Pastor Doug Batchelor: Hello friend, would you like to hear an amazing fact? Have you ever wished your pastor's sermons were a little shorter? How long should a sermon be? 20 minutes? 40 minutes? Do you think an hour is too long? If so just be thankful you don't attend the Cross Church in Mount Dora Florida. In 2014 their 31-year-old pastor set the record for the longest sermon ever preached. Pastor Zach Zehnder began his quest his on Friday, November 7th, and by Sunday he had preached for 53 hours and 18 minutes. During the two-and-a-half-day homiletical Marathon, Zehnder preach through 45 of his own sermons, and displayed more than 600 PowerPoint slides.
Along the way, he moved from Genesis to Revelation highlighting the theme of divine faithfulness. To comply with Guinness World Record rules, Zehnder had to speak before a minimum of 10 people the entire time. And there needed to be two independent witnesses signing off on its validity, and monitoring his break times. To ensure he met these rules, nearly the whole time, they took little naps during the sermon. Towards the end of the event, hundreds of community members came to hear him with a worn-out voice complete his epic speech.
While breaking the previous record of 48 hours and 31 minutes, the lengthy discourse raised $100,000 for a local drug addiction treatment center. With this in mind, you might be interested to consider the most famous sermon in the world, The Sermon on the Mount presented by Jesus only takes 18 minutes to read. Stay with us friends were 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 we've got a fresh program, waiting for you to participate. If you have a Bible question, we've got phone lines wide open. Just give us a call right now with your Bible question. Of course, it's a free phone call. And that number 800 God says that's 800-463-7297. Let me give it to you again in case you aren't ready. Here we go, call in with your Bible question 800-463-729. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Jean Ross: And my name is Jean Ross, good evening listening friends and Pastor Doug, as always let's start the program with a word of prayer. Dear father in heaven we thank you that we have this time where we can open up your word and study together. Father, we ask the holy spirit to come and guide us as we study the scriptures. Be with those listening wherever they might be if they're driving their car, or at home. That your spirit would just guide us to a clearer and fuller understanding on what the Bible teaches. Thank you, Lord, for your promise to be with us in Jesus's name Amen.
Pastor Doug: Amen.
Pastor Ross: Well you know Pastor Doug a sermon goes too long people begin to doze off or complain that the sermon was too long. It seems like the most appreciated sermons are sermons that are on the shorter side and get right to the point. But to motivate people to sit and listen to a sermon that goes more than 50 hours, well there are some committed members to be involved in that.
Pastor Doug: That's right, and you'd be surprised, some people, they pick their Church based on the pastor and some people quit a church because the pastor preaches too long. I always have the best of intentions when I get up to preach I plan on making it a little more short and to the point. But I seem to get hypnotized by my own voice. [laugh] And I just get-- I go on a little long and some pastors always blame the Holy Spirit for their being enamoured by their own voice. But how do you pick a church? Do you pick a church based on a pastor?
Friends, you might be interested to know some of the top reasons are that people pick a church. Of course, some people pick a church because it's where their family went growing up, that denomination. Some people pick a church because it's close to the house and convenient. Some people pick a church because they love the architecture, they just say, "What a beautiful building, I'd like to go to church there." Some they love the music program, others because there is a charismatic preacher who preaches short sermons. Some like the children's programs. All these things are important.
I mean everyone would like to go to a church that's nice architecture, and it's convenient, and good facilities, and nice people, loving people, good music, great children's program. And as nice as those things are none of those are the right reasons to pick a church. There is only one right biblical reason to pick a church. And it is that the foundational teachings of that church are the foundational teachings of Jesus. There are some churches out there that have just beautiful choirs and music but you look at the doctrines and they're diabolical.
And so, you have to look past some of the external niceties of a church and say, "What are the foundational teachings of this particular church or denomination? Are they the teachings of Christ?" Because we know on the last days they'll be many that say, "Lord, Lord." And they'll say, "I never knew you." We've got to know that we're building on the rock. So maybe your friends would like some resources about that.
Pastor Ross: There is a prophecy in the Book of Revelation that deals with the importance of finding a church that is teaching the Bible. And we have a study guide it's called "The Bride of Christ" and it builds from the theme that we find in Revelation chapter 12. That is our free offer for today. If you'd like to call and ask for study guide called "The Bride of Christ" we'd be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks. Our resource phone line is 800-835-6747 number again is 800 835-6747. And, if you'd like to receive our free offer called, "The bride of Christ" call that number and just ask for it. I'd be happy to send it to you.
If you have a Bible question our phone lines are open this is a good time to call get your question on the Air tonight. The number to the studio is 800-463-7297. That's 800-463-7297 that'll bring you here to the studio with your Bible question. I think we are ready to go to the phone lines our first caller is Marianne listening from Missouri. Marianne, welcome to the program.
Marianne: Hi
Pastor Doug: Hi
Marianne: I have a question; this is about the second half of Leviticus 11.
Pastor Doug: Okay.
Marianne: And it's not the part about the food. It's the part about like if you can touch a dead insect or a dead, like, lizard or that kind of thing. Like for insects, you have to wash your garments after that.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Marianne: And I've never heard of anybody actually doing that-
Pastor Doug: Yes, well most of this- I'm sorry, go ahead.
Marianne: I'm wondering does that apply to us today? Or if it does, if it doesn't, why?
Pastor Doug: Well, most of what you'll find in these laws, there were some laws about food, and what the clean and unclean food was. And then there were laws about contact. And the laws about contact are mostly common-sense sanitation. You know if your kids come in from playing with their puppy you'd tell them to wash their hands before they eat. And there are some animals in particular that the Bible says that they should wash for. And those are typically the unclean animals.
I think it says here, you know if you've got a mouse for instance, and you, you go and use a pot. And you look and go, "Oh man a mouse has been in the pot." Well, you'd sure want to clean that pot, and I think that's part of what's in here. Any vessel into which any of these things fall, you'll break. There were some vessels that couldn't be cleaned because in the old clay you know mouse urine or something like that would permeate the pores, it's a porous material.
If it was a metal pot you could clean it. If it was clay you'd throw it out. So, most of it is just sanitation laws and of course, if you touch the dead body, you'd be unclean and because who knows decomposition could have set in it's not clean. So, I think most people try to follow these things by just common sense.
Pastor Ross: Yes and of course when we read about this, this was to the Children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings, and these laws applied even before they were established in the Promised Land. They didn't have the ability to go wash your hands with soap and water if you were to touch a dead animal, or some kind of an unclean insect, or something. We today-- I mean if you pick up even a spider-- I know my wife doesn't like spiders and if there is a dead spider and she somehow has to move it there is some kind of a paper towel involved there's thorough washing at the conclusion of that.
These are just kind of things we take for granted. But then God was clearly specifying, these are some of the basic principles. We also have to remember that the children of Israel had just come out slavery in Egypt and things were a little different now. That they were wondering in the wilderness and they need to learn these important principles.
Pastor Doug: Spiders don’t bother me it’s your wigs [laughs] [crosstalk] they do they really creep me. I don’t mind about Spiderman, your wig just creeps me out. But did that help answer that for you, Maryanne?
Maryanne: Well, like looking in verse 25 it says if you lift up a dead body, you must wash your garments.
Doug: Yes, it that mean that as soon as you touched something like that you needed to drop everything and head for the river. You couldn’t come into the temple, you weren’t supposed to abide in the camp, but if you touch any of these dead things, they say go wash. God had them be very particular about cleanliness and throughout history; the Jewish communities had always been a lot safer when plagues swept through Europe, because of their careful sanitation laws.
Pastor Doug: So, some of it we don’t understand now, but the Lord just kind of gave them some blanket roles if they were unclean animals, especially wash if you touch them.
Maryanne: I know a verse in the bible, I forgot where it is, it says if you don’t wash your garments, then you’re going to be cut off from other people.
Doug: Yes, I think he means those who refuse to practice these things would be cut off meaning, sometimes cut off meant they would be executed, sometimes cut off meant that they’d be banished from the kingdom and if someone was saying, look, I’m not going to observe the laws of holiness and purity, they’d banish him.
Pastor Ross: You know we do have a study guide that talks about these health principles and it’s called the God’s free health plan. It deals more with the animals and deals with food but still some of these other principles of sanitation is even touched on there in the study guide. We’ll be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks, the number is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the study guide called God’s free health plan, we’ll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks and if you have a bible question, our phone line here at the studio this evening is 800-463-7297. I’m going to say it again, so get ready, here it is 800-463-7297.
It’s a good time to give us a call and we’ll get your bible question on the air tonight. Our next call is from Risener, listening from Charlotte North Carolina. Risener welcome to the program.
Risener: How are you doing? I have two questions. One is Genesis 1:16, on the fourth day you see a bunch of stars created and thanks to the Hubble telescope we now know that stars have solar systems and planets revolving around them. The first question is; why wasn’t Satan and his angels sent to one of those planets to establish their government and live rather than be put here?
Dough: Alright, why was Satan cast to the earth and you’ll find that mentioned in Revelation chapter 12. The reason Satan was sent to the earth is because as the devil rebelled against God and he went through the universe and probably appealed to the other intelligent creatures that they would have an audience with him, that they would trust him. They all rejected Satan and they put God first. Many of them were tested a test of loyalty. Our world failed the test of loyalty. Adam and Eve decided to listen to the devil instead of God and that’s why Satan was cast down the earth because our first parents chose to listen to the devil when he said go ahead and eat from the forbidden tree. God said don’t eat from it.
The bible says whoever you obey in Romans six, that’s whose servant you are. And so that’s why he was sent here because he had people who showed him allegiance.
Risener: Okay. Second question, all of the beast in Daniel can be traced back to one of Noah’s sons, except for the beast that represents Rome, which son would that beast have descended from?
Doug: What do you mean that the beast and Daniel are traced back to one of Noah’s sons; I’m not sure what you mean?
Risener: In other words like the Medians and Persians came from, if you look at that map in the back of most bibles you can identify which son they came from.
Doug: Yes. I see what you are saying, the heredity of the different empires. I’m not sure but did Rome come from Japheth?
Pastor Ross: It’s believed yes, more Japheth therein. Now remember Rome, you have these 10 tribes coming from the northern area and kind of curved up or overcame the various other kingdoms and then eventually Modern Rome came from that. Rome came from the west so that would have been the descendants of Japheth that moved into that area that we know more so as western Europe today.
Risener: Okay. Thank you a lot.
Doug: Alright. Thank you. Appreciate your question. Trying to think if we have a study guide on that. I don’t know if we have. Do we have anything on tower of Babel that might talk about that a little bit?
Pastor Ross: We do have Understanding tongues and its connection to the tower of Babel and how people misunderstand what that is all about. That’s a free offer we’ll be happy to give it out to you Risener or anybody wanting to learn more, this is more specific about tongues but it is connected with Babylon because that’s where you had the confusion of languages. The number to call is 800-835-6747 and you can ask for the book called Understanding tongues and we’ll be happy to send it to anybody who calls and asks. Yes, pastor.
Dough: Yes, I googled it as they said, it does look like the Roman tribes originally descended from Japheth. I was just double checking that and I think that’s correct.
Jean: Alright, thank you for your call Risener. If you have a bible question the phone line to call is 800-463-7297, that’s 800-463-7297. Our next caller is Leah listening from Michigan. Leah welcome to the program.
Leah: Good afternoon. Thank you so much for having me, I’ve called many times, it’s my first time getting through.
Pastor Doug: Oh, glad you made it.
Leah: Okay, my question is Hebrews chapter six [inaudible 00:16:35] verse four, it talks about people who’ve tasted God, who [inaudible 00:16:44] Holy Spirit. I interpreted that to mean that without repentance it’s uncommon because I have a lofty one who prays God Jesus Christ all the time for his testimony, deliverance from his life issues and over the last decade he has totally denounced God. He then went over to one of the eastern land and studied religion has come back giving totally against God and Christ Jesus. And so, my question is, is it futile to continue to pray for him to come back to God because based on the scripture I interpret it as he’s beyond repentance? [Crosstalk]
Doug: I would be careful not to assume that. He may be demonstrating no repentance now, but you know the story of the prodigal son. The prodigal son he was raised in the father’s house, he knew the father but he turned his back on it all and he went to live in this totally reprobate living, but the father never ceased to probably pray for him and he came to his senses.Now this friend is turned away and there may be no outward evidence but you never know what God might do in a person’s heart and the bible says, “All things are possible with God.” So if you’re going to make a mistake of not praying long enough for somebody or praying too long, I’d take the risk of including them, what have you got to lose?
Leah: Amen. Amen. And the scripture I misinterpreted, it doesn’t mean that he’s beyond repentance?
Pastor Doug: Well. I think, Paul is describing somebody here, assuming Paul wrote Hebrews and this is Hebrews six verse four, it says, “It’s impossible for those who were once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. If they fall away, to renew them again toward repentance since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God.” Paul’s just saying if they persist in turning away from everything good, what more can God give them? So, it doesn’t mean that that person can never be turned around by coming to their senses, but as long as they continue to persist in rebellion, God has nothing more to offer them besides the best. Keep praying for him.
Leah: Okay. So my job is to continue to pray for him?
Pastor Doug: Oh. Yes. Look in the bible it’s the story of King Manasseh. He was raised by Hezekiah, godly king, godly father, turned away from the Lord and for years was just a wicked king sort of worshipped pagan gods like your friend he turned away from Jehovah. But he went through some trials and he turned back to the God of his youth and matter of fact, God answered Hezekiah’s prayers for his son long after Hezekiah was dead. So, keep praying for someone, you never know it might be the final hour of their life they turn around.
Jean: We have a book called Beyond mercy that talks about the unpardonable sin, what it is, what it isn’t and how or not to respond to that. We’ll be happy to send that to anybody who calls and asks. The phone line to our resource is 800-835-6747. Just call that phone line, ask for the book called Beyond Mercy and we'll be happy to send it to anybody who calls. If you have a Bible question, our phone line here to the studio is 800-463-7297, that's 800-463-7297.
Pastor Doug: Thank you Leon.
Pastor Ross: The next call is Ronald listening in the Bronx, New York. Ronald, welcome to the program.
Ronald: Hello, I have a question for you about Luke 21:25 and I like to know what does it mean when it says the threats of nations will [inaudible 00:20:43].
Pastor Doug: All right, let me read this to our friends. Talking about, and this is Jesus speaking here, he's talking about signs of the second coming and he said, “There would be signs and the Sun and the Moon and the Stars and on the earth distress of nations with perplexity. The sea and the waves roaring and it goes on to say men's heart failing them for fear. The stress of nation with perplexity that means that there is a general fear among the nations of the world regarding the things that are coming upon the earth and it's says the are hearts of failing them for fear.
Perplexity means there is confusion, everyone is confused about how to solve the probs. Right now, the nations of the world are trying to solve these major problems by putting a bandage on a bullet wound. There's very little that they can do to deal with some of these massive problems. Some of red words say signs and the Sun, and the Moon and Stars; for those that are listening North America, we're getting ready to have what did they say, once every hundred years they've got an eclipse that totally transects the continent and it's going to be a total eclipse across North America and a lot of people are flying to different cities where they can be at the epicenter of that.
And someone asked me is this one of the signs in the Sun, and the Moon and the Stars because an eclipse affects the Sun and the Moon and I don't think so. I don't think God is gauging his prophecy calendar based upon where the eclipse is happened because they have eclipses every year in different parts of the world.
Ronald: But they said that the Sun would not give light before the great and terrible day of the Lord come.
Pastor Doug: Yes, but that happen with several eclipses but you are correct, the Bible says that the Moon will look like blood, the Sun would be turned to darkness and that actually happened once in history in North America, that's 1833?
Pastor Ross: 1833 was the meteor shower, falling of the Stars.
Pastor Doug: Oh that's right, when the dark days were 17--
Pastor Ross: 17, right after the Lisbon earthquake [crosstalk]
Pastor Doug: They had what they called the dark days. It's interesting for no explicable reason in the middle of the day. the Sun on the eastern seaboard of the US just went dark and it wasn't the eclipse and there has been all kind of theories but then when they figured out-- the chickens even went to roast at noon. Some said that historically this was a dark day but the Sun, Moon and Stars-- Sun going dark, Moon turning to blood, Stars falling from heaven, those things were happening in quick succession before the second coming because it also says in Revelation and the heavens will be part as a scroll, now that hasn't happened yet.
Pastor Ross: Yes, the date for that was May 19th 1780.
Pastor Doug: 1780.
Pastor Ross: Yes and you can actually read about that, I just looked it up right here in online, Google, Wikipedia talks about New England's Dark Day and gives you some of the historical it's quite a story.
Ronald: When they talk about the [inaudible 00:23:51] were saying that-- I've seen it on the news they said they didn't know what to do about Syria and Israel.
Pastor Doug: Well there is great distress not just Syria and Israel but right now the US is contemplating a military strike against North Korea. North Korea keeps rattling its nuclear sword and testing missiles and saying we're trying to develop a missile that can reach the US. Well, that's pretty threatening language but this is not the first time in history that international leaders have been perplexed or fearful of their neighbors. I do think the stakes are higher now than they've ever been because the weapons now are more deadly.
The economy of the world is more integrated now than it has ever has been and I think people are looking for an international leader and that's what Revelation 13 says that they would be looking for international leader. Thank you very much Ronald. Hope that helps a little, now we have a book that talks about that you might offer.
Pastor Ross: Yes, we have a study guide on the second coming and actually gives some signs associated with the coming of Jesus; deals with these very verses. It's called The Ultimate Deliverance and that is free to anybody who calls and asks. The number is 800-835-6747, you can ask for the study guide called The Ultimate Deliverance. You can also go online to the amazing facts website, amazingfacts.org or .com and you can sign up for the free amazing facts study guides series and you can actually read this lesson and many others dealing with different important Bible themes.
All right Pastor Dough I think we're coming up on our mid-break here probably not a good idea to take call just yet; we will all end up having to cut that short but there are some interesting things that amazing facts is doing in the arena of upcoming prophesy presentations. I know this is a little ways away but might be good to let our friends know about it. In November, you are going to be on the east coast doing a special series called Foundations of faith, that's building on some of these important protestant themes that we see presented in Scripture and elsewhere.
Pastor Doug: Yes absolutely. Of course, I think many people know on the headlines that the October 31 is the 500 year anniversary from what they call the birth of the protestant reformation. When Luther nailed his famous 95 thesis on the doors of the Wittenberg Church. In this year, several of the leading protestant denominations and the Orthodox and Catholic Church are making statements of reconciliation saying that protestants reformation is over and that's pretty interesting in a light of prophecy because the reasons for the protestant reformation have not changed.
The things that Luther protested against the Orthodox Churches have not renounced and so you wonder what happened? Did the protestants cease protesting and wanted to get back to the Bible? So, we're going to be talking about foundations of our faith right after that event on November 3 through 11. We will be broadcasting live of course on the internet, it will be on the Hope Channel which can be seen on direct TV, it will be on 3ABN which can be seen on the dish network, it will be seen on amazing facts TV which can be seen on the G-19 satellite dish and around the world via Facebook but everyone will be able to see the foundations of faith.
It will be nine presentations, we will be talking about Scripture, faith, what does it mean to be saved by grace, the variations between tradition and Bible and start telling your friends about that now, a matter of fact I believe we have a website.
Pastor Ross: Yes and I'm just looking right now. If you want to get more information about that go to the amazing facts website; amazingfacts.org and we have a big banner. It's actually on the homepage. You click on that and it says foundations of faith and it will give you a lot more information.
Pastor Doug: Yes and don't go away friends, we're just going to get a drink of water. That's what that sound is and then we're going to take a break and be right back with more Bible questions. [Music] Stay tuned, Bible answers live will return in a moment.
[COMMERCIAL BREAK]
Pastor Doug: Welcome back listening friends if you've tuned in along the way. This is a Bible answer program. We don't claim to have all the answers but we have a lot of Bible resources at our finger tips and we will search the word with you. Call in now with your questions, we still have several lines open. Here is the number for the questions, 800-463-7297. That's 800 God says and we also be giving out a second number for the free resources. My name is Doug Batchelor.
Pastor Ross: My name is Jean Ross and we are ready to go to the phone lines. Our next call is Robert and Robert is listening from Florida. Robert, welcome to the program.
Robert: Hi, how are you all doing?
Pastor Doug: Doing great. Thank you for calling.
Robert: Hi, I just wanted to say thank you very much for having this program, I think it's a wonderful thing and I love you all.
Pastor Doug: Well likewise and how could we help you today?
Pastor Ross: Well Robert, we are going to ask you before your question. Pastor Dough and I were just talking now. Are you in Stanford, Florida or Sanford, Florida?
Robert: S-A-N Sanford where Trevor Martin was.
Pastor Ross: We don't know where that was or is?
Pastor Doug: We just did a meeting there this year.
Pastor Ross: Was it this year? esrly this year[crosstalk] Yes all right, so we know where you are.
Pastor Doug: And your question.
Robert: So, my question was simply about Satan and I want to know. This creature has plagued my imagination and I'm not sure it's real. The caller earlier mentioned that I just want to know who he is.
Pastor Doug: All right, well Satan-- the word Satan actually in Hebrew it means "adversary" and sometimes it's called as the Devil, the Evil One, Beelzebub, Apollyon, how many names are there for the devil and about the serpent, the dragon. Anyway, there was a beautiful angel named Lucifer and he was the highest of God's creations and somewhere in the remote recesses of time, Lucifer began to regret, see God makes all of His creatures completely free and Lucifer began to wish he had the power of God and whatever his reasons might be, he began to rebel against God and to undermine God's leadership and through pride this cosmic war broke out and Lucifer persuaded one-third of the angel's to follow him and ultimately there is war in heaven.
You read about that in Revelation 13. Satan who is a spiritual being like God is, he and his forces were casted to the earth and they are the authors of all the evils that happens and virtually every religion recognizes that there are powers of good and powers of evil. The Bibles gives them more precise names. There are two-thirds of the good angels that God could just destroy the devil, He's got that power but if He just destroys the devil without allowing Satan to demonstrate what the results of his rebellion is, his rebellion will just keep cropping up. So, God had to let Lucifer's rebellion play-out, it's playing out here in our world. This battle between good and evil.
God said I want to show you what I am like, I will come to the earth in the form of a man and that was Jesus. He came to show us what God is like, to show us the love of God and at the cross you see the battle between good and evil.
Robert: Thank you very much for hearing my call. I got a book here I stand from the same thing that you all doing now and this is where I got this information. It says, Martin Luther I think he would mentioned that during the commercial break. He wrote that he proclaimed Satan to have Saint Satan pray for us for you alone are holy God and what does it say, to be God and get grace to yourself. If you wanted to get me all straightened out I say [inaudible 00:34:32] to yourself. I'm not sure if he's a man though.
Pastor Doug: No, Lucifer is-- the Bible says in Ephesian 6 that Satan is--
Robert: I mean Satan not Lucifer.
Pastor Doug: Well Satan is Lucifer, it's just two names same thing.
Robert: I didn't know that.
Pastor Doug: When he was a good angel he was called Lucifer, when he was cursed out of heaven his name was Satan. But we've got a DVD that talks about this in detail. That gives the whole story about where Lucifer and Satan came from.
Pastor Ross: It's called the Cosmic Conflict and I believe it might be on YouTube.
Pastor Doug: You can watch it for free on YouTube. Just type in Cosmic Conflict, you'll see it says--
Robert: I don't believe stuff, you know what I mean? Can't believe what you're saying [inaudible 00:35:12] .
Pastor Doug: If you believe the Bible at all--
Robert: And I do.
Pastor Doug: -- well this is all based on the Bible and the Scriptures are given through the whole program.
Pastor Ross: And we do have a study guides specifically dealing with this called Did God create the Devil? It gets all the Bible verses dealing with the subject of where Satan came from, where did Lucifer come from, where did Satan come from. Of course, Lucifer is Satan. How fall occurred, at least what the Bible reveals about that. I think you will find that very helpful Robert. To receive our free study guide, just call us on our resources phone number that's 800-835-6747 and you can ask for the study guide called Did God create the Devil? We will send that to you.
And also take a look at that DVD prepared by amazing facts called Cosmic Conflict and that's also a summary of some important Bible teachings on that. If you have a Bible question, our phone line here at the studio is 800-463-7297, that's 800-463-7297. Next call is Eddie listening in Michigan. Eddie, welcome to the program.
Eddie: Thank you very much. God bless you. How are you?
Pastor Ross: Good, thank you for calling.
Eddie: Good, I know that Jesus Christ is the part of the trinity and my question is in the Bible Jesus Christ said himself that only the Father knew when the second coming would happen. So, I was wondering if you could shed some light on that.
Pastor Doug: Yes, when Jesus was talking about the second coming and Pastor Ross is it the Matthew or the Luke version? He said no man knows the day or the hour but my Father and not even the Sun. When Jesus was on the earth and you can read about this in Colossians, Christ laid aside part of his divinity. Obviously when Jesus was a baby on earth he didn't have all the powers and the knowledge of the Cosmo swelling around on his little baby head. He had to learn to walk and talk like other babies. So, Jesus when he was on earth he said look, the Father has not even revealed that to me.
Now he obviously knows now but as a man he didn't know the date and of course, if he did know the date what would he have told the disciples? I coming in 2025? They would say 2025? They didn't even have that dating method back then. It would have meant meaninglessness to them.
Pastor Ross: The verse you're looking at is-- you can find it in two places Matthew 24:36 and also in Mark 13:32.
Pastor Doug: But I think he knows now. He's at the right hand of the Father.
Eddie: So, once he went back to heaven he knew then?
Pastor Doug: Once again, God is all knowing. One of the definitions of God is he is omniscient, he's all knowing and Jesus is all knowing now.
Eddie: Okay.
Pastor Doug: Well, thank you. I appreciate your question Eddie.
Pastor Ross: You might also enjoy that study guide talking about the second coming of Christ called The Ultimate Deliverance and we will send it to you for free if you call and ask it's 800-863-6747. Ask of the study guide on the second coming called The Ultimate Deliverance and if you have a Bible question, our phone line here to the studio is 800-463-7297. Not too late to pick up your phone and give us a call. We have about 20 more minutes left to take Bible questions. The number again is 800-463-7297. We have Jason who is listening in Utah. Jason, welcome to the program.
Jason: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi, thanks for calling. And your question.
Jason: I got an uncooperative spouse and I don't know what to do with it. I'm actually an Adventist and we wanted to be and now she has no desire or anything.
Pastor Doug: What you do if you're a believer and you have a spouse and they are not cooperating with you, they are not supporting your faith, it tells us in-- is it 1st Peter 3 where it says if there is a woman and she's married to a husband who's not a believer, that while they behold your chaste behavior coupled with fear, they behold your reverence that you can win them. Now, not only is that true of a woman winning in unbelieving husband, it's true of a husband winning to the Lord and unbelieving wife.
I think you can also read in 1st Corinthians 7, we actually had this question at the men's retreat we were at this weekend that if you got a believing husband or wife and your spouse does not believe, do all you can to stay with them and it says how do you know if you will not win your wife or woman or husband by your behavior, by your love, by your patience. and it may not happen right away.
Pastor Ross: A verse that you are referring to there pastor Doug is first Corinthians 7. If you want to start reading it's probably from about verse 13 through all the way to verse 16 dealing with those situation of a believer and a nonbeliever and they’re married. How do they relate to one another? Tremendous counsel right here in scripture.
Pastor Doug: We have a lesson that deals with the Keys to a Happy Marriage.
Pastor Ross: Yes. Some good principles from the Bible in there as well that is the study guide that Amazing Facts has put together. If you'd like to receive that the number to call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for the study guide called Keys to a Happy Marriage. Hope that helps you Jason. Again, if you would like to learn more about that we actually have a book too that talks about marriage. And I think you find that.
Pastor Doug: Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage.
Pastor Ross: I think there's a lot of good principles in that too Jason. If you have a bible question our phone line is 800-463-7297, 800-463-7297. We have Alex listening in Michigan. Alex welcome to the program.
Alex: Good evening guys, thank you for being in there.
Pastor Doug: Well thank you, we're delighted to be part of the Bible study.
Alex: Yes, well I tell you it's such a blessing you guys being there. Because we all need understanding and when lack understanding, it's great to reach out and get the help we need. My question for you this evening is about Acts chapter five.
Pastor Doug: Yes.
Alex: I want to understand little bit more about how it came that Ananias and Sapphira lied to the Holy Spirit. I only can think that they committed by the word of mouth that they were going to do something and they felt led of the Holy Spirit to do it and they said to the Holy Spirit, "we're going to do this." And then they [unintelligible 00:41:54] that. What your interpretation is of why they ended up being killed because of lying to the Holy Spirit or how did they do that?
Pastor Doug: All right tell you what, let me read the first two verses of Acts to our listening friends and then get the context of this. "But a certain man," this is Acts five verse one. "But a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira his wife sold a possession and they kept back part of the proceeds his wife also being aware of it, and they brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles' feet." Now what they did is, people were then donating their property to help spread the gospel. And they went through the charade of saying, "we sold our property for $10,000 and we're giving that all to the Lord" while in reality they'd sold it for 20 or something and they lied and they said.
The Holy Spirit told them don't do that that's dishonest but they resisted the impression of the Holy Spirit to be honest and they made like they were giving everything. But it was hypocrisy and it was a big lie and his wife said, "Yes let's pretend we're giving the whole thing but let's keep some of it for ourselves." They could have done whatever they wanted. Peter says that in the story. He said, "While I was here you could have done whatever you wanted but don't lie because you're lying to the Holy Spirit." We didn't know how much she sold it for but the Holy Spirit did.
They were impressed by the Spirit not to be deceptive but they resisted the Holy Spirit and they lied anyway, and they both dropped dead. It was a pretty serious offence in the early days of the church because here they were seeing miracles everywhere. They saw the power of God and so their sentence was more severe. So, I don't know if that answers what you're asking Alex?
Alex: It does, it does and I was going to ask one other brief question, and that is if you could send me--
Pastor Doug: Sure
Alex: I'm struggling because I am remarried and once in a while I'm in sin because I'm remarried, but I would like to know if you could send me one of your guides that would give me some instruction on that.
Pastor Doug: Yes, we'll be happy to send you. Well you could actually have both. We have the book called Marriage Divorce and Remarriage and then we have the book on Keys for a Happy Marriage.
Pastor Ross: Yes. We'll send both of them.
Pastor Doug: Call the resource number and Ross will just take your address and send it to you and nobody will harass you.
Pastor Ross: The number to call for that be ready to write it down.
Alex: Thank you, yes please.
Pastor Ross: You're ready is this 8008356747 that's the phone number 8008356747. You can ask for the book called Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage and while you add it ask for the study guide on marriage called Keys to a Happy Marriage and we will send that to you Alex or anyone who calls and asks wants to study the subject further. Our next caller is Steve listening in Nebraska. Steve welcome to the program.
Pastor Doug: Hi thanks for calling.
Steve: I've just a little fuzzy on a couple of things. I've come from a family of multiple faiths. Getting a straight answer is not easy. I've fell away from the Christ for a good number of years. My question's how can you be sure that Christ will accept you back when there's no way you're going to remember all the sin that you may have committed over the years to repent right, does that make sense?
Pastor Doug: Yes, but what makes you think that you've got to remember all the sins you've committed?
Steve: Because I've been told over the years that in order to regain the grace of God or get back into the faith properly you must repent all the sins that you've committed. When you've been away for so many years, there's no way you're going to remember all that.
Pastor Doug: Well repenting all the sins you committed it's really very simple. It doesn't mean give God a list because first of all God remembers them better than you do. It would mean tp start with the 10 commandments, so there's a list of 10 that's really easy to remember. And say Lord, I repent of my sins, I've lied, I have maybe you stole, maybe there's been impure thoughts or it is whatever they are. say Lord forgive me of my sins.
It doesn't mean remember every exact incident and you know what, if you think you're forgetting something major then just pray and say Lord if I'm forgetting something, the Holy Spirit will show me because God wants to not make it hard for you, He wants to make it easy for you to come back to him. So, He's not going to say, well you forgot this one sin out of 20 and so you're not going to make it. If you sincerely want to come unto the Lord right now and get a new beginning, you can come right now. The Bible says, "whoever comes to me I will in no wise cast out."
The Bible promise also and this is first John chapter one verse nine, "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" just start up by saying, "Lord, I've been a big sinner, and I'm sorry for all of my sins and say Lord I can't remember them all." That's an honest repentance.
Steve: Okay. I'm in my mid 30's now and I walked away when I was in my late teen.
Pastor Doug: Well I'm glad that you're going to be walking back Steve is that right?
Steve: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Could I pray with you now?
Steve: Yes.
Pastor Doug: Father in heaven I just seem so thankful Steve called tonight, and I believe there are many others like him. They want to know how to find their way back. Lord you've made a promise in your word that if we draw near to you, you will draw near to us. Steve is drawing near to you and just as the father ran to meet the prodigal son we know that you'll run to embrace Steve and others that have drifted away and want to come back and Lord they're sorry for their sins and they repent and they confess that. And I'll give them your Spirit and new life because that's why Jesus came and we pray in his name, amen.
Steve: Amen. I just had one other weak question one of your other caller just brought it to mind.
Pastor Ross: Yes.
Steve: In regards to to the whole list for stating sin, like I said I come from a family of multiple different faiths. So, it's a challenge a little bit confusing. I was wondering about getting a little bit more information on that.
Pastor Doug: We will send you two things. One is we'll be happy to send you a lesson called, Three Steps to Heaven, because you and I just talked about what do I need to do to come back to the Lord. So we will send you that and then we'll send you the lesson that's called, Did God Create the Devil? It is a really clear, I like it. It's got neat pictures and it's well illustrated plus it's got all the Bible verses. If you call the number Pastor Ross is going to give you, you tell him you want those two things. Say I want Three Steps to Heaven and I want Did God Create the Devil? The lesson of where the Devil came from and we'll send that to you.
Pastor Ross: All right Steve, the number to call is 800-835-6747. You can ask for Three Steps to Heaven it's a little book, we'll send that to you, then also the study guide called Did God Create the Devil? And I'll get that in the mail right away, you'll be able to read through that and I think you'll find it very helpful. For any of our friends listening out there if you want to study these subjects more, I want to remind you Amazing Facts does have a free Bible correspondence program.
If you'd call that same number 800-835-6747 and say, "I'm interested in the Amazing Facts bible correspondence program," we'll be able to send you a series of lessons, you can go through them, you can study them, you can send in your answers as we'll have somebody grade it and send you the next set of lessons. So, this is just a great way to study the Bible and come to a clear understanding of this important teachings. Our next caller is Tommy and he's listening in Tennessee. All right Tommy, welcome to the program.
Tommy: Hello.
Pastor Doug: Hi Tommy you're on the air, thank you for calling.
Tommy: Thank you. I live up on a mountain and I can see the stars shine. They're very beautiful.
Pastor Doug: We'll bless you. Here at back east we still have the sun up. That's the only star we see in California. But how can we help you tonight?
Tommy: Just a short question people that have not audibly heard the name of Jesus or had the chance to hear his name or be witness to or whatever have not audibly heard his name and may be saved?
Pastor Doug: There will be some, of course, the reason we send missionaries around the world is there's a lot of people who will be lost because they don't know the truth and Jesus said the truth sets you free. The Lord was very careful to say that many will come from the east and the west and sit down in the kingdom with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There may be some who have lived up to the light that they had that God through his Spirit an angel spoke to their hearts and they tried you know. Even Paul says in Romans:1 he said that even the Barbarians, even the gentiles they have an inner voice that knows-
Pastor Ross: Through the works of creation and can see the creator.
Pastor Doug: Yes. Those who have followed all the light that God gave them and they sincerely sought after what was right. I believe you're going to see some people in the kingdom by the grace of God even though they didn't know about Jesus. Now a couple of examples of this would be with Jesus said that lame and the lepers are going to be in the kingdom. Then also he talked about a Phoenician widow that Elijah lives live with. The Jews in Nazareth get very upset with Jesus suggesting that these Gentiles could be saved and they didn't know all the truth and they want to throw Jesus off the cliff.
There are some churches today that say unless a person knows the name of Jesus they can't go to heaven. Well, what do you do [laughs], there's a lot of people who didn't know the name of Jesus back then? The Lord is going to save people if we walk in the light that he gives us. Obviously, if they don't hear the Gospel then they can't believe. it's going to be a lot harder.
Tommy: I just wondered that in some remotest areas of the earth that God spiritually reveals himself.
Pastor Doug: Yes, let me just give you an example. I've been to Australia several times and the Aborigines they were cut off from much of the world for maybe even thousands of years. We know of no missionaries going there until after Captain Cook. I have heard preachers say that means that every Aborigine that was born would be lost because they didn't have a missionary. I don't believe that. I think that God have exceptions and that there are people that their hearts were right they sought after God.
He tried to urge them with his spirit. They saw God through creation. Even David said the heavens declare the glory of God. I think there'll be some people we're going to see in the kingdom and they're there by the grace of Jesus but they may not have known the gospel.
Tommy: Great, I agree with you 100% [laughs].
Pastor Ross: All good. I know that what have just said makes some people mad [laughs]. Thank you very much. Appreciate your call, Henry. Our caller is Albert listing from Queens New York. Albert Welcome to the program.
Albert: Thank you very much. God bless you.
Pastor Doug: Thank you for calling. Your question.
Albert: Yes. I have a question I was calling about Christian churches regarding like denominations. If you're returning to church and I haven't been to church in a while and I'm trying to find the right church but I don't know what their beliefs are. I'm very confused sometimes when we go to the church they'll be preaching about something that everybody will agree on. You don't know the disagreements are on stuff like that. Just pretty much trying to find out where I can get that information if there's any information on that unbiased information.
Pastor Doug: Well, I'm biased if you ask me I would tell you to go to my denomination but that's normal. I would worry about a pastor if you call them up and said What church I joined they told you to join a different denomination than theirs. I think well what are you doing here then, right?
Albert: Right. Exactly, that's why it's so tough to find. I don't know what denominations out there. why there's so many denominations. Let’s say everybody believes everything the Bible says 100%. What's the difference is in denomination?
Pastor Doug: Well, first of all keep in mind that the devil has worked overtime in trying to divide Christianity but you're going to have to study for yourself. Jesus promise in seeking you'll find. Could I recommend a Bible study series, it's free. We will send you a Bible study series that will have you go through the main teachings of Christianity. Like there's one that talks about what is the role of scripture in the Christian's life?
Then the other one talks about who is God? Do we believe in the Trinity? If so where does that come from? It’s a great series. It's free. If you'd like we'll send you that. Then you just compare it with the Bible and see if it matches up if it doesn't then I'd be suspicious. You need to go by what the scriptures say.
Albert: Can I ask you one last question and it’s related to it.These things that I hear like the book of Enoch and these other things. Supposing there is the book of Judas that was taken out or put in something like that. Are those just myths or-
Pastor Doug: Yes, those books, the book of Judas was a concoction It's an apocryphal book. It's been manufactured. The Book of Enoch is a book that was probably developed during the time of the Babylonian captivity. The books that you've got in the Bible are the ones that were recognized by the Bible writers as inspired and I'd stick with that. Matter of fact what you're asking Albert is in the first study guide why don’t you call the number and ask for the amazing facts study series we'll send it to you for free.
Pastor Ross: The number two call is 800-835-6747. That is our resource phone line and you can just ask to enroll free in the Amazing facts Study Guide series. Again, that number is 800-835-6747. Ask to be a part of the amazing facts Bible study series the correspondence school. We'll be happy you I think we will send the first four or five lessons you go through that and then we'll send you the next.
Pastor Doug: Thank you so much for your question, Albert. I really do hope you follow up. Sounds like you're searching. You seek you'll find. I see we've got to Tommy and Reggie waiting on the line please give us a call. Next week we are running out of air time up. Don't go away. Friends we do have a few closing announcements that are very important. We really hope you go visit the amazing facts Website, that's simply amazingfact.org. One of the most popular Christian web sites there. If you've been blessed by the program it's only people like you that keep us on. Please donate. Help us keep doing this study together again next week.