1 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:12,050 S1: 99% of people who experience the Holy Land in person 2 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,650 S1: say it has profoundly affected their faith. But not everyone 3 00:00:15,650 --> 00:00:19,550 S1: can go to Israel, especially as the conflict there drags on. 4 00:00:19,550 --> 00:00:23,090 S1: But if you lack the time, money and energy to travel, 5 00:00:23,120 --> 00:00:26,630 S1: you can still enjoy an immersive and educational tour of 6 00:00:26,630 --> 00:00:30,320 S1: the Bible Lands without leaving your home. Are you intrigued? Well, 7 00:00:30,320 --> 00:00:32,900 S1: join us now for the land and the book from 8 00:00:32,930 --> 00:00:36,530 S1: Moody Radio. Our host is Middle East expert Doctor Charlie Dyer, 9 00:00:36,530 --> 00:00:40,280 S1: and I'm John Gager. Well, Charlie Israel has been so 10 00:00:40,280 --> 00:00:42,440 S1: much in the news this past year. We're coming up 11 00:00:42,440 --> 00:00:45,230 S1: on the one year anniversary of the attack. And of course, 12 00:00:45,229 --> 00:00:48,169 S1: the Bible is jam packed with end times prophecies about 13 00:00:48,170 --> 00:00:51,380 S1: epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish people to 14 00:00:51,409 --> 00:00:55,010 S1: their ancient homeland, and Jesus return. It is crucial for 15 00:00:55,010 --> 00:00:57,800 S1: us as believers, though, to have a proper understanding of 16 00:00:57,800 --> 00:01:00,620 S1: Bible prophecy. So our view of the future is shaped 17 00:01:00,620 --> 00:01:03,260 S1: by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right? 18 00:01:03,290 --> 00:01:05,870 S2: That's absolutely true, John. And with that in mind, our 19 00:01:05,870 --> 00:01:09,560 S2: friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God, 20 00:01:09,560 --> 00:01:12,710 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners 21 00:01:12,709 --> 00:01:15,530 S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. Now, 22 00:01:15,530 --> 00:01:18,950 S2: this informative book is focused on providing readers with a 23 00:01:18,950 --> 00:01:23,150 S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in 24 00:01:23,150 --> 00:01:26,420 S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what 25 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:29,420 S2: the scriptures say about these issues. If you're interested in 26 00:01:29,420 --> 00:01:32,780 S2: learning more about what God has in store, visit Life 27 00:01:32,810 --> 00:01:35,869 S2: in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio button 28 00:01:35,870 --> 00:01:39,470 S2: to find out how you can receive your copy of God, 29 00:01:39,500 --> 00:01:44,510 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 30 00:01:44,750 --> 00:01:47,150 S1: And now a look at current events from the Middle East. 31 00:01:47,180 --> 00:01:50,660 S1: Last Sunday, Hezbollah finally made good on its threat to 32 00:01:50,690 --> 00:01:56,510 S1: attack Israel, launching 230 rockets and 20 drones. How successful 33 00:01:56,510 --> 00:02:00,020 S1: was that attack? And more importantly, is the threat over 34 00:02:00,050 --> 00:02:02,270 S1: or could more attacks be expected? 35 00:02:02,300 --> 00:02:05,840 S2: You know, Hezbollah's attack against Israel was timed to coincide 36 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:10,070 S2: with the end of a Shiite religious period called Arba'een, 37 00:02:10,100 --> 00:02:13,040 S2: marking the end of a 40 day mourning period for 38 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:16,430 S2: Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of Muhammad who was killed 39 00:02:16,430 --> 00:02:22,429 S2: in battle. A Hezbollah actually called their attack Operation Arba'een Day. Now, 40 00:02:22,460 --> 00:02:25,880 S2: in spite of their public statements afterward, the attack really 41 00:02:25,880 --> 00:02:30,380 S2: wasn't a success because Israel launched a preemptive strike with 42 00:02:30,380 --> 00:02:34,459 S2: 100 Israeli fighter jets knocking out thousands of rocket launchers 43 00:02:34,460 --> 00:02:38,269 S2: just before they were set to fire. Hezbollah falsely claimed 44 00:02:38,270 --> 00:02:43,190 S2: their attack hit major Israeli bases, causing great destruction and disruption. 45 00:02:43,460 --> 00:02:46,190 S2: This was their way to save face as reports came 46 00:02:46,190 --> 00:02:50,000 S2: in showing how little damage was done. Some Arab social 47 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:54,860 S2: media mocked Hezbollah, saying their long awaited retaliation struck little 48 00:02:54,860 --> 00:02:58,519 S2: more than a chicken coop. Leaders throughout the region responded 49 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:03,950 S2: by demanding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, 50 00:03:03,950 --> 00:03:07,490 S2: which was adopted back in 2006, and it called for 51 00:03:07,520 --> 00:03:10,700 S2: UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army to be the only 52 00:03:10,700 --> 00:03:14,839 S2: armed forces deployed in South Lebanon. Now that matches Israel's 53 00:03:14,840 --> 00:03:18,500 S2: call for Hezbollah's forces to be repositioned north of the 54 00:03:18,500 --> 00:03:22,310 S2: Litani River and away from Israel's border. Only time will 55 00:03:22,310 --> 00:03:27,200 S2: tell if Israel's preemptive strike was successful in deterring Hezbollah. 56 00:03:27,230 --> 00:03:30,859 S2: Israel's goal was to demonstrate it wasn't in Hezbollah's best 57 00:03:30,860 --> 00:03:34,220 S2: interest to take the region into war. They were careful 58 00:03:34,220 --> 00:03:37,820 S2: only to attack Hezbollah's military sites. They didn't go after 59 00:03:37,820 --> 00:03:43,010 S2: Lebanese infrastructure or civilians. Now, afterward, both Hezbollah and Israel 60 00:03:43,010 --> 00:03:46,160 S2: said these attacks weren't necessarily the end of the story, 61 00:03:46,160 --> 00:03:49,700 S2: and each reserved the right to strike again. However, it's 62 00:03:49,700 --> 00:03:52,820 S2: unclear if this was a genuine threat on Hezbollah's part 63 00:03:52,850 --> 00:03:56,960 S2: or just verbal jousting. One interesting aspect of the attack 64 00:03:56,990 --> 00:04:00,020 S2: is the fact that Iran didn't join in with Hezbollah 65 00:04:00,020 --> 00:04:04,340 S2: in launching its threatened attack. Likely, the increased U.S. military 66 00:04:04,340 --> 00:04:07,850 S2: presence in the area was a major factor. It's also 67 00:04:07,850 --> 00:04:10,490 S2: possible they wanted to gauge the level of response they 68 00:04:10,490 --> 00:04:13,730 S2: might expect from Israel, were they to attack in a 69 00:04:13,730 --> 00:04:16,820 S2: similar way. It's too early to say that there won't 70 00:04:16,820 --> 00:04:20,510 S2: be any future attacks by Hezbollah or by Iran, but 71 00:04:20,510 --> 00:04:22,520 S2: they do have to pause and think about the high 72 00:04:22,520 --> 00:04:26,480 S2: level of detailed intelligence possessed by Israel, and by the 73 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:29,480 S2: ability of Israel's air power to conduct such a large 74 00:04:29,480 --> 00:04:33,500 S2: number of precision strikes. In the meantime, though, watch as 75 00:04:33,529 --> 00:04:36,799 S2: Iran and Hamas try to work together to organize an 76 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:40,460 S2: armed terrorists in several West Bank cities and towns to 77 00:04:40,490 --> 00:04:44,480 S2: create more problems for Israel. These towns include Nablus and 78 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:48,680 S2: Jenin and Tulkarem. Iran is trying to smuggle in weapons 79 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:52,190 S2: while Hamas is working to organize terrorist cells in those towns. 80 00:04:52,220 --> 00:04:56,099 S2: Israel has now launched a major counterterrorism operation in the 81 00:04:56,100 --> 00:04:59,250 S2: West Bank to stop this threat from expanding. 82 00:04:59,250 --> 00:05:02,790 S1: Well, Hamas has rejected the latest proposals for a ceasefire 83 00:05:02,790 --> 00:05:06,990 S1: and hostage deal. Does this mean the negotiations have entirely collapsed, 84 00:05:06,990 --> 00:05:09,390 S1: or are they on life support, Charlie? 85 00:05:09,450 --> 00:05:12,930 S2: It really depends on the person being asked. The Biden 86 00:05:12,930 --> 00:05:17,010 S2: administration insists that the process is still moving forward. They're 87 00:05:17,010 --> 00:05:20,520 S2: quite optimistic, but few others in the region or few 88 00:05:20,520 --> 00:05:25,170 S2: other countries see much progress or hope for success. Last Sunday, 89 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:28,650 S2: Hamas claimed they'd rejected this most recent ceasefire following the 90 00:05:28,650 --> 00:05:31,859 S2: Cairo talks. And to emphasize that fact, they fired one 91 00:05:31,860 --> 00:05:36,060 S2: of their few remaining rockets at central Israel. Many inside 92 00:05:36,060 --> 00:05:39,479 S2: and outside Israel are unfairly blaming Prime Minister Netanyahu for 93 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,859 S2: the collapse, saying he continues adding additional conditions. Here's what 94 00:05:43,890 --> 00:05:46,770 S2: needs to be kept in mind. Hamas began this conflict 95 00:05:46,770 --> 00:05:50,849 S2: when it launched an unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7th, 96 00:05:50,850 --> 00:05:56,039 S2: killing over 1200 Israelis, mostly civilians. Hamas officials boasted that 97 00:05:56,040 --> 00:06:00,180 S2: they attacked in part to derail the normalization process taking 98 00:06:00,180 --> 00:06:04,980 S2: place between Israel and the surrounding Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia. 99 00:06:05,010 --> 00:06:08,400 S2: They also said they'll never recognize a two state solution 100 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:13,260 S2: to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas won't accept the existence of 101 00:06:13,260 --> 00:06:17,310 S2: the State of Israel. After taking over Gaza in 2007, 102 00:06:17,310 --> 00:06:21,090 S2: Hamas began building up its military forces by digging tunnels 103 00:06:21,089 --> 00:06:25,349 S2: into Egypt to import weapons and equipment for manufacturing rockets 104 00:06:25,350 --> 00:06:29,220 S2: and bombs. The attack on October 7th was meticulously planned 105 00:06:29,220 --> 00:06:33,360 S2: for years. Given the opportunity, Hamas will begin digging new 106 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:37,049 S2: tunnels to rearm and return to their original plan. And 107 00:06:37,050 --> 00:06:40,530 S2: that's one key reason Prime Minister Netanyahu has been so 108 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,490 S2: adamant about controlling the narrow strip of land between Gaza 109 00:06:44,490 --> 00:06:48,480 S2: and Egypt. Israel has choked off Hamas's supply lines for weapons, 110 00:06:48,480 --> 00:06:51,870 S2: and they don't want to allow Hamas to rearm there. 111 00:06:51,870 --> 00:06:55,080 S2: Their mediators are still working, having decided to set these 112 00:06:55,080 --> 00:06:58,529 S2: issues aside to deal with at the very end. Sadly, 113 00:06:58,529 --> 00:07:00,960 S2: that likely means more pressure is going to be put 114 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:03,659 S2: on Israel at that time to give in for the 115 00:07:03,660 --> 00:07:04,770 S2: sake of a deal. 116 00:07:04,770 --> 00:07:08,490 S1: So, Charlie, am I understanding you correctly that weapons and 117 00:07:08,490 --> 00:07:10,590 S1: bombs and all of the materials that go with it 118 00:07:10,590 --> 00:07:13,740 S1: are being slowed as far as their flow into Hamas 119 00:07:13,740 --> 00:07:15,390 S1: controlled territories in Gaza. 120 00:07:15,570 --> 00:07:18,270 S2: They are being choked off dramatically. In fact, Hamas is 121 00:07:18,270 --> 00:07:21,990 S2: running out of rockets to fire and bullets to fire. 122 00:07:21,990 --> 00:07:25,440 S2: So Israel's plan is succeeding, which is one of the 123 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,190 S2: reasons that Hamas wants Israel out of that philadelphi corridor. 124 00:07:29,220 --> 00:07:31,440 S1: This is the land. And the book from Moody Radio, 125 00:07:31,470 --> 00:07:33,660 S1: our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, working us through a look 126 00:07:33,690 --> 00:07:37,830 S1: at current events as Israel's conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah and 127 00:07:37,830 --> 00:07:41,310 S1: Iran drags on. One of the lesser known casualties has 128 00:07:41,310 --> 00:07:45,450 S1: been Israel's tourism industry. What's happening to tourism in Israel? 129 00:07:45,480 --> 00:07:47,550 S2: Well, you know, as I talked to the people in 130 00:07:47,550 --> 00:07:49,830 S2: the tourism industry, they're my heart goes out to them. 131 00:07:49,830 --> 00:07:52,650 S2: It has been hit particularly hard. You know, for two years, 132 00:07:52,650 --> 00:07:57,330 S2: Covid shut down tourism worldwide, including Israel. It finally revived, 133 00:07:57,330 --> 00:08:00,330 S2: only to be shut down again by Hamas on October 7th. 134 00:08:00,360 --> 00:08:03,090 S2: Now it's almost been a year and tourism has taken 135 00:08:03,090 --> 00:08:05,970 S2: a major hit, but the impact hasn't been felt by 136 00:08:05,970 --> 00:08:08,700 S2: all Israelis who were forced to flee their homes next 137 00:08:08,700 --> 00:08:11,610 S2: to Gaza and along the border with Lebanon were sent 138 00:08:11,610 --> 00:08:14,460 S2: to hotels in Jerusalem and down by the Dead Sea. 139 00:08:14,490 --> 00:08:17,460 S2: So the hotels were nearly full for the past year, 140 00:08:17,460 --> 00:08:21,090 S2: though not with tourists. That's starting to change as Israelis 141 00:08:21,120 --> 00:08:24,600 S2: near Gaza especially, have been returning to their communities. But 142 00:08:24,600 --> 00:08:28,110 S2: many biblical sites saw a drop in tourism. While some 143 00:08:28,110 --> 00:08:31,230 S2: Israelis took time to visit national parks, the crowds have 144 00:08:31,230 --> 00:08:34,709 S2: been much smaller, and tour groups continue to cancel trips 145 00:08:34,710 --> 00:08:37,079 S2: because of the fear of the war. Though as far 146 00:08:37,080 --> 00:08:39,330 S2: as I can tell, there hasn't been a single major 147 00:08:39,330 --> 00:08:43,470 S2: incident impacting tourists in Israel. An even bigger issue, though, 148 00:08:43,500 --> 00:08:47,790 S2: has been flight cancellations. Most American carriers have temporarily suspended 149 00:08:47,790 --> 00:08:50,950 S2: flights to Israel, so groups wanting to travel to Israel 150 00:08:50,950 --> 00:08:54,310 S2: really have few options. El al is flying, but its 151 00:08:54,309 --> 00:08:57,550 S2: flights are full. Most Israeli tour guides have gone almost 152 00:08:57,550 --> 00:09:00,429 S2: a year without any groups, forcing some to look for 153 00:09:00,429 --> 00:09:04,479 S2: other employment. Sadly, if the situation doesn't turn itself around 154 00:09:04,480 --> 00:09:06,640 S2: in the next month or so, it could take years 155 00:09:06,640 --> 00:09:11,140 S2: to rebuild the tourism infrastructure, including hotels and guides and 156 00:09:11,140 --> 00:09:15,309 S2: drivers and restaurants. And all of this has drained Israel's economy, 157 00:09:15,340 --> 00:09:19,390 S2: harming both Jewish and Arab workers in the tourism industry. 158 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:23,740 S1: Well, running clinical trials for potential drug therapies is a lengthy, 159 00:09:23,740 --> 00:09:28,810 S1: complex and costly process. But an artificial intelligence platform designed 160 00:09:28,809 --> 00:09:31,660 S1: by an Israeli startup is hoping to make the process 161 00:09:31,660 --> 00:09:34,960 S1: run more smoothly and for less cost. Tell us about 162 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,440 S1: this new approach to drug trials from Amazing Israel. Yeah, the. 163 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:42,490 S2: Israeli startup companies called Quant Health, and they're using AI 164 00:09:42,520 --> 00:09:46,300 S2: to combine over 1 trillion data points to simulate real 165 00:09:46,330 --> 00:09:49,890 S2: world efficacy in their clinical trial simulator. The program will 166 00:09:49,890 --> 00:09:54,240 S2: run clinical trial simulations on drugs under development, predicting risks 167 00:09:54,240 --> 00:09:57,840 S2: and outcomes while allowing thousands of simulated trials to take 168 00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:02,760 S2: place simultaneously. They can simulate both drugs and patients, exposing 169 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,150 S2: virtual patients to virtual treatments, and the goal is to 170 00:10:06,179 --> 00:10:09,360 S2: develop a more cost effective way to enable companies to 171 00:10:09,390 --> 00:10:14,100 S2: conduct these trials, which now cost about $100 billion annually. 172 00:10:14,130 --> 00:10:18,390 S2: They use anonymous records from over 350 million patients to 173 00:10:18,420 --> 00:10:21,960 S2: simulate how each patient with his or her unique health history, 174 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,410 S2: would react to certain drugs under development. And to test 175 00:10:25,410 --> 00:10:28,980 S2: the program, they ran simulations on drugs already available, and 176 00:10:28,980 --> 00:10:32,100 S2: they found that it had an accuracy rate of 85%, 177 00:10:32,100 --> 00:10:34,890 S2: cutting the time down from years to months to determine 178 00:10:34,890 --> 00:10:38,430 S2: whether actual clinical trials could move forward could speed the 179 00:10:38,429 --> 00:10:41,940 S2: development of life saving drugs while lowering their cost. And 180 00:10:41,940 --> 00:10:45,780 S2: that's another game changer in process right now from Amazing Israel. 181 00:10:45,780 --> 00:10:49,050 S1: Thank you Charlie. Coming up, a conversation about reading the 182 00:10:49,050 --> 00:10:51,630 S1: Bible Lands. What are we talking about? You'll find out 183 00:10:51,660 --> 00:11:10,200 S1: next on the land and the book. 99% of people 184 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:13,260 S1: who experience the Holy Land in person say it as 185 00:11:13,260 --> 00:11:17,189 S1: profoundly affected their faith. But not everyone, of course, can 186 00:11:17,220 --> 00:11:20,370 S1: go to Israel. So if you lack the time, money 187 00:11:20,370 --> 00:11:24,030 S1: and energy for travel, you can still enjoy an immersive 188 00:11:24,030 --> 00:11:27,570 S1: and educational tour of the Bible Lands. Are you intrigued? 189 00:11:27,570 --> 00:11:30,330 S1: I am This is the Land and the book from 190 00:11:30,330 --> 00:11:33,570 S1: Moody Radio. I'm John Gager and before we talk further 191 00:11:33,570 --> 00:11:36,750 S1: about reading the Bible with virtual tours, let's think of 192 00:11:36,750 --> 00:11:39,510 S1: a unique way to love our Jewish friends and neighbors 193 00:11:39,510 --> 00:11:43,199 S1: with the love of Christ. Do's and don'ts. When it 194 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,120 S1: comes to sharing your faith, are there any of those 195 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:48,240 S1: that come to mind. Let's ask Beth Taplin. She's with 196 00:11:48,240 --> 00:11:51,540 S1: the Olive tree congregation in suburban Chicago. What are some 197 00:11:51,540 --> 00:11:54,059 S1: do's and maybe some don'ts, Beth, that come to your mind? 198 00:11:54,090 --> 00:11:57,689 S3: Well, do share your faith with the Jewish person. Don't 199 00:11:57,690 --> 00:12:01,230 S3: be afraid. I think there are, in my experience, two 200 00:12:01,230 --> 00:12:06,689 S3: different kinds of Jewish people, some that are more biblical observant, 201 00:12:06,690 --> 00:12:09,030 S3: and others who don't know much about the Bible. Yes. 202 00:12:09,059 --> 00:12:12,540 S3: And I think we are more ready to share with 203 00:12:12,540 --> 00:12:15,689 S3: someone who doesn't know about the Bible. But those who 204 00:12:15,690 --> 00:12:19,620 S3: are biblical observant also need to know about the Messiah, 205 00:12:19,620 --> 00:12:22,140 S3: and they don't have a personal relationship with him. And 206 00:12:22,140 --> 00:12:25,650 S3: if you are able to share your relationship with the 207 00:12:25,650 --> 00:12:28,739 S3: Lord with the Jewish person, it doesn't matter what they 208 00:12:28,740 --> 00:12:31,410 S3: think they know or don't know, it's about the Lord 209 00:12:31,410 --> 00:12:33,510 S3: and what they are lacking. 210 00:12:33,510 --> 00:12:37,079 S1: But what about my fears that maybe they may know 211 00:12:37,080 --> 00:12:40,020 S1: more than I know and I'm all intimidated. 212 00:12:40,050 --> 00:12:43,590 S3: Trust the Lord. He will lead you through it, and 213 00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:44,670 S3: it'll be okay. 214 00:12:44,700 --> 00:12:48,750 S1: Great encouragement from Beth Tevlin. She's congregational administrator and co-leads 215 00:12:48,750 --> 00:12:52,080 S1: the women's ministry at Olive Tree Congregation. Appreciate your being 216 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:56,640 S1: bold and sharing with us, Beth. Sure. Wayne Styles loves 217 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:00,120 S1: connecting the Bible and its lands to life. Today, his 218 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:04,290 S1: goal to deliver practical content to encourage believers in their 219 00:13:04,290 --> 00:13:08,849 S1: relationship with God. Wayne has written four devotional books and 220 00:13:08,850 --> 00:13:11,520 S1: has created some really great video tools we'll talk about 221 00:13:11,520 --> 00:13:14,280 S1: as well. Wayne and his family live in Texas, have 222 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:17,069 S1: two adult daughters and a son in law. It has 223 00:13:17,070 --> 00:13:19,890 S1: been way too long since we've had him on the program. 224 00:13:19,890 --> 00:13:22,980 S1: So welcome back to the land and the book, Wayne. 225 00:13:23,010 --> 00:13:26,069 S4: Well, thank you, John. It's always great to be with you. 226 00:13:26,070 --> 00:13:28,319 S4: I appreciate the conversation. 227 00:13:28,350 --> 00:13:31,079 S1: We're familiar, of course, with reading the Bible, but how 228 00:13:31,080 --> 00:13:33,900 S1: did you arrive at the title of this series, Reading 229 00:13:33,900 --> 00:13:35,490 S1: the Bible Lands? 230 00:13:35,520 --> 00:13:40,860 S4: Yeah, well, I put together a reading program. I mean, 231 00:13:40,890 --> 00:13:45,190 S4: many Christians read the Bible every year or every few years, 232 00:13:45,190 --> 00:13:49,150 S4: and I just put together a reading program that allows 233 00:13:49,150 --> 00:13:53,110 S4: people to also include the lands of the Bible with 234 00:13:53,110 --> 00:13:54,310 S4: their Bible reading. 235 00:13:54,309 --> 00:13:57,490 S1: So reading the Bible Lands is actually a series of devotionals. 236 00:13:57,490 --> 00:13:59,530 S1: How many volumes in the series? 237 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:04,360 S4: Well, it's, uh, we're going to have 16 volumes, which 238 00:14:04,390 --> 00:14:07,810 S4: includes the whole Bible. It's quite a job. All right. 239 00:14:07,809 --> 00:14:10,150 S1: Right now, not all 16 are done. So how many 240 00:14:10,179 --> 00:14:11,500 S1: have we released so far? 241 00:14:11,530 --> 00:14:14,859 S4: Eight. So that concludes the Old Testament. 242 00:14:14,890 --> 00:14:17,260 S1: I noticed as I flip through some of these, they're 243 00:14:17,260 --> 00:14:21,970 S1: just really well done. A beautiful layout, gorgeous photos, obviously 244 00:14:21,970 --> 00:14:24,910 S1: superb content. You're a great writer, but talk about those 245 00:14:24,910 --> 00:14:27,609 S1: pictures that are so lavishly on display. 246 00:14:27,790 --> 00:14:31,000 S4: Well, you know, when we read the Bible, we always 247 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:34,930 S4: talk about reading in context. And of course that's important. 248 00:14:34,960 --> 00:14:37,660 S4: I mean, the words on the page, the paragraphs before 249 00:14:37,660 --> 00:14:41,770 S4: and after, even the historical context is important. But there's 250 00:14:41,770 --> 00:14:45,760 S4: also a geographical context that you and I love so 251 00:14:45,760 --> 00:14:49,690 S4: well and a lot of people maybe not familiar with. 252 00:14:49,750 --> 00:14:54,220 S4: So I put up pictures with each day's Bible reading 253 00:14:54,220 --> 00:14:57,130 S4: that go along with what you're reading. So if you're 254 00:14:57,130 --> 00:15:01,060 S4: reading about something in the land of Edom, then there's 255 00:15:01,060 --> 00:15:02,830 S4: a photo there that gives you a little bit of 256 00:15:02,830 --> 00:15:06,250 S4: a geographical context to the words on the page. 257 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,460 S1: I don't think we ever outgrow our love of photos 258 00:15:09,460 --> 00:15:11,890 S1: in books. You know, when we're talking about something, it's 259 00:15:11,890 --> 00:15:14,230 S1: just plain nice to see it. Well, as I spend 260 00:15:14,230 --> 00:15:17,410 S1: time with the devotionals, it feels very much like you 261 00:15:17,410 --> 00:15:20,170 S1: really want the reader to come away with not just 262 00:15:20,170 --> 00:15:23,230 S1: the sense of the passage, but the place of the passage. 263 00:15:23,230 --> 00:15:25,300 S1: Why is that so important for us? 264 00:15:25,390 --> 00:15:29,890 S4: Well, because our faith is rooted in reality, in time 265 00:15:29,890 --> 00:15:32,830 S4: and space and history. These aren't just stories that we're 266 00:15:32,830 --> 00:15:36,580 S4: reading in the book, in the Bible. They really happened, 267 00:15:36,580 --> 00:15:38,920 S4: and they happened in a real place that you can 268 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:43,030 S4: go and visit today. So just having these places, these 269 00:15:43,030 --> 00:15:47,470 S4: photos or videos with this Bible reading plan allows you 270 00:15:47,470 --> 00:15:51,460 S4: to make that connection that our faith is is real. 271 00:15:51,460 --> 00:15:54,160 S4: It's rooted in real places. Yeah. 272 00:15:54,190 --> 00:15:58,180 S1: Wayne Styles is all about encouraging believers in their relationship 273 00:15:58,180 --> 00:16:01,420 S1: with God. He joins us today on the land and 274 00:16:01,420 --> 00:16:04,030 S1: the book. Hey, tell me something. As you've spent time 275 00:16:04,030 --> 00:16:07,840 S1: researching and writing, any surprises that have come to you? 276 00:16:07,870 --> 00:16:09,940 S1: I mean, you you've been with the word for a 277 00:16:09,940 --> 00:16:11,740 S1: long time, but I bet there are some things that 278 00:16:11,740 --> 00:16:14,080 S1: have you come over you and you said, wow, I, 279 00:16:14,080 --> 00:16:15,580 S1: I guess I never thought of that. 280 00:16:16,060 --> 00:16:18,790 S4: Yeah. You know, as many times as we read through 281 00:16:18,790 --> 00:16:22,210 S4: the Bible, I'll always come upon a new place that 282 00:16:22,210 --> 00:16:25,060 S4: I've never heard of before. I guess maybe I'm a 283 00:16:25,060 --> 00:16:28,090 S4: little embarrassed to say that as much as I love 284 00:16:28,090 --> 00:16:30,190 S4: the lands of the Bible, I'll be reading through and 285 00:16:30,190 --> 00:16:33,489 S4: I'll find places that I've never heard of. And so 286 00:16:33,490 --> 00:16:36,520 S4: I'll pull out my atlas. And sometimes they've never heard 287 00:16:36,520 --> 00:16:40,840 S4: of them. So. But I guess one example is like 288 00:16:40,870 --> 00:16:42,940 S4: the book of Job. You know, he lived in the 289 00:16:42,940 --> 00:16:47,620 S4: land of Oz, and if you read various commentaries or atlases, 290 00:16:47,650 --> 00:16:51,580 S4: nobody's really sure where Oz was. But the fact that 291 00:16:51,580 --> 00:16:55,720 S4: it was somewhere, wherever it was gives us, again, just 292 00:16:55,720 --> 00:16:58,780 S4: a connection to the fact that job really lived. He 293 00:16:58,780 --> 00:17:02,140 S4: really lived some place. He really suffered and he really 294 00:17:02,140 --> 00:17:04,869 S4: grew in his walk with God. So the land of 295 00:17:04,869 --> 00:17:08,140 S4: Oz is just as real as the suffering of job. 296 00:17:08,260 --> 00:17:11,080 S1: It sort of calls to mind a Doctor Seuss kind 297 00:17:11,109 --> 00:17:16,209 S1: of feel where Oz was. Yeah, but it's a real place, 298 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:18,910 S1: even if to our ears it sounds funny. You know, 299 00:17:18,940 --> 00:17:21,730 S1: as I read the devotionals, one of the reactions that 300 00:17:21,730 --> 00:17:24,669 S1: I had. Yeah, there are moments of challenge, but overall 301 00:17:24,880 --> 00:17:28,359 S1: there's a certain calming effect. I don't know how or 302 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:31,389 S1: why I reached that conclusion, but it's just something that 303 00:17:31,390 --> 00:17:33,760 S1: that I connect with as I'm reading your work. You 304 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:34,960 S1: do a great job. 305 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,950 S4: Well thank you John. I appreciate that the goal of 306 00:17:38,950 --> 00:17:43,720 S4: the devotionals isn't to preach, or certainly to condemn or 307 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:47,379 S4: give guilt, but to encourage, you know, to encourage the 308 00:17:47,380 --> 00:17:52,240 S4: positive takeaways from the Word of God. And also to 309 00:17:52,270 --> 00:17:54,850 S4: I think there's even questions at the end of each 310 00:17:54,850 --> 00:17:57,639 S4: of these devotionals that just encourage you to go a 311 00:17:57,640 --> 00:18:01,240 S4: little deeper and put some personal application on it, because 312 00:18:01,240 --> 00:18:03,790 S4: that's what it's all about. Like Paul said, the goal 313 00:18:03,790 --> 00:18:07,210 S4: of our instruction is love. We we want to apply 314 00:18:07,210 --> 00:18:08,680 S4: the Bible, not just read it. 315 00:18:08,710 --> 00:18:12,370 S1: Wayne Styles is all about encouraging believers in their relationship 316 00:18:12,369 --> 00:18:14,980 S1: with God, and joins us today on the land and 317 00:18:14,980 --> 00:18:17,889 S1: the book. Hey, complete this sentence, Wayne. If we really 318 00:18:17,890 --> 00:18:22,120 S1: understood the land of the Bible, it would what for us? 319 00:18:22,510 --> 00:18:26,590 S4: It would help us better understand the Bible itself, because 320 00:18:26,590 --> 00:18:30,670 S4: the context in which the Bible was written wasn't just 321 00:18:30,670 --> 00:18:34,210 S4: to nowhere, it was to all the lands that surround 322 00:18:34,210 --> 00:18:37,149 S4: the land of Israel, of course, in the land of 323 00:18:37,150 --> 00:18:40,869 S4: Israel itself. So better we understand the land of the Bible, 324 00:18:40,869 --> 00:18:43,060 S4: the better we're going to understand the Word of God 325 00:18:43,060 --> 00:18:45,190 S4: and be able to better apply it. 326 00:18:45,220 --> 00:18:47,350 S1: I like the fact that with every day's reading, you 327 00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:50,830 S1: have given us space to think, process, and write. You know, 328 00:18:50,859 --> 00:18:52,510 S1: there's not a huge list of, you know, fill in 329 00:18:52,510 --> 00:18:54,970 S1: the blank kind of questions. But I do think we 330 00:18:54,970 --> 00:18:58,360 S1: need space to write down our thoughts. And I'm learning 331 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:01,300 S1: that for me, it's the only way to really hang 332 00:19:01,300 --> 00:19:04,900 S1: on to the impressions, the nudges, the lessons that the 333 00:19:04,900 --> 00:19:07,750 S1: Holy Spirit, I think is trying to teach me. So 334 00:19:07,750 --> 00:19:10,240 S1: appreciate that. What are your thoughts on that inclusion of 335 00:19:10,270 --> 00:19:11,619 S1: that space for writing? 336 00:19:11,859 --> 00:19:14,920 S4: Yeah, I've just found that's helpful to actually do the 337 00:19:14,920 --> 00:19:18,430 S4: physical writing. You know, in this day and age of technology, 338 00:19:18,460 --> 00:19:22,990 S4: we're all about either typing or using our thumbs, but 339 00:19:22,990 --> 00:19:26,080 S4: to actually have a pencil or a pen and spend 340 00:19:26,080 --> 00:19:30,460 S4: the time doing the old way of actually writing our thoughts, 341 00:19:30,730 --> 00:19:34,300 S4: there's actually research that confirms the fact that if we 342 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:38,320 S4: use a pencil. This tactile use of our of our 343 00:19:38,320 --> 00:19:41,260 S4: hands that what we're writing sticks with us a lot 344 00:19:41,260 --> 00:19:43,270 S4: longer than if we were to just type it into 345 00:19:43,270 --> 00:19:43,990 S4: a computer. 346 00:19:44,020 --> 00:19:46,270 S1: Yet you have touched on something here in my own 347 00:19:46,270 --> 00:19:50,350 S1: spiritual journey. Maybe because I'm, you know, part A.D.D. or something. 348 00:19:50,500 --> 00:19:52,900 S1: I for many years was frustrated because I felt like 349 00:19:52,900 --> 00:19:55,119 S1: I could open my Bible and go through a regular 350 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,869 S1: Bible reading plan or a personal study of a Bible book. 351 00:19:58,900 --> 00:20:02,439 S1: And I'd close the cover of the Bible. And, you know, 352 00:20:02,470 --> 00:20:06,370 S1: in 60s my mind was on other things, and I could, 353 00:20:06,400 --> 00:20:10,330 S1: you know, you know, just be as scumbag a Christian 354 00:20:10,330 --> 00:20:12,790 S1: as as I never wanted to be, you know, a 355 00:20:12,790 --> 00:20:16,000 S1: minute or two after finishing my devotions, it just didn't stick. 356 00:20:16,030 --> 00:20:20,590 S1: And so I explored, against my own wishes, the idea 357 00:20:20,590 --> 00:20:22,780 S1: of writing it down. I mean, I fought that tooth 358 00:20:22,780 --> 00:20:26,260 S1: and nail, but it has made a difference to take 359 00:20:26,260 --> 00:20:29,440 S1: the time, make the discipline, to write down what I 360 00:20:29,440 --> 00:20:32,619 S1: think God might be speaking to me. So you've I 361 00:20:32,619 --> 00:20:33,909 S1: think you've captured it well. 362 00:20:34,330 --> 00:20:37,540 S4: Yeah, I love the way you put that. Um, a 363 00:20:37,540 --> 00:20:40,240 S4: couple of years ago, I came up with a phrase 364 00:20:40,240 --> 00:20:43,540 S4: that has helped me and has helped some others as well. 365 00:20:43,570 --> 00:20:46,899 S4: But you never want to close the Bible without something 366 00:20:46,930 --> 00:20:50,320 S4: to apply. And if you ever do, close it and 367 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:53,590 S4: you think, what can I do today? Then maybe it's 368 00:20:53,590 --> 00:20:55,990 S4: time to open it back up and take a second look, 369 00:20:55,990 --> 00:20:59,020 S4: because that's what it's all about is applying the Bible. 370 00:20:59,050 --> 00:21:02,889 S1: Yeah, Wayne Styles loves connecting the Bible and its lands 371 00:21:02,890 --> 00:21:05,020 S1: to life today, and he does it through his books 372 00:21:05,020 --> 00:21:08,440 S1: and his unique video segments. This is the land and 373 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:11,200 S1: the book. I'm John Gager, and in addition to the 374 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:14,620 S1: actual text of reading the Bible Lands books, you have 375 00:21:14,619 --> 00:21:18,550 S1: created some really terrific videos that greatly enhance our reading 376 00:21:18,580 --> 00:21:21,550 S1: of the Bible. These videos show the places in the 377 00:21:21,550 --> 00:21:24,429 S1: scriptures that we read about each week. Before we talk 378 00:21:24,460 --> 00:21:26,800 S1: about how to access those videos, tell us more about 379 00:21:26,800 --> 00:21:30,280 S1: the content. How long are they and what makes them unique? 380 00:21:30,609 --> 00:21:34,720 S4: Well, the videos are probably around ten minutes each, and 381 00:21:34,720 --> 00:21:39,340 S4: the full program covers every land of the Bible, every 382 00:21:39,340 --> 00:21:46,060 S4: country that surrounds Israel. Of course, Israel itself, but also Greece, Turkey, Egypt, 383 00:21:46,090 --> 00:21:48,490 S4: I mean all the Bible lands. And I guess what 384 00:21:48,490 --> 00:21:51,879 S4: makes them unique is that it's it shows you the 385 00:21:51,880 --> 00:21:54,970 S4: places where the Word of God occurred, but then it 386 00:21:54,970 --> 00:21:57,970 S4: also takes it to the next level and says, here's 387 00:21:57,970 --> 00:22:01,030 S4: what difference that can make in your life. 388 00:22:01,060 --> 00:22:05,050 S1: They're so well done. And I'm curious, though, let us 389 00:22:05,050 --> 00:22:07,149 S1: behind the curtain. What are some of the challenges that 390 00:22:07,150 --> 00:22:10,240 S1: you faced in creating these videos for us? 391 00:22:10,480 --> 00:22:14,020 S4: Well, it turns out not all countries are that keen 392 00:22:14,050 --> 00:22:17,350 S4: on having you show up with a video camera. And 393 00:22:17,350 --> 00:22:20,530 S4: I won't name any countries specifically because I wouldn't want 394 00:22:20,560 --> 00:22:25,120 S4: to embarrass Egypt. But it is a challenge to to 395 00:22:25,150 --> 00:22:27,190 S4: show up and to want to film some of these 396 00:22:27,190 --> 00:22:32,240 S4: biblical places. And people sometimes get nervous. That's probably one 397 00:22:32,240 --> 00:22:36,650 S4: of the biggest challenges, but overall it's been a wonderfully 398 00:22:36,650 --> 00:22:37,820 S4: positive experience. 399 00:22:38,060 --> 00:22:41,660 S1: Hey, what's one of your favorite videos and why? 400 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,170 S4: I think my one of my favorites is the video 401 00:22:45,170 --> 00:22:49,280 S4: on Patmos, because the drone just is able to fly 402 00:22:49,280 --> 00:22:52,040 S4: all over that island, and to give us literally a 403 00:22:52,040 --> 00:22:55,670 S4: bird's eye view that we wouldn't have otherwise. This wonderful 404 00:22:55,670 --> 00:22:59,720 S4: island where the Apostle John was exiled to and received 405 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:04,130 S4: the the Book of Revelation. It's just stunning, the beautiful 406 00:23:04,130 --> 00:23:08,180 S4: panoramas and of course the the music and just all 407 00:23:08,180 --> 00:23:11,480 S4: the visuals, the the biblical content that goes along. I 408 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:13,490 S4: just think it kind of came together pretty well. 409 00:23:13,520 --> 00:23:18,470 S1: Is Patmos a rocky place, a hilly place, a desert beaches? 410 00:23:18,500 --> 00:23:19,939 S1: Describe Patmos. 411 00:23:20,330 --> 00:23:23,330 S4: It's all of that except for desert, I think it's 412 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:27,170 S4: a it's very rocky, very hilly. And there are beaches. 413 00:23:27,170 --> 00:23:30,109 S4: Of course, every bit of shoreline is a bit of beach. 414 00:23:30,380 --> 00:23:34,790 S4: One of the neatest beaches is called Pasilla Armas. It's 415 00:23:34,790 --> 00:23:38,360 S4: a couple of Greek words that means fine sand, and 416 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:41,869 S4: it's actually the words that the Apostle John used in 417 00:23:41,869 --> 00:23:45,109 S4: revelation 13, where he said he saw the beast coming 418 00:23:45,140 --> 00:23:48,680 S4: out of the sea. He stood on the sand. So 419 00:23:48,680 --> 00:23:51,080 S4: you can go to Patmos today and stand on the 420 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,619 S4: very beach where it's possible that the Apostle John had 421 00:23:54,619 --> 00:23:57,500 S4: in his mind when he wrote revelation 13. 422 00:23:57,830 --> 00:24:00,830 S1: How about another favorite video scene? Or maybe a challenge 423 00:24:00,830 --> 00:24:02,780 S1: along the way, one that you went, I don't think 424 00:24:02,780 --> 00:24:05,629 S1: we're going to get this done, but you eventually did. 425 00:24:06,410 --> 00:24:11,360 S4: Um, a challenge along the way. Um, I don't know, John. 426 00:24:11,390 --> 00:24:14,000 S4: I'd have to stop and think about that. Um. 427 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:15,740 S1: All right. I'll let you off the hook on that one, 428 00:24:15,740 --> 00:24:18,379 S1: but I won't let you off the hook in asking, 429 00:24:18,380 --> 00:24:20,990 S1: how do we take advantage of these videos? You've got 430 00:24:20,990 --> 00:24:24,320 S1: so many of them, and there's a subscription option, I'm told. 431 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:25,640 S1: How does this all work? 432 00:24:25,700 --> 00:24:29,700 S4: Well, if you want to use it in coinciding with 433 00:24:29,700 --> 00:24:32,310 S4: your reading of the Bible. You would just go to 434 00:24:32,340 --> 00:24:37,710 S4: reading the Bible Fans.com. And that page there talks all 435 00:24:37,710 --> 00:24:40,200 S4: about the program, the reading program, as well as the 436 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,630 S4: videos and how to get access to them. 437 00:24:42,660 --> 00:24:45,450 S1: Okay, so this is a great series and I encourage 438 00:24:45,450 --> 00:24:47,400 S1: you to check it out. One other thought that we 439 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,600 S1: might not have considered why these videos in understanding the scriptures, 440 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:54,480 S1: it seems obvious. It's nice to see this stuff, nice 441 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:56,820 S1: to see these places, but something that we might not 442 00:24:56,850 --> 00:24:59,190 S1: have thought about that you have uncovered as you've worked 443 00:24:59,190 --> 00:24:59,939 S1: on them. 444 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:04,020 S4: Well, you sort of told us in your introduction, John, 445 00:25:04,050 --> 00:25:07,980 S4: the statistic that 99% of those who experience the lands 446 00:25:07,980 --> 00:25:10,800 S4: of the Bible say it has a profound impact on 447 00:25:10,830 --> 00:25:14,400 S4: their walk with God. Honestly, that's why I'm so committed 448 00:25:14,400 --> 00:25:18,180 S4: to ministry. That includes the lands of the Bible because 449 00:25:18,180 --> 00:25:21,300 S4: it impacts people. And I know, you know, as you've 450 00:25:21,330 --> 00:25:25,290 S4: taken people to Israel, you've seen how they've reacted to it, 451 00:25:25,320 --> 00:25:28,820 S4: how it's blessed them, how it's blessed you personally. But 452 00:25:28,820 --> 00:25:31,790 S4: not everybody can go. And so these videos are really 453 00:25:31,790 --> 00:25:34,640 S4: the next best thing to give them that encouragement. 454 00:25:34,670 --> 00:25:37,280 S1: And we encourage you to check out Reading the Bible Lands. 455 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:40,190 S1: There's a link to Wayne's website at ours, the Land 456 00:25:40,190 --> 00:25:43,940 S1: and the book org. Thank you for making the time 457 00:25:43,940 --> 00:25:45,950 S1: to visit with us, Wayne. We sure appreciate you. 458 00:25:45,980 --> 00:25:48,139 S4: Thank you John. It's always a pleasure. 459 00:25:48,140 --> 00:25:50,900 S1: And our friend Charlie Dyer is back. He's got Bible 460 00:25:50,900 --> 00:25:54,710 S1: answers for your Bible questions all ahead on the land 461 00:25:54,710 --> 00:26:08,330 S1: and the book. Thanks for your company today at the 462 00:26:08,330 --> 00:26:10,939 S1: land and the book. Nice to have you listening. And 463 00:26:10,940 --> 00:26:12,770 S1: by the way, if you've ever got a comment for us, 464 00:26:12,770 --> 00:26:15,859 S1: something that you'd like to share, maybe an encouraging word 465 00:26:15,859 --> 00:26:18,650 S1: about how God has used the program. Our email address 466 00:26:18,650 --> 00:26:23,990 S1: is the Land and the book@moody.edu. It's segment three. Charlie, 467 00:26:24,020 --> 00:26:25,310 S1: what are we about to do? 468 00:26:25,490 --> 00:26:28,850 S2: We're about to answer our listeners questions. If they've got questions, 469 00:26:28,850 --> 00:26:30,020 S2: hopefully we have answers. 470 00:26:30,050 --> 00:26:32,060 S1: All right. I'm looking forward to that. But, you know, 471 00:26:32,090 --> 00:26:34,070 S1: Israel has been in the news a lot over the 472 00:26:34,070 --> 00:26:36,859 S1: past year. And as we know, the Bible is pretty 473 00:26:36,890 --> 00:26:40,580 S1: packed with end times prophecies about epic world events, the 474 00:26:40,580 --> 00:26:43,760 S1: regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and 475 00:26:43,790 --> 00:26:48,409 S1: the ultimate event, Jesus soon return. And it's crucial, it 476 00:26:48,410 --> 00:26:50,240 S1: seems to me, for us as believers, to have a 477 00:26:50,240 --> 00:26:53,479 S1: proper understanding of Bible prophecy so that our view of 478 00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,169 S1: the future is shaped by Scripture, not just today's headlines. 479 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,450 S2: Absolutely. And with this in mind, our friends at Life 480 00:26:59,450 --> 00:27:02,870 S2: and Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and 481 00:27:02,869 --> 00:27:05,540 S2: Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of the 482 00:27:05,540 --> 00:27:08,540 S2: land in the book for a limited time. This informative 483 00:27:08,570 --> 00:27:12,440 S2: book is focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding 484 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,890 S2: and greater appreciation of what God has in store for 485 00:27:15,890 --> 00:27:19,159 S2: Israel and the nations by digging into what the scriptures 486 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,310 S2: say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning 487 00:27:22,310 --> 00:27:25,370 S2: more about what God has in store, Door. Visit Life 488 00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,550 S2: in Messiah org and click on the Moody Radio button 489 00:27:28,550 --> 00:27:32,060 S2: to find out how you can receive your copy of God, 490 00:27:32,060 --> 00:27:37,280 S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org. 491 00:27:37,400 --> 00:27:40,310 S1: Roger has an interesting question. To start things off, what 492 00:27:40,310 --> 00:27:42,949 S1: is your best guess as to what happened to Noah's 493 00:27:42,950 --> 00:27:47,090 S1: Ark after the flood was over and civilization began again? 494 00:27:47,119 --> 00:27:49,310 S1: He says, I don't know of any biblical description of 495 00:27:49,310 --> 00:27:51,830 S1: what possibly happened to it, so I know this would 496 00:27:51,830 --> 00:27:53,630 S1: be conjecture on your part. 497 00:27:53,660 --> 00:27:56,270 S2: Yeah, my best guess. And really, that's all it can 498 00:27:56,270 --> 00:27:58,879 S2: be right now, is that the Ark remained on Mount 499 00:27:58,910 --> 00:28:03,350 S2: Ararat and likely disintegrated over time in a wet climate 500 00:28:03,350 --> 00:28:06,230 S2: like the one there with rain and snow. Even the 501 00:28:06,230 --> 00:28:10,160 S2: most durable wood would eventually decay. The next few chapters 502 00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:13,310 S2: of Genesis tell us the descendants moved away from the area, 503 00:28:13,340 --> 00:28:16,699 S2: eventually settling in modern day Iraq, where they built the 504 00:28:16,700 --> 00:28:19,909 S2: Tower of Babel. The Ark simply fell into slow decay 505 00:28:19,910 --> 00:28:24,740 S2: and decline, so whatever material remains there were, they likely vanished. 506 00:28:24,890 --> 00:28:28,879 S1: Robert says our Bible group is studying numbers eight. Aaron 507 00:28:28,880 --> 00:28:32,450 S1: lighting the lamps of the candlestick. Were there separate bowls 508 00:28:32,450 --> 00:28:35,780 S1: on each branch that were removable to allow for lighting 509 00:28:35,780 --> 00:28:38,570 S1: the center top bowl first, then from there lighting the 510 00:28:38,570 --> 00:28:41,180 S1: six bowls on the branches from the top branch bowl. 511 00:28:41,210 --> 00:28:44,690 S1: How did Aaron light the six branches from the center lamp, 512 00:28:44,690 --> 00:28:47,450 S1: and how did they transport this lampstand when moving in 513 00:28:47,450 --> 00:28:50,480 S1: the wilderness? Wanderings. In other words, how was the fire 514 00:28:50,480 --> 00:28:52,610 S1: kept lit when transporting? 515 00:28:52,640 --> 00:28:55,700 S2: Yeah, those are great questions. Now, the Bible doesn't really 516 00:28:55,700 --> 00:28:59,750 S2: provide explicit answers. Now, I've taken the bowls on top 517 00:28:59,750 --> 00:29:01,700 S2: to be part of the menorah that was made from 518 00:29:01,700 --> 00:29:04,910 S2: a solid piece of hammered gold. Now, Jewish tradition adds 519 00:29:04,910 --> 00:29:08,510 S2: some other details, but those details aren't found in the Bible. 520 00:29:08,540 --> 00:29:11,690 S2: I don't believe the menorah was kept lit while they traveled. 521 00:29:11,690 --> 00:29:15,050 S2: Likely either coals were kept in a container to help 522 00:29:15,050 --> 00:29:18,140 S2: relight the lamps, or else they used flint to start 523 00:29:18,140 --> 00:29:20,600 S2: a new fire, but the lamp was kept lit all 524 00:29:20,600 --> 00:29:23,900 S2: night while the tabernacle was set up, but probably not 525 00:29:23,930 --> 00:29:26,840 S2: when the tabernacle was disassembled and the pieces were then 526 00:29:26,840 --> 00:29:28,250 S2: being carried along. 527 00:29:28,340 --> 00:29:31,580 S1: A question from Eric. He says, are there any ministries 528 00:29:31,580 --> 00:29:34,790 S1: that work in Israel to help needy people and help 529 00:29:34,790 --> 00:29:37,760 S1: to tell people in Israel about Jesus? Is there a 530 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,910 S1: way to determine which ministries working in Israel are doing 531 00:29:40,910 --> 00:29:43,430 S1: a good job for anybody who might want to donate? 532 00:29:43,460 --> 00:29:46,490 S2: Yeah, and there are several ministries. And let me suggest two. 533 00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,040 S2: This this isn't the total limit, but here's two that 534 00:29:49,040 --> 00:29:53,060 S2: I can suggest. The first is Joel Rosenberg's Joshua Fund, 535 00:29:53,090 --> 00:29:57,050 S2: and the second is the Jerusalem Assembly House of redemption, 536 00:29:57,050 --> 00:30:01,730 S2: pastored by Menno Kalischer. Now both are evangelical and evangelistic. 537 00:30:01,730 --> 00:30:05,720 S2: Both provide practical and spiritual help, and you can find 538 00:30:05,720 --> 00:30:09,620 S2: more information on either group by googling them. That's Joel 539 00:30:09,620 --> 00:30:13,130 S2: Rosenberg's Joshua Fund or Menno Kalischer. And if you Google 540 00:30:13,160 --> 00:30:17,360 S2: his name and Assembly House of Redemption Jerusalem, you'll find them. 541 00:30:17,390 --> 00:30:19,850 S1: This is the land of the book from Moody Radio 542 00:30:19,850 --> 00:30:23,340 S1: answering your questions about the Bible prophecy in the Middle East, 543 00:30:23,370 --> 00:30:26,040 S1: like this one from Richard. He says, I just finished 544 00:30:26,040 --> 00:30:29,460 S1: reading your book, Charlie Experiencing the Land of the book, 545 00:30:29,460 --> 00:30:31,710 S1: I loved it. I did have one question. You didn't 546 00:30:31,710 --> 00:30:34,950 S1: include Cana in your travelogue, but I wondered if you 547 00:30:34,950 --> 00:30:38,280 S1: had any information on it. Do you know anything about this? Yeah. 548 00:30:38,280 --> 00:30:40,440 S2: Thanks for the comments on the book. The one main 549 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:43,290 S2: reason I didn't include Cana is I don't believe the 550 00:30:43,290 --> 00:30:47,250 S2: traditional site is authentic. It's near Nazareth, but it fits 551 00:30:47,340 --> 00:30:49,830 S2: when people are driving through the country. But it's probably 552 00:30:49,830 --> 00:30:51,930 S2: not the one that was mentioned in John two. Now 553 00:30:51,930 --> 00:30:55,110 S2: there are at least two other possibilities, but they're almost 554 00:30:55,110 --> 00:30:58,050 S2: never visited by tourists. And as I was putting that 555 00:30:58,050 --> 00:31:01,050 S2: book together, I couldn't include everything. So Cana was one 556 00:31:01,050 --> 00:31:02,400 S2: that I chose to leave out. 557 00:31:02,550 --> 00:31:04,950 S1: Jim wants to know, could you help me understand any 558 00:31:04,950 --> 00:31:08,880 S1: differences between Calvinism and Reformed theology? 559 00:31:08,910 --> 00:31:11,550 S2: Yeah, this is a difficult question, at least for me 560 00:31:11,550 --> 00:31:15,240 S2: to answer, partly because it's more theological than biblical in nature. 561 00:31:15,240 --> 00:31:18,780 S2: And I think also because different theologians disagree in their 562 00:31:18,780 --> 00:31:21,770 S2: definition of those terms. So I start this way. Take 563 00:31:21,770 --> 00:31:23,450 S2: what I'm going to say now with a heavy dose 564 00:31:23,450 --> 00:31:26,390 S2: of salt. I would say those who hold to reformed 565 00:31:26,390 --> 00:31:30,980 S2: theology are also Calvinists, but not all Calvinists accept all 566 00:31:30,980 --> 00:31:34,010 S2: the tenets of reformed theology. It seems to me the 567 00:31:34,010 --> 00:31:38,270 S2: dividing line centers around inspiration and authority of God's Word. 568 00:31:38,300 --> 00:31:43,370 S2: Most reformed theologians accept biblical inspiration and authority, but I 569 00:31:43,370 --> 00:31:45,680 S2: don't necessarily see that being true of all who claim 570 00:31:45,680 --> 00:31:49,700 S2: to be Calvinists. Some schools, for example, that identify themselves 571 00:31:49,700 --> 00:31:54,620 S2: as Calvinistic, don't necessarily hold to verbal plenary inspiration, while 572 00:31:54,620 --> 00:31:58,160 S2: almost all reformed schools and churches do. Now, that may 573 00:31:58,190 --> 00:32:01,130 S2: be a very simplistic answer, but it's probably the best 574 00:32:01,130 --> 00:32:02,180 S2: I can provide. 575 00:32:02,210 --> 00:32:05,840 S1: All right. A critical comment from James here. Holidays and 576 00:32:05,840 --> 00:32:08,090 S1: events like Father's Day and Mother's Day seem to be 577 00:32:08,090 --> 00:32:11,420 S1: only a US tradition. Seems like these days and traditions 578 00:32:11,420 --> 00:32:14,390 S1: are made up for people in the USA. But imagine 579 00:32:14,390 --> 00:32:16,219 S1: living in the Middle East or some other country and 580 00:32:16,220 --> 00:32:19,340 S1: hearing programs that celebrate Father's Day or Mother's Day or 581 00:32:19,340 --> 00:32:24,260 S1: some other made up US holiday. Christianity is not USA only. 582 00:32:24,290 --> 00:32:26,990 S1: Who are you trying to please in your broadcast? Do 583 00:32:27,020 --> 00:32:29,480 S1: the promoters of your program gear the land and the 584 00:32:29,480 --> 00:32:33,709 S1: book to USA listeners only? When is Christianity going to 585 00:32:33,740 --> 00:32:36,530 S1: stop being USA driven? Yeah, well. 586 00:32:36,560 --> 00:32:38,600 S2: And I'll start this way. Actually, Mother's Day and Father's 587 00:32:38,630 --> 00:32:42,200 S2: Day are celebrated beyond our borders. Now, the date isn't 588 00:32:42,200 --> 00:32:45,590 S2: always the same, but Americans aren't the only ones celebrating. 589 00:32:45,590 --> 00:32:48,620 S2: And the biblical injunction to honor our father and our 590 00:32:48,620 --> 00:32:51,920 S2: mother really form a good foundation for setting aside a 591 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,160 S2: specific day to celebrate in this way. Now, in terms 592 00:32:55,160 --> 00:32:57,710 S2: of who we're trying to please in the program, the 593 00:32:57,710 --> 00:33:00,500 S2: real answer, I think, is the Lord. I believe the 594 00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:03,320 S2: point of the devotional I gave on Father's Day, for example, 595 00:33:03,320 --> 00:33:06,620 S2: was a reminder that God is the father to the fatherless. 596 00:33:06,620 --> 00:33:10,850 S2: So I don't apologize for using the devotional to do that. 597 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:13,340 S2: We seek to honor the Lord, and one way to 598 00:33:13,340 --> 00:33:16,219 S2: do that is to encourage listeners to obey God by 599 00:33:16,220 --> 00:33:19,680 S2: honoring their parents. Holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day 600 00:33:19,680 --> 00:33:22,950 S2: just happened to be a natural time to remind people 601 00:33:22,950 --> 00:33:24,090 S2: of that truth. 602 00:33:24,150 --> 00:33:26,670 S1: Rene says, I was in a discussion the other day 603 00:33:26,670 --> 00:33:30,570 S1: about forgiveness, and somebody said, forgiving isn't forgetting, it's just 604 00:33:30,600 --> 00:33:35,550 S1: remembering without anger. They also suggested forgiveness can't be extended 605 00:33:35,550 --> 00:33:39,180 S1: unless repentance is first expressed. Am I missing something? 606 00:33:39,300 --> 00:33:41,400 S2: You know, I think some people do try to split 607 00:33:41,430 --> 00:33:44,760 S2: hairs when they suggest we only forgive when someone truly repents, 608 00:33:44,760 --> 00:33:48,810 S2: or that we can somehow forgive but not forget. Now, first, 609 00:33:48,840 --> 00:33:52,050 S2: in Luke 23, Jesus prayed for the soldiers who were 610 00:33:52,050 --> 00:33:54,960 S2: crucifying him, and he said, father, forgive them, for they 611 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:57,780 S2: don't know what they're doing. Now his prayer asking for 612 00:33:57,780 --> 00:34:00,900 S2: forgiveness isn't based on any repentance on the part of 613 00:34:00,900 --> 00:34:04,380 S2: the soldiers. Also in Matthew 18, when Peter asks how 614 00:34:04,380 --> 00:34:07,320 S2: many times he has to forgive someone who sinned against him, 615 00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:11,070 S2: Jesus doesn't condition forgiveness there on the need for repentance 616 00:34:11,100 --> 00:34:13,560 S2: on the part of the offending party. Peter was willing 617 00:34:13,590 --> 00:34:16,020 S2: to forgive seven times, but Jesus said, no, it needs 618 00:34:16,020 --> 00:34:18,660 S2: to be 70 times seven, which I think is a 619 00:34:18,660 --> 00:34:22,410 S2: hypothetical grand number suggesting you need to extend forgiveness an 620 00:34:22,410 --> 00:34:25,710 S2: infinite number of times. Still another verse. Again, a bunch 621 00:34:25,710 --> 00:34:27,450 S2: of verses come to mind, but still another one I 622 00:34:27,480 --> 00:34:30,600 S2: think of is Ephesians 426. We're told when we get 623 00:34:30,630 --> 00:34:33,270 S2: angry not to sin, and we're told to be sure 624 00:34:33,300 --> 00:34:35,760 S2: not to let the sun go down on our wrath. Now, 625 00:34:35,760 --> 00:34:39,060 S2: when it comes to the thought of forgiving is not forgetting. 626 00:34:39,180 --> 00:34:41,940 S2: I struggle to match that up. You know, in Hebrews 812, 627 00:34:41,969 --> 00:34:45,480 S2: God said, I will forgive their wickedness and will remember 628 00:34:45,480 --> 00:34:48,420 S2: their sins no more. Now my fear is that when 629 00:34:48,420 --> 00:34:51,540 S2: someone says, I'll forgive, but I won't forget, I'm not 630 00:34:51,540 --> 00:34:54,000 S2: sure they've truly forgiven. And I think that's the point. 631 00:34:54,030 --> 00:34:57,150 S2: Being stressed there in that Hebrews 812 passage. You know 632 00:34:57,180 --> 00:35:01,110 S2: God can't ever forget something since he's omniscient. But the 633 00:35:01,110 --> 00:35:04,860 S2: verses suggesting that true forgiveness from a human perspective is 634 00:35:04,860 --> 00:35:08,129 S2: as if we've forgotten the offense that took place. I 635 00:35:08,130 --> 00:35:12,000 S2: can't push the divine human analogy too far, but I 636 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,160 S2: think that's what it's being said there. So I believe 637 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,310 S2: when we forgive, even when someone hasn't asked to be forgiven, 638 00:35:17,310 --> 00:35:20,100 S2: we're mirroring what Jesus did on the cross. And it 639 00:35:20,100 --> 00:35:23,760 S2: allows us to guard against harboring resentment, which can produce 640 00:35:23,760 --> 00:35:26,760 S2: a root of bitterness, which Hebrews 1215 says we're not 641 00:35:26,760 --> 00:35:29,790 S2: supposed to have. One mark of true forgiveness on our 642 00:35:29,790 --> 00:35:32,310 S2: part is that the memory of the offense will fade 643 00:35:32,310 --> 00:35:34,680 S2: over time, so that we don't dwell on it. 644 00:35:34,710 --> 00:35:38,190 S1: One last question from Jeanne. During the millennium, Satan will 645 00:35:38,190 --> 00:35:41,070 S1: be bound, but will the demons and evil spirits also 646 00:35:41,070 --> 00:35:41,969 S1: be bound? 647 00:35:42,000 --> 00:35:44,430 S2: Now, I believe the demons will also be bound with 648 00:35:44,430 --> 00:35:46,830 S2: Satan during the Millennial Kingdom. And I say that because 649 00:35:46,830 --> 00:35:49,890 S2: in revelation 12, Satan is clearly pictured as the leader 650 00:35:49,890 --> 00:35:52,740 S2: of the angels who rebelled against God. And when Satan 651 00:35:52,739 --> 00:35:55,590 S2: was cast out of heaven, his followers, those fallen angels 652 00:35:55,590 --> 00:35:58,080 S2: were cast out as well. So when Satan is then 653 00:35:58,080 --> 00:36:00,630 S2: confined in the abyss for a thousand years, I believe 654 00:36:00,630 --> 00:36:02,700 S2: the same thing will happen to his followers. 655 00:36:02,730 --> 00:36:04,560 S1: Well, we'd love to hear from you again. And if 656 00:36:04,590 --> 00:36:07,290 S1: you've got a question that you'd like to put before Charlie. 657 00:36:07,320 --> 00:36:10,919 S1: Email is the ticket. And here's the address, the land 658 00:36:10,920 --> 00:36:18,149 S1: and the Dot edu. That's the land and the book@moody.edu. 659 00:36:18,180 --> 00:36:20,549 S1: And if you haven't checked out our podcast lately, it's 660 00:36:20,550 --> 00:36:22,529 S1: there at the website. Share it with a friend. Won't 661 00:36:22,530 --> 00:36:24,690 S1: you let them know about it when you visit the 662 00:36:24,690 --> 00:36:29,160 S1: land and the book? Org. Charlie Dyer's devotional is next 663 00:36:29,160 --> 00:36:45,299 S1: right here on the land and the book. Your Bible 664 00:36:45,300 --> 00:36:47,850 S1: is not just a good book. It's a great book. 665 00:36:47,880 --> 00:36:51,810 S1: It is utterly and entirely inspired. What does that mean? 666 00:36:51,810 --> 00:36:54,480 S1: We'll dig into that as we hear from Charlie Dyer 667 00:36:54,510 --> 00:36:57,510 S1: in a moment. His devotional, the last in his series, 668 00:36:57,510 --> 00:37:01,410 S1: the three over 16 series, takes us to where today, Charlie. 669 00:37:01,530 --> 00:37:03,930 S2: Uh, takes us to second Timothy 316. 670 00:37:03,960 --> 00:37:06,509 S1: Okay, I'm looking forward to that right now, though, this 671 00:37:06,510 --> 00:37:08,850 S1: Holy Land experience testimony you and I have got to 672 00:37:08,850 --> 00:37:10,260 S1: take in, I love these. 673 00:37:14,160 --> 00:37:16,770 S5: Hi, my name is Jack and this is my Holy 674 00:37:16,770 --> 00:37:20,250 S5: Land experience. I've studied and taught the scriptures for over 675 00:37:20,250 --> 00:37:24,299 S5: 40 years, since my recent first and only visit to 676 00:37:24,330 --> 00:37:27,210 S5: the Holy Land on a moody tour. I now picture 677 00:37:27,210 --> 00:37:30,720 S5: the settings of familiar stories with much more clarity. The 678 00:37:30,719 --> 00:37:34,110 S5: bricks and the buildings are vivid. The river, the desert, 679 00:37:34,140 --> 00:37:37,230 S5: the rocks and the forests are more real. All this 680 00:37:37,230 --> 00:37:41,040 S5: brings life to my own visualization of Bible stories, and 681 00:37:41,040 --> 00:37:44,190 S5: this translates to more real, more human stories that set 682 00:37:44,190 --> 00:37:47,430 S5: a context closer to my life, closer to the way 683 00:37:47,430 --> 00:37:50,670 S5: we all live than the images I had formed from 684 00:37:50,670 --> 00:37:54,630 S5: flannel graphs and cartoon drawings. The real stories are human 685 00:37:54,630 --> 00:37:57,690 S5: struggles taking place in a very real context that I 686 00:37:57,690 --> 00:38:00,750 S5: can now better connect with and can help others better 687 00:38:00,750 --> 00:38:01,710 S5: connect with. 688 00:38:03,480 --> 00:38:06,330 S1: All right, the Breath of God is what we're considering 689 00:38:06,330 --> 00:38:09,540 S1: in your devotional today, Charlie. Let you get at it. 690 00:38:09,570 --> 00:38:11,969 S2: Ah. Thanks, John. This is the final week of my 691 00:38:11,969 --> 00:38:15,960 S2: five week series on famous 316 of the Bible, and 692 00:38:15,960 --> 00:38:19,469 S2: today finds us in a dark, damp, foul smelling prison 693 00:38:19,469 --> 00:38:23,910 S2: cell in Rome. It's definitely not a scenic site. The 694 00:38:23,910 --> 00:38:27,840 S2: iron bars, heavy chains and ever present Roman guards let 695 00:38:27,840 --> 00:38:31,110 S2: us know that this is home to those most disfavored 696 00:38:31,110 --> 00:38:34,350 S2: by Emperor Nero. Most of the prisoners are here awaiting 697 00:38:34,350 --> 00:38:38,280 S2: the final disposition of their cases. And for the vast majority, 698 00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:43,290 S2: that means official condemnation, followed by swift execution. For those 699 00:38:43,290 --> 00:38:47,010 S2: fortunate enough to be Roman citizens, this means beheading. For 700 00:38:47,010 --> 00:38:51,750 S2: those not so fortunate, it usually means crucifixion. The dampness 701 00:38:51,780 --> 00:38:55,770 S2: inside the prison magnifies the chill from outside. The changing 702 00:38:55,770 --> 00:38:58,470 S2: weather is a reminder that winter is on the way. 703 00:38:58,469 --> 00:39:02,010 S2: Rome might house and feed its prisoners, but anything else, 704 00:39:02,010 --> 00:39:05,220 S2: like a warm cloak, needs to be provided by family 705 00:39:05,219 --> 00:39:08,759 S2: or friends. Otherwise the prisoner can spend the remaining time 706 00:39:08,790 --> 00:39:13,110 S2: until his execution, simply trying to stay warm. We stand 707 00:39:13,110 --> 00:39:15,480 S2: here trying to take in this scene of suffering and 708 00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:19,229 S2: we find ourselves shuddering. Is it the cold, or is 709 00:39:19,230 --> 00:39:21,720 S2: it the sheer horror of the place that sent that 710 00:39:21,719 --> 00:39:25,020 S2: chill up our spine? As our eyes grow more accustomed 711 00:39:25,020 --> 00:39:27,750 S2: to the darkness, we spot an unusual scene in the 712 00:39:27,750 --> 00:39:31,410 S2: far corner. There in a cell, is a bedraggled prisoner 713 00:39:31,410 --> 00:39:34,259 S2: speaking with another man. The second man is seated at 714 00:39:34,260 --> 00:39:38,130 S2: a table holding a quill. Before him are blank pages 715 00:39:38,130 --> 00:39:41,400 S2: of papyrus. As the prisoner speaks, the man dips the 716 00:39:41,400 --> 00:39:44,339 S2: quill into an inkwell and then begins scratching out the 717 00:39:44,340 --> 00:39:48,690 S2: words on paper. Curiosity draws us closer to hear what's 718 00:39:48,690 --> 00:39:52,500 S2: being said. As we approach, we suddenly realize the disheveled 719 00:39:52,500 --> 00:39:56,430 S2: prisoner who's speaking is none other than the Apostle Paul. 720 00:39:56,430 --> 00:39:59,489 S2: We can't be sure, but the one serving as copyist 721 00:39:59,489 --> 00:40:03,240 S2: seems to be Luke, the physician. In hushed tones. Paul 722 00:40:03,239 --> 00:40:05,850 S2: is dictating a letter to be carried to his young 723 00:40:05,850 --> 00:40:10,440 S2: disciple Timothy in Ephesus As we listen, our eyes moisten 724 00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:13,830 S2: as we realize Paul is sharing his final thoughts, his 725 00:40:13,830 --> 00:40:16,590 S2: last words with this one, who has been like a 726 00:40:16,590 --> 00:40:19,440 S2: son to him. But about now I can hear you saying, 727 00:40:19,440 --> 00:40:22,590 S2: wait a minute. I thought this series of messages was 728 00:40:22,590 --> 00:40:26,100 S2: on the famous 316 of the Bible. Words of comfort 729 00:40:26,100 --> 00:40:29,250 S2: and hope and inspiration. This sounds like a dark scene 730 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:33,390 S2: of sorrow and sadness, focused on a man unjustly accused 731 00:40:33,390 --> 00:40:37,410 S2: and about to die alone. Where's the hope in this passage? 732 00:40:37,530 --> 00:40:40,380 S2: Several times in Israel, I was with groups who visited 733 00:40:40,380 --> 00:40:43,590 S2: the diamond cutting centers. Officially, we were there to learn 734 00:40:43,590 --> 00:40:46,950 S2: about the diamond cutting industry. But in reality, the centers 735 00:40:46,950 --> 00:40:50,129 S2: exist to try to sell diamonds to the visitors. I 736 00:40:50,130 --> 00:40:53,250 S2: never purchased any, but I was fascinated to watch their 737 00:40:53,250 --> 00:40:56,550 S2: sales technique. I noticed that they displayed the diamonds on 738 00:40:56,550 --> 00:41:00,330 S2: a dark velvet background, with a strong light shining down 739 00:41:00,330 --> 00:41:03,810 S2: from above. The light refracted from the many facets of 740 00:41:03,810 --> 00:41:07,260 S2: the diamonds, and seemed to sparkle more intensely when set 741 00:41:07,260 --> 00:41:10,680 S2: against the dark velvet. Well, gazing at the Apostle Paul 742 00:41:10,680 --> 00:41:14,430 S2: dictating this final letter, that scene from the Diamond Factory 743 00:41:14,430 --> 00:41:19,229 S2: is what flashes in my mind. Today's 316 blazes like 744 00:41:19,230 --> 00:41:22,470 S2: a diamond glittering under a bright light, and it shines 745 00:41:22,469 --> 00:41:26,549 S2: more intensely because of the dark background in which it's displayed. 746 00:41:26,580 --> 00:41:30,600 S2: Paul doesn't sugarcoat his situation when the going got tough 747 00:41:30,600 --> 00:41:34,680 S2: for Paul. Most of his friends abandoned him. He said 748 00:41:34,680 --> 00:41:38,130 S2: that apart from a few notable exceptions, everyone in the 749 00:41:38,130 --> 00:41:42,360 S2: province of Asia has deserted me. Later, he adds, Demas 750 00:41:42,360 --> 00:41:45,960 S2: has deserted me. Only Luke is with me. At his 751 00:41:45,960 --> 00:41:49,170 S2: first defense before the tribunal of Nero, no one came 752 00:41:49,170 --> 00:41:52,830 S2: to my support. But everyone deserted me. These aren't the 753 00:41:52,830 --> 00:41:56,640 S2: whinings of a bitter man, simply statements of fact. Paul 754 00:41:56,640 --> 00:41:59,339 S2: knew it was only a matter of time, likely very 755 00:41:59,340 --> 00:42:03,210 S2: little time before he would be sentenced to death and executed. 756 00:42:03,239 --> 00:42:07,320 S2: The time has come for my departure, he says. But 757 00:42:07,320 --> 00:42:10,290 S2: as bad as Paul's situation was, Paul wanted Timothy to 758 00:42:10,320 --> 00:42:13,800 S2: know the world would someday grow even darker. He didn't 759 00:42:13,800 --> 00:42:16,710 S2: know when, but he wanted Timothy to be ready. And 760 00:42:16,710 --> 00:42:20,520 S2: Paul doesn't sugarcoat what the future holds. He introduces a 761 00:42:20,550 --> 00:42:24,570 S2: laundry list of moral and spiritual decline with a stark 762 00:42:24,570 --> 00:42:28,230 S2: note in chapter three, verse one. But mark this there 763 00:42:28,230 --> 00:42:31,649 S2: will be terrible times in the last days and is 764 00:42:31,650 --> 00:42:35,400 S2: charged to. Timothy is equally direct, but you keep your 765 00:42:35,400 --> 00:42:39,180 S2: head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of 766 00:42:39,180 --> 00:42:43,620 S2: an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. No 767 00:42:43,620 --> 00:42:45,990 S2: matter what happens all around you, Timothy, you have a 768 00:42:45,989 --> 00:42:50,969 S2: job to do. So stay faithful and remain diligent. Okay, Charlie, 769 00:42:50,969 --> 00:42:54,930 S2: but you still haven't explained why this particular 316 is 770 00:42:54,930 --> 00:42:58,739 S2: so special. And that's what I'll do right now. I 771 00:42:58,739 --> 00:43:01,560 S2: find it fascinating that in the very letter where Paul 772 00:43:01,560 --> 00:43:04,700 S2: describes the darkness about to descend on the world in 773 00:43:04,700 --> 00:43:07,670 S2: the last days. He also provides three of the most 774 00:43:07,670 --> 00:43:12,230 S2: dramatic descriptions of the centrality and power of God's Word. 775 00:43:12,230 --> 00:43:14,810 S2: And the middle one of the three is two Timothy 776 00:43:14,840 --> 00:43:19,670 S2: 316 and 17. All Scripture is God breathed and is 777 00:43:19,670 --> 00:43:24,379 S2: useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so 778 00:43:24,380 --> 00:43:26,839 S2: that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for 779 00:43:26,840 --> 00:43:30,739 S2: every good work. No matter where the world might go, 780 00:43:30,739 --> 00:43:34,190 S2: Paul tells Timothy he needs to go back to the Bible. 781 00:43:34,219 --> 00:43:38,390 S2: Paul first focuses on its origin. It's God breathed. The 782 00:43:38,390 --> 00:43:42,680 S2: word translated, inspired in some English versions is the honestus, 783 00:43:42,710 --> 00:43:47,150 S2: which literally means God breathed. God is the source of 784 00:43:47,150 --> 00:43:51,290 S2: the Bible. And then Paul reminds Timothy of its essential usefulness. 785 00:43:51,320 --> 00:43:55,250 S2: It's useful for teaching, that is, it explains what life 786 00:43:55,250 --> 00:43:58,130 S2: is all about, how life works, and how it relates 787 00:43:58,130 --> 00:44:02,210 S2: to God's ultimate plans. It provides the creed sharing the 788 00:44:02,210 --> 00:44:05,530 S2: truth we need to know. But God's Word isn't just 789 00:44:05,530 --> 00:44:09,759 S2: for our mind. It's also designed to impact how we live. Rebuking, 790 00:44:09,760 --> 00:44:13,239 S2: correcting and training in righteousness to prepare us for every 791 00:44:13,239 --> 00:44:17,410 S2: good work. Timothy. Focus on the Bible. It is sourced 792 00:44:17,410 --> 00:44:19,480 S2: in God and it will help you know what to 793 00:44:19,510 --> 00:44:23,080 S2: believe and how to act. How important is the Word 794 00:44:23,080 --> 00:44:27,520 S2: of God? It's essential. In fact, Paul places this amazing 795 00:44:27,520 --> 00:44:31,960 S2: 316 in a dramatic setting flanked by two other crucial 796 00:44:31,960 --> 00:44:35,919 S2: truths about the Bible. In chapter two, verse 15, Paul 797 00:44:35,920 --> 00:44:38,980 S2: exhorts Timothy to do your best to present yourself to 798 00:44:39,010 --> 00:44:42,160 S2: God as one approved, a workman who does not need 799 00:44:42,160 --> 00:44:45,880 S2: to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 800 00:44:45,910 --> 00:44:48,940 S2: If you want to serve God well, then handle his 801 00:44:48,940 --> 00:44:52,660 S2: word of truth faithfully and accurately. And on the other 802 00:44:52,660 --> 00:44:56,890 S2: side of his 316 mountaintop, Paul adds his third exhortation 803 00:44:56,890 --> 00:44:59,590 S2: on the Word of God at the beginning of chapter four, 804 00:44:59,590 --> 00:45:02,890 S2: and he begins by invoking the presence of Jesus and 805 00:45:02,890 --> 00:45:05,680 S2: God the Father as witnesses to what he's about to 806 00:45:05,680 --> 00:45:08,950 S2: say in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, 807 00:45:08,950 --> 00:45:11,529 S2: who will judge the living and the dead. And in 808 00:45:11,530 --> 00:45:14,410 S2: view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you 809 00:45:14,410 --> 00:45:18,490 S2: this charge. Preach the word. Be prepared in season and 810 00:45:18,489 --> 00:45:22,780 S2: out of season. Correct. Rebuke and encourage with great patience 811 00:45:22,780 --> 00:45:27,820 S2: and careful instruction. The word translated preach is the verb kerusso, 812 00:45:27,850 --> 00:45:31,780 S2: which has the idea of proclaiming or heralding. Timothy is 813 00:45:31,780 --> 00:45:35,920 S2: to be proclaiming God's Word in any situation, correcting error, 814 00:45:35,950 --> 00:45:41,140 S2: rebuking sinful action, and encouraging all to remain faithful. Well, 815 00:45:41,140 --> 00:45:43,600 S2: as we get ready to leave this prison and return home, 816 00:45:43,600 --> 00:45:47,020 S2: what does this final 316 have to do with our 817 00:45:47,020 --> 00:45:49,570 S2: lives today? We live in a world that seems to 818 00:45:49,600 --> 00:45:53,440 S2: be moving ever more rapidly toward the last days described 819 00:45:53,440 --> 00:45:56,350 S2: by Paul in two Timothy three. But rather than becoming 820 00:45:56,350 --> 00:46:00,279 S2: depressed or discouraged or defeated, Paul's message to Timothy and 821 00:46:00,280 --> 00:46:04,180 S2: to us is to become dedicated to studying, obeying, and 822 00:46:04,180 --> 00:46:07,930 S2: proclaiming God's life, giving word to a world that so 823 00:46:07,930 --> 00:46:12,640 S2: desperately needs to hear what God has said. Remember, the 824 00:46:12,640 --> 00:46:16,150 S2: Bible itself is God breathed, and the darker the world becomes, 825 00:46:16,150 --> 00:46:19,000 S2: the brighter his light can shine through us as we 826 00:46:19,000 --> 00:46:22,239 S2: take in His Word and then share it with others. 827 00:46:22,270 --> 00:46:25,719 S1: Thank you Charlie. Always practical. That scene kind of grips 828 00:46:25,719 --> 00:46:28,000 S1: me there, Paul, in that prison. Thank you. You can 829 00:46:28,000 --> 00:46:29,890 S1: hear it all again. By the way, if you check 830 00:46:29,920 --> 00:46:32,860 S1: out our podcast, it's available at our website. The land 831 00:46:32,860 --> 00:46:36,430 S1: and the book. Dot org. All kinds of other great 832 00:46:36,430 --> 00:46:41,140 S1: resources there as well. The land and the book.org. That'll 833 00:46:41,140 --> 00:46:43,930 S1: do it for today's broadcast. Thanks for hanging out. Our 834 00:46:43,930 --> 00:46:47,170 S1: host is Doctor Charlie Dyer. Our producer, Dan Anderson. I'm 835 00:46:47,170 --> 00:46:50,049 S1: John Geiger, thanking you for being a part of the land. 836 00:46:50,050 --> 00:46:53,350 S1: And the book, a production of Moody Radio, a ministry 837 00:46:53,350 --> 00:46:55,180 S1: of Moody Bible Institute.