Participants:
Series Code: TDYQA
Program Code: TDYQA210035A
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00:01 As you're well aware,
00:02 we're living in unprecedented times. 00:05 Join us now for Today special program. 00:12 I want to spend my life 00:18 Mending broken people 00:23 I want to spend my life 00:29 Removing pain 00:34 Lord, let my words 00:39 Heal a heart that hurts 00:44 I want to spend my life 00:50 Mending broken people 00:55 I want to spend my life 01:01 Mending broken people 01:15 Hello and welcome to another 3ABN Today Bible Q and A. 01:19 I'm Jason Bradley, 01:20 and I'm so glad that you've decided to tune in 01:23 or listen to us on the radio because you know what? 01:26 I would imagine 01:27 that you're searching for answers. 01:29 And we're going to point you in the right direction. 01:31 Our panelists are going to point you to the Word of God 01:35 where you should get all of your answers from, 01:37 and I want to share this verse with you. 01:40 And it comes from Proverbs 9:10, it says, 01:45 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom 01:47 and the knowledge of the Holy One 01:49 is understanding, 01:51 and so we're going to be going to God's Word 01:54 for these answers. 01:56 And before I introduce our panelists to you, 01:59 I want to share with you 02:00 how you can send in your questions. 02:02 You can text them to (618) 228-3975 02:08 or you may email them 02:09 to BibleQA@3abn.tv 02:15 So who do we have with us? 02:17 Today, we have Pastor James Rafferty. 02:20 It's great to have you here. 02:21 Good to be here, Jason. Thank you. 02:23 Yes, we've got Pastor Ryan Day. 02:25 It's always a blessing to have you here as well. 02:26 Here and accounted for 02:28 and excited about today's program. 02:29 Yes, sir. 02:31 And Pastor Lomacang, it's great to have you. 02:33 Good to be here, nephew. 02:34 Yes, sir. 02:36 Uncle Lome. You always call me uncle Lome. 02:37 I know, right? 02:39 Good to be here today. You as well. 02:41 Before we dive into the Word of God, 02:43 I just like to ask for some prayer. 02:46 So Pastor Lomacang, will you have a prayer for us? 02:48 Loving Father, we are graciously 02:51 under the mercy of Your Holy Spirit's leading. 02:55 We pray today, Father, we've done our homework 02:58 but sometimes we fall short of answering a question 03:02 to the honor of Your name. 03:04 We pray today for guidance from Your Holy Spirit, 03:07 inspiration to our minds, and clarity in our words 03:10 so that those who are listening will hear 03:12 what You know they need to hear. 03:15 And as a result, Father, we would give You the glory 03:17 for just being instruments in Your hand. 03:20 Help us, Lord, to answer humbly to touch a heart, 03:24 to touch a life, 03:25 that they may find grace in these answers, 03:29 and find the desire to serve You 03:31 with all their hearts. 03:32 We pray in Jesus' name. 03:35 Amen. Amen. 03:36 Thank you. 03:37 You know, it's amazing. 03:39 We receive questions from all around the world, 03:42 which shows that people are hungry 03:43 and people are searching. 03:45 We're about to do something that we've never done before. 03:47 On today Bible Q and A, 03:49 we're gonna combine two questions into one 03:52 and you will have five minutes to answer this question 03:55 or these questions, Ryan. 03:57 This says, "Please help me understand 04:00 1 Timothy 2:11-12." 04:04 That's from Bernard out of Jamaica. 04:07 "And then can someone explain 04:09 1 Corinthians 14:34-35? 04:14 Does this really mean what it's saying?" 04:16 And this is from Sue. 04:18 I really appreciate these questions. 04:19 We get these questions often pertaining to these texts 04:22 and the idea or the concept 04:24 of should women be able to preach 04:26 or teach in the church 04:27 and in some cases, obviously, 04:29 the Scripture says women shouldn't speak. 04:30 And so they said, they shouldn't even speak 04:32 in church, right? 04:34 But we're going to clarify this 04:35 because this is really not an issue 04:37 of God being bias to certain genders. 04:39 In other words, he's not saying men, 04:42 men are only able to speak and to teach and to preach in, 04:45 women are to be quiet and be silent at all times. 04:48 This is not an issue of gender bias, 04:50 but rather decorum. 04:52 This is a specific issue that we have to apply 04:55 appropriate biblical hermeneutics to. 04:57 We have to study the historical context, 04:59 the scriptural context, 05:01 understand exactly why did Paul write this. 05:03 I want to first go to 1 Corinthians Chapter 14 05:06 because this was written 05:08 before the 1 Timothy text that we're going to read. 05:10 And you'll see here that there was an issue 05:13 Paul is dealing with in this entire chapter, 05:15 1 Corinthians 14, 05:16 it's dealing with the confusion of tongues. 05:18 That's the context of this entire passage. 05:21 The church in Corinth was dealing with this issue 05:24 of confusion brought about of all these people 05:27 just speaking out of turn into different languages, 05:29 and it was causing a mass confusion in the church, 05:32 which is why by the time you get to verse 33, 05:34 so I'm in 1 Corinthians Chapter 14. 05:37 Notice what he says in verse 33, he says, 05:39 "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, 05:43 as it is in all churches of the saints." 05:45 So this is within again, 05:47 this particular text in Romans 14:33 05:50 is in response to everything he said about tongues, 05:52 and how things should be done decently and in order, 05:55 and that there should be no confusion. 05:56 And then he says these words in verse 34-35, 05:59 "Let your women keep silent in the churches, 06:02 for they are not permitted to speak but they," 06:04 notice, excuse me, 06:05 I lost my spot here for a moment, 06:07 "but they are to be submissive, as the law also says." 06:10 And in verse 35, 06:11 "And if they want to learn something, 06:13 let them ask their own husbands at home, 06:14 for it is shameful for women to speak in church." 06:16 In this case, you have to do some historical research, 06:19 because if you know your Bible, 06:21 and you've studied your Bible appropriately, 06:23 then you know that Paul was not against women preaching, 06:26 women teaching, women sharing the gospel, 06:28 because we have many, many instances in Scripture. 06:31 In fact, it even goes back to the Old Testament, 06:33 Isaiah's wife, many women that spoke on behalf of God, 06:37 either in the form of a prophetess or prophesying 06:39 or declaring good news. 06:41 Isaiah's wife, Deborah, Huldah, Miriam, Noadiah, Anna, 06:46 even Mary Magdalene, and the list goes on. 06:48 If you get into the New Testament, 06:50 Acts 21:9 actually tells us that Philip the deacon 06:54 had four daughters who prophesied. 06:57 Now we have to understand what it means to prophesy. 06:59 It can mean to be actually a prophet, or prophetess. 07:02 In this case of a woman, to speak on behalf of God 07:04 or to declare a message, 07:06 a prophetic message on behalf of God 07:07 or prophesying can simply mean to declare 07:10 the good news of the Lord or preach the good news of God. 07:14 Evidently, Philip had four daughters who did that. 07:16 And even Paul, I'm not going to mention 07:18 all of these women here. 07:19 But if you go on to study the works of Paul, 07:22 the letters of Paul, 07:23 Paul mentions 13 different women. 07:25 I'm not going to read all their names, 07:26 but Lydia, Chloe, Nimfa, 07:30 Apifa, Mary, Persis, Tryphena, 07:33 and the list goes on and on. 07:35 There's 13 different women 07:36 that he talks in positivity about 07:39 in regards to sharing or declaring 07:41 the good news of the Lord. 07:42 So Paul was not himself against women preaching 07:45 or teaching or declaring. 07:46 So what's happening in 1 Corinthians 14? 07:49 What's happening in 1 Timothy 2:11-12? 07:52 Paul is addressing an issue that was going on 07:55 in that particular day within the church, 07:57 both of these letters were addressing the church 08:00 issues dealing with the church. 08:01 And in this case, when you study the historical 08:04 application of what Paul is addressing, 08:06 especially within the context of 1 Corinthians 14, 08:09 and obviously this carried over into the church of Rome 08:11 and other churches, 08:12 as Paul was writing his letter to 1 Timothy there, 08:16 this issue was, you know, back in those days, 08:18 the women sat on one side, 08:20 and the men sat on the other, 08:21 because of certain laws and cultural differences there, 08:23 the women had their part in the church, 08:25 the men had their seating in the church. 08:27 And there was mass confusion happening in this case, 08:30 in the Corinthian Church, 08:31 where the women were speaking out of turn, 08:33 they were literally yelling across the aisle. 08:36 Hey, oh, did you guys catch that text? 08:38 Whatever it was, 08:40 there was some speaking out of turn. 08:41 And so it was causing mass confusion. 08:43 It was, there was not any order, 08:45 there was not anything being done in decency. 08:47 And so Paul is addressing the issue of the day, 08:50 and that is that these women were speaking out of turn. 08:52 And so he writes these letters, says, 08:54 look, tell the women just, 08:55 if they've got to say something, 08:56 tell them to be quiet and ask at home 08:58 to address these issues at home, 08:59 the church is not the place. 09:01 And so we know that these texts 09:03 are not necessarily transcultural 09:05 or transgenerational in the sense 09:07 that no woman can ever speak in the church. 09:09 Because we have plenty of evidence, 09:11 both Old and New Testament that clearly tells us 09:14 that God wants His women to speak 09:17 and to declare the good news of Jesus. 09:18 In fact, what's that famous prophecy there in Joel 2:28. 09:22 And the prophet Joel says that there will be women 09:24 and notice your sons and your daughters 09:27 shall prophesy. 09:28 Obviously, God wants both men and women 09:30 to declare the good works of the Lord, 09:32 but in the church, in this case, 09:34 things needed to be done in decency and in order. 09:37 And that's what Paul was addressing 09:38 for his time in his day, 09:40 the real issue that was going on in the churches. 09:42 Thank you for that explanation study the historical context, 09:46 look at the historical context, that's great. 09:48 Pastor Lomacang, "In the Book of Kings 09:50 very often read and king so and so 09:54 did what was right in the sight of the Lord 09:56 and followed him with his whole heart. 09:58 Then of other kings, it says 09:59 and he did what was right in the sight of God, 10:02 but not with his whole heart. 10:04 Please explain. 10:05 I sometimes wonder if those who did not follow 10:07 with their whole heart will make it to the kingdom, 10:10 even though they restored the worship of God 10:13 to the backslidden Israelites and called for revival? 10:16 This is from Sherry. 10:18 Sure. 10:19 You now, Charles Spurgeon once wrote, 10:21 a jealous God would not contend with a divided heart. 10:25 You know God wants to be loved first and best. 10:27 We find continually in Scripture, Deuteronomy 6:5, 10:31 "You shall love the Lord your God 10:32 with all your heart, 10:34 with all your soul, with all your strength." 10:37 These are the words that Jesus quoted in the New Testament, 10:39 so they were not new commandments. 10:41 The issue is, 10:43 are we serving God out of a divided heart? 10:46 And why is it dangerous to have a divided heart? 10:49 Well, the words of Christ in Mark 3:25, 10:53 "A house divided against itself cannot stand." 10:57 What about a heart that's divided against itself? 11:00 We have this phrase that I grew up with, 11:01 in the river, on the bank, 11:03 in the river, on the bank, 11:05 you know, see-saw, 11:06 which side are you up today and down the next day? 11:09 And the Bible speaks about the danger of that 11:11 in James 1:6-8, 11:14 speaking about prayer and asking God, 11:16 but let him ask in faith with no doubting. 11:19 A doubting person is a person with the divided heart. 11:22 "For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea 11:25 driven and tossed by the wind, 11:27 for let not that man suppose 11:28 that he will receive anything from the Lord. 11:30 He is a double-minded man unstable in all his ways." 11:35 So the simple injunction is, 11:37 you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 11:39 with all your soul, with all your mind. 11:41 This is the first and great commandment. 11:42 And the second is like to the first love 11:44 your neighbor as yourself. 11:45 When it comes to love, would you if you're married, 11:48 say to your spouse, well, you don't have to love me 11:50 with all your heart just 80% would do, maybe 50%? 11:54 Absolutely not. 11:55 Anybody who believes that marriage is 50-50 11:58 does not know math and doesn't know women. 12:01 Just to be very candid about that. 12:03 God puts us in relationships to put our all. 12:06 And he doesn't ask for anything less than our all. 12:09 That's what He says, 12:10 "Love the Lord your God with all your heart." 12:13 So don't ask for God to bless you 12:17 when your heart is divided, 12:19 and your thoughts are filled with doubt. 12:21 God cannot make up His mind how to bless you 12:23 if you can't make up your mind what you want to ask for. 12:28 Excellent examples. I like that. 12:29 Pastor Rafferty, "Could you please explain 12:32 Revelation 17:3-11." 12:36 You've done it for 112 episodes. 12:37 So I think you got this one here. 12:40 This is from Stephanie out of Washington. 12:41 Hi, Stephanie, Revelation 17:3-11 it reads, 12:45 "And so he carried me away 12:46 in the spirit of the wilderness, 12:47 and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet colored beast 12:50 full of names of blasphemy, 12:51 having seven heads and ten horns. 12:53 And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet color, 12:57 and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, 12:59 having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations 13:02 and filthiness of her fornication. 13:04 And upon her head was a name written, 13:06 Mystery, Babylon the Great Mother of Harlots 13:08 and Abominations of the Earth. 13:10 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, 13:12 and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: 13:15 and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. 13:18 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? 13:21 I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, 13:22 and of the beast that carries her, 13:24 which has the seven heads and ten horns. 13:26 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not, 13:29 and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, 13:31 and go into perdition: 13:32 and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, 13:34 whose names were not written in the book of life 13:36 from the foundation of the world, 13:37 when they behold the beast that was, 13:39 and is not, and yet is. 13:41 And here is the mind which has wisdom. 13:42 The seven heads are seven mountains, 13:44 on which the woman sits. 13:45 And there are seven kings: five are fallen, one is, 13:48 and one is not yet come, and when he comes, 13:51 he must continue a short space. 13:53 And the beast that was, and is not, 13:54 even he is the eighth, 13:56 and is of the seven, and goes into perdition." 13:59 So, Stephanie, 14:00 that this is a difficult question. 14:03 I mean, it's a challenging question. 14:04 I know of at least five different interpretations 14:07 of Revelation Chapter 17, 14:09 within our church, 14:11 so I'll give you my understanding of it. 14:13 But again, there are different interpretations, 14:16 different understandings, 14:17 and we may not know fully what all of this means 14:19 until all of the history is fulfilled. 14:22 Basically, this is a summary of God's judgment on a system 14:27 that has been persecuting his people forever. 14:30 God has been merciful and gracious 14:32 throughout the centuries. 14:33 And finally, He's summarizing this religio-political system 14:38 that has existed from time passed 14:40 all the way to the very end of time. 14:42 This system involves a church 14:44 which is identified as the mother of harlots, 14:46 and that church has daughters and is also connected 14:50 with the political powers of this world. 14:53 She sits upon a beast 14:55 which represents civil power or support, 14:57 and that beast is represented as five are fallen, 15:02 one is and one is yet to come, 15:03 so seven kings in seven mountains. 15:05 We believe the seven mountains represent 15:07 the seven hill city of Rome. 15:09 We believe this woman is the papacy, 15:11 we believe her unlawful alliance 15:13 with the kings of this earth is represented here 15:16 and the summations of her judgments 15:17 are going to fall on her. 15:19 And we believe that the five are fallen 15:20 begins with the wilderness 15:22 because that's where John is taken 15:23 when he sees this vision he's taken into the wilderness. 15:26 And that's where the woman in Revelation Chapter 12 fled 15:29 during the Dark Ages. 15:31 Coming from that perspective, 15:32 the five that have fallen would be Babylon, 15:34 Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome, pagan, 15:38 and papal Rome, five are fallen, 1798. 15:41 One is that would be atheistic France, 15:43 and one is yet to come. 15:44 And that is the United States of America, 15:46 which will revive this power, 15:49 which is actually the eighth but one of the seven. 15:52 And together they will move forward 15:54 with the 10 horns 15:56 and set up a final onslaught against God's truth, 15:59 the Word of God, the everlasting gospel 16:01 and enforce the mark of the beast. 16:03 Wow. 16:04 I don't know how you can find that in the time 16:06 in which you did but amen. 16:07 Praise the Lord. 16:09 Pastor Lomacang, we're going to come to you. 16:11 "I need more explanation on Romans 7:9 please. 16:16 It's somehow confusing me?" 16:18 This is from Troy. 16:19 You know, Romans Chapter 7 16:21 is Paul's testimony after his conversion. 16:23 You know, the beautiful thing about this is 16:25 Paul is explaining that those 16:27 that live in ignorance of God's law, 16:30 feel that they're living it up, we call it, 16:32 you know, they used to say the good life, 16:34 but when he's confronted with the law of God, 16:37 all of a sudden he sees a mirror 16:39 that shows him what God has always seen, 16:41 a corrupt character. 16:43 And that's why he says, 16:44 I was alive once without the law, 16:47 but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 16:50 God confronted Paul in this new walk 16:52 with this is who you really are, Paul, 16:55 do you see yourself? 16:57 This is what I see. 16:58 I've always seen this. 16:59 And Paul is saying that just killed me 17:02 to know that that's my condition. 17:04 I'm putting an comment here, 17:05 that just kills me to see what I really am. 17:08 So God confronts us with who we really are. 17:12 But we will never know that if we ignore His law. 17:15 The law of God is like a mirror. 17:16 That's why Paul says in verse 8, "But sin, 17:19 taking opportunity by the commandment, 17:22 produced in me all manner of evil desire, 17:24 for apart from the law, sin was dead." 17:28 When I didn't see thou shalt not kill, 17:29 thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not steal, 17:31 it didn't bother me. 17:32 That was a part of my life. 17:34 I went from job to job, from bank to bank, 17:36 from woman to woman, from situation to situation 17:38 and my friends and I had a lot of fun 17:41 until I realized, wait a minute, 17:44 I'm actually transgressing God's law. 17:46 This kills me to see 17:48 that I live that kind of relationship. 17:49 That's why he says, what shall we say then? 17:52 Is the law sin? 17:54 Certainly not. 17:55 So Paul is simply expressing the fact 17:57 that when God's law confronts the evil nature of humanity, 18:01 he shows us clearly. 18:04 That's why he says when he saw God's law, 18:06 old wretched man that I am who will deliver me 18:09 from the body of this death. 18:11 Deliverance is through the blood of Christ. 18:13 The law shows us our condition that shows us we are dead, 18:17 but when we are in Christ, we are alive to His glory. 18:20 Wow. 18:21 Amen. Well said. 18:23 Pastor Rafferty, "What does it mean 18:25 in Revelation 12:7-10?" 18:29 This is from Nelson out of Uganda. 18:31 All right, Nelson, Uganda, let's just read the verses here 18:33 in Revelation 12:7-10, 18:37 "And there was war in heaven, 18:38 Michael and his angels fought against the dragon 18:40 and the dragon fought and his angels, 18:43 and prevailed not, 18:44 neither was their place found any more in heaven. 18:46 And the great dragon was cast out, 18:48 that old serpent called the Devil and Satan, 18:50 which deceives the whole world, 18:52 he was cast out into the earth, 18:54 and his angels were cast out with him. 18:56 And I heard a loud voice saying, in heaven, 18:58 'Now is come salvation and strength 19:00 in the kingdom of our God and the power of his Christ, 19:02 for the accused of our brethren is cast down, 19:04 which accused them before God day and night.'" 19:08 So these verses are probably the clearest text 19:10 in the New Testament that describes 19:12 where sin began. 19:14 It's talking about how this whole great controversy began. 19:17 Not on this earth, not even in the Garden of Eden, 19:19 but actually in heaven. 19:20 And in heaven, we have the devil that old serpent 19:23 who deceived a third of the angels, 19:26 and through that deception 19:28 caused all of them to be cast out of heaven, 19:30 and then came to this earth and deceived Eve, 19:33 who then convinced Adam to partake of the tree 19:36 of the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. 19:38 And so in heaven, 19:39 it began and on earth it continued. 19:41 Satan was cast out of this of heaven to this earth 19:44 because he was able to deceive Eve 19:46 in the Garden of Eden. 19:47 And likewise, she was able to bring Adam 19:50 onto her side and the devil side. 19:51 And then we have a continuation of this with Michael 19:54 and his angels fighting and they're still fighting. 19:56 Michael, the one who is like God 19:58 and His angels are the ones 20:00 who came to our rescue so to speak, 20:02 and they stand on the other side 20:04 of the great controversy 20:05 on the good side of the great controversy. 20:07 They stand in our on our side. 20:08 Finally, Jesus in verse 10 comes to this earth as a man, 20:12 dies on Calvary's cross, 20:14 and bring salvation to this world 20:16 and to the universe. 20:18 Through His life, through His death, 20:19 Jesus Christ has conquered the devil and the deceiver. 20:23 And now we have a message of hope. 20:24 And that's what continues to be broadcast here 20:26 in verses 11 onward, 20:28 a message of hope is to go to all the world 20:31 of the victory that Christ has gained over the usurper, 20:33 over the deceiver in our favor. 20:36 Amen. 20:38 Perhaps you're at home and you're wondering 20:40 how to send in your questions. 20:42 And so I just want to share with you 20:43 that you can text your questions 20:44 to (618) 228-3975 20:48 or you can email them to BibleQA@3abn.tv org 20:54 so they can be answered on a future program. 20:57 Ryan, we want to come to you with this question here. 21:01 Says, "I always believed that God was the creator, 21:05 yet I heard from your programs that Jesus is the creator. 21:08 Can you explain this to me? 21:10 I understand God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 21:13 But Genesis says God created the heavens and the earth, 21:16 and all that was in and on them. 21:22 The first time I hear more than God is when he says, 21:25 'Let us create men in our own images.' 21:29 Please explain.'" This is from Rich. 21:31 But it's actually a really great question. 21:33 And it's one we get often in regards to, 21:35 you know, who actually created was what the Bible says 21:37 that God created right there. 21:39 In Genesis 1:1, in the beginning, 21:40 God created the heavens and the earth. 21:42 But obviously, within the Christian faith, 21:44 we believe that God is one, we serve one God, 21:48 our one God is made up of three co-eternal persons, 21:52 God the Father, and obviously God the Son, 21:54 God the Holy Spirit. 21:56 And so that being said, 21:57 we know that all three were actively involved 22:00 in creation in the sense of the plans, right? 22:03 When it says there, 22:04 as you referenced in the question, 22:05 Rich, it says that God says, 22:07 "Let us make man in our own image." 22:09 I believe God, the fullness of the Godhead, 22:11 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit 22:12 were all actively involved in the plans. 22:14 But the Bible does become a little more specific, 22:16 as to which person of the Godhead 22:19 was actively involved 22:20 in physically creating this world 22:23 and the things of this world. 22:24 And also just want to quickly address the fact 22:26 that many people try to assume that God the Father, 22:29 He's the only God, somehow Jesus is a lesser God, 22:32 or He's not God at all. 22:33 He's just the Son, obviously, God the Father, 22:35 God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, 22:37 this is the completeness of the Godhead, 22:39 and they all are three equally God. 22:42 The Book of Hebrews Chapter 1 where the Father actually says, 22:44 referring to Christ, "You, O God," right? 22:47 He refers to Him as God. 22:48 So there's no question that Jesus is God. 22:50 There's no question that the Holy Spirit is God 22:52 as well as the Father. 22:53 But Ephesians 3:9 dials this in for us. 22:57 It says there, "And to make all see 22:59 what is the fellowship of the mystery, 23:01 from which from the beginning of the world 23:03 has been hidden in God, 23:04 who created all things through Jesus Christ." 23:08 And when you match that with John 1:1 and onward, 23:11 where it says, in the beginning was the Word, 23:13 and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 23:15 He was in the beginning with God, 23:17 all things were made by Him or through Him, 23:19 and without Him nothing was made that was made. 23:22 Who is this referring to? 23:23 Verse 14 in John Chapter 1 confirms, 23:26 and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. 23:29 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, 23:31 and the Word was God. 23:32 This is Jesus. 23:34 Jesus is the One who created the world. 23:36 The Father was there, 23:37 as, you know, going through with the plans, 23:39 the Holy Spirit was there, but Jesus was the active agent, 23:43 or the Divine agent of the Godhead 23:44 who spoke this world into existence 23:46 and created Adam from the dust of the ground. 23:48 Amen. 23:49 Thank you for that explanation, Pastor Day. 23:51 Pastor Lomacang, we will come to you on this one. 23:54 "Could you please explain Exodus 20:5, 23:57 the part that speaks to a jealous God. 24:00 I am not sure I explained it properly 24:02 to my nine-year-old." 24:03 This is from Lynn out of Jamaica. 24:05 Okay, yes. 24:07 Exodus 20:5, let's start by reading that. 24:10 "You shall not bow down to them nor serve them," 24:13 speaking of idols, "for I, the Lord your God, 24:16 I'm a jealous God, 24:17 visiting the iniquity of the fathers 24:19 upon the children to the third 24:20 and fourth generation of those who hate me." 24:23 You know, God is not jealous of us, 24:25 God is jealous for us. 24:28 Those that did not worshiped God worshiped images 24:30 and God was not sharing His divinity with idols. 24:35 We are exclusively His. 24:37 He made us so we didn't make ourselves. 24:41 Wood and stone and brick did not make us, 24:44 and since God is not sharing Himself with us, 24:47 that is and other gods He says, I'm jealous. 24:51 I want you to myself. 24:53 The other thing about the generational curse 24:55 that was spoken about third 24:57 and fourth generation of those who hate me, 24:59 worship of the false gods was obviously something 25:03 that affect the generations that are after that. 25:05 If the family practiced idol worship, 25:08 then it was passed on to the children 25:10 that's called hereditary tendencies or hereditary sin, 25:14 but if the children continue that, 25:16 it's called cultivated sin. 25:18 The point is being made. 25:19 We don't have to do what our parents did. 25:21 But in some cases, people do that. 25:23 And the Lord says, when that happens, 25:25 that sin goes from the third to the fourth generation 25:28 of those who hate me. 25:29 A great example is Eli and his sons, 25:31 Hophni and Phineas. 25:33 Eli was a man who did not discipline his children, 25:37 and they became a curse to the children of Israel. 25:39 They violated the role of the priest, 25:42 they took more of the portion of the sacrifice 25:44 than was due to them. 25:45 They lay with women in immorality in the temple. 25:48 And we see that Eli eventually dies. 25:51 The Bible says, when he heard that his sons had died, 25:54 he fell back and broke his neck and also died. 25:56 So here's the point that curse 25:58 that the father did not discipline his children 26:01 went to his sons Hophni and Phineas. 26:03 God is jealous because He wants us 26:04 to be obedient to Him alone, 26:06 but our actions do tell for generations to come. 26:10 That's deep. 26:11 Amen. 26:13 Pastor Rafferty, "I've heard there's a book in the Bible 26:15 that talks about eating everything 26:17 as long as they don't harm you. 26:19 Where is that? Please clarify." 26:21 This is from Sarah out of Uganda. 26:22 All right, Sarah out of Uganda. 26:24 There are a couple of books that people reference. 26:27 One of them is in Matthew Chapter 7, 26:29 where Jesus talks about the things 26:32 that we eat going through the drought and out of us. 26:35 And there's a mistranslation there 26:37 which suggests that by saying this Christ cleansed all foods, 26:40 but I think the verses you may be speaking to 26:43 are in 1 Timothy Chapter 4. 26:45 We'll just look there in 1 Timothy 4:1-6. 26:48 It says here, "Now the Spirit speaks 26:49 expressly in the latter times 26:51 some shall depart from the faith, 26:52 giving heed to seducing spirits, 26:54 and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy, 26:56 having their conscience seared with a hot iron, 26:59 forbidding to marry, 27:00 and commanding to abstain from meats, 27:02 which God has created to be received 27:03 with thanksgiving of them 27:05 which believe and know the truth. 27:06 For every creature of God is good 27:08 and nothing to be refused, 27:10 if it be received with thanksgiving: 27:12 For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer. 27:15 If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, 27:17 thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, 27:19 nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, 27:21 whereunto thou hast attained." 27:22 So I believe these are probably the verses 27:24 you're referring to. 27:26 1 Timothy Chapter 4, just going to reread these verses 27:30 just to give clarification what is actually saying, 27:33 departing from the faith 27:34 is departing from the Word of God 27:36 because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 27:38 And then it says here forbidding to marry 27:40 and commanding to abstain 27:42 or hold oneself off from the food 27:44 which God has created or originally formed, 27:47 the Greek now, originally formed, 27:49 we received with thanksgiving for them 27:50 that believe and know the truth. 27:52 God's original diet for us is in Genesis Chapter 1. 27:55 It was actually a vegetarian diet, 27:57 fruits, nuts, grains, vegetables. 27:59 And then it goes on to say, 28:01 for every creature of God is good. 28:02 A lot of people think this is talking about animals, 28:04 but it's actually the Greek word there is, 28:08 every original formation of God. 28:10 Everything that God formed originally is good 28:12 and nothing to be refused, 28:13 if it be received with thanksgiving, 28:15 for it is sanctified, 28:16 it was set apart by the word of God. 28:18 And, of course, we need to pray over our food, 28:20 especially with all of the pesticides, 28:22 et cetera, that are being used today. 28:24 So these verses are often misunderstood 28:28 to suggest that we can eat anything 28:30 from alligators to giraffes, 28:33 they're actually pointing us back to the original diet 28:36 that people are holding themselves off 28:37 from in the last days, 28:38 the diet that comes from faith, 28:40 which comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. 28:42 The diet that God originally formed to received 28:44 with thanksgiving for those that believe 28:45 and know the truth. 28:47 Thank you for providing clarity on that subject. 28:49 It seems to be a very popular question, too. 28:51 I've seen that a couple times. 28:54 Pastor Day, it says, "Pastor Ryan, 28:56 I've had a theory for some time about the rebellion in heaven. 29:00 If God had made Gabriel, 29:02 the head of all the angels 29:04 back then as he is now instead of Lucifer, 29:06 maybe there might not have been a rebellion. 29:09 What do you think? 29:10 Please give me your thoughts on this. 29:12 I'd also like to hear the thoughts 29:13 of Pastor Lomacang on this topic." 29:16 All right. 29:17 Well, let's clarify a few things first. 29:19 First of all, Gabriel has never been the head of angels. 29:24 And he's not today. 29:25 Let's just make that clear. 29:26 Jesus, Michael is the head of the angels. 29:30 Very, very clear. 29:31 In fact, in Jude Chapter 9, makes it very clear that 29:33 Michael is the archangel, arch angelos in the Greek 29:36 and that actually means chief of the angels. 29:39 And so when it says here in Revelation 12:7, 29:41 "And war broke out in heaven, 29:43 Michael and his angels fought with the dragon, 29:45 and the dragon and his angels fought." 29:47 Let's make no mistake, 29:48 the angels were referred to as his angels 29:50 in reference to the dragon. 29:52 They're only his angels, 29:53 because they have given their allegiance to him, 29:55 been deceived by him at this point, 29:56 there's a division. 29:58 But prior to this rebellion, 29:59 all of the angels were Michaels, 30:01 so I'm getting the sense that 30:02 Michael was the chief of the angels. 30:04 But I also just want to address the issue of the fact that, 30:07 you know, I don't think, 30:08 while influence and position 30:10 certainly does make a difference in a lot of cases. 30:12 I don't think it would matter 30:14 if Lucifer had been a really 30:15 influential high ranking angel or not, 30:17 I believe that sin is a heart issue. 30:20 In fact, we see it right there in Isaiah Chapter 14, 30:22 and Ezekiel 28, referring to Lucifer, 30:25 that his heart was corrupted. 30:27 And so I don't think it would have mattered 30:28 if he was a high ranking angel or not, 30:30 if he had just been a regular angel, 30:32 I think this sin issue would have caused a problem. 30:35 It would have caused the division, 30:36 whether it was Gabriel in that position, 30:38 or Lucifer or whoever. 30:40 And so that being said, 30:41 I just want to add the fact that, 30:43 that I've seen it many times, Pastor, you've seen it, 30:46 regular members in churches, 30:48 they may not even be a deacon or an elder 30:51 or hold any type of leadership position in a church, 30:53 but a regular member who's charismatic, 30:56 who is very forward with their speaking 30:58 and influential in their own divisive way 31:01 can divide a flock in no time at all. 31:04 And so in this case, I would say that, 31:06 we got to be clear to 31:07 what the Bible actually teaches. 31:08 And in this case, I believe that sin could have risen up 31:12 in the heart of any one if they would have allowed it. 31:13 And it wouldn't have mattered no matter what their rank 31:15 would have been in heaven. 31:17 Pastor, you wanna add to that? Sure. 31:18 Just very quick to my point, you said that Gabriel was never 31:22 and is not now the head of the angels. 31:25 And a lot of times when we enter into speculation, 31:27 it leads to frustration. 31:29 So we have to trust God that 31:30 what we have now to deal with is 31:32 what God had already known. 31:34 That's why the plan of salvation was in place, 31:37 before the sin of man, 31:38 the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. 31:40 So Jesus is still the head of the angels, 31:44 and it would not have changed the situation at all. 31:47 Rebellion still leads to rebellion. 31:51 Yes, well said. 31:52 We're going to stay with you. 31:54 We've got this next question for you. 31:56 "Will our pets resurrect with us and live eternally?" 32:00 Okay. 32:01 Well, the answer clearly straight off the bat is no. 32:03 Now a lot of children ask this question 32:05 and I don't want to just kick your teddy bear 32:07 across the living room. 32:08 Because I've had pets I've grown up with that 32:10 I'd love to have in heaven. 32:12 I had a dog named Butch, another one named Comanche, 32:14 and another one named Jasper. 32:16 And I said, man, I love my dogs. 32:17 I actually buried them when they died. 32:20 They were so close to me that it broke my heart. 32:22 When my wife and I got married, we had a dog named Snuggles, 32:25 and I saw him get hit by a pickup truck 32:27 and he died in my arms. 32:29 I was a wreck for weeks. 32:31 Every time I'd see his hair, I would cry. 32:33 We bought him a brand new chain, 32:36 and every time we hear it, I would cry. 32:38 So I understand the reason for that question. 32:40 But what I want to say is this, 32:43 the Bible doesn't speak of animals being resurrected. 32:46 It only speaks of God's people being resurrected. 32:49 The Bible doesn't speak of the ascension of animals. 32:52 It speaks of the ascension of those who accept Christ, 32:55 since Christ and salvation 32:57 is a part of a conscious decision. 33:00 Animals don't say, well, I want to accept Jesus 33:02 as my Lord and Savior. 33:03 The gift of eternal life is to those 33:06 who believe and accept Him, 33:08 that whosoever believes in Him should not perish 33:10 but have everlasting life. 33:11 Now the question about 33:13 whether animals will be in heaven, 33:15 I don't see any scriptural reference 33:16 that animals will be in heaven, 33:17 but in the New Earth, 33:19 the Bible supports it very clearly 33:20 the lion shall lay down by the lamb, 33:22 the child should play at the hole of the serpent, 33:25 and it will not bother him. 33:27 The wolf will be tamed. 33:29 This is the New Earth. 33:31 And then let me just add this last caveat. 33:33 Many people don't understand why we're going to heaven. 33:36 We'll be in heaven for 1000 years 33:37 to settle the sin question. 33:39 The sin question is not settled 33:41 until the New Jerusalem comes down. 33:43 And sinners are eradicated in the fires of destruction. 33:47 Until then, there are no animals in heaven. 33:50 Horses running back and forth on the streets of gold. 33:52 The Bible doesn't speak of that at all. 33:54 But in the New Earth, I wouldn't put it past God 33:57 what He might do for us 33:58 because Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:9, 34:04 "Eye have not seen nor ear heard, 34:06 nor have it entered into the heart of men, 34:08 the things that God prepared for those that love them." 34:10 So I might see Butch and Jasper in the New Earth, 34:14 it's up to God, but if they're not there, 34:16 I'll be settling for whatever dog is there. 34:20 Or Snuggles? 34:21 Yeah, I'm just looking forward to being there. 34:24 That's right. Amen. 34:25 That's right. 34:26 No disappointment. No. 34:28 Pastor Rafferty, "Who is the remnant church, 34:30 according to the Book of Revelation 34:31 in Chapter 12?" 34:33 This is from John Tareas, out of Tennessee. 34:34 Revelation Chapter 12 very good question 34:37 we have in verse 17, 34:40 this identification of the remnant church. 34:42 I'm reading from the King James Version of the Bible, 34:45 Revelation 12:17, says, 34:47 "And the dragon was wroth with a woman 34:49 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed 34:51 which keep the commandments of God 34:53 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." 34:54 So according to this verse, 34:57 the remnant are group of people 34:59 who keep God's commandments 35:01 and have the testimony of Jesus Christ, 35:02 which by the way, is the Spirit of Prophecy 35:04 according to Revelation 19:10. 35:06 But again, we need to look at the verse more carefully, 35:09 because it says, the dragon is wroth with the woman. 35:13 And the woman is identified in Revelation 12:1, 35:17 "There appeared a great wonder in heaven, 35:19 a woman clothed with the sun, 35:21 and the moon under her feet, 35:23 and upon her head a crown of twelve stars." 35:26 Now this is a key verse 35:27 because this is the beginning of the remnant. 35:31 The remnant is the remnant of the woman. 35:33 The remnant doesn't stand by itself, 35:35 it stands in connection with the woman 35:36 and the woman here 35:38 is the amazing picture 35:43 of God's true people who are clothed with the sun. 35:46 And that according to Malachi 4:2 35:49 is the righteousness of Jesus Christ. 35:51 And then she is standing on the moon 35:53 according to Psalm 105, 35:59 the moon represents the light, the truth of God's Word, 36:03 thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path. 36:06 So this woman is clothed with Christ's righteousness. 36:08 This woman is standing on the Word of God, 36:10 she's crowned, she has a crown of 12 stars 36:13 with creases of the kingdom number, 12 36:15 tribes of the Old Testament, 36:16 12 apostles of the New Testament. 36:18 So the remnant of this woman 36:20 not only keep God's commandments, 36:21 but the reason they keep God's commandments, 36:23 is because they are clothed with Christ's righteousness. 36:26 They are settled into the salvation 36:29 that Jesus Christ is provided as a gift. 36:32 And they love Him because of that gift. 36:34 And because they love Him, they keep His commandments, 36:36 and they have the testimony of Jesus 36:37 and they're standing on the Word of God. 36:38 And in verse 11, it says, 36:40 "They overcome by the word of their testimony, 36:41 by the blood of the Lamb, 36:43 and they loved not their lives unto the death." 36:44 So the remnant in Revelation 12 36:46 takes in all of these characteristics. 36:48 Amen. 36:49 Your face lights up every time 36:51 you're talking about Revelation by the way. 36:53 Prophetic law. 36:55 That's right. 36:56 Pastor Day, "I'm a member of a Sunday Church. 37:00 Do I need to get baptized to become a member 37:02 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church?" 37:05 Well, the simple answer to that question 37:06 is not necessarily. 37:09 Little over 10 years ago, 37:10 almost 11 years ago, I became a member 37:12 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church 37:14 and I did not come in through baptism, 37:16 but what is known as profession of faith. 37:18 At that particular time in my walk with the Lord, 37:20 I had already previously been baptized, 37:23 you know, by immersion, as the Bible teaches. 37:26 And I felt at that point that my baptism was sufficient. 37:29 And that in that case, the church provides an option 37:32 for someone to come in, 37:33 by profession of faith, just simply declaring, 37:35 and professing your belief in Christ 37:37 and the biblical principles 37:39 that a Christian should be grounded in 37:42 making a profession of faith so that's an option. 37:44 Now, obviously, if you have been baptized before, 37:47 but you've not been baptized in the way 37:49 that the Bible tells you should be for instance, 37:51 maybe through forms of baptism by infusion 37:54 or pouring or sprinkling 37:55 of some kind in that case, absolutely. 37:57 If you're coming in as a new member 37:59 into the Adventist Church, 38:00 we're going to strongly, 38:02 ask you to be baptized in the biblical form, 38:06 which is baptism by immersion. 38:08 I have also since joining the Adventist Church, 38:11 I've been rebaptized 38:12 because the Lord taught me new life changing truth, 38:15 truth that transformed my understanding, 38:17 my outlook on what it means to be a follower of Jesus, 38:20 to love Jesus, and to know Jesus as my Lord 38:23 and personal Savior. 38:24 And when I saw that, and the light bulb came on, 38:27 and the light was shown in my life, 38:28 I made the decision, just as we see, 38:31 the 12 Ephesian disciples in Acts Chapter 19, 38:34 I made the decision to be rebaptized into this new truth 38:37 and this new understanding of what it means to be 38:39 fully committed and surrender to Jesus. 38:41 So that very well may be the case for you 38:44 as you're coming into this new truth. 38:45 If you make the decision to become a member 38:47 of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 38:48 you may not necessarily need to be rebaptized, 38:51 because if you've been baptized before previously, 38:54 according to the right understanding of baptism, 38:57 but you may do choose later down the road 38:59 or at that point of new membership 39:00 in the Adventist Church to be rebaptized 39:03 according to the new truth 39:04 that you have learned in Jesus Christ 39:06 Amen. 39:07 Well said. 39:09 Pastor Lomacang, you're gonna have 39:10 three minutes for this question. 39:13 "My brother wants to be baptized. 39:14 My mother has prayed for him for many years, 39:17 but he doesn't want to become a member of a church. 39:20 He loves the Lord and prays 39:22 but is a loner and never goes anywhere. 39:25 Can he be baptized without joining a church?" 39:28 Okay, he could be baptized, but let me make it very clear. 39:31 I'll start with Mark 16:16, 39:33 the purpose of baptism is outlined clearly, 39:35 he who believes and is baptized will be saved. 39:38 So that's the purpose of baptism, 39:39 washing away the old life, 39:42 putting to death that old life, 39:43 coming forth to walk in the newness of life. 39:46 Romans 6:5-6. 39:48 Baptism gives us a new start, 39:50 but nowhere in the Bible does baptism separate us 39:54 from the community of believers. 39:56 Baptism into Jesus means baptism into His church, 40:00 He established a church 40:01 and we cannot victoriously become successful 40:07 if we are fighting the battle of life by ourselves. 40:11 The community of believers is what the Bible established. 40:14 That's why the Lord said, 40:15 "Thou art Peter and upon this rock, 40:17 I build my church, 40:18 and the gates of hell will not prevail against it." 40:20 Matthew 16:18. 40:22 So the Lord established the church 40:24 for the purpose of a community of believers, 40:27 that's where you get the word fellowship koinonia. 40:30 And we find that in the Book of Acts, 40:31 where the church was established. 40:33 Acts 2:41, 40:35 "Then those who gladly received the word 40:37 were baptized and that day 40:40 about 3000 souls were added to them." 40:43 Added to what? 40:44 Verse 47, 40:46 "Praising God and having favor with all the people, 40:49 and the Lord added to the church daily, 40:52 those who were being saved." 40:54 He who believes and is baptized shall be saved. 40:56 Saved for what? 40:57 To be added to the community of believers, 40:59 for what purpose? 41:01 For we are His workmanship 41:02 created in Christ Jesus for good works. 41:05 God doesn't just hire you and say, 41:07 sit there and I'll just pay for doing nothing. 41:09 We are saved by grace, 41:10 but we are saved for good works, 41:12 not by good works. 41:14 The community is there for us to grow together. 41:17 Iron sharpens iron. 41:18 You will never know how strong you are 41:20 if you are not in a community of believers. 41:22 Can I get an amen? Amen. 41:23 Because we know the people in the church 41:25 help us grow as pastors. 41:27 But you find Acts 2:44, 41:30 "Now all who believed were together 41:33 and had all things in common." 41:35 That's why when you find the story of Peter 41:37 being in prison, 41:38 what happened? 41:40 Acts 12:12, they came together and when the church gathered, 41:44 many were praying together, what? 41:46 For the release of Peter. 41:48 The Bible says in Ephesians, there's one Lord, one faith, 41:51 one baptism, one God, one Father of all, 41:54 and what's the purpose of that? 41:55 For the unity of the faith. 41:57 Unity cannot be by yourself. 42:00 You're not just unified, you and God alone. 42:02 Can you imagine, I'm a football player, 42:04 I play for the New York Giants? 42:06 Have you ever played? 42:07 No, I just bought the uniform, the helmet, the shoes, 42:09 everything else, but I'm not a part of the team. 42:11 I don't want to be a part of the team. 42:13 The church is going to triumph. 42:15 The church is not triumphing individually, 42:17 we are being caught up together. 42:20 And so when you find in the Bible, 42:22 here's the blessing of the church. 42:24 Matthew 18:24, 42:25 "For where two or three are gathered in My name, 42:28 I am there in the midst of them." 42:30 When you join Christ, 42:31 you joined the fellowship of the church, 42:33 where the gates of hell cannot prevail against it. 42:35 And that's what unity and fellowship is all about. 42:38 That's right. Amen. 42:39 And you miss out on so much if you're not going to church. 42:43 Pastor Rafferty, "Today in Africa, 42:45 we die at the age of 50 or 70, yet in the Bible, 42:50 mostly in the Old Testament people reached 900 years old. 42:54 Why is that? 42:55 Are we too sinful to die above the age of 100?" 42:59 This is from Emanuel. 43:00 Great question, Emmanuel. 43:02 You know, the Bible does talk about the pre flood lifespan, 43:06 the much longer than the lifespan we have today. 43:10 And there are several reasons for that. 43:11 One of the reasons is we know that 43:12 the earth's atmosphere was different before the flood, 43:15 and that allowed for people to live longer 43:18 to live healthier than after the flood. 43:21 Another reason for that is 43:22 because God actually did shorten our lives. 43:25 The wickedness of man was so great 43:27 before the flood that God said, you know what? 43:28 I need to do things a little bit differently 43:30 on the other side. 43:31 And so we're told that God actually gives us 43:33 threescore and 10, which is about 70 years. 43:36 Now, there are people that live longer than that. 43:38 And Adventists themselves are known 43:40 to live longer than that 43:41 because we follow these health principles, 43:43 or at least when we do follow these health principles, 43:45 they give us longevity, 43:47 and we actually create Blue Zones, 43:49 and there are more being created. 43:50 We have one in Loma Linda, 43:52 there's another one being created in Walla Walla, 43:53 Washington. 43:54 So there is a lifestyle 43:56 that can actually prolong our years on this earth, 44:00 give us a healthier, 44:01 longer life if we follow the principles 44:03 that God has given us. 44:05 After the flood, that lifespan was interrupted by the diet 44:10 that we partook of post flood we started eating animals. 44:14 Before the flood, 44:17 the food that God had given us was largely a vegetarian diet, 44:21 and probably most people follow that, 44:23 but after the flood there wasn't a lot of vegetation. 44:25 God allowed Noah his family to eat animals. 44:27 And we know today research tells us today 44:30 that an animal diet does increase our mortality, 44:34 it increases disease, and it shortens our lifespan. 44:39 So there are a number of factors here 44:41 that we need to consider. 44:42 But most of all, we need to recognize 44:44 that God has given us 44:46 a certain amount of years on this earth, 44:47 we follow Him, we live up to the life He's given us, 44:49 and we trust Him 44:50 for this particular part of life that we have. 44:53 And then we believe in Him for eternal life. 44:56 This life right now 44:58 is just the opportunity to give us a taste 45:01 of what eternity is going to be like. 45:02 Amen. 45:04 Eternity is gonna be incredible. 45:07 We're gonna enter into what I like to call 45:09 our bonus round, 45:10 where we just throw out some extra questions, 45:11 and whoever wants to answer them 45:13 can answer them. 45:15 This one says, "Where in the Bible does it say 45:18 that the Holy Spirit will be taken from the earth?" 45:21 This is from Carlina out of Texas. 45:24 Well, we find in Genesis, 45:27 it didn't say the Holy Spirit will be taken from the earth. 45:29 It says My Spirit will not always strive with man. 45:33 And now we find that in the story 45:35 of the antediluvian world 45:37 where the Lord was striving 45:39 with the antediluvian generation 45:41 through the Holy Spirit as He does today. 45:43 And you find in John 16, He says, 45:46 what's the role of the Holy Spirit? 45:47 To convict of sin, and of judgment, 45:50 and of righteousness. 45:51 And then you find the writings in the Book of Matthew, 45:54 that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit 45:56 whereby we are sealed. 45:58 Now when you decide not to respond 46:00 to the wooing of the Holy Spirit. 46:01 I've often said, the Spirit works in three ways, 46:04 one, to work on us, 46:06 then when we respond to work in us, 46:09 then when we get strong and are developed 46:11 in our walk to work through us. 46:13 But if you don't respond 46:14 to the one who's working on you, 46:16 he'll never work in you 46:17 and he surely won't work through you. 46:19 What will happen? 46:20 You will lose that privilege. 46:21 And as was the day of the flood, 46:23 the days of the flood, 46:24 he says, My Spirit will not always strive with man, 46:27 meaning, as I said in very common vernacular, 46:30 God's not gonna always be fighting with you. 46:33 One day, that voice will no longer be heard, 46:35 that still small voice will be shut out. 46:38 So as we've seen in the scriptures 46:39 don't make the same mistake the antediluvians did, 46:43 by ignoring the voice of God, 46:44 which was calling them into the ark of safety. 46:47 You cannot ignore the Holy Spirit and be saved. 46:49 Well said. 46:51 I'll just echo the fact he was going right 46:53 where I was gonna go. 46:54 You know, Jesus said on all of the discourse, 46:57 he says that Matthew 24:37, 46:59 that as in the days of Noah 47:01 so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be 47:04 comparing the last days to the days of Noah. 47:06 And so while the Bible does not explicitly say, 47:09 you know that in the last days, 47:10 the Holy Spirit's going to be withdrawn, 47:12 we know that it's in comparison to Noah's day 47:14 where he did say, 47:16 My Spirit will not always strive with man. 47:17 In this case, we're going to see a repeat of that, 47:19 as the day's progress closer and closer 47:22 to the Second Coming of Jesus. 47:24 That this world is waning cold, 47:27 the love of this world is waxing cold, 47:29 lawlessness is abounding in much. 47:31 And as Pastor mentioned, 47:33 you know, the grieving of the Holy Spirit. 47:35 I think in 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul talks about, 47:37 you know, Do not quench the Holy Spirit, 47:39 we're seeing more and more 47:40 of God's Spirit being withdrawn, 47:43 not because God wants it to be that way 47:45 but because man is choosing to reject 47:47 the spirit of truth in their life. 47:49 And when that happens, oh, my goodness, 47:51 Lord, have mercy on us. 47:53 We need to be in prayer for each other 47:54 and for our friends or family in this world. 47:56 But we know the inevitable end is that Jesus must come back, 47:59 because the majority of this world 48:01 is going to reject a spirit, 48:02 but he has a people who will not. 48:04 Amen. 48:06 What they said. 48:08 I'm in Matthew 24, right now. 48:10 Okay. 48:12 And you know, one last state, 48:14 and what happens when you reject the spirit 48:16 that wants to give you a true revelation, 48:19 God sends a strong delusion. 48:22 That's what people think 48:23 that they're under the Spirit of God, 48:24 when in fact, they are deluded, they are deceived, 48:27 because they reject the Holy Spirit, 48:29 which is in fact the spirit of truth. 48:31 So be careful how we respond 48:33 or not to the Holy Spirit's wooing. 48:35 That's right. Well said. 48:36 "When this earth is made new, 48:39 the New Jerusalem, where will all the angels be?" 48:42 This is from Diane out of Pennsylvania. 48:44 You want to start, James? 48:46 I'm not sure I was gonna be. 48:48 Well, we're told in the context of Revelation Chapter 4, 48:51 for example, as well as Ezekiel Chapter 1 48:53 and Isaiah Chapter 6, 48:55 that the angels are around the throne of God, 48:57 and we know in Revelation 21 and 22, 49:00 that the throne of God, the city of Jerusalem 49:02 is going to come down to this earth. 49:03 So the angels are going to remain 49:05 around the throne of God. 49:06 God isn't going to say, well, I'm going down to earth. 49:07 Now I've got all my people down there 49:09 that I've redeemed, they're going to replace you. 49:11 You're no longer needed, 49:12 you can go off to another planet. 49:14 No, they'll be there. 49:15 And we see that in Revelation over and over again, 49:17 we see the 24 elders and living creatures, 49:20 the 24 elders and living creatures, 49:22 we see every voice in heaven and earth 49:24 and under the earth and all the angels saying 49:26 praise and glory and honor and power, 49:27 majesty to God and to Him 49:29 that sits on the throne to the Lamb. 49:30 So we know that the angel is going to be here with us 49:34 praising God throughout all eternity. 49:36 Well said. 49:37 And the other thing is the angels of God 49:39 are His workforce. 49:40 That's right. 49:42 When you read Revelation, I love the Book of Revelation. 49:43 I know you do, too, James. 49:44 You find angels are through and through. 49:47 In the very beginning, he sent and signified it 49:49 through His angels to His servant, John, 49:51 then the angels to the seven churches, 49:54 then you find the angels holding back the four winds, 49:56 then the mighty angel in Revelation Chapter 18. 49:59 And then the army that's following God 50:02 on horses are the angels. 50:04 And then he's going to send his angels 50:05 in Matthew Chapter 25 and 26. 50:08 He's going to send His angels and gather His elect. 50:10 So the angels are continuing 50:13 the work of completing the act of salvation. 50:16 Hebrews 1:14, 50:17 "Are they not all ministering spirits 50:20 sent forth to minister for those 50:21 who will inherit salvation?" 50:23 That's the work of the angels. 50:25 And you know what's beautiful, 50:26 the angels are also involved in keeping us safe. 50:29 The angel of the Lord encampeth 50:30 around about those who fear Him and deliver them. 50:33 So and also last part, 50:35 we are not the only world in existence. 50:37 I cannot imagine 50:39 how many angels there are for all the worlds, 50:42 the aeons that God has created. 50:44 We're going to be blown away 50:46 when we see what God has hidden for us 50:48 to see when we get a chance to see Him face to face. 50:50 That's exactly where I was gonna go. 50:52 Hebrews 1:2 here says 50:54 that God made, He made the worlds. 50:55 And so I can imagine 50:56 who's at these other worlds, right? 50:58 All the other angels. 50:59 Even Jesus said that we will be made like into the angels. 51:02 And so I can imagine 51:03 that you're going to be everywhere 51:04 where the angel is going to be, 51:06 or there's going to be some in heaven, 51:07 there's going to be some of these other worlds. 51:08 And I can imagine, even on this New Earth, 51:10 we're going to see the presence of angels quite often. 51:13 So they're going to be where God wants them to be. 51:15 That's right. Well said. 51:17 You know, I feel like when I get to heaven, 51:19 I'm gonna just have to thank my angel 51:21 over and over and over again, 51:24 and thank Jesus for His hand of protection over my life. 51:28 That's right. 51:29 Your angel is gonna be on Social Security. 51:30 You may pay him for overtime. 51:34 I'm just looking forward to getting there. 51:37 Well, I hope that you've been enjoying this program thus far. 51:40 Stick around, we're not going anywhere. 51:43 We're just gonna take a brief break, 51:45 and we will be right back. 51:47 So prepare for some final thoughts. 51:51 If you're enjoying our 3ABN Bible Q and A, 51:54 then tell your friends, 51:56 each Monday we'll bring you a fresh program, 51:59 answering the Bible questions you send us, 52:01 using God's Holy Word to shed light on those texts 52:05 that seem difficult to understand. 52:07 To have your questions answered on a future program, 52:10 just email them to us at BibleQA@3abn.tv 52:15 That's BibleQA@3abn.tv 52:18 You may also text your questions 52:20 to (618) 228-3975. 52:24 That's (618) 228-3975. 52:28 Be sure to include your name and where you live, 52:30 and then watch 3ABN Bible Q and A 52:33 for answers from God's Word. |
Revised 2024-08-13