hand, or by animals. Most people die of natural causes. Just something to consider. God bless

With the third rider we see the concept of wages for work enter. This began at the beginning also, when Adam was told that for eating from the tree he would have to toil the ground from then on. With the fourth rider we see death, and Hades following close behind. When Cain kills Abel we have the first official murder and the first death spoken of in scripture. Abel had to go somewhere after he was killed. Hades aka sheol, aka Abraham's bosom. Of course I would expect you want to think this over, everyone should, as my words aren't intended to convince anyone of anything. I'm a big fan of people working things out for themselves, so enjoy. God bless

I guess that means you don't want to hear my thoughts on the 3rd and 4th riders yet lol

Lol I just follow the bread crumbs, every word in scripture is there for a reason, which is why the written Word being preserved was something God was adamant about and people today should not doubt His ability to preserve it. It was constructed precisely as He intended it to be. What amazes me most about eschatology is that you can find how everything ties together. I mean, who would have thought that Leviticus or Job or so many others would have anything in them in regards to end times prophecy, yet they do. God bless

No, Jesus is the rider on the white horse, John makes that clear later in Revelation, so really no speculation on this one in my mind. satan is the rider of the red horse, to take peace from earth and make men slay each other. The first murder happened way back at the beginning. Jesus came first, satan second.

I hear you brother, but I think you are correct for many reasons, most important one being the rider on the red horse. Revelation 6:3 When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature saying, “Come and see.” 4 Another horse, fiery red, went out. And it was granted to the one who sat on it to take peace from the earth, and that people should kill one another; and there was given to him a great sword. Now when was the first murder committed? Not too hard to identify this fella. God bless

Hey brother, Not sure if you recall my position on this so I'll keep it short and simple. The first four seals have already been opened, evidence can be seen in the daily news.

I had the same thing back in the late 80's, result of a football injury. Back then laser surgery wasn't available, so I have a plastic buckle that holds mine in place, slightly changing the shape of my left eye. It appears a bit smaller and slantier than my right eye because of this but I can live with that, at least I can see lol.

The bible is one book, yes. But the Jews don't read the bible, they have a different book. If the time of the gentiles is over, then please explain all the judgement regarding all of the nations in regards to this time period. More importantly, explain this passage from Revelation. Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is he who watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame.” 16 And they gathered them together to the place called in Hebrew, Armageddon. That's when He comes as a thief, at the end. God bless

The Lord's discourse for Israel regarding the end times can be found in the OT prophets, that's what they study, not the NT. The NT is for the church, both of the books you are speaking about are gospels, an astonishing dismissal. God bless

Hey matrix, Yes that was my dog, he passed away several years ago now, great friend.

Romans 4:5 But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, 6 just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works: 7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.” Galatians 2:15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. 17 “But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not! 18 For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” Philippians 3:7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. God bless

Thanks my friend, just the tip of the iceberg really. I was once a pre-tribber until I started to see all the hoops one has to jump through, there is a much easier explanation, it isn't pleasant, but it doesn't require manipulation either. The best way to approach eschatology is to start with what is known, and then put the pieces of the puzzle together from there. Like the thief piece, it is where it is in scripture multiple times, so not hard to see really when one looks. God bless

No problem, I have been away for awhile so I can understand how you would forget lol.

Hey, I'm a brother! Thanks, but all glory belongs to the Lord. God bless brother

The Israelites rejected this book, the church rejected this book. It is not verifiable and does not meet the criteria to be considered authentic or having been written by Enoch. Not that hard to understand why no one here considers anything you post from it as holding any weight at all.

The mark of the beast is a physical mark, specifically mentioned as being placed on the forehead or the hand. More than likely will come from the RFID type technology mingled with nanotechnology. While the market is certainly a great risk, and a global money system, it does not meet all the criteria as we still have various types of currency in existence. Yes there is always risk in investment, so when choosing I suggest you research whom you would invest your money with. Some are obviously flawed as can be seen by their involvement in the 2008 collapse. My personal recommendation would be Edward Jones, as their investors as a whole did not lose their shirts in the 2008 mess. Also important to remember there are different strategies, you can choose a conservative strategy, safer investments with smaller returns, or you can take greater risks for greater returns, or total loss. The fact of the matter is we know as Christians that eventually the system will collapse, this is how the anti-christ will establish one world currency, and one world government as well. Absent proof that the end is coming soon, by not investing you are also taking a great risk for your future and your family's future. If the end does not come for another 1000 years, then by not investing you are just sitting on your money and it gives you no value. If the end does come, what difference does it make if you have money or not? God bless

I would say their intention is not good, but all things work to serve His perfect will.