Hi Steven
I have been studying in the Hebrew and Greek since 1978, at which time I had to begin to UNLEARN many things that I was taught for the first 25 years of being a Christian. The main thing to always do, is check out anything and everything that anyone tells you. You see, it is so easy for we humans to make mistakes. But God's Word, in the original language does not contradict itself. That is why we should be careful not to accept things that others tell us, without checking it out for ourselves.
Now I am not saying that you should believe everything that I am saying because I have studied this way for so long. I really mean it, when I say to always check everyone out. Myself included, I have been wrong before, and have had to change my mind when God's Word shows me that I need to. We are given an example in Acts 17:10-12. The Bereans searched the scriptures daily, as Paul was teaching them, and many of them believed. You are absolutely right about not having to know these things in order to be saved. But, we are supposed to study to show ourselves approved (2Tim 2:15).
There is, however, one very important thing all of us should know, that is hardly ever taught in most of the churches.
That is the coming of the false Christ. You see, the word antichrist means opposite, or instead of Christ. And the antichrist, or false christ, will come before any Christian gathers to Christ. See 2Thes 2:1-4; there the word "falling away" means defection from truth. The rest of verses 1 through 3 you can understand easily. Then see 1Thes 4:15 and 16. There the word "prevent" means precede. You will see that Paul is telling us that no living human will rise before the dead in Christ rise first.
Now go to Revelation chapter 11, and read about the 2 witnesses, and on to verse 15, the sound of the 7th angel (trump). Rev 8:6; the 7 angels having 7 trumps. Rev 8:7; 1st angel sounded. Rev 8:8; 2nd angel sounded. Rev 8:10; 3rd angel sounded. Rev 8:12; 4th angel sounded. Rev 9:1; 5th angel sounded. Rev 9:13; 6th angel sounded. Rev 11:15; 7th angel sounded.
The thing to notice here in Revelation chapter 11, is that the 2 witnesses have to be believers in Christ in order to rise after 3 and a half days, at the 7th trump, at which time Jesus returns. Notice 1Thes 4:16 said that the dead in Christ shall rise first at the trump of God? Well, there are ONLY 7 trumps to sound. And it is easy to see that none of the other 6 trumps that sound, announce the coming of Christ.
We can also find out what great event happens at the sound of that 7th trump. In 1Cor 15:50, lets us know that flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom (realm) of God. In other words, no flesh and blood humans will dwell in the dimension that God dwells in.
In 1Cor 15:51, it is very important to not overlook the words "all". In the Greek that word is "pas", meaning all, any, every, or the whole. So Paul is telling us that everyone will be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.
Then, in 1Cor 15:52, we have the time element, as to when this event will happen. "...at the LAST trump:" The Greek word "eschatos" that was translated to "last", means; the farthest, or final (of place or time). So this "last" trump refers to the 7th trump.
Here is what happens at that moment. Every person's spiritual man steps out of their flesh body. The flesh age is over. If we back up to 1Cor 15:44, we will see that there is a spiritual body, and a natural body. Then, to see that we have our own spirit, see: Zech 12:1; Rom 8:16; 1Cor 2:11.
I have so much more that I could tell you, but it would take up a lot of space. I have kept most of my work on disks. I have 14 nearly full, with 76 subjects I have written about to help me refresh what I have learned.
Your question about Job. Yes!! Look at Job 38:1-11. Pay very close attention to verse 4, when God asks Job; WHERE were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Now if we believe what is taught in some churches, that our existence began in the womb, we could ask someone this question, and see what kind of response we would get: "WHERE were you when George Washington chopped down the cherry tree?" You see how stupid the question would be, if you did not exist yet? God does not make stupid remarks. Since He asked Job WHERE was he at that time, it is telling me that at that time Job existed somewhere. And I believe that if Job had said to God that he was there, in verse 7, with all the rest of the sons of God, shouting for joy, he would have been right.
I think this is one of the best ways for a church to function. When EVERYONE can say what they think, not just 1 person doing all the speaking. The way I see it, if the little toe hurts, it lets the rest of the body know. But, we people are not connected to feel the pain of another, so we have to communicate in order to know what the other feels. And if just 1 person is doing all the teaching, how can any of the others in the body be used by God to teach him? I believe that all of us should be able to give input, and be able to learn. For as long as we are in this flesh body, we will never know everything.
God bless you
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