WEBVTT - Fly Through the Bible 0:00:08.000 --> 0:00:10.850 When you're several thousand feet up in the air, you 0:00:10.850 --> 0:00:12.860 get a perspective on the lay of the land you 0:00:12.860 --> 0:00:15.560 just don't see when you're on the ground. What if 0:00:15.560 --> 0:00:17.090 I told you the same thing is true of how 0:00:17.090 --> 0:00:20.570 we look at Scripture? Coming up, special guest Colin Smith 0:00:20.570 --> 0:00:23.540 shows us how and why the view from above is 0:00:23.540 --> 0:00:26.990 so majestic. Plus, we'll look at your latest Bible questions 0:00:26.990 --> 0:00:29.330 and bring you the top stories from the Middle East. 0:00:29.360 --> 0:00:32.300 Enjoy an unusual flight with us now as you join 0:00:32.300 --> 0:00:36.110 us for the land and the book. Welcome! I'm John Gager. 0:00:36.140 --> 0:00:39.769 As always, our pilot is Captain Charlie Dyer, a respected 0:00:39.770 --> 0:00:42.860 Middle East expert and author of many books, including the 0:00:42.860 --> 0:00:46.940 recently released Who Owns the Land? You know Israel Charlie 0:00:46.940 --> 0:00:48.650 has been in the news so much, we say that 0:00:48.650 --> 0:00:50.989 all the time. But it's true. And the Bible, of course, 0:00:50.990 --> 0:00:54.770 is jam packed with end times prophecies about epic world events, 0:00:54.770 --> 0:00:57.680 the regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, 0:00:57.680 --> 0:01:01.250 and Jesus return. It is crucial for us as believers, though, 0:01:01.280 --> 0:01:04.460 to have a proper understanding of Bible prophecy so that 0:01:04.459 --> 0:01:06.559 our view of the future is shaped by Scripture and 0:01:06.560 --> 0:01:08.480 and not just today's headlines. Right? 0:01:08.510 --> 0:01:11.420 I agree completely, John. And with that in mind, our 0:01:11.420 --> 0:01:14.720 friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 0:01:14.720 --> 0:01:18.140 Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 0:01:18.140 --> 0:01:20.209 of the land in the book for a limited time. 0:01:20.209 --> 0:01:23.600 This informative book is focused on providing readers with a 0:01:23.600 --> 0:01:27.680 deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 0:01:27.680 --> 0:01:30.740 store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 0:01:30.740 --> 0:01:33.830 the scriptures say about these issues. Now, if you're interested 0:01:33.830 --> 0:01:36.860 in learning more about what God has in store, visit 0:01:36.890 --> 0:01:40.250 Life in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio 0:01:40.250 --> 0:01:43.130 button to find out how you can receive your copy 0:01:43.130 --> 0:01:49.100 of God, Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 0:01:49.340 --> 0:01:52.610 And now a look at current events. This weekend is 0:01:52.640 --> 0:01:55.760 Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, and earlier this week 0:01:55.760 --> 0:01:59.240 was the one year anniversary of the attack by Hamas 0:01:59.240 --> 0:02:02.060 on October the 7th. So much has happened over the 0:02:02.060 --> 0:02:04.880 past 12 months, Charlie. Start by walking us through the 0:02:04.880 --> 0:02:06.830 many events and milestones. 0:02:06.860 --> 0:02:09.110 Yeah, John. And it all began with the horror of 0:02:09.110 --> 0:02:12.889 October 7th, as thousands of Hamas and Islamic Jihad fighters 0:02:12.889 --> 0:02:16.790 broke through the border from Gaza to attack Israeli communities. 0:02:16.790 --> 0:02:21.410 Over 1200 Israelis were killed, 5400 more were injured, and 0:02:21.410 --> 0:02:25.820 250 were carried back to Gaza as hostages. The next day, 0:02:25.850 --> 0:02:30.530 Hezbollah in Lebanon began firing rockets, missiles and drones into Israel. 0:02:30.560 --> 0:02:34.609 Nearly 80,000 Israeli citizens were forced to abandon their homes 0:02:34.610 --> 0:02:38.060 and towns in northern Israel, out of fear that Hezbollah 0:02:38.060 --> 0:02:41.330 was preparing to launch an invasion. One year later, those 0:02:41.330 --> 0:02:45.260 people are still refugees. After rushing in forces to protect 0:02:45.260 --> 0:02:49.250 both borders, Israel began a full scale attack on Gaza. 0:02:49.280 --> 0:02:52.639 The goal was to eliminate Hamas and secure the return 0:02:52.639 --> 0:02:56.420 of all Israeli hostages. One year on, neither goal has 0:02:56.419 --> 0:02:59.960 yet been fully achieved. Much of Gaza has been destroyed 0:02:59.960 --> 0:03:04.160 and around 18,000. Hamas fighters have been killed, but many 0:03:04.160 --> 0:03:07.369 citizens in Gaza have also been killed because Hamas embedded 0:03:07.400 --> 0:03:10.940 their fighters and their headquarters, their attack tunnels, their rocket 0:03:10.940 --> 0:03:15.290 launchers among the civilian population. In the most bizarre twist, 0:03:15.320 --> 0:03:19.730 the unprovoked attack by Hamas has unleashed a worldwide wave 0:03:19.730 --> 0:03:24.530 of anti-Semitism, with Israel being charged with genocide for defending 0:03:24.530 --> 0:03:29.600 itself against Hamas's genocidal attack. Iran encouraged its other proxies 0:03:29.600 --> 0:03:33.200 to launch attacks against Israel to support Hamas. In addition 0:03:33.200 --> 0:03:36.440 to the increasing attacks by Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen 0:03:36.440 --> 0:03:39.410 launched missiles and drones and tried to block shipping in 0:03:39.410 --> 0:03:42.620 the Red sea. Shiite groups in Syria and Iraq have 0:03:42.620 --> 0:03:46.070 also launched rockets and drones. Israel has been hampered in 0:03:46.070 --> 0:03:49.190 the fight against Hamas by trying to protect the remaining 0:03:49.190 --> 0:03:53.180 hostages still being held in Gaza. But Israel did eliminate 0:03:53.180 --> 0:03:56.070 the head of Hamas while he was in Tehran. in 0:03:56.070 --> 0:03:59.820 the north. Israel began attacking Hezbollah's leadership over the course 0:03:59.820 --> 0:04:03.720 of several months. They eliminated several thousand leaders and fighters 0:04:03.720 --> 0:04:07.170 through the use of exploding pagers and walkie talkies, and 0:04:07.170 --> 0:04:11.850 through air attacks. They eliminated Hezbollah's top leadership, including Nasrallah, 0:04:11.880 --> 0:04:15.780 his top aides, and the top leadership of the Radwan force. 0:04:15.810 --> 0:04:19.020 They also launched two attacks against the Houthis, putting two 0:04:19.020 --> 0:04:22.140 of Yemen's major ports out of commission. But the main 0:04:22.140 --> 0:04:25.890 enemy is still Iran. Iran armed and directed these groups. 0:04:25.890 --> 0:04:29.849 They also launched two major missile attacks against Israel in 0:04:29.850 --> 0:04:33.450 response to the assassination of the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah. 0:04:33.480 --> 0:04:36.870 Israel has vowed a major response, and that's where we 0:04:36.870 --> 0:04:39.750 stand right now. Here's what everyone needs to remember, though, 0:04:39.779 --> 0:04:43.890 from this past year. Israel didn't start this. Hamas did. 0:04:43.920 --> 0:04:48.720 Israel isn't guilty of genocide, but Hamas is. Hamas, Hezbollah, 0:04:48.750 --> 0:04:52.380 the Houthis and Iran all reject a two state solution. 0:04:52.380 --> 0:04:55.410 All call for the elimination of the State of Israel. 0:04:55.440 --> 0:04:58.049 Israel is in a fight. They didn't start. And the 0:04:58.050 --> 0:05:00.960 other side has said it's either you or them. If 0:05:00.960 --> 0:05:03.300 someone was trying to break into your house to kill 0:05:03.300 --> 0:05:07.680 your family, how would you respond? That's the dilemma facing Israel. 0:05:07.710 --> 0:05:10.410 Well, Charlie, if Iran is the country pulling all the 0:05:10.410 --> 0:05:14.250 strings behind the scenes, why has Israel waited so long? 0:05:14.279 --> 0:05:17.280 Many would ask to address the real threat. And and 0:05:17.279 --> 0:05:19.440 how might this conflict yet unfold? 0:05:19.470 --> 0:05:22.469 Well, Israel has waited this long for several reasons. First, 0:05:22.500 --> 0:05:25.980 Iran's a large country, and at some distance away, Tehran 0:05:25.980 --> 0:05:29.430 is over a thousand miles from Jerusalem. And that's taking 0:05:29.430 --> 0:05:32.910 the most direct route over Jordan or Syria and Iraq. 0:05:32.910 --> 0:05:37.289 Not exactly friendly territory. Second, the possible targets in Iran 0:05:37.290 --> 0:05:42.300 are widely scattered. A surprise attack against multiple targets simultaneously 0:05:42.300 --> 0:05:46.650 is impossible. And finally, Iran might be the ultimate threat. 0:05:46.650 --> 0:05:50.370 But Hezbollah and Hamas are the nearer and more immediate 0:05:50.370 --> 0:05:53.880 threats they needed to be addressed first. Now, in terms 0:05:53.880 --> 0:05:56.729 of what might happen, Israel has said it will respond 0:05:56.730 --> 0:05:59.790 to the two direct attacks Iran has already made. The 0:05:59.790 --> 0:06:02.730 US is pressuring Israel to dial back its response and 0:06:02.730 --> 0:06:06.900 not attack Iran's nuclear facilities or its oil facilities, or 0:06:06.900 --> 0:06:10.529 its power grid. Three attacks that could definitely harm Iran 0:06:10.529 --> 0:06:14.609 militarily and economically. The US initially said it would stand 0:06:14.610 --> 0:06:18.030 with Israel against Iran, but it seems that that promise 0:06:18.060 --> 0:06:21.900 is dependent on Israel abiding by our wishes. Iran has 0:06:21.900 --> 0:06:24.540 threatened to launch more ballistic missiles and that is a 0:06:24.540 --> 0:06:28.140 serious threat. They launched about 200 missiles in the last 0:06:28.140 --> 0:06:31.050 attack on an Israeli airbase in the south, was hit 0:06:31.050 --> 0:06:34.200 by up to 32 missiles. They didn't do any major damage, 0:06:34.200 --> 0:06:37.230 but they did manage to get through the defense system. 0:06:37.260 --> 0:06:40.229 Iran could cause more damage, especially if they chose to 0:06:40.230 --> 0:06:46.020 attack other infrastructure in Israel. In more densely populated civilian areas, however, 0:06:46.020 --> 0:06:49.110 Israel still has the ability to launch air and missile 0:06:49.110 --> 0:06:52.859 attacks and further damage Iran's economy. Now, when this phase 0:06:52.860 --> 0:06:55.320 of the war begins, it could be very intense and 0:06:55.320 --> 0:06:58.740 very brutal. Hopefully it could also be very short. 0:06:58.740 --> 0:07:01.560 From Moody Radio. This is the land and the book. 0:07:01.560 --> 0:07:04.380 Doctor Charlie Dyer, our host, bringing us an update on 0:07:04.380 --> 0:07:07.770 current events from the Middle East. I'm John Gager. You know, Charlie, 0:07:07.860 --> 0:07:10.140 several weeks ago you said in passing one reason the 0:07:10.140 --> 0:07:14.220 Romans attacked Masada was because of Jewish raids against the 0:07:14.220 --> 0:07:18.240 balsam groves at Engedi in Jericho. A recent news report 0:07:18.240 --> 0:07:21.510 says scientists there have found and have grown a balsam 0:07:21.510 --> 0:07:25.350 plant that had been thought extinct for over a thousand years. 0:07:25.380 --> 0:07:28.380 What do we know about this discovery? Yeah, this is fascinating. 0:07:28.410 --> 0:07:32.100 The discovery actually happened several years ago, when archaeologists found 0:07:32.100 --> 0:07:35.760 a single seed in a cave in the Judean desert 0:07:35.880 --> 0:07:39.420 after years of attempting to germinate the seed. Scientists finally 0:07:39.420 --> 0:07:42.390 got it to grow into a sapling. The plant belongs 0:07:42.390 --> 0:07:45.750 to a unique species of the Commiphora family, which is 0:07:45.750 --> 0:07:49.500 known for its aromatic gum resins. These resins were highly 0:07:49.500 --> 0:07:52.410 prized in the ancient world, and they were used as perfume, 0:07:52.410 --> 0:07:55.320 as incense and as medicine. Now, in a twist to 0:07:55.350 --> 0:07:58.950 this story, this plant, at least so far, doesn't appear 0:07:58.950 --> 0:08:02.370 to be strongly fragrant. But they've discovered that the sapling's 0:08:02.370 --> 0:08:08.190 leaves have biologically active compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. It hasn't 0:08:08.190 --> 0:08:11.310 yet produced flowers or fruit, which they hope will help 0:08:11.310 --> 0:08:14.400 them compare it with modern day species. I love it, 0:08:14.400 --> 0:08:18.690 Jeremiah 822. The prophet asked rhetorically, is there no balm 0:08:18.690 --> 0:08:21.810 in Gilead? Well, hopefully we might soon learn more about 0:08:21.810 --> 0:08:25.710 this ancient, fragrant plant, this balm or balsam, and its 0:08:25.710 --> 0:08:26.820 healing properties. 0:08:26.970 --> 0:08:30.300 I love to smell that fragrance. Well, finding an ideal 0:08:30.300 --> 0:08:34.020 solution for weight loss is big business today, and two 0:08:34.050 --> 0:08:38.130 Israeli companies are developing novel approaches to help people safely 0:08:38.130 --> 0:08:42.210 shed those unwanted pounds. Tell us about these new innovations 0:08:42.210 --> 0:08:43.830 from Amazing Israel. 0:08:43.860 --> 0:08:47.490 Well, the first has already received FDA clearance, while the 0:08:47.490 --> 0:08:51.660 second is still under development, the epitome weight loss capsule. 0:08:51.660 --> 0:08:54.660 And that's spelled e p I t o m e. 0:08:54.900 --> 0:08:58.199 But that weight loss capsule is a drug free ingestible 0:08:58.200 --> 0:09:02.160 medical device. Once the capsule is swallowed and reaches the stomach, 0:09:02.160 --> 0:09:05.640 it absorbs water and creates a three dimensional matrix that 0:09:05.640 --> 0:09:08.700 takes up volume in the stomach, resulting in a sensation 0:09:08.700 --> 0:09:12.179 of fullness. In essence, it mimics the presence of food 0:09:12.179 --> 0:09:15.720 and activates the brain's sensation of feeling full. It lasts 0:09:15.750 --> 0:09:18.569 a few hours in the stomach before moving to the intestine, 0:09:18.570 --> 0:09:22.050 where it dissolves just within a few minutes. Actually, the 0:09:22.050 --> 0:09:25.140 second approach is being developed by a Jerusalem based company 0:09:25.140 --> 0:09:29.610 called metabolize. They're focusing on using two small molecules, known 0:09:29.610 --> 0:09:32.610 as metabolites, that are produced in the body in response 0:09:32.610 --> 0:09:37.770 to exercise or intermittent fasting or ketogenic diets. These metabolites 0:09:37.800 --> 0:09:41.760 reduce appetite and weight like current medications, but they're less 0:09:41.790 --> 0:09:45.179 aggressive and they don't have the unfortunate side effects. This 0:09:45.179 --> 0:09:47.850 treatment would also be taken orally and could be used 0:09:47.850 --> 0:09:50.579 in foods like protein bars and shakes, and it would 0:09:50.580 --> 0:09:54.569 be classified as a new dietary ingredient rather than medication. 0:09:54.600 --> 0:09:58.170 The company hopes to receive FDA approval within 18 months 0:09:58.170 --> 0:10:02.400 and have it on the market sometime in late 2026. Now, hopefully, 0:10:02.400 --> 0:10:04.980 these two new approaches to weight loss will make a 0:10:04.980 --> 0:10:07.920 difference in the lives of many without causing some of 0:10:07.920 --> 0:10:11.190 the more unfortunate side effects of current treatments. 0:10:11.220 --> 0:10:14.370 Well, we've heard of the Israelites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, 0:10:14.400 --> 0:10:18.929 now the metabolites. That's interesting Charlie. I like that story. Well, 0:10:18.929 --> 0:10:22.110 a full program today, as always. Colin Smith, the pastor 0:10:22.110 --> 0:10:23.969 you may well hear on the radio, will join us 0:10:23.970 --> 0:10:26.850 in studio to talk about how and why the view 0:10:26.850 --> 0:10:29.939 from above is majestic. A fascinating look, though, at a 0:10:29.940 --> 0:10:32.700 simple way of sharing the plan of salvation with your friends. 0:10:32.700 --> 0:10:35.880 Also part of that conversation. Later on, Charlie returns with 0:10:35.880 --> 0:10:38.160 a fresh set of Bible questions, and of course, his 0:10:38.160 --> 0:10:41.640 devotional is always worth sticking around for. Our website is 0:10:41.640 --> 0:10:46.950 The Land and the book.org information about today's guest. Past programs. 0:10:46.950 --> 0:10:50.699 Future programs. All there. Up next, it's a conversation with 0:10:50.700 --> 0:11:07.860 Colin Smith. There is something about looking out the window 0:11:07.860 --> 0:11:12.390 of an airplane that is absolutely mesmerizing. Up several thousand 0:11:12.390 --> 0:11:14.370 feet in the air, you get a perspective on the 0:11:14.370 --> 0:11:16.620 lay of the land you just don't get when you're 0:11:16.620 --> 0:11:18.600 on the ground. But what if I told you the 0:11:18.630 --> 0:11:21.570 same thing is true of the way we look at Scripture? 0:11:21.600 --> 0:11:25.080 Today's guest, Pastor Colin Smith, says the view from above 0:11:25.110 --> 0:11:28.260 is majestic, and we're about to take off for an 0:11:28.260 --> 0:11:31.470 unusual flight here on the land. And the book, I'm 0:11:31.470 --> 0:11:34.710 John Gager, and while I'm fastening my seat belt here 0:11:34.710 --> 0:11:37.980 and making sure my phone is in airplane mode, let's 0:11:37.980 --> 0:11:40.050 pause you and I for a quick thought on loving 0:11:40.050 --> 0:11:44.070 Jewish friends and neighbors for Christ. If you're looking for 0:11:44.070 --> 0:11:46.500 ways to reach out to your Jewish friends. The Jewish 0:11:46.500 --> 0:11:50.040 calendar is filled with great pointers, including Yom Kippur. How 0:11:50.040 --> 0:11:52.500 could that be a center of a of an outreach 0:11:52.530 --> 0:11:55.770 kind of conversation? Let's ask Roy Schwartz of Chosen People Ministries. 0:11:55.800 --> 0:11:59.040 Roy well, most Jewish people really come away from Yom 0:11:59.040 --> 0:12:03.719 Kippur without an assurance that anything really happened, that sin 0:12:03.720 --> 0:12:08.730 has been forgiven. And that's because Yom Kippur, the only 0:12:08.730 --> 0:12:12.179 provision that God has made, is that without the shedding 0:12:12.210 --> 0:12:15.900 of blood, there's no remission of sin. And so prayer 0:12:15.900 --> 0:12:19.380 and fasting and repentance just doesn't cut it. We don't 0:12:19.380 --> 0:12:23.550 have any real assurance, but as believers, we have assurance 0:12:23.550 --> 0:12:27.840 based on the blood that God provided once and for all. 0:12:27.870 --> 0:12:30.240 But I think it goes further than that, because most 0:12:30.240 --> 0:12:33.630 Christians don't understand that Yom Kippur was actually a time 0:12:33.630 --> 0:12:36.720 when God renewed his covenant with Israel, and it was 0:12:36.720 --> 0:12:40.560 for national atonement. It wasn't for personal atonement. Personal atonement 0:12:40.559 --> 0:12:43.140 was found every other day when the temple was open 0:12:43.140 --> 0:12:46.020 and you laid your hands on a lamb and confessed 0:12:46.020 --> 0:12:47.939 your sin, and the priest would give you the knife. 0:12:47.970 --> 0:12:50.460 You had to slit the throat of the lamb. The 0:12:50.460 --> 0:12:52.920 blood was gathered by the priest offered on the altar, 0:12:52.920 --> 0:12:56.580 and there was remission of sin, but not Yom Kippur. 0:12:56.610 --> 0:12:58.559 That was the day when the temple was closed. And 0:12:58.559 --> 0:13:00.690 most Jewish people have no idea about any of that. 0:13:00.690 --> 0:13:03.420 And so it's an opportunity to talk about what Yom 0:13:03.420 --> 0:13:06.180 Kippur is. And when you have more knowledge about Yom 0:13:06.179 --> 0:13:10.170 Kippur than they do from a biblical perspective, that's provoking 0:13:10.170 --> 0:13:11.250 them to jealousy. 0:13:11.250 --> 0:13:14.430 And that's Roy Schwarz of Chosen People Ministries on the 0:13:14.429 --> 0:13:19.290 land and the book. Pastor Colin Smith serves as senior 0:13:19.320 --> 0:13:23.940 pastor of The Orchard with six campuses across Chicagoland. Born 0:13:23.940 --> 0:13:26.790 and raised in Edinburgh, Scotland. He is her daily on 0:13:26.790 --> 0:13:30.090 the radio broadcast. Open the Bible. He and his wife 0:13:30.090 --> 0:13:33.960 Karen have two sons and five granddaughters. Colin has written 0:13:33.960 --> 0:13:37.050 many books, including a moody publishers title that has kind 0:13:37.080 --> 0:13:41.730 of sparked today's conversation, Fly Through the Bible A Brief introduction. 0:13:41.730 --> 0:13:44.160 It is so good to finally connect with you again 0:13:44.160 --> 0:13:46.200 on the land of the book, Pastor Colin John. 0:13:46.200 --> 0:13:48.150 It's always a delight to talk to you and thank 0:13:48.179 --> 0:13:50.189 you for the opportunity of being on your program. 0:13:50.220 --> 0:13:52.559 Now, really, I think today's interview should be hosted by 0:13:52.559 --> 0:13:55.560 our engineer and producer, Dan Anderson. You see, he's a 0:13:55.559 --> 0:13:58.559 private pilot, and sometime you'll have to ask him about 0:13:58.559 --> 0:14:00.090 the time he and I flew a mission that we 0:14:00.090 --> 0:14:04.770 have called Operation Pig Lift. That's a story for another day. 0:14:04.920 --> 0:14:07.410 You describe your book, Fly Through the Bible as a 0:14:07.410 --> 0:14:11.550 high altitude exploration of the entire Bible story. What do 0:14:11.550 --> 0:14:12.390 you mean by that? 0:14:12.420 --> 0:14:15.600 Well, I mean that the whole Bible is one story. 0:14:15.630 --> 0:14:17.910 It begins in a garden. It ends in a city. 0:14:17.910 --> 0:14:20.100 And all the way through it is about the Lord 0:14:20.100 --> 0:14:22.500 Jesus Christ. And of course, a lot of people know 0:14:22.500 --> 0:14:25.170 stories from the Bible. You know, David and Goliath, Jonah 0:14:25.170 --> 0:14:27.540 and the whale and so forth and so on. But 0:14:27.540 --> 0:14:31.020 I find that when people grasp that the Bible itself 0:14:31.020 --> 0:14:35.040 is one big story, that that actually gives them a 0:14:35.040 --> 0:14:38.700 place to begin, and it gives them an understanding that 0:14:38.700 --> 0:14:40.470 they may not have had before. 0:14:40.500 --> 0:14:42.880 What will this book do for someone who has known 0:14:42.880 --> 0:14:45.190 the Lord for a while? Or is it really intended 0:14:45.190 --> 0:14:46.600 primarily for beginners? 0:14:46.630 --> 0:14:49.750 Well, I think both. There are many folks I've found 0:14:49.780 --> 0:14:52.420 who've been in church for a long time, who don't 0:14:52.420 --> 0:14:55.840 have a sense of the big picture of the Bible story, 0:14:55.840 --> 0:14:58.120 and many of the folks in the church that I 0:14:58.120 --> 0:15:01.000 serve here would say that that has been something that 0:15:01.000 --> 0:15:05.020 has significantly helped them. I mean, the analogy of the flight. 0:15:05.050 --> 0:15:07.930 If you're flying over the Grand Canyon, you get a 0:15:07.930 --> 0:15:11.410 sense of the vastness of what's there. But what it 0:15:11.410 --> 0:15:13.930 does is it gives you an incentive to say, ah, 0:15:13.960 --> 0:15:16.600 now I've seen what's there. I want to explore more 0:15:16.600 --> 0:15:18.580 and get on the ground and do that. So that's 0:15:18.580 --> 0:15:22.000 the intent. But the thing is always a place to begin. 0:15:22.000 --> 0:15:25.120 And so for a newer Christian, this is a great 0:15:25.120 --> 0:15:27.730 place to begin. And most of all, for a person 0:15:27.730 --> 0:15:30.550 who really doesn't know anything about the Bible, this is 0:15:30.550 --> 0:15:32.890 a place to begin. And that really has been my 0:15:32.890 --> 0:15:34.900 primary intent in writing the book. 0:15:34.930 --> 0:15:37.690 I do see this as a very friendly, very non 0:15:37.690 --> 0:15:41.320 stuffy book that I could easily share with a non-believing friend, 0:15:41.320 --> 0:15:44.200 and I'm assuming that's no accident. When did you get 0:15:44.200 --> 0:15:47.020 the idea for this as a tool that could be 0:15:47.020 --> 0:15:48.430 used for non-believers? 0:15:48.460 --> 0:15:51.190 Well, I was at a conference in England now a 0:15:51.190 --> 0:15:54.340 good number of years ago, and just happened to be 0:15:54.340 --> 0:15:59.200 sitting opposite a brother who was a pioneer missionary to 0:15:59.230 --> 0:16:03.070 an unreached people group. I'd never met him before, never 0:16:03.070 --> 0:16:06.220 met him again. But over that lunch he told me 0:16:06.220 --> 0:16:10.090 his story. That was absolutely fascinating. I mean, here is 0:16:10.090 --> 0:16:13.510 a man who had gone to an unreached people group. 0:16:13.510 --> 0:16:16.210 He had met the tribal chief, been invited to make 0:16:16.210 --> 0:16:19.570 his home with this tribe, had built his own home, 0:16:19.600 --> 0:16:23.290 had learned their language, and then made his life there 0:16:23.290 --> 0:16:25.750 among them. And I'm listening to this stuff. I mean, 0:16:25.780 --> 0:16:28.870 it was absolutely extraordinary. It was like an adventure story. 0:16:28.870 --> 0:16:31.660 And at one point during the lunch, I said, Tony, 0:16:31.690 --> 0:16:36.010 where would you even begin? In explaining the gospel to 0:16:36.040 --> 0:16:39.820 people who don't even know who God is? And he said, 0:16:39.820 --> 0:16:43.810 we tell them the Bible story. And I thought, if 0:16:43.810 --> 0:16:48.280 that's how pioneer missionaries are operating to reach people who 0:16:48.310 --> 0:16:51.400 know nothing about the God of the Bible, that's what 0:16:51.400 --> 0:16:53.230 we need to do here in America and in the 0:16:53.230 --> 0:16:56.500 West more broadly today, because we need to reach a 0:16:56.500 --> 0:17:01.540 generation who really have not the faintest idea of who 0:17:01.540 --> 0:17:05.320 God is or who we are, or what the human 0:17:05.320 --> 0:17:08.230 problem is, or why we would even need a Savior, 0:17:08.260 --> 0:17:11.410 let alone what Jesus Christ came into the world to accomplish. 0:17:11.410 --> 0:17:14.470 But you see, the very nature of the Bible's story 0:17:14.470 --> 0:17:18.550 is that God has laid out step by step these 0:17:18.550 --> 0:17:21.460 things that we need to understand in order to grasp 0:17:21.460 --> 0:17:24.970 the gospel who God is, who we are, what the 0:17:24.970 --> 0:17:28.600 human problem is, why we need a deliverer, who he is, 0:17:28.600 --> 0:17:31.780 what Jesus Christ has accomplished, and what he's therefore able 0:17:31.780 --> 0:17:34.240 to do in our lives today. And so very simply, 0:17:34.240 --> 0:17:37.540 fly through the Bible takes people through this in a 0:17:37.600 --> 0:17:41.590 journey from Genesis to Revelation that lays out the big picture, 0:17:41.590 --> 0:17:44.590 and it's intended to give people a place to begin. 0:17:44.590 --> 0:17:48.490 Section one of the book is devoted to five people 0:17:48.490 --> 0:17:51.340 in the Old Testament. Who are the five and how 0:17:51.340 --> 0:17:52.270 did you choose them? 0:17:52.570 --> 0:17:55.300 Well, actually, they're pretty well self-selected. I mean, you have 0:17:55.300 --> 0:17:58.840 to have Adam. You certainly have to have Abraham and Moses. 0:17:58.840 --> 0:18:01.210 You have to have King David, and then you have 0:18:01.210 --> 0:18:04.120 to have someone from the end of the Old Testament story. 0:18:04.119 --> 0:18:06.880 So that would be either Ezra or Nehemiah. And I 0:18:06.880 --> 0:18:11.770 went with Ezra. Now these five, if you grasp their stories, 0:18:11.770 --> 0:18:13.480 really give you and this is, of course, at a 0:18:13.480 --> 0:18:17.709 very high altitude level, they do give you an overview 0:18:17.710 --> 0:18:21.460 of what the Old Testament is teaching to us. God 0:18:21.460 --> 0:18:25.389 introduces himself in the story of Adam, tells us who 0:18:25.390 --> 0:18:29.500 we are in the creation of Adam, made in God's 0:18:29.500 --> 0:18:32.859 image tells us the human problem right there in the 0:18:32.859 --> 0:18:36.100 story of Abraham. God makes this wonderful promise to bring 0:18:36.130 --> 0:18:39.669 blessing through the children of Abraham, and it's going to 0:18:39.670 --> 0:18:44.020 be through Abraham's descendants. That blessing will come to all 0:18:44.020 --> 0:18:46.780 the families of the earth. You follow the story through 0:18:46.780 --> 0:18:50.860 King David and through Ezra. It's all pointing us to Jesus. 0:18:50.859 --> 0:18:53.920 And the big picture of the Old Testament is it 0:18:53.920 --> 0:18:56.410 shows us why we need the deliverer, and it shows 0:18:56.410 --> 0:18:58.990 us why Jesus is the deliverer that we need. 0:18:59.020 --> 0:19:02.199 If you're just joining us, Pastor Colin Smith is helping 0:19:02.200 --> 0:19:05.770 us fly through the Bible. A new release from Moody Publishers. 0:19:05.770 --> 0:19:09.070 I'm John Gager in the co-pilot seat, and this is 0:19:09.070 --> 0:19:11.890 the land and the book. Well, section two focuses on 0:19:11.890 --> 0:19:15.429 five events in the life of Jesus. Boy, with so 0:19:15.430 --> 0:19:18.790 many exciting moments, let's be honest. What grid could you 0:19:18.790 --> 0:19:22.180 possibly come up with to select just five? 0:19:22.210 --> 0:19:26.470 Well, there are five events. They are that Jesus was born, 0:19:26.470 --> 0:19:30.100 that he was tempted, that he was crucified, that he 0:19:30.100 --> 0:19:34.000 is risen, and that he has ascended. Now, obviously there's 0:19:34.000 --> 0:19:37.150 so much more in the Gospels about the Lord Jesus, 0:19:37.150 --> 0:19:40.870 the teaching of Jesus, the miracles of Jesus, the parables 0:19:40.869 --> 0:19:43.960 of Jesus, and so many wonderful events in the life 0:19:43.960 --> 0:19:47.380 of Jesus. But if a person who knew very little 0:19:47.380 --> 0:19:51.700 or nothing at all were to grasp the most important things, 0:19:51.700 --> 0:19:56.200 I think that to know that Jesus was born and tempted, crucified, raised, 0:19:56.200 --> 0:20:00.429 and ascended would give the first things that need to 0:20:00.430 --> 0:20:03.040 be known about the Lord Jesus Christ. These are the 0:20:03.040 --> 0:20:06.190 things that point us to who he is, and they're 0:20:06.190 --> 0:20:08.889 the things that point us to why we should trust him. 0:20:08.920 --> 0:20:13.330 Section three discusses five gifts for every believer. What are 0:20:13.330 --> 0:20:15.909 those five? And again, how did you go about identifying 0:20:15.910 --> 0:20:16.480 the five? 0:20:16.510 --> 0:20:18.699 Well, that's perhaps the hardest of all because there are 0:20:18.700 --> 0:20:21.160 so many gifts that are ours when we are in 0:20:21.160 --> 0:20:24.190 the Lord Jesus Christ. But the gift of the Holy 0:20:24.190 --> 0:20:26.770 Spirit clearly has to be the first from acts and 0:20:26.770 --> 0:20:30.879 chapter two. The wonderful gift of faith, the gift of forgiveness, 0:20:30.880 --> 0:20:33.160 then the gift of the church. That's one I think 0:20:33.160 --> 0:20:36.790 that is often forgotten, that when God reconciles us to 0:20:36.820 --> 0:20:40.720 Himself in Christ, he brings us into his body. Of course, 0:20:40.720 --> 0:20:43.480 the last one selected itself. It has to be the 0:20:43.510 --> 0:20:46.660 gift of heaven. So, I mean, here's a very, very 0:20:46.660 --> 0:20:50.379 high altitude journey over the whole Bible story. Five people 0:20:50.380 --> 0:20:53.320 in the Old Testament, five events in the Gospels from 0:20:53.320 --> 0:20:56.109 the life of Jesus, five gifts that God gives to 0:20:56.140 --> 0:20:59.470 all who believe. It's a very high altitude, but it's 0:20:59.470 --> 0:21:00.820 a place to begin. 0:21:00.850 --> 0:21:03.459 Colin Smith has a voice you might well recognize if 0:21:03.460 --> 0:21:06.790 you listen to his daily radio broadcast. Open the Bible. 0:21:06.820 --> 0:21:09.850 He joins us today on the Land and the book. 0:21:10.060 --> 0:21:12.430 You've walked with the Lord for some time now. Been 0:21:12.430 --> 0:21:15.129 a pastor for decades. Still, I have to ask what 0:21:15.160 --> 0:21:17.860 surprised you as you put this book together? 0:21:17.890 --> 0:21:23.679 Without question, you never come to an end of wonder 0:21:23.680 --> 0:21:27.130 at the sheer grace of God. And I think writing 0:21:27.130 --> 0:21:30.399 this and just trying to put together the big picture 0:21:30.400 --> 0:21:35.050 at a high altitude level, the overwhelming sense is how 0:21:35.080 --> 0:21:38.860 amazing God's grace and his extraordinary love to us in 0:21:38.859 --> 0:21:42.370 Christ is that he would send His Son, that His 0:21:42.369 --> 0:21:46.510 Son would give himself in all that that involved in 0:21:46.510 --> 0:21:51.010 order to redeem rebel sinners like ourselves and to bring 0:21:51.010 --> 0:21:55.270 people into the joy of knowing him, and then ultimately 0:21:55.270 --> 0:21:59.230 into the joy of enjoying him forever in glory. I mean, 0:21:59.260 --> 0:22:04.840 that is unfathomable. It is inexhaustible. And I hope that 0:22:04.840 --> 0:22:07.240 as people would read the book and get the big 0:22:07.240 --> 0:22:10.780 picture of the Bible story, they would say how amazing 0:22:10.780 --> 0:22:14.020 God is and how wonderful to come to know him 0:22:14.020 --> 0:22:16.330 and to enter into all that is ours in the 0:22:16.330 --> 0:22:17.680 Lord Jesus Christ. 0:22:17.710 --> 0:22:21.490 Now every chapter ends with questions for reflection and discussion. 0:22:21.490 --> 0:22:24.430 Nothing new there, but I think the way that you 0:22:24.460 --> 0:22:28.570 phrase the questions does a terrific job of sparking and 0:22:28.570 --> 0:22:32.650 then guiding conversations I would love to have with my 0:22:32.650 --> 0:22:35.410 unsaved friends. What's your thought on this? What went into 0:22:35.410 --> 0:22:38.530 those questions and how did you frame them just right? 0:22:38.560 --> 0:22:41.170 Well, I have to give credit to my friend and 0:22:41.170 --> 0:22:44.139 colleague Tim Augustine, who was the one who drafted the 0:22:44.140 --> 0:22:46.300 questions on this. And I think that he has done 0:22:46.300 --> 0:22:49.389 an outstanding job. And I think that for this reason, 0:22:49.390 --> 0:22:51.790 that they're not the kind of questions that you need 0:22:51.790 --> 0:22:54.639 to have a vast fund of knowledge to answer. And 0:22:54.640 --> 0:22:56.740 they're not the kind of questions that just lead to 0:22:56.770 --> 0:22:59.290 a yes no and a dead end in the conversation. 0:22:59.290 --> 0:23:04.570 They're deliberately designed with a particular setting in view, a 0:23:04.570 --> 0:23:07.479 believer talking to someone who does not yet know the 0:23:07.480 --> 0:23:10.540 Lord Jesus Christ. And so the kinds of questions that 0:23:10.540 --> 0:23:13.870 are here are very discussable over a cup of coffee. 0:23:13.900 --> 0:23:16.600 I mean, for example, first question at the end of 0:23:16.600 --> 0:23:20.260 the section on Adam, what's your first reaction to hearing 0:23:20.260 --> 0:23:22.600 that we are made in the image of God? Well, 0:23:22.600 --> 0:23:26.199 that's a very discussable question. What do you think you 0:23:26.200 --> 0:23:28.330 would have liked about living in the Garden of Eden, 0:23:28.330 --> 0:23:30.530 and why did you choose that? So you can see 0:23:30.530 --> 0:23:34.129 these are questions that are designed to help people interact 0:23:34.130 --> 0:23:37.730 with the big picture of the Bible's story. And because 0:23:37.730 --> 0:23:41.300 of the conviction that if we can introduce the truth 0:23:41.300 --> 0:23:44.780 of the Scripture to people's lives, it's living seed, and 0:23:44.780 --> 0:23:46.820 if we put living seed in the ground, then we've 0:23:46.820 --> 0:23:49.370 got reason to hope that there's going to be some 0:23:49.369 --> 0:23:52.580 life that will actually grow up. So I find that 0:23:52.580 --> 0:23:55.669 regularly now, for some time, we've been saying to the 0:23:55.670 --> 0:23:58.520 folks in the church that I serve here now, who 0:23:58.520 --> 0:24:01.159 is there in your life who needs to know the 0:24:01.190 --> 0:24:04.100 God of the Bible and just might be open to 0:24:04.130 --> 0:24:07.250 a conversation around the scriptures with you if you were 0:24:07.250 --> 0:24:09.830 to ask them? And the whole idea of this book 0:24:09.830 --> 0:24:13.070 is it's a very simple tool that a Christian could 0:24:13.070 --> 0:24:17.510 use to open conversation with someone who needs to know 0:24:17.510 --> 0:24:19.550 the God of the Bible and come to saving faith 0:24:19.550 --> 0:24:21.080 in the Lord Jesus Christ. All right, I. 0:24:21.080 --> 0:24:23.300 Have to ask. I know the book is fairly new yet, 0:24:23.300 --> 0:24:26.960 but what kinds of stories have you heard as people 0:24:26.960 --> 0:24:30.290 share this biblical view from above with others. 0:24:30.290 --> 0:24:32.510 Well, I'm absolutely thrilled at the way that people are 0:24:32.510 --> 0:24:36.110 using it. Folks are using it, for example, with their grandchildren, 0:24:36.109 --> 0:24:39.500 as a means of trying to introduce grandchildren to the truth, 0:24:39.500 --> 0:24:41.720 and especially if they're not coming to church. This is 0:24:41.720 --> 0:24:45.139 a wonderful, wonderful means of doing that. We have people 0:24:45.140 --> 0:24:47.210 who are using it over a cup of coffee, just 0:24:47.210 --> 0:24:50.960 meeting with folks and using the questions. You can read 0:24:50.960 --> 0:24:54.290 each section in, I don't know, John. Five minutes, just 0:24:54.290 --> 0:24:58.220 five minutes. It's very easy. So it's easy to say, hey, 0:24:58.220 --> 0:24:59.870 could we just read a little bit and then talk 0:24:59.869 --> 0:25:02.510 about it? And people are doing that. We've had people 0:25:02.510 --> 0:25:05.449 who are doing it over text, communicating in that kind 0:25:05.450 --> 0:25:08.810 of way, sustaining conversations with people sometimes who are many, 0:25:08.810 --> 0:25:12.919 many miles away but open to talk around the scriptures 0:25:12.920 --> 0:25:16.250 and where the Word of God is drip fed into 0:25:16.250 --> 0:25:19.130 a person's life, we can have great confidence that God 0:25:19.130 --> 0:25:19.940 will bring fruit. 0:25:19.970 --> 0:25:22.490 Okay, my conviction is that this book view from above 0:25:22.520 --> 0:25:25.250 is sort of like a cheat sheet. All right, Pastor Collin, 0:25:25.250 --> 0:25:27.470 you've done the work for us. Not only have you 0:25:27.500 --> 0:25:32.660 made the scriptures plain level, simplified, understandable, but you've even 0:25:32.660 --> 0:25:35.869 handed us the conversation material that we can use. I 0:25:35.869 --> 0:25:37.730 just want to say a great big thank you. 0:25:37.760 --> 0:25:40.189 Well thank you. I hope that people will find it 0:25:40.190 --> 0:25:41.150 really useful. 0:25:41.180 --> 0:25:44.359 That's Colin Smith, who's written the Moody Publishers book Fly 0:25:44.390 --> 0:25:46.700 Through the Bible. Check it out, a link at our website. 0:25:46.730 --> 0:25:49.760 The land and the book. Org and up next, it's 0:25:49.760 --> 0:25:51.920 our friend Charlie Dyer, and I'm looking forward to his 0:25:51.920 --> 0:25:55.070 answers to your questions. That's next on the land and 0:25:55.070 --> 0:26:09.169 the book. From Moody Radio. This is the land and 0:26:09.170 --> 0:26:12.560 the book. I'm John Gager. Boy, Israel has been in 0:26:12.560 --> 0:26:15.350 the news a lot over the past year, and as 0:26:15.350 --> 0:26:18.139 we know, the Bible is jam packed with end times 0:26:18.140 --> 0:26:21.770 prophecies about epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish 0:26:21.770 --> 0:26:25.730 people to their ancient homeland and Jesus soon return. It 0:26:25.730 --> 0:26:27.980 is crucial for us as believers to have a proper 0:26:27.980 --> 0:26:31.459 understanding of of Bible prophecy. So our view of the 0:26:31.460 --> 0:26:34.850 future is shaped by Scripture and not just today's headlines. 0:26:34.880 --> 0:26:36.919 And with that in mind, our friends at Life and 0:26:36.920 --> 0:26:41.420 Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and Bible Prophecy, 0:26:41.420 --> 0:26:43.520 and they're offering it to listeners of the land in 0:26:43.520 --> 0:26:46.580 the book for a limited time. This informative book is 0:26:46.580 --> 0:26:50.450 focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding and greater 0:26:50.450 --> 0:26:53.960 appreciation of what God has in store for Israel and 0:26:53.960 --> 0:26:56.780 the nations by digging into what the scriptures say about 0:26:56.780 --> 0:27:00.260 these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning more about 0:27:00.260 --> 0:27:04.100 what God has in store, visit Life in Messiah. Org 0:27:04.100 --> 0:27:06.649 and click on the Moody Radio button there to find 0:27:06.650 --> 0:27:10.220 out how you can receive your copy of God, Israel 0:27:10.220 --> 0:27:14.540 and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 0:27:14.780 --> 0:27:17.240 Thank you very much for that. And let's dig into 0:27:17.240 --> 0:27:20.480 today's question, starting with Steve's. And he takes us to 0:27:20.510 --> 0:27:23.930 the story of Joseph in Egypt managing the crisis of 0:27:23.930 --> 0:27:26.689 the famine And ultimately, when the people run out of 0:27:26.690 --> 0:27:29.450 money in Egypt to buy grain, Joseph has them sell 0:27:29.450 --> 0:27:32.600 their livestock, then their land, and it all ultimately feels 0:27:32.600 --> 0:27:36.170 like communism. Is that what this is really talking about here, Charlie? 0:27:36.200 --> 0:27:38.810 Well, I read the account in a different way. The 0:27:38.810 --> 0:27:42.169 seven years of abundance were apparently exceptionally Bountiful, and I 0:27:42.170 --> 0:27:45.050 say that because just collecting 20% of the produce of 0:27:45.050 --> 0:27:48.109 those seven good years was sufficient to feed the entire 0:27:48.109 --> 0:27:52.040 population of Egypt and other countries for the next seven years. 0:27:52.070 --> 0:27:55.129 Taxes were always a function of government, and in this 0:27:55.130 --> 0:27:57.650 case the tax was collected to care for the people. 0:27:57.680 --> 0:28:00.830 Another point I find fascinating is that if 20% was 0:28:00.830 --> 0:28:04.189 sufficient to provide for the entire population, what did the 0:28:04.190 --> 0:28:07.400 people do with the other 80% they kept? I suspect 0:28:07.400 --> 0:28:10.040 the amount harvested each of those years would have produced 0:28:10.040 --> 0:28:13.369 a large surplus for the people had they harbored their resources. 0:28:13.369 --> 0:28:16.100 But human nature being what it is, much of the 0:28:16.100 --> 0:28:19.220 bounty in those seven good years was likely consumed by 0:28:19.220 --> 0:28:23.420 the people who somehow thought the Bountiful harvest would continue indefinitely. Now, 0:28:23.420 --> 0:28:27.080 the idea of giving away the surplus in exchange for promises. Well, 0:28:27.080 --> 0:28:29.810 that doesn't match the mindset of leaders at that time. 0:28:29.840 --> 0:28:33.200 Pharaoh was responsible for outfitting and supporting a standing army 0:28:33.200 --> 0:28:36.560 to protect the land. He had expenditures for building projects, 0:28:36.560 --> 0:28:39.470 so funds were necessary. But finally, I see in the 0:28:39.470 --> 0:28:42.590 phrases in chapter 47 about selling the land to Pharaoh 0:28:42.590 --> 0:28:45.950 and becoming slaves to Pharaoh. In a more figurative sense. 0:28:45.950 --> 0:28:49.550 In that context, as the bargain worked out, Joseph provided 0:28:49.550 --> 0:28:52.640 the people with food and with seed to grow their crops. 0:28:52.640 --> 0:28:55.100 They were to give 20% of what they produced to Pharaoh, 0:28:55.130 --> 0:28:59.180 while they kept the remaining 80% for themselves. That's actually 0:28:59.180 --> 0:29:02.030 paralleling the tax at the beginning of the section. So 0:29:02.030 --> 0:29:05.090 they were still on their own land and still keeping 80% 0:29:05.090 --> 0:29:07.610 of all they produced. And that's not communism. 0:29:07.640 --> 0:29:11.540 Agreed. Todd takes us to Second Chronicles 14, verse nine, 0:29:11.540 --> 0:29:15.530 where we read of a Kushite army of 1 million men. 0:29:15.560 --> 0:29:18.950 He asks, were armies that size typical in the ancient 0:29:18.950 --> 0:29:19.850 Middle East? 0:29:20.060 --> 0:29:22.310 Well, I need to answer two ways. First, armies could 0:29:22.340 --> 0:29:24.739 be large and I tend to take numbers found in 0:29:24.740 --> 0:29:27.770 the Bible, even large numbers literally. For example, I take 0:29:27.770 --> 0:29:32.750 the number of Israelite fighting men in numbers two, 603,550 0:29:32.780 --> 0:29:35.840 at face value. I take the number of Assyrian soldiers 0:29:35.840 --> 0:29:40.280 killed by God in Isaiah 37, the 185,000, as a 0:29:40.280 --> 0:29:44.000 literal round number. There. Now, second, in this particular case, 0:29:44.000 --> 0:29:46.640 I find it interesting that it's a very round number, 0:29:46.640 --> 0:29:50.060 which suggests to me it's intended as an approximation the 0:29:50.060 --> 0:29:54.170 literal wording. In Hebrew there is a thousand thousands, which 0:29:54.170 --> 0:29:57.710 seems designed to describe a general number. The NIV actually 0:29:57.740 --> 0:30:00.830 captures the essence of what was intended by translating it 0:30:00.830 --> 0:30:04.100 not literally, but as a vast army. In that sense, 0:30:04.100 --> 0:30:06.380 I see it similar to the description of the Midianite 0:30:06.380 --> 0:30:09.110 army in judges seven, which was said to be as 0:30:09.110 --> 0:30:11.989 numerous as the sand on the seashore. So could it 0:30:11.990 --> 0:30:14.240 have been a 1 million man army? I'll have to 0:30:14.240 --> 0:30:17.600 allow for that possibility that I'm not sure who would 0:30:17.630 --> 0:30:20.090 have been doing that counting, though. I tend to think 0:30:20.090 --> 0:30:22.320 of it, though, since it's from Israel's perspective as a 0:30:22.320 --> 0:30:25.020 round number. It used to picture this vast army that 0:30:25.020 --> 0:30:28.800 appeared from a human perspective to be unstoppable. And yet 0:30:28.830 --> 0:30:30.390 God gives Israel the victory. 0:30:30.420 --> 0:30:34.410 Renee asks, how do we know that Matthew, Levi, and 0:30:34.410 --> 0:30:38.370 Zacchaeus were collecting taxes on behalf of the Romans, and 0:30:38.370 --> 0:30:41.520 therefore traitors to their own people? Didn't the Jewish government 0:30:41.550 --> 0:30:42.600 tax the people? 0:30:42.600 --> 0:30:45.330 Well, there were two major types of taxes collected at 0:30:45.330 --> 0:30:47.490 the time of Jesus. There was a temple tax to 0:30:47.520 --> 0:30:50.160 be paid by individuals for the upkeep of the temple. 0:30:50.190 --> 0:30:53.280 In fact, that tax is pictured in Matthew 17, where 0:30:53.280 --> 0:30:56.370 Peter was asked if Jesus paid the temple tax. The 0:30:56.370 --> 0:30:59.940 amount collected, which was a stater or a shekel, covered 0:30:59.940 --> 0:31:02.610 both Jesus and Peter for the amount required to pay 0:31:02.610 --> 0:31:06.630 that tax. Now the other case, when Jesus called Matthew 0:31:06.630 --> 0:31:09.540 to follow him in Matthew nine, the account says Matthew 0:31:09.570 --> 0:31:12.810 was seated at the tax booth, and later Jesus reclined 0:31:12.810 --> 0:31:15.720 at table with many tax collectors. And it's the same 0:31:15.720 --> 0:31:18.480 version of that word that's used there to describe those 0:31:18.480 --> 0:31:21.960 who collected taxes, either for the Romans directly or for 0:31:21.960 --> 0:31:25.410 those who, like Herod Agrippa, controlled the area and ruled 0:31:25.410 --> 0:31:28.080 under Roman authority. Now, the first kind of tax for 0:31:28.080 --> 0:31:30.300 the temple that was biblical in the sense that it 0:31:30.300 --> 0:31:33.390 was described in the Bible, it was the tax required 0:31:33.390 --> 0:31:36.420 by the Romans that was so hated. And the negative 0:31:36.420 --> 0:31:39.930 response to Jesus dining with Matthew and the other tax collectors, 0:31:39.930 --> 0:31:42.150 I think, is what lets us know that the ones 0:31:42.150 --> 0:31:45.360 collecting the tax there were the ones supporting Rome. 0:31:45.390 --> 0:31:48.150 Hope you're enjoying this third segment on the land and 0:31:48.150 --> 0:31:50.070 the book, and I hope you know that your question 0:31:50.070 --> 0:31:52.650 is always welcome. Love to add yours to the mix 0:31:52.650 --> 0:31:57.090 when you email us at the Land and the book@moody.edu. 0:31:57.120 --> 0:31:59.760 This next question takes us to the account of David 0:31:59.760 --> 0:32:02.850 defeating Goliath. The Bible says that David killed him with 0:32:02.850 --> 0:32:06.510 a stone from his sling, which of course hit Goliath's forehead. 0:32:06.510 --> 0:32:09.660 Yet in reading the account, it seems like double talk. 0:32:09.660 --> 0:32:13.290 David killed him and then took Goliath's sword and killed 0:32:13.290 --> 0:32:15.810 him by cutting his head off. How do I answer 0:32:15.810 --> 0:32:18.960 the person who brought this apparent contradiction to my attention, 0:32:18.990 --> 0:32:20.220 asks this listener. 0:32:20.340 --> 0:32:22.620 I have a great answer for this one because I 0:32:22.620 --> 0:32:26.550 love that spot. The entire story, including those two statements 0:32:26.550 --> 0:32:29.459 about Goliath dying, make perfect sense if we view it 0:32:29.460 --> 0:32:32.550 in its geographical context. The battle took place in the 0:32:32.550 --> 0:32:35.730 Ala valley. The Philistine forward lines it says in verse one, 0:32:35.760 --> 0:32:38.219 were at Socoh. The Israelites were on a hill on 0:32:38.220 --> 0:32:40.230 the other side of the valley between them. Now I've 0:32:40.260 --> 0:32:42.900 been on Soco. I've stood there. The distance between the 0:32:42.900 --> 0:32:45.240 front lines of the Philistines and where the battle took 0:32:45.240 --> 0:32:49.620 place is about 4/10 of a mile. About 2100ft, or 0:32:49.650 --> 0:32:53.520 about the equivalent of seven football fields. Now, from this distance, 0:32:53.520 --> 0:32:56.190 the Philistines, they could make out Goliath and his Armorbearer, 0:32:56.190 --> 0:32:58.680 and maybe young David. But they would have been rather 0:32:58.680 --> 0:33:01.920 tiny figures in the distance. Now, here's why that's so important. 0:33:01.950 --> 0:33:04.200 David took a stone, put it in his sling, struck 0:33:04.200 --> 0:33:07.110 Goliath and killed him. And Goliath really was dead when 0:33:07.110 --> 0:33:09.540 that stone, which was about the size of a human fist, 0:33:09.570 --> 0:33:12.630 hit him in the forehead. But what did the Philistines 0:33:12.660 --> 0:33:14.820 see from up on the hill? Well, they saw David 0:33:14.850 --> 0:33:17.550 twirl his arm, and they saw Goliath fall to the ground. 0:33:17.550 --> 0:33:20.010 But then they're wondering, did he stumble? You know, maybe 0:33:20.040 --> 0:33:22.620 he just was stunned. They have no idea. And I 0:33:22.620 --> 0:33:24.390 can almost hear him shouting out, hey, come on, Goliath! 0:33:24.420 --> 0:33:26.460 Get up, big boy. You can do it. But then 0:33:26.460 --> 0:33:29.520 David runs over, grabs Goliath's sword, chops off the head 0:33:29.520 --> 0:33:32.580 and holds it up. And now the Philistines knew that 0:33:32.580 --> 0:33:35.610 David had killed Goliath. So the first pronouncement of death 0:33:35.610 --> 0:33:39.000 was the actual moment Goliath died. The second was the 0:33:39.000 --> 0:33:42.120 actual moment the Philistines, and probably the Israelites as well, 0:33:42.150 --> 0:33:45.120 could see for themselves that Goliath was dead. 0:33:45.150 --> 0:33:48.450 Nancy asks, how important is it to be firm on 0:33:48.450 --> 0:33:52.590 a pre-trib end times viewpoint, or is that presumptuous also? 0:33:52.620 --> 0:33:56.310 What are the reasons that the pre-trib viewpoint is under attack? 0:33:56.340 --> 0:33:58.740 Okay, that's like saying sic em to a dog. To me, 0:33:58.770 --> 0:34:01.440 I hold to a pre-trib position because I think it 0:34:01.440 --> 0:34:04.260 makes the most sense in what the Bible presents. Volumes 0:34:04.260 --> 0:34:06.300 have been written here, so let me give a relatively 0:34:06.300 --> 0:34:09.330 short summary. The ultimate issue is the purpose for the 0:34:09.330 --> 0:34:13.500 coming tribulation period. That seven year period mentioned in Daniel nine, 0:34:13.620 --> 0:34:17.250 verse 27, in verses 24 to 27 of that chapter, 0:34:17.280 --> 0:34:20.400 God told Daniel that 70 weeks, that is, 70 groups 0:34:20.400 --> 0:34:23.790 of seven years have been decreed for your people, the Jews, 0:34:23.790 --> 0:34:27.719 and your holy city, Jerusalem. God then provides a timeline 0:34:27.719 --> 0:34:30.930 going forth of of the future history of Jerusalem and 0:34:30.930 --> 0:34:34.410 the Jewish people. The first 69 weeks of years, the 0:34:34.410 --> 0:34:38.100 first 483 years, was fulfilled the very day Jesus rode 0:34:38.100 --> 0:34:41.070 into Jerusalem as the Messiah on the colt, the foal 0:34:41.070 --> 0:34:44.670 of a donkey. And then the timeline temporarily stops before 0:34:44.670 --> 0:34:47.160 the beginning of the final seven year period. He says 0:34:47.160 --> 0:34:49.110 the Messiah is going to be cut off and have nothing. 0:34:49.110 --> 0:34:51.240 The prince who is to come will destroy the city 0:34:51.239 --> 0:34:53.250 and the sanctuary in a time of trouble, for the 0:34:53.250 --> 0:34:55.890 Jewish people will come. And then in verse 27, he 0:34:55.890 --> 0:34:58.680 picks up the final seven year period and divides it 0:34:58.680 --> 0:35:01.739 into two halves. But my point here is the entire period, 0:35:01.739 --> 0:35:04.290 the entire seven years is for your people. That is, 0:35:04.290 --> 0:35:07.830 the Jews and your holy city that is Jerusalem. In 0:35:07.830 --> 0:35:11.850 Matthew 24, just before his crucifixion, Jesus gave his disciples 0:35:11.880 --> 0:35:14.910 a picture of what the future held for them, and 0:35:14.910 --> 0:35:17.640 he describes several things. In fact, at one point, though, 0:35:17.640 --> 0:35:20.700 he says in verse 15, you'll see an abomination of 0:35:20.700 --> 0:35:23.730 desolation spoken of through Daniel the prophet standing in the 0:35:23.730 --> 0:35:27.299 holy place. Well, that comes from Daniel 927 and then 0:35:27.300 --> 0:35:30.360 he says, when that happens, he puts it into a 0:35:30.360 --> 0:35:33.270 Jewish context, because he says, those who are in Judea 0:35:33.270 --> 0:35:36.810 must flee and pray. Your flight won't be on the Sabbath, 0:35:36.900 --> 0:35:38.910 for there will be a great tribulation, such as has 0:35:38.910 --> 0:35:41.549 not occurred since the beginning of the world. The point, though, 0:35:41.550 --> 0:35:45.030 is as Jesus describes his future time of tribulation, he 0:35:45.030 --> 0:35:47.670 connects it with Judea and with the Sabbath with the 0:35:47.670 --> 0:35:51.420 Jewish people. Just like Daniel nine said, I could go 0:35:51.420 --> 0:35:53.489 on in the book of revelation as well. But my 0:35:53.489 --> 0:35:57.120 whole point here is the pre-tribulational position makes the most 0:35:57.120 --> 0:36:00.000 sense if you take the Bible at face value. Now 0:36:00.030 --> 0:36:03.180 why is the Pre-tribulational position under attack? I think it's 0:36:03.180 --> 0:36:06.180 largely because people today really don't know the Bible, and 0:36:06.180 --> 0:36:08.400 as a result, they're afraid to take a firm position 0:36:08.400 --> 0:36:11.489 on anything unless they're sure most others agree with them. 0:36:11.520 --> 0:36:13.890 You know, it's scholarly to question, even to scoff at 0:36:13.890 --> 0:36:17.070 things that seem to be, quote, simplistic in their understanding 0:36:17.070 --> 0:36:20.310 of the Bible. But I hold to a pre-tribulation rapture 0:36:20.310 --> 0:36:23.759 because I believe the Bible pictures the final seven year period, 0:36:23.760 --> 0:36:26.580 focusing on Israel in a unique and special way. So 0:36:26.580 --> 0:36:28.799 God's going to remove the church from the earth and 0:36:28.800 --> 0:36:31.140 then begin his program again with Israel for that final 0:36:31.140 --> 0:36:34.170 period leading up to the second coming of Jesus. And 0:36:34.170 --> 0:36:36.480 I think those two groups are distinct in the outworking 0:36:36.510 --> 0:36:37.590 of God's plan. 0:36:37.860 --> 0:36:40.860 I'm looking forward to Charlie's devotional. It's next right here 0:36:40.860 --> 0:36:56.070 on the land and the book. Of revelation. Welcome back 0:36:56.070 --> 0:36:58.710 to the land and the book with our host, Charlie Dyer. 0:36:58.739 --> 0:37:01.380 I'm John Geiger and Charlie. I heard about a guy 0:37:01.410 --> 0:37:04.589 the other day who was on the phone in the car, 0:37:04.890 --> 0:37:07.350 his wife back home. He's driving to work, and she says, 0:37:07.350 --> 0:37:09.300 you know, I heard there's a report of some guy 0:37:09.330 --> 0:37:12.420 driving the wrong way on the on the highway. he says. 0:37:12.420 --> 0:37:15.450 It's not just one guy, it's just about everybody driving 0:37:15.450 --> 0:37:18.420 the wrong way. Charlie, I wonder if that isn't something 0:37:18.450 --> 0:37:21.270 of a setup for your devotional today titled Going the 0:37:21.270 --> 0:37:23.640 Wrong Way on a One Way Highway. 0:37:23.670 --> 0:37:26.520 John, it's better than you can possibly imagine. 0:37:26.940 --> 0:37:29.400 I'm looking forward to what you've got for us as 0:37:29.400 --> 0:37:32.130 we begin a look at the High Holy Days. Before 0:37:32.130 --> 0:37:34.529 we get to Charlie's devotional, though, let's pause for this 0:37:34.530 --> 0:37:37.680 testimony from somebody who's traveled to the Holy Land and 0:37:37.680 --> 0:37:39.989 comes back with this moment for us. 0:37:43.830 --> 0:37:47.580 Hi, I'm Jackie, and this has been a wonderful experience 0:37:47.580 --> 0:37:51.509 for me. I've traveled a great deal, and this was 0:37:51.840 --> 0:37:56.730 a really important trip for me. And I just appreciate 0:37:56.730 --> 0:38:01.770 all the minute things we've learned. Um, we went into 0:38:01.770 --> 0:38:05.760 the Groovin Valley and down in a cave and saw 0:38:05.760 --> 0:38:10.440 the oil press. The way that the early Jews had 0:38:10.440 --> 0:38:14.279 to make oil from the olives, and I'd also had 0:38:14.280 --> 0:38:16.680 a lesson in a small group at home where we 0:38:16.680 --> 0:38:18.960 had done that. So it was really fun to see 0:38:18.960 --> 0:38:22.739 the actual, you know, oil press and do that. And 0:38:22.770 --> 0:38:27.060 the olive oil press and the word Gethsemane have the 0:38:27.060 --> 0:38:29.700 same kind of meaning. And we always hear about the 0:38:29.700 --> 0:38:31.890 Garden of Gethsemane. But that was a new way to 0:38:31.920 --> 0:38:35.970 think about it. And it's just been a wonderful experience. 0:38:37.860 --> 0:38:39.750 All right. We're headed to the Old Testament today. Where 0:38:39.750 --> 0:38:41.820 are we going, Charlie, with your devotional. Uh, we're. 0:38:41.820 --> 0:38:44.310 Heading into the book of Leviticus to talk about going 0:38:44.340 --> 0:38:46.980 the wrong way on this one way highway. And, John, 0:38:46.980 --> 0:38:50.130 where I live, there are a number of interstate highways 0:38:50.130 --> 0:38:52.980 and other limited access roads. Uh, that's why I was 0:38:52.980 --> 0:38:56.400 thinking of your opening comment there. The entrances and exits 0:38:56.400 --> 0:39:00.330 are clearly marked. And yet several times every year, news 0:39:00.360 --> 0:39:03.510 outlets carry stories of individuals who manage to drive past 0:39:03.510 --> 0:39:07.140 giant wrong way, do not enter signs, and head up 0:39:07.140 --> 0:39:09.900 the off ramp onto the divided highway going in the 0:39:09.900 --> 0:39:13.410 wrong direction. Sometimes the police are able to arrive in 0:39:13.410 --> 0:39:16.500 time to avoid an accident, but sadly there have been 0:39:16.500 --> 0:39:20.730 serious injuries and fatalities as these clueless drivers head into 0:39:20.760 --> 0:39:25.080 oncoming traffic. Now such Wrong-Way driving usually results from one 0:39:25.110 --> 0:39:29.430 of four reasons. Impaired judgment caused by drugs or alcohol 0:39:29.460 --> 0:39:34.680 diminished sight, especially among the elderly, mental impairment, and finally 0:39:34.680 --> 0:39:37.620 a lack of familiarity with the area. The highway system 0:39:37.620 --> 0:39:41.759 or the signage. The specific cause for each incident might vary, 0:39:41.760 --> 0:39:44.969 but the end result can be a serious accident. Yet 0:39:44.969 --> 0:39:47.430 while driving the wrong way on a one way highway 0:39:47.430 --> 0:39:51.210 can cause a physical disaster. Going the wrong way spiritually 0:39:51.210 --> 0:39:55.380 can have even more catastrophic results. To understand how we're 0:39:55.380 --> 0:39:59.520 heading into the Sinai Peninsula after Israel's exodus from Egypt 0:39:59.610 --> 0:40:03.270 in Exodus 40, the newly fashioned tabernacle is finally set 0:40:03.270 --> 0:40:06.150 up on the first day of the first month. That's 0:40:06.150 --> 0:40:10.350 almost exactly a year after the institution of Passover. And 0:40:10.350 --> 0:40:13.110 what an eventful year it's been. But now Israel is 0:40:13.110 --> 0:40:15.810 ready to serve the Lord and move forward. The Book 0:40:15.810 --> 0:40:18.420 of Leviticus begins in chapters 1 to 7, with the 0:40:18.420 --> 0:40:21.810 institution of the five main offerings to be presented to 0:40:21.840 --> 0:40:24.810 the Lord. Then, in chapters eight and nine, Aaron and 0:40:24.810 --> 0:40:30.089 his sons are ordained into the priesthood and begin their ministry. Unfortunately, 0:40:30.090 --> 0:40:32.400 that's when two of Aaron's sons go for a priestly 0:40:32.400 --> 0:40:35.879 joyride and start heading the wrong direction on a one 0:40:35.910 --> 0:40:40.469 way spiritual highway. The account begins in Leviticus ten. Aaron's 0:40:40.469 --> 0:40:43.890 sons Nadab and Abihu took their sensors, put fire in them, 0:40:43.890 --> 0:40:48.120 and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, 0:40:48.120 --> 0:40:51.390 contrary to his command. So fire came out from the 0:40:51.390 --> 0:40:54.330 presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died 0:40:54.330 --> 0:40:57.090 before the Lord. Now we're not told directly what they 0:40:57.120 --> 0:41:00.810 had done wrong, though. Verses 8 to 10 suggest one 0:41:00.810 --> 0:41:04.590 reason for this spiritual crash was drunkenness on their part. 0:41:04.620 --> 0:41:06.989 Then the Lord said to Aaron, you and your sons 0:41:06.989 --> 0:41:09.930 are not to drink wine or other fermented drink. Whenever 0:41:09.930 --> 0:41:12.210 you go into the tent of meeting or you will die. 0:41:12.239 --> 0:41:15.660 This is a lasting ordinance for generations to come. You 0:41:15.660 --> 0:41:18.750 must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the 0:41:18.750 --> 0:41:22.830 unclean and the clean. Aaron's sons had apparently been drinking 0:41:22.830 --> 0:41:26.310 before going into God's presence to offer the incense. We're 0:41:26.310 --> 0:41:29.160 not told exactly what they did wrong, apart from offering 0:41:29.160 --> 0:41:33.420 strange or unauthorized fire before the Lord. Perhaps they used 0:41:33.420 --> 0:41:36.000 coals in their sensors that hadn't come from off the 0:41:36.000 --> 0:41:39.300 altar as prescribed by God. Or perhaps they came into 0:41:39.300 --> 0:41:41.550 the tent at a time not set by God. Or 0:41:41.550 --> 0:41:44.160 it could be that they took the opportunity while in there, 0:41:44.160 --> 0:41:46.739 to look behind the veil into the Holy of Holies. 0:41:46.770 --> 0:41:49.860 Whatever they did, in their drunken stupor, they went against 0:41:49.860 --> 0:41:53.819 God's strict instructions and they ended up dead. This is 0:41:53.820 --> 0:41:57.000 indeed a sad story, but why share it now? What 0:41:57.000 --> 0:41:59.070 does this have to do with the Day of Atonement, 0:41:59.100 --> 0:42:02.940 Yom Kippur, which began last night? Well, assuming the events 0:42:02.940 --> 0:42:06.360 in the Pentateuch are chronological, this must have taken place 0:42:06.360 --> 0:42:10.350 sometime after the spring festivals, but before the first celebration 0:42:10.350 --> 0:42:13.259 of the fall festivals. And I say that because of 0:42:13.260 --> 0:42:17.070 the way the Day of Atonement is introduced in Leviticus 16. 0:42:17.100 --> 0:42:19.440 The Lord spoke to Moses after the death of the 0:42:19.440 --> 0:42:22.500 two sons of Aaron, who died when they approached the Lord. 0:42:22.650 --> 0:42:25.380 That's Nadab and Abihu there back in chapter ten. The 0:42:25.380 --> 0:42:28.230 Lord said to Moses, tell your brother Aaron not to 0:42:28.260 --> 0:42:31.470 come whenever he chooses, into the Most Holy place behind 0:42:31.469 --> 0:42:34.080 the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, 0:42:34.080 --> 0:42:36.390 or else he will die, because I will appear in 0:42:36.390 --> 0:42:40.739 the cloud over the atonement cover. Why introduce the regulations 0:42:40.739 --> 0:42:44.009 for the Day of Atonement by first rehearsing the spiritual 0:42:44.010 --> 0:42:47.400 wreck caused by Nadab and Abihu. What is it that 0:42:47.400 --> 0:42:50.190 ties them into the Day of Atonement? Well, I see 0:42:50.219 --> 0:42:53.219 two elements in the story that apply following their deaths. 0:42:53.250 --> 0:42:54.960 God made it clear that the priests were not to 0:42:54.989 --> 0:42:58.440 drink wine or other fermented drink. And the second element 0:42:58.440 --> 0:43:01.830 is God's strict prohibition on Aaron not to come whenever 0:43:01.830 --> 0:43:05.110 he chooses, into the most holy place behind the curtain 0:43:05.110 --> 0:43:07.989 in front of the atonement cover on the Ark at 0:43:07.989 --> 0:43:10.480 the Day of Atonement was the most solemn day on 0:43:10.480 --> 0:43:13.690 Israel's religious calendar. This was the day that a blood 0:43:13.690 --> 0:43:17.110 sacrifice was sprinkled before the mercy seat on the Ark 0:43:17.110 --> 0:43:19.840 of the covenant. The blood came between the tablets of 0:43:19.840 --> 0:43:22.870 the law inside the ark and the Shekinah glory of God, 0:43:22.870 --> 0:43:25.960 who dwelled above the ark. Using repetition, God made it 0:43:25.960 --> 0:43:28.569 clear what the purpose was for the Day of Atonement. 0:43:28.600 --> 0:43:31.629 Leviticus 16. He said, this day, atonement will be made 0:43:31.630 --> 0:43:34.060 for you, to cleanse you. Then before the Lord you 0:43:34.060 --> 0:43:36.910 will be clean from all your sins. Later, in verses 0:43:36.910 --> 0:43:39.700 32 to 34, he says, the high priest is to 0:43:39.730 --> 0:43:41.860 make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen 0:43:41.860 --> 0:43:44.890 garment and make atonement for the most holy place, for 0:43:44.890 --> 0:43:47.080 the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the 0:43:47.080 --> 0:43:49.480 priests and all the people of the community. This is 0:43:49.480 --> 0:43:52.120 to be a lasting ordinance for you. Atonement is to 0:43:52.120 --> 0:43:54.700 be made once a year for all the sins of 0:43:54.700 --> 0:43:58.299 the Israelites. The ceremony being performed by the high priests 0:43:58.330 --> 0:44:01.780 was designed to illustrate what must happen if an unholy 0:44:01.780 --> 0:44:04.990 people seek to dwell with the Holy God. Sin must 0:44:04.989 --> 0:44:08.770 be addressed. The specific details described by God in Leviticus 0:44:08.770 --> 0:44:12.970 16 are very precise, and each part was essential from 0:44:12.969 --> 0:44:15.430 the high priest. First needing to offer a sacrifice for 0:44:15.430 --> 0:44:18.430 himself to his, then being able to offer atonement for 0:44:18.430 --> 0:44:21.730 the people. He could only enter into God's presence at 0:44:21.730 --> 0:44:24.279 this one time of the year, and it required the 0:44:24.280 --> 0:44:27.430 shedding of blood. It also included the confession of sin 0:44:27.430 --> 0:44:30.370 over the scapegoat, which was then symbolically led out of 0:44:30.370 --> 0:44:33.640 the camp into the wilderness. Every detail was to be 0:44:33.640 --> 0:44:36.969 performed exactly as God commanded. There was no room for 0:44:36.969 --> 0:44:40.720 variation or improvisation. Each year the priest was to enact, 0:44:40.719 --> 0:44:43.690 in a very visible and dramatic way, a story of 0:44:43.690 --> 0:44:47.170 atonement that pointed ultimately to the work of Jesus. The 0:44:47.170 --> 0:44:50.440 writer of Hebrews explains the reality that was pictured by 0:44:50.440 --> 0:44:53.230 the Day of Atonement when he writes in Hebrews nine, 0:44:53.230 --> 0:44:55.419 when Christ came as a high priest of the good 0:44:55.420 --> 0:44:58.150 things that are already here, he went through the greater 0:44:58.150 --> 0:45:01.030 and more perfect tabernacle that is not man made, that 0:45:01.030 --> 0:45:03.489 is to say, not a part of this creation. He 0:45:03.489 --> 0:45:05.440 did not enter by the means of the blood of 0:45:05.469 --> 0:45:07.930 goats and calves, but he entered the Most Holy Place 0:45:07.930 --> 0:45:12.430 once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. 0:45:12.460 --> 0:45:15.460 God took very seriously how he was to be approached 0:45:15.489 --> 0:45:18.730 on a certain day, in a certain way, and always 0:45:18.730 --> 0:45:21.670 with the blood of the sacrifice to atone for sin. 0:45:21.700 --> 0:45:25.210 It was a one way street established by God Himself 0:45:25.210 --> 0:45:28.300 to try to approach God any other way brought death 0:45:28.300 --> 0:45:32.380 and destruction, as Nadab and Abihu discovered. All the details 0:45:32.410 --> 0:45:35.049 pointed to the ultimate Lamb of God who died to 0:45:35.080 --> 0:45:38.140 pay for our sin. He said, I am the way 0:45:38.140 --> 0:45:40.540 and the truth and the life. No one comes to 0:45:40.570 --> 0:45:44.080 the father except through me. The ultimate message on the 0:45:44.080 --> 0:45:46.480 Day of Atonement can be stated this way. There is 0:45:46.480 --> 0:45:49.480 a holy and righteous God who must judge sin. But 0:45:49.480 --> 0:45:51.850 this God is also a loving God who has reached 0:45:51.850 --> 0:45:55.960 down to provide a way for sinful humanity to experience forgiveness. 0:45:55.989 --> 0:45:58.810 It involves the death of a substitute, one whose blood 0:45:58.810 --> 0:46:01.810 was shed to pay the penalty for that sin. The 0:46:01.810 --> 0:46:04.450 Day of Atonement looked forward to Jesus, who was the 0:46:04.450 --> 0:46:07.779 ultimate sacrifice for our sin. His death on the cross 0:46:07.780 --> 0:46:10.870 was sufficient to pay that penalty, but now we're faced 0:46:10.870 --> 0:46:13.930 with a choice. We can choose to ignore his sacrifice 0:46:13.930 --> 0:46:16.090 and seek to find some other roadway, to try to 0:46:16.090 --> 0:46:18.489 reach God on our own. Or we can choose to 0:46:18.520 --> 0:46:22.480 accept his sacrifice on our behalf and turn to him 0:46:22.480 --> 0:46:26.410 to experience God's forgiveness. The choice is yours, but the 0:46:26.410 --> 0:46:29.560 consequences for choosing to go the wrong way on God's 0:46:29.560 --> 0:46:33.489 one way street are eternally catastrophic. So be sure to 0:46:33.520 --> 0:46:35.259 choose wisely. 0:46:35.290 --> 0:46:38.020 And if you'd like to choose to follow Jesus, a 0:46:38.020 --> 0:46:40.359 friend will pray with you now at eight, eight, eight. 0:46:40.390 --> 0:46:44.440 Need him, 888 need him. That'll do it for today's 0:46:44.440 --> 0:46:47.860 broadcast for our host, Charlie Dyer. Our producer, Dan Anderson, 0:46:47.860 --> 0:46:50.770 I'm John Geiger. Thanks for listening. The land and the 0:46:50.770 --> 0:46:53.500 book is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of 0:46:53.530 --> 0:46:55.210 Moody Bible Institute.