Q: Where will the marriage supper between Christ and His Church be held?

Published: November 21st, 2003

Revelation 19:7-9 states the following about the marriage between Christ and His Church: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb [Jesus Christ, compare Revelation 5:1-14] has come, and His wife [the Church, compare Ephesians 5:31-32] has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. Then he said to me, 'Write: "Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!"'..."

Please note that this Scripture does not say where the marriage supper will take place. Other Scriptures strongly imply that it will take place here on earth, after Christ's return.

Q: Could you explain the extent of the power that Christ gave in Matthew 16:19, to "bind and loose"?

Published: January 23rd, 2004

Let us read, first, the passage referred to above, in context. Christ said to Peter, beginning in Matthew 16:18: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Q: What does the Church teach about Church Eras?

Published: August 20th, 2004

The concept of "Church Eras" is derived from the book of Revelation, chapters 2 and 3, reporting messages of Jesus Christ to the "seven angels" of the "seven churches." Although these churches were quite literal congregations, they have also been understood as representing seven Church eras, beginning at the time of the early apostles and leading to the time of the return of Jesus Christ.

Q: Were There "Christians" in Old Testament Times?

Published: September 10th, 2004

Not in name, of course, but yes, if we understand properly what the word "Christians" stands for. Prior to New Testament times, nobody was called a "Christian," per se. We read, in Acts 11:26, that "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch." Subsequently, the term became known as a description for Christ's followers, and was used both by unconverted people (Acts 26:28) and by converted disciples (1 Peter 4:16).

Q: Do you teach that God commands His Church in the ancient book of Ezekiel to warn the modern United States of America, Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other English-speaking nations, of impending disaster?

Published: December 17th, 2004

This is indeed the understanding and teaching of the Church of the Eternal God and its corporate affiliates in Canada and Great Britain.

First, let us realize that the message, that God gave to the ancient prophet Ezekiel, was in fact a modern prophecy for a modern "Ezekiel":

Q: Can you identify the seven Church eras, as described in the book of Revelation?

Published: April 1st, 2005

In the second and third chapters of the book of Revelation, John received a message for the "angels of the seven churches" (Revelation 1:20). As we have pointed out before [compare the Q&A in Update 157], these messages were to be meant for seven existing local Church congregations in seven distinct cities at John's time, but they were also directed to all Christians at all times (compare Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, and 22), and they included messages for seven consecutive Church eras, beginning at the time of John, and ending at the time of Christ's Second Coming (compare Revelation 1:19-20).

Q: What did Paul mean when he told us to discern the Lord's body (1 Corinthians 11:29)?

Published: December 30th, 2005

In the passage in question, Paul was addressing the yearly Passover ceremony. Beginning in 1 Corinthians 11:23, Paul reminded the disciples of the event when Christ instituted the New Testament symbols of bread and wine at the annual Passover service (compare verses 23-26). He then continued:

"Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep."

Q: Why don't we see more spiritual gifts in the Church of God today?

Published: June 23rd, 2006

It depends what is meant by "spiritual gifts."