Difficult Bible PassagesVolume V
1.“Except ye be converted, and become as little children. . .”
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Matt 18:3
But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. Mark 10:14, Matt 19:14, John 13:33
Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Matt. 5:9
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, and persecute you:
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:44,45
The Bible repeatedly talks of God’s followers as “children” and says that the kingdom of heaven is composed of “children” and we must become as little “children” or we will not enter into the kingdom of God.
What does it mean to “become as little children” in relation to God?
When Jesus was on earth, He said:
“When the Son of man returns, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8)
The word “faith” (pistis in the Greek - #4102 in Strong’s Concordance) is the same word as “belief” and “trust.”
Jesus was asking,
“When the Son of man returns, will He find anyone on earth who has faith in Him - who truly trusts Him – who believes that He will do what He has already promised to do?”
Ask any Christian if he or she trusts God, and the answer always will be, “Yes.”
But James tells us:
“Faith without works, is dead.” (James 2:20,26)
Faith – without the actions that correspond to that faith – is utterly useless.
The Christians of today are guilty of the same apostasy as the Israelites of old. God said,
“These people draw near me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me.” (Isa 29:13)
Christians “talk the talk” but they do not “walk the walk.” They talk the talk, but when it comes to really knowing God up close and personal, they choose to know the “church” instead.
What does it mean to trust – have faith in – believe in – God?
It means that we believe that God will do what He has already promised to do – and our actions will prove that
It means that we will trust our heavenly Father just as a small child trust his or her loving parents
Do 3-year olds
Worry where their next meal is coming from?
Worry that the rent or mortgage payment won’t be paid?
Worry if they will be cared for?
Worry that their parents will abandon them?
Worry that their parents won’t protect them?
Of course not. But adult Christians worry about those things – in relation to God – regularly.
God has promised to take care of us - - IF we trust Him.
He promises to provide our needs
He promises that He will provide our food and water.
He promises that He will never leave us or forsake us.
He promises to heal ALL our diseases IF we follow His ways and only His ways.
He promises that He will protect us.
But Christians, by their actions of:
worrying about their shelter, food, wate
going to the doctors rather than turning to God to be healed God’s wa
worrying about their salvatio
worrying about their safet
worrying about their children
prove that they do not trust God.
God expects us to learn to trust Him just as a three-year old child trusts his or her parents.
We must give up our right to ourselves and give it over to God. He created us, He owns us, He is our Father, and He has promised to take care of us - - - IF we truly trust Him.
2. How is Noah’s Flood connected to the Second Coming of Christ?
2 Peter, Chapter 3 tells us:
Vs.3: “Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days mockers, walking according to their own lusts,
This is clearly talking about “end times” – right before Jesus comes.
Vs 4: “And saying, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers (our ancestors) died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
This text reveals that in the “last days” the majority of the population will deny that Noah’s flood even took place. “. . . all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” correctly predicts that people will deny that a catastrophic world-wide event – the flood that covered the whole earth – ever took place.
Vs 5: “For this they willingly are ignorant of (they willingly ignore), that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
Vs. 6: “Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
The world that was - completely perished during the world-wide flood, except for 8 people in the ark – Noah and his family
Vs 7: “But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word (word of God) are kept in store, reserved unto fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men
The flood resulted in people, animals, trees and other foliage being buried under the earth – the source of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are combustible. These same combustible fossils that were buried in the earth at the time of the flood “are reserved unto fire until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”
As the technology of weather control and scalar waves continues to be advanced, scalar waves that can be bounced off the ionosphere and directed deep into the earth to disrupt the tectonic plates to cause earthquakes, can also cause fires deep within the earth from the heat caused by the tectonic plates moving against one another. The combustible fossil fuels in the earth can catch fire causing complete destruction – by fire – of the earth and all its inhabitants. (For more on Weather Control, search: Nikola Tesla and Scalar waves.)
Vs. 10: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (when least expected); in the which the heavens 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 . . .
Vs. 12: “Looking for and hastening 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.”
It is the fossil fuels in the earth formed by the flood the first time the earth was destroyed – by water - because the people rejected God, that will be the source of the second destruction of the earth – this time by fire – again because the people have rejected God.
The earth was first “baptized” (cleansed on the outside) with water (the world-wide flood) and then it will be “baptized” (purified and cleansed on the inside) by fire when it is burned up, just as we are instructed to be baptized with water (cleansing on the outside) and with spiritual fire – trouble that burns the sin out of our life - for purification on the inside.
John the Baptist said,
I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit (God’s breath of holiness), and with fire:
The water symbolically cleanses us on the outside and the fire (which is not literal fire) purifies us on the inside. The purifying fire is “trouble” which is what God promises us in this world.
“In this world you shall have tribulation. But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
3. Is there a time at the end of this age when “probation” will close – suddenly and secretly – meaning no one else will be able to be saved – even if they want to?
Some Christian denominations believe that there will come a time before the Second Coming of Christ when “probation” will close, after which NO ONE will be able to be saved, even if they want to be saved. “Time will be up” - and salvation will no longer be available to anyone who is not already saved. They believe this will occur rapidly and suddenly, without warning.
The obvious implication is that, “You better get into the church right now – before it’s too late.” It is a frightening doctrine to think that suddenly the “door will close” without your knowledge, and no one will be able to be converted after that time. Instead, they will be lost forever.
Yet God has said,
“I will NEVER leave you or forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)
The parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost boy (prodigal son) teach us that the shepherd, the owner of the coin, and the father of the boy, respectively, had NO “cut off” time for finding what was lost. The shepherd searched for the one last sheep that was out of the fold - - - until he found the sheep. The woman searched for the coin - - - - until she found it. The father of the prodigal son never shut the door to his son’s return. The father ran out to meet the son and welcomed him home.
In fact, Jesus said that He “came to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) “Lostness” is a prelude to being “found” – by Jesus Christ. The “lost” are the very ones Jesus came to “seek and to save.”
And Jesus came to “take away” the sin of the (whole) world. John 1:29
He did not “offer” to take away the sin from just some people in the world. He came to take away the sin from everyone in the world.
On what Bible passage is this doctrine of “probation closing” based
This is the explanation of those who believe that “probation will close” suddenly and without warning.
The sins of earth have reached the point of no return. The judgment review of the books in heaven is completed at this time and the judgment of the living is necessary. This means that each person will now be judged. In other words, the trumpet time period is the “hour of God’s judgment.” It is a time of judgment for the living and the seventh trumpet marks the end of the judgment process. Notice how John describes the close of mercy in Revelation 14:14-20:
“I looked, and there before me was a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was one ‘like a son of man’ with a crown of gold on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand. Then another angel came out of the temple and called in a loud voice to him who was sitting on the cloud, ‘Take your sickle and reap, because the time to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is ripe.’ So he that was seated on the cloud swung his sickle over the earth, and the earth was harvested.
“Another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. Still another angel, who had charge of the fire, came from the alter and called in a loud voice to him who had the sharp sickle, ‘Take your sharp sickle and gather the cluster’s of grapes from the earth’s vine, because its grapes are ripe.’ The angel swung his sickle on the earth, gathered its grapes and threw them into the great winepress of God’s wrath. They were trampled in the winepress outside the city, and blood flowed out of the press, rising as high as a horses’ bridle for a distance of 1,600 stadia (180 miles = 60 + 60 + 60).”
Another text used to support this doctrine of the “closing of probation” is the following:
And he saith unto me, Seal not the words of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
And behold, I come quickly: and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. Rev 22:10-12
The “close of probation” is compared to the door closing on the ark of Noah.
“As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
“For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
“Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.” (Matthew 24:36-41)
According to the believers in this doctrine, the key to understanding these verses is found in a comparison with Noah’s experience. Jesus said that in the days before the flood, people were eating, drinking and marrying. Nothing is inherently wrong with any of these things if we put God first in our lives. Noah preached 120 years and the people of earth were well aware of Noah and his message. They also saw the giant boat. What they did not know about was the close of mercy! The day Noah entered the ark the door was closed. The closing of the ark’s door sealed eight people inside and the world outside. The closing of the door of mercy in heaven is the issue. This is the moment in time that matters most, say those who believe that “probation will close.”Let’s Examine the Character of God
There will be a Judgment, but what is the biblical definition of the Judgment?
“And Judgment turns back to righteousness (right-doing).” Psalm 94:15
“. . . for when thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (right-doing).” Isaiah 26:9
Judgment is meant to turn us back to right-doing – to doing right by following God’s way instead of man’s way. Judgment is God’s way of disciplining His children, just as a good parent disciplines his or her children. But the discipline does not involve destroying the child. That would be Satanic.
But that is what the Christian church believes about God.
The process by which God turns His children back to “right-doing” (righteousness) is by allowing them to “reap what they have sown.”
“Be ye not deceived. God will not be mocked. Whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
Everything about God’s character tells us He would never permanently destroy any of His children, including these Bible passages:
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
The parables of the Lost sheep and Lost coin and Lost boy.
God’s will is that NONE should perish, but ALL should come to repentance.
“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness: but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9
God’s WILL is that NONE should perish, but ALL should come to repentance.
And true to form:
God is working ALL according to the counsel of His OWN WILL. Eph 1:11
God is working everything according to HIS WILL – NOT ours – and HIS WILL is that NONE should perish, but ALL should come to repentance!
God will save ALL His Children:
God is the Saviour of ALL mankind; especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10
“God locks all up in stubbornness (unbelief) that He may be merciful to ALL.” Romans 11:32
“As in Adam ALL die, so in Christ shall (the same) ALL be made alive (zoe = eternal life) But every man in his own order.” 1 Cor 15:22,23
“The Father loves the Son, and has given ALL into His hand.” John 3:35, `“ALL that the Father gives Me, SHALL COME TO ME; and him that comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.” John 6:37-39
At the end, everyone will have freely made his own choice, whether to believe in Jesus Christ, or whether to reject Him. Everyone will be settled in his own mind. Those who have rejected Christ – which will include the vast majority of the population of the earth – will have no interest in Christ and will be completely settled in their decision. They will have no interest in being “saved.”
So, it’s not a matter of “a door to salvation suddenly and clandestinely being shut – even to those who might “want” to be saved. Each person who has chosen not to be with Jesus Christ will have willingly and specifically “closed their own door” – deliberately rejecting Christ and His message.
4. “It is Better to Marry than to Burn.”
“But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.” 1 Cor 7:9 KJ
Is Paul telling the Christian that a person will burn in hell if he or she does not get married?
“But if they cannot exercise self-control, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to be inflamed with lust.”
The word “burn” in the KJV translation of this text is the word Puroo in the Greek (#4448 in Strong’s Concordance), which means to be inflamed with lust.
God endorses marriage. He brought it into existence at the time of creation of Adam and Eve.
But Paul said,
“For I would that all men were even as I myself.” 1 Cor 7:7
Why would Paul wish that “all mankind were like himself” – celibate, according to the context of Chapter 7 of 1 Corinthians, when God was the One who endorsed at Creation - marriage between Adam and Eve.
The marriage of a man and a woman symbolizes God’s marriage to His “wife” – His followers.
“. . . and as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.” Isaiah 62:5
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” Rev 21:2
“And there came unto me one of the seven angels which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife.” Rev 21:9
When God ordained marriage, He said,
“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall be joined unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Genesis 2:24
Jesus promises that as we get to know Him, He will become One with us.
“That they all may be one: as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us. . .
“And the glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are One:
“I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one: and that the world may know that Thou has sent Me, and hast loved them, as Thou has loved Me.” John 17:21-23
There will be no marriage in heaven.
“The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage: but they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world (age or eon), neither marry, nor are given in marriage. . .” Luke 20:35
We will be the spiritual “bride of Christ.” We will have become One with Christ. We will have been elevated out of the physical realm into the Spiritual realm.
It is possible that the Apostle Paul had already attained that level of sanctification – becoming One with Jesus Christ – and wished that all others could “be like” him.
5. Will we have stars in our crowns in heaven and the New Earth?
Many people in the Christian church believe that in heaven, they will receive a star in their crown for every person they win to Christ. Pastors even preach such things.
But there is no proof in the Bible for such a teaching. It is based solely on tradition. In addition, the principle behind it is also contradictory to the teaching of Scripture.
From where does this false teaching come?
The only place the Bible comes even close to teaching such a doctrine is in the following text. The passage states that the righteous who win souls to Christ, will shine as stars in the next life. It does not say anything about people having stars in their crowns. The people themselves are the ones shining as stars.
And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever and ever. Dan 12:3
If some people would have more stars in their crown than others in heaven, then a caste system will be operating. Some would be perceived as better – or more holy – than others.
God is completely against that.
“God is no respecter of persons.” (Acts 10:34)
When the disciples were arguing over who “would be the greatest” in Christ’s kingdom, Jesus said,
“Ye know that the princes of the heathen (the Unbelievers - mistranslated “Gentiles”) lord it over each other, and they that are (considered) great exercise authority upon them, but it shall NOT be so among you (Believers): but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your servant (slave).” Matt 20;25,26
Jesus said, ALL people are equal in His sight. No one is above another.
“But be not ye called Rabbi: for One is your Master, even Christ: and all you are brothers.” (You are ALL the same.) Matt 23:8
And Jesus gave the following parable that teaches clearly that we could never do more than we are called to do. Every good thing we do was planned in our life by God – before we were ever born. We can do NO favors for God, therefore we cannot receive an extra reward.
“But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to eat?
“And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
“Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not.
“So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.” Luke 17:7-10
According to 1 Cor. 3:5-9, we all have a part to play. Some plant, others water, but God gives the increase. It is God who gets the credit for saving people – not us.!
“We are laborers together with God.” 1 Cor 3:9
We all play different roles in the process, but ultimately the credit can only go to God.
The Bible tells us that it is not “our will” that makes the decision for Christ, but God who puts that decision in our heart – in HIS time.
“It is not he who is willing or he that runneth, but God the merciful.” Romans 9:16
It is God who puts that desire into our heart – in HIS timing – not ours. Jesus said,
“No one can come to Me unless the Father draws Him.” John 6:44
The false doctrine of “stars in our crown” pits one Christian against another and encourages competition rather than co-operation. It gives the impression that some will be in a lowly position in heaven while others live in splendor – supposedly “more loved” by God – and respected more by all those in heaven.
But that person demonstrates a heart full of envy and pride, and no one with that character will be ready for heaven.
Therefore, this doctrine is without any basis in the Bible.