Doug Batchelor: Hello friends. This is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? Did you know that super glue was discovered completely by accident during World War II? Dr. Harry Coover, working with scientists with Kodak, was actually trying to make clear plastics for precision gun-sights. Unfortunately, the troublesome chemicals they were using, called cyanoacrylates, kept sticking together so quickly it was impossible to use for the project.
Then, nine years later in 1951, Dr. Coover was now supervising a project to develop a heat-resistant polymer for jet canopies. One of the team, Fred Joyner, spread some of the cyanoacrylate between the pair of refractor prisms. To his surprise, the prisms became stubbornly stuck together.
This time, Dr. Coover realized the great commercial potential of a powerful adhesive that would quickly bond to a variety of materials. The product, eventually named Super Glue, really is super. A one square inch bonding of Super Glue can hold about a ton.
Did you know that the second chapter in the Bible says a husband and a wife should be glued together? Perhaps, today’s marriages need a little more Super Glue. Stay with us friends. We’re gonna learn more as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Doug Batchelor: Welcome listening friends to Bible Answers Live. And yes, we are live. And, if you have a Bible question, we have some phone lines open. Pick up the phone now and good chance you’ll be on tonight’s program with your Bible question. And that’s the point. We want to talk about the Word of God and study to better know the truth together. So, if you have a question, it’s a toll free number, 800-GOD-SAYS. 800-463-7297. And, I’m Doug Batchelor.
Jëan Ross: My name is Jean Ross. Good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug. Let’s begin the program with prayer. Dear Father, once again, we thank You that we have this opportunity to study Your Word. We’d like to invite Your presence. Fill our hearts and our minds, and be with those who are listening, wherever they might be. Guide us into a clearer and fuller understanding of Your will. For we ask this, in Jesus name. Amen.
Doug Batchelor: Amen.
Jëan Ross: Pastor Doug, you opened the program talking about Super Glue. And, some of the things you didn’t mention are the wide variety of uses that Super Glue has. I know on one occasion, probably several times, you’ve used Super Glue to help hold together a wound.
Doug Batchelor: Oh yeah. That’s great stuff.
Jëan Ross: A cut, like stitches or something. Yeah.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah. There’s an urban myth out there that Super Glue was discovered by soldiers during World War II. But, it actually was discovered the way we just explained. But, it was used on the battlefields in Vietnam as emergency sutures.
And, many times in our family, we keep Super Glue around the house. And if there’s a bad cut or blister, sometimes a little Super Glue will just make you forget about it. So, anyway, this is not a medical advice friends.
Jëan Ross: [laughs]
Doug Batchelor: But, you know, in the Bible, I think about that verse in Genesis, Chapter 2. And it says in verse 24, “Therefore a man will leave his father and mother and be joined”, the word is to “cleave to his wife, and they become one flesh.”
And that word “cleave” there or “joined” is dabaq in Hebrew. And that means to cling, to adhere, to be joined to, to keep fast, to stick, or in other words, be glued. And a lot of families today, you know, they get married then there’s problems.
Sometimes it’s finances, sometimes it’s other pressures, and they start to pull apart. And the Bible says that, “What God has joined together,” what God has glued together, “let not man put asunder.” And so, we need the Holy Spirit to inject some Super Glue into this relationship. And the Word of God can do that.
And we have a special offer. Some of you out there, you might wanna know more about what the Bible says about the blessings of marriage and how to have a happy marriage. We have a free study for you. And this is for everybody, even those who have good marriages. You’d be delighted to know what the Bible teaches on the subject.
Jëan Ross: We have a study guide that’s called Keys to a Happy Marriage. We’ll send it to anyone who calls and ask for it. The number to our resource line is 800-835-6747, and ask for the study guide Keys to a Happy Marriage. That number again is 800-835-6747 and the phone line to our studio is 800-463-7297.
We’re gonna go to the phone line. Our first caller this evening is Lynn and Lynn is listening in Riverside, California. Lynn, welcome to the program.
Caller (Lynn): Hi. Good evening Pastor Doug and Pastor Jean Ross.
Doug Batchelor: Evening.
Caller (Lynn): I just have a quick question since Halloween is coming up. I’ve been celebrating Halloween with my daughter for the past six years and I just learned about the origin of how Halloween started. Like, this year I’m not gonna celebrate Halloween but our church has a “trick or trunk”. Is it still considered bad, knowing that the origin came from something evil?
Doug Batchelor: Well, that’s a good question. I’m always sympathetic when I answer this because I grew up like most secular kids. My brother and I went out trick or treating, and we dressed up, and did all that. Of course, we did it in New York City. It’s a little different. You go up and down the apartment building stairs there.
But, there’s nothing wrong with Christians celebrating certain secular holidays that don’t have any evil trappings or don’t conflict with Bible principles. There’s nothing wrong with celebrating the Fourth of July or Thanksgiving. I mean, obviously, Christians can participate in that.
But, if there’s one holiday that seems connected with the dark forces, it’s Halloween. The origins, as you mentioned Lynn, are connected with the occult and so much of it is about that you’ll see witches and devils, and it comes from the Druid priests and All Saint’s Day. You know, it just really doesn’t have an origin that, I think, that the Christians should embrace.
The Scriptures say that we should avoid the unfruitful works of darkness. In fact, we should reprove them. We do have a study online at the Amazing Facts website that deals with the subject of Halloween. We have an article that we published there. It kinda gives a history. But it sounds like you found it.
Caller (Lynn): Okay. Cool.
Doug Batchelor: Now, you’re asking about, you know, if your church is doing something, hopefully, if your church is doing something then it’s gonna be more protected. They’re gonna try and overcome evil with good and do something that is redemptive. But, I think we need to avoid being connected, as Christians, with a holiday that has that kind of origin.
Jëan Ross: The first you mentioned, Pastor Doug is Ephesians 5:11. Where it says, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.”
Caller (Lynn): Thank You.
Doug Batchelor: Alright, I appreciate that Lynn. You have a good evening.
Jëan Ross: Samuel is listening from Rhode Island. Samuel, welcome to the program.
Caller (Samuel): Hi pastors.
Doug Batchelor: Hi …
Caller (Samuel): I have a question I’ve been thinking about and I know you opened up the program speaking about marriage?
Doug Batchelor: Uh-hmmm.
Caller (Samuel): My question is, in relating to the Old Testament and the patriarchs with Abraham, maybe not Isaac, but all the way down to David and Solomon.
My question is in regards to how or why did God allowed them to marry multiple people? Or, also have wives and concubines, at the same time, knowing that—
Doug Batchelor: Okay, I’m sorry. Go ahead.
Caller (Samuel): I mean, that’s my question. Knowing that it was important to God, from the beginning, to have that communion with one man and one woman.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah. Good question. You know, it’s pretty clear from the Bible, the Lord’s plan for marriage was one man and one woman because that was the pattern he gave in the garden of Eden.
There were a number of things that happened after sin that were not God’s original plan. It was never God’s original plan when Adam and Eve were naming the animals, that they be named after fast food products. They weren’t to be eaten. They were his friends. But after sin, they began to use the animals for food.
It was never God’s will that people get divorced. And Jesus said, “But because of the hardness of your hearts…” Slavery was never God’s plan, but He made laws to protect the slaves because of the hardness of people’s hearts, He knew they were gonna do it.
Well, when they had a law, the Biblical law, in Bible times. They had a lot of wars, rather. That they made laws in the Bible to protect women who, you know, a man would take multiple wives. And so, there are laws in the Bible for the additional wives. It didn’t mean God supported it.
He just knew they were doing it. And, after the war, you could have one woman or you could have one man per every seven women. And a lot of women, they never had anyone to marry ‘cause the men had been decimated by the wars.
An example of that is Isaiah, Chapter 4, talks about seven women will take hold of one man, saying please marry us, there’s no men left. And so, that’s one reason that polygamy proliferated. But then, the kings would do it, like David and Solomon, because they wanted to be sure the royal seed and monarchy would continue. And so, they had the wives and concubines. The pagan kings started doing that. It was never God’s will.
And it’s pretty clear when in the New Testament, I believe Paul says that an elder should be the husband of one wife. He says that in a couple of places – elder and a bishop. So, I don’t know if that helps answer your question, Samuel?
Caller (Samuel): Yes, it does. I mean, for me, I was just thinking about how, you know, I knew some of the pagan kings and some of the pagan people did those types of things. I was thinking that for God, specifically for his people, who … you make laws, or let them know, or make sure that they were gonna be brought up the right way, as He did in other areas.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah. We do see in the Bible, in Genesis, with the Garden of Eden, and then in the New Testament I just quoted you, that the one man, one woman was God’s plan.
You know, it’s interesting to note, Pastor Ross, that you have people like Abraham that took multiple wives; he had multiple problems because of it. Big problems in the family. Isaac got along pretty well with Rebecca ‘cause he had one wife. But then, you go and you look at Jacob and there were big problems. He had multiple wives and it caused all kinds of heartache. It’s recorded in the Bible as a warning. Look at what happened with Hannah and Peninnah. Elkanah had two wives. All kinds of division.
And so, the Bible’s pretty faithful to record all of the problems that came into the families from polygamy. Hey, thanks for your question, Samuel. Appreciate it.
Jëan Ross: Next call is Chantelle and she’s listening from Salem, Oregon. Chantelle, welcome to the program.
Caller (Chantelle): Hi. It’s good to be talking to you again. I remember that Pastor Doug has said several times in his sermon that people’s punishment at the second resurrection will be in proportion to their sins. Can you give me Bible text for that?
Doug Batchelor: Well, yeah. I think, we can give you a few. Maybe, Pastor Ross will look some of this up. I’m gonna go from memory and try and quote them to you and then he can help you find the references. It tells us in Luke, “He that knew his master’s will and did not do it, is beaten with a few stripes. And he that knew and didn’t do it is beaten with many.”
Jëan Ross: That’s Luke 12:48.
Caller (Chantelle): Okay.
Doug Batchelor: And then, you can read where every man is rewarded according to his works. And, I think, you find that in Revelation…
Jëan Ross: 22.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah, Revelation, Chapter 22.
Caller (Chantelle): Okay.
Doug Batchelor: And so, there is varying rewards, varying works, obviously. And then, Jesus says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” And so, those who know more and those who have more opportunity, God expects more. And so, there’s a number of Scriptures that teach that there are varying rewards, varying punishments, and it just depends on their varying sins.
Caller (Chantelle): Yes.
Doug Batchelor: Bible’s pretty clear in the law of Moses; there were varying punishments for their various sins. And so, God is gonna apply that same principle of justice to the great judgment day.
Caller (Chantelle): Yes. Alright. Okay, thank you very much.
Doug Batchelor: Alright. Thanks. Appreciate that Chantelle.
Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Darren and he’s listening in Arkansas. Darren, welcome to the program.
Caller (Darren): Thank you and I have a question and it concerns Daniel, in the twelfth chapter, and probably some in the eleventh, and probably a bit of Daniel, actually. And Matthew and Mark, both of those Gospels mentioned, Jesus mentions to His disciples when He was discoursing to them about the end time.
In the destruction of Jerusalem, He says, “When you see the abomination of desolation spoken about Daniel the prophet” … and then one of them He says, “Standing where it ought not” and another one He says, “Standing in the Holy place.” That is really, generally, just a preface … my concern or question to you guys is about Daniel chapter 12.
And real quick, the last verse of 11, Chapter 11 says, “He shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the holy sea in the glorious holy mountain. But He shall come to his end and none shall help him”.
Now, in the 12th Chapter, the angel expounds to Daniel, or whether that’s Jesus or the Son of Man, or whatever that being is, says to Daniel, “Unto a thousand two hundred and sixty days, blessed is he that cometh to the thousand three hundred and five and thirty days”.
I believe this is a time prophecy, the end time prophecy thats actually calling the second coming of Christ just as the Scripture, the prophecy before Daniel, of the 70 weeks prophesying the very year of His first coming.
Doug Batchelor: Alright, Darren, you gotta summarize the question because we kinda budget a little time for each person.
Caller (Darren): Yeah, I’m sorry. And, I’ll do that right now. I’m sorry. So, the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place over Jerusalem. When you look at the City of Jerusalem, the most prominent figures, structures in Jerusalem is the Dome of the Rock. It is sitting on the Temple Mount. It was built and was standing and finished in 691. 1290 years past, that is 1981. Another 45 years is 2026. So, this is a prophecy concern, there’s no doubt.
Doug Batchelor: Alright. Well, let me do what I can to try and address what you’ve raised. I became worried when you said Daniel 12 right there. Right there, I became worried. Let me tell you why.
That chapter has more time prophecies than any other chapter in the Bible. And, Daniel 11 is one of the most intricate prophecies in the Bible. It goes into more detail of history, from the time of Daniel all the way… I agree that Daniel, Chapter 12 is talking about the end of the world when it says, Michael stands up and there’s a time of trouble such as it never has been.
Now, when Jesus talks about the abomination of desolation, standing in the holy place, I’d also recommend, Darren, go to Luke. I think, is it Luke 21 or 17 where He says, “When you see Jerusalem compassed with armies”?
Jëan Ross: Luke 21:20.
Doug Batchelor: There you go. Luke 21:20 When you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, the desolation there is nigh. The first example of the abomination of desolation is something that happened historically, with the Romans entering the temple and it resulted in the destruction of the temple.
Daniel talks about this or the angel talked about this in Daniel chapter 9. And the temple was desolated. And God’s people, they fled before it was destroyed. Most of the believers escaped the destruction of Jerusalem. And so, that was the first part of the abomination of desolation.
There was another historic time where there was an abomination of desolation, and great persecution for God’s people during the Dark Ages. There were like, 1260, what we call prophetic years, from 538 to 1798 where Christians were severely persecuted.
And there’s gonna be a great time of trouble just before Jesus comes. That’s when Michael stands up ‘cause we know that’s the end of time. It says, “When Michaels stand up there’s a time of trouble and a resurrection.” So that’s certainly pointing to the end. And then he tells to Daniel, “You will rest and stand in your lot at the end of days.”
So, I do think that, at least parts of Daniel 12, are talking about the end of the world. Parts of them are also hearkening back to this 1260-day or times and half a time period that you find other places in the book. It’s also in Revelation.
Big study, what can we send Darren that talks about the abomination? We got a book called The Abomination of Desolation.
Jëan Ross: Uh-hmmm.
Doug Batchelor: Can we send that to you, Darren? It’s free. The Abomination of Desolation. Just call the number Pastor Ross is gonna give and ask for it.
Jëan Ross: The number to call 800-835-6747, and the book again is The Abomination of Desolation. That’s 800-835-6747. We have Tim, who is listening from Texas. Tim, you’re in the air.
Caller (Tim): Yeah, hi.
Doug Batchelor: Hi Tim.
Caller (Tim): I have a question. When Jesus left the earth and He gave the order for the commission and everything. I don’t believe that Jesus came back again and came and talk to people on this planet. Is there anything that validates that He did? And if anybody claims that He did come and talked to them personally, what do we think about it?
Doug Batchelor: Well, I would agree that following His final ascension, which you find in Acts chapter 1, I don’t believe Jesus has come back.
He said He would send the Holy Spirit and the Lord has spoken to people through the Spirit. But, Christ, He said you won’t see Me again until you say, “Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.” And, if any man says to you here’s Christ or there’s Christ, and that’s in Matthew 24 – forget what verse that is, Pastor Ross. Matthew 24, Jesus said, “It’ll be like lightning coming out of the east unto the west. So, when people say here’s Christ or there. Behold him in secret chambers. Jesus says, “Believe it not.” So, I’d use those verses.
Jesus did appear for 40 days after He first ascended. He saw Mary that Sunday morning He ascended to heaven. Then He came back down and for 40 days before Pentecost, He appeared to two on the road to Emmaus. He appeared by the sea with Peter and John, He appeared in the upper room. So, He did appear to the disciples several times before that 40 days was up. But once He ascended, He’s not coming back ‘till we all see Him together.
Caller (Tim): Right.
Doug Batchelor: I think the verse you were referring to was Matthew 24:26 where Jesus says, “Therefore, if they say to you, “Look, He’s in the desert. Do not go out. Or look He’s in the inner room, do not believe it”
Caller (Tim): So, would we look at these people as being false prophets?
Doug Batchelor: Yeah, if they say they’re seeing Jesus, they’re definitely not following the Bible.
Caller (Tim): Okay.
Doug Batchelor: Now, you now, that doesn’t mean that a person might have a personal dream and the Lord could speak to them in their heart, in their dream, or through the Holy Spirit. I think the Lord still impresses people. But, as far as Him physically coming back and talking to someone, that’s not Jesus. You know?
Caller (Tim): Yeah, ‘cause I was watching a video where this person was claiming that Jesus actually appeared. Jesus would make several visits to their home and would appear there and—
Doug Batchelor: No.
Caller (Tim): The person that was saying about it was saying, He was a very interesting fellow when He came personally in the flesh or came personally to the home.
Doug Batchelor: The last time I know Biblically, of course, Jesus appeared to the apostle Paul, but that was a personal vision. And, Jesus appeared to John in the Revelation. But He didn’t come down to earth. This was a vision of Revelation. So Christ, John was kinda caught up in the Spirit it says in chapter 4.
Caller (Tim): Right, right. But this person is actually claiming that they were physically there. It’s a very well-known person. He would sit in a chair and talk. But as I remember, His feet don’t touch the earth until the Mount of Olives when he comes back…
Doug Batchelor: Right, that’s Zechariah 14. Yeah, you’re correct Tim.
Caller (Tim): So, we could look at these people as being false prophets then?
Doug Batchelor: Yeah. I think they’re mislead and the sincerest thing might be - Jesus tells us pretty clearly if someone says, “Yeah, He’s here, He’s there” Don’t believe it. He’s not coming to earth until we’re caught up to meet Him in the clouds. Next time He physically touches the earth is when the new Jerusalem settles at the end of the 1000 years. Thank you. We’re gonna try and take one more call before we our break, Pastor Ross.
Jëan Ross: We have Donna who is listening from Canada. Donna, welcome to the program.
Caller (Donna): Hello?
Hosts (Pastor Batchelor and Pastor Ross): Hi.
Jëan Ross: You’re on the air.
Caller (Donna): Hi. I just have a quick question. It’s just out of curiosity. I’ve always wondered every time I read the book of Jonah, I realized that it ends so abruptly and it’s almost like mid-conversation. I’m always curious as to whatever became of him. Was he ever mentioned again? Did he remain a prophet? Did he commit suicide? Like, what happened to him? Like, why did this book end so abruptly?
Doug Batchelor: You know, it’s interesting, probably, the book of Jonah was written by Jonah.
Caller (Donna): Right.
Doug Batchelor: Because he has to reflect back on his wayward attitudes and he realizes. In the book of Jonah, for those who know, there’s four chapters, everybody in the book of Jonah listens to God except Jonah.
It says the sailors listen to God and they repent. The fish listens to God. There’s a worm in the book, it listens to God. The plant listens to God. The storm listens to God. The Ninevites listen to God. The animals listen to God.
Everybody obeys and submits to God except the wayward prophet. Now, Jonah is mentioned again in the Bible in another place. If you look in 2 Kings 14:25 … it’s a fleeting reference but it is the same Jonah.
It says that “He” speaking of this king of Israel, it says on the 15th year, in verse 23, “the 15th year of Amaziah the son of Joash, king of Judah, Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel began to reign in Samaria. And he reigned forty and one years and he did that which was evil in the sight of the Lord and he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam, the son of Nebat that made Israel sin.”
Now stay with me. It says, “He restored the coasts of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plane. According to the Word of the Lord God of Israel, which he spoke by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai.” Now, the one who wrote the book is Jonah, the son of Amittai.
This event may have happened after Jonah returned from Nineveh. We’re not sure whether his whale experience was before or after this prophecy but there’s a good chance that that happened before because they don’t say anything more about Jonah here, making us think he’s already famous from his other experience. So, he survived that. He made his way back to Israel and continued as a prophet and had a quite a tale to tell about the fish story.
Caller (Donna): Okay. Well, thank you.
Doug Batchelor: Alright. Thank you, Donna. Appreciate your call.
Jëan Ross: You know, we got a book talking about Jonah. It’s called The Sign of Jonah and Donna this is a great resource. It shows you how Jonah, in many ways, is a type of Christ—in the positive ways. We’ll send that to you for free if you call and ask for it. The number is 800-835-6747. Just ask for The Sign of Jonah. That’s 800-835-6747. Our next caller is Kim and Kim is listening from Memphis, Tennessee. Kim, welcome to the program.
Caller (Kim): Yeah. Yes. Pastor Doug my question goes with 1 Corinthians 15:51-52. Do you know about [inaudible -00:25:58] mystery?
Doug Batchelor: Okay.
Caller (Kim): Now, when Christ comes again and resurrects the righteous dead. Now, would those people, will they still look the same or would they be glorified by like, elderly people, would they come up looking like 21 or 30 when He comes again--
Doug Batchelor: Well … yeah, it tells us that this mortal will put on immortality. In other words, our physical bodies will be replaced with an eternal, glorified body. And certainly, if grandpa died at 106 years of age, I talked to someone today and their parents made it to 106, they were probably a little bit hunched and wrinkled. They’re not gonna come out of the grave that way. They’re going to have a vibrant, healthy body. But, they will be raised with the experience and knowledge they gained in this life. So, there’ll be a maturity, and this is my opinion now, but I believe they’ll be raised with a maturity where we’ll know that they lived more life, maybe, than someone who died at 20, or 20 years old when Jesus comes. And, we’re gonna recognize them.
You can read in 1 Corinthians 13. It says, “Now we look through a glass darkly but then it’ll be face to face. Now we know in part but then we’ll know even as we are known.” And so, when we get to heaven, we’re not going to have less of the ability of discernment. I think we’re gonna have enhanced spiritual discernment. And Grandma and Grandpa, we’re gonna recognize them and they’re gonna look beautiful and vibrant. Whether they look like they’re 30-year old bodies or younger, it’s hard to say, but nobody’s gonna have any signs of aging or decay ‘cause, you know, the Bible tells us we’re all gonna have glorified bodies.
So, it’s fun to think about. When we get to heaven, our loved ones and some of the old saints and grandparents are gonna have those glorified bodies. You’re listening to Bible Answers Live.
Jëan Ross: You know, we do have a book dealing with the second coming. We’ll send it to anyone who calls and ask for it. The book is Anything But Secret. Anything But Secret. The number is 800-835-6747. That is our resource line, 800-835-6747. You can ask for the book Anything But Secret.
Doug Batchelor: You know, Pastor Ross, we’re gonna take a break in just a moment. But, before we go there, we get a lot of questions during this time of year about the subject of Halloween, of ghosts and goblins. We’ve got a website that we encourage people to take a peek at. It’s called ghosttruth.com. And so, if you go home, a matter of fact I’d turn it on just to look at it. If you go to ghosttruth.com you’ll understand what the Bible really teaches about this subject and it’ll clear up a lot of confusion. And so, if you go there, there’s Bible studies and a lot of information about what really happens when someone dies. Do they haunt the living? Go to ghosttruth.com. Don’t go away, we’re gonna invite your calls and take more questions in just a minute.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Doug Batchelor: I’m having fun. Are you having fun?
Jëan Ross: I’m having fun.
Doug Batchelor: Good. I like talking about the Bible. I’m just checking, there was a long pause. You sure you’re … [laughs] having fun.
Jëan Ross: [laughs]
Doug Batchelor: Hey friends, if you wanna talk about the Word of God, we’ve got a free phone call. Free phone line you can call. It’s 800-463-7297 and that brings you into the studio for Bible Answers Live. If you join us along the way, this is a Bible Answer program and we’re gonna be talking about the Word of God. We’ve got a few callers waiting. Some lines still open. Who’s next Pastor Ross?
Jëan Ross: We have Brandon who’s listening from Illinois. Brandon, welcome to the program.
Caller (Brandon): Hello. My question is kind of a weird one. Don’t know how to really put it but the apostle Paul, on his last trip to Rome there.
Doug Batchelor: Uh-huh. During the shipwreck?
Caller (Brandon): He made it sound like he knew he was going to be murdered. I’m not sure, I mean, as far as the way this world goes, maybe he knew he was gonna be punished for all the sins he committed before he had his vision?
Doug Batchelor: You know, well, first of all, I don’t believe that God was asking Paul to suffer for his sins because Jesus forgave him.
Caller (Brandon): No, not God. I’m sorry to interrupt you. But not God, just the way of this world. I mean—
Doug Batchelor: You just talk about like “his karma caught up with him”?
Caller (Brandon): More or less. Like … yeah. Yeah something like that. Like a—
Doug Batchelor: You know, I understand what you’re talking about. Well, I don’t think his dying in Rome, of course he died for his faith in Rome and there are a lot of martyrs, a lot of the Christian martyrs, they didn’t do what Paul did and they still died a martyr’s death.
Jesus told Peter that he would be crucified. He went to Rome, he actually suffered, probably more. Paul was beheaded because he was a Roman citizen. You couldn’t crucify a Roman citizen. Peter was crucified upside down. And he probably suffered more. But Peter didn’t persecute and kill Christians. And so, I’d be careful about saying that Paul was, his karma caught up with him for the Christians he had persecuted.
Jëan Ross: There is an interesting story. Paul, on his way to Jerusalem, where he was eventually arrested and taken to Rome from there, on his way down to Jerusalem, in Acts 21:10, it talks about a certain prophet named Agabus who came to Paul and took his belt, this is verse 11, and bound it around his hands and his feet, and the prophet said, “Thus, saith the Holy Spirit, so shall the Jews of Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him to the hands of the Gentiles.”
So, God was revealing to Paul what would happen when he went down to Jerusalem. And yet, he was convicted that that’s where the Lord wanted him to go. And so, he went.
Caller (Brandon): Oh.
Doug Batchelor: So, yeah. I think that the thing that probably troubled Paul the most was his conscience when he thought about what he had done to the church. He called himself the chief of sinners. But, I don’t think his being in prison or persecuted was some kind of cosmic fate or karma catching up with him. God had forgiven him. Jesus has paid for our sins.
And boy, I don’t wanna think about having to pay for mine. Now, it is true that sometimes though God will forgive a sinner, let’s suppose that you’re in jail for stealing and when you asked God to forgive you, you know the Lord might work things out where you’re set free. But the thief on the cross who had accepted Jesus still died for his crime.
So, being forgiven does not always reverse the consequences of what you’ve done. Anyway, hope that helps a little bit. Appreciate your call, Brandon.
Jëan Ross: We have Edgar who’s listening from Kansas. Edgar, welcome to the program.
Caller (Edgar): I have a question about Judges 14:12and where Samson is offering to give clothing and stuff, and garments for the riddle. And it says that they have seven days, right, to figure it out?
Doug Batchelor: Right.
Caller (Edgar): And in verse 15 it says that, and it came to pass on the seventh day that the people went up to Samson’s wife and pretty much bribed her or threatened her, right?
Doug Batchelor: They threatened her. Yeah.
Caller (Edgar): Uh-huh. And if you look at verse 17, I don’t know how it makes sense, like historically, because it says and she wept before him the seven days, and verse 15 says that she was told on the seventh day. So, that kind of troubled me a little bit.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah. I think that some translations actually rendered this a little different. I think that earlier on in the week, they approached Samson’s wife, and she wept before him during the seven days. It doesn’t mean all the seven days. So, during the seven days, she was harassing him and saying, can’t you tell me? Tell me. Because they were threatening to kill her and her father. And sadly, they ended up getting killed and burned anyway, later.
But, yeah, I can understand why that would be a question. It seems like it was on the seventh day they posed a riddle.
Jëan Ross: Yeah. It’s almost as if she was asking for the meaning of the riddle and she was, probably, feeling some degree of pressure from her countrymen. And then, finally on the seventh day, they knew they were running out of time and they came to and really put the pressure on her and said, “If you don’t find out what this riddle means, we’re gonna burn you and your family”. And so, that’s finally when Samson told her what the meaning of the riddle was.
Caller (Edgar): Oh, okay. So, could it also mean that, maybe, he told the riddle on a Saturday which would have been a seventh day back then?
Doug Batchelor: No. It says earlier on the chapter, on the seventh day of the feast, a wedding feast lasted seven days. Perhaps, you remember when Jacob got married. He thought he was marrying Rachel and Laban pulled a fast one on him and threw Leah in, and he said, “You need to complete her week”, the seven-day wedding feast with Leah, “and then I’ll also give you Rachel.”, and there was another seven-day wedding feast, I guess, for Rachel. Then he had to work another seven years for the extra wife.
So, that was just during the seven days of the wedding feast. I think, at the beginning of the feast, he posed a riddle. During the week, they couldn’t have figured it out. They began to put pressure on Samson’s bride. And then, during the seven days, before the seven days had expired, she began to pressure him. So, he finally caved in. That’s the way I understand it, Edgar. It’s a good question. I like it when people are looking into the nuances of the Bible. It shows they’re really studying. Appreciate that.
Jëan Ross: Next caller is Jerry and he’s listening from Oregon. Jerry, welcome to the program.
Caller (Jerry): Thank you Pastors Batchelor and Ross. I’ve always been perplexed by how you can categorize, virtually all of mankind, as either just or unjust. It’s as if like saying things are either black or white. There are shades of gray in between. There’d be people who have accepted Christ as their Savior, but quite frankly, haven’t kept His commandments. Other people never [audio cut] your end, but they’re very righteous people, otherwise.
Doug Batchelor: Right. And you know, I understand what you’re saying. When it comes to morality, there is a broad spectrum of people. But, when it comes to salvation, Jesus said, “Those that are not saved are lost, and those that are not lost are saved.” In other words, there’s no limbo. There’s no neutral Switzerland in this life and death struggle. And so, Jesus said, “He that is not with Me is against Me.”
Christ made it pretty clear. He said there’s two roads. There’s a road to destruction, and the road to destruction is filled with all kinds of good, moral people. But, if they’ve not surrendered their lives to the Lord, then they’re living usually for themselves even though they might have a lot of good conduct. You can’t earn salvation. And so, it doesn’t matter … my Dad used to say, “Well, as long as I’ve committed more good works that bad works, God has to save me.” That was his idea of how it worked.
Caller (Jerry): There’s people that have accepted Jesus as their Savior but they still, well, everybody sins but sometimes their sins are a little bit more serious than others where they should be, let’s put it that way.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah, and there’s a lot of people out there who have claimed to accept Jesus but they haven’t really repented of their sins. And, or they haven’t surrendered their lives. So, Jesus always talked frequently about the hypocrites that say that they know the Lord. And the judgment He’ll say, “You declare to Me Lord, Lord but I don’t know you”.
I think there are probably some people around the world to the best of their ability and they’re gonna be surprised that they’re in heaven. And they just didn’t know they lived up to the light they had, like Nehemiah and the leper. Jesus talks about this Phoenician woman that the prophet Elijah lived with during the famine.
So, like you say, there are good people that have surrendered their lives to God but maybe they don’t know about Jesus because they lived before He was born. God is good, I know that, Jerry. And you’re right. There are all different kinds of people in the continuum of morality and God says there are different rewards in heaven. And we just talked about that earlier.
I appreciate your question tonight. We do have a study guide that talks about this principle in the judgment. And is that Facing the Judge?
Jëan Ross: We have one called…
Doug Batchelor: Case Closed?
Jëan Ross: Case closed. Yup.
Doug Batchelor: Case Closed, that’s it. We’ll send that to you for free Jerry. It talks about how God judges in those principles and it’s free. The beautifully illustrated study guide. I hope you ask for it.
Jëan Ross: The number to call is 800-835-6747 and the study guide again is called Case Closed, talking about the judgment. That’s 800-835-6747. Our next caller is David and he is listening from Georgia. David, welcome to the program.
Caller (David): Hi. How you all gentlemen doing?
Doug Batchelor: Doing great.
Caller (David): Well, my question is about David and Michal. It mentioned that when David was on the run from King Saul, Saul had his daughter Michal marry someone else.My question is, was that marriage considered lawful back then?
Doug Batchelor: Well, I don’t believe that it was God’s plan for Michal to be given to someone else because of the things that David did when he became King of Israel and Judah, he said to Abner, “Bring me back my wife.”, that Saul gave away. Saul, sort of, did it as vengeance on David because he was just being spiteful. I mean, Saul gave his daughter Michal to David, they consummated the marriage, and just because David was on the run, Saul thought, well I’m gonna really aggravate him. I’m gonna give my daughter again to someone else. Michal did come back to David.
Now, Deuteronomy says that after a woman commits adultery, she should not go back to her husband again, and vice versa. But, God is not endorsing what happened with David and Saul and Michel here in this story. He’s just giving the history of what did happen. See what I’m saying?
Caller (David): Yeah.
Doug Batchelor: God’s not saying it was His will for David to take Michal back, for Saul to give Michal away. There’s no comment on God whether this was right or wrong. It’s just saying what happened historically. So, David, by the time he married Michal, I think he already … no wait a second. Michal, I think, was his first wife.
Caller (David): She was.
Doug Batchelor: Then he had Abigail, and then he had Ahinoam the Jezreel, and then he ended up with 10 other concubines after that. And Bathsheba. I don’t think this was God’s will. He just wanted his first wife back.
Caller (David): Okay.
Doug Batchelor: I appreciate your question. Never had that before.
Jëan Ross: The next caller is Mike and Mike is listening from Colorado. Mike, welcome to the program.
Caller (Mike): Hey guys. How are you tonight?
Doug Batchelor: Much better than we deserve. How are you doing?
Caller (Mike): Well, I like that one. I say that sometimes too.
Doug Batchelor: I don’t want what I deserve.
Caller (Mike): Exactly. My question was around the second coming or maybe the commencement about the events. Who is that dependent on? Do we have to do evangelism to seven billion people or is God gonna have a point in time where He just says, okay, that’s enough. Let’s get going and finish this up.?
Doug Batchelor: You know, that’s kind of a trick question, not that you’re trying to trick me. But, whenever I think about that, here’s how I think. Jesus said the gospel of the kingdom will go unto the world for a witness to all nations then the end will come. Peter talks about hastening the Lord’s coming. That’s 2 Peter, Chapter 3?
Jëan Ross: Uh-hmmm.
Doug Batchelor: 2 Peter, Chapter 3 talks about we hasten His coming by preaching the Gospel. But then, at the same time, when the Lord does come, we’re gonna probably find out it was on a … you know, He knows exactly when He’s coming. He knows the day and the hour. It’ll probably just end up being at that point when the world has been fairly warned. The final events will trigger and Jesus will come.
So, I do think that if we can do our part to show that we look forward to the blessed hope, by sharing the Gospel and living the life, you know, as the Lord may come sooner at least for by our appearances.
Jëan Ross: Well, you know, we can learn from the experiences the disciples when Jesus ascended to heaven. He told them to go to all the world. Take the Gospel to everyone. How were they to do it? But they gathered together in one accord, in fervent prayer, and the Holy Spirit came upon them with great power. And Paul speaks about the Gospel will spread across the Roman Empire at that time.
I think, we need to recognize that in our own strength, we can’t take the Gospel to all the world but we’re looking forward to a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit sort of a repeat of what happened at Pentecost. And, God will work in miraculous ways to empower His people to take the Gospel to the world so that people have an opportunity to hear the truth and make the decision as to who they’re gonna serve.
Caller (Mike): Yeah, I agree. I read about the three angels’ messages, for instance, and I read it, it’s not the three peoples’ messages, it’s the three angels’ messages. And, I agree that there will be a supernatural component to it and yet, of course, we always play our part. So, I agree with everything you’re saying. So—
Doug Batchelor: Yeah, you’re …
Pastor Doug and Mike: Go ahead.
Doug Batchelor: I was just gonna say you’re right all along. It has to be the Lord’s doing and because when you look at the population, I think it’s, what is it, every year, 90 million people are added to the population? No, it’s more than that. It might be that many a day. No. I think, there’s like 90, even including death, I think there’s like 95 million people added to the population.
No church is growing that fast right now. So, something supernatural has to happen.
Jëan Ross: Uh-hmmm.
Caller (Mike): That’s kind of what I’m thinking. I get a separate thing. I was told I could ask for a prayer request. This is a special one for a, I work as a hospital chaplain, I’m gonna walk into a situation tomorrow where a young guy who, I think, is 17 is on a ventilator, and his life is on the line and I just wondered if you’d be able to have a special prayer for him. His name is Ian.
Doug Batchelor: Why don’t we do that right now.
Caller (Mike): Thank you.
Doug Batchelor: Father in heaven, we’d just like to invite our listeners to join together and pray on behalf of Ian whose life is in critical condition right now. And, we just pray that You will bless and heal. We know You are able to do that. Give the family comfort and strength right now. And, give the doctors wisdom as they make decisions and administer care. And, we just ask that You can be glorified in all these. And we pray this in Jesus name, Amen.
Caller (Mike): Amen. Thank you guys.
Doug Batchelor: Alright. Take care, Mike and we’ll be praying for you. Bye-bye.
Jëan Ross: Our next caller is Greg and Greg is listening from Washington. Greg, welcome to the program.
Caller (Greg): Thank you so much for contributing to my understanding of the Word.
Doug Batchelor: Well, it’s a pleasure to study together.
Caller (Greg): It is. So, I have a question. In my favorite thrift store, I came across a copy of the Holy Bible from Ancient Eastern Manuscript, George Lamsa, containing the Old and New Testament translated from the Peshitta, the authorized Bible of the Church of the East. And I would just like your take on that before I incorporate it into my study.
Doug Batchelor: You know, I have a fleeting memory of running across that translation. It’s been several years ago. I don’t remember very much except to say that I think, it has what we would call apocryphal books. It’s a doubtful translation and so I would be careful.
If you’re gonna use that, if you’re gonna read it just for historical reference, it might be interesting reading for Biblical literature. But, as far as studying it as the Word of God, I think it’s a translation that is not been recognized for accuracy.
Caller (Greg): This particular one doesn’t have the apocrypha in it. But the interesting—
Doug Batchelor: What manuscript… the very fact that it says it’s coming from eastern manuscripts?
Caller (Greg): The church of the East and it’s still in use. They took it directly from the Ancient Hebrew and Aramaic.
Doug Batchelor: Is this the Bible, it’s English obviously, this is the bible used by the Greek Orthodox?
Caller (Greg): Well, it doesn’t say. It says Eastern. It could be the same thing. I didn’t dig in deeply into it yet.
Doug Batchelor: ‘Cause I don’t think, the Catholics typically used what they call the Douay version.
Caller (Greg): Yeah. This is not that.
Doug Batchelor: I thought the Greek Orthodox and Russian Orthodox, the English version they used also had the apocryphal books. But I could be wrong. Hey, I’m gonna have to dig into that myself, Greg. You might go online and just do a research on your own.
The Bibles that I think are safe to use, the translations are the ones that spring from what we call the Textus Receptus. Of course, most of the Old Testament Bibles are the same. It’s the New Testament. If they come from the Textus Receptus translations, I think they’re usually pretty dependable. That’s like the New King James version, the New American Standard version. King James version are pretty accurate. Alright.
Jëan Ross: You know, we have a book talking about the Bible called The Ultimate Resource. And, I believe in the book, Pastor, that you actually get into a little of the history of the—
Doug Batchelor: Talking about translations. A little bit.
Jëan Ross: Right. And we’ll send that Greg. If you like to call and ask for it, the number is 800-835-6747 and the book is called The Ultimate Resource. That’s 800-835-6747. Our next caller is Sandy and she’s listening in Canada. Sandy, welcome to the program.
Caller (Sandy): Hi.
Doug Batchelor: Hi Sandy.
Caller (Sandy): Hi Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross. I can’t believe I actually got on. [laughs]
Doug Batchelor: Oh, it’s not that hard.
Caller (Sandy): I lost the call earlier so I had to go back and get in line.
Doug Batchelor: Oh no! And your question.
Caller (Sandy): Yeah, it’s in regards to the Scripture in Ephesians about wives submitting to your own husbands as to the Lord and, I’m new to the faith and my husband doesn’t believe in it. He keeps trying to tell me that I’m being deceived, you know, false religion. And I’ve heard you often speak about what does your conscience tell you, you know?
Doug Batchelor:
Uh-huh.
Caller (Sandy):
But it’s still, like, the Word of God should have the last say, right?
Doug Batchelor:
Yeah, exactly. The Word of God is what you wanna go by primarily. So, in this verse, in Ephesians 5:22, where it says, “Wives submit to your husband as unto the Lord for the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the Church.”
Paul, first of all, is talking about the same kind of respect and submission that you would find in a number of Biblical examples. That men are to be the priest leaders in the home.
God is not asking for any wife to sacrifice her conscience or if the husband were to ask her to do anything, or to believe something that she doesn’t believe conscientiously, or to do anything that was in any way a violation of a Biblical principle, she doesn’t have to do that.
Caller (Sandy): Yeah.
Doug Batchelor: But it’s really a talk. It’s a partnership in a husband-wife relationship Biblically. But in a place where it comes to spiritual headship, you know, the husband is to kinda be the priest of the family.
Caller (Sandy): Yes.
Jëan Ross: You know, it’s interesting when you look at the ten commandments, of course, it’s divided into two sections. You got the first four that have to do with our relationship to God and then the last six that have to do with our relationship to our fellow men. And it’s interesting that it’s written in that order. Our first and most important relationship is that with God and then secondly with our fellow men. So, if an individual is asking us to do something that is not in harmony with what God is asking us to do, we need to choose to do what God asks us to do, first and foremost.
Caller (Sandy): Yeah. Yeah. That’s what I keep telling him, of course. And now I started going to this church here and God just keeps confirming each time. I prayed with friends and I’m hearing from God that I’m in His will, and my husband just keeps battering me, you know, with Scripture and saying that God isn’t going to ask us to do anything that doesn’t line up with His Word. You know?
Doug Batchelor: Well, that’s true. I believe that as long as you’re studying and following the Word, you’re safe. That’s what you wanna do. And I believe that the Lord’s guiding you and He’ll give you wisdom and comfort Sandy. We’ll be praying for you.
Jëan Ross: We’ll try and get at least one caller before our break. Thank you for your call sandy.
Doug Batchelor: By the way Sandy, that study guide we offered earlier for couples. I think you’d enjoy that.
Hosts (Pastor Doug and Pastor Jean): Keys to a Happy Marriage.
Jëan Ross: Yes. The number to call is 800-935-6747, that is our resource line and you can ask for the study guide Keys to a Happy Marriage. We’ve got Marjorie who’s listening from Michigan. Marjorie, welcome to the program.
Caller (Marjorie): Hello.
Jëan Ross: Hi, you’re on the air.
Doug Batchelor: Evening.
Caller (Marjorie): Hi. I have a question that has to do with creatures. The four horsemen of the apocalypse and the four creatures around the throne of God. Could you please first tell me the living creatures were like a lion, a calf? Face of a man. And the fourth creature was like a flying eagle.
Doug Batchelor: Yeah, and you’ll find that in Revelation, Chapter 4.
Caller (Marjorie): Uh-hhmm. Verse 7.
Doug Batchelor: Right, and the creatures that you see there are very much like the creatures that appear in Ezekiel, Chapter 1. In Ezekiel 1 it says, “And the likeness of their faces was like a man, and one had a face like a lion, and each had the face of an ox, and face of an eagle.” So, they’re similarities, many have believed that, that’s talking about … It’s like an analogy of the way Jesus reveals Himself through the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
One is like a calf, one is like an eagle, one is like a lion, one is like a man. And it’s giving us different perspectives on God. Marjorie, I’m sorry. You can tell that we’re being chased off at the precipice of time by the music.
But that means friends, God willing, we’ll be back next week. We’d love to hear from you. Go to AmazingFacts.org and donate. Keep us on the air while you’re there. God Bless.
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