Andrew Rappaport's Rapp Report

Rapp Report episode 216 Demons, what are they? Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing angels & demons. Many do not realize how their view of fallen angels affects their theology. Demons are angels that have fallen and are unholy. Fallen Angels Unholy angels are those angels that are confirmed in unholiness by a single act of disobedience that occurred between Genesis 1:31 and 3:1. The fall of the unholy angels occurs between God’s declaration that all creation was “very good” (Genesis 1:31) and the temptation of Eve by Satan (Genesis 3). These angels apparently fell at the same time that Satan fell and were at that time confirmed in a condition of fallenness. Unholy angels abode on earth or imprisonment but those on earth have access to heaven (Isaiah 14:12; Job 1:6; Jude 6). Unholy angels will be judged by redeemed people (1 Corinthians 6:3). Hell was prepared for suffering and containment for these angels and will be cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity (Matthew 25:41; Revelation 20:13-14). Due to the organization of angels, these angels are agents of Satan (Matthew 12:26-27; Ephesians 6:11-12). While attempting to thwart the plan of God, they actually execute it (Daniel 10:10-14; Revelation 16:13-16). They may possess unsaved men (Matthew 4:24) but not believers. Listen to the last episode in the series: Angels, What We Believe, Part 15 This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 215 Angels, what are they? Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing Angels. There is much confusion on this subject because of two factors. The first factor is the little amount of biblical information on the subject. The second factor is the fascination and Hollywood hype on the subject. In relation to believers, they are actively watching over and ministering to individuals and congregations (Genesis 28:12; John 1:51; 1 Kings 19:5; Psalm 91:11; Daniel 6:22; Matthew 4:11; 18:10; Luke 16:22; 1 Corinthians 11:10; 1 Timothy 5:21; Hebrews 1:14). Nowhere does the Bible indicate that there is one angel for each believer. There may even be more than one ministering to anyone believer at a time (Matthew 18:10; Luke 16:22). Their ministry is in urging unto holiness (1 Corinthians 11:10), aiding (Hebrews 1:14), answering prayers (Daniel 9:21; Acts 12:7; Revelation 5:8), observing worship (1 Timothy 5:21; 1 Corinthians 4:9; 11:10; 1 Peter 1:12), rejoicing in salvation (Luke 15; 10), and giving revelation (Acts 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2). In relation to unbelievers, these angels will be involved in the future judgment and act as the reapers at the end of the age (Matthew 13:39, 49-50; 25:31-33; Revelation 8-10). In relation to nations, these angels have a special relationship to Israel and will be active in gathering elect Israel in the Millennium (Daniel 10:21; 12:1; Matthew 24:31). Listen to the last episode in the series: Angels, What We Believe, Part 14 This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 214 Angels, what are they? Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing Angels. There is much confusion on this subject because of two factors. The first factor is the little amount of biblical information on the subject. The second factor is the fascination and Hollywood hype on the subject. The What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website discussed is: Holy angels are those angels that are confirmed in holiness by a single act of obedience that occurred sometime between Genesis 1:31 and 3:1. Holy angels abode in heaven while still having access to the earth (Mark 13:32; Daniel 9:20-23). These holy angels minister to God and specifically to the incarnate Christ. They also minister to believers, unbelievers and nations. In relation to God, there are angels that worship (Isaiah 6:2-3), praise (Job 38:7; Psalm 103:20), serve (Genesis 19:12-13; Revelation 19:10; 22:8-9), and punish His enemies (2 Kings 19:35; Acts 12:23). While Christ dwelled physically on earth, angels made announcements (Luke 1:26-33; 2:8-14; Matthew 28:6), strengthening Christ (Matthew 4:11) and were present throughout His ministry (Luke 22:43; Acts 1:10). Listen to the last episode in the series: Angels, What We Believe, Part 13 This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 213 Angels, what are they? Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing Angels. There is much confusion on this subject because of two factors. The first factor is the little amount of biblical information on the subject. The second factor is the fascination and Hollywood hype on the subject. The What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website discussed is: Angels are created, not eternal, beings (Psalm 148:5); therefore, they are not to be worshiped. Each angel was individually and directly created by God as ministering spirits (Matthew 22:28-30; Hebrews 1:14). They were created before the foundation of the world (Job 38:6-7). Angels, like man, are not eternal but immortal meaning once created, they do not cease to exist. However, unlike man, angels were not created as a race, but a total number (innumerable to man) were created at one time. Men cannot become angels, and angels cannot become men. Angels are distinct from both man and God and will be for all eternity (1 Corinthians 6:3; Hebrews 1:14; 2:6-8; 12:22-24). Angels are similar to man in having a personality but limited in power and abilities. Angels were tested for obedience by a one-time confirmation of holiness or unholiness while man’s confirmation occurs at death. Angels are organized and submissive to that organization (Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 1:21; Jude 9; Revelation 12:7). Listen to the last episode in the series: The Holy Spirit, Spiritual Gifts, What We Believe, Part 12 This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 212 Andrew preaches a message from Mark 15:1-15 about the Roman trials of Jesus. It reveals that politicians have not changed in two thousand years. This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 211 How to get started with Bitcoin is the topic of this episode. Welcome to Andrew Rappaport's Rapp Report, where we provide Biblical interpretation and application! The show is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and the Christian Podcast Community. In today’s episode, host Andrew Rappaport is joined by friend and Pastor Jim Osman of Kootenai Community Church in Idaho for part two of the conversation on bitcoin started in the last episode!  The hosts of the Bitcoin and the Bible podcast - Dave, Simon, and Will - join us again to discuss bitcoin, focusing today on the practical side of starting to use bitcoin.   Before turning to practical advice, though, Jim asks what will keep bitcoin from inflation or from dropping in value.  Will explains that people continue buying bitcoin because it's a superior form of money, and they will ultimately have the ability to consume all available bitcoin supply.  This dynamic, grounded in the fact that value is subjective and based on market needs, listeners can be assured that the value of bitcoin will not go to 0.  With regard to inflation, Will describes the way that bitcoin operates with a hard cap of 21 million, and how the bitcoin system is designed with a kind of self-regulation because it's in every bitcoin holder's best interest to hold others to the rules of the system.   Turning to some possible concerns and responses to them, the group first considers whether or not the bitcoin cap will pose a problem.  Even when the cap is reached, there will be plenty of bitcoin and sufficient divisibility to ensure global commerce can exist on a digital system.  And while some people are wary of bitcoin's fluctuations in market value, the current fiat system is over-engineered to avoid volatility.  Volatility, however, is a sign of life, and actually provides a reason for us to trust bitcoin!  The change in the bitcoin market is rooted in the fact that the market is free and open, and so at each moment, the dollar price of bitcoin is determined by willing buyers and sellers.  While the primary reason people put their money in banks is to be able to move it digitally, bitcoin facilitates this movement even better than banks; it allows for the transfer of money without bank control and with great speed.   As the conversation progresses, the group considers what bitcoin mining is.  At its most basic level, this mining involves grouping pending transactions into a block and finding the random number to make the block valid.  The process leaves a track of work that demonstrates the history of transactions and is done with a specially purposed computer.  The sort of computer required to mine (an ASIC miner) helps to bolster the security of the process, and some bitcoin users have also elected to study quantum computing, which is expected to protect bitcoin in the more technologically-advanced future.   Dave, Simon, and Will encourage listeners to lean into bitcoin rather than other cryptocurrencies, and the next topic of conversation is the rationale behind this selectivity.  Some cryptocurrencies are trying to be money, and others are not doing so, and in general, money wants to converge on a single best form of money.  At this point, bitcoin is the predominant form of digital money; the choice cycle pushes bitcoin value up and down, and the positioning of bitcoin at the pinnacle of the cryptocurrency world gives it a lot of security.  Other forms of cryptocurrency don't work well because the incentive behind them (the driver of crypto outcomes!) won't work, and some of them are even built of systems that allow the rich and powerful to rewrite the rules.   Now, assuming a person is convinced to give bitcoin a shot, the glaring question still remains: How can someone get set up on bitcoin?  Fortunately, there are great resources (including a Startup Guide and many others on BitcoinandtheBible.com!) to help lead the way, and though there are things to learn,

Rapp Report episode 210 Welcome to Andrew Rappaport's Rapp Report, where we provide Biblical interpretation and application. The show is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and the Christian Podcast Community. On today’s episode, host Andrew Rappaport is joined by friend and Pastor Jim Osman of Kootenai Community Church in Idaho. Unlike our usual episodes, we will be in discussion with another podcast from the Christian Podcast Community, Bitcoin and the Bible, to discuss the issues of money, Bitcoin and the church. Join us for part one of this two-part episode!   To begin, the hosts of Bitcoin and the Bible introduce themselves and their show, the heart of which encourages Christians all around the world with the message that God has provided for us. With the great reset underway and the worldly transitions taking place, it is incumbent upon the church to put ourselves in a position to thrive going forward. Dave, Simon and Will are members of Kootenai Community Church.   Most people have no concept or Biblical understanding of currency, why we have it and how we should view it. At the very beginning, God created Adam and Eve and gave them the job of tending to His garden. Thus, work is built into the human condition as a good and noble thing given by God. The fruit of our labor can be traded amongst one another. It didn’t take long for the human population to realize a medium for exchange was needed. Thus, money is a way to facilitate trade and increase the prosperity of a society. Today, Dave explains, money is borrowed into creation and is really just a claim on a debt obligation. We have now found ourselves in a situation in which the debt has spiraled out of control and we are in need of a new monetary system to reset.   In a free market system, mediums of exchange must be divisible and recognizable. The value of currency differs greatly from place to place, depending on the needs of the population. Therefore, money does not have intrinsic value but is dependent on time, society, and circumstance. Money is desired due to its flexibility and allowance of other goods and services from the economy. Some Christians believe that money is inherently evil and vain. However, money is a morally neutral mechanism of storing labor. It is the greed of money that makes it evil. God refers to Abraham, who was rich in cattle, as a righteous man. Thus we are led to believe that He has given us permission to use the money he has allowed us to choose freely in a way that honors and glorifies Him.   The fiat system refers to the present operating system in which the money used is a decree by the government to be used in paying taxes and as the official currency. This money, however, is based solely on debt and is moved in the ether. Already, we are living in a world in which money has been dematerialized and is issued under the promise of its future performance. Bitcoin is likened unto gold in that all of the capital and energy has been invested into it for it to be created.   The concept of cryptocurrency is often a difficult one for people to understand, and Andrew breaks it down in the simplest way possible. Gold is great at storing value over time, while fiat currency is a great medium of exchange over space. Separately, they each have their own fatal flaws. The technological improvement of the fiat standard is the ability to combine the two currencies based on trust. Anyone can look at the situation and determine it is horribly dangerous. There is no interface between the digital and physical worlds. What needed to be done was to design money that exists digitally and also has digital scarcity, which nobody can control. A predefined system with rules but not rulers, which specified its monetary policy in the very beginning, makes it impossible to develop more of the currency and lets everyone monitor, would be a digital system that respects the store value of money. Rather than relying on an auditor,

Rapp Report episode 209 Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing God the Holy Spirit and the giving of spiritual gifts. The What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website discussed is: The Holy Spirit administers spiritual gifts to the church. The Holy Spirit glorifies neither Himself nor His gifts by ostentatious displays, but He does glorify Christ by implementing His work of redeeming the lost and building up believers in the holiest faith (John 16:13-14; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 2 Corinthians 3:18). God the Holy Spirit is sovereign in the bestowing of all His gifts for the perfecting of the saints today. Speaking in tongues and the working of sign miracles in the beginning days of the church were for the purpose of pointing to and authenticating the apostles as revealers of divine truth and were never intended to be characteristic of the lives of believers (1 Corinthians 12:4-11; 13:8-10; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Ephesians 4:7-12; Hebrews 2:1-4). See last week's episode as it leads into this one: The Holy Spirit, What We Believe, Part 11 Resources mentions: The Biblical View on Tongues Have Tongues Ceased? This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 208 After the Canadian C-4 Bill on conversion therapy, Andrew went to his pulpit to deliver a message on a biblical view of sexual morality. This episode is that message. This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE

Rapp Report episode 207 Andrew and Jim Osman continue the What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website series discussing God the Holy Spirit. The What We Believe statement from the Striving for Eternity website discussed is: The work of the Holy Spirit in this age began at Pentecost when He came from the Father as promised by Christ (John 14:16-17; 15:26) to initiate and complete the building of the Body of Christ, which is His church (1 Corinthians 12:13). The broad scope of His divine activity includes convicting the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment; glorifying the Lord Jesus Christ; and transforming believers into the image of Christ (John 16:7-9; Acts 1:5; 2:4; Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 2:22). The Holy Spirit is the supernatural and sovereign Agent in regeneration, baptizing all believers into the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). The Holy Spirit also indwells, sanctifies, instructs, empowers believers for service, and seals them unto the day of redemption (Romans 8:9; 2 Corinthians 3:6; Ephesians 1:13). The Holy Spirit is the divine Teacher, who guided the apostles and prophets into all truth as they committed to writing God’s revelation, the Bible. Every believer possesses the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit from the moment of salvation, and it is the duty of all those born of the Spirit to be filled with (controlled by) the Spirit (John 16:13; Romans 8:9; Ephesians 5:18; 2 Peter 1:19-21; 1 John 2:20, 27). This podcast is a ministry of Striving for Eternity and all our resources Listen to other podcasts on the Christian Podcast Community Support Striving for Eternity Leave us a review Give us your feedback, email us info@StrivingForEternity.org Get the book What Do They Believe Get the book What Do We Believe Sponsors: Logos Bible Software MyPillow or call (800) 873-0176 and use promo SFE