Hello friends this is Doug Batchelor. How about an amazing fact? In the spring of 1921 a small group of British soldiers patrolling the Sinai Peninsula became completely lost in a terrible sand storm. Wandering in the blistering desert they soon ran out of water. They had seen deaths from thirst and they decided to dig in the sand hoping to create a well as this effort proved fruitless; one of the men suddenly remembered the passage in the Bible referring to Moses striking the rock and bringing forth water for the children of Israel. He reminded his companions that they were in the same Sinai desert and pointed to a rock outcropping nearby.
Why not, he asked, try to find water just as Moses did? The desperate men willing to believe anything immediately went to the ledge and started to swing with the small pick they carried. Then as they frantically struck out a miracle occurred; a dribble of clear sweet water came out of the face of the rock. The rock was actually soft limestone and part of it evidently covered a hidden spring. This steady trickle of water kept the men alive until they were rescued; proving that the Old Testament miracle could be repeated in the twentieth century. Have you ever wondered if God still answers prayer today as He did in Bible times? Stay with us friends we are going to learn more as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: I am very thankful and excited to be back with you friends for another edition of “Bible Answers Live”. If you are tuning in for the first time either by design or accident, this is a live international Bible study program and you can interact with us. Just join us by listening and pray for us as we search for the answers together or call in a Bible question. Right now we do have lines open and it is always good at the start of the program to call in with your question. That number if you missed it is 1-800-GOD-SAYS; that’s your acronym for 1-800-463-7297 and my name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: And my name is Jean Ross. Good evening friends. It is our desire that in this next hour that you will discover truth, but even more than that that you will find Him that is the truth and that would be Jesus.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Before we begin let’s start with prayer. Dear Father once more as we open up your word we ask for a special blessing. We ask that you be with those who are listening and those who have called into the program this evening. And give us wisdom to find answers from the Bible and for this we ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Well Pastor Doug does God still answer prayer today the way that He did back in Bible times?
Pastor Doug: You know I do believe He does. It seems that the miracles of answered prayer when you look at the history of God working with His people. It seems to come in cycles and waves. And it often has something to do with the spiritual status of God’s people. When they had a revival; you often saw that accompanied with more miracles. When they were engaged in evangelism it seems like God often endorses and supports outreach with miracles when we’re working to do God’s will and to spread the truth; He seems to support that with miraculous answers to prayer. Jesus said in John Chapter 14: 13-14, 13“And whatever you ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask anything in my name, I will do it.” Some people read that and forget to pair it with the other verses. There are conditions to answered prayer, praying according to God’s own will that our hearts might be right, praying in faith; for instance Mark 11:24-25, 24 “Therefore I say unto you, ‘What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.’ 25 ‘And when you stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive your trespasses.’” So there is a criterion of a forgiving heart, but God does answer prayers in powerful ways and I’m sure I know you have some stories how God has answered miraculous prayers in your life.
Pastor Ross: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Doug: That you never would have dreamed of and my problem is I’ve forgotten some of them and I don’t ever want to forget. Just miracles of things I have prayed for were God gave incredible answers.
Pastor Ross: You know sometimes we pray for something and we really believe this will be a blessing for our life or perhaps even be a blessing for God’s cause and then God doesn’t answer the prayer the way we expect and later we discover that there was something better that God had in mind than what we initially thought. And if God answers our prayer and is so kind and so loving that He answers it for our best interest; not always we might want at that particular point and time.
Pastor Doug: That’s right. Sometimes His answers wait and if we submit to His will; His answer is always better. But, friends we want to encourage you if you do not know about the amazing power of prayer and you would like to experience that we’ve got a new booklet we would like to offer.
Pastor Ross: The book is entitles “Teach Us to Pray” and Pastor Doug you wrote the book and you spoke about come conditions to receiving answers to prayer and it is outlined in this beautiful little book. “Teach Us to Pray” and we haven’t offered this for awhile. So if you would like to receive this booklet call the resource number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the booklet “Teach Us to Pray”. We trust that that will be a rich blessing for you. We’d like to begin our program with some internet questions and by the way if you would like to send us a question by the internet you can do so by going to the “Amazing Facts” website and click on the link that says contact us and there will be a place for you to type in your Bible question.
First question is this: What is generally accepted as the hours of the Sabbath?
Pastor Doug: Yeah good question. When does the Sabbath begin and end? You can read in Leviticus Chapter 23:32 speaking of the Sabbath and it says, “And from even until even shall you celebrate your Sabbath.” And if you go to the gospel of Mark; Chapter 1:32 it says, “There, where at even the sun did set.” So it is very clear in the Bible that even was sunset. And here it says from even to even you celebrate your Sabbath. In the Bible days the days did not begin and end at midnight. They didn’t have these sophisticated time pieces that measure the time that way. Their day started and ended at sundown. It ended and a new day began at sundown. That’s why Jesus when He died on the cross they wanted to take His body down before dark because that was the Sabbath approaching at sundown. And that’s what the hours were that He was on the cross so there are no questions about that.
Well I know some people say well let’s use 6 o’clock as around and friends we are not even debating with you right now whether it is Saturday or Sunday. We are just talking about how do you know when you start it and when does it end? And there has been this debate between Sunday and Saturday keepers, but the Bible is very clear it is sundown to sundown.
Pastor Ross: And you know we have an “Amazing Facts” study guide that goes along with this whole subject of the Sabbath and it also talks about...
Pastor Doug: “Forgotten Day in History”.
Pastor Ross: “The Forgotten Day of History” so if you’d like to receive that study guide call the resource number 1-800-835-6747.
The second question for this evening comes from Mark Chapter 9:1 Jesus says, “I’ll tell you the truth that some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God coming with power. And the question is didn’t all of those who are standing there die?
Pastor Doug: Well yes they did and if you notice Christ didn’t say you won’t die, Christ said you won’t die until you see the kingdom of God coming in power. Immediately after Jesus makes that statement in Mark Chapter 9 it tell us that after six days H took them up to a high mountain and Christ is glorified for them as He will be when He comes. He’s surrounded with the clouds of glory and the Father’s voice is there and Jesus said He is coming with the glory of the Father. Moses is there and he represents those who have died and are resurrected. Elijah is there who represents the people who will be alive and translated to heaven without dying and so this was a miniature picture of His second coming. You can’t miss the connection, by the way this is in Mark 9:1 and it is also in Matthew 16:28, Luke 9: 27 and He makes this statement in all three gospels and then this experience takes place. The experience was the fulfillment of the statement. So yes they died before the second coming Jesus wasn’t saying they wouldn’t die before the second coming He said you are going to see the kingdom of God come. I’m going to give you a three dimensional vision of what it will look like.
Pastor Ross: Absolutely and that is a neat study in and of itself to look at Elijah and Moses and the coming of Jesus.
Pastor Doug: And we have a book, I just remembered, it specifically deals with this verse and it is called the two witnesses. If anyone wants a free copy of that call the “Amazing Facts” resource number and ask for “The Two Witnesses”. It has the picture of Moses with lightening on the cover and his very experience.
Pastor Ross: Alright the number to call for that is 1-800-835-6747 and in Revelation Chapter 11.
Pastor Doug: It does. His verse was part of the question and it also touches on Revelation 11.
Pastor Ross: Okay we’ll go to the phone lines. Thomas is listening on the internet from Ontario, Canada. Thomas welcome to the program.
Thomas: Hi thanks for taking my call. How are you doing tonight?
Pastor Doug: Very well. How can we help you?
Thomas: I’d like you to give me a specific answer if you can on where the proof is that the serpent in the garden was actually the devil. And I just wanted to mention a couple of verses. Paul says in Timothy 2: 13-14 and also in 11 Corinthians 11: 3 It clearly says that it was the serpent that misled Eve and that Adam was not deceived only Eve was deceived. And we’re all accredited and sinful not because of what Eve did, being misled by the serpent, but it’s what Adam did because he made a conscious choice knowing Eve had eaten of the apple and he partook.
Pastor Doug: So is your question about the serpent being the devil or is about Adam and Eve and their decisions they made?
Thomas: Well it’s about that we accredit our sins to the devil and I ‘m just asking where the proof is in Genesis that we can interpret the serpent that was as in Genesis 3: 4 says or Genesis 3: 1 says, “The serpent was more subtle than any beasts of the fields which the Lord had made.” I don’t see proof in Genesis where it says the serpent was the so called devil which means accuser and Satan in Genesis.
Pastor Doug: Okay let me take a crack at here I think I understand the question. If you look in Revelation Chapter 12: 9; speaking about the devil very specifically, it says, “That great dragon was cast out that old serpent called the devil and Satan who deceives the whole world.” He was cast out into the earth and his angels cast out with him. Now that is one verse and keep in mind Thomas if you also look in the gospel of Mark Chapter 9 about the demoniac it tells us that these demons possessed a herd of swine and they ran off the cliff according to and we know that the Lord can also possess even a donkey and speak through it if He wants. So it’s simply setting it up in Genesis to show that the devil used the medium of the serpent to deceive man. The reptiles had absolutely no motive for doing that. So I don’t know too many commentators that question it was the devil that was speaking through the serpent.
Thomas: Yes, but I am asking if there is no proof other than jumping to Revelation which was written maybe how many 1000 of years after Revelation was written by Moses?
Pastor Doug: About 6000 years later.
Thomas: Yeah, but we are now using Revelation, a verse there, to now go back and to interpret Genesis based on Genesis and to say that the serpent and I’ll attest to you and maybe you could tell me with more clarity in Isaiah 14: 12 it says and is used as a parallel passage for Lucifer being the devil. Lucifer is only used one time in the entire Bible and it is in that verse and that verse talks about ascending to heaven and taking over the throne of God. And that is clearly talking about the King of Babylon and that is used as parallel to the same events in Revelation which are really talking about is Rome and if we think that is a literal passage in Revelation when we have to think of the dragon as seven heads…
Pastor Doug: It sounds like that almost as much a asking a question you are making a statement. Go ahead.
Thomas: So I am asking can you show me where Lucifer can be proven.
Pastor Doug: Ah so that’s the heart of your question, you’re wondering about the existence of Lucifer.
Thomas: How can you have proof?
Pastor Doug: Well if you believe the Bible I just quoted to you from a very plain passage, but it’s sounded like you doubted the inspiration of Revelation 12. When it says Jesus said I saw Satan like lightening fall from heaven and you read here it talks about the devil disputing with Michael when Michael comes to resurrect and this is the book of Jude: verse 9 I think Pastor Ross when Michael comes to resurrect Moses the devil is disputing. It says Satan in the Old Testament in Zachariah is resisting the Lord and Joshua the high priest. You can read in Revelation 12 he is called the accuser of the brethren.
The devil is really from bow to stern and north to south in the Bible and I think the best thing Thomas because we do want to provide some time for other callers. We’ve got a study guide that covers all of these Scriptures and I don’t know if you have had the chance to see it, but it is called “Did God Create a Devil”.
Pastor Ross: Umm-hmm. That is a good study guide and folks might have the same question if God is so good why is the world so bad and it is covered in that study guide if you would like to receive a free copy call the resource number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the study guide “Did God Create a Devil”.
Our next caller is Arian and he is calling from Atlanta, Georgia. Adrian welcome to the program.
Adrian: Thank you. Good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Good evening. How can we help you tonight?
Adrian: Yes I have a question. Pastor Doug my question is this. Anywhere in the Bible is mentioned what you are doing for a living because I have a debate with somebody about the stock market referring to a daily phasing and gambling for a line to me is similar to doing those jobs and I’d like to know is there any sin in to practice any of those jobs?
Pastor Doug: Well now are you obviously it is wrong to gamble, but I think you are asking more about the stock market is that correct?
Adrian: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Because you know as far as gambling they gambled for Christ’s clothing at the cross. And gambling the Bible says that those who do not work should not eat. Strive not to get rich, but there is no verse that says thou shall not gamble, but there are principles in the Bible that speaks against gambling. Gambling is trying to get something for nothing and using just the risk. But, an investment some people buy stock in a company because they believe it is a good company so they want part ownership of it so they are investing in it; that in itself is not a sin because in the parable of the ten talons Jesus condemns the servant who hid his money and He said you could have at least put it I the bank where I would have had interest. Well banks invest our money I various stocks they do it carefully. Now there’s some stock investing Adrian that people do that is called speculation. It is almost gambling. They’re not buying into a company and holding it, trusting that the company will grow cause it’ s a good company.
Adrian: Right.
Pastor Doug: They are just trying to time ups and downs and flurries and it is very similar to gambling. And it can be pretty risky and I don’t think Christians should engage in that kind of radical speculation. And I also think that when it comes to buying stock in a company it should not be a company that is doing something that is opposed to Christian principles. I don’t think a Christian should invest in alcohol and the tobacco stocks and things like that.
Adrian: Right.
Pastor Ross: You know in Luke chapter 12:13 just to get to the real root of gambling Jesus said take heed and be aware of covetousness for one’s life does not consist of the bounty of things that he possesses. And a lot of gambling has to do with covetousness. People wanting money fast.
Pastor Doug: So I don’t know if that helps a little bit.
Adrian: Yes it helps a lot. Yes thank you so much Doctor.
Pastor Doug: Okay God bless you Adrian happy to help.
Pastor Ross: Arnold is listening on the internet from Englewood, California. Arnold welcome to the program.
Arnold: Yeah how are you doing Pastors? I have a question that comes from the book of Exodus. And I was wondering why God killed Pharaoh’s son when Pharaoh made the decision to not let the Israelites go? I thought in the book of Ezekiel it says that the son shall not suffer…
Pastor Doug: The son shall not suffer for the sin of the father and the father of or the sin of the son.
Arnold: I wondered why then God punished Pharaoh’s son when Pharaoh’s so had nothing to do with Pharaoh’s decision?
Pastor Doug: Well this was a judgment that came not only on Pharaoh’s son, but ll of the first born in Egypt. And God had warned Pharaoh and said Israel is my first born. They are the firstborn nation that He chose through which all of the other nations would find the Lord. And He said if you don’t let my firstborn go I am going to take your firstborn and He gave him plenty of warning and matter of fact before the first plague came; Moses had given him that kind of warning. And after all of those warnings and he refused to repent; you know the Bible commandments also say unto the third and fourth generation of those that hate me visiting the iniquity of the fathers on to the third and fourth generation. So while it is true that God does not punish a child, for the sins of the father; children often reproduce the sins of the father. And I think it is also pretty safe to assume that the son and we don’t know how old he was probably supported his fathers’ decisions. The Crown Prince and so many people watched the movie the Ten Commandments and they assume this is a little eight year old boy. It doesn’t say that in the Bible. He could have been twenty-five years old it is just that he was the first born.
Arnold: Well I was wondering that it shouldn’t be right for a God to wait for the dad to make those actions and then punish him. You know why would He do that?
Pastor Doug: Well this was a judgment on the whole nation when God sent the children of Israel to visit judgment on a nation. He didn’t specify that they shouldn’t hurt any of the children or the sons; war is sort of a brutal thing and what you have in the Exodus it was a war between two nations and God fought for and He gave plenty of warning; He fought for Israel. So let’s just suppose for a second and follow me. Let’s just suppose that son of Pharaoh that died in that plague was five years old, we don’t want to think of that, but let’s just suppose. Suppose he was innocent before the age of accountability. Theoretically he could be in heaven even though he died in the plague. Do you hear what I am saying? Let me give you an example. Jonathan, the son of Saul; do you know who I am taking about in the Bible? Do you know King Saul had a son named Jonathan?
Arnold: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Jonathan died in battle with his father because of his father’s bad decision. Jonathan is going to be in heaven. I don’t expect to see his father there. So do you see what I am saying?
Arnold: Yeah.
Pastor Doug: So I hope that helps a little that is a difficult question.
Pastor Ross: Yes Pastor Doug I think you spoke of God saying Israel was His firstborn. The king of Egypt refused to let God’s firstborn go and a return judgment came upon the firstborn of Egypt. So it was more than God just taking vengeance on the child of the king. But there was a deeper broader lesson that God was trying to teach to the Egyptians as it relates to the people of Israel.
Pastor Doug: And you know what really is at the heart of this point Pastor Ross is it typified as Christ was the firstborn in the battle that was happening there in the Exodus. The sacrifice of the firstborn that is what God did with His son. So there is a big lesson in there, too. Hope that helps Arnold and appreciate your question.
Pastor Ross: Okay our next caller is Jay listening from WMCA in New York, New York. Jay welcome to the program.
Jay: Oh Hi. I wanted to continue what I said about Lazarus and the rich man last week. I wouldn’t consider that a parable because it is the only one that uses proper names. It uses Lazarus and the name of Abraham. So wouldn’t Lazarus have been somebody that the people would have known locally and they would say oh yeah I remember that beggar?
Pastor Doug: Matter of fact there is a Lazarus in the Bible that Jesus raised from the dead and the people did not believe. Even in our religious worship this morning with the kids, not only did the people want to kill Jesus in John Chapter 12; they wanted to kill Lazarus because he was a living testimony. And that’s why at the end of the parable Jesus says, if you believe not Moses and the prophets then neither will you be persuaded that one can rise from the dead. If you notice it names Lazarus, but it doesn’t name the rich man. Christ did raise someone named Lazarus and they still didn’t believe.
Jay: But, that is a different Lazarus wouldn’t you say so?
Pastor Doug: But, how do you know? In the Bible it doesn’t even tell us what country this is.
Jay: It was a Lazarus that was it says he was a beggar and I wouldn’t exactly call the Lazarus that Mary and Martha went to a beggar.
Pastor Doug: Let me remind our friends what we are talking about here. Jay since you and I are resuming an old conversation. We were talking about the parable of Lazarus and the rich man found in Luke Chapter 16:19 and I am of the opinion it is a parable. It doesn’t say that in the beginning, but it also comes in a string of parables that Jesus is telling.
Pastor Ross: You know I think the whole point about the rich man and Lazarus is summarized Pastor once you get into verse 31 of Luke Chapter 16. Where the rich man is saying I have these other bothers can’t you send someone from the dead? And then the response says, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even though that one is raised from the dead.” And of course just after this Jesus did raise Lazarus form the dead, but the Jewish leaders refused to accept Him as the Messiah, despite the fact that He raised Lazarus and this parable was really teaching or pointing out to the Pharisees; that even though He did great miracles before them, they refused to believe the testimony He gave them in the Old Testament Law of Moses. It is teaching a broader lesson.
Jay: So you’re saying hypothetically that could be the same Lazarus?
Pastor Doug: No it is not the same. I don’t think it is the same Lazarus because one is story to illustrate a truth.
Jay: But, in other parables He doesn’t use proper names like in the prodigal son there was a wealthy man and he had two sons and He never mentions them by name.
Pastor Doug: Well in Luke 16:1 He also starts out with another parable in the same Chapter. He says there was a certain rich man that had a steward and everyone believes this is a parable and it is a truth. No one believes it was an actual event. But, it is interesting in Luke 16 it talks about everybody dying going to Abraham’s bosom. That has got to be figurative or Abraham’s bosom must be enormous. It also talks about the people in heaven and hell talking to each other, but heaven forbid that when we get to the kingdom we’ll be able to look out of the gate and see people blistering in the fire. Or that a drop of water would cool somebody’s tongue and assuming there is so much symbolizism in that to say that this was an actual event I think is really a stretch of fantasy. You know we have a booklet and I don’t know if you requested it, but I hope we mentioned it last time. We have a booklet we will send you that goes into this in more detail Jay and it is called “The Rich Man and Lazarus” we’d be happy to send that to you.
Pastor Ross: To get it just call the resource number at 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the booklet “The Rich Man and Lazarus” and it deals with Luke Chapter 16 and goes into that whole story.
Our next caller is Carol Listening from WYCL in Galesburg, Illinois. Welcome to the program Carol.
Carol: Thank you. I appreciate this ministry so much.
Pastor Doug: Well thank you.
Carol: My question is I was I wondered about 11 Timothy 3: 16 I was wondering if you could tell me what the Scripture means and I don’t want to get real specific.
Pastor Doug: Well alright in 11 Timothy 3: 16 it is talking about the sacred writings. For instance when Peter says the Scriptures did not come by the will of man, but holy men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. So these are the sacred writings that comprised the canon of Scripture up to the time of Christ.
Carol: Right.
Pastor Doug: Keep in mind that when Paul wrote this to Timothy that they had not yet really began to disseminate their writings as Scripture. So it was principally the Old Testament up to that point. But we have a booklet we just printed, well we have two, but one is called the “Faithful Witness” and the other is called the “Ultimate Resource”. And it is on the Bible and if you call the resource number we will send you the book called “The Ultimate Resource”.
Pastor Ross: The number is 1-800-835-6747 and I believe you can also read this online at the “Amazing Facts” website.
Pastor Doug: Most of the books and study guides can be found online and just go to “Amazing Facts dot org” and also get a pencil handy because when we come back we’ll be sharing with you some other websites that we recommend. There’s so much good information out there. We’d love to share with you and keep in mind we’d love to hear from you. There is even a place there online where you can contact us. Don’t go away. We’re coming back.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: We are back and the best is yet to come if you’ve got a Bible question you can still call us at 1-800-GOD-SAYS that is a free 1-800-463-7297 and I am Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: I am Jean Ross. Friends we’d like to bring to your attention some great websites that you can research that deal with different topics to the Bible. Pastor Doug we offered the subject to the question of death and “Amazing Facts” has a website dedicate to explaining the Bible message and truth about that subject.
Pastor Doug: Yes it’s called “The Truth about Death” and a lot of folks are interested and confused and what the Bible says happens when you die. There is certainly confusion in the cemetery if you just read the tombstones. I think you know that. But, we have several others and if you write down “Truth about Death dot com” it’ll take you to that website and in connection with that we have another website called “Hell Truth” at hell truth there are so many fables and misconceptions about the subject of the lake of fire and how it is going to burn and where it is going to burn. I saw a supermarket tabloid it said these Russian oil drillers drilled to the deep and they found hell and they already had all these demons escape. I read that and thought it must be true I read it at the supermarket. So there is a lot of confusion. Find out what the Bible really says about these subjects and I think you’ll find it refreshing.
Pastor Ross: There are two websites that I like that have to so with prophecy. One is called “Prophecy Code dot com” and the other one is “Most Amazing Prophecies dot com”.
Pastor Doug: Yes and if you want to watch videos, you can listen to Bible studies, there are Bible studies there to help you better understand Bible prophecy generally and especially last day Bible studies.
Pastor Ross: And then one more Pastor Doug before we go to the phone lines. “Mary Truth dot com” there is a lot of discussion today about Mary and what role did she play in the life of Jesus. We are talking about Mary the Mother of Jesus, but more specifically Mary Magdalene. And we’re going to expand that website to encompass both okay and there are a lot of questions on that.
Pastor Ross: Alright we’ll go to the phone lines. Our next caller is Mel and he is listening on WJHE from Newark, Ohio. Mel welcome to the program.
Mel: Thank you.
Pastor Doug: And your question Mel?
Mel: I was watching a film recently by this man named Dave Aserick and my question is this.
Pastor Ross: Mel can we just ask you to turn down your radio if you have it on because we’re getting a little bit of an echo.
Mel: Sorry. Was the Ten Commandments really written on a blue sapphire stone? That is what this man said in this film that I saw.
Pastor Doug: Yes I have heard that before and they base that on some passages that talk about the pavement of God being like a sapphire and also that blue was a symbol of the law of God. There is no specific verse in the Bible that says that. But, I have no reason to argue against it. It could be true so you see what I mean?
Mel: Yes.
Pastor Doug: So it is something and it is a little bit of speculation and it may be true. It is interesting to think about, but there aren’t any specific verses in the Bible. You know one thing that makes you wonder is the first time God gave the stones to Moses; the Lord cut them and gave them to Moses. It doesn’t tell us where He cut them. I don’t know that sapphire is native to the Sinai Peninsula. But, the second time after Moses had broken the stones. Moses cut the stones and a person could probably do a little research and find out if sapphires are found in the Sinai Peninsula and that might help to answer that question. So we do have a Bible study guide that is called “Written in Stone”. It talks a lot more about the Ten Commandments and it may not specifically address what you are asking, but it is still on that same subject.
Pastor Ross: To receive that study guide you can call the resource number it is 1-800-835-6747 Mel thank you for your call. Harry is listening on WOCG from Huntsville, Alabama. Harry welcome to “Bible Answers Live”.
Harry: Yes I am here. I heard from three different ministers that when Jesus became a man He lost His omnipresent of the Holy Spirit and that Christ can no longer be all at one place at one time without the Holy Ghost. Is that true?
Pastor Doug: Well yes and no. I know that sounds like I am running for public office when I answer like that, but let me explain. When we say and first for our listeners Harry you understand what we are talking about, but not everybody understands. That God is typically described with three main characteristics of being omnipotent that means all powerful, omniscient means all knowing and omnipresent means can be everywhere simultaneously. When Jesus took on the form of a man and He was incarnate. Did He lose the dimension of being omnipresent? Mentally Christ is able to be everywhere at once because He said I am with you always. But, you never see the body of Jesus appearing at more than one place at a time at the resurrection. Matter of fact Mary is grabbing His feet and He says, “Do not cling to me…” This is John Chapter 20 “…because I am not yet ascended.” It is almost as if He is saying look I bodily need to go to heaven. And He tells the disciples that it is expedient for you that I go away that I might send the Holy Spirit. And then on the road to Amanas in Luke 24 when He appears to the two disciples on the road He doesn’t appear in the upper room until they walked back up to the upper room it is almost as He walks with them. So you never really get the sense that Jesus is going to appear in bodily form in many places at one time. In His mind and with His presence because He is God He can be with all of us at one time through the Holy Spirit. So I do think He has one geographic position now.
Pastor Ross: Of course the great hope of the Christian now is the literal second coming of Jesus. Jesus is with us in His Spirit, but we do long for the day when He in person will come.
Pastor Doug: And He is going to come in one body. Not many.
Harry: So before He became a man, was He omnipresent?
Pastor Doug: Evidently, but I think Jesus did sacrifice some dimension of His divinity by forever linking Himself with the human family. He is going to have the scars in His hands. He obviously did not have that, but even after His resurrection He’s got the scars. Is that right Harry?
Harry: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Doug: So something changed.
Harry: Are you saying your answer is yes and no you don’t know what it is though?
Pastor Doug: Well I am saying mentally He can be everywhere at once. But, physically it seems that—and again whenever you are talking about God you have got to be careful because God is past finding out. You want to be very respectful.
Harry: Of course.
Pastor Doug: But, evidently He stays in one place at a time physically. I hope that helps a little. You know we have a booklet that talks about is the trinity Biblical and we talk about this issue in that book. We’d be happy to send you a copy Harry.
Pastor Ross: To get the booklet call the resource number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for the booklet “The Trinity”. Our next caller is John calling from Columbia, South Carolina. John you are on the air with Pastor Doug.
John: Good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: Hi how can we help you tonight John?
John: Well two things. First of all just got back from Lake June, Alaska been there a couple of times this year.
Pastor Doug: I’ve been there a couple of times, beautiful place.
John: I sure did enjoy you last year and missed you this year.
Pastor Doug: Well praise the Lord.
John: My question is last year at Lake June, Alaska one of your topics talking about the Biblical definitions of fruits and vegetables. I would like you to go over that again here.
Pastor Doug: Well it is just that a lot of people may ask how that is a Bible question. It is just that before man fell, part of man’s original diet before the fall and before the sin; was fruits, grains, legumes, but vegetables were not added until afterwards. After sin God also told man that you will also eat of the herb of the field. In other words the fruit is the fruit of the plant. The result of the blossom is your fruit. Tomato people are surprised to learn is a fruit. A zucchini even though it is green and it looks like a vegetable is actually a fruit. A watermelon is a fruit. But, the vegetable is any other part of the plant; the leaf, the stalk. The root, the ball-like a potato, celery, those are vegetables and so that’s a very simple definition. That changed after the entrance of sin. God added the vegetable to man’s diet.
Pastor Ross: There are probably a lot of children disappointed in that that God added vegetables.
[Laughter]
John: Well not so much that, but also the nuts. You know the eating of nuts was mentioned in the Bible.
Pastor Doug: Well it seems like seeds and nuts, you know grains and nut seed they are all part of the seed. They are still connected with the fruit really. They come as a result of the blossom; the seeds are in the fruit. But, if you are eating the stalk of a plant or the leaf or the root, the bulbs; that is part of the vegetation, that is a vegetable.
John: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Mushrooms are in a category all their own they are a fungus. So I don’t find them mentioned in the Bible and some people say you should never eat them. I sure like mushrooms.
John: Well may I have your permission to give Pastor John Earnhardt your regards?
Pastor Doug: Yes. Please do and tell John and Crystal we send our love.
John: I’ll do it and thank you and keep up the good work.
Pastor Doug: Alright may God bless you John. Thank you for your question.
Pastor Ross: Jerrod is listening on the internet from Calgary, Canada. Jerrod welcome to the program.
Jerrod: Good evening brothers.
Pastor Doug: Good evening. How can we help you?
Jerrod: Well I had a person who came to me this weekend asking me a question and I think he put it up as a stumbling block. But, it is in Deuteronomy Chapter 14: 21
st verse on.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Jerrod: But, specifically in the 26
th verse is when it talks about when someone tithes or whatever. It is kind of confusing because it says for strong drink and I know we don’t drink alcohol, but what is the purpose in this and all?
Pastor Doug: Yeah let me read this to our friends. Speaking of when the children of Israel would go up to one of the three annual feasts. And it says, “Thou shall bestow that money for what so ever you shall lust after; for oxen, for sheep, for wine, for strong drink or for whatever your soul’s desires and I shall leap before the Lord your God and I shall leap down in my household. And the word there “strong drink” some like to circle and say ah-hah; God says yourself get drunk strong drink, alcohol? Very clear it is a misunderstanding. Think of concentrated orange juice. Strong doesn’t always mean alcoholic, if you still drink orange juice while it is in its’ concentrated form; it is very strong and it is very tart.
They used to dehydrate when they went to these feasts, and carry a goat skin full of grape juice. It would be very heavy on a trip like this. So they would often dehydrate the wine until it would turn into syrup. When they got to the location all they had to do was to find the local spring or creek and they would reconstitute it and it was a lot lighter to transport. And they would make this a very common practice and they would call this strong drink. It says wine or strong drink meaning the fresh wine or the concentrated. That is all this is and had nothing to do with alcohol. The Lord would never say drink all the booze you want and get drunk. Because every other place Noah drank and he wandered around naked and Lot drank and he slept with his daughters. You can go to a litany of stories in the Bible and drinking wine says woe to those. Give drink to him who is ready to perish. So for God to endorse this in connection with a holy feast would sound like a real contradiction in His other statements?
Are you still with us? We may have lost our caller. Who asked that question Terry or Jerrod? Well you’ve got to know the line isn’t lit up. Hopefully they heard the answer.
Pastor Ross: We must have lost them. Alright let’s go to our next caller. Linda is listening from WOOC from Somerville, Alabama. Linda welcome to the program.
Linda: Thank you. In Revelation 11 when it talks about the two prophets being dead in the streets for three and one half days; what does that mean?
Pastor Doug: Alright well in prophecy, a day equals a year and first of all you need to know who these two witnesses are.
Linda: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Most people say this must be Moses and Elijah because Moses and Elijah appeared to Jesus on the Mount of Transfiguration. They’re not that far away; except they are not Moses and Elijah literally. Moses and Elijah in the Bible represent the law and the prophets. The last statement in the Old Testament Linda it says, “Remember the law of Moses my prophet…” and this is by the way in Malachi Chapter 4, “Remember the law of Moses my servant and behold I send you Elijah the prophet.” So Moses represents the law and Elijah represents the prophets and all through the Bible the law and the prophets are a symbol of the word of God.
The law and the prophets, Jesus when he rose from the dead He expounded about the two being the law and the prophets; beginning at Moses and all of the prophets. He expounded unto them in all the Scriptures. So the two witnesses are the word of God because the word of God was to come under attack for it says three and half days. A day in prophecy is a year and there are many verses that support that. There was a period in time when the first agnostic country in the world was France. For three and a half years during the French Revolution they burned Bibles in the streets. They outlawed the Bible. They tried to go to a ten day week because they could only find evidence for a seven day week in the Bible. And the word of God was greatly defamed and ridiculed and it is quite a big study. You know Linda we’d be happy to send you the book if you’d like called the “Two Witnesses”. It talks about all this.
Linda: Sure.
Pastor Ross: What you need to do Linda is call the resource line 1-800-835-6747 and ask them for the book “The Two Witnesses”. It will explain that.
Pastor Doug: Pastor Ross one of the hardest things for us during this program is when people ask a question about a chapter in prophecy. We would love to park everybody and say go through Chapter 11, go through Chapter 12 in prophecy, but the best thing we can do is to try and give you a quick overview and let you study these things and get the information.
Pastor Ross: You know Linda we also want to mention you can go to “Prophecy Code dot com” website. And I think there is a presentation Pastor Doug that you did called the “Two Witnesses”?
Pastor Doug: Yes “The Two Witnesses”.
Pastor Ross: It deals with Revelation Chapter 11 in detail you’ll find that very informative as well. Our next caller is Keith listening WMCA from Somerset, New Jersey. Keith welcome to the program.
Keith: Hey how are you doing?
Pastor Doug: Very well. How can we help you?
Keith: We can assume that Judas is down below based on what he did right?
Pastor Doug: Jesus said it would have been better if he had not been born.
Keith: Jesus died for our sins; wasn’t that God’s plan?
Pastor Doug: Well that’s a good question. Does that mean that God needed for Judas to betray Jesus? No not at all.
Keith: Yeah because if He did why Judas should be punished basically.
Pastor Doug: It is one thing when God sees one thing is going to happen and He foretells it and it is another thing if you were to make it happen; if you think about it. If the Lord made Judas to do what he did or in any way encouraged him to do it then God becomes an accomplice to His own betrayal.
Keith: Oh I see.
Pastor Doug: Do you see what I am saying?
Keith: Oh okay.
Pastor Ross: You know in John Chapter 10: 15 Jesus says He laid down His life and also in Chapter 10:17 He says, “No man takes it from me, but I lay it down.” So Jesus was not dependent upon Judas or the Romans to the cross to lay down His life.
Pastor Doug: He was going to lay down His life and really the battle was not between Judas the Jewish nation and Jesus; it was between Christ and Satan.
Keith: Right.
Pastor Doug: It says Satan after Judas went out Satan entered him at the Last Supper. So the devil really was the one who would have used somebody else if it hadn’t have been Judas.
Keith: Oh so it would have happened anyway, of course.
Pastor Doug: Christ knew that Satan was going to try to take His life.
Keith: Okay I thank you very much.
Pastor Doug: Thank you and good question.
Pastor Ross: Brenda is listening on KPRC from San Diego, California. Brenda welcome to the program.
Brenda: Thank you very much and my question is what the abomination of desolation is?
Pastor Doug: Good question. You’ll find that phrase mentioned several times. You’ll find it in Daniel in a variety of forms.
Pastor Ross: Daniel 9.
Pastor Doug: Yes. In Chapter 9 and Chapter 12 and you’ll also find that I Matthew 24 and Luke 21. The abomination of desolation is two parts Brenda. First the abomination of desolation was this Roman power that was going to desolate the Jewish Nation and destroy the temple in about 70 A.D. that was fulfilled. Matter of fact you’ll read where it says in Luke, “When you see Jerusalem surrounded with armies you know the desolation thereof is nigh.”
But, what happened to the Jewish nation is a parallel for the last day abomination of desolation where you are going to have a confederacy surround spiritual Israel which is God’s church and it is going to try to persecute and destroy the house of God. Anyway the Romans were the first abomination that destroyed the literal temple and in the last days there’s this other abomination of desolation that’s going to seek to destroy the body of Christ; the spiritual temple. We have got a book on that, too. We’ve got books on lots of these studies. It is by Gary Gibbs and it is called “The Abomination of Desolation”. Would you like a free copy of that Brenda?
Brenda: Would I ever.
Pastor Doug: Yeah I think you’ll find it very interesting matter of fact there’s some stuff in there so shocking I won’t even say it on the radio.
Pastor Ross: Now she is definitely going to call the resource number 1-800-835-6747 and ask for “The Abomination of Desolation”. And we’ll be happy to send that out to you. Brenda thank you for your call. Our next call is Lois and she is listening from WMCA in Brooklyn, New York. Lois welcome to the program. It is Louise.
Louise: It is Louise.
Pastor Doug: That’s how they say it in South Africa so don’t feel bad and your question.
[Laughter]
Louise: Yes. I want to find out what happened in Genesis 15:13 and what are they talking about where they will be oppressed for 400 years? Why did He allow the seed of Abraham to be in the land for 400 years?
Pastor Doug: Well for one thing it was in the land of Egypt that they did their greatest growth. It seems like God’s people often flourish through persecution. And God’s church grew the fastest in the first century as a church when they were persecuted the most. The children of Israel grew the most prolifically during those years in Egypt when they were in such a perfect culture for growing.
Pastor Ross: And also in Genesis Chapter 15: 16 and speaking of the same event God says, “But, in the fourth generation they shall come hither again…” speaking of the Jews going into Egypt and then coming back and then He adds, “… for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.” So evidently God is giving time to the inhabitants of Palestine giving them an opportunity perhaps to repent or to turn to Him prior to the Jewish Nation coming again and we know what happened to the Jews when they entered the land. The Amorites along with the rest were driven out and many of them were destroyed. It was an act of judgment.
Louise: Well if it was an act of judgment for these Amorites so then He used the Jews, He used Israel in order to bring judgment against them?
Pastor Doug: Well that was certainly one purpose, but I think there is another reason it happened the way it happened. In Egypt when Israel was growing there they were able to maintain a separate culture form the Egyptians. I think God knew that the children of Israel before they went down to Egypt they had begun to intermarry with the Canaanites. And to keep them distinct because the Egyptians thought all Sheppards were an abomination; they didn’t intermarry with them and they remained a distinct people while they were in Egypt. So that when they finally did come out that he could be their God without co-mingling other gods.
Louise: Umm-hmm.
Pastor Doug: I hope that helps a little bit Louise.
Pastor Ross: Alright next caller is Marvin and he is listening on 103.5 from Windsor, Canada. Marvin welcome to the program.
Marvin: Thank you very much God bless.
Pastor Doug: And how can we help you?
Marvin: I have a question I have been talking about where they are and I have just been trying to look for an answer for them. What is God’s plan basically for the Jewish people after Revelation goes into play and everything? I don’t know what the Bible has to say if there is any exact answer for that.
Pastor Doug: Well the closest thing I can find and if Pastor Ross will help look it up I will tell you more. Jerusalem will be trodden down and I think it is Luke 21. Jerusalem will be trodden down of the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. There are no other people in the world like the Jews who have been displaced from their native country for so long. And after nineteen hundred years they still remained a distinct people with their own language their own culture their own writing. And to get their territory back again is unprecedented in history.
Now it appears that there is going to be a great revival among the Jewish nation in accepting the Messiah. I mean in accepting Jesus as the Messiah. I am Jewish, but I am a Jewish Christian I see that there’s going to be a great movement. And I think they are going to have a powerful influence in the last days in preaching truth.
Pastor Ross: The passage you are referring to Pastor Doug is Luke chapter 21:24. It says, “The nation shall fall by the edge of the sword and shall be led away captive into all nations and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles until the times of the gentiles be fulfilled.”
Pastor Doug: So we also have a book we can send to you Marvin. On it is called “Spiritual Israel” and it specifically talks about the role of Israel in the last days and the role of the church and I think you’d really enjoy that because you will find a lot of Scripture in it. Would you like a copy of that?
Marvin: I’d love it.
Pastor Doug: Just call our number and we’ll probably get it out to you tomorrow.
Pastor Ross: Alright that number to call is 1-800-835-6747 and the book again Pastor Doug?
Pastor Doug: “Spiritual Israel” written by Joe Crews.
Pastor Ross: Okay and our next caller is Sabrina listening on WMCA in Brooklyn, New York. Sabrina welcome to the program.
Sabrina: Hi how are you doing this evening?
Pastor Doug: Very well and we’ve got about two minutes, how can we help you?
Sabrina: I am calling because I am really interested in knowing a healthier way to eat because there is so much sickness today. And I want to know God’s way that we should eat healthy.
Pastor Doug: I love that question Sabrina. You know sometimes people think the Bible is just a philosophy or theology book, but it is a very practical book. And God has a great deal to say about healthful eating and healthful living. And the first principle s in the Garden of Eden God’s original diet for man which was the ideal diet; was a vegetarian diet. And under that diet man was living hundreds of years. After the flood when he began to eat a lot more flesh foods, disease came in. Oh Sabrina the best thing I can do with the music chasing us right now is we have a study guide. That is called “God’s Free Health Plan”. It gives you the Bible secrets on health and long life and how to avid disease. You call the resource number and we will give you one of those.
Pastor Ross: The number to call is 1-800-835-6747 ask for the study guide “God’s Free Health Plan”.
Pastor Doug: Friends we trust that you have been blessed by this program. We would love to have you be our partners to help others hear the truth that sets them free. If you’d like to communicate just go to the “Amazing Facts dot com” website. That is “Amazing Facts dot org” and in a moment we are going to be giving you a mailing address if you want to reach us by mail. And in the meantime remember that Jesus is the truth that sets you free.
-----------------------------------------------END-----------------------------------------------