Doug Batchelor: Welcome listening friends. Would you like to hear an amazing fact? We've all heard the expression before that, "Dog is man's best friend," but in the ocean a man's best friend is probably the dolphin. Maritime history is filled with stories of dolphins helping drowning sailors, rescuing people from sharks, or guiding vessels through treacherous waters. In 2004, a group of swimmers were suddenly stalked by a 10-foot great, white shark off the northern coast of New Zealand. Suddenly, a pod of dolphins herded them together, circling the swimmers for 40 minutes until the large predator was driven away.
In another case in the Red Sea, 12 divers were lost for over 13 hours and they were surrounded by dolphins for the entire time that were repelling the many sharks that live in the area there. When a rescue boat finally came near the area, the dolphin pod showed them where the stranded divers were by-leaping into the air and jumping towards the swimmers leading the boat onward. Likewise, in the year 2000, it was a group of dolphins that lead fishermen to discover six-year-old Elian Gonzalez, floating in an inner tube, out in the Atlantic Ocean, after his boat carrying Cuban refugees sank.
You know the Bible says that God has often used animals to rescue his people. Stay with us friends, we're going to learn more, as Amazing Facts brings you this edition of Bible Answers Live.
[PROGRAM INTRODUCTION]
Pastor Doug: Welcome listening friends to Bible Answers Live and this is a live international interactive Bible study which invites you to call in with your Bible questions. We have several lines open right now. That number if you want to call the studio, 800-GOD-SAYS. That's 800-463-7297. One more time if you want to call with a Bible question, it's 800-463-7297. I am Doug Batchelor, our regular co-host, Pastor Jean Ross is probably in the air somewhere flying back from New Zealand right now. But we're glad that we have our associate Pastor, Marshall McKenzie, sitting in the co-pilot seat. Evening Marshall.
Marshall McKenzie: Good evening Pastor Doug.
Pastor Doug: We're going to start with a word of prayer and then we'll get to our questions. Father in heaven, we just want to commit this time to you, I pray that through the spirit and even your angels, you take charge of the calls that come in and that you'll guide through your word the answers that are given. And so please bless the Lord for your kingdom and your glory in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Marshall: You know Pastor Doug, I was just amazed as you read and shared that story with us, that amazing fact about dolphins and God's providence in leading those dolphins.
Pastor Doug: That's right and there's several more stories that I could share. I've lived around the water for several years of my life and I've heard there are some amazing stories about dolphins. Boys that were drowning, even a dog that was drowning. A dolphin was once found lagging it back to the surface and helping it to shore. And they seem to be one of the many animals that God has wired with some sort of compassion or altruism and empathy.
In the Bible, you can find a couple of cases where God used animals to save people. But one story that pops into my mind is in 1Kings chapter 17 when Elijah had to flee out into the wilderness during a time of famine. And it says that the word of the Lord told him to go stay by the brook Cherith, which flows into the Jordan and ravens brought him bread and food in the morning, and bread and food in the evening, and he drank from the brook. God used these Ravens. And it is true that ravens are very smart animals. They can live I think up to 25 years.
Pastor Marshall: Incredible.
Pastor Doug: Yes. And of course, there's a story in the Bible where God even spared the life of Balaam because the donkey did not walk into a path of destruction. He was saved by a donkey. But it's incredible when you study the intelligence that God even has in his creatures. Here in California, I saw a documentary about, there's a gorilla that's over 40 years old now named Coco, that's been basically taught to talk with sign language, and I forget, it knows like over a thousand words, but it talks in sentences and sign language, and it's a gorilla. Just imagine how different it will be in heaven and the earth made new, communicating.
Pastor Marshall: My children talk about that all the time. What it's going to be like with the animals? What are we going to be able to do with the animals? They love the animals.
Pastor Doug: Yes. I think there'll be a whole level of communication that maybe Adam and Eve had in the garden that we've lost somewhat now. But maybe you'd like to know more about this God that made the world and the wonders that he has in creation. Amazing Facts would like to offer you a free gift tonight. It's a book called Amazing Wonders of Creation. It’s even got a dolphin on the cover. A beautiful book that will inspire you and it is free. We only ask that when you read it, share it with someone.
Here's the number for the free resource. That's 800-835-6747 for that book that talks about the wonders of creation. 800-835-6747. Now, if you have a Bible question, I see two lines still open, good chance you'll get your question on tonight's program. That number is 800-463-7297, 800-463-7297. If no one picks up right away, just because our callers are answering other calls and be patient, I'll get to your call. All right, are we ready to head towards the phones?
Pastor Marshall: We're ready, our first call actually is from Aaron and Carl Michael. Aaron, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Aaron: Hi. I'm calling in regards to Romans 8:17. There’s a verse, it says be joint heirs with Christ and what does that actually mean?
Pastor Doug: Well, in the same way that Jesus inherited eternal life, the Bible tells us when He rose from the dead, we're going to rise if we die before He comes. Of course, those that are alive and remain when the Lord comes will just be transformed. Christ had a glorified body, we will have glorified bodies. And Jesus told the apostles that we're going to live and reign with Him in the kingdom. You also find that in Revelation Chapter 20. And so, we inherit the word 'joint heirs' and heir is someone who inherits something. We inherit because of Christ’s sacrifice, eternal life and a place in His kingdom.
Pastor Marshall: It just reminds me of the verse in Revelation where we will sit with Him on His throne. That’s in Revelation Chapter 3.
Pastor Doug: That's another good point. That's right. Does that kind of answer what you're wondering Aaron?
Aaron: Well, yes, because I've had some people tell me that it literally means we're going to be like Him in almost every aspect. And they use this as a verse to justify that, and I said, “I don't think that quite.” They were trying to make it almost seem like it meant more.
Pastor Doug: Like we're going to be God or something or gods.
Aaron: Yes, like a god under a god or something like that.
Pastor Doug: No. We'll just be really His ambassadors in the kingdom and we'll be able to go through limitless space, and just bear witness to God's goodness in His salvation. But, no, there's only one God. And that we're going to be able to reign with Him in that we're going to have a special place. God is moving the capital of His universe to this world. When the new Jerusalem comes down, that's in Revelation:21, so what a privilege. Did that help?
Aaron: Okay.
Pastor Doug: And we do have a lesson we'll be happy to share with you for free and it talks about God's city and space. It talks about the redeemed and the new earth. And what I think you'd really enjoy actually, we have a book called, Heaven; Is It Real? And it's in that book. Heaven; Is It Real? Here's the number for the free offer, 800-835-6747, also Aaron, you can even go to the Amazing Facts website and I think that is one of our books you can download for free. It's called Heaven; Is It Real?
Just go to amazingfacts.org. It's easy to remember amazingfacts, that's not F-A-X, some people say, "I couldn't get the website." It's F-A-C-T-S, amazingfacts.org. God bless, appreciate your call, and let's see who's next in line.
Pastor Marshall: Yes, our next caller, Pastor Doug, is Pat from Las Vegas, Nevada. Pat, you're on the air with the Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Pat: Hi Pastor Doug, how are you this evening?
Pastor Doug: Doing good. Thank you for calling.
Pat: You bet. What I'm calling about, Pastor Doug, is John 20:23 "If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain sins of any, they are retained." And I know that Catholicism, the priest have the confession and they do that. I just got the impression from the reading that Christ was passing that on for -- not necessarily just Catholic priests, but passing that on for Christians to some way or another get blessed in order to do that. It doesn't seem to me that He's saying just to the apostles right there. That's my question, I guess.
Where does it start and stop? Is it just solely for them and then once that they, the ones He issued that proclamation, do they die, their descendants?
Pastor Doug: There's a couple of ways I've heard this explained. First thing, let's address what it does not mean. God does not give people the right to choose who is forgiven and saved. That would be pretty frightening if mortals were deciding who's going to be forgiven and who's not, and who's going to be saved. The way I've heard it explained-
Pat: Is it Jesus saying that?
Pastor Doug: Well, let me tell you what I do think it means. I think that'll help a little.
Pat: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Whenever we share the gospel, in sharing the gospel, we're sharing the forgiveness of God. When we do this, they're forgiven. You notice when this appears, it appears right after it says, "You breathe on them,” it said, “Receive the Holy Spirit." If you read in Acts 1:8, it says, "I'm going to give you the Spirit to be my witnesses." Then the Holy Spirit poured down and they started preaching. The purpose for the Holy Spirit is to share the gospel. Christ said, "In sharing the gospel, you will be sharing eternal forgiveness."
That's one way it's understood. The other way I've heard it understood is, the apostles were also given, through the Spirit, authority in the church about who would be received into the church and sometimes people were disciplined and put out of the church. That doesn't mean that they're deciding whose sins are forgiven, but they’re deciding -- they did have the right to decide who was going to be in the church and out of the church because of their behavior.
Sometimes after a person accepted the Lord, like this guy Simon, he started to try to sell salvation. In 1 Corinthians, Paul talks about a man living with his stepmother and that person should be put out of the church, the son rather. I've had it understood that way also, but I don't think he's' saying, "You get to decide who is forgiven and who is not", because no mortal should really have that right and the Bible is pretty clear, God and God only can forgive sin. That's in Mark chapter 2.
I appreciate your call. Let me just think if there's a book that specifically deals with that subject that we could offer about forgiveness. I've got a sermon. If you go to the Amazing Facts website, I've got a sermon there that you can download and it's called 70 Times Seven. If you just type in Doug Batchelor 70 Times Seven, it might even pop up on YouTube. We've been surprised how many people are kind enough to repost our sermons on YouTube.
Thank you for your call Pat. I appreciate it.
Pastor Marshall: Pastor Doug, our next call is from John in New Jersey. John, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor. Your question.
John: Halo. Thank you very much. I was listening to your program last Sunday night and a woman called in that she was suffering from anxiety and depression. I have a question, but I was so moved by her call and I couldn't get through last week. I hope she's listening. There's a lot of scriptures about afflictions and consolations when we have afflictions, and I found a whole four pages of scripture from Genesis through Revelation about that.
In a topical Bible, it's been around. It's been referenced topical Bible where the topics are listed alphabetically. Your screener has said don't mention any names. Am I not allowed to mention the names, the book of Galatians-
Pastor Doug: No. I think that'd be fine. Go ahead. You want to reference that for somebody?
John: Yes, it's called Nave. Like navy, but with an E at the end. N-A-V-E. Nave's Topical Bible and it was written in 1898. If you looked in that book under afflictions, and within afflictions and the consolations in, there are any scriptures that’ve helped me, it's been like a bomb, healing bombs for my soul and the word of God is living and working powerfully, so it really can heal and change you.
Pastor Doug: No, that's a good reference. As a matter of fact, the Nave’s Topical Bible comments are in many Bibles and you can even mention -- I'll mention it I guess. Is that people can go online in Nave’s public domain, meaning that you'll find it for free online. Anybody can read it. I use it when I do a topical concordance sometimes. I appreciate you sharing that and there are a lot of people out there that struggle with a variety of challenges, and they'd love to find these Bible promises that would give them encouragement. I appreciate you sharing that, John.
By the way, we do have a book that talks about the secret weapon and understanding the power of the Bible. It's called The Ultimate Resource. We'll send you a free copy of that John, just for being so helpful. It's called The Ultimate Resource. Just call our resource number, 800-835-6747. By the way, if some of you just want prayer, we're talking about people that might be struggling with challenges, we do have chaplains standing by at that number, 800-835-6747. They'd be happy to pray with you. Thank you John.
Pastor Marshall: Our next question is from Jim in Bedford Pennsylvania. Jim, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Jim: Thank you Pastor Doug. We've been having this discussion in our church regarding the Holy Spirit and some are saying that we have the Holy Spirit from birth. That the Holy Spirit is with us and in us. Others then say, regarding events like the Pentecost, that we don't receive the Holy Spirit until we receive Jesus into our lives. I was wondering if you could speak to that and maybe clear that up a little bit.
Pastor Doug: That's a very good and a very important question. I'm glad you asked it. It's a misunderstanding for someone to say just because you're born, you automatically have the Holy Spirit. There are a couple of rare individuals like John the Baptist. It says he was filled with the spirit from his mother's birth. The reason it's mentioned is because that is not the norm.
Typically, when a person receives Christ, a verse for that is Acts chapter 2. Peter says, "Repent, be baptized and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." He didn't say you have it, he said you'll receive it. Jesus, even at His baptism, the Holy Spirit came down and that's in Mathew chapter 3.
The Holy Spirit can also come in different degrees. A person receiving the gift of the spirit, it can come gently like a wind. Jesus says in John chapter 3, sometimes you get baptized, you're totally filled with the Holy Spirit as David did when he was anointed king, and at Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came and they were suddenly preaching in other languages.
Being baptized in the spirit is different from just the power of God’s spirit that may be moving in a person's life that helps us resist temptation, helps us listen to the voice of God and be his witnesses, and that's Acts 1:8. It says, "I will give you my spirit and you will be my witnesses."
The spirit does come when we come to Jesus. The spirit works in our lives even before we accept Christ, but it's the Spirit bringing conviction. Jesus said the Holy Spirit will even convict you if sent. It’s the Holy Spirit that leads us to repent of our sins so that we can be filled with the Holy Spirit when we surrender to the Lord.
It's like a marriage. You don't just marry someone the day you meet them. There's a courtship. Baptism is like the marriage, and then you get the special gifts of the Spirit, but the Holy Spirit is working in your life and dating you [chuckles] before that. It’s got convicting and comforting, and helping you know that God is real before you even make the final surrender. When you turn to the Lord, you're giving him permission to fill you with His Spirit.
A great question Amber- sorry, Jim, did that answer what you're asking?
Jim: What you're agreeing with is that the Holy Spirit is in the world all the time, in the world and around us.
Pastor Doug: Yes. When God created the world, it says the Spirit moved on the face of the waters. The Spirit is certainly in the world, but the SPIRIT is working in the lost to convict them of their sin. Back in the days of Noah, if you look in just Genesis 6:3, God said, "My Spirit will not always stride with men." In other words, there's going to be a limit to my Spirit trying to lead you to turn from your sin. When Noah got done preaching and building the Ark, the Holy Spirit was withdrawn and that whole world perished except for Noah and his family.
God works with us if we reject the Spirit. Even Ephesians chapter 2 it says, "Don't grieve the Holy Spirit." The Holy Spirit is working to bring us to God, but if we keep resisting, that's blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which is the unpardonable sin.
Hey, we do have a free book we can give you, Jim and it's called Life in the Spirit. You'll really enjoy that. Life in the Spirit, just call 800-835-6747, we'll send you a free copy of Life in the Spirit or you can read it online for free at amazingfacts.org. That does free up another phone line. If you have a Bible question, here’s that number 800-463-7297. We'll bring your questions into headquarters here. 800-463-7297. Okay, Pastor Marshall, who's next?
Pastor Marshall: We've got Louis from Detroit, Michigan. Louis, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Louis: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi, you're on Louis, and your question today?
Louis: I want to know what is the devil’s from being possessed by demons and taking the mark of the beast?
Pastor Doug: Well, everybody that takes the mark of the beast probably is possessed, because when you have the seal of God, you have the Spirit of God. When you have the mark of the beast, you've got the spirit of the enemy. The most fearful curses in the Bible are proclaimed on those who receive the mark of the beast that says, “The wrath of God's indignation will be poured on them without measure.” It tells us the seven last plagues in Revelation fall upon those who worship the beast.
If someone worships the beast, they probably get the spirit of the devil. Now, whether they're going to act like they are possessed with a legion of demons, I don't know but they're definitely lost. There are people out there that are very wicked, they don’t know how to act in a civilized way so they can fool people. The Devil is a shoot operator. But yes, those who have the mark of the beast are lost, but let's talk about the Seal of God. If a person wants to be saved, they want the seal of God.
We have a lesson. We can send you a free copy of a lesson that talks about the Seal of God and it's actually in the lesson called What Is the Mark of the Beast? Is that right?
Pastor Marshall: That's right.
Pastor Doug: Pastor Marshall’s in charge of the Amazing Facts publishing department, so I know he'll give me the answers on all our publications. If you want a free copy of the book on the mark of the beast and the seal of God, just call Amazing Facts, go that's the resource line is open now, 800-835-6747. If you want to understand that subject, 800-835-6747, we’ll send it to you for free. Thank you for your call, Louis, and that opens another line. Again, the number to the studio is 800-463-7297.
Pastor Marshall: Next question from Alex in New Mexico. Alex, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor. Alex?
Alex: Pastor Doug, my name is Alex. I’ve been listening to you tonight and I want to just say God bless you for bringing this program to life.
Pastor Doug: Thank you.
Alex: I wanted to ask a question, is it possible for a man today to -- there was a scripture in the Bible where it says many white men and prophets wish they knew what you knew -- what you know and never knew it. There was another one in Proverbs 1:23, do you have it there?
Pastor Doug: Well, I can look at Proverbs 1:23 real quick, and did you already get that Marshall?
Marshall: I do. I just want to make sure, Alex, this is the one, “Turn at my rebuke, surely I will pour out my Spirit on you and I will make my words known to you.
Alex: Yes, his words known to us and these things that come to me in different ways like the word listen, there’s L for listen then there’s I-S, and then TEN, listen, there’s Ten Commandments, I believe that’s what it’s trying to tell me. Things like this is just one thing that-
Pastor Doug: What’s your question?
Alex: The question here is the Spirit can give you messages in the night that you want to help people in the day time.
Pastor Doug: Yes, the Holy Spirit and many times in the Bible God gave visions and messages to prophets and some of HIS even kings, they'd be messages that He would share during the day. Sometimes it might be through a dream, it might be through a prophecy, a vision and that doesn't happen very often with average people. God periodically will raise up a prophet where He gives them special revelations and messages. Of course, He did that with the apostles too.
Sometimes He gives us dreams and it's just for us personally, it might have some personal guidance that He gives us in a dream and the Lord still does that with people today. There’s a verse is it Joel Chapter 2, he says, “In the last days I'll pour out my Spirit on all flesh, sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” And so yes, it does happen.
Let's see, Pastor Marshall, can we get one more call before our break. Thank you Alex, we appreciate your question.
Pastor Marshall: We can. Ronald from San Bernardino, California. Ronald, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug Batchelor.
Ronald: Okay, thank you for taking my call.
Pastor Marshall: Sure.
Ronald: In Matthew 12:31 it's states that, “Whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.” Does that mean that you're going to go to hell and you can’t be forgiven it all?
Pastor Doug: Well, someone who grieves away the Holy Spirit is -- it's the Spirit of God that leads us to repentance. In that verse and I'll read it for everybody, “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.” If a person is unforgiven, they're lost if they're unforgiven by God.” Then he goes on to say, “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man it will be forgiven him, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him either in this age or the age to come.”
Well that's pretty definitive, and so everyone wants to know what is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit because it is the unforgivable sin. I always like to remind people don't forget the good part. Christ is all manner of sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. God forgives all sin, He's forgiven in the Bible murder and adultery, and even different kinds of blasphemy, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is perpetually resisting the work and the voice of the Holy Spirit so that we resist repenting, we resist the conviction. This is what Judas did and he ended up hanging himself.
This is what Balaam did and he was killed. This is what King Saul did, he fell on his own sword. When we grieve away the Holy Spirit, we're just like with King Saul, he got into trouble and it says, “God would not speak to him, either through dream, or vision, or priest, or prophet.” I forget the verse but it's in Proverbs where it says, “If we turn away our ear from hearing the law, even our prayer is an abomination.” Resisting hearing God can get to the point where it's the unpardonable sin.
Now, I got a book on that, I’ll send you for free, Ronald. Would you like that?
Ronald: Yes, sure.
Pastor Doug: The title is scary, it's called Beyond Mercy but it's actually an encouraging book. If you just call the number 800-835-6747, tell them you’re listening to Bible Answers Live and that we've just offered you the book Beyond Mercy. We’ll send you a free copy of that. It talks about what does it mean, what is the sin against the Holy Spirit? It's also an encouraging book, it tells you about all that God does and to forgive us. Friends, we are going to simply catch our breath and take a brief break, and have some station identifications, but we got more Bible questions coming, stay tuned.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: We are back on the air, and this is Bible Answers Live. For those that may have joined along the way, it is a live international interactive Bible Study. And if you have a question, as we mentioned, we've got some lines open still. I see three, four lines open. Give us a call. Here's the number 800-463-7297, if you have a Bible question, 800-463-7297. We got some friendly operators that'll just jot down what your question is and where you're calling from, and we'll take your call.
My name is Doug Batchelor, and I'm joined today by Pastor Marshall Mackenzie, who is an associate at our church in Granite Bay, as well as the publishing director at Amazing Facts. Pastor Ross is in route returning from a speaking engagement in New Zealand where they talk just a little funny. We're going to go back to our phones, and who's next?
Pastor Marshall: Sean from Danville, Illinois. Sean, you're on the air, with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug.
Sean: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi Sean, how are you doing?
Sean: I'm fine. It's a blessing and a privilege to speak with you Pastor Batchelor.
Pastor Doug: Likewise.
Sean: Missed Pastor Ross, but we definitely thank the Lord for his replacement this evening. My question is, I was [unintelligible 00:02:10] about what the-- something about the investigating judgement from one who had been-- is there any Bible foundation for that?
Pastor Doug: Yes, that's a big word, but it's really a simple principle. The judgement really is broken up into three phases. Some judgement takes place before Jesus even comes, and I think people know that intuitively, because when the Lord comes, he's giving rewards. The dead in Christ rise, that means it's been determined. They are in Christ. It says, "The wicked flee from his presence." People are getting saved or lost when Jesus comes. You read in Peter. Where is that verse in-?
Pastor Marshall: That's 1 Peter 4:17.
Pastor Doug: Yes, why don't you read that? You got it handy?
Pastor Marshall: Yes. It says, "For this time has come for judgement to begin at the house of God, and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?"
Pastor Doug: Yes, there's a judgement that starts before Christ even comes. And Jesus even said the Holy Spirit is coming to the world for judgement. The first phase of judgement called the investigative judgement, sometimes, it's called the preadvent judgement. In other words, a judgement that takes place before Christ comes. When Jesus comes, he's separating the wheat from the chaff, so something has happened already.
Then you got a judgement during the 1,000 years where the righteous are involved. That's where Paul says, "Do you not know you'll judge angels." And we're agreeing with God's judgements basically, because when we get to heaven, we're going to see some people there. We're going to think, "How'd they get here?" We're going to see some people missing. We're going to say, "Why aren't they here?" And God is going to let us look at the books and see that there is a reason why.
Can you imagine, the Apostle Paul, he gets to heaven, and Stephen is there. No, I say it backwards, Stephen gets to heaven, and Paul is there. And the last time that Stephen saw Paul or Saul, he was stoning Christians. And Stephen is wondering, "What is he doing here?" Well, the angels will show him the books, say he was converted in a dramatic way. There's that judgement. And then the final executive judgment is the White Throne Judgement, when God rains fire down upon the wicked. Everyone is punished according to what they deserve. They're cast in the lake of fire. And that's really the third phase of the judgement.
The investigative judgement is a judgement where Christ is our high priest. He's in heaven right now. And you read about it, let me give you another verse. You read about it in Daniel 7, what was that verse where it says, "There's one like the son of man came to the ancient of days."
Pastor Marshall: Right around 13-14, right in the middle.
Pastor Doug: Yes, verses 13 and 14. Hey, we'll send you a lesson on that. Would you like a free lesson that talks about God Sets a Date for the Judgement?
Sean: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Yes, we've got a whole lesson that covers all the scriptures, it'll be really good. We'll send you a free copy, Sean. All you got to do is call this number, 800-835-6747. I don't think you can read the lesson for free online at-- can he?
Pastor Marshall: He should be able to.
Pastor Doug: But he has to go to Bible Universe. It's another website you can read that for free at bibleuniverse.com. Otherwise, we'll send you a copy. 800-835-6747, tell the operators and God Sets a Date for the Judgement is the name of the lesson. Hey, thank you very much Sean. Appreciate your patience, and want to remind our callers, that be listening. Sometimes, while you're waiting, you'll mute your call and we're saying, "Hello, hello." And you can't hear us, and we can't hear you. Anyway, who's next?
Pastor Marshall: Phillip from Glens Falls, New York. Phillip, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug.
Phillip: God bless you guys. Thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Thanks Phillip. And your question?
Phillip: I would like some clarification at a verse out of the book of Luke 9:27. It says, "But I say to you truthfully, there are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God." This is also cross-referenced in Matthew 16:18.
Pastor Doug: And Mark 9. Yes.
Phillip: What does that mean?
Pastor Doug: The answer to that passage, in all three; Matthew, Mark, and Luke. After Jesus makes this cryptic statement, "Some of you here will not taste death till you see the Kingdom of God come." It's that something happened six days later. In Luke, I think it says about eight days later. In Matthew and Mark, it says six days later. The difference is Luke says about eight days later, because he's interviewing people getting the story.
He takes them up on a mountain. Moses and Elijah appeared. Jesus is glorified as He will be during the second coming. God the Father speaks. You got the glory of the Father, you got the Angels around Jesus. You got Moses. Moses died, but he's resurrected. He represents those who come with Jesus had been resurrected. And Elijah never died. He is simply translated to heaven. Some will be alive and remain when Christ comes. What those disciples experienced after Jesus makes this statement, Peter, James, and John, is a miniature picture of the second coming.
Phillip: I see.
Pastor Doug: On the mount of Transfiguration.
Phillip: Mount of Transfiguration.
Pastor Doug: That's the fulfillment of His prophecy. When He said, "Some of you standing here will not taste of death till you see the Kingdom of God." In other words, "I'm going to give you a window, a little picture into the second coming." And then it's fulfilled in the next verses.
Pastor Marshall: I was just thinking in 2 Peter, Peter talks about this experience. Actually gives his own testimony of it.
Pastor Doug: He said he'll never forget it when he hears it. You know what, you just reminded me. We have a book on that. We'll send you a free book exactly on that verse if you like, Phillip. It's called The Two Witnesses. If you call Amazing Facts, we'll send you a copy. It's an easy read, and it's-- if a say so myself, I wrote it. It's a great story. 800-835-6747. It's called The Two Witnesses. I think you can read it for free online.
Just so people know, we're not out there just to make money. We give a lot of this away. And if you want to read it online for free, just go to Amazing Facts, you'll see a button that says ‘our free library,’ amazingfacts.org. If you type in amazingfacts.com, you'll still get there. Okay, thank you Phillip, and your next caller?
Pastor Marshall: Is Scott. Scott from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. You're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug.
Scott: Good evening gentlemen, how are you doing tonight?
Pastor Doug: Better than we deserve. Thank you for your call.
Scott: [laughs] Thank you very much. I have a question about gifts of the Holy Spirit. A church I just left said that the gifts of the Spirit left as soon as the apostles of Jesus Christ died. I cannot find it anywhere in scripture, so my question is then, who can receive the Holy Spirit's gifts?
Pastor Doug: Well, I would respectfully disagree with anybody that says that the gifts of the Spirit died with the apostles. The reason they come up with that is because sometimes you don't find some of the same dramatic manifestation of the gifts in modern times. And so they say, "Well, we don't want to say God has lost his power, so we'll just say those gifts all stopped back in the days of the apostles." That's not true.
Scott: You heard this before then?
Pastor Doug: Yes. All the gifts of the Spirit I believe, are still available. Let me give you an example. You read in Joel 2, and it says, "It'll come to pass in the last days. I'll pour up my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy." I just read this a minute ago. The gift of prophecy is there. The dreams and visions, Jesus said, "You'll speak with other tongues." I believe in the gift of tongues. I don't believe the gift of tongues a way it's being used by some churches. With every gift, it's often abused. And there's false prophets, and there are true prophets. There's false tongues, and there's true tongues.
Jesus said in the last days there’ll be false prophets, why didn't he say, “Don't believe in any prophets?” Because there will also be true prophets. The idea that the gifts have stopped, Paul says-- you know Paul, he's converted after all, he's the last of the apostles. He says in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, he talks about the spiritual gifts. Why would he go to all that trouble to outline what the purpose of the gifts is and then say, “Now, this is only going to last until we all die.” He doesn't say that.
Pastor Marshall: I was just going to add to what you're saying. Peter also in Acts, when he quotes Joel Chapter 2, says, “This is just a partial fulfilment,” and so in the last days you're going to see this all over again.
Pastor Doug: Yes, the apostles received the Holy Spirit in like a former rain power in the last days before the second coming the church will receive the spirit of God in a latter rain power, but God's power is still there. I just came back from New Guinea last week where they still see all kinds of miracles and signs, and wonders. I've even heard of children being resurrected when missionaries prayed and just some amazing stories. God's power is still there and if we have more faith, we'd see more examples but we're living in a very faithless, secular time.
Scott: Indeed, indeed we are, yes.
Pastor Doug: I do have a book I can send you that talks about one. I got one on the Holy Spirit. Then I've got one specifically on tongues which is a gift of the spirit that is much disputed. I believe in the gift of tongues but I believe people are confused about it sometimes. Go ahead what were you saying?
Scott: This place did say that, well, they didn't believe in tongues because that's the easiest one to fake. Well, yes, but it doesn't mean it's not happening.
Pastor Doug: Well, people fake prophecy all the time. I hear people get up and they even call themselves prophets on TV, and they make all kinds of crazy predictions. Some have predicted the second coming on numerous occasions. Obviously, they were false prophets. Yes, you can fake any gift of the Spirit but that doesn't mean you discount the real thing because one of the gifts of the spirit is preaching. [laughs] We still have preachers. One of the gifts of the spirit is administration and we still have administrations. The other gifts of the spirit's still here.
Hey, thank you, Scott, if you'd like that book on the fruits of the spirit, we'll be happy to send you a copy. I think it's called Life in the Spirit, rather, Life in the Spirit and just call 800-835-6747. The book on tongues you could read that, just go to amazingfacts.org. If anyone does a search ‘Doug Batchelor, Understanding Tongues.’ I think you could read the book right there on the internet. Appreciate your call.
Pastor Marshall: Next question is from Bill in New Jersey. Bill, you're on the air with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug.
Bill: Hi Pastor, thanks for taking my call.
Pastor Doug: Absolutely.
Bill: [unintelligible 00:42:59] an easy question. Just recently I watched a documentary where something I've been referring to for over 30 years. They discounted 1 John 5:7. I will use that for proof of the Trinity and I'm just curious. What they said was there was something that was added in later after the books were written. Do you have any information on that?
Pastor Doug: Well, it is true that when you look at the old manuscripts of the New Testament and they got different names for some of them. You got the Sinaiticus, the Vaticanus, and the Textus Receptus were the received texts but some of the oldest manuscripts don't have that line in there. They argue that it was added because they say, “Well, if it's the oldest manuscript then it must have been added in the newer ones,” but that's not true. Some of the newer manuscripts and even the newer manuscripts are a thousand years old.
Some of the newer manuscripts were copied from even older manuscripts, meaning that they may be more accurate. There's a few verses in the end of Mark that are missing. One of the reasons they're missing is because basically, it was the end of the book and because it got worn off or cut off but I believe that verse is valid. But you know what, our theology, whether that verse is there or not, the theology about the trinity is pretty clear in the bible.
I wrote a book on it and there's just all kinds of support in the bible for the three person of the godhead all the way back in Genesis where God says, "Let us make man in our image," and Jesus said, "Baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit." At the baptism of Christ, you got the voice of the Father. You’ve got the Holy Spirit coming like a dove. You got Jesus the Son in the water. I believe there are three that bear witness in heaven. I think that was in the original when John wrote it and it maybe was missing from a later manuscript.
It's more likely when they wrote these things by hand, it's more likely that scribes would skip a line. I've often been typing things and copying things and I miss the whole line than that they would manufacture a line. I think that just the old manuscript they're looking at it was forgotten as the scribes were copying these things. They didn't have Xerox machines. They didn't have email back then, it was all manually done and sometimes you have human error.
Bill: Yes, it just shook me really badly at first because it’s been 35 years now, I've always been referring to that particular passage. Then going back to the beginning of John to show that Christ is the word and the word is God.
Pastor Doug: Well, John, yes, but Jesus is the word. It's in several places in the gospel of John and in the bible. Don't fret, you’ve got a good foundation. You know what, if you're ever in doubt believe too much to the bible before you start believing too little of it. If you're going to make a mistake, make the mistake of believing it's all the inspired word of God. Don't start questioning this verse and that verse because then your foundation like one grain of sand at a time, it begins to crumble in the storm. I find when people start saying, “Well, this verse doesn't mean that, and that verse isn't there,” pretty soon they got a pretty shaky foundation.
Bill: You know what [unintelligible 00:46:17] Pastor that's the conclusion I came to myself. I've always believed that it was the inspired word of God [unintelligible 00:46:23]. Thank you.
Pastor Doug: Yes, absolutely and we do have a book that I think you'll enjoy called The Ultimate Resource and it talks about the word of God and its dependability. We'll send you a free copy of The Ultimate Resource, just ask for it, 800-835-6747 and I think we still got a couple lines open. 800-463-7297 will bring you into the studio. 800-463-7297 with your bible questions and let's see who's next on line.
Pastor Marshall: We've got William from Denver, Colorado. William, thank you for patience. You're on Bible Answers Live with Pastor Doug.
William: Good evening gentlemen, how are you?
Pastor Doug: Doing well, how are you?
William: I'm doing good. I've got the easiest answer for you of the night. A couple of weeks ago, I had the great privilege of spending about three hours with four gentlemen arguing different aspects of the bible. Of course, we didn't agree on a whole lot of it but it was good discussion. The biggest thing that I had struggle with is one of the gentlemen said there's no way the bible can be 100% accurate when it was written by man and man has been given the free will to do whatever he wants. And because we know that there are writings similar to the Bible by the same authors that have been not included, how can we know that the Bible as it sits is the bible in total and is accurate without error or inerrant?
Pastor Doug: All right, good question and by the way, the gift I just offered--[crosstalk]
William: Told you it's easy.
Pastor Doug: Yes, well, I don't know if it's easy but it's a good question. [laughs] The gift I offered on our previous caller is just addressing this specifically and that's we'll send you the book called The Ultimate Resource. It's about the bible. Now let me get to your question. I think you're always safer believing when God says in the Bible, "Thy word is truth and every word of God is pure." And you look in the bible it says, "All scripture was given by inspiration of God." God has supernaturally preserved this book. It's not like the Koran. It's not like the Bhagavad Gita or any other supposed sacred writing. The bible has really stood the test of time.
I've been to Israel. I've been to the museum where the Dead Sea Scrolls are. I stood next to a Jewish scholar who was-- we were looking at the Isaiah scroll together. He could read ancient Hebrew and I asked him, I pointed to a spot on the scroll. I said, “Can you read that to me?” He's reading now a copy of the Bible's 2,000 years old, over 2,000 years old. I know my bible pretty well. He started reading the part of Isaiah where Hezekiah’s surrounded by the Assyrians and Sennacherib was mocking, and the Marachacle was threatening God and it's exactly like my bible today and it's 2,000 years.
I just got chills because I thought, "Wow, here we are 2,000 years later and God has done something supernatural to preserve this word." If it was just written by men then you're right, we would have messed it up. But these were the words of God and God was very particular to make sure when people were copying the bible, that they just put the most careful attention into detail, to make sure that they were carefully reproduced.
As I told our previous caller -- and then, the other thing was the assembly of the books in the Bible that we have now. Why does it seem some books are left out? That's a popular myth. The books, by the time the Apostle John died, the books that are now included in our New Testament -- of course, before Jesus lived, they already had the books to the Old Testament. There's no question about that. By the time that John died, the books that we now have in our New Testament were recognized by the church as inspired.
There were several councils and discussions about should they add another one or not. To play it safe, they left certain ones out, but that doesn't mean that what we have is not 100% inspired. There were some books that they thought were dubious or doubtful, or maybe they should not be included in the Sacred Canon, but the ones that were included, they were extremely careful for.
Let me give you an example how they made those decisions. Peter refers to the writings of Paul as Scripture. Jude refers to Peter as Scripture. There's a cross pollination that happens throughout the New Testament where they validate one another and they were very careful that it all was in harmony and that there was no contradiction between the authors in the New Testament, and they referenced one another. The books that we've got in our Bible today are as sacred as anything you're ever going to find.
I'm not saying that there might not be a scribal error or that translators haven't made mistakes, that's different from the actual Bible being inspired. Because I can take a Bible and mess it up if I want to. Anyone can try to mess it up, [laughs] but the originals that we have is an inspired message from God. I'm going to try to get another caller, William. Can I send you that free book called, The Ultimate Resource?
William: That'll be great, thanks.
Pastor Doug: All right, just call that number 800-835-6747. Appreciate it.
Pastor Marshall: Our next question is from Chris in Chico. Chris, you're on Bible Answers Live with Pastor Doug.
Chris: Hi, Pastor Doug, good evening.
Pastor Doug: Evening.
Chris: My question is I was talking to a friend of mine and their religion says that the -- when we repent of the sins they’re are blotted out until the great day of the final award. I'm arguing that in the Bible, in Colossians and several places, as soon as you repent of your sins, they're forgiven and gone forever and never to come up again.
Pastor Doug: Yes. That confuses people. I'm in the middle. I know that sounds like I'm running for public office. But what I mean by that is, it is true as soon as we come to the Lord and we repent of our sins, he takes our sins and casts them in the depths of the sea. He forgives us, but the final dealing with our sins doesn't happen until the great judgment day. Ultimately, a lot of sin is the devil -- anybody, who is not forgiven by the blood of Christ, they pay for their own sins. Right?
Or let's suppose somebody comes to the Lord and they say, "Lord, I'm sorry for my sins. Please forgive me." He says, "You're forgiven." But then, they won't forgive their neighbor. Their forgiveness is withdrawn and that's Jesus own words. He says in Matthew 18 that if -- after the king forgives his servant that was in debt, he says, "When you failed to forgive your fellow servant, I'm now going to make you pay for everything because you did not share my forgiveness with others." And Jesus says in the Lord's Prayer, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors."
If believers refuse to pass on the forgiveness of God and if we return from our sins as Peter says, "A dog returns to-", then our forgiveness can be invalidated by God if we don't trust him. That's all that it's meant by that.
Chris: I'm a spiritual believer and I forgive anybody that sins against me. It's not a problem at all because I know God forgave me. I look at Hebrew 10:17 which says, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” I think, no more, there's not too much gray area. They're gone as soon as you confess them.
Pastor Doug: That's true. He does, he forgives you. In other words, you should walk before God with a clear conscience that he's forgiven your sins. Now, after you've become a Christian and you love the Lord, you may still sin and need to repent again. A matter of fact, you can count on that.
Chris: It's a daily occurrence.
Pastor Doug: Bible says, “We stumble in many things,” and so we frequently have to come and repent and get a refreshing, so to speak. We're on the same page as far as that's concerned.
Chris: Right. Okay.
Pastor Doug: I thank you very much, Chris. Appreciate your question. Very good one.
Pastor Marshall: Next we have Eddy from Fairfax, Virginia. Eddy, you’re on the line with Bible Answers Live and Pastor Doug.
Chris: Eddy, we got two minutes, can we do it?
Eddy: Yes. I'm studying with another Bible leader regarding the health laws and he uses Mark 7:19 as the end all be all verse where Jesus said that -- at the end of verse 19, Jesus said and saying does Jesus declare all foods clean?
Pastor Doug: Now, you're reading from the New International Version, aren't you?
Eddy: Yes. [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: Then, if you look in other versions, it doesn't say that. They took great liberty with that verse. The way it reads in the original and if you look in the King James Version, it says, "In saying-" -- not even in the King James. It says, "Thus, purging all meats." And Christ said that what you put in your mouth does not defile you and he's talking about it's not food that defiles your soul. It’s because when you eat something, if you've eaten something with unwashed hands, is what Jesus is talking about, it just goes through your system and it's eliminated.
It's very different from what they did with the NIV version. They tried to make Jesus say -- that he some declaration that all food is now clean. Problem is if you go to Acts chapter 10. Peter says, "Lord, I've never eaten anything common and unclean." And Paul makes -- or Peter makes that statement three and a half years after Jesus has gone to heaven. They never got the idea from Jesus, that he declared all foods clean and you don't find that there.
We do have a lesson on clean and unclean foods. It's called God's Free Health Plan. We'll send you a free copy if you like, Eddy. You can hear the background music. If you simply go to or call 800-835-6747, ask for God's Free Health Plan. Listening friends, I hope you've been blessed by Bible Answers Live this week. If you have, let us know. Go to amazingfacts.org, contact us and help us stay on the air. We sure appreciate it. Talk next week.