Questions and Answers Archives ⋆ The Firmament Record

Q&A: Who is the “queen of heaven” referred to in Jeremiah?

April 2, 2023 / By StarGate / Biblical Light, Holidays of Man, Questions and Answers

In Jeremiah, the “queen of heaven” is mentioned in two places, chapter 7 and 44. To answer this question, we are going to focus on chapter 7. So, lets start with the scripture.

Do you not see what they do in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

The children gather wood, and the fathers kindle the fire, and the women knead their dough, to make cakes to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto other gods, that they may provoke Me to anger. (cf. Jer 44:17-25)

Do they provoke Me to anger? says the Lord: do they not also provoke themselves to the confusion (shame) of their own faces?
Jeremiah 7:17-19

Notice that this worship practice which provokes God’s anger causes shame and confusion as well. Let’s see…

…

Q&A: Who is the “queen of heaven” referred to in Jeremiah?Read More »

Q&A: Did the people back in Adam and Eve’s days really live to be 1000 years old?

March 13, 2023 / By StarGate / Biblical Light, Questions and Answers

Throughout the book of Genesis, the recorded lifespans of people are much greater than they are today. Methuselah being the oldest recorded at 969 years (Gen 5:27). This is a major point of contention for those who consider that today, living to be 100 years old is quite an accomplishment. However, there is purpose in everything in God’s Word, even if at first, you don’t understand it.

When things are put in a strange way, we should stop, take notice, and ask questions. This is one of the intentions of allegory and what are sometimes viewed as inconsistencies in God’s Word. They draw our attention to them for consideration. Upon consideration, we might find that they were simply translation errors. On the other hand, we might find hidden gems waiting for our discovery. Remember, God is the Creator of our perfectly ordered Universe (kosmos), so anything coming from Him MUST be logical.

This particular inconsistency regarding the lifespans of the people of Genesis has done its job well. Christians of all denominations and Atheists alike have filled books attempting to address this question. Most assume that this is literal and sadly the discussion ends there. Atheists accusing Christians of the belief that people lived to be 900+/- years old. Christians accusing atheists of not having the faith to believe in what seems illogical.

What you will see if you continue reading is that the power is in the allegory or shadow and not the literal meaning. Don’t get caught up in something that is unproveable and miss the point.

…

Q&A: Did the people back in Adam and Eve’s days really live to be 1000 years old?Read More »

Q&A: Is Jesus referring to himself as God in John 8:24

February 24, 2023 / By StarGate / Biblical Light, Questions and Answers

It sounds like you are trying to say that Jesus is God by connecting the “I am” from John 8:24 to the statement that God made to Moses “I AM that I AM” in Ex 3:14.

As always let’s start by reading the scripture in context.

Then said Jesus again unto them, I go my way, and you shall seek me, and shall die in your sins: where I go, you cannot come.
Then the Judeans (Pharisees v:13) said, Will he kill himself? because he said, Where I go, you cannot come.
And he said unto them, You are from below; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.
I said therefore unto you, that you shall die in your sins: for if you believe not that I am he, you shall die in your sins.
Then said they unto him, Who are you? And Jesus said unto them, Even the same that I said to you from the beginning.
I have many things to say and to judge of you: but He that sent me is true; and I speak to the world those things which I have heard of Him.
They understood not that he spoke to them of the Father.
John 8:21-27

…

Q&A: Is Jesus referring to himself as God in John 8:24Read More »

Q&A: Is it a sin to read books left out of the Bible?

December 10, 2022 / By StarGate / Biblical Light, Questions and Answers

It is neither a sin to seek knowledge about the books left out of the Bible, nor is it a sin to seek knowledge from them. Anyone who tries to dictate what you read, especially if they are using God and sin as a pretext, is someone you should get far away from.

What is Sin?

1 Jn 3:4 Whosoever commits sin, transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Ro 5:13 For until the law, sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

So, Sin is the transgression (in the sense of missing the mark) of the Law and where there is no Law there is no sin. Nothing in the Law dictates what you can and cannot read.

…

Q&A: Is it a sin to read books left out of the Bible?Read More »