Child pornography leads to prison

I agree with John Rosemond’s advice in his article “Who’s in Charge of the Computer Monster?” (April 2006). I am serving 17 years in a federal prison as a first-time offender for possession of child pornography. I am not proud of what I did. I wasn’t a Christian at the time. Children should not have a computer in their bedroom, even if they don’t think it’s fair. If children want to use the Internet, there should be a family computer for all to use.

Name withheld by request

Baptism and salvation

Regarding Ed Dickerson’s article “Does Baptism Matter?” (April 2006), I’m concerned that you don’t see baptism as essential to salvation and that without it you are not saved. I agree that the water in itself cannot save you. It is our willingness to be obedient to the command.

James Rush, Warsaw, Indiana

Editor’s response: We agree that there is no saving grace in the water and that “it is our willingness to be obedient to the command” to be baptized that counts with God. However, there are situations in which a permanent illness, especially if it is terminal, could prevent a person from being baptized. We do not believe God would withhold salvation from such a person merely because he or she could not be put under water.

Signs prayer requests

Do you still take prayer requests? If so, what is the email address to send them?

Name withheld by request

Editor’s response: We do still take prayer requests, and we bring them to the Lord every Thursday morning during our editorial department devotional time. The email address is <prayer.signs@pacificpress.com>. You can also click the “Send prayer requests” link under “Contact us” at our Web site. Or you can write to us at P.O. Box 5398, Nampa, ID 83653-5398.

A literal hell?

I am troubled concerning an article stating that you do not believe in a literal hell. Jesus Christ Himself had more to say concerning a literal hell than all the apostles put together.

Clare Weiss, Vergas, Minnesota

Editor’s response: You did not indicate which article you read in Signs. However, we can assure you that we do believe in a literal hell. What we do not believe in is an everlasting hell with eternal torment for those who are lost. Hell—what Revelation calls a “lake of fire”—will last a short time on the surface of our earth (Revelation 20:11–15; 2 Peter 3:10–13), after which God will re-create our planet into a “new earth.”

Ignoring the commandments

Ed Dickerson’s article “The Ten Commandments Have Their Day” (May 2006) points out correctly that we ignore the fourth commandment because it reminds us of scriptural truths we don’t want to hear. But Christians also ignore the third commandment by forgetting God’s own name—Yahweh.

Kevin “Beau” Beauchamp, Apopka, Florida

Editor’s response: Yahweh is a transliteration into English of one of four Hebrew names for God in the Old Testament. The others are Adonai, Elohim, and El Shaddai. The New Testament writers used the words theos (“God”) and kurios (“Lord”) to refer to God. They never transliterated the Hebrew names for God into Greek. Therefore, we see no reason for insisting on that today. We certainly do not view it as a violation of the third commandment.

How will we go to heaven?

In my Bible class we are studying the tribulation and the thousand year government of Jesus Christ. The question came up, when God made a new heaven and earth, would the ones on earth go to heaven as is or be given glorified bodies like the ones that were in the rapture?

Paul E. Motley, Novice, Texas

Editor’s response: We do not accept the rapture theory, but to answer your question, Yes, the righteous who are in heaven during the millennium will have glorified bodies. Philippians 3:20, 21 makes that very clear.

Your Thoughts by Readers	From the August 2006 Signs