Participants:
Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA022148S
|
00:00 (bright upbeat music)
00:03 - [Announcer] It is the best-selling book in history. 00:05 No volume ever written has been more loved and quoted, 00:09 and its words, sometimes simple and sometimes mysterious, 00:13 should always be studied carefully. 00:16 It is the Bible, the Word of God. 00:19 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live", 00:22 providing accurate and practical answers 00:25 to all your Bible questions. 00:28 This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 00:31 To receive any of the Bible resources 00:33 mentioned in this broadcast, call 800-835-6747. 00:39 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 00:45 Now here's your host from Amazing Facts International, 00:48 Pastor Jean Ross. 00:50 - Hello, friends. Welcome to "Bible Answers Live". 00:52 Pastor Doug is out this evening, 00:53 but we are glad you are tuning in. 00:55 Hey, how about an amazing fact? 00:58 Sean Swarner knows what it's like to face impossibilities. 01:01 At the age of 13, he came down with Hodgkin's disease. 01:05 The doctors didn't think he would survive, but he did. 01:08 When he was 16, he contracted Askin's sarcoma, 01:11 a rare cancer that attaches itself 01:13 to the walls of his chest. 01:15 His chance of survival was very small. 01:18 His treatment required him 01:19 to be put into an induced coma for a year. 01:22 At one point, his parents were told 01:24 that he only had two weeks to live, 01:26 and yet amazingly he survived, 01:28 although permanently he lost the use of one of his lungs. 01:32 During the months of recovery that followed, 01:34 he was inspired by the following quotation, 01:36 "The human body can live roughly 30 days without food, 01:40 the human condition can sustain itself 01:42 for roughly three days without water, but no human alive 01:46 can live for more than 30 seconds without hope." 01:49 He decided to test the infinite possibilities of hope. 01:53 His first challenge was to crawl eight feet 01:55 from his hospital bed to the bathroom. 01:58 A few years later, he climbed Mount Kilimanjaro. 02:02 But he hadn't yet begun to test the infinite limits of hope. 02:05 Over the next several years, Sean, with a single lung 02:09 scaled the tallest mountains on each of the seven continents 02:12 and became the first cancer survivor 02:14 to stand on top of Mount Everest. 02:17 In his 40s, he skied to the North and South poles. 02:21 And if that wasn't enough, 02:22 his next challenge was to travel to Hawaii 02:25 and compete in the Ironman Will Competition. 02:28 This cancer survivor, who was given just two weeks to live, 02:32 is the only human being 02:33 to have climbed the seven great summits of the world, 02:36 skied to both the North and the South poles 02:39 and competed in the Ironman Championship in Hawaii 02:42 and all of this with only one lung. (chuckles) 02:46 Sean's amazing story reminds us 02:47 that God has given three precious gifts 02:50 that'll remain after everything else is stripped away, 02:54 faith, hope and love. 02:57 Friends, are you facing 02:58 a mountain of challenges in your life? 03:01 Well then, test the possibilities of hope. 03:04 Because the Bible tells us, 03:05 "With God, all things are possible." 03:08 Well, Pastor Carlos, 03:10 when we talk about people that have done incredible feats, 03:13 it reminds us that God is a God 03:15 that is able to do the impossible. 03:17 When you go back and you look in the Bible, 03:18 you see countless stories 03:20 of people that faced impossible odds. 03:23 I think for example of David going up against Goliath, 03:27 you got Gideon who just with 300 men 03:30 he's able to conquer the entire Midianite army 03:33 that counted thousands of soldiers. 03:37 And of course, throughout the Bible, 03:38 you have these incredible stories 03:39 of people who put their trust in God 03:41 and God was able to do for them 03:43 that which they couldn't do for themselves. 03:45 So what about us today? 03:47 I'm sure we all face trials and difficulties in our lives. 03:49 And I think the lesson that we can learn from the Bible 03:51 is that God, the God of the Bible, 03:54 is the God who is God today. - Amen. 03:56 - And we can put our trust in Him 03:58 and He's able to work things out 04:00 according to what ultimately is for our good. 04:03 So we can trust God, 04:04 whatever trials and difficulties we might go through. 04:06 - Amen. 04:07 The only limits are the limits we put 04:09 to not trusting in His promises. 04:11 - That's right. There's power in the Word of God. 04:12 - Amen. - Let it out. 04:14 Well, friends, we have a free gift we wanna give you. 04:15 It's the book entitled "The Riches of His Grace". 04:18 And maybe you're going through 04:19 a difficult time in your life, 04:21 maybe there's some trials and you wonder, 04:22 "Well, Lord, how can I overcome these challenges?" 04:26 We wanna send this book to you for free. 04:29 All you have to do is just call and ask. 04:30 The number to call is 800-835-6747 04:35 and you can ask for the Offer 152. 04:38 Again, the book is called "Riches of His Grace". 04:41 Again, the number is 800-835-6747. 04:45 And if you have a Bible question, 04:47 the number to call here in the studio is 800-463-7297. 04:53 That'll bring your question here to us. 04:54 800-463-7297. 04:57 My name is Jean Ross. 04:58 Pastor Doug is out this evening, 05:00 but working the phones for us is Pastor Carlos Munoz. 05:03 Carlos is our Director 05:05 for the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism. 05:08 Well, before we go to the phone lines, 05:09 let's start with a word of prayer. 05:11 - Sure. 05:12 Father, thank you again for this opportunity 05:14 to come together and open Your Word 05:16 and be able to try to understand 05:19 some of the more difficult questions that may arise 05:21 and any question that may arise, really. 05:23 It's all about getting to know You better. 05:24 So we ask that Your Spirit guide us, direct us, 05:26 and all those that are calling, too. 05:28 And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. 05:30 - Amen. Thank you, Pastor Carlos. 05:32 Well friends, we're ready for your Bible question. 05:34 I think we are ready for our first caller. 05:35 Who do we have? - Yes. 05:37 Let's talk with Norman from Oakhurst, California. 05:40 Hello, Norman. You're on the air. 05:41 - [Norman] My question involves the beast of Revelation 18. 05:47 In Revelation it says the seventh 05:50 and eighth king is the Pope. 05:56 Who are the ninth and 10th? 05:59 - Okay. I think I know what you're talking about. 06:01 It also talks about the 10 horns being 10 kings. 06:04 Now of course the Bible doesn't say 06:05 that one of these heads is the Pope, 06:08 but it does give us descriptions 06:10 that if you line it up according to the Bible 06:12 and you allow the Bible to interpret itself, 06:14 yes, the Bible does speak about the papal power 06:19 that for 1,260-years rule during the dark ages 06:22 from 538 until 1798. 06:25 But the Bible also talks about the United States 06:28 as the second beast at Revelation Chapter 13. 06:30 So let me just back up a little bit 06:32 for those who might be new to a study of Revelation. 06:34 In Revelation Chapter 17, you have a woman, 06:37 and a woman in Bible prophecy represents a church 06:40 and she is sitting on a scarlet-colored beast. 06:43 A beast in Bible prophecy represents a political power. 06:47 So here you have a church 06:48 that is controlling a political power or political powers. 06:52 And then the angel explains to John what this image means. 06:56 And he says, "The seven heads of the beast are seven kings." 07:00 And a king in Bible prophecy represents a kingdom. 07:03 He says, "Five are fallen, one is, and one is yet to come. 07:06 And when he comes, he will continue a short space." 07:09 Now, the five Kings that are fallen 07:11 refer to the five principle nations 07:13 that persecuted God's people. 07:15 And the timeframe of the vision, if you look in Chapter 17, 07:18 it's during the height of the papacy's rule 07:20 during the 1,260 years from 538 until 1798. 07:27 So the five kingdoms that persecuted God's people 07:28 in the Old Testament would be Rome, 07:30 and then you have Greece, you have Syria or Persia, 07:35 you have Babylon, and then you have the Assyrians 07:37 that conquered the 10 tribes of the North. 07:40 The one that "is" would refer to the papal power 07:43 during the 1260 years of papal domination rule. 07:46 And then it says, "One is yet to come, 07:48 and when he comes he continues a short space." 07:51 That final beast power or political power represents, 07:54 believe it or not, the United States. 07:56 Now the Bible tells us according to Revelation Chapter 13 07:59 that a time comes when the United States 08:00 begins to speak as a dragon 08:03 and will actually begin to enforce certain types of worship. 08:07 When that time comes, 08:09 then she will also be a persecuting power, 08:12 and thus, she continues a short space. 08:14 And then it talks about the beast is a part of the seven. 08:17 It's one of those principle kingdoms 08:18 that persecuted God's people. 08:20 So when we're talking about these kings or these kingdoms, 08:23 the 10 horns represent 10 divisions of Western Europe 08:27 and refers to a time period when these political powers 08:31 will give their support to the papal power, 08:33 which is yet in the future. 08:35 And that's a whole study we can look at 08:37 a little bit later on. 08:38 For our friends who'd like to learn more 08:39 about Revelation Chapter 17 08:41 and about the beast power of Revelation 13, 08:44 we have a study guide that we'll be happy to send 08:46 to anyone who calls and asks. 08:48 It's simply called... 08:50 well, there's actually two, you can ask for either one. 08:51 You can ask for "The United States in Prophecy", 08:55 and we'll be happy to send you that study guide. 08:57 "The U.S. in Bible Prophecy", 08:59 or just ask for the study guide, "Who is the Anti-Christ?", 09:02 and we will send it to you. 09:03 These are important truths, Pastor Carlos. 09:05 The Bible, especially Revelation, was written 09:08 to help us understand what's happening in the world today. 09:11 And so a thorough study of Revelation is very helpful, 09:14 very important for people who wanna know what's happening. 09:17 As you look at what's happening in the world today, 09:18 and you compare them with what the Bible said, 09:20 we can see where we are in the stream of time. 09:23 So we encourage folks to call and ask for that. 09:25 Again, ask for the study guide, "Who is the Antichrist?" 09:27 or ask for the study guide called "The U.S. in Prophecy" 09:31 and we'll be happy to send both of them 09:32 to anyone who calls and asks. 09:34 - All right. 09:35 Next, we have Brittany from Antelope, California. 09:38 Good evening, Brittany. You're on the air. 09:40 - [Brittany] Is it okay for a Christian to eat turkey? 09:44 - Okay. (laughs) 09:46 Well, Biblically speaking, yes, you can eat turkey. 09:49 Turkey would considered a clean animal. 09:51 The Bible gives us a distinction 09:53 between animals clean and unclean. 09:55 When it comes to birds, 09:57 the principle that we find given in Scripture 09:58 is they need to be a foraging bird. 10:00 They need to be eating primarily seeds 10:04 and things that fall to the ground, 10:07 bits of plant and that type of thing. 10:08 So chickens, turkeys, in those category 10:12 would be considered clean, you are allowed to eat them, 10:16 but of course, the ideal diet 10:18 and you probably know this, if you're looking to the Bible, 10:20 the healthiest diet is a plant-based diet, 10:23 a vegetarian diet. 10:24 That was the original diet 10:25 that God gave to Adam and Eve in the beginning. 10:27 And I think that's the goal we wanna try 10:29 and be as healthy as we can. 10:31 The Bible says your body's the temple of the Holy Spirit. 10:34 But to eat turkey is definitely not a sin. 10:36 The Bible does allow it. 10:39 It is a clean animal. 10:41 So yes, if you wanna have a little piece of turkey 10:43 for Thanksgiving, you'll be okay. 10:46 - [Brittany] Okay. Thanks. 10:47 - All right. - I was just wondering 10:49 because the passage that I was thinking of 10:52 in regards to that was Leviticus 19:26, 10:57 in which it mentioned the idea of eating meat 10:59 with the blood in it. 11:01 I don't know if that has anything to do with it. 11:02 - Well, yes, that is true. 11:04 If somebody is gonna eat meat, 11:06 you wanna make sure that you're not eating the blood 11:08 because there's all kinds of toxins in the blood 11:11 and that's not healthy. 11:12 Now that doesn't mean 11:13 you're gonna be able to avoid all blood. 11:15 But the Bible did say that you shouldn't be eating blood 11:18 and you shouldn't be eating fat. 11:19 So if somebody's gonna eat meat, 11:21 they wanna cut away as much of the fat as they can. 11:24 They wanna make sure that whatever meat it is 11:26 that they're eating is not soaked in blood. 11:29 You wanna try and cook it well enough to remove the blood. 11:32 So those are some of the principles also 11:34 that we find in the Bible. 11:35 - All right. 11:36 Next we have Danny, Danny from Arizona. 11:38 Good evening, Danny. You're on the air. 11:40 - [Danny] So I know that once we get to heaven, 11:43 everything's gonna be sin-free, and whatnot. 11:47 Praise the Lord for that. 11:49 I was wondering will the 10 commandments 11:52 still apply even after we're up there, 11:55 like even after the millennium and all, 11:56 and we come back down to heaven? 11:58 'Cause as you know that there's not gonna be any more sins. 12:02 Sin will be irradiated from the earth. 12:06 - From the universe. Yes, absolutely. 12:08 So will the 10 commandments apply after? Absolutely. 12:11 Sin is the transgression of the law. 12:13 So if there's no sin, 12:15 then that would mean that the law is being kept. 12:17 And if you think about it, 12:18 the purpose of salvation is to redeem us from sin, 12:22 to save us from breaking God's law. 12:25 In heaven there's not gonna be any killing, 12:27 there's not gonna be any stealing, 12:28 there's not gonna be lying. 12:30 It's also interesting Isaiah talks about in the new earth 12:32 that says from one Sabbath to another, 12:34 we will come and worship before God. 12:37 So the fourth commandment that has to do with the Sabbath 12:39 will be enforced or be important 12:42 even after the earth is recreated. 12:45 So, yes, we still gonna be worshiping 12:48 the one and true God in heaven, 12:50 we won't be taking His name in vain, 12:51 we won't be worshiping idols. 12:53 So yeah, the principles and 10 commandments 12:55 are definitely binding, not only for us, 12:57 but also for the angels and all created intelligent beings. 13:01 Remember Satan's sin in heaven was coveting God's throne 13:05 and that's a violation of the 10th commandment. 13:07 So you can see the principles there 13:09 throughout all of the Bible. 13:11 - [Danny] Well, actually, I didn't even think about that. 13:13 That's a good point. 13:14 Awesome. Thank you very much. 13:15 - All right. Thank you. - All right, thank you Danny. 13:17 We do have a study guide, friends, 13:18 that talk about the 10 commandments. 13:19 It's called "Written in Stone". 13:21 Is it still relevant for the Christian? 13:23 Pastor Carlos, people sometimes ask, 13:24 "Well, didn't Jesus' death on Calvary 13:26 do away with the 10 commandments?" 13:28 Well, no, not according to the Bible. 13:30 - It's total opposite. - Yeah. 13:31 He enables us to keep the commandments 13:34 as a result of his death. 13:35 So we'll be happy to send this study guide 13:37 to anyone wanting to learn more. 13:39 Just call the number, it's 800-835-6747. 13:43 You can ask for the study guide 13:43 that's called "Written in Stone" 13:46 and we'll be happy to put it in the mail and send it to you. 13:48 Who do we have next? 13:49 - Next we have Mike calling us from Oregon. 13:52 You're on the air, Mike. 13:55 - [Mike] Hi pastors. Thank you for taking my call. 13:57 I had a question in regards to a study I was doing 13:59 on the name of Rome in the New Testament. 14:02 I looked up the name in Strong's Concordance and Fairs 14:05 Greek Lexicon, and it says the name Rome means strength. 14:10 And that of course triggered a thought in my mind, 14:12 in regards to Daniel 2, 14:15 as the kingdoms that are mentioned in Daniel 2, 14:18 The Babylon, the second kingdom, 14:19 the third kingdom of 14th, and divided kingdom. 14:22 And when it talks about the divided kingdom in Daniel 2:41, 14:26 it says, "And where I saw as defeat 14:28 and the toes part of Potter's clay and part of iron, 14:30 the kingdom shall be divided, but there shall be in it 14:34 the strength of the iron." 14:36 And the entomology of the word Rome, the name Rome, 14:41 in Greek means strength. 14:43 And I'm wondering if that's an applicable application. 14:46 - I think so. Absolutely. 14:47 I mean, that's a good point. 14:49 It's very clear from the Scriptures, if you look look at it, 14:51 that this fourth kingdom, the legs of iron, 14:54 represents a Rome, pagan Rome, 14:56 and then the feet of iron and clay, 14:59 there is still the influence of Rome 15:00 but in this case, it's papal Rome. 15:03 It's also interesting to note that the primary metal used 15:06 during the Roman empire during the time of Rome was iron. 15:09 It had been invented by then 15:10 and was used primarily as an instrument for war. 15:12 They had iron spears, iron chariots, 15:16 so iron is a very fitting symbol 15:18 and it does parallel the name of Rome. 15:21 So yes, absolutely. 15:22 There's a very significant connection there. 15:25 That's a good observation. 15:26 - [Mike] Thank you. 15:27 Yep, thank you for taking my call. 15:28 Appreciate it. - Absolutely. 15:29 - Thank you. - Thanks, Mike. 15:30 - Next, we have Robert College Place, Washington. 15:32 Good evening, Robert. You're on the air. 15:34 - [Robert] Hi, Pastor Carlos. 15:36 And hi, Pastor Ross. - Hello. 15:38 - And your question tonight? 15:41 - [Robert] It's regarding Ephesians 4:9. 15:43 Sometimes I hear people saying that, 15:46 and I'm sure you've heard that before, 15:47 that Jesus went to hell to preach to people, 15:52 but this Ephesians 4:9 doesn't say 15:54 that he went and preached to people, 15:56 but he says that he went to the lowest parts of the earth. 16:01 How do you explain that to people 16:03 or how I explain that verse? 16:04 - Yeah, absolutely. 16:05 Let me read it so those who are just listening, 16:07 maybe driving their car can get the verses. 16:11 Let me start in verse seven. 16:12 It says, "Talking about spiritual gifts, 16:14 but to each of you or to each of us, 16:16 grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift." 16:19 Verse eight says, "Therefore he sayeth, 16:21 when he ascendeth on high, 16:23 he led captivity captive and gave gifts and unto men." 16:26 So here we find Paul in Ephesians 16:28 referencing the Ascension of Jesus. 16:30 And he says, "When Jesus ascended on high, 16:32 he laid captivity captive, but he gave gifts unto men," 16:35 and he's referring to Pentecost, 16:37 "with the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. 16:40 And with that outpouring of the Holy Spirit, 16:42 there were spiritual gifts that were given to the church." 16:45 And then verse nine he says, "Now this he ascended," 16:49 what does it mean but that he first also descended 16:52 into the lower parts of the earth? 16:54 Verse 10, "He who descended is also the one who ascended 16:58 far above all heaven that he might fulfill 17:00 or fill all things." 17:02 Now when it says, "The one who ascended 17:04 is also the one that descended," 17:05 it's just referencing to Christ, 17:07 who is one with the Father, made Himself of no reputation, 17:11 took upon Himself the form of a man, became sin for us, 17:15 meaning He took our sins, He died, He was buried, 17:19 but then He rose from the dead 17:21 and now He's ascended to the highest of heaven. 17:23 So before Christ ascended to heaven 17:25 and was able to give these special gifts 17:27 to those who had faith in Him, 17:29 He first went through the agony of Gethsemane, Calvary, 17:33 He died for our sins, He bore our sins, 17:35 He was buried, and He rose again. 17:37 So it's not talking about Jesus 17:39 going down to a place of torment, 17:41 it's just referencing to the fact of His condescension 17:44 and Him taking upon Himself our sins, dying as a substitute, 17:47 and then being highly exalted and now being in the position 17:50 of giving these spiritual gifts to the church. 17:55 - [Robert] Okay, that makes sense 17:56 when you attach the two above verses, for sure. 18:02 - Yep, that's the context that he's explaining there. 18:06 - [Robert] And don't you have a book 18:08 that talked about Jesus humbling Himself, and... 18:13 - Oh, we sure do. 18:15 - [Robert] That it's a little pocket book, I think. 18:16 - Yeah, we do. It's called "Riches of His Grace". 18:19 And well, that's one of them. 18:20 I'm looking for another one that's just new 18:22 that you need to ask for. 18:24 It is called "The Serpent and the Cross." 18:27 It's a new book that we just wrote. 18:28 I think you'll be blessed. 18:29 It talks about Christ condescension, Him bearing our sins. 18:31 And we'll be happy to send that to you. Just call and ask. 18:34 The number to call, again, is 800-835-6747 18:38 and ask for the book. 18:39 It's called "The Serpent of the Cross" 18:41 and we'll be happy to, 18:42 actually it's called "The High Cost of the Cross". 18:44 I'm sorry, it's called "The High Cost of the Cross". 18:47 Finally saw it here on my computer. 18:49 We'll be able to send that to anyone who calls and asks. 18:51 Who do we have next, Carlos? - All right. 18:53 Next we have Don from Florida. 18:55 Good evening, Don. 18:56 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live". 18:58 - [Dawn] I have a quick question, 18:59 but I wanna do a quick comment first. 19:02 Your app, it's absolutely amazing. 19:06 I listen to it all day and night on my cell phone. 19:09 I just love it. 19:10 And please turn the color back to blue. 19:12 (all laughing) 19:13 - Okay. 19:14 - [Dawn] The app color blends in with like YouTube 19:19 and I don't wanna hit the wrong button. 19:21 - Okay, well, We'll pass that on our people. Yes. 19:26 - [Dawn] Thank you. 19:27 My quick question is, are we supposed to pray to God, 19:32 our Father or Jesus? 19:34 - Okay. Good question. 19:35 Now when the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, 19:38 say, "Lord, teach us to pray," 19:40 Jesus gave them an example of prayer, 19:42 or at least the principles of prayer, 19:43 and our prayers are to be directed 19:45 to our Father which art in heaven. 19:47 So when one prays, we direct our prayers to the Father, 19:50 but we direct our prayers in the name of Jesus. 19:54 And we can ask for the Holy Spirit. 19:57 Now we do have one example 19:58 of somebody praying directly to Jesus, which is appropriate. 20:02 You have Steven just before he was stoned, 20:04 he prayed and said, "Lord, Jesus receive my spirit." 20:07 So there we have an example of Steven praying to Jesus. 20:10 We don't have an example 20:12 of somebody praying to the Holy Spirit. 20:14 We do have examples 20:15 of people obviously praying to God, the Father. 20:18 So I think if we're gonna follow the Bible, 20:19 we wanna go with that same sequence. 20:22 And here's the principle. 20:24 Jesus said, "I've not come to speak of My own words, 20:27 but I've come to speak 20:28 the words that My Father has given Me." 20:31 He spoke about Jesus, 20:32 said His mission was to glorify His Father. 20:34 And then Jesus said, "When the Comforter comes," 20:36 speaking of the Holy Spirit, "He won't speak His own words, 20:40 but He will speak the things that I have given you." 20:41 And so the Holy Spirit comes to magnify the Son. 20:44 So the Son magnifies the Father, 20:46 the Spirit magnifies the Son, 20:48 and the Father magnifies His Son. 20:51 In other words, Christ is highly exalted by the Father. 20:54 So there is this magnifying of 20:57 the Holy Spirit's magnifying the teachings of Jesus, 20:59 Jesus is revealing to us what the Father's like. 21:02 And I think when we pray, we are to direct our prayers 21:04 to God, the Father in Jesus' name, 21:06 asking for the Holy Spirit. 21:09 That would be the principle that we find in the Bible. 21:11 Does that make sense, Dawn? 21:14 - [Dawn] It does. 21:15 I normally try to speak to the Father, 21:17 And then at the end, I'm like, 21:18 "In Jesus' name, I pray." - Absolutely. Yep. 21:21 - [Dawn] Thank you, et cetera. 21:22 But I don't know how else to put it, 21:25 I didn't wanna shun Jesus, you know what I'm saying, 21:28 and do it wrong and I'm thinking- 21:29 - No, you're not. Not by any means. 21:31 - [Dawn] Like, am I doing this wrong? 21:33 - No, you're not shunning Jesus in the least. 21:35 Matter of fact, Jesus gave us that example and said, 21:37 "When you pray, say our Father which art in heaven." 21:40 Now we do have a book talking about prayer. 21:42 It's called "Teach Us to Pray". 21:44 And we'll be happy to send this to anyone who asks. 21:46 The number to call is 800-835-6747. 21:49 And again, just ask for the book, 21:51 it's called, "Teach Us to Pray". 21:52 We'll get it in the mail 21:53 and send it to you as soon as we can. 21:55 - Amen. Next we have Jennifer from Michigan. 21:58 Good evening, Jennifer. You are on the air. 22:01 - [Jennifer] Yes. Good evening. 22:02 Thank you for taking my call. - Yes, absolutely. 22:07 - [Jennifer] My question is, 22:09 who is considered the lost tribes of Judah? 22:13 - Okay, well, if you look at what the Bible says on that, 22:15 you have the 12 tribes that entered into the promised land, 22:19 you have another tribe by the tribe of Levi, 22:21 which actually made up 13, 22:23 and the reason for that is Joseph's two sons, 22:26 Ephraim and Manasseh, 22:28 they were both given an inheritance in the promised land. 22:32 So you have 13 tribes if you add the tribe of Levi. 22:36 But Levi didn't inherit a parcel of land 22:38 like the other tribes did, 22:40 they were actually scattered throughout Israel 22:43 and they had different cities where they ministered. 22:46 But there was a civil war 22:47 that occurred at the death of Saul's son, 22:51 well, actually you have David's son, Rehoboam, 22:54 and the kingdom eventually splits. 22:57 You have Rehoboam in the South and Jeroboam in the North 23:00 and you have the 10 tribes of Israel 23:02 that formed the Northern kingdom, 23:04 and you had Judah and Benjamin and most of the tribe of Levi 23:10 that formed the Southern kingdom. 23:11 And Judah was a big tribe 23:12 and so there were plenty of people in the Southern kingdom. 23:15 The Assyrians, because of the apostasy of Israel, 23:18 the Assyrians eventually came 23:19 and conquered the 10 tribes of the North. 23:21 And they were dispersed amongst the Assyrians, 23:24 they intermarried with the Assyrians. 23:26 And today nobody knows the descendants of those 10 tribes. 23:32 They have been completely combined with the other nations, 23:36 whereas the Southern tribes, Judah, Benjamin, and Levi, 23:40 they kept to themselves for the most part. 23:43 And at the time of Christ, 23:44 the word Jew comes from the tribe of Judah 23:48 and Benjamin, the tribe of Benjamin, 23:51 the smaller of the tribes was still there 23:53 because Saul said that he was of the stock of Benjamin 23:56 and Saul became Paul, the apostle in the New Testament. 23:58 So yes, with reference to the last tribes of Israel, 24:01 yeah, the reason they lost 24:03 is because they intermarried with the other tribes, 24:05 the Assyrians, the other nations, 24:07 the Assyrians and the like, 24:08 and you can't trace their inheritance. 24:14 - Well, that kind of explains that. 24:15 I've been doing some investigating 24:16 and what I've researched was that they're kind of spread 24:22 throughout the earth and that located in Africa, 24:26 the Western part of Africa, 24:28 they show a lot of those tribes are 90% circumcised 24:33 and they're showing DNA, Jewish DNA. 24:38 - And yes, it is probably true 24:39 that Jewish DNA is spread far and wide. 24:42 And there were some groups of people 24:44 that received teachings from Israel 24:47 when Israel was still a united kingdom. 24:50 And they adopted a number of traditions 24:52 that came from Israel. 24:55 There's a group in Ethiopia, 24:56 the Ethiopians had adopted portions of Judaism 24:59 and there were Ethiopian Jews 25:02 that you read about later on in New Testament times. 25:05 They were Africans, 25:07 but they adopted the religion of the Jews. 25:09 So good question. Thank you, Jennifer. 25:11 Do we have time for one more call before our break? 25:14 - Yes, we do. Quickly. 25:15 Elizabeth from Miami, Florida. 25:17 "Bible Answers Live". You are on the air. 25:19 - [Elizabeth] Okay, my question is, 25:21 will we meet God the Father when we go to heaven? 25:23 - Yes. Good question. 25:25 The answer is we sure will. 25:26 The Bible says that we shall see His face. 25:29 And Revelation tells us 25:30 that that's really the great reward of the redeemed, 25:32 we get to stand in the presence of God, the Father, 25:35 and we will look upon His face. 25:37 No need to fear because sin has been washed away. 25:40 We stand complete and holy in Jesus, 25:43 the joy of the redeemed will be in the Father's presence. 25:46 After all, Jesus says the Father loves us, 25:49 for God so loved the world 25:50 that He gave His only begotten Son 25:51 that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, 25:53 but have everlasting life. 25:55 It is the Father that loves us and He wants to save us. 25:59 And He wants us in His presence. 26:01 And the Bible tells us that in the earth made new, 26:03 the righteous will dwell in the presence of God. 26:05 God will be with them. 26:07 And that is the great hope of the Christian. 26:09 Well, friends you hear the music in the background, 26:11 we're not ending the program, 26:12 we're just taking our mid-program break. 26:14 We'll be right back. 26:15 (dramatic music) 26:18 - [Announcer] Stay tuned. 26:20 "Bible Answers Live" will return shortly. 26:25 Ok friends, let's start with the basics. 26:28 We know we're here 26:29 but we're not here for very long. 26:31 So the most important thing would be 26:33 if we could learn, during this life, how to live forever. 26:37 This is the central focus of Amazing Facts. 26:40 Now there's alot of wonderful things that Christian ministries do. 26:42 I believe in Christian education 26:44 but if the schools loose the message of salvation 26:48 you end up with more educated sinners. 26:50 I think it's very important for us to build churches 26:53 but if the churches loose the message of salvation 26:56 they just become buildings and shells. 26:59 I think it's important to have a medical ministry and build hospitals 27:02 but if they separate that from the message of salvation 27:05 we just prolong a sinners life for a little while. 27:08 That's why for years, Amazing Facts has made it our focus to present the saving truth 27:13 that sets people free. 27:15 And friends, we want to thank you for your support and your gifts. 27:18 We'll do our very best to convert those resources into the currency of heaven. 27:22 May God bless you, and keep Amazing Facts in your prayers. 27:27 Are you looking for a simple way to share your faith? 27:30 If you've ever found yourself tongue tied when trying to explain what the Bible 27:33 teaches about the Sabbath, the second coming, or the afterlife 27:38 you'll love the new Amazing Facts tracts. 27:41 These colorful tracts feature easy to ready type 27:44 and are large enough to grab everyone's attention 27:47 but small enough to fit in your pocket to carry with you wherever you go. 27:51 11 key Bible teachings are available now. 27:54 Purchase a sample bundle to see what fits your needs. 27:57 Then buy them in bulk and save. 27:59 Equip yourself and your church to reach your community 28:02 with the eye catching Amazing Facts tracts. 28:05 Amazing Facts tracts. Easy to read, easy to share. 28:09 To order your sample bundle, call 800-538-7275 28:15 or visit afbookstore.com and get ready to share your faith like never before! 28:25 Doug Batchelor was the teenage son of a millionaire father and show business mother 28:30 yet he was living in a cave. 28:32 He had everything money could buy... Everything but happiness. 28:36 But all of the fun and excitement he enjoyed left his life out of control. 28:41 His search eventually led him to a cave above Palm Springs that became his home. 28:46 While Doug scavenged for food in garbage bins, his father owned a yacht, a Learjet and an airline. 28:53 But in his cave home, he discovered a dust covered Bible. 28:56 As he began to read, he soon learned of his true purpose in life. 29:01 'The Richest Caveman' is the extraordinary true story of Doug Batchelor 29:05 that tells how a rebellious teenager who once lived in a cave became a tremendous 29:10 soul winner for Jesus Christ. 29:12 It's a thrilling testimony of the transforming power of God's Word. 29:16 To order your copy of 'The Richest Caveman' call 800-538-7275 29:22 or visit afbookstore.com 29:25 (dramatic music) 29:29 - [Announcer] You're listening to "Bible Answers Live" 29:31 where every question answered 29:33 provides a clearer picture of God and His plan to save you. 29:37 So what are you waiting for? 29:39 Get practical answers about the Good Book 29:41 for a better life today. 29:46 This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 29:49 If you'd like answers 29:50 to your Bible-related questions on the air, 29:52 please call us next Sunday 29:54 between 7:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Pacific Time. 29:58 To receive any of the Bible resources 30:00 mentioned in this evening's program, call 800-835-6747. 30:06 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 30:12 Now let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live". 30:17 - Hello, friends. Welcome back. 30:18 This is "Bible Answers Live". 30:20 We wanna welcome those who are joining us. 30:22 We're halfway through our Bible Answer program. 30:25 And if you're new two "Bible Answers Live", 30:26 this is a live interactive international Bible study. 30:30 I wanna welcome those who are watching on social media, 30:32 also looking at watching on YouTube, 30:34 and also our friends who are joining us 30:35 on Amazing Facts Television. 30:38 If you have a Bible question, 30:39 the number to call is is 800-463-7297. 30:44 That's to get your Bible question on the air. 30:46 My name is Jean Ross. 30:48 Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening, 30:49 but he will hopefully be back next week. 30:52 So be sure to tune in 30:53 if you'd like to ask a Bible question to Pastor Doug. 30:55 Working the phones with me is Pastor Carlos Munoz. 30:58 And Pastor Carlos, who is our next caller that we have? 31:01 - Next we have April calling us from Florida. 31:03 Good evening, April. You're on the air. 31:05 - [April] Good evening, Pastor Ross. 31:07 Good evening, Pastor Carlos. 31:09 My question is about John the Baptist. 31:12 I know who John the Baptist is 31:14 and my question is when he was a child, 31:18 did he know he was gonna be a great prophet? 31:22 What was his life like as a child? 31:24 I know that Jesus was his cousin. 31:27 And was he led 31:31 to learn about all these things? 31:33 And I know everybody that ever walked this earth, 31:36 other than Jesus, was a sinner. 31:38 What was John's sin? 31:39 And I did a lot of study and I never seen anything 31:43 that shows that John was either married, 31:47 and/or had kids in his sin. 31:49 So I just was wondering. 31:51 And who baptized him? 31:53 - Okay. Great question. 31:55 Yes, let's begin with the first part of the question. 31:58 Did John the Baptist know 31:59 that he was especially called by God 32:01 to prepare the way for Christ? 32:02 Yes, I believe he was. 32:04 The reason for that is his parents, Zacharia, Elizabeth, 32:07 they were very God-fearing people. 32:10 Zacharia was actually a priest 32:11 and you'll remember the story 32:13 when he was offering incense in the temple at Jerusalem 32:17 that's when the angel made the announcement to him 32:19 that Elizabeth would have a son 32:21 and he was to be the forerunner of the Messiah, 32:24 the forerunner of Christ. 32:26 We don't believe that John and Jesus ever met 32:29 because John was in a different part. 32:31 He was closer in the Southern part of Israel. 32:35 Nazareth was in the Northern area, close to Galilee. 32:38 So we don't believe that their ministry that they connected 32:42 during the early life of Christ. 32:44 At the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit revealed to John 32:47 that Christ is the Lamb of God, 32:49 the One that takes away the sins of the world. 32:51 So John had a special work. 32:54 He studied the Scriptures, he looked at the prophecies, 32:56 referring to the coming of the Messiah, 32:58 the Holy Spirit guided him, but he was not free of sin 33:03 'cause he needed the Lamb of God, Jesus, 33:05 to wash away the sins. 33:06 He was called as a sign of repentance, 33:09 calling Israel to repentance. 33:10 He was called to baptize. 33:12 Now baptism wasn't totally foreign to the Jews 33:14 because if a person converted from a different nation 33:17 and became a Jew or converted to Judaism, 33:20 they would sometimes be baptized 33:21 as a symbol of them committing to the Jewish faith. 33:26 So it wasn't totally foreign. 33:27 It wasn't practiced very widely, 33:29 but there were some groups like the ah-see-ns 33:31 a group of Jews who did practice baptism 33:35 in the area close to where John was baptizing. 33:39 And I think your other question was, did he have a family? 33:41 No, we have no record of him having a family. 33:44 He died in his early 30s 33:48 but he dedicated his life to sharing the good news 33:53 that the Messiah was coming 33:54 and preparing the way for Christ. 33:56 And Jesus said of all of the prophets, 33:58 there's not arisen one greater than John the Baptist. 34:01 And so Jesus recognized John's special calling 34:05 in preparing the way for Christ. 34:07 - Did he ever sin was the other one. 34:09 - Did John ever sin? I'm sure he did. 34:11 Even though we don't have a record of him sinning, 34:13 we know all have sinned and come short the glory of God. 34:16 Now there are some other Bible characters 34:18 that we don't have any record of sinning, 34:19 for example, Joseph, 34:21 the Bible doesn't mention Joseph sinning. 34:23 We have- - Daniel. 34:24 - Daniel. Yes. 34:25 Another Bible character 34:27 that we don't have any reference of sinning, 34:28 but that doesn't mean they never sinned. 34:30 They still needed a savior, 34:31 it's just that the Bible doesn't mention that specifically. 34:34 So yeah, he needed a Savior just like everyone else does. 34:39 Thanks for your call, April. 34:40 Who do we have next? 34:41 - Next we have Campo from Texas. 34:43 Good evening, Campo. You're on the air. 34:45 - [Campo] Okay, my question is impure thoughts. 34:49 What does the Bible say about that? 34:51 - Yes, sorry. Good question. 34:53 Well, the Bible tells us that we wanna think 34:54 on those things that are pure and holy. 34:57 We want even our thoughts 34:59 to be brought under the control of the Spirit of God. 35:02 Now, if we pray and we make a decision and say, "Lord, 35:05 I wanna think those things that are pleasing in Your sight," 35:09 when an impure thought comes into our mind, 35:11 or if we have feelings of jealousy 35:15 and the Holy Spirit convicts us, 35:17 we need to immediately then turn to God and say, 35:19 "Lord, please forgive me. 35:21 Help me to redirect my thoughts." 35:23 And this doesn't happen overnight. 35:25 I think it's an ongoing experience. 35:26 But as we ask the Holy Spirit 35:28 to convict us and lead us, He will. 35:31 And the moment we get convicted 35:32 that this is not the right thing 35:34 for us to be thinking about, 35:36 That's when we need to make a choice 35:37 to redirect our thoughts and move away 35:40 from the carnal things of this earth 35:43 and set our thoughts upon the spiritual things of heaven. 35:46 And if we do that, then we begin to form a habit. 35:49 And pretty soon it becomes easier and easier 35:52 for us to think on wholesome, spiritual things 35:55 and not on earthly things. 35:57 Also, our thoughts are often influenced 35:59 by what we're feeding our mind. 36:02 So if we are feeding our mind the things of secular media 36:05 and just the craziness 36:06 that's happening in the world around us, 36:08 our thoughts are gonna be leaning towards that. 36:09 But we are filling our mind with holy things, things of God, 36:13 filling our mind with Scripture, 36:15 or spiritual devotional books, or something wholesome, 36:20 our thoughts will lean more in that direction. 36:23 So yes, we can control our thoughts 36:25 and the Holy Spirit will convict us. 36:26 But we need to ask for the Holy Spirit. 36:29 Does that help, Campo? 36:31 - [Campo] Yes, sir, it did. 36:32 It helps just as long as I say, "Lord, 36:34 please forgive me and redirect my thoughts." 36:36 - That's the key. That's what we need to ask for. 36:39 All right. Well, thanks for your call. 36:40 Who do we have next? 36:41 - Next we have Neal calling us from California. 36:43 Neal, good evening on "Bible Answers Live". 36:47 - [Neal] Yes. Good evening. 36:49 Thank you for taking my call. 36:51 - Yes. A pleasure. - Yes. Hello. 36:55 I'm calling regarding Revelation Chapter Nine. 37:00 And there's a few different things in there 37:02 that I'm wondering about because it starts out 37:05 talking about opening up the bottomless pit. 37:08 And the bottomless pit is spoken of again, I think, 37:11 in Revelation 20 where Satan is bound. 37:16 But I was wondering in particular 37:18 about the number of the Revelation 9:16, where it says, 37:24 "The number of the army of the horseman was 200 million." 37:28 I heard the number of them 37:30 and it goes on and it mentions colors, 37:32 a fiery red, hyacinth blue, sulfur yellow 37:37 would sound like the colors of the country of China. 37:41 And I'm wondering if anyone knows anything 37:44 about this possibly being something to do with China. 37:47 They're becoming so powerful. 37:48 - All right. Well, I'm glad you asked. 37:50 Yes, let me tell you a little bit 37:52 about the six trumpet here. 37:53 In Revelation, we have a series of sevens, 37:55 you've got the seven churches, 37:57 the seven seals, and the seven trumpets. 37:59 Each of these series of sevens 38:01 cover roughly the same time period, 38:03 it's what we call a Christian era. 38:05 So it's from about 100 AD 38:08 all the way up till the second coming of Christ. 38:11 Now the sixth trumpet you read about here 38:13 in Revelation Chapter Nine, starting in verse 13, 38:16 is really a description of the rise 38:19 and the expansion of Islam 38:22 during the years leading up to around 1840. 38:26 It's actually a historically event 38:28 that's being described here, it's not a future event. 38:31 Because when you look at the seventh trumpet 38:32 that you find in Revelation Chapter 11, 38:34 it's talking about events that are taking place today. 38:36 It talks about the nations are angry, the wrath has come, 38:39 the time of the dead that they should be judged. 38:41 That's Revelation Chapter 11 under the seventh trumpet. 38:44 So a number of scholars have identified the fifth trumpet 38:48 as the rise of Islam during the time of Muhammad 38:51 and the sixth trumpet as the expansion of Islam 38:54 under the Ottoman empire. 38:56 Now, the Ottoman empire was very powerful in its day. 39:00 And if you look at some of the historical accounts 39:02 of the Ottoman empire, their strength of army was horseman, 39:06 and they had hundreds of thousands of horsemen, 39:10 and it describes different colors. 39:12 It says their breast plates were fiery red, 39:15 hyacinth blue, sulfur yellow. 39:17 These are the actual colors of the uniforms 39:20 of the Ottoman soldiers, the horseman in particular. 39:23 And it talks about having the heads of lions 39:26 and outta the mouth comes fire and smoke. 39:28 It was during this time that gun powder had been invented 39:32 and the horseman of the Ottoman empire 39:34 would often lean forward on the horses 39:36 and discharge their gunfire 39:39 and it would seem as though smoke and fire 39:41 is actually coming out of the mouth of the horse. 39:43 So this is a very descriptive passage of Scripture. 39:46 It's not referring to China, 39:48 but rather it's referring to the rise 39:50 and the expansion of Islam 39:51 during the time of the Ottoman empire. 39:54 So that's kind of your overview there of the trumpets. 39:57 And it's a very deep subject and a lot of symbolism there, 40:01 but this has been identified historically as Ottoman empire. 40:05 All right, well, thanks for your call. 40:06 Who do we have next? 40:07 - Next we have Barbara calling us from Canada. 40:09 Good evening, Barbara. 40:10 - [Barbara] Oh, good evening, pastors. 40:12 - Hi, Barbara. - Hello. 40:13 - And your question tonight. 40:14 - [Barbara] Yeah, good to talk to you. 40:16 Yes, I have a friend who says 40:18 that we're worshiping on the wrong day of the week. 40:24 When Christ rose from the dead on Sunday morning, 40:30 Sabbath morning to their time, their way of thinking, 40:34 he changed the day that Sabbath is now Sunday, 40:39 it is not Saturday. 40:41 How do you explain to somebody like that that's wrong? 40:46 - Yeah, that's a good question. 40:48 It is a very significant event 40:50 that Christ rose from the dead. 40:52 We have hope in the resurrection 40:53 'cause Christ rose from the dead, 40:55 but He wouldn't have risen from the dead 40:57 if He had not first died for our sins, 41:00 which took place on Friday. 41:03 So the fact that Jesus died on Friday, 41:05 does that make Friday a holy day 41:07 or that Jesus rose on Sunday, 41:10 does that make Sunday a holy day? 41:12 You won't find any commandment in the New Testament 41:15 or anywhere in the Bible that says 41:17 because Christ rose on the first day of the week, 41:19 we are now to keep the first day of the week as the Sabbath. 41:23 There is only one day clearly defined in Scripture 41:27 as being the Sabbath, the Sabbath of the Lord thy God, 41:30 and that of course is the fourth commandment, 41:32 which says, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." 41:35 What's significant about the Sabbath 41:36 is that Jesus died on Friday, He rested in the tomb. 41:40 His work of redemption had ended, 41:43 He rested in the tomb and He rose the first day of the week. 41:46 So even in His death, He rested on the Sabbath. 41:50 So we see the Sabbath still holding a very significant 41:52 and important part in the Old Testament and New Testament. 41:56 It's still part of the 10 commandments either way. 41:58 So I think we just need to stay with the Bible 42:00 if we wanna know for sure what does the Bible teach us 42:03 with reference to the Sabbath? 42:05 We do have a study guide that talks about that. 42:07 We'd be happy to send that to anyone who calls and asks. 42:11 It's dealing with the fourth commandment 42:15 and it's called, I'm looking for it right here, 42:18 it is "The Lost Day in History", 42:21 that's what it's called, "The Lost Day in History". 42:23 We'll be happy to send that study guide 42:25 to anyone who calls and asks. 42:26 The number is 800-835-6747 42:29 and you can just ask for the study guide. 42:31 It's called "The Lost Day in History". 42:33 Who do we have next? 42:35 - Next we have Paula calling us from Alabama, I think. 42:39 Good evening, Paula. You are on the air. 42:41 - [Paula] Yes, sir. 42:43 Thank you for taking my call. - You're welcome. 42:44 - [Paula] I was wanting to know 42:46 if you're anointed to cast out demon 42:48 and the Lord tells you to, when you go to cast it out 42:52 and you tell it to come out and it doesn't. 42:55 I mean, what is the problem? 42:56 Is it unbelief on my part, 42:58 or am I supposed to just keep on saying, 43:00 "Come out, come out, come out?" 43:02 - Okay, well, this is a good question. 43:04 Well, first of all, yes, 43:05 we do have occurrences in the Bible 43:06 where demons were cast out of people. 43:09 But first of all, let me begin by saying 43:12 that's not something 43:14 that Christians ought to be going around looking for. 43:16 We shouldn't start a ministry of casting out devils. 43:19 The devil is very powerful. It's spiritual beings. 43:23 And if we find ourself in a situation 43:26 where someone is demon-possessed 43:27 and are now manifesting those characteristics 43:31 of being Demon-possessed, 43:33 the right thing for us to do is to call other Christians 43:36 who are true believers and unite in prayer for that person. 43:40 Now, in some cases, depending upon the situation, 43:43 the demon might be difficult to come out. 43:45 There was a time where the disciples 43:46 tried to cast out a demon from a boy 43:49 and they were not able to do it. 43:50 And finally, they asked Jesus, 43:52 "Why couldn't we cast out the demon?" 43:54 And Jesus said, "Well, this kind only comes out 43:56 through prayer and fasting." 43:58 So sometimes yes, it requires time, 44:01 it requires perseverance, 44:04 and even fasting depending upon the situation. 44:07 So when it comes to facing a demon, let's be very careful. 44:12 Let's recognize that this is a supernatural power 44:15 and we need Christ to be with us. 44:18 We wanna pray earnestly, 44:20 we wanna unite with other believers to pray earnestly, 44:24 and trust because obviously God is bigger than the devil 44:27 and trust that He will be faithful to fulfill His promise. 44:31 So that's kind of the way we want to approach that. 44:32 Does that help, Paula? 44:36 - [Paula] I've already done all that 44:37 and I didn't ask to do this, it was just brought upon me. 44:42 - Well, then you do just do exactly what you've been doing 44:45 and keep trusting in the Lord. 44:47 And in His time He will work it out. 44:49 Sometimes there are other situations involved. 44:52 If there is something in the house, for example, 44:54 that is giving the devil a foothold, 44:56 maybe there are movies, books, or maybe there are practices 45:00 that are taking place in the household 45:02 that is giving the devil a right, so to speak, 45:06 if we are aware of those things, 45:08 we wanna remove that as well. 45:09 So if you know there's something going on there, 45:11 something that's dealing with the occult, 45:14 clean the house, get all of that stuff out of there. 45:16 Sometimes that's also needed. 45:19 All right, well thank you Paula for your call. 45:21 And keep praying, the Lord will work it out. 45:23 - Amen. Next we have Elizabeth calling us from Wisconsin. 45:26 Good evening, Elizabeth. You're on "Bible Answers Live". 45:29 - [Elizabeth] I just have a question question. 45:31 You were talking about the Holy Spirit before. 45:34 And I know that Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit 45:40 and He said He would intercede for us. 45:43 Now, I'm a widow and I have been a Christian for 80 years. 45:49 And now that I'm alone, 45:52 I don't have anybody else to talk to. 45:55 So I talk to the Holy Spirit when I'm driving, 45:59 we talk about the countryside, how pretty it is, 46:03 the Lord's handy work, and so on. 46:08 And then I have dear ones 46:12 that I don't know how to pray for. 46:15 I pray for them 46:17 but can I ask the Holy Spirit to pray for them? 46:21 - Yes, well, the holy- - Is that proper? 46:23 - That is. The Holy Spirit intercedes. 46:25 And sometimes we can't describe a feeling that we have. 46:29 Well, the Holy Spirit knows our heart 46:32 and He's able to take that feeling, that desire, 46:34 especially if it's for the salvation of somebody else, 46:37 or a special need that we have. 46:38 The Holy Spirit is able to take that desire 46:40 and put it in words that intercede, so to speak, 46:44 on our behalf to God. 46:46 So yes, we can pray for the Holy Spirit. 46:47 We should ask the Holy Spirit to guide us. 46:50 That is very appropriate. 46:51 But in our prayers, typically the Holy Spirit will lead us 46:54 into a deeper experience and relationship with Jesus 46:58 because the Holy Spirit magnifies Christ. 47:02 - [Elizabeth] Yes. 47:03 - All right. 47:05 - [Elizabeth] Thank you very much. 47:06 - Absolutely. Good question. 47:07 Thank you for calling. 47:09 - Next we have Paula from North Carolina. 47:12 Good evening, Paula. 47:13 You're on the air. 47:15 - [Paula] Hi there. 47:16 I have a question. - Okay. 47:20 - [Paula] I want to follow Jesus 47:22 but I dunno what to believe. 47:24 - Okay. Good question. 47:27 Paula, the first thing you need to do 47:28 is ask Jesus to come into your heart. 47:31 And that's simply a prayer. 47:32 You say, "Lord Jesus, I confess my sins. 47:35 I give myself to You. 47:36 Please come into my heart. I surrender myself to You." 47:40 Now, that's the first step, you come to Jesus. 47:43 But then once you make that decision 47:45 and you come to Jesus by faith, 47:46 then you want to discover His will for your life. 47:50 And you find that in the Bible. 47:52 So you wanna start reading the Bible. 47:55 Now you might not have had 47:56 much experience reading the Bible, 47:57 and sometimes there are things in the Bible 47:59 that are difficult to understand, but as you read the Bible, 48:02 the Holy Spirit is able to guide and illuminate your mind. 48:06 So I would just start reading the Bible. 48:08 If you're not real familiar with the Bible, 48:09 maybe start with one of the gospels, start with Mark. 48:12 It's a shorter gospel, you can read it fairly quickly. 48:16 It talks about Jesus. 48:18 There are four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, 48:20 all about the life of Christ. 48:21 That's so inspiring to read. 48:24 And then you might wanna go to the book of Genesis 48:26 and read about the beginning and how things were created 48:29 and familiarize yourself with the teachings of the Bible. 48:32 And as you spend time in the Word of God, 48:34 you will grow more and more in your understanding of truth 48:38 and your faith in God will grow 48:41 as you spend time in His Word. 48:43 I would also recommend finding a good Bible study series. 48:47 Amazing Facts has a free online Bible study course. 48:51 And it'll help you in your study of God's Word 48:54 because it picks different topics and it'll guide you 48:56 through what the Bible has to say about different topics. 48:59 So that would be a great start. 49:01 We do have a study guide that deals with your very question 49:03 about how do we become a true Christian. 49:06 It's called "Rescue From Above" 49:08 and it's talking about salvation. 49:10 And we'll be happy to send that to you. 49:12 Actually, Paula, when you call, 49:13 just ask to sign up, it's free. 49:15 Just sign up for the entire Amazing Facts study course. 49:19 But the study guide specifically talking about that 49:21 is "Rescue From Above". 49:22 The number to call is 800-835-6747 49:26 and we'll be happy to send it to you in the mail. 49:28 - Amen. Next we have Norman calling from California. 49:31 Good evening, Norman. 49:34 - [Norman] Yeah, I have a question. 49:35 It's kind of trivial, 49:37 but regards to the people who died during the flood. 49:44 Is that their final judgment 49:46 or will they be resurrected too? 49:49 - There will be another resurrection 49:51 that everyone who has died will be resurrected in. 49:55 It's called the resurrection at the end of the 1,000 years. 49:58 It's the second resurrection. 50:00 You can actually read about this in Revelation Chapter 20, 50:02 where it talks about the dead, both small and great, 50:06 stood before the great white throne judgment. 50:09 It's the end of the 1,000 years, 50:10 at the end of the millennium. 50:12 So there is a final judgment. 50:14 And so those who were destroyed by the flood waters, 50:17 they will be resurrected for this final judgment 50:20 that takes place at the end of the 1,000 years. 50:24 - [Norman] I see, because I've been hearing 50:25 that the earth was judged through water before, 50:30 and then there will be seconding judgment through fire. 50:33 So I thought that that water judgment 50:37 is their final judgment. 50:39 - No, I mean, it serves as a type of the cleaning 50:41 that'll occur at the end of the 1,000 years 50:44 when the earth is cleansed with fire, 50:46 but individuals, they are still resurrected 50:49 to give an account of their life. 50:50 They stand to be judged at the end of the 1,000 years. 50:54 We have a study guide talking about that, 50:55 it's called "A 1,000 Years of Peace" 50:57 and it talks about this 1000-year period 50:59 found in Revelation Chapter 20. 51:01 And Norman, we'll be happy to send it to you, 51:03 or anyone who wants to learn more about it. 51:05 The number is 800-835-6747. 51:10 - Amen. Next, we have Joseph from Pennsylvania. 51:14 Joseph, you're on the air. 51:16 - [Joseph] Hi, how's it going, Pastor Ross? 51:18 - Hi, Joseph. Doing well. 51:21 - [Joseph] I have a question that has plagued me for decades. 51:24 - All right. 51:25 - [Joseph] And it comes out of I Corinthians 15:20. 51:31 - All right. 51:33 - [Joseph] And I'll read that out of the NKJV. 51:37 It says, "But now Christ is risen from the dead 51:41 and has become the first fruits 51:42 of those who have fallen asleep. 51:45 For since by man came death, 51:48 by man also came the resurrection of the dead. 51:52 For as in Adam all die, 51:54 even so in Christ all shall be made alive, 51:59 but each one in his own order, Christ is the first fruit." 52:04 That's the key word. 52:07 So what I'm understanding here, 52:09 Christ being resurrected off the earth 52:12 was the first fruit of resurrection of the dead. 52:18 So my question is, why is not Moses included in this 52:24 because he was resurrected 2,000 years before Jesus Christ? 52:29 - All right. - Why is he not included? 52:30 - Why is he not included? 52:31 Okay. Very good. 52:32 The phrase first fruits is to be understood 52:35 not only in its numerical sequence, 52:39 but also in its prominence and importance. 52:42 In other words, what's been told here 52:45 is that because Christ rose first, 52:48 we also can be resurrected, not meaning that numerically, 52:52 but it's because of His resurrection, 52:54 that we can also be resurrected. 52:56 So His resurrection is first in importance 53:00 and our only hope of resurrection 53:02 is because of His resurrection. 53:04 For example, we might speak of the first lady. 53:07 And when we speak of the first lady, 53:09 we are talking about the president's wife, 53:11 we are not saying that she's the first woman, that's Eve, 53:14 but we're saying first in rank or position. 53:17 So when it's talking 53:18 about Christ being the first resurrection 53:20 or first fruits of the resurrection, 53:21 His resurrection is the most important. 53:24 It's because of His resurrection 53:25 that anyone else has hoped to be resurrected. 53:29 And like you say, yes, we do have the book of Jude 53:32 speaks about the resurrection of Moses. 53:34 And so, Moses was resurrected and taken to heaven. 53:37 But the only reason why Moses was resurrected 53:39 was because in faith, there was the promise 53:42 that Christ would be resurrected. 53:44 If Christ was not resurrected, 53:45 then yeah, Moses he'd have to leave heaven. 53:50 - [Joseph] Yeah 'cause we had Enoch and Elijah, 53:53 we know how they got there. 53:55 - Right. They didn't die. 53:56 - [Joseph] They were taken there. They didn't die. 53:58 So Moses actually passed away 54:02 and he was taken to heaven- - And he was resurrected. 54:03 I guess on the painting plan of the cross. 54:07 - Yes, absolutely. 54:08 In faith, he was resurrected and taken. 54:11 Of course God knew what would happen 54:13 and that Christ would be resurrected. 54:15 So when it says first fruits, 54:16 it's talking there of first in prominence and importance. 54:20 And generally speaking, Christ rose from the dead, 54:23 the vast majority of believers that'll be resurrected, 54:26 takes place at the second coming of Christ. 54:29 But first in prominence and importance, 54:32 that's the emphasis there of the verse that we find. 54:35 Well, thank you for your call, Joseph. We appreciate. 54:37 And friends, we wanna thank you 54:38 for those of you who called in. 54:40 If we didn't get your call this evening, 54:42 please be sure to call back next week. 54:44 Now, for those of you who are watching live on social media 54:47 or Amazing Facts, our program's not finished, 54:50 but we do need to take closing off. 54:52 We need to take a break. 54:53 To those who are listening on satellite radio, 54:55 again, join us next Sunday at seven o'clock Pacific time. 54:59 For those who are watching on Amazing Facts TV, 55:01 and watching on social media, stay by 55:03 because we've got our exciting call-in Bible questions, 55:06 our online questions. 55:08 We'll be back in just a few moments. 55:12 - [Announcer] Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:15 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:18 "Bible Answers Live" 55:20 is produced by Amazing Facts International, 55:23 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:28 - Welcome back, friends. 55:29 We got two minutes to try 55:31 and answer as many Bible questions as we can. 55:33 We wanna thank those who sent in their Bible questions. 55:35 You can do so just on email, email it to Amazing Facts, 55:40 or you can post a comment 55:41 if you're watching on social media. 55:43 Pastor Carlos, what do we have? 55:45 - What is Jesus doing in the sanctuary? 55:47 And why is it important to me as a Christian 55:49 in these last days? 55:50 - Okay. What is Jesus doing for us right now? 55:52 Yes, the Bible tells us in Hebrews 55:53 that Jesus is a high priest 55:55 and is ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary. 55:59 There is a special work of cleansing that is happening. 56:01 And this cleansing work 56:03 is a cleansing of the heart and the life. 56:05 Those who come by faith to Christ 56:08 and ask for the Holy Spirit, 56:10 Christ has promised to do a work of cleansing. 56:12 There is a cleansing of the heavenly sanctuary, 56:14 there is a cleansing of the church on earth, 56:16 there is a cleansing of the individual. 56:18 So there is a special work taking place. 56:20 Even now, Jesus, our high priest, 56:22 is ministering for us in the heavenly sanctuary. 56:24 And you can read all about that in the book of Hebrews. 56:27 What's the next question? - Amen. 56:29 What's the difference between accounted righteousness 56:31 and imparted righteousness? 56:32 - Okay, two phrases that we find, imputed and imparted. 56:36 Imputed righteousness is when we come to Jesus 56:38 and we receive Him as our personal Savior. 56:40 His righteousness takes the place of our unrighteousness 56:44 and we stand before God just as if we have never sinned. 56:48 But in addition to the imputed righteousness, 56:51 we also have the imparted righteousness. 56:53 And that is when by faith, we surrender our lives to Jesus 56:56 and Christ's righteousness then actually comes 56:59 and becomes part of our heart and part of our lives. 57:03 And we begin to live out the righteousness of Christ 57:06 through the Spirit in our lives. 57:08 The two theological terms there, imputed righteousness 57:11 is sometimes referred to as justification 57:14 and imparted righteousness is referred to as sanctification. 57:18 Paul uses the phrase Christ in you, 57:22 that's imparted righteousness, 57:24 and you in Christ, that's imputed righteousness. 57:27 So those are the two phrases 57:29 that are sometimes seen in the writings of Paul. 57:31 - Amen. 57:32 Question, how can you honor your parents 57:35 when they have committed horrific sins against you? 57:37 - Oh, how do you keep that commandment 57:38 that says honor your mother and your father 57:39 when your parents have done some bad things? 57:41 Well, honoring your parents 57:43 doesn't mean you agree with everything they've done. 57:45 You don't wanna support your parents 57:47 if they're doing that which is contrary to the Word of God. 57:50 But despite them doing horrible things, you respect them 57:53 because they are the ones who gave your life. 57:56 Now, there might be times where you need to be respectful 57:59 and disagree with your parents and say, "I can't do that," 58:02 or, "that's contrary to what God would have me to do," 58:05 but as far as possible, 58:06 we wanna show respect and honor to our parents 58:09 because that's what the commandment says. 58:11 So yes, sometimes we wanna pray for wisdom 58:13 in those situations. 58:14 Friends, God bless. 58:15 Thank you for joining us here. 58:17 And we look forward to seeing you next week. 58:20 - [Announcer] "Bible Answers Live", 58:22 honest and accurate answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2022-09-20