That simple English word "
is" has many meanings - more than in, say, Greek.
The English meaning of "
is" can be relating two things such as "
a" is "
b" for equality which is different than "
a" is a "
b" as in a subset. Greek requires the word for "
equal" if "
a" and "
b" are "
equal" and that "
equal" cannot be inferred from context. (future topic) For time it may involve a before and after.
The meaning of "
is" can be that "
a" exists without anything with which to compare it to for some sense of equality. Greek has a separate word for this idea. When this word is used in the
GNT (Greek New Testament), preaching a sermon on "
is" using the English meaning of "
equals" can result in a changed meaning.