In 2 Corinthians 15:29, Paul utters a statement which is difficult to understand. He wrote: “Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?”

Many explanations have been given as to what Paul might have meant—some good, some not so good, and some blatantly wrong. We addressed some of those explanations in a Q&A, which was written in 2006, https://www.eternalgod.org/q-a-3014/, which had the following headline: “Would you please explain 1 Corinthians 15:29, speaking of ‘baptism for the dead. Are we to be baptized for those who have already died?”

In that Q&A, we showed that the concept, practiced by some, to baptize someone for a person who had died without having been baptized is totally unbiblical. We said: “This practice is not based on God’s Holy Word. Baptism only makes sense when and so long as the person to be baptized is ALIVE. Baptism for a dead person, that is, vicariously, derivatively or by proxy, accomplishes nothing.”

Continue reading "Baptism for the dead in God’s Church?"

Have you ever noticed an interesting phenomenon, when reading a passage in Revelation 22:19, depending on the translation you may use?

The New King James Bible states: “… if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” Similar to the Authorized Version and the German Luther Bibles from 1891, 1984, 2009 and 2017.

However, most translations render the verse in this way (using the New International Version as an example): “And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”

Continue reading "The Book of Life or the Tree of Life?"

Many years ago, I heard an interesting sermon by a minister of the (now defunct) Worldwide Church of God, in which he applied many passages in Ephesians 4 and 5 to the Christian marriage. I took notes (still in my possession) and have thought about this concept many times. I do not remember the minister’s name, but I do remember his message.

Using some of those interesting thoughts, and elaborating on them, let us review in this Q&A some of Paul’s statements in Ephesians 4 and 5, which definitely have meaning, application to, and relevance for a successful marriage.

Ephesians 4:14-15 reads:

“… that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ…”

Continue reading "What does Paul teach us in the letter to the Ephesians about a successful marriage?"

The distinction is interesting, and it is obviously done on purpose. Let us review the Scriptures carefully to see why this distinction is made.

Let us note, to begin with, that God originally created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). The Bible speaks about three heavens—the atmosphere, the universe and the third heaven (2 Corinthians 12:2)—invisible to the human eye—where God dwells. In Genesis 1:1, the reference to the heavens (Hebrew: shamayim, a plural word) seems to apply to the first and the second heaven. However, God also created the third heaven with all its spiritual components, including His throne, His temple, the heavenly Jerusalem, and the heavenly garden or Paradise, because we read that the Father created everything there is through Jesus Christ (John 1:1-3)—the visible and the invisible (Colossians 1:16). We understand, of course, that both the Father and Jesus Christ have always existed; Christ was not created (Hebrews 7:3). So it was the God Family who created everything.

Continue reading "Why does the Bible speak about a new heaven and new heavens?"

In the first part of this two-part series, we began our review of Deuteronomy, chapter 17:14-20, where we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes.  We read in verse 14:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me’…”

But why did God talk about a future king when Israel was a theocratic institution?   We read in 1 Samuel 8 that Israel demanded a king.  In verses 1-4, we read that Samuel was old and that his sons didn’t walk in the ways required of them.   Then in verse 4, we see how this affected the nation:

Continue reading "What lessons can we learn from the instructions given to kings to write out a copy of the law? (Part 2)"

In the book of Deuteronomy, chapter 17, we read about an instruction that was to be given to a king showing that he was not to look after his own personal interests as being foremost in his activities, but to learn to fear God and to observe His law and statutes. Deuteronomy 17:14-20 reads as follows:

“When you come to the land that the LORD your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’ you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, ‘You shall not return that way again.’ Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.”

Continue reading "What lessons can we learn from the instructions given to kings to write out a copy of the law? (Part 1)"

We receive inquiries asking if we have an established congregation close to the person who is writing. This is usually the result of someone watching us over the Internet or responding to our published written materials. Our response is typically no, we don’t.

Then how can someone continue to follow up with their initial interest in what the Church of the Eternal God and its affiliates are teaching?

Becoming a part of the Church of God starts when God calls a person and gives him or her understanding about His Truth. Jesus Christ said: “‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:44).

Being called out of this world and its societies really does present challenges. Jesus gave this powerful admonition to those who would agree to follow Him:

“‘Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to “set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law”; and “a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it’” (Matthew 10:34-39).

Continue reading "How can I have fellowship when I am the only person in my area seeking the Truth of God?"

Many think that we will go to heaven when we die, and that biblical references to “heavenly places” support this assumption. But this is a false conclusion.

Just to reiterate what we have explained so many times: David, a man after God’s own heart, did not ascend into the heavens, nor is he in heaven (Acts 2:29, 34); Elijah and Enoch are not in God’s third heaven either, as Christ said in John 3:13 that no one has ascended to God’s heaven (in fact, the Luther Bible 1912 says that no one ascends to heaven except for Jesus Christ who came down from heaven).

The concept of “heavenly places” does not teach something differently. Actually, as we will explain, the words “heavenly places” are not even in the Greek. The word “places” has been added. In the Greek, the word for “heavenly,” “epouranios,” is used several times in the New Testament. According to Strong’s, this word (Number 2032) means “above the sky:-celestial (in) heaven (-ly), high.”

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To answer this question comprehensively, one must look at the historical events, as it is important to understand why we are referring to a third temple, and what this temple of God is all about.

Who built the first temple and why? What happened to this temple and what became of it? And finally, why should the third temple be a requirement for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?

We can predict one thing with certainty: YES, this third temple is a requirement for Jesus Christ to even initiate His Second Coming! All of this is prophesied in the Bible, the Word of God; including the fact that there MUST be a third temple!

Some believe that the prophecy for the third temple is not about a physical temple made of stones, but only about a spiritual, inward temple. They link this to Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 3:16-17, where he says, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.” (Compare also 2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Corinthians 6:19.)

Continue reading "Is a third temple in Jerusalem an important requirement for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ?"

We have published a booklet which deals with the origin and practices of the holiday known as Christmas (“Don’t Keep Christmas”). Secular history also fully documents the many aspects of worship associated with Christmas observance, and one of the most widespread traditions involves that of Christmas trees.

The use of an evergreen tree for religious observance was founded in pagan worship practices. Its origin far predates Christianity. From history.com, “History of Christmas Trees,” we find these comments:

“Long before the advent of Christianity, plants and trees that remained green all year had a special meaning for people in the winter. Just as people today decorate their homes during the festive season with pine, spruce, and fir trees, many ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows. In many countries it was believed that evergreens would keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness…

Continue reading "Why do people pay tribute to or even worship Christmas trees?"