Earth's Largest Landfill

Gradually, a constantly revolving whirlpool of ocean currents and wind gather and push these items into a virtual vortex of trash. This forms a floating rubbish convergence zone bigger than the State of Texas. This galaxy of garbage, known as the Great Pacific garbage patch, stretches more than a thousand miles across the North Pacific.

It fills most of the ocean space between Japan and California, while hovering a few hundred miles north of Hawaii. There are places this tangled mass of nets, bottles, and bags are so thick, you could walk on it. But most of the garbage patch is a minestrone soup of rubbish. Despite its continental size, the patch is not visible through satellite photography because most of its contents are a snow of plastic confetti, suspended just beneath the surface of the ocean.

This swirling, synthetic sea presents a deadly minefield of debris. Each year, thousands of ocean-going birds, fish, and mammals are killed trying to survive near this growing, gauntlet of garbage. Turtles eat plastic bags thinking they're jellyfish. Birds eat the plastic particles thinking they're fish or shrimp, and then they starve because the indigestible materials give them the false sensation that they're full.

It's estimated this nebulous floating junkyard in the North Pacific may contain over 100,000,000 tons of debris, and it's growing every year. While it is the largest, the Great Pacific garbage patch is not unique. It is only one of five gigantic gatherings of garbage found among the seven seas of the world.

Did you know the Bible says that God will cast our sins into the depths of the sea? But the good news is, they don't float. Stay with us friends, and we'll learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.

[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]

PASTOR DOUG: Hello friends, welcome once again to Bible Answers Live. We are so thankful that you have tuned in to this international, interactive Bible study. If you have a Bible question, now is a good time to pick up the phone and call that toll-free number. And that number once more is, 1-800-GOD-SAYS. That's 1-800-463-7297, and we do have some lines open.

So if you make your call with your Bible question now, there's a very good chance you'll get that question on tonight's broadcast. One more time, 1-800-463-7297; and my name is Doug Batchelor.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: And my name is Jëan Ross. Good evening listening friends. Pastor Doug, let's begin with a word of prayer. Dear Father, we thank You for this opportunity to study Your word. We ask Your blessing upon this program. We recognize that the Bible is Your book, and in order to correctly understand it, we need the Holy Spirit's guidance. So we ask that You would be with us. Be with those who are listening. For this we ask in Jesus' name, amen.

PASTOR DOUG: Amen!

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Pastor Doug, you opened the program this evening by talking about a raft of garbage floating out there in the ocean, more than a thousand feet long, from one side to another.

PASTOR DOUG: A thousand miles.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Or--a thousand miles rather, long, yes. What would it take to try and clean up something that vast? Probably the resources of many nations would have to go. It almost seems like an impossible task to remove that amount of garbage.

PASTOR DOUG: Oh I was reading today that it would bankrupt any one country to try to clean that up right now. You know, you would hope that we could reverse that. But that, even, is a fulfillment of Bible prophecy. There is that prophecy in Revelation 11, verse 18 where God says that He would destroy those who destroy the earth.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Um-hmm

Now, this is the first generation in history that actually had the ability, through our industrialization and chemicals, to destroy the earth by our pollution. Every other generation, it didn't matter how many coconuts or banana peels you had, you're not going to destroy the world. But now, our garbage is destroying the world.

But it also made me think of that verse in the Bible; and not that God is a polluter, but God does cast something overboard; but I'm sure the blood of Jesus makes it biodegradable.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Um-hmm

PASTOR DOUG: And it doesn't float either. It says in Micah chapter 7 and verse 19: "He will turn again, and have compassion on us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea." That's really talking about in the sea of His love, our sins are drowned, or, the sea of His grace. And they're out of sight. They don't float; and they don't come bobbing up.

Someone one time said that God casts our sins into the depths of the sea, and then He posts a "No Fishing" buoy because He not only forgives, He forgets. But even in the Bible, there's a teaching that talks about our being washed from our sins in water; and it doesn't leave pollution behind, but it does clean us in the process. And that is the Biblical rite of baptism where we are cleansed.

Actually, it's a symbol; it's a rite that symbolizes that we've accepted the grace of Jesus and that our sins have been washed away; that we've died to our old way of life. And it represents a marriage to Christ, and a new birth. And maybe there are people who would like to know about that ocean that's pure, where they can be cleansed in the blood and the grace of Jesus. We have a free offer tonight that talks about that subject of Bible baptism.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: We have a book entitled, "Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?" And it's free if you call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747. In John chapter 3, Jesus said, "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." What is that really all about? "Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?"

You know Pastor Doug, sometimes people ask when the subject of baptism comes up, there's a certain way that one ought to be baptized, but does it really matter what type of water is used? For example, is it okay to be baptized in a river? A lake? What about the ocean?

PASTOR DOUG: Well in the Bible it seems that, of course, a river would be fine. Jesus was baptized in a river. That's where John the Baptist did his baptizing. When Philip baptized the Ethiopian treasurer, he was on a road going down by Gaza. And the big body of water there is the Mediterranean not far from there. That was the country of the Philistines. So we assume when he said, "Here is water," it's like he pointed to the ocean; like, you know, if we've got water, can we baptize?

And so, there's nothing wrong with being baptized in the ocean, because it's not the H2o, whether the salt content of the H2o cleanses us, it's the symbol of cleansing that the water represents. It's our faith, really--faith in God's mercy that is the most important thing; and then we act that out by obedience.

I've been in prisons where they don't have an ocean or a river, and we baptized in a trough. It's like a big horse trough. Or, I've seen in the Philippines where they baptize in 55-gallon drums--

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Um-hmm

PASTOR DOUG: --and they step down, and the Pastor can't even get in there with them. He just, kind of, dunks them down. So, I'm sure the Lord accepts that.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Um-hmm

PASTOR DOUG: Anyway once again, tell them about the free offer.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: The number, 1-800-835-6747; that's our resource line. The free offer is, "Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?" and we'll be happy to send that out. Going to the phone lines. Mark is listening on WIVK from Knoxville, Tennessee. Mark, welcome to Bible Answers.

MARK: Yeah, tonight my pastor preached on Esau, but my question is, in Hebrews 12, verses 5-11, it talks about God chastising us if we sin.

PASTOR DOUG: Uh-huh

MARK: But then verses 16 and 17 warns us not to sin, less we become like Esau and, kind of, get shoved out the door.

PASTOR DOUG: Well, really what it's talking about, let me read this for our friends here in Hebrews 12:16. "Less there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know how afterward, he would have inherited the blessing, but he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."

Paul is saying here you can come to the place where you so disregard and grieve the Holy Spirit and you don't appreciate spiritual things, that if you change you mind, you may not be able to find genuine repentance. By the time Esau lost the birthright, then he said, "Oh yeah, I've changed my mind. I want it."

Well his father said at this point he had already, under the inspiration of the Spirit, given it to someone else. So, we can wait too long to come to the Lord so that our opportunity and the Holy Spirit doesn't bring repentance. Is that what you understand there?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yeah. In the story we find that Esau valued his own immediate, physical desires more than the promise of eternal things to come. He traded, in essence, this eternal inheritance that could have been his to just satisfy a momentary desire for food.

PASTOR DOUG: A bowl of beans.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: That's right.

MARK: So why would God talk about correcting us if we sin, if we're out the door?

PASTOR DOUG: Well, there is a period of time in every child's life where correction is productive and it's redemptive. But, it's like concrete setting or paint drying; you can reach a point where you can't wash off and you can't work the concrete anymore because it's hardened. And that's why we don't want to get where we harden our hearts and get beyond the point where God's chastisement molds and softens us.

MARK: I've heard of people, like uh, who were once a Christian, and they backslid for say, 40 years, and then they came back to God. Now, how could a person--

PASTOR DOUG: You're right. God's mercy and longsuffering is very...He's very patient. And it sounds to me, Pastor Ross, Mark would really appreciate the book that we have on the unpardonable sin. Mark, why don't you let us send you that because it deals with some of these very verses and goes into a lot more detail. And everything I think you just addressed would be covered by this. We've got a book. It talks specifically about the unpardonable sin.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: To receive that Mark, call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747. And just ask the person who answers the phone that you would like the book dealing with the unpardonable sin, the sin that cannot be forgiven; and we'll be happy to send that out to you. Our next caller is Marcus and he is calling from North Carolina. Marcus, welcome to the program.

MARCUS: Yes, thank you. How are you?

PASTOR DOUG: Good. Get real close to your phone.

MARCUS: Oh okay, alright.

PASTOR DOUG: And your question?

MARCUS: Yes, my question is, is it anywhere there in the Bible where Gentile Christians in the New Testament kept the Sabbath? I know I've seen places where the Jewish Christians, but specifically Gentile Christians?

PASTOR DOUG: Well I think there are. If you look in Acts chapter 16, verse 13--and by the way, the book of Acts is written by Gentiles. The only books in the whole Bible written by Gentiles are the book of Luke; and then he wrote the remainder of his chronology, or his history, of the Apostles in the book of Acts. So coming from a Gentile, just keep that in mind.

He says, "And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spoke to the women that resorted thither." Now he's in Philippi, which is not a Jewish city. And so Luke is making note to that. Here they were keeping the Sabbath.

Furthermore, when Paul went pursuing Christians when he was still Saul before he was converted, he went looking for Christians in the synagogues. Now the synagogues are where the Jews had gathered on Sabbath. And then uh, you have another one, Pastor Ross?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yes, Acts chapter 13, verse 42, and 44 a little later on. It says, "And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached unto them the next Sabbath." And then verse 44, it says, "And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God." This is, of course, the Apostles preaching.

So there were Jews and Gentiles that were there on Sabbath in the synagogue. At the conclusion of the service, they asked if they could hear more; and the message came, "Come back next Sabbath and you'll hear more." And so we find Gentiles keeping the Sabbath.

MARCUS: Okay, alright. Thank you.

PASTOR DOUG: Alright. Good question. Appreciate that.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Angie calling from Florida. Angie, welcome to the program.

ANGIE: Hi, thanks for taking my call.

PASTOR DOUG: Hi

ANGIE: My question is, is it acceptable, in God's sight, for a believer to baptize someone or can only a Pastor baptize?

PASTOR DOUG: Well let's talk about that for a minute. I think there are going to be a lot of people in the Kingdom who were baptized by maybe Deacons, or Elders, or sometimes, even just a regular member that didn't have any kind of authority, because there wasn't access to a regular, ordained Pastor. And sometimes the church, in some countries--especially during the age of communism, or the heyday of communism--the churches could not operate above board. They didn't always have the freedom to create the hierarchy and ordain.

But it seems that the Lord does recognize that there should be authority; and baptism is something that should be done by the leadership, and here's the reason. Let's suppose a person is baptized. For one week, they're still a new believer. There's learning that happens before baptism. Jesus said, "Go ye therefore, teach all nations, baptizing them...." Teaching, then baptizing. But you keep reading that verse, He says, "Teaching them to obey all things, whatever I have commanded you."

There's more teaching after baptism too. You don't know everything. If you have to know everything before you're baptized, you're in trouble. You'd never get ready. So if a person is baptized one week, and they meet a friend that gets real excited and they want them to get baptized, well this person...he probably doesn't know enough to really ground, and root, and found, and indoctrinate the new person.

That's why you sort of need a Deacon, a Pastor, to clear people and just to make sure all new believers do have that high standard. So I've really thought through this and I think there is good reason for God saying that baptism should be performed by...in the Bible you see it being done by Pastors and Elders, which are really the same, Apostles, and even Deacons. Philip was a Deacon that baptized.

When they wanted the people in Samaria to get baptized, they called for Peter and John that went up there. So they were looking for leadership of the church to come and do it. And that, I think, is Acts chapter 8. Does that help a little?

ANGIE: Yes it does. Thank you so much.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: You know Angie, I think you'll also enjoy the free offer for this evening, "Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?" And I'm not quite sure, Pastor Doug, if that specific question is addressed, but doubtless, there's excellent information on the subject of baptism. Again, to receive that, call 1-800-835-6747; ask for the book, "Baptism: Is It Really Necessary?" and we'll be happy to send that out. Mary Beth is calling from Florida. Mary Beth, welcome to the program.

MARY BETH: Hi Pastor Doug. How are you?

PASTOR DOUG: Good, how about you?

MARY BETH: Fine. My question is, the Bible talks about a time of trouble in the last days. And I'm wondering, with the way the economy is going, is this the time to make physical preparations for the time of trouble?

PASTOR DOUG: Well that's a good question. For our friends, I think that Mary Beth is referring to in Revelation chapter 13, where it tells us there's a time coming where believers won't be able to buy or sell.

MARY BETH: Right.

PASTOR DOUG: And so, one way you might prepare for that is by having something in storage. You know, the way I understand it is there are going to be phases, as we near the end. I do think that, as we get closer to the end, it is going to be a lot better for Christian families to locate themselves outside of the center of metropolitan areas where maybe they could grow some of their own food.

I can't imagine what the cities would be like. And I should hasten to confess that I'm living in the city. But I can't imagine what it would be like if, for one week, there was no gasoline to deliver food to the cities. Just one week. Um, you think about the constant supply of trucks that pour resources into the cities. And if people go to the markets and if they even hear there's a trucking strike, or there's a gas shutdown and we don't have enough fuel because of a war, it could be pandemonium.

And it would be, I think, pretty scary; so if people are living where there's just a little more ability to grow and forage in nature, I think that would be better. The idea that we're going to stockpile food to prepare for the end, you know, I wouldn't put a lot of confidence in that because, for one thing, it seems like whenever the children of Israel tried to stockpile their manna, it would breed worms the next day.

I think it's always wise to have a little bit of reserve. In the Batchelor family, we probably could live out of our pantry for a couple of months if we had to. But the idea that you're going to have years' worth of food, uh, someone will find it and...at that point, things would get so bad that our faith really needs to be in God.

When Elijah fled through the wilderness, God fed him. When the children of Israel went through the wilderness, God fed them. And I think when we get to those very last days, we're going to just have to trust God. We've got that promise that our bread and our water will be sure. Is that Psalm 91, Pastor Ross?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: I don't--

PASTOR DOUG: Is that Isaiah? It's in Isaiah where it says your bread and your water will be sure. Does that help a little bit, Mary Beth?

MARY BETH: Oh yes, it does. Thank you so much.

PASTOR DOUG: Alright, thank you. Appreciate it. Sometimes I think I may be giving more answer than they're asking for (laughs). I become enchanted by my own voice, and I just keep talking. Alright, what's next?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: (Laughs). William, he's calling from New York, New York. William, welcome to the program.

WILLIAM: Yes, hello. How are you doing?

PASTOR DOUG: Very good. How can we help you?

WILLIAM: Yes, God bless you. My question centers around Leviticus chapter 19, verse 27.

PASTOR DOUG: Okay.

WILLIAM: And I'm just wondering, in terms of instruction and obedience, should men shave their beards? Or as Christians we're really suppose to leave them on?

PASTOR DOUG: Alright. Well let me read this for our friends, in Leviticus 19:27; and I'm also going to read verse 28, William. "You shall not round the corners of your head, neither shall you mar the corners of your beard. You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD."

Now, when it says you'll not mar the corners of your beard, it's not saying that a believer should never shave or trim their beard. He's talking about a practice that was very common among the pagans. For two reasons. One, if someone died, as a sign of mourning, they would cut off their beards. Sometimes, they'd shave their heads. I think Job did this when his son died. They'd rend their garments. They'd make cuttings in their flesh for the dead.

And so Moses isn't saying don't ever trim your beard, don't ever manicure yourself. While it is true that the Jews typically let their beards grow, the Jewish men, in the New Testament, it's really interesting, that with all the discussion and argument that you find in the New Testament over things like circumcision and some of the Jewish laws, considering that the Romans and the Greeks shaved and the Jews didn't, the word "beard" does not appear, or "shave", anywhere in the New Testament, which leads me to think it really wasn't an issue.

WILLIAM: Okay.

PASTOR DOUG: So the verse that Moses is referring to really was a practice of cutting off their beards for the dead.

WILLIAM: Okay, and would that be similar to what Jesus was saying in Mark chapter 7 about their traditions?

PASTOR DOUG: Well when it's talking about the Jewish traditions?

WILLIAM: Yeah, right.

PASTOR DOUG: Well Moses is counseling against a pagan tradition, where they would cut off the beards. The Jews typically did grow their beards; and it talks about the beard of Aaron, but they also shaved. Now let me give you another example. It just popped into my mind. When Joseph came out of prison and went before the Pharaoh, it says he shaved.

WILLIAM: Okay.

PASTOR DOUG: And Joseph was a Jew; but that's one reason maybe his brothers didn't recognize him, as he was clean-shaven and they were hairy. It never attaches any moral mandate to shaving or not shaving. Oh, one more came to me. See? I'm giving him too much again. When Mephibosheth...when David was attacked by Absalom and he had to flee,--

WILLIAM: Right.

PASTOR DOUG: --Mephibosheth came back to David, he said, "You know, I didn't even trim my mustache while you were gone." So they trimmed their mustaches too. Anyway, so those things just popped into my mind. And you can check the verses. I don't remember where they're at.

WILLIAM: Okay.

PASTOR DOUG: Appreciate your question William.

WILLIAM: God bless you. Thanks a lot.

PASTOR DOUG: If we had it, we'd sent you a book on beards, but I don't think we have one.

WILLIAM: (Laughs) Okay

PASTOR DOUG: Thank you

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: You know, you mentioned the verse, "...bread and water shall be sure."

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: That is Isaiah 33, verse 16.

PASTOR DOUG: Oh thanks. If Mary Beth is still listening--

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yes. This is a comfort to anyone who's concerned about what might happen in the future. Let me read it. It says, "He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the stronghold of the rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure."

[Cross talk]

PASTOR DOUG: Yup. God says He'll take care of His people.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Robert, and he is calling from Palm Springs, California. Robert, welcome to the program.

ROBERT: Yes, hi Doug and Jëan.

PASTOR DOUG: Hi, how are you doing?

ROBERT: I'm fine. I got a question on Isaiah 65:20. That one refers to uh...I'm perplexed, because it looks like it's talking about the new world to come. And it says something about, "the man that does not live to be 100 will be cursed." And I'm understanding that, you know, there will be no death. So, can you explain that one for me?

PASTOR DOUG: Alright. Let me read this for our friends that are listening. First, I've got to start with verse 18 because it gives the context. "But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping will no more be heard in her," I think it's talking about the New Jerusalem, "nor the voice of crying."

"There shall no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that is not fulfilled his days: for the child will die an hundred years old," now that throws people. "What? A child will die a hundred years old? What does that mean? Do children die?" The word "die" there means "cease." If you read in Genesis, Robert, when man was still living hundreds of years in the original plan, they didn't even get married and start their families until they were 100.

ROBERT: Um-hmm

PASTOR DOUG: I mean--Isaac didn't get married until he was, what, 40? Jacob, I think, was 70 when he got married. And so it's saying, they're not even leaving childhood until 100. They don't cease being a child until 100. And an old man, if anyone were to die, they would be considered accursed. Well the accursed are all outside the City of God.

Isaiah here, is speaking, kind of, in poetic metaphors, trying to illustrate that people live forever; because you notice he says, "For as the days of a tree are the days of my people." Well that doesn't mean we're trees. It's just saying who gives a tree a birthday? I mean, trees sometimes, live thousands of years. So he's just saying they're going to live on and on. And so, he's speaking with a lot of beautiful, poetic metaphors to illustrate that people are just going to live on eternally.

ROBERT: So that's the definition of "die" is the key. It's not really literally dying.

PASTOR DOUG: The word "die" there--yeah it's a weak translation. It actually in the original means "cease." It can be translated "die", but it can also mean "cease." They don't cease to be a child until they're 100. Now does that make more sense?

ROBERT: Yes, yes; but that...you know, you then again, you have "cursed" word; and then, so yeah-- [Cross talk]

PASTOR DOUG: Well it says, "the sinner being a hundred years old shall be accursed", meaning the curse on the sinners never goes away. That goes along with Daniel chapter 12, where it says, "Some are raised to everlasting life, some to everlasting shame and contempt." So, they're accursed forever. So even after 100 years, there's no mercy for the sinner. The saved are forever saved. The wicked are forever cursed.

ROBERT: I see. Okay, well great. Thank you.

PASTOR DOUG: Thank you very much; appreciate your question. How much time do we have before the break? [music starts] Well, that answers that question. We've got the music. Well we timed that just right.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yeah we did.

PASTOR DOUG: Hey friends, we're not done, we're just taking a little break right now. This is also a good time for us to remind you. We're going to give you a little list of websites. We sort of look at this radio program as an opportunity each week to be a springboard to stir up your pure minds with Bible answers; and then we like to direct you to the websites so you can continue studying all week long.

Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, you can go to amazingfacts.org. And we've got a new Bible study website that has become very popular, are you ready? It's called, bibleprophecytruth.com. I was there last night. I was using it. It's really good. I've got to thank the web designers. They've done some neat stuff; bibleprophecytruth.com.

Write that down, take a look. Hey, and we want to hear your suggestions on the website because we're wanting it to be about the best website that we've got out there. Bibleprophecytruth.com. Don't go away. We're coming right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

PASTOR DOUG: Hello listening friends. If you've joined us along the way, this is Bible Answers Live. It's a live, international, interactive Bible study. We're only half-way through our broadcast. We've got more Bible questions lined up. My name is Doug Batchelor.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: My name is Jëan Ross. Pastor Doug, just before the break, you mentioned one website for our listeners, if they'd like to go and study more about what the Bible has to say about the end of the world: bibleprophecytruth.com.

PASTOR DOUG: That's right. And it's really attractive, too. It has some very interesting, state-of-the-art graphic images, and charts, and Bible study lessons you can enroll in. We've made it very user-friendly, so you can even copy and paste the material and use it in your presentations if you teach. And a lot of the information we share on this broadcast is also available there.

Don't forget, if you go to amazingfacts.com or amazingfacts.org, either one, you'll hear archives of these broadcasts, plus you can see our television programs; find out where we are across the country on a variety of stations. I hope it's not premature for us to tell people that we just received the okay from the Discover channel.

We'll soon give you the time and place, but we're going to be on the Discover channel in the morning soon, I think before the month is over. So just stay tuned. We'll announce that more officially; but that's going to be a great opportunity to get the Amazing Facts on the Discover channel.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Another very popular website that's growing is amazingfacts.tv, 24-hour, television programming; amazingfacts.tv. Pastor Doug, not only do we have a number of programs on that website that are there, but even some of the live satellite events that we are planning--I know one, in particular, in December--that's going to be streamed live at amazingfacts.tv.

PASTOR DOUG: Yup. We'll be broadcasting from Birmingham, England. I want to say "Hi" to our friends listening on the Internet there right now. Well I see we've got a few people lined up on the phones Pastor Ross. So who's next?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is going to be Sandy calling from Illinois. Sandy, welcome to the program.

SANDY: Hi Pastors. My question is, explain Isaiah chapter 23 and verse 18, and are there any last-day applications?

PASTOR DOUG: Isaiah, one more time, 23?

SANDY: 23, and verse 18.

PASTOR DOUG: 23:18. I just want to get it so I can read it to our friends. Ah yes, alright. Well let me back up here, Isaiah 23:17. "And it will come to pass after the end of 70 years, that the Lord will visit Tyre, and she will turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness to the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, for the durable clothing." Is that the verse you're talking about?

SANDY: Yes sir.

PASTOR DOUG: Well, it did happen that, after the children of Israel returned from the Babylonian captivity to the land of Israel, Tyre was conquered. And, matter of fact, Alexander the Great conquered Tyre; but he showed mercy on Jerusalem during that time. And the merchandise and the booty from Tyre, Alexander left a lot of that in the Middle East; and it ended up becoming used by the people of God, the nation of Israel.

Tyre had been an enemy. You can also read about that in Isaiah chapter 14. There's a curse pronounced on the king of Tyre. It also is dual application for the devil. Now you asked about a last-day application. There is a last-day application, in the sense that, a lot of what it says about Tyre, also sounds like Revelation 18, talking about the merchandise of Babylon, that they'll not be delivered by it.

So, if you read Revelation 18 about the fall of Babylon, it uses the context of a woman who is acting...a city like a harlot whose merchandise will not save her. And you find the same verbiage here in Isaiah 23, verses 17 and 18.

SANDY: Okay, thank you very much. God bless.

PASTOR DOUG: We do have a book on that subject Sandy.

SANDY: Do you really?

PASTOR DOUG: Yup

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: We do. We've got a study guide entitled, The Other Woman, which talks about Revelation 17 and 18. It's free, Sandy. Call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747, and ask for the study guide, The Other Woman. Donna is calling from Detroit, Michigan, Donna, welcome to the program.

DONNA: Hi, how are you gentlemen? Praise the Lord! I have a question. I understand that the Bible is made for Christians, but it tells me in Exodus 20 and 12; and also in the book of Matthew, "Honor your mother and your father, for your days may be long"?

PASTOR DOUG: Uh-huh

DONNA: My question is this, if Parent A has never known the Lord and is out there in riotous living, and the child is watching this; and then you have a parent that is in the Lord, and he is not aligned with the Lord, does that child still have to honor that...well I shouldn't say still, but, how does that child honor them if they're not aligned with the Word of God? Doesn't that throw the child off?

PASTOR DOUG: Good, good question. First of all, we should always keep the Commandments. But honoring your parents doesn't mean obeying a request that violates the commandment of God. You can honor a non-believing parent just by showing them respect for the position as parent; and any reasonable request that they ask of you, you should do your best to fulfill.

But if they're asking for something that violates some commandment of God...you've got an example in the Bible where one of the kings of Israel removed his mother from being queen because she had turned to idolatry. That was a Godly king. I'm trying to remember which king that was. I've heard people say, "Don't steal," but what if your parents tell you to steal, if you have to honor your parents?

DONNA: Yeah

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah, that's a pretty basic example. But of course, you never honor and obey an earthly parent if it conflicts with your heavenly Parent.

DONNA: Okay

PASTOR DOUG: So you always put the Commandments of God first.

DONNA: Okay

PASTOR DOUG: I'll tell you what's difficult is sometimes, kids will say, "Hey look, I want to get baptized, but my parents are telling me I shouldn't." And that's a real struggle when they live in the home.

DONNA: Yes it is. That's why I was trying to find out--

PASTOR DOUG: Pastor Ross, you find that verse?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: We did. The king's name is Asa. He was a good king. His mother's name was Maachah; and he removed her from being queen because she had set up an idol in a grove.

PASTOR DOUG: Yup.

DONNA: Whoa!

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: And you can read about that in, actually it's 1st Kings chapter 15, verse 13.

DONNA: Okay, 1st Kings 15--

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: 13

DONNA: Okay

PASTOR DOUG: Hopefully that helps a little bit, Donna.

DONNA: Yes it did. I was just trying to find out how that kid is suppose to follow the parent--

PASTOR DOUG: Right

DONNA: --but uh--

PASTOR DOUG: Now, we have a lesson that deals with the subject of the Commandments of God and how to relate to them, and it's called, Written in Stone; and we'll be happy to send that to you as a free gift.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747, and the free offer is, Written in Stone, dealing with the Ten Commandments. Our next caller is Liz and she is calling from Sacramento, California. Liz, welcome to the program.

LIZ: Yes, hello?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yes, you're on the air.

LIZ: Yes, thank you for taking my call. My question is, to become one flesh; and I'm sorry I don't know exactly where it's located, but I think that it's in Genesis.

PASTOR DOUG: Yes, and what about it?

LIZ: Okay, um, what is the definition, the meaning of it, to become one flesh, to get married?

PASTOR DOUG: Good question. By the way, in Genesis 2, verse 24 is where you find it. It says, "Therefore a man will leave his father and mother, he will cleave unto his wife: and they will become one flesh." Now when it talks about cleaving unto his wife, not only does that mean...the word "cleave" actually means "glued" in the original Hebrew. But it means that his relationship now, where it had been a dependence on mother and father, is now adjoining of the man and woman.

They become one flesh in a very unique sense. When a man and woman unite in marriage, the offspring, the children, are the co-mingling of the genes and the DNA of those two parents. And so, a mother and a father, in one sense, become one flesh in their children. But it also means that they're to be one in that their united.

The Bible tells us that God says, Jesus said, "Father, I pray," this is John 17 I believe, Pastor Ross. "I pray that they might be one even as You and I are one." So Jesus says that He and the Father are one. Jesus said He wants the disciples in the church to be one. And so "one" also means unity in the Bible, cooperation.

A nation might say, "We are one, we're united." So, a man and woman are united, in that they become one family, one in purpose. They're also united in one flesh in their children.

LIZ: Okay.

PASTOR DOUG: So there should be a loyalty and a unity there.

LIZ: Okay. Now does it also mean, like their finances are combined to have one checking account, one savings account?

PASTOR DOUG: Well, I think it's preferable if there is dependability and trust in a relationship where you can share that way. You know, Pastor Ross and I both are Pastors, and occasionally, one spouse will have a spending addiction; and the other spouse, sort of, needs to practice some tough love and guard the finances and credit cards, or it gets out of hand.

But, you know other than that, the ideal is for them to be able to, I think, trust each other and share the finances, and communicate about what those expenditures are so that one is not just earning, and the other one spending.

LIZ: Right, okay.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Liz, we've got a study guide dealing with this subject of marriage. It's called, Keys for a Happy Marriage. We'd be delighted if you'd call our resource line and we'll send it to you for free.

PASTOR DOUG: We also have one on finances so you can tell about both.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: That one as well, "In God We Trust?"

PASTOR DOUG: Yup.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: We've got two. The number is, 1-800-835-6747. You can ask for the study guide on marriage; and also ask for the one on money, "In God We Trust?" and we can send that out. Jessica is calling from Florida. Jessica, welcome to the program.

PASTOR DOUG: Hi Jessica, Lake Placid, Florida. Are you there?

JESSICA: Yeah, I'm still here.

PASTOR DOUG: And your question?

JESSICA: Yeah, I just wondered what does it mean by uh, in 1st John 16 and 18, that there is sin living to death, and there is sin not living to death. What does it mean?

PASTOR DOUG: Well of course, the unpardonable sin is the sin for which there is no forgiveness that Jesus refers to. And uh...

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Just that verse, I think it's 1st John chapter 5, verse 16.

PASTOR DOUG: Yes.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: It says, "If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: and I do not say that you shall pray for it." So there are two types of sin. One says that it's not unto death. The sin that is unto death would be the unpardonable sin.

PASTOR DOUG: Right. If a person is living in high-handed rebellion to the Lord, there's no forgiveness for that. And it looks like we lost our caller. I hope that answered the question.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Joe calling from Huntsville, Alabama. Joe--

PASTOR DOUG: Pardon me one second. For our last caller from Lake Placid, Florida, we do have a book if you'd like to call, dealing with the unpardonable sin. We'll send you a free copy of that. We're sorry that we lost you. We don't know if it was your phone or us.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: And the number, 1-800-835-6747. Joe, calling from Huntsville, Alabama. Joe, you're on the air.

JOE: Hello Pastor Doug. How are you?

PASTOR DOUG: Very well. How can we help you tonight?

JOE: I've been following you for many, many years. I even have your book when you lived in the woods, in the cave for awhile.

PASTOR DOUG: Oh!

JOE: Been following you for a long time, so I value your feelings. The question that I have is especially dealing with Moses, Pharaoh, and the Red Sea.

PASTOR DOUG: Now get real close to your phone. We can barely hear you.

JOE: Okay. Can you hear me now?

PASTOR DOUG: That's better. And so about Moses, Pharaoh, and the Red Sea?

JOE: Okay, yeah--Moses, Pharaoh...I've heard many different parts of that, and very different movies, and some Bible study, and reading. And it talks about Pharaoh and his host being destroyed in the Red Sea. Now, my question is...this is basically to settle just a little bit of a friendly disagreement between my wife and I. Was Pharaoh destroyed during that situation, or was it his host? And if it was his host, what happened to that Pharaoh?

PASTOR DOUG: You know, unlike the movie, The Ten Commandments, I believe that the Pharaoh did get drowned in the Red Sea. By the way, my mom was in that movie, just a little trivia, small part, but she was an actress back then. Pharaoh, I believe, did get drowned. I'm trying to remember the name of that Pharaoh. I used to know my Egyptian kings. I don't remember if it was Ramses or Thutmose--

[Cross talking, and caller's line cuts in and out]

JOE: The one part, they call him Ram, Ram--

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah. But someone told me when they recovered his mummy, that it appeared that he had died from drowning. Now I don't know if that was one of the urban legends that floats around among Christians, or if it was substantial; but anyway, I'd heard that. But the Bible talks about Miriam singing a song about the horse and rider being thrown into the sea.

And it seems to say that Pharaoh pursued Moses. It doesn't say Pharaoh waited up on the bank and sent his army in. It seemed like Pharaoh was with his army when they went in after the children of Israel, and they were drowned. I think Pastor Ross is scrambling through the Exodus story right now.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yeah, I'm looking at a verse here in Exodus chapter 15, verse 4. It says, "Pharaoh's chariots"-- [Cross talk; cut-in by caller]

JOE: ... talks about Pharaoh's host--

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah

JOE: --but it doesn't specify whether he was actually destroyed in that situation.

PASTOR DOUG: Well Pastor Ross has a verse there. Maybe he's reading the same verse. Go ahead.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yes, I'm looking at Exodus 15, verse 4: "Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also were drowned in the Red sea."

PASTOR DOUG: That seems like it's lumping the Pharaoh and his army together.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: And then there's one more in Psalm 136, verse 15: "But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea."

PASTOR DOUG: Well that's pretty plain. One more time, that verse?

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: That's Psalm 136, verse 15.

JOE: Okay

PASTOR DOUG: "...overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea." If we understand that the way it's stated, it seems like Pharaoh, also, went belly-up. So, hope that helps a little bit. And I hope we're not contributing to domestic problems.

JOE: No, no, no. It was very friendly and [line interference] we talked about it. I said, "You know what? I'm going to call Bible Answers Live, because, you know, just to ease my own personal matter. I'm somewhat of a Bible scholar myself but, I was just having a little bit of a hard time with the arrangement of words.

PASTOR DOUG: That's alright. Hey, no problem at all. And, you know, it always made for a better Hollywood movie, to have the Pharaoh standing on the shore with his arms folded and the sun setting. But uh, I don't think that's the way the Bible tells it.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: You might come back for the second episode.

PASTOR DOUG: (Laughs) Sorry you had to keep the options open.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Jason calling from Queens, New York. Jason, welcome to the program.

JASON: Hello, um--

PASTOR DOUG: Good evening

JASON: I have a question about 1st John 5:17.

PASTOR DOUG: Uh-huh

JASON: I know an earlier caller asked about 16:18 in the context of the unpardonable sin; but I just could never understand verse 17. It seems like it's saying that there is a sin that is not unto death, which may mean there's a sin that somebody could do and not be punished for it? I'm just not sure.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Yeah, let me give a stab at that one. You know, there are sins--sin is sin--and the consequences of sin is death; but the Bible does say that of our times of ignorance God winked at. So there are times when a person did not know any better and, perhaps, that did something that was a sin.

But God in His mercy will overlook that because the person was living up to all the light that they knew, all the light that they had. That is the sin that is not unto death. But any known sin that we practice knowingly that this is a violation of God's law, that is a dangerous thing to continue in. It will, ultimately, result in death.

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah. In Hebrews chapter 12, verse 1, I heard someone expound one time where it says, "Let us lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset us." You know, not every weight is a sin. Sometimes we have things that really impede our Christian progress, but we always want to define everything as a sin. And some things are just better, and some things are best, do you know what I mean?

JASON: Right.

PASTOR DOUG: And some things are just not as good. So we want to lay aside everything that's a weight and that obstructs us. Sometimes, we sin unintentionally and, as Pastor Ross said, that's different.

JASON: So, the sin that's not unto death is the sin of ignorance, or sin in--

PASTOR DOUG: Well let me give you an example. In Bible times, there are going to be a lot of people in heaven that maybe didn't understand some of the things we understand now. For example, I expect to see King David in heaven. Well, King David had multiple wives until the day of his death, all at the same time. So did Solomon.

Now, if Pastor Doug had multiple wives, I'm not going to make it, because I know better, you know what I'm saying?

JASON: Yes sir, yes.

PASTOR DOUG: God winked at their ignorance. They lived in a time where just...you know, sometimes there were ten women per every man because of all the wars they fought and men often had multiple wives; but He winked at their ignorance.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: The verse for that is Acts chapter 17, verse 30, where it says, "And at the times of ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men everywhere to repent."

PASTOR DOUG: Hope that helps a little bit Jason.

JASON: Alright, thank you very much.

PASTOR DOUG: You're welcome.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Karen calling from Florida. Karen, welcome to the program. Karen, from St. Petersburg, Florida, you there?

PASTOR DOUG: Karen, St. Petersburg. Alright, well let's go to who's next.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: We'll go to Steven who is calling from Tennessee. Steven, welcome to the program. Steven, you there?

STEVEN: Hi

PASTOR DOUG: Hi. You have a Bible question Steven?

STEVEN: Yes

PASTOR DOUG: And get real close to your phone. Speak up. What's your question?

STEVEN: Um, if everybody sinned, then how do they get to heaven?

PASTOR DOUG: Well that is a good question. We've all sinned. Those that are sorry for their sins, that tell the Lord they're sorry and they want a new heart, and they repent of their sins--that means that they regret their sins and they want to have a new life and to follow Jesus--He promises that He will take the penalty for their sins.

Because Jesus came to earth, and He suffered, and He died for the sins of the whole world. And anybody that then prays to Him and asks to get credit for that, to be forgiven because of His sacrifice, they can be forgiven. He will then give them a new heart, and they can live in heaven when He comes and uh [cross talk].

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Steven, I think you'll really enjoy some study guides Pastor Doug or myself were involved in putting together called Amazing Adventure. And it talks about what do

we have to do in order to be saved, in order to be forgiven and go to heaven. That is available from Amazing Facts. You might need your parent to help you order that, but it's a great set of lessons.

PASTOR DOUG: How old are you Steven?

STEVEN: Eight.

PASTOR DOUG: That's perfect. These lessons are for kids from eight to 12; and so you'll fit right in there. It's called, Amazing Adventure, and it talks about salvation. So if you either call Amazing Facts tomorrow when we're open, or go to the website tonight, you can find out more about the Amazing Adventure series for kids. We had a lot of fun. I hope that helps with your question Steven, okay?

STEVEN: Okay.

PASTOR DOUG: Alright. God bless you.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Saul and he's calling from Queens, New York, listening on WMCA. Saul, welcome to the program.

SAUL: Oh, good evening Pastors. I had a question in regards to 2nd Samuel. Throughout the book of 2nd Samuel, people are saying, "the fifth rib", "under the fifth rib", "under the fifth rib." Out of one of them, is there any significance to "under the fifth rib", that I understand it?

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah. The soldiers were trained in close combat that a fatal wound would be, you know, you'd get the heart if you struck them under the fifth rib. And so when it says, "under the fifth rib," it meant that the sword went to the heart.

SAUL: Ohh.

PASTOR DOUG: I think of one case, Joab struck Abner the general. He had a sword in his hand. He plunged it right under his fifth rib, which means in his heart. There was no recovering of hope.

And I think even Abner stabbed Joab's brother Asahel with the back of his spear. Um, oh I don't think he got him under the fifth rib. That's someone else. I know, it gets kind of gory doesn't it friends? Anyway, but that typically meant it was considered a fatal wound. Soldiers in close combat would aim for under the fifth rib.

[Recording is choppy]

SAUL: Oh okay. Thanks. That makes sense because it says, "under the fifth rib that he died." Until next time, thank you. Appreciate that.

PASTOR DOUG: Alright. Appreciate your question.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: Our next caller is Marcia?

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah.

PASTOR JËAN ROSS: calling from Dearborn, Michigan. Marcia, welcome to the program.

PASTOR DOUG: Hi, is this Marcia?

MARCIA: Hi. Yeah, it's Marcia from Michigan again. Hi Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. How are you both doing tonight?

PASTOR DOUG: Good!

MARCIA: Okay good. The question I want to ask is, I know some people [recording is choppy] to go on the radio, but one of my tenants was watching a Christian show; and he heard it, and he asked me about it. I told him I'd ask you. And the question is, in Genesis, the sons of God saw the daughters, the women, that they were fair, and took them wives of all which they chose. He was wondering did angels, or demons, or whatever you call them, really have sex with humans and intermarry with them? I told him no, but I'll let you give the answer to what that means.

PASTOR DOUG: Yeah, we've got just a second or two, Marcia, so let us give you a quick answer before we go off the air. It's a good question; a lot of people ask it, partly because, as they're reading through the Bible, they come to this by chapter 6.

"Sons of God" is a term for those who believe in God. 1st John chapter 3 says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God." And so right after Cain killed Abel, Adam and Eve had another son named Seth. Seth loved the Lord. He served the Lord.

Cain took his wife, they went off. And the posterity, the descendants of Cain, they turned their back on God. They were called the "sons of men." Seth, and Adam and Eve, and their family, they were the "sons of God." They did not intermarry; and as long as they were distinct, they were holy.

But gradually, the daughters of Cain were very pretty. The daughters of men were called the "daughters of Cain." And the children of Seth began to intermarry; and then they lost their holy distinction. You can see that after they did this, it tells us that then, "the wickedness of man was great, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil."

And some people say, "Well why was it that their children were giants? That must mean that they must have been angels, or demons, or aliens." I've heard all kinds of things. Well, it's the simple law of genetic vitality. When you intermarry two races, or even two different breeds, often the combined genetic vitality of the new genes gives giants.

If you cross lions and tigers, you get Ligers; and they're huge. One of the biggest cats in the world was a Liger, half lion and half tiger. It's called genetic vitality. That's all that meant. It doesn't mean they're aliens, or devils, or angels, or anything like that.

The daughters of Cain [called "the daughters of men"] intermarried with the sons of Seth. Anyway friends, oh I could do this all night, probably not; but it seems like it right now. Friends, we're out of time. We'd love to hear from you. Program time is up, but you can contact us on our website. One more time, it is amazingfacts.org.

Click the Contact button, help us stay on the air. We would love to hear from you. And drop us a line. Tell us what you appreciate about the program. Until next week, remember Jesus is the truth that will set you free. God bless.

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