Bible Study Is The Bible Really That Important?

[MrVersatile48]

Is The Bible Really That Important?
By Billy Graham, Tribune Media Services

Q: I know I ought to read my Bible, but every time I try to read it I just end up getting confused. I never was a very good student, and all those strange names and places in the Old Testament get me lost. Is the Bible really that important? What am I doing wrong? -- Mrs. L.Y.

A: I notice you are married; did you ever get a letter from your husband-to-be and decide you wouldn't bother reading it, because his handwriting was poor, or you were too busy, or for some other reason? I doubt it.

And yet that's what many of us do with the Bible. The Bible is God's "love letter" to us, telling us not only that He loves us, but showing us what He has done to demonstrate His love. It also tells us how we should live, because God knows what is best for us and He wants us to experience it. Never forget: The Bible is God's Word, given to us so we can know and follow Him. "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16).

Let me suggest first of all that you begin with one of the Gospels. Christ is the center of the Bible, and the Gospels tell us about His life and teachings. In other words, don't start at the beginning of the Bible but at its center -- with Jesus Christ.

Then get a Bible you can understand; your pastor or Christian bookstore can suggest a reliable modern translation. Don't skip around, but read straight through each book so you get the main points. In addition, pray as you read, and ask God to help you understand what He wants to say to you through that passage. Don't give up, but let God use His Word to change you every day.

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Send your queries to "My Answer," c/o Billy Graham, Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, N.C., 28201; call 1-(877) 2-GRAHAM, or visit the Web site for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association: http://www.billygraham.org.

 

[MrVersatile48]

Did you hear me on Howard's Review @ http://www.revelationTV.com @ 10.40 last night?

I'd been in the bath while a few folk called the Rapture 'false doctrine'

Then one of the co-hosts said that, though he believed in the Rapture, no-one had ever shown him any Scriptures to say why it would be pre-trib: before the Great Tribulation, the worst time on Earth comes

He asked if anyone could ring in with just one

I quoted 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11

The Coming of the Lord

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 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.

17 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.

18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5

1Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,

2for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

5You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.


6So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.

7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

& 1 Corinthians 15:51-58 & Matt 24:30-42

Also how the church is still on Earth in Revelation 2-3

Then Rev 4:1 says 'Come up'

& the Great Tribulation doesn't start till Rev 6

I said Revelation prophesied the classic escalation pattern

Rev 6:8 says

I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him. They were given power over a fourth of the earth to kill by sword, famine and plague, and by the wild beasts of the earth.

Then Rev 9:13-18 says

13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the horns[a] of the golden altar that is before God.

14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates."

15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind.

16The number of the mounted troops was two hundred million. I heard their number.

17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur.

18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths.


& total Armageddon isn't till Revelation 16

He asked @ the 'saints' later in Rev (than Rev 6) & I said that, after the Rapture, many folk will realise their werror & 144,000 Jewish evangelists will preach worldwide

He asked where it says that & replied Rev 14 but he'd craftily turned my volume off so that no anwer I tries after that was heard on TV

I did say how the Bible say "NOW is the acceptable time: behold, NOW is the Day of salvation"

It says, "TODAY, if you hear God's voice - (as God's Word is faithfully preached) - don't harden your heart"

It says, "How can we escape if we neglect such great salvation?"

What they cut off was that Jesus said that this 'fig tree' generation will be 'cut short' by the Rapture - 'otherwise no flesh would be left alive' - Matt 24

As I've often preached in NW & N Wales precincts, the 'birthpains' intensify & accelerate to bring on that Great Delivery

That's why Jesus, when He prophesied such awful signs to show His return was approaching & 'even at the door', could say, "Don't be afraid...don't be alarmed...trust in God...trust in Me"

Don't call what God's Word clearly teaches 'false doctrine' - that is calling God a liar

Like the folk who say there will be no Millenium rule of Christ when Zechariah 14, Isaiah 65-66 & Revalation 20 clearly promise that He will rule Earth from Jerusalem, with a rod of iron, & bring perfect peace & justice

See http://www.BibleGateway.org

Must go!

Ian

 

[MrVersatile48]

1 Corinthians 15:51-58 (New International Version)

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changedâ€â€

52 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.

53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[a]

55"Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?"

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

[MrVersatile48]

Matthew 24:30-42 (New International Version)

30 "At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of the sky, with power and great glory.

31 And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.

32 "Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near.

33 Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it[a]is near, right at the door.

34 I tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.

35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.

The Day and Hour Unknown

36 "No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[c] but only the Father.

37 As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

38 For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark;

39 and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.

40Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left.

41Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.

42"Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.


Jesus compared His return to both the days of Noah & of Lot

Both times, warnings were given of judgements to come

Both times, believers were removed to safety before the judgements fell

Ian

 

[evechot]

To trust or not to trust? The words of Shakespeare echo the sentiments of wise King Solomon of ancient Isreal, who some 3,000 years ago worte: "A fool will believe anything; smart people watch their step". Proverbs 14:15 Yes, any fool would go through life blindly accepting everything he hears, basing his decisions and actions on frivolous advice or baseless teachings. Misplacing our trust, like stepping onto rotten planks, can lead to disaster. You may wonder, Is there any source of guidance that is worthy of our trust?
Millions of people the world over place their full trust in an ncient book called the Holy Bible. They look to this book to direct their steps. They base theri decisions on its advise and pattern their actions after its teachings Are such individuals stepping as it were, onto rotten planks? The answer to that question depends greatly on the answer to another question. Are there "sound" reasons to trust the Bible? This special topic is of very serious importance for us to examine.
The purpose of finding an answer to this question is not to impose religious beliefs or views on you or other. Rather, it is intended simply to present the compelling evidence that has convinced millions that the Bibe is worthy of their trust. You can decide for yourself whether the Bible merits your trust. This subject deserves more than your passing interest. After all, if the Bible is, indeed, a trustworthy source of guidance from our Creator, then you owe it to yourself and your loved ones to consider what the Bible has to say.
The True Christians instruct those interested in worshipping the true God not to pay attention to [1 Timothy 1:3,4] "erratic ontions and myths." Is such caution necessary today? Yes, because wrong ideas about the Bible and its teachings turn people away from true worship. Below are some commonly held ideas about the Bible. Noice the statement from the Bible itself. These can help you to separate myth from fact.
Myth; Bible miracles are impossible.
Since creation is beyond our complete understanding, capable scientists are becoming increasingly cautious about saying that a certain thing is impossible.
Myth All religions lead to God.
If all religions hed to God, would their members need to be set free? In fact, Jesus taught that relatively few people are on "the road leading off into life".
Myth; The O.T. scriptures no longer useful for Christians?
The Old Testement the hebrew scriptures, is a vital source of spiritual instruction and gives us grounds for faith in the New Testement the Greek scriptures.
Myths: Is the book of Genesis an Allegory.
Jesus, who existed in heaven before coming to earth, believed what was written in Genesis, including the account of Adam and Eve. [Matthew 19:4-6] Thus, to question Genesis and the Bible is to undermine the credibility of Jesus himself, as well as that of many Bible Writers.
As far as the word "Rapture". the word in not found anywhere in the Bible, you decide if it is ture or not?
Remeber it is a personal decision. Do not force your beliefs on anyone.