Doug Batchelor: Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? In September 1848, a 25 year old railroad foreman in Vermont name Phineas P. Gage was packing explosive powder in a hole with an iron rod. Unfortunately someone forgot to put in the sand to insulate the powder. A spark flew and there was a powerful blast. The 13 pound tamping iron, over 1 inch thick and over 3 feet long was propelled with the force of a bullet.
Through Gage's head, it entered under his left cheek bone, went through his brain and then out the top of this head. Amazingly this traumatic accident did not kill Phineas. In fact, he regained his physical strength and lived for another 13 years. He seemed mentally sound. He could speak and do physical tasks just as well. His memory seem unimpaired. But friends and family knew that he was no longer the same man.
Before the accident he was a well loved responsible worker and husband. He was known by all as a pious reverend and dependable man with high morals. But after the accident, Phineas experienced a major moral decline. He became very short tempered, rude, foul mouthed, lost all respect for spiritual things. It seemed as though all his ethical filters had been turned off. As a result, he had difficulty keeping jobs. Around 1850, he spent about a year as a sideshow attraction with PT Barnes New York Museum, putting his injury and the tamping iron on display.
Gage kept the iron rod throughout his life as a souvenir. Even had it buried with him in death. In 1867, his skull and the original rod that pierced it, were exhumed. Both became part of the exhibition at Harvard Medical School and Museum in Boston where it remains today. Phineas traumatic accident cost him his personality. His moral standards, his commitment to loved ones. Researchers have concluded that he lost an all important part of his brain called the Frontal Lobe. The Frontal Lobe behind the forehead is the largest section of the brain and is responsible for moral reasoning, judgement, social behavior and most of all spirituality.
Friends, did you know the bible book of revelation talks about a mark in the forehead that means the different between life and death. Stay with us, we're going to learn more as amazing facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
Announcer: 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 work to discover his will and find honest practical answers to your Bible related questions. This broadcast is prerecorded.
If you have a Bible question, call us Sundays from 7:00 to 8:00 PM Pacific Standard Time at 800-GODSAYS. That's 800-463-7297. Now, let's join our host, author, speaker and evangelist Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Doug: We are grateful we can be back together again for a fresh edition of Bible Answers Live, searching the word of God to better understand what is truth. Jesus said "I am the way, the truth and the life and the truth will set you free". That's why we do this program friends. To disseminate the truth of God's word. If you have a Bible question, please call. We have some lines open right now. Good time to pick up your phone if you'd like to get your question on tonight's broadcast. That number one more time is 800-GODSAYS, 800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
John Ross: My name is John Ross. Good evening listening friends. Pastor Doug before we go to the phone lines this evening, let's start with prayer. Ye Father once more we thank you for this opportunity to open up your word and ask for your blessing upon this program tonight, even those who are listening and those who are calling. Give us wisdom here in the studio. For this we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Doug: Amen.
John: That was a fascinating fact about Phineas Gage. A person would think that someone having a steel rod going right through their head would die but this is a man who lived. In many ways like you mentioned he lived a normal life but yet there was a remarked change in his personality. In his ability to distinguished between right and wrong. You know in Revelation, there is this mark. The mark of the beast, there is the seal of god received in the forehead. That all has something to do with being to distinguish between right and wrong.
Doug: I was just, as the warm up music was playing, I searched the computer here. I was surprised that the word forehead or foreheads is mentioned 8 times in Revelation. I think there is a connection between this part of the human mind that it separates us really from creatures. No creatures really have the frontal lobe the way human's do. It really is a fact that defies evolution. Why men would develop so much more brain than he ever uses in his life. I mean it totally contradicts the very foundation of evolution. People you know use very small part of their brain. There, a long life you might use 10 percent.
This is the part of the brain that separates us from animals because it's the seed of moral reasoning. Phineas when he had this accident and he lost the frontal lobes, he really lost his ability to resist temptation. He was controlled by the lower nature. The frontal lobes seemed to be the place where the higher nature is. It's in that spot where God places his seal.
Now the mark of the beast, it says can be in the hand or in the forehead. It's with our forehead we worship. We don't worship God with our passions. Some religions do I suppose. But in Christianity we worship him with a higher intellect. With a reasoning. That's the seed of spirituality. We must give him our minds. This is what's symbolized by saying "We will worship God with our minds".
They received the seal of God. All of our friends listening, they've heard about the mark of the beast in the forehead. Most people don't know that according to Revelation, everybody in the world is marked one way or another. They either have the mark of the beast in their forehead or in their hand or they got the seal of God in their forehead. Obviously this mark is something symbolic.
It's not that everybody's going to get a tattoo on their forehead in the last days. Or computer chip or a bar code or something like that. A lot of folks would, I think like to better understand the subject of having the seal of God in our foreheads. That we get the the name of God in our foreheads and not having the wrong mark in our foreheads. We have an offer that contains information on both the mark of the beast and the seal of god in the forehead. We're going to give away tonight.
John: It's simply called the mark of the beast and as Pastor Doug had mentioned, this is an important topic to understand. The Revelation describes two groups. The one having the seal of God, the other having the mark of the beast. To receive this study guide, call our resource number 1-800-835-6747. That's 1-800-8356747 and ask for the study guide The Mark of the Beast. We'd be happy to send that out to you. Pastor Doug we have a question that's come via the internet. Person asks "Do I have to speak in tongues in order to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?"
Doug: Tells us in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12 that there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit. In the list of gifts that is given, tongues is at the bottom of the list. I don't know too many Christians that say every. I haven't heard too many preachers say every gift that is listed should be possessed by every person. Some people have the gift of speaking different languages and the interpretation of those languages. That is one of the gifts.
It's at the bottom of the list and the two places where a list is mentioned. So for a person to be told that you've got to speak in tongues, you don't have the Holy Spirit. Well one problem I got with that is Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit and there's no record of him ever speaking in tongues. I remember one preacher said "But when he was on the cJohn he said "Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani." He was speaking in tongues". No he said that in Aramaic just like he said everything else. The bible translator whose writing in Greek tells what it is in the original so that they can understand the confusion.
But you know John the Baptist was filled with the Holy Spirit and There's many examples of people being filled with the Holy Spirit and tongues was not connected with it. Acts Chapter 4, I think Verse 30 is another one. So no, you don't have to speak in tongues to have the holy spirit. By the way, we got a book on that if someone has questions. They could either go to our website and look for the book The Gift of Tongues.
John: We have one Captured by Tongues as well.
Doug: Yes, there's a couple of books on the subject of tongues. You can read it for free or they can order it.
John: Alright, let me give you the numbers, 1-800-835-6747. For more information on the gift and the Holy Spirit and this phenomenon of speaking in tongues. You can ask for the booklet Captured by Tongues written by Pastor Doug and we'd be happy to send that out or go to the website at amazingfacts.org and there's a number of resources there as well. Our first
John: First caller for the night is Max listening on the internet, calling from Brooklyn, New York. Max, welcome to the program.
Max: Hi, good evening pastors.
Doug: Evening.
Max: My question comes from Ezekiel chapter 1,verse 1 all the way to 26. I was at church this past Saturday and I heard a sermon that made reference to that, "The 10th commandment receive, and I thought that was actually carved from the throne of God." I've never heard a pastor Doug preach on that. I just wanted some verification on that if that was true or not.
Doug: It's a very interesting theory that's been circulating recently. I heard a reference to a minister preaching about that. If I'm not mistaken, they also said it was blue sapphire stone. Is that correct?
John: Yes. Verse 26.
Doug: You'll find that Pastor Ross found, verse 26 I think is the one.
John: References.
Doug: "Above the firmament, over the heads, was a likeness of a throne, like sapphire stone." There's really no reason to argue that the Ten Commandments could not be on sapphire stone. The only problem I would have is that would be the first set. The second set, God told Moses to cut another set of stone. The first one the Lord carved it, we don't know where he got it. The Bible's silent.
The second set, remember, Moses broke the first set. The second set of stones, this time, one difference is God wrote on both sets. God said, "Hew thee another set of stones like the first ones." I mean he said all right, Moses. Look, I cut the first one you broke and you cut these. God wrote on them again. But there's no reference in Exodus story what kind of stone it was. There's been speculation that this was sapphire stone, which I think is a blue stone. Is that right?
Max: Yes.
Doug: I have no burden to argue with that, I just don't know that the theory got enough scripture to make it a doctrine.
Max: I definitely agree with you. Another thing I was wondering, even if we speculate that the first carving was from the throne of God, Moses broke it. Does that constitute that God's throne can be broken?
Doug: Now we're really getting hypothetical. You know what I think the biggest issue is, Max, when I say hypothetical, I mean assuming that the first set were carved from the throne of God. Then you'd assume a piece of God's throne was broken. But I mean, obviously, the foundation of God's government is not damaged. Everything in heaven is perfect. But for me, the bigger issue is not what kind of stone the Ten Commandments were written on, but are they written on my heart.
That's really, I think, the biggest concern. Do we have the love of God and our love for our fellow man written in our hearts? You know, sounds to me if you don't already have it, you may have this Max, but Amazing Facts has a study guide called Written in Stone. Talks about the law.
Max: I have it
Doug: You got it.
Max: Have it. Yes.
Doug: All right. God bless. I thought he did.
John: But if anyone else is listening has a question about the Ten Commandments.
Doug: Yes. You want to know more about the law?
John: It's a great study guide called Written in Stone. Let me give the resource number again, it's 1-800-835-6747. You can ask for the study guide called Written in Stone.
Carl is listening on WKRK from Andrew, that's North Carolina, I guess. Carl, are you there?
Carl: Yes, sir.
John: Welcome to the program.
Carl: Yes. It's good to be here. We're in Andrews and Murphy, North Carolina, have been on Bible Answers Live for 10 years.
Doug: Bless your heart. You're listening on WBJC, or what?
John: WKRK.
Carl: WKRK.
Doug: WKRK, I'm sorry. I hope I didn't insult our listeners [laughs]. I got them mixed up. You're question?
Carl: My question has to do with the use of wine in the Bible. It's very interesting that you used the illustration of Phineas Gage and the metal rod going through his skull. That's exactly what alcohol does to the frontal lobes of your brain, isn't it?
Doug: Yes. It kills it one cell at a time.
Carl: That's not my question but it's rather interesting because my question is about wine and the influences are the same. But anyway, here's my question. Our community here in Andrews and Murphy, Western North Carolina, is going to vote on whether they will have alcohol served by the drinking restaurants. Lots of letters are coming into the newspaper, both pro and con.
One question that is frequently asked is, when Jesus performed the miracle at Cana, the wedding feast, did he turn the water into fresh grape juice or into fermented wine? That, of course, [unintelligible 00:15:00] over also, did Jesus use fermented wine at the communion service? What did he turn the water into?
Doug: It'll actually help if I can answer your last question first. At the communion service, we know that the grape juice Jesus used was unfermented because he said right there, "Matthew, I will not taste it again until I drink it with you new in the Father's kingdom." Now, they had new wine and they had old wine. He said, "I'm going to drink it with you new."
The other thing is that during the communion service, it was important that the bread was unleavened.
Leavening is a process of fermentation. Because it symbolizes the perfect, unleavened, body of Christ. The wine is to be unfermented because it represented the pure blood of Christ, the sinless life. To have either leavened bread or fermented wine really pollutes the symbol. Jesus with his own mouth said it was new. There's no question about that. Then again, Jesus compares his gospel to new wine. He says, "You don't put new wine in old wine skins." The old wine skins, we're talking about the teaching of the Pharisees and the traditions of them trying to fit his teachings into their old traditions. This he compared the gospel to new wine.
Now, at the wedding feast, the first miracle of Jesus, they said, "You've saved the best for last." Unfortunately, in the Western culture, we think, "Hey, man. Do you have any good stuff?" We're talking about high proof, high octane. But in the Jewish culture, you can get fermented alcohol all year long. You could not get new wine except during the harvest or shortly thereafter. They were amazed, where did he get this best wine. You just think about everything else the Bible says about alcohol. Why would Jesus try to give, and I think it was six jars of 25 gallons a piece. Why would he want to?
John: 120 gallons of [crosstalk]
Doug: 120 gallons of booze for the party. That's so out of character for the Lord to do that just to get everyone swashed and these weddings lasted days. I'm sure that he provided fresh grape juice.
Carl: The thing is, the grapes came in in the Fall. Passover is in the Spring. How can they possibly have kept over fresh grape juice from Fall to Spring, to have fresh grape juice when Jesus sowed it to his disciple at the Passover? That's six months.
Doug: One thing they used to do is they would dehydrate it a little bit so it would get a high sugar concentration. Then they'd seal it to make sure no yeast got in. It would end up being very sweet. My grandparents were Jewish and they used to drink what they call Carmel Wine for the Passover. It's a very sweet wine and the fermentation doesn't happen.
As a matter of fact, you'll find in Deuteronomy where Moses talks about drinking strong drink and he's strong there about concentrated, not fermented. The best thing to do, Carl, I could take more time talking about this and I already did take a lot because so many people are confused and they used--
Carl: Well, we need this kind of information when we vote.
Doug: Absolutely. Well, they're confused and they think that God somehow endorses this. But let's face it, the number one drug that kills people in North America is not cocaine or marijuana, it's alcohol. I've got a book that I've written on this. This is coming from someone who used to drink plenty. Mother and father both were alcoholics and I haven't had a drink in 30 years. It's called Alcohol and The Christian. I'll send you a free copy if you call our number, okay?
Carl: Well, I'll tell you. We offer much of your literature before and ask you your program. When we play it, record it here in our area, and I think I'm going to order about 25 of these and offer it to everybody that asks for it. How about that?
Doug: Bless your heart. The book is Alcohol and The Christian. It's got a lot more information than I was able to just share. God bless you and appreciate you calling, Carl.
Carl: Thank you.
John: Again, if you're listening and would like that book, call our resource number, 1-800-835-6747. Ask for the book Alcohol and The Christian. You could probably also read that free at the Amazing Facts website as well. Our next call is Michelle listening on WDNX from Tennessee. Michelle, welcome to the program.
Michelle: Thank you. Hello. How are you all doing?
Doug: Very well. How can we help you tonight?
Michelle: I have a question. Thanks for taking my call. I'm a first-time caller.
Doug: Our pleasure.
Michelle: In the Bible, the one I'm reading it. I read about the angels. The angels say, "Holy, holy, holy." Could that have anything to do with the Trinity?
Doug: I've heard that said by many pastors. I've never seen any reason to disagree. The fact that angels say holy, holy, holy it's implying holy for the father, holy for the son, holy for the holy spirit. You've got those three persons of the Godhead. When you get to revelation you find that God has often identified in a triune form, in other words there's three of things. its three angels messages in Revelation 14 and this so many examples of three all through revelation. Another place is that, I wanted to be a bit surprise if the angels saying holy, holy, holy ones for the father, ones for the son, ones for the holy spirit.
Michelle: What is this found in [unintelligible 00:20:46] I just thought to asked the question.
Doug: Well you know what Michelle we've got a book on that too. We got a book on the trinity is it biblical? We talked about this verse in there. So if you like we'll send you a free copy.
Michelle: Okay.
Doug You just got a call the number Pastor Ross is about to give you.
John: 1-800-835-6747 and the book again is The Trinity Is It Biblical? The next call is John and he's listening on WMCA from Manhattan, New York. John welcome to program.
John- Caller: Hello Pastor John and Pastor Doug how are you?
Doug: Very well, I grew up in Manhattan you know?
John - Caller: Oh really?
Doug: 81st street West side.
Caller: Wow you're in L.A. now.
Doug: No, well we're actually in Sacramento it's North in L.A.
John - Caller: Sacramento, well I just have a question tonight about end time prophecy, a lot of pastors are saying that the return of Jesus is the 2012. Is there any like way to calculate then, the bible the Jesus will return in 2012 or that is just a heresy?
Pastor Doug: Well, I think you ought to be on your guard. Jesus probably kind of be anymore explicit then when he said no man knows the day or the hour. He gave us signs so we can know when the time is near. I don't think the Lord wants us setting a date or a year. A lot of people have come and gone it's seems like every time some preacher comes up with the date everyone gets excited for a little while and then after the rush is over there's a corresponding low and people lose faith in the bible. They lose confidence in preachers and I think that the Lord wants us to avoid the setting of dates. Christ was real clear that we don't know the day and the hour. That's why he said be ready.
John: Is in your opinion that we are in the last days or?
Pastor Doug: Yes, I think there are signs given, let me give you an example. If a woman is a nine months pregnant you don't know exactly the moment that baby's going to come, but you know you're getting close just because of the averages. Then if she starts having the labor pains that get to wear there five, ten minutes apart you can't still pinpoint the minute when that baby's going to be born, but you know it's soon because the pains, the contractions gets closer and closer.
When we look at the signs we see that these labor pains are getting closer and closer. The increasing frequency and the intensity of the wars, the rumors of wars, the natural disasters everything from tsunamis to earth quakes to fires, it's all seems to be accelerating. Along with the distress of nations and perplexity. So I believe the coming of the Lord is near and if you don't mind John we've got a book on that too. We can send you The Ultimate Deliverance. A study guide on the science of the second coming, if you like a free copy.
John: It's a great study guide indeed. but the number for that is 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide The Ultimate Deliverance stealing with the second coming of Christ and the science of this soon coming. Our next call is a Lilia, listening on KARM from calling us here in California. Lilia, welcome to program.
Lilia: Yes, Thank you my name is Lilia, I thank you for taking my call.
Doug: How can we help you tonight?
Lilia: Yes please, I want to ask your advice on verses on the bible from worshiping and faith please. How do I go about it please?
Doug: Well if you go for one thing to the very last book of the bible, you got those that receive the mark of the beast are worshiping the beast and its image and that's in Revelation 13.
Lilia: Sorry to interrupt you, but I wanted do is right it in cards and read them everyday for faith and worshiping, to worship God and faith. I want more than one, How do I go to find all these verses in worshiping and faith.
Doug: You know what I'd recommend Lilia?
Lilia: Yes please.
Doug: Go to the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms is field with passages that talk about praising and worshiping God and faith. It's perfectly designed for what I think you're asking. Early in my Christianity I went to through the book of Psalms and it did wonders for my faith and I really felt the sense of worship.
Lilia: That's exactly what I want sir, thank you. One more thing so really quick, Can you phrase a special prayer for me sir? I live surrounded by illegal traffickers and they kind of harass me. I want God to touch their lives, their hearts will you make a prayer for me sir, please?
Doug: Tell you what Lilia we'll pray for you right now. Father in heaven we just want to ask that you give Lilia that you honor her interest in worshiping you, seeking stronger faith and you bless her with that. Then help her to be a light in her community. I pray that you'll soften the hearts of those around her and that through her influence there can be a revival and other lives will be touched. Bless her and protect her with your angels. We ask for Christ sake. Amen.
John: Amen.
Doug: God bless you Lilian. We trust that the Lord is going to be found of you, promise is when you seek him you'll find him.
John: April is listening in internet form Oxford California. April welcome with the program.
April: Hello. My question is, is it biblical for a Christians to play competitive sports?
Pastor Doug: Is it biblical for Christians to play competitive sports? Well I going to tamper that answer with a little bit of explanation. You do have examples in the bible where Paul talks about running a race and only one wins and obviously this talking about running a race and he said may run but only one wins. He's talking about an act of competition. Olympic game is were already pretty well established by the time the New Testament was written, but at the same time I think Christians are at guard against that competitive spirit where people gloat and they're putting down somebody else, where pride is really in throne.
We've all seen people that almost look that they're demon possessed and sometimes in some countries a soccer team wins or loses, or hockey teams wins or loses and they riot in the streets. I think that a person needs a balance. You know I went and beat the racket ball around a little bit today with my 11-year old son, we might keep score just so you can measure the distance of a game or we could play forever, but I think there's a difference spirit when a person is playing a game and you keeping score just so you can keep track of time, but when people are competing they put another one down. I think Christians ought to avoid those kind of sports. Because it's all things about self-exaltation that I think that we should avoid. All right?
April: Okay, Thank you very much.
John: Often when it comes to competitive sport, normally those involved, those spectators becomes so absorbed with the sports and almost become obsessed.
Doug: For many people sports in their God. They go right back the world events in the new paper to the sports section. What's happening? Now I'm in trouble with a lot of people. Our listening friends we're going to take a brief break. Don't forget if you got a pencil jot down Amazing Facts. If you haven't seen the new website, you really need to go there. There's so much more you can do this, free videos you can watch, books you can read, study you can share, bible study you can take and just I always look for a new words to explain the plethora, the kaleidoscope, the bouquet of different resources available at that [unintelligible 00:28:30] tree of life.
The Amazing Facts website. I'm so happy Pastor Ross we're able to get that name registered Amazing Facts and it is amazing, amazingfacts.org and you could also checkout if you want to go through a personal bible study series, bibleuniverse.org. We'll be back is just a moment.
Announcer: Don't go away there's more bible answers live in just a moment. Don't forget to tuning to Pastor Batchelor weekly television broadcast, Amazing Facts which is aired on Major networks including Black Entertainment Television, Eye Network, Black Family Channel, Vision TV, and Superstation TV L.A. Check your local listing or contact us to find out when and on what channel the program will be aired.
Are you in need of additional bible-based materials for further study? Consider Amazing Facts free correspondence bible course or sale catalog featuring hundreds of inspiring books and tapes. To order call our resource line at 800-835-6747. Don't forget friends Amazing Facts is a faith based listener supported ministry. Operating only by God's blessings through your prayers an financial gifts. We'd love to hear from you, write to us at P.O box 909 Rosewood California 95678 or online at amazingfacts.org. Welcome back to Bible Answers Live with Pastor Doug Batchelor. This broadcast is pre-recorded. If you have a bible related question, you can call us from 7 to 8 P.M Pacific Standard Time on Sundays and receive clear, honest answers directly from scripture. Call 800-GOD-SAYS. That's 800-463-7297. Now, please join us we look to God's word for more bible answers live with author and evangelist Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Doug: We are back friends. This is Bible Answers Live a few have just joined us. It's a live international interactive bible study and people are calling in from around the country and listening from around the world. If you want to call in North America. That number is 800-GOD-SAYS that's of course 463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
John: My name is John Ross. Pastor Doug before we go to the phone lines we just want to remind our listeners of you spoke about one of the websites amazingfacts.org but we have some others. Great resources for people. We have the prophecy code, the truth about Sabbath, truth about death. I'm trying to think of what other ones we have.
Doug: A lot of people have questions about Mary, the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene and there's one that's simply called Mary truth back when this Da Vinci code came out. People were saying that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married and they had children. It's just all these fables that came out of that. We thought we're going to dedicate a website and show people what the real scripture say about Mary and since there were so many searches on not only Mary Magdalene but Mary the mother of Jesus we sort of [unintelligible 00:31:45]the website.
We got intense in the both subject. It's just marytruth.com and then of course you mentioned a lot of questions on the Sabbath subject, sabbathtruth.com, helltruth.com. The one we couldn't register were deathtruths We got truthaboutdeath.com. Hopefully you were able to write some of those down. If you go to the Amazing Facts website, we got a page of links.I think you're going to see a whole pile of links there to some of these study sites we recommend.
John: Jim is listening in K220DX from Washington. Jim, welcome to the program.
Jim: Hello there. Thank you for taking my call. That last lady that had the problem. Thank you for praying for her.
Doug: Absolutely.
Jim: Anyhow, one of my favorite verses in the Old Testament is that Malachi 3:16, the book of remembrance.
Doug: Yes.
Jim: But when you get away from the King James which most of the bible are anymore, it says that the book was written, Saint James says written before Him meaning Jesus, but then you go on and the other interpretation is said, in his presence I think they really messed up that Malachi 3:16. How would you handle it?
Pastor Doug: Well, the two versions I have open right now on my laptop are both the King James and the New King James. That's what I principally use and in the New King James, it says "Then those who fear the Lord spoke to one another and the Lord listened and heard them and so a book of remembrance was written before Him, for those who fear the Lord who meditate or think on His name."
Of course that's very much like the King James. You will see a lot of little variations. Some of the more modern translations. Some of them are necessary because they were just trying to put into more modern language. We don't speak in King James language typically. Some of the changes that were made Jim, the translators may have had a bias we're all human and some of them have theological bias that they were trying to push.
I don't mean to judge anybody but I think we've all recognized that some translations have that. Our friends the Jehovah witnesses. They made their own translation and it's called the New World Translation. The central purpose of that translation was to eliminate the diadi of Christ. That was the main goal whenever they came to any verse that explained the diadi of Christ that would be modified somehow or they're trying to find some nuance that they could change to support their theory. So, I hope I'm answering your question there but I don't know if I'm getting into that verse.
Jim: The NIV that they used to have in a church and its presence but yes, they changed that for copyright reasons.
Doug: I don't mean to be cynical but the fact is, that a lot of new translations come out and they cannot copyright the King James it's public domain. So they can't make money on it. But when they make a new translation they can own it like a book and sell multitudes of them. Hey, we got a book that I think you would enjoy that talks about bible translations and its called the Faithful Witness, Jim. You call the number we'll send you a free copy.
John: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747. Ask for the book The Faithful Witness dealing with the bible. We'd be happy to send that out to you. Martin is listening on the
internet from Brooklyn, New York. Martin, welcome to the program.
Martin: Hi pastors, how are you doing?
Doug: Very well. Thanks for calling. And your question?
Martin: My question is actually related to the story of the Tower of Babel. I read all the story due to God punishing the people for not obeying Him and due to that they all had a different language. So, that time it led me to a curiosity of what language will we be speaking exactly when we get to heaven?
Doug: Some bible scholars call it the Language of Eden. In other words, it would be the language Adam and Eve spoke before Babel and it'd be the language that Noah spoke even after the flood. It was all the same universal language. The language's weren't confused or confounded until you get to Genesis 11 and here's that Tower of Babel experience. What is that language? Well, I don't think that it's exactly like any earthly language so you're not going to hear me say, "That language is German or Spanish or French or whatever."
I think we'll be surprised when we get to heaven and we learn about that language of Eden that was spoken in the beginning, that there are similarities between all of the world's languages and a word or some of the inflections with that language. Linguists, the specialist that they spend their lives studying languages they say that virtually every language in the world is interrelated with some other language and it's almost like you can track the migration of the human race from the cradle of civilization over there in Mesopotamia, based on the languages. I remember when I was working about a year and a half with the Navajo Indians.
One of the amazing things I learned is that Navajos are unique tongue and even some of their neighbors right by them, did not speak the same language. It's very different between Apache and Navajo and some of these others. But there was an Eskimo tribe up in Alaska that spoken almost identical tongue to the Navajo. There's just some very interesting facts like you'll find these remote groups that their dialects are the same. So obviously there's a bridge somehow. I think when we get to heaven we're going to find that the language of Eden there'll be little clues. It's like a jigsaw puzzle but it got broken up at Babel.
I'm sorry I don't know any words I can sing to you in that language but it'll be wonderful when we speak it.
Martin: Thank you, Pastor.
Doug: All right.
John: Our next caller is Irvin listening on KPDQ from Portland, Oregon. Irvin, welcome to the program.
Irvin: Hi, good evening.
Doug: Evening.
Irvin: My question is about the [unintelligible 00:38:10] of Jesus Christ. I tend to believe that Jesus is God and then my friend showed me this John 20:15 to 18 and then Revelation 3:12 and then 1 Peter 1:3.
Doug: Okay, let's take it them one at a time John 16, which one?
Irvin: John 20:15 to 18 Jesus said that My God and your God something like that. Then Revelation 3:12.
Doug: All right, let's start with John 20:17, Jesus told Mary don't cling to me for I'm not yet ascended to my Father but go to my brethren and say, "I'm ascending to my Father and to your father and to my God and your God." When Christ said my God, that didn't mean that He was not God. When Christ was on earth in human form, you can read in Colossians that He made Himself of no reputation and He took a form of a servant. So as long as Christ was in this world in human form, He referred to God, the Father as His God and His Father as an example for us. But that doesn't detract from his divinity.
Irvin: Actually he told me that and then he showed me in Revelation 3:12 it's already when God was retracted I think. Then he also mentioned there that my God and your God.
Doug: Well but even in Revelation chapter 3, He or Jesus is speaking to the apostle John. He is referring to God, the Father in terms that they understand. Now, keep in mind there were many gods in the world during the time of Christ. When Jesus' my God he's basically saying the God that I've been telling you about. Not the world gods, not the gods of the Romans. John had been imprisoned by the Romans that worshiped even the Caesar as a god. Jesus is telling John, "Don't worry about the earthly gods."
He said, "I'm just going to be placing a temple for the true God and He'll be there." It sounds to me like your questions are really questions on the divinity of Christ and the Trinity. For some reason, your phone seems to be breaking up. I hope you can still hear me Irvin, but the book that we offered a minute ago is perfect for you. Because we talk about some of these verses, it's called, The Trinity: Is it Biblical? We'll send you a free copy
John: Again, the number is 1-800-835-6747. For anyone wanting to know more about the Bible teaching of the Trinity, and it's called The Trinity: Is it Biblical? We'll be happy to send that out to you. Marie is listening to KFIA from Sacramento, California. Marie, welcome to the program.
Marie: Hi, thank you. I was wondering about the [unintelligible 00:41:05] text about honoring your mother and father, and the other one [unintelligible 00:41:09] you were if you leave your mother, father, brother, sister, etc. I was hoping you can kind of clear that one up for me because sometimes it would seem kind of in contrast.
Doug: Yes. That's actually a good question. Marie is asking, of course, in Exodus chapter 20, one of the Ten Commandments, honor your mother and father. Then you go to the statements of Jesus in the New Testament where he says, "If any man has forsaken mother or father for my sake in the Gospels, great is his reward in heaven." Jesus is not talking about when you accept him, that you're now supposed to dishonor your parents. Some people had to accept Christ against the advice of their parents and it creates a great conflict for them.
For instance, I have met many people that have heard the truth about the Gospel. Maybe they were Buddhists for example, and their mother and father said, "You can't become a Christian because you need to honor us." They've had to make a decision. When it comes to the Ten Commandments, you need to keep the first commandment first, putting the Lord first, and if keeping a commandment requires the breaking of another commandment. In other words, if the way you're going to honor your parents is by not worshiping the Lord, that's not the way to do it. Matter of fact, the best way to honor your parents is by putting God first.
Jesus was commending people who, even against their heritage of their mother and father, they accepted Christianity. They may have lost their relationship with their mother and father. I've known people their mother and father said, "If you become a Christian, we'll forsake you." Now, I'm from a Jewish background and my family did not abandon me when I became a Christian. But I know some Jewish friends that when they became Christians, mother and father said, "You're now like dead for us."
Marie: Otherwise, you can be a light unto that family if they're not not saved yet.
Doug: Christ still wants us to honor those parents. If your parents are asking you to break one of God's commandments, you need to put God first. You can still honor your parents and respect them in the way you do it, you should never be dishonorable.
Marie: Right. Okay. Great. Thank you so much for helping me with that.
Doug: Good question, thank you.
John: Brad is listening on 800 AM from Portland, Oregon. Brad, welcome to the program.
Brad: Good evening, pastors.
Doug: Good evening. How can we help you?
Brad: I just want some clarification on the doctrine of eternal security came from the domination that did not support it. But now, in my own study of the word of God, I'm finding to me it seems that salvation is something that you cannot lose. I want your clarification on that.
Doug: All right. Well, I hope I don't discourage you. I can believe that a Christian can have security, but I don't believe that once you're saved, you lose your freedom and you can no longer be lost. Because salvation is a free gift, that is, it's something that we accept by love. God does not force it on anybody. Some of my friends that believe in the Calvinistic interpretation of eternal security, they believe God decides who's saved, and He have somebody's He's going to save and some He's not going to save.
That we really have no choice. I find in the Bible that God wants all to be safe. For instance, in 1 Timothy 2:3, "For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God, our Savior, who will have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge." Then again 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is long suffering to us, who are not willing that any perish." God wants everyone to be safe, but we must make a choice. That why Joshua said, "Choose he this day who you all serve." Moses said, "Choose you this day I've set before your life and good and blessing, death and evil and cursing." That's why Jesus said, "Who so are the will."
Now, on to once you accept Jesus, can you lose that salvation? Well, the Bible promises that Jesus said, "I will never leave you or forsake you. All that come to me, I will in no wise cast out. The devil cannot snatch us out of his hand." Jesus will never let us down, he will never let us go. But that's a different issue then. That's talking about his faithfulness. That's a different issue talking about our choice and our faithfulness. Our love relationship takes the choice of two or it isn't love, it's compulsion. You have examples from the Bible of those who, Paul says, "Dimitrius forsook me." People who once walked with the Lord that turned away.
John: In Revelations 3:5, Jesus says, "He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment. I will not blot his name out of the book of life." I think someone whose name is written in the [unintelligible 00:46:12] book of life, they would be on their way to heaven. But there is a possibility for their name to be blotted out.
Doug: Yes. That's why Christ said, "Every branch in me that bears not fruit." This is John 15, Brad. "Every branch in me," these are people that are in Christ. "That does not bear fruit." The fruits of the spirit, "they will be cut off and gathered, and burned." There are a number of verses in the Bible where you've got people like King Saul, who was chosen by the Lord, filled by the spirit, but he became proud and rebellious and he grieved away the holy spirit.
Even Judas. Jesus sent him out preaching but he would not humble himself and repent, and finally, Satan entered him. He says at the last supper and Judas hung himself. If a person persists in defiant rebellion, they can still choose to be lost. But if we trust the Lord, once we've accepted the Lord and we continually come to him, we will grow in the Lord and we can have that security. I don't know if that's making, Brad, the balance there.
Brad: Yes, that helps. Because that's one of the verses that kind of when I read it, it was when Jesus himself talked about that. Like you said about the branches in him. My understanding is that we're grafted into the vine. From that, it's saying that we can choose to take ourselves out of the vine. Is that correct?
Doug: Yes. That's exactly right. God will never let go of us, but we must choose to love Him. That's why Paul said, "I die daily." Why would he say that? That means he chooses every day not to live for self but to live for God.
I hope that helps a little bit, Brad. You know what that makes me think of, Pastor John, we have an article at our website called Heavenly Hostage. We really need to put into book form something clear and simple on the subject of eternal security, we can have assurance of salvation and yet we shouldn't be presumptuous so there's that balance.
John: Okay. Well, thanks for your call, Brad. Our next caller is Sandy listening on WD2N from Southern Illinois. Sandy, welcome to the program.
Sandy: Hi, good evening. My question if found comparing Genesis 5:24, where it says, "And Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him." Then the second part of Genesis 6:9, it says, "Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God." The implication on verse 9 is that regarding transportation. Because God gave Enoch his transportation directly to paradise, but he also provided Noah transportation and his family to go through the flood. I'm just wondering if this is a Biblically reasoned out correctly, or if there's fault in it. Because I was just reading it a few minutes ago and turned on the radio and called you guys. I'd like your input, please.
Doug: Well, you're on the right track because it's talking about walking with God. The walk with God, of course, is talking about a way of life. Enoch's walk may have been a little different than Noah's walk in God took Enoch to heaven in a miraculous way. Didn't even allow him to die of old age. Noah did die of old age. But both of them, they were saved by virtue of their walk and, well, they're saved by faith, I don't want to get that wrong. But what I mean is that they walked towards God and they were saved. If you go to Revelations, it talks about the 114 thousand. I think this is Chapter 7 of Revelation. It says "These follow the lamb wherever he goes". So they're walking with the lamb. So if we are willing to walk with God. That means walking his ways, the bible says "Can two walk together unless they agreed?".
If two people are going to the same place, they could go together. If they're going to different places it's hard to walk together. You're on the right track I think. I just never thought about it the context of transportation but that's a creative thought. You made me think.
Sandy: Okay, well god bless and thank you all very much.
Doug: God bless Sandy. By the way if you go to the Amazing Facts website. We have a sermen there talking about walking with the lord at one of our downloads that you can listen to or watch. Or read.
John: Okay, well thank you Sandy for your call. Next call is Kennard and his listening at WMCA from Brooklyn, New York. Kenneth welcome to the program.
Kennard: Yes hello.
Doug: Hi, you're on the air. Hi Kennard.
Kennard: Yes, Good evening. My question is Revelation 16. I just want a quick breakdown of what was they speaking about 3 unclean spirits like frogs.
Doug: All right that's pretty interesting. Now you remember that in Exodus, one of the plagues that fell on Egypt was a plague of frogs. The Egyptians actually worship frogs. Now when you think about a frog. I've never heard of anyone being bitten by a frog. I've never heard of anyone being clawed by a frog. The frog usually catches its prey with its tongue. In the bible the tongue is a symbol of speech.
When it says 3 unclean frogs come out of the mouth, well what usually comes out of a mouth? It's words. It's telling us that these 3 powers are going to speak and manipulate the leaders of the world to worship the beast in its image. And some have wondered well who are these 3 powers? It's interesting that back in the days of Gideon, it was a three fold union that attacked Israel.
It was the Amalekites, and the Midianites and the people of the east. The [unintelligible 00:52:08] had this incredible victory when he was attacked by three fold union of the Ammonites, and the Moabites and the Edomites. You see many times in the bible, God's people are attacked by these three fold powers. You get to Revelation here and this is three fold power that is attacking God's people. I don't know if I dare get into this right now, maybe we ought to send him that lesson on America in Prophecy.
John: You know Pastor Doug that will be good. But let me add one more thought to this. We also find in Revelation, a counter for trinity. You've got the true trinity. The father the son and the Holy Spirit.
Doug: That's a good point.
John: Then you have a substitute or a man made trinity. It's bought to life in Revelation Chapter 16 Verse 13. That the dragon, the beast, the false prophet also demanding worship according to Revelation Chapter 13. So it's a counterfeit of the genuine that's taking place here at the end.
Doug: Yes and you know what when you say the dragon, the beast and the false prophet, there's a lot more to that but what you have there is the dragon is the devil. The beast is a government institution. The false prophet is the people or individuals or human leaders or instruments that they lead through. There's so much in that verse that's why we can't cover the whole thing Kennard in one 3 minute segment. But we have a study called America in Prophecy that we'll send you a free copy if you like that.
Kennard: Yes I would.
John: All right. To receive that Kennard all you have to do is call the resource number. It's 1-800-835-6747. Ask for the study guide America in Bible Prophecy and we'll be happy to send that out to you. Jeremiah is listening on WOCG from Huntsville, Alabama. Jeremiah welcome to the program.
Jeremiah: Hello.
Doug: Welcome. You're on the air Jeremiah.
Jeremiah: Hi.
Doug: Hi.
Jeremiah: My question is, when people, they die and when eternal death comes. When they go to hell, does hell keep burning or does it end?
Doug: All right, good question. Now, in the bible it tells us that what happens to the wicked in the lake of fire, hell fire and lake of fire in Revelation 20 are basically the same thing. It says as it was in Sodom and Gomorrah. As it was in the days of Lut. Sodom and Gomorrah were burned with eternal fire. Well the question is are Sodom and Gomorrah still burning today? Does it mean the fire burns forever? Does this mean that the results of that fire are eternal?
Sodom and Gomorrah have never been rebuilt, they've been burned up. Again, it says in Malachi chapter 4 that the day that comes will burn the wicked like an oven. It will burn them up. It will leave them neither root nor branch. Again in Psalms, you'll consider the wicked in its place from that being to smoke they will consume away. Then the Lord says he'll make all things new. Back to Malachi chapter 4 it says "Go forth and tread upon the wicked for their ashes under the soles of the feet of the righteous".
Obviously their ashes are not still burning. So the wicked are burned up with this eternal everlasting fire. What that means is the results of the fire are eternal and everlasting. There's no second choice but we're not going to sit in our mansions and watch the wicked roast through eternity.
John: Yes, you know that verse you mentioned there Malachi chapter 4 verse 1. It speaks of the wicked being turned to ashes and Revelation chapter 21 describes God creating a new heaven and a new earth. So if he's going to create a new heaven and a new earth, the fires of hell must eventually go out in order for that to happen.
Doug: Yes and furthermore, it calls what happens to the wicked the second death. We all die the first death but after the judgement, they're punish and they ultimately die. You know what always like to back to Jeremiah is John 3:16. There's two choices everyone has. Jesus said that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. We got two choices. Live forever or perish. The wicked will perish in the lake of fire.
John: Absolutely, you know we got that free offer on the subject Is The Devil In Charge of Hell.
Doug: And our website called helltruth.
John: That's right.
Doug: It's a popular website. If you go to google type in helltruth, it will take you right there. Helltruth.com. A lot of people misunderstand the subject. It was all the destroyed during the Dark Ages. Oh I'd like to say more but we can't afford to go for another hour right now. Not without your help friends, if you want us to go two hours we need to hear from you. But we do want to get your comments, your suggestions. You can email us at amazingfacts.org.
Tell us if you have any bible questions, we still take internet questions on the air. You can just contact us right there at the website at amazingfacts.org. And check out some of the other websites we've mentioned such as helltruth.com, thetruthaboutdeath.com, sabbathtruth, marytruth. There's a number of these highlighted websites, specialty websites that we've developed that just have a great chain. Remember we're Faith Ministry. We'd love to hear from you friends. We do this cause we want people to know Jesus. It's not the details but it's a relationship with him. He's a truth that will set you free.
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