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All (232) Mike Winger (232)
Mike Winger idea 2019-03-14

The Christian hope of eschatological restoration answers the problem of evil: God wiping away every tear, remaking of heaven and earth

Mike elaborates his response to the problem of evil using Christian eschatology

Revelation eschatology Revelation theodicy
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Q&A on John 14:2-3 "I go to prepare a place for you" — Mike's understanding of the intermediate state and the new heaven and new earth

Viewer question on the afterlife and the meaning of Jesus preparing a place

John 14:2-3 Revelation 21 eschatology new heaven and new earth intermediate state
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Near-death experience books should be tested against Scripture and not used to supplement or replace it; the danger is NDE narrators becoming gurus with insider knowledge

Response to a question about the theological accuracy of books like 23 Minutes in Hell and 90 Minutes in Heaven

Scripture authority spiritual discernment near-death experiences
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Matthew 5:18 (not a jot or tittle will pass) is about how the Law will not be stripped piecemeal, not about its perpetual applicability

Exegesis of Matthew 5:18 against the Hebrew Roots reading

Matthew 5:18 Pharisees Matthew 5:18 iota and tittle
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Galatians 3:19, 24-25 — the Law was a temporary guardian "until the offspring [Christ] should come"

Pauline support for the Law's transitional termination at the first coming

Galatians 3:19 Galatians 3:24-25 Galatians 3:19 Galatians 3:24-25 paidagogos
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Proverbs 30:1-4 — God and his Son in the Hebrew Bible

McLatchie highlights Proverbs 30:1-4 as an often-overlooked text implying the divine sonship within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Hosea 11:1 Proverbs 30:1-4 Hosea 11:1 divine sonship Jonathan McLatchie
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Why unity argument doesn't work for Islam — Quran vs. Bible authorship

Cameron Bertuzzi's question: if unity of Scripture argues for divine inspiration, why doesn't it work for the Quran?

Islam divine inspiration Quran
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Q&A: Revelation 20-21 as the end of the Mosaic law -- Winger is uncertain; notes a real transition happens in new heavens/new earth but declines to definitively call it the end of the law

Q&A on eschatology and the law

Revelation 20-21 eschatology Law of Moses new heavens and new earth
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Colossians 1:20 — 'all things' reconciled through the blood of the cross supports universal extent

Winger turns to Colossians 1:20 as a secondary passage confirming the universal extent of the atonement.

Colossians 1:20 Colossians 1:16-17 Colossians 1:21-23 reconciliation extent of atonement application of atonement
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Luke 9:54-56: Jesus rebukes disciples who want to call down fire to destroy enemies

Biblical response to Anderson's death-wish for homosexuals

Luke 9:54-56 James and John Steven Anderson Luke 9:54-56 spirit of Christ vs. spirit of destruction
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Worldview gap: secular view — people are generally good and deserve heaven; biblical view — the opposite

Explaining why gospel sounds offensive to secular ears

biblical worldview universal sinfulness secular worldview
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Mythicists must composite multiple figures (Dionysus, Horus, Asclepius, Apollonius, Hercules) to approximate Jesus — historians reject this method

Exposing the composite methodology of Jesus-myth parallels

Apollonius of Tyana Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Red flags for mythicists: fringe scholarly support + primarily internet bloggers = gullibility warning; comparable to moon landing denialism and Holocaust denial

Warning signs that a position may be a conspiracy theory

epistemology Jesus mythicism historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Teresa Dedmon / Bethel: selling art as a vehicle for "spiritual impartation" and prophetic clothing that enhances God's presence is false teaching and commercial exploitation.

Second specific example from Bethel: the creative arts director's website claims her paintings and clothing impart heaven's presence.

Bethel Church false prophecy discernment
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Upcoming content: critique of The Physics of Heaven (Bethel/Bill Johnson-connected book)

Winger previews his next Tuesday topic: a critique of The Physics of Heaven, a book promoted by Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, and Jesus Culture. He has read it without advance reviews and found the content disturbing.

Bill Johnson Bethel Church Jesus Culture
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Logical analysis of "all roads lead to God": three possible meanings, two incoherent

Winger begins systematic dismantling of the primary slogan

Hebrews 9:27 universalism final judgment religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Refutation of "all religions work": Jim Jones and the Jonestown Massacre as a test case

First reductio ad absurdum argument against religious pluralism

reductio ad absurdum cults religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Pluralism is insulting to actual religions: each has a different destination and goal

Pluralism disrespects the distinct truth claims of individual religions

Islam heaven Hinduism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Second meaning of pluralism: no religion works, but everyone ends up with God anyway — hidden personal religion

Winger dismantles the second interpretation of "all roads lead to God"

evidence for Christianity universalism religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Islam's fundamental claims: closer to Christianity but built as a rejection of it — different God, no grace, no cross

Comparative religion analysis of Islam vs. Christianity

Revelation Islam salvation by works comparative religion
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Q&A: Is it wise to tell someone their deceased Catholic loved one is in heaven?

Viewer question from Hannah Elizabeth

salvation gospel Catholicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Q&A: Infants and young children who die go to heaven — brief affirmation

A viewer asks whether young children who die before accepting Christ go to heaven.

heaven infant salvation age of accountability
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

No marriage in heaven does not mean demotion — relationships will be closer and better in the resurrection

Question: Since there is no marriage in heaven, will married couples be strangers? Mike addresses Matthew 22:30.

Matthew 22:30 resurrection eschatology Matthew 22:30
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Scriptural language about things not being "remembered" in heaven means no bitter grief, not literal loss of memory

Side note during the heaven/marriage question, addressing a teaching that people will have no memories in heaven based on Isaiah.

Revelation Isaiah biblical hermeneutics Revelation Isaiah
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Jeremiah 29:11 is often misapplied as a personal prosperity promise; properly applied, it points to eternal hope in the New Covenant

Question from Brandi about whether verses like Jeremiah 29:11, written to Israel, apply to Christians today.

Jeremiah 29:11 hermeneutics prosperity gospel Israel
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Jesus did not teach salvation by works — Mark 10 (rich man) demonstrates the impossibility of works-righteousness and points to Christ's atoning sacrifice

Question from "A Pig with 100 Subscribers" about the apparent tension between Paul (saved by faith, not works) and Jesus (enter kingdom by following commandments).

Mark 10 atonement soteriology works-righteousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

Question from S.M. Hart about people selling books on visiting heaven or hell

2 Corinthians 12 Paul 2 Corinthians 12 false prophets
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Annihilationism fails because (1) immortality does not mean eternal existence, and (2) Jesus uses the same word "everlasting" for both heaven and hell

Question from Selenora about why annihilationism is unbiblical

Matthew 25:46 eschatology conditional immortality hell
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Calvinist theodicy: God is not guilty for decreed sin because he is perfect goodness; skeptical theism is the strongest available path for Calvinists

Question from Matt Bach about whether the Calvinist claim "God is not guilty for sin he decrees because his purposes are good" is a form of ends-justify-the-means reasoning

theodicy Calvinism problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Physics of Heaven — Bethel/Bill Johnson endorsed book promoting adoption of New Age practices

Question from April Stafford about spiritualism and New Age practices being "rescued" for Christian use

Bethel Church Bill Johnson Physics of Heaven
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Feel-good phrases like "you are enough" and "Jesus came to bring a piece of heaven to earth" — ambiguous theology

Question from Ben Johnston about a pastor using feel-good slogans

Bethel Church discernment Bill Johnson
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Hebrews 6:4-6 — the most difficult passage in the Bible; three main interpretive options explored

Question from Delante Dingo about whether the Parable of the Sower clarifies Hebrews 6 and whether salvation is eternal.

Hebrews 6 Hebrews 6:4-6 Luke 8:4-15 salvation eternal security Hebrews 6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

1 Corinthians 3 — believers are judged at the Bema for their works (gold/silver/precious stones vs. wood/hay/straw), not for salvation

Question from Emily Bain about how forgiveness of sins relates to judgment day.

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 salvation judgment 1 Corinthians 3
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Revelation 3:14-22 — Laodicea: the lukewarm church letter read and introduced

Question from Louise about Revelation 3:16 and whether lukewarm Christians go to heaven.

lukewarm Revelation 3:14-22 lukewarm seven churches of Revelation Revelation 3:14-22
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

2 Corinthians 12:2 -- Paul's reference to the third heaven and its Jewish cosmological background

Responding to a question about levels of heaven and whether this relates to the phrase 'seventh heaven'

2 Corinthians 12:2-4 Paul paradise 2 Corinthians 12:2-4
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

In Jewish thought: first heaven = atmosphere, second heaven = space/stars, third heaven = God's presence

Mike explains the consistent rabbinic framework for multiple heavens

Mormonism rabbinic literature hermeneutics
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are synonyms in the Gospels

Question about whether the two phrases refer to different things.

Matthew biblical theology Matthew kingdom of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Many Christian doubts about heaven and death are psychological rather than intellectual; manufactured skepticism exploits unthought-through questions to create irrational doubt.

Question: can someone know for sure that heaven is real?

faith apologetics doubt
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Assurance about a loved one's salvation: if they professed faith and their life evidenced it, trust they are in heaven; if they clearly rejected Christ, honest uncertainty is appropriate.

Question: how can you know a loved one went to heaven?

salvation assurance death and afterlife
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Angels could fall but redeemed humans in eternity will not — Scripture promises 'with him forever'; the mechanisms likely include: prior choice already made, maximum Holy Spirit indwelling, perfected environment, and crucially the removal of the sin nature.

Q: If angels were not 100% safe in heaven because they could be seduced by Satan, how can we be certain we will be safe in eternity with God?

1 Corinthians 15:53 — Incorruption Eschatology Eternal Security in Heaven Fallen Angels / Satan
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Revelation: saints in heaven concerned for earthly events, asking "how long, Lord?"

Continuing discussion on dead's awareness of earth

Revelation 6:10 afterlife state of the dead Revelation 6:10
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Ephesians 5: husband's model is Christ dying for the church on earth, not Christ ruling as Lord in heaven

Continuing Q19 on husband-wife authority

Ephesians 5:25 hermeneutics headship servant leadership
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Acts 2 tongues were real human foreign languages — each person heard in their own native language, not a single universal language

Question from Joel Holberg about whether the apostles in Acts 2 spoke a language everyone understood or each spoke a different foreign language.

Acts 2 Acts 2 Tongues / glossolalia Day of Pentecost
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Jesus currently has a glorified human body in heaven — the localized presence of God is where Christ is embodied, worshipped by angels

Question from Agnes Magnusson about what form Jesus has in heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 Philippians 3:21 Glorified body of Christ Ascension of Christ Right hand of God
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike articulates a Sola Scriptura position by arguing from Galatians 1 that the Apostles themselves placed their written gospel above any future authority — including apostles or angels — making all church fathers mere commentators with no binding theological authority.

Response to viewer question about the authority of early church fathers

1 Corinthians Galatians 1 Galatians 1:6-10 biblical authority Paul 1 Corinthians
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Satan's rebellion and God's will: God wills that creatures have genuine free will, which entails the possibility of rebellion.

Question from Casey Mills about whether Satan's rebellion was God's will if God's will is always done in heaven.

Isaiah 14 Free will Isaiah 14 Satan's rebellion
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

John 20:23 — the authority to forgive or retain sins: the disciples are declaring what heaven has already determined, not independently granting forgiveness.

Question from Thomas Brownlee about interpreting John 20:23.

John 20:23 Apostolic authority John 20:23 Forgiveness of sins
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Run through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Viewer Spazzy Jazzy asks for an explanation of the full armor of God from Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 armor of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Isaiah 6's commissioning does not mean God does not want Israel healed — the prophet's message hardens already-rejecting hearts, and God's overall posture throughout Isaiah is restorative.

Question from V Palumbi about Isaiah 6 and God's apparent unwillingness for the people to return and be healed.

Isaiah 6 Isaiah 1:18 Atonement Isaiah 6 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility
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