Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? There are over 300 hundred thousand species of beetles in the world. But, the bombardier beetle is one of the most incredible of them and has been created with one of the most incredible defense systems in the natural world. Whenever threatened with an enemy attack such as ants, frogs and spiders; this spirited little beetle shoots a jet of boiling chemicals and irritating and foul smelling gases at its attacker. This toxic spray flows from two tail pipes on the tips of the abdomen right into the face of the unfortunate aggressor. With some bombardier beetles you can actually hear the loud explosion as popping which is a result of rapid firing.
This rapid fire action is called pulse combustion and it jets the boiling liquid at over 500 pulses per second at 212 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition the beetle can rotate the end of its abdomen 270 degrees in any direction like a tiny canon and hit the target with extreme accuracy. Scientists and chemists have studied the bombardier beetle and have learned it makes its explosive by mixing together two very volatile chemicals. Hydroquinine and hydrogen peroxide heated to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to these two chemicals this clever little beetle has another type of chemical known as an inhibitor.
The inhibitor allows the beetle to store the chemicals indefinitely without blowing himself up. Whenever our beetle friend is approached by a predator he squirts the stored chemicals into two combustion tubes and at the same moment adds another chemical called and anti-inhibitor. This knocks out the inhibitor and a violent explosion occurs scorching the poor attacker. But, somehow the beetle is not bothered by the heat and irritation that comes from his own spray. Something like a skunk I expect and it is preposterous to believe that such a marvelous and complex mechanism could have evolved piece meal over millions of years.
This would require thousands of generations of these little beetles blowing themselves up every Fourth of July until they mastered their explosive gift. You know the Bible promises explosive power to those who mix Bible study and prayer. 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: Welcome listening friends to a live fresh edition of “Bible Answers Live”. And if it is your first time tuning into the broadcast you can participate by calling in any Bible question we have several lines open. That number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 and give us a call now there is a good chance we will get to your question before the program is up. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: Mt name is Pastor Dick Debit. Good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Good evening it is turning winter here in Sacramento.
Pastor Dick: Yes it has cooled off quite a bit.
Pastor Doug: Sun is going down earlier, but praises to the Lord we’re here ten years and some new stations I understand.
Pastor Dick: They have a new station, but let’s start with prayer. Father in heaven we thank you and we praise you again for this privilege of being able to come together and opening the word of God. And we pray your Holy Spirit will anoint Pastor Doug. Give him clarity of thought and calm the noises and the roars of the things of this world and help him to focus on your word and what you are trying to say to all of us Lord. Help us to hear your voice clearly. We pray that you will speak to our spirits and more than that we will change and be responsive to what you are trying to tell us. We thank you Lord in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: This is a great interesting, fascinating little creature that you are talking about the bombardier beetle.
Pastor Doug: I was surprised today as I was studying it that I have heard about this beetle so many times and we’ve never done a fact on that. I have a record of all our amazing facts and they said no we never have. And it is amazing and for one thing we were tempted tonight to offer our book on “When Science Flunked the Evolution Test”. I am sorry “Evolution Flunked the Science Test” but, it is a striking example of being created all in one unit and it could never evolve piece by piece with these complex mechanisms and components.
But, it also made me think about the power that comes between the combinations of the Spirit and the word. Or prayer and the word and how that works in our lives to better see God. And you know the Bible teaches that in the mouth of two or three witnesses something is established. And there are many examples of this in the Bible. Of course we have got the witness of the Law and the Prophets. Or some might say Moses and Elijah and a lot of people have wondered about the two witnesses in the book of Revelation. We have something ban d new to offer tonight. We have never offered this before.
Pastor Dick: This is true Pastor Doug has written it and it has just been released and it is called “The Two Witnesses” Moses and Elijah and if you have questions and you have wondered about the two witnesses in the Bible and you’ve studied the law and the prophets you will want to add this book to your library. So we encourage you to call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747 and as for the new book written by Pastor Doug Batchelor “The Two Witnesses”. 1-800-835-6747 is the number that puts you in touch with our resource operators and if you will call right now they will send this out to you tonight. “The Two Witnesses” it is something you want to add to your resource library. Well Pastor Doug we want to welcome a new station into our network. This is in Keene, Texas and it is KJCR 88.3 FM and we welcome KJCR to our network and we would like to hear from the people who are listening in Keene.
Pastor Doug: I used to live there so anyone in Midlothian and Keene out to Eldorado ad Cleveland if they can hear we’d love to take their question.
Pastor Dick: Okay give us a call and let us know that you are listening to KJCR 88.3 FM in Keene, Texas area. We would like to hear from you tonight. We take a couple of internet questions before we go to the phones. The first one and this is kind of intriguing Pastor Doug because we were talking about this before we went on the air. Where in the Bible does it say that marriage is Holy? This person says I put a word search I my computer Bible and the words; Holy and Marriage and it didn’t come up with any verses. It tied the two together.
Pastor Doug: Now we have both done a lot of weddings and in reality we thought to ourselves sure it must say something close to that and we did a search before the program. And actually the word Holy Matrimony and marriage that phrase isn’t found. The teaching of it is found.
Pastor Dick: Yes. It is very clear.
Pastor Doug: And you know I have said you can look in Hebrews 13: 4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” Oh by the way Holy means to be set aside for a sacred purpose. And the Bible is called the Holy Bible because it is set aside to be distinct d to be treated reverently it is different our relationship with that Bible that book is different from other books. Marriage is Holy in that the man and woman are set aside for one another. And of course you can read in Hebrews 13: 4 “Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.” In other words those that defile that which is set aside will be judged. And then of course you can go back to the story in Genesis where God says in Chapter two a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave unto his wife. It is separated for a specific purpose. So the teaching is very clearly taught in the Bible, but the phrase Holy Matrimony or Holy Marriage or that the marriage is Holy that per se is not found in the Bible.
Pastor Dick: Right it is obtuse.
Pastor Doug: But, don’t anybody out there misapply that because people already have a problem respecting the sanctity of marriage. So the first part of the Ten Commandments that thou shall not commit adultery encompasses that.
Pastor Dick: That’s right. So don’t misunderstand we are not saying that marriage isn’t holy. We are just saying that the two words are not found side by side in the Bible. Okay our second question and this is an internet question. It seems to me that the Bible is full with warnings and examples not to have anything to do with dishonest people, practices and principles. Do you agree with this statement?
Pastor Doug: Well as Christians we deal with people who are dishonest in their principles and practice every day unless you sequester yourself from everyday life and we have to witness to these people. You know Jesus worked among tax collectors and prostitutes which were of course exhibit A
Pastor Dick: Clearly He said go into the world but don’t do as they do.
Pastor Doug: The fact is if we can avoid it we should not deliberately engage in business arrangements with people who are known to be dishonest or have bad morals or bad practices because you don’t want to endorse or support that behavior. But we need to go there to reach them in other levels all the time. So that is how you get to be a witness to people who may not have Godly values.
Pastor Dick: Okay very good you ready?
Pastor Doug: We’ll see. I hope so.
[Laughter]
Pastor Dick: Let’s go to our first caller for the evening that is on her cell phone in Portland, Oregon and she has been very patient and waiting Patricia is listening on the internet. Hello Patricia.
Patricia: Yes can you hear me okay? I have a question from a friend of mine. If God created us and He knows what will happen in the beginning and the end and He knows that some of us are going to be bad or sinful does He allows for this? And if He does then why?
Pastor Doug: Well He doesn’t want anyone to be sinful. God wants us all to be saved. Understanding how sin came into the world Patricia makes a big difference. There is a war that is raging between light and darkness good and evil and Christ and the devil and in that war Satan basically kidnapped this whole planet. Jesus said the devil is the prince of this world. And so the sin and the temptation and the things we see happening here; none of that is God’s will. Matter of fact He grieves more over the suffering and the sin than anybody. But this planet the Bible says in Romans Chapter 6 that we are the servants to the one that we obey. And if we are obeying the enemy we are becoming servants to the devil in this world. Adam and Eve chose to listen to the devil instead of God and the devil basically set up his headquarters here on this planet to carry out his rebellion against the Father. So I don’t know if—but let me give you a verse that may help with more detail. James Chapter 1: 13 “Let no man when he is tempted say that I am tempted God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth He any man.” But, God doesn’t tempt anyone.
Patricia: But what do you tell someone who is your friend when He knows the beginning from the end? How does that get computed into the whole equation? He created me and He knows what I am and am not going to do from the beginning until the end so.
Pastor Dick: Well I agree, but there is a big difference between knowing something is going to happen and making it happen. A parent when they take their baby home from the hospital may stop at the drugstore and get a box of Band-Aids. But, the parent is not making the child skin its knee. But, that mother knows that somewhere along the way when it is playing it is going to get a skinned knee. Do you know what I am saying? God knows all things and He knows that we are bent toward sin, but that does not mean that He is making us sin.
Patricia: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Because I think if He knows He would make it stop. It is because He gives us a free will He can’t make it stop. I hope that helps a little bit Patricia.
Patricia: Okay it does and thanks a lot. Have a good evening. Good night.
Pastor Dick: And thank you for the call Patricia. You know this is a very complicated theological debate that has been going on for hundreds of years.
Pastor Doug: Thousands.
Pastor Dick: Maybe thousands of years, but especially from the days of Luther and Calvin this is the free will. Okay let’s go to Salina, California we want to talk with Annie who is also listening on the internet. Hello Annie.
Annie: Hello how are you Doug?
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Annie: I have question and I wanted to know exactly when was Satan cast out of heaven?
Pastor Doug: Well we believe of course that back before our world was even created that Satan was cast out may be shortly after Adam and Eve sinned. Because it says in Revelation Chapter 12 that there was a war in heaven and that Satan was cast out to earth. Well we know that Satan did not just start tempting people on earth when Jesus came. So in Revelation 12 when it talks about that war between Michael and the dragon it is looking back to the time when Satan rebelled and he was cast to the earth. It was either before or just after that that he tempted Adam and Eve and like I said just a minute ago he set up his office here on our planet.
Annie: But in Revelation Chapter 12 doesn’t it say that he will be cast out after the birth of the child? Doesn’t that child refer to Jesus’ birth?
Pastor Doug: Well it is not saying-- you’re putting words there that aren’t exactly there. It does say and it talks about the war after that. If you have a Bible you can also look in Luke Chapter 10: 18. Let me give this to you and then I will go to Revelation and Jesus said I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven. Now when did Christ see Satan fall from heaven? Well did Jesus see it when He was a baby? Or did Christ live before He was born on earth? Do you know what I am saying?
Annie: Yes so does Revelation Chapter 12 is talking about Jesus casts him before His coming on earth?
Pastor Doug: Well keep in mind that a lot of Revelation jumps around. It tells us in Revelation 12: 6 that the woman has a baby and she flees into the wilderness. And then it goes on to say for 1260 days. After that it talks about the war in heaven. So that 1260 years of persecution—a day is a year in prophecy—that would mean that Satan wasn’t cast out of heaven until 1200 years after Christ so it is obviously not talking about the future. But, we’re talking about back when man fell or just before that.
Annie: And again in Joel where it says that Satan was at God’s presence and God asks him where you are coming from?
Pastor Doug: He said I am coming from the earth.
Annie: Right. He said he comes from the earth, but how can he be at God’s presence when he was cast out of heaven?
Pastor Doug: Well first of all it doesn’t say it’s him at that meeting when the book of Job is in there in heaven does it? It says there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord and t may be that God is not always sitting in heaven. And wherever this meeting was it may not have been in God’s throne room. And Satan—that actually is another proof that Satan came from the earth with back I the book of Job. So he was already down here.
Annie: Okay yes he was traveling from the earth, but does that mean that he was cast out of heaven at that time?
Pastor Doug: Yes. I don’t think that Satan has been living in heaven since he rebelled against God because it would be a constant war going on. But, I don’t think he has even been able to access the gates of heaven since Jesus died on the cross.
Annie: Okay.
Pastor Doug: But, you are getting into a big study that is hard to cover in a brief answer.
Annie: Right I think so.
Pastor Doug: But, I hope that helps a little bit Annie.
Annie: Yes it does. Thank you very much.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Annie. Let’s go to Lancaster, California and Ron is also listening on the internet. Welcome Ron.
Ron: Hi good evening.
Pastor Doug: Hi.
Ron: My wife and myself we’re involved in a Bible study right now and we’re in 2 Samuel 15 and I am not sure how maybe it is not a big deal, but how Chapter 15: 7 talking about the rebelling of Absalom and it says 7 “And it came to pass after 40 years that Absalom said to the king please let me go to Hebron and pay the vow which I have vowed to the Lord.” Now I am reading out of the New King James version and my wife has an NIV and hers’ says that he paid his way out after four years. And I have a footnote bottom of mine that says ancient text Adriatic’s say four and Josephus say four. So my question is, is it forty or four or is it really that important?
Pastor Doug: Well I will give you an answer because there are two ways I have seen it translated. But, it is I the manuscripts from which we get a lot of the Old Testament and it looks like a 40 and keep in mind that the translators have to read these very old manuscripts. And just like in English forty and four aren’t that different it is just that one zero that makes a difference and sometimes you can’t tell which. Some have wondered if it was his birthday when he began his rebellion to have it out with his father. It works both ways as far as the time frame is concerned because that would have been about his age. But, David is nearing seventy when Absalom rebels. But, I am inclined to think that it was four years after he reconciled with his father or at least pretended reconcile and I would go along with Josephus and I would think it was I the manuscript and that they just had trouble reading it and said well does that say four or does that say forty? And keep in mind that the Old Testament was not only in Hebrew it was also in Greek.
Ron: Greek okay.
Pastor Doug: In the Septuagint and the Septuagint said four years.
Ron: So how does one who reads and doesn’t know about the Bible scholars and Josephus supposed to know about all that and to read this and if you were to read this as forty how do say if four is the correct translation and why do we still see forty I the other text?
Pastor Doug: Well for one thing what I am saying to you is the belief of scholars. We could be wrong and it could be forty and no one ever wants to tamper with a manuscript of the sacred Scriptures and so everybody is very honest about it. I mean this is not something anyone has ever covered up. Some of the King James translators said look that’s a four zero and that’s what we’re going to translate. And others have looked at those transcripts and said well is that a zero or some mold right there by the ink that made it look like a zero. And they struggle over that and say well what it could mean is Absalom’s fortieth birthday when he started his rebellion or it could mean four years after he came back from living with his grandparents. Either one works as far as a time frame. So no one has really fought over it. But, it is one of those little anomalies in the Bible that doesn’t really challenge the inspiration of the Bible and really proves the inspiration. Does that make sense?
Ron: Yes. Pastor Doug do you have a certain translation of Bible that you teach from or use?
Pastor Doug: I typically when I preach unto evangelism I use the King James. And when I am I my own church and I preach from week to week I use the New King James. When I go to sleep at night I memorize the King James just to—because the beauty of the Old English cannot be improved on.
Ron: Great.
Pastor Doug: You know if everyone memorizes Scriptures in different versions we all sound like Babylon when we quote it in church.
[Laughter]
Ron: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: So I encourage people to memorize the King James Version because that has more influence on the English language than any other text. Even though it does sound archaic it is good for us. People still read Shakespeare, too.
Ron: Right. Well thank you so much for your answers.
Pastor Doug: Alright. Thank you.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Ron. Let’s go next to Robert in Nashville, Tennessee. He is listening on WCJR Robert welcome.
Robert: Hello is this Doug Batchelor?
Pastor Doug: yeah this is Doug Batchelor and Dick Debit and you are on the air.
Robert: How are you all? Hello I am calling you from Tennessee if you can hear me?
Pastor Doug: We hear you. I’ll be in Nashville in about a week.
Robert: Oh really where you going to be? I’d love to hear you.
Pastor Doug: Well I will be preaching and I am glad you are asking me. I’ll be preaching at the Convention Center—well I‘ll be flying into Nashville and then preaching at the Convention Center in Chattanooga just a couple of miles from you from the 5th of November to the 13th at the Convention Center in Chattanooga and I hope you can come.
Robert: My question is this and I tried to word this as clearly as I can. I have been studying the King of the north in Daniel 11and I am wondering if the King of the north that comes in without help is the same figure as Babylon in Revelation. And if that is so when economic Babylon is destroyed in Revelation 18 could the United States be included in that part of Babylon that is destroyed in one hour?
Pastor Doug: Yes. Now keep in mind you said could the United States be included? The whole world will be included Robert because the whole world worships the beast image except for the faithful. All of the governments of the world will be included.
Robert: And of course America is the overriding leader of Babylon.
Pastor Doug: I don’t see how we wouldn’t be a prominent role. And it talks about the fall of Babylon in Revelation 18 and it talks about her falling economically. Now Babylon is a political religious power that will manipulate the Kings of the world including the U.S. in the last days.
Robert: Yes, but that part of Revelation 18 appears to be an economic power.
Pastor Doug: Well it is. Now think about it. It says that the beast power—I am sorry there are two beasts in Revelation 13 you’ve got a beast that comes up out of the land and that is the U.S. and one of them comes up out of the sea. It says it won’t let people buy and sell unless they have the mark. Well you know governments impose economic sanctions now whenever they don’t cooperate. And the United Nations based I the U. S. is first and foremost on imposing economic sanctions. If you want we have a whole study it is just a mind blowing study on this and it is called “American Prophecy”. If you don’t have a copy of that Robert just call our resource number and we will send you or anyone listening one for free.
Robert: Well I have been reading about all the nuke possibilities in the United States with suitcase nukes. And I just wondered if it would be a possibility?
Pastor Doug: Well now you are getting into another aspect of it and a question, but the economic part I do believe America Is involved. Send for that lesson Robert on “American Prophecy” and I think you’ll be thrilled and enlightened as you read that.
Pastor Dick: That number is 1-800-835-6747 Robert or anyone listening. And ask for “America in Prophecy”. To Doreena who is in Decatur, Arkansas listening to KHBR. Hi Doreena. Welcome and what is your question please?
Doreena: Hello. My question concerns one of Paul’s sermons instructing the church at Corinthians. I am sorry I am blind so I can’t tell you exactly, but I think it is 1 Corinthians 14 where he says I speak with the Spirit and I speak with the understanding also and I pray in the Spirit and I pray with the understanding also.
Pastor Doug: Yes that is 1 Corinthians 14: 15.
Doreena: I’d like you to please explain that to me.
Pastor Doug: Alright let me read this for everybody. “What is the conclusion then will pray with the Spirit and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the Spirit and I will sing with the understanding.” The emphasis in 1 Corinthians 14 is some people were speaking or teaching in a tongue that others present did not understand. And they said oh, but I am spirit filled. And Paul would say look and this is 1 Corinthians 14 that Paul says I would rather speak five words with my understanding than I might instruct others and ten thousand in another tongue. It doesn’t matter how much spirit filled you are if other people don’t know what you are saying they are not edified by it. So Paul is saying do both together be spirit filled and teach in a language people understand. So you are teaching with the spirit and the understanding together; praying with your understanding and your spirit. A prayer should not only be logical, but a prayer should be spiritual.
Doreena: I understand that some groups teach that, that is an unknown tongue.
Pastor Doug: Right, but there is no example in the Bible of a person praying in a language they do not understand. In other words I will talk about an example. Do you know where in the Bible that it says Jesus is praying in tongues and he didn’t know what He was saying? Or John the Baptist?
Doreena: Doesn’t make much sense.
Pastor Doug: Well for the whole definition of prayer is an intelligent appeal. And if you don’t know what you are saying in prayer then of course you don’t know if the answer comes or not. And even though it is a very popular teaching I respectfully disagree. I don’t think that the gift of tongues mean praying in a tongue that you don’t even know what you are saying.
Doreena: Right. I didn’t understand the language, but I understand those verses.
Pastor Doug: Paul is appealing to them to pray I the spirit and the understanding at the same time. I have a book I can send to you and hope you can get someone to tread it to you. It is called “Captured by Tongues”. Thank you very much for your question. Just take a break right?
Pastor Dick: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Don’t go way and do you want to give that number one more time?
Pastor Dick: I am going to give it in just a moment.
Pastor Doug: So listening friends while the music is heading up we always like to remind people to check out the “Amazing Facts” website at “Amazing Facts dot com” “dot net” or dot TV”. We just had some good news they have developed now internet streaming live from our church.
Pastor Dick: Oh well praise the Lord.
Pastor Doug: So people can be tuned and look at the “Amazing Facts” website and you will learn more about the live streaming for the internet services. Be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back for those who have been waiting and if you have just tuned I this is “Bible Answers Live” and my name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Debit and we want to go directly to the phones. We take our first a call from this part of the program from San Francisco, California. Carl is listening on KFIA hi Carl.
Carl: How is it going Dick?
Pastor Dick: Good and your question?
Carl: I have a question that should apply to today I guess. Isaiah 5: 20 and it is where they call evil good and good evil. I was wondering does that apply today especially.
Pastor Doug: Okay just let me read this for our friends as we have about half our audience that is on the road. Isaiah 5: 20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil. Who light for darkness and darkness for light? Who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter?” Well yes it does apply and as a matter of fact it seemed to apply to every age and would seem to be more prominent today where people say that something that is sinful is really good. One example would be just the way the media treats sex now. As though it is like shaking hands. And the idea that people should not engage into that intimate relationship until after marriage is scoffed at. They say it’s good it is normal it is healthy. But, premarital or sex outside of marriage the Bible says it is evil. So here they say good is evil and evil is good. And here are a lot of other cases of that where things that God declares inappropriate and the world are saying are really very good. And in the beginning He created everything and called it very good and they are saying well He didn’t create it. You know so you can go right down the line and there are a lot of voices that are contradicting the voice of God. And they are calling evil good and good evil. If you listen to some of the diabolical music that is out there and people say oh that was a really good song. And the devil is smiling because he knows it is right you know from his throne. So yes there is a lot of that today and unfortunately some o fit is even in the pulpit. Are you there?
Carl: Yes and I am so concerned today just this political correctness thing has gotten so out of hand that it is irreversible. And every time I turn on the TV I see them like for instance the homosexuality thing and you aren’t able to criticize people. I just wanted to confirm that is what that Scripture points to.
Pastor Doug: Yes I think that is another example of what we were just talking about. Where something that God condemns they are saying is just perfectly normal and good and healthy for you. And it is really just the opposite is true.
Carl: Okay that clears it up. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Alright thanks for calling.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Carl. We’ll go next to Spokane, Washington where Jessica is listening on KGTS hi Jessica.
Jessica: Hello.
Pastor Dick: And your question please?
Jessica: My question is where in the Bible does it talk about the husband being accountable for the head of the family and everything that happens in the household?
Pastor Doug: Well I don’t know if you’ll find it in the Bible where it says that the husband is accountable for everything in the household. If you have your radio on you need to turn it off. You may want to turn that down because there is a delay and that will create confusion. But, the Bible does say that the husband was to and the word used is rule that you find and that would mean lead his family and it talks about elders leading their family. And obviously with relationships the buck stops with the leader. And so the priest of the family does have accountability, but that doesn’t mean that the children or the wife are without culpability if do something that is knowingly wrong because they say well I am not responsible it is my husband’s because the buck stops with him. Do you know what I am saying?
Jessica: Oh yes I agree.
Pastor Doug: And so in the charge that is given to the elder in the Bible it talks about that. And the Bible talks about Christ were being the head of the wife just as Christ is the head of the church. So is that some of the material you are looking for?
Jessica: Yes.
Pastor Doug: One example of that would be 1 Corinthians 11: 3 “I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ and the head of woman is the man.” And of course that is talking about in the marriage.
Jessica: Okay thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Alright thanks.
Pastor Dick: Alright Jessica and thanks for the call. Let’s go next to Sacramento, California.
Pastor Doug: Hang on if she is still listening I just want to give one more I found Ephesians 5: 23 “For the husband is the head of the wife; even as Christ is the head of the church.” That’s the one I was thinking of sorry.
Pastor Dick: Oh yes. It is okay. It is alright Terrick is listening on KFIA in Sacramento hello Terrick.
Terrick: Yes hello. My question is for today on what the Bible says about alcoholism because I am concerned about someone in my family. I want to express my concerns in A Christian way.
Pastor Doug: Well let me first before I even respond that we will send you something free. This is a book I wrote because there are still quite a few problems still with alcohol even with the church. And while we are concerned about drug abuse in our society because there are an ever increasing number of drugs to be used alcohol still remains the number one abused drug and it is a drug. And so I wrote a book that I will send you for free called “Alcohol and the Christian” it is very simple called “Alcohol and the Christian”.
Terrick: Great.
Pastor Doug: So you have to call a number in a minute and ask for that, but very simply you can look at the history of alcohol in the Bible. First time it is mentioned Noah plants a vineyard and the wine becomes fermented and he drinks and he gets drunk and he walks around naked. And a curse is pronounced on his posterity because of that. The Bible tells us that Lot’s daughters made their father drink and he had an incestuous relationship with his daughters because of the alcohol. You can just track the history throughout the Bible and it is never good. Herod got drunk and John the Baptist got his head chopped off. I mean Belshazzar got drunk and the kingdom was lost. I mean you just keep on going down the line and there is nothing good about fermented wine in the Bible. And so we see the same plague on our society today don’t we?
Terrick: Yes we sure do.
Pastor Doug: All this misery that comes from alcohol. A Christian shouldn’t support this at all.
Terrick: Yes I mean I don’t want to support them for it and I don’t want to turn my back on them because I know that I want to be there, too. But, it is tough because I don’t see anything that is changing and it is like it is getting worse.
Pastor Doug: Well sometimes you may have to practice tough love. That means you don’t stop loving them or caring, but you don’t want to enable people to continue in their self-destructive ways. So request that book and we’ll send it to you okay God bless.
Terrick: Alright.
Pastor Dick: Terrick call the number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “Alcohol and the Christian” and we will send that out to you tonight. To Orlando, Florida and Ellen is listening on WTLN hi Ellen.
Ellen: Hi I was interested in this Matthew 7: 22 & 23
Pastor Doug: Matthew 7: 22 & 23?
Ellen: Yes it is the part where Jesus is telling the people that many will say unto you in those days Lord did I not profess your name and didn’t I cast out devils? And then Jesus is going to say to them depart from me I knew you not. And so now am thinking when is this dialogue going to take place?
Pastor Doug: Good question and the Bible all through the Scriptures Ellen refers to the day of the Lord or the great judgment day and in Matthew 25 Jesus tells a parable where a Sheppard separates his sheep from his goats and he compares that to the judgment. He says that is what I’m going to do to separate the saved from the lost in that day and evidently that is the same time when many of those that are lost are saying Lord what are we doing here on the outside of the New Jerusalem? We thought we would be on the inside and didn’t we teach in your streets and prophesy and preach and do wonderful works and He will say I did not know you. Depart from me you who work iniquity. And the word iniquity there means lawlessness. They were disobedient to His law and I know sometimes we get criticized on this program because we talk about the Ten Commandments and believe that they are still in effect. But, there will be a lot of people who claim to be Christians that have cast off the law of God. And that is a very dangerous thing to do because Jesus will ask us someday and how can you say Lord, Lord when you do not the things I say? I am quoting Scriptures.
Ellen: Well is it a literal dialogue that is going to take place?
Pastor Doug: Well in a sense it is it is true that Jesus is going to say to many people that think you’re saved that you are not saved and you may know my name and you may have preached. You may have done miracles in my name, but you didn’t obey me. They taught a form of salvation that is like a salvation by presumption. And it is probably going to be a dialogue that will happen very nearly. Do you know what I am saying? It may not be word for word, but the principle of people thinking they are saved and thinking they are Christians and finding out they are not and that is what will happen. And that will be at the Great Judgment Day and the Day of the Lord after the 1000 years.
Ellen: Yes, but they won’t have the chance to have that literal dialogue though?
Pastor Doug: Yes they will. They’ll be saying Lord I do not understand and He’ll be saying you did understand that being outwardly religious I mean I have actually met people who think that because they have relatives who are Pastors that they are going to be saved. And so it is not through association with Christian things we are saved. It is through knowing and being submitted to the Lord.
Pastor Dick: It is that free will again.
Ellen: I understand the first resurrection that those that are blessed are going to be blessed and in the second resurrection are going to be the ones that are raised to damnation, but I didn’t know we have a chance to know that we have a chance to communicate during the second one.
Pastor Doug: Oh yes the Judgment Day the Great Day of the Lord there are a number of Scriptures that talk about dialogue and questions and things that will be asked and answered for both the saved and the lost. The lost will say Lord when did we see you hungry and thirsty and naked and not minister unto you? And He’ll say to them I as much as you didn’t do it unto the least of these my brethren you did it not to me. So there is a lot of dialogue that goes along so that people understand their reward.
Pastor Dick: That is not to say Ellen that they will have another chance. That’s not to say that they will have this dialogue and they will be able to change the Lord’s mind and it is just to say that they will understand why they are lost.
Ellen: Okay well thank you for teaching me that and looking that up for me.
Pastor Dick: And Pastor Doug we have a book that we might offer to this subject. Ellen there is a book in our library “Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost?” We will send that to you tonight if you would like a copy of it? Just call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747. And this is Biblical evidence that conclusively proves that Jesus lived His life here on this earth. And it is clear evidence that eternal life doesn’t hinge on a single moment of decision, but more on choices we have made all through our life.
Pastor Doug: Yes good point.
Pastor Dick: So call and ask for “Can a Saved Man Choose to be Lost?” Okay let’s go next to Spokane, Washington we want to talk with Sherry who is listening on KEEH; hello Sherry.
Sherry: Hi and thank you for taking my call. I’m calling with a question. I have a friend that I was explaining to them that Moses and Elijah and Enoch had all gone to heaven and then they were captives that were raised that were dead people that were raised when Christ was crucified and ascended with Him up to heaven. And they brought out the text to me that no one has ascended to heaven. When I think it was in John where it says that no one has ascended into heaven, but the Son.
Pastor Doug: Right. Well you have to keep in mind that there are a number of statements made in the Bible that are made on a general premise. When you think about the billions of people that have lived I think it is safe to say that nobody has ascended to heaven, but the Bible tells us about those exceptions. Elijah went to heaven in a fiery chariot. Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. And the again we know Moses appeared with Elijah on the Mount of Transfiguration and met with Jesus as a matter of fact that book we’re talking about tonight talks about Moses and Elijah being in heaven and we will send you a copy of that and so that s a general statement. The Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die and after this is the judgment for 99 per cent of the people, but there will some who will be alive when Jesus comes and who will not die.
Sherry: Right.
Pastor Doug: And so you can’t take the statement s that are in the Bible that are talking about the preponderance of the majority and say well what about these exceptions? They can’t be true then. Well the Bible tells us there are a few exceptions, but generally speaking all people die and there will be a few who will live and be the last generation and be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. But, generally speaking no man has ascended into heaven, but it tells us there were a few exceptions. And of course in Revelation Chapter 5 you’ve got this vision of heaven and it says there are 24 elders there. Right?
Sherry: Umm-hmm. Right.
Pastor Doug: So they are probably some of those who were resurrected with Christ in that Matthew 28.
Sherry: That was Revelation 7?
Pastor Doug: No Revelation 5.
Sherry: Oh okay.
Pastor Doug: And Revelation 4. Okay?
Sherry: Alright thank you!
Pastor Dick: Thanks Sherry. Let’s go next to Visalia, California Valerie is listening on KARM. Hello Valerie.
Valerie: Hello gentlemen. Thank you for taking my call. I have a question about the meats. I know there are verses in the Bible that tell us to stay away from certain types of meats and why because they are scavengers and we don’t want these things in our body. I am trying to find nutritional supplements like in the gel cap or something that are within them ingredients that are what I am told I need for my body to heal itself. But, it has like sterilized or purified extracts from the crab shell or something like that.
Pastor Doug: It is interesting when you start reading labels. Not just to avoid unclean food, but if you for instance want to cut down on your salt and they put it in everything. Even if you want to cut down on your sugar they have sugar in salt. There’s sugar in everything.
Pastor Dick: Yeah right.
Pastor Doug: And so the same way if you are trying to stay away from animal products. Not just to mention pork and the unclean foods it seems like I won’t even eat them myself. So it gets frustrating sometimes. Because when you buy something and you think you bought a good product and I’ve even bought vegetable soup and then you look in there and it is chicken fat and I thought why didn’t they go that one extra step and use vegetable oil? I thought they have to put chicken fat in my vegetable soup. I am a vegetarian so I am persnickety about that. But, anyway it is everywhere. And of course if you go to a health food store and you are in Visalia, California praise God it is not hard to get vegan food. I’ve been I some parts of the country and if you ask for a vegan burger they get the shot gun out.
[Laughter]
Valerie: No it is not that bad here, but I don’t want to rationalize.
Pastor Doug: Well so you just have to read the labels and pray that God will give you strength. You know I will say something else and I am saying this by permission and not by commandment Valerie. Some things that are made from animal products are so hyper treated that they are reduced to nothing more than a chemical. Like the average soap that people use it is made from tallow that may be a combination of tallow from everything from a calf to a pig. By the time they get done boiling that and treating that it is reduced to a very simple chemical. And I am not as worried about that because I try not to eat my soap unless—our boys have eaten it before.
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: But, then they come home from school and say the wrong thing. But, any way –now I am sorry.
[Laughter]
Valerie: Welt hi is an example of where they take an element one of the eight sugars we need for cellular regulation and healing and they have taken an extract from the crab shell and they say that it is not the crab shell that they have taken the ingredient from.
Pastor Doug: You know what I know what you are talking about and there probably is an alternative out there. Just search around because I can’t tell you what it is right now.
Valerie: Okay. I just don’t want to rationalize the principle is for me. It is not anything that is really going to do harm.
Pastor Doug: I’ll give you a good Bible answer and anything that is not of faith is sin. And if you don’t feel comfortable don’t do it.
Valerie: Okay well I appreciate your answer.
Pastor Dick: Alright thanks for the call Valerie. Let’s go to Bozeman, Montana Ryan is listening on KEMA. Hi Ryan.
Ryan: Hello can you hear me?
Pastor Dick: Yes sir.
Ryan: Great well I have a question on I went to this health fair today I guess it was. They had something had never seen before and they were taking these pictures and I don’t know by what process they were, but these auras were showing up and there were I know I try to stay away from the psychic reading and what not. But, it was just kind of this gimmick they had. There was this photograph that showed up with these clouds around, but anyhow what I was curious about was I kind of got dragged in by the gimmick and then she started describing what it was about and then at that point I figured out it was sort of a psychic type thing then I felt like I am trying to stay away from it. I just got suckered in.
Pastor Doug: Are you wondering if the Bible addresses this?
Ryan: Well I was just wondering and making an attempt I thought I heard this week sometime they were when Saul went to see somebody he shouldn’t have and I wasn’t intending to do that, but it is what happened.
Pastor Doug: Yeah it is witchcraft. Well that is the same thing. What is the purpose why would we need to know this about these auras that are supposed to be around us? What is the benefit? To me it sounds like it is dealing with the occult.
Ryan: Yes it very much was an Eastern thing, but I just didn’t know what it was it was just a gimmick thing and I was kind of figuring out after the fact that I shouldn’t have.
Pastor Dick: Well here is the bottom line though had you stayed the whole day with this person they probably would have charged you with it and with God we don’t need to pay for that kind of power.
Ryan: Alright that will be helpful in the future.
Pastor Doug: Alright? And thanks a lot.
Pastor Doug: Thanks for the call Ryan. And by the way Ryan we do have a study guide “Does God Inspire Psychics and Astrologers?” And we will send that to you for free.
Pastor Dick: 1-800-835-6747 is the number to call and ask for that booklet and we will send it right out to you. Gill is in Queens, New York listening on WMCA; hi Gill.
Gill: Hi it is a pleasure speaking to you guys again. And I have a question about gossiping. When is gossiping wrong because I am kind of interested in the Bible and I am blind. I do read the Bible and do share it with people. But, at the same time I might also warn people from my false teachers or things that could damage people’s lives. Or like in sense of gossiping like if somebody is doing something wrong in the church. Where in the Bible can this be right because in the Bible it says let no corrupt communication come from your mouth?
Pastor Doug: Well there you go that’s the idea. If we’re talking about other people simply for our own entertainment then there is no redeeming value in discussing the struggles of these people. I mean there is certainly nothing wrong with praising a person. But, that is not what we are talking about. But, if we are just talking for our own entertainment about people’s fragilities and weaknesses; that’s gossip and Jesus says in Matthew 12 that we will give an account in verse 36 for every idle word that we speak. For by our words we’ll be justified and by our words we’ll be condemned. So we have a book we’ll send you on that that we’ll send you Gill and it is called “Tiny Trouble Maker” and if I am not mistaken you are blind.
Gill: Yes somebody can read it to me.
Pastor Doug: Yes somebody can read it to you and it is called “Tiny Trouble Maker” by Joe Crews and I don’t think we have offered that in a long time.
Pastor Dick: I don’t think so either.
Pastor Doug: It is one of our sermon books.
Pastor Dick: Gill call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “Tiny Trouble Maker” and we will send it tight out to you. Pastor Doug let’s go to Huntsville, Alabama where Zachary is listening on WOCG. Hello Zachary.
Zachary: Hello.
Pastor Dick: Yes hello you are on the air and your question please.
Zachary: Yes my question is was in religion class and the question came up can we perform modern day miracles as was done in the Bible days by the apostles?
Pastor Doug: Okay well the answer is very simply yes. Jesus said to the apostles these miracles that I have done greater things than these will you do because I go to the Father. And not only did the apostles perform miracles, but the disciples and followers performed miracles. And there have been a number of cases of miracles in varying degrees through prayer all the way to yesterday. I mean I just heard on the news here’s a miracle pardon me Zachary—you can find this on the internet. About a week ago in Seattle or Olympia, Washington—I can’t remember exactly. A girl on her way home one night drove off the road and her car was two hundred feet down an embankment and the news cast began it can only be described as a miracle. They looked for this girl for three or four days and couldn’t find her and figured she was dead. The mother of one of this girl’s friends had a dream that she was supposed to go look for her. And she was impressed not to give up and she looked down this bank and she found her still alive after eight days trapped in the car. She explained that the dream told her where to look and I mean how do you explain that? It was a miracle and in the news. So to be alive after eight days with no water is a miracle.
Pastor Dick: Amen.
Pastor Doug: And they said if she had not been dehydrated then her concussion may have swollen and then killed her; so just everything that happened was a miracle. But, there are still miracles today absolutely. And that mother’s daughter was praying for her friend so that was an answer to prayer. Okay I hope that helps a little Zachary. Greater things than these will you do because I go to the Father.
Zachary: Thank you.
Pastor Dick: Pastor Doug you have a series coming up that you want to talk to us about.
Pastor Doug: Thank you I almost forgot for our listening friends. Something very exciting is happening. I will be leaving in about a week for Chattanooga, Tennessee where at the Convention Center we will be up linking by satellite around the world on the Hope Channel, on Three Angels Broadcasting a revival and if you can go to the internet just look up 04Revival. That is the number 4 the number 0 like the year “04Revival dot com” and we encourage you to tune in. You can be watching on the internet and watching on 3ABN and they will help us produce this program and the Hope Channel will also carry it and it is just going to be ten days of Old Fashioned Revival with Bible teaching and inspirational music and returning to God in prayer and fasting. If you would like to be in a Revival then we hope you will participate in this program. “04Revival dot com” and if we did not get to your call then be patient with us and we’ll try to take one or two that have called in online. Remember most of all friends we do this as a faith ministry and we are listener supported. We’d love to hear from you. Go to “Amazing Facts dot com” drop us a note and make a donation. And remember Jesus is the truth that will set you free. God bless.
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