The Hottest and Coldest Places on Planet Earth

Since everyone talks about the weather you might be wondering, "Where are the hottest and coldest places on earth?" As for the hottest place, most people guess Death Valley in California. If you did, you're really just a kill second.

On July 10, 1913, temperatures in Death Valley got up to 134 degrees Fahrenheit. But the highest temperature ever measured was recorded in Libya on September 13, 1922 in El Azizia. It reached 136 Fahrenheit, or 57.8 degrees Celsius, and that was five feet above the ground in the shade!

In fact, there's a good chance on the day this record-breaking temperature was recorded in 1922 there were other desert places that were even hotter. But most humans don't inhabit the hottest places on earth, so there are no weather stations or sensors to record the extreme temperatures.

The next natural question is, "Where's the coldest place on earth?" And if you guessed Antarctica, you're right. In fact, Antarctica is so cold that the warmest temperature ever recorded there was only 58 degrees in Hope Bay. Strangely enough, Antarctica is also one of the driest places on earth, even though it is surrounded by one-third of the world's fresh water; but, of course, it's all frozen water thousands of feet thick.

But in case you're still wondering, the coldest temperature ever measured on earth was on July 21, 1983 at the Vostok Station in Antarctica. They recorded -129 degrees Fahrenheit. Burrr! No one can live very long in these extreme climates without protective clothing.

So what do you think Jesus meant when He said that He would prefer we were spiritually hot or cold, rather than lukewarm? Stay with us friends. We're going to learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.

[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]

Pastor Doug: Welcome listening friends. You have tuned in to Bible Answers Live. This is an international, interactive Bible study you're listening to. We invite you to participate. You can listen, see if we learn as we study the word of God together. You can call in a Bible question. In North America it's a toll-free call, 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297.

Many people call in on the website. They've got new programs that enable them to do that.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Pastor Doug: And the website address is www.AmazingFacts.org. Right now, we have some lines open. It's a good time to pick up the phone. Once again, it's 1-800-GOD-SAYS and we will study the word of God together for our answers. That's 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Devitt and we are live; and so we'd like to hear from you tonight. Good evening Pastor Doug.

Pastor Doug: Good evening. We missed you the last week or so; and we're glad to have you back in your pilot seat.

Pastor Dick: It's good to be back. Good to be back home Doug, thank you, thank you. We normally start with a word of prayer so let's do that.

Father in heaven, we praise You. We thank You. We worship You, and in our hearts, Lord, we lift You up as our Creator, our Redeemer, our Lord and our Savior. And Lord, we know that You have a message that You want to proclaim tonight and so we pray that You will speak clearly to Pastor Doug, that You will clear his mind and give him clarity of thought as we seek to share the word of God with those who call in. We thank You again Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen!

Pastor Dick: Pastor Doug, burrr! Before we went on the air I said I lived in Michigan for a few years; and feeling the wind come off the Great Lakes, boy, it can really get pretty cold. But Antarctica is one, big ice cube.

Pastor Doug: It is. The extremes there are just absolutely astonishing.

Pastor Dick: Yes, uh-huh, yeah.

Pastor Doug: And, of course, many have died on those early expeditions trying to reach the South Pole.

Pastor Dick: And at the other extreme, the heat. I can just imagine the heat of uh- -

Pastor Doug: I've been through Death Valley- -

Pastor Dick: I have too, um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - -and some of those areas there near Bishop, California and boy, it is blistering hot. But it makes me think about what Jesus said in Revelation 3:15. It almost sounds like He's endorsing the extremes of hot and cold. "I know your works, that you are neither cold or hot: I would that you were cold or hot. So then because you are lukewarm, and neither cold or hot, I will spit thee," or spue thee or vomit thee, "out of my mouth." Very strong language.

Pastor Dick: We talked about this before we went on the air. You've got an interesting perspective on this Doug. Where are you going with this?

Pastor Doug: Well I guess I've been a little troubled. I've heard some ministers say that when Jesus said, "I wish you were cold or hot," that means, "I wish you were saved or lost."

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: Well Jesus would never wish we are lost. I'd like to submit that "hot" Biblically means filled with enthusiasm and zeal, working for the Lord. "Cold" means in an attitude of repentance and humble and seeking after God. And God would have us realize our weakness, be seeking for forgiveness; or cleansed and full of zeal and working for the Lord.

But the most dangerous condition is the lukewarm, indifferent condition. Jesus speaks quite a bit about those who have enough religion to fool themselves, but not enough to get to heaven.

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: He said, "Many will come to Me saying, 'Lord, Lord,'" and He'll say, "I don't know you."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And it really troubles me. The Lord, of course, says that "many" means the majority- -

Pastor Dick: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: - -"few" means the minority. And the majority of professed believers are living under an illusion, according to the Lord.

Pastor Dick: Now what is it that draws us into that state of lukewarmness? Some people would say a Laodicean attitude.

Pastor Doug: Exactly. That's a popular term.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: And it's believing that we are saved by a profession of religion without a real, changed heart.

Pastor Dick: Okay

Pastor Doug: That's why Jesus said, "Don't call me 'Lord, Lord.'" That's profession. You're calling yourself by His name; - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - -"You're doing miracles," He said, "in My name;"

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And then He says, "Depart from Me, ye who work iniquity."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Their lives, their hearts are not changed. They've not been born again. They're going to church, they're going through the motions, they're maybe even doing church work and doing some good deeds, but that's not what saves us. It's having the Lord abiding in us.

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: And, you know, it reminds me of a story. One of the very sobering messages He gave speaking of the second coming in Luke chapter 17, He said, "Remember Lot's wife," because here, Lot's wife was, she was, you know, came out of Babylon right along with Lot and was married to a believer. And little by little, the love for Sodom had filled her heart and- -

[Cross talk]

Pastor Dick: Um-hm. Should have helped, but yet, turned around and looked back.

Pastor Doug: She was. You know, she thought, "Well I'm married to Lot. I must be saved; and I'm related to Abraham." She thought, "I've got the trappings of the true God. I know who the true God is." But her heart was really in Sodom.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And it's like a lot of people in the world; they're Christians, but they love the world. It's very dangerous to be in that lukewarm state of thinking that you're saved, but really not having the new birth.

Pastor Dick: Well Pastor Doug, we have an offer for our listeners this evening. It has been awhile, I think, since we made this available to folks. This is a book entitled, "Remember Lot's Wife," and it is a passionate plea to all of us, to anyone who might feel that they are in this lukewarm state.

I want to encourage you to please call and get a copy of this book. It's simply called, "Remember Lot's Wife."

Pastor Doug: Very important message. Matter of fact, those words, "Remember Lot's wife," it's an exact quote from Jesus.

Pastor Dick: Yes

Pastor Doug: So if Jesus says, "Remember this," we need to know what He is talking about.

Pastor Dick: Yes

Pastor Doug: This book will help people prepare for the new birth and the second coming.

Pastor Dick: Please, call our resource operators, 1-800-835-6747. That's the number that puts you into our resource library. Operators are standing by. It does not put you into the studio here with us; but if you call that resource number, they will send this book out to you, 1-800-835-6747.

Pastor Doug, we'll take a couple of email questions before we go to the phones, and this first one is intriguing. "When God asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, was God asking Abraham to break one of His Commandments and to commit sin?"

Pastor Doug: You know, we talked before we went on the air. We get a lot of questions. We have to pick them. And sometimes, it's tempting to pick the easy ones.

Pastor Dick: Yeah, yeah.

Pastor Doug: And we thought, "Well, in fairness, let's pick a hard one." This is a difficult question. I mean, here, God--it would sound like He's telling Abraham to murder. We might argue it on a technicality that the Commandment says, of course, "Thou shalt not murder."

And God is saying, "Offer your son as a sacrifice;" and he was a willing sacrifice, which wouldn't necessarily fall under that same category. And, of course, the laws of God are subject to the Creator of the law, which is God.

Pastor Dick: Yes, yes.

Pastor Doug: It was a test. Of course, God did not allow him to do it. He was basically saying, "I love you so much, I'm going to send My son to die. Do you love me?" And what Abraham did with Isaac is sort of a parallel of what the Father did with His Son.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: First of all, they made a three and a half day journey to the place of sacrifice. Jesus ministered three and a half years. Secondly, Isaac goes up the hill with the wood on his back. Jesus went up with the Father with the cross on His back. There, in this story, is a ram caught with a thicket, or a thorn bush, on his horns. And Jesus was the Lamb of God Who had thorns on His brow. So there are many parallels.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm m m

Pastor Doug: And the very name, Mount Moriah, means "God will provide." The Father, through Christ, provided salvation for us. So, Abraham didn't know it, but he was living out an illustration of salvation and that's why God asked him to do it.

Pastor Dick: It makes you kind of wonder sometimes would God do that again? Would He ask us at some point in time?

Pastor Doug: I certainly hope not. What He did for Abraham He really asks all of us to do.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: He says, "You need to love Me more than your most precious possession or person."

Pastor Dick: Back to, "Remember Lot's wife."

Pastor Doug: That's right, don't look back.

Pastor Dick: Right, right.

Pastor Doug: Good point.

Pastor Dick: Yeah. Very good. Alright, second question, then, comes from Elaine who asks, um, she says, "Our church was having a discussion about Joel 1:14, and we never came up with an answer so can you give us some help? Joel 1:14 says, 'Sanctify ye a fast, call a solemn assembly, gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land into the house of the LORD your God, and cry unto the LORD.' Some say this is relevant for our day and our church; and others say that this was fulfilled. Some of us want to put this into action; and others say, 'We do this at prayer meeting every week.' So could you give us some insight into this?"

Pastor Doug: I'll do my best. In Joel 1:14 when it says, "Sanctify ye a fast," it's calling the people to come together for a special time of drawing near to God, fasting and repentance. That's not really what we do when we get together from week to week. It's something like what happened when Esther said to the people, "Fast for me, because I'm going to go plead for the nation before the king."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: It's a special time of fasting and prayer. You know, we didn't plan this. We really didn't. But, I hope folks don't mind my mentioning that we are going to have a special day of prayer, actually, a week of prayer. Some will be fasting and praying; and it's going to be a special program called, Drawing Near, that Amazing Facts is going to up link on TV and radio with 3ABN, and it will be on the Hope Channel.

That's November 4 to 12 from Fort Worth, Texas. And, matter of fact, I'm going to be in Fort Worth, Texas this weekend. I'll be visiting a little bit with some of the refugees that made it from Houston to Fort Worth- -

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: - -from the storm. But that's exactly what we're doing. This is a special time of prayer and fasting to pray for the nation, pray for the church. If people want to know more about that Pastor Dick, I hope you don't mind my mentioning the website.

Pastor Dick: Please do.

Pastor Doug: It's simply 05Revive.org. They can register their church or home group if they want to invite their friends and pray for a revival.

Pastor Dick: Certainly fasting is appropriate in our time, just as it was back then.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. They did it in the New Testament too.

Pastor Dick: Alright. Very good. Thank you Pastor Doug. Let's go to the phones then and take our first caller for this evening. We'll go to Fayetteville, Arkansas, and we want to talk with Robert. Welcome Robert.

Robert: Thank you gentlemen.

Pastor Dick: Yes sir.

Robert: It's a pleasure. My question is that I've heard a number, in fact, a great deal of the ministers mention that we have all these Bible versions, and to find one that speaks to you and study it. And the NIV, just for two examples, totally omits Mark 15:28 and 17:36. I could give you at least two dozen other examples- -

Pastor Doug: Yeah, you don't need to. I've got it in front of me right now.

Robert: But then in 2nd Timothy 3:16, it says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." Now, my question is how can we profit by it if it's not in the Bible?

Pastor Doug: Well, if you've listened to the program before, I don't do it frequently, but every now and then I will share my skepticism about the NIV version. Very quickly, first of all, there's a booklet that you can read that gives something of the history. We'll send you a free copy Robert. It's called, "The Faithful Witness," written by Sharon Crews.

All of the Bibles we have today are written from three primary manuscripts. Now, of course, there's not much discrepancy in the Old Testament. The discrepancies are in the New Testament, as you just cited. You've got the Sinaiticus Manuscripts; the Vaticanus Manuscripts; and the King James was translated from what we call the Textus Receptus, or the "received text."

Robert: And your responses have been brilliant. I've listened to all of them.

Pastor Doug: Well, then you've heard that I think that some of the sources that the NIV used are dubious, or doubtful, and I don't use it for serious study. I have friends that do; and they know that I think they're safer with some of the other translations that use the Textus Receptus in their versions.

I know I'm looking at Mark 15:28 in the NIV. It's just not there. It's a blank. I've got it in front of me right now.

Robert: It just seems to be gaining popularity.

Pastor Doug: Well let me give you--I don't want to be cynical--but the bottom line is the King James Version is public domain. After something is out for 50 years it's up for grabs as public domain.

Robert: And it's money.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. And so these Bible publishers, in order for them to capitalize on their version, they have to commission a new translation and then they spend millions marketing that translation. I believe it's Zondervan who owns the NIV and they've done a masterful job of promoting it and encouraging pastors and churches and televangelists to promote it. Because of it's easy-reading style, it has become very popular. But- -

Robert: But isn't that money changing in effect?

Pastor Doug: I don't know what you mean.

Robert: I mean isn't that just becoming a money changer? I mean if you- -

Pastor Doug: Oh I see what you mean, money changing, like in the temple.

Robert: Yes sir.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, well whenever you make merchandise of the word of God, there's a certain amount of risk that that's going to happen. But, hopefully Robert, I'd encourage you to send for the booklet, "The Faithful Witness," and Pastor Dick will give you that resource number. It has a lot more on it, if you haven't read that already.

Pastor Dick: It's 1-800-835-6747 Robert, 1-800-835-6747. It's an 800 number. The call is free, and we'll send the resource to you. So give it a call this evening. The operators are standing by right now. Let's go next, Pastor Doug, to pretty Texas. We want to talk with Tony who's listening on the Internet. Welcome Tony.

Tony: Hi

Pastor Dick: And your question please?

Tony: Well I'm in the understanding that judgment in the heavenly sanctuary is passed onto the living. And what I'd like to know is, I had some really weird things happen lately and other things are going bad. Now, is there any way to determine if your name has been blotted out of the Book of Life? Anything out of the Scripture that you can apply?

Pastor Doug: Well, first of all, when you talk about the judgment, I think you're talking about what they call the "pre-advent judgment." For our listeners, Tony, let me explain that because, otherwise, you and I are just talking to each other.

Tony: Okay

Pastor Doug: The Bible is very clear. When the Lord comes, He has His rewards with Him to give to every man according to his works. So obviously, some aspect of the judgment takes place prior to the Lord's coming. This is dealing with part of the ministry of Christ in the heavenly sanctuary, where Hebrews tells us He's there as our Intercessor.

Ultimately, when all the cases are brought before the Lord, the Lord comes. And some are wondering, "Has He begun working on the names of the living yet?" Well we don't know that. When He is done with the names of the living, probation closes and Jesus comes. That we do know.

Now, your question is, "How do you know if your name is in the book of life, or has been blotted out?" Well, first of all I would say, the evidence is here on earth, not in heaven. You've got the testimony of the Spirit in your heart.

If you know the Holy Spirit is still working in your life and leading you, bringing comfort and conviction, then you know that there's still hope and there's no reason to believe that if you claim the offer of salvation, repent of your sins, that your name will not be entered into the Book of Life.

I don't believe from day to day God is entering names and erasing, and entering and erasing; you know what happens to a page when you do that, when you were a kid back in the days before computers. You keep writing an answer down and erasing it, and writing it down and erasing it, pretty soon you'll wear right through the paper.

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: God isn't doing that with the Book of Life in heaven. I believe He enters your name, and then you might have some ups and downs with the Lord. But just before the Lord comes, He is going to judge the living; and I think it's going to be a very quick process. God can judge the whole world in a moment if He wants to.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: The names are not coming one by one before the Lord in that way where you've got attorneys debating. In any event, it's the testimony of the Spirit in your life. And if you have doubts about whether your name is in the Book of Life, well you could do something about that right now, Tony, by just praying and asking the Lord to forgive your sins, and genuinely repenting, and He will enter your name there. Okay?

Tony: It's just because a lot of bad things have been happening and I can't figure out, you know. I know I haven't been perfect but- -

Pastor Doug: You can't say your name is out of the Book of Life because bad things happen. If you read the book of Job, he was a man of God that got just a barrage, a blitzkrieg of bad things happen to him all at once and it didn't mean he was a bad person.

Pastor Dick: And the Jews all believed, the great majority of the Jews believed that if you fell on bad times, that God was meting out His punishment on you, or His judgment on you; and that's not true, you know.

Pastor Doug: Sometimes it's discipline and training.

Pastor Dick: It's discipline and training, exactly!

Pastor Doug: And Hebrews says don't be surprised when you're chastened by the Lord because the Lord chastens every son who He loves.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: And so if you're going through trials, Tony, or others who are listening, - -

Pastor Dick: Praise God!

Pastor Doug: Yeah. It doesn't necessarily mean that God has abandoned you.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Pastor Doug: It could be an evidence that He is still working on you.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Pastor Doug: Then submit yourself to His working and take advantage of the plan of salvation, Tony. Thank you for your question. I hope that helped a little.

Pastor Dick: Okay. Let's go next to Brooklyn, New York. We want to talk with Elijah who's listening on WMCA. Hello Elijah.

Elijah: Hello Pastor Dick, Pastor Doug.

Pastor Dick: Sir

Elijah: My question is from Malachi 4:5.

Pastor Doug: Yes

Elijah: Maybe you can read the Scripture quick, fast to everybody?

Pastor Doug: I can read it. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:" And it goes on to say, "He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse."

Elijah: Right. My question is who is this Elijah? Is it one particular person, like the typical Elijah was, or the anti-typical John the Baptist was? Or is it a spirit Elijah working through many people, because I hear so many type of beliefs. I'm just trying to understand for myself.

Pastor Doug: Alright well, let me do my best to give a little background. First of all, when it says, "I send you Elijah," it doesn't mean Elijah the prophet will be reincarnated. The reason we know that is because Elijah, when he went to heaven, where he still is, and he appeared to Jesus, went in a fiery chariot, he told Elisha that God would give Elisha a double portion of his spirit, meaning the spirit of revival and mighty preaching.

Later, Jesus said John the Baptist came "in the spirit and power of Elijah." It wasn't Elijah coming back, reincarnated. He came with the same ministry of revival and reform. So we already have Elisha and John the Baptist coming with that spirit of revival and reform, just before the great and terrible day of the Lord.

The judgment day, second coming, God is, again, going to send the spirit of Elijah, one of revival and reform to the church. Whether that will be one individual or a group of people, we don't know. But that- -

Elijah: Doesn't the Scripture, like the verses say, "he", doesn't that tell us that it's one particular person, that it's a man?

Pastor Doug: Well you know, that's a good argument. It could be one person. But it's saying- - [cross talk]

Elijah: That it's a man, right?

Pastor Doug: Excuse me?

Elijah: And that it's a man, a "he"?

Pastor Doug: Well, if in the context, yes. That's what it would mean. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. But, keep in mind- -

Elijah: So it's not a doubt that it's one particular person?

Pastor Doug: No. I'm going to address that. Hang on one second here.

Elijah: Okay

Pastor Doug: Jesus used 12 apostles during His first coming but before His second coming, He uses 12 x 12,000. So God may also multiply those who come in the spirit and power of Elijah. I'm not saying that it isn't one person; but keep your mind open that these prophecies, these apocalyptic prophecies, it's talking about the spirit of Elijah.

Elijah: Right

Pastor Doug: And the Holy Spirit is referred to as a "He" isn't He?

Elijah: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So the He of the Holy Spirit could fill many people. In other words, [cross talk] Elijah doesn't have a patent on the Holy Spirit with his name on it.

Elijah: Oh okay

Pastor Doug: So really- -

Elijah: So symbolically, "he" could mean many people in this text?

Pastor Doug: It could mean that the Holy Spirit, "He"--Jesus says, "When he, the Spirit of truth has come, he will lead you into all truth." The "He" of the Holy Spirit that's in Malachi chapter 4 could be talking about God the Spirit filling many people with the spirit and power of Elijah. So, hey, you know, I've actually written a book on that too. Now this is not a free book but you can look online and read it for free.

It's called, "The Last Elijah Message." You can read the article for free at the Inside Report Articles. Do we have time for uh- -

Pastor Dick: You know, we have two minutes before we have to take our break. You think that's enough time?

Pastor Doug: Let's try.

Pastor Dick: You want to try?

Pastor Doug: Let's see what we can do.

Pastor Dick: Let's talk with Jeremiah who's in New Haven, Connecticut. Welcome Jeremiah, we have two minutes. What can we do?

Jeremiah: Hi. I was about to ask the question about Uzza but I came up with a better question. It's about prayer, namely praying for someone else's salvation.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Jeremiah: What is the purpose of me praying for somebody else when their fate has already been determined? The Lord knows everything. I mean, how could someone else's salvation be determined based on my actions?

Pastor Doug: Well first of all, God has given us an example that we should follow. Did Jesus pray for the apostles?

Jeremiah: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Well if their fate was already determined, why did He bother praying?

Jeremiah: That's what I'm trying to understand.

Pastor Doug: Jesus said, "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done." Did Paul tell us to pray for him and did Paul pray for others?

Jeremiah: Um

Pastor Doug: Yeah he does, many, many times. You can look at Ephesians chapter 6. So, obviously, interceding does make a difference. And even though God knows who will and who will not be saved, you and I can have an influence on a person's destiny by praying.

We may get to heaven and find out that a difference was made in their life and they were saved because of our intercession. So it's certainly something that a Christian should do. We are commanded to intercede and to pray for one another.

I think that we have probably have lost our communication with Jeremiah right now because we're getting ready to take a break friends. We're not going away. We do this halfway through the program. It gives our sponsors a chance to identify their stations and also, we can get a drink of water and take a breath.

But you can call your friends and tell them to tune into the second half of the program or even listen on the Internet. It's AmazingFacts.org. We have a lot of other Bible questions at the website in archives. You can look at some of the most popular questions and answers. We'll be right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: We are back. If you have just joined us, this is Bible Answers Live; as I've said, a live, international, interactive Bible study. Right now, we're going out on, oh, I don't know, 160 different stations across North America and other parts of the world, Europe, and via the Internet around the world.

We were in China and people said that they were listening to our programs and watching in China. So that was very encouraging.

Pastor Dick: I met the head of Radio 74 Europe the other day and he said, "Oh, we're so pleased with your program. It's being broadcast all over Western Europe."

Pastor Doug: Praise the Lord, that's exciting!

Pastor Dick: That is exciting.

Pastor Doug: And we know, of course, it's not practical for those people to call in. They can sometimes do it on the Internet.

Pastor Dick: Every once in a while.

Pastor Doug: But we still have a line or two open so give us a call, 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. I'm Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: I'm Dick Devitt. And let's go directly to the phones, Pastor Doug. We want to clear some of the lines so other people can get in; and we want to talk to as many people as we can. So let's talk with Kimberly first in Martinez, California, who is listening on KNDL. Hi Kimberly.

Kimberly: Hello, good evening

Pastor Dick: Good evening

Kimberly: I'm calling with a question, of course. That's the point. I've been born again and growing in the Lord for about 20 years. And just last year, I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and a new prayer language. And my relationship with God has deepened so much in ways I never even imagined. But I have two people in my life who are asking me questions about this experience. And I honestly--I don't know that I have Biblical answers for them. I know I have my experience, but I know, myself, in the last 20 years, if someone told me something from only their experience, I would be questioning that.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Kimberly: So, my question is, can you help me find some Scriptural references that either define the presence of a prayer language, or what I've been taught is called "the evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit," - -

Pastor Doug: Kimberly?

Kimberly: - -specifically speaking in tongues?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Is your heart open right now?

Kimberly: My heart is open.

Pastor Doug: Alright. You want to believe what the Bible says?

Kimberly: That's right.

Pastor Doug: I went through an experience with the Lord. When I first became a Christian, I was actually reading a Bible in a cave; and God led me to some charismatic churches where all my brothers and sisters in the Lord, most of them, spoke in tongues, some with a prayer language, prayed in tongues. And they told me how wonderful it was.

Kimberly: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: But the more and more I studied it in the Bible, I just could not find the examples. I could not find a single example in the Bible of anybody praying in tongues. I did have that one Scripture.

Now, I've done a pretty exhaustive study on this so let me tell you real quick. That one Scripture in 1st Corinthians 13 where Paul says, "Though I speak with the tongue of men and angels"--some people say, "See? Paul spoke with the tongue of angels." That's not what it says. It says, "Even if I spoke with the tongue of angels;"- -

Kimberly: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - -because if you read through there he says, "Even if I have the gift of prophecy..." "Even if I am burned and give all my goods to feed the poor and don't have love, it's nothing." But then Paul does say in chapter 14 that we should, "Pray with the spirit, and with the understanding." But those are not two different things.

We should be praying with the spirit--and that's 1st Corinthians 14, verse 15. "What is it then? I will pray with the spirit," now he never calls that "tongues."

Kimberly: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Some assume that means "tongues," but isn't it possible for all the other prayers in the Bible to be praying in the spirit? In other words, when Mary prayed after the angel spoke to her; when David prayed; when Daniel prays in chapter 9, they prayed in the spirit. It doesn't mean "tongues."

Kimberly: No, I agree.

Pastor Doug: So when we pray in the spirit, it means to be praying in harmony with the Spirit of God.

Kimberly: Um-hmm, accepting to align ourselves, right?

Pastor Doug: Yeah, exactly. It just means that your heart is surrendered, your heart is open, your mind is clear. The very definition of prayer means to petition and request God for something specific. If you're praying in "tongues," and my guess is, like most of my friends, you really don't know what you're saying, it's awful hard to know what the answers are. Would that be safe to say?

Kimberly: Well, except that there have been times, especially in ministering with other believers, when what I'm saying and often, just whispering, because I don't like to get caught up in what it feels like to be listening to myself doing this. I know that there are thoughts inside my head that are not in some other language. They're in my language and I can understand that.

Pastor Doug: Well obviously, everyone thinks in a language they understand.

Kimberly: Sure. So I know that even though I'm saying something different, you know, perhaps even silently or quietly to myself, I know what thoughts God is putting in my heart. I know what's happening for that person. And I've had the people actually respond to me, in English, what I'm thinking, and I'm not saying it.

Pastor Doug: Now keep in mind, I am not denying the reality of your experience. What I'm talking about is the Biblical pattern for your experience.

Kimberly: Um-hmm, that's what I'm looking....

Pastor Doug: Many religions of the world pray in unknown tongues, are you aware of that? I mean, it goes all the way back to the Oracle of Delphi and they do it in voodoo. There are many religions of the world, they go into a trance, and they pray in tongues. And I think you need to look very carefully at what is the Biblical example of this.

Jesus, Who's our Example, do we see Him doing that? When the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost--oh, it's a big study. I tell you what Kimberly, there are two books I will send you for free that are filled with Scripture. Would you like me to do that?

Kimberly: I would love that. I have been looking for books about this. And it's hard, you know. You can't find a reliable person.

Pastor Doug: Alright. Can you get on the Internet where you're at?

Kimberly: Sure can.

Pastor Doug: Okay. First of all, we'll send you the books if you want them in your hands; and all you've got to do is call 1-800-835-6747. Let me tell you the name of the books. One is a book I wrote called, "Captured by Tongues." Now, I believe in the gift of tongues, but many people have misunderstood it. "Captured by Tongues." The other book is called, "Man's Flicker or God's Flame?" by Joe Crews.

Two books on tongues, good Bible studies. We're not teaching anything new. What we're actually teaching is a very old, established interpretation of these verses. So please look at that, and then I'd like to hear you call me back and tell me what you think, okay?

Kimberly: I would love to.

Pastor Doug: God bless, and I hope that helps a little bit Kimberly and we'll be praying for you.

Kimberly: Thank you. I am looking for explanations. And like I said, two friends who are questioning, "Well, you used to think what I think and now you think differently. Why is that?" I say, "No, I wasn't looking to think something different. I just did something [cross talking, unintelligible] and I'm trying to figure it out."

Pastor Doug: Whatever you do, build on the Rock. God's word is the Rock and that will be your foundation.

Pastor Dick: Go to AmazingFacts.org, or call the resource number at 1-800-835-6747. Either way, we'll get those books in your hands.

Pastor Doug: And she can read, "Captured by Tongues" is online.

Pastor Dick: It's online.

Pastor Doug: She can read it for free.

Pastor Dick: That's right. Yup. Thanks Kimberly for the call. We'll go next to Georgetown, California. Rick is listening on KNDL. Hello Rick.

Pastor Doug: Hey, thanks for your patience Rick.

Rick: Hello?

Pastor Dick: Yes, your question please?

Rick: Yeah, it's based on Deuteronomy chapter 14, verse 26.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Rick: Did you want to read that or shall I?

Pastor Doug: Well if you have it in front of you, you can read it while I turn.

Rick: Okay. "And thou shalt 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."

Pastor Doug: Yes. What part of the question--I think I know, but let me hear what part of the question you're wondering, what part of the verse.

Rick: Well the strong drink reference is not in the Concordance, so it's kind of like two questions on the same thing.

Pastor Doug: Right

Rick: I want to know if you knew what the original word was? When I looked it up it was "shakar," which was "intoxicant; to make drunk." And this verse seems to be condoning the use of intoxicants; and the majority of verses in the Bible are against this, but this one is different and I don't know what it means.

Pastor Doug: Alright. Well, you're right. The word is "shakar." I have it in front of me in Strong's, the original Hebrew. There are several definitions. One of them is "intoxicant." One of them is the word "strong" or "concentrated." And many believe that because he uses the word "wine" in the previous words, that there were two ways they transported wine. They could transport fresh grape juice or they would also dehydrate it.

They made a paste out of it that they would reconstitute by adding water to it. They called it "strong drink." Now, when they went to the feasts, they didn't bring beer to a Jewish feast. They didn't have Gin, they did not have Whiskey. Those drinks did not exist back then.

It's believed that there were two kinds of wines that were brought to these feasts. And one of them was the concentrated version, because they could bring a lot more of it than reconstituted. Have you ever tasted concentrated orange juice before added the water?

Rick: Only when it's fresh from the orange.

Pastor Doug: You've never tasted concentrated orange juice?

Rick: Oh, you mean when it's frozen.

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Rick: Oh yeah.

Pastor Doug: You must have; aww c'mon, every kid has licked a little of that, and it's really strong, isn't it?

Rick: Yes it is.

Pastor Doug: Okay. That's what the Word can also mean; and it says--I've got it in front of me right here in Strong's--that is one of the interpretations. I don't think that Moses is encouraging people to get drunk. I think he's saying, "You are transporting these things to a feast and you may want to bring the strong drink, concentrated, grape juice." Okay?

Rick: Well, yeah, that's a little bit better, little bit better.

Pastor Doug: Now I've got a book I can send you for free that talks about this and other verses. It's called, "The Christian and Alcohol," and it goes through virtually every popular verse in the Bible dealing with the questions about alcohol and drinking, in particular. Would you like a free copy of that?

Rick: Certainly. Do you think this verse is in there?

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Rick: Okay

Pastor Doug: Yeah. It comes up frequently so I think I did include it. I wrote the book.

Rick: Oh, okay.

Pastor Doug: I hope it's in there. If it's not, call me back.

Rick: Sure [cross talk]. I had a reference to Leviticus 10 but I'm going to let you get on the other callers; but I appreciate your time and I- -

Pastor Dick: Rick, have you got the phone number?

Rick: I do.

Pastor Dick: Okay, alright.

Rick: Thank you

Pastor Doug: Thank you. He can also read that online at AmazingFacts.org.

Pastor Dick: Okay

Pastor Doug: It's called, "The Christian and Alcohol."

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Rick. Let's go next to Irvington, New Jersey. Bola is listening on WMCA. Hello Bola.

Bola: Hi, how are you?

Pastor Dick: Very good, thank you.

Bola: Hi, how are you doing Pastor Doug?

Pastor Doug: Good. And your question?

Bola: Yes. I'm actually just calling to find out if tithing is still a requirement in being a Christian today? Because I- -

Pastor Doug: A New Testament Christian?

Bola: Yes

Pastor Doug: Alright, well let- -

Bola: I mean, you know, yeah. Just in general?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Let me give you a verse to read from the words of Jesus; and here's what Jesus says. This is Matthew 23:23, easy to remember, Matthew 23:23. "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin," those are herbs in their herb garden, "but you have omitted the weightier matters of the law." Notice the word "weightier." "Weightier" means "more weighty than something else"- -

Bola: Right

Pastor Doug: - - "judgment, mercy, and faith: these you ought to have done," the weightier matters, judgment, mercy, and faith, "and not leave the other," what is the "other", the tithe, "not leave the other undone." So here Jesus condemns them for their hypocrisy. They're paying tithe on their herb gardens and they're forgetting love, and mercy, faith, judgment.

And He says, "Don't forget to pay tithe, but make sure you get your priorities straight; they are weightier matters." So, Jesus obviously said, "Don't leave the other undone. Don't forget about paying tithe, but don't forget the priorities, the weightier matters." So what do you think? Does that make sense?

Bola: Definitely.

Pastor Doug: And then, of course, you find with all of the teaching in the New Testament, there's not one place where any apostle says, "Don't pay tithe anymore."

Bola: Yes

Pastor Doug: It would have been so easy for them to say, "We're not under that anymore. It's not God's system anymore." But they don't say that, which leads us to believe that God never established a different or a new system. If anything, in the New Testament, the standard of giving is higher.

Pastor Dick: Yes

Pastor Doug: It's more than 10% because here it tells you, you read Acts chapter 5, the Holy Spirit is poured out. It says they sold their possessions and brought everything and laid it at the disciples' feet.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, right

Pastor Doug: Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for keeping something back.

Pastor Dick: That's right

Pastor Doug: So the giving standard in the New Testament, tithe would be--it's the basement, it's the minimum. So absolutely, the teaching of tithe is still there.

Bola: Okay, um- -

Pastor Doug: Hey, we've got a book on that. We've got a book on a lot of things, but if you'd like our book on tithing, we've got one you can read and we'll send you called, "Thieves in the Church," by Joe Crews [cross talk]. Kind of a scary title.

Pastor Dick: So Bola, call our resource operators at 1-800-835-6747 and ask for "Thieves in the Church" and we'll send that book out to you, 1-800-835-6747. Thanks for the call Bola. We'll go next to, Pastor Doug, to Castle Rock, Washington. Annette is listening on 3ABN. Welcome Annette.

Annette: Hello. I just want to say that I was blessed to attend your church, Pastor Doug, a couple weeks ago and I pray for you every day.

Pastor Doug: Oh thank you. We're pleased to have you.

Annette: Anyway, I have a question. I noticed a pattern between Daniel 5 and Revelation 14. Both have three messages regarding Babylon.

Pastor Doug: Uh-huh

Annette: So in Daniel 5 the first message is, "Your kingdom has been numbered," and Revelation 14 it is, "Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come" so it seems to be a message of judgment.

Pastor Doug: Right, similarly.

Annette: The second message is, "You are weighed in the balances and found wanting," and in Revelation 14, "Babylon is fallen,"- -

Pastor Doug: Right

Annette: - -so that's like a verdict. And the third message is, "Your kingdom is going to be given to the Medes and Persians;" and a third message in Revelation 14 is, "If you receive the mark of the beast, you are going to drink of the wine of the wrath of God," which is like the sentence. And I just wondered--I mean, it's such a startling parallel, what is the significance in our day?

Pastor Doug: Well you know, that's very interesting. I think I've head this before, something similar, and it does raise some good questions about the parallels. Of course, there are many parallels between Revelation and virtually every other book of prophecy in the Bible.

Revelation is something of a kaleidoscope, composed of parts of every other prophetic book and it brings them all into focus. But the fall of Babylon during the time of Belshazzar the king, you'll notice that, first of all, there were drugs involved, he was drinking.

Annette: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: There was idolatry involved; the problems that we have in the world, in the country now, people make an idol of money. And the idols were gold and silver, as well as wood and stone, and they were mocking the God of the Bible. They began to take the holy vessels from the temple and to drink these fermented beverages there and a curse fell on them.

So mocking that which is holy is another sign of the last days, taking that which is holy and profaning it. A lot of interesting parallels; and then judgment comes. In other words, God has a limit to His patience.

Annette: Well, I mean, my only hope was that judgment came so quick in Daniel 5 that maybe Jesus would come soon in Revelation 14- -

Pastor Doug: Well you know, that is a very good point. Keep in mind, Jesus does say, in relation to His second coming, that it will happen suddenly.

Annette: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So the final events that the Bible speaks of in prophecy are going to be very quick. Look at how radically our country changed with this hurricane in just 24 hours! The focus- -

Annette: The past five years, it's incredible.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, and I just heard on the news tonight that they're saying that the jury is back and it is definite: There have been more natural disasters, and more deadly storms and more powerful storms in the last 15 years.

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: It does seem to be that there's a confluence of intensity that is happening.

Annette: Matthew 24 and Luke 21 before our eyes.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, that's right, "...the sea and the waves roaring" [Luke 21:25].

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Well, I hope that helps a little bit. Hey, I appreciate your insights on Daniel and Revelation 14. I would like to use that parallel sometime.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Annette. Let's go next to the Bronx, Pastor Doug. Christina is listening on WMCA. Welcome Christina.

Christina: Hello?

Pastor Doug: Yes?

Pastor Dick: Good evening

Christina: Good evening. Thank you for taking my call. My question is concerning the body rising. When a person dies, their body goes to the ground- -

Pastor Doug: Right

Christina: - -and it turns back to dust. So what is it that rises? Because if the body turns to dust and the spirit goes to God, what do they mean when it--what is it that rises? Um, what is it that [cross talk, unintelligible] sleeping?

Pastor Doug: You mean during the resurrection? Yeah- -

Christina: Huh?

Pastor Doug: Well when the Lord comes back, if the spirit returns to God who gave it, and Christina is quoting from Ecclesiastes chapter 12, when a person dies, the dust returns to the earth as it was. And the spirit--and that doesn't mean their soul or a ghost--it's saying the spirit of life. The word there is the "breath of life" returns to God who gave it.

Christina: Yes

Pastor Dick: "Pneuma"

Pastor Doug: Yeah. Well "pneuma" is the Greek; "ruach" I think is the Old Testament [Hebrew].

Pastor Dick: "Ruach", right.

Christina: Yeah

Pastor Doug: But, in any event, when the Lord comes back, He is the One who has that spirit of life. That's the same Jesus that breathed into the nostrils of Adam and he became a living soul. So when the Lord comes back for the resurrection, He's going to give the life to everyone, just like He did to Lazarus.

Christina: But it's turned into dust.

Pastor Doug: What do you think was happening to Lazarus when he had been in the grave for four days? I mean, obviously- -

Christina: Decomposing.

Pastor Doug: - -decomposition was setting in.

Christina: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Martha said, "Don't open the grave, he's going to stink." I mean, He was decomposing. It's the same thing as dust. The Lord re-animated him with not the slightest tinge of defilement. He was given complete health and vigor and life, a new self-structure; and He will do that on a universal basis when He does the resurrection.

Christina: So it's actually bodies that will be reformed and then rise?

Pastor Doug: Yes. When God made Adam, He formed him from what?

Christina: From dust, yeah.

Pastor Doug: Alright, well, - -

Christina: From the earth, yeah.

Pastor Doug: - -so God is going to do a mass creation when He comes back and resurrects. From the dust of the ground He'll call them forth and He'll distribute the breath of life, and bring them back to life, except He'll download the character of who they are into them. I'm using modern vernacular, but you know what I'm saying.

Adam was a clean slate. When we are resurrected, we come forth from the graves with our characters.

Christina: Okay, but what comes forth from the grave? It's already formed? It's a body?

Pastor Doug: Well yeah, God raises us up. You know, Paul puts it this way, "In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye," - -

Christina: Right

Pastor Doug: - - "at the last trump." You know what I think would be a big help to you Christina? We've got a book on this we'll send you. Matter of fact, it's one of the Amazing Facts study guides, and it's, very simply, "Are the Dead Really Dead?" And it's got a plethora of verses on this subject of what happens when you die and how does God perform the resurrection?

Call the resource number. We'll send you a free copy of, "Are the Dead Really Dead?"

Pastor Dick: 1-800-835-6747 Christina. Ask for, "Are the Dead Really Dead?" Thanks for the call. We want to talk with Brian next. Brian is in Worcester, Massachusetts, listening on WNEB. Welcome Brian.

Pastor Doug: Hey Brian, hold your thought, just one second please. Pastor Dick, there is another book we very seldom offer; but since I just saw--the halloween decorations are already being sold- -

Pastor Dick: Ah, oh yes.

Pastor Doug: Have you seen it?

Pastor Dick: Yes

Pastor Doug: I can't believe it. I mean, isn't it about a month and a half away? There is a book called, "Spirits of the Dead." I wanted to remind our former caller that if she'd like to ask for that, that talks a little more about death and what happens. Our friends might want to know as we're nearing the halloween season.

I didn't realize halloween would ever become a season, like Christmas, for six weeks. But "Spirits of the Dead" - we'll send you a free copy, by Joe Crews.

Pastor Dick: Yes indeed.

Pastor Doug: I'm sorry. Now back to you Brian, you're on the air.

Brian: Hi, how are you doing?

Pastor Doug: Good

Brian: My question is in reference to John 3, verse 5, which says, "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God."

Pastor Doug: Yes

Brian: Now, my understanding of that is that being born of water is being born physically; and being born of the Spirit is being, you know, born again. But most of the places I've ever been to, they're basically saying that being born of water is being baptized and being born of the Spirit is being born again. I just wanted to know what your view on that was?

Pastor Doug: Well, I have studied this. And I am of the opinion that when Jesus says, "born of the water," He is talking about baptism. Follow me.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: When Christ was baptized, He went down into the water.

Brian: Uh-huh

Pastor Doug: When He came out of the water, the Holy Spirit came down.

Brian: Uh-huh

Pastor Doug: He was born of the water and the Spirit. In Acts chapter 10, when Cornelius is filled with the Spirit, then Peter says, "Now we need water baptism," born of the water, born of the Spirit. If the water birth is talking about the envelope of water, the amniotic fluid that a baby is in before it's born, why would Jesus say, "Unless you're born of a woman, and then born of the Spirit..."?

Because is there anyone listening to my voice right now that has not been born of a woman? It may happen someday.

Brian: No, well, no. I understand that but, I mean, because of the Scriptures that follow say, "That which is born of the flesh" - -

Pastor Doug: Because He says, "...born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

Brian: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Pastor Doug: And some people make that connection and say, "Maybe the water baptism is talking about the physical baptism." But whenever you interpret the Bible, you need another example, "in the mouth of two witnesses...." There is no other place in the Bible where the new birth is referred to, or any birth, is referred to as "born of the water."

Brian: Um m

Pastor Doug: So, you're creating sort of a new teaching by interpreting that verse that way.

Brian: Um m

Pastor Doug: And keep in mind, "born of the water" is your choice, water baptism.

Brian: Uh-huh

Pastor Doug: "Born of the Spirit" is God's choice. You come to Him through water baptism. He comes to you through Spirit baptism; but they're two separate things. You know, once again, we've got a book that deals with, "Baptism - Is It Really Necessary?" And in that book--we'll send you a free copy Brian--Joe Crews addresses that. "Baptism - Is It Really Necessary?"

Pastor Dick: Okay Brian, that's 1-800-835-6747, and thanks for the call. Let's go next to Jersey City and talk with Ralph who's listening on WMCA. Welcome Ralph.

Ralph: Yes hello, how are you doing Doctor, I mean, Pastor Batchelor?

Pastor Doug: Good, thanks for your call.

Ralph: Okay, I know you don't have too much time left, but my question is about Genesis 6:2,

Pastor Doug: Yes

Ralph: and also Job 1:6, when they talk about the sons of God?

Pastor Doug: Yes

Ralph: It seems like they're talking about spiritual beings marrying human women?

Pastor Doug: Alright, and let me read this for our friends. Genesis 6:2, "And the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and took them wives of all they chose." Some believe these sons of God are angels. Some believe they're fallen angels. Some believe that they are people.

The word "sons of God" is used in the Bible--yes, in Job it is used to talk about angels. But also in 1st John chapter 3, it says, "Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called sons of God." Isaiah refers to the redeemed as "sons of God."

It's believed that the descendents of Seth were called sons of God. And the descendents of Cain who had turned from the Lord were called the sons of men. And when the descendents of Cain began to intermarry--and many commentators say this, Adam Clark, Matthew Henry--when the descendents of Cain began to marry the descendents of Seth, the sons of God, then the world was filled with wickedness.

So we don't believe that angels had intimate relations with humans. There is no other precedent for that in the Bible. It's kind of a bizarre teaching that some people embrace. Those "sons of God" are talking about the descendents of Seth that had relations with "daughters of men."

Oh, I hope that helped a little bit. Friends, if we did not get to your question tonight, we apologize. You can either stay on the line and we'll try and take a few off the air, or give us a call next week. God willing, we'll be back again.

Keep in mind, there is a lot of information available to minister to you. Those of you who teach, if you teach in your church, you teach children, you teach adults, if you have home Bible studies, you need to find the Amazing Facts website because we've got so much information there.

Much of it you can download for free. There are other books and things you can order through out catalog. We've got archives of old programs, television programs you can watch online; archives of this program, AmazingFacts.org. God willing, we'll be back next week.

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