Jesus Actual Name? How to pronounce Gods name What is "Eonian life?" Punk Rock & Rock & Roll? Better Judas Never Born? Who chooses to go to hell? What Bible should I buy? Can we pray for things? I am SO Afraid! You twist the words of Dr. Kennedy Thank You Why build the Tower of Babel? Is the Bible Full of Errors? Does God Try Us? You are Accountable, not Responsible Stop trying to "save yourself" Muslim asks why God changed his mind? I have learned alot from you and Lew White. My question is, what is your understanding of our creator's actual name and the name of his son. YHWH? Yeshua? My apologies if the answer is already on your page somewhere. Keep the truth coming brother. Jeff [Ray Replies] Dear Jeff: FACTS: The New Testament was written and preserved in GREEK manuscripts. GOD said through HIS ANGEL, that HIS SON's Name should be called: "Jesus" [Gk: "Iesous"]. All of the Apostles called God's Son, their Lord, JESUS, the Christ. God calls His Son, "My SON." Jesus calls His God, "My FATHER." Now those are the facts of the New Testament. Hundreds of thousands of idol worshippers call what I have just presented to you, HERESY. No, this is not heresy, but the facts of Scriptures. God be with you, Ray Ever since I began looking for the truth, I had wondered about the Consistency of Various Words, Names and Locations through out Bible. Thanks to your site (which is the first I ran into) I found out that it's bad (or deceitful) scholarship to translate Aion as eternity, and to use various words (such as spirit and soul) interchangeably. But now with those out of the way, I come an issue (of sorts). I have, through a search, found a couple of Webster's most proper names for most (not all) Bible Prophets, Apostles and The name for Jesus and God (who is sometimes called Jehovah). Should I now (seeing that I have a good Idea of what God and Jesus' name is) continue to use these translated words? or Should I use the Hebrew Name? While were on the topic of consistency, How Does Rotherham and Concordant Render their Names? To make a rather long story short, is it okay that I use these "translated" Names in Prayer? or should I use the Names of The Hebrew and Greek. I don't mean to sound sarcastic, rude, impolite and such is not intended. Ps: yes I understand the response of your last letter dealing with Faith and how it's impossible to permanently lose grace. [Ray Replies] Jeff it is good to know the MEANING of Greek and Hebrew names, but when it comes to how one pronounces them, that is sheer folly. I have groups virtually make a NEW RELIGION out of how we pronounce and spell the names and titles of Jesus and His Father. Translating "aions" into English "eternities" COMPLETELY changes the meaning of the original word. Calling Jesus by His Greek, Latin, or whatever, as opposed to how His name is pronounced in Hebrew proves NOTHING. And certainly is NOT a sign of spirituality. Besides most of the population of the world who is familiar with the KJV wouldn't even know who you are talking about. Paul became ALL things to ALL people that he might gain some. We can even call God the Father "Pappa" if we want to, so give me a break! Jeff, don't ever let people make you feel spiritually
inferior to themselves through the use of supposed higher knowledge. If they are shaming
you, then SHAME ON THEM! If eonian is not eternal, as in no eternal punishment or hell, then in John 6:47 (and others like it) what is "life eonian"? John 6:47 "verily verily I am saying to you that he who is believing in me has life eonian" Thank you for your time!! [Ray Replies] Thank you for your questions. I'm 13 going on 14 this Saturday. I really like rock and punk and I was wondering is it ok for me to still like them even though I'm a Christian? Plus I don't listen to the songs about death, drugs, sex, or anything like that. As for punk, I just like the style. [Ray Replies] Dear Esther:
Do you wish to be an "isolationist with antisocial
attitudes?" I hope not. But be of good cheer, "THIS ALSO SHALL PASS"
(with time). What did Jesus mean when He said it was better for Judas never to have been born because of his betrayal? Denise Jesus never said any such thing--that's what the King James bible says. Here is what the Scripture states from a Greek Interlinear: God be with you, Ray Hello, first I find you to be very intelligent and most astute of biblical matters, however you are in the wrong when it come to something's. First, God has not and will never send a human being to hell for failing to believe in his son Jesus Christ! Hell was not made for mankind but for the devil and his host of demons that joined him in his effort to overthrow God from his throne. A person chooses to go to hell for failing to believe in his son . God does not wish anyone to perish but all come unto him. But not everyone will. Let us agree to disagree! Don [Ray Replies] Dear Don:
Every WORD, DESIRE, WISH, WILL, PLEASURE of God WILL BE FULFILLED
(Isa. 46:10-11). What Bible should I buy considering the flaws in translation that you've highlighted? Not the KJV? Is a concordance just a book that details translations of Greek and Hebrew into English, or what? [Ray Replies] Dear Jason: If the KJV translated "aion and aions" as "age and
ages" or "eon and eons," and if they translated "Hades" [usually
translated 'hell'] the "unseen" or "imperceptible," it would then be
one of the BEST translations. Most Bible students and scholars use anywhere from ten to over a
hundred different translations in their studies. I have about thirty-five, and keep adding
new ones. [more] I think you had better read the bible again. And use the REAL BIBLE!!! The KJV is the word of God. You know the first thing the Devil or Satan questioned don't you, "The Words of God". Read Genesis in the KJV. You know God is fine he can keep his word no matter what man thinks. You think too much, that's where Eve messed up too, thinking too much. A Servant of Christ Jesus, Kirk [Ray Replies] Dear Kirk: [more] Here are a few translations that do NOT translate "eionios" into "for ever" or "for ever AND EVER[?]) or "eternal".
A King James Reference Bible Dr. Bullinger clearly states: "Aion which means 'age.' Aionios means 'of or belonging to n age.'" [more] Dear Mr. Smith, In the last two years since I became aware of your teachings, I have come to the conclusion that I can believe what you say about hell and the miss-translations of the bible. The problem though, and this is breaking my heart, is that I don't know if I can trust the bible any more. It seems my faith is beginning to crumble like a cancer, as the bible says. I don't know what to believe anymore. If those things you write about are false then how do I know what is
real and what is mistranslated? It's gotten so I don't even want to read the word for fear
of being mislead. Then it makes me paranoid that what you teach is heretical because of my
confusion. Do you know what I mean? I'm sure there are so many things we don't know for
sure but I always taught others that you could rely on the Holy Ghost to give you the amen
on things, but He remains silent on this issue. I'm at a loss and heart broken. I don't
know which version to read, what to tell people. I'm scared of being under deception from
either side of the spectrum. I used to be so sure of what I knew but since this info came
along it has shaken the very foundation of my faith. I'm not saying that it didn't need it
if it was in error. But I need to know about the rest of the word If you can help me by suggesting some study books or sites and tell me what version is accurate, I would be so blessed. Thank you, Romaine [Ray Replies] Dear Romaine: Furthermore, it is impossible for men to perfectly translate
ANYTHING from one language to another. You can come close, you can use hundreds of extra
words that will help in the complex meaning, but it will never be a "perfect"
translation. If God does answer prayer is it possible to for us (as humans) to know if he shows us a sign of some sort? You said in another e-mail: as long as we have a contrite heart and are humble and that we don't use the same pattern in our prayer that he will hear and answer it (although sometimes this is not always the case). How many variations of "Please Lord Let your spirit guide me in the Studies of your word" can I come up with and no I didn't say it quite like that. [Ray Replies] Jeff,
Sincerely, [more] Ray, I hope this finds you well. A good Christian friend of mine told me; "I believe that God gives people what they ask Him for, but He doesn't seem to want to give to me. Why is that?" My response was; "It sounds like you lack faith. That may be because He has blessed you so much already that you feel some guilt in asking for more." Could I have given a better answer? I believe that was a good question, because I hear it a lot - maybe worded a little different, but basically the same question. Your friend - and thanks, Wayne [Ray Replies] Dear Wayne, If all prayers were answered, there would be NO disease, NO poverty, NO death. Every Christian would be a billionaire, eternally youthful and beautiful, without trials or problems to overcome. No, that's HEAVEN not earth. We live on the earth with mortal diseased bodies. Many live in
poverty and have many problems. And Paul said it is through MUCH TRIBULATION (as in a
whole lot of bad things happening to us) that we enter the Kingdom of God. I have been brought up in the Church of God all my life and I have even been a leader in the church. I used to lead praise and worship, but I was always afraid of quenching the Holy Spirit or that I would have a bad thought while leading the worship. I had even gotten jealous when God would use others who would lead the worship. I could feel the anointing leaving me and felt like I was going crazy and having a nervous break down. The last time I lead worship, awful blasphemies against God were going through my mind, and I was a very bad hindrance to the worship service, I couldn't wait to leave the church. I even told my pastor's wife that I had blasphemed the Holy Spirit. I am so confused right now. In the past two years I have tried suicide three times. I am soooooo afraid of the God of the bible, it torments me sometimes. I wish that I would have never heard of anything about God and been brought up as an atheist. I spend a lot of my time on the Internet trying to find other people's way of believing in God. My husband and I are well thought of people in this little Bible belt town that we live in. Many people know about what I have gone through and I have even told some of my close friends to leave me alone about God. I know that they are all praying for me. My mom and dad have been fasting and praying. They belong to an Assemblies of God church. Since this has happened to me, my husband is now attending a Church of God in a city about 45 minutes from where we live. It is a large church and no one knows him there. I just don't want to hurt anyone's feelings and I just want to find a way to cope with how I feel. I have confessed to my mother that I want to believe in the New Age way of thinking that all paths lead to God and that God is good and that there is no such thing as hell and that the God of the Bible isn't real. She has assured me that If I want to believe that way it will lead me to a burning hell. The Bible says that the double minded man is unstable in all of his ways. One minute I am trying to make myself find a way to love the God of the Bible, and the other minute, I am doubting that He even exists. Sometimes I just have to cut my mind off to it altogether. I do find some peace when I do this. I just decide that what ever happens will happen. I have even told my mother that if the God of the Bible is the real God, then I will just go to hell. Now I am kind of seeing things a little differently since seeing your website. I know that the real reason that I want to try to love God again is so that I can fit into the society that is all around me [emphasis webmaster]. I guess he knows that too, that is what is so scary for me at times. Can you explain to me how you live? Do you still have bad thoughts about God at times and do you still have fleshly desires, like wanting to be well thought of or other things? I have asked Jesus to forgive me, but I still don't feel a change of heart. I have wondered why Jesus didn't appear to unbelievers after he was resurrected and not just to believers only. This is kind of why I doubt God I guess, also there are many people who say that they Can prove that Jesus is not the Son of God and that the resurrection didn't even take place and that the Bible is just myths. I have read a lot of different things since this has happened to me. I have even read Reasons to believe by Dr. D. James Kennedy. In that Book he tells of a man who died of a heart attack and before they could get him back he was already tormented in hell's flames. I know that you have written to Dr. Kennedy and have read your response to hell being like this. I just hope that there is some way that you might can help me to believe. There are days when I praise God and feel it and there are others when I just don't think of Him at all. I know that I probably sound crazy, but I am being honest with you. My mother says that reasoning is of the Devil, but I have told her that God gave us a mind to think. I have thought so much at times, that I feel like I am going insane, and I just cut it off. Thanks for listening to me, and I hope you might can give me some insight. [Ray Replies] Dear Tina, [more from Tina] Dear Mr. Smith, Thanks for responding to my notes so quickly. I feel that it is good for me to talk with you. I hope that you don't mind. Right now, I just don't want to be a part of a Pentecostal church at all. I was scared all the time that I was going to be judged by God. We would have messages in tongues that would tell of judgement coming to people and it would tear my nerves up. I wondered if God will strike me dead or kill me because he knows the thoughts I have. I just want to have some type of peace in this life and be able to function. I have started saying that God is good even though I don't feel it. I don't want to ever lead worship anymore, but maybe God will let me just sing in the congregation and worship like that. I somehow have a peace about that If I can just do that. [Ray Replies] Tina, If I only felt at home with God when I sat in a church
meeting, I would be most miserable. What do you do for the other 95% of your time when you
are not in church. Ray I was saddened to read in your letter to Dr. Kennedy that you are one of the millions who are in denial about the consequences of sin-eternity in Hell. Yes, I read your Bible references, which only reaffirmed the truths of Dr. Kennedy's teachings. It amazes me how so many can twist the words of Christ into saying what would benefit them the most-that WE are not responsible for our own actions apart from Christ, that God is saving EVERYONE no matter if they reject Him their whole lives and choose to do evil. How fortunate for them! Gee, I don't know why anyone would bother at all to live according to God's will or strive for righteousness-forget the 10 Commandments, we are all going to Heaven anyway! Thank God for Pastors like D. James Kennedy and TBN! I pray that you may you come to see the Way, the Truth, the Life. [Ray Replies] Dear Kathy: Thank you Ray Smith for finally making the bible make sense to me. For a long time I've wondered why the best verse in the bible is so universally glossed over and seemingly, totally ignored. I think you said the reference is 1 Corinthians 15:21, where it says, "as in Adam all die, so in Christ all shall live". I was an atheist or an agnostic for a long time, after being a "Christian?" for years because of so many "seeming" contradictions in the bible. Now, I am an alcoholic. On, or about, 4-1-`98 I made a decision to turn my life and my will over to the care of God, "as I understand Him" as it says in the third step of Alcoholics Anonymous. "As I misunderstand Him", or "don't understand Him" would be more nearly correct in my case. I wanted what those people had, but I couldn't honestly say I believed. Turns out I didn't even have to believe to get started. All I had to do was admit that I could be wrong about the non-existence of God, and say, "God, if You really are there, would You help me?" Help me to believe, and to recover from drug and alcohol addiction. I thought the "problem" was drugs and alcohol, and here the problem was my denial of the power of Gods love. Wouldn't that be wonderful if Dr James Kennedy could bring himself to admit he's been wrong, and embrace and proclaim what the bible really says. The truth shall set you free. Thanks, Ray, for searching out the truth and proclaiming it for me. Walk in peace and love, Bruce [Ray Replies] Dear Bruce: What exactly was the reason they set out to build Tower of Babel? If Heaven is not in outer space, and if Outer space then was the same as now, that labor would have amounted to nothing. [Ray Replies] Jeff, Nimrod did not think that he could really build a tower that would go to heaven, but rather to reach into the heavens as a tall tree or mountain. Seeing that Jesus said while He was on this earth, that He was also at the same time, IN HEAVEN, ought to dispel and fanciful idea that the Heaven of God's Throne is in outer space on some huge galactic rock. God's heaven is a higher spiritual realm of life and existence, not a geographical location in outer space. Hope that helps a little. Ray Almighty God has protected His perfect inerrant Infallible alive Word through all ages. His Word has not been lost He said Heaven and earth shall pass away but my Words shall never fade away. God says in Psalms Thy Word is ever settled in heaven. Friend Jesus in Luke chapter 16 says their was a certain rich man and in hell he lifted up his eyes in torments. You can say what you want and play a wise fool if you like for the Bible says professing themsel;ves to be wise they became fools. Their is most definitely a place of hell. Only a man that God has reprobated who is void of judgment and understanding could come up with the theory that you have. I laughed pretty good as I read how you get around the truths of Gods Bible. Death is coming for you and friend if the Holy Ghost don't open your eyes that place that you try to explain away will certainly be your eternal destiny. [Ray Replies] Dear Nameless: Did you catch that, my friend. In I Cor. 15:55 the KJV
translators translated the Greek word not "hell" but "GRAVE." Why? Why
just this ONCE? Why because there is "VICTORY" over THIS "HADES" over
THIS "GRAVE" over THIS "HELL" but the deceitful translators
following their pagan traditions wanted to deceive their readers on this one verse. They
didn't want anyone to KNOW that there is VICTORY OVER HADES WHICH THEY ALWAYS TRANSLATE
HELL in the New Testament!!! The Bible says that when you are tempted do not say that God is doing the tempting. How can this be so if he allows it to happen. I am very disillusioned with the God of the Bible. I just don't get it that he is a God of Love. Thanks for your comments. Sincerely, Tina [Ray Replies] Dear Tina: A trial is where evidence is presented to determine one's guilt or innocence. God is far above us carnal matters. God already knows IN ADVANCE what we will or will not do under our trials. Therefore, He does not determine from the evidence
whether we passed or failed the trial; whether we are guilt or innocent. The trial is for
OUR benefit, not HIS! I haven't gone to church for many years now because I didn't feel right with any of the numerous ones that I attended. What a treat it was that I happened on to your website! Now if only I could find a church who believed the same way. There is only one thing that I cannot figure out. It has really been bothering me and I hope you dot mind me asking. Since all of the events in our life are predetermined, how is it that we can be held accountable for what we do? Maybe I got my wires crossed while reading your website but this is the question that has stuck in my mind. Thanks to you and your devotion to the truly good news! Vince [Ray Replies] Dear Vince:
I am so scared that I will not except Jesus. I still question why God wants all of this worship. I am so scared that I am going to be judged and die because of these thoughts. It almost makes me crazy. I have prayed and prayed for God to help me. I wish I had never had these thoughts. I just do not trust God. I do not go to church anymore and I am so afraid that God is going to get me because of this. I just want to be a good person and be a loving wife to my husband. I find myself getting frustrated because all he wants to do on Sunday is come home after church and watch TBN and listen to Christian music. I just don't want to hear TBN or Christian music anymore. I like to hear love songs that are descent and uplifting, but my husband will not even listen to another radio station. I just want Help. Sincerely, Tina [Ray Replies] Dear Tina: Now I know we don't all obey that command, but it is
the truth. If we trust God we would worry about NOTHING! I haven't spoken to you for while, but we have continued to read your articles, and they continue to get us into trouble from time to time as we share what we have learned. However sometimes the new information brings freedom to others like it has to us. We have a young non practicing Muslim neighbor who regularly has chats with us and we really enjoy talking with him. Tonight he came over with a question, he has a Christian uncle who teaches theology at some university and corresponds with him and really doesn't agree with anything this young man has to say from a Muslim perspective. His question: according to him even though the Muslims do stone each other it is not in the Qur'an, so God never told anyone to stone anyone, it must have been the Jews who decided to do such things. BUT! if God did tell them to do such things then how come God changed his mind if He can't change his mind? I cannot answer the question as to why God changed his mind, or should I say my explanation of the Law having been completed through Jesus did not satisfy him. The question for him still remains: how come God changed his mind and how could he allow such terrible punishment. Kind regards, Bernadette [Ray Replies] Dear Bernadette:
I will now give you spiritual insight that most theologians have never even dreamed of. In God's plan for humanity and the universe:
And so it is written:
To cut out another hundred pages of explanation, let me just say, that there was an OLD covenant and there is now a NEW covenant. The New Covenant is "NOT IN ACCORD WITH THE OLD" as the Church teaches that it is--IT IS NOT!
The OLD covenant and law of Moses (with its stoning and
all that) was but a schoolmaster (or ESCORT) which was to lead Israel TO CHRIST--THEIR
MESSIAH AND SAVIOUR. But once we come to Christ we are no longer in need of an escort or
schoolmaster as KJV translates it. See Gal. 3:24-29. Children don't stay in grammar school
till they are twenty! They go on to high school and college.We are to go on to MATURITY in
Christ! The truth is, THE CHURCH IS ALREADY DEAD (Rev. 3:1).
That's why virtually ALL THE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN AMERICA were for and behind the war
effort in Iraq (and dozens of other places); they are STILL IN THE STONING BUSINESS. They
have NOT matured to Christ's SPIRITUAL COMMANDMENTS -- "You shall LOVE YOUR
ENEMIES"!!! |