Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? Giant bluefin tuna are the largest living species of tuna, some reaching up to 10 feet in length and weighing up to 1,400 pounds. A bluefin’s life span is believed to be longer than 20 years, but only one in a million hatchlings survive to maturity. They are often considered by many to be the strongest and fastest fish. Their torpedo shaped bodies and the ability to retract their pectoral fins enable them to reach up to 25 miles an hour in short bursts.
Bluefins are also found in all the world’s oceans and can migrate up to 5 miles in open sea in just 60 days in search of food. Bluefin is served also raw as sushi in Japanese restaurants where thin slices can command a bill of more than 75 dollars. Just one of these animals can net between 5,000 and 30,000 dollars at the dock, but in September 2000 an enormous 444 pound bluefin tuna sold at the Tokyo fish market for a record of 173,600 dollars. This was the most expensive fish ever auctioned. That’s right one fish sold for 391 dollars a pound which is almost like gold.
The tuna was reduced to 2,400 servings of sushi for wealthy diners at 100 dollars per serving. The net takings from this one fish were 240,000 dollars. Friends the Bible tells us that He told the disciples that if they would follow Him that He would tell them how to fish for men. Now that is a priceless catch and stay with us friends. We are going to learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Friends if you are listening right now you could be tempted to tune your channel somewhere else, but you never know this program could change your life because we are going to be dealing with the word of God. And that word and His spirit that is life. This is “Bible Answers Live” and the principles that we talk about and share in the broadcast have power and we’d like you to experience that. So please stay tuned to this power as we discuss your Bible questions. This is a live, interactive Bible program and we encourage and welcome you to call in any Bible related question. We have several lines open and we’re coming to you from Sacramento the capital of California. That phone number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 will bring you into the studio. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Devitt. Good evening Pastor Doug. We are celebrating today I think over many things. Not the least of which we don’t have to pay three hundred and ninety-one dollars a pound for bluefin tuna.
Pastor Doug: Good evening Pastor Dick. This is for bluefin tuna fish.
Pastor Dick: That’s amazing. Well that is absolutely amazing that they would pay that much money for a fish.
Pastor Doug: Yes. I know it almost makes you want to take up another calling.
Pastor Dick: Yes. We’re in the wrong business.
Pastor Doug: Some people work so hard that they can go on vacation and fish and they have to pay for their vacation. Why not just fish for tuna and you could enjoy it both ways?
Pastor Dick: Yes, but now you’ve got a spiritual application.
Pastor Doug: I do and there is a lot we are going to share tonight so. Why don’t we go ahead and launch our program? We’ll get to those.
Pastor Dick: Right. Let’s pray. Father we thank you and praise you for the privilege of being able to open the word of God and to delve deeply and we pray that your Holy Spirit will guide us into the word and that you will speak clearly to Pastor Doug and give him insight and wisdom as we listen to the questions posed by our callers and as we seek to share the truth. Lord we thank you again and praise you for this privilege. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: Well where are you going with this Doug of tuna fish at three hundred and ninety-one a pound.
Pastor Doug: I can think of a number of places in the Bible where as much as Jesus loves animals He did make it clear that people are worth more. Jesus said we will stop and pull a donkey or a sheep out of the ditch and He said how much more is a man worth than a sheep? Jesus said a sparrow doesn’t fall without your heavenly father knowing it and you are worth more than many sparrows. How much more is a man worth than a fish? And the people who would pay this much for a fish that you know you enjoyed on the palate for moments. But, how much more is a person worth than this? And Jesus said to the disciples and He also says to us through them to follow me and I will teach you. That is really our highest calling in life is when we can bring souls to Christ. And when we realize how priceless we are to God.
Pastor Dick: Amen. Amen. And Pastor Doug that leads right into the lesson we want to offer tonight our special offering. Each week we make available a special offering form the “Amazing Facts” library. We have not offered this recently it is one of the study guides. There is a set of twenty-six study guides that “Amazing Facts” has produced. And this one is on the greatest love story ever told. It is called “It is Still There” and this lesson answers such questions as what does the death of Jesus Christ do for me? How do I receive Him? How do I pass Jesus on to others? And how do I pass from death into life? These are serious questions that we want to delve into and this lesson will do that. So we want to offer it to all of our listeners tonight.
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Pastor Dick: If you’ll call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “It is Still There” this is one of the Bible study guides and by the way you can sign up for the entire course of the Bible study guides while you make this call. Ask “It is Still There”.
Pastor Doug: We’ll send them the first lesson for free. And they can go through the whole study program for free. We just don’t want to send the whole packet at one time because we are worried that people won’t go through them. But, if you send for the whole lesson it will take you through the whole series for free.
Pastor Dick: And you can do that in two different ways. Call 1-800-835-6747 are the resource operators or you can go to “Amazing Facts dot org” the lessons are available there. So I hope you will do that tonight and start these Bible lessons. Believe me it will change your life. You will not be the same when you finish the course of these lessons.
Pastor Doug we normally go through an email question or two before we take our first caller for the evening. So let’s do that and the first question we have is how do you know when God answers prayer? Can I use John 14: 12 & 13 or other text that help me to understand that God answers prayers in my personal life or are we taking these out of context?
Pastor Doug: Well I think the main question is related to John 14: 13 where Jesus says and makes a very broad promise and He said 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. And someone may be wondering is it presumptuous to say Lord I am going to ask for a new limousine? I’m going to ask to be a Vice President of a company or you know something outrageous. If you keep reading of course you always need to read the teachings of Christ in context. In the same discourse a few verses later just go to verse 15 and where verse 13 says whatever you ask and verse 15 says If ye love me, keep my commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter that he may abide with you forever and so it is assuming that Jesus is talking to those that love Him who are also going to pray according to His will when He says if you ask anything. He means anything according to His will. And in other teachings Jesus says when you pray you know say thy will be done. And of course this was the prayer of Christ in the Garden. So it is understood that we are asking for things in harmony with God’s will. He says in anything ask and if it is in harmony with His will then He says, well I will do that. And we should pray in faith believing that He will.
Pastor Dick: And it might just be that God wants you to be the CEO of some company. Who knows?
Pastor Doug: Right.
Pastor Dick: But, as long as that is part of His will.
Pastor Doug: If your motives are His glory then love for God and your fellow man are in what we can be confident and have patience because you know He doesn’t always give it to us the last minute the words leave our lips. We need to wait on the Lord.
Pastor Dick: An answer to prayer may be maybe.
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Pastor Dick: Okay let’s take another question. Please explain I the book of Ruth and I love the book of Ruth. It is just one of the greatest books in the Bible to me. In the book of Ruth Chapter 4 who removed his shoes were those his kinsmen or Boaz and why?
Pastor Doug: Well in Chapter 4: 8 in here Boaz he is sort of—he is going through the process to have the right to redeem Elimelech’s family. He and his sons had died in Moab. And the first person who had the right is the nearest kinsman. If he was refusing his right to marry Ruth who was a widow he would draw off his shoe as pledge and it was done at the gate with the elders watching and he was saying I will not step on your rights anymore and I am forfeiting my right. And it was a gesture just like we lift a hand in an oath well some cultures they pulled off one shoe. And it was the near kinsman that did it not Boaz.
Pastor Dick: Okay very good. We’ll take our first phone call of the evening in just a moment, but first we want to welcome four new radio stations.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: We have added these to our networks this week Pastor Doug from Jasper, Tennessee WJCR 94.9 FM, from Mexico Oswego, New York WVOA 103.9 FM, from Syracuse, New York WSIV 1540 AM and from San Bernardino Riverside, California the inland empire KTIE 590 AM.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: That is exciting and those folks who are listening to those particular stations if you’ll call us and tell us you are listening we will do our best to get you n the air tonight from Jasper, Tennessee or Mexico Oswego or Syracuse or San Bernardino Riverside. We still have a couple of lines open so if you have a Bible related question now would be a good time for you to call us at 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s 1-800-463-7297. Let’s go to our first caller of the evening Pastor Doug and we want to talk with Steve who is in Carmichael, California and listening on KFIA. Hello Steve.
Steve: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi thanks for calling.
Pastor Dick: And your question please?
Steve: Well my question is I wanted to know something about demonic activity. I was a back slider and recently over the last few months rededicated my life and was baptized in Jesus name. But, I actually was involved with drugs. And what happened I would kind of hear voices messing with me. They physically messed with me like a seducing spirit and I read up on the activity and a little bit about it. But, I was wondering what kind of prayers I can pray about it and then is there anybody here in California here in the Sacramento area like to help me pray through and maybe be truly delivered from it?
Pastor Doug: Well do you attend church somewhere?
Steve: Yes I do.
Pastor Doug: Have you gone to your spiritual leaders there in the church?
Steve: Yes I have. I have talked to them on it and then I have several books that I try to read on it, too. And I know sometimes it takes time, but I was just wondering about your views on this subject.
Pastor Doug: Well of course Jesus said that all of us are tempted by the devil and I would go so far as to say everybody is harassed by the devil and even Jesus was. Because you hear voices you know Jesus heard voices when He was in the wilderness and he was tempting Him and saying if you are the son of God so this or do that. Pray and the best thing you can do is invite people who you believe are really connected with God in your church and say pray with me that the Lord will dispel these clouds and to help me to find relief from this oppression and I believe God can do that. Now Jesus said there was one young man who was possessed with devils and it wasn’t all the time. The father aid sometimes the devil overpowers him and the boy falls into the fire and water and he would go into convulsions. But, Jesus said this kind does not come forth except by prayer and fasting. So Steve you may also do it yourself and invite others to come and fast and pray that you can be completely free. And that is what the Bible teaches and I believe that Jesus has the power to do that.
Steve: Okay.
Pastor Doug: And don’t put forget that there may also be some kind of medical need. Sometimes people do struggle with a chemical imbalance that can cause depression. And some people have wondered am I harassed by devils and they had a potassium deficiency. So I mean that is the truth and do what you can medically and then give it to the Lord.
Steve: Alright thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Alright and God bless.
Pastor Dick: Steven a very good call thank you very much. Let’s go next to Orlando, Florida talking to Susan on WTLN. Hi Susan.
Susan: Hi. How are you?
Pastor Doug: Very good. Susan just hold one second and Steve if you are still there listening we have got that book “When Days are Dark” and it talks about those times and I just felt impressed to talk about it and mention that. If Steve will call we will send that to him.
Susan: Sure.
Pastor Dick: Alright.
Pastor Doug: Alright and go ahead Susan.
Susan: My question has to do with the guards at the tomb when Jesus was crucified and put in the tomb. An atheist asked me this question and the seeming contradiction of course because they want to attack all these seeming contradiction, but I just didn’t have an answer for him.
Pastor Doug: What is the contradiction?
Susan: Well why would the guards at the tomb lie and say they fell asleep when under Roman law falling asleep would mean a death sentence?
Pastor Doug: Generally speaking when a Roman guard was guarding a prisoner if he fell asleep he would die and an example of this is Acts Chapter 8 the soldiers who allowed Peter to escape were executed. But, you have to admit that the Generals overseeing the guards couldn’t be that hard on them guarding a dead body. And so they were saying well we don’t know the body was dead and the Jews are saying He escaped and a stolen body for one hundred soldiers to die was not the same thing and this was a religious Jewish event they didn’t see it as something they were involved in. So I can easily see where the Roman officials could be—the guards could say we were asleep and after all we were guarding the cemetery.
Susan: Okay it was more because it wasn’t a Roman trial?
Pastor Doug: Well it was because they weren’t guarding a criminal they were guarding a body at a tomb and it wasn’t Pilot’s idea remember. You know the Jewish leaders said they might come and take the body away. And so this was really something they were doing to accommodate the religious leaders and even under the Roman law they were going to kill the guards for falling asleep guarding a cemetery. Do you know what I am saying?
Susan: Okay. Yes I do.
Pastor Doug: Well they probably put it in a different category.
Susan: Yes okay that is what I was explaining to him and I was just curious about your views on that. Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Alright and thank you.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Susan and let’s go to St. Petersburg, Florida and talk to Chris who is listening on the internet. Welcome Chris.
Chris: Yes good evening.
Pastor Doug: Good evening and your question?
Chris: Yes I have a question regarding creation and did God create the flora and the fauna and the immortal just like Adam and Eve were?
Pastor Doug: Well I believe that Adam and Eve were created in the image of the immortal and as long as they ate from the tree of life they were immortal and that is why God evicted them from the Garden because He said lest they eat from the tree of life and live forever. I believe that the trees and the vegetation that they did not die. Now that doesn’t mean that the fruit did not fall from the trees, but I don’t believe that the leaves and the flowers faded the way they do now.
Pastor Dick: And the Bible says that Adam and Eve were placed there to tend the Garden.
Pastor Doug: Yes and you know what you can add to this Chris is after the curse of sin that God declared that thorns and thistles will come out. You know what makes a thorn a thorn it is the end of a sharp leave that dies like a fingernail and we don’t believe—do you know at the end of a cactus if it didn’t die it would be like fur and be soft. It is when it dies that it hurts and I don’t believe that the animals died either. One reason I know that is if you look in Isaiah I think it is 11 it tells us that the animals in the new world will not hurt or destroy that the lion will eat straw like the oxen, but everything there is a vegetarian there in that place where the lions don’t even kill. And so I don’t believe there will be any death in the new earth and the Bible says there will be no more death and I do not believe there was in paradise. Because keep in mind when God made everything He said it is good, good and very good.
Chris: So then after the fall the nature of animals was changed to be the predators and the carnivores?
Pastor Doug: Yes and I think it was compounded even after the flood. I think it has gotten even worse after all the vegetation was destroyed after the flood and I think a lot of the animals turned into a carnivore diet at that point. But, you know it has been proven that a lot of these carnivorous animals thrive on a grain diet and a vegetarian diet. Matter of fact I read a story about—have you ever heard about little Tike? The book was written on this tiger in California and they couldn’t get it to eat meat and it lived its full life and was a vegetarian so and even gorillas big canine teeth and they are vegetarians. So I think the Bible says the whole creation groans and travails together because of sin. Everything has been altered and you know in the new heaven the lions eat straw like the oxen. I think that is how it was back then. Okay?
Chris: Okay thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you and God bless.
Pastor Dick: Alright Chris thanks for the call and that opens up another line Pastor Doug and we still have a couple of lines open 1-800- GOD-SAYS that is 1-800-463-7297 if you have a Bible related question. Give us a call and we will do our best to get you on the air at 1-800-GOD-SAYS. Let’s go to Middletown, California Bruce is listening on KMDL. Hello Bruce.
Bruce: Hi how are you guys doing?
Pastor Doug: Very well and how about you?
Bruce: I live just outside of Langland and it is always beautiful here you know.
Pastor Doug: Yes I was just there yesterday.
Bruce: You were? Well I just you know about a month ago I heard you guys and you were talking about prophecy and I thought I heard you said it had stopped and could I hear you again before I ask my question?
Pastor Doug: That prophecy stopped?
Bruce: That there were no more prophets in our day.
Pastor Doug: No I didn’t say that you may have been listening to another program because I didn’t say that.
Bruce: I was driving and focusing on a lot of things at the same time.
Pastor Doug: Yes I believe just for the record and the Bible tells us that one of the gifts of the Spirit is prophecy and of course in Joel it says I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh in the last days and your sons and daughters shall prophesy. So I believe that the gifts of the Spirit are available and all of them and I do not believe we need them less before the second coming I believe we need them more.
Bruce: And I just want to ask you a question about Revelation Chapter 11 on the two witnesses. Now you know it always sounded to me that the way the whole world would be watching these two to see if they came back to life. I mean we are in the times now when we provide the satellite transmissions and the cameras and all the things that could actually act as the prophet’s death and the resurrection and the probability of picking them up because of our technology right now. Do you think they are here yet? What do you guys think of this?
Pastor Doug: Alright well you asked a question and let me interrupt you for a second and say first of all I would agree with you that the deception in the last days can be multiplied because of the modern media technology. With the two prophets there are two views about these two prophets. One group of Christians and the principles of them I should probably say a thousand, but two primary views.
One group of Christians believes that this is literally Moses and Elijah. That will come back to earth, die and be raised again. Some believe it is Enoch and Elijah. Then there is another group that believes that these are symbols for the word of God the law and the prophets who Moses and Elijah are the symbols of. Now I am of the latter group. I believe that the two witnesses represent the word of God that is under attack. For instance if you look at many examples in the Bible Revelation Chapter 12 the next Chapter it says the dragon makes war with the woman and this has two characteristics who keeps the commandments of God and has the Spirit of prophecy and the testimony of Jesus which is the Spirit of prophecy. Jesus said according to the law and the prophets that is how we learn to believe. That’s Luke 24. So these two witnesses you also find them in Zechariah Chapter 14 they represent I believe the word of God and Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets. If you look in your Bible to Malachi Chapter 4 the last thing it says in the Old Testament Bruce is “Behold I will send you Elijah the prophet and Moses my servant.” Do you remember that?
Bruce: Yes I do.
Pastor Doug: Those two individuals really represent the word of God. And Moses and Elijah now have glorified bodies correct?
Bruce: Yes when they have been seen on the Mount of Transfiguration.
Pastor Doug: Right and so in other words they were here for their rewards. So for Moses and Elijah to enter back into this world after they are glorified and then die mortal deaths again would seem most bizarre. What it is going to be is their word is going to be under attack. The law and the prophets are going to be under attack and appear dead and then rise again. And so these are the two views and I also know people who disagree, but I am not of the opinion that Elijah and Moses are coming back to earth to die and then be raised again because the Bible says it is appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment. Well they have already entered their reward.
Bruce: Well you know I have a little trouble like you said about the other view which would be verses 11 & 12 in Chapter 11 of the book of Revelation where the loud voice says that they heard when Jesus was alive on the earth and it was speaking to them from a cloud like the day He was baptized with John the Baptist. It seems to be there for them to witness again just like that voice when Jesus was baptized in the Jordan. The other question I had now is that prophets aren’t always Jews because Amos was a prophet and Enos was a prophet and they were not Jews yet and they were not called that correct. So they are not all Jews so they may be Gentiles now, too, because they weren’t always Jews.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely. Not only that, but you know he turned into a false prophet, but he started out as a true prophet and that is Balaam. And as a matter of fact the prophecy of Balaam that you see and find is what the wise men were reading when they went looking for the Star of Jerusalem. Balaam is the one who said a star will rise out of Jacob that would be the star of a King.
Bruce: And the star that was over the manger the night that Jesus was born that was probably there in the morning?
Pastor Doug: Well all night long they followed it, but the bottom line is that would also is a prophesy that came from Balaam who was not a Jew. You know Bruce we try to budget our calls so we get one more in if that is okay with you? Before our break so who is next Pastor Dick?
Pastor Dick: Let’s go to Walla Walla, Washington and talk to Jesse who is listening on KTGS Jesse welcome.
Jesse: Hi Pastor. Yes my question is about the virgin birth. In the six months the angel came to Mary and said she would conceive, but this is in Luke 1:26 and if you can conceive in the six months of the Jewish calendar that would be September of according to Leviticus 23:5 and Jesus would have been born nine months later sometime in June.
Pastor Doug: Now what was the verse Luke 1:26? Okay.
Jesse: And I saw and celebrate His birthday on December 25th which is a pagan festival and I feel like I am mingling pagan and Christian beliefs. And Paul said not to.
Pastor Doug: Well agree with half of what you’re saying, but I think you are making one assumption on a miscalculation. In Luke 1: 26 when it says in the sixth month it does not mean in the sixth month of the Jewish year. It means the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy. Six months after the angel told Zechariah that his wife would have a baby then he comes and he talks to Mary. It is not the sixth month of the Jewish year.
Jesse: Oh it isn’t?
Pastor Doug: No because when Mary goes to visit Elizabeth she is already great with child because the baby is kicking and jumping.
Jesse: Right so it doesn’t say that it is the sixth month of…
Pastor Doug: Of Elizabeth’s pregnancy exactly. It doesn’t say either, but most scholars believe that and isn’t it your understanding it is the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy or is it six months after he had spoken to Zechariah?
Pastor Dick: Now that is not to say that June is not that far off either. Most scholars believe that Jesus was probably born in the spring. Oh I am sorry in the fall.
Jesse: So I sometimes feel like if I celebrate Christmas on December 25th which is a pagan holiday I feel like I am mingling Christian and pagan beliefs.
Pastor Doug: Well we have got a book you probably would enjoy called “Baptized Paganism” And at this point what we tell people is we don’t get too many questions about Christmas. We tell people go to Romans 14 it says one man regards a day unto the Lord and another man regards not the day. And if there is one of the quasi meaning here if you are going to do it do it unto the Lord not with the Santa Claus and everything. Hopefully that will be of some help.
Pastor Dick: Jesse thanks for the call. We are going to take a break here for just a couple of minutes and we will be back with the second half of the program for those of you have Bible related questions. For those who are on hold just stay with us and if you have Bible questions give us a call now because we have a couple of announcements and then we’ll be back with the second part of the program. So we’ll be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Hi we’re back and waiting for you to call in your Bible question and that number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS. That acronym spells out to 1-800-463-7297 and my name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Devitt. Pastor Doug let’s head right to the phones.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Pastor Dick: We’ll go to New York and talk to Alexis who is on WMCA Alexis welcome.
Alexis: Yes hello.
Pastor Dick: Yes your question please.
Alexis: How are you doing? The reason I am calling I would like to know why and I don’t want to say any names of the churches, but how come they focus on the fourth commandment more than all the other commandments.
Pastor Doug: Well I know different people focus on different commandments in different countries, but based upon what is being ignored. For instance in San Francisco right now you’re hearing a lot of talk from Christians about the seventh commandment. Of course they are you know there are people who care getting involved in these bi-sexual marriages or homosexual marriages. If they worship statues and icons you will hear an awful lot about the second commandment because people are bowing down and praying to Buddha or Kristina or some of these idols. And there has also been a lot of discussion among Christians about the fourth commandment because it deals with the Sabbath day which is one of the Ten Commandments better known in the Christian world as worshipping on the first day of the week which is the resurrection, but there is no commandment for that. So that is what generates all of that discussion.
Alexis: Does it come in an order when we think about it?
Pastor Doug: The order of the Ten Commandments is divided in a couple of ways. First of all the first four commandments deal with our personal relationship with God. The last six commandments deal with man’s relationship with his fellow man. The other way they are divided do you know the Lord’s Prayer Alexis?
Alexis: Yes I pray it every day.
Pastor Doug: Okay well in the Lord’s Prayer there are seven petitions. We say hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom, Thy will. The first three petitions are 40 percent that deals with God. The last four petitions you know forgive us our debt, deals with one another.
Alexis: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So even the Lord’s Prayer is divided something like the Ten Commandments, but that has something to do with the order and of course both starts with God hallowed be Thy name. Then in the first commandment don’t have other gods’ right?
Alexis: Right.
Pastor Doug: So let’s start with an understanding of who God is.
Alexis: Would it be Yahweh pretty much?
Pastor Doug: Well if you are speaking Hebrew as close as we can tell and keep in mind after 3500 years pronunciations do change a little bit and His name is near as we can tell something like Yahweh. It has also been argued for Jehovah. Jesus’ name was Yeshua in Hebrew and the Greek pronunciation is Jesus. So the pronunciations of the words I don’t think are the bigger issue. I hope that helps you a little bit Alexis and appreciate your waiting.
Alexis: Okay.
Pastor Dick: Let’s go next to Owens Mill, Maryland where Will is on the internet. Welcome Will.
Will: Yes thank you very much. I may need help with this question and I will try my best to clarify it. From listening to Christian radio broadcast I see they want to use God’s financial blessing to have for gain. And I know God wants us to be successful, but not only in our relationship with Him, but our finances as well. But, what is the balance there that these radio stations use in Deuteronomy right before Moses died and he was with the Israelites and said they can do all these things and God will do all these things to you as well.
Pastor Doug: Right and that is where you go to Deuteronomy 28: 3 where he says 3 “Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body,” but you know what the Lord says there is if you hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord your God and obey all His commandments that I command you and He will bless you. So many of the problems we experience Will have to do with the things that we bring on ourselves and it is cause and effect through disobedience. But, the promises that God is promising in Deuteronomy are that God is not promising that nobody is ever going to have any poverty or never have any sickness, but generally speaking the people will be blessed when they obey. And keep in mind that so many of the things that God commands deals with work. So somebody asked about the fourth commandment which is the Sabbath commandment. Everyone always focuses on what day do we rest, but to rest it says thou shall work that is part of the commandment. And if people work they will be blessed in the field and blessed. Do you know what I mean?
Will: So right.
Pastor Doug: So I don’t think there is some special formula we can go through and God is going to take care of all of our financial problems. Those that follow Jesus also struggle with sickness and poverty and persecution.
Will: Well okay.
Pastor Doug: But, the greatest blessings God says He offers us are the spiritual blessings. But, He does also say that if we are faithful in our tithes this is Malachi Chapter 3 that He’ll open the windows of heaven.
Will: Okay I hear.
Pastor Doug: You know he would probably enjoy Pastor Dick our study guide on the worldwide embezzlement. It talks about the Christian stewardship and he blessings and what to do and what the criteria are.
Pastor Dick: Will if you will call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the “Worldwide Embezzlement Scandal” we will send it to you for free would you like that?
Will: Yes where would I get that worldwide embezzlement?
Pastor Doug: It tells you about some of the principles in the Bible, too, that God promises His blessings. It is very balanced.
Will: Okay and in Deuteronomy that specific verse you just mentioned it wasn’t for a select Nation? Like individuals can have those promises?
Pastor Doug: No I think this is for everybody. For one thing when you become a Christian and I am assuming you are a Christian.
Will: Yes.
Pastor Doug: The Bible says if you are Christ’s then you are Abraham’s seed and you become grafted in because the stock of Israel and all of the promises belong to you.
Will: Okay. That is worldwide embezzlement right?
Pastor Doug: Right.
Pastor Dick: Call our resource operators. That number is 1-800-835-6747 and anyone listening if you would like that study guide or any of the other resources then you can call that number of 1-800-835-6747. Pastor Doug we are going to Sandra who is listening on WMCA in Hartford, Connecticut. Hello Sandra. Sandra are you with us?
Sandra: Hello.
Pastor Dick: Hello what is your question please? You are on the air Sandra.
Sandra: Just a minute did you say Stanford, Connecticut? Okay my question is, is there forgiveness for suicide?
Pastor Doug: Is there forgiveness for suicide?
Sandra: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well that is a difficult question because if a person commits suicide and kills themselves—first of all let me ask this are you asking that question because you are thinking of it?
Sandra: No. I am not.
Pastor Dick: Do you know somebody who committed suicide and you are wondering if they can be forgiven?
Sandra: No. My pastor was talking about that and then on TV it said you can be forgiven for suicide. But, I haven’t found that in the Bible.
Pastor Doug: Well I don’t know where that is either. One of the dreadful things about suicide is that it is self murder. You know the Bible says you shall not kill and that would include yourself. And so once you kill yourself you can’t repent after you kill yourself and repentance is the criteria for forgiveness. So it sort of is a hopeless circle at that point. But, I want to hasten to add that there may be suicides that will be forgiven by God and be in heaven because of the circumstances because there are some people who we don’t understand the physical suffering they may be going through that leads them to suicide. You know there are some people who are in terrible agony and they do things and their spirit isn’t doing it, it is their flesh just can’t bear it anymore. Others may have some psychological problem, but I don’t know of any Scripture that says that God forgives suicide after it is committed. And I know you are talking about Jesses Duplantes, but I think he is a very wonderful speaker and I think sometimes he says some off the wall things and I don’t mean to be critical, but I don’t know of any Scripture that says that.
Sandra: Okay and thanks so much Pastor Batchelor. God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Alright. God bless you.
Pastor Dick: Let’s talk with Eileen who is with us on WMCA in Linden, New Jersey. Hello Eileen.
Eileen: Hello. Can I please ask the Pastor this question? In the gospel of Matthew Jesus says to pray for our enemies and can you please be specific Pastor. What exactly should I pray for those that do some wrong to me?
Pastor Doug: Well keep in mind when Jesus said that first of all He is speaking to a Nation of Jews that are occupied by the Romans who they hated and you know nobody wants their native country to be occupied by an enemy. So it means that they should pray for the occupying forces, but it also means that Christians should pray for those who may be personal enemies for their conversion.
Eileen: Pray for their conversion okay.
Pastor Doug: Also it may be very hard, but pray to God to bless them with spiritual blessings. And another way to pray for your enemies I to pray God will bring them through whatever circumstances they need to change their heart. Now that might mean a trial and let me give you an example. The kingdom of Israel was persecuting the prophets of God. They were talking about the ten tribes officially killing the prophets. Now that was during the time they had Jezebel. Elijah prayed for his enemies that there would be a famine to bring about their conversion. So he prayed that God would try them to bring about the conversion of the Nation. And God answered that prayer. So when you pray for the enemy the ultimate thing is not just that God will punish them, but convert them.
Eileen: I see because I do want to do things like the Bible tells us and the way that God wants it. You know to love the Lord and to love my neighbor as myself. Now I work and how do I say have to go on each day, but I don’t want to experience bitterness or even perhaps a nervous breakdown.
Pastor Doug: Exactly.
Eileen: But, the point is what to pray. That is all I want to do is know what to do along the lines of what my savior wants me to do.
Pastor Doug: Let me give you two examples in the Bible. One is when Jesus was on the cross and He said Father forgive them and then again when Steven was being stoned in Acts Chapter 7. He said Lord do not lay this sin to their charge. They prayed for those that were persecuting them. And ask for that spirit the spirit of Christ and He will help you to do that Eileen.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Eileen and let’s go next to Sacramento, California and Christine who is listening on KFIA hi Christine.
Christine: Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Hi Christine. Good evening.
Christine: I just wanted to mention quickly about the caller who called about Mary and her pregnancy that if he would back up just a couple of verses he would see that the reference was to Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Pastor Doug: Okay I appreciate that.
Christine: My question has to do with the time in Gethsemane before Christ was arrested and the disciples were sleeping and Christ had asked them to watch and pray. But, three times He found the disciples asleep so they weren’t prepared and hadn’t spent their time with the lord and to go through the arrest and the crucifixion and jail. In fact in Mark 14: 51 & 52 one of them fled from the scene naked leaving his linen garment behind when the arrest took place. Is this how the things happened?
Pastor Doug: It doesn’t say, but most scholars believe they had been sleeping and it was a warm spring night and they just had this bed sheet wrapped around them. It doesn’t mean he was streaking it just meant he didn’t have his garments on.
Christine: Okay.
Pastor Doug: And when the Romans who tried to grab him grabbed his bed sheet and he fled naked. I think there was a spiritual analogy and this was probably John. Mark only mentions it in his gospel. And furthermore I think it is spiritually true that when we flee from Christ we flee naked without that robe and so there is an analogy there.
Christine: Is there any significance to Christ finding the disciples asleep three times?
Pastor Doug: Well often when things are done in three times it is sort of sealing the profundity of something. Like when Peter denies Jesus three times and then he asks Peter do you love me three times. Three times He comes finding them asleep and I think it talks about the general condition of the church during that pivotal hour as it is always true that the church seems to be sleeping at a critical moment. This is a yes I think you are onto something.
Christine: Okay. Well thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Alright. God bless.
Pastor Dick: Let’s go next to Brooklyn, New York where Stacy is listening on WMCA and welcome Stacy.
Stacy: I wonder about the time of the dinosaurs. Did it add to God’s creation?
Pastor Doug: Well dinosaur is a big broad general term that has to do with the large thunder lizards the reptiles that the fossils indicate existed. And I don’t doubt a minute that they did exist. Some of these creatures may have been from creation being altered a little bit by sin, but I believe that there was a broad spectrum of vey large reptiles and mammals that existed in the world and are now very interesting that they live I believe and I don’t know what you are asking. Because I don’t believe they are like the artists say and a fossil is only a bone and they don’t know what their skin looked like. I think they are probably many beautiful colors and not the drab gray-green you know that you see.
Stacy: I guess what I mean is what I am asking is because as the creation is described in the Bible the actual word dinosaur is never used.
Pastor Doug: Well the Lord really doesn’t identify very many of the animals specifically. You know out of the thousand of different categories of animals in the world only a handful is mentioned. It talks about the fish, the birds, the mammals and few insects. So I think He did make some very large reptiles back then. And then of course you have the Psalms that talk about the Leviathan and you have probably heard about and so even in the Bible the writers knew there were some very great creatures. One of the interesting things is you find Stacy is when you study history and you look around the world there are carvings in almost every corner of the world are these massive dragons. And usually myths are built on some degree of truth. You know we have a book at Amazing Facts and we can’t send this away for free it costs a couple of dollars and you can look at it online, but it is what the Bible says about the dinosaurs.
Stacy: Oh.
Pastor Doug: Yes so if you just look at the “Amazing Facts” website you’ll find that book and I recommend you go there and order one. It is illustrated, too, so you’ll like that.
Pastor Dick: “Amazing Facts dot org” so Stacy if you go there and anybody else as a matter of fact. “Amazing Facts dot org” Pastor Doug we knew there would probably be a question about this coming along the way. Let’s go to Cave City, Oregon oops I’m sorry wrong button. We want to go to Cave City, Oregon and talk with Perry who is a first time caller. Welcome Perry.
Perry: Hello. Yes God bless you I watch your show all the time and my question is about the “Passion of Christ” and if you have seen it and how Biblical is it?
Pastor Doug: You know I have been avoiding answering these questions.
Perry: I am sorry.
Pastor Doug: No it is okay I took it your question on purpose because I think I should probably say something and I will tell you why. I never go to the theater.
Perry: Yes this is the first time I and my wife has been in oh twenty years.
Pastor Doug: Well and I still don’t go and I didn’t go, but I did see it. Let me explain. I am a member of the religious broadcasters and it is a called NRB National Religious Broadcasters and they get together once a year and we just get together and share broadcasting technology to present Christ. And they did a previewing a few weeks ago. So I was one of the people and I was there with you know David Jeremiah and Chuck Swindall and the others that saw the previewing and Mel Gibson sent somebody to address everybody. And I would never have gone to the theater to see this. It is something I don’t do so. So you are asking my comments I assume?
Perry: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So it is always moving when you see the sufferings of Jesus and I don’t think there is anybody who has come to the foot of the cross and asked Jesus to forgive their sins and don’t realize that He suffered on their behalf and cannot be moved by seeing any representation of those sufferings He endured. It brings that back to mind. But, I also need to tell you that I have never found as good and as sincere an actor as Mel Gibson might be and I have never seen an actor be able to accurately represent what I think Jesus was like in my mind.
Perry: Yes.
Pastor Doug: But, in my heart with my relationship with Jesus I have never gone to Hollywood to be able to replicate that. And I don’t doubt for one minute Mr. Gibson’s sincerity and the nobility of what he is doing, but I am just a little more cynical that when you bring out the camera and the special effects it is really hard to reproduce what you find in the word of God.
Perry: True.
Pastor Doug: I should say it was extremely emotionally draining because you’re basically watching torture for about half the film. So it is certainly nothing you would want young people to see they probably would have nightmares and it is extremely grisly and graphic. But, in any event those are my comments and I have written something that is at our website because we had so many questions on this and anyone who goes to the “Amazing Facts” website will see that we are offering a book there and it is called “The Passion of His Love”. This book specifically deals with the same time period and it is an inspirational book. And it deals with at the time in the Garden of Gethsemane through the resurrection and I was you know I was disappointed that Mr. Gibson’s film spent so much time dealing with the sufferings and the beatings that when it comes to the resurrection it is just a few seconds and it is not even complete because you don’t even see Him get out of the tomb.
Perry: Right.
Pastor Doug: So these are my thoughts and one thing I will say is I am Jewish and I don’t think the film was anti-Semitic and I thought that was odd because the hero of the movie is Jewish.
Perry: Yes right.
Pastor Doug: Well in any event just go to the website “Amazing Facts” and right on the homepage it talks about passion and you can click there if you want my comments I have written some stuff.
Perry: Okay. Thank you and God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you and God bless you.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Perry and let’s go next to Sacramento, California. Fran is a first time caller listening on KFIA Fran welcome.
Fran: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi and thanks for calling.
Fran: Yes I was wondering would you have time and be kind enough to explain the conditions that Ezekiel had in the first Chapter and what were they about and what do they mean?
Pastor Doug: Well you know what you are really asking me about Fran is to give you a tour of Yellowstone Park in fifteen minutes. So it is not going to be easy to summarize.
Fran: Well tell me if you didn’t believe in he saw an UFOs?
Pastor Doug: No I don’t think he saw a UFO. I’ll tell you what that this is somewhat of my opinion and he talks about seeing this wheel within the wheel.
Fran: Yes.
Pastor Doug: And God moving like this, but what comes into my mind when I see that and I read my Bible is that Ezekiel was able to gaze into the mystery of life. All of life is composed of a wheel within a wheel. Our galaxy is a wheel within a wheel. Our solar system is a wheel within a wheel. Atoms and neutrons if you get out the telescope or the microscope you continue to see within every cell of life a wheel within a wheel. Do you know what I am saying?
Fran: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So I think he actually got a glimpse into this throne of God and this mystery of life. And it is something I am looking forward to finding out when I get to heaven. Now that is one aspect of Ezekiel 1 and I don’t really have the time to delve into all of it. Okay?
Fran: Yes and okay thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you and a good question Fran.
Pastor Dick: To Brooklyn, New York and Billy is listening on WMCA welcome Billy.
Billy: How are you doing?
Pastor Doug: Good.
Billy: Yes my question is about the church and whether or not it is going to be here during the tribulation time or is it going to be raptured?
Pastor Doug: I am glad you asked. Will you just accept yes or no or do you want some Scripture?
Billy: Well I would like some Scripture.
Pastor Doug: Well that’s good because I don’t want you to just take my opinion on it. I think the Bible teaches that the church is in the world during the tribulation. And I will just mention that I have a book on that I will send to you for free or anyone who wants it. Because throughout this book it answers so many questions and it is called “Anything but Secret” and it talks about the tribulation and the rapture and now we do believe in the rapture that the saints will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air, but we don’t believe it is a secret and we do believe they are here during the tribulation based on the Bible. Jesus said you will be hated in Matthew 24 for my name sake. He that endures to the end will be saved. Furthermore Billy the plagues in Revelation are the great tribulation the seven last plagues.
Billy: Right.
Pastor Doug: They’re very much like the ten plagues that fell on Egypt and many of them are identical. Were the children of Israel in the Nation of Egypt when the plagues fell? The answer is yes.
Billy: Well yes of course they were.
Pastor Doug: Okay and did He protect them through the plagues?
Billy: Yes. He did.
Pastor Doug: Okay He saved them after the plagues fell on Egypt then they crossed the Jordon and Red Sea into the Promised Land and we are going to cross into the Promised Land after the plagues fall. But, we will be here and that is why it says in Psalms 91 that 100 may fall at your hand and 10,000 at your right side, but only with your eyes will you see the destruction of the wicked. No plague will come near your dwelling. So God saves us not from tribulation and Paul says in Acts God saves us through tribulation and that is a big difference.
Billy: And the Jewish nation is going to be saved it says something like a 140,000 or something?
Pastor Doug: That is the 144,000.
Billy: So they are going to be saved at that time? I am a Christian, but my wife is Jewish, but she is also a Christian.
Pastor Doug: Okay are you aware I am also Jewish? Are you able to get on the internet Billy?
Billy: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well you are asking a really big question like our last caller. You are asking about the 144,000 and you are asking about Israel. There are two books you can get for free on the internet. And what I mean is that you can read them for free. I have a book called “The 144,000” and I will send it to you or you can also read it on the internet. I also have a book called “Spiritual Israel” that is about what is the role of Israel in the last day prophecy and I wrote it with Steve Wohlberg another Jew. If you go to our website you can read that or we will send you one copy free.
Billy: I would love that and thank you and God bless you.
Pastor Doug: You are welcome and God bless you.
Pastor Dick: Billy that website is “Amazing Facts dot org” and you can go there or we’ll send it for you free. Or you can call the resource operator at 1-800-835-6747 and Pastor there is the music.
Pastor Doug: Oh our lines are full and I feel so bad because we still had several people standing by. We will stay in the studio and try to take these calls for people still waiting. If you are in your homes or in your vehicles please keep us I your prayers and I am not being cliché I want you to pray for us. And also drop us a line and let us know if you have been blessed and you can even give at our website a donation to keep us going. We are completely supported by people like you. And we would like to continue to keep adding stations as God blesses the program to do so over the years. Our website again is “Amazing Facts dot org” God bless you friends and keep in mind that the reason we do this is not the details, but that Jesus is the truth that sets you free.
-------------------------------------------END-----------------------------------------------------