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Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA022245S
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00:00 (cheerful orchestral music)
00:03 - [Announcer] It is the best selling book in history. 00:05 No volume ever written has been more loved and quoted. 00:09 And its words, sometimes simple and sometimes mysterious, 00:13 should always be studied carefully. 00:16 It is the Bible, the Word of God. 00:19 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," 00:22 providing accurate and practical answers 00:25 to all your Bible questions. 00:28 This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 00:31 To receive any of the Bible resources 00:33 mentioned in this broadcast, 00:35 call 800-835-6747. 00:39 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 00:45 Now here's your host from Amazing Facts International, 00:48 Pastor Doug Batchelor. 00:50 - Hello, listening friends. 00:51 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 00:54 Back in June 2005, 00:56 Carolyn Smith from Salt Lake City in Utah 00:59 made headlines after auctioning off her forehead 01:02 as advertising space for $10,000. 01:06 After a media circus, the online casino, goldenpalace.com, 01:12 had a winning bid accepted 01:14 and their casino logo was boldly tattooed on her cranium. 01:18 The tattoo artist tried to talk her out of it, 01:20 but Carolyn insisted. 01:22 The strange stunt is more understandable 01:24 when you realize Smith was trying to raise tuition money 01:27 to send her son to a private school. 01:29 Now, she may have been a desperate soccer mom 01:31 trying to raise money for her school's education, 01:34 but you know, Pastor Ross, 01:36 the Bible talks about a woman in the Book of Revelation 01:40 that has a whole paragraph on her forehead. 01:43 - That's right, Pastor Doug. 01:44 Not just the name of a business, 01:46 but really something very significant 01:49 actually written on her forehead. 01:50 Talks about Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots, 01:53 and the abominations of the Earth. 01:54 So that's quite a bit to fit on the forehead. 01:56 - You know, I remember a few years ago 01:58 we actually produced a video called, 01:59 "The Bride, the Beast and Babylon." 02:01 And our friends can see that online. 02:03 I think one of them, one of the YouTubes, 02:06 has like 3,000,000 hits. 02:08 But we actually had a model 02:10 and we had someone paint in Hebrew characters, 02:14 or maybe it was Greek, 02:15 across her forehead that title 02:17 so that she could replicate 02:18 the woman that you see in Revelation. 02:21 And they did a pretty good job 02:22 but they had to write pretty small 02:24 to get the whole thing there. 02:25 (Pastor Ross laughs) 02:27 Let me tell you what's on her forehead, friends. 02:28 You can read this in Revelation 17:5 and 6. 02:32 And on her forehead, 02:33 speaking of this mysterious woman in Revelation 17, 02:37 on her forehead a name was written: 02:39 Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots 02:43 and Abominations of the Earth. 02:45 That was written on her forehead. 02:46 And I saw the woman 02:48 who was drunk with the blood of the saints 02:50 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus. 02:53 And when I saw her, I marveled with great amazement. 02:56 That's Revelation 17:5 and 6. 02:59 So what does that mean? 03:01 In the last days, we're gonna see people going around 03:04 and they've got 666 in their forehead, 03:05 or they've got a seal of God in their forehead, 03:08 or they've got Mother of Harlots in their forehead? 03:13 - Well, you know, Pastor Doug, 03:14 it's interesting that like you mentioned, 03:16 it's not just one symbol here. 03:18 You just have the woman with Babylon, 03:20 but the Bible speaks of the forehead, 03:22 talks about the mark of the Beast being in the forehead, 03:24 talks about the seal of God being in the forehead. 03:27 And I think even the Old Testament 03:29 talks about the law of God being in the forehead. 03:31 And that's kind of led to some strange interpretations 03:34 where you have the Orthodox Jews today 03:36 even having little scrolls of the law 03:39 and they put it in the box on the forehead. 03:40 And I'm sure many of our listeners have seen that before. 03:43 - Yeah. 03:44 - But what does that all mean, 03:45 having the law of God in the forehead 03:46 or the mark of the Beast or the seal? 03:48 - Yeah. You know, it's very clearly a symbol. 03:51 We're not gonna see people going around in the last days. 03:54 And Revelation says: 03:56 The redeemed have their Father's name in their forehead. 03:58 I think that's 7:14. 04:00 And you can read in Ezekiel 9 it says that 04:04 those that have this mark in their forehead 04:06 are spared a destruction. 04:08 So that's a good mark. 04:09 You want that one. 04:11 God put a mark on Cain. 04:12 Doesn't say his forehead, but God marked Cain. 04:15 But when you read in Deuteronomy 6, 04:18 after God gives the 10 Commandments, 04:20 He says, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one. 04:23 "Thou shall love the Lord with all thy heart, mind, 04:25 "soul, and strength. 04:27 "And these words that I command you today 04:29 "shall be in your heart." 04:31 Now that's clearly a symbol, the word in our heart. 04:34 He says, "You'll teach them diligently to your children. 04:36 "You talk them when you lay down, when you rise up, 04:38 "when you go out, when you come in." 04:40 Says, "You will bind them for a sign on your hand 04:44 "and they will be frontlets between your eyes." 04:47 It actually uses that phrase four times in just Exodus 04:51 and Deuteronomy saying: 04:52 The law of God was to be in our hands, 04:55 written in our hands and in our foreheads. 04:58 Well, that's a symbol for in your actions 05:00 and in your thoughts. 05:01 So in Revelation, when it talks about a mark in the forehead 05:04 or the hand, it's not talking about a literal mark. 05:09 Now we've got a lesson I think 05:10 that talks about that woman 05:12 that has that paragraph in her forehead. 05:13 - That's right. 05:14 It's an important symbol that we find 05:15 in the Book of Revelation. 05:16 And we do have a study guide. 05:17 It's called, "The Other Woman," 05:19 'cause in Revelation you have a description of two women, 05:21 one in Revelation 12 and then this woman in Revelation 17. 05:25 If you'd like to learn more about this Bible symbol, 05:28 just call and ask. 05:29 The number is 800-835-6747 05:32 and you can ask for offer number 178 05:35 or ask for it by name. 05:36 It's called, "The Other Woman." 05:37 It's part of the Amazing Fact study guide series. 05:40 And if you've never gone through the study guide series, 05:42 you can also ask for that on the call. 05:44 Just say, "I'd like to enroll in 05:45 "the free Amazing Facts Bible study series." 05:48 You will be blessed. 05:49 We'll send you the lessons in the mail. 05:51 So, Pastor Doug, very great opportunity 05:54 for folks to take advantage of that 05:55 and they can do the whole series of lessons. 05:58 Well, before we go to the phone lines, as we always do, 06:00 we like to start with a word of prayer. 06:01 So we'll do that now. 06:03 Dear Father, we thank You for Your Word. 06:04 We thank You for the opportunity for us to study 06:06 and we always recognize that the Bible is Your book, 06:09 written and inspired by the Holy Spirit, 06:11 and so we do need the Spirit's guidance as we study. 06:14 So pray Your blessing upon us here in the studio 06:16 and be with those who are listening. 06:18 We ask this in Jesus' name, amen. 06:21 - Amen. 06:22 - Our phone lines are open. 06:23 If you have a Bible related question, 06:24 the number to call is 800-463-7297. 06:28 That's 800-GOD-SAYS, 06:30 800-463-7297. 06:33 Our first caller that we have is Dylan 06:35 listening from Nevada. 06:36 Dylan, welcome to the program. 06:40 - [Dylan] Hi guys, I haven't talked to you in a while. 06:43 Last time I believe I talked to you, 06:46 I was talking about a suicide question 06:49 'cause I had a close friend that I used to box with 06:52 that he taught me. 06:54 They were younger than me, they were brothers, 06:55 and one of them committed suicide. 06:57 You guys gave me a good answer. 06:59 I just wanted your opinion 07:01 'cause I kinda feel that I know this, 07:04 but I just wanted your opinion. 07:06 You guys are just awesome soldiers of Christ. 07:10 And that was my question would be in Proverbs 26, 07:15 I believe it was four, in verse five. 07:19 - Is that where it says: 07:22 Answer a fool according to his folly? 07:23 - Yeah, let me read that. I got the verse right here. 07:25 - Okay. Go ahead. 07:26 - It says: 07:27 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, 07:28 lest you also be like him. 07:30 Answer a fool according to his folly, 07:32 lest he be wise in his own eyes. 07:34 - Yeah, Solomon is actually using 07:36 a little bit of irony here. 07:38 He's saying if you don't answer a fool, 07:42 he's wise in his own eyes, he's smug and conceited 07:44 and thinks he's correct because you didn't have an answer. 07:47 But if you do answer him, 07:49 then you sound like him by engaging in a silly question. 07:54 And so what Solomon is saying is 07:56 you can't win if you're in debate with a fool 08:01 because if you take up the debate you sound foolish 08:04 and if you don't take up the debate, he thinks he's right. 08:06 So he said, "You just can't win." 08:10 - [Dylan] Correct. 08:11 - Does that make sense? 08:13 - [Dylan] I mean, so which one is it? 08:15 What is your opinion? 08:18 So don't say anything? 08:19 - He's using a little bit of kinda sanctified sarcasm there. 08:22 He's saying, "If you're arguing with a fool," 08:25 he says, "You're not gonna get anywhere." 08:26 It's like shoveling air. 08:28 If you don't answer a fool, 08:30 if he comes up with some ridiculous claim 08:32 and you don't answer him, he thinks he's right. 08:35 If you do answer him and you engage in a debate with a fool, 08:38 you start sounding foolish. 08:40 Someone said, "You know, 08:42 "if you get into a wrestling match with a pig, 08:45 "you just get dirty." 08:46 You've heard that before. (laughs) 08:47 And the pig enjoys it. 08:49 So it's just like one of those lose-lose situations 08:54 is exactly what Solomon's saying. 08:56 That's why he's got these two contrasting proverbs 08:58 next to each other. 09:00 He's just showing how futile it is to try and communicate, 09:02 make sense to a fool. 09:04 - And you know, Solomon is not trying to give us guidance 09:07 as to how we ought to respond to a fool. 09:08 He's giving characteristics of a fool. 09:10 So a fool is wise in his own thinking 09:13 and if you engage with him, 09:14 it doesn't really help much because then you look foolish. 09:17 So how do you work with a fool? 09:18 And I think that's the point that he's trying to illustrate 09:21 is what foolishness is and what people do, 09:23 what they look like when they are foolish. 09:25 Thank you for your call, Dylan. 09:26 We've got Anthony listening in New York. 09:28 Anthony, you're on the air. 09:30 - [Anthony] Good evening, Pastors. 09:31 - Evening. 09:33 - [Anthony] Pastor Doug, I saw your team 09:35 put out the country living video this past week 09:39 and I- - Oh yeah. 09:40 - [Anthony] I'd watched it before 09:41 and I just decided to watch it again. 09:43 It was a good reminder 09:44 because we just moved out into the country last year 09:48 and it's kind of cool 09:49 because I'm doing some of the things like splitting wood 09:52 and heating my house with it, you know? 09:54 Some of the stuff I watched like three years ago 09:57 when we read your book as well. 09:58 So it was very valuable. 10:01 - Well, praise the Lord. 10:03 It's a couple years old 10:04 but they thought they'd resurrect it and post it again. 10:06 - [Anthony] For sure. Yeah, it was a good reminder. 10:08 - Good. 10:08 How can we help you tonight? 10:10 - [Anthony] I just wanna know 10:11 how to reconcile two different verses 10:13 because I firmly believe in the state of the part, 10:19 the adoption of the state of the dead 10:21 where the dead are asleep until Christ returns 10:23 and resurrects them. 10:25 But sometimes when people try to justify the opposite, 10:29 that you go to Heaven right when you die, 10:32 they use certain verses to justify it. 10:35 So I just want to understand how to reconcile Mark 12:27 10:41 where it says: 10:43 He is not the God of the dead but the God of the living. 10:47 Ye therefore do greatly err. 10:48 And that's in its own context. 10:51 And then that was before Christ died 10:53 and then after Christ died, Romans 14:9 says: 10:58 For to this end Christ both died and rose and revived 11:02 that He might be the Lord, both of the living, 11:04 or both of the dead and the living. 11:07 So I'm just trying to understand how to reconcile those two. 11:11 - Yeah, well good question. 11:12 I don't think there's a conflict there. 11:14 When Jesus talks to the Sadducees and He says that, 11:18 "They err not knowing the scriptures 11:19 "because God says, 11:20 "'I'm the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.' 11:21 "He's not the God of the dead but of the living." 11:24 God would not say He is the God of someone 11:29 or something that has lost all being, 11:32 that they've become nothing, 11:34 they've died and there's no future. 11:35 Believers sleep. 11:37 And when you're asleep you're very much alive. 11:39 And so, but Jesus calls death a sleep. 11:44 And so Paul is really addressing a different issue. 11:47 Paul is saying he's talking about the resurrection, 11:50 those that are in their graves, 11:51 he's assuring people, 11:53 "Don't worry, Jesus is the God of them 11:55 "and He's also the God of those that are alive." 12:00 And I think Paul even has a subtle secondary. 12:03 He talks about people being dead in sin. 12:06 God is the God of those who are dead in sin? 12:09 He's the God of the dead 12:10 who are waiting for the resurrection. 12:12 "Good or evil, he's the God over all," Paul says. 12:15 So I think he's really saying something different. 12:18 That Jesus is the God of dead and living. 12:22 - I think part of the controversy 12:23 that took place between Jesus and the Sadducees, 12:25 the Sadducees didn't believe in a resurrection. 12:28 So Christ is saying, "Well, God is not the God of the dead, 12:30 "but the living," 12:31 meaning that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, 12:33 they're gonna be resurrected. 12:35 Remember the Sadducees didn't believe in that. 12:37 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 12:38 - So he's not saying that, "There's no hope for the dead." 12:41 But rather they will be resurrected, 12:43 they will live again 12:45 and God is aware of that. 12:47 So the argument used there in Mark 12:48 is really emphasizing the fact that 12:50 there will be a resurrection 12:52 and the righteous will rise again. 12:54 - Yep. Absolutely. 12:56 - All right, hope that helps, Anthony. 12:57 We've got Maylene listening in Florida. 13:00 Maylene, welcome to the program. 13:02 - [Maylene] Hello. 13:03 - Hi. There you are. 13:04 - [Maylene] My question is, 13:05 are the people saved 13:07 who had no opportunity to hear the gospel? 13:10 Like people in China when Jesus was here 13:12 and people now but don't have anybody 13:15 bring the gospel to them? 13:17 - Well, first of all, 13:19 anybody who is saved is saved by Jesus. 13:22 The Bible tells us in Acts 4: 13:25 There is no other name given among men 13:27 whereby we must be saved. 13:29 So anyone who's saved is saved by the mercy 13:31 and the grace of Jesus 13:32 and by His sacrifice in their behalf. 13:35 Nobody works their way to Heaven. 13:37 There will be some 13:38 who walked in all the light that they had. 13:42 Paul speaks in Romans 1 about 13:44 the Gentiles who do the things that are in the law 13:47 that's kind of written in their hearts. 13:49 And so some people have listened 13:51 to the voice of the Holy Spirit 13:52 or maybe God spoken to them through angels 13:54 and they've followed all they knew of God. 13:57 And Jesus said, "Those that have done good 13:59 "will come forth in the resurrection of life." 14:02 They're not being saved by their works, 14:03 they're still being saved by Christ, 14:04 but they've had no other opportunity. 14:08 And of course a lot of folks 14:09 who are never gonna hear the good news 14:11 will be lost because nobody took them the news. 14:14 And that's unfortunate. 14:15 So can God save people 14:17 who maybe didn't have a missionary go to Australia 14:20 or South America or China? 14:23 Yes, absolutely. 14:25 One example would be 14:26 you can see that God even had a prophet in Mesopotamia 14:29 who was not an Israelite, his name was Balaam. 14:32 And we presume there were others that were God's people. 14:34 Now Balaam, he ended up making some bad mistakes 14:37 but he was called the Prophet of God. 14:39 Prior to that, God was speaking to him. 14:42 And so ostensibly, 14:43 God has got people that He's spoken to around the world, 14:46 but His principle means of communication was through Israel, 14:50 through the Word of God. 14:52 But God is not limited 14:53 so He cannot speak through angels or His Spirit, 14:56 and some people have embraced God through what they had. 14:59 - And of course we have another example, Pastor Doug, 15:01 with the Wise Men that came at the birth of Jesus. 15:03 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 15:04 - They weren't Jews. 15:05 So based upon what they understood, 15:06 God was leading, guiding them. 15:09 All right, well, thank you for your question Maylene. 15:10 We've got Crystal listening in Michigan. 15:12 Crystal, welcome to the program. 15:17 Hi Cry- - [Crystal] Hello? 15:18 - Yep, you're on the air. 15:20 - [Crystal] Hi. Hi, Pastors. 15:22 So my question is, 15:24 does God only hear the prayers of those who obey Him? 15:28 - Okay, now when you say, "Does God hear the prayers," 15:31 let me just explain that they're different kinds of prayers. 15:36 If a person is praying a prayer of repentance, 15:39 of course it's a disobedient people 15:41 that pray prayers of repentance, 15:42 those prayers are always heard 15:44 whenever you sincerely repent. 15:47 Sometimes we'll offer God our shopping list and say, 15:49 "Lord, we want X, Y, and Z." 15:52 God doesn't guarantee He's gonna answer that prayer. 15:54 The Bible says that 15:56 if we turn away our ear from hearing the law, 15:59 our prayer is an abomination. 16:01 Now, that doesn't mean we have to be sinless 16:02 before God answers our prayers, 16:04 or we'd all be in trouble. 16:05 But we need to pray in the name of Jesus. 16:07 We need to pray with a submissive heart, 16:09 a willingness to obey. 16:10 Where is it? 16:11 In 1 John where it says: 16:12 Whatever things we ask, 16:14 we receive because we keep His commandments 16:15 and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 16:18 So there the New Testament apostle says, 16:23 "There's a connection between whatever we ask. 16:25 "We have confidence God's gonna hear us 16:27 "'cause we're surrendered to Him, 16:28 "we're keeping His commandments." 16:30 - 1 John 3:22. 16:32 - There you go. - Is the verse. 16:33 - So again though, that doesn't mean that He never hears 16:36 the prayers of only the obedient. 16:39 I was just today reading the story of Elijah 16:43 when Elijah ran from Jezebel. 16:46 God never told him to do that. 16:47 He was sort of going the wrong way. 16:49 And God had an angel took care of him and fed him, 16:52 even though he was going the wrong way of his own. 16:54 And so if God stopped providing for us, 16:57 we'd all be done for. 16:58 - And of course, if somebody's sincerely praying 17:00 and asking God for help to keep His commandments. 17:03 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 17:04 - That kind of prayer, God always hears. 17:05 - [Pastor Doug] Yes. 17:06 - If it's sincere. 17:07 All right, next caller that we have is Richard 17:09 listening in Texas. 17:10 Richard, welcome to the program. 17:12 - [Richard] Hey, thank you guys. 17:15 I have a quick question. 17:16 I came across 1 Timothy 6:10 where it says: 17:21 For the love of money is a root of all kind of evil. 17:26 And I was wondering about this last part of the sentence 17:29 where it says root of all kind of evil. 17:32 And I mean of course in the beginning in our story 17:35 we didn't have money. 17:37 And then how I reconcile this with lust, 17:41 wrath or sloth, for example? 17:44 - Yeah, of course there was evil before money. 17:46 Money goes back pretty far. 17:48 Money, paper money, is different from currency or valuables. 17:52 That's what money is. 17:53 I mean, money used to be the barter system 17:56 and they used to trade gold and silver or valuables. 17:59 When Sampson was gonna pay a debt, 18:02 he was offering clothing 18:04 'cause that was a valuable bartering material. 18:07 So it's really not just a paper money or something, 18:10 but when he says, "Love of money," 18:12 love of possessions, it's love of the power that money has, 18:15 is the root. 18:16 Greed. Jesus was sold for silver. 18:20 You know, it's a sin that connects with many other sins. 18:25 - And I think the root of all evil, 18:26 it's not just talking about an individual 18:27 but I think it's society as a whole. 18:29 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 18:30 - There's so much wickedness promoted by the love of money. 18:32 You think of crime, 18:34 you think of just the terrible things just- 18:36 - [Pastor Doug] That's what gambling is. 18:36 - Political conflict, gamble. 18:38 - [Pastor Doug] Whatever. 18:39 - All motivated by possessions, and by power, by money. 18:41 So I think that's the connection there. 18:43 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 18:44 - Okay, next caller that we have is Sherri 18:46 listening in Kentucky. 18:47 Sherri, welcome to the program. 18:50 - [Sherri] Hi. 18:51 - Yeah! 18:53 - [Sherri] I have a weird question. 18:56 I've been reading the Bible 18:57 like from cover to cover for years 19:01 and I can't even count how many times I've done that, 19:04 but I read the Old Testament and the New Testament. 19:07 You know, I'll read two in the Old and two in the New. 19:11 But I've done it so long that I don't feel like- 19:14 I mean, I know the bible and all that, 19:17 but when it says to search the scriptures 19:19 to find yourself approved before the Lord. 19:21 - Mm-hmm. 19:23 - [Sherri] I don't know. 19:25 I mean, I stopped. 19:26 This time I stopped going all the way through 19:29 and I'm only reading, 19:31 like right now I'm in Proverbs 19:32 and I'll read that all the way through. 19:35 Do I just keep doing that? 19:36 Or if I wanna just read the Bible, 19:41 do I just grab a story and just read it? 19:44 I'm really lost in that. 19:45 I don't understand, you know? 19:47 - [Pastor Doug] Well. 19:48 - [Sherri] Do you understand what I mean? 19:49 - I think I know what you're saying. 19:52 The Bible is something like painting a bridge. 19:55 I understand the Golden Gate bridge is so big 19:58 and because it's there exposed to the wind 20:00 and the salt water, 20:01 that they are always painting the bridge. 20:04 They never get done painting the bridge. 20:08 And the bridge always looks good 20:09 because they're always painting it. 20:11 If they should stop painting the bridge, 20:13 it would corrode and eventually rust and fall into the Bay. 20:17 Reading the Bible, you may not know it, 20:18 but it is changing you and it has changed you. 20:21 Heaven forbid you could take a look at 20:23 what you might be like 20:24 if you had not been reading the Bible. 20:26 The Bible tells us that as we read it, 20:28 those principles that teach us about God and holiness 20:31 has a sanctifying influence on our lives. 20:34 And thy Word I've hid in my heart that I might not sin. 20:37 So there's all different methods of reading the Bible. 20:42 And how you should do that, I don't know, 20:45 but I'm sure Pastor Ross could say the same. 20:47 And I've been reading the Bible through for 30 years now 20:52 and I'm always at some point. 20:54 There's only one day a week I don't read the Bible 20:56 and that's because it's usually the Sabbath 20:59 I'm preparing a message 21:00 so I don't do my regular Bible reading. 21:02 And I also use the story in the Bible 21:04 where the manna fell from Heaven six days a week. (laughs) 21:07 But none fell on Sabbath. 21:10 So... 21:12 And I just know so often 21:14 the very thing I need for that day is what I read. 21:17 So I don't know 21:18 if that's answering what you're asking, Sherri. 21:20 - [Sherri] Yeah, it does. 21:21 I do always learn something new when I'm reading it. 21:24 I do. 21:25 It's like every time I go through it, 21:28 it's like I'm learning something different. 21:31 I just don't want to be wrong. 21:33 - You know, one suggestion that I think of, 21:34 I mean I've read a lot of the Bible 21:36 and you read those same stories over and over again 21:38 and there's value just in reading the Bible. 21:41 But one of the things that's kind of fun to do is 21:43 pick a passage of scripture and read it. 21:46 But then also you might wanna get a good concordance 21:48 and dig a little bit deeper. 21:50 Instead of just racing through the verse, 21:52 look at the different words. 21:53 I know one time I really got into it, 21:55 I looked up where these same words in this particular verse 21:59 was used elsewhere in the New Testament 22:01 and it added all kinds of new insight 22:03 in the actual meaning of that word 22:05 when you look at it in that context. 22:06 So you can read the Bible 22:07 but then there's also value in actually studying the Bible. 22:10 And that's where a good concordance 22:11 or a good commentary can just bring a lot of things to light 22:15 that you'd never thought of before you hadn't seen. 22:17 That's maybe something to do as well. 22:20 - So hope that helps a little bit, Sherri. 22:22 And you know, we have a book that talks about 22:24 how you can be strengthened in your Bible study. 22:28 It's called, "The Ultimate Resource." 22:30 - If you'd like to receive that, 22:31 the number to call is 800-835-6747. 22:34 The book is called, "The Ultimate Resource." 22:36 We'll be happy to send it to anyone in the US and Canada 22:40 and we'll send it to those of you on the US territories. 22:43 Now if you're outside of the US or outside of Canada, 22:46 you can still find the book 22:48 by just simply going to amazingfacts.org 22:51 and you can read it for free online. 22:52 It's called, "The Ultimate Resource," 22:54 and it's all about the Bible. 22:56 I think you'll be blessed. 22:57 Next caller that we have is Marvin in Canada. 23:00 Marvin, welcome to the program. 23:02 - [Marvin] Hello guys. I'm happy to hear you. 23:06 - Yes! 23:07 - [Marvin] My question is about 2 Corinthians 3:6. 23:12 And I just want to know if you can explain me more 23:16 because I search by myself, I try to understand, 23:19 but sometimes when Paul writes, 23:27 it's sometimes difficult to understand. 23:29 - [Pastor Doug] Mm-hmm. 23:30 - [Marvin] So I just want to, 23:32 if you can explain for me, 2 Corinthians 3:6. 23:36 - All right, I'll do my best. 23:37 Let's read that for our friends. 23:40 Paul is saying, he's talking about, 23:41 the Spirit and not the letter. 23:43 And he says here in verse six: 23:44 Who also made us sufficient 23:46 as ministers of the new covenant, 23:48 not of the letter but of the Spirit. 23:51 For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 23:54 And so if a person is focusing 23:57 on just the exterior obedience of the law, 24:02 that kills because there's no power in that. 24:05 Jesus talked about the law that says do not commit adultery. 24:09 And He said, "Now that's the letter of the law. 24:11 "But the spirit of the law is do not look on a woman 24:14 "or a man and lust in your heart." 24:17 He said that would be the spirit. 24:18 It's not just the action, it's the attitude. 24:21 The letter of the law says, "Do not kill." 24:24 The spirit of the law says, 24:25 "Do not be angry with your brother or sister without cause 24:28 "or you're guilty of murder." 24:30 The letter of the law says, "Don't lie." 24:33 The spirit of the law, Jesus said, 24:34 "Let your yes be yes and your no be no 24:36 "and do not swear by Heaven or anything else." 24:39 And so Christ brought out that 24:42 the true obedience is not just observing the action, 24:48 it's an attitude in the heart. 24:50 And He said, "That's where the real life comes from." 24:52 Is that through love for God, 24:55 we want Him to change our hearts 24:57 so that we don't long for those things. 24:59 We wanna do His will. 25:00 - And when it comes to the apostles, especially Paul, 25:03 Paul didn't have the permission, you might say, 25:07 or the approval of the religious leaders, 25:10 the Jewish religious leaders, 25:12 because he didn't follow their traditions. 25:14 He was motivated and guided by the Spirit of God. 25:17 So when he went on his missionary activity, 25:19 it wasn't as though he came with letters of recommendation 25:22 from the religious counsel in Jerusalem. 25:24 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 25:25 - He came moved by the Spirit of God by that prophetic gift. 25:29 And Paul does mention that, 25:31 that God called him along with the other apostles 25:32 to preach the gospel and to bring the law into context, 25:36 the 10 Commandments and its relationship to the new covenant 25:39 and not the traditions and the ceremonial law 25:42 that the Jews are saying 25:43 even the Gentile believers had to keep. 25:46 And that was the point of controversy at the time. 25:48 - Yeah, so, so much of what Jesus said, He said, 25:51 "Now don't think I've come to destroy the law of Moses 25:55 "or the prophets. 25:56 "I didn't come to destroy but fulfill." 25:58 He said, "Not one jot or one tittle 26:00 "will in any ways pass from the law until all is fulfilled." 26:04 And so Christ really came to exalt and magnify the law, 26:07 showing not just what the letter said but the spirit of it. 26:12 What the law does on the inside. 26:13 The old covenant is like the law written on stone. 26:16 The new covenant is the law written in the heart. 26:18 - We actually have a study guide called "Written in Stone," 26:21 and it's about the 10 Commandments, about the law of God, 26:23 and we'll be happy to send that to anyone who calls 26:25 and asks. 26:27 That number again is 800-835-6747. 26:30 And you can call and ask for this study guide called 26:32 "Written in Stone." 26:34 And what relationship does the law have to the new covenant? 26:38 You'll be surprised 26:39 if you've never studied out what the Bible says on this 26:41 and we'll be happy to send send it to you 26:43 if you're in Canada or in North America. 26:45 And as we mentioned before, 26:46 if you're outside of North America, 26:47 just go to the Amazing Facts website. 26:49 Just amazingfacts.org. 26:51 - Amen. 26:52 And I think they can even do pound 250 26:54 and get it on their mobile device. 26:55 - That's right. 26:56 - So. 26:57 All right, listening friends, 26:58 we just take a mid-program break. 26:59 We're gonna be coming back in just a few moments 27:01 with more Bible questions. 27:02 Don't go anywhere. 27:04 (cheerful orchestral music) 27:07 - [Announcer] Stay tuned. 27:08 "Bible Answers Live" will return shortly. 27:15 - [Announcer] Did you know that Noah 27:16 was present at the birth of Abraham? 27:18 Okay, maybe he wasn't in the room, 27:21 but he was alive 27:22 and probably telling stories about his floating zoo. 27:25 From the creation of the world 27:27 to the last day events of Revelation, 27:29 Biblehistory.com is a free resource 27:32 where you can explore major Bible events and characters, 27:35 enhance your knowledge of the Bible, 27:37 and draw closer to God's Word. 27:40 Go deeper. 27:41 Visit the Amazing Bible Timeline at Biblehistory.com. 27:46 - [Announcer] Go into all the world 27:48 and preach the gospel to every creature. 27:51 Through radio, television, print, 27:53 evangelistic events, and the internet, 27:55 Amazing Facts International is heeding the call of Jesus 27:59 to go into all the world. 28:01 Millions of individuals in over 150 countries 28:04 have been blessed by the Word of God. 28:07 Amazing Facts has spawned new spheres of influence in India, 28:10 Africa, China, and Indonesia. 28:13 With each new country come hundreds of translated booklets, 28:16 study guides and video presentations, 28:18 produced in each region for the people of that region. 28:21 Armed with these precious truths, 28:23 gospel workers are empowered to spread bright rays of light 28:26 on every path they travel. 28:29 Please visit reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org 28:32 to learn more about Amazing Facts International 28:35 and how you can participate in 28:36 this exciting soul-winning ministry. 28:39 That website again is reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org. 28:43 Thank you for your support. 28:46 (cheerful orchestral music) 28:49 - [Announcer] You're listening to "Bible Answers Live," 28:51 where every question answered 28:53 provides a clearer picture of God and His plan to save you. 28:57 So what are you waiting for? 28:59 Get practical answers about the Good Book 29:01 for a better life today. 29:05 This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 29:09 If you'd like answers to your Bible related questions 29:11 on the air, please call us next Sunday 29:14 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., Pacific Time. 29:17 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned 29:20 in this evening's program, 29:21 call 800-835-6747. 29:25 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 29:32 Now let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live." 29:37 - Welcome back, listening friends, to "Bible Answers Live." 29:40 And if you have tuned in somewhere along the way, 29:43 this is a live international interactive Bible study. 29:46 Interactive because we're inviting you to call in 29:48 with your Bible questions. 29:50 And if you have a Bible question, 29:52 the number is simply 800-GOD-SAYS. 29:54 That's 800-463-7297. 29:58 I am Doug Batchelor. 30:00 - My name is Jean Ross. 30:00 Good evening, friends. 30:02 And we have a number of folks waiting online 30:04 to take their question, 30:06 so we're gonna go straight to the phone lines. 30:07 We got Mike listening in Arizona. 30:09 Mike, welcome to the program. 30:11 - [Mike] Yes! 30:13 - Yeah. 30:14 - [Mike] My question is in Revelation 4:4, 30:17 it talks about the 24 elders who sit on the throne 30:21 or sit around the throne of God. 30:22 Who are the 24 elders? 30:25 - All right, great question. 30:27 You know, it doesn't specify exactly who they are. 30:29 The first thing I'll mention is the number indicates that 30:33 this is a position of leadership 30:36 because in the Old Testament you had, 30:39 I think there were like 24,000 soldiers 30:42 that attended Solomon 30:44 and there were like a set of 24 30:48 that served in the tabernacle that were leading the music. 30:54 So you find a lot of 24s in 1 and 2 Samuel, 30:58 1 and 2 Chronicles that were involved in leadership, 31:00 either in the army in a rotation 31:03 or in serving in the sanctuary. 31:07 And of course, 144,000 is 12 times 12. 31:12 Well, 12 times 12,000. 31:14 But so who are these leaders around the throne? 31:17 Some have wondered, 31:18 "Well, are they some of the people 31:19 "that were resurrected around Jerusalem in Matthew 27?" 31:23 Or are they more like the people 31:26 that you find in the Book of Job who, when it says, 31:29 the sons of God came to present themselves to the Lord 31:32 and Satan came also 31:34 and God has got this heavenly meeting going on, 31:37 it's not in Heaven. 31:39 Satan's been cast out of Heaven. 31:41 The Devil comes to this council representing the Earth. 31:44 Some have wondered if these 24 elders 31:46 represent leaders of unfallen worlds 31:50 and they're called sons of God because, well, 31:53 Adam was a leader of this world 31:54 and he was called the son of God. 31:56 He was created, he wasn't born. 31:58 So I don't know. Pastor Ross, what do you think? 32:00 - Yeah. We got a verse here actually, Isaiah 24:23. 32:04 It says this: 32:05 The Moon will be disgraced and the Sun shall be ashamed 32:08 for the Lord of Hosts will reign on Zion 32:10 and in Jerusalem and before His elders gloriously. 32:14 So it's interesting 32:15 we have a reference here in the Old Testament. 32:16 It's talking about the elders. 32:18 Revelation 4 tells us there's 24 of them 32:21 surrounding the throne. 32:22 It could very well be that 32:24 these are the representatives of the unfallen worlds, 32:26 the sons of God that you read about in the Book of Job. 32:29 And Satan came claiming to be the representative of Earth. 32:33 And then you know the story with Job. 32:34 So yeah, 32:36 I think they are representatives of unfallen worlds. 32:38 - [Pastor Doug] Mm-hmm. 32:39 - It's interesting though. 32:40 The reason I mentioned that is in Revelation 4, 32:42 you have a picture of the heavenly throne room. 32:45 Jesus does not appear until Revelation 5. 32:48 And so the 24 elders are there in Heaven 32:50 before Christ actually officially ascends to Heaven, 32:54 and He begins His priestly work. 32:57 Whereas those who are resurrected 32:58 at the time of Christ's resurrection, 33:00 they accompany Jesus to Heaven. 33:02 - That was a good point. 33:03 - They'll be waiting for Him in Heaven. 33:04 - Yeah. 33:05 - So it's maybe another reason 33:06 why we think the 24 elders could be the representatives. 33:08 - Yep. 33:09 - Of these unfallen worlds. 33:10 - Heavenly leaders. 33:11 - All right, well, thank you Mike. 33:12 We got Lois listening from New York. 33:15 - [Pastor Doug] Luis. 33:16 - Is it Luis? 33:17 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 33:18 - Luis, welcome to the program. 33:19 - [Luis] Goodnight Pastors. I hope you're all well. 33:22 - Evening. 33:23 - [Luis] My question is, 33:24 does the Bible teach you how to preach? 33:27 Not in the sense of like the preaching with our bodies, 33:33 but like the preaching in a church? 33:36 Does that make sense? 33:37 - Yeah. 33:38 I think that the Bible first gives you 33:40 examples of great preachers that you look at 33:44 and it also tells you what their content was. 33:47 So it's telling you what to preach. 33:48 "You preach the Word," is what Paul says. 33:51 And then you can look at the example of how Peter preached, 33:55 how Philip preached, how Paul preached. 33:58 And 34:01 it's like Paul says to Timothy, 34:02 "In season and out of season." 34:04 You might preach to one person like Jesus sitting by a well 34:08 or like Nicodemus at night, 34:10 or you might preach to a multitude on the hillside. 34:13 And it often starts small with your preaching experience 34:17 and then it expands from there. 34:19 But preaching is not, 34:21 it doesn't have to be a complicated science. 34:24 Preaching is basically a form of teaching. 34:27 Now I'm not some people say preaching is when you're ranting 34:30 and raving, yelling and screaming, 34:31 jumping up and down and I'm not that kind of preacher. 34:34 I like to teach more. 34:36 And evangelism I think is a form of teaching too, 34:40 where you're really appealing specifically 34:42 that people accept Christ. 34:43 You're sharing the good news. 34:45 So being pastors and preaching is a gift of the Spirit 34:51 that God gives. 34:52 - And you do have a few verses 34:54 that speak about worshiping in Spirit and in truth. 34:57 And I think that's true of preaching. 34:58 You wanna preach the truth but you want to preach in Spirit, 35:01 meaning that you preach with conviction. 35:04 One of the things that was said about Jesus is that 35:06 He spake not as the scribes and Pharisees, 35:09 but He spake with authority. 35:10 In other words, 35:11 Jesus believed that what He had to say was important 35:13 and that it was the source of life, eternal life. 35:16 So if you wanna be a powerful preacher, 35:18 you wanna make sure that you believe what you are sharing 35:21 and you are living what you're sharing. 35:23 And then you can preach with Spirit and power 35:26 and the truth of God's Word. 35:27 - We've known a lot of evangelists over the years 35:30 and some of them didn't have a lot of formal training, 35:33 but they were very successful 35:34 because they were very sincere and enthusiastic. 35:39 Who was it? 35:39 John Wesley would say that 35:40 he would pray that the Lord would baptize him 35:44 in the kerosene of the Holy Spirit 35:47 and then he'd set himself on fire 35:50 and people would come and watch him burn. 35:51 - Yeah. 35:52 - Something like that. 35:53 - Right. (laughs) 35:54 - So yeah. 35:55 - And there's power in conviction. 35:57 - Yeah. 35:58 - And power in preaching. 35:58 Thank you for your call, Luis. 36:00 We've got Steve listening in Canada. 36:02 Steve, welcome to the program. 36:05 - [Steve] Good evening Pastors. 36:06 Appreciate that you took my call, like always. 36:09 - [Pastor Doug] Mm-hmm. 36:10 - [Steve] I would like to know that Jesus, 36:12 40 days after resurrection here on Earth 36:14 for Mary Magdala, Mary, the disciples, obviously, 36:20 the Devil is not there anymore in the scripture 36:24 because he's in the resurrected, sinless, 36:28 like the fourth place of the new Jerusalem, 36:31 the heavenly kingdom? 36:33 Then the Devil is not part of it. 36:35 That's why he's not there? 36:37 That's why they don't speak about that 36:38 because he had nothing to do in the eternal life anymore? 36:43 He defeated the Devil and He resurrected. 36:46 I assume that would be the answer, 36:48 but I wondered what do you think? 36:50 Thank you very much for your answer and God bless you. 36:52 - Well, just, I wanna make sure I understand your question. 36:55 You're saying the Devil did not appear anymore 36:57 after the resurrection? 36:59 - To tempt Jesus, right? 37:00 Is that the context you're mentioning? 37:03 - [Steve] Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. Yes. 37:04 - Yeah. 37:06 - [Steve] When He resurrect, you know in the new body, 37:07 after on the cross, after three days, that when He appeared, 37:12 He appeared for His inside believers who believe, 37:15 He wanted to show them that He's alive 37:19 and some had doubt. 37:20 But after the event on the mission to preach the 37:25 truth the world, you know? 37:27 With that scene, right? 37:28 - Yeah. 37:29 - [Steve] Yeah. 37:30 - Well, the Devil, of course, 37:34 he's still alive and well as they say here on Planet Earth. 37:37 And even after the resurrection, 37:39 Satan personally still very involved in deceiving the world. 37:43 You can read in Revelation 12, 37:45 Satan has come down with great wrath 37:47 'cause he knows his time is short. 37:49 That's after the cross. 37:50 And Paul warns us that 37:52 we don't wrestle against flesh and blood, 37:53 but principalities and power, 37:55 Satan being that chief power. 37:57 And I think Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11, 38:00 "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light." 38:04 So the Devil's not omnipresent, you know? 38:07 He focuses his attention 38:09 on probably special objects of attack in the last days. 38:15 But yeah, even after Jesus ascended, 38:17 Satan has, I think, appeared at other times. 38:19 I think Satan, Martin Luther says Satan appeared to him. 38:22 - That's right. (Pastor Doug laughs) 38:23 You know, as far as Jesus goes though 38:25 I think Christ overcame him at the cross. 38:28 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 38:29 - And Satan lost the battle with reference to Christ. 38:30 Revelation 12 says: 38:32 The man-child was caught up to God and to His throne. 38:34 So that's talking about the resurrection 38:35 and Christ ascending to Heaven. 38:37 But then he turns his fury against the woman or the church. 38:40 Of course, the Devil has been persecuting the church 38:42 throughout the ages. 38:44 But of course, when we get our glorified bodies 38:47 and Jesus comes the second time, 38:48 we are delivered from the Devil. 38:50 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 38:51 - And he can't tempt us anymore. 38:53 All right. 38:54 Next caller that we have is Kendy listening from Florida. 38:56 Kendy, welcome to the program. 38:59 - [Kendy] Hi Pastors. How are you both? 39:00 - Hi. Good. 39:02 - So my quick question is, 39:04 I've been putting a little bit difficult lately when praying 39:07 sometime not only focusing 39:08 but as far as who should we pray to as far as like 39:11 should I pray to? 39:12 You know, I believe it said: 39:13 Pray to the Father, pray to your Father which is in Heaven 39:15 in the name of Jesus. 39:17 Could you clarify that a little bit 39:18 and how to kinda like avoid 39:19 or kinda like take away that spirit of confusion, I guess? 39:23 I'd appreciate it. Thank you. 39:24 - Yeah. 39:26 Typically in the Bible you'll find that 39:28 they prayed to God the Father in the name of Christ. 39:31 I'm speaking of New Testament times. 39:33 They would pray to God directly in the Old Testament. 39:38 But we know better in the New Testament 39:39 that we're praying in the name of Christ 39:42 'cause He's our mediator, He's the Messiah, the anointed. 39:46 There are a couple of occasions 39:48 where you see someone praying to Jesus. 39:51 There's certainly nothing wrong or sinful. 39:53 The only times I can think of is 39:55 when Stephen is being stoned, he says, 39:58 "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." 40:01 And so that's a prayer directed to Jesus. 40:03 Then of course the New Testament, 40:04 the last words in the New Testament, says: 40:06 Even so, come Lord Jesus. 40:08 It's an appeal to Jesus. 40:10 And then it says, "Amen." 40:12 So there may be other places I'm not thinking of, 40:14 but generally they pray to the Father. 40:19 But keep in mind Jesus is sometimes called, like in Isaiah, 40:22 the Everlasting Father, 40:23 'cause all things were made by Him. 40:25 - You know, sometimes the idea is that 40:28 Jesus loves us and understands us 40:29 a little better than the Father 40:31 and so you wanna pray to Jesus if you really want something. 40:35 But Christ Himself said, "The Father loves you." 40:37 And that you can come directly to the Father 40:39 in the name of Jesus. 40:40 But the Father loves the world so much 40:43 that He gave His only begotten Son. 40:45 You know, you get the idea that 40:46 somehow the Father's the angry God, 40:48 Jesus is the compassionate God. 40:50 And so you wanna try and get Him on your side. 40:53 But you can go directly through Christ to the Father. 40:55 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 40:57 - Because of Christ's sacrifice and He accepts us. 40:58 - Yep. Good point. 41:00 - All right. Thank you for your call. 41:01 We've got Philip listening in Florida as well. 41:03 Philip, welcome to the program. 41:06 - [Philip] Hi. 41:08 In Joshua 20:2 and 3, 41:12 and they're dividing up the land that says 41:16 they should set up cities of refuge 41:19 so that somebody kills somebody accidentally, 41:22 they could run to these cities of refuge 41:25 before the avenger of blood catches them. 41:30 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 41:31 - [Philip] Who is the avenger of blood? 41:32 - Well, they use an example 41:34 that two men are out in the woods, 41:36 and it just uses one example that I know of, 41:38 two men are out in the woods 41:39 and they're chopping wood together and they're friends. 41:42 And the ax head has not been secured to the ax. 41:45 And while swinging the ax, the ax head flies off. 41:48 I've had that experience before. 41:49 Fortunately, nobody got hurt. 41:51 But it flies off and a person is killed. 41:54 In other words, there's an accidental killing. 41:57 Well, the family shows up and they thought, 41:58 "Oh, maybe you guys had an argument. 42:00 "You killed our husband, our brother," whoever it is. 42:03 The family is called the avenger of blood. 42:05 And so when there's been an accidental murder, 42:08 two men are out there and they're riding their oxcart 42:10 and plowing and one man gets trampled and killed 42:13 and someone says, "Oh, this was done deliberately 42:15 "or it was negligent," 42:16 and they want to take vengeance on the party who really, 42:19 it was not premeditated, it was an accident. 42:22 They are called the avenger of blood. 42:24 They're the family that, usually it's a firstborn son, 42:28 but they're the family that has the right 42:29 to kill this person. 42:33 I think there's a story where a woman of Tekoa 42:37 brings an example to David. 42:38 She had two sons fighting and one killed the other. 42:41 And the family's now saying, 42:42 "You gotta turn over the guilty son so we can kill him." 42:45 She said, "Oh please, I'm a widow. 42:47 "You'll take my only son." 42:48 So family members have the right then 42:51 to execute someone who had been murdered. 42:54 But if they get to a city of refuge, 42:56 they were protected from the avenger of blood, 42:58 the family leader of the offended party. 43:02 I don't know. 43:03 Hopefully that makes sense. 43:05 - There'd still be a trial that would take place, you know? 43:06 It didn't mean that if somebody did it deliberately 43:09 that they'd be off the hook. 43:10 But they could go to the city of refuge, 43:11 they'd have a trial and then it would determine 43:13 their innocence or their guilt at that point. 43:16 All right. 43:17 Well, thank you for your call, Philip. 43:18 We've got, let's see, Thomas is listening in Oklahoma. 43:20 Thomas, welcome to the program. 43:22 - [Thomas] I wanna know the Revelation 19:10 43:28 what's it mean? 43:30 And I fell at his feet to worship him 43:36 and he say unto me, "See that do not. 43:41 "I am the fellow servant 43:45 "and of the brother 43:47 "so they have the testimony of Jesus. 43:50 "Worship God for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit 43:55 "or the prophecy." 43:56 What's it mean to testimony of Jesus 43:59 in the Spirit or the prophecy? 44:00 - Okay, good question. 44:02 If you look in Revelation 12:17, it says: 44:05 The dragon, the Devil, was wroth with a woman. 44:09 And he goes to make war with a remnant of her seed 44:11 that keep the commandments of God 44:14 and have the testimony of Jesus. 44:16 The commandments and the testimony 44:19 is a theme that runs through the Bible. 44:21 It simply means the law and the prophets. 44:25 The testimony of the prophets is what it's talking about. 44:28 And if you look in, I think it's Isaiah 8:16, it says: 44:32 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 44:37 And then if you look in Isaiah 8:20, it says: 44:40 According to the law and the testimony, 44:42 if they speak not according to this Word, 44:44 there's no light in them. 44:46 The last verses in the Old Testament: 44:48 Remember the law of Moses. 44:51 I send you Elijah, the prophet. 44:52 The law and the prophets, 44:54 the commandments and the testimony. 44:56 So when it says the testimony of Jesus, 44:58 the Spirit of prophecy or the Spirit that led the prophets, 45:02 and so I was talking about the Word of God. 45:05 - Mm-hmm. 45:06 You also have John who wrote the Book of Revelation. 45:08 Obviously, he was a prophet. He had the gift of prophecy. 45:11 And in John 1, he speaks about, actually verse two, 45:15 speaking of himself, he bore witness of the Word of God 45:17 and the testimony of Jesus to all things that he saw. 45:20 So John had the spirit of prophecy 45:22 and he refers to that as the testimony of Jesus. 45:25 Jesus communicates to the prophets through the Spirit. 45:28 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. Good point. 45:29 - And that's His will. That's His testimony that goes out. 45:31 - I never made that connection before. Thank you. 45:33 - Yeah, you're welcome. (laughs) 45:34 - I learn. I'm glad I come to this program. 45:36 - You learn something new every time, right? 45:38 We all do. 45:39 Okay, well, thanks for your call, Thomas. 45:41 Let's see, we got Carol listening in California. 45:43 Carol, welcome to the program. 45:45 - [Carol] Yes. 45:47 My question is going back to the lesson for Thursday, 45:51 November 3. 45:52 I just wanted to clarify regarding. 45:55 It says here: 45:56 Christ did not die just a natural death 46:00 that every human being has to face. 46:03 He died the second death. 46:05 If you could just elaborate or explain further. 46:09 What does it mean that He died the second death 46:12 so that all those who accept Him 46:15 will never have to experience it for themselves? 46:19 I just wanna have a better understanding. 46:23 - Yeah, thank you. 46:24 And I think our question is referring to a lesson in 46:27 what they call a Sabbath School Quarterly. 46:29 It's a quarterly lesson. 46:31 And so this is not a text of scripture, 46:33 but the principle is true. 46:35 And it's simply when you look in Revelation 20, it says: 46:38 The wicked are cast in the Lake of Fire 46:41 and this is the second death. 46:42 The wicked face 46:43 the death from which there is no resurrection. 46:45 It is a hopeless, eternal death. 46:48 And so of course they're cast in the Lake of Fire 46:51 and everyone's punished 46:52 according to what they deserve there. 46:54 Jesus, when He went to the cross, 46:57 He did not experience the death a person, a believer, has 47:02 where they got hope and peace. 47:03 Jesus was experiencing the death, 47:06 the second death that the lost experience. 47:09 And so He just had all the will, all the guilt 47:13 and the shame of the whole world resting on His shoulders. 47:18 He took that in our behalf 47:21 so we don't have to experience the second death. 47:24 So I think, again, I'm answering a question 47:26 that's posed in the Sabbath School Quarterly. 47:29 Some people call them Sunday School lessons, 47:31 but we keep the Sabbath, 47:32 so we call them Sabbath School Quarterlies. 47:34 But it's not actually taken from scripture 47:37 but the principles there. 47:38 - Mm-hmm. 47:39 Now, there is a little difference 47:41 between what Christ died and what the wicked die 47:44 in that Jesus did rise from the dead. 47:46 - Right. They don't. 47:47 - But those who die the second death, 47:48 there's no hope of a resurrection. 47:49 - No. Yeah. 47:49 But when He was facing it, 47:51 He felt the separation from God that the wicked feel. 47:54 - That's right. 47:55 And bore our guilt. 47:56 - Yeah. 47:57 - All right. Well, thanks. Good question Carol. 47:58 We've got Carla listening in Missouri. 48:01 Carla, welcome to the program. 48:03 - [Carla] Hi. 48:05 - Hi. 48:07 - [Carla] I wanna thank you Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross 48:09 for all the Amazing Facts does for prisoners. 48:12 My husband's been doing a prison ministry for over 20 years 48:15 and about six years ago I was able to start going with him. 48:19 And these guys get up like at five o'clock in the morning 48:21 just to listen to Amazing Facts. 48:23 But one of them had a question and I said, 48:25 "I'm gonna call 'Amazing Facts Answers Live' 48:27 "and ask your question for you." 48:29 And they were so excited. 48:30 - Oh good. 48:31 - So his question is, on the Day of Atonement, 48:34 when the High Priest was in the Holy of Holies 48:38 and everyone was supposed to be repentant, 48:40 was everyone always repentant? 48:42 And what happened? 48:43 Or did it ever happen that everyone wasn't repentant 48:46 and the High Priest died? 48:49 - Yeah. 48:50 Well, I don't think it says anywhere that 48:51 if there were some people that were not sincerely repenting, 48:54 the High Priest would die. 48:55 Because if you got a nation with a couple of million people, 48:58 there's probably some that are not sincerely repenting. 49:01 But he was to intercede for the people. 49:03 And even like the intercession of Jesus 49:06 now as our High Priest, there are some that are sincere, 49:09 that are there by faith with Him, 49:11 they're repenting of their sins and wanting victory. 49:13 And there are some who are going through the motions. 49:16 So because Jesus had a Judas in His group, 49:21 Jesus didn't die 49:23 because there was one person there that didn't believe. 49:27 So I don't know if I said that right. 49:29 But help me make sense. 49:32 - Yeah, just to add to that a little bit, Pastor Doug. 49:34 It's interesting when you look at that, 49:36 that on the Day of Atonement, if the High Priest didn't, 49:40 before he went in representing the people, 49:42 he'd have to do a sacrifice for himself. 49:45 If the High Priest was harboring sin in his heart, 49:47 there was the potential that he could be striked down. 49:49 - [Pastor Doug] Right. 49:50 - I don't think we have any record of that ever happening. 49:52 - Yeah, the closest is Eli. 49:54 He kind of gets a judgment afterward. 49:56 - Yes. On his sons because of their wickedness. 49:58 - And then he dies when the ark is taken. 50:00 But yeah, that's true. 50:04 And then not only did they have to do 50:05 a sacrifice for themselves, 50:06 they had to wash, put on fresh garments, 50:08 and so they had to go in like they were pure. 50:10 - [Pastor Ross] Mm-hmm. 50:11 - But I'm thinking about Zachariah 50:12 when he was in the temple kinda interceding 50:15 and he was struck dumb because he didn't believe the angel. 50:18 - That's right. 50:19 - And so, but you know, God's merciful. 50:21 - Yep. Absolutely. 50:22 All right. Well, thank you Carla. 50:24 Hope that helps. 50:25 We've got Ken listening from California. 50:27 Ken, welcome to the program. 50:30 - [Ken] Hello Pastors. Good to speak with you. 50:34 My question concerns Isaiah 66:24. 50:39 I know that fire comes down from Heaven 50:44 to destroy Satan and his angels and those who followed him. 50:49 But Isaiah 66:24 says that 50:52 they will look upon the corpses of the men 50:55 who have transgressed against God. 50:58 And I'm confused as to how this coincides, 51:04 the two pieces coincide together. 51:05 Can you explain that for me? 51:08 - Yeah. 51:09 Well, ultimately, first of all, let's assume the absurd. 51:12 Let's assume this means that after God makes a new Earth 51:16 and we go forth from the new Jerusalem, 51:19 that we're gonna be surrounded with a morgue of corpses 51:22 that are being eaten by worms 51:25 and smoldering with fire. 51:29 Clearly that's not the Heaven anybody sees 51:32 anywhere else in the Bible. 51:34 If you look in Malachi, it says in Malachi 4: 51:38 They shall go forth and tread upon the wicked 51:41 for they are ashes under the souls of their feet. 51:44 And of course, Jesus said, 51:45 "Blessed are the meek, they will inherit the Earth." 51:47 Christ is actually quoting the Old Testament 51:49 when He says that. 51:51 So I think that Isaiah uses a lot of poetic terms, 51:54 especially in that last two chapters. 51:56 He uses a lot of analogies. 51:59 On the ashes of the wicked who have been consumed, 52:03 the fire was not quenched and they have been eaten by worms. 52:07 What happens when worms eat 52:10 and completely consume something? 52:11 It turns back into the elements of Earth. 52:14 God is gonna create a new Heavens and a new Earth. 52:17 And you know, if we could see the history of 52:19 all the soil underneath the farms, 52:21 it would be pretty scary how that soil got there. (laughs) 52:25 But so I think he's just, it says: 52:29 In the new world you're gonna see, 52:31 you're gonna go out and you're gonna look and say, 52:32 "This is what became of those who persecuted God's people." 52:37 But no, 52:38 we're not gonna sit on the walls of the new Jerusalem, 52:40 eat popcorn and watch the wicked burn. 52:42 - Mm-hmm. 52:44 I think also the reference there where it talks about 52:46 the worm and the fires not quenched. 52:48 You know, that has to do somewhat with the sort of the dump 52:51 where they would throw refuge. 52:53 - [Pastor Doug] Gehenna. 52:54 - And it's illustrating the point that the wicked, 52:57 they will be destroyed, 52:58 they'll have no value, 52:59 they'll never live again, 53:00 they'll be considered as something you throw out as waste. 53:04 Not that it's speaking specifically here about worms 53:07 that live eternally gobbling on flesh, 53:09 just like what you say. 53:10 It's symbolic. 53:11 - Yeah. 53:12 I think Christ refers to this when He talks about 53:15 the punishment of the wicked. 53:16 He says, "They'll be thrown to Gehenna." 53:18 That was a Valley of Hinnom, 53:20 which was the city dump outside Jerusalem. 53:22 And He said, "Where the worm does not die. 53:25 - [Both] "And the fire's not quenched." 53:26 - So I think Christ is referring back to Isaiah 66. 53:30 - And just one more quick symbol on that. 53:31 When it talks about the distraction of the wicked 53:33 you read about in Revelation, 53:34 it talks about calling the birds to come 53:37 and they're gonna have a great feast 53:39 and they're gonna feast on the flesh of the dead people. 53:42 And even talks about horses and so on. 53:44 Again, it's symbolic. 53:45 It's talking about a great battle. 53:47 - [Pastor Doug] Yeah. 53:47 - And the army is defeated 53:49 and it's talking about the wicked being utterly destroyed 53:51 when that time comes. 53:52 - And I think we have a lesson that talks about 53:58 "Is the Devil in Charge of Hell?" 53:59 - [Pastor Ross] Mm-hmm. 54:01 - And it goes into some of these verses 54:02 that are difficult passages. 54:03 For anybody out there, 54:04 if you wanna better understand what the Bible teaches 54:07 on the subject of the punishment of the wicked, 54:09 we have a lesson called, "Is the Devil in Charge of Hell?" 54:13 - The number to call for that is just 800-835-6747. 54:18 And as Pastor Doug mentioned, the study guide is called, 54:20 "Is the Devil in Charge of Hell?" 54:22 And just filled with all kinds of wonderful Bible verses. 54:25 You know, Pastor Doug, it's interesting. 54:26 Hell is actually good news 54:28 when you look at it from what the Bible says. 54:30 It's not an eternal burning chamber 54:32 where the wicked are gonna suffer throughout all eternity, 54:36 it is a destruction of the wicked. 54:37 There is punishment, but it's good news in that 54:40 God's gonna create a new Heavens and a new Earth 54:42 wherein dwells righteousness. 54:43 - It's an incinerator that purifies the Earth. 54:46 And by the way, if you would like that lesson, 54:48 you've got a mobile phone, you can just text us. 54:50 I think they text pound 250 54:53 and you can get that lesson on, 54:55 "Is the Devil in Charge of Hell?" 54:56 Now Pastor Ross, as we've mentioned before, 54:59 we kind of sign-off "Bible Answers Live" in two phases, 55:03 sort of do it in stereo. 55:05 We say goodbye to our friends listening on satellite. 55:07 But for the rest, we're gonna be back in just a moment 55:09 to take your internet questions that have come in. 55:12 Our two minutes rapid fire internet questions. 55:14 Don't go anyway. 55:15 (cheerful orchestral music) 55:18 - [Announcer] Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:20 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:24 "Bible Answers Live" is produced by 55:26 Amazing Facts International, 55:28 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:34 - Hello, friends. Welcome back to "Bible Answers Live." 55:37 We thank you for your email questions that you've sent in. 55:40 If you'd like to send us an email question, 55:42 the email address is BALquestions@amazingfacts.org. 55:46 Just BALquestions@amazingfacts.org. 55:50 And Pastor Doug, 55:51 we're gonna see how many of these questions we can answer. 55:54 So Holly from Michigan is asking, 55:55 "Does God truly create some people to be saved? 55:58 "And I guess by default some people to be lost?" 56:01 - Well, the Bible tells us that 56:03 God is not willing that any should perish. 56:06 And if God created some people and said, 56:09 "I predetermined I'm gonna make some creatures 56:12 "and I'm gonna make them so that they will sin 56:14 "and they will be lost and then I'll punish them 56:16 "for doing what I made them to do." 56:20 Well, you think about that, that's kind of outrageous. 56:22 It would almost make God an accomplice to sin 56:26 that He's creating these people that have no option 56:28 but to sin 56:29 and then He's gonna punish them 56:30 for doing what they've been created to do. 56:32 No. 56:34 Folks I think are confusing some passages in the Bible. 56:38 The Bible says God is not willing that any perish. 56:41 Again, in Timothy, Paul says, 56:44 "God who would have all men to be saved." 56:47 And then the Bible closes with an invitation saying: 56:50 Whosoever will, 56:51 let him come and take the water of life freely. 56:53 So people do have a choice to come 56:56 and take that water of life. 56:57 - Okay, another question that we have. 56:58 Renny's asking, "In Matthew 16:19, 57:02 "it talks about the keys of the kingdom. 57:04 "What are the keys of the kingdom?" 57:07 - Well, when we share the gospel, 57:09 we are sharing the door to eternal life. 57:12 So you're giving people the keys to get into that kingdom. 57:17 Talks about Jesus has the key of David. 57:21 And I think where is it? 57:23 In Isaiah it says: 57:25 And the key, the government was on his shoulder. 57:27 They used to keep a key on their shoulder 57:28 and that was a symbol of authority. 57:30 So it's basically saying that 57:31 you've got the avenue of truth with the keys. 57:35 - Which is the gospel. 57:35 - Right. 57:36 - Being preached. 57:37 Okay, last question that we have here. 57:39 Let's see. 57:39 We've got Larry asking, 57:41 "Are there unfallen worlds 57:43 "and did they exist before the creation of Earth?" 57:46 - We know He has angels that He made before the world. 57:50 But you can read in Hebrews, 57:52 I believe it's in chapter two, the first verse, it says: 57:55 God through Christ made the worlds, 57:58 and it's plural there. 58:00 And Revelation talks about all the creatures in Heaven 58:03 that are praising Him. 58:04 So we do believe there are unfallen, sinless worlds. 58:08 Well friends, that uses our time up for this week. 58:10 We're so glad that you tuned in. 58:12 We pray that you will continue to support 58:14 and pray for "Bible Answers Live" and Amazing Facts. 58:16 And check out the website, amazingfacts.org. 58:20 (cheerful orchestral music) 58:21 - [Announcer] "Bible Answers Live," 58:22 honest and accurate answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2023-03-08