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Avrell Bowden - "If I die tonight, where will I be? Heaven or hell?” People make commitments to God an confessions of faith that sometimes have no reality.  At age 6 I made a false profession of salvation. That is, I told people I was saved. (more)

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Marriage and the Family

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David Jones

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Jesus Tomb

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Would not Colossians 3." TARGET="_blank">Colossians 3. 17: “Whatsoever ye do in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,” settle the question that to baptize in “the name of the Lord Jesus” is the correct formula for this dispensation?

While cordially accepting Colossians 3:17," TARGET="_blank">Colossians 3:17, we cannot agree that it has anything to do with the question of baptizing “in (or “into”) the name of the Lord Jesus” rather than “into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” Certainly we baptize “in the name of the Lord Jesus” and for that reason we do it as He laid down in Matthew 28." TARGET="_blank">Matthew 28. But we cannot in any way accept the theory that in the Acts some new “formula” took the place of the one He appointed then. There are three points which should be prominent in carrying out the ordinance:

(i) The authority on which it is carried out. We all agree it is “in the name (en to onomati) of the Lord Jesus”, that is, on His authority. The only record we have of the Lord instituting baptism is in Matthew 28" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 28 and Mark i6. If these passages are taken from us, we are shut up to some supposed occasion when the Lord gave other directions, of which we have no shadow of a record. Certainly every baptism in the Acts was carried out “in the name.” This phrase (en tO onomati), (quite distinctbe it noted from that used in Acts 8." TARGET="_blank">Acts 8. i6 and 19. 5, but which the questioner and his friends seem to confuse with it), occurs only twice, that is in Acts 2:38" TARGET="_blank">Acts 2:38 and Acts 10:48." TARGET="_blank">Acts 10:48. If one of these phrases replaced the usual formula, which is it? or were there two new formul given?

(2) The second point is the confession of faith of the believer. If the servants of the Lord are responsible to baptize believers, the believers are equally responsible to be baptized. (This we have in Mark 16:16)." TARGET="_blank">Mark 16:16). For that they must confess their faith in Christ. This is embodied in the phrase referred to above as occurring in Acts 8:16," TARGET="_blank">Acts 8:16, of the Samaritans, and Acts 19:5" TARGET="_blank">Acts 19:5 of the Ephesian disciples. This is “into the Name (eis to onoma) of the Lord Jesus,” the Person into whose name the candidate desired to be baptized. This was specially important in the two cases referred to, because the Samaritans had been cut off from Israel and the Ephesian disciples had been wrongly baptised “unto John’s baptism.”

That the apostle Paul did use the formula of Matthew 28" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 28 may, I think, be fairly deduced from the passage. When he learnt that these disciples had not even heard that the Holy Ghost had been given, he asked at once, “Into what then were ye baptized?” He knew immediately they could not have received the right kind of baptism “into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost,” for that would have informed them that the Spirit was revealed. No other form proposed as a substitute for that of Matthew 28" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 28 would have told them anything about it. Into this aspect of baptism very suitably fits the teaching of Romans 6," TARGET="_blank">Romans 6, by which the believer learns that at his baptism he was identified with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection.

(3) The third point is the object of the act of baptism. This is not in contrast or opposition to the other two phrases, but in harmony—”Into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost.” The neophyte enters by faith into all that the Triune Name contains and implies. These three points have been for years emphasized by the writer in the act of baptizing—” ‘In the name of the Lord Jesus’ and on your confession of faith in Him, I baptize you ‘into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost’.” The idea that Paul intended in any way to set aside baptism, in saying that “he thanked God he had only baptized a few of them” is certainly a mistake. He merely meant he was glad he had not performed the manual act, “lest they should say he baptized in his own name.” As an historical fact he was in the habit of having all converts baptized on confession of faith (see Acts 16:15,33;" TARGET="_blank">Acts 16:15,33; Acts 18:8)." TARGET="_blank">Acts 18:8).

Salvation not by Baptism

It should be noted that baptism is commanded to those who are already saved.  It is not the way to obtain salvation or secure salvation.  If you are worried that you were not baptized correctly and therefore in danger of losing your soul forever, then you should first accept Christ in order to be saved and then later be baptized. 

Ephesians 2:8-9" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,  (9)  not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Corinthians 1:17-18" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 1:17-18  For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.  (18)  For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
 

W.H.

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Question: I have a question re- the beheading reference in rev 20:4." TARGET="_blank">rev 20:4.

I am new to bible study, I had read the bible 4 times before but since June the words have different meaning to me. I do not now know if my new interpretations are in the correct direction or indicative of a misunderstanding. Or each person interprets the word differently, based on their experiences and stage in life.

I was studying Ephesians 1" TARGET="_blank">Ephesians 1 and was then drawn to the letters addressed to the churches in Revelation 2 and Revelation 3" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 3 the letters seem to represent a systematic progression towards the kingdom of God while on earth.
then i was led to read Revelation 20:4" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 20:4

I have quietly approached people during conversation at my church to gauge their abilities or interests in bible interpretation, but it is hard to ask in-depth questions to people of differing backgrounds, everyone has their own opinion.

rev 20:4" TARGET="_blank">rev 20:4 I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.

Here are my questions -

1. “beheaded because of their testimony” - is this the when a person surrenders completely to God and have died in the flesh, to be reborn in the spirit. the word (sword) of God has severed the spiritual head from the physical body. the person has passed through the inner door to the kingdom that exists within. The person then arrives at the realization that the kingdom inside, outside and the kingdom of heaven are one and the same.
2. “They had not worshiped the beast” - is the beast our "flesh body" that the holy spirit lives within. We die in the flesh , meaning give up wants, desires, defects, …
3. “They came to life” - a person dies to the body of flesh and awakens to the spirit within. we still walk the earth but our perspective has changed. like when the blind are given sight, it is the people blind to the kingdom of God are given sight and not blind to the kingdom of Gd
4. “This is the first resurrection” - is this a reference that some people enter the kingdom of God while alive as they have surrendered fully without reservation to the will of Gd. the 2nd resurrection is for others who remain blind spiritually to the kingdom of Gd. These blind people do not enter the kingdom until they die physically and are buried.
5. “they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” - a person that has entered the kingdom while alive in the physical body. This person while dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit is given tasks to perform. Tasks/functions/callings (refer to Ep 4:11) while completing the will of Gd. while some people remain blind to the kingdom. The thousand years refers to the rest of the physical life which will be a period of time.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
al

Answer:

The questions you pose appear can be answered with another question:

"How does one interpret the Bible, especially in regards to prophetic writings like Revelation? Literally? figuratively? Alegorically? Contextually? Culturally?

The best answer to the question of how to interpret the Bible is to view how the New Testament interprets the Old Testament.

OT prophecies and events were taken literally unless there were specific, clear, obvious reasons to do otherwise.
For example, in the Book of Daniel, there are dreams which carried figurative meanings (tall statue, tall tree cut down), yet actual supernatural events (fiery furnace, lion's den).  Daniel 3," TARGET="_blank">Daniel 3, Daniel 4," TARGET="_blank">Daniel 4, Daniel 5" TARGET="_blank">Daniel 5

The King had actual dreams and Daniel was thrown to real lions, the three friends walked in literal fire.
It is not as if the fire represented a trial and the Lions were a figure of Daniel battling Satan.
In the same way, your questions about the saints who were beheaded are literal believers who John sees in the future.
The beast is the world leader - known as the antichrist.
They are real people.

In Revelation, however, there is a lot of figurative language. Fortunately, we can tell when John is describing these images because he uses the words "like" or "as". Revelation 9" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 9: 7 "And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men."

I would recommend that you start your quest by determining how you should interpret the Bible. A good book to read on the subject is "Things to Come" by J. Dwight Pentecost. It's become a standard, comprehensive reference book on Bible prophecy. However, it is different from many other prophetic books in that the first 65 pages deal with the issue of how to interpret the Bible.

Specifically, the answers to your questions:

There is no indication in the chapter to say these bodies, resurrections and people are not real.  What they experience is a miracle.  While the "beast" is a name given to indicate a person's beastly character, he is a real human.

“beheaded because of their testimony” - is this the when a person surrenders completely to God and have died in the flesh, to be reborn in the spirit. the word (sword) of God has severed the spiritual head from the physical body. The person has passed through the inner door to the kingdom that exists within. The person then arrives at the realization that the kingdom inside, outside and the kingdom of heaven are one and the same.

 This means there will be believers in the Tribulation that will be executed for disobeying the antichrist's decree to worship his idol.
There is nothing in the context of Revelation about surrendering oneself to God.
This teaching is taught quite straightforwardly in Romans 12:1" TARGET="_blank">Romans 12:1

 “They had not worshiped the beast” - is the beast our "flesh body" that the Holy Spirit lives within. We die in the flesh, meaning give up wants, desires, defects, …

 This beast is a real person, a world leader who demands worship as a god.
Again, read the context of the chapter.

 “They came to life” - a person dies to the body of flesh and awakens to the spirit within. We still walk the earth but our perspective has changed. like when the blind are given sight, it is the people blind to the kingdom of God are given sight and not blind to the kingdom of God

 These believers are raised back to by physically alive again.

 “This is the first resurrection” - is this a reference that some people enter the kingdom of God while alive as they have surrendered fully without reservation to the will of Gd. the 2nd resurrection is for others who remain blind spiritually to the kingdom of Gd. These blind people do not enter the kingdom until they die physically and are buried.

 There are two literal resurrections - firstly for believers who will live in heaven.
They are saved eternally. The second resurrection is described Revelation 21" TARGET="_blank">Revelation 21 where the eternally lost are given a just sentence for their sins and condemned to a literal Lake of Fire.

“they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years” - a person that has entered the kingdom while alive in the physical body. This person while dead in the flesh but alive in the spirit is given tasks to perform. Tasks/functions/callings (refer to Ep 4:11) while completing the will of Gd. while some people remain blind to the kingdom. The thousand years refers to the rest of the physical life which will be a period of time.

 There will be a literal throne, a literal calendar that can mark of a literal thousand years and a literal group of people who will participate in the administration of the earth with Christ.

 Shad Sluiter

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What is the significance of the terms “Kingdom of Heaven” (Matthew 32)" TARGET="_blank">Matthew 32) and “Kingdom of God” ("1 Corinthians 15:24)" TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:24)?

The expression “Kingdom of God” does not actually occur in 1 Corinthians 15:24," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:24, but I believe the Kingdom there referred to is the same to all intents and purposes as that proclaimed by John the Baptist. Any godly Jew, versed in the Old Testament Scriptures and especially Daniel’s prophecy, knew that God had transferred the Kingdom from Israel, for their sins, to the four great Gentile Powers—Babylon, MedoPersia, Greece and Rome, the last of which was exercising its sway at the time of the Baptist’s mission. It would also be known from Daniel that the next event on the divine programme was to be the smiting and total destruction of the great-powers, regarded in their integrity as an image, by the stone cut out without hands, to be followed by the “setting up of a Kingdom which shall never be destroyed,” and “which shall not be left to other people,”—”it shall stand for ever.”

What else could a godly Jew understand then by John’s proclamation, “The kingdom of heaven is at hand,” but that God was about to introduce His, the fifth Kingdom, upon earth? For that, God had His King ready, but the King was also the Lamb of God—for atonement must be made, the only ground on which the Kingdom could ever be set up on this sin-stained earth. Had the Jewish nation received the post-pentecostal testimony to the resurrection of the Lord, God would have sent back the Lord Jesus to destroy His enemies and set up His millennial Kingdom.

It is that Kingdom to which reference is made in 1 Corinthians 15:24," TARGET="_blank">1 Corinthians 15:24, at the close of which the Lord will put down all His enemies—human and angelic—and then deliver up the Kingdom to God, purged of every “evil concurrent.” This will not be as is so often mistakenly asserted, in the sense of ceasing to reign, for the millennial reign will only be the first stage of the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but in the sense of restoring it to Him. Then no less than before, God will be (not become) All in All, and the Lord will reign as universal King. God’s throne will for ever be the throne of God and the Lamb.

W.H.

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Bible activity worksheets

You can either make your own Bible activity worksheets with the worksheet programs below or select several of the 350 Bible Activity Worksheets that have been already created. These pre-made Bible activity worksheets are in PDF format.  The worksheets contain a word search activity, a crossword puzzle activity and a Bible coloring page activity worksheet.

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Printable Nativity Scenes

A printable manger scene for your Sunday school craft.  This Christmas, create a creche with the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the wise men and the shepherds at the stable in Bethlehem the first Christmas night.

This printable nativity scene can be printed, cut and taped in less than one hour. 

Click here or the picture to download the printable PDF file.

Other Printable Resources

If you are a Bible class teacher, you may also be interested in the items in the Sunday School section of this site.

- Word puzzle creators to create your own crossword puzzles and word games.

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- Other printable activities such as a printable 3D model of the Tabernacle or a 3D printable model of Noah's ark .

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