Farming Ants

These bits are green leaf are not for food, but they're taken to their nests and made into a compose soil, for these ants are actually farmers. They deliberately sow, prune, fertilize, weed, harvest and store a fungus crop as carefully as any gardener tends his vegetables. They're also ants living in Texas that clear a field of one or two square yards, then plant rice. They lay out the rice in beds with pathways running among the plants and they keep their rice fields carefully weeded.

When the rice seeds ripen, the ants harvest them, remove the husks, and store the kernels for food. Later, the ants, with very large jaws, crack the seeds and crush the kernels into a meal for the rest of the ants to eat. If the rice gets damp and is in danger of spoiling, other ants have the sole responsibility of carrying the damp grain out into the sunshine for drying again.

Another species of common Mediterranean ant goes even further in producing its food from farm seeds. These ants carefully take dried seeds out into the rain until they sprout. At that point, they kill the sprout and they dry the seeds in the sunshine again. When the seeds are dry, the ants take them down into their kitchen where other workers crush and chew them into a dough-like substance.

They form the dough into cookie-shaped patties and they take the patties back out to bake in the sun. When the ant biscuits are baked, the ants store them in the nests again. No wonder Solomon wrote, "Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no captain, overseer, or ruler, provides her supplies in the summer, and gathers her food in the harvest." [Proverbs 6:6-8]

You know friends, the same God who enables the tiny ant to prepare for its needs, has also given us the intelligence to prepare for ours. Stay with us. We'll learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.

[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]

Pastor Doug: We are so thankful that you are tuned in to another fresh version of Bible Answers Live friends. This program is for you. If you have any Bible questions, you're welcomed to give us a call. In North America, it's a toll-free call, 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that's 1-800-463-7297.

We have lines open right now so pick up your phone and you have a good chance of getting your call on tonight's program. If you are listening on the Internet, you can also email us your questions. It's simply AmazingFacts.org, or even if you type in AmazingFacts.com, it'll take you to the same place.

We'd love to hear from you. This is an international, interactive Bible study where we direct our attention to finding out what the Word of God says is the truth. If you are perplexed by any of the Bible teachings or doctrines, then this program is for you. Give us a call right now, 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: And my name is Dick Devitt. Hi Pastor Doug. How are you doing?

Pastor Doug: Hello Pastor Richard, good to see you tonight.

Pastor Dick: Thank you. It's good to see you too.

Pastor Doug: I'm looking forward to tonight's program. We already have some calls I see coming in. It's always exciting to be involved in this spontaneous miracle.

Pastor Dick: That's right

Pastor Doug: We really don't know exactly what's going to happen and so we just it to the Lord.

Pastor Dick: It's the fastest hour on radio [chuckles]

Pastor Doug: That's right [chuckles]

Pastor Dick: Well, we normally start with a word of prayer so let's do that. Father in heaven, we want to thank You again and praise You for Your greatness, Your love, Your kindness, and for this miracle, Lord, that You provide and that You allow us to participate in; the power of Your Word going out on the airwaves to touch hearts. Lord, someone will hear from You tonight from what is done and said here, and we pray that You will give Pastor Doug clarity of thought, and that You will be with our callers who participate, and the listeners who are listening to the program tonight. We pray Thy will be done Lord. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen!

Pastor Dick: You and I have both been to Africa. We've talked about this in the past. We've seen these great ants - -

Pastor Doug: Army ants.

Pastor Dick: - - army ants, - -

Pastor Doug: Yup

Pastor Dick: - - just moving across. I stood and watched one for 20 minutes and I just tore apart this little bush; and it's amazing how they can provide for themselves. But they still must work.

Pastor Doug: That's right. Matter of fact, in the Bible it also says in Proverbs 30, verse 25, "The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer." Someone said they are the most numerous creatures on earth; - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm. Yeah, I believe that.

Pastor Doug: - - and the ants of the world outweigh the humans.

Pastor Dick: Hm, wow!

Pastor Doug: And I usually believe that as well because you just think about how many there are. On practically every square inch of temperate land in the world, there are ants.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, um-hm

Pastor Doug: Some are vegetarians, some are carnivorous, some are passive, some are very aggressive. Some jump, some bite, some sting, I mean, there's such a variety among them; but they all work together to provide their food in advance.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: And this miracle about the way they farm is really interesting, especially the ones that make the little patties, ant cookies, if you will. That's really something!

Pastor Dick: Amazing!

Pastor Doug: You know, it makes me think about the miracle of how God provided for the needs of the children of Israel. He rained manna down, but they had to go out and get it.

Pastor Dick: Ah, yeah

Pastor Doug: And God often provides miracles to supply for our needs, but to be successful in life with what we need, it involves work. It involves, not only taking, but giving. These ants actually have the courage to take their food and plant it. In other words, they let it go, and then it multiplies and they bring it back.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, um-hm

Pastor Doug: They've got faith in the sowing and the reaping principles that you find in the Bible. And a lot of people are struggling in their lives with their substance, with their finances; and the principle of trusting God by working, sowing and reaping--I think Wesley put it this way, "A Christian needs to know how to save all you can, earn all you can, and give all you can."

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: There's a balance in the three.

Pastor Dick: Amen, amen

Pastor Doug: And some of our listeners I know are struggling with their finances, with economic principles. We have a free gift we'd like to send them that will be a blessing to them.

Pastor Dick: We do. We do; and of course, you can't out give God. You want to practice that giving especially because the more you give, the more He provides.

Pastor Doug: That's right. He wants us to be a channel of blessing.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Pastor Doug: And that is the truth.

Pastor Dick: That's right. Well, what we have to offer tonight is a lesson, part of the Amazing Facts' study guides. It's called "In God We Trust?" How does God provide for us? What does He do to enable us to prosper? We want to make this lesson available to anybody who will call our resource operators tonight.

Pastor Doug: Hold it a little closer to your microphone. I want them to see the lesson.

Pastor Dick: Okay

Pastor Doug: It's four-color.

Pastor Dick: Yeah

Pastor Doug: I'll describe it for you.

Pastor Dick: Everybody will see.

Pastor Doug: Not just the cover, but all through the lesson are illustrations. Kids love this, if you want to also teach your kids the principles of finance. A little closer to the microphone. There you go Pastor Dick. He is holding the lesson there. We hope you can see it friends.

But anyway, it's free friends. These have been very, very popular. They've been around over 30 years now. They've recently been updated. We'll send it to you just for asking, but you have to call.

Pastor Dick: That's right, 1-800-835-6747 is the resource number for the operators who will send you the material that we mentioned during the program, and especially this lesson called

"In God We Trust?" So write that number down, 1-800-835-6747. We normally take a couple of Internet questions before we go to the phones Pastor Doug. I think we've got a couple of intriguing questions here, alright?

Pastor Doug: Okay

Pastor Dick: The first is, "Is it wrong for men to shave their beards or get hair cuts?"

Pastor Doug: Okay, good question. You know, we've actually had that a few times. Some people read the verse that is in Leviticus 19:27, which says, "You shall not round the corner of your heads, neither shall you mar the corner of thy beards."

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: And some think, "Well, you're not suppose to cut your hair and you're not suppose to trim your beard." They don't read the next verse. They've got to keep in mind there were not chapters and verses when the Bible was first written. It goes on to say, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you: I am the LORD." Well, that's tattoos. [Italics supplied]

It was a custom back then that when someone in their family died, as a sign of mourning they would shave off the corners of their beards so that their beards were long and pointy. It looked like a very sad, tearful look.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Or they would shave off part of their hair, and they would mutilate themselves in mourning. Some would even cut off a finger or something.

Pastor Dick: Right, right

Pastor Doug: And He said, "Your bodies are holy. Don't mar your bodies for the dead." People miss that. There is no Bible command that says you cannot shave. Matter of fact, Joseph, before he went before Pharaoh, it says he shaved himself. He had been in prison. He was unkempt, and so he groomed himself. [Italics supplied]

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, um-hm

Pastor Doug: The Bible tells us about Mephibosheth, when David was running from his son Absalom, Mephibosheth said, "I was mourning so I didn't even trim my mustache." So obviously, there's no Bible mandate that says you can't shave your beard, or trim your hair, or trim your mustache. God would have us be neat and clean.

Pastor Dick: Praise the Lord!

Pastor Doug: Now I'm not suggesting people with beards can't be neat and clean. There's no command one way or the another [laughs].

Pastor Dick: [Laughs] Okay. This next one comes to us from South Africa. The question is, in light of John 1, verse 3, Clyde in South Africa would like to know, "Has creation stopped?"

Pastor Doug: Well, that is a very good question. We know that God created the heavens and the earth. There is new life that is always being born on earth, not only human life, but God sustains the life, and there is new life. All life really comes from God because God is the One who creates the creative process.

Whether God is making new worlds in other parts of the cosmos, you know, I can't answer that question with a Scripture.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Jesus did say, "My Father works, and I work," and that could be the work of sustaining. I don't believe the Lord has been involved in creating new worlds because Jesus has been involved in saving this one; and I don't think there will be any new worlds created until He makes this new heaven and new earth here, and then the plan of salvation is complete.

The controversy between good and evil is resolved. At that point, God may continue His--I expect He will--I mean, space is infinite.

Pastor Dick: But you and I have talked about this on this program earlier, this creation, this body is still growing. The volcanoes in Hawaii, you know; - -

Pastor Doug: Yup

Pastor Dick: - - these things that are going off.

Pastor Doug: It's a very dynamic earth that we live on, - -

Pastor Dick: Yes, yeah, yeah.

Pastor Doug: - - both with the lifeforms and the geology.

Pastor Dick: Right, right

Pastor Doug: But I don't think the Lord is making new worlds right now until the plan of salvation is settled.

Pastor Dick: Okay, alright. Good, very good. Let's go to the phones then. We'll take our first call for the evening. We want to talk first with David who is in Galt, California listening to KFIA. David, welcome to the program.

David: Sir?

Pastor Dick: Yes sir, your question please?

David: Can a non-believer put a curse on a Christian man's belongings?

Pastor Doug: Can a non-believer put a curse on a Christian man's belongings? That's a good question. Sometimes people have worried about someone taking a voodoo and using a voodoo doll to, in effigy, hurt somebody or maybe even vex or curse their possessions.

There are cases in the Bible where it says if you trust the Lord, your possessions will be blessed; and if you don't walk with the Lord, your possessions will be cursed, and that's Deuteronomy 28. As far as another person having that power to just put a whammy or vex your possessions, Christians, first of all, I don't think they would want to do that, so I don't think He gives them that power.

The promise is there in 1st John chapter 4, verse 4, David, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." So, does that help with your question a little bit?

David: Say it again?

Pastor Doug: The Bible says, "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world." So if you're a Christian, people who are serving the devil as witches or voodoo, they can't really hurt you or your possessions when you're trusting in God.

David: [Slurs question] Yes, thank you. What one, Deuteronomy again, Deuteronomy? What's the one?

Pastor Doug: Well Deuteronomy chapter 28 is where you find that other verse. Matter of fact, David would enjoy the lesson that we talked about tonight dealing with stewardship and property, and we'll send it to you free, David, if you just call that number.

Pastor Dick: David, call our resource operators at the number that I am about to give you. Write this number down, 1-800-835-6747. Call that number and ask for the lesson that we've offered tonight. It's called "In God We Trust?" and I think you'll enjoy that. Thank you for the call. Pastor Doug, let's go next to Elijah who is in Brooklyn, New York listening on WMCA. Elijah, welcome to the program.

Elijah: Hello Pastor Doug, Pastor Dick. How's everything?

Pastor Doug: Good, thanks for calling.

Elijah: Alright. My question is in regards to Acts 18:21?

Pastor Doug: Uh-huh. You want me to read it for everyone?

Elijah: Yeah, uh-huh.

Pastor Doug: Acts 18:21, speaking of Paul, "But he bade them farewell, saying, 'I must by all means keep this feast that comes in Jerusalem: but I will return unto you again, if God will.' And he sailed from Ephesus." And your question about that verse?

Elijah: Why was Paul keeping the feast?

Pastor Doug: Well, the feast days were one of the best opportunities to preach to the Jews. Keep in mind that God poured out the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, and it tells us why. It says, "There were devout Jews out of every nation under heaven dwelling in Jerusalem." They had come. They would go to Jerusalem for the feast and Paul would have an instant audience.

So he would go down to Jerusalem during the feast because devout Jews from all over the world would congregate to the temple; and it was a great opportunity to preach. Further evidence - -

Elijah: So that's why he was going there, to preach to them, not to keep the feast? It sounds like the verse says [call cuts short]

Pastor Doug: Well, I'm sure he kept the feast while he was there, but his purpose in going; matter of fact, when he was arrested and there was a riot, and I'm sure you know the story, Elijah, Paul stopped the Roman soldiers that were dragging him up the steps. And he said, "Let me talk to the people," and he used it as an occasion to preach to the crowd. In other words, God even used that feast as an occasion to let him preach to the crowd.

But it's clear from the missionary journeys of Paul that he did not go to Jerusalem every Passover because some of his journeys lasted two or three years. But that particular - -

Elijah: Right. Didn't he keep the passover in another land somewhere where he kept the feast of unleavened bread also (unintelligible)?

Pastor Doug: Which verse are you referring to?

Elijah: Yeah, I'm not 100% sure. I was hoping you knew that.

Pastor Doug: Uh, I can't recall offhand what you're talking about, but I hope that helps a little bit. We have a free book we'll send you. It sounds like you might have a question on the feasts. There's a book that we'll send you for free. We get a lot of questions about that. It's called "Feast Days & Sabbaths."

It helps a Christian to know how does the New Testament Christian relate to these things. All you've got to do is call that number. We'll send you "Feast Days & Sabbaths."

Pastor Dick: Elijah, that number again, 1-800-835-6747, ask for "Feast Days & Sabbaths." I think it will be an in-depth study for you. I think it'll be really helpful for you to have in your library. So call the number and ask for that book, and the operators are standing by right now.

Thanks for the call Elijah. Let's go next to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, Pastor Doug. Antoinette is listening on the Internet. Welcome Antoinette.

Antoinette: Hi Pastor Doug and Pastor Dick

Pastor Doug: Hi

Antoinette: My question comes from Revelation 11, verses 8 through 12. I pretty much know who the Witnesses are, but I just don't understand these four verses.

Pastor Doug: Alright. After the discourse on the Two Witnesses--well maybe I should ask you who do you think the Two Witnesses are?

Antoinette: The Law and the Prophets?

Pastor Doug: You're right, the Word of God, - -

Antoinette: Uh, the old Word of God - -

Pastor Doug: the New and the Old Testament.

Antoinette: Yes, right

Pastor Doug: Yeah, that's right. When it goes on to say in verse 8, "Their dead bodies shall lie in the street of that great city, which is spiritually called Sodom," that's a very, very important verse. Matter of fact, that's a pivotal verse in Revelation because it tells us that many of the proper names in Revelation have a spiritual meaning, "spiritually called Sodom and Egypt."

Well we know it's not literally Sodom because it has been destroyed.

Antoinette: Right

Pastor Doug: Many people believe that this prophecy here in Revelation 11 verses 8 on through verse 11, is talking about the birth of atheism. The first atheistic country in the world that's recorded was France, during the French Revolution, where they made a law that outlawed the Bible.

They actually burned Bibles in the streets, and I think it was 1793 to 1797; it was 1792 is when it started. And three and a half years later, they actually permitted the Bibles again to be prevented. Let me see, it's from November 1793 to 1797. I'm looking at the notes, that's right; 1797, they removed the restrictions for the word of God, but it was the birth of atheism. I've been to France a couple of times to do evangelistic work because it is a very cynical country.

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: Nothing against my French friends, but this was a prophecy where the Word of God was burnt in the streets; it was forbidden to be read. They actually tried to go to a 10-day week because they knew the only place they could trace a seven-day week to was the Bible.

Antoinette: Hmm

Pastor Doug: And, of course, Napoleon almost became a world ruler, just like the Caesars. So it's a prophecy about what happened. Revelation 11 really deals with a history of the Word of God.

Antoinette: Okay, and what about verse 12?

Pastor Doug: "And I heard a great voice from heaven saying, 'Come up hither,'" because at the end of that three and a half year period--a day in prophecy is a year--

Antoinette: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: After the three and a half year period, the Word of God was exalted. It was right about then the great missionary societies began to spread. They honored the Word. Hey, let me give you an amazing fact. Where are the best watches in the world made? Where do you think Antoinette?

Antoinette: Uh, I guess France? I don't know.

Pastor Doug: No, well actually, Swiss watches. Dick was just pointing to his watch.

Antoinette: Oh, okay

Pastor Doug: You've heard of the Swiss watch, right?

Antoinette: Yeah, yes

Pastor Doug: Best watches in the world are made in Switzerland most people agree, unless you like a Japanese Casio or something; but Rolex and those companies, the watchmakers used to all be in France but they were Christians.

Antoinette: Okay

Pastor Doug: During the French Revolution, the were banished and they fled to Switzerland; and the watchmaking trade moved from France where it was centered to Switzerland. It's just an interesting amazing fact, but it happened during this time.

Antoinette: Oh okay, well thank you very much.

Pastor Doug: Alright, God bless.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Antoinette. To Amanda in Grand Fork, North Dakota, who's listening on 101.3. Welcome Amanda.

Amanda: Hello

Pastor Dick: Good evening, your question please?

Amanda: I was listening last week and a lady had called in about divorce and stuff, and I was just wondering if it's wrong to get divorced if there's any type of, like, abuse going on in the relationship or in the family, or whatever?

Pastor Doug: Well, obviously, if a person is in a marriage where they are being physically abused, God does not expect them to stay in that situation where their lives are in danger, and especially if there are children. They are often at risk as well; and they should remove themselves from those circumstances.

The first thing before a person just says, "You know, I'm being abused. I'm going to go file for divorce," before a person gets to that step, I would hope that they would labor with their spouse, and typically it's women that are abused at the hands of men. Not too many men are beaten by their wives, though it does happen.

But the first step would be to try to get into a counseling environment--that doesn't mean you stay in the same house during that time--until there's progress or conversion in that area. And, if after redemptive measures have been taken, as a last resort, a person might turn to--now are you talking about physical abuse, because there's - -

Amanda: No. Actually I'm talking about sexual abuse to a child.

Pastor Doug: Oh, yeah, that's the same principles.

Amanda: And I--well the person had went in and talked to the Pastor about all this and was really worried about, "Is God going to be upset if I get divorced from this person." Things aren't changing and I've tried, and....

Pastor Doug: Well, if a person is in a situation, especially if the children are being assaulted, they need to be removed from that situation. It is very important for them to try to get into counseling, even if there's no redemptive hope for the marriage. There should still be counseling; Christian counseling I would recommend. And don't forget, separations, people often jump to the word "divorce;" and what they're often thinking is divorce opens the way for remarriage.

Separation is really the first step in something like this, because if a person is automatically thinking, "I want to get out of this relationship and jump into another one," something is wrong with that.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So they want to separate from the situation.

Amanda: Okay

Pastor Doug: That's the first step, okay?

Amanda: The person I was talking about had gotten, you know, like, legally separated or whatever; and then down the road years later, had gotten - -

Pastor Doug: Remarried, or gotten divorced.

Amanda: Yeah, because things weren't changing. There was a lot of people in counseling and, it just--it wasn't working.

Pastor Doug: Well, keep in mind, I just need to be very faithful. There are really only two examples that are given in the Bible as cause for divorce. One is unfaithfulness, marital infidelity, and you know what that means, of course.

Amanda: Well unfortunately, that also happened.

Pastor Doug: Well there you have it. I mean, that is an example of that. And it should be reported too. It's required in most of the country that if children are abused in a relationship like that, it should be reported. There's a lesson that we could send you, you could pass onto your friend, that deals with the subject of marriage and what the biblical criteria are.

If you'd like a copy of that, we'll send that to you Amanda.

Amanda: Okay

Pastor Doug: Then you can pass it on to this party you're referring to if they're willing.

Pastor Dick: Amanda, take the phone number that I've been giving out, 1-800-835-6747, and call and get that information.

Pastor Doug: And it's called, "Keys for a Happy Marriage", is the name of the lesson.

Pastor Dick: Right, "Keys for a Happy Marriage"; 1-800-835-6747, okay?

Amanda: Yes, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Okay, thanks for the call Amanda. We have about four minutes, Pastor Doug. Let's see if we can get one more call in. We'll go to Huntsville, Alabama and talk with Zach who's listening on WOCG. Zack, welcome.

Zack: Hi

Pastor Dick: Hi, your question please?

Zack: Yeah, my question is, if people say we don't know how Jesus looks like, then what was John referring to in Revelation?

Pastor Doug: Good point. Actually, we do know something about what Jesus looks like in glory. This is, of course, in Revelation, and also in Daniel chapter 7, I believe it is. Christ is described in a glorified state; and here it tells us that He wore this glowing garment, His hair was white like wool, His eyes like flames of fire, His feet like fine brass. So we do know something of what the Lord's appearance is, in His glorified state.

But when He walked on earth among men, certainly He didn't have glowing hair and glowing robes and fiery eyes. You would agree with that, right?

Zack: Yeah

Pastor Doug: So, on earth, we don't know exactly what He looked like. Matter of fact, it seems that Jesus could pass through a crowd undetected - -

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: - - because He looked like a common, working man.

Zack: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: That's why the religious leaders had to get Judas to point Him out. He looked like just the other 12 apostles. Until He started talking and until He started working miracles, everyone had to say, "Which one is he?"

Zack: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So, hopefully that helps a little bit.

Pastor Dick: Zack, we appreciate the call. Let's try to get one more, Pastor Doug. We'll talk with Teddy in Alexandria, Virginia listening by the Internet. Teddy, welcome to the program.

Teddy: Thank you

Pastor Dick: Your question please?

Teddy: My question is for a police officer or a deputy sheriff, because of the kind of work that they do, is it okay for them to work on the Sabbath?

Pastor Doug: Well, it is a necessary office. If all of the peace officers should just vacate the streets, then it would look like the wild west every Saturday. But you would want to, first of all, let others work that day and see if you could reschedule, because if your Sabbath is not respected, your time to worship God with your family and fellow believers, your faith is weakened.

Secondarily, you don't want the work that you do on the Sabbath day to be remunerative work. When my wife was in the medical field and she served people on the Sabbath, she would just donate that money to the Lord and wouldn't pocket it, because you don't want to start getting paid to work on Sabbath. Jesus did miracles and healed people on Sabbath and fed people, but it was all ministry.

So the best thing is to try to avoid scheduling that and there are probably emergencies, but you want them to be the exception and not the rule. Hope that helps a little bit. I'm sorry Teddy, we're getting ready to take a break here. For our friends, that background music chasing me right now is not chasing us off the program but we're leading in to some important announcements.

I want to remind you if you're tuning in, make sure and check out the Amazing Facts' website, simply AmazingFacts.org. There are a lot of resources. You can listen to programs. You can find out about our TV programs, evangelistic programs, training programs, the publishing and you'll be blessed by that. AmazingFacts.org. We'll be right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: That's me. If you have a Bible question, pick up your phone. There's still a line or two open; and that number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: And my name is Dick Devitt, and we want to go right to the phones Pastor Doug. We'll talk with Chris who's in Lincoln, Nebraska listening on the Internet. Welcome to the program Chris.

Chris: Hey, what's up guys?

Pastor Doug: Good, thanks for waiting.

Chris: Yup. My question has to do with 1st Corinthians 13:12.

Pastor Doug: Okay

Chris: And I'm just wondering, it's kind of a different question, is it possible for us as humans to be able to look out into the universe and can we see a part of creation that's not under the curse of sin?

Pastor Doug: Well definitely we will, eventually. By the way, for our friends who are listening, Chris is referring to where Paul says in 1st Corinthians 13:12, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then I shall know even as I am known."

Keep in mind, in Paul's day, glass was still very primitive. A lot of the best glass, even the clearest glass, was still obscure. They didn't have windows that were clear. Now you can walk into glass because you don't even see it. Back then, you could not only see it, but it obscured things, and it looked a little more like some of the beer bottles or it was colored.

So we can see something of God and angels working in our world, but it's obscured by sin. Someday, we definitely will. It's like that song, Rock of Ages. It's not in the Bible but it says, "We'll soar to worlds unknown."

Pastor Dick: Amen

Pastor Doug: And that's why I do believe that we will not be quarantined to this planet, but we'll probably have a passport that lets us go anywhere in the galaxy because God is going to move the headquarters to our planet. He'll live and reign with us.

Chris: Okay. So, do you think that it's possible, like, right now, to look out and see some of these cool nebulas and stuff? Or do you think it's like, part of us, like, us as being humans we can't see and understand, like, you know?

Pastor Doug: Well, I do think that when we look at some of the Hubble photographs, for instance, of these nebulas that are countless light years away, they're very real; but there's a whole spiritual dimension that our eyes cannot see that is there. As you and I are talking right now, if your eyes were to have the scales peeled away, you'd see angels around.

They are there. We can't see them. There's whole spiritual realm that Adam and Eve lost when we sinned, and that will be restored. So our vision as we look off into space will probably be different; probably will see angels streaming to and fro from the headquarters of God.

Chris: Got ya'. Thanks a lot guys.

Pastor Doug: Alright, thanks for the question.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Chris. Let's go next, Pastor Doug, to Fort Lee, New Jersey. Yung is listening on WMCA. Welcome to the program Yung.

Yung: Oh, thank you.

Pastor Dick: You're welcome. Your question please?

Yung: I read that the English 1611 King James Version spelled the Messiah's name as with an "i", uh, "Iesus." And then in the 1629 King James Version, they spelled the name of the Messiah as "Jesus," but neither were pronounced as "Jesus." Instead, I think they were pronounced as "Yesu" or something. Also, I'm not sure if there are any other languages besides English that pronounce the Messiah's name as "Jesus." I'm Korean, and I know Koreans say "Yesu" or "Yohan" instead of "John;" although English-speaking people introduced (unintelligible). So, like you say about vegetarianism, we won't be eating meat in heaven, so why not start now? Why don't we start using the correct name now?

Pastor Doug: Well, let me ask you, are you sure how to pronounce His name now?

Yung: I'm not 100% sure but I'm 100% sure that "Jesus" is incorrect.

Pastor Doug: Well I am sure that you're right, that when the angel talked to Mary and said, "You will call his name Yeshua," that he didn't say "Jesus." But we're not even sure that he

said "Yeshua" the way we pronounce it. Language is a very dynamic thing, Yung, in that it is constantly evolving.

Not only was Jesus' name said differently in 1611, I'd agree with that; if you go back 500 years before that, you wouldn't even recognize the people living in England. You couldn't understand anything they said. Languages have changed so much since the Tower of Babel that even the language of the Jews was influenced by Babel.

When we get to heaven, we're not exactly sure what tongue they're going to speak. And, of course, the name for "Jesus," because the pronunciation of some of the consonants and vowels has changed over the millennia, we're not even sure now. So I think it's something of a distraction to think that the Lord is going to hinder our prayers if we're not enunciating His name with Jewish pronunciation.

We don't speak Jewish. God speaks to everybody in their own tongue and He doesn't expect us to abandon our native pronunciation when we talk to Him. That's why the gift of tongues was given, to enable people to communicate the different dialects in their own tongue.

Yung: There is no other meaning or special word in English that means the Messiah's name, like "Yeshua." There is no different word before we learned of the name that it's "Jesus." And also in 1611, King James Version, there's a whole bunch of English words that we could understand that we still use today, so it's not confusing or anything.

Pastor Doug: Well, let me give you something to think about, and I run into this frequently, people who are concerned; and I'm not questioning their sincerity, but they've got a burden. It's almost a distraction to worry so much about if we're pronouncing the Lord's name right, as though pronouncing His name right is some special abracadabra that's going to open up; like if we pray and we don't say His name right, He says, "I can't answer your prayer because you're enunciation isn't clear."

Some people have speech defects. Is He not going to answer their prayers? So, the whole idea is, are we addressing Him in the language we understand? There are so many areas that Christians, right now, are out of God's will; we're not obeying; we're not loving our brothers; we're not being holy and pure. The last thing I think God is worried about is are we pronouncing His name correctly.

God actually goes by about 20 names in Revelation. There's an article that I've written. I encourage you to read it Yung. It goes into the tetra gammatron and some of the history of God's name. It's on the Amazing Facts' website; it's free. It's under the Inside Report articles, and the name of it is called "The Name of God."

So I'd encourage you to go to the website and read that; and anyone else who has questions on this. I think it's sad that we're getting so distracted with how to pronounce His name.

Pastor Dick: It's more about our attitude, isn't it, than it is just the word itself, but how do we approach God when we talk to Him?

Pastor Doug: Yeah. Is it with reverence?

Pastor Dick: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Is it with knowing who He is?

Pastor Dick: Honor and respect Him.

Pastor Doug: God is not going to say to those that don't, maybe, pronounce His name in the original Hebrew or Aramaic that, "I don't know you because you didn't say My name right."

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: He'll say, "I don't know you because you did not obey Me."

Pastor Dick: Right, right.

Pastor Doug: And that's the bigger issue.

Pastor Dick: Right. Yung, thanks for the call. The Amazing Facts' website is just simply AmazingFacts.org, or AmazingFacts.com, and under the Inside Report tab you will find that article that Pastor Doug is speaking of. Hope you'll check that out. We'd like to hear from you again. Appreciate the call. Let's go next, Pastor Doug, to talk with Michael who is listening on the Internet. Michael is in Modoc, California. Welcome Michael.

Michael: Hello?

Pastor Dick: Hi, your question please?

Michael: Why did Pilate talk to the crowd about what he should do with Jesus?

Pastor Doug: Well, good question Michael. Pilate, the Roman governor of Jerusalem, was concerned that the crowd was going to turn into a mob and cause a riot.

Michael: Oh

Pastor Doug: So he thought he could calm them down by saying, "I tell you what, I'll just let Him go," and he didn't realize that the religious leaders were pushing to get Barabbas set free and Jesus crucified. So he thought if he would just bring out Barabbas and Jesus they'd all say, "Oh yeah, Barabbas is much worse than Jesus. Let's have Jesus go free." And it backfired. He didn't know they would ask for Barabbas.

Michael: Oh

Pastor Doug: So he was trying to quiet the crowd down. He was afraid of a riot.

Michael: Okay

Pastor Doug: See, if he's the Roman governor, if there was a riot among the Jews, he got in trouble with the Caesar, the Emperor of Rome back in Rome.

Michael: Oh

Pastor Doug: So he was afraid he was going to lose his job. He ended up losing his job anyway a couple of years later; and Pilate killed himself.

Michael: Ooh

Pastor Doug: Yeah, that's the rest of the story. Hey, good question. I appreciate it.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Michael, bye. Let's go next to Ukiah, California. Brian is listening on KNDL. Brian, welcome to the program.

Brian: Hello Dick and Doug. How are you doing this evening?

Pastor Dick: Good!

Pastor Doug: I know where Ukiah is.

Brian: Yeah, it's just up from Sacramento, Amazing Facts; and I love your program.

Pastor Doug: I will be driving through the northern edge of Ukiah tonight.

Brian: Oh okay

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: You didn't really need to know that. It's not that important, but we're heading up to our place in Covelo, so we're going through there. But anyway, your question?

Brian: I think I vaguely have heard it before, but Revelation, the Two Witnesses in chapter 11?

Pastor Doug: Yes

Brian: I've heard it said that they're literal people, and other times it's just symbolic of the Old and New testaments. But where it talks about the bodies being torn apart and the gift being given, is it symbolic, or is it, uh - -

Pastor Doug: Well, I definitely think that it is symbolic because some people believe those two witnesses are Moses and Elijah. Think about how ludicrous it would be if Moses and Elijah, who have both been in heaven for over 2,000 years--in one case, 2,500 years, the other case 3,500 years--for them, here they're in heaven. They've got their glorified bodies, to come back down to earth, take on a human body, and be killed, how does that work?

And then to have their corpses be dishonored like that, after God has already glorified them, and then to bring them up. Rather, it represents Moses' and Elijah's position as the Law and the Prophets. You remember the two individuals that appeared to Jesus in Mark 9 on the Mount of Transfiguration are Moses and Elijah.

They represent the Word of God, the New and the Old Testaments, the Law and the Prophets, whatever you want to call it. So in Revelation, the Two Witnesses are the Word.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: Does it make sense? Matter of fact, I've got a book. It's a new book that we've got that deals with the subject of the Two Witnesses. It's called "The Glorious Mount." Would you like a free copy of that?

Brian: I would love a free copy.

Pastor Doug: Ask for a book on the Mount of Transfiguration, "The Glorious Mount." We talk about the Two Witnesses in there.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: Just call that number Pastor Dick has been sharing through the night.

Brian: Does that also cover, like, the trumpets? I've been looking for something [cross talk]

Pastor Doug: No, this book doesn't talk about the trumpets. It talks about Moses and Elijah, the Mount of Transfiguration, and the Two Witnesses a little bit. But we don't have a book on the seven trumpets.

Brian: Oh okay

Pastor Doug: At the Amazing Facts' website, we do actually have a book called "Daniel and the Revelation." It's a bigger book. It's not something we can give away, but it's a book called "Daniel and the Revelation." It has a whole study on the seven trumpets and we'll send you that, but there's a little cost. You'll have to go to the website and order it.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: Alright?

Brian: Thank you Pastor Doug. I'll pray for safe travels for you.

Pastor Doug: Thank you very much.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Brian. We appreciate it. Let's go next, Pastor Doug, to Abel in Fresno, California listening on KARM. Welcome Abel.

Abel: Thanks a lot. I have a question for you on back tithe; and just to give you a perspective on that, I'm reading Christ's Object Lessons on the chapter about prayer. It talks about how, you know, we're suppose to pay tithe; and how, sometimes when we don't pay tithe, how sometimes that may be the reason why God does not answer our prayers. And I have a question about back tithe. You know, I'm paying tithes now, and I have done it for several years; but what about the monies that I did not pay, you know, back ten years ago, 15 years ago?

Pastor Doug: Well--go ahead and finish.

Abel: Well, with that, would the Lord forgive that, or does He want us to pay all of that?

Pastor Doug: Well it depends. If a person is a Christian, - -

Brian: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - and then they, kind of, backslide, or they become irresponsible in regards to their stewardship, they know better; and they may want to add a little something to help compensate for the years of their unfaithfulness when they did know better.

Brian: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: For a person who comes to the Lord cold turkey and they know nothing, you know, suppose a man is 70 years old and he's converted and becomes a Christian. Is the Lord going to say, "Now you've got to pay tithe on your first 70 years"? Well, that would be unreasonable. Of course, they just come the way they are and start where they are. So it varies based on what the person knows.

Brian: Yes

Pastor Doug: Do you understand then?

Brian: Yeah. Now, I knew because I've been raised in the church, but I was very careless as a kid going through college and stuff.

Pastor Doug: Well you know, you might just give the Lord a little extra thank you offering periodically. It might be hard to calculate exactly what that would be, but, first of all, God does know your heart. We're not saved by tithing.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: But it is also true that when we're unfaithful and we know what God wants us to do; keep in mind, when Jonah ran from the Lord, even after the fish burped him back out on the shore, God said, "Now get up and do what I told you to do the first time."

Brian: Yes

Pastor Doug: "I'm not going to change My will because you ran away." So he had to go back and finish up what he had started.

Brian: Right. Now, do you think that the Lord would hold back from answering my prayers until I have totally, you know, paid off everything?

Pastor Doug: No, no; and I'm glad you're asking that because I wanted to address it. I don't want anyone listening to think that we believe that God says if you don't send enough money He's not going to answer your prayers. It has nothing to do with that.

It has to do with surrender, trust, obedience and if there's any area of our life, and that would include tithing, where we're being unfaithful and God has impressed us with what His will is, well it hinders our prayers.

Brian: Yes

Pastor Doug: It might mean that it could be the reverse of tithe. It could be if a person is stealing a little bit from their employer every week. Well, I mean, maybe they're paying their tithe but they're being unfaithful, and so that would hinder their prayers. If you are surrendered to the Lord, He will start answering your prayers.

I would say the first time you take a step to start doing what the Lord wants you to do, you're going to feel peace, and it doesn't mean that God is going to say, "Alright, once you pay this all up, I'll start answering your prayers." That's not how He operates.

Brian: Okay, okay that helps. Have you guys written anything on tithing and stuff that - -

Pastor Doug: Tonight's offer, tonight's offer talks about stewardship and the blessings of trusting God. We'll send it to you.

Brian: Okay

Pastor Doug: Pastor Dick will give you the name of the lesson and the phone number.

Brian: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Yeah Abel, it's called "In God We Trust?" It's part of the Amazing Facts' study guides. So if you'll call the resource operator and ask for "In God We Trust?", they'll send it to you.

Brian: Alright

Pastor Dick: Okay?

Brian: Alright, thank you very much.

Pastor Dick: You bet. Thanks for the call. That number, also, is 1-800-835-6747, for anyone who would like that lesson, "In God We Trust?", 1-800-835-6747. Pastor Doug, we want to go to Castle Rock, Washington next. Annette is listening on 3ABN. Hi Annette.

Annette: Hello

Pastor Dick: Welcome

Pastor Doug: How can we help you tonight?

Annette: Yeah, I have a question about Daniel 12, verses 12 and 13.

Pastor Doug: Ohhh, I knew where you were going.

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Annette: Oh. Well we do a prison ministry and one of the inmates asked us. So I understand, I think, the 70-week prophecy, the 2300-day prophecy, the 1260 years, but I don't know about the 1290 years and the 1335.

Pastor Doug: Alright. First of all, there are a couple of ways to understand this. There's the historic interpretation, which I believe. There may still be, and I say this very cautiously, but there may still be a future, or, in other words, a dual interpretation to this prophecy - -

Annette: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - in Daniel chapter 12. But it is talking about the going back an additional 45 years from, I should say, 30 years, from 538 to 508 A.D. during the time of Clovis, King of the Franks, when the holy Roman empire was established, so to speak.

Annette: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And so it's doing another measurement from that starting point to the end of the days, being the end of the 2300 days.

Annette: 1798?

Pastor Doug: Yes, 1798, the end of 1844--or the end of 1798, I'm sorry. There's about three time prophecies mentioned in this group.

Annette: I know.

Pastor Doug: In that same book I just offered a minute ago on Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith, he has a chapter that deals with this.

Annette: And it talks about the 13--I think we have that.

Pastor Doug: Yup, yeah.

Annette: It talks about the 1335?

Pastor Doug: It does, yeah. The 1335, 508 is what that reaches back to, and 538. Okay?

Annette: Okay, thank you very much.

Pastor Doug: Alright, hey, thank you.

Annette: Okay, bye bye.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Annette. Let's go next, Pastor Doug, to San Diego and talk with Phil who's on KPRZ. Welcome Phil.

Phil: How's it going guys?

Pastor Dick: Good

Phil: I watch Doug every week on TV.

Pastor Doug: Oh bless your heart. You have my sympathies.

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Phil: [Chuckles] Anyway, my question was in the last half hour you mentioned that we don't know how Jesus looked. Now, you know, I'm just a Bible-believing Christian. I don't, you know, collect relics or believe in relics, but I studied the shroud of Turin. I found myself convinced that it, quite possibly, could be the actual burial garment of Christ with His image on it. I was wondering if Doug ever looked into that?

Pastor Doug: Doug did. I'm of the opinion that it is probably a burial cloth that is real, and it appears that it is real blood and some kind of real impression of one of the crusaders. It was not uncommon for some of the Islamic believers to crucify the crusaders to, sort of, mock the way that Jesus died.

They carbon dated that cloth a couple of times and it actually dates back to the time of the crusades. One of the problems biblically you have with that being the actual burial cloth of Christ, you read in the Bible where it says there was a cloth in the Gospel of John wrapped about His head; and the impression of Christ's face would not have come through the way it did on that cloth, if the man, or whoever that victim was, had a cloth wrapped around his head.

I think that's in John chapter 20 you'll find that; but I'm not going to die on that mountain. What I mean by that is, I don't have a strong burden to convince people to or not to believe in the shroud of Turin because I wouldn't know what difference it would make.

Phil: Right, I understand. Hey Doug, I'm going to let you go, but uh, you mentioned about the facial cloth that the Gospel of John mentions.

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Phil: Some have suggested in the literature I read that it could have been a chin band that went around the top of the head and under the chin to keep the mouth closed during rigor mortis, which would have allowed the face to be exposed to the shroud, and so forth. So, anyway, that's just one viewpoint.

Pastor Doug: Okay, well you've considered that; and you know, you might be right. Like I said, I did a casual study on it because when the information first came out, I thought it was intriguing. I was wondering if the resurrection had somehow mingled with the chemicals they used to embalm Him had produced a photographic imprint on the cloth.

It is an interesting study because it does appear that the cloth actually came from the Middle East, but it only dates back to about 1300 A.D., if the carbon dating can be trusted.

Phil: Thank you

Pastor Doug: Okay? Alright, thank you very much.

Pastor Dick: Phil, good question though. Thanks for the call. Let's go next to Yakima, Washington, Pastor Doug. Tony is listening on KSOH. Welcome Tony.

Tony: Hi there

Pastor Doug: Thanks for calling, your question?

Tony: 1st John chapter 3 and verse 9, I was wondering if you could, sort of, explain what that says?

Pastor Doug: Alright. Let me read this for our friends. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." This is also similar to the verse that says, "Whosoever abides in him sinneth not" in the same book.

The word that's used here for sin, it doesn't mean that they are sinless. Sin is, sort of, a verb. That means they do not practice a life of sin. It doesn't mean that they are, you know, sterile, stainless steel, sanctified robots. If anyone is practicing a life of sin, then Christ's seed doesn't abide in him.

See, for a Christian, it's not the occasional good deed or the occasional misdeed that determines whose side we're on. It's the habitual words and acts. Paul refers to it this way, Tony, "Sin shall not have dominion over you." Now, when a new king establishes his power, there might be a criminal here and there in the country, but the criminals don't have dominion.

The law-abiding people are protected by the government. There's a new king on the throne and that's where the dominion is. That's where the power is. For the Christian, when Christ is on the throne, sin doesn't reign. That's why he goes on to say, "Do not let sin reign in your mortal flesh." It doesn't have control. It doesn't rule.

So if someone is addicted to any bad behavior or pattern, they're not abiding in Christ.

Tony: Alright. Well I appreciate that, thank you very much.

Pastor Doug: Alright, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Tony, you're welcome. Thanks for the call. Pastor Doug, to Colton, California; Andre is listening on 590 AM. Welcome Andre.

Andre: Thank you

Pastor Dick: Yes sir

Andre: I just had a question, like, I know there's supposed to be a final battle between God and Satan. And I'm no advocate for Satan, it's just that I just wonder why doesn't Satan repent, if he knows that God will forgive all?

Pastor Doug: You know, that is really a good question because we've all thought if Satan reads the Bible, and he knows all the other prophecies have come true, and he can read his own doom is spelled out very specifically, why doesn't he say, "Hey, you know, I'm fighting a losing battle. I ought to repent and see if God will negotiate."

I believe the devil has committed the unpardonable sin and he knows that; and that he has grieved away the Holy Spirit. And he does not have the capacity to repent. He is so proud, he would rather go down and take as many with him as he can and try to blame God than repent.

Andre: So is that, like, an opinion of yours or is that based on Scripture?

Pastor Doug: Well I think it's based on Scripture that the Bible is clear that the devil is doomed. There are a number of prophecies that say, for instance, in Ezekiel, "I'll bring forth a fire from the midst of thee and it will devour thee. I'll bring you to ashes on the earth in the sight of them that behold thee. Thou shalt be a terror, and never shalt thou be anymore."

There are many Scriptures that talk about Satan's fate.

Andre: So it's not possible if (unintelligible), so it's not possible in any way for Satan to win. I'm just letting you know, it's just that I've been a Christian for, like, most of my life and as I get older--I'm 25 now--there's, like, some fundamental things that makes it not tangible to grasp. And I just wonder, like, why do we go through all this, like, if, does he have a chance of winning? If not, like, I don't understand why would he repent because for as I understand, he fears hell more than man; and he knows the Bible better than most preachers.

Pastor Doug: If you go in your Bible to Revelation chapter 20, it's talking about when Satan is bound. We're talking about the end of the world, okay? Verse 7, "When the thousand years are expired," the millennium, "Satan is loosed from his prison." Now, he's had a thousand years to think about repenting. Satan is loosed from his prison, "and he shall go out to deceive" - -

Andre: He's not loose. So right now he's not loose?

Pastor Doug: No, he is loose. See at the beginning of Revelation 20 when the one thousand years begins? "I saw an angel come down," he takes the dragon and he binds him. So he's bound at the beginning of the one thousand years, okay?

Andre: Yeah okay, I see, I'm sorry.

Pastor Doug: He's bound for a thousand years. At the end of the thousand years, he is loosed. The first things he does is he goes out to deceive the nations again. And so Satan just can't stop being Satan. He has grieved away the Holy Spirit. There are no redeemable qualities in his nature.

He is so driven by pride and selfishness, he will not admit he's wrong; and even after God gives him a thousand years to think about it, he's demonstrating Satan just won't give in. He won't change. God has no choice but to cast him in the lake of fire, which is what it says in the rest of chapter 20.

Revelation chapter 20 friends, we ran out of time for that whole question, but you read it. It is one of the clearer chapters in Revelation. We are very thankful that you have joined us for this program. Keep us in prayer. This is a faith ministry. We'd love to hear from you. If you don't want to write, save a stamp and email us.

You can contact us at AmazingFacts.org; and if you would like to help us stay on, you can email an offering and keep us on the air. God bless until next week.

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