Hello friends, this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? If you have ever been to Arlington National Cemetery you have probably seen a sharp looking sentinel guarding the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every detail performed by this honor guard is flawlessly executed and filled with meaning. During his guard at the tomb, the guard takes 21 steps, makes his turn, and pauses 21 seconds. It alludes to the 21 gun salute which is the highest military honor. His gloves are moistened to prevent him losing his grip on the rifle which he always carries on the shoulder away from the tomb symbolizing protecting the tomb from anyone who might assault it.
For a soldier to apply to guard the tomb he must be between 5 feet 6 inches and 6 feet four inches tall. His waist size cannot exceed 30 inches and they must also commit two years of life to guard the tomb and vow to never drink alcohol or swear or do anything to disgrace the uniform for the rest of their lives. Less than 20 percent of the soldiers who try out for this duty are accepted. The first six months of duty the guard cannot talk to anyone or watch TV. All off duty time is spent memorizing the notably people left at Arlington national Cemetery and where they are interred. Every guard spends up to five hours a day making sure that his uniform is impeccable.
After two years the guard is given a leaf pin that is worn on the lapel signifying they served as a guard at the tomb. The guard must obey these rules for the rest of their lives or give up the leaf pin. Currently there are only 400 of these pins being worn. On September 15 2003 when hurricane Isabel was approaching Washington D.C. the soldiers who were assigned to guard the tomb were given permission to retreat and suspend their duty. They respectfully declined the offer. Soaked to the skin they marched through the night in the pelting rain of a Tropical Storm. They said that guarding the tomb was not just an assignment it was the highest honor that could be afforded to a service person.
The guards which are changed every thirty minutes in the summer and every sixty minutes in the winter are patrolling the tomb 24 hours a day 365 days a year continuously since April 1948. On every Memorial Day thousands of visitors come to Arlington National Cemetery to honor the memory of the dead and behold the awesome loyalty of these awesome sentinels guarding the tomb. Did you know the Bible teaches that God has Memorial Day that should be remembered? Stay with us friends we will learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: We have phone lines open and it is a tool free call to ask a Bible question. This program is for you the number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s 1-800-463-7297 we will search the word of God together to find the answers. This is “Bible Answers Live” an interactive, International, live Bible study and you can participate. 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: We start with a word of prayer on Sunday evenings. So let’s do that. Father in heaven we praise you for your grace and your love. And for your plan of salvation that you have so freely and willingly laid out and made available to us. And Lord I pray for the power of your Holy Spirit to be with us tonight to speak clearly to Pastor Doug and clear his mind of anything that would interfere with what you want us to hear. And may we serve those who are calling tonight with Biblical questions Lord by sharing with them what your word says. We praise you again Lord and we thank you for this privilege. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Dick: The military has some wonderful traditions Pastor. And this tradition in Arlington National Cemetery is a fascinating tradition. But, you have a spiritual connection here. What is this connection that you are thinking about with this guard?
Pastor Doug: Well it is true that some of these traditions may seem odd, but having gone to the military school first time when I was five years old and then again at eleven, twelve and thirteen. The traditions when you look back they teach respect, they teach reverence and you can see a sense of awe.
Pastor Dick: Yes.
Pastor Doug: If you go and watch these guards guarding the tomb.
Pastor Dick: Yes.
Pastor Doug: But, I wanted to take this point and we have a lot of our friends in North America who are filling the highways and travelling and this weekend of course is a time when people remember and it is Memorial Day. We remember those more specifically of those who have laid down their lives defending the country.
Pastor Dick: Yes.
Pastor Doug: And I wonder how many people know that God has a memorial day in the Bible? But, it is not a memorial of death it is a memorial of creation. And friends bear with me because I’d like to read something you probably have heard before. And it is found in the very first book of the Bible in the 2nd Chapter. Now we know the Lord created the world in six days, but we have a week with seven days. Why is that He made one more day? Genesis 2: 1 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished and all the host of them and on the seventh day God ended His work which He had made and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had made. And God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it.” Meaning He made it Holy because in it He had rested from all His work which he had made. And of course in the Ten Commandments the Lord says remember the Sabbath Day to keep it Holy. And it points back to in six days the Lord had made the heaven and the earth. People believe in vacations, but a vacation and what we call a holiday is not the same really as a Holy day. God has created a memorial of His redemptive, creative power every week. Many people are missing out on this and we need a day of rest in this stressful and anxious society that we live in.
Pastor Dick: And that is for sure.
Pastor Doug: Many people would like to know more about how they can find this peace and rest. The whole Bible is about finding rest in Jesus. He said come to me and I will give you rest. And every week He has a day that is a memorial of His redemption, His creation and His rest.
Pastor Dick: Well in the middle of the Ten Commandments God tells us to remember and I don’t know if that has really sunk in with people or not. But, we are supposed to remember the Sabbath day. The Sabbath Day as God calls it. But, we’re supposed to remember it and anybody who would like to know more about why God says remember we’d like to make available our special offer tonight. “Why God Said Remember” is a book we will send to you tonight if you would just call our resource operators and ask for copy of it. Our operators are standing by right now at 1-800-835-6747 that’s 1-800-835-6747 and if you call that number and ask for “Why God Said Remember” we’ll send it out to you tonight.
Pastor Doug there is something very special happening tomorrow night that we want to tell our listeners about. Let me preface it by saying when I was a young man about twenty-one I was in the military and I had a distinct privilege of meeting a man who was wearing a Congressional Medal of Honor and I was in the midst of 500 very high ranking military people who all came to attention when this man walked into the room and they saluted him. And it was really an awe-inspiring thrill I still get excited about it and this was a lot of years ago. Tomorrow night there is a very special program that is going to be on television and we would like to tell people about it. Do you want to do the honors?
Pastor Doug: Yes there is going to be a special program that has been recently produced about a gentleman and we have actually done an “Amazing Facts” on Desmond Doss on our program before. He is the only medic who won the Congressional Medal of Honor and he was a conscientious objector.
Pastor Dick: That’s right. He did not carry arms throughout his career.
Pastor Doug: He did not carry arms throughout his career, but he said he did not pick u a weapon and it’s an incredible story. PAX TV is being very brave in broadcasting this program and we don’t normally do this, but Desmond Doss is actually a friend of mine. I just wanted to make sure that people could see this incredible true program about a real hero and that will be on PAX TV at I think it is 9 EST.
Pastor Dick: 9 o’clock Eastern.
Pastor Doug: And 6 PM Pacific Standard Time (PST) and you will want to make sure to record that and watch that and tell your friends to tune in and it will touch your hearts.
Pastor Dick: It is an awe-inspiring story about Desmond Doss who won the Congressional Medal of Honor serving as a medic during World War 11.
Pastor Doug: Now I should add to parents it is on at 9 o’clock because there are a few graphic war scenes that are in the movie. And there is actual footage, but other than that it is truly an inspiring documentary. Alright let’s take our internet questions and then we’ll go to the phones tonight. First of all Pastor Doug we have a question from Charlene who says the following.
Question: I am a vegetarian, but I eat eggs sometimes is that the same as chicken?
Pastor Doug: Well there’s no Bible prohibition against eating eggs. Matter of fact Job asked is there any flavor in the white of an egg meaning we need to salt it or something, but we all know there are certain health issues with eggs.
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: In eggs the yolk is almost pure cholesterol and so people may be sensitive as to how many eggs and unfertilized eggs is not the same thing as eating a chicken. It is eating almost pure protein. But, there are rare occasions where there are salmonella problems with eggs, but you know I guess there are Vegan vegetarians and then there are lacto ova vegetarians. Then there are some vegetarians who call themselves vegetarians, but they still eat fish. So there is a whole spectrum there. It is just your preference there is no Biblical prohibition against eating eggs. Just be careful for health reasons.
Pastor Dick: Okay very good. The second question comes from Scott who is asking about tithes and offerings.
Question: He says he knows it is not an option and his question is how does a person return tithes and give an offering when their current financial situation does not warrant being able to do that?
Pastor Dick: In other words they may be faced with a bankruptcy or creditors knocking on the door.
Pastor Doug: You know I want to be careful that I am sensitive to the struggles people may have, but a paid tithe is where God invites us to test Him.
Pastor Dick: Amen.
Pastor Doug: And He says in Malachi Chapter 3 to prove Him and see if He doesn’t open the windows of heaven. I know this doesn’t make sense mathematically, but it is true that ninety percent for a Christian will go farther for a Christian than 100 percent.
Pastor Dick: 85 percent will go even further.
Pastor Doug: Well 85 percent will go even farther in other words don’t put God on the end of your list. Some people would never pay a tithe if they waited until they had everything paid off. If someone waits until they pay off their house and then paid off their car and then they always owe somebody. Take a step of faith and return your tithe to God and be wise in the expenditure of other means and He will open the windows of heaven.
Pasto Dick: Amen.
Pastor Doug: He will bless and I have experienced it and I know you have.
Pastor Dick: Amen.
Pastor Doug: We have a lesson on that if someone wants more information on tithing we can send them the lesson dealing with the worldwide embezzlement.
Pastor Dick: Okay you can call our resource operators and ask for “Worldwide Embezzlements” at 1-800-835-6747. Are you ready to go to the phones Pastor Doug?
Pastor Doug: Pastor Dick I just remembered we renamed that lesson and there is a new title for that lesson. It is called “In God We Trust” and I like that better it is easier.
Pastor Dick: Yes. Okay. Alright 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “In God We Trust”. Let’s take our first caller for the evening and we’re going to New Haven, Connecticut. And we want to talk to Jeremiah who is listening to us on the internet. Hello Jeremiah.
Jeremiah: Hello Pastor Doug.
Pastor Dick: Hello and thanks for waiting.
Jeremiah: My question is in Hebrews Chapter 6: 4 & 5 & 6. Shall I read that?
Pastor Doug: Do you want me to read that for people?
Jeremiah: Sure.
Pastor Doug: Hebrews Chapter 6: 4 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come. 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”
Jeremiah: Yes my question is can you explain that because parts of it are written there I have experienced including putting God to shame. Because I was enlightened I converted and was baptized and I experienced the feeling of the Holy Spirit and I …
Pastor Doug: And you fell away?
Jeremiah: I fell away for a period of like over a year. And I came back and I want to know is this saying I cannot return to repentance and in other words is my salvation lost?
Pastor Doug: No. Well first of all let’s look at some Bible examples. Can you think of anyone else in the Bible that backslid and came back?
Jeremiah: That is what I was going to ask you. I know Saul did.
Pastor Doug: King Solomon is a good example the book of Ecclesiastes is written after his return to God. And you also have David during the time that he had an episode with Bathsheba. He killed a friend and he went on continuing to govern the kingdom. God gave him an opportunity to repent and nine months went by because the baby was born before he had a real repentance.
Pastor Dick: Well Peter denied the lord.
Pastor Doug: Well and I was going to say that. But, maybe Jeremiah was looking for people that alike turned away for a period of time.
Jeremiah: Yeah after knowing that it is wrong and willingly doing it.
Pastor Doug: Yes well first of all this verse is not saying that those that backslide can’t come back because there are so many Scriptures in the Bible that talk about the prodigal son. Right? He is in the father’s house and enjoying all of the benefits of the father’s house and he leaves that. And h comes back and he is received. And the father doesn’t receive him as a servant. The father receives him as a son. Right?
Jeremiah: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So Jesus is telling tat parable would be a good exhibit. This verse is saying I think that if a person turns away from the best that God can offer, he can’t expect something more to bring him to repentance. In other words if God has offered His best and that is not touching our hearts then what more is He going to offer?
If you’ll notice that Paul--whom we believe to be the writer of Hebrews; he is saying they have partaken of the Holy Spirit, they have tasted the good word of God and the if the powers of the world are to come and if they are not moved by these things then what else is God going to offer to bring them to repentance?
But, you read in Revelation Chapter 1 and Jesus talks of the church that has lost its’ first love and it says return and do the first works. So there are many, many examples. Hosea talks about returning the backsliding Israel and the whole Nation backslid.
Jeremiah: Could it be they are talking about the experience of repentance where it’s not just saying sorry for sinning, but you have to have the sorrow that we had at first here?
Pastor Doug: Well yes I am glad you said that because when King David repented after his episode with Bathsheba he spent seven days on the ground praying. When—it was the same thing with Peter—he wept bitterly in the Garden. When Mary and Joseph lost track of Jesus-- when he was twelve years old—they said we have spent three days sorrowing and searching for you. And when we lose Jesus it sometimes takes three days sorrowing and searching again for you.
Jeremiah: Yes I don’t know If I actually felt that kind of sorrow because maybe the Lord has hardened my heart, but when I ask for forgiveness about this thing that I have done I just kind of go through the motions I am not really crying about it.
Pastor Doug: Well I know what you are saying and don’t measure your repentance by your peers. Measure your repentance by God’s promise. You can feel good or bad because some people are more emotional than others.
But, do this. Make a list of your sins and more specifically what you have done since you backslid. Confess it to the Lord and hold it before Him then claim the promise that if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us. And thank Him for doing it and throw the list away and burn it!
Jeremiah: Do I need to be re-baptized?
Pastor Doug: Well talk to your Pastor about that, alright?
Jeremiah: Okay. Thank you very much.
Pastor Dick: Jeremiah thanks for your call. Let’s go to Kankakee, Illinois. Maurice is listening also on the internet. Welcome to the program.
Maurice: Thank you.
Pastor Dick: And your question please?
Maurice: My question is concerning the book of Revelation. In Chapter 14 the Bible speaks of the son of man on a cloud having a sickle in his hand. But, then it says after him another angel also having a sickle in his hand and he reaps, too. Is this saying that after Christ’s second coming because the first one where it says Christ has a sickle everyone looks at that as being the second coming of Christ so who is this angel that comes after Him if the first one is Jesus?
Pastor Doug: Well I don’t want to take this too literally because in Revelation the things that the Lord and angels are holding are very symbolic. God is not going to harvest the earth with a sickle and Jesus appears with a sword in His mouth. It is the symbol for the sword of God. The symbol that Jesus used in His parable the earth is the field. The word of God is the seed and now at the end He is coming to harvest. Keep in mind that the Bible says Jesus is harvesting through the angels. It says He will send the angels to the four corners of the earth to gather His elect. So it is not unusual that this angel would have a sickle. The Lord is the chief farmer so He has got a sickle, but the angels have sickles, too. It is a symbol that He uses the angels to affect the harvest.
Maurice: Well I understand that the book of Revelation is symbolism, but what I am looking at is the order here. And in verse 15 it clearly says that the angel—that Christ has a sickle in His hand and then it said in verse 17 that another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven and he also has a sharp sickle in his hand. Now we know that this is symbolic language here, but the order is if the first one is the second coming of Christ—which is going to be a literal coming.
Pastor Doug: Right. Who is the second angel with the sickle?
Maurice: Who is the second angel?
Pastor Doug: I know I misunderstood your question. There are two people’s that are t be harvested. Notice it says that the second angel is harvesting those that are to be punished. It says: “Their grapes are fully ripe and they go into the wine press of God’s wrath first. The first angel in verse 15 is the harvest to go into the barn. They are the saved. There are two groups that are alive when the Lord comes. There are the saved and the lost.
Maurice: So what is thrown into the winepress?
Pastor Doug: It is a symbol of the wicked experiencing the wrath of God. You have probably sung that song before “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory of the Coming of the Lord”. Trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored.
Maurice: In verse 18 it says thrust in thy sickle and gather the cluster of the vine of the earth.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Maurice: For her grapes are fully ripe. And then it goes on to tell you in verse 19 it tells you that an angel thrust in his sickle into the earth and gathered the vine of the earth and cast it into the great winepresses for the wrath of God. So grapes…
Pastor Doug: So grapes represent the lost here and it says the winepress of the wrath of God. You know Maurice I love the study of Revelation. That is one of my deepest studies, but it kind of uses up our study on the budget of questions.
Maurice: True.
Pastor Doug: So I hope it helps a little bit, but we need to keep on moving.
Maurice: I got you.
Pastor Doug: But, I appreciate your question. It is my favorite study.
Maurice: It was a pleasure talking to you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you.
Pastor Dick: Alright let’s go to Silvis, Massachusetts next and welcome Matt. Good evening Matt.
Matt: Good evening and nice to meet you. I just had a question on Galatians 3: 23 to 3: 24 about what Paul is saying. It kind of…
Pastor Doug: Would you like for me to read that?
Matt: Yes please.
Pastor Doug: Galatians 3: 23 & 24. … 23 “But, before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith…” Okay? Do you want me to explain that or do you have a question?
Matt: Well it’s that and everything that Paul says throughout the New Covenant. And in the New Testament I want to know if he is saying basically the law is obsolete or what?
Pastor Doug: Alright may we pause right there with that question?
Matt: Yes sir.
Pastor Doug: Yes sir. Let’s think about that. You would mean maybe the Ten Commandment Law?
Matt: Is that the Mosaic Law?
Pastor Doug: Well there are two laws. There is the ceremonial law and that was contained in ordinances and written by the hand of Moses. And it revolves around circumcision and Feast Days and a number of other laws that were not the same as the moral laws that were the Ten Commandments.
Matt: Alright.
Pastor Doug: Now just take for a second your statement is the law obsolete? Pose is the moral laws the Ten Commandments now obsolete? Would that mean now that it is okay to use God’s name in vain?
Matt: No.
Pastor Doug: Would it mean now that it is okay to commit adultery with your neighbor’s spouse?
Matt: No.
Pastor Doug: Or to kill or to lie or to steal?
Matt: No.
Pastor Doug: Or to worship other gods so obviously not. As you go through the Ten Commandments you find them ratified again in the New Testament. But, when you look at the ceremonial law Paul made it clear that the Jewish Sabbaths and the circumcision, the sacrificing of lambs, these laws that were written on paper were nailed to the cross. But, let me also be clear on one other thing and that is that none of the law whether the Commandments or the ceremonial law can save us. The law does bring us to Christ in that it shows us our sin.
Matt: Alright because I was under the impression that the Spirit is what shows us the law. Well I mean how we should live our lives.
Pastor Doug: Well the Holy Spirit does lead us on how to lead our lives, but we still are commanded in the Bible to serve the law of God and live to the perfect law. Someone came to Jesus one time and said Good master what should I do to have eternal life and Jesus said “Do what is written in the law.” And He said keep the Commandments. Jesus said keep the Commandments.
Matt: Alright.
Pastor Doug: So that’s in Mark Chapter 10. So there is a lot of New Testament—matter of fact Paul said not to be hearers of the laws—this is Romans Chapter 2: 13 “Not the hearers of the law will be just before God, but the doers of the laws will be just.” And later on Paul identifies the Ten Commandments, too. So the writers make a distinction that the Ten Commandments law is the moral law. Every Christian and Jew respects that.
Matt: Alright. Thank you very much Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Okay? Thanks. You know one more thing I wanted to add before we take our break Pastor Dick on that question. The statement under the law is misunderstood. When we sin we are all under the curse of the law. The penalty for sin is death. Christ saves us and brings us out from under the curse of the law. But, once we are not under the curse of the law doesn’t mean we are free to disobey it. So that is sometimes people think not under the law means we are free to disobey; when it means we are not under the penalty, but that would mean free citizens are not free to break the law they are free because they obey.
Pastor Dick: Alright. I think the idea of looking into the law and looking into the moral law and allowing it to point out our sin is very important and something that a lot of people miss. The law doesn’t change us; it doesn’t clean us; it is just a mirror you know.
Pastor Doug: We have a lesson that Matt or anyone else wondering can send for that anyone wondering about this would enjoy and it is one of our new lessons called “Is Obedience Legalism?” It really addresses this thoroughly.
Pastor Dick: Okay Matt and anyone else if you will call 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the lesson we’ll send that to you tonight. There’s our music Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: We will take a break for a few minutes and Pastor Dick has some important announcements and for our friends who haven’t yet seen the “Amazing Facts” website what are you waiting for? It is so easy going to “Amazing Facts dot com, dot org, dot TV, dot net”. And it will take you to one of the greatest sites on the internet for Biblical resources to help you in your personal study and teaching. A lot of it is free. There are also things you can purchase and tapes and videos and archives of this program. So check out “Amazing Facts dot org” and while you are online go to “Bible Universe dot com”. We’ll be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Hi friends we are glad if you have stayed by and we are returning to “Bible Answers Live” and if you have just joined us this is a live, International, interactive Bible study. And you can participate by praying for us as we search the word of God together. You can call in the “Bible Answers Live” with a Bible question 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 or you can listen. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Debit.
Pastor Doug: Your name is more poetic than mine.
Pastor Dick: You are a Batchelor in the crowd. Every time I call you at home it is welcome to the Batchelor family. That is so cool. Let’s go to the phones.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Pastor Dick: And talk with Lil in Toronto, Canada. Hi Lil welcome to the program.
Lil: Hey how are you?
Pastor Dick: Great.
Lil: Thank you for taking my call. From the prophecy codes I have actually come back to the church.
Pastor Doug: Well praise the Lord.
Lil: It has been some weeks since I quit smoking and I am trying to quit drinking as well, too.
Pastor Doug: Well that’s hard. Ouch.
Lil: But, I did have a question in regards to—and I did start reading the Bible again. There’s averse in Deuteronomy Chapter 14: 26 and I couldn’t figure out what they were talking about so I thought I would call and ask.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Well let me read this because we have had questions on this before. Deuteronomy 14: 26 “And thou shall bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth; and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household,”. Are you wondering about the wine and strong drink?
Lil: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Okay the word for wine in the Bible is sometimes used to describe wine and fermented grape juice and sometimes unfermented. One reason we know that is because if you will look in Isaiah Chapter 65: 17 I think, it says “As for me the wine is in the cluster.” Obviously new wine is in the cluster it has not been fermented yet and that is why it is called new and it is in the grape. But, it is the same word being used and Jesus talked about you don’t put new wine in old wine skins. Well obviously new wine is not fermented. Sometimes they didn’t differentiate whether it was fermented or not. They just would take the juice from the grapes and put it in skins and say after time went by it would slowly begin to age. So let’s assume that Moses is not talking about things that are going to get people drunk. Have you ever drunk by accident concentrated orange juice, but it was before you added enough water?
Lil: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Okay. That is strong drink and the Jews had a way of dehydrating their grape juice to help it preserve and it was lighter to carry and then they would reconstitute it when they got to their destination. And they called it strong drink and sometimes they would just add a little water and it was very sweet wine. My grandparents are Jewish—well they have passed away—and they used to celebrate the Passover with this very sweet caramel wine that was almost like a syrup and they would just drink a little bit. But, it was basically unfermented. So and they never drank alcohol. And the word there strong drink doesn’t mean Jack Daniels it means a concentrated grape juice and strong not like in proof, but strong like in concentrated.
And one reason we notice he contexts is because if you read the previous verses; this is when people were walking long distances to come and worship the Lord. They would bring these things with them and it made more sense to bring the concentrated or the strong grape juice and it was lighter.
Lil: But, they say in the verse there that whatever the soul lusteth after?
Pastor Doug: They would take money with them and the word lusteth is not a good word. It means desire it is translated and as a matter of fact if you get another version you’ll see what that means and you can use funds that they would convert for worship to the Lord and purchase whatever their needs were.
Lil: Okay got you.
Pastor Doug: And they were to just rejoice before the Lord during these feasts. But, he isn’t saying do whatever you lust after and get drunk although some people try to make it say that.
Lil: Yes I see that.
Pastor Doug: It is one of the weaknesses of the King James language. Okay?
Lil: Right. Well thank you so much.
Pastor Doug: By the way we’ve got a book that might help answer some of this because it goes into more detail. It’s called “Alcohol and the Christian” if you would like a free copy of that and I know you have been praying about that other issue also; we’ll send it to you. Just ask for “Alcohol and the Christian”.
Lil: Okay.
Pastor Dick: Call our resource operators at that number. 1-800-835-6747.
Lil: Thank you so much.
Pastor Dick: Alright Lil. Thanks for the call. Bye. To Charlotte, North Carolina and Ronnie is with us tonight. Good evening Ronnie.
Ronnie: Good evening and thanks for taking my call. My question is for Pastor Doug. I wanted to get your personal opinion about the Bible Code and do you think it can predict future events?
Pastor Doug: Well I am not an expert. But, I did watch a Discover Channel or it may have been a History Channel special on the Bible Code. They are not always the most accurate, but was able to glean the central theme of the philosophy of the prophetic event using this computer code.
First of all they have to use a computer Ronnie to understand these things. I think that something happened to the phone Pastor Dick and we’re talking to the wrong person again here.
Pastor Dick: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Are you still with us Ronnie?
Ronnie: Yes. I am still here.
Pastor Doug: Okay. God did not intend for us to have high powered computers and special programs to understand prophecy. What the Bible Code does is it puts the teaching s of the Bible in Hebrew on a grid. And then it looks for phrases. You punch in certain phrases. And it looks for it and it finds where two or three phrases line up together and there are so many words in the Bible you can make it say almost anything.
Now I haven’t seen proof for this, but I understand that someone using the same philosophy took the book Moby Dick by Herman Melville and they put it into a grid. And they began to look for prophetic event in Moby Dick and they found them there also. So that ought to tell you that you don’t have to use a crossword puzzle grid to try to understand the Bible prophecy by lining up words diagonally and u and down and horizontally. They were looking for words and letters in all these different arrangements and yes you might find where it says twin towers if you go cross ways. And you might find—do you know what I am saying?
Ronnie: Yes.
Pastor Doug: You can find different words, but what they have not done is they have not been able to use this technique to predict anything future. All that they do is look at historic events and punch them into the computer. They run through the Bible and they see if they can find any words that allude to it. So it’s I think it is kind of a carnival approach to study of the Bible. Kind of smoke and mirrors hook and dagger approach/
Ronnie: Okay that answers my question. Thank you very much.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Ronnie. Let’s talk with Brian in Mica, Missouri. Welcome Brian.
Brian: Hi how are you?
Pastor Dick: Good and your question please?
Brian: Yes I had a question about the Sabbath day I mean about it being the seventh day. Is that supposed to mean Saturday?
Pastor Doug: Do you have a calendar nearby Brian?
Brian: Yes.
Pastor Doug: If you look at your calendar what day is listed as the first day of the week?
Brian: Sunday is.
Pastor Doug: And that is correct. What day of the week did Jesus rise?
Brian: I thought it was the third day.
Pastor Doug: Well He rose three days after being crucified, but He rose on the first day of the week it says in all four gospels and on the first day of the week the women came to the tomb. That is why Easter the first day of the resurrection is called Easter Sunday.
[Clearing throat]
Brian: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So the day before Easter Sunday is what day?
Brian: Saturday.
Pastor Doug: And the Bible tells us He died on Good Friday and they wanted to take His body off of the cross before the Sabbath began and so what day of the week would be the Bible Sabbath?
Brian: Do what now?
Pastor Doug: What day of the week would be the Bible Sabbath? They had to get Him off the cross before the Sabbath began. If He died on Friday and He rose after the Sabbath and it was on Sunday; what day of the week falls between those two days?
Brian: Saturday.
Pastor Doug: And that’s right and that is the seventh day of the week and that’s how it shows on your calendar and if you go to any dictionary you’ll find the same thing. But, you know Pastor Dick a lot of people are surprised to learn that.
Pastor Dick: Yes.
Pastor Doug: But, send for that book it is free Brian and we call the book “Why God Said Remember” and we’ll send that to you.
Pastor Dick: 1-800-835-6747 Brian and ask for the book “Why God Said Remember”. Let’s go next to Sacramento, California and talk with Willie. Hello Willie.
Willie: Hello.
Pastor Dick: Your question please?
Willie: My question is pertaining to Cain in the Bible when God took him out of the land he went to the land of Nod. And there he knew his wife. Did God have more than one Garden of Eden?
Pastor Doug: No. You are wondering where he got his wife.
Willie: yes.
Pastor Doug: If you read in Genesis Chapter 5: 4 you’ll see that it says in verse 4 not only did Adam and Eve have Cain and Abel and Seth. It says they had sons and daughters.
Willie: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Way back in the Bible it was not considered incest for a man to marry his brother. And when Cain—I am sorry that wasn’t incest that was—thanks for catching me on that.
Pastor Dick: That’s alright.
Pastor Doug: It has been a long weekend. Yes it was not considered incest for a man to marry his sister. And when you think about it Adam married his sister, too. Because Eve and Adam had the same father didn’t they?
Willie: Yes they did.
Pastor Doug: So Cain took one of his sisters when he left the Garden of Eden and he and she went off and began to procreate. And most Bible scholars agree with that and keep in mind that Abraham married his half-sister Sarah. And then Jacob married his cousin. So at the time of Moses that is when that was looked down upon.
Willie: Oh okay. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thanks for the question.
Pastor Dick: To Ocala, Florida and Susie who is a first time caller listening on the internet. Welcome Susie.
Susie: Hello and good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Susie: Yes I would like to ask you a question about a different kind of music. There is a different kind of music and it is not for everyone. Christian music I mean. So I would like to know; what music is acceptable to God that will elevate us toward Him?
Pastor Doug: What music is acceptable to God? Oh this is a deep question.
Susie: Well I have Psalm 150.
Pastor Doug: Well let me read Psalms 150 “Praise the LORD and praise God in His sanctuary. Praise Him in the firmament.” And it says “Praise Him for his mighty acts. Praise Him with the sound of trumpets, with psaltery, harp, tumbrel, dance, stringed instruments, organs, loud cymbals, high sounding cymbals; let everything that has breath praise the LORD.” I paraphrased that just to get it in quickly. Some use this to say we should praise Him with all these instruments in the sanctuary. It does not say that. Our churches are not the same thing as the Old Testament sanctuary. And in this psalm they are praising God in His sanctuary which is in heaven. God dwells in heaven and when they dedicated the earthly sanctuaries Solomon said you don’t dwell in a sanctuary made with man’s hands. When they came back from winning a battle they would often praise the Lord Susie and they had these victory songs that they would praise the Lord with all these instruments. And dancing coming back from victory. This was not a church service so some people have used this and said this is how we are supposed to serve the Lord is to use these instruments in a church service. That is not what the psalm is dealing with. When Miriam went before the women with timbrel and dance it was after they had gained victory over the Egyptians. When the women came out to meet David and Saul it was when they had come back from a victory in battle and they did it in songs and dance and timbrels.
The musical instruments used in the sanctuary are specified in 2nd Samuel and it is a whole different order. So the music should be reverent, the music should be appropriate and the music should be Biblical. I don’t go much for these songs that are just a bunch of empty repetitions. You know the songs in the Bible are a guideline for what the lyrics should be like. So that is probably a quick overview Susie and I hope that helps a little.
Susie: Okay thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: We have a book at the “Amazing Facts” website and this isn’t one we can send out for free, but you can order it. You can look at it and it is dealing with some very contemporary music. You can look at that at the “Amazing Facts dot org” website.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Susie and that’s “Amazing Facts dot com” that is the address. Let’s go next to Southern, Illinois. Sandy is listening on WDQM. Hi Sandy.
Sandy: Hi and hi Pastor Doug I was wondering if you have ever studied for yourself Isaiah 23: 17 & 18 in the KJV?
Pastor Doug: Well let me go there right now.
Sandy: Yes Isaiah 23: 17 & 18 and is there any possible last day application?
Pastor Doug: Alright Isaiah 23: 17 “And it shall come to pass at the end of seventy years, that the LORD will visit Tyre, and she shall turn to her hire, and shall commit fornication with all the kingdoms of the world upon the face of the earth. 18 And her merchandise and her hire shall be holiness unto the LORD: it shall not be treasured nor laid up; for her merchandise shall be for them that dwell before the LORD, to eat sufficiently, and for durable clothing.” You know if you read in verse 24 it says 24 “And the land shall be utterly emptied and utterly destroyed; for the word of the LORD has spoken.” This is one of those places in the Bible where I think you might be looking at a dual prophecy. First of all the city of Tyre was utterly emptied. They got into a war with Alexander the Great which was a big mistake. And he built a causeway—Tyre’s capital was out on an island—he built a causeway and he basically scraped the shore clean to get all of the rocks to do this and conquered the city. No one else had been able to conquer Tyre. This is a long prophecy that deals with the fall of Tyre. But, it also deals with some things that are going to happen in the last days during the millennium. It is a deep study Sandy and I don’t claim to understand it all, but I don’t think I can launch into the whole thing in a few minutes here.
Sandy: Right. No I understand. Is there any possibility that maybe in the future by Divine appointment and the Holy Spirit that you might write a book on it or something? Since you’re already not so busy anyway.
[Laughter]
Pastor Doug: Well all things are possible with God, but don’t hold your breath.
[Laughter]
Sandy: Okay. Well thank you very much and God bless.
Pastor Doug: Thank you.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Sandy. To the Bronx and Warren is listening on WMCA. Hello Warren.
Warren: Hello. Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Good evening.
Warren: I have a question that has been puzzling me for some time. I read this in the book of Isaiah could you help me out please?
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Warren: God said that He put a nose ring into Israel’s nose. That’s what He said and I don’t know where to find that.
Pastor Doug: Well in Isaiah Chapter 4: maybe it is not it is Isaiah Chapter—let me go back a little bit. Yes here we go it is in Isaiah Chapter 3 and start with verse 16 “Moreover the LORD saith because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making tinkling with their feet. 17 Therefore the LORD will smite with a scab the crown of their head of the daughters of Zion, and the LORD will discover their secret places.” And it goes on to say that He will take away the tinkling ornaments about their feet and then later the chains, the bracelets, the mufflers, the ornaments on the legs, the headband, the tablets, the earrings, the nose jewels, the rings and that might be what you are talking about. I think that’s the only place that mentions in Isaiah here about the nose rings. Yes I just did a search and that is the only place that you will find that in Isaiah and it is talking about the proud daughters of Zion who were dressing like the pagans. It is Isaiah Chapter 3: 16 & 17 through 21.
Warren: Okay. Thank you for your help.
Pastor Doug: Thank you. And by the way people have a lot of questions on jewelry Pastor Dick. We do have a book called “Jewelry How Much is too Much” and a lot of Christians wondering about Christian jewelry. Call Amazing Facts and we will send you a free copy of that.
Pastor Dick: Excellent resource. 1-800-835-6747. Let’s go to Ontario, Canada and talk with Morella. Good evening Morella.
Morella: Hi Pastor Doug. How are you?
Pastor Doug: Hi. How can we help you tonight? What is your question?
Morella: I would like to ask you can you please tell me how I can honor my parents. They are not Christians and I am married. And it is a shameful thing, but I don’t really love them because they don’t want me. So I don’t know how to fulfill that commandment very well.
Pastor Doug: Well honor is not the same thing as love. In the Bible you can find where we are taught respect people that are in governmental positions of leadership, but that doesn’t mean you need to love them. And they were to honor the high priest of the country and Paul one time found himself rebuking the high priest and he said I didn’t realize who he was and Paul had bad eyesight and then he told him you are not supposed to revile the leader of your people.
So you can honor your parents and respect your parents and you can pray that God will put love in your heart for them because that is the ideal. You should love your mother and father.
Morella: I feel guilty because I don’t.
Pastor Doug: Well don’t feel guilty I mean God knows how you feel. And you can’t fake love. Just tell God you know I don’t have love in my heart for my parents and please change my heart. Help me love them like you do.
Morella: Is that a sin not to have love for your parents?
Pastor Doug: Not necessarily because first of all God knows the circumstance of your upbringing and you should respect your parents. It will be a sin if you disrespect them. You can choose to show them the love of a Christian. That is different than the love you normally have for a parent or a child. But, do you see what I am saying. We are supposed to love them because we are supposed to love our enemies’ right?
Morella: Yes.
Pastor Doug: But, that kind of love is not the mushy sentimental love you’re talking about. We are supposed to have a love for our enemy that god wants to save their souls. And that is something that only God can out in our hearts.
Let me give you something to think about. You know in the Bible it says love your neighbor and it says love your enemies. And that is because our neighbor our neigh brother is often our enemy. So a man’s foes are often they of their own household that is what Jesus said. So don’t feel guilty Morella. I hope that helps a little bit.
Pastor Dick: Okay thanks for the call Morella. Let’s go to Poplar Bluff, Missouri and talk with Melissa who is listening on KOKS. Welcome Melissa.
Melissa: Hello.
Pastor Dick: And your question please.
Melissa: I’d like to know—I know God forgives you for your sins when you ask for it. Okay, but my question is do you have to forgive others who have done stuff to you before you can get into heaven?
Pastor Doug: Well, yes. Jesus said that if we do not forgive others for their trespasses, neither will the Father forgive you. And then again in Matthew 18: the Lord says “So shall your heavenly Father do to you if each of you in your heart does not forgive your brother their trespasses.” Forgiving and once again Melissa does not mean you have to love them. It does not mean that you need to expose yourself to be hurt or burnt again. It means you must choose not to dwell on whatever they did to hurt you and let it go. Do you see what I am saying?
Melissa: Yes.
Pastor Doug: If they have done something to hurt you and you are dwelling on that and it is making you bitter; it is only hurting you. Forgive them let it go and don’t think about it. Ask God to take it out of your mind and heart and sometimes it is a struggle.
Melissa: What if it was a rape?
Pastor Doug: What if it was a rape? Is that what you said? Well once again God said for us to forgive our enemies and that would be very painful. And to love them and it doesn’t mean—and again keep in mind—when somebody does something wrong it doesn’t mean you don’t hold them accountable. Do you see what I am saying?
Melissa: Yes.
Pastor Doug: It means that you have to let them go especially if somebody raped you. Or someone you know and you want to forgive them because it will destroy you if you don’t. It is like a cancer and bitterness eats away.
Melissa: I don’t have to go around that person.
Pastor Doug: No.
Melissa: Because it is family so.
Pastor Dick: Forgiveness is not forgetting either.
Pastor Doug: Yes it is choosing not to dwell on it. This is different than forgetting. Someone asked Mrs. Barton one time about someone who had hurt her and she said don’t you remember? And she said no I distinctly remember forgetting. And so sometimes you need to sometimes choose to just to cut it down and let it go. I hope that helps Melissa I know it is tough, but through God’s grace all things are possible.
Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Melissa. Going to New York we want to talk to Frank who is on the WMCA and Frank we have about three minutes.
Frank: Hi appreciate you and this is about Proverbs Chapter 3.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Frank: My son did not forget my law, but forget to keep my commandments. And I understand that, but what I want to know is how a man can follow Ecclesiastes and Proverbs 8 sometimes and David was talking. Is this David speaking to Solomon or what? Or is it Solomon speaking to David’s son?
Pastor Doug: Turn your radio down Frank. Well yes for one thing Solomon also had plenty of sons. It could be Solomon passing onto Rehoboam his son in that respect what David had said to him. David no doubt said this to Solomon because you can read where King David gave his charge to Solomon and he said almost the exact same thing. He talked about Solomon being courageous and being faithful and Solomon now is passing this on to his sons. So I have no problem and the Bible says that the Proverbs were written by Solomon and we should believe that.
Frank: Sure. Well then this is Solomon speaking to his son?
Pastor Doug: I believe so.
Frank: Not David speaking to Solomon?
Pastor Doug: No.
Frank: Okay. Okay. I thank you so much for telling me about this.
Pastor Doug: Yes it says that Proverbs in the Bible are what Solomon wrote thousands of Proverbs and these are the ones. I hope that helps a little bit.
Pastor Dick: Pastor Doug I don’t think we have enough time to take another caller. We would do a dishonor if we were to try to get somebody here.
Pastor Doug: Well alright I appreciate that and we hate to cut anyone off that we talk with.
Pastor Dick: Let’s mention this program one more time.
Pastor Doug: Yes that’s right tomorrow night on PAX TV and don’t miss this. This will be on the 30th of May 9 P.M. E S T and Pacific Time in the West I suppose called the “Conscientious Objector”. It is a true story and a moving story. It made me cry and that doesn’t happen easily. I was actually given the opportunity by Terry Benedict the Producer to see this before it was released. It was in the studio before it was cut and I just sat there by myself and watched it and wept. And it is a wonderful story that is inspiring and it is called the “Conscientious Objector” at 9 P.M. E S T on PAX TV and I think you will be glad to watch it.
Thank you for tuning in friends and keep in mind that you can get a lot of these resources on line at “Amazing Facts dot org” we are a faith based ministry so we depend on you to help keep this program on the air. You haven’t heard us begging for money through the program, but we hope some of you will realize it costs money to keep these programs on the air. And if you have been listening and if you have been blessed and have never dropped us a line well; we’d love to hear from you. You can even donate online it is so easy. Just go to “Amazing Facts dot org” And anything would be appreciated to help us keep on the air. But, most of all we want you to know that we conduct these programs because we want people to know the truth about Jesus. We want you to have a personal relationship with Him and this is what it is all about. Knowing Christ who is the truth that will set you free! God bless until next week.
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