Nick,You might look at Revelation 11. It seems to be very related to the vision that the three apostles saw. It also talks about two prophets and they are described to have the same abilities as Elijah and Moses had – ability to close the skies (Elijah) and ability to turn water into blood (Moses). You will see there that John is not talking about…[Read more]

Nick,I think we have double information here and in the topic “The Dead in Christ”. I have explained some of my views in that topic.Also Ramblinrose's link makes some good points, although I do not agree with the claim that the paradise is the third heaven. But that is another topic.

Nick,Of course I do not want to claim that the verse is wrong or modified. As you said, there are not real proof to that. But what I WANT to say is that Jesus' disciples did not pay much importance to this event, even if it did happen. Why should we?

Hi Nick,If you take the part “they entered the holy city” out of the scripture, the verse could easily mean that graves were broken open, bodies of the dead were thrown out and appeared to many (especially if you look at the meaning of the original Greek words there). Of course, I do not want to claim that the scripture is wrong or altered there.…[Read more]

Nick and t8,Sorry, you misunderstood me. I did not say that Adam and Eve went to heaven. I was just making a point that if they did not sin, they would still be here on earth. They did not go to heaven. They returned to dust. They were no more. They died. God's initial plan was to fill the earth. And also – I do not think that Elijah, Moses, or…[Read more]

t8,I think it is very important to understand what was God's initial plan towards the earth and mankind.Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”God did…[Read more]

Hi,my response to the first post in this topic:Were some of the dead actually raised to life straight after Jesus' death? Why then other apostles did not report this event in their gospels or later letters? This clearly should have been an important matter. But nobody mentioned it later. Not once. Quite the opposite – as 2 Tim 2:18 says, the…[Read more]

Just wanted to add a quick post regarding 1 John 5:7.If you look at the context and verses around it, it is clear that those three bearing witness are the SPIRIT, the WATER, and the BLOOD (not what trinitarians claim this verse says).To t8,I really liked some of the reasoning you provided in this topic. It fully corresponds to what I believe.Just…[Read more]

Not sure what you mean by “judge more harshily”.There are only two options. Either you go into everlasting life or everlasting destruction. The “sheep” and “goats”. Those who “do Jesus' Father's will” and those who do not. None will be left in the middle.And we all will be judged – Rom 14:10.But that does not mean that we all will be punished.…[Read more]

Nick,Here is what Rotherams translation says about Revelation 1:1:The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him, to point out unto his servants the things which must needs come to pass with speed,–and he shewed them by signs, sending through his messenger, unto his servant John;Even if your translation does not say that, would you not…[Read more]

Nick,It seems that you take symbols in Revelation literally.Rev 1:1 …And he sent forth his angel and presented in signs through him to his slave John.What you said comes in conflict with the following:1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.Jesus was resurrected as a spirit not a…[Read more]

Hi,I cannot agree with shakai7.The Greek Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Scriptures (from Genesis to Malachi) uses the word “Hades” 73 times, employing it 60 times to translate the Hebrew word she´ohl', commonly rendered “Sheol.” The divinely inspired writer of Acts, definitely showed Hades to be the Greek equivalent of Sheol when he…[Read more]

Hi Nick,I think there is a lack of logic if God ressurects all dead only just before the second judgement at the end of the 1000 yr reign. Would it be wise to resurrect millions of people just to kill them again? Many of them will even not know what they are judged for and by who. In my opinion, much more likely God (who is love) will give a…[Read more]

Modem Mouth,Romans 3:20 Therefore by works of law no flesh will be declared righteous before him, for by law is the accurate knowledge of sin. We cannot get saved by obeying to Moses laws. Its goal was to show what is sin and to prepare us for Jesus' coming. Of course, God did not just simply change his mind. Jesus summed up the Law into two basic…[Read more]

Moses' laws no longer apply to us.Chapter 7 of Acts actually explains a situation when the Christians started to argue if the Moses' laws still apply to non-jewish Christians who wanted to join their congregation. They called together all the apostles and, by consulting with God's spirit, decided the following:Acts 15:28-29 “For the holy spirit…[Read more]

Hi Nick,I am back. Sorry, I do not have too much time to go into details but I will try again to answer some of your comments.You said that the others are not resurrected until the 1000yr reign is over.I assume you base it on Revelation 20:5 which says “The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the…[Read more]

Hi Nick,ok, I will try to answer your questions the way I see them.Do you think men go to heaven?Yes, but not all of them.Daniel 7:22 says that God's “saints” will “possess the kingdom.”Revelation 5:10 “And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” (btw over whom shall they reign?)So there is a group of people in…[Read more]

Hi Nick,I am so glad that we can have this nice discussion. It is always very pleasant to talk with people who value the Bible as much as I do.So – to answer your question – no, the second death is not the same as the first. We know that there will be a resurrection of the righteous and unrighteous – Acts 24:15. It means that all people that have…[Read more]

Yes, God instructed to kill all people of several nations that opposed the holy nation. Of course, this is not love towards those nations, but is a love towards the Israelites. And another very strong attribute of God is justice. Those nations worshipped idols, sacrificed children, had prostitution in temples etc. One of the Mosaic laws was to…[Read more]

well…At Daniel 7:2-8 he describes four beasts coming out of the sea, the first resembling a lion, the second a bear, the third a leopard, and “see there! a fourth beast, fearsome and terrible and unusually strong . . . and it had ten horns.” This is remarkably similar to the wild beast seen by John in Revelation chapter 13. That beast also has…[Read more]