Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor, how about an amazing fact? Dogs often called man’s best friend are among the most diverse creatures on Earth. There are about seven hundred types of purebred dogs in the world coming in all sizes, shapes and colors. Each type bred with unique characteristics. Some dogs have long hair. Some have no hair. Some are covered with wrinkles. The Greyhound is the fastest dog on Earth capable of reaching speeds of up to forty-five miles an hour. The world’s heaviest and longest dog ever recorded was an old English Mastiff named Zorba. In 1989 Zorba weighed three hundred and forty-three pounds and was eight feet three inches long from nose to tail. By contrast, the smallest dog in the history only weighed four ounces. He was a tiny Yorkshire from Blackburn, England. At two years of age and fully grown, this little dude was an incredible two and a half inches tall by three and three quarter inches long. He was approximately the size of a matchbox.
According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the world’s tallest dog is a Great Dane named Gibson, who measures 42.2 inches tall. When he stands on his hind legs, the one-hundred-seventy-pound Dane is more than seven feet tall. That’s taller than most NBA basketball players. The oldest dog that has been reliably documented was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey. He was put to sleep at the age of twenty-nine years and five months. That would be over two hundred years old in dog years. DNA evidence confirms that all these diverse and different dog breeds around the world come from two original wolf-like parents. Of course the Bible has always said that all of the people in the world descended from two original people. Stay with us, friends, we’re going to learn more as amazing facts brings you this edition of “Bible answers live.”
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: We are live friends. This is a live, international, interactive Bible study and we hope you interact with us right now. Of course, pray for us as we do our best to search the word together and find answers for anybody who wants to call in with a question. And if you have a Bible related question, then pick up your phone. It is a toll free number and it’s 800 the acronym is GOD-SAYS and that stands for 463-7297. And I see about half our lines are still open, so you pick up your phone now you got a good chance of getting your Bible question on tonight’s broadcast. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jëan Ross: My name is Jëan Ross. Good evening listening friends. And, Pastor Doug, before we go to the phone lines let’s start with prayer. Dear Father, we thank you again for the opportunity to open your word. We ask your blessing upon this program. Be with those who are listening. We pray for wisdom for us here in the studio. For this we ask in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well, Pastor Doug, happy 4th of July weekend.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. And matter of fact, since you’ve mentioned that, I want to say happy birthday to my wife. Her birthday is actually tomorrow, but since this is typically a weekly program this is the closest I’m going to get. And I’m trusting that my dear wife is listening. She generally listens better than I do. And happy birthday, Karen. And I’ll stop there. You don’t dare say how many birthdays is this.
(Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan Ross laughing)
Pastor Doug: That’s right. Yeah, if you want to have a nice welcome when you get home. You opened the program by talking about different kinds of dogs and it’s quite remarkable. Well, first of all, the variety of dogs and then how important dogs are to humans. They bring comfort and encouragement and joy. People become so attached to the animals that when the animal dies or their dog dies it’s as if they’ve lost a family member.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. And they are very loyal and can be wonderful friends and great protectors and through history has been a link. Even in the Bible, dogs are mentioned over forty times. Sometimes they are not cast in the best light because dogs are scavengers, but even in the Book of Job it talks about dogs guarding the flock. And Solomon said, “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” But what was amazing to me is the diversity of dogs and I didn’t even go through all the amazing facts. I read about one Basset Hound that has longest ears, that are like a foot long and he literally trips over his ears when he runs. And, you know, the smelling power of dogs some estimate is over a million times more sensitive than humans. And they’re so incredible you look at everything from a Dachshund to the Great Dane, to, you know, some of these dog that you can’t even see their face, there are so much hair on them.
And all of those different breeds, they’re all dogs and they crossbreed. And some people have wondered, you know, “How do you get all these different kinds of people all over the world and yet they have traced the DNA not only of all the dogs to two original wolf-like dogs but all of the people in the world they say came to an original set of parents. And this is what the Bible has always taught.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Right.
Pastor Doug: And so, you know, we can trust the word of God. Some think that, you know, different people evolve from primates and evolution is really a very dangerous belief. First of all, it destroys the purpose for life. If we are nothing more than, you know, organisms that have haphazardly evolved, then what is the purpose of life? It’s just a big accident and, you know, your idea of the purpose is just as important or valid as my idea. But if we’re created in the image of God, that gives you a whole different foundation for viewing life. And of course, this is what the Bible teaches. And the Bible can be trusted. I didn’t use to believe the Bible.
I used to think it was a collection of fairytales. And when I finally read the Bible and compare the Bible with what I could see both in science and practical history and human history, and everything from sociology, the physiology, it is a hundred percent dependable. And we have a special offer tonight. And if you have not signed up before, friends, for the Amazing Facts Bible study course, it’s sort of the mothership of the Bible studies, for thirty years it’s been streamlined and refined and we’ve got a brand new design, set of lessons, four-color beautifully illustrated, we’ll send you for free, this Bible studies series, and it will begin with our sending you the first lesson to see if you like it.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And that lesson is entitled, “Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?” It talks about the word of God, talks about the Bible. And as Pastor Doug mentioned, friends, this is the first in a series of Bible studies that cover, well, the most fundamental, the most important truths of Scripture. To receive this first study guide, just call our resource line at 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide on the Bible, “Is There Anything Left That You Can Trust?” Well, going to the phone lines then, our first caller is Randy, listening on CHLS from Edmonton, Canada. Randy, welcome to the program.
Randy: Thank you very much. Thank you for taking my question. My question is about, is the Bible specific in terms of depression and anxiety and any specific recommendations with respect to the treatment thereof? And what if, anything does it say or your opinion about the use of antidepressants and anti-anxiety drugs?
Pastor Doug: Well, you know, one thing I’ll say before I even go any farther is, of course, Pastor Ross and I are not physicians but part of the Amazing facts team now has a very popular doctor, Dr. Neil Nedley, who has written one of the most popular books on the subject of depression and the biblical perspective of depression. And in his book, he, you know, lays down some principles where if followed biblical principles that help relieve depression, for one thing, when a person suffers guilt, that causes depression. That’s one of the many principles that he shows from both science and it is corroborative with the Bible. But when they followed these steps to escape from depression, in many cases, if not most cases, they’re able to win themselves from medication because the medication is really treating the result rather than the cause. And, you know, I don’t mind sharing Dr. Nedley’s website, matter of fact if you just type into Google Dr. Neil, N-E-I-L, Nedley, N-E-D-L-E-Y and it will take you a whole plethora of information on depression the way out in his series.
Pastor Jëan Ross: That’s right. I was just going to mention the name of his book. It’s called “Depression: The Way out.” It’s just an outstanding resource with practical information dealing with depression.
Pastor Doug: Now, just at our fingertips, of course, we have the Bible here, Randy. And I think about the Psalm of David, Psalm 22. David wrote this and it’s a messianic Psalm. Meaning, it’s not only the experience that David had when he was deeply depressed but it’s talking about Jesus on the cross when He was bearing the sins of the world. And He says, “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me, why are they’re so far from helping me?” And just through this entire psalm it, you know, outlines a great darkness that had settled on Him. But through it all, when He gets to the end He says, “My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation.” And so he praises way through this depression. It’s like Jesus on the cross. He starts out saying, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me,” by the end He says, “Triumphantly it is finished. In to your hands I commit my spirit.” And prayer, communion with God does alleviate depression.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, I’m looking at a verse here, Pastor Doug. Randy, it’s in 1st Peter chapter 5; verse 7, and it’s brought comfort to a lot of people. Bible tells us to cast all of our care upon Him, that’s God for He cares for us, who cares for you. So, whatever the burden, whatever the care, we can take it to the Lord in prayer and we can leave it with him.
Pastor Doug: You know we have a book. Randy, are you still with us?
Randy: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: We’ve got a book we’ll send you for free and it’s called, “When Days Are Dark.” And it’s a very popular book. It does give some of the Bible principles. “When Days Are Dark.” And this is by G.R. Nash. A very encouraging book, a lot of people have found the clouds part when they read through this.
Pastor Jëan Ross: The number to call, Randy, is 1-800-835-6747, ask for the book “When Days Are Dark” and we’ll be happy to send that out to you. Our next caller is Linda listening on WTLG from Florida. Linda, welcome to the program.
Linda: Thank you. Thank you for taking my Bible question.
Pastor Doug: Yes. And your question?
Linda: Yes. In Daniel 3, when it’s talking about the fiery furnace, it states in there that the Bible says that it was heated seven times hotter than usual. I’ve always wondered how did they measure the temperature back in those days, and how did they know how hot it was? I suppose seven times hotter. How hot would seven times hotter have been? Do you know any way that they measured that back then?
Pastor Doug: Well, in the Bible not only in Hebrew but many of the Semitic cultures, they looked upon seven as a sacred number. Of course, seven days in a week and so it was a number of creation. So when the king issued the command, “Heat the furnace seven times hotter that it’s suppose to be heated,” I don’t think there was anybody there standing by the furnace with a thermometer. I think it was just saying heated, hotter as hot as the clay furnace could stand. And so they just began to hurl wood there like engineers shoveling coal in a-- it’s one of those old train engines-- and the thing just was probably glowing, pulsating red. And so much so that when the soldiers that were commanded to hurl, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in to the fire and Daniel-- I’m sorry not Daniel, he wasn’t in the fire-- Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that they were slain by the heat that was radiating out. So seven times hotter, I’m sure it was easily two or three times hotter than it’s supposed to be but I don’t know that anyone was measuring the temperature.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And, you know, you mentioned there the significance of numbers. Seven of course also represents completeness or, you know, the fullness. And so here, they heated that furnace as complete as they possibly could, as hot as they could do and it’s amazing that here they went in and the only thing that was burnt was the ropes tying their hands.
Pastor Doug: Well, it’s also significant that Nebuchadnezzar in persecuting God’s people commanded that the furnace be heated seven times hotter. The next chapter Nebuchadnezzar has a dream and God says, “You’re going to lose your mind for seven years.” And he uses those phrase seven times. So it’s like his persecution bounce back on him. And for seven years Nebuchadnezzar was basically mad.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And if you want to keep going with that, in Revelation it talks about the time of trouble where there are seven plaques.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. Oh, yeah, there’s quite a few sevens in Revelation. So, hope that helps a little bit, Linda.
Linda: It does. And thank you so much and God bless you.
Pastor Doug: God bless you. Appreciate your question.
Pastor Jëan Ross: David is listening on the internet from Victorville, California. David, you’re on the air.
David: Pastors, how are you this evening?
Pastor Doug: Very well. Thank you.
David: Terrific. Here’s my question. I’m fairly well convinced that in Luke chapter 16; verse 28, when the rich man talks about his five brethren, I’m fairly well convinced that since the certain rich men in verse 19 is talking about the Jewish church or the Jewish nation, that these five brethren that the rich man brings up have to pertain with the actual blood brothers of Judah which are listed in Genesis 29 and 30. And I was wondering what your opinion of that might be and more so, do you have any other references where five brothers are mentioned or any type of references that Jesus made or anyone else in the Bible for that matter with respect to five brethren in this way? I know that’s a vague question.
Pastor Doug: Well, I think you’re making me think even, as you speak my mind is kind of racing. The reason is I’ve always understood that number five does symbolize something else. You see, all of the Jews, even the Samaritans agreed on five books of Moses called “The Pentateuch.” The Sadducees, the Pharisees, the Samaritans most of the different Jewish sects while they didn’t agree--you know, Pharisees believed in the old volume of Scripture, including some additional apocryphal writings, the Sadducees were much more restrictive. The Samaritans agreed with the five books of Moses. And so “The Pentateuch” or “The Torah” was considered the sacred volume of five. It was the word of God. And so I think the number five here symbolizes the word of God because at the end of this parable--the punch line, if you will, is usually at the end of the parable--Jesus said if they believe not Moses and the prophets, then neither will they be persuaded the one who should rise from the dead. In other words, if they don’t believe the word of God, then a resurrection is not going to change their mind. And of course, Jesus did rise somebody by the name of Lazarus and the religious leaders wanted to kill Lazarus, as well as Jesus.
David: Do you find any particular connection then, in what-- for example, between Jacob and Rachel they had, or Judah actually had five blood brothers. They actually had six boys that were related.
Pastor Doug: Right. I’ve never thought of that. That’s interesting.
David: Yeah. If you read Genesis 29 and 30 you’ll see that Judah actually had five brothers that were actual blood brothers.
Pastor Doug: Well, wait a second now. Leah had, let me see, she had five boys and one girl, is that what happened?
David: Leah, I’m sorry. I said Rachel.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. Because Judah is from Leah.
David: It’s Leah and Jacob actually had the five sons that were blood brothers.
Pastor Doug: That’s interesting. Well, you know, the only problem I would have with that is that a long before Christ was born several of those tribes were conquered by the Assyrians and carried away to Assyria. And so, you know, some of Judah’s brothers were part of the Northern Kingdom that were all carried off and it weren’t really applied to them.
David: Right. In that sense, that’s correct too. Yeah, I see your point there.
Pastor Doug: But you’ve got me thinking. I appreciate your question, David.
David: Alright, thanks, Pastors.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Take care.
Pastor Jëan Ross: We do have a few lines still open, Pastor Doug. If you’d like to get your question on the air this evening, the number to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297.
Pastor Doug: I know we got a lot of folks this 4th of July weekend are returning home from the weekend and in their vehicles. You might give us a call. You found the station. You have a bible question. Pick up your phone. Dial 800-4637-297. Keep at least one hand on the wheel.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright. Dan is listening from MWCA from New Jersey. Dan, welcome to the program.
Dan: Hi, Pastors, God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Dan: Good evening. My question is about the experience “deja vu.” I wanted to know if there is anything in the Bible that would give any like, reference to that feeling or would you have anything like Biblical text or anything that I can, you know, try to look for? Because that’s something that I haven’t been able to really find pretty much an answer for as far as the experience.
Pastor Doug: Well, right, “deja vu” is a French word and to tell you the truth I don’t speak French and I don’t know what the exact translation of that would be. But it’s usually when you feel like you’ve seen something or been somewhere before, you’re having a repeat experience or you had a dream and you’re watching the dream unfold in front of you. There are a couple of occasions in the Bible where God gives a prophet a dream. And I can think of one time where God gave one of the prophets in Israel a dream that the king’s wife would come in and disguise herself. And this prophet was actually blind. And when she came in and disguised herself he said, “I know who you are,” the wife of Jeroboam, you know, “Why do you disguise yourself?” And so prophets were shown things in vision, they later saw fulfilled that they have previously seen in a dream or a vision. But the experience of dejavu, you know, having the sense that “have I been here before,” “This all seems familiar,” that per se I don’t know of anywhere in the Bible where you see that acted out.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Of course, you know, there is an explanation to some degree. I don’t know if people have nailed this down completely but the explanation I’ve heard, Pastor Doug, you’ve probably heard something similar, where the brain resist information and instead of storing it immediately into long term it puts it into short term.
Pastor Doug: Subconscious.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Or instead of putting it into short term it puts it in long term. So it seems as though you’ve been here some time before. But of course, the brain takes in everything all the time that we see, what we feel, and it just puts it in the wrong place.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. You walk in to the room your eyes and your mind are so quick that you’ll quickly see the panorama of the room and the people there, the smells, whatever. It stores it in the subconscious. Then the conscious accesses the subconscious and says, “This is all familiar, I’ve been here before.” Well, it was a fraction of the second earlier. But your brain is so quick it can play tricks on you. I’ve heard that too. Very interesting. So, you know, the best thing we could probably offer you as a resource that might help a little bit is the lesson that we have that deals with prophets and dreams and it’s called “Does God Inspire Psychics, Astrologers and Prophets?”
Pastor Jëan Ross: Matter of fact, that’s part of the Bible study series that we’ve been speaking about. It’s one of those lessons. To receive that, call 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide on prophets, “Does God Inspire Psychics and Astrologers?” And we’ll be happy to send that to you. Our next caller is Willy, and he’s listening on WFKY from North Carolina. Willy, welcome to the program.
Willy: Hello. How are you?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Hi.
Willy: Well, I’ve been reading the Epistles of Paul. Occasionally I go back. I don’t know if I’ve missed it, but I have not seen where he died, how he died or when. Is there some information you can give me that I can look up?
Pastor Doug: Well, you didn’t miss it, Willy. You’re a good student. The closest you’re going to get is 2nd Timothy, where Paul said--this was the last time Paul was imprisoned in Rome by Nero, though you’ve no doubt heard of that emperor--and Luke did not write an account in Acts of Paul’s execution, because the Book of Acts was written while Paul was still alive. And Luke sent it off to somebody named Theophilus, who is probably a wealthy Greek, I think, based on the name. And in Paul’s last letter 2nd Timothy he says, “I know that the time of my departure is at hand, I fought a good fight, I’ve kept the faith, I’ve finished my course. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown, which the Lord the righteous judge.” And he’s contrasting the Lord the righteous judge to Nero, who was an unrighteous judge. He says, “The Lord the righteous judge will give me that day, and not to me only but to all them that loved His appearing.”
And so these were like the last words, it was the Swan song of Paul. You’ll read that in 2nd Timothy, he’s in jail, he’s waiting his execution and Paul was beheaded. Now, the actual event of his being executed is not in the Bible because, you know, his last letter is sent before that happens and another New Testament writers record his death. In Revelation, John writes his letter of Revelation when he is the last apostle left, but he doesn’t comment on Paul’s execution. Matter of fact, when John writes Revelation all of his friends had died from persecution except Judas who killed himself. John is the only one who dies of natural causes at old age.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, in Acts chapter 21; verse 11, it describes somewhat of Paul’s faith when a prophet comes to Paul and takes his girdle and binds his hands and his feet and says, “The one who owns this girdle will be bound at Jerusalem and be handed over to the Gentiles.” That’s Acts 21; verse 11. So there is that prophetic statement that Paul will be bound in chains and would be turn over to the Romans. And then, of course we read how that Paul was in Rome. And the Foxe’s Book of Martyrs actually gives the account of Paul’s death.
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Willy: Pardon me, what do you say the name is?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
Willy: Foxe’s Book of Martyrs.
Pastor Doug: Alright, like more than one fox. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs. Matter of fact, you can download that for free. It’s an old book and it’s in public domain. If you just go to the internet and type that in, you can probably download it and read it online. I have seen it there.
Willy: Oh cool.
Pastor Doug: And so the opening chapters talks about the death of the different apostles.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Apparently, according to that book Paul was beheaded by Nero.
Willy: Oh fascinating. Thank you so much for your time and you all have a blessed evening.
Pastor Doug: You too, Willy. Thanks for your call.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Ron listening on KFIA from Washington. Ron, welcome to the program.
Ron: Well, thank you very much. God Bless you guys today.
Pastor Doug: God bless.
Ron: Doug, my question is for you, it’s about the Sabbath. I [inaudible 25:31] on Saturdays the Sabbath and I’m obeying His commandments. He said in John 14:23 that “if a man loves me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him.” And my question would…
Pastor Doug: Hello? You need to press that again. I think we lost you. Hang on, Ron.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Ron, are you there?
Pastor Doug: You start repeating your question is and then we’ll let you dropped off.
Ron: Okay, my question is about the Sabbath. I know it’s Saturday, the word tells us it’s Saturday and the God wants us to observe his commandments. He says, “If you love me, you’ll obey my commandments and my Father will love you, we’ll come make our home with you.”
Pastor Doug: Right.
Ron: My question is, I have a Bible study everyday and one of the gentlemen asked me, he’s got a job as ETM, an emergency medical assistant and he’s not sure whether he wants to take the job now because he’s going to be on call on Saturdays. And he asked me about that, “What do I do, Ron? What do people that have to work for the government, have to be in the hospitals do on Saturday?” And I don’t have an answer for him and I told about your show and I said, well, I’ll call and ask Brother Doug tonight and see what you have for us. So I’m putting you on the spot there, Doug.
Pastor Doug: Well, not really. I think it’s a fair question but, you know, Jesus healed people on the Sabbath and Christ said, you know, if an ox or donkey falls in the ditch on the Sabbath you don’t just leave it there. So emergency rescue, Jesus is very clear that it’s appropriate to conduct emergency rescue. And your friend, he is taking out for EMT work which is I think is emergency medical technicians. What you might do though is if a person is on call and they are a Sabbath keeper, you know, if it were me and I was called on duty, I would donate my remuneration for that day to God’s calls or some ministry or something. Because as soon as you started getting paid to work on a Sabbath, then it begins to lose the sense of service or sacredness.
My wife worked in a hospital. And, you know, the Seventh-Day Adventist Church has hospitals all over the world and they don’t just closed down on Sabbath and stop taking care of people. Of course they care for them. But when Karen worked at a hospital she would just donate her income for that day if she was required to help somebody on Sabbath hours and just want to get paid for it. Because I think that if person is engaged in one of these emergency services on Sabbath that people need, that it should be non-remunerative. I hope that helps a little bit, Ron. And I think you’re on the right track. Jesus said in John 13:17, “If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.” You know, I would also recommend to Ron that our website, Pastor Ross, sabbathtruth.com.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Great website.
Pastor Doug: Sabbathtruth.com. There is a kaleidoscope. I can’t always make up my mind whether I want to say blizzard, bouquet, kaleidoscope or plethora of information at that website on the Sabbath, how to keep it and some of these questions that you’re asking. Sabbathtruth.com. And that will help you quite a bit. Listening friends, we’re going to be back in just a few moments. We’ve got more Bible questions coming your way. Couples of lines still open. Call us 800-GOD-SAYS and also check out the amazingfacts.com website.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Hello, friends, we’re back and if you tuned in somewhere along the way this is Bible Answers live. Name sort says it all, it’s a live, international, interactive Bible study. And we invite you to call in your Bible questions. It’s a toll free number 800-GOD-SAYS is the acronym, that’s 463-7297. In just a moment we’re going to go to the phones. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jëan Ross: My name is Jëan Ross. Pastor Doug, you’ve mentioned a great website just before we took our break. Sabbathtruth.com. But we have a lot of other great websites.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, Amazing Facts actually partners with about a hundred different websites that have Bible study resources. Our whole ministry is deal with the amazing facts, the truth of God’s words that saves people. And people have a lot of questions about different subjects. We’ve got a website called Hell Truth. We got questions people misunderstand the idea of hell, has ever burn in hell, are people burnt up in hell, what happens? And some people just have this terrible concept of God based on misunderstandings regarding that doctrine. The answer is there at helltruth.com. But most people don’t know, Pastor Ross, because they hear our radio program, our radio listeners don’t know that this is something we do once a week. We’re on TV seven days a week. And not only are we on TV and national networks, like family channel, BET and many others, dish network and others.
But if you go to the homepage of Amazing Facts you’ll see a radio TV log and see the other radio programs and the other TV programs. But there is a twenty-four-hour-a-day website where you can watch Amazing Facts programs, very simply amazingfacts.tv. You don’t do amazingfactscom.tv or amazingfactsorg.tv, just type in amazingfacts.tv and you’ll see twenty-four hours a day different programs cycling through and it’s Evangelism television. And it’s got archives of a number of other radio programs and sermons and various things.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, the other day I was looking at YouTube and I typed in Amazing Facts and believe it or not, there is portions of the final events program available on YouTube.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, I think they’ve got all seven chapters that are now-- and not only that they’ve got millennium prophecy. And I saw that one time someone sent me the links, has just all of kinds Amazing Facts programs on YouTube. So check out what you can do through the internet. We always highlight that in the middle of our program, friends, because we’ve only got this one-hour-a-week with you for the live broadcast and we want you to be studying all week long.
Pastor Jëan Ross: We’re going to the phone lines then. Patricia is listening on the internet from Bakersfield, California. Patricia, you’re on the air with Pastor Doug.
Patricia: Hello Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Evening. Your question?
Patricia: How are you?
Pastor Doug: I’m doing well.
Patricia: I’m enjoying your program. You have a wonderful program and God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Well, thank you.
Patricia: You know, I’m glorying in the resurrection of Jesus and I’m just curious, you know, what are your thoughts on the resurrection morning? I know that God the Father sent his angels from heaven to resurrect Jesus, but do you think that Jesus in His power and His glory had resurrected Himself and was waiting for the angel to come to Him? Or do you think the angel actually came and called Him from the dead? What are your thoughts?
Pastor Doug: Well, Jesus said--and maybe Pastor Ross is looking that up right now--Jesus said, “No man takes my life, I lay my life down. I have the power to lay it down and the power to take it up.” The angel didn’t resurrect Jesus. The function of the angel was to roll aside the stone.
Pastor Jëan Ross: That’s John chapter 10; verse 18, the verse you quote.
Pastor Doug: You want to read it again?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes. Jesus says, “No man takes my life from me but I lay it down of myself, I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. This commandment I have received of my Father.”
Pastor Doug: So it was a cooperative act of the Father and even Christ Himself to rise. Now you might think how can a person raise themselves when they’re asleep and dead? And, you know, the only answer I’ve come up with for this, Patricia, is the power of the word, Jesus said, “Heaven and Earth will pass away but my word will not pass away.” The very prophecy that Christ made. “I will rise after three days.” The inherent power of that word of God rose Him up because there’s creative power in the word. When God says “let there be light,” there’s light. And if Jesus said “In there days I will rise,” that power of His word rose Him. Does that make sense?
Patricia: You really shed some light on my thoughts because based on what I know I believe that Jesus was up and putting His grave clothes together and just waiting for the collaborative effort of His angels. And I’m just thankful that you were able to validate my thoughts on the Bible. God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Well, thank you. Praise the Lord. God bless you, Patricia. And, you know, we talked about websites a moment ago, Pastor Ross, there’s another website called Truth about Death. A lot of people have questions about what happens when you die and are you conscious. And of course, Jesus fits into that study right there and if they have questions on that subject, truthaboutdeath.com.
Pastor Jëan Ross: We have a study guide called “Are the Dead Really Dead?” It also talks about that subject. To receive the study guide call 1-800-835-6747. Our next caller is Lisa listening from KFIA Sacramento, California. Welcome to the program, Lisa.
Lisa: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Lisa: Thank you so much for holding. I do listen at 7:10 AM in Sacramento. My question is, where does our body go when we die? And where does our Spirit go when we die? Because I was told that we’re sleeping until He comes and resurrects our entire body.
Pastor Doug: Well, the most concise verse that we have on that is in Ecclesiastes 12; verse 7. Solomon there said, “Then speaking of death--and it’s talking about the death of everybody, good and bad, animal, human--“then the dust returns to the Earth as it was.” In other words, we’re made from dust. All creatures are just elements of Earth. When we die, it’s not pleasant to think about but we know that we decompose and we return to the elements of the Earth. “Then the dust returns to Earth as it was and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.” In other words, spirit there is not capital S like Holy Spirit. It’s a small s because it’s the Hebrew word breath. “Ruah” is the word and the breath or meaning, the breath of life returns to God who gave it. Some people have wondered because they misunderstood what that word is there, does that mean some little ghost jumps out of you when you die and it goes back in its conscious and it’s with the Lord. No, it’s just saying the spirit of life or the breath of life returns to God at the point of death.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And in Psalms chapter 146; verse 4, the Bible uses the word breath there. It says, “His breath go with forth he returns to the Earth, in that very day his thoughts perish.”
Pastor Doug: It confirms that same sequence.
Lisa: Well, I don’t know if I’m fully understanding my question. When I physically die, where does my spirit go? You’re saying it’s a breath that goes back to God?
Pastor Doug: No. The essence of who you are does not become conscious again until you’re resurrected.
Lisa: That’s what that pastor said on TV.
Pastor Doug: Well, he was right.
Lisa: It shocked me. Because I always use that Scripture what does that mean, absence from the body is presence with the Lord.
Pastor Doug: And that’s absolutely true. Here’s what confuses people, Lisa. If you’re a Christian and…
Lisa: Right. I am.
Pastor Doug: …you should die, heaven forbid. But if you should die, your next thought would be the resurrection and the presence of the Lord. But the Bible is so clear that nobody is raise until the second coming. And 1st Corinthians 15, 1st Thessalonians chapter 4, many, many verses explain the resurrection happens at the coming of the Lord. Daniel chapter 12; verse 1 and 2 also says that. So if the judgment is in the future and the resurrection is in the future, then if people die and go right to heaven or hell before the judgment and the resurrection, it just creates all kinds of problems. There’s really nothing in the Bible that teaches that. But for the people who die, their next conscious thought is the resurrection of the just or the resurrection of the lost.
So for them, there’s no consciousness of time. Let me give me you another-- your silence is telling me I could just give you a little more on this--Acts chapter 2, David is--I’m sorry--Peter’s preaching and he talks about King David. Now when Peter’s preaching David had already been dead almost a thousand years. King David who killed Goliath, good King David he’s going to be in Heaven. And what Peter says in his sermon is, “Let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David that he is both dead and buried,” and he goes on to say, “and he’s not ascended to Heaven.” So David now has been dead for three thousand years. But for David, it says he slept with his Father, his next conscious thought is going to be resurrection at the second coming with the glorified body and being caught up to meet the Lord in the air. See what I’m saying?
Lisa: Right. His theory is dormant. He’s with God who gave him breath.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. As far as our time is concerned, you know, he’s been dead three thousand years. As far as David is concerned, next thing he knows is he closes his eyes and he awakens with a new body and he’s in the Lord’s presence. But the Bible is clear we go to heaven together, it says, “Then we should be caught up with them and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” So the resurrection is something universal. We go to heaven together. It’s a great celebration. We’re not kind of going in one at a time. And that’s what confuses a lot of people that comes from kind of mythology.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And, you know, the website we mentioned, Truth about Death, is a fantastic resource to take a look at, deals with this very subject and questions like absent from the body, presence with the Lord, how do we understand that in reference to the Bible?
Pastor Doug: Yeah. Can you get on the internet, Lisa?
Lisa: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, just type in Truth about Death; it will take you to this very thorough website that’s got a lot of questions, rather a lot of answers to the most popular questions on that subject. And we have that study guide that we mentioned. We’d be happy to send you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: It’s called “Are the Dead Really Dead?” Lisa, call 1-800-835-6747, just ask for the study guide “Are the Dead Really Dead?” And we’ll be happy to send that to you. Kevin is listening from KFIA from Sacramento, California. Kevin, you’re on the air.
Kevin: Yeah. Hello, Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Evening, Kevin.
Kevin: Yes. I have a question on David and in 1st Samuel it has Jesse passing seven sons by Samuel when he’s chosen David.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Kevin: So that means David is the eighth son? If you go to Chronicles 2 and 15, it has David listed as the seventh son. In my commentary it says that David has to be in the favorite seventh position and I didn’t know what that meant. I know we’re talking about a lot of sevens in the Bible. I’m trying to find out what happened to that other sons.
Pastor Doug: Well, by the time David became king he had evidently lost a brother. I’ve seen the same what appears to be an inconsistency. You know, it sounds like at the feast in Bethlehem, that seven sons of Jesse passed before Samuel and he doesn’t pick anyone. He said there’s yet one more son. And it maybe that one of Jesse’s sons died in those early battles with the Philistines and so later he’s not mentioned. It is also possible that one of those sons is a half-brother of David if Jesse remarried. And that could be another answer for what appears to be a conflict. I don’t know, Pastor Ross, have you looked at that before?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yeah. Matter of fact, I’m just nodding my head that that’s kind of the way I’ve seen it as well, where one of the brothers died in battle and they just counted then with him being gone.
Pastor Doug: Yup.
Kevin: Okay. Alright, that’s my question.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Thank you, Kevin. I’ve seen that before. It is a little bit perplexing at first glance. Appreciate your call.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Jay listening on KPRZ from San Diego. Jay, you’re on Bible Answers Live.
Jay: Yeah, I just had a quick question about the six literal days in the Book of Genesis when the world was created.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Jay: I was just having a discussion with a couple of friends the other day and one of them basically said that it wasn’t six, twenty-four-hour days, even though the Bible specifically does say that it was morning and evening which follows the day. But his point was that, the Hebrew word also could mean an undetermined period of time. I dot known if you can clarify that.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, if I’m not mistaken the word is “Yam.”
Jay: Yes.
Pastor Doug: I’ve heard these arguments before they go to some places in the Bible where it’s used in a period of time other than the day. But it is so clear in Genesis that they are days, that they are distinct days. Matter of fact, there’s no other word that God could use to be more precise about fix days. Not only that, it says that, you know, he makes the vegetation the third day but he doesn’t make the sun and moon and stars until the fourth day. And so those days are long ages. You Know, how does the vegetation survived? There’d be no photosynthesis.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Just to add to that, Jay, it speaks about the morning and the evening being the first day.
Jay: Right.
Pastor Doug: So you got a dark and you got a light. So if the Earth is rotating on its axis, you’re going to have a dark and you’re going to have a light part of the day every twenty-four hours.
Jay: Right.
Pastor Doug: You know, the biggest question, Jay, is why would someone take the position that the days have to be long ages? And usually it’s because they’re being impressed or influenced by some of the dating methods that come up from the scientific world. And they say, “Well, we’ve dated the rocks and it couldn’t have been literal days, we’ve dated, you know, some fossils or something.” And I think they forget that God’s creative power. If the Lord wanted to, when He made the first trees--here’s the question, Jay--when God made the first trees they are in the Garden of Eden, did they have rings in them?
Jay: Good question.
Pastor Doug: If you’d cut down one of those trees, and it’s, you know, ten feet through because if there’s red woods today that are over ten feet through, then you can imagine the Garden of Eden how majestic and enormous some of these trees must have been. And even if you look at the oil deposits and the coal beds and the fields, they came from copious amounts of vegetation that was carried during the flood. So the greenery and the jungles before the flood must have been just phenomenal. But we already know that from fossils. Alright, so you cut down a tree, in order for the fluid to be carried by the roots of that tree up through the tree, it uses the rings in the tree. And it divides up the cells. I think you would have seen tree rings. So God can actually create things in one day and incorporate an appearance of age in it. You got that?
Jay: Right. Yeah, he called that an illusion.
Pastor Doug: Well, when Adam was made, was he made a baby?
Jay: Nope.
Pastor Doug: Or was he made, you know, a thirty-year-old man or, you know, or his prime, whatever age that is.
Jay: The point that he was focusing on with all of that was based in science. But the science was more astronomical with regards to the distance of the stars as we measure them and how far it takes light to get from the farthest reaches of the galaxy to the Earth and how could that light have gotten here within a period of a day, particularly when the stars didn’t come about until the third day or so.
Pastor Doug: Well, when God creates the star, can God create the beams of light that are coming from that star already in route? Sure, He can. I mean if God can create a star, He can make the beams of lights so men can appreciate it right away.
Jay: Yeah. That was kind of my point.
Pastor Doug: And so, you know, there’s really no problem except their problem of believing in His power.
Jay: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. Anyway, I hope that helps a little bit. But they were literal days and as soon as someone starts playing with that, there are some ministries out there that question the first eleven chapters of the Bible, they say were all kind of fables and they are not really literal. And then they say from Abraham on it’s literal and you do that. Jesus says that they are literal days, so do we believe Him? That’s a big question.
Jay: Okay. Well, that verifies my side of the argument. Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Alright, thanks a lot, Jay. God bless.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Joe is listening on WMCA from Brooklyn, New York. Joe, welcome to the program.
Joe: Yes, my name is Joe. I’m calling in reference to the question about where did giants came from in the Bible?
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Joe: Did the Bible says where they came from?
Pastor Doug: Well, before man sinned not only does the Bible say man lived a lot longer before the flood but, you know, if man was living back then nine centuries, he was probably a lot taller too. After the flood, generally more people began to be stunted because the whole environment changed and the humans were more dwarfed. But some of them evidently still had their genetic stature. That’s why all the way up to the time of King David there were still giants in the land of Israel. Goliath and his brothers and the children of Anak. The Bible says that Anakim were giants and that the children of Israel felt like grasshoppers in their sight. I was reading today just last century, the tallest man that lived was Robert Wadlow. He was, I think, eight feet four inches tall. That’s just, you know, sixty years ago. So it’s genetic.
Joe: I see. Because, you know, I have a lot of people that question it and give a theory which I think is a theory where the children of God, you know, God together with the women’s of men and the possibility that they came from there.
Pastor Doug: They think the sons of God were angels or something like that that had intimate relations with humans.
Joe: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, that’s not what that’s saying. When you read in there in Genesis chapter 6, I think it’s verse 3, it says that “when the sons of God came to the daughters of men that their offspring were giants.” That’s just called genetic vitality. In other words, the children of Seth were called the sons of God, they all still serve the Lord. The children of Cain were called the daughters of men when the sons of God, Adam and Seth’s descendants began to intermarry with Cain’s descendants. For one thing they gave up their godliness and the world become wicked for another thing. They had children through genetic vitality that were very strong and powerful and tall. Even today, do you know if you cross a tiger, Joe, with a lion, you get an animal called the liger. And that liger is the biggest cat in the world. Ligers are enormous. I think if that they stand up paws stretched up, they’re going to be twelve feet long.
Joe: Are you saying that it was a possibility for this to happen?
Pastor Doug: No. That is not a possibility. What I’m saying is the daughters of Cain, humans, intermarried with the daughters of Seth. See the children of Seth and Cain separated after Cain left the Garden of Eden. They remained separate for many generations and had families. But then their families began to intermarry. And the offspring of those human families were giants. And that’s what brought about the giants in the land. I think Joe would enjoy the Bible study guide and going through that whole series would be very helpful, if you’d like a free offer.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Again call 1-800-835-6747. Joe, ask for that study guide, “Anything Left You Can Trust?” That deals with the Bible. And well, it will get you started on that Bible study series. Our next caller is Robert and he is listening on the internet from Overland Park, Kansas. I know where that is. Robert, welcome to the program.
Robert: Thank you. How are you doing?
Pastor Doug: Good. Get real close to your phone, Robert.
Robert: Okay.
Pastor Doug: And your question?
Robert: Yeah, my question is, I just want to know what is your take on women ordination?
Pastor Doug: You’re talking about women being ordained as pastors?
Robert: Pastors and eldest.
Pastor Doug: Well, this is always a sensitive subject. People will think that you’re being chauvinistic but I’m stuck on what the Bible says and I cannot find an example in the Bible of a woman serving in the capacity of a pastor, a priest or an elder. There is lots of evidence in the Bible for women, you know, serving in the capacity of prophets and women being called the various aspects of ministry. But the Office of Pastor is an office that is reserved for and priest, it’s an office reserved for men. The church is an extension of the family and in the same way men are to be the servant leaders in the families. Likewise, the men should be the servant leaders in the church. You know, we’ve got a new book that just came out, Robert, we’ll send you a free copy. And it’s talking about “Women in Ministry.” It’s just out now and I don’t even know if we’ve offered that before.
Pastor Jëan Ross: I don’t think so. Matter of fact, I’m glad that here it’s just out.
Pastor Doug: Yup.
Pastor Jëan Ross: I know we were working on something.
Pastor Doug: “Women in Ministry,” we’ll send you a free copy, Robert. It’s got a lot of Bible answers, would you like that?
Robert: Yup, okay, I will go to…
Pastor Doug: I don’t even think you’ll find it on the website yet. It’s brand new. But if you call the resource number we’ll send you a copy for free.
Robert: Sure, okay. Alright, thank you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: It’s 1-800-835-6747. And again, Robert, the book is entitled, “Women in Ministry.” We’ll be happy to send that to you. Chuck is listening on KFIA from Stockton, California. Chuck, welcome to the program.
Chuck: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Hi Chuck, how can we help you tonight?
Chuck: Okay, just a quick question for you. I know that we’re saved through Jesus Christ when we confess our sins and accept Him as our personal saver and all of that I accept. But I also heard many times through the years, people are judged according to their wisdom, their light and their knowledge by God, by Jesus. Is it possible to be saved when, you know, God looks down on someone and judges their heart, maybe they don’t understand like a lot of us do?
Pastor Doug: Well, that’s the exact point that I think you’re making is God does look on the heart and different people have different levels of knowledge and different levels of comprehension. God expects us to live up to what we know and what we can comprehend. There’s an example in Luke chapter 12; verse 47-- I saw Pastor Ross typing something he might have another verse--it says, the Lord is speaking here, “And that servant that knew his Lord’s will and prepared not himself neither did according to his will he’ll be beaten with many stripes but he that knew not and did commit things worthy of stripes, he’s beaten with you; for to whomsoever much is given of him shall be much required.” So, you know, God judges us according to the knowledge we have and those who didn’t know are going to be treated with more patience and compassion.
Chuck: Okay. That’s comforting.
Pastor Doug: But that doesn’t mean that we should purposely stay in ignorance.
Chuck: Oh, no. No.
Pastor Doug: God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou has rejected knowledge.” So some people don’t know because they rejected. They don’t even want to know.
Chuck: Right.
Pastor Doug: I had someone come to an Evangelistic meeting I was conducting and he said, “I’m sorry I ever came, because ignorance is blessed.” He says, “Now that I know these things,” he said, “I can’t continue on my sins and have peace.” So I said, “I’ll pray for you that you’re miserable until you repent.” But, you know, the truth is really a blessing. It’s not meant to be a curse.
Chuck: No. I agree. I’m just curious of it. I know that God is almighty, compassionate. Nobody is more compassionate than God and only He knows someone’s heart. And I was just curious because…
Pastor Doug: No problem. You know, it sounds like you’d also appreciate the free study guide that we’re offering tonight on the Bible. It has those principles that are covered there.
Pastor Jëan Ross: It’s 1-800-835-6747. Again it’s called “Anything Left You Can Trust?”
Pastor Doug: Oh listening friends, we apologize if you’re standing queued up for a question tonight, if we didn’t get your call. We pray that you’ll give us a call early next week. God willingly we’ll be back together again and be happy to take your Bible questions. Don’t forget you can even go to the Amazing Facts website and you’ll see a big library of some of the most popular questions that have been asked. It’s simple amazingfacts.org. In fact we’ve got a book that talks about the most popular Bible questions that you can order there as well, dealing with some of the most common Bible questions and conundrums that puzzle people.
It’s been a pleasure studying with you friends, we love to hear from you. You know, other than those who get through the telephone it’s sort of one side, we’d like to get to know each of you. Contact us, go to the Amazing Facts website there where it says “Contact Us,” it’s simply amazingfacts.org. And the reason we do this program is because we’re disseminating the good news, the facts about Jesus who is a truth that will set you free.
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