Hello friends, how about an amazing fact? One of the most outstanding flights ever made by any war time pigeon took place on October the 18
th, 1943. On the day of the flight, the British 56 infantry division had requested air support to assist them in breaking the stubborn German defense lines at the heavily fortified village of Colvi Vecchia, in Italy. However, soon after this message was sent, the British suddenly succeeded in making a surprise break through. Without warning, the German resistance collapsed completely and the English troops overran the little town. The British quickly realized that this unexpected victory would be disastrous for them unless they could get word through at once to call off the air support that they had so recently requested.
If not, they would certainly be massacred by their own planes, as they now occupied the very position that they had asked to have bombed. It was at this point that they discovered that they could not get word of their danger to the airfield. All communications had broken down in the hectic advance. There was no choice now but to entrust their urgent message to one of the pigeons always kept on hand for just such an emergency. “GI Joe” was the pigeon chosen to carry this life or death message. Flying swiftly over the battle torn land, the pigeon flew the 20 miles back to the U.S air support base in 20 minutes, arriving just as the planes were warming up for their take off to go to Colvi Vecchia.
The successful completion of this historic flight saved the lives of more than 1000 British soldiers. After World War II, GI Joe was housed at the U.S Army’s Hall of Fame in New Jersey, along with 24 other pigeon heroes, and was awarded the medal of gallantry, the only bird or animal in the United States to receive such an award. In March of 1957, he was placed at the Detroit zoological gardens, where he died June 3, 1961 at the age of 18. Did you know friends that the Bible talks about a lifesaving message carried by 3 angels? Stay tuned for more, as “Amazing Facts” brings you this edition of “Bible Answers Live”.
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Pastor Jëan Ross: Good evening friends, this is Pastor Jëan Ross, Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening, but this is Bible Answers Live, a live national and international Bible study. I’m glad that you’ve joined us. If you have a Bible related question, our phone lines are now opened, and the number to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297, 1-800-463-7297. I opened the program this evening by talking about “GI Joe”, an army pigeon that took a lifesaving message and just in the nick of time, was able to give a message that saved more than a thousand British soldiers. I also said that “the Bible has a life giving message that is carried by 3 angels”. Before we talk more about these 3 angels and this special message, let us just bow our heads for a word of prayer.
Dear Father we thank you for this opportunity to study your word, and I’d like to ask a special blessing upon all of those who are listening to this program tonight. Be with those who will call in, and we pray for wisdom Father as we open up your word to find truth. Thank you, in Jesus name, amen.
The passage that I’m referring to when talking about these 3 angels, is found in Revelation chapter 14. Now in verse 14 of Revelation 14, we have a prophetic picture of the 2nd coming of Christ. John writes, that “he sees a white cloud”, and on the cloud, one like the Son of man, having upon His head a golden crown, and in His hand, a sharp sickle. And then, it talks about another angel coming out of heaven, calling to the one sitting upon the cloud to trust in the sharp sickle, for the harvest of the earth is ripe. Now according to Matthew chapter 13, the harvest of the earth represent the 2nd coming of Christ, and this being seated upon this white cloud, having a crown upon His head is non-other than Jesus, If a prophetic picture of the 2nd coming of Jesus.
But just before John describes the 2nd coming of Jesus in Revelation 14, we have a message given by 3 angels. And you can read about this in Revelation chapter 14:6. And the Bible says, “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell upon the earth. To every nation, kindred, and tongue, and people”, the angel says, “Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to Him for the hour of His judgement is come: and worship Him that made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and the fountains of water.” So the 1st angel has a message that calls the world to realize, that the judgment hour has come, it’s a call to worship God as the creator. Then we read in verse 8, “And there followed another angel, saying Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she has made all nations drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication.” The 2nd angel warns about Babylon, and says, that “Babylon is fallen”. Now who’s Babylon? Well Revelation chapter 17, describes a woman sitting upon a scarlet coloured beast, and she has in her forehead, a name written, “Babylon the great, the mother of harlots”. We also know, that in Bible prophecy, a woman represents the “church”, a true church is represented by a “pure woman”.
A church that has fallen from the truth of God’s word is represented as a “fallen woman or a corrupt woman, a harlot”. SO here is a message that is to be proclaimed to all the world, that there’s been a falling away from truth, even in Christian churches. Then we have the 3rd angel, verse 8, “And there followed another angel, saying…” Well that’s the 2nd angel’s verse 8, verse 9, the 3rd angel followed them saying with a loud voice, “If any man worships the beast, or his image, or receives his… or worships him, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God”. Here is this 3rd angel’s message that speaks about this beast power of Revelation and it warns us not to worship the beast, nor to receive its mark in the forehead or in the hand. Now who is this beast, what is this beast represent? We have God’s last warning message, going to all the world just before the 2nd coming of Christ, and it speaks about this power called Babylon, it speaks about this power called, “The beast, and it’s calling all the world to worship God as the creator”.
Perhaps you were wondering, “Well, who is the beast power, or what does it mean, that Babylon is fallen, or what is the significance of these 3 angels messages?” Friends, we have a free offer that we’d like to make available to all of those of you who are listening. It is an Amazing Facts study guide, and the study guide is called, “Angels Messages from Space, Angels Messages from Space”. To receive this free study guide, call our resource line, 1-800-835-6747, that’s 1-800-835-6747, and ask for the study guide on the 3 angel’s messages or the angels messages from space, and we will be happy to send that out to you. Our number to the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297. Our 1st caller this evening is Joseph, listening on WMCA from New York, New York. Joseph, welcome to the program.
Joseph: God evening Pastor Ross.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good evening Joseph.
Joseph: I was just wondering, when Jesus celebrated the last supper with the apostles, was that a farewell diner, or was it (inaudible 09:17), or was it one of the Jewish holidays? Would you know what pastor?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes! The last supper, as we speak of it, is the Passover that Jesus celebrated with His disciples just prior to His betrayal, and then of course His crucifixion and death. And there’s great significance to the meal that Jesus had with the disciples. The Passover, part of the Passover, central to the meal, was the eating of the lamb, and the lamb, of course is a symbol of Christ, and at the Passover, Jesus took bread, and He broke the bread, and He gave it to His disciples, and He said, “Eat, this is my body which is broke for you”.
Joseph: Yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And He also picked up the cup, and He said, “Drink of this for this is my blood, which is said for many, for the remission of sins, for the new covenant”. So at that last supper with His disciples, Jesus turned their attention from the lamb that they were eating, focused on Christ and His body that was soon to be broken on the cross, and His blood that was to be shed for their sins. And today!
Joseph: Was that the ancient… Oh I’m sorry.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Go ahead.
Joseph: Is that the ancient ritual that they celebrated from Egypt?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes, yes, the Passover.
Joseph: And they used the lamb then also?
Pastor Jëan Ross: They used the lamb then, and there was some, very strict guidelines as to the condition of the lamb, the lamb had to be without any flaw, it had to be a, you know, a healthy lamb, and that symbolized Christ, and deliverance from sin that comes through Jesus, just as the Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt.
Joseph: Pastor, can I ask you one other question please?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Sure!
Joseph: Just one more. Do you know what Moses real name was? I’m sure Moses was an Egyptian name, but do you know what his given name was by his parents?
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, that’s a good question. No, I don’t have it off hand here, you know, the name Moses means drawn from the river.
Joseph: That’s Egyptian thought, isn’t it?
Pastor Jëan Ross: That was an Egyptian name. But throughout, you know, Genesis, and of course, later on then when we have Exodus, what more so, in Exodus actually, when it talks about Moses, it uses the name, “Moses” in reference to him.
Joseph: The reason I asked, is they mentioned his brother’s name. I think that was Aaron?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Aaron was his brother.
Joseph: And his sister was Miriam, I think?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Correct.
Joseph: I was just wondering what his name is, his real name.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, will be interesting to look that up. You could go to Exodus and probably read the account of the birth of Moses, and if his Hebrew name is listed, that’s where it would be.
Joseph: Okay my friend, thank you so much.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Thanks for your call Joseph.
Joseph: Good night.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good night. Our next caller is Donna she’s listening on KOKS, from Corning, Arkansas. Donna, welcome to the program.
Donna: Hello.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Hi!
Donna: I had a question. I have received your little booklet on death, you know,
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes?
Donna: what happens after death, and it says that, “You go to sleep”. But I was reading in the Bible, I remember reading in the Bible, it talks about, “The poor man that begged for crumbs from the rich man
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes?
Donna: and eventually, the poor man died and he went to Abraham’s bosom, and the rich man begged for water from him when he was in hell”, and I was wondering, you know, why you all say that, “we go to sleep?”
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, well good question. You know, you’re referring to the parable of the rich man in Lazarus. It’s a story that Jesus told, and in the story, there was a rich man that lived very well, and there was a beggar by the name of Lazarus that was at his gate, and the rich man didn’t help this beggar. By any means, the beggars name was Lazarus, and then…
Donna: Was that the same Lazarus that Jesus rose from the dead?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well no, it wasn’t the same Lazarus that Jesus raised from the dead, but it’s very significant that Jesus names this beggar and calls his name Lazarus, and I’ll tell you why in just a few moments. In this parable, and of course, Jesus told many parables, and parables we use to illustrate a truth, a principle, a point. And in the parable, the rich man, he ends up in this hot place, this place of torture, and torment, hell, and Lazarus is taken to what Jesus calls Abraham’s bosom. And then there is this discussion taking place between the rich man who’s in hell, and he’s talking up to, you know, Abraham and says, “Can you just come and put a drop of water on my tongue, it’s very hot down here, and so on”. Abraham says, “This is, there is this great goal fixed and, you know, we cannot go back and forth”, and then the rich man says, “You know, I have these brothers, and if someone could be resurrected from the dead, and tell them, you know, about how terrible things are here, they will repent”, and then the message comes back, the message is, “they have Moses and the prophets, if they do not believe them, they will not be resurrected even though one be resurrected from the dead”. Now 1st of all, we need to recognize, this is a parable. Can the people in hell talk to the people in heaven can they dialogue back and forth? Secondly… and the answer, of course is no. Secondly, well a drop of water on somebody’s tongue in hell quince their thirst? And the answer to that of course, is no. There are so many figures and symbols in this parable it’s not talking about a literal event. Now the Bible’s quit clear in many places, that the dead don’t know anything, that death is a sleep. The point of this parable that Jesus is trying to make, is because of the unbelief of the Jewish leaders, because they rejected the testimony of Himself, found in the scriptures, they would not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, even if somebody was resurrected from the dead. Now what’s so interesting is, that Jesus did resurrect someone whose name Lazarus, and the Jewish leaders still refused to believe. So that’s really the lesson that Jesus is bringing out in this parable. He’s not talking about the condition of what happens when one dies.
Donna: Okay. Alright, well thank you very much.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well thanks for your call Donna, we appreciate it. Our next caller is Gracie, calling from Massachusetts. Gracie, welcome to the program.
Gracie: How you doing?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good, thank you.
Gracie: Alright, I have a question regarding what the spirit is, of what the soul is. It’s about the text I found in 1st Thessalonians 5:23, it mentions, “The soul, body, and the spirit”. SO what is the soul, and what is the spirit?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay, let me read it for you. Its 1st Thessalonians chapter 5:23. It says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly or completely and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”. SO we have the body, we have the soul, and the spirit, what are the difference? Is that what your question is?
Gracie: Yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay, we understand what the body is. What is the spirit? The Bible speaks of the spirit and the breath interchangeably. The spirit is that spark of life that God has given all living beings. In Genesis, we read that God created Adam out of the dust of the earth, and then breath into his nostrils the breathe of life, and Adam became a living being. Now that breathe is the spark of life, it’s the spirit of life, that God has given all living creatures. When a person dies, that spark of life returns back to God who gave it. That spirit of life, for both the good and the bad return to God. Now the soul is the body combined with the spirit, that spark of life, that breathe of life. We are a living soul, a living being, sometimes also translated in the Bible as a, “living being”.
Gracie: I’m familiar with that interpretation, it’s just that, I don’t understand, why they would say, “Keep the sea weed blameless”, you know, if (inaudible 17:37) probably that come from God.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, that spirit of life that God has given us, we want to preserve it the very best that we can. In that sense, yes! Keep the spirit blameless. That spark of life, let’s be pure, let’s be holy, let’s be honest in our thinking, and in the way that we live.
Gracie: Okay. And so regarding to your interpretation of this text about the soul, how do you understand 1st Kings 17:21 and 22?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Do you have that in front of you?
Gracie: 1st Kings 17:21 and 22. “Why does the soul leave the body?” When Elijah, when he’s the widow’s son from the dead, it says that, “The soul return to the body”, or something like that. How do you understand that, with respect to what you said earlier?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, you’re looking at 1st Kings Chapter 17: I believe 21, where t talks about…
Gracie: And 22, yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And he stretched speaking of the prophet, “and he stretched himself upon the child 3 times, and cried unto the Lord, and said, O Lord my God, I pray thee, let this child’s soul come into him again”. The word translated in the King James there for Saul, is also translated in other translations as, “Spirit or Breathe”. So I think, you know, a correct, a more accurate translation of that Soul there, would probably be breathe or spirit.
Gracie: Okay, alright. Well thank you so much, I’m just going to hang up, I’m going to give you a text again, if you could answer that for me, I’ll hang up. Deuteronomy 14:26, I mean, 25, 26. It seems that this text is (inaudible 19:23-19:27).
Pastor Jëan Ross: Tell me again, what is the verse, Deuteronomy?
Gracie: 14:25 and 26.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Let me see if I can pull it up here quickly.
Gracie: Okay.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Deuteronomy 14:25…
Gracie: And 26.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, let me read it, “Then shalt thou turn in into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, for sheep, for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the Lord thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household”. So your question is, you know, this almost seems as though, God is encouraging going overboard with eating and drinking, is that kind of what you’re getting at?
Gracie: Or at the least, He doesn’t have a strong stance against it, like (inaudible 20:29), at the least, He doesn’t seem to oppose it that much, yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well, it’s almost the tongue and cheek call here. I mean, would God ever, does God ever accept excess? It says, “Whatever your soul lusteth after, whatever your soul desireth”. As a Christian, are we to just follow whatever our soul desires, whatever we want in anything?
Gracie: I don’t want to give my opinions I just want to speak through the text, that’s what it says.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well in this case, what I’m thinking, you know, what God is saying, “Is you’re going to take these things, you’re going to go spend it on whatever you want, and then you want to come and rejoice before the Lord”.
Gracie: Okay.
Pastor Jëan Ross: It’s not God giving permission to the Israelites to do this.
Gracie: Okay.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright.
Gracie: Alright, thank you so much, appreciate your call, I mean your answers, thank you, bye, have a good night.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Thanks for your call, appreciate it. The number to the studio is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297. Scott is listening on KCAA, from River Side, California. Scott, welcome to the program.
Scott: Thank you. My question is, I’m wondering your opinion on this movement that I’ve heard of, known as the 3rd wave of charismatic Christianity or it’s also known as the new reformation, apostolic reformation, and there was a prominent political figure, I won’t give his or her name though, that is associated with that movement, and that has a dominions theology. And I wonder, is that something that’s associated with God’s church, and His true theology, or do you think that’s something that’s more associated with the beast?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, good question. You know in scripture, we find a genuine moving of the Holy Spirit. For example in Acts, where the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples, they were filled with power, they witnessed for Christ in a mighty way. But whenever you have a genuine in scripture, you also find the devil creating a counter fit, and according to Revelation, we just spoke about it a few moments ago, in Revelation chapter 14, we have a power called “Babylon”, we have a power called “The beast”. And at the end of time, all of those living upon the earth will end up worshipping this beast power, except for those whose names are written in the Lambs book of life. Now to get the whole world to worship this beast power, and in turn, in worshipping the beast, what people are actually doing, is they’re worshipping the power behind the beast, which is Satan, who’s setting all of this up. Satan is not going to appear as himself and say, you know, “I’m Satan, please bow down and worship me”. He probably will get some people if he did that, but he won’t get the vast majority. The devil, the Bible tells us, can appear as an angel of light, and so he’ll appear religious, he will appear caring, compassionate, and so on, and he will work through these various powers at the end of time, to try and win the support of the masses. And there is a movement today, in Christianity that is not based upon the Bible, it’s not based upon truth, it’s based upon feeling, it’s based upon experience. We want to make sure, that our religion is firmly based upon the Bible. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God”. So we need to be aware that there is a counter fit movement, counter fit revival taking place in the world.
Scott: That’s important. And that dominion theology side of things, are you familiar with that term and that understanding of the Christians role to take over governments, and to dominate them on behalf of God?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well you know, if you look at Christ’s example, He never led a revolt against the Romans. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world, otherwise my followers would fight”. Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is in the heart”. And, you know, one day, God’s kingdom will be established here on this earth, but God will be the one that does that. We want to make sure that Jesus is ruling on the throne of our hearts, that we’re part of this spiritual kingdom that Jesus came to establish.
Scott: Well said, well said. And so the Christian, by enlarge is non-violent and we don’t participate enforcing violence like that?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well if you look at the example of Jesus, He never condoned, you know, violent uprisings.
Scott: Well that movement concerns me, I was doing some reading online and, you know, we may have somebody in the White House, or near the White House, that is supposedly associated with that charismatic dominion movement, and people may want to be aware of that.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well, you know, God is in charge… we want to make sure that we are testing everything by His word. Scott thank you for your call, we appreciate it. We’re going to try and get one more caller in before we take our break here on the half hour. Roy calling from New York, New York, listening on WMCA. Roy, welcome to the program.
Roy: Yes, good evening.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good evening.
Roy: Good to hear your great show.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Thank you.
Roy: I have a, kind of a question about the 1st offerings were Cane and Abel.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes.
Roy: There’s no mention of Adam, but I assume he’s the one who told about Cane and Abel to do it. But my question is, was these offerings done on the Sabbath or did it matter? And also for the rest of the patriarchs, was it the offerings done on the Sabbath, for the lamb?
Pastor Jëan Ross: The Bible doesn’t say, that’s a good thought. There would, of course be nothing wrong in bringing an offering to the Lord on the Sabbath. We want to present our offerings to the Lord, firstly, whenever we sense our need. It was commanded to the Israelites of old, when they sinned. Then they were to bring their offering before the Lord. And so when we realized that we have sinned, or when we feel guilty, we ask God for repentance. And that’s a good time to bring an offering of course our offering today isn’t a lamb. The Bible tells us, if we confess our sins, 1st John 1:9, “God is faithful and just to forgive us, and He cleanses us from all unrighteousness”, so we bring the offering of repentance. For Cane and Abel, we don’t know what day of the week that took place, it was something that God had told them to do, it was probably a sacrifice that was sort of on-going, it wasn’t the 1st time that offered a sacrifice, they had probably offered sacrifices before. But the reason that one is highlighted, is because Cane, instead of bringing a lamb, he brought, you know, a fruit.
Roy: Right. But also, for the rest of the patriarchs, you’re saying “it didn’t matter whether they offered the lamb on a Sabbath”?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well they were offerings on the Sabbath, we know that from the time of Israel, but there were also offering on the other days of the week as well.
Roy: With the lamb?
Pastor Jëan Ross: With the lamb, yes, with an animal.
Roy: Okay, so it didn’t matter the day then, in the early days.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Right. Didn’t matter the day, as I said “it was more based upon when a person sins, and they realize they sin, then they must bring an offering”. It’s a good principle not to wait, you know, when we’ve sinned, let’s confess our sins right away.
Roy: I was just thinking in taking care of the Sabbath, every 6 days you rest, you know.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Right. Well there were offerings both on the Sabbath and during the days of the week.
Roy: Okay, well thank you very much.
Pastor Jëan Ross: thank you for your call Roy, appreciate it. Friends, we’re coming up on our half an hour break here and we will be back with another half an hour of Bible Answers Live. We do have a few lines that are still open, you can call us now during the break, the number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297, to get your call on the air this evening. I’d also like to remind you to take a look at the Amazing Facts website, it’s “www.Amazingfacts.org”. You can find achieved Bible Answer Live programs, it’s also categorized into different subjects, different questions, so you can actually search a particular subject, a particular verse in the Bible, and you can get an answer to that question. So take a look at the website, www.Amazingfacts.org. When we come back, I’ll share with you some other great websites that you can take a look at, that’ll help you in your walk with Christ. We’ll be right back.
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Pastor Jëan Ross: Hello friends, this is Pastor Jëan Ross, Pastor Doug Batchelor is out this evening, but this is Bible Answers Live, so if you have a Bible related question, feel free to give us a call, the number is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297. Before the break, I spoke about the Amazing Facts website, www.Amazingfacts.org. But I’d like to highlight one other website this evening, and that is, Prophecycode.org, Prophecycode.org. Several years back, Pastor Doug Batchelor did a series on Bible prophecy called, The Prophecy Code, and in that series, he went through some of the most important prophecies of scripture, both in the books of Daniel and Revelation. And you can actually see these programs that were recorded from the Washington DC area you can actually watch these programs. There’s also a lot of excellent material available on that website dealing with Bible prophecy, one in particular is a Bible prophecy code, where it gives you the symbol, in the book of Daniel or Revelation, as well as its interpretation, it’ll make the study of these prophetic books a whole lot easier. Again, the website is “Prophecycode.org or .com”, either one will take you to the website. We’re going to the phone lines now. Our next caller is Cindy, calling from Miami, Florida. Cindy, welcome to the program. Cindy, you there? Cindy from Miami, Florida, can you hear me? Maybe we’ll have to come back Cindy, if you’re there. Next caller is Barrette, listening on KPRZ, from San Diego, California. Barrette, welcome to the program.
Barrette: Good evening, Yes, I’ve frequently wondered. The disciples or prophets, at least when they were inspired in writing the word of God, and they all thought Christ was going to return in their lifetime. The Bible also teaches that, before Christ returns, the events on earth will be as the birth pains of a woman giving birth to the new world, which is (inaudible 32:43). So, and then the transfiguration was a small scale fulfilment of thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Correct.
Barrette: So my question is, doesn’t this indicate that prophecy is repetitive as the birth pains, and are we occurring on a grander and grander scale. So this would indicate that the disciples were not wrong, that they though that He was returning in their lifetime.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay. Good question. You know, we find, especially Matthew chapter 24, Jesus giving certain signs related to the soon coming, to His coming. And in, you know, those signs, He speaks about war, He talks about fam, and He talks about pestilence, He talks about earthquakes, and flood, and that type of thing. And as we get closer and closer to the 2nd coming of Christ, we see an increase in these natural disasters, in these wars, in these signs pointing to the soon coming of Christ. Now when Jesus gave these signs in Matthew 24, not only were they signs for the 2nd coming, but they were also signs for the destruction of Jerusalem, which took place in 70 A.D.
Barrette: Yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: The disciples asked Jesus just prior to this, they asked Him, “Master, what I the sign of your coming in the end of the age?” The reason they ask that question just prior to that, you can read about it in Matthew 23, Jesus left the temple in Jerusalem for the last time, and the disciples pointed out to Christ the massive marble stones of the temple, and Jesus made a startling prediction, He said, “I’ll tell you the truth, there will not be left one stone standing upon another that will not be cast down”. Well that surprised the disciples, when Jesus made His way up unto the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him and said, “Tell us, when shall these things be?”, in other words, “when will the temple be destroyed?” And they thought the destruction of the temple will take place at the 2nd coming of Christ. And so in the rest of Matthew 24, Jesus, you know, gave them signs relating both to the destruction of Jerusalem as well as
Barrette: At the same time.
Pastor Jëan Ross: the 2nd coming, at the same time.
Barrette: Yes, so this is a repetition being magnitude, exponentially increased with each birth pang?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Correct. In intensity and in urgency, you know, think of Bible prophecy and the signs in particular to the 2nd coming of Christ, like a trumpet, you know, the trumpet is thin on one side, and then as you move down, it gets wider and wider at the opening.
Barrette: Yes.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And so you find prophecy in… at first it just gives a broad overview, but as you get closer and closer to the end, it’s broader, it’s more specific, you know, it adds additional information as you work your way closer to the end.
Barrette: I think when he says, as in the days of Noah, people live 6, 7, 8, 900 years then. I think we’re looking at medical life extension. There will be people centuries old as well when He returns, which indicates to me, well He’s not returning for quit a long time, the Bible says, “We will know the season”.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well you know when Jesus spoke about the days of Noah, He was not talking about a life of the people back then, but He was speaking about the condition of the earth. We read in Genesis, where God says, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man, for every thought of their heart was evil continually”.
Barrette: Yeah.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And so, likewise, just prior to the 2nd coming of Christ, the vast majority of the thoughts in the hearts of people are evil, that’s a sign of Christ soon coming. Jesus also likened…
Barrette: (Inaudible 36:15)
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well hang on a minute, Jesus also likened His coming to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah,
Barrette: Yeah.
Pastor Jëan Ross: and we know what was happening in Sodom and Gomorrah at the time, just wickedness, especially in the area of sexual relations, and you know, we see a lot of that happening in our world today. So that’s a clear indication that the coming of Jesus is very soon.
Barrette: Is Obama an anti-Christ?
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, I’m not going to get into politics here on the radio, you know, we want to stay focused on the word of God. I will mention one thing that I think does bring comfort at this time of the year, when there is election season. We need to also remember that God is ultimately in control. In the book of Daniel, the Bible tells us, “That it’s God who sets up leaders and removes leaders”. And so we can take courage and confidence that God’s will, will ultimately be done, for He is still leading.
Barrette: (inaudible 37:03)
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well Barrette, thank you again for your question, we appreciate it. We’re going to have to move on to our next caller, Anthony, calling from Collegedale Tennessee. Anthony, welcome to the program.
Anthony: Hello, how are you doing?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Very good, thank you.
Anthony: My question is, if I could just give a quick background. My wife and I, when we had our 1st pregnancy, she was pregnant for 6 weeks and she actually miscarried. And the question that I have, well she had a dream before this miscarriage, of what the baby looked like, and what the babies name was going to be, right. And so, a week after that dream, she had another dream, that the baby actually died in her womb, and after this, she actually miscarried after the 6 weeks. Now my question is for you today, and it’s something that we’ve been really fighting… not fighting over, but actually, you know, wondering about, since it’s happened. Is, are we going to see that baby in heaven or is that it?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good question. You know, the Bible doesn’t give us a real clear answer, at least not straight forward, but I think there is sufficient evidence, that we can take courage that babies will be in heaven, they will be part of the resurrection. And here is why I say that, in reference to… you remember the story when Jesus was born in Bethlehem? The wise man came from the east, and they stopped in Jerusalem, and they said, “Where is born, you know, the King of the Jews inherits it, well you go find Him, and then come back and tell me because I want to go worship Him”. And so the wise men went out to where Jesus was, and then they had a dream, and in the dream God told them to go home, a different route, not to stop, and tell Herod. And so when Herod realized what had happened, he was infuriated and he sent out his men to destroy all of the baby boys, 2 years, and under in the area of Bethlehem. And now that is a prophecy, or at least in giving the account in the gospel, it refers to, “Prophecy in the Old Testament”. And in the prophecy in the Old Testament, it talks about “weeping, Rachel weeping for her children for they were not, and yet she shall be comforted, for God shall bring her children from the land of the enemy”, the land of the enemy, that being “death”. And so the comfort for the mother’s at that time, was that there would be a resurrection, that their children would be resurrected, and that they would see them again. And I think the same is also true for, you know, the unborn child that dies in the womb.
Anthony: right.
Pastor Jëan Ross: There will be an opportunity for parents to once again embrace and meet those children, and hold them in their hands, and that’s part of the good news of the resurrection.
Anthony: Right, I don’t want to take too much of your time, I just wanted to interject, that my wife already had heard all of her life, growing up in a certain denomination. She had heard all of her life that if the baby did not see the light of day, that it was not considered as something that was living, that she would not see it in heaven. What are your thoughts about that Pastor?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well you know, the Bible speaks to Jeremiah, and says, “I knew you from the womb, I knew your name, I ordained you”. So God looks at the unborn child as a human being. You know, it doesn’t mean that the child doesn’t see the light of day before, you know, God will recognize it, I believe that even in the womb, God recognizes the unborn child.
Anthony: That’s really refreshing, I appreciate you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Your welcome, thank you for calling Anthony.
Anthony: Thank you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: God bless. Our next caller is Cressida, and she is listening from Brooklyn, New York. Cressida, welcome to the program.
Cressida: Good evening,
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good evening.
Cressida: and thank you for not involving politics.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright. (Laughing)
Cressida: Thank you so much. Anyway, my question is, God has for the prophets of old, about how they should bare the temple right?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes.
Cressida: Why is it than when we build our churches, we do not replica the same as the temple in heaven?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good question! Alright, in the Bible, we find 5 temples that are spoken of, and the 1st is the heavenly temple. God said to Moses, that “he was to build a temple, and he was to make it according to the pattern that was shown him in the mount”. And then if you go to Hebrews, you read about a heavenly temple where Jesus ministers as our High Priest, and so one of the temples in scripture is of course the heavenly temple. Then we have the earthly temple, and when is say the earthly temple, I’m including the temple that Moses built in the wilderness, as well as the temple that Solomon build that got destroyed by the Babylonians and then the temple that was rebuild after the Babylonian captivity which Jesus actually preached in. I’m referring to all 3 of those as the earthly temples, so you have the heavenly, you have the earthly. Then Jesus Himself spoke of Himself as being a temple. Remember when Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and I’ll rebuild it in 3 days?” And the Jewish leaders said, “You know, it’s taken us over 40 years to build this temple, and you say, you’re going to build it in 3 day”. And then the Bible says, “But Jesus was speaking of His body, speaking of Himself”, so that would be the 3rd temple. Then we have the 4th temple, and the Bible speaks of this 4th temple as “us”. He says, “No you not, that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit”, the Holy Spirit dwells within us our bodies become the temple of the Holy Spirit. And then this 5th temple is the church as a whole, the Bible speaks of the church as being the temple of God, and we’re all living stones built up in the temple of God. Now it was very important, back in the Old Testament days, that when Moses made the temple, he followed the instructions that God had given him, because everything in the temple pointed to Jesus. For example, Jesus said, that “He is the light of the world”, and in the Old Testament sanctuary or temple, there was the canal stick. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life”, and in the Old Testament sanctuary, there were the 12 loafs of bread. Everything in the temple pointed to Jesus and His sacrificial death. You had the lamb you had, you know, the altar of incense representing the prayers of the saints, and Christ merits making our prayers acceptable with God. So everything in the temple pointed to Jesus. Now that Jesus has come, we don’t need to hold unto the symbols because now we have the reality, our attention now, is focused upon Jesus in heaven, where He ministers in the heavenly sanctuary on our behalf. And so wherever we might be, whether we meet in a home if that’s all we have, or whether we meet in a nice church, a nice building, it’s not so much the location, but rather the condition of the heart, because a temple now is not made out of stone, but it’s made out of people who believe in Christ.
Cressida: Okay, thank you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, thanks for calling. We’re going to move on to our next caller. And our next caller in Mat, and he is calling from Alabama. Mat, welcome to the program.
Mat: Good evening, I appreciate you taking my call.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You’re welcome.
Mat: My question for you is, I wonder if you can define the difference between a unbeliever and an atheist, or at least tell me what an unbeliever is?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay. You know, an unbeliever could be understood in 2 ways. An unbeliever is somebody who discredits the existence of God, so in that sense, it could be an atheist. But an unbeliever is also someone, he might believe in the existence of God, but he does not put his faith in Jesus Christ as a personal saviour. Now there are many people who even claim to be Christians, but if that’s the definition of an unbeliever, someone who does not put their full confidence and faith in Christ, then they would actually be an unbeliever as well.
Mat: Okay, yeah that answers my question, I appreciate it.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright! Well thanks for your call Mat. We’re going to move on to our next caller. Ramona and she is listening in Brooklyn, New York, listening on WMCA. Ramona, welcome to the program.
Ramona: Thank you so much. Pastor I have a problem in separating God from Jesus, is there a separation?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Well the Bible presents the Father and the Son as 2 separate beings, and yet they are one in purpose, one in love, one in desire, they’re united in the plan of salvation to save mankind. Now when Jesus was on the earth, He prayed to His Father in heaven. When Jesus was baptized in the Jordan, the Father spoke from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son in whom I’m well pleased”. Now the oneness of God, is where they are one in purpose, one in desire, one in character, and we have a little bit of an understanding of this given the illustration that we find in Genesis, where Adam, after he was given Eve, he said, “For this cause, shall a man leave his mother, and father, and shall cleave unto his wife, and the 2 shall become 1”, and Jesus also referred to that in the gospels. Now of course, when 2 people get married, they don’t physically, you know, become one person, but they become one in purpose, they become one in love for each other. And so in that sense God is one, He is united in purpose, He is united in character, and in desire. But you do have the Father, you do have the Son, and you do have the Holy Spirit, and sometimes referred to, as “The God Head, or the Trinity”. Does that help?
Ramona: Yes. Now, but God, Jesus is God’s Son?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Jesus has the characteristics… Yes! In the Bible, He is referred to as the “Son of God”, but Jesus shares all the characteristics of the Father, and this is where it can get a little bit complicated. Jesus was not born from the Father, for He was always one with the Father, but when coming to the earth, Christ took upon Himself the role of a Son. We do find in scripture, sort of a high rock hill structure, we’re talking about “The God Head”. The Bible always mentions the Father 1st, the Jesus, then the Holy Spirit, but Jesus is equal with the Father, He’s one with the Father in purpose and design.
Ramona: But they’re 2 separate people?
Pastor Jëan Ross: They are 2 separate beings, yes.
Ramona: Okay, thank you. Is there a little book that would explain?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Oh yes! We do! We have a little book that Pastor Doug wrote on this subject, and it’s called, “The Trinity, is it Biblical? The Trinity, is it Biblical?” If you’d call our resource line 1-800-835-6747, and just ask for the book on the Trinity, “The Trinity, is it Biblical?” We’ll be happy to send that out to you. Alright, if you’d like to get your call in this evening, we have about 12 minutes left. The number to call is 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that’s 1-800-463-7297. Our next caller is Sergio, and he is calling from Miami, Florida. Sergio, welcome to the program.
Sergio: Hi pastor, thanks for taking my call, appreciate it.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You’re welcome.
Sergio: I have a quick question, I was having a discussion with my cousins last week and, about the Bible, and she brought up a question I really couldn’t answer, and I, you know, I thought I’d ask maybe you…
Pastor Jëan Ross: Sure.
Sergio: (inaudible 48:50-48-50)
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay.
Sergio: The question was (inaudible 48:56), how is it possible that, you know thousands of, you know, thousands, and thousands of species of animals that are all over the earth, how are they able to, you know, get together and fit into Noah’s ark as well as, you know, how are they able to be separated, you know, the whole predator, pray thing, you know, monkeys are going to be the pray, you know, versus lions, tigers, or you know, different animals that feed of each other pretty much, how are they able to keep them separate as well as, you know, pretty much the logistics of actually keeping it?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Keeping it all together? Sure.
Sergio: (inaudible 49:28) thing of Noah’s ark, and I really didn’t have an answer to that
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright.
Sergio: and I was hoping you could help me out with that.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yeah, let me try and share some thoughts with you on that. 1st of all, we know that the Bible tells us, that you know, the ark was built over a long period of time, about a 120 years. The ark took the, for Noah and his sons, and those who helped him to build the ark. The ark was big, it had 3 floors, and probably within the ark, there were separate cages for different animals. Another thing we want to bury in mind is that God was involved in bringing the animals into the ark. The Bible tells us, “That just before the flood, the animals began to march in, in perfect order into the ark, led by an angel”. And so the animals marched into the ark, they each took their separate cage, God had them under control. And so, you know that kind of deals with the question of was there chaos in the ark? No. God orchestrated the whole thing, He brought the animals in, they each had their assigned place. How could we get all of the animal species into the ark? Well 1st of all, a lot of the species that we have, there’s a lot of variations within the same species. For example, a dog, you didn’t have to bring in, you know, a beagle, and a German shepherd into the ark, you brought in one set of dogs, probably like a wolf. And after the flood, you know, all of these different breeds developed over time. And so the main species were all brought into the ark. Some of the big animals, they didn’t have to be full grown to come to the ark, you could have had, you know, young giraffes that came to the ark versus full grown giraffes, or small, you know, elephants instead of full grown elephants. All of the animals in the world can be traced back to one prime species from which the line of species developed. So you have the dogs, you have the cats you have different groups of dear all coming from one, one line of dear. There’s 2 things that we sometime refer to, and that is “micro and macro evolution”. You know, macro evolution is where a fish become a bird, that’s just not supported in scripture. But there is something that we can observe, sometimes referred to as micro evolution where there are variations within the same species, and, you know, that’s something that we can observe today amongst animals and even in humans.
Sergio: Right. Okay, well I appreciate your answer, and thank you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright! Thanks for your call, appreciate it. Our next caller is Marsha, listening on WMUZ, from Dearborn Michigan. Marsha, welcome to the program.
Marsha: Yes, welcome back, hi!
Pastor Jëan Ross: Hi.
Marsha: Pastor Doug and Pastor Ross, how you doing tonight?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good thank you.
Marsha: Thank you for allowing me to… okay, down to the question. I know that there’s going to be a national Sunday law passed in this country, and I know that in order to do that, the United States is going to have to, like repeal its religious Jeopardy laws, or something. Could you shed some light or give me… I’m sort of like both asking a question and making a comment. (Laughing)
Pastor Jëan Ross: Sure. Yeah, let me see if I can share a few things on that. 1st of all, for those of you who might be wondering about this, we do have a study guide that deals with this subject, called, “The Mark of the Beast”. And to receive this study guide that’ll talk more about what I’m going to speak about in just a few moment here. You can call our resource line, its 1-800-835-6747. Alright Marsha, in Revelation chapter 13, the Bible describes 2 beasts. Now a beast in Bible prophecy represents “a nation, a kingdom, a power”. The 1st beast of Revelation 13 is described as coming up out of the sea, which sea, Revelation 17:15, represents a densely populated area, this is a power that would come up in a densely populated area, and it’s been identified as being Europe where this power would arise. Then we have a 2nd beast in Revelation 13, that many scholars have identified as the United States, and I don’t have time to get into all the details of how that came about. The beast comes up out of the earth, a vastly populated area, it has 2 horns like a lamb, but it ends up speaking like a dragon. The 2 lamb like principles that this nation is founded upon, is “Freedom of religion and freedom of speech”.
Marsha: Civil and religious liberty.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Correct. But as time goes on, the Bible actually tells us, Revelation 13, that “there will be a change, a fundamental change”, this change most likely will come about because of a change in natural disasters, because of a continuing economic lapse. And of course, we’re beginning to see the beginnings of what could possibly be, this economic lapse.
Marsha: We’re not getting out.
Pastor Jëan Ross: And we have terrorism that comes to bring people together, where there comes a point where people say, you know, “Unless we start enforcing certain laws dealing with religion, our nation is going to be doomed”. And that’s actually going to bring about the passing of certain laws dealing with worship. We don’t know how exactly how exactly it’s going to happen,
Marsha: (Inaudible 54:32-54:33)
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, does that help Marsha?
Marsha: Okay. Oh I already knew that,
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay.
Marsha: I was just wondering, do you think, they might like maybe attach to a certain bill or something?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Yes, you know, eventually there will be certain laws passed that will do this. And again, we don’t know exactly how it’s going to happen or when it’s going to happen
Marsha: Okay.
Pastor Jëan Ross: but the Bible does say that this will happen.
Marsha: One last quick question, (inaudible 55:00) health law over religious law.
Pastor Jëan Ross: You know, eventually… well probably it be passing different phases, it will initially be a reinstating of some of the laws that are already on the books known as “Blue laws”
Marsha: Yeah, the blue laws, that’s right.
Pastor Jëan Ross: The blue laws that’ll probably come in that way at 1st, and then it’ll grow in strength and power, it’ll come under the idea of needing peace and rest one day of the week for family and worship, and then it only grows in intensity as time goes by.
Marsha: Okay.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, thanks for your call.
Marsha: Alright, thank you.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Alright, we appreciate it. Let me see if we can squeeze in one more question real quick before the end of the program. Bobby calling from Brooklyn, New York, welcome to the program.
Bobby: Hi pastors.
Pastor Jëan Ross: Hi.
Bobby: How are you?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Good, thanks.
Bobby: I was wondering if you could tell me, at what age did Jesus realize that He was the Messiah sent from God. Did He always know or was it at a certain age that God spoke to Him and told Him His mission?
Pastor Jëan Ross: Okay, very good question. In the Bible, we find, you know, the early life of Christ. Luke speaks of Jesus as growing in stature and in wisdom in favour with God and man. As Jesus learned how to read, and as His mother taught Him from the scriptures, the Holy Spirit began to unfold more and more, that He was the fulfilment of all of the prophecies of the Old Testament, that He was indeed the Messiah. I think the (inaudible 56:24) age for Christ, was around 12 years of age, when He went to the temple for the 1st time. The Bible tells us, that “Jesus went to the temple with His parents and His parents left without Him”, you remember that story? “And they came back looking for Jesus, and He was actually sitting instructing the doctors of the law, and the scribes, and the rulers of the day”. I think that was really a key for Jesus, when He witnessed that sacrificial system and the Holy Spirit impressed upon Him, that He was the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world. Well thank you for your call Bobby, friends, we have finished another hour of Bible Answers Live, I’m so glad that you joined us this evening. We’ll be back next week, Pastor Doug will be joining me, and we’ll be ready to take your Bible questions on the air. Remember, Amazing Facts is on the air because of your prayers and financial support. Do remember us, by going to our Amazing Facts website.
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