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Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA202304S
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00:02 male 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," providing accurate and practical 00:24 answers to all your Bible questions. 00:28 This broadcast is a previously-recorded episode. 00:31 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned 00:33 in this broadcast, call 800-835-6747. 00:38 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 00:44 Now here's your host from Amazing Facts International, 00:47 Pastor Doug Batchelor. 00:49 Doug Batchelor: Hello, listening friends. 00:50 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 00:54 Peregrine falcons are among the most amazing raptors 00:57 that can be found all around the world. 00:59 Scientists estimate that the falcon's vision 01:02 is eight times better than a human's. 01:05 This allows the birds to spot small prey from nearly 2 miles 01:08 away then swoop down with precision to catch it. 01:12 They're monogamous birds that mate for life, which is about 20 01:15 years, and they migrate over 15,000 01:18 miles a year to their nesting grounds. 01:21 The peregrine falcon is not only the fastest bird, 01:25 but it's the fastest animal in the world. 01:28 When diving for prey, they can reach 01:30 speeds of up to 240 miles an hour. 01:33 Now, just for perspective, the fastest 01:35 that a professional baseball player can pitch 01:38 is less than half of that, 106 miles an hour. 01:42 At these times when a peregrine falcon is diving, the air 01:45 entering its nose would normally cause its lungs 01:48 to explode, but the bony tubercles in its 01:52 nares safely regulate the stream of air. 01:55 It was by using this knowledge that jet turbine engineers 01:58 solved the air in-deck problem--intake problems in jet 02:02 engines and created a similar system. 02:05 The Bible asks in the book of Job chapter 39, verse 26, 02:09 "Does the hawk fly by your wisdom, and 02:12 spread out its wings towards the south?" 02:15 You know, it's amazing, Pastor Ross, how many of these 02:17 creatures that God has made have just such unique engineering. 02:23 The idea that that could all happen 02:25 by accident is really absurd. 02:27 Jean Ross: That's right, Pastor Doug. 02:28 You know, the amazing thing is that there are so many things 02:30 that we use today in our modern society--for example, you 02:34 mentioned jet engines, how they learn from the birds. 02:38 And so there are so many things from nature, the things that God 02:40 created that we can learn and that we have used. 02:43 I'm thinking, for example, the dragonfly and the helicopter. 02:46 And there's just so many similarities and 02:48 things that have been learned from nature. 02:50 And when you look at the wonders of creation, it testifies of a 02:53 mighty creator and a God that cares, a God that is concerned 02:57 even about the smallest creatures that He makes. 03:00 Doug: Yep. 03:01 There's a wonderful verse in the book of Job chapter 12, verse 7: 03:05 "But now ask the beasts, and they will teach 03:08 you; and the birds of the air, and they will tell you; 03:12 or speak to the earth, and it will teach you; 03:13 and the fish of the sea will explain to you. 03:16 Who among all these does not know that 03:18 the hand of the Lord has done this?" 03:21 It's so clear from the things that God has made that there is 03:24 a designer, and maybe our listeners out there would like 03:27 to know more about this powerful God and His infinite wisdom that 03:31 has designed these incredible symbiotic relationships between 03:36 all of His creatures and just engineering of 03:39 these animals that can run and fly so fast. 03:41 Jean: Yes, we have a book, and the book is 03:43 called "Amazing Wonders of Creation." 03:45 And this is free, friends. 03:47 We'll be happy to send this to anyone in 03:49 North America, in the US and Canada. 03:51 All you have to do is call. 03:52 The number is 800-835-6747 and ask for the book. 03:57 It's called "Amazing Wonders of Creation." 03:59 You can also text by just #250, say "Bible Answers Live," and 04:05 then ask for the free offer "Amazing Wonders of Creation." 04:09 You'll be able to get it that way as well. 04:11 We also want to greet those who are listening. 04:13 We do have some phone lines open. 04:15 So if you'd like to call in with your Bible question, 04:17 the number is 800-GOD-SAYS. 04:19 That's 800-463-7297. 04:22 That'll bring you right here into the studio, 04:24 and you can ask your Bible question on line. 04:26 You know, Pastor Doug, before we go to the phones, 04:28 we just want to greet our friends who 04:29 are listening, as they say, down under. 04:32 We were just recently in Australia and New Zealand and a 04:34 number of folks came up and said, 04:35 "Well, we listen to 'Bible Answers Live.'" 04:37 Now, of course, it's not 7 p.m. their time, but 04:41 it's of course--I think it's the middle of the day if-- 04:43 Doug: New Zealand would be about 3 hours earlier, and East 04:47 Coast would be about 6 hours earlier. 04:49 Jean: That's right, so we know folks are out there 04:52 listening, so we want to greet all of you. 04:53 We had a wonderful series of meetings in Melbourne, 04:56 Brisbane, and then also in Auckland. 04:58 So if you have a Bible question, you can go ahead and call as 05:01 well and we'll try and get your question on the program. 05:04 Our first caller this evening is Gary listening in Illinois. 05:07 Gary, welcome to the program. 05:10 Gary: Thank you. 05:11 My question is with the church there's no emphasis with 05:15 environmentalism, even though in the Bible Genesis 1:28 says that 05:21 God gives dominion of the planet to Adam and Eve. 05:23 I take that to mean we're to be good stewards of the planet. 05:27 And then in Revelation 11:18 God says, "I will 05:31 destroy those who destroy the earth." 05:33 And so with that--I mean, climate 05:36 change events are overwhelming. 05:39 You know, we got to give our children and 05:40 grandchildren a chance to be saved. 05:43 Doug: That's a great question, Gary. 05:45 You know, it's interesting you would ask that 05:47 because just today I was listening to 05:49 a biblical message on that very subject. 05:52 It's interesting how the Lord arranges those things. 05:55 And I think the Christian needs to have a balanced approach. 05:58 According to Jesus, when you talk about the value of 06:01 creatures, humans are infinitely more valuable than sheep. 06:06 You know, Jesus said, "Are you not worth more than many sheep, 06:08 or are you not worth more than many sparrows?" 06:11 But the animals do have value. 06:13 When God created the world, He creates this beautiful 06:15 environment for the crowning act of His creation, which are these 06:20 creatures that are made in His image, humans. 06:23 And it's not a sin for people to use resources that 06:27 God has made, but clearly God said that man 06:30 was to dress and to keep the garden. 06:33 That actually has the idea of cultivate. 06:36 That means you increase organization and design to 06:39 something that normally was, you know, just going wild and--so 06:43 man, he needs to be a good steward of the environment, but 06:47 it's not a sin to use resources in the environment and a 06:50 Christian should have a good balanced view on that. 06:52 And I'd agree, Gary. 06:53 I think sometimes we have two extremes in the church. 06:55 One extreme is saying that, "Well, the earth is for us to 06:57 use and there's no responsibility." 07:00 Then the other extreme is saying that we're supposed to, you 07:02 know, treat whales like they're worth as much 07:04 as humans and trees like they're worth as much 07:06 as people and--which they're not, you know. 07:10 So we need to understand the value. 07:12 And God gave dominion of the world to Adam and Eve, our first 07:17 parents, but we should be good stewards of that environment. 07:20 Jean: You know, Pastor Doug, it's interesting when you see a 07:23 group of Christians--we've traveled before. 07:24 We've been to different countries where there's a lot of 07:28 garbage around and things aren't being well kept and maintained. 07:31 But when you find a group of Christians in their homes, in 07:33 their dwellings, things are typically neater 07:35 and cleaner than just general society. 07:39 So being a Christian, there is a degree of stewardship. 07:42 You want to take care of the things, your 07:44 personal belongings, your home, but even the 07:47 environment that God has given you. 07:49 So there's a good principle there. 07:52 The next caller that we have is Junith listening in Nevada. 07:54 Junith, welcome to the program. 07:56 Junith: Yes, I have a question. 07:59 There are two Adams in the Bible, and the first Adam has a 08:03 very crystal clear of having Eve number one. 08:07 What about Eve number two? 08:10 Who is the Eve number two of Adam number two? 08:14 Is it the bride? Is it the church? 08:16 It does not really clear me up as to what the Bible said. 08:21 Doug: Yeah, good question. 08:22 And if you read in Romans chapter 5, Paul goes into a 08:25 discourse where he talks about, you know, we all struggle with 08:28 sin because of the mistake of the first Adam. 08:31 Adam was a son of God made in God's image and--but because of 08:36 Jesus who is a type--I guess the first Adam is a type of Christ. 08:40 He is the second Adam. 08:42 Because of his victory, we can have victory. 08:44 We are reborn. 08:45 And so you're saying, well, what would the type for Eve be? 08:50 Well, it's interesting that when Adam went to sleep on the sixth 08:53 day, God opened his side and out came a wife, you might say. 08:58 You know, He took a rib and He made a wife for Adam. 09:01 Jesus on the sixth day of the week he died on the cross. 09:05 He went to sleep and God opened his side--or the Roman spear 09:08 opened his side and in the blood and water 09:10 the church was born, the bride of Christ. 09:13 You know, often with a human birth there's blood and water. 09:15 And so it's a symbol of there's a new birth to the church. 09:19 So the church is the bride of Christ. 09:21 The Bible does tell us, "Husbands, love your wives even 09:24 as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her." 09:27 So, Junith, I think that would probably 09:29 be the best equal analogy. 09:32 If Jesus is a symbol for the second Adam, 09:36 then the church would be a symbol for Eve. 09:39 Jean: You know, we have a study guide 09:40 called "The Bride of Christ." 09:41 It talks about the church and the great price 09:44 that Christ has paid for his people. 09:46 We'll be happy to send it to anyone who calls and asks. 09:48 The number, again, is 800-835-6747. 09:52 You can also dial #250 on your cell phone and say "Bible 09:57 Answers Live," ask for the free gift. 09:59 It's called "The Bride of Christ." 10:00 And we'll be happy to send it out. 10:01 For those listening outside of North America, we're unable to 10:05 mail you the free gift, but you can go to 10:07 the Amazing Facts website, just AmazingFacts.org, 10:11 and you'll be able to read it there as well. 10:13 We got Anthony in New York. 10:15 Anthony, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 10:18 Anthony: Yes. Good evening, pastors. 10:20 Doug: Evening. 10:21 Anthony: My question is based on the book of Ruth chapter 3, 10:26 and in verse 9 it says he asks, "Who art thou?" 10:30 And she says, "I am Ruth thine handmaid. 10:34 Spread therefore thy skirt over thine 10:36 handmaid; for thou art a near kinsman." 10:39 So my wife and I were wondering, would this be 10:42 considered an ancient day form of Ruth proposing to Boaz? 10:48 Doug: Yeah, well, basically she's saying, "I am available. 10:56 And the way that you could redeem the property of your 11:00 kinsman, Elimelech, is by marrying me." 11:05 And he was unmarried as far as everything we see in the text at 11:08 that time, and there are some customs that I think we need to 11:10 understand that aren't totally clear. 11:12 You know, traditions and customs about marriage, they change a 11:15 little bit from culture to culture and even over time. 11:18 And so by his spreading his garment over her, there's, I 11:23 think, another allusion to that when God says he married Israel. 11:26 He said, "I spread my garment over you." 11:28 And it basically is like a proposal. 11:32 And so she was saying, you know, "If you would take 11:36 me as your wife, you could redeem me." 11:38 Now, this might seem a little forward to us. 11:40 You can read a verse in Isaiah chapter 4, verse 1 where it says 11:45 in that day seven women will take hold of one 11:48 man saying, "We'll eat our own bread. 11:51 We'll wear our own apparel. 11:52 Only let us be called by your name to take away our reproach." 11:55 It was often true because of wars back then that sometimes 11:58 there were several women for every man. 12:00 That's why God often winked at a man having more than one wife 12:03 'cause some of these women had no protection 12:05 or provision unless they had a husband. 12:08 And so it wasn't that uncommon. 12:10 It says those women took hold of one man saying, "Marry us. 12:13 We'll even provide for ourselves. 12:15 Just marry us. We need a name." 12:17 And--so Ruth was saying, you know, "My husband died." 12:22 Her sister-in-law's husband died. 12:23 Elimelech her father-in-law had died. 12:25 And the only way for them to get their property back was through 12:28 marriage, and Boaz was the near kinsman who had that right. 12:32 So that was the ritual for doing that, and 12:34 he actually said, "Wait until morning. 12:36 There's someone else who's first in line. 12:38 If they turn down that right, then I'll marry you." 12:41 Jean: All right, next caller that we 12:42 have is Bill listening in Canada. 12:44 Bill, you're on the air. 12:46 Bill: Yes. Good evening, pastors. 12:47 Thank you for taking my call. 12:50 My question this evening is as a Sabbath-keeping, 12:55 commandment-keeping disciple of Jesus I'm really curious and I 12:59 have a great number of other brethren of mine 13:01 that are curious as to this as well. 13:04 And that question is, why are so many churches today not 13:08 preaching the third angel's message? 13:11 Doug: Yeah, well, I would think that the 13:13 devil would be threatened by people 13:14 preaching the truth, and that would be the first reason. 13:19 And when--our listeners are wondering, "What do 13:21 you mean by the third angel's message?" 13:23 Just before Jesus comes--you read in Revelation 14 this 13:26 vision of Christ coming in the clouds, one like the Son of man 13:30 coming with the clouds of heaven. 13:32 There are three prominent messages that go to the world 13:35 preparing the world for the return of Christ. 13:37 And Bill is asking, why are churches 13:39 neglecting to preach those messages? 13:42 Matter of fact, Amazing Facts just completed a magazine. 13:45 It's actually moving pretty quickly. 13:47 A magazine talking about the three angels messages, and I 13:52 think we can give those away if someone calls and asks for one. 13:55 Jean: We also have a study guide that talks about that. 13:57 So if you'd like to learn more about God's last-warning 14:00 message, it's a very important subject, you can call and ask. 14:03 It's "Angel Messages from Space." 14:06 That's what the study guide is called, 14:07 and the number is 800-835-6747. 14:11 And, again, just ask for "Angel Messages from Space." 14:14 As Pastor Doug mentioned, we also have a magazine. 14:17 So you can ask about that as well. 14:18 And if you have your cell phone, just dial #250 and say "'Bible 14:23 Answers Live,' I'd like the three angels brochure," or 14:27 "Angel Messages from Space" is the name. 14:30 Thank you for your call. 14:31 We're going to try Brittany again in California 14:32 and see if she's by her phone. 14:35 Brittany, welcome to the program. 14:38 Brittany: Hey. 14:40 Doug: All right. Hey, we reached you. 14:43 And your question tonight? 14:46 Brittany: Yeah, my question is, is necromancy 14:48 considered one of the unpardonable sins? 14:52 Like how is a person supposed to deal with it? 14:57 Doug: Yeah. All right. 14:59 For our friends listening, necromancy is another term for 15:02 being a medium trying to consult with the dead, and this is 15:06 strictly forbidden in the Word of God in a number of passages. 15:11 I think Revelation mentions it, Paul 15:13 mentions it, Moses mentions it. 15:15 And King Saul in the book of Samuel, King Saul tried to 15:18 consult the dead, and he committed suicide the next day. 15:23 It is not called the unpardonable sin 'cause I think 15:26 even King Manasseh engaged in all kinds of witchcraft and 15:31 occult behavior, and he was forgiven and converted. 15:35 And the Bible doesn't say there are different 15:37 kinds of unpardonable sins, I think it 15:39 specifies there is one unpardonable sin. 15:42 Jesus said, "All manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven 15:46 for the children of men, but there is a sin that will not be 15:49 forgiven and that is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit." 15:53 Now, if a person wants to know what is that, we have 15:56 a book that we'll send you a free copy. 15:58 "What is the Unpardonable Sin?" 16:01 And it explains that. 16:02 A lot of people call us, Pastor Ross. 16:03 They say, "I'm worried. 16:05 I've made the same mistake so many times. 16:07 Have I grieved away the Holy Spirit? 16:09 Have I committed the unpardonable sin?" 16:11 And, of course, we're not God. 16:12 We can't look into anyone's life or heart, but most of the time 16:16 people concerned about committing the unpardonable sin 16:20 are not--have not because they're 16:22 convicted and they're wanting forgiveness. 16:23 Jean: Amen. 16:25 You know, the verse you're referring to, Pastor Doug, 16:26 Matthew chapter 12, verse 31 talks about every sin being 16:30 forgiven except the unpardonable sin. 16:32 So if you'd like to learn more about that, the number, again, 16:35 is 800-835-6747, and you can ask for the book. 16:39 It's called "What is the Unpardonable Sin?" 16:41 We'll be happy to send it to you. 16:43 Again, dial #250 on your cell phone and say "Bible Answers 16:48 Live," ask for "The Unpardonable Sin." 16:50 Doug: We also have that book that talks about does God 16:54 inspire psychics and astrologists if they want to 16:56 know what necromancy is and those things. 16:59 Jean: That's right. That's also a good one. 17:00 You can ask for that as well. 17:01 "Does God Inspire Astrologists and Psychics?" 17:04 That's the name of that study guide. 17:06 Well, we have somebody listening from Australia. 17:08 We got Joan. Joan, welcome to the program. 17:11 Joan: Yeah, thank you. I got a question. 17:13 When God said to the snake, Satan, "On your belly you shall 17:18 crawl," was He talking to the snake or has He taken Satan's 17:23 form of transportation away on the earth? 17:26 Doug: That's an interesting question. 17:27 Well, I think it--first of all, it was talking about the serpent 17:31 because we know that serpents do typically crawl. 17:35 There are a couple of serpents that swim, and 17:37 there are some that actually can glide 17:39 briefly through the air, which is fascinating. 17:42 But it's believed that before the 17:45 serpent was cursed that it could fly. 17:49 Now, we know from the fossil record there 17:51 are certain--there were winged reptiles. 17:53 So it shouldn't surprise us that the serpent could 17:55 also fly at one point, and it would have 17:57 been very hypnotic in doing that. 17:59 But it is an interesting proposition that in some 18:03 respects Satan was restricted to this earth. 18:06 He was grounded, you might say, to some extent after sin. 18:11 And the idea of, "You will go on your belly," 18:13 you can't get any lower than your belly. 18:15 And what the devil was doing in rebellion against God and 18:18 bringing death to this planet was about as low as you can get. 18:22 Jean: And, of course, we're not talking literally here. 18:24 I mean, the Bible tells us the devil 18:25 can appear as an angel of light, so, you know-- 18:27 Doug: Right. He didn't turn into a serpent. 18:28 Jean: Exactly. 18:30 He's not going around on his tummy, but I think there's a 18:33 symbolic application there that we can clearly see. 18:36 Good question. 18:37 We've got David listening in California. 18:39 David, you're on "Bible Answers Live." 18:43 David: Hi, pastors. 18:44 On November 6th through the 18th, the pope and world church 18:48 leaders gathered to unite--to rewrite God's 18:51 Ten Commandments on November 13th. 18:54 I was wondering would this be abomination of desolation spoken 18:58 by Jesus--or Daniel in Matthew 24:15? 19:06 Doug: Yeah, you know, I saw that report and I was very intrigued 19:09 by it, and I looked into it, and I found out that it wasn't 19:13 really the pope that was trying to rewrite the commandments. 19:16 And I think you're talking about when they were wanting to 19:19 rewrite the commandments from an environmental point of view. 19:23 There was a group of some religious leaders, and one of 19:28 them was from the Vatican, and they were coming up 19:31 with a proposition of ten commandments 19:34 about preserving the environment. 19:37 And so they wrote that up. 19:38 It was not adopted by the Catholic Church 19:40 or any group that I know of. 19:42 It was a kind of proposal, and the 19:45 papers had fun spinning it around. 19:46 But I looked right into that, just thought, "Wow," the way it 19:49 was put forward is like they're redoing the Ten Commandments, 19:53 but they were just saying, "We want to have ten commandments on 19:55 the environment," and small group, nothing official was 19:58 ever voted, but it is fascinating. 20:00 I wouldn't be surprised. 20:02 Matter of fact, the beast power has already 20:03 tried to change God's time in law. 20:06 Jean: He already has. Yeah, absolutely. 20:08 All right, thank you for your call. 20:09 We've got John listening in Kansas. 20:11 John, welcome to the program. 20:14 John: Good evening, pastors. 20:15 I find it easier to understand the stories of 20:18 the Bible when I read it chronologically. 20:21 And from about the time of Abraham until the time of Esther 20:25 there's some type of activity going on during each one of 20:28 those centuries, but then from about the 5th century BC there's 20:33 a big time lapse between there until we get to the birth of 20:37 John the Baptist and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 20:40 Can you tell me why there is such a void there? 20:43 Was there nothing inspired going on? 20:45 Doug: Yeah, good question. 20:47 Well, there was a number of things happening historically. 20:50 This is a time of Greek dominion 20:53 and some terrible Greek oppression. 20:56 There are some historical books. 20:58 I don't believe they're part of the Bible but some Bibles 21:00 include them, about the Maccabees. 21:03 And you can read about Jonathan Maccabee and his sons that 21:07 fought against Antiochus Epiphanies and the Greeks. 21:10 And so there were things happening, but it is interesting 21:13 that there was no prophet that was speaking with inspiration 21:17 between the time of Malachi and, you know, Mark's Gospel. 21:21 Mark was probably written before Matthew. 21:23 So between that period of time it seemed like the inspiration 21:27 was silent, but that shouldn't shock you 21:30 'cause there were other periods where there were 21:33 hundreds of years and no prophet. 21:36 Though, you know, some history is given, there's almost a 21:39 continual history that's given from Genesis, 21:44 you know, through Abraham all the way to Malachi. 21:48 Then they're carried to Babylon. 21:50 They get to come back. 21:51 And during the time of the Greek supremacy, 21:56 there was a kind of lukewarm period. 21:58 Jean: Yeah, it is interesting, Pastor Doug, you have times in 22:01 Bible history in the Old Testament where there's a flurry 22:03 of prophetic activity, you might say. 22:05 There's not just one prophet, there's 22:07 multiple prophets at the same time. 22:09 And, of course, we see that in the story 22:10 of the 70 years of Babylonian captivity. 22:12 You have Jeremiah and then, of course, 22:14 when they come back Ezra, Nehemiah. 22:15 Daniel, of course, he wrote--so just 22:17 some amazing and important prophecy. 22:19 Ezekiel around that same time. 22:21 But then as you say--as the nation began to start 22:26 implementing their traditions and place their traditions above 22:30 the commandments of God, there almost seems to 22:32 be a lacking of that prophetic gift. 22:36 And of course we also see that even in the Christian era when 22:40 the church set aside God's commandments, there was 22:43 a void of the Spirit in the prophetic sense. 22:45 So some parallels there. 22:47 Doug: You know, and one more thing I'll just mention on that, 22:49 John, is that you look at the story of Gideon, this always 22:52 amazes me, Gideon asks the angels, "Whatever happened to 22:55 all the miracles we heard about?" 22:57 There was a spell of what seemed like silence to Gideon. 23:00 For a couple of generations he thought, "Where's-- 23:02 you know, where's the Lord in all this?" 23:04 And, of course, God was getting ready to do great things again. 23:07 So there were quiet spells even before Malachi. 23:11 Thanks, John. Good question. 23:12 Jean: All right. 23:13 Next caller that we have is Shawn listening in Illinois. 23:15 Shawn, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 23:17 Shawn: Good evening, Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. 23:20 Thank you for taking my call. 23:22 I'm calling with a question concerning 23:25 the seventh-day Sabbath. 23:27 I was speaking with a friend and I was asking them 23:31 how come they didn't keep the seventh-day Sabbath, 23:34 and they said in order to keep the Sabbath fully 23:38 you had to observe all the feast days. 23:41 And my question is, is that correct? 23:44 Doug: No, it's not correct. 23:46 You can't make a parallel between the Sabbath of the Ten 23:50 Commandments and the Jewish feast. 23:53 Let me tell you why very quickly. 23:55 They're different. They're given differently. 23:57 The Sabbath of the Ten Commandments 23:59 appears before there's even sin. 24:01 You have it in Genesis chapter 2. 24:03 On the seventh day, God rests. 24:06 Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man, 24:08 not for Jews, but for mankind. 24:09 The word he uses is anthropos. 24:12 That's where you get anthropology. 24:14 Sabbath was made for humanity back before there was a Jew. 24:17 It's part of the Ten Commandments written on stone. 24:20 The ceremonial Sabbaths and laws and feasts are written on paper. 24:24 They don't appear until after the exodus, and they go till the 24:27 time of Christ when Jesus dies and the veil 24:29 is ripped and they meet their fulfillment. 24:32 But the Sabbath is a weekly time of gathering together and 24:36 worshiping God and studying His Word that goes all the way back 24:39 to creation, and it says in Isaiah it will be kept even in 24:43 heaven, that from one Sabbath to another all flesh will come 24:47 together to worship before the Lord. 24:49 So they are two totally different categories, and one is 24:55 one of the Ten Commandments spoken by God, written in stone. 24:58 The others were part of the ceremonial 25:00 law that was of a passing nature. 25:03 Jean: And the Bible refers to those ceremonial laws as a 25:05 shadow, but the substance is Christ. 25:08 For example, the sacrificing of lambs, it was a type. 25:10 We don't sacrifice lambs anymore because 25:12 the Lamb of God was slain, Jesus gave his life-- 25:14 Doug: Yeah, but do we still need physical rest, and 25:17 do we still need a time of worship? 25:18 Yeah, the purpose of the Sabbath has not changed at all. 25:21 So more so now than ever, I suppose. 25:24 Jean: Yeah. 25:25 You know, we have a study guide that talks about that, and we'll 25:27 be happy to send that to anyone who calls and asks. 25:29 It's called "The Lost Day of History," 25:31 and we'll be happy to send that out. 25:32 The number is 800-835-6747. Ask for the study guide. 25:37 It's called "The Lost Day in History." 25:38 You can also dial #250 on your cell phone, say "Bible Answers 25:42 Live," and then ask for the study guide called "The Lost Day 25:45 of History" and we'll be happy to send it to you. 25:48 Let's see, I think we have time for one more. 25:50 We got Hector listening in Florida. 25:51 Hector, welcome to the program. 25:54 Hector: Thank you. Good evening, pastors. 25:56 Doug: Evening. 25:59 Hector: Okay, my question will be on second resurrection of-- 26:05 second coming of Christ. 26:07 We know the people--the wicked people that will be alive will 26:14 get slain by the brightness of Christ. 26:18 Now, what about the second resurrection now? 26:23 Are those people going to take part 26:24 of the second resurrection as well? 26:27 Doug: Yeah, good question. 26:29 Yeah, you can--you read in the Bible that the wicked are 26:31 destroyed by the brightness of his coming and a person might 26:35 think, "Well, then are they going to get 26:36 raised and judged and destroyed again?" 26:39 Yes, unfortunately. 26:40 You could say the same thing about 26:42 those who are killed by the flood. 26:44 Do they get raised and punished again? 26:46 Yes. 26:47 A lot of people have died in terrible ways, but everybody--it 26:51 says we must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. 26:54 So all the wicked are going to be raised and they're going to 26:58 stand before that great white throne judgment when the books 27:00 are opened, and we want everyone to be ready for that day. 27:04 That's why you want to come back 27:05 for the second part of this program. 27:07 Don't go away, friends, we're going to have more Bible 27:08 questions and answers in just a few moments. 27:11 We'll be right back with you. 27:16 announcer: Stay tuned. 27:17 "Bible Answers Live" will return shortly. 27:24 announcer: Can't get enough Amazing Facts Bible study? 27:27 You don't have to wait until next week 27:29 to enjoy more truth-filled programming. 27:31 Visit the Amazing Facts media library at aftv.org. 27:36 At aftv.org, you can enjoy video and audio presentations as well 27:42 as printed material all free of charge 24 hours a day, 7 days 27:46 a week right from your computer or mobile device. 27:50 Visit aftv.org. 27:55 announcer: Have you always wanted to be a Bible 27:57 expert but never knew where to start? 28:00 Are you searching for answers that will 28:01 bring you joy, peace, and fulfillment? 28:05 Then you'll love the Amazing Facts "Storacles 28:07 of Prophecy" Bible study experience. 28:10 Now available in 18 languages, featuring 24 easy-to-read 28:14 lessons, the storacles are packed with scripture and 28:18 step-by-step guidance that will give you absolute confidence 28:21 about what the Bible actually says about the second coming, 28:25 the rapture, the Antichrist, and the mark of the beast. 28:28 You'll also get the truth about hell and the 28:31 afterlife and practical insight about grace, 28:34 salvation, and how to truly live like Jesus. 28:38 Even better, it's absolutely free at storacles.org. 28:42 So don't miss out. 28:44 Get started on your Bible study 28:46 adventure today at storacles.org. 28:55 announcer: You're listening to "Bible Answers Live" where 28:57 every question answered provides a clearer 29:00 picture of God and His plan to save you. 29:03 So what are you waiting for? 29:05 Get practical answers about the 29:06 good book for a better life today. 29:12 This broadcast is a previously-recorded episode. 29:15 If you'd like answers to your Bible-related 29:17 questions on the air, please call us next Sunday 29:20 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Pacific Time. 29:24 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this 29:26 evening's program, call 800-835-6747. 29:31 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 29:37 Now let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live." 29:43 Doug: Welcome back, listening friends, 29:44 to "Bible Answers Live." 29:46 And we just want to mention, for those who may 29:48 have joined us on the way, this is a live 29:49 international interactive Bible study. 29:52 In fact, we just had a phone call from Australia. 29:54 They don't get much further away than that. 29:56 My name is Doug Batchelor. 29:58 Jean: My name is Jean Ross, and we 29:59 do have phone lines that are open. 30:01 The number to call is 800-GOD-SAYS. 30:03 That's 800-463-7297. 30:08 And if you were watching the little commercial in between, 30:10 there's also a way that you can send us your email questions. 30:14 You can just email the question to us, and our email 30:17 address--we'll give you that in just a few moments, but it's 30:21 BibleAnswersLivequestions @amazingfacts.org. 30:24 I think that's what it is, if I remember right. 30:26 Okay, we're going to go to the next caller that we have, 30:28 and that is Heather listening from Virginia. 30:30 Heather, welcome to the program. 30:32 Heather: Hi. Good evening, pastors. 30:34 Doug: Evening. 30:36 Heather: My question this evening is we recently had a 30:40 revival, "10 Days of Prayer," and the theme 30:44 of that revival was rebuilding the altars. 30:48 And we were encouraged to build physical altars in the home 30:52 where we could have daily worship, and I'm looking for 30:55 some biblical validation for that. 30:59 Doug: Well, you know, biblical altars, 31:01 they often offered a burnt offering. 31:03 So I hope you're not going to do that in your living room. 31:06 The Bible does say that as Abraham went from place to place 31:10 and he would pitch his tent with all of his household that he 31:14 would build an altar and that would be for the 31:15 worship of his family, and he actually had 31:17 hundreds of people in his household. 31:20 The Bible tells us he had 300 31:21 servants that were trained in war. 31:24 So it was like a moving city. 31:26 And so they did have a place of worship 31:28 outdoors where they would offer lambs. 31:30 There's nothing wrong with having a place in your home 31:33 that--where you would gather and pray. 31:36 Now, that--the word altar now is sort of a symbolic term. 31:39 You know, we don't really need to have a pile of stones. 31:42 I think the Hebrew altar had 12 stones and they were rough cut, 31:48 so, you know, I--nothing wrong with saying, "We're going to 31:50 gather--" it's sort of a metaphor when you say, "We're 31:53 going to gather around the family altar." 31:54 It just really means you're going to get together in the 31:56 living room, dining table, have worship with 31:58 the children, when you kneel and pray. 32:00 You don't need a physical structure 32:03 to kneel around necessarily. 32:05 That would more be symbolic. 32:07 Jean: That's right. 32:08 I think--yes, the symbolic application of that is you need 32:10 a place where you gather to pray and gather to study the Word. 32:14 That could be your living room. 32:15 It could be your dining room, wherever it might be. 32:17 Doug: Yeah. 32:18 So in principle it's--every family should have an altar in 32:23 that they have a corporate worship or a place of prayer. 32:26 Jesus said you can go into your closet and pray. 32:29 Don't need the burnt offerings anymore. 32:32 Jean: Joshua is listening from Kentucky. 32:34 Joshua, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 32:38 Joshua, are you there? 32:41 Doug: You might have your mute on. 32:43 Joshua, one more time. Kentucky. 32:46 Jean: Okay, we're going to come back. 32:48 We'll go to Susie in California. 32:49 Susie, welcome to the program. 32:52 Susie: Hi, pastors. 32:55 Thank you for taking my call. 32:56 So sorry I have a scratchy voice. 33:00 I have a question. 33:02 Are there prophets walking with us today, and if so, 33:07 how do we know if they are from God? 33:11 Doug: Okay, good question. 33:13 You know, I just saw this week, Pastor Ross, a pastor, he had a 33:18 TV program and on the--what we call the lower third in 33:22 television--that's where you have the title, 33:24 and it said prophet so and so, and I 33:27 thought, "He's advertising he's a prophet." 33:31 Sometimes I know ministers use the word prophet 33:33 in the form of 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 where it 33:37 talks about those who prophesy the Word of God. 33:40 But in the biblical sense of a called prophet 33:43 that is really speaking more directly for God, 33:46 there may be some in the world today. 33:48 I can't personally think of any that--but Jesus does say that, 33:54 you know, we need to guard against false prophets. 33:55 Presumably there'll be true prophets. 33:58 The book of Joel says, "I'll pour out my 34:00 spirit in the last days in all flesh. 34:02 Your sons and daughters will dream dreams and prophesy." 34:05 So there will be gifts of prophecy in the last days. 34:10 How do you know a true from a false prophet? 34:13 We have a study guide that goes through the criteria of how we 34:16 can identify true prophets, and I believe that's the same study 34:19 guide that talks about astrologists and psychics. 34:22 Jean: That's right, all you have to do is call and ask. 34:24 It's called "Does God Inspire Astrologists and Psychics?" 34:27 It talks about the true gift of prophecy. 34:29 What does the Bible say? 34:31 The number to call is 800-835-6747, or you can 34:34 dial #250 on your phone, ask for "Does God 34:38 Inspire Astrologists and Psychics?" 34:40 And we'll be happy to send that to anyone who calls and asks. 34:42 Of course, Pastor Doug, one of the identifying marks of a true 34:45 prophet, they need to prophesy in harmony with the Word of God. 34:48 But God often communicates through visions and dreams. 34:51 So one's got to be real careful. 34:54 If somebody's walking around claiming to 34:55 have visions, it's got to match the Bible. 34:57 Doug: Yeah, that's right. Well, thank you. 35:00 Jean: Next caller that we have is 35:02 Robert listening in Washington, Robert, welcome to the program. 35:04 Robert: Good evening. Doug: Evening. 35:07 Robert: I talked to a denomination that likes to think 35:12 that we were preborn and--I mean, we 35:15 were spirits before and we'll be spirits after. 35:19 We don't really die kind of thing. 35:21 And so this one denomination, they were telling me Job 32:8. 35:29 There's a spirit in man. 35:31 And so they want me to believe that there's somebody else 35:36 living inside me, and then when I die then the other guy 35:39 takes over and goes to heaven kind of thing. 35:43 Doug: Yeah, so are you wondering what does that word mean? 35:48 Robert: Yeah, so how can I explain to the people that I try 35:54 to help that the spirit isn't going to be taking off after I 36:01 die kind of thing and be hanging out in heaven and enjoying a 36:06 sauna or whatever kind of thing, you know? 36:09 Doug: Yeah, I've never thought about going to heaven 36:11 taking a sauna, but that might be nice. 36:14 Anyway, back to the question. 36:16 The word spirit there in the book of Job chapter 32 36:19 and other places in Job is the Hebrew word 36:21 ruach, and it simply means breath. 36:24 It's the same word you find in Genesis where 36:27 it says God breathed into Adam's nostrils the breath 36:31 of life and he became a living soul. 36:34 And Job says later, he says, "All the while the Spirit of God 36:38 is in me and the breath of God is in my nostrils." 36:42 The word spirit there simply means the breath of life. 36:45 It's not another conscious person or a little, 36:47 you know, ghost inside of anybody. 36:49 Jean: And, you know, it's even interesting we have Job here. 36:52 Job 32, it's written in Hebrew poetry, just the structure. 36:56 You can actually notice if you have a 36:57 New King James it's written in that format. 36:59 So it makes a statement and then it will repeat 37:01 the statement, and in verse 8--Job 32, verse 8 37:04 it says, "But there is a spirit in man." 37:07 And then he repeats that and says, "And the breath 37:10 of the Almighty gives him understanding." 37:12 So you connect the spirit and the breath of the Almighty. 37:17 So spirit and breath are used interchangeably in this verse. 37:21 Doug: Yep. 37:22 So, thank you. Appreciate your question. 37:24 We do have a study guide that says, 37:27 "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 37:28 It talks about the spirit and the breath that you find in both 37:30 Hebrew and Greek and what those words mean. 37:33 Jean: The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 37:36 You can ask for the study guide "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 37:39 We also have a website, friends. 37:40 It's called deathtruth.com, and it's got all of the scriptures 37:43 there and a lot of good information. 37:45 Just take a look at that, deathtruth.com. 37:48 And one more time, you can dial #250 on your phone and ask for 37:52 that study guide called "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 37:55 We got KJ listening from Tennessee. 37:58 KJ, welcome to the program. 38:01 KJ: Hi, pastor. How are you? 38:03 Doug: Good. Thank you for calling. 38:06 And your question? 38:10 KJ: Could you explain Genesis 6:2 for me, please? 38:14 I don't quite understand what it's saying. 38:16 Doug: Good. I'm glad you asked. 38:18 I like this question. 38:20 And let me read it for our friends that are listening. 38:23 It says, "The sons of God saw the daughters of men that they 38:27 were beautiful and took wives for them of all they chose." 38:31 And then God said, "My Spirit will not always strive 38:33 with man forever, for he is indeed flesh. 38:36 His days will be 120 years. 38:39 And then there were giants on the earth in those days, and 38:41 also afterward, when the sons of God came into the daughters of 38:44 men, and they bore children to them. 38:47 Those were mighty men who were of old, men of renown." 38:50 Some people are wondering, "What does this mean?" 38:53 And I've actually heard pastors that say, "Yep, aliens came down 38:57 to earth and married and had intimate relations with humans, 39:01 and then they had these superhuman giant children." 39:05 And others will say these were fallen angels. 39:08 The sons of God, they were fallen angels, devils that had 39:11 sex with humans and then had these giant children. 39:15 That's not at all what it's saying. 39:16 Let the Bible explain itself. 39:18 After Cain killed Abel, he took his wife, one of his sisters no 39:22 doubt, and he went and separated from Seth and his mother and 39:27 father and the rest of their offspring, and you end 39:31 up with two distinct races of people. 39:34 You've got the children of Adam and 39:35 Eve and Seth that worshiped God. 39:37 They were called the sons of God. 39:38 If you look at the genealogy in Luke, 39:42 it calls Adam the son of God. 39:44 And you read in 1 John chapter 3, verse 1, "Behold, what manner 39:50 of love the Father has bestowed on us that 39:53 we should be called sons of God." 39:55 Believers are called sons of God. 39:58 Jesus said to the enemies, he says, 40:01 "You are of your father the devil." 40:02 You've got two kinds of people in the world: believers, 40:04 sons of God; children of men--or the devil. 40:07 That's the other group. 40:08 When the children of God, the sons of God saw that the 40:13 daughters of Cain, the sons of men, they were the lost, were 40:17 beautiful and the believers began to intermarry with the 40:20 unbelievers, then they drew their hearts 40:23 away and the land was full of wickedness. 40:25 And it's not surprising that they 40:26 had some very powerful children. 40:28 That's just called genetic vitality. 40:30 When you get cross-breeding in a gene pool, you cross a tiger 40:36 and a lion, you get a liger, and it's actually bigger than both. 40:39 This is called genetic vitality. 40:41 So it was humans marrying humans. 40:43 The descendants of Adam and Eve and Seth intermarried with the 40:47 children of Cain that were lost children of men, 40:50 and they lost their distinction and then the land-- 40:53 the world was full of wickedness. 40:55 Now, I've got a book that answers this question in great 40:58 detail, KJ, and it's called "Aliens, Angels, or Adopted." 41:04 And we'll send you. 41:05 It says, "Who Are the Sons of God?" 41:07 We'll send you a free copy if you ask for it. 41:08 Jean: The number to call is 800-835-6747. 41:12 And, again, just ask for that book. 41:13 It's called "Who Are the Sons of God?" 41:15 It's actually got a long title. 41:16 "Aliens, Angels, and--or Adopted." 41:20 We'll be happy to send it to anyone who calls and ask. 41:22 So 800-835-6747 or #250 on your phone and we'll send it to you. 41:29 Next caller that we have is Ashton listening in Kentucky. 41:33 Ashton, welcome to the program. 41:35 Ashton: Hello, Doug. Doug: Hi. 41:38 Ashton: My question would be in regard to second commandment. 41:44 And it's been on my mind for quite some 41:47 time, but let me just get straight to it. 41:51 So the commandment is "Thou shalt 41:54 not make unto thee any graven image." 41:56 And the second part is, you know, not to bow down to it. 42:00 Now, I've seen plenty of different research articles 42:03 online saying, you know, you can't have paintings, you can't 42:07 have pictures, you can't have even little figurines of, you 42:12 know, animals or anything like that because 42:15 it would be considered a graven image. 42:18 Now, I guess my question is then why did 42:22 God have Moses make a bronze serpent? 42:25 Why did he have him make cherubims 42:27 on the Ark of the Covenant? 42:29 Why exactly in the temple, for example, are 42:32 there all kinds of different, you know-- 42:36 Doug: Representations and things. 42:38 Yeah. 42:40 Well, let me take a stab at it. 42:42 I think the key in this commandment--and it 42:44 says you shall not make yourself a carved image. 42:47 This is Genesis chapter 20, verse 4. 42:50 "You shall not make yourself a carved image of any likeness of 42:52 anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth 42:55 beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 42:58 You shall not bow down to them nor serve them." 43:01 So the commandment is not just don't make something. 43:04 It says don't make something and bow down to it and serve it. 43:08 When the children of Israel made a golden calf 43:11 and called it their god, that was clearly 43:13 idolatry and they were punished for it. 43:16 When they made oxen that held up the laver 43:20 in the Temple of Solomon, that was not a sin. 43:23 That was just, you know, a representation. 43:26 So there were artistic things that 43:28 were done, and they didn't pray to it. 43:31 Like you said, when they made the bronze serpent, that was 43:34 done under the instruction of Moses. 43:36 But during the time of Hezekiah, when people started praying to 43:39 the bronze serpent, Hezekiah broke it to pieces 43:42 and he said, "It's just a piece of brass. 43:44 We're not supposed to pray to idols." 43:46 So to have a photograph of your children in your wallet 43:49 is technically--it's a representation. 43:52 It's an image. It's a likeness. 43:55 I think Christians ought to stay away from religious icons. 43:59 In other words, having a statue of Jesus on your front lawn 44:02 might tempt somebody to think there's something holy about it. 44:05 Or when you start putting statues of Mary on your 44:08 dashboard of your car, you know, some people come 44:11 in the car, and they'll cross themselves. 44:12 They think it's something sacred. 44:14 It's just a piece of plastic. 44:16 So, you know, you don't want to do anything that's 44:19 going to cause someone else to stumble. 44:21 There's nothing technically wrong with having a 44:23 representation of something, but we are not to bow down and pray 44:27 to these things or worship these things. 44:30 Jean: All right. Very good. 44:31 Thank you for your call. Good question. 44:33 We've got Josiah listening from Florida. 44:36 Josiah, welcome to the program. 44:41 Doug: Josiah, are you there from Florida? 44:43 Josiah: Oh, hello. 44:45 Doug: Hi. Thanks for your patience. 44:47 You're on the air. 44:49 Josiah: So my question is, if 1,000 years for God is a day for 44:54 us, does that mean the devil will be bound for a day? 44:59 Doug: Well, it says 1,000 years are like a day for God. 45:03 It doesn't say 1,000 years are like a day for the devil. 45:07 For the devil when he's bound for 1,000 years, especially 45:10 bound in darkness in this world that is going to be, 45:13 you know, like, in a bottomless pit, it's going 45:16 to seem like 1,000 years or longer. 45:18 I just heard about some ladies that 45:20 were rescued from the earthquake. 45:23 They were in darkness for a week. 45:26 Two sisters were trapped together under 45:28 concrete in the darkness for a week. 45:30 And when they were rescued, they thought--I'm sorry. 45:32 They were under there for 60 hours. 45:35 It was, like, three days, and they thought they had been there 45:38 a week, and it was three days 'cause they're in the dark. 45:42 No measurement of time. 45:43 So for the devil when he's bound for 1,000 years in the darkness 45:46 of this world, I think it's going to seem like a long time 45:50 for him 'cause he's waiting for his judgment. 45:52 Jean: Right, at the end of that 1,000 years. 45:53 You know, we do have a study guide 45:55 that talks about the 1,000 years. 45:56 It's called "1,000 Years of Peace." 45:58 Revelation chapter 20. 46:00 And we'll send this to anyone who calls and asks. 46:01 800-835-6747. 46:05 Ask for the study guide called "1,000 Years of Peace." 46:08 You can also dial #250 and ask for that same study guide. 46:11 We'll send it out to you. 46:13 Doug: Thank you, Josiah. Good question. 46:14 Jean: Next caller that we have is Jeff listening from Florida. 46:17 Jeff, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 46:23 Jeff in Florida. 46:26 Doug: Jeff, you there? 46:28 Jeff: Yes, I'm sorry. Hello, hello. 46:31 I accidentally hit the mute button. 46:32 Sorry about that. Okay. 46:35 So my question is--first of all, good evening, 46:37 Pastor Jean Ross and Pastor Doug. 46:39 Doug: Evening. 46:40 Jeff: So my question is, how can a follower of 46:42 Christ find a balance between the teaching of Matthew 7, 46:46 verse 6 and Ezekiel 3:17 through 19? 46:51 So it's the concepts of give not which is holy unto the dogs, 46:54 neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample 46:57 them under your feet and turn again around you. 46:59 And then the teaching in Ezekiel that when I say to the wicked 47:04 thou shalt surely die and thou givest him not warning nor speak 47:08 to warn the wicked of his wicked way, to save his life. 47:12 The same wicked man shall die in his iniquity, 47:14 but his blood will I require at thine hand. 47:17 And it goes on to say if you warn the wicked 47:19 from his ways, then you will deliver your soul. 47:24 So can you expound upon that in how you might find a balance 47:29 when you're trying to witness to people or share the 47:31 gospel with fellow people or Christians? 47:35 Doug: Yeah, good question. 47:36 First of all, when God is telling Ezekiel, 47:39 "Cry aloud, blow the trumpet. 47:41 If you don't warn the wicked to turn from his ways--" 47:44 And He's speaking to a watchman. 47:45 He's not talking about everybody. 47:47 He says, "I've called you to be a 47:48 watchman on the walls of Israel. 47:49 You need to warn people." 47:51 Ezekiel was given a special message for his people during a 47:54 time, and he had a responsibility to give the 47:57 trumpet a certain sound and to warn them and, you know, 48:01 hopefully they would listen and repent. 48:03 If he didn't do that, then he was accountable. 48:06 But Christians also have a similar responsibility to be 48:09 faithful witnesses when we have opportunity. 48:12 That doesn't mean--and I know people that are--they think that 48:15 everybody they see on the street they've got 48:17 to find out if they're saved and give them 48:18 the gospel, and that's really not practical. 48:21 We don't see Jesus doing that. 48:23 So you're not responsible to wrestle everybody to the 48:26 ground that walks by you and find out if they're 48:28 saved and try and witness to them. 48:30 You'll go crazy trying to do that. 48:31 And when it says there in Matthew to--well, 48:35 let me back up and finish the other thought. 48:37 God wants us to be witnesses when we have opportunity. 48:41 He'll give us opportunity. 48:43 The Holy Spirit will speak to us. 48:45 And different people you can witness 48:46 to in different ways to different levels. 48:48 You know, if you're trying to reach someone that's an atheist, 48:51 well, you don't start quoting verses to them right away. 48:53 You first try and build some confidence in the Bible and talk 48:56 to them about the bigger picture. 48:59 So you pray for wisdom and tact to reach people where they are. 49:03 We see Jesus doing this, whether he's talking 49:05 to the woman at the well or Nicodemus. 49:08 And when it comes to casting your pearls before swine, there 49:12 are people who have just turned their back and closed their eyes 49:15 and their ears and they just don't want to hear it. 49:18 You can see Jesus dealt with some of the Pharisees and the 49:20 hypocrites in a very different way because they had rejected 49:25 the commandment of God to follow tradition. 49:27 So he wasn't quite as patient with them as he was with some of 49:30 the publicans and sinners that had at least open hearts. 49:34 So it varies from person to person. 49:36 Jean: Right. Absolutely. 49:37 I mean, our job, Pastor Doug, as you mentioned, we want to share 49:40 every opportunity we have, but there is a point where there's 49:44 sometimes people that will just want to take your time and that 49:48 causes a lack of you being able to minister to others. 49:51 Doug: That's right. 49:52 Jean: All right. Thank you for your call. 49:54 We got Angela listening in Canada. 49:55 Angela, welcome to the program. 49:58 Angela: Hi. Good night. 49:59 Can you hear me? 50:00 Doug: Yes. Angela: Okay. 50:03 So it is said to me, and I've heard it often, that your gift 50:08 or your talent or your purpose will make room for you. 50:12 And so I am struggling to see that the purpose or the gift 50:16 that God gave me, why is it not making any room for me? 50:21 Why am I having so much conflict, like total famine? 50:25 So I'm thinking maybe it's not my 50:27 gift what I'm thinking is my gift. 50:30 So please explain your gift making room for 50:33 you because I'm not seeing the room. 50:36 Should I be expecting challenges? 50:38 Doug: Yeah, you know, God will give you different gifts, but if 50:41 you--if God gives you a spiritual gift, He will then 50:44 give you opportunity to exercise or express that gift. 50:48 Now, it may not always happen right away. 50:51 Moses had given up on the idea that he had a gift of prophecy. 50:56 He spent 40 years following sheep 50:58 around, but the timing wasn't right. 51:01 He needed to still learn to hone that 51:03 gift and increase his trust in God. 51:05 And then finally you see in the book of Exodus when 51:08 God calls him in chapter 3, he then is 51:11 given an opportunity to use that gift. 51:14 And it's the same thing when, you know, God called 51:16 Isaiah and He said, "Who will I send?" 51:19 So some of it is timing. 51:23 Paul, you know, he was going a completely different direction 51:27 and then God got his attention and empowered him. 51:29 Peter was fishing for fish and Jesus said, "No, 51:31 you really should be fishing for men." 51:33 So some of it is timing. 51:35 When it comes to your spiritual gifts, it's always a good idea 51:38 to talk to Christian counsel around you that knows you and 51:43 say, "What do you believe my gifts are, and how can I 51:47 incorporate or look for opportunity to use these gifts?" 51:51 But I would say, first and foremost, 51:53 surrender your heart completely to God. 51:55 If you say, "God, I am yours. I'm surrendering myself. 51:58 I'm repenting of my sins. 52:00 Please use me and open the doors you want me to go through." 52:03 He will open the doors. 52:05 I just know that because He's done it for me all my life. 52:09 Jean: Amen, all right, we got Nicole listening in Michigan. 52:12 Nicole, welcome to the program. 52:15 Nicole: Hi, pastors. How are you? 52:17 Doug: Doing good. Thank you for calling. 52:19 Nicole: Good, I just want to thank you for all that you do. 52:21 But my question is in Romans chapter 9, verses 21 to 23 it 52:28 sounds like the Bible is saying that God made vessels fitted for 52:31 destruction, and I don't know--I don't 52:34 think that he did, but if he did not, what does 52:37 that text mean, vessels fitted for destruction? 52:41 Doug: Yeah, I don't think Paul is saying that some people 52:44 were made to be destroyed because, you know, God loves us 52:47 so much He gave His Son to save us. 52:49 He's not willing--Peter says in 2 Peter 3, He's not willing that 52:53 any should perish and that would be destroyed. 52:56 He doesn't want anyone to be destroyed. 52:58 Paul is really just making an argument that when people are 53:01 saying, "Why did God make me the way I am?" 53:03 He says, "Look, He's the potter. You're the clay." 53:05 He may want to make one pot that is going to just be thrown away. 53:10 And, you know, what right do we have to say to 53:12 the potter, "Why are you making it this way?" 53:14 It's his clay. 53:15 So Paul is really sharing an overreaching principle there. 53:19 I don't think he's suggesting that anybody 53:20 that God makes is trash to be discarded. 53:23 Jean: Yeah, of course. 53:25 If that's the case, then you have God being responsible for 53:28 those who are lost, which the Bible doesn't teach. 53:30 Doug: Yeah, made you to be lost. 53:31 That wouldn't make any sense. 53:33 Jean: Right. All right, good question. 53:35 We've got probably time for one more. 53:37 Let's see. CJ in Arizona. 53:39 CJ, welcome to the program. 53:42 CJ: Good evening, gentlemen. Doug: Evening. 53:44 CJ: I just want to say thank you very much 53:46 for the things that you have done. 53:48 You guys taught me a lot. 53:50 My question is--tonight is, since there's power in the name, 53:54 why is it that we don't use--call God 53:57 by His actual name, which is Yahweh, and we 54:03 don't call--and same thing with Jesus. 54:06 We don't call Jesus by his original name, which is Yeshua. 54:11 Why is it then--where did Jesus come from since God is a title? 54:15 Doug: Okay. Well, you're right. 54:18 When Moses said to God there at the burning bush, "When they 54:21 ask me who did you send, what shall I say?" 54:24 God said, "I am that I am." 54:26 And God reveals Himself by the name Yahweh. 54:29 Now, if from that point in Exodus through the rest of the 54:33 Bible God only used the name Yahweh, we'd say, 54:36 "Well, that's what we're supposed to do." 54:38 But God actually uses a number of different names for Himself. 54:42 And if you get to the book of Revelation, Jesus, he must have 54:46 about 40 names in Revelation, everything from he's the bread, 54:50 he's the alpha and the omega, he's the 54:51 I am, he's the morning star, on and on. 54:54 Hey, I wish I had more time. 54:56 I have a book called "The Name of God." 54:57 You can get a free copy. 54:58 For our listening friends, we kind of sign off in two stages. 55:01 We're going to do that. 55:03 Goodbye to those listening on satellite. 55:04 God bless you till next week. 55:06 For the rest, stand by. 55:07 We'll be back with a couple of rapid fire questions. 55:13 announcer: Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:16 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:19 "Bible Answers Live" is produced by Amazing Facts International, 55:24 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:29 Jean: Hello, friends, welcome back to "Bible Answers Live." 55:31 And we have a few minutes, Pastor Doug, where we're going 55:33 to take some questions that people have emailed to us. 55:36 And so here's the first question that we have. 55:38 Somebody says, "I've heard about a special resurrection. 55:42 Is that in the Bible?" 55:43 Doug: Yeah, when it says special resurrection, you've got, of 55:46 course, the main general resurrection, but some will be 55:51 specially resurrected at the second coming. 55:54 This is not at the end of the 1,000 years. 55:55 There may be some who will be specially resurrected who were 56:00 participating in the execution of Jesus, and you read in Daniel 56:04 chapter 12 some will come forth to everlasting life and some to 56:08 shame and everlasting contempt when Michael stands up. 56:11 Christ said to the high priest Caiaphas, "Hereafter, you will 56:15 see the Son of man coming on the right hand of power." 56:18 So Caiaphas and some of the Sanhedrin that condemned Jesus 56:22 in that kangaroo court, maybe some of the soldiers that 56:26 participated in crucifying him when that event took place, they 56:31 may be raised to see that he was indeed the King. 56:34 So there's a couple of verses that talk about that. 56:39 It says in Revelation, "Every eye will see him, 56:42 those also that pierced him when he comes." 56:45 Jean: Okay, next question that we have, "What did Jesus mean 56:48 when he said the night is coming when no one can work?" 56:52 Doug: Yeah, when Jesus first ascended to heaven, there was a 56:55 period of time for about, oh, seven years--well, there's 57:00 three and a half years from Christ's ascension till 57:02 the first martyr, stoning of Stephen. 57:05 But even after that, they were able to do a great work after 57:07 the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 57:09 But then a great persecution arose in Jerusalem, and even 57:13 during the time of Diocletian, the Roman emperors, there was a 57:17 time of darkness and night and you see that in the churches--or 57:22 I should say the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. 57:24 There was great darkness for 57:26 that second horse, that persecution. 57:29 Jean: We also have probationary time ending for the 57:32 Jews as a nation, which of course happened 34 AD at the 57:36 stoning of Stephen, and then there's a close 57:38 of probation that will occur before Jesus 57:40 comes and we're not going to be able to work. 57:43 You know, people won't be converted. 57:44 All right, last question that we have. 57:46 "Are only 144,000 people going to be saved when Jesus comes?" 57:51 Doug: No, you can read in Revelation 7 there is also a 57:54 great multitude, and John asked the attending elder, 57:58 "Who are these arrayed in white robes?" 58:00 He said, "These are they that came out of great tribulation." 58:04 And for any of our friends listening, if you want to know 58:06 more about that, we've got a book, "Who Are the 144,000?" 58:10 Go to AmazingFacts.org. You'll see it there online. 58:14 God bless. We are out of time. 58:15 We look forward to studying His Word with you again next week. 58:21 announcer: "Bible Answers Live," honest and 58:24 accurate answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2023-04-21