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Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA202312S
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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 00:12 mysterious, 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 00:46 International, Pastor Doug Batchelor. 00:49 Doug Batchelor: Hi, friends. 00:51 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 00:53 A used book typically costs less than a new one. 00:56 That's, of course, unless the book is written by Leonardo da 00:59 Vinci and is the only one in existence. 01:03 In 1994, Microsoft creator Bill Gates purchased the Codex 01:07 Leicester, a 72-page leatherbound notebook written 01:11 by the Renaissance genius at Christie's 01:13 Auction House for $30.8 million. 01:17 Adjusted for inflation, today, that would 01:19 be about $54.4 million, making it the 01:23 most expensive book in the world. 01:25 Created in 1510, the Codex Leicester contains a broad 01:29 spectrum of da Vinci's scientific observations, 01:32 theories, and drawings of things like the movement 01:34 of water, astronomy, and why fossils of sea 01:37 creatures can be found on mountains. 01:40 Incredibly, da Vinci wrote the whole book in mirror writing, or 01:44 in other words, everything was deliberately written backwards, 01:48 so it can only be easily read with a mirror. 01:52 You know, when I first saw this, Pastor Ross, online, I thought, 01:54 "Well, they posted this backwards." 01:56 And I took my Photoshop copy, and I flipped it around when I 02:00 used it in a sermon illustration. 02:01 Now I realize that's how it was written, backwards. 02:05 You know, the Bible tells us that there's another priceless 02:08 book that can only be written with special assistance--or only 02:12 read, I should say, with special assistance. 02:14 Jean Ross: That's right, Pastor Doug. 02:15 And, of course, we're talking about the Bible and talking 02:17 about expensive manuscripts, doubtless, probably the most 02:22 costly manuscript available would be the Dead Sea Scrolls. 02:26 Doug: Yeah, priceless. 02:27 Jean: There's a whole building built around that. 02:29 So, of course, the Bible is right up 02:31 there with very important documents. 02:32 But when you say there's a special book that needs help in 02:36 order to understand it, well, when we study the Bible, 02:39 we need the help of the Holy Spirit. 02:40 Doug: Yeah, it tells us that holy men spoke, 02:43 as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. 02:45 So, if the author is the Holy Spirit, certainly, the Holy 02:48 Spirit can help us understand it. 02:50 Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:14, "But the natural man does not 02:55 receive the things of the Spirit of God, for 02:57 they're foolishness to him; nor can he know them, 03:00 because they are spiritually discerned." 03:02 Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 03:05 And you can read where Jesus said in John 16:13, "However, 03:08 when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into 03:12 all truth; for He will not speak on 03:14 His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; 03:18 and He will tell you things to come." 03:21 So, this reminds us that when we open our Bibles to study, and 03:24 when we open a program like this to do our best to answer 03:27 questions, it's the Holy Spirit that really 03:30 gives us wisdom and understanding. 03:32 Jean: Mm-hm, the Bible speaks of needing the Holy Spirit to 03:35 guide us, and it's always good to start with 03:37 prayer, so let's do that, Pastor Doug. 03:39 Dear Father, we are so grateful for the opportunity that we have 03:42 once again to be able to open your Word and study. 03:44 We recognize this as a special book, divinely inspired, and we 03:48 ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us here in the studio, be with 03:51 those who are listening, and lead us 03:52 into a clearer understanding of Bible truth. 03:55 For we ask this in Jesus's name, amen. 03:57 Doug: Amen. 03:59 Jean: We do have a study guide, 04:00 friends, that talk about the Bible. 04:02 How can you understand the Bible, and how the 04:03 Holy Spirit can reveal truth to you. 04:05 It's called, "Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?" 04:08 One of the Amazing Facts study guides--if you'd like to receive 04:10 it, the number to call is 800-835-6747. 04:14 You'll see that number on your screen, if you're watching, or 04:17 you can just simply dial #250 with your 04:20 smartphone, if you're here in North America. 04:22 Say "Bible Answers Live," and then ask for that free offer, 04:25 "Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?" 04:27 We'll be happy to send that to anyone 04:29 here in North America, in the US. 04:31 And if you're outside of North America, just go 04:34 to the Amazing Facts website, amazingfacts.org, 04:37 and you'll be able to learn more at the website. 04:41 Well, Pastor Doug, I think we're ready to go to the phone lines. 04:43 This is a live program, friends, so if you have a Bible question, 04:46 the phone line here to the studio is 800-463-7297. 04:51 That'll bring your call into "Bible Answers Live." 04:54 The first caller that we have is Jerry, listening in Texas. 04:56 Jerry, you're on the air. 04:58 Jerry: When man walked the earth with dinosaurs, the Bible 05:01 mentions such huge creatures in the book of Psalms 104:26. 05:09 My question is, were the livyatans, dinosaurs, and 05:15 venomous snakes a result of amalgamation of nature? 05:20 Doug: All right, well, the Bible does speak 05:22 of a couple of mysterious beasts. 05:24 One is the leviathan, and the other is the behemoth. 05:28 And I think that the behemoth, some people have associated that 05:35 with something that was some dinosaur-like creature, 05:37 because it talks about this huge beast. 05:39 And you might think, well, was that a rhino or an elephant? 05:42 But then it says its tail is like a cedar tree. 05:45 Well, that creates a different description 05:49 anatomically that would not fit with an elephant 05:52 or a rhino or something with little tails. 05:55 And so, but many dinosaurs, based on 05:58 the paleontology, had very big tails. 06:01 So, some have wondered is it describing some 06:03 brontosaurus-like mighty beast, and it very well may be. 06:08 Were they created by amalgamation? 06:09 Now, for friends listening, amalgamation is sort of when you 06:12 cross breed, you mix or amalgamate two 06:16 different species to try to make something else 06:18 that could end up becoming monstrous. 06:21 And, you know, there's nothing in the Bible that tells us that 06:24 dinosaurs are the product of amalgamation. 06:29 Did people back in ancient times seek 06:31 to cross breed and amalgamate? 06:35 I'm talking about within species. 06:37 Yeah. 06:38 One reason I say that is Goliath, it tells us, 06:43 you know, he had some brothers and sons. 06:46 One of them had 24 digits, meaning he had 6 fingers 06:50 on each hand, and six toes on each foot, and doctors 06:53 tell us that often comes from inbreeding. 06:55 And it could be the Philistines were saying, 06:57 "Let's breed an army of giants." 07:00 And, you know, Adolf Hitler was trying 07:01 to do that, get a super race. 07:04 A pit bull, you might say, is something of an amalgamation. 07:07 It's the very selective breeding of a dog, 07:11 and they originally bred to fight in pits. 07:13 That's where they get their name. 07:15 So, were they breeding dinosaurs to get these reptiles? 07:19 It doesn't say in the Bible. 07:20 Were there dinosaurs that lived contemporaneous with humans? 07:23 Yes. 07:25 Jean: And then, of course, the flood 07:26 has something to do with it. 07:27 Doug: Yeah. 07:29 Jean: That's why we've got all the remains that we 07:31 can find in the earth of these massive dinosaurs. 07:33 Doug: Yes. 07:35 Jean: All right, thank you for your call. 07:36 We've got Gary. 07:37 Doug: Jerry, you know Amazing Facts--pardon me, Pastor Ross. 07:39 We have a book--it's actually a comic book--when I say comic 07:42 book, it's illustrated, so we call it a comic book, but it's 07:45 actually pretty informative, and it's about dinosaurs. 07:49 And did they live in ancient times? 07:51 By Jim Penkowski. 07:52 And he can go to the book store, and he'll find a copy of that. 07:55 Jean: Okay, we've got Gary listening in Illinois. 07:57 Gary, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 08:01 Gary: My question is about Revelation 12:17. 08:04 It says, "who keep the commandments of God 08:06 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 08:09 And so am I right to assume that the commandments aren't the only 08:12 thing that we're given to do, but the testimony would mean to 08:18 give witness about Jesus and why he's our salvation, that we're 08:22 called not just to keep command, but according to 08:25 Revelation 12:17 also be a witness? 08:30 Doug: You know, that's a great question. 08:31 You're very wise to see that there are two 08:33 distinct things that are mentioned there. 08:35 It talks about the commandments, or the 08:36 law, and then the testimony. 08:39 Through the Bible, the Word of God is 08:41 often called the Law and the Prophets. 08:44 The last thing you find in the Old Testament is there Malachi 08:48 chapter 4 says, "Remember the law of Moses. 08:51 Behold, I send you Elijah the prophet." 08:54 And, of course, Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus on 08:57 the Mount of Transfiguration, showing that 09:00 the law and the prophets endorse Jesus. 09:03 If you look in Isaiah chapter 8, for example, it says in verse 09:07 16, "Bind up the testimony," there's the 09:09 same word that you find in Revelation. 09:12 "Seal the law," that'd be the 09:14 commandments, "among my disciples." 09:16 So, two characteristics of God's people in the last 09:18 days is that they have the law, they've got the 09:21 Word of God, and they've got the testimony. 09:24 If you look in Revelation--is it 19--verse 10 says that "The 09:28 testimony of Jesus," and here's where you 09:30 let the Bible interpret the Bible, Gary. 09:33 "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 09:37 So, God's people will be keeping the commandments, and they'll 09:39 have the gifts of the Spirit, even the modern 09:43 manifestation of the gift of prophecy. 09:45 So, I think there's one more verse in 09:47 Isaiah chapter 8, go to verse 20, yeah. 09:50 "To the law and to the testimony," there you've got 09:53 it, the commandments of God and the testimony. 09:55 "If they do not speak according to this 09:57 Word, there is no light in them." 09:58 That means if they don't support the law 10:00 and the prophets, don't believe them. 10:02 Jean: And, you know, there's another 10:03 verse that we have at the beginning Revelation. 10:05 Revelation chapter 1, it's talking about John, 10:07 who wrote the book of Revelation. 10:08 He says, "He bore witness of the Word of God, and of the 10:11 testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw." 10:15 So, John had the spirit of prophecy. 10:17 He was a prophet, and having that gift of prophecy, as we 10:20 refer to in scripture as the testimony of Jesus. 10:23 So, you can put those two together, as well. 10:25 Doug: Thanks, Gary, I hope that helps. 10:27 By the way, we do have a book called, "The Glorious Mount." 10:30 It talks about the law, and the prophets, and Moses, and Elijah. 10:33 Jean: If you'd like to receive the book, 10:34 all you have to do is call 800-835-6747. 10:38 You can ask for "The Glorious Mount." 10:39 That's the name of the book. 10:40 We'll be happy to send it to anyone here in North America. 10:43 And you could also use your cell phone, 10:45 just by simply dialing #250. 10:47 Say "Bible Answers Live," and ask for 10:49 the book, "The Glorious Mount." 10:51 Next caller that we have is Debbie listening in Canada. 10:53 Debbie, welcome to the program. 10:55 Debbie: Hi, pastors. How are you doing? 10:57 Doug: Great, thanks for calling. 10:59 Debbie: Okay, I have a question about the Sabbath. 11:02 I am talking to a friend of mine about it, and he 11:05 uses Colossians 2:15 and says that we no longer have to keep 11:11 the Sabbath, because Jesus is our Sabbath. 11:15 Doug: Yeah, you know, I think it's interesting that people 11:17 only use Colossians 2 chapter 13 through 16 11:21 when they learn the Sabbath truth. 11:23 They never preach that in Sunday churches and tell people, "You 11:27 know, you don't need to come to church anymore, because you 11:29 don't have to observe any kind of day of rest." 11:31 You know, they never use it that way. 11:33 But what is Paul talking about? Let's read it. 11:35 We don't have to be afraid of any of these verses. 11:38 In Colossians chapter 2--and I'm going to start with verse 13. 11:42 "And you, being dead in your trespasses 11:44 and the uncircumcision of your flesh, 11:47 He has made alive together with Him." 11:48 Now, he's speaking--when he says 11:50 the uncircumcision of your flesh, he's 11:51 obviously talking to the Colossians who are not Jews. 11:55 And so, they're being told they have to keep the Jewish laws, 11:58 and Paul is reassuring them they don't. 12:01 So, let's know who he's talking to. 12:03 "Being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your 12:06 flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having 12:09 forgiven all your trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting 12:14 of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. 12:18 And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the 12:21 cross, having disarmed principalities 12:24 and powers, making a public spectacle 12:26 of them, triumphing over them in it. 12:28 So," here's a key verse, "let no one judge you in food or drink, 12:32 or in regard to a festival or a new moon or sabbaths," that's 12:35 plural, "sabbaths, which are--" 12:38 What kind of sabbaths? The sentence isn't done yet. 12:40 "Don't let them judge you regarding sabbaths, 12:42 which are a shadow of things to come." 12:44 The Jews had a lot of annual sabbaths 12:49 that came on a yearly basis. 12:52 They were all nailed to the cross. 12:54 They were part of the ceremonial law. 12:55 It had nothing to do with the Ten Commandments. 12:58 The Ten Commandments are not nailed to the cross. 13:00 The Ten Commandments and the Sabbath in the Ten Commandments 13:03 was given at creation to all humanity. 13:06 Jesus said the Sabbath was made for man. 13:08 That means anthropos. That's everybody. 13:11 And so--and, you know, the Sabbath was 13:14 part of God's perfect creation. 13:15 It didn't come because of sin. It was before sin. 13:19 The ceremonial sabbath came to Moses after sin. 13:23 They're nailed to the cross. 13:24 And furthermore, it says the handwriting--it says that these 13:27 laws were written by the hand of Moses, not the 13:29 finger of God, and that was against us. 13:34 The Bible says Moses took the ceremonial law, put it in a 13:37 pocket outside the ark, that it might be a witness against them. 13:41 He's very clearly talking about these ceremonials laws that the 13:46 Gentile Christians don't need to keep. 13:48 He's not saying that Christians no longer need a day 13:50 of rest or to observe God's holy day. 13:54 So, we've got--I know I said too much, probably--but we've got a 13:58 book on that we can offer, probably several. 14:00 Jean: Yeah, I'm thinking of the one 14:02 called "Feast Days and Sabbaths." 14:03 Doug: Sure, that would good. 14:04 Jean: That will explain it even further. 14:06 If you're looking for a verse, just real quick, to back up what 14:09 Pastor Doug is saying, if you go to Leviticus chapter 23, and 14:12 you'll find a list of all of the various feast 14:14 days that the Jews are commanded to observe. 14:17 And, for example, if you look in verse 24, it talks about the 14:20 Feast of Trumpets, and there it tells us that they were to keep 14:24 the first day of the month, so that could be any 14:25 day of the week, with the first day of the month, 14:28 they were to keep it as a sabbath rest. 14:30 So, they're saying requirements around the seventh day Sabbath 14:34 also were the same requirements around these 14:36 feast days, that they were also to observe, but it 14:39 could come on any day of the week. 14:40 It could be a Monday, a Wednesday. 14:42 It could be a Friday. 14:43 But they were to observe those days, also, as a day of rest. 14:46 It was a holy convocation. 14:48 So, when Paul was talking about, "Let no one judge you in the 14:50 sabbath days, which are a shadow of things to come," he's talking 14:53 about these feast days, not the seventh day Sabbath. 14:56 Now, of course, the book will go into more 14:57 detail and give you a lot more verses. 14:59 If you'd like to receive it, the number to call is 15:01 800-835-6747, and you can ask for the book. 15:04 It's called "Feast Days and Sabbaths." 15:06 And we'll be happy to send it to anyone who calls and asks. 15:09 You can dial #250 on your phone and also ask "Bible Answers 15:13 Live," and then ask for that gift. 15:15 It's called "Feast Days and Sabbaths." 15:17 It's just a great study on that passage of scripture. 15:20 Thank you, Debbie. 15:21 Our next caller is Marvin, listening in Tennessee. 15:23 Marvin, welcome to the program. 15:26 Marvin: Yes, good evening to both of you. 15:30 Pastor Doug, I called a couple of weeks ago, and my question 15:36 is, what happens when we go to heaven, if we 15:42 have been married, say, two times? 15:45 I lost my wife, Rita, and I'm now remarried. 15:50 When we get to heaven, will I be with either 15:55 one, or will we just be all separate? 15:59 Doug: Well, I'd ask, which one do you like more? 16:02 Just kidding. 16:03 Jean: Don't answer that, Marvin. 16:05 Doug: So, let me give you--that very 16:07 question comes up in the Bible. 16:10 If you look in Matthew chapter 22, the religious leaders, the 16:13 Sadducees, came to Jesus with a question, 16:16 and they're asking Him, they said, "Now, there 16:20 were seven brothers that married this woman." 16:25 And this is Matthew chapter--where is that? 16:27 Chapter 22, verse 25. 16:30 "There were seven brothers, and the first died 16:32 after he had married a woman, had no 16:34 children, he left his wife to his brother. 16:36 Likewise the second also married and died, and the 16:39 third, all the way up to the seventh. 16:41 Last of all the woman died. 16:42 Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife will she be? 16:46 And Jesus said, 'You are mistaken.'" 16:48 This is verse 29. 16:50 "You're mistaken, not knowing the 16:51 scriptures nor the power of God. 16:54 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor 16:56 are they given in marriage, but are like 16:58 the angels of God, angels in heaven." 17:02 And so he says that, you know, ultimately, when two people get 17:06 to heaven, we're all married to the Lord. 17:08 We will not be having new babies in heaven. 17:12 Jesus told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and fill the earth. 17:14 The earth is going to be populated with the redeemed. 17:18 So, now, does that mean that when Adam and Eve get 17:21 to heaven, God gives them divorce papers? 17:23 Not necessarily. 17:24 I think in the case where there's been one man, one woman, 17:27 best friends, married on earth, when they get to heaven, 17:29 they'll still have that intimate relationship, 17:32 and they'll maybe dwell together. 17:35 But in the case where you have King David, or Solomon, 17:37 or Jacob with many wives, we're all 17:40 ultimately married to the Lord in heaven. 17:42 And so relationships are a little different there. 17:46 Thanks, Marvin, good question, and I hope that helps a little. 17:49 Jean: All right, we've got Michael listening in--actually 17:51 Brittany, Brittany listening in California. 17:53 Brittany, welcome to the program. 17:56 Brittany: Hey. 17:57 Doug: Hi. 17:59 And your question? 18:02 Brittany: Yeah, my question is according to the Bible, what 18:05 is the right biblical view to have during these times with the 18:09 school shootings and a corrupt government, 18:12 especially since we're in the final times? 18:16 Doug: Well, what's the right biblical view? 18:18 You know, the Bible tells us, Brittany, that in the last days, 18:21 evil men and seducers will wax worse and worse. 18:25 Jesus tells us in Matthew 24--and 18:27 I forget, Pastor Ross, what verse. 18:29 He said that "Because iniquity will abound, 18:32 the love of many will grow cold." 18:35 And, personally, I'm always a little discouraged when there's 18:40 one of these calamities and these school shootings, and the 18:43 pundits get on television, and they say, "Well, we need more 18:47 counseling for people, and we need better controls, and we 18:50 need more police officers guarding the schools." 18:53 And why didn't we need that when I was growing up? 18:57 Everybody had a gun back then. 18:59 I don't think that was the issue. 19:01 I think the issue is that people were taught that life 19:03 is sacred, and you do not take human life. 19:06 And if you stop telling young people that it's wrong to 19:10 murder, and if you entertain them with games where they 19:14 practice murdering indiscriminately--you know, 19:17 they've got games like Grand Theft Auto. 19:19 And, no, friends, I've never played it, but I've heard 19:21 of it, seen it, seen the videos of it. 19:24 It's all about shooting, mass shooting. 19:26 And if you program kids this way, and they grow up with very 19:30 little regard for the value of life, that's 19:33 what Jesus said, "Love will grow cold. 19:35 Iniquity will abound." 19:37 Jean: And that verse you're referring 19:38 to is Matthew 24, verse 12. 19:40 It's about the love of many growing cold. 19:42 And, of course, the Bible says, "As it was in the days of Noah, 19:44 so it will be when the Son of Man is revealed." 19:47 And then it says, "In the days of Noah, every 19:49 imagination of the heart was evil continually, 19:51 and the earth was filled with violence." 19:53 Of course, we can see that happening today in our world. 19:56 All right, thank you, Brittany. 19:58 We've got Michael listening in Alabama. 20:00 Michael, you're on the air. 20:02 Michael: Good evening. 20:03 I really--it's a real privilege to be able to 20:07 talk to you for the very--ask you a 20:08 question--for the very first time. 20:12 I'll try to make this as concise as I can, but I can't--let me 20:16 preface beforehand--I can't promise that I'll be as 20:19 successful as the other callers, because I've got a 20:22 very rare birth autism, called Asperger Syndrome. 20:25 One of the reasons--one of the symptoms is that it's difficult 20:29 for us to communicate with other people, verbally. 20:31 Doug: All right, well, I understand that. 20:33 I've got friends that struggle with the same thing. 20:36 So, do your best to quickly frame the question. 20:38 Michael: Okay, it's about two verses, two passages in 1 20:45 Corinthians and in 1 Thessalonians. 20:48 Would it be okay if I--since you all typically read 20:53 out these passages, may I read them? 20:55 Doug: Sure. 20:56 Michael: So, that's--I usually hear 20:59 King James on your program. 21:01 Doug: 1 Corinthians, which chapter? 21:03 Michael: Oh, I'm sorry. 21:05 15th chapter, and it's 51st verse. 21:11 Doug: Okay. 21:12 Michael: "That flesh and blood cannot 21:13 inherit the kingdom of God. 21:15 Listen, I tell you a mystery. 21:16 We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed," and, of 21:19 course, the very familiar, "in a flash, in the 21:23 twinkling of the eye, at the last trumpet." 21:25 And then in 1 Thessalonians, it's chapter 21:30 4, and it's the 3rd verse, but also the-- 21:39 oh, my mistake--13th verse and verse 15. 21:42 "Brothers, we don't want you to be ignorant about those who fall 21:45 asleep or to be like the rest of men who have no hope. 21:49 Fifteenth verse says, "According to the Lord's own word, we tell 21:52 you that we who are still alive, who are left until 21:54 the coming of the Lord, will certainly not 21:56 precede those who have fallen asleep." 21:57 All this is the New International Version. 22:00 I heard that Amazing Facts--I think that's your parent 22:04 company--teaches soul sleep and that you all 22:08 got it from a well-meaning prophetess of 22:11 the 1800s, Ethel White-- or Ellen White. 22:18 That's her name. 22:19 I'm terrified of the doctrine of soul sleep, because I'm already 22:24 concerned about losing my salvation anyway. 22:28 To know that this will be a period when God will decide, 22:32 "Hm, should I let this Christian go to heaven or 22:36 lose his salvation, eternally go to Hades?" 22:39 And that it's based on works. 22:41 That's really-- 22:42 Doug: Michael, let me jump in. 22:44 Why would sleeping--Jesus said, "Our 22:47 friend, Lazarus, is asleep." 22:48 Why would God change His mind while people were asleep? 22:52 If people die saved, they're saved. 22:56 If they die lost, they're lost. 22:58 Why would waiting in the grave until the resurrection-- 23:02 by the way, this has nothing to do with a prophet. 23:05 It has to do with the Bible. 23:07 Everything we believe is based on the Bible, 23:09 and we'll give you scripture for it. 23:11 So, when Paul says, "Those that sleep in the dust of the earth 23:14 shall awake," in 1 Corinthians--I'm sorry, 1 23:16 Thessalonians chapter 4, that's what the Bible says. 23:20 So, but why would that make you nervous, the idea 23:22 that a person would rest in the grave? 23:24 Because you have no consciousness 23:25 of time when you're dead. 23:27 Michael: Does that mean that we shall not--immediately after 23:31 we die, we shall not be in either one place or the other? 23:34 Doug: As soon as you die--let's assume you're 23:36 saved--when you die, your next conscious thought that is going 23:40 to be immediate is the resurrection. 23:43 So, for everybody that dies--that's why it says, 23:45 "Absent from the body, present with the Lord." 23:48 When you die, the next thing you know, the Lord 23:50 descends, the trumpet blows, you come out of 23:52 your grave with a glorified body. 23:53 There's no time for you. 23:55 But we know the resurrection hasn't 23:56 happened, yet, because that's future. 23:58 The Bible is clear that the dead in 24:01 Christ will rise at Christ's coming. 24:03 Jesus said, "Our friend, Lazarus, sleeps, 24:06 but I go that I might wake him." 24:07 Lazarus had been dead for four days in the grave. 24:09 He wasn't up in heaven. 24:10 That'd be terrible to take him back out of heaven, 24:12 put him back on earth in an old body. 24:14 So, all through the Bible, this is a very old Bible teaching. 24:17 This is not something that is recent. 24:20 And, yeah, the Bible says that the 24:23 dead sleep until the resurrection. 24:25 So, we have a book on that we'd be happy to share. 24:27 Jean: We do. 24:29 If you'd like to call and ask for that, we'll be happy to send 24:30 it to you, Michael, or anyone wanting to hear, what does the 24:32 Bible say about what happens when a person dies? 24:35 The number to call is 800-836-6747. 24:38 You can ask for the study guide. 24:40 It's called, "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 24:42 We'll be happy to send it to anyone in North America. 24:44 You can also just dial #250 on your smartphone and say, "Bible 24:48 Answers Live," and then ask for that study guide 24:50 by name, "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 24:52 And we'll be happy to send it to you. 24:54 Thank you, Michael. 24:55 Next caller, that we have is Anthony, New York. 24:58 Anthony, you're on "Bible Answers Live." 25:01 Anthony: Hello and good evening, pastors. 25:03 Doug: Evening. 25:05 Anthony: I--could you please explain 1 25:10 John chapter 2, verses 7 through 8? 25:14 I know the Bible does not contradict itself, 25:17 but it kind of sounds like a little double 25:20 talk, but I know that's not the case. 25:22 Doug: Well, let me read that for everyone, and this is 25:23 1 John chapter 2, verse 7 and 8, correct? 25:27 Anthony: Yes. 25:28 Doug: "Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an 25:31 old commandment which you had from the beginning. 25:33 The old commandment is the Word 25:35 which you heard from the beginning. 25:37 Again, a new commandment I write to you, which thing is true in 25:40 Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away, and 25:44 the true light is already shining." 25:46 So, you're saying, in one verse, it sounds like he says, 25:48 "I don't have a new commandment." 25:49 The next verse, he says, "I do." 25:51 Anthony: Yes. Doug: Okay. 25:53 Well, when he first is speaking, he's saying, "I'm not taking 25:56 away the original commandments that you heard." 26:01 The Ten Commandments are, you know, specified there 26:04 in Exodus 20 and in Deuteronomy 5. 26:07 He says, "That still stands." 26:08 He says, "I'm not taking those away." 26:10 And it's when he says, "I don't write no new commandment," 26:13 meaning that he's not deleting those. 26:15 But he said, "A new commandment I give you," and he's quoting 26:17 Jesus now, where Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you, that 26:21 you love the Lord and love your neighbor." 26:23 The two new commandments that Jesus 26:25 gave are a summary of the ten. 26:29 So, it's not really an addition. 26:31 You can summarize the first four commandments 26:33 in love for God, and you can summarize the last 26:36 six commandments in love for your fellow man. 26:39 So, he's using a little bit of allegorical 26:41 or maybe poetic language, I should say. 26:44 But--and, you know, I don't want to make things more complicated, 26:48 but you'll find similar contradictions where Solomon 26:51 says, "Answer a fool according to his 26:54 folly, or he'll think he's right. 26:56 Don't answer a fool according to his 26:57 folly, or you're going to sound like him." 26:59 And you think, "Which is it, Solomon? 27:00 Do I answer the fool or do I not answer the fool?" 27:03 He's basically saying that "When you argue with 27:04 a fool, you're going to lose either way." 27:07 So, John here is saying, "I'm not adding to the Bible." 27:11 The scriptures, the commandments are still in place, but Jesus 27:15 came to expand and magnify that law of love. 27:18 Don't go away, friends. 27:20 We're going to take a brief break, and we're going to come 27:22 back and answer more Bible questions. 27:23 The best is yet to come. 27:25 Stay tuned for these important announcements. 27:30 announcer: Stay tuned. 27:32 "Bible Answers Live" will return shortly. 27:39 announcer: Would you like to know God's plan for our broken 27:41 world, as revealed in Bible prophecy? 27:44 Want practical, trusted solutions 27:46 for your biggest challenges? 27:49 Freshly updated and redesigned, Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides 27:53 provide 27 Bible-based topical lessons with beautiful graphics 27:57 and straightforward answers that are enlightening, 28:00 encouraging, and easy to understand. 28:03 Each study guide leads you step by step to real relevant Bible 28:07 answers for the most important questions in your life. 28:10 How can I have better health and relationships? 28:13 When and how will Jesus come again? 28:16 And so much more. 28:18 Don't leave the future to chance. 28:20 Transform your life with truths from 28:22 the Amazing Facts Bible Study Guides. 28:26 Order your complete set today by visiting AFBOOKSTORE.COM 28:30 or by calling 800-538-7275. 28:41 announcer: You're listening to "Bible Answers Live," where 28:44 every question answered provides a clearer 28:46 picture of God and His plan to save you. 28:49 So, what are you waiting for? 28:51 Get practical answers about the 28:53 Good Book for a better life today. 28:58 announcer: This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 29:01 If you'd like answers to your Bible-related questions 29:04 on the air, please call us next Sunday 29:06 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Pacific time. 29:10 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this 29:13 evening's program, call 800-835-6747. 29:18 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 29:23 Now let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live." 29:29 Doug: Welcome back, listening friends, 29:30 to "Bible Answers Live." 29:32 And for those who have joined us in route, this is a live 29:35 international interactive Bible study. 29:38 We'd like you to participate, as our friends around the country 29:41 and the world call in with their Bible questions. 29:44 You can also even text in questions. 29:46 We usually take two minutes at the end of the program to answer 29:49 questions that people have emailed in to us, 29:52 and we're playing this on Facebook now. 29:56 It's the Doug Batchelor Facebook page, the Amazing Facts Facebook 29:59 page, on the Amazing Facts YouTube Channel, 30:03 on Good News Television. 30:06 We're now on Hope Channel. 30:07 Some of these are reruns during the week. 30:09 Strong Tower Radio. 30:10 We just heard, today, about some friends from Strong Tower Radio. 30:13 So, all across the country. 30:15 And my name is Doug Batchelor. 30:17 Jean: My name is Jean Ross, and as mentioned by Pastor Doug, 30:19 if you'd like to send us an email question, I'm going to 30:22 tell you what the email address is. 30:23 Just simply BALquestions@amazingfacts.org. 30:28 Email your Bible question, and we'll try to answer as many of 30:31 those questions that get emailed during our program. 30:34 All right, going to the phone lines. 30:35 Our next caller that we have is Joe, 30:37 and he's listening from Arizona. 30:38 Joe, welcome to the program. 30:40 Joe: How are you guys doing? Doug: Doing great. 30:42 Joe: Hey, my question tonight is I know the Bible, 30:46 you know, talks about us being sojourners, and Jesus talks 30:50 about knowing us before we were here. 30:54 Is it possible that we were the heavens--the 30:57 angels--like--or the angels in heaven that 30:59 got kicked out for going with Lucifer? 31:02 And earth is a place where we're 31:05 trying to get redeemed from sinning? 31:09 Because even Jesus, when they were going to get him for saying 31:14 He was God, when He called Himself the Son of God, He said, 31:18 "I have said ye are gods, but you must die like men." 31:21 Doug: Yeah, okay, let's dive in there. 31:24 First of all, I think the Bible is pretty clear that 31:27 angels and humans are different creatures. 31:31 And when Christ says, you know, He knows us from everlasting, 31:34 that's because God's all-knowing. 31:36 But the Bible is also pretty clear that there was a time when 31:41 our existence began, and that is at birth. 31:44 He talks to Jeremiah and talks about when he was born, and 31:47 David refers to when he was born. 31:48 And when you really think about it, if you don't remember an 31:52 iota of a prior existence, then it's really not you existing. 31:57 You don't know anything about--I used to believe in 31:59 reincarnation, and I struggled with this thinking, 32:01 what good is this reincarnation business? 32:03 If I don't remember anything from a 32:04 former life, how's that helping me? 32:06 So, you have no conscience, no experience to draw from. 32:10 So, the Bible says that once you are born, and you grew up and 32:12 started becoming self-aware as a little child, 32:15 that's the beginning of your existence. 32:18 You can read in Revelation 12 that the fallen angels that 32:22 followed Lucifer, one-third of these angels were cast out. 32:25 The Bible says man--in, where is it? 32:28 In Hebrews, He made us a little lower than the angels. 32:31 I think Hebrews is also quoting Psalms, when Paul writes that. 32:35 So, yeah, I don't think we had a prior existence. 32:39 The Bible really doesn't teach any kind of reincarnation, and 32:43 we're not trying to work our way back to heaven. 32:46 We're saved by grace. 32:48 Jean: Yeah, the verse you're referring 32:49 to is Psalms 8, verse 5. 32:50 And then Paul quotes in Hebrews chapter 2, verse 7, 32:53 says that we are made lower than the angels. 32:55 And, of course, when Adam and Eve were created in the very 32:57 beginning, the Bible says that they were perfect. 32:59 The Bible says everything was good, very good. 33:02 So, they couldn't have been fallen angels. 33:04 They were pure, they were holy, and it was through disobedience 33:07 that they fell, and they were then removed from the garden. 33:10 So, the angels that fell in heaven, that occurred before, 33:14 because the devil appeared as a serpent in the 33:16 garden of Eden, so that must have occurred 33:17 before Adam and Eve were created. 33:20 Doug: Good point. 33:21 Jean: All right, thank you, Joe. 33:22 We've got Debra in California. Debra, welcome to the program. 33:25 Debra: Hey, could you explain Hebrews 6:4-6? 33:30 That verse really--those verses really scare me. 33:33 Doug: Yeah, well, let me read that, and don't be scared. 33:35 Of course, there is a sober warning there. 33:37 But Hebrews chapter 6, verse 4, I'll start with. 33:41 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and 33:44 have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the 33:48 Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers 33:51 of the age to come, if they fall away, to renew them again to 33:55 repentance, since they crucify again for themselves 33:58 the Son of God, and put Him to open shame." 34:01 All right, let's first take this the way many people would see it 34:05 on face value, thinking, does that mean that if somebody is 34:09 saved, and they backslide, they can never return? 34:14 Is that what you would be wondering 34:16 when you first read this? 34:18 Debra: Yes, I thought that I'm doomed. 34:20 Doug: All right, well, can we think of anybody else in the 34:23 Bible that backslid and came back? 34:27 Did Peter deny Christ? Yeah. 34:30 Did--Manasseh drifted from the Lord for years. 34:34 Did Solomon--was Solomon filled with the Holy Spirit? 34:36 And Solomon was obeying God, and Solomon loved the Lord, and then 34:39 he fell away and married all these doubtful women, and they 34:44 drew his heart away, but it says he returned to 34:46 the Lord in his old age, and he writes the book of 34:48 Ecclesiastes, a Spirit-filled book. 34:49 Jean: And you've got the story 34:51 of Samson, for example, many others. 34:52 Doug: Yeah, filled with the Holy Spirit. 34:54 That's a good one. 34:55 Samson, yeah, he really, he lived on the wild side there 34:58 after being raised a Nazarite, and he's filled 35:00 with the Holy Spirit and turns back to God. 35:03 So, it must not mean that a backslider cannot return, 35:07 because there's too many examples in 35:09 the Bible of prodigal sons coming home. 35:12 That's the whole parable of the prodigal son. 35:14 It's dangerous to turn away from God, because you don't know if, 35:18 you know, when fate might take you, and so you don't want to 35:21 play Russian roulette with eternity and say, 35:23 "Well, I'm going to live for the devil, 35:25 and I'll turn back to God when I'm old." 35:26 That's dangerous to think that way. 35:29 But let's read this another way. 35:33 "For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened and 35:35 have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the 35:38 Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers 35:41 of the age to come, if they fall away," meaning if they turn away 35:45 from the best that God has to offer, "to renew them again to 35:48 repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of 35:52 God, and put Him to open shame," meaning that if 35:55 a person is going to reject the best that God has, 35:58 what more is God going to use to reach them? 36:03 So, here it's saying that they're not interested. 36:06 They have the best that God has, and they're not 36:07 interested in that, but there's a lot of 36:11 people clearly that have turned back. 36:14 But what turns us back is the first thing. 36:18 In Revelation, doesn't Jesus say to one 36:20 of the churches, "I advise you to repent"? 36:23 Now, why would He tell a church to 36:24 repent unless they'd fallen away? 36:26 Jean: Right. 36:27 Doug: So, he says, "Do the first works." 36:29 He can't give them a better work. 36:31 He wants them to do the first thing that brought them to 36:33 Jesus, and they find their first love. 36:35 So, I think it's saying, you know, "If you turn away from the 36:38 best, if, you know, the sacrifice of Christ isn't 36:42 enough, then what more is God going to do to reach you? 36:44 Jean: I think the example you used, Pastor Doug, 36:46 is probably one of the clearest, and that's the 36:48 story, the parable of the prodigal son. 36:50 Here we have someone who left his father's home, went and 36:52 spent all of the money, and came to his senses, came with the 36:57 spirit of repentance, and he was received by the father. 36:59 Doug: Yes, amen. 37:01 Jean: All right, thank you, Debra. 37:02 We've got Alex listening in Tennessee. 37:04 Alex, welcome to the program. 37:05 Alex: Well, my question is based on 37:07 Genesis chapter 6, verses 1 and 2. 37:10 Let me read it to you really quick. 37:11 Doug: Yeah. 37:13 Alex: "When mankind began to multiply in the earth, and 37:14 daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that the 37:17 daughters of men were beautiful, and they took 37:18 any they chose as wives for themselves." 37:20 Well, I wholeheartedly believe that these 37:23 sons of God were descendants of Seth. 37:26 But I know, Pastor Doug, you have debated other pastors, so 37:31 I'm going to put myself in the middle of a debate here. 37:34 Doug: Yeah. 37:35 Alex: I've never really thought too much of why I 37:37 believe that these sons of God were descendants of Seth. 37:41 So, you know, many people believe 37:43 that these could be fallen angels. 37:46 So, what proof do we have against that? 37:50 Doug: Yeah, well, you would just have to ask 37:52 the question, "Are there other places in the Bible 37:55 where believers are called sons of God?" 37:57 And you can look in 1 John chapter 3, verse 1, where the 38:00 apostle says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has 38:04 bestowed on us, that we should be called sons of God. 38:08 And to as many as believed in Him, to them He gave them power 38:12 to be the sons," and I think he uses the word children of God. 38:16 So, the descendants of Seth-- see, Adam and Eve had two kids. 38:20 Of course, everyone knows Cain killed Abel. 38:21 So then you've got the descendants 38:23 of Cain and his wife. 38:24 Cain took a sister. They moved away. 38:26 They turned their back on God. 38:28 They were called the children of men. 38:29 And I think the word is enos, and it means mortals. 38:32 They were dying. They did not have life. 38:34 But Adam and Eve and Seth, they continued 38:36 to offer sacrifice and to worship God. 38:39 And even Jesus said to the religious leaders, they said, 38:42 you know, "We're Abraham's children," and He 38:44 said, "You're not the children of Abraham. 38:47 You're the children of the devil." 38:48 So, the devil has children in Christ's time, 38:50 and he had children in Cain's time. 38:52 So, but when the sons of God began to intermarry with the 38:56 daughters of Cain, the children of Seth began 38:59 to--then they lost their holiness. 39:01 It's like when Samson mixed up with Delilah, 39:04 it's like when Solomon married the daughters 39:07 of other kingdoms, they drew his heart away. 39:11 God said to the children of Israel, 39:12 "Do not go after unbelieving wives. 39:15 They will turn your hearts away." 39:17 And it's what Jezebel did to Ahab. 39:20 Go through the whole Bible. It's a story of that. 39:22 So, here in Genesis, it's establishing that. 39:24 Now, some people say, "But it says if the children born to 39:27 them were giants, they must be some kind of 39:30 amalgamation of fallen angels, or demons, 39:33 or whatever, aliens that married humans." 39:36 I'd say where is another scripture in 39:38 the Bible where you've got aliens and angels 39:41 having intimate relations with humans? 39:44 That's nowhere in the Bible. 39:45 And the Bible said angels are spirits and so-- 39:49 Jean: And, of course, Jesus, Pastor Doug, said in Matthew 22, 39:52 verse 30, angels neither marry nor are given in marriage. 39:56 Doug: Yeah. 39:57 Jean: So, I mean, it's pretty clear. 39:59 Doug: So, Alex, I want to come back--we muted you while I 40:01 was talking--but does that make sense? 40:04 Alex: Yes, but one thing now. 40:06 So, yeah, Matthew 22 there, what you just read, Pastor Jean. 40:10 Now, it says angels don't marry, but 40:13 does that mean they can't get married? 40:17 Jean: Well, I think the point being is they can't procreate, 40:20 and the Bible says that the sons of man took the daughters 40:22 of--sons of God took the daughters of men, 40:25 and there were giants born in the earth. 40:27 So, clearly, it's referring to procreation there. 40:29 Angels can't procreate. 40:31 Doug: And why would the angels--if humans are made lower 40:32 than angels, first of all, there's nothing the Bible says 40:35 they've got reproductive plumbing. 40:37 But why would angels not want angel mates, 40:40 if humans are lower than angels? 40:41 Why would they be attracted to humans? 40:43 I mean, wouldn't every man want to say his wife's an angel? 40:47 Wouldn't it be a downgrade to go after 40:49 humans and you could marry an angel? 40:53 So, Pastor Ross is laughing. 40:54 I used drugs when I was young--the way my mind works. 40:58 So, hey, Alex, I do have a book on that. 41:00 You may have already read it, but I 41:01 would be happy to send you a copy. 41:03 I think it's called, "Aliens, Adopted, or Angels?" 41:06 And it says, "Who are the sons of God?" 41:07 It's on that very passage. 41:09 Jean: The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 41:12 Again, just ask for the book, "Who Are the Sons of God?" 41:14 And we'll be happy to send that to you. 41:16 You can also just dial #250 on your smartphone, 41:20 and ask for "Bible Answers Live," and then ask 41:22 for the book, "Who Are the Sons of God?" 41:25 Next caller that we have is Junith, listening in Nevada. 41:27 Junith, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 41:30 Junith: Hello. 41:32 A good amazing evening to you both. 41:35 Pastor Doug, and Pastor Jean, can you hear me well? 41:38 Doug: We do. And your question tonight? 41:41 Junith: Yes, my question is related 41:43 to Daniel chapter 7, verse 9. 41:48 I'm just curious, what's your biblical perspective on the 41:53 landing of the New Jerusalem millennium, post 41:58 the second advent of Jesus Christ? 42:01 Will there be burning wheels in the New Jerusalem? 42:05 Doug: You're asking about Daniel 7, verse 9. 42:10 Oh, I see, yeah, yeah. 42:12 Yeah, they're talking about the burning fire. 42:15 Okay, I see, I get it. 42:17 I thought maybe when you said burning 42:18 wheels, you were thinking Ezekiel. 42:21 Junith: See, also Daniel 7, verse 9. 42:25 Doug: Right, I've got it open. 42:26 Junith: If you could describe that, too, that way. 42:31 And the fact of the matter is that the supernatural nature of 42:34 God is a consuming fire in Hebrews chapter 12, verse 20. 42:40 And I was thinking, will the consuming fire presence of God 42:45 ooze out of the New Jerusalem and have 42:49 these wheels with all the burning fire? 42:51 What do you think? 42:53 How will the New Jerusalem land on planet earth post millennium? 43:00 Doug: We'll do our best to try and cover that briefly. 43:03 You've asked, you know, a big question, and 43:05 so it's hard in three or four minutes to give 43:06 you a comprehensive answer on that. 43:09 You do read in Revelation 21, John says, "I saw the New 43:13 Jerusalem descending out of heaven." 43:15 I don't think it's the descent of the 43:17 New Jerusalem that burns up the wicked. 43:19 I think that Christ appears in this great white throne judgment 43:24 after the New Jerusalem descends, 43:26 and every knee will bow before him. 43:28 People's lives will pass before them. 43:31 Paul says we must all stand before the judgment seat. 43:33 When people see that they're judged according to their works, 43:37 then God does His strange act, and the wicked 43:42 are then cast into a lake of fire. 43:44 When it says the wicked are destroyed by the brightness of 43:46 His coming, that's before the thousand years. 43:48 That's the next thing where Jesus comes. 43:50 When the day of the Lord comes as a fiery flame, 43:53 it tells us in 2 Peter chapter 3. 43:56 Jean: I think specifically, what you're wondering about 43:58 there in that verse 9, where it talks about God's throne, talks 44:02 about His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels burning fire. 44:05 I think the point that's been emphasized, 44:07 if you read on through the next few verses, 44:09 that there is movement that's described. 44:10 This is taking place in heaven. 44:12 There is a judgment scene, if you read down 44:14 a little further, and there is movement. 44:16 So, we find God the Father moving from one part of the 44:20 sanctuary in heaven, from the Holy to the Most Holy place. 44:24 And then we find in verse 13 one likened to the Son of Man. 44:28 He was escorted with the clouds of heaven, the angels, and they 44:31 brought him before the Ancient of Days. 44:33 So, when it's talking about the wheels, doubtless, they're 44:36 glorious and fiery, but it's describing the movement of God's 44:40 throne from the Holy Place to the Most Holy Place. 44:43 Well, this judgment, that precedes 44:45 the second coming of Christ. 44:46 Doug: Yeah, some people have read these verses in Daniel and 44:48 Ezekiel, and they're sure that means it's a flying saucer He's 44:51 coming in, because they see the wheels there, 44:54 and I don't think that's what it's saying. 44:56 Good, good answer. Thank you. 44:58 Jean: All right, thanks Barb--Junith. 44:59 The next caller is Barb, listening in Washington. 45:01 Barb, welcome to the program. 45:03 Barb: Thank you. 45:05 I was wondering what the eternal status is of 45:07 the people that died in the flood. 45:10 Doug: Are you wondering--does that mean everybody 45:12 that died in the flood, are they all lost? 45:15 Barb: Yes, that's what I want to know. 45:17 Doug: I don't think you can say that, because--yeah, well, 45:22 Peter says in 2 Peter chapter 3, "Wherein eight souls were 45:25 saved," meaning saved from the flood." 45:27 But just suppose that there were some children that were watching 45:30 Noah and his family build the ark, and maybe they're 45:32 teenagers, and they thought, I believe Noah. 45:34 I believe the world is evil. 45:36 I want to be saved by God. 45:38 I'd like to be on the ark." 45:39 But their parents wouldn't let them. 45:41 Well, they may have died in the flood because of their parent's 45:43 bad decision, but they could still be in the kingdom. 45:47 So, the majority of the people that were outside the ark, they 45:52 certainly were lost, but there may have been some exceptions 45:55 some young people that couldn't make their own decisions. 45:57 Slaves that maybe weren't allowed to get on the ark. 46:01 Jean: That's where God is to judge. 46:02 Doug: Yeah. 46:04 Jean: Yeah, He knows the heart. 46:05 All right thanks Barb. 46:06 We've got David listening in California. 46:08 David, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 46:10 David: Hi, thank you, brothers. 46:12 My question is regarding the sixth commandment. 46:15 God says, "Thou should not kill." 46:18 Why was it permitted for the Israelites 46:21 to kill the nations around them? 46:24 Thank you. 46:25 Doug: Yeah, well, the commandment, 46:27 some people are confused by this. 46:29 You read it in King James, it says, "Thou shalt not kill." 46:31 That word there in the original Hebrew--and it's quoted this way 46:35 in the New Testament as the word murder, and murder means the 46:39 unlawful taking of innocent life. 46:43 Jesus, when He quotes the Ten Commandments in the New 46:45 Testament, He says, "Thou shalt not murder." 46:48 So, if you'd pull up a weed, technically, you're killing. 46:51 If you swat a mosquito, you're killing, but it's not murder. 46:55 You're never going to be incarcerated for killing a fly. 46:58 But it is murder if you take an unlawful life. 47:02 So, when soldiers go off to battle, and they fight to defend 47:05 their country, they're not prosecuted as murderers, 47:08 unless they're guilty of a war crime. 47:11 So, when the children of Israel were told to go and fight and 47:13 defend the country, that was not violating the sixth 47:16 commandment that says, "Do not murder." 47:18 And I know a lot of people just read it on the surface like 47:22 that, and they think, "Well, killing is killing, isn't it?" 47:26 Yeah, every time we breathe we're 47:27 inhaling microbes that die. 47:29 Murder is the unlawful taking of innocent life. 47:34 Thank you very much, good question. 47:35 Jean: All right, we've got Mitchell listening in Louisiana. 47:39 Mitchell, welcome to the program. 47:42 Mitchell: Hey, good evening, Pastors. 47:44 My question is about Revelation 8:1. 47:48 "When the Lamb opened the seventh seal, there was silence 47:52 in heaven for about half an hour." 47:54 I would like to know, what is the significance about the 47:57 silence, and was that actually--what 48:00 is half an hour in heavenly time? 48:03 Like, could you go into a little detail about that? 48:06 Doug: Well, we'll do our best, and I'll share a little. 48:08 Pastor Ross may have some comments on this. 48:11 In prophetic time, a day is a year. 48:15 You see that in a number of places, in Ezekiel--in Numbers, 48:20 it says, "I've appointed you one day for a year. 48:23 Even Jesus told a prophecy, telling Herod, "I'm going to 48:26 teach, do cures, cast out devils, today, tomorrow, 48:29 and the third day I'll be perfected." 48:31 He really taught for three years, not three days. 48:34 So--and by the way, that's Luke 13. 48:38 So, if a day is a year in prophetic time, then half a 48:43 day--then, rather, yeah--he talks about the silence in 48:50 heaven for an hour would be 15 days. 48:53 Jean: Yeah, about 15 days. 48:55 Doug: Half an hour is 7. 48:57 And this is why it doesn't say exactly half an hour. 48:59 It says about half an hour. 49:00 So, this would be seven days in prophetic 49:02 time, which is a nice Bible number. 49:04 The only reason it would be silent in heaven--I mean, don't 49:08 angels constantly say, "Holy, Holy, holy"? 49:11 And isn't there lots of activity and music in heaven? 49:14 This is after Michael stands up and 49:17 Christ comes to the world to redeem. 49:21 The temple is empty in heaven because 49:22 the High Priest has come. 49:24 So, there's no intercession going on. 49:26 Probation is closed. Jesus has come. 49:29 And so this is talking about, I think, that time period. 49:32 Jean: That's right. 49:34 So, heaven is silent, because Christ and 49:35 all the angels, they've come back to the earth. 49:38 Some people wonder, "Well, does that mean that it takes three 49:40 and a half days from heaven to earth, and then three 49:43 and a half days to go back to heaven? 49:46 Of course, we know angels can fly very quickly, so it doesn't 49:50 have to take seven days to come, but it does appear that the 49:53 joining back to heaven, when he comes and gathers 49:55 the redeemed, and he takes us back to heaven, 49:58 we don't rush to heaven right away. 50:00 It seems as though these things that are revealed, 50:02 things are understood, there's an 50:04 experience getting to know people. 50:05 The journey, the anticipation is growing, 50:08 as we travel towards the golden city. 50:10 But according to this verse, about 50:11 half an hour, that's about seven days. 50:14 Doug: Yeah. Jean: Interesting question. 50:16 Doug: Good, we appreciate that. Thanks so much. 50:18 Jean: We've got Becky listening in Indiana. 50:20 Becky, welcome to the program. 50:23 Becky: Hello, thank you. 50:24 I hope I can word this right. 50:26 Doug: Sure. 50:28 Becky: If we know that the 4th day is the Lord's Sabbath, 50:30 and we keep it, why is it so wrong to worship on Sunday, 50:33 and why would that be considered the mark of the beast? 50:35 Thank you. 50:37 Doug: Now, you said, if we know the 4th day-- 50:40 I think you meant fourth commandment. 50:42 Becky: Oh, fourth commandment, I'm sorry. 50:43 Dough: Yeah, I figured that's what you meant. 50:44 So, yeah, first of all, I don't believe 50:46 anyone has the mark of the beast now. 50:48 People have wondered--are we saying that people 50:50 who go to church on Sunday have the mark of the beast? 50:52 No. 50:54 There'll be coming a time when there is a law made compelling 50:58 people to worship a way contrary to the Bible. 51:01 And whenever we know what truth is, sin, the Bible says--not 51:06 Pastor Doug or Pastor Ross--the Bible says sin 51:09 is knowing to do good and not doing it. 51:12 There'll be people in heaven that have 51:14 too many wives, because they just didn't know. 51:17 Everybody was doing it, and they thought it was okay. 51:19 I know that's strange. 51:21 There'll be people in heaven that had slaves, like Abraham. 51:26 And that doesn't mean slavery is all right. 51:28 If people do that today, we know better. 51:29 We've learned the truth on those things. 51:32 And there's going to be people in heaven that went to church 51:35 and worshipped God on the first day, or the third day, or some 51:38 other day, because they just didn't know. 51:41 But if you want to know what does the Bible say, there's no 51:44 question the Bible says the seventh day is the Sabbath. 51:48 And people will say, "Well, don't we keep the first day, 51:50 Sunday, in honor of the resurrection?" 51:52 I'd say, "Well, that sounds beautiful, but where is your 51:54 Bible verse commanding us to keep the first day?" 51:58 There is no Bible verse that commands us 52:00 to change it from one day to another. 52:02 And Pastor Ross and I have got a list of theologians from every 52:05 denomination that freely admit there is no commandment in 52:09 scripture telling us to worship on the first day for any reason. 52:14 You know, people may say, "Well, it's a tradition." 52:16 And that would be true. 52:17 It is a tradition, but it's not a commandment. 52:19 If you're going to go by the commandments, and I would think 52:22 the commandments of God are pretty important, it says the 52:24 seventh day, which is the same day Jesus kept, which is the day 52:29 the disciples would not finish embalming His body, 52:32 which is what we commonly call Saturday. 52:35 So, what a person does with the truth is between them and God, 52:39 but we're just here to tell you what the Bible actually says. 52:43 Sometimes it's popular, and sometimes it's not. 52:45 But we have a free lesson we'll be 52:47 happy to send you, Becky, on that. 52:49 Jean: That's right. 52:50 The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 52:52 Ask for the study guide. 52:54 It's called "The Lost Day of History." 52:56 And it talks about this lost day people have forgotten about it, 53:00 but it's in the Bible, and there is a 53:01 great blessing in recognizing this part of the Ten 53:05 Commandments, the fourth commandment. 53:06 Doug: Isn't there--we also have a book, 53:07 it's called, "Is Sunday Sacred?" 53:11 I think we've got a sermon. 53:13 It used to be very popular. 53:16 We haven't mentioned it lately, but we'd send you a free copy. 53:20 Jean: I think the name is "Is Sunday Really Sacred?" 53:22 I think that was the title of the book. 53:23 Doug: Yeah, we'll send that to you. 53:25 Jean: we'll send that to you. 53:26 Just ask for it, or you can dial #250 on your phone 53:28 and ask for the books or the resources. 53:30 We'll be happy to send it to you. 53:32 Doug: Do we have time for half a question? 53:34 Jean: Yeah, let's try real quick. 53:35 We've got Carol in California. 53:37 Carol, you've got less than a minute. 53:41 Carol: Okay. Hi, pastors. 53:44 Doug: Hi, thanks for calling. 53:48 Carol: My question is I want to have a better 53:51 understanding about the everlasting gospel. 53:55 Is there any verse in the Bible that talks about or explains 54:01 what the everlasting gospel is all about? 54:06 Doug: Well, that's a great question to end this segment on. 54:09 Well, first of all, John 3:16. 54:11 The gospel does not really begin in the New Testament. 54:13 The gospel begins in the Old Testament. 54:15 That's why it's the everlasting gospel. 54:18 "For God so loved the world, He gave His only 54:20 begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him 54:23 might not perish but have everlasting life." 54:26 And you can also see that in just the theme of Jesus being 54:30 the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world 54:33 mentioned in Revelation a couple of times, I think. 54:36 So, the gospel, when Adam and Eve had their nakedness covered 54:40 by the skins of a lamb, that was saying it was through the death 54:44 of the Lamb they would be forgiven. 54:46 We are forgiven by the death of God's Son, the Lamb of God. 54:49 That gospel is from cover to cover in the Bible. 54:51 That's what happened when Abraham brought 54:53 Isaac up the mountain, his own son. 54:55 Hey, friends, just in case you did not 54:57 know, we sort of sign off in stereo. 55:00 First, we say farewell to our friends on satellite. 55:03 But stand by, everyone else. 55:05 We're going to do some rapid fire Bible questions. 55:07 ♪♪ 55:12 announcer: Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:14 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:18 "Bible Answers Live" is produced by Amazing Facts International, 55:22 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:28 Jean: Hello, friends, and welcome 55:29 back to "Bible Answers Live." 55:30 We want to thank you for the email questions that you sent 55:32 us, and if you'd like to email us your Bible question, 55:35 it's BALquestions @amazingfacts.org. 55:40 You know, Pastor Doug, we've got people listening not only 55:42 here in the US and North America, but literally 55:45 around the world-- now maybe not live. 55:47 Some places they might be listening live. 55:49 Others, it's a rebroadcast. 55:50 So, we have some questions that come 55:52 from folks all over the place. 55:54 First of all, we've got somebody asking, Michael is asking from 55:57 Australia, "Why don't we have the miracles happening today 56:01 that happened back in Bible times?" 56:03 Doug: Yeah, well, there are still miracles today--I think 56:05 I've witnessed some--but he's probably talking about some of 56:08 these first class miracles like a dead person rising, though I 56:12 have heard stories in the mission field of that happening. 56:15 Or you know, the ocean, being parted, walking 56:18 on water, miracles seem to come in waves. 56:21 Even in the book of Judges, Gideon, Gideon, way back before 56:24 Elijah and Jesus, Gideon said to the angel, "What happened to all 56:28 the miracles we used to hear about during the Exodus?" 56:31 So, clearly, they came in waves in history, 56:34 and we will see, I think, a lot of miracles in 56:36 the last days just before Jesus returns. 56:39 Jean: Okay, another question, also from down under, so to 56:42 speak, we've got Nikita from New Zealand, and she's asking, "How 56:45 do we speak the truth, as Christians, when we 56:48 are called hateful by others in society for 56:51 speaking the Bible, teaching the Bible? 56:54 Doug: Well, Jesus said, "Don't be discouraged 56:55 if you're persecuted for righteousness." 56:58 I mean, they told Jesus that He was evil. 57:03 They said, "You're casting out devils by the prince of devils." 57:05 They called Him demon-possessed, but He confronted them for their 57:11 sin, and there is a time for Christians to 57:14 lovingly rebuke and admonish sin, and the 57:19 culture is never going to like that. 57:20 Jesus said, "If the world hated me, it's going to hate you." 57:23 Jean: Okay, very good. 57:24 We've got Jody is asking, "Can you please explain what it means 57:27 that we were created in God's image and yet we know 57:30 Eve was created from the rib of Adam?" 57:33 Doug: Well, both Adam and Eve, it says, "Male and female 57:35 He made them in the image of God." 57:38 So, it's not just man or males that were made in 57:41 the image of God, but males and females. 57:45 Then, of course, today, we need to 57:46 emphasize they are completely distinct. 57:50 The world is trying to morph and meld genders. 57:54 God made them clearly two distinct genders, and He has not 57:57 changed His mind, but both are made in the image of God. 58:01 And if you think if, you know, if Adam was made 58:03 in the image of God, and Eve is made from 58:05 Adam, then they're both made in the image of God. 58:07 Hopefully, that helps, friends. 58:09 We want to live in a way to reflect that image in our lives. 58:12 God bless you. 58:13 We look forward to studying with you again next week. 58:16 Thank you for doing what you can to keep us on the air. 58:20 announcer: "Bible Answers Live," honest and 58:22 accurate answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2023-06-29