Women Ministers:

Mar. 2006 Dear Sir, I've read the section on your web site about women ministers and your proof of why women can't be ministers but forgive me because I'm still confused. If it says in 1 Cor and 1Tim that women should not be ministers what about the female prophets ( doesn't a prophet and a minister basically do the same thing) and what about Phoebe in Romans 16:1. It clearly says I commend to you Phoebe who is also a minister of the church at Cenchreae or in the King James version it uses the word servant instead of minister. If woman should not minister why is Paul commending someone for disobeying God. Also I thought we were all supposed to minister in God's name. Please help me out on this one because I can't seem to understand weather Paul is right or wrong or if this is a part of the new covenant between the gentiles. Thanks for your time and help Tracy Dear Tracy; Thank you for viewing the web site and thank you for your questions. Your first question seems to be whether or not ministers and prophets are the same thing. First you should understand that in the Bible, the word minister doesn’t allows mean the pastor of a church as we would think of today. The Bible calls all believers to be ministers. We are all to be like Jesus, (Phil 2:5) and Jesus came to minister: Mat 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, So, mostly, the term minister means to be a servant to someone. We are to serve one another whether we are male or female. Gal 5:13-14 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if you are going to use the term of minister to mean someone who holds a position of authority in the church. Then we are talking about something entirely different altogether. In Exodus, God called Arron to be a minister in the tabernacle. Exo 28:1 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, … We need to be clear on how we are using the term “minister.” Either way is Biblically correct but it can lead to confusion when you are unsure which meaning is being applied. For the purpose of clarity, I will use the term “pastor” to mean someone that holds the office of leader of the church. That brings us to your question as to whether a pastor (or minister) is the same as a prophet. I believe that the answer to that is NO, they are not the same. The reason is that pastors are to be servants in the church. Leading the congregation in study of the Word and carefully guiding them and caring for their spiritual needs. Prophets were messengers of God who delivered God’s Word to the children of Israel. They in turn recorded it and delivered it (through time) to us. The Bible makes a clear distinction between the two: Eph 4:7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ Eph 4:11-12 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ 2 Cor 2:27-31 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. [Are] all apostles? [are] all prophets? [are] all teachers? [are] all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak with tongues? do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Pastors, prophets, evangelists, and apostles are all distinct offices in the body of Christ and are not the same. Your next question was concerning Phoebe in Romans 16:1. Let’s have a look at the verse: Rom 16:1-2 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also. Paul is talking to the Romans and telling them to assist Phebe in any way possible. He’s also telling them to greet other believers (male and female). He’s generally sending his regards. Now, if you notice, Paul does NOT say that Phebe was a leader of a church. He does not say that she had authority over men or was teaching men (these are the restrictions that Paul gave in 1 Timothy 2:12). Rather he says that Phebe was a servant to the church and that she had given help to him and many in the church (succourer). I think it would be wrong to assume that she was a leader of the church. The text simply does not say that. It’s not really a matter of whether Paul is right or wrong, it’s a matter of reading the text and accepting what it says. Sometimes, I think we have preconceived notions about what it ought to say and we can’t get past that. I know I pray about that very issue, that God will show me what His Word says, and that He would remove any preconceptions I may have. I’m not saying that I’m right and everyone else is wrong. I’m just trying to read the Bible and accept what God is saying. Sometimes, I don’t like the outcome right away. But God’s way is always the right way. And as hard as it is for me to accept that God’s plan didn’t include having women as pastors of the church, I’m willing to submit to His Word because I believe that He knows the best way. I hope that helps to answer your questions.

  These Two Shall Become One:

Mar. 2006 I have a step-son who is trying to make his alcoholic mother and sister realize that he is married and has his own family and he and his wife and children are one. I know Genesis 2-24, but is there another verse? Thank You Concerned Step Mother Thanks for your question. There are other verses in the Bible that say the same thing but they are quotes of the original verse in Gen. 2:24. I’ll go ahead and list them all for you: Gen 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh Mat 19:5-6 And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. Mark 10:8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. Eph 5:31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. I hope that answers your question

  Moon:

Mar. 2006 What does the Bible say about man landing on the moon? Isn't it true that man is to rule over the earth and all living things of it, not the moon? Hello; Thanks for your question. It’s very interesting and I don’t think anyone has ever asked that yet. The Bible doesn’t say anything about man landing on the moon. If it does, I’ve never noticed the verse. Your second question; “Isn't it true that man is to rule over the earth and all living things of it, not the moon?” The answer is “NO” the Bible doesn’t say that man is to rule over the earth but not the moon. In fact, it says that man has dominion over all of creation. Psa 8:4-6 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: Heb 2:5-8 For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him…. I hope that answers your question. I’m sorry it has taken me so long to respond. Have a great day,

  End Times:

Feb. 2006 Hello, first of all I would like to thank you for answering many of my questions. Your web site has really been a blessing to me. Here is my question. . . when ever I here people talk about the end times I get really confused. Could you give me a break down in chronological order of what is going to happen in the end you know. . the rapture, 7 year tribulation things like that. Thank you so much. Hi; Thanks for your question. It’s sort of a tough one because there is a lot of confusion on this topic and there are many fine Christians that will strongly disagree on this issue. But since you asked me, I'll give you the conclusions I've drawn from my study of the Bible (with the understanding that there are others that will disagree with me). Also, sort of as a side note, I’d like to point out that the Jews in the time of Jesus had all the prophesies concerning Jesus’ first coming and still they somehow missed it. They were expecting a king that would deliver them from the hardships of their time and they missed all the prophesies concerning a Messiah that would be a servant and would suffer and die for them. So, I think that it’s probably safe to say that while we think that we can say with certainty that the end time events will happen in A, B, C order, it’s probably likely that we’ve missed something important and the events will happen in A, B, F, Q order…..hope you get the point I’m trying to make. Having said all that, I’ll now try to answer your question. There are several sections on this web site that deal with the End Times: ...the End Times ...Signs of ...Rapture ...Tribulation ...Second Coming ...Judgment ...Kingdom If you click on these pages, you will find many of verses dealing with this topic. However, I'll give you a quick outline of events: The Rapture This is not the Second Coming of Christ. The rapture refers to an event where Jesus will bodily remove believers from earth.   The Tribulation This is a seven year period of time where God is pouring out his wrath upon the earth   The Second Coming At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will return to earth and defeat the Anti-Christ and all those that follow him   The Millennium After Jesus returns to earth, He will reign on earth for a thousand years (with all believers).   The Rebellion At the end of 1,000 years, Satan will rise up (with human followers) and rebel against the Lord once again. Jesus will put down this rebellion and Satan will be forever cast into the lake of fire.   The Judgment Everyone that has ever lived will stand before Jesus and be judged. Those that have received forgiveness of their sins through the Blood of Jesus, will spend eternity with the Lord. Those that have rejected the free gift of forgiveness, will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan. That is the basic chain of events. Now, for the scriptures to back up my statements. Please keep in mind that this if a VERY brief discussion on a very deep topic. There have been hundreds of books written on this topic, but I just don't have the time or the web space to go into great detail. I hope though, these scriptures will lead you to further reading. The Rapture: At some point in time, Jesus will call all believers out of the earth, and resurrect the bodies of believers that have died. Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fullness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 1 Cor 15:51-52 Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. This is not the Second Coming because Jesus never returns to earth, believers are taken up to be with him. There is disagreement as to when this event will take place, some believe it happens at the end of the tribulation, other's believe that it happens in the middle of the tribulation, but the majority of people believe it happens prior to the tribulation. I fall in this last group. The reason I believe that the rapture will occur prior to the tribulation, is that there are many verses of scripture that talk of God saving those that belong to Him from God's wrath. Zep 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger. Rom 5:9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. 1 Th 1:9-10 For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 2 Pet 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: Luke 21:36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. Rev 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. The term "rapture" is not found in the Bible. It is just a name given to an event described in the Bible. The Tribulation: There is a period of time that is referred to as the Great Tribulation. This will be a time when God pours out his wrath upon the earth. During this time there will be great destruction both to mankind and to nature itself. One half of the world's population will be destroyed within a seven year period. It is impossible for us to image the destruction that will take place because it will be a time like nothing that has ever happened in the past. Jesus said: "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be." (Mat 24:21). When the disciples asked Jesus about this time, he gave them a very brief outline. This is known as the "Olivet Discourse" and can be found in Matthew chapter 24. Later Jesus revealed to John the details of these events, and John recorded them. The bulk of the book of Revelation is a detailed account of the events that John was shown. In the book of Revelation, we are told that this period would last seven years (see ...Tribulation , "Daniel's 70th Week" and look at the verses Rev 11:2-4, 12:6, 13:5). The Second Coming of Christ: We know for sure that Jesus is going to return. When Jesus was taken up into heaven, the angels told the people that were there at the time "why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). And Jesus talked many times of his return: "Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh" (Mat 25:13). When Jesus returns he will not come as a meek Lamb, but as a mighty warrior and everyone will see him. Rev 1:7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Mat 25:31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: We know exactly where his return will take place: Zec 14:4 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. Jesus' return will be wonderful for the believers, but dreadful for those that have rejected Him: Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. The Millennium: After the return of the Lord, we are told that Jesus will reign here on earth for 1,000 years. Satan will be restrained during this period of time. Rev 20:1-3 And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. Rev 20:4-6 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. The Rebellion: After the millennial reign of Christ, Satan will be loosed for a short while. Satan then deceives many who rise up in rebellion to the Lord. Jesus will put down this rebellion and cast Satan and his followers into the lake of fire where he will remain. Rev 20:7-10 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them. And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. The Judgment: All those that have lived and rejected Christ (they are referred to as the "dead" in this passage) will stand before the Great White Judgment Throne of Christ. Rev 20:11-15 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. I hope this helps answer some of your questions. As I said earlier, this is a very complicated topic. You asked if there was material available to learn more about this topic. There are lots of books written on this topic, but there is one that lays it all out in an orderly manner. I highly recommend it. It's called "Charting the End Times" by Tim LaHaye. Another author that writes on this subject and is very good is Thomas Ice. Anything written by him I would recommend. Charting the End Times by LaHaye Fast Facts on Bible Prophecy by Thomas Ice

  Class Paper on Health Issues:

Feb. 2006 in my paper we have to identify how many health issues they talk about in the bible and I can not seem locate that information on this website or any other. so please can you send me some information regarding that topic. Hi; I’m sorry that you are having difficulty finding an answer to your questions on the internet. But, really, you are looking in the wrong place. If you want to know how many health issues God talks about in the Bible, perhaps you ought to look in the Bible. I sort of get the feeling you want a short cut and that you want someone to do your class research for you. Spend some time with the Bible open and God will bless your efforts. I hope you get a good grade on your paper.