I became convinced that I needed some sort of lists if I was really going to persevere in bringing the same requests before God long term.  A small stack of 3×5 cards has many advantages over a big sheet of requests.  I find it less overwhelming to look at just one category at a time.  A stack of 3×5 cards with a clip also travels well in a pocket.

Some people asked on Sunday night for some sample categories.  Mine are:

• Spiritual Formation – These are areas in my own life where I want God to change my heart.  I pray over specific verses that describe what I’m after
• Areas of Surrender -On this card I put all the areas of my life that tend to cause me anxiety.  When I pray over this card I am surrendering these areas over to God’s care.  I will sometimes do this flat on my back, arms stretched out with palms up as a physical display of my surrender.  TMI? 
• Weekly Goals – These are specific things I want the Spirit-empowered discipline to accomplish every week, including: reading, praying through the cards, time with each kid, exercise, etc.
• My Wife and Kids – each has a separate card with specific requests for each
• My Parents, Brothers, In-Laws, Nieces and Nephews – listed with specific requests
• Extended Family – listed with specific request
• A Few Close Friends – each have their own card
• Kaleo People - if you ask me to pray for you, you’re on it
• People I’m Currently Discipling/Counseling – each has their own card
• Our Church Elders/Pastors – listed with specific needs next to their names
• Pastors/Writers – listed on one card – some I know personally, others are big names I don’t know personally – if they have had an impact on me they are on here
• Kaleo Leadership - listed on one card with specific needs next to their names
• Kaleo – specific things we would like to see God do  with us
• Work – for patients, clients, office staff and colleagues
• Kingdom – persecuted church, revival, the poor, human trafficking, church planting, stewardship of the environment, unreached peoples, end to abortion
• President Obama - for him personally, his family, for wisdom and protection
• Salvation – a list of people that don’t know Jesus but I’m praying God will save
• Missions – a list of specific missionaries and missions agencies that God has put on my heart
• Our Neighbors – listed on one card with specific needs next to their names

Here are Paul Miller’s general guidelines for using his prayer cards (pp. 225-226, A Praying Life):

1. The card functions as a snapshot of the person’s life, so use short phrases to describe what you want.
2. When praying, I usually don’t linger over a card for more than a few seconds.  I just pick one or two key areas and pray for them.
3. I put the Word to work by writing a Scripture verse on the card that expresses my desire for that particular person or situation.
4. The card doesn’t change much.  Maybe once a year I will add another line.  These are just the ongoing areas of a person’s life that I am praying for.
5. I usually don’t write down answers.   They are obvious to me since I see the card almost every  day.
6. I will sometimes date a prayer request with the month and year.

Erick

Using cards has really helped me a lot.  The goal is to become the kind of people that keep bringing the same requests before God like Jesus taught us to.   And I majorly stink at this naturally.

It has also been awesome to see how many things God has already done in response to prayer – something I would not have noticed without these cards.

Hope this helps you to pray more each day

Answer:

Peter

Biblical theologians have grappled with this  interesting question over the centuries.  But all are left with the same dilemma… Scripture seems to indicate that, in fact, there will be a renewed physical temple and a system for worship practiced in the millennial kingdom!

Scripture indicates that the millennium will be a time of special ministry by the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 32:15)  to not only the  church-age saints, but also Israel.  In fact, Scripture indicates worship will be at the center of millennial life! (Joel 2)  A large portion of the activities during the millennium are direct fulfillments of God’s promises to Israel, and those promises often center upon the complete and unfettered worship of  the  God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!

So it stands to reason that God’s covenant relationship with Israel would include specific promises being fulfilled during this time. For example, Ezekiel 40-48  declares that a magnificent temple will be constructed and a system of  priestly and memorial sacrifices will be set up during this time.   It seems clear that the sacrifices are not for the removal of sin, as they were in the OT system, but rather now serve as a unique means of  memorial worship to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords for His “once for all” atoning sacrifice for His people!

While a complete answer to the question of the temple and sacrificial system remains somewhat confusing, the main point is clear:

In keeping with God’s promises to Israel, there will be an ordered system of worship once again in a renewed temple in Jerusalem.

In the  final verse of the 48th chapter of Ezekiel, a glorious purpose for the  renewing of Jerusalem and  construction of the magnificent millennial temple is given;

‘The city shall be 18,000 cubits round about; and the name of the city form that day shall be,  ’The Lord is there’ “(Ezek 48:35)

For a fuller discussion on this and other related topics regarding the millennium, I recommend the following article:

‘The Glorious Restoration of Israel in the Millennium”  by Dr.John Walvoord
this article can be accessed at bible.org

Answer:

Peter

Why? First off, because that was the singular view taught by the apostles.  :-)  Secondly, these early church fathers were faithful to pass on the teaching of the apostles. They fought hard to “defend the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).

Many of them died as a result of the apostolic faith they proclaimed!  Church historians have  established that Polycarp was personally discipled by the apostle John – the Spirit-led, human writer of the book of the Revelation (who, we can rest assured, knew a few things about the end of the age and God’s plan for the future!).  Polycarp was later marytred for his faith.

So, that begs the question… When did premillenialism start? When and why did the church  develop differing views regarding end-times?  Let’s look at it…

When did premillennialism start? Way back in the OT!  God’s promises to Israel  regarding a future messiah-king  who would rule and reign forever are recorded throughout the OT canon (Isa 65:17-25; Ezk 37:21-28, Zec 8:1-7; Isa 11, 65:17-25; Ezk 38:33-38).  The NT  affirms and sheds further light on certain aspects of God’s plan for Israel, the church and the “end times” (Rom 11:1-33; Eph 2:11-3:21; 1 Thess 4:13-5:11).  An unbiased,  straight-forward grammatico-literal reading of the pertinent prophetic passages of the NT  naturally reveals the apostles taught premillennialism.

Church historians tell us that for the first 300-400 years of church history the predominate “end times” position was premillennial.  Why did this change? The primary cause was a increasing  lack of adherence to a literal interpretation of Scripture.  This was somewhat fueled by the advancing growth of the papacy.  The church hierarchy began using a form of interpretation known as allegory.  The allegorizing of the Bible (making it’s meaning symbolic rather than a straightforward, literal unfolding of  the author’s intent) began to introduce all kinds of mischief into Bible interpretation.  Sadly, one of the major proponents of this approach was the great theologian Augustine.  By the time of the Reformation (1520+ AD), premillennial teaching was nearly extinct.

The reformers were primarily “amillennial” due mainly to the developing theological system known as “covenant theology.”  A  main tenet of this system is applying the future promises that God made to Israel to the church, in light of Israel’s past rejection of the Messiah.  In this system, the church replaces Israel obviating the need for the millennial reign of Christ upon the Davidic throne!  (contra Rev 3:7, 5:5, 22:16).

The key to truly understanding the nature and timing of God’s final purpose for history is contained in openly and diligently seeking God’s intent within His Word.  That means not following a eschatological/theological system that requires conforming Scripture to that system.  Just take Scripture in its plain, literal sense and see what it teaches!

The reason there are many different positions is NOT because the Bible is confused or unclear.  It is because people are subject to error, and over the history of the church, the many approaches to understanding these things have become firmly entrenched.  We hold to a simple interpretive principle — use the plain principles of grammar and language to ascertain the plain, literal meaning of the text — assume that God chose to communicate clearly & plainly with us about these things, rather than shading meanings and leaving great mystery that requires the interpreter to come up with the meaning.  We  believe you can arrive at God’s intended meaning in Scripture if you just take it as it stands.   Now the dangerous part… are you willing to believe, trust and obey what God has said, no matter where His truth leads you?

We are all finite, fallen and in need of God’s grace every day! We just want to let the plain, literal sense of the bible speak for itself  …and when you do, you will naturally arrive at a pre-millennial view.   But listen… eschatology is not a cause for division or relational conflict, we love all those who are true followers of Christ, even though we may hold differing views on God’s plan for the future!

Answer:

Peter

Therefore, it is important to appreciate this principle for a couple of reasons.  Namely, to provide context and clarity because  1) a portion of the predictions are yet future (Dan 7:1-8 and Dan 11:36-45) .  And 2) to accurately understand “when” and “how” these events happened vs. those yet future we must use other validation methods like archaeology and recorded human history as well as the Bible.  This is where most of the confusion lies for believers (e.g., Dan 11:36-12:13).

To use Daniel as a means to demonstrate the supernatural  nature of the Bible to unbelievers can be a good tool.  It can be a useful means or segue to sharing the gospel because many today are troubled by the state of the world and mankind’s future on earth.  So… Getting to the gospel is the key!

Since the events described in Daniel  11 are verifiable in history, it does provide one support for the truthfulness of Scripture and the sovereignty of  it’s Author!  The majority of reputable textual scholars affirm that Daniel was written ca. 536-530BC.   The events predicted in Daniel 11 are cataloged in numerous history books by non-biblical historians (recently National Geographic Channel did a  historical retrospective on the  “History of  Babylon” which affirmed the four kingdoms predicted in Daniel 11).

The book of Daniel unfolds much of middle eastern history from 605 BC to 165 BC.  So precise are the 100 predictions found in Daniel that many skeptics have rejected them and claim that Daniel was written after the rise and fall of the kings and kingdoms predicted in chapter 11. However, that is not the testimony of archaeology and history.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Secular historians don’t dispute the four kingdoms predicted in Daniel 11 came to pass because archaeology and ancient recorded history and historians confirm their existence, exactly as predicted by Daniel (ie, Herodotus ca 200 BC).
2. Those who claim Daniel was written retrospectively (ie, after the events predicted in Daniel) claim that Daniel was written ca. 165 BC.  This assertion was proven incorrect in light of the manuscript evidence found when the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947-56.  These  ancient documents provide copy fragments of  the book of Daniel  dated over two hundred years before the supposed date given by the skeptics.  They show the predictions recorded in Daniel 11 already existed before 165BC!

Here’s a helpful analysis by Al Mohler that provides more details.

Answer:

Peter

Based on the personal characteristics of the “man of sin” described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, we can safely draw some inferences about him:

1. He opposes and exalts himself above everything, even the one true and living God (v.4a)
2. He proclaims himself  to be God (v.4b)
3. He is completely influenced by and reflects the nature and character of Satan (v.9)

Scripture declares that Satan is the father of pride, the father of lies and the deceiver.  As a part of God’s sovereign plan for redemptive history, Satan is allowed to use this final “son of perdition” to carry out his evil attempt to usurp Christ and be worshipped as God.  Satan will do anything to oppose God’s rightful rulership and glory.  Therefore, one can safely argue that the Antichrist, in a way and depth unmatched by any of  the other preceding megalomaniacal world leaders, is blinded, self-deluded and completely given over to evil through Satanic influence.   (Far more than Antiochus Ephinanes or Adolf Hitler!)

Like Satan, he is completely consumed with pride and self-idolatry. I  believe the Antichrist will be shocked when he swiftly incurs his ultimate fate - the just and eternal wrath of God.

“And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming” (2 Thess 2:8)

Answer:

Chris

and they worshiped the dragon, because he gave his authority to the beast; and they worshiped the beast, saying, “Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war with him?” 6 And he opened his mouth in blasphemies against God, to blaspheme His name and His tabernacle, that is, those who dwell in heaven. 8 And all who dwell on the earth will worship him, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain.
[Will he be a religious leader to be worshipped?]

Daniel 9:26 says,

and the people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary.
[Will he be a Roman/Italian?]

And Daniel 11:36-37 says,

Then the king will do as he pleases, and he will exalt and magnify himself above every god, and will speak monstrous things against the God of gods; and he will prosper until the indignation is finished, for that which is decreed will be done. 37 “And he will show no regard for the gods of his fathers or for the desire of women, nor will he show regard for any other god; for he will magnify himself above them all.
[Will he be homosexual OR celibate?]

The biblical descriptions above definitely COULD point to the Antichrist being a Roman Catholic Pope in the future.

Answer:

Peter

First, those who have died without repenting and trusting  Christ’s  payment for their sin (thereby receiving the  imputation of His righteousness to them see – 2 Cor 5:21) are awaiting “final judgment” of their lives (Rev 20:11-15).  In contrast, the believer’s sin was judged at the cross through Christ’s atoning death (1 Cor 15:1-4).  So there is no judgment of  our sin at death because Christ’s perfect payment cancels our unpayable debt of sin to God!  (Jn 19:28)

The Bible states that when the unsaved die, they await final judgment of their sins in a place called Hades (the Greek word for the Hebrew word sheol) – c.f., Matt 11:23, 16:18; Lk 10:15, 16:23; Rev 6:8.

Hades is not the ultimate destination of the unrepentant (i.e., Hell). The ultimate sentencing of the unsaved occurs as a result of the final judgment called the “Great White Throne Judgment” (Rev 20:11-15).  All the unsaved receive God’s final judgment and condemnation at the Great White Throne Judgment.  The Bible calls the final place where the unsaved carry out their eternal punishment, the “lake of fire.” Revelation 20:14-15 describes this most serious, sobering and tragic truth in all of Scripture:

“Then death and Hades were thrown in to the lake of fire.This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyones’ s name was not written in the book of life,he was thrown into the lake of fire”

So the Bible calls what we think of as “eternal hell” the “lake of fire.”

There is debate among theologians about when this final hell described as the “lake of fire” comes into existence.  Some argue it may already exist (Matt 10:28), but if it does, it is currently unoccupied!!  Why? Because its first eternal inmates, the beast (Anti-Christ)  and the false prophet (an end-time world religious leader) will not begin serving their never-ending sentence until the end of the Tribulation (Rev 19:20).

So, to recap:

1. “Hades” is the place where the unsaved go after death to await the “Great White Throne” Judgment.  The Bible intimates this is a “temporary” place of punishment (Luke 16:19-31). Hades is not eternal Hell.
2. The “lake of fire” is the final destination for all the unrepentant for all eternity; this is what is commonly referred to as “hell.”  The Greek word for Hell is “gehenna,” not “hades” ( lit., “the place of the unseen”).

While everyone will die one day (except those ”snatched away” in the rapture – 1 Thess 4:16-18!), anyone can avoid Hades and the just punishment of  Hell  by confessing their sin and trusting in Jesus Christ’s work of salvation . . . ” for the wages of sin is death (complete separation from God and serving out the  tragic consequence of the Lord’s just sentence/punishment for your sin forever).  Thank God for the second half of Romans 6:23 . . . but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Because of God’s grace, we do not have to experience eternal death but can inherent eternal life through personally receiving the free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ!

If you have not confessed to God that you are  sinner by nature and a sinner by choice, repent and trust Christ for the complete payment of your sins.  The Bible repeatedly declares that you are headed toward God’s perfectly just judgment  and condemnation for your sins.  If you have not personally cried out to God for His mercy, please do so now! (Read  Luke 18:9-14!)  I beg  you to repent and agree with God that you need to embrace and trust Christ alone as your only Savior and Lord (Rom 10:10).  Only He qualifies to be your perfect substitute and is able to make complete atonement for your sin! (1 Peter 1:18-19)

Please recognize your  inability to pay for your sin and earn God’s favor by your efforts! Do not accept the false notion that living a “moral life” or doing “good things” makes you right with God. Rather, embrace and receive God’s free offer of forgiveness and eternal life through trusting in the finished work of  Christ alone (1 Peter 3:18) . . . then begin to  live for Him now with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, knowing that He will one day bring  you to the never-ending  joy of heaven — to an eternity that is inexhaustibily blessed!  He will bring you to the ulitmate meaning of  life: to experience an everlasting life of glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever! (Jude 24-25)

Question:

Answer: Hitler was not the Antichrist.  This is clear because the prophecies concerning the Antichrist remain unfulfilled.  For example, look at 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10 and Revelation 13:2-8.  We see that the coming Antichrist will seat himself in the temple and declare himself to be God.  He will perform signs and false miracles to convince people of his claims.  He will even appear to have come back to life from the dead.  He will be killed by the Lord, without human agency, when Christ returns.   None of these things found fulfillment in Hitler, so he cannot have been the Antichrist.  But, as Paul says, “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thess 2:7).  Evil men will come, “even now many antichrists have arisen” (1 Jn 2:18), but they will all be eclipsed by the man of lawlessness (the Antichrist) described in Scripture.

Answer:

Peter

“When the dead rise , they will neither marry nor be given in marriage.  In this resepect, they will be as the angels in heaven”(Matt. 22:30)

Scripture does not teach there will be no marriage in heaven! In fact, it clearly teaches there will be marriage in heaven.  What it says is that there will be one marriage, between Christ and His bride- and we’ll all be part of it! (Rev 19:9; 21:1-2)

The one-flesh marital relationship which we enjoy on earth is a signpost pointing to our relationship with Christ as our bridegroom.  Once we reach our ultimate destination, the signpost becomes unnecessary (i.e., earthly marriage).  That future marriage – our marriage  or union with Christ – will be so infinitely and completely satisfying that even the most wonderful earthly marriage could not be as fulfilling.

Many happily married believers struggle with this , but they really shouldn’t!  I fully expect that my wife, Linda, and I will be closer than ever in heaven.  We will enjoy one another in ways that we can’t yet imagine or conceive of  in this earthly realm! All believers will overflow with joy, being part of the same marriage – an eternal marriage – to Jesus Christ, our bridegroom.

“As the Scriptures  say,”A man and women leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united as one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the Church are one” (NLT, Eph 5:31-32)