1 00:00:08,160 --> 00:00:11,320 S1: Our culture and our world are changing, and a lot 2 00:00:11,320 --> 00:00:14,760 S1: of that change is anti-Christian at its core. How does 3 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:17,120 S1: this fit into the end times, and how can we 4 00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:20,000 S1: learn to interpret the signs of our times in light 5 00:00:20,000 --> 00:00:22,759 S1: of what we read in biblical prophecy and what's just 6 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,880 S1: ahead for our world prophetically? We'll address those issues and 7 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:28,640 S1: more coming up. Hey, welcome to the land and the 8 00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:33,080 S1: book with author, conference speaker, and Israel expert Doctor Charlie Dyer. 9 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:35,880 S1: I'm John Gager, and in this opening segment, we dive 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,360 S1: into the week's headlines from the Middle East. But first, 11 00:00:38,600 --> 00:00:41,760 S1: this quick thought. What does Passover mean for us as 12 00:00:41,760 --> 00:00:45,320 S1: believers in Jesus? Some will remember the story from the 13 00:00:45,320 --> 00:00:48,320 S1: book of Exodus, but there is so much more to it. 14 00:00:48,600 --> 00:00:52,360 S1: Did you know that the Last Supper was a Passover meal? 15 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,200 S1: And not only did Jesus and his disciples celebrate Passover, 16 00:00:56,200 --> 00:00:58,959 S1: but it also foreshadowed his death on the cross for 17 00:00:58,960 --> 00:00:59,990 S1: our redemption. 18 00:01:00,270 --> 00:01:04,230 S2: Yeah, Passover is an amazing connection point with our Jewish friends, 19 00:01:04,230 --> 00:01:07,750 S2: both around the world and across the street. Jewish people 20 00:01:07,750 --> 00:01:10,830 S2: have been keeping this feast for thousands of years now. 21 00:01:10,830 --> 00:01:14,670 S2: Understanding the importance of this holiday and its history. Helps 22 00:01:14,670 --> 00:01:18,150 S2: you better understand these precious people. And what better way 23 00:01:18,150 --> 00:01:22,310 S2: to learn than to experience a Passover Seder yourself? If 24 00:01:22,350 --> 00:01:26,030 S2: you've never celebrated Passover, our friends at Life in Messiah 25 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:29,069 S2: would love to partner with you in hosting a Seder 26 00:01:29,069 --> 00:01:33,670 S2: experience every year. Their staff engage churches and small groups 27 00:01:33,670 --> 00:01:37,350 S2: in an interactive Messiah in the Passover Seder, where you 28 00:01:37,390 --> 00:01:41,070 S2: can taste and see the redemption story. If you're interested 29 00:01:41,069 --> 00:01:44,230 S2: in having someone come lead a Seder in your area, 30 00:01:44,230 --> 00:01:47,750 S2: visit Life in Messiah. Org and click on the radio 31 00:01:47,750 --> 00:01:51,150 S2: button there to learn more. That's life in Messiah. 32 00:01:52,510 --> 00:01:54,590 S1: And now a look at current events, all based in 33 00:01:54,590 --> 00:01:58,150 S1: the Middle East. All happening this past week. Last week, 34 00:01:58,190 --> 00:02:01,860 S1: a US attack on Iran seemed almost certain, with airlines 35 00:02:01,860 --> 00:02:06,820 S1: canceling flights in the region in anticipation of the expected confrontation. 36 00:02:06,820 --> 00:02:09,139 S1: And then the threat just seemed to vanish. Charlie, what 37 00:02:09,139 --> 00:02:10,299 S1: exactly happened? 38 00:02:10,580 --> 00:02:13,820 S2: Well, according to President Trump, the sudden shift came when 39 00:02:13,820 --> 00:02:16,859 S2: the US received word that Iran had canceled the planned 40 00:02:16,860 --> 00:02:21,220 S2: execution of more than 800 individuals who had been arrested. Now, 41 00:02:21,220 --> 00:02:23,859 S2: that's true enough, though it's not the full reason for 42 00:02:23,860 --> 00:02:27,660 S2: the postponement. The president also received reports from the military 43 00:02:27,660 --> 00:02:31,700 S2: suggesting that needed resources were not yet in place, and 44 00:02:31,700 --> 00:02:35,339 S2: that any action could increase tensions without bringing about a 45 00:02:35,340 --> 00:02:39,419 S2: change in Iran's leadership. Both Israel and the Gulf states 46 00:02:39,460 --> 00:02:42,860 S2: urged the white House not to push ahead with an attack. 47 00:02:43,180 --> 00:02:45,899 S2: The Gulf states were fearful of an Iranian attack on 48 00:02:45,900 --> 00:02:49,780 S2: their oil producing infrastructure, and Israel was concerned about not 49 00:02:49,780 --> 00:02:53,380 S2: having a sufficient reserve of arrow missiles to thwart Iran's 50 00:02:53,380 --> 00:02:58,690 S2: expected retaliation. Media reports had suggested that most Iranians would 51 00:02:58,730 --> 00:03:02,250 S2: back a change in leadership, but the reality is actually 52 00:03:02,250 --> 00:03:06,769 S2: more complex. Most ethnic minorities in Iran were not participating 53 00:03:06,770 --> 00:03:09,889 S2: in the protests. They might not like the Ayatollah or 54 00:03:09,889 --> 00:03:13,450 S2: the Revolutionary Guard Corps, but they also didn't support the 55 00:03:13,450 --> 00:03:19,290 S2: opposition leaders being suggested. And finally, Iran stopped information from 56 00:03:19,290 --> 00:03:23,050 S2: reaching the West. This is crucial. They shut down internet 57 00:03:23,050 --> 00:03:27,050 S2: and telephone service, leaving protesters with no way to organize 58 00:03:27,050 --> 00:03:30,290 S2: or to share what was happening. The story just got 59 00:03:30,290 --> 00:03:33,730 S2: buried among all the other news. And that's tragic, because 60 00:03:33,730 --> 00:03:36,690 S2: the details that have come out since paint a far 61 00:03:36,690 --> 00:03:40,370 S2: darker picture than what was first presented. While early news 62 00:03:40,370 --> 00:03:44,290 S2: reports spoke of hundreds to several thousand being killed, more 63 00:03:44,290 --> 00:03:48,050 S2: recent reports from doctors in Iran placed the death toll 64 00:03:48,050 --> 00:03:54,810 S2: over 16,000, with over 330,000 injured. Iran is still limiting 65 00:03:54,810 --> 00:03:58,040 S2: global internet access to cut off Iranians from the rest 66 00:03:58,040 --> 00:04:01,880 S2: of the world. If this continues, the bloodshed will likely grow. 67 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,240 S2: The question is whether President Trump will hold off going 68 00:04:05,240 --> 00:04:09,120 S2: after Iran's leadership, now that the staggering numbers of killed 69 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:12,120 S2: and wounded are trickling out. The US is continuing to 70 00:04:12,160 --> 00:04:15,760 S2: move military assets into the region for a possible attack. 71 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:19,640 S2: And President Trump has talked about preparing for a decisive 72 00:04:19,640 --> 00:04:23,000 S2: attack aimed at toppling the current regime. Now, one thing 73 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:26,280 S2: is clear the current rulers in Iran have shown they'll 74 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:29,400 S2: stop at nothing to remain in power. And they've also 75 00:04:29,400 --> 00:04:32,720 S2: shown that their threats against Israel, the US and the 76 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:35,640 S2: West need to be taken very seriously. 77 00:04:35,920 --> 00:04:38,239 S1: Well, that's a story that is very much in progress. 78 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:40,159 S1: We'll continue to follow it here on the land and 79 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,919 S1: the book. President Trump announced his Gaza Board of Peace 80 00:04:43,920 --> 00:04:48,640 S1: to oversee rebuilding and ensure the disarmament of Hamas, who's 81 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:51,680 S1: been invited to join the board, and what's the likelihood 82 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:52,520 S1: of success? 83 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,140 S2: Yeah, these different appointments marked the beginning of the second 84 00:04:56,140 --> 00:04:59,740 S2: phase of President Trump's plan to restore Gaza. The Board 85 00:04:59,740 --> 00:05:01,740 S2: of Peace I'm going to give you a bunch of 86 00:05:01,740 --> 00:05:04,100 S2: names here, so you're going to have to be following these. 87 00:05:04,140 --> 00:05:05,740 S2: You know, I can't tell one from the other without 88 00:05:05,740 --> 00:05:08,580 S2: a program here. But the Board of Peace is designed 89 00:05:08,580 --> 00:05:13,660 S2: as an international transitional body for Gaza. 60 nations were invited, 90 00:05:13,660 --> 00:05:17,300 S2: and so far, ten have signed on and more are expected. 91 00:05:17,660 --> 00:05:20,500 S2: But some world leaders have hesitated to sign on because 92 00:05:20,500 --> 00:05:24,180 S2: of President Trump's comments that the board could potentially even 93 00:05:24,180 --> 00:05:27,180 S2: replace the U.N. Which he said hasn't lived up to 94 00:05:27,220 --> 00:05:31,060 S2: its potential. The Board of Peace also requires member nations 95 00:05:31,060 --> 00:05:35,339 S2: to pay $1 billion to become permanent members, almost suggesting 96 00:05:35,380 --> 00:05:38,540 S2: a pay to play business deal that allows nations to 97 00:05:38,580 --> 00:05:41,820 S2: buy their way into positions of power and influence. But 98 00:05:41,820 --> 00:05:45,539 S2: in addition to the Board of Peace, a Gaza executive 99 00:05:45,540 --> 00:05:49,980 S2: board was created to support governance in Gaza and advance stability. 100 00:05:50,300 --> 00:05:55,090 S2: It includes representatives from Turkey, Egypt, Qatar, the UAE and 101 00:05:55,089 --> 00:05:59,610 S2: the Netherlands, and a third group, an interim technocratic committee, 102 00:05:59,650 --> 00:06:04,250 S2: has been announced to manage daily life and resume essential services. Now, 103 00:06:04,250 --> 00:06:07,409 S2: if all that does sound confusing, it is. It seems 104 00:06:07,410 --> 00:06:09,610 S2: to divide the pie in a way that lets every 105 00:06:09,610 --> 00:06:12,610 S2: country and group that wants to join claim to have 106 00:06:12,610 --> 00:06:15,650 S2: a vital part. The problem will come when the different 107 00:06:15,650 --> 00:06:19,290 S2: committees and groups end up at cross purposes with each other. 108 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:23,089 S2: Now here's the bottom line. This plan places some control 109 00:06:23,089 --> 00:06:26,050 S2: of Gaza in the hands of people and nations who 110 00:06:26,050 --> 00:06:30,050 S2: oppose Israel and have supported Hamas. The plan is long 111 00:06:30,089 --> 00:06:33,250 S2: on rhetoric, but short on practical day to day answers 112 00:06:33,250 --> 00:06:36,170 S2: like whether former members of Hamas will be put in 113 00:06:36,170 --> 00:06:40,130 S2: charge of departments and ministries in Gaza. Is the plan 114 00:06:40,130 --> 00:06:43,409 S2: a colossal business deal, or is it a new Marshall 115 00:06:43,410 --> 00:06:46,290 S2: Plan to replace the UN in Gaza? Or is it 116 00:06:46,290 --> 00:06:49,810 S2: a back door opportunity for Hamas to return to power 117 00:06:49,810 --> 00:06:53,159 S2: through its allies on the board. Well, if the West 118 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,640 S2: isn't careful, Hamas could end up back in control. And 119 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:58,680 S2: that's something we need to pay close attention to. 120 00:06:58,760 --> 00:07:00,600 S1: Oh for sure. This is the land in the book 121 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:03,320 S1: with our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, noted Middle East expert. 122 00:07:03,320 --> 00:07:06,479 S1: I'm John Geiger, working through a list of current events, 123 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,960 S1: all based in the Middle East. Last week we saw 124 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:13,640 S1: the passing of Israeli archaeologist Gabriel Barkay. We don't normally 125 00:07:13,640 --> 00:07:17,000 S1: focus on the death of individual archaeologists. So what makes 126 00:07:17,000 --> 00:07:18,960 S1: his passing so significant? 127 00:07:19,240 --> 00:07:22,440 S2: Well, Gabriel or Gabi Barkai, his death marked the passing 128 00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:25,920 S2: of a man whose passion for archaeology and for Jerusalem 129 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,640 S2: made an impact far beyond himself. Most listeners have never 130 00:07:29,640 --> 00:07:32,320 S2: heard of him, but anyone who loves the Bible has 131 00:07:32,320 --> 00:07:36,760 S2: benefited from his work. Now, I met Gabi back in 1982, 132 00:07:36,800 --> 00:07:39,720 S2: during my very first trip to Israel, when I took 133 00:07:39,720 --> 00:07:42,080 S2: a course at what was then the Institute of Holy 134 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:45,080 S2: Land Studies. During the class, he took us on a 135 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:48,000 S2: tour of Jerusalem that gave us insight into the history 136 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:52,430 S2: and archaeology of the city. We climbed into First Temple tombs, 137 00:07:52,630 --> 00:07:55,750 S2: including those at Ketef Hinnom, where he had excavated and 138 00:07:55,750 --> 00:07:59,390 S2: discovered two silver amulets with the oldest fragments of the 139 00:07:59,390 --> 00:08:02,550 S2: biblical text ever found that are on display now in 140 00:08:02,550 --> 00:08:06,230 S2: the Israel Museum. He also helped found and co-direct the 141 00:08:06,230 --> 00:08:10,670 S2: Temple Mount Sifting Project, which rescued tons of soil illegally 142 00:08:10,670 --> 00:08:13,910 S2: removed from the Temple Mount and dumped into the Kidron Valley. 143 00:08:14,150 --> 00:08:17,710 S2: So far, they've recovered thousands of fines, including coins, seal 144 00:08:17,710 --> 00:08:21,830 S2: impressions and pottery fragments. They also developed an innovative wet 145 00:08:21,870 --> 00:08:25,830 S2: sifting technique now being used in many other excavations. A 146 00:08:25,830 --> 00:08:29,590 S2: barkai championed what's now called the maximalist view of Jerusalem, 147 00:08:29,830 --> 00:08:32,750 S2: a view that says Jerusalem became the large city described 148 00:08:32,750 --> 00:08:36,030 S2: in the Old Testament and wasn't a minor town whose 149 00:08:36,030 --> 00:08:40,189 S2: importance was later inflated. His dissertation traced the growth of 150 00:08:40,190 --> 00:08:43,189 S2: the city through the location of the tombs that expanded 151 00:08:43,190 --> 00:08:47,710 S2: out as the city grew. He provided solid archaeological proof 152 00:08:47,710 --> 00:08:51,819 S2: that the minimalist Jerusalem promoted by archaeologists like Kathleen Kenyon, 153 00:08:51,820 --> 00:08:54,939 S2: was simply wrong. John, you and I had the privilege 154 00:08:54,940 --> 00:08:57,460 S2: of visiting with Gabby in his home for an interview 155 00:08:57,460 --> 00:08:59,940 S2: during one of our trips to record material for a 156 00:08:59,940 --> 00:09:03,740 S2: moody radio special that he was a walking encyclopedia of 157 00:09:03,740 --> 00:09:06,620 S2: history and archaeology, and he will be missed. 158 00:09:07,179 --> 00:09:10,660 S1: The US Food and Drug Administration granted an Israeli medical 159 00:09:10,660 --> 00:09:15,420 S1: company approval to begin human clinical trials for a synthetic 160 00:09:15,420 --> 00:09:19,340 S1: corneal implant. Tell us about this advance from Amazing Israel. 161 00:09:19,820 --> 00:09:23,100 S2: Well, the company is called I yoni e y e 162 00:09:23,140 --> 00:09:26,579 S2: y o n medical. And the device they developed is 163 00:09:26,580 --> 00:09:30,100 S2: the endo art synthetic corneal transplant. This is the first 164 00:09:30,100 --> 00:09:33,980 S2: transplant to treat corneal edema. It attaches to the back 165 00:09:33,980 --> 00:09:37,100 S2: of the corneal surface, preventing the transfer of fluids into 166 00:09:37,100 --> 00:09:40,420 S2: the cornea, inhibiting their build up. It's designed to restore 167 00:09:40,460 --> 00:09:43,819 S2: corneal clarity by replacing the innermost layer of the cornea 168 00:09:43,820 --> 00:09:48,689 S2: without relying on human donor tissue. The procedure is minimally invasive, 169 00:09:48,690 --> 00:09:52,370 S2: preventing further injury to fragile eye tissue. The implant has 170 00:09:52,370 --> 00:09:54,929 S2: been used in Israel, Europe and China, and based on 171 00:09:54,929 --> 00:10:00,610 S2: that success, the FDA has granted Ione Medical Investigational Device Exemption, 172 00:10:00,610 --> 00:10:03,290 S2: which allows it to be tested in human clinical trials 173 00:10:03,290 --> 00:10:06,490 S2: here in the US. A multicenter study is scheduled to 174 00:10:06,530 --> 00:10:10,730 S2: begin this spring with enrollment across several US surgical centers 175 00:10:10,730 --> 00:10:14,410 S2: starting in March. A new device to treat corneal edema 176 00:10:14,410 --> 00:10:17,770 S2: and improve vision that doesn't require human donor tissue has 177 00:10:17,770 --> 00:10:21,330 S2: no risk of rejection or disease transfer. Well, that sounds 178 00:10:21,330 --> 00:10:25,369 S2: like another medical breakthrough coming our way from amazing Israel. 179 00:10:25,650 --> 00:10:28,170 S1: Boy, that could be huge. Thank you Charlie. Appreciate that. 180 00:10:28,170 --> 00:10:31,090 S1: Look at current events. Question how can we learn to 181 00:10:31,130 --> 00:10:34,090 S1: interpret the signs of our times in light of what 182 00:10:34,090 --> 00:10:37,530 S1: we read in biblical prophecy and what's just ahead for 183 00:10:37,530 --> 00:10:40,329 S1: our world? Prophetically, we're going to address those issues in 184 00:10:40,330 --> 00:10:42,610 S1: a whole lot more. Coming up in a conversation with 185 00:10:42,610 --> 00:10:46,410 S1: Alex McFarland. That's next right here on the land and 186 00:10:46,410 --> 00:11:04,640 S1: the book. Our culture and our world are changing, and 187 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,360 S1: a lot of that change is anti-Christian at its core. 188 00:11:07,760 --> 00:11:09,840 S1: But how does this all fit into the end times? 189 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:12,280 S1: How can we learn to interpret the signs of our 190 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:15,200 S1: times in light of what we read in Bible prophecy? 191 00:11:15,400 --> 00:11:19,560 S1: And since we're asking questions, what's just ahead for our world? Prophetically? Well, 192 00:11:19,559 --> 00:11:22,640 S1: that's where we're headed next. This is the land and 193 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,160 S1: the book. I'm John Gager, inviting you to take a 194 00:11:25,160 --> 00:11:27,880 S1: moment right now, before we go any further and think 195 00:11:27,880 --> 00:11:31,400 S1: about a Jewish friend or neighbor who needs Christ. And 196 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:33,400 S1: what could you and I be doing to make more 197 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:36,240 S1: of an impact for Jesus? Well, let's face it, we 198 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:39,360 S1: love to let ourselves off the hook, especially when it 199 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:41,959 S1: comes to sharing Jesus. So maybe you've got a Jewish friend, 200 00:11:41,960 --> 00:11:44,079 S1: but you're saying, you know, I'm pretty sure they've heard 201 00:11:44,080 --> 00:11:47,179 S1: the gospel before. What do you think Levi Hazen is 202 00:11:47,179 --> 00:11:51,420 S1: with life in Messiah? Uh, that thinking, I suspect, is wrong. 203 00:11:51,620 --> 00:11:54,620 S3: Yeah. John, this misconception is believed by a lot of us. 204 00:11:54,660 --> 00:11:57,780 S3: The reality is that most Jewish people have never heard 205 00:11:57,780 --> 00:12:01,980 S3: a clear presentation of the gospel. In fact, statistically speaking, 206 00:12:02,140 --> 00:12:05,620 S3: the Jewish people are considered an unreached people group with 207 00:12:05,660 --> 00:12:09,860 S3: fewer than 2% worldwide believing in Jesus. Sure, many Jewish 208 00:12:09,860 --> 00:12:12,500 S3: people are familiar with the name of Jesus and know 209 00:12:12,500 --> 00:12:15,660 S3: the general concept of a church. But a surprising number 210 00:12:15,660 --> 00:12:19,380 S3: of our Jewish friends incorrectly believe that Jesus came and 211 00:12:19,380 --> 00:12:23,420 S3: started the Catholic Church. He's often viewed as the first pope, even. 212 00:12:23,900 --> 00:12:26,940 S3: Others wrongly believe that Jesus came for the Gentiles and 213 00:12:26,940 --> 00:12:29,620 S3: he didn't really care about the Jewish people. And still 214 00:12:29,620 --> 00:12:32,020 S3: others that Jesus was a good Jewish boy who took 215 00:12:32,020 --> 00:12:34,900 S3: a wrong turn. What I try to figure out when 216 00:12:34,900 --> 00:12:38,420 S3: I'm conversing with my Jewish friends is exactly where their 217 00:12:38,420 --> 00:12:41,140 S3: particular knowledge of the gospel is, and the best way 218 00:12:41,140 --> 00:12:43,660 S3: to do that is by asking them questions. 219 00:12:43,660 --> 00:12:45,969 S1: And you can't do that unless you're having a conversation. 220 00:12:45,970 --> 00:12:48,930 S1: So it begins there, right? That's right. Levi Hazen is 221 00:12:48,970 --> 00:12:53,770 S1: with Life in Messiah. Alex McFarland has preached in more 222 00:12:53,770 --> 00:12:58,690 S1: than 2200 churches throughout North America and many more internationally. 223 00:12:58,890 --> 00:13:02,730 S1: He speaks at Christian events, conferences, debates and other venues 224 00:13:02,929 --> 00:13:06,970 S1: to teach biblical truths and share the gospel. Fox news 225 00:13:06,970 --> 00:13:10,410 S1: and CNN describe Alex McFarland as an expert on religion 226 00:13:10,410 --> 00:13:14,130 S1: and culture. He's the veteran co-host of the nationally syndicated 227 00:13:14,130 --> 00:13:17,890 S1: broadcast Exploring the Word. And now Alex has teamed up 228 00:13:17,890 --> 00:13:21,170 S1: to create an important new book, 100 Bible Questions and 229 00:13:21,170 --> 00:13:24,890 S1: Answers on Prophecy and the End Times. Welcome to the 230 00:13:24,890 --> 00:13:26,130 S1: land in the book, Alex. 231 00:13:26,570 --> 00:13:30,130 S4: Well, thank you for having me. We love Moody Radio 232 00:13:30,130 --> 00:13:32,810 S4: and your program. And so it's a great honor to 233 00:13:32,850 --> 00:13:33,530 S4: be on. 234 00:13:33,730 --> 00:13:36,290 S1: Well, we've mentioned that you've spoken in more than 2200 235 00:13:36,290 --> 00:13:40,770 S1: churches looking at those believers collectively, if that's possible. What 236 00:13:40,770 --> 00:13:44,720 S1: kind of a grade would you assign them with regard 237 00:13:44,720 --> 00:13:46,800 S1: to a grasp of end times events? 238 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,880 S4: Um. Pretty good. You know, the Lord has allowed me 239 00:13:50,880 --> 00:13:54,120 S4: to travel and really see the world, and especially all 240 00:13:54,120 --> 00:13:58,240 S4: 50 US states. And, uh, you know, there are an 241 00:13:58,280 --> 00:14:05,920 S4: estimated 120 million American adults that have a relationship with Christ. And, uh, 242 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,040 S4: you know, I really think there's a real hunger because 243 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:11,760 S4: the world even today, you know, I went to the 244 00:14:11,760 --> 00:14:15,560 S4: dentist and, uh, several of the staff members crowded around me, 245 00:14:15,559 --> 00:14:18,439 S4: and they were asking about, you know, what about the 246 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:21,560 S4: rise of AI and what about things going on in 247 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:25,240 S4: the Middle East? And there seems to be such instability, uh, 248 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:27,640 S4: you know, are we near the end of time? So 249 00:14:27,680 --> 00:14:32,160 S4: I think people have a general grasp and even, you know, 250 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:37,280 S4: it's very interesting, even secular people that I have talked 251 00:14:37,280 --> 00:14:42,830 S4: with at American universities that are not necessarily Christian believers 252 00:14:43,110 --> 00:14:46,110 S4: have asked me over and over, do you think Jesus 253 00:14:46,150 --> 00:14:50,270 S4: is really going to come back one day? And I say, absolutely. 254 00:14:50,630 --> 00:14:54,390 S4: You know, the Bible says it, and God has a 100% 255 00:14:54,390 --> 00:14:58,390 S4: track record of keeping his promises. Uh, yes. I believe 256 00:14:58,430 --> 00:15:02,110 S4: Jesus is really coming back, but people are hungry to 257 00:15:02,150 --> 00:15:02,790 S4: know more. 258 00:15:03,110 --> 00:15:06,190 S1: Yeah. Well, some listeners might say, look, if you're into 259 00:15:06,230 --> 00:15:09,150 S1: all that biblical symbolism and imagery, then good for you. 260 00:15:09,150 --> 00:15:11,550 S1: But that's not for me. What's your response? 261 00:15:12,510 --> 00:15:17,310 S4: Well, granted, there are some really tough passages to understand, 262 00:15:17,350 --> 00:15:21,070 S4: and in my new book on 100 Bible Questions on Prophecy, 263 00:15:21,430 --> 00:15:24,230 S4: there are a lot like in Ezekiel and Daniel and 264 00:15:24,230 --> 00:15:27,430 S4: revelation that I say, you know, we're not going to 265 00:15:27,430 --> 00:15:32,190 S4: be dogmatic and say, we completely understand this because equally good, 266 00:15:32,350 --> 00:15:38,270 S4: well intentioned, godly people have respectfully disagreed on some passages. 267 00:15:38,470 --> 00:15:44,220 S4: But we do know this, like Second Timothy 313 says, eventually, 268 00:15:44,260 --> 00:15:47,500 S4: you know, evil people that are the enemies of God 269 00:15:47,500 --> 00:15:53,300 S4: will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. And 270 00:15:53,300 --> 00:15:56,940 S4: as we get nearer and nearer to the end of history, 271 00:15:57,340 --> 00:15:59,980 S4: it's going to get pretty rough. And I think that 272 00:15:59,980 --> 00:16:03,900 S4: we are seeing the beginnings of this. But the church 273 00:16:03,900 --> 00:16:07,740 S4: for 2000 years has always agreed that the Lord is 274 00:16:07,740 --> 00:16:12,220 S4: coming back. Jesus is coming and he will usher in 275 00:16:12,220 --> 00:16:17,100 S4: his eternal kingdom of righteousness, joy, and peace on earth. 276 00:16:17,580 --> 00:16:22,180 S4: But until we get there, we can't get too comfortable because, uh, 277 00:16:22,220 --> 00:16:26,740 S4: we're not home yet. And this fallen world has been 278 00:16:26,780 --> 00:16:29,140 S4: at war with God. And as we get near the 279 00:16:29,140 --> 00:16:32,740 S4: end of time, that just is only going to escalate. 280 00:16:33,140 --> 00:16:36,540 S1: Bible questions on prophecy and the end times. That's our 281 00:16:36,540 --> 00:16:39,570 S1: focus today on the land and the book. Our guest 282 00:16:39,570 --> 00:16:43,090 S1: is Alex McFarland. He speaks at Christian events and churches 283 00:16:43,090 --> 00:16:46,930 S1: and conferences all across the country. Alex, what's the number 284 00:16:46,930 --> 00:16:49,610 S1: one question you think many of us get wrong with 285 00:16:49,610 --> 00:16:51,170 S1: regard to Bible prophecy? 286 00:16:52,090 --> 00:16:55,090 S4: Oh great question. You know, I thought you were going 287 00:16:55,090 --> 00:16:58,210 S4: to ask what's the number one question that people ask? 288 00:16:58,610 --> 00:17:01,690 S4: And I would say, you know, we get this a 289 00:17:01,690 --> 00:17:05,050 S4: lot even from, you know, like high schoolers, you know, 290 00:17:05,090 --> 00:17:09,770 S4: we do about 15 major youth events a year, seven 291 00:17:09,770 --> 00:17:14,450 S4: camps and 7 or 8 conferences. People ask this. Well, 292 00:17:14,490 --> 00:17:18,010 S4: to your question, what do people get wrong? I think 293 00:17:18,050 --> 00:17:23,450 S4: people say, Is America in Bible prophecy? And are there 294 00:17:23,450 --> 00:17:27,490 S4: some verses that specifically refer to America? And I actually 295 00:17:27,490 --> 00:17:32,730 S4: don't think there are. I love America, I'm I'm super patriotic. 296 00:17:33,010 --> 00:17:36,570 S4: But you know, when like the book of Revelation was written, 297 00:17:36,609 --> 00:17:40,800 S4: you know, the United States didn't exist. The number one 298 00:17:40,920 --> 00:17:46,359 S4: nation mentioned in the Bible is Israel. Sure. Secondly, with 299 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:51,800 S4: 260 mentions, is Babylon, oddly enough. So a lot of 300 00:17:51,800 --> 00:17:58,200 S4: American Christians believe that America is specifically mentioned in the Bible. 301 00:17:58,520 --> 00:18:02,200 S4: I don't think it is. Now, that doesn't necessarily mean 302 00:18:02,200 --> 00:18:06,919 S4: that the USA ceases to exist. But, you know, I 303 00:18:06,920 --> 00:18:11,280 S4: think what's clear is the fallen world will come under 304 00:18:11,280 --> 00:18:14,760 S4: the sway of the Antichrist. And yes, there will be 305 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:20,159 S4: a global dictator that will emerge. And what's interesting in 306 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:23,560 S4: what I, I really encourage people, have your house in 307 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:26,679 S4: order and make sure that you've accepted Christ and that 308 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,800 S4: you're saved, and that to the best of your ability, 309 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:33,520 S4: you're trying to live for the Lord. Because here's the thing. 310 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:38,830 S4: The wiring of the planet and the push for a 311 00:18:38,869 --> 00:18:44,070 S4: cashless world and a one world global currency. And then 312 00:18:44,109 --> 00:18:49,190 S4: the fall of moral standards and just the emphasis on 313 00:18:49,350 --> 00:18:53,350 S4: sin rather than righteousness. It seems to me that all 314 00:18:53,390 --> 00:18:56,550 S4: the chess pieces are on the table, and the end 315 00:18:56,550 --> 00:19:00,550 S4: time scenarios that we find in revelation four through 20, 316 00:19:01,030 --> 00:19:06,430 S4: they could begin to play out like today. So is 317 00:19:06,430 --> 00:19:09,590 S4: the Antichrist alive? That's the number one question we get. 318 00:19:09,710 --> 00:19:12,910 S4: Is the Antichrist alive on planet Earth right now? I 319 00:19:12,910 --> 00:19:15,990 S4: do not know. Throughout history, there have been several that 320 00:19:15,990 --> 00:19:20,990 S4: could have been the Antichrist. Heyman of the Old Testament. Hitler. 321 00:19:21,190 --> 00:19:23,310 S4: You know, when I when I first got saved back 322 00:19:23,310 --> 00:19:25,590 S4: in the late 80s and this is, you know, 40 323 00:19:25,590 --> 00:19:29,190 S4: years ago, I remember there was a pastor in his 324 00:19:29,190 --> 00:19:32,869 S4: late 90s and he had been a minister during World 325 00:19:32,869 --> 00:19:36,770 S4: War two. And he said that, you people just knew. 326 00:19:36,810 --> 00:19:41,770 S4: They just knew. Adolf Hitler certainly must be the Antichrist. 327 00:19:41,810 --> 00:19:46,290 S4: He's part Jewish. He's, you know, bent on world domination. 328 00:19:46,850 --> 00:19:50,210 S4: And it turned out he wasn't the Antichrist. I think 329 00:19:50,250 --> 00:19:54,770 S4: about Saddam Hussein back in the 80s, wanted to rebuild 330 00:19:54,770 --> 00:19:59,890 S4: the city of Babylon, and he called himself Nebuchadnezzar. And 331 00:20:00,210 --> 00:20:03,570 S4: I think whether he knew it or not, he fit 332 00:20:03,570 --> 00:20:07,770 S4: the mold. But it wasn't him. Is the the man 333 00:20:07,770 --> 00:20:12,090 S4: of lawlessness, the Antichrist, alive right now? I don't know. 334 00:20:12,570 --> 00:20:15,449 S4: There's kind of an old saying about the end times. 335 00:20:15,450 --> 00:20:19,210 S4: And look, I'm into it. But we should be not 336 00:20:19,290 --> 00:20:21,929 S4: on the planning committee, but on the welcoming committee. 337 00:20:23,170 --> 00:20:23,970 S1: I like that. 338 00:20:24,130 --> 00:20:28,050 S4: It's fascinating. And I sort of have this little caveat 339 00:20:28,090 --> 00:20:33,650 S4: and caution in the book. Prophecy is fascinating. It's relevant. 340 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:38,240 S4: But as a born again Christian, I think our calling 341 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:42,240 S4: is to live for the Lord, grow in our relationship 342 00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:46,879 S4: with Jesus, and invest ourselves in the Great Commission when 343 00:20:46,920 --> 00:20:52,840 S4: exactly Christ will return. We can't definitively know, but I 344 00:20:52,840 --> 00:20:58,040 S4: do know how to get people ready. And as you know, 345 00:20:58,080 --> 00:21:00,600 S4: this little light of mine, I'm going to let it shine. 346 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,960 S4: As the song says, we need to live for Christ's 347 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:04,920 S4: great commission. 348 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,280 S1: Well, you know, you mentioned that, Alex. And, uh, if 349 00:21:08,280 --> 00:21:11,639 S1: I could, one of my personal beefs is I've rarely 350 00:21:11,640 --> 00:21:15,760 S1: met somebody who was passionate about Bible prophecy, who was 351 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:18,880 S1: also passionate about reaching their neighbors for Christ. And that 352 00:21:18,880 --> 00:21:21,959 S1: seems to me incongruous in many cases, the study of 353 00:21:21,960 --> 00:21:24,800 S1: prophecy seems to become a dead end pursuit, a hobby 354 00:21:24,800 --> 00:21:27,080 S1: for those who love a good mystery, as opposed to 355 00:21:27,119 --> 00:21:31,080 S1: content that should demand an urgent lifestyle change. Your response? 356 00:21:31,880 --> 00:21:35,790 S4: You nailed it. You said that so well. Like, it's 357 00:21:35,790 --> 00:21:39,310 S4: great mystery. It's fascinating. But here's the thing. I mean, 358 00:21:39,350 --> 00:21:41,750 S4: there are just some things that we can't know. We 359 00:21:41,790 --> 00:21:45,109 S4: are never going to. Well, I'll put it this way. 360 00:21:45,150 --> 00:21:48,470 S4: We can't know the future because it hasn't happened yet. 361 00:21:48,790 --> 00:21:51,709 S4: Now we know Christ is coming back. I believe it, 362 00:21:51,710 --> 00:21:56,430 S4: and I love Christmas because, um, just as Christ's first 363 00:21:56,430 --> 00:22:02,629 S4: coming was, you know, miraculously prophesied and Christ came, well, 364 00:22:02,630 --> 00:22:07,830 S4: his equally miraculous second coming will happen. You know, Galatians 365 00:22:07,830 --> 00:22:11,590 S4: four four, speaking of the birth of Jesus said, in 366 00:22:11,590 --> 00:22:14,670 S4: the fullness of time God sent forth his son, born 367 00:22:14,670 --> 00:22:20,230 S4: of a woman. So God knows his timetable. And yes, 368 00:22:20,230 --> 00:22:25,550 S4: the Lord certainly knows the minutia of how world history 369 00:22:25,550 --> 00:22:30,310 S4: will play out. And first Thessalonians four talks about that 370 00:22:30,310 --> 00:22:33,820 S4: we are to comfort one another with these words. So 371 00:22:33,859 --> 00:22:37,460 S4: the fact that Jesus is coming, we will see him 372 00:22:37,460 --> 00:22:42,460 S4: face to face. Acts 111 says that he will return 373 00:22:42,460 --> 00:22:46,220 S4: in like manner. It's a great encouragement. It's a comfort, 374 00:22:46,460 --> 00:22:50,500 S4: but it's a motivator. And I think where my heart is, 375 00:22:50,540 --> 00:22:54,980 S4: is like yours. Hey, super. Everything's going to work out. 376 00:22:54,980 --> 00:22:59,260 S4: Jesus is coming. All the questions will be answered one day. 377 00:22:59,580 --> 00:23:03,700 S4: But till then, what is my assignment? To live every 378 00:23:03,740 --> 00:23:07,700 S4: day for my Savior. To love and serve my family. 379 00:23:07,940 --> 00:23:12,380 S4: And to know that as a Christian, I am part 380 00:23:12,380 --> 00:23:16,060 S4: of the Great Commission. And by the way, Matthew 2818 381 00:23:16,100 --> 00:23:19,419 S4: through 20 we are to make disciples of all nations. 382 00:23:19,460 --> 00:23:23,980 S4: Mark 1615 preach the gospel to every creature. And let 383 00:23:23,980 --> 00:23:26,620 S4: me throw out a challenge here. I want to encourage 384 00:23:26,619 --> 00:23:31,649 S4: everybody in the next 12 months read the Bible completely. 385 00:23:31,970 --> 00:23:34,890 S4: And if you read three chapters a day, five on 386 00:23:34,890 --> 00:23:38,649 S4: Sunday take you about 15 20 minutes. You'll read the 387 00:23:38,650 --> 00:23:41,930 S4: Bible in a year. And if there's anything I don't 388 00:23:41,930 --> 00:23:44,650 S4: want to talk about myself, but I give God the glory. 389 00:23:44,930 --> 00:23:47,610 S4: But when I became a Christian, I was in college. 390 00:23:47,609 --> 00:23:51,770 S4: I was an English major. I was super into literature. 391 00:23:51,810 --> 00:23:55,290 S4: And I discovered C.S. Lewis and, you know, the great writers. 392 00:23:55,330 --> 00:23:55,930 S1: Right, right. 393 00:23:55,970 --> 00:24:00,650 S4: But God just put in me a passion to read 394 00:24:00,650 --> 00:24:05,530 S4: the Bible. And, um, I read Proverbs, which is about wisdom, 395 00:24:05,570 --> 00:24:10,010 S4: God's wisdom book. And of course, in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, 396 00:24:10,010 --> 00:24:14,770 S4: and John, those are like four biographies of Jesus. But 397 00:24:14,930 --> 00:24:18,290 S4: I will tell you, the greatest thing you can do 398 00:24:18,530 --> 00:24:22,930 S4: to grow as a believer is to be regularly in 399 00:24:22,930 --> 00:24:27,570 S4: the Bible, God's Word. And it's just like nutrition for 400 00:24:27,570 --> 00:24:31,680 S4: the athlete. You know, the Scripture is the nutrition for 401 00:24:31,680 --> 00:24:35,360 S4: your heart and soul. And let me challenge your listeners 402 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:39,400 S4: to just with God's help in the next year, get 403 00:24:39,400 --> 00:24:41,320 S4: in the Bible like never before. 404 00:24:42,119 --> 00:24:46,040 S1: You got 30s left. Alex, what is your most compelling 405 00:24:46,119 --> 00:24:48,520 S1: prophecy question that you love to talk about? What's the 406 00:24:48,520 --> 00:24:50,040 S1: question and what's the answer? 407 00:24:50,880 --> 00:24:55,880 S4: Well, I think about like, um, Ezekiel says that after 408 00:24:55,880 --> 00:24:59,040 S4: the time of their greatest trouble, this is in Ezekiel 409 00:24:59,080 --> 00:25:02,880 S4: 18 that Israel would be reborn. And I think three 410 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:07,120 S4: years after the Holocaust, the nation of Israel was reborn. 411 00:25:07,200 --> 00:25:11,120 S4: And I think May 14th, 1948 is the super sign 412 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:14,480 S4: that we are in the last days that Israel is 413 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:18,240 S4: back in their land. And so, um, we're getting near 414 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:20,680 S4: the sound of that trumpet. I do believe it. 415 00:25:20,880 --> 00:25:24,440 S1: Yeah, well, so much more to think about and to study. 416 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:27,790 S1: And we recommend Alex's book 100 Bible Questions and answers 417 00:25:27,790 --> 00:25:30,310 S1: on prophecy in the End times. A link to that 418 00:25:30,310 --> 00:25:34,750 S1: book is at our website. The land and the book. Alex. 419 00:25:34,750 --> 00:25:37,669 S1: Thank you for your spirit, your kindness, for sharing of 420 00:25:37,670 --> 00:25:38,950 S1: your wisdom. We appreciate it. 421 00:25:39,190 --> 00:25:41,350 S4: God bless you and thank you for all that you're 422 00:25:41,350 --> 00:25:44,109 S4: doing to reach the world for Christ. Blessings on you. 423 00:25:44,150 --> 00:25:47,790 S1: Amen. Thank you. Alex. Well, don't go away because Gerald 424 00:25:47,790 --> 00:25:50,469 S1: Peterman is stepping into the studio. I think you'll love 425 00:25:50,790 --> 00:25:52,750 S1: the collection of questions that have come in this week. 426 00:25:53,030 --> 00:26:07,110 S1: That's right here on the land and the book. Let's 427 00:26:07,150 --> 00:26:09,630 S1: be honest, most of the Bible is easy to read, 428 00:26:09,630 --> 00:26:14,070 S1: easy to comprehend. But then there are certain verses or 429 00:26:14,070 --> 00:26:17,230 S1: chapters that really make us wonder, hey, that's what this 430 00:26:17,230 --> 00:26:20,390 S1: next segment is all about. If you're a wanderer. Welcome 431 00:26:20,390 --> 00:26:22,790 S1: back to the land and the book. We're going to 432 00:26:22,790 --> 00:26:25,350 S1: get to some great questions. First, though, what does Passover 433 00:26:25,350 --> 00:26:28,980 S1: mean for us as believers in Jesus. Some might remember 434 00:26:28,980 --> 00:26:31,060 S1: the story from the book of Exodus, but there's so 435 00:26:31,060 --> 00:26:33,379 S1: much more to it. Did you know that the Last 436 00:26:33,380 --> 00:26:36,900 S1: Supper was a Passover meal? Not only did Jesus and 437 00:26:36,900 --> 00:26:40,700 S1: his disciples celebrate Passover, but it also foreshadowed his death 438 00:26:40,700 --> 00:26:44,260 S1: on the cross for our redemption. Passover is an amazing 439 00:26:44,260 --> 00:26:47,260 S1: connection point with our Jewish friends, both around the world 440 00:26:47,260 --> 00:26:50,060 S1: and across the street. And Jewish people have been keeping 441 00:26:50,060 --> 00:26:54,100 S1: this feast for thousands of years, and understanding the importance 442 00:26:54,100 --> 00:26:57,060 S1: of this holiday and its history helps us better understand 443 00:26:57,060 --> 00:27:00,020 S1: these precious people. And what better way to learn than 444 00:27:00,020 --> 00:27:05,500 S1: to experience a Passover Seder yourself? If you've never celebrated Passover? Well, 445 00:27:05,540 --> 00:27:07,980 S1: our friends at Life and Messiah would love to partner 446 00:27:07,980 --> 00:27:11,940 S1: with you in hosting a Seder experience. Every year, their 447 00:27:11,940 --> 00:27:15,940 S1: staff engage churches and small groups in an interactive Messiah 448 00:27:15,940 --> 00:27:18,900 S1: in the Passover Seder, where you can taste and see 449 00:27:18,900 --> 00:27:22,500 S1: the redemption story. If you're interested in having somebody come 450 00:27:22,540 --> 00:27:25,250 S1: lead a Seder in your area, by all means visit 451 00:27:25,250 --> 00:27:29,410 S1: Life in Messiah and click on that Moody Radio button. 452 00:27:29,410 --> 00:27:32,330 S1: You'll see there to learn more. That's life in Messiah. 453 00:27:33,609 --> 00:27:35,930 S1: With that, we say hi to Doctor Gerald Peterman. He's 454 00:27:35,970 --> 00:27:39,210 S1: on the Moody Bible Institute faculty. He's always busy, but 455 00:27:39,250 --> 00:27:41,930 S1: he's always got time for us. And we're glad you do. 456 00:27:41,970 --> 00:27:43,570 S5: Oh, yeah. It's a fun time. Fun time. 457 00:27:43,609 --> 00:27:45,730 S1: Well, we're going to kick off our fun time with 458 00:27:45,730 --> 00:27:49,330 S1: an email from Rick. And before I read his emailed question, 459 00:27:49,330 --> 00:27:51,770 S1: let me share that email connection point for you and 460 00:27:51,770 --> 00:27:55,250 S1: your question. It's the land and the book at Moody, 461 00:27:56,650 --> 00:28:02,650 S1: the land and the book at Moody. Rick has got 462 00:28:02,650 --> 00:28:06,650 S1: not one, not two, but three questions. You open to that? 463 00:28:06,690 --> 00:28:07,130 S5: Great. 464 00:28:07,170 --> 00:28:09,930 S1: Yes. Let's fire away. We'll take them one by one. First, 465 00:28:10,130 --> 00:28:12,690 S1: in Ezra three, we read about the people that were 466 00:28:12,690 --> 00:28:16,690 S1: living in the land opposing the returning exiles as they 467 00:28:16,730 --> 00:28:19,129 S1: were rebuilding. Who were these people? 468 00:28:19,170 --> 00:28:22,130 S5: Basically, the answer to this question is they were Samaritans. 469 00:28:22,330 --> 00:28:25,630 S5: Where are the Samaritans come from people from the Land 470 00:28:25,630 --> 00:28:30,030 S5: of Israel. In the eighth century B.C., got deported to Assyria, 471 00:28:30,030 --> 00:28:32,070 S5: and then some of them come back and some of 472 00:28:32,070 --> 00:28:33,790 S5: them don't come back, and some of them come back 473 00:28:33,790 --> 00:28:37,310 S5: after a long time. And so they're well, let's call 474 00:28:37,310 --> 00:28:40,270 S5: it spiritual growth. Their spiritual growth gets all messed up. 475 00:28:40,270 --> 00:28:45,750 S5: And so they're worshiping Yahweh and they're worshiping the Canaanite gods. 476 00:28:45,990 --> 00:28:48,710 S5: And so this is why the leadership, Nehemiah and Ezra 477 00:28:48,950 --> 00:28:51,390 S5: don't want them to take part in the rebuilding. They 478 00:28:51,390 --> 00:28:53,750 S5: just they aren't the family of God. 479 00:28:54,270 --> 00:28:58,150 S1: Question two when the temple and the wall were being rebuilt, 480 00:28:58,310 --> 00:29:00,190 S1: did they clear away the rubble or did they just 481 00:29:00,190 --> 00:29:00,710 S1: leave it? 482 00:29:00,750 --> 00:29:04,710 S5: Oh, yes. And Ezra and Nehemiah make reference to the 483 00:29:04,710 --> 00:29:07,790 S5: repeated rubble that's there. But they don't tell us what 484 00:29:07,790 --> 00:29:09,830 S5: they did with it. So here's the conclusion I draw. 485 00:29:09,830 --> 00:29:13,390 S5: If it was reusable, they reused it, and if it wasn't, 486 00:29:13,670 --> 00:29:16,990 S5: they hauled it away. But no particular text says that. 487 00:29:17,190 --> 00:29:20,110 S1: Lastly, can you recommend a good book about ancient Near 488 00:29:20,150 --> 00:29:22,900 S1: East history? I'd love a good resource to study that 489 00:29:22,900 --> 00:29:25,300 S1: would give me some of the historical background of all 490 00:29:25,300 --> 00:29:27,460 S1: the lands and kings that we read about in the 491 00:29:27,460 --> 00:29:30,180 S1: Old Testament and these exile years. 492 00:29:30,220 --> 00:29:34,140 S5: I appreciate the enthusiasm for learning. I recommend a book 493 00:29:34,140 --> 00:29:38,540 S5: by Bill T Arnold. It's called The World Around the 494 00:29:38,540 --> 00:29:41,460 S5: Old Testament. The People and the places of the Ancient 495 00:29:41,500 --> 00:29:44,780 S5: Near East is published by Baker in 2019. 496 00:29:45,060 --> 00:29:48,220 S1: And that's a great resource from Bill Arnold. You say. 497 00:29:48,260 --> 00:29:49,980 S5: Bill T Arnold. 498 00:29:50,660 --> 00:29:53,540 S1: Nicky's question. I've heard some people say that the Song 499 00:29:53,580 --> 00:29:57,180 S1: of Solomon, chapter two, verses eight through 13, is a 500 00:29:57,180 --> 00:30:00,500 S1: passage that means the rapture happens in the springtime. Is 501 00:30:00,500 --> 00:30:01,180 S1: that right? 502 00:30:01,700 --> 00:30:04,220 S5: Well, I have to admit, this is the first time 503 00:30:04,220 --> 00:30:06,700 S5: I'd heard it, so I love this, I love this 504 00:30:06,700 --> 00:30:08,660 S5: when this happens. I had to do some study on 505 00:30:08,660 --> 00:30:12,060 S5: my own. So let's go to the passage. This is 506 00:30:12,060 --> 00:30:15,220 S5: Song of Solomon, chapter two, verse ten. Here's what we find. 507 00:30:15,780 --> 00:30:18,740 S5: My beloved speaks and says to me, arise, my love, 508 00:30:18,740 --> 00:30:22,650 S5: my beautiful one, and come away. For behold, the winter 509 00:30:22,650 --> 00:30:26,090 S5: is past. The rain is over and gone. The flowers 510 00:30:26,090 --> 00:30:29,810 S5: appear on the earth. The time of singing has come. 511 00:30:29,850 --> 00:30:35,650 S5: So clearly this is Solomon writing from his perspective in Israel. And, um, 512 00:30:36,010 --> 00:30:39,530 S5: let's keep something in mind. This is spring in Israel, 513 00:30:39,530 --> 00:30:43,450 S5: and in Australia it's fall. So this is written from 514 00:30:43,490 --> 00:30:47,250 S5: a from the perspective of the Northern hemisphere. But I 515 00:30:47,250 --> 00:30:52,290 S5: don't read the Song of Solomon as a metaphor about 516 00:30:52,290 --> 00:30:54,890 S5: Christ in the church. I read The Song of Solomon 517 00:30:54,890 --> 00:30:59,050 S5: as a lovely book about literal marriage, and the husband 518 00:30:59,050 --> 00:31:02,130 S5: and the wife and the kind of godly delight they 519 00:31:02,130 --> 00:31:06,210 S5: find in each other. And so normally this happens. You 520 00:31:06,250 --> 00:31:08,770 S5: see it in movies all the time, where the springtime 521 00:31:08,930 --> 00:31:11,890 S5: you find the lovers kind of reignited in their affections 522 00:31:11,890 --> 00:31:14,170 S5: for one another. So I think this is a natural 523 00:31:14,170 --> 00:31:17,410 S5: way of speaking about godly love between husband and wife. 524 00:31:17,570 --> 00:31:20,680 S5: I don't find the rapture in Song of Solomon to. 525 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:24,080 S1: James takes us to Daniel, chapter eight. In verses one 526 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:28,440 S1: through 15, Daniel has a vision, and in verse 16 527 00:31:28,480 --> 00:31:31,080 S1: a man called out and told the angel Gabriel to 528 00:31:31,120 --> 00:31:34,479 S1: give Daniel an understanding of the vision. In verses 17 529 00:31:34,520 --> 00:31:38,280 S1: through 26, Gabriel gives that explanation, and then in verse 27, 530 00:31:38,280 --> 00:31:41,440 S1: Daniel says, there was none to explain it. Help me. 531 00:31:41,440 --> 00:31:42,560 S1: I'm confused by this. 532 00:31:43,120 --> 00:31:46,000 S5: And I can understand why James is confused. I think 533 00:31:46,040 --> 00:31:51,640 S5: Daniel was confused too. Although the angel gives Daniel an explanation, 534 00:31:51,640 --> 00:31:54,800 S5: the explanation itself doesn't bring him to the level of 535 00:31:54,800 --> 00:31:58,800 S5: comprehension that he wants. So earlier in Daniel eight, he 536 00:31:58,800 --> 00:32:02,280 S5: has a vision. He has a vision of animals and horns. 537 00:32:02,280 --> 00:32:05,040 S5: And then later in chapter eight, he gets the explanation 538 00:32:05,080 --> 00:32:09,680 S5: these animals are kings or leaders and the horns are kingdoms. 539 00:32:09,800 --> 00:32:12,200 S5: And so okay, that gets us a little bit closer. 540 00:32:12,200 --> 00:32:15,560 S5: But still he finds it distressing and he's very puzzled. 541 00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:20,670 S5: The key issue here is verse 27, the Hebrews. Difficult 542 00:32:20,670 --> 00:32:23,910 S5: and different translations take us in different directions. So the 543 00:32:23,910 --> 00:32:28,110 S5: King James says, but none understood it. Or the NIV 544 00:32:28,150 --> 00:32:33,990 S5: says the vision was beyond understanding. Or the Jewish Bible says, 545 00:32:33,990 --> 00:32:37,430 S5: I still couldn't understand it. I think the Jewish Bible 546 00:32:37,430 --> 00:32:40,790 S5: gets it best. That is, Daniel knows we're talking about 547 00:32:40,790 --> 00:32:44,670 S5: kingdoms and conflict, but he doesn't quite have the level 548 00:32:44,670 --> 00:32:49,310 S5: of comprehension he wants, and so he's still baffled by it. Yeah. 549 00:32:50,030 --> 00:32:54,070 S1: Joshua 1013 says, and the sun stood still and the 550 00:32:54,070 --> 00:32:57,709 S1: moon stopped until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. 551 00:32:57,830 --> 00:33:01,670 S1: Is this not written in the book of Jasher? Deborah's question. 552 00:33:02,070 --> 00:33:04,190 S1: The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did 553 00:33:04,190 --> 00:33:06,710 S1: not hurry to set for about a whole day. Where 554 00:33:06,750 --> 00:33:08,950 S1: can I read this book of Jasher? 555 00:33:09,710 --> 00:33:12,430 S5: Well, I'm sorry to say, uh, the book of Jasher 556 00:33:12,430 --> 00:33:15,270 S5: is only mentioned twice in Scripture here in Joshua ten 557 00:33:15,270 --> 00:33:17,979 S5: and the other places to Samuel 18 and otherwise the 558 00:33:17,980 --> 00:33:20,580 S5: book is just totally unknown, so I wish I could 559 00:33:20,580 --> 00:33:23,300 S5: pull it off the shelf myself. We have no access 560 00:33:23,300 --> 00:33:23,900 S5: to it. 561 00:33:23,940 --> 00:33:28,180 S1: What other references or verification is there about this planetary miracle? 562 00:33:28,220 --> 00:33:30,700 S1: Can can NASA get data about it? I mean, what 563 00:33:30,740 --> 00:33:34,380 S1: other what other scrolls maybe from times past. Have any information? 564 00:33:34,460 --> 00:33:37,740 S5: No. I'm sorry. As far as I know, no other 565 00:33:37,780 --> 00:33:41,300 S5: writing of the ancient world mentions it and NASA hasn't 566 00:33:41,300 --> 00:33:44,140 S5: verified it. And that doesn't bother me because I know 567 00:33:44,620 --> 00:33:48,100 S5: that our God, if he's powerful enough to create heaven 568 00:33:48,100 --> 00:33:49,980 S5: and earth, can stop it for a day. 569 00:33:50,020 --> 00:33:54,260 S1: Absolutely. Our email address for your question is the land 570 00:33:54,260 --> 00:34:00,020 S1: and the book at the land and the book at Moody's. 571 00:34:01,260 --> 00:34:04,940 S1: We respect the anonymous nature of this next emailed question. 572 00:34:05,220 --> 00:34:07,060 S1: You're welcome to do that anytime. By the way, if 573 00:34:07,060 --> 00:34:09,899 S1: you want to keep it anonymous. And so here's the question. 574 00:34:09,940 --> 00:34:13,020 S1: This person says I'm trying to study scriptures. Dealing with 575 00:34:13,020 --> 00:34:18,210 S1: praying for my husband's lost soul is Luke 1910 a 576 00:34:18,210 --> 00:34:21,129 S1: promise to pray over him as I pray. Or does 577 00:34:21,130 --> 00:34:23,290 S1: that only pertain to the story of Zacchaeus? 578 00:34:23,890 --> 00:34:27,210 S5: Well, many of us are in the position of our 579 00:34:27,210 --> 00:34:30,489 S5: sister here. That is, we have people we love, and 580 00:34:30,489 --> 00:34:33,450 S5: we want them to know Christ, and it breaks our heart. 581 00:34:33,650 --> 00:34:37,330 S5: So I really appreciate the question. Let's remind ourselves what 582 00:34:37,370 --> 00:34:40,490 S5: Luke 19 says. It says, For the Son of Man 583 00:34:40,810 --> 00:34:44,330 S5: came to seek and to save the lost. In the context, 584 00:34:44,370 --> 00:34:48,729 S5: this is a purpose statement for our Lord's life. It's 585 00:34:48,730 --> 00:34:51,970 S5: not just about Zacchaeus, although he's very important, right? Because 586 00:34:51,969 --> 00:34:55,610 S5: he's a wealthy tax collector and even he enters the kingdom. 587 00:34:55,969 --> 00:34:58,330 S5: But this is just a purpose statement for our Lord's life. 588 00:34:58,330 --> 00:35:01,569 S5: Like John 316, God sent his son so that each 589 00:35:01,570 --> 00:35:04,370 S5: one who believes in him would have eternal life. And so, yes, 590 00:35:04,370 --> 00:35:06,969 S5: I would say to my sister, oh yes, use this 591 00:35:06,969 --> 00:35:09,890 S5: passage and bring it before God, bring it before God, 592 00:35:09,890 --> 00:35:12,529 S5: and keep reminding him that he is one who saves 593 00:35:12,530 --> 00:35:14,250 S5: the lost. Let me give you a couple of more 594 00:35:14,250 --> 00:35:19,230 S5: to use in your prayers. That is. Luke 532. Jesus says, 595 00:35:19,469 --> 00:35:21,590 S5: I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners 596 00:35:21,590 --> 00:35:25,390 S5: to repentance. That is, he wants sinners to repent. He 597 00:35:25,390 --> 00:35:29,069 S5: wants your husband, your brother, your sister. He wants them 598 00:35:29,070 --> 00:35:32,910 S5: to repent. Then lastly, first Timothy 115. The saying is 599 00:35:32,910 --> 00:35:37,350 S5: trustworthy and deserving of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came 600 00:35:37,350 --> 00:35:41,149 S5: into the world to save sinners, of whom I am 601 00:35:41,150 --> 00:35:44,750 S5: the foremost. Remind God over and over in your prayers 602 00:35:44,750 --> 00:35:45,670 S5: for the ones you love. 603 00:35:46,230 --> 00:35:48,549 S1: Time for one more question, this one from Nick. He says, 604 00:35:48,550 --> 00:35:51,270 S1: since I was a child, I've wondered that if sin 605 00:35:51,270 --> 00:35:54,629 S1: isn't allowed into heaven, why did Lucifer rebel against God 606 00:35:54,630 --> 00:35:56,750 S1: in the beginning? I guess I always wonder if that 607 00:35:56,750 --> 00:35:58,310 S1: would ever happen again in heaven. 608 00:35:58,830 --> 00:36:01,230 S5: Well, I really appreciate this question. I'm sure many throughout 609 00:36:01,230 --> 00:36:03,870 S5: time have asked it. There is no particular verse that 610 00:36:03,870 --> 00:36:07,150 S5: talks about Lucifer's motivations and we can't get into his head. 611 00:36:07,550 --> 00:36:11,390 S5: It was just an evil choice. Let me mention two 612 00:36:11,390 --> 00:36:15,779 S5: conclusions I come to from reading Scripture. The first conclusion 613 00:36:15,780 --> 00:36:20,100 S5: is somehow in God's sovereign power and design. He's made 614 00:36:20,100 --> 00:36:22,460 S5: angels and made us with the ability to make our 615 00:36:22,460 --> 00:36:26,540 S5: own choices. And our choices matter, and they're really ours. 616 00:36:26,780 --> 00:36:29,660 S5: And we can be condemned for poor ones, and we 617 00:36:29,660 --> 00:36:32,219 S5: can be saved for good ones. A second conclusion I 618 00:36:32,219 --> 00:36:34,700 S5: draw when we're in our eternal home, in the new 619 00:36:34,700 --> 00:36:38,500 S5: heaven and new earth, we will still make genuine choices 620 00:36:38,500 --> 00:36:42,060 S5: from our own motivation, but we won't be able to 621 00:36:42,100 --> 00:36:45,260 S5: choose evil. And that'll be a blessing from God. 622 00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:48,420 S1: Man, I'm looking forward to that. Well, as always, the 623 00:36:48,420 --> 00:36:50,660 S1: segment flies by so fast, but I appreciate your research 624 00:36:50,660 --> 00:36:54,140 S1: and insights, Doctor Peterman. Hey, Charlie's back with his devotional. 625 00:36:54,140 --> 00:37:09,620 S1: It's our next segment right here. Thanks for sticking with 626 00:37:09,620 --> 00:37:11,620 S1: us here at The land in the book for segment four. 627 00:37:11,620 --> 00:37:14,370 S1: For many, it's a favorite. It might just be yours 628 00:37:14,410 --> 00:37:17,730 S1: as well. It's Charlie Dyer's devotional, I'm John Gager. You know, 629 00:37:17,770 --> 00:37:20,529 S1: when most of us think of the word vine, a 630 00:37:20,570 --> 00:37:23,050 S1: lot of us will think of jungles or vegetation. Charlie, 631 00:37:23,050 --> 00:37:25,330 S1: I don't think that's where you're headed today with your devotional, 632 00:37:25,330 --> 00:37:25,729 S1: are you? 633 00:37:25,930 --> 00:37:28,290 S2: It is not. We're heading to the grape vineyards. 634 00:37:28,330 --> 00:37:30,569 S1: Okay, we'll take a listen to that devotional after we 635 00:37:30,570 --> 00:37:33,850 S1: first pause and listen to this Holy Land experience. 636 00:37:37,890 --> 00:37:41,210 S6: Hi, my name is John. I'm from Hinsdale, Illinois, and 637 00:37:41,210 --> 00:37:45,690 S6: the best thing about the Holy Land trip was, well, 638 00:37:45,730 --> 00:37:49,330 S6: actually two things. First of all was our, uh, dawn 639 00:37:49,330 --> 00:37:52,489 S6: trip up Masada. That was a lot of fun to 640 00:37:52,530 --> 00:37:55,090 S6: see the sun rising and the horizon from the top 641 00:37:55,090 --> 00:37:59,049 S6: of this mountain with a fortress. But the other was 642 00:37:59,050 --> 00:38:03,730 S6: really learning how condensed all of the stories of the 643 00:38:03,730 --> 00:38:08,650 S6: Bible are. Um, the Bible will never be the same 644 00:38:08,650 --> 00:38:11,720 S6: to me again as I read all of the stories 645 00:38:11,719 --> 00:38:14,520 S6: and I love the stories, but to find out that 646 00:38:14,520 --> 00:38:19,360 S6: they were miles and sometimes less than that apart, um, 647 00:38:19,719 --> 00:38:22,000 S6: was really meaningful to me. 648 00:38:24,280 --> 00:38:26,439 S1: Looking forward to your devotional, Charlie. With that, I'll hand 649 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:27,400 S1: things over to you. 650 00:38:27,560 --> 00:38:31,160 S2: Thanks, John. In Deuteronomy eight, Moses described the promised Land 651 00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:35,200 S2: as a land of wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, 652 00:38:35,239 --> 00:38:38,400 S2: olive oil, and honey. Today we're walking to a hillside 653 00:38:38,400 --> 00:38:41,839 S2: near Jerusalem to visit a vineyard. The third crop in 654 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:45,600 S2: Moses's list of seven. The limestone hills of Judah form 655 00:38:45,600 --> 00:38:48,879 S2: natural terraces, and from the earliest times, farmers cleared the 656 00:38:48,880 --> 00:38:51,839 S2: rocks from these natural beds of limestone, piled them up 657 00:38:51,840 --> 00:38:54,279 S2: along the edge of the terrace to retain the soil, 658 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:57,640 S2: hold in the rainfall, and serve as a protective barrier. 659 00:38:57,840 --> 00:39:00,640 S2: Many crops were grown on these fertile plots of land, 660 00:39:00,640 --> 00:39:04,400 S2: but the cultivation of grapes took special care and preparation. 661 00:39:04,800 --> 00:39:07,320 S2: When we think of a vineyard, we envision long rows 662 00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:10,990 S2: of trellised vines, the the branches extending out along wire 663 00:39:10,989 --> 00:39:14,950 S2: stretched between supporting poles. But while vines growing along trellises 664 00:39:14,950 --> 00:39:17,950 S2: are beautiful, that's not how grapes were grown in ancient 665 00:39:17,950 --> 00:39:21,630 S2: Israel's vineyards. In Bible times, the central vine grew along 666 00:39:21,630 --> 00:39:24,270 S2: the ground, with its end propped up on a rock 667 00:39:24,270 --> 00:39:27,109 S2: to elevate it slightly. All the branches along the vine 668 00:39:27,150 --> 00:39:29,710 S2: were trimmed away, except those at the very end. This 669 00:39:29,710 --> 00:39:32,270 S2: is where the grapes were allowed to form and mature. 670 00:39:32,710 --> 00:39:35,510 S2: In addition to clearing the field and constructing a wall 671 00:39:35,510 --> 00:39:38,470 S2: around the edge, the farmer would also build a watchtower 672 00:39:38,469 --> 00:39:41,910 S2: to guard against theft. As the grapes ripened, a two 673 00:39:41,910 --> 00:39:45,709 S2: legged and four legged thieves eyed the sweet grapes hungrily. 674 00:39:46,070 --> 00:39:48,670 S2: The watchtower allowed the farmer to see the far corners 675 00:39:48,670 --> 00:39:50,870 S2: of the field, where a thief might try to climb 676 00:39:50,870 --> 00:39:53,950 S2: over the wall into the vineyard. The farmer also had 677 00:39:53,950 --> 00:39:56,870 S2: to dig a winepress. The topography of the ground would 678 00:39:56,870 --> 00:40:00,630 S2: dictate the final design, but the general layout remained the same. 679 00:40:00,630 --> 00:40:03,150 S2: He would first cut a large, shallow depression into the 680 00:40:03,150 --> 00:40:06,430 S2: bedrock on a slight slope. Next to this depression. On 681 00:40:06,430 --> 00:40:09,340 S2: its downhill side, he would carve out a deeper pit. 682 00:40:09,660 --> 00:40:13,339 S2: A narrow channel connected these two. Sections. At harvest time, 683 00:40:13,340 --> 00:40:17,260 S2: the workers placed the ripened grapes into the large, shallow depression. 684 00:40:17,260 --> 00:40:20,620 S2: After removing their sandals so as not to crush the seeds, 685 00:40:20,620 --> 00:40:23,460 S2: they would then tread on the grapes. The grape juice, 686 00:40:23,460 --> 00:40:26,180 S2: along with some seeds and bits of grape skin, would 687 00:40:26,180 --> 00:40:29,380 S2: flow through the channel into the collection pit. The farmer 688 00:40:29,380 --> 00:40:32,540 S2: would let this mixture settle to separate the seeds and 689 00:40:32,540 --> 00:40:35,339 S2: pulp from the liquid. He would then carefully scoop out 690 00:40:35,340 --> 00:40:39,460 S2: the juice, strain it, pour it into jars or leather wineskins, 691 00:40:39,460 --> 00:40:43,540 S2: and allow it to ferment. Once the fermentation process was complete, 692 00:40:43,540 --> 00:40:45,859 S2: the liquid would be strained again and poured into the 693 00:40:45,860 --> 00:40:48,420 S2: clay jars that would be sealed and stored in a 694 00:40:48,420 --> 00:40:52,500 S2: cool place. Vineyards played a major role in Israel's history 695 00:40:52,500 --> 00:40:56,140 S2: and in the Bible's imagery. We remember Naboth's vineyard at 696 00:40:56,140 --> 00:40:58,580 S2: the time of Ahab and Jezebel, and we know the 697 00:40:58,580 --> 00:41:01,819 S2: beautiful imagery Jesus used with his disciples I am the 698 00:41:01,820 --> 00:41:04,660 S2: vine and you are the branches. We also have the 699 00:41:04,660 --> 00:41:08,610 S2: dramatic imagery of Jesus returning as the victorious warrior who 700 00:41:08,650 --> 00:41:11,089 S2: treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of 701 00:41:11,090 --> 00:41:14,969 S2: God Almighty. But today we're traveling into these hills with 702 00:41:14,969 --> 00:41:18,370 S2: Isaiah the prophet. He's taking us to a vineyard nestled 703 00:41:18,370 --> 00:41:21,410 S2: on a hillside in the land of Judah. The vineyards 704 00:41:21,410 --> 00:41:25,450 S2: owner isn't important. This particular vineyard looks like thousands of 705 00:41:25,450 --> 00:41:29,250 S2: others scattered throughout Judah. But the message Isaiah is about 706 00:41:29,250 --> 00:41:33,049 S2: to deliver is absolutely crucial. And it comes straight out 707 00:41:33,050 --> 00:41:36,570 S2: of this vine covered hillside. In Isaiah five, he calls 708 00:41:36,570 --> 00:41:39,450 S2: out to everyone who has followed him from Jerusalem. Let 709 00:41:39,450 --> 00:41:42,649 S2: me sing now for my well-beloved, a song of my beloved, 710 00:41:42,650 --> 00:41:46,370 S2: concerning his vineyard. The song of the vineyard. We've not 711 00:41:46,370 --> 00:41:49,410 S2: heard that song before, but it soon becomes obvious why 712 00:41:49,450 --> 00:41:52,770 S2: Isaiah has chosen this spot to sing it. The song 713 00:41:52,810 --> 00:41:56,089 S2: focuses on a vineyard on a fertile hillside. The hard 714 00:41:56,130 --> 00:41:59,290 S2: working farmer removed its stones and planted it with the 715 00:41:59,290 --> 00:42:04,049 S2: choicest vines. We understand the importance of good soil, good preparation, 716 00:42:04,050 --> 00:42:07,240 S2: and the selection of good stock. So far, the farmer 717 00:42:07,239 --> 00:42:10,560 S2: is doing everything necessary to ensure the success of this 718 00:42:10,560 --> 00:42:14,640 S2: new vineyard. Isaiah continues his song. The farmer also built 719 00:42:14,640 --> 00:42:17,160 S2: a tower in the field to watch over it, and 720 00:42:17,200 --> 00:42:20,040 S2: hewed out a wine vat to prepare for the coming harvest. 721 00:42:20,080 --> 00:42:23,640 S2: He provided good protection and he had good expectations for 722 00:42:23,640 --> 00:42:27,400 S2: this vineyard. But just when we anticipate a happy ending, 723 00:42:27,560 --> 00:42:31,320 S2: Isaiah adds an unexpected twist. Instead of producing a crop 724 00:42:31,320 --> 00:42:35,720 S2: of good grapes, the vineyard produces worthless ones. The focus 725 00:42:35,719 --> 00:42:38,600 S2: seems to be on the poor quality of the grapes themselves. 726 00:42:38,800 --> 00:42:41,360 S2: It's not that they were damaged by insects or disease 727 00:42:41,360 --> 00:42:45,399 S2: or drought. The preparations and the conditions had been just right. 728 00:42:45,440 --> 00:42:47,759 S2: The care and nurture of the vineyard exhibited by the 729 00:42:47,760 --> 00:42:51,600 S2: owner had been exemplary. So what went wrong? The problem 730 00:42:51,600 --> 00:42:54,719 S2: was ultimately with the vines themselves, though they had come 731 00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:57,480 S2: from the choicest stock. They turned out to be worthless 732 00:42:57,520 --> 00:43:01,920 S2: vines that produced worthless fruit, and the results were catastrophic. 733 00:43:02,160 --> 00:43:05,540 S2: As Isaiah's song continues, the farmer vows to tear down 734 00:43:05,540 --> 00:43:09,580 S2: the field's protective wall and to cease caring for the land. Ultimately, 735 00:43:09,580 --> 00:43:12,140 S2: the vineyard will be ruined, he says, because the vine 736 00:43:12,140 --> 00:43:15,620 S2: dresser will no longer look after it. Then Isaiah explains 737 00:43:15,620 --> 00:43:18,060 S2: the real meaning of his song of the vineyard. The 738 00:43:18,060 --> 00:43:21,339 S2: vine dresser was God himself, and the vineyard was the 739 00:43:21,340 --> 00:43:24,100 S2: house of Israel. And the good crop God wanted his 740 00:43:24,100 --> 00:43:28,860 S2: people to produce was justice and righteousness. God had blessed 741 00:43:28,860 --> 00:43:31,340 S2: the people of Israel, but now he threatened to withdraw 742 00:43:31,340 --> 00:43:34,540 S2: his hand of blessing because they refused to follow his 743 00:43:34,540 --> 00:43:38,020 S2: standards of right and wrong. The word for justice is mishpat, 744 00:43:38,060 --> 00:43:41,339 S2: which refers to acting fairly and impartially. And the word 745 00:43:41,340 --> 00:43:45,259 S2: for righteousness is tzedakah, which focuses on proper standards of 746 00:43:45,260 --> 00:43:48,700 S2: right and wrong. In one sense, justice looks at how 747 00:43:48,700 --> 00:43:51,779 S2: we act toward others and righteousness and how we act 748 00:43:51,780 --> 00:43:55,819 S2: toward God. God wants his people to act fairly and rightly. 749 00:43:56,100 --> 00:43:59,220 S2: Israel failed on both counts, and Isaiah announced God's coming 750 00:43:59,219 --> 00:44:02,500 S2: judgment as a result. But as we stand here staring 751 00:44:02,500 --> 00:44:05,850 S2: at the vineyard, a question arises in our mind what 752 00:44:05,850 --> 00:44:08,290 S2: does this story have to do with us? Let's be 753 00:44:08,290 --> 00:44:11,490 S2: very clear that neither the church nor the United States 754 00:44:11,489 --> 00:44:14,330 S2: is Israel. But I believe there's a principle from the 755 00:44:14,330 --> 00:44:18,050 S2: song of the vineyard that we can't ignore. God's character 756 00:44:18,050 --> 00:44:21,649 S2: hasn't changed, and neither have his expectations for those who 757 00:44:21,650 --> 00:44:25,290 S2: claim to be his followers. The voices around us shout 758 00:44:25,290 --> 00:44:28,330 S2: out and tell us to demand our rights, but far 759 00:44:28,330 --> 00:44:32,890 S2: less is said about owning up to our responsibilities. In contrast, 760 00:44:32,890 --> 00:44:36,650 S2: Jesus said, from everyone who has been given, much shall 761 00:44:36,650 --> 00:44:39,930 S2: much be required. In a very real sense, those of 762 00:44:39,930 --> 00:44:42,969 S2: us living in the West who are followers of Christ 763 00:44:43,010 --> 00:44:47,410 S2: have been given much from God materially and spiritually. We 764 00:44:47,410 --> 00:44:50,250 S2: might not always feel wealthy, but we are in comparison, 765 00:44:50,290 --> 00:44:53,009 S2: certainly to most of the world. Look around your house 766 00:44:53,010 --> 00:44:56,650 S2: at all the appliances and electricity, the gadgets and gizmos 767 00:44:56,650 --> 00:44:59,410 S2: you own. The number of Bibles you have and our 768 00:44:59,410 --> 00:45:03,520 S2: wealth extends beyond our material possessions. Spiritually, we have the 769 00:45:03,520 --> 00:45:06,880 S2: freedom to worship without fear of persecution. And we have 770 00:45:06,880 --> 00:45:10,920 S2: easy access to God's Word. But having given us so much, 771 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:14,719 S2: God also requires much from us. And what specifically does 772 00:45:14,719 --> 00:45:18,120 S2: he want? He wants us to walk in righteousness before 773 00:45:18,120 --> 00:45:21,840 S2: him and to treat those around us fairly and justly. 774 00:45:22,200 --> 00:45:25,440 S2: Simply put, that's the harvest God wants each of us 775 00:45:25,440 --> 00:45:30,040 S2: to produce in the vineyards of our lives. So I 776 00:45:30,040 --> 00:45:33,719 S2: end with this question what's the quality of the fruit 777 00:45:33,719 --> 00:45:36,520 S2: you're producing in your vineyard today? 778 00:45:37,239 --> 00:45:40,200 S1: Charlie, I'm listening to you and rather convicted by your comment. 779 00:45:40,239 --> 00:45:43,360 S1: We speak often about the rights that are owed us, 780 00:45:43,400 --> 00:45:45,960 S1: and a whole lot less about the responsibilities that we 781 00:45:45,960 --> 00:45:49,000 S1: owe others, and most importantly, God himself. That does seem 782 00:45:49,000 --> 00:45:51,080 S1: to be the finger on the pulse of American thought, 783 00:45:51,120 --> 00:45:51,840 S1: doesn't it? 784 00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:53,960 S2: It does. And that's actually the very heart of the 785 00:45:53,960 --> 00:45:56,120 S2: message Isaiah was giving in Isaiah five. 786 00:45:56,160 --> 00:45:58,600 S1: Yeah. Maybe you'd like to hear today's devotional or the 787 00:45:58,600 --> 00:46:02,030 S1: entire program. Again. You can do that easily at our website. 788 00:46:02,070 --> 00:46:05,989 S1: The land and the book. We've got a podcast there 789 00:46:05,989 --> 00:46:08,910 S1: that so many have written to tell us they appreciate. 790 00:46:09,150 --> 00:46:11,710 S1: We like it because it lets you listen when you want, 791 00:46:12,230 --> 00:46:14,830 S1: not just when the broadcast comes to you via this station. 792 00:46:14,830 --> 00:46:16,589 S1: And by the way, we say thank you to this 793 00:46:16,590 --> 00:46:19,989 S1: station for carving out airtime, but find that podcast at 794 00:46:19,989 --> 00:46:24,029 S1: our website, The Land and the book, where you'll see 795 00:46:24,030 --> 00:46:28,230 S1: information about past guests, today's guest, future programs, and more 796 00:46:28,230 --> 00:46:31,989 S1: at the land and the book. Dot. If you've got 797 00:46:31,989 --> 00:46:35,149 S1: a Bible question one more time, here's our email address. 798 00:46:35,190 --> 00:46:40,029 S1: The land and the book at. That's the land and 799 00:46:40,030 --> 00:46:44,430 S1: the book at Dot. It's been a great time together today. 800 00:46:44,469 --> 00:46:47,430 S1: Hope you've enjoyed our program. I'm John Gager for our host, 801 00:46:47,430 --> 00:46:50,350 S1: Charlie Dyer, our producer, Dan Anderson. The land and the 802 00:46:50,350 --> 00:46:53,430 S1: book is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 803 00:46:53,430 --> 00:46:54,950 S1: Moody Bible Institute.