Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy

Scripture:
Date: 10/02/2005 
Please listen to some amazing facts regarding the uncanny similarities between Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected...
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Hello friends! This is Doug Batchelor. Please listen to some amazing facts regarding the uncanny similarities between Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. Lincoln was elected President in 1860. Kennedy was elected President in 1960.

Kennedy's wife lost a child while living in the White House. Lincoln's wife lost a child while living in the White House. Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy, who urged him not to go to Ford's Theater. Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln, who urged him not to go to Dallas.

Both Lincoln and Kennedy were shot in the back of the head in the presence of their wives. Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater; and this one, Pastor Dick, is a stretch but, Kennedy was shot in a Lincoln made by Ford. The names Kennedy and Lincoln each contain seven letters. Both Lincoln and Kennedy were killed on a Friday and were assassinated by southerners.

Lincoln's assassin was know by three names, John Wilkes Booth, comprised of 15 letters. Kennedy's assassin, likewise, was known by three names, Lee Harvey Oswald, comprised of 15 letters. Booth shot Lincoln in a theater, and then fled to a warehouse. Oswald shot Kennedy from a warehouse, and then fled to a theater.

Both Oswald and Booth were killed before being brought to trial. Lincoln's successor was Andrew Johnson, born in 1808. Kennedy's successor was Lyndon Johnson, born in 1908. Coincidence? Probably, but did you know the Bible teaches that history does have a tendency to repeat itself?

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: I think this is probably the best use of talk radio. Friends, if you are just tuning in, if this is the first time, you're listening to Bible Answers Live. It is a live, international, interactive Bible study. We invite and welcome people from around the world to either call or email us their questions regarding the Bible. Together we will search the word of God to find the answers claiming the promise of Jesus, that if we seek we will find.

The number, if you call in North America, is a free phone call, 1-800-GOD-SAYS. And that translates to 1-800-463-7297. Now is a good time to pick up your telephone and call. We have several lines open if you'd like to get your Bible question on tonight's program. 1-800-GOD-SAYS, that's 1-800-463-7297. My name is Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: And my name is Dick Devitt.

Pastor Doug: Sometimes known as Douglas and Richard.

Pastor Dick: That's sometimes, that's right, that's right. Welcome home.

Pastor Doug: Thank you

Pastor Dick: I understand you were in St. Louis and thereabouts.

Pastor Doug: I was, yes--well actually, over the border in Thompsonville, Illinois, the international headquarters for 3 Angels Broadcasting. We were doing a live, televised camp meeting there. That was a real joy. I'm glad to be home; a little weary of all the frequent flier miles, but I always like to get back for the program.

Pastor Dick: Well let's get refreshed and pray, shall we?

Pastor Doug: Alright, please.

Pastor Dick: Father in heaven, we thank You for Your love and Your grace, and for the traveling mercies for bringing Pastor Doug safely home. We pray that You'll be with us now tonight Lord and use the airwaves to communicate with those who are listening. Be with our callers who have Bible questions. May You reach their ears, but more than that, may You reach their hearts, Lord, with the Word of God. Again, Lord, I pray Thy will be done, and we praise You and we thank You. In Jesus' name, amen.

Pastor Doug: Amen!

Pastor Dick: Now Pastor Doug, I don't want anybody to go out and start thinking that somebody was sitting in a corner thinking up some great, uh--what's the word I'm looking for?

Pastor Doug: Mystical connection [cross talk]

Pastor Dick: Yeah, some mystical connection about Lincoln and Kennedy, but that really is a fascinating set of coincidences.

Pastor Doug: You know, someone has said that you can torture just about any statistic - -

Pastor Dick: Yeah

Pastor Doug: - - and try to make something out of it. But there are some things here that are unique. They are uncanny. But, these are probably just that, coincidence. But yet, in the Bible it does teach that history has a tendency to repeat itself. And, of course, God does have a providential hand over history, - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - biblical history. Let me just cite a few examples for our friends who are listening. Abraham, during a time of famine, went to Egypt where his wife was basically taken by the Pharaoh. Then plagues fell on the Pharaoh. He gave Abraham rewards and sent him away.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: Years later, the posterity of Abraham, the nation of Israel, because of a famine, went to Egypt. Pharaoh took the Israelites as his slaves. Plagues fell on them and ultimately, they gave them jewels and treasure and sent them away. Very interesting parallels.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: You can look in the Old Testament where, during the time of Elijah, for three and a half years there was a famine. He is miraculously fed. He flees into the wilderness and God provides for him there; and there's a great revival at the conclusion of that time period.

Then you look in prophecy, Revelation says that there would be three and a half prophetic years during the Dark Ages when God's church would flee into the wilderness; He would feed her there, and there would be a great revival following that time.

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: And then, of course, if anyone has any doubts, Jesus said history will repeat itself. He said as it was in the days of Noah, conditions will be similar when He returns. As it was in the days of Lot in Sodom, history will repeat itself before He returns. So we are to learn from these things because it seems like history does, sometimes, goes through cycles.

Who was it that said, "He that doesn't learn the lessons of history is doomed to repeat them"?

Pastor Dick: Um m

Pastor Doug: I don't remember who it was, but that's a famous saying.

Pastor Dick: It is. I've heard that, yeah, many times.

Pastor Doug: But, one of the most stirring statements that Jesus makes in His discourse about history repeating itself in the last days, He said, "Remember what happened to Lot's wife. Remember Lot's wife." Because the same way that--here God was trying to save her but she kept looking back at the doomed world. We need to be careful not to be looking back and longing for the world.

That's a special book that we would like to offer tonight. Do you want to tell us more about that?

Pastor Dick: It is a book called "Remember Lot's Wife" and it is a plea for those people who are very much in the world, but count themselves as Christians. And, you know, we all have to examine ourselves - -

Pastor Doug: That's right

Pastor Dick: - - to find out where we are.

Pastor Doug: And it talks about the second coming, which is in the news and the thoughts of people a lot these days with what seems like the increase of natural disasters.

Pastor Dick: Jesus kind of warned us too, didn't He? He said, "Nobody"--or, who was it that said uh, "You can't put your hand to the plow and look back"?

Pastor Doug: That's right, Jesus.

Pastor Dick: Yeah

Pastor Doug: And we need to keep focused on Him and don't look back.

Pastor Dick: Keep moving ahead.

Pastor Doug: "Remember Lot's wife."

Pastor Dick: We want to make this little book available to you. It has been awhile since we've offered it. So please, if you would like a copy of this book, "Remember Lot's Wife" it is a plea to all of us to examine our lives and think about how the world is affecting us. Call our resource number, 1-800-835-6747.

That will put you directly in touch with our resource library and they will send out this book, and you can add it to your library.

Pastor Doug: Amen

Pastor Dick: 1-800-GOD-SAYS, 1-800-463-7297 is the number into the studio. If you have a Bible-related question, it would be a good time for you to give us a call. Pastor Doug, we have a couple of email questions that we try to do each week, and have got a couple of good ones I think this week.

Pastor Doug: Alright

Pastor Dick: Let's check these out. The first one is, "When Noah cursed his son Ham, that he would be a slave in the house of his brothers, did that curse extend to what we now know as Africa? And if not, who did it apply to?"

Pastor Doug: There is a popular myth that has been repeated, and it is just that, it's a myth; that somehow the three major races of the world are comprised of the three sons of Noah.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And that, perhaps, Ham was from the African-American race, and Japheth would be from the Asian race, and Shem from the Caucasian race. That's really absurd because the division of the nations did not happen as they left the ark. It happened after the Tower of Babel.

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And after the ark, the sons of Noah and their posterity did a lot of intermarrying. So the idea that the curse that Noah pronounced on Ham was a curse on a race or on Africa, is just--it's something that developed during the war between the states as a justification for slavery, and it is a total fabrication.

Pastor Dick: Um m. Alright. Let's go to our second question. "When man sinned, God put an angel with a blazing sword at the east end of the Garden to bar man from the tree of life so that he wouldn't live forever. How come, when Lucifer sinned, he continues to live forever, or at least thousands of years until he perishes in the lake of fire? Isn't he a created being like us? Why does he have this" - -

[Cross talk]

Pastor Doug: Why is he being prolonged?

Pastor Dick: Yeah, "Why prolonged..."?

Pastor Doug: Well, to extrapolate the question a little bit, even Adam, after he sinned, was not killed. He was evicted from the Garden. Lucifer was evicted from heaven.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: So God is being just. But beyond that, the Lord has allowed Lucifer--now keep in mind, Adam had only lived, we're not sure, but Adam may have only lived a matter of weeks or months in the Garden before he sinned--we don't know; probably not even a year because they had not had any children yet and God had just told them to be fruitful.

Lucifer may have lived millions of years before he fell. He was adored by the other angels, and creatures in heaven all knew him. They're not quarantined from the angels like we are because of sin. God had to allow Lucifer to demonstrate how depraved he had become; and what the result of his government would be, because he was basically saying, "I can do a better job than God."

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: And so it was important to give him time to demonstrate what really the fruit of his lies would surmount to.

Pastor Dick: Are there more demonstrations?

Pastor Doug: Well once this is taken care of, the book of Nahum seems to indicate sin will never rise up the second time.

Pastor Dick: Amen!

Pastor Doug: This is it; and forever, Jesus will have in His hands the scars to remind us that love is the only government that succeeds. Lucifer tried to build a government on selfishness that he has perpetuated in this world.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: And God's government is built on His character, which is love.

Pastor Dick: Right

Pastor Doug: No one will ever doubt God's love again.

Pastor Dick: Amen, praise the Lord. You ready for the phones?

Pastor Doug: Let's see what happens.

Pastor Dick: Yeah. I always look forward to this first call every evening.

Pastor Doug: That's right

Pastor Dick: We'll go first to Aurora, Nebraska. We want to talk with Karen who's listening on KIVE. Welcome Karen to the program.

Karen: Oh, thank you for taking my call, and your ministry is a blessing.

Pastor Doug: Well thank you.

Karen: My question is about blood transfusions. Is a blood transfusion an abomination? And how is a blood transfusion the same as eating blood? I don't understand that.

Pastor Doug: Well, there are some churches that teach that getting a blood transfusion is tantamount to eating blood. The Bible is very clear that we are not to eat blood. The main reason not to eat blood is, I think, a health principle.

First of all, disease can be transferred from animal to animal through the blood and it is still a good practice, and it's a biblical law, even in the New Testament. Acts chapter 15 says you're not to eat anything strangled or with the blood. They used to butcher the animals by either cutting the throat and that would drain the blood out, making it kosher if it was a clean animal; or if it was strangled, it was killed with the blood still in it. That was forbidden.

Now that was a health principle. A blood transfusion is taking human blood of the same type and giving it to another human who has lost blood for saving life. It is obviously much worse for their health not to have the blood transfusion. So I think it's really a tragedy. What's hypocritical, if you want to know the truth Karen, is some of these same churches that refuse to give their sick children a blood transfusion, have no problem eating unclean food.

They'll drink alcohol, that the Bible says is a mocker. They will eat pork, which the Bible calls an abomination; but they'll let their children die for a lack of a blood transfusion out of the pretense of being scriptural. And it's just really a twisting hypocrisy of the Word and unfortunate. Hope that helps a little.

Karen: But it's not an abomination?

Pastor Doug: A blood transfusion? No.

Karen: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Doug: It's not called an abomination anywhere in the Bible. Of course, blood transfusions weren't in the Bible but it was eating blood, which was a whole different thing. People eat blood; it was for the taste and the passion, and it's a health principle.

Karen: Hey thank you very much.

Pastor Doug: Alright

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Karen. We'll go next to Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Darlene is listening on KOKF. Hello Darlene.

Darlene: Hello

Pastor Dick: And your question please?

Darlene: My question is when we go to heaven what language are we going to use?

Pastor Doug: Okay Darlene. Do you mind my asking you a question? Let me ask you a couple of questions. How old are you?

Darlene: 11

Pastor Doug: You're 11, okay. Do you speak more than one language?

Darlene: I speak English and our own language.

Pastor Doug: What's that? What's your other language? Spanish?

Darlene: (Unintelligible) language and - -

Pastor Doug: Oh okay, well. I was going to say in heaven, they're going to be speaking a tongue that we don't know now. They sometimes call it the "language of Canaan" or the "tongue of Eden." We don't know what language Adam and Eve spoke and Noah spoke before the Tower of Babel, but all the languages of the world were confused, or confounded.

That's where we get the word "babbling" because the languages were confounded. Did you know the word "baby" comes from the word "babble"? Because babies often babble don't they? But, we don't know exactly what language it is. If you ask my Spanish friends, they will tell you that the language in heaven is Spanish; but if you ask my German friends, they'll say, "No it's not. It's German."

So everybody wants to think that they're going to speak our language in heaven. We don't know exactly what that sounds like, okay?

Darlene: Okay

Pastor Doug: In 1st Corinthians chapter 13 Paul talks about the "tongue of angels," but he doesn't say what tongue that is. Thank you for your question Darlene.

Darlene: Thanks

Pastor Doug: Bye bye

Pastor Dick: Good Darlene, thanks for the call. Let's talk to Richard who's listening on the Internet in Scio, Oregon. Welcome Richard.

Richard: Thank you. Thanks for taking my call.

Pastor Dick: You're welcome. Did I pronounce that right? Is it Scio?

Richard: Yes, you did. Most people don't.

Pastor Dick: Okay, thank you.

Richard: I want to know--I know it isn't addressed in the Bible, but I want to know, Pastor Doug, what your take is and why Jesus didn't address the diet when it's such an important issue, even for grasping the truths of Scripture.

Pastor Doug: Alright - -

Richard: Would you point out some of your thoughts?

Pastor Doug: Good question. If the dietary restrictions that you find in the Old Testament and even referred to by some of the apostles are important, why didn't Jesus mention it?

Richard: Right

Pastor Doug: Well, in the Old Testament when the Lord is leading the children of Israel out of Egypt, even though Noah and Abraham knew what the dietary laws were, they had lost them living among the pagans. The Egyptians ate all kinds of strange things.

Richard: Right

Pastor Doug: Jesus, His ministry was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. The problem in the time of Christ was not that they were eating pork. The problem was, really, that they were becoming legalistic in other areas. He was preaching to Jews. Now it is true that Jesus did allow a herd of pigs to self-destruct.

That could be because the Romans or Greeks--Decapolis was a Greek city--they were raising them for food. So there's a statement there. But probably one of the most important things is in Acts chapter 10, Richard?

Richard: Um-hmm, Acts 10?

Pastor Doug: Acts chapter 10. After Peter has walked with Jesus for three and a half years and this vision of the sheet comes down from heaven - -

Richard: Oh yeah

Pastor Doug: - - and the voice says, "Arise and eat," Peter says, "No so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean." So here - -

Richard: But he still ate meat though.

Pastor Doug: Well yeah, but the issue is not meat. The issue we're talking about is clean and unclean foods. You don't find anything in the New Testament that forbids the eating of meat.

Richard: Oh, okay. So the dietary, so he, I mean, he was, um, like today it, I mean, even you recommend not eating, uh - -

Pastor Doug: I do. I recommend a vegetarian diet. I can't command it because the Bible doesn't command it.

Richard: Right, no, I know. But if it's essential [cross talk]

Pastor Doug: No. That's a different - -

Richard: Not essential but - -

Pastor Doug: I've never said - -

Richard: No, no. I didn't--wrong word [chuckles]

Pastor Doug: Okay

Richard: But it's important for a person to have all his wits about him; and if you eat these--a wrong diet, it takes away from that. So I'm just puzzled why He didn't even address, you know, the diet issue at all.

Pastor Doug: Well Jesus actually did address healthful living. For one thing, He talked about fasting, which you never hear about today, but there's a health benefit in that. Jesus talked about moderation. You know that more people are killed in North America, not so much by what they eat as how much they eat?

Richard: Right, obesity, yeah.

Pastor Doug: Yeah, well it's just gluttony, and Jesus talked about, "Beware lest your heart is overcharged with eating and drinking and the cares of this life." I think that's in Luke 17 when He's giving the signs of the second coming.

Richard: So His major task was not so much focused on diet but was on their spiritual walk and - -

Pastor Doug: Yeah. Well, of course, Jesus, He said, "I am sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." He didn't need to preach to the Jews about eating pork or anything like that.

Richard: Their diet, okay.

Pastor Doug: So He talked about moderation and sobriety and those kind of things.

Richard: Okay.

Pastor Doug: Okay? And, of course, He - -

Richard: I was wanting to ask you, do you have anything on witchcraft from Amazing Facts?

Pastor Doug: We do. There is a book by Steve Wohlberg. It's called, "Hidden Dangers of Harry Potter." We'll send you a free copy if you'd like it Richard, written by Steve Wohlberg. If you call the resource number and ask for our Harry Potter book, they'll know what we're talking about.

Pastor Dick: It's 1-800-835-6747, Richard. Just ask for the Harry Potter book and they'll know exactly what it is.

Pastor Doug: We'll probably get more of those questions as halloween approaches.

Pastor Dick: Yes, and it's getting close isn't it?

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Pastor Dick: You know everything is in the stores already?

Pastor Doug: I couldn't believe it. September.

Pastor Dick: Man!

Pastor Doug: Halloween has become a season, not just a holiday.

Pastor Dick: Okay, well. Esther is listening on WMCA. Hello Esther, welcome.

Esther: Good evening gentlemen. Thanks for taking my call.

Pastor Dick: You're welcome.

Esther: My question is what, exactly, is the Holy Spirit?

Pastor Doug: Well, for one thing, in the New Testament sometimes you'll hear the Spirit of God referred to as the Holy Spirit, and sometimes the Holy Ghost. That use to confuse me, because in my mind when I thought of "ghost", it conjured up some of these witchcraft images but it's the same word.

It is the third Person; and we always say "it" and that's not even appropriate. In the New Testament, Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as a "he." "When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will lead you into all truth." And he's very much given an identity--"baptize in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit."

He's a person. He testifies of Jesus. The Holy Spirit, Esther, is probably the hardest Person of the Godhead for us to identify with because we live in a three-dimensional world that's very tactile. To understand the Spirit that is omnipresent and at the same time, God's Spirit is there with you in New York right now, he's here with us in Sacramento, we can't comprehend that.

So that's one reason Jesus said It's expedient that I go because I can't be with everyone at once physically. But through the Person of the Holy Spirit Jesus can be with us.

Esther: Okay

Pastor Doug: He can be in us. So, you know, there's a book we've written that talks about the Holy Spirit. If you'd like, we'll send you the book the Spirit that we have, if you'd like a free copy of that.

Esther: Oh yes, sure. Thank you.

Pastor Dick: Esther, please call that same number I've been giving out, 1-800-835-6747.

Pastor Doug: It's called, "Life in the Spirit."

Pastor Dick: "Life in the Spirit" is the book and they'll send it to you right away, okay?

Esther: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Alright, thanks for the call. We want to go next to Pennsylvania and talk with Karen who's listening on the Web. Hi Karen.

Karen: Hello

Pastor Dick: Good evening, and your question please?

Karen: My question is as I was listening to Bible Answers Live on our Internet and Pastor Doug was talking about how the months, the biblical months aren't the same as they were then, and they aren't now. And my question was - -

Pastor Doug: Get real close to your phone. We can barely hear you.

Karen: - - if the months have been changed, how do we know that judgment began on October 22nd, 1844?

Pastor Doug: Okay, good question. For our friends who might not know what we're talking about, there is a prophecy in Daniel chapter 8 where, in verse 14, the angel tells Daniel, "Unto two thousand and three hundred days; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed." In prophecy, a day equals a year.

Now we know that two thousand, three hundred literal days from that prophecy nothing significant happened. But two thousand, three hundred years from the command to rebuild Jerusalem, reached to 1844. In the previous verses it says truth would be cast to the ground by the beast power. God began a revival movement that has spread around the world in 1844.

When you calculate with a year that has 360 days in it Karen,- -

Karen: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - the Jewish year, and one reason we know that is because Daniel calls 42 months "a time and times and the dividing of time;" and he calls it "1,260 days." So those three time periods are used to help us know how to calculate those years. You must use the Jewish lunar calendar, which is what they used in the Bible, 360 days to the year.

And if you do that and you go from 538--of course, it doesn't matter what the months are. Months don't affect. One year is one year. It's a complete rotation of the earth on its axis.

Karen: Okay, I understand.

Pastor Doug: So there's two thousand, three hundred revolvings of the earth around the sun.

Karen: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: That's one year. And so it has been--not only that, it says in some translations "two thousand, three hundred morning and evening days of atonement," meaning the cleansing of the sanctuary happened once a year on the Day of Atonement. So two thousand, three hundred days of atonement would reach to 1844.

We've got a Bible study on that that we'll send you. It's, "God Sets a Date for the Judgment." If you don't have a copy of that, we'll send you one for free. Pastor Dick will give you that number. Just ask for it.

Pastor Dick: 1-800-835-6747, Karen. Give that number a call and ask for that.

Pastor Doug: I'm in a good mood tonight. Let's do it for free. Matter of fact, half-price of free.

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: So anyone who wants that lesson, "God Sets a Date for the Judgment." It's a fascinating study in Daniel chapter 8.

Pastor Dick: Pastor Doug, we have about two minutes before we're going to take a break and I thought maybe we might talk about - -

Pastor Doug: The upcoming revival.

Pastor Dick: - - The upcoming revival.

Pastor Doug: Thank you. I'm glad you mentioned that because even though it's such a big event, I get so involved in the program I forget to promote.

Pastor Dick: I know, I know.

Pastor Doug: And folks now I just love the Bible. I'm sometimes chastised by our ministry because I travel and they say, "Doug, you need to promote the ministry more. You need to fund raise it." I just love to talk about the Bible. I forget.

Pastor Dick: Praise the Lord

Pastor Doug: But we are having a very important event coming up that will be broadcast internationally on television. It'll be on 3ABN, Three Angels Broadcasting Network. Any of you who have Sky Angel will receive that, as well as a lot of the cable and network satellite receivers around the world, and on Hope TV.

It's going to be broadcast from Fort Worth, Texas, the Convention Center there, Will Rogers Auditorium, for any of our friends who are listening in the DFW area. It's called, 05Revive Drawing Near; and it's based on the promise of God that if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. This is not so much an evangelistic outreach, as internal in-reach.

Pastor Dick: Praise the Lord

Pastor Doug: Sometimes the churches need to get together and pray that God will revive us, to find that first love again. Anybody can participate. Matter of fact, if you want information - -

Pastor Dick: Website.

Pastor Doug: There you go! You're thinking just like me--05Revive.com. Just check out more information there at our website friends. Write that down now, 05Revive.com. If you are interested in doing this in your home or church, you can even watch on the Internet, log on there, get the information, and we will send you free advertising material.

Pastor Dick: Okay

Pastor Doug: And be praying for the program now that God will pour out His Spirit and revive us. We also want to remind you about the ongoing work at the Amazing Facts website. We are there to serve and to equip; a lot of free literature. That address is AmazingFacts.com. We've got a library there with a broad array of resources.

And also, you can even donate online there. See? I remembered.

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: Be right back.

[COMMERCIAL BREAK]

Pastor Doug: Hopefully you have a pencil nearby and you can jot down some of the phone numbers that we share. We want you to take advantage of our website. That's why it's there. Sometimes I think it's healthy for us to remind our friends that these questions--we try to give just two or three minutes per question.

Pastor Dick: Um-hm, right.

Pastor Doug: We don't want to be short with anybody, but, obviously, we can't give exhaustive Bible studies and take a lot of questions. Then we direct people to the website where there are much more broader lessons and material on many of the same questions and answers.

Pastor Dick: There is a plethora - -

Pastor Doug: A plethora, a virtual kaleidoscope - -

Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: - - of biblical information. Amazing Facts has one of the most popular Christian websites on the Internet. We've looked at some of the hits. We receive millions of hits.

Pastor Dick: Amen, praise God!

Pastor Doug: And so, we hope that you're one of that number friends. We have a line or two open. If you want to call in a question for tonight's broadcast, you better pick up your phone now, 1-800-GOD-SAYS. I'm Doug Batchelor.

Pastor Dick: And I'm Dick Devitt. Let's go back to the phones Pastor Doug. We want to talk with Reggie in Lithonia, Georgia. Good evening Reggie.

Reggie: Good evening. Thanks for taking my call. Thanks for your ministry too. I have a question, uh - -

Pastor Doug: Thanks for your patience.

Reggie: Yes. My question is I have a daughter about 12. I'm divorced from her mother and one of the differences was the faith. She wants to have her ears pierced, wear jewelry. I'm against it, and I wanted to explain it without making people who wear jewelry--her mother wears jewelry--not seem like they're going to hell - -

[Cross talk]

Pastor Doug: Yeah, well we don't want to condemn people who may have a different opinion or not interpret the Scriptures the same way. Obviously, there are going to be millions of people in heaven that wore jewelry.

Reggie: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Anyone who listens to this broadcast knows that I take a very conservative position that I think we better represent Jesus, by not wearing jewelry. We all know that during the dark days when a number of evangelists got into trouble and "televangelist" was a dirty word, one of the things they mocked about the evangelists and their wives was their ostentatious dress, their bejeweled hands and necks, and they said they're so un-Christlike.

So I think by simplicity we ask ourselves, "What would Jesus do?" And there are a lot of Scriptures, one, of course, Leviticus 19:28, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks on you," in other words, tattoos, "for I am the LORD." Now the Bible says our bodies - -

Reggie: I'm sorry, Leviticus...

Pastor Doug: - - 19:28. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. In the New Testament, in 1st Peter chapter 3, he says there that "we should not let it be the outward adorning, the wearing of gold." Again, Paul says in, I believe it's 1st Timothy, "Let the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, not with gold and pearls." There are a lot of examples for that; 1st Peter chapter 3 verse 3 was that other reference I gave you.

There's a book I'll send you you can share with your daughter Reggie. You can read this for free on the Internet, but if you want the book, I'll send it to you--and I wrote it. It's called, "Jewelry: How Much is Too Much?"

Reggie: Okay

Pastor Doug: And I think we've all seen these dear souls that have their ears pierced all the way from the bow to the stern right?

Reggie: Yeah, [chuckles] yeah I've seen that. I guess I tried to talk to her about it and it just seems like it brought tears to her eyes.

Pastor Doug: Well you know, there's so much social pressure. If she was living in a culture where it was frowned upon, she wouldn't want to. No one wakes up in the morning and says, "You know, I just have this overwhelming urge to drill a hole in my ear."

Reggie: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: It's something that we learn entirely from peer pressure. And I would talk to her the way I'm talking to you.

Reggie: Yeah. Well.

Pastor Doug: Get the book, and if she's a Christian--you know--you hope that she'll want to follow the teachings of the Bible. There's a lot of Scripture in there we don't have time for tonight. You can take the children of Israel. What did they make the golden calf out of? Their earrings.

Reggie: Yeah

Pastor Doug: And so, there's a whole lot of other Scriptures that you can look at there and hopefully, that will be, um - -

Pastor Dick: Reggie, get the book please. Get the book.

Pastor Doug: Yeah

Reggie and Pastor Dick: [Laughs]

Pastor Doug: Matter of fact, there are two books, not only is there the book that I've got called, "Jewelry: How Much is Too Much?" but Joe Crews has a book called, "Colorful Cosmetics and Jewelry."

Pastor Dick: Okay, alright.

Pastor Doug: And we'll send them both out to you.

Pastor Dick: We will. We'll send them both Reggie. If you'll just call that resource operator. Those books will give you words to say that are probably gentler, you know - -

Pastor Doug: Graceful and biblical.

Pastor Dick: Graceful, yeah, right, right, and biblical of course.

Pastor Doug: The bottom line is we want to be like Jesus.

Pastor Dick: That's right. 1-800-835-6747, and ask for "Jewelry: How Much is Too Much?" and the other one is - -

Pastor Doug: "Colorful Cosmetics and Jewelry"

Pastor Dick: "Colorful Cosmetics." Alright. Let's take our next caller, Pastor Doug. We'll go to Brooklyn, New York and talk with Dixon who's listening on WMCA. Welcome Dixon.

Dixon: Hi

Pastor Doug: Yes sir, your question?

Dixon: Yes, my question is taken from Acts 19:6. It's very short. What were they prophesying? To whom is it applicable today?

Pastor Doug: Alright. This example in Acts in 19 verse 6 is where Paul teaches to twelve Ephesian believers and they're filled with the Holy Spirit. They speak with tongues and prophecy. If you want to know specifically what they're prophesying, well we can only surmise they're doing the same kind of prophesying that they did in Acts chapter 2, where it says, "They did declare the wonderful works of God."

Dixon: Um-hm

Pastor Doug: And in Acts chapter 10 when they spoke with tongues, it says they "magnified God."

Dixon: Right

Pastor Doug: Then you could look in 1st Corinthians 14. Paul talks about how much better it is to prophesy than just speak in tongues. "Prophesy" means to "proclaim," and this would be proclaiming the Gospel; to "evangelize," to tell of the glory of God, in behalf of God.

Dixon: Okay

Pastor Doug: And in behalf of another. That's what it means. Well, we say "prophet" and we think of someone like Elijah and John the Baptist. The word "prophecy" does not always mean foretelling the future. In the classical sense, "prophecy" means any preacher who's preaching is "prophesying," - -

Pastor Dick: Right. Speaking for the Lord.

Pastor Doug: Yup.

Dixon: Okay

Pastor Doug: Okay?

Dixon: Understood. Okay.

Pastor Doug: And you know, I've got a book I'll send you that deals with that verse. It's called "Captured by Tongues."

Dixon: Okay

Pastor Doug: If you call the number, we'll send it to you for free.

Dixon: Okay, thanks a lot.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Dixon; 1-800-835-6747, and the book is called "Captured by Tongues." We want to talk with Roland next who's in Orlando, Florida, listening on WTLN. Hello Roland.

Roland: Hello

Pastor Dick: And your question please?

Roland: Yes, many organizations are still teaching this replacement theology. My question is is each member of these organizations responsible, personally responsible for knowing the truth as propounded by Paul in his thesis in Romans 11?

Pastor Doug: Can I - -

Roland: Especially 17 to 23, that's the olive tree.

Pastor Doug: Right. Let me explain because not everyone even knows what "replacement theology" is. So, very quickly, a replacement theology, friends who are listening that Roland is referring to, is the teaching that now that Christ has died, all of the promises and prophecies regarding Israel do not apply to literal Israel, but to the church.

In other words, the church has replaced, or substituted, the literal Jew. Is that an accurate definition Roland?

Roland: Yes sir.

Pastor Doug: Okay. And Romans chapter uh,

Roland: 11

Pastor Doug: 11, verse what? Tell me the verses again.

Roland: 17 to 23

Pastor Doug: Yup. These are verses that deal with Israel being grafted back in if they do not abide in unbelief. And what, specifically, is your question though Roland about this?

Roland: Does each member of these congregations responsible, in other words, to read for themselves, rather than being just satisfied with these, in other words, untruths, that are being propounded?

Pastor Doug: Well let me tell you what Paul says. Paul says, "Let all of us work out our own salvation with fear and trembling."

Roland: Okay

Pastor Doug: So each person is ultimately responsible, if they've got Bibles, to search for themselves and find--and that would be in Philippians chapter 2, verse 12.

Roland: Okay

Pastor Doug: So yeah, everyone has got to find out. They can't just take the Pastor's word for it. That's something on this program we're always telling people look it up.

Pastor Dick: That's right.

Roland: Okay. Thank you.

Pastor Doug: Oh, by the way, Roland?

Roland: Yes?

Pastor Doug: I've got a book on that very subject. I can't let you get away without telling you that, myself, I'm Jewish, and another Jewish friend of mine, Steve Wohlberg, he's got some best-selling books in the Christian bookstore by Destiny. We wrote a book called "Spiritual Israel."

Roland: Okay

Pastor Doug: And it talks about replacement theology and it's full of Bible. So we'll send you a free copy if you call that number tonight.

Roland: Yes okay, fine. Thank you.

Pastor Dick: Thanks Roland for the call. 1-800-835-6747. "Spiritual Israel" is the book, and if you call that number right now, we'll send it to you. Long Island, New York, Pastor Doug. Barbara is listening on WMCA. Welcome Barbara.

Barbara: Yes. Thank you so much for taking my call. This is the first time I've heard you and this is really exciting. I love it. I wanted to ask you, I can't find anything in the Bible that gives

any indication of why, when Lot left, um, had to leave Sodom and Gomorrah, why he didn't go back to Abraham? And I'm going to hang up and listen to you.

Pastor Doug: Alright Barbara. Thank you for your question. And, very quickly, some of us remember that Lot and Abraham used to live together. There, ultimately, was a serious dispute among their servants that got to bad or so intense, they realized they needed to part. Lot moved to Sodom with his family and Abraham stayed in the mountains of Hebron.

After Lot fled Sodom, the angels did specifically say, "Do not abide in the plain. Flee into the mountains." The fascinating thing is, evidently, instead of Lot going to the mountains to the west where Abraham was, he headed to the mountains in the east, because that's where, ultimately, the Ammonites and Moabites--those where the children of Lot--they inhabited those mountains.

So why he went east instead of west we don't know. He would have been better off. Maybe it was closer than from where he was in Sodom. He would have been better off heading back to Uncle Abe - -

Pastor Dick: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - and abiding in his influence.

Pastor Dick: That's right, that's right. Alright.

Pastor Doug: Good question.

Pastor Dick: Vestaburg, Michigan. We want to talk with Derek who's listening on 3ABN Radio. Hello Derek.

Derek: Hey guys, how are you doing?

Pastor Dick: Good

Derek: Alright. My question is on Genesis 48:19.

Pastor Doug: Okay. Let me find it real quick. And you want to tell us why I'm going there? I mean, tell us what your question is?

Derek: Yes, my question is on Ephraim and Manasseh. I've been hearing a lot of preachers say this represents England and America in last-day prophecy.

Pastor Doug: Uh, yeah. I think I've heard that too. That is nonsense.

Derek: Yeah that's - -

Pastor Doug: Pardon me. There's absolutely not a shred of historical or biblical evidence that you could tie any lines. Now, by the way, for our friends listening, Jacob had 12 sons. Joseph was sold by his brothers and sent to Egypt. The two sons that Joseph had in Egypt were Ephraim and Manasseh.

They came back with the children of Israel. They didn't stay in Egypt; and they didn't migrate to Europe. They came back with the other 12 tribes. They populated the Promised Land. And when 10 of the tribes were carried away captive before Jesus was born by the Assyrians, they were absorbed by the Assyrians, intermarried, and you can still find descendents of the 10 tribes that live in Iraq and Iran; but they're largely Arabic with some Jew mixed in.

I've met them here in Sacramento. They have nothing to do with the European countries. It's just a theory. If you want to know the truth, it's a theory that was popularized by Herbert W. Armstrong; may he rest in peace, but it's not biblical at all.

Derek: Yeah. That's what I thought. I just heard a lot of people talking about it lately and I just wanted to get some insight on that.

Pastor Doug: I hope that helps. I can't give you Bible evidence because there is none.

Derek: Yeah, yeah that's right.

Pastor Doug: The Bible evidence is those 10 tribes were conquered by Assyria and the Bible, even in the time of Christ hundreds of years later, it talks about writing to the 12 tribes in Babylon.

Derek: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: So they were still back to the east.

Derek: Yeah. I couldn't find nothing either and I was just checking on that, because I hear it quite often lately, so.

Pastor Doug: Alright. Hope that helps a little.

Derek: Yup, thank you.

Pastor Doug: Thank you

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Derek.

Derek: Yup, have a good day.

Pastor Dick: Let's go next to Forks, Washington. Ivan is listening this evening. Good evening Ivan.

Ivan: Hello

Pastor Dick: Your question please?

Ivan: Well, I have a question about Matthew 6:25 to 34. It has to do with, you know, considering how God's promise to take care of His children and all their needs, how should a Christian relate to buying things like health insurance?

Pastor Doug: Okay. Good question. This is where Jesus said in verse 25, "Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat, what you shall drink." And He goes on by saying, "Seek first the kingdom of God. Don't worry like the Gentiles do."

Ivan: Right, right

Pastor Doug: Life insurance is really a misnomer. Life insurance--and medical insurance, of course, which is different--life insurance doesn't insure you're not going to die. Life insurance is basically money that you are investing with a company rather than a bank in the event of your death; and you're gambling that you're not going to die prematurely.

But in the event you do die prematurely, your family will get a lump sum. And the insurance companies basically make their money on the many people who invest in life insurance that are still alive.

Ivan: Yeah, I understand about life insurance, but I'm - -

Pastor Doug: It's not a gamble, it's not a lack of faith, in other words, to get life insurance in my opinion. Basically what you're doing is you are saving for your family. Now, I have no burden to encourage people to get life insurance; but I wouldn't put it in the same category as speculation.

Medical insurance, in our day and age, it's almost reckless not to have some medical insurance because I have friends who said, "I'm living by faith," and it basically wiped out all of their earthly equity - -

Ivan: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - because they had no insurance and they had some catastrophic illness or injury in the family, and they just had nothing left. It completely vacuumed all of their funds.

Ivan: Uh-huh

Pastor Doug: Even with medical insurance, you know, there's still some deductibles; so it's a smart move either through your work or privately to own some medical insurance.

Ivan: It gets pretty expensive, but uh, you know, I guess a person needs to provide for their family.

Pastor Doug: Yeah--well now, keep in mind, I am not the Holy Spirit; and there's no Scripture that talks about medical insurance or health insurance.

Ivan: Right

Pastor Doug: There was a day when health insurance was a big scam.

Ivan: Right

Pastor Doug: But companies were coming in to and going out of business on a yearly basis. But if God is impressing you to just trust Him, then you better listen to the Lord because I can't give you a Scripture on that one.

Ivan: Okay

Pastor Doug: Okay?

Ivan: That's what I wanted to know.

Pastor Doug: Alright, hope that helps.

Ivan: Okay, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call. Good night Ivan.

Ivan: Good night.

Pastor Dick: We'll talk to Rebecca next who's in Rohnert Park, California, listening to KNDL. Hi Rebecca.

Rebecca: Hi

Pastor Dick: And your question please?

Rebecca: Well, God says in the Bible, God says that Noah took every animal on board his ship?

Pastor Doug: The ark? Yes.

Rebecca: In the flood?

Pastor Doug: Uh-huh

Rebecca: Did the dinosaurs die before that, or did he take them on board?

Pastor Doug: Well I believe that Noah did just what God told him to do. Now, when you think of dinosaurs, you often think of the real big ones like the Brontosaurus, and the Tyrannosaurus Rex, and the Triceratops, and the Stegosaurus, right? These big dinosaurs, how could they all fit in the ark?

Rebecca: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Keep in mind, God didn't tell Noah to take a full-grown one. He could have taken a Brontosaurus egg, which he could probably fit in a wheel barrel, right?

Rebecca: Yeah

Pastor Doug: He didn't have to take a full-grown one, is what I'm saying. So if God told Noah to take two of every species, now keep in mind - -

Rebecca: What does "species" mean?

Pastor Doug: A "species" means a type of animal. For instance, Rebecca?

Rebecca: Yeah?

Pastor Doug: You know there are lots of different kinds of dogs. You've probably seen the little--they call them little wiener dogs--the dachshunds?

Rebecca: Yeah

Pastor Doug: And you know there are Chihuahua dogs; and then you've got the Great Danes; the great big St. Bernards. When Noah took animals on the ark, he didn't take two German Shepherds and two Poodles. He took two dogs. And all the dogs in the world today have come from them.

So some of these great dinosaurs, he didn't need to take two of every type. He may have taken just two of every major category. Okay?

Rebecca: Oh, okay

Pastor Doug: And they didn't have to be full-grown. They could have been little ones, one male, one female. Alright?

Rebecca: Okay

Pastor Doug: Alright. Hope that helps a little bit.

Rebecca: It does.

Pastor Doug: God bless.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Rebecca.

Rebecca: You're welcome.

Pastor Dick: Bye bye

Rebecca: Bye

Pastor Dick: We want to talk next with Brittany in Vacaville, California, listening on KFIA. Hi Brittany.

Brittany: Hi

Pastor Doug: And your question?

Brittany: Um, how old will you be when you go into heaven?

Pastor Doug: So if a person is grown up and then Jesus comes; or suppose grandma dies a hundred years old, will she be looking like she's 100 years old in heaven? Is that what you're wondering? What age will you be?

Brittany: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Alright. Evidently, Brittany, if a person is a child when Jesus comes, they will continue to grow up to adulthood in heaven, and that you find in Malachi chapter 4. It says, "We shall go forth, and grow up," speaking of the new heaven and the new earth. And it talks in Isaiah about children being in heaven because the little child will lead the lion.

So if someone is full-grown in this life, they're not going to be resurrected as a little child. They'll be resurrected as an adult. But children will be resurrected as children and get to grow up in heaven, which should be a lot of fun.

But grandma is not going to look all old and wrinkled up with gray hair in heaven. Grandma is going to be vibrant and healthy and energetic, probably like an adult in their prime, whatever age that would be, 30? I don't know. They say your brain stops growing at about 25 or 30. So, you know, Jesus began His ministry at 30, so some people say, "Well I'll look like the perfect age of maturity," whatever that is.

Brittany: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Okay?

Brittany: Okay. Thank you.

Pastor Doug: Hope that helps.

[Cross talk]

Brittany: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Hey you know what? Brittany, you'd like our lesson on heaven. We've got a study guide we'll send you--well, the book called "Is Heaven for Real?" you'd really like that one. We'll send you a little booklet called, "Is Heaven for Real?"

Brittany: Does it cost any money?

Pastor Doug: No, it's free.

Brittany: Oh it is?

Pastor Doug: Yup.

Brittany: Oh okay.

Pastor Doug: The phone call is free. All you've got to do is pick up the phone and ask for it.

Pastor Dick: All you'll have to do is call this number Brittany, okay?

Brittany: Oh, okay.

Pastor Dick: Are you ready? Here's the number - -

Brittany: Um-hm

Pastor Dick: 835-6747

Brittany: Okay

Pastor Doug: And that's 1-800 first.

Pastor Dick: Here's how you do it. You dial 1-800-835-6747.

Brittany: Okay

Pastor Dick: Okay?

Brittany: Alright, thank you

Pastor Doug: Ask for the book, "Is Heaven for Real?"

Pastor Dick: And, yeah, you tell them you want that book.

Pastor Doug: And it's 50% off free tonight.

Pastor Dick: It's free.

Brittany: Okay

Pastor Dick: Okay?

Brittany: Alright, thank you.

Pastor Dick: Alright, bye.

Brittany: Bye

Pastor Dick: We want to talk next, Pastor Doug, to Steve. Steve is in Spokane, Washington, listening on the Internet. Hi Steve.

Steve: Hi Doug, how are you tonight?

Pastor Doug: Good, and your question?

Steve: I have a question about basically keeping the Sabbath; and it really--it's in regard to the law. And if, in Romans 7:4 and Galatians 2:19, it says that Christians are dead to the law through the body of Christ, then how can we have any duty or obligation to keep the law?

Pastor Doug: Alright, good question. I'm going to do what Jesus did. Sometimes Jesus answered a question with a question.

Steve: Uh-huh

Pastor Doug: Do you believe that it's okay for Christians to break the Ten Commandments because we have no obligation to the law? Think about what the consequences of that would be.

Steve: Well, um - -

Pastor Doug: Is it okay for Christians to break any of the other Nine Commandments?

Steve: Okay. What Christians are to do is keep the law of Christ, which the law of Christ is that we love one another as He has loved us. Is that right?

Pastor Doug: Would that include, then, uh - -

Steve: That would include not breaking--not lying to your neighbor - -

Pastor Doug: Uh-huh

Steve: That's what I think it teaches [cross talk, unintelligible]

Pastor Doug: Doesn't part of the law of Christ say, "Come unto Me and I'll give you rest"?

Steve: Uh, I would not consider that part of the law of Christ, but maybe some would.

Pastor Doug: Well now, what is sin? I mean, there's still sin in the world, right? And Jesus died to save us from sin? If you read in 1st John chapter 3, verse 4 it says, "Sin is the transgression of the law."

Steve: Right

Pastor Doug: And Paul said, if you're wondering what law they're talking about, Paul said, "I wouldn't have known lust except the commandment that said 'Thou shalt not covet.'"

Steve: Right

Pastor Doug: He's talking about the Ten Commandments.

Steve: But he also said that we're not under that law anymore. Is that right?

Pastor Doug: So, is it okay now to covet?

Steve: Well, the question is, are we under the law?

Pastor Doug: Well I know what the answer is. I was just trying to get you to think through this. When Paul says we're not under the law, he means Christians are no longer under the penalty of the law. But Paul goes on to say, "What? Shall I continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid."

And again, if you read in Romans chapter 2, verse 13, "It is not the hearers of the law that are just before God," this is Paul, "but the doers of the law shall be justified."

Steve: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: There are so many verses. Matter of fact, Jesus said--if you have any doubt read what Jesus said--Matthew chapter 5, verse 17, "Do not think I have come to destroy the law. Think not that I have come to destroy the law. I didn't come to destroy it, but fulfill it."

Steve: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: Now, His fulfilling it doesn't mean to nullify it. He said, "Don't think I've come to nullify it." Can I send you a book on that?

Steve: Sure, if you want.

Pastor Doug: Would you call Amazing Facts? We'll send you a free book. It's the booklet on law and grace.

Steve: Okay

Pastor Doug: And I think it's called, "Does God's Grace Blot Out the Law?"

Steve: Law and grace - it's called "Does God's Grace Blot Out the Law?"?

Pastor Doug: Yeah. They'll know what you're talking about if you ask for the sermon booklet on law and grace.

Steve: Okay. Well thank you so much.

Pastor Doug: Matter of fact, there's a lesson called "Written in Stone" we'll also send you if you'd like it. It's called "Written in Stone" and it tells about the relationship between law and grace.

Steve: Okay

Pastor Doug: Thank you, good question. I appreciate your spirit.

Steve: Thank you very much.

Pastor Dick: Thanks for the call Steve.

Steve: Good night

Pastor Dick: Let's see if we can get one more in Pastor Doug. We have Walnut Creek, California. Shelby is on KNBL. Hi Shelby.

Shelby: Hi

Pastor Dick: And your question please?

Shelby: I have a quick question. Halloween is coming up.

Pastor Doug: Yes

Shelby: And I just wanted to know what you thought of it? Because, like, I read the book but my church says how it's about demons and everything. What do you think of, like, dressing up and stuff? Should we just stay at home and not celebrate it, or....

Pastor Doug: Well - -

Shelby: - - Well, not celebrate, but I mean, like, you know what I'm trying to say?

Pastor Doug: Acknowledging it, or recognizing it, I think is what you're asking.

Shelby: Yeah

Pastor Doug: Let me read you a verse. In Romans chapter 13, verse 12, Paul says, "The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." Would you say that halloween is a work of light, or darkness?

Shelby: Darkness

Pastor Doug: Well, he says, "You know, we're too close to the second coming. Let's cast off the works of darkness." Now, keep in mind that the Batchelor home, our boys don't go out trick-or-treating nor do they dress up; because, even though kids might be attracted to the fun aspects of it, - -

Shelby: Um-hmm

Pastor Doug: - - sometimes you've got to draw a line say, "It is associated with so much Satanic, cultish activity, you can't justify." Some Christians can justify the birthday of Jesus for Christmas, but you can't justify, as a Christian, the historical connections of halloween.

Again, Ephesians chapter 5, verse 11, "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." You can't participate in something you're reproving. When the trick-or-treaters come by the Batchelor home, we don't slam the door and say, "You're all of the devil." We open the door, we smile, and we sometimes give them a Bible tract or something like that.

And so, you know, you try to make something good; but we're not sending our kids up and down the street because it really is a night that belongs to the devil and you don't want to acknowledge him in any way.

Shelby: Okay

Pastor Doug: I hope that helps Shelby. I apologize I had to cut you short.

Shelby: Oh no, it's okay.

Pastor Doug: Listening friends--thank you. Oh, by the way, we'll send you a free copy of our book, Shelby, if you're still listening, "Hidden Dangers and Harry Potter" by Steve Wohlberg. "Hidden Dangers and Harry Potter" talks about some of the spiritualism that's sweeping the country.

For our friends, keep in mind, the Amazing Facts website, AmazingFacts.com, easy to remember. If you'd like to participate in our upcoming revival, tell all your friends and enemies. Just go to 05Revive.com or .org. You'll find out how you can participate in your home or your church, anywhere you receive 3ABN. Until next week, God bless you.

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