Pastor Doug: Hello, friends, would you like to hear an amazing fact? Nan Aspinwall was a woman who led an extraordinary life as a sharpshooter, stunt rider, and trick roper on Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show, also known as "Two-gun" Nan. This consummate cowgirl with the beauty of a model and ferocious determination accomplished a feat that has never been matched.
According to the story, Bill Cody had a strong disagreement with a rival showman who bet Buffalo Bill that the woman could not complete a transcontinental horse ride alone. Determined to accept the challenge, 31-year-old Nan set off on September 1, 1910. Mounting her favorite mare, Lady Ellen, the intrepid cowgirl picked up a letter from the Mayor of San Francisco addressed to the Mayor of New York City, then she set out to deliver it.
Over the next 180 days, she covered 4,496 miles alone riding 25 to 30 miles a day. Nan had many adventures crossing mountains and fording rivers, even shoeing her horse herself 14 times along the way. She packed a pistol and was not afraid to use it. In one place, she sent several bullets into the door of an establishment that was refusing her service.
Another time, she spent a week in the hospital after her horse stumbled down a mountainside. Finally, on July 9, 1911, she rode into New York City delivering her letter to city hall, becoming the first woman to cross the United States by horseback alone. Did you know the book of Revelation pictures Jesus riding across the heavens on a white horse? Stay with us, friends, we're going to learn more on this edition of Bible Answers Live.
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Announcer: You're listening to Bible Answers Live, honest answers to your bible questions. This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this evening's program, call (800) 835-6747. Once again, that's (800) 835-6747. Now, let's join our host, Pastor Doug Batchelor, and our co-host, Pastor Jëan Ross.
Pastor Doug: Hello, listening friends, Bible Answers Live. If you've got a Bible question, we invite you to call in that number 800-GOD-SAYS, (800) 463-7297. The beginning of the program is a good time to call in with your Bible question. We look forward to talking about the word of God with you. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jëan: My name is Jëan Ross. Pastor Doug, we'd like to begin the program with prayer. Dear Father in heaven, once again, we thank you for the opportunity to spend a few moments opening up your word and studying together. We do ask your blessing upon this program. Be with those who are listening and lead us into a clear understanding of the Bible. For we ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Jëan: Pastor Doug, we also want to welcome those joining us on Facebook across the country and around the world. We see folks tuning in from all over the place. If you have a Bible question and you'd like to give us a call, the number to call is (800) 463-7297 with your Bible question. Pastor Doug, you opened the program by talking about just an incredible feat of going solo horseback from San Francisco to New York City, the first time a woman ever did this in history. I can just imagine how tough that would've been for anyone.
Back in the 1911, early 1900s, there were probably weeks that you would travel. I can just think of the prairie lands without seeing another human being day after day after day just hoping that you're heading in the right direction.
Pastor Doug: It was probably a real epic event. For one thing, you have to keep in mind, there were still states during those years where a woman could not ride a horse like a man does, straddling it, you had to ride side-saddle. They actually had laws. Of course, she was riding cowgirl style. She said the hardest thing was finding towns that would let her spend the night. They thought that she was just some wild woman, but she persevered. It's interesting when she got into New York City when you read the account, there was quite a bit of fanfare at that point.
After she delivered the letter, she went to a 12-story hotel, rode into the hotel lobby with her horse, rode the horse onto the freight elevator, and took it up to the 10th or 11th floor, and rode off. She rode right to her room on her horse. You've got to give the horse credit, that is a long haul for one horse. Some people were saying, "Oh, she only went 25 or 30 miles a day." Well, for one horse to do that day after day, that is a lot of work. It is a remarkable accomplishment.
I used to break horses, believe it or not. I adopted Mustangs from Arizona, and we would break them and train them, part of a kids youth program that we did. It is frightening when you're doing that. You find horses all the way through the Bible. You even find horses in prophecy. Some people might be surprised to learn that in the last book of the Bible, some of the last chapters talks about Jesus riding across the heavens on a white horse, and I'll read that to you.
Matter of fact, it mentions several horses in this passage. Revelation 19:11, "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness, He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns, and He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. And He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name was called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven clothed in fine linen, white and clean followed Him on white horses." there's the horses again.
"And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations; and He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and the wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords."
This is a picture of Christ who is the Word leading the armies of heaven. It's talking about the ultimate triumph of God's people. Here's my question for you, is Jesus really coming on a horse and all these other people coming on horses? When it tells us that chariots and horses of fire came and picked up Elijah, did the angels really come riding down on horses or do horses symbolize something in the Bible?
Pastor Jëan: You're asking me?
Pastor Doug: Yes.
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Pastor Jëan: I'm waiting for the answer. [laughs]
Pastor Doug: You are wanting to know yourself.
Pastor Jëan: Well, of course, horses here symbolize the most fearsome I guess division of Old Testament military was the horsemen. They were fast. They were powerful. Here, Jesus described the Second Coming, Jesus described He's coming on a white horse, He's coming to bring deliverance to His people.
The Bible speaks of the great battle of Armageddon, that takes place in the last days where the wicked mount their attack upon God's people and Jesus comes and delivers them. Here he's pictured as King of Kings riding on a white horse of deliverance. Yes, Revelation is a symbolic book. Jesus comes with all the angels of heaven, here described, He's coming on horses.
Pastor Doug: Yes, and then in some places you look, it says He's coming seated on a cloud, in Revelation 14:14. The horse is typically a sign of power. I think it's interesting that when Jesus rode into Jerusalem, He rode on a donkey, a colt, a little donkey, and now, He comes as King.
Pastor Jëan: On a white horse.
Pastor Doug: He's coming a conquering King, which is in the ancient world when a king rode into his home city after he conquered, he often had a white horse, a symbol of purity and power. You might want to better understand prophesy, friends. We have a magazine that deals with the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. If you call us, we don't often offer this because it's I think a 96-page color illustrated magazine. It's a fascinating beautiful resource, the kind of thing you'd want on your coffee table. We will send you one for asking, but you got to call.
Pastor Jëan: All you'll have to do is call our resource phone line. You can ask for the Daniel & Revelation Magazine. The number to call is (800) 835-6747 that is the resource phone line. Again, not always going to have this offer available, but you can ask for the Amazing Facts, Daniel & Revelation Magazine. We'll be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks. One more time, the number is (800) 835-6747. Well, we're ready to go to the phone lines with our Bible question. The first caller this evening is Stephanie in New Mexico. Stephanie, welcome to the program.
Stephanie: Thank you so much. I've called before, and I have another question.
Pastor Jëan: Okay.
Stephanie: It's based on two scriptures. I'm about to get married in June. I know the scripture in 2 Corinthians 6:14 where it says, "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?" Then the second scripture was 1 Peter 3:1-2, "Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, that without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."
The person I'm about to marry says he believes in God, but hasn't professed Christ as his savior. I don't know if you have to do that out loud verbally in front of someone else or not, but I'm just wondering, being a stronger believer than him, am I unequally yoked? If I am, people tell me to hang onto the other scripture about his conduct might be won over by mine. I'm just wondering what your thoughts are on that.
Pastor Doug: Stephanie, you are a believing Christian?
Stephanie: Absolutely.
Pastor Doug: You believe the scripture, you're quoting scripture to me. The person that you're preparing to marry or considering marrying doesn't openly profess is I think what I'm hearing you say that Jesus is his Lord and savior.
Stephanie: No, I've never heard him say it. He says he believes in God.
Pastor Doug: I hope you haven't sent out invitations yet.
Stephanie: No, have not.
Pastor Doug: You know what? The verse that you're reading in Peter is talking about Peter went through the Roman world and sometimes pagans converted to Christ. There'd be a woman who's been raised a pagan, she's married to a pagan but she accepts Jesus. Peter is saying, you might reach your husband by witnessing to them but they would never recommend you went into a relationship with someone that did not share the most important thing in the world which is your faith in God.
When you're considering as a Christian the criteria of the man you want to marry, some say, "I want him to have a sense of humor and I want him to be good looking or I want him to care about me," and all the different things you might list. Top of your list as a Christian is that he would be a committed Christian. If that is not the first thing that appears, boy, I wouldn't go. I wouldn't even take the second step. I want to take another date. I'm just being honest with you. I just see so much heartache when people who do not share--
If you say my goal in my life is to get to heaven and to follow Christ and get closer and closer to Him. You're about to make those strongest human link with a person that may not be going the same direction, someone's going to get pulled against their will. I'd pray long and hard about that. I have a book I can send you a free copy and it's talked about--
It's Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage, and that you, of course, will enjoy the part about marriage. If you call our resource line, and I'll pray God gives you the courage because when you find someone that's nice and loving and kind, it's really easy to forget the most important thing, they have Jesus first in their life.
Pastor Jëan: Then I'm going to call if you'd like to get that free resource, that book is called Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage just call (800) 835-6747 and ask for the book. This is for anyone. The number to call is (800) 835-6747 ask for the book on marriage. Thank you for your call, Stephanie. Our next call is Cam, listening from-- I'm not quite sure where Cam is listening from. Is there a Cam out there?
Pastor Doug: We'll talk to you anyway.
Cam: Hello?
Pastor Doug: Hi, thanks for calling.
Pastor Jëan: Yes, thanks for calling.
Cam: Thanks for answering, Pastor Doug. I have a quick question on do we still need to keep the 10 commandments because I have a pastor that says we don't need to keep the 10 commandment that's from the Old Testament and Jesus kept it all for us. We don't need keep the commandments anymore.
Pastor Doug: A young man came to Jesus and he said, "Good master, what should I do that I might inherit eternal life." I think this is Mark 10. It's actually in three Gospels. Jesus said, "Why do you call me good? No one is good but God. If you would enter into life, keep the commandments." He said, "Which ones?" Jesus begins to recite the 10 commandments to him. You can find a number of places in the New Testament where it talks about the commandments, and then it references the 10 commandments.
Pastor Jëan: Yes, the verses you're referring to you can read about in Matthew 19:29, Mark 10:17, Luke 10:25 and that's also referred to a little bit in Luke 18.
Pastor Doug: Jesus said, "If you love me, keep my commandments." I think, "Well, what commandments are those?" It would start with, loving God covers the first four commandments. If you love God, you don't worship other gods, you don't use His name in vain et cetera. If you love your fellow man, you don't lie to them, you don't kill them, you don't steal them. That covers the last six commandments.
Loving God and loving your fellow man are the two principles that encompass the 10 commandments. Of course, a believer is going to want to keep the 10 commandments. Which ones would be okay to break? Is it okay for a believer to lie or to steal or to kill or to covet? The moral law, it's a foundational truth for all believers.
Cam: He also says that Jesus kept the 10 commandments because He's conceived by the Holy Spirit because we are a carnal like nature or something.
Pastor Doug: The whole idea of being saved is He saves us from disobedience so we can obey. Bible says when you're converted, old things are passed away, all things are made new. John tells us in his letter, "If we say we love him and keep not His commandments, we're a liar." Now that's pretty clear. I know I hear pastors every now and then saying, Jesus kept the law for us so we don't have to.
To me, that's just, the old sailors used to call it scuttlebutt. It's like Bill's water. That's totally not true. Jesus said, "Whosoever shall break the least of these commandments," this is in Matthew 5:17-19, "Whoever will break the least of these commandments and teach men so, he's spoken of as least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever will do and teach them, will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Jesus said, "Think not that I've come to destroy the law." The idea that Jesus came to destroy the law is antithetical to everything he died for.
Pastor Jëan: You mentioned that verse in 1 John 5, if I read a couple more verses, it's so clear. In 1 John 5:3, "For this is the love of God that we keep His commandments and that His commands are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God, overcomes the world, and this is the victory that overcomes the world even our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world? But he who believes in Jesus as the Son of God." There it's pretty clear that it's the will of God. It's the love of God that we keep His commandments. How do we keep His commandments? Through faith in Jesus.
Pastor Doug: You know what I'd like to do if it's okay with you, we'll send you a really good study that's full of scripture on this and it's called, Written in Stone. It's a study on what the Bible, New and Old Testament says about the law and how a Christian saved by grace relates to that, and I know you'll be blessed.
Pastor Jëan: The number to call is (800) 835-6747. You can ask for the study guide called, Written in Stone. We'll be happy to send this to you. Cam or anybody who calls and asks.
Announcer: You're listening to Bible Answers Live. This broadcast is a previously recorded episode. If you'd like answers to your Bible-related questions on the air, please call us next Sunday between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM Pacific Time, call us at 1-800-GOD SAYS.
Pastor Jëan: The next caller that we have is Joy listening from Kansas City. Joy, welcome to the program.
Joy: Thank you. I wanted to ask you both about how many types of angels are there and what are their ministries.
Pastor Doug: That's a great question. I have to tell you I don't know. Now I can tell you what the Bible says. There are different kinds of angels and they're probably different levels and different ranks for lack of a better word of angels. The Bible speaks of Cherubim and Seraphim and Holy ones. Sometimes it uses the same word to describe these. A ministering spirit is another term that's used in Hebrews, but there's a whole realm. Paul calls them, "Principalities and powers in heavenly places."
There is a whole realm of ministering spirits around the throne of God. You have the two angels that are the covering cherub by the throne of God. They're in Isaiah 6 say, cry, Holy Holy Holy by the throne. That's the two angels on the arch who are a symbol of them, and we've got Gabriel. He seems to be a high ranking angel that brings messages.
Jesus talks about protecting. We call them guardian angels. He talks about the children. He says even their angels do behold the face of my father in heaven. Never uses the word guardian angels, but there are verses that say he'll give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. Another verse says the angel of the Lord encamps round about those that fear Him. It's a big study. I'm sure that there is a lot about angels we don't know. We don't know the different rankings, but it seems there's different levels.
Joy: And the Archangel.
Pastor Doug: The Archangel, that's probably one of the most misunderstood terms. The Archangel is not an angel like a cherub. The Archangel is a term that's often used to refer to Jesus before his incarnation. Now Jesus is not an angel. Jesus is the eternal son of God. He's not created. The word angel means messenger. Matter of fact, even King David is sometimes called an angel. He's not a cherub and he doesn't have wings, but Michael means, who is as God.
When you read in 1 Thessalonians 4 about the second coming, it says, "The Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel." The Lord, with the voice of the Archangel. When this Archangel appears to Joshua, Joshua is told to take his shoes off his feet because it's Holy Ground. Michael is a different category, but you know what we might do. That's gives me a good idea. Why don't we send you our free book on Michael, the Archangel?
Pastor Jëan: I was going to suggest that. The number to call is (800) 835-6747. You can ask for the book called Who is Michael the Archangel. I think it talks about not only the Archangel, but it talks about some of the other angels that we read about in the Bible. Again, the number is (800) 835-6747. Ask for the book called, "Who is Michael the Archangel." Our next caller that we have is calling from Wisconsin. I believe it's Jëan. Jëan, Welcome to the program.
Jëan: Hey, thank you. Good evening, you guys, so nice to talk to you again.
Pastor Doug: Thank you for calling.
Jëan: Thanks, Doug. Quick question for you. In the garden when Jesus is praying to the father, I'm a little confused, Jesus is God incarnate on earth, correct? He's praying until blood mixes with His sweat to the father. Can you explain that? I'm a little confused that He's praying to himself there.
Pastor Doug: Well, Jesus, and of course, not only in the garden of Gethsemane but many times, Jesus prayed. Sometimes he spent entire nights in prayer because when Christ came to earth-- and that verse in Philippians, "He made Himself of no reputation," Pastor Ross. When Jesus came to earth, He set aside obviously a dimension of His divinity. That's why on the cross, He's thirsty and He's begging for a drink. That's why He falls asleep in the boat during a storm because He's exhausted like a human.
He took on human form, and so He still was 100% God in His power, but He never used that power except as we can. Christ came as our example. He prayed as an example to us, so we need to pray, and not only in the garden of Gethsemane but He prays in John 17 is a beautiful prayer. He prays at the tomb of Lazarus for the resurrection. Jesus, in the Lord's prayer, He tells the disciples how to pray. Christ always prayed to the father as an example on how we approach the father.
Pastor Jëan: The verse you're referring to is Philippians 2:7, where it talks about Jesus when He came to the earth, made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, coming in the likeness of man.
Pastor Doug: Yes, that's it.
Pastor Jëan: Jesus took upon himself humanity, laid aside His divinity. He had to ask the father, even as we need to ask.
Pastor Doug: We have that book that Joe Cruz wrote. It's great, called Christ's Human Nature." Maybe we could send you a free copy of that. It's got a lot of scripture on this question. You just call for it, ask for it.
Pastor Jëan: Yes. The number to call (800) 835-6747. You can ask for the book called Christ's Human Nature. We'll be happy to send this to anybody who calls and asks. Next caller that we have is let's see, we've got Steven. Steven, welcome to the program.
Steven: Thank you very much. I appreciate you taking my call. I'm a long time listener, a first-time caller. A question it's referring to Exodus 20:13, the 10 commandments says thou shall not kill. Then you can skip over to Genesis 22, referring to Abraham and Isaac. Here's where my question is. Isaac stretched out, 4 or 3 in verse 10, his hand and took a knife to slay him. Now, I know that God commanded him to kill his son, but in his heart, when he raised the knife to slay his son, it appears that he broke the 10 commandments, but obeying God's word at the same time. I'm confused. Can you clarify?
Pastor Doug: First of all, the commandment in Exodus 20:13, technically it reads, and I'm reading it right now from the New King James version, "Thou shall not murder." First of all, murder is a little different.
Steven: Correct.
Pastor Doug: You do have a point that, when God says thou shall not murder, and then He tells Abraham, "Take your son and offer Him as a sacrifice," when God had always said that He didn't believe that pagans should offer human sacrifice. God, of course, has the power to preempt his own law because the law, it comes from Him. He wouldn't allow Abraham to do it, so he never did.
It was really a test. Do you love me enough that you would do it? Would you give your greatest gift? Would you put everything on the altar for me? Abraham said, "Yes, I would." Well, God stopped him. He wouldn't let him go through with that. That is something of a conundrum. Pastor Ross has a thought here.
Pastor Jëan: Just a couple of quick things. First of all, you're reading the New Testament what it says about it, and it says, "Abraham believed that God would raise him from the dead."
Pastor Doug: That's right, Hebrews 11.
Pastor Jëan: It was evidence that this was a sacrifice and Isaac participated in that, he was a willing sacrifice. His father didn't force him.
Steven: He trusted.
Pastor Jëan: He trusted in God as his father did. They were in agreement saying, well, if this is what God asks, God has a purpose, He has a plan, let's trust in Him. The whole context of that was quite different than if someone were to get angry with somebody else and take their life. It was a sacrifice, and they would trust in God that somehow He would work it out. He had a plan for them.
Steven: That's the reason why I had so much to the question because I knew that the killing was actually through obedience in love. It wasn't the angry murder. It wasn't, but yet it was a premeditated and I know Abraham begged days that is this really you God telling me to do something that has never ever happened in history, and that's what caught my attention.
Pastor Doug: It's a beautiful analogy. That story is one of the great analogies of the sacrifice of Jesus in that they went three and a half days to the mountain. The wood is placed on Isaac's back, just as across it was placed on Jesus' back. Isaac is a willing sacrifice as Jesus was a willing sacrifice. Isaac in figure, and I think this is also in Hebrews 11, in figure, Isaac experiences a resurrection. He was all tied up and ready to die, then he's untied and he's free.
It's interesting, three and a half days to the place of sacrifice. Jesus preaches three and a half years. Then finally the replacement for Isaac is they find a ram caught by his horns in a thicket. The word thicket there means a thorn bush. You've got a ram with a crown of thorns. Just the whole story is sort of seeping with the gospel. God allowed this drama to transpire to be a lesson to all future ages.
In fact, when Jesus said, "Before Abraham was, I am," and they said, "How could you say you knew father Abraham because you're not even 50 years old?" Jesus said, "Abraham longed to see my day," and he saw it. When Abraham saw Jesus' day was when he offered his son on the mountain. Don't go very far friends. We're just going to take our halftime break/drink of water, we've got more Bible questions coming. If you want to call in with your question, (800) 463-7297. I have an important announcement when you come back.
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Announcer: Stay tuned, Bible Answers Live will return in a moment.
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Journey back through time to the center of the universe, discover how a perfect angel transformed into Satan, the arch-villain. The birth of evil, a rebellion in heaven, a movie that moved to worlds. Behold the creation of a beautiful new planet and the first humans, witness the temptation and evil. Discover God's amazing plan to save His children. This is a story that involves every life on earth, every life. The cosmic conflict, if God is good, if God is all-powerful, if God is love, then what went wrong?
For life-changing Christian resources, visit afbookstore.com or call +1-(800) 538-7275. You want to know God's plan for our world and solutions for your life's challenges, beautifully redesigned, amazing facts 27 Bible study guides providing encouraging Bible-based answers to questions on healthier relationships, when Jesus will return, and much more.
Prefer to watch while you read, our brand new Prophecy Encounters, DVD series makes the perfect companion set. Order your study guides and DVDs today by visiting afbookstore.com or by calling (800) 538-7275. Written by the hand of God and spoken with his voice, some words will never fade. Get Pastor Doug Batchelor's 12 part sermon series on the 10 commandments by calling (800) 538-7275 or visit afbookstore.com.
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Announcer: Every Bible question you have answered moves you one step closer to the fullness of God's will for your life. What are you waiting for? Get the answers you need for a fuller, richer, more confident life. You're listening to Bible Answers Live. This broadcast is a previously recorded episode.
If you'd like answers to your Bible-related questions on the air, please call us next Sunday between 7:00 PM and 8:00 PM Pacific time. To receive any of the Bible resources mentioned in this evening's program, call (800) 835-6747. Once again, that's (800) 835-6747. Now let's join pastors, Doug Batchelor and Jëan Ross for more Bible Answers Live.
Pastor Doug: Hello, listening friends. If you've tuned in along the way, this is
Bible Answers Live and you're invited to call in with your Bible questions. 800-GOD-SAYS (800) 463-7297. If no one picks up right away, he that endures to the end will be answered. Just try it again. We want to welcome our friends who are listening also on Facebook. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jëan: My name is Jëan Ross. Pastor Doug, be ready to go back to the phone lines. We have Chris listening in Vancouver. Chris, welcome to the program.
Chris: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hey, thank you for waiting, and your question.
Chris: My question is, I'm a parent. My son goes to a public school. We're not able to send them to a Christian school. With Christian schools closing down and our government in Canada trying to introducing laws that go against Christianity, Ii there any biblical evidence or advice that we should follow to contradict what's going on?
Pastor Doug: Yes. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses said, "These words I command you this day shall be in your heart." He talks about Deuteronomy 5 is the 10 commandments said, "You shall teach them to your children when you lay down, when you rise up, when you go out and when you come in, and they shall be written on your hand, between your eyes, and on your doorposts."
You need to compensate for what the kids are going to hear in school, both from the teachers and sometimes from unconverted friends. Not every parent can homeschool. I know in some countries, they don't allow that and some families working situations don't allow it, and not every parent is actually equipped to be a homeschool teacher. Some are better equipped than others, but all parents should be able to teach their children the word of God and just so saturate them with it.
That's why Moses said, "When you lay down," evening worship with your kids, "When you rise up," morning worship with your kids. Even if it's short, have prayer with them, read a verse, help them memorize some of the important principles. When they encounter the false things, remind your kids, "You are missionaries."
Just like missionary families used to go into the jungles where people ran around naked and did all kinds of crazy things. Those missionaries would have to teach their kids, "Yes, the pagans around you are going to do some crazy things because they're pagans," and they understood they were missionaries. Teach your kids when they go into the jungle of a public school, they're missionaries. That make sense?
Chris: That does make sense. That actually makes a lot of sense.
Pastor Doug: It's tough, I know. I know what the laws are you're talking about. There are certain programs we can't air in Canada because they say it's not loving [chuckle] or something like that.
Chris: A lot of people here don't want to actually talk about the issues that we're actually facing and the severity that they're becoming criminal now. You can criminally be put in jail for teaching your children against these principles.
Pastor Doug: I know. There is a very militant-- Now I'm in North America, so I can still say this, but there is a very militant homosexual lobby in some of these countries where in England and in Canada and some places that if you speak against it because the Bible does, they call it hate speech. You got to be very careful what you say because you're right. Pastors and different folks are being put in jail, and they will not tolerate another point of view. If you have a different point of view, you've lost that freedom in some states, in some countries. We'll pray God gives you wisdom. Appreciate your call, Chris. We do have a book, we'll send you called Culture and the Christian.
Pastor Jëan: The number to call is (800) 835-6747. Again, you can ask for the book called Culture and the Christian.
Announcer: You want to know God's plan for our world and solutions for your life's challenges, beautifully redesigned, amazing facts 27 Bible study guides provide encouraging Bible-based answers to questions on healthier relationships, when Jesus will return, and much more. Prefer to watch while you read? Our brand new Prophecy Encounters, DVD series makes the perfect companion set. Order your study guides and DVDs today by visiting afbookstore.com or by calling (800) 538-7275.
Pastor Jëan: Next caller today is Nick listening from Collegedale, Tennessee. Nick, welcome to the program.
Nick: Hey, thanks for having me, Pastor Doug. My question is what is the Trinity and why does it matter?
Pastor Doug: Well, I'll start with the second half of that. Why does it matter? I think anything revealed in the word of God, about God, says something about the greatness of God, it matters because it tells us about His exalted position and His Holiness. The Trinity of course believes that not only God the Father is eternal, is all-knowing, and He's all-powerful. It tells us God, the son is eternal, all-knowing, and all-powerful.
Some people believe Jesus is a creation of the father, that God just promoted Him to be a God, but he was created at one point. That I think undermines the sacrifice of God, the Father, and the Son. It's almost like God creates somebody to be a sacrifice. Well, that's, you know, that's easy for you to do, but if God Himself, if the creator is willing to die to redeem the creation, it tells us something different about God.
Understanding that, I think is important. Then also the omnipotence of God, the Spirit and the omnipresence of God, the Spirit as well. I think that the teachings do matter. I think there are going to be some people in heaven that maybe misunderstood this. I want to be careful not to make it sound like you can't be saved if you don't understand the Trinity.
Nick: What about the illustration of water? How some say that you can use water in the three separate states to illustrate the Trinity?
Doug: Well, whenever you resort, and I've heard people use an egg, they say, "You've got a shell, you've got the yolk, you've got the white and it's all one thing." People say water is one thing. The problem with the water illustration is it lends towards what they call modalism meaning that God sometimes manifests Himself as the son. Sometimes He manifests Himself as the father and sometimes as the Spirit. That He's just one, He's one God that kind of morphs in different ways.
We don't believe that. We believe they're separate distinct persons because of the baptism of Jesus. You've got God, the father speaks in heaven. God, the son is in the water. God, the spirit is coming down between the two. They're three different persons at the same time in three different places. We believe in three unique persons when Jesus is on earth praying to the father, He's not talking to Himself. He's talking to another distinct being.
Pastor Jëan: We have a book called The Trinity, is it biblical? It deals with the subject, it gives it a lot of good Bible verses and we'll be happy to send this to you Nick, or anybody wanting to learn more about this subject. The number to call is (800) 835-6747. You can ask for the book called The Trinity, is it biblical? One more time, that's (800) 835-6747. Our next caller is James listening in Orlando, Florida. James welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Hi, James. Thank you for calling.
James: Hi. I have a question about angels. There's a story in the Bible where Jesus comes in contact with someone who is demon-possessed and He cast them out into a herd of pigs.
Pastor Doug: Mark 5.
James: Yes, I'm just curious, and not necessarily specific to that incidence in the Bible, but just in general, demon possession. When you hear stories about demon possession, does that mean that fallen angels are literally inside the person, inside the body, or does that just mean that they're controlling your mind or something?
Pastor Doug: Well, it's a good question. I don't know that the angels come in and totally possess every fiber of the body, like some kind of ghost. They definitely possess the mind or influence the mind of the person. That's where the devil has his-- God doesn't possess our foot, He doesn't possess our elbow. A person can lose their foot and still be filled with the Holy Spirit.
God possesses our minds and the devil will do that. It was the devil that spoke through a serpent in the garden of Eden. We know the devil can fill pigs as they did there. [chuckes] Sometimes I thought my neighbors had a demon-possessed dog that barked all night, [laughs] and God can speak through a donkey.
James: I've heard stories in some churches where the preacher will put their hand on somebody and they would collapse and there's slow shaking, out of their mouth comes the voice of a demon. I just always had wondered if it was actually inside the body or if it was just a mind control kind of thing? [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: The demons possess the mind. In that story in Mark 5, when the demon talks to Jesus, he says, "Our name is legion because there's many of us." Well, you don't fit 2000 devils, that's a Roman Legion, in one person, but they're that many that were manipulating his mind. It is true. I've met people that were demon-possessed. Sometimes the devil speaks through them when a person loses their temper and they get angry, the devil can inspire them to say things that are mean and cutting. They may not be totally possessed, but they're influenced.
James: I know time is limited, so I want to sneak in one more question about angels. In Genesis, the breath of life plus the dust of the earth is the two ingredients for a living soul. What about angels? What kind of living soul does an angel have because I imagine they don't have the dust of the earth, just the breath of life.
Pastor Doug: Well, now I'm delving a little bit into things that I don't understand Paul calls them principalities and powers, they're ministering spirits. They do not age like we do. Gabriel appears to Daniel 500 years later, more than that, he appears to Mary and he hasn't aged. They're ministering spirits that are created. Humans are born.
James: Okay, but you wouldn't call them like a soul, right?
Pastor Doug: No, not like a human. They're very different. We're made in the image of God. There's a difference. Then the Bible says people are made a little lower than the angels, maybe meaning less physical power because they are the soldiers of God. Yes, there's some mysteries there we don't understand. I need to write a book about angels because we get a lot of questions on that. Hey, thank you very much. We're going to move on to the next caller.
Pastor Jëan: Next caller that we have is Shelby, listening from Kentucky. Shelby, welcome to the program.
Shelby: Thank you, guys. My question was, I wanted to know the difference between the new and the old covenant. I've got the first part of love and liberty, but I don't really fully understand it.
Pastor Doug: All right. Well, sometimes we talk about the Old Testament and the New Testament. The word Testament and covenant are the same. You first find the New Covenant in the Old Testament. It's in Jeremiah 31:31, where he says a new covenant will I make with the house of Israel after those days. Now the old covenant God made with Israel after the 10 commandments were orally spoken. They said, "All the Lord has said we will do." God said, "Here's my law." The people said, "We will keep your law. We will be your people."
God says, all right, I'm going to give you a written transcript. While God is getting the written transcript, Moses is picking it up, they make a golden calf and they break all the commandments. You read in Hebrews it says that the new covenant is based on better promises. The promise of the people to keep God's law failed. The new covenant is based on the promise of God. God says I will write my law in their hearts through the power of the spirit and through the power of love when we see Jesus' death for us.
We want to keep His law because we love Him. The new covenant is the same law, but it's written on the heart and we want to observe it because of love. You've got the 10 commandments in both the old and the new covenant. What you have is better promises, and God says, He'll write it on our hearts. That's a very simple way, but I've got a study, I'll send you, that talks about why the old covenant failed. It's a booklet by Joe Cruz. It's a great little book, Why The Old Covenant Failed and we'll send you a free copy of that and it's got all the verses on that. All right. Hey, thanks so much for your call.
Pastor Jëan: All right. The number to call is (800) 835-6747. You can ask for the book, Why The Old Covenant Failed. One more time that number is (800) 835-6747.
[music]
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Pastor Jëan: We have Roberta listening from South Carolina. Roberto, welcome to the program. Hello.
Pastor Doug: They might have mute on, sometimes they're waiting patiently. We'll try Roberto once, Roberta twice. All right, we'll put you on hold and check again later.
Pastor Jëan: We'll have to go to Abigail, listening, Sonora, California.
Abigail: Hello, Pastor Doug?
Pastor Jëan: Hello, Abigail. Are you there?
Pastor Doug: Hi, thank you for calling, and your question.
Abigail: My question is why did God accept Abel's offering, but did not accept Cain's offering?
Pastor Doug: All right. Very good. In the beginning when man sinned, you remember Adam and Eve, when they first send the robes of light went out and they saw they were naked. They went and tried to make some aprons out of fig leaves. Well, leaf clothing doesn't work very well and last very long. It says God gave them robes of skin. Now, in order for us to wear leather, something has to die.
This is when God told them that someday His son would come like the lamb of God and die for their sins. They would sacrifice lambs from time to time as a symbol of the blood of Jesus that would wash away our sin. Abel did what God told him. He brought a lamb to sacrifice for his sin, but Cain thought that was kind of mean and messy and he said, "I don't want to obey God. I'm going to bring fruit from my garden." God said, "No, you can't be forgiven by offering apple juice. You can only be forgiven by offering the blood of the lamb. A life has to be lost for you to be saved."
Cain got upset that his idea was not accepted, that his brother was right and he was wrong, and he ultimately killed his own brother. It's only by the sacrifice of a life that our lives could be saved and forgiven. Those lambs that died don't really save us, it's the symbol for Jesus, the lamb of God that saves us. God's son. Does that make sense?
Abigail: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well, that's a deep question. We appreciate you calling to ask that. I'm trying to think what we can send Abby, that she would enjoy. I wonder if she'd like our comic book on the second coming of Jesus.
Pastor Jëan: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Is that right?
Pastor Jëan: That's right. We have one on dinosaurs. We have one on the second coming. We have one on what happens when you die. All you have to do is just call and ask for it. The number to call is (800) 835-6747.
Pastor Doug: How old are you Abby?
Abigail: Nine.
Pastor Doug: Oh, yes, you'll enjoy this.
Pastor Jëan: You know what? Even more, I think you'd enjoy the Amazing Adventure set of lessons.
Pastor Doug: Oh, yes, that's good.
Pastor Jëan: If you call and ask for that, we'll be happy to send that to you as well. The number again, (800) 835-6747. Ask for the Amazing Adventure lessons and we'll try and get that out to you. Our next caller that we have is Robert listening from College Place, Washington. Robert, welcome to the program.
Robert: Thank you. Good evening?
Pastor Doug: Evening. Thank you for calling.
Robert: Yes. I have a question regarding Genesis 1:14. Some people I understand say that has to do with the lunar Sabbath. "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times," some versions say. Are we supposed to celebrate the lunar Sabbath or the weekly Sabbath or both?
Pastor Doug: Well, the signs and the seasons, this is chapter one, there's no sin. All of the ceremonial Sabbath came as a result of sin to point to Jesus. This is talking about a time when there was no sin, everything was perfect. The signs and the seasons had to do with the garden and planting. We know that the seasons do affect plants.
Some things only flower during the moon. Adam and Eve in the garden, they were to dress and to keep. Adam and Eve were horticulturists by God's design. I'm sure the seasons had something to do with the seasons of the garden and the seasons of the earth. It didn't have to do with sacrifices and feast days because there was no sin yet.
Robert: When people say to mark sacred time sets, that's a wrong translation kind of thing?
Pastor Doug: For chapter one, absolutely. It's not talking about Jewish feasts because all the Jewish feasts had to do with the sacrificial system, and they were the result of sin, and they did not appear until after the Exodus. These are seasons that have to do with-- You notice it says right before that, "All the different kinds of trees that yield fruit." It's talking about an agricultural signs and seasons.
You've heard of a farmer's Almanac that talks about when to plant your tomatoes based upon the seasons. There are things that happen astronomically that have to do with agriculture and tides and even before sin, that was probably true, but it had nothing to do with the ceremonial sacrifices and the feast days of Israel that came 2000 years later.
Robert: Okay. All right, well, thank you.
Pastor Doug: All right. Thank you. Appreciate that. Good question.
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Pastor Jëan: We're going to try and get Roberta back. The call dropped just a little earlier. Roberta, welcome to the program.
Roberta: Hi, Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan. Thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Yes, thanks for your patience.
Roberta: My question is on John 14:15, and what is the Greek word for love in that text, and how do we know that our thoughts and our feelings in our heart for God is the right type of love that He wants us to have for Him?
Pastor Doug: All right, looking this up right now. Just want to make sure I give you an accurate answer. The word love here is agape. This is one of the examples where agape is talking about-- or agapeo is talking about a selfless love. It's pure love. It's not like philadelphia which is a brotherly love, or phileos. It's not talking about storge. It's not talking about eros, which was more of-- that's where you get the word erotica. It was more of a romantic love, so the second part of your question?
Roberta: How do we know if the thoughts of love that we have in our heart is the right type of love that God wants us to have? For example, I pray to God and ask him to help me to love Him the way He wants me to. The type of feelings that I have in my heart are just a deep thankfulness and a wanting to serve Him out of thankfulness.
Pastor Doug: You know you're asking one of the most important questions. If more believers would talk about how we could love better, everything else would fall into place. Our obedience, our passion for souls, all of that, if we could love God better. I pray that God just gives me His love, He gives me His spirit. It's a selfless love. It's a love that says, not what's in it for me, but Lord, I want to love you and put you first.
Pastor Jëan: I think the key is in you ask what type of love is described in the verse. The agape love is the self-sacrificing love that we see demonstrated in the life of Christ. Now, of ourselves, we can generate that kind of love, but as we spend time in communion with God, His love is implanted into our hearts. Of course, it takes time. The Bible speaks of our relationship growing. We grow in grace. It's a day-by-day experience, but that can't occur if we're not centering our heart and our mind on Christ and talking to Him, communicating with Him.
Pastor Doug: It says in 1 John 4:19, "We love him because He first loved us." The way to increase our love for Him is by beholding His love for us. This was what John also says in 1 John 3, "Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us." As we behold the love of God at the cross, through His life and sacrifice, it then inspires love for us. I think all of us have been touched or moved when someone does something selfless. As we behold it, it does something in us. That's the key right there, and I hope that helps a little bit. Thank you very much for your question, Roberta, and your persistence.
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Pastor Doug: We're going to see if we can get a couple more calls.
Pastor Jëan: We've got time for one more. We got Benedicta from Bronx, New York.
Benedicta: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi. Thank you for waiting. [crosstalk]
Benedicta: Thank you so much for taking my call. I just want to find out what's God's opinion about gambling, Christians gambling? Like playing lottery, all these dollar bill lotteries, and then I have two sets of questions. These 24 elders in the book of Revelation. Where do they come from?
Pastor Jëan: We probably got time for just the one, [crosstalk] I see we're standing at two minutes late.
Pastor Doug: Let me just start with work on gambling real quick, and you could maybe find out more about the 24 elders at our website. Anything that is addicting, we probably should avoid, and we know some people get addicted to gambling. The idea of getting money quickly or getting a lot of money rapidly, Solomon says, "He that would make haste to be rich will not be innocent." You know they gambled there at the cross for Jesus, and that wasn't good. He died. They gambled [chuckle] for Jonah, and he got tossed overboard.
Gambling doesn't have a real good record in the Bible. The idea, when you gamble, usually, it's the house that wins and people are impoverished. There's just a few rich people that own the casinos, that they make money. It's often been associated with organized crime and government, which are almost one and the same, aren't they?
Pastor Jëan: [laughs]
Pastor Doug: Hey, I apologize if we can't get more of your questions but don't give up on us, Benedicta. Give us a call next week, and we'll try and deal with that 24 elder question. If you like this program and you want to keep us on the air, you know we're 100% supported by our listeners, friends, we'd love to hear from you. You can just go to the Amazing Facts page and click donate. You can also do it through our app. Amazingfacts.org, God Bless.