As you're well aware, 00:00:01.73\00:00:03.06 we're living in unprecedented times. 00:00:03.10\00:00:05.63 Join us now for Today special program. 00:00:05.67\00:00:07.97 I want to spend my life 00:00:12.77\00:00:18.38 Mending broken people 00:00:18.41\00:00:23.49 I want to spend my life 00:00:23.55\00:00:29.26 Removing pain 00:00:29.29\00:00:34.23 Lord, let my words 00:00:34.30\00:00:39.67 Heal a heart that hurts 00:00:39.70\00:00:44.64 I want to spend my life 00:00:44.67\00:00:50.31 Mending broken people 00:00:50.38\00:00:55.35 I want to spend my life 00:00:55.38\00:01:01.02 Mending broken people 00:01:01.06\00:01:04.86 Hello, I'm Jill Morikone, 00:01:15.44\00:01:16.77 and we want to welcome you to another 3ABN Today, 00:01:16.81\00:01:19.67 Bible Q and A. 00:01:19.71\00:01:21.04 You know, I love these programs because we open up 00:01:21.08\00:01:23.71 the Word of God, 00:01:23.75\00:01:25.08 and we get to take your questions 00:01:25.11\00:01:27.65 and the Word of God answers them. 00:01:27.68\00:01:29.15 We have, of course, our panel here, 00:01:29.18\00:01:30.55 which I'll introduce in just a moment, 00:01:30.59\00:01:32.02 but we don't possess wisdom. 00:01:32.05\00:01:33.76 God has wisdom and His Word is living and powerful, 00:01:33.82\00:01:37.79 as it tells us in Hebrews 4:12, 00:01:37.83\00:01:39.96 sharper than any two-edged sword, 00:01:40.00\00:01:42.10 and it pierces our hearts and the Holy Spirit 00:01:42.13\00:01:45.17 uses the Word of God to bring conviction. 00:01:45.20\00:01:47.94 So we just thank you for tuning in. 00:01:47.97\00:01:49.50 We thank you for being part of our family. 00:01:49.54\00:01:51.74 Want to encourage you to send in your questions, 00:01:51.77\00:01:54.21 which we will answer on an upcoming 00:01:54.24\00:01:56.58 3ABN Today Bible Q and A. 00:01:56.61\00:01:58.31 You can send in those questions two ways. 00:01:58.35\00:02:00.22 You can text us at (618) 228-3975. 00:02:00.25\00:02:05.12 That number again is (618) 228-3975. 00:02:05.15\00:02:09.02 Or you can email us at 3ABNâ | 00:02:09.06\00:02:13.50 BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:02:13.53\00:02:16.33 Let me get that email address correct. 00:02:16.36\00:02:18.47 It's BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:02:18.50\00:02:23.00 Wanna introduce our family to you right now. 00:02:23.04\00:02:25.71 At the far end, we have Pastor James Rafferty, 00:02:25.74\00:02:28.24 3ABN Director of Discipleship. 00:02:28.28\00:02:29.68 I'm so glad you're here. Good to be here. 00:02:29.71\00:02:31.98 And sitting next to you Pastor Ryan Day, 00:02:32.01\00:02:35.05 3ABN pastoral department, 00:02:35.08\00:02:36.95 and we could say singer in Israel 00:02:36.99\00:02:39.19 and very glad you're here, brother. 00:02:39.22\00:02:40.56 Amen. 00:02:40.62\00:02:41.96 It's a blessing to be here as always. 00:02:41.99\00:02:43.32 And I'm excited to answer some questions. 00:02:43.36\00:02:44.69 Amen. 00:02:44.73\00:02:46.06 Last but not least, sitting next to me, 00:02:46.09\00:02:47.66 my sister, Shelley Quinn. 00:02:47.73\00:02:49.03 And we're so glad that you're here. 00:02:49.06\00:02:50.70 You know, I love this program. 00:02:50.73\00:02:52.30 I love being here. There's only one thing wrong. 00:02:52.33\00:02:54.54 I love it when you're answering Bible Q and A, 00:02:54.57\00:02:56.97 and you're hosting today. 00:02:57.04\00:02:58.47 All right. 00:02:58.51\00:02:59.84 Well, today I get to hear the answers from you all. 00:02:59.87\00:03:02.04 So, they're all students of the Word, 00:03:02.08\00:03:04.31 but most importantly, the most important thing 00:03:04.35\00:03:06.38 we can study, and it means nothing 00:03:06.41\00:03:08.05 unless we seek to find Jesus. 00:03:08.08\00:03:09.72 Amen. 00:03:09.75\00:03:11.09 And unless we seek to when we study 00:03:11.12\00:03:13.46 and what we learned, we wanna put it into practice. 00:03:13.49\00:03:15.79 We don't want to just be a hearer of the Word, 00:03:15.82\00:03:18.59 but we want to be doer as well. 00:03:18.63\00:03:20.13 So before we go to the first question, 00:03:20.20\00:03:22.40 let's go to the Lord in prayer. 00:03:22.43\00:03:23.77 Pastor James, would you pray for us? 00:03:23.83\00:03:25.17 Yes. 00:03:25.20\00:03:26.53 Father in heaven, thank You so much 00:03:26.57\00:03:27.90 for the opportunity we have to open Your Word. 00:03:27.94\00:03:29.44 There are many questions that have 00:03:29.47\00:03:30.94 come in that we are privileged to seek 00:03:30.97\00:03:33.34 answers for our viewers. 00:03:33.38\00:03:35.24 And I pray that Your Spirit will guide us 00:03:35.28\00:03:36.71 and them as they listen, and as we share from Your Word 00:03:36.75\00:03:40.58 the answers to these important questions. 00:03:40.62\00:03:43.08 Be with those who are struggling, 00:03:43.12\00:03:46.39 maybe some of the questions we're not able to get to, 00:03:46.42\00:03:48.69 or they're still struggling with maybe some of the answers, 00:03:48.72\00:03:52.23 guide their hearts to You, give them more light 00:03:52.26\00:03:54.46 and understanding, comfort and direction. 00:03:54.50\00:03:56.80 We pray in Jesus' name. 00:03:56.83\00:03:58.23 Amen. Amen. 00:03:58.27\00:03:59.67 Thank you so much. 00:03:59.70\00:04:01.10 First question coming to Pastor Ryan. 00:04:01.14\00:04:02.57 All right. 00:04:02.60\00:04:03.94 "What is the unforgivable sin exactly? 00:04:04.01\00:04:07.28 I feel like I've committed it. 00:04:07.31\00:04:08.68 Can you do it in your mind?" All right. 00:04:08.71\00:04:11.51 Well, I can tell you straight up the person 00:04:11.55\00:04:13.52 who submitted this question, 00:04:13.55\00:04:14.88 the fact that you're asking about it, 00:04:14.92\00:04:16.32 that you're concerned about it is a great sign because someone 00:04:16.35\00:04:19.19 who has committed this unforgivable sin or the, 00:04:19.22\00:04:22.49 as the Bible puts it blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. 00:04:22.52\00:04:25.33 Of course, this is a person 00:04:25.36\00:04:26.70 who has completely resisted the Holy Spirit. 00:04:26.73\00:04:28.76 And that's what we're gonna get into right now. 00:04:28.80\00:04:30.57 Let's go to Matthew 12:31-32. 00:04:30.63\00:04:33.00 Of course, this is where Jesus references that unforgivable, 00:04:33.03\00:04:35.74 and you call it a sin, but notice what it says here. 00:04:35.77\00:04:38.34 It says, "Therefore I say to you, 00:04:38.37\00:04:39.71 every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, 00:04:39.74\00:04:41.91 but the blasphemy against the," notice this, 00:04:41.94\00:04:44.01 "the Spirit will not be forgiven men." 00:04:44.05\00:04:46.21 This is blasphemy of the Spirit. 00:04:46.25\00:04:49.18 Now, we have to understand 00:04:49.22\00:04:51.02 and connect this with 1 John 1:9. 00:04:51.05\00:04:53.62 Because in 1 John 1:9, 00:04:53.66\00:04:55.12 it reminds us that if we confess our sins, 00:04:55.16\00:04:58.03 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, 00:04:58.06\00:05:00.06 to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 00:05:00.13\00:05:01.60 Now that text tells me that there's any sin that you 00:05:01.63\00:05:05.03 confess, Jesus Christ. 00:05:05.07\00:05:06.40 If you are sincere, 00:05:06.43\00:05:07.77 He will not only forgive your sins, 00:05:07.80\00:05:09.54 but He will cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 00:05:09.57\00:05:12.04 So that lets me know that this blasphemy 00:05:12.07\00:05:13.88 of the Holy Spirit is not a type or kind 00:05:13.91\00:05:16.58 of sin in the way that murder is a sin or stealing is a sin. 00:05:16.61\00:05:19.95 But rather it is, as you put in your question, 00:05:20.02\00:05:21.98 can you do it in your mind? 00:05:22.02\00:05:23.39 Yes, it is a state of mind. 00:05:23.42\00:05:24.75 It's a state of being. 00:05:24.79\00:05:26.12 It's when a person reaches the point 00:05:26.15\00:05:28.49 where they resist 00:05:28.52\00:05:29.86 the Holy Spirit's work in their life, 00:05:29.89\00:05:31.36 where they don't fully surrender to Jesus Christ. 00:05:31.39\00:05:34.30 Acts 7:51 gives us a hint. 00:05:34.30\00:05:36.77 It says, "You stiff necked 00:05:36.83\00:05:38.17 and uncircumcised in heart and ears. 00:05:38.20\00:05:40.00 You always resist the Holy Spirit 00:05:40.04\00:05:43.07 as your father did, so do you." 00:05:43.10\00:05:44.97 This is Stephen preaching to the Sanhedrin court there, 00:05:45.01\00:05:48.01 and he's telling them, you resist 00:05:48.04\00:05:49.38 the Holy Spirit in a sense that resisting 00:05:49.41\00:05:51.41 of the Holy Spirit, it's very much 00:05:51.45\00:05:53.25 a blasphemous act because they're rejecting 00:05:53.28\00:05:55.55 the power of God in their life. 00:05:55.58\00:05:57.25 The Holy Spirit is to teach us all things, 00:05:57.29\00:06:00.09 to bring all things to our memory, 00:06:00.12\00:06:01.69 to convict us of sin and to bring us into all truth, 00:06:01.72\00:06:05.66 as well as to glorify Christ. 00:06:05.69\00:06:07.03 We get that from John 14:26, 00:06:07.13\00:06:09.13 as well as John 16:8 and verse 13. 00:06:09.16\00:06:12.57 We need to allow the Holy Spirit 00:06:12.60\00:06:13.94 to work in our lives. 00:06:13.97\00:06:15.30 So, God cannot forgive us if we don't ask forgiveness. 00:06:15.34\00:06:19.24 So a person who has committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirit 00:06:19.27\00:06:22.11 is in a state of resistance. 00:06:22.14\00:06:23.55 They're resisting the Holy Spirit. 00:06:23.58\00:06:25.08 As Paul would say, they're quenching 00:06:25.11\00:06:26.92 or they're grieving the Holy Spirit. 00:06:26.95\00:06:28.92 And we need to make sure that we're surrendering 00:06:28.95\00:06:30.72 our life to Jesus and allowing that 00:06:30.79\00:06:32.29 Holy Spirit to work in our lives. 00:06:32.32\00:06:34.42 Amen. Thank you. 00:06:34.46\00:06:35.79 I think if you have any desire or inkling for God, 00:06:35.82\00:06:38.06 then you know, you have not committed that sin, you know? 00:06:38.09\00:06:40.00 Absolutely. 00:06:40.03\00:06:41.33 "Shelley, Matthew 18:18, are these powers literal 00:06:41.36\00:06:45.43 and given to the 12 apostles or just Peter. 00:06:45.47\00:06:48.10 And if so, can they be handed down to successors?" 00:06:48.14\00:06:51.21 This question comes from Duke in California. 00:06:51.24\00:06:54.38 Duke, Matthew 18:18. 00:06:54.41\00:06:56.14 Jesus is addressing all of the disciples, not just Peter. 00:06:56.18\00:06:59.18 And He says, "Assuredly I say to you, 00:06:59.21\00:07:01.58 whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 00:07:01.62\00:07:04.22 whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 00:07:04.25\00:07:06.82 In context, He's talking about dealing with an erring brother. 00:07:06.89\00:07:10.76 He says, first, if a brother errs against you, 00:07:10.79\00:07:13.29 go to him personally. 00:07:13.33\00:07:14.63 Won't listen, take a couple of people with you. 00:07:14.66\00:07:16.77 So in the mouth of two or three witnesses, 00:07:16.80\00:07:18.83 it can be established. 00:07:18.87\00:07:20.27 And then he says, if he still won't prepare, 00:07:20.34\00:07:22.40 then take it to the church because the church 00:07:22.44\00:07:25.04 has the corporate responsibility to deal 00:07:25.07\00:07:27.64 with this, to try to restore an individual. 00:07:27.68\00:07:31.05 Now let's talk about what binding and losing is. 00:07:31.08\00:07:35.95 To loose means that it's an agreement. 00:07:35.98\00:07:39.45 Their behavior is lined up into agreement 00:07:39.49\00:07:42.16 with God's standard and they can be forgiven 00:07:42.19\00:07:46.36 and restored to full fellowship. 00:07:46.39\00:07:48.53 To bind means, hey, you're still bound in your sin, 00:07:48.56\00:07:52.57 according to heaven, according to the Word of God. 00:07:52.60\00:07:55.54 So, what we know 00:07:55.57\00:07:57.57 is that the literal translation 00:07:57.61\00:08:02.71 is whatever you bind on earth must be bound in heaven, 00:08:02.74\00:08:07.15 whatever you loose on earth must be loosed in heaven. 00:08:07.18\00:08:12.05 It's not that we're making the decision, 00:08:12.09\00:08:14.19 it's that God's will is ratifying 00:08:14.22\00:08:16.99 the church's decision. 00:08:17.06\00:08:18.93 All sin is confessed before the throne of God. 00:08:18.96\00:08:21.83 1 John 1:9, 00:08:21.86\00:08:23.47 "We confess our sins, 00:08:23.50\00:08:24.83 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins." 00:08:24.87\00:08:27.34 The release of sin only comes through the work 00:08:27.37\00:08:30.31 of Jesus Christ in His mediation. 00:08:30.34\00:08:32.97 We cannot substitute human authority for the authority of 00:08:33.01\00:08:36.98 Jesus Christ because God's never 00:08:37.05\00:08:39.28 delegated that prerogative to mankind because man 00:08:39.31\00:08:44.99 errs and he needs grace himself. 00:08:45.02\00:08:47.76 So believers can't forgive sins 00:08:47.79\00:08:50.93 aside from what God's Word says. 00:08:50.96\00:08:53.80 Now, Matthew 16:19 00:08:53.83\00:08:55.60 is where Christ responds directly to Peter. 00:08:55.63\00:08:58.53 He says, and I've got to read this 'cause He says to Peter, 00:08:58.57\00:09:02.20 "I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven 00:09:02.24\00:09:04.14 whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 00:09:04.17\00:09:06.24 whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 00:09:06.27\00:09:09.34 In context, Peter has just recognized 00:09:09.38\00:09:12.45 and confessed Jesus as the Christ, 00:09:12.48\00:09:15.48 the Son of the living God 00:09:15.52\00:09:17.22 and Jesus is saying to him on that knowledge, 00:09:17.25\00:09:21.42 on this rock of truth, I will build My church. 00:09:21.46\00:09:26.23 The keys to enter the kingdom of heaven is knowledge. 00:09:26.26\00:09:29.93 And let me prove that to you. 00:09:29.96\00:09:31.30 And in Luke 11:52, Jesus said, 00:09:31.33\00:09:33.64 "Woe to you lawyers! 00:09:33.67\00:09:35.20 You have taken away the key of knowledge. 00:09:35.24\00:09:38.54 You did not enter in yourselves, 00:09:38.57\00:09:40.48 and those who were entering in you hindered." 00:09:40.51\00:09:44.48 So it's all about knowledge. 00:09:44.51\00:09:46.45 And, you know, in Matthew 28:19, 00:09:46.48\00:09:51.55 Jesus said that we are to teach the converts, 00:09:51.59\00:09:56.12 go baptize, teaching them to obey 00:09:56.16\00:09:59.43 all that He has commanded. 00:09:59.46\00:10:01.40 The church cannot require 00:10:01.43\00:10:05.27 more than what God's words require. 00:10:05.30\00:10:07.30 In other words, 00:10:07.34\00:10:08.67 as it has to be clearly revealed in the Word of God. 00:10:08.70\00:10:12.34 Amen. Thank you so much, Shelley. 00:10:12.37\00:10:14.14 And if you think that was too fast for me, 00:10:14.18\00:10:16.64 here's what you can do. 00:10:16.71\00:10:18.05 You can watch it on YouTube. 00:10:18.08\00:10:19.41 So just check out 3ABN's YouTube account, 00:10:19.45\00:10:21.38 type in the Bible Q and A. 00:10:21.42\00:10:22.75 You can pause it anytime you want, 00:10:22.78\00:10:25.02 and then you can rewind and watch it again 00:10:25.05\00:10:27.06 and get your notes in that way. 00:10:27.12\00:10:28.66 Pastor James, we are coming to you. 00:10:28.69\00:10:30.59 This is, "What is the best way to study the Bible. 00:10:30.63\00:10:34.03 My problem is I don't remember 00:10:34.10\00:10:36.26 what I read, what I read when I read it. 00:10:36.30\00:10:39.03 I can explain stuff, but I can't tell exactly 00:10:39.07\00:10:41.44 where things are taken from to give 00:10:41.47\00:10:42.87 the verses or books." 00:10:42.90\00:10:44.24 And this question comes from Montego Bay in Jamaica. 00:10:44.27\00:10:47.51 All right, from Montego Bay in Jamaica. 00:10:47.54\00:10:49.21 Well, the things that have helped me in studying the Bible 00:10:49.24\00:10:52.01 and remembering is number one to study for a present need. 00:10:52.05\00:10:56.75 So, a lot of times when you study the Bible, 00:10:56.82\00:10:59.35 if you're studying a subject that is meaningful to you, 00:10:59.39\00:11:02.62 like I became an Adventist. 00:11:02.66\00:11:04.39 I was raised Catholic, became an Adventist. 00:11:04.43\00:11:06.59 And one of the key verses that completely transformed 00:11:06.63\00:11:11.47 my understanding was Daniel 7:25. 00:11:11.50\00:11:15.70 He shall think to change times and laws. 00:11:15.74\00:11:17.27 Can't forget that verse, you know, 00:11:17.31\00:11:18.71 because that's a verse that just, wow, 00:11:18.74\00:11:21.68 God predicted this ahead of time. 00:11:21.71\00:11:23.91 I mean, it was catalystic to me. 00:11:23.95\00:11:26.38 So one of the things that we need to do 00:11:26.41\00:11:29.25 when we study the Bible that will help us to remember 00:11:29.28\00:11:31.72 is to study for a need. 00:11:31.75\00:11:33.62 I remember when I gave 00:11:33.66\00:11:34.99 my first testimony in church ever. 00:11:35.02\00:11:37.29 2 Peter 3:9, God is long suffering to us, 00:11:37.33\00:11:39.76 not willing that any would perish, 00:11:39.79\00:11:41.10 but that all will come to repentance. 00:11:41.13\00:11:42.46 That meant a lot to me. 00:11:42.50\00:11:43.83 And that's the verse I've never forgotten. 00:11:43.90\00:11:45.23 Another one was Matthew 6:33, 00:11:45.27\00:11:46.60 you know, "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." 00:11:46.63\00:11:49.44 And a year ago, I couldn't remember that. 00:11:49.47\00:11:50.84 And I thought it was Matthew 5:33. 00:11:50.87\00:11:52.74 So Bible study is like exercise. 00:11:52.77\00:11:55.31 You know, your muscles have memory. 00:11:55.34\00:11:57.41 And if you get out of exercise for a while, 00:11:57.48\00:11:59.35 and Hebrews 4:5-6 talks about exercising in the Bible. 00:11:59.38\00:12:02.72 If you get out of for a while, muscle memory will come back. 00:12:02.75\00:12:05.29 So I went where is that verse Found it again and now, 00:12:05.32\00:12:07.82 here it is, I'm sharing it with you 00:12:07.86\00:12:09.19 right from heart. 00:12:09.22\00:12:10.73 Another thing that is really helpful in remembering 00:12:10.76\00:12:15.50 the Bible, remembering is to study 00:12:15.53\00:12:17.73 the Bible to help somebody else. 00:12:17.77\00:12:19.43 So if you're struggling with an issue 00:12:19.47\00:12:23.10 and somebody else helps you 00:12:23.14\00:12:24.57 or you're helping somebody else, 00:12:24.61\00:12:26.21 many times, you're gonna remember it 00:12:26.24\00:12:27.71 because it was practical in the way that you 00:12:27.74\00:12:29.64 were able to help somebody else, 00:12:29.68\00:12:31.31 you know, with that struggle or issue. 00:12:31.35\00:12:33.21 Another thing is scripture songs. 00:12:33.25\00:12:35.98 I have so many scriptures memorize from scripture songs. 00:12:36.02\00:12:38.99 1 Corinthians 13 is a scripture song to me. 00:12:39.02\00:12:41.59 And then studying to share with others. 00:12:41.62\00:12:44.63 Generally speaking, preaching, teaching, doing Sabbath school 00:12:44.66\00:12:47.20 many times, that's how we remember the scriptures. 00:12:47.23\00:12:49.90 Beautiful. Amen. That's powerful. 00:12:49.93\00:12:51.27 I love that list. 00:12:51.30\00:12:52.63 Shelley, we're coming back to you. 00:12:52.67\00:12:54.00 Okay. This question is from Australia. 00:12:54.07\00:12:56.47 "If not the angels nor the Son know the date of His arrival, 00:12:56.50\00:13:00.18 how does that put us on an equal footing with the Father, 00:13:00.21\00:13:02.88 given that the Son and the Father are one?" 00:13:02.91\00:13:05.88 Okay. 00:13:05.91\00:13:07.25 Let's start with Mark 13:31, 00:13:07.32\00:13:10.19 'cause your question's in here. 00:13:10.22\00:13:12.22 It says, "Heaven and earth will pass away," 00:13:12.25\00:13:13.96 this is Jesus speaking, "but My words will by no 00:13:13.99\00:13:16.83 means pass away." 00:13:16.86\00:13:18.19 So that witness is His divine nature. 00:13:18.23\00:13:22.70 Then verse 32, "But of that day and hour, 00:13:22.73\00:13:25.83 no one knows," he's talking about the second coming, 00:13:25.87\00:13:29.07 "not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, 00:13:29.10\00:13:31.34 but only the Father Himself." 00:13:31.37\00:13:33.54 That clearly witnesses His human nature. 00:13:33.58\00:13:36.95 We know Philippians 3:6-8 says that God came down. 00:13:37.01\00:13:42.48 He was in the form of God. 00:13:42.52\00:13:44.29 He took on our flesh and He died for us. 00:13:44.32\00:13:47.86 So our Creator God came down 00:13:47.89\00:13:51.23 and He became the covenant Son of God. 00:13:51.26\00:13:56.50 He was perfectly human, perfectly divine, 00:13:56.53\00:14:00.04 and He purposely laid aside 00:14:00.07\00:14:03.51 the exercise of the glory of His deity. 00:14:03.54\00:14:06.14 He laid aside His omniscience, His all-knowing. 00:14:06.17\00:14:09.01 He laid aside His omnipresence. 00:14:09.04\00:14:11.71 You know, the Bible says in Luke 2:52 that Jesus 00:14:11.75\00:14:16.55 had to grow in wisdom and stature. 00:14:16.58\00:14:19.22 And as God's ambassador, He only communicated 00:14:19.25\00:14:22.99 what the Father committed to Him. 00:14:23.02\00:14:25.03 I personally believe if He'd asked the Father, 00:14:25.06\00:14:27.86 the Father would have told Him when would be the date. 00:14:27.93\00:14:32.47 But I think it's because of man's propensity 00:14:32.50\00:14:35.54 toward procrastination that they both knew. 00:14:35.57\00:14:38.64 All right, this would be good for man to know. 00:14:38.67\00:14:42.14 John 17:5 says, 00:14:42.18\00:14:44.55 this is Jesus right before He was crucified. 00:14:44.58\00:14:47.22 He says, "Now, oh, Father, glorify Me 00:14:47.28\00:14:50.55 together with Yourself with the glory 00:14:50.59\00:14:54.22 which I had with You before the world was." 00:14:54.26\00:14:58.66 So our risen Savior is the exalted Savior. 00:14:58.69\00:15:04.40 His glory has been restored. 00:15:04.43\00:15:06.94 I know that God had has no secrets. 00:15:06.97\00:15:10.01 So I'm sure now He knows the time of His return. 00:15:10.04\00:15:13.04 Good point. Amen. That's good. 00:15:13.07\00:15:15.28 We're going to Revelation for a couple of questions here. 00:15:15.31\00:15:17.38 This one's for you, Pastor Ryan. 00:15:17.45\00:15:19.11 "How do you interpret Revelation10:9." 00:15:19.15\00:15:24.19 All right. This is a good one. 00:15:24.22\00:15:25.55 Well, first of all, to understand verse 9, 00:15:25.59\00:15:27.26 we have to also back up and read verse 8. 00:15:27.29\00:15:28.89 So let's start there first, Revelation 10:8-9. 00:15:28.92\00:15:32.26 It says, "Then the voice which I heard from heaven 00:15:32.29\00:15:34.10 spoke to me again and said, 'Go, take the little book 00:15:34.10\00:15:37.23 which is open in the hand of the angel 00:15:37.27\00:15:39.27 who stands on the sea and on the earth.'" 00:15:39.30\00:15:41.54 First of all, pause there 00:15:41.57\00:15:42.90 and take in the fact that that book, 00:15:42.94\00:15:44.27 he could have easily said, 00:15:44.31\00:15:45.64 go take the book from the hand, but go get that little book 00:15:45.67\00:15:47.74 and read it or go get the little book. 00:15:47.78\00:15:49.34 And as we're gonna find out, eat it. 00:15:49.38\00:15:50.71 But yet it's interesting that he adds the word here, open. 00:15:50.75\00:15:54.18 That means if it's open, that implies that it had 00:15:54.22\00:15:57.05 previously been what? 00:15:57.09\00:15:58.42 Closed, sealed, shut, right? 00:15:58.45\00:16:00.59 And so, notice as we continue reading in verse 9. 00:16:00.62\00:16:02.39 "So I went to the angel and said to him, 00:16:02.42\00:16:03.96 'Give me the little book.' 00:16:03.99\00:16:05.33 And he said to me, 'Take and eat it, 00:16:05.36\00:16:07.03 and it will make your stomach bitter, 00:16:07.03\00:16:08.80 but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." 00:16:08.83\00:16:11.13 That little book. 00:16:11.17\00:16:12.50 Okay, the fact that it's open means that it was 00:16:12.53\00:16:14.24 previously closed. 00:16:14.27\00:16:15.60 There's only one other little book in all 00:16:15.64\00:16:16.97 the Bible that the Bible specifically tells us 00:16:17.01\00:16:19.27 was shut or sealed. 00:16:19.31\00:16:21.04 And, of course, that is in connection with 00:16:21.08\00:16:22.51 the Book of Daniel. 00:16:22.54\00:16:23.88 Daniel's that little book. 00:16:23.95\00:16:25.28 And we find this in Daniel 12:4 and 9. 00:16:25.31\00:16:27.52 Notice what the Bible says in Daniel 12, 00:16:27.55\00:16:29.38 I'm gonna read verse 4 and 9. 00:16:29.42\00:16:30.89 It says, "But you Daniel shut up 00:16:30.92\00:16:32.25 the words and seal the book," there it is, 00:16:32.29\00:16:34.56 "until the time of the end, 00:16:34.59\00:16:36.96 many shall run to and fro and knowledge shall increase." 00:16:37.03\00:16:40.00 Daniel 12:9. 00:16:40.03\00:16:41.70 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, 00:16:41.73\00:16:43.06 for the words are closed up and sealed, 00:16:43.10\00:16:46.47 again till the time of the end." 00:16:46.50\00:16:48.44 So this little book that it's in the angel's hand and, 00:16:48.47\00:16:51.27 of course, this angel is none 00:16:51.31\00:16:52.71 other than Jesus Christ Himself. 00:16:52.74\00:16:54.28 That's a whole another question. 00:16:54.31\00:16:55.64 Send in a question about that, 00:16:55.68\00:16:57.01 how we can prove that to be Jesus, 00:16:57.05\00:16:58.38 but nonetheless, the little book is Daniel. 00:16:58.41\00:17:00.18 So the Book of Daniel was sealed up, 00:17:00.25\00:17:01.58 but the question is in connection with verse 9, 00:17:01.62\00:17:05.25 what does it mean that he said, take it and eat it. 00:17:05.29\00:17:07.72 It'll make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet 00:17:07.76\00:17:09.72 as honey in your mouth. 00:17:09.76\00:17:11.09 This comes within the historical context 00:17:11.13\00:17:13.29 coming out of the dark ages, 00:17:13.33\00:17:14.63 coming out of that enlightenment period, 00:17:14.66\00:17:16.03 out of that French revolutionary time period 00:17:16.06\00:17:18.47 of the late 1700s. 00:17:18.50\00:17:20.07 We know that the time 00:17:20.14\00:17:21.47 of the in pertains to the time from 1798 and onward. 00:17:21.50\00:17:24.47 In other words, after 1798. 00:17:24.51\00:17:27.08 And what's interesting is coming out 00:17:27.11\00:17:28.44 of that French revolutionary time period 00:17:28.48\00:17:30.95 where the Bible and Christianity was being 00:17:30.98\00:17:32.85 basically completely cast down 00:17:32.88\00:17:35.35 and it was being attacked by the enemy. 00:17:35.38\00:17:37.29 Out of that, it's brought about a spark 00:17:37.32\00:17:39.35 and a response of deep, deep Bible study by Protestants 00:17:39.39\00:17:42.59 all over the world. 00:17:42.62\00:17:43.96 And it brought about what was known 00:17:44.03\00:17:45.36 as a course in history, the great Millerite movement, 00:17:45.39\00:17:48.06 William Miller and his Millerites, of course, 00:17:48.10\00:17:50.37 this Millerite movement started studying 00:17:50.43\00:17:52.20 the great time prophecies of the Book of Daniel. 00:17:52.23\00:17:55.30 And it led them to study the great time prophecy 00:17:55.34\00:17:57.31 of the 2300 days of Daniel 8:14 specifically. 00:17:57.37\00:18:02.51 And it led them to believe that Jesus was gonna come back. 00:18:02.54\00:18:04.78 When they studied that timeframe, 00:18:04.81\00:18:06.35 it led them to believe that Jesus was gonna come 00:18:06.38\00:18:07.98 back in 1844, more specifically, 00:18:08.02\00:18:10.42 October 22nd, 1844. 00:18:10.45\00:18:13.15 And out of that, of course, came a great disappointment. 00:18:13.19\00:18:16.69 Now, as they're studying these texts, guess what? 00:18:16.76\00:18:18.69 The Word was so sweet to their taste. 00:18:18.73\00:18:20.86 Oh, they're just enjoying the study of the Word 00:18:20.93\00:18:22.66 of the Lord, because they believe that Jesus 00:18:22.70\00:18:24.20 is coming back, but came October 22nd, 00:18:24.27\00:18:26.50 1844, Jesus did not return. 00:18:26.53\00:18:29.04 And therefore it launched them into a bitter disappointment, 00:18:29.07\00:18:32.14 which is why it says there in verse 9, 00:18:32.17\00:18:33.81 it says, but it says, it will make your stomach bitter. 00:18:33.88\00:18:37.08 So in this case, that's how we understand historically 00:18:37.15\00:18:40.12 and prophetically that this particular verse 00:18:40.15\00:18:42.08 pertains to that 00:18:42.12\00:18:43.49 great disappointment time period 00:18:43.52\00:18:44.85 when they were so excited about the scriptures, 00:18:44.89\00:18:46.59 it was sweet as honey in their mouth, 00:18:46.62\00:18:48.36 the beautiful prophecies of Daniel, 00:18:48.39\00:18:50.23 but out of that came a great disappointment. 00:18:50.26\00:18:52.46 Amen. Thank you. That's a juiced version. 00:18:52.49\00:18:54.60 It's fabulous. 00:18:54.63\00:18:55.96 That's really good in three minutes. 00:18:56.00\00:18:57.57 Wanna encourage you, if you wanna know 00:18:57.60\00:18:58.97 what actually happened, October 22, 1844, 00:18:59.00\00:19:01.90 we know Jesus didn't come, but what actually happened, 00:19:01.94\00:19:04.14 then send in that question 00:19:04.17\00:19:05.51 and we'll answer that in an upcoming Bible Q and A. 00:19:05.54\00:19:08.18 Pastor James, we're staying in Revelation. 00:19:08.21\00:19:10.41 "Considering that Revelation is a figurative book, 00:19:10.48\00:19:13.21 the writings are figurative in Chapter 16, 00:19:13.25\00:19:15.72 which speaks to the plagues, are those figurative? 00:19:15.75\00:19:19.25 So are the plagues figurative? Yeah. Good question. 00:19:19.29\00:19:21.39 So, we know the Book of Revelation 00:19:21.42\00:19:23.19 is filled with figurative language, 00:19:23.22\00:19:24.93 but the whole book is not figurative. 00:19:24.96\00:19:26.96 In other words, there's a lot of places in Revelation 00:19:27.03\00:19:28.83 that are actually literal. 00:19:28.86\00:19:30.37 The first chapter, the introduction 00:19:30.40\00:19:31.77 is very literal up to about verse 10 or so. 00:19:31.80\00:19:34.80 A lot of Revelation's 00:19:34.84\00:19:36.30 seven churches is literal language. 00:19:36.34\00:19:38.64 Revelation 5 has a section there where they praise God, 00:19:38.67\00:19:41.28 it's all literal toward the end and the Lamb. 00:19:41.31\00:19:43.45 Revelation Chapter 6 00:19:43.48\00:19:44.91 has a latter portion that's literal. 00:19:44.95\00:19:46.72 Revelation7, the whole back end of that is little Chapter 7. 00:19:46.75\00:19:50.49 Revelation 21 and 22. 00:19:50.52\00:19:52.75 Most of that is literal. 00:19:52.79\00:19:54.26 So the Book of Revelation is written with symbols 00:19:54.29\00:19:58.03 and in symbolic language, but a lot of it is literal. 00:19:58.06\00:20:01.63 But then that question, it's a good question, 00:20:01.66\00:20:04.07 it comes, well then how do we discern 00:20:04.13\00:20:06.63 what's literal and what's figurative. 00:20:06.70\00:20:08.04 How do we know between the two, right? 00:20:08.07\00:20:10.07 You moving through the Book of Revelation, 00:20:10.11\00:20:11.44 you're thinking, well, the 144,000 are, 00:20:11.47\00:20:13.94 you know, virgins that are males. 00:20:13.98\00:20:16.91 They, so that must be literal, the 12 tribes, 00:20:16.95\00:20:19.65 little Jewish male virgins, right? 00:20:19.68\00:20:21.82 How do you know what's literal and symbolic? 00:20:21.85\00:20:24.19 And so, there are some principles 00:20:24.25\00:20:25.95 that are prophetic interpretation 00:20:25.99\00:20:27.32 that we use to understand 00:20:27.36\00:20:28.86 how we can know if it's literal or symbolic. 00:20:28.89\00:20:31.49 We call these William Miller's 00:20:31.53\00:20:34.46 principles of interpretation, contrainterpretation. 00:20:34.50\00:20:38.30 And principle number 11 00:20:38.33\00:20:40.27 specifically applies to Revelation 00:20:40.30\00:20:42.87 and the symbols of Revelation as well as Daniel. 00:20:42.90\00:20:46.74 I'm just gonna read it to you here. 00:20:46.81\00:20:48.14 It says, "If a word makes good sense 00:20:48.18\00:20:50.08 as it stands 00:20:50.11\00:20:51.61 and does no violence to the simple laws of nature, 00:20:51.65\00:20:54.68 it is to be understood literally, 00:20:54.72\00:20:56.42 if not figuratively." 00:20:56.45\00:20:57.79 Now, when you go into the seven last plagues 00:20:57.82\00:21:01.19 and you read that these people that have the mark 00:21:01.22\00:21:04.03 of the beast are gonna get sores or ulcers. 00:21:04.06\00:21:06.26 That makes sense, literally. 00:21:06.29\00:21:07.60 When you read that the blood and the water 00:21:07.66\00:21:09.80 is gonna become like the blood of a dead man, 00:21:09.83\00:21:11.30 which is lack of oxygen. 00:21:11.33\00:21:12.80 That makes sense. We have that today. 00:21:12.83\00:21:14.20 Red tide is what we call it. 00:21:14.24\00:21:15.57 When you see that the sun is gonna scorch men, 00:21:15.60\00:21:17.51 ozone layer evaporating. 00:21:17.57\00:21:19.47 That makes sense. 00:21:19.51\00:21:20.84 So these plagues definitely make sense, literally. 00:21:20.88\00:21:23.41 And that's how we take them because of this principle 00:21:23.45\00:21:25.55 Amen. 00:21:25.58\00:21:27.08 So you references the follow-up question 00:21:27.12\00:21:28.75 to what you just shared. 00:21:28.78\00:21:30.15 You referenced William Miller's principles 00:21:30.19\00:21:31.52 of prophetic interpretation. 00:21:31.55\00:21:32.89 If people wanna find all of them, do you know 00:21:32.92\00:21:34.36 where they could find them? 00:21:34.39\00:21:36.22 They are in a book that was written by James White 00:21:36.26\00:21:40.06 called Life Sketches. 00:21:40.10\00:21:41.40 So James White, and then I have them outlined too, 00:21:41.43\00:21:44.00 in a little study note thing that I could send to 3ABN 00:21:44.03\00:21:46.47 and they could make them available. 00:21:46.50\00:21:48.04 It'd be nice to just put them in a little set up, 00:21:48.07\00:21:49.60 you know, they'll print them up in a set up 00:21:49.64\00:21:51.37 and have them available for people to grab this book. 00:21:51.41\00:21:54.01 Google's a great tool too. I love that. 00:21:54.04\00:21:55.54 Google's a great tool too. That's true. 00:21:55.58\00:21:57.31 Google's a great tool. So let's... 00:21:57.38\00:21:59.11 This is a good time to remind 00:21:59.15\00:22:00.62 you to send in your Bible questions. 00:22:00.65\00:22:02.28 And at the same time, if you're interested in this, 00:22:02.32\00:22:04.55 we'll make this available. 00:22:04.59\00:22:05.92 You can just email us at BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:22:05.95\00:22:10.76 That's BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:22:10.83\00:22:13.83 So if you want William Miller's principles 00:22:13.90\00:22:15.60 of prophetic interpretation, 00:22:15.63\00:22:16.97 we'll make sure we have that and we can send it to you. 00:22:17.03\00:22:18.77 Or if you have a Bible question that you wanna 00:22:18.80\00:22:20.40 send in for the panel to answer on an upcoming Monday, 00:22:20.44\00:22:24.07 you know, we do these programs every Monday. 00:22:24.11\00:22:26.31 So, you can always email that or you can 00:22:26.34\00:22:28.68 text us those questions, (618) 228-3975. 00:22:28.71\00:22:33.78 That number again is (618) 228-3975. 00:22:33.82\00:22:39.25 Pastor Ryan, we're coming back to you. 00:22:39.29\00:22:40.72 All right. 00:22:40.76\00:22:42.09 My question is, "Is the 2520 a sound doctrine? 00:22:42.12\00:22:44.39 Is it relevant to our salvation?" 00:22:44.43\00:22:47.46 And this one comes from Jamaica as well. 00:22:47.50\00:22:49.26 All right. 00:22:49.30\00:22:50.70 Well, I can give you two simple 00:22:50.73\00:22:52.07 answers to that two-part question. 00:22:52.10\00:22:53.44 And that is, is the 2520 a sound doctrine? 00:22:53.47\00:22:55.47 No. And is it relevant to our salvation? 00:22:55.50\00:22:58.17 No. Let me support that. 00:22:58.21\00:23:00.98 In fact, there may be someone watching this wondering 00:23:01.01\00:23:02.74 what in the world are you talking about, 2520? 00:23:02.78\00:23:05.38 Back in the day, again, early to mid 1800s. 00:23:05.41\00:23:08.95 Again, this Millerite time period. 00:23:08.98\00:23:11.02 They had come to the conclusion that out of some texts 00:23:11.05\00:23:13.96 found in Leviticus Chapter 26, 00:23:13.99\00:23:15.76 more specifically verses 27 and 28, 00:23:15.79\00:23:18.46 talking about how God would chastise 00:23:18.49\00:23:20.60 the Israel seven times for their sins 00:23:20.63\00:23:23.26 while they applied the year day principal to that seven times, 00:23:23.33\00:23:25.73 'cause seven times, 360 days in a biblical year, 00:23:25.77\00:23:28.97 and it came, comes to 2,520. 00:23:29.00\00:23:31.84 And so, they basically built a prophecy out of that, 00:23:31.87\00:23:35.04 even though it's technically not a prophecy. 00:23:35.08\00:23:37.68 And so, basically they came to the conclusion 00:23:37.71\00:23:39.98 that from about 677 BC, all the way to 1844 AD 00:23:40.02\00:23:45.19 satisfies that 5,200 and excuse me, 00:23:45.22\00:23:48.49 2,520 year time prophecy 00:23:48.52\00:23:51.03 of what they believe to be a time prophecy. 00:23:51.06\00:23:53.03 Since then, this thing has been put through, 00:23:53.06\00:23:55.40 I mean, a ton of different study 00:23:55.43\00:23:58.17 by many, many different people. 00:23:58.20\00:23:59.73 Even within the Seventh-day Adventist Church, 00:23:59.77\00:24:01.17 early on Ellen White's husband, James White. 00:24:01.20\00:24:03.44 I mean, he just publicly out, he wrote an article, 00:24:03.51\00:24:05.94 submitted articles about this in which he very much 00:24:05.97\00:24:08.44 put it through and found it wanting. 00:24:08.48\00:24:09.81 He said, this is not a time prophecy. 00:24:09.84\00:24:11.58 There was some charts made 1843, 1850, but by the time 00:24:11.61\00:24:15.75 you get to 1863, 00:24:15.78\00:24:17.42 in which the Seventh-day Adventist Church 00:24:17.49\00:24:18.82 was formulated and formally organized 00:24:18.85\00:24:21.06 as a church that on their prophetic charts, 00:24:21.09\00:24:23.63 they had removed that 2520 time prophecy 00:24:23.66\00:24:26.29 because they found that it was not legitimate. 00:24:26.33\00:24:28.56 And so, there's a lot that can be said, 00:24:28.60\00:24:30.63 we can go chase down these little rabbit holes 00:24:30.67\00:24:32.80 of the 2,520 year prophecy. 00:24:32.83\00:24:36.04 Really it's not a prophecy at all. 00:24:36.07\00:24:37.87 In fact, it's a non-prophecy, 00:24:37.91\00:24:39.47 and that's why I wanna refer you 00:24:39.51\00:24:40.94 to a couple of sources 00:24:40.98\00:24:42.31 you can study this further to kind of, 00:24:42.34\00:24:44.15 you know hone in that knowledge. 00:24:44.21\00:24:45.55 And, of course, Steven Bohr has a great paper called 00:24:45.58\00:24:47.28 the 2520 non-prophecy and our very own brother, 00:24:47.32\00:24:50.29 James Rafferty has also written a paper 00:24:50.35\00:24:52.25 called a response to the 2520 movement. 00:24:52.29\00:24:54.99 It's a great paper 00:24:55.02\00:24:56.36 and I encourage you to read those, 00:24:56.39\00:24:57.73 study it for yourself, 00:24:57.76\00:24:59.09 and you'll find that it's not a prophecy at all. 00:24:59.13\00:25:00.73 It does not pertain to our salvation 00:25:00.76\00:25:02.73 and it's not a sound doctrine. 00:25:02.76\00:25:04.43 Amen. Thank you. Anything you want to add? 00:25:04.47\00:25:06.50 Yeah. Well, no, not really. I mean, that was excellent. 00:25:06.53\00:25:09.37 So, no, good. 00:25:09.40\00:25:11.51 I was just taking him by and say, yeah, that's good. 00:25:11.54\00:25:14.11 There you go. 00:25:14.18\00:25:15.51 Yay! Praise the Lord. 00:25:15.54\00:25:16.88 Shelley, we're coming to you. 00:25:16.91\00:25:18.25 This is from Dave. 00:25:18.28\00:25:19.61 "Concerning the investigative 00:25:19.65\00:25:20.98 judgment, if my case has already been decided, 00:25:21.02\00:25:23.05 does that mean after living a lost life, 00:25:23.08\00:25:25.75 I cannot be saved even after turning my life back to God?" 00:25:25.79\00:25:30.06 Dave, I'm just really worried about your question, 00:25:30.13\00:25:33.06 whether you are being presumptuous, 00:25:33.09\00:25:36.10 or if you think maybe probation's 00:25:36.13\00:25:37.93 already closed for you, which it hasn't. 00:25:37.97\00:25:39.87 In Revelation 14:7 the first angel says, 00:25:39.90\00:25:43.07 "Fear God and give Him glory, 00:25:43.10\00:25:46.84 for the hour of His judgment is come." 00:25:46.88\00:25:49.61 Now, the investigative judgment. 00:25:49.64\00:25:52.15 This is the act of judging the works of the people. 00:25:52.18\00:25:56.08 It began in 1844. 00:25:56.12\00:25:58.49 There will be an executive judgment that carries 00:25:58.52\00:26:02.09 out the sentence of the judgment, 00:26:02.12\00:26:06.13 but that's after it's not till after God's 00:26:06.16\00:26:10.90 probation closes and probation has not closed for you. 00:26:10.97\00:26:15.60 It closes for all when the latter rain... 00:26:15.64\00:26:20.18 This is after the latter rain has been poured out. 00:26:20.21\00:26:22.71 The loud cries been given 00:26:22.74\00:26:24.35 and the saints have been sealed. 00:26:24.38\00:26:26.55 The investigative judgment 00:26:26.58\00:26:29.55 is over just before the return... 00:26:29.58\00:26:34.36 The probation closes before the return of Christ. 00:26:34.39\00:26:37.33 It's announced with this decree in Revelation 22:11, 00:26:37.36\00:26:41.40 "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still. 00:26:41.43\00:26:43.67 He's filthy, let him be filthy still. 00:26:43.73\00:26:45.53 He who is right, just let him be righteous still. 00:26:45.57\00:26:48.44 He is holy, let him be holy still. 00:26:48.47\00:26:51.97 So everybody's case 00:26:52.01\00:26:54.44 will have been concluded at that time and decided, 00:26:54.48\00:27:00.08 and then Jesus says in the very next verse, 00:27:00.15\00:27:02.32 "Behold, I'm coming quickly. 00:27:02.35\00:27:04.05 My reward is with me to give to every man 00:27:04.12\00:27:08.16 according to his work." 00:27:08.19\00:27:09.76 So you see that the investigative 00:27:09.79\00:27:11.66 judgment has to be done 00:27:11.69\00:27:13.66 before He returns because He's got 00:27:13.73\00:27:17.57 the rewards with Him. 00:27:17.60\00:27:18.93 But here's what I want to say to you. 00:27:18.97\00:27:21.40 No one knows the day or the hour that they will die. 00:27:21.44\00:27:24.84 None of us is guaranteed tomorrow. 00:27:24.87\00:27:27.21 And so, until we breathe our last, 00:27:27.28\00:27:30.55 I mean, that would be the close of probation for you 00:27:30.58\00:27:33.05 or until the saints are sealed. 00:27:33.08\00:27:35.75 The one thing that you can know 00:27:35.78\00:27:37.22 is that our gracious God will have mercy on you 00:27:37.29\00:27:42.12 if you confess your sin. 00:27:42.16\00:27:43.53 2 Corinthians 6:2, says, 00:27:43.56\00:27:45.63 "Behold, now is the day of salvation." 00:27:45.66\00:27:48.43 Psalm 95:7 and 8 says, 00:27:48.46\00:27:51.10 "Today, if you hear His voice, don't harden your heart." 00:27:51.13\00:27:54.54 So don't risk hardening your heart against 00:27:54.57\00:27:58.64 the Holy Spirit, becoming guilty 00:27:58.67\00:28:02.54 of the unpardonable sin. 00:28:02.58\00:28:04.18 Repent today, let God love you, 00:28:04.21\00:28:07.35 receive His love and His forgiveness. 00:28:07.38\00:28:09.15 Amen. I love that. 00:28:09.18\00:28:10.52 Let God love you. It's powerful. 00:28:10.55\00:28:12.85 Pastor James, and this is from Art, 00:28:12.89\00:28:15.19 "Who well is Melchizedek in the Bible?" 00:28:15.22\00:28:17.66 All right, Art. 00:28:17.69\00:28:19.13 Well, Melchizedek 00:28:19.16\00:28:20.53 is identified in scripture in about three places. 00:28:20.56\00:28:23.50 He's identified in Genesis. 00:28:23.57\00:28:25.40 That's the first place we hear about him. 00:28:25.43\00:28:27.34 And then he's identified also in the Psalms. 00:28:27.37\00:28:30.11 And then finally in Hebrews. 00:28:30.14\00:28:31.57 Hebrews 5, and 6, and 7. 00:28:31.61\00:28:33.71 He's really emphasized there 00:28:33.78\00:28:35.11 because the Book of Hebrews 00:28:35.14\00:28:36.48 is basically taking the Old Testament scriptures, 00:28:36.51\00:28:39.68 especially when it comes to the sanctuary 00:28:39.71\00:28:41.72 and the priesthood and the sacrifices 00:28:41.75\00:28:43.69 and making sense out of them as they relate to 00:28:43.72\00:28:46.02 and are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 00:28:46.05\00:28:48.16 And guess what? 00:28:48.19\00:28:49.52 Melchizedek is just such a symbol, 00:28:49.56\00:28:52.23 a representation of Jesus Christ. 00:28:52.26\00:28:54.46 We read about Melchizedek first of all, and we'll just 00:28:54.46\00:28:56.46 look at these verses here in Genesis 14:18-19. 00:28:56.50\00:29:01.17 So Genesis 14:18-19 says, 00:29:01.20\00:29:03.64 "Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread 00:29:03.67\00:29:06.71 and wine and he was the priest of the Most High God. 00:29:06.74\00:29:10.08 And he blessed him that as he blessed 00:29:10.11\00:29:11.65 Abraham and said, 'Blessed be Abraham 00:29:11.68\00:29:13.68 of the most high God possessor of heaven and earth.'" 00:29:13.75\00:29:16.82 So, according to the Bible, 00:29:16.85\00:29:19.49 Melchizedek is king of peace. 00:29:19.52\00:29:23.16 That word peace, king of Salem, 00:29:23.19\00:29:25.63 that word Salem means peace. 00:29:25.66\00:29:27.03 So he's king of peace. 00:29:27.03\00:29:28.36 And secondly, he is the priest of the Most High God. 00:29:28.40\00:29:30.40 So he's a king and he's a priest. 00:29:30.47\00:29:32.67 All right. 00:29:32.70\00:29:34.04 And that happens to be the same designation 00:29:34.07\00:29:36.64 is given to Christ in Hebrews 5, 6 and 7. 00:29:36.71\00:29:41.08 Christ is a king priest. 00:29:41.11\00:29:42.44 Now that is a unique position for Christ to occupy. 00:29:42.48\00:29:46.82 You know, there's the Old Testament priesthood, 00:29:46.85\00:29:49.22 the Aaron, how do we say it? 00:29:49.25\00:29:51.45 The... Levitical? 00:29:51.49\00:29:52.99 Levitical priesthood, excuse me, 00:29:53.02\00:29:54.36 the Levitical priesthood. 00:29:54.39\00:29:55.72 And I was slipping there. 00:29:55.76\00:29:57.13 And so, the Levites were priests, 00:29:57.16\00:29:58.96 but they weren't kings and kings in the Old Testament 00:29:58.99\00:30:01.60 could be kings, but they couldn't be priests. 00:30:01.63\00:30:03.20 I mean, Saul tried that. 00:30:03.23\00:30:04.70 Asa tried that, didn't work, but Christ is a king priest 00:30:04.73\00:30:08.64 and He's a king priest after the order of Melchizedek. 00:30:08.67\00:30:12.31 And that designation is found, of course, in Hebrews 7 00:30:12.34\00:30:16.11 and based on Genesis Chapter 14. 00:30:16.14\00:30:20.02 So, that is, I hope 00:30:20.08\00:30:21.42 that's a good answer to your question. 00:30:21.45\00:30:22.78 Melchizedek was a king priest and a type of Christ. 00:30:22.82\00:30:25.19 Amen. That's a great answer. 00:30:25.22\00:30:27.76 Pastor Ryan, coming back to you. 00:30:27.79\00:30:29.36 "Please explain Matthew 10:34-36." 00:30:29.39\00:30:33.60 This is from Riva in Rutherford, New Jersey. 00:30:33.66\00:30:36.13 All right. Well, let's read it. 00:30:36.16\00:30:37.50 Let's go right there. Matthew 10:34-36. 00:30:37.53\00:30:40.67 Jesus says, "Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. 00:30:40.70\00:30:44.24 I did not come to bring peace but a sword. 00:30:44.27\00:30:46.37 For I have come to set a man against his father, 00:30:46.41\00:30:48.44 a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law 00:30:48.48\00:30:50.51 against her mother-in-law 00:30:50.58\00:30:51.91 and a man's enemy will be those of his own household. 00:30:51.95\00:30:55.08 He who loves father or mother more than Me 00:30:55.12\00:30:56.75 is not worthy of Me. 00:30:56.82\00:30:58.15 And he who loves son or daughter more than Me 00:30:58.19\00:31:00.66 is not worthy of Me. 00:31:00.69\00:31:02.02 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me 00:31:02.06\00:31:04.33 is not worthy of Me. 00:31:04.36\00:31:05.69 He who finds his life will lose it, 00:31:05.73\00:31:07.10 and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." 00:31:07.13\00:31:09.63 I think the key to all of what we just read 00:31:09.66\00:31:11.83 is really once you fully understand those first few 00:31:11.87\00:31:14.84 words that Christ says, because that's what really 00:31:14.87\00:31:16.44 throws people. 00:31:16.47\00:31:17.81 When He says, do not think that I've come to bring peace. 00:31:17.84\00:31:19.41 I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 00:31:19.44\00:31:21.31 A lot of people go, wait a second, 00:31:21.34\00:31:22.68 He's the Prince of peace. 00:31:22.71\00:31:24.05 And He's come to bring peace. And this is confusing. 00:31:24.11\00:31:26.35 The key word here, I think is the word earth. 00:31:26.38\00:31:28.32 He's not come to bring peace on earth. 00:31:28.35\00:31:30.65 We know that Christ wants to bring peace to men 00:31:30.69\00:31:33.02 individually, but we have to understand 00:31:33.05\00:31:35.69 that right there at the end of that, 00:31:35.72\00:31:37.09 it says, I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 00:31:37.13\00:31:39.26 It's in connection with this sword talk. 00:31:39.29\00:31:41.26 Now we know the Word of God brings division. 00:31:41.30\00:31:44.77 When Jesus come to speak, He was the living word. 00:31:44.80\00:31:46.80 And that word that He brought to the political arena 00:31:46.87\00:31:49.97 of His day was very much among the earth. 00:31:50.04\00:31:52.21 It was very divisional. 00:31:52.24\00:31:53.64 And so, we have to remember, it's been quoted already, 00:31:53.71\00:31:55.84 Hebrews 4:12 where the Word of God says, 00:31:55.88\00:31:58.91 "For the Word of God is living and powerful, 00:31:58.95\00:32:00.62 and sharper than any two-edged sword, 00:32:00.65\00:32:02.55 piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, 00:32:02.58\00:32:05.89 and to the joints and marrow, and is a discerner 00:32:05.92\00:32:07.59 of the thoughts and intents of the heart." 00:32:07.66\00:32:09.89 So the Word of God brings division. 00:32:09.92\00:32:11.93 We even see right there in Revelation 19, 00:32:11.96\00:32:13.80 Jesus coming back on a white horse. 00:32:13.83\00:32:15.93 And what does it say there in verse 15? 00:32:15.96\00:32:17.47 It says, "Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword 00:32:17.53\00:32:20.70 with which He should strike the nations." 00:32:20.74\00:32:22.90 So the Word of God brings divisions. 00:32:22.94\00:32:24.54 So Christ does wanna bring peace. 00:32:24.57\00:32:26.68 But oftentimes what happens 00:32:26.74\00:32:28.18 is when the Word of God is preached that individual 00:32:28.21\00:32:30.98 as an individual, we have responsibility to receive 00:32:31.01\00:32:34.62 the truth of God's Word. 00:32:34.65\00:32:35.98 When we receive that truth of God's Word, 00:32:36.02\00:32:37.95 oftentimes it will bring division 00:32:37.99\00:32:40.32 even among our own families, even among our household, 00:32:40.36\00:32:43.19 our mothers and our fathers. 00:32:43.22\00:32:44.56 And that's why Christ is stating below that. 00:32:44.59\00:32:46.43 You know, if you love your father, 00:32:46.46\00:32:47.76 your mother more than you love Me, 00:32:47.83\00:32:49.13 then you're not worthy of me. 00:32:49.16\00:32:50.50 So, again, what is being emphasized here 00:32:50.53\00:32:51.97 is the truth of God's Word. 00:32:52.00\00:32:53.37 Christ wants to bring peace individually. 00:32:53.40\00:32:55.37 When we accept that truth, when we accept salvation, 00:32:55.40\00:32:58.37 we have that inner peace. 00:32:58.41\00:32:59.87 But, of course, the Word of God for sure 00:32:59.91\00:33:01.51 brings division among this dreadful world. 00:33:01.54\00:33:05.18 It's a good answer. Absolutely. 00:33:05.21\00:33:06.55 We think about the great controversy. 00:33:06.58\00:33:07.92 You know, there's a great deal of division 00:33:07.95\00:33:09.28 because of Satan 00:33:09.32\00:33:10.69 and what he's brought to this earth. 00:33:10.72\00:33:12.05 Pastor James, we're coming back to you. 00:33:12.09\00:33:13.42 This is from Salvation in Symbols and Signs, 00:33:13.46\00:33:16.76 which is an incredible program. 00:33:16.83\00:33:18.29 If you have not checked it out, we encourage you to watch it. 00:33:18.33\00:33:22.06 They've done the entire, Pastor James, Pastor Ivor. 00:33:22.10\00:33:25.53 Of course, our own Jason Bradley 00:33:25.57\00:33:27.30 and Yvonne Shelton have done 00:33:27.34\00:33:28.84 the entire books of Revelation and Daniel. 00:33:28.87\00:33:31.31 Yeah. 00:33:31.34\00:33:32.67 "So on Salvation in Symbols and Signs, 00:33:32.71\00:33:34.28 Daniel 105, Pastor James mentioned near the end, 00:33:34.31\00:33:37.21 talking about Augustus and Tiberius. 00:33:37.25\00:33:39.18 And then he says 1813 to 1814. 00:33:39.21\00:33:43.15 What does that mean years? 00:33:43.18\00:33:44.75 He said, Augustus died in 1813 00:33:44.79\00:33:47.12 and Tiberius rose in 1814. 00:33:47.16\00:33:50.23 What does this mean?" 00:33:50.29\00:33:51.63 This comes from Marianna. Okay. 00:33:51.66\00:33:54.20 Well, Marianna, basically, 00:33:54.23\00:33:56.10 I think there's been a little bit 00:33:56.13\00:33:57.63 of a misunderstanding on that phrase or terminology. 00:33:57.67\00:34:03.10 We're dealing with not 1813 and 1814, 00:34:03.14\00:34:06.88 but AD 13 and AD 14. 00:34:06.91\00:34:10.35 So, this study that we're talking about here 00:34:10.38\00:34:13.55 is based on Luke Chapter 3. 00:34:13.62\00:34:15.25 And in Luke Chapter 3 we have kind of a timeline. 00:34:15.28\00:34:17.49 The whole Bible is all of it is focused on Christ. 00:34:17.52\00:34:21.69 And in Luke Chapter 2, 00:34:21.72\00:34:23.06 Christ is born under Augustus Caesar. 00:34:23.09\00:34:25.03 In Luke Chapter 3, He's baptized. 00:34:25.06\00:34:27.60 And that baptism event 00:34:27.60\00:34:29.43 is actually historically dated for us. 00:34:29.46\00:34:31.57 It's the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. 00:34:31.60\00:34:34.14 So Tiberius Caesar in AD 13 00:34:34.20\00:34:36.57 became co-ruler with Augustus Caesar. 00:34:36.60\00:34:39.11 In AD 14, when Augustus passed to rest, 00:34:39.14\00:34:41.58 Tiberius is sole ruler, but his rulership 00:34:41.61\00:34:43.81 begins in AD 13. 00:34:43.85\00:34:45.81 Fifteen years later, you have AD 27. 00:34:45.85\00:34:48.78 And that is when Jesus Christ is baptized. 00:34:48.82\00:34:52.29 And when He's baptized, He's anointed with 00:34:52.32\00:34:53.66 the Holy Spirit, that's what the word Messiah 00:34:53.72\00:34:55.36 or Christ means to be anointed or the anointed one. 00:34:55.39\00:34:58.63 And so, in the prophecy in Daniel Chapter 9, 00:34:58.66\00:35:01.46 which is a takeoff on Daniel 8:14, 00:35:01.50\00:35:04.17 we have Christ being anointed 483 years. 00:35:04.20\00:35:08.47 That's a time for a day for a year prophecy, 00:35:08.50\00:35:11.07 483 years after the decree of 457 to restore 00:35:11.11\00:35:14.68 and rebuild Jerusalem. 00:35:14.71\00:35:16.14 Well, in the New Testament, you actually have 00:35:16.18\00:35:17.98 a date for His anointing. 00:35:18.01\00:35:19.35 It's the 15th year of Tiberius Caesar. 00:35:19.38\00:35:21.58 It begins in AD 13 with this co-rulership 00:35:21.62\00:35:24.09 with Augustus Caesar, and it takes us to AD 27. 00:35:24.12\00:35:27.09 And guess what? 00:35:27.16\00:35:28.49 When you walk back from AD 27, 00:35:28.52\00:35:30.33 which is a biblical date for the baptism 00:35:30.36\00:35:33.73 or the anointing of Christ. 00:35:33.80\00:35:35.10 When you walk back 483 years, 00:35:35.13\00:35:38.10 guess where you come to Shelley? 00:35:38.13\00:35:40.40 457 BC. 00:35:40.44\00:35:42.27 So now we have a New Testament verse. 00:35:42.30\00:35:45.04 We have New Testament evidence for the establishment 00:35:45.07\00:35:48.24 of the 2300 day prophecy. 00:35:48.28\00:35:49.61 Amen. That's powerful. 00:35:49.64\00:35:51.98 I like that. 00:35:52.01\00:35:53.38 Shelley, "Please explain 2 Peter 2:4." 00:35:53.42\00:35:57.39 This comes from David in Maryland. 00:35:57.45\00:35:59.29 Oh, David. Okay. 00:35:59.32\00:36:01.49 2 Peter 2:4 says, 00:36:01.52\00:36:02.92 "If God did not spare the angels who sinned, 00:36:02.96\00:36:05.43 but cast them down to hell, delivered them 00:36:05.46\00:36:07.40 into chains of darkness to be reserved for judgment." 00:36:07.46\00:36:11.20 I'm gonna add another verse to this because Jude 6 00:36:11.23\00:36:15.00 kind of goes along this line. 00:36:15.04\00:36:17.77 Jude writes the angels 00:36:17.81\00:36:19.24 who did not keep their positions of authority, 00:36:19.27\00:36:21.88 but abandoned their own home. 00:36:21.91\00:36:23.65 These, He has kept in darkness bound 00:36:23.68\00:36:25.75 with everlasting chains for judgment on that great day. 00:36:25.78\00:36:29.52 This is the day that God's executing His judgment. 00:36:29.55\00:36:33.09 In context, both Peter and Jude are talking 00:36:33.12\00:36:35.76 about false teachers. 00:36:35.79\00:36:38.16 And basically what they are pointing out 00:36:38.19\00:36:41.00 is that God's judgments are inevitable. 00:36:41.03\00:36:44.50 If God did not forgive the angels, 00:36:44.53\00:36:47.10 He ain't going to forgive the sinners 00:36:47.14\00:36:48.60 who don't repent. 00:36:48.64\00:36:49.97 So in Revelation 12, 00:36:50.01\00:36:51.91 we see that war broke out in heaven. 00:36:51.94\00:36:54.68 Lucifer blasphemed God 00:36:54.71\00:36:58.25 and he led this rebellion 00:36:58.28\00:37:01.22 and a third of the angels joined him. 00:37:01.25\00:37:03.55 And what happened? 00:37:03.62\00:37:04.95 These angels who had had these positions of authority 00:37:04.99\00:37:08.09 and walk in the presence of God, 00:37:08.12\00:37:10.26 well, guess what? 00:37:10.29\00:37:11.86 They all committed the unpardonable sin, 00:37:11.89\00:37:13.93 and God kicks them out of heaven. 00:37:13.96\00:37:16.56 The Satan and his followers were hurled to the earth, 00:37:16.60\00:37:20.94 cast out of heaven. 00:37:20.97\00:37:22.57 Now the word here for hell, 00:37:22.60\00:37:24.41 the only use of it in the Bible, 00:37:24.44\00:37:26.98 in the New Testament, this Greek word. 00:37:27.01\00:37:29.11 But let me just tell you 00:37:29.14\00:37:30.85 what it means that they were incarcerated symbolically. 00:37:30.88\00:37:35.82 They were in a place of death and darkness. 00:37:35.85\00:37:38.59 It's not literal incarceration for these angels because 00:37:38.62\00:37:43.53 we know that angels are still there or the demons. 00:37:43.56\00:37:46.39 These fallen angels are very active among men. 00:37:46.43\00:37:49.83 So chains of darkness, this is figurative language, 00:37:49.86\00:37:54.20 the angels can't, they've been cut 00:37:54.24\00:37:56.67 out from the presence of the Lord in His life. 00:37:56.71\00:38:00.41 And these everlasting chains for judgment can't be escaped. 00:38:00.44\00:38:05.95 They've already been, a sentence has been pronounced 00:38:05.98\00:38:10.62 and they're being reserved for the day 00:38:10.65\00:38:14.29 of judgment when the sinner is executed, 00:38:14.32\00:38:17.36 and we find it in Revelation 20:10. 00:38:17.39\00:38:20.13 Satan and his unholy angels are gonna be finally executed, 00:38:20.16\00:38:24.80 cast into the lake of fire at the end of the age. 00:38:24.83\00:38:28.00 Thank you, Shelley. 00:38:28.04\00:38:29.37 Pastor Ryan, "Why do we use Daniel," 00:38:29.40\00:38:32.41 but I think they mean the name Daniel, 00:38:32.44\00:38:34.64 "but refer to his friends by their Babylonian names?" 00:38:34.68\00:38:38.01 Yeah. 00:38:38.05\00:38:39.38 Well, you know, I've wondered that same 00:38:39.41\00:38:40.75 question for many, many years. 00:38:40.82\00:38:42.75 In fact, I've actually stood up 00:38:42.78\00:38:44.12 publicly in many of my evangelistic series. 00:38:44.19\00:38:46.05 And when I refer to Daniel and his three friends, 00:38:46.09\00:38:48.99 I always use their Hebrew names. 00:38:49.02\00:38:51.53 Let's go to Daniel 1:6 and 7, and this is what it says? 00:38:51.56\00:38:55.40 It says, "Now from among those of the sons of Judah 00:38:55.43\00:38:58.17 were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 00:38:58.20\00:39:01.90 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names." 00:39:01.94\00:39:04.04 And this is the Babylonian system 00:39:04.07\00:39:05.67 giving them Babylonian 00:39:05.71\00:39:07.04 pagan names and, of course, 00:39:07.11\00:39:08.44 "he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar, 00:39:08.48\00:39:10.68 and to Hananiah, notice, to Hananiah, 00:39:10.71\00:39:12.38 Shadrach, to Mishael, Meshach, and to Azariah, Abednego." 00:39:12.41\00:39:16.48 And so, yeah, oftentimes we hear so, 00:39:16.52\00:39:18.55 many people they'll refer. 00:39:18.59\00:39:19.92 You never hear anyone say, 00:39:19.95\00:39:21.52 well, you know, if you go over and read, 00:39:21.56\00:39:23.09 Belteshazzar, Belteshazzar tells us, 00:39:23.12\00:39:25.59 we don't refer to Daniel as Belteshazzar. 00:39:25.63\00:39:27.30 We refer to him as, 00:39:27.36\00:39:28.66 as Daniel and that's to the person's 00:39:28.70\00:39:30.07 point who wrote this question. 00:39:30.10\00:39:31.43 I'm glad this person submitted this question 00:39:31.47\00:39:33.34 because when we speak of the other three friends, 00:39:33.37\00:39:35.14 we often say, you know, Shadrach, Meshach, 00:39:35.17\00:39:37.21 and Abednego in the fiery furnace, 00:39:37.24\00:39:38.57 you know, and truthfully, 00:39:38.61\00:39:40.58 we should try to get away from that. 00:39:40.61\00:39:42.68 I have a theory as to why we do that, 00:39:42.71\00:39:45.08 a couple of reasons. 00:39:45.11\00:39:46.45 For one, it just kind of rolls off the tongue, 00:39:46.48\00:39:47.88 you know, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 00:39:47.92\00:39:49.55 It just kind of goes along the tongue, right? 00:39:49.58\00:39:51.59 Versus Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah doesn't roll off 00:39:51.62\00:39:55.49 the tongue as easy. 00:39:55.52\00:39:56.86 And plus we've just heard it ever since 00:39:56.93\00:39:58.26 we were children, right? 00:39:58.29\00:39:59.63 I remember when I was a Sunday keeper, Sunday school, 00:39:59.66\00:40:02.00 and even in Sabbath school, when I went, 00:40:02.03\00:40:04.03 you know, just hearing people say again, 00:40:04.07\00:40:05.40 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, 00:40:05.43\00:40:07.20 but we should use their real Hebrew 00:40:07.24\00:40:10.07 names because those names have meanings. 00:40:10.11\00:40:12.57 For instance, Daniel means, 00:40:12.61\00:40:13.94 God is my judge and Hananiah means, 00:40:13.98\00:40:15.91 Yahweh has been gracious. 00:40:15.94\00:40:17.85 Mishael means, who is like the mighty one. 00:40:17.88\00:40:20.68 And, of course, Azariah means, Yaweh has helped or will help. 00:40:20.72\00:40:24.52 So all of these have great, beautiful meanings. 00:40:24.55\00:40:26.59 When we get over to these other names, 00:40:26.62\00:40:27.96 given to them Babylonian names, 00:40:27.99\00:40:29.49 it's all names pertaining to the Babylonian 00:40:29.52\00:40:32.73 false pagan gods, 00:40:32.76\00:40:34.20 the God of the sun and the God of the moon 00:40:34.23\00:40:35.56 and all of these other pagan false gods. 00:40:35.60\00:40:37.70 So, yes, let's get into the practice 00:40:37.73\00:40:39.63 of using their real names. 00:40:39.67\00:40:41.54 Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. 00:40:41.57\00:40:45.34 Boy, there's a sermon there, brother. 00:40:45.37\00:40:46.71 Oh, man, absolutely. 00:40:46.74\00:40:50.41 Pastor James, this is from Rich in New Jersey. 00:40:50.48\00:40:53.85 "Why do Catholics still have Christ on the cross 00:40:53.88\00:40:56.28 while Christians have an empty cross?" 00:40:56.32\00:41:00.16 Very good question. 00:41:00.19\00:41:01.52 Being a Catholic coming from Catholic background. 00:41:01.56\00:41:04.03 This question means a lot to me. 00:41:04.06\00:41:05.79 So, Rich, there are a couple of reasons that we can 00:41:05.83\00:41:08.56 look at here that are specific. 00:41:08.60\00:41:11.20 Now, there may be more than this, 00:41:11.23\00:41:12.57 but there's two that are specific. 00:41:12.60\00:41:13.94 One of them is that many Protestants 00:41:14.00\00:41:17.74 don't like the emphasis of Christ on the cross 00:41:17.77\00:41:21.81 because it deemphasizes the resurrection 00:41:21.84\00:41:24.28 of Jesus Christ. 00:41:24.31\00:41:25.65 And we serve a risen Savior who's in the world today. 00:41:25.68\00:41:29.02 We believe that Christ not only died, 00:41:29.05\00:41:31.22 but also resurrected and that cross that is empty, 00:41:31.25\00:41:34.89 reminds us of the resurrection. 00:41:34.92\00:41:37.09 The early church felt that the resurrection 00:41:37.13\00:41:39.23 was really important. 00:41:39.26\00:41:41.06 We don't emphasize it as much today, perhaps 00:41:41.10\00:41:44.63 as the early church did, but Paul really put a lot 00:41:44.67\00:41:48.67 of weight on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:41:48.70\00:41:51.24 In fact, let's look in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, 00:41:51.27\00:41:53.81 this is a powerful chapter that emphasizes 00:41:53.84\00:41:56.68 the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:41:56.71\00:41:59.15 Paul says here beginning with verse 12. 00:41:59.18\00:42:00.62 "Now, Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, 00:42:00.65\00:42:03.89 how say some among you that there is no 00:42:03.92\00:42:06.12 resurrection of the dead. 00:42:06.15\00:42:07.49 And if there be no resurrection of the dead," 00:42:07.56\00:42:08.99 verse 13, "then Christ is not risen. 00:42:09.02\00:42:10.86 And if Christ be not risen, then our preaching 00:42:10.93\00:42:13.09 is in vain and your faith is in vain." 00:42:13.13\00:42:15.86 What, Paul? 00:42:15.90\00:42:17.53 What are you saying here? 00:42:17.57\00:42:18.93 That if there's no resurrection, 00:42:18.97\00:42:21.04 we're preaching for nothing. 00:42:21.07\00:42:22.40 And our faith is for nothing. 00:42:22.44\00:42:23.77 You see how much emphasis he's placing on this. 00:42:23.81\00:42:25.54 And so, Protestants think it's really 00:42:25.57\00:42:27.34 important for us to emphasize the empty cross, 00:42:27.38\00:42:30.71 to emphasize empty cross that symbolizes 00:42:30.75\00:42:32.98 the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:42:33.01\00:42:34.82 Now there's a second reason. 00:42:34.85\00:42:36.18 One, which is probably more dear to us 00:42:36.22\00:42:38.95 as Seventh-day Adventists, because we have such 00:42:38.99\00:42:40.86 a strong emphasis on the Ten Commandments. 00:42:40.92\00:42:44.19 Image worship is forbidden 00:42:44.23\00:42:45.89 in the Ten Commandments of the Bible. 00:42:45.93\00:42:47.86 Now being raised a Catholic, I worshiped images, 00:42:47.86\00:42:50.10 I worshiped images of Mary and images of Jesus, 00:42:50.13\00:42:52.87 and images of saints, and Christ on the cross 00:42:52.90\00:42:55.40 was an image of reverence and worship. 00:42:55.44\00:42:57.64 I was an altar boy, that was part of my life 00:42:57.67\00:42:59.61 as I grew up in London, England. 00:42:59.64\00:43:01.68 And so, for Christians who are Catholics 00:43:01.71\00:43:05.75 who believe and follow the Catholic faith, 00:43:05.78\00:43:08.78 this is not a problem. 00:43:08.82\00:43:10.39 But for those of us who are Protestants, 00:43:10.42\00:43:12.32 this is a violation of the second commandment, 00:43:12.35\00:43:13.99 which by the way 00:43:14.06\00:43:15.39 has been removed from Catholic catechisms, 00:43:15.42\00:43:17.36 Catholic teaching. 00:43:17.43\00:43:18.89 And the last commandment, the 10th commandment 00:43:18.93\00:43:20.60 has been split into to make up the number, 00:43:20.63\00:43:22.36 to make sure there's still 10. 00:43:22.40\00:43:23.83 So this is a serious issue for us as Protestants. 00:43:23.87\00:43:26.57 We do not believe in image worship. 00:43:26.60\00:43:27.94 We do not believe that it's right for us, 00:43:27.97\00:43:31.21 according to the commandments of God to be worshiping images 00:43:31.24\00:43:33.78 of Mary or Jesus or the saints. 00:43:33.84\00:43:35.84 And Christ on the cross 00:43:35.88\00:43:37.21 is an image that can be worshiped and is worshiped. 00:43:37.25\00:43:40.58 At least it was in my home 00:43:40.62\00:43:42.12 and in my experience 00:43:42.15\00:43:44.52 because it's an image of Christ. 00:43:44.55\00:43:46.59 And so, that is the second reason. 00:43:46.62\00:43:48.06 So for these two reasons, Rich, number one, 00:43:48.09\00:43:50.83 we just want to place a proper emphasis 00:43:50.89\00:43:52.29 on the resurrection 00:43:52.33\00:43:53.66 and emphasize that truth, which means so much to us. 00:43:53.70\00:43:56.13 According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 15, 00:43:56.16\00:43:57.63 and the number two, 00:43:57.67\00:43:59.00 we want to avoid making idol worship 00:43:59.03\00:44:01.44 and the veneration of images by having Christ on the cross. 00:44:01.47\00:44:04.81 It's very good. Thank you. 00:44:04.84\00:44:06.88 That's powerful. Shelley, this is for you. 00:44:06.91\00:44:09.61 "What does Jesus mean in Matthew 9:5 00:44:09.64\00:44:12.28 when he asked the question, which is easier, 00:44:12.31\00:44:14.85 what is he asking?" 00:44:14.88\00:44:16.22 Okay. 00:44:16.25\00:44:17.59 I want to go to this story, but the parallel 00:44:17.62\00:44:20.96 account in Mark Chapter 2, because it gives us 00:44:20.99\00:44:24.93 a little more information. 00:44:24.96\00:44:26.53 Mark 2:5, 00:44:26.56\00:44:29.40 the men bring a paralytic to Jesus. 00:44:29.43\00:44:32.77 And Jesus says to the paralyzed man, 00:44:32.80\00:44:35.80 son, your sins are forgiven you. 00:44:35.84\00:44:38.71 And in some of the scribes who were sitting there 00:44:38.74\00:44:41.74 and they started reasoning in their hearts and they said, 00:44:41.78\00:44:45.21 "Why does this man speak blasphemy like this? 00:44:45.25\00:44:48.65 Who can forgive sins, but God alone." 00:44:48.68\00:44:52.32 So the scribes were accusing Jesus of blasphemy 00:44:52.35\00:44:57.19 when He claimed the power to forgive sins. 00:44:57.23\00:45:00.63 And really Jesus was putting Himself in God's place 00:45:00.66\00:45:03.77 because only God can forgive sins. 00:45:03.80\00:45:07.27 These words of Jesus 00:45:07.34\00:45:09.10 were a claim of divine authority. 00:45:09.14\00:45:13.38 He was claiming equality to God. 00:45:13.41\00:45:16.44 Now in verse 8, Mark 2:8 says, "Immediately, 00:45:16.48\00:45:21.75 when Jesus perceived in His spirit 00:45:21.78\00:45:23.59 that they reasoned within themselves, 00:45:23.62\00:45:25.65 He said to them, 00:45:25.69\00:45:27.09 'Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? 00:45:27.16\00:45:29.96 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 00:45:30.03\00:45:33.40 'Your sins I forgive you,' or to say, 'Arise, 00:45:33.43\00:45:37.53 take up your bed and walk'? 00:45:37.57\00:45:39.77 But that you may know that the Son of Man 00:45:39.80\00:45:41.40 has power on earth to forgive sins' as God. 00:45:41.44\00:45:45.44 He said to the paralytic, 'I say to you, 00:45:45.47\00:45:49.71 arise, take up your bed, go to your house.'" 00:45:49.74\00:45:52.75 Which is easier is a rhetorical question. 00:45:52.78\00:45:58.39 It has an obvious answer. 00:45:58.42\00:46:01.62 Forgiveness is a spiritual miracle 00:46:01.66\00:46:04.53 from God. 00:46:04.56\00:46:05.89 Healing is a physical miracle. 00:46:05.93\00:46:08.00 Both can be accomplished by God and God only. 00:46:08.03\00:46:11.83 And if Jesus couldn't do both, then He couldn't do either. 00:46:11.87\00:46:15.30 So Christ was proving His messianic power 00:46:15.34\00:46:19.77 as God and you know what? 00:46:19.81\00:46:22.81 The scribe should have fallen down 00:46:22.84\00:46:25.18 and worshiped Him. 00:46:25.21\00:46:26.55 Amen. 00:46:26.58\00:46:27.92 I've learned a lot just sitting here, 00:46:27.95\00:46:29.28 listening today to each one of you 00:46:29.32\00:46:30.69 and we hope you have as well. 00:46:30.72\00:46:32.42 Y'all are excellent students 00:46:32.45\00:46:33.99 of the Word and teachers, so thank you for that. 00:46:34.06\00:46:36.26 Praise the Lord. 00:46:36.29\00:46:37.63 This is one of my favorite parts 00:46:37.66\00:46:38.99 of the program because it's the bonus round. 00:46:39.03\00:46:41.03 We're gonna toss out the questions 00:46:41.06\00:46:42.80 and you all are welcome to jump in 00:46:42.83\00:46:44.70 and whoever wants to answer or all of you answer. 00:46:44.73\00:46:47.64 This one says, 00:46:47.67\00:46:49.00 "How many times did Jesus go to heaven 00:46:49.04\00:46:51.57 after His resurrection? 00:46:51.61\00:46:53.64 Where is the other text 00:46:53.68\00:46:55.18 besides Acts 1:9-11?" 00:46:55.21\00:46:59.68 Well, I guess I'll jump in here. 00:46:59.71\00:47:01.12 And if somebody wants to add to it, they can. 00:47:01.15\00:47:04.15 I guess it really depends on 00:47:04.22\00:47:05.55 how you interpret particular scripture. 00:47:05.59\00:47:07.09 I'm gonna go to John Chapter 19 'cause when you get to, 00:47:07.12\00:47:10.16 excuse me, John Chapter 20, let's go to John Chapter 20. 00:47:10.19\00:47:12.36 This is in the aftermath of the resurrection of Christ 00:47:12.39\00:47:15.06 and Jesus has that encounter with Mary Magdalene. 00:47:15.10\00:47:18.73 And so, we find there in John Chapter 19, 00:47:18.77\00:47:21.37 particularly verse 17, 00:47:21.40\00:47:23.54 Mary has just realized that it's Jesus talking to her 00:47:23.61\00:47:27.11 and she kind of runs at Him or launches herself at Him 00:47:27.18\00:47:30.25 I suppose. 00:47:30.28\00:47:31.61 And notice what Jesus says in John 20:17, 00:47:31.65\00:47:35.82 "Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to Me, 00:47:35.85\00:47:37.69 for I have not yet ascended to My Father, 00:47:37.72\00:47:40.26 but go to My brethren and say to them, 00:47:40.29\00:47:42.02 'I am ascending to My Father and your Father, 00:47:42.06\00:47:44.59 and to My God and your God.'" 00:47:44.63\00:47:45.99 Now, that I just read the New King James version, 00:47:46.03\00:47:48.30 which says do not cling to me 00:47:48.33\00:47:49.93 and if you read the King James version, 00:47:49.96\00:47:52.10 King James version uses the word 00:47:52.13\00:47:54.00 and I'm reading it here it says, 00:47:54.04\00:47:56.57 "Do not touch me, for I've not yet ascended to My Father." 00:47:56.60\00:47:59.61 So depending on how you interpret that you can get, 00:47:59.64\00:48:02.28 some would argue, say, oh, no, 00:48:02.31\00:48:03.71 He didn't go to heaven until after He had met the disciples. 00:48:03.78\00:48:08.18 But yet there's a possibility that Jesus went to heaven 00:48:08.22\00:48:11.69 after this event, because notice how He says 00:48:11.72\00:48:14.29 do not touch Me, do not cling to Me. 00:48:14.32\00:48:16.96 But yet later on, when He on that same very day, 00:48:16.99\00:48:20.06 He appears to the disciples in the closed room upstairs, 00:48:20.13\00:48:23.57 He allows Thomas to touch Him. 00:48:23.60\00:48:26.27 So there are some very clear explanations 00:48:26.30\00:48:28.94 that interpret these texts that say 00:48:28.97\00:48:30.31 Jesus would have went to heaven 00:48:30.34\00:48:31.87 before His afternoon meeting or His evening night meeting 00:48:31.91\00:48:35.28 with the disciples. 00:48:35.31\00:48:36.64 And then, of course, obviously at His ascension 00:48:36.68\00:48:39.18 40 days later. 00:48:39.21\00:48:40.55 And so, if anybody wants to add to that, 00:48:40.62\00:48:42.05 so I personally believe that it's a very much 00:48:42.08\00:48:44.59 a possibility that Jesus would have went to heaven right after 00:48:44.62\00:48:47.82 His meeting with Mary Magdalene 00:48:47.86\00:48:49.96 and then came back that same day 00:48:50.03\00:48:52.76 and then He had an evening or night meeting 00:48:52.79\00:48:54.93 in which He allowed Thomas to touch Him. 00:48:54.96\00:48:56.83 But He wouldn't allow Mary to touch Him 00:48:56.87\00:48:58.20 or to cling to Him that very same day. 00:48:58.23\00:49:00.80 Yeah. 00:49:00.87\00:49:02.20 In fact, I would just affirm that, 00:49:02.24\00:49:03.57 take out the word possibility 00:49:03.61\00:49:04.94 and just add the word surety, because He's being partial. 00:49:04.97\00:49:07.54 If He's not gonna let Mary touch Him, 00:49:07.61\00:49:09.58 but then He lets Thomas touch Him 00:49:09.61\00:49:10.98 and He hangs out with all the others 00:49:11.01\00:49:12.35 and don't hinder me. 00:49:12.38\00:49:13.72 That's another translation, don't hinder me. 00:49:13.75\00:49:15.08 Well, what in the world? So then He's there for 40 days. 00:49:15.12\00:49:18.25 That would be impartial also because in Acts 1:3 it says, 00:49:18.29\00:49:21.72 and He spent 40 days with the disciples. 00:49:21.76\00:49:24.09 So definitely John Chapter 20, He's going to heaven. 00:49:24.16\00:49:27.73 I said possibly because I've heard people 00:49:27.76\00:49:30.17 explain this text and they'll say, well, 00:49:30.20\00:49:31.97 one says touch, one says cling. 00:49:32.00\00:49:33.74 He said not to cling, in other words, 00:49:33.77\00:49:35.67 not to hold on to Me, 00:49:35.70\00:49:37.14 but He would've allowed her to touch Him, right? 00:49:37.21\00:49:39.04 These are people talking, 00:49:39.07\00:49:40.41 so they twist the Word of God there. 00:49:40.48\00:49:41.81 But I do agree with you. 00:49:41.84\00:49:43.18 I believe Jesus very much did go to heaven that day and, 00:49:43.21\00:49:45.25 of course, 40 days later, so two times. 00:49:45.28\00:49:46.95 Amen. Amen. Yeah. 00:49:47.02\00:49:48.55 Well done. Anything else you wanna add? 00:49:48.58\00:49:50.19 Oh, that's well covered. We got time. 00:49:50.22\00:49:52.72 I think just a few seconds for one more question. 00:49:52.75\00:49:54.96 Let's see if we can get it in. 00:49:54.99\00:49:56.36 "In Genesis 19, how does Lot recognize 00:49:56.39\00:49:58.73 the two men as angels? 00:49:58.76\00:50:00.23 Were these the same men that appeared to Abraham 00:50:00.30\00:50:02.53 in Chapter 18? 00:50:02.56\00:50:03.93 If so, where is the third one of them?" 00:50:03.97\00:50:05.87 This comes from Australia. Absolutely. 00:50:05.90\00:50:09.10 Yeah. 00:50:09.14\00:50:10.47 Genesis 18, we see, but basically called 00:50:10.51\00:50:12.11 a Christophany here where actually Jesus 00:50:12.14\00:50:14.14 appears in the flesh as an individual. 00:50:14.18\00:50:16.71 It's very much, I believe there's these two angels 00:50:16.75\00:50:19.11 and Jesus speaking to Abraham in Genesis 19, 00:50:19.15\00:50:22.12 but then, of course, Jesus sends on 00:50:22.15\00:50:24.35 the two angels to Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:50:24.39\00:50:25.92 and He hangs back and He has this conversation 00:50:25.95\00:50:27.99 with Abraham you know, the 50 and the 40. 00:50:28.02\00:50:30.19 If there's 10 people, Lord, will you save them? 00:50:30.23\00:50:31.89 He says, "Even if there's 10, I'll save Sodom and Gomorrah." 00:50:31.93\00:50:35.26 But when you get to Chapter 19, 00:50:35.30\00:50:36.93 I believe there's some clear scriptures 00:50:37.00\00:50:38.37 here that indicate that once they came out of the city, 00:50:38.40\00:50:41.07 prior to the fire and brimstone coming down, 00:50:41.10\00:50:43.54 there's very much a possibility that this very much 00:50:43.57\00:50:46.71 could have been Jesus 00:50:46.74\00:50:48.08 and the angels based on a text here. 00:50:48.11\00:50:49.88 Notice John Chapter, excuse me, Genesis Chapter 19. 00:50:49.91\00:50:53.25 And I'm gonna read verse 24. 00:50:53.28\00:50:55.28 It says, "Then the Lord rained brimstone 00:50:55.32\00:50:58.09 and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, 00:50:58.12\00:51:00.26 from the Lord out of heaven." 00:51:00.29\00:51:01.62 Notice, it almost like there's a presence here, 00:51:01.66\00:51:03.43 the Lord's here and the Lord's there, 00:51:03.46\00:51:05.06 but He's raining fire and brimstone. 00:51:05.09\00:51:06.70 We know the angels, 00:51:06.73\00:51:08.03 two men were angels because He just 00:51:08.06\00:51:09.60 understood them to be angels. 00:51:09.63\00:51:10.97 But there's an indication here that even Jesus 00:51:11.00\00:51:13.17 was still there outside of this city, 00:51:13.20\00:51:15.57 as He called for fire 00:51:15.60\00:51:16.97 and brimstone to come down out of heaven. 00:51:17.01\00:51:18.84 So that would've been in the aftermath 00:51:18.87\00:51:20.64 of Sodom and Gomorrah. 00:51:20.68\00:51:22.01 A few seconds something you want to add. 00:51:22.04\00:51:23.38 Well, just to say that Lot didn't know that the angels 00:51:23.41\00:51:25.61 that went, went to him were angels 00:51:25.65\00:51:27.32 until they manifested themselves as angels. 00:51:27.38\00:51:29.92 Some entertained angels unawares as Hebrew says, 00:51:29.95\00:51:32.32 and Lot was one of those people. 00:51:32.35\00:51:33.72 Yeah. Yeah. Amen. 00:51:33.76\00:51:35.09 We thank you so much for turning in your questions. 00:51:35.12\00:51:37.13 We love to take your questions here at 3ABN 00:51:37.19\00:51:39.83 and to answer them on 3ABN today, Bible Q and A. 00:51:39.86\00:51:42.83 So what we're gonna do right now 00:51:42.86\00:51:44.20 is give you one more opportunity, 00:51:44.23\00:51:45.83 so that you can jot down those questions 00:51:45.87\00:51:47.94 and send them in to us. 00:51:47.97\00:51:49.30 And we'll be right back. 00:51:49.34\00:51:51.37 If you're enjoying our 3ABN Bible Q and A, 00:51:51.41\00:51:54.51 then tell your friends, 00:51:54.54\00:51:56.21 each Monday we'll bring you a fresh program, 00:51:56.24\00:51:58.85 answering the Bible questions you send us, 00:51:58.88\00:52:01.25 using God's Holy Word to shed light 00:52:01.28\00:52:03.72 on those texts that seem difficult to understand. 00:52:03.79\00:52:06.79 To have your questions answered on a future program, 00:52:06.86\00:52:09.56 just email them to us at BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:52:09.59\00:52:14.73 That's BibleQA@3abn.tv 00:52:14.76\00:52:18.50 You may also text your questions to (618) 228-3975. 00:52:18.53\00:52:24.21 That's (618) 228-3975. 00:52:24.27\00:52:27.84 Be sure to include your name and where you live, 00:52:27.88\00:52:30.31 and then watch 3ABN 00:52:30.35\00:52:31.68 Bible Q and A for answers from God's Word. 00:52:31.71\00:52:35.05