Dear Mr. Smith,

Would John Hagge's message of there being only one eternity be scriptural if he used the term everlasting, instead of for ever and ever?

Secondly, I am amazed at a simple flaw you made, the bible was originally written in the early Aramic precursor to Hebrew and Greek.

Thirdly, let me say that while you make some good points, I do not agree with you nor shall I ever. I must admit however, that your site provides an interesting look at some of Christianity's most controversial issues.

[Ray Replies]

Dear Mr. Nameless:

Thank you for you interesting comments.

If you are referring to the word "Aramaic," let me present you with this bit of factual and historical information:

Aramaic was a Semite language known since the NINTH century B.C. (remember that David lived five or six hundred years earlier than this), and Moses who is credited with writing the first five books of the Bible lived considerably earlier than King David.   Certainly long BEFORE the ninth century which is the first historical acquaintance with the language of "Aramaic."

Actually the language of Aramaic was adopted by Jews, however, not BEFORE the first Scriptures were written, but rather AFTER the Babylonian exile!  Historians tell us that the Aramaic language looked more like, "The square Hebrew alphabet as distinguished from the EARLY HEBREW ALPHABET." 

Have you seen any of these Aramaic Scriptures that PREDATE the Hebrew and Greek language?

And, John Hagee's messages would not be scriptural no matter WHAT words he would use!

God be with you,

Ray

Hi Ray!

I've been looking at these words 'aion' and 'aionan'--I've read your paper to John Hagee as well as read some other similar studies on the tentmaker site.

I came across an interesting paper with a slightly different take on these words.  I think you may be interested to read this writing.

http://www.growthingod.org.uk/AEONRELM.HTM

God bless!

Mike

[Ray Replies]

Dear Mike:

Thank you for the link on the "aions."

I have come to see over the years, that there are often well-meaning scholars who seem to be 100% accurate in their scholarship, when in reality, they have major flaws.

This researcher makes numerous assertions that he says are absolutely certain, that are not as he says.

Here are a couple, as I didn't read the whole paper, and don't have time to critique it in its entirety:

He states that Hebrew "olams" NEVER, EVER mean "age." That statement is NOT Scripturally true. Numbers 25:13 speaks of the priesthood of Aaron, and we read this:  "And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an EVERLASTING [Heb. 'olam'] priesthood...." We now know for a Scriptural FACT that this priesthood was NOT "everlasting," but rather lasted for an "age"--a long period of time having a beginning and an ending. We see in the book of Hebrews that this very priesthood NO LONGER EXISTS! The temple is gone and the tribe of Levi is gone. And so, it was an "age-abiding" or "eonian" priesthood, not an "everlasting" one.

He states that Hebrew "olams" are always periods that CANNOT BE SEEN OR KNOWN. This likewise, is an UNscriptural statement.  Often a man's lifetime is called an "olam," and when a person is born and when he dies is NOT an unknowable period of time.  Likewise the three days of Jonah's trial was is absolutely KNOWABLE.

One more: to suggest that the context can determine whether an "olam" is a short period of time or an longer period of time, or ETERNITY, can be deduced from the context. Hence when speaking of God, olams ALWAYS MEAN ETERNAL OR EVERLASTING. That's just not true. NOwhere will you find a statement in either the Old Testament or the New Testament where olam or aion is used with reference to God and then inserts a restrictive word such as "only."  When stating that God is an "eonian God," it never adds the word "only." As though God lives for the eons, ONLY! That is all unscriptural human reasoning.  Statements of FACT are never statements of RESTRICTION unless there are restrictive words present!! That God is "the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob" by no means suggests that He is the God of these three men ONLY!!

Okay, one more:  this author states that Heb. 1:2, "...makes the eons [ages]...." has to be translated world even though he concedes that God did "make the aions or ages."  And his proof for this assertion? He has not proof. He just makes the statement that this is speaking of a material creation and ages aren't material. God also "breathed" into Adam (breath is not material). The finished product of man was "a living soul." The soul of man is not material. Let's go back further: "Let there be LIGHT." Is light made out of material? Besides, how could Jesus have "made the worldS." How many "worlds" are there? There is but ONE WORLD. It should be translated "ages" as even my King James says in the margin.

Thanks a gain, and God be with you,

Ray

Maybe I'll take another look at his paper another time.

My husband and I read your article on tithing with such enthusiasm. We knew that this was the word of God for this hour. It is unfortunate that many people are subjected to such abusive methods of con artistry.

One question though, what mainstream ministry has received your teaching and has decided to re-teach the differences between tithing under the old testament and giving under the dispensation of Grace (new testament) according to the word? 

I can recall when my husband ad I were subjected to this error regarding our finances also. We were told that if you don't give you are going to be cursed. We thank God that our eyes have definitely been open and now we minister  the same word. We are telling people as the Spirit of the Lord leads us about the error of tithing and how it is pervasive in certain churches. We do however believe in giving and sometimes we don't have it to give but we thank God for his abundance and we are glad that others are finally catching on and listening to the word and rightly dividing.

Thank you sincerely with love and prayer

[Ray Replies]

Dear Maureen:

I am glad that the tithing paper was helpful for you and your husband.

I know of no mainstream church that does not teach and demand tithes from their congregation. There are some independent ministers who have emailed me and said that they would not longer teach tithing after reading my paper, but there are not denominations. And I don't believe there ever will be any mainstream denominations that will ever teach the Truths of God.

There are churches that will allow you to attend without paying tithes, however. I don't attend any institutionalized churches of men.

God be with you,

Ray

[more on same subject]

How are we to build churches and have a Ministry without the Tithe.

I do admit some have taken it to the extreme. However I would not want to be in your shoes should you be wrong and I think you are.

Pastor ...

[Ray Replies]

Dear Pastor ...:

Thank you for your email and question. I only wish all of my email questions were this easy to answer.

"How are we to build churches and have a Ministry without the Tithe?" Well, let's ask ourselves if it has ever been done before? Has anyone in the past built a church and have a ministry without the tithe?  As a matter of fact, THEY HAVE!

Jesus Christ said, "I will BUILD My church..." (Matt. 16:18). James understood that there was a church to be built among the Gentiles, "After this I will return and will BUILD again the tabernacle of David..."   (Acts 15:15-16). Paul instructs us further in this building process of the church,

"According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another builds thereon. But let every man TAKE HEED HOW HE BUILDS thereupon" (I Cor. 3:10). 

This most stern warning is given to us because Paul is not speaking of properly laying or building with bricks and mortar, but with the LIVES of precious people, "...YE ARE God's building" (Verse 9)! 

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this TEMPLE, and in three days I will raise it up. [how much MONEY do you suppose that would take, Pastor?] Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days?  But He spake of the TEMPLE OF HIS BODY" (John 2:19-21).

"For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a BUILDING of God, an house NOT MADE WITH HANDS [how much money you reckon a fine building like this would cost, Pastor?]..." (II Cor. 5:1).

"Know you not that YOU ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD, and that the Spirit of God dwells IN YOU?" (I Cor. 3:16).

That's because,

"God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth, DWELLS NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS" (Acts 17:24).

No, God does not "dwell" in temples and buildings made with hands, but SATAN "DWELLS" in carnal churches made with hands (Rev. 2:13)!

The reason the church today is bankrupt is because they have FAR TOO MUCH MONEY and FAR TOO LITTLE SPIRIT! 

But let's assume for a minute that you are one of those unique rarities that have the Spirit of God and desire to build an actual physical building to meet in (minus all the traditional phallus-shaped windows, steeples, and other such pagan filth, of course). How would you do it?  You could do it with MONEY. But where would get the money?  Well, you wouldn't want to steal it from the bank and you wouldn't want to steal it from the congregation by fraudulently telling them that they must give you ten percent of their annual salaries or God will CURSE THEM WITH A CURSE, that's for sure. No, you could take up VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS. THAT'S how Jesus financed His ministry, and THAT'S how the apostles and Paul financed their ministry, and none of them were really into stained-glass windows and such religious paraphernalia.  They all believed and taught that "...God LOVES A CHEERFUL GIVER" (II Cor. 9:7), and therefore never ever deigned to stoop so low as to threaten God's called ones with CURSES if they didn't TITHE their salaries.  These were men of FAITH. They TRUSTED GOD for their every need.  They didn't fraudulently fleece the flocks with unscriptural land produce tithes from the bygone laws of Moses.

Jesus didn't take or teach His followers to tithe to Him; the apostles didn't take or teach their followers to tithe to them; and Paul didn't take or teach his followers to tithe to him. This is a simple and factual truth of both history and the Scriptures, and anyone to tries to imply otherwise will be severely judged by The Righteous Judge in that day!

Hope this helps your understanding a little better regarding the evil and unscriptural practice of teaching Christians to tithe they paychecks to a man or a church.

May God be with you and richly bless you as you seek His perfect will for you life and ministry,

Ray

Ray,

I know you mentioned in one of your email replies to someone regarding baptism and that you probably will have a paper on the subject in the future - I'd like that! Can you shed some light on this subject... I understand what you have explained about there being only one baptism and doing physical things do not obtain spiritual things; however, our (physical) church stresses the importance on the book of Acts, what the apostles teach. They explain that the apostles baptized (AFTER Christ died) and therefore, we must be baptized. What you have explained makes sense, but how come the apostles did teach baptism? I looked up each verse that had baptism in it and most of them didn't say WATER baptism, so I suppose you could take that either way, whether it was water or spiritual.

The main verses they use to support this is Acts 3:15 (? I'm guessing here since I'm at work and without a bible. The one in which people ask, "What should we do to be saved?" And the apostles reply, "Repent of your sins, be baptized, and filled with the Holy Spirit." or something very much like that. I'm sure you know what I'm referring to.) The other story is also in Acts, don't ask me where, but where the eunuch just HAS to get baptized right then and there after hearing the gospel and he jumps in to a body of water. It does seem that the apostles did baptize, but maybe I'm missing something here.

If you, Mike, or any other of your friends could help explain this area, we will then pretty much have all the pieces of the puzzle. (The only other piece is tongues, but I don't feel like getting into that subject yet.) Why does that eunuch get baptized in water if it wasn't necessary? Or is it a sign of something? I don't know, I'm so new at all of this.

All I can say, is THANK YOU for putting all the info that you do on the website.

Keep it up and keep it coming!

Warm Regards,

Margaret

[Ray Replies]

Dear Margaret:

Most people don't realize that there was a transition period from the end of Christ's ministry and the writing of Revelation. Most of the converts to Christianity continued to KEEP THE LAW OF MOSES as did the unbelievers. They were so zealous for the law of Moses, in fact, that they insisted that Paul and others force the Gentile converts to be law keepers as well. At the Jerusalem Conference mentioned in Acts 15 it is clear that the Apostles did not longer believe that Gentile converts had to be circumcised or follow any of the other laws of Moses. They were to live by a much higher spiritual law including the commandments to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES.

Paul baptized in the beginning of his ministry. Late he said, "The Lord has not called me to baptize."  All the institutionalized churches of men know is the physical. Some have even said that, "The physical IS THE SPIRITUAL." What rank nonsense. All physical rituals (baptism is a physical ritual) are types and shadows of spiritual realities. When we have the reality, why should we still look to the type or shadow?  Would you sooner have the "shadow" that a new house casts on the grown, the the "new house" that casts the shadow?

Jesus Christ is the spiritual reality of ALL TYPES AND SHADOWS.  "Jesus Christ is the END of the law."

God be with you,

Ray

Dear Mr. Smith,

In your reply to Dugan in "What about Hitler?" you profess 1 John 4:14, "...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world." to mean that all WILL be saved.  You even suggest that if even a single person were not saved, then that would mean God and Jesus were a failure.  Of course, we can all agree that God is not (nor could ever be) a failure. But if a man chooses not to accept the gracious gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (see Eph. 2:8) then it is the man who has failed, not God nor His perfect plan.  God's perfect plan, should one choose to believe in it, WILL yield one's salvation.

But does 1 John 4:14 really mean that ALL will be saved or does it just mean what it says, that "...the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world."?  If I send my son to go to my neighbor's house and offer my neighbor a gift, yet my son returns home with the gift still in his hand because the neighbor refused the gift, does that make either my son or I a failure? I don't think so since my son had accomplished what he was sent to do which was to offer a gift.

In the same reply, you make the definitive statement that "ALL MANKIND will be saved" and then reference 1 Tim. 2:4.  However, 1 Tim. 2:4 does not say that.   It reads in the KJV & NKJV, "Who will have all men to be saved,..."   In all other bible versions it reads, "who wants all men to be saved", "who wishes all men to be saved", "who desires all men to be save", etc., etc., etc... 

Also in your reply to Dugan, you ask him, "why should it seem a thing impossible that God Almighty should save a puny wimp of a sinner like Hitler?" all the while comparing Hitler to the apostle Paul.  First of all, I don't think anyone doubts God's ability to save Hitler nor anyone, but rather Hitler's ability to receive God's gift through faith.  Second, while Paul does admit he was the greatest sinner that ever lived, he makes this confession long before Hitler's time.  And, while Paul may have wanted to persecute Christians, Hitler actually engaged in attempted genocide.

As for your reference to Philippians 2:9-11,  I cannot see where this implies salvation nor freedom from punishment, only that ALL will bow to Christ and ALL will confess Christ is Lord, for even the slaves bowed to and confessed their masters' as lord.

In your reply to Allen in "Blaspheme Against the Holy Spirit" you state that you know of, "a DOZEN Bible Translations covering a period of centuries that do not translate "iaon" or "iaonion" into "everlasting" or "eternal," but rather "eonian" or "age-abiding.""   As for me, it seems trivial to debate God's time descriptive adjective for the "fire" as eternal or age-abiding.  Both are too long for me and, either way, I choose life (through faith)!

In many of your replies you ask the people who write to you, "Do you believe these scriptures?"  I must admit I find your continued use of the word these versus the to be quite curious.  But, in anticipation I will answer, yes, I do believe the scriptures.  And, after reading most of the letters on your web site I don't doubt anyone's belief in the scriptures (including yourself).  Perhaps a more relevant question to ask that would be of greater service is, "Do you understand the scriptures?"  I would be the first to admit I do not understand much of the scriptures I have read and will continue to study and ask God for understanding.

In closing I would like to add that no one can, nor is expected to, know everything about God and his perfect plan according to His word.  God is sovereign and only reveals that which He allows us to know.  1 Timothy 3:9 teaches us to hold "the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience" not a perfect understanding.  Isaiah 40:28 tells us that "His understanding is unsearchable."

I truly appreciate your web site and the work you put into spreading the good news of Christ.  If the tone of my letter causes you to believe otherwise, please accept my sincerest apology.

Your brother in Christ,

Norm

[Ray Replies]

Dear Norm:

Thank you for you email and comments.

If you were to read my series on the "The Lake of Fire" you would have learned that trying to turn I Tim. 2:4 from God's "will" to His "desire" changes nothing!  I prove from the Scriptures themselves that that God's "desire" "good pleasure" "counsel" "word" etc., are just as strong as His "will."  God says that if he has so much as "spoken it" it WILL come to pass.

There is a giant giant difference between "age-abiding" which comes to and end and "eternity" which does not.

All of your arguments are based on the erroneous and stupid wisdom of this world that teaches man has a "free will" or "free moral agency" as it is sometimes called. Nothing could be further from the Scriptural Truth!!

It is the Church that teaches that it is up to each and every individual to come to Christ and accept His gift of salvation. Jesus plainly tells us that "NO MAN CAN come to Him except the Father draw him" [Greek: "drag him"].

Even our faith is not of ourselves but it is the gift of God (Eph. 1:8),  and hundreds more such Scriptures. We make "CHOICES":  we do not have "free will" (See Eph. 2:13).  Did Paul suddenly "see the error of his ways" on the road to Demascus, or did God MAKE HIM repent in an instant of blinding light?  Did the King of Babylon "choose" to become a beast in the field for seven years in order to "BREAK" his own carnal will, or did God FORCE HIM TO DO SO?

I have heard ignorant ministers and theologians repeat like a broken record as if it were a Scripture, that:  "God will NEVER MAKE a person do anything against his OWN WILL"!  Oh really?  And what Bible do you suppose they are reading? "God is operating ALL according to counsel of His OWN WILL" (Eph. 1:11)!!

And you failed to acknowledge I Cor. 12:3 with reference to Phil. 2:9-11.  It is worst than error to try and compare God's ability to accomplish a task as compared to a man's ability to accomplish a task. "...no man CAN say that Jesus is the Lord, but BY THE HOLY SPIRIT."  Besides, God did not send His Son to "offer" salvation to the world, but "To BE the Saviour of the world."  To "be" a Saviour one MUST SAVE.  To be the Saviour of the whole "WORLD," one must SAVE THE WHOLE WORLD!!  This is axiomatic.

Does Jesus truly "...TAKE WAY the sin of the WORLD" (John 1:29), "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours ONLY, but also for the SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD" (I John 2:2), but then TORTURE most of the "whole world" for all eternity AFTER He takes away ALL OF THEIR SINS?

Your arguments are not with me or with my writings, Norm. I write with the SCRIPTURES. Your arguments are with the Word of God, not with me.

Even computers can "make choices."  That is, in fact, ALL that they can do--they make millions of choices a second. Are you going to argue that because a computer can and does make choices, that it has a "free will?"

God be with you,

Ray

P.S. Be sure to read this month's Installment: "The Beast Within Denies Free Will."

Dear Ray

Thank You so much for your prompt reply to my question, and for the answer. I must tell you, I found your site quite accidentally (of  course, I know now, it was no accident). I was doing a search for sermons on hell/lake of fire, and a listing showed up for your website. 

I am of Jewish heritage, my parents, siblings, and grandparents are/were Jewish. As far as I know, I am the only one of us who accepts Jesus as Messiah. Ray, since being a believer, the one thing that has caused me the most anguish & pain has been the thought that my grandparents, and, if they don't accept & trust Jesus as their Saviour, my parents & siblings are/would be suffering in the lake of fire eternally for rejecting Jesus. Yes, I believed that for 25 years, until I read your expositions in the 'Lake of Fire' series.

I feel like a babe in Christ all over. I'm excited again, learning new things as I read your articles, and the scriptures, things that I thought I knew and understood, but didn't!!

Ray, I'm sure I will have more questions in the future, but for now, I just want to thank you again, and God for this ministry. Please, keep on keeping on. Do you have audio tapes of any of these messages? and if not, why not? : )

Gods blessings always,

Mitch  1 Cor 10:31

[Ray Replies]

Dear Mitch:

Glad that our site is helping your spiritual understanding.

The only material I have available at present is what we have posted on the bible-truths.com site. To tape messages from our conferences, for example, requires professional equipment, then editing, high-speed duplicators, printing labels, packaging, addressing, mailing, etc. This requires more money that I have for such a project (I have a full-time job to support my family, and only I and a couple of my friends and web master pay for the site which costs thousands of dollars a year). Plus it takes time to do all the taping, editing, duplicating, printing, packaging, etc. I spend over a hundred hours a month just answering emails. And then I am also supposed to write a thirty-page installment for the lake of series each month. Plus I have many other obligations. There just isn't time or money for it.

God be with you,

Ray

Mr. Smith,

I came across your website a few days ago and I can't stop reading. I read a few of the emails and can only reiterate what many have said - thank you. 

Are you a minister/preacher? How have you obtained this much knowledge and where do you get the time to write so much.  I thank God that you do (write so much) and please keep on writing.   I am surely not the only one to want to know more about you but I also would understand your reluctance. 

Thanks you again so much. I am going to print your documents and give to a friend of mine who does not have a computer.

Sandy

[Ray Replies]

Dear Sandy:

Thank you for your email and kind words. It is for people just like you that this web site exists. I hope and pray that you will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and His Father of all spirits.

God be with you,

Ray

Dear Ray,

I have never e-mailed you before, but I have a great need to talk to you.  I'm afraid this will be a bit long, because I feel the need to tell you how I came to be sitting here writing this e-mail today.

I grew up going to church typical of today.  (Your going to hell, the Trinity, Baptized in water, God cannot save all.)  As soon as I was married at 18 I stopped going to church.  Through the next 15-16 years of married life, I believed that the Bible was not inspired of God.  How could it be? People were going to be tormented forever? I could not reconcile that to my belief in the Supreme Being that I knew created us, but could not be of the Bible where they tormented most of mankind forever.  I thought all religion was of man, in their attempts to control people.   I knew there was a Living God, but I just did not know where to search for the truth except for in my prayers.

Then one day I got one of those newsletters from the Jehovah Witnesses. (God's Will)  On the front of the cover was a statement that questioned the belief in hellfire.  I was curious.  The weekend after I read it, who should come to call but two ladies from the Jehovah Witness.    It was the first time I came to the knowledge that not everyone who read the Bible did not believe in hell.   So I studied with them for about four months, questioning many of their other beliefs.  That the Watch Tower were the "Faithful & Discreet Slave" as they said and that I was not supposed to use my mind and question them but trust their word for it. They had a belief that before the 1000 years ended God would raise all mankind to get a "Second Chance" at getting it right, but then Satan would be let loose and dissuade many and these would go onto the second death.  I could not trust their words; All my Bibles , even theirs, clearly said that God will not rouse the rest of mankind until AFTER the 1000 years.  I even remember as I was reading my King James Revised Bible asking them about God's Will not free-will.  And that it clearly shows once you get rid of the hell stupidity, that God will save all men.

We'll sadly their Bible says "All sorts of men".   We'll I came to realize that though it was God's Will that led them to my door, but that there was something not quite right with their beliefs. So, I said good-bye and started searching the internet for churches that did not believe in hell or the trinity.   We'll  of course I didn't find any.  But I tried a few churches in my area but could not feel right.  Whether they preached on hell or not,  their literature about their church always stated that they believed in the trinity and hell.   I just could not justify studying with people who believed this non-sense.  So I tried the Internet again (God's Will) and typed in the word "Gehenna" and I found the Concordant Web-site.  Well this last year I spent a lot of time reading their material and I got their Bible. Through this web-site I found the true knowledge of   God's Will not mans and that God will be the "SAVIOR of ALL MANKIND, especially those that believe." But I slowed down on reading their material because I was often confused with some of their renderings, and found their explanations difficult to understand and filled with words I was not familiar with.  But my heart soared at my new knowledge and belief in the Lord and in God the Father.  I cherished this new knowledge and was in total RELIEF that God was in control and not me.

So again I sat at my computer typing in the word "Gehenna" trying to find an answer to the things I found confusing on the Concordant web-site. Then by God's will I came upon your web-site about 1-2 weeks ago.  I MARVELED IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND SPIRITUAL MATURITY!   There was no question in my mind or heart than I am reading the words and understanding from ONE WHO IS OF THE ELECT. APART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST! My heart and mind felt such affinity to your words. 

I have been consumed in the desire to know God's will in my life.   I meditated on God being in absolute control for a long time.  Scriptures repeat themselves over and over in my mind.  God has blessed myself and my husband with 2 children in the last few years after we thought we would never have any.   (They are 3 & 4 years old)  Even when God wasn't calling me to a spiritual understanding I always thought it would be God's will if I did or did not have children.    I knew I was called but could I possibly one of the few.  I still smoke cigarettes!  I realized that God is working on my inside before my habits of flesh.   And when it is his will I will quit.  It took me along time to understand this.  I kept feeling miserable because I can't do this simple thing to show my love for God.

Well last night I finished reading your "Lake of Fire" series that is posted on your web-site.  And I realized in the last installment that I never had told God in prayer that I ACCEPTED his work in my life.  As soon as I prayed this I felt a "wind" permeate through my body, I felt it for what seemed like a minute or so.  The room was quite, I was laying quietly in bed, but I felt a presence through me that I can't even begin to explain. At the end it felt like the bed trembled, but I think it was actually my body. Until the wee hours of the morning I was in a semi-conscious state, where scriptures and words kept streaming through my mind not allowing a full state of sleep.  When I woke up this morning, I immediately thought of what happened but wondered if it was just a dream.  And if it was indeed a dream that God gave me that dream.  Am I going nuts!  I feel I am one of the chosen, but I can't believe that God would pick someone like me,  a nothing.

Has something like this happened to you?  Do I just want to believe it? I find it impossible to believe, but I know that with God "ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE"

God Bless you and keep you,

Mel (Nickname for Melody)

Ray Replies]

Dear Mel:

Actually I have a good acquaintance on Miami Beach named 'Melody."

Thank you for your email and comments. I am over-joyed that your found our bible-truths site and that it is helpful to you.

I too studied for several months with two very distinguished white-haired gentlemen of the Jehovah's Witness faith. It was back about 1960. It was interesting, but I never could fall into full agreement with them on any one subject.

Your feeling of a rush of wind or a strong presence of God in your bedroom may well be a miracle from God. I have little faith in the many stories of hear from people where they "talk with Jesus all night," or have visions, or speak in tongues. But just a warm and strong presence of the nearness of God, can well be something that God would do to give you a confidence that you are going in the right direction.

I spent a lot of time meditating and then writing on the "Lake of Fire" series, and it warms my heart when I hear that it has been a blessing to others.

Let me know when you throw away those cigarettes--one of the hardest things I've every done, and that's the truth. But when God tells your to throw them away, you will throw them away. I have heard people say that after their last cigarette they never had a single craving again. That was not the case with me. I even dreamed about smoking YEARS after I quite. I will pray that God will be merciful when it is your time.

Let me know how you are doing from time to time, okay?  Good.

God be with you,

Ray

Please do not be offended by anything I am writing. If I offend you then it is out of my own lack of understanding. I know God loves sinners at least human sinners.

Have you confessed your sins and received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior?

God loves the church of Jesus Christ and it is the spiritual body of Christ. Do you love the church and fellowship with other believers?

What church do you attend and how often?

What church do you recommend that other believers attend?

Jesus and Paul taught and preached in and outside of physical churches or other places. God wants to restore our broken relationships with himself and other believers. God loves Christian fellowship. God loves giving. God loves the poor. God loves sinners. God wants to restore the lost souls through his son, the living word of God: Jesus Christ. God sends his holy spirit to teach us and guide us.

Do you know the true and living God: the alpha and omega of whom all truth and knowledge comes from imparted to his true believers by the acceptance of the power and belief in the sacrificial blood of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins?

Do you believe Jesus as a man is the sacrificial lamb of God, his only begotten son, that he died for our sins and rose again and is alive today,and sits at the right hand of power by God his father?

God wants an open communicating relationship with all whom love him. He wants to walk in the garden and fellowship with us again.

How many sinners have you lead to Jesus Christ?

Where does the source of your knowledge originate?

A lot of people intellectually and historically know the bible even demons, saints and our forefathers.

Is the word of Christ a living example of your life?

What are you doing for the body of Christ?

Have you witnessed for Christ?

What has God done for you?

What is your ministry?

Are you a beloved son of God (ABBA Father) in whom he is well pleased?

Do you destroy or build up the body of Christ?

Are you a Saul or a Paul?

Freely from my spirit and heart I have spoken to you as freely I have received.

John

[Ray Replies]

Dear John:

Nothing you could say would offend me, so don't apologize.

What I believe is covered in some detail on our bibletruths.com site.  It contains presently approximately 1500 pages.

I fellowship with like-minded believers as often as we are able, since many live long distances from each other. I do not attend any institutionalized church of men. I am a member of The Body of Christ--The Church of The Living God.

Most of your questions are silly and demeaning. "Are you [that's me] a Saul or a Paul?"  What kind of question is that?  "Do you destroy or build up the body of Christ?"  Do you really expect me to say that "I DESTROY the body of Christ?" Do you?  Well then why ask such a demeaning and stupid question?

How many sinners have I lead to Jesus? NONE! And neither have you:  "NO MAN C-A-N come to Me [Jesus] except the FATHER [the 'FATHER'--not YOU and not ME, but 'THE FATHER'!!!] which has sent Me draw him  [Greek: 'DRAG him']:  and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:44 & 65).  We don't bring sinners to Christ, GOD THE FATHER DOES. Read your Bible, and stop being so 'holier-than-thou."

God be with you,

Ray

First of all, let me say that I am not saying that you are not a Christian.  You very well may be if you have REPENTED of your sins and have accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior.  His grace alone saves, but let me say this. 

You are spreading false doctrine, and truthfully you as well as I know this.  Your definition for the Greek word "aion" is correct when you say that that root "aion" means age but you error when you deny the instances when this root, and the word "aionian" DOES MEAN ETERNAL.   CONTEXT IS EVERYTHING.  Why must you twist the Greek so that you can create you're own doctrine?  You teach all the scriptures concerning God's sovereignty and none of the scriptures showing man's free will. 

I will point out one error that you have made, just to get specific, as you've asked others to do.  You said that Jesus never said that He would raise Himself, but that He only said that He had the POWER to raise Himself.   You said that God the Father alone raised Him from the dead.  The Bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit (Yes, I do believe in the trinity) all raised Jesus from the dead.  Specifically Jesus said to the Jews in John 2:19, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I WILL RAISE IT UP."   Are you calling my Lord a liar.  Beware, His words are faithful and true.  

Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven because He does not want you to go there, but God didn't make robots, you must make your choice.  Repent of this doctrine, for one day you will be judged for leading many people astray. 

You want to impress me, post this e-mail (unbutchered by editing) up on your site. 

You are a false teacher and I do pray that God looses Satan's bind on your eyes,

Aaron

[Ray Replies]

Dear Aaron:

You state:  "You [that's me] are spreading false doctrine, and truthfully you as well as I know this."  Aaron, that's a lie. I know no such thing.

You state:  "...you error [err] when you deny the instances when this root, and the word "aionion" DOES MEAN ETERNAL."  Aaron, "aionion" NEVER means "eternal."  Not in ANY context!  Aionion is the adjective form of the noun, aion and has the meaning of "pertaining to an age."  It is a law of grammar and language that no adjective can take on a greater meaning than the noun from which it was derived.  Therefore, the adjective "hourly" can never mean "annually."  It must always, and in all contexts, pertain to "an hour" and not a day or a week or a month or a year or an eternity.

You state:  "You teach all the scriptures concerning God's sovereignty and none of the scriptures showing man's free will."   Aaron, if there were but ONE Scripture that showed God is sovereign, then there can not be even ONE Scripture that shows man's free will.  Sovereignty CONTRADICTS the fabled phantom of man's supposed "free will."  Man HAS NO free will.  Man has a brain, and with that brain he has the ability to MAKE CHOICES. Making choices has absolutely NOTHING to do with the concept of free will.  All of our choices are caused by circumstances either within or without over which we have absolutely no control. We never make a choice that HAS NO CAUSE. It is a physiological impossibility.  Anything that is CAUSED to happen, is not free.  Computers can make choices.  In fact, that is ALL they can do--make choices.  But let me assure you that no computer has FREE WILL! 

We all have a will, but it is anything but free to do anything without a cause. God has given us the Scriptural truth about man's supposed free will, but most have no interest in Scriptural truth whatsoever.  Does God say that man can "will" whatever he wants based on HIS "free" will? Get real: 

"For it is GOD which works IN YOU both TO WILL and TO DO of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13).

Who wills in us? We, ourselves?  No, GOD!  One more Scriptural proof: 

"Now the GOD [remember this word, 'GOD'--not SELF] of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting convenient, MAKE YOU [do you see the different between making yourself or GOD MAKING YOU?] perfect in every good work TO DO [God is doing the 'doing'] His will, WORKING IN YOU [it is not your own fabled free will working in you, but GOD!] that which is well pleasing in HIS sight [GOD'S!], through Jesus Christ; TO WHOM BE GLORY [we receive NO glory--we did NOTHING!] for ever and ever [Gk: 'eons of the eons]. Amen" (Heb. 13:21).

You state:  "The bible teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit all raised Jesus from the dead."  Aaron, there is NO SUCH SCRIPTURE. Furthermore, there isn't even the phrase: "God the Holy Spirit" found anywhere in the Scriptures. And every single Scripture presented to us after Jesus died, telling us Who raised Jesus from the dead, is ALWAYS God the Father! Here's just one of many:

"Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, WHO RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD" (Gal. 1:1).  

WHO raised Jesus from the dead? Jesus?--NO.  The Holy Spirit?--NO.  God the Father?--YES!  But will YOU believe the Scriptures?--NO.

You state:  "Jesus spoke more about hell than he did of heaven...."   Oh really?  If you have a red letter edition of the King James, you will see that it attributes the word "hell" to Jesus 16 times.  Contrariwise, Jesus used the word "heaven" well over ONE HUNDRED TIMES.  All 100+ times that Jesus uses the word heaven, it is correctly translated. NOT ONE of the times He supposedly used the word "hell" is it correctly translated.  It should be correctly translated either "hades" (the grave) or "gehenna" (a valley south of Jerusalem).  The modern word "hell" is not the translation of of ANY word from the Hebrew or Greek manuscripts.  And it is being dropped from most modern versions, as the translators know that "hell" is a fallacious and erroneous translation.

Your wish is granted.  Your email is posted.

Have a nice life,

Ray

You seem to have all of your noodles, but I have [to] say you are WRONG and I won't be deceived by a demonic partner of Satan.  I know what I know and THERE IS NO CONDEMNATION WITH GOD,  you cannot sway me.

Maybe you should stop and take a look at yourself because you are a very lonely man.

Lets just SUPPOSE and put your name on the scripture you quoted... and I think the GIANT PROBLEM lays on your hands!  

A CHILD OF THE ONE AND ONLY JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD.  

Lisa

[Ray Replies]

Dear Lisa:

That last comment of yours wherein you call me, "A demonic partner of Satan" might cost you dearly, Lisa. Especially after I warned you of the seriousness of attributing the work of God to the devil.

You are wrong about me being "a very lonely man." Lisa, I have a lovely wife and family, super-great neighbors who would do anything for me (and I for them), thousands of readers who write me words of encouragement, amazing friends who are brothers and sisters in Christ, and the constant fellowship with Jesus Christ and God His Father. I attend conferences where I meet new friends in Christ. I receive and answer 5-600 emails a month. I talk on the telephone counseling and discussing the word of God for approximately 100 hours of long distance each month. And then, of course, there are my brothers and relatives back north with whom I visit and converse regularly. LONELY? I don't think so, Lisa. I am never ever lonely.

What I am about to say, may sound a little harsh, but I assure you it is for your own edification. It is not possible to truly be "A CHILD OF THE ONE AND ONLY JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD" and at the same time, be ridiculing and accusing His Word and Teachings of being that of Satan the Devil.

Since you are quite unable to disprove one single statement of mine in any of a thousand or more pages, I suggest that you proceed a little more cautiously with you accusations of condemnation and linking my work with that of Satan. You really are digging a pit from which you cannot crawl out. You will go into the judgment of the Lake of Fire where these evils will be purged from your carnal mind.

May God give to you the wisdom to slow down a little and reconsider the enormity of your sin, Lisa. The infallible Word of God teaches that:

"...the Father sent the Son to be THE SAVIOUR OF THE WORLD" (I John 2:14).

Lisa, I teach that Scripture every chance I get. The infallible Word of God teaches that:

"...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who WILL HAVE ALL MEN TO BE SAVED, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth" (I Tim. 2:4).

Lisa, I teach that Truth a dozen times in my writings. I wrote multiple whole pages on this one verse in my "Lake of Fire" series, PROVING that this verse is absolutely TRUE! I also teach I Tim. 4:10 whenever I can:

"For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the Living God, Who is the SAVIOUR OF ALL MEN, especially of those that believe"

It is the signature verse of our bible-truths.com site. Look at the last entry on our home page.

Here's another one I just love and teach all the time:

"Wherefore God also has highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of them ['things' is not in the original Greek] in heaven, and them in earth, and them under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord [THEIR Lord], to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).

That's a marvelous Scripture Truth right there, Lisa. I bet I quoted that verse dozens of times in my writings on bible-truth.com. You don't actually, really, believe that verse, or ANY of these verses I am quoting to you, do you, Lisa? Of course you don't. If you did, you wouldn't be calling my writings the work of Satan the Devil.

Here's one of my very favorite verses, Lisa: 

"For when Thy JUDGMENTS [that includes the great white throne judgment and the lake of fire/second death] are in the earth... [What will happen? What will happen when God's judgments are in ALL THE EARTH, Lisa?] ...the inhabitants of THE WORLD WILL LEARN RIGHTEOUSNESS" (Isaiah 26:9).

You don't really believe this verse either, do you Lisa? I mean, you believe when God's judgments are in the earth people like me with be tortured in hell fire for all eternity, don't you?  No, that's not right. Evil people and unbelievers will be JUDGED. And that judgment involves the fiery purging of God's DIVINE [Gk: brimstone] SPIRITUAL FIRE, for God IS "a consuming FIRE" (Heb. 12:29).

Well, there are just a few of thousands of Scriptures I teach on our web site that you condemn as being "the work of Satan the devil." 

If you don't repent of you blasphemy now, Lisa, one day you will be literally "TORMENTED in the presence of the Lamb."  This UN-repented sin of yours will torment you more than words can ever describe when you are faced with it IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LAMB OF GOD!  You will wish that you could DIE. But you won't be able to die; you must face your sins, and they WILL TORMENT YOU HORRIBLY!  You absolutely will not be able to believe that you ever ever would say such damnable things about those who write on the Goodness of God. Think long and hard about what you are doing in your casual, flippant, sarcastic, know-it-all, holier-than-thou, self-righteous attitude.

I and my staff will pray for your deliverance from the clutches of Satan. And trust me when I tell you that you are IN THE CLUTCHES OF SATAN!

"GET THE BEHIND ME, SATAN, AND RELEASE LISA FROM YOUR GRASP--IN JESUS NAME! A-men!"

Ray

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