Doug Batchelor: Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? On December 4th 2015, the President of Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, announced that their country had found a long lost Spanish galleon, San Jose. The San Jose has been described as the Holy Grail of shipwrecks. As the vessel was carrying one of the largest amounts of valuables ever to have been lost at sea.
The wreck, discovered on November 27 in about 800 feet of water, outside of the port city of Cartagena, was identified with some certainty based on video footage of the bronze cannons that are still in very good condition. The San Jose sank quickly, following a fierce cannon battle with a British ship over 300 years ago, sending 600 souls and nearly $10 billion in cargo to the bottom. The enormous Spanish galleon was carrying gold, silver, gems and jewelry collected in the South American colonies to help Spain finance their war against Britain when it sank, June 1708.
Naturally the Colombian officials are keeping the location of the vessel a secret in that it'll take several years, using special equipment to recover and chronicle the vast treasures. Finding $10 billion in gold, silver and jewels is the discovery of a lifetime. But did you know the Bible talks about someone that walked away from an even bigger treasure than this? Stay with us friends, we're going to learn more, as Amazing Facts gives you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
Speaker 1: Welcome to Bible Answers Live with author and evangelist, Pastor Doug Batchelor. Is understanding God's word a challenge? Are there passages or scriptures 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. Call us now at 800-GOD-SAYS. That's 800-463-7297. Now, here's your host. Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Doug: Welcome once again, listening friends to Bible Answers Live and if you have a Bible question, we have some lines open. Here's the phone number again, 800-GOD-SAYS. That's 800-463-7297. One more time, with your Bible questions call this number, 800-463-7297 and by God's grace, we'll look together and search His Word and find the answers. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Jean Ross: My name is Jean Ross, good evening friends and Pastor Doug, let's begin the program with prayer. Dear Father, we thank you that we have this time, where we can open up the Word and study the scriptures. We ask for the Holy Spirit once again, to come and guide our hearts and our minds through those who are listening Lord, wherever they might be. Lead us together as we study truth, for we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Jean: Well Pastor Doug, you opened the program by talking about an incredible treasure under the ocean that is just there waiting for somebody to come and I guess it's been discovered now. So it's a matter of salvaging all of that gold and silver and whatever else was on that boat when it sank. The idea of treasure and discovering these various ships that sank or hidden treasure. There's sort of this idea, this excitement about trying to find something worth something else.
Pastor Doug: Yes, discovering something that's been lost or having a valuable treasure, one of the great treasure discoveries of history, was I think it was 1922 and Howard Carter found the missing treasures of King Tutankhamun's tomb. And at the time of this broadcast they've just done some infrared research in the burial tomb and I think they've now found a hidden wall behind using, I guess-- what do you call it? Like a radar sonar. They were looking through it and I think they found another tomb behind his tomb and they're wondering if it's holding the missing Queen Nefertiti.
They think there might even be more treasure. But the Bible talks about someone that walked away from vast treasure. I've been to Cairo and I've seen the treasures of King Tut and you see all of that gold. And had a coffin with 325 pounds of gold and that gold mask is a priceless treasure, and all the jewels in it. And he was one of the poor Pharoahs. He didn't even get pyramid. But there was somebody who lived 1500 years BC in Egypt, that was all set to be the next Prince or King of Egypt, and he turned his back on it.
Walked away from that treasure that's just incomprehensible. You can read about that in the Bible. You find this in the book of Hebrews chapter 11, and it says in verse 24, "By faith, Moses, when he came to age, he refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter. Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin. Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt, for he looked for the reward."
There's a reward that we can all have, that is of more value than all the gold and the silver and the jewels on the San Jose, or in the pyramids of the Pharaohs. And that's the riches that God has prepared for those that trust Him. This is what Moses was looking for. That's why Jesus said that it was so sad when that rich young man turned his back away, and that's in Mark chapter 10. He had earthly riches but he passed the heavenly riches.
Jesus said, "You will have treasure in heaven." And maybe you'd like to know how you can have riches that last forever, friends because we know in this life you'll never see a U-haul being pulled by a hearse. You can't take your treasure with you. And we have a free gift, free book we'd like to make available, talking about the riches that last forever.
Jean Ross: The book is called The Riches of His Grace and it's available to anybody who gives us a call on our resource line, the number is 800-835-6747, and you can ask for a free offer called The Riches of His Grace. Again that number is 800-835-6747 and ask for the book The Riches of His Grace. Well Pastor Doug, I think we're ready to go to the phone-lines, we have Chantel, who is listening from Salem, Oregon. Chantel, welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Shantel: I enjoyed your sermon two weeks ago about God's Holy name, and my question is related to that. We all have variety of social situations with people we know well or not well. People we see regularly or seldom and different comfort levels. If someone disrespects God's name or Jesus' name, or the Bible, what's the best way to handle that?
Pastor Doug: Well, if they're a friend, you don't want to say anything publicly or in front of their peers and embarrass them because a lot of people when they do that, they don't realize what they're doing or that it might offend a believer. Is you could talk to them privately and say, "Hey, Jean or Sally, you know, you may not know. I'm a Christian and one of the most precious names in the world to me is the name of God. And it just makes me cringe inside a little bit when I hear you use His name disrespectfully or casually like that. Or as an exclamation."
If they just know it and you say it nicely, most people will say, "Oh,yes. I hadn't ever thought about that," and they might even consider there's others. I don't think there's anything wrong with asking people to kindly be accountable. We're getting into a society-- yes, less than an hour ago I stopped at a semi fast-food restaurant to grab my dinner, and a couple of young people came in, were sitting right next to me and just using all kinds of profanity, very loud, there are kids sitting around.
And I was thinking, "Should I say anything?" I don't want to start a fight but-- I think people just are becoming very inconsiderate of just how they speak in public. Not just with profanity but also using the name of the Lord. I think it's important to kindly hold people accountable. There's nothing wrong with that. You might not get away with it at a football stadium or something, and in a private setting or with your friends. Yes. Is that what you're asking?
Shantel: Yes. But if it's somebody maybe you see them kind of often but you're not fully friendly yet, just somebody you see or you don't know how they'll react. Just in general, should you try to take that person aside or if it's too rare, do you let it go? You never know-
Pastor Doug: If it's not going to be something you'll be exposed to frequently then--because you don't want to be hitting one note on the piano with everybody you know. You can become a nuisance.
Shantelle: Okay, in general if you can't take them aside-
Pastor Doug: Yes, if you've got somebody, you have a relationship with somebody. Or if maybe there's someone who's speaking and there's a room where there's a lot of believers and they may not realize that they're embarrassing themselves.
Shantelle: Yes. Then I'm also thinking if you're in a group and the conversation is going on, you know you'll be there for a while and it comes up several times. Maybe different people are saying that-- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug:Yes, you can--
Shantelle: Finally, I think I would want to almost leave, because I'm so uncomfortable and you don't have a chance to take them aside, so maybe it's better to just leave, because I'm so uncomfortable.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Well, and that's true, sometimes we'll be in a situation or there's even a program and you say, "This program is-- they're being very disrespectful to God's name, by all means changed the channel." Or, if you're at a public meeting you don't have to be at, and the wrong spirits coming in through their language, you can leave. Or you might just gently place your hand on their hand and say, "You know, I'd really appreciate if you didn't say that," or you found another way to express yourself.
So, I do think we're living in a culture where we need to kindly express how you feel, let people know there are believers out there, and our rights need to be respected too. So, good question, Shantelle, appreciate that and I do have a book you may have seen already, called The Name of God. We'll be happy to send you a free copy. I think you can also read that online on our website.
Pastor Jean Ross: The number call: 800-835-6747, you can ask for the book The Name of God. You can also read it online, at amazingfacts.org. Our next call is Seth and he's listening from Hilo, Hawaii. Seth, welcome to the program.
Seth: Hi, can you hear me?
Pastor Doug: Hi, Seth. Thanks for calling.
Seth: Hi. My question is, how does the Bible date years? Because science says like there's more than 10 a million years ago, but many years old. But the Bible implies [unintelligible 00:11:37]. How does the Bible date years?
Pastor Doug: Well, the years that are given in Genesis, it means what it says. When the Bible says that Adam lived 930 years and Methuselah 969 years, those were normal years where the Earth makes a complete circuit around the sun. I think that probably one of the greatest deceptions that's been pulled on intelligent people is the dating system, that's being years. The science, for saying that the Earth and all these things are millions and billions of years old, is based on a premise that God cannot create things quickly.
And, I really don't believe things had been around that long. It's all really been shown that volcanos are-- they say, took millions of years like your on Hilo. And by the way, I'll be there speaking in about 10 months, I think. But they say, "It took millions of years for these islands to form," and then, all of a sudden, they see a volcano come plunging up out of the ocean in Iceland, and it happens in a matter of months. And so, they've had to rethink some of their dating on these things. I take the dates in the Bible literally. And I think-
Seth: So, how old is-
Pastor Doug: -the scientific reasons for doing that-
Seth: -according to the Bible?
Pastor Doug: Excuse me?
Seth: How old is the Earth, according to the Bible?
Pastor Doug: How old is what?
Pastor Jean: The Earth.
Pastor Doug: Oh, the Earth.
Pastor Jean: According to the Bible.
Seth: The Earth.
Pastor Doug: Well, according to the Bible, the Earth, when you add up the ages of Adam, assuming that you're talking about from creation, it was six, approximately 6,000 years from there to the present. And Bible says God made the Earth in six days and He's not talking about six ages. And some people say, "Well, those days really represented millions of years and those were phases of evolution," but the problem is, God doesn't make the sun until the fourth day.
So you can't have vegetation on the third day for million years, and then have the sun show up later. So, if we're going to believe in Jesus, and Jesus talks about God making Adam and Eve divinely, then you need to take the whole Book, and we may not understand at all, but some things we take by faith. So, hey, I hope that helps a little bit, Seth. We do have a free gift that we'll offer, talking about When Evolution Flunked The Science Test, and if you call, we'll be able to send you a copy of that.
Pastor Jean: The number is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called, When Evolution Flunked The Science Test. Again, that's 800-835-6747, give us a call and you can read it for free online, at amazingfacts.org. Our next call is John and he's listening in Delaware. John, welcome to the program.
John: Yes. Hello, Pastors.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
John: I have a question here, it's been bothering me for quite a few years. I keep searching the Bible, I want to know, do you know, how come God cast Satan to Earth?
Pastor Doug: Yes. You'll find that in Revelations 12. Pastor Ross will tell you what verse it was, we're in heaven and Satan is cast out. It says in Romans 6, that, "Whoever you obey, you are the servants to the one you obey." God originally gave the dominion of the world to Adam and Eve, and it says that pretty clearly in Genesis. "When Adam and Eve told God, "We don't believe what You're saying, but we do believe what the serpent is saying," the Devil. They surrendered their dominion to the Devil.
And that's why in the Book of Job, "The one who comes to the meeting," there's some heavenly meeting, it's in the beginning in the Book of Job - the one who comes from the Earth is the Devil, not Adam. When these leaders came from unfallen worlds, Satan comes to represent the Earth, because mankind really surrendered the dominion to the Devil, that's why we got all these problems today. And Jesus came to save us. Now, Pastor Ross has that verse, and--
Pastor Jean: Yes, Revelation 12:9. It says, "And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent of all called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he is cast to the Earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
John: Right. Just the part that I'm trying to figure out this. Why would God cast him down to earth after He created Earth and Heaven? Why would He cast him to our Earth, and not just out into oblivion?
Pastor Doug: Well, Satan was first cast out of Heaven, but when, and you can find that-- and I think it's in Isaiah 14, it says, "I will cast you, you've made yourself profane." But when Adam and Eve-- the Devil went through the Universe and He was tempting the different creatures to believe him instead of God. That's why he got one-third of the angels to follow him, it says in Revelations 12.
When he got Adam and Eve to follow him also, that's when God restricted him, or cast him to the earth. So Adam and Eve have already opened the door, when God finally restricted Satan to this planet. When they didn't trust God, God said, "Do not eat the forbidden fruit," and they ate it. We have a lesson that goes into that in great detail. We'll be happy to send you a free copy, John, and it's talking about Did God Create the Devil?
Pastor Jean: The number call for that is 800-835-6747, you can ask for the study guide called Did God Create the Devil? And also, we do have a great documentary dealing with this theme, called Cosmic Conflict. And Pastor Doug, we were just talking before the program, it looks like somebody has uploaded that to YouTube and people can actually view it online. Again, Cosmic Conflict by Amazing Facts.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Thank you for your call, John.
Pastor Jean: Next call is David and he's listening in Sacramento, California. David, welcome to the program.
David: Yes. My question, Pastor Doug, is: is it okay to go to a Sunday worshiping church?
Pastor Doug: Well, first of all, there's nothing wrong with worshiping God seven days a week. Part of the Christian life is to worship God. If we're talking about which day we keep holy, then the Bible is pretty clear that He says, "the seventh day," and this is in Genesis 2. The seventh day, is the Sabbath of the Lord. "God blessed the seventh day, He sanctified the seventh day," that's still Genesis 2. Then you go to the Ten Commandments, and God says, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days you labor, do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath."
And so, there's no question about which day the Sabbath is, but that doesn't mean you can't go to church and worship God on a Monday, or Tuesday, on Wednesday, any day. And so, worshiping God-- we'd have meetings at our church also on Tuesday night. It doesn't mean Tuesday becomes the new Sabbath, so gathering for worship many times-- we just finished evangelistic program where we met five nights a week.
But when we're talking about keeping the Sabbath holy, that's different than just worshiping. You're resting from your work. You're treating a day. God is sanctified the time in a special way and you recognize that. So, that's a little different. But, hey, I appreciate your question, David. We do have a study guide that's called, The Almost Forgotten Day.
Pastor Jean: That's right, called The Lost Day in History, I think it is. And we'll be happy to send it to anybody who calls and ask. The number is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the study guide called The Lost Day in History. Again, that number: 800-835-6747. Ask for the book, it's actually a study guide called The Lost Day in History. And, if you have a Bible-related question, it's good time to pick-up your phone and give us a call, the number is 800-463-7297. Again, that's 800-463-7297. Our next call is Lorena, listening from Ontario, Canada. Lorena, welcome to program.
Lorna: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi. Yes, you're on the air.
Lorna: It's actually "Lorna."
Pastor Doug: Lorna. Welcome.
Lorna: Yes. Thank you. I've got a question in regards to 2 Samuel 16:7, The King's James version and the New King James says the forty, but the ESV and some other versions says four, when you're talking about years.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Lorna: Can you explained that for me please?
Doug: I think is this talking about Absalom's 7. Let me see 2nd Samuel:16:7. I'm going there right?
Lorna: 2nd Samuel:15:7.
Pastor Doug: 15:7, okay. "That came to pass after 40 years at Absolom." And this is just because there are two manuscripts and one manuscript has four years and it means four years after the events and another manuscript it seems like and the letters are similar in Hebrew it looks like it says 40 years meaning after Absalom's 40th birthday. This is one of the rare places in the Bible where because of the ink on an ancient manuscript they weren't sure whether it was talking about Absalom's 40th birthday.
He said, "I'm going to pay a vow," or was it talked about four years after he returned to Jerusalem. Josephus the Jewish historian, he says it was actually four years it's talking about. But some of the ancient Hebrew manuscripts the number looks like a 40. That says one of those places where when you copy from an old original, there are some interesting spots but are very few in the Bible that you spotted it.
Lorna: Okay. All right. It’s nothing to worry about.
Pastor Doug: No. well either there's no contradiction. In other words it's either talking about Absalom was banished by his father because he killed his brother. He was banished. Finally Joab interceded and Absalom came back and David won't let him see his face and. Finally, it says, "But after four years," he said, "I want to go pay vow." Or it might be saying after 40 years, meaning his 40th birthday I want to go pay a vow they’re not sure either works and some translations use one sums the other.
Lorna: I think my concern or maybe you could tell me how would you address it for people who do not believe. They would point this out as a contradiction to see what you see there is an error there. How would you address something like that?
Doug: I do it honestly, and say that when you consider how many hundreds of thousands of words are on the Bible the very fact that the scholars admit that there's a discrepancy in one digit would mean this is a pretty dependable book. If that's the most that someone can find wrong with the Bible then that's a pretty ironclad case that it's true.
Lorna: Okay. All right thank you very much for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: You're welcome.
Pastor Jean: All right we also have a book dealing with the Bible called, The ultimate resource. And I think you will find this interesting talking a little bit about the translation some of the original manuscripts and how the Bible can be such a blessing to us if we study it. The number to call for that book is called hundred 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called, The ultimate resource. And the phone line here to the studio is 800-463-7297. Our next caller is David and he's listening in Georgia. David welcome to the program.
David: How you are doing.
Pastor Doug: Good. How can we help you?
David: I'd like to know if there's a place in the Bible that speaks about alien life on other planets.
Pastor Doug: It’s interesting you would ask that David. First of all I actually preached a sermon on that subject. "Is there life on other planets." And at the Amazing Facts Web site you could probably-- I think it's called, Life on other worlds. You could type that in. I believe the Bible teaches there is life outside of our planet. You think about the vastness of space and how big God is. If you just even do a little research into some of the photographs, the Hubble has taken of what they call ultra deep space. It's mind boggling and the idea that God would have this universe that is so deep and wide virtually infinite and that there's no other life. Wouldn’t make any sense.
Now there are verses that say that God through Christ made the worlds. I think that's Hebrews:2:1-2. “Through Christ God made the worlds.” Then and Revelation talks about the creatures in heaven above worship Him and praise Him. Jesus tells the parable about the shepherd that had 99 sheep that were safe in the fold. One went astray. He left the 99 save sheep and he went to find the one lost sheep. While this world was lost and Jesus came to this world the other worlds were unfallen. It says, "It's not the well that need a physician but the sick." Right, what was that verse?
Pastor Jean: Yes, Hebrews:1-2.
Pastor Doug: One verse two. There it is. Why don't you read that to us."
Pastor Jean: It says, “In these last days spoken to us by His son, whom He has appointed heir of all things through whom also he made the worlds.”
Pastor Doug: Yes. and that's plural there. I do believe there is life. Of course, we know there's angels, we know there's Sarah from the chair of whom God has these ministering spirits but they don't just minister I think here on Earth. Are you still there David?
David: I’m still there
Pastor Doug: Does that make sense?
David: Yes I do believe, what you just said were I believe were quarantined for all for a little bit.
Pastor Doug: No exactly right because this planet that's a good word this planet has a disease called sin that's contagious. We're sort of quarantined from the unfallen worlds. And but I think that once the world is made new and there's a new heaven and new earth, Adam and Eve before they sinned I think they had free interchange with the angels and unfallen beings and they were not restricted to this world. I like that song called, Rock of Ages, that virtually all churches sing.
There's one verse in that song it says, "When we soar two worlds unknown, see thee on thy judgment throne." I think to hymn writer has it right there. I appreciate your question David and if you look at the Amazing Facts website, Is There Life On Other Worlds, you'll see a message that I presented there where I give a lot more scripture on the subject. Thank you for your call.
Pastor Jean: Our Next call is Nicky listening from Cedarville, California. Mickey Welcome to the program.
Nicky: Hi, Pastor Doug. Hi, Pastor Ross.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Pastor Jean: Hi.
Nicky: I'm actually calling in for a friend who wanted me to ask you a question, and the question is, she is a widow and she's very sincere about this question and she would like to know, does the good Lord looks after widows in their daily life?
Pastor Doug: Well you know Jesus tells a story about when they were making donations in the temple. All the rich were putting in their gobs of money, along came one widow who put in all the substance that she had. Jesus noted her and said she's put in more than all the others. I'm sure that the eyes of the Lord are in a special way on those who are lonely, and maybe who don't have a lot of earthly support. Where there's trials like that, I think the Lord compensates and his grace abounds even more.
So, yes definitely. There's a story about where Elisha performed a miracle for a widow where he multiplied her oil to help her pay a debt. And I think the Lord does give special care and concern for the orphans and the widows, it says in James. Hey we're going to take a brief break. Friends don't go far. More Bible questions are coming. You're listening the Bible answers live.
Speaker 2: Bible Answers Live, returning just a moment. If you're looking for Bible based materials for further study. Sign up for Amazing Facts free correspondence Bible study course, or check out our sale catalog, featuring hundreds of inspiring books and tapes. To order call our resource line at 1-800-835-6747. That's 1-800-835-6747. Amazing Facts is a faith based listeners supported ministry. Operating exclusively through the generosity of your prayers and financial gifts.
We would love to hear from you. Write to us at P.O. Box 909 Roseville California 95678, or online at amazingfacts.org. 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 the Scripture. We have a few lines open please give us a call the phone number to the studio is 800-God-Says. That's 800-463-7297.
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Pastor Doug: We're back friends this is Bible answers live and if you have any Bible related questions we'd invite you to give us a call. We would do our best to answer those questions is a free phone call that number 800-God-Says, 800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jean: My name is Jean Ross and now our next caller is Chris, listening from Long Island,New York. Chris, welcome to the program
Chris: Yes. Hello. Hi, Pastor Doug, Pastor Ross?
Pastor Doug: Hi welcome.
Chris: Yes. Thank you. Pastor Doug, I've heard you many times refer to the Ten Commandments. The way you group them in terms of six and four. I'm actually looking at them on my computer right now and I'm just thinking why would God in my mind those five and five, the fifth one in particular but your parents would say that that has to do with God-- man's relationship to God is as well, it just looks to me like God wouldn't be uneven if you want to call it that and then make it six and four. You understand what I'm saying?
Pastor Doug: I'm a little like you. I understand. I do, yes. I'm one of these people that straightens pictures and I thought, "Lord, why don't you just make it five and five and call it even?" Because there's two tables of stone. It says there in Deuteronomy 4, when he created the Ten Commandments. The Lord's Prayer now I know we're talking about the Ten Commandments but just give you something to think about. The Lord's Prayer has seven petitions in it.
The first 40% deal with our relationship with God, thy name, thy kingdom thy will. The last 60% in the Lord's Prayer deal with our relationship with our fellow man. Forgive us, lead us, deliver us, so forth. He divides even the Lord's Prayer the same way he divides the Ten Commandments, now the commandment about, “Honor your father and mother,” Is something of a transition commandment.
Because when you're little your parents are God for you. But that commandment is where it translates into our relationship with our fellow man. First four commandments are dealing with the vertical relationship, the last six are dealing with the horizontal relationship, love for God love for your neighbor. Why he divided him like that I don't know but Pastor Ross has a thought.
Pastor Jean: Something else interesting about the division you got full commandments that have to do with our relationship with God and then six that have to do with our relationship with our fellow man. In the Bible, especially in Bible prophecy the number six is often associated with man. Man was created on the sixth day of the week. In Revelation 13 it talks about the mark of the beast says, it's the number of a man and the number is 666.
The number four represents the earth in its totality the four points of the compass. So all created beings owe their worship to God because he has made all things, the last six commandments define what the relationship is, that we ought to have with our fellow man. There's probably many ways you can look at the law and the Theme Commandments it's an exhaust is the exhaustless theme, because it's revealing the character of God so but anyway there's an added thought to the numbers.
Pastor Doug: One more thing Chris is when you look at the actual length of the commandments, the two longest Commandments dealing with idolatry and the Sabbath are in the first four. So they do balance out when they come to material in that the first four have a lot more to say, then you have in the last six. You know, you think about them, “Thou shalt not kill,” it's pretty short. “Thou shalt not bear false witness”, so forth. Hey, I hope that helps a little. We do have a free study guide Chris we'll be happy to send you that talks about the Ten Commandments and it's called, Written in stone.
Pastor Jean: The number to call is 800-835-6747, you can ask for a study guide called, Written in stone. We'll be able to send it to anybody who calls and asks and if you have a Bible question, the number to call here to the studio to get your question on the Ares 800-4637-297, again if you've got a pencil or pen handy write it down 800-463-7297 our next caller is Rick, listening in Alabama. Rick, welcome to the program.
Rick: Hello how are you folks doing today?
Pastor Doug: Hi Rick appreciate your calling.
Rick: All right. Listen i'm in Roan hills in Kentucky, I'm a trucker so hope I don't lose you.
Pastor Doug: All right. Well give us a question and if we do lose you well you can take it over the air.
Rick: Right. This is radio. I’m going to ask you the question let me go ahead and talk to you. Thousand year reign of Christ, I've always-- I'm a Christian about 22 years, I've always understood and heard it explained by many, many well-known pastors, that the 1000 Year reign of Christ, is a real thing that's going to happen at the head of the tribulation. Wen he comes back and sets foot on earth after the tribulation he's going to reign 1000 years, will rule and reign with him and then it's a hint though that we'll be chained up and at the end of that it'll be loosed for a season and to save the nation's once again. I've heard two different programs tonight against that, saying, “It's not literal walking,” [background noise]
Pastor Doug: You got the question in just starting to break up so that'll be probably good timing let me see if I can get an answer into you. I believe that the 1000 years are real, they are literal. Whereas some Protestant pastors disagree, some believe that when Jesus comes and this is what Pastor Ross and I believe, and the righteous are caught up to meet him in the air. That's 1st Thessalonians 4, that marks the beginning of the 1,000 years we live and reign with God in glory.
It's not that we're reigning over the wicked, because I don't know anybody who saved that once the reign over the wicked. Then at the end of 1,000 years that's when his feet come down touch the earth the new Jerusalem descends all the wicked are raised. They try to attack the City of God and then their judge the great white throne judgment and then God rains fire out of heaven and devours them and they are all cast into this lake of fire. That's our belief and we do have a study on that too.
Pastor Jean: When you look at the term, “reigning," in the Bible it's not just ruling in the sense of telling people what to do, but a big part of reigning especially with reference to monarchy was that of judging. The king would sit upon his throne and he would pass judgment, people would come with different petitions. The sense that the righteous are going to be reigning with Christ in heaven for a 1000 years,it's not that they telling the wicked what to do.
But rather they are playing a part in at least validating or agreeing with the judgments that Christ is made, that God has made with reference to the wicked. There is that sense of reigning or judging a matter of fact the Bible is pretty clear that it says 1st Corinthians 6:3, “Do you not know that we shall judge angels, how much more the things pertaining to this life. The redeemed will have something to do with the judgment but the details of that exactly how that's going to play out we don't know but that's an aspect of this reigning for 1000 years with Christ in heaven.
Pastor Doug: I know you you're driving but we do have a study guide and if you would like or anybody, if you'd like to understand the subject of the Millennium. This study guide is really neat, it's got all the verses, it's got some illustrations and charts to make it clear when it starts when it ends and what the millennium is and millennium just means 1000 years. It's called, “A Thousand Years of Peace,” I'll send you a free copy.
Pastor Jean: The number to call for that is 800-835-6747 again the study guide is called, “A Thousand Years of Peace. We will be happy to send it to anybody who gives us a call. You can also enroll at that same phone number 800-835-6747, you can enroll in our free Bible study course. Just ask for that when you call. Our next caller is Jamie, listening in South Texas. Jamie welcome to the program.
Pastor Jean: Hi. Thanks for calling.
Jamie: Can you hear me?
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Jamie: Okay, great. My question is, 1st Corinthians 118, "For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing." I was at the church and the preacher was-- he had service was really hammer that we don't tell somebody that Jesus loves you, have you told somebody Jesus loves you. He kept hammering on and I'm like, this is going against the things that I basically got it-- witnessing a witness [inaudible 00:38:47]. You could elaborate on that first, what it means to you.
Pastor Ross: All right. First of all Paul is living in a Greco, Roman world. A lot of Greek philosophy even though the Romans were ruling and they loved to philosophy and there was you know nothing was definite and he says, “For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing.” Those that don't have the spirit and spiritual things Jesus said “are spiritually discerned” They just can't understand because all the gods in the Roman world, they're all fighting for the highest place.
How you would have a god that would come down and make himself weak and to die for those that he created just seem like foolishness in the way of some of the Greeks and the Romans that were so used to their gods and their system of religion. To those that believe, we understand that what may seem like foolishness to them, there's a power that comes into the life through the Gospel, because of the love of God that transforms us. None, of the Greek or Roman religions, or the pagan religions had that power.
That’s why he says, "I'll destroy the wisdom of the wise," and this is the following, verse 19, "And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent" and so the real fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and that's through believing the Gospel, the preaching of the cross. I appreciate your question Jamie and hope that helps a little bit.
Pastor Jean: Next holy is Sharon listening from Brighton Michigan. Sharon welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Sharon you're on the air.
Sharon: Hi there. How are you?
Pastor Doug: Doing good.
Sharon: Hi I just happen to find your show, I never heard you before and I'm just really excited, because I'm driving along and I'm just really bored I need to listen to something and there you were.
Pastor Doug: Well, we hope it's habit form and keep listening.
Sharon: Oh, I'm so excited I can't wait to get home and tell my husband about this great program. I just was thrilled just with that a few minutes I've been listening to you and I'm just really excited that's why I've called.
Pastor Doug: What's your question tonight?
Sharon: The question I have was, talking about-- you were talking about Elijah earlier. And it sparked the memory that I had, he performed a lot of miracles, right?
Pastor Doug: Right.
Sharon: The right person. Okay and it seemed like that a lot of the same miracles that Jesus did and I remember hearing some other prophets that had been performing the same miracles. I just wanted to know what makes Jesus so special? I know he's supposed to be the son of God and things like that but why did they get a perform the same exact once Jesus did. Does that make sense?
Pastor Doug: Yes, I understand it's a good question. I actually wrote a book about that called it's called Shadows of light and it's basically saying that a number of these Old Testament characters if not all of them that perform miracles that were leaders like David and Moses and Elijah and Elisha they were what you call types of Christ. You see them doing things in their lives that then help us recognize Jesus. So when Christ came Moses multiplied bread and fed people well Jesus multiplied bread.
Elijah raised a boy to life, well Jesus raised a widow's son to life and Elijah raised a widow's son to life. You have Moses stretching out his hands on the mountain so the people would win a victory you have Samson stretching out his arms to sacrifice his life for his people. Jesus stretched out his arms and died on the cross. I'm just giving you a quick overview of there's hundreds of examples of how Joseph, he's sold by his brothers for the price of a slave for silver.
Jesus is sold by one of his 12 apostles for the price of a slave for silver and yet Joseph forgave his brothers, Jesus forgave the Apostles. You see all these analogies of Christ in the Old Testament story, so when the Messiah finally does come they go, "Wow, all of the scriptures pointed to him." Now there's a verse in the Bible, if you look in Hebrews-- No, in Luke 24 Jesus told two disciples, "Oh, fools and slow of heart to believe all the prophets have spoken."
Then beginning at Moses and all the prophets he Jesus expounded unto them these things concerning himself. Christ was saying that Moses and the prophets all were really talking about him and their lives reflected him. That's the theme of the book called Shadows of Light. Anyway I don't think we can give that away but you can find it on Amazon and just type in Doug Batchelor Shadows of light and it'll be there.
Pastor Jean: We do have a book though that we can give you for free if you just give us a call on our resource line and it talks about really the big difference between Christ and everyone else and that was the fact that he died for the sins of the world nobody else has ever done that, nobody else could do that. The book is called the High Cost of the Cross, talking about Christ's sacrificial death. We'll be happy to send that to you Sharon or anybody who calls an asks.
The number again is 800-835-6747, that is the resource line. You can ask for the book called the High Cost of the Cross 800-835-6745, sorry 47. If you have a Bible related question the number here to the studio is 800-463-7297 again that's the number here to the studio with your Bible question 800-463-7297. We have Debra, listening from Salem, Michigan. Debra, welcome to the program.
Debra: Yes, thank you. I was listening to I listened to 103.5, 102.3 and then 94 or whatever, Christian Radio all day long. I'm a Christian since 1976 and I read the Bible all the time study the Bible, etcetera. I'm not a theologian, I'm not a priest or I'm not a preacher as well. It's something--
Pastor Doug: If you're reading your Bible that much you may understand your Bible better than some theologians but anyway go ahead.
Debra: Well, I really was into what you guys was talking about and I can't remember what you were talking about. But what upset me was and I could have heard it wrong because I'm really tired of been working lots of hours okay but the young man that spoke and answers of asked the question or maybe it was a woman the question was, "Can you lose your salvation?"
And truly in my heart I've studied this for many years, because we all fall into sin even being Christians and we get astray or we get discouraged or we do things we shouldn't do and I've done things that I'd rather not say. Okay, but we can even concentrate on David. David in the Bible and he was the apple of God's eye and I went to several verses that have proved to me that what God has chosen.
Pastor Doug: Make this into a question real quick.
Debra: I was understanding when you told the young woman or young man that they could lose their salvation and I do not believe in anywhere in the Bible is that true.
Pastor Doug: All right. That's a good question. Now so the real question is, once a person has experienced salvation is it possible for them to lose it? Another way you might phrase that question is, when a person comes to Jesus, first of all Christ will never let go of them but do they lose their freedom to turn from Jesus? Do we have examples in the Bible of people that follow Jesus that then turned away? I think the answer is, yes. There are many but the question is like David, Peter when he denied Christ he repented and Jesus forgave him.
He even chastised him and said, "Feed my sheep." Judas he hung himself, King Saul chosen by the Lord filled with the Spirit this is in the Old Testament but he became proud and he started to reject God's counsel and as Saul continued to rebel and reject God's counsel he finally and it didn't happen overnight but he eventually grieved away the Holy Spirit and he died at his own hands like Judas. Balaam was a prophet of God Had the Holy Spirit, foretold the future, his prophecies will come true; even though Balaam himself he sold out like Judas for money.
And so the idea that once you're saved you can do anything and you can't be lost. Now the way some pastors deal with it they say, "Well, if they are lost and they do turn away they never really were saved," then you then you can never know who is saved. It's like playing with semantics. The question is as long as we're in this life do we have freedom to choose? Once we choose Jesus, do we lose our freedom, that's why the Bible says, "Whosoever will let him take the water of life and whoever believes in Him will not perish," but we get to choose
If we stop believing Paul or Peter talks about the pig that was washed, returns to wallowing in the mire and the dog returns to its vomit and people can turn back. It said, "It would have been better for them not to know the way of salvation than to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them," but some have turned. There's one in Revelation about the candlestick being removed Pastor Ross. Where I forget which church it was, but he said, "That if you don't repent," he's speaking to a church, to Christians, "I'll remove your candlestick." John 15, talking about the vine, "If we abide in him will bring forth fruit, if we don't we'll be cut off and burnt good for nothing." So there's many many examples in the Bible with his people.
Pastor Jean: Yes I think the verse you referring to is, Revelation 2, and it's verse 5 where to the Church of Ephesus Jesus says, "Except you repent I'll come quickly and remove your lamp stand from its place," unless you repent.
Pastor Doug: Yes and so those were believers that he's talking to so there's many cases where the church has drifted or backslidden all the way from the Old Testament through the New Testament. Now we do have a book that talks about, "Can A Saved Man Be Lost? Can A Saved Man Choose To Be Lost?" We will send you a free copy of that Debra and I hope you will send for it look at the scriptures in it. Can a save man choose to be lost?
Anyone who's wondering about the subject there are good Christians I know on both sides of this view some believe once you're saved you can't be lost and others believe you still have your freedom to choose. I'm not trying to judge or condemn anybody but you need to study it and once again can a saved man choose to be lost and the number.
Pastor Jean: The number to call 800-835-6747, you can ask for the book called, Can A Saved the Man Choose To Be Lost? We'll be happy to send that to anybody who give us a call and asks. Now, you know Pastor Doug, we're not saying that we can have assurance in this life. If we are holding on to hand of Jesus. We have the promise that Jesus said, "He who believes in me shall not perish, he shall have everlasting life." So we can have confidence that Christ will see us through but we don't want to neglect that important component of having that abiding faith and trust in Jesus.
Pastor Jean: And yes, we should also then have the fruits of the Spirit, the Bible tells us.
Pastor Doug: Correct.
Pastor Doug: And Christ said, "You'll know them by their fruits." It's not just the profession. Thank you, I appreciate your call Debra.
Pastor Jean: All right. We've got Rick and I believe this is a follow-up question from Alabama. Rick, welcome to the program we have about three four more minutes.
Pastor Doug: Yes, we were talking to us earlier about the Millennium.
Rick: Yes, but I can't still not hear.
Pastor Doug: Okay, did we answer your question or did you hear the answer?
Rick: Yes. I did and I thank you very much and my follow-up question, and them I'm going to hang up and listen to you on the radio. All right. Before in heaven with Jesus, we're in the thousand year reign, what's going on Earth during that thousand years? I will go and listen to you.
Pastor Doug: All right. Good question. The Bible describes a time, and you can read about this in Jeremiah 4:23 and another passages. It says, "I saw the Earth and it was darkness and the cities were broken down. And the slain of the Lord were from one end of the Earth to the other and no one was there to lament or to bury them." And I'm combining the prophecy both in Isiah another one in Jeremiah there.
"But when the Lord comes it says, "The wicked are destroyed by the brightness of his coming, and the Earth reels to and throw like a drunken man." Revelation says, "It's a mighty earth quake and islands and mountains are swallowed up. So when the Lord comes the Earth is in ruin, it's desolate during that time."
Pastor Jean: You know, we would encourage you Rick if you can, call for that study guide called, A Thousand Years of Peace. It will actually give you all the verses that describe what's happening on the Earth during the 1000 years. Where is the devil during that time period? We have the righteous? It will be a great study. The number to call again is 800-835-6747. You can ask for A Thousand Years of Peace. And I think we're going and squeeze in one more call, Pastor Doug. We have Gina, listening from Orlando. We can make this one quick. Gina what is your question?
Gina: Hello Pastor Jean and Pastor Doug.
Pastor Jean: Hi.
Gina: Please, what's on the Bible ways to distinguish a false prophet from a true prophet please?
Pastor Doug: Good question. Now, first of all, I'm glad the way you worded that, there are going to be prophets in the last days, that's for Christ and watch out for the false ones. One of the gifts of the Spirit. Paul talks about in 1st Corinthians 12 and 14, is the gift of prophecy; but how do you know the true from the false? Because usually many more false prophets than true ones, Jesus said, "There will be many false prophets." The true prophet, it tells us several things, first of all, their lives will be in harmony with the teachings of God.
As it said you'll know them by their fruits. And secondly, the prophecies that they've made-- they'll have a lot of track record of success. If their prophesying things and they are not happening then, they're false prophets. Versus that rare exceptions, where God changes mine like with Jonah. But typically, Moses said, "True prophet's prophecy are going to come to pass." They will have the spirit of God in their life, they will have the character of God. The prophecies will match the word.
Pastor Jean: And what they preach or what they teach will be in harmony with the law and with the prophecies in scripture.
Pastor Doug: Yes. So we have a lesson that talks about, "Does God inspire psychics and astrologers," and really, that lesson is about the tests for true prophet. What biblical test do you apply to find out if the person is a genuine prophet or a counterfeit? And one of the things I've noticed that a real prophet, their pointing attention to God. They're not talking about themselves. And the other thing is, when the prophet says, "You got to pay me for my prophecy," that makes them very suspicious.
Pastor Jean: Right.
Pastor Doug: When you pick up the phone and they say," I will give you your prophecy just give us your credit card number." I wouldn't go for any of those prophets because the prophets in the Bible gave their message, whether they were paid or not. Hey, listening friends it wouldn't be fair in the last moments that remain to take another question. I want to remind you that this program is 100% supported by you.
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