Beliefs

No Red Letter Bible

Unlike ministries who claim to use a “Red Letter Bible,” I affirm that Jesus is the Word of God (John 1:1) and that both the Old and New Testaments are the inspired words of the Word of God.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

Charismatic Pastors’ FAVORITE “Bible” promotes the NEW AGE!

Before I tell you which Bible that I do use, let me tell you which “Bible” not to use – Eugene Peterson’s The Message Bible. Like the new believers in Acts 19:19, if you have The Message Bible, which isn’t a Bible, but a New Age lie from the mouth of Satan, BURN THAT “BIBLE.”

“And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” – Acts 19:19 ESV

Which Bible do I use?

Because the Bible wasn’t originally written in English, I teach from Strong’s Concordance for the KJV, from the original Hebrew and Koine Greek, rather than “KJV only.”

(For the record, “KJV Only” does not mean that you simply use the KJV, KJV-Onlyists claim that reading anything other than the 1611 authorized King James version of the Bible will lead you to Hell.)

I utilize the Septuagint, and the ESV, ISV, KJV, NKJV and NIV Bible translations when teaching.

The original Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic manuscripts that comprise the 66 books of the Bible are the inerrant and inspired Word of God. While the Bible was transcribed by human beings, they spoke and wrote as they were moved by God. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 & 2 Peter 1:21)

His Preserved Word

God preserved His Word in the original manuscripts that made up what is known today as “The Bible.” Thanks to textual criticism, we can trust our Bibles (in whatever language you read them in) to be very accurate copies of these inerrant manuscripts.

Proof the Law Has Been Fulfilled

The New Testament cannot be understood, nor can Jesus be verified as being who He claims to be without understanding the Old Testament.

A New, Better Covenant

Because Jesus fulfilled the law of the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17), Christians are under a new, a better covenant (Hebrews 12:24) as recorded in the New Testament. This New Covenant is what I accept as the infallible guide in matters pertaining to conduct and doctrine.

The Godhead

Our God is one but is manifested in three separate but co-equal persons – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit  (1 John 5:7).

Three-In-One

The Father is not the Son, nor is He the Holy Spirit. Each person of the Trinity is separate, rather than a single God who morphs from being the Father, and then switches to become the Son or the Spirit. (See: Modalism / Sabellianism Heresy)

Preexistence of Jesus

Jesus existed prior to leaving His position where He emptied Himself and made Himself positionally subservient to the Father to become the Son.

Coexistence

Each person of the Trinity has a separate function or “role” but they are of one mind, of one purpose and have all co-existed since the beginning of the world.

• Father: “Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?” – Malachi 2:10 ESV
• Jesus: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” – John 1:1-3 ESV “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” – John 1:14 ESV
• Holy Spirit: “The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” – Genesis 1:2 ESV

The Trinity In Scripture

While the word “Trinity” isn’t in scripture, we can see the three separate person of the triune Godhead: God the Father (a voice from Heaven,) God the Son (Jesus, in the river,) and God the Holy Spirit (descending upon Jesus) at the Baptism of Jesus:

“And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” – Matthew 3:16-17 ESV

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

COMING SOON

Speaking in tongues is a topic that is sure to have people fired up with claws out! I can already hear the cries of “Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:30 ESV

Believers Speak In Tongues

There are three types of Biblical speaking in tongues. Speaking in tongues is specifically mentioned as a sign, a fruit of the Spirit if you will, that someone is a believer. We don’t speak in tongues to become saved, we speak in tongues to SHOW that we’re saved.

“And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues;” – Mark 16:17 ESV

But Doesn’t 1 Corinthians Say…

People don’t even know what speaking in tongues is when they say it’s not something every believer should do. 1 Corinthians 14:2 tells us that speaking in tongues is simply speaking to God.

“For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God; for no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 14:2 ESV

“Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:30 ESV

To those who misapply 1 Corinthians 12:30 to say not all believers are to speak in tongues, I’m fairly certain speaking to God is proof of you having a relationship with God! If you don’t speak to your friends, are they even your friends? If you don’t speak to God, is He even your God?

Gifts For Edifying The Whole Body Of Christ

In 1 Corinthians 12:30, Paul was specifically speaking about “not all speak in tongues” as their public gift for the common good of the church!

“To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.” – 1 Corinthians 12:7 ESV

The type of tongues for the common good of the Body of Christ is one of the three types of tongues & one of the nine public gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Incomplete Understanding Of Scripture

People really need to understand the different types of speaking in tongues otherwise, they’ll be lead astray by an incomplete understanding of Scripture.

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Summer 2018 was the Summer of Praying in the Spirit. There are two separate series that I’ve created with my dad, Evangelist Scott Stephens, the expert on this topic. 

Prayer Power Series 1 (4 episodes)

Prayer Power Series 2

Harpazo – to be snatched up

When it comes to rapture theology, it PAINS me that there are so many supposed Christians who claim that there is no rapture or being caught up with Jesus in the air, despite the fact that 1 Thessalonians 4:17 says that yes, there will be a rapture of believers!

“Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ESV

The Great Falling Away

Before I get into when I believe the rapture will occur, my first belief is that most professing Christians today will fall away from the faith and take the Mark of the Beast, because they’re Christians in name only.

Pre-Trib, Mid-Trib or Pre-Wrath?

As to when the rapture will take place, I’m a sometime prior to pre-wrath rapture believer, with no hard and fast belief either way about mid/post tribulation. Prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

Debunking Pre-Trib Rapture

I am 100% NOT a believer in pre-tribulation rapture.

Jesus straight up says that He won’t return until after the tribulation, so no matter how many calculations and whiteboards and timelines pre-trib people make up – Jesus’ Words supersedes them all. Let’s look at Jesus’ words.

Rapture Timeline According to Matthew 24

“29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” – Matthew 24:29-30 ESV

What does this verse tell us?

There are at minimum 7 qualifiers that must happen prior to the return of Jesus.

1. The tribulation happens first.
2. The sun is darkened.
3. The moon does not give (reflect) its light.
4. Stars will fall from Heaven (dual meaning, but that’s a lesson for another day.)
5. The powers of the heavens will be shaken. (This is talking about Satan, the Prince of the Air, kingdom. Ephesians 2:2)
6. The sign of the Son of Man will appear.
7. All the nations of the earth will mourn.
8. Jesus, the Son of Man will come on the clouds.

Rapture Timeline According to Luke 21

Let’s see what Luke recorded about the same speech that Jesus gave:

“25 And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” – Luke 21:25-28 ESV

What does this verse tell us?

There are at minimum 5 qualifiers that must happen prior to the return of Jesus.

1. There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars.
2. There will be distress on the earth.
3. Something will go on with the moon, which means something strange with the gravitational pull of the moon happens, which controls tides and waves. That goes off-kilter so some issue exists between the sea and the waves.
4. People, en-masse, will faint.
5. The powers of the heavens will be shaken.
6. Only THEN will Jesus come in His glory on the clouds.

Rapture Timeline According to 2 Thessalonians 2

What is this tribulation that must happen first? Paul gives us some clues and like Jesus, tells us that these things must happen first before Jesus returns.

“3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, 4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 ESV

What does this verse tell us?

There are at minimum 6 qualifiers that must happen prior to the return of Jesus.

1. The great rebellion / falling away (Christians leaving the faith)
2. The man of lawlessness is revealed.
3. The man of lawlessness exalts himself.
4. The man of lawlessness takes his seat in the Temple.
5. The Temple must be rebuilt for the man of lawlessness to take his seat within it.
6. The man of lawlessness must declare himself to be God.

The 16 Signs Prior To Jesus’ Second Coming

To refresh, what must happen, according to Scripture, before Jesus returns?

Accounting for and discarding duplicate signs, there are at minimum 16 signs that must happen prior to Jesus’ return. (Not accounting for all the other signs in verses about more prior signs that I left out for brevity.)

1. The great rebellion / falling away (Christians leaving the faith)
2. The man of lawlessness is revealed.
3. The man of lawlessness exalts himself.
4. The man of lawlessness takes his seat in the Temple.
5. The Temple must be rebuilt for the man of lawlessness to take his seat within it.
6. The man of lawlessness must declare himself to be God.
7. The tribulation happens first.
8. The sun is darkened.
9. The moon does not give (reflect) its light.
10. Something will go on with the moon, which means something strange with the gravitational pull of the moon happens, which controls tides and waves. That goes off-kilter so some issue exists between the sea and the waves.
11. There will be distress on the earth.
12. People, en-masse, will faint.
13. Stars will fall from Heaven
14. The powers of the heavens will be shaken.
15. The sign of the Son of Man will appear.
16. All the nations of the earth will mourn.
17. Jesus, the Son of Man will come on the clouds.

Jesus Promised Believers Tribulation

Suit up, because Jesus promised us TRIBULATION, but He also promised life to the ones who overcome.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” – John 16:33 ESV

“The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.” – Revelation 3:21 ESV

COMING SOON

Sneak Peek: Jesus’ Second Coming has not happened yet and will not happen until tribulation comes.

COMING SOON.

SNEAK PEEK:

Hell  is a real place and the Lake of Fire is a place of everlasting torment.

Hell / Hades

Hell is a place originally created for Satan and his angels, yet those who die rejecting Jesus before the His second coming will end up in Hell.

1. “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side.^[f] The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.” – Luke 16:22-23

Lake of Fire

Scripture tells us that Hell will be thrown into the Lake of Fire after the Great White Throne judgement.

The Lake of Fire is eternal torment for those consumed by God’s awesome presence without a glorified body.

COMING SOON

Death Penalty
“If anyone kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the evidence of witnesses. But no person shall be put to death on the testimony of one witness. Moreover, you shall accept no ransom for the life of a murderer, who is guilty of death, but he shall be put to death.” – Numbers 35:30-31 ESV

While God gave Adam dominion over the earth and everything within it, starting in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:26) believers have the express responsibility of being good stewards of what God has blessed us with.

The Creator Is Known By His Creation

Creation testifies of our Creator and with us groans, awaiting Christ’s return.

• “And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.” – Luke 19:39-40 ESV
• “For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” – Romans 1:20 ESV
• “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” – Romans 8:20-23 ESV

Gun Rights
COMING SOON

“But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring.” – Romans 9:6-8 ESV

Marriage
Marriage is a religious institution and the Federal Government should have no place in regulating marriage or issuing licenses for marriages.

COMING SOON

Believers Are To Pay Their Taxes

Whether or not I agree with a tax has no bearing on whether or not I am obligated by God to follow the laws of the land. Believers are to be honest in their weights and measures in business dealings (and measuring how much tax they legally owe.) Likewise, believers are to pay their taxes.

• “Unequal weights and unequal measures are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” – Proverbs 20:10 ESV
• “They said, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” – Matthew 22:21 ESV
• “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.” – Romans 13:1 ESV
• “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” – Romans 13:7 ESV

Crack Your Bible’s Tax Status

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“³ Honor widows who are truly widows. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God. ⁵ She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, ⁶ but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. ⁷ Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. ⁸ But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

⁹ Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband,¹⁰ and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work. ¹¹ But refuse to enroll younger widows, for when their passions draw them away from Christ, they desire to marry ¹² and so incur condemnation for having abandoned their former faith. ¹³ Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. ¹⁴ So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander. ¹⁵ For some have already strayed after Satan. ¹⁶ If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are truly widows.” – 1 Timothy 5:3-16