Hello friends. How about an amazing fact? Little Tyke a female African lion born and raised in America lived her entire life without ever eating meat. In fact the lion’s owner’s George and Leona Westbue, alarmed at the lion’s dislike of meat went to great lengths to try and coax their unusual pet to develop a taste for it. They even advertised a cash reward for anyone who could devise a meat containing formula that the lioness would like.
The curator of a New York Zoo advised the Westbue’s of putting a few drops of milk or blood in the lioness' milk. But, the lioness refused to drink the milk; even when only a single drop of blood had been added. Meanwhile Little Tyke continued to do extremely well on a daily diet of cooked grains, raw eggs and milk. By four years of age she was a fully grown lion and weighed 352 pounds.
To condition her teeth and gums as she refused to gnaw on bones, Little Tyke was given heavy rubber boots to chew on which generally lasted about three weeks. The lioness not only survived on a vegetarian diet, but she thrived. One of America’s most able zoo curators apparently said that the lioness was the best of her species he had ever viewed. As Little Tyke and the Westbue’s also had sheep and cattle on their 100 acre ranch; visitors to the ranch were often amazed to see a full grown African lioness wandering peacefully among the sheep and the cattle and even chewing on succulent tall grass in the field.
Did you know friends that the bible predicts that every lion on earth will be vegetarian? Stay tuned for more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTON]
Pastor Ross: Hello friends and welcome back. This is Pastor Jean Ross. Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening. Welcome to “Bible Answers Live”. This is a live, interactive, National and International Bible study. If you have Bible related question you can call our resource number and to get onto the air tonight the number to call right into the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. The phone lines are open with a few lines available so I would encourage you to call in with your question now. Again that number right here to the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. My name is Pastor Jean Ross and sitting in here right beside me is Brod Boyd, he is the Director of Media for “Amazing Facts”, Brod, welcome to the program.
Brod: Thank you Pastor Ross such a great opportunity to show off my vest this weekend.
Pastor Ross: Right and we appreciate you for joining us and filling I this weekend. Brod would you begin the program with a word of prayer this evening?
Brod: Certainly. Dear God we thank you for this opportunity to see another day. We ask now for your blessings on this program, but also on the listeners of this program. In Jesus’ name we do pray. Amen.
Pastor Ross: Amen. We started the program with an amazing fact about a vegetarian lion, Little Tike who refused to eat meat. She did very well on a vegetarian diet which is really quite remarkable. But, you know friends the Bible says that a time will come when every lion on earth will be vegetarian. Let me read the verses you’ll find in Isaiah Chapter 11: 6-7 it says, 6 “The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.” 7 “And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. So the Bible speaks of a time when every animal will be vegetarian.
There won’t be lions chasing spring buck or wildebeests or anything like that. But, they will be at peace with all the other animals and they’ll be eating straw. That of course is a description of a world made new. The place that God is preparing for those that love Him.
And we have a study guide that deals with the subject of thee earth made new and talking about heaven and if you’d like to receive that it is an “Amazing Facts” study guide entitled “A Colossal City in Space”. It’s free friends all you’ll have to do is call the resource number and Brod what is that number?
Brod: 1-800-835-6747 that is 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Ross: Alright and the free offer tonight is “A Colossal City in Space”. If you’d like to receive it; be sure to call that resource number and we’ll be happy to send it out to you. At the beginning of each program we like to take a few internet questions. By the way friends if you would like to send us a question via the internet you can go to the “Amazing Facts” website. It is
Pastor Ross: “WWW dot Amazing Facts dot org” and there is a link that says “Contact Us” and you can click on it and you will be able to type in your question.
The first internet question is how can heaven be a happy place when they think of their loved ones who are lost? Well that’s a good question will heaven be a place of joy when family members perhaps are not there in that beautiful heavenly home that God is preparing.
Well, the Bible says that the time will come when God will wipe away all tears from every eye; that’s Revelation Chapter 21:4. So surrounded by the beauty and the joys of new earth God’s redeemed people will forget the tragedies and the heartache of the past. Isaiah Chapter 65:17 says that the former things shall not be remembered nor come into mind. Well that’s a tremendous promise that one day there will be no pain and no sorrow, no sickness and the pain and even the painful memories of this earth we will remember no more. That gives us great hope, doesn’t it?
Brod: Amen. It does.
Pastor Ross: And we look forward toward that day right. We live towards that day.
Well the second question that we have has to do with an important question, will little babies that die be saved in God’s Kingdom? Perhaps some of you who are listening have suffered the terrible tragedy of laying your child a little bay in the grave. Does the Bible give hope for those who have experienced this tragedy? Will little babies be saved? Now the Bible doesn’t give a specific answer to the question. But, many people choose to believe that infants will be saved based upon Matthew Chapter 2: 16-18. In this passage the Bible speaks of wicked King Herod and his decree to destroy all of the babies in Bethlehem that were two years old and younger. The Old Testament also foretold this tragedy.
And in the Old Testament it describes this event in Jeremiah Chapter 31: 16-17. And in Jeremiah 16 the Bible says, “Refrain thy voice from weeping; they…” that is the slain children, “…shall come again from the land of the enemy.” Then it goes on and says 17 “Thy children shall come again to their own border.” So Jeremiah verses 16 and 17 are a clear reference to the resurrection. So in this instance where this tragedy was fulfilled by King Herod there is this promise and the hope that one day God will resurrect those beautiful children and place them in the hands of their mother’s or their father’s in that beautiful resurrection morning. And that the hope of the Christian isn’t it?
Brod: Amen.
Pastor Ross: We look forward to that glorious day. Well friends again we want to remind you of the free offer tonight. It is called “A Colossal City in Space” and it deals with the subject of heaven. And if you’d like to receive that just call the resource number. Brod would you like to give us that number again?
Brod: Sure the number is 1-800-835-6747 that’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Ross: And if you have a question you would like to get on the air tonight the call 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 we have some phone lines open and now would be a good time to call. We are going to the phone lines now.
Brod: Sure Pastor Ross we have Nego calling from Huntsville, Alabama listening to us on WOCG. Nego welcome to “Bible Answers”.
Nego: Hi how are you doing?
Pastor Ross: Good and your question tonight Nego.
Nego: Yeah I want to know in the Bible does it mention anything about dinosaurs you know. What about dinosaurs in the Bible?
Pastor Ross: You know that is a good question. There is a passage that you find in the book of Job that describes creatures that we don’t quite know of today and are not familiar with. And some have felt that that could refer to dinosaurs. It describes leviathan to being a sea dwelling creature. And speaks of him as actually breathing out smoke out of his nostrils and some have felt that they were dinosaurs that did have chambers in their skulls that could allow for certain chemicals that could be combined and actually be breathed out. It had almost an acid or fire like nature when these dinosaurs breathed out this combination.
There is also a description in the book of Job that has a tail like unto a cedar tree and it has large legs like unto large trees as well. It’s a big animal and it eats grass and it lives by the reeds. Some have looked at that and said well that could refer to an elephant. But, if you look at it an elephant does have large round legs like a tree. But, of course the tail of an elephant is like a string. It is not thick like a cedar in the least. And so based on these two descriptions that we find in the book of Job that is where you will find that many have concluded that this is a description of dinosaurs. Now of course what happened to the dinosaurs? They were probably destroyed at the time of the flood.
Nebo: Okay.
Pastor Ross: And so that’s where we have the fossil record.
Nebo: So the book of Job is a little older than the dinosaurs then?
Pastor Ross: Well the book of Job is believed to be at least the story of Job is believed to be the oldest recorded story. It was written by Moses and many believe it was written by Moses in his wanderings in the wilderness. But, the actual story of Job and the actual happening in his life they are believed to be the oldest. Now it could have very well been shortly after the flood that the experience of Job happened and the stories were still fresh in the minds of the people about the legends. So they don’t believe Job’s experience was before the flood they believe it was after the flood, but it was the closest to the flood. That is an interesting subject and fascinating to look at. I would encourage you to take a look at Job and it is in the last few chapters that it has this description of leviathan. And behemoth is the other one of these two great creatures that the Bible describes.
Nebo: I definitely will and I appreciate it so much man.
Pastor Ross: Alright you are welcome. Well thank you for calling.
Brod: Pastor Ross we have Michael calling from somewhere in Ohio and we’re hoping that he is pulled over.
[Laughter]
Brod: Michael, go ahead; you’re on the air.
Michael: Thank you very much. I was listening to your program which I listen to quite a bit over the road when I can catch you and I did have a question for you tonight.
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Michael: And my question was how you would refer to the capture of Bin Laden in the book of Revelation as he starts of the trouble because I’m looking at Armageddon right in our face. This is the fear factor that I feel America is dealing with and I wondered if you could answer those questions?
Pastor Ross: Great question. What does the current situation in the Middle East have on Bible prophecy and how does it relate? Well you know there is a verse in Daniel Chapter 12: 1-2 and it is speaking of the times we are now living in and it says, 1 “At that time shall Michael stand up and the great prince stands for the children of Israel and there shall be a time of trouble such as never was, even since a nation to that same time. And at that time thy people shall be delivered everyone that is found written in the book of life. 2 And then many that are in the sleep of the dust of the earth shall awake some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt.” So here is a prophecy Daniel Chapter 12: 1-2 that describes a time of trouble that is worse than the world has ever seen. Now that is a startling thought when you think of WW1 and WW 11 and some of the other things the world has gone through and here the Bible describes a time of trouble that will be even greater than all of those things that have happened in the past. However we need to take courage because in the same verse that speaks of this great time of trouble; it also promises that those that are found written in the book and of course that is the Lamb’s Book of Life; they will be delivered. So those written in the Lamb’s Book of Life they will be delivered. So that does give us courage and hope. Does that help Michael?
Michael: Yes quite a bit and thank you very much.
Pastor Ross: Okay well let me give you a resource that I think you’d find interesting. It deals with the second coming of Jesus and it talks about difficulties in the earth, a time of trouble and I think things related to Armageddon. It is called “The Ultimate Deliverance” and it speaks about the second coming of Jesus and we’d be happy to send that out to you and it is free. All you’ll have to do is call the resource number.
Brod: That number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747
Pastor Ross: And again the free offer is the “Ultimate Deliverance”. If you just call that resource number we will be happy to send it out to you. Again friends if you have a Bible related question the number to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297. We’ll go to the phone lines again with our next caller?
Brod: Pastor Ross we have Carolyn calling from WKFIA in Auburn, California. She has an interesting question.
Pastor Ross: Okay. What’s the question?
Brod: Carolyn you are on the air.
Pastor Ross: Carolyn are you there?
Carolyn: I’m here.
Pastor Ross: Hi welcome to the program.
[Laughter]
Pastor Ross: Glad we managed to connect with you today and your question?
Carolyn: Yeah I almost lost you. I had a friend who asked me a question I couldn’t answer. It’s the passage in Hosea Chapter 1: 2 where the Lord told the prophet Hosea to take a prostitute as a wife. And I wondered if you could tell me why.
Pastor Ross: Okay that’s a good question. Let me read the verse. It’s Hoses Chapter 1: 2. It says, 2 “The beginning of the word of the Lord by Hosea. And the Lord said to Hosea, Go, Take unto thee a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land has committed great whoredom, departing from the Lord.” The woman often represents a church and Jesus is described as the bridegroom and the church would then be the bride. The Bible says we are to be espoused to Jesus, who is the bridegroom and the church is the bride. Here in the experience of Hosea God gave him an object lesson of what they were doing to Him.
If you read through the whole story of Hosea he marries this woman. But, she keeps running off on him and he keeps taking her back. And it’s a demonstration of God’s love for Israel. Israel would often leave the worship of Him and follow Baal and the gods of the heathen nations. And the Bible speaks of them whoring after these pagan gods. So in the story of Hosea we have a demonstration of God’s love for his church.
Carolyn: Very good. Well that really makes sense. Really I appreciate that Bible answer.
Pastor Ross: Thanks for calling Carolyn and you know we do have a free offer. It speaks concerning the church and where we have the symbolism of where we have the woman in Bible prophecy representing a church. It is called “The Bride of Christ” and it is free. All you have to do is just call the resource number and again ask for that free resource called “The Bride of Christ”. And Brod will you give us that number once more?
Brod: Sure the number is 1-800-835-6747. That’s 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Ross: Alright and let me add to that as well we have the offer of the one study guide “The Bride of Christ” which is a study of Revelation Chapter 12 where a woman is seen standing upon the moon and she is clothed and has a crown of twelve stars upon her head and that is the symbol of God’s church. She is a symbol of purity.
Then in Revelation Chapter 17 there is another woman described riding upon a scarlet colored beast. She has on her forehead Babylon the great, the mother of harlots and the abominations of the earth. She is the description of churches that have fallen from God’s word.
So we are making that other offer “The Bride of Christ” available and if you want to read about Chapter 17 and the woman described there as Babylon and what she symbolizes and ask for the offer called “The Other Woman” So one you have “The Bride of Christ” an then you can ask for the study guide “The Other Woman”. Brod can you give us that number?
Brod: You can ask for both offers at 1-800-835-6747. And again that is 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Ross: Alright well thank you Carolyn for your call and we’re going to go to our next caller.
Brod: Sure. Pastor Ross we have Hector and he is listening to us on the internet. And he is calling from Danburg, Connecticut. Hector you are on the air.
Hector: Hello Pastor. How are you doing?
Pastor Ross: Good thank you.
Hector: My question is. Well let me give you a little bit of the background of why I am asking this question.
Pastor Ross: Sure.
Hector: I see Jesus in the Bible referring to the Sadducees and the Pharisees open and in the open without being apologetic. If He also confronted Peter about something in the Bible with a question about theology, but that is the way I see it. But, what I see at my church which is your church kind of running away from debate and I am wondering is it Biblical to have debates with other brothers of different churches and stuff like that? Or is it better to not discuss the point and whatever you believe is fine and just let it be fine.
Pastor Ross: Alright it is a good question. I think first of all we need to establish the fact that the Bible does declare the truth. And truth if it is going to be truth is singular. In other word there are not a variety of truths, The Bible clearly defines truth. And it is of great value and importance for us to study the word of God so we can know the truth. You know Jesus said you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. So it is significant to know and understand the truth.
We also want to witness and share the truths that we have learned from God’s word. Now at times that might require a discussion and you might even say a debate. However we want to be careful. But, there are some debates that are helpful in our understanding of the truth and we can actually build a person’s faith in the word of God. But, there are other debates that end up being arguments where people just argue their point of view. And they have no real intent in seeking what the Bible has to say. They are looking for Scripture to defend their particular position and they don’t have an interest to understand the other point of view and to understand and know the truth as it is revealed in the Bible. So those types of debates; where it is just me defending my position and you defending yours and it goes back and forth and back and forth, I don’t know how productive they are. But, if there is a sincere desire to understand and know the truth and to study the word of God I can see that as being very helpful.
Hector: So you are saying then it is unbiblical to have a debate, but if you were invited to a debate right now would you go to another denomination?
Pastor Ross: If I am invited to go and share something.
Hector: You are invited right now to say prove me Saturday is the Sabbath day of the week. Or something like that and you have to go and defend that would you go and do it?
Pastor Ross: Yes absolutely. If somebody asks us to defend our position on truth the Bible tells us to be prepared to do it. But, in the discussion if it ends up being an argument it is better just to hold your peace because you’re not profiting anything. So there is a place for studying the word of God and at time sit might be spirited as people have different opinions and different views and there is nothing wrong in discussing the word of God and looking for Biblical evidence, but we want to study the word of God for the purpose of finding truth. It is not just defending our particular point of view. So that’s the key that we want to bear in mind when we do this Hector.
Hector: Thank you that actually satisfies my philosophy.
Pastor Ross: Alright as I said again we appreciate your call. You know again it is the motive that is behind the debate. If it is just for me to prove my particular position or point of view how helpful is that? But, if I am there wanting to share truth then I am reminded of an instance where the Apostle Paul was in Athens. You can read about this in the book of Acts. And he was reasoning with the people in Athens. And he argued with them and he debated with them. Trying to prove to them the truths of Christ and the truths of the resurrection and he had some success, but later ended up writing I will know nothing, but Jesus Christ crucified and then realized that debate has a purpose, but the greatest argument of all is presenting Jesus. Him and Him crucified that suffers the heart and opens up the mind to understanding more truths. Alright well let us go to our next caller.
Brod: Sure we have Joseph calling from New York, New York. He is listening to us on WMCA. Joseph welcome you’re live.
Joseph: Hello Pastor.
Pastor Ross: Hi Joseph welcome to the program. ‘
Joseph: Thank you. Pastor I thought up until recently and I thought that enunciation to the Virgin Mary was singular. And I have recently learned there was an enunciation to a John the Baptist father and there was one to Samson’s parents. Were there many other enunciations?
Pastor Ross: Well that’s a good question. We have examples as you quoted. Zachariah was in the temple and the angel appeared and said that he would have a son. And at first Zachariah questioned how this can be and the angel said I stand in the presence of God and as a sign you won’t be able to speak until the son is born. And of course that relates to the John the Baptist. Then…
Joseph: Was John a Jewish man?
Pastor Ross: They didn’t refer to it as we would say John, but there was an Aramaic way of saying John and I am not sure what the Aramaic way of saying John is. And then you have the announcement to Mary of the birth of Jesus and you have the announcement of Samson that he would be born. We have seven instances in the Bible where there were miraculous births if you look at the Patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. All of their wives were in some form barren and the births of their children were miraculous. You also have the instance in Scripture where the prophet Elisha prays for the Shuminite woman and she is able to have a son. You have of course the example of Zachariah and Elizabeth and they have a son and then you have the birth of Jesus. So you have these incidents in Scripture of these miraculous or special births. We know the three where an angel actually announced that, but the others are not specific that an angel announced that.
Joseph: Angel was always Gabriel wasn’t it?
Pastor Ross: The angel was Gabriel yes.
Joseph: By the way sir you mentioned a little earlier that was to a gentleman concerning Hosea was that symbolic or was that a true story about Hosea?
Pastor Ross: Alright according to the account they have there of Hosea it was a true story. It describes his experience with this woman that he married and they had children and she had deserted him on a number of occasions. He would go find her and bring her back. So it was a living example of what Israel was doing to God.
Joseph: So the answer to your question was that there were only three enunciations like the angels.
Pastor Ross: As far as I know related to the birth of a child I know of three. Of course Abraham with Sarah that was also an announcement, but that was God Himself when God said to Abraham you’ll have a son. But, other than that we know of the three examples where an angel came.
Joseph: Thank you very much.
Pastor Ross: Alright you are welcome Joseph thank you for your call. I think we might have time for one more call. Let’s give it a quick try.
Brod: We have Deborah calling from Detroit, Michigan. Deborah you are on the air listening to us on WMUZ.
Pastor Ross: Hi Deborah welcome to the question you’ll have to ask quickly we have one minute before the break.
Deborah: Hi Pastor I am calling I would like to know and I love your program it’s teaching me a lot of things. Why did Jesus Christ have to die for our sins?
Pastor Ross: Alright that is probably one of the most important questions that anyone can ask. Deborah your question is very important so either you can hold or when we come back from our break we would want to deal with that question in more detail. Why did Jesus have to die for our sins? Friends again we are going to take just a short break with some important announcements to be given and then right after the break don’t go away we have another half an hour Of “Bible Answers Live” We will open up the phone lines and you’ll have a chance to ask your question. And we will also give some great resources so just hold on and listen to the important announcements and after the break we’ll be back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Ross: Hello we are back and if you have a Bible question the number to call right into the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS that’s 1-800-463-7297. Again 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297 it looks like we have about three lines that are open and so this is a good time for you to call in if you’d like to get your question on the air.
We have Deborah who is holding and we will come back to you, but before we do that we’d like to give you some great resources that I trust will help in your study of God’s word. Of course the “Amazing Facts” website; just “WWW dot amazing facts dot org” it has a number of great resources you can go and actually go and listen to archived “Bible Answers Live” programs. There are also a number of studies available and the resources that we offer throughout the hour are also available at the “Amazing Facts” website. We also have a website dedicated to the subject of the Sabbath; it’s called “Sabbath Truth dot com” or “dot org” and it kind of explains the truth of the Sabbath and how we understand that from a Biblical position. There’s another website Brod and that is on Hell Truth. Sometimes people ask the question of what happens to the wicked. Are they burning right now in hell? Well that website has a number of great resources that will help. Again my name is Jean Ross and sitting here helping in the studio for Doug Batchelor is Brod Boyd. He is the Media Director at “Amazing Facts”. Brod, again thank you for stepping in and helping this evening.
Brod: No problem this is a great treat.
Pastor Ross: Well alright let’s go back to the phone lines to Deborah holding on line 5.
Brod: Okay and Deborah you are live on the air.
Pastor Ross: Deborah are you still there?
Brod: Well let’s try her again. You’re live on the air.
Deborah: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Alright Deborah you are back with us. Alright your question was why Jesus had to die. Well that is a very good and important question. Christ died to satisfy the death penalty against us. You see the Bible tells us that the wages of sin is death. Jesus died to pay the death penalty and he was born as a man so that He could suffer the kind of death that you and I deserve. He then offered to give us credit for His death.
In other words His sinless life is credited to our account and we are accounted worthy because of what Jesus did for us. In other words we are condemned to die. But, in order for us to pay for breaking God’s eternal law that would require death. Jesus because of His compassion for us stepped in and took our place and said I will die in your place. I will die for your sins and then when you confess your sins and exercise faith in me I will account my righteous life in place of your sinful life. That’s remarkable this transaction that takes place. We come to Jesus sinful and He will take our sins and give us His righteousness; that is the great centerpiece of the Christian’s hope, is the death of Jesus.
Deborah: Okay that explains it thank you so much. I listen to your program and I do go on the website and I get a lot of my information and it has given me a lot of understanding. Thank you so much.
Pastor Ross: Well good. Thank you Deborah and let me give you just two verses that gives us courage. The first is John Chapter 3:1 it says, 1“Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us; that we should be called the sons of God. Through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus we are adopted into God’s family. We are sons and daughters of God. We were one time enemies of God, but because of what Jesus had done for us and by exercising faith in His sacrifice we become the sons of God. And then John Chapter 1: 12 it says, 12“But, as many as received Him…” that’s Jesus, “… then gave He power to become the sons of God even to them that believe on His name.” So not only do we receive forgiveness when we put our faith in Jesus, but we also receive power to live a Holy life that brings glory to God. You know Brod we have a study guide called “Rescue from Above” that deals with the subject of salvation. It talks about Jesus and its’ significance for—to us today. “Rescue from Above” how do folks get this free offer?
Brod: You can call our 800 number at 1-800-835-6747 that’s 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “Rescue from Above”.
Pastor Ross: Alright that is a great resource and you can also see it at the “Amazing Facts” website. If you wish to go there and you don’t want to wait for it to get to you in the mail just go ahead and go to the “Amazing facts” website. We are going to go to our next caller.
Brod: Sure. Pastor Ross we have Daniel listening over the internet and he is calling from Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Go ahead Daniel you’re live.
Daniel: Yes. Very quickly I am a little bit puzzled because the internet stream I am hearing from three ABN is not coinciding with what I am hearing on hold. I did mute the speakers though and I just wanted to tell you that because I heard you talking to Earl and Victor in the internet, but you were talking to Deborah.
Pastor Ross: Alright well we do know that there is a little bit of a delay. Or is it a completely different topic?
Daniel: Oh it is just completely different. And I just thought you should know that.
Pastor Ross: Oh alright. Well we appreciate you bringing that to our attention.
Daniel: Because I was going to hang up and hear the reply to my question, but I can’t do that.
Pastor Ross: You had better hold on that’s a good point. Well what is your question tonight Daniel?
[Laughter]
Daniel: Here we go—you know on the long stream on the internet; which it is still good stuff, but I heard you talking about the new heaven and new earth thing.
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Daniel: I guess what I really wonder are there going to be people born on the new side or on the new heaven and the new earth or whatever it is going to be? I kind of worry about could there be any possibility that we envy them since we did not grow up in a perfect world and here we are in a crazy fallen world? I know that may sound kind of dumb, but.
Pastor Ross: Well that is a good question. First of all let me address the question will people be born in heaven? And will people be born in the new earth? The answer to that is no. People won’t be born in heaven and how do we know that? Well there was an occasion where the people asked Jesus and He said...
Daniel: Oh yes He said in the new resurrection people will be like the angels.
Pastor Ross: That’s right. And of course we know that the angels don’t procreate. So in heaven we know new people won’t be born and the Bible does speak in Isaiah about the new earth of the little children growing up and he actually uses the phrase a little child shall die at hundred. Now when it talks about a little child dying it doesn’t mean a physical death.
Daniel: No it just means he will not mature as quick.
Pastor Ross: That’s right he will grow a lot slower than he does now. So we understand that from Scripture as well as in the new earth children will grow up, but there will come a time where there will be no more children in heaven and I think that will make their time in heaven even more precious. But, no, people won’t be born in heaven; from what we understand.
Daniel: But, that’s what I wonder is there any chance that maybe envy is not the right word. But, that we might regret that we didn’t grow up in that perfect world?
Pastor Ross: Okay good question. Let me give a try at that. You know we look at what has happened in the world here with all the suffering, pain and crying. And we wonder what is to come because God has said if we exercise faith in Him and put our trust in Him; He has promised that one day He is going to make everything right you know in that world made new there will be no more pain, no sickness, and no sorrow. But, there is also something we need to bear in mind because of sin and because of the suffering and the death that we have experienced here in this earth; God in Hid mercy has drawn close to us. And Jesus became one with us. He was God manifest in the flesh. And we are drawn closer to Jesus because of the sin problem than we ever could have been had there never been any sin in the Universe. So even though sin is a curse God has been able to turn it around and make it into a blessing for those who put their faith in Jesus. And we will be able to experience the love of God and His grace in a way we never would have experienced if we had not experienced the pain and the suffering we have here on this earth. Does that help Daniel?
Daniel: I think, but I guess that is something I am really going to have to meditate on. It seems so deep.
Pastor Ross: That’s right and when you think about it; that it is good news. Despite the pain and the sorrow we have on this earth when God makes all things new and we will actually be closer to God and experience His love in a way we otherwise couldn’t experience.
I sometimes think of the illustration of let’s say a person is drowning in a river. And we are standing on the bank watching this happen. And somebody rushes in as we are standing there looking and somebody rushes into this raging river and risks his own life to rescue that person. Although it has been with great danger to him he reaches the person and drags him to safety. And we are standing on the bank and saying how wonderful and how brave of this man to risk his life for this other person. And we might feel a sense of awe and respect for this person, but we will never be able to experience the gratitude that the person who was rescued will feel to the one who rescued him. And so it is with us and God. The angels stand and look at what God has done and without a doubt they worship Him because of His love and grace for coming and dying here for us. But, they can never experience the joy that we are experiencing because we are the ones who are the recipients of the grace of Jesus through His atoning sacrifice. So it does create a special relationship with us.
Brod: You know Daniel wondered whether we would be jealous or envious, but heaven is such a beautiful place we won’t even have time to do that it is such a wonderful feeling. It is kind of like a child if your Mom bought you a Popsicle and then the neighbor bought a Popsicle; you don’t care who bought it you’re just happy that you got it.
Pastor Ross: That’s right nobody in heaven is going to look at somebody else’s gift or somebody else’s mansion and say oh man why can’t mine be that big? We are going to just be happy to be there right?
Brod: Amen.
Pastor Ross: And we will be satisfied and the Bible says that eye has not seen nor ear heard. Neither has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him. So that’s where we put our faith and our confidence. We are going to go to the next caller?
Brod: Pastor Ross we have Angie listening on KNDL in California. Angie you are live.
Angie: Hi Pastor Ross I have a question it’s about 1 Corinthians 13:9-10 and it says, 9 “For we know in part and prophesy in part about that which is perfect has come and that which is in part has been done away.” I’m just wondering what that means?
Pastor Ross: Okay what he is referring to here when he is speaking about that which is perfect has come he is speaking about the second coming of Jesus when all things are made complete and perfect. In other words we cannot fully comprehend what God has in store for us. As I quoted another verse earlier that eye has not seen nor ear heard; neither entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for him. So even though we have revealed in the Bible what heaven is going to be like, and what God is preparing for those who love Him. We cannot fully comprehend or experience what it is that God has so we prophesy in part, we preach in part, we present the truth of God’s word, but it is not the whole thing because it is so great it is even bigger than we can comprehend.
Angie: Is this why we will be studying until eternity?
Pastor Ross: We will. The character of God will continually be our subject of study. And there will be aspect of His love that will be manifest throughout the Universe and throughout endless ages where it will excite us, but we are never going to know everything about God. We will study throughout eternity and there will always be new things we will discover and learn. So it is a continual broadening and understanding of whom God is and His love for us.
Angie: It is basically an ongoing process if we look at it from our relation with our walk with God. It is a growing process and we’ll never get there.
Pastor Ross: That‘s right and you know that is even true here on this earth. As we behold Christ and we meditate upon His word and we surrender ourselves to Him we become more and more like Him. And that will continue throughout all of eternity. We’ll continue to behold God and Christ and His love for us and it will be a learning experience.
Angie: Alright. Thank you so much.
Pastor Ross: Alright well thank you for your call.
Brod: Pastor Ross we have Wesley calling from Finger, Tennessee and he is listening on WDNX. Wesley you are on the air.
Wesley: Yes. Sir how are you doing?
Pastor Ross: Good.
Wesley: Doing pretty good, too. Just had a question and it’s about you know when Jesus was crucified, the other two men that were crucified with Him. I went to church today and I was telling them just thinking about it well did they go to heaven with Him? When they were crucified with Him they all went through the entire pain of that, but did they go when I guess they were resurrected. Did they get resurrected also with Him and got to heaven with Him?
Pastor Ross: Okay. Well we first want to recognize that not both of the thieves exercised faith in God or Christ; only the one. The other one reviled Him and said if you are the son of God come down off the cross and save us. The other thief said how can you say this? We deserve what we are receiving, but this man, speaking of Jesus has done nothing and so he has done nothing wrong. And then of course that thief said to Jesus Lord remember me when you come into your kingdom. Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto you today you will be with me in paradise.”
So it is only the one thief that actually exercised faith in Christ and we believe that, that thief according to the promise given to him by Jesus will be saved. He will be resurrected when Jesus comes again.
Wesley: But, what I was asking is the one thief who got crucified was brought to paradise with Jesus.
Pastor Ross: Okay did he go to paradise that day is that what you are asking?
Wesley: Yes.
Pastor Ross: Oh okay good question. The answer to that is no; he didn’t go to paradise with Jesus that day. Now I’ll tell you why. Let me give you a couple of verses on that as well. According to the Bible when a person dies he waits for the resurrection. And it is at the resurrection where a person is at the same coming of Jesus that they receive their reward or they go to paradise or go to heaven. And here is a couple of verses maybe you can just jot them down. Speaking of the condition of those who are dead is Ecclesiastes 9: 5-6 it says, “The living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing.” Job Chapter 14:12 says, “The dead do not know what happens to them.” Psalms 146: 4 says, “That when a person dies his thoughts perish.” And then we find Jesus in John 11: 11-14 he speaks of death as a sleep. So when a person dies and he has faith in Jesus like the thief on the cross, the next conscious thought that, that person has is of the resurrection which takes place at the second coming of Jesus. Now a thousand years could have gone by, but the very next thing that the person knows is that Jesus is coming with all of His angels and he is resurrected and he has his immortal body and he will never die. Now some people ask, but what about when Jesus said today you will be with me in paradise. Does that mean that thief went with Jesus that day?
First of all I want you to note that the thief wasn’t expecting to receive his reward that very day. The thief said to Jesus Lord remember me when you come in your kingdom. So the thief wasn’t expecting to go to heaven on that day. Secondly, depending upon the original Greek that the New Testament is written in that doesn’t have the commas like today; that was added later on with the translation of the Bible. And depending on where you put the comma in that verse it makes quite a difference in its meaning. If Jesus said verily, verily I say unto you “comma” today you will be with me in paradise. That means that that very day that Jesus was promising the thief he would be with him. But, if you put the “comma” after the word today and say Jesus said verily, verily I say unto you today “comma” you will be with me in paradise. In other words that very day when Jesus was hanging upon the cross even though He didn’t look like a king coming in His glory, but when the thief exercised faith in Jesus; Jesus gave him the assurance that very day that he would one day be with Him in paradise. And then there are a number of verses in the New Testament that speak of the righteous receiving their reward when Jesus comes again. Does that help Wesley?
Wesley: Really great. What did you say your name was?
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross.
Wesley: Jean Ross?
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Wesley: Okay.
Pastor Ross: And also let me remind you of a study guide that deals with this subject of what happens when a person dies and it also refers to the resurrection it is simply entitled “Are the Dead Really Dead?” And then all you would have to do is call the resource number and we would be happy to send that out to you.
Wesley: Alright great.
Pastor Ross: Here’s the number.
Brod: That number is 1-800-835-6747 and again 1-800-835-6747.
Pastor Ross: Again ask for the study guide on “Are the Dead Really Dead”. By the way Brod we also have that online at the “Amazing Facts” website. So if Wesley or anyone else doesn’t want to wait for the study guide to get to them in the mail they can go online to the “Amazing Facts” website and you can look it up there as well. Let’s take our next caller.
Brod: Sure. We have Brian calling us from Dexter, Michigan. Brian you are live.
Pastor Ross: Hi Brian welcome to the program.
Brian: Hi Pastor. My question was and like I said I am going to try and explain in Romans it says about the law and even if the people haven’t heard about Jesus they will still be dealt with. I don’t know if you can help me on that? It is on the unbelievers.
Pastor Ross: Okay I think that you are referring to Romans Chapter 1.
Brian: Yes, yes, yes.
Pastor Ross: There in Romans Chapter 1 Paul states that everyone is without excuse. He says that even those who didn’t understand the law in other words they didn’t have the word of God. But, yet through nature and through their conscious God has revealed right and wrong. They will be judged based upon the knowledge that they have. So someone can’t say in the judgment that well Lord I grew up in India and I never had the Bible. God is still revealed through nature and through the conscious an there is still a right and wrong and they might not live up to all the truth, but depending upon how they respond to the light that they have received that’s what determines their eternal destiny.
Brian: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Does that help?
Brian: Yes that helps a lot. Thank you Pastor.
Pastor Ross: Yeah so God is and remember this; God is in the business of saving people. He wants to include people in heaven and He doesn’t want to leave them out. And yet every man is judged according to the light that they have. Alright let’s take our next caller.
Brod: Sure. Pastor Ross we have Tony calling form Ft. Worth, Texas. He is listening to us on KJCR.
Tony: Hi Pastor. My question to you is regarding sexual immorality. Earlier you had a caller on and I believe his name was Oscar. And I guess the outcome to his question was that the only reason you could be divorced was because of sexual immorality. My question is does that mean actual sexual immorality with somebody else or can they divorce because the wife with holds sex?
Pastor Ross: Alright I think I get what you mean Tony. You know sometimes people will take a phrase where Jesus says if you look upon a woman and lust after her you have committed adultery in your heart and now can be grounds for getting divorced from their spouse. You know I think that is going a little bit too far. The Bible says you are bound to your spouse except for the occasion of fornication or adultery. And even in today’s terms we would consider that as someone who has been unfaithful to their spouse by going out and having an affair on them. You know nobody is perfect and I think we have to realize that even if in marriage relationships there might be times when we say or think things that are inappropriate. And we need to ask for forgiveness of our spouse if that happens. But, that by no means is grounds to get a divorce. Marriage is a very sacred thing. And God’s idea of it is that a woman and a husband and wife that they be married as long as they live. And we should be looking for as many opportunities as we can to strengthen the marriage relationship and even if someone does go against their marriage vows and if they do have an affair it is not a guarantee that you have to divorce them. I think God’s ideal is that you forgive them. And that restoration takes place with it the marriage and perhaps there need s to be some counseling involved. But, God’s ideal is that the marriage be an example of His relationship with us and the church. And so that’s what I have to say dealing with that. We also have a study guide called “Keys to a Happy Marriage” and for anyone listening whether you have a good marriage or a not so good marriage you can get some great tips from the word of God on how you can strengthen your marriage. It is called “Keys to a Happy Marriage.” Brod what is the number for that?
Brod: Sure. Call 1-800-835-6747 that’s 1-800-835-6747 and Pastor Ross I would even recommend that for some single folks as well.
Pastor Ross: Well you know what it deals with relationships doesn’t it? Th e principles in a marriage relationship are also applicable in any type of interpersonal relationship. So that’s a good counsel there.
Brod: Okay. I want to remind our callers that there are still a few minutes left, but our lines are still open 1-800-GOD-SAYS or 1-800-463-7297.
Pastor Ross we have Nancy calling form Bakersfield, California. She is listening to us on KFHL. Nancy you are live.
Pastor Ross: Hi Nancy welcome to the program. And what is your question tonight?
Nancy: Hi. Oh my question is about when you have an abortion. Are those babies going to be going to heaven?
Pastor Ross: Alright. That is a good question and the Bible doesn’t tell us specifically those little babies—or children that are aborted are going to be in heaven, but there are words of comfort. And just as I mentioned at the beginning of the program there are many people who believe and I am going to give you the verses here in just a minute—do indicate that babies will be saved.
First of all let me give you a little bit of the background on we have the story in Matthew Chapter 2: 16-18 on King Herod and he went out and destroyed all of the baby boys in Bethlehem that were two years and younger. There is a prophecy in Jeremiah concerning this very event. In Jeremiah Chapter 31: 16-17 the message is given to the mothers, “Refrain thy voice from weeping they…” that’s the children, “… shall come again from the land of the enemy. Thy children shall come again from their own border.” So that is clearly speaking about a resurrection there. And this verse indicates and gives the idea that those babies will be resurrected when Jesus comes again. Now does that relate to aborted babies? It might very well. We also know according to Isaiah that there will be children in the new earth. So putting these different verses together I think there is sufficient evidence that little babies will be resurrected.
Nancy: So is that also with miscarriages or still births?
Pastor Ross: I think so. I think so; that is right. It is any tragedy that happens to the child before born or while it is growing in the womb.
Nancy: Even if like the parents they are not saved or not?
Pastor Ross: The child’s salvation is not dependent upon the parents. Every man shall be judged according to what he knows and a child has until the age of accountability.
Nancy: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Okay Nancy?
Nancy: What was that Matthew Chapter?
Pastor Ross: You can look it up online it is Matthew Chapter 2: 16-18 and then Jeremiah Chapter 31: 16-17 is the Old Testament prophecy that relates to that experience that you have in Matthew. Alright Nancy we thank you for your call.
Nancy: Okay.
Pastor Ross: Friends again we have run out of time. This has been a great interactive Bible study and we thank you for listening. We also want to remind you of some great resources. They are at “Amazing Facts” online “WWW dot Amazing Facts dot org” you can click and listen to archived programs of our “Bible Answers Live” and you can also watch audio sermons preached by Pastor Doug Batchelor. So we encourage you to take a look at that. Friends we also want to remind you that this is a faith based ministry and we are on the air because of your prayers and financial support. So we encourage you to give us a call and if you have a special prayer request we would love to pray with you.
Well friends until next week may God richly bless you as you study His word.
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