John UK wrote:
Man we need a revival of true religion, which is active towards orphans and widows, not this neo-calvinism which is soooo haughty and bigoted.

DJC49 wrote:
And somewhere in the mix are those millions of "Christians" whom the article cited as believing that: "a person can do enough good works to earn eternal salvation."

hidemi williges wrote:
The only important thing is that you understand the Words of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

hidemi williges wrote:
My point was not to pinpoint a certain individual or groups of individuals. I was actually referring to their lobbies that influence segments of the government.

hidemi williges wrote:
In what way does my comment offend you?

So, I will apologize, and think the best of you and your descriptive phrases of a group of people.

I think it is better to look at the person first as one created by His Maker, with a soul that will be eternally saved or eternally lost. After that, I can address the sin issue with that person.

And, I have, concerning this particular issue. I sat next to a person on a plane to D.C. who said he was a homosexual. He had been raised in the Baptist Church, and rejected everything he had been taught as myth.

We had a discussion of religion and lifestyle which became heated at times, and lasted for the duration of the flight; yet, there was no animosity between us - I was able to tune out the obvious chagrin of a robed clergyman seated opposite us.

Providence allowed that encounter, and I pray that that young man turned from his wicked ways.

DJC49 wrote:
C.H. Spurgeon which goes: "In the everlasting decree of the sovereign God, the footsteps of mercy were every one of them ordained," John MacArthur said:
"Predestination marked the path and mercy walked it."

hidemi williges wrote:
How long will it be before the homosexuals and perverts ask for a bail-out?

I'm really surprised by your unloving attitude toward people made in the image of God. He is their judge, or their Saviour. Let's pray for their salvation, and give them truth with love.

I vaguely remember a quote that goes something like this - "Grace marked the path, and Mercy walked it."

rogerant wrote:
2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavans shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the WORKS that are therein shall be burned up...Looking for and hasting to the day of God, wherin heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements burn with fervent heat?
Rev 20:11 ..
Now, I want you to use your consistent method of interpretation and your chronology to defend your position here.
You have Isaiah 65:17 identifying a new heaven and a new earth. after the Day of the Lord AND the Great White Throne Judgment...and then 1000 years?

May I call you Roger?

This is what I know:

1) There will be a new heaven and a new earth.

2) The present earth will be burned with intense heat.

3) The new earth will be physical, material, not ethereal.

4) There will be a spiritual holy city, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven.

5) The tabernacle of God will be with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

I'm not sure that it's important that I know how it will occur, chronologically.

rogerant wrote:
Now, I want you to use your consistent method of interpretation and your chronology to defend your position here.
You have Isaiah 65:17 identifying a new heaven and a new earth. after the Day of the Lord AND the Great White Throne Judgment...and then 1000 years? And then another judgment?

Neil wrote:
N.B. = nota bene [Latin] = note well [Eng.]
There are many such Latin abbreviations in common use, particularly in academic publications.

Neil wrote:
N.B., one can't have theocracy unless one has a theology.

pew view wrote:
Now Christiana is advertising only 100 years?

I'm surprised my post made any sense given I had to cut, and cut, and cut from my original.

See Isaiah 65:17 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind.

Now, 20 "No longer will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his days; for the youth will die at the age of one hundred and the one who does not reach the age of one hundred shall be thought accursed."

Isaiah 65 and 66 are some of the most beautiful passages concerning the future Kingdom of the LORD.

You say that the weakest link in the pre-mill position is Jesus descending to earth to live amongst unregenerate sinners, and then the falling away at the end of a 1000 yrs.

However, during this time, Satan will be bound - which means a return - of sorts - to Garden of Eden like conditions. Can one not imagine how different things would be if Satan were not in control?

At the same time, while Jesus is ruling, there will be peace, and also quick judgment on sin - "the one who does not live to be one hundred will be thought accursed." Living will be completely different - considerably improved, but still not what it will be when the "Kingdom is handed over to the Father."

Here24 wrote:
On the "black hole" theory. I think that anything perceivable by mortal eyes, senses or any physical (temporal) ability, will not have a place in the spiritual realm.

I'm not sure what you are saying by the above statement.

We know that John says in Revelation that there will be a "new heaven and a new earth." So, the physical world will be newly created, even as it was in the Garden of Eden, and God pronounced everything "good."

And, in Corinthians, we are told that we will have new bodies suited for heaven. Jesus was resurrected bodily, and, so shall we be. So, we will have a physical body.

I can't imagine that the vast expanses of space will not be observable to us. The Hubble shots that we are privileged to see because of today's technology are mind-boggling.

Certainly, there will be eyes to see such awe-inspiring sights.

"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has it entered the heart of man, all that God has prepared for those who love Him."

Let me preface this post by saying, for me, life would be without meaning if I did not know the Saviour.

Having said that, have you ever thought that sinners would hate heaven? Seriously, what sinner have you ever been around who loves the things that you love?

Sinners don't even want to go to the same restaurant with a Christian if they are drinkers and the restaurant doesn't serve alcoholic beverages. They don't like the same books, music, entertainment, etc. They are not interested in the things of God.

I think sinners would be miserable in heaven with a Holy God and Holy people.

OTOH, in Hell, they will hate their pain, the darkness, the lack of everything that was pleasurable for them on earth, but I do not think they would want heaven, even if given the choice in hell.

Of course, assisted suicide is out of the question for a Believer, but I can understand how unregenerate man would want the option. For some people facing a horrible dying process, only the Grace of God would prevent them from taking their own life.

Having dealt with these issues in caring for dying loved ones has shown me how complicated dying is in our society where laws complicate the process.