1 00:00:08,900 --> 00:00:12,740 S1: Max Lucado is one of America's most read Christian authors. 2 00:00:12,740 --> 00:00:15,860 S1: You know him for his devotionals, but now he invites 3 00:00:15,860 --> 00:00:19,910 S1: us to join him in focusing on future events, world prophecy, 4 00:00:19,910 --> 00:00:22,820 S1: and what happens next. In just a few minutes, we're 5 00:00:22,820 --> 00:00:25,100 S1: going to connect with special guest Max Lucado for a 6 00:00:25,100 --> 00:00:28,460 S1: conversation about what's ahead. Right now, though, I want to 7 00:00:28,460 --> 00:00:31,900 S1: welcome you to the land and the book from Moody Radio, 8 00:00:31,900 --> 00:00:34,750 S1: where we take you to the Middle East and back 9 00:00:34,750 --> 00:00:37,690 S1: with a biblical look at all that's going on. Our 10 00:00:37,690 --> 00:00:41,199 S1: host is Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Middle East expert, and 11 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,279 S1: I'm John Gieger. Charlie boy Israel certainly in the news again. 12 00:00:45,280 --> 00:00:49,000 S1: And as the Bible is jam packed with end times 13 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:52,870 S1: prophecies about end times, world events, the regathering of the 14 00:00:52,890 --> 00:00:56,160 S1: Jewish people to their ancient homeland. And Jesus soon returned. 15 00:00:56,160 --> 00:00:58,530 S1: It seems to me it's crucial for us as believers 16 00:00:58,530 --> 00:01:02,040 S1: to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. Why? Well, 17 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:04,380 S1: so our view of the future is shaped by Scripture, 18 00:01:04,380 --> 00:01:06,510 S1: not just stuff we're reading online. 19 00:01:06,510 --> 00:01:09,090 S2: You're absolutely right, John. And with that in mind, our 20 00:01:09,090 --> 00:01:12,810 S2: friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 21 00:01:12,810 --> 00:01:16,230 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 22 00:01:16,230 --> 00:01:18,630 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 23 00:01:18,630 --> 00:01:22,170 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 24 00:01:22,170 --> 00:01:26,340 S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 25 00:01:26,340 --> 00:01:29,550 S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 26 00:01:29,550 --> 00:01:32,880 S2: the scriptures say about these issues. If you're interested in 27 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:36,419 S2: learning more about what God has in store, visit Life 28 00:01:36,420 --> 00:01:39,720 S2: in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio button 29 00:01:39,720 --> 00:01:42,650 S2: there to find out how you can receive your copy 30 00:01:42,650 --> 00:01:48,230 S2: of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 31 00:01:48,380 --> 00:01:51,200 S1: Charlie, a real important announcement right now. We've got a 32 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,440 S1: five book blast giveaway going on right now, five books 33 00:01:54,440 --> 00:01:56,990 S1: we're giving away to anybody who will send in an 34 00:01:56,990 --> 00:02:00,320 S1: email and be part of this drawing by Sunday at midnight. 35 00:02:00,350 --> 00:02:03,740 S1: Enter to win this five book blast. Who's in this 36 00:02:03,740 --> 00:02:07,210 S1: book blast? Well, we've got Charlie Dyer's Experiencing the Land 37 00:02:07,210 --> 00:02:10,030 S1: of the book, a life changing journey through Israel. Just 38 00:02:10,030 --> 00:02:13,270 S1: all kinds of great color photos and stories that you 39 00:02:13,270 --> 00:02:16,840 S1: won't hear anywhere else. We've got wrestling with job, defiant 40 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:19,480 S1: faith in the face of suffering, a walking tour of 41 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:22,600 S1: the Gospels. In this way we came to Rome. This 42 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:25,630 S1: is an interesting book that talks about the geography of 43 00:02:25,630 --> 00:02:29,610 S1: Paul's journeys and ministry. And finally, the chosen novel four 44 00:02:29,610 --> 00:02:32,700 S1: from Jerry Jenkins, all part of our book blast. How 45 00:02:32,700 --> 00:02:35,190 S1: do you enter? Send an email to the land and 46 00:02:35,190 --> 00:02:39,480 S1: the book@moody.edu. Now you can't just say, please enter me, 47 00:02:39,480 --> 00:02:42,000 S1: send me the books you need to tell us how 48 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:45,000 S1: does the land and the book impact your life? How 49 00:02:45,000 --> 00:02:48,450 S1: does God use the land and the book in your life? 50 00:02:48,450 --> 00:02:51,690 S1: All right, send that answer to us at the land 51 00:02:51,690 --> 00:02:54,690 S1: and the book at Moody Dot. book@moody.edu, and we will 52 00:02:54,690 --> 00:02:58,260 S1: draw at random. One winner by Sunday night at midnight. 53 00:02:58,260 --> 00:03:02,430 S1: The land and the book at Moody dot. Edu. All right. 54 00:03:02,430 --> 00:03:05,310 S1: Our current events. Topics. Story one. In response to the 55 00:03:05,310 --> 00:03:10,470 S1: assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Iran has vowed revenge 56 00:03:10,470 --> 00:03:12,930 S1: on Israel and the world has been holding its breath 57 00:03:12,930 --> 00:03:16,620 S1: since then. What do we know so far about their plans? 58 00:03:16,620 --> 00:03:21,770 S2: Yeah, you know, Israel hasn't officially claimed responsibility for Haniya's assassination, 59 00:03:21,770 --> 00:03:24,530 S2: but apparently they told the US they were behind it. 60 00:03:24,530 --> 00:03:27,290 S2: As the political chief of Hamas, Haniyeh was part of 61 00:03:27,290 --> 00:03:31,160 S2: the leadership that's been targeted by Israel since October 7th. 62 00:03:31,190 --> 00:03:34,100 S2: Iran was embarrassed by the attack, which took place in 63 00:03:34,100 --> 00:03:38,510 S2: Tehran during the inauguration festivities for their new president. And 64 00:03:38,510 --> 00:03:41,650 S2: it happened in a building controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary 65 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:45,910 S2: Guard Corps. Ayatollah Khomeini ordered a revenge attack on Israel 66 00:03:45,910 --> 00:03:48,970 S2: and Iran met with representatives from other terror groups to 67 00:03:48,970 --> 00:03:53,470 S2: prepare a coordinated attack. Back in April, Iran launched about 68 00:03:53,470 --> 00:03:57,550 S2: 300 rockets, missiles and drones against Israel. Most were shot 69 00:03:57,550 --> 00:04:00,820 S2: down by US, British and Israeli forces, though a few 70 00:04:00,820 --> 00:04:03,369 S2: made it through and caused minor damage to an Israeli 71 00:04:03,370 --> 00:04:06,420 S2: Air Force base. Now at this time, Iran and its 72 00:04:06,420 --> 00:04:09,450 S2: allies wanted to launch a much larger and more sustained 73 00:04:09,450 --> 00:04:13,950 S2: attack of rockets, missiles and drones from multiple directions to 74 00:04:13,950 --> 00:04:18,750 S2: overwhelm Israel's defenses and cause more damage. The US began 75 00:04:18,750 --> 00:04:22,589 S2: an intensive diplomatic effort to cool tensions and to get 76 00:04:22,589 --> 00:04:26,400 S2: Iran and its allies to reconsider. One possible reason for 77 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,849 S2: Iran to hold off on retaliating is the realization that 78 00:04:29,850 --> 00:04:34,140 S2: the assassination wasn't caused by an Israeli missile as initially feared, 79 00:04:34,140 --> 00:04:37,140 S2: but by a bomb smuggled into the room by members 80 00:04:37,140 --> 00:04:40,830 S2: of its own security force working with Israel. As we 81 00:04:40,830 --> 00:04:44,070 S2: record this program to send out to stations, we still 82 00:04:44,070 --> 00:04:46,950 S2: don't know when or even if there's going to be 83 00:04:46,950 --> 00:04:49,740 S2: an attack. It could even happen between the time we 84 00:04:49,740 --> 00:04:53,400 S2: record and the time the program actually airs. Now, if 85 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:56,790 S2: there is an attack, it could come from Iran, Hezbollah 86 00:04:56,790 --> 00:05:00,570 S2: or both. Iran could also try to attack Israelis traveling 87 00:05:00,570 --> 00:05:04,830 S2: or living abroad. Israel prepared its defenses while telling its 88 00:05:04,830 --> 00:05:08,250 S2: citizens to go about their normal duties and remain diligent. 89 00:05:08,250 --> 00:05:11,310 S2: And in the meantime, all they can do is wait. 90 00:05:11,460 --> 00:05:14,460 S1: Well, the US announced it would help Israel stand against 91 00:05:14,460 --> 00:05:18,370 S1: any Iranian attack. What exactly did we do to help prepare? 92 00:05:18,370 --> 00:05:21,400 S1: And what might we ask of Israel in return? Yeah. 93 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:24,910 S2: The US deployed multiple warships to the Persian Gulf and 94 00:05:24,910 --> 00:05:29,530 S2: eastern Mediterranean to help repel any threatened attack. These include 95 00:05:29,529 --> 00:05:34,270 S2: aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault team with 4000 Marines. 96 00:05:34,270 --> 00:05:38,380 S2: We also sent fighter jet squadrons and land based ballistic 97 00:05:38,380 --> 00:05:41,849 S2: missile defense systems. This was all intended to send a 98 00:05:41,850 --> 00:05:45,180 S2: strong message to Iran that the US would defend Israel 99 00:05:45,180 --> 00:05:48,690 S2: against attack. What we don't know right now is if 100 00:05:48,690 --> 00:05:52,560 S2: Iran takes the message seriously or not, if Iran refrains 101 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,200 S2: from launching an attack, or if they only launch a 102 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,890 S2: token attack, then that would suggest they got the message. 103 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:02,070 S2: Another question that hasn't been fully addressed, though, is what 104 00:06:02,070 --> 00:06:05,310 S2: the US will require of Israel in return for all 105 00:06:05,310 --> 00:06:09,450 S2: our help. President Biden was apparently enraged over the assassination 106 00:06:09,450 --> 00:06:13,920 S2: of Haniyeh, characterizing it publicly as unhelpful. He said the 107 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,229 S2: goal in the Middle East needs to be to reduce 108 00:06:16,230 --> 00:06:20,280 S2: tension and secure a hostage deal with Hamas. Israel is 109 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,390 S2: heavily dependent on U.S. funds and equipment, and President Biden 110 00:06:24,390 --> 00:06:27,839 S2: is using that to exert pressure on Israel to accept 111 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:30,770 S2: a cease fire deal and a hostage deal with Hamas. 112 00:06:30,770 --> 00:06:32,750 S2: If one can be reached from. 113 00:06:32,750 --> 00:06:35,450 S1: Moody Radio, this is the land and the book segment one. 114 00:06:35,450 --> 00:06:38,390 S1: We're going over current events with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. 115 00:06:38,390 --> 00:06:40,940 S1: I'm John Geiger, reminding you we've got a book blast 116 00:06:40,940 --> 00:06:44,450 S1: coming until Sunday midnight. You can enter at the land 117 00:06:44,450 --> 00:06:48,590 S1: and the book@moody.edu to win five books. We're giving away. 118 00:06:48,589 --> 00:06:51,470 S1: More on that in a moment. Story number three. Israel's 119 00:06:51,500 --> 00:06:54,710 S1: ongoing war with Hamas has almost gotten lost in the 120 00:06:54,710 --> 00:06:58,130 S1: conflict with Hezbollah and Iran. But the war in Gaza 121 00:06:58,130 --> 00:07:01,820 S1: raises a troubling question why has it been so hard 122 00:07:01,820 --> 00:07:03,260 S1: to eliminate Hamas? 123 00:07:03,620 --> 00:07:06,200 S2: You know, I think there are two primary reasons it's 124 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,349 S2: been so hard to eliminate them. The first is all 125 00:07:09,350 --> 00:07:13,310 S2: the restrictions being placed on Israel throughout the war. They 126 00:07:13,310 --> 00:07:16,580 S2: face charges of genocide, even though they've done more to 127 00:07:16,580 --> 00:07:20,580 S2: minimize civilian casualties than any army in history. And that's 128 00:07:20,580 --> 00:07:24,030 S2: especially true when facing an enemy that has deliberately hidden 129 00:07:24,030 --> 00:07:28,140 S2: behind civilians using them, as well as homes and mosques 130 00:07:28,140 --> 00:07:32,340 S2: and hospitals and schools as shields. The second reason, though 131 00:07:32,340 --> 00:07:35,190 S2: it's been so hard to eliminate Hamas, is that at 132 00:07:35,190 --> 00:07:38,370 S2: its core, this is a religious struggle, not just a 133 00:07:38,370 --> 00:07:42,690 S2: military one. Yahya Sinwar, the architect of the October 7th 134 00:07:42,690 --> 00:07:46,590 S2: massacre and the one leading the fight in Gaza, was 135 00:07:46,590 --> 00:07:50,910 S2: just chosen to succeed Haniyeh as the political leader of Hamas. 136 00:07:50,940 --> 00:07:55,020 S2: This consolidates all the political and military power of Hamas 137 00:07:55,020 --> 00:07:58,020 S2: into the one person who holds some of the strongest 138 00:07:58,020 --> 00:08:02,040 S2: religious views. Over the past ten months. Israel has amassed 139 00:08:02,040 --> 00:08:06,590 S2: a treasure trove of information on Hamas through prisoner interrogations 140 00:08:06,590 --> 00:08:10,070 S2: and the capture of files and computer disks. They discovered 141 00:08:10,070 --> 00:08:13,280 S2: that under the leadership of people like Haniyeh and Sinwar, 142 00:08:13,310 --> 00:08:19,040 S2: Hamas systematically indoctrinated the people in Islamic fundamentalism since taking 143 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:24,020 S2: control of Gaza in 2007. They've used Islam to justify 144 00:08:24,020 --> 00:08:28,370 S2: their brutal attacks, Western concepts of moral values, of right 145 00:08:28,370 --> 00:08:32,170 S2: and wrong, of what's logical and illogical, blinded us to 146 00:08:32,170 --> 00:08:36,099 S2: the reality of the values espoused by Hamas and other 147 00:08:36,100 --> 00:08:40,480 S2: Islamic fundamentalists. Many secular Israelis thought the root issues with 148 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:44,140 S2: Hamas were, well, economic or social or political. And that 149 00:08:44,140 --> 00:08:47,559 S2: was all shattered on October 7th. The real cause for 150 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:50,650 S2: the conflict is the false teaching of Islam. It needs 151 00:08:50,650 --> 00:08:53,920 S2: to be confronted by the truth of God's Word. In 152 00:08:53,920 --> 00:08:56,740 S2: the end, only God can change the human heart. But 153 00:08:56,740 --> 00:08:59,620 S2: we need to remember that faith comes by hearing and 154 00:08:59,620 --> 00:09:02,350 S2: hearing by the Word of God. That's the real battle 155 00:09:02,350 --> 00:09:03,580 S2: that needs to be fought. 156 00:09:03,580 --> 00:09:06,910 S1: Israeli start up Eno valve has been acquired by an 157 00:09:06,910 --> 00:09:11,200 S1: American company for $300 million. Tell us about this medical 158 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,689 S1: success story out of amazing Israel. 159 00:09:13,690 --> 00:09:15,309 S2: You know, I want to approach this story from just 160 00:09:15,309 --> 00:09:17,110 S2: a slightly different angle than we usually do with our 161 00:09:17,110 --> 00:09:20,850 S2: amazing Israel stories. One of the most common heart issues 162 00:09:20,850 --> 00:09:25,140 S2: is mitral valve regurgitation. While the aortic valve can be 163 00:09:25,140 --> 00:09:29,760 S2: replaced using a procedure called taven's transcatheter aortic valve replacement. 164 00:09:29,790 --> 00:09:32,580 S2: My own mother had that procedure, but up until now, 165 00:09:32,580 --> 00:09:36,630 S2: the only effective solution to mitral valve leakage has been open. 166 00:09:36,630 --> 00:09:41,130 S2: Heart surgery and many suffering from the problem can't endure 167 00:09:41,130 --> 00:09:44,960 S2: open heart surgery, which reduces their quality of life and 168 00:09:44,960 --> 00:09:49,310 S2: eventually their life expectancy. So Eno Valve developed a technology 169 00:09:49,309 --> 00:09:52,430 S2: that allows doctors to reach this difficult spot in the 170 00:09:52,429 --> 00:09:56,330 S2: heart and securely anchor a new mitral valve in place 171 00:09:56,330 --> 00:10:00,350 S2: while the heart is still beating. After receiving approval from 172 00:10:00,350 --> 00:10:04,429 S2: the FDA, they began implementing the device in clinical trials. 173 00:10:04,429 --> 00:10:07,630 S2: To date, about 40 people in the United States have 174 00:10:07,630 --> 00:10:12,219 S2: had their mitral valve replaced using their new technology. Its 175 00:10:12,220 --> 00:10:15,370 S2: effectiveness can be seen in the recent purchase of Eno 176 00:10:15,370 --> 00:10:21,370 S2: valve by American medical device giant Edwards Lifesciences, which specializes 177 00:10:21,370 --> 00:10:24,880 S2: in solutions for heart disease patients. The goal now is 178 00:10:24,880 --> 00:10:28,090 S2: to complete the clinical trials and make the device available 179 00:10:28,090 --> 00:10:32,730 S2: to potentially millions of people who suffer with mitral valve leakage, 180 00:10:32,730 --> 00:10:37,920 S2: offering a minimally invasive solution to a major health problem. This, John, 181 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,790 S2: is another real life medical solution that is coming our 182 00:10:41,790 --> 00:10:43,830 S2: way out of amazing Israel. 183 00:10:43,830 --> 00:10:46,410 S1: And that's a look at current events. Charlie, we're excited 184 00:10:46,410 --> 00:10:49,439 S1: about our five book blast, and if you can tell 185 00:10:49,440 --> 00:10:52,140 S1: us how the land and the book impacts you in 186 00:10:52,140 --> 00:10:56,849 S1: a quick email to the land and the book@moody.edu. We 187 00:10:56,850 --> 00:10:59,309 S1: will enter your name for our drawing, which happens Sunday 188 00:10:59,309 --> 00:11:02,070 S1: night at midnight. That's the cut off point. Tell us 189 00:11:02,070 --> 00:11:03,959 S1: how the land of the book impacts you. Maybe it's 190 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:06,870 S1: personal Bible study that has been enlightened for you. A 191 00:11:06,870 --> 00:11:09,390 S1: Sunday school class, if you're a pastor, maybe a sermon 192 00:11:09,390 --> 00:11:12,420 S1: you're working on, or maybe just a conversation with a friend. 193 00:11:12,420 --> 00:11:15,150 S1: Let us know as you email us at the land 194 00:11:15,150 --> 00:11:20,720 S1: and the book@moody.edu. You could enter and win five books 195 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:24,050 S1: from this book blast, including Experiencing the Land of the book, 196 00:11:24,050 --> 00:11:27,530 S1: Charlie Dyer's personal stories, personal photos of more than 100 197 00:11:27,530 --> 00:11:31,130 S1: trips to Israel, wrestling with job. Maybe somebody you know 198 00:11:31,130 --> 00:11:33,290 S1: is going through a rough spot right now and could 199 00:11:33,290 --> 00:11:36,140 S1: use that encouragement. A walking tour of the Gospels is 200 00:11:36,140 --> 00:11:39,590 S1: part of this package, as is the chosen novel four 201 00:11:39,590 --> 00:11:43,000 S1: in the series by Jerry Jenkins. Also in this way 202 00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:45,520 S1: We Came to Rome A look at Paul on the 203 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:49,329 S1: Appian Way. Fascinating stuff. And again, email your entry at 204 00:11:49,330 --> 00:11:54,010 S1: The Land and the book@moody.edu. Let us know how the 205 00:11:54,010 --> 00:11:57,850 S1: land of the book impacts you. Coming up, a conversation 206 00:11:57,850 --> 00:12:01,300 S1: with Max Lucado. What happens next? That's right here on 207 00:12:01,300 --> 00:12:18,120 S1: the land and the book. When my wife and I 208 00:12:18,120 --> 00:12:21,840 S1: are traveling to another country. We first explore it all online, 209 00:12:21,840 --> 00:12:25,230 S1: and then we visit our library and check out several guidebooks. 210 00:12:25,230 --> 00:12:25,950 S1: And we study the. 211 00:12:25,950 --> 00:12:26,670 S3: Maps. 212 00:12:26,670 --> 00:12:29,610 S1: Read the articles, bone up on what to see and 213 00:12:29,610 --> 00:12:33,120 S1: what to skip. But as believers, shouldn't we be at 214 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:36,959 S1: least as deliberate about preparing for the end of this age? 215 00:12:36,990 --> 00:12:40,170 S1: Thanks for joining us today on The Land and the book. 216 00:12:40,170 --> 00:12:42,930 S1: We're up next. We're going to visit with America's favorite 217 00:12:42,929 --> 00:12:46,800 S1: Christian writer, Max Lucado. First, though, let's sharpen our focus 218 00:12:46,800 --> 00:12:50,010 S1: on ideas for being more intentional with loving our Jewish 219 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:53,189 S1: friends for Christ. If you're going to share Jesus with 220 00:12:53,190 --> 00:12:55,640 S1: a Jewish friend or any friend you can't really do 221 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,880 S1: the story justice apart from the crucifixion. And the crucifixion, 222 00:12:58,880 --> 00:13:01,640 S1: of course, involves blood. But how do we respond when 223 00:13:01,640 --> 00:13:04,849 S1: our Jewish friends tell us that blood sacrifice is no 224 00:13:04,850 --> 00:13:08,209 S1: longer necessary? West Tabor is with life in Messiah. 225 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:11,690 S4: We agree. Without a temple and priesthood, sacrifice is no 226 00:13:11,690 --> 00:13:16,130 S4: longer possible. But what makes us think it's no longer necessary? 227 00:13:16,160 --> 00:13:18,290 S4: We understand the God of Israel is the one who 228 00:13:18,290 --> 00:13:21,820 S4: established the Levitical priesthood and the sacrificial system that required 229 00:13:21,820 --> 00:13:24,190 S4: blood for atonement, for the life of the flesh is 230 00:13:24,190 --> 00:13:25,960 S4: in the blood, and I've given it to you on 231 00:13:25,960 --> 00:13:28,240 S4: the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it 232 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,820 S4: is the blood, by reason of the life that makes atonement. 233 00:13:31,150 --> 00:13:33,790 S4: We also find in the Old Testament God's promise of 234 00:13:33,790 --> 00:13:35,380 S4: one who will make atonement. 235 00:13:35,530 --> 00:13:38,350 S1: So where do we go in the scriptures to point 236 00:13:38,350 --> 00:13:40,690 S1: our Jewish friends to biblical truth? 237 00:13:40,960 --> 00:13:43,860 S4: Well, the clearest description of Messiah's atoning work is found 238 00:13:43,860 --> 00:13:46,890 S4: in Isaiah 53, but pointers to Messiah can be found 239 00:13:46,890 --> 00:13:50,670 S4: throughout the Old Testament. Check out Moody's Handbook of Messianic Prophecy. 240 00:13:50,820 --> 00:13:53,400 S1: Thoughts from West Tabor, who is with life in Messiah, 241 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:57,600 S1: joining us today on the land and the book. Max 242 00:13:57,600 --> 00:14:01,920 S1: Lucado preaches and writes and does both with a unique touch. 243 00:14:01,920 --> 00:14:06,920 S1: His storytelling is poetic and his Bible teaching is just accessible. 244 00:14:06,950 --> 00:14:09,200 S1: He writes books and as he puts it, he does 245 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:12,270 S1: so for people who don't read books. More than 150 246 00:14:12,270 --> 00:14:15,710 S1: million of his titles have been sold by way of 247 00:14:15,710 --> 00:14:18,439 S1: a day job. Yeah. He serves as a Bible teacher 248 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,590 S1: at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas. And we're 249 00:14:21,590 --> 00:14:23,840 S1: here today to talk about his first full book on 250 00:14:23,840 --> 00:14:27,830 S1: the end times, What Happens Next A Traveler's Guide to 251 00:14:27,830 --> 00:14:30,560 S1: the end of the age. It's an honor to connect 252 00:14:30,560 --> 00:14:31,340 S1: with you, sir. 253 00:14:31,610 --> 00:14:35,120 S5: Oh, it's my privilege. You're a very, very kind and 254 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,239 S5: gracious to allow me to be on your program. 255 00:14:38,270 --> 00:14:41,570 S1: Well, you know, a Pew survey shows that 55% of 256 00:14:41,570 --> 00:14:45,410 S1: Americans say they are interested in end times events. What's 257 00:14:45,410 --> 00:14:47,900 S1: got average Americans so interested, Max? 258 00:14:48,590 --> 00:14:50,570 S5: I think a couple of things. That's a that's a 259 00:14:50,570 --> 00:14:53,750 S5: really good question. I think a couple of things. One 260 00:14:53,750 --> 00:14:56,650 S5: is what we're seeing in the world. You know, we've 261 00:14:56,650 --> 00:15:00,070 S5: got uh, especially with Israel and Gaza, but we've also 262 00:15:00,070 --> 00:15:04,240 S5: got a potential conflict between the U.S. and Russia, between 263 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:08,590 S5: US and China. There's potential conflict between China and Taiwan. 264 00:15:08,590 --> 00:15:12,160 S5: We've got Russia and Ukraine. It just seems like the 265 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:19,140 S5: global condition is very, very fragile. And it has people anxious. Yeah. 266 00:15:19,140 --> 00:15:23,430 S5: And then I think also just from a spiritual standpoint, 267 00:15:23,430 --> 00:15:28,890 S5: that the Lord is stirring hearts. He's preparing his church. 268 00:15:28,890 --> 00:15:31,979 S5: I'm not the only pastor who has felt a call 269 00:15:31,980 --> 00:15:35,490 S5: in the last several years to really dive deep into 270 00:15:35,490 --> 00:15:39,570 S5: understanding in times and try to unpack it better for 271 00:15:39,570 --> 00:15:43,760 S5: our churches. So I'm hopeful that it's the Lord that's 272 00:15:43,760 --> 00:15:46,880 S5: stirring this, because that's the stirring that matters the most. 273 00:15:46,910 --> 00:15:49,490 S1: A lot of Christians are wondering, is it possible we 274 00:15:49,490 --> 00:15:52,280 S1: are right now living in the end times? What do 275 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:52,850 S1: you think? 276 00:15:53,240 --> 00:15:56,510 S5: Well, my answer is we're not in the end times. 277 00:15:56,510 --> 00:15:59,300 S5: We're in the end of the end times. To me, 278 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:01,880 S5: you know, John, and I know this is a vibrant 279 00:16:01,880 --> 00:16:06,470 S5: and robust discussion that we'll all have until the Lord returns. 280 00:16:06,620 --> 00:16:10,850 S5: But to me, everything changed in May of 1948 when 281 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:14,510 S5: Israel became a nation. I mean, it is simply striking 282 00:16:14,510 --> 00:16:19,100 S5: that a people who were dispersed from their homeland for 283 00:16:19,100 --> 00:16:24,860 S5: 2000 years would fulfill three specific biblical prophecies and be 284 00:16:24,860 --> 00:16:28,370 S5: returned to their homeland. And all of those prophecies had 285 00:16:28,370 --> 00:16:31,540 S5: to be fulfilled for many of the end times prophecy 286 00:16:31,810 --> 00:16:36,460 S5: to be fulfilled. And so the fact that Israel has 287 00:16:36,460 --> 00:16:40,030 S5: been regathered and is in the process of being regathered 288 00:16:40,030 --> 00:16:44,200 S5: to its homeland is important. It is the we often 289 00:16:44,200 --> 00:16:47,620 S5: call it the super sign. But a page of prophetic 290 00:16:47,620 --> 00:16:52,570 S5: history was turned on May 8th, 1948, when Israel was 291 00:16:52,570 --> 00:16:54,730 S5: reinstated to their home country. 292 00:16:54,870 --> 00:16:57,420 S1: It's great to visit today with one of America's most 293 00:16:57,420 --> 00:17:01,260 S1: beloved Christian writers, Max Lucado. I'm John Gager, and we're 294 00:17:01,260 --> 00:17:04,709 S1: talking about what happens next. A Traveler's Guide to the 295 00:17:04,710 --> 00:17:08,100 S1: End of the age here on the land and the book. Well, 296 00:17:08,100 --> 00:17:12,690 S1: we live in an age of disunity, dislike and disinformation. 297 00:17:12,690 --> 00:17:15,240 S1: How does that factor into what the Bible says about 298 00:17:15,240 --> 00:17:16,890 S1: the end times? What do you think? 299 00:17:17,190 --> 00:17:20,430 S5: I'm not at all surprised at the end times that 300 00:17:20,430 --> 00:17:23,640 S5: during these last days that there is a greater sense 301 00:17:23,640 --> 00:17:27,090 S5: of fear and anxiety. You think about it when people 302 00:17:27,090 --> 00:17:32,070 S5: don't know where we are going, then they don't know 303 00:17:32,070 --> 00:17:36,060 S5: where we are. They don't know how to interpret the 304 00:17:36,060 --> 00:17:38,520 S5: many events. You know, there have been occasions when I 305 00:17:38,520 --> 00:17:42,810 S5: got stuck in a subway and the subway line went down, 306 00:17:42,810 --> 00:17:45,830 S5: or one time I got stuck in an elevator and 307 00:17:45,830 --> 00:17:48,890 S5: the elevator quit moving. We've had those experiences and they're 308 00:17:48,890 --> 00:17:52,970 S5: not very pleasant because they're claustrophobic. We wonder what's going 309 00:17:52,970 --> 00:17:55,760 S5: to happen. I wonder if the whole world is in 310 00:17:55,760 --> 00:17:59,900 S5: a claustrophobic state. As we look at these issues and 311 00:17:59,900 --> 00:18:04,609 S5: statistics in which the mental health crisis is happening, depression 312 00:18:04,609 --> 00:18:07,660 S5: is at an all time high. Suicide rates are just 313 00:18:07,660 --> 00:18:11,020 S5: tragically high. Yes, and I wonder how much of it 314 00:18:11,020 --> 00:18:13,600 S5: is simply due to the fact that we don't know 315 00:18:13,600 --> 00:18:16,570 S5: what's about to happen. We feel stuck. We're trapped in 316 00:18:16,570 --> 00:18:19,780 S5: a plane that can't get off the tarmac. And that's 317 00:18:19,780 --> 00:18:22,990 S5: why the Christian gospel, that's why the hope of heaven. 318 00:18:22,990 --> 00:18:25,689 S5: And that's why the promise of eternal life is so 319 00:18:25,690 --> 00:18:29,530 S5: life giving. It tells me that these brief and momentary 320 00:18:29,530 --> 00:18:33,900 S5: problems are not worth comparing with the glory that outweighs 321 00:18:33,900 --> 00:18:37,050 S5: them all. And that's why we have the opportunity to 322 00:18:37,050 --> 00:18:39,900 S5: give so much hope to so many people. 323 00:18:40,230 --> 00:18:42,720 S1: You know, there are many among us, myself being one 324 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:45,210 S1: of them, who kind of grew up sort of fearing 325 00:18:45,210 --> 00:18:47,580 S1: the rapture, you know? And if fear is not the 326 00:18:47,580 --> 00:18:49,139 S1: right response, what is? 327 00:18:49,500 --> 00:18:53,040 S5: Yes, sir, I know it. And I've talked to many people, 328 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:55,700 S5: especially when I was preaching through this series. All of 329 00:18:55,700 --> 00:18:59,090 S5: my books are first sermon series. John at our church. 330 00:18:59,090 --> 00:19:01,669 S5: And when I was preaching through this sermon series, I 331 00:19:01,670 --> 00:19:04,460 S5: was surprised how many people came to me and said, 332 00:19:04,460 --> 00:19:07,429 S5: you know, I grew up being afraid of the rapture. 333 00:19:07,609 --> 00:19:12,050 S5: And I understand that the idea of a supernatural call 334 00:19:12,050 --> 00:19:16,669 S5: of God to empty out the graves and the living 335 00:19:16,670 --> 00:19:19,510 S5: will be raised and will be reunited with those who 336 00:19:19,510 --> 00:19:22,750 S5: are in Paradise right now. But the Apostle Paul said 337 00:19:22,750 --> 00:19:26,020 S5: after he taught on this in first Thessalonians four to 338 00:19:26,020 --> 00:19:29,649 S5: encourage one another with these words, I believe it's an 339 00:19:29,650 --> 00:19:32,949 S5: encouraging it's an exciting moment because what it says to 340 00:19:32,950 --> 00:19:36,370 S5: me is that God will deliver his church. He will 341 00:19:36,369 --> 00:19:41,169 S5: rescue his church before the real chaos begins during the 342 00:19:41,170 --> 00:19:45,160 S5: tribulation and in that moment of rapture as well as deliverance, 343 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,040 S5: it will be great healing. I've got so many people 344 00:19:48,040 --> 00:19:51,010 S5: who are friends and members of our congregation, who have 345 00:19:51,010 --> 00:19:54,670 S5: lived their lives in bodies that have never worked well. 346 00:19:54,670 --> 00:19:57,490 S5: I cannot wait for that moment in which they will 347 00:19:57,490 --> 00:20:01,450 S5: be changed from one instant to the next in a perfected, 348 00:20:01,450 --> 00:20:05,320 S5: glorified body in which they will live forever. And so 349 00:20:05,320 --> 00:20:08,340 S5: it's going to be the greatest miracle since the history 350 00:20:08,340 --> 00:20:11,340 S5: of mankind. And so I'm not quite sure how to 351 00:20:11,340 --> 00:20:15,510 S5: calm people's fears except to say Jesus said, do not 352 00:20:15,510 --> 00:20:18,600 S5: let your heart be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also 353 00:20:18,600 --> 00:20:21,239 S5: in me and my father's house. There are many mansions, 354 00:20:21,240 --> 00:20:23,280 S5: and if it were not, so would I have told you? 355 00:20:23,280 --> 00:20:25,800 S5: But I am going there to prepare a place for you. 356 00:20:25,800 --> 00:20:29,040 S5: And when I'm finished, I will come back and get you. 357 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,500 S5: That's his promise. I will come back and get you. 358 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:34,820 S5: So let's don't be afraid of it. Let's trust the Lord. 359 00:20:34,820 --> 00:20:38,600 S5: Let's trust his goodness and his provision. And let's be 360 00:20:38,600 --> 00:20:41,390 S5: comforted by the fact that he he will rescue us 361 00:20:41,390 --> 00:20:42,439 S5: at the right time. 362 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,859 S1: Max Lucado is a writer whose books you've read or 363 00:20:45,859 --> 00:20:49,220 S1: should have. He joins us today on the land and 364 00:20:49,220 --> 00:20:52,490 S1: the book. What are some typical mistakes that we make 365 00:20:52,490 --> 00:20:56,000 S1: when trying to do our own study of end times events. 366 00:20:56,420 --> 00:20:59,600 S5: Now that is a great question. I've done several interviews 367 00:20:59,600 --> 00:21:01,700 S5: and no one's asked me that, and that's the kind 368 00:21:01,700 --> 00:21:05,180 S5: of question I'd love to answer, because what I've found, John, 369 00:21:05,180 --> 00:21:07,250 S5: as I dug into this, is that we do make 370 00:21:07,250 --> 00:21:10,429 S5: a mistake, and that is we go quickly to the 371 00:21:10,430 --> 00:21:14,270 S5: prophetic books like Daniel, Ezekiel, Zechariah, of course, the Book 372 00:21:14,270 --> 00:21:17,720 S5: of Revelation. And, well, we should. Well, we should. I 373 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,350 S5: just think we should start in the book of Genesis. 374 00:21:21,350 --> 00:21:24,409 S5: I think the book of Genesis is the most prophetic 375 00:21:24,410 --> 00:21:27,980 S5: book in the Bible, because what God declares in the 376 00:21:27,980 --> 00:21:31,280 S5: beginning is what will happen in the end. The Scripture 377 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:34,189 S5: tells us he declares the end from the beginning. So 378 00:21:34,190 --> 00:21:36,139 S5: if you want to know how we're going to end up, 379 00:21:36,140 --> 00:21:38,899 S5: let's see how we began. And when you look at 380 00:21:38,900 --> 00:21:42,650 S5: the Garden of Eden, there you see God's intent and 381 00:21:42,650 --> 00:21:48,840 S5: purpose that his people would reign with him in perfect bodies, 382 00:21:48,840 --> 00:21:53,940 S5: in a perfect Paradise. So there's God's plan now, unlike us, 383 00:21:53,940 --> 00:21:57,090 S5: God doesn't change his mind. You know, I may change 384 00:21:57,090 --> 00:21:59,129 S5: my mind 2 or 3 times on a given day. 385 00:21:59,130 --> 00:22:01,800 S5: Not God, he declares the end from the beginning. And 386 00:22:01,800 --> 00:22:06,030 S5: so he's already declared that this is his prototype. This 387 00:22:06,030 --> 00:22:08,750 S5: is his picture and what we see in the lives 388 00:22:08,750 --> 00:22:11,390 S5: of Adam and Eve is a picture of his purpose 389 00:22:11,390 --> 00:22:14,480 S5: for us. So if we do make a mistake in 390 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:17,900 S5: terms of studying in times, it's that we go to 391 00:22:17,900 --> 00:22:22,100 S5: the end rather than to the beginning. But really, eschatology, 392 00:22:22,100 --> 00:22:25,369 S5: which is the study of end things or last things, 393 00:22:25,369 --> 00:22:28,399 S5: is best understood through proctology, which is the study of 394 00:22:28,400 --> 00:22:31,700 S5: the earliest things. I did that in the book. I 395 00:22:31,700 --> 00:22:34,119 S5: found that and also shared that with the church. And 396 00:22:34,119 --> 00:22:37,630 S5: I kept coming back to that. You know, here's what 397 00:22:37,660 --> 00:22:41,170 S5: God is doing. Here's where he is taking us. So 398 00:22:41,170 --> 00:22:45,490 S5: let's don't get too confused or intimidated by the numbers 399 00:22:45,490 --> 00:22:48,190 S5: and the symbols of the prophetic books until we've laid 400 00:22:48,190 --> 00:22:51,879 S5: the foundation from the first book. And that's God's plan 401 00:22:51,880 --> 00:22:53,230 S5: in the book of Genesis. 402 00:22:53,740 --> 00:22:55,990 S1: Let's move on to a question that's on a lot 403 00:22:55,990 --> 00:22:59,770 S1: of people's minds. Who or what is the Antichrist? And 404 00:22:59,770 --> 00:23:02,710 S1: do you personally think the Antichrist is alive today? 405 00:23:02,980 --> 00:23:07,930 S5: Well, the Antichrist is a figure that Satan will use 406 00:23:07,930 --> 00:23:12,189 S5: in the tribulation or seven years of trouble after the 407 00:23:12,190 --> 00:23:18,040 S5: church is raptured and Satan will indwell that person exactly 408 00:23:18,040 --> 00:23:21,659 S5: the way he moved into the body of Judas on 409 00:23:21,660 --> 00:23:24,870 S5: the evening prior to the crucifixion, and led Judas to 410 00:23:24,869 --> 00:23:29,580 S5: betray Jesus. The Antichrist is a war monger. He'll come 411 00:23:29,580 --> 00:23:32,669 S5: across as a peacemaker during a time of crisis, because 412 00:23:32,670 --> 00:23:36,090 S5: the world will see the sudden vacated graves and the 413 00:23:36,090 --> 00:23:39,300 S5: disappearance of the Christians. They'll say, where are all these people? 414 00:23:39,300 --> 00:23:42,630 S5: It'll send the world into a state of chaos and crisis. 415 00:23:42,630 --> 00:23:45,800 S5: But he will step forth, much like Hitler did, and 416 00:23:45,800 --> 00:23:49,370 S5: be a calming voice and be a magnetic personality. And 417 00:23:49,369 --> 00:23:53,210 S5: people will be irresistibly lured to him, and he will 418 00:23:53,210 --> 00:23:56,869 S5: negotiate a peace treaty that involves the nation of Israel 419 00:23:56,869 --> 00:24:00,680 S5: and involves, I believe, the rebuilding of the temple. But 420 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:03,380 S5: midway through that peace treaty, he'll break it. He'll set 421 00:24:03,380 --> 00:24:06,530 S5: him up in the in the temple itself and demand 422 00:24:06,530 --> 00:24:10,750 S5: to be worshipped. Daniel called this. And then Jesus called 423 00:24:10,750 --> 00:24:13,930 S5: this the abomination of desolation. And it will take place 424 00:24:13,930 --> 00:24:17,590 S5: during those seven years. So he is the ultimate pawn 425 00:24:17,590 --> 00:24:20,980 S5: of the devil. Now to your question, is he alive today? 426 00:24:20,980 --> 00:24:24,760 S5: I believe a candidate for the Antichrist is alive in 427 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:29,800 S5: every generation. Remember, Satan is not omnipresent and he's not 428 00:24:29,830 --> 00:24:33,730 S5: omniscient and so he does not know when the rapture 429 00:24:33,730 --> 00:24:37,149 S5: will take place. For that reason, I believe he's had 430 00:24:37,150 --> 00:24:41,290 S5: a candidate in each generation. In the minute that there 431 00:24:41,290 --> 00:24:43,600 S5: is a rapture, then Satan will go to work. I 432 00:24:43,600 --> 00:24:47,080 S5: do not know if the Antichrist will appear immediately like 433 00:24:47,080 --> 00:24:50,110 S5: within minutes after the rapture, but soon thereafter, at some 434 00:24:50,109 --> 00:24:54,190 S5: point he will appear and Satan will have embodied him 435 00:24:54,190 --> 00:24:57,750 S5: or moved into him. And so yeah, a candidate, it 436 00:24:57,750 --> 00:25:01,469 S5: seems to me, is is alive in each generation. So 437 00:25:01,470 --> 00:25:05,220 S5: there's one in our generation, but we who are believers 438 00:25:05,220 --> 00:25:08,130 S5: will be rescued before he comes. Uh, the Scripture has 439 00:25:08,130 --> 00:25:10,770 S5: promised that God will protect us from the wrath, not 440 00:25:10,770 --> 00:25:13,170 S5: lead us to the wrath. And so for that, we 441 00:25:13,170 --> 00:25:14,700 S5: don't have to worry. I'm never going to meet him. 442 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:16,680 S5: You're never going to meet him? Uh, I don't. 443 00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:17,070 S6: Know if we'll. 444 00:25:17,070 --> 00:25:18,810 S5: Be able to see him from Paradise. If we do, 445 00:25:18,810 --> 00:25:20,040 S5: I don't even want to look at him. 446 00:25:20,420 --> 00:25:20,720 S6: Uh. 447 00:25:21,380 --> 00:25:24,860 S5: So I'm not anxious about it. But I do believe 448 00:25:24,859 --> 00:25:28,250 S5: that those who do not know Christ should be anxious 449 00:25:28,250 --> 00:25:29,990 S5: about it. And for that reason, we've got to be 450 00:25:29,990 --> 00:25:34,160 S5: urgent urging people to trust Christ now, before the end comes. 451 00:25:34,160 --> 00:25:37,610 S1: What happens next? A Traveler's Guide to the End of 452 00:25:37,609 --> 00:25:40,669 S1: the age. We've been talking with author Max Lucado about 453 00:25:40,670 --> 00:25:43,520 S1: that book. So many other questions to tackle, which means 454 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:46,210 S1: we need to get together again. Would you say we 455 00:25:46,210 --> 00:25:49,300 S1: do it next time? We're looking forward to that conversation. 456 00:25:49,300 --> 00:25:51,700 S1: But right now it's a look at Bible questions with 457 00:25:51,700 --> 00:25:54,040 S1: our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. That's next here on the 458 00:25:54,040 --> 00:26:08,679 S1: land and the book. Welcome back to the land and 459 00:26:08,680 --> 00:26:11,560 S1: the book. I'm John Gager saying thank you. Thank you 460 00:26:11,560 --> 00:26:13,480 S1: for being with us. And thank you for sharing us 461 00:26:13,480 --> 00:26:15,640 S1: with your friends. Word of mouth is how others find 462 00:26:15,640 --> 00:26:19,600 S1: out about the broadcast or podcast, however you choose to listen. 463 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:21,760 S1: We're grateful for that. If you're a regular, you know 464 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:24,460 S1: this is segment three where we tackle questions that have 465 00:26:24,460 --> 00:26:27,520 S1: been emailed to us. Here's a question though Israel has 466 00:26:27,520 --> 00:26:29,530 S1: been in the news a lot over the past year 467 00:26:29,530 --> 00:26:32,820 S1: and as we know, the Bible is jam packed with 468 00:26:32,820 --> 00:26:36,840 S1: end times prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of 469 00:26:36,840 --> 00:26:39,570 S1: the Jewish people to their ancient homeland. And of course, 470 00:26:39,570 --> 00:26:42,780 S1: Jesus soon returned. It is crucial for us as believers 471 00:26:42,780 --> 00:26:46,530 S1: to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy. So our 472 00:26:46,530 --> 00:26:49,320 S1: view of the future is shaped by Scripture, not today's headlines. 473 00:26:49,320 --> 00:26:51,389 S1: Do you have that perspective? Right, Charlie? 474 00:26:51,420 --> 00:26:53,520 S2: That's right. John. In fact, with this in mind, our 475 00:26:53,520 --> 00:26:57,200 S2: friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 476 00:26:57,200 --> 00:27:00,560 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 477 00:27:00,560 --> 00:27:02,750 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. 478 00:27:02,750 --> 00:27:06,379 S2: This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 479 00:27:06,380 --> 00:27:10,189 S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 480 00:27:10,190 --> 00:27:12,950 S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 481 00:27:12,950 --> 00:27:16,070 S2: the scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested 482 00:27:16,070 --> 00:27:19,400 S2: in learning more about what God has in store, visit 483 00:27:19,400 --> 00:27:22,300 S2: Life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio 484 00:27:22,300 --> 00:27:25,330 S2: button there to find out how you can receive your 485 00:27:25,330 --> 00:27:30,310 S2: copy of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in Messiah. 486 00:27:30,580 --> 00:27:33,790 S1: Org if I had an imaginary button here I could push. 487 00:27:33,790 --> 00:27:35,950 S1: I would go for a drum roll. As we open 488 00:27:35,950 --> 00:27:39,130 S1: today's segment of questions and answers, starting with this one 489 00:27:39,130 --> 00:27:42,340 S1: from Todd, who says, can you help me interpret? First 490 00:27:42,340 --> 00:27:46,930 S1: Samuel 1529 and verse 35 one verse says, the Lord 491 00:27:46,930 --> 00:27:50,830 S1: doesn't regret, and the next says, the Lord regretted. Charlie. 492 00:27:50,830 --> 00:27:52,000 S1: Help us. Yeah. 493 00:27:52,000 --> 00:27:54,850 S2: And both of those passages I see God using imagery 494 00:27:54,850 --> 00:27:58,810 S2: of human emotion to express divine judgment. That is, the 495 00:27:58,810 --> 00:28:02,920 S2: passage isn't suggesting God's fickle or prone to unpredictable changes 496 00:28:02,920 --> 00:28:06,129 S2: in thought or mind. In fact, right in the middle 497 00:28:06,130 --> 00:28:09,060 S2: of this section is verse 29, where Samuel provides a 498 00:28:09,060 --> 00:28:13,620 S2: clear theological statement of God's immutability. He says, he who 499 00:28:13,619 --> 00:28:16,080 S2: is the God of Israel does not lie or change 500 00:28:16,080 --> 00:28:18,210 S2: his mind, for he is not a man, that he 501 00:28:18,210 --> 00:28:20,970 S2: should change his mind. And the word used twice in 502 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,970 S2: that verse, change his mind, is the exact same word 503 00:28:23,970 --> 00:28:26,790 S2: used in those other verses. Now here's how I put 504 00:28:26,790 --> 00:28:29,909 S2: it all together. Verse 29 is that clear explanation of 505 00:28:29,910 --> 00:28:34,129 S2: God's character? God's character and his actions remain consistent. God 506 00:28:34,130 --> 00:28:38,870 S2: always rewards obedience, and he always judges disobedience. When Saul 507 00:28:38,870 --> 00:28:42,110 S2: chose to disobey God, God withdrew his blessing from Saul 508 00:28:42,110 --> 00:28:45,260 S2: and placed Saul under judgment. But to picture that in 509 00:28:45,260 --> 00:28:48,440 S2: human terms it would appear that God relented or regretted 510 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:51,380 S2: his original decision. By the way, a good example of 511 00:28:51,380 --> 00:28:55,150 S2: this principle can be found in Jeremiah 18, verses 7 512 00:28:55,150 --> 00:28:58,390 S2: to 10. Jeremiah describes how God can appear to relent 513 00:28:58,390 --> 00:29:01,240 S2: or change his mind, but in actual fact, God is 514 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,360 S2: consistent in promising to bless those who turn to him 515 00:29:04,360 --> 00:29:07,540 S2: and to judge those who turn away from him. Historically, 516 00:29:07,540 --> 00:29:10,030 S2: it's the same principle found in the Book of Jonah, 517 00:29:10,030 --> 00:29:14,170 S2: where Jonah's message of judgment against Nineveh didn't take place 518 00:29:14,170 --> 00:29:17,560 S2: because the people repented. In his anger, Jonah said to God, 519 00:29:17,560 --> 00:29:20,800 S2: I knew you were a gracious and compassionate God, slow 520 00:29:20,800 --> 00:29:23,760 S2: to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents 521 00:29:23,760 --> 00:29:27,030 S2: from sending calamity. And the same word for relent is 522 00:29:27,030 --> 00:29:30,060 S2: used in both Jeremiah 18 and Jonah four. That's used 523 00:29:30,060 --> 00:29:32,910 S2: in in Samuel. So starting to go into all that detail. 524 00:29:32,910 --> 00:29:34,950 S2: But I think the way to harmonize the verse is 525 00:29:34,950 --> 00:29:38,790 S2: to recognize God in His essence is immutable. He doesn't change, 526 00:29:38,790 --> 00:29:41,490 S2: but part of his character is God is to judge 527 00:29:41,490 --> 00:29:45,660 S2: sin and disobedience and to reward repentance and submission. And 528 00:29:45,660 --> 00:29:48,720 S2: in Saul's case, God went from blessing him to judging 529 00:29:48,720 --> 00:29:51,420 S2: him based on Saul's actions as king. 530 00:29:51,450 --> 00:29:54,450 S1: Thank you Charlie. Appreciate you clearing that up. Nancy wants 531 00:29:54,450 --> 00:29:57,480 S1: to know, has the Philistine city of Gaza been in 532 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:02,520 S1: existence continuously since biblical times? Reading Zechariah nine, it's foretold 533 00:30:02,520 --> 00:30:05,370 S1: this area would become a remnant for God. Would this 534 00:30:05,400 --> 00:30:08,760 S1: be after Christ takes rule over all, or has there 535 00:30:08,760 --> 00:30:11,630 S1: been a time previously when that people knew the God 536 00:30:11,630 --> 00:30:14,990 S1: of Israel? Obviously the current territory of Gaza is much 537 00:30:14,990 --> 00:30:18,230 S1: larger and not this remnant. Your perspective? 538 00:30:18,260 --> 00:30:20,540 S2: Yeah, I've got to answer by putting verse seven there 539 00:30:20,540 --> 00:30:24,170 S2: in its larger context. Zechariah nine ultimately points toward the 540 00:30:24,170 --> 00:30:26,810 S2: coming of Israel's Messiah. In fact, verse nine in that 541 00:30:26,810 --> 00:30:29,870 S2: chapter describes his arrival in Jerusalem on the colt, the 542 00:30:29,870 --> 00:30:32,360 S2: foal of a donkey. So the overall imagery in the 543 00:30:32,360 --> 00:30:35,030 S2: beginning of the chapter is of God coming to humble 544 00:30:35,030 --> 00:30:38,840 S2: or judge nations and assume his rightful place as king. 545 00:30:38,930 --> 00:30:41,690 S2: In verses 1 to 7, God pictures this coming as 546 00:30:41,690 --> 00:30:44,300 S2: a march from north to south, and I believe the 547 00:30:44,300 --> 00:30:47,540 S2: historical fulfillment of those verses came to pass when God 548 00:30:47,540 --> 00:30:50,960 S2: sent Alexander the Great against the Gentile powers that are 549 00:30:50,960 --> 00:30:54,170 S2: listed there. Now, when Zechariah then announced in verse seven 550 00:30:54,170 --> 00:30:56,780 S2: that those who are left of the Philistines will belong 551 00:30:56,810 --> 00:30:59,460 S2: to our God and become leaders in Judah, I believe 552 00:30:59,460 --> 00:31:02,250 S2: he's predicting that the remnant will be absorbed into the 553 00:31:02,250 --> 00:31:04,950 S2: nation of Judah. That is, he's saying the Philistines will 554 00:31:04,950 --> 00:31:08,310 S2: lose their national identity and become part of the Jewish nation. 555 00:31:08,310 --> 00:31:11,100 S2: And that's why he also adds that Ekron will be 556 00:31:11,100 --> 00:31:14,700 S2: like the Jebusites. So he's comparing the remaining Philistines to 557 00:31:14,700 --> 00:31:18,240 S2: the remnant of the Jebusites. When David captured Jebus and 558 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:20,040 S2: made it the capital of Israel. 559 00:31:20,070 --> 00:31:23,820 S1: Here's a question from Mark takes us to numbers three, 42, 560 00:31:23,820 --> 00:31:26,640 S1: and 43, which tell us that the total number of 561 00:31:26,640 --> 00:31:32,790 S1: firstborn male Israelites a month old or more was 22,273. 562 00:31:32,820 --> 00:31:35,370 S1: This total, he says, seems small in light of the 563 00:31:35,370 --> 00:31:38,280 S1: fact that the number of male Israelites 20 years old 564 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:40,620 S1: or more, who were able to serve in this army 565 00:31:40,620 --> 00:31:45,800 S1: was 603,550. What do I misunderstand? I thought all first 566 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:50,330 S1: born Israelites includes all. Firstborn is the figure from numbers 567 00:31:50,330 --> 00:31:53,330 S1: three only firstborn under age 20. And if so, how 568 00:31:53,330 --> 00:31:55,370 S1: do we know that? Or did I miss something? 569 00:31:55,400 --> 00:31:57,140 S2: Yeah. This is one of those times when I would 570 00:31:57,140 --> 00:31:59,600 S2: tell students, that's a great question. I wish I had 571 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,060 S2: a great answer to go along with it. And in 572 00:32:02,060 --> 00:32:04,850 S2: this case, I think there are several possible answers, though 573 00:32:04,850 --> 00:32:08,120 S2: none of them right now appears to be completely satisfactory. 574 00:32:08,150 --> 00:32:11,230 S2: Now I take at face value numbers three versus 42 575 00:32:11,230 --> 00:32:14,380 S2: and 43, which says the total number of firstborn males 576 00:32:14,380 --> 00:32:19,360 S2: a month old and upward in Israel was 22,273. And 577 00:32:19,360 --> 00:32:21,760 S2: verse 32 of chapter two says, the total number of 578 00:32:21,760 --> 00:32:27,250 S2: fighting men 20 years old and upward was 603,550. So 579 00:32:27,250 --> 00:32:29,950 S2: if you put those together, the ratio of total fighting 580 00:32:29,950 --> 00:32:32,890 S2: men to firstborn would be something like 27 to 1, 581 00:32:32,890 --> 00:32:35,700 S2: you know, that is, uh, there's 27 fighting men for 582 00:32:35,700 --> 00:32:38,730 S2: every one first born. Now, they did have large families 583 00:32:38,730 --> 00:32:41,490 S2: and many had multiple wives, but that seems like a 584 00:32:41,490 --> 00:32:44,910 S2: large number. But there are several possible solutions, each of 585 00:32:44,910 --> 00:32:48,150 S2: which comes at least with its own potential issues. Some 586 00:32:48,180 --> 00:32:51,060 S2: see this as the key to reducing the population of Israelites. 587 00:32:51,060 --> 00:32:53,670 S2: At the time of the Exodus, from 2 million to 588 00:32:53,670 --> 00:32:57,870 S2: about 250,000. Now, I don't like that response. And here's 589 00:32:57,870 --> 00:33:00,690 S2: part of the reason why there's a little obscure passage 590 00:33:00,690 --> 00:33:04,440 S2: in Exodus chapter 38, where the amount of silver collected 591 00:33:04,440 --> 00:33:07,890 S2: from the half shekel tax imposed on each male, it's 592 00:33:07,890 --> 00:33:12,060 S2: 100 talents and 775 shekels. When you add that up, 593 00:33:12,060 --> 00:33:17,310 S2: it exactly matches 603,550 men. So I really do think 594 00:33:17,310 --> 00:33:19,200 S2: that that's how many fighting men there were, which means 595 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,310 S2: the whole population was around 2 million. Now others say, 596 00:33:22,310 --> 00:33:25,640 S2: well then maybe the 22,000 only refers to first born 597 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,540 S2: male children born after the time of the first Passover possible. 598 00:33:29,540 --> 00:33:31,700 S2: But there's nothing in the passage that would seem to 599 00:33:31,700 --> 00:33:34,610 S2: limit it that way. Others suggest it might be a 600 00:33:34,610 --> 00:33:37,520 S2: textual error, and the number could actually be higher, but 601 00:33:37,520 --> 00:33:40,040 S2: there's no evidence of a textual problem. In fact, the 602 00:33:40,040 --> 00:33:43,730 S2: Septuagint very closely matches the Masoretic Text at this point. 603 00:33:43,730 --> 00:33:46,209 S2: So what do I suggest? Well, I start with the 604 00:33:46,210 --> 00:33:48,670 S2: assumption that it isn't an error in the Bible. There 605 00:33:48,670 --> 00:33:51,880 S2: is a solution. Even if it's not readily apparent to me. 606 00:33:52,000 --> 00:33:55,210 S2: It means I need to hold any proposed solution lightly 607 00:33:55,210 --> 00:33:58,390 S2: until more information is available. I think the possibility of 608 00:33:58,390 --> 00:34:01,690 S2: lowering the total number of Israelites seems the least likely option. 609 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,750 S2: It's possible that the apparent discrepancy can be reduced by 610 00:34:04,750 --> 00:34:07,660 S2: assuming the firstborn male is reckoned from the father, instead 611 00:34:07,660 --> 00:34:10,049 S2: of the case of multiple wives. That is, if a 612 00:34:10,050 --> 00:34:13,440 S2: man had multiple wives and multiple children, it's the first 613 00:34:13,440 --> 00:34:16,800 S2: male child, regardless of which mother gave birth first. And 614 00:34:16,800 --> 00:34:19,860 S2: we know Jacob had 12 sons through four women. David 615 00:34:19,860 --> 00:34:22,350 S2: was the youngest of eight sons born to Jesse. My 616 00:34:22,350 --> 00:34:24,660 S2: point would be that the ratio of firstborn males to 617 00:34:24,660 --> 00:34:27,150 S2: the total number of males could have been 1 to 8, 618 00:34:27,150 --> 00:34:29,759 S2: or 1 to 10, or 1 to 12. It doesn't 619 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:34,080 S2: completely resolve the problem, but it reduces the disparity. So finally, 620 00:34:34,110 --> 00:34:37,320 S2: it's possible the number of firstborn does exclude the firstborn 621 00:34:37,320 --> 00:34:39,359 S2: males at the time of the exodus, since they were 622 00:34:39,360 --> 00:34:42,330 S2: redeemed by the application of blood on the doorposts of 623 00:34:42,330 --> 00:34:44,760 S2: the houses. But right now I just have to live 624 00:34:44,760 --> 00:34:47,820 S2: with the possibilities until someone comes along with a better 625 00:34:47,820 --> 00:34:50,460 S2: answer that provides a more satisfactory solution. 626 00:34:50,489 --> 00:34:53,250 S1: Charlie, that reference to blood on the doorpost takes us 627 00:34:53,250 --> 00:34:57,770 S1: to Mark's question did the firstborn plague on Egypt take 628 00:34:57,770 --> 00:35:00,980 S1: the lives of only children, or was it the firstborn 629 00:35:00,980 --> 00:35:02,270 S1: of any age? 630 00:35:02,480 --> 00:35:04,550 S2: I believe the plague was all inclusive. It took the 631 00:35:04,550 --> 00:35:08,509 S2: firstborn males regardless of age. Exodus 1229 says it this 632 00:35:08,510 --> 00:35:11,690 S2: way at midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn 633 00:35:11,690 --> 00:35:13,820 S2: of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh, who sat on 634 00:35:13,820 --> 00:35:16,580 S2: the throne, to the firstborn of the prisoner who was 635 00:35:16,580 --> 00:35:19,190 S2: at the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock 636 00:35:19,190 --> 00:35:22,669 S2: as well. But it doesn't have any age limitation. So 637 00:35:22,670 --> 00:35:24,410 S2: they may have been young children, but they may have 638 00:35:24,410 --> 00:35:27,590 S2: been adults. Uh, whoever was the first born male. 639 00:35:27,590 --> 00:35:31,040 S1: Stan has a question about qualifications for elders. He says 640 00:35:31,040 --> 00:35:34,730 S1: it seems clear based on first Timothy three and Titus one, 641 00:35:34,730 --> 00:35:37,370 S1: an elder is to be a man under the headship 642 00:35:37,370 --> 00:35:40,310 S1: issue in Scripture. What is your thought on this as 643 00:35:40,310 --> 00:35:43,219 S1: some churches are debating the issue also same for a 644 00:35:43,219 --> 00:35:45,350 S1: head pastor. Should it be a man? 645 00:35:45,570 --> 00:35:48,150 S2: Yeah, I believe first Timothy three and Titus one do 646 00:35:48,150 --> 00:35:50,880 S2: limit the office of elder to men in first Timothy 647 00:35:50,880 --> 00:35:53,279 S2: three one qualification of an elder is that he be 648 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:55,919 S2: a husband of one wife. Literally. In Greek it says 649 00:35:55,920 --> 00:35:58,380 S2: he needs to be a one woman man. And the 650 00:35:58,380 --> 00:36:01,290 S2: word for husband or man there is very specific. The 651 00:36:01,290 --> 00:36:04,770 S2: word husband isn't anthropos, which can at times be generically 652 00:36:04,770 --> 00:36:07,380 S2: referring to men and women. It's the word honor which 653 00:36:07,380 --> 00:36:09,990 S2: is man or husband. Uh, so the same is true 654 00:36:09,989 --> 00:36:12,180 S2: of the word he uses for woman or wife. The 655 00:36:12,180 --> 00:36:15,630 S2: elder must be a male, married and characterized by faithfulness 656 00:36:15,630 --> 00:36:17,550 S2: to his wife. Now, I believe the role of the 657 00:36:17,550 --> 00:36:20,310 S2: senior pastor, the head, the lead pastor, whatever the church 658 00:36:20,310 --> 00:36:23,880 S2: uses is someone who's functioning biblically as an elder. So 659 00:36:23,880 --> 00:36:26,370 S2: I see this limited to qualified men. 660 00:36:26,370 --> 00:36:28,890 S1: Well, lots of questions come to our minds as we 661 00:36:28,890 --> 00:36:31,589 S1: read Scripture and yours is welcome any time with an 662 00:36:31,590 --> 00:36:36,830 S1: email to us at the Land and the book@moody.edu. Don't 663 00:36:36,830 --> 00:36:39,200 S1: go away. There's more to come on the broadcast. It's 664 00:36:39,200 --> 00:36:42,169 S1: Charlie Dyer's devotional. He takes a passage in Scripture to 665 00:36:42,170 --> 00:36:45,290 S1: a place in the Holy Land and nails them together. Next. 666 00:36:45,290 --> 00:37:01,779 S1: Right here. From Moody Radio. This is the Land and 667 00:37:01,780 --> 00:37:04,810 S1: the book with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer. I'm John Gager, 668 00:37:04,810 --> 00:37:08,320 S1: reflecting on a trip to Kruger National Park in South Africa. 669 00:37:08,350 --> 00:37:11,620 S1: You're there to see the Big Five game. And one 670 00:37:11,620 --> 00:37:14,049 S1: of those, of course, is the Lion and Man. Once 671 00:37:14,050 --> 00:37:17,770 S1: you've heard a lion roar, you never forget it. And 672 00:37:17,770 --> 00:37:20,529 S1: you read about it differently when you read scripture. Charlie. Uh, 673 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:22,719 S1: I think that's a sense of where you're going in 674 00:37:22,719 --> 00:37:23,950 S1: your devotional today. 675 00:37:23,980 --> 00:37:25,930 S2: That's exactly where we're heading, John. 676 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:28,479 S1: Much more than something a lion might do or say. 677 00:37:28,480 --> 00:37:31,750 S1: Charlie's got an insight for us in Joel chapter three 678 00:37:31,750 --> 00:37:34,330 S1: verse 16. But before he gets there, let's you and 679 00:37:34,330 --> 00:37:36,910 S1: I listen to this Holy Land experience testimony. 680 00:37:40,810 --> 00:37:44,799 S7: Hello, my name is Jan and my Holy Land experience 681 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:49,040 S7: was a series of aha moments. You know those moments 682 00:37:49,040 --> 00:37:53,840 S7: where something that you've heard and you've felt, you understand 683 00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:58,160 S7: the little tweak that just tells you this is my 684 00:37:58,160 --> 00:38:04,970 S7: answer to this situation. And we were talking about Jesus baptism, 685 00:38:04,969 --> 00:38:10,190 S7: and Charlie was explaining that that was the one time 686 00:38:10,190 --> 00:38:15,439 S7: in recorded history that God the Father, God the Son, 687 00:38:15,440 --> 00:38:19,490 S7: and God the Holy Spirit were present in one place 688 00:38:19,489 --> 00:38:24,530 S7: for people to see. And so many times people question 689 00:38:24,530 --> 00:38:27,410 S7: the Trinity, or how do you believe in the Holy Spirit? 690 00:38:27,410 --> 00:38:30,290 S7: How can they be three? But to be able to 691 00:38:30,290 --> 00:38:35,049 S7: say in Scripture, there's a part where they were together, 692 00:38:35,050 --> 00:38:38,800 S7: 3 in 1. It was just one of those moments 693 00:38:38,800 --> 00:38:42,310 S7: like that's there. He gave us the proof of that 694 00:38:42,310 --> 00:38:45,160 S7: in his word, and I hadn't seen that before. 695 00:38:47,350 --> 00:38:48,969 S1: All right, Charlie, I'm looking forward to what you got 696 00:38:48,969 --> 00:38:51,250 S1: for us in your devotional today. Uh. 697 00:38:51,250 --> 00:38:53,380 S2: Thanks, John. And if you've heard a lion roar, imagine 698 00:38:53,380 --> 00:38:55,630 S2: what it sounds like when God roars. Well, that's what 699 00:38:55,630 --> 00:38:57,160 S2: we're going to talk about, because this is week two 700 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:01,680 S2: of our five week series on famous 3/16 of the Bible. 701 00:39:01,830 --> 00:39:04,410 S2: And today finds us once again in Jerusalem. But the 702 00:39:04,410 --> 00:39:07,950 S2: scene in front of us is rather stark. It's late spring, 703 00:39:07,950 --> 00:39:11,340 S2: but the trees are a little more than barren white sticks. 704 00:39:11,340 --> 00:39:14,430 S2: Even the bark has been stripped off the branches. The 705 00:39:14,430 --> 00:39:17,040 S2: fields just outside the city, which should be full of 706 00:39:17,040 --> 00:39:20,700 S2: ripening grain, only have small clumps of stubble poking out 707 00:39:20,700 --> 00:39:23,730 S2: from the ground. And then we spot the reason. As 708 00:39:23,730 --> 00:39:26,190 S2: someone walks toward us through one of the barren fields, 709 00:39:26,219 --> 00:39:29,310 S2: a cloud of insects fly up around him, only to 710 00:39:29,310 --> 00:39:32,400 S2: settle back down and continue their feast. Once he's passed, 711 00:39:32,400 --> 00:39:36,840 S2: Judah and Jerusalem have been invaded by swarms of locusts. 712 00:39:36,870 --> 00:39:39,540 S2: We follow a group of ragged and worn citizens who 713 00:39:39,540 --> 00:39:42,930 S2: are making their way through Jerusalem's streets toward a lone 714 00:39:42,930 --> 00:39:46,950 S2: figure standing near the entrance to Solomon's Temple. He's calling 715 00:39:46,950 --> 00:39:49,290 S2: out to all those who are streaming into the temple 716 00:39:49,290 --> 00:39:53,160 S2: to ask for God's mercy. Declare a holy fast and 717 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:56,610 S2: call an assembly. Summon the elders and all who live 718 00:39:56,610 --> 00:39:58,740 S2: in the land to the house of the Lord your God, 719 00:39:58,739 --> 00:40:01,950 S2: and cry out to the Lord. Alas, for that day, 720 00:40:01,950 --> 00:40:04,049 S2: for the day of the Lord is near. It will 721 00:40:04,050 --> 00:40:08,040 S2: come like destruction from the Almighty. The man calling out 722 00:40:08,040 --> 00:40:10,870 S2: to the crowd is the prophet Joel, and his message 723 00:40:10,870 --> 00:40:15,759 S2: is a somber declaration of imminent disaster. Like repeated hammer blows, 724 00:40:15,760 --> 00:40:19,810 S2: the nation has experienced a series of locust plagues. What 725 00:40:19,810 --> 00:40:22,990 S2: the gnawing locusts has left, the swarming locust has eaten, 726 00:40:22,989 --> 00:40:25,930 S2: and what the swarming locust has left. The creeping locust 727 00:40:25,960 --> 00:40:28,779 S2: has eaten, and what the creeping locust has left. The 728 00:40:28,780 --> 00:40:33,190 S2: stripping locust has eaten. With the crops and trees devastated, 729 00:40:33,190 --> 00:40:36,540 S2: the nation now faces the very real specter of famine 730 00:40:36,540 --> 00:40:39,990 S2: and death. No wonder Joel announced the day of the 731 00:40:39,989 --> 00:40:43,830 S2: Lord is near. That phrase occurs throughout the Bible. The 732 00:40:43,830 --> 00:40:45,870 S2: day of the Lord was any time God came in 733 00:40:45,870 --> 00:40:49,380 S2: judgment to settle accounts. In that sense, there were many 734 00:40:49,380 --> 00:40:52,739 S2: days of the Lord throughout Israel's history. As the crowd 735 00:40:52,739 --> 00:40:55,410 S2: gathered around listening to Joel, they could see that the 736 00:40:55,410 --> 00:40:58,850 S2: crisis they now faced was just such a day. But 737 00:40:58,850 --> 00:41:02,390 S2: as Joel continued speaking, he used the current crisis as 738 00:41:02,390 --> 00:41:05,600 S2: a springboard to describe an even more frightening day of 739 00:41:05,600 --> 00:41:08,720 S2: the Lord, a still future day when a greater and 740 00:41:08,719 --> 00:41:12,560 S2: more deadly invasion would threaten the land. The prophet described 741 00:41:12,560 --> 00:41:15,440 S2: it as a day of darkness and gloom, a day 742 00:41:15,440 --> 00:41:19,520 S2: of clouds and blackness like dawn spreading across the mountains. 743 00:41:19,520 --> 00:41:22,670 S2: A large and mighty army comes, such as never was 744 00:41:22,670 --> 00:41:25,399 S2: of old, nor ever will be in ages to come. 745 00:41:25,640 --> 00:41:29,000 S2: The horrors of the recent deadly series of locust plagues 746 00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:31,970 S2: will pale in comparison to the ultimate day of the 747 00:41:31,969 --> 00:41:36,410 S2: Lord invasion still to come. As a master orator, Joel 748 00:41:36,410 --> 00:41:40,430 S2: holds his audience in suspense. What is this still future invasion? 749 00:41:40,460 --> 00:41:43,850 S2: Is it another, even greater horde of locusts? But how 750 00:41:43,850 --> 00:41:46,480 S2: could another locust plague do any more damage than that 751 00:41:46,480 --> 00:41:50,230 S2: which we've just experienced? The people focused with laser like 752 00:41:50,230 --> 00:41:55,060 S2: intensity on Joel, waiting for an explanation, and Joel doesn't disappoint. 753 00:41:55,060 --> 00:41:57,700 S2: Beginning in chapter three, he makes it clear that this 754 00:41:57,700 --> 00:42:00,340 S2: future day of the Lord invasion will appear to be 755 00:42:00,340 --> 00:42:05,710 S2: an unstoppable human army, and their destination is Jerusalem. Proclaim 756 00:42:05,710 --> 00:42:09,580 S2: this among the nations. Prepare for war. Rouse the warriors. 757 00:42:09,580 --> 00:42:12,760 S2: Let all the fighting men draw near an attack. Beat 758 00:42:12,760 --> 00:42:16,630 S2: your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. 759 00:42:16,630 --> 00:42:20,440 S2: Let the weakling say, I am strong. Come quickly, all 760 00:42:20,440 --> 00:42:23,800 S2: you nations from every side, and assemble there. Bring down 761 00:42:23,800 --> 00:42:27,100 S2: your warriors, O Lord. Let the nations be roused. Let 762 00:42:27,100 --> 00:42:30,850 S2: them advance into the valley of Jehoshaphat. That's the valley 763 00:42:30,850 --> 00:42:33,670 S2: where Yahweh the Lord will judge. For there I will 764 00:42:33,670 --> 00:42:37,939 S2: sit to judge all the nations on every side. Joel 765 00:42:37,940 --> 00:42:40,760 S2: describes an invasion in the ultimate day of the Lord, 766 00:42:40,760 --> 00:42:43,670 S2: a time when nations on all sides will focus on 767 00:42:43,670 --> 00:42:47,810 S2: attacking and destroying Jerusalem and the Jewish people. The army 768 00:42:47,810 --> 00:42:51,830 S2: appears to be unstoppable, and they're intent on vengeance. Using 769 00:42:51,830 --> 00:42:56,270 S2: every resource available to arm and outfit their warriors implements 770 00:42:56,270 --> 00:43:00,200 S2: a peace. Plowshares and pruning hooks will be refashioned into 771 00:43:00,200 --> 00:43:04,729 S2: implements of war. How can the tiny country of Israel survive? 772 00:43:04,969 --> 00:43:08,120 S2: One key theme in Joel is the importance of repentance 773 00:43:08,120 --> 00:43:11,090 S2: and turning to the Lord. In chapter two, verses 12 774 00:43:11,090 --> 00:43:14,240 S2: and 13, God calls out, even now, return to me 775 00:43:14,239 --> 00:43:17,570 S2: with all your heart. Rend your heart and not your garments. 776 00:43:17,570 --> 00:43:20,899 S2: Return to the Lord your God. And what does God 777 00:43:20,900 --> 00:43:24,550 S2: promise to do? Well, Joel first deals with the devastation 778 00:43:24,550 --> 00:43:27,820 S2: caused by the recent locust plague. I will repay you. 779 00:43:27,820 --> 00:43:30,339 S2: For the years the locusts have eaten the great locust 780 00:43:30,340 --> 00:43:33,069 S2: and the young locust, the other locusts and the locust swarm. 781 00:43:33,070 --> 00:43:36,219 S2: My great army that I sent among you. But what 782 00:43:36,219 --> 00:43:38,620 S2: about the future day of the Lord invasion by what 783 00:43:38,650 --> 00:43:42,069 S2: seems to be an unstoppable army? God makes a similar 784 00:43:42,070 --> 00:43:45,070 S2: promise to those who will be alive at that time. 785 00:43:45,070 --> 00:43:47,370 S2: Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will 786 00:43:47,370 --> 00:43:50,610 S2: be saved. For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there 787 00:43:50,610 --> 00:43:55,200 S2: will be deliverance. But wait, what's the famous 316 in 788 00:43:55,200 --> 00:43:59,640 S2: this story? Ah, patience my friend. We're almost there. As 789 00:43:59,640 --> 00:44:03,299 S2: Joel describes the nations gathering against Jerusalem in chapter three, 790 00:44:03,300 --> 00:44:06,060 S2: he pictures them gathering to wipe out the city and 791 00:44:06,060 --> 00:44:10,110 S2: the people, multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision. For 792 00:44:10,110 --> 00:44:12,049 S2: the day of the Lord is near in the valley 793 00:44:12,050 --> 00:44:15,860 S2: of decision. And then, in response to their desperate plea 794 00:44:15,860 --> 00:44:20,450 S2: for help, God once again intervenes in history. Verse 15 795 00:44:20,450 --> 00:44:23,450 S2: sets the stage. The sun and moon will be darkened 796 00:44:23,450 --> 00:44:27,260 S2: and the stars no longer shine. Supernatural signs in the 797 00:44:27,260 --> 00:44:30,740 S2: heavens prepare the way for God's arrival. And now Joel 798 00:44:30,739 --> 00:44:35,120 S2: delivers his famous 316 the Lord will roar from Zion 799 00:44:35,120 --> 00:44:38,990 S2: and thunder from Jerusalem. The earth and the sky will tremble, 800 00:44:38,989 --> 00:44:41,420 S2: but the Lord will be a refuge for his people, 801 00:44:41,420 --> 00:44:45,080 S2: a stronghold for the people of Israel. With a roar 802 00:44:45,080 --> 00:44:48,230 S2: like a lion as it pounces on its prey, God 803 00:44:48,230 --> 00:44:51,680 S2: will visibly leap back onto the stage of human history 804 00:44:51,680 --> 00:44:55,759 S2: to vanquish the attackers and rescue his people. And this 805 00:44:55,760 --> 00:44:58,370 S2: day of the Lord will alter the entire course of 806 00:44:58,390 --> 00:45:02,410 S2: history for Jerusalem and the people of Israel. Jerusalem will 807 00:45:02,410 --> 00:45:07,000 S2: be holy. Never again will foreigners invade her. That hasn't 808 00:45:07,000 --> 00:45:11,290 S2: yet been fulfilled, but someday it will. Joel then ends 809 00:45:11,290 --> 00:45:14,170 S2: his book by describing the impact of this physical and 810 00:45:14,170 --> 00:45:17,800 S2: spiritual restoration on the land, the city, and the people. 811 00:45:17,800 --> 00:45:22,180 S2: Judah will be inhabited forever and Jerusalem through all generations, 812 00:45:22,180 --> 00:45:25,590 S2: their blood guilt, which I have not pardoned, I will pardon. 813 00:45:25,620 --> 00:45:30,240 S2: The Lord dwells in Zion. There is a grand future 814 00:45:30,239 --> 00:45:33,480 S2: awaiting the nation of Israel, because God is a God 815 00:45:33,480 --> 00:45:37,920 S2: who keeps his word. So what difference can Joel 316 816 00:45:37,920 --> 00:45:41,250 S2: make in our lives today? First, I think we need 817 00:45:41,250 --> 00:45:44,400 S2: to remember the principle that underlines the entire book. A 818 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:49,770 S2: disobedience brings judgment, but repentance brings deliverance and blessing. Have 819 00:45:49,770 --> 00:45:53,430 S2: you placed your trust in Jesus as your Savior and Lord? 820 00:45:53,460 --> 00:45:57,690 S2: If not, turn to him today, confess your sin and 821 00:45:57,690 --> 00:46:00,720 S2: ask him to save you. If you have placed your 822 00:46:00,719 --> 00:46:03,330 S2: trust in Christ but are concerned about the condition our 823 00:46:03,330 --> 00:46:06,150 S2: world seems to be in, just remember that God is 824 00:46:06,150 --> 00:46:09,000 S2: still in control. There is coming a day when Jesus 825 00:46:09,000 --> 00:46:11,900 S2: will return to right all wrongs and deliver those who 826 00:46:11,900 --> 00:46:14,900 S2: look to him. We don't know when he'll return, but 827 00:46:14,900 --> 00:46:17,210 S2: his final words to us in the book of Revelation 828 00:46:17,210 --> 00:46:20,990 S2: are yes, I'm coming soon. And our response ought to 829 00:46:20,989 --> 00:46:25,730 S2: match that of the Apostle John. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 830 00:46:25,969 --> 00:46:30,140 S1: Amen indeed. And thank you, Charlie, for that great devotional. Well, 831 00:46:30,140 --> 00:46:32,030 S1: you can hear it all again at our website. The 832 00:46:32,030 --> 00:46:36,140 S1: land and the book. Org. Not just the devotional, but 833 00:46:36,140 --> 00:46:38,840 S1: the entire program. And we encourage you to do just 834 00:46:38,840 --> 00:46:41,060 S1: that and to share us with a friend. Word of 835 00:46:41,060 --> 00:46:43,730 S1: mouth is a great way to spread this ministry. Thank 836 00:46:43,730 --> 00:46:46,040 S1: you for doing that. Thank you for listening. Today I'm 837 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,680 S1: John Geiger on behalf of our host, Charlie Dyer, our producer, 838 00:46:48,680 --> 00:46:51,620 S1: Dan Anderson. The land and the book is a production 839 00:46:51,620 --> 00:46:55,040 S1: of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.