Volcanoes

But volcanoes are not just a colorful legend. They are one of the most powerful and potentially destructive forces on earth. As an example, the 1980 explosion of Mount St. Helens in Washington State was estimated at 500 times more powerful than the force of the atomic bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

There are over 1,000 known, active volcanoes on earth, and that's not counting those that lie beneath the sea. Unfortunately, about 500 million people, or about one in ten, live within the danger range of these active volcanoes. The biggest volcano on earth is Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano. It rises more than 50,000 feet or 9.5 miles above its base on the Pacific seafloor.

For years it was generally accepted and taught be geologists that volcanoes develop slowly over long ions. That was until 1963, when off the coast of Iceland, the world witnessed a volcano virtually grow up out of the ocean in a matter of months. By 1967, the new volcanic island of Surtsey was transformed into a mature island with wide, sandy beaches, pebbles, vegetation, birds, and many other features that would suggest great geological age.

When the geologists wandered about the island, they were mystified and found it hard to believe that this was a volcano whose age was still measured in months, and not millennia. In like manner, many people believe it will take years for them to turn from their sinful habits and live a Christian life.

But they may be underestimating the miraculous power of God to quickly give them a new birth. 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: It is not finance radio or romance radio, but it is talk radio, talking about the Word of God; the most important subject and I think the best use of this amazing technology. We are broadcasting around the world right now on an international, interactive Bible study called Bible Answers Live.

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: And if you have any Bible questions, this program is just for you. Pick up your phone, you can call the toll-free number. In North America it's 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that's 1-800-463-7297. We've got the Bible and several versions, and translations, and languages before us so we can search the Word of God together and find the answers together.

Again, 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. Call now. You have a good chance of getting your question on tonight's program. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Devitt. Good evening Pastor Doug.

Pastor Doug: Good evening Pastor Richard, for a change.

Pastor Dick: Yes sir [laughs]

Pastor Doug: You can call me Douglas [laughs]

Pastor Dick: Oh Douglas huh? Okay [laughs]

Pastor Doug: Sounds more official.

Pastor Dick: I like to change people's names you know. I play, - -

Pastor Doug: [Laughs]

Pastor Dick: - - well, anyway, um - -

Pastor Doug: God is going to give us a new name someday.

Pastor Dick: That's right. He's going to give us a new name and we've got a question about names here in a few minutes. But uh, no traveling this week?

Pastor Doug: No--well I, actually, I do fly tomorrow.

Pastor Dick: Oh okay

Pastor Doug: But it's a short distance.

Pastor Dick: Okay, alright. Well praise the Lord. We normally start the program with a word of prayer, so let's do that shall we?

Father in heaven, we, again, come with thanksgiving in our hearts because You have given us the opportunity to open the Word of God and to share with our friends all over the world, Lord, in this program. We pray for wisdom and understanding, that You would give Pastor Doug and me clarity of thought as the questions come tonight. May we share the Word of God in a way that would be clear and helpful to those who have questions and they are searching for You. Lord again, we thank You and we praise You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen!

Pastor Dick: Pastor Doug, I know that you have, and I have too, walked the volcano fields on the big island of Hawaii. That volcano continues to erupt and the changes are just phenomenal; and yet, people will say it takes millions of years for geological changes in the world. And yet, you can see the island expanding right before your eyes. I've walked those volcano fields.

Pastor Doug: I remember one time, Pastor Dick, I was at the volcano park on the big island.

Pastor Dick: Yes

Pastor Doug: And the ground actually opened up directly in front of us. I mean, I could have very easily tossed my hat into this crevice where we could look right into the molten lava. Our tennis shoes became hot.

Pastor Dick: Hot, yes! Uh-huh.

Pastor Doug: So that was pretty frightening and, of course, we retreated back to a safer zone at that point. But we were watching, as they say, Hawaii was developing new real estate before our eyes.

Pastor Dick: Exactly, that's right

Pastor Doug: It was pouring off into the ocean and solidifying. But, you know, it really reinforces the truth of the Bible that geologists have always attributed these millions of years to the formation of the volcanoes; and yet, in the last century they saw just in a matter of a few months, and over a period of two years really, a volcano spring up out of the ocean.

Many acres were formed and just within two years, they looked at it and, I'm not sure what the radiometric dating would have told them, but I suspect it would have said it was millions of years old--and in reality, they saw it happen. So it was somewhat of an enigma for them.

But at the same time, I think it reminds us of a different kind of birth and the power of God to quickly transform lives. So often people think, "I would be a Christian but, you know, I've developed these bad habits over years and my way of thinking and talking and...how could I ever live a godly life and to be like Christ?" They underestimate what the Lord can do for them in bringing about a change of heart and a new birth very quickly.

Pastor Dick: It happens in an instant, doesn't it?

Pastor Doug: As soon as a person accepts Christ, the Lord activates and releases the power of His very Person, His Spirit in their life. I know you and I have witnessed the folks whose lives were completely in bondage to the devil; and habits, and patterns, their language changes. Their habits change. They're delivered from drugs. Marriages are restored.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And they just underestimate what the power of the Gospel can do for good in their lives. It's called the new birth. Maybe there are some listening who are ready for that change. You think, "I'd be a Christian, but too restrictive." You know in reality, you don't really enjoy life until you are a Christian.

Pastor Dick: That's true, that's right.

Pastor Doug: It's a big deception for people to think, "I'd be a Christian but they don't have any fun." I have so much more fun now as a Christian; and you don't have the hangover, you know, and all the regrets.

Pastor Dick: Amen, amen. That's true.

Pastor Doug: So, maybe you'd like to know more about this new birth friends. Maybe you're ready for a new life. We have a special offer for you.

Pastor Dick: We have a lesson that is part of the Amazing Facts' study guide lessons called "Rescue from Above." This lesson deals with this quick change in life, when you open your heart and invite Jesus Christ to come in and abide in you; and what the Spirit of God does to you and with you when you make that change, and when you invite God to come and abide with you.

We would like to make this lesson available to all of you. If you would call our resource operators tonight, "Rescue from Above" deals with the plan of salvation in a way that will help you to understand what God is doing and wants to do with your life.

Pastor Doug: Amen!

Pastor Dick: So call our resource operators, 1-800-835-6747 is the number. That puts you into our resource operators and they're standing by to take your call right now. Pastor Doug?

Pastor Doug: Yeah?

Pastor Dick: A couple of Internet questions.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Pastor Dick: And one of them is about names and changing names, so let's start with that one. The question is, "If we were given a pagan name, or not a biblical name, should we change our names?" This person goes on to say, "I know that in Revelation God says that He will give us a white stone with a new name on it."

Pastor Doug: Well there, of course, are many examples in the Bible where the Lord gave people new names. Even Jesus, I mean, not only did Jacob in the Old Testament get a new name from the Lord, from Jacob to Israel, - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - but Jesus called James and John "Boanerges", and He called Simon "Peter." He's the one who gave him the name "Peter" which means "rolling stone."

Pastor Dick: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: So, you know, there's a biblical precedent. I don't know that everybody wants--they become a Christian--needs to pick a Bible name. In the Bible when Daniel and his three friends were captured by Nebuchadnezzar, he took their Hebrew names and gave them more common Babylonian, Chaldean names.

Pastor Dick: Right, right, right.

Pastor Doug: I know when many immigrants come to America and they had foreign names that it was difficult for the typical English to pronounce, they would simplify the names.

Pastor Dick: Um m um-hm,um-hm

Pastor Doug: So if you've got a pagan name that is attributed with maybe some pagan deity, you may want to change it to a more generic or Christian name; but I don't know that you should feel guilty about that unless the Holy Spirit really impresses you that way.

Pastor Dick: Yeah. You don't run into very many people named Judas these days, or, you know, some - -

Pastor Doug: Or Nero

Pastor Dick: Or Nero, or - -

Pastor Doug: Unless it's a dog.

Pastor Dick: Right, right [laughs]

Pastor Doug: [Chuckles] You wouldn't name your kid Nero.

Pastor Dick: Right [laughs], yeah. Okay. Very good. Second question comes from Ann and she says, "When we offend our brother by speaking wrongly to someone else, or even think wrongly, should we go to our brother who knows nothing of the offense and ask his forgiveness? To what degree should we humble ourselves to make an offense right before the Lord and our brothers?"

Pastor Doug: Well, first I would say that if you have thought--and it mentions here in the question if you thought something evil about someone, should you go and apologize--if it's not going to bring glory to God and comfort to them, then there may be no advantage in it. There's no virtue in it.

You don't want to go up to a friend and say, "You know, I've just been thinking how terrible you were last week and just wanted to confess that." You would probably just tell the Lord to change your heart and leave it at that.

Pastor Dick: Yeah

Pastor Doug: If you've been gossiping to somebody about a friend and your friend knows nothing of it, you wouldn't necessarily go to them and say, "You know, I've been gossiping about you and I just want to tell you." I would go to the person you gossiped to and say, "You know, I was saying some ungracious things about this friend of mine. Will you forgive me? And I want to retract that."

If there's a risk that they have heard, then you should go to them and say, "I'm sorry I've offended you," and apologize.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm, um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And then ask God to change your heart so that you don't continue that. But the litmus is, "What will bring the greatest glory to God and witness to individuals?"

Pastor Dick: Amen, yeah. Yeah, amen. Okay, ready to go?

Pastor Doug: Yes

Pastor Dick: Let's go to the phones and take our first caller for this evening. We want to go to Grants Pass, Oregon, and we want to talk to Billie who's listening on the Internet. Hi Billie.

Billie: Hi Pastor, how are you?

Pastor Dick: I'm fine, how are you?

Billie: I'm doing great, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Good, and your question please?

Billie: My question is regarding John chapter 20, verse 23.

Pastor Dick: Okay

Billie: My two-part question is could you clarify what the verse meant, and does it apply to us today?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Let me read this for our friends listening. John 20, verse 23?

Billie: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: "Whose soever sins you remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins you retain, they are retained." Now, this verse is given by Jesus to the apostles immediately following the Great Commission. Matter of fact, He empowers them with the Spirit for preaching in the previous verse.

The first thing you know that it does not mean is God has not given humans the ability to forgive sins against God. God, and God only, can forgive sins Mark chapter 2 tells us.

Billie: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: But in the sins that we are able to offer forgiveness through the preaching of the Gospel, we are delivering the vehicle of forgiveness.

Billie: Oh okay

Pastor Doug: When people reject that vehicle, their sins are retained. And so, you know, sometimes when you go from one language to another, it seems awkward the way it's worded.

Billie: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: I understand in German if you want to say, "I'm going to throw some hay over the fence to the cow," the German structure would be, "I"m going to throw the cow over the fence some hay."

Billie: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: It sounds backwards for us - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - but it makes sense to them. Well, as Jesus spoke this in Aramaic, and then, of course, it's translated into Greek, it may seem cumbersome. But really, it's simply saying, "Through the preaching of the Gospel, we have the power to help people obtain forgiveness. Their sins are either forgiven or retained by rejecting the Gospel."

And He sent them out with that mandate, "You have the power to provide this forgiveness to people who accept. Those who reject, they will retain their sins."

Billie: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Okay?

Billie: Makes sense. Thank you.

Pastor Doug: Alright, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Billie, thanks for the call. Let's go to Warren, Ohio, and talk with John who's also listening on the Internet. Welcome John.

John: Ah hello!

Pastor Doug: Good evening, and your question?

John: Yes, my question is in regards with tithing. And if I may, I'll spend a few seconds here to, kind of, set up a foundation for my question.

Pastor Doug: Okay

John: The first thing is money was well used in ancient times. It's not just, you know, recent phenomena for us to be using money for commerce. In the book of Genesis, the story of Joseph, we have them using money to buy grain; and Joseph, you know, has the money put back into their sacks.

Pastor Doug: Right

John: Also in Deuteronomy, when they're traveling through the different lands in order to get to the Promised Land, they offer to pay with money to build, eat the meat, and the food, and to drink water from the nations they were traveling through. So money was very well established - -

Pastor Doug: Okay

John: - - to be used. Now, when tithe is mentioned, tithe is only mentioned regards with the agrarian items, wheat, grain, oil, wine, grapes, etc. And, in fact, in Deuteronomy 14, verses 22 to 27, it mentions that if you have too much tithe to transport and you live far away from the place where God is going to choose, that you're suppose to sell your tithe, which were agrarian items, convert into money, then travel with that money to Jerusalem, at which time you were then converted once again into agrarian items. So, here throughout the Bible tithe is always agrarian. It's never monetary; and, in fact, if it could have been monetary, it could have just stayed that way when it was converted in your homeland from, you know, from grain or from sheep into money. When you came back to Jerusalem, you could have just gave it in that form. But God commands that it's converted. So - -

Pastor Doug: Well what - -

John: - - the question that I have - -

Pastor Doug: Yes. Okay.

John: - - is where do we get the biblical, you know--you know, authority, or the biblical idea that we're suppose to tithe on money instead of agrarian items, if such a thing as this?

Pastor Doug: Well, first of all, there's no command that the tithe has to be of grapes, or grain, or cattle. The tithe is of your increase; and you can convert it, as you just quoted. In Deuteronomy it says that you can convert the tithe for practical purposes and pay it that way. The one verse you were just quoting there in Deuteronomy, oh I believe it was chapter 14, verses 22 to 27?

John: Yes, 22 to 27

Pastor Doug: They were then taking their tithe to one of the annual feasts; - -

John: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - and so they would then take their tithe and convert into food for themselves.

John: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Now, this was the second tithe that you're quoting of, where they would come to the annual feasts. I come from a Jewish background. I don't know if you knew that, but it has always been understood that the tithe is of your increase. And I've been in countries where they actually do place rice in the offering plate.

John: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: In some countries, their tithe is in the form of the fish they've caught, or so forth; and they will bring it and offer it to the Lord. They'll dry it and bring it. They still do that. But there's no mandate that you have to pay it in its original form.

John: Well, the question I have is, where do we get the requirement to give money as tithe? Because God always mentions agrarian items. And He gets very specific and enumerates, you know, the items that's suppose to be tithed on; and He never mentions also tithe on your silver and your gold.

Pastor Doug: Well, let's talk about that.

John: He never mentions that.

Pastor Doug: The widow who brought her offerings to the Lord - -

John: It doesn't say it's a tithe though, you know. Because a lot of times, when you hear of money being given, we assume it's tithe that's being done, like, you know, when Paul took his collections. But tithe is something very specific, - -

Pastor Doug: Alright. Well John,- -

John: - - as opposed to just a freewill offering.

Pastor Doug: Your value is your value. If your value is wheat or cows, there's a value attached to it.

John: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And what you're doing is you are giving of your value, your substance, to the Lord. What difference does it make whether it is rice or copper or gold, see what I'm saying?

John: Well, what's different is what God is actually commanding us to do; because there's a difference between doing what God's command has to do, and then, you know, an alteration or a perversion on our end, you know, changing it.

Pastor Doug: Are you suggesting that the cowboy still brings his cow to the church as an offering?

John: I believe that if someone is going to tithe, that has to be of a agrarian nature because that's the only thing that God gives the jurisdiction to tithe on.

Pastor Doug: Alright. Let's follow this to the logical conclusion. Once the cowboy brings his cow to church as tithe, he brings one of his ten cows, what does the Pastor do? Is it a sin then for the church to convert that into money that can be used, or do they have to just use the cow?

John: The church can do whatever they want with it.

Pastor Doug: Alright. So what would be the - - [cross talk]

John: If you mean that--because the church may be able to use tithes is another issue altogether, but just, you know, on the aspect of tithe being money,- -

Pastor Doug: Well I think - -

John: - - if you receive the tithe is another question altogether as well.

Pastor Doug: Yeah--I would have to respectfully disagree with you that it has to be given in a agrarian form, or an agricultural form.

Pastor Dick: Seems to me that Paul instructed people to lay the tithes aside so that when he was coming to the - -

[Cross talk]

Pastor Doug: There would be no offerings, 1st Corinthians chapter 16,- -

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: - - that there would be no offerings when he came.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: Well, that probably could be argued that was an offering there for the people in Jerusalem. Tithe is the very foundation. When the church started in Acts 5 and the end of Acts 4, they were selling their property and laying the money - -

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: - - at the disciples' feet.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: So, I think that we can all recognize there would be a practical nightmare if everybody came to church and their tithe is in the form of wheat and animals and one-tenth of your donkeys, herds and your cows.

Pastor Dick: Yeah. Ananias and Sapphira - -

Pastor Doug: They brought money.

Pastor Dick: Brought money, yeah.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. So John, there's a lesson we'll send you for free on the subject of tithe. It's the Amazing Facts' study guide. Just ask them for that, we'll send it to you for free. I'd appreciate it if you'd read that. Let me know what you think, and give us a call back.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call John. We'll go next to Alaska, Pastor Doug. Robert is listening on the Internet. Welcome Robert.

Robert: Good evening Pastor Dick and Pastor Doug.

Pastor Doug: Good evening

Robert: My question has to do with Revelation chapter 7, the four winds.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Robert: I know what the four winds are. I know they're representative of warfare and strife. My question is when are they released? It says in Revelation 7:1, "And after these things I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree." Now, my question is in my studies, I noticed that in the trumpets, they involve the earth, the sea and the trees. But in the plagues, they also involve the earth and the sea, so when are these winds released, during the trumpet time, or during the plagues?

Pastor Doug: Well it gives you the answer when they are released in chapter 7. It says, "Do not release them till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads." Now that word "till" there is actually in the original language; and that would mean after all the servants of God are sealed with the seal of God, then they're released.

In other words, once people have all either accepted or rejected the Gospel, the seven last plagues fall and the saved are saved, and the lost are lost.

Robert: Okay

Pastor Doug: Does that make sense?

Robert: Yes it does. Okay, thank you.

Pastor Doug: Alright, thank you, good question.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Robert. Let's go next to Castle Rock, Washington. Annette is listening on 3ABN. Hi Annette.

Annette: Hello, how are you?

Pastor Dick: Very good, thanks.

Annette: Yeah. I had a question about Mark 2, which actually you mentioned today already. And in one of the many times the Pharisees criticized Jesus' Sabbath-keeping, Jesus answered them about David and in the days of Abiathar, when he went to Ahimelech and ate the showbread - -

Pastor Doug: Right

Annette: - - which, and it says, "which was not lawful to eat." And so um, it seems like Jesus is condoning David breaking the law, which I can't believe because then He would owe an apology to Adam and Eve, and Uzza, and the prophet who prophesied against the altar, and all sorts of people who were punished. So my question, I guess, is, was it lawful for David to eat the showbread, and if it was, why did Jesus say it wasn't lawful?

Pastor Doug: Well I don't know that there's a law in the Bible that said that nobody could eat the showbread. I think that Jesus was saying the practicality of what happened in David's situation shows that God often looks at the practical and not the ceremony.

There may have been a Jewish ceremony that no one but the priest could eat the showbread or, I don't even know if the priest ate it. It was set before the Lord and then maybe they burnt it, or disposed of it.

Annette: Well in Exodus 29 it says, "And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, and the bread that is in the basket, by the door of the tabernacle....They shall eat those things wherewith the atonement was made, to consecrate and sanctify them: but a stranger shall not eat thereof, because they are holy." So it sounds like it was set apart for the priest, - -

Pastor Doug: Can I - -

Annette: - - but then it says, "no stranger," which is different than, [beep sound, cross talk] you know, a member of the congregation.

Pastor Doug: That would mean a non-Jew, but I think I might need to identify that. That bread you're reading of there, they had bread that was brought to the sanctuary, along with the sacrifices - -

Annette: Um-hm, oh

Pastor Doug: - - that was separate from the showbread that was in the Holy Place. You notice it says, "in a basket, by the door"? And the showbread was on the table. Now, they may have brought the showbread from the table to that basket. That's what I'm saying. After it sat before the Lord for a day, they may have--you've heard of day-old bread--they may have put it in the basket.

But I think Christ was simply illustrating to the religious leaders they were persecuting the apostles for picking grain on the Sabbath day with their hands and eating it, like you picking an apple off a tree as you're walking down the road, which is really legalism.

Annette: I understand that. Our pastor is using this very text to say, "We can do whatever it takes on the Sabbath to advance God's cause."

Pastor Doug: Well, keep in mind, that was not even the seventh day of the week Sabbath that Jesus is talking about. You read the story about David, it was a new moon Sabbath because David said to Jonathan, "Tomorrow is the new moon and your father, Saul, is going to expect me to be at the table."

So it's not even the seventh-day Sabbath that Christ is using as the example there. It was one of the ceremonial sabbaths.

Annette: Okay. But I'm still saying our pastor is using that it was not lawful for him to do; so our pastor - -

Pastor Doug: Oh, is he trying to take the words of Christ and make it sound like He's endorsing breaking the law?

Annette: Well that's what I interpret. He doesn't say God's law, he doesn't say man's law.

Pastor Doug: You know, what I recommend is read to your pastor--well do it nicely, one on one--but take to him Matthew chapter 5, verse 17 where Jesus said, "Do not think I have come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I did not come to destroy, but fulfill...Whosoever therefore will break one of the least of these commandments, and teach men so, he will be spoken of as the least in the kingdom."

Annette: "...the least in the kingdom of heaven."

Pastor Doug: Yeah. So, that's just very clear that Christ never endorsed anyone breaking the law.

Annette: Ah, you know, that's what I think too, but I was just trying to figure out if it was lawful for anyone to eat showbread or not.

Pastor Doug: Well, obviously, it was a ceremonial law and for practical purposes, David and his men were hungry. By the way, David was--of a sorts--a prophet of God, wasn't he? So I think he had a right.

Annette: Well, before Ahimelech gave it to him he made sure that they were ritually and ceremonially clean, so it sounded like he had some discrimination before he gave it to them.

Pastor Doug: Obviously, yeah. There were criteria and they met the criteria so they were not breaking the law. Hey, I hope that helps a little on that. Do we have time for a question?

Pastor Dick: You know, I think we ought to talk about the 05Revive.

Pastor Doug: Oh, thank you very much. We're going to take a break in just a minute friends, but before we go to the break, Pastor Dick has reminded me to remind you of something very exciting. Matter of fact, that's where I'm flying tomorrow Pastor Dick. I'm actually going up to my cabin and I'm going to sequester myself and pray and spend some time working on the messages for that revival.

Friends, there's going to be a special program that Amazing Facts will be broadcasting on radio and television around the country, around the world, on both 3 Angels Broadcasting Network, Hope Television, and some other carriers. It's simply called 05Revive Drawing Near. It is a revival program, a week of revival meetings and prayer that churches can participate in.

You can register your church no matter what your Christian background is. You just say, "We'd like to participate." You can pull it off satellite if you want to, bring friends to your church, and pray and join seeking revival in the new experience with the Lord.

Pastor Dick: Where will this be held Pastor Doug?

Pastor Doug: We will be up linking from the Will Rogers Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas. It will be broadcast November 4th through the 12th. If they'd like to register, the website is easy, 05Revive.com. Go there for more information; and if you would like to register your home, your church, do it now, and you can even get the free advertising material.

Pastor Dick: Amen! Well I hear the music in the background. We're going to take a break folks. We'll be back in just a few minutes. We want to remind you that you can check out a lot of the resources that we make available on the program at our website. That's BibleAnswersLive.org or .com, right?

Pastor Doug: Yeah, I think they can do BAL, Bible Answers Live; and also, of course, the Amazing Facts' website has a link directly to the Bible Answer radio program. In addition to that, there's also a broad spectrum of resources, the library. If you do a Bible study, just go to AmazingFacts.com.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: Friends, welcome. If you have just tuned in, you're listening to Bible Answers Live. This is a live, interactive program. We invite you to call in your Bible questions. It's a toll-free phone call, 1-800-GOD-SAYS is the acronym. You can remember that easy and that translates, if you have a pencil, into 1-800-463-7297.

We have a separate number that we give out during the program where you can get a whole kaleidoscope of Bible study resources. If you'd like to request a free catalog, I think we probably have several thousand videos, audios, books, CD's, DVD's that will all enhance your personal journey with Jesus. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: My name is Dick Devitt, and I want to correct myself. I think I misspoke a few minutes ago when I said BibleAnswersLive.com. It's AmazingFacts.com, and then there's a link to Bible Answers Live.

Pastor Doug: Well we know where your heart is.

Pastor Dick: Yeah!

Pastor Doug: It's okay.

[Cross talk, unintelligible]

Pastor Dick: It has gone somewhere [laughs]

Pastor Doug: That's one of the fun dynamics of live radio.

Pastor Dick: Amen, praise the Lord. Let's go to our first caller for this part of the program Pastor Doug. We want to talk with Gil who's in Queens, New York, listening on WMCA. Hello Gil.

Gil: Oh, good evening Doug and Dick. Nice to speak to both of you tonight.

Pastor Dick: Thank you.

Gil: Oh you're so welcome and I've called before several times. I happen to have a great love for the Jewish people and I do witness to Jewish people a lot, obviously, Gentiles also. But I know, you know, we follow Romans 1:16 also, you know, that, "I am not ashamed of the gospel...for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes; first to the Jew, and then to the Gentile." Going back some years, I was witnessing to a friend of mine who's blind and they happen to be Jewish and everything like that, and I lost contact with them for some years and then later on they died, and all of that stuff. And it was, kind of, like hard for me and for other people because when I used to go and visit them, I used to share Isaiah 53 with them and play different kind of tapes, you know, that teach about Jesus - -

Pastor Doug: Gil, I don't mean to rush you but we're running out of time. I haven't heard the question yet.

Gil: Yeah, the question has to do with are you believing the fact that if a person never heard about Jesus Christ and they're Jewish, since Romans 11:25 says that all of Israel will be saved, do you believe that there will be a time that God will be merciful to the Jewish people, or this is it? "Now is the day of salvation."

Pastor Doug: Well, this verse is, I think, often misunderstood, when it says, "All Israel will be saved." The Lord does not save a block of people based upon their genealogy. That would be racism. God isn't going to say, "Well I'll save you because of your race, but I'm not going to save this whole race because they're the wrong race."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm, right, right.

Pastor Doug: Because there are too many Scriptures that say, "God is no respecter of persons." "The Lord hath made of one blood all nations" [Acts 17:26]. It is true that all of the spiritual seed of Abraham will be saved. That's why the Bible says, "If you are Christ's, you are Abraham's seed," or you could say, "you are Israel."

And so Paul is carrying that same theme on there in Romans 11:25. All of Abraham's seed will be saved and inherit the Promised Land.

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: So it is not a blanket statement that everybody who is Jewish, or everybody who is any race, is going to be saved based on their race. The Bible never teaches that. Matter of fact, Jesus said to some of the religious leaders that came to Him, "You think you're saved because you're children of Abraham." He says, "You're of your father the devil because you're doing the deeds of your father."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm, um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So the Lord looks at what does a person do, what are their deeds.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm, okay.

Pastor Doug: Oh, by the way, we have that book. If you haven't already read it Gil, I think maybe we've sent it to you. It's called "Spiritual Israel" and you would enjoy that. "Spiritual Israel."

Pastor Dick: 1-800-835-6747 is the number for our resource operators, 835-6747. It's a free call, it's a toll-free call, at 1-800. "Spiritual Israel" is the name of the book Gil. So if you haven't received that, call our resource operators and we'll send it out to you. It's called "Spiritual Israel." And thanks for the call.

Let's go to Brooklyn. We want to talk with Tara, who's also listening on WMCA. Hello Tara.

Tara: Yes, hello. How are you both?

Pastor Doug: Good, and your question tonight?

Tara: My question is about 1st John chapter 5, verses 16 and 17 - -

Pastor Doug: Okay

Tara: - - when God speaks about, uh, "I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death." And, "There is a sin that leads to death." Is that about the unpardonable sin? I'm a little confused about that.

Pastor Doug: Well, yes. Obviously, anyone who dies lost has committed the unpardonable sin because there's no more pardon, once they die lost. You see what I'm saying? Does that make sense?

Tara: It does.

Pastor Doug: So - -

Tara: It's just, maybe the wording - -

Pastor Doug: Yes

Tara: - - is a little confusing to me, because I thought all sin, if you're not repenting of your sin, will lead to death.

Pastor Doug: Well that's true, but I think that John is saying some people sin in ignorance; and the Bible, even in the Old Testament, had different sacrifices for different sins. But the one sin for which there was no sacrifice is what they called "presumptuous sin;" because obviously, if a person continues in presumptuous sin, they just grieve away the Holy Spirit. And that is the unpardonable sin.

It's a sin that they don't repent of, and God can't forgive them.

Tara: Right

Pastor Doug: So uh, that's why John says, "If you see your brother sin a sin that is not to death, you shall ask, and give him life for that sin."

Tara: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: There are sins of ignorance, and then there are sins that are high-handed and deliberate, and God even uses different words in the Bible for those different sins.

Tara: I see. Okay.

Pastor Doug: Those who are in open rebellion, like King Saul, God said, "Don't do this," and he did it anyway. And then Saul started praying, and God would not even listen to his prayer. Hope that helps a little bit Tara.

Tara: Yes it does. Thank you very much.

Pastor Doug: Alright, hey, thanks for your question.

Pastor Dick: And thanks for the call Tara. Pastor Doug, that opens a couple of lines. If you have a Bible-related question, give us a call at 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that's 1-800-463-7297. Let's go next to Vestaburg, Michigan. Bree is listening on Live Talk Radio. Hello Bree.

Bree: Hi

Pastor Dick: Welcome

Bree: Thank you. My question is in Genesis 9 and it starts in verse 20. It's where Noah planted the vineyard.

Pastor Doug: Yes

Bree: And he became drunk and he was naked. I'm just curious--it doesn't actually say that he repented for his sin before he died.

Pastor Doug: Alright. That's a good point, but we have reason to believe that he did and - -

[Cross talk]

Bree: Yeah. Well it says in Hebrews 11 that he will be in heaven.

Pastor Doug: You beat me to it. That's where I was going.

Bree: [Chuckles]

Pastor Doug: So - -

Bree: But I'm just curious. It doesn't actually say. I'm just--I don't know why that bothers me but it does.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. There are a lot of places in the Bible where it is evident from the context and from later reference.

Bree: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: I mean, the Bible talks about Noah is a righteous man who found grace in the Lord.

Bree: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: But, virtually, every great patriarch in the Bible, it also records some area where they fell.

Bree: Oh yeah

Pastor Doug: Abraham with Hagar; and Jacob with his deception; and you could go down the list. Isaac lied about his wife. But the Lord spoke of them in future references in positive terms, as you said; and, of course, Noah is spoken of as the faithful.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Bree: Yeah

Pastor Doug: I think he repented of what he had done. For one thing, it became an embarrassment to the family with what happened with Ham mocking him. And uh, - -

Bree: Yeah, because it talks about his son seeing his nakedness.

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Bree: Maybe that was his punishment? I don't know.

Pastor Doug: You mean Noah's punishment?

Bree: Yeah, forgot, yeah (voice fades, unintelligible)

Pastor Doug: Well, whenever children disobey, it hurts the parents.

Bree: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: It grieves them. There's no record of his repenting. There's no record of Solomon repenting. But--well some people say maybe the book of Ecclesiastes is his repentance.

Bree: Okay

Pastor Doug: But we have reason to believe that he did.

Bree: Yeah, okay.

Pastor Doug: Alright. Hope that helps a little.

Bree: Thank you

Pastor Doug: Thanks

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Bree. Let's go next to Brewster, New York. Maritza is listening on the Internet. Welcome Maritza.

Maritza: Hi, how are you?

Pastor Doug: Good. And your question tonight?

Maritza: My question is I'm looking at the book of Revelation chapter 10, verse 4 and I'm reading where it says, "Now when the seven thunders utter their voices, I was about to write: but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them." And my question is, um, who are the seven thunders that uttered their voices?

Pastor Doug: Well, that is a good question. Paul says that when he was caught up to the third heaven, he saw things that are not lawful to speak of. In other words, he saw things that just can't be explained; I guess it's top secret information. John, in vision, likewise, heard some things that he's told not to write. And there has been a lot of speculation about what that is, but it may have been something dealing with the timing of the Lord's return.

That was even concealed from Jesus when He was here on earth. But it's not given, so for me to pretend that I know what the apostle John could not write, that would be presumptuous.

Maritza: So would that mean that John is the only one that knows? Or....

Pastor Doug: Oh no. Obviously, the Lord knows; and we may find out when we get to heaven that it was revealed. Let me give you another example. If you look in Daniel--and I know that there are people who believe that what John heard was the interpretation for Daniel.

And, let me see here, in Daniel chapter 12, verse 4, "But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book," now these are some of the prophecies he's speaking of, "even to the time of the end: many will run to and fro, and knowledge will be increased."

And a lot of scholars believe that the same thing John was not to utter, Daniel was to seal, "until the time of the end," meaning what the seven thunders said and what Daniel sealed is revealed in this last age of the world's history. You probably heard this before, Pastor Dick.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, um-hm

Pastor Doug: There was a time at the baptism of Jesus, when God said, "This is my beloved Son," and some thought they heard thunder but it was God's voice identifying Jesus.

Maritza: Um m

Pastor Doug: And then it also says at the second coming there is thundering and a great earthquake. So some have associated it with the second coming. It is still somewhat of a mystery, and so I can't give you the answer to that question.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Maritza: Okay

Pastor Doug: I've given you some things to think about, but I haven't given you a definite answer.

Maritza: Yes, thank you.

Pastor Doug: Alright?

Maritza: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Doug: Thank you

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Maritza. To Fort Lee, New Jersey. Young is listening on WMCA. Hello Young.

Young: Hello uh, excuse me, - -

Pastor Doug: Get real close to your phone. We can barely hear you.

Young: - - I've heard you say that in Greek the Messiah's name is pronounced "Jesus," or you say it's "Jesus."

Pastor Doug: Well, the name of the Messiah, if you want to use a more Hebrew pronunciation, is "Joshua" or "Yeshua."

Young: Okay, but in Greek you said it's "Jesus" but others have been saying it's "Yesu" or something.

Pastor Doug: Well in Spanish or Latin it's "JeSUS."

Young: But in the Greek text?

Pastor Doug: "Jesus."

Young: Uh, you're saying it's "Jesus"?

Pastor Doug: Well, you're [chuckles] - -

Young: Yeah, others have been saying - -

Pastor Doug: - - what I'm getting at is you're asking me how you pronounce it in different tongues. The English pronunciation for "Jesus" is "Jesus." You're wanting to know what the Greek pronunciation is?

Young: Uh, yeah, it's part of my question, or what I wanted to know about, because I just want to know if you were saying Greek is "Jesus" or--because other people have been saying in the Greek it's "Yesu." And so - -

Pastor Doug: Well that may be the Greek pronunciation.

Young: Okay, so what uh, uh, I wanted to know what you thought about the history of the letter "J" in the English language, if you know about that? Some of the things they say is uh, "J" is the youngest letter in the English alphabet, that uh, in the beginning, in early English, there was no "J" and uh, "J" was used for the pronunciation for, uh, the "Y" sound.

Pastor Doug: Yeah. Well I know that in German, John is "Yohan" with a "Y."

Young: Yeah, but they say in early English, they used the symbol "J" for the pronunciation "Y."

Pastor Doug: Help me. Where are you going with your question? I'm not sure.

Young: Yeah. So they're saying they wrote English books with the symbol "J" thinking people--they pronounce it as "Y" because that's what they used to do in early English. But uh, like, maybe 500 years ago, they say uh, because of French, uh, influences, the "J" symbol changed to the modern "J" pronunciation we have now instead of the letter "Y."

Pastor Doug: Well it is true that every language, including English, is constantly under an evolution. Language is always being influenced and words take on new meaning based on the culture; and different parts of even North America have different accents because of just the way people pronounce things. But I'm not sure what--is there a Bible question connected with this?

Young: Uh, yeah.

Pastor Doug: You're wondering, or worried about maybe we're saying the name of Jesus incorrectly?

Young: It's just that, uh, they intend, people, uh, like early Bible people, I think they intended for the pronunciation to be used as a "Y." But uh, it was written to be pronounced as "Y" but they used the letter "J" because that's uh, how people pronounced it a long time ago.

Pastor Doug: Well Jesus' name was not "Jesus," nor was it "Yesus" in the Greek. His name was "Yeshua", - -

Young: Yeah

Pastor Doug: - - which was Hebrew. But the big question is, does God want us to address Him in a foreign language, or in our own tongue? And I think that it's very clear that the Lord

wants us to speak to Him in our own tongue; and that's why in Acts chapter 2 He gave them the gifts of tongues. The disciples preached to the native languages of those that were there, so they understood.

And when Peter preached about Jesus to those who were from Arabia, he said the name of Jesus in the Arabian dialect or in the Roman dialect. So, you know, God expects us to address Him in our own tongue.

Young: But the original English tongue, they pronounced it with the "Y."

Pastor Doug: The original English has always been changing. What is the original English? Do you want the original English in King Arthur's day? You wouldn't even understand it today.

Young: Yeah but, uh, it's "Yesu," or something like that, right, with the "Y" pronunciation? Isn't that more correct, wouldn't you say?

Pastor Doug: It is not more correct English. God expects us to speak the English of the day, the vernacular of the day in which we're living. I'm afraid we're talking in circles. I don't mean--I appreciate your question, Young, and where you're coming from, but the languages are constantly in evolution, - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: - - English and every other language, and there is no original English. No race of people woke up one day and said, "We've invented a new language. It's the original language."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: All languages have been evolving since the Tower of Babel. God expects us to speak in the current tongue.

Pastor Dick: Okay. Thanks for the call Young. Let's go next to the Bronx. We want to talk with Andre who's listening on WMCA. Andre, welcome to the program.

Pastor Doug: Andre, you're on. In case you don't know it, we'll try it again. You there? Andre?

Pastor Dick: Guess not.

Andre: Yes, I'm here.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Pastor Doug and Pastor Dick: Your question?

Andre: Yes, good night. How are you doing?

Pastor Doug: Good evening

Andre: Yes. This is my second time listening to the program; and my question is that um, is it appropriate, is it appropriate for Christians to have pictures of Christ? Alright, is it appropriate for pictures to be on tracts or in books?

Pastor Doug: Alright. I think the bigger question is does it represent a form of idolatry to have a picture, or some kind of representation, of God, or of Jesus, or even Bible characters. The Second Commandment says, "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness," that would be painting, statue, "of anything in the heaven above, or the earth beneath, or the waters under the earth."

And, "Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, and serve them." Now, was God saying that man should never reproduce any kind of creature or likeness of anything on earth? Well, that wouldn't just be limited to Jesus. That would be a flower, a coconut, anything.

Andre: Okay

Pastor Doug: Or is the sin making these things and bowing down to them? Now when God told Solomon to take golden calves and put them underneath the laver in the temple, or when God told Moses to put angels on the curtains in the temple and pomegranates around the robes of the priest, He would have been breaking His own law - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: -- if that was the law. The law wasn't to make any kind of likeness. The law was not to make these things and bow down to them. Now, there are some people who pray to pictures and statues of Jesus; and so, in a case like that you know, I think you might make them stumble, I'd avoid it.

Andre: Okay.

Pastor Doug: But uh - -

Andre: The reason why I ask is because I know the Bible, it tells us about His hair is like wool and His feel is like fire and stuff like that, but it did not give, like, a definite expression of Him. But nowadays, Christians, um, I see most of the chalks. They give it a Black Jesus, a White Jesus, a Chinese Jesus, you know. Sometime I see a woman Jesus. So the reason, I think the reason why that Christ never give us the picture because you know that people would worship the picture more than Him.

Pastor Doug: There is that risk. And there are people who stumble over the concept of a picture or a statuette. In the office of Amazing Facts, someone gave us a very nice likeness of Moses coming down the mountain with the Ten Commandments.

Andre: Yeah

Pastor Doug: And it's a beautiful piece of art. It makes you think about the law. I've never seen anyone bow down before it. If they did, I'd feel real uncomfortable about having it there.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So, you know, the idea was not not to make a likeness. The idea was don't bow down and worship them. And so I do think you're especially at risk when people are making pictures of Jesus or statues of Jesus, and if folks are tempted to pray to them.

Andre: Alright. If you don't make them, you won't pray to them then?

Pastor Doug: That's right. You're safer.

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Andre: Safer, that's it; because I know the Roman Catholic, they mostly specialize in those kinds of things, picture and, picture of Mary, and all these pictures.

Pastor Doug: Well in the Catholic church, there's a little more of the statues. If you go to the Russian Orthodox church, they have more paintings. They call them "icons." But, you are right, there's more of that that happens there. Hey, thanks for your question Andre. Hope that helps a little bit.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Andre. We'll go next to College Place, Washington. Dennis is listening on KLRF. Dennis, welcome to the program.

Dennis: Hi, thank you. My question deals with James 5:16. It says, "Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed." Along with confession of sins, I think the struggle for me is who do we confess our sins to? I mean, I know we confess our sins to God in prayer as He reveals those things to us. He says in His Word that His Spirit will come and lead us into all truth; and that includes ourselves and our sins. So, is there some more biblical instruction about the practice of confession for the Protestant?

Pastor Doug: Well, you notice it says, "Confess your faults to one another." The word that is used there is different than sin. We are not to confess our sins for forgiveness to anybody but God.

Dennis: Right

Pastor Doug: James there in the context, Dennis, is suggesting that we might tell somebody in confidence something we're struggling with and pray for strength. That's why Jesus sent the disciples out two by two. He wanted people to pray for and partner with others; and I think it's important for every Christian to have somebody that they can open their heart to and say, "You know, I'm struggling with this or that. Can you pray for me?"

But I think we need to be careful about confessing every innermost sin. One verse I've got for that is Hebrews 12, verse 1. Here, Paul says, "Let us lay aside every weight and sin...." Some things are sin, and some things are weights, and that would be like the faults. So there is a different category. You want to be very careful what you confess to other humans because that relationship could fall apart and your business could be in the street.

In other words, they could be telling everybody what your sins are. A lot of things are just between you and God.

Dennis: Okay

Pastor Doug: See what I'm saying?

Dennis: Yes. That's still very sensitive. I mean, unless you have the right relationship with your pastor and your congregation, um - -

Pastor Doug: I don't think it should be the pastor.

Dennis: Right. Well, a lot of people - -

Pastor Doug: I think it's important to--and I'm a Pastor--but I think it's important to be able to have a pastor you can counsel with; but you should have, really, spiritual partners in the church, people you can trust, where you pray together and there's some accountability.

But that's a whole different dynamic that James is talking about than confessing your sins to a priest. I think that that's between you and God. God, and God only, can forgive sin. Hope that helps Dennis. We're going to try and grab a couple more calls while our time is still is with us.

Pastor Dick: To Alexandria, Virginia. Sarah is a first-time caller. Welcome, Sarah, to the program.

Sarah: Hi, how are you doing?

Pastor Dick: Good, and your question please?

Sarah: Well, my question was about Daniel 5 and the part about the writing on the wall.

Pastor Doug: Yes

Sarah: I was wondering was there any prophetic significance to the writing being on the wall? And why did God choose to address this particular king in that way?

Pastor Doug: Good question. I think all of our friends listening have heard the expression, "handwriting on the wall." That comes from the experience in Daniel chapter 5 where Belshazzar has a wild feast. He mocks God by drinking alcohol in the holy vessels and this burning handwriting appears on the wall, spelling out his doom.

Here, Sarah is wanting to know is there some prophetic significance of that. I do think there is, in that the book of Daniel does outline the fall of Babylon. Then you get to Revelation, and God talks about Babylon falling in chapters 17 and 18, mostly chapter 18; and it's also mentioned in Isaiah and in Jeremiah.

So, Daniel, quite literally, lived through--he was in Babylon when it fell; and it fell because of some dynamics where they were mocking that which is holy. That is also going to precede the fall of Babylon in the last days. You look at what's holy today: marriage is holy. Is our society making a mockery of marriage? Uh, yeah.

The Bible says that the Bible is holy. They made a mockery of the Word of God. In our culture today, they make a mockery of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is called holy. People rob God in their tithes. The tithe is called holy. Everything God calls holy our culture is mocking. A life is holy; and this whole epidemic with abortion on demand is, uh, kind of--drive-through abortions.

It just tells you that everything that God calls holy, they are mocking. That's what preceded the fall of Babylon with the handwriting on the wall. God, in His prophecies, has the handwriting on the wall that things are going to fall again in the last days. I think we're beginning to see the angels loosen their grip on those winds of strife, Pastor Dick. Hope that helps Sarah.

Sarah: Basically, it's like the writing on the wall, basically was, kind of like, showing that you dishonored God; and that was, basically, how God wanted to shock him?

Pastor Doug: Keep in mind, Belshazzar was praising the idols of gold, and silver, and wood, and stone, using the holy vessels of God, basically worshiping pagan gods of the devil, with God's holy vessels and God said, "Hey, enough is enough"; and He basically spelled out his doom. That very night that king was slain.

Sarah: OH

Pastor Doug: The Medo-Persians conquered the city and that was the end of Babylon. That's how Babylon is going to fall again not too far in the future listening friends.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Pastor Doug: Matter of fact, we've got a Bible study you can request that deals with the beast, the dragon and the woman." We'll send it to you free if you'd like. That special booklet on "The Beast, The Dragon, and The Woman" talks about who is Babylon and you can learn more about its fall.

We have run out of time for tonight's program. I apologize if we did not get to your call tonight. We do appreciate if you'd give us another chance. Once again, remember there are a lot of resources and other questions; if you didn't get your answer tonight, you might find it at our Bible Answers Live archives on the Amazing Facts' website. So take a look at AmazingFacts.org. Until then, God bless. Jesus is the Truth.

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