Christian Forums

The purpose of this thread is to post any theological statement you want, but it cannot be divisive. It must be universally edifying.

This study is available in Spanish here.

To view a list of all studies in this blog, click here.

Recommended before reading this study,

The Identity of the Antichrist, the Two Beasts of Revelation, and the Whore of Babylon

The first beast of Revelation has seven heads,

And I stood upon the sand of the sea. And I saw from out of the sea a wild beast ascending, having ten horns and seven heads… (Revelation 13:1 [ABP])

Where the eighth and final head of the first beast of Revelation,

The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction. (Revelation 17:11 [NIV])

Will be a "United States of Europe", for a head symbolizes a kingdom in relation to this other vision,

“He...

Two men are reading the same bible, one is always alone, the other is always in [high] Church services.

Which one is apt to see the services in the written scripture when any portion of one is mentioned?

Forgive me...

Hello, I am a 19-year-old fellow Christian, and I have plenty of concerns regarding the Pre-Tribulation Rapture (PTR).

Scroll down for TL;DR.

Some of my favorite bible teachers, and preachers believe in the PTR. I never had a strong belief in it, but always kind of assumed it did exist, mostly because of the Left Behind movies/books, and the people I listened to. I like studying end times prophecy, and so, upon doing my own research, I started to doubt it's existence. I think that PTR believers' interpretation of Revelation is fairly accurate, with the coming Beast and tribulation (however, I'm not sure it's going to be exactly seven years long, because Revelation isn't specific enough), but I don't see any evidence that Christians...

Greetings my brothers and sisters in Christ. I come to you in Love and in the power of the Holy Spirit. There is a issue in the church today that I need to address and i'm asking for your views (backed by scripture of course). After you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you like 2 Cor 5:17 states "Become new" do you still confess your sins to God seeking forgiveness? I know the truth, I just wanna see what others have to say on the topic....

Hello

I am not looking to debate in this thread.

This is my first post, I would incredibly appreciate if someone could point me to a direction where similar views to my beliefs are shared. I can not call myself a 'Christian' because of certain doctrinal rejections and therefore I find it impossible to associate with any single movement within contemporary Christendom.

Brothers and Sisters, my beliefs may offend, but please show me the courtesy and respect that Jesus showed to everyone else.

I believe in:
Jesus is the Messiah
Jesus did not abolish or 'abrogate' the Laws, in fact he reinforced their importance.
I believe 'inspired' biblical text does not equate to inerrancy, in fact even the most conservative scholars accept early NT...

Did Paul consider himself a "sinner"?, How many of which disciples/apostles think of themselves as sinners...? Are we supposed to think of ourselves or consider ourselves as sinners...? Even after we say we are saved...?

Comments...?

God Bless!

Theotokos is a word that means God-bearer or has traditionally come to be know as "Mother of God". Many seem to be "squeamish" over this term but it actually is about protecting Jesus's divinity since conception and is not about putting Mary in a place that somehow influences or contributes to God. Still this term is largely misunderstood and objected to, but to be honest I can understand.

Mary indeed gave birth to a child that was 100% divine and conceived 100% divine but this isn't the whole story. Christ is fully divine and fully human simultaneously and inseparable. To focus on the divine is irresponsible as Mary also gave birth to a child 100% flesh.

Theotokos is a traditional term and it's not the meaning I object to but...

How should you react?

Back in 1988 I might have quoted about Satan appearing as a angel of light and then taken them to some verses in Ecclesiastes that at the time seemed pretty direct and straightforward to me.

I no longer think that way at all.
Now I am sure that three year old Colton Burpo is an extremely credible witness and that he had the same type of experience that the Apostle Paul reports in II Corinthians 12:2-4.

2Corinthians 12:1 - 4

¶
It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth ; such an one caught up to the third heaven

And...

I've been having a lot of doubts in my faith for the past few months. Not the kind that can be easily dismissed, but actual, relatively rational thoughts.

I haven't really been able to talk to anyone about them, since no one in my family is a Christian and neither are any of my friends (online or off). So I'm wondering: how do y'all deal with doubt?

If anyone's interested, my specific concerns in the doubt are:

1. Inefficacy of (Intercessory) Prayer
Studies have shown that intercessory prayer doesn’t work. The Bible says it does – Jesus says it does! – but it doesn’t. It doesn’t have better outcomes for sick people, or make you more likely to succeed in your goals, or anything! We’re supposed to be able to move mountains and be...