Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? Few marine animals are as mysterious and intimidating as jelly fish. These incredible animals can be found in all the world’s oceans and even in a few fresh water places. They are 97 per cent water themselves and they are quite see through hence the name. Most live in shallow coastal waters, but a few inhabit depths of u to twelve thousand feet. One of the largest jelly fish; the lion’s mane can be as much as six feet across and have tentacles over one hundred feet long. At first glance they seem to be one of God’s simpler forms of life, but it is amazing that they are alive at all.
They have no heart, no blood, no gills, bones or cartilage and no brain. Talk about being a real no brainer. Some scientists have determined that some jellies have primitive eyes that can detect light and this is still amazing when you consider they have no brain. Jelly fish are most closely related to coral and sea anemones. But, they move about by using special muscles to draw water into the bell and then push it out again. It is almost hypnotic to watch them swim with these pulsating movements. They are also carried along by wind and waves and currents. Most jellies are silent predators that kill and eat other living creatures. Usually an unsuspecting fish will swim into the almost invisible tentacles which are loaded with millions of stinging cells. These complex cells called natanocytes shoot out like tiny darts into their prey when the fish contacts these cells paralyzing venom is immediately injected into the victim.
Then the jelly can eat its victim at its leisure through its mouth on the underside. The painful sting of the jelly fish can be deadly in some species. The sea wasp a marine stinger is rated as the most deadly venomous creature in the world. In the last century this box jelly fish is feared to have killed more than seventy people in Australia alone. In fact one large box jelly fish has enough venom to kill sixty people. Despite their stinging cells animals such as the ocean sunfish and leather back turtles feed on jelly fish. Most jelly fish are actually harmless to man. In fact it is hoped that some of the painful chemicals they produce might provide treatment for cancer, arthritis and heart disease. Stay with us friends and we will learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Now is a good time to pick up your telephone if you have any Bible questions. This is “Bible Answers Live” and it is an opportunity to participate in this International, interactive Bible study. All you have to do is just call the toll free number in North America. I-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 and we’ve got lots of lines open right now. You can log onto the internet at hat is “Amazing Facts dot org” that’s A M A Z I N G F A C T S and give us a call now and keep a pencil handy because we will be giving out some other information and free resources. And if you will call now with your question you have a good chance of getting on tonight’s one hour program by calling 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: And my name is Dick Debit. Good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Good evening Pastor Dick.
Pastor Dick: You know we normally start with a word of prayer so let’s do that. Heavenly Father we thank you again for providing the privilege Lord of opening your words and using the airways to share with our friends who are listening tonight. We pray Heavenly Father that you will inspire just the right one to call who will have a question that will lead to salvation. There must be away Lord for you to reach our hearts so we pray that you will call us and speak through us. And speak to our listeners tonight that we may hear from you Lord is our prayer. Bless Pastor Doug and give him wisdom and insight and understanding. We thank you and we praise you Lord n Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: Well Pastor Doug you said we have lots of lines open and you were right, but they are starting to fill up. So I want to encourage people there are still about three or four lines that are open so give us a call at 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s [gave wrong number out] it is 1-800-463-7297.
[Laughter]
Pastor Dick: Am I blind how long we have been doing this for ten years?
Pastor Doug: It may be time we both retire.
Pastor Dick: [Clears throat] Listen Pastor Doug I went down to Monterrey, California today where we’re a couple of hours away from the Monterrey Bay area and I went there to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. And it just happens that they have one of the most spectacular jelly fish displays of anywhere in the world. I have heard that from my wife and my sons and I had never been there. But, we went there specifically to see this great white shark that has been captured and brought the Monterrey Bay Aquarium. He is not very big maybe 3 ½ to 4 feet big. He is very young and swimming in this huge tank with all the fish that are much larger than he is. But, I must say that the jelly fish display is just spectacular. So when I walked into the studio tonight and you said I have an amazing fact about jellyfish I said oh Pastor Doug wait until I tell you what was just going on.
Pastor Doug: So you were just looking at jelly fish today?
Pastor Dick: Oh they are spectacular.
Pastor Doug: Well you know we just came back from Australia and of course we saw a few jelly fish there. And we went snorkeling and scuba diving and one of our boys encountered the tentacle of jelly fish on the beach that sent him crying up the beach, but they are amazing creatures in that you know they are like almost out of this world. They are like aliens.
Pastor Dick: Yes. Yes.
Pastor Doug: They don’t seem to have any brains and yet they do seem to think and evolution could never have produced something that is so simple and yet so complex.
Pastor Dick: Fascinating.
Pastor Doug: So it is just a sign of God’s wonderful, creative ability to make something so beautiful and so powerful and yet it is such a clever design. We have something id people want o learn more about this wonderful creative God. Oh and you saw when they turned off the lights?
Pastor Dick: Yes there’s this huge display at the Monterey Bay Aquarium of these jelly fish and they are orange and they turn off the lights and these things glow. Oh you can see it is mesmerizing. You sit there and look at these things and they are brilliant orange and white and clear and they just they pulsate and you know I am at a loss for words to describe God’s creation. Why in the world did He create something like this is just beyond me.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. The creative ability of God is marvelous and sometimes I simply think He wants us to stand in awe and say He is God.
Pastor Dick: That is it and I think that is precisely why He did it. Amazing wonders of creation and the jelly fish is just one of them. And that is the title of the book we want to offer the listeners tonight. It is called “The Amazing Wonders of Creation”. If you would like a copy of this book that talks about creation and the Biblical creative story and you want to put this book in your library then call us and ask for “Amazing Wonders of Creation” at 1-800-835-6747. That’s an 800 number the call is free. 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “Amazing Wonders” and the book is free.
Pastor Doug we take a couple of internet questions before we go to the phones each week. First of all the first one says Paul writes in Ephesians 5: 18 “And be not drunk with wine where in is excess, but be filled with the spirit.” Solomon says in Proverbs 20: 1 that “Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging and whoever is deceived thereby is not wise.” However Paul said in 1 Timothy 5: 23 “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake and thine often infirmities.” So is it a sin or not to drink wine?
Pastor Doug: I think that people will understand this better when they realize if they don’t already know the word wine in the Bible is used two ways. You can read in Isaiah 65 where it talks about the wine is in the cluster. Well when it is still in the cluster it is not fermented yet. Wine is the one word that is used to describe both grape juice pure unfermented grape juice and of course the fermented kind. And you need to read the context when Paul advised Timothy to drink a little wine rather than water because his stomach hurt he wasn’t recommending that he drink the wine to get drunk or even that it was alcoholic because wine can mean grape juice the unfermented form of wine has antibiotic properties to it. And in Bible times sometimes the town’s water supply was contaminated. So it was easy to understand why Paul would say look if you get your liquid through grapes that have been pressed you don’t have to worry about the disease or germs that were sometimes rampant in the water supplies in the wells contaminating you. He was having stomach problems which we would call dysentery and he was saying drink wine you are safer. But, that was very likely unfermented.
Pastor Dick: I do that I usually get a little grape juice if I have an upset stomach. And it does have a lot of calming effect, too.
Pastor Doug: Yes there is a lot of healing properties in grape juice for years they were saying well wine is real good for your heart and then later found out had nothing to do with the alcohol, but the skin of the red grapes.
Pastor Dick: Right. Okay our second question. Can you explain why Matthew and Luke made no mention of the miracles of Jesus feeding five thousand with two fish and five loaves of bread and His walking on water? Why don’t Matthew and Luke talk about those things?
Pastor Doug: I am going to have to answer that question by saying no I can’t actually explain it. I don’t know exactly what the reasons were except to say as with any book you know John at the end of his gospel said if we were to tell you everything that Jesus did the world itself could not contain the books. That coming from John so Luke and Matthew and Mark and John they all had to pick the miracles that Jesus performed that they thought would be right to write about. And their focus and their audience were different, too. The audience of Matthew was more to the Jews whereas Mark was writing to the Romans. And Mark was writing to Theopolis a Greek and they all are addressing a different audience. So they sort of picked and chose their miracles based on how they thought it would impact the listener.
Pastor Dick: Okay very good. Before we take our first caller for the evening Pastor Doug there is something else going on. Now folks every once in a while we get a phone call from overseas and we’re very excited when that happens. The “Bible Answers Live” has an International presence. And I would just like t take a minute and say some of the places we are heard and broadcast. In Central America we are on Faith FM in the country of Belize. In Bermuda we are on ZFB in Canada CHLS out in British Columbia and on BOAR in New Foundland. We often hear from people in New Foundland who call us from BOAR and Costa Rica radio LIRA, in El Salvador stereo Adventista, in Tahiti down in the South Pacific on LVDL, in Panama on Radio Adventista, in Singapore HOPE Radio, South Africa Longtum Radio, in the Virgin Islands WGOD, in Europe the Middle East and North Africa we are on Radio 74 which is satellite radio and of course our friends out in the Pacific in Guam are listening to us 6 days a week on KSDAY. So we are spread out.
Pastor Doug: And that is not counting those who are listening on the internet. They could be listening anywhere where a person can log on.
Pastor Dick: That’s right. Exactly, exactly. So if you are listening to us and you are outside the boundaries of the United States let us hear from you because we really get excited when we do.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: Especially when we hear from people outside the United States and we want to take our first call this evening Pastor. We want to talk with Katrina in Covert, Washington she is listening and has a question for you. Good evening Katrina.
Katrina: Hello.
Pastor Dick: And your question please?
Katrina: I was wondering if it says anywhere in the Bible what God looks like?
Pastor Doug: Does it say anything about what God looks like? Well if you look Katrina in Revelation Chapter 1 John sees Jesus in a vision and it describes Him as having eyes that are like a flame of fire and hair that is shining white wool and His skin is like burnished bronze and it is glowing with this light. And you can read there in Revelation 1 the description of God that is found and you will also find another description in Daniel Chapter 7 those talks about the ancient of days and we think that this must be God the Father because it talks about God the Son coming later in the Chapter. So you have these two descriptions and they are both describing Him as this glorious being and that He does have a form and He is very bright and it doesn’t describe His specific features like does He have big eyes and a small nose or any of that, but it gives some general descriptions there. So take a look at Daniel 7 and Revelation 1, but there are no photographs of Jesus that were left over in our time.
Katrina: Okay thank you.
Pastor Doug: Okay I hope that helps a little.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Katrina. Let’s go to Vancouver, Washington and Scott is a first time caller with a question for you Pastor Doug. Welcome Scott.
Scott: Hey how are you guys doing?
Pastor Doug: Good. Thanks for waiting.
Scott: Yeah no problem. My question is regarding Isaiah Chapter 11: 6 through 9 and particularly verse 8. Now does this passage refer to post millennial earth?
Pastor Doug: Well let me read some of it for our listeners because you and I know what it says, but other people are driving in their cars. This is one of the descriptions of the new earth that is found in Isaiah and there are 3 or 4 of them. This is Isaiah 11: 6 “And the leopard will lay with the lamb and the young goat and the calf and the young lion and the fattling together and a little child will lead them.” 8 “The nursing child will play by the cobra’s hole and the weaned child shall put his hand in a viper’s den.” I think there is a lot of beautiful language here that is describing that in the new earth while there are a number of creatures they are no longer carnivorous or poisonous or dangerous. The jelly fish I expect won’t sting. So this I do believe this is describing in Revelation 21 where he talks about the new heaven and the new earth which is after Revelation 20 Scott which talks about the millennium. So that is one reason we believe that is post millennium at the end of the 1000 years.
Scott: Okay well that being the case how is it that there are still children around?
Pastor Doug: After the 1000 years?
Scott: Right.
Pastor Doug: That’s a good question. Here’s what I believe. It tells us also in Isaiah I think 65 that the child will die at 100 years old. Some people think that means that people will die in heaven it’s actually a phrase of saying the children will mature more slowly. If you look in Genesis Chapter 5 where it talks about the genealogies of Adam; you’ll notice something interesting happening. First of all people were living much longer the average age before the flood was 900 years. And if you will notice they don’t start out having children until they are about 100 years of age and that number quickly goes down. It is believed by a number of Bible scholars that if there had never been sin in the world children would not have grown from infant to adult in eighteen years. If we had been eating from the tree of life that growth would have been slower. I mean if you think someone is going to live forever wouldn’t it be nice to enjoy the childhood longer. Once these children that are raised before the 1000 years; they do grow, but much more slowly so their parents can enjoy their youth and they can enjoy their youth and it will be a big part of their eternal memory.
Scott: Okay what Chapter was that in Genesis?
Pastor Doug: Oh well didn’t even look it up I think it was in Genesis 5 where it talks about the genealogies. Here is a book of the genealogies and if you’ll notice Adam lived 130years and begat a son. Well how many people start their family at 130 do you see what I am saying? And then you go on down and Seth lived 105 years and had Enos. And Enos had Cainan and do you notice what is happening? It goes 130 then 105, then, 90 and then it says Cainan lives 70 years and had Mahalaleel. Well when Abraham was 70 and he thought it was sort of hopeless to have a child. But, back before the flood when people lived longer and started their families longer they started their family and someone is not even thinking about getting married until 100. The whole process of growth will be much more slow motion when we enter eternity. Because if you live a million years what is a thousand? Nothing.
Scott: Well that makes sense. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Alright thank you.
Pastor Dick: Alright Scott thanks for the call. To Jersey City, New Jersey and George is listening on 510AM welcome George.
George: Ye my question is about music. Should Christians listen to popular music and what about dancing, too, please?
Pastor Doug: Good question should Christians listen to secular music and what about dancing? Let me divide your answers George. First of all when a person listens to any music that may not be obviously Christian it may not be necessarily bad there are some songs that have good messages. Folk songs there might be a love song if it wholesome I am not talking about the sensual jest of love songs. But, there may be some innocent love songs and the Song of Solomon is a love song. And I guess you would want to make sure the music is something the Christian is not ashamed to listen to. It should be wholesome. There are a lot of hypnotic heavy rhythms that are very seductive in nature and that I think a Christian should avoid and then of course if you are ever listening to any secular music and lyrics are saying something contrary to the Christian life then that is inappropriate. So that is the principle for music and I think it is better to try and listen to Christian music as much as possible there is so much of it out there these days.
Then you asked about dancing. The Bible tells us that David danced and Mariam danced. David did not dance with Mariam though. The men and women did not dance together and the dance was not sexual or suggestive where they are bumping and gyrating around each other’s private anatomy which is what is happening in so much of the dance today. The folk dances in so many of the countries that you see where the men just dance with the men and it is not sexually suggestive they were sort of celebration dances. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. I guess the closest thing we have in America to compare to that is what we call the square dance. But, even that is probably not the best comparison.
So when David danced before the Lord and Mariam danced before the Lord they were holy dances and it is not the stuff where they are dancing to the rhythm of the music it was more leaping. It says David lept and danced. Have you ever seen someone get excited and they are jumping up and down? They were leaping and clapping their hands and praising God and it wasn’t something that they watched on America’s Bandstand. Alright I hope that helps a little; good questions.
George: Okay.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call George good night. Call 1-800-GOD-SAYS that is 1-800-463-7297. If you have a Bible related question now would be a good time to give us a call at 1-800-463-7297. Let’s go to New York City and Ester is listening on WMCA. Hello Ester.
Ester: Hello and good evening gentlemen.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Ester: My question is how does a person truly know that they are saved?
Pastor Doug: Good question. You know there is a book I highly recommend. It is called “Steps to Christ”. And it has a whole Chapter in it that deals with how you know if you are saved. If I had time would read those all to you. But, you can probably find those free online. It is a classic and a number of churches will send them out for free. It is just called “Steps to Christ” but, in any event the simple principles Ester would be Jesus said you will know them by their fruits. Who has the heart and who do we like to talk about? Now the Bible says that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. If a person is saved they will love to converse about Jesus. When there are meetings and people are gathered there to study or worship they want to be there. Their behavior has been transformed. The Bible says old things are passed away and all things are made new in them because they become a new creature. And it is evidenced in the change in the direction of their life and the way they spend their time the way they talk. You know the way they spend their means now a person can be save when they first come to the Lord and be saved just the way you are. And you may not know it, but when the Lord has really changed you there’ll be evidence over time. And that is the kind of evidence you see.
Pastor Dick: And the other part of it is Ester and Doug is talking about the evidence, you know, the outward signs of an inward change. And another part of it is that you know you are saved when you know that you trust Jesus Christ because Jesus says you’re saved. He has done it and when you believe Him and trust Him then you can take it to the bank.
Pastor Doug: Anytime a person comes to the Lord and they go through the steps to salvation and they accept Jesus when they repent of their sins then the Bible promises if they confess their sins that He is faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse them. They are saved at that point when they have done those steps. You can read trough Romans the Chapter 6 there and it outlines it pretty well.
Ester: Okay? Thanks.
Pastor Doug: Alright God bless bye-bye.
Pastor Dick: Huntsville, Alabama Arianne is listening on WOGC and we have about two and one half minutes.
Arianne: Okay. Hi how are you doing? My question is why did Jesus curse the serpent and why didn’t He curse the devil? I mean I don’t understand that why He cursed the snake and no the devil?
Pastor Doug: Alright. That’s a good question back in the Garden of Eden when the devil used the serpent to be the medium and then after God pronounced His judgments on Adam and Eve and cursed the serpent what did the poor snake do?
Well evidently at one time the snake could fly. Some people don’t think that snakes are ugly. I think that some of them are beautiful and their colors. But, it doesn’t seem fair, but in the same way you might ask this question Arianne of why did God allow lambs to be slain for our sin as a sacrifice for a symbol to teach us? Well because the creation suffers with man. Man was placed over the creation and when man sinned all the animals suffered not just the snakes and the lambs. But, the animals began to die and eat each other and have disease so the whole creation groans at the curse of sin because of man’s bad decision. The serpent crawling on his belly is just a small part of that. But, it is a good question. Do you see what I am saying? All the animals were cursed because of man’s sin; not just the serpent. Are you there?
Arianne: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Hope that answered your question Arianne. We take a break half way through the program. It is something we need to do for our affiliate stations to identify themselves. And it helps us to remind you how to learn a little more about “Amazing Facts” to listen to this program and some of the myriad of things we have available by going to “Amazing Facts dot com” or “dot org” and also you can go to “Bible Universe dot com” it is a great Bible website just make it marked for your homepage. There are personal daily devotions. And a lot of resources and also if you would like to understand Bible Prophecy better there is a course that you can take on the “Bible University” website called “Bible Universe”. I am sorry it is called “Storicals of Prophecy dot com” and take that lesson. Be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back. My name is Doug Batchelor. Call 1-800-GOD-SAYS
Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Debit welcome back folks to part 2 of “Bible Answers Live” we’re going to go directly to our phones. And we’ll take Kim in Fresno who is on a cell phone. Welcome Kim. Kim are you there? Well okay we’ll put Kim back on hold. Oops we just lost Kim. Let’s go to Diane in Shelbyville, Tennessee. Welcome Diane.
Diane: Hello.
Pastor Dick: Hello and your question please?
Diane: I have recently started keeping the Sabbath. But, I am a care giver for my mother because she is like legally blind; so she still goes to church on a Sunday. And that is out of town and so I have to take her. And I was singing on their solos and they want me to keep singing. So should I not sing there anymore?
Pastor Doug: Well first of all I don’t think there is anything wrong with taking you say this was your mother?
Diane: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Right I don’t see anything wrong with you taking your mother to her church. I mean if you are keeping the Sabbath there is nothing wrong with going to church any day of the week. If someone asks you it is okay to tell them it is the seventh day not the first day. But, there is a story in the Bible that helps to understand this principle. In the book of 2 Kings Chapter 5 when Elisha healed Naaman the leper from his leprosy and Naaman says now I am now going to worship the God of Israel. But, please forgive me because when I go home the old King of Syria leans on my hand when he worships his god. And Elisha said go in peace. He used to have to help the old King go to the temple. And he was just showing respect for the old King he wasn’t worshipping the same god. So there is certainly nothing wrong with taking your mother and praying. Perhaps you will have an opportunity to share your faith there. But, you also want to be sure that your roots are rooted and grounded in the truth so that you don’t become confused or distracted by trying to serve two masters. Do you know what I am saying?
Diane: Right. Right.
Pastor Doug: So maybe that helps a little or maybe it just confuses you and thanks for your question Diane.
Diane: No it helps a lot. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you and God bless. Bye-bye.
Pastor Dick: Let’s go next to Brooklyn, New York and we want to talk with Solomon who is listening on WMCA. Welcome Solomon.
Solomon: Hello and how are you?
Pastor Dick: Yes sir.
Pastor Doug: Good and your question please.
Solomon: Yes I have a question that is regarding the description of God. Jesus said that no man has seen God and has lived. And also their description indication in the Old Testament where it says there is no likeness of God. It says whatever happened in the heaven or on the earth God has no resemblance with that. Can you comment on this please?
Pastor Doug: Yes it tells us in 1John 4: 12 “No man has seen God at any time.” Now when we talk about God we have God the father and we’ve got God the Son and God the Spirit. And we know people have seen God the Son. And for instance in the Old Testament we can see Moses talked to God face to face the Bible says and he lived. Well he must have been taking to God the Son. Again Jacob says I have seen God and now I’ll die well when He wrestled he must have wrestled with God the Son not God the Father. And there are several examples when you’ve got the example of Samson’s parents. They said now we are going to die for we have seen God.
Pastor Dick: And Jesus said if you have seen me then you have seen the Father and he was talking exactly right.
Solomon: Right, but you see like these are human descriptions they are—if you take them then literally then you are limiting God t a creature like a guy who was wrestling with Jacob I mean that is—that cannot be God—that has to be understood—I mean I don’t know. I don’t know.
Pastor Doug: Solomon let me ask you, do you have a Bible? Do you have a Bible handy there?
Solomon: No not at the time go ahead.
Pastor Doug: Well I’ll read a verse for you it says “Not that any man has seen the Father.” And that is John 6: 46
Solomon: Well where are you getting this like the evidence of the—for the concept of saying that God is Father and also that God is the Son and also basically God who has different manifestation? I mean I don’t see that in the Biblical text. I mean I see where Jesus says no man has seen God and has lived. That is including Him, too, by Him saying no one has seen the Father and lived. So I just need some guidance to the reason why He said this, too.
Pastor Doug: Well Solomon I just quoted where Jesus said no man has seen the Father. You know it sounds like this is also a question dealing with the subject of the Trinity as well as seeing God. I mean we can’t deny plain Scriptures of people that say they have seen God, but lived. Abraham said—Jesus said Abraham longed to see my face and he saw it. The book that we have just written on the Trinity I guess it’s about one year old now. We’ll send that to you for free Solomon and I hope that you will get a chance to look at that and tell us what you think about it.
Pastor Dick: Solomon if you will call our resource operators and ask for our book on the Trinity 1-800-835-6747 we’ll send that to you tonight. Then call us back after you have had a chance to go through it and we’ll be happy to talk to you about it. Let’s go next Pastor Doug to Chattanooga, Tennessee Quincy is listening on WDNX. Welcome Quincy.
Quincy: Welcome and how are you all fellows doing tonight?
Pastor Doug: Good and your question?
Quincy: I have a question in regards to marriage. The deal is I have been separated for like six months. I have been married sorry for six months and have been separated for the past two or three weeks. Everything has been pretty good as far as how I feel about it for the most part. But, lately we have been to counseling and things went good when we went and that was for two sessions then they went bad.
Pastor Doug: What was the question then?
Quincy: What should I do now I mean I am going through a problem and I know how the Bible speaks about divorce? I mean if my wife wants a divorce I just have to go with the flow right? But, I don’t want a divorce.
Pastor Doug: Well you say you’re in counseling now?
Quincy: No we went to counseling. Like maybe a month after we got married.
Pastor Doug: Is she still willing to counsel?
Quincy: Right now she is still mad. She is mad because I lost my job.
Pastor Doug: Do you have a Pastor of a church you go to?
Quincy: Yes. And he has already talked to her.
Pastor Doug: And what is his advice?
Quincy: You know every story has two sides. She’s telling me what she’s saying I am doing wrong and then I am saying like I am not doing this wrong because I am not because I am the man of the house and my responsibility lies on my shoulders.
Pastor Doug: Well let me give you what the Bible says about your situation. Well when a Christian and based on what you are saying you are a Christian and when they enter into marriage it is supposed to be unto death do you part. And Jesus said whoever puts away his wife saving for the cause of fornication causes her to commit adultery. And that is also assuming that the man would be committing adultery, too. So divorce unless there has been infidelity and I don’t think there is from what you’re telling me it has not gone that far. If there has been no infidelity there have been no grounds for Biblical divorce and you guys ought to work it out. Do you have any children?
Quincy: She has a son from a previous marriage. But, he calls me daddy and I dropped out of school to marry the girl you know and I was going to the University and I decided to put family above my education. And I would do it again because there is nothing like the closure and happiness of being with a family. You know when I worked in church and was reading the Scriptures.
Pastor Doug: It seems to me I don’t know too many women that would leave a man just because he has lost a job.
Quincy: We have had like volatile fights. I mean we haven’t had the perfect relationship. But, even through all of that we always made up and you know it is like we have had little bumps in the road. And I don’t know if it is because she is holding onto that from the past or not. But, I am walking on eggshells because being a Christian around my wife.
Pastor Doug: Quincy do you have a pencil?
Quincy: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Write down this number and I want you to send for our lesson on marriage and I think it will really help you and be a blessing for you. And take a look at that because it gives a lot of counsel on success in a marriage and things to avoid, avoiding your marriage disintegrating. And that number is 1-800-835-6747 and that’s an 800 number. Just ask for the “amazing Facts” study guide on marriage and read that and we’ll be praying for you and hope that helps a little.
Pastor Dick: Okay let’s go next to Spokane, Washington and Judith who is listening on KEEH. Welcome Judith.
Judith: Yes Hi how are you doing?
Pastor Doug: Good. How are you?
Judith: I’m okay. This is my question on jewelry I’ve been –just I have been at a deep level somehow I feel.
Pastor Dick: Oh no she just dropped off. She is gone completely. We lost that call Judith. I am sorry.
Pastor Doug: If you want to call back use one of these open lines.
Pastor Dick: We have a couple of open lines if you call us back we will take your question right away. Let’s go next to Lynn. Massachusetts and we want to talk with Jimmy who is listening on WROL. Jimmy welcome.
Jimmy: Hi Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: How can we help you?
Jimmy: Okay my question is who Cain’s wife was?
Pastor Doug: Well it does not name, but you are probably wondering who he could marry if the Bible says that Adam and Eve had two boys and then takes his wife after he kills Abel. I mean where did she come from was there another race of people? If you read on I referred to Genesis 5 tonight and again go to Genesis 5 and it will tell you that in addition to having Cain and Abel Adam and Eve also had other sons and daughters. And that back before the floods and it was very common for brothers and sisters to marry because you didn’t have the genetic problem of marriage within the family we have today with the family. Adam and Eve are brother and sister technically. They have the same mom and dad you might say and they married. So Cain no doubt took his sister or one of his sisters.
Jimmy: Yes.
Pastor Doug: And it doesn’t give her name. When you go through the genealogies in the first few Chapters in the Bible Jimmy; it almost never mentions the wives of their names. It typically goes through the first and second born names of the sons. And there may have been a dozen born into the family but it will usually only mention the first born son usually.
Jimmy: But, actually there is a mystery because it says that Adam had Seth and then at 800 years old Adam had two other sons. And who was Seth’s wife?
Pastor Doug: Who was Seth’s wife?
Jimmy: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Well Seth probably also married one of his sisters because that is also what I am saying is the Bible tells us there that the Bible had sons and daughters. This is plural so they may have had you know thirty children I mean if you 930 years and you are healthy for even half of that for reproductive purposes; you can have a big family.
Jimmy: It does say that of Seth who had a child whose name was Enoch.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Jimmy: So where did he—before that Adam and Eve didn’t have any children it was just Seth, so how did he do that?
Pastor Doug: Well that is what I am telling you that it tells us only about Cain and Abel. Adam and Eve probably also probably had daughters around the same time they had Cain and Abel, but it is only mentioning the two first born boys and it may not have even mentioned Abel, but Cain had to kill him so it did. Alright?
Jimmy: Yes I see what you are saying.
Pastor Doug: That is the best answer I can give you, alright?
Jimmy: Okay. Bye-bye.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Jimmy. Let’s go next to Savanna, Tennessee and Loretta is listening on WDNH, hello Loretta.
Loretta: Yes thank you Pastor Doug. I have got a couple of quick questions and the first one Psalms 73 I believe it is the Psalm of Asaph.
Pastor Doug: Get real close to your phone so we can hear you.
Loretta: Okay Psalms 73 who is Asaph?
Pastor Doug: Yes. Asaph was one of the musicians for King David.
Loretta: Oh okay and the second one Samson is in the faith hall of fame and part of my question is geared around his last words were…
Pastor Doug: Let me die with the Philistines.
Loretta: Yes let me avenge them for my eyes. My question is where did he repent?
Pastor Doug: Well I think the evidence is given when Samson is avenged for my eyes; it wasn’t just for his physical eyes. His vision had been distracted by the Philistines instead of on God. And keep in mind that in order for him to have the strength to knock down the temple of Dagon; God’s Spirit had to fill him. So the last act of his life was being infused with the Spirit of God which would make you believe that e had been accepted by God.
Loretta: But, I don’t know for sure because he is in the hall of fame.
Pastor Doug: One more thing Loretta you need to consider is they were going to execute Samson that day. That is why they brought him out and usually the Philistines would slay their enemies at a public forum like that. They would torture them first and then kill them. They were going to kill him that day and he was saying basically I am going to lay my life down before they take it. So he is listed among the faithful in Hebrews 11 and that is what you are wondering I suppose?
Loretta: Yes. Okay well thank you so very much!
Pastor Doug: Thank you and good questions.
Pastor Dick: Thanks Loretta and we will talk to Judith who was knocked off the air just a few minutes ago. Judith we apologize for that the line just went dead.
Judith: Yes that’s alright. Are you there?
Pastor Doug: Yes. Stay with us here; don’t go away. And your question you were asking something about jewelry?
Judith: Yes I have not been able to find it in the Bible where it says we are not supposed to wear jewelry. I mean Song of Solomon it talks about all over where he wanted to give jewelry to his wives. And you know as part of their relationship and their songs to each other.
Pastor Doug: Well first of all if you will look in 1Peter Chapter 3: 3 it says there in speaking to the women more than specifically ”Do not let your adornment be the outward adornment; the arranging of the hair and the wearing of gold or of putting on fine apparel. And then Paul says that the women should adorn themselves with modest apparel. That is 1 Timothy 2: 9 “In like manner that women adorn themselves in modest apparel in propriety and moderation. Not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing.” But, that becomes women professing God and His good works. If you look in the New Testament you will find that the standard for Godliness does not go down; it goes up. In the Old Testament they gave an offering in the temple and in the New Testament they are selling all of their land. Do you know what I am saying? In the Old Testament they had multiple wives and in the New Testament it doesn’t even permit divorce. And so when we come to the time of Christ the standard for holiness does not go down it goes up. But, even in the Old Testament what did the children of Israel make their golden calf out of?
Judith: Gold, their jewelry.
Pastor Doug: And when Jacob was told to come and meet with God he told his family to put away their idols and it says they took off their jewelry and buried it along with their idols and they went to meet with the Lord. And there are a couple of places in the Bible where God connect s the wearing of jewelry with worldliness. And just like the bride who will put on jewelry and a wedding dress, but then will take them off after the wedding. Si at a wedding they often gave them gold and silver because they didn’t have paper money like we do today. So we give pottery and other gifts, but their gifts often were jewels. Do you see what I am saying? And then they would display them as gratitude for those who gave them. But, it wasn’t ostentatious, but if you look in Isaiah Chapter 3 and I am giving you a lot of a long answer because you have a good question here.
Judith: That is okay.
Pastor Doug: So if you look in Isaiah Chapter 3 it talks about the daughters of Zion who are proud and it specifically mentions that God is going to take away—oh here we go here. Isaiah Chapter 3: 21 the Lord will take away “The rings, and nose jewels.” And the apparel and the mantles and it goes on and talks about the curse that will be pronounced upon them because of their pride. Now I have got a booklet—let me just give you a quick answer. Take a look at the scriptures in the book I wrote called “Jewelry: How Much is Too Much?”
Judith: Oh really?
Pastor Doug: It is a good question and people often wonder as a Christian. I mean one of the reasons tele evangelists got into trouble a few years ago was because of their Rolex watches and all the ostentatious apparel of their wives. Do you know what I am talking about? They just put on the make-up with a spatula and a lot of jewels and stuff and they just got a lot of ridicule even though it was from the world and they said these are Christians? And so I’ve written a little about this on how far does a Christian go with jewelry? And I will send you a free copy okay?
Judith: Okay one quick thing though is that it is talking about adornment, but it sounds like to me it is more going overboard and how about the average Christian that let’s say just you know is not like a two hundred three hundred kind of thing? Just like a regular thirty dollar dress that you would get you know and just something that is very modest, but it is just enhances what you wear?
Pastor Doug: Well Christian clothing should be—so are we talking about clothes or jewelry now because you said dress.
Judith: It looked like jewelry goes with clothes when they are talking about adornments.
Pastor Doug: Well while it is possible for us to try to go through life without jewelry it will get us I trouble if we try not to wear any clothes. So there is a difference.
Judith: Right.
Pastor Doug: Jewelry when you think about it we are just hanging jewels and minerals off our body around our ears or neck or whatever it happens to be and it really doesn’t have much function except for show. I am a proponent and I am very old fashioned on this in this respect for some of the ancient Baptists and Presbyterians were and I just say there is not reason for a Christian to wear any jewelry. And I think that—here’s my reason. So what about this—some people can drink a little wine and not become an alcoholic. But, because one out of seven people do become an alcoholic I am not going to drink any. Some people are very insecure about their appearance and a Christian might wear a little bit. And don’t misunderstand there will be a lot of Christians in heaven that wore jewelry. But, by wearing a little bit someone can say well this is not too much. I see Christians wearing jewelry and I think these folks can’t control it and they just go overboard and they are insecure and there is no need for it; that’s the bottom line. There is just no need for it. And because it does say in the Bible that the children of Israel got into trouble and God said break off your ornaments so I can know what to do with you. And whenever they humbled themselves before the Lord they took off their ornaments. Now in heaven God can put a crown of gold on us and I can wait until then. But, send for that book I am sending you. I am offering and ask for the book on jewelry.
Judith: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Call the toll free number 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Dick: Yes it is 1-800-835-6747 it is not the same number you called here. 1-800-835-6747.
Judith: Alright. Okay. Thank you.
Pastor Dick: Thank you Judith. Let’s go to next—Pastor Doug we have about 3 minutes and want to go to Huntsville, Alabama to Naomi who is listening on WOCG. Hello Naomi.
Naomi: Hello.
Pastor Dick: Hi we have about 3 minutes what can we help you with?
Naomi: Well okay I think my question is kind of quick. It’s from Acts Chapter 10: 14 & 15 where 14 But Peter said, not so Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean. 15 And a voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call thou not common.” So somebody was saying that that verse meant you can eat unclean meat. What would you say to that?
Pastor Doug: Well later in the very same story when Peter is explaining what the vision means to the church leaders he says that God has shown me not to call any man unclean. It had nothing to do with any animals being called unclean. Do you see what I am saying?
Naomi: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Doug: And let me find that for you real quick. When Peter said God has told me not to call any man common or unclean. The whole vision is because Peter is getting ready to go preach the gospel to the Gentiles and He had thought that the Gentiles were unclean because they weren’t Jews. God gives him this vision about the animals and tells him don’t call unclean what I have cleansed. He now wanted the gospel to go to the Gentiles. It had nothing to do with food and Peter knew that because while he is wondering what this vision means messengers come from the house of Cornelius and that is what the vision meant and now that gospel goes to the Gentiles. And notice Peter never takes anything out of the sheet and eats it. So it has nothing to do with food because Peter says God has shown me never to call any man common or unclean. Not a pig or a camel or a skunk or any other kind of an animal. I hope that helps a little and I am sorry friends we have run out of time. If we did not get to your question please forgive us and give us another chance we will try to take a few of them off the air. In the meantime keep in mind that this is a listener supported program. If you have been listening and enjoying the program we hope you will be kind enough to drop us a line and Pastor Dick will give the address in just a moment. Or you can just go over to our website at “Amazing Facts dot org”. Just type in “Amazing Facts” in on Google it will take you to our website; you can drop us a note and tell us if you enjoy the program and you might do a little something to help us with support at that time and we would be very grateful. In the meantime keep in mind it is about the details, but Jesus who sets you free.
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