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Pastor Doug Batchelor: Hello, friends. This is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? The Angkor Temple Complex in Cambodia is the largest religious monument in the world. Covering more than 248 square miles, and once hosted the largest city on earth. The temples of Angkor were originally built as Hindu shrines by the Khmer civilization between 1000 and 1220 AD and represent one of humankind's most astonishing and enduring architectural achievements. After series of wars, the temples were largely abandoned until some Buddhist monks moved in, added some statues of Buddha, and eventually converting the Hindu facilities to Buddhism. The name Angkor Wat means City of Temples, but the crown jewel of the temples in composites an area of about 500 acres. It's 213 feet tall central tower is surrounded by four smaller towers and a series of enclosure walls. The central Angkor Wat temple is surrounded by a moat, three miles around, 650 feet. wide and 13 feet deep, all dug by hand.
The 5 million tons of sandstone used to construct this national monument, had to be carried from a quarry 25 miles away, and reportedly, it contains more stones in The Great Pyramid of Giza. In the mid 19th century, a French explorer, Henri Mouhot, helped bring Angkor Wat to fame by the west by publishing some accounts of his visit. He wrote, "One of these temples - a rival to that of Solomon, was erected by some ancient Michael Angelo, and that might make an honourable place beside our most beautiful buildings. It's grander than anything left to us by Greece or Rome." Many Christians have wondered if the Jewish temple would ever be rebuilt. Stay with us, friends. We're going to learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
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John Ross: Welcome to Bible Answers Live brought to you by Amazing Facts Ministries. Are you looking for a clear, concise answer to your most challenging Bible questions? Maybe you're struggling to understand difficult passages or Scripture. If so, you've come to the right place. Join us now as we open God's Word to discover His will and find honest, practical answers to your Bible related questions. This broadcast is pre-recorded. If you have a Bible question, call us Sundays from 7 to 8PM. Pacific Standard Time at 800-GOD-SAYS. That’s 800-463-7297. Now, let’s join our host, author, speaker, and evangelist, Pastor Doug Batchelor.
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Pastor Doug Batchelor: Welcome, listening friends, to Bible Answers Live, and yes, we are live, and if you have a Bible question give us a call the number through phone call 800-GOD-SAYS. We have lines open right now, and so, if you pick up your phone and give us a call, a good chance you'll get your call on tonight's broadcast. I know some people are winding up their Superbowl's celebrations but we're still going to be talking together about the Word of God, and so, if you have a question, one more time, here's the number, 800-463-7297. That's 800-GOD-SAYS. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor John Ross: My name is John Ross. Good evening, listening friends, and Pastor Doug. As usual, let's start the program with prayer. Dear Father in Heaven, we thank You for the opportunity that we have to study the Bible together and we ask Your blessing upon the next 55 minutes or so, as we, in a special way, focus our attention upon Your Word, and we ask The Holy Spirit would lead us in understanding even those who are listening, wherever they might be and lead us all to a clearer understanding of Bible Truth. For we ask as in Jesus' name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor John Ross: Pastor Doug opened the program by talking about this rather remarkable building that I think, most people have never heard about. We hear about the Taj Mahal, and then, of course, we know about the Pyramids in Egypt, but here is this remarkable building, where there in Thailand that seems like for a period of time, was somewhat neglected. It's interesting to know that you mentioned that it was also there, that there was the largest city on Earth, at one point in time.
Pastor Doug: Yes, the Khmer civilization. It reached all the way from the borders of India to the China Sea. It was rather extensive and I think, at one time, it had the largest--there was about a million people, it was even larger than Rome, and its heyday, and the ruins, they had a massive workforce to build the buildings that they made there. The art is incredible. It's interesting that Hindu was on, they came from India to that region, it was all Hindu art, but because of some wars, the temples were neglected. Some Buddhist monks came in, and they basically just began to convert things, put up some Buddha statues.
They converted the whole thing that was built as a massive temple to the Hindu religion of Vishnu. Now, is a Buddhist church and one of the most renowned in the world. When we're thinking about temples, there's like you said, a number around the world that have been the great monuments, many people are wondering when they look at the temple now there in Jerusalem, will they ever rebuild the Jewish temple? Which was destroyed the last time by the Romans in 70 AD. Now, some people look at a verse that talks about the antichrist, and you find this in 2 Thessalonians 2, and it says in verse 3, "Let no man deceive you by any means. For that day, speaking of the day of the Lord, will not come except there comes a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he, as God sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." People reason well if this man of sin, that Paul is talking about, is the antichrist, and it says, he sits in the temple of God, showing himself, he is God, or that must mean they're going to rebuild the Jewish temple? Not so fast, friends. The Bible says that there's a couple kind of temples on earth now. Jesus said, "Don't you know that you're the temple of God." He said, "Destroy this temple made with hands, in three days, I'll make one without hands." He spoke of His body, The Body of Christ as a temple. Many scholars have read this verse, and they said, the beast power, sitting in the temple of God, He's talking about He sits in the midst of God's church, saying that he is God, wanting to be worshipped. It doesn't necessarily mean that they're rebuilding the Jewish temple, and he's going there. There's been a lot of confusion on that. Maybe you'd like to know more about the subject of the Jewish temple. We've got some very interesting study guides that deal with that, and one is called God Drew The Plans and we'll be happy to send you a free copy.
John Ross: I'm going to call this 1-800-835-6747. That is the resource line, and you can ask the for the book called--actually study guide called God Drew The Plans. All about the temple and about the Heavenly, and the earthly temple, and also, talks a little bit about how the plan of salvation is revealed through the temple and its services. We'll send that to anybody for free, the number again is 800-835-6747. That is our resource line, and the phone line here to the studio, with your Bible question, is 800-463-7297. That's 800-GOD-SAYS, that's 463-7297. Well, Pastor Doug, we're going to go to our first caller for this evening and we have Josiah listening from Texas. Josiah, welcome to the program.
Josiah: Hi, thanks. Thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Yes, how can we help you?
Josiah: I have a question about what Job says in Job 14:18-22 and it says, "But as the mountain fall and crumbles away and as the rock is moved from its place, as water wears away stones, and torrents wash away the soil of the earth; So you'll destroy the hope of man. Heprevailsforever again [unintelligible 00:07:56] and you change his countenance and send him away. His son comes to honor and he does not know it. They are brought low, and he does not perceive it. But his flesh are being pained over it and his soul will mourn over it." What does Job mean when he says, "So, you'll destroy the hope of man?"
Pastor Doug: Yes, there's a big conversation debate going on between Job and his friends. His friends are saying in essence, "Job, you're suffering because you must have done something wrong, the sin in your life." and Job is saying, "No, not that I'm sinless but sometimes people suffer because good and bad comes from the Lord." Job actually says that one of his prayers, "Shall we not receive good from the hand of the Lord, not bad or evil also means the same thing." Here he's saying, man's life is short. We wear away, our hope fades. We have a temporary time in this world to accomplish whatever good we're going to accomplish, and then, it fades and our bodies fade, and he says, basically saying, that our time here is limited. Job in other places, he makes it clear, he believes in eternity. He says, "Though worms may destroy my flesh, I know that I will see God." He talks about it in the resurrection. Job definitely believed in life after the grave, but he was also saying that in this life, we suffer, we get old, and we die away.
Ross: He made even more specifically wanting about verse 22 were it says, "But his flesh are being pained over it, and his soul will mourn over it." It almost sounds like his flesh is in pain in the grave [crosstalk] Now, it's interesting to know that this is written in poetic form and they are times when certain characteristics are referred to as living when they not. We also were talking a little earlier, Pastor Doug, that we were looking at this verse, where he talks about his flesh being in pain, literally means that they decay away or in mourning, or in sorrow. Depending upon the translation of the verse, it carries the ideathat in death, flesh returns to the dust, or the earth as it was. It's not a commentary here on the state of the dead, meaning that a person is feeling pain in the grave.
Pastor Doug: He's talking about even good or bad here. He's just making a general statement. That word there for pain or mourn, it also can be like pine away, or wear away, or what we would say, as flesh decomposes in the grave. This is one of those places where the ancient Hebrew and the oldest Hebrew in the Bible is the book of Job. The ancient Hebrew is sometimes hard to transliterate. It comes out in King James translators and some of the others, put mourn.
Caller 1: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Do you know what, we have a study guide. Someone might be wondering, what does happen when a person dies. We have a study guide called, Are the Dead Really Dead? It gets into the subject in great detail, and gives you all of the Bible verses related to this and we'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks. The number is 800-835-6747. That is the resource line, and you can ask for the study guide called, Are the Dead Really Dead? We also have a website called deathtruth.com. If you'd like to go to that right away, you'll be able to read a number of verses, study actually some video that you can watch dealing with the subject of what happens when a person dies.
You'll be able to see what the Bible has to say about this. Our next caller is Tim, and he's listening in Oakwood, Oklahoma. Tim, welcome to the program.
Tim Yes, hello. Thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Thank you for calling.
Tim: My question is, how do you know if you are one of the elect, or who are the elect of God? I've cried out to God many times, and I'm trying to get things right, but I don't feel like I have that relationship with the Lord. How do you know if he's turned his back on you, or that you're one of the so called elect? Like in Romans, I don't have my Bible currently, but nine where it says, "He will have mercy on those who will have mercy." I just like to know, how do you know if you have been chosen for salvation by God?
Pastor Doug: Well, the Lord is not up in the sky going inny minny miny moe, who will I be merciful to? The Bible is pretty clear that God extends mercy to everybody. It says, "His Mercy endures forever. Christ said, "whosoever, let him come and take the water of life freely." John 3:16, "Whosoever believes in him." When it says he'll have mercy and who he has mercy, it's talking about many are called, few are chosen. Meaning, few respond to the invitation. Jesus says, "Come unto me all." Isn't that what it says? Is it Matthew 11:28, "Come unto me all you who are weary."
If you're weary Tim, if you're heavy laden with a burden of sin, Jesus is inviting you. You don't have to wonder. This notion that God is going to say, "Let me check the list. No, Tim, I'm sorry. You're not on my list. Even though you long and desired to be saved, and you want to turn your life over to me, you're not on my elect list, so too bad." That's not God. That's not the God of the Bible. Anyone who responds to the call, becomes the elect. That word elect confuses us. We think you're likely to go through an election, and you got to be chosen and voted by God. And if you're not-- the Lord wants everyone to be saved. It says, "God is not willing that any should perish."
Pastor Ross: You mentioned Romans 9, and that has brought a lot of confusion. I'm looking at one verse here it says, "Jacob, I have loved, and Esau have hated." People are wondering, "Well, does God love some, and hate others?" In respective of their decision, what's been referred to in Romans Chapter 9 is not an individual, but it's referring to a particular group of people. Paul is arguing here that God chose Israel to be the nation through which the Messiah would come.
That was not something because of anything Israel had done, but God had chosen Israel. Now, it's not talking about salvation, but it's talking about what nation God has chosen through whom the seed would come, the Messiah would come. That brought some confusion, not talking personal salvation here.
Pastor Doug: Yes, Esau was the father of the father of the elamites, and they used the name Esau to refer to the whole nation. They used the name Jacob to refer to all of Israel. Lord wants all people to be saved. God doesn't want anyone to perish. And if you feel the Holy Spirit calling you, and it's no doubt the Holy Spirit that is making you feel this yearning, then Jesus says, "Come unto me." Anyone who comes to him, he will not refuse.
Tim Okay. Well, I appreciate you guys very much. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Now, we do have a book. And it's a book called about assurance. And you can have that assurance. If you call, we'll send you a free copy of my book on salvation and assurance.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book dealing with the subject of assurance, salvation and assurance. And we'll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks. Again that number is 800-835-6747.
Tim All right, thank you guys.
Pastor Ross: You're welcome Tim. Thanks. We have Scott who is listening from Irvine, California. Scott, welcome to the program.
Scott Hi Pastor Ross, and Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: How's it going?
Scott Pretty good. I have a question for you today. I survived a near death experience, and I think my Holy Spirit temple was popped. If that makes any sense to you. I'm reading in Ron Halvereson's Spiritual Warfare book from Laguna, Niguel Church, that the bled of the lamb, Revelation 12:11. And number two, the word of his testimony, Revelation 12:10, and phase, Hebrews 11:6, and the name of Jesus, John 16:23 and Philippians 2:9-10. Basically, I have watched-- I've just been perplexed on how difficult it is to get your temple back up in shape, especially if you've been through a divorce.
Pastor Doug: You said a near death experience. Did you die on the operating table or something?
Scott Well, I went to sleep for-- I think it was seven days. It happened on my youngest daughter's birthday-
Pastor Doug: Was it an accident? Was it a coma, or did you have an overdose? What happened?
Scott I had a brain hemorrhage.
Pastor Doug: Okay, that's what I was wondering. It was a medical problem. Do you feel like sometimes that it affected your relationship with the Lord, and to understand things spiritually?
Scott I was just actually surprised that I woke up out of it, then came through everything. It was weird, because I actually thought I felt a-- I was at a gas station shortly after. It was around September and 2010, and I felt something move under the ground. I have this supernatural sensation.Then my dad had called me, and I just started telling people about my experience. I lived through years of it, and now I'm divorced. I can't see my kids or anything, so the devil basically ruined my life.
Pastor Doug: Let me give you some ideas. You're looking I think for a way to have a new beginning with the Lord, and to grow spiritually. We have some books that we might be able to send you Scott, that would encourage you.
Pastor Ross: I think one that you'd enjoy in particular dealing with this, is called Life in the Spirit. Talks about how do we have the spirit in our hearts, or in our lives. The Bible does talk that the body is represented as the temple, and we want the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. How does that experience happen. What does it look like? What can we expect when the Holy Spirit moves in? We'll be happy to send you this book Scott, anybody who calls and asks for it, we'll be happy to send it to you. The number is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called, Life in the Spirit. Again, that's 800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Thank you Scott, appreciate your call.
Pastor Ross: We have Joe, who's listening from Staten Island, New York. Joe, welcome to the program.
Joe Thank you very much. My question is, the Bible says that the road to destruction is broad, but the path to salvation is narrow. Does that mean that more people will be lost than saved and would that imply if that's the case that God has lost the spiritual warfare battle to the devil? Is that the way to interpret that?
Pastor Doug: Well. I have to tell you, yes, according to Jesus, that more people evidently will be lost than saved. Not because God wants it that way. Jesus said, "Broad is the way that leads to destruction, narrow is the way that to leads to life." Few there be that find it, but he makes it sound like, few there'd be that are looking for it. He promises seek and you will find. Most people in the world, back in Noah's day, was it the minority, or was it the majority that were lost?
Joe Minority, but I was hoping that would be changing.
Pastor Doug: It'll be, in the last days, there will definitely be more than eight. [laughs] There will be others that will be saved, but unfortunately--it says that the devil deceives the whole world in Revelation 12.
Joe Why would God make such a world? Why wouldn't he make a world that had many more people saved than lost?
Pastor Doug: That's what he wants, but he can't force this.
Joe It's not happening that way. He's supposed to be all powerful.
Pastor Ross: Remember, God never violates the freedom of choice is given everyone achoice but I don't want to be despondent here the Bible does tell us in Revelation Chapter 7, then in a vision John saw a great multitude that no one could number of every nation came to tongue and people were standing on the sea of glass, these are the ones that overcame that were victorious that was saved, yes not everyone, the majority will not choose God but God does have faithful individual’s right to the very end of time and stand for the truth and ultimately God's character is vacated before the whole on looking universe Christ demonstrated the love of God and then also in his people. The love of God his demonstrated how that they stand true to him.
Joe: It still seems very disappointing to me that we're going to happen.
Pastor Doug: Well I heard you say something earlier that is even the bigger issue, you said God is all powerful. Now if God was all powerful and of course I believe he is but if God was going to use his power and force everybody to believe and be good why do we even have anybody being lost, right?
Joe: Yes.
Pastor Doug: People are not being lost and saved because God is forcing some to be saved, and he's forcing others to be lost. God made all of his creatures free to choose to love Him, we have a DVD that talks about The Battle Between Good and Evil that answers the question, if God is good, if God is love, if God is all powerful than what happened and you will really enjoy that you can see it for free if you just go to the website, you go to YouTube and you type in cosmic conflict and watch it's about 45 minutes, it explains the rebellion of Lucifer and why God doesn't force people to believe in him or be saved.
Pastor Ross: We have another question, dealing along those same lines we have Greg listening in North Carolina Greg welcome to the program.
Greg: Yes. Pastor Thank you. I was listening and look similar and my question is, I should say lack of understanding. I'm trying to understand why God create this Angel who named Lucifer, then he knew he was going to sin, he knew that Adam and Eve was going to sin. He was going to keep this creature and he do bad off in heaven and he kicks them off heaven on to the earth, then he starts the sin in garden. I don't understand why, he knew all this was going to happen, why?-
Pastor Doug: Why did he make Lucifer? You might be wondering if God is all knowing. Did the Lord make a mistake in the wiring of Lucifer so why didn't he make him stay good?
Greg: I don't think he made a mistake. I don't understand [unintelligible 00:23:07]
Pastor Doug: Well. Let me let me ask you a question a different way if you don't mind.
Greg: Sure.
Pastor Doug: Are you a parent?
Greg: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Before you had children, did you receive any written guarantee that they would always be good and obey you?
Greg: No.
Pastor Doug: Did you know when you decided to have children there was a risk that they might have their own free will, not obey, not always love you, not listen, were you aware of that?
Greg: I was not aware. I didn't know what they were going to do.
Pastor Doug: You took the risk of making them with that free will, is that reckless? You see what I'm saying God made His creature--just because God knows the future doesn't mean he takes away our freedom. God made creatures that he knew would have the capacity to even not love him, to show that he is free.
Pastor Ross: Now you know there it just add to that, there is something the Bible refers to as a mystery of iniquity, this is a real mystery in the Bible one of which is the amazing love of God how much he loves us. Then also the mystery of iniquity why would a perfect angel cherish selfish thoughts and we can't fully understand it. If we could give a clear explanation for sin then to some degree one might be able to justify it, but there isn't. God's given every person every created intelligent being the freedom to choose and love that does not have freedom is not genuine love, you can't force somebody to love you.
Pastor Doug: You would not also recommend Greg that you really will appreciate if you look at the cosmic conflict DVD or YouTube is free. If you want to order one you can order one amazingfacts. They've been copied and duplicated all over the Internet, it's on YouTube it's in Spanish and English in several languages but it tells the story it's a DVD of the creation of Lucifer it gives all the scriptures and explains why God made his creatures free even knowing some might rebel and it makes sense.
Pastor Ross: To be our phone number here to the studio we do have a few lines open if you have a Bible question the number is 800-463-7297, again that's 800-463-7297.That will bring you here to the studio with your Bible question, we have Richard listening from Stockton California Richard welcome to the program.
Richard: Hi. First of all it's an honor tospeak to you and you made a difference your sermons made difference in the way I’m living more in my question that being said, my question is Mathew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, they shall see God.” Now, does that mean that certain people are going to see God, because Jesus stated that, “If you see me you've seen the Father." My question is, does that mean just certain people are going to see God?
Pastor Ross: Well. Right now we can't see God, because it is the presence of the Lord as a developing fire and with sin in our lives it would consume us. Those that are pure will be able to gaze upon, it's not just seeing God because the wicked every eye will see Him. When He comes, it's really talking about people be able to live in the presence of God, If you look in Revelation and says, “And they will see his face they'll be able to live with God." God himself will be with them”. You can look at the Old Testament says, “No man can see God and live”. Even Moses said, “Can I see your glory?”, God said, “If you look upon my face it would be too much for you but I'll put you in the cleft of the rock, I will pass by, I'll let you look at me from behind after I pass and you could probably endure that."
Richard: That’s wonderful, i get it, absolutely rightI see were you are going.
Pastor Ross: One of the greatest promises that we have in the Bible is found in Revelation where it speaks of the righteous and it says, “They get to see God, face to face." That's the ultimate reward to being God's presence and there is no veil separating us but we are in the presence of God, in the presence of the Father and we get to see him face to face what I want to privilege that he has for the redeemed.
Pastor Doug: Yes. I had a brain cramp, what was I going to say?
Pastor Ross: You were going to say somethings about Revelation.
Pastor Doug: Is going to be really good-
[laughter].
Pastor Ross: -It'll come to you [laughs].
Pastor Doug: -yes it’s just that we won't be able to see him without his spirit within us anyway we're going to take a break, friends you can hear the music behind us don't go away there are more Bible questions coming, we have room on the line if you want to call in with a Bible question you were listening to Bible answers live.
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Pastor Doug: Welcome back. If you would stand by and for those who may have joined along the way this is Bible answers live, a live international interactive Bible study program. We're glad to be back with you live in the studio and even though this is a night of the Super Bowl and I have been gone as Ross has been in South Africa. I was in Hungary and people even over there were telling us about listen into the program so it was good to get around the globe a little but we're back lines are open. If you have a Bible question it's 800-GOD-SAYS. 800-4637-297, I think I mentioned I’m Doug Bacthelor.
John Ross: My name is John Ross and Pastor Doug, we're all going to be in Charlotte North Carolina coming up March the 21st through the 26th, want to let folks know about this very exciting live Bible study event that's going to be taking place.
Pastor Doug: Yes it's called, the last day of prophecy. We're going to be doing a seven part presentation live it will be on three ABN, we're producing this in partnership with three ABN. It will be on the amazing facts TV, it will be on the hope channel that means if you have a Dish Network, if you have Direct TV, if you get satellite or the Internet on Roku you'll be able to see the last day of prophecy. Starts March 21 through March 26.
Two presentations on the 26th, going to be tying together the subject of prophecy with a very special day, you'll have to go to the website to get more information. Tune in with your friends and if you don't have them get your enemies.
Pastor Ross:The address, if you'd like to go ahead and register for this event, the address is www.lastdayofprophecy.com. Just lastdayofprophecy.com. Pastor Doug, we've done a number of events but this one in particular I am so excited about. I think the time has come where we look at some of these very important subjects relating to end time events and prophecy.
Doug: Things are happening-
Ross: Absolutely.
Doug: -in the news this week. I won't go into it you have to just go to the website friends come tune in, if you're in the Charlotte area we know that we're on the radio station there in Charlotte. A lot of our listeners we hope will come to our program.
Ross: We have Lauren listening from Madison in Arizona Lauren welcome to the program. Hello you're on the air Lauren.
Lauren: Good evening Pastors.
Doug: Good evening.
Lauren: My question is from 2Chronicles 18:18-22 where the prophet Marakiah, I think that’s how you pronounce his name.
Doug: Yes.
Lauren: Prophesies about King Ahab and how the Lord would give him the holy spirit, why would God do that? I’m just confused about that.
Doug: Well, just to give our listening friends-- you're reading that Lauren you know the story. Malachi was a very bold prophet, he was brought to a big rally where King Ahab, wicked king of Israel was trying to get a good King Jehoshaphat from Jerusalem to go to battle with him against their common enemy the Syrians. They had all these false prophets super saying go and prosper.
Malachi said, the Lord is basically allowing a lieing spirit to confuse Ahab so he'll be killed in that battle." There is a verse, pastor Ross will help me find this where it says “If we receive not a lot of the truth, God will send strong delusion that we should believe a lie because we had pleasure in unrighteousness.” Ahab rejected the truth through the prophet Elijah and if you reject God's truth, what's left after you reject truth? There are lies. Malachi is just using kind of a poetic language there to say that you'll believe a lie.
Ross: The verse is saying is 2 Thessalonians 2:10, that talks about those who reject the truth, they end up believing a lie.
Doug: That's Marakiah just saying, he's in imparable to say all these spirits came before the Lord said, “Who's going to deceive Ahab so he'll go die in battle at Remus Gilian? And one thing one said, another and finally spirit said, “I'll do it. I'll go be a lying spirit in the mouth of his prophets.” God uses allegory. Marakiah is pleading with Ahab not to listen to the false prophet so he could survive and one of the Kingdom of Israel to thrive but he wouldn’t listen. He was too proud even though he had that warning.
Lauren: I wonder why he would go through with that any way.
Doug: He was suspicious something was going to go wrong because he told Jehoshaphat, “When we go to battle, you go ahead dress up in your royal regalia I'm going to dress like a soldier and stay on the outskirts of the battle.” He tried to avoid getting into the heat of the battle because of the prophecy of Marakiah. Then it says that a straight arrow found a joint in his armor-- he was covered with an armory, thought he was safe but it felt like one of the joints in his armor it went through struck a vital vein and he bled to death.
And so you can't hide from God's prophecy, anyway good question. Yes appreciate your call Lauren, thank you for being a faithful listener.
Ross: Our next caller is Brant Hanan listening from New York, Hollis New York. Brant Hanan welcome to the program.
Brant: Thank you.
Doug: Your question.
Brant: I was listening to a radio program, a pastor and he shared that the law is the strength of sin. I’d like for that to that to be explained.
Doug: I think that he's quoting Paul, where Paul is talking about that it's the law that identifies sin. Go ahead John you’ve got that?
Ross: Yes, 1 Corinthians 15: 56, it says “The sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the law.
Doug: if I look in the mirror, I see the dirt, the law is a mirror that helps us see sin, it helps us see the dirt. The law condemns us, the law doesn’t save anybody. It's the law that reveals our sin, that's all that Paul is saying there. Paul also says, “The law is good and just and holy.” There's nothing bad about the law, it's the law that helps us see sin.
Ross: Also the law defines what sin is. The Bible tells us that the sin is the transgression of the law. Paul also talks about how that iniquity taking advantage of the fact that the sin is the transgression of the law. He found that he had sin within him, it's not saying the law is bad but rather setting aside the law or breaking the law does result in sin. And sin ultimately results in death.
Doug: Let me give you one more verse and that's in Romans 7:7 that should be easy to remember. “What shall we say then, is the law sin? Certainly not, God forbid.” he says. On the contrary I would not have known sin except through the Law. Now the reason we go to Jesus for salvation is because the law shows us our sin, the reason we go to the sink for the soap and the water to wash is because the mirror shows us the dirt and so the law is great in that it drives us to Jesus. The law can't save, it's not designed to save the law reveals our sin and then Paul goes on to say I would not have known covetousness unless the law said, you shall not cut it.
Anyway the law is just holy and good but the strength of sin is the law in that the law shows us our sin. Does that make sense?
Brant: Thank you I understand now.
Doug: We have a study that deals with the subject of the law and it’s called Written in stone. Talks about the law and grace and will send you a free copy if you call our number.
Ross: The number is 800-8356-747 you can ask the study guide called Written in stone. Again 800-8 356-747, that is the resource line and then the phone line here to the studio with your Bible question is 800-4 637-297, 8 004 637 297. Our next caller is Jeff and he's listening from Maryland, Jeff welcome to the program.
Jeff: Hey Pastor Doug. Hey Pastor John.
Doug: Hey.
Jeff: Thank you for taking my call, my question centers around of Matthew 19. I think it's a very positive question about divorce and remarriage. Mathew 19 can you read that for me?
Doug: Yes. “And I say to you that whoever divorces his wife except for sexual immorality and marries another commits adultery and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery”
Jeff: I know divorce is a result of the form in the world and in the very next verse, Jesus says that divorces is the only ground for divorce and remarriage.
Doug: You mean infidelity is the only ground And you know Delany is the only grounds Yeah. Well yes infidelity or adultery. Oh.
Jeff: Yes, I’m sorry, infidelity or adultery. Where do we get ground for someone being remarried? Who hasn't met that condition so much as you read into that except. There anything in the Bible that says that a man can’t be remarried when adultery is nanymore.
Doug: There's two or three examples in the Bible of what might give a person biblical right or grounds for remarriage. One of course is if your spouse dies., according to Paul you're free to remarry. When Sarah died Abraham married Katura
You can be remarried if your spouse-- Yes, you don’t have to divorce and remarry if they commit adultery. It’s a shameful thing and it’s very difficult, but those are biblical grounds for a divorce and remarriage. And then there is a third reason that’s given in 1st Corinthians Chapter 7 and that’s if you're a nonbeliever, you're a pegan, and your spouse is a nonbeliever and you're married, you’ll become a Christian and they abandon you and say, “Look. I didn’t sign up for this. I'm leaving you.”
Paul says that you're not under bondage in such cases. If you’ve got a non believing spouse and they divorce you because of your faith and you’ve converted then you can go look for a believing husband or wife. People sometimes take that definition and they stretch and squeeze it to make it fit [laughs] and you got to be careful. Jesus is pretty clear. He wants marriage to be forever and folks are always trying to more often modify and mold the definitions and expand them, make more loopholes, but--
Jeff: Yes. I'm concerned about the views of 1st Corinthians 7 too because to say that someone who is single is in bondage just disconcerting to me. I think that someone who is in unhappy marriage is in bondage. I'm saying that if a person is in a marriage or someone who doesn’t want to be there he’s not under bondage. He just tried to stay in the marriage. He’s free to be out of the marriage. Wouldn’t you agree? And then down in verse 20. Wait a minute.
Doug: Are you talking about-- Are you still in Matthew or now 1st Corinthians 7?
Jeff: 1st Corinthians.
Doug: Okay.
Jeff: Yes. I'm saying that a person under bondage is not the person who is set free. It’s not bondage for someone to be single. It’s bondage for you to be on an unhappy marriage, but I was just concern later on where we’ve talked about the virgin and the man who says if a person remarried-- If a person merits they are free. If I can put myself on the 1st-- It’s later on in 1st Corinthians 7, but I'm just concerned about the abuse of that, that bondage. It’s not bondage to be single.
Doug: You're right that there are a lot of people that like I said they stretch and they tried to more of some of these verses to fit a number of situations. I wrote a book a couple of years ago that specifically dealt with this. The whole book is dealing with this and it’s very positive and encouraging because Pastor Ross and I are pastors.
We could take this whole program and talk about marriage problems and it’s a very big need because there’s a lot of-- Whenever you get two people coming together with their lives or challenges in marriages and the people would appreciate that. We have a book that’s called a Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage and it deals with these issues in more detail.
We’ll send you a free copy of that if you just call the resource number there, Jeff. And let us know what you think of that and if it answers your question.
Jean: The number to call is 800-835-6747. That is the resource line. And again, you can just ask for the book called Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage written by Pastor Doug. We’ll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks.
Again, one more time, 800-835-6747. Ask for the book Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. If you have a bible question, the phone line near the studio is 800-467-7297. And next call is Betty and she’s listening from Charlotte, North Carolina. Betty, welcome to the program.
Betty: Good evening, Pastors. How are we doing this evening?
Doug: Good. And you're going to come to our program in March, right?
Betty: I hope by God’s grace [unintelligible 00:04:04] in which I'm just busy just [unintelligible 00:04:06]
Doug: [laughs] I hope or unless you're hurt. And your questions tonight.
Betty: All right. My question is-
Doug: Yes
Betty: -about the time of trouble is the question I have. I know it’s common [unintelligible 00:04:17] and my question is, how-- What about the people that cannot leave the city if we urge to leave the city when this time come. What will happen to them? I will be--
Doug: Well. First of all, we don’t need to worry. And what Betty is asking about friends is Jesus talks about when the abomination of desolation is set up and you read this in. I think it’s in Matthew 24. It’s also in Luke. I also forget it if it’s Luke 21 or Luke 17. He says, “Those that’d be in Judea flee into the mountains.” And he’s also talking about the last days, “When we might need to flee because of the final persecution can’t buy or sell unless you receive the mark of the beast.”
And one of your handicapped and you’ve physically can’t flee. One of the old brothers he says, “They're just going to have to carry me off,” he says, “Because I can’t run.” [laughs] But he since then going to sleep in the [unintelligible 00:05:16] so he doesn’t need to worry. But I don’t think anyone should worry.
Jean: The verse you're referring to is Luke Chapter 21:20 and up close to that parallel is Matthew 24. The time will come where I think God’s people were possible, we’ll try and move from the densely populated cities to more rural areas. Maybe at some point in time it appears that they might even have to flee into the mountain areas, but God’s going to take care of his people.
If we’re trusting in him, he will see us through. Just like he provided food for Elijah, he sent the birds and they were holding the brook. God is going to take care of his people when that time comes.
Doug: That’s right. We’ll hope that helps a little, Betty. And we appreciate your question and we look forward to seeing you at the Athens Convention Center in March.
Betty: I hope to meet you personally [laughs]
Doug: I’ll be there shaking hands. You’ll see you’ll meet me. All right [laughs] God bless. You have a good night.
Ross: Thanks, Betty. Our next call is Rose listening from Texas. Rose, welcome to the program.
Rose: Yes. Thank you. How are you all doing tonight?
Doug: Doing well. Thanks for calling.
Rose: That’s good. Well, I have a question about-- I believe that’s in Luke 12:53 where it says, “Fathers will be against son and mothers against daughters.” I see that it’s happening a lot already today in my life and other people’s life. Does that mean-- Is that a telltale sign of the end is coming or is that something that has always been?
Doug: Well, to some extent that’s always been. You know the story of Joseph where he was-- Joseph was good and faithful and he was betrayed by his own brothers.Then you know the story of King David that Absalom was power hungry and he tried to kill and rebel against his own father. In the last day is when the persecution happens and the gospel is going for it, asked people to accept Jesus other people in the family may not and brothers and sisters and people will betray believers into the hands of unbelievers.
Ross: What’s interesting Pastor Doug, from the very beginning of time there has been this conflict to some of the greatest opponents of those who worship God are those who are close to them in family. We have the story of Cane rising up and killing his brother Abel. Of course Jesus said the gospel will sometimes divide families and homes and parents from children, children from parents.
Of course that was true during the first centuries after the Christ and that’s true today and it’s going to be true all the way through the end. Having said that, remember what Jesus also said. He said, "those who lose family here on this earth they will have many more fold and God will bless them." It’s going to be faithful to God and then be the best examples that begin to our family. Let’s not try to stir things up.
Rose: Okay. Well, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Doug: All right, Rose. Thank you for calling.
Jean: We have Maria who is listening from New York. Maria, welcome to the program.
Maria: Thank you.Welcome home, Pastor Doug, Pastor Ross.
Doug: Thank you.
Ross: Thank you.
Maria: [laughs] I showed up with you when you set up [unintelligible 00:08:28] New York City somewhere, Pastor Doug. Don’t you miss all this wonderful weather?
Doug: [laughs] I’ve heard about it. We’d love to go back to New York sometime. It’s been a while.
Maria: Yes. I have this problem. I'm going through tough time. I’ve been going through tough time for few years now.I'm in Christian three and a half years and growing strong, but I'm late because I'm in trouble. I found myself cursing God and I could not believe that this thought just came out of my head.
Of course I go down and pray. I’ve mediated on it. I prayed and then I'm having obsessive thoughts about it and then I'm equating trust in God because of what I'm going through as the unpardonable sinner and I'm just miserable [laughs]
Doug: All right, Maria. First of all, the very fact you're calling is an indicator the Holy Spirit is working on and you don’t want to do this. You don’t want to feel this way. I remember when I first became a Christian I went through a face where a terrible struggle in my mind that as soon as I-- Before I was saved I’d think anything I didn’t care what I thought because I had no conviction about thinking anything what’s right or wrong and after I became a Christian I thought, “I can’t think these thought.”
I would think blasphemous thoughts and terrible thoughts and think about the devil. The more I tried not to [laughs] the more it seemed like I did and that all man. Maybe I'm demon-possessed. I just can't stop thinking these thoughts. Finally, I gave it to the Lord and I said, "Lord, you know I want a new heart. I don't want to think this way." It seems like the more I think about not thinking evil thoughts the more it happens. I said, "Lord, I'm just going to have to give it to you and trust that you'll forgive me and know I don't mean it."
Paul talks about this battle between the flesh and the spirit. Don't let the devil convince you into thinking you've committed the unpardonable sin because you're having that struggle. The ones I worry about are the ones that think evil continually and don't care. Resist the devil, he'll flee from you. As often as you think these thoughts and you realize that cursing or thoughts or whatever it is in your mind that you know it isn't right just immediately say, "Lord, I'm sorry," and he'll forgive you and you know what, your mind and your thinking will change.
Ross: Also, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is defined for us in the Bible as a person excusing sin claiming to be able to forgive sin. Then also trying to put themselves in the place of God. You don't have to worry about committing the unpardonable sin if you recognize that you need God's help.
Committing the unpardonable sin is when somebody excuses sin in their life and they refuse to repent and they also put themselves in the place of God. Meaning, above his word and say, "Well, that's not that important. Nowhere in the Bible says that, but I don't think that's that big of a deal." That's a dangerous thing to do, as well. If one does sin, the Bible says, all sin can be forgiven.
The Bible says, "If we confess our sins he's faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Don't get discouraged. The devil's going to come with his temptations but that's where we need to claim the promise of God's word and just hold on to it.
Doug: Yes. We do have a book. We can send you, Maria. It's called, Beyond Mercy: What is the Unpardonable Sin? I wrote that about a year ago and I think you'll find that a blessing. I'll send you a free copy. It's called, Beyond Mercy: What is the Unpardonable Sin?
Ross: The number to call, 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called Beyond Mercy. We'll be happy to send that to you, Maria or anybody who calls and asks. Again, it's 800-835-6747. Just ask for the book called Beyond Mercy. Our next caller is Tony. Tony is listening in Pennsylvania. Tony, welcome to the program.
Tony: Hi. Nice talking to you.
Doug: Yes, likewise.
Tony: Hello?
Doug: Yes. You're on the air.
Tony: Okay. I just wondering about why Lucifer is named different than the other angels. All the angels are according to the scriptures you have Michael and it ends in -iel and then Gabriel, that ends with -iel. Then as you go beyond the scriptures which is like a [unintelligible 00:52:52] book in Enoch the Uriel. Then in the book of Enoch and then Tobias is Raphael.
Doug: Raphael. Well, those names are, of course, written in the Bible. The only two you have in the Bible that are connected archangel Michael, you're correct, and Gabriel. Wherever you see the word El it means God. Michael means who is like God. Gabriel, I think, means man of God. Lucifer is an unusual word in that it only appears once in the Bible.
Ross: The meaning of Lucifer means, "Light Bearer" and appears there from his position that he held in heaven that he had a special work in sharing the light of truth or the light of God's character to the other created beings.
Doug: Yes, the word Lucifer actually is Hilial and it means morning star or the one who brings the light. The morning star was the first star to bring a light and so they called it the bringer of light. We get the word, Lucite from the word Lucifer. Luminescence. Lucifer is really--it doesn't appear in the Bible as Lucifer in the original. That is our translation of it. I appreciate your call, Tony. I hope that helps a little bit. You would really enjoy the study guide called, Did God Make a Devil? It explains more about Lucifer, where he came from.
Ross: We also have another resource, Pastor Doug. [unintelligible 00:54:28] of called Who is Michael the Archangel? It also talks about that. You might find that interesting, Tony. The number to call again is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book called, Who is Michael the Arch Angel? and then also the study guide called, Did God Create a Devil? Talking about the origin of Lucifer and the fall in heaven. Some great resources for anyone. If you can't give us a call then go the website amazingfacts.org. You can read these resources there as well.
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