Coming Out in Scotland

Pastor John, 

I left Christianity 25 years ago and have not fellowship with another follower of Jesus since.  I came across your website and it was wonderful to read about your journey out.  Thank you.

William

Scotland, UK

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Hi William. 

Thank you for your recent email.  People in various places ask me at times if I know of a congregation near them like what they see/hear in the assembly here.  I wish I knew of thousands of such places!  However, though we have searched diligently, we have found only individuals, not groups, who have heard the call of Jesus to come out to where he is.  So, I understand your comments. 

You can watch our meetings live online.  If you want to, let me know, and I will give your email address to brother Stuart Hiser, who takes care of that.

God bless you and yours!  And please stay in touch.  We’d love to know more of your story.

Your servant, 

John

 

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Mt. 17:1-4 – How Did Peter Know?

Hi Pastor John,

I have a question about this.  How did Peter know that the two men who appeared to them were Moses and Elijah? Moses and Elijah were ancient people at that time. No one had seen their faces, so how could anyone know what they look like?

Matthew 17:

Jesus Transfigured on the Mount

“Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother led them up on a high mountain by themselves; 2 and He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became as white as the light. 3 And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. 4 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish let us make here three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

Thank you,

Leika

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Hi again.

That is how it is in the Spirit.  In the resurrection, for example, you will know everyone in the kingdom of God, and everyone in the kingdom of God will know you. There will be no need for introductions because the Spirit will create within the children of God the knowledge of who is who.  For another example, if Jesus visited you today, you would know who he is, without being told.

By the way, Peter is not the only one who knew who Moses and Elijah were in Matthew 17.  James and John would have also known.

Pastor John

Romans 11:25

Why did Paul say “that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in”?

Leika

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Hi Leika.

In that verse, Paul is speaking of the Second Coming of Jesus, when the Jews will finally realize that Jesus was their Messiah.  The time for Gentiles to come to Jesus apart from Israel will have passed, and the blindness of Israel will be taken away.

Pastor John

Sweet Peace

Hey Pastor John, 
 
Today was so sweet, I just have to tell you about it!

I was listening to Darren* sing to me all day.  As I worked, phones would ring or someone would walk in, just normal work stuff, but every once in a while I would just stop and listen to the music, and the sweetest peace covered me!  Then life around me would start again.

This happened all day!  I smiled as I was walking to my car after work, thinking, “Jesus I know it’s been you all day!”

I love his sweet peace, Pastor John.  When you’re covered in it, the world and all its craziness just slides right off you!
 
Michelle

*  http://www.isaiah58.com/music/slimplayer/indexdarrenprater.html

Romans 11:25-29

Hi Pastor John,

Romans 11:25-29 says, “For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. And so ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED, as it is written: ‘The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob. For this is My covenant with them when I take away their sins.’  Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

In this verse, is Paul saying that all Israel (Jews from the 12 tribe) will be saved?

Thank you

Leika

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Hi Leika.

No, Paul is not saying that.  He is speaking of those whom he calls “the Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16).  Paul explained in Romans that “they are not all Israel which are of Israel” (Rom. 9:6). That is to say, not everybody who is a physical Israelite belongs to the Israel that truly belongs to God.  THAT is the Israel which will be saved.

Pastor John

Revelation 11:15

Hi Pastor John,

I’m wondering if Revelation 11:15 is speaking of Jesus: “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

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Yes, that is correct.

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In that case, it seems like the woman mentioned in the previous verses would be the Jews. Would that also be right?

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Yes, the woman is Israel.

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Thank you,

Jenny

Who Were the “Devils”?

Hi Pastor John,

Thank you for that answer. (See post dated 8/28/2018: Who Were the “Devils”)

I heard before the pastor said “the devils that Jesus cast out in earth were creatures like man living in the formless and dark as genesis 1:2 said” before God created the new world. They just complicate it.

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That is strange teaching.  Not from God.

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They also said that Satan is an angel and a worshiper.

They said that they are big than humans and they have wings too. Humans are made to worship. After Satan and his angels had been cast out, no worshiper in heaven so God need a worshiper and he calling all humans to worship him. Satan did not want believers to worship God because its a noise to him and he tremble.  The weapons against them is worship (Ephesians 6:12) (very strange interpretation)

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All that is an invention of man.  You can just forget about all that.

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“It was very different from your understanding, Angels have no wings and they are like humans (Hebrews 13:2) Satan is not an angel but a cherub (Ezekiel 28). 

When a man living in God’s kind of life is what really Satan hates because all they can do is sin and they cannot have God’s kind of life. So he deceives in earth as a roaring lion knowing that he has little time. (clearer) If pastors can know this they can say  ‘Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.’ (2 Corinthians 2:11)” (Pastor John)

Is it possible that Satan became “the god of this world” when Adam disobeyed God? (When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12) 

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The Bible does not say, but that is probably when it happened, yes.

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“And the great Dragon was cast out, the ancient serpent who is called the Accuser, and Satan, who deceives the whole world.  He was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.  And I heard a great voice in heaven saying, ‘For this, rejoice, O heavens and those who dwell in them!  Woe to the earth and the sea!  For the Accuser has come down among you, having great anger, knowing that he has little time”’ (Rev. 12:9, 10a, 12).

In that verse, is it correct that Satan will not come back to heaven?

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That is correct.

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And from the time Satan and his angels had been cast out in heaven, is it possible that the remaining angels will not sin? ( For this, rejoice, O heavens and those who dwell in them!) Satan deceives now in earth but not in heaven.

Leika

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Yes, the remaining angels are faithful.  And Satan has no remaining influence in heaven.  Nor does he have any influence on the holy Ghost that is in you!

Pastor John