Hello, friends! This is Doug Bachelor. How about an amazing fact? On March 18, 1937, a spark ignited a thick cloud of natural gas that had silently accumulated in the basement of the London Texas School. The gigantic blast shook the whole town and killed 293 people – most of them, children. The explosion happened because natural gas is odorless so no one smelled the deadly leak gathering in the building until it was too late.
Following the London School disaster, the US government required fuel companies to add that familiar pungent odor to natural gas thats a bit like rotten eggs. It helps them in identifying leaks. A lot of people have been saved because they smelled something wrong. Likewise, a lot of people had been deceived because they didn’t. Stay with us, friends. We’re gonna learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live.”
Pastor Doug: We’re very thankful that you’ve tuned in tonight to Bible Answers Live. And if this is your first time, this is a live interactive Bible study. You get to call in with any Bible-related questions. We don’t have all the answers but we’ll do our best. We have a number of Bible versions here at our fingertips, on our computers and the few things that we studied and remembered. If you like to call in with your Bible question, lines are open now. Good time to make the call now. It’s a free phone call – 800-GOD-SAYS 800-463-7297. We’ll bring you into the studio with your Bible question. We’ve got 50% of our lines open so, one more time – 800-463-7297 with your Bible questions. And Pastor Jean Ross is still on vacation tonight but we have a special guest in the studio. I’m Doug Bachelor and, across from me, we have someone with the same last name, Steven Bachelor, my son who has done the program with us a few times before. I think you first did it with us when you were like…
Steven Bachelor: 14…
Pastor Doug: 14 on a Father’s Day.
Steven Bachelor: Father’s Day.
Pastor Doug: He’s back, covering for Pastor Ross. And so we’re gonna begin the program tonight with a word of prayer and a couple of other things we’ll share, then we will go to your Bible questions. Loving Lord, we thank You for Your blessings. And we just pray that Your Spirit will take charge of the program tonight. We pray that You will guide and direct or guardian the questions that will come in. And especially, we pray that the answers that are given will be the word of truth that lives will be touched and transformed. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Steven Bachelor: Amen.
Pastor Doug: By the way friends, we are streaming tonight’s program. And if you like to find out what’s happening here in the studio, what it looks like… It might destroy your perceptions if you’ve been picturing us sitting in the studio with suits and ties on. Radio is really nice ‘cause it’s kind of comfy and nobody knows now, you’re gonna know. If you wanna see the streaming, it’s live.amazingfacts.org. One more time for those who would like to stream tonight’s program - live.amazingfacts.org. Have a pencil ready. Through the program, we’ll be giving out some free offers. You know, I came back and I told you about the amazing fact, and about the – I don’t know why they started adding that odorant to natural gas. It was this terrible disaster. And you know, I looked up the word ‘smell’ in the Bible - I’ve never done that before. And I found the story, I should have remembered, where Jacob tried to trick his father because he wanted to get the blessing that belonged to the first-born, Esau. So he put on his brother’s clothes, and he was able to trick his father by smelling like his brother, who is the hunter out in the fields.
Genesis 27:27 – it says, “So he went to him and kissed him. When Isaac caught the smell of his clothing, he blessed him and said, "Ah, the smell of my son is like the smell of a field which the Lord has blessed.” So, the father was tricked by the virtue of fragrance. You know, sometimes, there is something wrong with something someone will say. Or maybe, you go to a church. Folks have often wondered why there are so many churches. Why don’t they agree and if there is one Bible, then let there be one truth, there’s one Jesus, and there’s really one plan of salvation. Maybe you’ve been wondering, “How does a person go about finding a biblical church that follows the Bible truth?” We have a free offer tonight. We’ll send anyone who’ll just ask and it’s called the “The Search for the True Church.” Using Bible principles and prophecies, how do you go about finding a Biblical Church, “The Search for the True Church?” And Steven’s gonna give you that phone number.
Steven Bachelor: If you would like this book free of charge, we’ll send it to you. The number is 1-800-835-6747. Once again, that’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Okay, Steven, who is first on the phones tonight?
Steven Bachelor: First, we have Demarkey from Dallas, Georgia. Demarkey, you’re on the air.
Pastor Doug: Hi, Demarkey. Are you there?
Demarkey: Yes, Sir.
Pastor Doug: Evening, and your question tonight?
Demarkey: My question is, “Why does Bible stop talking about Adam and Eve after the Book of Genesis?”
Pastor Doug: Well, I don’t know that it mentions them by name very often after that. I think Jesus, in the New Testament, He says in the beginning He made them male and female, talks about husband or wife. But, are you wondering… you know – it mentions them of course, in Genesis 1 and 2, 3. And then, it mentions them in Genesis 5, it says Adam and Eve had sons and daughters in Genesis, or in Matthew in genealogy of Jesus. I take that back, in Luke in the genealogy of Jesus. Luke 3, it talks about Enos, who was the son of Seth, who was the son of Adam, who was the son of God. Adam is mentioned by name in the New Testament. So I’m not sure what’s stimulating your question. You’re just curious why it does not mention about Adam and Eve later in the Bible?
Demarkey: Yes. That was what I was going to say.
Pastor Doug: Well, you know I think it’s understood that such a powerful truth in the beginning – that no one really questioned it it didn’t really need to be repeated. Everyone recognized that all the nations were populated by our first parents. And it does mention it again in the New Testament but it’s just to let you know that that’s how things started and it goes on and goes forward from there. Hey, I appreciate your question. You know if you like, Demarkey, we would be happy to sign you up for the Amazing Facts Bible Study course and it would be free. And it’s that same phone number that Steven gave a moment ago. I’ll have him give it to you again. If you’re interested in the Amazing Facts Bible Study course, just call…
Steven Bachelor: Yup, Demarkey. If you’re interested, that number is 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: All right. Thanks for your question. And who’s next?
Steven Bachelor: Okay! Next, we have Loretta from Tennessee. Loretta, you’re on the air.
Loretta: Yes, good evening, gentlemen!
Steven Bachelor: Good evening!
Loretta: I’ve got a question. My question is actually coming from James. But before I ask that, I wanna ask something just quick about 1 Chronicles 8. It talks about the genealogy of Saul and Jonathan, it doesn’t mention Mephibosheth.
Pastor Doug: As one of the sons of Jonathan?
Loretta: Yes.
Pastor Doug: You know, I’m going from memory now but I seem to remember that he had two names, which was not uncommon. He may be listed in the genealogy by his official name.
Loretta: Oh, okay.
Pastor Doug: I’m sitting across from my son tonight, and we all call him, Steven. He’s got another name that’s on his birth certificate. I won’t announce it unless he wants to. It’s my dad’s name. No one calls him that but it’s his official name. When baby boys were born, they would register them in the temple with their official name. You’d find them doing that with Jesus when He was 8 days old. But then, it wasn’t always necessary what they call them.
Loretta: Okay. My question is actually from James. And I’m exactly sure but I think it may be James 5. I don’t believe in auricular confession.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Loretta: And the verse that says confession of faults from one to another…
Pastor Doug: Verse 16
Loretta: I’ve heard people, and I guess it’s almost misquoting confession from one to another. I am sure there’s a difference.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely! It’s not telling us that in order to be forgiven, you need to confess your sins to a man or to a priest because, of course, it’s only God than can forgive our sin. When David sinned, he said, “Lord against Thee only have I sinned.” But I think we need to pray for each other, so the things that you would want to ask another to pray for is what you would confess. You know if you have a close friend, it’s good to have accountability with your friends. “You know I’m struggling with this or that, and I’ve got this personality flaw. Will you pray for me?” And those are the kinds of thing that you would confess to a friend. You know nowhere in the Bible do we find examples of people spilling their guts with their personal sins to one another. There’s no example of that. When a man went to the temple and he said, “Lord, has mercy on me, a sinner.” Well, you know he is confessing sin to God. I think that’s what it is really talking about. And obviously, if I offend a brother, I ought to apologize and confess my fault to them and ask for their forgiveness and say, “Sorry if I offended you in this way or that way.” So those you had faults that you would confess to a brother also.
Loretta: Oh, okay. So it actually is misquoted because other people say that instead of the fault. And I’m thinking that’s not what it says. It doesn’t say confess your sins, just confess your fault.
Pastor Doug: I think it’s good for us to confess your general and public sins publicly. In other words, if we have done something that we are part congregation and we publicly embarrassed everybody and people know, it might be appropriate to publicly apologize. But private sins should be privately confessed. I don’t think the Lord wants us all to be rehearsing our all our sorry thoughts and behaviors for everybody. It’s good to have some close friends that you can be accountable to and pray with. But still, there are some things that should just really stay between you and the Lord. I appreciate that very much – your call – Loretta. Let’s go to the next call.
Steven Bachelor: Alright! Next, we have Ken from Whitewater, Wisconsin. Ken, you’re on the air.
Ken: Hello!
Steven Bachelor: Hello, Sir!
Ken: Homosexuality has been the news lately with the press. I think it’s in Matthew that it says, “By their fruits, you shall know them.” Someone says that in a homosexual marriage, there is a couple and they adopted a kid and they love the child – and there’s the fruit. How can you answer that with the Ten Commandments? Is it possible?
Pastor Doug: Is it like how would you respond biblically to a homosexual couple that wants to adopt a child?
Ken: There are– how do I say it – some discussions that this was used as an example of “by their fruits.” Someone loved each other, and they loved the child. What’s wrong with this? And that homosexual marriage should be allowed.
Pastor Doug: You know what concerns me and, of course I want to give a Bible answer. And the Bible uses, it doesn’t make you very popular because it is being promoted so much in our culture, in our media as something normal, but in the Bible God says that it is a grotesque perversion of his plan. The Bible tells us and uses the strongest terms possible, Leviticus talks about, “A man shall not lie with a man, as with a woman. Those that do such it is an abomination.” And the same chapter talks about men and animals. You know, not only is it homosexuality, it talks about bestiality. And it just lumps it all together – it says “unnatural.” I’m not trying to be unkind or insensitive to people struggling with all kinds of tendencies but the Bible really says what is God’s will and how are we gonna surrender to His will. This is not God’s will for a healthy family. There are distinct differences – both physically and mentally in the makeup men and women. And it’s a combination of a father and mother that’s healthiest in the environment. Of course, other candidates said that almost verbatim that he thinks it is the idea of a family. So, it is a big rift in our culture. I am very disturbed by it because, prophetically, Jesus said before He comes back as it was in the days of Lot. He’s talking about one side of the Gomorrah was destroyed. So it be when the Son of Man comes back. We are at that point now. You know, we have a book that we can send you for free, Ken, if you like a free copy. And it’s called “Return to Sodom.” It talks about some of these issues, and what the Bible says on this subject. It is very clear. It’s not very culturally popular but it’s clear biblically. If you like, we’ll send you. It’s called “Return to Sodom,” and Steven will give you the number.
Steven Bachelor: Ken, if you’d like a free copy, the number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747. I hope that helps.
Pastor Doug: Alright, I appreciate that. Your next call, who’s up?
Steven Bachelor: Alright! Next we have David from California. David, you are on the air.
David: Pastor, how are you?
Pastor Doug: Doing well, and your question?
David: I have a problem with Matthew 13:44. It doesn’t seem like it’s a treasure that Jesus gave and it doesn’t seem to me like it’s quite logical because if I had that treasure, is to get them instead of covering it up. It’s like using your own knowledge for your own gain. Is that? Please help me out.
Pastor Doug: Well I think, first of all, Christ is not… I don’t think He is talking about endorsing the idea that a renter would find a hidden treasure in a field, and then he’s got knowledge about the value of that property and he buys it without divulging it. How is Jesus even making that point? I think the point He is making is, when you find something of great value, you sell everything to acquire it because the next example is a merchant that found goodly pearls. He evidently found pearls that are worth more than the owner may know, so he does everything to buy it. I seem say that this scenario is, they did not have banks back then, and a lot of people would pace off a place in their field, and they would dig and bury – in a box or something – their treasure. Matter of fact, they’ve found one of the biggest treasures they have found in England. The man went out with a metal detector, and he found just a big old bush of gold and jewels and treasure – quite literally, treasure – that someone had buried during the Roman era in England and lost. They died and never told anyone just buried in the field.
David: I think if you have knowledge about something, you’d give the person it belonged to. You’d tell them about it.
Pastor Doug: Yeah. Well, you know, that’s…
David: Am I being too honest? I don’t know. I think there is an honesty thing here.
Pastor Doug: You know I think that in the business realm, I think that…
David: I’m struggling. Help me out.
Pastor Doug: You know it’s an important ethics questionnaire. In the business realm, if you are astute enough to recognize the value that the owner may not realize and you give them what they’re asking, then that’s reasonable. But you’re right. If they found a treasure that they didn’t know was there, and you don’t tell them, they might be a little upset if you say, “I found a treasure in your property and I bought your property so I get the treasure.” You know that’s one of the ethical questions that people would probably grapple for a while. I’d be upset if my friend did it to me. Anyway, I appreciate your question, James. I’m sorry, David. That opens up another line if someone wants to call the Bible Question, we’re given you 2 numbers. If you want to get the free offer, Steven will give you that number.
Steven Bachelor: The free offer number is 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: To get into the studio with your question, it’s 1-800-463-7292. Who do we have lined up next?
Steven Bachelor: Alright, next we have Suzanna from Estoria, New York. Suzanna, you are on the air.
Suzanna: Hello, this is Suzanna.
Steven Bachelor: Hi, Suzanna!
Suzanna: And I have a question concerning Matthew 25:14-30. It’s about the talents, basically. I have had this explained to me and I’m not a stupid person but I don’t understand it.
Pastor Doug: Well, the Kingdom and the Parable of the Talents are given a couple of places. It’s a little different because Jesus went from town to town, He would often share the same parables. They didn’t have tape recorders and ways to reproduce it, so it would vary a little bit as He went from place to place. And you can find variations of these in Luke 19:12, Mark 13, and another similar one – Matthew 21. Jesus is basically saying that He has given everybody gifts of the Spirit – different abilities, different talents. All of us have something, whether it’s money or influence, time. And God wants us to use it to do good in our lives. Some people say, “Well, I’m just gonna live for myself.” And they’ll bury their talent, they won’t use it for God. The Master said, “Look, when I come, I expected you to multiply the gifts that I’ve given you,” whether they are monetary gifts, abilities that He has given us, time He has given us. We’re gonna use everything for God’s kingdom. Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God.” So we’ll invest in talents. The word “talent” was a measurement that means weight of money of some sort. He wants us to invest for His kingdom. When He comes back and we have made the most of using our lives for good, He will reward us. Of course, we’re saved by faith but every man is judged according to his works. I think we had lost that call. Anyway, Suzanna, I hope that helps a little bit. The Parable of Talents applies to everybody. I appreciate your call. We’ve got a couple more before the break. Maybe, Steven?
Steven Bachelor: Alright. Tim from Michigan… Tim, you are on the air.
Tim: Hello, guys! God bless you both. And thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Yes, Sir!
Tim: My question is in Revelation where I’ve read that , I understand that there will be a rapture and that the Battle of Armageddon will be after the rapture. But I’ve heard that that’s a parable or a misconception that we won’t have a rapture, and that we will all be here for the Great Battle.
Pastor Doug: The Lord is very clear in 1 Thessalonian 4 which says, “The Lord will descent from the heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise.” That’s what we often see when we think of the rapture – people rising up and meeting the Lord in the air. Christ said that following Jesus makes it sound like it’s following the tribulation. The end will be saved He will send forth his angels to the four corners of the Earth and gather together the elected saints. So when the Lord comes back next time, Jesus said in John 14, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go, I will come again and receive you on to myself that where I am, you might be.” He comes, He collects the redeemed. The dead in Christ rise. They are all caught to meet up together in the air. We go and we live in reign with the Lord during that thousand years. And at the end of the one thousand years, the new comes down, there is this Great Battle where Satan rallies against the City of God. The part of the Battle of Armageddon, you’ll find in the Revelation 12:17 where it says, “The dragon goes to make war with the woman just before Jesus comes in the rapture.” The final part is at the end of the one thousand years, and that’s also in Revelation 5. You know this is a big study. Can I send you a… Tim, could I send you a study guide on that?
Tim: I would love to have one.
Pastor Doug: I’ve got two books.
Tim: I have read the Book of Revelations and, to my understanding, I understand that we would be… that the dead in Christ would be raised first those in Christ will be caught up after. To me, that’s what I understood. But like I said, I heard preaching that “we will be here.” So, you’re saying that we will be here…
Pastor Doug: …during the tribulation. Now you also mentioned the Battle of Armageddon. And the final part of the Battle of Armageddon – the Battle of Armageddon is a battle between good and evil ultimately. The final part of the Battle of Armageddon happens at the end of the one thousand years. It actually starts – you might say, before. The main thing – I think you’re asking – is if we will be here during the tribulation. I think the bible is very clear that during the 7 plagues, God’s people are here and He protects them. Children of Israel were in Egypt when those 10 plagues fell but He protected them during that time. The book, we’re gonna send you, is a study guide on the millennium. You just call the resource number – ask for the study guide on the millennium. It’s called “A Thousand Years of Peace.” Then, there’s a book I wrote, called “Anything but Secret: Dealing with Rapture and the Tribulation.” Anyone who wants that book, we’ll send it our free tonight – just call the resource number.
Steven Bachelor: If you’d like a copy of that, you can call this number 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Thank you for your call, Tim.
Steven Bachelor: Alright! Next we have Jim from Buffalo, New York. Jim, you’re on the air.
Jim: Yeah, hi! [Clears throat]Excuse me. How are you doing? I appreciate you, Minister.
Pastor Doug: Thank you! I appreciate your call.
Jim: My question is… I’m reading about Babylon recently. Babylon being a store prophesied, and middle Persian invasion and all that. And it’s now like being rebuilt, or in Revelation 18… that Babylon…
Pastor Doug: The Fall of Babylon…
Jim: Right. Is there an actual Babylon being rebuilt? I guess, that’s my question.
Pastor Doug: Alright, I’m gonna give you a quick answer, just so we won’t run out of time. Babylon in Revelation 17, the revelation is full of symbolic terms. Babylon represents the enemies of God’s people. And it’s a symbolic term there because if you read in Isaiah 13, there’s a prophecy there and it says Babylon is gonna be destroyed it will never be rebuilt. You can read in Isaiah 13, start with verse 19 it says, “And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of the Chaldees' excellency, shall be as when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. It will never be inhabited neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to generation. The Arabian will pitch its tent there neither shall the shepherds make their fold there.”You know it’s interesting – Saddam Hussein, he wanted to rebuild Babylon and overthrow this Jewish prophecy. And the first time he was trying to rebuild Babylon the first iron core blew out. And as he was trying to recover from that and started to resume work again, the second broke out. And now, Babylon is just a site on the map where tourists go to look at. Exactly what God said would happen. In Revelation where it talks about Babylon is really talking about this beast power that has become very wealthy. And it’s not talking about ancient Babylon being rebuilt again and spread through a much bigger influence. And I was also reading about it in Ezekiel, I don’t have the chapter at my fingertips but if you do a search on Babylon in the Book of Ezekiel, if you have a bible computer program, you’ll find Ezekiel supports the prophecy of Isaiah that Babylon will be destroyed, overthrown by the middle Persians, and never rebuilt. Now there’s a free book we’ll be happy to send you, Jim. It’s called, “The Beast, the Dragon, and the Woman.” And Steven’s gonna give you that, “The Beast, the Dragon, and the Woman.”
Steven Bachelor: Alright, Jim. If you’d like that book free of charge, we’ll ship it to you. The number to call is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Make sure and ask for the book called “The Beast, the Dragon, and the Woman.” It has some things to say about Babylon and you’ll find it very helpful. You’re listening to Bible Answers Live. You know friends, before we go to our break, don’t go away. We still have a couple of lines open. We’re gonna take another 30 minutes of bible questions. One more time, that phone number: 1-800-463-7297. Website – you might wanna check out if you’ve not been there before – Bible, Prophecy, Truth. This really is a great website. If you have questions tonight about Babylon – go to bibleprophecytruth.com. If you have questions about the number 666 – bible prophecy truth the anti-Christ – go to bibleprophecytruth.com the 7 last plagues, Armageddon, millennium, tribulation, Israel – bible prophecy truth. You’re gonna find a lot of information there. It’s become very popular and answers a lot of questions – free materials and books. We’re not going away. We are just gonna take a break for a couple of minutes, drink some water. Call your friends, tell them to tune in to the second half of Bible Answers Live.
Don’t go away. There’s more of Bible Answers Live in just a moment. Don’t forget to tune in to Pastor Doug Bachelor’s weekly television broadcast of Amazing Facts Presents, which is aired on major networks including ABC Family, The World Network, and WGN. Check your local listings or contact us to find out when and on what channel the program will be aired. Are you in need of bible-based materials for further study? Consider Amazing Facts as free correspondence bible study course or our sale catalog featuring hundreds of inspiring books and tapes. To order, call our resource line at 800-835-6747. That’s 800-835-6747. Don’t forget, friends, Amazing Facts is a faith-based listeners’ supporting Ministry, operating only by God’s blessings through your prayers and financial gifts. We’d love to hear from you. Write to us at P.O. Box 909 Rosewood, California, 95678 or online at amazingfacts.org.
Welcome back to Bible Answers Live with Pastor Doug Bachelor. This broadcast is pre-recorded. If you have a bible-related question, you can call us from 7-8PM Pacific Standard Time on Sundays and receive clear, honest answers directly from scripture. Call 800-GOD-SAYS. That’s 800-463-7297. Now, please join us as we look at Bible Answers Live with author and evangelist, Pastor Doug Bachelor.
Pastor Doug: Welcome back, friends! You are tuned in to Bible Answers Live. If you have a bible question, then we invite you to give us a call. The toll-free number is 800-463-7297. And my name is Doug Bachelor.
Steven Bachelor: And my name is Steven Bachelor.
Pastor Doug: And Steven’s joining me for the program tonight, helping out again and Pastor Ross is on vacation. So who’s next in line, Steven?
Steven Bachelor: Next, we have Patricia from West Hills, California. Patricia, you’re on the air.
Patricia: Hello!
Pastor Doug: Hello!
Patricia: Hi!
Pastor Doug: Thanks for your patience!
Patricia: How are you?
Pastor Doug: And your question, Patricia?
Patricia: Yes, hi. I was thinking about what happened with the family that Jesus had been with – His step-father Joseph, His brother, His mother. What happened to them after they hanged Him in the cross?
Pastor Doug: You know, the last mention we have of Mary was when Jesus was hanging in the cross, one of the last things He said is, “Woman, behold your son.” And Jesus evidently nodded towards the Apostle John, and then he says to John, “Behold your mother.” And He’s basically committing the care of His mother to the Apostle John because then it says – from that point on – John took her into his own home and care for her. Then you got Act 1, and it says, in the upper room where the Holy Spirit is poured out, that Mary, the Mother of Jesus, is there along with His brothers and sisters. And so that’s the last mention you have of Mary but His brothers – and this would be His half-brothers – James and Jude, or better known as Judas, they were books in the bible. James that you read about in the bible is the brother of Jesus as is Jude. So they became believers in Christ just as suspicious but when He rose from the dead, that took care of all their doubts. The last time you see Mary, though, is in Act 1. If you wanna know more about that, I’ve written a book that talks a little about Jesus during that time, and it’s called “The Gospel according to Mary Magdalene.” I know it’s about Mary Magdalene but it also does mention about the family of Jesus. And you can call and ask for that in our resource number…
Steven Bachelor: Alright. That number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Thanks for your call, Patricia. Alright.
Steven Bachelor: Next on our caller thing is James from Pennsylvania. James, you are on the air.
Pastor Doug: Hi, James! Welcome.
James: Hi, how are you doing? Thank you for your Ministry’s blessing. I have a question …
Pastor Doug: Yes. It sounds very similar to the vision of Jesus in Revelation 1:13.
James: Right. Now, this chapter says there are two different angels. This description as to the first angel, but later on the angel Michael came and help him. Who is this first angel? And also the second angel… Is that Jesus Christ …
Pastor Doug: Well I think you’re on the right track that you’ve got two angels, and one of them is evidently Jesus. In this passage, Daniel 12 talks about angels talking to each other so there’s no question by the time you get to Daniel, there is more than one angel that Daniel is seeing and we believe one of them is Jesus. Now, I hope I don’t shock people but many bible commentaries, including Matthew Henry and I grew with him, they believe that Michael was one of the pre-incarnate names for Jesus. He’s called the angel of the Lord. That if they don’t obey the angel of the Lord, God is gonna punish them. “That one like me will come to you.” Deuteronomy 18 – and then you read in the Thessalonians that, “The Lord Himself will descend from the heaven with the voice of the Archangel”. The Lord comes with the voice of the Archangel. Revelation 12, the dragon, which is the symbolic name for the Devil goes to war with Michael, the symbolic name for Christ. And Michael cast him out of heaven. So this is what they call a Christophany. When Jesus appeared in the Old Testament, He almost always appears to be the General of the Lord’s army. I’m not saying Jesus is an angel Jesus is the eternal Son of God. And the word “angel” means “messenger” in the Bible. Another proof for that is when this Angel of the Lord appears to Joshua. He says, “Take your shoes off your feet for this is Holy Ground.” And Joshua worships Him. We’re always supposed to worship God. When John tries to worship a normal angel, the Revelation said, “Don’t do that. Just worship God.” But in the Old Testament, this General Angel that appears to Joshua, He is worshipped. There’s a book we’ll send you, James, that deals with this verse in detail. I wrote it. It’s called “Who is Michael the Archangel?” Steven’s gonna give you that number and it is free from me to you.
Steven Bachelor: Alright. That’s number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: You know friends, I just wanna remind you, we are streaming tonight. To tune in to get a peek of what’s happening here in the studio for what it’s worth. I find it interesting. It’s live.amazingfacts.org. Just type in live.amazingfacts.org to get the stream of tonight’s program. Who’s lined up, Steven?
Steven: Alright. Next, we have Liba from North Carolina. Liba, you’re on the air.
Liba: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Evening!
Liba: Good evening! I appreciate all of your ministries. You know I listen them.
Pastor Doug: You know I’m gonna be in North Carolina in about a week a half.
Liba: Yes, I am going to Camp Linney and I’m looking forward to that.
Pastor Doug: I’ll see you at Lake Junaluska.
Liba: Yes. I have heard lately or it’s explained that we, as Christians, we worship the same God as the Jews and the Muslim. How can this be since they do not accept Jesus as divine or as God? How can we worship the same God?
Pastor Doug: Well, I wanna be careful not to… I’ve heard some pastors say that, and I knew what they said, what they meant but the way that they said made it sound like there’s no difference. And there is a big difference between the Christian concept of God and Muslim concept of God. It is true that they have common roots historically. And that Muslims came out of Abraham, that you can’t deny but there is a very different concept of God in redemption. And if God is composed of the Father, Son and Spirit, and that the Muslim does not believe that Jesus is the Son of God, there you’ve got a very big difference in their view of God. So I’ve heard a couple of pastors say that, and it cringed a little bit because I think listeners might think they’re saying there’s no distinction in the concept of God. There’s a very big distinction. There is a common history in the people, meaning, you know, Jews, Muslims, Christians, all came from Abraham but the truth regarding who God is, is very different between those religions. Does that make sense?
Liba: Well, I’m trying to deal with it. The only thing I can come up with to understand where they came from is that even when we’re worshipping the same God, they’re worshipping God in vain.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, and I think you can even say… there are Buddhists and Hindus and tribes all over the world that worship a different concept of God. You can probably point at any religion and there are concepts they have of God that are similar to Christians. But the only true concept of God is through Christ and the reason is that God came to Earth through man to show us what He is like. Jesus said, “If you see me, you see My Father.” To say that, the Jewish concept, Muslim concept the Buddhist concept is the true concept , you can’t have a true concept without looking through the prism of Jesus because He is God’s demonstration to men of what He is like. You see what I’m saying?
Liba: That the only way to the Father…
Pastor Doug: …is through Christ, exactly.
Libra: And if they’re denying Him, how are we worshipping our same God?
Pastor Doug: He is the ladder that stretches from Heaven to Earth, and there’s no way around it. You know I have a book I wrote about the Trinity but it also addressed some of the things and some similar scriptures. I’ll be happy to send you a free copy, and maybe you’ll get it before I get to Lake Junaluska. God bless, Liba, and I appreciate your call. Alright, the number…
Steven Bachelor: Liba, if you’re interested in that book, you can get it at this number, 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747. Next, we have Tony from Maryland. Tony, you’re on the air.
Tony: Good evening, Pastor Doug and Steven!
Pastor Doug: Good evening!
Steven Bachelor: Good evening!
Tony: I read your book “The Gospel according to Mary Magdalene.” Excellent work!
Pastor Doug: Thank you! That’s about 3 people that have read it now.
Tony: I actually got it from someone else, so it’s kind of going around in the circle.
Pastor Doug: 4 and 5! Wonderful!
Tony: (laughing)
Pastor Doug: And your question tonight?
Tony: I wanna ask you about, in Revelation – in a thousand years – the passage where God talks about wiping the tears away from our eyes. I was just thinking about that and wondering. Do you think that the memory of the Earth and the life that we lived, the people that we knew, that didn’t make it to Heaven, Will we have a memory of them? Or when it said wiping tears away from our eyes, the memory of that will be forgotten.
Pastor Doug: Well, after the one thousand years… by the way, that verse is Revelation 21: 4, “God will wipe tears from their eyes, and there will no longer be death, neither sorrow nor crying. Neither will there be any more pain for the former things have passed away, as the ceaseless ages of eternity roll by.” You know, sometimes, time heals things in this life.
Tony: Yes.
Pastor Doug: You know, immediately after a difficult experience, you just wonder how you’re gonna go on. But by as time goes by, the waves get less intense and they’re further apart and it’s easier to deal with. Well, the painful memories of this life, a million years in paradise, they’re not gonna be remember, just it’s not that we couldn’t recall them if we wanted to we’ve always remembered Jesus redeemed us. But the painful things in this life, God’s gonna wipe away those tears and the beauties of Heaven will eclipse any of the pain of this life so that it’s like the verse that says “A woman when she’s in labor before a baby, the world’s gonna end. But as soon as the baby is born, and rejoices as a healthy child, she forgets about all the pain that she went through for the last 8-10 hours. This is gonna be what it’s like in Heaven. The joy will eclipse the pain, and God will wipe away those tears. Now I’ve got a theory. This is just me but I think that immediately after war in Heaven, we see certain loved ones that’s not there. We may have some initial sorrow, and think “How can I ever enjoy heaven if a loved one – a parent, a child, a spouse – is not there?” There may be some tears at first, and I think God will wipe away those tears. The only way that we’d heal from that sorrow is when God wipes away the tears. But then, as time goes by, I think it’s pleasure forevermore, no more sorrow. I appreciate your question, Tony. We do have a book and we’ll send you a free copy. It’s “Heaven for Real.”
Steven Bachelor: Alright. That number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747. Okay! Next, we have Vernon from Kansas City. Vernon, you’re on the air.
Vernon: Yes. Bless to the Ministry and to you, Pastor.
Pastor Doug: Thank you!
Vernon: The question I have, I have talked to many ministers about this question of when was the Sabbath. And I was given different answers. And I need to break it down to two answers. I wonder if you can elaborate on that a little bit because I have talked to many.
Pastor Doug: Well I will do my best. I know many out there that believe there’s no way you can escape from the truth that the bible Sabbath is what we call the 7th day of the week, or commonly, is Friday…
Steven Bachelor: Saturday…
Pastor Doug: (laughs) I mean, it starts Friday night, and it’s what we commonly call Saturday. And in my orthodox region, they still celebrate it that Jesus rose the first day of the week, which is Sunday. No question that that’s the first day but there is no commandment in the bible that keep first day holy. The only commandment that I remember the 7th day, it is not a Jewish law because it goes back to Genesis 2 before there were any Jews, and it’s mentioned all through The Old Testament, The New Testament never gives another day as a replacement for the Sabbath. Many different days of the week. So the 7th day Sabbath is the bible Sabbath of the Ten Commandments. And God told us to remember that, to keep it holy. And that’s what we practice in our family. I know there are good Christians and I’m very sincere that I expect to see people in Heaven from different denominations that maybe didn’t know that truth. But if you wanna go by the bible, there’s really no good way around it and there’s a lot of honest pastors, even from Sunday churches, that would say that, biblically, the 7th day is the Sabbath. It doesn’t matter what day is it. I think we need to keep the day that God blessed.
Vernon: Right.
Pastor Doug: And by the way, there’s a website that you can go to, it’s called sabbathtruth.com. I think you can get there also if you go to sabbathtruth.net or sabbathtruth.org. sabbathtruth.com is the most popular website out there dealing with Sabbath issues and we recommend it – sabbathtruth.com. And we have a lesson on it, too. It’s called “The Lost Day of History.” We’ll be happy to send that to you, Vernon. “The Lost Day of History,” all the bible studies in the Sabbath issue. Anyone who wants it, it’s free. We do this by faith, trusting that God will keep the Ministry going. Call that number.
Steven Bachelor: Alright, Vernon. If you’d like a copy of that, you can call this number: 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Okay!
Steven Bachelor: Alright. Next, we have Brad from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Brad, you’re on the air.
Brad: Hello, Pastor Bachelor!
Pastor Doug: Good evening! And your question?
Brad: My question is about the earthly temple. Jesus climbed the temple twice in His Ministry, at the beginning and at the end. Would that correspond to the cleansing of the people in the last days in the spiritual temple?
Pastor Doug: I think you’re on to something. I did a sermon on that a few years ago. And it appears that at the beginning of His Ministry, He cleansed them. At the end of the Ministry, He chased them out again because they re-accumulated. It reminds me of the former reign and the latter reign, where Christ first poured out the Holy Spirit in Pentecost, so he got the church going. And I think He’s gonna pour out the Spirit and cleanse the temple again before He comes back. Now, you remember where Peter says that judgment must begin at the House of God. And so, there is a cleansing of the temple that happens just before the Lord comes, sort of a judgment of the professed followers that have abandoned the faith. And you’ll find this also, if you read, there’s a prophecy that – kind of a scary prophecy – but you read the first 10 or 12 verses in Ezekiel 9, and it talks about judgment in the sanctuary, a place for those who were saved. Unlike the mark of the Beast, this is a mark placed on the saved, not the lost in Ezekiel 9. So yeah, I do think that there may be a parallel there to the first and the second coming, or there’s this 2 cleansings. By the way, we have a study that I’d be happy to send you, Brad, on the subject of the sanctuary. It’s called “God Drew the Plans.” It deals with the earthly temple – “God Drew the Plans.”
Steven Bachelor: Alright, Brad. If you’d like copy of that, you can call this number: 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747. Okay next, we have Susan from Brooklyn, New York. Susan, you’re on the air. Hello?
Pastor Doug: Hi, Susan! You’re on with Bible Answers Live. Are you there?
Susan: Yes, I’m here.
Pastor Doug: And your question…
Susan: I wanna request Psalm 81:5.
Pastor Doug: You want me to read it?
Susan: Yes, please.
Pastor Doug: Psalm 85:1 “This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.”
Susan: Is that all?
Pastor Doug: Well, this is talking about when the children of Israel and he was taken down to Egypt. And he heard a language, the Egyptian language that he hadn’t grown up with. And that God still watched over him there in the foreign land. That’s not really a verse it really talks about the Gift of Tongues. We believe the gifts of the Spirit on this program because it talks about in the Bible. We believe the things the Bible says. But a lot of things that are being done today, called the Gift of Tongues, are not what was happening in the Bible. And we have a book that we can offer you for free. If you like a copy, Susan, it’s called “Understanding Tongues” true about understanding the subject of tongues in the Bible. Would you like a free copy of that?
Susan: Yes, I want.
Pastor Doug: You call this number that my son’s about to give you. We’ll take your information and ask you – make sure to ask for the book on “Understanding Tongues.” They’ll know what to send you and they’ll send it to you.
Steven Bachelor: Susan, all you have to do is to call this number: 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Doug: Steven, we’ve got time for one more, maybe.
Steven Bachelor: Do we? Alright, we have Sharon from Fresno, California. Sharon, you’re on the air.
Sharon: Yes, hello! I have a question about 1 Genesis 5:8. To summarize my question, I’m wondering if it has something to do with, perhaps, good works. I say that because the Bible that I have, the New King James Version also represents Isaiah 58:7. My question is… if you don’t mind I’m gonna read it first: “Anyone that does not provide for his own, and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith, and is worse than an unbeliever.” And my question is about “denied the faith.” What does that mean, “denied the faith”?
Pastor Doug: Well, the essence of the Christian faith is love. And doing for others what you would want them do for you and keeping the Ten Commandments which include “honoring your father and mother.” Now in this, you’ll notice in 1 Timothy 5:4, he’s talking about if a widow has children or nephews, let them learn first the show piety at home to requite their parents for that is good and acceptable. Now, she is a widow, indeed. She had no support, desolate and trusting God continues her supplications day and night. In other words, they’re talking about who the Church should be supporting if they have a general fund for the poor. They had no welfare program. They had no social security back then. They had no retirement. They had no medical. And your only hope if you’re a widow other than begging, if you don’t have any children, was to be supported by the church. If you’ve these people in your midst and they qualify for the Christian support and you don’t support them, you’re not following the faith of Christianity. You are denying in the faith of Christ, and you’re worse than a nonbeliever. Now, Jesus talked about this when He said, you know, if you’re not honoring your mother and father because you say, “I’ve declared corban in my property, and so I can’t support my mother and father. You’re gonna have to go out and beg, I’m gonna use my money until I die and I’m gonna give it to the temple.” Jesus said that you are worse than an infidel. So if people don’t love and care for their own, that’s what Paul is really saying to Timothy, who is an elder pastor of the New Church some guidelines on how to manage the different needs of the people from the meager funds they had in the Church.
Sharon: Okay! Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: I appreciate your question. Thank you very much, Sharon. How much time we got left? We got about a minute. You know that’s not just enough time. I don’t wanna cut anybody off. Thank you for your question, Sharon. Listening friends, don’t go away yet. I just wanna take a minute to say it is a pleasure, we’ve been doing this program now for about 16 years. Hundreds of programs every week, and we do it every time by faith. We’re on across the country in hundreds of channels, including satellite radio across the country and it’s because some people like you say, “You know I’m learning something.” I think I can honestly say you don’t hear us spending a lot of time during our broadcast hours begging for money. But we’d like to take a moment or two just before we go off the air and you change channels to remind you that the only way we can stay on the air is if people like you help us. If you like to do something, we’d be so grateful. First of all, we’d love to hear from you. If the program’s been a blessing, just make a note to go to Amazing Facts. You can find our address there and mail us P.O. Box 909 Rosewood, California. If you put something in that letter to help us stay in the air, we’d be very grateful. You can also go to our website. Very easy to remember, amazingfacts.org. Lots of information there, videos, bible studies, just click Contact Us and you can also donate to our line. I will appreciate it. God bless you, friends! Until next week!
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