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male announcer: It is the
best-selling book in history.
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No volume ever written has
been more loved and quoted;
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and its words, sometimes
simple and sometimes mysterious,
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should always be
studied carefully.
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It is the
Bible, the Word of God.
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Welcome to "Bible Answers
Live," providing accurate
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and practical answer to
all your Bible questions.
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This broadcast is a
previously-recorded episode.
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To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
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broadcast, call 800-835-6747.
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Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
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Now here's your host from
Amazing Facts International,
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Pastor Doug Batchelor.
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Doug Batchelor: Hello, friends.
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Would you like to
hear an amazing fact?
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In the summer of 1923 Frank
and Elizabeth Fraser and their
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2-year-old dog, Bobbie, set
out from Silverton, Oregon, on
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a road trip to
Indiana to visit family.
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When they stopped at a service
station in Indiana, their dog,
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a medium-sized collie, was
attacked by three other dogs
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and fled.
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They searched everywhere for
him, but in the end, they could
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not find him.
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Heartbroken, they eventually
returned to Oregon believing
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they'd never see
their beloved dog again.
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Then one day, 6 months later,
their daughter saw a skinny and
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exhausted dog approaching
them up the street that looked
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like Bobbie.
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After seeing his joyful reaction
and noting the unique scar above
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his eye, they knew it
was their long-lost dog.
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After his story drew national
attention, some of the people
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who sheltered him during
his journey came forward and the
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Frasers were able to reconstruct
the complete route that
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Bobbie crossed.
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It was 2500 miles.
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He journeyed across hundreds
of miles of open plains, he swam
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countless streams and rivers,
plodded through dry deserts, and
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then crossed the Rocky Mountains
in the middle of winter, earning
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him the nickname,
"Bobbie the Wonder Dog."
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He was the inspiration for
several books and the movie,
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"Lassie Returns."
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Wouldn't it be wonderful, Pastor
Ross, if all of us were that
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determined to be
back with our masters?
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Jean Ross: Yeah, that's
an amazing fact, Pastor Doug.
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You know, we're just talking
about some of these different
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animals and, of course, dogs are
not the only ones, but there's
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been a story of other pets that
have made their way back home,
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traveling long distances.
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But I think
there's a sense of loyalty.
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There's many stories about
dogs and their loyalty and their
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desire to be back
with their master.
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And there's a good
lesson in that for us.
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Doug: Yeah, they bond when
they're young, they know their
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master, they know their home.
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And the incredible thing,
we were talking about this, is
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they've got an amazing sense of
smell, but I'm quite sure that
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the track of this family's car
and its exhaust had blown away
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a long time before the dog
was able to catch up with them.
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And so, there's something beyond
just their tracking the smell.
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I don't know if the dog had
remembered the different smells
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driving across the country or if
they're guided by some kind of
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magnetic inner compass,
like some birds and it's--or the
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turtles that find their way
to the place where they're born.
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I don't know how they do it, but
I've heard some amazing stories
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about dogs, and even cats that
have found their way after miles
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and miles of being separated
from their home, they find their
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way to their masters.
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And I thought, you know, if
we all had that same kind of
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dedication to search for God
and to get to our heavenly home.
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There's a verse whenever I sign
one of my books, I usually put
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this verse in there: Jeremiah
29:13: "And you will seek for Me
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and find Me, when you search
for Me with all of your heart."
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Now, people know that there's
God and there's a lot of folks
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that are searching
for God and the truth.
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But once you accept Jesus, there
are so many different versions
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of Christianity and
ideas about what the church is.
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What do you do? Where do you go?
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Where do you begin to
find out what is the truth?
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Because there's some vast
differences between various
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denominations about who the
Lord is and how to be saved.
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And--do we have something
special that maybe we can offer,
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people can find those answers?
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Jean: We do Pastor Doug.
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It's a book entitled, "The
Search for the True Church."
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Now, in the book, we don't just
say, "Well, we think this is
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the church."
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We actually give biblical
principles that one could follow
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in weighing up different
churches and different groups
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and saying, "Well, which group
is the closest to the Bible?"
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And that's
really what the goal is.
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We want to find a group
of believers that believe
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the Bible, that are following
the teachings of scripture.
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What are those principles?
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What do we look for?
Well, it's in the book.
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It's called "The
Search for the True Church."
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That is our free gift.
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We'll send it to
anyone who calls and asks.
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The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
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That is our resource phone line.
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Just call and ask
for our free offer.
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It's called, "The
Search for the True Church."
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You can also get a digital copy
of the book by simply dialing
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#250 on your smartphone.
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Say, "Bible Answers Live," and
then ask for the book by name.
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It's called, "The
Search for the True Church."
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And the number to call if you
have a Bible-related question,
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the number is 800-463-7297.
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You probably see
that on your screen.
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If you are watching
this online, 800-463-7297.
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I want to greet those who are
also watching on "Amazing Facts
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TV," and on Hope Channel
and 3BN and the other networks,
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Good News TV.
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I want to greet all of
you, those who are live.
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Call us with
your Bible question.
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Well, Pastor Doug, before we go
to the phone lines, let's start
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with prayer.
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Dear Father, what a joy to
be able to open up Your Word and
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study together.
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The most important thing that we
can do is to know the truth, for
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the truth will set us free.
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So we ask Your blessing
upon our time of study today.
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Be with those who are listening
and watching and just lead us
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all into a clear understanding
of Bible truth, for we ask this
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in Jesus's name, amen.
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Doug: Amen.
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Jean: Our first caller
this evening, we've got Jerry
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listening in Texas.
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Jerry, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
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Jerry:
Astonishing, Pastor, that story.
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But anyway, simple Bible
questions tonight is Hebrews
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12:26 and God will shake
the earth immensely and is
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shaking heaven.
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Is that when all
the angels leave?
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Doug: In Hebrews chapter 12 and
you go to verse 26, let me read
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this for our listeners.
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It says--I
probably need to start
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with verse 25.
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"See that you do not
refuse Him who speaks.
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For if they did not escape who
refused Him who spoke on earth,
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much more shall we not escape
if we refuse Him who speaks from
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heaven, for whose
voice then shook the earth."
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He's talking about when
God gave the Ten Commandments.
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It says: "The mountain did quake
and the people were terrified."
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But now He's promising, "Yet
once more I'll shake not only
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the earth, but heaven also."
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Here is a quote from the book of
Haggai that Paul, who we believe
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wrote Hebrews, is referencing.
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He says, "I'll not only shake
the earth, but heaven also."
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And the Bible tells us in
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Revelation when the Lord comes
there's a great earthquake.
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Says: "The heavens
departed as a scroll."
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So you got the heavens
and the earth shaking at
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the Second Coming.
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So--but even when Christ was on
the earth during His ministry,
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there was a great earthquake
when He died on the cross, but I
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think this is, of course, after
that, so he's looking ahead.
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Jean: That's right.
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Sort of the next big
visit of God to the earth.
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So he's referring to
the Ten Commandments.
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He's referring to the time
when Christ was here and then
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the next time when God comes
to earth, well, it's the Second
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Coming, Jesus comes.
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And the earth is going to shake
violently, as the Bible says
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in Revelation.
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You know, we do have a
study guide that talks about
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the Second Coming.
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And it is called "Ultimate
Deliverance," talking about the
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Second Coming of Christ, what
does the Bible say about that.
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We'll be happy to send that
to anyone who calls and ask.
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The number,
again, is 800-835-6747.
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And the study guide is called
the "Ultimate Deliverance."
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The "Ultimate Deliverance."
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You can get it by dialing #250,
and just ask for it by name.
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We'll be happy
to send it to you.
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Jean: Thank you, Jerry.
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We've got Gary in Illinois.
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Gary, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
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Gary: Thank you.
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In Revelation 7, verse 3, it
says that "angels are told not
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to harm the earth until
the servants of God are sealed
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in their forehead."
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And then again in Revelation
9, verse 4, it says that "angels
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will torment those who don't--
do not have the seal of God."
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So my question is,
what is the seal of God?
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Could you
explain that more deeply?
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Doug: Yeah, well, right on
the surface, the seal of God is
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the Holy Spirit.
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That's the first part.
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I think everyone knows
that those that are saved have
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the Holy Spirit.
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Now, let me give
you some verses here.
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It says, for
instance, 2 Corinthians 1:22:
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"Who has sealed us and given
us the Spirit in our hearts."
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Ephesians 1:13: "Whom, having
believed, you were sealed with
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the Holy Spirit of promise."
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Ephesians 4:30: "Do not grieve
the Holy Spirit of God, by whom
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you were sealed."
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So obviously, those who
have the mark of the beast have
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the spirit of the devil.
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And those who have the seal
of God, have the Spirit of God.
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But there's something deeper.
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A seal biblically was when
a king or an official attached
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authority to a document,
he would put his seal on it.
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And the seal
typically had three things.
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It contained the king's
name, his title, king, governor,
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whatever it was,
or-- and his territory.
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And so you had the title,
the name, the territory were
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contained in a seal.
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Then you read in the Bible in
Isaiah chapter 8, it says: "Bind
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up the testimony, seal
My law among My disciples."
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In the law of God,
you find a seal of God.
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That's in the fourth commandment
where it says, "Remember to keep
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the Sabbath Day holy for in
6 days, the Lord," there's His
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name, "created or made," that's
his title, He is the creator,
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"the heavens and the
earth," that's His territory.
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So you've got the seal
of God and the law of God.
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And I think that's one of the
characteristics is the people of
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God in the last days, it says:
"They keep the commandments of
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God and they have
the testimony of Jesus."
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That's a quick answer.
00:10:12.94\00:10:14.24
Jean: Yeah, you mentioned there,
Pastor Doug, that there's two
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groups in the book of
Revelation at the end of time.
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Those with the mark of
the beast, those with the seal
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of God.
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Revelation 7 describes the group
with the seal of God and says
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they have it in their
forehead which, of course,
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represents the mind.
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Those that have the mark of the
beast have it in their forehead
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or their hand.
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So, you know, they
also have the hand.
00:10:30.33\00:10:31.66
It's interesting,
the word used for mark.
00:10:31.69\00:10:34.00
And it's also the same idea that
you find in Ezekiel where it
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talks about
setting a mark or a seal.
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The Greek there is karaktia
where we get the English
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word "character."
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So it is something to
do with choosing to obey.
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Do we obey God, keep
commandments, or do we obey the
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beast's power and keep
the commandments of the beast?
00:10:50.28\00:10:52.85
We do have a study guide.
00:10:52.88\00:10:54.18
It's called "The
Mark of the Beast."
00:10:54.22\00:10:55.55
Now, "The Mark of the
Beast" also talks about the seal
00:10:55.58\00:10:57.02
of God.
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You can't talk about the
mark of the beast without
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the seal of God.
00:10:59.75\00:11:01.16
Very important subject because
the third angel warns about not
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receiving the mark of the beast.
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We'll be happy to send this
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:11:05.03\00:11:07.03
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:11:07.10\00:11:10.47
Just call and ask.
00:11:10.50\00:11:11.80
It's--ask for the study guide,
"The Mark of the Beast," and
00:11:11.83\00:11:14.07
we'll send it to you.
00:11:14.10\00:11:15.40
You can dial #250 on
your smartphone and say "Bible
00:11:15.44\00:11:18.51
Answers Live" and
then ask for it by name.
00:11:18.54\00:11:20.81
"The Mark of the Beast" is one
of our more popular study guides
00:11:20.84\00:11:24.45
and we will send it to you.
00:11:24.48\00:11:26.68
Next caller that we have
is Brittany in California.
00:11:26.72\00:11:29.68
Evening, Brittany.
00:11:29.72\00:11:31.02
Brittany: Hey, hey.
00:11:31.05\00:11:32.82
Doug: Hi, thanks for calling.
00:11:32.85\00:11:34.82
Brittany: Yeah, my question is,
does the sixth commandment in
00:11:34.86\00:11:39.49
the Ten Commandments, "You shall
not kill," involve killing all
00:11:39.53\00:11:44.20
the unclean animals,
specifically squirrels, rats,
00:11:44.23\00:11:47.60
or mice?
00:11:47.64\00:11:49.37
Doug: Oh, okay.
00:11:49.40\00:11:51.44
Does the commandment that says,
"Do not kill," also apply to
00:11:51.47\00:11:54.38
even, like, unclean
animals and rats and mice?
00:11:54.41\00:11:58.11
I don't, I think, yeah, I don't
think that God is saying in the
00:11:58.15\00:12:01.35
commandment do not
kill, you know, a mosquito.
00:12:01.38\00:12:05.45
I had to kill a cockroach today.
00:12:05.49\00:12:07.86
It's killing.
00:12:07.89\00:12:09.22
But let me just--let me just
say, I don't want to take this
00:12:09.26\00:12:13.40
rabbit trail too far.
00:12:13.43\00:12:15.83
There are
variations of value in life.
00:12:15.86\00:12:20.40
Jesus said we are
worth more than sparrows.
00:12:20.44\00:12:23.51
He also said you're
worth more than many sheep.
00:12:23.54\00:12:25.91
Killing a mosquito is not as big
a moral dilemma as maybe killing
00:12:25.94\00:12:29.68
an intelligent creature, you
know, you know, killing a dog
00:12:29.71\00:12:34.38
or, yeah, I think a mouse
is worth more than a mosquito.
00:12:34.42\00:12:36.58
There's like a value and
man is the crowning act of God's
00:12:36.62\00:12:39.85
creation, but the commandment
really has nothing to do with
00:12:39.89\00:12:42.62
killing because every time you
pull a weed, you're technically
00:12:42.66\00:12:45.06
killing something.
00:12:45.09\00:12:46.93
It has to do with murder.
00:12:46.96\00:12:48.23
Now, when Jesus quotes the
Ten Commandments, it's in Mark
00:12:48.26\00:12:51.73
chapter 10:19.
00:12:51.77\00:12:53.13
He said, "You know the
Commandments: 'Do not commit
00:12:53.17\00:12:55.97
adultery,' 'Do not murder.'"
00:12:56.00\00:12:58.21
Murder is
different from killing.
00:12:58.24\00:13:01.18
The Ten Commandments don't
really mean--in the Hebrew, it
00:13:01.21\00:13:03.85
says, "Thou shall not kill,"
and the word there is "murder."
00:13:03.88\00:13:06.55
Murder means the unlawful
taking of innocent life.
00:13:06.58\00:13:11.12
So if a policeman needs to shoot
someone in the act of defending
00:13:11.15\00:13:16.56
innocent parties, they don't
ever charge him with murder.
00:13:16.59\00:13:20.56
It's justifiable homicide,
and you're not guilty, you won't
00:13:20.60\00:13:24.50
be incarcerated.
00:13:24.53\00:13:25.87
Or if you're defending
your home and someone dies.
00:13:25.90\00:13:27.77
So murder is a definition
of taking the innocent life,
00:13:27.80\00:13:31.64
unlawful, taking
an innocent life.
00:13:31.67\00:13:34.64
It's different
than killing a rat.
00:13:34.68\00:13:36.18
I had to kill a
mouse the other day too.
00:13:36.21\00:13:37.85
People are going to think
I'm terrible, killing mice and
00:13:37.88\00:13:39.75
cockroaches, but, all in
one week, but that's not murder.
00:13:39.78\00:13:43.28
It's not breaking
the sixth commandment.
00:13:43.32\00:13:45.45
Jean: And, of course, sometimes
having to kill some of these
00:13:45.49\00:13:47.56
pests, it's for
health reasons too.
00:13:47.59\00:13:49.52
It's unhealthy to have
mice running around your house.
00:13:49.56\00:13:52.49
Doug: You know, there's
this temple in India where they
00:13:52.53\00:13:55.46
actually, they worship rats.
00:13:55.50\00:13:57.73
Jean: The rats are everywhere.
00:13:57.77\00:13:59.10
Doug: And they feed them and
they, yeah, and it's just, it's
00:13:59.13\00:14:01.74
true, friends.
00:14:01.77\00:14:03.10
It's another amazing fact.
00:14:03.14\00:14:04.44
You can look it up and I
don't think I could ever deal
00:14:04.47\00:14:06.68
with that.
00:14:06.71\00:14:08.41
They're running
everywhere, yeah?
00:14:08.44\00:14:10.28
Jean: All right, next caller
that we have is Anthony in
00:14:10.31\00:14:12.11
New York.
00:14:12.15\00:14:13.45
Anthony, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:14:13.48\00:14:15.55
Anthony: Oh,
good evening, Pastors.
00:14:15.58\00:14:18.69
My question is based
on Matthew chapter 18.
00:14:18.72\00:14:22.82
Just to be succinct, it, you
know, talks about how to handle
00:14:22.86\00:14:26.26
disputes with the brethren,
those in the Christian faith, I
00:14:26.29\00:14:29.10
believe, you know,
go to the person alone.
00:14:29.13\00:14:32.87
If they don't hear you,
then take two or three others.
00:14:32.90\00:14:35.70
If they don't hear you,
then take it before the church.
00:14:35.74\00:14:38.07
Now within the context of social
media and Youtube and other
00:14:38.11\00:14:44.25
platforms like that, where
content creators put videos up,
00:14:44.28\00:14:47.65
I'm noticing a trend where, you
know, different content creators
00:14:47.68\00:14:52.65
and usually pastors or people in
the church are handling disputes
00:14:52.69\00:14:58.19
or, you know, making videos
disputing each other or talking
00:14:58.23\00:15:03.20
about each other, debating each
other, just went back and forth
00:15:03.23\00:15:06.57
like a volleyball with videos.
00:15:06.60\00:15:08.94
So I just want to understand
what is--how do we apply
00:15:08.97\00:15:12.77
Matthew 18 within the
context of our current social
00:15:12.81\00:15:16.51
media environment?
00:15:16.54\00:15:17.88
Doug: Yeah, good question.
00:15:17.91\00:15:19.41
Well, I think that if you're
in--if you're in a position of
00:15:19.45\00:15:22.15
public teaching and you want
to dispute a topic, well, you're
00:15:22.18\00:15:26.99
free to, you know, just post
what you believe the truth is on
00:15:27.02\00:15:29.06
that topic.
00:15:29.09\00:15:30.43
If you've had a personal dispute
with another individual, I don't
00:15:30.46\00:15:33.19
think it's ever right for a
Christian to publicly demean a
00:15:33.23\00:15:37.27
person or, you
know, take them to task.
00:15:37.30\00:15:39.63
You should make every effort to
contact them on a personal basis
00:15:39.67\00:15:42.70
is what Jesus said.
00:15:42.74\00:15:44.04
You go to that brother alone
and I did a debate with another
00:15:44.07\00:15:48.48
pastor but we sat down and went
to lunch first and we were, you
00:15:48.51\00:15:51.41
know, said very friendly, we're
going to stand up, we're going
00:15:51.45\00:15:53.38
to share our different
positions, and this was not a
00:15:53.42\00:15:55.72
personal attack.
00:15:55.75\00:15:57.09
If I've got a problem with
another individual, I'm not
00:15:57.12\00:15:59.72
going to post something and
disparage that person without
00:15:59.75\00:16:02.89
trying to contact them first.
00:16:02.92\00:16:05.09
Now, if we're having theological
discussions, well, you know, and
00:16:05.13\00:16:08.63
people do it with me all
the time, you know, they'll say,
00:16:08.66\00:16:11.47
"Pastor Doug said such and such,
but I take exception with that,"
00:16:11.50\00:16:14.87
and they'll post a video,
and that's fine, you know?
00:16:14.90\00:16:17.61
They're dealing with an issue.
00:16:17.64\00:16:19.47
But if they said, you
know, "Pastor Doug beats his
00:16:19.51\00:16:22.14
children," and they don't call
me first to find that that's not
00:16:22.18\00:16:25.98
true, that's not appropriate
when you start getting personal
00:16:26.01\00:16:30.65
with people.
00:16:30.69\00:16:31.99
Jean: And, you know,
this is not a new thing.
00:16:32.02\00:16:33.32
Of course, we have social media,
but in the old days people
00:16:33.36\00:16:34.96
would write
articles in newspapers,
00:16:34.99\00:16:36.76
even religious
magazines, and they would,
00:16:36.79\00:16:39.36
you know, argue back and
forth and it wasn't good.
00:16:39.39\00:16:43.77
It kind of put the whole
message, the whole movement,
00:16:43.80\00:16:46.47
the church, in a negative light.
00:16:46.50\00:16:47.97
Here are people that claim
to believe the same thing, or
00:16:48.00\00:16:49.97
they're part of the church
and yet they slinging mud at
00:16:50.01\00:16:52.97
each other.
00:16:53.01\00:16:54.34
And I think as Christians,
that's something we want
00:16:54.38\00:16:55.68
to avoid.
00:16:55.71\00:16:57.01
Social media, sort of,
amplified that in a big way.
00:16:57.05\00:16:58.48
Doug: And, you know, a bigger
principle that this raises is
00:16:58.51\00:17:01.85
when there's error out there and
someone is teaching error, don't
00:17:01.88\00:17:06.12
spend a lot of time talking
about what the counterfeit is.
00:17:06.15\00:17:08.59
You got to highlight the true,
and a lot of people go back and
00:17:08.62\00:17:11.86
forth, exposing the other
counterfeits, but they don't
00:17:11.89\00:17:15.03
really say, "Well,
what is the truth?"
00:17:15.06\00:17:16.97
And if people are better
acquainted with the truth,
00:17:17.00\00:17:19.67
they'll
recognize the counterfeit.
00:17:19.70\00:17:21.94
So that's
another thought on that.
00:17:21.97\00:17:24.21
Good question, Anthony.
00:17:24.24\00:17:25.54
Jean: All right, next caller
that we have is David, listening
00:17:25.57\00:17:27.58
in California.
00:17:27.61\00:17:28.91
David, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:17:28.94\00:17:30.28
David: Hello.
00:17:30.31\00:17:31.61
Doug: Hi, David.
00:17:31.65\00:17:32.98
And your question tonight?
00:17:33.01\00:17:34.32
David: How can I stay
away from energy drinks?
00:17:34.35\00:17:37.99
Doug: Well, you just say, what's
that, Nike says: "Just do it."
00:17:38.02\00:17:41.96
I'd say, "Just don't do it."
00:17:41.99\00:17:43.63
Now, it is true that energy
drinks, typically it's caffeine,
00:17:43.66\00:17:49.46
caffeine is
proven to be addictive.
00:17:49.50\00:17:52.57
It's not as bad as heroin or
even nicotine, but any of these
00:17:52.60\00:17:56.84
things that end with an "ine,"
nicotine, caffeine, morphine,
00:17:56.87\00:18:02.28
they can be addictive, and
people who are in the habit of
00:18:02.31\00:18:07.55
drinking a lot of Coke or coffee
and they stop, they're prone to
00:18:07.58\00:18:12.62
get a headache, but that usually
goes away in 2 or 3 days.
00:18:12.65\00:18:16.32
And I'd say just, you
know, grin and bear it.
00:18:16.36\00:18:19.03
You have to--after you get
through the first few days you
00:18:19.06\00:18:22.06
should start feeling normal and
then it's really getting out of
00:18:22.10\00:18:24.47
just the habit of doing it and
you'll probably sleep better.
00:18:24.50\00:18:29.80
Jean: Yeah, and, you know, you
can substitute it with something
00:18:29.84\00:18:32.71
good for you.
00:18:32.74\00:18:33.98
So, instead of reaching for that
Pepsi or that energy drink that,
00:18:34.01\00:18:36.61
like you said, Pastor Doug, is
just loaded with caffeine, drink
00:18:36.64\00:18:39.71
water, I don't know, drink
juice, do something different.
00:18:39.75\00:18:42.22
But yeah, it can be a challenge.
00:18:42.25\00:18:45.82
I've worked with people
that I had to kind of taper off.
00:18:45.85\00:18:48.66
But yeah, you've got to make
that decision, not good for you.
00:18:48.69\00:18:52.79
Doug: And you know,
they're doing more and more.
00:18:52.83\00:18:55.36
It started out just soda and now
they got this, you know, Monster
00:18:55.40\00:18:58.60
and Jolt and Rockstar and these
folks are--they've had kids
00:18:58.63\00:19:04.24
that have gone to the hospital
and they check them out and
00:19:04.27\00:19:07.04
their blood pressure,
their hearts, are racing.
00:19:07.08\00:19:08.74
These are teenagers and
they found out that they were
00:19:08.78\00:19:11.65
drinking one energy drink after
another and it's not energy,
00:19:11.68\00:19:15.02
it's really a drug.
00:19:15.05\00:19:17.39
Jean: All right,
thank you, David.
00:19:17.42\00:19:18.72
Next caller that we
have is Steve in Oregon.
00:19:18.75\00:19:20.82
Steve, welcome to the program.
00:19:20.86\00:19:23.53
Steve: Hi.
00:19:23.56\00:19:24.86
I, in the 1970s, was in the
Navy, US Navy, and stationed out
00:19:24.89\00:19:31.57
of Scotland and went on a
submarine and we'd go out for,
00:19:31.60\00:19:35.70
you know, 70 days
submerged and come back.
00:19:35.74\00:19:39.01
Well, after the patrol, we'd get
one month off and we didn't have
00:19:39.04\00:19:46.38
to, you know, we had--and what
I would do is I would hitchhike
00:19:46.41\00:19:51.55
around Europe.
00:19:51.59\00:19:53.19
We got a backpack and,
in my travels I, my heritage
00:19:53.22\00:19:58.13
is from Sweden.
00:19:58.16\00:19:59.46
I got up into Sweden
and got a ride with a guy
00:19:59.49\00:20:05.83
that was very
wealthy and I asked
00:20:05.87\00:20:12.31
him about tithe
and because he told me
00:20:12.34\00:20:19.18
that the government of Sweden in
the '70s back then at his income
00:20:19.21\00:20:25.82
level would tax
him 90% of his income.
00:20:25.85\00:20:31.63
And I was, you know, astounded
like that how can you--I just
00:20:31.66\00:20:36.70
have to earn more
money and then I have plenty.
00:20:36.73\00:20:40.74
But how in the past when I've
heard on your program that we're
00:20:40.77\00:20:46.21
supposed to do the 10% from our
gross income, that would leave
00:20:46.24\00:20:53.38
someone with no but--nothing.
00:20:53.42\00:20:56.15
Doug: Well, I'd never
had that question before.
00:20:56.18\00:20:58.05
So if you're in a country that
taxes you 90% and then you give
00:20:58.09\00:21:01.62
your 10%.
00:21:01.66\00:21:02.96
Of course, let me
just answer right away.
00:21:02.99\00:21:05.46
I don't know how God will do it.
00:21:05.49\00:21:06.83
But yeah, you do what God says,
you have to put him ahead of
00:21:06.86\00:21:09.10
the government.
00:21:09.13\00:21:10.47
And so you obey God with tithe.
00:21:10.50\00:21:13.44
How that works out
mathematically, I don't know
00:21:13.47\00:21:16.14
the answer.
00:21:16.17\00:21:19.51
Jean: You know, usually somebody
that is being taxed at that high
00:21:19.54\00:21:21.88
of a level, they probably make a
whole lot more than the average
00:21:21.91\00:21:25.15
person does.
00:21:25.18\00:21:26.51
So, even though, yeah, they end
up with 10% they probably have
00:21:26.55\00:21:30.42
a lot of money
that makes up that 10%.
00:21:30.45\00:21:32.79
So, I don't know.
00:21:32.82\00:21:34.26
Did they pay the
whole-- pay the whole thing?
00:21:34.29\00:21:37.99
So, that's a good--we've never
had that before, Pastor Doug.
00:21:38.03\00:21:40.10
That's a good question.
00:21:40.13\00:21:41.43
But really, the biblical
principle is your increase.
00:21:41.46\00:21:44.10
Doug: I'd say move
to another country.
00:21:44.13\00:21:46.84
That's my answer.
00:21:46.87\00:21:48.37
If you're in a country
that charges 90 percent tax,
00:21:48.40\00:21:51.14
the biblical thing to do
is move to another country.
00:21:51.17\00:21:54.91
Jean: You know, we do have
a study guide that talks about
00:21:54.94\00:21:57.68
the Bible and finance.
00:21:57.71\00:21:59.38
It's called, "In God We Trust?"
00:21:59.41\00:22:01.75
Lays out some great biblical
principles that the Bible gives
00:22:01.78\00:22:04.49
for how to use our resources.
00:22:04.52\00:22:06.62
We'll be happy to send it
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:22:06.65\00:22:08.66
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:22:08.69\00:22:11.83
You can ask for the study guide.
00:22:11.86\00:22:13.19
It's called, "In God We Trust?"
00:22:13.23\00:22:14.83
It's 800-835-6747.
00:22:14.83\00:22:18.63
I think we have time for another
caller here before the break.
00:22:18.67\00:22:20.64
We got Donna in Maryland.
00:22:20.67\00:22:22.30
Donna, welcome to the program.
00:22:22.34\00:22:25.11
Donna: Hi, thank you.
00:22:25.14\00:22:26.47
Hi, Pastors.
00:22:26.51\00:22:27.81
Doug: Hi, thanks for calling.
00:22:27.84\00:22:30.11
Donna: So, my
question is about the Sabbath.
00:22:30.15\00:22:34.35
There's this very fine line
00:22:34.38\00:22:36.69
when it comes to helping others.
00:22:36.72\00:22:39.82
So, if I'm approached by a
00:22:39.85\00:22:42.06
homeless person on the Sabbath
00:22:42.09\00:22:44.89
and I took them to McDonald's
00:22:44.93\00:22:46.43
to get something to eat,
00:22:46.46\00:22:47.86
did I just break the Sabbath?
00:22:47.86\00:22:49.70
Doug: Well, I don't think so.
00:22:49.73\00:22:51.20
If you meet someone that's
hungry and, you know, you don't
00:22:51.23\00:22:54.47
have any resources at your home
or at your fingertips and you
00:22:54.50\00:22:57.31
want to feed them and the only
way to feed them is either--
00:22:57.34\00:23:01.18
and sometimes you hand money to
homeless people and it doesn't
00:23:01.21\00:23:03.24
go to food.
00:23:03.28\00:23:04.58
So I can understand where--
but I think you'd be better off
00:23:04.61\00:23:08.42
taking them to Taco
Bell than McDonald's.
00:23:08.45\00:23:11.15
But, anyway, I don't know
that that's a moral dilemma,
00:23:11.19\00:23:17.43
Pastor Ross?
00:23:17.46\00:23:18.76
Jean: No, you know, there are
situations, for example, another
00:23:18.79\00:23:22.56
situation, somebody might be
sick and you've got to go buy
00:23:22.60\00:23:26.00
some medicine.
00:23:26.03\00:23:27.37
I know we've had to
do it with our kids.
00:23:27.40\00:23:28.70
It's the Sabbath.
00:23:28.74\00:23:30.07
You don't want them suffering.
00:23:30.11\00:23:31.41
Like, there's nothing wrong.
00:23:31.44\00:23:32.77
We don't have any medicine.
00:23:32.81\00:23:34.11
You'll get some
medicine on the Sabbath.
00:23:34.14\00:23:35.44
That's not breaking the Sabbath.
00:23:35.48\00:23:37.18
Of course, you're not
doing it on a regular basis.
00:23:37.21\00:23:39.51
It's a unexpected event,
somewhat of an emergency.
00:23:39.55\00:23:43.25
That's sort of the illustration
of the ox falling in the ditch,
00:23:43.28\00:23:47.59
yeah, on the Sabbath.
00:23:47.62\00:23:48.92
You reach in and you
pull it out, you help.
00:23:48.96\00:23:50.29
So, yeah, there are exceptions.
00:23:50.33\00:23:52.16
Doug: Yeah, so, yeah, and
I-- that's not the kind of thing
00:23:52.19\00:23:56.83
that usually happens
to you every day, so.
00:23:56.87\00:23:58.80
Jean: No, it will be unique.
00:23:58.83\00:24:00.24
Doug: The Lord understands that.
00:24:00.27\00:24:01.57
All right,
thanks so much, Donna.
00:24:01.60\00:24:02.94
I appreciate your call.
00:24:02.97\00:24:04.27
We got 2 minutes.
00:24:04.31\00:24:05.61
We might get one more in.
00:24:05.64\00:24:06.98
Jean: We've got
Joyce in Tennessee.
00:24:07.01\00:24:08.31
Joyce, welcome to the program.
00:24:08.34\00:24:09.78
Joyce: Oh, hi.
00:24:09.81\00:24:11.11
Thanks for taking my call.
00:24:11.15\00:24:12.88
Listen, I'm going to
try to be really quick.
00:24:12.91\00:24:15.72
I listened to a sermon not too
long ago and the person alluded
00:24:15.75\00:24:20.49
to the relationship between
Jesse and David in a way that he
00:24:20.52\00:24:26.36
mentioned Psalms chapter 53:5.
00:24:26.39\00:24:29.26
And I wanted to find out
just what was the relationship
00:24:29.30\00:24:34.37
between Jesse because he
mentioned something that made it
00:24:34.40\00:24:37.54
sound like there was
some contingent between them.
00:24:37.57\00:24:40.41
And that's why Jesse was--David
was not called into the meeting
00:24:40.44\00:24:44.75
when the prophet came to
anoint the sons of David.
00:24:44.78\00:24:47.42
So I just wanted to know is
there something there that we're
00:24:47.45\00:24:50.75
not aware of?
00:24:50.79\00:24:52.12
The scripture makes me--I
thought--I always believed that
00:24:52.15\00:24:55.26
the scripture, Psalms 53:5
was a man's condition, general
00:24:55.29\00:25:01.43
condition, versus a
personal thing with David.
00:25:01.46\00:25:05.30
I hope that
question makes sense.
00:25:05.33\00:25:06.84
Doug: All right, now, so you
said Psalm 53 verse 5. Jean: 51.
00:25:06.87\00:25:10.81
Doug: 51:5.
00:25:10.84\00:25:12.47
Joyce: 51:5.
Doug: Okay, all right.
00:25:12.51\00:25:14.48
Yeah, that's where he says,
"Behold, I was brought forth
00:25:14.51\00:25:17.68
in iniquity, and in sin
my mother conceived me."
00:25:17.71\00:25:18.95
Some people, I think Augustine
and others, use this to try to
00:25:18.98\00:25:21.32
argue for original sin.
00:25:21.35\00:25:22.95
But he's just saying that, you
know, as Job says, as the sparks
00:25:22.98\00:25:28.02
fly upwards, so are
people naturally prone to sin.
00:25:28.06\00:25:32.56
It wasn't meaning that there
was anything particularly sinful
00:25:32.59\00:25:35.46
about David's birth.
00:25:35.50\00:25:36.83
There's nothing in the Bible,
I've read the whole story of
00:25:36.87\00:25:39.57
David many, many
times, every year just about.
00:25:39.60\00:25:42.60
And I've never read
anything that says there was any
00:25:42.64\00:25:44.91
particular problem
between David and his father.
00:25:44.94\00:25:48.28
The only reason he was not there
is because he was the youngest
00:25:48.31\00:25:51.75
and they needed someone to watch
the sheep during the feast.
00:25:51.78\00:25:56.08
And later, David protects
his family and he saves them
00:25:56.12\00:25:59.82
from Saul.
00:25:59.85\00:26:01.22
He sends them, his father and
mother, to live in Moab because,
00:26:01.26\00:26:03.12
remember, David had
a Moabite grandmother,
00:26:03.16\00:26:05.53
a great-grandmother.
00:26:05.56\00:26:06.86
So, I've never read anything,
Pastor Ross, that said there
00:26:06.90\00:26:10.37
was anything, any
other animosity between Jesse
00:26:10.40\00:26:14.84
and his father.
00:26:14.87\00:26:16.17
He sends--or David, rather.
00:26:16.20\00:26:17.51
And Jesse, he sends his son to
his brothers with food, entrusts
00:26:17.54\00:26:22.04
him to feed them.
00:26:22.08\00:26:23.38
Jean: There's some little
jealousy between David and some
00:26:23.41\00:26:24.95
of his older brothers,
as you have--you alluded to
00:26:24.98\00:26:26.98
that story.
00:26:27.02\00:26:28.35
But no, as far as David and
his father, we have no record of
00:26:28.38\00:26:30.69
there ever being an issue.
00:26:30.72\00:26:32.62
Doug: Yeah, anyway.
00:26:32.65\00:26:33.99
Hey, friends, don't go away.
00:26:34.02\00:26:35.32
We're just going to
have a little break here.
00:26:35.36\00:26:36.66
You can give us a call.
00:26:36.69\00:26:38.03
More Bible questions
in just a few minutes.
00:26:38.06\00:26:39.69
We'll be back.
00:26:39.73\00:26:41.60
¤¤¤
00:26:43.60\00:26:45.60
announcer: Stay tuned.
00:26:46.40\00:26:47.74
"Bible Answers
Live" will return shortly.
00:26:47.77\00:26:50.01
announcer: Amazing
Facts Changed Lives.
00:26:57.45\00:27:00.88
¤¤¤
00:27:04.85\00:27:07.86
Justin: Growing up as a kid, my
mother was on drugs and alcohol,
00:27:08.36\00:27:14.36
lots of fighting in the home.
00:27:14.40\00:27:16.40
My mom would be abused
mentally, verbally, physically.
00:27:16.43\00:27:21.54
Went from California to Oregon,
spent some time in Oregon, and
00:27:21.57\00:27:26.21
it was just the same cycle
of drugs, alcohol, violence.
00:27:26.24\00:27:30.58
My mom's boyfriend
would go to jail at times.
00:27:30.61\00:27:34.05
She would wait until he would,
you know, get out of jail and it
00:27:34.08\00:27:37.72
was back to square one.
00:27:37.75\00:27:39.32
The drugs and the alcohol
escalated to a lot harder drugs,
00:27:39.35\00:27:44.19
crystal meth, cocaine,
and lots and lots of alcohol.
00:27:44.23\00:27:49.36
So I started using the
alcohol to--as a medication.
00:27:49.40\00:27:54.20
It was like a--the
misery and the fear that I had.
00:27:54.24\00:27:57.81
I wanted to
drown all that misery.
00:27:57.84\00:28:00.21
Times I would just grab, you
know, a bottle of beer and go
00:28:00.24\00:28:05.41
out into the desert and just
drink until sometimes I'd just
00:28:05.45\00:28:09.02
pass out in the desert somewhere
and wake up the next morning
00:28:09.05\00:28:12.52
and, you know, and I
just couldn't find rest.
00:28:12.55\00:28:16.22
My step-dad had got me a
motorcycle and so I started
00:28:16.26\00:28:20.83
riding motorcycles.
00:28:20.86\00:28:22.16
I'd drink a lot of beer,
get on the motorcycle, ride into
00:28:22.20\00:28:25.57
the desert, do donuts, and just
throughout, you know, just ride
00:28:25.60\00:28:29.50
on private property.
00:28:29.54\00:28:31.21
People would chase me off and
I was just causing--stirring up
00:28:31.24\00:28:35.01
dust and rocks and just causing
chaos and the adrenaline rush
00:28:35.04\00:28:40.85
that I had was so exciting.
00:28:40.88\00:28:43.15
And the feeling of it was so
intense that I loved it and it--
00:28:43.18\00:28:48.26
I forgot about all my problems,
you know, at the moment and I
00:28:48.29\00:28:52.16
thought that material things
would make me feel so good,
00:28:52.19\00:28:57.27
you know?
00:28:57.30\00:28:58.60
And so I started working,
started making money, had
00:28:58.63\00:29:00.34
a responsibility.
00:29:00.37\00:29:02.44
But, as time went
by, I had more money.
00:29:02.47\00:29:06.54
So I would, you know, use my
money that I made to buy drugs
00:29:06.57\00:29:12.05
and alcohol.
00:29:12.08\00:29:13.38
Got pulled over, drinking and
driving, ended up going to jail
00:29:13.42\00:29:18.42
for a couple of days.
00:29:18.45\00:29:20.09
I lost my job because I
missed work for a few days.
00:29:20.12\00:29:24.96
Lost my girlfriend, lost
all the money that I had.
00:29:24.99\00:29:29.33
So once again, I was empty,
no money, no drugs, no alcohol.
00:29:29.36\00:29:34.34
And that was a
turning point in my life.
00:29:34.37\00:29:36.87
At this time, I was
living with my grandfather.
00:29:36.91\00:29:39.71
And as I was flipping through
the channels on the satellite
00:29:39.74\00:29:43.58
system, I found "Amazing Facts."
00:29:43.61\00:29:46.31
Pastor Doug Batchelor
was telling his--sharing his
00:29:46.35\00:29:49.82
testimony about how he was
living in a cave and he was--
00:29:49.85\00:29:54.82
he struggled the same
struggles of alcohol and drugs.
00:29:54.86\00:29:57.89
And I continued to read the
book, "The Richest Caveman,"
00:29:57.93\00:30:01.96
and it really impacted my life
and really related to the things
00:30:02.00\00:30:05.63
he was struggling with and all
of the events that took place in
00:30:05.67\00:30:09.50
his life.
00:30:09.54\00:30:10.84
And when I started reading the
Bible, Philippians 4:13 says: "I
00:30:10.87\00:30:13.74
can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:30:13.78\00:30:16.54
I recognized that
I had no strength.
00:30:16.58\00:30:18.85
I was weak and I was
wretched and I needed help.
00:30:18.88\00:30:23.25
So I just asked the Lord,
I said, "Just help me, Lord."
00:30:23.28\00:30:26.62
And the Holy Spirit convicted me
and I decided to be baptized and
00:30:26.65\00:30:33.19
to give my life to Jesus Christ.
00:30:33.23\00:30:35.50
A few years after the Lord took
the temptation of drinking and
00:30:35.53\00:30:40.14
doing drugs, He gave me a
beautiful wife I met at church.
00:30:40.17\00:30:44.17
Now I have a beautiful
baby boy, 2-year-old baby boy.
00:30:44.21\00:30:47.91
It's just exciting to see, you
know, what God is doing in my
00:30:47.94\00:30:52.18
life and my family.
00:30:52.21\00:30:54.82
I met with some friends
from my local church that I was
00:30:54.85\00:30:58.69
attending and they had told me
about Amazing Facts, Center of
00:30:58.72\00:31:03.96
Evangelism Training Seminar.
00:31:03.99\00:31:06.46
The AFCOE to Go program really
inspired me and motivated me to
00:31:06.49\00:31:12.13
tell young people about, you
know, the same struggles that I
00:31:12.17\00:31:16.64
was struggling with to help
these kids give your life to
00:31:16.67\00:31:19.67
Jesus Christ.
00:31:19.71\00:31:21.01
And there's nothing
else that you could ask for.
00:31:21.04\00:31:23.31
I'm Justin and God
used you to change my life.
00:31:23.35\00:31:27.88
¤¤¤
00:31:28.85\00:31:32.35
¤¤¤
00:31:37.93\00:31:40.40
announcer: You're listening to
"Bible Answers Live" where every
00:31:40.43\00:31:43.77
question answered provides a
clearer picture of God and His
00:31:43.80\00:31:47.24
plan to save you.
00:31:47.27\00:31:48.80
So what are you waiting for?
00:31:48.84\00:31:50.54
Get practical answers
about the good book for a better
00:31:50.57\00:31:53.68
life today.
00:31:53.71\00:31:56.54
This broadcast is a
previously recorded episode.
00:31:57.41\00:32:00.58
If you'd like answers to
your Bible-related questions
00:32:00.62\00:32:03.08
on the air, please
call us next Sunday
00:32:03.12\00:32:05.69
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00:32:05.72\00:32:09.76
To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
00:32:09.79\00:32:12.26
evening's program
call 800-835-6747.
00:32:12.29\00:32:17.33
Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
00:32:17.37\00:32:22.54
Now let's rejoin our hosts
for more "Bible Answers Live."
00:32:22.57\00:32:27.24
Doug: Welcome back,
listening friends, to
00:32:28.31\00:32:29.94
"Bible Answers Live."
00:32:29.98\00:32:31.65
And for those who may have
joined us en route, this is
00:32:31.68\00:32:33.48
a live international
interactive Bible study.
00:32:33.52\00:32:36.25
You can join us with your Bible
questions calling 800-GOD-SAYS,
00:32:36.28\00:32:40.49
that's 800-463-7297
and I am Doug Batchelor.
00:32:40.52\00:32:45.39
Jean: My name is Jean Ross
and you can also send us your
00:32:45.43\00:32:48.50
question via email.
00:32:48.53\00:32:49.83
The email address is
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org.
00:32:49.86\00:32:54.14
Just
BALquestions@amazingfacts.org.
00:32:54.17\00:32:58.17
Pastor Doug, we have a
couple of email questions.
00:32:58.21\00:33:00.81
Steve is asking: What verse in
the Bible states that the earth
00:33:00.84\00:33:03.95
is round?
00:33:03.98\00:33:05.28
Doug: Well, if they're looking
for a verse that says the earth
00:33:05.31\00:33:08.02
is a sphere, there's no verse
that--Isaiah talks about the
00:33:08.05\00:33:12.12
circle of the earth.
00:33:12.15\00:33:13.79
And yeah, I'm guessing maybe
this question is coming from
00:33:13.82\00:33:19.46
somebody, I--it's amazing to me
how many people have kind of got
00:33:19.49\00:33:22.36
caught up in what they
call the Flat Earth Theory.
00:33:22.40\00:33:26.13
And you and I have
flown all around the world.
00:33:26.17\00:33:29.47
Friends, we've seen
firsthand, the earth is round.
00:33:29.50\00:33:33.41
We've been all the
way around the world.
00:33:33.44\00:33:35.41
Jean: Yeah, and the Bible
says: "God sits on the circle of
00:33:35.44\00:33:37.38
the earth."
00:33:37.41\00:33:38.71
So another question that we
have: Did God command the temple
00:33:38.75\00:33:41.28
builders to construct the
temple stones and the temple
00:33:41.32\00:33:44.09
furniture off-site?
00:33:44.12\00:33:46.19
Doug: Well, we know that the
construction was done off-site
00:33:46.22\00:33:49.42
and all the measurements
were made off-site, which is one
00:33:49.46\00:33:52.59
reason for that story
about the stone which the
00:33:52.63\00:33:56.03
builders rejected.
00:33:56.06\00:33:57.37
They had quarried a
cornerstone at the quarry.
00:33:57.40\00:34:01.67
And when it was sent over to the
construction site, they weren't
00:34:01.70\00:34:04.71
sure where it went and
they kept tripping over it.
00:34:04.74\00:34:06.71
And that was because the
quarrying and the measurements
00:34:06.74\00:34:09.94
were made at the quarry,
which was several miles away.
00:34:09.98\00:34:13.31
I think they found the
place where Solomon's stones
00:34:13.35\00:34:15.25
were quarried.
00:34:15.28\00:34:17.82
But it--there's no command
where it says, "You shall not
00:34:17.85\00:34:21.72
chisel any of the
stones on the building site."
00:34:21.76\00:34:25.03
They didn't do it probably, one,
out of reverence because it was
00:34:25.06\00:34:28.16
a holy building and there was
no sound of tool as it was being
00:34:28.20\00:34:32.00
put together, also because
it was in Jerusalem city limits.
00:34:32.03\00:34:36.14
And that would have whenever
you live next to a construction
00:34:36.17\00:34:38.94
site, it could be pretty
disruptive and the king's palace
00:34:38.97\00:34:41.84
was there.
00:34:41.88\00:34:43.21
So--but there was no command
that I have ever found where it
00:34:43.24\00:34:46.68
said you're required
to build it off-site.
00:34:46.72\00:34:49.28
Jean: I think there's also
a practical aspect of that.
00:34:49.32\00:34:51.52
If you were going
to--and some of those stones in
00:34:51.55\00:34:53.72
the construction of
the temple are massive.
00:34:53.76\00:34:55.79
And if you're going to have
to transport a lot of stone from
00:34:55.82\00:34:58.26
one place to another, you want
to transport just what you need.
00:34:58.29\00:35:01.60
You don't want extra stone.
00:35:01.63\00:35:02.96
So they would cut it to the
right size, amazing measurements
00:35:03.00\00:35:05.73
to make sure that all
the stones fit together.
00:35:05.77\00:35:07.74
But they would carve it out and
get it just to the right size
00:35:07.77\00:35:10.44
and then transport
that to the building site.
00:35:10.47\00:35:12.97
Otherwise, they'd have a lot
of gravel they had to haul away.
00:35:13.01\00:35:15.24
Yeah, they'd have extra
stone they have to carry.
00:35:15.28\00:35:17.78
All right, one more question,
one more email question,
00:35:17.81\00:35:19.85
then we'll go back
to the phone lines.
00:35:19.88\00:35:21.42
Chris is asking is the term
that we find in the Bible, "the
00:35:21.45\00:35:24.52
bottomless pit" in Revelation,
the same as "the abyss" that you
00:35:24.55\00:35:27.96
read about where the demons say,
"Don't cast us into the abyss"?
00:35:27.99\00:35:31.39
Doug: Yeah, in Luke chapter
8, the demon-possessed man, he
00:35:31.43\00:35:35.26
says--well, the demons are
speaking and they say they're
00:35:35.30\00:35:38.23
a legion of demons.
00:35:38.27\00:35:39.60
They say, "Do not cast us into
the abussos," which is the Greek
00:35:39.63\00:35:43.20
word for the nothingness,
meaning no one to manipulate,
00:35:43.24\00:35:47.54
to possess.
00:35:47.58\00:35:48.94
And it is the exact same
word you find in Revelation 20.
00:35:48.98\00:35:51.95
It's a condition of the world
during the 1000 years where
00:35:51.98\00:35:54.75
it's dark.
00:35:54.78\00:35:56.18
It's the same word in the
Septuagint, when the Greek
00:35:56.22\00:35:59.72
version of the Old Testament,
when they explain the creation.
00:35:59.75\00:36:02.06
It says the earth was void.
00:36:02.09\00:36:03.89
It says the earth was abussos.
00:36:03.93\00:36:06.39
And it's--it means an emptiness.
00:36:06.43\00:36:08.40
It doesn't mean bottomless pit,
though we sometimes use when
00:36:08.43\00:36:11.60
there's a void, where there's an
emptiness, we call it the abyss.
00:36:11.63\00:36:14.64
Like the Grand
Canyon is an abyss.
00:36:14.67\00:36:17.47
Anyway, thanks so much.
00:36:17.51\00:36:19.07
And we're going to take
live calls now, I think.
00:36:19.11\00:36:20.84
Jean: That's right.
00:36:20.88\00:36:22.18
The phone line here to the
studio is 800-463-7297 with your
00:36:22.21\00:36:26.01
Bible question.
00:36:26.05\00:36:27.35
We've got Abi in California.
00:36:27.38\00:36:28.72
Abi, welcome to the program.
00:36:28.75\00:36:30.05
Abi: Hi.
00:36:30.09\00:36:31.42
Hi, Pastor
Batchelor and Pastor Ross.
00:36:31.45\00:36:33.52
Doug: Hi, thank you for calling.
00:36:33.56\00:36:36.09
And your question?
00:36:36.12\00:36:37.46
Abi: My question is if I--okay,
so scarlet is associated with
00:36:37.49\00:36:43.63
sin and I was wondering if
I have a daughter, would it be
00:36:43.67\00:36:47.74
a sin to call her "Scarlett"?
00:36:47.77\00:36:49.70
Doug: Well, it
wouldn't be my first choice.
00:36:49.74\00:36:51.84
If you've ever heard of the
classic called "Gone with the
00:36:51.87\00:36:54.71
Wind," that one of the title
characters is Scarlett O'Hara.
00:36:54.74\00:36:59.21
So it's not uncommon to
have the name "Scarlett."
00:36:59.25\00:37:02.22
Scarlet's a beautiful color.
00:37:02.25\00:37:05.12
It's often associated
with blood in the Bible.
00:37:05.15\00:37:08.99
It talks about, you know,
scarlet is connected with blood
00:37:09.02\00:37:11.59
and scarlet's connected
with "though your sins be
00:37:11.63\00:37:14.00
as scarlet."
00:37:14.03\00:37:15.36
If--I'd say if you're ever
in doubt if you're going to have
00:37:15.40\00:37:18.47
a child, it's not a sin
to name them "Scarlett."
00:37:18.50\00:37:22.24
It's not a sin to name
them Jezebel or Pilate.
00:37:22.27\00:37:26.07
Oh, it might be, I don't know.
00:37:26.11\00:37:28.64
But, you know, I'd say if you're
going to--if you're going to
00:37:28.68\00:37:32.75
have second thoughts about a
name, well, pick something else.
00:37:32.78\00:37:36.52
You don't want to be
forever wondering why you named
00:37:36.55\00:37:39.39
them something.
00:37:39.42\00:37:40.72
So, but no, I don't think
there's any Bible injunction.
00:37:40.76\00:37:43.22
There's other places in the
Bible where the word "scarlet"
00:37:43.26\00:37:45.59
is also positive.
00:37:45.63\00:37:46.93
I'm trying to think of them
right now, but I've read both.
00:37:46.96\00:37:49.36
Jean: Okay, thank you.
00:37:49.40\00:37:50.73
The next caller that we
have is Annette in Texas.
00:37:50.77\00:37:52.53
Annette, welcome to the program.
00:37:52.57\00:37:55.20
Annette: Good evening.
00:37:55.24\00:37:56.57
Doug: Evening.
00:37:56.60\00:37:58.54
Annette: Yes, my question is,
does God still use prophets in
00:37:58.57\00:38:03.91
the church today?
00:38:03.95\00:38:06.28
Doug: Well, I believe so.
00:38:06.31\00:38:08.05
When you look in 1 Corinthians
chapter 14 and chapter 12, he
00:38:08.08\00:38:14.52
talks about the gifts of the
Spirit, and one of the gifts of
00:38:14.56\00:38:18.53
the Spirit is
the gift of prophecy.
00:38:18.56\00:38:21.60
And when you read in
Joel chapter 2, says: "One of
00:38:21.63\00:38:26.47
the signs of the last days, I'll
pour out My Spirit on all flesh
00:38:26.50\00:38:29.30
and your sons and
daughters will prophesy."
00:38:29.34\00:38:32.07
So one of the things He says
will happen in the last days,
00:38:32.11\00:38:34.58
and then if you read the
last verse in the Old Testament,
00:38:34.61\00:38:37.61
"Behold, I send you Elijah
the prophet before the great and
00:38:37.65\00:38:41.28
terrible day of the Lord."
00:38:41.32\00:38:42.82
And that first was
fulfilled in John the Baptist.
00:38:42.85\00:38:45.72
But Jesus says Elijah
will come, even after John.
00:38:45.75\00:38:49.56
So the Bible doesn't say that
God ever withdrew this gift.
00:38:49.59\00:38:55.30
And then when you look
in Revelation 12, at when it
00:38:55.33\00:38:58.50
describes in chapter 12,
verse 17, characteristics of His
00:38:58.53\00:39:03.61
church in the last days,
it says: "This--these are they
00:39:03.64\00:39:06.64
that keep the commandments
of God and have the testimony
00:39:06.68\00:39:09.71
of Jesus."
00:39:09.74\00:39:11.35
And then you say, "Well,
what's the testimony of Jesus?"
00:39:11.38\00:39:13.95
You go to Revelation 19, verse
10, it says the angel says:
00:39:13.98\00:39:17.22
"The testimony of Jesus
is the spirit of prophecy."
00:39:17.25\00:39:20.76
So one of the characteristics of
God's people in the last days is
00:39:20.79\00:39:23.99
they are obeying
the commandments of God.
00:39:24.03\00:39:27.40
And they still have and
believe in the modern example
00:39:27.46\00:39:31.10
of prophecy.
00:39:31.13\00:39:32.63
So I don't see anywhere
where the Bible says He was
00:39:32.67\00:39:36.44
withdrawing one of the gifts
of the Spirit in the last days.
00:39:36.47\00:39:40.31
Jean: Now, the Bible does
warn against false prophets in
00:39:40.34\00:39:42.68
the last days.
00:39:42.71\00:39:44.01
Well, that would then maybe
mean, well, maybe there's a true
00:39:44.05\00:39:45.68
gift of prophecy
in the last days.
00:39:45.71\00:39:47.58
And how do we
know the difference?
00:39:47.62\00:39:48.95
Well, the Bible gives us signs,
certain tests that could be
00:39:48.98\00:39:52.22
applied for a prophet.
00:39:52.25\00:39:53.76
And these are
important because Jesus warned.
00:39:53.79\00:39:55.39
He said, "Be aware of false
prophets in the last days."
00:39:55.42\00:39:58.69
So we've got to test
what so-called prophets say by
00:39:58.73\00:40:03.03
the Word of God.
00:40:03.06\00:40:04.40
And we do have a study guide.
00:40:04.43\00:40:05.73
It's called, "Did God Inspire--"
or "Does God Inspire Psychics
00:40:05.77\00:40:08.80
and Astrologists?"
00:40:08.84\00:40:10.17
And that is a free offer.
00:40:10.21\00:40:11.51
We'll be happy to send it
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:40:11.54\00:40:14.34
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:40:14.38\00:40:17.68
Or you can dial
#250 on your smartphone.
00:40:17.71\00:40:20.78
What are the signs
that the Bible gives?
00:40:20.82\00:40:22.58
Determine the true gift of
prophecy versus the false gift
00:40:22.62\00:40:26.05
of prophecy, and
you'll be blessed.
00:40:26.09\00:40:28.32
So just call and ask for that.
00:40:28.36\00:40:29.69
We'll be happy to send it
to anyone who contacts us.
00:40:29.72\00:40:32.39
Next caller that we have--
did you want to add to that,
00:40:32.43\00:40:34.60
Pastor Doug?
00:40:34.63\00:40:35.93
Doug: No, I'd just say,
yeah, that lesson actually
00:40:35.96\00:40:37.30
goes through.
00:40:37.33\00:40:38.63
It doesn't mention prophets
in the title, but it does go
00:40:38.67\00:40:40.17
through the test of a
true prophet in that lesson.
00:40:40.20\00:40:42.97
Jean: Sammy is
calling in California.
00:40:43.00\00:40:44.84
Sammy, welcome to the program.
00:40:44.87\00:40:46.34
Sammy: Good
evening, Pastor Batchelor.
00:40:46.37\00:40:47.68
Good evening, Pastor Ross.
00:40:47.71\00:40:49.01
Doug: Evening.
00:40:49.04\00:40:50.78
Sammy: My question is, you know,
a lot of protestants believe in
00:40:50.81\00:40:53.88
sola scriptura, right?
00:40:53.92\00:40:55.45
And other denominations
don't believe in that.
00:40:55.48\00:40:58.79
They have--they put
less weight in scripture.
00:40:58.82\00:41:02.16
How do we know if the original
early church correctly chose
00:41:02.19\00:41:07.76
the books of the--that
form the New Testament today?
00:41:07.83\00:41:11.27
Doug: Yeah, well, it's
through the mouth of two or
00:41:11.30\00:41:14.74
three witnesses.
00:41:14.77\00:41:16.07
They were guided
by the Holy Spirit.
00:41:16.10\00:41:17.94
There's actually several
criteria that the early church
00:41:17.97\00:41:22.24
used to evaluate if a book
was to be considered inspired.
00:41:22.28\00:41:27.65
For one thing, Peter calls the
writings of Paul "scripture" and
00:41:27.68\00:41:33.39
that's in 2 Peter chapter 3--
so it, right there, since Paul
00:41:33.42\00:41:38.89
wrote about half the New
Testament, that settles about
00:41:38.93\00:41:41.06
half the books.
00:41:41.10\00:41:43.26
And then they looked at the
books based on, were they in
00:41:43.30\00:41:46.50
harmony with the
teachings of the Bible?
00:41:46.53\00:41:51.21
I want to say
teachings of the Bible!
00:41:51.24\00:41:52.54
Did they correspond with the
teachings of the prophets, that
00:41:52.57\00:41:55.11
you would find in
the Old Testament?
00:41:55.14\00:41:57.01
Were they
endorsed by the apostles?
00:41:57.05\00:42:00.32
I understand that by 100 A.D.,
all of the books that we now
00:42:00.35\00:42:04.42
have in our Bible people
say, "Well, they didn't know for
00:42:04.45\00:42:06.59
hundreds of years," there were
church councils years later that
00:42:06.62\00:42:09.82
affirmed it.
00:42:09.86\00:42:11.16
But by 100 A.D., the 27 books in
our New Testament were already
00:42:11.19\00:42:16.00
settled and
recognized as inspired.
00:42:16.03\00:42:18.87
And there was no book of Judas.
00:42:18.90\00:42:20.24
There was no book of
Thomas, there was no book of
00:42:20.27\00:42:22.54
Mary Magdalene.
00:42:22.57\00:42:23.87
Those things all came as
apocryphal books, hundreds of
00:42:23.91\00:42:26.17
years later.
00:42:26.21\00:42:27.51
And they were cross-referenced,
basically, by the apostles.
00:42:27.54\00:42:34.28
Jean: And then these letters
that came from these different
00:42:34.32\00:42:36.85
apostles, they were recognized
by the churches, they were
00:42:36.89\00:42:39.75
copied, and then sent to other
churches and it was repeated.
00:42:39.79\00:42:43.02
And so the same letter
was copied many, many times.
00:42:43.06\00:42:46.06
And so we have evidence
to support that these were
00:42:46.09\00:42:48.23
recognized as sacred writings.
00:42:48.26\00:42:51.00
You know, we have a book called,
"The Ultimate Resource," that
00:42:51.03\00:42:53.67
talks about the Bible, talks
about the different books, and
00:42:53.70\00:42:56.91
how we ended up with the Bible.
00:42:56.94\00:42:58.44
And we'll be happy to send
it to anyone who calls and asks.
00:42:58.47\00:43:01.64
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:43:01.68\00:43:05.11
That's 800-835-6747.
00:43:05.15\00:43:07.85
You can ask for the book.
00:43:07.88\00:43:09.18
It's called, "The Ultimate
Resource," or dial #250 and
00:43:09.22\00:43:12.09
you'll be able to get a
digital download of the book.
00:43:12.12\00:43:14.72
Just #250, and ask for
"The Ultimate Resource."
00:43:14.76\00:43:19.06
Doug: I was just reading, Pastor
Ross, in my Bible reading this
00:43:19.09\00:43:23.30
morning where at the end of
1 Thessalonians chapter 5, Paul
00:43:23.33\00:43:27.50
says, "I charge you by the Lord
that this Epistle be read to all
00:43:27.54\00:43:30.81
of the holy brethren."
00:43:30.84\00:43:32.41
And so, he would write a letter,
they'd read it, they'd make
00:43:32.44\00:43:35.14
copies, they'd spread it around,
because he was in jail, so they
00:43:35.18\00:43:38.68
didn't have Xerox
machines back then.
00:43:38.71\00:43:40.52
Jean: And you know, that
was good in one way because for
00:43:40.55\00:43:42.42
example, the writing of the book
of Revelation was written to the
00:43:42.45\00:43:44.52
seven churches, but it was
written in Ephesus, copied and
00:43:44.55\00:43:47.42
then sent to the next church and
so on and so forth, Smyrna, and
00:43:47.46\00:43:50.63
went all the way around.
00:43:50.66\00:43:51.99
But then it was copied
and spread throughout all the
00:43:52.03\00:43:53.33
Christian churches.
00:43:53.36\00:43:54.66
So there were many manuscripts
of the same letter that had been
00:43:54.73\00:43:57.77
copied time and time again.
00:43:57.80\00:43:59.13
So when it came to compiling the
Textus Receptus, you know, the
00:43:59.17\00:44:02.47
New Testament collection of
these Greek manuscripts, there
00:44:02.50\00:44:05.11
were a lot of texts that they
could look at and they could
00:44:05.14\00:44:07.98
compare and make sure that they
found the one that was the most
00:44:08.01\00:44:10.98
faithful to the original.
00:44:11.01\00:44:12.35
So there's good reason for that.
00:44:12.38\00:44:14.32
Doug: Yeah, thank you.
00:44:14.35\00:44:15.78
Jean: In other words,
we can trust the Bible.
00:44:15.82\00:44:17.05
The more you get into it, the
more you study it, there is no
00:44:17.09\00:44:19.59
document more verified and
trustworthy than the Bible.
00:44:19.62\00:44:25.03
Doug: Absolutely.
00:44:25.06\00:44:26.36
Jean: All right, next
caller that we have is May
00:44:26.39\00:44:27.73
in Wisconsin.
00:44:27.76\00:44:29.03
May, welcome to the program.
00:44:29.06\00:44:30.37
May: Hi, my question is,
what is the mark of the beast?
00:44:30.40\00:44:33.07
Doug: To answer that question,
you almost need to know first,
00:44:33.10\00:44:34.70
if you're going to know what the
mark of the beast is, you need
00:44:34.74\00:44:36.81
to know what is the beast.
00:44:36.84\00:44:38.81
The beast, that's
a whole Bible study.
00:44:38.84\00:44:40.88
I usually take two
nights to explain this.
00:44:40.91\00:44:44.21
The beast that you find in
Revelation 13, there are two
00:44:44.25\00:44:47.58
beasts in Revelation 13.
00:44:47.62\00:44:49.62
The first beast is the one
that we're really thinking of.
00:44:49.65\00:44:53.02
Most of the Protestants believe
these different beasts you find
00:44:53.05\00:44:56.19
in Daniel and Revelation
were different kingdoms,
00:44:56.22\00:44:58.16
different powers.
00:44:58.19\00:44:59.79
And you've got, in Revelation
12, you've got this dragon that
00:44:59.83\00:45:03.97
tries to devour the woman.
00:45:04.00\00:45:05.30
This is the devil operating
through the kingdom of Rome,
00:45:05.33\00:45:08.14
Rome ruled by Caesars.
00:45:08.17\00:45:11.14
After the Caesars died off with
the fall of Rome, about the same
00:45:11.17\00:45:15.28
time, the church was
turning into a political
00:45:15.31\00:45:18.08
religious power.
00:45:18.11\00:45:19.41
That lasted over 1000 years
and better known as the Roman
00:45:19.45\00:45:23.59
Catholic church, and it became
a persecuting power and they
00:45:23.62\00:45:28.16
freely admit that.
00:45:28.19\00:45:29.56
So that is the first beast
that you find in Revelation 13.
00:45:29.59\00:45:33.26
Now, we've got a lesson that
talks about what is the mark
00:45:33.29\00:45:35.93
and, rather than try and fit
it all into a 3-minute answer,
00:45:35.96\00:45:39.33
we'll send you or anyone
a free copy of that lesson.
00:45:39.37\00:45:43.20
Jean: It's called
"The Mark of the Beast."
00:45:43.24\00:45:45.21
It's a very important topic.
00:45:45.24\00:45:46.57
Revelation chapter 13.
00:45:46.61\00:45:48.34
And we'll be happy to send
it to anyone who calls and asks.
00:45:48.38\00:45:51.25
The number
again is 800-835-6747.
00:45:51.28\00:45:54.95
Ask for that study guide:
"What is the Mark of the Beast?"
00:45:54.98\00:45:57.19
You can dial #250 and
receive a digital download.
00:45:57.22\00:46:01.36
And it's all in there.
00:46:01.39\00:46:02.72
You'll find that helpful.
00:46:02.76\00:46:04.26
Next caller that we
have is Donna in Oregon.
00:46:04.29\00:46:06.39
Donna, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:46:06.43\00:46:08.03
Donna: Thank you
for taking my call.
00:46:08.06\00:46:10.50
Hebrews chapter 6, verse 4
through 6, and it's saying that
00:46:10.53\00:46:17.54
"once we have been enlightened
by God and became followers of
00:46:17.57\00:46:23.01
Him and then we fall away, we
can't ever be partakers again of
00:46:23.04\00:46:27.58
His righteousness."
00:46:27.62\00:46:29.68
Does that mean that I'm lost?
00:46:29.72\00:46:31.45
Doug: Well, if you're talking
about when a person knows
00:46:31.49\00:46:35.92
the Lord and they
backslide, can they be saved?
00:46:35.96\00:46:38.76
Absolutely.
00:46:38.79\00:46:40.23
Because look at
the prodigal son.
00:46:40.26\00:46:42.70
He was in the father's house.
00:46:42.73\00:46:44.57
He knew the
father, he fell away.
00:46:44.60\00:46:47.34
He went to a far country.
00:46:47.37\00:46:48.67
He came to his
senses, he came back.
00:46:48.70\00:46:50.54
You look at Peter who denied
the Lord and he came back.
00:46:50.57\00:46:54.78
And you look at people in
the Bible like King Manasseh who
00:46:54.81\00:46:57.48
fell off in a big way.
00:46:57.51\00:46:59.01
So if there's no hope for
backsliders, then what about
00:46:59.05\00:47:03.39
those verses where
Jeremiah says, "I will heal
00:47:03.42\00:47:05.79
your backsliding"?
00:47:05.82\00:47:07.46
So God is not saying in
this verse that if a person
00:47:07.49\00:47:11.16
backslides or if they fall
away, they cannot be restored.
00:47:11.19\00:47:14.63
He's saying--He's talking about
a person who resists the best
00:47:14.66\00:47:18.80
that God has to offer.
00:47:18.83\00:47:20.74
If they fall away, meaning
if they reject the best that God
00:47:20.77\00:47:24.44
has to offer and they
don't repent, there's no
00:47:24.47\00:47:28.31
restoring them.
00:47:28.34\00:47:30.11
But I think everybody listening
to my voice right now has fallen
00:47:30.15\00:47:34.32
away in varying degrees where
you get discouraged at some
00:47:34.35\00:47:37.15
point and then you come to your
senses, you return to the Lord
00:47:37.19\00:47:40.86
or you have--you get dead
and then you have a revival.
00:47:40.89\00:47:43.73
This is talking about a person
that has really all the best--
00:47:43.76\00:47:46.36
notice the words that are used.
00:47:46.39\00:47:47.83
"They taste the good Word
of God, the powers of the age
00:47:47.86\00:47:50.80
to come."
00:47:50.83\00:47:52.17
It says: "They're
partakers of the Holy Spirit.
00:47:52.20\00:47:53.84
They taste the heavenly gift.
00:47:53.87\00:47:55.74
They were enlightened."
00:47:55.77\00:47:57.11
These people have had
the best of everything.
00:47:57.14\00:47:58.74
And if they reject that, then
what more can God send to reach
00:47:58.77\00:48:02.84
them is what it's saying.
00:48:02.88\00:48:04.81
So if you feel the Holy Spirit,
Donna, that is calling you,
00:48:04.85\00:48:09.05
by all means, come back.
00:48:09.08\00:48:10.79
God's arm is not
shortened that He cannot save.
00:48:10.82\00:48:13.82
And He said whosoever, if
you come to Him, if we repent--
00:48:13.86\00:48:18.66
the children of Israel, God told
them, "If you're carried off to
00:48:18.69\00:48:21.26
a foreign country, because you
disobey, even if it's the other
00:48:21.30\00:48:24.30
side of the world, if you
turn back to Me again and repent
00:48:24.33\00:48:27.80
of your sins, I
will bring you back."
00:48:27.84\00:48:29.97
All through the Bible, that's
the message of God is that I can
00:48:30.01\00:48:32.37
bring you back, if we repent.
00:48:32.41\00:48:34.74
Jean: Absolutely.
00:48:34.78\00:48:36.18
Next caller that we have
is Lilian or Liliana from
00:48:36.21\00:48:39.81
Washington State.
00:48:39.85\00:48:41.38
Liliana, welcome to the program.
00:48:41.42\00:48:43.32
Liliana: Hi.
00:48:43.35\00:48:44.65
Doug: Hi, thank you for calling.
00:48:44.69\00:48:46.02
Liliana: Thank you
for taking my call.
00:48:46.05\00:48:47.79
I'm 14 and I was wondering how
can I witness better to younger
00:48:47.82\00:48:53.06
kids who might not go
to the same church as me?
00:48:53.09\00:48:57.57
They're younger and it's
different than witnessing to,
00:48:57.60\00:49:00.47
like, an adult or
an older teenager.
00:49:00.50\00:49:02.54
Doug: Right, yeah, yeah.
00:49:02.57\00:49:04.97
Well, there's three things you
can do for people that you want
00:49:05.01\00:49:08.28
to reach.
00:49:08.31\00:49:09.61
One is you be a good example.
00:49:09.64\00:49:12.68
I always say three
and I really mean four.
00:49:12.71\00:49:14.75
Be a good example.
00:49:14.78\00:49:16.62
If they're open,
share information with them.
00:49:16.65\00:49:19.52
That means you can
talk to them about the Lord.
00:49:19.55\00:49:22.32
You might give
them something to read.
00:49:22.36\00:49:24.43
If they're young, it would be
maybe a little simpler than if
00:49:24.46\00:49:27.76
it's an adult, that
directs them to God.
00:49:27.76\00:49:31.70
And then the third
thing is, you pray for them.
00:49:31.73\00:49:35.17
So be a good example.
00:49:35.20\00:49:36.64
If you can share
information with them.
00:49:36.67\00:49:38.77
Now, when they're children of
somebody else, you've got to be
00:49:38.81\00:49:41.61
careful about
proselytizing someone's kids.
00:49:41.64\00:49:44.48
Some people, you can't, like,
you know, sneak them away from
00:49:44.51\00:49:47.32
their parents so that
you can indoctrinate them.
00:49:47.35\00:49:50.12
Some parents
wouldn't appreciate that.
00:49:50.15\00:49:51.65
But you want to be a witness
to them and share truth as
00:49:51.69\00:49:54.46
you're able.
00:49:54.49\00:49:55.79
And the fourth thing
is continue to do it.
00:49:55.82\00:49:58.29
So, don't get discouraged.
00:49:58.33\00:50:00.13
So, be a good witness.
00:50:00.16\00:50:01.66
Share information.
00:50:01.70\00:50:03.00
It might be a DVD, or--if
anyone uses those anymore.
00:50:03.03\00:50:05.73
Direct them to a website
where they can see Christian
00:50:05.77\00:50:08.94
information, a Bible study.
00:50:08.97\00:50:11.91
Pray for them, and keep it up.
00:50:11.94\00:50:16.58
Jean: All right, very good.
00:50:16.61\00:50:17.95
Next caller that we
have is Robert in Washington.
00:50:17.98\00:50:19.68
Robert, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:50:19.71\00:50:21.82
Robert: Hi, Pastor Ross.
00:50:21.85\00:50:23.18
Hi, Pastor Doug.
00:50:23.22\00:50:24.52
Doug: Hi, Robert.
Thank you for calling.
00:50:24.55\00:50:27.22
Robert: I was wanting to know
if Jesus is called the first
00:50:27.26\00:50:30.99
fruits, then how
could Moses be raised?
00:50:31.03\00:50:33.86
And also there's a--where
David--and I think in Psalms,
00:50:33.90\00:50:36.97
he's called the
firstborn, but he's actually not
00:50:37.00\00:50:39.90
the firstborn either.
00:50:39.93\00:50:41.40
Doug: Yeah, when Christ is
called the first fruits of those
00:50:41.44\00:50:43.87
who are raised from the dead,
people say, "Well, he wasn't
00:50:43.91\00:50:45.91
the first one resurrected."
00:50:45.94\00:50:47.61
For one thing in the Old
Testament, you've got three
00:50:47.64\00:50:49.91
or four resurrections.
00:50:49.94\00:50:51.58
You've got Elijah and Elisha,
both respectively resurrected
00:50:51.61\00:50:55.45
a boy.
00:50:55.48\00:50:56.72
A man was resurrected when he
was lowered on Elisha's bones.
00:50:56.75\00:51:01.29
Then you got, you
know, Elijah never died.
00:51:01.32\00:51:03.43
Of course, that's
not a resurrection.
00:51:03.46\00:51:05.29
And so why would it call Christ
the first fruits among those who
00:51:05.33\00:51:08.53
have risen from the dead?
00:51:08.56\00:51:10.03
The first in Hebrew did
not always mean sequence.
00:51:10.07\00:51:13.84
First sometimes meant greatest.
00:51:13.87\00:51:16.30
You know, you call the
president's wife the first lady.
00:51:16.34\00:51:19.21
She's not the first lady to
arrive in North America, but
00:51:19.24\00:51:23.18
first means a
position of prominence.
00:51:23.21\00:51:26.21
And so Christ is the greatest
of those who have risen from
00:51:26.25\00:51:29.88
the dead.
00:51:29.92\00:51:31.25
And he is really the first
fruits also in the sense that
00:51:31.29\00:51:34.42
he's the first one and only one
who lived a perfect life and he
00:51:34.46\00:51:38.13
rose, you know, with a glorified
body to make it possible for
00:51:38.16\00:51:41.03
anyone else to be in heaven.
00:51:41.06\00:51:43.77
So even Moses and Elijah
and Enoch are there by virtue of
00:51:43.80\00:51:47.47
Jesus's sacrifice.
00:51:47.50\00:51:50.11
Jean: All right, next
caller that we have is Glady
00:51:50.14\00:51:52.54
from Arizona.
00:51:52.57\00:51:53.88
Glady, welcome to the program.
00:51:53.91\00:51:55.44
Glady: Oh, good evening, Pastor.
00:51:55.48\00:51:57.85
Doug: Evening.
00:51:57.88\00:51:59.21
Glady: My question is, do I
need to preach the gospel in
00:51:59.25\00:52:02.32
order for me to be saved?
00:52:02.35\00:52:04.35
Because someone told me that
I won't be saved unless I will
00:52:04.39\00:52:08.49
preach the gospel.
00:52:08.52\00:52:09.92
Doug: Well, there are different
gifts of the Spirit and you read
00:52:09.96\00:52:13.23
in, I just mentioned,
1 Corinthians chapter 12.
00:52:13.26\00:52:17.37
Some are pastors, some are
evangelists, some are teachers,
00:52:17.40\00:52:20.24
some have gifts of
administration, gifts of help.
00:52:20.27\00:52:23.20
Some have gifts of healing.
00:52:23.24\00:52:24.61
I think some people have
gifts of prayer, there are gifts
00:52:24.64\00:52:28.74
of intercession.
00:52:28.78\00:52:30.25
And so the idea that everyone
is supposed to be a pastor,
00:52:30.28\00:52:33.48
preacher, teacher, not everybody
is a good public speaker.
00:52:33.52\00:52:37.79
Some people could
be and they don't know.
00:52:37.82\00:52:40.96
I didn't know I could.
00:52:40.99\00:52:43.12
I lived in a cave like a hermit
because I was scared of crowds.
00:52:43.16\00:52:47.03
And I don't know
about you, Pastor Ross.
00:52:47.10\00:52:49.00
First time I got up to preach,
my knees were shaking and my
00:52:49.03\00:52:51.50
hands were sweating and I was--
my mouth went dry and I was
00:52:51.53\00:52:54.44
so scared.
00:52:54.47\00:52:55.77
So you might have
ability to share with others.
00:52:55.80\00:52:59.81
But in the sense that every
Christian is called to be a
00:52:59.84\00:53:03.45
witness, yes, some of us preach
with our lives and our example
00:53:03.48\00:53:09.35
or you might give a Bible
study or share with a person on
00:53:09.38\00:53:11.85
a one-to-one basis.
00:53:11.89\00:53:13.22
Doesn't mean you need to stand
up and go to be missionary in
00:53:13.25\00:53:16.56
another country and preach.
00:53:16.59\00:53:18.53
So you want to add to that?
00:53:18.56\00:53:20.03
Jean: Yeah, I was going to
mention the same thing, where
00:53:20.06\00:53:21.50
there's different
ways of preaching.
00:53:21.53\00:53:22.86
We can preach
in the way we live.
00:53:22.90\00:53:24.87
We can focus our mission field
on those who are closest to us.
00:53:24.90\00:53:28.30
Maybe if we're a parent, our
first mission field is our kids
00:53:28.34\00:53:31.87
and we've got to set
an example and teach them.
00:53:31.91\00:53:33.98
So yes, we want to be faithful
in whatever area God has placed
00:53:34.01\00:53:38.11
us and whatever
gifts God has given to us.
00:53:38.15\00:53:40.22
Doug: Someone, I don't remember
who, said, "Preach Christ and if
00:53:40.25\00:53:43.42
necessary use words."
00:53:43.45\00:53:45.39
So, you know, all of us are
to by our--by our lives, let our
00:53:45.42\00:53:50.56
light shine.
00:53:50.59\00:53:51.96
But if someone's telling
you, you've got to go do literal
00:53:51.99\00:53:55.00
preaching to be saved, I
don't think you find that in
00:53:55.03\00:53:57.43
the Bible.
00:53:57.47\00:53:58.80
Jean: Next caller that
we have is Vivian in Canada.
00:53:58.83\00:54:00.87
Vivian, welcome to the program.
00:54:00.90\00:54:02.57
Vivian: Hello, Pastor.
00:54:02.60\00:54:03.94
Jean: Evening.
00:54:03.97\00:54:05.27
Vivian: My question is
about Christian persecution.
00:54:05.31\00:54:08.21
As we know, the Christians
in the Roman Colosseum,
00:54:08.24\00:54:11.78
the martyrs, were sacrificed.
00:54:11.81\00:54:13.95
However, Jesus says, "I will
never leave you or forsake you."
00:54:13.98\00:54:17.32
Can you explain that, please?
00:54:17.35\00:54:19.49
Doug: Yeah, the idea when Christ
said, "I'll never leave you or
00:54:19.52\00:54:22.52
forsake you," why would He
say that to the apostles when
00:54:22.56\00:54:26.80
probably 10 out of
the 12 died as martyrs?
00:54:26.83\00:54:31.50
Well, did Jesus ever leave them?
00:54:31.53\00:54:33.03
Did Paul get the idea?
00:54:33.07\00:54:34.80
He--Paul knew he was going
to be executed by Nero through
00:54:34.84\00:54:38.74
beheading and Paul was in prison
and he knew that he was on
00:54:38.77\00:54:42.81
death row.
00:54:42.84\00:54:44.18
He said to Timothy in
2 Timothy, "The time of
00:54:44.21\00:54:46.51
my departure is at hand."
00:54:46.55\00:54:47.85
Did Paul have the idea
that Christ had forsaken him?
00:54:47.88\00:54:50.15
Not at all.
00:54:50.19\00:54:51.49
He said, "I know to whom I've
committed my life and that He is
00:54:51.52\00:54:55.56
able to keep that which
I've given Him until that day."
00:54:55.59\00:54:59.36
Paul had great confidence.
00:54:59.39\00:55:00.86
He said, "Hereafter there
is laid up for me, a crown of
00:55:00.90\00:55:03.16
righteousness which the
Lord, the righteous Judge, will
00:55:03.20\00:55:05.47
give me."
00:55:05.50\00:55:06.84
So when Christ said, "I'll be
with you," that didn't mean you
00:55:06.87\00:55:09.80
will not be persecuted.
00:55:09.84\00:55:11.14
As He said, "Some of
you will be martyred."
00:55:11.17\00:55:12.77
Jesus foretold that, actually.
00:55:12.81\00:55:14.94
He said, "You will be hated
of all nations for My namesake,"
00:55:14.98\00:55:18.15
but He's still
with them to the end.
00:55:18.18\00:55:21.02
And so, many of them died in
great peace because they knew
00:55:21.05\00:55:24.22
Christ's presence.
00:55:24.25\00:55:25.95
Even the--you know, you--
we're all going to die if Jesus
00:55:25.99\00:55:29.16
doesn't come.
00:55:29.19\00:55:30.56
So if you die at the hands
of persecution, it doesn't mean
00:55:30.59\00:55:33.06
that God has forsaken you.
00:55:33.09\00:55:35.90
In some ways, that's an honor.
00:55:35.93\00:55:37.83
Jean: During a time of
severe persecution that we have
00:55:37.87\00:55:39.83
recorded in Revelation chapter
2, Jesus gave a promise to
00:55:39.87\00:55:44.01
the people and He said, "You're
going to suffer persecution,
00:55:44.04\00:55:46.74
you're going to be tried."
00:55:46.78\00:55:48.18
And then He says, "Be faithful
unto death, and I'll give you
00:55:48.21\00:55:50.51
the crown of life."
00:55:50.55\00:55:52.01
So obviously, Jesus was with
them right up till the very end,
00:55:52.05\00:55:54.72
even though they went
through trials and persecution.
00:55:54.75\00:55:57.25
And He reminded them that
if they are faithful, they will
00:55:57.29\00:55:59.65
receive the ultimate reward,
which is the crown of life,
00:55:59.69\00:56:02.06
eternal life.
00:56:02.09\00:56:03.39
Doug: In the Gospel of John,
Christ said, "The hour is coming
00:56:03.43\00:56:07.66
in which those that kill
you will say that they're
00:56:07.73\00:56:11.17
serving God."
00:56:11.20\00:56:12.77
So I think the Lord's told
us that--and then you--where is
00:56:12.80\00:56:17.61
it in Revelation where it
says the souls of those under
00:56:17.64\00:56:21.08
the altar that were
beheaded for Christ.
00:56:21.11\00:56:24.28
Jean: That's the sixth seal.
00:56:24.31\00:56:25.61
Doug: Sixth seal, yeah.
00:56:25.65\00:56:27.15
Jean: Fifth seal, actually.
00:56:27.18\00:56:28.52
Doug: So there, yeah, there's
no question that Jesus knew that
00:56:28.55\00:56:31.69
some of His followers were going
to be persecuted severely for
00:56:31.72\00:56:34.89
their faith.
00:56:34.92\00:56:36.26
And don't let that frighten
you or discourage you, friends.
00:56:36.29\00:56:38.23
Jean: Our next caller that we
have is Christopher in Montana.
00:56:38.26\00:56:41.83
Christopher,
welcome to the program.
00:56:41.86\00:56:43.16
We have about a minute.
00:56:43.20\00:56:44.93
Christopher: I'll make it
as quick as I can, Pastor.
00:56:44.97\00:56:46.53
Thank you for your time.
00:56:46.57\00:56:47.87
My question is referring to the
pre-trib versus post-trib and
00:56:47.90\00:56:51.37
with all the events going on in
the world, with Jerusalem being
00:56:51.41\00:56:54.01
surrounded, the star of Jacob
appearing, celestial events
00:56:54.04\00:56:57.61
happening on the Feast of
Trumpets and all that stuff, my
00:56:57.65\00:57:01.02
question is, is how do we know
He's not knocking on the door
00:57:01.05\00:57:04.82
right now, showing us the signs
and wonders that He promised us
00:57:04.85\00:57:08.56
and how we can expect that?
00:57:08.59\00:57:11.96
That's, I
guess, what I'm asking.
00:57:11.99\00:57:13.33
Doug: Yeah, well, I do
think the Lord's Coming is soon.
00:57:13.36\00:57:16.56
He said there'll be a great time
of trouble and it looks to me
00:57:16.60\00:57:19.40
like we're on the verge
of some very exciting days.
00:57:19.43\00:57:23.00
Oh, I wish I could delve into
your question a little more,
00:57:23.04\00:57:25.21
Christopher, but we're
pushed up against the clock.
00:57:25.24\00:57:27.78
Listening friends, that's
probably a good place for us to
00:57:27.81\00:57:31.58
think about with everything
going on in the world, in
00:57:31.61\00:57:34.42
the country, with the wars
and rumors of wars, we need to
00:57:34.45\00:57:37.62
be praying.
00:57:37.65\00:57:38.99
With all of the political
polarization, we need to be
00:57:39.02\00:57:41.26
praying because people's
hearts are failing from fear.
00:57:41.29\00:57:44.66
And the only answer to that is
if they could be introduced to
00:57:44.69\00:57:47.86
the Prince of Peace.
00:57:47.93\00:57:49.43
Jesus said He's
offering us a peace that passes
00:57:49.46\00:57:52.13
all understanding.
00:57:52.17\00:57:53.57
No matter what happens in
the world, friends, Jesus is the
00:57:53.60\00:57:57.01
truth that will set you free.
00:57:57.04\00:57:58.47
So do not fear.
00:57:58.51\00:57:59.81
God willing, we'll be
studying His Word with you again
00:57:59.84\00:58:01.84
next week.
00:58:01.88\00:58:03.35
¤¤¤
00:58:03.98\00:58:05.91
announcer: Thank you for
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00:58:05.95\00:58:08.28
We hope you understand your
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00:58:08.32\00:58:11.65
"Bible Answers Live" is produced
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00:58:11.69\00:58:15.59
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00:58:15.62\00:58:20.10