Q.  Dear Sir: I received your message, and thank you for that. When I say Emily is a strong Christian, that is not truly appropriate. She is on the verge of accepting Jesus as her Lord & Savior, but we are waiting to make sure, and to meet with a pastor. She has been brought up in the church, surrounded around positive people, people that raise their children, in the same way that we are attempting to raise Emily. We keep negativity out, such as cussing, drinking, fornicators, etc. The people mentioned are spiraling down ward and do not want any Christian advice, that has been attempted by their grandfather. Where they were at three years ago and today, there is no comparison. They both have divorced, both completely living in sin, sex with many woman, and they want to bring those woman and the child, into the house, where Emily, myself, and Jan have to be exposed to it. I fully understand witnessing to those that are away from Christ. I do that every day at Second Baptist Church in Houston, as a full time counselor. Scripture says in 2 John 8:9 and following, "whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.  If anyone come to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into you house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds".

They have no desire to turn away. The grandmother, my wife's mother, wants to receive this child as her great grandbaby and the mother to the child and my wife's nephew have no desire to get married.

I choose not to have myself, my wife, and my daughter, around my relatives that do the same.

Now if this was a one time deal, one got away from that, seeking God, then that is another story. David was confronted and turned away from his sin, had remorse had it effected others, and repented and turned back on God's pathway. He did not stay in sin. That is the difference.

My wife says, should we honor mother and father. Yes we should honor them and show them respect, but not to walk into sin. One cannot confront them, they won't allow it. So we just sit there and watch it all, in an atmosphere that all pretend nothing is going on that is wrong. I have serious problems with that.

A.  I think I understand your dilema.  Our Lord taught us not "cast pearls before swine".  If it is apparent that the people you are dealing with are not going to repent then make it clear that you still love them and are praying that they will but you can have no more to deal with them.  It sounds to me like this is a matter of conscience with you and one cannot do that which offends his conscience without commiting sin.  My advice is live a Christian example before these folks and if an opportunity presents itself try and teach them but otherwise you to avoid situations that would tend to endorse their sinful life style.
 

Q.  What were the names of Jacob's sons?

A.  The names of Jacob's sons are recorded in Genesis 46:8-25.  They are: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Gad, Asher, Joseph, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali.
 

Q.  How many brothers did Joseph have?

A.  Thank you for the question.  Joseph had only one full brother (same father and mother).  He had ten half brothers (same father different mother).  These are all listed in Genesis chapter 46.
 

Q.  What is the covenant in the Old Testament and what are the conditions of the covenant?

A.  There are many covenants mentioned in the Old Testament.  For example God made a covenant with Noah recorded at Genesis 8:8-17.  It was an unconditional covenant that the earth would never again be destroyed by a flood.  God made a covenant with Abram at Genesis 17 and his name was changed to Abraham and promises were made.  The condition in that case was that every male child be circumcised (Genesis 17:10).  God made a covenant with Israel which is mentioned in Deuteronomy 4:13 and the conditions are mentioned in the verse that follow.  Perhaps this is the covenant you are asking about.  It is well to remember that this covenant was to end according to Jeremiah 31:31-34.  Today God has a covenant with is people that is written on their hearts and today forgiveness for sins is available under this covenant which was never available under covenants in the Old Testament.
 

Q.  A  brother and I have been studying the book of Rev and was wondering is
their enough evidence to really put a date on it?   There are pros and cons
and it seems to never end.  Could you help?   Thankyou

A.  The view one has of the book of Revelation, in part, depends on the date given for the book.  I do believe there is suffcient evidenece to place the date of the writing around 96AD.  Eusebius, a well known historian attributes Revelation to the time when John was on the Isle of Patmos which would put it in the area of 81-96 AD for prior to this time anything but local banishment was unknown.  Polycarp declares that the church at Smyrna was not founded until AD64.  An early date on Revelation would make it impossible to have suffered as much or to have developed  as much as chapter 2 verses 8-10 indicate.  Paul commended the Ephesians at  Ephesians 1:15 for their love.  But in Revelation they have left their "first love".  If the latter date is taken this is understandable  but there are difficulties if an earlier date is taken.  While we may not be able to absolutely declare that the date of Revelation is around 96AD the evidence seems to be very weighty toward that.
 

Q.  Hi.  I am a 22 year old female and I have a question about God.  If God is all knowing and knows everything that will happen in the future, then why did he create the devil?  If he knew that the devil who was originally an angel would rebel against him and then cause evil in the world then why would he create him in the first place?  I am a Christian but this question has really been puzzling me.  Wouldn't it be God's own fault that there is evil in the world?  An answer to this question would be greatly appreciated

A.   Your question is a good one.  It involves whether God eternally knew everything that ever has or will come to pass.  It is said in Romans 11:33-34 that the ways of God are past finding out and no one knows the mind of God.  We can know God's will and his knowledge only to the extent that he has revealed them to us in His word.  God is omnipotent (all powerful) yet there are things he cannot do--He cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18).  If there are things which God cannot do though omnipotent is it not possible that though he is omniscient (all knowing) there are things which he did not know?  God can limit the exercise of his own power.  He saw fit to avoid a knowledge of everything incompatible with the freedom of will.  In order for Satan (the devil) to have been responsible he had to have freedom of choice.  And though God is omniscient he is not required to know all that he could know.  Given the power of choice Satan chose to sin and rebel against God.  No, it is not God's fault there is evil in the world.
 
 

Q.  I need some references on the meaning and importance of "getting right" with yourself.  Also, if you can, I need some references for the meaning and importance or "getting right" with others.  I have exhhausted all of my reseacrh materials.  Please respond ASAP.  Your help would be greatly appreciated!

A.  Thanks for your question.  In regard to "getting right with yourself", the Bible deals   with the unrest that sin causes in one's life.  Please read Isaiah 57:20-21.  When one obeys the Gospel, then he/she has peace with
himself.  In regard to getting right with others, Matthew 18:15-17 would be an appropriate scripture.  Hope this helps
 

Q.  Where in the scriptures does it say anything about us being reunited with our family in heaven?  I hear this over and over at Christian funerals and such and yet I cannot find scripture to back up this claim. Thank you.

A.  Thanks for your question.  The Bible certainly teaches that we will know one
another in heaven. For example, when David's infant son died in 2 Samuel 12:23 he said "I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me".  David knew that he could go to be with his infant son in heaven one day.  What
consolation would it be to him if he would not be able to recognize his son in heaven? Other verses teach recognition in the hereafter(Luke 16:19-31).  If our family members are faithful Christians and if we are loyal children of
God, we have the assurance that one day we shall meet again in the home of the soul.  What a tremendous thought!
 

Q.  Who are the pentateuch?

A.  The Pentateuch are the first five books of the Old Testament.  They are:
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
 

Q.  I was raised in two churches when I was coming up at home. Now that I'm a 45 year old man with a family, I still go to two church. A baptist church which I belong to, and a methadist church which is right  around the block from us. I believe and  God and love hearing his words spoken  (Man or female) At the church around the block is where my father belongs and I enjoy going with him on our off sundays. I use to be a member there too. But changed over about 15 years ago. Now they have a female preacher and my pastor says that she's not aloud behind the pulpit of my church (baptist). I don't like that, but don't want to start anything among my members. My question is what do you think of female preachers? Please give me both sides, from the Bible and what YOU think.

A.  Thanks for your question!  The Bible teaches that women are not to teach or preach the Word of God in the presence of men.  For example, Paul wrote to Timothy "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.(1 Timothy 2:11-12).  Women can teach children or other women.  However, in a mixed assembly of men and women, God's design is for the male
Christian to preach.  This is where I stand.  I hope that this helps.
 

Q.  My seven year old son during a vistit to a new church that the Devil wanted the keys to Heaven and control and Jesus kick him out.  Is there any reference to the Devil and wanting keys.  The pastor told my son that he was wrong about the keys.  Needless to say that when you tell a little boy that his mother is wrong that he never wanted to go back to that church.  Can you
Help.

A.  Thanks for your question.  Satan evidently was an angel who rebelled against God and was cast out of heaven.  Ezekiel 28:11-19 gives us some information.  It is clear that the prophecy is addressed to the king of Tyre.  However, the language seems to indicate that the application must go beyond the king of Tyre to a supernatural being of some kind.  Isaiah 14:12-14 while refering to the king of Babylon primarily, this verse is used by many in regard to Satan's origin.  Satan sinned against God and was cast out of heaven.  Many angels rebelled against God and followed Lucifer as their leader over against following God.  Thanks again for your question.
 

Q.  I am a 21 year old college student.  I have been seeing the same girl for almost 2 years now and we both love each other deeply. We have both agreed that marriage is in our future but now is not the time with us both struggling to get our degrees money is short and the kind of wedding we want is just not possible right now.  The question that I have is that with this agreement and bond of love between us is making love still a sin since we are not yet wed?  This is a question that has been bothering both of us with each of our seperate religions (Both Christian) What information does the bible have for this question?
Thank you

A.  Thanks for your question.  The Bible teaches that the fulfillment of sexual desires is to be in the marital relationship.  "Marriage is honorable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will
judge"(Hebrews 13:4).  Outside the marriage relationship, sexual relations are said to be fornication and adultery(Matthew 19:9; 5:32).  The apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:2-3 "Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let
every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.  Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence:  and likewise also the wife unto the husband".  Paul is saying that sexual fulfillment is to be found in the marriage relationship between a husband and his wife.  If you and your girlfriend really love each other, you will wait until you are married to each other to enjoy the benefits of marriage.
 
 

Q.  I have several questions and hope you will have the time to answer them for me.

1.  My friend who is an Adventist tells me that as a believer who worships on Sunday I am worshipping in error.  Basically,  the Adventist is the remnant church and those who are not of this teaching will not be saved.
As I have studied this topic, I feel that this is not so and that God requires us to rest in Him---He is our true rest.

2.  Can someone lose their salvation.  A popular teaching is that once you are saved, you can live in immorality and you would still be saved.  I am having a lot of difficulty subscribing to this teaching.  I find that there is the story about the righteous man who if he turns from his righteous ways and follow that of the sinner, his righteous ways will
remembered no more.  Also in 2 Peter, it seems to point to turning from the good works to sinful ways, it is better that they had not known.   Some say if you were really saved, you cannot lose your salvation or that there is a
difference between salvation and rewards.  You can live in sin and lose your rewards but never your salvation.

3.  Speaking in tongues and being slain in the spirit is such a sought after experience.  I am again finding difficulty subscribing to "experiences" as a way of really knowing God or understanding His power.  I have seen many of dramatic manifestations of the spirit and on several occasions find non-believers being turned off by these behaviors.

4.  My pastor is a female and I am now convicted based on some scriptures that I have read,  that women have a role in the church but it is not leading a congregation.  Our church membership is 5300 and it gets
pretty lonely being the odd one there.  What does the bible really teach about this or am I misinterpreting the scriptures.

Thanks for your time and responses
 
 

A.  Thanks for your question,
I will answer your questions in order:
1. Luke records that we are to worship on the first day of the week which is Sunday.  In Acts 20:7 the Bible says "And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them,
ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight".  The first day of the week is Sunday.  That is the day that we are to come together to worship God.  Saturday or the Sabbath is not the day to come together to worship God under the New Testament.

2. Can someone lose their salvation?  Yes!  Multiple passages teach plainly that we can fall from grace.  Galatians 5:4 reads "Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen
from grace".  1 Corinthians 10:12 states "Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall".  In 2 Peter 2:20-22, one of the verses that you used, is a wonderful passage that emphasizes the possibility of apostasy!
  James 5:19 reads "Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him; Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins".
 James has reference to Christians who have fallen away("Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth...").

3. Let me refer you to the day of Pentecost in Acts 2.  There we learn that the apostles were baptized with the Holy Spirit.  Verse 4 reads "And they(the apostles) were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other
tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance".  The apostles were able to speak in languages(not unintelligible sounds) that they had not studied nor known before.  Today, people say that they speak in unknown tongues.  The gift of speaking in tongues(languages that the speaker had not studied nor known) was in the first century and it is not available today.  Miracles were done to produce faith(John 20:30-31) and to confirm the Word(Mark 16:16-18).  The Word has been completed(Jude 3).  Miracles have ceased(1 Cor.13:10).

4. No you are not misinterpreting the Scriptures on this issue.  The Bible does teach that women are not to teach, preach, lead singing, pray, etc. in the assembly when men are present. Paul wrote "Let the woman learn in silence
with all subjection.  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence"(1Tim.2:11-12).

Would you be interested in free Bible correspondence courses?  If you are, please let us know.  I want to encourage you to find and attend a congregation of the Church of Christ in your area. There you will find people who are interested in speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent. Keep studying the Bible.  Have a wonderful day!
 

Q.  Hello,   I am a 29 year old police officer in Charlotte, North Carolina. I have a question about being saved and being a Christian. Some places in the Bible it says that if you sin in anyway that you will not go to Heaven. Here's one for example: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 1 Corinthians 6:9,10   So to me that says if you sin at all you will not go to Heaven.  On the other hand the Bible says that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. It sounds to me like if you believe in Him no matter what, you will go to Heaven.  Now how about  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9   That's says to me if you confess he will forgive. Some people say you can ask for forgiveness but you must mean it and you must be sorry for the sin you have committed. Which brings up another questions. If you commit the same sin day after day and ask for forgiveness day after day, are you forgiven. Such as: If you fornicate on a regular basis and ask for forgiveness does God forgive you even though you and He both know you will do it again??? If all of your sins are forgive will you then go to Heaven??   At what does it mean to be a Christian?? Everybody has there different opinions. Some people say if you don't try to live a perfect life to the best of your ability then you are not truly a Christian. Well I feel everybody sins, of course, but as long as you try to do right and ask for forgiveness are you considered a Christian?  I try to live a good life, I am in this line of work for the people, To Protect and Serve, and unlike alot of cops I truly mean every word of that.  I would do anything for anyone out there, even if it meant risking my life that's why I became a cop. I have always tried to do good in life I think I am a very giving and thoughtful person, almost too giving and thoughtful sometimes to the point where I get hurt. Anyway, what I am getting at is I try to be a "Christian" but I sin as in fornicate all of the time. When I ask for forgiveness I mean it but I also know I will do it again.
What I am asking am I considered a Christian?? And am I saved even though I sin??
Thank You for your time,
 

A.    Thanks so much for your question!  I appreciate the protection that you and other in the law enforcement field give to citizens of this nation.  In regard to your questions, the Bible teaches that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God(Romans 3:23).  Therefore, when we do those things that are contrary to God's word(1 John 3:4), we stand in need of a Savior. That Savior is Jesus Christ(Acts 4:12).  I would encourage you to study the book of Acts and learn what people did then in order to be saved.  I believe that when you study all of the accounts of salvation in the book of Acts, you will be able to put together a composite picture of what a person must do to be saved.  The Bible teaches that we are to hear the word of God(Acts 2:37);  believe in Christ(Acts 8:12, 37); repent of our sins(Acts 2:38); confess Christ before man as the Son of God(Acts 8:37); and be baptized for the remission of our sins(Acts 2:38;10:48).  When one obeys the Gospel he is added to the Lord's church (Acts 2:47) and is commanded to be faithful unto death(Rev.2:10).  Your question also dealt with asking God repeatedly to forgive you of a sin even though you know that you will do it again and that God knows that you will do it again.  When one does that, has that person really repented of his or her sins?  The Bible teaches about sinning willfully(Hebrews 10:26).  A person who has never obeyed the Gospel to become a New Testament Christian must obey the plan of salvation as listed above with scriptural references to receive forgiveness.  After obeying the Gospel,  if we go and do that which is wrong and sinful, we are to repent and confess our sins and pray to God for forgiveness(1 John 1:8-10; Acts 8:22).  I want to encourage you to find a congregation of the Church of Christ in your area to visit and attend.  I believe that you will find people that are concerned about your soul and willing to help you in studying the Bible.  My prayer is that this reply might encourage you to put on Christ in baptism so that you can wear that worthy name(James 2:7) Christian.
 

Q.  I know the commandments were the law in the old testament and we do not live under the law today but what I am confused about is.  When we say God is the same yesterday, today and forever doesn't that mean we are still to obey the 10 commandants today.  The one I am referring to is remember to keep the Sabbath Day Holy.  Can you explain this to me.  Thank you very much.
 
 

A.   In Hebrews 13:8 we read "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever".  The divine attributes of our Savior does not change with time.  He hates sin.  He hated it yesterday, today and forever. He loves
man(yesterday, today, and forever).  We could look at other attributes of our Lord.  However, this verse cannot be used to teach that we are still under the 10 commandments or any of the 10 commandments today in our time.  Man has always been under law.  In the Garden of Eden, God gave Adam a law to obey(Gen.2:15-17).  Thus, under the patriarchal system(when God spoke directly to the heads or to the fathers of the family), there was a law to
obey.  Then there was the law of Moses(given to the Jews).  In the Christian age, we learn that we are to obey the perfect law of liberty(James 1:25).  The old law(Law of Moses) was nailed to the cross(Col.2:14).  The ten
commandments were part of the law of Moses.  Therefore, the ten commandments were nailed to the cross---taken away.  Sometimes we say that 9 of the ten commandments were "carried over" into the New Testament.  That is wrong!  All ten commandments were nailed to the cross!  Taken away!  In the New Testament, we read where God's word teaches that we are to worship only Him(John 4:24; Rom.1:25).  When we worship God, we do so because the New Testament teaches it--not because under the ten commandments there was the command to have "no other gods before me"(Ex.20:3).  Regarding the command to worship God on the sabbath day--under the New Testament we read where we are to worship God on the first day of every week--which is Sunday(Acts 20:7).
Hope this helps.

Q.  Polygamy (actually polygyny) is never condemned anywhere in the Bible. It seems to be condoned and even regulated by some of the laws of Moses (leverite law, man not reducing support for first wife if he takes a second, etc.). God "blessed" David by giving him the wives of Saul when he became king. God portrays Himself as having two wives, Israel and Judah (Eze. 23:4)(Would God portray Himself in a sinful situation?). So, what is the biblical status of polygyny today? Sin or not sin?
 

A.  Thanks for your question.  Actually, Polygamy is condemned in the Bible.  Remember in Romans 7:2-3  Paul said "For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  So then ,if while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that
she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man".  Here, of course, Paul is talking about a woman who if she is married to another man while her husband liveth(and of course she didn't have the right to be
married to him due to the fact that she was (1) guilty of fornication or adultery; or (2) she was put away for some other reason than fornication; or  (3) she put away her husband for some other reason than fornication).
(Matt.19:9 teaches that adultery is the only reason for divorce and that the innocent party(the one not guilty of adultery) has the right to put away the mate that committed adultery and to marry another).  Thus he is talking about a woman who has more than one husband, which is called polyandry.  However,  God's law regarding marriage is rooted in the Garden of Eden, way back to the very beginning of time(Gen.2).  There it was one woman for one man.  From verses like Romans 7:2-3, we understand that marriage is for life.  Hope this
helps!

Q.  In the Book of Acts God told Paul to fear not because he must appear in Rome.   Why was is so important that God deliver Paul to Rome?  Why was it so neccessary that he go to Rome? I know he had to go to trial there but was there a job for him to do there? Why was he discouaraged feeling he wouldnt make it to Rome?

A.  Thanks for your question!
Acts 23:11 sheds some light on your question.  There the Bible states "And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul:  for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also
at Rome".  Paul said that he was ready to preach the Gospel to them that are at Rome also(Rom.1:15).  Paul was committed to preaching the Gospel of Christ to everyone that he could.  I believe that it was a must that he go to Rome.
Hope this helps.
 

Q.  Is astral projection wrong? Or does the bible have mention of it? Like when it says I knew a man wheter in body or out of body I can not tell..I think that's in like 2 corinthians 12:1-4 or something like that....

A.  Thanks for your question.  I really do not know much about "astral projection".  If it is  the idea that we can some how be in contact with groups of spirits and that in our sub conscience we all mingle so to speak with the spirits and that all of our conscience thought comes from subconscience thoughts, then may I offer the following for your consideration.  In Luke 16:19-31, the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazurus that he may speak to his five brethren so that they would not come to the place of torment.  Abraham said "they have Moses and the prophets, let them hear them".  They were at that time under the Mosiacal dispensation.  The point is that Lazurus now in the spirit world(Hadean  realm) would not speak to those on earth.  Also, remember when David's son died?  David said that the son (now in the spirit world) could not return to him but that he could go to where the son was(that one day he would keep the appointment of death and he too would be in the spirit world).  Hope this
helps,

Q.   My question is I have been thinking of joining the Masons. What do you hink of this group??. I'm a Catholic

A.  The Masons or the Masonic lodge is a religious group that is very secretive  and does many things contrary to scripture. For example, a  Mason calls his "superior" worshipful master.  The Bible teaches that Jesus is to be our
Master, not another man.  I would encourage you to read your New Testament and to become a member of the church found in the New Testament.  The church that is in the New Testament is not a denomination built by man.  It is simply the church of Christ(Rom.16:16).  Christ is the head(Col.1:18).  We follow the authority of Christ(Col.3:17).  I would urge you to listen to the sermons or the lessons that are on our website.  Your soul is the most important possession that you have.  Let me encourage you to simply follow the Bible.
 
 

Q.Many of the dead sea scrolls were found at Qumran, why was this place so important back in those days.  I understand the idea behind putting them in a cave, but what is the significance in the location.  There seemed to be
so many places just as good, I think mountainous regions like Carmel or Hermon would be ideal.

A.  It isn't that the Qumran area was more signigicant or important than other regions.  The area between the caves and the Dead Sea  is hot arid country which is ideal for survival of material like the scrolls and the
linen cloths that were found in the caves.  Scrolls may have been abandoned in other regions but these were in the right environment to be preserved.

There are two popular opinions reguarding why they were buried in the caves.  These are national crisis and the common practice of that day to bury/hide belongings when you left to tend your herds.  Also of interest
is the fact that the type of  jars that the scrolls were in have not been found in any other location which some say is an indication that the jars were made locally.
 
 

Q.  My reading has led me to believe that John the Baptist was beheaded in Machaerus (Moab region), but I initally thought Herod's birthday party was in Jerusalem?  Was John taken to this location hundreds of miles away
just to be beheaded?

A.  Most scholars say that he was beheaded at Machaerus.  Herod Antipas, who had John the Baptist beheaded was ruler over Galilee and Peraea so he  was not headquarted at Jerusalem. Agrippa sent Christ  before him when he observed that Christ was from Galilee and Antipas was in Jerusalem for the passover. Luke 23:7

Q.  Is there any indisputable proof of the location where Moses received the 10 Commandments Mt Sinia (Jebel Musa) I still hear debate over the accuracy of this location?
A.  If one believes the Bible the location is Mt. Sinai.  Ex. 19, Moses was the author of this book, God through the Holy Spirit guided him, so I would say that since we have the testimony of the only two present at the giving of the Law of Moses, we have a pretty sure thing.

Q.  At what location did Joshua actually take charge of the Army?

A.  Shittim Jos. 2:1  Joshua took charge at the death of Moses as the leader of the Children of Israel but here is the beginning of military activity, the sending out of spies.

Q.  This is a two part question concerning the Catholic Acrophya, I have read the five books and two that really stick out as being prevalent are Baruch and Maccabees.  Baruch was just a scribe, but was it the fact that he
was not appointed and divine as the other prophets, that his book was not included.  Maccabees, he lets face these folks started the initial Jewish revolt and really got the fire going and seemed like a major event, so why wasn't
this book included?

A.  Both questions probably have the same answer.  Neither author claimed to be a prophet from God, the Jews did not accept the books as part of the scripture, neither Christ or his apostles quoted from them (they
primarily quoted from the Septuagint version which did contain these books.  They were considered as a fairly accutate historical account but nothing more.
 

Q.  When Nehemiah came from Babylonia to rebuild Jerusalem. Why did he expand the city?
He added to the northwest ¦why?

A. Any answer to this question would be pure speculation.

Q.  What was the purpose of building Fort Antonia, it had four tall pillars but overall was very small and took up only one small section of the city?  It did not protect the right flank (right side portico, and Pool of
Israel side), grant it the Kidron valley was wrapping around but the Temple was
still vunerable?

A.  Originally built to store the vestments of the High Priest.  Herod fortified it and named it for his friend Mark Anthony

Q.  8) Was in fact Mt. Hermon the location of the transfiguration?

A.  No one knows for sure so it would be speculation to say exactly on what mountain this event occured.

Q.  Was there any significance in John writing Revelations on the small island of Patmos?

A.  None that is mentioned.  He was exiled to Patmos and as far as we know died there.

Q.   Hello;  At our Wednesday night Bible Study  we were discussing how far we  are to go in helping others and  do we have a lack of faith if we don't  help someone or we don't let our women pick up males by themselves, are we
going  to be  held accountable for this?  Thank You

A.  Thank you for your good question.  We are commanded to help others as we  have the opportunity and the ability to do so.  1 John 3:17 says "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  Picking up a hitchhiker, especially as it pertains to a lady doing this, can be a dangerous thing in our society.  The Lord  taught His 12 disciples
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves"(Matt.10:16). The same principle of being wise as serpents and harmless as doves needs to be followed today.  If we see someone who has car trouble,for example, why not call the police so that they can get appropriate help?  Hope this answers your question.

 Sincerely,  Howell Bigham