Question Log This is a log of q

Question Log

This is a log of questions incoming to the Web Site Office since 1 June 2008. Most are being sent to a place on the web sites, given a scripture [s], or one of our form letters.

Mr. Werner, my name is Sammy. I know you don't know me but i would like to ask you a few questions. I have followed Mr. Armstrong (senior & junior) since i was a little boy and believe this is the true church. I am a police officer and try to lead a good & quiet life. I am 43 years old and single. I don't pray often enough as i should, like others i only pray when things go bad. I was married for about ten years and found my wife with another man. Soon after that ended i took her back for the sake of my daughters. This continued for a couple of times until 1998 i had enough and called it quits. Until about march i have been happily single. In march of this year i started seeing my ex-wife's sister ( i know it sounds crazy, but I've been divorced for a long time). We talked about it when we started seeing each other and agreed it was o.k. Long story short about a month ago she to left me for another man. I really enjoyed this girls company and was for the most part happy with her. My point is i am very lonely and depressed because i have no-one nor can i keep no-one. I keep reading Genesis where god made eve so Adam would not be alone. I pray for companionship and nothing never happens. I feel like a i am being punished for something. I don't like being alone any more but God must want it that way. Do you have any scriptures i could read to help me. I believe God wants us to be happy, I am miserable. I am going to try to go to New Orleans soon to your church (I live in Biloxi Ms.) Any suggestions you have will be helpful. I don't feel like I'm alive anymore.

In the booklet "The Abomination of Desolation" there is mention in "Acts 8 and other scriptures identify a man who may have risen to become the first major leader of this apostasy; a man who may well have masqueraded as the "Peter" of Rome, Simon the Magus, or Simon the Magician. His story would require book-length investigation. However, he passed into history, and is not relevant today, except as a forerunner of the final false prophet."

Even Herbert W. Armstrong mentioned him in several of his writings even so far as to indicate that Simon Magus' followers and successors laid the foundations for what would become the Roman Catholic Church of today.

I've been trying to research this topic and thus far have run into a kind of black hole regarding much about this person except in the writings of Irenaeus, Justin Martyr, and Hippolytus of Rome, with only vague reference to him and almost nothing with regards to his successors.

I would be interested in taking a look at your citations of authority other then those referred to in Scripture, so I could further pursue this issue.

Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Wayne M

i am looking for the perpetual calendar ,had it once but changed computers and lost it

Gayle

Hi Chris.

While doing bible study this morning I came up- on this word BEATITUDE . My dictionary doesn't have the definition for this word. Would you please help me out on this .

Thanks Chris... Bob M

Mr. Cumming:

Have been in a study of the Alexandrian text line for almost 8 months. Have learned much about the manipulation of biblical N.T. MSS. While a member of the WWCG, I never heard a sermon that dealt with the modern deceptive bibles. I even owned one ("Living Bible" series). The information is out there. It's has become apparent that the N.T. MSS of the Alexandrian text line has been tampered with. Just my opinion, and I want to emphasize that (my opinion), knowing which documents represent the true message of God and Christ is essential knowledge in our defense against apostasy. I have put all this information into one area, showing how it came about, the infiltration of Gnostics, how the early RCC Fathers had Gnostic beliefs, how these beliefs found there way into the Latin Vulgate to the Douay-Rheims (how the DR was enforced), all the way to the Revised Version of Westcott-Hort and that the New Age Modern Versions are all based upon the W-H Greek N.T. I have attached a jpg (not yet finished) showing the flow chart that will be a FIG in my research. Has over 300 refs., many MSS examples of the corruptions (Sinacitus and Vaticancus). Important that these MSS play down the deity of Christ (I Tim. 3:16), change up the "Lords Prayer" (NIV-Luke) and removes the long ending of Mark 16.10-20 (Commission of the Church and the signs) I don't want any one to pick up one of these corrupted Bibles by mistake, thinking they are going to read God's truth.

I will be finished in about 5 to 6 weeks. I would be happy to send you a CD with this series on it, if you would like one. I want nothing for it. I am not a writer in any sense, try to be and you will probably see many errors in witting skills; but it's the information that's important. Knowledge helps empower people.

Any ways, have a nice day.

Steve Ferris

See diagram he sent: here Note: not my field.

Chris,
Thanks for all the info. you have given me and others!!
What do you think of, how shall I say, ghost hunters--people who go to homes looking for paranormal stuff etc.? What about people who are "mediums"? Do you think people actually see ghosts or figures or whatever??
Do you think this is satanic in nature??
As always, thanks!!
Steve

Hello Chris,

In the scripture where Jesus states, in my house are many mansions, I go to prepare a place for you, will you please expound on that for me?

Thank you for your time in advance.

Your brother in Christ,
Ken

Hi Chris, would you please explain to me why France being {Reuben} is so against us? Fact being that France is one of the ten tribes, will not the tribulation be brought down on them also? Marilyn

Dear Chris:
Please bare with me while I tell you what my understanding of Christ being flesh or man and not God at the same time. I have understood and understand that a covenant or plan was made by God the Father and the Spokesman that in order for man to be saved from sin was for the Word to come in the flesh and lived a live of a human that could be tempted so He could also be a perfect Judge and Sacrifice for us. I know that He said on occasions that He could call and legions of angels would come to His aide but He never did do this for He said, My kingdom is not of this world. I know He remembered the Father at some point in life and the life with Him. I know He had power at His disposal but was He God and man or God who became flesh. Was He both God and man when He was flesh or had he as I have always believed emptied Himself of all His deity to become flesh and blood and walk among us sinless so that He could be sacrificed? Please help me here!!!
Love, Carolyn

Good Morning, Chris,

We are looking for the booklet by GTA called "The 70-Weeks Prophecy". He wrote it I believe in the CGI. I don't see it at the website. What would you suggest? Thanks, Bonnie

						GTA stated in his 
						sermon "The Coming Day of the Lord" (Pt. 1 of 2) that 
						there are four main beliefs in Christendom about 
						when the rapture occurs.  He said he espouses the 
						"Pre-Wrath" view of the rapture of God's people, at a 
						time when Satan is no longer in charge and Christ draws 
						His people (those dead and alive) into the heavens where 
						they and Him descend to the earth to begin the 
						millennium.  You have gone out of your way to deny the 
						rapture (true,the word is not in the Bible), but as it 
						simply means "gathering" of God's people, Mr. Armstrong 
						is correct as to when we can call it a 
						rapture.  He also stated, again correctly, whatever we 
						have come to believe concerning the rapture is not a 
						guarantee of salvation. I am sending you Pt. 1 of that 
						sermon. You seem to imply the rapture does not exist or 
						cannot be proven, but what you are really saying is the 
						Pre-Tribulation, Mid-Tribulation, and Post-Tribulation 
						rapture views cannot be biblically proven. The Pre-Wrath 
						view is another matter. I have listened (and watched) 
						Herbert W. Armstrong and Garner Ted Armstrong all my 
						life. The shake-up in the church saddened me, but of 
						course that doesn't negate the truths drawn from the 
						Bible.  

						 

						Rodger B.

I have caught a bit of several of your TV shows because i am coming home from working midnights and watch whatever is on that station at night when i leave for work. it seems to me you spend more time talking about how wrong everyone else is (other religious etc) then how right you are. i wonder if Jesus would approve of your mockery of other sincere religious started in other countries who didn't have the benefit of Jesus' teachings? I'm guessing he would disapprove, but i realize, unlike you, that i don't really know.

As Christians, how involved should we become in the goings on of our political system and should we be expected to vote, even though none of the candidates are worthy of the offices?

Shauna

I noticed that the Garner Ted sermons are all in real player. Is there a way to put these as an MP3 format that can be downloaded to my iPod? If they are already in that format, then how can I save these files in iTunes? I really enjoy listening to Mr. Armstrong and in the past I just ordered the sermons from you on CD and then I would download them myself to iTunes, but I thought if I could save straight from the website I might be able to save you a bit of money.

Thanks a bunch!

Zach

As you may be aware we have had a lot of strife with our Gold Coast group. Firstly the falling away two years ago leaving only four of us with Murray then placing me as host.

Since then we have been able to build it up to around twelve until one of the previous lady members came back and unfortunately somehow "got" to the others one by one until

most of them stopped attending for one reason or another.

So a few weeks it came to a head when I heard gossip that I was being accused by three of our women members of indecent and improper conduct (as I was told by an elderly lady

member that because there were three accusers it had to be true). The fact that there was no evidence and that I had done nothing to this elderly lady except to go half an hour out of my way every Sabbath to pick her up she was adamant that I was guilty.

Murray has since spoken to this lady and one of the accusers and cross-examined them both and found huge holes in their stories. But why let the truth get in the way of gossip?

He is now also in the bad books with this elderly lady as well. (Because he is a man and she says in the Bible it reads "don't trust men" ????).

And needless to say the group has completely folded this time and we, the remaining three members have scattered back to our homes and have cancelled the hall where we used

to meet. I guess the lady coming back from the original group achieved what she was after that is, to destroy our group.

After discussing the situation with Murray he was reluctant to send them all a stern letter (as I would have hoped) but explained that the church policy is not to put people out but

to let them fade away on their own. However that still bothers me a bit, because if we manage to start up again there is nothing to stop any of them to just wander in again and start

spreading dissent. Although I can see Murray's point.

By the way, I remember Garner Ted Armstrong saying when he went back to the States after his Australian trip that he normally does not baptize people anymore, but he made an exception that time and baptized a mother and daughter one day (they fell away from the first group) and then another lady the next day (she was the one who fell away the first time as well but came back and finish us off). Now I think I understand why he was reluctant to baptize.

There is a lot more detail but I won't bore you with the rest. I just don't understand how people can come to the truth, accept Christ and be baptized, then carry on this way. It seems they can't let go of their baggage. There are so many people outside of our Church in my circle of friends that are so sincere and wonderful who would never stoop to something like this.

As you can tell, I took this pretty hard as initially I thought I was failing our group as host. What on earth is wrong with our Australians, I hope in America you don't have this nonsense.

You're articles in the "Minister's Notebook" have been very helpful to me to get me through all this and also I found the following article quite comforting..

Until next time, and I hope you didn't mind me writing to you with all this.

John

Is faith imparted by God through his Holy Spirit or it of our own volition?

Dear Chris, I just clicked on to Garner ted and he is saying that Matt: 24 v. 15 says that "Beginning of tribulation ---- army's surrounding Jerusalem --- etc--- . Is the sound track off?

Matt: 24 v. 15 talks about --- when ye therefore shall see the abomination -----

I was reading in the Halley's Handbook about the Messianic Nation and how it developed throughout the OT leading up to the birth of Christ. It is very interesting. I see how he believed we would go to heaven. So people who believe in the rapture, believe they will be taken to heaven and then return to reign with Christ 1000 years? Some of the analogies he uses, I have never read or heard before. Do we have anything on the 400 years between the OT and NT?

Good Morning...

We are wondering, are Arabs considered gentiles or are they Arabs? We were thinking about the armies that surround Israel would they be part of the 2 prophecies to watch?

We haven't tried the Passion Fruit Tea, might buy some today. It is supposed to be 107, it is 87 right now.

What will happen to these people the MA talks about that under the pressure not to speak to their families by their religious leaders? Why do they keep calling MA? It is so sad. Is this Pack and Flurrey, or others too?
--
ellen

Can a person be converted to God and be baptized in the water right away no matter if he's living with a partner without been married, because the other party refuses to be married?
--Chu Quintana

Was wondering if you believe Jesus was or was not the Great 'I AM' of Exodus chapter 3 along with what Jesus said in John 8:58, that he was 'I AM'? I'm trying to understand your God belief. Thanks for your response-- Glen.

Hi Chris, Could you tell me if a person having OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) a form of superstition? Please let me know if you have any information or knowledge on the subject. Thanks in advance.

Mike

Dear Chris,

I have another question concerning tithing. I want to give tithing but I don't have enough money in my monthly budget. I am already coming up short each month. I am living very frugally, and there is no place to cut. I feel guilt ridden and am worried God won't here me or help me because of this. I don't know what to do.

Thank you Zachary B.

Dear Chris, I have another question concerning tithing. I want to give tithing but I don't have enough money in my monthly budget. I am already coming up short each month. I am living very frugally, and there is no place to cut. I feel guilt ridden and am worried God won't here me or help me because of this. I don't know what to do. Thank you Zachary B.

The email above is my parents email as I don't currently have regular access to a computer.

I have a seven year old son who is asking questions about evolution and creation. My mom suggested I send for a booklet to help explain it to him, the same booklet my mom used to teach me!!

My mom and step-dad (Diane and Tom Partridge) have been very helpful and supportive, have given me tapes and literature, old bible lessons for my son, etc. They are members of ICG, and attend services in Morganton NC.

Can you recommend other booklets or tapes, CD's, etc. that might benefit my studies?? I have a few but would like to expand that resource. Where do I start??

PS--I attended WCG as a child in the mid 80's, so am familiar with the basics such as unclean meats, not observing Christmas, the Trinity, etc.

Thank you so much,
I will look forward to the booklet and CD I ordered above.

Colleen M. T.

"And The Dead Know Nothing." Where can I find this quote in the Bible?

Hi Chris:

I was asked a question and I wasn't sure of the answer so I said I'd find out.

When a couple has been married for a number of years, had a family that is now grown and left home, and that couple has been unevenly yoked for many years but stayed together for the sake of the children, when the one partner who has not been baptized leaves, is the partner left considered 'free' and able to search out another partner hopefully in the church?

Are members able to be divorced according to the 'worldly' laws and are they still bound by the adultery law?

Thanks for your help.

Jean

RE: Redefining Marriage � Really!
by Jim Josephsen

Dear Chris: Of course, I understand very clearly Gods instruction on homosexuality, but I don�t have a clear understanding of Isaiah 3:9, quoted by Mr. Josephsen. Perhaps you could explain it.

1) the look on their faces does witness against them; ?????

2) they declare their sin as Sodom, they hide it not;???? I know it�s now in the open, but �as Sodom� confuses me.

3) Woe unto their souls, for they have brought despair upon themselves� (Isaiah 3:9).

Thanks much Chris,

Barry

Chris,

What I know in the Bible (new testament) talking about Christ's return. He said he does not know when to return back to Earth, but the Father does, so When I read the Old Testament Daniel chapter 11 and 12 is like saying what day when he will return. I'm confuse about this, can you help me to understand this? For example Daniel 12: 12-13. A friend of mine told me he thinks it looks like this coming Jan 20th is beginning of 75 day period as mentioned in the Daniel 11 and 12. Do you know what does that mean?

Many thinks

Richared

Hello Chris

                 I like to thank you once again for all your help that you have been providing me with it has been great . It helps me to help others . I been following your short Bible Studies in your Daily e-mails that you have been sending out . The Solution for Guilt has been really good . I was wondering if you could do a 3 or 4 part series on Sinning Willfully . The reason I ask this is because I have been working with a person now for a couple of years and they have completely turned around and gone back into the world . I have been giving them scriptures trying to pull them back but it doesn't seem to work . This person was doing so well . Maybe you could do something that would hit a cord back into this person . This has happened with me before with this person but they always come back .

                     She has just started living with someone and living common law . But I don't give up on her , a matter of fact this has happened a couple of times . But I still keep incontact with her through e-mail and I keep sending her Scriptures to try and help her .

                     I know that you are busy and I know that you keep on top of your Your Daily Start e-mails . So if you are looking for something new for another mini series maybe this might be a good one .

                      Also , I was asked the question why is it that God the Father only calls certain people ? Why did He call a person like me when there are so many other people in the world who are a lot better than I am and they are not even Christians ? Now that I have turned my life completely around since I come into the truth of God Sacred Word . But He could have called a person who was a lot better than I was . Because I have to say and I am quite ashamed that I was an awful sinner before I came to the truth .

                     So once again thanks for all your help . Ed

Chris, I was told that to pray, God will only listen who have been Baptist and will not listen who have not been Baptist! Is this right? To me God loves everyone and will listen to anyone who prays.

Richard

Dear Chris,

I need to ask a question and I would like an impartial answer since you don't know me.

Is it a sin to be blunt with people when speaking? I never believed in beating around the bush when somebody asks what would I do about something, like misbehaving child, opinion on politics and such. But is that bad to be like that because I'm sure that some people are probably hearing from me what they really don't want to hear.

I know the Bible says the meek will inherit the earth but I don't think God meant for me to just lay down and let people run over me with their opinions if the opinions are different from my own. In other words, I don't feel very meek.

Also I have a second question. I need to know if this is what you'd call "falling away"? I don't want to fall away. Tell me what to watch for so that I don't. I ask this because I haven't been going to church for the last year and it's because it's over an hour from where I live. I would travel with my parents and they would go early enough to have breakfast so by the time we'd get home again we would have been gone for at least 6 hours.My husband doesn't go to church, so when I was going it was time that we spent apart. The only time we get together is on the weekends. I thought I had read somewhere that if it was a hardship to go and it took the joy out of your Sabbath, then you didn't have to attend church. Is that true?

Please advise me with advice and scripture. Thank you for your time. This has been weighing on my mind for some time now.

Debbie M

I have been scared to death of this Obama train ride. Is Obama the Anti Christ that the Bible speaks of.

Also Mayan civilization predicted the end on 12-21-12.

I have read and listened to many of Garner Ted's commentaries on the end time but frankly it is over my head.

I always heard that the temple in Jerusalem had to be built first. Will the Christians be here during this or will Christ have already came back for us and the temple will be built while we are caught up for the 1000 years.

Please help

Hello Chris! ;-) Hope you are doing alright.. Man I can see it everything is going crazy, like oil prices going sky rocket and everything seems to fall apart. Not good.. By the way I have a question, What does cross mean? I though that for Greek word it means post like wood. For example here in America for English word to build a backyard deck, first have to build a post before add more woods to it to finish it, now for Greek word to build a backyard deck, first have to build a cross before add more woods to it to finish it. Know what I'm talking about? I have read and heard many many times that Jesus was nailed to the cross and they say its a shape like a + cross. I don't think that's the way it happen. I though he was nailed to a tree or something like stake. Is that right?

Richard

Hello Chris

How are things going ? Fine I hope ! I have another
question for you . I see now that there are different churches of God's
talking about the return of Jesus Christ . Some claim that He is coming
back on Trumpets and other's are claiming that He is coming back on
Pentecost . My question to you is , is this thinking wrong when Christ
said , " No man knows the Day or the Hour only the Father " Of course
Christ knows now because He is with the Father . My thinking that when
you make such claims that now you have the Brethren in the churches of
God waiting for each Pentecost and Trumpets for the return of Christ !!!!!!

Is my thinking wrong on this ? Or are we to be looking
towards Pentecost and Trumpets . Both can't be right and I think that
neither is right . Ed

--
Ed / Marlane P.

I have a question concerning Bible prophecy. Which of these events will take place first? Russia and its allies attempting to destroy Israel or the events dealing with the kings of the north and south? Is it becoming more clear who these kings are? At this point, I assume that the king of the north will be the E.U. and the king of the south will be Iran. Only time will tell who these true kings really are.

I appreciate your time regarding these two Biblical prophecies and if you have a response, I would like to hear from you.

May God bless you,

Stephanie W.

Dear Chris,

I guess I should have asked more clearly.

I'm sorry for the guile but I get offended when someone claims to be

in the only 'true church'.

Please if you will tell me; do you believe yourself to be called into the only true

church organization led by the spirit of The Father?

Or is it that you believe the group your in is only a part of the big picture?

I do not speak of the local group but your whole organization.

Are you the only one or are there others out here that also believe the same way you do,

but do not like the same old, same old in the churches.

I know there must be so many more than just ourselves out there that HE is working with.

I haven't fallen from the faith but I have left the organizations of men.

I don't see just some minor problems with the people, that goes without saying, I see major

doctrinal differences dividing the body. I also see minor things not worth fighting over,

dividing the congregations. I see leaders not willing to share their leadership roles and dividing the groups. I see leaders that only pride could be their motive.

Chris what do we do? How do we begin to come together?

Enlighten me if you will, show me the understanding that I seem to have

missed somewhere along the way.

Why would some say you must be rebaptized in 'our church'?

This is not scriptural. We are baptized into the body of Messiah.

Help me out here friend. Tell me what you think.

Dick C.

If you murder someone & you haven't been saved are you held accountable or are you given a second chance in resurrection

Mr. Chris Cumming,

I received your e-mail address from Mark Armstrong. I live in the Hillsdale section of SW Portland, Oregon. It has been quite some time since I last attended church because I didn't like what changes were occurring in the Worldwide Church of God after Mr. H.W. Armstrong passed away.

My phone number is 503-875-8450. I don't have computer access at home at this time. I would like to know where the services are held, the time, and a contact number for you if at all possible. I eagerly await your reply. Thank you.

Hosea P.

Do You Have Any Booklets About Marriage?