Pastor Doug: Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor, how about an amazing fact, Hulda Crooks was born in a log cabin in Saskatchewan Canada in 1896. One of 18 children Hulda gorged on meat and candy in her youth and by the age of 16, she weighed 160 pounds. Shortly before she turned 18, she became a Bible-believing Christian. Realizing God made Adam and Eve vegetarians that worked in the garden, she gave up meat and started exercising. As she went to College and she worked the weight all melted away. In 1927, Hulda married her high-school sweetheart Samuel Crooks who introduced her to camping and hiking but it wasn't until later in life that Hulda seriously took up mountain climbing.
She first climbed Mount Whitney, the highest mountain in the continental US in 1962 at the age of 66. Hulda subsequently climbed the mountain every year from 1962 to 1982 except in 1965 due to bad weather, to compensate at the age of 72, Hulda climbed Mount Whitney twice in two weeks. Affectionately known as Grandma Whitney, Hulda Crooks successfully scaled the 14,500 foot Mountain a total of 23 times between the age of 65 and 91. In 1987, at age 91 she became the oldest woman to climb the highest peak in Japan, the 12,388 foot Mount Fuji. Hulda eventually held eight senior Olympic world records for women over the age of 80, including records for marathons and road races.
In addition, she climbed a total of 86 different southern California peaks between 1977 and 1983. Hulda Crooks who passed away peacefully in 1997 at a 101, credits her long life and good health yet to her faith in God that inspired her to exercise these important health habits. Friends you know the Bible says, "If you've got faith, you can move mountains." Stay with us, we'll learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
Voice over: Welcome to Bible Answers Live with author and evangelist pastor Doug Batchelor. Is understanding God's word a challenge? Are there passages or Scripture that are a mystery to you? Maybe it's difficult to reconcile what you've read in the Bible to what you've always believed. If you have Bible related questions, stay tuned to get honest, practical answers straight from the word of God on Bible Answers Live. Bible Answers Live is a production of Amazing Facts Ministries, dedicated to spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the entire world. Our lines are open, so call us now at 800-GOD-SAYS, that's 800-463-7297. Now here's your host, Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Doug: Welcome listening friends to Bible Answers Live and if you have a Bible question for the next hour you can call a toll-free number and get your Bible question on the air, we'll do our best to answer it together. The number for that free phone call 800-GOD-SAYS, 800-463-7297, here at the beginning of the program we usually have some lines open, so if you have a Bible question, you want to jot that down, pick up the phone and give us a call. You need the number again, here it is 800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name id John Ross, good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug as usual let's begin the program with prayer. Dear Father, we thank you that we can now once again study your word. We ask your blessing upon this program, be with those who are listening wherever they might be and Father as our prayer always is, lead us into deeper and fuller understanding of your word. Thank you for hearing our prayer in Jesus name, Amen.
Pastor Doug : Amen.
Pastor Ross: Well Pastor you opened the program by talking about about a remarkable individual, this woman who not just for a few years climbed the highest mountain in the continental US, but then did it at the age of 91, just absolutely remarkable.
Pastor Doug : Yes, I actually met Hulda a couple of times and I was her brother's pastor and he was a very avid hiker and climber as well. She said that her faith, it was not only the exercise and she said, "You have to work at it if you want to be able to do that, to have that health and that strength and vitality." But she said that her health especially came from not just the exercise but a good attitude that came from faith. Hulda said, "When you believe the Bible, you know there's someone always watching out for you, you know there's a purpose in life and that takes away a lot of stress which causes health problems. When things happen you don't understand, you can give it to God and it actually improves your health."
But that reminds me of that verse in the Bible where Jesus said in Mathew 17:20, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you'll say to this mountain move from here to there and it will be done and nothing will be impossible for you." Thinking about that mountain-moving faith, think about all the mountains that Hulda climbed. Well with God's help, you're going to run into mountains in life friends but you can scale those mountains. A lot of people struggle, some mountainous health problems and they want to know, "What can I do and how can I get the victory over these things and how can I enjoy that kind of long life and good health?" We have a free study guide that we'll send anyone that calls on that subject.
Pastor Ross: It is called God's Free Health Plan. We'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks, the number is 800-835-6747 that is the resource line. It's 800-835-6747, you can ask for God's Free Health Plan. This is one of the lessons that we offer for free in our amazing Facts Bible School. You can also ask to be enroll in the Amazing Facts Bible School, we'll be happy to send you these great illustrated colorful lessons that will help you in your study of God's word. Again our resource line 800-835-6747. Pastor Doug just before we go to the phone lines, we from time to time we'll l take an internet question that somebody has emailed to us. It's a short question that we want to look at today but an important and it's this, "Is temptation a flaw?"
Pastor Doug : We actually have a book that deals with that just for anyone who's listening, Is it a Sin to be Tempted? Jesus was tempted and we know Jesus was sinless. Everyone's tempted. Even in the Lord's Prayer we ask the Lord to lead us not into temptation, that's probably more accurately translated, lead us away from our natural inclination to temptation. It's not a sin to be tempted, it happens to anybody that's trying to live a godly life everyday. The sin is when you give in, when you surrender to and follow through with what the temptation is suggesting, but even Christ was tempted by the devil. That's not necessarily a sin. It's whether you embrace it and do it, that makes a difference.
Pastor Ross: We do have a book called Is is a Sin to be Tempted and we'll be happy to send it anybody who calls and asks. You can also read it for free online at the Amazing Facts Website, amazingfacts.org the phone line here to the studio with your Bible question is 800-463-7297, if you have a Bible question 800-463-7297 and we're going to go to our first caller for this evening, we have Patricia who is listening from Portland Oregon, Patricia welcome to the program.
Patricia: Good evening Pastors. I was watching a program and I've watched many programs like these before, I guess I know about the Gnostic gospels but one thing I had never heard is that some of the Gospels and I don't remember which one they mentioned specifically or if they did mention the specific one, but they said that in the transformation that they found that one of the Gospels was left unfinished and the translators simply just added to the Gospel. I had never heard that, can you speak to that please?
Pastor Doug : There are some that they call Apocryphal Gospel. These are books that were named Gospels that were of a very doubtful origin. They do not appear historically until after the time of the Apostles and Christ. Most scholars believed they were manufactured, that they're forgeries and that they might be referring to the Gospel of Thomas. There's a few of them that float around out there, even as late as the 1970s someone claimed to have found another Gospel where there was no historical evidence for it. I think they wrote a book called the Aquarian Gospel. There's all kinds of forgeries out there but the gospels that are included in the Canon of Sacred Scripture today are all endorsed by the early Church Fathers and by one another.
There's reference and when you cross examine them through the lens of other Scripture, they all pass that test of viability. Which one of these other Apocryphal Gospels that there were some Gnostic Gospels and others that were of a very dubious origin. I don't know which one that is that they claim was not finished but we do have a book talks about the ultimate resource and the Bible and a little bit about it's origin and how it was a symbol that I think is very helpful.
Patricia: The book pastor?
Pastor Doug: Yes, it’s called The Ultimate Resource. We’ll send you a free copy of that. The number to call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book The Ultimate Resource, all about the Bible. It tells you a little bit about the different translations and just some important historical information dealing with the scriptures and we’ll send that to you for free, Patricia, or anybody who calls and asks. The number again is 800-835-6747. That is the resource line and you’re going to ask for the book called The Ultimate Resource. Our next caller is Josiah listening from Texas. Josiah, welcome to the program.
Josiah: Hey, thank you for taking my call.
Host: Yes, thanks for calling.
Josiah: I was wondering. Are we able to find basically all the fundamental beliefs or all the fundamental truths through the doctrines of the Bible, through all of Jesus’ parables?
Pastor Ross: That’s an interesting question. I don’t know if anyone's asked me that. There is a book that I’ve been reading lately with my wife called Christ’s Object Lessons where it takes all the parables. There’s a lot of Bible teaching and foundational truths in the parables. I need to stop short of saying, “Yes I think everything is there,” but you sure get all the foundational truths about how Christians ought to live and treat each other and the lessons of life and the rewards to come can all be found in the parables. But you may not find all the truths regarding the state of the dead or I guess you will. That one you will, yes. Most of it is there but there may be something I’m leaving out. There may not be a parable that talks about baptism per se. Do you know what I’m saying?
Josiah: Yes.
Pastor Ross: But yes, there is a lot of good Bible teachings just in the parables.
Pastor Doug: It seems that between the parables of Jesus and then the life of Jesus, the example that He gives, that pretty much covers everything that is offered as truth. Jesus is the Truth. By His example and teaching, we have a clear understanding of what the Father is like and what our responsibilities ought to be.
Pastor Ross: Yes that’s right. Josiah, if you look online, you can find that book. If you just type into Google Christ’s Object Lessons, there’s a tremendous book and I bet you can download it for free. I don’t know if we carry a version we send out from our office but you’d find it. It’s a great book where the author takes the parables of Jesus and expands them. I’ve been amazed how much foundational Bible truths is in the parables. I appreciate your question. It’s a good thought. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: If you have a Bible question, the number to call here to the studio is 800-463-7297. Our next call is Terry listening in California. Terry, welcome to the program.
Terry: Hello Pastor Doug and John. I have two questions but one of them is really quick, if that’s okay?
Pastor Ross: Sure.
Terry: My first question is: I’m a United States citizen. I really love this country. I appreciate the constitution and what the flag represents. I take a class where they say the pledge of allegiance in the beginning of each class which I think is great. However for a Christian to put my hand over my heart and say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag,” is that idol worship? My second question is small time of trouble, large time of trouble. I hear a lot about the large time of trouble. I don’t hear that much about the small time of trouble. I know that a lot is going to be happening in a large time of trouble, but to me after probation and that’s the deliverance of God’s people.
But the small time of trouble to me is a big thing because that’s when you go through not being able to buy or sell, the mark of the Beast. You could be homeless, imprisoned. My question is, between when the Sunday Law comes in and probation closes, how much time do you think that is? A couple of months? A couple of years? God promises to take care of His people in the large time of trouble. Will He also take care of us in the small time of trouble?
Pastor Doug: Yes, you got two questions out there. Why don’t we just, since you finished that and it’s fresh in your mind, I’ll try and get to the flag. But quickly for our friends who are listening, when we talk about the time of the end, some Christians divide it up in two simple different times of trouble. At one point we know the Beast-power says whoever doesn’t worship the Beast and receive his mark will be killed. There’s a death penalty. But there’s a time period of persecution and resistance before that. It doesn’t tell us exactly how long that is. Some have speculated that because it seems like three and a half years was a time of persecution in the days of Jesus and Elijah, maybe that’s how long it will be. We don’t know that. There is really no definite time that is given that tells us how long that will be.
But there probably will be a period where it’s going to be long enough for Christians to take a stand for their faith, witness to others, others to accept, study, come in, and there’ll also be some who are professed Christians that during that time of pressure are going to give up their faith. They’re going to compromise. How long it is? We don’t know. But God will take care of His people during that time. Then on the first question about seeing a pledge to the flag, there are some churches that teach it is a sin to have a flag in your church or to say to the pledge to the flag. But Paul talks about obeying the laws of the land and I don’t think that any Americans I know feel like when they express patriotism and gratitude for country where you’re able to worship in freedom, we hope that’s preserved as long as possible, that it’s seen as a form of worship to put your hand over heart and say, “I pledge allegiance to the flag.”
But I don’t think there’s any soldier that has ever fought for the United States that didn’t have to make some pledge of fidelity to the country. That would be issuing orders that he would be defending. That patriotism I’d say if it bothers you don’t do it. Anything that’s not of faith is sin. But I’ve never had a problem with it. I never felt I was worshiping the flag or that it was a violation of the first or second commandment. But, hey I appreciate your question Terry. We do have that book that talks about the time of trouble. It’s called Anything But Secret. It’s a combination of talking about the Second Coming and the Tribulation in that book. There’ll be a section in there that deals with that.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747 and the book again is called Anything But Secret. We’ll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks. The next call is Michael and he’s listening from Miami, Florida. Michael, welcome to the program.
Michael: Hello Pastors. Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Michael: Hi. My question is generally about the law of God, more specifically about the ceremonial law and the Decalogue or the 10 CommandmentsI guess. I just wanted to know because I -- for the longest I guess I cling to Church tradition maybe or just Church doctrine. There’s a distinction between ceremonial law and the 10 Commandments in so much as the ceremonial law was fulfilled and dispensed with Christ’s ministry and sacrifice on Earth. I just want to know, if there is such a place, where in Scripture is a clear distinction made between that ceremonial law and the 10 Commandments because as far as I can tell in Scripture, it refers to both as the law.
Pastor Ross: Well, I think there -- I’m sorry, go ahead.
Michael: Yes, that’s basically my question. [inaudible 00:17:55] I guess.
Pastor Doug: Yes, I think there are a few places. One you might look is in Deuteronomy. You have that there, Pastor Ross? It’s chapter four. It might start with, let’s see, verse -- Let’s go to verse 13 here, “And the Lord spoke to you from the midst --" let me see here. Verse 13, yes. “So He declared you His covenant which He commanded you to perform.” This is following the 10 Commandments. The 10 Commandments and he wrote them on two tables of stone. Now this is something separate, “The Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments that you might observe them in the land where you crossover and possess.”
He’s making in a sense distinction. He’s got the covenant, the 10 Commandments, and the other statutes and judgments which were part of the law. These are the ceremonial laws. There’s another reference to that in Chronicles where it talks about the distinction between the two. There’s probably three or four verses when Jesus for instance is saying, “You’ve heard it said by them of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ well he’s obviously talking about the 10 Commandments. He goes on to say, “But I say unto you if a man looks on a woman,” and Jesus said, "You've heard it said by them of old, “Thou shalt not kill.” But I say if you think murderous thoughts in your heart, you’re guilty of murder. Jesus is showing the difference between the distinction of the spirit and the letter of the law.
Pastor Ross: Of course, you’ll find in Colossians 2 where it’s talking about the blotting out of the handwritten ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, took them out of the way and nailing them to the cross. So those handwritten ordinances would refer to the ceremonial law, the sacrificial system and the like, and they’re different and distinct from the moral law, the 10 Commandments which was written by the finger of God.
Pastor Ross: Yes, does that make sense?
Michael: Yes, it does. It’s just that I heard people always make a differentiation between references to the law in the Old Testament, and to the law in the New Testament. I'm not sure if the original language verbiage, but I've heard something about in the Old Testament it's called Lobos and the New Testament it's called something else. I'm not sure. It seemed to be a very weird arbitrary differentiation to me. Just wondering --
Pastor Doug: One of the best differentiation Michaels is you also look at how it was given. The Ten Commandments were spoken by God's voice, the ceremonial law by the voice of Moses. Ten Commandments were written by God's finger, ceremonial laws were written by the hand of Moses. Ten Commandments on stone, ceremonial law on parchment or leather, but it was it was not written on stone. There's a lot of distinction and difference between them. Ten Commandments, you find them existing before the cross. Before even the time of Moses. Joseph said it was a sin to commit adultery with part of his wife long before Moses was born. Murder was wrong back when Cain killed Abel. God called it a sin. Those laws existed from the very beginning. The laws about circumcision, those things came later. Anyway, well I hope that helps a little. We have a lesson that deals with this and it's called Written in Stone.
Pastor Ross: We'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks. The number again for our resource line is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called Written in Stone. It's actually an Amazing Fact study guide. We'll be happy to send that to you. If you have a Bible question, the phone number here to the studio is 800-463-7297. Again, with your Bible question, the number to call 800-463-7297. Our next caller is Jim listening from Ohio, Austintown. Jim, welcome to the program.
Jim: Thank you. Good evening. My question is dealing with the subject of diet. I was talking with a friend of mine and we were discussing diet. I believe that the best diet is a vegetarian diet. I had said that God established three things in creation, the Sabbath, marriage, and I believe the perfect diet. He disagreed with me, and he said that God had commanded us to eat meat. I forget, I don't know if he said Deuteronomy chapter 24. I know God established clean and unclean meats. Because he thinks like I'm just saying, half-truths, because I'm not including the clean meats which I know there are clean meats out there. What they do to the meats today with the hormones and everything it's very very unhealthy. I was wondering if you could give me any more insight on that. I know God, the word command is used in the Bible, but if there's no place in the Bible that God commanded us to eat me, correct?
Pastor Doug: No. I want to be clear. Obviously, the ideal of God when he made Adam and Eve in the garden, Adam and Eve were created vegetarians like our opening Amazing Fact alluded to. Obviously in heaven, I know some people are going to be disappointed, but there will be no Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Jim: I have a quick question about that when you're done, but go ahead now. I'm sorry.
Pastor Doug: [laughs] With the sacrificial system, the priests would eat part of the sacrifice and even during the Passover, they would eat part of the Passover lamb. They were commanded to eat meat. That was a ceremonial meal once a year. They're not commanded to eat meat through the year as part of their regular diet. God said if they're going to eat meat, he specified which ones were clean and which ones were unclean. If God commanded us to eat meat, then it's a sin for anyone to be a vegetarian. You see what I'm saying?
Jim: Yes sir. Correct.
Pastor Doug: Now Jesus, made it -- Jesus established a principle. Talking about divorce, the disciples said, "Lord, if divorce is wrong, then why did Moses make laws regarding divorce?" Jesus said, "From the beginning, it was not so. It wasn't God's plan, but because of the hardness of your hearts, he made these laws." Slavery was not God's will, but because he knew that people were going to be oppressing each other, he made laws to protect slaves. It didn't mean he endorsed slavery.
Jim: Correct.
Pastor Doug: God did not want men to have more than one wife, but he had laws about how you should treat your wife if you have more than one. Because he knew because of the hardness of their hearts they do that. The same way God he told man what his original diet was, but after the flood with the destruction of the vegetation, he knew man would be eating meat. He said if you're going to eat meat, here are the clean meats. The jury is in scientifically as you stated Jim, that there's no question that a vegetarian diet is a better diet as far as lifespan, less disease, and cholesterol and all those things.
Jim: I agree so much.
Pastor Doug: Now, you had a final question because we got to take another caller if we can before the break. You said, what was your follow-up?
Jim: The follow-up question was, when I was saying we're not going to be eating any meat in heaven, and he says well what about the feast?
Pastor Doug: Well, we're not going to be killing lambs and sacrificing Passovers in heaven.
Jim: Exactly.
Pastor Doug: Because the Bible tells us in, I think it's first Corinthians, Christ is our Passover which is sacrificed for us. To continue celebrating the Passover in heaven when the Lamb of God is right there in front of us, would be anti-productive.
Pastor Ross: That's 1 Corinthians 5:7 the verse you're referring to.
Pastor Doug: Right. Jesus is our Passover. All right, before our break. We got about a minute and a half. Let's see if we can get a quick question then.
Pastor Ross: We have Tony listening from Houston Texas. Tony, welcome to the program.
Tony: Hey. How are you?
Pastor Doug: Doing well. Thanks for calling. Your question.
Tony: It's good to hear from you Pastor. I'm tuning on the radio station. I'm right now on a struggle growing up in Christianity since 37 years and struggling with a sin. I see the scripture coming to life where Paul is speaking about putting on the full armor of God, Ephesians 6:10. Where he talks about the battle is not against flesh and blood, but it's against the powers, the principalities and the darkness of this world.
Pastor Doug: You're wondering, how do you put on that armor and how do you overcome sin?
Tony: Well, I know how to apply the clothes on, I know how to apply the belt of truth, it's done through the power of prayer. My problem that I'm having is I'm struggling with the sin and then I would find myself reading God's word. Every time I struggle with that sin, I'll go from the sin and then getting back into the word of God, but I just don't know --
Pastor Doug: We're going to run out of time Tony before the break. Could summarize the question?
Tony: The problem is I'm struggling with a sin in my life.
Pastor Doug: And you want to know how do you get the victory over that sin?
Tony: How do you want to get the victory through it and to overcome it because I'm tired of it.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Well, I'll tell you what, we're going to take a quick break, and when we come back you've asked a very important question. If, and a lot of people out there can relate, if we're struggling with a sin, what tips does the Bible give us how to get the victory and maintain it? Don't go away. We're going to answer that. You're listening to Bible Answers Live.
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You're listening to Bible Answers Live with Pastor Doug Batchelor. If you have a Bible-related question, call us now to receive clear, honest answers directly from scripture. We have a few lines open, so please give us a call. The phone number to the studio is 800-GODSAYS. That's 800-463-7297. If you've enjoyed Bible Answers Live, you'll love Pastor Doug's book of Bible Answers straight from the broadcast the very best questions and answers have been compiled as an awesome resource for Bible study and personal evangelism. Each answer has been expanded with more Bible verses and insightful commentary. The book of Bible Answers can be yours today for just $12. Call now 1-800-835-6747 and request offer 257. That's 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Friends, if you just joined us along the way, this is Bible Answers Live and we are just as the name suggests, a live program where you can call in with your Bible questions. We'll search the word together to find answers. Still have one or two lines open. If you have a Bible question, that number 800-GODSAYS. 800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is John Ross and Pastor Doug, just before we respond to the question that came in from Tony, we just want to let our friends know about an exciting event that's coming up in October. It's actually a series entitled Heroes of Faith, October 2 through 10 and you're going be doing this 10 part series in Lansing Michigan.
Pastor Doug: Yes. We're going to be taking some of the great Bible characters that have some of the most interesting stories, people like Jonah and Rahab and David and Goliath and going to be bringing out those stories and showing how they really teach a lot of very powerful Bible theology on salvation and other issues. It'll be a combination of revival and evangelism. Friends, if you want to be encouraged and inspired, we'd encourage you to tune into that program. If you go to the amazing facts website, you'll see a banner where you can click there. The website's actually theheroesoffaith.com, but you just go to Amazing Facts and click on the banner for heroes of faith. Find out how you can tune in, you can watch online, you can watch on 3ABN, Amazing facts TV. It'll be on around the world October 2 through 10.
Pastor Ross: Well Pastor Doug, before the break we were talking with Tony and his question was how to overcome sin?
Pastor Doug: Yes. If a person is struggling with a particular sin and everyone listening out there can relate to this question. You've asked forgiveness, you made a mistake and you feel okay for a while and then temptation comes again, you fall, you make the same mistake and you're a little more sheepish about coming to the Lord and say, ''Well, Lord. You forgave me and then I went and did it again.'' Then you repent and you get up and you keep going and you do okay for a while and then you make the mistake again and again and again. You might wonder, ''God must be tired of hearing me repent. He's going to give up on me.''
But, remember the parable that Jesus tells where Peter says, ''Lord how often shall I forgive my brother if he sins against me seven times?'' And Jesus said, "No, not seven times but seventy times seven.'' And if the Lord is asking us to be that merciful with each other, will he be less merciful with us? Don't worry friends that God is going to give up on you or he'll get frustrated with you continuing to ask for forgiveness for making the same mistake. Now that doesn't mean you should presume on God's grace and say, "Well he'll forgive me I'll just do it again and again.'' He wants you to get the victory and it's important for you because every time you sin, it hurts you, it hurts others around you, not to mention it hurts God.
Sin will always hurt because there's always a price that is extracted, you can't escape. So we don't want our sins to hurt God, we don't want them to hurt others, we don't want them to hurt us. I would just say to Tony -- I always gravitate back to big struggle I had was with cigarettes. I smoked for years, my mother smoked, my father smoked. I grew up smelling it and when I became convicted by the Lord, also became convicted by the label on every pack that said, ''This is bad for you, it's going to kill you.'' I was wondering, ''How do I get the victory over this?'' I quit smoking so many times and then started again.
I thought, ''God is so tired of forgiving me.'' I quit and I started, quit and I started. But when I quit quit? I didn't quit quitting. I kept going until God finally gave me the victory. Now, it's been 38 years since I smoked a cigarette. What he did for me in that area he can do for anybody in every area Tony the way he helped me with alcohol and many people out there they can testify about how God can give a permanent and lasting victory in every area because there is no sin the devil can bring to you that is too big for Jesus. Don't get discouraged if you fall again and again, the Bible says the Lord cast Seven Devils out of Mary Magdalene and a righteous man may fall seven times, but he rises again.
Don't get discouraged. Keep coming to Jesus and he will transform you. After three and a half years of following Jesus, Peter denied him, but the Lord forgave Peter and he ended up becoming a great apostle. Don't get discouraged. We have a gift that will offer Tony and anyone else that wants. It is a book entitled Tips for Resisting Temptation and we'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks. Again the book is called Tips for Resisting Temptation. Number to call is 800-835-6747, that is our resource line. 800-837-6747, ask for the book Tips for Resisting Temptation. Our next caller is David and he's listening from Georgia. David, welcome to the program.
David: Can you hear me?
Pastor Ross: Yes. Loud and clear.
David: Okay. I thought my phone went dead for a minute. The main question is down in Genesis chapter 4 verse 15.
Pastor Doug: Genesis 4 verse 15? Yes.
David: The question is, when God puts his mark on Cain, he says, ''Anyone who hurts you or kill you, I will take vengeance on him sevenfold.'' The second sounds like, ''If anyone has seen that mark is allowed to kill Cain, can you clarify that?
Pastor Doug: Yes. Well, first of all when God made Adam and Eve and Cain and Abel and everybody was born, they knew that the command of God was to be fruitful, multiply and fill the earth. They knew about reproduction. They were very smart, they lived a long time. They knew that shortly the world would be swarming with humans and that if Cain was the first murderer, that he would be viewed in a very narrow way and and that someone would want to get vengeance on Abel by killing Cain. God said, ''Look, the others that are coming will not hurt you because I'll put a mark on you.''
Now, the Bible is not clear what that mark is but there was some distinguishing difference that stood out. Matter of fact, we had this call maybe last week or a couple weeks ago. Some identifying distinction that God put on Cain where nobody would touch him and they weren't going to mess with him. He protected him from that vindictiveness. Yes, the second part of your question David.
David: It's just a quick one. Genesis chapter one, it only referred to as ''the man.'' My question was, who exactly gave ''the man'' the name Adam?
Pastor Doug: Well, God did. God named Adam, Adam named Eve and the word Adam, if I'm not mistaken because he was made from from the earth, the word is like earth or red. Matter of fact you can find that Esau, his descendants were called Edomites, which is similar to Adam and that's because he sold his birthright for red porridge. I don't know Pastor Ross might be looking it up there, but from my memory, that's where the the root of the word Adam comes from or at least what it means today. He was made or created from the Earth. ''Dust you are and unto dust you'll return.'' God named Adam. Hey I appreciate your call and your question David and I hope that's a little bit helpful. By the way, you asked a question about the mark of Cain. We do have a lesson that deals with the mark of the beast, we'll send you for free.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747 and the study guide is called, The Mark of the Beast.' Anybody wanting to learn about this mark that you read about in the book of Revelation, just give us a call then and we'll be happy to send you this study guide. Again, 800-835-6747 and you can ask for the study guide called, ''The Mark of the beast.'' Our next caller is Bill and he's listening in Canada, Ontario. Bill, welcome to the program.
Bill: Yes. Galatians 5:14 says the entire law is summed up in a single command, ''Love your neighbor as yourself.'' The last program that was on was talking about the importance of baptism. Is this important? I don't belong to a church. I don't attend any church. I'm not baptized.
Pastor Doug: Well, let me quote some words from Jesus. First of all when Paul says in Galatians that this summary of the law is to love the Lord and love your neighbor. Part of loving the Lord is going to be following the clear commands of the Lord. If a person says, ''I don't need to worry about the details because I just love the Lord,'' well Jesus said, ''If you love me, keep my Commandments.''
Now Christ said, ''Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.'' That's Mark chapter 16. You can read where Jesus says in John chapter 3, ''Unless a man is born of the water and the spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." He's speaking there of baptism if you read the context before and after. In the last words of Jesus when he ascends to heaven he tells the disciples, ''Go therefore. Teach all nations, baptizing them.'' Peter, when he's preaching his first sermon at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit falls and the people say, ''What should we do?'' He says, ''Repent and be baptized.''
Is baptism important? Well absolutely. If a person's going to embrace any of the New Testament teachings of Jesus, it's among the first things. Christ did it as an example for us. He was baptized. It'd one of the last things that happens in his life is tells people to go and baptize. It's right there surrounding John 3:16. It's like asking, ''Is a wedding important to a marriage?'' Well yes because it's what initiates. It's the Covenant in the marriage. If a person says, ''I believe in marriage, but I don't want to have a wedding ceremony,'' Well they go together. Baptism is the expression that I'm making a commitment to accept the covenant of salvation that Jesus made. It's very important. Now, we have a lesson we'll be happy to send -- Did that make sense Bill? Maybe I should ask you first.
Bill: Well I don't attend a church. It made sense but being as I don't attend a church, should I go dunk myself in the river or what?
Pastor Doug: No, baptism in the Bible it's always done by somebody else. It's administered and it'd be good for you to go to a church because it even says in the Bible they were baptized and added to the church. Church is the body of Christ.
Pastor Ross: I think it's important though, that a person study to find a church that is in harmony with the teachings of the Bible. I think Bill, if you would call our resource line we can offer you a book that we'll be happy to send to you. At the same time I'd encourage you to ask for our free correspondence Bible school. We have a series of lessons that we'll be happy to share with you, it'll help clarify not only baptism but a number of other important Biblical truths and will guide a person as to what the next step is, as they follow Jesus and follow the truths of Scripture.
The number to call is 800-835-6747 and ask for a book called, "Baptism is it really necessary?" You can also read this for free online, at the amazing facts website but call the number 800-835-6747 ask for the book, "Baptism is it really necessary?" You can also ask the person, when you call that number to enroll you in our free Bible School correspondence course. We'll be happy to send you the lessons and help you in your study of God's Word.
Pastor Doug: Amen. Thank you for your call Bill.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Allen and he's listening in San Pedro California. Allen welcome to the program.
Allen: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi welcome you're on the air Allen.
Allen: Alright, this is the first time I've called and I wanted to say thank God for your ministry and Amazing Facts is wonderful and has helped me a lot with the questions I have.
Pastor Doug: Well thank you, we appreciate that.
Allen: Well I have two questions if we can get both of them in. The first one is about 144,000. I listened to your sermon on YouTube about 144,000 and I think it's very exciting. I just want to make sure that I understand correctly that the earth is going to experience 10 plagues similar to what went to Egypt. After the third plague, then the angels are going to hold back the wings and 144,000 will come forth and do all their work and then everybody in the whole earth would either be one camp or the other, when that's been accomplished, then everything closes and no one else can be saved after that point. Then the rest that everything happens and then Christ comes, is that correct?
Pastor Doug: Well one little correction there, you said 10 plagues. Revelation speaks of the seven last plagues. There were 10 plagues that fell on Ancient Egypt but only seven of even the plagues that fell on Egypt, seven of those plagues only affected the Egyptians, it didn't affect the children of Israel. The last days there's going to be seven plagues. Once the plagues begin to fall, probation is closed and those who are saved or save the lost or lost. Before those plagues fall, the Holy spirits poured out, the same way it was poured out on the disciples at Pentecost. The 144,000 or something like last day apostles there -- 12 times 12,000 because the 12 Apostles --
Allen: It's like the special forces for --
Pastor Doug: Exactly, yes. I know you heard the message and I think you've got it there. If you haven't already read the book, there's a book I can send you on this Allen for free. It's called, "Who are the 144,000?"
Pastor Ross: And the number to call is 800-835-6747, you can answer the book on the 144,000. I'm just looking for a Pastor Doug. I think it's something along, who can sing this sing?
Pastor Ross: Who will sing the song? Subtitles is talking about the 144,000.
Pastor Doug: Again the number is 800-835-6747, just call and ask for that resource. We'll be happy to send it to anybody who gives us a call. Our next caller is Mel listening from Jersey City, New Jersey. Mel welcome to the program. Mel you're in the air.
Mel: Yes, good evening Pastors.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Mel: I appreciate your program and from the spirit, I commend you.
Pastor Doug: Well, thank you.
Mel: My question is, who or what is Malachi?
Pastor Doug: Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. He lived during or immediately following the time of Ezra and Nehemiah, about 400 years before Jesus. He's the last of the Old Testament minor prophets. One of my favorite prophet says so much so that we named one of our kids -- Well actually we named one of our kids Micah. The name Malachi is related to the name of Michael or Micah. He's got just some great teachings in there. It's four chapters.
Mel: I know. Pastors I listened to my religious programs on the same program and the pastor said that Malachi was a position. It wasn't a person.
Pastor Doug: I would respectfully disagree. There was a person named Malachi and it was not just a position and he was one of the minor prophets. You can read in the first line of the prophecy, it says the burden of the word of the Lord given by Malachi.
Mel: Right. I read that, of course the pastor that I study with every year, every day. He comes on the eight o'clock, 8:30 and of course he sound like he knew what he's talking about. When he said that, of course I'm reading the book, like he said the word came to Malachi that it was a person. Out of the way he's getting his information. It's just funny how a preacher is preaching and reading the scripture in teaching and somebody won't even call them up. Somebody he respect and say well you're not saying not right.
Pastor Doug: Well let me -- I'll tell you what might be the problem. The word Malachi means my messenger. He might be thinking well Malachi could be anybody just means written by the hand of my messenger. They had strange names in the Bible. Elijah's name was my God is Jehovah, that was his real name. The way you say my God is Jehovah is Elijah. Yes there was a fella whose name was Malachi and that means my messenger. It doesn't mean he was -- it was just a theme, there was a real person that had that name. Even the rabbis that lived in the time of Jesus they believed that Malachi was a person. Yes, they had some strange names and that might be why your pastor that you're listening to heard this other person got mixed up. Because his name actually means my messenger.
Mel: Right, I appreciate at you -- I'm not confused anymore. I think I got the truth.
Pastor Doug: All right. We really appreciate your calling. Thank you very much Mel.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Wes and he is listening from Cheyenne Wyoming. Wes, welcome to the program.
Wes: How you guys doing tonight?
Pastor Doug: Doing well.
Wes: I've been stopped and I won't name any denomination because I don't know them exactly. I've been stopped on multiple occasions by some people claiming that Jesus has already come back and that there is a God the mother represented by the New Jerusalem in Revelation. Now I've dealt with these people before and I've given them my interpretations and the scriptures. I seem to only make them mad so I don't know. My question is if you have ever dealt with them, how have you dealt with them or what scriptures could I show them to help them more?
Pastor Doug: Well I suspect I know who you're talking about. If there's a group out there, that's saying that Jesus already came, as one group says he came in 1914. There may be other groups that say that he already came. If Jesus said, if any man says here is Christ whether believe it not for or if he's in secret chambers. He said when he comes, it will be like lightning shining from the east to the west. No one's going to be walking up and down the street saying did you hear that Jesus came a month ago or a year ago or a decade ago? When Jesus comes it says that the graves are going to open, the Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, the voice of the Archangel, the Trump of God, the dead in Christ will rise. Revelation says every island and mountain will be moved out of its place, there is a great earthquake.
The elements melt with fervent heat. Second Peter chapter 3, the earth and the things that are in it are burned up. Whenever someone says something goofy, pardon me but if they say something goofy like, "Yes, Jesus came already." They're not reading the scriptures. There's just so many scriptures that say it is the ultimate crescendo, the climax of history. [laughs] You're not going to be talking about it the next day to your friend on the streets saying, "Did you see it? Jesus came." We do have a book and I don't know if that makes sense Wes, we do have a book.
Wes: I'm more curious about the God the Mother part because that's really -- I think it's confusing them that they say that the New Jerusalem is somehow representative of God the mother.
Pastor Doug: Pastor Ross was just teaching about that this weekend.
Pastor Ross: Well you know it's interesting that the New Jerusalem is the capital of the kingdom. Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth. Now it's not the earth the way we know it now but at the end of Revelation chapter 20 and chapter 21, it talks about a new heavens and a new earth. The earth is going be recreated and New Jerusalem is going to be the capital of this kingdom and Christ is going to rule. The New Jerusalem is sometimes described as the bride, representing the capital of the Kingdom and Christ is the King in that kingdom, with the citizens of the kingdom.
Pastor Doug: That's a good point that you made. In that when it talks about the bride of Christ in Revelation, it says, "All tears are wiped away from their eyes. There's no more crying or any pain." We are certainly not on that point in history now. Hey Wes I appreciate your question. We do have that book that talks about the second coming called, Anything but Secret and we also have our study guide that talks about the Ultimate Deliverance that deals with the second coming and you could request either.
Pastor Ross: The number call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called Anything but Secret about the second coming of Christ and a study guide called Ultimate Deliverance also about the second coming of Jesus. Our next caller is Jonathan listening from Minot North Dakota. Jonathan welcome to the program.
Joonathan: Hey, Pastor John Ross and Pastor Doug Bachelor, thanks for having me on, I appreciate it.
Pastor Doug: Is that Minot? Is that how you say it?
Joonathan: It's Minot. M I N O T.
Pastor Doug: You'd know better. That was your part. [laughter] That's the second time he's been right and I've been wrong since I've known him. [laughter] All right, your question.
Joonathan: Pastor Doug, my question was, it had to do with the day of atonement. Someone told me that God loves jewellery. I was wondering if that was true or not and they showed me how Lucifer was decked with all these jewels and everything. The high priest has all these jewels on him and everything and how God likes jewelry but the reason why we don't wear it, isn't it because God doesn't like it but it's because we're in the antitypical day of atonement which we would mean that we would remove our jewelry because that's what they did in the old testament times. I was wondering if that's not accurate or not? What is the day of atonement and the antitypical day of atonement?
Pastor Doug: Let me just help everyone to catch up what we are talking about Jonathan because I know what you are talking about. You know what you are talking about but we've got hundreds and thousands of people that are listening and they might wonder, "What is the antitypical day of atonement?" At the end of the Jewish year, they had this special feast better known as Yom Kippor where they would humble themselves and before the Lord. One of the things they would do is they would come in humble appearance. They'll be seeking for forgiveness of the nation, the last thing they would do is to be flamboyant and dressing and decking themselves out and glorifying themselves.
Someone I guess is using that as an illustration. Well, that's the reason Bible Christian shouldn't be getting into some of the ostentatious display in the jewelry that we have seen in popular televangelists and others. But it's a principle that's always true, that Christians want to maintain modesty especially so. The bible says all the more that you see the day approaching. Now that's true with meeting together, it's true probably in all of our habits. When a person knows we're entering into the final judgment, let every man examines himself whether he'd be in the faith. That's a good principle. I don't know if we have a lesson particularly on that. We do have a lesson on the day of atonement Pastor Ross. God setd the date for the judgment.
Pastor Ross: That's right and we'll send that lesson on anybody calls and asks about it. The number is 800-835-6747 and the study guide is called, God sets a date for the judgment. Just ask for the study guide on the judgment and we'll be happy to send that to you.
Pastor Doug: Well listening friends, we've got about a minute and a half. Let's see what we can do in a minute and a half? All right real quick.
Pastor Ross: We have Lisa listening from Maryland. Lisa, we've got about a minute.
Lisa: Hello. Hi Pastor, how are you?
Pastor Doug: Hate to put you at the end of the train here but we just got a few minutes left.
Lisa: Really quick.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Lisa: I just want to piggy back on the guy's question about Cane and Abel. I want to know, where did the people come from? If it was just Adam and Eve and their two kids, then where'd the other people come from?
Pastor Doug: Alright, fair enough. Cain and Seth, they married their sisters. You read in Genesis 5, it says that Adam and Eve also had many sons and daughters because they lived hundreds of years. Cain knew that people would come. He said all that hear about what I've done will want to slay me. He's thinking ahead in anticipation of as people populate the Earth, he's going to be the supreme villain because he's murdered his brother and his name would go down in history infamy. Thank you Lisa. Sorry, we had to be quick with your question but we know that we are going to be running out of broadcast time in just a moment here.
Friends in the last few minutes that remain, we just like to encourage you to keep studying with Amazing facts. We do a live program once a week. Many stations rebroadcast it but all week long 24 hours a day all over the world. You can study with us by going to amazingfacts.org. Just type amazing facts in a search engine, it will point you to our website where there is a plethora of Bible study material. God willing, will study his word together again next week. Thank you.
Voice overs: This has been a prerecorded broadcast of Bible Answers Live, a production of Amazing facts ministries. If you would like to order the material make sure on this broadcast call 800-835-6747 from 8 am to midnight Eastern standard time. That's 800-835-6747. If you've missed an episode of Bible Answers Live, you could find it on our website amazingfacts.org. You'll also find our online sale catalog of books, tapes, and other materials as well as numerous free resources on nearly every Bible topic. Putting the answers to your Bible questions right at your fingertips. If you've been blessed by this program, let us know. Write to us at P.O. Box 909 Roseville California 95678. Be sure to tell others about the program and join us again next time for more Bible answers live with Pastor Doug Bachelor.
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