The Goliath Bird-eating Spider

In 1965, a male specimen was collected that had a leg span of over 11 inches. That's the size of a dinner plate. In addition, these amazing tarantulas also hold the record for the longest-lived spiders. One female specimen lived for an estimated 27 years. This same family of spiders also hold the record for being the heaviest spider.

Another female collected in Suriname weighed a whopping 4.3 ounces. That's about heavy as a hamburger I think! She was also sporting fangs one inch long. With creatures like this crawling around, you can understand why the majority of people out there are more actually afraid of spiders than they are of death. But the goliath spider is pretty harmless to humans, as are most species of tarantulas.

They do carry venom in their fangs and they have occasionally been known to bite people when threatened, but the venom just causes swelling and mild pain, something like a wasp's sting. In fact, most of the time, if the tarantula is forced to bite a human in self defense, they don't even inject venom. It's what's known as a dry bite.

Strangely, the goliath bird-eating spider can do the most damage to people from the back side. Their abdomens are covered with twisted, fiberglass-like hairs, filled with microscopic hooks. If forced to defend itself, the tarantula may flick these fine, vexing hairs off their tail section with their hind legs. The fuzzy hairs can become embedded in the flesh of anything close by, and are extremely irritating to the skin.

They're especially troublesome if they get into the delicate mucus membranes around the eyes or the mouth. So while most people are worried about the fangs in the front, it's really the little hairs in the back that do the most harm.

You know, the Bible teaches the devil also does more damage through the little, invisible things. 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: Hello friends! This is really the highpoint of my week when we come together across the country and different parts of the world to answer Bible questions and study the most important book in the world. If you're tuning in for the first time, this is Bible Answers Live.

It is a live, international, interactive Bible study for the next 58 minutes or so; and we're going to be taking your Bible questions over the air. It's a free phone call. We do have lines open. If you have a Bible question, pick up your phone now. There's a good chance we'll get it on tonight's broadcast. That number is 1-800-GOD SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Jëan Ross: My name is Jëan Ross. Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug. Let's begin with a word of prayer. Dear Father, we thank You again for this opportunity to study Your word. We ask Your blessing upon this program this evening. Be with those who are listening. We pray for wisdom as we search the pages of Scripture for answers to these questions. For this we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You opened the program by talking about a big spider that causes irritation and pain through something very small. It's not always the biggest things that one needs to watch out for, but it's those little things in life that can cause the most damage.

Pastor Doug: That's right. Even during Jesus' ministry, the scribes and the Pharisees focused on the very obvious, outward transgressions; you know, the killing, and the lying, and the stealing, and things like that. Jesus focused the attention on things like pride and gossip that sometimes people shrug off. They don't realize that those are those irritating hairs from the spider's tail, so to speak, that get under the skin and cause a lot of problems.

Even Jesus said, speaking of our words, in particular, sometimes we underestimate the power of words. It's the word of God that we study here that changes hearts and lives; and likewise, inconsiderate, or unkind, or thoughtless words can do a lot of harm, cause a lot of heartache, and even kindle fires, according to James.

Right now, as we're doing this broadcast, we just followed up the Governor, who's talking about major fires in the State of California. And you just drove through the smoke of a fire to get to the station tonight.

Pastor Jëan Ross: I did.

Pastor Doug: I bet it started with a spark--

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm.

Pastor Doug: --or a carelessly tossed match, or something very small; and now houses have been destroyed. And that's the way it can be with words, when people underestimate the power of these little things. We have a free book we don't offer very often, but maybe sometimes you've struggled with careless words and are wanting better control of your tongue. So often people request this book, Pastor Ross, because they want to give it to someone else. But I'd like to say, if you're going to request our gift tonight, read it first, then give it away.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm. The book is entitled, Tiny Troublemaker, and it deals with words and the power of words, both for good and for bad. To receive this book, call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747; ask for the book, Tiny Troublemaker, and we'll be happy to send that out. Well Pastor Doug, let's go to the phone lines and try and get in as many callers as we can this evening. Carl is listening on WKRK from Andrews, North Carolina. Carl, you're on the air.

Carl: Yes, glad to be here tonight; and we're glad that Andrews, North Carolina gets a little recognition, WKRK Radio.

Pastor Doug: Well we're glad you're calling in.

Carl: My question, Doug, is I'm going to a Bible study with a friend; and they're telling me that the fall of the devil from heaven in that battle with Michael in Revelation 12--

Pastor Doug: Yes

Carl: --um that that takes place in the end time. And I read that thing three or four times and, you know, there is reason to really come to that conclusion; because you read that thing in the context, and you find that most of that chapter, at least the last half, has to do with last-day events. And so I am trying to reconstruct a time line on when the devil fell from heaven. Now you know, in Luke, it says that Jesus says, "I saw Satan fall as lightning from heaven." We don't have a clue when that is. I can't nail--

[Overtalking, one click sound]

Pastor Doug: You've just raised a good point. Carl, are you still there? Carl?

Pastor Jëan Ross: We might have just lost Carl [technical difficulties]

Pastor Doug: It shows he's on.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Let's see; well hopefully he's listening and [Cross talk]

Pastor Doug: You raised a good point here in Luke chapter 10:18. It says, "I beheld Satan fall from heaven as lightning." Well Christ, obviously, is looking back at something He saw. And the other thing, in Revelation chapter 12, when it talks about this war in heaven and Satan and his angels being cast out, well obviously, the devil is alive and well on earth today--

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm.

Pastor Doug: --and he has been for thousands of years. So when Satan and his angels were cast out, it dates back to when basically Adam and Eve surrendered dominion of this world to the devil, because they chose to listen to the word of Lucifer when he said, "No, you won't really die," instead of the word of God.

And there in Revelation, he's referred to as the serpent. Well it's back in the garden of Eden where he appears as a serpent. Now, I can understand if a person is trying to read Revelation

chronologically, they might think, "Well that woman in Revelation 12, some of that chapter is in the future, where it talks about the devil making war."

But you don't read the prophecies in Revelation chronologically. They are given in segments. The battle between good and evil, Christ and His angels, the devil and his angels, is something that predated even the creation of our world.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, that passage in Revelation chapter 12 talks about Satan being cast out and, in a sense, he's cast out before the creation of the world, and then he appears in the garden of Eden to tempt Adam and Eve. But there is a second sort of casting out of the devil where he looses his dominion of this world as being the representative of planet earth. That happens at the time of the crucifixion, where Jesus now becomes the Representative of the earth.

Prior to that, we find Satan appearing in heaven in the story of Job, that of course, happened before the cross, before Christ; and so there's almost a second, final casting down of Satan that happens at the time of Christ's death.

Pastor Doug: Now some might point to the verse where it talks about Satan in his final judgment. In Ezekiel 28, it actually says, "Therefore, I will cast thee out as profane of the mountain of God and destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire."

And so there is another casting out when he is cast into the lake of fire, as you said in the future. But he wasn't able to mingle with the angels in heaven. You know, by the way, this is a great opportunity--and Carl hopefully you're still listening--for you or anyone else to find out more about this amazing fact. We spent, oh probably close to three years, developing a video.

It's in high definition. It's a documentary with some dramatic recreations that explains where did the devil come from, the rebellion in heaven, how Satan was cast out, and the fall of man. It just has the whole thing mapped out in sequence. It's called, The Cosmic Conflict.

If people want to see the free trailer that is there online, it's just cosmicconflict.com, or cosmicconflict.org; either one will take you there. And you'll find out more how you can get a copy of this brand new DVD that is just out of the gate dealing with the rebellion of Lucifer, and we recommend that.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have an Amazing Facts study guide also that deals with the subject of the devil. It's called, Did God Create the Devil? The resource line is, 1-800-835-6747. Greg is calling from Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Greg, are you there?

Greg: Yes I am.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Welcome to the program.

Greg: Thank you, thank you. Glad to be on it. I got a question about Zechariah chapter 13, verses 8 and 9.

Pastor Doug: Okay.

Greg: Do you want me to read that, or?

Pastor Doug: Sure. Go ahead and read it.

Greg: Okay. "And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but one-third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God" (Zechariah 13:8-9). I guess my question is, this one-third that they're talking about, is this referring to, like, all of humanity, or maybe those alive before the second coming of Christ, or is this just a past, kind of, a prophecy?

Pastor Doug: Well, one of the keys, I think, to understanding Zechariah 13, verse 8, is you've got to read verse 7. And it says, "Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD: smite the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered...." Now that very verse is quoted in the New Testament as a fulfillment of how the Apostles scattered when Jesus was arrested.

And you know, you smite a shepherd, the sheep scatter. When Christ was arrested and He was executed, the disciples just started all leaving Jerusalem; and they were regrouped by the time of Pentecost. Then if you go a little farther in history, a terrible judgment came on God's people in 70 A.D. where, in Jerusalem, about two-thirds of the people died. I don't know if you've ever read about the destruction of Jerusalem.

Greg: Yes.

Pastor Doug: Among the survivors, many did convert to Christianity, not all. But some have tried to relate this passage here sequentially to what happens from the arrest of Jesus and on; and how many were refined, and they turned to the Lord. So that was a great judgment.

Now, one more thing I should add--I don't want to confuse the issue--but when you get to Revelation and it's talking about the judgments that come there, they're often divided in thirds also. He'll smite a third of the trees, and a third of the sea, and a third of the land, a third of the fountain springs; and so you'll see that.

The army of Gideon was divided up in thirds. In Revelation, you've got the beast, the dragon, and the false prophet. You'll find these thirds. It's almost like the trinity and the counterfeit trinity all through the Bible.

Greg: Could this be a dual prophecy? Does this relate to end times or [unintelligible]?

Pastor Doug: Well it could be. I don't want to rule that out. I think there is a past historical fulfillment to this--

Greg: Okay.

Pastor Doug: --but there may still be a future one as well.

Greg: The reason why I'm wondering is because Mark 12:25--it states--you know, that Jesus says that, you know, we're as angels in heaven. And the only reason why I'm pondering this thought about these texts is because, you know, a third of the fallen angels came down here and it just seems like it fits.

Pastor Doug: Right. Well of course in this passage, it says that two-thirds are destroyed. One-third is saved.

Greg: Right, and that's what I'm saying. The one-third, I'm not saying it's a replacement by any means, but it just, kind of, brings that--you know--all these angels back together again type deal.

Pastor Doug: Oh I see what you're saying. Well you know, with some prophecies Jesus said that it's best understood looking back. That's why Christ said when these things come to pass, then you will know; and so whether there's a future fulfillment we may need to wait and see. But I would be, sort of, shooting into the clouds to predict this.

Greg: Right.

Pastor Doug: Hey, I appreciate your call very much, Greg. By the way, we have a website that's dedicated to prophecy that we're inviting our listeners here to take a look at it, and let us know what they think. And that's called, Bible Prophecy Truth. Very attractive website. It covers the final events, last days, bibleprophecytruth.com.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Wesley and he's calling from Sebring, Florida. Wesley, welcome to Bible Answers Live.

Wesley: Yes, hello. It is a great pleasure and privilege speaking with you gentlemen. My two children, Alina and Christopher, they listen to you all the time or very often; and they say, "Say hello to Doug Batchelor. They baptized you with Doug Batchelor."

Pastor Doug: Oh praise the Lord! Did they watch the Amazing Adventure program Pastor Ross and I did?

Wesley: Yeah. We watched those programs; and also we watch programs on the Internet. You have a tremendous website, and I just want to say thank you for the wonderful resource for all of us.

Pastor Doug: Well, praise the Lord. And your question tonight, Wesley?

Wesley: Our question is, my wife asked me a very interesting question and I was puzzled. I was thinking, "I have to call you, Pastor Doug." Her question is, did Satan really understand

the plan of salvation? And uh, if he really knew--um. Did he really understand the plan of salvation, because if he did, why would Satan allow Jesus to die on the cross?

Pastor Doug: Alright, if--

Wesley: I hope you understand really what I mean.

Pastor Doug: Yes, I think I do. If Satan understood that by Christ dying He would save, why would the devil want to help Jesus save by fulfilling that prophecy? I think that Satan understood that Christ was coming to make a sacrifice for humanity; but he was hoping he would get Jesus to sin. Because if Christ sinned at all during the whole process of His sufferings, trial, and execution, it would have neutralized His sacrifice. Christ would no longer be the sinless Redeemer.

And so the devil was trying to inspire Jesus through the torture he heaped on Him to, in some way, sin, or to curse God--like Job's wife said, "Curse God, and die." If Christ had sinned at all, He would not then have been able to die for us.

Pastor Jëan Ross: And of course, Satan was also, on the one end, trying to get Jesus to sin; but on the other hand, I think Satan was hoping that he could make life so difficult for Jesus that He would change His plan and give up on saving mankind and go back to heaven; or send angels to help.

He just did everything he could to try and disrupt Christ's plan. And finally, when there was nothing more he could do, I guess the last thing was to make it as terrible for Jesus as he could.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, and you know, furthermore, when Satan tempted Christ, he said, "Look, basically You don't have to go to the cross. Fall down and worship me and I'll give You the earth. You want to save the world? I'll give You the world. You can be the ruler of the world, but don't die for the salvation of man."

And so that's what was happening between the lines during that temptation. So I think Satan understood that Christ had come as a Sacrifice, because even Jesus said plainly, "I'm going to Jerusalem. I'll be betrayed. I'll be executed. I'll rise the third day." I think the devil was hoping Christ would sin before that.

Pastor Jëan Ross: And of course, Satan was studying the sacrificial system for the past four thousand years. And I think he began to understand what this was all about.

Pastor Doug: That's right. Hey appreciate your question, Wesley.

Wesley: He didn't realize that when Jesus would die on the cross sinless, that was it; that he would be defeated!

Pastor Doug: Yup, then he was doomed. Well then, of course, I think that the devil wanted to try and keep Him in the tomb. I still think that he thought that somehow, if they could put Him in a tomb, that He couldn't be resurrected. But uh, you know the devil is not operating with a full deck. You have to be crazy to think that you could overthrow your Creator. And the devil is insane with pride.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Jim and he's listening on the Internet, calling from Ohio. Jim, welcome to the program.

Jim: Hey, good to talk to you. I appreciate your ministry. I've got a little bit of a dilemma.

Pastor Doug: Okay.

Jim: And I'm, kind of, looking for some clarity on some things. I've got a really good friend of mine that got herself into a little bit of trouble with drugs and stuff like that. I've always been there for her; I've known her for years. Right now, she's up in a prison up in Cleveland when she's due to get out on the 25th. And, you know, she's been talking about getting her life straight. We've always gotten along. She wanted to be with me. We've talked about marriage and stuff like that. Not too long ago, she had told me that she was married, but years ago her husband had left her. He got involved in drugs and they can't find him. And the thing that scares me is when it talks about divorce, as far as, you know, if a man divorces his wife and she marries somebody else, she causes him to commit adultery. And I'm trying to find out some clarification, because she's trying to find him; and I don't want to do anything that's going to jeopardize my salvation.

Pastor Doug: Right. Well that's a very wise choice. I wish everybody really lived that way. One thing that popped up you didn't really ask about, but you said you've been good friends for a long time; but she recently told you she had once been married. I'd be concerned about marrying someone that just happened to mention, "Oh by the way, I used to be married." So if that was a recent revelation, I'd go real slow on marriage, no matter what you work out.

Jim: Okay. I mean, I've known her for probably about, maybe seven or eight years. And, I mean, you know, I went through my roller coaster where I was out drinking, doing sin; you know, kind of like your story, Pastor. You know, I've, kind of, been up and down and stuff like that. And I've got myself clean. I'm very active in my church. And I'm really focused on my relationship and my walk with God. I mean, this is a person that I've known for awhile, but when I was with her before, we were usually just having a good time, and drinking, and stuff like that.

Pastor Doug: Now has she accepted the Lord, and does she have the same place for God in her life that you do?

Jim: She wants to. Okay, we went through this before. I was trying to help her. And, you know, when you're involved with drugs and stuff like that, sometimes they get that hold on you and stuff like that. I mean, you do make mistakes. I remember that I, kind of, went--I quit; and then, you know, you kind of, you backslide a little bit and stuff like that.

Pastor Doug: Uh Jim--

Jim: And I'm really focused now that, you know, I don't have an addictive personality. I don't do none of that stuff anymore; I'm past that. The thing with her is, when she got into a little bit of trouble before, you know, people want to accept the Lord when they're in trouble. And she, kind of, backslid a little bit and was on probation, and was with somebody that was in a stolen car, which is where she got in her trouble. She's written me a lot of letters; she wants to dedicate her life to God.

Pastor Doug: Well, Jim. Yeah, let me--

Jim: And, a lot of it is going to have to be with what she, she's going to have to understand a lot of stuff, that she's going to go through temptations. And that one in that relationship with the Lord is going to have to override that, um.

Pastor Doug: Now--now, Jim, can you hear me?

Jim: Yes.

Pastor Doug: Uh, first of all, you're talking about, uh, something that might be an obstacle to your getting married in that, once she was married. The first thing I'd establish, is I wouldn't even talk or think about marriage until she has a firm commitment that is then demonstrated with, you know, over a period of time, that it's sincere.

You don't want a person to, while they're in jail in a controlled environment, to be saying, "Oh yeah. I'm going to be good now, and I want to serve the Lord; and let's get married when I get out." You're going to want to see a real pattern of victory and consistency before you do that.

Secondly, if you do have Biblical grounds to remarry, you'd want to talk to your local pastor where you're attending. If she's still registered as married, that marriage needs to be nullified. Usually, those marriages are registered with a county or state somewhere, and it can be nullified or divorced. They have mechanisms for doing that.

But step one would be, you seek first God's Kingdom. Step two, I would just make sure that, once she is out, that she has a pattern of a new life and a dedication to Christ. You don't want to be unequally yoked with somebody. Hey brother, we're going to try and take one more call before we go to the break. I hope that helps a little bit, Jim, and appreciate your calling.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Bruce calling from Hidden, California. Bruce, welcome to the program.

Bruce: Well thank you. God bless you guys. I sure like talking about the Bible; and it's hard to find a situation like this sometimes. Thanks for being there.

Pastor Doug: My favorite subject.

Bruce: Hey now, could I read what I'm going to--the question I'm asking is from Ezekiel chapter 33, verses 30 through, uh, it's a large print Bible. It looks like a lot, but just three verses, through 33?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Ezekiel 33. Go ahead, what verse?

Bruce: Verse 30 through verse 33.

Pastor Doug: Okay, alright.

Bruce: Okay. "And as for you son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the Lord.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed to them you are nothing more than one who sings loves songs with beautiful voice and plays an instrument well. For you, they hear your words, but do not put them into practice. When all this comes true, and it surely will, then they will know that a prophet has been among them." Now, the thing I'm curious about is where it says that he sings loves songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well; for they hear your words, but do not put them into practice. But I'm just saying, is this typical prophecy from the Old Testament, the singers? I know we're in Chronicles, but uh--and Solomon's temple?

Pastor Doug: Let me put this into what I would think are simple terms. God had given messages of judgment to Ezekiel. The people sat and they listened as though, "Wow, this is really interesting. Isn't this interesting?" - but it had no change in their heart. It was like when they would come and listen to a musician entertain them.

So listening to Ezekiel share these prophecies they found very entertaining; and they would nod and say, "Wow" and ooo and ahh, and they'd walk away. Then they'd go back to their unjust gain and their sinful ways. It's like people come to church every week and they'll sing and praise the Lord and go through all the motions; and for them it's just social entertainment.

They go back to their lives, and they live the same that they always have. They're not sorry for their sins. They don't turn away from them. So I really think this is what this prophecy is dealing with.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm. You know, there were some at times that prophesied with music. You have David, for example, and many of the Psalms.

[Cross talk]

Bruce: Solomon too [unclear] temple.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. One time Elisha told King Jehoshaphat to go get a musician, and the musician started singing a song that said, "Make this valley full of ditches." And the ditches filled up with water overnight. So he gave that prophecy in a song.

Bruce: One thing quick. They're still talking about Ezekiel today and everybody is laughing, like his prophecy won't come true, and it's about the end times. Don't you think that's scary?

Pastor Doug: Yeah, I think this prophecy here actually did come true; and back when Jerusalem fell and the things that happened with the people back then, that did actually all happen.

Anyway listening friends, you can tell from the music here that we're just getting ready to take a break at our half time, so to speak. We're coming back with more Bible questions and Bible answers. If you've got a pencil, I invite you to pick it up and write down amazingfacts.org. That's the mother ship website for a lot of other resources to help you in your study. We'll be right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: I'm trusting there are some of you listening right now that joined us along the way after we first left the station. If you're wondering what are you listening to, this is Bible Answers Live. It is a live, interactive Bible study. And you can participate and call in your Bible questions. That's 1-800-GOD SAYS, or you can listen and pray for us as we do our best to find these answers quickly for people in the Word. We're sitting here and the questions are coming in live, and we do our best using the Bibles we have on our laptop computers, to quickly research and provide as many answers as we can for people searching.

Now Pastor Ross, we mentioned it--we planned it for the half-time, but some people opened the door for us when we mentioned two exciting things we wanted to reiterate. One is that the Cosmic Conflict DVD, dealing with why would a loving God allow an evil devil to run rampaging through this world; where did the devil come from; why is there sin in the world; and why do innocent people suffer.

This is a very important DVD. We spent three years working on this. It's about 45 minutes, high definition, with recreations of heaven, and the war in heaven. And if you'd like to know more about this, just type in, "cosmic conflict." You just type that into Google. That's the first thing that will pop up; or go to cosmicconflict.com and you can watch the trailer and learn more about this great witnessing tool.

Children really love it. I'm getting a lot of reports since it was released about three weeks ago of parents that are saying, "Boy, our young people finally understand why God is good and loving, and yet there's still a devil in the world."

And also, we have a new website. The beta version is out there, but we're telling our friends at Bible Answers Live. It's simply called, Bible Prophecy Truth; and if you type that in, you're going to see a very modern, easy-to-use website that covers all the major themes of prophecy, everything from the millennium to Armageddon, the second coming, the beast, the mark of the beast, 666, is all there and easy to find.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know Pastor Doug, talking about Cosmic Conflict, if you can't remember that cosmicconflict.com website, you can go to the Amazing Facts website and there is a link to Cosmic Conflict. I'm just looking at the website right now for Amazing Facts. I didn't realize this until now Pastor Doug, but you can listen live to this program, right now, at the Amazing Facts website.

So, you're listening on the radio right now, but if you have a friend and you think, "Boy, they sure would be blessed by listening to Bible Answers Live," you can send them an email and say, "Next Sunday, tune in. Go to the Amazing Facts website and you can hear the program live."

Pastor Doug: They can send them an email right now anywhere in the world. Now this program right now is on over 400 stations, I believe, in North America; but your friends in South Africa can be listening. Why don't you send them an email right now, Pastor Ross [laughs], after you give me the next phone call.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright. Our next caller that we're going to is Shirley, and she's listening on the Internet from New York. Shirley, welcome to the program.

Shirley: Thank you and good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross.

Pastor Doug: Good evening

Shirley: My question is in regards to Revelation 17, verses 12 through 14, and it speaks about ten kings. They have not received the kingdom as yet and they had authority for an hour. My question is, who are these ten kings, and how long is this hour in real time?

Pastor Doug: Alright, two questions here. In Revelation 17:12, it talks about this harlot riding upon a beast with seven heads and ten horns. Now that beast really appears several times in Revelation. You can find the same beast in Revelation 12; and it's the beast that is connected with and responsible for the infamous mark of the beast.

When the Roman empire crumbled, in it's place, instead of Rome being ruled by Caesars from Rome, the church began to become very strong. And the church became a political institution in Rome. And the Roman empire was divided into ten, principle kingdoms.

I don't know if I can name them all from memory now, but it would be the Franks; the Lombards; the Italians, which you get the Alemanni, which were the Germans; the Saxons, which are the English; the Suevi, which were the Portuguese; the Burgundians, the Swiss.

Then you have the Heruli, the Vandals, the Ostrogoths. They're three kingdoms that were overthrown. But basically, it was the nations of modern Europe and some from Northern Africa. The ten divisions of the Roman empire are those ten kings.

And you go on there in the same chapter and it talks about the seven mountains in which the woman sits, also represents seven kingdoms that had persecuted God's people. So you've got the seven kingdoms that had occupied Israel from its inception. And that's Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece. It says, "five are fallen." That's those five.

It says, "one is" that's Rome ruled by the Caesars; and then it's got Papal Rome, which is Rome ruled by the church. This is a deep study, Shirley. We've got a lesson we'll send you. Matter of fact, anybody that would like it, it's talking about the woman that rides the beast.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: It deals with Revelation chapter 17. We've also got a book called, The Beast, The Dragon, and The Woman; and both of those studies will really enhance this subject and give you more detail than we can fit into our three minutes. Would you like a free copy of that?

Shirley: How long is that prophetic hour?

Pastor Doug: Well, if a day is a year in prophecy, and according to the Bible there are 24 hours in a day, then one prophetic hour is approximately 15 days.

Shirley: Okay.

Pastor Doug: When it says "they have power with the beast one hour," I think that also may be a general term. One hour means a brief period.

Shirley: Okay.

Pastor Doug: Sometimes I'll tell a person, "Just give me one minute," but I'm not watching my watch. It's a figure of speech. You know what I'm saying?

Shirley: Well thank you very much, and we really enjoyed Cosmic Conflict.

Pastor Doug: Oh, you saw it?

Shirley: It's excellent; and we can't wait for the next installment.

Pastor Doug: Well praise the Lord! We're glad that you gave us an endorsement on the air.

Shirley: Yes

Pastor Doug: Thank you very much, Shirley.

Shirley: Alright, bye-bye

Pastor Doug: Bye-Bye

Pastor Jëan Ross: Again, the book that Pastor Doug mentioned, The Beast, The Dragon, and The Woman, it's free. Call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747.

Pastor Doug: And then the lesson is called, The Other Woman.

[Cross talk]

Pastor Jëan Ross: The Other Woman, that's the Amazing Facts Study Guide.

Pastor Doug: The Other Woman deals with Revelation 17. If anyone wants to understand that chapter in the Bible, this lesson will make it crystal clear.

Pastor Jëan Ross: A great resource, both of them. Our next caller is Charles, listening on WMCA from New Jersey. Charles, welcome to the program.

Charles: Yes, hello. Pastor Doug, I have a question. I found it kind of interesting. I read the book of Enoch. I know it's not in the Bible, but Jude quotes from it. And actually, I have two questions. I know there was a race of giants. How big were they, according to the Bible? And if Jude quoted from the book of Enoch, I want to ask you if you ever read the book of Enoch? I heard that centuries ago, the older Christians, they accepted that book; and I just want to know what you think about the book of Enoch?

Pastor Doug: Alright, you've asked me several questions--one, how tall were the giants. Well, the measurements that are given that I know of in the Bible, it tells us about Goliath being, if it's the Hebrew cubit, he was about 9 1/2 feet. Some cubits were slightly different, the Babylonian and the Egyptian cubit; so he could have been anywhere from 9 1/2 to 10 1/2 feet.

That's not that shocking. Just in the last century, there was a young man named Robert Waldo that was 8 feet tall, just here in North America. Then it talks about the king of the children of Anak. He had a bed; it doesn't tell how tall he was. It says his bed was 12 feet long. So I don't know what that means, but his bed was 12 feet long. He was probably slightly shorter than that. And that's in the book of Exodus, I think, or Numbers. I honestly forget.

Then you asked a question about the book of Enoch.

Charles: Yes

Pastor Doug: The book of Enoch is quoted by Jude, and Jude, of course, only has one chapter. That doesn't mean that the entire book of Enoch was inspired, but the one statement in the book of Enoch, where it talks about the Lord coming with ten thousand of His saints to execute judgment on the ungodly, Jude evidently thought that that passage was inspired; so he quoted from it.

Now here's your fourth question I think you asked. I don't believe there was any official statement from the church in church history that wanted to include the book of Enoch in the Canon of Scripture. There may have been individuals, but I don't believe there was any time in church history where the book of Enoch was viewed as sacred as the Canon of Scripture.

Keep in mind, the Apostle Paul quotes from Greek poets, but it doesn't say that the Greek poets were all inspired. He quoted from some statements. I sometimes quote Benjamin Franklin; it doesn't mean he's inspired, but he's got some inspired lines that's for sure. And

even Mark Twain, who was sometimes pretty hard on divinity, said some pretty wise things. It doesn't mean Mark Twain was inspired. You see what I'm saying?

Charles: Yes

Pastor Doug: Now there's some statements that these people made in their books that were inspired. Now, and then you asked did I read the book of Enoch. I have read parts of it. It's longer than I've had time for, but anybody can download it; it's free online. It's public domain and they can download and read the book of Enoch.

Charles: I found it kind of interesting how they talk about the bad angels cohabited with women.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, that would be one thing in the book of Enoch that I would not agree with. We've talked about that a few times on our broadcast. When it says in Genesis 6, "the sons of God saw the daughters of men," it's not talking about angels having intimate relations with people. It's talking about the children of Seth intermarrying with the daughters of Cain; and that's when they lost their distinct identity.

Hey, I hope that helps a little bit, Charles. We gave you short answers, but we answered four questions. So I think it evens out. I appreciate your question tonight.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Eva, listening on WMCA from Brooklyn, New York. Eva, welcome to the program.

Eva: Yes, good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross.

Pastor Doug: Good evening

Eva: My question, I'm from Brooklyn, New York.

Pastor Doug: Yes

Eva: My question is from Revelation 1:7- -

Pastor Doug: Okay

Eva: - -where it's stated, "Every eye shall see Him and even those also that pierced Him." Now, I'd like to know, are those that pierced Him going to resurrect in the first resurrection, and what happens after that?

Pastor Doug: Alright. When Christ was being tried, and Pastor Ross might look this up for me where Jesus said to Caiaphas, "Hereafter you will behold the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power" when He was tried. It's in Matthew.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Jesus said at His trial to those that were involved in His being condemned and executed, that they would see that He IS the King. Those who were mocking Him, when He had the sign above His head that said, "This is the King of the Jews," they're going to see Him come in glory the next time He comes.

Pastor Jëan Ross: That's Matthew 26, verse 64.

Pastor Doug: Matthew 26:64. When Jesus comes again, those who are responsible for His execution, they're going to be raised and see Him come in glory.

Eva: In the first resurrection? Would that mean the first resurrection?

Pastor Doug: Yes, in the first resurrection. Now, they're an exception to the rule. Most of those who are raised in the first resurrection, it says, "the dead in Christ rise."

Pastor Jëan Ross: There are several references in Matthew that talk about Christ coming in glory, but here's the one. Matthew 26:64: "Jesus said unto him, 'Thou has said:" this is when the high priest asked if Jesus was the Son of God, "nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, coming in the clouds of heaven.' "

Pastor Doug: So when Christ comes on the right hand of the Father, that is different than when the wicked are raised at the end of the 1,000 years.

[Overtalking]

Pastor Jëan Ross: The key in the verse there, it talks about the clouds of heaven. Revelation chapter 1, verse 7 says, "Behold, he comes with clouds; every eye shall see him." And then in Matthew 26:64, Jesus says to the Jewish leader and the Roman Soldiers over there, "you shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of glory." So they are resurrected to witness Christ's coming.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, and the clouds being the key at the end of the 1,000 years, nothing is said about clouds. That's after the New Jerusalem descends. So hopefully, that helps a little bit Eva; and we appreciate your question.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We've got a study guide dealing with the second coming called, The Ultimate Deliverance. I think it even makes reference to this particular verse [Overtalking]. The number for the free study guide is, 1-800-835-6747. Just call that number and ask for the study guide on the second coming, and we'll be happy to send that out. Our next caller is Gil listening on WMCA from New York, New York. Gil, welcome to the program.

Gil: Good evening, welcome guys. I just want to call on behalf of a friend of mine who is blind that, by the grace of God, has been coming to church with me. And he's blind, and I'm also blind too. He was asking me what's wrong with the Ouija board and what's wrong with calling up psychics and asking them questions. I mean, I know the answer; but I promised him that I would call the radio show and ask as well.

Pastor Doug: Well, first thing I want to mention is that we have a study guide for anybody that wants to know more about some of these avenues of spiritualism. It's called, "Does God Inspire Astrologers and Psychics?" and a lot of scriptures are given in the lesson. It talks about the dangers of dabbling in the occult.

If people want information about the future, we've got Bible prophecy. The devil has people that are prognosticating and they claim that they're talking to the dead, or using Ouija boards. It's pure rank spiritualism. It's like, throwing chicken bones on the ground, or carving up a liver, or some of the things that people do; reading the palm, gazing into crystals to try to see the future.

No where in the Bible do any of God's prophets ever use these spiritualistic incantations, or methods, to try to get information or find out what the future is. The best thing is to discover the will of God for our lives, day by day, by following the principles in His word. God is not going to give us a fortune cookie that's going to tell us what's happening tomorrow.

He wants us to live by principles of faithfulness; and He'll reveal, when necessary, what's coming. He's revealed the general picture in His word. Of course, Christ is coming again. We know that. All the prophecies in the Bible past have come true; and we can trust the future ones will come true as well. Hey, appreciate your call, Gil. I invite you to have you friends order that study guide.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Don, and he is listening on KRLF from College Place, Washington. Don, welcome to the program.

Don: Yes. My question is, would you make a comment on Jude verses 22 and 23, primarily verse 23?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Sure, let me read 22 as well because it always helps to get the context. Jude chapter 1, verse 22 [and 23]: "And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Different methods sometimes arrest the attention of people to save them differently.

Some hearts are melted by the love of God. Others are arrested by fear. He says, "others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh." Some people realize that these sins can be defiling and exclude them from God's Kingdom, and so that's a starting for them. Others, they're won by the compassion and the love of Christ.

Don: Right.

Pastor Doug: And different people respond differently.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, also, that phrase that says, "save others with fear," not only could it be referring to pressing on the individual what their faith would be if they don't receive

Jesus, but it's also recognizing the value of the soul. And with earnestness, with a soberness of thinking to reach out to somebody else, to reach them with urgency.

Pastor Doug: With urgency, yeah.

Pastor Jëan Ross: That's right.

Pastor Doug: In other words, you are saving them because you fear for their future. And others, save with fear, it's like you take someone by the collar and say, "There's a tornado coming. Run!"

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And you shake them. And so, sometimes you've got to get people's attention that way, because you fear for their eternity.

Pastor Jëan Ross: And you know, it seems that if we look at the church as a whole today, there is this degree of apathy when it comes to soul winning, when we don't have that Godly-fear to reach out and share with someone, and try and help them.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, if you think someone's about to perish and you see a forest fire raging towards them, you'll do everything you can to grab them and run. It's like they did with Lot. The angels grabbed Lot and said, "You're coming with us, ready or not." Alright, appreciate your question, Don. Thank you.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Greg, listening on WITA from Knoxville, Tennessee. Greg, you're on Bible Answers Live.

Greg: Hey Pastor Batchelor.

Pastor Doug: Hi Greg, thanks for calling.

Greg: It's an honor to talk to you, sir.

Pastor Doug: Likewise, and your question?

Greg: I have, kind of an extended question here. I've been reading in the book of Malachi. I like end-time prophecy. It states that Elijah is coming back. Now sir, I've heard that some people say that's Jesus; and I was wondering [unintelligible] the verse [unintelligible] the Two Witnesses come back in the book of Revelation?

Pastor Doug: Alright, well, good question. First of all, we don't have to guess about Elijah coming back. There's really--now listen carefully--there's really three comings of Elijah. Let me explain.

The first person who came in the spirit and power of Elijah was his apprentice by the name of Elisha. When Elijah went to heaven, he left his spirit behind, so to speak; of course, it's a metaphor for the Spirit of God. And Elisha received a double portion of Elijah's spirit.

Secondly, the Bible tells us and Jesus tells us John the Baptist came in the power of Elijah. Thirdly, you might say, Elijah, himself, did come in person, when he appears in Mark chapter 9 on the Mount of Transfiguration with Moses. So Elijah did literally come and appear to Jesus, James, and John.

Then, you might say that there's a fourth appearance of Elijah, because when you read this prophecy in Malachi chapter 5, it says, "I'll send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord." The "great and dreadful day of the Lord" is the second coming. All through the Bible it speaks of the "day of the Lord;" it's usually referring to the second coming.

There may be another manifestation of Elijah's spirit that falls down on the 144,000, or some similar group, near the end of time. So I don't think it's going to be a one person. I think it will be a message, the Elijah message, that will prepare the world for the second coming; the same way John the Baptist prepared the world for Jesus' first coming. Does that make sense to you, Pastor Ross?

[Cross talk]

Pastor Jëan Ross: Absolutely. You know Greg, there is a cross-reference. Pastor Doug mentioned it. Let me give it to you. It's where the disciples actually asked Jesus why did they say that Elias, or Elijah, must first come. That's Matthew chapter 17, and it's verse 10, 11 and 12, where Jesus says Elias, or Elijah, has come; and He was speaking about John the Baptist.

Pastor Doug: Now I've got a book I'll send you, Greg. Matter of fact, this is the first time I think we've offered this on the air. It's called, Twelve Steps to Revival. It deals with Elijah coming. And I wrote this a couple of years ago. We've finally put it in a book size that we can share with people for free; and if you'd like a copy of that Twelve Steps to Revival, just call the resource number and we'll send it to you.

Pastor Jëan Ross: The number again is, 1-800-835-6747, and ask for the book, Pastor Doug?

Pastor Doug: Twelve Steps to Revival. It draws the comparisons between Elijah, and John the Baptist, and these prophecies we all just cited.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Absolutely. Lucille is listening on KFIA from Napa, California. Lucille, welcome to the program.

Lucille: Hello

Pastor Doug: Good evening Lucille; and your question? We've got about four minutes.

Lucille: Well, it was about Genesis 3, the fall of man.

Pastor Doug: Okay.

Lucille: And it's, kind of, like, how the serpent beguiled Eve, and Eve went for it, and she spoke to Adam; and her insistence, he followed through as well. I wanted to know the difference between doubt and rebellion? When does it enter the mind, and it's, kind of, like, if Adam already spoke with God--and I was told that God didn't speak to Eve--but I think He [unintelligible]. But it's, kind of, like, if Adam knew better, why did he follow Eve instead of going to his Father first; because, you know, where would we be if he never sinned?

Pastor Doug: Well, first of all, I'd like to be wherever we would be if he had never sinned.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: That would have made our lives a lot easier. Of course, we don't know if we'd even be alive because that's one of those hypothetical questions that, uh--

Lucille: Yeah

Pastor Doug: --if you changed one detail of history, what happens to the rest of history? Everything, kind of, is interconnected. But in any event, you know, that's one reason it was a sin. Adam should have known better, because God had told him don't eat of it, don't touch it. I think part of the reason Adam did it is he feared he was going to loose Eve. He loved Eve desperately.

He noticed that she had eaten the fruit, and there she was. She hadn't died immediately and he thought, "Well, maybe there is a chance that God has been keeping something from us." So the devil was probably right there by Adam, tempting him to grab that fruit and eat it, just like he had tempted Eve.

Lucille: From the doubt in Adam's mind was his own doubt, rather than being subjected to the serpent?

Pastor Doug: Well, yeah, Adam, there's no evidence that Adam heard from the serpent at all. The only serpent Adam heard from was if the devil was talking to his mind, or conscience, the way that the devil temps us today. And I'm sure the devil was doing all he could, Lucifer, to encourage Adam to eat the forbidden fruit.

So, and you know, to some extent, he was speaking through the woman, because Adam, when he finally sets up blame, Adam doesn't blame the serpent. Eve blames the serpent, Adam blames Eve.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: He says, "The woman you gave me" (laughs)

Lucille: Well, I can see the blame, but I also see it stated as fact. I mean, the responsibility is, kind of like, "Wow, didn't they know about repent?" I mean, if God was right there and He taught them, and Satan is in our minds today as if Adam and Eve are our direct parents today; then not going to God, knowing better, what chance did Adam really even have?

Pastor Doug: Well he did actually repent. Pastor Ross, you were going to say?

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, if you look at the temptation of Eve and Adam, Eve goes along and looks at this fruit that she's not suppose to eat. And she listens to the serpent. She, at first, does not want to believe the serpent, but the more she listens, the more she eventually believes and takes the fruit.

Adam, on the other hand, it wasn't so much that he was deceived into taking the fruit. He knew that it was wrong, but he doubted God's word; he doubted God's goodness; and he chose to place Eve above God, which is violation of the First Commandment. So, the temptations are a little bit different. But the bottom line was they both ended up doubting the word of God.

Pastor Doug: Well, I hope that helps a little, Lucille. We knew that was going to happen.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Friends, before you change channels, maybe you've been listening to Bible Answers Live for a number of years. And if it has been a blessing to you, everybody out there listening is listening, because some of you say, "You know, I want to help support that program."

If you've never done it before, try it once. You'll probably feel real good. You can just drop us a line. You can make a donation online by going to the Amazing Facts website, and clicking where it says, "Contact Us." And, as you know, these are difficult times and all ministries are struggling.

We'd love to hear from you. Send us your comments as well, just any suggestions; and we'd like to get to know you better. Remember, Jesus is the truth that will set you free.

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