Pastor Ross: Hello friends, many years ago Al Capone virtually owned Chicago. He was notorious for enmeshing the windy city in everything from gambling to a murder. Capone had a lawyer, nicknamed Easy Eddy. Eddy was very good. In fact Eddy's skill at legal maneuvering kept Al Capone out of jail for many years. Despite his involvement with organized crime, Eddy loved his little boy. In fact, his love for his son led him to make a very difficult decision. Stay tuned for more, you're listening to Bible Answers live.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Ross: Hello friends, pastor Doug is out. Easy Eddy was Al Capone's lawyer, very much involved in the Chicago mafia. Yet he tried to teach his young son right from wrong. He wanted his son to grow up to be a better man than he was. With all of his wealth, and influence, there were two things that he couldn't give his son. He couldn't pass him a good name, or a good example. One day, Eddy reached a difficult decision. He decided to testify against Al Capone in order to clean up his reputation, and to set up a new example for his son.
He knew that it was a dangerous decision, and within a year his life ended in a blaze of gunfire on a lonely Chicago street. His effort however to teach his son a better way did not go without results. Several years later during World War Two, a fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Lexington, took off with his squadron on a mission in the South Pacific. After airborne Butch O'Hare looked at his fuel gauge and realized that someone had forgotten to fill up his tank. He would not have enough fuel to complete the mission and get back to his ship. Reluctantly he dropped out of formation, and headed back to the fleet.
On his way back he saw something that turned his blood cold. A squadron of Japanese planes headed straight towards the American fleet. Laying aside all thoughts of personal safety, he dove into the formation of Japanese planes, firing at one plane, and then another, until all of his ammunition was spent. He then continued his assault by weaving in and out amongst the enemy planes, trying to clip a wing or tale. Finally the exasperated Japanese squadron took off in a different direction, and Butch lent his badly damaged plane back to the carrier. The film from the gun camera on his plane told the story. It showed the extend of his bravery to protect his fleet. He had in fact, destroyed five enemy aircraft.
This took place on February 20th 1942. And for this action, he became the first Navy pilot to win the Congressional Medal of Honor. Sadly though, a year later he was killed in aerial combat at the age of 29. His hometown named their airport in his honor. The Chicago O'Hare International Airport. What is the connection than, between Butch O'Hare and Easy Eddy. Well Butch was Eddy's son. He learned from his father the lesson of doing the right thing at any cost.
Did you know friends that the Bible tells the story of another father and son relationship and of their decision to do the right thing at any cost. In John Chapter 3:16 and 17 we read these familiar words, "For God to love the world that he gave his only begotten son, that who soever believes in him should not parish, but have everlasting life." For God did not send his son into the world to condemn to the world, but that the world through him might be saved. Friend perhaps you asked the question, what must I do in order to have everlasting life.
How do I receive this gift that God wants to give? If you ever wondered about this, we have a book that we want to send to you, it's free. The book is entitled Three Steps to Heaven, and if'd call our resource line, we'll be happy to send it to you, and answers this very important question, "What I must do to be saved?" The number to receive the book is 800-835- 6747. That number again is 800-835-6747 and ask for the book Three Steps to Heaven, and we'll be happy to send that to you. Now if this is the first time that you're listening to Bible Answers Live, welcome. This is a live interactive, international Bible study. And if you have a Bible related question, we would love to hear from you this evening. To get on the air, the phone number is 800-463-7297, that's 800 God says 800-463-7297, we have some phone lines that are still open, this is a good time to call. 800-463-7297.
My name is Jean Ross, but before we take your calls and open up the Bible, I invite you to join me for a word of prayer. Father we recognize that the Bible is your book, and in order for us to understand it correctly we need the guidance of the holy spirit. So we ask for your special blessing upon this program and be with us here in the studio and be with those who are listening, wherever they might be Father. Illuminate your word tonight, so that we can understand more about you. For we ask this in Jesus name, amen. The number to get your call in on the program tonight is 800-463-7297 and we're going to go to the phone lines right away, we have Tony who is listening from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tony welcome to the program.
Tony: Hi, how are you doing today?
Pastor Ross: Doing well, and yourself?
Tony: Okay, I'm doing great.I wanted to just give my thanks to you guys, being the greatest Bible teachers on the planet.
Pastor Ross: Praise the Lord. Thank you. Your question tonight?
Tony: My question is, pastor Doug always teaches that the church will be kept through tribulation, he always teaches that the church is going to be through it not kept from it but I believe Revelation 3:10 says, "the churches kept from the hour of trouble that's coming to the whole world." Now why does Revelation 3:10 say, "that the church is going to be kept from the hour not through it."
Pastor Ross: All right, good question. For those who are listening, let me read the verse Revelation Chapter 3:10, this is Jesus speaking to the church of Philadelphia. Jesus says, "Because you have kept my word, and my patience, I will also keep you from the hour of temptation or the hour of trouble tribulation which shall come up on the world to try damn that dwell upon the earth." Now if you look at Revelation Chapter 2, and Revelation Chapter 3 we have Christ messages to the seven churches. Each of these seven churches represent seven times of Christian history. Beginning with the time of the Apostles and moving on into the third and fourth century all the way down to our day. Now, Revelation Chapter 3:10 is Jesus speaking to church of Philadelphia. The Church of Philadelphia represents Christianity as a whole in the first part of the 1800s. There was a time of great revival, it was a great interest in Bible prophecy, various Bible societies were established throughout the world, it was also a time of great missionary activity during the early 1800s. Because of their fervency and their commitment and their love, and their work of evangelism, the church during that time period received from Jesus no rebuke. Just words of encouragement. But really there is another church that follows the church of Philadelphia, and that is the church of Laodicea. The Church of Laodicea represents the church of today, it's the final church in the series of seven. Now Daniel 12: 1 and 2 say, “At that time Michael shall stand up the great princes stands watch over the children of my people and there will be a time of trouble it will be worse than any that the world has seen. But at that time, the people shall be delivered everyone who is found written in the book.” Daniel 12:1 says, “There will be a time of trouble prior to the coming of Christ, God's people will be protected through their time. And this admonition will be found in Revelation 3:10 is referring to the church of Philadelphia which is Christianity in general in the early 1800s.
Tony: Yes. I was just curious because it does say the church is kept from the hour and it's like one time history, Jack had said about--he had a thing on whether we're going to go through tribulation or be kept from it and he said we're going to be kept from it because it's like you don't beat up the bride of Christ and then take her home to heaven. While we get beat up and then be taken to heaven.
Pastor Ross: Remember the tribulation or the time of trouble that comes for the church. The church is protected during that time. For example you have the children of Israel, they were in Egypt God is about to deliver them. And take them to the promised land but prior to their deliverance from Egypt, you have the 10 plagues that came upon the nation. God's people were protected during that time. You have Shadrack, Mishack and Abendigo and they’re standing on the plain of Dura. King Nebuchadnezzar commands everyone to bow down and worship the golden image, they refused to bow down and so they get thrown into the fiery furnace but God is with them through that experience.
Through their time of trouble, throughout Bible history, we see God's people brought into a time of trouble or a time of distress and if they’re faithful to God, God delivers them and carries them through. It's going to be the same thing for God's people at the end of time. There will be mean trouble all around us but God will carry his people through.
Tony: Or there's a nuclear war, am I going to be saved from that? Because if I’m saved from that-
Pastor Ross: If you trust in God, he will protect you no matter what happens in the world around. If he could take care of Shadrack, Mishack and Abednego in a fiery furnace, he's going to be able to take care of us no matter what happens.
Tony: That’s true.
Pastor Ross: As long as we keep our faith centered upon him.
Tony: Okay, want to thank you so much for answering that for me.
Pastor Ross: Good question thank you Tony. Our next caller is Lanie and he's listening from Michigan. Lenny Welcome to the program.
Lenny: Hello pastor Ross, thank you. Before I ask my question, I want to tell you I was looking into the archive and the first time that I heard you come out of the archives was September 11th 2005.
Pastor Ross: [laughs] didn’t realize that.
Lenny: Anniversary for you it might be.
Pastor Ross: Yes, I didn't realize that.
Lenny: My question is regarding when Saul went to the witch to have Samuel brought back in a desert cafew, It’s my understanding that that wasn't really Samuel, where I get mixed up is in 1 Samuel 28:6. It says that Saul inquired of the Lord and the Lord did not answer him. And then later in 1Chronicles 13 0r 14, it says that Saul did not inquire of the Lord. It says the opposite in regards to the meaning.
Pastor Ross: How do we reconcile those two verses? From 1Samuel 28:6, it appears as though Saul did inquire of the Lord at one point in his life but because of his rebellious heart and stubborn spirit he really committed the unpardonable sin. He drove away the Holy Spirit and God did not respond to him then it was in desperation that instead of asking God, he then turned to the witch of Andoar and got involved in spiritism to try and answer his question. It was because of his hardness of heart that God did not answer him.
There was a time that he did inquire of the Lord but because of his stubbornness, God did not answer and then Saul turned from asking the Lord to asking the witch of Andoor.
Lenny: Can I ask you a question of over earlier and full of life that I think might help?
Pastor Ross: Sure.
Lenny: Earlier, it was a similar situation. From people were coming to attack him and Samuel said week seven days and I'll come to do his sacrifice. Waited the seven days but then he went and did the sacrifice himself. That’s similar he didn’t inquire of the lord but when it came down to it he kind of [unintelligible 00:14:56]
Ross: His inquiry of the Lord was not true hearted or honest. He wanted the blessing of the Lord, he wanted Samuel to do something but God wasn't doing things the way that he wanted to and God was not working as quickly as Saul wanted got to work. So he took things in his own hands. In that sense yes, he inquired of the Lord but he was not willing to wait upon the Lord. And let the Lord answer in the way that he sees fit.
Lenny: All right, thank you.
Pastor Ross: Good question thanks for calling Lenny. The number if you have a Bible question is 800-463-7297, that's 800-463-7297. Ana, calling from Buffalo New York ,Ana welcome to the program.
Pastor Ross: Thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Ross: You’re welcome and your question.
Anna: My question is if a Christian commits suicide, do they go to heaven?
Pastor Ross: That’s a difficult question to answer. The Bible says man looks at the outfit but God looks at the heart. We know that God sees that which man does not see. For that reason the Bible tells us to not judge because we don't know the motive, we don't know the heart. I'm sure there are situations where people take their life but perhaps they're under the influence of some medication. Perhaps they're in extreme pain, perhaps they struggling a chemical imbalance, only God knows.
I know of cases of people that took an overdose of sleeping pills of a person in particular who realized what they did finally and cried out for help and went to the hospital but it was too late. They finally came to realization and they prayed and asked God to help and God knows the heart. God will judge each person based upon the heart. Having said that however for a Christian or for anyone to contemplate suicide as being a way out, it's a very dangerous thing to do. Suicide in many cases is a demonstration of a lack of faith a person has given up, given up on God, given up on life.
The Bible says without faith it is impossible to please God. We want to encourage people no matter what their situation our God is able to see them through. The Bible says, God says, “My grace is sufficient for my strength is made perfect in weakness” Whatever a person is going through, God is there for them but for those who have committed suicide we got to just leave them in God's hands. We need to recognize that God is in the business of saving people, is not trying to keep people out of heaven, he's trying to get as many people into the kingdom as he can. We just trust his wisdom and his judgment.
Anna: Okay, thank you very much.
Pastor Ross: Okay, thanks for calling Anna. We've got Gail who is listening in Queens New York. Gail welcome the program.
Gail: Hey, this is Gail, it’s a pleasure to be able to speak to guys again.
Pastor Ross: Hey Gail.
Gail: I’m also blind so bear with me I can't remember the Bible as well as you guys can remember but I know in Proverbs, it’s about marriage. In 18, 22 it says he who find a wife, finds what is good. He meets his favor from the Lord. In light of that, for some people who are not married it's not easy being like single and stuff like that. And there's a verse that --in verse 27, sounds confusing if you're un married do not look for a wife. It’s contradicts proverbs 18, 22 and Genesis 2:24 where it says for this reason a man will leave his only father and mother and be united to life and to become one flesh. How do you line up that with Proverbs 18, 22?
Pastor Ross: Okay, the principle that we find in Proverbs 18, 22 is indeed true. Whoever finds a wife finds the good thing and obtains favor from the Lord. The other verse that you are referring to was written by the Apostle Paul and I think you are referring to the verse in 1 Corinthians 7:27.
Gail: Yes.
Pastor Ross: Where he says those who are unmarried, my counsel for you is to stay unmarried. If you look back at what was happening in current at the time Paul wrote the letter, persecution was coming against Christians.
Gail: That’s right.
Pastor Ross: Families were being divided, parents were being taken from their children. It was very difficult—it was a very difficult time for Christians especially in that particular area. Paul is addressing a very practical situation and he says it's probably better right now under that circumstance that those who are unmarried remain unmarried, those who don't have children that they don't have children at this point in time or whatever the case might be. The counsel given by Paul was for a specific situation at a specific time, that's not necessarily counsel that everybody needs to take.
Now they might be some situations where a person has a special burden from the Lord to perhaps get engaged in some type of missionary activity, some kind of ministry
Ross: It might be better for him in that situation to be single, in order to fulfill the work that God has called, that definitely is not the situation for everyone.
Speaker 1: That's very good, now I get it in light of the persecution and everything that was going on.
Ross: That's a reason for that counsel.
Speaker 1: Well, thank you God is alive and well in it, where it is only going to work for you.
John: Absolutely, thanks God bless. We have got Paul who is listening in St Louis Missouri, Paul welcome to the program.
Paul: Hi Pastor John, first of all thank you for your program I really enjoy listening to it every week, my question involves Revelation Chapter Nine verse six, this is after the locusts come out of the earth and they' beaten people in there in pain for five months, it says in those days shall men seek death and shall not find it and shall desire to die, free from them. I never understood that, I would think if somebody really wants to kill themselves that they would be able to do it, according to this passage it sounds like people who want to commit suicide are just unable to do it.
John: Okay how do we understand that sure, remember Revelation is a symbolic book Revelation describes these horses galloping through the sky a red one and a white one and a pale one and a black one, Revelation is filled with symbols and idiomatic expressions, here in revelations chapter nine verse six it's really describing a condition that will be prevalent in the earth, during the time described here they will be much distress. They will be much sickness, much suffering that death will seem more desirous than life, yet it seems as though they can't obtain death, in other words they have to just keep pressing on, they would rather die and yet they have to keep pressing on life just keeps going. Even today there are some who find themselves in very difficult situations, death might seem desirous to them and yet they need to just keep pressing on, they need to keep going really this is a very symbolic description of this condition in the youth, that was difficult that people would rather have death than life, nevertheless they have to keep living life have to go on and thus it describes them as not being able to die.
Paul: Okay thank you very much, thank you very much for your answer.
Ross: Thank you Paul, good question very deep study of course Revelation Chapter nine is filled with all kinds of imagery very interesting study, we have Joanne who is listening in New York, Joanne welcome to the program.
Joanne: Hey.
Ross: Hey.
Joanne: I was wondering when Jesus’ real birthday is, they say it’s not really December 25th, can you pinpoint the exact week they say somewhere around the end of September, why haven't Bible scholars such as yourself and pastor Doug, made this very important fact know to the public. This is why Christmas has become commercialized because it’s not really Jesus’ birthday.
Ross: All right, well let me address that a little bit, it's pretty clear to a lot of Bible Students Bible scholars that Jesus was not born on the 24th of December, now there's a number of reasons for that, one of which is you have the shepherds taking care of the sheep out in the fields, in the area of Jerusalem or Bethlehem, December the 25th and they're on ship it's taking care of the sheep out in the fields. At that time of the year because of the temperature, all of the sheep are in the barns they're in a safe place and the shepherds are taking care of them at home, they are actually not grazing out in the fields. Also all the time that was given for the Saints as the taxing that came from Rome, it wouldn't make sense for the Roman Empire to require people to travel great distances to go back to their town of birth in the dead of winter, that just wouldn't make sense, from some of the circumstantial evidence and then also if you look at the time of Jesus' baptism, we know that Jesus was baptized at around the age of 30, the baptism of Jesus took place in the fall of the year somewhere around September October right in that time period.
Now we don't know the exact date nor do we know the exact week, from what we know it's somewhere around like you say the end of September at the beginning of October, now if you look at where December 25th came from really it's got nothing to do with the birth of Jesus, it rather has to do with some pagan ideas that slowly made their way into Christianity, throughout the dark ages and there were different examples of that. If you look at some doctrines for example what are rabbits and the Easter eggs have to do with the resurrection of Jesus, some of these things found their way during the Dark Ages into Christianity, here at amazing facts on this program we have before several times stated quite clearly, that that we don't believe Jesus was born on the 25th of December. However having said that the fact is Jesus was born, he was a very special occasion in there for somebody to remember the birth of Jesus to celebrate the birth of Jesus, that is great that's wonderful we need to remember the birth of Jesus, we don't particularly have a problem with people remembering the birth of Jesus around the time that the year the world might be thinking about that, however we don't recognize the 24th of December as a holy day or a sacred day.
Joanne: That’s a very important fact that should be known.
Ross: The more people study, the more they look into church history they begin to realize some of these things.
Joanne: We celebrating the winter [unintelligible 00:26:01] not Jesus’ birthday.
Ross: That's right, if you look into the history. Well Joanne thanks much for your call we appreciate it, we've got time to get one more call in before the break, we got Gardner who is calling from New York Gardner walk the program.
Gardner: Revelation 12:9 Satan’s cast down and is this the second casting from him, being a because in 12 you will say this time is short in, what went to the head of the earth it is the second tier cast out a second time or just the different routine?
Ross: Well, it is a second casting down in the sense, of the first casting out of Satan is when he's cast out of heaven you read about that early in the chapter, then after the fall after Satan was able to deceive Adam and Eve, Satan claimed kingship of this earth. Matter of fact Jesus conferred to the devil as the prince of this earth, he claimed to be the representative of planet earth, when Jesus died on the cross Satan no longer can represent planet earth, Jesus through he's death they have earned the right to be the representative of earth. In that sense is the second casting down of Satan, that's what is referred to herein Revelation Chapter 12:10.
Gardner: There's no second casting in this end time?
Ross: No this second Casting describe in verse ten, was at the time of Christ's death that's, why if you read the verse says, "I heard a loud voice from heaven saying now is come salvation and strengthen and the kingdom of our God in the power of his Christ for the accuser of our breathed down cast down which accused him before our God day and night." This happened when salvation came and that's referring to Christ death on Calvary.
Gardner: Thank you.
Ross: Okay, Thanks for your question friends you are listening to bible answers live, If you have a Bible related question the number to call is 800-4637-297, again that's 800-4637- 297 the acronym is God says, 800-GOD-SAYS 4-637-297 we coming up on a little break before, we take the break let me tell you about a website, that amazing facts is put together dealing with Bible Prophecy. We have a lot of questions on the program about Bible prophecy, there is a website entitled BibleProprehecyTruth.com, that's BibleProphecyTruth.com, Its is filled with just a rich source of topics dealing with this. Things like 666, the end of Christ Bible prophecy heaven Israel and Bible prophecy, what about the seven last plagues Armageddon and death, these are important questions and their answers to them found in Scripture.
Take a look at the Web site, BibleProphecyTruth.com that is BibleProphecyTruth.com, you'll find many answers to these important questions. We’re going to take some additional phone calls here in just a few moments, before we do that there are some important announcements that we'd like to give to you, if this is the first time that you are listening to bible answers live, it is produced by amazing facts. Amazing facts is a Christian ministry that is supported by your prayers and financial support, if you'd like to learn more about the ministry, go to amazing facts dot org that's just simply amazingfacts.org.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Ross: Hello friends, we're back with Bible Answers Live. My name is Jean Ross. Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening and if you enjoy studying the Bible, you've come to the right place. If you have a Bible related question, we have a phone number we would like to give you. Give us a call to get your question on the air tonight. The number is 800-463-7297, that's 800-463-7297, we've another oh, just shy of 30 minutes of Bible questions that we would like to get to. Our next call is Dareen T and she is calling from Brooklyn, New York. Dareen T, welcome to the program.
Dareen: Hello. I enjoy you so much, every Sunday I got listen to you but anyway Hebrews 1 and 7 and it says of angels. It says, "he make his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire." What does that mean? Are there angel or spirits? I don't understand and his ministers a flame of fire.
Pastor Ross: Okay, well see if we can take a close look at this verse. It's talking about angels here, we know that angels are in a different dimension then we our angels can travel between heaven and earth, angels can appear before people, angels of course are invisible to human eyes but God gave angels to minister to his people and that's why it says thou ministers a flame of fire. It's speaking about the angels, the angels protect us, the angels watch over us. In Scripture, when an angel appears to a person or reveals himself to a person, often the angel is seen very glorious. There is often fire associated with it. So when it's talking about angels here, they are spirit beings and they are there to minister to those who are heirs of eternal life.
Dareen: All right, in other words they are like protectors of those who have accepted Christ?
Pastor Ross: Absolutely, the Bible says, "the angel of the Lord's encamps around about those that love Him." So the angels look after us, Jesus said speaking of little children that their are angels have access to God in heaven. Direct access to the face of God so we know that angels are sent to protect, angels are sent to guide, they're many examples in the Bible. There are angels came to the protection of God's people.
Dareen: Okay. What the flame of fire, what does that mean?
Pastor Ross: The flame of fire refers to several attributes of the angels; a symbol of their speed, it's a symbol of their glory. Often when an angel would appear it would appear as a flame of glorious shinning.
Dareen: Like a symbol?
Pastor Ross: Yes, flame of fire is just referring to certain attributes or characteristics you might say of the angel but they're are literal beings, the spiritual beings.
Dareen: Oh God, thank you sir. May God bless you. Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Thank you so much for your call. We appreciate it. We have got Phil who is listening in Grand Rapids, Michigan listening on SiriusXM radio. Phil, welcome to the program.
Phil: Hi Pastor, my question is I wanted your thoughts on election and predestination. I listen to two very well known radio Pastors who teach that there are certain people that no matter how many times they are presented with the Gospel, no matter how many times they're in Church that there are certain people who will never have a chance to accept Jesus as savior because they're not part of the elected and I wanted your thoughts on that.
Pastor Ross: Yes there different ideas with reference to what predestination is referred to there in Scripture. God has predestinated those who respond to the Gospel to be conformed into the image of His son. God desires that everyone that receives Christ become like Christ however, God gives each person freedom to choose and that's why we read in the most well known verses in Scripture John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish." Jesus said, "come unto me all he that labor and are heavy-laden and I will you rest." Jesus said if anyone comes to me, I will by no means cast him out. So again and again in Scripture the invitation is given by God to come to Him to receive forgiveness, to receive life. God is not willing that any should perish, this is 2 Peter Chapter 3, God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. So there is abundant evidence in Scripture that God wants to save as many people as He can but it's up to us to choose to come to Him to receive Him as our personal savior.
Phil: Okay so his free offer of salvation--I want to make sure I understand you, his free offer of salvation is available to all those who are willing to believe?
Pastor Ross: Yes absolutely, we have a book dealing with the subject of predestination, what does the Bible say about understand it. It's entitled Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost, Can a Saved Man choose to be Lost and Phil if you would call our resource line it's simple 800-835-6747 or for anyone listening, if you ask for the book Can a Saved Man choose to be Lost, we'll be happy to send that out to you absolutely free or you can go to the Amazing Facts website, just amazingfacts.org and you can read that book right there online. Again that number is 800-835-6747 and the book is entitled Can a Saved Man choose to be Lost. We have got Anna who is calling from Daily, California. Anna, welcome to the program.
Anna: Hi, God bless you.
Pastor Ross: Hi and your question this evening.
Anna: Yes I got a question. I was reading Revelation 20 verses 4 and on and it says "Then I saw the thrones on people seated them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God who had not worshiped the beast or its image and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands." Well, is this after the rapture?
Pastor Ross: Well the rapture happens at the second coming of Christ, 1 Thessalonians 4 says, "Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with a voice of the arch angel with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then, we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air." So it's at the second coming of Jesus that the dead in Christ are resurrected, that would be those who were beheaded for their witness of Jesus. They're are resurrected at the second coming, the living are changed in a moment in a twinkling of an eye. They're are caught up to meet Jesus in the air, they then go with Jesus to heaven. In John Chapter 14 1 to 3 Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled if you believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house, that would be in heaven, Jesus said in my Father's house there are many mansions, if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself. That where I am, there you may be also." So at the second coming, Jesus comes and he receives his own. There is a resurrection for the righteous dead, the righteous living are changed, they go up to heaven, they're with Jesus in heaven for a 1000 years. It's referred to as the millennium here in Revelations Chapter 20 and that's what has been described in verse 4. It's talking about thrones in heaven, the righteous are judging with Christ and they're those present who did not worship the beast, those that did not receive his mark, they live and reign with Jesus for a 1000 years.
Anna: You know how it says that they did no worship the beast or his image, I would think that would be after the rapture, right? That's the great tribulation.
Pastor Ross: Well, if you look at everything the Bible has to say on the time of trouble, the Great Tribulation there is a time of trouble that precedes the second coming of Christ. Now, the Rapture is synonymous with the second coming of Christ. That's where some people get confused. It's not two separate events. The Bible always describes it as one. The rapture or the being caught up to meet the Lord and the second coming is the same thing. That happens Jesus comes after the mark of the beast issue is being brought out. God's people remain faithful. They don't receive the mark of the beast. The majority of the people do receive the mark of the beast and then the Rapture happens. Then the second coming happens and the righteous are taken to heaven.
Anna: Yes, the reason why I bring this up is very important to me so the world could know. Because of the fact that it confuses me. Because you have the 10 virgins waiting for the husbands, are waiting for Jesus?
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Anna: Then the five that were ready got to the celebration with Jesus. Go with to the Rapture. Further, it says, the gnashing of teeth when they figured that there is no opportunity. That's why it's confusing me. Because people might think in my case, [unintelligible 00:41:18] should be beheaded not worship [crosstalk].
Pastor Ross: Well, let me explain a little bit on that parable because you bring up a good point. When it says the door was shut, it's not referring to the second coming at that point. It's referring to the close of probation. Just like Noah and his family entered into the ark and the door on the ark were shut. The righteous were inside the boat, the unrighteous were on the outside of the boat. There was a period of time seven days after the door was shut before the rain came. Before Jesus comes the door of probation shuts for the human race. There are those who believe in Christ. They are faithful, they are sealed according to Revelation Chapter 7 and then there is the unrighteous who end up receiving the mark of the beast.
The door of the patient is shut there is no longer any changing sides. Shortly after the door is shut, you have the time of trouble or the tribulation. The Great Tribulation and then you have the second coming of Jesus and the righteous are taken to heaven. After the door of probation is shut, yes there is a gnashing of teeth. There will be the plagues being poured out. It won't be a pleasant place for the wicked by any means.
Anna: Really because I don't know why but that parable is always getting-- taken out of context in the way that I hear it. Is that the five that were ready will go with Jesus in the Rapture and the Bible states there's no more opportunity to make to heaven.
Pastor Ross: We have a study guide dealing with the subject. I think you'll find a very interesting. We can send it to you absolutely free. It's called Anything but secrets. Talking about the coming of Jesus Anything but secret and if you call our resource line it's 800-835-6747. Just call them and say, "Please could you send me the book Anything but secret." We'll be happy to send it to you. It's got a lot of scriptures and explains that very passage in Matthew 25 about the ten virgins. You'll find it very interesting. All right?
Anna: Well, God bless you and God bless the world. We have to be ready because Jesus is coming pretty soon.
Pastor Ross: I agree with you, [chuckles] absolutely. God bless, thanks for your call. We've got Ed who is listening from Texas. Ed welcome to the program.
Ed: Yes Sir, Good evening?
Pastor Ross: Good evening and your question tonight.
Ed: I'm a Christian and I had-- in my job I had to report fraud and I was terminated for that and I'm wondering, I wish-- I think my attorney believes that I may have a wrongful termination last week. I'm wondering as Christian are we supposed to just forget about it and turn the other cheek or can we go ahead and sue? Or what is--? I can't seem to find an answer for that.
Pastor Ross: Okay, what is the biblical principle? When it comes to interpersonal relationships, the relationships that we have with individuals and somebody does us wrong, we need to let them go. Give it to the Lord, turn the other cheek, let it go but when it comes to an issue of justice, for example, in business typesetting where illegal things have been done. There is nothing wrong as a Christian using the channels of justice that have been established to try and correct an evil. If wrong has been done and there is a legal cause, as a Christian we can pursue that.
However, having said that we need to be careful in doing so. There is this praise today of getting rich quick and I'm sure they are some cases where there are actual causes for somebody to try and sue someone else but many of the cases I think out there in the world today, is people wanting to make money quick. I think as a Christian we need to question our motives. What is the reason behind this? If it is to restore justice, if it is to perhaps help somebody else who might end up being in our same situation, if it is to hold somebody accountable for wrongdoing, as a Christian we can proceed very carefully and cautiously, but if the motive is just some pulled greed and then we need to question why we're doing it. Does that make sense Ed?
Ed: Yes Sir.
Pastor Ross: It's not a yes or no to every situation. I think it's more of an individual situation and we've got to pray God gives us wisdom. Let the Holy Spirit guide you in this and pray that your motive will be right either way.
Ed: Okay, well, thank you very much I appreciate it.
Pastor Ross: Okay, thanks for calling. We have Dan who is listening in Connecticut on SiriusX.M. Dan welcome to the program.
Dan: Good evening, God Bless.
Pastor Ross: Good evening Daniel, your question tonight.
Dan: I have a question that Christians are learning and living every day. I have a little bit of confusion about[unintelligible 00:46:30] where it is stated in the Bible but question, a state of purgatory that from what I've read so far is like, when a person dies they don't go directly to heaven. They go on to what they call the state of Purgatory. Which is eat sleep until the second coming like your last caller stated. We're at that time of the second coming. We're very lifted and taken to heaven by Jesus. Can you elaborate that a little bit?
Pastor Ross: Sure, I will be happy to. What we find in the Bible-- now you mention Purgatory and just to clarify. The word purgatory doesn't appear anywhere in Scripture. Matter of fact the teaching that when a person dies they go to holding place and then it is determined whether they're going to go to Heaven or Hell, we don't find that in the Scriptures. That's not in the Bible. The Bible tells us that it's at the point of death that our destiny is sealed. There's no changing sides. When a person dies that's it. The Bible also teaches that when a person dies as you mentioned, they're in the grave until the second coming of Christ. Jesus likens death over and over again in the Bible as asleep.
In the Old Testament speaks of those who sleep with reference to those who are dead. Death is like an unconscious sleep. When a person dies and they believe in Christ the very next thing they know they close their eyes in death and they open their eyes it's the resurrection. Jesus is coming, the dead in Christ are raised and the righteous are changed. Maybe 5, 10,15,20,100,1000 years might have passed, but they are oblivious to that. They close their eyes in death the next thing they know the second coming. Jesus is coming. Again--
Dan: As of right now, nobody is in heaven. They're all in this purgatory state?
Ross: Well, all the dead right now are in the graves waiting for the resurrection. There are two resurrections according to the Bible. There is the resurrection of the Just. That happens at the second coming of Christ and then there is something called the resurrection of the wicked. That happens at the end of the 1000-year period spoken of in Revelation chapter 20. That's the resurrection for the wicked and they resurrected the final judgment takes place and then they destroyed in the lake of fire. Sometimes referred to as hell fire. Right now, everybody who's died, they're in their graves waiting for the resurrection.
Dan: Okay.
Pastor Ross: We have a website dedicated to the subject of answering the question, what happens when a person dies? It's simply entitled DeathTruth.com. DeathTruth.com. Go to the website read all of the scriptures that's given there. We also have a study guide, if you want to call and ask for that we'll be happy to send that to you. The number is 800 835-6747. You can ask for the study guide Are the dead really dead? The number again is 800 835-6747. Ask for the study guide Are the dead really dead? We'll be happy to send that out.
Dan: Okay, I'll definitely do that.
Pastor Ross: Thanks for the call Dan. We've got Gina listening from Orangeville, California. Gina Welcome to the program.
Gina: Hi pastor John.
Pastor Ross: Hi.
Gina: Please I have a question for you but first I know from the Bible if we want to tell people about Jesus and they have immediate need we are supposed to meet those first. For example, if they're hungry. so that their mind will be clear when they hear the truth. However, please, is it biblical for some churches to almost bribe people to attend their services with raffles, surprices, with candy, et cetera?
Ross: [laughs] Jesus always gave the invitation. He said, "Whoever will, let him come. whoever has thirst, let him come and drink." However, Jesus always recognized freedom. He never forced anyone nor did he bribe anyone. I think as Christians we need to take our lead for Christ. If the only way we 're going to get people in our church is if we give them dollar bills when they walk in or candy, or something like that. That makes me wonder, "Well, are we following the example of Jesus? Are we following his methods?" The gospel has power in itself . If the gospel is fully represented, if lives are being changed, if Jesus is being seen, he will have a joint effect, a joint power on the lives of people. Jesus said, "If I'm lifted up, I'll lift all men unto myself." If the church is struggling to get people to come into the church, perhaps they need to lift Jesus up a little bit more. Maybe they need to preach more of the word and people will come. Am Pastoring a church myself. I have found the truth time and time again. When the word of God is preached and Jesus is lifted up, people's lives are changed and people will come.
Gina: Thank you so much.
Ross: Thanks for your call Gina. We have Derah, who's calling from Honolulu. Derah welcome to the program, or Deborah, welcome to the program.
Deborah: Hello
Ross: Hi.You're on the air.
Deborah: This is Deborah. I'm from Honolulu Hawai.
Pastor Ross:Hi
Deborah: I have a question I read sometime ago. Either in 1st Corinthians or 2nd Corinthians about women in church. That they should not speak. Can you explain about that because I would like to know what I can and cannot do.
Ross: Good question. Paul is writing on the beliefs in Corinthians. There were several things he had to address in the church. There were some problems in the church to say the least. One of the problems that Paul had to address was this organization, in the church service. It appeared that in the church of Corinth at times, there would be woman who would call out during the service, perhaps something would even have been said from the front, and the woman might have said, "Husband, are you listening to that?" Whatever the situation was, there was confusion in the church. Paul is admonishing that all things be done in order and with decency. In that case, Paul said to the woman, "Listen in silence. If you have a question on something, talk to your husband afterwards. Don't disrupt the service." I think that's advice that we can heed today. It just doesn't apply to woman but I think it would apply to men as well. Church needs to be done decently and in order. God is not the God of confusion, but of order.
Deborah: Right.That makes sense
Ross: Great.Appreciate the call.
Deborah: Thank you
Ross: You welcome. We have got Samuel,listening from Bronx New York. Samuel welcome to the program
Samuel: Hello Pastor. Good evening
Ross: Hi. Yes Samuel. You might want to turn off your radio down in the background, we got a little bit of an echo.
Samuel: Hello
Ross: And your question Samuel.
Samuel: Good evening. God bless you.
Ross: Good evening
Samuel: I have a question for you in the bible, that's cowaiting. The bible said, if we pray and preach according to the God's word, then God will hear us and then answer those prayers. My question is, if someone had a dream from God, and is prayed immensely for it for long time and nothing happens in life or maybe the dream didn't come true, is there any chapters in the bible that one has to stand out to pray so that those dreams will come to pass?
Ross: When it comes to dreams, we want to always recognize that, not every dream we have comes from God. I think you realize that. Sometimes dreams comes as a result of eating too much dinner, there's many reasons. There are times that God might speak to us through a dream. What we need to do in each situation is, if we think God might be communicating to us through a dream, we want to first of all compare the dream with the scriptures. Make sure that's in harmony with the bible. That's the first thing we do. If it is in harmony with the bible, then we need to exercise some faith and trust God to fulfill his will according to his time. The bible tells us to pray without ceasing. That doesn't mean that we need to pray 24 hours, but it means, when you pray don't give up. If you praying for something and God is leading you, don't give up, keep praying. Keep pressing to the front of God, He will answer it in his time, in his way, but don't give up. Samuel, are you there?
Samuel: After someone is having the faith and having the trust in God and praying for over years and nothing happens
Ross: Samuel, don't give up. Keep praying, keep trusting, God is faithful to his word. Your maybe time is not right. Maybe there's something in our hearts if we pray that God is not answering that we need to make right. Friends thank you so much for joining us again. If we did not get your question this evening, please forgive us, give us another try. Call us back next week. Until then, God bless.
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