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No volume ever written has been
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words, sometimes simple and
sometimes mysterious, should
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always be studied carefully.
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It is the
Bible, the Word of God.
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Welcome to "Bible Answers Live,"
providing accurate and practical
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answers to all
your Bible questions.
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This broadcast is a
previously-recorded episode.
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To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
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broadcast, call 800-835-6747.
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Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
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Now, here's your host from
Amazing Facts International,
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Pastor Doug Batchelor.
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Doug Batchelor: Hello, friends.
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You want to
hear an amazing fact?
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A conservation park in South
Africa has a special resident.
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It's a crocodile named Henry
that has the distinction of
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being the oldest-known
crocodile in the world.
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Born in 1900, Henry
turned 124 in December 2024.
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He was first captured in the
Okavango Delta, Botswana back in
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1985 after reportedly preying
on both livestock and children.
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His ferocity had earned him
infamy among the locals, but
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you'd never know it now.
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Since he settled at
Crocworld, he began receiving
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regular meals.
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He developed a very
calm demeanor in captivity.
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Henry seems to be thriving.
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He weighs 1,543 pounds
and he's 16.4 feet long and
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still growing.
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Henry is not alone in
the conservation park.
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There are several other
female crocodiles, and since his
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captivity it's believed
that Henry has fathered over
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10,000 offspring.
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No one's quite sure how long
a crocodile might live like this
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under ideal conditions.
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Pretty amazing,
huh, Pastor Ross?
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Jëan Ross: That's right.
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You hear of giant turtles or
tortoises, I should say, that
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live over 100 years.
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But a crocodile;
wow, that's news to me.
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Doug: Yeah, and I
heard he's not the heaviest.
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The heaviest crocodile was
one named Lolong, and it weighed
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over 2,000 pounds and
was 20 feet .8 inches long.
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Can you imagine that?
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And you've probably seen when
the wildebeest and zebra are
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trying to cross the rivers,
there are crocodiles that take
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down these huge animals.
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Well, here's one 124 years old,
and it makes me think about a
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prophecy in the Bible that says
there's another very old reptile
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that's not so docile and gentle.
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Jëan: That's right.
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Also scales.
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Doug: Yeah, you can read about
that in Revelation chapter 12,
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verse 9.
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Talks about a war in
heaven, and it says, "So the
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great dragon was cast out.
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The serpent of old," this old
serpent, "called the devil and
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Satan, who deceives the whole
world; he was cast to the earth,
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and his angels
were cast out with him."
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And here, of course, it's
giving us a clue in this verse.
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It says Satan is also called
the devil and the serpent and
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the dragon.
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It's all the same character.
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And it says that there
are angels that are cast out
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with him.
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I think another place, it tells
us in Revelation about this
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dragon drew a third of the
stars of heaven in his tail.
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Those are the angels that--the
evil angels that were cast out
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of heaven along with the devil.
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Now, I heard a sermon online
this week that helped inspire
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this question, and the pastor is
basically saying, yeah, God made
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the devil to test us.
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And I thought, "Oh, no, please."
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The Bible says everything
God makes is good and that God
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doesn't tempt anyone, and the
Lord is not willing that anyone
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would sin.
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Why would he make someone
that would tempt us to sin?
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The Bible tells us that God made
a beautiful angel, who was free,
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that chose to be an
enemy of God in his freedom.
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And folks misunderstand why
is there evil in the world, and
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once they understand this
question about how did evil
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come--if God is all-powerful, if
God is good, then why is there
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a devil?
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Didn't He see this coming?
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This lesson that we're going to
offer answers those questions,
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and we hope you not only read it
but then share it with a friend.
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Jëan: The study guide is called
"Did God Create the Devil?"
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That is the one that answers
this very important question.
00:04:27.66\00:04:30.03
If God is love, where
did sin and sorrow come from?
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If you'd like to
receive that, just call and ask.
00:04:33.54\00:04:35.24
The number is 800-835-6747.
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That is our resource phone line,
and you can ask for the study
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guide "Did God
Create the Devil?"
00:04:40.84\00:04:42.54
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone, say "Bible answers
00:04:42.58\00:04:46.48
live," and then ask for
that study guide "Did God Create
00:04:46.51\00:04:49.58
the Devil?"
00:04:49.62\00:04:50.95
Some very important information.
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It'll answer a lot of questions.
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Well, talking about questions,
we've got people standing by
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with their Bible questions, but
before we go to the phone lines,
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let's start with
a word of prayer.
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Dear Father, we are so grateful
that we have this time where we
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can just turn our
attention to Your Word.
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Lord, we ask Your
blessing upon this
00:05:05.07\00:05:07.54
program as we
search the Scriptures.
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Be with those who are listening,
whether they are in their car or
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at home, and just,
Lord--lead us, guide us into a
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clearer understanding of
Bible truth for we ask this in
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Jesus's name, amen.
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Doug: Amen.
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Jëan: Our first caller this
evening, we've got Glenn and
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Linda from Ohio.
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Glenn and Linda,
welcome to the program.
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Glenn: Good
evening, and welcome to Ohio.
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Thank you for taking my call.
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My Scripture is
Isaiah chapter 60, verse 2.
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But in verse 1--
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a beautiful accolade about
the city of peace, Jerusalem.
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But instantaneously when we
go to verse 2, there is a sudden
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darkness over this
land and the people.
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My question is,
what is that darkness?
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Doug: All right, very good.
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And let me read this for
our friends, Glenn and Linda.
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It says in Isaiah 60, verse 1
and 2, "Arise, shine; for your
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light has come.
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And the glory of the
Lord is risen upon you.
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For behold, darkness--the
darkness shall cover the land,
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and deep darkness the people;
but the Lord will arise over
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you, and His glory will be seen
upon you, and the Gentiles will
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come to your light and kings to
the brightness of your rising."
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Now, this is partly a Messianic
prophecy because when Christ
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came as the Messiah, the
Gentiles--you've got the wise
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men that--you know,
they say, "We three kings."
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You sing that song.
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They came following a star that
was showing the Messiah, but
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that's an allegory for Jesus
being the light of the world and
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the Gentiles came to that light.
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And I understand that within
100 years of Christ dying on the
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cross, there were now
more Gentile Christians than
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Jewish Christians.
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So the Gentiles
had come to the light.
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And so this was a light that
Israel had looked forward to
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and--what is that
prophecy of Balaam?
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Says, "A star will
arise out of Jacob."
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And there's several prophecies
that talk about this light.
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The darkness that it's speaking
of there is--well, when a person
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doesn't have truth,
they're in darkness.
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Jesus says they're the
blind leading the blind.
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It's talking about
the light of truth.
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Jëan: I think we can also apply
this, Pastor Doug, to a future
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prophecy when the Bible tells
us--in Revelation chapter 18, it
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describes an angel coming
down from heaven and the earth
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is illuminated with his glory
and he cries with a loud voice,
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"Babylon is fallen."
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It's at a time when spiritual
darkness covers the earth and
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God has a people in the last
days that are proclaiming His
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truths and revealing His
character, His glory so--talking
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about the earth being lighted
up with the glory of God.
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Doug: That's right.
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Jesus is the light, and then he
says to the church, "You are the
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light of the world."
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We're to reflect that light.
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Good question, Glenn
and Linda, thank you.
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Jëan: Next caller that we
have is Brittany in California.
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Brittany, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
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Doug: Hi, thanks for calling.
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Brittany: Yeah, my question is,
how should a Christian defend
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their faith while this world is
so evil with the latest problems
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and just, you
know, constant issues?
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Doug: Yeah, good question, and
that actually segues well with
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the former question talking
about--says the Gentiles will
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come to the light--your light.
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Jesus said we're to
let our light shine.
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Now, how do we witness in a
world that is in many ways given
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over to evil?
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And Christ said in the last
days it's going to get worse.
00:08:36.91\00:08:39.48
He said the love of many will
grow cold, and Paul said in the
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last days evil men will arise
and wickedness will get worse
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and worse.
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And so we're seeing
that compounded darkness, but
00:08:48.09\00:08:50.53
fortunately, where sin
abounds grace abounds more.
00:08:50.56\00:08:54.46
God is going to compensate by
giving His people more grace and
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more light to let it shine.
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Three things you can do if
you want to witness for someone:
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one, be a good example.
00:09:03.41\00:09:06.04
There's technically four things.
00:09:06.07\00:09:07.61
One is be a good example.
00:09:07.64\00:09:09.94
In your life, try to live
out the teachings of Christ and
00:09:09.98\00:09:12.75
display Christlike character.
00:09:12.78\00:09:14.35
People will watch that.
00:09:14.38\00:09:16.05
So every day
your life is a sermon.
00:09:16.08\00:09:18.59
Two, if people are willing
to listen, share information
00:09:18.62\00:09:22.89
with them.
00:09:22.92\00:09:24.23
Now, you can't force a person,
but if they're willing to listen
00:09:24.26\00:09:26.23
you can give them Bible studies,
share Amazing Facts study
00:09:26.26\00:09:28.96
guides with them, give them
links that they can look up on
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the internet.
00:09:31.77\00:09:33.27
You can sit down and visit
with them and share your faith.
00:09:33.30\00:09:36.37
The Bible says we should
be ready to give an answer.
00:09:36.40\00:09:39.01
The third thing
is you pray for them.
00:09:39.04\00:09:41.98
Pray that you can be a good
witness and then pray for those
00:09:42.01\00:09:44.15
you're witnessing to.
00:09:44.18\00:09:45.68
Fourth thing is continue to
do the first three patiently.
00:09:45.71\00:09:50.35
Be consistent.
00:09:50.39\00:09:51.69
"He that endures to
the end will be saved."
00:09:51.72\00:09:53.52
So we need to pray that
God helps us have consistently.
00:09:53.56\00:09:57.83
I remember when King Darius
threw Daniel in the lions' den.
00:09:57.86\00:10:00.63
He said, "Your God, who
you serve continually, He will
00:10:00.66\00:10:04.17
deliver you."
00:10:04.20\00:10:05.50
God is looking for consistency.
00:10:05.53\00:10:06.87
So there's some very important
tips, I think, Brittany.
00:10:06.90\00:10:09.27
You follow that and you can be a
witness even in a wicked world.
00:10:09.30\00:10:13.21
Jëan: All right, next
caller that we have is Martha
00:10:13.24\00:10:15.01
in California.
00:10:15.04\00:10:16.34
Martha, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:10:16.38\00:10:18.01
Martha: Thank you, pastors,
for being available to take
00:10:18.05\00:10:21.12
our calls.
00:10:21.15\00:10:22.48
I appreciate it.
00:10:22.52\00:10:23.82
And my question tonight stems
from Ecclesiastes 12:7 but also
00:10:23.85\00:10:32.96
Genesis 2:7.
00:10:32.99\00:10:35.56
Ecclesiastes 12:7, "Then shall
the dust return to the earth as
00:10:35.60\00:10:40.14
it was: and the spirit shall
return unto God who gave it."
00:10:40.17\00:10:46.14
Now--and then in Genesis 2:7 it
talks about when God is creating
00:10:46.17\00:10:52.08
Adam and He breathes the breath
of life into his nostrils and
00:10:52.11\00:10:58.29
then Adam becomes a living soul.
00:10:58.32\00:11:01.79
So this--it's kind of my
understanding that once a person
00:11:01.82\00:11:07.66
dies and the breath of life is
gone, the soul literally ceases
00:11:07.66\00:11:13.40
to exist.
00:11:13.44\00:11:14.74
Is that correct?
00:11:14.77\00:11:16.44
Doug: Yeah, and it's
not that you cease to exist.
00:11:16.47\00:11:19.11
When we say the soul ceases
to exist, people think, "Oh no,
00:11:19.14\00:11:21.48
what about my eternal life?"
00:11:21.51\00:11:23.55
What the Bible teaches is
that you stop being a soul.
00:11:23.58\00:11:27.75
Soul is not the right word.
00:11:27.78\00:11:29.08
When a person dies, God has
who you are backed up on a hard
00:11:29.12\00:11:32.82
drive in His mind or wherever.
00:11:32.85\00:11:34.92
So it's not like you stop being.
00:11:34.96\00:11:37.19
But you're not a conscious
soul that's floating around
00:11:37.23\00:11:39.59
disembodied, you're unconscious
until the Resurrection.
00:11:39.63\00:11:43.23
Now, for a saved person--well,
let me back up before I
00:11:43.26\00:11:46.40
say that.
00:11:46.43\00:11:47.77
The word there that's used in
Hebrew, both in Genesis and in
00:11:47.80\00:11:52.41
Ecclesiastes, is the word ruach,
and it means breath, the breath
00:11:52.44\00:11:56.68
of life.
00:11:56.71\00:11:58.05
God breathed into his nostrils
and he became a living soul.
00:11:58.08\00:12:00.62
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon says
when a person dies, you sort of
00:12:00.65\00:12:04.35
have creation in reverse.
00:12:04.39\00:12:06.05
When you separate the body
from the breath of life, they
00:12:06.09\00:12:09.89
cease to exist.
00:12:09.92\00:12:11.23
They die, and the breath of life
goes back to God who gave it.
00:12:11.26\00:12:15.90
Now, that breath of life that
God gives all of His creatures,
00:12:15.93\00:12:18.43
not just humans,
is the power of life.
00:12:18.47\00:12:21.80
Here's an example.
00:12:21.84\00:12:23.14
Job 27:3, "As long as my breath
is still within me and the
00:12:23.17\00:12:27.94
Spirit of God is in my
nostrils--" well, who would ever
00:12:27.98\00:12:31.18
think of the Holy
Spirit being in your nose?
00:12:31.21\00:12:33.62
It's talking about the
breath of life that all these
00:12:33.65\00:12:36.12
creatures breathe.
00:12:36.15\00:12:37.52
So when a person dies, if they
die in a saved condition--you
00:12:37.55\00:12:41.92
read in the Bible absent from
the body, present with the Lord.
00:12:41.96\00:12:45.16
The next conscious thought of
a saved person when they die is
00:12:45.19\00:12:49.76
the Resurrection, but
that doesn't happen till the
00:12:49.80\00:12:52.80
Second Coming.
00:12:52.83\00:12:54.17
They're sleeping.
00:12:54.20\00:12:55.50
Jesus said, "My
friend Lazarus is asleep."
00:12:55.54\00:12:58.34
That's John chapter 11.
00:12:58.37\00:13:00.44
So there's a lot
more verses I can
00:13:00.48\00:13:02.54
share, but you're
on the right track.
00:13:02.58\00:13:03.88
We have a study on that.
00:13:03.91\00:13:05.25
Jëan: We do, it's called
"Are the Dead Really Dead?"
00:13:05.28\00:13:07.42
And it deals with the subject of
what happens when a person dies.
00:13:07.45\00:13:10.62
We'll send it
to anyone for free.
00:13:10.65\00:13:12.09
All you have to
do is call and ask.
00:13:12.12\00:13:13.46
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:13:13.49\00:13:17.13
That is our resource phone line.
00:13:17.16\00:13:18.46
You can also dial
#250 on your smartphone
00:13:18.49\00:13:21.86
and then ask
for the study guide.
00:13:21.90\00:13:23.20
It's called "Are
the Dead Really Dead?"
00:13:23.23\00:13:25.57
And we'll send it to you.
00:13:25.60\00:13:26.94
You can read it and
share it with somebody else.
00:13:26.97\00:13:29.04
Thank you, Martha.
00:13:29.07\00:13:30.37
Next caller is Ronald in Oregon.
00:13:30.41\00:13:31.87
Ronald, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:13:31.91\00:13:34.04
Ronald: Thank you,
Pastors Ross and Batchelor.
00:13:34.08\00:13:36.81
You can't imagine
what--how much you mean to me.
00:13:36.85\00:13:39.31
Doug: Oh, well,
thanks so much for calling.
00:13:39.35\00:13:41.85
Ronald: My question, I have
trouble complying probably a
00:13:41.88\00:13:46.09
little bit with Matthew 5:43 and
44 versus Matthew 7:6 and kind
00:13:46.12\00:13:53.23
of like to get a--maybe a little
inside information on that.
00:13:53.26\00:13:58.13
Doug: All right, it--well, let
me read this for our friends.
00:13:58.17\00:14:00.57
In Matthew chapter 5:43, "You've
heard it said that you should
00:14:00.60\00:14:04.71
love your neighbor and hate your
enemies, but I say to you, 'Love
00:14:04.74\00:14:08.08
your enemies, bless those who
curse you, do good to those that
00:14:08.11\00:14:11.15
hate you, pray for those
who despitefully use you and
00:14:11.18\00:14:13.75
persecute you, that
you might be the sons of
00:14:13.78\00:14:16.02
your Father in heaven.'"
00:14:16.05\00:14:17.29
And then you said you want to
put that up against Matthew 7.
00:14:17.32\00:14:20.16
What was the verse?
00:14:20.19\00:14:21.49
Jëan: Matthew chapter 7,
verse 6. I got it right here,
00:14:21.52\00:14:23.36
Pastor Doug.
00:14:23.39\00:14:24.69
"Do not give that which is holy
to dogs; nor cast your pearls
00:14:24.73\00:14:28.00
before swine, lest they trample
them underfoot and turn again
00:14:28.03\00:14:31.53
and tear you to pieces."
00:14:31.57\00:14:32.90
Doug: Oh, yeah, okay.
00:14:32.93\00:14:34.24
Yeah, I don't think
there's a conflict there.
00:14:34.27\00:14:36.37
When it says love your enemies,
the Lord wants us to love
00:14:36.40\00:14:40.41
everybody that he died for.
00:14:40.44\00:14:42.14
But because you love a person
doesn't mean that you throw away
00:14:42.18\00:14:45.78
something precious that would
be appreciated by someone else.
00:14:45.81\00:14:49.32
In other words, your
life is made of time.
00:14:49.35\00:14:52.25
Time is the
stuff life is made of.
00:14:52.29\00:14:53.72
If we don't have time,
we don't have anything.
00:14:53.76\00:14:56.12
And you can love everybody, but
there are some people that will
00:14:56.16\00:15:00.63
continue to take your time and
your energies and they will not
00:15:00.66\00:15:03.77
bear any fruit.
00:15:03.80\00:15:05.30
They're just--they're
doing it for the wrong motive.
00:15:05.33\00:15:07.54
You can still love them, but
don't waste your time on them.
00:15:07.57\00:15:10.64
Work with people who
are going to respond.
00:15:10.67\00:15:13.41
And so that would be one example
of not casting your pearls
00:15:13.44\00:15:16.51
before swine.
00:15:16.54\00:15:17.78
Even if you were to say you're
talking about money, if you're
00:15:17.81\00:15:21.75
going to donate to a ministry
just because they're asking and
00:15:21.78\00:15:24.59
you're supposed to love
everybody and you know that one
00:15:24.62\00:15:26.92
ministry is unproductive,
they're not really doing
00:15:26.96\00:15:30.43
anything good, and there's
another ministry that is winning
00:15:30.46\00:15:32.49
souls, who would want to invest
in that which is unproductive
00:15:32.53\00:15:36.00
when you can invest in
that which is productive?
00:15:36.03\00:15:38.70
So don't cast your
pearls before swine
00:15:38.73\00:15:41.14
or give that which
is holy to the dogs.
00:15:41.17\00:15:42.47
Sometimes I've seen Christian
ministers waste their time
00:15:42.50\00:15:45.67
arguing with people
that just like to argue
00:15:45.71\00:15:47.44
for the sake of arguing.
00:15:47.48\00:15:48.78
You're wasting your time.
00:15:48.81\00:15:50.11
You're casting your
pearls of truth before swine.
00:15:50.15\00:15:52.11
You can love those people,
you can pray for them, but, you
00:15:52.15\00:15:56.72
know, if you've given them
a chance and you just--you see
00:15:56.75\00:15:59.32
that they're just gobbling
up your time, the devil's using
00:15:59.35\00:16:01.89
them to distract
you, don't let it happen.
00:16:01.92\00:16:05.09
Jëan: You know, I think
it's a good point, Pastor Doug.
00:16:05.13\00:16:06.66
We want to be as prayerful
in our witness as possible.
00:16:06.70\00:16:10.17
We always want to pray for
people and we always want to be
00:16:10.20\00:16:12.20
a witness if they're open to it,
but we also want to be where the
00:16:12.23\00:16:15.40
Spirit is working.
00:16:15.44\00:16:16.74
So one of the things we
teach people in evangelism is as
00:16:16.77\00:16:19.07
you're doing Bible studies,
as you're reaching out and
00:16:19.11\00:16:21.18
connecting with people, you
want to be looking to see whose
00:16:21.21\00:16:23.98
hearts are open to the
moving of the Holy Spirit.
00:16:24.01\00:16:26.45
Doug: You know, an
example of that the--good point.
00:16:26.48\00:16:28.25
And an example of that would
be, why did Jesus say nothing to
00:16:28.28\00:16:32.39
Herod but he
did speak to Pilate?
00:16:32.42\00:16:35.72
Herod heard the
preaching of John the Baptist.
00:16:35.76\00:16:38.23
Herod rejected the
preaching of John the Baptist.
00:16:38.26\00:16:40.83
Jesus had nothing to say to
Herod, but he did talk to Pilate
00:16:40.86\00:16:45.43
about what truth was and
who he was and he answered
00:16:45.47\00:16:47.97
many questions.
00:16:48.00\00:16:49.30
So Christ would not cast his
pearls before the swine of Herod
00:16:49.34\00:16:52.17
when Herod had killed John
the Baptist and didn't listen
00:16:52.21\00:16:54.84
to him.
00:16:54.88\00:16:56.21
Jëan: Okay, great question.
00:16:56.24\00:16:57.55
Next caller that we
have is Jacob in Washington.
00:16:57.58\00:16:59.75
Jacob, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:16:59.78\00:17:01.58
Jacob: Hi, Doug Batchelor.
00:17:01.62\00:17:04.45
Doug: Hi, Jacob.
00:17:04.49\00:17:05.79
Jacob: My question is, why
did--why did God throw Satan
00:17:05.82\00:17:11.19
down here instead
of somewhere else?
00:17:11.23\00:17:13.80
Doug: All right,
that's a great question.
00:17:13.83\00:17:15.33
Why did God--it says in
Revelation Satan--when there's
00:17:15.36\00:17:18.50
this battle between Michael and
the dragon, that the devil was
00:17:18.53\00:17:22.64
cast out and he was
cast down to the earth.
00:17:22.67\00:17:25.87
Why didn't He
put him in a garbage
00:17:25.91\00:17:27.21
dump of the
universe somewhere else?
00:17:27.24\00:17:28.88
Why to the earth?
00:17:28.91\00:17:30.38
The reason is because when the
devil came down to earth and he
00:17:30.41\00:17:34.62
tempted Adam and Eve and
Adam and Eve listened to the
00:17:34.65\00:17:37.85
devil--the Bible tells us in
Romans chapter 6 that whoever
00:17:37.89\00:17:42.22
you obey--you are the
servants to the one you obey.
00:17:42.26\00:17:45.69
And God gave the dominion, the
leadership of this world to Adam
00:17:45.73\00:17:48.90
and Eve.
00:17:48.93\00:17:50.23
And when they sinned, they
basically handed the keys of the
00:17:50.27\00:17:52.53
world to the devil.
00:17:52.57\00:17:53.90
So God restricted the devil
to this world, and that's why we
00:17:53.94\00:17:57.14
have all these problems in
the world, is because our first
00:17:57.17\00:18:00.31
parents decided to listen to the
devil instead of God, and now
00:18:00.34\00:18:04.15
you can see the results of that.
00:18:04.18\00:18:06.18
Great question.
00:18:06.21\00:18:07.52
You would enjoy our
"Cosmic Conflict" DVD.
00:18:07.55\00:18:10.72
Your parents can probably
let you watch it on YouTube.
00:18:10.75\00:18:13.22
It's free there.
00:18:13.25\00:18:14.56
Jëan: That's right, you
can also call and ask for
00:18:14.59\00:18:16.26
the study guide that we
mentioned a little earlier.
00:18:16.29\00:18:18.59
It's "Did God Create the Devil?"
00:18:18.63\00:18:19.96
And it talks about the subject.
00:18:20.00\00:18:21.30
The number to call is
800-835-6747, 800-835-6747 or
00:18:21.33\00:18:28.74
dial #250 in you--if you're
in North America and you can ask
00:18:28.77\00:18:33.11
for that study guide,
"Did God Create a Devil?"
00:18:33.14\00:18:35.78
And we'll be happy to
send it out to anyone who calls
00:18:35.81\00:18:38.75
and asks.
00:18:38.78\00:18:40.08
Thank you, Jacob.
00:18:40.12\00:18:41.45
Next caller that we
have is Juan in Ohio.
00:18:41.48\00:18:43.59
Juan, welcome to the program.
00:18:43.62\00:18:45.72
Juan: Okay, so my question is
based on Genesis 1, I think it's
00:18:45.75\00:18:50.13
verse 6 and 7.
00:18:50.16\00:18:52.36
This is going to be
a funny question, man.
00:18:52.39\00:18:55.06
Is space water?
00:18:55.10\00:18:57.93
Is it space--like it says, water
above and water below so that we
00:18:57.97\00:19:02.04
have water and space.
00:19:02.07\00:19:03.64
Doug: Yeah, that
is a great question.
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.07
It says that God separates
the waters below from the waters
00:19:05.11\00:19:07.71
above, and I--and
you've got this firmament.
00:19:07.74\00:19:12.58
Now, you can have water
in space if it's vaporized.
00:19:12.61\00:19:17.35
Water is an interesting
substance in that it can be
00:19:17.39\00:19:19.82
solid, liquid, or gas.
00:19:19.85\00:19:21.79
And in its gas form, you can
have air that looks like space
00:19:21.82\00:19:26.66
that has a
certain humidity level.
00:19:26.70\00:19:28.86
But what the Bible is really
talking about here is it seems
00:19:28.90\00:19:31.47
like there were--was like
an envelope of water above the
00:19:31.50\00:19:34.74
earth and a lot of creation
scientists believe that because
00:19:34.77\00:19:39.47
it appears, and even
paleontologists see it, that at
00:19:39.51\00:19:43.04
one time the temperature of
the earth was more uniform all
00:19:43.08\00:19:46.55
around the planet because the
rays of the sun were polarized.
00:19:46.58\00:19:49.18
It's like when you've got cloud
cover it doesn't get quite as
00:19:49.22\00:19:51.52
cold as when the
clouds dissipate.
00:19:51.55\00:19:54.42
And God separated the waters
above from the waters below,
00:19:54.46\00:19:58.56
meaning the sea and the
lakes, so forth, and the area
00:19:58.59\00:20:02.76
between was called the
firmament or the heavens.
00:20:02.80\00:20:05.17
It's not space like outer space,
it's more like the atmosphere
00:20:05.20\00:20:09.40
around the planet.
00:20:09.44\00:20:11.04
It's interesting.
00:20:11.07\00:20:12.31
If you look at earth from the
space shuttle or even from the
00:20:12.34\00:20:15.48
moon, you can see that there
is this veil that surrounds the
00:20:15.51\00:20:19.15
earth of blue air.
00:20:19.18\00:20:21.38
It's got an envelope around it.
00:20:21.42\00:20:23.55
Jëan: Now, of course some
folks feel--and you're right,
00:20:23.59\00:20:25.42
Pastor Doug, I think
there's something to it,
00:20:25.45\00:20:27.26
that maybe there was sort of
an ice shield, a water shield
00:20:27.29\00:20:30.33
around the atmosphere.
00:20:30.36\00:20:32.53
Some folks feel, "Well then, how
can we send rockets to space?"
00:20:32.56\00:20:35.26
Well, quite possibly that's
where a lot of the water came
00:20:35.30\00:20:38.33
from at the time of the flood.
00:20:38.37\00:20:40.07
Talks about the windows of
heaven being opened and you had
00:20:40.10\00:20:42.80
all of this water that fell and
the ice turned to water and you
00:20:42.84\00:20:46.21
had the rain coming down and
then the water from beneath the
00:20:46.24\00:20:49.21
fountains of the great deep.
00:20:49.24\00:20:50.81
So we don't have that protecting
layer anymore and we've got
00:20:50.85\00:20:54.12
extremes in temperature.
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.02
You find ferns growing and
tropical plants in some very
00:20:56.05\00:21:00.29
cold areas today.
00:21:00.32\00:21:03.09
At least going back, you know,
fossilized remains of tropical
00:21:03.12\00:21:06.73
plants in cold areas.
00:21:06.76\00:21:08.13
So there was a time when
the earth was a lot more warmer
00:21:08.16\00:21:11.23
all around.
00:21:11.27\00:21:12.50
Doug: And the reason you would
have those enormous coal beds,
00:21:12.53\00:21:15.37
even in like Siberia, is
there must have been a lot of
00:21:15.40\00:21:18.31
vegetation to produce
that that got buried suddenly.
00:21:18.34\00:21:21.71
So good question, Juan.
00:21:21.74\00:21:23.04
I hope that helps a little bit.
00:21:23.08\00:21:24.41
Jëan: Next caller that
we have is April in Florida.
00:21:24.45\00:21:26.18
April, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:21:26.21\00:21:28.08
You're on the air.
00:21:28.12\00:21:29.48
April: Good
evening, Pastor Doug.
00:21:29.52\00:21:30.85
Good evening, Pastor Jean.
00:21:30.89\00:21:32.19
In the book of Genesis during
Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham was
00:21:32.22\00:21:37.33
speaking to the Lord and
the--Abraham was testing the
00:21:37.36\00:21:43.06
Lord, "50--with 50 righteous
people, 40 righteous people, 30,
00:21:43.10\00:21:48.60
will you still
destroy the city?"
00:21:48.64\00:21:52.04
So then Abraham realized
he was testing the Lord.
00:21:52.07\00:21:55.28
On the same token, Samuel told
Saul, "You cannot test the Lord
00:21:55.31\00:22:00.98
of Israel."
00:22:01.02\00:22:02.32
So I'm wondering
about those two Scriptures.
00:22:02.35\00:22:04.69
Doug: It seems like
Abraham's testing the Lord.
00:22:04.72\00:22:06.79
For one thing, God
is not asking him to.
00:22:06.82\00:22:09.96
I think God was glad that
Abraham was interceding in Lot's
00:22:09.99\00:22:13.80
behalf, but, you know, we're
not supposed to tempt the Lord.
00:22:13.83\00:22:19.13
And I think Abraham was praying,
and he kept taking his prayer a
00:22:19.17\00:22:22.50
little further, saying, "Oh
Lord, you know, could You--would
00:22:22.54\00:22:25.67
You spare the city?
00:22:25.71\00:22:27.01
What would it take
for You to spare the city?
00:22:27.04\00:22:28.34
What--if there were 50
righteous, would You spare the
00:22:28.38\00:22:30.11
city that they might still
be salt and light and witness?"
00:22:30.15\00:22:34.22
God said, "Yeah."
00:22:34.25\00:22:35.58
"What about 45?
00:22:35.62\00:22:36.92
What about 30?"
00:22:36.95\00:22:38.25
I think it goes down
to, I think, ten finally.
00:22:38.29\00:22:40.52
So he's basically--Abraham
is interceding.
00:22:40.56\00:22:44.56
It testifies there must not have
been ten righteous in the city
00:22:44.59\00:22:48.86
because the angels went to Lot
and said, "You need to get out
00:22:48.90\00:22:52.50
of dodge because God's
going to destroy this place."
00:22:52.53\00:22:57.84
Jëan: All right, very
good. Thank you, April.
00:22:57.87\00:22:59.54
We've got Andrew in California.
00:22:59.57\00:23:01.28
Andrew, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:23:01.31\00:23:03.91
Andrew: Oh, yeah,
we've been listening to you
00:23:03.95\00:23:05.25
for so many years now.
00:23:05.28\00:23:06.58
First time calling, but--my
question is on Hebrews 10:14
00:23:06.61\00:23:10.79
where it says that through one
sacrifice we've been perfected
00:23:10.82\00:23:14.89
and being made holy.
00:23:14.92\00:23:17.33
So like I was talking--or
hearing someone talk about it
00:23:17.36\00:23:20.23
saying that since Jesus already
sacrificed for us and all our
00:23:20.26\00:23:25.23
sins are forgiven and that's
forever, do we still keep asking
00:23:25.27\00:23:30.54
Jesus to forgive us when we make
a mistake or do we just trust
00:23:30.57\00:23:34.34
that the Spirit changes us and
then we just try to keep the law
00:23:34.38\00:23:38.85
because we love God?
00:23:38.88\00:23:40.75
Doug: Well, we should
always try and keep the
00:23:40.78\00:23:42.08
law because we love God.
00:23:42.12\00:23:43.42
Jesus said, "If you love
me, keep my commandments."
00:23:43.45\00:23:46.12
But the Bible also says--John
tells us that if any man
00:23:46.15\00:23:49.96
sins--and he's
speaking to believers.
00:23:49.99\00:23:52.13
If any man sins, we have
an advocate with the Father.
00:23:52.16\00:23:55.63
That means someone
who will defend us.
00:23:55.66\00:23:57.50
But Solomon says whoever
confesses and forsakes his sin,
00:23:57.53\00:24:03.27
and John the
Baptist began preaching.
00:24:03.30\00:24:05.21
Again, he's
talking to God's people.
00:24:05.24\00:24:06.57
He says, "Repent."
00:24:06.61\00:24:08.04
Jesus began preaching.
00:24:08.08\00:24:09.41
He said, "Repent."
00:24:09.44\00:24:10.75
Peter said, "Repent."
00:24:10.78\00:24:12.11
And so when we
sin, we should repent.
00:24:12.15\00:24:15.02
David was a
believer, Spirit-filled.
00:24:15.05\00:24:17.19
He sinned with Bathsheba.
00:24:17.22\00:24:18.69
He laid on his face for 7 days.
00:24:18.72\00:24:20.39
Of course, it was a pretty
grievous sin, but--yeah, there
00:24:20.42\00:24:23.86
should--repentance should go
ahead of, you know, forgiveness.
00:24:23.89\00:24:30.23
And, you know, once
we come to the Lord,
00:24:30.27\00:24:32.47
He forgives us, He accepts us.
00:24:32.50\00:24:34.17
We're His child. We're adopted.
00:24:34.20\00:24:36.40
But in our ongoing relationship,
I don't ever doubt Karen's love
00:24:36.44\00:24:40.88
for me, and I hope
she feels the same way.
00:24:40.91\00:24:43.51
She might even be
listening right now.
00:24:43.55\00:24:45.71
But though we professed our love
to each other in the beginning,
00:24:45.75\00:24:49.88
I've had to apologize several
times and she forgives me, and
00:24:49.92\00:24:54.12
vice versa.
00:24:54.16\00:24:55.52
So in any ongoing
love relationship,
00:24:55.56\00:24:58.19
you want to nurture that.
00:24:58.23\00:24:59.53
If there's an offense,
you apologize, you repent.
00:24:59.56\00:25:02.46
Jëan: You know, there's a verse
in the Bible that tells us, 1
00:25:02.50\00:25:04.93
John 1, verse 9, it's a very
well-known verse, "If we confess
00:25:04.97\00:25:09.10
our sins, He's faithful and just
to forgive us, to cleanse us
00:25:09.14\00:25:11.97
from all unrighteousness."
00:25:12.01\00:25:13.34
So there is a work for us to do.
00:25:13.38\00:25:15.38
When Peter got up, filled
with the Holy Spirit the day of
00:25:15.41\00:25:17.41
Pentecost, the people said,
"What shall we do to be saved?"
00:25:17.45\00:25:20.12
He said, "Repent
and be baptized."
00:25:20.15\00:25:22.35
So there is a work.
00:25:22.38\00:25:23.89
In order to receive that
sacrifice that has already been
00:25:23.92\00:25:26.99
made, we have a work to do and
that is to repent and to confess
00:25:27.02\00:25:30.36
our sins.
00:25:30.39\00:25:31.69
Doug: Yeah, now the verse there
in Hebrews has been sometimes
00:25:31.73\00:25:33.80
misapplied where it says Christ
died for us once, and they take
00:25:33.83\00:25:37.70
that to mean that there's
nothing more that is to happen
00:25:37.73\00:25:41.24
in the plan of salvation, but
this--the battle between good
00:25:41.27\00:25:44.87
and evil is still going on.
00:25:44.91\00:25:46.24
Jesus is our high priest.
00:25:46.27\00:25:48.31
He is in heaven before the
Father, interceding--Paul--it
00:25:48.34\00:25:51.38
says in Hebrews, same book, he
ever lives to make intercession
00:25:51.41\00:25:54.58
for us.
00:25:54.62\00:25:55.95
And so as we're repenting
and turning to God, he continues
00:25:55.98\00:26:00.69
to intercede.
00:26:00.72\00:26:02.09
Jëan: You know, we do have a
book, Pastor Doug, that might be
00:26:02.12\00:26:04.03
interesting on the subject.
00:26:04.06\00:26:05.36
It's called "Three Steps to
Heaven," and it talks about what
00:26:05.39\00:26:07.50
we need to do in order to
receive that grace that God
00:26:07.50\00:26:09.90
wants to give us.
00:26:09.93\00:26:11.23
It's free, but we need
to receive it by faith.
00:26:11.27\00:26:13.03
If you'd like to get the book,
the number is 800-835-6747 and
00:26:13.07\00:26:18.01
you can just ask for it.
00:26:18.04\00:26:19.34
It's called
"Three Steps to Heaven."
00:26:19.37\00:26:21.31
Doug: Program's not over.
00:26:21.34\00:26:22.68
We've got the
best half yet to come.
00:26:22.71\00:26:24.41
Tell your friends to call in.
00:26:24.45\00:26:26.01
"Bible Answers
Live" in just a moment.
00:26:26.05\00:26:27.82
announcer: Stay tuned.
00:26:33.36\00:26:34.66
"Bible Answers
Live" will return shortly.
00:26:34.69\00:26:36.79
Victoria: I grew up with
my mother and father and my
00:26:44.00\00:26:46.30
four sisters.
00:26:46.33\00:26:47.67
We grew up poor, but it didn't
feel like it 'cause, you know,
00:26:47.70\00:26:51.54
we had each other.
00:26:51.57\00:26:52.87
The family was Catholic.
00:26:52.91\00:26:54.81
My parents didn't practice,
so we did not go to church
00:26:54.84\00:26:57.81
every Sunday.
00:26:57.85\00:26:59.15
I didn't have an understanding
of God as a child, but I
00:26:59.18\00:27:02.58
remember someone telling
me because I did something bad
00:27:02.62\00:27:05.39
that, "You better behave
or God's going to get you."
00:27:05.42\00:27:08.39
That was my first
introduction of God.
00:27:08.42\00:27:10.39
I didn't know who He
was, so I didn't like it.
00:27:10.43\00:27:14.30
When I was 16, me and my mother
had a disagreement and I was
00:27:14.36\00:27:18.33
told to leave the home.
00:27:18.37\00:27:20.14
I lived at friends' houses,
relatives' houses, just who
00:27:20.17\00:27:23.61
would take me in at that time.
00:27:23.64\00:27:25.91
To me it was like an adventure.
00:27:25.94\00:27:28.11
"Where am I going to go next?"
00:27:28.14\00:27:30.18
Between the age of 16 and 23 or
24, I was homeless, but after a
00:27:30.21\00:27:36.69
while, I had to
find a place to live.
00:27:36.72\00:27:40.22
There was a pantry store.
00:27:40.26\00:27:42.29
Someone had told me to go
there and ask the lady there.
00:27:42.32\00:27:46.53
So the conditions were--to live
there was you had to do chores,
00:27:46.56\00:27:50.27
which I was fine with, but
you had to go to church, and my
00:27:50.30\00:27:54.37
thought was, "Well, church
hasn't killed anybody yet."
00:27:54.40\00:27:57.07
Going to church was very slow.
00:27:57.11\00:27:59.24
I would fall asleep, lot of the
speakers were very monotoned,
00:27:59.27\00:28:03.11
but after a while, I started
to listen in church and started
00:28:03.14\00:28:07.62
following along,
asking questions.
00:28:07.65\00:28:10.02
I was going to that church, I
believe it was about 10 years.
00:28:10.05\00:28:12.79
So that whole time, I knew Jesus
loved me, but I did--really
00:28:12.82\00:28:15.79
didn't attain anything else.
00:28:15.82\00:28:18.36
That's when I came across
Amazing Facts and it was Doug
00:28:18.39\00:28:21.63
Batchelor preaching,
and I learned so much.
00:28:21.66\00:28:25.17
In just that one session
and learning about the Sabbath,
00:28:25.20\00:28:29.87
Pastor Doug delivered
it with so much Scriptures.
00:28:29.90\00:28:33.98
I learned more in that than the
whole 10 years up to that time I
00:28:34.01\00:28:37.68
learned in the
nondenominational church.
00:28:37.71\00:28:40.08
Pastor Doug mentioned that if
you go to this website, that you
00:28:40.12\00:28:43.32
can find a church locator and
find the church nearest to you.
00:28:43.35\00:28:46.82
I had a friend who
just opened up a restaurant.
00:28:46.86\00:28:50.26
We knew each other for
4 years and we never had a
00:28:50.29\00:28:54.56
religious conversation.
00:28:54.56\00:28:56.43
And I saw my friend walking
up the steps of this church.
00:28:56.46\00:28:59.57
So the next time I came
into town, I came into the
00:28:59.60\00:29:01.97
restaurant, and without
even saying hi I just said,
00:29:02.00\00:29:05.01
"What church do you go to?
00:29:05.04\00:29:06.34
What time is service?
00:29:06.37\00:29:07.68
I know it's on
Sabbath. What time is service?"
00:29:07.71\00:29:09.64
She was like, "It's at 10. Why?"
00:29:09.68\00:29:12.51
I was like,
"Okay, I'll be there."
00:29:12.55\00:29:15.28
And I showed up
the next Sabbath, and
00:29:15.32\00:29:17.25
she met me at the door.
00:29:17.29\00:29:18.52
The same time Amazing Facts was
teaching me, God had prepared a
00:29:18.55\00:29:22.29
friend for me, someone
I can go to church with.
00:29:22.32\00:29:25.83
What God has done for
me is show me the truth.
00:29:25.86\00:29:29.26
¤¤¤
00:29:29.30\00:29:39.31
Doug: I grew up
mostly in New York City.
00:29:40.54\00:29:42.48
I was sent to many
different boarding schools.
00:29:42.51\00:29:45.55
Most of these schools told
me that there was no purpose
00:29:45.58\00:29:47.82
in life.
00:29:47.85\00:29:49.15
And I saw in my home people
were not very happy, and I would
00:29:49.18\00:29:53.29
think about suicide.
00:29:53.32\00:29:54.66
Doug: Sharing a personal
testimony can be one of the most
00:29:54.69\00:29:57.43
powerful ways to
win souls to Christ.
00:29:57.46\00:29:59.83
That's why I'd like to invite
you to discover and share a new
00:29:59.86\00:30:03.26
presentation of my
"Richest Caveman" testimony.
00:30:03.30\00:30:06.47
It's now available on a
special DVD from Amazing Facts.
00:30:06.50\00:30:09.87
We've even included the
award-winning "Kingdoms in Time"
00:30:09.90\00:30:13.14
documentary that recently
aired on the History channel.
00:30:13.17\00:30:15.91
To get your copy of "The Richest
Caveman," visit afbookstore.com
00:30:15.94\00:30:20.52
or call 800-538-7275.
00:30:20.55\00:30:24.79
announcer: You're listening
to "Bible Answers Live," where
00:30:28.56\00:30:31.39
every question answered provides
a clearer picture of God and His
00:30:31.43\00:30:35.33
plan to save you.
00:30:35.36\00:30:36.90
So what are you waiting for?
00:30:36.93\00:30:38.67
Get practical answers
about the good book for a better
00:30:38.70\00:30:41.64
life today.
00:30:41.67\00:30:45.34
This broadcast is a
previously-recorded episode.
00:30:45.37\00:30:48.54
If you'd like answers to your
Bible-related questions on the
00:30:48.58\00:30:51.25
air, please call us
next Sunday between 7 p.m.
00:30:51.28\00:30:54.98
and 8 p.m. Pacific time.
00:30:55.02\00:30:57.35
To receive any of the Bible
resources mentioned in this
00:30:57.39\00:31:00.22
evening's
program, call 800-835-6747.
00:31:00.26\00:31:05.36
Once again, that's 800-835-6747.
00:31:05.39\00:31:10.77
Now, let's rejoin our hosts
for more "Bible Answers Live."
00:31:10.80\00:31:16.54
Doug: We are back and we are
live, and you're welcome to call
00:31:16.57\00:31:19.27
in with your Bible questions.
00:31:19.31\00:31:20.61
We have a couple of lines open.
00:31:20.64\00:31:22.24
Good chance you'll get your
question into the best--second
00:31:22.28\00:31:24.95
half of the program.
00:31:24.98\00:31:26.38
That number,
again, is 800-GOD-SAYS.
00:31:26.41\00:31:28.55
That is 800-463-7297.
00:31:28.58\00:31:33.02
This is "Bible Answers Live,"
a live interaction--interactive
00:31:33.05\00:31:36.46
Bible study.
00:31:36.49\00:31:37.83
My name is Doug Batchelor.
00:31:37.86\00:31:39.16
Jëan: My name is
Jëan Ross, and we've got
00:31:39.19\00:31:40.73
Jett listening in Florida.
00:31:40.76\00:31:42.03
Jett, welcome to the
program. You're on the air.
00:31:42.06\00:31:45.40
Jett: Hello, my question
is, how did Noah survive
00:31:45.43\00:31:49.40
on the ark without air
or, like, how did--where
00:31:49.44\00:31:53.27
did the air come from?
00:31:53.31\00:31:55.41
Doug: That's a good question
because if you read it--and
00:31:55.44\00:31:57.28
Pastor Ross might look up
the reference where it says the
00:31:57.31\00:31:59.68
window was 1 cubit.
00:31:59.71\00:32:01.55
When you read about the
construction, it tells about
00:32:01.58\00:32:04.69
Noah making a
window that was a cubit.
00:32:04.72\00:32:06.76
And a cubit's only about 18
inches, but--and it may be more
00:32:06.79\00:32:10.09
than a cubit, I don't remember,
but it wasn't very big.
00:32:10.13\00:32:12.53
But it's basically talking about
either a series of windows all
00:32:12.56\00:32:16.06
around the ark that size for
ventilation and that--it also
00:32:16.10\00:32:20.77
needed to provide some light.
00:32:20.80\00:32:22.14
I'm sure they maybe had
some artificial light, maybe oil
00:32:22.17\00:32:24.51
lamps or
whatever in there as well.
00:32:24.54\00:32:26.61
But with all those animals
in there, there's a lot of
00:32:26.64\00:32:29.38
breathing creatures.
00:32:29.41\00:32:30.75
You'd need to have--have
to have a good convection.
00:32:30.78\00:32:33.75
So we believe that this was
a series of windows that went
00:32:33.78\00:32:36.85
around the top that provided
light--some light and some air
00:32:36.89\00:32:41.36
and yet still shielded from the
rain as you would have with a
00:32:41.39\00:32:43.93
window where--with an eave.
00:32:43.96\00:32:45.76
Jëan: You know, it almost
sounds like it when you read it.
00:32:45.79\00:32:47.36
I'm looking at--this
is New King James Version.
00:32:47.40\00:32:49.00
Genesis chapter 6, verse 16, it
says, "You shall make a window
00:32:49.03\00:32:51.87
in the ark, and you shall
finish it a cubit from above."
00:32:51.90\00:32:56.44
So it talks about the height
from the top, but it doesn't say
00:32:56.47\00:32:59.14
how wide it is.
00:32:59.17\00:33:00.58
Almost seems like the
grounds--from the top.
00:33:00.61\00:33:02.91
So around all the way.
00:33:02.94\00:33:04.48
Yeah, it would seem to be
something like that, and that's
00:33:04.51\00:33:06.85
all it says.
00:33:06.88\00:33:08.22
And then it goes on
to talk about the door.
00:33:08.25\00:33:09.55
That's Genesis
chapter 6, verse 16.
00:33:09.58\00:33:11.59
Doug: Yup, good question.
00:33:11.62\00:33:12.95
So, you know, there--there's
actually a museum.
00:33:12.99\00:33:15.36
I think you were there with me,
at the ark museum in Kentucky?
00:33:15.39\00:33:19.03
Is it Kentucky?
00:33:19.06\00:33:21.03
Jëan: The Ark Encounter.
00:33:21.06\00:33:22.30
Doug: And they've actually got
kind of a live life-size model
00:33:22.33\00:33:26.53
of the ark, and it all makes
sense when you go there and look
00:33:26.57\00:33:30.04
at it.
00:33:30.07\00:33:31.37
Jëan: All right, next
caller that we have is Uni
00:33:31.41\00:33:33.17
from California.
00:33:33.21\00:33:34.54
Uni, welcome to the program.
00:33:34.58\00:33:36.61
Uni: Hello, Pastor Batchelor and
Pastor Jëan Ross, and thank you
00:33:36.64\00:33:39.85
for taking my call.
00:33:39.88\00:33:41.58
Doug: Well, thanks for calling.
00:33:41.62\00:33:44.05
Uni: So before I ask my
question, I just want to say
00:33:44.09\00:33:46.45
I've been watching your
Q&As for, like, the past year.
00:33:46.49\00:33:49.72
And the two questions that
really came into my mind was one
00:33:49.76\00:33:53.09
person asked if they sell their
soul or they make a deal with
00:33:53.13\00:33:56.30
the devil, can they repent, and
your answer was yes; and another
00:33:56.33\00:34:00.50
person asked can an ordinary
person be delivered from unclean
00:34:00.54\00:34:05.14
spirits, and
your answers was yes.
00:34:05.17\00:34:07.91
So I was just wondering and also
suggesting, what does the Bible
00:34:07.94\00:34:12.08
say about conversion
from paganism to God?
00:34:12.11\00:34:15.85
And was wondering if you can do
a sermon on--of all the people
00:34:15.88\00:34:19.95
in the Bible who worshiped pagan
gods that converted to God, even
00:34:19.99\00:34:23.96
to those who
didn't, like Jezebel.
00:34:23.99\00:34:26.46
Doug: Yeah, well, you have--of
course, in the New Testament
00:34:26.49\00:34:28.76
you've got a lot
of examples of people.
00:34:28.80\00:34:31.40
Paul went through Asia and,
I think, it was in Ephesus they
00:34:31.43\00:34:35.20
were burning their pagan books
and witchcraft, and that's about
00:34:35.24\00:34:38.31
as pagan as you get.
00:34:38.34\00:34:39.84
And he was preaching and
people that were worshiping the
00:34:39.87\00:34:42.41
goddess Diana.
00:34:42.44\00:34:43.98
He and Silas, I think, got
thrown in jail over that one.
00:34:44.01\00:34:48.58
And so you see a lot of pagans
that were converting to belief.
00:34:48.62\00:34:55.26
And then in the Bible you get
people like Naaman who was--you
00:34:55.29\00:34:59.59
know, he was from the Syrians
up there in Damascus, and yet he
00:34:59.63\00:35:04.63
converted and became a
worshiper of the true God.
00:35:04.67\00:35:07.94
Now, people ask that question.
00:35:07.97\00:35:10.17
They say you're
not supposed to lie.
00:35:10.21\00:35:12.31
Of course, not.
00:35:12.34\00:35:13.64
But what if you make a vow--and
you shouldn't break your
00:35:13.68\00:35:15.24
promises--but what if you
make a vow to give your soul to
00:35:15.28\00:35:17.48
the devil?
00:35:17.51\00:35:18.85
Well, I think when you give
yourself to Christ, that old
00:35:18.88\00:35:21.55
person dies spiritually
and you are born again.
00:35:21.58\00:35:24.02
You become a new person and, you
know, that promise, making the
00:35:24.05\00:35:29.69
decision--you know, there's
actually a place in the Bible
00:35:29.72\00:35:32.43
where if someone made a vow and
the father felt that it was a
00:35:32.46\00:35:37.47
foolish vow, he could overrule
the vow and say, "You know,
00:35:37.50\00:35:41.80
they're too young."
00:35:41.84\00:35:43.14
Or even a man for his
wife, he could overrule it.
00:35:43.17\00:35:47.38
And I think that if we make
a foolish vow, in His love, God
00:35:47.41\00:35:51.55
can overrule that.
00:35:51.58\00:35:53.45
And I know a lot of young
kids in their youth, they're
00:35:53.48\00:35:57.42
listening to rock records and
sold their souls to the devil
00:35:57.45\00:36:00.76
and then later they learn about
Jesus and they repent and they
00:36:00.79\00:36:03.83
become productive Christians.
00:36:03.86\00:36:05.63
So I think God forgives
us for saying dumb things.
00:36:05.66\00:36:08.76
Jëan: All right,
well, thank you, Uni.
00:36:08.80\00:36:10.10
Next caller that we
have is Joshua in California.
00:36:10.13\00:36:12.30
Joshua, welcome to the program.
00:36:12.33\00:36:14.94
Joshua: All right, so I want
to be as charitable as possible
00:36:14.97\00:36:17.94
with this question 'cause you
always say, Pastor Doug, not to
00:36:17.97\00:36:20.71
build doctrine off
of just one Scripture.
00:36:20.74\00:36:24.41
And so here we are.
00:36:24.45\00:36:25.75
John 20, verses 21 through 23.
00:36:25.78\00:36:28.92
And my question about it is, did
Jesus give humanity the ability
00:36:28.95\00:36:32.52
to forgive sins?
00:36:32.55\00:36:34.62
Doug: All right, let me
read this for our friends.
00:36:34.66\00:36:35.99
John chapter 20, verse 21, and
let me--I know what verse you're
00:36:36.02\00:36:41.03
talking about--oh, here it is.
00:36:41.06\00:36:42.36
Says, "When he
said this, he showed
00:36:42.40\00:36:43.97
them his hands and his side.
00:36:44.00\00:36:45.30
Then the disciples were
glad when they saw the Lord.
00:36:45.33\00:36:47.77
So Jesus said to
them, 'Peace be to you.
00:36:47.80\00:36:49.74
As the Father sent
me, so I send you.'
00:36:49.77\00:36:52.31
And when he said this, he
breathed on them, and said,
00:36:52.34\00:36:54.38
'Receive the Holy Spirit.
00:36:54.41\00:36:55.91
If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven; if you retain
00:36:55.94\00:36:59.11
the sins of any,
they are retained.'"
00:36:59.15\00:37:01.42
Now, does that sound like God
is giving humans the ability to
00:37:01.45\00:37:05.89
forgive sin in general?
00:37:05.92\00:37:08.52
No, I think that what Christ
is saying is, as the Father sent
00:37:08.56\00:37:11.83
Jesus, we point people
to Christ who forgives.
00:37:11.86\00:37:16.40
In accepting Christ,
they accept that forgiveness.
00:37:16.43\00:37:19.17
In rejecting Christ, they reject
that forgiveness and they are
00:37:19.20\00:37:23.91
not forgiven.
00:37:23.94\00:37:25.27
And so it's not that you and
I get to go, "Eeny, meeny, miny,
00:37:25.31\00:37:28.14
moe, you're saved, you're
forgiven, you're lost, your sins
00:37:28.18\00:37:30.95
are retained."
00:37:30.98\00:37:32.31
No, God would not want that
'cause God's not willing for
00:37:32.35\00:37:34.88
anyone to
perish, the Bible says.
00:37:34.92\00:37:36.75
Jëan: Also, the context here,
Jesus is not talking specific
00:37:36.79\00:37:39.15
to individuals.
00:37:39.19\00:37:40.52
He's speaking to the church and
he's giving the church--and, of
00:37:40.56\00:37:42.69
course, the disciples at the
time, they are the church and
00:37:42.72\00:37:44.76
the church was to grow.
00:37:44.79\00:37:46.13
He was giving the church
as a whole certain authority.
00:37:46.16\00:37:48.26
Not an individual, not Peter
alone or one of the apostles,
00:37:48.30\00:37:51.63
but as a church.
00:37:51.67\00:37:52.97
The church is to represent
Christ in the proclamation of
00:37:53.00\00:37:55.04
the message, and there are
times when the church needs to
00:37:55.07\00:37:58.24
discipline a member.
00:37:58.27\00:37:59.64
Maybe somebody is living a life
that is contrary to the gospel,
00:37:59.67\00:38:02.71
and in order to reach that soul,
the church would bring them
00:38:02.74\00:38:06.05
before the church and warn them
and ask them to come to a point
00:38:06.08\00:38:09.02
of repentance.
00:38:09.05\00:38:10.35
If they receive that
warning, they can be reconciled.
00:38:10.39\00:38:13.46
Sometimes the church needs to
disfellowship them and no longer
00:38:13.49\00:38:17.29
are they part of the church.
00:38:17.33\00:38:18.66
And so this verse is
definitely referring to also the
00:38:18.69\00:38:21.46
responsibility, the authority
that God has given to the
00:38:21.50\00:38:24.10
church, again, for the
purpose of redeeming people, not
00:38:24.13\00:38:27.50
arbitrary choosing
who's saved and who's lost.
00:38:27.54\00:38:30.61
Doug: An example of what you're
talking about is a difficult
00:38:30.64\00:38:32.67
verse in 1 Corinthians 5:5
where there was someone in the
00:38:32.71\00:38:36.54
Corinthian church that
was--actually, he was sleeping
00:38:36.58\00:38:38.78
with his stepmother, and
the church said, "Look, you're
00:38:38.81\00:38:41.88
supposed to be a believer.
00:38:41.92\00:38:43.22
You've got to
dismiss him from the church.
00:38:43.25\00:38:45.15
It's a terrible witness."
00:38:45.19\00:38:46.82
And he wasn't
repenting evidently.
00:38:46.86\00:38:48.79
And it says to
deliver him to the devil.
00:38:48.82\00:38:51.33
Well, the church together made a
decision to say, "Your sins are
00:38:51.36\00:38:54.00
not being
forgiven until you repent."
00:38:54.00\00:38:56.46
And they put him
out of the church.
00:38:56.50\00:38:58.00
So in that
sense, absolutely right.
00:38:58.03\00:39:00.70
He's speaking to
the church as a whole.
00:39:00.74\00:39:03.10
Jëan: Right, thank you, Joshua.
00:39:03.14\00:39:04.44
Next caller that we have
is Jerry in North Carolina.
00:39:04.47\00:39:07.14
Jerry, welcome to the program.
00:39:07.18\00:39:08.81
Jerry: Hello, pastors, and
thank you for your ministry.
00:39:08.84\00:39:11.65
Doug: Yes, thank you.
00:39:11.68\00:39:13.52
Jerry: My question is in
the Gospels, Jesus is tempted by
00:39:13.55\00:39:18.25
Satan for 40 days and 40 nights
before he starts his ministry.
00:39:18.29\00:39:22.96
Then we don't really see him in
the rest of New Testament until
00:39:22.99\00:39:26.59
Revelations 12--chapter 12 where
he's fighting in heaven and he's
00:39:26.63\00:39:32.20
thrown to the earth.
00:39:32.23\00:39:33.87
Where is he now,
or where was he then?
00:39:33.90\00:39:36.81
Doug: Yeah, well,
if you look--I'm sorry.
00:39:36.84\00:39:38.61
That's a good question.
00:39:38.64\00:39:39.94
You know, does the
devil have a headquarters?
00:39:39.97\00:39:41.68
People wonder, you know,
is he down in some cavern?
00:39:41.71\00:39:45.65
A lot of medieval literature
seems to imply the devil's down
00:39:45.68\00:39:49.88
there in Hades, and they
get that from Greek mythology.
00:39:49.92\00:39:53.19
But you read in the book of Job,
and in chapter 1, verse 6, it
00:39:53.22\00:39:57.03
says, "There was a day when
the sons of God came to present
00:39:57.06\00:39:59.86
themselves before the Lord,
and Satan also came among them.
00:39:59.89\00:40:04.17
And the Lord said to
Satan, 'From where do you come?'
00:40:04.20\00:40:06.43
And he said, 'From going to and
fro on the earth, from walking
00:40:06.47\00:40:11.01
back and forth on it.'"
00:40:11.04\00:40:12.67
Not in it.
00:40:12.71\00:40:14.11
Satan roams the world like
a roaring lion, Peter says.
00:40:14.14\00:40:17.95
So he's--he left Christ.
00:40:17.98\00:40:19.68
He didn't give Jesus his
direct attention at that point.
00:40:19.71\00:40:22.35
And who knows if there is a
physical place devils gather,
00:40:22.38\00:40:26.76
but evidently the devil
lives on the earth somewhere.
00:40:26.79\00:40:31.03
Jëan: All right,
thank you for your call.
00:40:31.06\00:40:33.63
Next caller that we
have is, let's see, Hector.
00:40:33.66\00:40:37.30
Hector, welcome to the program.
00:40:37.33\00:40:40.27
Hector: All right, I have a
remark on two different verses,
00:40:40.30\00:40:44.17
which is Genesis 2, verse 7
00:40:44.21\00:40:53.78
and 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 23.
00:40:53.82\00:40:59.19
They--each of them
say different things.
00:40:59.22\00:41:02.52
Doug: Genesis 2, verse 7, "So
the Lord God formed man from the
00:41:02.56\00:41:05.86
dust of the ground, and breathed
into his nostrils the breath of
00:41:05.89\00:41:08.70
life; and man
became a living soul."
00:41:08.73\00:41:10.73
Now, what was the other
verse you wondered about?
00:41:10.77\00:41:12.47
Hector: And 1
Thessalonians 5:23.
00:41:12.50\00:41:15.94
Doug: And so are you wondering
if they--these two verses
00:41:15.97\00:41:19.01
conflict with each other?
00:41:19.04\00:41:20.51
Hector: Exactly.
00:41:20.54\00:41:21.88
Jëan: Let me read the
verse. Doug: Go ahead.
00:41:21.91\00:41:23.21
Jëan: "Now may the God
appease Himself, sanctify you
00:41:23.24\00:41:25.08
completely; that He--that--and
may your whole spirit, soul, and
00:41:25.11\00:41:29.65
body be preserved blameless
until the coming of the Lord."
00:41:29.68\00:41:34.59
Hector: Exactly.
00:41:34.62\00:41:35.92
See, in Genesis you see that
human being possess like two
00:41:35.96\00:41:39.96
parts, two elements, which
is the breath and the body, and
00:41:40.00\00:41:44.00
then now in 1 Thessalonians
you see three parts.
00:41:44.03\00:41:48.54
Jëan: Okay.
00:41:48.57\00:41:50.27
Doug: Yeah, well,
here you've got spirit.
00:41:50.31\00:41:52.77
It's talking about
the--your life and who you are.
00:41:52.81\00:41:57.35
The word is you--keep in mind
Genesis, you're using Greek--
00:41:57.38\00:42:02.05
I'm sorry, Genesis,
you're using Hebrew.
00:42:02.08\00:42:04.12
Here in the New
Testament, you're using Greek.
00:42:04.15\00:42:06.12
So for one thing you
got two different languages.
00:42:06.15\00:42:08.59
I believe the word here is--and
I might have to look it up.
00:42:08.62\00:42:10.53
I think it's pneuma, which
is going to be--yeah, it is.
00:42:10.56\00:42:14.83
It's pneuma, which means wind.
00:42:14.86\00:42:17.60
And so it's talking about, you
know, your inner being, who you
00:42:17.63\00:42:21.20
are, your soul,
your life, your body.
00:42:21.24\00:42:24.44
Be preserved, blameless
at the coming of the Lord.
00:42:24.47\00:42:27.18
Paul is the--he's speaking
to people who are coming from a
00:42:27.21\00:42:32.28
non-Christian background where
they talked about the spirit of
00:42:32.31\00:42:35.58
man and the body and the mind
and they had all these things,
00:42:35.62\00:42:39.55
and Paul is saying, "Whatever it
is, all of it, let it be found
00:42:39.59\00:42:42.59
blameless at the
coming of the Lord."
00:42:42.62\00:42:44.53
So he was removing all doubt by
disencompassing everything they
00:42:44.56\00:42:47.13
understood to be your essence.
00:42:47.20\00:42:49.03
Jëan: I think also part of the
reason is there was a teaching
00:42:49.06\00:42:51.03
that was prevalent in the early
days of Christianity that kind
00:42:51.07\00:42:54.47
of came from paganism.
00:42:54.50\00:42:55.97
The idea is that there was this
separation between the soul and
00:42:56.00\00:42:58.81
the body, meaning that you could
worship God in your soul or your
00:42:58.84\00:43:02.31
spirit, that sometime referred
to soul, spirit, but you were
00:43:02.34\00:43:05.31
free to kind of do what
you wanted to do in the body.
00:43:05.35\00:43:07.92
So you could live sinfully,
that's your body, that's the
00:43:07.95\00:43:11.35
flesh, that doesn't
count, as long as you're
00:43:11.39\00:43:12.92
worshiping God in your soul.
00:43:12.95\00:43:14.26
Here, Paul is very clear that
it's not only your soul or your
00:43:14.29\00:43:18.96
spirit but your body
belongs--your body is the temple
00:43:18.99\00:43:21.96
of the Holy Spirit.
00:43:22.00\00:43:23.30
You want to
glorify God in your body.
00:43:23.33\00:43:24.67
And so he's really making that
connection that it's not just
00:43:24.70\00:43:27.47
this soul type thing, the spirit
type thing that worships God,
00:43:27.50\00:43:31.24
but it's your entire being.
00:43:31.27\00:43:33.54
Doug: Yeah, matter of fact, that
was probably the doctrine of the
00:43:33.58\00:43:35.74
Nicolaitans, this idea that
you can separate the two things.
00:43:35.78\00:43:40.32
So hope that
helps a little, Hector.
00:43:40.35\00:43:41.82
Good question. Thank you.
00:43:41.85\00:43:43.15
Jëan: We got
Chad in Pennsylvania.
00:43:43.18\00:43:44.49
Chad, welcome to the program.
00:43:44.52\00:43:47.36
Chad: Yes, hi, guys.
00:43:47.39\00:43:48.69
Wow, thanks for having this
program and thanks for taking
00:43:48.72\00:43:52.86
my call.
00:43:52.89\00:43:54.83
So my original question was,
does God need to be praised?
00:43:54.83\00:43:59.00
I'm not sure if I've
phrased that correctly.
00:43:59.03\00:44:01.60
I think the better question is,
why does God need to be praised
00:44:01.64\00:44:07.81
since God doesn't
actually need anything?
00:44:07.84\00:44:10.61
But why does God
need to be praised?
00:44:10.65\00:44:13.35
If He's omniscient,
all-powerful, all-knowing, why
00:44:13.38\00:44:18.89
would us mere mortals or humans
need to remind Him of that?
00:44:18.92\00:44:25.13
And I'll hang up and
listen to your answer.
00:44:25.16\00:44:27.86
Doug: All right, good.
Hey, thanks so much, Chad.
00:44:27.86\00:44:29.83
Yeah, you would think, "Well,
is God creating an audience to
00:44:29.86\00:44:34.54
applaud Him?
00:44:34.57\00:44:35.90
Is He so vain that He needs to
make these creatures that say,
00:44:35.94\00:44:38.77
'Well, you know, just
continue to bow and applaud and
00:44:38.81\00:44:41.41
praise Me?'"
00:44:41.44\00:44:42.81
No, I think that it's
actually the other way around.
00:44:42.84\00:44:45.75
God makes creatures that He
knows their only fulfillment
00:44:45.78\00:44:50.32
will come in giving.
00:44:50.35\00:44:52.29
And what's the highest object
that anyone could give to?
00:44:52.32\00:44:56.73
It would be praise and
glory and thanks to the Creator.
00:44:56.76\00:45:00.83
And we're just designed where
we do not find our fulfillment.
00:45:00.86\00:45:03.93
See, God wants us to be blessed,
and Jesus said it is more
00:45:03.97\00:45:07.00
blessed to give than receive,
and we find our greatest
00:45:07.04\00:45:11.21
blessing--when we're saved,
we'll find our greatest blessing
00:45:11.24\00:45:13.71
in giving praise and
thanks and glory to God.
00:45:13.74\00:45:17.05
It--it'll--we'll
find fulfillment in that.
00:45:17.08\00:45:19.78
God does not start to blush when
we praise Him and say, "I need a
00:45:19.81\00:45:23.52
little more of that."
00:45:23.55\00:45:24.79
He knows that we--until we find
our happiness in that, we're not
00:45:24.82\00:45:29.66
going to understand who
He is and we're not going to
00:45:29.69\00:45:31.63
be fulfilled.
00:45:31.66\00:45:32.99
Jëan: Yeah, the Bible
says that God is love.
00:45:33.03\00:45:35.13
We're created in
the image of God.
00:45:35.16\00:45:37.33
And love is manifest in
giving, in recognizing that.
00:45:37.37\00:45:41.77
And so our love is demonstrated
in our praise and worship of God
00:45:41.80\00:45:46.68
and our greatest joy is found in
loving God, in worshiping Him.
00:45:46.71\00:45:50.35
So does God need our praise? No.
00:45:50.38\00:45:52.48
Do we need to praise God? Yes.
00:45:52.51\00:45:54.92
If we want to live and be
everything that God has purposed
00:45:54.95\00:45:57.79
for us to be, we need to express
our love to Him, and we do that
00:45:57.82\00:46:02.02
through praise.
00:46:02.06\00:46:03.36
So it's really for our benefit.
00:46:03.39\00:46:04.99
Doug: I know I heard a--I was
actually in a college class and
00:46:05.03\00:46:07.83
the professor was talking
about the commandment where God
00:46:07.86\00:46:10.80
commands us to love Him and, you
know, he painted this picture of
00:46:10.83\00:46:14.44
some, you know, great, big,
Hulk-like monster that has a
00:46:14.47\00:46:17.64
club and He says,
"Love Me," you know.
00:46:17.67\00:46:21.58
Well, it'd be impossible to love
somebody that it's going to,
00:46:21.61\00:46:25.71
"Love Me or I'm going
to throw you in hell."
00:46:25.75\00:46:28.12
And so when God commands us to
love Him, it's not because He is
00:46:28.15\00:46:31.72
a thug saying, "If you
don't love Me and keep My
00:46:31.75\00:46:33.82
commandments, I'm
going to destroy you."
00:46:33.86\00:46:35.66
He's pleading with us from His
heart and saying, "You will not
00:46:35.69\00:46:39.06
be happy, you will not be
satisfied until you love Me."
00:46:39.09\00:46:42.20
'Cause we are created to love.
00:46:42.23\00:46:44.10
And until we do that,
we're going to be unsatisfied.
00:46:44.13\00:46:48.10
Jëan: Right, next caller that
we have, Alla in California.
00:46:48.14\00:46:50.77
Alla, welcome to the program.
00:46:50.81\00:46:53.44
Alla: Hi, first of all,
thank you so much for your
00:46:53.48\00:46:56.48
wonderful ministry, and I
give your website address and
00:46:56.51\00:47:00.72
your information whatever I
see person ready to come to God.
00:47:00.75\00:47:07.39
My question, 1 Peter chapter 1,
verses 10, 11 and it talk about
00:47:07.42\00:47:16.43
spirit of
Christ was in prophets.
00:47:16.46\00:47:20.40
And my question, is spirit
of Christ the same that Holy
00:47:20.44\00:47:24.14
Spirit or it is
different spirit, or what is it?
00:47:24.17\00:47:28.18
Doug: Yeah, it has to be the
Holy Spirit because you can read
00:47:28.21\00:47:31.38
where Jesus said, and he's
quoting from Isaiah 61, "The
00:47:31.41\00:47:35.65
Spirit of the Lord is upon me."
00:47:35.68\00:47:38.99
And so when Christ was anointed,
he was anointed with the Spirit
00:47:39.02\00:47:43.46
of God.
00:47:43.49\00:47:44.79
That's what the word
Christ means, the anointed.
00:47:44.83\00:47:46.56
The word Messiah is the
Jewish word for the anointed.
00:47:46.59\00:47:49.86
So when it says the spirit of
Christ, talking about the Spirit
00:47:49.90\00:47:52.97
of God that had come upon
Christ, be in you, it's God
00:47:53.00\00:47:56.30
the Spirit.
00:47:56.34\00:47:57.64
Jëan: And Jesus said that
the Holy Spirit would come as
00:47:57.67\00:47:59.41
his representative.
00:47:59.44\00:48:01.41
And so when you have the Holy
Spirit, Christ said, "I will be
00:48:01.44\00:48:04.15
with you always."
00:48:04.18\00:48:05.51
Well, he was there
through the Holy Spirit.
00:48:05.55\00:48:06.85
And so the Spirit
brought the presence of Christ.
00:48:06.88\00:48:09.35
So it's hard to separate
and say, you know, no, the Holy
00:48:09.38\00:48:12.42
Spirit's not representing
Jesus because he is.
00:48:12.45\00:48:15.82
And they connected, and yet they
are distinct beings, the Father,
00:48:15.86\00:48:18.86
Son, and Holy Spirit.
00:48:18.89\00:48:20.20
Again, we talking about
the Godhead, and this is a
00:48:20.23\00:48:21.83
deep subject.
00:48:21.86\00:48:23.16
We only have what the
Bible is revealed, but--
00:48:23.20\00:48:25.00
Doug: We do have that book
we can offer that's called "The
00:48:25.03\00:48:27.50
Trinity: One God or Three."
00:48:27.54\00:48:29.27
Jëan: That's right.
That's a great book.
00:48:29.30\00:48:30.64
We'll be happy to send it
to anyone who calls and asks.
00:48:30.67\00:48:33.04
The number is 800-835-6747.
00:48:33.07\00:48:36.44
You can ask for the book.
00:48:36.48\00:48:37.78
It's called "The
Trinity: One God or Three."
00:48:37.81\00:48:40.08
And you'll be
blessed by reading that.
00:48:40.12\00:48:41.68
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone and ask for the book
00:48:41.72\00:48:45.39
that way as well.
00:48:45.42\00:48:47.36
Darla in Idaho.
00:48:47.39\00:48:48.69
Darla, welcome to the program.
00:48:48.72\00:48:50.06
Darla: Thank you for taking
my call, and thank you for
00:48:50.09\00:48:53.93
your ministry.
00:48:53.96\00:48:55.23
I appreciate it so much.
00:48:55.26\00:48:56.56
Both you pastors are wonderful.
00:48:56.60\00:48:59.57
So my question is this.
00:48:59.60\00:49:02.87
I don't remember the Scripture,
but I just read it a few days
00:49:02.90\00:49:06.41
ago and it said that there's
silence in heaven for half
00:49:06.44\00:49:09.91
an hour.
00:49:09.94\00:49:11.41
Jëan: Revelation 8, verse 1.
00:49:11.45\00:49:13.18
Darla: Revelation 8, verse 1.
00:49:13.21\00:49:15.05
Okay, so now, does that mean
that when Jesus leaves heaven to
00:49:15.08\00:49:20.52
come and get his loved ones and
then back again, does that take
00:49:20.56\00:49:25.29
an hour--or half hour?
00:49:25.33\00:49:27.13
Doug: Good
question. What does that mean?
00:49:27.13\00:49:29.16
Why half an hour? It
seems like an odd time.
00:49:29.20\00:49:32.80
In Bible timekeeping, if you use
prophetic time where a day is a
00:49:32.83\00:49:37.87
year, then--and
that's--you can see several
00:49:37.91\00:49:41.41
examples of that in the Bible.
00:49:41.44\00:49:42.74
It says, "I've
appointed you a day for a year."
00:49:42.78\00:49:47.05
If that's the case, then an hour
is going to be about 15 days.
00:49:47.08\00:49:53.36
So there's 360
days in a Jewish year.
00:49:53.39\00:49:56.49
So you've got to
use the Jewish year.
00:49:56.52\00:49:58.96
You find these times given
several times in Revelation.
00:49:58.99\00:50:02.83
For one time it says 42 months,
another time it says 1,260 days,
00:50:02.86\00:50:08.47
and another time it says a
time, a times, and the dividing
00:50:08.50\00:50:11.87
of time.
00:50:11.91\00:50:13.24
They all add up to 1,260, which
would--only way you get 3 1/2
00:50:13.27\00:50:17.21
years is if it's a 360-day year.
00:50:17.25\00:50:21.22
So I'm not trying to get
too deep here, but if the Jewish
00:50:21.25\00:50:23.99
year is 360 days, a lunar
calendar, then 1 hour is 15
00:50:24.02\00:50:28.76
days exactly.
00:50:28.79\00:50:30.09
Half an hour
would be about seven.
00:50:30.13\00:50:32.86
That's why it says
silence for about half an hour.
00:50:32.89\00:50:36.46
So this is talking
about, like, a 7-day period.
00:50:36.50\00:50:40.00
And some have wondered, is there
silence in heaven because--a
00:50:40.04\00:50:43.10
couple of things.
00:50:43.14\00:50:44.47
One, is Christ now coming to
redeem the saints and there's no
00:50:44.51\00:50:49.24
angels in heaven 'cause he's
coming with all the holy angels?
00:50:49.28\00:50:52.68
And is there also silence
because there's a great judgment
00:50:52.71\00:50:55.35
that's about to
come upon the wicked?
00:50:55.38\00:50:57.89
And so, Pastor Ross?
00:50:57.92\00:51:00.96
Jëan: Yeah, I don't think that
it's 3 1/2-day journey for Jesus
00:51:00.99\00:51:03.59
to come to the earth and then
another 3 1/2-day journey to get
00:51:03.63\00:51:06.70
back to heaven.
00:51:06.73\00:51:08.00
You know, we think of it in that
way because if we take a trip
00:51:08.03\00:51:10.80
it's going to be the same
amount of time coming back.
00:51:10.83\00:51:13.23
But Jesus can come in a flash.
00:51:13.27\00:51:14.84
Angels can travel between
earth and heaven in an instant.
00:51:14.87\00:51:18.17
It almost seems that Christ
comes quickly and then he takes
00:51:18.21\00:51:21.28
the scenic route back, a
7-day journey back to heaven.
00:51:21.31\00:51:24.51
Not that it's because it's
so far away, but maybe God is
00:51:24.55\00:51:27.82
teaching us some things or we
experiencing something special
00:51:27.85\00:51:30.65
during that 7-day journey.
00:51:30.69\00:51:32.55
Maybe it's our anticipation
is growing because we heading to
00:51:32.59\00:51:35.46
our heavenly home.
00:51:35.49\00:51:36.83
So yes, about a 7-day
journey back to heaven after
00:51:36.86\00:51:39.59
Jesus comes.
00:51:39.63\00:51:41.23
Doug: Well, good, appreciate
that, Darla, thanks so much.
00:51:41.26\00:51:43.80
Jëan: Lupe is in Washington.
Lupe, welcome to the program.
00:51:43.83\00:51:47.27
Lupe: Oh, hello. Thank
you for taking my call.
00:51:47.30\00:51:49.37
My question is, since I don't
belong to a church--or my family
00:51:49.40\00:51:55.14
we don't go to a church, but can
I still take Communion at home
00:51:55.18\00:51:59.08
with my family even though
I don't belong to a church?
00:51:59.11\00:52:02.58
Doug: Oh, Lupe, can I ask you,
are you--do you not belong to a
00:52:02.62\00:52:06.59
church because there's no church
within traveling distance, or
00:52:06.62\00:52:09.76
what prevents you
from going to a church?
00:52:09.79\00:52:12.16
Lupe: Or--well, I mean, there
is a few churches around here,
00:52:12.19\00:52:15.33
but we just--as far as being
religious, we're just really
00:52:15.36\00:52:19.27
getting--trying to get, you
know, with my family reading the
00:52:19.30\00:52:23.04
Bible and coming together
and getting to know Christ and--
00:52:23.07\00:52:27.04
Doug: Well, that--that's
wonderful that you're
00:52:27.08\00:52:28.58
doing that.
00:52:28.61\00:52:29.91
And I don't want to discourage
that, but the next step, of
00:52:29.94\00:52:33.25
course, is to be in fellowship
with other people that are doing
00:52:33.28\00:52:37.05
the same things, studying
the Bible, trying to draw closer
00:52:37.09\00:52:39.55
to Christ.
00:52:39.59\00:52:40.92
And assuming--unless you're,
you know, in a very remote area.
00:52:40.96\00:52:43.96
And we meet people sometimes
that there's just, you know, no
00:52:43.99\00:52:47.76
people around.
00:52:47.76\00:52:49.10
But if you've got other
believers around, you're going
00:52:49.13\00:52:53.07
to find strength in
meeting them and fellowshipping.
00:52:53.10\00:52:57.41
And you can even contact Amazing
Facts, and we can--depends on
00:52:57.44\00:53:00.81
where you are, we can
sometimes recommend good
00:53:00.84\00:53:02.41
churches in the area.
00:53:02.44\00:53:04.01
So you're asking about
taking Communion by yourself.
00:53:04.05\00:53:06.95
I've heard of missionaries that
were, you know, isolated and
00:53:06.98\00:53:10.72
they were the only believers,
was the husband, wife, and the
00:53:10.75\00:53:12.85
family, and they would do
Communion on their own, but it's
00:53:12.89\00:53:17.16
preferable that you
celebrate Communion with people.
00:53:17.19\00:53:19.89
You know, Jesus, part of the
Last Supper was he washed the
00:53:19.93\00:53:23.30
disciples' feet.
00:53:23.33\00:53:24.90
So, you know--and in our church,
we had a Communion yesterday and
00:53:24.93\00:53:30.07
we have--you know,
women will pair off.
00:53:30.11\00:53:32.31
They'll actually wash the feet,
and then we have the bread and
00:53:32.34\00:53:36.95
the grape juice.
00:53:36.98\00:53:38.28
And then sometimes couples
will wash one another's feet and
00:53:38.31\00:53:41.45
they'll pray together, and we
do--we actually go through what
00:53:41.48\00:53:44.22
you call a full communion
where we do foot-washing and the
00:53:44.25\00:53:47.66
Lord's Supper.
00:53:47.69\00:53:49.22
So theoretically you could
probably eke that out at home.
00:53:49.26\00:53:53.29
I think you'll be
missing something if you
00:53:53.33\00:53:55.00
don't fellowship.
00:53:55.03\00:53:58.27
Hebrews chapter 10, "Do
not forsake the assembling of
00:53:58.30\00:54:01.94
ourselves together, and
all the more as you see the
00:54:01.97\00:54:03.67
day approaching."
00:54:03.71\00:54:05.04
Jëan: You know, we do
have a book, Pastor Doug.
00:54:05.07\00:54:06.37
It's called "The
Search for the True Church."
00:54:06.41\00:54:07.74
And, Lupe, you
might enjoy reading this.
00:54:07.78\00:54:10.71
Gives biblical principles.
00:54:10.75\00:54:12.18
When one is looking for a
church, you want to find a
00:54:12.21\00:54:14.28
church that teaches the Bible.
00:54:14.32\00:54:16.32
And you'll enjoy those biblical
principles found in the book.
00:54:16.35\00:54:19.05
Just ask for it.
00:54:19.09\00:54:20.39
It's called "The
Search for the True Church."
00:54:20.42\00:54:21.76
The number to
call is 800-835-6747.
00:54:21.79\00:54:25.19
That's 800-835-6747.
00:54:25.23\00:54:27.93
You can dial #250 on your
smartphone and just ask for it
00:54:27.96\00:54:31.97
by name, "The Search
for the True Church."
00:54:32.00\00:54:34.64
We've got Jeremy in
Trinidad and Tobago.
00:54:34.67\00:54:36.81
Jeremy, welcome to
"Bible Answers Live."
00:54:36.84\00:54:38.77
Jeremy: Right, hi,
Good night, everyone,
00:54:38.81\00:54:42.08
good night, Pastor Doug.
00:54:42.11\00:54:43.65
So my question is just a
follow-up of the 1/2-hour time
00:54:43.68\00:54:49.68
silence in heaven.
00:54:49.72\00:54:51.49
Even when, you know, this Jesus,
you know, told us to pray that
00:54:51.52\00:54:57.19
our flight may not be during the
winter or during the Sabbath.
00:54:57.23\00:55:02.83
So my question is, why did
Jesus, you know, told us to pray
00:55:02.86\00:55:07.44
that our flight may
not be on those times?
00:55:07.47\00:55:09.60
Doug: Yeah, so Christ
when he described the events
00:55:09.64\00:55:12.07
connected with the end of
the world, among the many things
00:55:12.11\00:55:15.24
that he said to the disciples,
and you'll find this in Matthew
00:55:15.28\00:55:17.95
chapter 24, verse 20, and he
said, "Pray that your flight be
00:55:17.98\00:55:22.45
not in the winter
or on the Sabbath."
00:55:22.48\00:55:24.09
And here he says why.
00:55:24.12\00:55:25.52
"For then will be great
tribulation, such as has not
00:55:25.55\00:55:29.79
been since the beginning of the
world until that time or ever
00:55:29.82\00:55:33.73
shall be."
00:55:33.76\00:55:35.06
He says that those that are in
Judea flee into the mountains.
00:55:35.10\00:55:39.03
And so if you've got
God's people that are fleeing
00:55:39.07\00:55:43.07
persecution and they're in the
mountains; well, in the winter
00:55:43.10\00:55:46.31
time there's no
food in the fields.
00:55:46.34\00:55:48.31
It's going to be a lot
more difficult just to survive
00:55:48.34\00:55:52.38
the elements.
00:55:52.41\00:55:53.72
And obviously, you wouldn't want
to be taking God's holy day of
00:55:53.75\00:55:58.19
rest to flee for your life,
that--this is also, I think, one
00:55:58.22\00:56:02.52
more verse in the Bible, Pastor
Ross, that reminds us the idea
00:56:02.56\00:56:06.19
that Jesus came to do away
with one of the commandments.
00:56:06.23\00:56:09.80
He was thinking about his people
still keeping the Sabbath even
00:56:09.83\00:56:12.73
down at the end of time because
he said they should pray not
00:56:12.77\00:56:15.94
only that they don't have to
flee in the winter but not on
00:56:15.97\00:56:19.11
the Sabbath day.
00:56:19.14\00:56:20.61
And some say, well, that's
because the Jews would shut the
00:56:20.64\00:56:23.91
gates on the
Sabbath, you couldn't get out.
00:56:23.95\00:56:25.68
Well, that's not true,
not during the Roman time.
00:56:25.71\00:56:28.15
The gates of Jerusalem were
still opened and--but a very
00:56:28.18\00:56:31.72
good question.
00:56:31.75\00:56:33.05
And yeah, God wants us to be
thinking now about what's going
00:56:33.09\00:56:37.19
to be coming in the very
near future and preparing now in
00:56:37.23\00:56:40.30
our faith.
00:56:40.33\00:56:41.63
Jëan: Our next caller
that we have is Jamie in Idaho.
00:56:41.66\00:56:43.57
Jamie, welcome to the program.
00:56:43.60\00:56:44.90
We got about a minute.
00:56:44.93\00:56:46.27
Jamie: Hey.
00:56:46.30\00:56:48.00
My question--good
to talk to you guys.
00:56:48.04\00:56:51.11
I know there's no having
children in the Resurrection,
00:56:51.14\00:56:54.78
but why not on the new
heavens and the new earth once
00:56:54.81\00:56:57.65
everything comes back to heaven
and earth that it's restored as
00:56:57.68\00:57:00.72
it was in Eden?
00:57:00.75\00:57:02.38
Doug: Yeah. Well, good question.
00:57:02.42\00:57:04.19
You know, God created marriage.
00:57:04.22\00:57:06.76
That was part of
His original plan.
00:57:06.79\00:57:08.69
But with Adam and Eve, He
said, "Be fruitful and fill
00:57:08.72\00:57:12.86
the earth."
00:57:12.89\00:57:14.20
Some people have been confused
'cause they read in the King
00:57:14.20\00:57:16.00
James Version,
it says replenish.
00:57:16.03\00:57:18.37
And we think of replenish,
meaning replace something that
00:57:18.40\00:57:21.37
was once there before.
00:57:21.40\00:57:22.84
But it just means fill.
00:57:22.87\00:57:24.17
Be fruitful and fill the earth.
00:57:24.21\00:57:25.84
Well, in the Resurrection,
there's going to be millions
00:57:25.87\00:57:28.71
of people.
00:57:28.74\00:57:29.98
And so the earth is now going to
be populated with the redeemed.
00:57:30.01\00:57:33.78
Now, some people who are
so used to marriage and those
00:57:33.82\00:57:35.95
relationships were saying,
"Well, when we get to heaven, if
00:57:35.98\00:57:38.15
you've had a wife that you love
or a husband that you love, does
00:57:38.19\00:57:41.66
God give you divorce papers?"
00:57:41.69\00:57:43.63
No, you can be with
whoever you love in heaven, but
00:57:43.66\00:57:46.16
there--there's not
going to be marriage as we
00:57:46.19\00:57:48.23
know it down here.
00:57:48.26\00:57:49.83
Don't think God's
leaving something out.
00:57:49.86\00:57:51.47
Friends, I promise
you. You just get there.
00:57:51.50\00:57:53.10
I guarantee it
will be an upgrade.
00:57:53.13\00:57:55.54
No one will be disappointed.
00:57:55.57\00:57:57.01
If you are, I'll
give you your money back.
00:57:57.04\00:57:59.41
God bless, friends.
00:57:59.44\00:58:00.81
Hey, thanks so much
for staying with us.
00:58:00.84\00:58:02.18
Check out everything we offer
at amazingfacts.org, and we'll
00:58:02.21\00:58:06.28
study together again next week.
00:58:06.31\00:58:07.95
announcer: Thank you for
listening to today's broadcast.
00:58:10.99\00:58:13.59
We hope you understand your
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00:58:13.62\00:58:17.26
"Bible Answers Live" is produced
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00:58:17.29\00:58:21.33
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00:58:21.36\00:58:25.33