Pastor Doug: Hello friends. This is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing Fact? In 1692, the city of Port Royal in the island of Jamaica, literally slid into the sea when it was struck by a massive earthquake. Many had predicted that Port Royal, a corrupt city of pirates and cut-throats would one day suffer God's judgment and be destroyed. The disaster there surprised no one least of all, a handful of religious men who were swept to their doom along with the wicked inhabitants. One such man was Lewis Galdy. He was born in France but left in search of religious freedom and finally settled on the island of Jamaica. When the first violent shock came from the earthquake, Galdy was buried deep beneath the earth.
Amazingly, he remained conscious and understood what was happening, still alive. Like Jonah in the belly of the sea monster, he prayed for his soul and resigned himself to die. A few moments later, the ground shook again a second time and exploded throwing Galdy flying through the air and out over the turning sea. He landed unhurt in the water and swam until a boat picked him up. Galdy lived for 47 years after his miraculous escape. He died in 1739 and his tombstone today still tells his story of his amazing experience. No doubt he felt like somebody who had been resurrected.
Did you know the Bible teaches in the last days there will be two resurrections? Stay with us friends. We're going to learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Hello listening friends. And we are thankful you are a listening, friends. We're glad that you're tuning in and trusting it is by God's providence. If you've never tuned in before, this is Bible Answers Live. It is a live international interactive Bible study where for the next 57 minutes or so, we're going to invite people to call in from around the country, around the world asking their Bible questions. People often call even on the internet from all different corners of the planet. And if you have a Bible question, we've have lines open. Now is a good time to pick up your phone. That number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS. We use a textbook for the believer which is the Bible. 1-800-463-7297 and we'll do our best to search the word together and find the answers. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross. Good evening listening friends. And Pastor Doug, welcome back. You were out of town and you just arrived back today.
Pastor Doug: I did. I was in Chicago this weekend with Three Angels Broadcasting. We were doing a special 10 Commandment broadcast. As a matter of fact, this weekend had been declared by many Christians from many persuasions as the 10 Commandment weekend and so there is a special satellite uplink televised program where different speakers came in and talk on different Commandments. And I was given the 7th Commandment. So I did a sermon there and was really enjoyed our time.
Pastor Ross: Good.
Pastor Doug: It's good to be back.
Pastor Ross: Let’s start our program with a word of prayer.
Pastor Doug: Please.
Dear father, again as we open up your word, we ask for Your Holy Spirit’s guidance. Be with those who are listening and those who call in to the program. May Your will be clear as we discover in the Bible. For this, we ask in Jesus name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: The amazing fact is an amazing fact. I had an opportunity to take a look at the tombstone of Lewis Galdy right there in Jamaica. And just an incredible story. He had pretty much buried alive but then prayed and then he had another chance to life.
Pastor Doug: That's amazing that not too many people got buried in an earthquake and without any outside human assistance are then brought back out of the earth. What are the odds of that? They don’t land on the ground where it would kill them but God arranges them to land in the water and there arranges them to be rescued. You know, there are no statistics that can account those odds.
Pastor Ross: That's right. The hand of God was involved in that (inaudible 05:11).
Pastor Doug: There he was under the earth basically buried alive praying in God's spirit. And that's an amazing story. And you know unfortunately, you know of course he had to die again. He was rescued. It's a wonderful thing. He lived like 47 more years. But now he's waiting for another resurrection and one that there will be no death for. We understand he died a believer but a lot of people are surprised to learn, Pastor Ross, that the Bible teaches in the last days, there are really two separate resurrections.
Pastor Ross: As a matter of fact, Jesus says in John chapter 5 verse 28, "Marvel not at this, for the hour is coming, in which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice and shall come forth. They that have been good unto the resurrection of light; and them that have been evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
Pastor Ross: That's right and of course in 1 Thessalonians 4, "The dead in Christ rise first." And then you go to Revelation 20 and again, "Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection.” And whenever you see sequential numbers like that, if you say there is a ‘first,’ that means somewhere there's at least a second. And the Second Resurrection is one that nobody really wants to be in. That's the resurrections that—well, it tells also in Daniel 12 verse 2, “Many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life,” that's the first resurrection. “Some to everlasting shame and tempt,” that’s the lost, the second resurrection. And first resurrection happens at the second coming. The second resurrection happened at the end of the millennium, the resurrection of the lost. And I know there are people out there, they’re going to, "I've never heard this before." And there's a lot of Scripture on this. And what about the Scriptures that say--I mean why do you need a resurrection if as soon as you die, absent from the body, present with the Lord, you go to be with the Lord. Why would you even need a resurrection? Well, the Bible is very clear there's a resurrection. So what does that verse mean? And what are these two resurrections? We have a free offer tonight. We don’t offer frequently on that subject.
There's a book entitled "Absent from the Body." And it deals with that question with what happens when a person dies as well as the resurrection, first resurrection for the righteous and second for the wicked. To receive the free offer, call the resource number, 1-800-835-6747. 1-800-835-6747, asks for the offer "Absent from the Body."
Pastor Ross: We have an internet question that's come in.
Pastor Doug: Hey.
Pastor Ross: Pastor Doug, do you have any information on the rebuilding of the Jewish temple?
Pastor Doug: Well, from what I hear, there is a lot of discussion and buzz that largely springs from evangelical Christians in North America. There is a little bit that is happening among some very orthodox, they’re almost extreme orthodox groups. Supposedly, they are you know working on the vestments in some of the simple furniture that was in the ancient temple. It's hard for them to make a more expensive furniture because it's solid gold. And I mean, who knows what price would be put on the Ark of the Covenant? Even if you tried to make a copy, if it's made out of real gold, that golden box and as a matter of fact all of the furniture--table or showbread, (inaudible 8:34), candle stick--was all pure gold. So there are some that I think are, in my opinion, they're fantasizing that the temple is gonna be rebuilt on the site where the dome of the rock presently rest.
They read the Scripture in the Bible, where it talks about the wicked one will sit in the temple of God showing Himself He is God and since the temple had been destroyed, they surmise, well, must mean that the temple needs to be rebuilt. And that verse is not talking all about the physical old Jewish temple. Jesus said there will not be left one stone upon another that will not be thrown down. And don’t understand friends, I believe the Lord has a special place for Israel and the Jews in prophecy; but it nowhere does it say that Jewish temple is gonna be rebuilt. The Bible is very clear that the temple now is God's church, His people, where a royal priesthood, a spiritual priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. Christ is the lamb there's no need for the rebuilding of that temple.
Pastor Ross: And also the Old Testament temple, what made it so special was as you said it, the stones in the box, the 10 Commandments.
Pastor Doug: Right.
Pastor Ross: And the Ark of the Covenant. Now they can build another Ark of the Covenant and they can do the furniture but there's no way that they're gonna be able to get those stones, those 10 Commandments written by God's own finger. That’s lost as far as you know.
Pastor Doug: You know, it also reminds me that when Christ died on the cross, something very significant happened. The high priest at the trial of Christ tore his holy garments and the veil, meaning the old priesthood was gone; and the veil in the temple was ripped from top to bottom, meaning that the old sacrificial system was done away with it. Christ is now the Lamb of God. We don’t need to sacrifice lamb. So the temple that the wicked one sits in--is that 1 Thessalonians where it talks about this where that wicked one will sit in the temple of God showing himself he is God? That’s speaking about the church. He tries to sit over the church of God in the place of God. It's not talking about the rebuilding of the old Jewish temple. Christ said in Matthew 24, there would not be one stone upon another that would not be thrown down. And it is never been rebuilt. Can you imagine world war 3 breaking out as soon as anyone tries to the third most holy place in Islam is the Mosque of—
Pastor Ross: --Dome of the rock.
Pastor Doug: The dome of the rock that is there on that sight.
Pastor Ross: The verse that he's referring to is 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 4.
Pastor Doug: Thank you, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2.
Pastor Ross: Okay. Our next question, how did the literal Jewish people atone for their sins in transgressions if they do not offer lambs or bulls or doves?
Pastor Doug: Well in the (inaudible 11:11), this question actually segways well with the last one. Any interval since the destruction of the temple to the present day over the course of time, the Jewish people have basically modified their theology so that they can find salvation ways other than the sacrifice of animals because there have been no place to bring their sacrifice. So obviously the Jews don’t believe that everybody from the time of the temple being destroyed to the time of the present is lost. You know, they say there is redemption. They believe it comes through prayer, through grace and through works. Christians believe that the works are a result of being saved, not to be saved. And so there is a big difference there between the Jewish theology and I want to remind my friends, I am a Jewish Christian, Jewish theology--and as a matter of fact, I sat next to a Rabbi on an airplane today coming back from Chicago--The Jewish Christian and the New Testament or the Bible Christian.
Pastor Ross: I wanna add one other thing, Pastor Doug. you've mentioned the emphasis and the focus on the rebuilding of the temple of Jerusalem. Could that possibly be a something that the devil perhaps instigated to get people attention off the real issue?
Pastor Doug: Satan is a master of diversionary tactics and it is a major diversion what God is trying to do is help us recognize our body's the temple of the Holy Spirit. The church is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He wants it purified. He wants it built up. And people are getting distracted with a physical building. And how Christians can get so excited about building a Jewish temple is really renouncing the purpose of Christ being the Lamb of God. Why would we want to see that?
Pastor Ross: And then, you don’t have to worry about the Second Coming of Christ until this temple is built.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. You got a point.
Pastor Ross: --that type of understanding.
Pastor Doug: You know, we didn't offer this at the top of the hour where tonight, we’re offering a book "Absent from the Body” but there is another book that I wrote with Steve Wohlberg called "Spiritual Israel." And people can read that for free online by going to the Amazing Facts website. It explains the role of the temple and all of the Scriptures that supports this. “Spiritual Israel," just go to amazingfacts.org.
Pastor Ross: Okay. We spend a little more time on that because that is a topic that turns up from time to time asking about the temple. We're gonna go to the phone lines. Our first caller tonight is Ryan calling from Hudson Bay, Canada. Welcome to the program.
Ryan: Hi.
Pastor Doug: Hi. How are you?
Ryan: In Psalms website, the word (selah?) (inaudible13:45), I mean.
Pastor Doug: Good question. Frequently friends, you'll see throughout the Psalms they'll be at the end usually of a verse the word 'selah.' And it's pronounced a couple differently so don’t feel bad, Bryan, if you were struggling to pronounce that. That word basically means 'think on this' or meditate on this. And Psalm have translated this 'Let this be' kind of like Amen. But the Psalm were songs and sometimes in songs today, they’ve got words and then, they've got a musical interlude. And what the expert say is that this was a place where they would play a musical interlude and invite you to think about the words you had just sung or read. And so the word 'selah' means think on this. And that’s usually indicated there was gonna be a music interlude at this point before the next verse’s. Good question.
Pastor Ross: Thank you for your call. All right. Our next caller is Max listening on the internet calling from Brooklyn, New York. Max, welcome to the program.
Max: Hi. Good night.
Pastor Doug: Evening, Max. How can we help you?
Max: Yes, my question on, I was wondering if someone goes hunting, like a cousin goes hunting and killed animals (inaudible15:01).
Pastor Doug: Get real close to your phone. I can barely hear you. If somebody goes hunting and kills animals, is that a sin? Is that what you're asking?
Max: Is that considered a breaking up the sixth Commandment?
Pastor Doug: Okay so your question is if a person is hunting, is that breaking the Commandment, "Thou shall not kill"? Well, if you find places in the Bible where God permits killing animals, then either God is a hypocrite or it’s not a violation. The Commandment "thou shall not kill" really is better translated "Thou shall not murder" because technically every time you breathe, you’re killing microbes; every time you walk, you're stepping on bacteria, you might swat a mosquito. There’s a lot of death in our world around us, though admittedly some of it is microscopic. When you pull a weed, technically you're killing. So was the Commandment saying--you know some Buddhist, that's their interpretation. You know you're not supposed to even pull a weed or swat a mosquito--but that's not what the Commandment says.
If you read in the New Testament when Jesus rehearses the 10 Commandments, when it gets to that Commandment, he said "Thou shall not murder." Now, murder is to take another human life in an unprovoked way. So hunting, keep in mind God endorsed the sacrificial system, that meant killing the lambs on a daily basis. So how could God command "thou shall not kill” and then before the chapter ends, say when you sacrifice a lamb? You know what I'm saying? So hunting, if a person is hunting for sustenance or some you know practical purpose, then the 6th Commandment is not a prohibition against that. Did that make sense?
Max: Yes, it did actually. And that also applies to ‘coz that’s (inaudible 17:02), right? People who are not vegetarians, who eat meat.
Pastor Doug: Yeah well, I don’t know why a vegetarian would hunt.
Max: I mean if someone is not a vegetarian and they brought a chicken or a cow, that’s not considered killing.
Pastor Doug: Say that one more time. I’m afraid I’m gonna answer something you're not asking if a vegetarian kills a cow, what are you talking about? Like they will...
Max: If a person who is not a vegetarian.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Max: Who kills a cow or…
Pastor Doug: No, well if they're doing it for food or like I said some practical purpose, no, the Bible doesn’t define that as breaking the 6th Commandment. There’s nothing in the Bible where God ever condemn anybody for taking some domestic animal chicken or something and then saying you violated the 10 Commandments. So, no, that would never apply.
Max: All right. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you very much. Appreciate that.
Pastor Ross: Frank is listening on WMCA from New York, New York. Frank, welcome to the program.
Frank: Thank you very much. My question is there a Scripture verse that states that the Bible is inspired by God.
Pastor Doug: I think there's several. You've got of course in 2 Peter chapter 1:21, “Prophecy never came by the will of men but holy men of God spoke as though they were moved” meaning inspired by the Holy Ghost. That’s 2 Peter 1:21. And then there' the passage in Timothy where it says all Scripture is given by inspiration. Is it 2 Timothy 3:16, all Scriptures are given by inspiration of God?
Pastor Ross: Yes. Let me double check but I think you're right.
Pastor Doug: You know I’m on my way down on the other side of the hill, Frank. Sometimes the Scripture references escape me but I can still quote the words. There are a number of passages in the Bible that talks about the inspiration of the Scripture. As a matter of fact, we've got a booklet if you call our resource number, we'll give you a free copy and it's called “The Faithful Witness.” The verse--
Pastor Ross: The verse is 2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scriptures are given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Frank: That’s great. I appreciate that.
Pastor Doug: All right. Hey we're happy to help and like I said, ask for that free booklet called "The Faithful Witness."
Pastor Ross: And call the resource number, 1-800-835-6747 asks for the resource "The Faithful Witness" dealing with the Bible and its inspiration. Our next caller is Joseph and he's calling from Tennessee. Joseph, welcome to the program.
Joseph: Hi. I came back of the subject of the resurrection. We all know that the Lord was the first to be resurrected.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Joseph: We know that he died and on the third day, he rose. So where was the Lord being those days you have passed from the (inaudible 19:57)?
Pastor Doug: Well, the Lord died. The penalty for sin is death. And the Bible promises that God would not leave His soul in the grave but He would rise again. So between the time He said it is finished and He went to sleep on the cross, He gave up the spirit, the Bible tells us. He said “Father, unto your hands, I commend my spirit.” Jesus was not roaming in some other dimension or realm in another place, some churches theorized that Christ was off visiting this place that place where he went down to hell to preach and give people a second chance. But it doesn’t teach that in the Bible. The very fact that says that the penalty for sin is death, if Jesus didn’t really die, but he just entered another dimension, then he didn’t pay our sins.
Joseph: Okay. But what he said to Mary Magdalene, “Do not touch me for I have not ascended to the Father.”
Pastor Doug: Right.
Joseph: How was that not…
Pastor Doug: Well, that's the point exactly is that from the time that Jesus died on the cross until the resurrection Sunday morning, and you're talking about John chapter 20, he had not yet ascended the father nor had he descended. Some people think that Jesus had descended down in to Satan's headquarters to preach the people and give them another chance but Jesus was asleep in the grave until the resurrection.
Joseph: I understand that you tell me that he visited spirit that were in another dimension, so called, in the spirit world…
Pastor Doug: Yeah.
Joseph: and (inaudible 21:46) I mean things that they needed to know. It’s found in the New Testament where it talks of how there were only 8 days at the time of Noah in the (inaudible 21:59) the days that he was (walking?) in the world.
Pastor Doug: You’re talking about... Let me read this to you. It’s 1 Peter chapter 3 and verse... Well, let’s start with verse 18, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” Christ was resurrected by the Spirit by whom he went and preached to the spirits in prison who were formally disobedient when once the divine longsuffering waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few 8 souls were being saved from the water. Now, it is saying it is the same spirit that raised Jesus that God preached to the people before the flood in the days of Noah. And you find that in genesis chapter 6 verse 3. It says “My spirit will not always strived with men, as days will be hundred and twenty years” So for a hundred and twenty years, the same spirit that raised up Jesus is the same spirit of God that preached to people in the days of Noah. It wasn’t saying Jesus went back and gave those people a second chance.
Joseph: Well, we believe... Don’t we believe in (scripture?) that if God has a spirit, that was (involved?) in body spirit so it says he went to preach those people. Didn’t that what’s you said that he went to teach those people who where in a different period?
Pastor Doug: No, it's saying that… You see, God is comprised of God the father, God the son, God the spirit.
Joseph: So he's 3 different people.
Pastor Doug: No, there’s one God. And the one God is comprised of 3 individuals. And that's why the Bible tells us baptizing in the name of the father, son and the Holy Spirit.
Joseph: So it there someone in the Bible that it says that he’s three, he’s one person with three separate missions or…
Pastor Doug: Yeah, lots of places. Let me give you one to start with. The baptism of Jesus, God the father is in heaven. He speaks at the baptism and says this is my beloved son. Jesus is down in the water. The Holy Spirit then descends like a dove. You've got 3 distinct individuals simultaneously at one event. And of course it says in 1 John, there are 3 that did bear witness in heaven. And so you're got the spirit, and the word, and the father. It sounds like your question is kind of migrating over into the trinity.
Joseph: Well, the reason for that is I’m kind of… You’re stating that the (him?) of the spirit, God the father, I guess is what you're saying and he is the son, the two are the same person but then again the spirit left his body when he was on the third, correct?
Pastor Doug: Well--
Joseph: ‘Coz he went back to being God the father.
Pastor Doug: No, Jesus spirit did not go floating around. I've never said that. I'm saying he was asleep. The Bible tells us that there is there are two or at least two individuals involved in the creation because God says “Let us make man in our image.” In order it is a plural, you need at least two and then it mentions a spirit of God as moving on the phase of the waters but Jesus’ spirit, nothing in the Bible is telling us that Jesus’ spirit was floating around after their death on the cross. And that's a question. He didn’t ascend to heaven, Jesus said that to Mary. He did not go down to Hades. Did we lose our caller? Oh, it sounds like he hang up. Well, we're sorry we lost you for whatever reason. You may have been on a cell phone. And I don’t know if we have another time for another question before the break. I'm getting the word here. We got 3 minutes. Let’s see what we can do in 3 minutes, Pastor Ross.
Pastor Ross: All right. Patricia is listening on the internet from Brooklyn, New York. Patricia, welcome to the program.
Patricia: Hello. Hi. My question is I was wondering if the gospel at the church is supposed to proclaim at the end. Is it similar to the 10 Commandment?
Pastor Doug: That’s a good question, Patricia. I think that if the 10 Commandments are preached biblically, the gospel is embodied in the law because right in the 10 Commandments it says “showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my Commandments.” Mercy, love leads to obedience. So it's telling us that God is a God of mercy and that is the good news. We’ve all broken God's love. We've all sinned. And yet it tells us there on the 3rd Commandment that he is the God of mercy and for those who love.
Pastor Ross: Jesus is in John chapter 14 verse 15, “If you love me, keep my Commandments.”
Pastor Doug: That’s right.
Pastor Ross: So when we experienced God's grace and we love Him, the consequence of that will be obedience to everything He said which is the 10 Commandments.
Pastor Doug: Yeah and the old covenant was the 10 Commandments written on stone. Patricia, the new covenant is “I will write my law in their hearts.” It’s the same law. And then you know the 10 Commandments are summed up in the two Commandments: Love the Lord and your neighbor. And that doesn’t negate the 10. It’s just a summary of those 10 Commandments. So the new covenant is the law of God written in the heart. “Yes I love to do thy will," Psalm 40 verse 8, "thy law is --
Pastor Ross: “Written within my heart.”
Pastor Doug: Written within my heart. Yeah.
Patricia: Okay. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: All right. Thank you. Good question. And by the way, we have a lesson, if Patricia would like to request it it's called "Written in Stone." and if you call our resource number it's talking about the law of God and the gospel. Perfect for your questions.
Pastor Ross: All right. The number to call is 1-800-835-6747. Ask for the study guide “Written in Stones." Pastor Doug, I hear the music playing.
Pastor Doug: That doesn’t mean go away or don’t change the dial please friends. Stay tuned because now we've gotten our momentum. And we wanna keep you for the second half right after some important announcements we wanna share but keep in mind, get a pencil handily because we're gonna be giving you some website addresses that will greatly enhanced your personal devotions. To start with, it's easy to remember amazingfacts.org amazingfacts.org. You can do amazingfacts.comk amazingfacts.net, amazingfacts.tv, I forget what else we have out there.
Pastor Ross: Just amazing.
Pastor Ross: Yeah, you type in Amazing Facts at Google and it will take you to a plethora of websites that have a kaleidoscope of study resources that are available dealing with everything from the Bible says about health to eternal life. Be right back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back friends. And if you are just tuning in, this is Bible Answers Live. It's a live international interactive Bible study. And we'd like to have you be part of this Bible study family. We learn here in the studio as we search your questions, we search the word together. If you'd like to get your questions on the second half of our program, call right now. The number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS. If it makes it easier for you to remember the number with an acronym GODSAYS, very simple or 463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross. I’d like to remind all of our listening friends of our free offer for tonight. It’s a book dealing with what happened when a person dies. It talks about the resurrections. It's entitled "Absent From the Body." Receive that free offer, call the resource number, 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the free offer "Absent from the Body." We'd be happy to send that out to you. Pastor Doug, we were talking about some website as we came to the end of the first half of the program. It’s talking about the Amazing Facts website. What other websites do we have available?
Pastor Doug: Well, a good website to bring comfort to people you know virtually everybody know somebody that's lost somebody. And a lot of questions during this time of grieving. You know what happens when someone dies? What’s the truth? I mean there's so many wacky ideas out there. Everything from channeling and reincarnation and people coming back as other creatures are going to other planets. I mean folks are wondering, Do they just turn to dust and they cease to exist? What happens when someone dies? What does the Bible say? And we have a website called truhtaboutdeath.com. truthaboutdeath.com. You can type it in Google, or Google it, they say, and you'll find that website there. A lot of information of what the Bible say and some also some resources that provide comfort and hope on that subject. But, of course, we've got questions about people have questions about the punishment of the wicked. It’s helltruth.com, a subject that is a lot of biblical misunderstanding. If you have questions about the Sabbath, sabbathtruth.com and many others. As a matter of fact, just by going through amazing facts.com, you can find my favorite links to these other websites.
Pastor Ross: All right. Let’s go to the phone lines. Cathy is listening on KFIA from Tracy, California. Cathy, welcome to the program. You are on Bible Answers Live.
Cathy: Hi hello. My question isin the New Testament all the tribes, the (stuff?) used to be called you know (inaudible 33:14).
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Cathy: And then in the New Testament, I (inaudible 33:19) Ephesians all the… When did and why did it change?
Pastor Doug: That’s a good question. Pastor Ross and I were just looking at the abbreviate version of the question before we went on the air and we weren't all together sure. I think what Cathy is asking is if in the Old Testament, for instance Numbers 14, I know it list some of the Canaanites and it talks about the Jebusites and the Amalekites and the--
Cathy: Hittites.
Pastor Doug: --and the parasites and the termites and all the [Cathy laughs] different nites out there that were evicted and conquered. And then you get into the New Testament and you're correct when you say the Romans, the Thessalonians, the Galatians and it could be because the Old Testament is Hebrew. And so the end of the word (I think?) it’s an English term for how you can identify a group at the end. It's not the suffix, prefix? Not the prefix. Anyway, at the end of the word it’s different coming from the Hebrew, then from the Greek evidently. That’s my--I’m firing in the dark here--but I think that might have something to do with it.
Pastor Ross: And then, of course, in the New Testament when it's speaking about for example, Corinthians, the Lord has been written to those living in (Corinth?) and so those living in Corinth are known as the Corinthians. And the Letters that we have in the New Testament, most of which are to Asia Minor in that area, mostly Greeks speaking people. It wasn’t talking about during the time of Palestine when Israel came and then the Hittites and the Jebusites and so on.
Pastor Doug: Yeah.
Pastor Ross: They were living geographically in a different area when you find the (Letters?) in the New Testament. So maybe geographically, it has some significance.
Pastor Doug: Like here in California, we’re Californians. So if you like New Testament, New York, then New Yorkites.
Cathy: Yeah. [laughs]
Pastor Doug: It’s still a little different.
Cathy: Okay. Thank you very much. God bless you guys.
Pastor Doug: Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Beverly is listening on WMCA from New York, New York. Welcome to the program.
Beverly: Hello. How are you? Good evening.
Pastor Doug: Good evening, Beverly. And your question?
Beverly: My question is of the missing (inaudible 35:31) that states the person that speaks keeps on referring to the end of the church age and those that are (within?) churches--church member, one of the church--will not be saved that they have been judged to be make sure not be part of a church (inaudible 35:52) church at this point in time. Is there any biblical basis that you know of for such…?
Pastor Doug: I have encountered that teaching before. I know the individual that you're talking about. I've actually spoken to him before. And you know he is alone in that theology. The Bible is so very clear that we are baptized into the body of Christ and the church is the body of Christ. And the church is a vehicle that Jesus has on earth that people are saved into. I don’t think anyone can contest that we are saved into the church, into the body of Christ, I think he’s belief is also against the organized churches. Well, the only alternative when you get away from the organized church is you didn’t have a disorganized church. But while I would agree that there is a lot of corruption and there is a lot of apostasy in different churches, some denominations, some individual bodies, I mean I quickly agree there needs to be a revival in the church but even back in the days of Elijah, when he ran away and he said “I'm the only one left, all the other knees have bowed to Bale.” God said stop feeling sorry for yourself, there's a lot of knees in Israel that haven't bowed to Bale, you gotta get back in there and bring revival. He never thought a separationist movement. And the idea for Christians is to pull together and to seek to revive each other, you cannot claim a house from the outside.
Pastor Ross: In Acts chapter 2 verse 47, talking about the early Christian church, it says “God added to the church daily such as who have been saved.” So in the beginning of Christian, God was adding to the church those who were saved, those who received Christ. And at the end of time, those who are receiving Christ are also added into a body of believers. We speak of conversion as being born again, a new born child, a new born baby, must be placed in a caring family in order for it to survive.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, a lamb if it's separated from the flock, is exposed to the wolves so I think it's a very dangerous heresy that's been shared on that programming. Hope that helps a little bit, Beverly. You know we've got a lesson, we'll send you that I think would really help give you some good scriptural support for this. Anybody who has any questions about this idea that the church age has ended, ask for the Bible study Pastor Ross is gonna mention.
Pastor Ross: We have Bible study entitled "Bride of Christ.” “The Bride of Christ," call the resource number 1-800-835-667-747 and it talks about the church especially in a time that we are living: its role, its responsibilities. "The Bride of Christ," just ask for that, 1-800-835-6747. And we go to our next caller. Jason is listening on the internet from Pointe-Claire, Canada. Welcome to the program, Jason.
Jason: Hi, Doug. Hi.
Pastor Doug: Very well. How can we help you, Jason?
Jason: I don’t know if you have a question regarding conviction of the Holy Spirit.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Jason: Now, I'm an amateur boxer. I've been training for about a year now. It’s something I enjoy because I enjoy the (signs?) behind the sport. I’ve been (inaudible 39:05) my gym now. Not only it contributed to my health immensely, I've also dropped over 25 pounds in one year. But I consider everyone I’ve trained with personal friend and someone I like to have throughout my life. Now, I’ve been told that Christians are not to be competitive and well this remains true to me, I cannot help but think, I mean most sport are competitive by nature whether it’d be extreme as wrestling or as he might knew as a game of chess. I find it hard to believe that there will be athletes in the kingdom especially taken into consideration excellent sport (men?) like athlete who’re not so much competitive but just enjoy the game and have fun playing it.
Pastor Doug: Let’s summarize the question. I don’t want to run out of time before I can zero in. What specifically about the subject is it sports? Or is it competitive? Is it the Holy Spirit?
Jason: No, such thing as a lesser sin. Where does one actually draw the line? Or can a line be drawn at all?
Pastor Doug: You’re talking about in Christians being involved in Competitive sports?
Jason: Correct.
Pastor Doug: Well, in the typical competition of the world, there's often a lot of gloating where one is you know just (shouting?) and showing supremacy over another. Pride is at the foundation of the devil's rebellion. That doesn’t mean that Christians can’t engage in physical activity where you might keep score. But I think Christians ought to avoid the environments where the driving force is pride, one being humiliated at the expense of someone else being exalted. I mean you just think about that. Now, I'm not questioning the Christian experience of those who are involved in those kind of sports. You see what I’m saying? I'm not judging them. I think that God got a lot of people that are out there in the sports world that are witnessing their capacity but if you stand back and just really let the Holy Spirit be your guide, can you picture Jesus? Well I used to box, I don’t anymore because my conscience won’t let me do that. But can you really picture Jesus in a ring trying to knock another guy out. I don’t want to give you a hard time, Jason, because let’s think about it.
Jason: Okay.
Pastor Doug: You know it’s one thing for him to be you know just trying to get some physical exercise, I can picture that. I think Jesus was a carpenter and he got some good exercise or even running, you know. The Bible says that a Christians can run. We run the race but some of these sports are a little brutal. And even though it might appeal to a person’s the carnal side, you have to ask yourself “Is that really what Christians gonna do in heaven? They’re gonna box. You know what I mean?
Jason: Okay. That’s right.
Pastor Doug: I'm just being honest with you.
Jason: Yes. Yes. Physical activity is concerned like a game of soccer, a friendly match.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, I think and you know what? There you draw the line may vary. I mean like I said I just quoted (Rapolius?) as an example of racing. Soccer is racing with the ball. I mean it's the spirit also that makes a big difference.
Pastor Ross: You know Pastor Doug, there was a friend that I have who was a great athlete. He would enjoy competitive sports but after he became a Christian, he had to pullback from that because it brought about feelings that he felt contrary to what God would have him to be. Perhaps as an individual,
Pastor Doug: He get angry and frustrated when the score was down. Yeah.
Pastor Ross: Or somebody else has no problem you know that's not part of the nature there. So I think it does to a certain degree depend upon the individual himself when it comes to competitive sports.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, I think that’s what I’m saying. Some people, they need to examine what’s happening. I think it varies from one thing to another. Okay, Jason.
Jason: Okay.
Pastor Doug: I don’t know if that helps at all.
Jason: Thank you so much.
Pastor Doug: Thanks. I appreciate it.
Pastor Ross: Our next caller is Claude listening from Miami, Florida on the internet. Welcome to the program.
Claude: Hi. Hi, Pastor Doug. How you doing?
Pastor Doug: Very well and your question tonight.
Claude: My question is when God created a perfect world where as our world got messed up by sin. Why is the asteroid created? What’s the (inaudible 43:41)…
Pastor Doug: Asteroids?
Claude: Why are they even created?
Pastor Doug: All right. That’s a good question. Right. If the universe is perfect and why do we see these rocky missiles projectiles, hurling about our galaxy causing havoc to planets and peppering them every now and then with… You know, I think we're gonna learn a lot when we get into the kingdom, Claude. I think after sin entered the world, it not only affected our planet but I think it affected our whole solar system. Jean's gonna...
Pastor Ross: You know, we've got a verse in Isaiah 65, God says “Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered.” So when God creates a new earth, he creates new heavens and we understand heavens here to be the stars and the planets, our solar system. So it seems as though sins somehow did affect more to just than planet earth, the consequences of sin. That’s why we have these--
Pastor Doug: Yeah, and Satan he fell from heaven, who knows what he's even done out in our solar system. So you know there could have been some in the same way that sin brought eruptions to our world, pulses the whole creation groans and travails, it could cause eruptions and convulsions in our solar system. So I think some of us are gonna get our answers, Claude, when we get to the kingdom. Okay?
Claude: Yeah, okay.
Pastor Doug: All right. Good question though. Thank you.
Pastor Ross: Jean is listening on the internet from Quinton Ville, Wisconsin. Jean, welcome to the program.
Jean: well, thank you. I'm so honored to speak to you, Doug. I really highly respect you.
Pastor Doug: the honor is mine. Get real close to your phone Jean.
Jean: Okay. My question to you is the Bible is the divine word of God.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Jean: It's compiled by men.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Jean: How can one be assured that the Bible ancient text were transcribed and translated over the ages from ancient languages correctly and thoroughly?
Pastor Doug: All right, good question. I think that if ever there was a book that has been protected supernaturally and keeping the text and the original intact that book is the Bible. One reason I personally believe this because I have been to Israel. I have looked with my own eyes that the Dead Sea scrolls, the originals, with the translator and I picked place out on the scroll of Isaiah which is the largest of the Dead Sea scrolls that’s intact in one piece. Please read this to me. And he began to read from a passage in Isaiah that I recognize immediately and, of course, he’s reading it in Hebrew, he’s translating it to English so I can understand what he’s reading but even with that separation of his reading the ancient Hebrew texts, I knew exactly where he was and it was the same. And so after they discovered the Dead Sea scrolls which predates Christ, and they line them up with the modern examples of the Old Testament, scholars were shocked that there was essentially 99%, they were identical. There were very minor differences. And that’s I think phenomenal after 2000 years.
Jean: Yes, I (inaudible 47:01) you have been over there and that was my second part of my question to see if you ever observed any of those ancient texts?
Pastor Doug: Yeah, it’s really something to see. It’s the national treasure of Israel is a museum called the Shrine of the Brook and it’s a museum that is under many feet of reinforced concrete to protect it from terrorist attack. And even in the New Testament text, I believe it has been supernaturally preserved and very carefully assembled.
Jean: Great.
Pastor Doug: You can trust the word. Of course the best evidence is the way it changes lives today. Thank you for your question, Jean.
Pastor Ross: All right, Jose, if I pronouncing it correctly calling from Orlando.
Pastor Doug: Jose.
Pastor Ross: Jose.
Pastor Doug: You gotta forgive him, Jose. He is not a resident of… He’s a native of South Africa. [Pastor’s laughs]
Pastor Ross: We don’t have too many Jose’s there. Listening from Orlando, Florida. Jose, welcome to the program.
Jose: Welcome. Thank you. My question is I think it’s simple. In John 16:26 could you interpret that in the timeline there that they’re talking about that Jesus is talking about?
Pastor Doug: John 16:26.
Jose: Yeah, I can’t read it cause I’m driving.
Pastor Doug: That’s okay. Do you wanna read that Pastor Ross? Do you got it there?
Pastor Ross: John 16:26 “And at that day you shall ask him my name and shall say unto you that I will pray the father for you.” Next verse, verse 27, for the father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I have come from God.”
Jose: Okay. Now my question is…
Pastor Doug: When he says in that day what day is he talking about?
Jose: Yes, in that day.
Pastor Doug: You know Christ in this whole discourse here in John 14, 15, 16, he’s talking about he needs to go but he’s sending the Holy Spirit. He’s going to empower them for the works he called them to do. There was a starting point. It’s like in a race beginning about a competition a minute ago and an olympic track race sometimes the starter fires a gun and everyone takes off. There really was a starting point when the... You might say the pistol was fired. And that was a day in Pentecost because Jesus told them do not go out preaching yet until you receive from on high. We’ll get the signal when to go and so that when the Holy Spirit was poured out, it says “They were all in one place. They were one accord. When the day of Pentecost was fully calm” and so this marked the point when Hebrews going to empower them with the spirit in a special way and they saw their pray8ers answered in a special way and miracles happening in a special way that hearing their prayers after they were filled with the spirit, they knew how to pray better. And so the answer is one more, more immediate. So I really think that Christ is saying, “Look, there’s going to be a point where you’re gonna know what I’m talking about.” And the outpouring of the spirit is at that point.
Jose: And then he says I will no longer or not the second part of the prayer. I’m trying to remember.
Pastor Ross: Father, himself loves you because you have loved me and I believe that I have come—
Pastor Doug: Oh, you’re talking about what he says I do not say to you that “I shall pray to the father for you, for the father himself loves you.” Yeah, Christ is saying I don’t have to beg the father to answer your prayers cause he loves you so much, he sent me. Sometimes we on earth have this mistaken picture that the father’s up there, he’s the just one and he’s wanting to (thump?) us and Jesus is trying to hold back the hand of discipline but no, it’s the father who sent the son because he wants to save us. So he was dealing with the same misconception in the Jewish culture, we have in the many Christian churches today, that the father is the exacting judge and the son is the merciful one. And Christ is saying “No, it’s father who loves you just like I love you.”
Jose: And as far as that day, that day is that intent until from now or is that over or…?
Pastor Doug: Well you know, the word that day is also taking about the day of salvation in many times in John. He tries to talk about the last day, 3 times in John chapter 6. But I think here he’s talking about the outpouring of the spirit.
Jose: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Jose: Thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Thank you. Appreciate that.
Pastor Ross: Lisa is listening on WMCA from Long Island, New York. Lisa, welcome to the program.
Lisa: Good evening. Good (day?) to you. I was ask a question if you’re seeking to understand as to what was your call in the ministry? How to go about (inaudible 52:04) and what signs would you listen to or hear to?
Pastor Doug: If you’re wondering if you’ve been called to the ministry, what signs do you look for and how do you know which way to go. Well, first of all, the Bible tells us in the multitude of council there is safety as I felt cold in the ministry I noticed a lot of my Christian friends that I had confidence in for their relationship with the Lord, they were saying to me “Doug, have you considered ministry?” I think you are being called in the ministry so that inner voice that I felt was being confirmed by Christian council. Then, of course ,you’ve got the council of God’s word. Sometimes in your personal study, God will direct you in your study the passages that are giving you specific guidance. You know there’s an article that I wrote on how to know the will of God and it sounds to me that a lot of the same answers would apply to you know how to understand and interpret the calling of God in your life. You’ll also see evidence in your calling in your heart you’ll feel a sense of you know what I find the greatest joy and very rarely does God calls us to something. I mean you’ve got your Jonas out there but usually God called us to things we feel a passion about.
Lisa: But I do believe that difficulties that I’ve been having, I’m not sure which directions is it to be in speaking ministry or to be in ministry with music but I know that there is a choir but I’m sort of lost as to the genre as you said, the direction in which I need to go.
Pastor Doug: You know what I think one of the best things to do is Lisa, is you just laid before the Lord and you say Lord I’m willing –George ?? in his book, his autobiographies, said the biggest challenge that we have in knowing God’s will is number one total submission and willingness to do whatever he reveals and if you completely lay yourself before the Lord and say “Lord, I am willing to do whatever you reveal,” then God becomes responsible to direct us step by step and be patient. Sometimes he just test your patience and he wants you to wait on him and then he’ll reveal it. Hope that helps, Lisa. Thank you for your question.
Pastor Ross: Stanley is calling from Irvington New Jersey. Stanley welcome to the program.
Stanley: Yes hi pastors. How you guys doing today?
Pastor Doug: Good. How can we help you tonight.
Stanley: And my question is dealing with Philippians Chapter 2 verse 10, where it says, “That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on the earth and things under the earth.” Now the time (inaudible 54:51) that believes in purgatory? And he well everything there that have to bow down to him, who are those that are under the earth as supposed to bow down to him as well. How do you know what to say there?
Pastor Doug: Well, I don’t think he’s talking about people. The Bible talks about spirits that are bound in everlasting chains of darkness and I think Paul is talking about the good, the saved, the heavenly, the holy, unfallen. Then he comes to earth where you get a mixture of humans, some who trust God, some who don’t. And then you go to the lost fallen angels, they are often referred to as those in the (inaudible 55:34), the underworld, the darkness. And so it’s basically saying you know it talks about… It’s not wrestling against flesh and blood but about principalities and powers and that’s the underworld. It’s not talking about people down.
Stanley: (Inaudible 55:50), like the abyss?
Pastor Doug: Yeah, it’s exactly the Satan and you know the Bible says every knee will bow to Christ in the last days both those above and those below. Though the saved and the lost, even Satan will someday bow before Christ and say that Jesus is (hard?).
Pastor Ross: You know in Jude chapter 1 verse 6, speaking of those fallen angels, it says, “The angels which kept not their first estates but left their own habitation, he has reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto judgment of the great days.” So things under the earth referring to those fallen angels.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, yes, well there’s a story in the Bible where demon came to talk to Saul and he said why did you call me up?”
Stanley: Yes, it’s so true. That’s so true. I don’t think of all these things. Wow.
Pastor Doug: Yeah, I don’t think the devil necessarily inhabits Carl’s bed caverns anything there but if uses that language in the Bible but up is often in the Bible that which is—better, higher, nobler, God good. Down is talking about the darkness and the evil spirits and those sort of things. So hope that helps a little bit, Stanley. Good question.
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