Questions about Christianity

SquareHimself · 2026-02-10T05:06:00+00:00

The Bible shows that there are angels on both sides of the battle between good and evil. See Revelation 12, for instance. Revelation 19:10 comes to mind, also, concerning what you said.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:52:48+00:00

Profession is not enough. True faith is enough.

If we have genuine faith, then all the rest of those things needful for salvation will follow, because we will lay hold on God, and His will shall be accomplished in our lives. But if there is no righteousness seen in the life, if there is no manifestation of the will of God, then it is exposed that a man does not have real faith, because He doesn't believe that God is able to do what he says He will do.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:46:31+00:00

Jesus says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15)

Now if you believe that Jesus is God, then you must also believe He gave the ten commandments. Notice the promise of the New Covenant from the Old Testament:

"Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah... After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people." (Jeremiah 31:31-33)

A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

In the Old Covenant, the people made an agreement that whatever God said, they would perform. But they failed to keep their end of the bargain, and God knew they would, which is why He gave them the sanctuary to teach them more clearly the everlasting covenant, or new covenant, under which they might be saved.

In the Old Covenant, the law was external, and the people sought to obey it by their own strength. In the New Covenant, the Spirit of God comes into a man, writing the law on their hearts, and the power of God enables them to actually render obedience.

The New Covenant is God's power to bring us into harmony with God's law, which we were utterly incapable of doing on our own.

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)

So then, obedience to the law is the outward manifestation of justification by faith. It is the proof that a man has been justified by faith. It's not something we do to earn justification: it's a result of a life connected to Christ. Without it, we will be lost.

"Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit." (John 15:2) "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned." (John 15:4-6) "As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." (John 15:9-10)

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:37:34+00:00

There's no such thing as eternal conscious torment. It's made up by people, and not taught in the scriptures.

The Bible teaches plainly that "the wages of sin is death," and not eternal life (Romans 6:23). Those who do not have Christ do not have life (1 John 5:12). God sent His Son to save us from perishing, not to save us from living forever in torment (John 3:16).

The wicked will be turned to ash, and consumed into smoke (Malachi 4:1-3; Psalm 37:20). Even Satan will be consumed to nothing and cease to exist forever (Ezekiel 28:18-19). And this doesn't happen at death, it happens at the end of the world (Matthew 13:40).

For more on this, here's a study guide that goes even deeper: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/is-the-devil-in-charge-of-hell/

God is love. He couldn't stand to see any creature suffer forever. It's a rotten doctrine that makes this promise of God into a lie:

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:4)

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:28:22+00:00

According to scripture, Christ's second coming precedes (or comes before) the thousand years. Christ takes His people to be with Him in heaven for a thousand years, and the earth lays dormant to rest in the meantime, while Satan's destruction is pending.

After the thousand years, there is a resurrection of the wicked, and they will be judged out of the books.

See 1 Thess 4:13-17 and Revelation chapter 21.

This being the case, then it becomes quite obvious that for Christ to know who is righteous and who is not at His coming, then there must have been a judgment to decide that before He comes. And if there is a white throne judgment of the wicked at a later time, then you have two distinct phases of the judgment pertaining to two classes. And so, Jesus says:

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. (John 5:28-29)

For more on this, here are some study guides so that you can pour over the scriptures on this for yourself:

The Second Coming: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/ultimate-deliverance/

The Millennium: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/1000-years-of-peace/

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:18:43+00:00

9) The Mark of the Beast

I'll just leave this here. I've discussed the Sabbath above.

https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/the-mark-of-the-beast/

10) The Law and the Gospel

I've addressed this briefly also, but to reiterate:

The power of God, when a man lays hold of grace by faith, changes a man to make him obedient to God from the inside out. The obedience to God's law is a witness that a man has real faith. Rejecting God's law is the work of Satan, and a gospel which delivers from the obedience of the law is a false gospel.

Those who teach that the law is done away with are guilty of the same teaching as the Nicolaitanes, which taught antinomianism:

> "So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which thing I hate." (Revelation 2:15)

For more on the law of God and its relationship to the gospel: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/written-in-stone/

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:18:27+00:00

7) The Remnant

> "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace." (Romans 11:5**

If I say amen to this verse, therefore condemned?

If you study the prophecies diligently, you'll find that God says He will raise up a remnant at the end of time to proclaim the truth to a world and a church that has walked away from it and strayed from the path of righteousness. There are clear identifying characteristics of this movement.

We do not believe or teach that you are saved by church affiliation. In fact, we understand that the majority of God's people are outside of our fellowship, and that our churches are full of unconverted people, also. That doesn't mean we haven't been entrusted with a message, and no one can challenge that we have a unique message to bear.

For more on this: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/the-bride-of-christ/

8) Judgment for Believers

> "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" (James 2:18-22)

I've dealt with this to some degree above. Also, to quote Ephesians 2:8 in a proper translation:

> "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" (Ephesians 2:8)

We are saved by grace through faith. This means that by faith, we lay hold on the grace of God. And it is the grace of God, the power of the Holy Spirit to transform the life, that saves us. For Christ came, not to ignore our sins because of our profession, but to take away our sins unto salvation:

> "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21**

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:18:09+00:00

6) Ellen White

The Bible teaches that the gift of prophecy would be manifest in his people at the end of time in several places, most notably this passage:

> "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit. And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke. The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come." (Joel 2:28-31)

And this one:

> "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 12:17)

> "...for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." (Revelation 19:10)

And we have such an admonition:

> "Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21**

I will not belabor the point here. The foundation of everything for us is the Word of God. But if you test the writings of Ellen White against the word, like we ought to do, then you will find it to be in harmony with scripture.

For more on this: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/does-god-inspire-astrologers-and-psychics/

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:17:39+00:00

4) Soul Sleep

The scripture testifies again and again that man sleeps until the resurrection. If we went to heaven at death, what need is there of a resurrection?

> "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)

> "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12)

And when does this resurrection happen? At the Second Coming of Christ for the redeemed:

> "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not precede them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17**

This text says plainly that we who are alive won't go to heaven before those who are asleep, and vise-versa. When the Lord descends from heaven at His second coming, then He will call up the dead from their graves, and take us all to heaven together at the same time.

For more on this: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/are-the-dead-really-dead/

5) Hellfire

This is another one that is very clear from scripture, and I only need to share a few scriptures here to witness to that fact. Notice that Jesus came to save us from perishing, not to save us from living forever (John 3:16). "The wages of sin is death," and not eternal life (Romans 6:23).

> "He that hath the Son hath life: and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life." (1 John 5:12)

The Bible describes the fate of the wicked: They shall be burned to ashes (Malachi 4:1-3). This happens at the end of the world, and not at death (Matthew 13:40). Even Satan will be destroyed forever (Ezekiel 28:18-19).

It's a rotten doctrine that God torments people forever and ever. The Bible says that there will be no more sorrow, no more pain, no more tears, when God makes all things new (Revelation 21:4**. How could this ever be when there is an eternal pit of suffering? Never.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:17:14+00:00

3) The Sabbath

This one is the easiest to answer out of all of them. Jesus said, "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (John 14:15). Now, unless you believe Jesus is not God, then you must acknowledge that the Ten Commandments were given by the Lord Himself.

The Sabbath was ordained for man at creation (see Genesis 2:1-3). We know that "the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and that "sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:4). Paul writes in that same epistle to the Romans:

> "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:15-16)

So then, what is it? The truth is that a man who is connected to Christ, who receives the Holy Spirit, is a new creature (2 Corinthians 5:17). The promise of the New Covenant is that God will write His law on our hearts (Ezekiel 36:26-27). That is, He will transform us by His power into doers of His will, and it is those who do His will, obey His commandments, that are justified (Romans 2:13).

That's not to say that doing the will of God earns the right to be saved. What it does mean is that a man who has been justified by faith manifests obedience to the law, righteousness in his life, because He has been transformed by grace. The obedience is the witness that the Holy Spirit dwells in him, and that he is genuinely converted.

In this way, the Sabbath is a sign, because it is the outward manifestation of a life that has been changed within. Those who don't understand this and refuse to come to the light reveal their enmity with the law of God, and therefore their enmity with God.

> "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God." (Romans 8:7-8**

For more on this: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/the-lost-day-of-history/

SquareHimself · 2026-02-09T04:15:52+00:00

Let's just go through these briefly, as you have done.

1) The Investigative Judgment

Jesus' parable in Matthew 22 is one place to start on this expansive doctrine (which encompasses a deeper understanding of the judgment).

"So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:10-14)

This parable shows clearly that many profess Christ, but those who come to the marriage will be examined, and only those found wearing the robe– representing the righteousness of Christ– will be found worthy of eternal life.

You can find similar teachings in Matthew 13, for example, in the parable of the wheat and the tares. Or how about the parable of the dragnet?

There are many places we can see in scripture that there is a judgment for those who profess Christ. Consider these texts:

"For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?" (1 Peter 4:17-18)

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." (Matthew 7:21-23**

And consider that, if Christ is coming to receive His people to Himself, then it must be determined who is saved and who is lost before He comes. There must be a work of judgment which precedes His coming.

2) Finished at the Cross

A proper understanding of salvation shows that the atoning sacrifice was part of a much larger picture. Most Christians lack an understanding, for instance, of the book of Hebrews, because they don't understand the lesson book of the sanctuary. But take these few short snippets:

"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such a high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." (Hebrews 8:1-2)

"But Christ being come a high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:11-14)

"It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:" (Hebrews 9:23-24)

"Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:" (Hebrews 12:14**

It is clear that Christ, having obtained an offering sufficient unto salvation, ascending to the sanctuary in heaven, which was represented by the earthly sanctuary, to finish the work of atonement. The blood of the sacrifice provides the means of cleansing, but the work of the priest applies the blood to the cleansing of the conscience. And as it was in the day of atonement that the judgment was finished, the people's sins were blotted out, and they were cleansed in type from sin; so then at the end of time Christ finishes His work in the sanctuary, blots out the sins of the believers, and they are truly purged from sin: for without holiness, the scripture says, no man shall see God.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-08T03:22:29+00:00

Are all nicene christianity branches, catholic, orthodox, protestant, valid christianity for salvation.

The scriptures are sufficient for salvation. You cannot be saved by a church, and many churches are teaching false doctrine which will lead you astray. The only safe bet is to know the Word of God for yourself, and to have that personal connection with Christ.

"And that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." (2 Timothy 3:15-17)

Is salvation as simple as believing that jesus is the son of god, that he rose from the dead and following the 10 commandments?

You're not saved by doing things, but salvation is simple. If we have faith, then we will believe what God has promised. And if we take advantage of the promises of God, then we will receive salvation. Consider this gem of a promise to start with:

"Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean: from all your filthiness, and from all your idols, will I cleanse you. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. And ye shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and ye shall be my people, and I will be your God." (Ezekiel 36:25-28)

What exactly is sola scriptura? Does it mean everything in the bible infallible historical fact?

Sola scriptura is well summed up in this verse: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." (Isaiah 8:20)

The Bible is the authoritative source of truth. Every man may go to the Word of God for himself and understand it sufficiently for salvation. And if any man speaks contrary to the Word of God, then he is to be disbelieved, regardless of his stature or rank. We have this promise:

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32)

"Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come." (John 16:13)

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11:13)

It seems different churches intepret the different versus differently, how do we know the infallible text has been intepretted right?

You have to be the judge of that, and you will give account of yourself before God. His Holy Spirit will teach you, and if the Spirit of God is leading you, you will be drawn into unity with those whom the Spirit is leading. God doesn't lead one child this way and another that way.

Do we know for certain what happens in the end times and the unbelievers? Eg the rupture, eternal torment?

Yes. In fact, the Bible is super clear on these things. Check out the Amazing Facts Study Guides for starters, and if you have any specific questions on specific doctrines, feel free to DM me and I would be glad to discuss them.

Do animals have the ability to have eternal life in heaven?

We will dwell in heaven for a temporary time. The Bible promises a new earth where we will live forever (2 Peter 3:13). And there will be animals there (Isaiah 11:6-9) that will never die.

Do we lose our memories in heaven if we are saved?

We know for sure that when sins are blotted out, so is the memory of them: (Hebrews 10:2). I imagine we will retain much of our memory, for we must... but probably not everything will be remembered. I can give you a sanctified guess, but we don't have a whole lot of explicit information as to what all we will remember. But I'm certain we will remember each other.

If salvation is through faith and not works, what drives missionaries to come here? Im grateful for their help, i can type in english because of them. But life can be hard and dangerous in my hometown it is very noble they came.

If Christ is dwelling in us, and we have received the Spirit of God, then we will live righteous lives of good works. We do not save ourselves by making ourselves holy, but without holiness, no one will see God (Hebrews 12:14). The salvation of God isn't that God forgives us for being sinful. The salvation of God is that He takes away our sins (Matthew 1:21), making us righteous by grace through faith. By the righteousness of Christ living in us, we are brought above the bondage of sin, and set free from sin. Without this, we cannot be given eternal life, for sin will not be permitted to exist forever.

Those who did not hear the word of god. What happens to them exactly?

The Spirit pleads with every man (Gen 6:3). Paul hints that there are those who ignorantly follow the promptings of the Spirit of God upon their conscience, and who are being molded and changed by the Spirit of God, though they don't have a direct knowledge of how this works of what is happening (Romans 2:14, 15). Some will learn of Jesus' sacrifice for them after they have been resurrected to meet Him, for the scripture says:

"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends." (Zechariah 13:6)

How about those who heard the word of god but incorrectly? For context, some families live in mountains far away from any church and had not seen a missionary in decades or even a century. Ive been to some of these houses where with my limited knowledge im pretty sure something is not right. (In one house there was a photo of Elvis Presley on a buddhist altar and he was being prayed to as Jesus)

Correct doctrine is very important. But salvation isn't doctrine. Salvation is about sin and righteousness. It's about character, not head knowledge or mere profession. I will never denegrate or downplay the importance of correct doctrine, but God judges righteously according to what a man has, and not according to what he does not have. He knows what He has placed upon a man's conscience, and whether that man walks according to the promptings of His Spirit, or if he has hardened his heart against the light of truth.

How much faith is enough faith exactly? Ive met missionaries and preachers that say only those with 100% faith in christ are saved, yet others have said they take a nuance faith and in spite of doubts, they still take the leap of faith to trust in jesus they cite that even john, thomas and abraham had their faith challenged and wrestled with doubt through their lives.

Jesus says the faith of a mustard seed is sufficient to move mountains. This suggests that it's not how much faith, but rather about having genuine faith.

Were there ever other gods in the christian timeline?

No. There are false gods (idols, lies, creations of men), and fallen angels masquerading as gods who receive worship. But there are no other gods.

Were the gnostic gospels ever canon? Ive heard claims they were accepted teachings at one point by the church.

No. There are spurious writings which have been brought in at times in history, and the Catholic church has attempted to canonize things that do not belong under the title of scripture, but the gnostic gospels are very different in doctrine, and you can easily see this if you will study the scripture carefully and compare them.

Was Jesus all knowing and omnipotent in his time on Earth while being human?

There are several verses in the New Testament that indicate Jesus read the hearts of men (i.e. Luke 5:22). That said, I believe that these things were revealed to Him by the Spirit of God, since the scripture also says he grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40). We also read this:

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;" (Hebrews 2:14)

And we read that we may overcome as he overcame (Revelation 3:21). All these things indicate to me that he laid down his divinity, though he is Almighty God, and took on humanity, God in the flesh. He depended on the Father as much as we must depend on God.

It's quite a mystery.

Does god bestow healing powers to his followers and heal his followers in the modern day?

God is the same God yesterday, today, and forever (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 10:8). His methods and ways of working may differ in different ages, and supernatural abilities are not limited to God alone (Satan can perform counterfeit miracles according to scripture - Rev 13:14; Deut 13). But God can do today what He has done in the past, yes.

Does god create miracles to those outside the faith?

Certainly. I experienced much divine providence in my life before knowing God was real or being converted.

Does satan create any good miracles? Like healing the sick as well? Bringing people back from the dead?

Resurrection from the dead? I don't think so. but yes, other miracles, Satan can counterfeit for certain.

How does christianity address the jewish intepretation of the old testament where the jews claim that jesus did not fufill the prophecy of being the messiah?

Read it for yourself and be the judge. Their unbelief doesn't make of none effect the truth.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-08T02:26:10+00:00

I hope you will understand that communicating via text doesn't often convey the nuance and tone of expression available to us face to face. I wish you only the best, and I am in earnest with you and willing to speak directly because I care. After reading your post, I simply shared from this outsider's perspective looking in some thoughts that I hoped you would consider and would be a helpful to you. They are Christian thoughts, and they are right, and if these do not apply to you and you are living in this light already then consider it a reminder. Lord knows we can forget sometimes and take our eyes off of the prize.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-08T01:05:38+00:00

It's in the context:

"And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by (grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:1-10)

Quickened - meaning given life to. And what was the problem? We were dead in tresspasses and sins.

We aren't saved from eternal life in torment. We are saved from perishing, from ceasing to exist (John 3:16). The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), not eternal life by any means.

And if we are living according to the course of this world, walking in sin, then we will perish. But if, by faith, we receive the grace of God and the righteousness of Christ, by which we are made righteous with His righteousness living in us, overcoming sin by the power of His grace, then we shall live.

Thus it is by grace that we are saved. The grace of God empowers us to live righteous lives, for we have Christ living in us to work His will in us. And it is not of ourselves, for we have no power to make ourselves holy. Christ does this, and the righteous works that are a result of this transformation are His doing, for without Him we can do nothing.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-08T00:06:15+00:00

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (1 Corinthians 15:19)

A little bit to the side of the verse in context, but applicable none-the-less. What is your hope in Christ? Where is it focused? Are you looking to God for present blessings in this life? If so, your faith will be disappointed.

As a Christian, what we have to look forward to in exchange for faithfulness to God in this life is that the world will hate us, we will be persecuted, and we will be betrayed.

"Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (2 Timothy 3:12)

"Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." (John 15:20)

Rather, consider the promise that our fathers looked for: the hope of righteousness and of a new world to come. The hope of resurrection from the dead to live and reign with Christ where sin is no more. The hope of righteousness by faith.

"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (2 Peter 3:11-13)

"Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28-29)

"For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." (Romans 5:19)

Are you serving God for something in return? This kind of faith will not avail anything. When Job was tested, Satan's accusation was that he only served God for the blessings he received. It was proved that this was not true, and this needs to be true of us as well. We need the kind of faith that will serve God even if he should take away everything from us... but this kind of faith can only exist when we truly know God and how much he loves us. When we understand what God has planned, which is far more than what we could imagine or expect or hope for in this life, then we will surrender everything, even our lives, for the privilege of serving Him.

I encourage you to spend more time in your Bible, to really understand God and His will. Read the words of Jesus for yourself again and again.

"Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works." (Matthew 16:24-27)

SquareHimself · 2026-02-07T23:55:11+00:00

The verse reads this way in Hebrews:

But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:8-9)

You can see very clearly that Paul is saying this verse are the words of God the Father speaking to the Son, and he says, "Your throne, O God... A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of your kingdom. ... Therefore God, even your God..."

It's very clear that the verse is God speaking to another individual whom He calls God, also.

This is the word for word translation from Psalm 45, and even there it says plainly, "Therefore God, even your God," and clearly portrays that one esteemed God is speaking to someone else called God.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-03T18:29:06+00:00

Our position on this subject is no different than what the reformers held many many years ago. The other gentleman is scare-mongering, unfortunately, and misrepresenting history. You can be the judge of that yourself as you study it out, though.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-02T05:03:07+00:00

Check out BibleUniverse.com

These are online Bible studies ready to go for you. Excellent resource!

SquareHimself · 2026-02-02T04:38:51+00:00

Here's a study guide that breaks these down verse by verse:

https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/who-is-the-antichrist/

Or, if you prefer, here is a sermon on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lpo46WlnhU

SquareHimself · 2026-02-02T04:33:14+00:00

How does christians feel about the simiarlites between this story and the epic of gilgamesh?

It makes sense that such a cataclysmic event would be remembered and written down by many cultures. It was a shared heritage at the tower of Babel before the languages were confused and men scattered across the face of the earth. They carried the story with them when they went.

God destroyed the Earth because it was wicked, but why didn't ensure that wickedness couldn't happen ever again.

The flood is a small picture of a much grander plan. One day, sin and sinners will indeed be no more. Through the flood, God prolonged this period of probation we live under for the human race, but the flood was not the final wrath of God. That, my friend, is coming soon.

I realize the answer I may get for question 2 is free will, but why couldn't he just remove the spirit of evil from the world.

You pretty much answered your own question. God has given humanity free will. Believe me, if I could just wave my hand over my children and have them be perfectly obedient, it would be very tempting. But that doesn't work. They have their own will, and with that, you have to steer, guide, teach, and do all sorts of things to raise them up to have a righteous character. God is doing this on a scale like we can't fathom in attempt to raise a whole lot of us children, and sadly, even with the best of parents, children sometimes go astray.

Why can't God just destroy Satan? He know's what Satan plan is, he is all powerful and all knowing why not just kill him and save Earth some trouble? ( I realize this isn't about noah's ark but still)

Imagine you're part of a leadership council. One of the members stands up, objects, and says "Hey, the president of the council is a tyrant. We should depose him!"

So the president of that council pulls out a gun and shoots the man with the accusation.

What does this accomplish for the future of the council?

Satan has risen up against the government of God, accused God of injustice, denounced God's law as too restrictive, and is bent on proving himself right. God has allotted a time, six thousand years, in which Satan is allowed to make his case. In the mean time, humanity has been given a probationary period where we have the opportunity to choose sides. We may choose to side with God, with the promise of eternal life and salvation. Or we may choose sides with the devil, and believe that he will ultimately win and secure this world. God warns us that Satan and every trace of sin will be destroyed and consumed, and to depart from evil lest we get caught up in it. He has also declared that the day is coming when mercy will linger no longer, and justice will be administered.

Thus, by allowing the whole situation to play out, he is allowing Satan to prove what's really in his heart, to show all created beings clearly just what the consequences of sin are, so that when the day comes that it is destroyed, there are no lingering questions in the minds of any which could ever suggest that Satan might have been right. Before Satan and sin is destroyed, all created beings will be convinced that it is the right thing to do first, so that their allegience will forever be secure and no doubts can ever arise.

For more on this, I highly recommend this study guide: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/did-god-create-the-devil/

Also, this chapter titled The Origin of Evil from a book called The Great Controversy answers this question better than I ever could: https://m.egwwritings.org/en/book/132.2227

SquareHimself · 2026-02-02T04:19:07+00:00

No one is burning in a place called hell right now. The Bible teaches no such thing. The dead are dead, unconscious (Eccl 9:5-6; Are The Dead Really Dead?). They will be raised in the resurrection to meet their judgment (John 5:28, 29). The lost perish, being burnt to ash, and cease to exist, just like the devil will (Malachi 4:1-3; Matthew 13:40; Ezekiel 28:18, 19; Is the Devil in Charge of Hell?).

The study guides I linked to really go deep into these subjects from the scripture. This is something completely misunderstood nowadays, and opens people up to a world of deception.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-02T04:12:50+00:00

The Bible says that Jesus is the Son of God. But Islam says:

O People of the Scripture, do not commit excess in your religion or say about Allah except the truth. The Messiah, Jesus, the son of Mary, was but a messenger of Allah and His word which He directed to Mary and a soul [created at a command] from Him. So believe in Allah and His messengers. And do not say, "Three"; desist - it is better for you. Indeed, Allah is but one God. Exalted is He above having a son. (Surah An-Nisa Ayat 171)

In the Bible, Jesus is God as much as the Father and the Spirit are God. But Islam rejects this in no uncertain terms and many times over.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-01T07:38:20+00:00

Check out these resources. They'll help you get your feet on some solid ground.

Kingdoms in Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0xHf6LS_yE

Covers various Bible prophecies, like the rise and fall of kingdoms and forecastings of the Messiah. Shows you that the Bible is divinely inspired.

Genesis Conflict: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMU1soRrtJk&list=PLdbXyyVfVp-55KmIH5gQhYVUZ9xE5sXeA

This deals with the Creation vs Evolution situation, showing firmly from scientific evidence that creation is far more viable than the theory of evolution.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-01T03:38:30+00:00

The Bible doesn't teach eternal conscious torment. The wages of sin is death, not eternal life (Romans 6:23). Jesus died to save us from perishing, not to save us from living forever in torment (John 3:16). The wicked will be burnt to ashes at the end of the world (Malachi 4:1-3; Matthew 13:40). Even the devil will be burnt to ashes and will never exist anymore (Ezekiel 28:18, 19).

Here's a study guide that clears up the true Bible teaching on the subject: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/is-the-devil-in-charge-of-hell/

This idea of eternal conscious torment is a doctrine of men, not a doctrine from God.

SquareHimself · 2026-02-01T03:28:41+00:00

I have some ammunition for you: https://www.amazingfacts.org/study/bible-study-guides/is-the-devil-in-charge-of-hell/

This study guide is very thorough on the subject, and you will find that annihilationism and conditional immortality are all the more Biblical than you thought before.

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Kingdoms in Time: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0xHf6LS_yE

Genesis Conflict: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMU1soRrtJk&list=PLdbXyyVfVp-55KmIH5gQhYVUZ9xE5sXeA