Deadly Frogs in Revelation

Yet the skin of these brilliant little frogs contains some of the most toxic venom in the world. They are called poison dart frogs because the natives in South America had used its powerful venom for centuries, to poison the tips of their blowgun darts for honey. For example, the two-inch long, golden poison dart frog has enough venom to kill 10 grown men. Yet strangely at the same time, modern medicine has learned to use this deadly venom in a positive way to chemically paralyze a patient during surgery.

Scientists are unsure how poison dart frogs get their toxicity, but it’s possible they assimilate plant poisons that are carried by the insects they eat. That’s because poison dart frogs, when raised in captivity and isolated from their native habitat, they never develop the venom.

Friends, did you know the Bible says that there are some deadly frogs connected with the last-day prophesies of Revelation? Stay with us. We're going to learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.

[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]

Pastor Doug Batchelor: One more time, here's the phone number. We have lines open if you have a Bible question. It's 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297. This program is designed to give you an opportunity to ask a Bible-related question. If you have questions about the Bible, or the Christian teachings or theology, we’ll do our best to search the Word of God together. This is a live, international, interactive Bible study. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Jëan Ross: My name is Jëan Ross. Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug. Let’s begin the program with a word of prayer. Dear Father, once again we do thank You that we have this opportunity to study Your Word together. We want to ask Your special blessing on this program. Be with those who are listening wherever they might be and guide us, Lord, into a clearer and a fuller understanding of Your Word, for Your Word is truth. So be with us this evening. For we ask this in Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug, you opened the program by talking about poison dart frogs, very fascinating information. One doesn’t realize how poisonous the poison on the skin of this frog is. You mentioned that one frog has sufficient poison to kill 10 men.

I once read that a teaspoon of this poison was enough to kill 10 elephants. That’s how powerful that poison is.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Wow!

Pastor Jëan Ross: Now, you mentioned also the Bible has something to say about frogs. We know that there are frogs in Genesis. We read about the plagues that came upon Egypt. One of the plagues was just thousands of frogs. We don’t know how many, but just frogs that overran the land of Egypt. But then we also read in the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation, It also speaks about frogs and something coming out of the mouths of the frogs.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: That’s right. You can read that in Revelation. That’s the last book in the Bible, this book of prophesy, Revelation 16, verses 13 and14. Here John says, “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.”

Obviously, if they're coming from the mouth of the beast and the dragon, the dragon is a type of the devil, and the false prophet, these are not good frogs. "For they are the spirits of devils," or demons, "working miracles, that go out to the kings of the earth," meaning the leaders of the earth, "and the whole world, to gather them together to the battle of the great day of God Almighty."

It tells us that that battle is what we know as the "battle of Armageddon." So these unclean spirits somehow deceive and work miracles to convince the leaders of the world to come in this final battle and attack those that have the seal of God. Now, there has been a lot of speculation about what are these spirits.

The Bible tells us that we need to very careful when the devil impersonates the dead. Just before a great battle, during the life of King David, his nemesis, King Saul, he went to a witch. And this witch conjured up, supposedly, the spirit of a dead prophet. That spirit spoke and deceived Saul where all of Israel was defeated the next day and Saul killed himself.

Some have wondered if, maybe in the last days, the devil is going to, again, use these spirits, these fallen angels, these demons to manipulate the leaders of the world saying they are the voices of the dead to deceive them, to doubt God’s word and basically form a coalition, a confederacy, an evil confederacy to annihilate God’s people. Maybe our friends would like to know more about what the Bible says about this. We have a free offer on this subject.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We’ve got a book entitled, Spirits of the Dead, and will send the book to anyone who calls and asks for it. The number to call is 1-800-835-6747 and you can ask for the book, Spirits of the Dead, and we’ll be happy to send that out to anyone who calls and asks. You know Pastor Doug, we are also streaming our program live this evening. So if any of our listeners are close to their computers, just go Live.AmazingFacts.org, and you can join us here in the studio via the web.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Alright.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We're ready for our phone calls this evening. Our First caller is J.J. and he is listening from the Philippians. J.J., welcome to the program.

J.J.: Good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Good evening, and your question tonight?

J.J.: It’s actually morning here in the Philippines.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well bless your heart. We're very thankful that you’ve called in. I can’t even imagine what time it must be there right now.

J.J.: It's 10 am right now.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Okay, yeah. That would make sense. And your question tonight?

J.J.: Yes Pastor Doug, Pastor Ross, I do believe that the Father and the Son are both co-eternal and equally God. I just want to find out why is the Father called the Father and the Son called the Son? You read in Psalms that the Father said that, "You are My Son. This day I have begotten You." Why is the Father the Father and the Son the Son if they are both eternal and from everlasting?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well that is a good question. There are some things about God the Bible is very clear. He says in Isaiah that, "As the heaven is high about the earth, so are My ways above your ways." Then we can read that God is past finding out. There are some things that are mysterious, the mystery of Godliness.

But I think that God chose those terms to refer to He and his Son in a Father/Son relationship because it depicts for us: the strongest earthly bond is that of a parent for the child. Also, it’s often true that parents and children resemble each other a lot. So Christ said, "If you’ve seen Me, you’ve seen the Father." So He came to reveal the Father to us because He's identical, while He's a separate Person.

Now the reason He's called the Son is for our benefit. The only time God was born is when God became a human and was born in our world. It’s called the Incarnation. But prior to that God said--you read in John 17--He said, “...The glory that I had with you before the world was...." Christ shared in the perfect glory of God before He came to our earth and humbled Himself and became a man.”

Pastor Jëan Ross: That verse you’re referring to is John 17, verse 5.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: So we do have a book we’ll be happy to share with you J.J. But in the Philippines the best thing would be if you go on the internet, and if you go to the Amazing Facts' website--I know you are on the internet now--go to the Amazing Facts' website. We have a book that you can read there for a free called, "The Trinity: Is it Biblical?" It’s under our free book library, "The Trinity: Is it Biblical?"

We deal with that question and a number of others on this subject, but we're always thrilled when we get a call from the other side of the planet. Thank you so much.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Fred and he is listening in Connecticut. Fred, welcome to the program.

Fred: Yes. I was just wondering what’s the best way to study and understand prophesy?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well that’s a good question, it’s a big question; so we probably can’t answer it as much as, or thoroughly as we’d like to in just two or three minutes. But study it the way the Bible writers studied it. In other words, when you look at the New Testament writers, they were reading the prophesies in the Old Testament.

For example, they look at the prophesies in the Old Testament that told about Jesus’ first coming, and you can see how did they apply those Old Testament prophecies and point to Jesus being the fulfillment. There is a prophesy in Micah about Jesus being born in Bethlehem; and there's a prophesy in Jeremiah about Rachel weeping for her children because all the babies in Bethlehem were killed when Jesus was born.

There's a prophesy in Psalms about them--Psalm 22--gambling for Jesus' garments and piercing His hands and feet. So, interpret prophesy the way the Bible writers interpreted earlier prophesy. Knowing the Old Testament is really important because in a book like Revelation, I've read that there are 404 versus in Revelation, and that 278 of the total 404 in the book of Revelation are eluding to, or identical to, an Old Testament passage.

For instance, in Revelation it talks in chapter 20 about Gog and Magog, well that comes from Ezekiel chapter 37. In Revelation it talks about the serpent, well that talks about Genesis chapter 3. So there are just so many quotes. It talks about the fall of Babylon, Isaiah talks about it, and Revelation. So knowing the Old Testament really helps you get the puzzle pieces together.

It’s kind of like a puzzle. You ever buy one of those picture puzzles before, Fred, where in order to get it together, it really helps to have to lid of the box with that original picture. When you're looking at the original picture, the pieces start to make sense. The Old Testament is the box of the puzzle; and having that really helps interpret how to put the other New Testament prophesies together.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, we find the principle in Isaiah chapter 28 and verse 10 where it says, “Precept must be upon precept, line upon line, here a little and there a little.” The preceding verse speaks about, "Who will he teach knowledge? To whom will he give understanding?" So in order to understand the full truth of Scripture, we need to look at everything that the Bible has to say on that particular subject.

There is another verse in the Old Testament that says, “In the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.” So when you look at multiple texts dealing with a particular subject, we get a clearer and a full understanding of what the Bible has to say about that.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: That’s a good point.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have a book called, The Ultimate Resource. It talks about the Bible, a little bit of the history; but it also mentions there how to study the Bible, how we can get the most from our time in God’s word. Fred, we’ll send that to you, or anyone who calls and asks for that resource.

The number to call is 1-800-835-6747. Ask for the book, The Ultimate Resource. We have Diane who is listening in Oregon. Diane, welcome to the program.

Diane: Hello. Thank you for taking my call.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Thank you for calling.

Diane: Yes, Pastor Doug. Okay, I have a question. It says that when we go to heaven that God is going to wipe away.... There will be no crying, pain, suffering or death during the 1,000 years.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Okay.

Diane: Okay. I have heard that that’s not going to take place during the 1,000 years. It’s going to take place on the third coming, when Jesus promised that…

Pastor Doug Batchelor: At the end of the millennium.

Diane: At the end of the millennium, yeah, and so that the saints are actually going to be mourning and crying over loved ones who didn’t make it into heaven and so forth. But this person I’ve heard speak on this has not given any Scripture for this. Have you heard of this and is there Scripture that says that?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well yes, I have heard of it. Well first of all, let me just set something straight. The redeemed that are in heaven during the 1,000 years, the saved, are not going to be crying for 1,000 years. I mean, nobody would want to do that. But the verses regarding the beginning of the 1,000 years is Revelation chapter 20. The place where God says He will wipe away all tears from their eyes and there is no more pain, and no more sin and no more sorrow is Revelation 21.

It is possible that, during the 1,000 years, there will be some sorrow when we first get to heaven and see that certain ones we loved are not there. I don’t think God is erasing all emotion from people’s hearts. Now, we'll be surrounded with such incredible bliss and glory that it’s going to overshadow that.

Then at the end of the 1,000 years when the wicked are punished, I don’t think that the saved are going to be singing if you’ve got any friends or loved ones or people you knew that are thrown into the lake of fire. You know, angels sing when people are saved. I think angels are sad, even in heaven. When Christ was on the cross I'm sure they were sad. I'm sure that they were deeply grieved.

So, heaven is not without emotion. The Bible even tells us that God has these emotions of sadness, and anger, and joy and singing. But after the 1,000 years in sin and sinners are forever done away with, there's no more cause for sorrow so God wipes away all tears from their eyes. That’s a little speculation, but that’s why I think that some ministries teach that.

Diane: Oh okay. So there is a specific Scripture that says that?

Pastor Jëan Ross: Yeah, I can give you verse. Its Revelation 21:4. If you go back to verse 1 it says, “Then I saw a new heaven and new earth and the first heaven and the first earth was passed away.” So it's speaking about at the end of the 1,000 years when God creates a new earth. And then in verse 4 says, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying....”

We also have a study guide dealing with the subject of the 1,000 years called, A 1,000 Years of Peace. You will find that interesting, Diane, or anyone who wants to learn more about Revelation chapter 20. Call 1-800-835-6747 and you can ask for the study guide, A 1,000 Years of Peace.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Very good. Hey, thank you for your call Diane.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have E. Frank who is listening in New York. E. Frank, welcome to the program.

E. Frank: Yes. Thank you for taking my call Pastor Doug and Pastor Jëan. I have this question that I’ve always pondered in my personal life. You know, I've asked many of my fellow Christians--Bible-believing, saved Christians--I've asked them is it a wise idea or is it advisable that a saved person who has received the blood of Christ, date or have any type of friendly or intercommunication, inter-religious or interdenominational-wise, in the sense of having a type of Christian dialogue, if you're well aware and cognizant of the fact that that individual that is the female gentlewoman is probably unsaved and is unrepentant of her sins and has not yet received the blood of Christ?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Sorry, are you asking if a believing Christian should be romantically involved with an unbeliever?

E. Frank: Yes.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Alright, because I think, obviously, believers should become friends to share their faith with unbelievers. Jesus was friends of publicans and sinners so obviously we should. Being romantically involved is a whole different thing. That’s where you read that verse that you find in 2nd Corinthians 6:16, or 6:14, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers.”

They would take two animals and they'd be put them together with this implement around their necks so they could pull in stereo together. They did have a law, I don’t remember where it is. It’s in the Old Testament where it says, “You're not to yoke together an ox and a donkey.”

And I'm not sure; I think it’s probably practical reasons for that, but their habits in the way they pull and the strength with which they pull is so uneven, it would be like trying to row a boat with a fork and a spoon. It’s just not going to work. So, for a believer to become involved romantically with an unbeliever, Jesus said, “Can two walk together if they are not agreed?”

You want to be one when you get married to somebody. You should be one in your faith and your convictions. And, obviously, if one person says, “Look, my whole life is sold out for Jesus and I'm going to heaven and follow His word,” and the other person says, “I'm going to just kind of follow what the world is doing,” you're not going the same direction.

A common mistake that a lot of Christians make is they say, “Well you know what, I'll start dating this person. As I'm dating them I'll study with them and after we get married or before we get married, I'm sure they will come around.” That’s a bad idea. What ends up happening is people get blinded by their love and their affections, and they end up making rash and foolish decisions and think unrealistically.

I've also seen it where--whether it’s a young man or a young lady--I’ve seen it both ways. They'll say, “Well you know, they're studying. I'm sure after we get married they're going to come around and join the church and become a Christian.” Doesn’t always work that way; and sometimes the believer ends up becoming an unbeliever or they backslide because of that relationship. So, you want to add to that Pastor Ross?

Pastor Jëan Ross: Absolutely. You know, Pastor Doug, how many times we counseled in our pastoral ministry folks who have reasoned the way that you’ve just presented, you know: "Well you know, they're studying and they come to church…"

Pastor Doug Batchelor: And they'll say, "They're such good people."

Pastor Jëan Ross: "They're good people."

Pastor Doug Batchelor: "They're lovely people, and they're so nice, and they’ve got all these other Christian attributes." And I've often heard them say, “Well, they're more like Christians than any of the Christians I've ever dated,” and you know, it sounds good. But when God’s word says don’t do it, it’s pretty clear. So hope that helps, E. Frank. I appreciate your question.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have Mike who is listening from New Jersey. Mike, welcome to the program. Mike, you're the air.

Mike: Yes, how are you?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Hi

Mike: Yes, I want to refer back to your main subject of Revelation 16:13. I have studied that verse for a number years and tried to come to some conclusions. One thing I had been listening to, a fellow by the name of Lee (unintelligible) or something like that, he claims to be Christian. He says that these three frogs in Revelation 16 are demons that are pretending to be alien beings, and what they are doing, these miracles that they are doing, is showing the governments, three separate governments, how to build an alien-type craft, or a flying saucer or an UFO-type of thing. And what they're actually doing is duping three nations into believing that each one of them are the only ones that have this type of craft and they will all be released on Armageddon. I was just wondering if that has any kind of truth in it?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well you know, nothing surprises me anymore, but I don’t think that has biblical truth. That, to me, sounds like it’s kind of pretty wild speculation without biblical support. I mean, a person could say anything and create all kinds of very creative, fictional ideas about what this means, but I think that’s sort of the out of the ballpark.

The reason being the battle through Revelation is between two earthly religions. You’ve got the truth and those who worship God, keep His commandments, have the seal of God. Then you have a counterfeit that’s identified in Revelation 18 as, "Babylon, the Mother of Harlots." In other words, all these false churches and religious. So I really don’t think--you know, fallen angels, if you want to be technical, fallen angels are aliens. I mean, they come from other worlds.

But the idea about the spacecraft and them pretending to be creatures from other planets, I don't think--you know, all they would have to do is appear as angels and say they're good angels, and that would work the same effect. The whole part about pretending to be aliens from another world, I think that’s mixing some of the Hollywood thinking in with the Bible. Creative, but I don’t think it’s accurate. I think probably…go ahead, I'm sorry.

Mike: There is a lot UFO reporting and people claiming to be abducted. I believe that’s all being done by these demons, don’t you?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, I’m a pilot and I've run into a lot of UFOs and later found out that it was something that could be naturally explained. I mean, I have seen things up in the sky. I've even chased things and later found out that it was one of these big fluorescent Mylar balloons and I thought it was a UFO. So, I think that most of those things can be explained through natural phenomenon.

The devil--no question--that Satan and his angels can impersonate anything. They could create illusions; and he is an angel of light and can create all kinds of distractions, but I don’t think Revelation chapter 16, where the three frogs coming out of the mouth of the beast, the dragon and the false prophet, are referring to alien or pretended alien activity, especially when it comes to a spacecraft. I don’t know if you have any thoughts on that Pastor Ross?

Pastor Jëan Ross: I was going to mention, Pastor Doug, we do have a book called, The Dragon, the Beast and the Woman. If you'll notice in Revelation chapter 16 it speaks about three unclean spirits coming out of the mouth of the dragon, the beast and the false prophet.

So if you want to know who the dragon is, and who the beast is and who the false prophet is, that would be a great resource to take a look at. You can read it for free online at Amazing Facts, or you can call our resource number, which is 1-800-835-6747, and you can ask for the book, The dragon, the Beast and the False Prophet.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Okay, hey I appreciate that. We have time for one more before our break.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have Aaron who is listening from Carmichael. Aaron, welcome to the program.

Aaron: Hi. I had a question on 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 7. It says, and I'm reading out of the NIV, “For the secret power of the lawless one is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so til he is taken out of the way.”

I was wondering about "he" because I have been discussing this versus someone that I know; and they said that it could be the Holy Spirit. It could be someone or something different.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Yeah. It’s a capital H in New King James version. Pastor Ross, you have a thought on that?

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, I think Paul is also bringing to light--I mean, he already spoke to the believers in Thessalonica in 1st Thessalonians; and he spoke about the antichrist power that was to arise, and it would happen as a result of a falling away from the truth. Then he says, "That antichrist power is not yet arisen, for God is still holding things back."

As time progressed from Paul’s day onward, there was this falling away from truth; and eventually the "man of sin," as Paul refers to it, did arise and did lead many astray. So God was holding back that falling away for as long as He could.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Yeah. It's sort of like when it tells us in Revelation the angels are holding back the wings of strife. I think that’s chapter 7. And in the same way, don’t forget you heard Pastor Ross say that "man of sin," that antichrist power, did come. John says--people are surprised to learn he says there are many antichrists.

When we talk about the antichrist today, people are always thinking about this one, kind of half-human, half-diabolical creature in the last days that is the ultimate antichrist; but there have been a number of manifestations of this antichrist power through history. We have a lesson that talks about that.

By the way, the lesson is called, "Who is the Antichrist?" You can read it online or you can send for that Aaron. We’ll be happy to send it to you. Yeah so, I guess a quick answer would be the "he" there is the Holy Spirit holding back that power. So anyone, just go to AmazingFacts.org, and there you can read that lesson for free on, "Who is the Antichrist?" You're listening to Bible Answers Live.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Pastor Doug, we're going to take a break in just a few moments, but before we do that, we’d like to mention one of our websites that Amazing Facts has. And this evening, I thought maybe we could highlight the Amazing Facts' website. AmazingFacts.com, or .org, is just a power packed with great resources for people wanting to study the Bible.

I'm just looking now at the website. There are some tabs that a person can click on. There is a tab that says, Bible study. You're able to go to the media library. You can enroll in the free online Bible school. There is even a daily devotional that you can read, just great resources, AmazingFacts.org.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Yup. We want to try and reach people through every possible sense. If you like to read, we’ve got great studies. If you like to listen, a lot of audio messages. If you like to watch, there's video information there; short ones, long ones and there's just a kaleidoscope of Bible study and prophesy study material to enrich your walk with Jesus. We're going to back after these important messages for more questions.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Welcome back listening friends and some who have joined along the way. You are listening to Bible Answers Live. This is just what the title says. It's a live, international, interactive Bible study, interactive because we're hoping you're praying for us as we're doing our best to answer people’s Bible’s questions. You can listen and you can call in with a Bible question.

Yes, we still have some lines open. That number, it's a free phone call, 1-800-463-7297. The acronym that we’ve got is 1-800-GOD-SAYS. 1-800-463-7297 will bring you into our studio for your live Bible question. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Jëan Ross: My name is Jëan Ross. Let’s go to the phone lines. We have Gill who is listening in New York. Gill, welcome to the program.

Gill: Yes, good evening. God Bless you. Hi guys.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Good evening.

Gill: I wanted to ask a question. Before I mention it, I just want to mention 1st Corinthians 2:9 where it says, “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” In light of Isaiah chapter 11, when God makes a new heaven and new earth and all of that stuff, do you take literally where it says that the lion will lay with the lamb, and the child will pray with the cobra snake, and the curse being removed, that that would be in a 1,000 years? And do you also take the view of (unintelligible) or the pre-millennium in light of Isaiah chapter 11?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well first of all, there's no question in my mind that the part about the animals getting along perfectly, that’s mentioned in several places in the Bible. In the beginning in the Garden of Eden, the animals did not kill each other because there was no death. So all the animals were vegetarians. That’s why it says the lion will eat grass like the ox.

So yes, all the animals now that we think are dangerous or harmful, they'll be totally peaceful and they'll co-exist peacefully and it's going to be an Eden and a Paradise, a thousand times more than anyone can imagine. But it’s not just for a 1,000 years. It's going to last through eternity.

Now, God does not create the new heaven and the new earth until the end of 1,000 years. And this an area, Gill, where a lot of people sometimes get confused. They think that the righteous are going to be reigning over the wicked during the 1,000 years, and it doesn’t say that. It says we live and reign with Christ.

Now think about this, we're with Christ. Jesus Says in John 14, “I go to prepare a place for you,” which He says, "In my Father’s house are many mansions. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will surely come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am you might be." He's taking us to that other place.

We live and reign with him in heaven for 1,000 years. Then you read in Revelation 21, at the end of that 1,000 years, the New Jerusalem comes down to earth; and after the final White Throne judgment, God purifies the earth with fire. He makes a new heaven and new earth and those creatures are going to dwell peacefully. I think it’s also mentioned in Isaiah 65 as well, they're going to dwell peacefully through eternity together. So hopefully that answers your question.

Gill: Yes, it does.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, very good, I appreciate that Gill. Pastor Ross, we have a lesson, don’t we?

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have a lesson called, A 1,000 Years of Peace; and Pastor Doug, you preached a sermon that folks can listen to or watch at the Amazing Facts’ website talking about the millennium called--I don’t know if you called it A Thousand Years of Peace--or what the title is.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, I've done it about three times. I think once it’s called, Satan’s 1,000-year Vacation, or… The thing is it's varying titles, but if you search the subject of the Millennium at the Amazing Facts' search window, you'll find a number of resources. A lot of people have questions about this future time period. Is it spiritual? Is it literal? I'm not going to tell you. Go ahead and look it up and let me know what you think.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have Robert who is listening in Georgia. Robert, welcome to the program.

Robert: Thank you.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Hi Robert, your question tonight?

Robert: I heard you speaking a minute ago on that person from, I think, the Philippines about the Trinity and stuff like that. My question is there are so many religions, and I am--let me say that I have studied several different religions and stuff while growing up. But I am a Bible-believer and I know a lot of religions speak of the Trinity, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost. I want to know are they classified as false religions and prophets, because there are too many different quotes in the Bible that clearly says that they are three, separate People. God is not Jesus, Jesus is not God or the Holy Spirit. You know, if that was the case, you know, God would never have said, "I gave My only begotten Son." Or, when Jesus was ascending into heaven, He goes, "I go to my Father’s house to prepare for you a place." And there are many others (unintelligible) that. Are they classified as false prophets or something? Because I'm totally confused when everybody is talking of the Trinity, knowing that when I grew up the Trinity was not a part of it, do you understand?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Right. You know, I think that there is obviously a number of religions out there, and even within Christianity, we know there are some cults that call themselves Christians. That doesn’t mean that every belief that a cult has is wrong. There are a number of religions, and even Christian cults, that have the right answer about the Trinity and other doctrines, but they are very wrong about other things which can make their beliefs dangerous. A person can have a very nice dinner and all they need is a little poison. We started our program talking about the dangers of poison.

They can have a little poison sprinkled. Sometimes the poison is in the mashed potatoes and sometimes it’s in the salad. It could appear anywhere, and the rest of the food is good. So there are religions that do understand the principle of the Trinity. But you're on the right track Robert.

It’s really clear from the Bible that the Father, Son and Spirit and three distinct Individuals. My favorite illustration is the baptism of Jesus. Jesus is there in the water. The voice of God the Father is saying, "This is my son." God the Spirit is coming down like a dove, so you see a picture of all Three. And, of course, at the end of Matthew Jesus says, "...baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit."

But also, if you didn’t hear us mention it earlier, we have a booklet that we’ve written you can read online, "The Trinity: Is it Biblical?" We’ll be happy to send you a free a copy of that Robert, you or anyone who wants to receive it. Or you can read it, just go into AmazingFacts.org and type in the word Trinity. There are number of resources there.

Pastor Jëan Ross: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747. That is the resource line. You'll be able to ask for the book, "The Trinity: Is it Biblical?" Our next caller is Thomas and he is listening in Orlando. Thomas, welcome to the program.

Thomas: Yes, good morning--actually, good evening. I had a question about Zechariah 13, verses 8 and 9. And it says, “And it shall come to pass, in all the land, says the LORD, that two thirds in it shall be cut off and die; but one third shall be left in it. I will bring the one third through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested." Is that referring to the last days, like the actual number of people that will be saved and lost?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well you know, you'll find a third mentioned several times. One of the plagues that talks about a third of the trees are being destroyed; and a third of the fish in the sea died; and when God’s army with Gideon went out against the enemy, there were three enemies. It was the Midianites, and the Amalekites, and the people of the east, and then Gideon divided his army into three parts.

You'll often find things divided up into a third. Sometimes kings, when they’d conquer a country, just to teach a lesson they would execute a third of people. They would leave a third to stay to take a care of the land, and they would sell a third as slaves. So I think that’s more about what Zechariah is talking about here. It’s a judgment that was going to come on Israel. That did happen when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.

About a third of the people were killed, a third were sold off slaves, and some of the poorest of the land were left to just keep the fields and the orchids, producing food for the Romans.

Thomas: Okay.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: So yeah. Let me see, Zechariah, he lived after Nebuchadnezzar, right? Yeah, I'm just--I woke up in New Mexico friends. I'm tired [laughs]. So, hope that helps a little bit Thomas.

Pastor Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Mary and she is listening in Nevada. Mary, welcome to the program.

Mary: Hi, there Pastor Doug. I really appreciate your program. I don’t get to listen it each time and I have a hard time getting on it. But anyhow, my question is on divorce and remarriage. If a person has been married twice and divorced twice, but the last one that was divorced, she wanted her husband to take her back. Is that biblical? I have not found anything in the Bible that says one way or the other, after they’ve married, divorced, and then she wants him to take her back.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, and Pastor Ross might look it up for me, I think it’s in Exodus where one of the Mosaic laws, he says, "If a man puts away his wife and he marries another, he cannot divorce that woman and take her back again." Now, that’s a little different scenario than when a couple of divorces and then they reconcile, that would be a good thing.

But what God didn’t want to happen was for the Israelites to get into the pattern of saying, "You know, I think I'm getting tired of my husband (or my wife). I'm going to divorce them and I'm going to try someone else," and just kind of get into legalized wife and husband swapping.

Mary: Then if that’s the covenant, when they get a divorce, that’s breaking the covenant between the two people and God.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Right.

Mary: So when the man takes the wife back, the same wife back, she's going to have consequences from her sins she committed during the time they were separated. Now, won’t the man that takes her back have to…?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Won’t he have to deal with that?

Mary: Yeah, won’t he have to deal with her consequences too? And that's a little unfair I think.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Every sin has consequences. That doesn’t mean that God won’t forgive. Now here is an example: David stole Uriah’s wife, killed Uriah, or indirectly killed Uriah, and it was a terrible sin and there were terrible consequences. There was a lot of heartbreak and death in David’s family because of that sin; but God forgave David and Bathsheba and He recognized their marriage. Because sometimes, you know, you cannot unscramble scrambled eggs.

Even after Abraham made that mistake of taking Hagar as an extra wife and he had a son, Ishmael, even after he sent Hagar away, God still accepted and said He would bless Ishmael. So God is patient, and He's merciful; and yeah, there are consequences, and sin leaves scars that stay. But God is merciful.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have a book. This, of course, is an important subject. We get a lot of questions on it, and Pastor Doug, recently wrote a book entitled, Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage, laying out some important, biblical principles dealing with different circumstances that arise. We'll send that to anyone who calls and asks for it.

The number for our resource line is 1-800-835-6747. You can ask for the book, Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. If you have a Bible question, we have a few phone lines that are now open. The number to call here to the studio is 1-800-463-7297, again that’s 1-800-463-7297.

If you pick up your phone and call, there's a good chance we'll be able to get you on the program this evening. Our next caller is Trudy and she is listening from New York. Trudy, welcome to the program.

Trudy: Hi. Good evening Pastor Doug, Pastor Ross.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Good evening.

Trudy: My question today is about 1st John chapter 5, verses 16 and 17. I was just wondering if you could give me some clarity on what John might be trying to say here. It’s a little confusing to me.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well it is, actually, a little bit of a mystery but we’ll do our best. Let me read this for our friends who are listening. In 1st John 5:16, “If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He," meaning God, "will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death: and I do not say you should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not leading to death."

Most people have believed that this is talking about someone who has settled into a rebellious attitude of just a commitment to sin, and really the unpardonable sin. The only sin for which there is no forgiveness is the unpardonable sin. A person would really have to be led by the Spirit to know that you’re really spinning your wheels sometimes to pray for people that have just said, “Hey, I'm turning my back on God,” and they're grieving away the Holy Spirit. I’d be afraid to ever make that call but John, as an apostle, seems to think that Spirit-led people can do that.

Pastor Jëan Ross: I think one of the sins that might fall into this category as a sin that does not lead to death could possibly be sins that have been committed in ignorance. If there is somebody who is unaware or has never studied to the point of understanding that they might be living in violation, perhaps of one of God’s commandments, and yet they love the Lord and they live up to the truth that they have, if that person would ask for prayer or you would intercede on their behalf, God judges each person based upon what they know, and that’s comforting. There's a lot of folks who are living up to all of the light that they have and God knows their heart.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: That’s right.

Mary: Yeah, that actually makes sense, thank you.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Alright, hey thank you. Appreciate your calling Trudy. We have a book that I just wrote about the unpardonable sin. It’s called, Beyond Mercy. It is a difficult subject. But for any of our friends out there that have wondered what is that unforgivable sin, there is a book called, Beyond Mercy. We hope you’ll learn from that. We’ll send you a free copy.

Pastor Jëan Ross: The number for our resource is 1-800-835-6747, and the book is, Beyond Mercy. Just call and ask for it and we’ll send it out to anyone who calls and asks. You can also read it for free online at AmazingFacts.org. If you have a Bible question, the number here to the studio is 1-800-463-7297, that’s 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 463-7297. We have Tim who is calling from Texas. Tim, welcome to the program.

Tim: Hey, how are you doing Doug?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Doing great, thank you for calling.

Tim: This is Tim, the street evangelist, you know me. I have a question. I was reading your pamphlet today, your Bible study, America in Prophesy. It said the kings of the east is Father God and Jesus, and also about the Euphrates drying up is mostly people. How do you prove that from the Bible?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, we were answering a question earlier in tonight’s program about how do you understand prophesy? You compare the New Testament prophesies with the Old Testament prophesies, or the Old Testament history. When the people of God were captives in Babylon, the Babylonians controlled the kingdom.

You remember King Belshazzar had this wicked feast where he was mocking the God of heaven and drinking praises to his pagan idols using the holy vessels from the temple. And at that very time, the handwriting appeared on the wall telling them that a judgment was coming. There were kings from the east, and that was Medo-Persian kings that were camped outside the city.

They diverted the Euphrates River where it ran under the walls of Babylon. The Babylonians thought the Persians would never get into the city, they would never be able to conquer the city. That’s why they were having a party. The walls were too big and the river Euphrates ran under the wall. They never realized they would think to divert the river, and the army slipped under the wall, opened the gates, and the city fell.

So when Babylon fell, it represented that God’s people could go back to the Promised Land. When Jesus--the Bible tells us that He's like the Sun of righteousness that comes with healing in His wings, the sun usually rises in the east. When Jesus comes in the glory of the Father, it’s a sign that we're going to be going back. We'll be delivered from spiritual Babylon and we get to go back to the Promised Land. So that’s the rationale that I’ve heard. Pastor Ross just did a study on this.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, I think the verse you're referring to is Revelation 16:12. Let me read it. It says, “Then the sixth angel poured out his vial on the great river Euphrates; and its water dried up, that the way of the kings of the east might be prepared.”

Now, I know in Revelation chapter 17:15 that water represents multitudes, and nations, and kindred and tongues. So you have this organization or institution called "Babylon" in Revelation, just sort of a melting pot of different religions. You have this institution that has been supported by different nations and groups; and then before Jesus comes there is a withdrawal of support of the people, which prepares the way for the coming of Jesus. He is described here as "the kings of the east." That would be Christ and all of His angels coming to deliver His people, just like Cyrus and the Persians and the Medes came and delivered the Jews when the Jews were in Babylonian captivity.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Yup. Cyrus and Darius, I believe, were the two that came. Yeah, Darius was actually king shortly after Daniel 6. Anyway, well hope that helps a little bit Tim. We appreciate your question. I think we might have a few more people lined up here.

Pastor Jëan Ross: We have Keith who is listening from California. Keith, welcome to the program.

Keith: Yes, thank you. I had a question on 1st Corinthians chapter 11. It’s a two-fold question regarding in verse 15, it says that the woman’s hair is her covering. But it seems that it’s another covering that it's referring to. I'm wondering is the covering referring to her hair? And also, the other part of the question is, in verse 10 it says that this is because of the angels. So why does it say that?

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, I think that Paul is talking about a separate covering over the hair when a woman--it doesn’t mean she always needs to wear it--but when she would pray or prophesy in public. Of course, most people believe or most scholars believe this was a cultural recommendation to avoid the Christians in Corinth looking like bad witnesses, and it was a custom. Then he argues; he says, "Look, even a woman’s hair is sort of a natural covering that God has given her."

It is true that some women do lose their hair later in life, not nearly as many as the men. They typically have more hair, and it's considered their glory. You know, also it’s a symbol of veiling your glory when you come into the Presence of God. And that refers to where the angels veil their faces and their feet in Isaiah chapter 6 because they are in the glory of God, they are in the Presence of God.

So as a sign of humility, they cover their faces, they cover their feet. Because a woman’s hair is her glory, as a sign of humility and not wanting to be ostentatious, they would cover their heads as they went into worship. It's really saying if she praying or preaching publicly.

I know a lot of churches practice that today and I have no problem if they want to practice that. I think we need to be careful about mandating this a commandment for a couple of reasons. One is, later in the chapter Paul tells us, and I forget what verse it is, he said, "This is a custom." And secondly, because you don’t build a doctrine on one verse. You need two or three witnesses to kind of develop a doctrine; this is the only verse really referring to a woman covering her head when praying in public.

Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, I think the--Pastor Doug, you answered that--I kind of liked the point you brought out that the angels in heaven, the seraphim that’s standing in the Presence of God; Isaiah tells about the angels who cry, "Holy, Holy, Holy", and they cover their faces, Isaiah chapter 6, verses 2 and 3. And it seems as though Paul is referring to this in this passage.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Yeah, and that verse I forgot about is 1st Corinthians 11:16. It's where it says, “We have no such customs nor do the churches of God.” This is right there after he talks about the length of hair for men and women and all of that. Hopefully that helps Keith. You know Pastor Ross, we get that question so often. We probably ought to do a little sermon book on that. So, hopefully, you're not busy tomorrow [chuckles].

Pastor Jëan Ross: [Laughs] We’ll have to put that off until the next day. We’ve got Sandra who is listening from Sacramento. Sandra, welcome to the program.

Sandra: Hi there. I have a question in Genesis 2:18, “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a help mate for him.” My question is, I'm like 59, I've never been married and no children. Has God made me for a gentleman out there that’s going cross my path one day? I've tried all of the dating, you know, the online, and so forth and so on; and I've been engaged for a couple of times. I've broken that off. Nothing seems to be working out. So I'm telling myself I'm going to let God handle this; and I guess that’s what I'm wondering because I'm starting to get nervous.

Pastor Doug Batchelor: Well, you're saying the right thing. Don’t get nervous. You know, I can understand why you might be thinking, "Wow, Lord, am I doing something wrong, or is my life going to go by and I'll always be recorded as having never married and people are going to wonder why?" And those are natural questions, man or a woman.

The verse here in Genesis where it says it’s not good for a man to be alone, it's not just the man. It’s not good for mankind to be alone. "Man" is, sort of, I think, talking about both here, because He created men and women. Obviously, they make good partners. But not every man and woman gets married.

Paul talks about that--is it 1st Corinthians 7? But, in 1st Corinthians he talks about some are unmarried "as I am." And for the Gospel’s sake, God, He gives a gift of singleness to some people. Don’t worry about if it’s going happen. You put it before the Lord and say, “Lord, I am willing to do whatever You want me to do." And if you are willing in your heart, He can work it out.

I’d say I wouldn’t let the spark of hope die because Jacob didn’t get married until he was 75. Then he ended up with four wives. No, I'm not making a suggestion. But anyway, so it can happen later in life, you never know. I've got some dear friends that got married a little later than you’d expect.

Hey friends, we're out of time, but thank you Sandra for your question. We have more information at our website. Go to AmazingFacts.org. Send us a note and tell us you’re listening, and help us keep on the air too. God bless.

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