Hello listening friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? Found in Africa, Australia, and Madagascar the alien looking Baobab tree is sometimes known as the tree of life. It provides clothing, shelter and food and water for both man and animal. But, its proportionately fat trunk can store thousand of gallons of water in spongy wood for as long as the rainy season which is then used during the dry season. The Baobab fruit also called monkey bread has more vitamin C than four oranges.
The pollen can be used for glue. The seeds are rich in protein, oil, calcium and phosphates. The young leaves can be used like spinach and have high calcium content. And the fibrous trunk can be woven into rope, cloth, and to make mats and paper. The bark is even sometimes used to make a tea. Many of the mature trees are hollow providing a living space for animals and humans. In addition many of the Baobab trees seem to be very ancient. But, just how old is much disputed.
One old tree in South Africa is 72 feet high, 155 feet in circumference and is said to have been carbon dated at nearly 6,000 years old. Friends you now about six thousand years ago the Bible says there was a real tree of life on earth. But, you might be wondering where did it go? Stay with us we are going to learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Hello and welcome friends to “Bible Answers Live” and in the next hour or so you have a Bible question we have lines open. Call now and you have a pretty good chance of getting your question on tonight’s program. That number 1-800-GOD-SAYs 1-800-463-7297. And we dedicate this time not to finance or romance, but what does the word of God say? And once again the lines are open 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. Call us with your Bible questions. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross. Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug once again let’s begin the program with prayer. Dear Father we thank you we have this opportunity just to have a few moments studying the Bible. Lord we ask for wisdom and guidance and be with those listening wherever they might be and guide us together Lord into a deeper and fuller understanding of your word. For we ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Pastor Doug you opened the program by talking about a tree that is extremely versatile. It can be used for food, water and a house or at least shelter you mentioned that elephants sometimes carve out part of the trunk of it to get water.
Pastor Doug: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Ross: And then an animal can actually live in there.
Pastor Doug: Yeah in the bigger trees and they kind of end up becoming hollow because of animals picking away trying to get the water. But, yeah it provides shelter and uses the leaves for medicine and it makes me think of that verse in Ezekiel talking about the earth made new where it says that the leaves of the tree are used for medicine and there in Revelation it talks about the tree of life. And you can find that in Revelation Chapter 22: 1 and it says, “And he showed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal proceeding from the throne of God and from the land. And in the middle of the stream on either side of the river was the tee of life which bore twelve different kinds of fruit each yielding its fruit every month.” And then after Adam and Eve sinned it tells us in Genesis 3 that God drove the man from the Garden of Eden lest he eat from the tree of life and live forever. And there was left there this angel with the flaming sword which is kind of a-- I don’t know-- a supernatural weapon that was there to prevent any man from crossing over into that garden and eating of that fruit.
There must have been something—some essential ingredient that keeps our cells from dying because right now scientists don’t even knows why people get old and die. They say when we’re young and vital we heal and our cells regenerate, but as time goes by the cells get damaged and they don’t generate the same way with the same vitality and they don’t know why. There was something in that tree of life we are missing.
So you know people are like looking for the fountain of youth. They have traveled around the world and trying to find out where is this magic fruit. Does the tree of life still exist? And people have wondered where the tree of life went. It was in the Garden of Eden it says that it is going to be in the middle of the city of God in that new earth coming from the river of God. And the only thing that we can kind of agree on is that God did something to assume—I mean the same way Jesus went up to heaven and Elijah went up to heaven and He has now took this tree up to heaven so it would not be destroyed during the flood. Keep in mind friends that the Bible tells us this is not the Garden of Eden that it wasn’t man’s Garden. It says the Lord planted a garden. This special Garden was God’s garden and He may have taken it up to heaven to protect it somehow. And the Bible says in Revelation 21 in the end of the 1000 years that the New Jerusalem was coming down—so if God can bring the city down out of heaven why can’t He bring a tree up?
But, the promise of that tree will be in the earth made new and right now you can eat from that tree in the sense that Jesus died on a tree. He died on the cross and He is the tree of life. Jesus said lest you eat my flesh and drink my blood you have no life in you and by receiving Christ you have eternal life. Maybe you would like to know more about heaven—that place the Lord wants to take us and that city that will come down with the tree of life in it. We have a lesson.
Pastor Ross: We do it’s an “Amazing Facts” study guide called “Colossal City in Space” tells all about heaven. We’ll send that to anyone who calls and asks for it. Our number here at the resource line is 1-800-835-6747 and you can ask for the study guide “Colossal City in Space”. And again the resource line is 1-800-835-6747. And if you have a Bible question the number here to the studio is 1-800-463-7297 and again that is 1-800-463-7297. Well Pastor Doug we are ready to go to the first caller this evening.
Pastor Doug: Alright.
Pastor Ross: We have Mike who is listening in Syracuse, New York. Welcome Mike you are on the air.
Mike: Yes hello.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Mike: How are you tonight?
Pastor Doug: Fine and your question tonight?
Mike: My question is who do the Jewish people believe the Messiah is?
Pastor Doug: Well there are many Messianic Jews that believe that Jesus is the Messiah. But, the majority of the Jews and now keep in mind that when you say Jewish and my mother was Jewish so I grew up in and exposed to that and you have some Jews that are very loyal about being Jewish as far as their heritage. But, they are not religious they are secular Jews. So there are Jews that are atheists and I know that sounds like a contradiction in terms, but a person can be Jewish by heritage and not practicing. There are Orthodox Jews. There are people that are everything in between.
Mike: Right.
Pastor Doug: So many of the Jews they believe Jesus was a good man. You know my grandfather family said oh he was a good man, but we don’t believe He was the Messiah. Problem I said when I talked to him is He claimed to be the Messiah, so how could He be a good man and claims to be the Messiah? And he said oh He was a prophet and a good man. And so you get varying answers and some will say well He was a good man, but His followers wrote things that He didn’t actually say and you know there is a spectrum. But, all you have to do if you are a faithful Jew and you believe the Old Testament. If you read Isaiah 53 and it perfectly describes the life and sufferings of Jesus. And when you go through the life of Christ it foretells His being betrayed by a friend. It says He’ll be betrayed for twenty –sorry thirty pieces of silver. It was Joseph that was sold for twenty and Jesus was sold for thirty. And it tells that He’ll be born in Bethlehem. I mean there are so many prophecies about the first coming of Jesus. That there is really not much question that He was the Messiah. Are you there Mike?
Mike: Yeah no, I am here I am listening.
Pastor Doug: You know we have a study guide and a matter of fact there is a lesson and you can watch it for free online and its –
Mike: Oh well go ahead.
Pastor Doug: Well its a study guide or a lesson that talks about His being Jesus the Messiah. It is called the “Messiah Mystery”. And you can just go to “Amazing Facts” And type that in and it goes through tall the Bible elements of was Jesus the Messiah?
Pastor Ross: You know we also have a book dealing with the subject of “Spiritual Israel”. I think Mike will enjoy reading this.
Pastor Doug: Yeah or anyone. We’ll send you a free copy.
Pastor Ross: Send it to you for free if you’ll call our resource line the number is at 1-800-835-6747. Again just ask for the book “Spiritual Israel” and we will be happy to send that to anyone who calls and asks. We have Tonya who is listening in Michigan. Tonya welcome to the program.
Tonya: Hello how are you this evening?
Pastor Doug: We are doing great.
Tonya: Yes good. I am a single lady and never been married and there have been times I have had a questionable argument with a friend of mine that has been married and divorced twice. And both spouses are still alive. And the argument was whether he could remarry if there was infidelity with him or her I don’t know. And he wants to get married a third time and my question is in as far as God and the word is concerned would that be a permissible thing to do? Because I know it is until death do you part when you are married to someone and he has two living ex spouses?
Pastor Doug: Right that is what Jesus says is—I am sorry go ahead.
Tonya: I didn’t want to be caught up in a situation of where they are married and then divorced and still friendly and interactive with their ex-s and they were divorced because of infidelity and their spouses are still alive. Would that be reputable by God to remarry again because I was told that unless the spouse is deceased or something the other committed the adultery and the one that didn’t could remarry. But, other than that the one who committed adultery could never remarry.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Tonya: And have the honor of God.
Pastor Doug: On that relationship?
Tonya: Unless they were not the one that committed it.
Pastor Doug: Right the teachings of Jesus say that there are really only grounds for Biblical divorce is adultery. If the couple is married and if one of the couple and if one of them violates that marriage covenant by committing fornication that is the word that Jesus used for infidelity then that becomes grounds for divorce. That person then is Biblically free to pursue a different relationship because they were not responsible for what happened.
Tonya: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Now there are other cases mentioned in 1 Corinthians Chapter 7 where if you have two people who are unbelievers and one of them becomes a Christian and the unbeliever says I don’t want to be married to a Christian look I am divorcing you. Well the one who is abandoned may be free then to find a Christian spouse.
Tonya: Yeah because my concern both of these people was Christians and the male who may have fornicated against his wife wants to remarry a third time.
Pastor Doug: Yeah well I’d be real careful. You know that scenario would have several red flags and of course without knowing all the particulars and this program here is probably not the right way to do that. Yeah I wouldn’t want to make a call. Hopefully you have got a good Pastor you can talk to and give you some more specific help. But, it sounds like this fellow has a track record of some struggles there and you say he still has some relationship with the former wives. That could buy you some heartache if you got involved with a situation like that. So I would go real slow and make sure he has Biblical grounds for remarriage before and means his former wives would have been responsible for the fornication and the divorce.
Pastor Ross: We have a book on that. It is called “Divorce and Marriage and Remarriage”. We get a lot of questions that deal with the subject so anyone wanting to know more about this call our resource line. Ask for the book Marriage it is called “Divorce and Marriage and Remarriage”. The number I s1-800-835-6747 and again that is the resource line to call for the book. Ask for the book “Divorce and Marriage and Remarriage”. If you have a Bible question we have a few lines still open at 1-800-463-7297 again the number here at the studio is 1-800-463-7297.
Pastor Doug: Thanks Tonya.
Pastor Ross: We have Bradley who is listening from Ontario, Canada. Bradley welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Brady.
Pastor Ross: Well Brady. Are you there Brady?
Brady: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi how are you doing?
Brady: Good and you?
Pastor Doug: Real good and your question tonight?
Brady: Where is the physical body of Jesus?
Pastor Doug: Well if we go by the Bible it tells us He ascended to heaven. He went into the presence of God which is in that heavenly sanctuary where God dwells is the Holy of Holes in the Universe and Christ is there in His presence. Now that doesn’t mean that Jesus is just handcuffed to the floor or something. He stands before the Father as our intercessor. And another place it says He is seated at the right hand of the Father. He is enthroned with the Father and He continues to live and to rule and reign in the Universe. So I don’t know if Jesus isn’t allowed to move or if they turn off the seat belt sign and He can’t get up and go anywhere. But, principally the Bible describes Him in the presence of the Father right now in heaven.
Brady: Yeah well we really have no idea where He is. He could be right in front of us.
Pastor Doug: Well you know there are two ways when it talks about Jesus you have the Holy Spirit and Christ is with us through the Holy Spirit. Jesus is with us always He promised. But, then if you are asking where is He bodily? Jesus said I am sending the Spirit because I ascend to my Father and your Father. That is where He told Mary and that is John Chapter 21. So yeah Jesus is up in heaven with the Father and I am wondering maybe even our lesson on heaven we are offering you would really enjoy that Brady.
Pastor Ross: Yes and our study guide is called a “A Colossal City in Space”. And Brady if you will call and ask we’d be happy to send it to you or anyone who calls at our resource line of 1-800-835-6747 and again the name of the study guide is “A Colossal City in Space”. Our next caller is Gracias who is listening from Singapore. Gracias welcome to the program.
Gracias: Hi Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross I am really so thankful for your programs. I have been waiting to contact you for almost two years. So now I do that I greet you. Okay.
Pastor Doug: Now we are delighted to talk with you.
Gracias: Yeah actually physically I am a Catholic. And along the way went to see in Singapore then I got to the truth and now I can prove to my parents and sisters and contacts they have a shock to see me. And I really am so happy they are accepting the truth and they are going to the churches regularly and worshipping in the love and the truth.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Amen.
Pastor Doug: Well what was your question tonight Gracias?
Gracias: Oaky I have a two part question. The first part About Jesus is telling in Matthew 24 He is telling about the freedom of the cities and now a day everything is becoming as the cities when Jesus is telling when to flee from the cities and where to flee. What is He trying to say in that? That is the first part question.
Pastor Doug: Okay well in Matthew 24 when Jesus said when you see the abomination of desolation stand in the holy place let those that be in Jerusalem flee into the mountains. That was first of all that was a specific command to the Jews back in the time of Jesus when they saw the abomination of desolation to get out of the cities and Jerusalem imparticular because it was going to be conquered.
But, in the last days during the small time of trouble that is prophesied there are going to be religious laws and that isn’t too far into the future they are going to be religious laws where true Christians are going to be severely persecuted for their faith and it might be difficult for those living in the densely populated laces. Not to mention, the chaos that might be in some of those cities just because of the war and economic problems and Christians living in the hills where you can grow some of your own food and have a garden is going to probably be a lot more comfortable.
Pastor Ross: And you had a second part to your question.
Gracias: Yeah actually there are a lot of Messianic prophecies on the internet so I just want to understand. So this the Jews or how the Jews are understand who is the Messiah and they believe this properly?
Pastor Doug: Well there is all different kinds and some of the Jews read the prophecies in the Old Testament about Jesus and they are convicted and they are converted. That is what happened to me. I have a lot of Jewish friends that they read these prophecies and it touched their heart and they surrendered their lives to Jesus. Then you have got some that are very resistant and in my own family when they began to ask the Rabbi about some of these prophecies you know the Rabbi just denounced and said don’t read these things and it is all being twisted and misunderstood. And then they just dismiss it. But, so you’ll hear all kinds of different responses when Jews are exposed to the prophecies about Jesus being the Messiah.
But, Jesus perfectly fulfilled the mission of the Messiah to come the first time and was to come as a lamb and coming the second time as a lion. And many of the Jews got the two prophecies mixed up and they thought He was coming like a lion the first time and a lamb the second time. So we’ll e happy also Gracias to send you that book called “Spiritual Israel” and a matter of fact you can read that because you are in Singapore you can read that online by just going to “Amazing Facts dot org” and typing in the name on the free library. Do a search “Spiritual Israel” and you can read it online. Thanks for your call we are delighted to hear from you. I’ll tell my friend Mark Findley the good news.
Pastor Ross: We have Terrance listening from New York. Terrance welcome to the program.
Terrance: Yes hello.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Terrance: I have a question John in Revelation was he on the island of Patmos was he talking to Jesus or an angel sent by Jesus?
Pastor Doug: Well Jesus himself appeared to the Apostle John and it says that God sent the message through Christ. Well first and angel also brought the message and so it is if you read in and let’s see what Pastor Ross has to say.
Pastor Ross: Yes. I have the verse I think you are referring to in Revelation 1: 1 it says, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:” (KJV) So there is an angel involved, but then you can read later on in Revelation 1 you actually have a description of Jesus.
Pastor Doug: Verse 12.
Pastor Ross: Yes. John actually had a vision and sees Jesus and this is the description of Jesus. This is of course a symbolic representation that John sees here in Revelation 1.
Pastor Doug: Yeah so it is actually Jesus that does appear, but many of the divisions in Revelation He is accompanied by an angel that is an emissary or endorsed by Jesus. So does that answer it and go ahead Terrance.
Terrance: Jesus sent the angels of God right?
Pastor Doug: Yeah.
Pastor Ross: According to verse one yes.
Pastor Doug: Yeah so –
Terrance: It says John you will tread my golden rod. What does that mean?
Pastor Doug: What does what mean you said?
Terrance: It says go back into the rod and [inaudible].
Pastor Doug: Oh.
Pastor Ross: Are you referring to Daniel’s vision hear a voice saying--
Pastor Doug: You’ll stand in your lot in the end.
Pastor Ross: Or John.
Terrance: It says John you will go back to your lot. L O T.
Pastor Doug: Which verse are you reading?
Terrance: I am going to say after John told them [inaudible] he where did John go after that?
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Okay we have the verse so the question would be what happened to John after he wrote Revelation on the island of Patmos and he sent the message to the seven churches in the Asia.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Pastor Ross: It doesn’t tell us specifically in Revelation what happened to John. But, Christian religion has it that John was eventually released from Patmos and went back to Ephesus. Where he was originally arrested and taken to Patmos and lived out the rest of his life in Ephesus.
Pastor Doug: Yeah he was with the church there and you will enjoy our Bible studies. Terrance if you go to the “Amazing Facts” website we have got a number of studies on Revelation. And you can just sign up for the “Amazing Facts” Bible study course. It will be a real blessing to you. That is “Amazing Facts dot org”.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Keera listening from Prism Lake, California. Keera welcome to the program.
Keera: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Keera: My question tonight is when Belshazzar had his party when God put the writing on the wall. Why was it that time and not any other time?
Pastor Doug: Good question. Well you read about that in Daniel Chapter 5 it tells us about this king and like this king was the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar. He had this feast and he knew the Persians were threatening to attack the city, but he wanted to mock them to show they had plenty of food in the city. They weren’t afraid of the Persians and the Medes. And during that time he brought the vessels from the temple of God. These were Holy Vessels that were in the Temple of God that had been dedicated to God and were golden vessels that were only supposed to be used by the sons of Aaron. And he passed them around to his nobles and lords and they began to drink and toast and praise their idols. And so in the middle of them mocking the God of heaven and mocking the sanctity of the Holy Vessels from God’s Temple. God decided enough was enough and he was showing total disrespect for the God of Daniel, Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego. And by the way it was also seventy years after the Israelites had been carried away captive and it was time for them to be going home. So that is why He chose that exact time.
Keera: Oh. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Yeah absolutely and if you go to the “Amazing Facts” study guide we have a sermon that talks about the handwriting on the wall. And you’ll enjoy that and I think it is called “The Party is Over”. Yeah the sermon is called “The Party is Over” and so you just type that in and matter of fact if you type Doug Batchelor the Party is Over you’ll probably find that on you tube.
Pastor Ross: Alright next caller is Gary and he is listening from New York Gary you’re on the air.
Gary: Hi, how are you gentlemen?
Pastor Doug: Doing great how are you?
Gary: Good. My question is about John the Baptist. When he was in Martha’s womb and Mary came to visit the--
Pastor Doug: You mean Elizabeth?
Gary: When he was in Elizabeth’s yes. I am sorry excuse me.
Pastor Doug: That’s alright.
Gary: Then he baptizes Jesus in the Jordan River and the dove comes down from heaven and lights on Jesus’ shoulder and the voice from heaven says “This is my son in whom I am well pleased.” And then John later on sends his disciples to ask Jesus to ask are you the Messiah or should we look for another? That has always confused me.
Pastor Doug: Well what happened is even John though he was one of the greatest of the prophets even John believed that Jesus was going to use his power and do something miraculous and deliver the Jewish Nation. And then month after month went by after John introduced Him as Messiah and He still didn’t say I am Messiah they began to worry. And so that is why John sent those messengers to ask the question, “Are you the Messiah or do we look for another?” Christ responded with a couple of miracles. You are listening to “Bible Answers Live”.
Pastor Ross: Pastor Doug we will be coming up on a break here in just a few minutes, but the program isn’t over. If you have a Bible question pick up your phone and give us a call 1-800-463-7297 we still have some lines open and it is a good time to call. 1-800-463-7297 and that will get you right to the studio. Pastor Doug we have a website that is just a great resource for people wanting to spend time in Bible Prophecy. It is called “Bible Prophecy Truth”.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely and this has become very popular. For anyone who wants to know more about Bible Prophecy. We had several questions tonight dealing with Revelation and Daniel and Bible Prophecies. And it is simple just type in “Bible Prophecy Truth dot com” and I think the Google search over one million sites is on the first page because it has been very popular. That’s the information on 666, Armageddon, Babylon and Israel which is in the news a lot these days. As well as Armageddon, millennium, New World Order, “Bible Prophecy Truth dot com”. A lot of Bible study there and material and would be a blessing to teachers out there. Don’t go away we have more Bible questions coming just in a few moments.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back friends and if you have any Bible questions we are live just pick up your phone and call us with your Bible question. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we get new questions every program. If you want to call that number is 1-800-463-7297 or 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross. Pastor Doug will go straight to the phone lines and we have Ernest listening from Dearborn Heights, Michigan. Ernest welcome to the program.
Ernest: Hi and thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: It is a delight. And your question?
Ernest: Well I am just wondering how the New Testament affects the Old Testament when it comes to customs like eating meat and Friday’s eating pork and things like that.
Pastor Doug: Alright well specifically you mentioned eating pork on Friday. That actually is a tradition that comes through the Catholic Church hundreds of years after Christ and is really not in the Old Testament. There were a number of health laws about not eating unclean meats in the Old Testament. The health laws were in a different category than some of the ceremonial laws. A number of the laws that had to do with the sanctuary were considered temporary laws that were pointing to Christ. In other words we don’t need to sacrifice lambs anymore because when Jesus came to John the Baptist to be baptized He said this is the Lamb of God and all of those lamb and animal sacrifices pointed to the time that God would give His Son and so that has been fulfilled.
All of the ceremonies and the feast days had to do with the sanctuary and the exodus and they are really fulfilled with the Passover and is now when we have communion. The Passover was when He ate with the disciples and that is what we call the Last Supper where He instituted the Lord’s Supper with the bread and the grape juice. And so of course the Ten Commandments are God’s Commandments and are written in stone by God’s finger and it is always wrong or even before they were written It was wrong to commit adultery and to kill and to steal and to lie. And these are called the Decca Law or the Moral Law which is not changing. So the health laws and the laws about sanitation they are all practical. There were some civil laws that were also good. And a matter of fact a lot of the world’s legal system is based upon the Civil Laws that you find in Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers and the Law of Moses.
The difference between first degree and second degree murder can be found in the Law of Moses. The idea about culpability for instance if you knew you had an ox that had a habit of charging people and you didn’t warn your neighbor or do anything about it then you are more responsible than if you didn’t know. So there’s just a bunch of principles that if you find your neighbor’s donkey or it has wandered out of its stall even if he is your enemy you should bring it back to him. Just good neighbor conduct so the Civil Laws are still practical principles that most cultures respect. So the main laws that were done away with now or that were nailed to the cross were what we would call the ceremonial laws like circumsion and sacrificing of lambs and a number of the Jewish feasts and so forth. So I don’t know if that is helping a little bit with your question specifically?
Ernest: Yes it did. Thank you. Would you recommend any books that would enlighten me on that?
Pastor Doug: Yeah you know imparticular I think one of the big mistakes that people make is they think that the Old Testament Health Laws were just for Jews. But, the health laws actually predate the Jewish Nation. And we have a lesson that talks about that and it has a lot of benefit and science has backed up the Bible health laws. And we will send you a free book about that and it talks about what is nailed to the cross and what is not and it’s called. “God’s Free Health Plan”.
Pastor Ross: “God’s Free Health Plan” yes. We’ll send it to you Ernest or anyone who calls and asks for it. It’s called “God’s Free Health Plan” and talking about what the Bible says about health. The numbers to call is 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide “God’s Free Health Plan” and again the number 1-800-835-6747. We have got Mario listening from Brooklyn, New York. Mario welcome to the program.
Mario: Hello Pastor Ross and Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Mario: My question is who was the scribe under the inspiration of the Lord that wrote the book of Hebrews in the Old Testament?
Pastor Doug: Well you are probably going to hear a lot of theories, but I am comfortable and confident that it was the apostle Paul. Some people have attributed it to people like Apollo’s writing. The author doesn’t give his name and it is very Pauline in its style. But, it is yet a little different because to its audience Paul is not writing to the typical Gentile audience it is an appeal to the Jews. And so he is taking up a whole different approach, but I personally think it is Paul. What do you think Pastor Ross?
Pastor Ross: Well I agree I think just the themes that Hebrews deals with on and are so parallel to some of the ideas you read about by Paul in the other books. It is presented a little differently, but yet the themes are so, so like him that I think traditionally they all think Paul was the one who wrote the book of Hebrews.
Pastor Doug: And another reason that Hebrews may look a little unique is because keep in mind Paul had very bad vision and in a number of the letters when he was writing the letter he said right in the letter that he was signing with my own hand, but my secretary and he names who was his secretary who wrote the letter and Paul one of the weaknesses he had was his vision was very bad.
Mario: Alright.
Pastor Doug: And so one reason Hebrews may look a little different is it depends on who his scribe was. But, it was dictated under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. And it is a tremendous book.
Mario: I would agree and would you know when he would have written it? Would he have written that book when he was in captivity in Rome? Or toward the end of his life?
Pastor Doug: I think and Pastor Ross is looking that up, but my guess is that he wrote Hebrews somewhere around 60 A.D. It is in that ballpark. It was before the destruction of Jerusalem which was 70 A.D. so based on when he wrote his other letters it is very possible that Paul wrote Hebrews while he was in one of his several times in prison in Rome. So we don’t know.
Mario: Okay thank you.
Pastor Doug: Yeah appreciate your question. Thank you very much Mario.
Pastor Ross: Alright our next caller is Rusty listening from North Carolina. Rusty welcome to the program.
Rusty: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi you’re on the air welcome.
Rusty: Thank you, thank you a first time caller and I have a question in 1 Corinthians Chapter 11: 14 & 15 the Chapter of course leads up to this where it says, “Doesn’t nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair it is a shameful unto him? But, if a woman has long hair it is a glory to her because her hair is given to her as a covering.” Why are we not practicing this within our Church or within order of the Christian fellowship? But, why are we not doing this today? Is it a cultural thing? Or am older thing that Paul explains and I wish you can explain that to me.
Pastor Doug: I think you are right. Well you know there is another statement in Deuteronomy Chapter 22: I think it is verse 5 where it says that, “A woman will not wear that which pertains to a man and neither would a man put on a woman’s garment. So, all that do they are an abomination to the Lord.” And you never hear that or anyone talking about that today.
Rusty: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: But, there should be a great distinction, but now somebody says the styles are kind of homogenous where what is a woman’s clothing or a man’s clothing. But, I think when Paul says that nature teaches you that obviously women typically have a lot more hair on their head than men do. Men they usually keep their hair a little shorter and women their hair was considered beautiful. It still is, but styles change and I think you are right the culture has affected people’s views.
Rusty: So actually there is quite a bit of Paul’s’ writings that actually reflect the culture that in today it is not really as relevant, but it is also what pertains to the truth of the fact that our churches went through and in past times could keep order and discipline. Don’t you think and we are not really doing that much here today.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. Yeah. Well I agree with you. I think that the majority of churches in North America in the interest of wanting to entertain people and get them to go to their church is trying to adjust the church in order to reach the world, but what is happening is the church becomes like the world in trying to reach the world and pretty soon they have nothing to offer that a is relevant. I think that God will bless a church that take a stand on Bible teachings and says this is what God says and we’ll be blessed if we follow it.
Rusty: Okay well thank you very much for answering my question and I kind of figured that and thought about it and I didn’t find any sermons or anything about that and no one has ever talked or preached about it before so I just kind of wondered about that.
Pastor Doug: You know it is funny that you would say that because just yesterday someone emailed me a sermon on the distinction between men and women and how it is being lost in our culture. And it was pretty powerful and you are right you do not hear too many Pastors that talk about that anymore, but they used to. Used to be if you went to a primitive Pentecostal Church they required that women not be allowed to cut their hair. They not only recommended, but I am telling you what they used to have in North America is that women had to have dresses that were just barely off the ground. They couldn’t wear pants and the women could not be on the platform and the women had to have long hair and sometimes they would put it up into a bun. And a lot of them took covering their head very seriously. That is why these Mennonite women wear these little saucers or cups on their head. So yeah there are still some attempts to try and follow some of those things. Appreciate your call Rusty.
Pastor Ross: We have Chad listening from Oregon and Chad welcome to the program.
Chad: Good day how are we doing?
Pastor Doug: Better than we deserve how are you doing?
Chad: Pretty good thank you. You know a really quick question because I am really lost about how many days did Christ spend in the grave? Can you help me out?
Pastor Doug: Well the Bible tells us that the first of all, in case you are wondering there is a verse in Matthew twelve that says as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish so will the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. You know you look at Friday and He arose on Sunday it was like two and half days and two nights. But, so Jesus was crucified and died Friday afternoon. And He was put in the tomb Friday evening just before Sabbath and He arose Sunday morning. It is just a little more than a day that He was in the tomb according to the Bible.
Chad: Yes I was seeing the same thing and I apologize.
Pastor Doug: Well are you wondering about the three days and three nights?
Chad: Well no not exactly because I wanted to just make sure I wasn’t just seeing that myself because I was just seeing one day. After He was taken in front of the priests and then after that He went back and forth between the leasers the two leaders.
Pastor Doug: Yeah Pontius Pilot and Herod.
Chad: And then I guess he was scourged and then He was put on the cross and He then in the ninth hour or a little bit after that He dies on the cross.
Pastor Doug: Yeah that is three in the afternoon.
Chad: Yes and He gave up His breath and they didn’t want to leave Him on the cross. So they requested for His body and took Him down and placed Him into the tomb where no one ever lived, but then that was the Sabbath the next day. So He rested and then the following day after the Sabbath they had brought some spices.
Pastor Doug: Spices yeah to finish embalming Him.
Chad: I thought it was to anoint His body?
Pastor Doug: It says that very early in the morning He arose and when they came to the tomb it wasn’t even sunrise. Yeah so you are right He wasn’t in the tomb for a very long time.
Pastor Ross: You know there is something interesting about how we reconcile the three days and three nights. Just on a side note Jewish reckoning was just a little different than the Roman reckoning. Three days and three nights often still in the East are inclusive reckoning and so if a portion of a day is referred to it is sometimes referred to as day. So you have Friday afternoon and that would be one day. Then you have the Sabbath day and then you have part of Sunday or the first day of the week. So they would say three days even though it wasn’t a full 24 hour three times.
Pastor Doug: It touched on three days.
Pastor Ross: It touched on three days. It’s called inclusive reckoning.
Pastor Doug: So hey I do appreciate your call Chad and we have a free book called “The Sign of Jonah” And we’ll send this to you or anyone who calls.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747 and the book is called “The Sign of Jonah” and again 1-800-835-6747. We have Darren who is listening from Davis, California welcome to the program Darren.
Darren: Thank you I have a quick question. Does one have to accept the doctrines of Jesus Christ and does one have to believe that Jesus is God? Des one have to accept the doctrine of the Trinity in order to be saved? That is the question.
Pastor Doug: Well the part that I think you have to accept is the Deity of Christ. Ow when I say the Deity of Christ it says by definition that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth and yet the New Testament says that all things that were made were made by Christ. So Jesus being Divine I think is a very clear Bible teaching. The doctrine of the Trinity is a little dicerer in that some question whether the Holy Spirit is a person. And that is a little more difficult to prove, but I believe it. I would stop short of saying that someone that doesn’t believe the doctrine of the Trinity could not be in heaven, but I do think that denying the Bible teaching of the Divinity of Christ is a much more serious issue because it is only God who can pay for breaking His law. And you know a creature cannot die for the creation. It was the creator who died for the creation. Does that make sense?
Darren: It does make sense and when I have asked before I accept the doctrine of the Trinity and I accept the doctrine of the Divinity of Jesus Christ and I think the Bible without ambiguity teaches that however, some points have been made to me and so for instance if it was really all the important and fundamental to salvation why does Jesus not at any point within the gospels get His disciples together and say look guys you have to get this right. If you get this wrong it is eternal damnation.
Pastor Doug: That’s true it would have been a good way.
Darren: That should have been my question. Why doesn’t He do that? I don’t know I don’t have an answer.
Pastor Doug: The way I might answer is there are some things that are self-evident and in the Jewish mind God being one did not mean that God was not plural. And in other words when a marriage between a man and a woman become one flesh well every Jew knows that are still distinct people. And the twelve apostles Jesus prayed that they would be one and in Genesis when God said let us make man in our image that was a foundational teaching in Jewish theology and so Jesus might not have spent a whole lot of time on that because He understood it was a self-evident truth that was going to go to the early church that there was one God comprised of three different persons. And they were the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Ross: Of course Jesus did emphasize over and over again that the only way to the Father is through the Son. Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life.
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Pastor Ross: And then He also emphasized the Holy Spirit. He said I am going to go, but we will pray the Father will send the Holy Spirit the comforter and He said that would be by us forever.
Pastor Doug: And that is the one sin that can’t be forgiven is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Ross: That’s right.
Pastor Doug: So that puts the Spirit you know you can speak against the Father and Son, but if you blaspheme the Holy Spirit well that would seem like that would make believing in the importance of the Spirit pretty paramount also. But, that is a good question because I have friends that don’t accept the doctrine of the Trinity and they do believe in the Divinity of Jesus Christ and I am confident they are going to make it into the kingdom.
Pastor Ross: You know we do have a book that is dealing with the subject of the Trinity.
Pastor Doug: Yeah.
Pastor Ross: It’s called “The Trinity is it Biblical” And we’ll be happy to send that to you Darren or anyone who calls and asks for it. The number is 1-800-835-7647 you can ask for the book “The Trinity is it Biblical”. Our next caller is Jay and he is listening in Michigan. Jay welcome to the program. Jay you are on the air.
Jay: I just wanted to say thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Yes, sir and your question?
Jay: My question is if somebody who has accepted the Holy Spirit and has been saved in their heart by the power in the Holy Spirit and they have been baptized and at one point they have been on fire for God, but maybe that fire hasn’t been as strong. And now they are struggling with certain sins. Let’s say alcohol because still drink a beer, but I am not out there to lunch, but if a guy like me totally loves God and prays to God and prays for others and gets involved with helping others and doing what he is supposed to do if I were to be drunk and then die would I go to hell? Or would God accept me even though I died in my sin? But, with the accepting of the Lord would I go to hell?
Pastor Doug: Alright let’s talk about that. First of all I think the Holy Spirit is working on your life right now because that is why you are making this call. It’s obviously not good to drink alcohol and I think you recognize that and people get addicted to it. It causes bad behavior and makes you more susceptible to more temptations. Alcohol is not a good thing. I drank ad I understand it. And when alcohol is in the family it is bad news. It is a bad witness for a Christian if they say they are a Christian and they believe in Jesus to then be doing something that is so harmful to themselves and others by example or personally. It is something that you can get the victory over. I mean Jesus if you love the Lord and Jesus is important and eternal life is important then why would a person want a beer or wine over eternal life and Christ. And so it is a question of priorities and faith. And you know any of those things that are addicting God wants to give us the victory over. And that is where the testimony is and I used to drink and God saved me from it. I used drugs and the whole thing. And It has been years and so your question is if a person comes to the altar and they accept Jesus and but, they still slip and they sin if a person is not living --
Jay: It is double minded so to speak.
Pastor Doug: Yeah if a person is not a life surrendered to Christ Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. And so if they don’t have the fruits of the Spirit then there is a question.
Pastor Ross: You know we need to remember what Paul said. Paul said I die daily. The work of sanctification and the change of the heart is a day by day experience. You know we don’t just come to God once and receive grace and power and forgiveness. We have to come to Him every day and every day we surrender ourselves to Him and we trust in Him and ask Him for help and power. Jesus said except you abide in me you can do nothing. So the secret of victory is abiding in Jesus and that is a day by day experience and studying His word and spending time with Him in prayer and fellowshipping with fellow believers that’s where the victory is and what we need in order to grow spiritually.
Pastor Doug: Yeah so it would make me uncomfortable about the security of my salvation you know if you were baptized and you accepted the Lord and you love the Lord and then, but yet you have drifted away. In 11 Corinthians the Bible says Chapter 13 we have to examine ourselves. Now if it is okay, Jay, we want to try to take one more call before the break, but we want tot send you a book. And I think this book would be very useful and it is free and it is called “Alcohol and the Christian”. We’ll send you a free copy of that and take a look at it and let us know what you think.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747 to get the book “Alcohol and the Christian”. We’d be happy to send that to anyone who calls and asks for it. Or next caller is Elijah listening from the Virgin Islands welcome to the program Elijah. We have about a minute and a half.
Elijah: Yes good evening how are you Pastors?
Pastor Doug: Good evening and your question?
Elijah: Yes I want to find out because I was reading a couple of Bible texts about the Old Testament and then in Revelation you see the angel standing before the throne with the golden censor. I am trying to figure out the practicality to the Church. So how applicable is that because in the Bible they all have censors in their establishment within the tabernacle. Today perhaps you will see only the Catholic Church having censors.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Elijah: How does that fit in with God’s remnant church?
Pastor Doug: Alright. Good question. You see an example in Revelation, the Old Testament when the priest carried a censor they’d put incense in it and they’d wave it back and forth. It tells us in Revelation that this altar incense is a symbol for the prayers of the saints that are made sweet before God by the Holy Spirit. So the modern example of that would be prayers and intercession. We don’t necessarily need the apparatus anymore of the censor to wave incense. Well you can tell I Am sorry Elijah we are out of time, but listening friends you can find out more by going to “Amazing Facts dot org”. Stay in touch with us until we study again together next week.
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