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Welcome to "Bible Answers Live,"
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answers to all
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This broadcast is a
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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:
Hello, listening friends.
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Would you like to
hear an amazing fact?
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Researchers in Florida
have discovered that some ants
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perform life-saving
surgeries on one another.
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When ants discover that a
coworker has an injured leg,
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they'll evaluate the wound and
either clean or treat it with
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antibiotics in their saliva
or amputate the injured limb.
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They are the only creatures on
Earth besides humans that know
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how to perform
surgeries on their species.
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The ants are able to diagnose a
wound, see if it's infected, and
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treat it accordingly.
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In experiments, they observed
that ants treated their nest
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member's femur injuries by
cleaning the wound with their
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mouths before amputating
the leg by repeatedly biting it.
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Ninety percent of the ants
treated this way heal and are
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able to continue
working with five legs.
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I didn't know that
ants were so durable.
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Jean Ross: I know, Pastor
Doug. It's an amazing fact.
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You've got the nurses, you've
got the doctors in the ant
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kingdom, it sounds like,
and they're able to diagnose and
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perform surgery.
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And I think you even mentioned
before the program, they're also
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aware, they can--they can
figure out if a limb is--got
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some sort of infection, and
I think they even clean their
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mouths somehow.
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Doug: The ants have, like,
an antibiotic in their saliva.
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They also use it for cleaning
the larva, but if they see
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there's an infection,
they'll actually clean it.
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And if it can heal, they seem
to know, and if it can't, they
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nibble it off and the other ant
stands there and submits to it
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knowing that they're trying to
help and then it may scamper off
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with five legs and keep going.
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So it's just amazing,
though, the whole study of ants.
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Of course, they're mentioned in
the Bible, but what I'm thinking
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of now is something Jesus said
in Mark chapter 9, verse 45:
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"And if your foot causes you to
sin, cut it off, for it's better
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for you to enter life lame, than
having two feet, to be cast into
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hell, into the fire that is
never quenched--where 'their
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worm does not die and
the fire is not quenched.'
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And if your eye causes
you to sin, pluck it out.
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It's better for you to enter
into the kingdom of God with one
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eye, rather than having
two eyes, to be cast into hell
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fire--where 'their worm
does not die and the fire is
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not quenched.'"
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Well, right now I'd be tempted
to launch into a study talking
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about what does it mean
the fire that's not quenched.
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Someone might call
in and ask about that.
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But what does Jesus mean when He
says, "better to cut off a foot,
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a hand, pluck out an eye, than--
and go to heaven maimed," of
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course, no one is going to be
in heaven maimed, "than to go to
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hell with all of
your members intact."
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And when I first read this verse
as a baby Christian, I thought,
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"Well, you know, if I'm
shoplifting, I've got to cut off
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my right hand," but then I
realized I'd probably shoplift
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with my left hand.
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So Christ is saying that if
there's something as close as
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your hand, your eye, your foot,
that is causing the dissent, it
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might be a relationship that's
not appropriate, something you
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care about, you're close to,
but it's bad, it's hurting you.
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You're better cutting it
off, as painful as it might be.
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It might be as
painful as an amputation.
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And I know people that have
tried to break from drinking or
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smoking or some
drug or bad habit.
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It can feel like
cutting off a limb.
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Jesus said, "Better to make the
break and enter into life than
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to have your sin or
your bad relationship and be
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lost forever."
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Jean: And you know,
Pastor Doug, that's so true.
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Every person who wants to do
the right thing, they have that
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battle where we have to
choose daily to surrender self.
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The devil's not going to give up
just because somebody has made a
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decision for Jesus,
and Christians are tempted.
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It's not a sin to be tempted,
but we want power to overcome
00:04:24.16\00:04:26.96
those temptations.
00:04:27.00\00:04:28.46
And we do have a book.
00:04:28.50\00:04:29.83
It's called, "Tips
for Resisting Temptation."
00:04:29.86\00:04:31.37
We'll be happy to send this
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:04:31.40\00:04:33.80
It's our free offer today.
00:04:33.84\00:04:35.27
Just call the
number, 800-835-6747.
00:04:35.30\00:04:38.87
You can ask for Offer
number 708 or you can text.
00:04:38.91\00:04:43.31
Dial #250 on your smartphone,
say "Bible Answers Live" and
00:04:43.35\00:04:47.65
then ask for the book by name.
00:04:47.68\00:04:49.05
It's called, "Tips
for Resisting Temptation."
00:04:49.08\00:04:51.89
We'll send you a digital
download and you can just read
00:04:51.92\00:04:54.09
it and you can share
it with somebody else.
00:04:54.12\00:04:56.06
You will be blessed.
00:04:56.09\00:04:57.39
If you're outside of North
America and you can't text, just
00:04:57.43\00:05:00.43
go to the
website, AmazingFacts.org.
00:05:00.46\00:05:03.40
You'll be able to read it
there at the free library.
00:05:03.43\00:05:06.77
Well, Pastor Doug, before we go
to the phone lines, we've got a
00:05:06.80\00:05:08.70
number of calls.
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Let's start with prayer.
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Dear Father, we thank You once
again that we have this time
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where we can just open
up Your Word and study.
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There is power
in the Word of God.
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And Lord, we ask Your
blessing upon this program.
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We know there are many
who are listening, some who
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are traveling.
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We just ask that You would
guide us all into a clearer
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understanding of what the Bible
says in Jesus's name, amen.
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Doug: Amen.
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Jean: Well, our first caller
today, we've got Jerry listening
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in Texas, and Jerry,
welcome to "Bible Answers Live."
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Jerry: Hey, guys.
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I appreciate your continuing
ministry always, and mine's just
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a simple question.
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You know, God has an honorable
day of worship which God gave to
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us on Mount Sinai,
although it was given before.
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Will there be a Sabbath
day-- was there a Sabbath day
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before Creation?
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That's all, gentlemen.
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Doug: All right,
thank you, Jerry.
00:06:00.86\00:06:02.36
A basic question.
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Did the Sabbath of
the Ten Commandments exist
00:06:03.83\00:06:06.90
before Creation?
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Well, it's first introduced
as part of the Earth's Creation
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process and our time
cycle on this planet.
00:06:13.47\00:06:17.11
And so we have no reason to
believe that it existed before.
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But because God made man in
His image and God is ultimately
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going to move the new Jerusalem
to our Earth, it tells us in
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Isaiah 66 that "from one Sabbath
to another, all flesh will come
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to worship before Him."
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So while the Sabbath did not
probably predate, I mean there
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may have been other times of
rest in God's infinite Creation,
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we don't know.
00:06:42.06\00:06:43.37
But that Sabbath that we
celebrate did not predate the
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creation of the Earth because
it's controlled by our sun, but
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it will be kept in
the Earth made new.
00:06:49.90\00:06:52.34
So great question,
Jerry, I appreciate that.
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Jean: Although we do know that
the angels prior to the creation
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of the earth,
they did worship God.
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There was a gathering.
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It also appears that the
angels had tasks that they did.
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You know, they are the
ministering spirits, the
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Bible says.
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And so, it would make sense that
there was some time where there
00:07:06.12\00:07:09.26
was, you know, whatever the time
frame there is in heaven, where
00:07:09.29\00:07:13.40
the angels and the other
inhabited beings of the other
00:07:13.43\00:07:16.06
planets would probably set
aside their regular activity
00:07:16.10\00:07:18.97
for worship.
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So, likely the
principle was there.
00:07:20.37\00:07:21.70
Doug: Yeah, it says in Job:
"There was a day when the sons
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of God came to assemble before
the Lord," and it's not on Earth
00:07:24.37\00:07:28.14
because God asked the devil,
"Where did you come from?"
00:07:28.18\00:07:29.94
He said, "From the Earth."
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So yeah, they had some kind
of cycle of time in the cosmos.
00:07:31.41\00:07:35.75
Thanks, Jerry.
00:07:35.78\00:07:37.09
Jean: Next caller that we have
is Gary, listening in Illinois.
00:07:37.12\00:07:39.29
Gary, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
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Gary: Thank you.
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My question comes from
Revelation 13, verses 14 and 15,
00:07:43.53\00:07:49.16
that says: "Telling those who
dwell on the Earth to make an
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image to the beast."
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So people are instructed
to make a graven image.
00:07:53.97\00:07:56.67
It's further explained in 15, it
says: "He was granted power to
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give breath to the image of
the beast, and the image of the
00:08:01.34\00:08:04.61
beast should both speak and
cause many as would not worship
00:08:04.65\00:08:08.75
the image of the
beast to be killed."
00:08:08.78\00:08:11.35
So my question is, is the graven
image going to come to life, and
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will it kill those who do not
worship it as a graven image?
00:08:16.76\00:08:21.86
Doug: Okay, hey,
great question, Gary.
00:08:21.90\00:08:23.73
You know, the first thing to
understand is what is the beast?
00:08:23.77\00:08:25.93
'Cause the image is a
representation or a likeness or
00:08:25.97\00:08:29.90
a facsimile of the beast, and
when you study what the beast
00:08:29.94\00:08:33.88
is, the beast is a religious
political power because it's
00:08:33.91\00:08:37.15
compelling worship that
persecuted God's people,
00:08:37.18\00:08:40.42
starting, you know, in the dark
ages, and then it receives a
00:08:40.45\00:08:43.49
deadly wound and this religious
political organization comes
00:08:43.52\00:08:47.69
back into power and the
second beast makes an image to
00:08:47.72\00:08:51.83
the beast.
00:08:51.86\00:08:53.09
So in Revelation chapter 13,
I think it starts with verse 11,
00:08:53.13\00:08:58.13
an image there
does not mean a statue.
00:08:58.17\00:09:00.20
It's talking about a likeness.
00:09:00.24\00:09:01.77
It forms another religious
political confederacy that
00:09:01.80\00:09:05.94
becomes a persecuting power.
00:09:05.97\00:09:07.61
So we're not talking about
a statue ruling the world or a
00:09:07.64\00:09:09.98
statue coming to life like some
people think it's an AI robot or
00:09:10.01\00:09:13.28
something that's
going to rule the world.
00:09:13.31\00:09:15.55
But no, this is talking about
a religious political power.
00:09:15.58\00:09:19.92
All through Daniel, the
prophecies of these beasts are
00:09:19.95\00:09:23.12
talking about kingdoms and
powers, and in Revelation it's
00:09:23.16\00:09:26.23
talking about the
kingdoms and powers.
00:09:26.26\00:09:28.23
The image of the beast is
a likeness of one of these
00:09:28.26\00:09:32.43
kingdoms and powers.
00:09:32.47\00:09:34.10
Jean: And the key there is that
this image is--what's unique
00:09:34.14\00:09:36.97
about this beast's power is it's
a religious power, but it uses
00:09:37.01\00:09:40.68
civil authority or governments
to enforce its teaching, its
00:09:40.71\00:09:44.21
religious teaching.
00:09:44.25\00:09:45.58
So an image to the beast would
do something similar where you
00:09:45.61\00:09:48.28
have a political power, a
nation, that is legislating how
00:09:48.32\00:09:53.96
people ought to worship.
00:09:53.99\00:09:55.66
That is an image
to the first beast.
00:09:55.69\00:09:57.63
And, you know, there's a
lot more we can say about this
00:09:57.66\00:09:59.43
passage, Pastor Doug, but just
to, you know, get right to it.
00:09:59.46\00:10:02.86
The second beast that you read
about is the United States in
00:10:02.90\00:10:05.87
Bible prophecy.
00:10:05.90\00:10:07.24
And we do have a
lesson that talks about this.
00:10:07.27\00:10:09.10
It's called, "The
USA in Bible Prophecy."
00:10:09.14\00:10:11.37
It's a very important
prophecy. Revelation chapter 13.
00:10:11.41\00:10:13.14
Doug: Especially now.
00:10:13.17\00:10:14.64
Jean: Yeah, when we see
everything happening in our
00:10:14.68\00:10:15.98
world today.
00:10:16.01\00:10:17.31
We'll be happy to send that
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:10:17.35\00:10:19.48
Just ask for that study guide.
00:10:19.51\00:10:20.82
It's called, "The
US in Bible Prophecy."
00:10:20.85\00:10:23.22
The number to call for that is
800-835-6747, and again, ask for
00:10:23.25\00:10:28.09
the study guide, "The United
States in Bible Prophecy," or
00:10:28.12\00:10:30.53
dial #250 on your smartphone,
say "Bible Answers Live" and
00:10:30.56\00:10:34.83
then ask for it by name,
"The US in Bible Prophecy."
00:10:34.83\00:10:38.10
All right, thank you, Gary.
00:10:38.13\00:10:39.47
Next caller that we
have, Titus from Virginia.
00:10:39.50\00:10:42.07
Titus, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:10:42.10\00:10:44.87
Titus: Hey, my question is, just
because something is tradition
00:10:44.91\00:10:49.94
to someone, like, how do you
explain to them that just 'cause
00:10:49.98\00:10:52.75
it's tradition
doesn't mean it's right?
00:10:52.78\00:10:54.78
Doug: Yeah, well, there's
nothing wrong with a tradition
00:10:54.82\00:10:59.65
that does not
conflict with scripture.
00:10:59.69\00:11:02.66
So, you know, every culture
has traditions and some are
00:11:02.69\00:11:05.33
beautiful and innocent, and,
you know, you go to Japan, the
00:11:05.36\00:11:08.33
tradition is you--or Korea
more so, when you bow and you
00:11:08.36\00:11:11.20
greet someone, others shake
hands and some take off their
00:11:11.23\00:11:14.34
shoes when they go into church.
00:11:14.37\00:11:16.17
There's
some--traditions are fine.
00:11:16.20\00:11:18.51
It's when a tradition conflicts
with the Bible you should never
00:11:18.54\00:11:21.91
put tradition ahead of the
Bible, and I don't remember the
00:11:21.94\00:11:24.51
verse, Pastor Ross, but I can
quote where Jesus said, "You put
00:11:24.55\00:11:28.15
aside the commandments of
God that you might observe
00:11:28.18\00:11:31.05
your tradition."
00:11:31.09\00:11:32.39
Now that's one verse.
00:11:32.42\00:11:33.72
In another place, He said
that "you make your man-made
00:11:33.76\00:11:39.16
traditions more important
than the commandments of God."
00:11:39.19\00:11:41.53
And so Christ made it very
clear that no man-made tradition
00:11:41.56\00:11:44.97
should supersede or
eclipse the commandments.
00:11:45.00\00:11:47.60
Jean: The verse you're referring
to, Mark chapter 7, verse 8:
00:11:47.64\00:11:50.84
"For laying aside the
commandments of God, you hold to
00:11:50.87\00:11:53.14
the traditions of men."
00:11:53.17\00:11:55.74
Doug: So, hopefully, that
helps, Titus and that, yeah, no
00:11:55.78\00:11:58.58
tradition should supersede the
Word of God or a commandment or
00:11:58.61\00:12:01.82
a principle.
00:12:01.85\00:12:03.18
Jean: Next caller that we have
is Glenn, listening in Ohio.
00:12:03.22\00:12:05.35
Glenn, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:12:05.39\00:12:08.39
Glenn: Well, good morning
or good afternoon or evening,
00:12:08.42\00:12:10.36
whatever it is, Pastors,
and thank you again for taking
00:12:10.39\00:12:12.83
my call.
00:12:12.86\00:12:14.40
The question is, after learning
the derivation of three words
00:12:14.46\00:12:17.90
that are commonly used in the
assembly today, I wonder if it's
00:12:17.93\00:12:22.70
appropriate to
continue using those words.
00:12:22.74\00:12:26.07
And the first word is the word
"God," which comes from the god
00:12:26.11\00:12:30.31
Gad, which meant good
luck and good fortune.
00:12:30.35\00:12:33.75
I think that the God of the
Bible says is an abomination
00:12:33.78\00:12:36.95
to Him.
00:12:36.99\00:12:38.35
The second word is the hymns
that we sing out of the hymnal,
00:12:38.39\00:12:42.89
the title of that comes from
the goddess of music, hymnists.
00:12:42.92\00:12:46.93
Does that make any difference?
00:12:46.96\00:12:49.13
And the third word
is the word "church."
00:12:49.16\00:12:52.10
Not a group, but the church from
an early word, which means a
00:12:52.13\00:12:56.47
place where
idols were worshiped.
00:12:56.50\00:12:58.97
And are those three words
considered in today's church,
00:12:59.01\00:13:02.74
that's my question.
00:13:02.78\00:13:04.55
Doug: All right, well, you've
done a little etymology of some
00:13:04.58\00:13:07.15
of these words.
00:13:07.18\00:13:09.02
Because a word had an original
meaning that may have been
00:13:09.05\00:13:13.19
dubious, meanings of
words change over time.
00:13:13.22\00:13:18.19
And you know, a lot of words I
could mention right now used to
00:13:18.23\00:13:20.50
have a very different meaning,
and you know, through use its
00:13:20.53\00:13:24.23
context changes.
00:13:24.27\00:13:25.83
The word "God," which springs
from a similar root word to the
00:13:25.87\00:13:28.67
word "good," there's
nothing wrong with that.
00:13:28.70\00:13:31.27
It's just, it's a descriptive
title, and it may mean our God
00:13:31.31\00:13:34.84
Jehovah, and it could be used if
you say someone is making a god
00:13:34.88\00:13:38.51
out of their car.
00:13:38.55\00:13:39.95
So anything could
fit that definition.
00:13:39.98\00:13:42.65
And then you have the words,
"hymnal" and "music" or, there,
00:13:42.68\00:13:47.62
you know, you could find pagan
trappings probably in a lot
00:13:47.66\00:13:50.26
of words.
00:13:50.29\00:13:51.63
It doesn't make
them necessarily wrong.
00:13:51.66\00:13:52.96
Now, if you are convicted,
anything that's not of faith is
00:13:52.99\00:13:55.96
sin, if you're convicted,
you shouldn't use those words.
00:13:56.00\00:13:58.27
There's probably
other words you could use.
00:13:58.30\00:14:00.50
Jean: Now, of course, we do find
that the word "hymn" is used in
00:14:00.54\00:14:03.30
the English Bible in
the King James Version.
00:14:03.34\00:14:05.57
It says, "When they sang a hymn
or psalms, they left," and then,
00:14:05.61\00:14:08.11
of course, the New
Testament talks about church.
00:14:08.14\00:14:10.91
So back, you know, when
the Bible was translated into
00:14:10.95\00:14:13.85
English, people had a clear
understanding that a church
00:14:13.88\00:14:16.42
represented a Christian
gathering, and a hymn had to do
00:14:16.45\00:14:19.05
with a sacred song.
00:14:19.09\00:14:20.39
Doug: Kirk is not, yeah, and
which is a Scottish, yeah, word,
00:14:20.42\00:14:26.13
it just meant a gathering place.
00:14:26.16\00:14:28.73
So yeah, I don't think there's
anything inherently evil with
00:14:28.76\00:14:31.10
those words, but
thank you for your question.
00:14:31.13\00:14:33.44
Jean: We've got
April listening in Florida.
00:14:33.47\00:14:35.34
April, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:14:35.37\00:14:37.97
April: Good
evening, Pastor Doug.
00:14:38.01\00:14:39.31
Good evening, Pastor Ross.
00:14:39.34\00:14:40.68
Can you hear me okay?
00:14:40.71\00:14:42.01
Doug: We can, loud and clear.
00:14:42.04\00:14:43.38
April: By the way, Pastor Doug,
I look so forward to meeting you
00:14:43.41\00:14:46.68
in the Florida Keys next
year at Bible camp meeting.
00:14:46.72\00:14:50.29
Doug: That's
right, we'll be there.
00:14:50.32\00:14:51.65
April: It was my bucket list.
00:14:51.69\00:14:52.99
Awesome.
00:14:53.02\00:14:54.26
It was on my bucket list to meet
you, and God answered my prayer.
00:14:54.29\00:14:57.39
So my question is, in the
book of Genesis, I want to say
00:14:57.43\00:15:01.26
chapter 12, the Pharaoh gave--
excuse me, Abraham told Sarah to
00:15:01.30\00:15:09.80
pretend like he was the brother
so they wouldn't kill him.
00:15:09.84\00:15:15.58
So the Pharaoh was impressed
with her beauty and that she was
00:15:15.61\00:15:20.45
a foreign-born person,
she wasn't from that area.
00:15:20.48\00:15:24.52
So he took her as
a wife, as his wife.
00:15:24.55\00:15:27.32
I don't know how long they
were together for, I don't think
00:15:27.36\00:15:29.66
it says.
00:15:29.69\00:15:30.99
I was wondering if they
had any children together.
00:15:31.03\00:15:33.73
Doug: Okay, I think if
you read that text carefully,
00:15:33.76\00:15:36.00
good question.
00:15:36.03\00:15:37.33
When Abraham went down during
a famine to Egypt because there
00:15:37.37\00:15:39.83
was always food in Egypt because
they had a river to water their
00:15:39.87\00:15:43.07
crops, he was afraid because
Sarah, even though she was
00:15:43.10\00:15:46.78
older, she was a very beautiful
woman, with striking beauty and,
00:15:46.81\00:15:51.68
you know, maybe the people
in Egypt were more swarthy back
00:15:51.71\00:15:54.42
then and she may have had
blonde hair and blue eyes.
00:15:54.45\00:15:56.89
We have no idea, but anyway, she
stood out somehow, so much so
00:15:56.92\00:16:00.12
that Abraham
feared for his life.
00:16:00.16\00:16:02.62
And so, it says that I think the
Pharaoh took her maybe into his
00:16:02.66\00:16:07.30
house intending to make her
a wife, and that's when it was
00:16:07.36\00:16:13.07
revealed, and
that never happened.
00:16:13.10\00:16:15.87
They--she never became his wife.
00:16:15.90\00:16:17.31
Jean: Yeah, verse 19 actually
where Pharaoh's talking to
00:16:17.34\00:16:19.41
Abraham and he says,
"Why did you do this?
00:16:19.44\00:16:21.61
Why did you say
'She's my sister'?
00:16:21.64\00:16:23.41
I might have
taken her as my wife."
00:16:23.45\00:16:26.05
So it seems as though, you know,
they had told the Pharaoh and
00:16:26.08\00:16:29.32
Pharaoh thought it was a good
idea, but the wedding hadn't
00:16:29.35\00:16:32.39
taken place because God
plagued the house of Pharaoh.
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.82
And so they began to ask
questions: Why are all these
00:16:35.86\00:16:37.89
things happening to us?
00:16:37.93\00:16:39.29
Doug: The Lord had great
plans for Abraham and Sarah.
00:16:39.33\00:16:41.13
He wasn't going to
let that interfere.
00:16:41.16\00:16:43.50
So no, she never had
any relations with Pharaoh.
00:16:43.53\00:16:46.94
There's nothing in the
scripture that says that.
00:16:46.97\00:16:48.77
Jean: And of course, she
only had one child, and that
00:16:48.80\00:16:50.97
was Isaac.
00:16:51.01\00:16:52.31
So yeah, there was no--she
didn't marry Pharaoh, but Isaac
00:16:52.34\00:16:56.11
was the only child she ever had,
so there could not have been any
00:16:56.14\00:16:58.58
other children
with Sarah and Pharaoh.
00:16:58.61\00:17:01.02
Doug: Yeah, and technically just
so everyone knows, you could say
00:17:01.05\00:17:05.59
it was a half lie if there is
such a thing because Abraham and
00:17:05.62\00:17:09.12
Sarah were half
brother and sister.
00:17:09.16\00:17:12.19
They shared the same father
but different mothers, so, he
00:17:12.23\00:17:15.73
thought he, well, it was really
dishonest, but he thought,
00:17:15.76\00:17:17.93
"Well, I could say
it's sort of true."
00:17:17.97\00:17:21.40
Jean: Now we know somebody,
Pastor Doug, both of us know
00:17:21.44\00:17:23.61
somebody who he married
his stepsister, but from
00:17:23.64\00:17:28.64
different parents.
00:17:28.68\00:17:30.08
And they grew up together and
fell in love and got married.
00:17:30.11\00:17:33.25
So, you can't marry your sister
in one sense, but I think that's
00:17:33.28\00:17:36.35
a little different.
00:17:36.38\00:17:37.72
Yeah, it's
totally different there.
00:17:37.75\00:17:39.35
All right, next caller that
we have is Shannon in Georgia.
00:17:39.39\00:17:41.69
Shannon, welcome to the program.
00:17:41.72\00:17:43.49
Shannon: Hi, thank
you for taking my call.
00:17:43.53\00:17:45.49
I have a question.
00:17:45.53\00:17:49.43
Jacob blessed Ephraim, although
Manasseh was first born.
00:17:49.46\00:17:55.20
And I was just wondering,
does it say in the Bible why he
00:17:55.24\00:17:59.34
did that?
00:17:59.37\00:18:00.78
And when I look back at Jacob,
who stole Esau's birthright, and
00:18:00.81\00:18:06.35
then Judah was considered
the first--given the birthright
00:18:06.38\00:18:11.02
over Reuben and because of these
things that Reuben had done
00:18:11.05\00:18:16.86
while Judah was first in
with Esau, Jacob stealing
00:18:16.89\00:18:21.33
Esau birthright.
00:18:21.36\00:18:22.66
And I just wanted to know
why was Ephraim considered, you
00:18:22.70\00:18:28.50
know, he received the blessing
over Manasseh because it seems
00:18:28.54\00:18:31.77
like everybody in the family
except Isaac, the ones that
00:18:31.81\00:18:35.88
should have been
first were not first.
00:18:35.91\00:18:38.65
Doug: Yeah, that's a
very good observation.
00:18:38.68\00:18:42.32
When Jacob called Joseph and
he said, you know, I've not seen
00:18:42.35\00:18:45.59
your two sons, you were
separated from me in Egypt, and
00:18:45.62\00:18:48.29
I want to bless them.
00:18:48.32\00:18:49.69
And normally you would
place your hands on the
00:18:49.72\00:18:51.53
firstborn first.
00:18:51.56\00:18:53.13
Jacob's eyesight was failing,
and Joseph thought, "Oh, he's
00:18:53.16\00:18:55.40
putting his
hands on the wrong one.
00:18:55.43\00:18:57.30
Let me correct him."
00:18:57.33\00:18:58.83
Jacob said, "No, I
know what I'm doing.
00:18:58.87\00:19:01.04
God is going to bless
the younger above the older."
00:19:01.07\00:19:04.97
Now, you look at the story
of the Hebrews, Jacob had the
00:19:05.01\00:19:08.71
same experience.
00:19:08.74\00:19:10.08
He was younger than Esau,
but he got the blessing of the
00:19:10.11\00:19:13.52
firstborn, and Moses was younger
than Aaron, and it seemed like
00:19:13.55\00:19:18.65
he was called and blessed.
00:19:18.69\00:19:19.92
David was the youngest, and you
see the pattern where, you know,
00:19:19.95\00:19:23.69
the least are first and the
first are last and the last are
00:19:23.73\00:19:26.76
first, and God knew it was
prophetic that the tribe of
00:19:26.80\00:19:31.67
Ephraim would end up becoming
much bigger than Manasseh.
00:19:31.70\00:19:34.77
And indeed when Israel had a
civil war, the whole northern
00:19:34.80\00:19:38.94
kingdom of the ten tribes were
called Ephraim because it had
00:19:38.97\00:19:42.84
grown so large, where Manasseh
always stayed a minor tribe, so
00:19:42.88\00:19:46.98
it was a prophecy
among other things.
00:19:47.02\00:19:49.88
Jean: Yeah, absolutely.
00:19:49.92\00:19:51.25
And if you look at the blessings
that were pronounced upon the
00:19:51.29\00:19:53.76
children of Israel, or, you
know, the 12 sons, and in this
00:19:53.79\00:19:57.83
case, Joseph, he has a double
blessing through his 2 sons.
00:19:57.86\00:20:02.10
They have
prophetic significance.
00:20:02.13\00:20:04.27
They kind of portray what role
that tribe is going to play in
00:20:04.30\00:20:08.00
the history of Israel.
00:20:08.04\00:20:09.67
And of course, the prophecy is
made that the Messiah would come
00:20:09.70\00:20:12.44
through Judah,
the tribe of Judah.
00:20:12.47\00:20:14.08
Doug: Yeah, and even, yeah, when
Jacob blessed all the sons, he
00:20:14.11\00:20:16.91
made that clear.
00:20:16.95\00:20:18.25
Well, thank you, great question.
00:20:18.28\00:20:19.61
Jean: All right, next caller
that we have is Fred, listening
00:20:19.65\00:20:21.28
in Connecticut.
00:20:21.32\00:20:22.62
Fred, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:20:22.65\00:20:24.59
Fred: Oh yes, the
144,000, is that a literal or a
00:20:24.62\00:20:30.89
symbolic number?
00:20:30.93\00:20:33.03
Doug: Good question.
00:20:33.06\00:20:34.36
Now, for our friends listening,
the 144,000 can be found in
00:20:34.36\00:20:37.97
Revelation chapter 7 and
Revelation chapter 14, and it's
00:20:38.00\00:20:42.70
this unique group that
John calls out there in that
00:20:42.74\00:20:46.31
prophecy, and it's 12 times
12,000, which adds up to, of
00:20:46.34\00:20:50.31
course, 144,000.
00:20:50.35\00:20:52.38
Just to give you a
little background, everything in
00:20:52.41\00:20:54.55
Revelation, not everything,
but a great deal of Revelation,
00:20:54.58\00:20:59.19
springs from experiences
in the Old Testament.
00:20:59.22\00:21:02.39
Of course in the Old Testament
you had the 12 sons of Jacob.
00:21:02.42\00:21:06.26
New Testament 12 apostles.
00:21:06.29\00:21:09.83
In the Old Testament, David
divided his army in sets of 12
00:21:09.86\00:21:15.24
and 24, and you can see where
he divided the priests' service,
00:21:15.27\00:21:20.08
and Solomon followed up with
this 12 and 24, so in some cases
00:21:20.11\00:21:24.25
they had 144,000 that were
ministering 6 months and another
00:21:24.28\00:21:28.32
144,000, they'd
rotate in the army.
00:21:28.35\00:21:31.69
So when you get to Revelation
and it says 144,000, some people
00:21:31.72\00:21:35.99
wonder, is a literal number.
00:21:36.02\00:21:37.43
First concern is, does that
mean only 144,000 are saved?
00:21:37.46\00:21:41.83
Let's answer
that question first.
00:21:41.86\00:21:43.63
No, because in Revelation
chapter 14, and I forget which
00:21:43.67\00:21:47.20
verse it is, maybe it's in
chapter 7, it says, who are
00:21:47.24\00:21:50.11
these--who are these that have
come out of great tribulation.
00:21:50.14\00:21:53.94
And it's talking about a
great multitude that no man
00:21:53.98\00:21:56.24
can number.
00:21:56.28\00:21:57.58
Jean: From every nation,
kingdom, tongue, and people.
00:21:57.61\00:21:58.95
Doug: So there's a lot
more saved than the 144,000.
00:21:58.98\00:22:02.62
The key to the number in my
thinking is you have in the New
00:22:02.65\00:22:06.32
Testament 12 apostles that were
a special group given a special
00:22:06.35\00:22:10.86
work, filled with the Spirit,
and they were a position of
00:22:10.89\00:22:15.26
leadership just
like the Old Testament.
00:22:15.30\00:22:17.03
You had the 12
judges, you had the 12 tribes.
00:22:17.07\00:22:20.50
And it's saying in the last
days God's going to pour out His
00:22:20.54\00:22:23.14
Spirit in a special way
for this group to do a last
00:22:23.17\00:22:27.38
global ministry.
00:22:27.41\00:22:29.28
Will we see people going around
with like marathon numbers on
00:22:29.31\00:22:32.61
their back that say
"I am number 133,000"?
00:22:32.65\00:22:36.72
No, I don't believe so.
00:22:36.75\00:22:38.52
But most of the numbers
you find in Revelation do have
00:22:38.55\00:22:40.89
real value.
00:22:40.92\00:22:42.49
So it may be a literal number,
doesn't mean they're the only
00:22:42.52\00:22:45.53
ones saved.
00:22:45.56\00:22:46.90
On the day of Pentecost, there's
120 in the Upper Room, 12 of
00:22:46.93\00:22:50.30
them were apostles.
00:22:50.33\00:22:51.80
The Holy Spirit is not poured
out until they replaced Judas,
00:22:51.83\00:22:55.67
and they went
from 11 back to 12.
00:22:55.70\00:22:57.21
Then the Holy Spirit's
poured out on the whole group.
00:22:57.24\00:22:59.74
But there's a special
work and authority given to the
00:22:59.77\00:23:03.41
12 apostles.
00:23:03.45\00:23:04.75
I think that this is
like a last day example.
00:23:04.78\00:23:08.32
When Jesus came the first time,
special group, trained, filled,
00:23:08.35\00:23:12.72
12 apostles, not
the only ones saved.
00:23:12.75\00:23:15.36
When He comes a second time,
He's going to the whole world,
00:23:15.39\00:23:18.36
not just 12, but it's 12 times
12,000, and they're not from
00:23:18.39\00:23:21.83
literal Israel but
from spiritual Israel.
00:23:21.86\00:23:24.77
Jean: And of course, 12 in the
Bible is often associated with
00:23:24.80\00:23:27.07
the church: 12 tribes of the Old
Testament, 12 apostles of the
00:23:27.10\00:23:29.87
New, and like you say,
12 times 12 times 1000.
00:23:29.90\00:23:33.31
So symbolic of God's
people in the last days.
00:23:33.34\00:23:36.31
We have a book, Pastor Doug,
called, "Who Will Sing the Song?
00:23:36.34\00:23:38.98
Understanding the 144,000."
00:23:39.01\00:23:40.58
And you go into
this in more detail.
00:23:40.62\00:23:42.32
You wrote the book.
00:23:42.35\00:23:43.65
We'll be happy to give this
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:23:43.69\00:23:45.75
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:23:45.79\00:23:49.36
And just ask for the
book, "Who Will Sing the Song?"
00:23:49.39\00:23:51.79
Or say, "The book on the
144,000," and we'll be able to
00:23:51.83\00:23:55.50
send it to you.
00:23:55.53\00:23:56.83
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone, say "Bible Answers
00:23:56.87\00:23:59.70
Live," and then ask for the book
that way as well, and you get a
00:23:59.73\00:24:02.44
digital copy and you'll be
able to read it right away.
00:24:02.47\00:24:05.67
Next caller that we
have is Christi in Canada.
00:24:05.71\00:24:07.88
Christi, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:24:07.91\00:24:10.05
Christi: Hello, good evening.
00:24:10.08\00:24:11.85
So I just had a question.
00:24:11.88\00:24:13.68
I'm sort of stuck in a rut of
not reading my Bible and failing
00:24:13.72\00:24:18.82
to trust God.
00:24:18.85\00:24:20.16
I went through a period
where this happened and it was a
00:24:20.19\00:24:24.03
pretty
significant period in my life.
00:24:24.06\00:24:26.63
So I'm just wondering how I can
return back to God and learn how
00:24:26.66\00:24:30.90
to trust Him despite perhaps
my laziness and weariness.
00:24:30.93\00:24:36.10
Doug: Yeah, well, there's three
things that you can do that will
00:24:36.14\00:24:40.38
help to stimulate a revival.
00:24:40.41\00:24:41.98
There's actually several things,
but three things I'm going
00:24:42.01\00:24:44.15
to highlight.
00:24:44.18\00:24:45.68
Faith, if you want more faith,
"Faith comes by hearing," Romans
00:24:45.71\00:24:48.88
chapter 10, I think verse 17.
00:24:48.92\00:24:50.99
"Faith comes by hearing and
hearing by the Word of God."
00:24:51.02\00:24:54.16
Spend time in the Word of God.
00:24:54.19\00:24:56.66
When you pray and pray for
specific things, you will get
00:24:56.69\00:25:00.70
more specific answers
and your faith will grow.
00:25:00.73\00:25:04.00
Mark out times to pray even
though you may not feel like it.
00:25:04.03\00:25:06.80
Talk to the Lord.
00:25:06.84\00:25:08.17
Expand on it, and then don't
be afraid to share your faith.
00:25:08.20\00:25:11.94
If everybody would spend
time every day reading the Word,
00:25:11.97\00:25:16.81
praying, sharing their
faith, they would grow.
00:25:16.85\00:25:20.25
It's like breath is the prayer,
and the exercise is sharing your
00:25:20.28\00:25:25.39
faith and eating the bread
of life is studying the Bible.
00:25:25.42\00:25:29.29
Now, we have a book on "12
Steps to Revival," and I think,
00:25:29.32\00:25:32.36
Christi, that
will encourage you.
00:25:32.39\00:25:33.96
I just gave you 3 but there's
12 steps you can read in this
00:25:34.00\00:25:36.56
free book.
00:25:36.60\00:25:37.93
Anyone out there.
00:25:37.97\00:25:39.27
Jean: The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
00:25:39.30\00:25:41.50
Ask for the book, it's
called, "12 Steps to Revival."
00:25:41.54\00:25:44.74
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone, just say "Bible
00:25:44.77\00:25:48.38
Answers Live," and then ask for
the book, "12 Steps to Revival."
00:25:48.41\00:25:51.71
And you know, Pastor Doug,
as you mentioned, we've got to
00:25:51.75\00:25:53.68
actually put forth some effort.
00:25:53.72\00:25:55.42
If you're going to grow
physically, you're going to have
00:25:55.45\00:25:58.02
to eat, and if we're going to
grow spiritually, sometimes we
00:25:58.05\00:26:00.82
might not feel like it, but you
just need to sit down and read
00:26:00.86\00:26:04.16
the Word.
00:26:04.19\00:26:05.49
You'll feel better afterwards.
00:26:05.53\00:26:06.86
You've got to make that
commitment and you've got to
00:26:06.90\00:26:08.33
follow through with it.
00:26:08.36\00:26:09.66
And as you do that, the
Lord will be able to work a work
00:26:09.70\00:26:11.93
within us, but we have
to give Him the opportunity.
00:26:11.97\00:26:14.67
Doug: Yeah, you know, when I was
younger, I didn't have to try to
00:26:14.70\00:26:18.57
keep muscle, but as you get
older, if you want to keep any
00:26:18.61\00:26:22.44
kind of muscles, you've got to
exercise and it's no fun at the
00:26:22.48\00:26:25.55
time, but it feels
better later when you go to lift
00:26:25.58\00:26:28.35
something up.
00:26:28.38\00:26:30.22
So I guess that's just a fact
of life that, as they say in the
00:26:30.25\00:26:34.12
gym, no pain, no gain, and
it's also true in the Christian
00:26:34.16\00:26:37.36
experience that you need to
invest that time with God in
00:26:37.39\00:26:41.26
prayer, in study, and, you know,
getting the exercise, breathing
00:26:41.30\00:26:45.77
in prayer, feeding on the bread
of life, and you will grow.
00:26:45.80\00:26:49.37
You've got a spiritual body with
real needs and if you neglect
00:26:49.40\00:26:52.77
those needs, you suffer.
00:26:52.81\00:26:54.11
I'm sorry, if you've got a
physical body with practical
00:26:54.14\00:26:56.58
needs and if you
neglect those needs you suffer.
00:26:56.61\00:26:58.88
You have a spiritual body, the
needs are just as real and if
00:26:58.91\00:27:02.42
you minister to those
needs, you'll see the benefit.
00:27:02.45\00:27:05.82
Well, we're going to come back
after a brief break, be back in
00:27:05.85\00:27:08.42
just a couple of moments.
00:27:08.46\00:27:09.92
announcer: Stay tuned.
00:27:14.00\00:27:15.30
"Bible Answers
Live" will return shortly.
00:27:15.33\00:27:18.27
Doug: Millions of people believe
that planet Earth is on the
00:27:22.40\00:27:25.34
verge of some apocalypse that
will plunge the world's cities
00:27:25.37\00:27:28.61
into chaos.
00:27:28.64\00:27:30.18
In response, thinking people
everywhere are wondering if it
00:27:30.21\00:27:33.98
might be a good time to locate
their families outside of the
00:27:34.02\00:27:37.52
congested metropolitan areas.
00:27:37.55\00:27:39.85
In my new book, "Heading for
the Hills: A Beginner's Guide to
00:27:39.89\00:27:43.43
Country Living," I do my best
to provide a biblical balance.
00:27:43.46\00:27:47.86
I'd like to share with you some
of the crucial things you'll
00:27:47.86\00:27:50.40
need to know before
you head up for the hills.
00:27:50.43\00:27:53.40
I'd also like to identify some
of the practical things you look
00:27:53.44\00:27:56.57
for in buying a piece of country
land, how to develop water,
00:27:56.60\00:28:00.54
power, and a garden, all while
still seeking to save the lost.
00:28:00.58\00:28:05.18
This book has some very valuable
information for anybody that's
00:28:05.21\00:28:08.42
ever considering country living.
00:28:08.45\00:28:10.49
announcer: Order your copy
of "Heading for the Hills."
00:28:10.52\00:28:12.82
Call 800-538-7275 or
visit AFBOOKSTORE.COM.
00:28:12.85\00:28:19.69
female announcer: Did you know
"Amazing Facts" has a free Bible
00:28:21.76\00:28:24.27
school that you can do from
the comfort of your own home?
00:28:24.30\00:28:26.94
It includes 27 beautifully
illustrated study lessons to aid
00:28:26.97\00:28:30.71
in your study of God's Word.
00:28:30.74\00:28:32.61
Sign up today for this
free Bible study course by
00:28:32.64\00:28:35.28
calling 1-844-215-7000.
00:28:35.31\00:28:38.55
That's 1-844-215-7000.
00:28:38.58\00:28:42.42
male announcer: You're listening
to "Bible Answers Live" where
00:28:47.96\00:28:50.79
every question answered provides
a clearer picture of God and His
00:28:50.83\00:28:54.73
plan to save you.
00:28:54.76\00:28:56.33
So what are you waiting for?
00:28:56.36\00:28:58.03
Get practical answers
about the good book for a better
00:28:58.07\00:29:01.07
life today.
00:29:01.10\00:29:04.91
This broadcast is a
previously recorded episode.
00:29:04.94\00:29:08.04
If you'd like answers to your
Bible-related questions on the
00:29:08.08\00:29:10.71
air, please call us
next Sunday between 7 p.m.
00:29:10.75\00:29:14.42
and 8 p.m. Pacific time.
00:29:14.45\00:29:17.12
To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
00:29:17.15\00:29:19.62
evening's
program, call 800-835-6747.
00:29:19.65\00:29:24.76
Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
00:29:24.79\00:29:30.17
Now, let's rejoin our hosts
for more "Bible Answers Live."
00:29:30.20\00:29:35.00
Doug: Welcome back,
listening friends, to "Bible
00:29:35.77\00:29:37.57
Answers Live."
00:29:37.61\00:29:38.91
We know some have
tuned in along the way.
00:29:38.94\00:29:40.41
Let me just explain.
00:29:40.44\00:29:41.78
This is a live interactive
international Bible study.
00:29:41.81\00:29:45.15
You're invited to join
in by calling in with your
00:29:45.18\00:29:47.68
Bible questions.
00:29:47.72\00:29:49.02
That number again, 800-GOD-SAYS,
that's 800-463-7297 with your
00:29:49.05\00:29:55.02
Bible questions.
00:29:55.06\00:29:56.36
My name is Doug Batchelor.
00:29:56.39\00:29:58.36
Jean: My name is Jean
Ross, and we've got Lillian who
00:29:58.39\00:30:00.80
is listening.
00:30:00.83\00:30:02.13
She's calling from Maryland.
00:30:02.16\00:30:03.47
Lillian, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:30:03.50\00:30:05.50
Lillian: Thank you so much.
00:30:05.53\00:30:06.87
Thank you.
00:30:06.90\00:30:08.14
So, my question is regarding
2 Kings 5, chapter 5, regarding
00:30:08.17\00:30:12.77
the story of Naaman, the leper,
and I'm just wondering how is it
00:30:12.81\00:30:16.34
that someone with leprosy before
he was healed or cleansed, was
00:30:16.38\00:30:20.08
able to continue being
the commander of an army.
00:30:20.12\00:30:23.08
He lived in society, in the
community, he lived with his
00:30:23.12\00:30:27.56
wife and the
servants, and he was a leper.
00:30:27.59\00:30:30.63
So why wasn't he forced to
be isolated like other lepers?
00:30:30.66\00:30:34.36
Doug: Yeah, good question.
00:30:34.36\00:30:35.66
First part is consider the laws
of containment and isolation
00:30:35.70\00:30:41.24
that you find in
Leviticus applied to the Jews.
00:30:41.27\00:30:44.04
Naaman is a Syrian.
00:30:44.07\00:30:45.47
They did not recognize the
books of Moses and those laws.
00:30:45.51\00:30:49.31
Secondly, when it says that he
was a mighty man, a commander,
00:30:49.34\00:30:53.55
I'm assuming that that's saying
before he was diagnosed with
00:30:53.58\00:30:56.22
leprosy, he had all of this,
and he may have been living in a
00:30:56.25\00:31:00.26
separate room of the house
because even the Syrians knew
00:31:00.29\00:31:03.26
leprosy was contagious.
00:31:03.29\00:31:05.29
So, it says that the little girl
ministered to Naaman's wife, not
00:31:05.33\00:31:09.63
to Naaman.
00:31:09.66\00:31:10.97
So we don't know what
the exact circumstances were.
00:31:11.00\00:31:14.67
Another reason I think
that Naaman, they did understand
00:31:14.70\00:31:17.37
some separation.
00:31:17.41\00:31:18.71
When Naaman goes to see
Elisha, he's got a contingent of
00:31:18.74\00:31:22.34
soldiers with him, but it's not
until the end of the story it
00:31:22.38\00:31:25.51
says his soldiers drew near,
meaning they had been riding at
00:31:25.55\00:31:29.52
a distance.
00:31:29.55\00:31:30.85
They drew near and said, "Please
wash in the Jordan River."
00:31:30.89\00:31:33.25
So, you know, they may have kept
some of that, but they wouldn't
00:31:33.29\00:31:37.33
be keeping it the same way as
those reading the laws of Moses.
00:31:37.36\00:31:41.40
Thanks, Lily, and hope
that helps a little bit.
00:31:41.43\00:31:43.60
Jean: Next caller that we have
is Connie, listening in Arizona.
00:31:43.63\00:31:46.00
Connie, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:31:46.03\00:31:48.07
Connie: Yes, good
evening, gentlemen.
00:31:48.10\00:31:50.67
My question is, I am
trying to help some others.
00:31:50.71\00:31:54.68
They do know some Bible and I
have, I don't know as much as I
00:31:54.71\00:31:59.31
could, but if you can find
me the text that says that God
00:31:59.35\00:32:03.85
knows you before you're in your
mother's womb, and this is the
00:32:03.89\00:32:08.42
question they have, and I felt
helpless because I don't have a
00:32:08.46\00:32:12.33
clue what to tell them.
00:32:12.36\00:32:15.46
They said, if the God that you
worship knows the beginning to
00:32:15.50\00:32:20.54
the end, why would He create
ahead of time, someone who would
00:32:20.57\00:32:24.97
be as horrible as Hitler or Ted
Bundy, or they were just using
00:32:25.01\00:32:30.28
people they know who have
committed hellacious crimes
00:32:30.31\00:32:34.62
against other human beings,
caused so much suffering, if God
00:32:34.65\00:32:38.92
already knew that before
they were even in the womb.
00:32:38.95\00:32:42.12
How would I answer
something like that?
00:32:42.16\00:32:44.26
Doug: That's a good--that's one
of the most common questions of
00:32:44.29\00:32:47.76
people who are skeptical
about the Bible and God.
00:32:47.83\00:32:50.67
First of all, the verse I think
you're talking about is Jeremiah
00:32:50.70\00:32:53.30
chapter 1, verse 5, where He
says, "Before I formed you in
00:32:53.34\00:32:57.17
the womb, I knew you."
00:32:57.21\00:32:59.11
So let's--I think that's
the verse you're talking about.
00:32:59.14\00:33:01.81
But then the question is, if
God does know before a person is
00:33:01.84\00:33:05.28
formed, why would He form a
Stalin and a Hitler and a Pol
00:33:05.31\00:33:08.98
Pot and these
other despots of history?
00:33:09.02\00:33:12.15
Why would He allow all the evil?
00:33:12.19\00:33:14.56
You know, I would recommend that
they or anybody look at a DVD
00:33:14.59\00:33:19.23
that we produce.
00:33:19.26\00:33:20.56
It's filled with scripture.
00:33:20.60\00:33:21.90
It's called "Cosmic Conflict."
00:33:21.93\00:33:24.27
It explains that the devil
used to be a beautiful angel.
00:33:24.30\00:33:27.90
He rebelled.
00:33:27.94\00:33:29.47
He basically
kidnapped this planet.
00:33:29.50\00:33:31.67
That when our first parents,
Adam and Eve, when they chose to
00:33:31.71\00:33:34.38
listen to the words of the
serpent instead of the Word of
00:33:34.41\00:33:37.38
God, Satan
basically claimed the planet.
00:33:37.41\00:33:40.62
Anything good happening is
because God is intervening, but
00:33:40.65\00:33:45.52
this planet Jesus calls the
devil the prince of this world.
00:33:45.55\00:33:48.86
And so it's not God's
will that there be any evil.
00:33:48.89\00:33:51.86
The whole plan of salvation is
to save the world from evil and
00:33:51.89\00:33:55.56
this archfiend called the devil.
00:33:55.60\00:33:58.63
So, that's a
truncated explanation.
00:33:58.67\00:34:02.94
Jean: You know, we do
have a study guide that talks
00:34:02.97\00:34:04.41
about this.
00:34:04.44\00:34:05.77
It's called "Did
God Create a Devil?"
00:34:05.81\00:34:07.48
And it talks about the fall of
Lucifer and where sin came from.
00:34:07.51\00:34:10.25
And of course, one of the
big themes I think, Pastor Doug,
00:34:10.28\00:34:13.38
throughout scripture is God
recognizes freedom of choice.
00:34:13.42\00:34:17.82
The Bible calls us to make
a choice, like Joshua says,
00:34:17.85\00:34:20.89
"Choose you this
day whom you'll serve."
00:34:20.92\00:34:22.92
God respects freedom of choice.
00:34:22.96\00:34:24.26
And because of that, bad things
happen to good people and the
00:34:24.29\00:34:27.96
devil has a hand in
bringing suffering and pain.
00:34:27.96\00:34:30.23
So, yeah, call and ask for that.
00:34:30.27\00:34:32.53
You'll be blessed.
00:34:32.57\00:34:33.90
The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
00:34:33.94\00:34:37.27
Ask for the study guide,
it's called, "Did God Create
00:34:37.31\00:34:39.34
a Devil?"
00:34:39.37\00:34:40.68
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone and ask for the study
00:34:40.71\00:34:43.45
guide that way, and we
will send you a digital copy.
00:34:43.48\00:34:47.18
Thank you, Connie.
00:34:47.22\00:34:48.52
We've got David,
listening in California.
00:34:48.55\00:34:49.88
David, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:34:49.92\00:34:53.25
David: Hi, pastors.
00:34:53.29\00:34:54.62
Thank you for taking my call.
00:34:54.66\00:34:55.96
My question is, there's a verse
in the Bible that goes sort of
00:34:55.99\00:35:00.63
like, you know, God is the same
yesterday, today, and forever.
00:35:00.66\00:35:05.87
And so, with that being said,
why is there a differentient
00:35:05.90\00:35:10.97
between the Old Testament
and the New Testament actions of
00:35:11.01\00:35:16.24
God, as far as like an
example of that is like the Old
00:35:16.28\00:35:19.15
Testament says, you know, God
executed the women, children,
00:35:19.18\00:35:24.49
and men of certain tribes, and
then in the New Testament, you
00:35:24.52\00:35:29.42
know, God tells us how to,
you know, love our enemies and
00:35:29.46\00:35:33.96
so forth.
00:35:34.00\00:35:35.30
Doug: Okay, very good.
00:35:35.33\00:35:36.97
I think the verse you're looking
at, Jesus Christ the same
00:35:37.00\00:35:39.83
yesterday, today, and
forever, is in Hebrews.
00:35:39.87\00:35:42.50
Jean: Hebrews 13:8.
00:35:42.54\00:35:44.14
Doug: Hebrews
13:8, and it is true.
00:35:44.17\00:35:47.11
It's the same God
in the Old Testament.
00:35:47.14\00:35:49.04
Jesus said, "If you've seen
Me, you've seen the Father."
00:35:49.08\00:35:51.88
There's not two different Gods.
00:35:51.91\00:35:53.42
It's the same God in both.
00:35:53.45\00:35:55.65
Part of the confusion comes in
because in the Old Testament you
00:35:55.68\00:35:59.25
have God's people working
under a theocracy and you've got
00:35:59.29\00:36:03.63
civil law.
00:36:03.66\00:36:05.36
Jesus talking about turning the
other cheek and forgiving people
00:36:05.39\00:36:08.60
is talking about
interpersonal law,
00:36:08.63\00:36:11.10
interpersonal relationships.
00:36:11.13\00:36:13.03
The government cannot operate
on, we're going to turn the
00:36:13.07\00:36:16.27
other cheek when
someone steals from you.
00:36:16.30\00:36:19.11
You have to implement in a
law, you'd just have chaos.
00:36:19.14\00:36:22.31
You can do that in your
interpersonal relationships, and
00:36:22.34\00:36:25.98
so when God tells a nation
of Israel or another nation to
00:36:26.01\00:36:31.19
annihilate their enemies, that
was a government acting in a war
00:36:31.22\00:36:36.46
against people that were vowed
to destroy Israel if they didn't
00:36:36.49\00:36:39.59
destroy them.
00:36:39.63\00:36:41.96
But God is not willing
that any should perish.
00:36:42.00\00:36:44.73
War, the Lord hates war.
00:36:44.77\00:36:46.84
He hates evil. He hates death.
00:36:46.87\00:36:49.24
Jesus came to give us life.
00:36:49.27\00:36:50.97
It's the same God that is so
merciful in the Old Testament,
00:36:51.01\00:36:54.61
and even those nations that He
judged, He says, "I'm going to
00:36:54.64\00:36:57.78
give them a few
hundred years to repent."
00:36:57.81\00:37:00.55
And so I mean, He's
very, very patient with them.
00:37:00.58\00:37:03.05
Now, whether God sends an army
to destroy a nation or they're
00:37:03.08\00:37:06.19
destroyed by a plague or they're
destroyed by an earthquake or a
00:37:06.22\00:37:08.79
flood, the judgment and death
comes to everybody, and so will
00:37:08.82\00:37:13.29
we turn before our day comes.
00:37:13.33\00:37:15.60
Jean: And you even see, Pastor
Doug, in the judgments of God,
00:37:15.63\00:37:17.93
you see mercy.
00:37:17.97\00:37:19.30
For example, in the days of
the flood, before the flood, God
00:37:19.33\00:37:22.30
waited until there were just
really Noah and his family that
00:37:22.34\00:37:25.61
were left.
00:37:25.64\00:37:26.88
Everyone else had turned against
Him, so He waited as long as He
00:37:26.91\00:37:29.74
could before judgment came.
00:37:29.78\00:37:31.78
And that's why the Bible
says: "God is longsuffering, not
00:37:31.81\00:37:34.18
willing that any should
perish, but that all should come
00:37:34.22\00:37:36.15
to repentance."
00:37:36.18\00:37:37.49
But there is a day of judgment,
as the Bible makes that clear.
00:37:37.52\00:37:40.09
God can't wait forever.
00:37:40.12\00:37:41.56
Doug: And you see plagues and
blood in the Old Testament, and
00:37:41.59\00:37:45.36
you go to Revelation in the
New Testament, you see plagues
00:37:45.39\00:37:47.60
and blood.
00:37:47.66\00:37:48.93
You see the love of God.
00:37:48.96\00:37:50.30
The commandment, "Love
your neighbor," starts in the
00:37:50.33\00:37:52.23
Old Testament.
00:37:52.27\00:37:53.60
Jesus is quoting Moses when
He says, "Love your neighbor
00:37:53.64\00:37:56.24
as yourself."
00:37:56.27\00:37:57.61
So it's the same God.
00:37:57.64\00:38:00.41
Some confusion comes because Old
Testament, it's sort of like a
00:38:00.44\00:38:03.35
civil story.
00:38:03.38\00:38:04.85
New Testament, it's
more of interpersonal.
00:38:04.88\00:38:07.85
Jean: All right, next
caller that we have is Virginia,
00:38:07.88\00:38:09.48
in California.
00:38:09.52\00:38:10.82
Virginia,
welcome to the program.
00:38:10.85\00:38:12.35
Virginia: Hi, good evening.
00:38:12.39\00:38:13.72
I'm calling in regards to, I
think I told them, 1 Kings 14,
00:38:13.76\00:38:18.16
but I think I've found it.
00:38:18.19\00:38:19.49
It's 1 Kings 13, and it has to
do with the prophet that went to
00:38:19.53\00:38:24.00
the king on behalf of the Lord,
and he was not to eat or drink,
00:38:24.03\00:38:31.94
and an old prophet got a
hold of this and got him to eat
00:38:31.97\00:38:35.78
and drink.
00:38:35.81\00:38:37.15
Long story, basically, at
the very end, he died 'cause the
00:38:37.18\00:38:41.08
lion, you know,
ate him and everything.
00:38:41.12\00:38:44.22
The old prophet told his sons,
my question is, the old prophet
00:38:44.25\00:38:48.52
told his sons, please bury him.
00:38:48.56\00:38:53.13
And when you bury me
and, put my bones next to him.
00:38:53.16\00:38:59.60
Was he feeling guilty or really
mourned for it, because it even
00:38:59.63\00:39:04.47
says, "I mourned for him,"
you know, like 1 Kings at 13:29,
00:39:04.51\00:39:09.18
I think.
00:39:09.21\00:39:10.55
I'm trying to get
it to help you out.
00:39:10.58\00:39:11.88
Doug: No, you got--I
know the story very well.
00:39:11.91\00:39:13.31
I know exactly what
you're talking about.
00:39:13.35\00:39:15.28
And just for our friends
that are listening, we always
00:39:15.32\00:39:17.45
remember there's a lot of folks
driving down the road and they
00:39:17.49\00:39:19.55
can't thumb through the Bible.
00:39:19.59\00:39:21.09
We don't want
them to text either.
00:39:21.12\00:39:23.96
This story is a very
interesting, somewhat bizarre
00:39:23.99\00:39:27.46
story, true.
00:39:27.50\00:39:28.83
Prophet comes to Jeroboam, sent
from Judah, and says, "Because
00:39:28.86\00:39:33.77
you've turned the nation to
idolatry, you know, God is going
00:39:33.80\00:39:37.17
to destroy this altar
and there'll be a curse upon
00:39:37.21\00:39:40.71
your family."
00:39:40.74\00:39:42.08
And he's told to not eat in
that place because they turn to
00:39:42.11\00:39:44.98
idols, or drink any water.
00:39:45.01\00:39:46.95
Well, this prophet, his sons
tell him what had happened that
00:39:46.98\00:39:51.05
day in the king's presence,
and this was, he said, "Well, go
00:39:51.09\00:39:53.52
chase him down,
bring him to me."
00:39:53.56\00:39:55.46
He went after the young man and
said, "Come stay at my house."
00:39:55.49\00:39:58.19
He said, "No, the Lord
told me not to eat or drink in
00:39:58.23\00:40:00.16
this place."
00:40:00.20\00:40:01.50
He said, "Oh, but I'm
a prophet like you are.
00:40:01.53\00:40:03.53
God told me to
come and relieve you."
00:40:03.57\00:40:05.60
Well, he lied to him.
00:40:05.63\00:40:06.94
He wanted so much to talk
to him, and he didn't listen to
00:40:06.97\00:40:09.90
the Lord.
00:40:09.94\00:40:11.27
He listened to a man saying
he had the Word of God, very
00:40:11.31\00:40:13.38
important lesson there.
00:40:13.41\00:40:15.04
So it ends up
the lion kills him.
00:40:15.08\00:40:18.01
Lion does not eat him, but a
lion kills him and the prophet
00:40:18.05\00:40:22.72
said, "I know what he said is
going to come to pass," and it
00:40:22.75\00:40:25.12
did, and during
the time of Josiah.
00:40:25.15\00:40:27.79
And he says, "Bury me on his
bones because I know he was a
00:40:27.82\00:40:30.56
true prophet of God."
00:40:30.59\00:40:32.09
Yeah, it tells you that
someone who once had the gift of
00:40:32.13\00:40:34.13
prophecy actually lied, but
that's not new because you got
00:40:34.20\00:40:37.57
Balaam, who is a
prophet, who also goes bad.
00:40:37.60\00:40:40.87
So, it's kind of a bizarre
story, but I'm sure there's a
00:40:40.90\00:40:44.77
lot of good lessons in there.
00:40:44.81\00:40:46.14
Jean: You know, you also wonder
why did God have to send a
00:40:46.17\00:40:47.88
prophet all the way from Judah
when there was a prophet right
00:40:47.91\00:40:50.41
there in the northern kingdom.
00:40:50.45\00:40:51.91
Why didn't he speak up and say,
"Wait a minute, this is not the
00:40:51.95\00:40:54.35
right thing.
00:40:54.38\00:40:55.72
We shouldn't be building
altars here and golden calves."
00:40:55.75\00:40:58.22
And he almost neglected his
responsibility, and then he lied
00:40:58.25\00:41:02.92
to the younger prophet and--.
00:41:02.96\00:41:04.66
Doug: That cost him his life.
00:41:04.69\00:41:06.13
Jean: That's right.
00:41:06.16\00:41:07.50
Interesting story.
00:41:07.50\00:41:08.80
All right, well,
thank you, Virginia.
00:41:08.83\00:41:10.17
Next caller that we
have is Jerry, in Texas.
00:41:10.20\00:41:11.97
Jerry, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:41:12.00\00:41:15.30
Jerry: Last question, Pastors.
00:41:15.34\00:41:17.14
This is a thing I was searching.
00:41:17.17\00:41:19.11
I'm reading my Bible on a
daily basis now for my church.
00:41:19.14\00:41:22.88
In Nehemiah 6:65, did the Urim
and Thummim survive all those
00:41:22.91\00:41:31.65
generations or did they make
different breastplates for the
00:41:31.69\00:41:35.22
priests
throughout all those ages?
00:41:35.26\00:41:37.59
Doug: Yeah, the Urim and Thummim
were on the shoulders of the
00:41:37.63\00:41:41.86
ephad, the
breastplate of the high priest.
00:41:41.90\00:41:45.40
When Nebuchadnezzar sacked
the temple, and he took away
00:41:45.43\00:41:48.64
everything, the only thing
that was missing was the ark of
00:41:48.67\00:41:50.67
the covenant.
00:41:50.71\00:41:52.04
We believe Jeremiah and
some priests hid it in a cave
00:41:52.07\00:41:54.51
somewhere around Jerusalem.
00:41:54.54\00:41:55.84
Thousands of caves around
that country and it's never been
00:41:55.88\00:41:59.38
found, but all of the
other articles were carried off.
00:41:59.41\00:42:03.49
Some returned, following
the Babylonian captivity, but
00:42:03.52\00:42:06.92
there's no mention.
00:42:06.96\00:42:08.26
It seems that the Urim and
Thummim, they wanted to be able
00:42:08.29\00:42:10.19
to consult the--it had these
stones that would light up or
00:42:10.23\00:42:14.96
glow or something, and it seems
that that had disappeared or
00:42:15.00\00:42:19.63
maybe it was melted down.
00:42:19.67\00:42:21.00
We don't know, but it, yeah,
there's no record that it ever
00:42:21.04\00:42:24.11
came back.
00:42:24.14\00:42:25.47
They probably had to fabricate
another one for the priest.
00:42:25.51\00:42:28.51
And yeah, because it said
that they didn't know what to do
00:42:28.54\00:42:30.91
until they could
consult the Urim and Thummim.
00:42:30.95\00:42:32.88
I just--I'm reading through the
Bible probably same pace as you
00:42:32.91\00:42:35.12
right now, just got done reading
that Nehemiah a few weeks ago.
00:42:35.15\00:42:38.79
Jean: You know, it's
interesting, Pastor Doug, after
00:42:38.82\00:42:40.52
the captivity, you do have this
example, but from then onwards,
00:42:40.56\00:42:43.93
it doesn't seem as though God
really communicated a whole lot
00:42:43.96\00:42:47.10
to Israel through
the Urim and the Thummim.
00:42:47.13\00:42:50.33
I mean, He'd speak through a
prophet, but even the prophets,
00:42:50.37\00:42:53.13
there was a period of time
where the prophets were quiet
00:42:53.17\00:42:55.60
leading up.
00:42:55.64\00:42:56.97
And then, of course, there's
a flurry of prophetic activity
00:42:57.01\00:42:58.34
just before the Messiah comes,
with reference to John the
00:42:58.37\00:43:01.51
Baptist and others.
00:43:01.54\00:43:02.91
But, yeah, that is interesting,
interesting story with that.
00:43:02.94\00:43:05.88
Doug: I heard an old country
preacher said, Today's Urim and
00:43:05.91\00:43:09.12
Thummim is you get Urim
Bible and thumb them through it.
00:43:09.15\00:43:13.19
Jean: That's a good one.
00:43:13.22\00:43:14.96
All right, next caller that
we have, let's see, we've got
00:43:14.99\00:43:18.43
Jonathan, from Michigan.
00:43:18.46\00:43:19.79
Jonathan,
welcome to the program.
00:43:19.83\00:43:22.56
Jonathan: Hello, hello.
00:43:22.60\00:43:23.97
Doug: Hi, thanks for calling.
00:43:24.00\00:43:26.20
Jonathan: Yeah, it's a, it's
just a real honor and privilege
00:43:26.23\00:43:28.60
to be speaking with both of you.
00:43:28.64\00:43:31.77
So I had this supernatural
experience, but I don't know how
00:43:31.81\00:43:36.18
to explain, and for the last
couple of years I've been trying
00:43:36.21\00:43:39.58
to understand what it is 'cause
I know in the last days, God's
00:43:39.61\00:43:45.15
going to bring a revival
back of the Ten Commandments.
00:43:45.19\00:43:49.82
The experience that I had,
it took place back in midsummer
00:43:49.86\00:43:54.20
of 2019.
00:43:54.23\00:43:56.50
And it was in the midsummer
day, and I went, you know, I was
00:43:56.53\00:44:01.67
tired, so I decided to go lay
down in bed and I fell asleep
00:44:01.70\00:44:06.91
and I woke up to
the sound of thunder.
00:44:06.94\00:44:09.78
But the second time.
00:44:09.81\00:44:12.61
When it struck,
it wasn't thunder.
00:44:12.65\00:44:15.22
It was a voice as clear
as you and I that said, "The
00:44:15.25\00:44:19.89
Ten Commandments."
00:44:19.92\00:44:21.82
And I was, in that
moment, I was in shock and awe.
00:44:21.86\00:44:26.09
I didn't know how to explain it.
00:44:26.13\00:44:27.56
A part of me was fearful, but at
the same time, the other part of
00:44:27.60\00:44:31.80
me was in peace.
00:44:31.83\00:44:35.30
And right after that, the Book
of Psalms 29, verse 7 came to
00:44:35.34\00:44:43.51
mind: "The voice of the
Lord strikes with flashes
00:44:43.55\00:44:46.08
of lightning."
00:44:46.11\00:44:48.88
Doug: So you're wondering
what does this mean or why did
00:44:48.92\00:44:50.89
this happen?
00:44:50.92\00:44:52.55
Jonathan: Yeah, yeah, it's
always puzzled me as to why.
00:44:52.59\00:44:57.09
Doug: Well, you know, I won't
pretend that I've got the gift
00:44:57.13\00:44:59.83
of Joseph where I can
interpret dreams and visions.
00:44:59.86\00:45:02.83
I do know the Bible says in the
book of Joel chapter 2 that "in
00:45:02.86\00:45:06.40
the last days I'll pour
out My Spirit and your sons and
00:45:06.43\00:45:09.27
daughters will dream
dreams and see visions."
00:45:09.30\00:45:12.01
You know, God sometimes will
give a particular vision for
00:45:12.04\00:45:14.48
an individual.
00:45:14.51\00:45:15.81
It's not that, you know, you've
been called to the gift of
00:45:15.84\00:45:17.41
prophecy, but God can speak
to you through an experience.
00:45:17.45\00:45:20.78
Certainly it would mean keeping
the Ten Commandments, and not
00:45:20.82\00:45:25.29
only Psalm 29, but I'd invite
you to read Psalm 119, which is
00:45:25.32\00:45:30.36
all about the Word
and the law of God.
00:45:30.39\00:45:33.03
And, for any of our friends out
there that are wondering, I do
00:45:33.06\00:45:37.43
believe that there needs to be
a revival of proclaiming the Ten
00:45:37.47\00:45:42.67
Commandments in the last days.
00:45:42.70\00:45:44.01
The will of God has not changed,
and some people think the Ten
00:45:44.04\00:45:47.24
Commandments were done away with
at the cross, which is absurd.
00:45:47.28\00:45:51.35
And we have a book that's
called, "Does God's Grace Blot
00:45:51.38\00:45:54.55
Out the Law?"
00:45:54.58\00:45:55.92
We'll be happy to share.
00:45:55.95\00:45:57.25
We also have that study
guide, "Written in Stone."
00:45:57.29\00:45:58.59
Jean: That's right, we'll
be happy to send that as well.
00:45:58.62\00:46:00.49
Just call 800-835-6747.
00:46:00.52\00:46:03.63
You can ask for a book.
00:46:03.66\00:46:04.99
It's called, "Does
God's Grace Blot out the Law?"
00:46:05.03\00:46:07.93
And you can get the study guide
called, "Written in Stone," and
00:46:07.96\00:46:10.47
you can learn all about the Ten
Commandments and its application
00:46:10.50\00:46:13.10
for us today.
00:46:13.13\00:46:14.44
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:46:14.47\00:46:17.71
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone and just say "Bible
00:46:17.74\00:46:21.04
Answers Live" and
then ask for it by name.
00:46:21.08\00:46:23.65
Again, "Does God's
Grace Blot Out the Law?"
00:46:23.68\00:46:25.65
or "Written in Stone."
00:46:25.68\00:46:27.18
You can ask for both and we can
send you a digital copy of that.
00:46:27.22\00:46:29.58
Doug: Price is the
same, huh? It's free.
00:46:29.62\00:46:31.62
Jean: Price is right,
yeah, it's a good price.
00:46:31.65\00:46:33.59
Next caller that we
have is Phoenix, in Montana.
00:46:33.62\00:46:36.52
Phoenix, welcome to the program.
00:46:36.56\00:46:38.76
Phoenix: Hey, guys, I
appreciate both of you.
00:46:38.79\00:46:41.93
2 Corinthians 12:2, Paul talks
about a gentleman he knew that
00:46:41.96\00:46:46.47
was taken up to
the third heaven.
00:46:46.50\00:46:48.34
I never knew who he was talking
about and a brother in the faith
00:46:48.37\00:46:52.47
who's walked a lot
longer than I, said it was Paul.
00:46:52.51\00:46:55.78
So who was it?
00:46:55.81\00:46:57.15
Doug: Well, I agree with
your friend in the faith.
00:46:57.18\00:46:59.48
I think Paul is speaking in
modest terms when he said, "I
00:46:59.51\00:47:04.02
knew a man that was caught up to
Christ, whether in the Spirit or
00:47:04.05\00:47:07.92
not in the Spirit."
00:47:07.96\00:47:09.29
He's basically saying it felt
like it was real, but it may
00:47:09.32\00:47:11.26
have been a vision.
00:47:11.29\00:47:12.73
"And heard things he's
not supposed to utter."
00:47:12.76\00:47:15.50
I think Paul is saying it's him,
and he's using kind of, what's
00:47:15.53\00:47:20.14
the word for it, he's using
sort of ambiguous language.
00:47:20.17\00:47:22.84
It's not uncommon of, you know,
John the apostle said, "The
00:47:22.87\00:47:25.91
disciple whom Jesus
loved," he wouldn't say "me."
00:47:25.94\00:47:28.54
And so Paul, he's talking in the
beginning of chapter 12, "It's
00:47:28.58\00:47:32.91
not profitable for me to boast."
00:47:32.95\00:47:35.85
He--Paul said, you know,
"Because of all the visions and
00:47:35.88\00:47:38.42
stuff I've had, God allowed the
devil to test me with a thorn."
00:47:38.45\00:47:43.06
So Paul's saying, "I don't want
to boast, but I knew a guy that
00:47:43.09\00:47:45.83
was caught up to heaven."
00:47:45.86\00:47:47.23
We believe he's
talking about himself.
00:47:47.23\00:47:49.90
Jean: All right,
great, good question.
00:47:49.93\00:47:51.57
Thank you.
00:47:51.60\00:47:52.93
Sabra, he's listening in Hawaii.
00:47:52.97\00:47:54.37
Sabra, welcome to the program.
00:47:54.40\00:47:57.21
Sabra: Oh hi, hey,
Pastor Doug, real quick.
00:47:57.24\00:47:59.54
I know some people you know from
Tahquitz Canyon, James William
00:47:59.57\00:48:04.88
McIntyre,
Tahquitz Jim, and Sunny.
00:48:04.91\00:48:07.88
They have a little
boy named Tuy Tahquitz.
00:48:07.92\00:48:10.75
Doug: Yeah, I know Jim lived
in Hawaii the last few years of
00:48:10.79\00:48:13.22
his life.
00:48:13.25\00:48:14.56
Well, that's great.
I'm glad to meet you.
00:48:14.59\00:48:15.89
Sabra: Yeah, well, yeah, Jim
died about 15 years ago, but I
00:48:15.92\00:48:21.16
have a son of his.
00:48:21.20\00:48:23.77
Doug: Oh really?
00:48:23.80\00:48:25.53
Oh, well that, I'm glad
to make your acquaintance.
00:48:25.57\00:48:27.47
You need to call me after
the program, we'll catch up.
00:48:27.50\00:48:30.64
Sabra: I would love to. I
saw that you talked to Glenna.
00:48:30.67\00:48:33.51
Her real name's Glenys,
Sunny, on Facebook and yep, yep,
00:48:33.54\00:48:38.15
well, good.
00:48:38.18\00:48:40.05
That's a small world, huh?
00:48:40.08\00:48:41.38
Anyways, my son, Jimmy's
son, Reggie's going to be 32.
00:48:41.42\00:48:46.65
He needs--or 33.
He's going to need prayer.
00:48:46.69\00:48:49.46
He's struggling with heavy
crystal meth right now, and he
00:48:49.49\00:48:53.46
needs prayer.
00:48:53.50\00:48:54.76
He's over here in Maui.
00:48:54.83\00:48:57.13
But my question is for another
son, I have a 27-year-old boy
00:48:57.17\00:49:03.44
that just started reading the
Bible and has given his heart to
00:49:03.47\00:49:07.04
the Lord.
00:49:07.08\00:49:08.51
And we've been fellowshipping
for the last 6 months.
00:49:08.54\00:49:13.01
Now he loves history and he's--
yeah, he started reading the
00:49:13.05\00:49:19.49
Bible from the beginning to the
end, that's what he's doing now.
00:49:19.52\00:49:22.89
And he struggles with gaming.
00:49:22.92\00:49:25.89
He's very addicted to gaming,
video gaming, and I'd like to
00:49:25.93\00:49:29.90
know, where should I start
with him 'cause he's agreed to
00:49:29.93\00:49:33.67
do this.
00:49:33.70\00:49:35.00
Where should I start
with him with Bible studies?
00:49:35.04\00:49:36.94
Doug: Well, you know what, this
may sound like an odd answer and
00:49:36.97\00:49:40.64
I wouldn't give it to everyone,
but I would recommend, you know,
00:49:40.68\00:49:44.81
I have a testimony book and, of
course, Jim and Sunny are in the
00:49:44.85\00:49:50.52
book, and it tells how I was
converted through reading the
00:49:50.55\00:49:54.46
Bible, and I struggled with the
Old Testament, and then I went
00:49:54.49\00:49:57.73
to the New and read about
Jesus, so I started in Matthew.
00:49:57.76\00:50:00.93
That's where I'd tell him
to start, but boy, he would
00:50:00.96\00:50:02.73
really--I think he'd get a
kick out of hearing my testimony
00:50:02.76\00:50:06.17
because of the history we have,
and it might encourage him.
00:50:06.20\00:50:09.14
It's called, "The Richest
Caveman," and yeah, talks all
00:50:09.17\00:50:13.48
about the canyon and stuff.
00:50:13.51\00:50:14.84
Hey, Sabra, I hope you'll reach
out and contact me sometime
00:50:14.88\00:50:17.35
after the program.
00:50:17.38\00:50:18.68
I'd like to catch up.
00:50:18.71\00:50:20.05
Thank you so much.
00:50:20.08\00:50:21.38
For my friends listening, I
became a Christian because I met
00:50:21.42\00:50:23.42
somebody up in a cave.
00:50:23.45\00:50:25.05
This is who Sabra was talking
about, who passed away a few
00:50:25.09\00:50:27.69
years ago, Jim McIntyre.
00:50:27.72\00:50:30.09
Jean: All right, that's
a great story, Pastor Doug.
00:50:30.13\00:50:31.83
I think--I think your
testimony is also on YouTube.
00:50:31.86\00:50:34.93
Doug: That's right,
they can watch it for free.
00:50:34.93\00:50:36.30
Just go to Doug
Batchelor testimony on YouTube.
00:50:36.33\00:50:38.47
There's several versions of it.
00:50:38.50\00:50:39.93
Jean: Okay, great.
00:50:39.97\00:50:41.30
Stacie, listening in Indiana.
00:50:41.34\00:50:42.70
Stacie, welcome to the program.
00:50:42.74\00:50:46.01
Stacie: Thank you so
much for taking my call.
00:50:46.04\00:50:50.01
My question is that I belong
or I'm going to two different
00:50:50.05\00:50:53.92
churches, okay?
00:50:53.95\00:50:56.85
And I love them both.
00:50:56.89\00:51:00.42
They're really
not that different.
00:51:00.46\00:51:04.43
So my question is, am I
sinning for going to two
00:51:04.46\00:51:09.66
different denominations?
00:51:09.70\00:51:11.60
Doug: Of course, you know,
you'll find good people in many
00:51:11.63\00:51:13.74
different churches and many
different denominations, but
00:51:13.77\00:51:16.10
ultimately, you want to
pick a church that is founded on
00:51:16.14\00:51:20.91
principles of truth, that
the fundamentals of the church
00:51:20.94\00:51:24.21
doctrines are
biblical doctrines.
00:51:24.25\00:51:26.75
Some people pick a church
because there's a friendly
00:51:26.78\00:51:28.45
charismatic pastor, and but yet
some of the doctrines that they
00:51:28.48\00:51:32.02
teach are very dangerous.
00:51:32.05\00:51:35.42
Paul calls them
doctrines of devils.
00:51:35.46\00:51:37.43
Some people pick a church
because they love their choir
00:51:37.46\00:51:39.79
program, but they don't realize
that the foundational doctrines
00:51:39.83\00:51:42.53
of the church are unbiblical.
00:51:42.56\00:51:45.13
And so that's
your first criteria.
00:51:45.17\00:51:47.00
Everything else is the
candy and the dressing.
00:51:47.04\00:51:50.51
But so we have a study guide
that talks about "Search for the
00:51:50.54\00:51:54.01
True Church."
00:51:54.04\00:51:55.28
It's actually--that's a book,
"Search for the True Church,"
00:51:55.31\00:51:56.91
and we have a study guide
called, "The Bride of Christ."
00:51:56.95\00:51:59.75
Jean: The number to call
for that is 800-835-6747.
00:51:59.78\00:52:03.45
You can ask for that study
guide, "The Search for the True
00:52:03.49\00:52:05.82
Church," and a book
called, "The Bride of Christ."
00:52:05.85\00:52:08.79
You can also dial #250 on your
smartphone and just say, "Bible
00:52:08.82\00:52:12.83
Answers Live," and you
can ask for the book as well.
00:52:12.86\00:52:16.20
And, you know, Pastor Doug, I
think there is something if we
00:52:16.23\00:52:18.37
find the truth and we find
a group of believers who are
00:52:18.40\00:52:20.97
holding to the truth, you know,
we want to not only attend, but
00:52:21.00\00:52:24.07
we want to get involved.
00:52:24.11\00:52:25.41
We want to make a
stand for the truth.
00:52:25.44\00:52:27.58
And sometimes it's a difficult
decision, but you can't, as they
00:52:27.61\00:52:31.15
say, have your
foot in two boots.
00:52:31.18\00:52:33.38
You've got to
make a decision, so.
00:52:33.42\00:52:35.45
Doug: We're
running short on time.
00:52:35.48\00:52:36.79
I wonder if we can do number 11.
00:52:36.82\00:52:38.15
Jean: All right, let's see,
we've got Marvins in Canada.
00:52:38.19\00:52:40.19
Marvins, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:52:40.22\00:52:43.16
Marvins: Hi, Pastor. Doug: Hi.
00:52:43.19\00:52:46.86
Marvins: My question is,
according to John 6, verse 46,
00:52:46.90\00:52:53.20
no one has saw the Father.
00:52:53.23\00:52:55.27
However, Enoch, Elijah, and
Moses, I think they see him.
00:52:55.30\00:53:01.01
Can you explain this for me?
00:53:01.04\00:53:02.84
Doug: Yeah, well,
we'll do our best.
00:53:02.88\00:53:04.11
I know it can sound confusing
'cause some places like Jesus
00:53:04.15\00:53:07.08
said, "No one
has seen the Father."
00:53:07.12\00:53:09.48
But, and in the Old Testament
when Moses said, "Can I see
00:53:09.52\00:53:12.52
your glory?"
00:53:12.55\00:53:13.86
God said, "No man can
see My face and live."
00:53:13.89\00:53:16.66
We're assuming this is speaking
about God the Father in His
00:53:16.69\00:53:19.29
undiminished glory.
00:53:19.33\00:53:20.96
"And so God put Moses
in the cleft of a rock.
00:53:20.96\00:53:23.70
He passed by and He moved
His hand away, and He said, 'You
00:53:23.73\00:53:26.53
will see Me from behind,
but you can't see My face.'"
00:53:26.57\00:53:30.21
And those who did say they
saw God where, like, the wife of
00:53:30.24\00:53:37.55
Menoa actually said, "We've seen
the Lord, we're going to die,"
00:53:37.58\00:53:40.58
and Jacob said,
"I've seen the Lord."
00:53:40.62\00:53:42.32
They were seeing what
you call a Christophany.
00:53:42.35\00:53:44.79
Jesus, pre-incarnate
Christ, is what they saw.
00:53:44.82\00:53:48.99
So "No man has seen
the Father" is still true.
00:53:49.02\00:53:52.56
Of course, Elijah now and Enoch,
they're ascended in heaven.
00:53:52.59\00:53:55.50
It's talking
about "no sinful man."
00:53:55.53\00:53:57.07
Once you get your glorified body
and you're pure, you can--you
00:53:57.10\00:54:00.37
can see God the Father.
00:54:00.40\00:54:01.94
And it says in Revelation, we'll
see Him face to face in the end.
00:54:01.97\00:54:05.07
Jean: That's right.
00:54:05.11\00:54:06.44
Revelation 22 talks about the
promise you shall see Him face
00:54:06.47\00:54:08.88
to face.
00:54:08.91\00:54:10.25
So that is the
ultimate reward or the joy.
00:54:10.28\00:54:12.61
All right, maybe
one more, Pastor Doug.
00:54:12.65\00:54:14.15
Let's see. We got
Bob in Washington.
00:54:14.18\00:54:15.75
Bob, welcome to the program.
We got less than a minute.
00:54:15.78\00:54:19.25
Bob: Yes, is this
me? Jean: Yes, it's you.
00:54:19.29\00:54:21.89
Bob: Oh, okay. Hi
there, Pastor Ross.
00:54:21.92\00:54:24.99
I'm just wanting to know if
God's love is unconditional.
00:54:25.03\00:54:32.33
Doug: Yes, God's
love is unconditional.
00:54:32.37\00:54:34.84
You can read in, is it
Romans chapter 8 where he says,
00:54:34.87\00:54:37.81
"Neither height nor depth
nor things past or present," I'm
00:54:37.84\00:54:40.64
paraphrasing, "can separate us
from the love of God that is in
00:54:40.68\00:54:44.28
Christ Jesus our Lord."
00:54:44.31\00:54:45.91
Even if people are lost,
it breaks the heart of God.
00:54:45.95\00:54:49.58
He loves them.
00:54:49.62\00:54:51.29
God loves us
while we're sinners.
00:54:51.32\00:54:52.79
That's why He sent Jesus.
00:54:52.82\00:54:54.16
Yet friend, you who are
listening right now, wherever
00:54:54.19\00:54:56.06
you are, He loves you and
He wants you to come to Him.
00:54:56.09\00:54:58.86
I hope you'll do that.
00:54:58.89\00:55:00.46
For those listening on
satellite, we're going to
00:55:00.50\00:55:02.80
sign off.
00:55:02.83\00:55:04.13
For the rest of you, stay tuned,
we're going to be coming back
00:55:04.17\00:55:06.37
with rapid fire Bible questions
in just about 20 seconds.
00:55:06.40\00:55:10.51
announcer: Thank you for
listening to today's broadcast.
00:55:13.48\00:55:16.08
We hope you understand your
Bible even better than before.
00:55:16.11\00:55:19.75
"Bible Answers Live" is produced
by Amazing Facts International,
00:55:19.78\00:55:23.89
a faith-based ministry located
in Granite Bay, California.
00:55:23.92\00:55:28.02
Jean: Hello, friends,
and welcome back to "Bible
00:55:30.36\00:55:31.83
Answers Live."
00:55:31.86\00:55:33.19
Pastor Doug, we've got some
email questions that have been
00:55:33.23\00:55:34.73
sent in.
00:55:34.76\00:55:36.10
Friends, if you'd like to send
us an email question, the email
00:55:36.13\00:55:38.40
address is
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org,
00:55:38.43\00:55:42.00
just
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org.
00:55:42.04\00:55:46.21
All right, Laura is asking:
"How are God's chosen people the
00:55:46.24\00:55:49.64
Jews, when so many Jews today
don't even believe that Christ
00:55:49.68\00:55:52.61
is the Messiah?"
00:55:52.65\00:55:54.52
Doug: Well, God chose the Jewish
people, and some, you know, all
00:55:54.55\00:55:58.95
through history, even in the Old
Testament did not believe and
00:55:58.99\00:56:01.46
follow God.
00:56:01.49\00:56:02.79
So New Testament, Old Testament,
there were believers and there
00:56:02.82\00:56:05.39
were unbelievers
in the Jewish nation.
00:56:05.43\00:56:07.30
So that's not the criteria.
00:56:07.36\00:56:09.06
He chose them to be two things.
00:56:09.10\00:56:11.70
They were to be the ones
who would protect the Word, the
00:56:11.73\00:56:16.71
written Word, and they were to
present the living Word, Jesus.
00:56:16.74\00:56:21.21
The Jews were to announce
and proclaim the Messiah to the
00:56:21.24\00:56:24.08
world, which
they did at Pentecost.
00:56:24.11\00:56:25.55
They introduced Jesus.
00:56:25.58\00:56:27.62
And so, and now not only
are there Jews, literal Jews, I
00:56:27.65\00:56:30.85
believe, now there's a whole
nation of spiritual Jews that
00:56:30.89\00:56:33.66
have been grafted
in, that also believe.
00:56:33.69\00:56:36.02
And we have a book
called "Spiritual Israel" they
00:56:36.06\00:56:37.79
can order.
00:56:37.83\00:56:39.16
Jean: All right, Alfred is
asking, "If one angel could kill
00:56:39.19\00:56:41.20
185,000 soldiers in one night,
why do the angels stand by and
00:56:41.23\00:56:45.47
allow things like mass
shootings to take place?"
00:56:45.50\00:56:49.57
Doug: Well, because we're in
a world that's filled with not
00:56:49.60\00:56:51.67
only good angels, but there
are millions of evil angels.
00:56:51.71\00:56:55.61
Paul said, "We wrestle against
spiritual powers of wickedness
00:56:55.64\00:56:59.21
in heavenly places."
00:56:59.25\00:57:00.92
And there's a battle.
00:57:00.95\00:57:03.45
Jesus said we are to
pray that God's will is done.
00:57:03.49\00:57:05.82
The reason we pray that is
because God's will is not always
00:57:05.85\00:57:08.29
done, and it is not
God's will when these terrible
00:57:08.32\00:57:11.53
things happen.
00:57:11.56\00:57:12.89
But there's a war
raging between good and evil.
00:57:12.93\00:57:15.23
God does not always interfere
with His superior power.
00:57:15.26\00:57:19.07
He lets people make choices
and others suffer from those
00:57:19.10\00:57:21.77
bad choices.
00:57:21.80\00:57:23.14
Jean: All right, another
question: "What does it mean
00:57:23.17\00:57:24.41
when Jesus said, 'The night
is coming and no one can work'?"
00:57:24.44\00:57:27.74
Doug: Yeah, we want to
work for the night is coming.
00:57:27.78\00:57:29.94
That's a famous hymn.
00:57:29.98\00:57:31.95
For one thing, Jesus was able to
preach with a certain amount of
00:57:31.98\00:57:34.48
freedom in His day, but He knew
after His death, you read about
00:57:34.52\00:57:37.82
this in Acts chapter 8, a great
persecution arose, and it's--
00:57:37.85\00:57:43.26
many times the night of
persecution has come upon God's
00:57:43.29\00:57:45.96
people where the church had
to go underground, and they were
00:57:45.99\00:57:49.36
persecuted in the days
of the apostles as well.
00:57:49.40\00:57:52.83
So friends, today, when--if
you're in a country in the world
00:57:52.87\00:57:56.60
where you've got freedom to
proclaim the gospel, that's why
00:57:56.64\00:57:59.31
Amazing Facts is
doing what we're doing.
00:57:59.34\00:58:01.01
You notice we spend the bulk
of our time proclaiming the Word
00:58:01.04\00:58:04.75
because it changes hearts.
00:58:04.78\00:58:06.35
Hope it'll change yours and,
God willing, we'll be doing this
00:58:06.38\00:58:09.95
again next week.
00:58:09.98\00:58:11.29
You want to tune in, we'll also
be on Hope Channel as well as
00:58:11.32\00:58:13.89
our other stations.
00:58:13.92\00:58:15.26
God bless,
friends, and keep praying.
00:58:15.29\00:58:17.83
announcer: "Bible Answers Live,"
honest and accurate answers to
00:58:21.66\00:58:25.57
your Bible questions.
00:58:25.60\00:58:27.30