1 00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: From Charlotte, North Carolina. You're listening to the Bible answer 2 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:16,000 Man broadcast with Hank Hanagraph, president of the Christian Research Institute. 3 00:00:16,399 --> 00:00:18,679 The reason the Bible answer Man is on the air 4 00:00:18,839 --> 00:00:22,239 is to defend the Christian faith, proclaim the gospel of 5 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:25,960 our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and to teach discipleship 6 00:00:26,039 --> 00:00:30,559 to his followers because life and truth matter. For more 7 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:34,560 information or to order equipping resources, call eight eight eight 8 00:00:34,719 --> 00:00:39,719 seven thousand CRII, which translates to eight eight eight seven 9 00:00:39,799 --> 00:00:44,399 thousand two seven four, or go online to equip dot org. 10 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:50,159 That's equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded, 11 00:00:50,920 --> 00:00:53,920 and now here's your host, Hank Canagraph. 12 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:55,880 Speaker 2: Thank you're Indian Glady for hanging on. We're writing the 13 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:00,960 phone calls. First up Glenn in Bartlett, Tennessee. Hi Glenn, Well, Henk. 14 00:01:00,759 --> 00:01:03,799 Speaker 3: I appreciate your mystery and thank you for taking my call. 15 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:04,599 Speaker 2: You're welcome. 16 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:05,239 Speaker 4: Well. 17 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 3: I was wondering mout was Matthew seven? I think it's 18 00:01:09,040 --> 00:01:11,760 twenty one through twenty three. I don't have my Bible 19 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:15,640 front of me, but it was talking about not everyone 20 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:20,040 who calls my name and will be saved and unless 21 00:01:20,040 --> 00:01:23,000 they do the will of God. And then I kind 22 00:01:23,000 --> 00:01:26,319 of go back, or go forward to John three sixteen 23 00:01:27,079 --> 00:01:30,280 and saying those who believe will have everlasting life. So 24 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:33,680 I tried a little worried when I read the Matthew verse, 25 00:01:33,760 --> 00:01:35,280 and I thought, what does that mean? 26 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:36,239 Speaker 4: Exactly? 27 00:01:36,760 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 2: Well, it's an important passage where Jesus is pointing out 28 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,239 that not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the 29 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:46,959 Kingdom of heaven. In other words, it's not about having 30 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,680 a said faith, it's about having a real faith. In fact, 31 00:01:51,799 --> 00:01:56,359 Jesus Christ underscores that emphatically when he says, many will 32 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,040 say to me on that day, Lord Lord, did we 33 00:01:59,159 --> 00:02:03,319 not profit in your name? In your name, drive out demons, 34 00:02:03,359 --> 00:02:06,959 perform many miracles. Then I will tell them plainly, I 35 00:02:07,040 --> 00:02:10,719 never knew you away from me, you evil doers. Now 36 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:15,479 Jesus might well have had in mind here Judas. Judas 37 00:02:15,520 --> 00:02:18,560 did all of those things. He was part of Christ's 38 00:02:18,599 --> 00:02:22,560 inner circle. And yet Christ knew that he was a devil, 39 00:02:23,240 --> 00:02:26,680 that he was not there because he loved Jesus Christ. 40 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,520 He was not there because he adored the Master. He 41 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:34,680 was there because he loved what was on the Master's table. 42 00:02:34,879 --> 00:02:38,199 So Christ to Judas was merely a means to an end. 43 00:02:38,479 --> 00:02:42,000 But if you and I would have seen Judas, if 44 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,319 we would have been there in the first century, we 45 00:02:44,400 --> 00:02:47,360 would have thought, Wow, this is the real deal. I mean, 46 00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,560 it doesn't get any better than this part of Christ's 47 00:02:50,599 --> 00:02:54,240 inner circle. I want to be like Judas. But Jesus 48 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:57,479 looked beyond the externalities and saw the heart, and I 49 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:01,800 think that's an appropriate thing. It's not that he believed 50 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:05,680 in Jesus Christ. Yes, he knew that Jesus Christ was God. 51 00:03:06,479 --> 00:03:09,599 But belief is not just knowledge. In fact, it's not 52 00:03:09,719 --> 00:03:13,599 even agreement that that knowledge is correct. The demons agree 53 00:03:14,080 --> 00:03:21,159 and tremble. But true saving faith entails knowledge, agreement, and 54 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:25,919 then most significantly trust. Once you have the knowledge and 55 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,159 you agree the knowledge is true, now you're depending on 56 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,280 Jesus Christ for eternal life. Let me give you an illustration. 57 00:03:32,719 --> 00:03:38,360 If you're sick. You could know a particular medicine would 58 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:42,719 cure you, You could agree that it had cured others, 59 00:03:43,199 --> 00:03:46,599 but until you take it, you're not demonstrating any trust 60 00:03:46,599 --> 00:03:51,520 in it. So true saving faith entails all three knowledge, 61 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,680 assent or agreement, and trust. 62 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 3: Okay, I see, okay, I didn't know if it maybe 63 00:03:58,599 --> 00:04:01,759 had something New with a sound like it kind of does. 64 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:03,919 Speaker 2: Well, it does have to do with false prophets. That's 65 00:04:03,960 --> 00:04:07,400 the context. Watch out for false prophets. They come to 66 00:04:07,439 --> 00:04:11,159 you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wills. 67 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:16,480 By their fruit, you'll recognize them. Remember false prophets Jesus 68 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:20,560 describes in sheep's clothing. In other words, they don't look 69 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,879 like false prophets. They look like they're real McCoy, But 70 00:04:25,399 --> 00:04:28,560 in reality they're just making merchandise out of God's people. 71 00:04:29,319 --> 00:04:33,079 Speaker 3: Okay, okay, I see all right, Well that that certainly helped. 72 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:37,720 I appreciate your answer and taking my call, and God 73 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:38,480 bless you. 74 00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:38,959 Speaker 5: You got it. 75 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,000 Speaker 2: And of course the apostle Paul in the New Testament 76 00:04:41,079 --> 00:04:45,160 says essentially the same thing. He says that even from 77 00:04:45,279 --> 00:04:48,519 among your own number, men will arise and distort the 78 00:04:48,560 --> 00:04:53,439 truth in order to draw away disciples after themselves. So 79 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:57,800 be on your guard. Remember, for three years I never 80 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:02,399 stopped warning each one of you, night and day with tears. 81 00:05:02,439 --> 00:05:04,720 Let's go back to the phone lines. Talk to Jade 82 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:05,639 listening in Oklahoma. 83 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:08,240 Speaker 5: Hi, Jade, Hi, Hayte, how are you? 84 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:09,519 Speaker 2: I'm good? How are you? 85 00:05:10,240 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 5: I don't wonderful. My husband and I listen to you 86 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:14,680 all the time. I said, to listen to speak with you. 87 00:05:14,920 --> 00:05:15,639 Speaker 2: Oh, thank you. 88 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:20,279 Speaker 5: Well, I have a question. My dad is Apostolic and 89 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:23,959 I was raised Church of God in Christ. My father 90 00:05:24,040 --> 00:05:25,759 used to be a preacher for Church of God in Christ. 91 00:05:26,519 --> 00:05:29,600 Now attend a non denominational church. But my dad and 92 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:32,439 I were speaking, and he was telling me that in 93 00:05:32,560 --> 00:05:35,399 order to be saved and to be forgiven of your sins, 94 00:05:35,720 --> 00:05:39,160 you have to be baptized in the name of Jesus only. 95 00:05:39,240 --> 00:05:42,360 That's the only way to be forgiven of sins versus. 96 00:05:42,399 --> 00:05:44,360 Then when I was baptized in the name of the 97 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:48,040 Father's Son and the Holy ghosts, Yeah, well. 98 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,199 Speaker 2: You know, the power is not in the prescribed formula, 99 00:05:50,399 --> 00:05:54,160 but it is in the heavenly physician, to whom the 100 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:58,680 act of baptism points. So if you are saved, you 101 00:05:58,759 --> 00:06:03,920 are baptized, but the formula is not. What is the significance? 102 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:07,839 The formula gives way to the reality of what the 103 00:06:07,839 --> 00:06:11,360 formula points to and what does the formula point to? 104 00:06:11,439 --> 00:06:15,759 It points to the biblical prescription that there's only one God, 105 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,199 that one God is revealed in three persons who are 106 00:06:20,720 --> 00:06:25,639 eternally distinct. Now, the problem here with oneness Pentecostalism is 107 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:30,360 that air begets err and therefore the belief that one 108 00:06:30,439 --> 00:06:35,000 must be baptized only in the name of Jesus leads 109 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:39,519 Oneness Pentecostals to a further err. And that error is 110 00:06:39,560 --> 00:06:43,199 that Jesus is himself the Father, the Son, and the 111 00:06:43,199 --> 00:06:46,439 Holy Spirit. So one as Pentecostals do not hold to 112 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:50,639 one God revealed in three persons eternally distinct, but to 113 00:06:50,800 --> 00:06:56,120 three manifestations of one God revealed in Jesus. And therefore, 114 00:06:56,199 --> 00:07:01,879 according to Oneness, the Doctor of the Trinity is paganistic philosophy. 115 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:06,519 But it's not. It's what scripture teaches. Scripture teaches in 116 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:09,680 Old and New Testament, there's only one God. Scripture teaches 117 00:07:09,720 --> 00:07:13,240 the Father is God. Scripture teaches the Son is God. 118 00:07:13,839 --> 00:07:17,560 Scripture teaches the Holy Spirit is God. And scripture teaches 119 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:20,519 that they are eternally distinct. In fact, you see this 120 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:25,000 in Matthew twenty eight, the Great Commission. You see it 121 00:07:25,279 --> 00:07:27,959 in the baptism of Jesus Christ, and you see it 122 00:07:28,000 --> 00:07:31,639 in the Enunciation, just to name three classic examples in 123 00:07:31,680 --> 00:07:34,720 which you see that one does not become the other. 124 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,959 And this isn't the only problem I should mention in 125 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:42,000 relationship to your question as well, is that one does. 126 00:07:42,120 --> 00:07:46,959 Pentecostals hold to a litany of legalistic prescriptions, including the 127 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:50,360 test of re baptism by their formula with evidence of 128 00:07:50,399 --> 00:07:54,519 speaking in tongues. No tongues, no salvation, and you can 129 00:07:54,600 --> 00:08:00,160 imagine that has placed tremendous socio psychological pressure on people 130 00:08:00,199 --> 00:08:03,600 to conjure up the gift of tongues, even though it 131 00:08:03,600 --> 00:08:06,279 may be imaginary to them, because those who do not 132 00:08:06,360 --> 00:08:08,720 speak in tongues are thought to be lacking in faith 133 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:11,639 or entirely unrepentant. 134 00:08:11,959 --> 00:08:16,279 Speaker 5: And this is the apostelager. It is sterotrepretation of being saved. 135 00:08:16,839 --> 00:08:19,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, it is. Yeah. 136 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:20,879 Speaker 5: So whether I was that tied in the name of 137 00:08:20,879 --> 00:08:23,519 the Father Son and a holy ghost doesn't make me. 138 00:08:23,800 --> 00:08:26,759 You know, I'm saved because I have repeated the myssif 139 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:29,680 versus to where I don't have to get baptized all 140 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:31,800 over again in the name of Jesus. Because I feel 141 00:08:31,839 --> 00:08:34,759 like that I'm not saved because I wasn't baptized in 142 00:08:34,759 --> 00:08:35,720 the name of Jesus. 143 00:08:36,240 --> 00:08:38,519 Speaker 2: That's correct, you were baptized in the name of Jesus, 144 00:08:38,519 --> 00:08:40,240 but not in the name of Jesus. Only you were 145 00:08:40,279 --> 00:08:43,000 baptized in the name of the God who reveals himself 146 00:08:43,039 --> 00:08:47,080 in scripture. And here's the problem. One this Pentecostalism is 147 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:53,080 philosophically driven as opposed to being biblically driven. Biblically, God 148 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,120 has revealed himself, and even though we can't comprehend God's 149 00:08:57,159 --> 00:09:01,320 revelation of himself to us fully, we still bow our 150 00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,480 need before God's revelation of himself to us. We don't 151 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:07,320 try to reinterpret God as the one this Pentecostals do. 152 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:13,360 Speaker 5: Okay, I understand now. My dad was saying, well, just 153 00:09:13,399 --> 00:09:16,360 read the chapter. Read at So I started reading Acts 154 00:09:16,360 --> 00:09:20,879 and then I have this book, the New It's a 155 00:09:20,879 --> 00:09:24,039 book that I was going to school for theology to 156 00:09:24,120 --> 00:09:26,200 read along with. It's got to have a better understanding. 157 00:09:26,279 --> 00:09:29,480 And so far my understanding is I'm still saying whether 158 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,080 I was about tized in the name of the Father's 159 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:33,480 Son and the Holy Gholst, or rather I was about 160 00:09:33,519 --> 00:09:35,440 tized in the name of Jesus, to where I don't 161 00:09:35,480 --> 00:09:37,279 believe that God is going to send me to Hell. 162 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:39,879 Of right technicality, well, of course not. 163 00:09:40,159 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 2: And in fact, you have the right interpretation. They have 164 00:09:44,279 --> 00:09:47,320 the wrong interpretation. But what you've said is true. I mean, 165 00:09:47,399 --> 00:09:50,600 it's not the absence of knowledge that damns. It's the 166 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:54,679 despising of knowledge that damns. Here's what I think would 167 00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,080 be very helpful for you. You can either get this 168 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,720 as my book or I'll just send you an excerpt 169 00:09:59,799 --> 00:10:03,200 of the book. But there's an entry titled is Oneness 170 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:07,799 Pentecostalism Biblical. I deal with this in detail, so you 171 00:10:07,840 --> 00:10:09,919 can read it and look at the biblical text. Because 172 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:12,120 you should never take my word for it. You should 173 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:14,840 test all things in lightest scripture, hold fast to that 174 00:10:14,879 --> 00:10:15,240 which is. 175 00:10:15,240 --> 00:10:17,759 Speaker 5: Good, that's true. 176 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:19,960 Speaker 2: So if you hang on, I'll get the information out 177 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:20,200 to you. 178 00:10:21,000 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 5: Oh, thank you so much. 179 00:10:22,159 --> 00:10:22,399 Speaker 2: Take it. 180 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:24,039 Speaker 5: Thank you for helping me to understand that. 181 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,039 Speaker 2: Thank you God, bless you and for everybody listening in. 182 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:30,519 The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's edition is available through 183 00:10:30,519 --> 00:10:33,600 the Ministry of the Christian Research Institute. Check it out 184 00:10:33,600 --> 00:10:36,519 on the web at equipped dot org. We'll be right 185 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:38,080 back in just a few moments with more of your 186 00:10:38,159 --> 00:10:41,320 questions right here on the Bible answer Man Broadcast. So 187 00:10:41,480 --> 00:10:42,679 please don't touch that dial. 188 00:10:43,399 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 1: The Church of Almighty God also known as Eastern Lightning, 189 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,720 is a socially subversive pseudo Christian cult. It follows a 190 00:10:51,840 --> 00:10:58,320 self proclaimed female Christ whose heretical doctrines incite violence, denying 191 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:03,440 the Trinity and biblical authority. Eastern Lightning uses psychological intimidation, 192 00:11:03,799 --> 00:11:09,679 disrupts families, and has even perpetrated physical assaults. In graphic language, 193 00:11:09,759 --> 00:11:14,039 the counterfeit Christ exhorts followers to abandon their families and 194 00:11:14,120 --> 00:11:18,480 devote themselves to recruiting new converts, branding those who refuse 195 00:11:18,679 --> 00:11:22,360 as worthless. You can read more about the iron Rod 196 00:11:22,440 --> 00:11:26,159 of this false Almighty God in a special print issue 197 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:29,759 of the Christian Research Journal. To receive your copy, call 198 00:11:29,960 --> 00:11:33,919 EIGHTA eight seven thousand CROI and make a gift to 199 00:11:33,960 --> 00:11:38,720 support the Christian Research Institute's Mind shaping, life changing outreaches. 200 00:11:39,039 --> 00:11:43,480 That's eight eight eight seven thousand CROI, or visit us 201 00:11:43,519 --> 00:11:49,919 online at equip dot org. That's equip dot org. Don't 202 00:11:49,919 --> 00:11:53,279 tune out, Hank Hanagraph will be back with more right 203 00:11:53,360 --> 00:12:04,080 after this what the Angel said to them, do not 204 00:12:04,279 --> 00:12:07,960 be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy 205 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:11,360 that will be for all the people today in the 206 00:12:11,360 --> 00:12:14,039 town of David, A savior has been born to you. 207 00:12:14,399 --> 00:12:17,759 He is Christ the Lord. This will be a signed 208 00:12:17,759 --> 00:12:20,879 to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths 209 00:12:21,159 --> 00:12:24,960 and lying in a manger Luke, Chapter two, verses ten 210 00:12:25,000 --> 00:12:28,399 through twelve. While many of you will soon enter the 211 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:32,080 hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Hank Cantagraph has 212 00:12:32,159 --> 00:12:35,279 penned The Heart of Christmas, a devotional for the season, 213 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:38,879 to ensure that just as you prepare your home for Christmas, 214 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:43,120 you likewise prepare your heart. Order The Heart of Christmas, 215 00:12:43,200 --> 00:12:45,919 a devotional for the season, by calling eight eight eight 216 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:49,360 seven thousand and two seven four, or by going online 217 00:12:49,399 --> 00:12:54,200 to www. Dot equip dot org. Also available is The 218 00:12:54,200 --> 00:13:01,399 Heart of Christmas audiobook, dramatically read by Hank Hannigraph. Anyone 219 00:13:01,399 --> 00:13:04,360 who's been paying attention knows there's a war going on, 220 00:13:04,799 --> 00:13:09,000 not just on traditional morality, civility, and decency, but even 221 00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:12,720 more fundamentally on historic notions of truth. And the enemy 222 00:13:12,840 --> 00:13:16,000 isn't just the onslaught of fake news, facilitated by a 223 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:20,360 post truth culture and turbocharged by growing legions of ideological 224 00:13:20,399 --> 00:13:23,919 spind doctors note the real enemies of truth range from 225 00:13:24,000 --> 00:13:28,600 postmodernist convictions that there is no objective truth to militant 226 00:13:28,639 --> 00:13:32,639 scientism that claims that only science can determine truth and 227 00:13:32,799 --> 00:13:37,080 religion is little more than primitive superstitions. But CRI Support 228 00:13:37,120 --> 00:13:40,080 Team members are not waving a white flag of surrender. 229 00:13:40,279 --> 00:13:44,200 They're holding the fort by undergirding everyone of Christian Research 230 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:48,519 Institute's mind shaping and life changing outreaches twenty four to seven. 231 00:13:48,799 --> 00:13:51,360 To learn how you can make a difference and enjoy 232 00:13:51,440 --> 00:13:55,120 all the benefits of Support Team membership, simply visit equip 233 00:13:55,600 --> 00:14:03,639 dot org. The Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is 234 00:14:03,679 --> 00:14:07,360 the comprehensive collection of the most often asked questions Hank 235 00:14:07,399 --> 00:14:11,000 Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades as host of 236 00:14:11,039 --> 00:14:14,039 The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more than half a 237 00:14:14,080 --> 00:14:18,279 million copies already in print, this newly revised and expanded 238 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,679 Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike sort through the 239 00:14:22,799 --> 00:14:26,919 truth on topics such as reliability of the Bible, religions 240 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:31,000 and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues 241 00:14:31,080 --> 00:14:34,480 vital to a better understanding of God in Christ and 242 00:14:34,559 --> 00:14:37,879 our relationship to Him. To receive your copy of the 243 00:14:37,919 --> 00:14:42,799 Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition, Revised and expanded. Call 244 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,759 eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and make a gift 245 00:14:46,759 --> 00:14:51,440 to support the Christian Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight 246 00:14:51,480 --> 00:14:56,159 eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit us at equip 247 00:14:56,360 --> 00:15:09,759 dot org. Now back to the Bible answer Man Broadcast 248 00:15:09,799 --> 00:15:11,960 and your host and Canagraph. 249 00:15:12,279 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 2: Thank you so much for Andy, and we'll go right 250 00:15:13,879 --> 00:15:16,720 back to our phone callers. Next up is Nathan listening 251 00:15:16,720 --> 00:15:21,600 to Denver, Colorado. Hi, Nathan, I'm good, good talking to you. 252 00:15:22,039 --> 00:15:22,679 Speaker 5: Good you too. 253 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:26,480 Speaker 3: My question is in Revelation, I have not seen any 254 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,440 mission of the Holy Spirit. Why is at the end 255 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:32,080 of the Trinity, if it's not going to be there anymore. 256 00:15:32,480 --> 00:15:35,919 Speaker 2: No, you find the Holy Spirit, certainly in the Book 257 00:15:35,919 --> 00:15:39,720 of Revelation. In fact, not only do you find the 258 00:15:39,759 --> 00:15:45,960 Holy Spirit, but you actually find reference to the sevenfold Spirit. 259 00:15:46,639 --> 00:15:50,639 In other words, you have the Spirit delineated in much 260 00:15:50,759 --> 00:15:54,840 the same fashion as you find in Zachariah chapter four, 261 00:15:55,279 --> 00:15:58,919 where you read not by might nor by power, but 262 00:15:59,080 --> 00:16:03,679 by His spit it. And you have enunciated here the 263 00:16:03,919 --> 00:16:09,440 seven spirits, or the sevenfold nature of the Spirit, as 264 00:16:09,440 --> 00:16:14,360 it were. So the attributes of the Spirit are delineated 265 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,000 by pointing back to the ultimate reference in the Old 266 00:16:18,039 --> 00:16:21,519 Testament prophets, and that's what you have with the Book 267 00:16:21,559 --> 00:16:26,759 of Revelation in general. The essence of Revelation is the 268 00:16:26,879 --> 00:16:31,600 unveiling of a bride, and therefore it's a wedding covenant 269 00:16:31,919 --> 00:16:36,840 from first to last, from beginning to end, from Alpha 270 00:16:36,919 --> 00:16:41,200 to Omega. So the book starts with seven love letters 271 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:45,320 to a persecuted bride, True Israel, and that it continues 272 00:16:46,159 --> 00:16:51,480 with the noxious vision of a prostituted bride. Of course, 273 00:16:51,919 --> 00:16:57,080 apostate Israel in much the same fashion as apostate Israel 274 00:16:57,879 --> 00:17:01,919 is described as a prostitute in the Old Testament in 275 00:17:02,080 --> 00:17:07,119 graphic Old Testament language or pictures. In fact, we see 276 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:11,680 the judgment of God written on a seven sealed scroll. 277 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:17,119 It's announced by seven angels with seven trumpets, and then 278 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:23,279 it's depicted through seven plagues that befall a prostitute in 279 00:17:23,359 --> 00:17:26,119 bed with a beast. And of course at the end 280 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:30,039 you have the unveiling of a purified bride, True Israel. 281 00:17:30,160 --> 00:17:34,400 She's carried by the bridegroom over the threshold of Jordan 282 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,200 into a new Jerusalem that comes down out of Heaven 283 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:43,680 from God. So True Israel is represented by the faithful 284 00:17:43,759 --> 00:17:46,720 in seven churches in the province of Asia. They face 285 00:17:46,799 --> 00:17:51,680 the full fury of a ferocious beast bent on the 286 00:17:51,759 --> 00:17:55,920 obliteration of the bride of Christ. In the book, you 287 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,319 see that those who do not forsake their first love, 288 00:17:59,079 --> 00:18:02,599 they may suffercution for a while, but in the end 289 00:18:03,079 --> 00:18:07,799 they will reign with Jesus Christ forever. And I would 290 00:18:07,799 --> 00:18:10,640 say one other thing here, and this is important, particularly 291 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:17,920 with apocalyptic literature like Revelation. Revelation is not a mere 292 00:18:18,000 --> 00:18:21,920 book of riddles. It doesn't originate from a shallow post 293 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:26,359 Christian mind. It's a book of symbols. And these symbols 294 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:31,440 are deeply rooted in Old Testament history, and we mistake 295 00:18:31,519 --> 00:18:35,920 their meanings when we fail to hear the background music 296 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,880 of the Old Testament, and we see that from first 297 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:41,559 to last. I think of the Tree of Life. It's 298 00:18:41,599 --> 00:18:45,240 referred to in the letter of Jesus to the Church 299 00:18:45,279 --> 00:18:50,440 of Ephesus, but it first appears in Genesis. Or think 300 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:54,319 about the ten Days of Testing in Schmyrna. They find 301 00:18:54,319 --> 00:18:59,039 their reference in Daniel. The heavenly manna that is promised 302 00:18:59,079 --> 00:19:03,240 to the Church of the First fell from heaven in Exodus. 303 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:06,799 Of course, Jezebel, here's a class in case she promotes 304 00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:11,240 sexual immorality in thietyre and this is a mere image 305 00:19:11,319 --> 00:19:15,680 of the idolatrous Jezebel in Kings and many other examples 306 00:19:16,440 --> 00:19:19,720 could be given. But again, as the letters of Christ 307 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:23,119 to his persecuted bride utilize images that are deeply embedded 308 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,319 in the language of the Bible, so to the judgment 309 00:19:25,359 --> 00:19:31,440 of Christ against a prostituted bride is also depicted in Revelation, 310 00:19:31,599 --> 00:19:35,960 but finds its referent in the Old Testament scriptures. So 311 00:19:36,079 --> 00:19:39,680 this whole sevenfold pattern with the Holy Spirit is a 312 00:19:39,839 --> 00:19:44,880 dominant pattern because it is, as I just enunciated, a 313 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:48,920 predominant theme in the writings of John. By the way, 314 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:50,880 I've written about this in my book The Apocalypse Code. 315 00:19:50,920 --> 00:19:52,680 Find out what the Bible really says about the end 316 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,440 times and why it matters today. Back to the phone lines. 317 00:19:55,480 --> 00:20:01,359 We'll talk to Doug next. He's listening in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. 318 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 4: I Doug, Hi, Hank. I read a book by Charles Pridgin. 319 00:20:06,240 --> 00:20:11,519 It's Helly Turnable, God's plans fail. It's about Hell doesn't 320 00:20:11,599 --> 00:20:16,240 last forever, as we've been taught, but in the back 321 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,519 of my mind, I always wondered, well, if Hell is 322 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:25,079 always existing, does that mean that God hasn't done away 323 00:20:25,119 --> 00:20:29,119 with sin? God hasn't defeated, well, defeated when Jesus died 324 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:32,359 on the cross. And understand that for us humans, but 325 00:20:33,119 --> 00:20:36,920 for eternity. I have the struggle grasping that. And then 326 00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:40,480 I read this book and I went, wow, oh that's interesting, 327 00:20:41,279 --> 00:20:43,680 and I just was wondering to get your angle on. 328 00:20:44,759 --> 00:20:50,279 Speaker 2: Yeah. I mean, he appears to teach a type of universalism, 329 00:20:50,640 --> 00:20:54,359 the possibility that people might be saved after death as well. 330 00:20:54,680 --> 00:20:56,880 But look, if you test all things in like a 331 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:00,519 scripture and hold fast that which is good, you find 332 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:04,319 that this does not fly in face of the biblical text. 333 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,759 I'm thinking about a number of passages Second Thessalonians one 334 00:21:07,799 --> 00:21:11,599 to nine, for example, where Paul says the wicked will 335 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:17,039 be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the 336 00:21:17,079 --> 00:21:21,599 presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power. Now, 337 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:26,599 if the destruction is temporary, how can it be everlasting? 338 00:21:27,559 --> 00:21:29,960 In other words, the plain reading of shut out from 339 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:36,000 the presence of the Lord implies continued existence, and this 340 00:21:36,079 --> 00:21:40,640 is something that is taught throughout the scriptures. Now, what 341 00:21:41,000 --> 00:21:44,960 I would say here is that this is how we 342 00:21:45,039 --> 00:21:48,759 should think about things. Because God does not simply rub 343 00:21:48,799 --> 00:21:52,880 out the crowning jewels of his creation because they've decided 344 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:56,160 they don't want a relationship with him. He continues to 345 00:21:56,240 --> 00:22:01,400 sustain them in existence, albeit a part from His loving 346 00:22:01,839 --> 00:22:05,160 goodness and kind presence. And this is true in this 347 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,480 life as well. People who do not want a relationship 348 00:22:08,920 --> 00:22:14,400 with Jesus Christ, they experience certain benefits, the rainfalls and 349 00:22:14,440 --> 00:22:18,200 the just and the unjust, but they do not experience 350 00:22:18,279 --> 00:22:23,480 His loving presence in their lives intimacy and relationship. And 351 00:22:23,839 --> 00:22:27,759 hell is a separation from the goodness and the glory 352 00:22:27,799 --> 00:22:30,640 of God for all eternity, which is what they want, 353 00:22:30,680 --> 00:22:32,440 and that's what God gives them. 354 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:37,240 Speaker 4: Right, but after death they come to the realization of 355 00:22:37,319 --> 00:22:40,799 what has happened. And the verse I guess I struggle 356 00:22:40,839 --> 00:22:43,720 with is every niche shall bow and every time confess 357 00:22:43,759 --> 00:22:46,559 to Jesus Christ is the Lord. And at that point 358 00:22:46,559 --> 00:22:50,000 in time when somebody does that, there is safe or 359 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,799 they're born again. If you kneel down and confess Jesus 360 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,559 Christ is Lord and Savior, then you've become renewed. So 361 00:22:58,400 --> 00:23:03,319 after death, when the souls are judged, I guess what 362 00:23:03,359 --> 00:23:06,799 I'm getting as they've come to the realization that, Wow, 363 00:23:07,000 --> 00:23:09,559 God is God, Jesus who he said it was my 364 00:23:09,680 --> 00:23:12,799 goodness is terrible. But still, I, like you were talking 365 00:23:12,839 --> 00:23:15,759 the other day about levels of having levels of hell, 366 00:23:16,279 --> 00:23:19,839 the punishment is justified the accord to their deeds. So 367 00:23:19,880 --> 00:23:25,119 I'm just wondering, does that punishment eventually and where the 368 00:23:25,240 --> 00:23:29,720 fire has purified their soul to a point where you're 369 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:35,279 refined with fire and so you become a born against soul. 370 00:23:35,720 --> 00:23:36,079 I don't know. 371 00:23:37,160 --> 00:23:41,000 Speaker 2: In short, the answer is no. And let me cash 372 00:23:41,039 --> 00:23:43,920 that out for you for just a second. Here, all 373 00:23:44,119 --> 00:23:47,039 people have an opportunity to respond to the goodness of 374 00:23:47,119 --> 00:23:49,359 grace of God in this life, which is to say, 375 00:23:49,440 --> 00:23:53,240 it's not that people don't have enough knowledge and therefore 376 00:23:53,359 --> 00:23:57,559 they're damned. As opposed to that, Jesus Christ says this 377 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:03,279 to Nicodemus. Light came into darkness. Men loved darkness rather 378 00:24:03,400 --> 00:24:06,599 than light because their deeds were evil. We all have 379 00:24:06,680 --> 00:24:09,759 the light of creation. We have the light of conscience, 380 00:24:09,799 --> 00:24:11,599 so we have an outer light and interlight, and if 381 00:24:11,599 --> 00:24:14,400 we respond to that, we can have the light of Christ. 382 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:16,799 But there's another point that I want to make, and 383 00:24:16,839 --> 00:24:20,880 that is common sense dictates that without Hell, there's no 384 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:23,680 need for a savior. I think little needs to be 385 00:24:23,759 --> 00:24:27,480 said about the absurdity of suggesting that the Creator would 386 00:24:27,519 --> 00:24:31,279 suffer more than the cumulative sufferings of all of humankind 387 00:24:31,319 --> 00:24:34,400 if there's no hell to save us from. Without Hell, 388 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:38,640 there's no need for salvation, and without salvation, there's no 389 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:42,279 need for a sacrifice. And without a sacrifice, there's no 390 00:24:42,359 --> 00:24:45,279 need for a savior. So as much as we may 391 00:24:45,480 --> 00:24:48,920 wish to think that all will be saved, common sense 392 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:52,720 precludes the possibility. C. S. Lewis talked about this. He 393 00:24:52,799 --> 00:24:57,119 said he'd pay any price to be able to truthfully 394 00:24:57,160 --> 00:25:00,960 say all will be saved. But he went on to say, 395 00:25:01,119 --> 00:25:05,640 my reason retorts without their will or with it. If 396 00:25:05,680 --> 00:25:10,440 I say without their will, I at once perceive a contradiction. 397 00:25:11,119 --> 00:25:19,119 How can the supreme voluntary act of self surrender be involuntary? Conversely, 398 00:25:19,240 --> 00:25:23,359 he said, if I say with their will, my reason replies, 399 00:25:24,319 --> 00:25:27,200 how if they will not give in? And then he 400 00:25:27,279 --> 00:25:31,000 said this, and I think this is right to your point. Ultimately, 401 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,680 there are only two kinds of people in the end, 402 00:25:34,240 --> 00:25:38,200 those who say to God, thy will be done on 403 00:25:38,319 --> 00:25:41,759 bended knee, and those to whom God says in the end, 404 00:25:42,279 --> 00:25:46,160 thy will be done. In other words, all who are 405 00:25:46,200 --> 00:25:50,119 in hell choose it. Without that self choice, there would 406 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:55,839 be no hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires 407 00:25:55,960 --> 00:26:00,039 joy will ever miss it. Those who seek fine and 408 00:26:00,599 --> 00:26:03,440 those who knock the door to Heaven. 409 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:03,880 Speaker 1: Will be opened. 410 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:06,240 Speaker 2: Out of time for today. We look forward to seeing 411 00:26:06,240 --> 00:26:09,359 you and answering your questions right here next time with 412 00:26:09,480 --> 00:26:11,079 more of the Bible Instrument Broadcast. 413 00:26:11,440 --> 00:26:14,920 Speaker 1: We appreciate you tuning in to the Bible answer Man Broadcast. 414 00:26:15,400 --> 00:26:18,079 If you've been blessed by the broadcast and want more 415 00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:21,000 information to help you grow in the grace and knowledge 416 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,400 of God, go to our website at equip dot org. 417 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,799 That's equip dot org. To contact a resource consultant, call 418 00:26:30,000 --> 00:26:34,319 eight eight eight seven thousand CRII again, that's eight eight 419 00:26:34,319 --> 00:26:38,519 eight seven thousand, two seven four, or you can write 420 00:26:38,519 --> 00:26:42,039 to us at Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, 421 00:26:42,119 --> 00:26:46,559 North Carolina, zip code two eight two seven one. The 422 00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:49,880 Bible answer Man Broadcast is supported by listeners like you. 423 00:26:50,559 --> 00:26:54,039 We're on the air because life and truth matter. 424 00:26:54,920 --> 00:27:07,880 Speaker 6: To fully grasp the significance of Christ's Messianic rule, you 425 00:27:08,319 --> 00:27:14,319 must drink deeply from the wellspring of Old Testament prophecy. 426 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:18,119 In Hebrews, as in the rest of the New Testament, 427 00:27:18,559 --> 00:27:23,039 the Old Testament history of Israel is interpreted as a 428 00:27:23,039 --> 00:27:31,319 succession of types that find ultimate fulfillment in the birth, death, resurrection, 429 00:27:32,279 --> 00:27:37,440 and ascension of the Christ we celebrate at Christmas. 430 00:27:38,079 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 1: Hank Hanagraph has penned The Heart of Christmas, a devotional 431 00:27:41,559 --> 00:27:44,400 for the season, to ensure that just as you prepare 432 00:27:44,440 --> 00:27:48,680 your home for Christmas, you likewise prepare your heart. Order 433 00:27:48,799 --> 00:27:51,799 the Heart of Christmas, a Devotional for the Season, by 434 00:27:51,839 --> 00:27:54,680 calling eight eight eight seven thousand and two seven four, 435 00:27:55,200 --> 00:27:59,319 or by going online to www. Dot equip dot org.