Dennis1209

I have pondered this question myself. I only have thoughts and imaginations like everyone else, and it will be beyond exciting when it occurs. I believe everyone on the planet will witness Jesus's second coming. At the Rapture (harpazo), He comes as a thief in the night, and I suspect the clouds are a metaphor for being masked and not visible. It is generally accepted that Jesus will be traveling from East to West, and many cemeteries bury the deceased facing East to rise. For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even unto the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. (Matthew 24:27) If it were the clouds in our atmosphere, the entire planet would be covered with clouds. That would undoubtedly draw the world's attention, as I do not think that has ever been witnessed. Based on biblical scripture, I suspect the clouds might be the Shekinah glory of God that is masking the event. I also suspect this is the generation that will experience it.

You misconstrued the intent of my example. I am not arguing for the good, bad, or otherwise of the COVID vaccination, to each their own. It was a voluntary decision that governments tried to make mandatory, resulting in penalties, harassment, and social isolation. I emphasized how quickly something can be implemented globally and compared it to the MOB. I am not so ignorant to think a vaccination could be the M.O.B., nor imply it. To define the meaning of fiasco, I used. There was no official clarification or consensus on where and how it occurred. Mosques, synagogues, etc., were not harassed, fined, or jailed, only churches, to my knowledge. Liquor stores and porn shops were deemed essential services and remained open, not to mention the Congressional hearings with Anthony Fauci with what was discovered.

When this COVID-19 fiasco broke out, they interrupted all previous protocols and had it developed and distributed in less than a year. In my little town, we had traffic jams for several days and a line of cars a mile long to get the jab. Seeing all that reminded me of the mark of the beast. Whatever this mark turns out to be, the distribution appears to be completed in about the same amount of time, given the context of the time following the abomination that makes desolate. I will not detail or speculate my thoughts, but there has to be a great incentive and benefit (other than buying and selling or dying) for people to butt lines to get it, as it appears. These RFID implant chips for animals (what they now contain and could contain), wealthy people, and officials subjected to kidnapping, conditions of employment, etc., are becoming very interesting in light of prophetic scripture. It now does not leap into imagination anymore to see how all this is coming together with advanced technology, robotics, artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, 5G, the global constellation of satellites via Space X and Elon Musk, etc. Interesting times!

Has anyone ever heard the theory Rahab was a planet? I am omitting the harlot Rahab; what or who is the other Rahab? In most myths, there are usually kernels of truth. I have assumed Rahab was an ancient city destroyed, as most commentators agree. The following includes snippets from Tim Alberino’s book, "Birthright.” His book and thoughts are sometimes out of the mainstream, but interesting: Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. (Psalm 89:9 KJV) Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. (Psalm 89:10 KJV) Job 26:12 (ESV) By his power he stilled the sea; by his understanding he shattered Rahab. Awake, awake, put on strength, O arm of the LORD; awake, as in the ancient days, in the generations of old. Art thou not it that hath cut Rahab, and wounded the dragon? (Isaiah 51:9) RAHAB (Rāʹ hăb) Name meaning “arrogant, raging, turbulent, afflicter.” 1. Primeval sea monster representing the forces of chaos that God overcame in creation (Job 9:13; 26:12; Ps. 89:10; Isa. 51:9; cp. Ps. 74:12–17). 2. Symbolic name for Egypt (Ps. 87:4). Isaiah 30:7 includes a compound name Rahab-hem-shebeth.1 1 Brand, Chad, et al., editors. “Rahab.” Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Holman Bible Publishers, 2003, p. 1362. Many times in scripture, raging seas are not literal oceans but metaphors for chaos, danger, and places that are dangerous to humans and unhabitable. In that day the LORD with his sore and great and strong sword shall punish leviathan the piercing serpent, even leviathan that crooked serpent; and he shall slay the dragon that is in the sea. (Isaiah 27:1) [Does this sound like a fish?] The desolated topography of Earth’s neighboring planets, marred by the gaping craters of intense meteoric bombardment, implies that some cataclysmic event rocked the solar system. The asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter is likely the debris of an obliterated planet called Rahab, one of the seven shattered vessels of Edom. Stilling and ruling the raging sea are metaphors for quelling and subduing insurrection. The shattering of Rahab was the decisive blow that pierced the dragon and brought his rebellion to an abrupt and devastating end. When Rahab exploded, its smoldering shards rained down on the planets in its vicinity, each one striking with a force many thousands of times more powerful than a nuclear bomb, igniting their atmospheres with a firestorm hot enough to liquefy solid rock and vaporize everything else. Psalm 89 provides a fitting synopsis of the concepts presented thus far. Written in memorial of the dragon’s rebellion, the psalm proclaims a solemn warning to all those who would dare to defy the King of heaven and rise up against him: For who in the skies [cosmos] can be compared to the Lord? Who among the heavenly beings is like the Lord, a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones [cherubim], and awesome above all who are around him? O Lord God of hosts [armies], who is mighty as you are, O Lord, with your faithfulness [faithful] all around you? You rule the raging of the sea [insurrection]; when its waves rise, you still them. You crushed Rahab like a carcass; you scattered your enemies with your mighty arm [the Son of God]. The heavens are yours; the earth also is yours; the world and all that is in it, you have founded them. (Psalm 89:6-11 ESV) 1 1Alberino, Timothy. Birthright: The Coming Posthuman Apocalypse and the Usurpation of Adam's Dominion on Planet Earth (p. 62). Alberino Publishing. Kindle Edition. Rahab (monster). ray´hab (Heb. rahab H8105, “assault, violence”). In the poetical books of the OT the name is applied to a monster or demonic power. The allusions occur in the context of God’s power in nature: he overcomes Rahab in a contest of force (Job 9:13; 26:12 [in parallel with “serpent,” v. 13]; Ps. 89:10 [in parallel with “enemies”]; Isa. 51:9 [in parallel with dragon]).11 Silva, Moisés, et al., editors. “Rahab (Monster).” Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Revised, Zondervan, 2011, p. 1205.

Excellent post. Yes, that has also been my personal belief for a long time. Many fine theologians hold that Christians cannot commit that “particular” unpardonable sin as they have not witnessed the miracles of Jesus in the flesh. I was soliciting thoughts on the conditional clauses I quoted and other views on the unforgivable sin. I continue to maintain two unpardonable sins that do not have that terminology, namely: Not accepting Christ as your Savior before your last heartbeat. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) (2 Corinthians 6:2) Taking the mark of the beast. [Revelation 14:9-11]

Yep, there are more than several gray areas in the Bible I am unsettled about. One of the top questions I hear on Christian programs is whether I can commit an unpardonable sin. The standard response is that you probably have not if you are asking and concerned. I appreciate the conversation and your opinions. Scholars and theologians seem more divided on this and every other topic than on WCF.

I think your view is spot-on. The audience was messianic Jews, and the apparent subject was animal sacrifice, reverting (or continuing), the Law, and Judaism. As a Gentile, I asked a question to paraphrase and expand upon: Is there a personal application for me here, or does it also apply to the churches and this age? As I prepared to discuss this further with you, another thought popped into my head. Continual sacrifice: who would do this in the modern age, omitting orthodox Jewry? The Catholic doctrine on the Eucharist is outlined by the Council of Trent, emphasizing it as both a sacrament and a sacrifice. The Eucharist is believed to be the true body and blood of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. The doctrine includes the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, the concept of transubstantiation, and the mode of Christ's presence. The article also discusses the institution of the Eucharist as a sacrifice, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies and continuing the sacrificial worship in the Church. Adoration, reservation, and reverence for the Blessed Sacrament are highlighted, emphasizing the supreme worship due to the Eucharist as the presence of God. The article provides insights from various theologians and historical perspectives on the Eucharistic doctrine within the Catholic Church.1 1 A Catholic Dictionary This practice is disturbing. In other words, Catholicism believes they are eating the flesh of Jesus and drinking His blood. They must partake of their Eucharist frequently to remain saved. It is NOT a commemorative act of "do this in remembrance of Me." In effigy, they are sacrificing the Lord over, over, and over again, in cannibalism. As mentioned, in my mind, the more I study God's word, the more I am grappling with the OSAS doctrine. As quoted in my sample listing of biblical verses in my original post, these are conjunctions conditional clauses to obtain something, if, and continue. The question is: what if NOT, or not until the end? The unpardonable sin: But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, This fellow doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. (Matthew 12:24) I envision three unpardonable sins: The miracles of Jesus were performed through the power of the Holy Spirit, therefore calling God the Devil. Many Pharisees were eyewitnesses to His teachings and miracles of God, and they were without excuse. Can the unpardonable sin be committed today? Based on the definition of blasphemy, I believe so: Blasphemy is more than just swearing, encompassing contempt or slander towards God. In the Old Testament, blasphemy is viewed as speaking of God with contempt or acting as if He is irrelevant. In the New Testament, blasphemy indicates a hostile attitude towards God expressed in contemptuous or slanderous ways. Jesus was accused of blasphemy for claiming rights and powers belonging to God. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is considered an unforgivable sin, as seen in rejecting God's presence and power displayed through Christ. The unforgivable sin is not limited to Jesus' time but remains a danger for those who show contempt towards God. It is crucial for believers to honor God in their lives to avoid eliciting contempt towards Him.2 2 New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words In the singular sense, we speak of the unpardonable sin as only one. What about those who take the mark of the Beast. Are they still eligible for repentance and Salvation? Absolutely not; this, too, is an unpardonable sin, and I have a suspicion why. There are people in cults, entertainment, politics, and sports who have sold their souls to the Devil and worshipped him for fame, wealth, power, glory, talent, and ability. There are testimonies of some who saw the light, repented, turned to Christianity, and were saved. To name two, the testimonies of Ozzy Osbourne and Alice Cooper are interesting. Therefore, if this is true, devil worship is not an unpardonable sin. Lastly, some outright reject the Gospel, and some procrastinate, sitting on the fence trying to decide. At their last breath, their last heartbeat, their fate is sealed for all eternity. This is also an unforgivable sin, the rejection of Christ, with no second chances of repentance or changing one's mind.

The addition of a commentary made this lengthy, but it gave me some additional insight. I would like to hear your thoughts. How many singular unpardonable sins are there? Outright rejection of Christ, blaspheming the Holy Spirit, taking the Mark of the Beast, apostasy, and Hebrews 6:4-6? Scripture inserts conditional clauses with Salvation, using conjunctions (joining) if, and continuing, i.e. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. (Romans 11:22) If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:23) Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. (1 John 2:24) [emphasis added] I have mused over Hebrews 6:4-6 for a long time and its meaning. I have studied it and read many commentaries for personal application. I recently purchased the Pillar commentary series; for me, it is the best-explained commentary. It seems Hebrews 6:4-6 can be associated with blaspheming the Holy Spirit and apostasy. I surmise this is only applied to the audience being spoken to, the Jews and apostasy reverting to Judaism after they witnessed Jesus in person. The following is a snippet of the summary, and very well explained: Hebrews 6:6 When such people fall away, it is truly a disaster. The literal meaning of the term that is translated “fall away” (parapesontas) is to fall beside. When it is used figuratively, it means to go astray or to err. The most important background to the author’s usage is found in the prophet Ezekiel. He uses the term for a nation or an individual that is unfaithful to the Lord (14:13; 15:8; 18:24; 20:27; 22:4). In other words, it refers to apostasy. In the scenario the author has described, it is impossible to renew the apostates and bring them to repentance. The reason why it is impossible is that they are crucifying the Son of God, figuratively speaking. Crucifixion, in addition to being excruciatingly painful, was an extremely shameful way of death. The victims were tortured, made to carry their own cross to the place of execution, nailed naked to the cross, and left to die a slow and agonizing death while any passersby could watch them writhe in pain, hear their wailing, see their despair, and observe the manner in which they faced death. All their dignity was stripped away.181 Those who have enjoyed the gifts of Christ and then proceed to spurn those gifts are exposing Christ to unspeakable shame. They belittle his sacrifice and deny the glory that he has won. Calvin aptly observes, “it would be wholly unbecoming, that God by pardoning apostates should expose his own Son to contempt. They are then wholly unworthy to obtain mercy.” Excursus: The Impossibility of Repentance In the history of interpretation, this passage has often been understood as a denial of the opportunity for repentance after serious sins or apostasy. The Montanists (second and third centuries) maintained that serious postbaptismal sins could not be forgiven, and the Novatians (third century) refused to accept the repentance of those who under persecution had denied Christ. They both appealed to this passage in Hebrews as their warrant. The prevalence of their views was one of the reasons why there were some doubts about Hebrews’ place in the canon.184 However, the author probably intended to make a different point. His concern was to show the danger in which the audience members were about to put themselves if they turned away from Christ. In Christ, God had given them everything he had. If they were capable of walking away from that, they would have passed the point of no return. What the author describes is not simply a rejection of God. It is a qualified rejection. The hypothetical case is someone who not only rejects God based on what one has heard about him or what one has learned about him. Such a person could be persuaded to change one’s mind if one were able to see for oneself what God had done, if one could sample his gifts, if one could experience his love, if one could genuinely participate in his gift of the Holy Spirit. But a person who has enjoyed all God’s gifts, who knows what God can do, but rejects him—such a person has put oneself outside the possibility of repentance. That is the seriousness of the audience’s situation. In the Son, God has revealed himself fully. He has pulled out all the stops. He has allowed the audience to be enlightened, to sample the heavenly gift, to become sharers of the Holy Spirit, to taste the sweetness of God’s word as well as the miraculous powers of the world to come. When people who have had such experiences walk away, God does not have another ace to play. He has already played them all. A comparison with what Jesus refers to as the unforgivable sin may be illuminating. When his opponents accused him of casting out demons by Beelzebul, Jesus exclaimed, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come” (Matt 12:32). As Jesus also pointed to his casting out the demons as proof that God’s kingly rule was present (Matt 12:28 parr.), those who witnessed these expulsions would have witnessed God’s decisive, eschatological intervention in this world. They had not only been exposed to a rumor of what Jesus could do or heard a testimony about his divine power. They had seen it and encountered it. They not only refused to accept what others told them about Jesus; they denied what they themselves had seen and heard. Not only had they met the earthly Jesus, who concealed his divine power under the guise of a humble human being; they had witnessed him unleashing the powers of the new creation, the divine power to establish the unopposed rule of God. God’s salvation miraculously emerged in front of their eyes. And they attributed it to the evil one. This kind of willful, stubborn rejection, in the face of compelling evidence to the contrary, puts a person in a position in which one’s sins cannot be forgiven. Jesus’s words about the unforgivable sin belong in a different context, as they were spoken to his opponents, not to followers who were in danger of leaving. Nevertheless, the main point is comparable: no path to salvation is left for those who are in the privileged position of having experienced God’s salvific power but who reject it. The flip side of the author’s warning is that God does not force himself on people in such a way that no one can resist him. He uses the compelling force of love. It is possible to spurn this love. Then, the road to salvation is blocked. The pastoral implication of this interpretation is that the impossibility of repentance is not a prohibition of repentance. It does not mean that certain sins are beyond God’s capacity for forgiveness or that there are certain individuals who are not allowed to come to Christ. The author’s warning does not stand in tension with the central biblical ideas that Jesus accepts anyone who comes to him (Matt 11:28; John 6:37; Rev 22:17) and that he is always ready to forgive any sin, with no exceptions (1 John 1:9; 2:1–2). However, the seriousness of the warning is that there is only one remedy for sins: the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. If that remedy is rejected, there is no other.[1] [1] Grindheim, Sigurd. The Letter to the Hebrews. Edited by D. A. Carson, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2023, pp. 314–17.

I have heard that too.

Well said, and that brings up another thought about the office of a prophet, as you suggest. David, Gad, Asaph, and many more (major and minor) were all prophets. Thus, sayeth the Lord and predicting the future are different attributes of the office of a prophet. King David had Seer’s he consulted with, such as Gad: Gad: An Israelite seer (1 Chr 29:29) and prophet (1 Sam 22:5). He was a contemporary of King David, and was significant primarily for his influence in David’s life and decisions.[1] David was considered a prophet because the Lord anointed him and spoke through him. He was a covenant mediator prophet, with the Spirit of the Lord coming upon him. In the New Testament, Peter also referred to David as a prophet, highlighting his knowledge of God's promises and his prophetic words about Jesus. David's prophetic abilities were evident in his understanding of future events, such as the resurrection of Christ. This combination of faith and sight in foreseeing events not visible to the natural eye is a recurring theme in David's prophetic role.1 1 Biblical Theology, Volume 2: The Special Grace Covenants (Old Testament) My understanding is that David did not forecast the future. He fully understood what was given to him by the Lord and his seer. [1] Petter, Gerald J. “Gad (Person).” The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary, edited by David Noel Freedman, vol. 2, Doubleday, 1992, p. 865.

That is my take. Acts 2:8 alludes to the purpose of the gift of tongues, which was to communicate and spread the Gospel message in the listener's language. It ceased with the last apostle, John. As the Jews always required a sign as proof, miracles were performed as a sign, which stopped at the end of the apostolic age. From that point forward, after the establishment of the churches, there were no gifts of tongues, as evidenced by all the early so-called church fathers such as Polycarp (a friend and disciple of the apostle John), Irenaeus, etc. Missionaries and evangelists spreading the Good News must study, learn, and translate the native language to communicate it to them.

I totally agree. The Bible is a love story centered on the person of Jesus Christ and why we need a Savior. However, the Bible details many aspects of history, anthropology, cosmology, and science for our understanding.

Short of being long-winded, that is what I am alluding to.

These are good points and thought-provoking. I should have explained my thoughts better. Let us explore them a bit further. I stated, “For a short time, the Apostles replaced the prophets in that capacity.” Perhaps I should have included some of the disciples you mentioned with the apostles. “Except for Jesus Himself (Son of God and Prophet), the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, was the last (OT) prophet.” I neglected to insert OT before prophet. 1. The New Testament Counterparts to Old Testament Prophets Are New Testament Apostles: In the New Testament, apostles are the counterparts to Old Testament prophets. While prophets had divine authority to speak God's words, apostles in the New Testament were responsible for recording God's words in Scripture. Apostles established their authority by referring to themselves as apostles, not prophets.1 1 Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine AG´ABUS (agʹa-bus). A prophet, supposed to have been one of the seventy disciples of Christ.[1] In the early church, prophets played a foundational role in delivering messages from God before the completion of the Bible. Today, while some individuals may claim to be prophets, the biblical gift of prophecy is not believed to be active. The key is to compare any supposed messages from God with what is already stated in the Bible, as God does not contradict Himself. The importance lies in testing these messages against the Word of God to discern their validity. The completion of the Bible is seen as the final revelation from God, and any modern-day messages claiming to be from Him should align completely with the teachings of the Bible. Testing the spirits and holding onto what aligns with the Bible is emphasized in discerning true prophecy.1 1 Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered I am not stating that there are no modern-day prophets; I am questioning them and being cautious. If there are, they are not announced and declared by God. We could only know they are prophets by comparing what they say with scripture, our closed Canon. I think some individuals sometimes get a special revelation from God, and it comes about. Short of vetting it against the Bible, how are we supposed to know? Today, there are many self-proclaimed prophets. Can you name someone you suspect was, or is, a prophet after the apostolic age, other than Catholic Popes, as the infallible Vicar of Christ? [1] Unger, Merrill Frederick, et al. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Rev. and updated ed., Moody Press, 1988.

Good question; I had wondered about that myself. The following is to be taken only as one person's opinion. First, we need a definition of what a prophet is and does: PROPHET. One who is divinely inspired to communicate God's will to His people and to disclose the future to them.[1] A prophet's credentials are 100% accurate 100% of the time. Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7) Except for Jesus Himself when He walked the Earth: Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11) Except for Jesus Himself (Son of God and Prophet), the forerunner of Christ, John the Baptist, was the last prophet. The dispensation of the Law was ending, and the beginning of the age of Grace started with the arrival of Christ. John closed out the Old Testament and prophets. He must increase, but I must decrease. (John 3:30) Our Canon is complete; there will be no further revelation; everything God wants us to know is contained in our Bible. Everything changed at Jesus's sacrificial death. Before Jesus became our advocate and mediator, all communications with God went through a prophet. Today we are blessed with: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) Today, with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, we can boldly go before the throne of God in prayer, supplication, request, and asking for personal revelation and understanding. In OT times, the prophets were appointed, identified, and known, and there was no question of who they were. The Lord dealt with the false prophets. For a short time, the Apostles replaced the prophets in that capacity. If anyone claims to be a prophet today, beware. An apostle is someone who is sent out as a messenger or ambassador. In the New Testament, the term is primarily used to refer to the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ who were foundational to the early church. These apostles were witnesses of the resurrected Christ, chosen by the Holy Spirit, and able to perform signs and wonders. Apart from the twelve, there were also apostles in a generic sense, such as Barnabas and Andronicus. Today, the role of an apostle is often likened to that of a missionary, someone sent out to proclaim the gospel. However, the idea of restoring the position of apostle with authority equal to the original twelve is not supported by biblical evidence and can be seen as a dangerous movement. Ultimately, all followers of Jesus are called to be His ambassadors and spread the good news. Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered [1] Unger, Merrill Frederick, et al. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary, Rev. and updated ed., Moody Press, 1988.