Bible Controversies Resolved: NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUTH

By Roy D Perkins

This book consists of sixty-two chapters of Bible controversies resolved with total objectivity by the writer. Subjective feelings were left out. The writer speaks of the most taboo of subjects. Pastors and theologians have argued these controversies for centuries. In actuality, these controversies are not controversies at all; people just made arguments out of what they believe are questionable.

This book explains, in plain language, these issues that have become so argumentative. The writer is “on board” with almost all of them; he disagrees with about 2 percent of these issues but cannot argue with scriptural truths. When discerning facts from fiction concerning these issues, the writer successfully suppresses his subjective feelings and is willing to admit that his prior thinking might not have been correct; he can admit when he is wrong. Most people cannot do this because of pride, stubbornness, tradition, the clergy, and ignorance.

In this book, the writer attempts to open the eyes, ears, and minds of the readers. Just because churches have done it the same way for centuries, it doesn’t make the churches right. Just because a bunch of PhDs and theological experts have put their stamps of approval on the issues, it doesn’t make them right. PhD stands for “piled higher and deeper.” Someone once said that the definition of an expert is “one who learns more and more about less and less; pretty soon, he knows everything about nothing.”

In the book, the writer backs up what he says with scriptural references. In the book, the reader can explore one revelation after another about supposedly controversial subjects.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887938400

Book preview

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Bible Controversies Resolved

NOW YOU KNOW THE TRUTH

Roy D Perkins

Copyright © 2023 Roy D. Perkins

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING

Conneaut Lake, PA

First originally published by Page Publishing 2023

ISBN 979-8-88793-827-1 (pbk)

ISBN 979-8-88793-840-0 (digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1

The Gap Theory

Chapter 2

Eternal Security

Chapter 3

Tithing

Chapter 4

The Trinity

Chapter 5

The Virgin Birth

Chapter 6

The Crucifixion/Resurrection

Chapter 7

Hell's Existence

Chapter 8

Speaking in Tongues

Chapter 9

The War in Heaven

Chapter 10

The Mark of the Beast

Chapter 11

The Rapture

Chapter 12

The 144,000

Chapter 13

Salvation

Chapter 14

Heaven on Earth

Chapter 15

Divorce/Remarriage

Chapter 16

Demons

Chapter 17

Water Baptism

Chapter 18

The Book of Life

Chapter 19

Free Will

Chapter 20

Calvinism

Chapter 21

Communion

Chapter 22

Abortion

Chapter 23

Homosexuality

Chapter 24

Being Born Again

Chapter 25

The Jehovah's Witnesses

Chapter 26

Mormonism

Chapter 27

Unequally Yoked

Chapter 28

Where Is Paradise?

Chapter 29

Who or What Are the Nephilim?

Chapter 30

Who Are the Two Witnesses?

Chapter 31

The Temple within Us

Chapter 32

The Transfiguration

Chapter 33

Angels

Chapter 34

Women in Ministry

Chapter 35

Paid Ministries

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

The Tower of Babel

Chapter 38

The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse

Chapter 39

Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Chapter 40

The Fig Tree

Chapter 41

Islam

Chapter 42

The Tribulation

Chapter 43

The Three Loves in the Bible (Maybe Four)

Chapter 44

Antichrists, False Prophets, and Heretics

Chapter 45

The Unpardonable Sin

Chapter 46

Fasting

Chapter 47

Fellowship

Chapter 48

Celibacy

Chapter 49

Global Warming

Chapter 50

Evolution

Chapter 51

Mediums

Chapter 52

Gambling

Chapter 53

Judging

Chapter 54

Forgiveness

Chapter 55

Missionaries

Chapter 56

The Lord's Prayer

Chapter 57

Suicide

Chapter 58

Do Animals Go to Heaven?

Chapter 59

Does Purgatory Exist

Chapter 60

Who Are the Saints (Not Who You Think)

Chapter 61

Advent/Ash Wednesday/Bull Unum Sanctum/Confession to Clergy/Interfaith Services/

Chapter 62

Repentance

Epilogue

About the Author

Introduction

The following is a series of stories of controversy portrayed in the Bible. One can get all kinds of commentaries and opinions from theologians and other clergies. Many are mysteries that only God understands with his infinite wisdom. In many church doctrines, these controversial subjects are (1) accepted as gospel or (2) outright rejected as heresy or (3) a compromise of both ends of the spectrum. Some churches just don't deal with it; they pretend that it doesn't exist. Some church leaders will not even discuss the controversy as if it doesn't exist. The clergy may bury its head in the sand; however, these topics in the churches are paramount whether the people like it or not.

If one keeps referring to these subjects as mysteries, soon, the whole Bible will be a mystery. Actually, most of these controversies can be resolved by logically deducing what the scriptures are really saying. One should endeavor to find answers to these controversies because what one doesn't know can hurt one in the first life or the next one, or both. Controversies are actually errors in church doctrines; the church hierarchy hardly ever looks into these situations. Church leaders don't know the right answer and really don't want to know. The church clergy buries the issues with marshmallow fluff sermons. That's exactly what the church parishioners don't need. The churches need hell, fire, and brimstone messages with accurate information; if they are unsure, they might present both sides of the story.

Unfortunately, the church doctrine is whatever the pastor says it is; this might change as pastors come and go. The problem here is that these topics go unchallenged because (1) the pastor doesn't believe it, (2) doesn't understand it himself, or (3) is afraid of it. If the pastor is afraid of it, and should anyone ask about it, the pastor will just bamboozle them with some fresh cow manure. Most churches have hired ignorant and incompetent pastors. That's because pastors aren't being called; they are becoming clergy because they think that it's a cushy job or they are, as Pastor John Salaz put it, "Mama called, and Papa sent." Today's pastors are pied pipers who are leading entire congregations to hell. As a result, congregations continue to wallow in their ignorance.

In the following controversial subject matter, the author will attempt to enlighten readers to open up their minds to basic scriptural truths, mysteries, and an outside the box type of thinking. The author is attempting to illumine the readers; that is, to open up minds, eyes, and ears to a world that is beyond their driveway. The believers should be all of one doctrine, but actually, there are as many doctrines in every church as there are parishioners. No one is on the same page; on second thought, no one is in the same book. People love to read commentaries in lieu of the Bible. A commentary is just someone else's opinion; who says that they are right?

Instead of openly putting these controversial subjects on the table, they bury them. In most churches, the parishioners are no better off than they were twenty years ago in that same church. Some churches are led by elders or deacons, but it makes no difference. They all have one-track minds; they have done it that way traditionally for a hundred years, so why change now? The issues in the following pages have been around for hundreds or even thousands of years. Isn't anyone even curious?

Most parishioners are members of dead churches. They are a bunch of pew warmers. They just accept whatever goes on in the church; they don't seek out basic truths; they are content with being a vegetable in the sanctuary. Christians have to learn to look above and beyond their own horizons. Their minds and spirits have to be exercised. The people in the pulpits certainly aren't challenging them to reach out. There are many Bible truths that just don't jump out and bite us in the gluteus maximus. The person in the congregation must do his or her own research. The guy or gal in the pulpit is not always right. The use of hundred-dollar words certainly doesn't enhance the speakers' chances of being scriptural. Whether the church is run by a pastor, board of deacons, or elders makes no difference; they all rule with a subjective tongue. They are biased by what they believe is right or should be right. When studying the scriptures, one must approach the word of God with objectivity.

In the following chapters, the author will be presenting controversial topics for discussion; if an objective conscience is maintained, then logical and correct conclusions will be the result. Churches are generally messed up when it comes to uniform doctrine. Conglomerates of sister churches can't even agree on correct doctrine. Almost every church has some false doctrine in its basic doctrinal statement. This confusion has actually created a host of controversial topics which are about to be discussed. Much of the false doctrine in churches can be attributed to subjective thinking, pride, ignorance, and the refusal to admit to being wrong. The writer of this manuscript has occasionally found out that he was wrong in his thinking about biblical topics. Because of his objectivity, he corrected his thinking and moved forward. There will never be an admission of wrong with subjective thinking. The researcher believes that he is right and that everyone else is wrong.

In the following chapters, the reader will discover that many church leaders, especially the ones in the pulpits, are preaching false doctrine. Most of the time, they don't even realize that they are preaching false doctrine. So controversial topics are never discussed, which results in no resolution of these issues. They just go on as being controversial. They wallow in their ignorance of Bible issues. These leaders are the pied pipers in the local churches. In the following chapters, the writer objectively attempts to bring these controversies to resolution. By the end of this writing, the reader will definitely have a different and positive outlook on so-called Bible controversies. The writer has had many conversations with church leaders of different denominations; the responses are usually (1) we've been doing it this way, or we believe that we're right because it's been a tradition in this church for over one hundred years, (2) the church fathers wrote this doctrine after considerable prayer and research, or (3) right or wrong, we're not bucking the system; one cannot fight City Hall.

There's not one church on the planet earth that has 100 percent correct doctrine. However, the leaders of every church believe that their doctrine is 100 percent correct. Most parishioners think our leaders have master's degrees, doctrinal degrees, and seminary graduate certificates; they must be right. Another problem is the fact that a born-again pastor is not necessarily a good speaker, and a good speaker is not necessarily a born-again pastor. This is common throughout the churches of America. Also, a faithful Christian is not necessarily associated with Bible knowledge, and one with a lot of Bible knowledge is not necessarily associated with Christian faith.

Many parishioners are locked into an undue loyalty to the church that they attend. That particular building is their salvation. Instead of being loyal to their faith in Christ, they adhere to the church building for their faith; their doctrine is whatever the church or the pastor says it is. In many cases, their salvation is based upon church attendance, good works, and putting money in the plate. The following chapters give insight and clarity into the revelation of these particular Bible controversies. The answers will prove enlightening, informational, and educational.

Chapter 1

The Gap Theory

Supposing that there was an advanced, thriving, and prospering civilization before Adam and Eve ever arrived in the garden of Eden. There is a scripture that infers that, indeed, such a civilization existed. It is the civilization that existed between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2. In verse 1, God created the heavens and the earth. Yet, in verse 2, T he earth was without form and void. Darkness was spread over the surface of the deep and the Spirit of God hovered over the waters. Now the contention here is that the earth was perfect in verse 1 while becoming formless and empty in verse 2. What theologians are saying here is that God always makes everything perfect; but in verse 2, it's no longer perfect. As verse 1 says the earth is perfect, verse 2 infers that the earth was laid waste; it's in chaos.

The Hebrew word Tohu Wa Bohu is always associated with God's judgment, inferred in verse 2. In the pre-Adamic race, there had to be sin/death to warrant God's judgment. In verse 2, the earth is not inhabited. It must have been a rebellion of the first earth. Thomas Chalmers, a Scottish theologian, in 1814, suggested the possibility of the Gap Theory. The idea was traced to a Dutchman, Episcopius, from the 1600s. From perfection in verse 1 to imperfection in verse 2, the earth became void and was without form as the result of God's judgment. In the original perfect earth, there was cataclysmic destruction, and then, judgment came. As God recreates perfect earth, His Spirit moves upon the waters; the waters were already there; they were left over from the original flood, not Noah's flood.

Second Peter 3:5–13 indicates that pre-Adamic earth was flooded; every one perished. Read verse 6 more than once. It reads, by these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. It doesn't mention any survivors. In Noah's flood, eight people—Noah, his wife, his three sons, and his three daughters-in-law—survived in a big boat. Thus, the first earth (pre-Adamic) and the second earth were destroyed by water. From the following scriptures, one can see that God creates everything perfectly. Deuteronomy 32:4 says, God is perfect. Psalm 18:30 says, God's way is perfect. James 1:17 says, Every good and perfect gift is from God. Job 38:4–7 says, Job is asked where he was when God created the perfect universe. Psalm 19:1 says, The heavens declare God's handiwork. In essence, God creates everything perfectly.

Jeremiah 4:23–26 is very convincing of the pre-Adamic earth. I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger. Look at these four verses; Jeremiah is looking back to the pre-Adamic earth. Verse 23 says, Jeremiah saw a void earth without form. Verse 24, Jeremiah saw that the mountains trembled and the hills moved. Verse 25, Jeremiah saw no human and no birds; what happened? Verse 26, Jeremiah saw a fruitful place become wilderness. Jeremiah also saw that the cities were broken down because of the presence of the Lord and his fierce anger. There must have been cities before.

The above cannot be in the days of Noah. It's before Noah—perhaps, thousands or millions of years. In verse 26, Jeremiah says there were no people; none survived. In Noah's day, there were no large cities; the people were nomadic and with an agrarian society. There must have been a sin of epidemic proportions, not unlike what's going on today. Jeremiah was looking back before Adam and Eve. He was witnessing the destruction of the first earth. After destroying everyone and everything in the first earth, God flooded the earth. Some theologians refer to it as the Lucifer Flood or the Luciferian Flood. Lucifer, another name for Satan, is the responsible party for God's judgment of the first earth.

This passage of scripture looks upon the destruction of the first earth. This connects to Genesis 1:2. Satan's rebellion also connects to Isaiah 14:12–15. Again, the war in heaven (Revelation 12:7–9), takes place in the future.

Here, it's appropriate to mention Genesis 1:28. Of all the Bibles out there, there are four versions that say that God told Adam and Eve to "replenish the earth." The four Bible versions are the American Standard Version, the King James Version, the Authorized King James Version, and the Modern English Version. Why did God tell Adam and Eve to replenish the earth if there were no previous race of people? Replenish means to fill up again; one cannot fill up again where there was nothing there in the first place. Genesis 1:28 is very indicative of a pre-Adamic race.

Now Satan was in charge of the first earth; he was assigned by God to rule over the first earth. In Ezekiel 28:12–15, Lucifer (Satan), the most beautiful angel, is anointed by God. However, he wanted the worship himself. Read Isaiah 14:12–15.

How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven; I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit.

Look at verse 12. Satan is in a fallen state; he was cut down to the ground; that is, earth. It weakened the nations; in Noah's day, there were no nations. There must have been earth, clouds, as well as nations before Adam and Eve. The first earth age was probably an industrialized civilization, whereas the second earth age was a nomadic/agrarian society. These nations must be of the first earth, the pre-Adamic earth. In verse 13, one can see that pride got the best of Satan. He said he would ascend into heaven and exalt his throne above the stars of God. In verse 14, Satan says he will be like the Most High. Verse 15 says that Satan will be brought down to hell. In time past, Satan, a created angel, did serve God righteously for a period. Satan had dominion over the pre-Adamic earth.

In Revelation 12:7–9, there is a war in heaven. The archangel Michael fought the dragon, who is Satan, and his fallen angels. Satan lost the battle; he and his fallen angels were cast out of heaven down to earth. Although written in the past tense, these three verses are talking about the future. Everything in Revelation, from verse 4:1 to the end, is actually future tense. The writer used to think that Revelation 12:7–9 had already happened. He has since changed his thoughts about it. The reason is that Satan still had access to the throne during the days of Job. If one reads Job, chapters 1 and 2, there are discussions between Satan and God. Satan is on the throne; this is where God tests Job. Satan tells God that if He takes back what He has given to Job, Job will cave in. Job never does cave in.

Job 1:6–11 reads,

One day the angels came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, Where have you come from? Satan answered the Lord, From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it. Then the Lord said to Satan, Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.

So Satan and his angels are on the throne of God to condemn Job. Satan has still access to heaven; the war in heaven hasn't been fought yet. Job 2:1–4 basically says the same as Job 1:6–11.

In Isaiah 45:18, the prophet says that the earth was not created in vain; God formed the earth and meant for it to be inhabited, not left uninhabited, which was the earth's status in Genesis 1:2.

In Ezekiel 28:12–15, the scripture refers to a pre-Adamic earth. Verse 13 infers that earth existed before Adam and Eve. It reads, Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou was created. Although his intentions were to corrupt Adam and Eve on the second earth, he was in charge of the pre-Adamic earth. It was a garden of Eden prior to Adam's and Eve's garden. In the pre-Adamic earth, Satan was in the proverbial catbird seat. Then he rebelled. Notice that the word rebelled is used, which always means failing results. The word revolted always means successful results.

The aforementioned scriptures refer to a pre-Adamic earth; that is, a civilization before Adam and Eve. There have been three earth ages; the first one was before Adam and Eve and was destroyed by Satan's rebellion. He had dominion over this first age and was right with God for a while; however, his pride got the best of him. Satan and his evil angels corrupted the people in that civilization; the earth was literally left lifeless after the rebellion. God then flooded the first earth age; there were no survivors. There was probably a plan of salvation offered but was apparently rejected by all.

In all probability, the first earth age is where demons came from. There is no other explanation for the presence of demons. Demons are a rather interesting topic. They must have come over from the first earth age into the second earth age. Demons are bodiless spirits; they are always looking for bodies to inhabit. In the first earth age, they threw their lot in with Satan. In the first earth age, demons may have had bodies; God might have punished them as spirit beings by taking their bodies back. Demons, like Satan and his fallen angels, know that their time is short. They respect the name of Jesus and have to obey His commands. Note: The writer will elaborate on demons in chapter 16.

Demons know and obey Jesus Christ. We see in Matthew 8:28–34 a confrontation between Jesus and some demons.

And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way. And, behold, they cried out, saying, what have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time? And there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine feeding. So, the devils besought him, saying, if thou cast us out, suffer us to go away into the herd of swine. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And, behold, the whole city came out to meet Jesus: and when they saw him, they besought him that he would depart out of their coasts.

Jesus comes across two demon-possessed men in the countryside who were coming out of the tombs. The demons say to Jesus, Have you come to torment us? It's not yet our time. You are the Son of God. The demons say, If you are going to cast us out, send us into that herd of swine. Jesus did cast them into the herd of swine; the swine ran down to the river, and they all drowned. The witnesses fled to the city and told the people what they had seen. All the city folks came out and told Jesus to leave their coasts.

Demons are evil spirits assigned to do Satan's dirty work. If they can't find a human body to inhabit, they will gladly inhabit an animal's body. This passage of scripture is proof that they can be cast out (in the name of Jesus Christ). Demons have limited supernatural powers, just like Satan and his fallen angels. Demons can cause individuals to get sick and can cause individuals to do things that they wouldn't ordinarily do. Demons will control, influence, and possess people. Like Satan, demons lie, and are inherently deceitful.

So the demons came over to the second earth age. Satan, his fallen angels, and his demons corrupted the people of the first age. They were probably a very advanced species—probably, technologically much superior to today's technology. They were obviously eons ahead of the second earth age, which had no technology at all. From Genesis 1:2, one can sense that there might have been a devastating nuclear war, virtually wiping out any life-forms on the planet. God put the finishing touches on it by flooding the earth. This is Lucifer's Flood. This is where Genesis 1:2 comes in, the earth is null and avoid, and God's Spirit moved upon the waters.

As Satan, his fallen angels, and his demons come from the first earth age into the second earth age, God refurbishes the earth with a new garden of Eden. Satan wastes no time in tricking the new couple on the new earth. He gets them to disobey God; the result is the Sin Nature, which will be inherited by billions of humans for thousands of years. So the intended perfect second earth age is now very imperfect. Because of its advanced technology, the first earth age lasted much longer than the second. Also, in the first earth age, Satan was God's designated leader over the earth.

Adam was created around 4000 BC. Noah was born in 2928 BC. God told him to build the ark when he was about six hundred years old. The time would have been about 2328 BC. That would mean that Noah's flood came about in 2208 BC. It took Noah 120 years to build it. Thus, the second earth age only lasted about 2,200 years before God flooded it. After the rains stopped, about five months, Noah drifted and finally found land. Now we're in the third earth age. So what happened? Guess! Satan, his fallen angels, and his demons again corrupted the people. From about 2200 BC to the current twenty-first century is about 4,000 years. As God provided a way of salvation for Noah and his family, he has also provided a way of salvation for those of us in the third earth age. They crucified Christ; His shed blood is our pathway to salvation. In this earth age, literally, hundreds of millions of people will be saved by Christ's redemptive blood.

The Gap Theory does explain a lot. Creationists and theologians claim the earth is only 6,000 years old; they are right, yet they are wrong too. The actual creation of earth is probably about 4 billion years old. So to say that the original creation of the earth is only 6,000 years old would be wrong. However, the second and third earth age are about 6,000 years old, which makes them correct. If all this is true, it explains a lot of issues that seemed unfathomable with only one earth age. Let's look at some examples. The time line says that Satan's fall coincides with prehistoric animals and artifacts, such as technologically advanced structures such as Stonehenge. If one is adamant about the earth being only 6,000 years old; that is, recorded history, the dinosaurs must have come from the first earth age. The bones prove that they did exist.

As this book was being written, dinosaurs headlined the news. Yahoo News says,

A beautiful dinosaur embryo inside a fossilized egg was found. A dinosaur embryo was found inside a fossilized egg in Southern China.

USA Today says,

A dinosaur embryo was found inside a fossilized egg from over 66 million years ago. An oviraptorosaur embryo was positioned inside its egg in a way that's only seen in birds today.

CBS News says,

A dinosaur embryo has been found inside a fossilized egg. Here's what it means; the egg was acquired in 2000, but put in storage. It was identified as a dinosaur egg and an embryo which was found in China.

The baby was nicknamed Yingliang. The articles showed a very clearly defined picture of the baby dinosaur. Now if the earth is only six thousand years old, why does a sixty-six-million-year-old dinosaur embryo exist? With the Gap Theory, now the Gap Doctrine, it's easily explained. The dinosaur embryo came from the pre-Adamic earth age. Dear readers, dinosaurs did roam the earth until about sixty-five million years ago; however, they roamed a pre-Adamic