Is the Bible finished?

Why would the bible end. God is the same yesterday, today and forever. God called prophets and gave scripture to Adam, Enoch, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and John. So why not give revelation and choose prophets today.

"For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Rev22).

This is just talking about the revelation given to John, that it shouldn't be added to or subtracted from. "Words of the prophecy" = the book of revelation. The Bible is many books and many prophecies. There is nothing in the Bible that says the Heavens are closed and God will not speak to man any more.

Will there be family relationships in the next life?

Can you take relationships with you into the next life. We are told, "But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal" (Matt6). We know we can take our relationship with God with us because that is the meaning of Eternal Life, "that they might know thee the only true God" (John17). But what about our wife, our children, and our parents. Will they be nothing to us in the next life? or are family relationships one of the treasures in heaven.

First, Adam and Eve were given to each other before The Fall. They were husband and wife in innocence in the Garden of Eden and dwelt in the presence of God as such (see Gen2). Second, Paul says: "Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord. For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God" (1Cor11). Third, I think many people misinterpret the "neither marry nor are given in marriage scripture" (see Mark12) Jesus is asked about a theororetical woman who marries 7 brothers. Whose wife should she be in the resurrection. Then Christ says there is no marriage in the resurrection. That is right. There is no marrying, or marriage in the resurrection. But there is marriage here on Earth. So, the answer is that she will be the wife of the first brother to whom she was married for time and all eternity and not just "till death do us part" or "for as long as we both shall live".

Peter was given a special priesthood power by Christ: "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matt16). So, if someone is baptized on Earth, or married on Earth, or received any other type of ordinance that Jesus Christ established as part of his church that that ordinance would be in effect in this life and in the next after the resurrection. This is the power that the Pharisees denied: "Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God? (Mark12).

Lastly, remember Jesus was asked: "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Our family and neighborly relationships are so important because they are one of the only "treasures" that we can take with us into the next life.

What is it like to recieve personal revelation from God?

"the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice" (1Kgs19).

I know I have prayed about decisions in my life and felt inspired, prompted by God's spirit (still small voice in my heart and mind) to go down a road I would not have thought to go down on my own. That has made all the difference.

When I have a choice to make, I prayerfully read the scriptures to know God's will. I weigh the pro's and cons and then make the best decision I can make on my own. Then I kneel down in a private place and petition God in the name of Jesus Christ (essential) to reveal to me if my decision is also his will. And then I listen. A "yes" answer feels to me like a warm, peaceful feeling in my heart and a satisfied "it makes sense" feeling in my spiritual mind. However, sometimes the answer doesnt make complete sense to my scientific worldly mind. A "no" answer feels like the issue is still clouded or out-of-focus. Many times I get a "be patient, you're not ready for the answer yet" feeling.

"Did I not speak peace to your mind concerning the matter? What greater witness can you have than from God?" (DC6).

Revelation from God through the feelings of the Holy Spirit must be consistent with the "fruit of the spirit." "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" (Gal 5).

A few times I have been driving down the road in the car and a spontaneous, irrational thought will come to mind, "there will be an accident in the next intersection." That thought will be accompanied by feelings of fear, chill, or a rush of adrenalin. Then I think, "Was that thought from God, was that a spiritual warning?" I have found that such thoughts when accompanied by fear and adrenalin are not from God. "for perfect love casteth out all fear" (Mor8).

I have had other instances where a similar warning or direction had come into mind yet the thought was accompanied by "the fruit of the spirit" complete peace, calm, and focus. I have found that to be the voice of God. I am still training myself to listen and follow. "But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid" (John14).

Bible Translations

The Bible is the word of God as far as it is translated correctly. Meaning, it was pure as originally written by the prophets. However, since then, there have been various states of apostacy among so-called believers. As was the case in Jesus' Day. So, it can be well understood how there could be lost books, additions, and deletions or just uninspired misinterpretations and interpolations of scripture. It is plainly evident the scriptures reference many other books an prophesies which are lost.

Also, just look at how the KJV of the bible came to be. The books of the Bible were decided upon by the great Catholic councils (eg Trent, 1545). A few Catholics I've met argued that there was pure doctrinal harmony before the reformation. This is just not so as the many councils (eg Trent, Nicea) were necessary to determine what the official doctrine was to be. But these councils failed to establish unity because they do not recognize an important truth. Just because a majority of people vote for something it doesn't make it true. So, in response there arose the great protesters (eg luther, calvin, cromwell, wesley). During the reformation, other great Christian martyrs such as Whycliff translated the Catholic Vulgate Bible from Latin to English and then later Tindale translated the original Greek Pentateuch in English. Before this time the Bible could not be read by the average person. Tyndale is quoted saying to his fellow catholic priests, "I will make a boy that driveth a plow know more of the Scriptures than you do." The KJV contains about 85% of Tindale's translation. King James was not of himself a saintly person, but the many scholars who worked long and hard on the project did a fine job to whom we owe an enormous debt of gratitude. But the translation was of men and therefore, imperfect.

So, where do you go from there. The Bible itself contains the answer. The Bible says: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1). I think we need to turn to the scriptures but we should not forget to turn to God in prayer to seek personal revelation from him. Without the spirit of revelation any verse of scripture is up for argument.

EXAMPLE:"When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" (Matt 16).

Personal revelation by prayer and the Holy Spirit of prophecy is the rock of which Jesus is speaking. "Would God that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them! (Num 11).

Does God still talk to us?

"If any of you lack wisdon, let him ask of God, who giveth to all men liberaly and upbraideth not" (James1:5)