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Q.  Hello, in the genesis 1 part 5 study it was stated that if God wrote a word as plural such as the plural word heavens, then the word should be translated as a plural word. its confusing when it comes to the plural word Elohim. God writes it over and over in the plural form but its translated singular usually. What makes it different from the word heavens?

A. In every other case (with every other word) what you’re saying is correct. We always want to translate a plural word in  plural way and not as a singular word (as the King James translated the plural word ‘heavens’ with the singular ‘heaven’).

And yet, when it comes to the Hebrew word Elohim (which is a plural word for God) I think the KJV translators did the proper thing in translating this word (a plural word) as the singular God. God very emphatically declares He is One God:

Deuteronomy 6: 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:

There are many religions in this world that speak of having many gods. If we were constantly reading in the Bible verses like this: “Gods created the heavens and  the earth”. And “Gods said let there be light...” “And Gods saw the light that it was good...”. And so forth. It would not have served God’s purposes to reveal Himself as One God.

Why then did God use a plural word in reference to Himself? He used it because He is both One God and yet Three Persons. So it is an accurate description of His Being. God used it (often) but God is also the One that refrained the translators from translating it in the plural. Elohim’s presence in the Scriptures is a strong testimony to the nature of the Triune God.

Elohim is the exception to the rule of translating plural words as plural and never as singular.  

Q.  as far as your answer yesterday on the question "Can we at least narrow down the world lasting up until 2100". Is it not more limited than that by the creation of Israel(resurrection, really) and the parable of the fig tree?

Mar 13:28 Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near:
Mar 13:29 So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.
Mar 13:30 Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.

What would you say that the Bible definition of a generation is? I have always thought of the wonderful coincidence that Family Radio always played Psa 90:10 in their Bible Study intro.

Psa 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away.

. So I always thought a generation to be 70 or 80 years. 1948+70=2018 or 1948+80=2028
Thanks for your time.

A. You’re correct that Israel became a nation again among the nations of the world in 1948 AD, and the 70th year from that time would be 2018 (and 2028 would be the 80th year). The 70 year from 1948 is something to consider. But as far as Christ’s comment about the ‘this generation’ not passing, He’s not referring to the generation of time since Israel was established again (1948 to whenever); but He’s referring to the generation of Jesus Christ.

The Bible reveals that God kept track of time in the Old Testament through the use of calendar reference patriarchs. The flood occurred in the 600th year of Noah. While Noah lived time was keyed to his lifespan. Then when Noah died time was keyed to another person’s lifespan. That’s who God kept track of time in the Bible.

It’s interesting that even in this present crooked and perverse generation we still keep track of time according to the life of Christ. We’re living in the year 2015 AD (year of our Lord). Its off a few years but still this generation’s reference patriarch is Jesus Christ Himself. In the biblical calendar once a reference patriarch died a new one would be born in the same year to take his place. But the New Testament calendar is attached to the Person of Jesus Christ and He is not dead but alive. So time references to Christ continue even until today. The generation of Christ is the generation that will not pass until all things are fulfilled.

Q.  Hi Chris

If Revelation 18 is speaking of the world and not the church's then how do I understand vs. 4? How does one come out of the world?

Thank you

A. I know that for some time we understood the command to ‘come out of her My people’ as a command to leave the churches. This was so because we thought that the fall of Babylon was speaking of the fall of the corporate church. But after carefully reviewing the language regarding the fall of Babylon we saw that Babylon falls after the 70 years (after the tribulation has concluded). The fall of Babylon is the fall of Satan’s kingdom.

Now concerning ‘how does one come out of the world’? We have to keep in mind that coming out of Babylon does not have to mean we are physically coming out of a place. For example, God ties the language of going forth (coming out) of Babylon with the idea of going forth from Egypt in these verses:

Isaiah 48:

20 Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed his servant Jacob.

21 And they thirsted not when he led them through the deserts: he caused the waters to flow out of the rock for them: he clave the rock also, and the waters gushed out.

Notice how God first mentions fleeing from the Chaldeans (Babylonians) and then quickly reverts to an event that happened when Israel had come out of Egypt (drinking of the waters of the Rock). He does this because the coming out of Babylon is the same spiritual picture as when Israel came out of Egypt. Both places were places Israel was in bondage (slaves in Egypt, captives in Babylon); and so the leaving of both places pictures the leaving of bondage to sin and to Satan (typified by Pharaoh and the king of Babylon).

Also, the coming out of Babylon is connected with the coming out of Egypt because it was a time when the whole nation came forth. All Israel left Egypt. Not one Jew was left behind. And all spiritual Israel left the kingdom of Satan (Babylon) at the time of Babylon’s fall (May 21, 2011) as that was the time God completed His salvation program and saved the last one of His elect.
The whole company of the elect are in view in Revelation 18. This is why  God addresses them as “My people”. It is a collective command to all the elect found all over the earth. “Come out of her”. God has saved all to be saved.

Q.  Hello Chris,

I know I am just a beginner, hoping to be a sheep in Christ, in searching for understanding God's Word the Bible. So, my question might not even be meaningful at all. However, as I was reading through some of your past studies, I've noticed some pattern.

As you know, “three woes” identify with the last “three trumpets” of the fifth, sixth, and seventh angel, respectively, in the Book of Revelation.

Rev 9:1 And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man.
Rev 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,
Rev 16:12 And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.
Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

For example, with regard to the the “first woe” dealt with the five months, in the Book of Genesis Chapter 8, the days are staged 150 + 120 (3 X 40; 73 + 40 + 7) + 100 (10 X 10; 7 + 36 + 57) = 370. Do you see any significance of it being tied to the first 150 days in a way?

Also, I've understood that God commanded Joshua to arise and enter Canaan in “three days” in Josh 1:11.

Thank you Chris!

A. There may be some significance but at this time we can’t say for sure. We do know that God speaks of 5 months of torment in Revelation 9 at the time the 5th trumpet (1st woe) sounds. He then goes on to speak of 2 more woes (two more trumpets). Mr. Camping viewed all three woes/trumpets (and I did also) as having sounded simultaneously. That is we have viewed the final 3 woes/trumpets to have begun to sound or occur beginning on May 21, 2011.

But we are reviewing these things. And the possibility that the 5th trumpet (1st woe) signals the beginning of Judgment Day and an initial phase of torment, and then gives way to a 2nd or 3rd stage must be looked at. As you mentioned, the flood account also highlights 150 day period (5 months) followed by later stages as the waters abate.

I don’t know how to fit these things in or how to understand them at this time. But it is an area to look at.

Q.  Hi Chris
I've been thinking a lot about the "rapture" doctrine wondering if the literal interpretation is another church age incorrect understanding. I've been wondering if it means something more spiritual. First of all the word "rapture" isn't used in scripture. It seems like it's been a distorted idea of being "enraptured" spiritually in our hearts with Christ. I've done some studies on the word Clouds and Air. Also the main verse used in Thessalonians to support this literal interpretation is emphasizing an exhortation to believers regarding those who died who believed and what happens with them :
1 Thessalonians 4:13-16
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Can you shed any light on this idea? Thanks

A. Rapture is a word theologians have coined to describe the taking up of those living people of God (the elect) at the time of Christ’s coming. Theologians have many wrong ideas regarding the rapture but those wrong ideas are primarily with its timing. Some speak of a pre tribulation rapture (so the saints do not have to go through the tribulation); and others speak of a post tribulation rapture (after the tribulation). None (that I’m aware of) speak of a rapture at the conclusion of Judgment Day. Their scenarios remove the elect from the earth before God pours out His wrath. That has been the traditional understanding of things regarding the timing of the rapture.

But insofar as the idea of the rapture itself goes, the Bible does speak of those that are alive and on the earth and then taken up out of the earth at the time of the resurrection of the dead. That idea is biblical. The Bible does teach of a time when God comes and raises the elect dead (through the resurrection) to heaven; and it also speaks of God raising up the elect living (through rapture) at the same time.

Q.  Hi Chris,

For the sake of searching the Word of God, could I ask you a question again?

If we are to align proportionally the 1,600 days after May 21, 2011 with the 270 days after the 17th day of the 2nd month of the 600th year of Noah's life in Genesis 7:11, we arrive at exactly 6 years after May 21, 2011 aligned with the 370 days in Genesis 8.

150 + 120 (3 X 40; 73 + 40 + 7) + 100 (10 X 10; 7 + 36 + 57) = 370

Do you think the 6 years might be in a way tied to the 6 days of creation in Genesis 1?

FYI, the 592 days after the 1,600 days, in turn, after May 21, 2011 are broken down to 4 X 4 X 37.

4 X 4 X 37 = 592

And also, the 888 days after May 21, 2011 which is aligned with the first 150 days after the 17th day of the 2nd month in Genesis 7 are broken down to 4 X 3 X 2 X 37.

4 X 3 X 2 X 37 = 888

Thank you Chris!

A. I don’t understand how you are coming up with the six years after May 21, 2011? 1600 days was 4 years, 4 months, and 4 days. I don’t see where that time period can be added to? Can you explain?

Q.  Chris,
I read somewhere that the word Nicolaitans is translated "victory over the laity. Because of the Catholic churches taking all control of the Word away from their congregations as a matter of policy, do you think that this refers to that group which is why Christ hated them?

A. The first part of the name (nico) does mean victory. I don’t think the Catholic church existed at the time Jesus was stating He hated the deeds of the Nicolatians in Revelation chapter 2.  The book of Revelation was penned towards the end of the 1st century, AD. The Nicolations were already taking root with the church of Ephesus as well as Pergamos:  

Revelation 2: 1 Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; ... 5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate.

Revelation 2: 12 And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; ... 15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

God only refers to the Nicolatians in the two references above. The Greek word (#3531) is not found anywhere else in the New Testament. Traditionally, many theologians have believed (Mr. Camping also) that the Nicolatians were followers of the deacon Nicolas mentioned in Acts chapter 6:

Acts 6: 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

Apparently, Nicolas developed some sort of false doctrine that Christ hated (God hates all false doctrine) and it began to spread amongst the churches of Asia minor (he was from Antioch which wasn’t too far away from the two churches mentioned in Revelation 2). This explanation seems to fit best.

Q.  Good Afternoon,

Gen 1:2
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

Gen 8:8
Also he sent forth a dove from him, to see if the waters were abated from off the face of the ground;

Gen 8:9
But the dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, and she returned unto him into the ark, for the waters were on the face of the whole earth: then he put forth his hand, and took her, and pulled her in unto him into the ark.

Does Gen 1:2 relate to Gen 8:8-9, where we have the Spirit of God moving upon the waters (Gen 1:2) and the Dove(Spirit of God) flying upon the waters looking to see if the waters were abated? And in Gen 8:9 it says the Dove found no rest for the sole of her foot, is this a Spiritual picture of God's Spirit still not saving anymore since it's finding no rest?

I looked up the word for rest( H4494) and it's used only 6 other times

A. Yes. It relates as the Holy Spirit is typified by the dove in the Bible. And it relates as Genesis 1:2 is describing the earth at its initial stage of creation as a collection of waters. A little later in Genesis 1 God separates the waters from the waters placing some waters above the heavens and leaving the rest on the earth or below the earth. The flood account describes waters descending on the earth from the heavens (the windows of heavens were opened) and coming up from below. Therefore the judgment of God in the flood reunited the waters as they had been at the earliest stage of creation on day 1. And at that time all was said to be without form and void. We can see from this that when God brought the judgment of the flood upon the world He restored the earth to a situation it had not experienced since its first creation. The decreasing of the waters of the flood revealed the new earth in a sense. Or the new creation that followed God’s judgment. We see a similar pattern for the end of this world. God first destroys the earth (through judgment) and then creates a new earth.

Q.  In Genesis 3:13 Eve mentions that she was deceived by Satan. But how could she not have been deceived since she did not have the wisdom to detect deception?

A. Here’s the Bible’s historical account of the deception:

Genesis 3: 1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die. 4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Eve knew God’s commandment regarding that one particular tree: “God hath said, ye shall not eat of it...”

And when the serpent contradicted God’s statement (ye shall not surely die) that ought to have been the point of pulling away from that creature.

Ever since the fall, and especially today in our modern world, Satan deceives the already deceived. He deceives those that have desperately wicked and deceitful hearts above all things (Jeremiah 17:9). It’s child’s play for him to work deception upon those whose very nature has become deceitfulness.

Adam and Eve were without sin. There is no parallel to them today. But the closest would be those people that God has saved. God has restored the souls of His elect to a perfect condition. Yet sin remains in their flesh. Even so, it is much harder for Satan to deceive a child of God than it is for him to deceive an unregenerate person. Likewise, it would have been much more difficult for him to deceive Eve in her good condition than it would be for him to deceive the unsaved people of the world today.

Q.  can you comment on this:
Luk 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!
Luk 13:35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

We know Got hates unbelievers
Ps 5:4 For thou [art] not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.
5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
:6 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.

But does that hatred discount His love and mercy? By mercy I mean compassion. Doesn't the Word show that God loves sinners even though He is pouring out His wrath upon them?
How do we as believers preach the Wrath of God to unbelievers, with Hatred or Love?

A. God grants all people temporal cares or blessings (good seasons of rain, sunshine, etc). God tells us this in the gospel of Matthew:

Matthew 5: 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 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.

But God’s temporal care should not be mistaken for the love He reserves for His elect people. That’s what many in the churches have done when they pronounce that God loves everyone and has a wonderful plan for their lives. No. God does not love everyone and does not have a wonderful plan for everyone’s lives. He fully plans on destroying the vast majority of mankind at the time of the world’s end.

God’s people share the Bible’s teachings concerning His judgment (whether on the church or the world) with care and compassion. In the Day of Salvation this was accomplished by hoping and praying that those we were ministering to might become saved and escape the terrible things of God’s wrath. In the Day of Judgment God’s people continue to share the Bible’s truths with hope and prayer for those hearing them, only at this time the hope is that God might have saved them and might have had mercy upon them previously before shutting the door of heaven. This is how God’s people love their enemies. We hope for the best for them.

Q.  Hi Chris, Please compare these verses concerning God's Love (G26 ἀγάπη agape) for the brothers and sisters! (To God's Glory!)

1Cor 13:2 And though I have [the gift of] prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good Ifind not.

1John 4:17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

1Cor 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

John 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

The two questions I have are 'Does this show that the "Love of God" does not abide in the body of the natural man nor the body of the flesh of the true believers and only in the spirit of those 'born again?

And doesn't this show that in the last days that the "Love of GOD" is for HIS WORD and this is going to be the evidence of the perfecting of the saints, the Sons of GOD manifested now that all have been brought together into HIS Kingdom?

I am hoping to help our borthers and sisters in these last days, by the answering of these most important questions! Thanks Chris!

Glory to GOD!

A. Regarding God’s love we know that He Himself is love. He is the essence of love. That’s why if we have not charity (love) we are nothing. We lack God or we lack Christ the essence of love.

We also know that the love the Bible speaks of is not a feeling. The love the Bible describes is an action. Jesus pointed this out when He said:

John 14: 15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

The Bible tells us that we love God (keep His commandments) because He first loved us (through Christ’s perfect obedience is offering up Himself for the sins of His people). Yes love (Christ) indwells the child of God. But love (the action of obeying God’s commandments) will be in evidence more and more in their lives as God’s Spirit moves within them to will and to do of His good pleasure.

Q.  Hi Chris, what or who was the testing for? (40)
Genesis 7:12 And the rain was upon the earth forty days and forty nights.

A. Good question. The rain began to fall on the 17th day of Noah’s 2nd month. It was Judgment Day for the world of that time. The rain falling for 40 days certainly was not to test them. Their period of testing was while the ark door was open. The flood waters signaled their failure of that test.

And that’s the same idea as to the closing of the door of heaven on May 21, 2011. The people of the world heard the news of the advancing Day of Judgment. All the while the door was open they were being tested. Would they trust God and His Word or listen to others and their mocking? Likewise, those within the churches were being tested all throughout the great tribulation period. Would they hearken to God’s Word and leave the church or not? Once the door to heaven shut their test was concluded and they failed the test.

We see from the usage of the number 40 that it conveys a dual meaning: on one hand it is a number that identifies with judgment (God used the 40 years to destroy the rebellious Israelites); and on the other hand it is a number that also identifies with testing.

We would have to say that historically, the testing was for those on board the ark. And the testing since May 21, 2011 is for those that claim to be in Christ (in the ark) outside of the churches.

Q.  Hi Chris,

From looking at Genesis 7 during the flood of Noah’s day, it says that the ark was lift up “above" the earth (Gen 7:17) which means that the ark was in a part of the heavens at the time of the flood. If the fowls of the heavens were destroyed during this period of time ,( Gen 7:23) which was a part of the heavens, what part of the heavens were the ark in during the flood? I’m sure it was not in the third heaven as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 12:2. Am I correct in thinking this or am I misunderstanding the language here in Genesis 7? Thank you.

Genesis 7:17
17 And the flood was forty days upon the earth; and the waters increased, and bare up the ark, and it was lift up above the earth.

Genesis 7:18
18 And the waters prevailed, and were increased greatly upon the earth; and the ark went upon the face of the waters.
Genesis 7:23
23 And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark.

2 Corinthians 12:2
2 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.

A.  The ark we know represented the safety of salvation that Jesus provided for His elect people. Those within the ark (Christ) were lifted up from the earth. The lifting up of the ark from the earth points to being saved:

1 Peter 3:19 By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

The water (Word of God) caused the ark (all those within Christ) to rise up (at the point of salvation we are lifted up into heavenly places to be seated in Christ Jesus). That's the spiritual picture that's in view.

Q.  Matthew 25:10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

A. God shut the door of heaven at the beginning of Judgment Day. The Bible locks in the date of May 21, 2011 as the time Judgment Day began and the door shut. The entering in of all the wise virgins is the same spiritual picture of the 8 souls entering into the ark before God shut the door of the ark.

Some people try to insist that this verse is speaking of the rapture. But it does not say anywhere in that verse that the virgins once entered into the door were taken up. It does not say they went UP at all. It says they went in. It means God saved His elect people (as typified by the five virgins) and then turned His attention to judgment the unsaved of the world.

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