Participants:
Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA022249S
00:00 (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 it's words, 00:10 sometimes simple and sometimes mysterious. 00:13 Should always be studied carefully. 00:16 It is the Bible, 00:18 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 mentioned 00:34 in this broadcast, 00:35 call 1-800-835-6747. 00:39 Once again, that's 1-800-835-6747. 00:44 Now here's your host, 00:46 from Amazing Facts International, 00:48 Pastor Doug Batchelor. 00:50 - Hello friends. 00:51 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 00:54 An English fisherman from Worcestershire 00:56 traveling through France, 00:57 caught a fish he will not soon forget. 01:00 20 years ago, 01:01 someone introduced a goldfish 01:03 to the blue water lakes 01:04 in Champagne, France. 01:06 Little fish tend to get big, 01:08 and grow much longer in a big lake, 01:10 but no one was prepared 01:11 when Andy Hackett landed the monster goldfish 01:15 that had grown to 67 pounds. 01:18 The bright orange goldfish had been spotted many times 01:21 and was nicknamed the Giant Carrot. 01:24 After a 25 minute battle, 01:25 it was all over. 01:27 A friend teased Andy, 01:28 you're gonna need a bigger fishbowl. 01:31 It's not very often you see a man using two hands 01:34 to lift a goldfish nearly as big as a sheep. 01:37 Mr. Hackett posed with the orange leviathan 01:39 for a few memorable pictures, 01:40 before releasing it back into the lake. 01:43 The fishery now has a waiting list of five years 01:46 for anyone else who wants a chance 01:48 at catching the world's biggest goldfish. 01:51 You know, pastor Ross, 01:53 I remember once I came home from some school fair 01:56 and I don't know how I ended up weaning a goldfish 01:59 for one of our kids. 02:00 And we put it in a little plastic goldfish bowl, 02:02 and set it on the kitchen counter. 02:04 And I honestly thought it would die 02:05 in about two or three days 02:06 and that would be the end of that. 02:08 We had that thing for years, 02:10 (Pastor Rossa laughs) 02:11 and I mean just, you know, 02:12 we took, we fed it and took care of it, 02:13 but I was am once we actually thought it was dead, 02:15 and I put it in the toilet, 02:17 it came back to life, 02:18 and then I had to fish it out. 02:20 Those things are are amazing, 02:22 but I've never seen one get that big. 02:25 - That is a big goldfish. 02:27 You can just imagine the kid coming home 02:29 and having one of those in its big bowl on his desk. 02:32 It's just. 02:33 - Let those go in the swimming pool. 02:34 - That's right. It's a big fish. 02:36 - But then, yeah, 02:37 if you put that in your pool, 02:38 you'd be afraid it might catch you. 02:40 And it makes us think about a man 02:42 that instead of going fishing, 02:43 he got caught by the fish. 02:45 - That's right. 02:46 Also a really big fish, 02:48 and we're talking about Jonah, 02:50 and the story that we find in the Old Testament 02:52 of the prophet, the reluctant prophet, 02:54 but God prepared a fish 02:55 and the fish actually brought Jonah 02:58 underwater to where he needed to go. 03:01 But what else is interesting, pastor Doug, 03:02 is that story of Jonah, 03:04 being in the belly of the great fish 03:06 for three days is actually referenced by Jesus. 03:08 - Yeah, some people say, 03:09 well, it didn't really happen. 03:10 Well, Jesus states it as though it did happen. 03:13 And you can read that Friends, 03:14 if you look in your Bibles 03:15 in the book of Matthew chapter 12, 03:18 and in verse 39, Jesus said, 03:21 "An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, 03:25 and no sign will be given to it 03:27 except for the sign of the prophet Jonah. 03:30 For as Jonah was three days and three nights 03:33 in the belly of the great fish. 03:35 So will the son of man be three days and three nights 03:38 in the heart of the earth." 03:40 And you know, 03:41 there are many ways when you read the story of Jonah, 03:42 it is really a, 03:43 it's a type of Jesus. 03:45 We learn about Jesus. 03:47 Sort of allegorically from the story of Jonah. 03:50 Jesus was asleep in a boat during a storm. 03:54 They said to Jesus, Lord, 03:55 do you not care we're perishing? 03:56 And they woke him up. 03:57 The captain says to Jonah, 03:58 do you not care that we're perishing? 04:00 Then they go up on deck and they cast lots 04:02 and they cast lots for Jesus 04:05 and says the sailors did not want to be charged 04:07 with innocent blood. 04:08 And Pilate said, 04:10 "I don't want to be guilty of this man's innocent blood." 04:13 And you can go through the story of Jonah of course, 04:16 and then Jonah, looks like he's dead. 04:18 And after three days and three nights he comes back. 04:22 And then there's a great revival after his resurrection, 04:26 which after Jesus' resurrection, 04:28 the Christian Church goes to the Gentiles. 04:31 So there's just so many parallels in the story of Jonah 04:34 and maybe our friends would like to know 04:36 what some of those lessons are. 04:37 I didn't even give half of them right now. 04:39 - We have a book and the book is called The Sign of Jonah, 04:42 written by Pastor Doug. 04:43 And it's just a great read. 04:45 We'd like to make this available to anyone who is watching. 04:48 If you are in the US or in Canada 04:50 and you'd like to receive the book, 04:52 all you have to do is 04:53 call the number 1-800-835-6747 04:57 and you can ask for offer number 149, 04:59 or ask for it by name. 05:00 It's called The Sign of Jonah. 05:02 Or if you like, 05:03 you can dial #250 on your cell phone, 05:06 just #250 and say, 05:07 "Bible Answers Live, 05:09 and you'll be able to request the book 05:11 right there on the phone. 05:12 Now, if you're outside of North America, 05:14 and you'd like to read the book, 05:15 we wanna encourage you to go to our website, 05:16 just amazingfacts.org or.com, 05:19 and you'll be able to read the book there 05:21 on our free library. 05:22 The book again is called The Sign of Jonah. 05:24 And of course, 05:25 if you have a Bible question, 05:26 our phone line here to the studio 05:28 is 800-463-7297. 05:32 That's 800-463-7297 or 800. 05:36 God says, 05:37 that'll bring you here into the studio 05:39 with your Bible questions. 05:40 We also want to greet Pastor Doug, 05:41 those who are watching on the internet. 05:43 We are live streaming this program 05:44 on Facebook on the Doug Batchelor Facebook page 05:47 on Amazing Facts on YouTube. 05:48 And also, we have folks who are watching live 05:51 on Amazing Facts TV, 05:53 and then of course, 05:54 listening on the many land-based radio stations 05:57 as well as satellite radio. 05:58 So welcome to all of our listeners. 06:00 Before we get to your questions, 06:02 we wanna start with a word of prayer. 06:04 Dear Father in heaven, 06:05 we thank You that we have this time 06:07 where we can open up the Bible and study together 06:09 the most important book 06:11 that contains the most important story, 06:13 the most important subject, 06:15 and that centers around Christ. 06:16 Thank You for the opportunity to study together, 06:18 be with those who are listening 06:19 and guide us here in the studio. 06:21 We ask us in Jesus' name, Amen. 06:23 - Amen. 06:24 - While we're ready to go to the phone lines, 06:26 our first caller this evening, 06:27 we've got David listening in Arizona. 06:29 David, welcome to the program. 06:32 - [David] Hello, good evening, pastor Basher, pastor Ross. 06:35 - Evening. 06:36 - Praise the Lord for using you both 06:38 and the ministry Amazing Facts. 06:39 Bless all you and your families. 06:41 - Well, thank you. 06:43 - [David] I work here as a volunteer missionary 06:45 on the Navajo Reservation and you know, 06:47 there's a lot of people in need 06:49 and Lord's using me quite a bit, 06:51 helping people. 06:52 And one day it impressed me, 06:54 I asked the Lord, I said, Lord, 06:56 I says, 06:57 "You've used me to do this, 06:59 and I know that you provide blessings for helping people. 07:02 So if there is any blessings that you have for me, 07:06 would you please give it to this person?" 07:09 Or you know, 07:10 who I was helping at the time. 07:12 And since then I've done that several times 07:14 and I was just curious what your thoughts were about that. 07:18 - Yeah, well of course, 07:20 people cannot of their own transfer a blessing 07:25 except as God does that now, you know, 07:27 when the Lord instructed Isaac and Jacob, 07:32 they placed their hands on their sons 07:33 and they kind of conveyed a promise and a blessing. 07:38 Jesus put his hands on the children and bless them. 07:40 But the most important way that we transfer blessing 07:42 is simply by praying that God will bless somebody. 07:46 And which sounds like what you're doing, 07:48 it's, but this, 07:48 it's not really a ritual. 07:51 We just ask God to, you know, 07:52 bless this person, 07:54 and it's okay to ask God to bless you too. 07:57 There's a story of Jabez in the Bible 07:59 and he says, 08:00 "Lord bless me." 08:01 And it says, 08:02 God blessed him and answered his prayer. 08:04 So just praying that God will bless the people 08:07 that are working in your wake, 08:08 and I'll send you Navajo greetings (indistinct) 08:11 to you and any of your friends 08:13 that are there around the four corners area. 08:15 Keep up the good work 08:17 and thank you for your call. David. 08:19 - We've got Anthony listening in New York. 08:21 Anthony, welcome to the program. 08:24 - [Anthony] Hello, good evening, pastors. 08:26 - Evening. 08:27 - [Anthony] My question is based on Daniel chapter four, 08:31 verse 15, 08:34 And it says, "Nevertheless." 08:35 And this is the dream of Nebuchadnezzar 08:38 where he jumped up the big tree 08:42 and it says, "Nevertheless, 08:43 leave the stump of his roots in the earth, 08:46 even with a band of iron and brass 08:49 in the tender grass of the field 08:51 and let it be wet with the dew of heaven 08:54 and let his portion be with the beasts 08:55 and the grass of the earth." 08:57 My question is, 08:59 is there any prophetic significance 09:01 to the types of metals mentioned there? 09:04 Mentioned in there with the iron and the brass, 09:06 similar to the one of his first string with the metal man. 09:10 - Right, yeah. 09:12 And I think that you also find the iron in the brass 09:15 in Daniel, is it Daniel Seven? 09:17 The fourth beast that got teeth 09:18 of iron and claws of brass. 09:22 So, you know, 09:24 every word of God is valid and means something. 09:26 And I've looked at this before, 09:28 because typically, 09:29 when you look at the story in Daniel chapter four, 09:32 it's not a problem. 09:34 Well, this Daniel gives a prophecy 09:36 of what's gonna happen to Nebuchadnezzar, 09:38 but we usually don't apply that with the day for the year, 09:41 because it tells us the fulfillment of that prophecy 09:44 when the seven times pass is the seven years 09:47 of Nebuchadnezzar's insanity, 09:50 and that his kingdom would be preserved. 09:52 Now I've done a lot of woodcutting and falling of trees. 09:56 I was doing some last week 09:58 and some trees, 10:00 when you cut it, 10:01 if you cut it above the ball root, 10:03 they will come back. 10:04 A man's in need and many other trees or on a drone. 10:08 They'll come back even an oak, 10:10 they might put a band of iron or bronze around it 10:13 to protect that, the tree, the stump, 10:17 from being, you know, 10:18 beaten up by people 10:20 or something that might go by. 10:22 And I think that maybe that's put there for that reason. 10:26 I've had some people say, 10:27 "Well if the iron represents Rome, 10:30 and the bronze represents Greece, 10:33 and that maybe this prophecy as a dual application 10:37 and the seven times 10:38 we're talking about the people of God, 10:40 and that they would be preserved as a nation 10:42 and Israel would come back." 10:43 I've heard people apply it that way. 10:45 But I think we need to stick 10:46 with the regular interpretation 10:49 that's given by Daniel, 10:50 that Nebuchadnezzar was the fulfillment. 10:53 - All right, very good. 10:54 Thank you for your call. Anthony. 10:56 We've got Terrence listening in North Carolina. 10:58 Terrence, welcome to the program. 11:00 - [Terrence] Hey pastors, how are you tonight? 11:02 - Good. 11:03 - Yeah. 11:05 - [Terrence] Good. I got a quick question here. 11:07 Did Enoch and Elijah go boldly to heaven 11:10 or were they taken up and buried like Moses was 11:14 in reference to John 3:13? 11:19 - Yeah. Well, 11:21 I don't believe that flesh and blood 11:23 can inherit the kingdom of God, 11:24 meaning these Colonel corruptible bodies, 11:30 where is it in 1 Corinthians 15, 11:32 I think Pastor Ross 11:34 where Paul says this corruption will put 11:36 on incorruption in the moment, 11:37 in the twinkle an eye we are transformed. 11:41 That doesn't mean that one body has to get buried 11:43 and then God creates another one. 11:45 I think that with Enoch, 11:46 when he walked with God and he went through that portal, 11:48 that cosmic portal where he went 11:50 from our world into heaven, 11:52 I think think God transformed him 11:54 and gave him a glorified body. 11:56 And the same thing with Elijah, 11:57 when he went to heaven in the fiery chariot, 11:59 I think he experienced a transformation 12:01 and got a glorified body. 12:02 His body is not the regular one we are in now, 12:05 that gets sick and old and has aches and pains. 12:09 - You also mentioned Terrace, 12:11 John chapter three, verse 13, 12:12 and maybe this is part of the question, pastor Doug, 12:15 Jesus said, "No one has ascended up to heaven, 12:17 but he has come down from heaven that is the son of man." 12:20 So are you wondering, Terrence, 12:21 how could they ascend to heaven 12:23 if Jesus says no one has ascended to heaven? 12:26 - [Terrence] Also in reference to 2 Kings 2, 12:30 one through 11, 12:32 it says Elijah was taken up into heaven 12:35 by a whirlwind afterwards, 12:38 Philippines men searched for three days but cannot find them 12:41 for the word heaven often refers 12:43 to the, you know, the sky 12:44 and whirlwinds can't take anyone into God's heaven. 12:49 So that's my question. 12:50 Were they taken into heaven? 12:52 I mean. - Yes. 12:53 - [Terrence] Or were they buried, yes? 12:55 - Yeah. Well, because, 12:57 it's says Enoch walk with God 12:59 and it was not for God took him, well, 13:01 God took him to himself. 13:03 And one reason we know Elijah went to heaven 13:05 is if you go to the New Testament, 13:07 Mark chapter nine, 13:08 Elijah, along with Moses, 13:10 appear in real glorified bodies, 13:13 talking with Jesus. 13:14 And Peter, James and John saw that. 13:17 So no reason to doubt that Enoch's not there too. 13:20 - Just a comment real quick on the verse 13:21 you mentioned in John chapter 3:13, 13:24 people wonder what did Jesus mean 13:26 when he said no one has ascended up heaven, 13:27 but He has come down. 13:29 The context that Jesus talking about, 13:31 no one has ascended up heaven to have truth, 13:33 to find truth, 13:35 and then come back down to the earth 13:36 from heaven with truth 13:38 to share it other than Christ. 13:40 So the statement is not saying 13:41 no one has ever ascended to heaven. 13:43 'Cause of course Enoch and Elijah dead 13:44 and Moses was resurrected taken to heaven, 13:47 but no one has gone from earth to heaven 13:49 and then come back down to the earth to share truth. 13:52 Jesus, the one that has come down from heaven. 13:54 So that's the context there in John chapter three. 13:57 - Yep. 13:58 Next call that we have is Lori, 13:59 listening from Illinois. 13:59 Lori, welcome to the program. 14:02 - [Lori] Thank you for taking my call. 14:04 I really, really appreciate it. 14:06 I'm having a hard time wrapping my head 14:09 around Matthew 18:18. 14:11 I've looked at the commentary and everything and I spoke, 14:15 I'm having a hard time understanding that, 14:16 and I was wondering if you could explain that to me. 14:20 - All right, let's read it to our friends. 14:22 "Assuredly I say to you, 14:23 whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven 14:26 and whatever you lose on earth will be loose in heaven." 14:29 And I think for one thing, 14:31 Jesus is affirming that He was giving the church authority 14:37 for church discipline. 14:39 And He's, you know, 14:41 saying a lot of Matthew 18 is talking about 14:43 when there's conflict in the church 14:44 and how to resolve conflict in the church. 14:46 And some people might have behavior that means 14:49 that they would be put out of the fellowship of the church. 14:53 Paul addressed that same thing 14:56 in 1 Corinthians I think in chapter seven. 14:59 He was talking about somebody that was sleeping 15:02 with his father's wife, 15:03 ostensibly his stepmother, 15:06 and he said, 15:06 you should put such a one out. 15:09 I think that the Lord was saying that 15:11 He would support and respect that, 15:13 but even beyond that, 15:14 it's saying that when we preach the gospel, 15:16 our failure to do it, 15:19 it makes a difference in heaven. 15:21 Sharing the gospel with others 15:22 and they find Christ what's happening on earth 15:24 affects the results in heaven. 15:28 - All right, thank you for your call Lori, 15:30 we've got Janet listening in Nevada. 15:31 Janet, welcome to the program. 15:34 - [Janet] Hello, Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. 15:37 It's really a wonderful blessing to talk with you guys. 15:41 I've been waiting for this phone call. 15:44 Thank you so much for taking my phone call. 15:48 My question is this, 15:51 in the context of John chapter 10:10, 15:54 we see Satan here as the architect of death, right? 16:00 Jesus told Satan, 16:01 "You Satan, the thief came to steal." 16:04 And I'm gonna emphasize a radical truth here about killing. 16:11 I'd rather change it to murder, right? 16:12 - Okay. 16:13 - [Janet] 'Cause right from the mouth of Jesus, 16:15 He told in Judges 8:44, 16:18 he told the pharisees, 16:20 you're like your, 16:20 your father the devil, 16:22 who in the beginning was a murderer. 16:24 So Satan is a murderer. 16:26 So in my evangelism I used murder instead of killed. 16:30 Satan is up to killing for no reason. 16:33 So the I see here Satan as the architect of death. 16:37 Now my question is the, you know, the, 16:43 the dead loved ones, 16:44 that usually visit the beloved family of the dead. 16:50 I would like to confirm this with you. 16:53 It could be your up to Jesus or your eye to Jesus. 16:58 I would say it that way in that context, 17:01 I'd like you to affirm 17:04 if this is the demonic spirit sent by Satan 17:09 to murder somebody in a stage four cancer, 17:12 like say died of stage four cancer. 17:16 Because as we see too, 17:19 I heard about this cancer being healed 17:22 in the power of prayer. 17:24 So. - Yeah. 17:25 - [Janet] I would say that, 17:28 correct me if I'm wrong, 17:29 if this is right or wrong, 17:30 you can say you are critical biblical interpretation 17:35 or your eye to Jesus. 17:36 I will appreciate your answer to this question. 17:40 Thank you. 17:41 - Okay, Janet. 17:43 Yes. 17:45 And first let me read for our friends that are listening, 17:47 you quoted John chapter 10:10, 17:50 "The thief does not come except to steal, 17:53 to kill and to destroy. 17:55 I've come that they might have life 17:56 and that they might have it more abundantly." 17:58 Now, certainly, 18:01 Jesus heals, 18:02 and you can read about that woman 18:04 in the gospel that says, 18:06 she was bent over for 18 years. 18:08 I'm trying to remember the passage. 18:10 And Jesus said, you know, 18:12 it's if you would lead your Ox or donkey 18:15 to water on the Sabbath, 18:16 then what's wrong with releasing this woman 18:19 from her bondage? 18:20 She was doubled over physically in pain 18:23 and whom Satan has bound. 18:27 And so Jesus does confirm, 18:29 at least in this case, 18:30 that Satan does bring sickness and death. 18:34 You know, God's plan is an abundance of life. 18:36 Jesus came to heal people, 18:39 He was often healing. 18:41 Now that doesn't mean that everybody with cancer, 18:43 any kind of disease is healed. 18:45 Christ can go beyond even healing stage four cancer. 18:48 He can raise the dead. 18:49 And I do know people with stage four cancer 18:51 that have been healed. 18:53 So he certainly can do that. 18:55 He doesn't in every case. 18:56 We know that in the resurrection, 18:58 all believers are healed, 18:59 so they will be healed. 19:01 But yeah, 19:02 the devil was the one who 19:03 ultimately brought sin and death 19:05 and disease into our world. 19:07 - The verse you're referring to pastor Doug 19:09 is Luke chapter 13:16. 19:11 - The woman who has doubled over. 19:12 - Yeah, the Satan is bounder these 18 years. 19:15 - Yeah. 19:16 - So that's the reference there. 19:17 - So yes, 19:18 the devil does because that's sickness. 19:20 - Next call that we have is Frank listening 19:21 from the Netherlands. 19:22 Frank, welcome to the program. 19:26 - [Frank] Hello. 19:27 - Hi. 19:30 - [Frank] So I have a question, 19:33 from Leviticus I think. 19:35 It's about the unclean laws, 19:38 when a woman has loss of blood loss 19:44 or when a man does a sin, 19:45 they are unclean for a certain amount of time. 19:48 What is the spiritual meaning today? 19:52 - Yeah, how would you apply some of these laws? 19:54 Well, you would divide up the laws 19:56 in the Old Testament in a few different categories. 20:00 Some of them of course are you're just moral law. 20:02 That's the 10 Commandments. 20:04 God treats it differently 20:05 'cause he delivered it and wrote it differently. 20:08 And the Bible calls that the covenant that God made, 20:12 then you had certain civil laws, 20:14 and Moses was given a number of civil laws 20:16 about how people were to be governed 20:18 and judged and what the various punishments 20:21 would be for various crimes. 20:23 Then there were some ceremonial laws 20:25 and that had to do with the sanctuary 20:27 and its services and the sacrificial system. 20:29 Even circumcision is part of the ceremonial law. 20:33 And then you had some health laws 20:36 and so depending on which one you're citing, 20:41 the Bible says that the nation of Israel, 20:44 they believe that and you know it's actually very modern, 20:48 very good modern science. 20:49 They thought any unnatural issue from the body, 20:54 could make a person unclean. 20:56 And so they were to be set aside, 20:59 whether they had a sore running or whatever, 21:03 it might be emission from the body was considered unclean. 21:07 And so they would wash and they'd be unclean 21:10 for a designated period of time. 21:12 Now, it was a little different 21:14 for a woman during the monthly cycle 21:17 and that's actually true 21:18 in many cultures of the world. 21:23 Yeah, blood is considered unclean 21:26 and they were to, you know, 21:26 wash if they were exposed to it. 21:29 So that would be probably on the 21:32 kind of a combination of a health and a ceremonial law. 21:36 'cause some of it had to do with natural cleanliness 21:39 and then some of it had to do with blood and the sanctuary. 21:43 I thought, you know, 21:43 one reason I say that is 21:45 the time that a woman would stay away 21:47 from the sanctuary when she had a man child 21:49 was about half of that 21:51 for when she had a woman baby, 21:52 a female baby. 21:54 So obviously, there's some spiritual significance to that, 21:56 that health wise there would be no difference. 22:00 - All right, very good. 22:00 Well, thank you Frank. 22:02 We've got, let's see, 22:03 Maggie listening from Washington. 22:05 Maggie, welcome to the program. 22:07 - [Maggie] Oh, thank you for taking my call. 22:08 I appreciate it. 22:09 I wanna let you gentlemen know 22:11 that I pray for you daily 22:12 that the Lord would put a hedge about you. 22:15 And. - Oh, thank you. 22:15 - [Maggie] My question is, 22:17 could you explain Hanukkah, 22:18 where it came from, what the history is? 22:21 Is it a biblical practice 22:22 or just where does it come from? 22:24 And thank you so much for your answer. 22:26 - Yeah, well, in the typical Protestant Bible, 22:30 you're not gonna find the history of Hanukkah. 22:32 You would find it in the story of the Maccabees. 22:35 That's a period of time between, 22:37 it's called the inter testament period of time 22:39 between Malachi and Matthew. 22:44 During the time of the Maccabees, 22:45 they ran out of oil in the temple 22:48 and God miraculously 22:49 kept the lamp burning for seven days. 22:51 And that's why you'll often see 22:53 Hanukkah is symbolized by a Menorah, 22:55 the Jewish seven pointed candlestick, 22:58 and they light the candles, 22:59 and it's based on this miracle. 23:02 And I don't have any reason to doubt the miracle, 23:05 but there's no command in the typical Bible about Hanukkah. 23:08 You will have a reference in the Bible 23:10 to the Feast of Purum, 23:11 which is in the book of Esther. 23:13 And of course Passover, 23:16 and the others are going to be there. 23:19 - All right, thank you for your call. 23:20 - Thank you Meg. 23:21 - We've got Lee listening in Texas. 23:22 Lee, welcome to the program. 23:25 - [Lee] Yes sir. Thank you Pastors. 23:26 I apologize for calling so many times. 23:29 - I don't, we haven't made a note of it, 23:31 so don't worry. 23:32 - [Lee] Okay. My question is that, 23:35 is the death decree the end of probation? 23:38 Or is the mark of the beast the end of probation? 23:41 I've been trying to find out that 23:43 for quite a number of time. 23:45 - All right, well let's see if we can help you now. 23:48 First of all, for our friends that are listening, 23:50 Lee is talking about in Revelation 13, 23:53 in the final conflict with the beast power. 23:55 It comes in two phases. 23:57 Phase one, is the beast Power is going to try 24:01 to manipulate the world to a certain form of worship. 24:05 And obviously it'll happen in degrees. 24:08 First they'll say, 24:08 well, you know, 24:10 we're gonna control your buying and selling 24:11 and unless you cooperate, 24:12 you cannot buy or sell. 24:14 And when that's finally not effective for God's people, 24:17 they're gonna say, all right, 24:18 we're going to the phase two, 24:19 which is there'll be a death decree in a certain date 24:22 and you'll be killed. 24:24 You see in the book of Daniel, 24:26 there was a death decree, 24:28 if they did not worship the image 24:29 of Nebuchadnezzar. 24:31 So it's interesting Pastor Ross 24:33 that even now in the world, 24:35 when the United Nations get together, 24:38 and certain countries that are behaving badly, 24:40 they have international monetary sanctions 24:43 that control the buying and selling. 24:46 So on an international level, 24:47 that's already happening. 24:49 But as far as I know, 24:51 United Nations is not compelling people 24:53 to worship certain way yet. 24:54 I mean it could happen, 24:56 but, 24:57 so I don't think probation closes 25:00 until you get to the death decree phase, 25:03 because during that first phase, 25:04 when you can't buy or sell, 25:06 I think the Christians are gonna be preaching and practicing 25:08 and there'll be many people converted 25:12 maybe during that time, 25:14 but certainly by the time they issue a death decree, 25:16 I think probation will have closed 25:18 and the seven last plagues begin to fall. 25:20 By the way, 25:21 when the seven last plagues begin to fall, 25:23 if you look out your window, 25:24 you live by the ocean, 25:25 it's turned to blood, 25:26 probation's closed, 25:29 or if you live by a river and it's turned to blood, 25:31 probation's closed. 25:33 So any other thoughts on that? 25:35 - Yeah, just to to add to that, 25:37 so you know, 25:37 we have different phases. 25:38 In Revelation 13, 25:39 as you mentioned, 25:41 the first is those who refuse to acknowledge the beast power 25:43 or worship the bees power, 25:44 they can't buy on sale. 25:45 And then at some point in time, 25:47 there is the close of probation, 25:49 you got the seven last plagues. 25:50 And it seems as though the death decree comes about, 25:53 because at that point in time 25:55 you have a false prophets arising, 25:58 and false Christ, 25:59 and they're doing miracles, 26:00 and they're galvanizing the world 26:02 and they're pointing to this group of people are refuse 26:04 to come along with the rest of the world 26:06 in this particular form of worship. 26:08 And the reason all these bad things are happening, 26:10 they're gonna point to this group of people and say, 26:11 well that's the reason. 26:12 And that's really gonna help motivate 26:14 this universal death decree. 26:15 The good news is, 26:16 that before this death decree can be carried out, 26:18 Jesus comes, 26:19 He comes to delivery His people, 26:21 so that death decrees never enact. 26:23 And of course we have parallels in the Bible. 26:25 We have the story of Esther, 26:26 when there was a death decree against the Jews, 26:29 but that death decree was never carried out. 26:31 So we do see some parallels in history as well. 26:34 - Yep. The Lord will deliver His people, 26:36 just like He did to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 26:39 in the fiery furnace. 26:41 And Daniel from the lions den, 26:44 I think that, 26:45 and Joseph from his trials, 26:46 and Job from his trials, 26:47 God is gonna save us through that time of tribulation. 26:51 Well listening friends, 26:52 we're gonna take a break in just a moment 26:54 and keep in mind, 26:56 you can also learn a lot more about amazing facts 26:58 and what we do by going to our website. 27:01 It's simply amazingfacts.org. 27:04 Now, just yesterday, 27:05 I was meeting some people 27:06 and they're looking for Bible studies 27:08 in different languages. 27:09 We have a website that's dedicated to Bible studies 27:12 and it's called bibleuniverse.com, 27:15 bibleuniverse.com. 27:17 And we've got bible study guides there 27:19 that you can go through for free 27:21 and Romanian and Hungarian and German and French, 27:25 and a number of different languages. 27:28 So Amazing Facts is offering these materials to the world 27:32 in as many major languages as we can find. 27:35 So don't go anywhere friends, 27:36 check out both bible universe.com 27:38 and amazing facts.org. 27:41 We'll be back in just a few moments, 27:42 be taking more Bible questions from you. 27:45 (upbeat music) 27:48 - [Announcer] Stay tuned. 27:49 Bible Answers Live will return shortly. 27:51 (upbeat music) 27:55 - [Announcer] Life can be overwhelming. 27:57 Where can an on-the-go woman find quality time with God? 28:00 The new amazing Treasures of Faith box set 28:02 from Amazing Facts empowers your devotional life 28:05 with inspiring resources that will bring lasting peace 28:08 into your busy life. 28:09 This beautifully designed box set by Women for Women 28:12 comes with a 31 day devotional 28:14 recipe and scripture cards 28:15 and special messages from Pastor Doug and Karen Batchelor. 28:18 Get your amazing treasures of faith box set today. 28:20 Just call (800) 538-7275 28:23 or visit afbookstore.com. 28:25 - [Announcer] Do you feel as though your world 28:27 is spiraling out of control 28:29 or perhaps new life challenges are frightening you 28:31 more than they should? 28:33 Are you sinking while you're thinking, 28:35 excessive worry can consume you, 28:37 eating you from the inside out, 28:39 resulting in sickness, insomnia, 28:41 and paralyzing fear. 28:43 It can also damage relationships, 28:45 ruin opportunities. 28:46 And yes, diminish your witness for the gospel. 28:50 - Worry affects everybody differently, 28:52 but it's all driven by fear. 28:54 So how can you overcome a world full 28:57 of reasons to be anxious? 28:59 I'd like to recommend for you my new book, 29:01 Finding Peace In a World of Worry, 29:04 you'll discover a lifeline to victory, 29:07 a place where you can cast your cares upon Christ 29:10 and experience a serenity 29:12 that isn't subject to your circumstances. 29:14 - [Announcer] Send a gift of any amount 29:16 to receive your copy of Pastor Doug's new book, 29:18 Finding Peace In a World of Worry, 29:21 call 877-232-2871 today. 29:25 (upbeat music) 29:28 - [Announcer] You are 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? 29:38 Get practical answers about the Good book 29:41 for a better life today. 29:43 (upbeat music) 29:45 - [Announcer] This broadcast 29:46 is a previously recorded episode. 29:48 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 PM and 8:00 PM Pacific Time 29:57 to receive any of the Bible resources mentioned 30:00 in this evening's program, 30:01 call 1-800-835-6747. 30:05 Once again, that's 1-800-835-6747. 30:11 Now let's rejoin our hosts 30:13 for more Bible Answers Live. 30:17 - Welcome back listening friends to Bible Answers Live. 30:20 And if you have any Bible questions, 30:21 we invite you to give us a call. 30:23 It is a free phone call and it's simply 800, 30:26 God says that's 800-463-7297 30:31 with your Bible questions. 30:32 My name is Doug Batchelor. 30:34 - My name is Jean Ross. 30:35 You're gonna go back to Sean, 30:36 who he is listening in Oklahoma. 30:38 Sean and welcome to Bible Answers Live. 30:40 You on the air. 30:42 - [Sean] Hey guys, can you hear me? 30:43 - Loud and clear. 30:45 - [Sean] All right, cool. 30:47 Okay, so about a couple years ago, 30:49 oh, I wanted to thank you guys for doing this. 30:51 It's so cool. - Oh, we enjoy it. 30:53 - [Sean] Especially with today's technology and stuff. 30:56 It's the best idea. 30:57 - Thank you. 31:00 - [Sean] Okay, 31:00 so years ago I was mowing lawns 31:03 and a really nice customer of ours gave me, 31:07 I think it was way before I woke up 31:09 to the truth and everything. 31:13 Sorry I get a little nervous. 31:15 - That's all right. - [Sean] It always happens. 31:16 I was so calm before I got on here. 31:18 But then your heart rate starts 31:20 to pound and you get on. 31:21 I'm so sorry. 31:22 - Oh, don't worry. 31:23 - [Sean] Anyways, okay, so the customer lady, 31:27 she was so nice and she helped, 31:33 I helped her with a moving some stuff 31:35 and as a gift she gave me this huge wood carved elephant, 31:40 like three foot tall, 31:41 beautiful thing. 31:43 She said it was like original from Thailand, 31:45 like it was over 70 years old or something. 31:48 - Wow. 31:49 - [Sean] And yeah, 31:50 and it's beautiful and it's been sitting around 31:54 and we had a move about four or five months ago 31:59 and I remember moving it 32:00 and like on the move I was like, wow, 32:03 there's a lot of like carved animals 32:05 and carved, you know, 32:07 stone stuff that looks like animals and that, 32:11 and you know, you can hear, 32:14 you can kind of hear the spirit and kind of, 32:17 you know, the back of your head being like this, 32:18 this isn't cool, you know, 32:21 or something like that. 32:22 And. - Sorry, are you wondering 32:24 if it's a conflict biblically 32:27 for a Christian to own something carved like that? 32:30 - [Sean] Yeah, 32:31 and I was, I just kind of like, and it, 32:33 the thing is like I don't wanna give it to a friend 32:37 'cause I don't wanna just, do I burn it up, 32:38 what do I do with it, you know? 32:40 - Yeah. All right, well let me, first of all, 32:42 if the Holy Spirit is telling me something, 32:44 I don't want to, you know, advise you against that. 32:47 But in the word, 32:49 having something that is carved 32:51 is not necessarily a sin 32:54 because the Lord told the, 32:56 even when they were right 32:57 after God gave the 10 Commandments, 32:58 they were told to build the sanctuary 33:00 and God had them carve angels 33:02 and put them on top of the ark 33:04 and they overlaid them with gold. 33:05 Now they weren't to worship the angels, 33:06 they were to worship God. 33:08 And then when Solomon built this temple, 33:10 they made 12 oxen 33:13 that were just an artistic function, 33:16 but they held up this giant labor and you know, 33:20 they had bells and pomegranates and angels 33:23 and different things that were carved 33:24 that were in the temple. 33:25 God told Moses to make a go, 33:27 make a bronze serpent once 33:30 and that people would look at the serpent on a pole. 33:33 And he did. 33:35 But by the time Hezekiah, 33:37 the people had idolized the serpent 33:38 and they were praying to it and his like, 33:39 I crushed it to powder 33:42 and I think he said 33:43 (Pastor Doug speaking in foreign language), 33:44 which means a thing of brass. 33:45 It was this piece of brass and people were praying to it. 33:48 So if you've got, you know, 33:52 a flamingo on your lawn, 33:54 it doesn't mean you're praying to flamingos. 33:56 It may just be something artistic. 33:58 If you've got, 34:00 I can't speak for Pastor Ross, 34:01 but you know, when we've been to Israel and Indian, 34:03 some of the different places people have given me like, 34:05 you know, soapstone carvings of camels 34:08 or olive wood of camels and stuff, 34:10 we've got them around our window or whatever. 34:13 I've never felt convicted. 34:14 It's a form of idolatry, 34:16 it's just a piece of artwork. 34:17 If I was ever attempted to burn a candle in front of it 34:20 and say a prayer, well then that's worship, you know? 34:22 So if you've got a photograph in your wallet, 34:25 it would be a representation. 34:27 Technically it's an image, 34:28 an image is a likeness. 34:30 You couldn't have photographs of your kids or anything. 34:33 But God doesn't say the commandment 34:35 means you cannot own a likeness or representation. 34:39 He said don't make these things and bow down to them. 34:44 Now, because some people are tempted 34:46 to pray to Mary and Jesus. 34:48 I think you gotta be very careful 34:49 about having a statue of Jesus or Mary 34:51 or these things around 34:52 'cause you don't want tempt other people 34:54 to pray to those things. 34:56 - Absolutely. 34:58 All right, well hopefully that helps Sean. 35:00 Next call the behalf is Ricardo in California. 35:02 Ricardo, welcome to the program. 35:04 - [Ricardo] Yeah, hi, how are you. 35:06 - Doing Great. 35:07 How can we help you? 35:08 - Yeah, okay. 35:09 So I have a question Nehemiah 9:14, 35:13 and it has to do with the Sabbath, 35:16 because I do speak with some people group, 35:19 I'm not gonna mention it just in group, 35:21 but they say that the Sabbath started in Genesis, 35:24 but I haven't seen any commandments in Genesis. 35:29 - So are you wondering 35:30 if the Sabbath predates the 10 Commandments? 35:35 Did Israel have the Sabbath before the 10 Commandments? 35:38 - [Ricardo] Yeah, so my question is, 35:40 okay, when you look at the the Sabbath, 35:43 it seems to appear at the, 35:46 with Moses at Mount Sinai 35:49 from that point on. 35:50 But there's no record, 35:51 I don't see anything in Genesis. 35:53 - Okay, well let's look at that. 35:55 First of all, when you look in Genesis chapter two, 35:59 after God makes the world in six days 36:01 and he rests the seventh day, 36:03 you could read in chapter two of Genesis 36:05 that thus the heavens and the earth were finished 36:07 and all the hosts of them. 36:08 And God rested the seventh day 36:10 from all the works that he had created and made. 36:12 And God blessed the Sabbath day 36:14 and three times it mentions the seventh day, God rest. 36:18 He blessed it, 36:19 He set it aside, He sanctifies it. 36:21 And then Jesus. 36:21 Now in the New Testament He says 36:23 the Sabbath was made for man. 36:26 And the word that Jesus used is the word Anthropos 36:28 and it means humanity, mankind. 36:30 It's where we get the word en anthropology. 36:35 Yeah, 36:35 it's study of, of mankind. 36:37 So clearly, 36:39 when God made the Sabbath and he rested, 36:41 and man is made in God's image, 36:44 man was resting back in the garden of Eden. 36:47 And if that's not adequate, 36:49 then you have in Exodus chapter 16, 36:52 before they get to Mount Sinai, 36:54 and God gives the 10 commandments. 36:56 God says, look, you got hungry, 36:57 I'm gonna give you bread from heaven six days a week. 37:01 I'll give you twice as much on Friday 37:03 so you don't have to gather it on the Sabbath day. 37:06 And he said, this is the Sabbath of the Lord. 37:09 And then if you get to the commandment 37:11 itself in Exodus 20, 37:12 it says, it is the Sabbath of the Lord. 37:15 It doesn't say the Sabbath of the Jews. 37:17 So the Sabbath Day, 37:19 man has always needed a a day 37:21 of rest and worship. 37:22 It didn't just begin there in Exodus 20, 37:27 you find it even in Exodus 16. 37:29 In fact, when Moses and Aaron 37:31 went to meet with the Pharaoh, 37:33 first they met with the elders of Israel 37:36 and they said, 37:36 you need to return to the Lord 37:38 and start obeying him again. 37:40 It's understood they started keeping the Sabbath 37:42 because Pharaoh says you're to Moses, 37:45 you're making the people Shabbat 37:47 and that word is Sabbath. 37:48 You are making them Sabbath. 37:49 I'm not gonna give you straw for your bricks anymore. 37:52 So even they're in Exodus, 37:53 I think it's five, 37:55 that's Exodus three Anyway, 37:57 but when Moses comes back, 37:59 you see the Sabbath as an issue there. 38:01 And it says in Isaiah, it says, 38:03 even in heaven from one Sabbath to another 38:05 will all flesh come and worship before. 38:07 So certainly between creation and the nation of Israel, 38:12 God's people were keeping a day of rest in worship. 38:15 - The commandment itself says, 38:17 'Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy." 38:19 So if it begins with remember, 38:21 it would imply that there is something that existed 38:24 that they need to remember or consider. 38:26 And of course the Sabbath, 38:27 As you mentioned Pastor Doug, 38:28 dates all the way back to Genesis chapter two 38:31 where we find the creation of the Sabbath. 38:33 - Yeah. 38:34 And then you look in Genesis 26:5, 38:35 speaking of Abraham says, 38:37 "Because Abraham obeyed my voice, 38:39 kept my charge, my commandments, 38:42 my statutes and my laws, 38:44 what were the laws of God? 38:46 10 commandments were not given in Genesis, 38:48 they're not given until you get to Exodus. 38:51 But Abraham knew about the commandments 38:53 and the laws of God in Genesis 26. 38:56 - All right, very good. 38:57 We do have a study guide, 38:58 it's called the Lost Day of History. 39:00 And we'll be happy to send this 39:01 to anyone who calls and ask. 39:03 The number to call for that is (800) 835-6747. 39:07 That is the resource phone line, 39:08 that's (800) 835-6747. 39:11 Or if you're North America, 39:12 just dial #250, 39:14 and say, "Bible Answers Live." 39:16 And you'll be able to get the free offer that way. 39:18 It's called the Lost Day in History. 39:21 It's got all the verses and it talks about the Sabbath. 39:23 Next call that we have is Jean listening in Sweden. 39:26 Jean, welcome to the program. 39:30 - [Jean] Hello. 39:31 Thank you for taking my call. 39:34 - Thank you for calling. 39:35 - [Jean] Say hey, 39:38 I just wanna say I love both of your work 39:40 and so your blessing. 39:42 So I've been studying in the Bible 39:45 especially to understand the doctrine of the Godhead, 39:49 who (indistinct) is the partisan Holy Spirit. 39:51 And I've been also reading like 39:54 from the old ear books of the C church. 39:58 And I noticed that right now when the website says 40:00 we believe in one God who is as three beings, 40:04 whereas like in the previous years, 40:06 like the pioneers times like year 10, 40:09 year 1915, they said, 40:10 we believe in one God who is the Father as one. 40:13 So my question is from the Bible especially, yeah, 40:17 like verses like 1 Corinthians 8:6, 40:21 "We have one God, 40:23 the father of whom all things, 40:24 and one Lord Jesus through whom are all things." 40:27 How can we combine that understanding, 40:29 and the pioneers with what is right now being shown 40:32 in the state church? 40:35 - Okay, I appreciate your question. 40:39 Well first of all, 40:40 when you say the pioneers, 40:41 you know there are different church fathers through history 40:45 that have had in a variety of beliefs on different issues. 40:51 Ultimately we need to go to the Bible. 40:53 It doesn't matter whether the pioneer 40:55 or Protestant pioneers like Luther and Calvin 40:57 who didn't agree on some things, 40:59 or as Wing Lee or Huss, you know, 41:02 there's some, they were some great godly people, 41:04 but they maybe didn't have everything right. 41:07 But as time goes by, 41:08 and we continue to study the scriptures, 41:12 it I think makes it very clear 41:14 that God is composed 41:16 of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Spirit. 41:19 Now if I understand correctly, 41:23 you're saying the one God is just God, 41:25 what we would call God the Father. 41:27 But if you look at the definitions for God in the Bible, 41:30 you'll find that Jesus fulfills all those definitions. 41:35 The Bible says that there's only one savior God, Jehovah. 41:38 While the Bible tells us that Jesus is savior, 41:41 the Bible tells us in one Corinthians, I'm sorry, 41:44 said 1 Kings chapter eight, 41:46 God and God only knows the thoughts of men's hearts, 41:49 yet it says Jesus knew what was in man. 41:51 Jesus knew what was in their hearts. 41:53 And you can find that God and God only can forgive sin. 42:00 The Bible tells us, speaking of Jehovah, 42:00 which I believe you would think 42:02 would be the principle of God the Father. 42:04 Well the Bible tells us, 42:05 Jesus said that you might know the son of man 42:08 has power on earth to forgive sin. 42:11 The Bible says, 42:11 "In the beginning, 42:12 God created the heavens and the earth." 42:14 Well then you read in the gospel of John, 42:16 Jesus created all things. 42:18 So wherever you find the different attributes of God 42:22 in the Old Testament, 42:23 you see in the New Testament 42:24 that Jesus mirrors all those things. 42:27 He is God the Son. 42:28 Of course, 42:30 He was limited when He became a man on earth, 42:32 laid aside His divinity as it says in Philippians. 42:35 But I think the church fathers agree that Jesus is, 42:41 He's all knowing now, 42:42 He knows everything, 42:44 that He's all powerful, 42:45 that He has all the characteristics of God. 42:48 - You know, we have a book that's called the Trinity. 42:50 Is it biblical? 42:51 And we'll be happy to send that 42:52 to anyone who calls and asks. 42:54 The number is 1-800-835-6747. 42:57 And you can ask for the book, 42:58 it's called The Trinity, 42:59 and we'll be happy to get it in the mail 43:01 if you're in North America or in Canada 43:03 and we'll send it to you. 43:04 Of course Canada is in North America. 43:05 I'm talking about the US and Canada. 43:07 - Right. 43:08 They're a little further north. 43:09 - That is, they're a little further north. 43:11 We got Brenda listening in Maryland. 43:13 Brenda, welcome to Bible Answers Live. 43:17 - [Brenda] Hi. 43:18 - Hi. Thanks for waiting. 43:20 And your question? 43:21 - [Brenda] Okay, my question is, 43:24 is it wrong to take money from your sibling 43:28 for your own gain, 43:30 knowing that she is a non-believer 43:34 and has decided to continue in her sin 43:37 because it is her lifestyle? 43:40 Where is that in the Bible? 43:43 Is it talked about? 43:45 - Well, let's just talk through this together. 43:49 Is there any moral dilemma 43:51 in receiving or borrowing money 43:54 from a believer or believer? 43:56 I don't know of any place. 43:58 I mean, if you go to the bank, 44:00 and even borrow money from the bank, 44:01 they're certainly not a believer. 44:02 And there's no moral dilemma. 44:04 If you've got a transaction, 44:05 if someone's giving you a gift, 44:07 they don't have to be a believer. 44:09 If someone gives you a gift of, 44:11 and they say, well, 44:12 you know, I don't really believe in God, 44:14 but I believe in the church's mission program, 44:17 well say, 44:18 praise the Lord and take it 44:19 and continue your mission program. 44:20 So what is your concern? 44:22 Is your concern that you'll 44:23 somehow endorsing your sister's unbelief 44:25 by receiving financial aid? 44:28 - [Brenda] Yeah. 44:30 - No. 44:31 And hopefully, she won't think that, you know, 44:34 they're two separate matters, 44:35 needing some financial help 44:38 is you're not endorsing what her theological beliefs are. 44:42 It's a completely different level. 44:44 It's, you know, you're talking about, you know, 44:45 practical financial matters. 44:48 So can you think, 44:49 I can't think of a reason that that would be a conflict? 44:53 Yeah. So, you know, 44:54 continue to be a good witness for your sister. 44:57 You said sibling, 44:58 but then you said she, 44:59 so I'm assuming it's a sister. 45:01 So yeah, just three things you can do to reach her is, 45:05 well, four things. 45:05 Be a good witness. 45:07 Share information if she will listen, 45:09 pray for her. 45:11 And the fourth thing is continue 45:13 to do the first three things. 45:15 Be patient. 45:16 - All right, next, Carice, 45:19 listening in Washington. 45:20 Carice, welcome to the program. 45:22 - [Carice] Hello, good night. 45:24 - Evening. 45:26 - [Carice] Thank you for taking my call. 45:27 I just got a question from Matthew 12:3-5. 45:34 Was God saying it was okay 45:36 for David action and the priest action? 45:40 'Cause he said David ate the shewbread. 45:43 - Yes. 45:44 Jesus is, first of all, 45:46 Jesus apostles are being criticized because they're, 45:49 you know, eating grain out of the fields on the Sabbath day. 45:52 And Jesus is defending them and saying, you know, 45:55 it's silly for you to accuse the apostles of gleaning 45:59 or harvesting or doing work on the Sabbath. 46:01 All they were doing was picking heads off the grain. 46:04 They'd rub them in their hands, 46:05 they'd blow the chaff away and pop them in their mouths. 46:07 They're just walking along and grabbing, 46:09 it's perfectly legal to glean 46:11 according to the Bible stuff 46:12 that you could reach from the road. 46:14 And they weren't laboring, 46:16 it wasn't labor intensive. 46:17 And then Jesus pointed back to how David, 46:22 when he was running from Saul, 46:23 he went to the priest and said, you know, I, 46:25 and I guess a couple men with him are very hungry 46:28 and they used to replace the holy bread 46:31 in from the holy place 46:33 and they had some what you would call day old bread. 46:36 And the priest said, 46:37 well the only bread that we have we can give you 46:38 is the bread we took out of the temple. 46:41 And if you know, 46:42 you and the young men have been living holy lives, 46:46 you can have it. 46:48 And David took it. 46:50 Now that was no sin for David to take that bread. 46:53 The priest said that they could 46:54 and he told them what the criteria were. 46:56 The sin was. 46:58 David lied and said he was on business for the king, 47:01 but there was nothing wrong with David on the Sabbath. 47:03 They getting this bread from the priest. 47:05 Is that your understanding Pastor Ross? 47:07 - Yeah. 47:08 And I think the point of the whole, 47:09 the reason Jesus even brings that up 47:11 is because in verse seven he makes the point. 47:12 He says, 47:13 "But if you would've known what this means, 47:15 I desire mercy not sacrifices, 47:17 you would not have condemned the guiltless." 47:19 So I think Jesus is saying that 47:21 when it comes to showing mercy and helping those in need, 47:24 that is a very high priority when it comes to God. 47:28 And here you have David and his man 47:29 and they are suffering hunger. 47:30 They've been running for many days. 47:32 They are faint. They need food. 47:34 And it was an act of mercy to allow them 47:36 to eat of the used shewbread Dale shewbread. 47:39 So I think the point Christ is emphasizing 47:42 is the most important thing is mercy. 47:44 And that's what you're neglecting 47:45 when it comes to your dealing 47:46 with their traditions and their laws. 47:49 - Yes. 47:51 - For example, just a quick example of that Pastor I give, 47:53 you know, 47:54 the Bible speaks about remembering the Sabbath 47:55 to keep it holy. 47:55 And you don't wanna be involved 47:56 in secular labor on that day. 47:58 But let's say you have a friend 48:00 who is in desperate need, 48:01 let's say they sick and they need medical attention. 48:06 You don't want them to suffer 48:07 during the hours of the Sabbath. 48:09 You wanna do everything you can to help them 48:11 and leave that pain and that suffering 48:13 that is showing mercy. 48:15 - Yeah. 48:16 And that's really the principle that Christ is emphasizing. 48:17 Or if someone's hungry, 48:18 give them something to eat. 48:20 - Absolutely. 48:21 - Alright, thank you for your call. 48:22 Next call that we have is Raylene in Texas. 48:24 Raylene, welcome to the program. 48:27 - [Raylene] Hello Mr. Batchelor. 48:29 - Hi, how are you Raylene? 48:30 - [Raylene] Hi, I'm fine. 48:32 It's good to talk to you. 48:34 - Well likewise. 48:36 What's your question tonight? 48:39 - [Raylene] I know someone, 48:41 that I guess would say is a minister 48:44 and they're preaching the gospel 48:49 to the Israelites 48:53 and a lot of things that he's saying I, 48:56 I disagree with, 48:58 especially when it comes to 49:01 the 10 commandment law of God. 49:04 He is trying to get the Israelites 49:08 to come to Christ that I agree with. 49:10 'Cause a lot of them don't believe in Christ. 49:14 But the thing of it is 49:19 that I disagree with because a lot of them keep the Sabbath. 49:23 They not gonna want to, they can't, 49:26 you can't get them to let go of that teaching 49:30 when the Sabbath is for all means. 49:33 And then it's a lot of, you know, 49:35 us on the other side that need to let go of Sunday 49:39 and learn about God's day, the Sabbath. 49:43 So you know, 49:44 it is like that's what he's doing 49:47 is dividing still the people. 49:51 'Cause the only way you going, 49:53 you can't get them. 49:55 Like the both need to come together, 49:57 in other words. 49:58 - Right. 49:59 - [Raylene] Those that keep Sunday need 50:00 to really learn the true day. 50:03 And those that already keep themselves 50:05 need to come to Christ. 50:07 And then keep saying that 50:09 it is almost like he's saying 50:10 we need to come to Christ house 50:14 because Christ has his own house. 50:18 Okay. The house of steal the house of God to me. 50:23 - Yeah. 50:24 - [Raylene] You know, it's not God, 50:26 Christ's not going to teach separate from the Father. 50:28 - Yeah. 50:28 You know, 50:29 the good news is that, 50:30 Jesus really says that there's, 50:32 you know, one Lord, 50:33 one faith, one baptism, 50:35 God is not calling us into different truths. 50:39 There's one truth. 50:40 The Bible says, "God says I am the Lord." 50:43 I do not change Jesus Christ is the same 50:45 yesterday, today, and forever. 50:47 And if you read in Galatians chapter two, 50:53 it says that in Christ there is 50:54 neither male or female, 50:57 bond or free Jew or Gentile. 51:00 Now that means that we are all called together 51:03 to worship together in one truth. 51:06 And so, 51:07 now I can understand, 51:08 you might tailor your message a little bit 51:10 for different people 51:11 'cause to try and reach them, 51:13 but the goal is to bring them into one truth. 51:16 Paul said, you know, to the Jews, 51:17 I become a Jew to reach the Jews 51:20 and to the Gentiles like a Gentiles reach the Gentiles. 51:23 So you gotta be sensitive to where people are 51:25 and make sure you're preaching to them 51:27 and what their needs are. 51:28 But ultimately he wants us to come together 51:30 and be in one body. 51:32 - All right. 51:33 Thank you for your call Raylene. 51:34 We've got Patrick listening in Kentucky. 51:36 Patrick, welcome to the program. 51:38 - [Patrick] Hi there. How y'all doing? 51:40 - Doing great. Thanks for calling. 51:43 - [Patrick] So my question is, 51:45 I'm sure you've answered this before, 51:46 but I just, I've never heard it, 51:48 but so I've always heard, 51:51 I don't know if you guys heard this or not, 51:53 but when Jesus died, 51:55 when he I guess was in the tomb, 51:58 but his spirit was walking around, 51:59 I'm not really sure how it works, 52:01 but I've heard that he went down to hell to preach. 52:05 Well I've always have known and that whenever we die, 52:10 that we don't know nothing until Jesus comes back, 52:13 then the dead, then Christ will rise. 52:15 Well if he did go preach to people in Hell, 52:18 who were they or how were they in hell? 52:22 - Yeah. 52:22 - [Patrick] That makes sense. 52:24 - Yeah, I think now what's that verse again pastor? 52:26 - Yeah. 52:27 I think I've got it here 1 Peter chapter 3. 52:28 - There you go. 52:29 - And the reason we know the verse, 52:30 'cause we do get this question quite often, 52:32 let me read it. 52:33 It says, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, 52:35 the just for the unjust 52:36 that he might bring us to God 52:38 being put to death in the flesh, 52:40 but made alive by the Spirit 52:42 by whom all say went and preached to the spirits in prison 52:45 who formally were disobedience 52:47 once the divine long suffering waited 52:49 in the days of Noah 52:50 while the arc was being prepared, 52:52 in which a few, 52:53 that his eight souls was saved through water." 52:56 - Yeah, so when people hear that Jesus preached 52:59 to the spirits in prison, 53:00 they think, 53:01 and then they hear about the days of Noah. 53:02 They say, oh, when Jesus died on the cross, 53:04 He didn't really die, 53:06 but he went down to hell 53:08 and he preached another whole evangelistic series 53:11 for all the people that died 53:13 in the days of Noah in the flood. 53:15 That's really a bizarre teaching, 53:16 because the people in the days of Noah, 53:19 they had 120 years to hear Christ preach through Noah. 53:23 And this is what Peter's actually saying, 53:26 he's referring us back to, 53:27 if you go in your Bible, 53:28 the Genesis chapter 6:3, 53:32 God said, 53:34 "My spirit will not strive with man forever 53:36 for ye indeed flesh. 53:37 Yet his days will be 120 years. 53:40 Now that didn't mean they're gonna live 120 years. 53:42 It meant that God was giving them back 53:44 then 120 years 53:47 until the flood came, 53:48 that they could hear Noah preach through the Spirit. 53:51 God spoke to those imprisoned by sin. 53:54 They weren't dead or in a dungeon somewhere. 53:57 But Christ was preaching even back in the days of Noah 54:00 through the same spirit that arose him from the dead. 54:03 That's all it's saying. 54:04 When Christ died on the cross, 54:05 He died. 54:07 He was not alive in a, 54:08 He wasn't disembodied and roaming around 54:11 and then suddenly, you know, 54:12 returned back to the tomb. 54:14 He was dead until he was raised Sunday morning 54:18 and he wasn't on any journeys or doing any, 54:21 any deeds anywhere. 54:22 So this is a verse that has often been misunderstood 54:25 and we have a lesson called 54:27 "Are the Dead really dead?" 54:28 And we'll be happy to share that with you 54:31 if that would be of help. 54:32 The number to call is (800) 835-6747 54:35 and you can ask for that study guide 54:37 it's called "Are the Dead Rarely Dead?" 54:39 We'll be happy to send it to you. 54:40 Also, you can just dial #250 on your cell phone 54:44 and say "Bible Answers Live." 54:46 And you'll be able to get the book that way. 54:48 - All right, listening Friends, 54:49 just so you understand Amazing Facts broadcast 54:52 both to land-based stations and satellite networks. 54:55 We sign off in two stages. 54:57 We're gonna say goodbye 54:58 to our friends listening on satellite. 55:00 The rest of you stand by. 55:02 We're gonna be going through a number 55:03 of internet questions that you have sent in. 55:06 Don't go anywhere and we'll be back 55:08 for the others, we'll see you next week. 55:10 (upbeat music) 55:12 - [Announcer] Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:15 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:19 Bible Answers Live is produced 55:20 by Amazing Facts International, 55:23 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:29 - Hello friends. 55:30 Welcome back to Bible Answers Live. 55:31 For those of you who could stay by, 55:32 we've got a number of questions, 55:34 pastor Doug that have been sent to Amazing Facts. 55:37 If you'd like to send us an email question, 55:40 the email address is just simply bal at well, 55:44 BALquestions@amazingfacts.org. 55:47 I've gotta make it straight here. 55:48 BALquestions@amazingfacts.org 55:50 and you can send us your Bible questions. 55:53 Alright, pastor Doug, 55:54 the first question for today, 55:55 what does it mean when Jesus said the first shall be last 55:58 and the last shall be first in Matthew 20:16? 56:02 - Yeah, it means if you follow me to the grocery line, 56:06 you'll probably be last, 56:08 because I always pick the longest line. 56:10 No, actually Jesus is saying that 56:12 even though the Jewish nation 56:15 had been chosen back in the days of Abraham, 56:18 that they might be surprised that there would be Gentiles 56:22 that would accept and embrace the gospel 56:25 with even more enthusiasm. 56:26 They could be in the kingdom first. 56:28 And so he was trying to explain to the Jewish nation, 56:31 just because you were first called doesn't mean 56:34 that you know, the others are precluded. 56:37 He wants everyone to be saved. 56:39 - Okay, the next question that we have. 56:40 Does God expect us to forgive a person straight away 56:43 if they hurt us 56:44 or is forgiving someone a process of time? 56:48 - You know, 56:50 I think God understands that if you've been deeply hurt, 56:52 that while a Christian knows we are commanded to forgive, 56:54 and you may choose in your heart to forgive right away, 56:57 there may be a little bit of a healing process 56:59 where you lick your wounds, 57:01 and I think God understands that. 57:02 But you know, he wants us to make that decision. 57:05 To follow His word 57:07 and to ultimately forgive everybody 57:11 doesn't mean you need to trust them again 57:12 or be involved with him again. 57:13 But we need to forgive otherwise it hurts us. 57:16 - Okay, another question that we have, 57:17 what did Jesus mean when he said 57:18 the night is coming when no one can work? 57:22 - Well, the work that Jesus is talking about 57:24 is sharing the gospel of the kingdom. 57:26 And in the time of Christ, 57:28 they had a certain amount of freedom. 57:30 They were actually protected by the Romans at first 57:33 to preach the gospel. 57:34 But a great persecution came 57:36 that made it very difficult. 57:38 It was a night, a spiritual night. 57:40 You can also see that prophetically 57:42 in Revelation during the time 57:44 when that the Dark horse came 57:45 and the Red Horse persecution. 57:48 And now for us living in the last days, 57:51 we've got great freedom for preaching the gospel 57:53 in many countries, not all, 57:55 but the time is coming where persecution 57:57 from the beast power is gonna make it very difficult. 58:00 So we gotta work now. 58:01 While it is day, 58:02 the night is coming when no man can work. 58:05 And that's why we do this program, 58:06 friends is to share the good news and do the work. 58:09 Thank you for your prayers 58:10 and helping us to keep up the good news. 58:12 We'll study together again next week. 58:15 (upbeat music) 58:18 - [Announcer] Bible Answers Live, 58:19 honest and accurate answers to your Bible questions. 58:23 (upbeat music) |
Revised 2023-03-21