Why does God Allow
Evil? Click here: /Apologeticshtml/Why Does God Allow Evil 0908.htm
Should God’s existence be
proven? /Apologeticshtml/Should the Bible and God Be Proven
Fideism vs WCG.htm
Does the Bible teach blind faith? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Gospel of John Theory of Knowledge.htm
Could More Words Be Added to or Taken Away from the Bible?
The
Book of Revelation (22:18-19) says, on what's likely the last
page of your Bible’s text: "I warn every one who hears the words of
the prophecy of this book: if any one adds to them, God will add to him
the plagues described in this book, and if any one takes away from the words of
the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and
in the holy city, which are described in this book." However,
admittedly, despite their strategic position in the Bible as a whole
(i.e., they're on the last page!), these verses seem to apply only to
Revelation itself. They can't be used to exclude the possibility of new,
additional books of Scripture to come.
We
do know that there will be two witnesses who will be prophesying in the end
time during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 11:3-13). Could some of what they
say or write be canonized during the Millennium? According to Peter's
citation of Joel 2:28 in Acts 2:17, "And in the
last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit
upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young
men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams."
So we should be open minded to believe that God may have more
revelations that would be canonized as Scripture. Of course, there
will come a day when prophesying will cease (I Cor. 13:8-10), but
that day hasn't yet come, which can't be earlier than the day that Christ
returns to rule the earth (Rev. 11:15; 19:10-16).
One
way to test whether a revelation is from God or not is whether
it agrees with prior revelations from Him. For example, if someone
prophesies that we should worship another God besides Jehovah, that person is a
false prophet (Deuteronomy 13:1-9) and should be ignored. Such
a "revelation" would contradict the First Commandment (Ex.
20:3). A prophesied prediction that eventually proves to be
false also clearly isn't from the true God (Rev. 19:18-22), and should be
ignored. Time and time again, such as in the book of Daniel, the
Bible predicts the future, and it occurs since the true God can see
into the future and know what will happen (Isaiah 46:8-11).
Indeed, this remarkable aspect of the Bible is what proves it beyond any
doubt as being inspired, such as when it predicted Alexander the
Great's successful invasion of Persia followed by his kingdom breaking up
into four smaller kingdoms (see Daniel 11:2-4; 8:5-8, 20-22).
The
largest general period of judgment is described as occurring after the
millennium ends (Revelation 20:12, RSV): "And I saw the dead, great
and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book
was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was
written in the books, by what they had done." However, they can
still be saved, which is a truth that will surprise many who believe the dead
go to heaven or hell (i.e., the place of punishment) immediately after their
deaths. The Bible teaches that for the great majority of people
who never had a chance to be saved during this life will receive their first
opportunity to be saved after they die and are resurrected If they weren't
called during their first lifetimes on earth (cf. John 6:44; Acts 2:39; Matt.
13:11-16; Romans 8:28-30), and they never heard the name of Christ or never had
saving knowledge of Him, unsaved people still can be saved after they
die.
What
is the meaning of the book of life?
People’s names are written in the book of life when they are saved
(Revelation 20:15): “And if anyone’s
name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of
fire.” The book of life is opened after
the dead are resurrected and are being judged (Revelation 20:12).
Clearly
no one should dare to change the words of the book of Revelation. And the meaning of the book of life should
give us all hope.
Eric
V. Snow
Click here to access
essays that defend Christianity: /apologetics.html
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notes for sermonettes: /sermonettes.html
Why does God Allow Evil?
Click here: /Apologeticshtml/Why
Does God Allow Evil 0908.htm
May Christians work on
Saturdays? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Protestant
Rhetoric vs Sabbath Refuted.htm
Should Christians obey
the Old Testament law? /doctrinalhtml/Does
the New Covenant Abolish the OT Law.htm
Do you have an immortal
soul? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Here
and Hereafter.htm
Does the ministry have
authority? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Is
There an Ordained Ministry vs Edwards.html
Is the United States the
Beast? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Are
We the Beast vs Collins.htm
Should you give 10% of
your income to your church? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Does
the Argument from Silence Abolish the Old Testament Law of Tithing 0205 Mokarow
rebuttal.htm
Is Jesus God? Click
here: /doctrinalhtml/Is
Jesus God.htm
Will there be a third
resurrection? Click here: /doctrinalhtml/Will
There Be a Third Resurrection.htm
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QA16