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Series Code: AFBA
Program Code: AFBA202325S
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00:02 male announcer: It is the best selling book in history.
00:05 No volume ever written has been more loved and quoted, and its 00:10 words, sometimes simple and sometimes mysterious, should 00:14 always be studied carefully. 00:16 It is the Bible, the Word of God. 00:19 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," providing accurate and practical 00:24 answers to all your Bible questions. 00:28 This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. 00:31 To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this 00:34 broadcast, call 800-835-6747. 00:38 Once again, that's 800-835-6747. 00:43 Now, here's your host from Amazing Facts International, 00:47 Pastor Jëan Ross. 00:49 Jëan Ross: Hello, friends, how about an amazing fact? 00:52 One of history's most notable hoaxes is the Piltdown Man, an 00:56 archaeological deception that captivated the scientific 00:59 community for decades. 01:01 In 1912, Charles Dawson claimed to have unearthed the elusive 01:05 missing link between humans and apes in Piltdown, England. 01:09 The alleged discovery, consisting of a humanlike skull 01:12 and an apelike jaw, were initially celebrated as 01:15 groundbreaking evidence supporting a transitional 01:18 species from apes to humans. 01:21 And given the fervid interest to find the so called missing link, 01:24 the Piltdown Man was enthusiastically received as a 01:27 most remarkable discovery of human evolution. 01:31 Drawings of the apelike human were published in newspapers 01:34 around the world. 01:35 The skull was placed on display in a museum and even a statue 01:39 was made of the Piltdown Man. 01:42 However in the 1950's, advances in dating techniques and a more 01:46 comprehensive analysis revealed that the Piltdown Man was 01:50 nothing but a hoax. 01:52 The skull belonged to a human while the jaw bone was from 01:55 an orangutan. 01:56 Both were artificially stained to look very old. 01:59 This great hoax shows the lengths that some people will go 02:03 to bolster a theory that lacks credible evidence. 02:07 The Bible reminds us in Proverbs chapter 14 verse 15 that, "The 02:10 simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to 02:14 their steps." 02:15 This verse teaches us that whether we're dealing with 02:17 science, religion, morality, or any other belief, it is critical 02:21 to seek guidance from the Bible. 02:23 In a world full of false ideas and misleading philosophies, 02:27 turning to God's Word is like a strong shield that protects us 02:31 against the devil's many deceptions. 02:34 You know Pastor Carlos, when you read about these hoaxes of so 02:37 called discoveries that bolster some kind of theory or 02:41 evolutionary idea, and then later on it's discovered that 02:44 it's really not doing any of that. 02:47 It kind of points to a Creator God, just like the Bible says. 02:51 Carlos Munoz: Yeah, well, and especially as the 02:53 technology advances. 02:55 The instruments are so precise now that they come across, and 03:00 science is discovering that the theory of evolution is more and 03:04 more discredited, right? 03:05 And archaeologically, too, confirming what the Bible says 03:09 historically and scientifically. 03:11 So, we say praise God for that. 03:14 Jëan: Amen, absolutely, and of course intelligent design, the 03:16 more they study the cell and the smaller little way the cell 03:21 interacts, it's just evidence that somebody designed all 03:24 of this. 03:25 You know, we do have a free offer, it's called "When 03:27 Evolution Flunked the Science Test." 03:29 Maybe you're wondering about, you know, what does the Bible 03:32 say about, you know, the fact that God created us, but then 03:35 how do we refute these ideas about evolution? 03:38 Well, it's in the book. 03:40 It'll tell you more about it. 03:41 If you'd like to receive the book, just call and ask. 03:43 What number do they call for that? 03:44 Carlos: Yeah, they call 1-800-835-6747 and ask for offer 03:49 number 169, and so also if you're in the U.S. 03:53 you can dial 250, and when you dial number 250, you can say, 03:59 "Bible Answers Live" and ask for that free offer. 04:02 Jëan: "When Evolution Flunked the Science Test," that's the 04:05 name of the free offer. 04:06 Carlos: Yes, we have free shipping in the U.S., U.S. 04:08 territories, and Canada only, and we also wanted to take a 04:11 second to greet the listeners from KPLS in Denver and KTPJ in 04:16 Pueblo, Colorado that are joining us. 04:18 Jëan: Alright, and greetings to those who are joining us new to 04:21 "Bible Answers Live." 04:23 Well, before we go to the phone lines, why don't we start with 04:25 the word of prayer? 04:26 Carlos: Sure, let's pray. 04:27 Father, thank You again for this beautiful day and this beautiful 04:29 opportunity to spend time in Your Word. 04:30 I ask that You just give us wisdom and discernment and also 04:33 bless those that are listening and calling, so that we can have 04:36 just a lively discussion and that your name may be glorified 04:38 in all things. 04:39 We ask this in Jesus's name, amen. 04:41 Jëan: Amen, alright, number one, we have Jerry from 04:44 Texas calling us. 04:45 Jerry, welcome, you are live. 04:48 Jerry: Hey, guys, I got a long question here. 04:51 My question refers to Revelation 20, verses 7 to 9. 04:56 How long will this rebellion last for the long failed D-Day 05:00 invasion at the door of the New Jerusalem? 05:04 One religious author indicates Satan will develop weapons of 05:08 war for the onslaught of God's people. 05:10 One time, Doug mentioned more than maybe 20 years. 05:14 What are your thoughts today? 05:16 Jëan: Alright, well, good question. 05:17 Let me read the verse for those who might be traveling and 05:20 they're not familiar with the passage. 05:22 Revelation chapter 20 in verse 7, starting in verse 7, it says, 05:25 "Now when the thousand years were expired, Satan will be 05:28 released from his prison and he will go out and deceive the 05:32 nations which are on the four corners of the earth, Gog and 05:34 Magog, to gather them together 05:36 to battle, whose number is as 05:37 the sand of the sea. 05:39 And they went up on the breadth of the earth and they surrounded 05:41 the camp of the saints of the beloved city, and fire came down 05:45 from God out of heaven and devoured them." 05:48 So, just a little bit of the background here, we're talking 05:49 about the one-thousand-year period known as the millennium 05:52 we read about in Revelation chapter 20. 05:54 The beginning of the millennium is the Second Coming of Christ. 05:57 So, Jesus comes the second time, the dead in Christ are 06:00 resurrected, the living righteous are changed in a 06:02 moment, in the twinkling of an eye, and together they are 06:05 caught up to meet Jesus in the air. 06:07 The wicked are destroyed with the brightness of Christ's 06:09 coming, but the redeemed go to heaven and they're there for a 06:12 thousands years in heaven with Christ. 06:14 The devil is bound to this earth, described as the 06:18 bottomless pit, for this thousand years, but at the end 06:21 of the thousand years, the New Jerusalem, the redeemed in 06:24 Christ, and God in heaven moves down to this earth. 06:28 You read about in Revelation chapter 21 where John says, "I 06:31 saw the New Jerusalem descending from God out of heaven," and 06:34 it's at that point that the wicked are then resurrected for 06:37 the Great White Throne Judgment that we read about here in 06:40 Revelation chapter 20. 06:41 At the end of the Great White Throne Judgment, according to 06:44 these verses, the devil goes out and he is able to deceive the 06:48 wicked, and it describes them as the sand of the sea, and they 06:52 mount their attack upon the New Jerusalem, the golden city, and 06:55 then fire comes down and devours them. 06:56 So, the question is asked how long after the resurrection 07:00 of--well, how long after the New Jerusalem comes down, the end of 07:04 the thousand years, and the resurrection of the wicked, and 07:07 the Great White Throne Judgment, to when Satan and the wicked 07:11 are destroyed? 07:12 Now, of course the Bible does not say, but there is quite a 07:14 few things that have to happen after the resurrection of 07:17 the wicked. 07:18 You got this final judgment, at the end of which the Bible says 07:21 every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus is Lord and 07:25 that God is fair and that He's done everything to save mankind. 07:28 It's not a confession of guilt or a recognition of sin, rather 07:32 it's just an acknowledgment of the evidence, because no sooner 07:36 do they do that when they actually mount this attack upon 07:39 the New Jerusalem. 07:40 So, you know, the Bible doesn't say, it could be months, it 07:44 could be years, we don't know. 07:48 We'll have to wait and see. 07:49 Matter of fact, the Bible says the devil will be loosed after 07:52 his prison for a little season, that's the actual wording that 07:54 we find there in Revelation, "Loosed for a little season." 07:58 So, whatever that little season is, the Bible doesn't say. 08:02 Carlos: Yeah, what's important is that we're on the right side. 08:04 Jëan: That's right, we want to be inside the New Jerusalem when 08:06 that time comes. 08:08 Well, hopefully that helps, Jerry. 08:09 Who do we have next? 08:10 Carlos: Next we have Axel from Pennsylvania, I'm thinking. 08:13 Axel, welcome to "Bible Answers Live," you're on the air. 08:16 Axel: How are you doing, Pastor? 08:17 Jëan: Doing well. 08:19 Axel: Nice to meet you. 08:20 My question is, so Adam and Eve was the first humans, then there 08:25 was Cain and Abel, and I believe Cain was the one who killed 08:29 Abel, right? 08:32 Cain killed Abel, okay. 08:35 I'm not sure if I mixed up the names, so that's why I asked. 08:38 So, my other question is why did he say--why did God send them to 08:44 a city? 08:45 A city, it was a city, right? 08:46 Jëan: Well, not at first. 08:48 I mean, after Adam and Eve were driven from the garden of Eden, 08:51 it says that they had two sons and they also had other sons and 08:55 daughters, the Bible says, but Cain killed Abel, and yeah, as 09:01 the population grew, eventually, you know, hundreds of years, 09:05 they lived 900 years before the flood, so the population grew, 09:10 and as time went on, cities were put together or came together, 09:15 so it didn't happen immediately after Adam and Eve were banished 09:18 from the garden, but sometime after that. 09:20 Axel: Oh, okay, okay, 'cause I wasn't sure, 'cause he was 09:24 worried about him. 09:25 He was worried about people killing him, and I thought, I 09:28 was like, people killing him? 09:30 Wasn't there only four humans? 09:34 Jëan: No, there were other siblings, so he was worried 09:38 about his siblings doing him in, so that's why he complained 09:42 about that. 09:43 Axel: Okay, that makes sense. 09:44 That makes sense, yeah. 09:46 Jëan: Alright, well, good question. 09:47 Thank you for calling, Axel. 09:49 Carlos: Thank you very much, Axel. 09:50 Next we have Iba from Oklahoma. 09:52 You are on the air, Iba, welcome. 09:55 Iba: Yes, I am concerned about the position that we as 10:01 Adventists hold on the feasts of the Jews. 10:04 Is it for Jewish people only? 10:06 Like, you know, the Feast of Tabernacles, the Feast of 10:11 Trumpets and all these different things that I thought was 10:17 because Jesus had brought the Jews out of Egypt and that they 10:22 had been disobedient, and so Moses had to write some things 10:29 that the Lord told him. 10:30 Jëan: So, are you wondering do we still have to keep the feast 10:33 days today? 10:36 Yeah, that's a good question. 10:37 That's a good question. 10:39 Well, what we need to understand that when we get into the Old 10:41 Testament, we see different groupings of law. 10:45 There are at least four types of law that we read about in the 10:48 Old Testament. 10:49 The most important law, of course, is the moral law, 10:51 otherwise known as the Ten Commandments. 10:54 Transgression of the Ten Commandments is sin. 10:56 The Bible says sin is the transgression of the law. 10:59 So, that's the Ten Commandments. 11:01 Adam and Eve broke the Ten Commandments and that's where 11:04 sin came in to the whole, you know, human race and earth, and 11:08 the Ten Commandments has always been. 11:10 And of course, that needs to be kept even today. 11:13 Revelation 12:17 talks about those who keep the commandments 11:15 of God and have the faith of Jesus. 11:17 But in addition to the Ten Commandment law, there were also 11:20 certain health laws that God instructed the Israelites to 11:24 follow, but the health laws preceded the Israelites, because 11:28 you read when it came to the time of the flood, and God told 11:31 Noah to take into the ark clean and unclean animals. 11:34 They were aware, there was a distinction made between the 11:37 clean and the unclean, and the sacrificial system which was 11:40 implemented right after Adam and Eve sinned, they were driven 11:43 from the garden, only clean animals could be sacrificed. 11:46 So, there was a distinction between clean and unclean 11:49 animals and some of the other health laws associated with 11:52 that, that even predated Abraham, but then when the 11:55 children of Israel were brought out of Egypt, God gave them some 11:58 additional laws, and that's kind of where the feast days fall in. 12:02 It's what we call the ceremonial laws. 12:04 It's connected with the sanctuary service. 12:06 God told Moses to build a sanctuary, it involved the 12:09 Levitical priesthood, and there were certain feast days that 12:13 pointed to the coming of the Messiah, just like the lamb 12:15 pointed to Jesus who would come and die. 12:18 So, the feast days not only pointed to the coming of the 12:21 Messiah, but it also reminded the Jews of their deliverance 12:24 from slavery in Egypt. 12:26 For example, the Passover, so it had a dual purpose of looking 12:30 forward to the coming of the Messiah, but also for the 12:31 nation, helping to remind them that God was the one that led 12:35 them up out of Egypt. 12:37 There are principles connected with the feast days that I think 12:40 is interesting for us to study, but we cannot keep the feast 12:43 days today the way the Bible commands. 12:46 The Bible required that everyone was to go to Jerusalem for the 12:49 feast, or go up to the sanctuary and they were to offer 12:52 sacrifices on the feast. 12:53 Well, of course we don't offer sacrifices today. 12:55 We don't journey to Jerusalem. 12:58 So, it doesn't apply to Christians today. 13:00 Jesus is our Passover. 13:02 He is the Lamb that was slain for our sins. 13:04 And then the final category are the civil laws that govern the 13:07 nation of Israel. 13:09 Now, some of those principles are still, you know, valuable 13:12 for nations today, but we're not under theocracy the way the Jews 13:16 were when God led them up out of the land of Egypt. 13:19 So, some of those aspects don't apply now either, but probably 13:23 the most important thing for us to recognize is that the Ten 13:25 Commandment law, or the moral law, is always binding. 13:28 It always has been binding, and it'll be kept even in the 13:31 earth made new. 13:33 Carlos: Amen, I think one of the most beautiful things of the 13:34 feast days is that it's a prophetic calendar and it shows 13:37 how each stage of the way, a different phase of how Christ is 13:41 saving us, and so we're now in the Day of Atonement, and so 13:45 we're just waiting for the end of the Day of Atonement, as we 13:47 read in Revelation 21, tabernacles, when we're in the 13:51 presence of God. 13:52 Jëan: So, you know, you bring up a good point. 13:53 The Bible talks about this Day of Atonement that occurred once 13:55 a year, on the Day of Atonement for the Jewish people, but we're 13:58 living in that antitypical Day of Atonement, which isn't just 14:02 one day, but it's ongoing right now, as you read about in Daniel 14:05 chapter 7 and some other place in the Bible. 14:08 So, some interesting parallels there that we can see. 14:10 Alright, well, hopefully that helps. 14:11 I think we have a book called "Feast Days and Sabbaths," and 14:14 we'll be happy to send that to anyone who I would like to get 14:18 more information on that, so just go ahead and call and ask 14:22 for that, "Feast Days and Sabbaths." 14:24 Carlos: Yeah, they can text also number 250, number 250 in 14:27 the U.S. 14:29 and when you call here, "Bible Answers Live," and ask for that 14:32 free gift also. 14:33 Let's go next with Brittany from here in California. 14:37 Hello, Britney, welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 14:41 Jëan: Hi, Brittany, and your question today. 14:44 Brittany: My question is did Rahab sin when she saved the 14:49 Israelites from their enemies, and Joshua, too, by lying? 14:54 Jëan: Okay, well, you know, the Bible says that sin is the 14:57 transgression of the law, and did she lie? 15:00 Yes, she did, but the Bible also tells us that at our times of 15:04 ignorance, God winks at. 15:05 In other words, we're judged based on what we know. 15:08 She grew up in a pagan nation, she was not fully aware of all 15:12 of the commandments, she did what she thought was right in 15:16 that case to try and protect the spies, and God recognized her 15:21 faith, and God honored that faith and she and her household 15:25 was saved. 15:26 But I'm sure once she, you know, got connected with the nation of 15:29 Israel, and learned more about the religion of the Jews, and 15:32 had a clear understanding of God's requirements, his law, I'm 15:36 sure that she didn't continue lying after that. 15:39 So, at the time, you know, even though it was sin, God judged 15:43 her, or God judges each person based on what they know, and she 15:47 was sort of living up to everything she knew at 15:50 that time. 15:51 Carlos: She was a prostitute, too. 15:52 Jëan: And so we know she had a difficult life before that 15:54 too, yeah. 15:55 Her life was changed. 15:56 And you know, the amazing thing about Rahab is you read later on 15:58 where it talks about in the chapter the heroes of faith, 16:01 Rahab is mentioned, but then also she's in the lineage of, 16:04 well, eventually David and Jesus, so just a 16:08 remarkable story. 16:09 Carlos: Amen, amen, thank you very much, Brittney. 16:11 Next, we have Debbie calling us from Canada. 16:13 You're on the air, Sister Debbie, welcome. 16:16 Debbie: Hi, how are you? 16:18 Jëan: We're doing good. 16:19 Debbie: Okay, I have a question about tattoos. 16:23 I know what it says about tattooing your skin in the 16:25 Bible, but did God ever tell somebody to get a tattoo? 16:31 Jëan: Did God ever tell somebody to get a tattoo? 16:33 Well, there is one reference, it's kind of interesting. 16:36 It was back in the Jewish economy, if somebody was a slave 16:41 or they had given themselves into slavery for a period of 16:44 time, and the time came for their release, they could 16:48 choose, if they wanted to remain a slave, if they loved their 16:52 master and they were sort of adopted as part of the family, 16:55 there was a practice that occurred where the ear was 16:59 driven through, as the piercing of the ear as a sign that, you 17:04 know, the slave was indebted forever to be with his master. 17:08 And I think there was a possibility of a marking at that 17:11 point as well, but that's the only instance that we 17:14 read about. 17:16 That was a very unique situation, that's not tattoos in 17:18 general, for sure. 17:20 The Bible tells us not to get a tattoo. 17:21 Now, having said that, that's not the unpardonable sin, 17:24 there's probably many people that have got tattoos and they 17:26 realize, yeah, you know, they come to a knowledge of the truth 17:28 and that doesn't mean by any means that that God can't 17:32 forgive, but if you know the will of God, well, you don't 17:34 want to go out and get another tattoo, right? 17:36 You want to ask for forgiveness and move on with your life. 17:39 So, that's the only instance I can think of, Debbie, does that 17:42 help a little? 17:44 Debbie: Yes, it does, thank you so much. 17:45 Jëan: Alright, thanks for your call. 17:47 Who do we have next? 17:48 Carlos: Next, we have Gary calling from Illinois. 17:50 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," Gary. 17:52 Gary: Thank you, I have a hard time understanding Christ Jesus 17:56 as Michael the archangel. 17:58 So, in Jude chapter 1, verse 9 it says, "Yet Michael the 18:03 archangel, in contending with the devil, when he disputed 18:07 about the body of Moses, dared not bring against him reviling 18:12 accusation, but said to him, "The Lord rebuke you.'" 18:18 So, why would the Creator of the universe dare not to bring 18:21 reviling accusation against Lucifer? 18:24 Jëan: Okay, good question. 18:26 Well, first of all, let me give a little bit of a background 18:27 then we can specifically talk about that verse. 18:30 So, in the Bible we read about this being called Michael, and 18:34 he's referred to in Jude as the archangel. 18:37 But you also read about it in Revelation chapter 12 where it 18:39 says there was war in heaven, Michael and his angels fought 18:42 against the dragon and his angels, and the dragon lost and 18:45 he was cast out of heaven. 18:47 We also read in the book of Daniel, it refers to Michael, 18:50 the great prince who stands on behalf of thy people in Daniel 18:54 chapter 12, and then when it's talking about the Second Coming 18:57 of Christ, Jesus said the time is coming that those who are in 19:00 their grave will hear His voice, that is the voice of the Son of 19:03 Man, and they shall come forth. 19:05 And then Thessalonians says that when the Lord comes, He comes 19:08 with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trumpet of 19:12 God and the dead in Christ rise first. 19:14 So, the voice that raises the dead, according to 19:17 Thessalonians, is the voice of the archangel, and Jesus says 19:20 it's my voice that raises the dead, and Michael is referred to 19:24 the great prince who stands on behalf of his people. 19:27 Well, Jesus stands on behalf of his people. 19:29 The war that occurred in Revelation chapter 12 between 19:32 Michael and his angels was a war between Christ and his angels 19:36 and the devil and those angels that sided with him. 19:38 So, what's confusing people is the name archangel. 19:42 Does that mean that Jesus is an angel, a created being like all 19:46 the other angels? 19:47 The answer is no. 19:48 The word there, "archangel," simply means the one above, or 19:51 the ruler, or the commander of the angels, just like an arch is 19:55 above something. 19:56 So, the commander of the angels, the one in charge of the angels, 19:59 is Michael. 20:00 Michael is the prophetic name of Jesus that we find there in 20:03 Daniel and Jude, as well as in Revelation. 20:06 Now, an angel in Bible prophecy in its strict sense, if you look 20:10 up the Greek, it means messenger. 20:12 It's "angelos," it simply means messenger. 20:14 And not only do we have angelic beings referred to as angels, 20:18 but even people are referred to angels, as you read in 20:20 Revelation chapter 2 and 3, and Revelation chapter 14 talks 20:24 about the three angels' messages that really is a description of 20:27 God's people taking this end time message to the world. 20:31 So, an angel is a messenger, and there were times in the Old 20:34 Testament where Jesus came bringing a message. 20:37 He's referred to as the angel of the Lord, the messenger of 20:40 the Lord. 20:42 Now, when Jesus was talking to the devil, in the case of 20:44 resurrecting Moses, when Christ was tempted in the wilderness by 20:49 the devil, Jesus didn't get into an argument with the devil, he 20:52 just simply quoted scripture. 20:54 Likewise when he came to resurrect Moses, and the devil 20:58 was protesting, saying, well, you can't resurrect him. 21:00 Jesus didn't get into a dispute or an argument, he just said, 21:04 "The Lord rebukes you," so there's no need to get in an 21:07 argument with the devil. 21:09 It's pretty evident to all the angels in the universe, you 21:13 know, who's right and who's wrong. 21:14 And so, God rebuked the devil, and Moses was resurrected, and 21:19 we know that he was resurrected because he appeared later on 21:22 with Elijah and Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. 21:26 You know, we do have a book, it's called "Who is Michael 21:28 the Archangel?" 21:30 After that long explanation, there's a whole lot more in the 21:32 book with all the Bible verses, and we'll be happy to send it to 21:35 anyone who calls and asks. 21:37 Just call and ask, "Who is Michael the Archangel?" 21:39 Carlos: 1-800-835-6747, thank you very much, Gary. 21:44 Next, we have Glenn from Ohio. 21:46 Welcome, Glenn, you're on the air. 21:49 Glenn: Thank you, good, let me first of all say that your 21:53 ministry is quite--or your program is quite a ministry and 21:56 I appreciate that. 21:58 Jëan: Amen, well, thank you. 21:59 Glenn: Thank you for taking my call. 22:00 Jëan: Glad to do it. 22:02 Glenn: My call concerns the abomination of desolation that's 22:04 spoken of by the prophet Daniel. 22:06 I understand it's a big end time event, can you help me 22:10 understand what is the abomination of desolation? 22:13 Who performs it, when, and where? 22:16 Jëan: Alright, good question. 22:17 There are actually two parts to the abomination of desolation. 22:21 If you look in Matthew, Jesus, talking about the destruction of 22:24 Jerusalem, says, "When you see the 'Abomination of Desolation,' 22:27 spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, then 22:30 let him that be in Judea flee into the mountains." 22:33 So, in the immediate sense the abomination of desolation was 22:37 the Roman armies that came and surrounded Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 22:41 and brought about its downfall. 22:43 Now, history tells us that the Christians heeded that warning 22:48 given by Christ, and they were able to escape from the city of 22:51 Jerusalem and no Christians were killed in the destruction of 22:54 Jerusalem in 70 A.D. 22:56 The same passage is translated in Luke, and he says, "When you 23:01 see armies surrounding Jerusalem, then know that its 23:03 desolation is nigh. 23:04 Then let him that be in Judea flee into the mountains." 23:07 You might even have that verse there, Pastor Carlos. 23:09 So, we understand the abomination of desolation first, 23:13 in its first application, represents pagan Rome, but 23:18 there's also a second phase, we call that papal role, and there 23:22 is a resurgence of papal power in the last days. 23:25 And we can actually see that happening in the world around 23:27 us today. 23:29 The popularity of the papacy, its influence both in not only 23:32 religious things but also political things, a time will 23:36 come where certain laws will be promoted and passed that 23:41 restrict religious worship or religious freedom, actually 23:44 contradicting one of God's commandments. 23:46 That will be to God's people a clear sign that another 23:49 abomination of desolation is being set up. 23:53 So, that is the dual or secondary application of what 23:56 the abomination of desolation is. 23:59 Do you have anything else you want to add to that? 24:00 Carlos: Matthew 24, verse 15 forward, that's about the 24:04 abomination desolation. 24:06 Jëan: Okay, very good, well, thank you for your call. 24:09 Who do we have next? 24:10 Carlos: Next, we have Duane calling us from Georgia. 24:13 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," Duane, you're on the air. 24:17 Duane: Hey, thank you, Carlos, I appreciate your time and your 24:19 ministry, gentlemen, and taking my call. 24:23 My question has to do with actually a lot with what you 24:25 guys hit at right throughout the very first question, the first 24:28 caller, with Revelation chapter 20, verses 8 and 9. 24:34 I've always been curious, is that why would Satan attempt to 24:37 attack the beloved city of God here at the end, knowing he's 24:40 already lost the battle? 24:42 Why would he want to do this? 24:43 Is it possible that he wants to get inside hopefully a last 24:48 ditch effort, maybe to get to the tree of life, or I mean, why 24:52 is he doing this? 24:53 Jëan: Yeah, you know, that's a good question. 24:55 I mean, you'd think that he's read the Bible, he should know 24:58 the way the story ends. 24:59 But remember, this being once worshiped more than anything 25:02 else, he wanted to receive the worship that only belongs 25:04 to God. 25:06 He wanted to be as the Most High in heaven before he was cast out 25:09 of heaven. 25:10 Perhaps, and the Bible doesn't say, but perhaps the devil, 25:12 seeing the vast numbers on his side standing outside the city, 25:16 somehow is able to think that with overwhelming power or 25:22 numbers, he might be able to conquer the city. 25:25 Really, he wants to take God from his throne. 25:28 He wants to rule, and perhaps he realizes sort of a suicide 25:32 mission and he's going to take everybody down with him at 25:34 the time. 25:36 But he's able to convince them to actually mount this attack 25:38 upon the New Jerusalem, and you can't attack God. 25:41 I mean, God created all things, and you wonder why would he even 25:44 think that? 25:45 But you know, sin does that to a person, it causes people to do 25:48 some very foolish things. 25:49 I mean, look at our world. 25:51 Look at what sin has caused people to do. 25:53 So, I think Satan has been so connected to sin and self that 25:57 perhaps he even deceives himself. 26:00 At least he's able to deceive the people to thinking that he's 26:02 going to be victorious. 26:03 Maybe he's able to convince himself that he thinks he's 26:05 going to be victorious. 26:07 But the Bible makes it clear that there's no hope, God will 26:10 cleanse the earth from sin and sinners. 26:12 The fire that destroys the devil and his angels is the fire that 26:15 purifies the earth, and then God creates a new heavens and a new 26:19 earth wherein dwells righteousness. 26:21 Well, friends, we're coming up on our mid-program break, so 26:24 don't go very far away, we're going to be right back with more 26:26 of your Bible questions. 26:32 male announcer: Stay tuned, "Bible Answers Live" will 26:34 return shortly. 26:39 male announcer: Doug Bachelor was the teenage son of a 26:42 millionaire father and show business mother, yet he was 26:45 living in a cave. 26:46 He had everything money could buy, everything but happiness. 26:50 But all of the fun and excitement he enjoyed left his 26:53 life out of control. 26:54 His search eventually led him to a cave above Palm Springs that 26:58 became his home. 27:00 While Doug scavenged for food in garbage bins, his father owned a 27:04 yacht, a Learjet, and an airline, but in his cave home, 27:08 he discovered a dust-covered Bible. 27:10 As he began to read, he soon learned of his true purpose 27:14 in life. 27:15 "The Richest Caveman" is the extraordinary true story of Doug 27:18 Bachelor, that tells how a rebellious teenager who once 27:22 lived in a cave became a tremendous soul winner for 27:25 Jesus Christ. 27:26 It's a thrilling testimony of the transforming power of 27:29 God's Word. 27:30 To order your copy of "The Richest Caveman," call 27:33 800-538-7275, or visit AFBookstore.com. 27:40 female announcer: Did you know Amazing Facts has a free Bible 27:42 school that you can do from the comfort of your own home? 27:45 It includes 27 beautifully illustrated study lessons to aid 27:49 in your study of God's Word. 27:50 Sign up today for this free Bible study course by 27:53 calling 1-844-215-7000. 27:56 That's 1-844-215-7000. 28:03 Doug Batchelor: Every year, 40,000 souls in North America 28:06 end their own lives. 28:08 Suicide is a terrible tragedy, and while it's difficult to talk 28:12 about, we need to face it together as 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again, that's 800-835-6747. 30:17 Now, let's rejoin our hosts for more "Bible Answers Live." 30:24 Jëan: Hello, friends, you're listening to "Bible Answers 30:26 Live," a live interactive international Bible study. 30:29 I'd like to welcome all of those who might have joined us halfway 30:32 through the program, and as mentioned, if you have a Bible 30:35 question, we'd love to hear from you tonight. 30:37 Just give us a call, the number is 800-463-7297. 30:42 That'll bring you in here to our studio. 30:44 If we don't answer your call right away, just stand by and we 30:49 will get to your question or your telephone call as soon 30:52 as possible. 30:54 My name is Jëan Ross. 30:55 Carlos: Carlos Munoz. 30:56 Jëan: That's right, and we're ready to go to the phone lines. 30:58 Who do we have next? 31:00 Carlos: Next, we have Lynn from the state of Oregon. 31:02 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," Lynn. 31:05 Lynn: Hello, yes, my question is about Leviticus 19:19 and 31:14 Deuteronomy 22:11. 31:18 And Leviticus 19:19 says, "You shall keep my statutes. 31:26 You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. 31:33 You shall not sow your field with mixed seed, nor shall a 31:39 garment of mixed linen and wool come upon you." 31:46 And Deuteronomy 22:11 says, "You shall not wear a garment of 31:55 different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together." 32:01 Now, when I took history class and they said that the 32:06 colonists, well, a lot of the garments that they wore were of 32:11 a fabric they called linsey-woolsey, which is just 32:16 that, linen and wool mixed together, and many of our 32:23 garments today are of all kinds of combinations of 32:28 different materials. 32:31 Jëan: Okay, so you're wondering why did God make this law for 32:34 the Jews, or are you wondering is it wrong for us to wear 32:37 clothing that is mixed fabrics? 32:40 Lynn: Is it wrong for us to wear clothing with 32:43 mixed fabrics? 32:44 Jëan: Alright, good question. 32:45 Well, first of all, no, it's not wrong for us to wear fabrics of 32:49 mixed clothing, because if we read on in that same passage, 32:52 verse 12 in Deuteronomy 22, it says, "You shall make tassels on 32:56 the four corners of your clothing." 32:59 So here, not only is it telling the Israelites not to wear 33:02 clothing of mixed fabrics, but it says you also need to make 33:05 these tassels that you wear at the borders of your garments. 33:09 This is part of the ceremonial law that God gave to the nation 33:12 of Israel. 33:14 You see, God wanted them to be distinct and separate from the 33:16 nations that surrounded them. 33:18 The tassels on the hem of their garment was to remind them that 33:21 they were a holy people and remind them of obedience to 33:24 God's law. 33:25 And so, there were practical aspects of not mixing linen and 33:30 wool in different fabrics, just like there's practical aspects 33:33 of not using mixed seed when you sow your fields. 33:38 So, there was some practical aspects, but I think it extended 33:41 even more than that. 33:43 Garments in the Bible represent the righteousness or character, 33:49 and of course the Bible speaks about the redeemed clothed in a 33:52 white robe, representing Christ's righteousness that they 33:55 would receive. 33:57 The garments of the priests were to be pure, they weren't to be 34:00 of mixed fabrics. 34:02 It was a type, a shadow. 34:03 Israel is a holy people, a holy nation, we're to be set apart. 34:07 Now, there are practical aspects of that for our day today. 34:10 I think a Christian is to dress a little differently from 34:13 the world. 34:14 We are to dress modestly. 34:16 We are to dress neatly, cleanly, there should be a distinction in 34:19 dress between the Christian and the non-Christian, but it's not 34:23 referring to us not being able to wear clothing of 34:25 mixed fabrics. 34:27 That had to do more specifically with the nation of Israel. 34:30 Does that help, Lynn? 34:31 Lynn: Yes, that does. 34:33 Jëan: Okay, great, well, thank you for your call. 34:36 Carlos: Next, we have Christopher here 34:37 from California. 34:39 You are live on the air, Christopher, hello. 34:42 Christopher: Hello, thank you for taking my call. 34:44 My question is, is it a sin to celebrate birthdays? 34:50 Jëan: Is it a sin to celebrate birthdays? 34:51 No, it's not a sin. 34:53 Now, there might be some celebrations that people do that 34:57 might be sinful, but you know, just celebrating a birthday is 35:02 not a sin in and of itself. 35:04 But if somebody has a big party, and there's alcohol and music 35:08 and dancing, well, yeah, that could be a sinful thing, but 35:11 just recognizing somebody's birthday, there's nothing wrong 35:15 with that. 35:16 Christopher: Okay, so, like, receiving gifts from family 35:18 members is okay? 35:20 Jëan: Yeah, absolutely, you know, if it doesn't contradict 35:22 the law of God, it's okay. 35:24 And you know, in our culture today, we have many different 35:27 customs that don't contradict the Word of God. 35:30 For example, Thanksgiving, there's nothing wrong in 35:33 celebrating Thanksgiving or spending time with family. 35:36 So, yeah, a birthday, it falls into that same category. 35:39 It's not a contradiction of a commandment. 35:42 Christopher: Okay, that's it then, thank you. 35:44 Jëan: Alright, thanks, Christopher. 35:46 Who do we have next? 35:48 Carlos: Next, we have Sean from Michigan. 35:49 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," Sean, you're on the air. 35:53 Sean: Thank you for taking my call. 35:54 I'm calling in the third time that I've called you guys. 35:56 So, this is from Ruth 4, verse 7, comparing with Mark 1, verse 36:01 7, so I'll read it here from the King James version. 36:04 Ruth 4:7, "Now this is the manner in former time in Israel 36:08 concerning redeeming and concerning changing, for to 36:12 confirm all things. 36:13 A man plucked off his shoe and gave it to his neighbor, and 36:17 this is a testimony in Israel." 36:19 So, I'll pause there. 36:21 The context of this is about the kinsman that ends up not 36:25 redeeming the inherit--like, basically the land that would be 36:31 associated with Ruth the Moabite, because her husband had 36:34 died and Naomi's husband died. 36:36 Ends up going to Boaz, and I wasn't sure if, 'cause he 36:40 chooses to do that, in Mark 1, verse 7 it says, "And preached, 36:44 saying, there cometh my dear than I after me, the latchet of 36:47 whose shoes I'm not worthy to stoop down and unloose." 36:51 My question is whether this whole thing about taking off the 36:54 shoe, the thing about the shoe in Ruth 4:7 and Mark 1:7, is 36:59 there any connection? 37:01 Is John the Baptist alluding to that about, like, not being 37:05 honorable enough to do something for Jesus? 37:07 Jëan: That's a good connection. 37:09 Yeah, yeah, that's an interesting connection. 37:11 Well, first of all, when it talks about take your shoes off, 37:13 take your sandals off, that is a reference first and foremost of 37:17 recognizing that you're in the presence of someone important. 37:21 When Moses was approaching the burning bush, God called out 37:23 from the burning bush and said, "Moses, take the sandals off 37:26 your feet. 37:27 The place where you're standing is holy ground." 37:30 And when John is referring to Jesus and he says I'm unworthy 37:33 to bow down and even, you know, loose his sandals, it's a 37:37 reference to the fact that Christ is holy. 37:39 The Bible speaks of Him as being that holy thing with reference 37:43 to the announcement of His birth. 37:45 So, that's the first sense that John is referring to when he 37:49 talks about the sandal. 37:50 Also in the Middle East culture, it was interesting, even today I 37:55 traveled to India, as a sign of reverence or respect when you 38:00 go into a church, you remove your shoes, you go in barefoot, 38:04 and that was also a custom even back then in the time of Israel. 38:08 And I think that because of that custom associated with giving a 38:13 sandal had to do something along with the covenant. 38:16 Now, there were different types of rituals connected with 38:19 covenants in the Bible. 38:21 You read the story where another covenant was where you placed 38:25 your hand under the thigh. 38:28 When Abraham was getting a son for Jacob, he had his servant 38:33 place his hand under his thigh and make an oath. 38:35 So, that's also another form. 38:37 That had changed, it seems, at least by the time of Ruth, and 38:41 the custom at that time was just exchanging a sandal as part of 38:44 an official contract that was being made. 38:46 So, the connection with John, it's interesting, I've never 38:48 seen that before specifically as it relates here, but I think 38:51 John is referring to the fact that Jesus is holy, and that's 38:54 why he was not worthy to loose his sandal. 38:57 Carlos: Yes, thank you, Sean. 39:00 Next, we have Robert from Washington. 39:02 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live." 39:03 Robert: Good to be here. 39:05 Thank you, Pastor Ross and Pastor Munoz. 39:08 Carlos: What's your question, brother? 39:10 Robert: Acts 3:19-21, it talks about a restoration there, or a 39:16 restoring, and I always thought that it was supposed to be 39:22 restoring when Jesus comes, but maybe I'm wrong. 39:27 Jëan: Okay, well, let me read the verses for those who might 39:29 be listening. 39:30 Acts chapter 3, beginning in verse 19, it says, "Repent 39:33 therefore and be converted, that your sins might be blotted out, 39:36 so that the time of refresh may come from the presence of the 39:38 Lord, and that he will send, or may send Jesus Christ, who was 39:42 preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the 39:46 times of restoration of all things which God has spoken by 39:50 the mouth of all of his holy prophets since the world began." 39:53 So, is your question about the phrase where it says, "Until the 39:57 restoration of all things?" 39:58 Robert: Correct, yeah, like I said, I always thought that had 40:02 to do with when Jesus comes, but maybe I'm wrong. 40:07 Jëan: Well, no, it's definitely referring to the Second Coming 40:10 of Christ, because it says in verse 20, "That he may send 40:14 Jesus Christ who was preached to you before, whom heaven must 40:17 receive," which that's where Jesus is now. 40:21 "Whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of 40:24 all things." 40:25 So, here it's talking about a time of restoration. 40:28 Now, when it's talking about a restoration, it's talking about 40:30 a restoration of the truths, all of the truths of scripture, and 40:33 if you look historically after the legalization of Christianity 40:37 in 313, there were a number of strange pagan ideas and concepts 40:41 that came into the Christian church. 40:43 Some of those were contradicted during the time of the 40:47 reformation, but even into the 1800's there were still some 40:50 misunderstandings about what the Bible teaches, a number of 40:53 important teachings and doctrines. 40:55 But here, the promise is given before Jesus comes there will be 40:58 a full restoration of truth. 41:01 God will have a people who love him, keep his commandments, they 41:04 have the faith of Jesus, and the truth that was preached through 41:08 the prophets, all of the truth will be made manifest in the 41:11 last days. 41:12 And we also see this illustrated in Revelation chapter 18, verse 41:16 1, where it says John saw an angel coming down from heaven, 41:20 and the earth was illuminated with his glory, and he cried 41:22 mightily with a strong voice. 41:25 And you see the three angels's messages proclaiming God's three 41:29 aspects of His last warning message to the world. 41:31 So, that's referring to this proclamation, this restoration 41:35 of the truths of God's Word. 41:37 And then Jesus comes, which falls right into that 41:39 prophetic timeframe. 41:41 Carlos: Yeah, in Matthew chapter 17, verse 11 it says, "Elijah is 41:43 coming to restore all things." 41:45 Jëan: That's right, a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as 41:48 in the days of Elijah. 41:49 So, does that help Robert? 41:51 Robert: Yeah, so the doctrines, the truth of God's Word are 41:56 restored first, and then Jesus comes. 41:58 Jëan: That's right, there is a group of people that are sealed, 42:02 according to Revelation chapter 7, before Jesus comes, so part 42:08 of that sealing is a restoration of all the truths of God's Word. 42:13 Robert: Alright, thank you. 42:15 Jëan: Alright, great question, thanks for calling. 42:16 Carlos: Thank you, Robert. 42:17 Next, we have Lee from North Carolina. 42:19 Welcome to "Bible Answers Live," Lee, you're on the air. 42:21 Lee: Thank you so much for taking my call, Pastors. 42:24 My question is regarding Deuteronomy chapter 14. 42:29 God talks about the unclean foods, do not eat this, do not 42:32 eat that, and then Mark chapter 7, verses 18 and 19, when Jesus 42:39 is explaining it I think in a parable, and then the disciples 42:42 afterwards say, "You know, Lord, what did you mean exactly?" 42:45 And he says, "Well, I can't believe you didn't understand, 42:48 but whatever enters a man from the outside doesn't defile him 42:51 because it's eliminated by the stomach," and then he says, 42:54 "Thus purifying the food," and so I'm confused. 42:57 I know that, you know, this is God both times, it's God's Word 43:01 and I'm just--could you shine some light on that? 43:04 Jëan: Yeah, great question. 43:06 Alright, first of all, if you read the context, well, 43:08 Deuteronomy, there's a clear distinction made between clean 43:10 and unclean animals. 43:12 Not only is that with reference to eating, meaning that God told 43:15 his people, and I believe it's true today, if you're gonna eat 43:18 meat, you only want to eat the clean animals. 43:20 It was also important for the sacrificial system that a 43:23 distinction be made between clean and unclean animals. 43:26 But then in the context here, if you read in Mark chapter 7, 43:29 there was a dispute that arose because the disciples did not 43:33 wash their hands before they ate, and it was the religious 43:37 leaders that had created all kinds of traditions associated 43:41 with everything. 43:42 And one of the traditions they had is that there was a certain 43:45 type of ceremonial washing of the hands, and the washing of 43:48 bowls, and cups, and plates, and all kinds of things associated 43:52 with eating. 43:54 And the disciples, they were on the road, they were traveling, 43:56 and they were hungry, and they ate. 43:58 They didn't do that ceremonial washing with their hands, and 44:01 this caused a bit of controversy. 44:03 And of course, the religious leaders brought that up to the 44:06 disciples and to Jesus, and then Jesus said it's not that which 44:09 goes into a man that defiles him, but it's that which comes 44:12 out of the man. 44:14 When Jesus says it's not that which goes into the man, he's 44:17 not making a statement on you can eat anything you want, 44:20 because that wouldn't make sense. 44:22 Obviously, we can eat things that damage the body. 44:25 Jesus wouldn't say you can eat things that damage the body, 44:28 because the Bible says our bodies are the temple of the 44:30 Holy Spirit. 44:31 He will destroy those that destroy the body. 44:34 So, he's not saying that you can just eat whatever you want or 44:36 whatever, you know, crawls across your plate. 44:39 Some of the things are harmful, you don't want to eat it. 44:41 But he's specifically addressing the tradition of washing of 44:44 the hands. 44:46 Jesus says don't worry about that, that's not the most 44:48 important thing. 44:50 The most important thing is what comes out of the man, meaning 44:52 out of the heart. 44:53 Now, they connected the washing of the hands with 44:56 spiritual defilement. 44:57 If you didn't wash your hands, you were being 44:59 spiritually defiled. 45:01 Jesus says, no, that's got nothing to do with spiritual 45:03 defilement, spiritual defilement is that which comes from the 45:06 heart, it comes from the inside, it comes out. 45:09 So, that's the context. 45:10 And again, you need to always read this in its context. 45:13 You mentioned the phrase, "Thus purifying all foods." 45:16 It's also interesting there, the word "thus" is actually added, 45:21 it's not part of the original manuscripts. 45:23 It was added by the translators for clarity, so that's not the 45:27 original text. 45:29 It's just simply Jesus is saying it's not what goes into the man 45:32 that brings spiritual defilement, but it's that which 45:35 comes out of a man which brings spiritual defilement. 45:37 That's the point that he's making. 45:38 Carlos: And Matthew 15 is a little bit more clearer than 45:40 Mark when it says in Matthew 15:20, "These things which 45:43 defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands defiles not 45:47 a man." 45:48 So, there's a clarification in Matthews 15, 45:52 so we have to look at the parallel verses. 45:53 Jëan: That's a great point, very good point. 45:55 Alright, hopefully that helps, Lee. 45:57 Who do we have next? 45:58 Carlos: Next, we have Liza from Florida. 45:59 Welcome, Liza, first time. 46:01 How are you doing? 46:02 Liza: I'm doing well, thank you, guys, Pastor Ross and 46:05 Pastor Munoz. 46:07 My question has to do with the Israelites, the plague with the 46:11 Egyptian, was that within a span of a year? 46:14 And if so, is that what we have to expect for the plagues seen 46:19 in Revelation? 46:20 Jëan: Okay, good question. 46:22 Well, the first distinction that we have between the plagues that 46:24 fell upon Egypt and the ones that fell upon, or described as 46:27 falling in Revelation, is that there were ten plagues that came 46:30 up on Egypt, and Revelation speaks about seven plagues, the 46:33 seven last plagues that come on the earth after probation 46:36 closes, before Jesus comes. 46:38 The distinction between that is the first three plagues affected 46:42 not only the Egyptians, but it also to some degree affected 46:46 the Israelites. 46:47 But the seven last plagues after that only affected the 46:51 Egyptians, it did not affect the Israelites. 46:53 They were protected, meaning that when the seven last plagues 46:56 are poured out upon the earth, God will protect His people. 46:59 These are judgments that come upon the wicked. 47:01 Now, how long did it take for those plagues, those ten plagues 47:04 to fall upon Egypt? 47:05 It was less than a year, because there was some rapid events 47:09 taking place. 47:10 There was also a terrible devastation that occurred, and 47:14 it would have probably caused a lot of harm if people tried to 47:19 continue for an extended period of time under those conditions. 47:22 So, it probably occurred within a matter of months. 47:25 Now, will the seven last plagues fall within a year? 47:29 I think there's good evidence in the Bible to suggest that, 47:32 because Revelation speaks about the plagues coming upon a power 47:35 called Babylon and says her plague shall come in one day. 47:39 One prophetic day in the Bible is equal to one literal year. 47:42 Now, of course the plagues that came upon Egypt were just for 47:45 one country. 47:47 The seven last plagues are for the whole world. 47:49 So, it takes about a year, or roughly within a period of a 47:52 year, for the seven last plates to be poured out. 47:55 Carlos: In Revelation it talks about, 16 it says, "The day of 47:58 the wrath," so again, that prophetic principle. 48:03 Jëan: Does that help Liza? 48:05 Liza: Yes, thank you, guys, have a great day. 48:07 Carlos: Thank you, next we have Bobbie from Washington. 48:10 Welcome, Bobbie, you're on the air. 48:13 Bobbie: Hi, my sister and I have a difference of opinion about 48:17 when Christ will come back. 48:21 My thought was that the righteous will go up into the 48:28 air and meet those that are risen that have passed on and 48:33 are resurrected, and that the dead--evil dead people will stay 48:42 in their grave, and those that are evil and living will die. 48:47 My sister says, or she believes, that God is the God of love and 48:52 would not kill His people or His creation. 48:59 I tell her that it's a punishment or a judgment of how 49:04 they've either rejected or accepted Christ, and at the end 49:09 of the millennium when Christ returns and the evil people that 49:17 were dead are resurrected, at that time those people will die 49:24 in a lake of fire that was created for the devil, and she 49:28 doesn't believe. 49:30 She thinks that we would, when God withdraws His Spirit, that 49:37 you can't live without His presence, and that's why 49:40 they die. 49:41 They just kind of fall over and they're gone, but I believe that 49:44 they would share in the punishment with Satan and 49:48 his angels. 49:50 Jëan: Yeah, let me give you a few thoughts that might add 49:52 to that. 49:53 You know, it's true that God takes no delight in the death of 49:56 the wicked, the Bible says that. 49:57 There's no pleasure, God takes no delight. 50:00 He says, "Therefore repent and turn. 50:02 Why will you die?" 50:03 The Bible says God is not slack concerning His promise, speaking 50:05 of the second coming, but He's longsuffering towards us, not 50:08 willing that any should perish, but that all should come 50:10 to repentance. 50:12 So God doesn't want anyone to be destroyed, but at the end of 50:15 time, there's a couple of scenarios that we look at. 50:17 First of all, just before Jesus comes, there is a universal 50:20 death decree that is pronounced against the people of God. 50:23 Jesus comes to the deliverance of His people, and as He 50:28 delivers these people, the wicked are destroyed with the 50:30 brightness of His coming. 50:31 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 8 says, "The wicked are 50:34 destroyed at the brightness of His coming." 50:36 And then at the end of the thousand years, as we just read 50:38 in Revelation chapter 20, the scenario is that the wicked are 50:42 outside the city with the devil and his angels, and they 50:44 actually mount an attack upon the New Jerusalem, and the Bible 50:48 says fire comes down and devours them. 50:50 So, both cases it is God coming to the deliverance and the 50:54 defense of His people, and as a result, judgment falls upon the 50:58 wicked and they are destroyed. 51:00 The Bible says God is a consuming fire, and for those 51:04 who have rebelled against Him and are determined to destroy 51:08 His faithful people, there is nothing else God can do but put 51:12 a stop to them, and that is through death, the means that 51:16 He's chosen is fire to destroy the devil and his angels and the 51:19 wicked who have sided with him, and then He makes a new heavens 51:23 and a new earth. 51:25 So, God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but there 51:27 is a destruction that comes upon the wicked. 51:30 The Bible is pretty clear on that if you read Revelation, and 51:33 also the Old Testament talks about a fire consuming the devil 51:36 and his angels, and they'll be turned to ashes upon the earth. 51:40 So, yeah, the Bible is pretty clear on that. 51:42 Carlos: Yeah, and it's interesting, too, with the flood 51:44 he destroyed the surface of the earth with water, next time it's 51:48 not going to be with water, but it's going to be with fire. 51:51 Jëan: You know, it's interesting, the two symbols of 51:53 water and fire. 51:54 Water is a symbol of baptism and fire a symbol of the Holy 51:57 Spirit, so the righteous are cleansed by water and fire, but 52:01 the wicked, the earth, is cleansed by water and fire. 52:04 Literal water in the time of the flood, and fire that devours the 52:08 wicked at the end of the thousand years. 52:10 Okay, who do we have next? 52:12 Carlos: Alright, next we have Tiwanna from Virginia. 52:15 Welcome, Tiwanna, you're on the air. 52:17 Tiwanna: Thank you both for taking my call. 52:19 I hope you're having a good evening. 52:22 My question is, and I've been listening to your sermons and 52:27 Pastor Doug Batchelor, and my question is why are some, when 52:36 we die, we sleep until Jesus Christ resurrects us, and 52:43 there's some people in heaven, and my cousin and I have been 52:47 talking, and then she asked me, because I was sharing with her 52:52 what I was learning, and her question is, well, if that's the 52:58 case that when we die we sleep in the grave and we know 53:02 nothing, then in Ephesians 3:14-15, mainly 15, it says, 53:10 "From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named," and 53:16 then about the transfiguration with Jesus Christ and who 53:24 appeared with Him was Elijah and Moses, and we know Elijah was in 53:28 the chariot. 53:30 Jëan: Yeah, let me jump in before we run out of time. 53:31 I'm looking at the clock, good question. 53:34 Elijah was taken to heaven, Enoch was taken to heaven 53:37 without dying, and Moses was resurrected and taken to heaven. 53:41 You read about that in the book of Jude. 53:43 So, we know Enoch, Elijah, Moses are in heaven. 53:48 There was also a group that was resurrected at the time of 53:50 Christ's resurrection, and the Bible doesn't give us their 53:52 names, but they ascended with Jesus to heaven and they 53:56 are firstfruits. 53:58 But the general resurrection doesn't happen until Jesus comes 54:01 the second time, that's when people receive their rewards. 54:05 So, there's just a small exception. 54:07 You got any before the flood, you got Enoch, Elijah, and 54:12 Moses, and then this group that was resurrected at the time of 54:16 Christ's resurrection, but everyone else will be 54:18 resurrected when Jesus comes. 54:20 So, hopefully that helps. 54:22 You know, we do have a study guide that talks about that, 54:24 it's called "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 54:26 And it gets all of the Bible verses, I think it even 54:29 references Moses and Elijah, and anyone wanting to learn more 54:32 about that, just call and ask. 54:34 The number to call for that is 800-835-6747. 54:38 You can ask for the Amazing Facts Study Guide, it's called 54:40 "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 54:41 Or you can text, what's the number they text if they want to 54:44 get it? 54:46 Carlos: Pound 250 on your mobile device, and just say, "Bible 54:48 Answers Live." 54:50 Jëan: And then ask for that, "Are the Dead Really Dead?" 54:52 and we'll send it out. 54:53 Well, friends, we don't have time, I'm looking at the clock, 54:55 we don't have time to take any more calls live, but stand by, 54:59 we are going to be taking your email questions that you've 55:01 sent in. 55:02 To those listening on satellite radio, until next week, may God 55:06 bless, and call in with your Bible questions. 55:09 Same time, same place next week, and we look forward to seeing 55:13 you then. 55:16 male announcer: Thank you for listening to today's broadcast. 55:19 We hope you understand your Bible even better than before. 55:23 "Bible Answers Live" is produced by Amazing Facts International, 55:27 a faith based ministry located in Granite Bay, California. 55:33 Carlos: Alright, we want to welcome everybody for the 55:34 special section for our online viewers. 55:37 Email questions that you can send to 55:39 BALquestions@amazingfacts.org, and so the first question, 55:42 Pastor Ross, is from Alita, and it is, "Is it wrong to keep the 55:45 ashes of your loved ones in your home instead of burying or 55:48 scattering them somewhere?" 55:50 Jëan: No, it's not wrong. 55:51 If you want to keep them in a vase at home, you are more than 55:55 welcome to do that as well. 55:57 Remember, when it comes to the resurrection, God's not going to 56:00 be using any leftovers from the earth. 56:02 I mean, you think about it. 56:04 You have people that were burned at the stake during the time of 56:07 the reformation and even the early days when pagans 56:11 persecuted the Christians. 56:12 So, when Jesus comes and He resurrects the righteous, we get 56:15 brand new immortal bodies, so it doesn't matter if someone's 56:19 cremated, or buried, or if the ashes are scattered, or placed 56:24 in the ground. 56:25 God makes new things. 56:26 Carlos: Yes, next question from Joseph. 56:28 "Why was the serpent cursed when it was the devil who 56:30 possessed it?" 56:32 Jëan: Well, you know, the devil was the one that chose to 56:33 possess the serpent, and it's possible that the serpent was 56:37 one of the most beautiful creatures in the garden of Eden 56:41 before sin came. 56:42 Because the Bible says the curse that came upon the serpent, he's 56:46 going to go about on his belly, maybe he even had wings 56:48 before that. 56:50 But the serpent becomes a symbol or a type of the devil in 56:53 his rebellion. 56:55 It's unfortunate, but yeah, that's what happened to 56:56 the serpent. 56:58 But the lamb becomes a symbol of Christ, and those two symbols we 57:00 see throughout scripture. 57:02 Carlos: Last question is from David, "Did the war in heaven 57:04 take place shortly after Jesus's ascension to heaven after 57:07 his crucifixion?" 57:08 That's what it seems like in the book of Job. 57:10 And Satan still had access to heaven before the crucifixion 57:13 and doesn't get thrown out until the book of Revelation. 57:16 Jëan: Well, there are two parts to the war in heaven. 57:18 The first is the devil and his angels being cast out of heaven, 57:20 that occurred before the creation of the earth, but up 57:24 until the point of the crucifixion, it appears as 57:26 though the devil had some degree of access where he claimed to be 57:29 the representative of the earth, and you have reference there 57:32 to Job. 57:33 But when Jesus died on the cross, it says he's cast to the 57:36 earth, meaning that he's bound to the earth. 57:38 No longer can the devil claim to be the representative of the 57:41 earth, because Christ is now the second Adam. 57:43 Jesus is our representative in heaven. 57:46 So, there's the casting out of heaven that occurs before the 57:49 creation of the earth, and then there is the casting down of the 57:53 devil that occurs at the cross. 57:55 And so, the devil knows he has a short time and he's going around 57:57 like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, but God will 58:01 protect and provide for his people. 58:03 So, yes, the devil is sort of bound to this earth. 58:07 Well, friends, again, we want to thank you for calling in, being 58:09 a part of our "Bible Answers Live" program. 58:11 And as always, we want to remind you that this is a program, a 58:15 ministry, dedicated to sharing the gospel. 58:17 Until next week, God bless. 58:20 male announcer: "Bible Answers Live," honest and accurate 58:24 answers to your Bible questions. |
Revised 2025-05-30