Participants:
Series Code: HC
Program Code: HC210010S
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00:01 Three Angels Broadcasting Network
00:02 is pleased to bring you something better, 00:06 a faith inspiring picture of a loving God 00:09 from the Book of Hebrews. 00:11 Welcome to 3ABN's Virtual Homecoming Camp Meeting. 00:16 Happy Sabbath. 00:17 So very excited 00:19 and we have this privilege and opportunity 00:21 to bring you answers to your Bible questions. 00:25 We just finished our 3ABN Sabbath School Panel 00:28 and we were actually in another studio 00:30 just on the other side of this stage. 00:32 But we wanted to come out here 00:34 for the live Q and A with you at home. 00:37 Thank you for joining us. 00:38 You might notice that we had Pastor John Lomacang 00:42 as part of our Sabbath School Panel. 00:43 And now we have Pastor James Rafferty. 00:46 Pastor Lomacang was not raptured, 00:48 he just stepped away for something else 00:50 and we asked Pastor James to step in 00:52 and to answer your Bible questions. 00:54 They are already coming in. 00:57 I have pages of them that you have been sending, 01:00 as we've been doing the 3ABNs Sabbath School Panel 01:02 the past hour. 01:04 So we have one hour, 01:06 we are going to be taking your questions, 01:08 want to encourage you. 01:09 We're going to start with the ones 01:11 that you've already sent in. 01:12 But if you would like to send in your questions, 01:14 you can do that right now. 01:16 You can text your questions to 618-228-3975. 01:22 That number again is 618-228-3975. 01:26 We're going to get to as many of these questions as we can. 01:30 And on the panel with me is Pastor Ryan Day, 01:33 Pastor James Rafferty, Miss Shelley Quinn, 01:37 and Pastor John Dinzey. 01:38 And just a privilege to open up the Word of God 01:40 and to study with each one of you. 01:42 We're going to try to keep the answers fairly short, 01:44 so that we can get to as many questions as we can. 01:47 Before we go to this special Q and A section, 01:50 we want to go to the Lord in prayer. 01:52 I know we already prayed for the other program, 01:53 but it's important that we continue in prayer 01:56 as we open up the Word of God. 01:57 Pastor Johnny, would you pray for us? 02:00 Sure. 02:01 Let us pray. 02:02 Our loving Heavenly Father, we want to thank You, Lord, 02:06 for Your goodness and Your mercy. 02:08 Thank You, Lord, for 3ABN 02:11 that You have called 02:12 to bring a mission to the world, 02:15 the three angels' messages. 02:16 We pray that You will continue to bless us 02:18 with the Holy Spirit. 02:20 As we seek Your grace to answer the questions 02:22 that have come in. 02:24 We pray for a blessing upon all and we ask it in Jesus' name. 02:27 Amen. Amen. 02:28 This question is coming to Pastor James first, 02:30 and it's one of the first questions 02:32 that you have sent in. 02:33 Thank you for sending them in. 02:35 It says, "Is it true 02:37 that at some point during the judgment, 02:39 Jesus, our Savior will no longer be standing 02:43 side by side with us before Father God. 02:45 Thus we will at some point at the end, 02:49 be left alone to face God 02:52 before our own glorification is complete?" 02:55 This person sounds a little stressed. 02:57 Yeah, it can be a distressing question 02:59 when you think about the fact 03:01 that we as fallen human beings 03:03 rely heavily upon the mediation of Jesus Christ. 03:06 But there comes a point in history 03:07 when God's people are going to be sealed 03:09 with the Holy Spirit. 03:10 In other words, we're going to be settled in the truth, 03:13 so that we can't be moved. 03:14 And this point is described for us 03:16 in Revelation Chapter 22. 03:18 Let's just take a look there at Revelation 22 03:21 and we'll look at verses 11 and 12. 03:24 Now, these are just a summary. 03:25 These verses just summarize what happens to God's people. 03:28 There are a number of other verses in Ephesians 03:31 that talk about being sealed with the Holy Spirit. 03:33 In Revelation 7, we're sealed. 03:36 In Revelation 14, 03:38 we're sealed with the Father's name 03:39 on our foreheads. 03:41 That simply means 03:42 that we cannot be changed or altered. 03:44 When you seal an envelope, 03:46 that means that the contents cannot be removed 03:49 until the seal is broken. 03:50 And we know when we're sealed with a seal of God, 03:52 that seal will not be broken. 03:55 And this is how Jesus describes it here 03:57 in Revelation 22, 03:59 beginning here with verse 11. 04:01 Looking out on the world just before He returns, 04:03 looking at those who are saved and those who are lost, 04:06 He says, "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, 04:10 he which is filthy, let him be filthy still, 04:14 he that is righteous, let him be righteous still, 04:16 he that is holy, let him be holy still. 04:19 And behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with me 04:22 to give every man 04:24 according as his work shall be." 04:26 So what we have here is a picture of God's people, 04:29 those that are sealed, those that are righteous, 04:32 those that are holy 04:33 will not be moved from that position. 04:35 So before Jesus comes, 04:37 we're sealed with the Holy Spirit. 04:38 And that Holy Spirit is what keeps us. 04:41 Jesus has to return. 04:42 So he steps out of mediation to come and get us, 04:45 but He sends His Spirit in fullness of measure 04:48 to seal us so we can't be moved. 04:49 So you have nothing to worry about. 04:51 It's not like God is leaving us. 04:52 God is actually filling us and settling us 04:54 in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus. 04:56 Amen. What an incredible blessing. 04:58 I'm so grateful for that. 05:00 That gives us hope in the judgment. 05:02 Shelley, we're coming to you. 05:04 "How do I answer my friends when they quote the Bible, 05:07 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord 05:11 does not mean we go to heaven at death. 05:13 Thank you." 05:14 Yes, that's one that people usually go to. 05:18 In 2 Corinthians 5:7, let's look at this 05:23 because it's easy to see when you read it correctly. 05:26 He says, "We all know that our earthly house, 05:30 this tent, if this tent is destroyed," 05:33 so we've got a tent, a body, 05:36 "we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, 05:40 eternal in the heavens. 05:42 For in this we groan earnestly 05:46 desire to be clothed with our habitation, 05:49 which is from heaven." 05:51 So we have a tent, we have a further habitation, 05:54 which will be our glorious body. 05:56 And then he says, "If indeed having be clothed, 06:00 we shall not be found naked." 06:04 Now, naked is the condition 06:06 that most people don't think about. 06:09 We are in this earthly tent. 06:13 When we die, and we're in the grave, 06:15 we're naked, 06:17 then we are further clothed from above. 06:21 "For while we're in this tent, we groan, being burdened 06:24 because we want to be clothed, further clothed, 06:27 that mortality may be swallowed up by life." 06:32 1 Corinthians 15:52-57 explains 06:36 that we put on mortality 06:40 at the Second Coming of Christ. 06:43 Amen. Amen. 06:44 Amen. 06:45 Thank you so much, 06:47 we will be immortal at that point. 06:48 Praise the Lord. 06:49 Ryan, Pastor Ryan, coming to you. 06:51 "Explain Daniel 12:7, 11, and 12, 06:54 the 1260, the 1290, and the 1335 days." 06:59 Now we don't have a lot of time, 07:00 and we could spend a great deal of time on this. 07:02 "When did they start? 07:03 And when do they end? 07:04 And why are these dates important?" 07:06 Yeah. Absolutely. 07:08 But there's a whole lot that can be said about 07:10 these particular time prophecies, 07:12 because they all come within the context 07:14 of the longest time prophecy in the Bible, 07:17 which is the 2300 years of Daniel Chapter 9. 07:21 But, of course, referring to the specific issue 07:25 that's dealing in Daniel 12:7, that time frame of the time, 07:29 times and a half a time, 07:31 of course, is talking about the 1260 year time frame. 07:33 We know that this is talking about 07:35 that persecution time of the little horn, 07:38 the Antichrist power Bible prophecy 07:40 is persecuting God's people, 07:41 which is why in verse 6, it says, 07:46 "One said to the man clothed in linen, 07:48 who was above the waters of the rivers, 07:50 'How long will the fulfillment of these wonders be?'" 07:52 They're asking, how long is this going to go on? 07:54 Similar to the question 07:56 that's being asked there in Daniel 9, 07:57 we're in reference to the 2300 years. 07:59 How long is this going to go on? 08:01 They're wanting to know, how long is this gonna go on? 08:02 Excuse me, Daniel 8, I said, Daniel 9. 08:05 Yes, Daniel 8 is that particular reference, 08:07 but right here dealing with the 1260 years, 08:09 the time times and a half of time, 08:11 of course, we know that begins in 538 AD 08:14 dealing with when the papacy came in full supremacy, 08:17 and they ruled for 1260 years. 08:19 They were the superpower of the time. 08:21 And they, of course, persecuted God's saints, 08:24 they persecuted the holy people, 08:26 which is a reference we find there in Daniel 12:7. 08:30 Now dealing with 1290, 08:33 and 1335 that is within 08:38 still the 2300 year time prophecy. 08:42 But again, 1260 from 538 08:45 until 1798 that's where you get that 1260 years. 08:49 1798 is when that's, 08:51 that papal supremacy came to an end. 08:53 And that time prophecy is mentioned many times 08:56 in the Book of Daniel as well as Revelation. 08:58 The 1290 years start a few years before. 09:01 This is when the king of the Franks, Clovis, 09:03 which, of course, became known as the French. 09:05 Clovis basically, gave authority, 09:08 gave his allegiance and his support 09:10 to the papal system, 09:11 and which basically, 09:13 during and around that same time of 508 AD, 09:16 the papal priesthood became supreme. 09:19 And it was with the help of the Franks, 09:21 that the papal system began to really flourish. 09:25 And so it was from 508 AD 09:27 when that priesthood was set up. 09:29 Again, the reference 09:31 of the abomination of desolation, 09:32 there are many, many factors that play in there. 09:35 It's a fulfillment on multiple levels 09:37 throughout Scripture and throughout history. 09:39 But in this case, from 508 AD, if you count 1290 days, 09:43 it brings you to the time of 1844, 09:46 excuse me, 1798, I've got that wrong, 1798. 09:50 And so that's your 1290 days. 09:52 But if you read verse 12, 09:53 what does it say there in verse 12? 09:55 It says, "Blessed is he who waits and comes 09:58 to the 1335 days." 10:01 The 1335 days begins at the same time as the 1290, 10:06 508 AD. But if you extend past 1798 AD, 10:11 that 1290 year period, 10:14 you're going to come 1335 years, 10:16 which brings you to the time of again 1844. 10:20 Why? 10:21 Why blessed is he who waits and comes to that time period? 10:23 Because, again, what was happening in 1844? 10:26 God was establishing His last day remnant movement. 10:30 Christ, of course, had went from the Holy Place 10:32 into the Most Holy Place in the heavenly sanctuary 10:34 and the work of judgment had begun. 10:36 We had entered into the final work 10:39 of this earth's history, 10:40 from Christ perspective, 10:41 as well as the church's perspective, 10:43 it's a blessed time, 10:44 and we should be counted a blessing 10:47 that we can be a part of that work 10:49 in these last days. 10:50 There's a whole lot more that can be said 10:51 on those time periods, 10:54 but we're gonna leave it at that. 10:56 Write in the question, 10:57 we'll try to answer it on our Bible Q and A. 10:59 Absolutely. 11:00 I was thinking we need to do a whole program on that. 11:02 A whole hour you can take 11:03 just to really unpack those time prophecies, 11:06 understand the day for year principle, 11:08 and just have a good understanding of that. 11:09 Thank you, Pastor. 11:10 Pastor Dinzey, 11:12 "Will we see our loved ones in heaven? 11:15 And where in the Bible does it say that?" 11:17 This comes from Beth in Washington. 11:20 Well, there is a scripture 11:22 that can point you to that may be of help. 11:25 And that's in Luke 13:28, 11:29 I'm going to read the verse before, 11:32 to see if that will give us a little context. 11:37 Verse 27, "But He will say, 'I tell you, 11:40 I do not know you, where you are from. 11:42 Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' 11:45 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, 11:47 when you see, notice, 11:50 Abraham and Isaac and Jacob 11:52 and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, 11:55 and yourselves thrust out. 11:57 They will come from the east and the west, 11:59 and from the north and the south, 12:01 and sit down in the kingdom of God." 12:03 So I believe here it is giving us an idea 12:06 and understanding 12:08 that you'll be able to see Abraham and recognize Abraham. 12:10 So with this in mind, 12:14 if your loved ones are walking with the Lord, 12:18 and as the Bible says, they endure unto the end, 12:20 they love the Lord 12:22 and they die believing in the Lord, 12:24 you can expect to see them in heaven, 12:27 and rejoice with them. 12:28 And so, I encourage you to follow the Lord 12:31 with all of your heart. 12:32 And hopefully, the way they have lived 12:38 will be an inspiration to you to continue following the Lord. 12:41 Amen. Thank you so much. 12:43 Shelley, we're coming back to you. 12:45 "My 14-year-old nephew has committed suicide. 12:49 Please give us comfort for his salvation." 12:53 This comes from Charlene in Las Vegas, Nevada. 12:57 Well, Charlene, first, I want to say 12:59 how very sorry I am for you, 13:01 my heart bleeds for anyone 13:03 who goes through that experience 13:05 of losing a loved one to death by suicide. 13:09 My mother attempted suicide a number of times, 13:12 and I understand the pain behind that. 13:14 But I want to give you an example. 13:18 When I lived in San Francisco, 13:20 many people committed suicide by jumping 13:24 from the Golden Gate Bridge. 13:26 Interestingly, I knew a policeman 13:29 who said if we can get them, 13:31 usually within 24 hours of saving them, 13:34 if we get them before they go off, 13:36 they can change their mind. 13:38 So they had a pastor who was on the edge 13:41 and they talked him off 13:43 and then he continued to live for the Lord. 13:45 Here's what I will say. 13:46 God is more interested in saving people 13:49 than we could ever imagine. 13:52 His heart is that he wants all to be saved. 13:55 So if someone like this pastor, 13:59 God is looking at the record of the life 14:01 and where they were. 14:03 Suicide is when somebody loses hope 14:08 and it can be a momentary thing. 14:11 Like you, I don't know what happened with your nephew. 14:14 He could have been bullied, it could have been mounting up. 14:17 But the Lord understands our hearts, 14:21 He looks on the hearts. 14:23 If your nephew believed in the Lord, 14:25 even if he wasn't baptized, 14:27 we see that the thief on the cross 14:29 didn't have a chance to be baptized. 14:31 My personal belief is that God is looking at the heart 14:36 and just because someone lost it for a moment. 14:40 I mean, we know that it is self-murder, 14:43 but I don't believe 14:44 that God's going to keep him out of the kingdom 14:46 if he was walking with Him. 14:48 Amen. Thank you so much. 14:50 Know that we'll be praying for you 14:51 and your family at this time of loss, 14:53 this time of pain, that you are not alone. 14:56 The Lord Jesus is with you and your 3ABN family 14:59 stands with you in prayer as well. 15:01 Want to remind you this is a live question. 15:04 You can text in your Bible questions 15:06 for our panel right here. 15:08 That number to text in your questions 15:09 is 618-228-3975. 15:14 That number once again 15:15 is 618-228-3975. 15:20 Pastor James, we're coming back to you 15:21 and we're going to kind of combine a couple of questions. 15:24 So we'll give you a little more time with this. 15:26 This is Revelation 8. 15:28 Says, "In Revelation 8:2, 15:29 seven angels are given seven trumpets. 15:32 When the trumpets are sounded, 15:33 the plagues are poured out for each one. 15:35 Then again in Revelation 16:1, there are seven angels, 15:38 which are given the command 15:39 from a loud voice within the temple, 15:41 go and pour out the bowls 15:43 of the wrath of God on the earth. 15:45 The question is, 15:46 while they are different plagues, 15:48 one set of angels are given trumpets 15:50 and the second set of seven angels 15:51 are commanded to pour out the bowls. 15:53 Are these the same angels?" 15:56 And then a follow-up question has to do 15:58 with the seven plagues so we're gonna just, 15:59 you can combine however you want with your answer. 16:02 This one says, "Please explain the seven plagues in Revelation 16:05 where both the saved and unsaved feel the effects 16:08 of the first three plagues. 16:09 My understanding is the saved 16:11 will not be affected by the last four plagues. 16:14 If I am correct, why would God punish 16:16 the saved with the first three plagues?" 16:18 So they're both dealing with the plague. 16:19 Okay, let's start in Revelation Chapter 8, 16:21 we definitely have seven angels there 16:24 and they are commanded to sound trumpets. 16:28 And we see judgments coming upon the earth 16:30 in response to these trumpets being sounded. 16:33 But these seven angels are not the same angels 16:35 that we find in Revelation Chapter 15 and 16 16:38 in the seven last plagues. 16:39 And there are a number of reasons why, 16:41 number one is the time sequence. 16:43 We know, and if you want to get some more information on this 16:46 because we don't have time to cover it all right now, 16:48 you can watch Salvation in Symbols and Signs, 16:50 where we cover this in a lot more detail, 16:51 so a little plug there 16:53 for Salvation in Symbols and Signs. 16:54 That's good. 16:55 But there's a phrase that is used 16:57 all through Revelation Chapter 8 16:58 and that phrase is the third part, 17:00 the third part, the third part, the third part, 17:01 it suggests limited judgment. 17:04 In other words, this is not a judgment 17:06 that is complete and full in its measure. 17:11 It's a judgment that is limited in its impact. 17:14 There is room for mercy in the trumpets, 17:17 but in Revelation 15 and 16, 17:21 we are told that the seven last plagues 17:23 are poured out in the full measure 17:25 of God's wrath. 17:26 That's why they're called the seven last plagues. 17:29 There is no more mercy, their probation is closed. 17:32 This is a full measure of God's wrath 17:34 being poured out upon the earth. 17:35 Now, the second question you asked 17:37 is a really significant one. 17:39 And I think the reason why you asked that perhaps 17:41 is because there are plagues that are revealed to us 17:46 in the Book of Exodus Chapter 7 and 8, 17:49 we see the plagues there 17:51 that were poured out upon Egypt, 17:52 and there were 10 of them 17:54 and, but seven of them fell upon the Egyptians, 17:57 only the first three of the 10 18:00 fell upon the Egyptians and God's people. 18:02 And it may be that you or someone else has suggested, 18:05 well, if the first three fell upon everyone, 18:07 maybe the first three of the seven last plagues 18:09 fall upon everyone, 18:10 that's just not the case. 18:12 In fact, I think it's interesting 18:13 that God is showing us in Revelation 15 and 16, 18:17 that they're seven and not 10. 18:18 The seven then would line up with the last seven in Egypt. 18:22 And we know for a fact that Psalm 91, 18:26 those that dwell in the secret place 18:27 of the Most High will abide 18:29 under the shadow of the Almighty. 18:30 No plague shall come near our dwelling. 18:32 In other words, God is going to deliver us, 18:35 Daniel 12:1, He's going to deliver us 18:37 from that time of trouble, 18:38 everyone whose names are written 18:40 in the Lamb's Book of Life 18:41 are going to be delivered 18:43 from the time of trouble, 18:44 we're going to be protected from those seven last plagues. 18:45 I'm giving you a couple of verses there. 18:47 But I just want to say emphatically, 18:48 the seven last plagues do not fall upon the righteous, 18:53 upon those who trust in God, 18:54 upon those who are sealed with a seal of God. 18:56 They only fall upon the lost. 18:58 And the trumpet judgments 19:00 in Revelation Chapter 8 are limited. 19:02 They're not full measure of God's wrath. 19:03 They're limited 19:05 in who they affect and what they affect. 19:06 Amen. Absolutely. 19:09 We're gonna come right back to Pastor Rafferty 19:11 because I just got this message. 19:12 It says please have Pastor Rafferty 19:14 re-respond to this question 19:16 because we had a glitch in our broadcast. 19:18 I did not know that, 19:19 but the viewer did not hear the answer. 19:21 So this is actually the first question 19:22 we asked you. 19:24 "Is it true that at some point, during the judgment, 19:26 Jesus, our Savior will no longer be standing 19:28 side by side with us before Father God, 19:31 thus, we will at some point at the end 19:33 be left alone to face God 19:35 before our own glorification is complete?" 19:37 So we had a problem. 19:38 We apologize for that with our broadcast, 19:41 that that portion of your answer was cut out. 19:42 So if you don't mind, just touch on that. 19:44 Sure. 19:45 We went to Revelation Chapter 22 19:46 with that question, verses 11 and 12. 19:49 And the reason this question is so significant 19:51 is because we rely heavily upon the mediation of Christ. 19:54 He is the righteousness that is represented, 19:57 the merit is represented before the Father for us 20:00 as we come and we confess our sins. 20:01 And so if there's a time coming 20:02 when we're not going to have that mediation, 20:04 what are we going to do? 20:05 Well, the Bible teaches us 20:07 pretty clearly in Ephesians Chapter 1, 20:09 in Revelation Chapter 7, in Revelation Chapter 14, 20:12 that God's people are at some point in time 20:14 going to be sealed with the Holy Spirit. 20:16 So they cannot be moved, like an envelope is sealed, 20:19 you put the contents in, you seal it up. 20:21 We're going to be sealed so we can't be moved. 20:24 And we come to that place 20:25 where we're sealed with the Holy Spirit. 20:27 Jesus is going to return. 20:29 We read this in Revelation Chapter 22. 20:31 Let's look at verses 11 and 12 of Revelation 22. 20:34 Jesus is making a pronouncement here 20:36 before His Second Coming. 20:38 "He that is unjust, let him be unjust still, 20:40 he which is filthy, let him be filthy still, 20:43 he that is righteous, let him be righteous still, 20:45 and he that's holy, let him be holy still. 20:48 And behold," verse 12, "I come quickly 20:50 and my reward is with me to give every man 20:53 according as his work shall be." 20:55 So just before Jesus comes, there's a sealing, 20:57 a settling in so that we can't be moved. 21:00 Even though we don't have mediation anymore, 21:02 we are filled with the Holy Spirit. 21:04 We have the presence of God in us and through us. 21:07 So there's nothing for us to fear 21:09 when you're settled into the truth, 21:11 so you can't be moved. 21:12 And that happens just before Jesus returns. 21:14 Amen. Thank you so much. 21:15 We have 60 questions that you have already sent in. 21:19 They just gave me several more pages. 21:21 We will not get to all of these, 21:22 but I assure you on an upcoming 3ABN Today 21:26 Bible Q and A, 21:28 we will answer your question. 21:29 Those programs air every Monday, 21:32 and you can check them out on YouTube or at 3abnplus.tv 21:36 And you can watch them on-demand anytime. 21:39 So if we don't get to your question this morning, 21:41 we will get to it in the future. 21:43 Now I'm going to shake it up a little bit. 21:45 And I'm going to ask you all a question 21:46 that just came in, 21:48 and this is thrown out for everyone, 21:49 so whoever wants to jump in and answer. 21:51 "Is it a sin for a Seventh-day Adventist 21:55 to listen to other speakers or pastors not of our faith?" 22:00 And this comes from Mary. 22:03 I would say absolutely not. 22:05 It's not a sin to do that. 22:07 God tells us 22:09 and there's several places in His Word, 22:10 He tells us that He has other people 22:13 that are not of His fold. 22:14 He tells us His people are in Babylon. 22:16 And He also tells us that we should prove all things 22:20 and hold to that which is fast. 22:22 So it's like eating watermelon, 22:23 you know, you eat the fruit, you spit out the seeds. 22:26 The problem, of course, sometimes occurs 22:29 when we listen to other people, 22:31 and we're just ready to receive whatever they say. 22:34 No, we've got to be faithful Bereans, 22:36 we've got to go to the Word of God. 22:38 You know, the Bereans listened to what Paul had to say. 22:40 And he was inspired of the Holy Spirit. 22:42 They listened, but they went back 22:43 to the Word of God to see if it was so. 22:45 And so if we get to the place 22:46 where we're not students of the Bible, 22:48 we're not studying the Word of God for ourselves. 22:49 And we're just listening to what preachers tell us, 22:51 then we're in a dangerous position. 22:53 But as long as we're filled with the Spirit, 22:54 anointed with the spirit for Psalm 120:27, 22:57 and checking the Word of God 22:59 and making sure we're proving all things. 23:03 There may be a blessing. 23:04 I've been blessed by many people 23:06 that have preached they're not of my faith 23:09 and edified by what they have to say. 23:11 And I've learned a lot from them. 23:12 Amen. Any other thoughts? 23:14 Ditto, ditto. 23:15 Yes, ditto, ditto, ditto. 23:18 I would like to add, of course, that 23:21 before you listen to anything, 23:23 whether they be Adventist or not, 23:25 pray to the Lord and ask for the Holy Spirit 23:28 because the Holy Spirit will guide you unto all truth 23:30 and you'll be able to discern 23:32 what is truth and what is error. 23:33 Amen. That's good. 23:34 Okay, Pastor Johnny, we're coming back to you. 23:37 "In the countdown we are in, 23:39 do you consider things going on now 23:41 as part of the elements of getting ready 23:43 for Jesus' second coming?" 23:48 Yes, indeed. 23:50 Because, you know, these things are given unto us 23:53 so that we can see. 23:56 You know you look at Matthew Chapter 24. 23:57 You look at the Book of Daniel, Book of Revelation. 24:00 And you see that the Bible prophesies, 24:02 talks to us about things that are going to come to pass. 24:05 These are to help us 24:08 to be ready for the Lord's coming. 24:10 So when you see the things taking place, 24:13 it let you know, you better get your act together, 24:15 because the Lord is coming soon. 24:17 And yes, absolutely. 24:20 These are things that are telling us, 24:22 be ye also ready for in such a time 24:25 as you think not the Lord, 24:27 the Son of Man is coming. 24:29 So yes, watch and be ready. 24:32 We should be ready today. 24:34 Because we don't even know, 24:36 you don't know if you're not promised tomorrow. 24:37 You should be ready at all times 24:39 for the Second Coming of our Lord 24:40 and Savior Jesus Christ. 24:41 Amen. Great answer. 24:43 Pastor Ryan, 24:44 "If there will be no sickness in heaven, 24:46 why would the tree of life need leaves 24:49 for the healing of the nations 24:51 as they did in Revelation 22:2?" 24:53 All right. 24:55 Well, I would say the answer to that question 24:56 is the same as the answer 24:58 it would be as why Adam and Eve 25:00 needed the tree of life. 25:02 The Bible makes it very clear in 1 Timothy 6:16, 25:06 that only God has immortality, and therefore this tree... 25:10 That reference, of course, 25:11 is found in Revelation Chapter 22, 25:13 what the question is referencing here, 25:15 and I'll just read it here, 25:16 verses 1 and verses 2 of Revelation 22, it says, 25:19 "And he showed me a pure river of water of life, 25:21 clear as crystal," notice this, 25:23 "proceeding from the throne of God, 25:25 and out of the Lamb. 25:27 And then comes verse 2, regarding the tree, it says," 25:29 In the middle of its street, 25:31 and on either side of the river, 25:32 was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, 25:34 each tree yielding its fruit every month." 25:37 And then it says, "The leaves of the tree 25:39 were for the healing of the nations." 25:40 If God only has immortality and created beings 25:43 do not have immortality in and of themselves, 25:46 the only way that that life can be sustained 25:49 is only from God. 25:50 And therefore what we see there in Revelation 22:1 25:54 is that the life source, that pure water of life 25:56 that's coming from God from the throne of God, 25:59 it's feeding that tree of life. 26:00 And when the people eat of that tree, 26:04 their immortality is being sustained by God. 26:07 And so in this case, 26:09 obviously, there's going to be no sickness in heaven, 26:11 because again, sin is done away with, 26:13 God has come, He's finished it right. 26:15 By this time He's put it behind us, 26:18 and therefore we have eternal life 26:20 not in and of ourselves. 26:21 But as we eat of that tree of life, 26:23 each and every month of that beautiful new fruit 26:25 that comes from that tree, 26:26 we are receiving the life source from God. 26:29 So, yeah, if God was not in the picture, 26:31 and that immortality or that immortal life source 26:34 that comes from God was not there, 26:36 then I would say, 26:37 you know, man would probably just deteriorate over time 26:41 because they're not obviously participating or partaking 26:44 of that life source that comes from God. 26:46 So the answer is simple. 26:47 Only God has immortality, 26:49 that immortal life sources coming from God's throne 26:52 through that pure water of life 26:53 that's feeding and giving that life source to the tree. 26:56 When we eat of that tree, 26:57 we also are immortal through God 27:00 because God has given it to us 27:02 not because we have it in and of ourselves. 27:03 Amen. Thank you so much. 27:05 Shelley, coming to you, 27:06 "What is the difference between a delight and my pleasure?" 27:11 This comes from someone in Maryland. 27:13 I assume they're referring to Isaiah 58. 27:16 I would think they are. 27:17 But I want to begin with Psalm 37:4 27:21 because so many people quote this scripture, 27:25 Psalm 37:4 says, 27:27 "Delight yourself also in the Lord 27:30 and He shall give you the desires of your heart." 27:34 What that verse says is that, when you look to the Lord 27:39 and find your joy in Him, 27:41 when you delight in Him, 27:43 He lines your desires up 27:47 with His desires. 27:50 Now, if we turn to Isaiah Chapter 58, 27:55 and then we'll look at verses 13 and 14, 27:59 it says, this is the Lord speaking. 28:02 "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, 28:07 from doing your pleasures on My holy day." 28:12 And that word in the Hebrew 28:15 is actually talking about business pleasures, 28:19 and call the Sabbath a delight, 28:21 the holy day of the Lord, honorable and to honor Him, 28:24 not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, 28:29 nor speaking your own words, 28:32 then you shall delight yourself in the Lord. 28:36 It's going to be an exquisite delight 28:38 as we lay aside all of our business pleasures, 28:41 and He says, 28:42 "I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, 28:45 and your feet will be on those high hills." 28:50 The Sabbath is that time 28:53 of intimate quality time with God. 28:57 He says, put away your business pleasures. 29:00 Don't be thinking about the things of this earth. 29:03 This is a time that I ask you to come spend with me, 29:07 spend with your loved ones and you will find 29:13 that My delight is yours. 29:15 Amen. 29:16 Speaking of the Sabbath, this question just came in, 29:18 I'm going to toss it out for the whole panel. 29:20 "Is it biblical to have sexual relations 29:23 with your spouse on the Sabbath?" 29:26 Anyone wants to jump in and tackle that? 29:28 I'm going to say yes. 29:29 Agree. 29:32 And this is interesting. 29:33 I don't know if you know this about 29:36 the Jewish religion they considered... 29:40 Because the Sabbath was created in the beginning. 29:45 I mean, God created man and woman 29:48 brought them together, marriage was created. 29:50 In the Garden of Eden, 29:52 the Sabbath was created in the Garden of Eden, 29:55 and Jews actually believe 29:57 that that is one of the high pleasures 29:59 of the Sabbath 30:01 is to come together as man intended. 30:03 I'll let you expound on that. 30:07 I think if we look back at the Garden of Eden there 30:10 when Christ created Adam and Eve on the sixth day, 30:13 what was the first command He gave them, 30:14 on the sixth day, be fruitful and multiply, 30:17 but He didn't say, be fruitful and multiply, 30:20 except on the seventh day, 30:21 because the Sabbath is Holy and you shouldn't do that. 30:23 I think that we have to stick to the Bible 30:25 and that there's no text in the Bible, 30:27 where God says if a married man 30:30 and a married woman obviously come together, 30:32 and they have that special relationship, 30:35 that bond on the Sabbath, 30:36 that somehow they're violating the holiness 30:38 or the sanctity of the Sabbath. 30:39 I've never found a scripture in all the Bible 30:41 that says that. 30:43 And so again, if it was a violation 30:45 of the holiness of the Sabbath, 30:46 I think we would see that there in the Garden of Eden 30:48 where God created both marriage 30:49 and the commandment given for them 30:51 to be fruitful and multiply. 30:52 And then the very next day was the Sabbath 30:54 in which God was giving them example 30:56 of how to keep the Sabbath. 30:57 And so I think that we would see evidence there, 31:00 we will see some type of command 31:01 where the Lord say, no, no, no, no, 31:02 that's not good to do on the Sabbath, 31:04 but it's not there. 31:05 I think the Sabbath is a holy day. 31:07 We should protect the sanctity and the holiness of that day. 31:11 But it's also obviously a day for us 31:13 to commune not only with our God, 31:14 but with our family, with our husband, our wives, 31:18 with our children, 31:19 with our church family, our loved ones. 31:21 And so it should be a day 31:23 of pleasure within the confinements 31:26 of the holiness and the sanctity, 31:27 and what we see is okay in the Bible, 31:30 but obviously, there are certain things 31:31 which is a whole another question 31:32 in and of itself, 31:34 that we know that it's not good to do on the Sabbath. 31:35 But in this case, there's no biblical evidence 31:37 that says that it's somehow wrong 31:39 to have that special bond relationship 31:41 with your husband or wife on the Sabbath. 31:42 Yeah, the Sabbath is all about intimacy with God 31:45 and intimacy with each other. 31:46 Amen. 31:48 I just want to say their wedding night 31:49 was Friday night. 31:51 Right? 31:52 I mean, that is the Sabbath. 31:54 They were married on Friday, 31:55 their wedding night was the Sabbath. 31:57 Okay, this is, Pastor James, 31:59 "Blessed morning Sabbath School Panel, 32:02 can you explain Matthew 24:40-41? 32:05 What does it mean, one is taken and the other one is left? 32:10 Okay, this is a great question. 32:12 It also connects with question number 16, 32:15 which refers to Matthew 24:28. 32:18 So let's just read all of those verses. 32:20 We'll start with Matthew 24:28 since it's in sequence, 32:23 it says, "For wherever the carcass is, 32:27 there will the eagles be gathered together." 32:29 And then verses 40 and 41, 32:33 "Then shall two be in the field, 32:35 the one shall be taken and the other left. 32:38 Two women shall be gathering at the mill 32:40 that one shall be taken and the other left." 32:42 The context of this is really important, 32:45 not just the immediate context, 32:46 but the biblical context and even the storyline context, 32:49 which actually takes us back 32:51 to the days of Noah in verse 37, 32:53 "For as in the days of Noah, 32:54 so shall be at the coming of the Son of man. 32:56 For as in the days of Noah that were before the flood 32:58 they were eating and drinking, 33:00 marrying and giving in marriage, 33:01 until the day that Noah entered into the ark, 33:03 and knew not until the flood came, 33:04 and took them all away, 33:06 so shall also the coming of the Son of man be." 33:08 So when the flood came, 33:11 there were those that were taken 33:13 and those that were left. 33:14 The ones that were taken were taken by the flood, 33:17 the ones that were left 33:18 were the ones that were in the ark. 33:19 And so Jesus is saying, when I return, 33:22 there are going to be those that are going to be taken 33:24 by the seven last plagues, 33:25 by the destruction, by the glory of His brightness, 33:28 and they're going to be those that are going to be left. 33:30 And the context of this 33:32 is that they're going to be taken to destruction, 33:35 because in verse 28, it says, 33:37 "Wherever the carcass is gathered, 33:39 there will the eagles be gathered together." 33:41 In fact, in Luke 17, 33:43 the disciples go through this same quandary. 33:46 They have the same question. 33:47 In Luke 17 Jesus talks about these days of Noah 33:50 going to be a type of His Second Coming. 33:52 He talks about how the days of Lot 33:54 or type of His Second Coming. 33:55 And then He talks about the two in the field. 33:57 And when He's done with all of that, 33:59 then He talks about all those 34:00 that are taken and those who left. 34:02 The disciples asked Him the question where Lord, 34:04 He says, wherever the eagles are gathered together, 34:06 there also the carcass will be. 34:08 And we see this also in Revelation Chapter 19. 34:11 So in 1 Thessalonians 4 Paul, 34:15 again, a larger context explains 34:17 the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. 34:19 And he says, those of us 34:20 who remain and are alive will be caught up. 34:25 So again, this is affirming that those who remained, 34:27 those who are not destroyed 34:29 by the brightness of His coming, 34:30 those who are not destroyed by the seven last plagues, 34:31 those who remain and are alive. 34:33 And it was the same, of course, in Noah's time. 34:35 That scripture now that we've just talked about 34:38 can be understood a different way. 34:40 And I don't think this is something 34:43 that we need to have a great controversy over. 34:45 There are a number of theologians 34:47 in our denomination who see this a little bit differently, 34:50 but the point is the same. 34:51 There are two groups of people when Jesus comes, 34:53 some are going to be saved, some are going to be lost. 34:56 The position I take is basically 34:58 that God is going to destroy the wicked from off the earth. 35:01 But the righteous will be preserved 35:03 in the midst of these commotions, 35:05 as Noah was preserved in the ark. 35:07 Amen. Thank you so much. 35:09 Pastor Johnny, when Jesus died on the cross, 35:13 did the people in the grave go to heaven 35:16 or back to the grave?" 35:19 This is a reference to Matthew Chapter 27, 35:23 where it talks about that the graves were open 35:26 and many of the saints appeared. 35:30 Actually, I'm pretty close to that. 35:32 Let's see Matthew 27... 35:34 Yes, and verse 52, "And the graves were opened, 35:40 and many bodies of the saints 35:41 who had fallen asleep were raised." 35:43 Now, this is very interesting, 35:45 because it says many bodies of the saints. 35:47 Now some people believe that once you die, 35:48 you go to heaven, but here are the saints 35:51 is still in the grave. 35:53 And coming out of the graves after His resurrection, 35:56 they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 35:59 So what happened to these people? 36:03 There's a verse in Ephesians Chapter 4, 36:07 that gives us an understanding or a hint 36:10 that these individuals went with Jesus 36:14 when He ascended up on high, 36:16 and this is Ephesians 4:8, and it says the following. 36:22 Therefore he says, "When He ascended on high, 36:24 He led captivity captive, and gave gifts to men." 36:29 This idea of captivity, those that were in the grave, 36:34 or the captives that were in the grave, 36:35 that resurrected, during that time 36:38 that we just mentioned in Matthew Chapter 27. 36:41 He led these to heaven 36:43 and they did not go back to the grave. 36:47 It doesn't clearly say that in the Bible, 36:49 but these saints were resurrected, 36:52 because Christ was victorious on the cross, 36:56 and there was no need for them 36:57 to go back to the grave. 36:59 They were taken as a sampling you want to call it of... 37:03 Firstfruits. 37:04 The firstfruits of those that will be resurrected, 37:08 because of the victory of Christ on the cross. 37:11 These were taken as a sample or a firstfruits 37:16 of those that will be resurrected 37:17 when Jesus Christ comes the second time 37:20 because there's a first resurrection 37:21 and a second resurrection. 37:23 And so, by God's grace, let us live to be either alive, 37:27 righteous living with the Lord, 37:29 or to be part of the first resurrection. 37:31 Amen. Thank you so much. 37:33 Well done. 37:34 We're going back to one of the bonus questions here 37:37 that have come in this hour, 37:38 and this is for everyone on the panel. 37:41 I think this is a really important question. 37:42 It's about Ellen White as a prophet 37:44 within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. 37:46 "Why does the Seventh-day Adventist Church 37:48 look at Ellen White as a prophet, 37:49 even though scripture says no man knows the day 37:52 or hour Christ will return, 37:54 yet she tried to figure out the date? 37:57 Wasn't that arrogant and misleading?" 37:59 So a little bit about the beginning of the church 38:01 and the date setting but then also, 38:03 why would the Seventh-day Adventist Church 38:05 consider Ellen White to be a prophet?" 38:08 Well, I'd like to go with the first part first, 38:10 because the person seems to indicate that Ellen G. White 38:15 tried to figure out the date. 38:18 She did not try to figure out the date, 38:19 this was done by others. 38:21 And there was a huge movement. 38:24 It was not only here in the US, but in other countries. 38:27 People were studying the Book of Daniel, 38:30 and they were coming to conclusions 38:32 that led them to believe 38:34 that Jesus Christ was coming soon. 38:36 One of these was William Miller. 38:37 He was not a Seventh-day Adventist, by the way, 38:39 and he believed that Jesus Christ was coming first 38:43 as he studied he thought it was the fall of 1843. 38:45 But then later because of some further study, 38:48 they thought it was the fall of 1844. 38:51 Ellen G. White heard these presentations 38:54 and believed the Lord was coming, 38:57 however, she among others were wrong about the date, 39:02 because she believed what the presentations 39:05 were about the coming of Christ. 39:06 But these people misunderstood the reference 39:12 because it says in Daniel 8:14 39:16 and it says unto 2300 evenings and mornings it says in Psalms, 39:21 or it says days and days are equivalent to years, 39:24 then shall the sanctuary be cleansed. 39:26 These people believed the sanctuary was the earth. 39:29 And there's no scripture that says 39:30 that sanctuary is the earth. 39:32 So they thought the earth is going to be cleansed, 39:34 and Jesus Christ will come. 39:37 So then, we can tell you that history does not show 39:41 that Ellen G. White tried to find a date. 39:42 She, in fact, said that no man, said, 39:45 knows the day nor the hour. 39:47 So there is a second part of the question, 39:49 and that is, why do we believe she's a prophet. 39:51 Right. 39:52 I've spoken, 39:54 maybe somebody else can speak now. 39:55 I would just like to add a personal perspective. 39:58 When I joined the Seventh-day Adventist Church 40:01 because I believed, 40:02 well, what God was teaching me I found out 40:05 that the Seventh-day Adventist Church believed. 40:07 I think, we believe more truth 40:09 than any other church I know of, 40:11 or I would have joined that. 40:12 I confess that when I first came 40:14 and God had made me reading 40:16 only the Bible for several years. 40:18 And I had not read Ellen White, 40:21 I was in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, 40:25 my host for the event I was doing was Roger Coons. 40:31 We went downstairs one night after a meal 40:33 and he said, I told him, I haven't read Ellen White yet. 40:37 And he said, Shelley, God's leading you 40:39 in exactly the way he led her, 40:41 you're going to love her. 40:43 He said something interesting. 40:44 She is a teaching of the Church, 40:48 not a test of the church. 40:49 And I said, "What do you mean?" 40:50 He said, "You didn't have to, on a baptismal certificate say, 40:55 I accept Ellen White." 40:57 I say all of that to say this. 41:00 I was reluctant in the very beginning, 41:03 about the idea of "a prophet." 41:06 Everything that I have read from Ellen White 41:09 is backed up by a thus saith the Lord. 41:12 Everything that I've read from Ellen White 41:15 points us to the Scripture. 41:17 She does not take any glory upon herself. 41:21 I believe that this was a woman filled with the Holy Spirit 41:26 dedicated to the Lord 41:28 and I trust that she had a prophetic gift. 41:32 The Ellen White estate says only about 3%, 41:36 of what she wrote was like a futuristic prophecy. 41:40 But prophecy 41:42 can be just expounding on the scriptures, 41:45 and this lady knew what she's talking about. 41:48 I agree with Shelley, I had a similar experience 41:51 becoming a Seventh-day Adventist. 41:52 I was baptized 41:54 and didn't necessarily accept Ellen White 41:57 in the way that I understand her today. 41:58 It had to be proven to me and it was, 42:00 and I believe, we believe Ellen White is a prophet, 42:02 because of what it says in Revelation 12:17, 42:05 that God's remnant church will have, 42:07 will keep the commandments of God 42:09 and have the testimony of Jesus, 42:10 and that that testimony of Jesus 42:12 is defined in Revelation 19:10 42:14 as the Spirit of Prophecy. 42:15 It's the lesser light, though, and a lot of us, 42:17 sometimes Adventist make it out to be equal with the Bible. 42:20 Sometimes you go to an Adventist Church, 42:21 and all you hear is Ellen White. 42:23 And I think that in those cases, 42:25 we're doing the same thing with the gift of prophecy 42:27 that perhaps Pentecostals do with the gift of tongues. 42:30 We're overusing and over-exaggerating that gift 42:33 and Ellen White would be shocked 42:35 for us to be doing that with her. 42:37 She said, "We need to preach from the Bible 42:38 and the Bible alone." 42:39 I believe that is what Adventists 42:41 are called to do. 42:42 Amen. You want to add anything? 42:44 Well, I just want to say, 42:45 in reference to the her setting the date 42:47 or you know, some people try to use that, 42:49 as this person is trying to allude to, 42:51 and I agree with what Pastor Dinzey said 42:54 that, yes, Ellen White was among that Millerite group 42:57 that accepted that time frame that the date of 1844, 43:02 they just got the event wrong, right? 43:04 They missed the point, 43:06 the meaning of what was actually happening 43:07 with that 1844 time period. 43:09 But if you look at the time frame, 43:11 it was in the aftermath of that disappointment. 43:14 It was in the aftermath of that. 43:15 It wasn't until December of 1844 43:17 that Ellen White received her first vision 43:19 from God as a prophet or a calling for a prophetess. 43:23 God knows her heart. 43:24 He knew her heart 43:26 that even though she was among that group 43:27 that had made a mistake as far as the event, 43:29 yet at the same time, He knew her heart. 43:32 He knew that she was humble. 43:34 He knew that she was a servant of the Lord 43:35 that her heart was in the right place. 43:37 And again, as she refers to it, 43:39 God had called the weakest of the weak. 43:41 And she was a powerful woman 43:44 who came about to preach a mighty word 43:46 and to share wonderful things with us. 43:48 And I will also just give really quickly 43:50 my testimony on that, 43:51 and that is I came into the church 43:53 and I was kicking and screaming, 43:54 I didn't like Ellen White, was like, 43:56 you know what all we needed is the Bible. 43:57 We don't need Ellen White. 43:58 I had all kinds of arguments and things with people. 44:00 And the pastor came up to me one day 44:02 and he handed me this little tiny book 44:04 called Steps to Christ. 44:06 He said, "Have you ever read any of her writings?" 44:08 I said, "No." 44:09 He goes, "Well, then how can you judge a person 44:10 if you haven't studied her writings?" 44:12 As I tell you what, if she's a false prophet, 44:13 go home and read this little tiny book, 44:15 100 pages, Steps to Christ, 44:17 surely, if she's a false prophet, 44:18 there's something in there. 44:19 Oh, I love that challenge. 44:21 I was like, yes, I'm going to take this book home 44:23 and with a fine tooth comb, 44:24 I'm going to figure out that this woman, 44:26 and I'm going to show proof that she's a false prophet. 44:28 I went home, and I read that book. 44:29 And with each passing chapter that I read, 44:32 I became more and more convinced, 44:34 and more and more convicted of the power that God was, 44:36 you know, working through her to communicate the gospel. 44:39 So again, don't judge a book by its cover, 44:41 spend some time in her writings, 44:43 and you'll find that it's not her, 44:44 but the power of the Holy Spirit 44:46 through her writings 44:47 that's bringing people to Christ 44:49 and pointing them back to the greater light 44:50 of Jesus Christ in the Word. 44:52 Amen. 44:53 Let's see if we can get 44:54 to at least another question each. 44:56 This one is for Shelley, 44:57 "Please elaborate and make plain 44:59 Hebrews 11:13-16, 45:02 it seems contradicting?" 45:04 This is from Rachel. 45:06 Hebrews 11:13-16. 45:08 Let's see what it says. 45:11 Hebrews 11 is, of course, the faith chapter. 45:14 And it's speaking about Sarah, Noah, and Jacob and everything. 45:17 It says, "These all died in faith, 45:21 not having received the promises, 45:25 but having seen them afar off, they were assured of them, 45:30 embraced them and confessed 45:32 that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 45:34 For those who say such things declare plainly 45:38 that they seek a homeland. 45:41 And truly if they had called to mind 45:44 that country from which they had come out, 45:46 they would have had opportunity to return. 45:49 But now they desire something better, 45:51 that is, the heavenly country. 45:54 Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, 45:57 and prepare the city for them." 45:59 All of these saints in the Hall of Fame 46:02 were looking forward to the New Jerusalem, 46:06 the heavenly country, the New Earth. 46:09 But the Bible clearly says repeatedly, 46:12 they do not precede or it says, 46:16 let me just read this to you because in 1 Thessalonians 4, 46:20 the Bible says, verse 15, 46:23 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 46:26 "This we say to you by the word of the Lord, 46:28 that we who are alive and remain, 46:31 until the coming of the Lord, 46:34 will by no means precede those who are asleep." 46:39 What's he saying? 46:41 They did not receive the promise, we're not all, 46:45 we're all going to receive the promise together. 46:49 If we're alive and remain when Christ returns, 46:52 we don't go up and be in His presence 46:55 before 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 46:58 He's gonna bring everybody up out of the grave, 47:02 and we're caught up together. 47:04 So there's nothing contradictory 47:06 about Chapter 11. 47:08 They died in the faith, 47:10 the Bible teaches that death is a sleep, 47:15 a rest and we covered that 47:17 in our Sabbath School Panel. 47:19 Amen. Thank you so much. 47:20 This is for Pastor James. 47:22 "I've asked this question several times 47:24 for 3ABN to answer. 47:25 Maybe this time will be my lucky day." 47:27 So we apologize 47:28 that we have not gotten an answer to your question yet. 47:31 "My question is, how is the best way 47:33 to talk with our military veterans 47:35 about the end time role 47:37 of the United States in prophecy?" 47:39 That's an excellent question. 47:41 And I apologize too 47:43 that we haven't gotten to that question. 47:44 We do have a lot of questions that come in, 47:46 and sometimes we can't get to them all right away. 47:48 Revelation 13:11, I believe 47:50 is the best way to answer this question. 47:51 It's so powerful, it's so clear. 47:53 Revelation 13:11, did I say 11:13, 13:11? 47:57 It says here, "And I beheld another beast 47:59 coming up out of the earth, 48:01 and he had two horns like a lamb, 48:03 and he spake as a dragon." 48:04 This is without going into a lot of detail 48:07 a depiction of the United States 48:08 in Bible prophecy. 48:10 It comes up at the right time in the right place. 48:12 A beast in Bible prophecy represents 48:14 an earthly power or kingdom. 48:16 This one comes up from the earth, 48:17 a less populated part of the earth 48:19 as compared to the previous beast 48:21 that came up in the sea among people's nations, 48:23 tongues and kindred. 48:25 So we understand for a number of reasons 48:26 this is talking about the United States 48:28 in Bible prophecy. 48:30 You're talking to a military person, 48:31 you're explaining to them all of the reasons 48:33 why this is the United States 48:34 and you're explaining to them 48:35 that this country has two horns like a lamb. 48:38 In other words, it's a Christian nation 48:40 as it rises. 48:41 The two horns represent civil freedom 48:43 and religious freedom. 48:44 And this is what you want to push, 48:48 you want to explain, you want to emphasize 48:50 whenever you talk to a military person, 48:52 or to any American citizen, 48:53 because we are proud of these principles, 48:55 we are thankful for these principles. 48:57 These are God-given principles. 48:59 These principles are what make us 49:00 a Christian nation. 49:01 We're not a Christian nation 49:03 because we believe only in God and only in Christ. 49:05 We're a Christian nation 49:06 because even though that's what we may believe, 49:08 we allow other people, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists, 49:11 also to have freedom to choose 49:13 what they believe, that's civil liberty 49:14 as well as the principle of religious liberty. 49:17 But notice now that it's going to speak as a dragon. 49:20 And that's what we're not happy about. 49:21 That's not what we're not positive about. 49:23 We also need to share that part. 49:25 The dragon is a representation of Satan, 49:27 and he represents the spirit of coercion, 49:30 of anger, of control, of manipulation, of deception. 49:33 All of these principles are seen 49:34 throughout the Book of Revelation, 49:36 and through the rest of the Bible. 49:37 And so we see a wrestling match taking place 49:41 between these two principles. 49:43 And I think we should be open and honest 49:46 to share with any military personnel, 49:48 any United States citizen, 49:49 the context of this verse, 49:51 the contrast that's taking place, 49:52 the wrestling match is taking place, 49:54 and encourage them to stand for the principles of the lamb, 49:57 the lamblike principles, 49:59 and to do all they can to hinder the manifestation 50:02 of the dragon like principles. 50:04 Amen. 50:05 Thank you so much, very clear. 50:06 Pastor Ryan, "Please explain the parable of the rich man 50:10 and Lazarus. 50:11 This is from Luke 16:19-31. 50:14 This parable seems to teach that at the time of death, 50:18 and it says from Joe, so they must mean 50:19 it seems to teach me that we go to heaven?" 50:21 Right. Yeah. 50:22 So obviously, let's just make it clear 50:25 that this is a parable. 50:27 And many people look at this because it says, 50:29 you know, the rich man and Lazarus 50:30 then because it mentions Lazarus name. 50:32 Some people say, well, it's not a parable, 50:34 because it's mentioning the land that, 50:35 you know, the name Lazarus, 50:36 but there's no doubt that this is a parable 50:38 because there's language in here that's used, 50:40 very similar to other parables. 50:42 For instance, if you go back to the parable of the lost son 50:45 there in Luke 15:11, 50:48 notice what the very first words are, 50:49 a certain man had two sons. 50:51 You come over to the next parable right there 50:54 in Luke 16, 50:56 the parable of the unjust steward, 50:59 there was a certain rich man, right? 51:01 The parable, right? 51:03 But then what is the word start within 51:05 the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, 51:07 there was a certain rich man. 51:09 This is very consistent in the language 51:11 of Jesus would use 51:12 when He was about to tell a story, 51:13 a short story that would teach a moral lesson of some kind. 51:16 Obviously, keep in mind 51:18 that the purpose of this parable, my friends, 51:20 is not to communicate the realities 51:22 of heaven and hell. 51:24 Many people read this and think, oh, you know, it's 51:25 because Lazarus is there and Abraham's bosom 51:28 and you know the rich man is down there 51:31 and Hades burning and torment. 51:32 Well, it's, it's all about heaven and hell 51:33 and the reality is, that's not the case. 51:35 Because if you look up to Luke 16:14, it says, 51:38 "Now the Pharisees who were lovers of money, 51:40 also heard all these things and said, 51:43 and they had derided him." 51:44 So Jesus is now going to tell a few parables, 51:48 one of those being the parable of the rich man, 51:49 not for the purpose to communicate 51:51 the realities of heaven and hell, 51:52 but to actually tell a similar story 51:55 that they would have told to their people. 51:57 This was a common parable that they told in Jesus' day 52:00 that the Pharisees would tell when they were teaching, 52:03 you know, the Word of the Lord. 52:04 And in this case, 52:06 that the roles would be switched, 52:07 it was the rich man 52:08 that would be in heaven all the time, 52:10 and Lazarus, who would be in burning torments. 52:11 Why? 52:13 Because they were lovers of money 52:14 and the concept back then, 52:15 and these days was that if you're rich, 52:17 you're blessed by God, 52:18 and God has put His favor on you. 52:19 And if you're poor and beggarly, 52:21 and you know, you're living in the streets, 52:23 and you have nothing, well, then you know, 52:24 you must be a horrible sinner, and God is cursing you, right? 52:27 Well, Jesus flipped the script. 52:29 And actually, this parable, the story, 52:31 the contents of this parable, 52:32 it actually is flooded 52:33 with Hellenistic Greek philosophy and ideology 52:38 because the concept would be is that this idea 52:41 of the dualism of the body and the spirit, 52:43 the concept that, you know, when a person dies, 52:46 their spirit goes on somewhere else. 52:47 Jesus did not believe this. 52:49 Jesus obviously taught in John 11, 52:51 then when a person dies, they sleep, 52:52 but he's using a common story of their day 52:55 to try to teach a truth 52:56 and we know that this is a parable. 52:57 When you get to read in the details of this, 52:59 it's clear that it's a parable, right? 53:01 You know, all the Lazarus goes to the bosom of Abraham, right? 53:06 Abraham being one of the central figures 53:08 of the Judaistic faith. 53:09 He's using the language that they can relate to 53:11 because they often would say, you know, the bosom of Abraham 53:13 because Abraham was the central figure. 53:15 But the fact that you know, this is a good one here, 53:19 verse 23, and being in torments, 53:21 talking about the rich man. 53:22 "Being in torments in Hades, 53:24 he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off 53:27 and Lazarus in his bosom and he cried out, 53:28 said, 'Father, Abraham, 53:30 have mercy on me and send Lazarus 53:31 that he may dip the tip of his finger in water 53:33 and cool my tongue 53:34 for I'm tormented in this flame.'" 53:37 I want to challenge you to do something. 53:38 Again, this is figurative. 53:40 I'm not literally telling you to do this. 53:42 But you know what, if you're just not convinced, 53:44 go out and just stick your hand in an open flame 53:46 and try to hold it there. 53:48 Number one and hold 53:49 an intelligent conversation with someone 53:50 as they're doing here. 53:52 That obviously is number one. 53:53 That is a parable. 53:55 Number two, just have them dip a drop of water 53:57 on the tip of your tongue, 53:58 while you stick that hand in the fire 53:59 and see if it gives you any kind of relief. 54:01 Obviously, this is figurative language. 54:03 But it's just my final words that I want to say about this, 54:06 which is rather interesting 54:07 is that if you get to the latter parts 54:08 of this parable, 54:10 it says, Abraham said to him, 54:12 they have Moses and the prophets, 54:14 let them hear them because he wanted the Abraham 54:17 cause he's seen Lazarus back from the dead, 54:19 go tell my brothers, my family, 54:20 not to come to this place of torment, 54:22 send them back from the dead. 54:24 And he said, "No, no, no, 54:25 they got Moses and the prophets." 54:27 In other words, they have the Word of the Lord 54:28 that they need to trust. 54:29 But notice his response. 54:31 It's verse 30, it says, "And he said, 54:32 'No, father Abraham, 54:33 but if one goes to them from the dead, 54:35 they will repent.'" 54:37 And then he said to them in verse 31, 54:39 "If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, 54:40 neither will they be persuaded the one rise from the dead." 54:44 And it's interesting because one actually 54:46 literally did rise from the dead, 54:48 his name was Lazarus, 54:49 and they still did not believe in Christ as Messiah. 54:52 In fact, the Bible says in John 11 and 12 54:54 that they went and plotted to kill both him and Jesus. 54:57 So this is a parable. 54:58 Jesus is not teaching about heaven or hell, 55:00 but rather, the fact that we need to love our brother, 55:02 we need to treat each other 55:04 that there are not different social classes that Christ 55:06 considers that, obviously, 55:08 we need to have a relationship with Him, 55:09 and it's not based on riches. 55:11 Amen. Thank you. 55:13 Pastor Johnny, we don't have time probably 55:15 for a full two minutes. 55:16 We're actually two minutes 55:17 to the end of the program. 55:19 But see if we can get a short answer. 55:20 This is from Melbourne, Florida. 55:22 "I follow the space travel that man has been developing. 55:25 Jesus is coming to destroy the earth 55:27 at His Second Coming. 55:28 Man is trying to go live on another planet, namely Mars, 55:31 if people are on Mars, and Jesus comes, 55:33 what about those people? 55:35 And the moon, will that be destroyed too, 55:37 since sinful man has gone there?" 55:40 Well, that's a good question. 55:42 Many good questions have come in, by the way, 55:44 I congratulate every one of you that are looking for answers 55:47 and studying God's Word. 55:48 We appreciate the opportunity to answer your questions 55:51 or at least get you started. 55:53 The Bible does not say 55:55 what will happen to the moon and Mars. 55:59 So we don't have a scripture to tell you that. 56:01 We do have a scripture that will tell you 56:03 about the earth. 56:04 And that's in 2 Peter 3:10-11, 56:08 and it says here, 56:10 "But the day of the Lord 56:12 will come as a thief in the night 56:13 in which the heavens will pass away 56:15 with a great noise and the elements 56:16 will melt with fervent heat. 56:18 Both the earth and the works that are in it 56:20 will be burned up." 56:22 So we don't have one 56:23 that specifically says moon and Mars. 56:26 But if the Lord sees it necessary, He will do so. 56:30 And so that's the answer I can give you in a short time. 56:34 Very good. 56:35 Thank you so much, Pastor Johnny, Sister Shelley, 56:38 Pastor James and Pastor Ryan, 56:39 for your knowledge of the Word of God. 56:41 Thank you for your heart for Bible study. 56:43 I love that. You all are Bible students. 56:45 And we're so glad that you have joined us, 56:47 want to remind you that our 3ABN Today 56:50 Bible Q and A program is just like this. 56:52 We take your questions every Monday. 56:56 So feel free the number you've been texting today, 56:58 you can text that number anytime 57:00 and we will get to your questions, 57:02 your Bible questions on a subsequent program. 57:05 The end of this program is just ahead of us. 57:08 But I want to remind you that divine worship hour 57:11 with Dr. Ben Carson 57:12 will be directly following this program. 57:15 So don't go anywhere. 57:16 Just grab a drink of water 57:18 and settle back in your recliner 57:19 or if you're driving in the car, 57:20 listen on the radio, 57:22 because it's important that we continue connecting with you 57:25 on this blessed Sabbath day. |
Revised 2021-12-16