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male announcer: It is the
best-selling book in history.
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No volume ever written has been
more loved and quoted, and its
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words, sometimes simple and
sometimes mysterious, should
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always be studied carefully.
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It is the
Bible, the Word of God.
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Welcome to "Bible Answers Live,"
providing accurate and practical
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answers to all
your Bible questions.
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This broadcast is a
previously-recorded episode.
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To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
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broadcast, call 800-835-6747.
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Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
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Now, here's your host from
Amazing Facts International,
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Pastor Doug Batchelor.
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Doug Batchelor:
Welcome, listening friends.
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Would you like to
hear an amazing fact?
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In 1969, a well-groomed
74-year-old gentleman was jumped
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from behind as he walked
down 53rd Street, New York City.
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The muggers had the surprise of
their lives as the old man broke
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loose, spun around, and
proceeded to knock both of his
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assailants flat with his
fists, leaving them sprawled
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on the sidewalk.
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They might have thought twice if
they had known the old man they
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had singled out as an
easy target was a former
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professional boxer.
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But not just any boxer, but
the ferocious world heavyweight
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boxing champion, Jack Dempsey.
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He was known as one of the
toughest boxers in history and a
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hero for the likes of
Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson.
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When later asked by reporters,
Dempsey replied, "I guess I was
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just acting out of instinct."
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He knew how to fight in a
pinch because he had practiced
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in real life.
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You know, the Bible says every
believer must train to fight the
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good fight of faith against
the attacks of the devil.
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You know, you can read about
that in 1 Timothy, Pastor Ross,
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where it says in chapter 6,
"Fight the good fight of faith,
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lay hold on eternal life, to
which you were also called and
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have confessed a good
confession in the presence
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of many witnesses."
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Sometimes people are told that,
you know, once you accept Jesus
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everything's going to be fine.
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They don't really
understand that there's going
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to be struggles.
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The Christian walk
sometimes involves battles.
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It says we run, we
wrestle, we war, we strive.
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And people need to
know that there's a fight,
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and you can train in
preparation for a fight.
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Jean Ross: That's
right, Pastor Doug.
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You know, before an
army goes into battle,
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they go into training.
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They call it boot camp.
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And they prepare so that they
can be successful in battle, and
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as Christians there is
preparation that we can do so
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that we can be successful in the
most important battle of all.
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Often in the Bible the Christian
and the church is likened unto a
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soldier and an army; and we're
fighting in the Lord's cause,
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not fighting against flesh and
blood but against principalities
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and powers as Paul puts it.
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How can we resist the
assaults of the devil?
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Well, we have a book.
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It's called "Tips for
Resisting Temptation."
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If you've made a decision to
be a Christian, you know about
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temptation 'cause the devil does
not want people to follow the
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will of God, to
keep His commandments.
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How could we be
victorious in our life?
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We'll be happy to send this
to anyone who calls and asks.
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The book is called "Tips
for Resisting Temptation."
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The number is 800-835-6747.
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Just ask for it by name.
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It's called "Tips for
Resisting Temptation."
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And if you have a smartphone,
you can just dial #250 and say,
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"Bible Answers Live,"
and then ask for the book
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"Tips for Resisting Temptation"
and we'll be happy to
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send that to anyone out there.
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You know, Pastor Doug, it's so
important that we as Christians,
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as you mentioned in the
beginning, recognize that once a
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person gives their life to
Christ the battle isn't over,
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it's really begun in earnest.
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And if ever we need the armor
of God and the Spirit within us,
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it's living the
victorious Christian life.
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Doug: And that's one of the
messages throughout Scripture
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from Joshua to Gideon to David,
that there are battles involved.
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But if you're fighting in God's
battle, He gives you strength
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and He'll give you victory.
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Jean: Well, before we go to
the phone lines, as we always do
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we would like to begin
the program with prayer.
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Dear Father, we thank You that
we have this opportunity once
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again to study Your Word.
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We know that the Bible is
likened unto the sword that the
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Christian needs when he battles
against the forces of darkness.
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So we pray that You guide us as
we open up Your Word and study
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together, and we
thank You in Jesus's name.
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Amen.
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Well, Pastor Doug, we also want
to welcome all of those who are
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joining us.
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I know we have folks who are
watching on AFTV; also listening
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on the radio; those who are
listening also on Facebook, the
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Doug Batchelor Facebook page,
the Amazing Facts Facebook page;
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also on Amazing
Facts YouTube and on AFTV.
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I think I mentioned that.
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And some who are
watching on Hope channel.
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So we'd like to welcome all of
those who are participating in
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this live interactive
international Bible study.
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And if you have a Bible
question, the phone line here to
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the studio is 800-463-7297.
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It's 800-463-7297.
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800-GOD-SAYS, and that'll bring
you here into the studio with
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your Bible question.
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Our first caller this evening is
Anthony listening in New York.
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Anthony, welcome to the program.
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Anthony: Good evening, pastor.
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My question is based on Exodus
chapter 8, verses 22 and 23.
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And I guess the question is,
why did the Israelites have to
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suffer the first three plagues,
and why did God only, you know,
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make a division between the
Israelites and the Egyptians
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on the fourth plague?
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Doug: Well, another way to
say that that's very interesting
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is, why did God then
deliver them from the seven
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last plagues?
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And if you look in Revelation,
of course God delivers His
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people during the seven
last plagues in Revelation.
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But I think one reason is
because God reminds us that
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people suffer as a
result of decisions of others.
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None of the Israelites
were in Egypt because of
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a decision they had made.
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They were suffering because
of a decision their ancestors
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had made.
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And why are we
suffering in a world of sin?
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People suffer because of a
decision our ancestors made
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going all the way back to
Adam and Eve and subsequently
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others since them.
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So I think God is illustrating
that, you know, even--in a war
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even innocent people suffer.
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And so yes, they did experience
the first three plagues, and
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they were not the
most catastrophic part
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of the plagues.
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The plagues started easy, you
might say, and then got tougher
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and tougher as it went along.
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Jean: You know, we do have a
study guide that talks about the
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origin of evil and why we live
in a world with sin and why do
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good people sometimes suffer.
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The study guide is
called "Did God Create a Devil?"
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And it talks about
the origin of evil.
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It's a great study guide.
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It's part of our set of
Amazing Facts study guides.
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Again, we will be
happy to send this to anyone
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who calls and ask.
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The number is
800-835-6747 or dial #250.
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You can say "Bible
Answers Live" and then ask
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for the study guide.
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It's called "Did
God Create a Devil?"
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And of course we'll send
that to anyone here in the US,
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in North America, Canada.
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Thank you for
your call, Anthony.
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We got Gary
listening in Illinois.
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Gary, you're on the air.
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Gary: Hi.
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My question is, are we living
in the Book of Revelation?
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I get this from Matthew 24.
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"You'll see
plagues and pestilence,
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wars and rumors of wars."
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There be beginning of sorrows.
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In Revelation 8:7, the
world will end by fire and hail.
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Fire everything west
to the Rocky Mountains,
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75 wildfires going on.
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For 6 months it took to
put them out, and then hail.
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You go to YouTube, hailstorm
Georgia, Texas, France.
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They show you
hailstorms size of baseballs
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going through windshields.
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And so even now
atmospheric rivers.
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We never had
that 10, 5 years ago.
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This is all new stuff.
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So that's my question.
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Doug: Well, in a word; yes,
we are living in the Book of
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Revelation because Revelation
the prophecies actually begin
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with--he says
the time is at hand.
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So Revelation is covering a span
of history from the first coming
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to the second coming of Jesus.
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And so we're definitely living
in the time of Revelation, and I
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think we are also living
in the time of Matthew 24.
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There have always been wars.
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As a matter of fact, Jesus said
there'll be wars and rumors of
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wars but the end is not yet.
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In other words, don't let every
war that comes along make you
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think this is the end.
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But what you would see as you
got closer to the end is that
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the wars and the natural
disasters and earthquakes
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and the plagues and
pestilence would increase
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in intensity and frequency.
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Jesus talks about
it as birth pangs.
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And when a woman's about
to have a baby, you start the
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contractions and as the
contractions get closer together
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they get more intense and then
you've got a baby eventually.
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So that's what's happening; is
as we near the end of time it's
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almost like a top that's about
to fall over it begins to gyrate
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and wobble, and our whole planet
is sort of gyrating right now.
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Paul says the whole creation
groans and travails together.
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And so I do think
you're seeing an increase.
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The last world wars in the last
century were unprecedented, and
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now we've got weapons.
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And, you know, if Russia
uses one of its nuclear weapons
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and--how many other countries
have nuclear weapons now?
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Pakistan and India
and Israel and France
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and all over the world.
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It can mark the end.
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That's why Jesus said except
those days be shortened no flesh
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would be saved.
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Jean: You know, I'm thinking
of a verse, Pastor Doug, in Luke
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chapter 21 and verse 25.
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This is what it says.
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It says, "There will be signs
in the sun, in the moon, in the
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stars; and on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity,"
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and it says, "the sea
and the waves roaring."
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Kind of get the idea
of tornadoes and storms.
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Verse 26 says, "And men's hearts
failing them for fear and the
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expectation of those things
which are coming upon the earth,
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for the powers of
heaven will be shaken."
00:10:07.50\00:10:10.21
So here we have a description
of end-time events and it talks
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about natural phenomenon,
storms in the sea, perplexities,
00:10:12.44\00:10:16.91
distress amongst nations, fear,
disease; all of these things we
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see happening today, and of
course it's also referred to in
00:10:21.62\00:10:23.99
the Book of Revelation.
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Doug: Yep, absolutely.
00:10:25.72\00:10:27.32
So I think the answer
to that question is yes,
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we are living in the last days.
00:10:29.36\00:10:31.29
Do we know the
day and the hour? No.
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Can we tell when
that time is near?
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Yes.
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Jesus said when you see these
things begin to come to pass
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lift up your heads for
your redemption draws nigh
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or draws near.
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Thank you. I
appreciate your call, Gary.
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Jean: Glenn in Ohio.
Glenn, can you hear us?
00:10:45.81\00:10:49.41
Glenn: Hey. Good
evening from Bethel, Ohio.
00:10:49.44\00:10:52.35
Just wanted to tell you I enjoy
the program, getting different
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answers on common issues.
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I was looking for an answer on
an issue that's not very common.
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You know, today it's being more
and more seen the Jewish people
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are being
proselyted into Christianity.
00:11:05.43\00:11:08.16
As I get to see in the--
it's really on the increase.
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But in my Bible studies I was
searching Scriptures and I went
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to the Scripture
Zechariah verses 28--I'm sorry.
00:11:15.74\00:11:21.18
22 and 23; Zechariah chapter
8:22 and 23, which indicates
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there might be a
reversal of proselyting there.
00:11:26.82\00:11:32.02
Can you comment
on that? Go ahead.
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Doug: Yes. Thank you very much.
00:11:33.96\00:11:35.46
We'll do our best, Glenn. Yeah.
00:11:35.49\00:11:36.96
In Zechariah, it's saying
something you actually hear
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repeated other places in the
Bible where God talks about that
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people will turn to
the God of the Jews.
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Of course, this
first happened with Jesus.
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When a Christian comes to
Christ, it is not a rejection or
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repudiation of Judaism.
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What it is is the
fulfillment of Judaism.
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Judaism all look forward to the
coming of the Messiah, and the
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first ones who proclaimed the
Messiah were all Jews and the
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New Testament
is written by Jews.
00:12:08.29\00:12:10.83
And Paul said that what happens
is when a Gentile accepts
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Christ, they
become a spiritual Jew.
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So what it's saying here in
Zechariah is that people of the
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world would come to the God
of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
00:12:20.67\00:12:25.41
And true Judaism
embraces the true Messiah.
00:12:25.44\00:12:29.31
So this is not--there's nothing
wrong with Christians inviting
00:12:29.34\00:12:33.42
Jews to accept Jesus.
00:12:33.45\00:12:37.09
That's not asking them to
renounce their Judaism, it's
00:12:37.12\00:12:40.96
actually a fulfillment of that.
00:12:40.99\00:12:42.69
My mother's Jewish, and so
I never felt like I was more
00:12:42.72\00:12:45.83
Jewish than after I accepted
Jesus 'cause the Bible is
00:12:45.86\00:12:50.37
like--I felt like it's
our book, you know, and--yeah.
00:12:50.40\00:12:53.07
So we appeal for Jews everywhere
to accept Jesus, and Christians
00:12:53.10\00:12:58.71
become spiritual Jews.
00:12:58.74\00:13:01.18
Jean: You know, we've
done--actually you, Pastor Doug,
00:13:01.21\00:13:03.48
and two Jewish friends of yours
did a series of presentations
00:13:03.51\00:13:06.72
called "Is Jesus
Kosher for the Jews?"
00:13:06.75\00:13:09.92
And I think
Amazing Facts has the DVD.
00:13:09.95\00:13:11.95
People can call and ask for it.
00:13:11.99\00:13:13.29
It might also be available on
YouTube, I'm not sure, or on the
00:13:13.32\00:13:16.06
Amazing Facts website.
00:13:16.09\00:13:17.46
Doug: We also have that
book called "Spiritual Israel."
00:13:17.49\00:13:20.26
We could send a
free copy to Glenn.
00:13:20.30\00:13:22.46
Jean: The number to call
for that is 800-835-6747.
00:13:22.50\00:13:26.10
You can ask for the book
called "Spiritual Israel."
00:13:26.13\00:13:28.87
You can also dial #250, say
"Bible Answers Live," and then
00:13:28.90\00:13:32.84
ask for the book
"Spiritual Israel."
00:13:32.87\00:13:35.28
Thank you for your
call, Glenn. Let's see.
00:13:35.31\00:13:37.48
We've got Martha in California.
We'll go back to Martha.
00:13:37.51\00:13:40.95
Martha, can you hear us?
00:13:40.98\00:13:44.29
Martha: Yes, I can.
00:13:44.32\00:13:45.62
Now, my question comes
from Genesis 15, verse 17.
00:13:45.65\00:13:52.53
The Lord had asked Abraham to
lay out three different animals
00:13:52.56\00:13:57.43
and two different birds and then
later after Abraham had fallen
00:13:57.47\00:14:03.97
into a deep sleep there was
a smoking furnace and a burning
00:14:04.01\00:14:08.68
lamp that passed
among the animals.
00:14:08.71\00:14:14.02
Could you please let
me know or tell me what
00:14:14.05\00:14:18.82
those two items represent?
00:14:18.85\00:14:23.73
Doug: Well, when--the animals
being divided like that is a
00:14:23.76\00:14:27.00
sacrifice, and often covenants
were ratified with sacrifice.
00:14:27.03\00:14:31.60
And God was making a covenant
with Abraham, but He was also
00:14:31.63\00:14:34.97
warning Abraham that his people
were going to go through a time
00:14:35.00\00:14:39.21
of severe trial, which of
course was fulfilled in Egypt.
00:14:39.24\00:14:43.01
And He says to him that, you
know, "Your descendants will be
00:14:43.04\00:14:47.45
struggling in another
land and they'll be oppressed."
00:14:47.48\00:14:50.92
But the smoking fire that passed
between the sacrifice, that was
00:14:50.95\00:14:58.43
like the glory of God, the
consuming fire, the Shekinah
00:14:58.46\00:15:02.50
that passed between them; and
I think it was sort of a symbol
00:15:02.53\00:15:06.94
of the presence of
God was going to be there
00:15:06.97\00:15:08.90
and bring His people through.
00:15:08.94\00:15:11.07
Jean: It also a reference
to a covenant when somebody
00:15:11.11\00:15:13.27
would--back in Bible times if
they were to do something like
00:15:13.31\00:15:16.44
that and divide an animal and
let the blood flow into a little
00:15:16.48\00:15:19.78
bit of a trench and those making
an oath or a promise would often
00:15:19.81\00:15:23.65
pass through that, and
in essence they are saying,
00:15:23.69\00:15:26.42
"If I fail to keep my side
of the agreement, you know,
00:15:26.45\00:15:30.46
I can be as those killed."
00:15:30.49\00:15:32.66
And here you have God in this
burning fire passing through the
00:15:32.69\00:15:37.33
midst of these sacrificed
animals as if God is saying,
00:15:37.37\00:15:40.40
you know, "You can
put your trust in Me.
00:15:40.44\00:15:43.17
Even though your descendants are
going to be in this foreign land
00:15:43.20\00:15:45.61
for 400 years, I
will bring them back."
00:15:45.64\00:15:48.44
And the whole
promise of the Jewish people
00:15:48.48\00:15:50.25
is the coming of the Messiah.
00:15:50.28\00:15:51.81
So there's a reference to
Christ, the promised one who
00:15:51.85\00:15:53.85
would deliver them
ultimately from all of the
00:15:53.88\00:15:56.02
enemies--spiritual enemies.
00:15:56.05\00:15:57.62
Doug: Yeah. Very good.
00:15:57.65\00:15:58.95
Jean: All right.
00:15:58.99\00:16:00.49
Well, thank you
for your call, Martha.
00:16:00.52\00:16:02.06
We've got Carol
listening in Nebraska.
00:16:02.09\00:16:03.39
Carol, you're on the air.
00:16:03.43\00:16:05.13
Carol: Hello. Thank
you for taking my call.
00:16:05.16\00:16:07.23
I have a question
on Psalm 139, verse 16.
00:16:07.23\00:16:15.30
It says, "Thine eyes did see my
substance, yet being unperfect;
00:16:15.34\00:16:20.54
and in thy book all my
members were written, which in
00:16:20.58\00:16:24.75
continuance were fashioned, when
as yet there was none of them."
00:16:24.78\00:16:29.65
Thy book, is that
referring to the book of life?
00:16:29.68\00:16:34.66
Doug: You know, I'm
not sure that that would be
00:16:34.69\00:16:36.36
the book of life.
00:16:36.39\00:16:38.43
You know, the Bible talks
about a book of remembrance.
00:16:38.46\00:16:40.96
I think that God is basically
just saying that--David is
00:16:40.96\00:16:45.73
actually writing in the psalm.
00:16:45.77\00:16:47.20
By the way, what
version were you reading from?
00:16:47.24\00:16:49.40
'Cause I was following
along and my Bible here
00:16:49.44\00:16:51.31
is a little different.
00:16:51.34\00:16:54.58
Carol: Was the King James.
00:16:54.61\00:16:56.08
Doug: Okay. You were
reading from the King James?
00:16:56.11\00:16:59.58
Carol: I was. Yeah.
00:16:59.61\00:17:01.02
Doug: Okay.
00:17:01.05\00:17:02.45
Well--'cause I thought I
was following in the King James.
00:17:02.48\00:17:03.92
It says in verse 17--you were
reading verse 16 rather, right?
00:17:03.95\00:17:07.49
Carol: Right.
00:17:07.52\00:17:10.36
Doug: "Your eyes saw my
substance, being yet unformed;
00:17:10.39\00:17:13.50
and in your book they were all
written the days fashioned for
00:17:13.53\00:17:16.30
me as yet--when as yet
there were none of them."
00:17:16.33\00:17:21.57
Yeah, I think he's basically
saying--God said to Jeremiah
00:17:21.60\00:17:25.07
that, "I ordained you a prophet
from your mother's womb."
00:17:25.11\00:17:29.24
And, you know, God is
basically telling His--about His
00:17:29.28\00:17:33.28
foreknowledge of
each of us in our lives.
00:17:33.31\00:17:36.08
So I don't know that it was
talking about the book of life.
00:17:36.12\00:17:39.12
Jean: Rather that God knows
all things and He had purposed
00:17:39.15\00:17:41.46
or planned for His people
to accomplish certain things.
00:17:41.49\00:17:45.56
Doug: And that--yeah,
God's got a plan for everyone.
00:17:45.59\00:17:48.36
Carol: So how
many books are there?
00:17:48.40\00:17:50.33
I know there's the book of
life and book of remembrance.
00:17:50.37\00:17:55.84
How many other
books are there in heaven?
00:17:55.87\00:17:57.47
Do you know?
00:17:57.51\00:17:59.14
Doug: Yeah.
00:17:59.17\00:18:00.51
And keep in mind, books in
heaven are probably not like
00:18:00.54\00:18:03.51
what you'd find in the
Smithsonian Library or the
00:18:03.55\00:18:07.12
Library of Congress.
00:18:07.15\00:18:09.65
You know, God, I think, has a
record of every word we've ever
00:18:09.68\00:18:12.29
spoken and
every deed that we do.
00:18:12.32\00:18:15.89
I think there are
angels that record all things.
00:18:15.92\00:18:18.93
Right now, when you think about
it, in China they've got facial
00:18:18.96\00:18:22.36
recognition software that's
monitoring about a quarter of
00:18:22.40\00:18:25.30
their people and
they're recording everything.
00:18:25.33\00:18:28.17
You think about the
data that that involves.
00:18:28.20\00:18:30.87
Well, if humans can do
that, how much can God do?
00:18:30.91\00:18:34.11
Jean: Well, you know, we
do know that the Bible has, of
00:18:34.14\00:18:35.78
course, the book of life.
00:18:35.81\00:18:37.31
That's where the
names of the redeemed are.
00:18:37.35\00:18:39.25
You have the book of
remembrance, which is a record
00:18:39.28\00:18:42.12
of the good deeds that were
done; and then, of course, you
00:18:42.15\00:18:44.45
have the book of sin or the book
of iniquity, where every idle
00:18:44.49\00:18:47.86
word that men speak they
shall give an account of.
00:18:47.89\00:18:50.46
So--
00:18:50.49\00:18:51.79
Doug: But not
every idle word is sin.
00:18:51.83\00:18:53.13
Jean: Yeah, that's true.
00:18:53.16\00:18:54.63
Doug: I mean--and
there's a book of record.
00:18:54.66\00:18:56.06
Jean: A book of record, too.
00:18:56.10\00:18:57.53
Everything is
recorded in heaven.
00:18:57.57\00:18:59.37
Jesus says they shall give
an account of it-- of reckoning.
00:18:59.40\00:19:02.67
Doug: Yeah. Of
course sins are recorded.
00:19:02.70\00:19:04.11
You're right.
00:19:04.14\00:19:05.67
Jean: Yeah. There
is the book of sin.
00:19:05.71\00:19:07.24
All right. Well,
thank you, Carol.
00:19:07.28\00:19:08.58
Good question.
00:19:08.61\00:19:09.91
We've got--we're going to
go back to Junith in Nevada,
00:19:09.94\00:19:11.25
and hopefully we've
got everything working.
00:19:11.28\00:19:13.28
Doug: Can you hear us?
00:19:13.31\00:19:15.32
Junith: Can you
hear me, Pastor Doug?
00:19:15.35\00:19:16.92
Doug: Yes.
00:19:16.95\00:19:18.35
Junith: Thank you
for taking my call.
00:19:18.39\00:19:20.06
My question is, what made the
Israel the--in the Old Testament
00:19:20.09\00:19:26.03
time and even going forward to
the New Testament time that they
00:19:26.06\00:19:31.47
were described by
God as hard-headed
00:19:31.50\00:19:35.10
and stiff-necked people?
00:19:35.14\00:19:37.01
I already have my
biblical insights.
00:19:37.04\00:19:39.31
I want to have biblical insights
from the expert like you.
00:19:39.34\00:19:42.91
Thank you for
answering my call. Doug: Yeah.
00:19:42.94\00:19:45.91
Hope we never called ourselves
experts, but I'll share with you
00:19:45.95\00:19:49.68
what we believe; is I don't
think that the Israelites were
00:19:49.72\00:19:54.22
especially more hard-headed
than another nation might be.
00:19:54.26\00:20:00.13
I think it's the nature of sin.
00:20:00.16\00:20:02.63
Who is it, Isaiah, that tells
us all we, like sheep, have gone
00:20:02.66\00:20:06.03
our own way and the Lord laid
on him the iniquity of us all?
00:20:06.07\00:20:11.27
So it's kind of the
nature of the human race.
00:20:11.31\00:20:13.74
The reason He called them
a stubborn and a stiff-necked
00:20:13.78\00:20:16.24
people is He said, "Do not
think I chose you because you're
00:20:16.28\00:20:19.41
better than other nations."
00:20:19.45\00:20:21.38
Said, "You are a stubborn
and a stiff-necked people."
00:20:21.42\00:20:24.25
He said, "I chose
you because of My grace."
00:20:24.29\00:20:27.32
So I don't think that the Lord
was saying Jews are a lot more
00:20:27.36\00:20:33.03
stubborn and stiff-necked than
other nations or other races.
00:20:33.06\00:20:36.56
I think He was just illustrating
that it's--you know, He was
00:20:36.60\00:20:40.50
working especially with them,
but in spite of all the miracles
00:20:40.54\00:20:44.61
they still weren't getting
it right and that probably would
00:20:44.64\00:20:46.47
have happened with any nation.
00:20:46.51\00:20:48.88
Jean: You know, Junith, I
think you'd also like the book
00:20:48.91\00:20:50.55
called "Spiritual Israel."
00:20:50.58\00:20:52.68
The number,
again, is 800-835-6747.
00:20:52.71\00:20:56.35
You can just ask for the book.
It's called "Spiritual Israel."
00:20:56.38\00:20:59.95
You can also press #250 on
your phone, say, "Bible Answers
00:21:00.06\00:21:02.59
Live," and then ask for
the book "Spiritual Israel."
00:21:02.62\00:21:06.76
Next caller that we have
is calling from New York.
00:21:06.80\00:21:09.23
We have Eveian
calling. Eveian, welcome.
00:21:09.26\00:21:13.37
Eveian: Yes. Hi.
00:21:13.40\00:21:14.70
Good evening,
pastors. It's Eveian.
00:21:14.74\00:21:17.61
My question has to do with Luke
chapter 12, verses 47 and 48.
00:21:17.64\00:21:23.38
I want to know if this text
means that when--at the end of
00:21:23.41\00:21:27.05
time when all the wicked
are cast into the lake of fire
00:21:27.08\00:21:30.45
if some people will
burn more intensely than
00:21:30.49\00:21:34.62
others based on their sins.
00:21:34.66\00:21:37.06
For example, you know, if
Hitler, who has killed many
00:21:37.09\00:21:40.93
people, will burn longer at that
time as opposed to someone who
00:21:40.96\00:21:46.97
have killed one or two.
00:21:47.00\00:21:48.74
Doug: Let me read this for
our friends that are listening.
00:21:48.77\00:21:50.77
You know what the
verse says but others don't.
00:21:50.81\00:21:53.38
If you look in Luke chapter 12,
verse 47, "And that servant, who
00:21:53.41\00:21:57.48
knew his master's will and
did not prepare himself to do
00:21:57.51\00:22:00.35
according to his will, will
be beaten with many stripes.
00:22:00.38\00:22:03.89
But he who did not know yet
committed things deserving of
00:22:03.92\00:22:06.45
stripes will be beaten with few.
00:22:06.49\00:22:09.16
For everyone to whom much
is given, from him much will be
00:22:09.19\00:22:11.66
required: and to whom much has
been committed, of him they will
00:22:11.69\00:22:14.60
ask the more."
00:22:14.63\00:22:16.40
Basically it's saying
that we're accountable based
00:22:16.43\00:22:18.10
on what we know.
00:22:18.13\00:22:19.47
But one thing that's clear
there are varying degrees of
00:22:19.50\00:22:21.87
punishment, and the Bible talks
about varying degrees of reward.
00:22:21.90\00:22:25.74
Jesus says, "For those who
are persecuted for righteousness
00:22:25.77\00:22:28.24
sake, great is
your reward in heaven."
00:22:28.28\00:22:31.25
And so there are varying degrees
of punishment and reward 'cause
00:22:31.28\00:22:35.12
God is a good judge.
00:22:35.15\00:22:36.95
And yes, I think clearly Hitler,
who is--at least from our
00:22:36.99\00:22:41.32
understanding is a lot
more guilty than most people, is
00:22:41.36\00:22:44.49
going to suffer for all of
the misery and the guilt that he
00:22:44.53\00:22:47.73
caused, and the one who will
suffer the most and the longest
00:22:47.76\00:22:50.60
would no doubt be the devil.
00:22:50.63\00:22:52.47
Jean: And, of course, the
final penalty of sin, the Bible
00:22:52.50\00:22:54.47
tells us, is death; but not
everyone will immediately die,
00:22:54.50\00:22:58.74
at least not, you
know, in that lake of fire.
00:22:58.77\00:23:02.54
There will be different degrees
of punishment that will be meted
00:23:02.58\00:23:05.38
out based upon the
works of the wicked.
00:23:05.41\00:23:07.92
Pastor Doug, can we also say
that there's rewards in heaven?
00:23:07.95\00:23:10.99
I know the reward of
eternal life is given
00:23:11.02\00:23:13.15
to all who are saved.
00:23:13.19\00:23:16.12
But in addition to that,
those who have sacrificed, those
00:23:16.16\00:23:18.26
perhaps who have spent time
as missionaries and, you know,
00:23:18.29\00:23:21.70
have martyred--were
martyred for their faith.
00:23:21.73\00:23:24.03
Are there also differing rewards
in heaven for the righteous?
00:23:24.07\00:23:27.37
Doug: Yes. Yeah.
00:23:27.40\00:23:29.14
The fact that He said, "Great
is your reward in heaven," He
00:23:29.17\00:23:32.74
emphasized that and--yeah,
if He's going to have varying
00:23:32.77\00:23:37.88
degrees of rewards for
punishment, there will be
00:23:37.91\00:23:41.25
varying degrees of rewards.
00:23:41.28\00:23:42.95
Matter of fact, the disciples
said, "Can I sit on your right
00:23:42.98\00:23:45.19
hand and left hand?"
00:23:45.22\00:23:46.89
And Jesus said, "Someone's
going to have that position, but
00:23:46.92\00:23:49.36
that's--my Father's
going to decide that."
00:23:49.39\00:23:51.03
And he told the apostle, he
says, "You'll sit on 12 thrones
00:23:51.06\00:23:54.00
with me judging the 12 tribes."
00:23:54.00\00:23:56.23
So there's going to be thrones,
there's varying positions in
00:23:56.26\00:23:59.10
heaven; and even
among the angels now
00:23:59.13\00:24:01.60
there are varying positions.
00:24:01.64\00:24:03.57
Jean: All right. Very good.
00:24:03.61\00:24:04.91
Next caller that we have
is Lee listening in Texas.
00:24:04.94\00:24:06.71
Lee, welcome to the
program. Lee: Yes, sir.
00:24:06.74\00:24:09.21
My question is, I am addicted
to one of your early programs,
00:24:09.24\00:24:13.65
I believe, about coming back to
God for all the wrong reasons,
00:24:13.68\00:24:18.59
and I think I might
be one of those-- that is
00:24:18.62\00:24:23.19
coming back to my--to God
'cause I didn't really want
00:24:23.22\00:24:27.13
to come back to God just
recently 'cause I didn't know
00:24:27.13\00:24:32.00
the truth about heaven
or eternal fire or eternal
00:24:32.03\00:24:36.14
perishing forever.
00:24:36.17\00:24:39.01
And now that I know the truth
about it, about being completely
00:24:39.04\00:24:43.11
destroyed, that's
what turned me back to God.
00:24:43.14\00:24:45.01
But that's turning back to God
just out of self-preservation,
00:24:45.05\00:24:48.65
not out of love for God.
00:24:48.68\00:24:50.55
I mean, I've been studying
the Bible King James Version.
00:24:50.59\00:24:54.56
Doug: Yeah. Well, let
me jump in real quick.
00:24:54.59\00:24:56.66
We're going to run out
of time before a mid-break.
00:24:56.69\00:24:59.49
There's not a wrong
reason to turn back to God.
00:24:59.53\00:25:03.60
A desire for heaven is normal.
00:25:03.63\00:25:05.80
That's why God
tells us about the reward.
00:25:05.83\00:25:08.07
Wanting to avoid
punishment is also normal.
00:25:08.10\00:25:11.07
I mean, we teach children
with simple things like that.
00:25:11.11\00:25:13.68
They get spanked or
there's some corporal punishment
00:25:13.71\00:25:16.51
for bad behavior.
00:25:16.54\00:25:18.11
As you mature, you
want your children to obey
00:25:18.15\00:25:20.72
because of principle.
00:25:20.75\00:25:22.72
And as we mature as
Christians, we obey God because
00:25:22.75\00:25:25.49
we know He loves us
and we learn to trust Him.
00:25:25.52\00:25:28.29
Come back to Him any way you
can, do the right thing because
00:25:28.32\00:25:32.53
you know it is the right thing
and say, "Lord, give me the
00:25:32.56\00:25:34.86
right motives to do the
right thing along the way."
00:25:34.93\00:25:37.77
And He will. So
take those first steps.
00:25:37.80\00:25:41.20
We have a book we can send you
called "Three Steps to Heaven."
00:25:41.24\00:25:43.57
We'd like to
encourage you to read that, Lee.
00:25:43.61\00:25:45.74
Jean: The number to call
for that is just 800-835-6747.
00:25:45.77\00:25:49.88
And, again, you
can ask for the book.
00:25:49.91\00:25:51.21
It's called
"Three Steps to Heaven."
00:25:51.25\00:25:53.25
We'll send that to
anyone who calls and asks.
00:25:53.28\00:25:54.62
Doug: Yeah. Thank you very much.
00:25:54.65\00:25:55.98
Friends, this is
not the parting music.
00:25:56.02\00:25:57.65
We're just taking a break.
00:25:57.69\00:25:59.09
We're going to come back, and we
hope you'll still call in with
00:25:59.12\00:26:01.12
your Bible questions.
00:26:01.16\00:26:02.56
And we look forward to the
second half of the program where
00:26:02.59\00:26:04.89
we study the
Word of God together.
00:26:04.93\00:26:07.46
announcer: Stay tuned.
00:26:10.77\00:26:12.07
"Bible Answers
Live" will return shortly.
00:26:12.10\00:26:14.57
announcer: Did you know
that Noah was present at
00:26:18.91\00:26:20.38
the birth of Abraham?
00:26:20.41\00:26:22.48
Okay.
00:26:22.51\00:26:23.88
Maybe he wasn't in the room,
but he was alive and probably
00:26:23.91\00:26:26.25
telling stories
about his floating zoo.
00:26:26.28\00:26:29.22
From the creation of the
world to the last-day events of
00:26:29.25\00:26:31.79
Revelation, biblehistory.com
is a free resource where you can
00:26:31.82\00:26:36.19
explore major Bible events
and characters, enhance your
00:26:36.22\00:26:39.83
knowledge of the Bible,
and draw closer to God's Word.
00:26:39.86\00:26:43.90
Go deeper.
00:26:43.93\00:26:45.37
Visit the amazing Bible
timeline at biblehistory.com.
00:26:45.40\00:26:48.77
Doug: The US government
is drowning in debt to
00:26:50.44\00:26:53.27
the tune of $22 trillion.
00:26:53.31\00:26:56.21
But before you wag your finger
at the government's spending,
00:26:56.24\00:26:58.85
the Federal Reserve says
the average American household
00:26:58.88\00:27:02.28
carries over $137,000 in debt.
00:27:02.32\00:27:06.39
Well, it was never
God's plan that we live
00:27:06.42\00:27:08.12
with a burden of debt.
00:27:08.16\00:27:09.99
Proverbs 22:7 warns us the
rich rules over the poor and the
00:27:10.03\00:27:14.00
borrower is
servant to the lender.
00:27:14.03\00:27:16.67
Living with debt is a stressful
burden that actually hurts your
00:27:16.70\00:27:19.23
relationship with God.
00:27:19.27\00:27:21.00
In my new pocketbook
"Deliverance from Debt," I
00:27:21.04\00:27:23.87
outline the Bible principles
on how to properly manage your
00:27:23.91\00:27:27.08
money with some practical
suggestions on how you can get
00:27:27.11\00:27:29.94
out and stay out of debt.
00:27:29.98\00:27:32.75
If you or someone you love is
drowning in debt, order a copy
00:27:32.78\00:27:36.22
of "Deliverance
from Debt" today.
00:27:36.25\00:27:38.65
It can be a lifesaver to
keep you from going under.
00:27:38.69\00:27:41.56
Please call 800-538-7275
or visit afbookstore.com.
00:27:41.59\00:27:47.66
announcer: Do you feel as
though your world is spiraling
00:27:50.03\00:27:52.37
out of control or perhaps new
life challenges are frightening
00:27:52.40\00:27:55.77
you more than they should?
00:27:55.80\00:27:57.71
Are you sinking
while you're thinking?
00:27:57.74\00:27:59.84
Excessive worry can consume you,
eating you from the inside out
00:27:59.87\00:28:03.85
resulting in sickness,
insomnia, and paralyzing fear.
00:28:03.88\00:28:07.68
It can also damage
relationships, ruin
00:28:07.72\00:28:09.68
opportunities; and yes, diminish
your witness for the gospel.
00:28:09.72\00:28:14.36
Doug: Worry affects everybody
differently, but it's all driven
00:28:14.39\00:28:16.96
by fear.
00:28:16.99\00:28:19.03
So how can you overcome a world
full of reasons to be anxious?
00:28:19.06\00:28:23.53
I'd like to
recommend for you my new book,
00:28:23.57\00:28:26.10
"Finding Peace in
a World of Worry."
00:28:26.13\00:28:28.50
You'll discover a lifeline to
victory, a place where you can
00:28:28.54\00:28:31.94
cast your cares upon Christ and
experience a serenity that isn't
00:28:31.97\00:28:36.48
subject to your circumstances.
00:28:36.51\00:28:38.65
announcer: Send a gift of any
amount to receive your copy of
00:28:38.68\00:28:41.42
Pastor Doug's new book, "Finding
Peace in a World of Worry."
00:28:41.45\00:28:44.99
Call 877-232-2871 today.
00:28:45.02\00:28:49.59
announcer: Did you know
Amazing Facts has a free Bible
00:28:50.16\00:28:52.33
school that you can do from
the comfort of your own home?
00:28:52.36\00:28:55.20
It includes 27
beautifully-illustrated study
00:28:55.23\00:28:57.90
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your study of God's Word.
00:28:57.93\00:29:00.94
Sign up today for this free
Bible study course by calling
00:29:00.97\00:29:03.81
1-844-215-7000.
00:29:03.84\00:29:06.51
That's 1-844-215-7000.
00:29:06.54\00:29:09.84
announcer: You're listening
to "Bible Answers Live," where
00:29:16.35\00:29:18.85
every question answered provides
a clearer picture of God
00:29:18.89\00:29:22.02
and His plan to save you.
00:29:22.06\00:29:24.53
So what are you waiting for?
00:29:24.56\00:29:26.13
Get practical
answers about the good book
00:29:26.16\00:29:28.66
for a better life today.
00:29:28.70\00:29:30.70
announcer: This broadcast is
a previously-recorded episode.
00:29:33.40\00:29:36.24
If you'd like answers to your
Bible-related questions on the
00:29:36.27\00:29:38.84
air, please call us
next Sunday between 7 p.m.
00:29:38.87\00:29:42.44
and 8 p.m. Pacific Time.
00:29:42.48\00:29:44.71
To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
00:29:44.75\00:29:47.62
evening's
program, call 800-835-6747.
00:29:47.65\00:29:52.52
Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
00:29:52.55\00:29:58.33
Now let's rejoin our hosts
for more "Bible Answers Live."
00:29:58.36\00:30:02.53
Doug: Welcome
back, listening friends,
00:30:04.53\00:30:05.83
to "Bible Answers Live."
00:30:05.87\00:30:07.37
And for anyone who has tuned in
along the way, this is, as the
00:30:07.40\00:30:10.44
title suggests, a live
international Bible study.
00:30:10.47\00:30:13.34
And we invite you to call
in with your Bible questions.
00:30:13.38\00:30:16.41
We're also
streaming on Facebook.
00:30:16.44\00:30:19.15
You can go to the Amazing
Facts Facebook page or the Doug
00:30:19.18\00:30:21.35
Batchelor Facebook page, and
it's on YouTube and it's on AFTV
00:30:21.38\00:30:26.22
and being
rebroadcast in a number
00:30:26.25\00:30:28.36
of other television outlets.
00:30:28.39\00:30:30.89
But I think we have some
questions already queued up.
00:30:30.93\00:30:34.00
And so if you haven't called
in, do get in line right now and
00:30:34.00\00:30:36.43
we'll go back to the phones.
00:30:36.46\00:30:37.90
Jean: All right.
00:30:37.93\00:30:39.40
Our next caller that we have is
Carlos listening from Florida.
00:30:39.43\00:30:41.20
Carlos, welcome to the program.
00:30:41.24\00:30:44.01
Carlos: Good evening, pastors.
00:30:44.04\00:30:45.51
Doug: Evening.
00:30:45.54\00:30:47.08
Carlos: So the question
is--so we're saved by grace
00:30:47.11\00:30:52.35
through faith.
00:30:52.38\00:30:53.75
Correct?
00:30:53.78\00:30:55.32
Doug: Yes. Carlos: Not by works.
00:30:55.35\00:30:58.02
But the faith
without works is dead.
00:30:58.05\00:31:01.72
So I wanted to know if
there's a way to, you know,
00:31:01.76\00:31:08.23
discern the two.
00:31:08.26\00:31:09.63
You know, it seems
like it's a thin line.
00:31:09.66\00:31:11.50
Doug: Yeah.
00:31:11.53\00:31:13.07
Well, the sequence
is, I think, the key.
00:31:13.10\00:31:15.64
You look at the story in the
Bible and when the Lord saved
00:31:15.67\00:31:18.94
the children of Israel
from Egypt He did not save them
00:31:18.97\00:31:23.11
because they had done a lot
of good works, He saved them
00:31:23.14\00:31:25.98
because of grace.
00:31:26.01\00:31:27.48
They sacrificed the lamb--the
Passover lamb and they began
00:31:27.52\00:31:30.82
their journey out of Egypt.
00:31:30.85\00:31:33.25
They crossed out of Egypt.
00:31:33.29\00:31:36.93
Then He brings them to Mount
Sinai and He gives them the law
00:31:36.96\00:31:38.93
and He says, "I am the Lord
who saved you out of Egypt."
00:31:38.96\00:31:41.53
Basically, "If you love
Me, keep My commandments."
00:31:41.56\00:31:43.90
So God saves us first and then
His desire, His hope is that
00:31:43.93\00:31:47.67
because of our love
for Him we'll want to obey.
00:31:47.70\00:31:52.64
So first you have the
lamb, then you have the law.
00:31:52.67\00:31:56.85
Those who persisted in
disobedience never made
00:31:56.88\00:31:59.88
it to the Promised Land.
00:31:59.91\00:32:02.15
The reason that we do the good
works is not to be saved but
00:32:02.18\00:32:05.22
because we have been saved.
00:32:05.25\00:32:08.02
Bible says we love Him
because He first loved us.
00:32:08.06\00:32:10.83
We see His love for
us. We want to love Him.
00:32:10.86\00:32:14.00
And if we love Him, we obey Him.
00:32:14.03\00:32:15.66
So I don't know if that's
answering what you're asking,
00:32:15.70\00:32:17.63
Carlos.
00:32:17.67\00:32:19.43
Carlos: It sort of helps.
00:32:19.47\00:32:20.97
There was another young man
who just asked a pretty similar
00:32:21.00\00:32:22.84
question.
00:32:22.87\00:32:24.44
He was--he mentioned that
sometimes he feels like his
00:32:24.47\00:32:30.81
works are more like out of fear
of going to hell and that sort
00:32:30.85\00:32:34.82
of thing and I was wondering
if that--what works does
00:32:34.85\00:32:38.85
that fall under?
00:32:38.89\00:32:40.39
Is that faith or is that just
like works by our own efforts
00:32:40.42\00:32:43.22
to, you know, get to heaven?
00:32:43.26\00:32:46.09
Doug: Yeah.
00:32:46.13\00:32:47.60
You know, I think sometimes
people are left with the
00:32:47.60\00:32:49.13
impression that it's wrong
to evaluate your behavior and to
00:32:49.16\00:32:55.10
try to do the right thing
even if you don't feel like it
00:32:55.14\00:32:58.04
because you know
it is the right thing.
00:32:58.07\00:33:00.38
There's nothing wrong
with doing the right thing for
00:33:00.41\00:33:04.01
self-preservation.
00:33:04.05\00:33:06.11
You know, the Lord, He puts
warnings in the Bible because He
00:33:06.15\00:33:11.02
knows it will respond to
trying to do what's right.
00:33:11.05\00:33:13.42
The best thing is to do what's
right because we trust Him, but
00:33:13.46\00:33:16.73
then we should also do what's
right because He commands it and
00:33:16.76\00:33:19.36
He says there are bad
consequences if we disobey.
00:33:19.39\00:33:22.66
So it is true that sometimes
we'll do the right thing and
00:33:22.70\00:33:26.33
we're saying, you know,
"Am I behaving correctly?
00:33:26.37\00:33:28.30
And what if I don't?
00:33:28.34\00:33:30.11
Am I being works-oriented?"
00:33:30.14\00:33:32.57
Well, it's easy
to get that mixed up.
00:33:32.61\00:33:36.58
There's nothing wrong
with evaluating your works.
00:33:36.61\00:33:39.08
Paul says let each one
of us examine ourselves,
00:33:39.11\00:33:42.08
whether we're in the faith.
00:33:42.12\00:33:43.79
Prove your own selves.
Don't you know your own selves?
00:33:43.82\00:33:45.95
That's in 2 Corinthians.
00:33:45.99\00:33:47.82
So, again, I don't know if I'm
answering what you're asking,
00:33:47.86\00:33:51.19
but it's normal to evaluate
yourself and also to say,
00:33:51.23\00:33:55.73
"I want to do the right thing
because I want to go to heaven.
00:33:55.76\00:33:59.17
I don't want to be lost."
00:33:59.20\00:34:01.64
But ultimately you want to
do it because you love God.
00:34:01.67\00:34:04.71
Jean: You know, we have a
book, Pastor Doug, that I think
00:34:04.74\00:34:06.47
will help illustrate this.
00:34:06.51\00:34:07.88
It's called "The
High Cost of the Cross."
00:34:07.91\00:34:09.21
That's really the motivation of
why a person chooses to do the
00:34:09.24\00:34:12.61
will of God.
00:34:12.65\00:34:14.38
It's because we recognize
the price that was paid
00:34:14.42\00:34:15.88
for our salvation.
00:34:15.92\00:34:17.32
It's free.
00:34:17.35\00:34:18.82
We'll send you this book,
anyone who calls and asks.
00:34:18.85\00:34:20.36
The number to call is
800-835-6747, and you can ask
00:34:20.39\00:34:23.66
for the book.
00:34:23.69\00:34:25.06
It's called "The
High Cost of the Cross."
00:34:25.09\00:34:26.53
And we'll be happy to send it to
anyone in Canada or the US or in
00:34:26.56\00:34:29.36
US territories.
00:34:29.40\00:34:30.87
Also, you can just simply dial
#250 on your phone and we'll
00:34:30.90\00:34:35.37
ask--say "Bible Answers
Live" and then ask for the book.
00:34:35.40\00:34:38.01
It's called "The
High Cost of the Cross."
00:34:38.04\00:34:40.08
And of course we want to
also recognize those who are
00:34:40.11\00:34:43.14
listening outside of North
America in different countries
00:34:43.18\00:34:46.55
around the world.
00:34:46.58\00:34:47.95
We want to encourage
you to go to our website.
00:34:47.98\00:34:49.42
Just AmazingFacts.org.
00:34:49.45\00:34:51.09
All the resources that we
talk about on this program are
00:34:51.12\00:34:52.85
available right there at the
Amazing Facts website as well.
00:34:52.89\00:34:57.56
Next caller that we have is
Henry listening in New York.
00:34:57.59\00:35:00.26
Henry, welcome to the program.
00:35:00.30\00:35:03.16
Henry: My question is when
Christ comes back there's going
00:35:03.20\00:35:07.34
to be a 1,000-year reign.
00:35:07.37\00:35:10.57
For the people who are not
saved, they won't be able to
00:35:10.61\00:35:14.41
join that 1,000-year reign.
00:35:14.44\00:35:16.31
Is God giving them
enough time to repent?
00:35:16.34\00:35:21.82
Doug: Yeah.
00:35:21.85\00:35:23.18
Well, during the 1,000-year
reign sometimes called the
00:35:23.22\00:35:25.12
millennium, during that time
when Jesus comes back, probation
00:35:25.15\00:35:28.09
is closed.
00:35:28.12\00:35:29.62
At that point when Christ
returns, the saved are saved and
00:35:29.66\00:35:32.13
the lost are lost.
00:35:32.16\00:35:33.46
There is no second
chance beyond that.
00:35:33.50\00:35:36.97
When the Lord descends from
heaven, it says the wicked are
00:35:37.00\00:35:39.90
destroyed by the
brightness of his coming.
00:35:39.93\00:35:43.04
Peter says, 2 Peter
chapter 3, the elements melt
00:35:43.07\00:35:45.54
with fervent heat.
00:35:45.57\00:35:47.18
The earth and the
things in it are burned up.
00:35:47.21\00:35:49.21
So now is the time
before Christ comes.
00:35:49.24\00:35:53.48
It's appointed unto men once
to die, after that the judgment.
00:35:53.52\00:35:57.29
There's no second chance
once the millennium begins.
00:35:57.32\00:36:01.42
So people need
to make the decision
00:36:01.46\00:36:03.09
before the millennium begins.
00:36:03.12\00:36:04.86
Jean: You know, we
have a study guide.
00:36:04.89\00:36:06.29
It's called "1,000 Years of
Peace," and it talks about that
00:36:06.33\00:36:08.16
1,000-year period spoken of in
Revelation chapter 20 sometimes
00:36:08.20\00:36:11.17
called the millennium.
00:36:11.20\00:36:12.67
We'll be happy to send this
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:36:12.70\00:36:15.34
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:36:15.37\00:36:18.91
Ask for the study guide.
00:36:18.94\00:36:20.24
It's called
"1000 Years of Peace."
00:36:20.28\00:36:22.24
And of course you can also just
dial #250, say, "Bible Answers
00:36:22.28\00:36:26.08
Live," and then
ask for the study guide
00:36:26.11\00:36:28.25
"1000 Years of Peace."
00:36:28.28\00:36:30.45
Next caller that we have is
Edith listening in Illinois.
00:36:30.49\00:36:33.19
Edith, welcome to the program.
00:36:33.22\00:36:36.26
Edith: Hello.
Thank you for having me.
00:36:36.29\00:36:38.06
So I was--I understand
Michael to be a station of Jesus
00:36:38.09\00:36:43.77
or that's Jesus.
00:36:43.80\00:36:45.80
And as I was going through a
study with someone, I was trying
00:36:45.83\00:36:48.27
to explain that.
00:36:48.30\00:36:49.90
But when we got to Daniel 10,
chapter 13 where it says Michael
00:36:49.94\00:36:54.84
one of the chief princes,
they said it sounds like he's
00:36:54.88\00:36:59.35
more--it's more
than one chief prince.
00:36:59.38\00:37:02.02
So what is that
referring to when it says one
00:37:02.05\00:37:03.69
of the chief princes?
00:37:03.72\00:37:06.32
Doug: Yeah, that's a
common misunderstanding
00:37:06.35\00:37:07.72
the word one there.
00:37:07.76\00:37:09.26
The word one can mean one
numerically, and the word one
00:37:09.29\00:37:12.39
can also mean one
as like sequentially.
00:37:12.43\00:37:15.50
And there it means sequentially.
00:37:15.53\00:37:17.73
So another way you might
translate it is Michael, first
00:37:17.77\00:37:21.80
of the chief princes.
00:37:21.84\00:37:24.41
You know, when you say that the
president's wife is the first
00:37:24.44\00:37:27.18
lady; well, you don't mean she's
the first lady that ever came to
00:37:27.21\00:37:30.65
the US or was born in the
US, you just mean that there's a
00:37:30.68\00:37:33.15
place of prominence.
00:37:33.18\00:37:35.05
And so there it would say
Michael, first or greatest
00:37:35.08\00:37:38.42
of the princes.
00:37:38.45\00:37:40.06
And it's not
like he's one of many.
00:37:40.09\00:37:44.33
Jean: And in
Daniel chapter 12, verse 1
00:37:44.36\00:37:45.79
it refers to Michael.
00:37:45.83\00:37:47.40
It says the prince who stands
watch over the sons of your
00:37:47.40\00:37:49.70
people.
00:37:49.73\00:37:51.20
So there specifically it refers
to the prince that stands watch,
00:37:51.23\00:37:54.67
and his name is Michael.
00:37:54.70\00:37:56.60
Doug: And it not just calls
him the prince, it calls him the
00:37:56.64\00:37:58.91
great prince in
Daniel chapter 12, verse 1.
00:37:58.94\00:38:01.48
We have a book called
"Who is Michael the Archangel?"
00:38:01.51\00:38:04.01
We will send you or anyone that
wants to understand that a free
00:38:04.05\00:38:07.02
copy.
00:38:07.05\00:38:08.68
And of course, friends, if you
don't understand it that's not a
00:38:08.72\00:38:10.62
salvation issue, but I think
it'll enhance your Bible study
00:38:10.65\00:38:13.09
to know who is this
Michael that appears in the old
00:38:13.12\00:38:16.19
and new testaments.
00:38:16.22\00:38:18.19
What does that mean? Is
it a special breed of angel?
00:38:18.23\00:38:21.00
Jean: The number to call
for that is 800-835-6747.
00:38:21.03\00:38:24.17
And, again, you can
just ask for the book.
00:38:24.20\00:38:26.53
It's called "Michael the
Archangel" Or "Who is Michael
00:38:26.57\00:38:28.84
the Archangel?"
00:38:28.87\00:38:31.31
Dial #250 on your smartphone,
say, "Bible Answers Live" and
00:38:31.34\00:38:35.38
say, "I want the book
'Michael--Who is Michael the
00:38:35.41\00:38:38.65
Archangel?'" And we'll be
happy to send it to anyone
00:38:38.68\00:38:40.28
who calls and asks.
00:38:40.32\00:38:42.32
We've got Raquel
listening in California.
00:38:42.35\00:38:45.39
Raquel, welcome to the program.
00:38:45.42\00:38:47.52
Raquel: Hi. Good afternoon.
00:38:47.56\00:38:49.92
Doug: Yeah. How are you doing?
00:38:49.96\00:38:53.63
Raquel: I'm doing
well. Thank you for asking.
00:38:53.66\00:38:55.20
My question was regarding--I
don't know of any verse--at
00:38:55.23\00:39:00.30
least I'm barely
starting to read the Bible.
00:39:00.34\00:39:03.81
So I just wanted--I had a
question regarding if the devil,
00:39:03.84\00:39:08.38
Lucifer in heaven, had a
role pertaining to the choir.
00:39:08.41\00:39:13.45
Was he like in
charge of the choir?
00:39:13.48\00:39:15.18
And I asked this question
because it pertains to today's
00:39:15.22\00:39:17.95
culture in music being
influenced by the devil.
00:39:17.99\00:39:21.86
Was Lucifer the head
of the choir in heaven?
00:39:21.89\00:39:25.29
And if so, would that explain
the current music situation,
00:39:25.33\00:39:28.76
how it is a big influence
for people in the world?
00:39:28.80\00:39:33.27
Doug: Yeah.
00:39:33.30\00:39:34.60
The closest thing I can think
of where it talks about Lucifer,
00:39:34.64\00:39:37.07
and it doesn't use the
name Lucifer but it's obviously
00:39:37.11\00:39:40.14
talking about the
devil before his fall,
00:39:40.18\00:39:42.51
is in Ezekiel chapter 28.
00:39:42.54\00:39:45.25
And if you go to verse 13
it says, "You were in Eden,
00:39:45.28\00:39:49.95
the garden of God.
00:39:49.98\00:39:51.29
Every precious
stone was your covering."
00:39:51.32\00:39:53.62
Then it says, "The sardius, the
topaz, the diamond, the beryl,
00:39:53.66\00:39:56.36
the onyx, the jasper, the
sapphire, turquoise, the emerald
00:39:56.39\00:39:58.86
with gold, the workmanship
of your timbrels, which is a
00:39:58.89\00:40:02.93
musical instrument, and pipes
were prepared for you on the day
00:40:02.96\00:40:07.34
you were created."
00:40:07.37\00:40:08.90
So here's this angel created
that has--when it says timbrels
00:40:08.94\00:40:12.24
and pipes, it's kind of
Old Testament poetic word
00:40:12.27\00:40:15.98
for saying your voice.
00:40:16.01\00:40:18.45
And believe that, you know, if
angels sing and the Bible tells
00:40:18.48\00:40:23.22
us angels sing--you know,
the angels sang when Jesus was
00:40:23.25\00:40:25.32
born--that if angels sing,
the chief of the angels would
00:40:25.35\00:40:31.29
logically have one
of the greatest voices.
00:40:31.33\00:40:35.36
And so this is one verse that
mentions the musical sound of
00:40:35.40\00:40:39.97
his voice or his musical ability
that's probably--there might be
00:40:40.00\00:40:42.77
another one.
00:40:42.80\00:40:44.14
I don't know of another.
00:40:44.17\00:40:45.47
Jean: Well, just to clarify
that, verse 14 clearly says,
00:40:45.51\00:40:48.14
"You are the
anointed cherub that covers."
00:40:48.18\00:40:50.71
So we are talking about
this angel in heaven, Lucifer.
00:40:50.75\00:40:52.75
So there's no doubt.
00:40:52.78\00:40:54.58
And as being the leader of the
angelic host, you would assume
00:40:54.62\00:40:57.49
he would be leading them in
music and song and worship and
00:40:57.52\00:41:00.46
praise prior to his fall.
00:41:00.49\00:41:03.26
Doug: So hope that
helps, Raquel, a little bit.
00:41:03.29\00:41:04.69
We do have a study guide--or
we actually have a DVD you can
00:41:04.73\00:41:07.10
watch for free online
called "Cosmic Conflict."
00:41:07.13\00:41:11.03
Talks about Lucifer
and the fall of Lucifer.
00:41:11.07\00:41:14.64
Jean: All right.
00:41:14.67\00:41:15.97
Next caller that we have is
Robert listening in Washington.
00:41:16.00\00:41:17.37
Robert, welcome to the program.
00:41:17.41\00:41:21.28
Robert: Thank you, Pastor Ross.
00:41:21.31\00:41:23.45
Good evening, Pastor
Batchelor. Doug: Evening.
00:41:23.48\00:41:26.58
Robert: I suppose you've
gotten this question before or
00:41:26.61\00:41:29.75
heard something like it
about 2 Corinthians 12 and--Paul
00:41:29.78\00:41:36.12
experiencing the in-body
and out-of-body experience.
00:41:36.16\00:41:41.80
Someone earlier today was
suggesting that was a near-death
00:41:41.83\00:41:46.37
experience, that
he was out of body.
00:41:46.40\00:41:50.17
Doug: Yeah.
00:41:50.21\00:41:52.04
Well, when Paul--and let
me read it for our friends
00:41:52.07\00:41:53.84
that are listening.
00:41:53.88\00:41:55.31
This is in 2
Corinthians chapter 12, verse 1.
00:41:55.34\00:41:57.38
"It is doubtless not
profitable for me to boast.
00:41:57.41\00:42:01.55
I'll come to visions
and revelations of the Lord.
00:42:01.58\00:42:03.79
I know a man in Christ who
fourteen years ago, whether in
00:42:03.82\00:42:06.62
the body I do not know,
or whether out of the body I
00:42:06.65\00:42:09.09
do not know.
00:42:09.12\00:42:10.53
God knows.
00:42:10.56\00:42:11.86
Such a one was caught
up to the third heaven."
00:42:11.89\00:42:14.20
And so he's probably referring
to himself in the second person
00:42:14.23\00:42:19.00
saying, "I had this vision.
00:42:19.03\00:42:20.97
I had a revelation.
00:42:21.00\00:42:23.30
I was caught up to God,
whether I was physically there,
00:42:23.34\00:42:27.71
whether I was
taken in the spirit."
00:42:27.74\00:42:30.15
John in chapter 4 of Revelation
he says, "I was caught away
00:42:30.18\00:42:32.98
in the spirit."
00:42:33.01\00:42:35.22
It was so real to Paul he
just--you know, "Was I there or
00:42:35.25\00:42:37.82
was it in the spirit?"
00:42:37.85\00:42:39.22
And it felt maybe tangible,
but God could have taken him out
00:42:39.25\00:42:42.02
of body and it
would have felt tangible.
00:42:42.06\00:42:43.73
So, you know, God can give a
person a three-dimensional dream
00:42:43.76\00:42:46.59
where you smell and taste
and touch and yet it may be a
00:42:46.63\00:42:49.60
spiritual experience.
00:42:49.63\00:42:51.80
So I think that's what
Paul is talking about there.
00:42:51.83\00:42:54.87
What are your thoughts?
00:42:54.90\00:42:56.20
Jean: Yeah, I don't
think there's any reference
00:42:56.24\00:42:57.54
to a near-death experience.
00:42:57.57\00:42:59.11
Actually he's going on.
00:42:59.14\00:43:00.44
He's talking about
visions and revelations.
00:43:00.48\00:43:02.21
So, of course,
Paul was a prophet.
00:43:02.24\00:43:03.91
He received visions, and we have
many examples of the Bible--in
00:43:03.95\00:43:07.15
the Bible of people who
received visions or a prophecy.
00:43:07.18\00:43:10.85
Daniel--the whole
Book of Daniel, you
00:43:10.89\00:43:12.35
have a number of visions.
00:43:12.39\00:43:13.72
And of course that's
not near-death experiences.
00:43:13.76\00:43:15.92
Doug: And Paul's probably
talking about himself in the
00:43:15.96\00:43:18.23
first few verses 'cause
you go to verse 7 and he says,
00:43:18.26\00:43:21.06
"Lest I should be exalted
above measure by the abundance
00:43:21.10\00:43:24.33
of the revelations."
00:43:24.37\00:43:25.90
He said, "I had so many
revelations and visions."
00:43:25.93\00:43:28.67
God spoke to Paul on several
occasions--or Jesus did anyway,
00:43:28.70\00:43:31.54
that he said, you
know, "Lest I should boast
00:43:31.57\00:43:35.31
I was given this affliction."
00:43:35.34\00:43:37.08
So he's probably referring to
himself in the first few verses.
00:43:37.11\00:43:40.12
He might have been having
a bout with his affliction.
00:43:40.15\00:43:42.08
So I said, "I knew
a man," second person.
00:43:42.12\00:43:44.95
Jean: All right.
00:43:44.99\00:43:46.76
We got Susan
listening in Wisconsin.
00:43:46.79\00:43:48.32
Susan, welcome to the program.
00:43:48.36\00:43:51.33
Susan: Thank you so
much for taking my call.
00:43:51.36\00:43:54.66
I've got quite a quandary.
00:43:54.73\00:43:57.20
My concern is the emphasis put
on the pagan holidays and the
00:43:57.23\00:44:03.17
pagan traditions of men.
00:44:03.20\00:44:06.21
You know, like many people, we
used to, you know, do Christmas
00:44:06.24\00:44:11.28
and Easter and Halloween and
all that until a while back I
00:44:11.31\00:44:17.92
started delving into the history
of it and I was shocked that
00:44:17.95\00:44:24.99
Jesus was born in
the lambing season.
00:44:25.03\00:44:28.20
It had nothing to
do with December 25th.
00:44:28.23\00:44:35.24
Doug: Well, first,
Susan, put this into the form
00:44:35.27\00:44:36.91
of a question.
00:44:36.94\00:44:38.87
Susan: Oh, I'm sorry.
The form of the question.
00:44:38.91\00:44:45.85
How can we stay away from
being drawn in with, you know,
00:44:45.88\00:44:53.92
pagan tradition when we know
in the Bible it doesn't instruct
00:44:53.96\00:44:59.46
us to do that?
00:44:59.49\00:45:01.63
Doug: Okay. Good.
00:45:01.66\00:45:03.10
I appreciate that, and I think
I know where you're coming from.
00:45:03.13\00:45:05.43
So in our culture today there
are a number of holidays, and
00:45:05.47\00:45:10.87
sometimes they're called
Christian holidays, where
00:45:10.91\00:45:13.58
there's no Bible command to
celebrate the birth of Christ,
00:45:13.61\00:45:16.51
there's no Bible command
to celebrate his resurrection.
00:45:16.54\00:45:20.85
So what do we do where we
see that even the pagans had
00:45:20.88\00:45:25.29
holidays where the 25th of
December they would sort of
00:45:25.32\00:45:29.39
celebrate the end of winter and
the birth of the son, and the
00:45:29.42\00:45:35.20
Christian church years ago
decided that that was the date
00:45:35.23\00:45:37.83
they were going to assign for
the birth of Christ and try and
00:45:37.87\00:45:42.24
exploit the Christ--the
pagan holiday that way.
00:45:42.27\00:45:45.24
How do you respond
to that as a Christian.
00:45:45.27\00:45:46.81
First of all, Paul said in
Romans 14, if one man regards
00:45:46.84\00:45:50.75
one day above another and
another man regards every day
00:45:50.78\00:45:53.11
alike, let each one be
persuaded in his own mind.
00:45:53.15\00:45:56.22
If you're going to keep
a day, keep it to the Lord.
00:45:56.25\00:46:00.29
Don't keep it to Santa Claus and
elves and reindeer and all that.
00:46:00.32\00:46:04.19
If you're going to memorialize
the resurrection, then don't,
00:46:04.23\00:46:09.80
you know, have it all
about Easter bunnies and eggs
00:46:09.83\00:46:12.37
and so forth.
00:46:12.40\00:46:13.77
It should be thanking God
for the resurrection of Jesus.
00:46:13.80\00:46:16.47
By the way, Jesus, while
he wasn't born the 25th of
00:46:16.50\00:46:19.91
December, he was resurrected
around the time of the Passover.
00:46:19.94\00:46:23.31
So the time of Easter is
at least closer than the time
00:46:23.35\00:46:25.75
of Christmas.
00:46:25.78\00:46:27.78
I'd say if you don't
feel that way, then don't.
00:46:27.82\00:46:30.75
There's no
command, you know, and--
00:46:30.79\00:46:33.99
Jean: You know, I think there
is a possibility where we as
00:46:34.02\00:46:36.26
Christians could exploit,
for example, these holidays.
00:46:36.29\00:46:39.53
I'm thinking about Christmas,
for example, when most of the
00:46:39.56\00:46:42.86
world is talking about the birth
of Jesus we recognize, and I
00:46:42.90\00:46:46.90
think there's a lot of evidence,
that Jesus is not born the 25th
00:46:46.94\00:46:50.17
of December just because of
the weather in the Middle East
00:46:50.21\00:46:52.84
and Jerusalem and
that kind of thing.
00:46:52.87\00:46:54.31
There wouldn't be
shepherds out in the field.
00:46:54.34\00:46:56.64
But when people are thinking
about it, what an opportunity
00:46:56.68\00:47:00.22
for us to share Jesus with
those who have never really
00:47:00.25\00:47:03.45
come to know him.
00:47:03.49\00:47:04.79
So, you know, Paul says
to the Jew, "I became a Jew
00:47:04.82\00:47:07.36
so that I could
win some for Christ.
00:47:07.39\00:47:09.16
To the Gentile I
became a Gentile to win
00:47:09.19\00:47:10.86
those for Christ."
00:47:10.89\00:47:12.33
Now, of course, we don't violate
our conscience, but we can
00:47:12.36\00:47:15.63
exploit these opportunities
to try and share truth.
00:47:15.66\00:47:18.63
Now, I think out of the
holidays, Pastor Doug, one that
00:47:18.67\00:47:21.04
as Christians we would probably
have a really hard time with
00:47:21.07\00:47:24.74
where I don't think there's any
good or any redeemable aspect
00:47:24.77\00:47:28.11
in, that would be Halloween.
00:47:28.14\00:47:29.78
Now, that's new to me.
00:47:29.81\00:47:31.28
Where I grew up we didn't do
Halloween, but when I came to
00:47:31.31\00:47:33.35
the US I thought, "Wow, this
is a strange holiday where you
00:47:33.38\00:47:35.92
celebrating ghosts and
goblins and skeletons."
00:47:35.95\00:47:39.29
So I think for a Christian when
it comes to Halloween, that's
00:47:39.32\00:47:41.96
probably one of the
holidays that's--it's hard to
00:47:41.99\00:47:43.96
kind of pull out
anything good from that holiday.
00:47:43.99\00:47:47.76
Doug: Yeah.
00:47:47.83\00:47:49.20
I remember we went out Christmas
Caroling years ago in a small
00:47:49.23\00:47:52.20
town, and I was a young
Christian and--with a small
00:47:52.23\00:47:56.17
group from our church just
singing Christmas carols and one
00:47:56.20\00:47:59.01
family opened the door and
some kids were standing there
00:47:59.04\00:48:01.21
and they looked very sad.
00:48:01.24\00:48:02.68
And the family says, "We
don't believe in Christmas."
00:48:02.71\00:48:04.35
And they shut the
door, and I thought, "Okay.
00:48:04.38\00:48:07.45
Well, that's not a
really great way to witness
00:48:07.48\00:48:10.45
during the holiday."
00:48:10.49\00:48:12.29
So I would say now--and
for Susan or anyone, because
00:48:12.32\00:48:19.63
something is pagan
doesn't always mean it's bad.
00:48:19.66\00:48:23.60
What I mean by
that is pagan just means
00:48:23.63\00:48:26.03
that it's not of
a Christian origin.
00:48:26.07\00:48:28.17
There's a lot of pagan
things we do in our culture
00:48:28.20\00:48:29.84
that aren't essentially bad.
00:48:29.87\00:48:31.41
The thing is if there is a pagan
law or custom that violates
00:48:31.44\00:48:36.98
a Christian
principle, don't do that.
00:48:37.01\00:48:40.45
And, you know, nothing of the
Bible talks about shaking hands.
00:48:40.48\00:48:43.52
They used to greet
each other with a holy kiss.
00:48:43.55\00:48:45.09
Well, we don't do
that. We shake hands.
00:48:45.12\00:48:47.29
There's nothing
sinful about shaking hands.
00:48:47.32\00:48:49.82
You know what I'm saying?
00:48:49.86\00:48:51.33
So just because there's a custom
that may have a pagan origin
00:48:51.36\00:48:54.46
doesn't necessarily mean
it's bad unless it violates
00:48:54.50\00:48:57.10
a Christian principle.
00:48:57.13\00:48:58.43
That's an important point.
00:48:58.47\00:49:00.10
Now, we do have a
book we can offer Susan
00:49:00.14\00:49:01.74
called "Baptized Paganism."
00:49:01.77\00:49:03.27
And she will appreciate that.
00:49:03.30\00:49:05.04
Jean: Send that to
anyone who calls and ask.
00:49:05.07\00:49:07.18
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:49:07.21\00:49:09.68
You can ask for the book.
It's called "Baptized Paganism."
00:49:09.71\00:49:12.35
You can also dial #250
and say "Bible Answers Live"
00:49:12.38\00:49:16.25
and then ask for the
book "Baptized Paganism."
00:49:16.28\00:49:19.59
We've got Johnny
listening from Texas.
00:49:19.62\00:49:21.76
Johnny, welcome to the program.
00:49:21.79\00:49:24.69
Johnny: Hello, pastors.
It's my first time calling in.
00:49:24.73\00:49:26.83
Just a little background, I've
been doing Bible studies for
00:49:26.86\00:49:28.66
about 15 years, getting
my graduate degree in it.
00:49:28.70\00:49:32.43
Over the course of
doing Bible studies,
00:49:32.47\00:49:33.90
I have a quick question for you.
00:49:33.94\00:49:37.04
In John 3:13 it says no man has
ascended into heaven except for
00:49:37.07\00:49:40.61
the son of man who came down
from heaven but yet you have
00:49:40.64\00:49:44.41
Enoch who walked with
God and he was no longer.
00:49:44.45\00:49:47.45
Then you had Elijah who
was taken up to heaven in a
00:49:47.48\00:49:49.55
whirlwind even though he writes
a letter to Jehoram afterwards.
00:49:49.58\00:49:55.56
So I just wanted to
get your take on this.
00:49:55.59\00:49:57.89
Doug: Yeah.
00:49:57.93\00:49:59.56
I don't think that Jesus is
referring to Enoch or Elijah or
00:49:59.59\00:50:03.20
even for that matter--Moses
had been resurrected
00:50:03.23\00:50:05.77
at this point as well.
00:50:05.80\00:50:07.47
He's basically saying that there
had been no human that had come
00:50:07.50\00:50:11.24
from the presence of God to
earth to bring that knowledge of
00:50:11.27\00:50:16.58
the Father except him.
00:50:16.61\00:50:18.65
True, Elijah was caught up to
heaven and Enoch walked with God
00:50:18.68\00:50:23.45
and he was not for God took
him, but there was no heavenly
00:50:23.49\00:50:26.59
messenger who had come from the
presence of God to earth to live
00:50:26.62\00:50:30.03
among men and
teach other than Jesus.
00:50:30.06\00:50:33.53
Jean: Yeah.
00:50:33.56\00:50:34.86
And I think the context of that,
Pastor Doug, if you look at the
00:50:34.93\00:50:36.77
earlier verse, Jesus said, "If
I've told you earthly things and
00:50:36.80\00:50:38.93
you do not believe, how
would you believe if I tell you
00:50:38.97\00:50:41.24
heavenly things?"
00:50:41.27\00:50:42.74
So it's in the
context of teaching.
00:50:42.77\00:50:44.54
And then Jesus says no one has
ascended to heaven and come back
00:50:44.57\00:50:47.04
down in order to give this or to
reveal heavenly things but the
00:50:47.08\00:50:51.25
son of God or himself.
00:50:51.28\00:50:53.55
So that's the context, not
saying that no one has ever
00:50:53.58\00:50:55.92
ascended up into heaven.
00:50:55.95\00:50:57.85
It's also interesting that Moses
and--well, of course, Moses
00:50:57.89\00:51:00.59
was--he died and he was
resurrected and taken to heaven,
00:51:00.62\00:51:03.19
and you have
Elijah that was taken.
00:51:03.22\00:51:04.89
They did appear on the Mount of
Transfiguration with Jesus and
00:51:04.93\00:51:07.76
you have--that's right.
00:51:07.83\00:51:09.43
That is interesting.
00:51:09.46\00:51:11.63
But they didn't come
to teach things that they
00:51:11.67\00:51:14.07
had heard in
heaven, Jesus came--
00:51:14.10\00:51:15.40
Doug: They didn't talk to
humanity, they just talked
00:51:15.44\00:51:16.94
to Jesus.
00:51:16.97\00:51:18.27
Jean: Right. Right. Let's see.
00:51:18.31\00:51:19.61
Chelsea listening in Florida.
Chelsea, welcome to the program.
00:51:19.64\00:51:23.28
Chelsea: Hi, Pastor
Doug and Pastor Ross.
00:51:23.31\00:51:26.05
How are you?
00:51:26.08\00:51:27.52
Doug: Great. Chelsea: Yeah.
00:51:27.55\00:51:29.85
So my question basically--so
right now I'm currently
00:51:29.88\00:51:34.22
attending graduate school
for veterinary medicine and many
00:51:34.26\00:51:39.69
of my professors believe in
and teach concepts of evolution.
00:51:39.73\00:51:44.80
So I wanted to know as a
Christian how can I be an
00:51:44.83\00:51:48.77
effective witness to my
professors who believe in
00:51:48.80\00:51:50.94
evolution, and also are there
any resources that you have that
00:51:50.97\00:51:55.21
I can share with them that
shows them that God's biblical
00:51:55.24\00:51:59.08
creation is actually true.
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.08
Doug: All right. Two questions.
00:52:02.12\00:52:03.59
So one, first I'll answer--we
do have a little sermon book if
00:52:03.62\00:52:06.22
they're open to read it,
and it's called "When Evolution
00:52:06.25\00:52:10.03
Flunked the Science Test."
00:52:10.06\00:52:12.03
You might want to read it first.
00:52:12.06\00:52:14.00
They may think it's
too elementary for their
00:52:14.03\00:52:15.53
sophisticated level of study.
00:52:15.56\00:52:18.23
It's basically written for just
layman to read and say that, you
00:52:18.27\00:52:22.10
know, evolution
doesn't really make sense.
00:52:22.14\00:52:25.97
In visiting with them--now,
we have some videos online.
00:52:26.01\00:52:29.98
I've got a video
that you can listen to.
00:52:30.01\00:52:32.08
It's a YouTube
where it talks about
00:52:32.11\00:52:34.08
evolution, creation, and logic.
00:52:34.12\00:52:36.79
And I used to be an evolutionist
and I became convinced about
00:52:36.82\00:52:40.06
creation because I believed that
evolution was very unscientific.
00:52:40.09\00:52:45.16
I started seeing that it just
was really illogical to believe
00:52:45.19\00:52:49.86
that you could get order and
organization and inner working
00:52:49.90\00:52:52.67
systems and symbionic
relationships by accident.
00:52:52.70\00:52:57.54
There had to be intelligence
to have all of this incredibly
00:52:57.57\00:53:01.71
complex interaction
of life in our planet.
00:53:01.74\00:53:05.58
And just the way a cell works
and the way that, you know,
00:53:05.61\00:53:09.12
life works is extremely complex.
00:53:09.15\00:53:12.79
For that to have
happened without an intelligent
00:53:12.82\00:53:15.66
God is absurd.
00:53:15.69\00:53:18.73
So I don't know if you'd
say that to your professors.
00:53:18.76\00:53:21.43
So I think the best thing to do
is pray for them, be a witness,
00:53:21.46\00:53:24.53
and if they're
open share information.
00:53:24.57\00:53:27.44
There are some other really
good resources out there by a
00:53:27.47\00:53:30.07
ministry called
Answers in Genesis.
00:53:30.11\00:53:32.67
Their specialty is material
about creation and evolution,
00:53:32.71\00:53:37.98
and we recommend
them wholeheartedly.
00:53:38.01\00:53:40.45
Jean: And, you know, Pastor
Doug, it is interesting that
00:53:40.48\00:53:42.08
there are a number of
non-Christian scientists that
00:53:42.12\00:53:45.25
are looking at at least
Darwinian evolution and saying
00:53:45.29\00:53:48.46
if Darwin knew what we know
now about DNA and about the cell
00:53:48.49\00:53:54.20
there's just no way that his
whole theory would make sense
00:53:54.23\00:53:58.97
and yet people are still holding
on to the idea of evolution.
00:53:59.00\00:54:02.20
I mean, there's things like a
sudden explosion of diversity of
00:54:02.24\00:54:05.31
life that they see in the
fossil record where there's no
00:54:05.34\00:54:08.24
intermediate forms of animal
life but suddenly there they are
00:54:08.28\00:54:11.85
with the full DNA.
00:54:11.88\00:54:13.55
That cannot be explained
by Darwinian evolution.
00:54:13.58\00:54:15.92
Doug: Yeah.
00:54:15.95\00:54:17.42
Even to have the simplest form
of life is extremely complex.
00:54:17.45\00:54:21.19
I read somewhere that Darwin was
confounded by the complexity of
00:54:21.22\00:54:25.56
the eye, whether a human
eye, eagle eye, whatever it is.
00:54:25.59\00:54:29.00
And he said that is--he
could never find a satisfactory
00:54:29.03\00:54:31.80
explanation for the eye.
00:54:31.83\00:54:34.90
Anyway, here we are out of
time, but do ask for that book,
00:54:34.94\00:54:37.34
Chelsea, "When Evolution
Flunked the Science Test."
00:54:37.37\00:54:39.74
Jean: The number to call
for that is 800-835-6747.
00:54:39.77\00:54:43.45
The book is called "How Science
Flunked--How Evolution Flunked
00:54:43.48\00:54:46.55
the Science Test."
00:54:46.58\00:54:48.55
And we'll be happy to send
it to anyone who calls and ask.
00:54:48.58\00:54:50.62
Also, you can dial #250, "Bible
Answers Live," and say, "I want
00:54:50.65\00:54:54.66
the book 'How Evolution
Flunked the Science Test.'"
00:54:54.69\00:54:57.46
Doug: Yeah, now, for
our friends listening,
00:54:57.49\00:54:58.96
we are going to
sign off in two stages.
00:54:58.99\00:55:01.23
We're bidding farewell to our
friends listening on satellite,
00:55:01.26\00:55:04.30
but for the rest of
the audience stay tuned.
00:55:04.33\00:55:06.10
We're coming back in just
a moment with some of your
00:55:06.13\00:55:08.60
internet Bible questions.
00:55:08.64\00:55:10.07
announcer: Thank you for
listening to today's broadcast.
00:55:13.27\00:55:15.61
We hope you understand your
Bible even better than before.
00:55:15.64\00:55:19.35
"Bible Answers Live" is produced
by Amazing Facts International,
00:55:19.38\00:55:23.28
a faith-based ministry located
in Granite Bay, California.
00:55:23.32\00:55:27.26
Jean: Hello,
friends. Welcome back.
00:55:29.46\00:55:30.93
For those of you who are able
to stay with us, we're going to
00:55:30.96\00:55:33.09
take some of
your email questions.
00:55:33.13\00:55:35.70
And if you'd like to send
us an email question, our email
00:55:35.73\00:55:39.43
address is just
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org.
00:55:39.47\00:55:42.94
That's
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org.
00:55:42.97\00:55:46.61
Pastor Doug, first question
that we have for tonight.
00:55:46.64\00:55:49.11
If there are going to be
no marriages or new births in
00:55:49.14\00:55:51.45
heaven, will there be marriages
and new births in the new earth?
00:55:51.48\00:55:55.58
Doug: I would think that what
happens in heaven continues in
00:55:55.62\00:55:59.65
the new earth.
00:55:59.69\00:56:01.22
Now, God told Adam and
Eve to be fruitful, multiply,
00:56:01.26\00:56:04.99
and fill the earth.
00:56:05.03\00:56:06.49
So I think King James
uses the word replenish.
00:56:06.53\00:56:09.66
That leaves us with the idea
that earth was once populated
00:56:09.70\00:56:12.70
and got wiped out and
they had to replenish it.
00:56:12.73\00:56:14.64
No, it just means to fill.
00:56:14.67\00:56:19.57
And so once the earth is full
of the redeemed, there'll be no
00:56:19.61\00:56:22.41
need for procreation.
00:56:22.44\00:56:24.38
Otherwise, think about the math
and pretty soon people would be
00:56:24.41\00:56:28.92
on top of each other like
rabbits spilling off the planet
00:56:28.95\00:56:31.55
into empty space.
00:56:31.59\00:56:33.15
There'd be no room.
00:56:33.19\00:56:34.66
So the earth is going to be
populated with the redeemed.
00:56:34.69\00:56:37.76
Jesus is making mansions for
everybody and we'll go out and
00:56:37.79\00:56:41.30
build our own mansions, but
there'll be no procreation as
00:56:41.33\00:56:45.30
their--children that have died
or children alive when Christ
00:56:45.33\00:56:48.34
comes will go to heaven and it
says they'll go forth and grow
00:56:48.37\00:56:51.64
up, and that's in
Malachi chapter 4.
00:56:51.67\00:56:54.91
Jean: Okay.
00:56:54.94\00:56:56.24
Another question that we have
it says, "What did Jesus mean in
00:56:56.28\00:56:58.65
Matthew 20, verse 16 when he
said the first shall be last and
00:56:58.68\00:57:01.22
the last shall be first?"
00:57:01.25\00:57:03.12
Doug: Well, Christ is making
the statement there talking
00:57:03.15\00:57:06.12
about the Jewish nation
who he chose first as a people
00:57:06.15\00:57:11.23
and gave them the truth.
00:57:11.26\00:57:14.10
They might be surprised that
some of the Gentiles who would
00:57:14.10\00:57:16.97
embrace the gospel, you know,
within the first 50 years of
00:57:17.00\00:57:20.64
Christianity there were more
Christians in the world than
00:57:20.67\00:57:23.61
there were Jews.
00:57:23.64\00:57:25.37
The gospel had gone like fire
through the Roman Empire, and
00:57:25.41\00:57:28.31
they embraced it with--you know,
many, of course, embraced it
00:57:28.34\00:57:30.75
with their heart and soul.
00:57:30.78\00:57:32.38
So first he's saying don't think
because you heard the gospel
00:57:32.41\00:57:35.28
first that you may
have first place in heaven.
00:57:35.32\00:57:38.02
Those who appreciate and embrace
it, they're going to be the ones
00:57:38.05\00:57:41.12
closest to God.
00:57:41.16\00:57:42.62
And so we might be surprised.
00:57:42.66\00:57:44.73
Jean: All right. Last
question, Pastor Doug.
00:57:44.76\00:57:46.73
If a trans person says
that they believe in Christ,
00:57:46.76\00:57:49.73
are they saved?
00:57:49.76\00:57:51.67
Doug: Well, if a person
believes in Christ, they're
00:57:51.70\00:57:53.70
going to obey the law of the
Lord and the Bible says that a
00:57:53.74\00:57:58.61
man shall not wear that which
pertains to a woman and a woman
00:57:58.64\00:58:02.01
shall not wear that
which pertains to a man.
00:58:02.04\00:58:04.58
All that do so
are an abomination.
00:58:04.61\00:58:06.61
They'll want to
obey. Hey, friends.
00:58:06.65\00:58:08.52
You hear the
music. We're out of time.
00:58:08.55\00:58:10.32
God willing we will study His
Word together again next week.
00:58:10.35\00:58:13.62
AmazingFacts.org.
Go to the site.
00:58:13.66\00:58:17.06
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00:58:18.16\00:58:20.86
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00:58:20.90\00:58:23.67