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Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA202313S
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00:03 male announcer: It is the best-selling book in history.
00:05 No volume ever written has been more loved and quoted; 00:09 and its words, sometimes simple and sometimes mysterious, 00:13 should always be studied carefully. 00:16 It is the Bible, the Word of God. 00:19 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," providing accurate and practical 00:24 answers to all your Bible questions. 00:28 This broadcast is a previously-recorded episode. 00:31 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this 00:34 broadcast, call 800-835-6747. 00:39 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 00:44 Now here is your host from Amazing Facts International, 00:48 Pastor Doug Batchelor. 00:50 Doug Batchelor: Hi, friends. 00:51 Would you like to hear an amazing fact? 00:53 The largest aircraft that ever flew was the Antonov 225 Mriya. 00:59 Mriya means dream in Ukrainian. 01:01 The aircraft was a modern engineering marvel featuring six 01:05 massive turbofan engines each as big as a cement mixer. 01:10 With an overall size that stretches far as a football 01:13 field from nose to tail and wingtip to wingtip, 01:16 the An-225 could carry 500,000 pounds of cargo. 01:20 That's twice as much as a Boeing 747 freighter. 01:24 It was designed and built in Ukraine throughout the 1980s to 01:28 transport the Soviet space shuttle, and it took its maiden 01:31 flight on December 21, 1988. 01:34 Because it had a maximum takeoff weight of up to 1.32 million 01:38 pounds, the An-225 had 32 landing wheels, with 20 01:42 of them that were steerable. 01:45 The monster aircraft made its international debut in style by 01:49 landing at the 1989 Paris Air Show with a Russian space 01:53 shuttle on its back. 01:55 Sadly, only one An-225 was made, and it was destroyed 02:00 by the Russian missiles in February 2022. 02:04 Anyone who ever saw this behemoth fly will never forget 02:08 the sensation of wonder that something so heavy and massive 02:11 could travel gracefully through the air. 02:14 You know, Pastor Ross, the Bible speaks of an even larger 02:17 transport that will someday go through the skies. 02:20 Jean Ross: That's right, Pastor Doug. 02:21 And no need for, you know, turboprop engines to move this 02:26 object through the sky. 02:28 But the Bible does speak of a city that's going to be coming 02:30 from heaven to earth, and of course that city is called 02:33 the New Jerusalem. 02:35 Doug: Yeah, and you can read about that. 02:36 If you look in Revelations 21, verse 2 and 3 it says, "Then I, 02:40 John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of 02:45 heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 02:49 And I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Behold, the tabernacle 02:53 of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they will 02:57 be His people. 02:58 And God Himself will be with them and be their God.'" 03:02 You know, it's just--it's difficult sometimes for 03:05 people to imagine a city floating through the sky. 03:09 Well, it's not as difficult maybe as it used to be because 03:11 we've got a space station up there in the sky right now. 03:14 And if man can do it, then why would 03:16 we think God couldn't do it? 03:19 So it is real. 03:21 God has a real city in space that is going to come down out 03:24 of heaven to the earth, and He wants you in the city. 03:28 We have a special lesson that talks about heaven and this 03:32 colossal city. 03:33 Jean: That's right. 03:34 The study guide is actually called "A Colossal City 03:36 in Space." 03:37 That is our free offer to anyone who is watching or listening. 03:40 To receive it, just call the number 800-835-6747. 03:45 You can ask for offer number 115. 03:47 Or you just dial #250 on your phone and say "Bible Answers 03:52 Live" and then ask for the study guide. 03:54 It's called "A Colossal City in Space." 03:56 We'll be happy to send it to anyone here in--listening 03:59 in North America, the US and Canada. 04:01 And if you are outside of North America, you can just go to our 04:04 website, just amazingfacts.org, and you'll be able to read 04:08 the study guide right there for free as well. 04:11 Well, as mentioned, Pastor Doug, this is "Bible Answers Live." 04:13 So we want to welcome all of those who are joining us across 04:15 the country and around the world. 04:17 And for those who are tuning in on the internet we want to 04:19 welcome you as well, and the various television networks. 04:22 You know, before we get to the Bible questions, it's always 04:25 important for us to begin with prayer because 04:26 we're talking about God's book. 04:28 And if we're going to understand God's book correctly, we want 04:30 the Holy Spirit to be with us. 04:32 So let's do that. 04:33 Dear Father, we thank You for Your Word. 04:35 We thank You for the opportunity that we have to be able to 04:36 study and learn, and we do ask Your blessing. 04:38 Send the Spirit that inspired the book at the beginning to be 04:41 with us, Lord. 04:43 Be with those who are listening wherever they might be. 04:44 In Jesus's name, amen. 04:46 Doug: Amen. 04:47 All right, we're ready to go to the phone lines. 04:49 Our first caller for this evening is Elijah listening 04:51 in Washington. 04:52 Elijah, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 04:54 Elijah: Hello, pastors. 04:56 Thank you guys for taking my call. 04:57 Doug: Well, thanks for calling. 04:58 Elijah: So my question was, during Jesus's ministry on earth 05:02 here, did he remember his position in heaven in creating 05:08 the world and walking in the garden with Adam and Eve 05:12 and all those things? 05:14 That was my question. 05:16 And if he did or if he didn't, is there a reason why? 05:21 Which I'm sure there is a reason why, but-- 05:23 Doug: Well, that's a good question. 05:24 Let's talk about that for a minute. 05:26 So I think you would agree, Elijah, that when Jesus was born 05:30 as a baby and he looked up at his mother and his father, he 05:34 did not have all of the knowledge of life and his 05:37 pre-incarnate existence in his mind or he would've come forth 05:41 into the world speaking. 05:44 He had to learn to speak. 05:45 That means he didn't know everything. 05:47 He probably had to learn to walk like a normal child, and it 05:50 seems that as he needed to know something his Father in heaven 05:54 would reveal it to him. 05:55 Now, did he know something of his pre-existence? 05:58 Yes. 05:59 Because he told the religious leaders, "Before Abraham was, 06:01 I am." 06:03 So he knew something, and he says, you know, "Abraham longed 06:06 to see my day and he saw it." 06:09 So I think that Jesus understood something. 06:13 I'm not sure that at the time he was living on the earth and 06:16 walking around it he had all the knowledge of the creation and 06:21 everything through eternity in his mind, but--I don't know. 06:24 I mean, it just doesn't say. 06:26 Jean: You know, just to add to that, Pastor Doug, one time 06:27 the disciples asked Jesus, they said when is he coming back; and 06:32 Jesus said, "No man knows the day or the hour. 06:34 Only the Father in heaven." 06:36 So at that point, the specifics hadn't been revealed to Christ. 06:40 Obviously, now he does. He's with the Father. 06:43 So they were some things, like you mentioned, that they were 06:45 revealed to Christ as needed by the Holy Spirit. 06:49 Doug: Yeah, so yeah, hopefully that helps, Elijah. 06:52 Good question. 06:54 Jean: All right, we've got Edward listening in Arizona. 06:55 Edward, welcome to the program. 06:58 Edward: Hey. How are you doing, pastors? 07:00 Doug: Doing wonderful. Thank you for calling. 07:02 Edward: Thank you guys for accepting my call. 07:04 If you're schizoaffectious, do you have to overcome the 07:07 schizoaffective disorder for your place, 07:11 I mean, in the kingdom of God? 07:13 And if so, how do you overcome it? 07:16 Doug: Well, the Lord meets us where we're at, and--you know, 07:19 I'm not saying that medical conditions can't be overcome 07:24 because of course Jesus can heal physical, mental, 07:27 psychological illnesses. 07:29 But that doesn't mean that a person that may be struggling 07:31 with these things will always be healed, and it doesn't mean that 07:36 something--you know, some medical condition you're born 07:38 with is going to keep you from the kingdom. 07:40 I think God expects us to surrender to Him, to trust Him, 07:43 we're saved by faith, and to walk in the light as we have it 07:47 and--any thoughts on that? 07:50 Jean: Absolutely. 07:52 You know, as we come to Christ, we can give ourselves completely 07:53 to him and say, "Lord, you know, give me the strength to change 07:55 those things I can change and then give me the courage and the 08:00 faith to accept those things that I can't." 08:03 And place it in your hand and believe that you 08:04 will work things out. 08:06 So it's a corporative relationship. 08:07 We're trusting in God to do the work that only He can do, but we 08:10 are surrendering ourselves to Him. 08:13 Doug: Yeah. Does that make sense, Gary? 08:15 I'm sorry. Edward? 08:16 Edward: Yeah, that does make sense. 08:19 Doug: Okay. 08:20 Well, you just keep trusting Jesus and ask him to help you 08:22 grow in grace and victory and, you know, always pray that he 08:27 can heal you because I never underestimate God's ability 08:30 to heal and to transform. 08:32 That's the new birth. 08:34 Jean: All right. 08:35 Next caller that we have is Gary listening in Illinois. 08:37 Gary, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 08:39 Gary: In the church it's often said as God protected 08:42 Israel during the plagues we'll be protected, but I see 08:45 in Matthew 24, verse 13 he who endures to the end 08:49 will be saved. 08:50 It implies that we're suffering because we are enduring. 08:53 And then, again, in verse 22, "But for the elect's sake these 08:56 days will be shortened." 08:58 It, again, implies that we're suffering, and I think 09:01 it's already happening. 09:02 In Illinois we've got tornados 2 and 3 miles wide travel 09:05 for hundreds of miles. 09:07 So my question is, is God protecting us 09:09 or what's going on? 09:12 Doug: Well, it's a mix, and let me use a Bible example. 09:16 The children of Israel who went through the ten plagues in 09:20 Egypt, God protected them through the last seven plagues, 09:24 but they also experienced the same calamity as the Egyptians 09:28 for--through the first three plagues. 09:30 So in the last days when the seven last plagues fall, God is 09:35 going to protect His people. 09:36 I don't think what you're seeing now are the seven last plagues 09:40 because once the seven last plagues begin probation is 09:43 closed and no one's going to be saved after that. 09:46 So do Christians, the righteous sometimes suffer along 09:49 with the wicked? 09:51 Yeah, that's always been the case. 09:53 God does love and also watches over His people. 09:56 But, you know, in times of trial believers often testify by their 10:01 faith through trial, not because He saves us from every trial. 10:06 And we grow patience through trial. 10:09 Jean: All right. Thank you, Gary. 10:10 We've got Junith listening in Nevada. 10:12 Junith, welcome to the program. 10:15 Junith: Hello. 10:16 A blessed evening, Pastor Ross and Pastor Doug. 10:19 Can you hear me? 10:21 Doug: Yes. 10:23 Junith: Yes? Okay, wonderful. 10:25 Thank you for taking my call. 10:26 My question is, did Jesus come to the world through the cruel 10:33 cross of Calvary not just to bring back his perfect circle of 10:40 love and his perfect shalom to earth--the planet earth but also 10:47 he did it because--to restore the same circle of his love and 10:54 shalom to the whole universe because in assassinating his 10:59 character by Lucifer the holy angels did not understand. 11:04 Can you please explain further more in that perspective? 11:09 Thank you. 11:10 Doug: Yeah. 11:12 So yes, Jesus--one of the things that Christ did by his death is 11:16 to restore a better image of the character of God. 11:22 That's why Jesus said, "If you've seen me, 11:24 you've seen the Father." 11:25 He said he came to reveal the Father among other things. 11:27 He also came as our sacrifice, and he also is restoring peace 11:31 not only to the planet. 11:33 It says he's going to make a new heaven and a new earth. 11:36 All things that were made were made by Jesus, meaning he made 11:39 the first heaven and earth; and then after the wicked are 11:44 judged, he creates a new heaven and a new earth. 11:47 And so there'll be a total restoration and Satan and his 11:52 angels and all the wicked are going to be destroyed 11:55 with an everlasting fire, meaning they're burnt up 11:57 forever and the universe has no more pain, sorrow. 12:01 All things are made new. 12:03 So it's a total restoration of His original plan, 12:05 but it's actually an upgrade. 12:07 Jean: You know, the Bible also tells us that when that 12:09 time comes, when the judgment has been taking place and 12:12 everybody sees the truth, every knee will bow and every tongue 12:16 will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. 12:18 There's no exceptions to that rule, 12:20 so that will include both the angels. 12:22 Even the devil himself will acknowledge that God is fair and 12:25 just in what He has done. 12:26 Now, that doesn't mean it's genuine conversion or 12:28 repentance, but there is an acknowledgment of God's 12:31 character and that'll be manifested right 12:33 at the end of time. 12:35 Doug: Thank you. Appreciate that, Junith. 12:37 Jean: All right, we got Brad listening in California. 12:38 Brad, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 12:41 Brad: My question pertains to Psalms 137, verse 1, and it's 12:46 kind of a two-part question. 12:48 I was wondering--I was always under the impression that when 12:49 David went to his grave, that he passed his blessing on to 12:53 Solomon and he thought that the throne would be established in 12:58 his bloodline forever yet in Psalms 137:1 he's writing the 13:04 song that the Israelites sang when they were taken captive in 13:07 Babylon, and I was wondering--I'm trying to wrap my 13:11 head around that. 13:13 Did he know that Israel would eventually be taken captive 13:16 and not tell his son? 13:19 Doug: Yeah. 13:20 First of all, you know, Jesus, Brad, didn't--I'm sorry. 13:23 David did not write all of the psalms. 13:26 David wrote about 70, maybe 71 of the psalms. 13:30 The later psalms are written by some of his musicians and others 13:33 like Asaph, and it talks about them. 13:36 You'll notice that some of the psalms will say 13:38 a Psalm of David, and then some of them, like 137, 13:41 it's talking about Babylon. 13:43 This is a psalm that was probably written 13:45 following the captivity. 13:47 Isn't that your understanding, Pastor Ross, that 13:48 they're--because it's saying, 13:50 "By the rivers of Babylon we wept." 13:51 This is after they had been captured by Nebuchadnezzar. 13:53 It's one of the later psalms. 13:55 And so I don't know if that helps with your question 13:58 just to know that David probably didn't write this one. 14:02 Brad: Yeah. 14:04 I was always under the impression that the whole book 14:05 of Psalms was written before Solomon took the throne. 14:07 Doug: I used to think that all the psalms were written by 14:10 David because so many of them began the Psalm of David, the 14:12 Psalm of David like Psalm 23. 14:14 But one psalm is written by Moses. 14:16 I think--is it 90 or 91? 14:18 It's written by Moses, and many are by Solomon, 14:20 some are by Asaph. 14:22 But David wrote about 70 as near as we can tell. 14:25 So just about half. 14:28 This is probably not one because it's talking about the 14:30 Babylonian captivity that happened many generations. 14:34 Now, it is true that the son of David--all the sons of 14:38 David--that was kept in the genealogy; and it mentions this 14:43 in Matthew, that Jesus is a direct descendant of David and 14:47 Solomon and that he is the ultimate son of David 14:51 that would reign forever. 14:53 So the line of the Davidic promise and the covenant 14:57 to David did not fail. 14:59 Some of the kings did not reign between the Babylonian 15:02 captivity and Christ. 15:04 I think even Zerubbabel was a descendant of David. 15:06 So briefly they had a governor. 15:09 But anyway, hope that helps a little bit. 15:11 Thanks so much. Appreciate that, Brad. 15:13 Jean: All right. 15:14 Next caller that we have is Mark listening in Alaska. 15:16 Mark, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 15:19 Mark: Hey. How is it going, pastors? 15:21 Thanks a got--a lot for you guys' passion. 15:24 I really enjoy your interpretations, and I really 15:28 enjoy listening to you guys sometimes because it helps me 15:32 with my interpretations. 15:34 Doug: Well, thank you. 15:35 We appreciate it, and glad we could be of service. 15:37 And your question tonight? 15:39 Mark: Yeah, I had a question on 13--Matthew 13:44, 15:43 and it talks about the treasure--the kingdom 15:48 is like a treasure hidden in a field. 15:51 And maybe I'm wrong, but it seems to me that--my 15:56 understanding is the treasure ain't hidden. 16:00 I think maybe I'm wrong, but--maybe correct me. 16:04 I think that Jesus is saying this treasure that is hidden 16:10 is the synagogue of Satan and they're in unity 16:14 and they're hard workers. 16:17 The secular civil government, they're such hard workers. 16:21 Don't you think that maybe Jesus was saying look at these people. 16:25 If the Christians could only work as hard as these people-- 16:30 Doug: Okay, let's take a stab at it. 16:33 Now, I'm going to read this for our friends 16:34 who are listening, Mark. 16:36 A lot of folks are driving down the road and they can't look it 16:38 up, and this is in Matthew chapter 13, verse 44. 16:42 "Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a 16:45 field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes 16:50 and sells all that he has and buys the field." 16:53 Now, it is true that there are people in the world that are 16:55 very diligent workers. 16:59 But I think the picture in this parable--let me 17:02 just back you up. 17:04 In Bible times, they did not have banks as we do today. 17:06 And if people wanted to go shopping, 17:09 they'd get their money. 17:10 They didn't always keep it in the house because--maybe 17:12 a little bit because people could rob it. 17:16 And it was very common for people to bury their treasures 17:19 somewhere on their property, and it will often happen that 17:23 someone would die and someone else would find it. 17:26 Now, right here in Northern California 17:28 we had someone up the road. 17:30 They were out walking their dog and they found cans--some like 17:34 5-gallon old cans filled with gold coins 17:37 from the San Francisco Mint. 17:39 They're worth a fortune, millions of dollars 17:41 they found on their land. 17:43 Now this man he's leasing land and he's out plowing the land 17:46 and he uproots someone's treasure, and it says and he hid 17:49 it, means--he thought, "Oh, man, I know this field is very 17:52 valuable to get treasure." 17:53 He could just steal the treasure, but he doesn't. 17:55 He's honest. 17:56 He says, "I'm going to buy the field, then I own the treasure." 17:58 So he cover it up. 18:00 It says he goes and he buys the field. 18:01 He's willing to sell everything to get the field. 18:03 This is talking about really somebody who discovers the good 18:06 news of the gospel and they realize its value, 18:09 and they sell everything to get it. 18:11 Now, this parable is very much like the one follows about a 18:14 merchant who finds a beautiful pearl of great price 18:17 and he sells everything to get this one pearl. 18:20 The point is Jesus is saying they were willing to give all 18:24 for the treasure, and we need to be willing to--he says, 18:28 "If you don't forsake all, take up your cross and follow me, 18:31 you're not worthy." 18:32 That means we give God 100% of our heart. 18:34 He said we need to love Him more than our father, mother, sister, 18:36 brother, husband, wife. 18:39 We need to love Him first. 18:41 And so this is one of the many parables that talks about 18:43 it's worth everything to follow Christ. 18:47 Jean: All right. Thank you, Mark. 18:48 We've got Anna listening in Oregon. 18:49 Anna, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 18:53 Anna: Evening, pastors. Doug: Evening. 18:55 Anna: My question is about jewelry and what the Bible says 19:02 about it, but in particular wearing a cross. 19:06 Is that a form of, like, idol worship? 19:09 Doug: Well, I would say--you know, certainly there's going to 19:11 be a lot of people in heaven that wear crosses, but there's 19:13 really no command in the Bible that says to wear a cross. 19:16 We're told to bear the cross, and--you know, 19:19 the cross was a--it's an instrument of torture. 19:23 So I don't know that the--anywhere in the Bible had 19:25 ever told us to make crosses and bow to them and everything. 19:27 And I realized that--you know, Paul says, "I'm determined to 19:30 know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him crucified, 19:34 and I'll glory in the cross." 19:35 And that means the sacrifice of Christ. 19:38 But sometimes we sort of make an idol out of the icon of the 19:42 cross and we're not really told to do that in the Bible. 19:46 Now, that--you know, that could be lumped together 19:48 with the idea of jewelry. 19:51 And, you know, folks that have listened to me for years know 19:55 that I think that there are commands in the Bible that 19:59 say--and principles that say that Christians should avoid 20:02 wearing jewelry and artificial ornamentation not only because 20:08 it's cost and the display, but there's some Scriptures like 20:11 where Peter says let the adorning not 20:12 be the outward adorning. 20:14 I think this is 1 Peter chapter 3. 20:17 Don't let it be the outward adorning the wearing 20:19 of gold or apparel. 20:20 Paul says let it not be gold and pearls and costly array. 20:24 Let it be modest, and--then in Isaiah talks about the daughters 20:28 of Babylon that go around with, you know, swishing as they go 20:32 wearing, and he talks about a number of jewelry items; 20:36 earrings and so forth, nose rings. 20:39 And I think Christians are best known by simplicity. 20:43 A few years ago a lot of televangelists got into trouble 20:45 with various scandals and the world was having fun making fun 20:48 of the televangelists, and many of them were prosperity 20:51 preachers that wore just a lot of gaudy jewelry and makeup and 20:55 they were mocked because of their appearance. 20:58 So I advocate that the Bible teaches Christians ought to be 21:02 modest--clean and neat, modest. 21:04 It doesn't mean we need to wear rags, but I think we ought to 21:07 avoid any kind of ornamentation. 21:10 And, again, there's nowhere--I know people think wearing 21:12 a cross is good luck. 21:14 Well, that's idolatry. You know, there's no good luck. 21:17 It's not a chicken bone or something 21:19 that--or rabbit's foot. 21:21 So yeah, just letting people know you're a Christian 21:24 is the best thing. 21:25 Now, I do have a book that actually talks about this. 21:28 It's called "Jewelry: How Much Is Too Much?" 21:31 Jean: And we'll be happy to send that to anyone here 21:33 in North America, in the US or in Canada. 21:35 The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 21:39 You can ask for the book called "Jewelry: How Much Is Too Much?" 21:43 You can also just dial #250 on your smartphone, say 21:47 "Bible Answers Live," and then you can also ask for the book 21:49 that way as well. 21:51 If you have a Bible question, our phone line here in the 21:53 studio is 800-463-7297. 21:57 We got Philip listening in Arkansas. 21:58 Philip, welcome to the program. 22:01 Philip: Hi. Good evening. 22:03 Thanks for taking my call. 22:04 Doug: Yes, thank you. 22:05 Philip: Revelation--yeah, I have a question on Revelation 22:07 13:13 through 14. 22:11 Do you guys think that the signs and wonders and miracles part of 22:14 the--that the second beast performs on the sight of the 22:18 first beast, has that started to become fulfilled yet? 22:21 And if so, do you think AI plays any type of role 22:25 with technology in the end? 22:27 Doug: That's a fascinating question. 22:28 I've been thinking a lot about AI this weekend. 22:31 I'll even make a public confession that I tried to 22:35 manufacture my first AI picture. 22:38 Well, I did. 22:40 I didn't do it, but I used one of the online programs to see if 22:42 it would produce a picture of angels flying through heaven 22:45 and it did. 22:47 Pretty kind of rough, but it did and I think, "Boy, this is a 22:50 scary technology." 22:51 Do I think that's the signs and wonders? 22:53 No. 22:54 The second beast is alive and well today. 22:57 I don't think that it's using the signs and wonders it's going 23:00 to use to manipulate the first beast and the rest of the world 23:04 yet because the spiritual issue haven't really matured. 23:08 I don't know if you have any thoughts on that, Pastor Ross. 23:10 Jean: Yeah, when it talks about it, one of 23:12 the signs specifically mentioned is it talks about 23:13 fire coming down from heaven that the second beast will do; 23:16 and we know from the Bible fire coming down from 23:19 heaven is often associated with the Spirit of God or a 23:22 counterfeit of the Spirit of God. 23:24 It can be a blessing or it could be a judgment. 23:26 So what we find in the last days is there's this religious 23:29 movement, and it appears as though God's blessing is on it. 23:33 There's the--fires coming out from heaven. 23:35 There's much emphasis on the Holy Spirit and miracles and 23:39 wonders, and it's not the Spirit of God. 23:41 It's a counterfeit spirit that is leading people astray in the 23:44 last days, and that power working with the political power 23:47 described as the second beast in Revelation 13 23:49 sets things up at the end. 23:51 Doug: Yeah. 23:53 Yeah, we remember in the story of Elijah that the great proof 23:55 that God was with Elijah is that fire came down from heaven. 23:59 So what's the world going to think when all of a sudden the 24:02 great proof that Elijah uses now being used by the counterfeit? 24:05 It's going to be very deceptive. Well, hope that helps a little. 24:08 Thanks so much. We got 2 minutes. 24:10 Can we do one more before our break? 24:11 Jean: We got Lee listening in Texas. 24:12 Lee, welcome to the program. 24:14 Lee: Yes, I was calling because I was supposed to 24:16 be re-baptized on Easter, 24:19 but being--but I've been baptized four times in my life 24:22 and being baptized again on Easter would 24:24 have been my fifth time. 24:26 My pas--the pastor that was going to do it said it's not 24:29 necessary being that I've been baptized so many times. 24:32 Do I still need to be re-baptized again 24:35 or is it not necessary? 24:37 Doug: Well, let me tell you, there's three principal reasons 24:40 a person might be re-baptized. 24:43 One would be if they've never been baptized biblically 24:46 by immersion. 24:48 Some people are baptized as babies and they just didn't know 24:50 what was going on, or they've been sprinkled and the Bible 24:52 is very clear we should be immersed in the water. 24:56 That's what the word baptized means. 24:57 Another reason to be re-baptized would be if you've come into 25:01 just a whole new understanding of what the truth is, and an 25:04 example of that would be Acts 19 where it says these 12--you read 25:09 the first few verses, these 12 Ephesian believers, 25:12 they had heard about John the Baptist. 25:15 They got baptized by immersion. 25:16 But they had not heard about Jesus. 25:18 They had left town before they heard about that and the 25:20 outpouring of the Spirit. 25:22 Paul preached them all this new truth they'd missed and they 25:24 said, "We want to get baptized again." 25:26 And they were and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. 25:28 Third reason to be re-baptized would be is--you've kind of 25:32 divorced yourself from the Lord. 25:36 It doesn't mean, you know--so you're baptized and then you sin 25:39 and you make a mistake, you got to run and get baptized again. 25:42 Well, we'd all be getting baptized every week 25:44 if that was the case. 25:46 So--but if a person is totally--they've stopped 25:49 going to church. 25:50 They've backslidden. 25:52 And it's not that they get discouraged for a week or two 25:54 but the tenor of their life they sort of divorce themselves from 25:57 the church and the Lord, when they return it would probably be 26:01 appropriate to be re-baptized but not in every case and 26:05 it--there's variables. 26:07 Now, how often should a person be re-baptized? 26:09 Well, it's like marriage. 26:11 You know, you--if a person says, "I've been married ten times," 26:14 well, you think there's a problem there. 26:16 It's a sacred ordinance, and you don't want to be doing it 26:20 carelessly or frequently. 26:22 So it should be done with great care, and that covenant 26:26 should be protected. 26:29 Sometimes a person could just go through the communion service 26:31 and that will serve like a mini baptism, 26:35 and it gives them--gives all of us a new beginning. 26:38 So I hope that helps a little bit. 26:40 And we do have a book on "Baptism: Is It Necessary?" 26:42 Lee, you can get a free copy. 26:44 Jean: Just call and ask for that. 26:46 Call Amazing Facts, and we'll be happy to send it to anyone in 26:48 North America who calls and asks. 26:51 Doug: All right. Friends, don't go away. 26:52 We're going to take our mid-time break. 26:54 Coming back with more Bible questions in a moment. 27:01 announcer: Stay tuned. 27:03 "Bible Answers Live" will return shortly. 27:09 announcer: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel 27:11 to every creature." 27:14 Through radio, television, print, evangelistic events, and 27:17 the internet, Amazing Facts International is heeding the 27:20 call of Jesus to go into all the world. 27:24 Millions of individuals in over 150 countries have 27:27 been blessed by the Word of God. 27:29 Amazing Facts has spawned new spheres of influence in India, 27:32 Africa, China, and Indonesia. 27:35 With each new country come hundreds of translated booklets, 27:38 study guides, and video presentations produced in each 27:41 region for the people of that region. 27:44 Armed with these precious truths, gospel workers are 27:46 empowered to spread bright rays of light on every path 27:50 they travel. 27:51 Please visit reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org 27:55 to learn more about Amazing Facts International and how you 27:57 can participate in this exciting soul-winning ministry. 28:01 That website again is reachtheworld.amazingfacts.org. 28:06 Thank you for your support. 28:09 Doug: The US government is drowning in debt to the tune 28:12 of $22 trillion. 28:14 But before you wag your finger at the government spending, 28:17 the Federal Reserve says the average American household 28:21 carries over $137,000 in debt. 28:25 Well, it was never God's plan that we live 28:27 with a burden of debt. 28:28 Proverbs 22:7 warns us the rich rules over the poor and the 28:33 borrower is servant to the lender. 28:35 Living with debt is a stressful burden that actually hurts 28:37 your relationship with God. 28:39 In my new pocketbook "Deliverance From Debt," I 28:42 outline the Bible principles on how to properly manage your 28:45 money with some practical suggestions on how you can get 28:48 out and stay out of debt. 28:51 If you or someone you love is drowning in debt, 28:54 order a copy of "Deliverance From Debt" today. 28:57 It can be a lifesaver to keep you from going under. 29:00 Please call 800-538-7275 or visit afbookstore.com. 29:12 announcer: You're listening to "Bible Answers Live," where 29:14 every question answered provides a clearer picture of God 29:18 and His plan to save you. 29:20 So what are you waiting for? 29:22 Get practical answers about the good book 29:24 for a better life today. 29:29 This broadcast is a previously-recorded episode. 29:32 If you'd like answers to your Bible-related questions on the 29:34 air, please call us next Sunday 29:37 between 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Pacific Time. 29:41 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this 29:43 evening's program, call 800-835-6747. 29:48 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 29:54 Now let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live." 29:59 Doug: Welcome back, listening friends, to "Bible Answers 30:01 Live," and we're here to do our best to answer any Bible 30:04 question you might have about the Word of God 30:07 or living the Christian life. 30:09 We've got our Bibles at our fingertips, 30:10 and you can simply call. 30:12 It's a free phone call, and that number is 800-463-7297 30:19 and that's 800-GODSAYS. 30:21 We're streaming also on Facebook and YouTube. 30:25 We're on AFTV and replayed on Hope Channel and a number 30:29 of other networks. 30:31 My name is Doug Batchelor. 30:33 Jean: My name is Jean Ross, and we got a number of callers 30:36 waiting with their Bible question. 30:37 We're going to go to Joan in Australia. 30:40 Joan, welcome to the program. 30:42 Joan: Hello, how are you? 30:43 Doug: Hi, doing good. Thanks for calling. 30:45 Joan: My question comes today from 2 Kings 5. 30:48 It's the story of Captain Naaman and--with the prophet 30:52 Elijah--Elisha and Gehazi, and I just want to--if you 30:57 could help me paint the picture. 31:02 Gehazi went accepted by lie a payment, went back and the 31:10 prophet said, "Did my heart not go with you as it now 31:14 that you accept payment?" 31:17 And then Prophet Elisha says, "Captain Naaman's leprosy 31:23 will now be with you." 31:26 And he walked out as white as snow, Gehazi. 31:28 So as the story goes on in the Bible with Elisha, it also 31:34 continues with Gehazi. 31:36 So I was just thinking--so does he continue working with the 31:41 prophet as white as snow, with leprosy? 31:45 Doug: Yeah. No. 31:46 I think the next time you see Gehazi he may be--well, 31:48 there's two possible times. 31:50 There are four lepers in 2 Kings chapter 6. 31:54 They're in 2 Kings chapter 7 during a famine, 31:57 and Josephus is one of those four lepers that said, 32:01 "We're not doing what is right. This is a day of good news." 32:04 May have been Gehazi. 32:06 Later you see Gehazi, he's talking to the king and telling 32:09 the king about the miracles of Elisha. 32:13 And a person might say, "Well, if he's got leprosy, what's he 32:14 doing talking to the king?" 32:16 Well, there's a few different possibilities. 32:18 One is that he was later healed and forgiven. 32:22 Doesn't say that in the Bible. 32:24 The other is even people with leprosy could communicate, 32:28 but they had to keep a certain distance. 32:29 And so maybe he was talking to the king. 32:32 It was some distance between them because he was unclean. 32:36 That's a difficult scenario to imagine. 32:40 So--you know, we can only speculate, but Gehazi does 32:43 appear later in the story after he gets leprosy. 32:48 He's talking to the king and telling about 32:49 the miracles of Elisha. 32:51 So he may have been healed. It's hard to say. 32:53 Joan: Yeah, and the other one last story was the 32:56 lady that didn't have a child. 33:00 Doug: Yeah, the Shunammite woman. 33:02 Yeah. 33:04 And the story of the Shunammite--not all the stories 33:06 of Elisha's miracles are in chronological order. 33:09 The emphasis is that Elisha has doubled the Holy Spirit 33:12 of Elijah and then it begins to recount examples 33:15 of his miracles. 33:17 I'm not sure that they're all written in chronological order. 33:20 So the Shunammite, I think, happened before 33:24 the story of Naaman. 33:27 Joan: Okay. Thank you. 33:28 Doug: Thanks. Great questions. 33:30 Jean: All right, next caller that we have 33:32 is Abigail in Florida. 33:33 Abigail, welcome to the program. 33:36 Abigail: Hi, pastors. How are you guys? 33:38 Doug: We're doing much better than we deserve. 33:41 Abigail: Awesome. 33:42 My question is in Matthew 27:52, 53. 33:49 Who were the saints they were referring to? 33:52 Were they people, and did they ascend into heaven 33:55 or where did they go? 33:56 Doug: Okay, good question. 33:59 In Matthew 27 it talks about that when Christ died on the 34:03 cross after he cried out, "Lord, you know, into Your hands 34:05 I commend my spirit. 34:07 It is finished," there's a great earthquake, and in connection 34:11 with that earthquake it says many of the graves--not all. 34:13 It's not a universal resurrection, but many--and not 34:17 all the graves around Jerusalem, but some of the graves of 34:20 saints, saved people who were resting in their graves around 34:24 Jerusalem, were opened. 34:26 And then after when Christ came out of his grave Sunday morning, 34:29 some of them arose and appeared to people in Jerusalem briefly 34:34 probably because it's not even mentioned in John 34:37 or Mark or Luke. 34:39 But there were people who saw some of the resurrected saints 34:42 that evidently they ascended to heaven with Christ when he 34:44 ascended after he'd spoken with Mary. 34:47 And who were they? Doesn't name them. 34:49 There are some people who are believers in God, faithful, 34:54 buried somewhere in the area around Jerusalem and probably 34:58 not John the Baptist because I think he was buried down by the 35:01 Jordan somewhere. 35:03 It--you know, it could have been people like Isaiah. 35:05 We don't know. It doesn't say their names. 35:07 But how many, we don't know. 35:10 But there is a first fruits that--I think you've got a verse 35:13 in Ephesians talks-- 35:14 Jean: Yeah, there is. 35:16 Ephesians chapter 4, verse 8 actually talks about a group 35:17 that ascended with Jesus, and here you have Paul quoting 35:21 the Old Testament. 35:22 He says, "For when he ascended on high, he led captivity 35:25 captive, and gave gifts unto men." 35:28 And he's actually quoting here from Psalm 68, but it's 35:32 referring to those who are held captive by death 35:34 or by the grave. 35:36 They were resurrected and they ascended with Jesus when he 35:38 ascended to heaven. 35:40 Doug: Yeah. 35:41 So hope that helps a little bit, Abigail, and--yes, we do have a 35:45 study guide that talks about the dead and it's--and the 35:48 resurrection that says "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 35:51 And if you're interested, we can send you a free copy of that. 35:53 Jean: The number to call for that is 800-835-6747 and, again, 35:57 just ask for the study guide. 35:58 It's called "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 36:00 Next caller that we have is Inga listening in Canada. 36:03 Inga, welcome to the program. 36:05 Inga: Hello, pastor. 36:06 Doug: Hi. 36:08 Inga: Hi. 36:09 My question is, is there going to be technology in heaven? 36:13 Doug: Well, when you say technology--of course, you know, 36:17 God is the author of all true science. 36:20 And so there--will there be scientific wonders? 36:23 I would think of course. 36:25 Will we have smartphones? 36:28 Probably not because I'm thinking that a lot of things 36:31 that the smartphones are doing now we'll be able to do in 36:33 supernatural ways when we get to heaven. 36:36 We won't need a GPS. 36:38 I think the Holy Spirit is going to tell us where we are. 36:40 We'd get lost pretty quick in the universe without 36:42 some kind of divine GPS. 36:46 But we'll be--you know, we'll be probably doing all kinds of 36:49 research into the beauties and wonders of God, and I--it says 36:52 we're going to plant vineyards and eat the fruit 36:55 and build houses. 36:56 So we're doing constructive things. 36:58 Is it plausible that as history goes by we'll be making things? 37:03 Yeah, I believe so. 37:05 Jean: All right. Thank you. 37:07 Next caller that we have is Jerry listening in Oregon. 37:08 Jerry, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 37:12 Jerry: Good evening, Pastors Ross and Batchelor. 37:16 I'm reading John 5:24, which says, "Verily truly I tell you, 37:22 whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has 37:27 eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from 37:32 death to life." 37:34 But the--when I look at Matthew 12:36 37:41 it says that everyone will 37:45 have to give an account of every idle word. 37:48 And then Revelation 20:12 says that the books are open and the 37:56 dead are judged according to what they have done. 38:01 So my question is, are the believers judged or not judged? 38:07 Doug: All right, let me--there's one more. 38:09 You've read some good verses there. 38:11 You can look--well, I might give you two more. 38:12 Romans 14:10 Paul says in the last part of that, "For we will 38:16 all stand--" He's talking to the church. 38:19 "We will all stand before the judgment seat of Christ." 38:22 And then if you look in 2 Corinthians 5:10 it says, "For 38:27 we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that 38:30 each one may receive the things done in the body." 38:33 So with that in mind, what does it mean there in the Gospel of 38:36 John where it says we've passed from judgment? 38:39 I think that he's basically saying that because of the blood 38:43 of Christ our sins are stricken from the books. 38:46 So when they look in the books it says forgiven, but the books 38:49 are going to be examined and the only way that our deeds are not 38:53 going to rise up against us is if they are confessed, repented 38:57 of, and under the blood of Christ. 38:59 But there's still a judgment that reveals that. 39:03 Now, some judgment takes place before Jesus comes because I 39:06 think it's obvious to everybody that if Christ is distributing 39:10 rewards when he comes some investigation takes place before 39:14 he comes, sometimes referred to as a pre-Advent judgment. 39:19 So the judgment sort of happens in three phases. 39:21 It tells us that we will judge angels, Paul says. 39:25 During the millennium, judgment is given to the saints and 39:28 there's--we're looking at the judgments of God, of why some 39:31 people maybe aren't there and why some people are there. 39:35 I can picture in the resurrection that when Stephen 39:38 sees the apostle Paul in heaven he's going to think the angels 39:41 did something wrong because the last time Stephen sees Paul he 39:45 was killing Christians. 39:47 Now he's in heaven. 39:48 So the--Stephen will get to look at the judgment books. 39:52 And so we're sort of looking at some of the judgments of God. 39:54 And then there's a final Great White Throne Judgment where all 39:57 the dead are resurrected, and that's called an executive 39:59 judgment. 40:01 They're given their penalty, but, again, the books are opened 40:03 and every knee, saved, lost, devils, angels--everybody is 40:07 going to bow before Christ and say he is Lord. 40:11 Jean: You know, we have a couple of study guides 40:12 that talk about the judgment. 40:14 People want to learn more about that, if you call and ask for 40:17 "The Final Judgment." 40:19 It's one of the Amazing Facts study guides. 40:20 We'll be happy to send that to you. 40:22 You can also ask for the one called "Right on Time." 40:24 That is sort of part one and part two about the judgment. 40:27 The number to call for that is 800-835-6747, and you can ask 40:32 for the study guide called "Right on Time" 40:34 and "The Final Judgment." 40:36 It'll tell you all about what's happening in this heavenly 40:38 courtroom that's described in the Bible. 40:40 So 800-835-6747. 40:44 Next caller that we have is Aaron listening in New York. 40:46 Aaron, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 40:50 Aaron: Good evening, pastors. Doug: Evening. 40:53 Aaron: If a stranger insults you by calling you a derogatory 40:56 word for no apparent reason and immediately leaves you so that 41:00 you cannot ask them what happened, is it okay to do 41:04 nothing about the insult and act like it never happened or should 41:09 you give a prayer for forgiveness for that stranger? 41:13 Doug: Well, Jesus said, "When people say all manner of evil 41:18 against you falsely for my name's sake, rejoice." 41:22 And the Bible then tells us to turn the other cheek and pray 41:25 for those who spitefully use you and persecute you. 41:28 So the answer on both counts according to Jesus's teaching 41:30 is as far as possible try and turn the other cheek. 41:35 Now, if I'm standing on the corner and some lunatic comes up 41:38 and starts, you know, taking swings at me, I'll probably 41:40 defend myself. 41:41 But, you know, if someone insults you, you just turn the 41:44 other cheek. 41:46 I get criticism all the time. 41:49 Some of it's deserved, some of it's just being mean and, you 41:52 know, I don't respond or retaliate because, you know, 41:55 that's what Jesus did and that's what I think he wants us to do. 41:58 When they--you look at the trial of Christ, they said all kinds 42:01 of terrible things to him and about him and he really didn't 42:04 defend himself and Pilate was amazed. 42:08 So--and then, of course, pray for. 42:10 Jesus prayed for those crucifying him. 42:12 So should we pray for people that spitefully use us 42:15 and persecute us? 42:17 Yes. Is it hard? 42:18 Yes. 42:19 But that's where we're developing Christian virtues. 42:22 Thanks, Aaron. I appreciate that. 42:24 Jean: Next caller that we have is Carlos listening 42:26 in Florida. 42:27 Carlos, welcome to the program. 42:29 Carlos: Good evening, pastors. Doug: Hi. 42:32 Carlos: Hebrews 4, verse 4 says, "For he spake in a certain 42:38 place of the seventh day on this wise," 42:41 comma--what certain place? 42:47 And I'm not understanding this term here where--do you have a 42:51 king--are you guys reading from King James? 42:54 Doug: Yeah, well, I've got the New King James here. 42:56 It's almost identical. 42:58 Carlos: So it says, "For he spake in a certain place of 43:01 the seventh day on this wise." 43:04 Doug: On this wise means in this way. 43:07 Yeah. 43:08 And he's quoting from the Old Testament in Exodus 20 where it 43:11 says God rested the seventh day, and he may also be quoting from 43:14 Genesis 2:2 because it says it in both places. 43:18 Carlos: So the place he's speaking from 43:20 is the seventh day? 43:22 Doug: Well, no. 43:24 It means that the--that King David, he's quoting about--he's 43:26 talking about King David in chapter 4 of Hebrews, and it 43:30 says for he spoke in a certain place--actually he's talking 43:32 about--for God spoke in a certain place of the seventh day 43:37 and God rested from His work, and he's talking about where in 43:40 Genesis 2:2 it says that God rested from His work 43:45 in creating the world. 43:47 Carlos: What is a certain place? 43:49 Doug: What is a certain place? 43:51 It means in the--a place in the Scripture, and the place 43:53 is--yeah, he's talking about--he's spoken--he's quoting 43:56 various verses. 43:58 Like if you look in verse 3 it says, "So I swore in my wrath 44:01 they will not enter my rest." 44:02 Here he's quoting from Psalm 95. 44:06 So Hebrews, he's going through different places 44:09 in the Old Testament. 44:11 I think there are more quotes--more Old Testament 44:13 quotes in Hebrews than any other New Testament book. 44:16 I think Matthew and Romans might be next. 44:18 Hey. Thank you, Carlos. 44:19 I hope that helps a little bit. 44:21 Jean: Next caller that we have is Troy listening 44:23 in Massachusetts. 44:24 Troy, welcome to the program. 44:26 Troy: Good evening, pastors. 44:27 I just want to thank you guys for your faithfulness, 44:29 and Amazing Facts have had a huge impact on my family. 44:32 So I just want to thank you guys. 44:34 My question now, it's about Daniel and Ezra. 44:39 We know the 70-week prophecy with Ezra chapter 7 is where it 44:44 starts the 70-week prophecy. 44:46 And I'm reading Ezra now in Ezra chapter 4 with the resistance of 44:50 building the temple and it says Artaxerxes had sent a letter to 44:59 cease the work that's been going on in Jerusalem, and it says 45:03 until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. 45:06 It's Ezra chapter 4 and verse 24. 45:09 My question is, is this the same Artaxerxes that comes forth 45:13 in chapter 7? 45:14 Because in chapter 6 we have the issuing of the decree of Darius 45:20 and in chapter 1 was from Cyrus. 45:22 I'm just kind of confused if it's the same Artaxerxes in 45:26 chapter 4 that's in chapter 7, if that makes any sense. 45:30 Doug: Yeah, I--yeah, good question. 45:32 I think that it is different. 45:36 You know, sometimes they had sons--or rulers. 45:38 There's actually more than one Darius that had the same name. 45:42 There's a Darius during the time of Daniel and then years later 45:45 you get another Darius during the time of Ezra. 45:48 And I could be wrong, Pastor Ross, but I think the one in 45:51 chapter 7 is the Artaxerxes who did the decree that allowed them 45:54 to go home, and the one who put up a blockade that you find in 45:58 chapter 4, I think, it was a different king during a 46:02 different time. 46:04 So I don't know if you know more about that. 46:08 Jean: Yeah, I was just going to mention 46:09 a couple of other--there are three decrees 46:11 that are particularly significant to the Jews that 46:13 allowed them to go back and restore and rebuild Jerusalem; 46:16 and the first decree was by Cyrus, the second was by Darius 46:22 in 519, and then Artaxerxes was in 457 BC. 46:27 So that's the one that's really recorded for us in Ezra; is the 46:30 decree that allowed the Jews to go back not only rebuild the 46:33 temple but actually the wall of the city, and that's the decree 46:37 in 457 BC that starts the 70 weeks or the 490 years. 46:41 So is there another Artaxerxes? 46:43 There could be, but this is the one that the Bible speaks of, 46:46 especially in Ezra, as being the most significant 46:49 in issuing that decree. 46:50 Doug: Yeah. The decree is actually found in chapter 7. 46:52 So I think he's wondering, is the Artaxerxes in chapter 4 46:56 the same one in chapter 7? 46:58 And I'm trying to go back in my Persian history and remember. 47:01 I just remember there were some of these kings that had the same 47:03 name, but I know the Artaxerxes in chapter 7. 47:06 That's the decree of 457. 47:09 So I'm going to have to go look that up again because I'm 47:11 second-guessing what I said. 47:14 That just goes to show you, friends, we don't have all the 47:16 answers, but we'll research that, Troy. 47:19 I want to make sure I'm giving you the right answer. 47:20 Thank you. 47:22 Jean: Thanks. 47:24 Next caller that we have is Nicole listening in Michigan. 47:25 Nicole, welcome to the program. 47:27 Nicole: Hi, how are you? 47:29 Doug: Doing good. Thank you for calling. 47:31 Nicole: Good. 47:33 I have a question about Numbers chapter 28, verse 7. 47:35 It says that strong drink was to be offered in the sanctuary. 47:41 What is that strong drink? 47:43 Because I'm under the impression that the people of God were not 47:46 supposed to have anything to do with alcoholic beverages and 47:49 definitely not in the sanctuary. 47:51 So what is this strong drink there? 47:54 Doug: Yeah. That's, I think, often misunderstood. 47:57 The word strong there, it could in some places mean strong 48:02 as in alcohol. 48:04 They had another word for strong, and it's the word 48:06 like concentrated. 48:08 Now, you've probably had orange juice before that was made 48:11 from concentrate. 48:14 I'm guessing you've tasted what orange juice from concentrate 48:18 tastes like before you add the water, and you could say 48:21 that's really strong. 48:23 The Jews used to actually dehydrate their grape juice so 48:28 they could transport it and--you know, liquids are very heavy. 48:31 They would dehydrate it, make it into a syrup, and then they'd 48:35 reconstitute it. 48:36 That sometimes was called strong drink. 48:38 The word strong there meaning intense or concentrated. 48:42 It might not be alcoholic at all and it, matter of fact, could be 48:46 very sweet, almost a syrup. 48:48 But then you'd add water again and it was just right. 48:51 This may very well be what they're talking about because I 48:53 don't think God approved them using alcohol. 48:57 The two sons of Aaron were burnt to death. 49:01 God rained fire down on heaven from them for drinking alcohol 49:05 before they went to the sanctuary. 49:06 It would seem strange that He would then endorse people 49:09 bringing alcohol into the sanctuary. 49:12 Jean: And, of course, we do have Leviticus. 49:13 Actually, Leviticus chapter 10, verse 9 says, "Do not drink wine 49:16 or intoxicating drink when you or your sons who are with you go 49:19 into the tabernacle of meeting." 49:22 So part of the sacrifice that was given would also be used to 49:25 help sustain the priesthood. 49:27 So the priests were clearly told that they were not to be 49:29 drinking alcohol when they were involved in the sacrifice. 49:32 So it was a concentrated sort of grape juice that could be 49:37 diluted with water. 49:39 Doug: Yeah. 49:40 And if you--I've got a book called "Alcohol and the 49:42 Christian." 49:44 I think it references--I wrote it, you know, 15 years ago so I 49:45 don't even remember everything that's in it, but I think it 49:47 references the strong drink that you find in this passage. 49:52 Jean: The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 49:55 You can ask for the book called "Alcohol and the Christian." 49:58 We'll be happy to send it to anyone who calls and asks. 50:00 You can also dial #250 on your smartphone, ask for "Bible 50:04 Answers Live," and then ask for the book "The Alcohol--or 50:07 Alcohol and the Christian." 50:09 Next caller that we have is Mike listening in Missouri. 50:11 Mike, welcome to the program. 50:13 Mike: Well, here let me get to it real quick. 50:15 My question concerns Acts chapter 12, verse 4 of the King 50:20 James Version. 50:22 And according to the Julian concordance the word for 50:26 Passover in that particular passage is Easter. 50:30 Now, this question is based on hearsay. 50:33 I've never been able to find this in writing, but this person 50:37 told me that east--I'm going to state it in the question. 50:45 Is Easter the correct name for Passover when calculated 50:48 by a Julian calendar? 50:52 Doug: No. 50:54 Well, the word Easter is not the word in the original when 50:58 they're translating it into English because the time of the 51:05 Passover is the same time of year as the Catholics that 51:09 celebrated and even the Orthodox Church, or whether you call the 51:12 Church of England, the same time they celebrated Easter. 51:17 Not always the same day because they would pick it differently. 51:19 The Jews used more of a lunar cycle that--it's basically just 51:24 saying that Herod was going to execute Peter 51:26 during the Passover or after Passover was over. 51:30 I think it's letting us know that's the same time 51:31 of year they were going to--they did execute Jesus. 51:34 So they use the word Easter there in the King James, 51:37 but you'll find in most other versions 51:39 they translate that Passover. 51:41 What the exact date was, I think, it would be according to 51:43 the Jewish calendar, not the Roman calendar 51:46 because this is written by a Jew. 51:48 So it's a lunar calendar, the Jewish civil calendar. 51:51 Mike: Okay. 51:53 Doug: He's just saying that--Herod didn't execute him 51:55 right away because they're waiting for the Passover 51:57 to be over. 51:58 Jean: And if you look at the same verse in the New King 52:01 James, which is very close to the King James, it does use the 52:03 word Passover in place of Easter. 52:05 So it sort of corrects that, a better word in that case. 52:10 All right, thank you. 52:12 Next caller that we have is Linda listening in California. 52:13 Linda, welcome to the program. 52:16 Linda: Thank you. 52:18 I'm confused about which are the people who will fight with the 52:23 devil against the New Jerusalem. 52:27 Doug: Who will be fighting against the devil? 52:31 Linda: No, with the devil. 52:32 Doug: Who's fighting with the devil? 52:34 Well, it tells us Gog and Magog. 52:35 The devil rallies Gog and Magog, and you find that in Exodus 52:37 chapter 20 and Exodus 20 is sort of quoting 52:41 from Ezekiel 37 and 38. 52:44 Gog and Magog--sorry. 52:45 Yeah, Revelation. 52:47 Thank you very much. 52:49 Revelation chapter 20. 52:50 Linda: Where did the people come from because before the 52:52 second coming the earth is-- 52:55 Doug: I'm getting to that. 52:57 Linda: Okay, got you. 52:58 Doug: Yeah, they're resurrected. 53:00 It says the rest of the dead--and now we're in 53:02 Revelation chapter 20. 53:04 The rest of the dead liveth not again until the thousand years 53:07 are finished. 53:08 So the dead in Christ rise first. 53:10 So all the righteous are resurrected. 53:12 There's only one group left who are the rest of the dead. 53:14 If all the righteous are resurrected in the first 53:16 resurrection, it says the dead in Christ rise first in 53:19 1 Thessalonians, who would the rest of the dead be, Linda? 53:24 Linda: The lost. 53:25 Doug: That's right. It's the wicked. 53:27 It calls them Gog and Magog in Revelation because Revelation 53:30 uses symbolic names for almost everybody. 53:33 It uses Balaam and Napoleon and the lamb and the lion and 53:38 Jezebel, and it uses Gog and Magog because in the Old 53:41 Testament those were enemies of God's people from antiquity. 53:46 Gog and then you've got Magog means from the matrix 53:50 of Gog or the children of Gog. 53:52 So it's like Babylon and her daughters. 53:54 Gog and Magog, the wicked and the children of the wicked 53:57 of--you've got the good. 53:59 It says the woman and the seed of the woman. 54:01 So you got the good side and the children of the woman. 54:04 You got the bad side and the children of the wicked, and--so 54:08 it's in that--all who have ever lived from every generation, 54:12 they are coming against the people of God and the devil 54:14 is rallying them to assault the city of God. 54:18 And I think you also find that in the Book of Zechariah chapter 54:20 14, and God delivers His people at the crucial moment. 54:25 Now, I hope that helps a little bit, Linda. 54:27 We thank you, friends. 54:28 Just in case you did not know this, the--Amazing Facts 54:32 we're on many different venues right now. 54:35 We broadcast on TV, on radio, through satellite, 54:39 and land-based TV and radio stations. 54:42 The clocks aren't all the same on these different networks. 54:45 And because of the timing difference between satellite 54:48 and land-based stations, we say farewell first 54:52 to our satellite listeners. 54:53 Those listening on satellite radio, we love you. 54:56 Nothing personal, but we're going to sign off with you. 54:58 But the rest of you, don't go away because then we come back 55:01 and we do our best to do rapid fire Bible questions that you 55:05 have emailed in. 55:07 So stay tuned for that. For the rest, God bless. 55:13 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 by Amazing Facts International, 55:23 a faith-based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:29 Jean: Hello, friends. 55:30 Welcome back to "Bible Answers Live." 55:32 And, again, as Pastor Doug mentioned just on the other 55:33 side of the break, we're going to take some 55:34 of your email questions. 55:36 So if you'd like to send us an email question, our email 55:38 address is BALquestions@amazingfacts.org. 55:44 And we'll try to answer as many of these questions as we can in 55:47 the time allotted, about 2 1/2 minutes. 55:49 Pastor Doug, first question we have, "If Satan was cast to the 55:53 earth, where did he go during the flood?" 55:56 Doug: Yeah, I think people sometimes wonder 55:58 if the whole world was flooded and if the devil was not 56:00 in the ark, then--you know, they're 56:03 looking at the devil as though he's got a physical body, but 56:07 the Bible says we do not wrestle--Ephesians chapter 6, 56:10 we do not wrestle against flesh and blood. 56:12 I mean, if we did, I'd love to punch the devil in the nose. 56:15 Of course, I'm probably not stronger than him physically. 56:17 But he's a spirit and he can sometimes manifest himself in 56:22 physical ways, but ultimately he's a spirit. 56:25 So I don't think he was worried about drowning per se. 56:29 He didn't need scuba gear or anything, but he probably saw 56:32 the catastrophe of the elements and feared for his own existence 56:37 when he saw what was happening to humanity. 56:39 He saw the terrible judgment that came on mankind. 56:41 He probably feared; but no, he didn't need 56:43 to worry about drowning. 56:46 Jean: Okay. 56:47 We have Rachel asking, will the 144,000 know that they are part 56:50 of this group during the time that they're on the earth? 56:54 Will it not be made known to them until 56:56 Jesus's second coming? 56:59 Doug: Well, it's a good question, and I'm not sure 57:00 I know the answer. 57:02 The 12 apostles knew that they were the 12 that had 57:07 been specifically chosen. 57:09 Will the 144,000 know that they're, you know, 142,003? 57:16 No, not necessarily. 57:18 I think that there's going to be a special Spirit-filled group of 57:22 apostles you might see in the last days doing a great work, 57:25 but they may not know that they're one of them. 57:29 Jean: All right. 57:30 Next question that we have, "Can fallen angels still repent and 57:32 be saved, or is the plan of salvation 57:34 only for human beings?" 57:36 Doug: Well, probation is open for humans now. 57:38 There was probably a time when angels could have repented. 57:41 God gave them a period of grace, and we don't know it. 57:43 It may have been thousands of years while this debate 57:45 went on in heaven. 57:47 But ultimately their probation closed and the angels know that 57:51 they are now in everlasting chains of darkness. 57:54 And the demons often said to Jesus, "We know who you are. 57:57 Have you come to torment us before the time?" 57:59 Meaning judge us. 58:01 So they know there--the devil knows he has a short time. 58:03 There's no turning back. 58:05 The fallen angels have no redeemable qualities left. 58:08 Friends, great questions. 58:09 And we hope we can have more great questions next week. 58:12 Give us a call. 58:13 In the meantime, check out amazingfacts.org 58:16 and keep us on the air. 58:18 God bless. 58:21 announcer: "Bible Answers Live," honest and accurate 58:24 answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2024-09-13