|
Post by evafromgreece on Nov 27, 2021 17:01:16 GMT -5
Hello guys. Thank you for your answers. I will come back tomorrow and reply to you. These past 3 days I was at work for 11 hours because of black Friday ... (We have black Friday these past years in Greece these past years....🙄🙄🙄)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Nov 24, 2021 17:48:48 GMT -5
Oh you celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow! Happy Thanksgiving. I was thinking of Job. I remember when I first studied Job and we had studied it in the past together as I remember. Job had strong faith. He didn't lose his faith no matter what... Then let's say... I compare myself to this. Not even close to this kind of faith. I can easily have doubts... I am trying to find the biblical answers to this. As for the knowledge and rewards sometimes it's possible to say " enough with this. It's OK as long as I don't pain..." So what can we do?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Mar 15, 2017 16:33:21 GMT -5
Hey guys. These past weeks were tough from me. After a week sick from gastroenteritis, a little later I was sick again with tonsillitis and at the some days before I got sick I had an accident. I went to the movies and after the screening ended I fell off the stairs. I cannot find the right words in English to explain exactly what happened, but the result was really painful... So these past weeks I wasnt online and I felt also emotionally sick from all these. But... I yesterday finished the book of 2nd Timothy and now I will move on. I'm so sorry you're been sick Eva. And falling down and hurting yourself isn't good either. I'm sure that must have hurt!
Hello Cindy! Yes, it have hurt a lot ! In fact it still hurts sometimes, but now I am ok.
How are you doing emotionally after all of this, and with the move and new job and all?
Its a bit hard to adjust again. Its hard that I need hour to get to work and one hour to return, a long journey... But, emotionally its better, at least at work. People are kind to me and they seem to see how hard I work, they respect me. So I prefer this working conditions , instead of being in Rhodes... I am tired of the journey. I come back home and fall asleep really soon... In fact I am not here often and I dislike this. But, in Rhodes things were extreme... Too bad... No respect , almost bullying...
How do you like the church you said you were going to? Have you been able to go regularly - except when you were sick? I do, on Sundays, but ... Its far. 1 and a half hour from here... And I didnt manage actually to build friendships in the church... I am thinking of trying something else closer, give it a chance. But my other options are pentecostal and apostolic churches. But here I have options at least.
Do you see your parents at all?
Not at all. No chance to go to the island. Its far and it is expensive... But we talk on the phone How are you doing with them?
They seem to miss me... They didnt seem to really care when I was near to them
I've been kind of concerned about you lately....I think things will turn out better eventually but it takes time... I am in Thessaloniki, the 2nd biggest city in Greece. I used to live here from 2004-2012, I studied also here, its like a 2nd home :) That's so neat to know that people are still living in the area where Paul taught, and still loving the Lord like he did!
:) Eva: Now I remember.....but I didn't realize you lived there before!! I looked at some images and there are a lot with a round sort of castle looking structure and also a 'unique' looking sculpture, have you seen those and what are they? Of course, when I was reading about Paul visiting there, I looked at images more from the biblical times. It is right on the ocean, so can you see or get to the ocean from where you are living? Are you still staying with a friend? Which town/city were you born in? I think Greece must be beautiful! :) Yes and you should both visit it! Barbara, I was born in Rhodes and studied here in Thessaloniki, this is my 2nd home. I still live in a small room with an old friend. The sea its 30 minutes from here. But if you want to swim you have to travel about an hour.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 22, 2017 16:41:54 GMT -5
Eva: Thank you for letting us know what was going on in your life, I was beginning to get concerned. I am so sorry you have been going thru such a rough patch of illness etc. in your life.
I forgot which town or city you are in? How are you liking it? You have been there awhile..a couple of months now, is that correct? I am in Thessaloniki, the 2nd biggest city in Greece. I used to live here from 2004-2012, I studied also here, its like a 2nd home :)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 21, 2017 11:01:34 GMT -5
Hey guys. These past weeks were tough from me. After a week sick from gastroenteritis, a little later I was sick again with tonsillitis and at the some days before I got sick I had an accident. I went to the movies and after the screening ended I fell off the stairs. I cannot find the right words in English to explain exactly what happened, but the result was really painful... So these past weeks I wasnt online and I felt also emotionally sick from all these. But... I yesterday finished the book of 2nd Timothy and now I will move on.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Feb 21, 2017 9:58:31 GMT -5
We have one story about death that we can be sure is absolutely true, because Jesus told us about it. for our purposes it really doesn't matter if this was a parable or a true story, but for the record I do want to state that it was not a parable. I'm speaking about the story Jesus told about the rich man and the poor man who died in Luke 16:19-31. in this verse we see something that happens immediately after death: ““The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.” (Luke 16:22) The angels carried the one who was saved to "Abraham's side" or "Abraham's bosom". "Abraham's bosom" is where those who were saved before our Lord's resurrection went when they died. It is where Jesus went when He died, and He brought all those people to Heaven after He rose, so that now every believer who dies, go straight to Heaven. We see on the other hand that the wicked rich man went straight to Hell. He had no escort, but went there at the command of God. Let me ask you a question now. If we are simply spirits when we die, how could someone carry a spirit, or hold a spirit? There wouldn't be anything substantial for them to hold on to. In the rest of the story, we see Abraham having a conversation with the wicked rich man. There is nothing in this story to support the idea that either one of them was just a "spirit" or just a "soul" without a body. In fact, look at this verse: ““But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.” (Luke 16:25) I would say that it takes a body to be able to feel sensations and to be able to receive "good things". While I suppose someone could argue otherwise, their argument would have to be based on guess work rather than facts. ““ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’ “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”” (Luke 16:30–31) When Dives asks Abraham to send someone from the dead, he obviously expects whoever is sent to be in a body, and not some kind of ghost.
We also have these verses: “Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”” (Luke 23:42–43) Here the thief asks Jesus to remember Him when He returns to start the Millennial Kingdom. The Lord replied saying that he wouldn't have to wait until then, but would be with Him in Paradise that very day. (Paradise is another term for Abraham's Bosom) So again, there is no indication of some kind of difference in the person's body, between the time a person dies and the time after the rapture when we are to receive our incorruptible bodies.
We do have one other first hand account of heaven: “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to paradise. He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell.” (2 Corinthians 12:2–4) Paul is speaking about himself in these verses. He tells us that somehow or another, he was taken to heaven. That is amazing by itself, but another amazing part of it is that he could not tell whether or not he was still in his regular body or if he had another body, the kind that would be acceptable in heaven! Therefore, it makes me think that there was no way for him to tell whether or not he had literally died and gone to heaven, or whether God had brought him to heaven in some other way, kind of like a rapture of just one person; like the way Enoch and later Elijah went to Heaven. So again, we see that the people in haven do have bodies and are not just spirits or ghosts.
There is much, much more, but I'll have to write about it tomorrow, God willing, as I've run out of time today. But this much should give you both plenty to think about to start with anyway.
Hey guys :) I think its clear that we will have bodies, and we will not be just ghosts. One little note that I think I have to be reminded is the main differences between paradise and heaven, except the fact that people go to Heaven after Jesus resurrected.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 20, 2017 10:24:37 GMT -5
Hey guys :)
I just finished the Epistle to the Galatians. I know its is necessary to post what useful I learned and how to apply in my life, I will post some thoughts about the last book. From the 1st Corinthians until now I see gradually problems in these first churches, problems and conflict. False teachings, and now in Galatians some people wanted to convince Christians that the law was higher than Jesus... So they were confused. From one point it amazes me that those first Christians had these problems, because it haven't been a long time since Jesus was resurrected, and the events of the Lords Ministry on earth was very close to them. But in fact what matters today and what mattered then was to stick to the Bible, this is and was the only way to know what is true and what is not...
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 19, 2017 8:48:53 GMT -5
Can we assume what the reaction of the unbelievers would be? I think that at least they would consider the event, if they are at least logical. How can someone could be indifferent to this? I doubt if anyone would be indifferent to it Eva, and I've never heard of anyone saying that anyone would be. I'm sure the people left behind will be shocked and frightened by the rapture. They'll want to know what happened to everyone that's gone, and that will cause people to come up with all kinds of explanations for the rapture. Of course some people will know that it was the rapture, because they had friends or loved ones tell them all about it and they knew their loved ones were expecting it to happen, but they had thought their loved ones were crazy or silly to believe such a thing before. But once it actually happens, they'll realize that their loved ones were right, and they'd been left behind because they didn't believe. They will want to know if they can still be saved or if it's too late for them, and they will tell others that what happened was the rapture. But many won't believe it was the rapture and will still think that's crazy. Instead they'll believe that all the people were taken on a UFO or that we were killed because we wouldn't go along with the new world order and allow mankind to evolve into a higher consciousness of some kind of garbage like that. Anyway, there are most likely going to be all kinds of different theories about what happened and the government will pick one of them and tell the world that's what really happened. Of course the government won't tell the truth, but will pick one of the lies and say that's the truth.
But when the rapture happens, there will be chaos in every area where many people are gone from. I don't think there will be anywhere near as many people going in the rapture as the movies and books made it look like. That's my personal opinion though based on the fact that the Lord always has a remnant, which is a small number compared to the whole population.
Yes they will not be indifferent but most of them still would not try to get closer to God and get saved. This might be because of the lies though... Similar to now. You can find a Bible in any bookstore but who is willing to read it? It is there, its not forbidden to have it or to read it but people dont care. I dont think I have more questions, so if Barbara also or anyone that might be reading this is ok too, I think you can move on. By the way I am sick with gastroenteritis :(
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 16, 2017 15:36:18 GMT -5
I had hoped that Eva would have caught up before now, but I'm going to continue anyway. I said I'd be talking more about what would happen when those who died before the rapture are raised up in their new bodies, so that's what we'll discuss now. We can get a good idea of what will happen when we look in God's Word at other times the dead were raised. For instance, when the faithful dead were raised after Jesus died, what else happened? “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:51–53) There was an earthquake which caused the tombs and graves to be opened so that the people could come out of them. Actually, the Lord could have just caused the people to wake up outside the tombs and graves, but He knew it would be much more dramatic and obvious that these people had been dead if the people living at that time could see their graves opened and see that there was no longer any bodies in them.
Let's look at another instance of this, when Jesus Himself was raised from the dead: “There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.” (Matthew 28:2–3) In this case there was also an earthquake, but it didn't dislodge the stone in front of the tomb, instead, God sent an angel to do that. God wanted to call special attention to what had happened.
This next example is a little different. It's when the two prophets are raised from the dead and ascend into heaven: (since their resurrection and ascension happen right after each other. I'll post it in context for you: “But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on. At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.” (Revelation 11:11–13) Again, there was an earthquake when this happened.
Therefore it's quite likely that there will be an earthquake at the time of the rapture. Of course none of us will be harmed by it since we'll all already be in the air rising up to meet our Lord. I believe that many of the books and movies showed an earthquake happening at the rapture and in this case it is true to scripture. Note that scripture does not say that an earthquake will happen at the rapture, it only shows them happening at other times the dead were raised.
I want to point out a couple more things about the rapture: “in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:52) In Exodus 19, God tells Moses He wants to speak to all Israel and tells Moses what they need to do to be ready for His presence and to hear Him. When the day arrived (Exodus 19:16) there was a loud blast of a trumpet which announced His presence to Israel and called them to come to the mountain to hear Him. The "last trumpet" will be the trumpet blast that will announce the presence of God to us, His Body, who He is calling to meet Him. The difference is that we will meet with Him in the air, rather than on a mountain. It is the last trumpet for the Church, it is not the "last trumpet ever". This trumpet blast announces the presence of God. It has nothing to do with judgement. The trumpets we see in the book of Revelation however, are all about judgement and are entirely different.
“For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.” (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17) This scripture adds that there will also be "a loud command". Remember the two prophets who will rise during the tribulation? They too will hear a loud command: “Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here.” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.” (Revelation 11:12) Many scholars think that's pretty much what our "loud command" will be too. We have to understand that the rapture is not a suggestion or an invitation that can be turned down. The Lord will command us to rise to meet Him. It was the Word of His commands that created this world and everything in it, including each of us. When our Lord commands, He is instantly obeyed, there is no choice. Before our minds even have time to consider it, our bodies will be obeying His command and be rising into the air.
For those people who have a fear of heights, they need not be concerned. We must remember that we will have our new bodies already which means that our sin nature will be completely gone. Therefore we will instinctively know that there is nothing to fear and we will never experience fear of worry again. Besides that, we'll be very busy being overwhelmed by His presence and love as it's only going to take a few seconds for us to reach Him; and excited by everything that's happening. No, there will be no fear. Only great joy for us on that day! Can we assume what the reaction of the unbelievers would be? I think that at least they would consider the event, if they are at least logical. How can someone could be indifferent to this?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 12, 2017 14:56:47 GMT -5
The Second Coming is when Jesus returns to the Earth, ends Armageddon, all Israel is saved, and then Jesus will judge the nations at the sheep and goat judgement shown in Matthew 25:31-46. This is to determine how people/nations treated the Jew's during the tribulation and who will go into the Millennial Kingdom and is not the final judgment which is called the Great White Throne Judgement. That will not happen until after the Millennial Kingdom is over. Let's not get ahead of ourselves though. Right now we are only talking about the rapture. The rest will be covered when we get to it. The only reason I showed verses about the second coming in my first post was to show the difference between that and the rapture, so you could recognize when the bible is talking about the rapture.
Ok, but because I just want to make clear some things, in the Second Coming God will judge people who were alive in that period, or people (dead and alive) of that period in general? I am not sure if my question is clear.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 12, 2017 14:50:05 GMT -5
I said that something like this has already happened to some who had died in faith. Now let me show you the passages that speak about this. “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:52–53) The first part of this scripture, the part where the tombs broke open the the dead were raised to life, happened after Jesus died on the cross. The part where they went into Jerusalem didn't happen until after Jesus was resurrected. So although they were all raised to life instantly, the rest of this scripture took place over a period of three days. I want you to notice the very last part of that scripture where it says that these people appeared to many people. They weren't invisible. Many people saw them and spoke to them! It was a well known miracle that happened at that time.
Now I want to look at other examples of people who never experienced death, but were taken to heaven from earth - they experienced their own "rapture" though they didn't receive their new bodies at the time. They too will have to wait for the real rapture before that happens. The first person this happened to was Enoch. “And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” (Genesis 5:22–24) Also, “By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” (Hebrews 11:5) These passages don't tell us much except that God took Enoch to Heaven. I find it interesting that Luke 3:37 shows us that Enoch and his son are both in the genealogy of our Lord. Another interesting thing about Enoch is that all the way back in Genesis, only 7 generations after Adam, Enoch prophesied about the Second Coming of Christ! “Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”” (Jude 14–15) Notice that Enoch also said that all of "His holy ones" which means all those who have been saved by Him, will return with Him!
The next one we hear about is Elijah. “As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind. Elisha saw this and cried out, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” And Elisha saw him no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them apart.” (2 Kings 2:11–12) This time we're told a little more. We're told that Elisha saw this happen. A few verses later in 2 Kings 2:15–16 we discover that a whole company of 50 prophets saw this happen. (We know how many there were from 2 Kings 2:7) They wanted to comfort Elisha over the loss of Elijah and so told him that maybe God only picked Elijah up and set him down someplace else. But Elisha knew better. He knew Elijah was gone from the earth for good. He finally gave into them and let them go search for him, but after looking for 3 days they returned and told him they couldn't find him anywhere. (interesting that they searched for 3 days isn't it?) Elisha then told them he'd known from the start that they wouldn't find Elijah. The point I want to make though is that at leas
Enoch and Elijah and those people after Jesus was ressurected will get their new bodies at the rapture, am I understanding this correctly? I am not sure about this "“The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:52–53) It make me wonder and some months ago when I was studying Matthew, I am sure I have mention this. Now that you mentioned the similarities with the rapture, it starts to make sense. But, if they didnt take their new body back then , those people were wandering around with their old body? And they were to Heaven, their souls, the soul came back to earth to the body, and they could be seen by people in Jerusalem ?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 9, 2017 13:43:57 GMT -5
Hey guys :)
I read the first post. I will post some comments on this, in order to see if I know some things correctly. When we die we go immediatelly to hell or heaven, there is not an "sleeping" situation until the rapture as some people tend to believe. If we are saved we go to Heaven, the unbelievers go to hell. When the rapture comes the believers who are still on earth will go directly near to the Lord, and people who have died and are with the Lord will receive their brand new immortal bodies (I am not sure if I am expressing correctly what I am want to say...) together with the people who were still on earth and will be with the Lord after the Rapture. The second coming is the period that will judge the unbelievers, I think at the same period believers would get their rewards, is this right?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 9, 2017 12:28:27 GMT -5
Thank you Cindy for reminding me this :)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 8, 2017 17:19:30 GMT -5
Hi Eva how cold is it there? What is the temp there as compared to Rhodes? But besides the cold, are you liking it?
I will leave your questions for Cindy. I will only say I think maybe it was Paul himself who was was lifted up and saw heaven. Hey Barbara :) Lets say in Rhodes in the coldest periods of the year it was around 10 celcius degrees, in extreme cases we went to 4 to 5 degrees. Now these past days in Thessaloniki we are below 0... Yesterday from the bus to work I saw -9, but this week is an extreme case. Normally when its cold we are around 0 to 4 degrees, but comparing to the 10 degrees in Rhodes its really different. I like here that I dont face extreme situations with people at work. It seems like I move forward from were I was, sad all the time. It seems to be ok. And I am saying it seems, because after all these years of facing this kind of problems I am a bit frightened, but by having God with me I know I will be safe. I faced horrible working conditions in Rhodes at both of the companies I worked for. Maybe the people are more spoiled there with money and everything. Its a rich place still, people take everything for granted. Maybe this was part of a reason. We live in the world, surrounded by unbelievers no matter were we are... I dont know if this was Paul who saw Heaven, it seems like he was talking about somebody else. But, if it was Paul he might mean the vision he had and that led him stop chasing Christians, the voice of God "Saul, Why Do You Persecute Me?". But I am not sure
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 6, 2017 15:36:31 GMT -5
Hey guys :) I am ok in general. Except from the cold -extreme cold for me because I am not used to this after living all these past years in Rhodes which is warm generally, and that I started feeling a bit pain because of standing too many hours again during work, generally I am ok. I am sorry guys that you dont feel well :) I pray you get well soon:) I finished 2nd Corinthians and I was wondering about ch. 12, Paul talks about someone that was lifted and saw heaven, what was this about. Also, in the last chapters I see much tension with the Corinthians. This could apply to today, false teachers are extremely popular, more popular than the ones that spread the truth. But who were those false teachers that were full of pride?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Jan 3, 2017 15:07:16 GMT -5
You're very welcome Eva. You said you were in 2 Corinthians before. I'm just finishing 1 Corinthians 9. I've really enjoyed reading about how Paul put into action in his life the principals he spoke about in the chapter 8. He shows us that we're not to base our decisions on what's best for us, but instead on what Jesus wants and what is best for other believers and the Church as a whole. It's shown me too that even in my personal life, what I do reflects on the Church and affects other believers, so I need to be careful of my decisions on how I act and speak.
I believe this is related with what I was reading in 2nd Corinthians chapters 8-9. It might not talk about the the same topic, but it is similar. In 1 Corinthians 9 Paul was giving up some rights he had in order to help those first Christians mostly spiritually, and in 2 Corinthians ch 8 Paul uses as an example the churches in Macedonia that were generous and willing to offer to the Christians in need in Jerusalem, even though they didnt have much to offer.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Dec 29, 2016 16:33:06 GMT -5
Hey guys! I wish you had wonderful and above all blessed Christmas :) I want to discuss someting with you. I went to visit a cave with stalactites yesterday in a village not really far from here. It was really impressive. But... The person that did the tour was keep on saying that it took billions of years for the stalactites to be formed etc, and that it needs hunderds of years for a stalactite in the size of a die to get formed. I dont believe the earth is here for billions of years, but how to answer in this "proofs"? I looked it up for you:
Is the earth really young? After all, he had just come back from touring the caves of Western Australia’s south-west, and had seen all those stalactites. Didn’t they prove the earth was many thousands, or even millions, of years old?
I told him to come with me to see some buildings on campus where substantial stalactites were growing. I asked whether he thought these had taken many thousands of years to form, or whether perhaps it was a creationist trick to glue them to the undersides of the buildings.
I remember raising the question of stalactite growth rates at a lecture in my undergraduate days, only to be told that stalactites growing from buildings were different to those forming in caves because the concrete offered a ready supply of material and there was enhanced water flow at localized sites because of redirection of water by the building’s drainage system. But similar conditions apply for every stalactite cave.
Job 12:8: ‘Speak to the earth, and it will teach you …’. Stalactites are growing everywhere … shopping centres, schools, universities, and even in multi-storey car parks.
Whenever you see a white stalactite hanging from a building, look for yourself and see how many thousands of years old you think that building is.
answersingenesis.org/geology/caves/do-ancient-stalactites-really-exist/
Stalactites and Stalagmites Grow Faster Than Taught
The monitoring of many stalactites and stalagmites within the last century has shown the rate of growth to be much faster than the rate taught in many textbooks. Stalactites over five feet long have been found in the basement of the Lincoln Memorial, built in 1923, as well as some more than a foot long under bridges in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Stalagmites grow somewhat slower than stalactites; but they still do not take thousands of years to form. In 1953, Mason Sutherland published a photograph in National Geographic of a bat that had fallen on a stalagmite in the Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico. The bat was covered and preserved before it could decompose, proving the rapid growth rate of some stalagmites.
creationtoday.org/rapid-cave-formation/
I took these photos of stalactites during the course of my job as drainer in the Moreton Shire council in Queensland, Australia.
I was doing sewerage inspection of the system along Cobalt Street, Carole Park, where we found several manholes with what looked like long stalactite growths from the top manhole slab as the water leaked in.
The sewerage system was laid around 1978-1980, so they would have had about 14 years to form. The one photographed was over two metres (six feet).
Rex Mechen, Brassall, Queensland, Australia. answersingenesis.org/ministry-news/ministry/letters-to-the-editor-december-1994/
Here's more about it for you: creation.com/rapid-stalactites
creation.com/rapid-stalactite-growth
creation.com/stalactites-do-not-take-millions-of-years
creationwiki.org/Stalactite_and_stalagmite
Thank you Cindy :)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Dec 27, 2016 17:02:18 GMT -5
Hey guys! I wish you had wonderful and above all blessed Christmas :) I want to discuss someting with you. I went to visit a cave with stalactites yesterday in a village not really far from here. It was really impressive. But... The person that did the tour was keep on saying that it took billions of years for the stalactites to be formed etc, and that it needs hunderds of years for a stalactite in the size of a die to get formed. I dont believe the earth is here for billions of years, but how to answer in this "proofs"?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Dec 22, 2016 18:14:10 GMT -5
Hey guys :) I am not the book of 2nd Corinthians. I finished chapter 4. I will write to you tomorrow. I am all in for the new study ;)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Dec 20, 2016 17:09:04 GMT -5
Hey guys! I finally have internet connection... I will do a summary of what has happened and tomorrow I will write details :) I got a job :) Again in "Public", the same company I was working in Rhodes. I didnt expect this but the store is much better, and until now everything seems ok :) No more bullying from the manager. They all seem really kind to me. Also I got congatulations from the company for the good work, and that made me really happy :) God has really blessed me :) Unfortunatelly due to the delay in finding a job I run out of money and I havent found my home yet. I should the sooner as possible, because the store is really far from whre I stay, 1 hour to go, and 1 hour to return with the bus. Also, this year I cannot send you my Greek christmas gifts that I was really excited about to know how you liked them :) So be patient for next year :P So good night for now, its 00:10 here in Greece, I will write you more tomorrow :) I missed you both <3 I love you <3 Yeah!! Now I have internet connection !!!!
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Oct 31, 2016 12:10:21 GMT -5
Thank you guys :) The church is awesome , but far away , but this doesnt matter a lot :) They didnt call untill today, so I guess they dont want to hire me. Of course, I would appreiciate an answer like "you dont match with the profile we want to hire", but they didnt even call. So I will wait for my other option- vodafone, and if they do not call until lets say 1pm, I will call them. Please, please pray for me, that God gives me strength and patience, but also to guide me in the right job for me :)
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Oct 29, 2016 17:38:24 GMT -5
Hey guys :) I am in Thessaloniki. I live for now at an old friends house. For now I dont have a proper internet connection, just some megabytes on a sim card in a usb stick. When I rent my own house I will transfer the lan line I had in Rhodes. I have some good and bad news. It seems things are not that easy as I thought when I planned to move here. Public ( the previous company) will have jobs available from 2017 in this area, probably February, but if I want I can work there 1 month for the Christmas period, which is nice, but I want to start something that will last more than a month. The other company(media markt) in which I was introduced to by 2 people that were my trainers at public before they went to work for them, is not really what I was thinking of from the descriptions. These people are working in athens and in any store there are differences, but even from the interviews I felt something is not right... They described it as a company that is much better. I went for the 1 st interview and all they have been asking me was what was wrong with Public and they wanted me to get into details. I am not really good at avoiding to tell what I really believe, so I did, and I am not sure what impression I made. But I felt awful when I got out the door... One week later I went for a second interview. It went better, but still unconfortable, and I felt I do not much with these people. also, even I had the best possible references someone could have, I felt like a silly too young person going there to ask for a job. It seemed like my cv, my experience, my references do not make any difference... and on the top of all these they told me the better they can offer is a part time , 3 months contract. They gave me 3 days to answer if I agree with this or not. I called back and ask for the exact salary for this so I can give my final answer. They told me, I said ok (for now , 3 months at least to have something) , and I was expecting lets say to tell me when I start or something, but the woman I spoke to told me that she will call until the end of the month because they are not finished yet with the interviews... as you can easily understand I started contacting other buisiness after this. and still I dont have an answer from media markt, I would apprieciate a negative answer, but an answer. actually, only God knows what is best for me, but I dont feel this is the right company for me, I feel something is wrong, is weird, but again only God knows.
So, I started contacting other buisiness. I went for an interview at a vodafone franchise shop, and it went well, nothing weird... Full time, the only disadvantage is that some days I will work split shift, but I have done this before. Its 40 euros less than the previous job, but I wont be in charge of anybody there ( I was mobile sales supervisor at public for an extra 40, I think it wasnt a good deal), and 40 less its not bad. anyway, the store owner seemed to like me and we had I think good conversation, so this week they will arrange a second interview with the area manager of vodafone. Still, only God knows what is best for me, and I keep praying and praying to lead me to the best working place for me... It might be one of them, it might be none of them... I dont know.... Of course I cannot know...
Some good news... I found the church I was trying to find some months ago and I couldnt. I went 2 times and I will go also tomorrow. They are really warm and friendly, finally I found people who talk ! LOL! The sermon seemed really right also, I didnt notice something unbiblical. 2 women I was talking to gave me their phone numbers and they asked me if they arrange a home bible study if I would like to join them, of course I said yes! I am sure I will speak to more people tomorrow :)
Also, I studied until Romans 11 until today
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Sept 9, 2016 14:50:13 GMT -5
Hey guys :)
I have some news. I was thinking and praying about this for a long time. I will leave Rhodes and move to north Greece to try and get a better job. On Friday the 30th of September I will leave this store. I asked if I can move to a store in North Greece and I am waiting for an answer. Also I am discussing with other comnpanies also. I am not sure if this store is not working properly or the company. So if they accept me from another one, I would prefer this. I spend 1/3 and some days more of my day at work, so at least I would like to be happy. I know that I wont be able to find a perfect environment in this world, but I would like something better and healthier. So I am leaving from here. In this small island there are not much companies to try for a change. Its a huge step I need you to pray for me :) I am sure God will lead me to the best option :) Also, there are many more Christians there and churches :) So I will try
On our study I am on Acts 13 and I am moving to Acts 14. I will come back with comments on this.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 31, 2016 15:13:27 GMT -5
So, Ananias and Saphira were true believers , they were saved and they were punished for they sin, and this was also an example for the others to see how serious things are. That sin causes death, and that we should obey God with all our hearts. So these people are saved, right? They will spend eternity with the Lord, but they have lost some of the rewards they would have gain if they were honest, right?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 30, 2016 15:03:49 GMT -5
Hey guys :) I studied from acts 1 to chapter 7. I was wondering... Judas commited suicide. But in acts (sorry that the a is not capital, keybord still does not work.....) it seems like Judas fell off and died. But it might mean that when he hanged himself then the dead body fell , and the organs splitted. So he commited suicide. Thats what I believe it meant. also, chapter 2. The pentecost day... Was this a special day for the Jews ? 50 days after the Jewish easter? Why they were gathered in Jerusalem? Jews from all over the world?... In chapter 5 . ananias and Sapfira were not really commited Christians, their hearts were elsewere. They were not Christians, I think, they were faking. Because we sin, we lie sometimes , but we dont face this kind of judgement. God forgive us because He loves us. I might not explain this correctly, I hope you understand what I am trying to say.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 24, 2016 15:07:51 GMT -5
Hey guys! Now that I read before and after these verses, I see that it was reffering to Israel and not the church, it says this also. The reasons I believe the church wont be here during the Tribulation follow. 1. The Tribulation has to do with the wrath of God at the people who didnt accept Him, so the church has nothing to do with this. 2. The Tribulation has to do with the Israel nation who have never accepted Him 3.During this period people will face things and disasters that have nevered occured before. I know God will never put us on things we cannot handle and that are above our strength. So the church cannot be here during the tribulation. 4. God does not do anything for no reason and He waits until every single person gets saved. If church's time on earth is off, there is not need for the Christians to face this period, because it will not have something to offer to them. They will be already saved , they have learned on earth all the things God has planned for them to learn, and there will be no reason to face these trials. You mentioned that the people of Israel that will be saved then will be like Paul. How about the unsaved gentiles? 1. Yes, that's very true. 2. The purpose of the tribulation does include them being judged for rejecting Him, but it includes a lot more than just that. If the tribulation is about God judging Israel just for rejecting Jesus, then why is it spoken of so much in the OT before Jesus even came? 3. You said God will never give us anything we can't handle, but that's not true. God often gives us things we cannot handle because He wants us to learn to rely on Him, not ourselves. What disaster will happen during the tribulation that have never occurred before? I think maybe you mean that many that will be worse then they have ever been before, like world wide earthquakes, but of course, there have been many earthquakes before, even some very bad ones, just not one that was all over the whole world. Yes but He gives us ways to handle it, so with Him we can. But also He knows our limits. I remember the story of Job, every trial was up to a limit. Maybe Tribulation is beyond this limit? Is this right?
4. I don't think anyone can learn everything God has for us to learn in one lifetime on earth even if we lived to be 1000 and always tried our best. We see people die today who are at different levels of learning about God. Not all of them have studied His Word carefully, and some die right after they are saved and couldn't have learned much at all, like the thief on the cross next to Jesus. BUT, you are partly right about everyone being saved that is supposed to be saved. However, the way you say it, seems to say that no one will be saved during the tribulation, and that's not true. So you need to be able to explain that more clearly.
I am not talking for individuals, but for the Church as the body of Christ. The church will have completed its mission by then and played its role. Israel nation still would not have accept Jesus, so God will go to the next step. The unsaved gentiles who are saved during the tribulation will be saved in the same manner they always have been. The difference will be that they will not become part of the church as I explained in other posts. The point about Paul's salvation was that God was still showing Israel what would happen to them in the future. What I wanted you to do was see if you could remember the points I made in my posts and how they related to Israel, Gentiles and/or the tribulation. It would probably help you to go back to the start of this thread and read my posts again so it is all fresh in your mind, since it's taken so long to get this far.
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 24, 2016 15:01:03 GMT -5
One thought, I am not sure its right. Remember when God saved Lot because of Abrahams prayers? Could this be accurate, to save us from this period of wrath because of our prayers,for the prayers of every single member of the church?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 20, 2016 11:53:33 GMT -5
Hey guys!
Now that I read before and after these verses, I see that it was reffering to Israel and not the church, it says this also. The reasons I believe the church wont be here during the Tribulation follow.
1. The Tribulation has to do with the wrath of God at the people who didnt accept Him, so the church has nothing to do with this. 2. The Tribulation has to do with the Israel nation who have never accepted Him 3.During this period people will face things and disasters that have nevered occured before. I know God will never put us on things we cannot handle and that are above our strength. So the church cannot be here during the tribulation. 4. God does not do anything for no reason and He waits until every single person gets saved. If church's time on earth is off, there is not need for the Christians to face this period, because it will not have something to offer to them. They will be already saved , they have learned on earth all the things God has planned for them to learn, and there will be no reason to face these trials.
You mentioned that the people of Israel that will be saved then will be like Paul. How about the unsaved gentiles?
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 16, 2016 16:11:08 GMT -5
Please read, Ezekiel 37:1–14. Remember that Daniel learned from studying God's Word that Jeremiah had prophesied that it would soon be time for Israel to go back to her own land. There were several prophets alive at the same time as Daniel - some older, some younger than he was. Among them were Ezekiel, Habakkuk, Jeremiah, and Zephaniah. Today we read the prophesies they wrote and know without any doubt that they were all true prophets of God. When they were alive, because they were true prophets and because they knew God and His Word, they also knew that each of the others were also true prophets. But the rest of the people alive in that day didn't know that. When we read the books they each wrote we discover that most of the people did not believe them, and mainly it was because they didn't want to know the Truth. They didn't want to admit their sins and have to repent of them. (just like it was in the time Jesus was here) However, those who truly belonged to God knew, and they listened to these prophets. Daniel also studied the prophesies of Ezekiel, and one of his prophecies also relates to the end times future of Israel. It's called the Valley of the Dry Bones.
We know from the previous chapter as well as Ezekiel 37:11 that the dry bones represent Israel. God shows them as bones that are dry and white with age, showing that they'd been lying in this valley for a very long time. Keep in mind that when the bible speaks of someone being dead, like it does here, it's not necessarily talking about them being physically dead, bur instead speaking of spiritual death. The people were alive, but the bones showed that they had been dead spiritually for a very, very long time.
In this prophecy, God brings Israel to life in stages. First the bones come together, then tendons and flesh are on them, then breath enters them, and finally, God puts His spirit in them. Let me share what one of my books say about this, as it is a prophecy that is being fulfilled even now:
The prophecy spoken by Ezekiel indicated a gradual coming together of the nation of Israel. The bodies of Jews were scattered all over this figurative graveyard that contained the bones of other civilizations now dead, such as the Hittites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medo-Persians, Romans, and so on. But the dead bones of Israel would be different; they would gradually leave the graveyard of dead civilizations and once again become a living nation. Indeed this is what has happened with the resurrection of Israel in the twentieth century.
A noise and rattling sound. The single most influential event that helped to draw the Jews back to Palestine from around the world was the signing of the Balfour Declaration in 1917. Nothing creates a noise and rattling sound more than a war. But there's actually more to the story of the noise. By 1916, World War 1 wasn't going well for England. The UK was desperate to find a method of manufacturing TNT quickly in order to repel the advancement of the Germans (and nothing makes a noise quite like TNT) A brilliant Jew named Chaim Weizmann invented a formula that made rapid production possible, which helped to change the course of the war. In return, the prime minister of England told Dr Weizmann to name his reward. Rejecting personal recompense, Weizmann requested that Palestine be declared the national homeland for the Jewish people. As a result, the Balfour Declaration was subsequently drafted and signed on November 2, 1917.
Bones coming together. In 1917, there were fewer than 100,000 Jews living in Palestine; but that would quickly change. For the first time the nation that controlled the land (England) gave official sanction to the scattered Jews to reclaim it. The bones were beginning to come together.
Tendons and flesh appearing. By the 1920's the bones were coming together but there was no meat on them. There was little national consciousness among the Jews. The government was British, although a few small Jewish unions called kibbutzim were beginning to crop up. However, all this changed when the Arabs began their assaults on the Jewish settlers. The defenseless Jews marshaled together in strength and unity to resist a common foe. The strength from the tendons and flesh was beginning to grow.
Skin covering them. The organizational unity and ability to self-govern became apparent following the establishment of Israel as a sovereign state in 1948 and it's recognition by the other living nations of the world. With skin covering the tendons and bones, the body of Israel was now recognizable, but there was still no "breath" within. This prophecy clearly indicates that Israel would be physically regathered before she was spiritually reborn.
But there was no "breath" in them. The word breath (Hebrew, ruach), when used symbolically in Scripture, indicates spiritual life. From the time God breathed into Adam the breath of life to make him a living soul, God has been more interested in man's spiritual life than in his physical. Mankind, for the most part, operates in the opposite manner; and the Jewish emigration to Israel is no exception. Essentially, the regathering of Jews into their homeland beginning in 1917 has been primarily a physically, politically and economically motivated experience. The majority of Jews who inhabit the Promised Land today have no "breath" in them. That is, they are not committed to God by faith and practice. Many tend to be rather secular and humanistic. Theodor Herzl was actually an atheist and the Zionist movement he founded was not a spiritual organization, but instead reflected strong humanistic tendencies. In fact, the Zionists in the Israeli government today frequently find themselves at odds with the orthodox rabbis and other minorities who are likely to serve and live according to the Old Testament.
But this will one day change. It is significant that Israel is only "a breath away" from completely fulfilling Ezekiel's prophecy in chapter 37, and this could happen within the very near future. In fact, the greatest prophetic event will take place in a sudden flash and without warning! Global Warning by Tim LaHaye and Ed Hindson on pages 124-126
Ezekiel 37:15–23 shows us that Israel will no longer be divided into two houses when God begins to bring this prophecy together. (remember that the Old Testament shows us that Israel was divided into the northern kingdom and the southern Kingdom before they were taken to Babylon) This has already come true as Israel today is one nation, and not divided into two kingdoms like they were before. If you continue to read on from there, or if you read the chapter this one, you'll see that both are speaking of the Millennial Kingdom. So God has placed this dry bones prophecy right in the middle of talking about the Millennial Kingdom.
As you can see, this prophecy explains why Israel is so worldly today and it tells us that the day will come when God will give them His Spirit to dwell in them. In other places in Ezekiel as well as in Jeremiah 31:31–40 and the books of the other prophets, God says this will happen when He puts a new heart in them - a heart that will love God and obey Him. It shows that this happens at the end of the Tribulation when they see Jesus returning to save them from the antichrist.
If you have questions you need to ask about the dry bones prophecy or anything else, please feel free to ask them.
Now, after all we've studied, I'd like you each to explain to me why the church can not be on the earth during the tribulation. Please tell me every single reason you can that shows the church can not be here then. Since I'm pretty sure that Barbara understands this from what she's already posted, I'd like Eva to be the first one to explain this to me. When Eva is done, then Barbara can explain it, ok? The reason I'm not sure if you understand all this Eva is just because you don't write very much about it, so I don't know how you're thinking or how much you understand. This is the only way I could think of to make sure you both really understand what I've been trying to explain all this time. After you've both done this, then we will start talking about the rapture and then the tribulation.
Ok, before my answer, I wonder how are we sure that this prophecy talks about these historical events in Jewish history, and not something else, for example how the church was formed from dead bones and then the church got the spirit? Couldnt this mean this also? This might be a silly question, though
|
|
|
Post by evafromgreece on Aug 13, 2016 15:18:56 GMT -5
Hey guys :)
I started the book of acts, but I wonder if I shall try the book of Revelation to combine it with our other thread. But I am afraid of not understanding much, but I am sure God will reveal me more and different things this time. What do you think? Shall I start it? Sorry for being absent these past days. It was really crazy at work the past days ...
|
|