Intro:
Have you ever had questions concerning the Bible that keeps coming to mind and you want to know the explanation to them? For example:
Why was the world destroyed by a flood like the Bible says?
How many people and what capacity for animals did the Ark have?
How many brothers did Goliath have and how tall were they?
These and many more questions will be addressed in this fascinating article.
One thing that we must keep in mind is that not all mysteries in the Bible are revealed. Deuteronomy 29:29 states that “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.”
It is important to keep this in mind when studying and to pray to the Lord for guidance in studying these things.
Let’s study our first three questions.
1. Why was the world destroyed by a flood like the Bible says?
In Genesis 6: 5-8 the bible says that God saw the wickedness of man on the earth and it was great and every inclination of his heart was toward evil. He was grieved that he had made man and decided to wipe mankind from the planet. But He found favor in Noah.
2. How many people and what capacity for animals did the Ark have?
According to Genesis 6:14-16 the Ark was to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high. It was to also have 3 decks, and a door on the side. In Genesis 8:6 it states that Noah had made a window for the ark as well.
God in his infinite wisdom had given the people of those days 120 years to repent and turn to him, but they not did listen to Noah’s preaching and the counsel of those who followed God. Genesis 6:3
It stands to reason that if people would have repented and the majority of people would have turn to God, He would not have brought the flood and there would have been no need for the Ark. This is why God did not make the ark any bigger than what it is. But God in his infinite wisdom new the heart of man, that it was only toward sin. I believe the Ark had approximately the same capacity of a Navy carrier ship and could hold approximately between 2500 to 3000 people.
3. How many brothers did Goliath have and how tall were they?
According to 1Chronicles 20:5 “…Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite,…” And 2Samuel 21:19 states the same thing. Many scholars believe that Goliath had at least 5 brothers due to the fact that David picked up 5 stones from the brook before slaying Goliath. The Bible states that Goliath was over nine feet tall. His brothers must have been as tall or taller.
The next series of questions have to do with heaven and hell. How we view these things has an effect on how we see God.
Heaven and Hell
1. Is hell a place where people are constantly burning forever?
a.First lets talk about what happens to an evil or wicked person when he or she dies.
-Paul says that "…the wages of sin is death." Rom. 6:23
-What kind of death will this be?
Paul also state that "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power." 2 Thess. 1:9 In Webster’s Dictionary destruction is defined as “to put an end to, to destroy completely.”
-What will be the results of this punishment?"
When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever." Prov. 10:25.
-What place will the place of the wicked be?"
A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found." Ps. 37:10.NOTE. – It would be hard to keep the wicked in eternal torment without a place to go to, in which to exist.
b.What does eternal fire mean?
How many times will the wicked die?"
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murders, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; which is the second death." Rev. 21:8.
NOTE. - Good and bad men are alike subject to the first death, but this is a temporal death, which lasts only till the resurrection. After the cases of all men are settled in the judgment, the wicked then die the second death, which is eternal in its effects.
In this fire will there be torment? and how long will it last?"
He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up forever and ever." Rev. 14:10, 11.NOTE. - The Greek term translated in this text "forever and ever," has different meanings; according to the connection in which it is used, such as, duration, finite or infinite; unlimited duration, past or future; time, age, lifetime; the world, universe.
How is the term understood in the case of certain Hebrew servants?"
His master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever." Ex. 21:6.NOTE. - He could not serve his master longer than he lived.
For how long did Samuel's mother lend him to the Lord to serve in the temple?
"I will bring him, that he may appear before the Lord, and there abide forever." "Therefore also I have lent him to the Lord; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the Lord." 1 Sam. 1:22, 28.
NOTE. - In this case it is definitely stated to be ''as long as he liveth." Had Samuel lived only a week or a month, the "forever" would have been limited to a week or a month. It is evident that the term "forever" often means "limited duration."
What is said of this fire in another place?"
He will thoroughly purge His floor, and gather His wheat into the garner; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." Matt. 3:12.
NOTE. - The fire is said to be everlasting because it is not "quenched." If fire is quenched after taking hold upon a house, the structure is saved; but if the fire is unquenchable, it does for the house just what the last quoted text says it will do with the chaff (the wicked) namely burn it up. Such a fire is called "everlasting," because it lasts as long as there is anything for it to prey upon, and because its results are everlasting.
Has everlasting or eternal fire ever been visited upon men in the past?"
Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Jude 7.
What was the result of this eternal fire upon those cities?"
And He condemned to ruin and extinction the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, reducing them to ashes [and thus] set them forth as an example to those who would be ungodly." 2 Peter 2:6.
NOTE. - "Everlasting" fire converted these cities into ashes, and the apostle says they were made an example to those who should after live ungodly. We cannot for a moment suppose that those cities are now burning; for the saline waters of the Dead Sea rollover the very spot where they stood.
2. Can heaven really be a place where you can live in peace eternally?
a. Is heaven a real place?
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God[a]; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14: 1-3)
Note: Jesus will come for a second time to take us home to live with him for a thousand years and then he will establish his kingdom here on earth. Before the New Jerusalem descends from heaven he will purify the earth with fire and the earth will be made new. ( Revelation 20: 7-15)
b. What did John see that will take place after the thousand years?
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
(John 21: 1-3)
c. After the earth is purified by fire, who will occupy the New Earth?
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. (Matthew 5:5)
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21:2-4)
d. When will we go to heaven and who can be there?
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,[a] but only the Father.” “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. (Matthew24:36, 44)
“But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.” (Revelation 21: 27)
