This question was prompted by these verses surrounding Jesus' cleansing of the temple of the money-changers: **John 2:18-19** (NKJV): > So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, > since You do these things?” > > Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three > days I will raise it up.” On what basis could Jews demand a sign from someone?

I am told that the New Testament is the New Covenant. If that is so, why didn't God remove the rainbow that He made for the Jews. If the Old Covenant has gone away, how does the Church explain the continuation of rainbows? Genesis 9:13 (NIV) > I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the > covenant between me and the earth

He refers to the Son of Man 12 times in his gospel, but Son of God (or its equivalent) 32 times. The synoptic gospels collectively use the term Son of God 36 times in all three accounts. This means that John’s gospel has a significant stress on Jesus as the Son of God. He gives a reason for that emphasis in John 20:31 – > “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the > Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through > his name.” KJV **What are the ‘signs’ he gives in his gospel that point to Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and what would believing in Christ that particular way entail?** What belief, precisely? He surely wasn’t meaning just to rattle off the phrase, “Jesus Son of God” like a ritual mantra. **What does it mean to believe in Jesus as the Son of God, according to John?**

Inspired by an [answer](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/a/87282/50422) to a [related question](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/q/87271/50422) , I would like to ask: What are *the signs of a true apostle* according to Latter-day Saints? **Note**: I'm borrowing the expression "the signs of a true apostle" from 2 Corinthians 12:11-12 (ESV): > 11 I have been a fool! You forced me to it, for I ought to have been commended by you. For I was not at all inferior to these super-apostles, even though I am nothing. 12 **The signs of a true apostle** were performed among you with utmost patience, **with signs and wonders and mighty works**. ____ Mirror question on BH.SE: [What are the signs of a true apostle? 2 Corinthians 12:12](https://hermeneutics.stackexchange.com/q/71677/38524) ____ More general question: https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/86686/how-do-believers-in-modern-day-apostles-interpret-2-corinthians-1211-12

According to [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethel_Church_(Redding,_California)) : > **Bethel Church** is an American non-denominational **hyper-charismatic megachurch** in Redding, California with over 11,000 members. The church was established in 1952 and is currently led by Bill Johnson. Bethel has its own music labels and Bethel Music and Jesus Culture ministries, which have gained large popularity within contemporary worship music. The church runs the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry with over 2,000 students annually. Senior church leaders have been supporters of conservative politics. At Bethel Church, they have a very peculiar ritual known as "Fire Tunnel" or "Tunnel of Fire" (you may come across either wording). In a nutshell, people who are deemed more mature in the faith form two lines (a human tunnel) that novices are made to go through so that those forming the tunnel may lay hands on them and transfer into them the same "anointing" that they supposedly carry. It's very common to see people display strange physical manifestations during these events, which may include appearing drunk, laughing hysterically, being "slain in the spirit", jerking or shaking, etc. Here are a few videos illustrating the ritual: [video 1](https://youtu.be/JEtQ3zG-c3g) , [video 2](https://youtu.be/PqGLJ0b5lh4) , [video 3](https://youtu.be/homoFFqhz-I) , [video 4](https://youtu.be/kY6AJOEWdcQ) , [video 5](https://youtu.be/O6t0O3O-2_k) . (You may find many more by using your favorite search engine.) **Question**: What is the origin of the practice? When was the **first time** that a "Fire Tunnel" was ever practiced in the history of the Church? Did Bethel Church originally come up with the idea of the ritual or did they borrow it / take inspiration from a prior source?

In the Charlie Chaplin film "The Kid" (1921), there is a scene where his character, who is apparently supposed to be Christian, is being threatened with violence by a thug. As he walks backwards, dodging the swings from the thug, they appear under a sign that says "BEDS 10 CENTS". When the thug swings at Charlie's character underneath the sign, it starts swinging back and forth from its hinges. Charlie's character notices this and makes the Christian "prayer hands" sign while looking up at the sign. Here is the YouTube video clip showing it: [**The Kid, Charlie Chaplin fight scene one of the funniest scenes in kid**](https://youtu.be/B2rAv7wOP_8?t=161) . Can this be explained somehow, other than simply being a fun visual gag? I mean, is it based on something? Would a Christian make such a prayer sign at a sign because it swings? Because the thug missed him? As if God saved him from the punch hitting him? Is that "prayer sign" with the hands against each other something that Christians do/did to basically say: "Thanks for saving me from that danger, God!"?

John 20:30-31 >30 And **many other signs truly did Jesus** in the presence of his disciples, **which are not written in this book**: > >31 **But these are written**, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. ***My question is about verse 31, what are the signs which are written?*** Is it A) what Jesus does in chapter 21, B) what he has done during his life (as recorded by John), or C) is it something else? If it is A, would this be an example of where a chapter breaks up the record (chapters are arbitrary )? If it is C, what are the signs and where does John reference them?

1 Corinthians 14:22-25 confuses me. Verse 22 states: > **Tongues**, then, are a sign, not for believers but for **unbelievers**; prophecy, however, is not for unbelievers but for believers. So, tongues is a sign for unbelievers. But then, verses 22-25 go on: > So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in **tongues**, and inquirers or **unbelievers** come in, *will they not say that you are out of your mind?* But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” These two parts seem in contradiction. And this also applies (in reverse) to Paul's comments on prophecy. Can anyone explain this?

The angels told the shepherds: >For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you:you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. (Luke 2:11-12, ESV) The question is how would this scene that they found serve to be a sign? Also a sign of what?

In [Luke 11:29](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+11%3A29&version=ESV) we have Jesus saying: > "...no sign will be given to [this generation] except the sign of Jonah." Yet Jesus had just cast out a demon. Did He say this because the people in His midst were "seeking from Him a sign from heaven" and He felt his present miracles should be sufficient? In that case, why weren't his current miracles enough? Jesus also mentions "your sons cast them out." Was this common practice in His day? Is that why the casting out of demons wasn't enough for the crowd in order to prove He was the Christ?

In 2014 pope Francis released two doves of peace to signify reconcilation in Ukraine. Yet, they were instantly attacked by two birds, one by a gull, the other by a crow and lost the feathers in the sight of thousands of Romans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMH810BAM7I How do (Catholic) Christians interpret this event? Is it a divine sign?

**What is the authoritative Catholic explanation of why the Magi get a pass, yet Catholics are required to reject astrology?** [Catechism of the Catholic Church | Divination and magic, 2116]( http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm) has: >All forms of divination are to be rejected: recourse to Satan or demons, conjuring up the dead or other practices falsely supposed to "unveil" the future [Cf. Deut 18:10; Jer 29:8]. Consulting horoscopes, **astrology**, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone. The [Magi](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/09527a.htm) utilizing their Magian [astrology](http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02018e.htm) , were led Christ. It appears that the stars have a knowledge, a science. What made the *Magian astrology* acceptable, and would that type of Astrology be permissible to Catholics? Please see this answer also: [What types of signs are given by the “lights in the expanse of the heavens”?](https://christianity.stackexchange.com/questions/31247/what-types-of-signs-are-given-by-the-lights-in-the-expanse-of-the-heavens/31339#31339)

On the fourth day, God created lights in the expanse of the heavens for "signs", among other things. > Then God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and **let them be for signs** and for seasons and for days and years. Genesis 1:14 NASB I understand the astrology seems to be forbidden in the Scriptures: > You shall not eat anything with the blood, nor practice divination or soothsaying. Leviticus 19:26 NASB. So, what specific signs are referred to here?