Ask Me Anything About Christianity

[Starise]

On 10/8/2022 at 12:12 AM, Sower said:

Was looking for a surer understanding of why the least in the kingdom of God is greater than John the Baptist, of whom born of a women there was none greater? What sets us apart? Scriptural evidence, like above, the spirit within us and not upon us, as in the OT. No riddle, just a question.

Good afternoon @Sower

I intended no offense if any was taken on this with my replies. 

In honing down these ideas on the kingdom using only biblical perspectives with respect to who is greatest and least, and looking now at your direct questions, I better understand what you were getting at.

It looks evident to me Jesus words on His kingdom are 'upside down' compared to how the world views things. Indeed it is taken a few steps further with that statement about John the Baptist.

The worlds wisdom is called demonic-

James 3:15

…14But if you harbor bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast in it or deny the truth. 15Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice.…

The disciples argued about who would be the greatest under Jesus. As a side note, those who claim to worship the devil are all about doing whatever is necessary to get what they want.

Then there are those who are out for themselves. People who claim no association to Satan. Often they claim to believe in no God. This leaves only themselves. THEY are their god and whether they realize it or not, they are following a demonic agenda.

From the ideas given on the kingdom in the bible we know the kingdom version of greatness has nothing to do with status or ambition to be great.

 

Qualifying points for me:

- There was none greater than John the Baptist, speaking of men

-John the Baptist is viewed as the least in the kingdom of heaven

-Jesus's version of the kingdom is upside down compared to the world's version

Looking at the text again brings out a few more important things for me.

“For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (Luke 7:26–28.)

If I could put this into more modern comments without coloring outside of the lines, I would say we are firstly talking about John among prophets, not John among all men.

John had a very highly esteemed position AMONG prophets, because he introduced Jesus directly. No other prophet did that first. In the same way Mary was esteemed among women, John is esteemed among prophets.

Many other men in the bible are mentioned as 'good' men and 'great men' usually as a result of being called of God and/or being close to God. In terms of men being what we all are though, he was still man, and I am sure he was a sinner only cleansed by the blood of Jesus. He did have the benefit of being filled with the Holy Ghost in his mother's womb. Not a common thing for sure as he was especially equipped for his tasks from birth.

I see this text as putting all men squarely on the same footing in the kingdom. If any of us has a ticket to get there, none of us bought it. In that sense there really is no greatest or least.

If I had to pick a greatest, it would be Jesus. He is greatest by a very very long shot. No other comparison . And it really is riddle like to me because the answer is upside down in the extreme.

Who stooped lower than any other heavenly being, as God Almighty to save sinners? Jesus.

He was least and is now become greatest.  No one stooped lower and no one is higher.

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by Starise

[Dan Knight]

33 minutes ago, TheBlade said:

OT Passover NT Passover.. the way you said I never heard that either. As for Christs name.. it was a common name..lol not Jesus Yeshua. 

Except the subject is not about anything common..lol..

The same God that was on the cross was He who said, Gen 1:1-27 "Let there be..." is The same God who said , Matt 27:46, "..Father why have you forsaken me.."

The same God who said, jn 19:28-30- "..it is finished...and He gave up the spirit.."

The same God who rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. 

In His own words,

^{Rev 1:18} I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

[Your closest friendnt]

2 hours ago, Dan Knight said:

Except the subject is not about anything common..lol..

The same God that was on the cross was He who said, Gen 1:1-27 "Let there be..." is The same God who said , Matt 27:46, "..Father why have you forsaken me.."

The same God who said, jn 19:28-30- "..it is finished...and He gave up the spirit.."

The same God who rose from the dead and ascended to heaven. 

In His own words,

^{Rev 1:18} I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

 ^{Revelation 1:5} . And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

I your post above you tent to agree with my earlier post...

That Jesus was born in Bethlehem formed from the womb...and when he was five years old he looked differen when was twenty or thirty years old... and he must have had the marks of the nails in his hands..

He must be identify. 

An Angel cannot be destroyed by fire but Jesus  can be burned by the fire.

Edited October 10, 2022 by Your closest friendnt

[Starise]

On 10/8/2022 at 10:17 AM, Dave-regenerated said:

I have a question.  My eschatology isn't very good.  But something struck me when I thought about it.  It seems to me that the linear sequence of events (yes I know people have different views on this) is Jesus comes back and the rapture happens but somehow everybody is resurrected and lives on the earth for a 1000 years, however, in Isaiah it says people will live longer lives, up to 300 years.  So presumably, during this millenium period, people will die a SECOND DEATH.  Yet, Revelation says the second death is the lake of fire.

 

Help?

 

I'll tell you what I know and believe to be true about the millennium. Once it begins It is always a kingdom in God's possession as God takes over the earth at that time. There will be one last resistance after Satan ,who has been confined, will once again be allowed to roam and tempt men to sin. Even so, God's kingdom on this earth is perpetually solidified forever.

After the 7th trumpet God is coming down to the earth to judge evil men, and taking possession of the earth with His kingdom-

"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Messiah, and He will reign forever and ever. "

Many reformed theologians believe we are already in the millenniuum. I can't personally see the connections and correlations necessary to solidly make that argument, aside from the obvious state of the world right now which is one of the biggest arguments against it. For me the bible has to line up with the idea. Others feel the 1000 years is not a literal number and they use other examples where numbers are 'rounded off' or approximated.

 I believe we CAN know what the bible says about it, at least to a low level of understanding on a possibly vague subject. Are some aspects of the millennium vague? I would say yes they can be, and this is why we try to offer explanations that seem to fit.

I see it as a time of relative bliss in comparison to our present world as Isaiah points out. What we don't have there so far as I can remember, are texts in Isaiah that say things like, " When the millennium begins" or " During the millennium" or " at the beginning of the 1000 years", so we have theologians making these ties to those texts based on situations that sure look like the millennium. I mean, what else could it be? We don't have those long life spans now.

From what I can tell there will be other groups of people there besides us in our new bodies, living an improved quality of life similar to pre flood conditions.

Reasons given often are:

- There were men left alive after the terrible judgments of the 7 bowls. Not everyone went to war against the Lord, so not everyone was destroyed.

-People had children who didn't know the Lord. These children need to come to know Him.

I do not believe that, in light of the scripture, existing believers will die again. It seems there will be others still fully mortal here. In going back to God's original blueprint for men and women. They were told to be fruitful and multiply.  It doesn't take a mathematician to realize that if men and women never died, had children indefinitely and those children had children we would have an over population problem unless God has other real estate for us to inhabit. Same with plants and animals. I just believe the process would have been much different without sin.

If we could find another application or understanding for those texts in Isaiah without attempting to shoe horn something, can't be a square peg in a round hole sort of thing or if those texts really didn't apply, this might make an explanation easier to grasp. So far I am not aware of any. 

The bible does tell us there will not be any marrying or giving in marriage in heaven, so the Isaiah text clearly isn't talking about our state in heaven in my opinion.

 

 

 

Edited October 9, 2022 by Starise

[JohnR7]

9 hours ago, Dan Knight said:

? Elaborate please. I assume "we" are Christian Folk.  How do we restrain?

The scripture I am talking about is 2 Thessalonians 2:7 "For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way."

This is a scripture they use for a pre trib rapture. The Church has to be removed in order for the tribulation to begin. 

[JohnR7]

2 hours ago, Starise said:

Many reformed theologians believe we are already in the millenniuum.

We still have a few more years of the church age. Most people believe there will be a 7; year tribulation period between the church age and the kingdom age. Not everyone goes along with that. It is based on an understanding of the book of Daniel. 

[Space_Karen]

Question

After Jesus is crucified. His followers draw lots to see who will inherit his clothing.

This scene is not portrayed in The Passion of Christ, King of Kings or any Christ motion picture that I know of.

Should the scene be included in future films depicting Christ's journey?

I think it has a place that makes it worth showing.

[Your closest friendnt]

***Revelation 6:12 

New International Version
12. I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,

***Acts 2:19 I will show wonders in the heavens above
    and signs on the earth below,
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.

Do not Peter described what it is described in revelation 6:12..what does that mean?

[Space_Karen]

2 minutes ago, Your closest friendnt said:

***Revelation 6:12 

New International Version
12. I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red,

Do not Peter described what it is described in revelation 6:12..what does that mean?

 

Great earthquake could mean a big natural disaster or perhaps even nuclear war.

Raising large quantities of dust or vog in the atmosphere.

Producing a black sun / red moon effect.

[Your closest friendnt]

13 minutes ago, Space_Karen said:

 

Great earthquake could mean a big natural disaster or perhaps even nuclear war.

Raising large quantities of dust or vog in the atmosphere.

Producing a black sun / red moon effect.

Thank you for responding.

Everything that happened to Jesus it was the fulfillment of prophecy, and I will find out the scripture and post it for you.. do you know how to Google? Sorry about this silly question... 

Mathew 27: 35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.

*From the above text the soldiers were the ones who decided his clothes by lot...

Edited October 10, 2022 by Your closest friendnt