Pastor Doug Batchelor: Hello friends. This is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact. Today, the 33 square miles of Manhattan Island, in New York City, contains some of the world's most expensive real estate. But, it wasn't always so highly valued. In 1626, the Dutch West India Company, purchased Manhattan from the native Americans for 60 guilders worth of traded goods. That's about $700 in today's money. The Indians still thought they got a great deal because they were not even living on the island. The Dutch called the settlement, New Amsterdam.
But a few years later, they traded Manhattan for an obscure Indonesian island that grew nutmeg. You see back in the 1600s the Dutch and the British were competing with each other all over the globe, for control of the spice trade. The Europeans valued nutmeg for more than its distinct taste. Nutmeg was considered an aphrodisiac and a hallucinogen. People even wore bags of the spice around their neck to protect against the bubonic plague.
Since then they've learned there may even be something to that. Because it seemed it was like a flea collar keeping the bubonic plague-carrying fleas away. Nutmeg was so highly coveted by the Europeans. The traders were selling it at nearly 6,000% mark up. Finally after years of bloody fighting, in 1667, the Dutch and the English sat down to hash out a treaty. The Dutch wanted the last nutmeg-producing island from the British. A place called Run. So they offered to trade Manhattan.
The British weren't even that excited about the deal but they agreed and renamed the island New York. Subsequently, what the Dutch traded for nutmeg became the first capital of the United States and one of the world's most recognized cities. Stay with us friends. We're going to learn more as we present amazing facts and Bible Answers Live.
Pastor Jean Ross: [background music playing] Welcome to Bible Answers Live, with author and evangelist, Pastor Doug Batchelor. Is understanding God's word a challenge? Are there passages of 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 8004637297. Now, here's your host, Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Doug: You heard the number friends, 800-God-Says. We have the lines open, 800-463-7297, will bring you into the Bible Answers Live studios. If you're joining us for the first time this is a live international interactive Bible study. You get to participate. You can listen in, you can call in with your Bible-related question. One more time, ready? 800-463-7297, brings your question to the studio. Don't put your pen or pencil too far away, because we'll give you another resource number for free resources that we give away, as well as sometimes great websites for Bible study. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jean: My name is, Jean Ross. Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug, let's begin the program with a prayer. Dear Father in heaven we thank you once again that we're able to study your word together and we ask for your guidance as we search the scriptures. We pray that you give us wisdom and understanding, lead us into a clear understanding of Bible truth. For we ask this in Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Jean: Well, Pastor Doug, you opened the program by talking about the cost of New York City. Well, it wasn't New York City at the time, but remarkable that it was traded for an island that could produce nutmeg. I think today if we try to put a price tag on New York City, nutmeg would not have anything to do with it. [laughs]
Pastor Doug: No.
Pastor Jean: I don't think you can put a price tag on New York City.
Pastor Doug: I don't think they had any idea. You know the city grew far more than they had anticipated, because it ended up being a very strategic place there on the river, it was somewhat shielded. Great place for trade and they discovered later that while there wasn't an abundance of natural resources, because Manhattan was largely a rock. By the way, I grew up there. I went to school in New York City growing up. They could build very high because the whole island was like a foundation.
And that city that they built up on, they had no idea what the future would hold. Some people don't know, New York City is where George Washington was inaugurated. The Washington DC, of course, wasn't the capital and the capital for the United States was New York City. Some people, when they read the Bible, they wonder, ''Since the United States has grown into such a mega world power, is there anything in Bible prophecy that talks about the United States?" And friends if you got that question then we have a free offer, you'll need to read. You'll really enjoy that deals with that subject.
Pastor Jean: The study guide is called The USA in Bible Prophecy. We'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks. Our resource number is, 800-835-6747. You can ask f,or the study guide called The United States in Bible Prophecy. We'll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks. You can also read it for free online at the Amazing Facts website at Amazingfacts.org. And if you have a Bible question our phone line here in studio is, 800-463-7297. Again that's 800-463-7297, with your Bible question. Faster now we're ready to go to the phone lines our first caller this evening is Lauren listening from Charlotte, North Carolina.
Pastor Doug: Hi, Lauren. Welcome to the program.
Lauren: Hi, good evening.
Pastor Doug: Evening. Now you know we're coming to Charlotte in-- when is it? March 21.
Pastor Jean: March 21. Yes.
Lauren: No. I did not know that.
Pastor Doug: Yes. We're going to be doing a meeting. I think you've got an auditorium there called the Ovens Auditorium. Yes, and we're going to be-- what? March 21 to 27? We'll be doing a meeting that will be broadcasted on TV called, The Last Day of Prophecy. And yes, hope you come around. Well, you'll see more information on our website. Sorry, wait your question tonight? [chuckles]
Lauren: [laughs] My question is in Exodus 33:11 and 20. Because verse 11 says that, "The Lord spoke to Moses face to face as a man speaks to his friend." But in verse 20 it says, "The Lord said, 'You cannot see my face but no man shall see me and live." So my question is, did Moses actually see God's face? What did he mean by that?
Pastor Doug: All right. Well, keep in mind two things. One is that the Lord did speak to Moses like you and I are talking now. They used the expression face to face like we do sort of as a metaphor it means on a personal level. And so even though there may have been a cloud of glory veiling the face of God when he spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, he did talk to him personally. But then there's another verse that says, "No man has seen the Father at any time." Pastor Ross, what is it? John?
Pastor Jean: John 6:46.
Pastor Doug: Yes, no man has seen the Father. So some have seen the Son, of course we know that and spoken to him face to face that's God the Son. But, so Moses may have spoken to God through the glory towards his face, but the unveiled glory of God, in his divinity. He said, "No one can see that in our sinful condition and even survive."
The wonderful thing is in Revelation, again I forget the verse, but in Revelation it says in maybe chapter 21 or 22, "We will see his face." Speaking about once we are redeemed and we have our glorified bodies and we're all washed from sin, we'll be able to see God's face to face. God himself will dwell with us there. So but that is a good question, because in one place it says, "He spoke to his face," a few verses later it says, "You can't see my face."
Lauren: Okay, thank you.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Thank you. I appreciate your question.
Pastor Jean: All right. Our next caller is Shantelle listening from, Salem, Oregon. Shantelle, welcome to the program.
Shantelle: Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Shantelle: I really enjoyed your sermon this past Sabbath on talents.
Pastor Doug: Oh, you must have been watching online because we haven't even edited that yet.
Shantelle: Oh, yes. [laughs]
Pastor Doug: Bless your heart.
Shantelle: [laughs] Well, it was really good.
Pastor Doug: Thank you.
Shantelle: My question is, could you please explain, "Perfect love casts out fear?"
Pastor Doug: Yes. And that's in-- is that first John? What's the verse?
Shantelle: Oh, I didn't write down the text.
Pastor Doug: Pastor Ross will find it. "If perfect love casts out fear," you know I think that that's-- you can even use the word faith there. When we love the Lord and we want to please him, then there's nothing we're afraid to do. We're nothing. No sacrifice it's too great. And so we're not afraid of going forward with anything to serve God.
Pastor Jean: That's 1st John 4:18.
Pastor Doug: Thank you. 1st John 4:18. Perfectly. You want to read the whole verse? There's more to it.
Pastor Jean: Yes. It says this, it says, "There is no fear in love, for perfect love casts our fear. Because fear involves torment."
Pastor Doug: That's the part.
Pastor Jean: "But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
Pastor Doug: And you could even read Shantelle in the new Jerusalem and again Pastor Ross will look this up for us in maybe Revelation 22. It says, "The fearful are in the lake of fire, the fearful and the unbelieving." Now some people out there are going to say, "Wait a second, the Bible says we're to fear God, and then the Bible says the fearful are in the lake of fire." So which is it? Is it-- are we supposed to fear or not?
Pastor Jean: That's Revelation chapter 21:8.
Pastor Doug: There is the fear of God, which means an all in a reverence for God trembling at his glory. If we fear God we will not fear anything else, if we don't fear God we fear everything else. It's talking about having a life of faith where you're a God fearing person. You're not afraid of what man might do because you have so much reverence for God. Those that don't have faith and they don't believe they'll be saved they're afraid of every little shadow, they can’t have peace, but when you've got that peace that passes understanding, perfect love casts out fear. Does that make sense?
Shantelle: Yes.
Pastor Doug: All right. We appreciate your call and your question tonight.
Shantelle: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you Shontelle.
Pastor Jean: The next caller is Kevin listening in Alberta, Canada. Kevin welcome to the program.
Kevin: Yes. Hi. Thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Sure.
Kevin: I just got a question regarding revelation the 1,260 days. I understand it is years, because a day is equal to a year in prophecy correct?
Pastor Doug: Correct.
Kevin: From what I understand it's already been pre-fulfilled from the year 530 to 1,798, correct?
Pastor Doug: Well, there's several time periods in Revelation that talk about 1,260 days. But, anyway go ahead the main prophecy is fulfilled, there's one I phrase-
Pastor Jean: Revelation 12 really talks about that, 12,160 days, 42 months and three and a half years.
Kevin: Right.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Then there's a literal over three and a half years, that is also fulfilled but it's talking about-
Pastor Jean: Yes. It's Revelation 11.
Pastor Doug: -French Revolution.
Kevin: Okay, what my question was I understand in Revelation 13:3 it says the beast was healed and from my understanding it was in the year 1929. Then it says in Revelation 13:5, it says the beast continues for another 42 months. So a 42 month converting to this 1260 days, which is the 1260 years, so I'm just wondering if I'm reading that right. It was healed in 1929 then it continues for another 1260 years, so are we not- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: No.
Kevin: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Go ahead Pastor Ross.
Pastor Jean: Yes. Just a couple things what we find in Revelation 13, the first part that talks about the beast that came from the sea, it's not necessarily listening everything chronological but it's giving you certain identifying marks to identify who this power is. One of the identifying marks is that it will continue for 42 months or 1260 years. We know that to be 538 til 1798.
Another identifying mark is, it receives this deadly wound but the deadly wound is healed and we also know from history that time period from 1798, to all the way through to about 1929 the healing began. Now, the power is not completely healed because it's not back to its persecuting self that it was during the Dark Ages. So don't necessarily look at Revelation 13, here the first part as being chronological rather it's identifying marks of who this power is.
Kevin: Okay.
Pastor Doug: It's interesting David, the key to understand Revelation is knowing your Old Testament because someone said once and I believe it's true that out of the 404 verses in Revelation, 278 of them can be found almost verbatim in the Old Testament. In the Old Testament there was a time when a wicked power namely Ahab and Jezebel persecuted the prophets like Elijah who went into the wilderness during the famine for 1260 days, that's three and a half years.
Except now in Revelation it's talking about a time when the church went underground and had to go into the wilderness for 1260 years, during the Dark Ages. It was a time of what they call the people persecution. That went from 538 to 1798. Now I'm spelling this out, because a lot of listeners are hearing your question and wondering what the world we're talking about, so I just wanted to fill that in. But we do have a lesson that talks about that time period, is that the one on the anti-Christ pastor?
Pastor Jean: That's called Who Is The Anti-Christ and actually gets into that, revelation Chapter 13, as well as Daniel 7. If you haven't read it, Kevin, it's a great resource the number to call for that is, 800-835-6747, and you can ask for the study guide called Who Is The Anti-Christ. And we'll be happy to send that out to you Kevin or anybody who wants to learn more about this important prophecy. Our next caller is, David, and he's listening here in Sacramento California on KFIA. David, welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Hi David.
David: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Your question tonight?
David: Did Satan celebrate when Jesus died on the cross, do you think he could have done that?
Pastor Doug: Well, it's a good question, I believe that if anybody was going to celebrate it would be the devil, because he thought that when Jesus went to the cross and when Christ cried out, "It is finished and he died." That somehow he was going to be able to keep Jesus in the tomb and the Devil thought that he would be able to somehow seize the position or power of Christ that he had had.
Yes. The devil was the chief perpetrator of Christ's death, he probably was very happy to inflict as much punishment as possible on Jesus. The one thing the devil wasn't very happy about he was hoping he'd get Jesus to despair and sin, or curse, or do something wrong before he died. The devil could not get Jesus to sin but he was probably glad to have him dead either way. Interesting question I don't really have a scripture on the devil celebrating but it tells us in what Revelation 12, he’s come down with great wrath-
Pastor Jean: Knowing he has but a short time, yes.
Pastor Doug: He was- [crosstalk]
Pastor Jean: Cast down with the cross in a special way at least to the earth, I don't think Satan fully understood the ramifications of the death of Jesus. It seems as though he inspired- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: He was appealing to who were doomed.
Pastor Jean: Yes. He was inspiring those who were bringing death to Christ and yet in one sense it was almost bringing name to his dominion and his reign.
Pastor Doug: Thank you, David. I appreciate your call.
Pastor Jean: Next caller that we have is, Gary, listening from Texas, Gary welcome to the program.
Gary: Hi. Happy new year.
Pastor Doug: Happy New Year. Thanks for calling and your question.
Gary: Yes sir. I'm calling about the Mosaic Law and I'm just wondering what's still binding? Like we look in Leviticus 15, you go to the first verse and it goes all the way down. It’s compared to like in verse 13, talking about this man has an issue and he is running-- he's going to be unclean and you sit on it you’re going to be unclean. Then he'll ask to bathe himself seven days, so I’m just wondering is that still binding, because it doesn't seem like it has anything to do with the sacrificial system?
Pastor Doug: Well, there’s several different laws that you find in the Old Testament, when I say, "Laws," I mean categories of laws. The golden law would be of course love. When Jesus said, "Love your neighbor and love the Lord with all your heart," he was actually quoting Moses. The Two Great Commandments about loving the Lord and loving your neighbor, is the pinnacle. The Ten Commandments divides that and that of course is eternal in nature for all mankind, first four commandments deal with loving God, the last six with loving our fellow man.
Then you've got health laws and some of them were sanitation laws which may have been different than some of the dietary laws. You're looking there in Leviticus 15, its sanitation laws, which are mostly common sense. The laws of Moses were so far ahead of their time, just thousands of years ahead of their time. There are even nations in the world today that don't understand simple things like burying human waste but Moses said that. Pastor Ross and I travel a number of different countries and you've got to be very careful and in some places [laughs], because they don't understand some of these principles.
God said that to Moses. Then the idea of any human issue from the body, if you've got a sore the weeping then it can spread disease. The fact that he knew that that you should wash with water and these simple principles of sanitation, those are still good principles. So, of course, then you've got civil law in the Bible, you've got some of the ceremonial law that was nailed to the cross it has to do with the sacrifices in the temple.
That when Jesus died in the veil in the temple was rent, we don't have to sacrifice lambs anymore, the ceremonial law, circumcision that's all done away with. But, the civil law of Moses; most American law is based on the principles of the civil law that God gave the Hebrews. Things like there's a difference between first degree murder, second degree murder and they recognize that in the Bible. Anyway did I answer your question?
Gary: It feels like this doesn't make sense. You said, it would be common sense if you're dirty, you would clean yourself in a hospital setting like you would work wear gloves to prevent spread but if you- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: We know where today to prevent the spread of disease without isolation from the camp, we have anti-bacterial methods and things to sterilize, and they don't necessarily have it so the best thing they can do to prevent a pandemic from going through the camp is they said until this running wound or whatever the problems are leprosy.
Until it's been healed or goes away and you wash with water, you shouldn't come back into the camp. That was just a very basic way they had to deal with it back then and the children of Israel were very hearty stock, because it prevented a lot of disease. Yes. I appreciate that. We do have a book that talks about the law of God and you can divide of some of these categories and it's our lesson on, Written in Stone.
Pastor Jean: That's right. We'll be happy to send this to you. All you'll have to do, Gary is, give us a call on our resource number, the number is 800-835-6747 you can ask for the study guide called, Written in Stone. You know, something else interesting, we also have a study guide called, God's Free Health Plan, also talks about health principles that you find in the Bible and that you can always ask for that when you call as well. If you have a Bible question, the phone number here to the studio again it's, 800-463-7297 with your Bible question. We have, Brandy, listening from Seattle Washington. Brandy, welcome to the program.
Brandy: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi. How are you doing?
Brandy: Good. I'm a teacher at a Christian school and most of my students are from countries who have never heard the Bible stories, or anything about the Bible. So I give worship every morning and I'm going through the Old Testament, and I've been telling them that, "God won't force you to love Him. That it is a freedom of choice."
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Brandy: Then I got to the 10 Commandments and I explained to them the 10 Commandments, and the children of Israel in Exodus 32:10. God's telling Moses when they made the golden calf that He wanted to destroy them. My student said, if he want to destroy them, isn't He loved, doesn’t He want to go the freedom of choice?
Pastor Doug: Well, first of all, He did give them. That's a good question. He did give them the freedom of choice when He said, “Do you want to follow my laws?” They said, “All that you said we will do.” They made a covenant with him and then they broke the covenant after he had saved them from Egypt and the very fact that God is talking to Moses and saying, Leave me alone and I'll let my wax burn against them and I'll punish them." God didn't even need to talk to Moses about it God could blink his eyes or snap his fingers and he could have vaporized the whole nation.
He wanted Moses to intervene, Moses is a type of Christ. So here Moses he's praying he's interceding with God for them, and God wants to save them and He does want-- He said, "Moses go ahead and ask me and I'll forgive them." [laughs] so the Lord was really inviting Moses to prevent him from judging them for what they had done. Because- [crosstalk]
Brandy: It was because they made a covenant with Him that--
Pastor Doug: They had made a covenant with Him in Chapter 19, then he writes it down and they agreed to it in chapter 20, that's the 10 Commandments. One of them says, don't make a graven image and then you read in Chapter 32, of Exodus they made a golden calf and it's not just a calf. They got involved in some very salacious worship, and says the people were naked.
They had had a pretty riotous party and a lot of sinning going on. So God said, "Look you just made a covenant with me to be my people and be holy and you've turned back to other gods in no time at all. I should judge you. The penalty for sin is death because it's contagious." But, Moses interceded and God wanted him to and the God forgave them and gave them many more chances.
Brandy: -okay, so should I be telling my students the story of the New Testament to show them that God is love before? Telling them the Old Testament of all these--
Pastor Doug: Well-
Brandy: -stories?
Pastor Doug: -you've got a lot of stories of love, both are good but you have a lot of stories of love and mercy in the Old Testament as well as the New. You can just see how patient God was with this nation and how mercifully he was. Even in the New Testament, you got plagues and revelations, so you'll have love and mercy in both the new love and judgment plagues in both two.
Brandy: Okay.
Pastor Doug: That's a good question though. I know it's when the kids especially ask great questions don't they Brandy?
Brandy: Yes.
Pastor Doug: [laughs] Well keep up the good work-
Brandy: Thank you so much.
Pastor Doug: -you're working with the young mindset that makes a difference for eternity, so we'll pray for you.
Brandy: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: All right. Take care.
Brandy: Have a good evening.
Pastor Doug: You too.
Pastor Jean The next Caller’s, Debra, listening from Detroit, Michigan. Debra, welcome to the program.
Debra: Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Debra: Thank you for answering the phone. The question I have, is a Pastor there. He’s been a pastor for about eight, nine years at a church and he had control of the money and he was stealing the money, and he's not telling the truth. I want to know if you had a church like that and he asked for repentance and asked to be forgiven but he’s still not telling the truth. I mean he’s the shepherd-
Pastor Doug: Was the pastor-
Debra: -over the church.
Pastor Doug: -was the pastor caught stealing?
Debra: Yes. He was. We know he did this- [crosstalk].
Pastor Doug: He’s still the pastor?
Debra: - but we're part of the-- I’m one of the persons on the trustee board, so I know that he did it, he admitted to doing it. But, the leaders over him is saying we're-- he could still be saved and be redeemed but he’s still not telling the truth.
Pastor Doug: Now, I believe he can still be forgiven and be redeemed but if a pastor steals from a church, I would think that they would just right away say look that's a sacred trust you betrayed, how can you preach to other people about holiness and trust-
Debra: Right.
Pastor Doug: - and I would be very concerned about letting a pastor continue serving as a pastor after he-
Debra: Right.
Pastor Doug: -violates like that. He might be forgiven by God and by the members but he can't keep his job. I don't know, Pastor what would you say?
Debra: Right. That's what I-- That's what he thought.
Pastor Jean: Absolutely. They need to be something set in place that maybe a probationary time or some oversight but something will-
Pastor Doug: I’m not talking about-
Pastor Jean: -need to be done.
Pastor Doug: -yes, forgets to turn the gas receipt we're–
Pastor: [laughs].
Pastor Doug -not talking about that we're talking about [laughs]-
Pastor Jean: Something major.
Pastor Doug: -we’re talking about a guy who’s got a hand in the till and is pocketing money. [crosstalk]
Debra: Actually taking thousands and thousands of dollars.
Pastor Doug: He'd be packing his bags in my church [laughs].
Debra: Right. I don’t know why they didn’t let him do and see, have us know about it. The other half of the people in the church don’t know about it, so they're fighting against us like we did something wrong. He’s going back tell them things like, it’s something that we did, not giving him where he can get back his money and different things like the Shepherd Night and Pastory- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: Well you said that at one point-
Debra: -anniversary.
Pastor Doug: - you said he was confronted and he admitted that he –
Debra: He admitted.
Pastor Doug: -that he was caught stealing?
Debra: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well, that ought to go to a church in a business meeting and I would think that that would be a very serious offense and I'd be looking for another pastor another church or something. Hey, appreciate your call Debra we're going to be taking a break just a moment. Friends we do have a couple more lines open, right after our break. We'll be taking more phone calls that one number one more time is with your Bible questions, 800-God-Says. 800-463-7297, you're listening to the Bible Answers Live.
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Pastor Doug: We are back with bible answers live and if you have bible questions that's what this program is all about. We invite you to call in with your bible question. Free phone call, number 800-God-Says. We go to God's book for the answers. One more time, 800-463-72-- with your bible questions. Wait a second. 1-800-463- 7297. I left off two digits. One little digit makes a big difference. You ever notice that in a phone number? I've missed one digit before and it wrecked the whole thing. You need that extra digit. 1-800-463-7297 with your bible questions. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jean: My name is Jean Ross and pastor Doug we're ready to go back to the phone lines. We've got Ben, who's listening form Fort Worth, Texas. Ben, welcome to the program.
Ben: Hi. Thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely.
Ben: I was listening. I've just tuned in actually and I heard the tail end of a previous caller you had. One before the lady I believe.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Ben: About some prophecies in Revelation. I guess what I'm trying to ask, what kind of fruits are there? -- That there is a prophecy said it that had already been fullfilled.
Pastor Doug: In revelation?
Ben: Yes. Didn't you say this prophecy- [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: Yes. There's a number of prophecies in Revelation that had been fulfilled. When John gets the vision of revelation, he said, "The time is at hand," right when he had the vision. Revelation covers a lot of prophecy that begins with the first coming of Jesus and goes to the second coming of Jesus. Of course, everyone knows and their prophecy talk about heaven, which is future. A lot of Revelation still has future, but Revelation talks about a great persecution that would come to God's people during the Dark Ages and that happened.
It gives even the time period. From 538, and this is where they call it the people persecution. From 538, when the pope was given an army to correct and to persecute people that didn't cooperate till 1798 when Napoleon broke the People Power by arresting the pope and they kind of lost the military power over Europe. There was The Inquisition, there was this lots of persecution and darkness. Bibles were taken away form the people and even the Catholic church has-- They publicly apologized for this age of darkness.
It's interesting that that was exactly 1,260 years. 42 months has 1,260 days in it. This time period is given several times in Revelation. There are other times-- Persecution's still in the future. Jesus talks about a great time of trouble, that the great tribulation, it's still in the future. Christ said, "You'll be hated of all nations." He told the disciples what to expect and some of that happened immediately after the destruction of Jerusalem.
Ben: Okay. Do you have any literature on what you've just said?
Pastor Doug: I'm so glad you asked that question. Have we got literature?
Ben: I bet you do.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Our frog's water proof. Yes. We've got a study on-- I'll tell you what if you would like we'll send you the entire prophecy bible study series and it's free. It will give you all the dates and histories. This isn't something Pastor Ross and I dreamed of. This is what protestant theologians have studied for hundreds of years.
Everyone from Charles Virgin to John Wesley. This is the interpretation they had of Revelation, we'll be sharing. If you call Amazing Facts, or you go online, don't need to call. You can go to bibleuniverse.com and you can sign-up for the study, do it online, or we can send them to you through the mail if you go to amazingfacts.org. Bible Universe or Amazing Facts. We'll send you the literature.
Pastor Jean: Or you can just call the number 800-835-6747 and just tell them you'd like to get the bible school series. They'll be able to sign you up right there. We do have two of those study guides that I think specifically might address this topic. The one is called, Who is the Antichrist?, we mentioned that a little earlier. There's another one called Right on Time!, that talks about some of these time prophecies. I think both of those you'd enjoy, but the whole series will be very valuable in your study.
Ben: Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Hey, thank you, Ben. Appreciate you calling. God bless.
Pastor Jean: We're going to go to Chrystal in--
Chrystal: My question is in Revelation 11. It talks about the two witnesses and how if anyone tries to harm them fire will come from their mouths and devour the enemies. It talks about, "Their bodies will line the public square of the Great City." My question is, is this a physical happening or is there more of a spiritual symbolism going on?
Pastor Doug: Well, I'll tell you right now that the two witnesses are the law and the prophets. Sometimes they're figured by Moses and Elijah. Moses represents the law. Elijah represents the prophets. Moses and Elijah appear to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration, meaning the law and the prophets support that he was the Messiah. Moses, During his time, fire came down from heave and burnt up some of his adversaries. Elijah prayed and fire came down from heaven and burnt up soldiers that had come to arrest him.
The plagues and the fire you find them in the New Testament and the Old Testament. It's talking about the power of the word of God that witnesses that Jesus is the messiah. We have a book on the two witnesses. We'll be happy to send you, Chrystal, if you'd like a copy.
Chrystal: Yes. I would love.
Pastor Doug: Because it's hard for us to go-- Revelation 11 has got several verses, so it's hard for us to give you a complete answer, but best thing to do is send for the free book.
Chrystal: I always thought that it was like a future happening. It's something that-- which it talks about how the whole world will see. I just figured that it was going to be something that would physically happen.
Pastor Doug: Well, some of the Chapter 11-- a lot of it actually has happened in an attack that occurred on the word of God with the birth of Atheism. If you send for that book on the two witnesses you'll learn about that. Trying to think one of the lesson we've got that talks about that. Specifically the two witnesses, Pastor Ross.
Pastor Jean: I don't know if that's specifically part of our study guide series, but the book really does deal with that. Who are the two witnesses.
Pastor Doug: Yes. It's called The Two Witnesses, you can read it for free online right now or you call the resource number. We'll send you a copy.
Chrystal: Okay. I would love then to receive a copy.
Pastor Jean: Thanks, Chrystal.
Chrystal: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thanks so much. God bless.
Pastor Jean: The number to call for the book on the witnesses is 800-835-6747. Again that's 800-835-6747, and Just ask for the book talking about the two witnesses. We'd be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks. Our phone line here to the studio again is 800-463-7297, with your bible question. Our next caller is Garry, listening from, Texas. Garry, welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Garry, in Abilene, are you still there?
Garry: Yes, sir. I'm still here.
Pastor Doug: Did you have another question or I don't know if you called back?
Garry: No. No. I just stayed on line listening.
Pastor Jean: Oh, okay.
Pastor Doug: Okay. We apologize. All right. We're going to keep going then.
Pastor Jean: We've got John listening from Georgetown, South Carolina. John, welcome to the program.
John: Good evening, pastor.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
John: Good evening. This past December our temperatures out here have been running about 15 to 20 degrees above normal. That brought to mind something that I had heard and I cannot find it in the bible. I don't know if this part of sister White's writings or not But, it basically says that near the end of time we wouldn't be able to tell the seasons or plants and the trees wouldn't be able to tell the seasons. Had you heard that? Are you familiar with that?
Pastor Doug: Well, there's actually one of the seven plagues and you find this in Revelation 16:9. It says, "And men where scorched with great heat." I'm trying to remember which plague, is this the fourth plague? Yes. I think so. The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun and power was given to him to scorch men with great heat, with fire. Men were scorched with great heat and they blasphemed the name of God who had power over these plagues.
I'm just laughing, because that would be what you call global warming, is when the fourth plague is poured out. That would obviously affect the seasons. Some have wondered if these record breaking heat waves are a sign of that. I don't think so because it is getting hot, but at the same time there're other parts of the country that are having record breaking freezes. It does seem like the planet's regular cycles are kind of wobbling. I think when the fourth plague is poured out people are going to really know. I think it's going to be like lethally hot.
Pastor Jean: There is an interesting verse, where the bible speaks of the earth waxing old like a garment. It seems as though just the typical seasons, or the movements of the weather, seems like near the end it's as if the world almost getting overwhelmed. It's getting old as the bible says.
Pastor Doug: You know, it tells us in the beginning that the sun lights in the firmament, the sun and the moon would be for signs and for seasons. For days and for years. It seems like now as we near the end that the seasons are changing. It does also say the sun will go dark and the moon will turn to the blood before the great and dreadful day of the Lord. There's going to be changes in the heavens. I appreciate your call. Thank you so much, John.
Pastor Jean: The phone line here to the studio with your bible questions is 800-463-7297. That's 800-GOD-SAYS, 463-7297. We have Tommy, listening from Otto Banks, North Carolina. Tommy, welcome to the program.
Tommy: Good evening pastors, thanks for taking my call. I'm just curious. Back in 70 AD when the Romans destroyed Israel. I was wondering if you all think, there's any parallel, or correlation between that and the second coming of Christ?
Pastor Doug: You know, I do think there is. Matter of fact, in Matthew 24, when the disciples are talking to Jesus about the end of the world, they asked about--Christ makes a prediction, he said, "There will not be left here once--" And it's Matthew 24:02, they show him the temple, Jesus said don't be amazed by this because there's not going to be left here, one stone upon another that will not be thrown down." Then they said, "Lord, when is this going to be? What will be the sign of these things, the destruction of Jerusalem and you're coming in the end of the world."
Jesus lumps his answer together, because some of the same things that happened to the Jewish nation before the destruction of Jerusalem will happen on a global level, before the second coming. It is interesting that Christ said this generation will not pass away til all these things be fulfilled. Jesus foretold that the destruction of the temple would happen for generation past. A generation, biblically, is 40 years. He made this prophecy in 30 AD, 40 years later in 70 AD, the temple was destroyed and not one stone was left upon another.
The reason for that is because when the Roman soldiers burnt the temple, all the gold got so hot. Like lead, gold has a low melting temperature, it just melted and seeped into the cracks of the stone pavement. In order for the soldiers to recover all of the melted gold, they basically had to topple every stone in the temple. Now, the persecution of Christians that happened before the destruction of Jerusalem, that will happen again.
The same way that the Romans surrounded the Jewish nation and hedged them in. There was a great time of trouble in Jerusalem during that siege, that's, going to happen in the world. God's people will be hedged in with laws and persecution just before Jesus comes. I believe there are parallels, Tommy. I don't know, Pastor Ross, if you want to add to that.
Pastor Jean: Absolutely. The question the disciples asked was on the one hand related to Jerusalem, the other was in the sign of your coming. They equated the destruction of Jerusalem with the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. They didn't realize that there's almost 2000 years in between the two events. When Jesus answered the question, he addressed both with reference to the destruction of Jerusalem and the second coming because they asked those two questions.
Pastor Doug: Appreciate your question, Tommy. We have a lesson that deals with the second coming and the signs of the second coming. I believe that one is called is it the, Ultimate deliverance?
Pastor Jean: Let's see. [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: Rescue-- go ahead.
Pastor Jean: I'm actually thinking of the other book too. The one is called Ultimate Deliverance, that's the study guide. But we have one called anything, but secret talking about the second coming of Christ. This whole book just dedicated to that subject. We'll be happy to send that to you Tommy or the lesson dealing with the second coming called the Ultimate Deliverance.
The number to call is 800-835-6747, that is a resource phone line and you can ask for the book called anything but secret, and the study guide, the ultimate deliverance talking about the second coming of Christ. If you have a bible question, again that number is 800-463-7297. 800-463-7297. The next caller is Stephen listening in Savannah Georgia. Stephen, welcome to the program.
Stephen: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Good evening?
Stephen: Are you still with me?
Pastor Jean: Yes.
Stephen: Okay. Pastor, in regard to Genesis 1:29, where God made every earth bearing seed as a food.
Pastor Jean: Yes.
Stephen: When somebody uses that in defense of medical marijuana, how will I refute that?
Pastor Jean: Having it made for food is talking about the ones that were obviously the fruit. People don't eat the fruit of marijuana. Matter of fact, in the beginning, vegetables weren't even added to the diet until after sin. After man's sin, God says now you can eat the herb of the field. But the definition for the food in the beginning was fruits and grains and nuts. Marijuana, people are not eating that for nourishment. They're doing it for medicinal reasons or for the drug effect.
I think that some of the arguments that are made-- every drug, it will alter the body some way and it may show some benefit for a medical condition. But there's always going to be some opposing deficit to any drug. But not so with nutritional foods. There are no side effects to eating a banana or an apple. There's no withdrawal symptoms. Your IQ doesn't drop, you don't have to study your tennis shoes for 15 minutes to figure out how to lace them again after eating an apple.
Stephen: [chuckles] Have you experienced that from the cave yourself?
Pastor Doug: Yes, that's from firsthand experience, I'm sorry to say. But I finally gave up smoking pot, because I just realized, this was years ago, but I gave it up because I realized all on my own that it didn't make me much smarter, and I needed all the help I could get. Most of my friends that I know that are signing up for medical marijuana, it has nothing to do with medicine. Anyway, the sign of the times. Thank you, Stephen. Appreciate your call.
Pastor Jean: We have Kim who is listening from Alabama. Kim, welcome to the program. Kim you're on the air.
Pastor Doug: Kim from Alabama might have the mute on, been waiting patiently. There we go. Hey.
Kim: Hi. I have a question about-- me and my daughter was talking. She was saying about Jesus and God is not the same person.
Pastor Doug: Well, tell your daughter that God is sort of like-- think about the last name. In a family, you could have the mother and the father and the children. You got three people, they can all be the Smiths. God is a term that describes God the father, God the son which is Jesus, God the holy spirit. They all have the attributes of God being all powerful, all knowing, omnipresent. Jesus is God the son who is a distinct separate person from God the father.
One thing you can show your daughter that will help her understand that is you can go to the verse in Matthew 3, I think it's verse 16, where Jesus is baptized. It says he came out of the water, the holy spirit comes down, God's voice then says this is my beloved son. You get a picture of God the father, son, and spirit, all in one short passage. Then when Jesus says go baptize in the name of the father, son, and the holy spirit.
God in the beginning when he created, you can tell your daughter, God says let us, that's plural, let us make men in our image, after our likeness. God is saying let us. There's more than one there. I think the word is Elohim which is a plural. I don't know if that helps a little Kim. We do have a free book we can send you on the subject of the trinity, it's very easy to understand. I think your daughter would appreciate it too.
Kim: Yes, I would like the book. So how will I [unintelligible 00:48:34]
Pastor Jean: Give us a call on our resource line and we'll be happy to send it to you. The number is 800-835-6747. Again that's 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book on the trinity and we'll be happy to send that to you.
Kim: Thank you. Okay.
Pastor Doug: Appreciate your call. Thank you.
Pastor Jean: Thanks for the call. Our next caller this evening is Daniel listening from Michigan. Daniel, welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Daniel: Hello?
Pastor Doug: Yes, you're on the air, Daniel.
Daniel: Okay. I want you to site one verse from any prophet who used the name God.
Pastor Doug: God, of course, is an English word.
Daniel: Right.
Pastor Doug: When the bible was written, it was written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. They would be using the word- [crosstalk]
Daniel: Who first used the name?
Pastor Doug: everything from El-Shaddai, Adonai, Elohim.
Daniel: Right. I'm familiar with all that.
Pastor Doug: What you're asking is who was the first one to use the word God?
Daniel: Yes, who created the name God?
Pastor Doug: That's an English word connected with the word good.
Daniel: Okay, so that's not authentic Hebrew name, am I correct? No prophet used the word God, am I right?
Pastor Doug: You're right. They didn't speak English.
Daniel: Case closed.
Pastor Doug: Do you think there's something wrong with using the word God?
Daniel: Yes. Because it's not authentic. No prophet used that name.
Pastor Doug Do you think that we need to speak in Hebrew when we read the Bible?
Daniel: No. He has names that His-- Prophets have the ability to receive communication from the Creator, correct?
Doug: Yes. But- [crosstalk]
Daniel: Those names are authentic names.
Doug: -- doesn't God expect people-
Daniel: -- but He's not authentic.
Doug: Who was it that changed peoples' languages at the Tower of Babel? Was it God or the Devil?
Daniel: I'm sorry?
Doug: When peoples' languages were confounded at the Tower of Babel, who was behind that, God or the Devil?
Daniel: I don't --I'm not really-
Doug: God said, "Let Us go down and confound their languages." So God confused the languages and everybody speaks different languages. God expects us to address Him in our native tongue. If an angel would appear to me right now, he would not speak to me in Hebrew. If God was going to send me a message, I hope He'd send it to me in English. If it was Spanish, I would get some of it but if He spoke in Hebrew or Latin, I'd be in trouble. When we translate the Bible, we use English words. Why would that bother you that we use the word, "God", for God's name?
Daniel: I think the translation-- Forgive me for saying this to you, but I think we may disagree about this. I know what you're saying but I disagree. I think that Hebrew is authentic and these translations are not. Now your turn.
Doug: Well, I think that when we read the bible and I don't know if you speak Hebrew, but when we read the Bible, we read a translation of the Bible into our native tongue. There's certainly nothing wrong with, whenever you get to the word, "God", if you wanted to use the Hebrew and call Him "Yahweh", (we're not even sure exactly how to pronounce that), or Elohim but it's translated into English. We get this question, periodically, Daniel. I wrote a book. I'll send you a free copy. I think you'll enjoy it. It's called, The Name of God. If you call the resource line, we'll send you a free copy of that. You can have the hard cover in your hands or you can read it online.
Pastor Jean: The number to call is 800-835-6747. You can just ask for the book, On the Names of God, and we'll be happy to send that to you, Daniel or anybody who calls and asks. It's a great resource. It's solidly biblical and has a lot of great information. Give us a call. 800-835-6747. That is the resource line. You can just ask about that book. We'll send it out to you. Pastor Doug, you also mentioned a little earlier, your website, that would be a great resource for folks to look at. bibleuniverse.com
Pastor Doug: That's right. There's a lot of Bible study resources there. Matter of fact, people can study the Bible there in a number of different languages, everything from Norwegian to Farsi, to we even have an Arabic website. We have a Chinese website. That is, amazing fact, second most popular website-
Pastor Jean: Amazing.
Pastor Doug: -is our Chinese website. It is growing, as they used to say, like gangbusters. You can check that out. I don't know if we want to, cold turkey, take one more call before we run out of time.
Pastor Jean: Let's see if-- Pastor Doug, I'm looking. We've got two minutes to go. That'll probably cut somebody off halfway through the program. Why don't we take the time to talk a little bit about some upcoming events? Some of our listeners, who might be in the area, might find it of interest or help. We are planning to be in Charlotte, North Carolina, we mentioned, a little earlier in the program-
Pastor Doug: That's right.
Pastor Jean: -in March 21. That's on Monday. We'll be starting a seven-part series dealing with The Last Day of Prophecy.
Pastor Doug: This is going to be a new series, unlike anything we've done before. We're going to be talking about some of the biblical cycles that you find, some of the patterns that are some of the keys to understanding the last day prophecy. We'll be talking about The War over Worship, The Mark of the Beast, The Seal of God and a number of other interesting studies.
If you go the the Amazing Facts website and stay tuned. This will also be broadcast on 3ABN. It will be on Amazing Facts TV. It will be on Hope Channel. It will be broadcast all over the world. The Last Day of Prophecy, with Amazing Facts. We pray that you'll tune in, you'll tell all of your friends and enemies. If you don't have any friends, tell them.
Pastor Jean: Again, the website there. Go to the Amazing Facts website. We will have a separate, dedicated website for this program. I believe it's up and running. You'll be able to access it from the Amazing Facts website.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely. Listen in friends. We appreciate your calling. We have a few closing announcements we'll be sharing with you. Do remember to go to amazingfacts.org. If you've been blessed by the program, please keep in mind, the best giving often happens at the end of the year, in December. January can become a very lean month for Christian ministries.
Maybe you've not done anything before, to help our ministry, or others, stay on the air. This would be a good month. If you could do something, the Holy Spirit touches you, we would sure appreciate it. Simply go to amazingfacts.org. You can click the "Donate" button there. We appreciate it so much. God bless you. You have a blessed new year, in Jesus.
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Voice Over: Deep within the pages of the Bible, stories of great heroes, heroes of great deeds, great love and great sacrifice. But behind them, is another Hero. Hidden in plain sight, amid the shadows, He was there from the beginning and He'll be there until the end. Discover the golden thread of a Savior, woven throughout the entire Bible tapestry. Shadows of Light, Seeing Jesus in All the Bible, a new book by Doug Batchelor. Get your copy today by calling 800-538-7275 or visit afbookstore.com. Once again, to purchase your copy of Shadows of Light, call 800-538-7275.