I have been a student of Greek for some time and have learned that parsing must take second place to context.
You may be able to explain to me the difference between heaven and paradise. It may even make perfect sense to some, but I'm already convinced that Abraham's bosom is part of Abraham, that it is located in paradise, and that paradise is heaven.

Mark Hall of Casting Crowns sings the song "If We Are The Body." Somehow I don't think that he understands the Body as distinguished from the Bride.

Programs are just facets of Stamism.
There is but one final day,
and if it be held that there be two resurrections, they are:
The resurrection unto everlasting life,
and the resurrection unto everlasting contempt. (Dan 12:2; Mat 25:46; Rev 20:6)
The 'Left Behind' series is a work of fiction. Christ is the prize for Jews and gentiles alike.
The Church is built on the Apostles and Prophets; not set aside from. (Eph 2:19-21)
They (the Jews) will not be made perfect without us (the gentiles). (Heb 11:40)
And we will not be made perfect without them. (I Thess 4:15)
Shame on anyone who teaches two heavens . . . or that somehow sacrifices will be instituted again. Christ is the final sacrifice and as many Jews that don't eventually come to that realization will take part in the second resurrection.
Oh . . . and there is only one second coming also. (They know who I'm addressing)

It may be that the kitchen is a little too hot for some. I don't see that discussing these issues makes us any less Christ like. Iron sharpens iron.
I agree with you Trevor. I only recognize two dispensations: grace and more grace.
Grace typified (and actually dispensed to a covenant people)
Grace poured out, or dispensed if you will, upon all nations.
Note the word upon. Some will say that the Spirit only rested upon people in the O.T. and then dwelt within only in the N.T. Here in Acts 2:17 the word upon is used. So we see that this word isn't reserved for O.T. use exclusively.
Note also that when the word is used in the O.T., i.e. the book of Joel, it is referring to a N.T. prophecy.
Is this outpouring of the Holy Spirit only upon N.T. believers? Hmmmm...

I believe that the answer is found in the immediate context. Have you read as far as verse 20 of the same chapter? It says:
And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.
Verse 20 is a record of the disciples' obedience. They did just what they were told to do. Amen.
I ask the same question as that of a recent posted reply: Why are we hung up on time periods?

[also]

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,... (Hebrews 12:1)

Recently, and when I say recently I mean within the last couple of years, a friend recommended I watch a video that inspired him.
The speaker featured in the video was Noel Jones and his message was in fact inspiring, or if you choose, motivational.
What bothered me however was the visual impression of the Old Testament saints rooting us on as we run this "race." This is not the impression I received from this passage.
The imagery was that of an arena where us saints run a race and the onlookers in the stands root us on.
I found that there are more that hold this view, or at least who are struck by the imagery and run with it. I can't help but to conclude that the latter is the case. It's very common these days. But I was surprised to find that JFB Commentary and even  Gill lean toward this view that would equate the 'cloud' with 'those who ran before us'.
If the way the grammar is constructed in Heb 12:1 is correct, then the word 'also' has a lot to do with how the verse should be understood. If the word 'also' means anything then it won't even fit the context of the first view: that of the O.T. saints rooting us on since this would necessarily imply that they were rooted on by yet another cloud of witnesses, i.e., more saints before them of which there is no mention or antecedent.
I am convinced that this 'great cloud of witnesses' is actually the unbelievers of old; those who mocked, tempted and afflicted the saints.
It was a display of faith to this great cloud of witnesses who would have been happy if the saints of God would just follow the 'in crowd', who would have been happy if the saints of God would bow to men.
But it was in not following the crowd that was such a witness to these unbelievers.
This passage encourages us to proclaim the name of Christ Jesus boldly in spite of what happens to us in this life.
Look what happened to the saints of old. They were scourged, mocked, sawn asunder, etc., yet all having obtained a good report through faith.

The meaning is clearly that . . . just as they were encompassed by such a great cloud of witnesses and didn't back down, we, who serve the same God are also encompassed by this cloud of unbelievers and shouldn't waiver in our faith setting our eyes to a better resurrection. "For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin." (Heb 12:3, 4)
We could get along with the world and escape mockings. We could blend in and then there would be no witnesses. But because we as Christians stand out, there will be many witnesses; some who will only mock and persecute, and some who will consider the possibility that there really is more to Christianity. It's easy to be a Christian in church where this 'great cloud of witnesses' doesn't go. Let's try taking it to the streets, and if we endure the same treatment as those who went before us, we also will receive the promise.

In Christ,

[turns]

You would think that more people would see the fallacy of universal reconciliation in light of other passages of Scripture.
When one does come to the conclusion that it is false, by conviction that is, I believe it is time they consider-- in light of Scripture-- the doctrine of Universal Atonement. Not necessarily as it is taught by theologians or scholars, but how it is revealed in the Bible.
"His name shall be called Jesus, for He shall save His people." (Matt 1:21)
If what you're saying is true (and I believe it is), then we must consider the panta in Romans 8:28. If all things work together for the good of those who love God, why do we have such a hard time accepting all of these things as being part of His plan?
My faith is, for the most part, passive. By that I mean that I trust in God's will being done and not in my own will power. Knowing that God's will is, in fact, being done strengthens my faith. Who are you going to trust; the one who's plan is going athwart or the One who's plan is being fulfilled in every detail?
We spend too much time trying to protect God's reputation and very little time trying to understand who He really is.
Even Arminians should be able to swallow the concept. Let it be assumed that God only foresaw our decisions to be saved. In light of that same foreknowledge He could send Christ to die for who He foresaw would consequently save themselves. Treading on such ground is, to them, taboo.  They obviously don't believe that all things really do work together for the good. They would twist it around to mean that God turns these things around for the good.
"You thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good,..."
(Gen 50:20)
In Christ,

Doug