Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? Cicadas have one of the longest life cycles of any insect. After hatching, the nymph will dig deep into the earth and quietly nurse on the sap from tree roots for up to seventeen years. Then as if moved by some unseen alarm clock within 24 hours this hidden army will all dig to the surface at the same time climbing a nearby tree.
Cicada nymphs freeze in position, experience a metamorphous, and molt. This cicada soon emerges as winged adults and leaving their old abandoned skin still clinging to the bark of trees. After the wings are dry the sky is filled with millions of these exuberant creatures. Cicadas don’t bite or sting, but they can sure split the air with their love songs. Male cicadas have loud noise makers called tymbals on the sides of their abdominal base. Unlike crickets that rub their legs together, the tymbals are regions of the exoskeleton that are modified to form a complex thin membrane.
By contracting the tymbals muscles they produce an ear splitting clicking sound. The anterior of the male abdomen is largely hollowed to amplify the resonance of this sound. Just to give you a little perspective of how loud they are, a jet flying over or even a jack hammer is about 110 decibels. But, some cicadas produce a sound of up to 120 decibels. Making them the loudest of all insects.
Did you know that the Bible says that just before the Lord returns, there will be a series of loud messages that reach around the entire world? Stay with us friends “Amazing Facts” is going to bring the next edition of “Bible Answers Live.”
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Hello listening friends and “Happy New Year” welcome to another fresh installment of “Bible Answers Live” and before we get into our broadcast I want to send special greetings to our friends who are listening in the Nation of Belize. Just this past week I was broadcasting “Bible Answers Live” from Faith FM a radio station there that reaches most of the country, and it is nice to travel around and meet our friends that are participating in the broadcasts and so greetings to our friends there from Faith FM.
Now this is “Bible Answers Live” It’s a live, international, interactive Bible study that you participate on. We record this live each Sunday night. Many stations rebroadcast the program. If you’re listening now to the live broadcast we invite you to call in with your Bible questions. And that number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s 1-800-463-7297 and call right now if you want to get your question on tonight’s program. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross and good evening listening friends. Pastor Doug before we start with our program let’s start with prayer. Dear Father we thank you again for the opportunity to be here. We ask for your blessing upon this program and those who are listening. Father, the Bible is your book. And in order to correctly understand we ask for your guidance so give us your Spirit in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Pastor Doug you started the program by talking about an extremely noisy insect. It is almost hard to fathom an insect that can produce that amount of noise, but we were talking before we went on the air that these insects are rather—you can find them all over the place they are widely found.
Pastor Doug: Yeah many parts of the world they are in North America and I know they are in some of the Amazon Jungle and the rain forest etcetera. But, they make their appearance in phases and sometimes you don’t hear from them for 17 years. And then boom just like clockwork they all come out of the ground and they crawl up trees they got through this combination of metamorphosis and molting and they come out and only live a few weeks after that. The females don’t, but the males make this incredibly loud sound. I have been through parts of North American when the cicadas were and this year was one year I parts of the country that they came out. And they have these hollow hard membranes that are like miniature casonettes except they can sure make them screech. And it carries quite a ways, but it made me think about when I heard about how loud they are in Revelation just before Jesus, comes friends as a matter of fact, if you’ve got Bible and you look in Revelation 14: 14 it says, “I looked and behold a white cloud and one sat like unto the son of man and having on his head a golden crown and in his hand a sharp sickle.” This is of course the second coming of Jesus coming in the clouds and he comes with a sickle which is the symbol of harvesting the earth and Christ of course used those analogies many times during His earthly ministry. But, before Jesus comes it says there is a message—or a series of at least three messages. Or you can read in Revelation 14:6, “And I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every Nation, kindred, tongue, and people.” This is the gospel going to the world. “Saying with a loud voice, fear God and give glory unto Him for the hour of His Judgment has come.” And then it goes on in Revelation 14:8, “There followed another angel saying, “Babylon has fallen has fallen.” Revelation 14:9 “A third angel followed them saying, with a loud voice if any man worships the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead or hand.” So three of the most important and even fierce some and sobering messages that the world is going to receive are being proclaimed to prepare the world for His return. And so people need to understand those messages as a matter of fact they’re going to the world now with a loud voice through radio and television and printing and the internet. And if our friends listening want to understand better what are these loud messages that go to the world before Jesus comes back we have a free offer you really need to ask for to understand this subject.
Pastor Ross: It’s an Amazing Facts study guide called “Angels Messages from Space” it is free call our resource line 1-800-835-6747 and you can ask for that study guide “Angels Messages from Space”.
Well let’s go to the phone lines. Our first caller is Drew listening on the in- ternet from Virginia. Drew welcome to the program.
Drew: Hi how are you doing?
Pastor Doug: Just fine and how can we help you tonight?
Drew: Well it’s kind of a concern about once saved always saved. Now personally I don’t believe in it because I don’t believe the Bible teaches it, but if someone does for example believe in it. And they continue in sin regardless even though they know the Commandments like they learned the new truth let’s say about the Sabbath truth. And they continue to transgress that Commandment regardless because they believe they are once saved always saved. How will that turn out with them?
Pastor Doug: Well it is always better to answer with a verse from the Bible. And if you read in Hebrews 10:26 and you know whatever the truth is if God impresses to a person to that He wants them to quit smoking. And they know it is God’s will and it’s not a question of being weak it’s a question of just rebelling or whatever the issue is. Hebrews 10:26 “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth.” It’s talking about people who—it’s not talking about weakness or falling into it’s talking about continuing to sin willfully after a person knows what the truth is. “There remains no more sacrifice for sin, but a certain fear looking for a judgment and fiery indignation that will devour the adversaries.” In other words the same punishment that will befall the enemies of God will befall those who continue to willfully sin after they know the truth. So it is a very dangerous thing. Now I know there are folks who are very sincere and they believe that once they are saved they can’t be lost and I expect to see millions of people in heaven who misunderstood the doctrine of free will and once saved always saved and predestination. That whole issue is—a lot of good Christians have been on the wrong side of that subject. But, they will be in the kingdom because they did not abuse it they tried to live a Godly life, but people who use that doctrine as a cloak to try and continue living a life of sin Jesus describes that group in the gospel of Matthew when He says you will come to me in that day and say Lord, Lord didn’t we go to church and cast out devils and do many wonderful works and He’ll say, “I don’t know you.” Depart from me you who work iniquity. And in another place it says that not everyone who says unto me, Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom, but he that does the will of my Father. So we have two choices, His will or our will?
Drew: That word iniquity that means lawlessness doesn’t it?
Pastor Doug: Exactly.
Drew: That is what I figured.
Pastor Doug: Matter of fact I think if you look in the new King James it’s translated in some versions as lawlessness. So we have a book Drew that has a lot more Scripture on this study maybe you could flip through it yourself and then send it to a friend.
Pastor Ross: It’s called “Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost?” It’s free. Call our resource line that’s 1-800-835-6747. The name of the book “Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost?” We’ll be happy to send that to you.
Joseph is listening from WMCA in New York. Joseph welcome to the program.
Joseph: Good evening Pastors and a Happy New Year to you both.
Pastor Doug: Happy New Year.
Joseph: I’m asking about if a man is an atheist, agnostic or such, and kept that view until the very end and died with that view. Are they saved or are they lost?
Pastor Doug: Well if a person is an atheist there is probably not much hope of them being in the kingdom because the Bible says that the fool has said in their heart that there is no God. Furthermore without faith it is impossible to please God so if a person is an atheist they have no faith in God. It’s not a question of weak faith it’s a question of denial. So I’m not looking forward to seeing a whole lot of atheists in the resurrection.
Joseph: What about agnostics?
Pastor Doug: Well there again and agnostic is maybe a notch better because they are at least intelligent to say I don’t know everything.
Joseph: But, they are not believers.
Pastor Doug: Right that’s the danger I suppose in the judgment I’d rather wake up an agnostic than an atheist because an atheist has the arrogance to say I know there isn’t. An agnostic is saying I don’t know everything and there may be.
Joseph: An atheist is someone that believes in the trees.
Pastor Doug: Well you know it is hard for me to speculate. When God looks on a heart, God does not want us worshipping nature, that’s what idolatry is. That’s what a lot of the pagan cultures do. Instead of worshipping the creator they worship the creation.
Joseph: Right.
Pastor Doug: And that’s just another form of worshipping another god. And so if a person is worshipping a tree instead of the one who made the tree—it’s that—we’re not to worship creation. We’re to worship the creator. That’s like being in love with the gift instead of the giver.
Joseph: Now Pastor last week I read something or heard something that puzzled me. They say that Jesus was executed because of sedition and I remember Jesus saying render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto the Lord the things that are the Lord’s. And I also remember Pilot washing his hands with it. Now I was just wondering how does sedition enter into that?
Pastor Doug: Well he wasn’t guilty of sedition he was accused of sedition because he made himself a king and there was only one king and that was Caesar and so when Pilot asked him if he was a king he didn’t deny that he was the king of the Jews and that’s why they put that above his head.
Joseph: Oh I see.
Pastor Doug: So the crown that was above his head was that he was claiming to be a king which is sedition. It was like you were trying to get the populace to follow you instead of the emperor.
Pastor Ross: And in a sense it was almost Pilot excusing what he had done because he knew that Jesus was innocent.
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Pastor Ross: And he sort of had to come up with some reason for why he was going ahead with the crucifixion.
Pastor Doug: And so that’s why he went out and washed his hands. And further more he said I find no fault in him. It is just inexcusable for a judge to say I think you are innocent, but I am going to condemn you anyway because that’s what people want. That’s what Pilot did.
Pastor Ross: Yeah he didn’t have a backbone to stand for what was right. Our next caller is Pam and she’s listening on KARM. Pam welcome to the program.
Pam: Good evening gentlemen.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Pam: Hi. Question is what difference is there between Genesis 1:3 and Genesis 1:14? We don’t understand if God made the light the sun and the moon, later and in Genesis 3 He caused light from darkness can you explain this?
Pastor Doug: Well the Bible tells us that God is light. And so we believe that when He first said let there be light—the lights and by the way that’s 1 John 1:5, “This then is the message we have heard of Him and declare unto you that God is light and in Him is no darkness.” And if you look in Revelation 21:23 speaking of the New Jerusalem, “And the city had no need of the sun…” and there is no sun in the new earth, “…or the moon for the Glory of God is there to lighten it.” So the New Jerusalem is illuminated with a light that is brighter than the sun because it is the presence of God. And so when God came to this dark orb and began creating and He started spinning it that’s what created day and night where whatever side of the earth was facing God that was day. And whatever side was facing away from the presence of God that was night and He didn’t make the actual artificial orbs the moon and the sun until the fourth day.
Pam: Okay alright but, there was still His glorious light before.
Pastor Doug: Yeah but, it wasn’t shining on our world until He cane to it and began to creating.
Pam: Okay. And so the light on the other side was darkness and then we have light on the side that was facing Him? But isn’t He all around?
Pastor Doug: Well you know God does take up-- and God created the world through Christ and maybe you read that in Hebrews 1:2 God made everything through Jesus so when God the son came to this solar system and began to create this beautiful paradise on this planet he physically did come to a position. A geographic place when He commenced creating. Well you know when God walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden, God is everywhere, but He also has a physical presence. That is why He said to Adam where are you? So when God began creating this world it is believed He was at least on one side of the world and it’s hard to be on all sides of a ball if you are in one body. Do you know what I mean?
Pam: Sure yes. Well thank you very much I do understand what you are saying.
Pastor Doug: Yeah and this is what a number of scholars use to explain this valid question you have asked I didn’t make it up. Appreciate that Pam.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Carol listening from DSEP from Oregon. Carol welcome to the program.
Carol: Hi I enjoy listening to your program whenever I can and thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Well praise the Lord.
Carol: It’s kind of a true or false. I hear the notion mentioned in sermons around Christmas time especially around the time of Christ’s birth of the notion of Joseph being significantly older than Mary. And a widower with children possibly by a previous marriage and plus this is this true or false is that what the Bible says?
Pastor Doug: Well let me tell you the reasons because you are not going to find any verses that say Joseph was a widower or that Joseph had children or another wife before he married Mary. Here is the reasons that many scholars believe that and I happen to believe it—so when you ask me true or false—I’m just going to tell you why I believe it. But, you’re not going to find a verse in the Bible that states it.
There are about four reasons. First reason of all is Joseph evidently dies before Christ begins His public ministry. Because you never hear from him, but Mary appears many times during the ministry of Christ. Joseph is spoken of like in past tense as Jesus begins His ministry. Secondly it does say that Jesus had at least four brothers, and they’re named and it says sisters, but we don’t know their names and it says two of them and maybe He had five we don’t know if He had other brother and sisters.
They probably were older because in the culture of the Jews, if Jesus was the oldest and He walked away from the family and became an itinerary preacher it would be considered very disrespectful to the family. It usually fell on the oldest child to stay at home and take care of the family and stay home and carry on the family business. They received the inheritance of the family business a double portion. Thirdly when Jesus hung on the cross, He did not commit Mary to His other brothers and sisters, he commits the care of Mary to the Apostle John. Which seems very strange of why not just have her natural children take care of her? I said there were four reasons and I can’t remember the fourth, but hopefully those three will do for now. Well there is one more. When you look at the types of Christ in the Bible, Joseph, David, Moses, these great leaders like they are symbols of Jesus, they were always the youngest. And so Jesus and David was the youngest and Joseph was the second to the youngest out of 12 and Moses was the youngest and others I could name, but Christ was God chose from the least. When He picks his leaders He often does.
So that’s why scholars have thought that maybe when Joseph had his first wife she had left him with a small gaggle of kids and it just messes up all of the Christmas cards you see of Joseph and Mary and a donkey going off to Egypt if you want to have an accurate silhouette on that Christmas card you probably need to have a little staggering of kids following the donkey because the family’s back then it was not uncommon for one man to go through two or three wives because the women they did so much work that they still do in the Middle East. Abraham after his wife died he married again. Isaac he out lived his wife and Jacob out lived his wife.
Carol: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: So it was certainly not uncommon.
Carol: Well that makes sense. Okay so this is just a concept of how they live their lives?
Pastor Doug: It is a little detective work and a lot of scholars believe that in spite of the Christmas cards, Joseph probably had the other children that are Jesus’ brothers and sisters before he married Mary. The other reason is if Jesus was the oldest of them they would not have chastised him and told him what to do, but they sometimes interfered with His ministry and said you should do this or that.
Carol: Yeah I sort of forgot about that. I had always thought of all of the other children in the marriage as being Mary and Joseph’s natural children. But, I hadn’t really thought of the things you just said.
Pastor Doug: The Bible is kind of silent on this all you can do is kind of collect your evidence and make a best guess. I hope that helps a little bit Carol.
Carol: Yeah that helps a lot. I had never thought of some of the things that you said.
Pastor Doug: Alright and praise the Lord and we’ll all find out someday. Amen.
Pastor Ross: Thanks for your call Carol we appreciate it and next caller is Robert and he is listening from WMCA in New Jersey and Robert welcome to “Bible Answers Live”.
Robert: Good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. And Happy New Year.
Pastor Doug: Happy New Year to you.
Robert: Thank you. My question is concerning two passages in the New Testament that are considered spurious. One is the woman caught in adultery which starts from John Chapter 7:53 and from Chapter 8:1-11 and also Mark 16:9-20. And there’s the long and short version of that and now they are considered spurious and usually if is addressed in a lot of Bibles as a footnote. Why do they continue to let Pastors quote from that as if it is actual Scripture?
Pastor Doug: Well because the scholars disagree. There are a lot of manuscripts that did include this passage about the woman caught in the act of adultery.
Robert: But, not the earliest ones.
Pastor Doug: Well let me tell you the earliest ones were not the originals. The earliest ones are also copies. It’s often true that some of the oldest manuscripts that we have gotten--and keep in mind when I say older we are still talking about 1000 years old.
Robert: Right.
Pastor Doug: Some of the older ones we believe were copied from the originals. And some of the early ones they may be more dubious than the newer ones that were copied after from an original generation. I don’t know if that made sense the way I said it?
Robert: Yes. Sure.
Pastor Doug: Just because one appears after another the earliest were not originals that were written by John. They’re also copies. It is possible the older manuscripts that we have were copied from more accurate sources that existed then over the history wars burned libraries and originals were lost and I want our friends to keep in mind that when we talk about the New Testament accuracy, there’s very little dispute over 99% this is one of those verses that it does not appear. The idea that someone manufactured this and included it is harder to believe because it sounds very much like Jesus. It’s harder to believe than maybe it was caught because it is between chapters and the way scrolls were developed back then in the letters a page was missing. So it’s easy to believe that in these earlier manuscripts that this section is missing. Rather than believe that everyone just made all of this up and thought that they would fool the Christian world. There are a lot of manuscripts around it would be very hard to fool everybody with a whole new ten verses that you include and say, oh where did that come from? So it is more likely that in the earlier manuscript that something was lost.
Pastor Ross: The question here is it doesn’t draw anything away from the work of Jesus and the ministry of Jesus or anything and adds to Christ’s ministry and His work. So why would someone come up with something like this for a selfish reason?
Pastor Doug: And it does sound like what happens in Ezekiel Chapter 9. In other words in Ezekiel when there’s a judgment in the house of God and here you have Jesus in the temple and they were going to cast stones at this woman and He says you know, “He that is without sin, cast the first stone.” Beginning at the eldest and even the least they go out. Well in Ezekiel 9 judgment begins with the ancient men the elders in the temple of God. There’s a lot of—you know it resonates with other parts of the Bible.
Robert: Yeah, but that explains why the woman is caught in adultery. But, how about Mark 16:9-20 Now there’s two versions, one’s a shorter one’s a longer version, which would we conclude with?
Pastor Doug: Well I tend to agree with the King James and the New King James these are the versions that came from the Texas Receptus. One reason is that some struggle with these other verses because it talks about the miracles and they have problems believing that. So are you talking about Mark 16:19?
Robert: Mark 16:9-20. That’s the verses that I’m talking about speaking in tongues and drinking the poison of snakes and then there’s a shorter version that is—
Pastor Doug: Yeah that’s Mark 16, 17, and 18. But, that’s one reason why some have left that out they say well it is just too amazing to believe, but you know what if you look in the book of Acts you see, Paul gets bit by a venomous serpent and nothing happens to him.
Robert: Yeah, but how about the shorter version? What would we make of that?
Pastor Doug: It’s the same thing it’s more likely that—well let me give you an example. I‘ve got an old Bible and there are certain pages especially near the end of chapters that are falling out because of use. I would hate to have someone take one of my old dilapidated Bibles those are missing pages and sections and say this must be the original. And hopefully that makes sense Robert and as you can hear a break is coming up on our—to remind us and we can’t stop that. We do have that book on the subject of the Bible.
Pastor Ross: The ultimate resource?
Pastor Doug: The ultimate resource and we’d be happy to send that to you it goes into some of the explanation of these things. In addition the first of the Amazing Facts Study Guides talks about the dependability of Scripture. And it’s called “Is There Anything Left You Can Trust?” Matter of fact you can read an article online that’s called the “Faithful Witness” If you go to our website Robert “Amazing Facts dot org” under the free library there is a booklet called “The Faithful Witness”. And it has a whole—it’s a basically an expanded article that deals with the faithfulness of Scripture and how we know it is dependable and some of the distinctions between some of the translations. Well friends we are not signing off the air this is just where we catch our breath for the second wind. And we’d encourage you stay by and if you have not checked out the “Amazing Facts” website, we’d encourage you to go there. Once again “Amazing Facts dot org”.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: We are back listening friends if you have tuned in along the way you have gotten onboard “Bible Answers Live” this is a live, international, interactive Bible study. And it is encouraging as we get notes and letters from people who are listening around the world some via the radio, some via the internet. But, whatever the medium is you are welcome to join with your Bible question. We still have a couple of lines open. To get into the studio that number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS to call your Bible question or we do give out another number with free resources 1-800-835-6747. You stay tuned and we will tell you what those things are. The offer tonight once again pastor Ross.
Pastor Ross: It’s “Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost?” “Angels Messages from Space” We had offered that, too so that is why I am thinking about that twice. But, yes “Angels Messages from Space”. Is the Amazing Facts study guide. It’s free the number 1-800-835-6747. Pastor Doug you mentioned just before the break the “Amazing Facts” website that has tremendous resources for people wanting to study the word. But, there’s some other great websites and one that I like is imparticular and you might want to say a few things about this one. It is the “Prophecy Code” website.
Pastor Doug: Yes and a lot of people are wondering about prophecy especially today with what is happening with this broadcast. There’s Israel and the world’s eyes are turned once again to the Middle East which is just a tinder box of volatility right now. It could erupt with all that is happening there between Afghanistan and Iraq and Iran and Israel and Hamas and Egypt. It is a very explosive situation and people are wondering do the prophecies say anything about this? One place you can go is to the “Prophecy Code” website where we have a message that deals with the temple of God and also if you just go to the homepage of the of “Amazing Facts” you’ll see that there is a banner there that talks about the war in Israel and we’ve got three or four resources. Sermons you can listen to, material you can read things, you can order that all have to do with the role of Israel in prophecy and a lot of misinformation about this and we hope you will avail yourself of this information. What does the Bible say about the war in Israel? Just go to the “Amazing Facts” website or you can also go to “Prophecy Code” website. And read those lessons and listen to and watch the DVDs right there on your internet.
Pastor Ross: Alright. Going to the phone lines and our next caller is Bryant listening on the internet from Arizona, Bryant welcome to the program.
Bryant: Hello fellows. My question is actually about Nebuchadnezzar’s vision that he had and then I think it was the first vision of the image with the five metals. Anyway I know that most recognize the metals mean Babylon, Medo- Persia, Greece, Rome and the divided kingdoms. But, what I am wondering is how did we come to the conclusion of what each of those metals meant as opposed to other kingdoms that were around and when they were in the area how did we come to that decision?
Pastor Doug: Well first of all the prophecies are all mentioned in the Jewish prophecies about these kingdoms. Almost always has something to do with influencing God’s people. In other words, China was obviously a great empire, during this time, but China really had no impact on the land of Israel. Because they never occupied them and they never possessed them or invaded them, but Babylon occupied them, Medo-Persia occupied them, Greece and Rome all occupied Israel. There I was just this last week in Central America and at the incredible buildings of the Mayan empire it was just phenomenal. That there was a million people there building these pyramids and cities. Well they had no impact on God’s people Israel. So that’s one reason that these countries that had an impact on them.
Bryant: Okay so what I am getting is that those kingdoms are decided by the kingdoms that directly had an impact on God’s people. If they didn’t have an impact on God’s people then they possibly wouldn’t be one of the kingdoms?
Pastor Doug: Well and there’s one more thing Jesus said that when these things come to past then you’ll know. You can do an awful lot of speculating looking ahead, but when you look back then you will know it is the fulfillment. And we can look back and when it says the head of gold Daniel Nebuchadnezzar you are the head of gold. We don’t have to guess. Daniel said it and then you have the Medo-Persia and afterward there would be another kingdom, we know, it is right in Chapter 5 Belshazzar’s kingdom fell to Medo-Persia and then if you read in Daniel Chapter 8 it mentions Greece buy name.
Pastor Ross: Umm-hmm. Medo-Persia it is right there.
Pastor Doug: Right exactly so they are mentioned by name and the only one not mentioned by name was Rome and it is because they were basically some barbaric tribe at the time of the vision so the interpretation is largely given by the angel.
Bryant: Okay I think I missed that then. Alright well that helps.
Pastor Doug: If you read on in Chapter 8 there are 3 of them mentioned by name.
Bryant: Well okay alright and do those kingdoms if it’s not metal let’s say one of the kingdoms is, but it was missing the animals. Is that possible are any missing the animal. I noticed there are also the five beasts that go with the kingdom.
Pastor Doug: There is a corresponding kingdom—or a corresponding animal for each of the primary metals that you’re going to find in Daniel Chapter 2. You know what I wish you could do Bryant. There is a website that and it is “Millennium of Prophecy” the first presentation is on Daniel 2. And I am trying to remember, but the “Prophecy Code” I believe it is one of those presentations is specifically on Daniel Chapter 2. So if you go to either “Prophecy Code dot com” or type in “Millennium of Prophecy” and they are on You Tube everywhere, you can find the presentation on Daniel Chapter 2. And it goes into great detail on that one question answering some of your very questions. Hope that helps a little bit Bryant.
Pastor Ross: And our net listener is Ron and Ron is listening from the internet from Washington. Ron welcome to the program.
Ron: Greetings. Bless you both Pastor Ross and Pastor Batchelor. My question is I have a two part question it’s Mark 16:18 and it said they shall take up serpents and if they drink any bitter thing it shall not hurt them. They shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. It said after that the Lord had spoken to them he was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. Now I was just curious when this was written back then how did He know He was going to be sitting at the right hand of God? That’s part one and then in John 14:23 it says, “And Jesus answered and said unto him if a man love me he will keep my words and my father will love him and we will come unto him to make our abode with him.” Since it said we my second question is are they both coming back at the same time?
Pastor Doug: Yeah I believe so when Jesus told Caiaphas the high Priest during his trial the high Priest said I adjure the by the living God if you are the Christ. And Jesus said hereafter you will see the son of man coming on the right hand of power. And so it appears that Jesus is coming with the glory of the Father with the presence of the Father attending Him, but the Father may be shielded by the clouds of glory. So we believe that—you know there’s another statement in Mark Chapter 9 where Jesus tells some of the disciples that some of you will not taste of death until you see the kingdom of God come. And then He takes them up to a mountain and He is glorified then and surrounded by clouds of glory and the voice of the Father speaks Moses and Elijah are there, this is a miniature picture of the second coming. Once again the Father is in that picture.
Ron: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So we believe that when God so loved the world that God the Father so loved the world He gave His son. When the world is rescued and brought back to the mansions I believe God the father and the son both come to escort the bride back to the mansion.
Ron: Okay and then on the Mark 16:18? Where He was received after that and it said He sat on the right hand of God. Now I know John who wrote this had a revelation obviously in order to know this, but how would he have known that after he was received that he sat at the right hand of God? If Jesus didn’t tell him that at that particular time where or was that just where He was going to be received to?
Pastor Doug: Well Mark is writing this well after the event and Mark is largely the gospel of Peter. It is probably dictated by Peter. Now they were very close and Peter knew through Divine inspiration that Jesus sat at the right hand of the Father. That often refers to it doesn’t mean that Jesus is sitting down all the time it refers to being enthroned with the authority of the Father. It is almost a picture of when Solomon began to reign David was still alive and Solomon was the son of David who reigned with his father for a period of time and so he was enthroned and it is a symbol of favor.
Ron: Awesome. Doug thanks to you so much and God bless everything you guys do and I’ll talk to you to you next week about the Gaza.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Thanks appreciate your question.
Ron: Alright bye-bye.
Pastor Ross: Next caller is Marsha calling from Dearborn, Michigan listening on WLUZ. Marcia welcome to the program.
Marsha: Yes hi good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. How are you doing tonight? Thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Marcia: It’s WWZ.
Pastor Ross: Okay.
Marcia: I have a question for two of my tenants over here and they want to know how do you know you are going to heaven?
Pastor Doug: Well that depends on their relationship with the Lord.
Marcia: Yeah I know, but a better way to put it is how do you get saved?
Pastor Doug: Well the Bible tells us if we come to the Lord just like we are and we are willing to surrender and repent of our sins, confess that we are sinners and trust in the sacrifice that God has provided and say I am going to trust you and have you be the leader and Lord of my life. When a person makes that decision to really hand their lives over to God and to trust in His grace, if they continue to walk in the light as He is in the light the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses them from all sin and they will be in the kingdom. So that is a quick answer. Pastor Ross, do you want to say something?
Pastor Ross: No I am just looking at resources for this. We have the book called “Three Steps to Heaven”
Pastor Doug: Oh perfect.
Pastor Ross: Which I think deals with that very subject.
Pastor Doug: And Marcia we hope you will ask for that and share it with your friends there and they can know how to have eternal life. A matter of fact anyone listening right now, you night want to know, hey this life is short how can I know that I’ll have eternal life? This one we know is temporary, but you can know that you can live forever if you follow the guidelines God gives in His word.
Pastor Ross: That number to call is 1-800-835-6747and ask for the book “Three Steps to Heaven” And we will be happy to send that out. Our next caller is Mike calling from Ukiah, California. Mike welcome to the program.
Mike: Hi, thank you. I managed to find the passage so I can get you guys right to it. This is in Isaiah Chapter 22: 20-24 and imparticular verse 22.
Pastor Doug: Isaiah 22:22.
Mike: Umm-hmm. Yes. And then finally in 23 it says, “I will fasten him with a peg in a sure place.” Are these verses Messianic? And if so what is the context? I was looking at it because of 22 and as I was doing my daily reading here, it just caught my eye and seemed to recall reading something very similar, so he shall open and no one shall shut, he will shut and no one will open that being in Revelation being along that almost identically written. And so I drive a truck and I’m not going to get home for another week and then I was listening to the radio and I heard your show and I thought well I’ll just take this perfect opportunity to ask someone who knows this.
Pastor Doug: Well we’ll do our best. Let me read this because a lot of friends are also driving and may not have a Bible in front of them. In Isaiah 22:22 the prophecy says, “The key of the house of the David I will lay on his shoulder and he will shut and no one will open.” Now that goes along with Revelation 1:18 Where Jesus says, “I am He who lives and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and death.” So this is for one thing being the key of life and then if you read in Revelation 3:7. It is specifically referring back to Isaiah because it speaks of it says, “These things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, he who opens and no one shuts, he who shuts and no one opens.” And that is almost an exact quote of what you find there in Isaiah 22:22. And so it is basically telling us in Revelation that Christ is the fulfillment of that prophecy.
Pastor Ross: And just a little further in the prophecy it talks about this nail that he is secured in a place.
Mike: Yeah and that was what was so confusing, I didn’t know what do I do with that or does it even fit.
Pastor Ross: Well it does because it is actually very beautiful and it is Messianic and it was used to hold something in place and Jesus is our comforter and our assurance and the glory of eternal life is found in Christ and if you read on in verse 24 it talks about this nail which is the glory of the Father’s House and it talks about how it is to be cut down which is refers to the crucifixion of Jesus. But, we can put our confidence in Christ.
Mike: Can I get those? I didn’t have my pen right handy. Revelation 1:18 and Revelation 3:
Pastor Doug: 3:7, Revelation 1:18 and Revelation 3:7.
Mike: Well I’m going to go back and take a look at those and I’m so glad that I was able to find that so I didn’t have to ask you guys to go looking for it in the concordance because mine is topical.
Pastor Doug: Well just tell me you’re not driving a truck down the road right now while you are doing this.
Mike: Oh heavens no.
Pastor Doug: Because I would never get back out on the interstate again if—
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: Well we appreciate your phone call Mike.
Mike: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: And I hope that helps a little bit.
Mike: Alright.
Pastor Doug: You take care.
Mike: God Bless you.
Pastor Ross: The next caller is Mark listening on WOCG from Huntsville, Alabama. Mark welcome to the program.
Mark: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi Mark. Thanks for waiting.
Mark: Sure. I didn’t want to call about this, but I felt uncomfortable with it so I know the Lord and God are perfect in all His ways. I only repent when I’ve done something wrong and I ask God to forgive me for and I know that God does no evil and believe that He doesn’t even think evil. I was reading in Exodus Chapter 32: 12 I looked at it and then also after looking at 13, I looked at verse 14 and I just wanted some clarification please.
Pastor Doug: Alright well let me read this for our friends who are listening. This is something happening after the children of Israel made the golden calf and God is telling Moses He was toying with the idea of punishing them as a Nation and raising up another Nation for Moses. And Moses is speaking and says,”Why should the Egyptians speak and say he brought them out to harm them to kill them in the mountains and to consume them from the face of the earth. Turn from your fierce wrath and relent from this harm to your people.” So God is actually letting Moses intercede for the people for the judgment they deserve. Then Moses goes on and says in verse 13, “Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel your servants to whom you swore by your own self.” So here Moses claiming the word of God and the promises of God to get an answer to prayer which is a good pattern for us to quote to the Lord His promises and to claim them and He will hear it forever. So the Lord relented from the harm which He said He would do. You know it is wonderful if we look at these promises God has made in His word that I have seen a lot of miracles happen because somebody claimed the promises of God that He had in His word. There are promises there, but it’s like a check if you don’t cash it, it does you no good.
Mark: Pastor I appreciate you because in this version of the King James it says, “And the Lord repented of the evil which He thought to do unto His people.” So that really puzzled me so I appreciate your version.
Pastor Doug: The word relent means that He let His wrath back down and He said alright well since you are interceding I will have mercy.
Pastor Ross: It is different than repenting from sin in that sense where we repent. It just means that God turned. Turned away from what He was about to do.
Mark: I really appreciate you. Thank you so much.
Pastor Doug: Thank you Mark no problem we are glad that we could help clear that up.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is calling from New Hampshire. Jose welcome to the program.
Jose: Good evening and thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Yes, sir and how can we help you tonight?
Jose: You know I try to witness to friends every time I come either to my workplace or in other areas and one of them doesn’t have a good grasp on Bible and part of it is that the old English is not so easy for them to understand for a lot of people. And so my question is it okay to recommend the New Living Translation because it is easier to understand version? The problem that I am coming up with is I was reading the book of Revelation the other day on Chapter 13: 16 and the New Living Translation says, “He will require everyone a…
Pastor Doug: To receive a tattoo?
Jose: …both bond and free, and rich and poor, free and slave to be given a mark on the right hand or on the forehead.” And that is clearly different than what the King James Version reads.
Pastor Doug: That’s actually better than the old New Living Translation said the word “tattoo” and but, yeah it says “on” wherein the King James it says “in”.
Jose: And that totally changes the meaning.
Pastor Doug: Well there are other issues I would personally have with the New Living Translation. If they are looking for an easier reading version that would be theologically more accurate, I would recommend the New American Standard Version and I have this favorite and Pastor Ross may also. The New King James Version is the one I use typically to preach from or The King James, but the New American has simpler English.
Pastor Ross: Yeah. One has to be aware that you have your translations and you also have paraphrases.
Pastor Doug: Yeah the New Living Bible is paraphrases.
Pastor Ross: You know there are some good paraphrases, but they are more for devotional type reading. If you are really going to study especially a doctrinal point you want to find a good solid accurate translation. It is difficult to find one that is better than the King James and the New King James. Those are very good translations.
Jose: Sure.
Pastor Doug: And you know we actually have a book Jose that we can send you and as a matter of fact I referenced it a few minutes ago and it talks about Bible translations. And it is called “The Faithful Witness” by Sharon Crews and we’ll be happy to send that to you if you simply call and ask for it.
Pastor Ross: The number is 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “The Faithful Witness” and we’ll be happy to send that out to you. Our next caller is calling from New York. Chevon welcome to the program.
Chevon: Yes hello.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Chevon: Good evening. This is my first time calling and so I am kind of like excited that it is my first time talking to you.
Pastor Doug: Well we’re excited, too. And so how can we help you tonight?
Chevon: Okay. I have two questions, but the first question I want to ask I’m kind of concerned about the Scripture that is very familiar to me is 11 Corinthians 14 it is saying, “Be ye not unequally yoked with unbelievers.” Now I am trying to figure out what that means. Does that mean do not be around someone who does not believe in Jesus? Or does that mean don’t be with somebody who doesn’t have the same beliefs as I do? In concerning religion, do we have to be the same religion or do not be unequally yoked with somebody who just doesn’t believe in God?
Pastor Doug: The key word here is the key word “yoked” Jesus is not telling us don’t have friends or don’t fellowship with people who don’t have the same belief because we’d never be able to witness to anybody. If we said look we’re not going to have any friends, we’re not going to talk to anybody who doesn’t believe like we do. Being yoked would mean it is a farming implement where a piece of wood went between the two necks of oxen. Or even two mules where they would pull together. And they would pull at the same speed. You wouldn’t want to yoke a rhinoceros and an alligator together because you would just be going in circles. So you want two animals to be like going together roughly same age, roughly same speed and there’s uniformity. If a Christian gets into a business venture and it’s with someone of a different faith and they are supposed to be pulling in the same direction, their world views are different and it causes all kinds of conflicts. Their ethics are often different. To get married is of course the most basic way we would understand you don’t want to be unequally yoked in a covenant of marriage. So don’t engage or involve in a covenant or business agreement with someone who doesn’t have the same values or religious beliefs.
Chevon: Would it be not being unequally yoked when it comes to dating or marriage don’t you think?
Pastor Doug: Yeah it’s exactly you’d want to start with the most important covenant is the marriage covenant and dating is a precursor to that. I would not even consider dating someone who did not have—you’re kind of venturing onto enchanted ground when you start dating someone that doesn’t have the same belief. You’re putting yourself open to temptation when you could develop and affection for that person that you know you could never be happily married to.
Chevon: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Doug: So that’s a mistake.
Chevon: Does it really say dating?
Pastor Doug: Well it certainly is talking about marriage and if the purpose of dating is towards marriage then it would include that.
Chevon: Oh, okay then do you have any literature on relationships as far as don’t be unequally yoked?
Pastor Doug: You know I’ve actually got some notes on my computer that I need to write something about that. I don’t have it written yet. Do you know of anything Pastor Ross?
Pastor Ross: Well I am looking at one of our study guides and it is called “Keys to a Happy Marriage”. But, now the principles to that I am sure you can apply to dating. As well it is free and it goes through the principle of not being unequally yoked. If you would call our resource line 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide “Keys to a Happy Marriage” we’d be happy to send that out to you.
Pastor Doug: Did he tell us 1 minute left?
Pastor Ross: I think I heard that yes.
Pastor Doug: Oh that is—doesn’t sound like we’re going to be able to do another question justice. And there is the music sure enough. Well listening friends we apologize we see some people who were waiting patiently in the wings. I f we did not get to your question tonight we hope you will forgive us and give us another chance. “Bible Answers Live” comes weekly and we would also encourage you to—a lot of answers can be found by going to the “Amazing Facts” website. “Bible Answers Live” Is one of the many facets of the Amazing Facts Ministry. At the website you’ll find archives of some of more popular questions we have been asked. And as a matter of fact we are thinking of creating a new website called “Amazing Bible Answers” that will simply have a whole library of Bible answers you can scroll through and type in the verse the Scripture and you’ll find the answer there. So just go check out “Amazing Facts dot com” or “Amazing Facts dot org” you’ll find out what is going on in Israel. We have a lot of information there dealing with the conflict in the Middle East right now. As well as a plethora of other resources that will bless your soul. Until next week friends remember that Jesus is the truth that will set you free.
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