Information Related to "Questions and Answers - Jan/Mar/2005"
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Question: Do we need to know about secret codes embedded within the text of the Bible in order to understand it?
Answer: The claim that there is a secretly embedded code in the Bible discernible by computer calculations has created much interest of late, but knowledge of such a code is not necessary to understand the Bible. While it is true that God inspired the Scriptures in a way that veils their meaning, the key to understanding is God's Spirit—not a codebook, computer or clever mathematician.
The apostle Paul wrote that "the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God... nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (1 Corinthians 2:14). The Spirit of God is a gift to the children of God, not restricted to a few who discover the keys to a hidden code.
Notice also the words of a related prophecy found in Isaiah 29:10-14: "For the Lord has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes [blocked your understanding]... The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed [closed, unable to be understood], which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, 'Read this, please.' And he says, 'I cannot, for it is sealed.' Then the book is delivered to one who is illiterate, saying, 'Read this, please.' And he says, 'I am not literate.'
"Therefore the Lord said: 'Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men, therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.'"
People will be able to understand spiritual truth, not because they discover a secret code by mathematical formula, but rather because God supernaturally opens their minds. God reveals truth to those whom He calls, who show themselves willing to obey Him (Acts 5:32).
We invite you to request a copy of our booklet titled Transforming Your Life: The Process of Conversion, which explains what the Bible says about how a person comes to repentance, receives faith, undergoes baptism, receives the gift of the Spirit of God and understands God's spiritual truths. You can request or download it at www.ucg.org/booklets.
Question: Is belief in the signs of the zodiac wrong?
Answer: Although some firmly believe that the success of their day, the good fortune of their decisions and even their lives depend on advice they get from the signs of the zodiac, this is not what God says. God nowhere in the Bible tells us to build our lives around moon phases and the signs of the zodiac as astrologers teach. God even said that He will burn up unrepentant astrologers (Isaiah 47:13-14).
Jeremiah 10:2-3 tells us very clearly: "Thus saith the Lord, learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. For the customs of the people are vain . . ." (King James Version).
Astrology, moreover, is a form of idolatry because it puts man's devices before God's ways. Astrologers teach people to try to obtain success by means of astrology. But God expressly forbids this worship of the constellations and the host of heaven (2 Kings 23:5).
Just before the nation of Israel entered the Promised Land, God, through Moses, reminded the people about the importance of obeying the laws that He had given them.
Notice the word of caution recorded in Deuteronomy 4:19: "And take heed, lest you lift your eyes to heaven, and when you see the sun, the moon, and the stars, all the host of heaven, you feel driven to worship them and serve them, which the Lord your God has given to all the people under the whole heaven as a heritage."
The sun, moon and stars were not to be served in any way. The signs of the zodiac are not something to put stock in or to believe as determiners of our daily lives or destinies.
Question: In your literature, you said that Jesus drank wine. What scriptures can you cite to prove this point?
Answer:The book of Luke makes this statement quite clearly. The religious leaders of the time were upset with Jesus and charged Him with being a "winebibber." "For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber [an excessive drinker], a friend of tax collectors and sinners!'" (Luke 7:33-34).
Vine's Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words says the Greek word for winebibber, oinopotes, means "'a wine drinker' (oinos, and potes, 'a drinker')."
In the Old Testament the word winebibber is used to describe those who abuse the use of alcohol (Proverbs 23:20). Since Jesus drank a little wine from time to time, this opened Him up to the charge of abusing it. Christ, of course, always drank in moderation; He never abused alcohol.
The Bible teaches that it is the misuse of alcohol that is a sin (Romans 13:13; Galatians 5:21; 1 Peter 4:3). Reflecting its use in moderation, Judges 9:13 speaks of wine that "cheers both God and men."Psalm 104 also presents moderate alcohol use in a positive light: "And wine that makes glad the heart of man" (verse 15).
It's also noteworthy that Christ's first public miracle was turning water into a fine quality wine (John 2:1-11), something He surely would not have done if drinking any alcoholic beverage were a sin.
Christ instructed Christians to take wine as part of the Passover service (1 Corinthians 11:25-26). In the context of this instruction, Paul corrected some of the Corinthian congregation for getting drunk at the Passover (1 Corinthians 11:21).Clearly, they were using fermented wine in the observance of the Passover or it would not have been possible for them to become drunk.
People with a proclivity toward alcoholism and those who cannot drink in moderation should not drink, nor should anyone whose conscience would be violated by doing so. Christians of legal age who choose to drink should do so in moderation.
Question: Can babies be born after the rapture?
Answer: While this question is a simple one, a biblical answer is a bit complicated because the rapture as commonly understood is not biblical. Many people today have been mistakenly taught that there will be a secret rapture of the saints a few years before Jesus returns with them to earth. But Jesus said that when He returns it will be a very public event that all the inhabitants of the earth will see. Everyone will hear the great sound of a trumpet as He gathers together His elect from all over the earth (Matthew 24:30-31).
John also said that when Christ returns every eye will see Him (Revelation 1:7). Paul says that at the time of this great trumpet blast the dead in Christ will be resurrected and the saints who are alive will be changed to spirit instantaneously (1 Corinthians 15:51-52 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Scriptures also explain that spirit beings do not get married or have children. As Luke 20:35 explains, they "neither marry nor are given in marriage." So there will not be babies born to people who are changed into spirit.
Within God's plan, however, there will be people left alive who will not be changed into spirit when Jesus returns. These people will live as physical human beings, capable of having children as they learn God's way of life.
If you wish to study more about the subjects of God's plan for humanity,the resurrection and what happens at death, read or request our booklets, What Is Your Destiny? and What Happens After Death?.
Question: If God and Jesus are one and the same, then why does Jesus refer to God as "My Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 16:17)?
Answer: Jesus addressed His prayers to the "Father." At Jesus' baptism, an angel spoke from heaven calling Jesus the "Son." How could these passages be true if Jesus and the Father are the same being? The logical answer is that they are not the same. They are two separate beings in the family of God. Ephesians 3:14-15 mentions the Father of Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family is named.
Much to the surprise of many people, the Bible actually teaches that God is in the process of adding more members to His family. Notice that Hebrews 2:10 talks about God "bringing many sons to glory."
We read in Romans 8:14-17, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption [sonship, NIV] by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father. 'The Spirit Himself [itself, KJV] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ."Those are incredibly important words and point out that God is expanding His family through human beings.
God the Father and God the Word (who later became the Son) have existed for all eternity. John 1:1-3 explains that the Word was with God the Father from the beginning. For someone to be with someone else requires there to be two individuals—not just one.
If you're interested in learning more, request or download a copy of our free booklet Who Is God? from our literature request page,www.ucg.org/booklets. The question, "Is God a Trinity?" is answered in greater detail on pages 47-52 of this booklet.
Question: Are New Year celebrations pagan in origin?
Answer: Simply put, the answer is yes! In the earliest days of the Church (first and second centuries after Christ) there were no such celebrations as Christmas and New Year's. The New Catholic Encyclopedia states: "According to the hypothesis accepted by most scholars today, the birth of Christ was assigned the date of the WINTER SOLSTICE (December 25th on the Roman Calendar...January 6th on the Egyptian Calendar) because on this day, as the sun began its return to the northern skies, the pagan devotees of MITHRA celebrated 'dies natalis Solis Invicti' (the birthday of the invincible sun)."
Those customs carried over in the observance of Christmas (with its many traditions and practices steeped in paganism and mythology), and the "birth" of the "new year" of the sun! This is why the Roman calendar designates Jan. 1 as the beginning of the "new year" as opposed to God's holy calendar (the Hebrew calendar). The beginning of the year from God's perspective is in the spring.
Much of the symbolism associated with New Year's today (mistletoe among others) has very definite sexual origins and meanings.
Because we live in this secular society and must operate within the Roman calendar, even as Christians we acknowledge that a new calendar year begins to be counted on Jan. 1. Yet to get involved in the celebration of such would not be appropriate. That said, one should be careful not to become too judgmental if a Christian is, for example, viewing a football game or parade at that time of year—as opposed to actually "celebrating" the "new year."
There are many resources that show the pagan origins of New Year's celebrations. You can find related material in reference encyclopedias and online research resources as well.
If you have questions, e-mail us at info@verticalthought.org
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Keywords: Bible code zodiac astrology alcohol rapture trinity New Years
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