S1: 99% of people who experience the Holy Land in person
S1: say it has profoundly affected their faith. But not everyone
S1: can go to Israel, especially as the conflict there drags on.
S1: But if you lack the time, money and energy to travel,
S1: you can still enjoy an immersive and educational tour of
S1: the Bible Lands without leaving your home. Are you intrigued? Well,
S1: join us now for the land and the book from
S1: Moody Radio. Our host is Middle East expert Doctor Charlie Dyer,
S1: and I'm John Gager. Well, Charlie Israel has been so
S1: much in the news this past year. We're coming up
S1: on the one year anniversary of the attack. And of course,
S1: the Bible is jam packed with end times prophecies about
S1: epic world events, the regathering of the Jewish people to
S1: their ancient homeland, and Jesus return. It is crucial for
S1: us as believers, though, to have a proper understanding of
S1: Bible prophecy. So our view of the future is shaped
S1: by Scripture and not just today's headlines. Right?
S2: That's absolutely true, John. And with that in mind, our
S2: friends at Life and Messiah have published a book titled God,
S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners
S2: of the land in the book for a limited time. Now,
S2: this informative book is focused on providing readers with a
S2: deeper understanding and greater appreciation of what God has in
S2: store for Israel and the nations by digging into what
S2: the scriptures say about these issues. If you're interested in
S2: learning more about what God has in store, visit Life
S2: in Messiah. Org and click on the Moody Radio button
S2: to find out how you can receive your copy of God,
S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org.
S1: And now a look at current events from the Middle East.
S1: Last Sunday, Hezbollah finally made good on its threat to
S1: attack Israel, launching 230 rockets and 20 drones. How successful
S1: was that attack? And more importantly, is the threat over
S1: or could more attacks be expected?
S2: You know, Hezbollah's attack against Israel was timed to coincide
S2: with the end of a Shiite religious period called Arba'een,
S2: marking the end of a 40 day mourning period for
S2: Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of Muhammad who was killed
S2: in battle. A Hezbollah actually called their attack Operation Arba'een Day. Now,
S2: in spite of their public statements afterward, the attack really
S2: wasn't a success because Israel launched a preemptive strike with
S2: 100 Israeli fighter jets knocking out thousands of rocket launchers
S2: just before they were set to fire. Hezbollah falsely claimed
S2: their attack hit major Israeli bases, causing great destruction and disruption.
S2: This was their way to save face as reports came
S2: in showing how little damage was done. Some Arab social
S2: media mocked Hezbollah, saying their long awaited retaliation struck little
S2: more than a chicken coop. Leaders throughout the region responded
S2: by demanding the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1701,
S2: which was adopted back in 2006, and it called for
S2: UN peacekeepers and the Lebanese Army to be the only
S2: armed forces deployed in South Lebanon. Now that matches Israel's
S2: call for Hezbollah's forces to be repositioned north of the
S2: Litani River and away from Israel's border. Only time will
S2: tell if Israel's preemptive strike was successful in deterring Hezbollah.
S2: Israel's goal was to demonstrate it wasn't in Hezbollah's best
S2: interest to take the region into war. They were careful
S2: only to attack Hezbollah's military sites. They didn't go after
S2: Lebanese infrastructure or civilians. Now, afterward, both Hezbollah and Israel
S2: said these attacks weren't necessarily the end of the story,
S2: and each reserved the right to strike again. However, it's
S2: unclear if this was a genuine threat on Hezbollah's part
S2: or just verbal jousting. One interesting aspect of the attack
S2: is the fact that Iran didn't join in with Hezbollah
S2: in launching its threatened attack. Likely, the increased U.S. military
S2: presence in the area was a major factor. It's also
S2: possible they wanted to gauge the level of response they
S2: might expect from Israel, were they to attack in a
S2: similar way. It's too early to say that there won't
S2: be any future attacks by Hezbollah or by Iran, but
S2: they do have to pause and think about the high
S2: level of detailed intelligence possessed by Israel, and by the
S2: ability of Israel's air power to conduct such a large
S2: number of precision strikes. In the meantime, though, watch as
S2: Iran and Hamas try to work together to organize an
S2: armed terrorists in several West Bank cities and towns to
S2: create more problems for Israel. These towns include Nablus and
S2: Jenin and Tulkarem. Iran is trying to smuggle in weapons
S2: while Hamas is working to organize terrorist cells in those towns.
S2: Israel has now launched a major counterterrorism operation in the
S2: West Bank to stop this threat from expanding.
S1: Well, Hamas has rejected the latest proposals for a ceasefire
S1: and hostage deal. Does this mean the negotiations have entirely collapsed,
S1: or are they on life support, Charlie?
S2: It really depends on the person being asked. The Biden
S2: administration insists that the process is still moving forward. They're
S2: quite optimistic, but few others in the region or few
S2: other countries see much progress or hope for success. Last Sunday,
S2: Hamas claimed they'd rejected this most recent ceasefire following the
S2: Cairo talks. And to emphasize that fact, they fired one
S2: of their few remaining rockets at central Israel. Many inside
S2: and outside Israel are unfairly blaming Prime Minister Netanyahu for
S2: the collapse, saying he continues adding additional conditions. Here's what
S2: needs to be kept in mind. Hamas began this conflict
S2: when it launched an unprovoked attack on Israel on October 7th,
S2: killing over 1200 Israelis, mostly civilians. Hamas officials boasted that
S2: they attacked in part to derail the normalization process taking
S2: place between Israel and the surrounding Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia.
S2: They also said they'll never recognize a two state solution
S2: to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hamas won't accept the existence of
S2: the State of Israel. After taking over Gaza in 2007,
S2: Hamas began building up its military forces by digging tunnels
S2: into Egypt to import weapons and equipment for manufacturing rockets
S2: and bombs. The attack on October 7th was meticulously planned
S2: for years. Given the opportunity, Hamas will begin digging new
S2: tunnels to rearm and return to their original plan. And
S2: that's one key reason Prime Minister Netanyahu has been so
S2: adamant about controlling the narrow strip of land between Gaza
S2: and Egypt. Israel has choked off Hamas's supply lines for weapons,
S2: and they don't want to allow Hamas to rearm there.
S2: Their mediators are still working, having decided to set these
S2: issues aside to deal with at the very end. Sadly,
S2: that likely means more pressure is going to be put
S2: on Israel at that time to give in for the
S2: sake of a deal.
S1: So, Charlie, am I understanding you correctly that weapons and
S1: bombs and all of the materials that go with it
S1: are being slowed as far as their flow into Hamas
S1: controlled territories in Gaza.
S2: They are being choked off dramatically. In fact, Hamas is
S2: running out of rockets to fire and bullets to fire.
S2: So Israel's plan is succeeding, which is one of the
S2: reasons that Hamas wants Israel out of that philadelphi corridor.
S1: This is the land. And the book from Moody Radio,
S1: our host, Doctor Charlie Dyer, working us through a look
S1: at current events as Israel's conflict with Hamas, Hezbollah and
S1: Iran drags on. One of the lesser known casualties has
S1: been Israel's tourism industry. What's happening to tourism in Israel?
S2: Well, you know, as I talked to the people in
S2: the tourism industry, they're my heart goes out to them.
S2: It has been hit particularly hard. You know, for two years,
S2: Covid shut down tourism worldwide, including Israel. It finally revived,
S2: only to be shut down again by Hamas on October 7th.
S2: Now it's almost been a year and tourism has taken
S2: a major hit, but the impact hasn't been felt by
S2: all Israelis who were forced to flee their homes next
S2: to Gaza and along the border with Lebanon were sent
S2: to hotels in Jerusalem and down by the Dead Sea.
S2: So the hotels were nearly full for the past year,
S2: though not with tourists. That's starting to change as Israelis
S2: near Gaza especially, have been returning to their communities. But
S2: many biblical sites saw a drop in tourism. While some
S2: Israelis took time to visit national parks, the crowds have
S2: been much smaller, and tour groups continue to cancel trips
S2: because of the fear of the war. Though as far
S2: as I can tell, there hasn't been a single major
S2: incident impacting tourists in Israel. An even bigger issue, though,
S2: has been flight cancellations. Most American carriers have temporarily suspended
S2: flights to Israel, so groups wanting to travel to Israel
S2: really have few options. El al is flying, but its
S2: flights are full. Most Israeli tour guides have gone almost
S2: a year without any groups, forcing some to look for
S2: other employment. Sadly, if the situation doesn't turn itself around
S2: in the next month or so, it could take years
S2: to rebuild the tourism infrastructure, including hotels and guides and
S2: drivers and restaurants. And all of this has drained Israel's economy,
S2: harming both Jewish and Arab workers in the tourism industry.
S1: Well, running clinical trials for potential drug therapies is a lengthy,
S1: complex and costly process. But an artificial intelligence platform designed
S1: by an Israeli startup is hoping to make the process
S1: run more smoothly and for less cost. Tell us about
S1: this new approach to drug trials from Amazing Israel. Yeah, the.
S2: Israeli startup companies called Quant Health, and they're using AI
S2: to combine over 1 trillion data points to simulate real
S2: world efficacy in their clinical trial simulator. The program will
S2: run clinical trial simulations on drugs under development, predicting risks
S2: and outcomes while allowing thousands of simulated trials to take
S2: place simultaneously. They can simulate both drugs and patients, exposing
S2: virtual patients to virtual treatments, and the goal is to
S2: develop a more cost effective way to enable companies to
S2: conduct these trials, which now cost about $100 billion annually.
S2: They use anonymous records from over 350 million patients to
S2: simulate how each patient with his or her unique health history,
S2: would react to certain drugs under development. And to test
S2: the program, they ran simulations on drugs already available, and
S2: they found that it had an accuracy rate of 85%,
S2: cutting the time down from years to months to determine
S2: whether actual clinical trials could move forward could speed the
S2: development of life saving drugs while lowering their cost. And
S2: that's another game changer in process right now from Amazing Israel.
S1: Thank you Charlie. Coming up, a conversation about reading the
S1: Bible Lands. What are we talking about? You'll find out
S1: next on the land and the book. 99% of people
S1: who experience the Holy Land in person say it as
S1: profoundly affected their faith. But not everyone, of course, can
S1: go to Israel. So if you lack the time, money
S1: and energy for travel, you can still enjoy an immersive
S1: and educational tour of the Bible Lands. Are you intrigued?
S1: I am This is the Land and the book from
S1: Moody Radio. I'm John Gager and before we talk further
S1: about reading the Bible with virtual tours, let's think of
S1: a unique way to love our Jewish friends and neighbors
S1: with the love of Christ. Do's and don'ts. When it
S1: comes to sharing your faith, are there any of those
S1: that come to mind. Let's ask Beth Taplin. She's with
S1: the Olive tree congregation in suburban Chicago. What are some
S1: do's and maybe some don'ts, Beth, that come to your mind?
S3: Well, do share your faith with the Jewish person. Don't
S3: be afraid. I think there are, in my experience, two
S3: different kinds of Jewish people, some that are more biblical observant,
S3: and others who don't know much about the Bible. Yes.
S3: And I think we are more ready to share with
S3: someone who doesn't know about the Bible. But those who
S3: are biblical observant also need to know about the Messiah,
S3: and they don't have a personal relationship with him. And
S3: if you are able to share your relationship with the
S3: Lord with the Jewish person, it doesn't matter what they
S3: think they know or don't know, it's about the Lord
S3: and what they are lacking.
S1: But what about my fears that maybe they may know
S1: more than I know and I'm all intimidated.
S3: Trust the Lord. He will lead you through it, and
S3: it'll be okay.
S1: Great encouragement from Beth Tevlin. She's congregational administrator and co-leads
S1: the women's ministry at Olive Tree Congregation. Appreciate your being
S1: bold and sharing with us, Beth. Sure. Wayne Styles loves
S1: connecting the Bible and its lands to life. Today, his
S1: goal to deliver practical content to encourage believers in their
S1: relationship with God. Wayne has written four devotional books and
S1: has created some really great video tools we'll talk about
S1: as well. Wayne and his family live in Texas, have
S1: two adult daughters and a son in law. It has
S1: been way too long since we've had him on the program.
S1: So welcome back to the land and the book, Wayne.
S4: Well, thank you, John. It's always great to be with you.
S4: I appreciate the conversation.
S1: We're familiar, of course, with reading the Bible, but how
S1: did you arrive at the title of this series, Reading
S1: the Bible Lands?
S4: Yeah, well, I put together a reading program. I mean,
S4: many Christians read the Bible every year or every few years,
S4: and I just put together a reading program that allows
S4: people to also include the lands of the Bible with
S4: their Bible reading.
S1: So reading the Bible Lands is actually a series of devotionals.
S1: How many volumes in the series?
S4: Well, it's, uh, we're going to have 16 volumes, which
S4: includes the whole Bible. It's quite a job. All right.
S1: Right now, not all 16 are done. So how many
S1: have we released so far?
S4: Eight. So that concludes the Old Testament.
S1: I noticed as I flip through some of these, they're
S1: just really well done. A beautiful layout, gorgeous photos, obviously
S1: superb content. You're a great writer, but talk about those
S1: pictures that are so lavishly on display.
S4: Well, you know, when we read the Bible, we always
S4: talk about reading in context. And of course that's important.
S4: I mean, the words on the page, the paragraphs before
S4: and after, even the historical context is important. But there's
S4: also a geographical context that you and I love so
S4: well and a lot of people maybe not familiar with.
S4: So I put up pictures with each day's Bible reading
S4: that go along with what you're reading. So if you're
S4: reading about something in the land of Edom, then there's
S4: a photo there that gives you a little bit of
S4: a geographical context to the words on the page.
S1: I don't think we ever outgrow our love of photos
S1: in books. You know, when we're talking about something, it's
S1: just plain nice to see it. Well, as I spend
S1: time with the devotionals, it feels very much like you
S1: really want the reader to come away with not just
S1: the sense of the passage, but the place of the passage.
S1: Why is that so important for us?
S4: Well, because our faith is rooted in reality, in time
S4: and space and history. These aren't just stories that we're
S4: reading in the book, in the Bible. They really happened,
S4: and they happened in a real place that you can
S4: go and visit today. So just having these places, these
S4: photos or videos with this Bible reading plan allows you
S4: to make that connection that our faith is is real.
S4: It's rooted in real places. Yeah.
S1: Wayne Styles is all about encouraging believers in their relationship
S1: with God. He joins us today on the land and
S1: the book. Hey, tell me something. As you've spent time
S1: researching and writing, any surprises that have come to you?
S1: I mean, you you've been with the word for a
S1: long time, but I bet there are some things that
S1: have you come over you and you said, wow, I,
S1: I guess I never thought of that.
S4: Yeah. You know, as many times as we read through
S4: the Bible, I'll always come upon a new place that
S4: I've never heard of before. I guess maybe I'm a
S4: little embarrassed to say that as much as I love
S4: the lands of the Bible, I'll be reading through and
S4: I'll find places that I've never heard of. And so
S4: I'll pull out my atlas. And sometimes they've never heard
S4: of them. So. But I guess one example is like
S4: the book of Job. You know, he lived in the
S4: land of Oz, and if you read various commentaries or atlases,
S4: nobody's really sure where Oz was. But the fact that
S4: it was somewhere, wherever it was gives us, again, just
S4: a connection to the fact that job really lived. He
S4: really lived some place. He really suffered and he really
S4: grew in his walk with God. So the land of
S4: Oz is just as real as the suffering of job.
S1: It sort of calls to mind a Doctor Seuss kind
S1: of feel where Oz was. Yeah, but it's a real place,
S1: even if to our ears it sounds funny. You know,
S1: as I read the devotionals, one of the reactions that
S1: I had. Yeah, there are moments of challenge, but overall
S1: there's a certain calming effect. I don't know how or
S1: why I reached that conclusion, but it's just something that
S1: that I connect with as I'm reading your work. You
S1: do a great job.
S4: Well thank you John. I appreciate that the goal of
S4: the devotionals isn't to preach, or certainly to condemn or
S4: give guilt, but to encourage, you know, to encourage the
S4: positive takeaways from the Word of God. And also to
S4: I think there's even questions at the end of each
S4: of these devotionals that just encourage you to go a
S4: little deeper and put some personal application on it, because
S4: that's what it's all about. Like Paul said, the goal
S4: of our instruction is love. We we want to apply
S4: the Bible, not just read it.
S1: Wayne Styles is all about encouraging believers in their relationship
S1: with God, and joins us today on the land and
S1: the book. Hey, complete this sentence, Wayne. If we really
S1: understood the land of the Bible, it would what for us?
S4: It would help us better understand the Bible itself, because
S4: the context in which the Bible was written wasn't just
S4: to nowhere, it was to all the lands that surround
S4: the land of Israel, of course, in the land of
S4: Israel itself. So better we understand the land of the Bible,
S4: the better we're going to understand the Word of God
S4: and be able to better apply it.
S1: I like the fact that with every day's reading, you
S1: have given us space to think, process, and write. You know,
S1: there's not a huge list of, you know, fill in
S1: the blank kind of questions. But I do think we
S1: need space to write down our thoughts. And I'm learning
S1: that for me, it's the only way to really hang
S1: on to the impressions, the nudges, the lessons that the
S1: Holy Spirit, I think is trying to teach me. So
S1: appreciate that. What are your thoughts on that inclusion of
S1: that space for writing?
S4: Yeah, I've just found that's helpful to actually do the
S4: physical writing. You know, in this day and age of technology,
S4: we're all about either typing or using our thumbs, but
S4: to actually have a pencil or a pen and spend
S4: the time doing the old way of actually writing our thoughts,
S4: there's actually research that confirms the fact that if we
S4: use a pencil. This tactile use of our of our
S4: hands that what we're writing sticks with us a lot
S4: longer than if we were to just type it into
S4: a computer.
S1: Yet you have touched on something here in my own
S1: spiritual journey. Maybe because I'm, you know, part A.D.D. or something.
S1: I for many years was frustrated because I felt like
S1: I could open my Bible and go through a regular
S1: Bible reading plan or a personal study of a Bible book.
S1: And I'd close the cover of the Bible. And, you know,
S1: in 60s my mind was on other things, and I could,
S1: you know, you know, just be as scumbag a Christian
S1: as as I never wanted to be, you know, a
S1: minute or two after finishing my devotions, it just didn't stick.
S1: And so I explored, against my own wishes, the idea
S1: of writing it down. I mean, I fought that tooth
S1: and nail, but it has made a difference to take
S1: the time, make the discipline, to write down what I
S1: think God might be speaking to me. So you've I
S1: think you've captured it well.
S4: Yeah, I love the way you put that. Um, a
S4: couple of years ago, I came up with a phrase
S4: that has helped me and has helped some others as well.
S4: But you never want to close the Bible without something
S4: to apply. And if you ever do, close it and
S4: you think, what can I do today? Then maybe it's
S4: time to open it back up and take a second look,
S4: because that's what it's all about is applying the Bible.
S1: Yeah, Wayne Styles loves connecting the Bible and its lands
S1: to life today, and he does it through his books
S1: and his unique video segments. This is the land and
S1: the book. I'm John Gager, and in addition to the
S1: actual text of reading the Bible Lands books, you have
S1: created some really terrific videos that greatly enhance our reading
S1: of the Bible. These videos show the places in the
S1: scriptures that we read about each week. Before we talk
S1: about how to access those videos, tell us more about
S1: the content. How long are they and what makes them unique?
S4: Well, the videos are probably around ten minutes each, and
S4: the full program covers every land of the Bible, every
S4: country that surrounds Israel. Of course, Israel itself, but also Greece, Turkey, Egypt,
S4: I mean all the Bible lands. And I guess what
S4: makes them unique is that it's it shows you the
S4: places where the Word of God occurred, but then it
S4: also takes it to the next level and says, here's
S4: what difference that can make in your life.
S1: They're so well done. And I'm curious, though, let us
S1: behind the curtain. What are some of the challenges that
S1: you faced in creating these videos for us?
S4: Well, it turns out not all countries are that keen
S4: on having you show up with a video camera. And
S4: I won't name any countries specifically because I wouldn't want
S4: to embarrass Egypt. But it is a challenge to to
S4: show up and to want to film some of these
S4: biblical places. And people sometimes get nervous. That's probably one
S4: of the biggest challenges, but overall it's been a wonderfully
S4: positive experience.
S1: Hey, what's one of your favorite videos and why?
S4: I think my one of my favorites is the video
S4: on Patmos, because the drone just is able to fly
S4: all over that island, and to give us literally a
S4: bird's eye view that we wouldn't have otherwise. This wonderful
S4: island where the Apostle John was exiled to and received
S4: the the Book of Revelation. It's just stunning, the beautiful
S4: panoramas and of course the the music and just all
S4: the visuals, the the biblical content that goes along. I
S4: just think it kind of came together pretty well.
S1: Is Patmos a rocky place, a hilly place, a desert beaches?
S1: Describe Patmos.
S4: It's all of that except for desert, I think it's
S4: a it's very rocky, very hilly. And there are beaches.
S4: Of course, every bit of shoreline is a bit of beach.
S4: One of the neatest beaches is called Pasilla Armas. It's
S4: a couple of Greek words that means fine sand, and
S4: it's actually the words that the Apostle John used in
S4: revelation 13, where he said he saw the beast coming
S4: out of the sea. He stood on the sand. So
S4: you can go to Patmos today and stand on the
S4: very beach where it's possible that the Apostle John had
S4: in his mind when he wrote revelation 13.
S1: How about another favorite video scene? Or maybe a challenge
S1: along the way, one that you went, I don't think
S1: we're going to get this done, but you eventually did.
S4: Um, a challenge along the way. Um, I don't know, John.
S4: I'd have to stop and think about that. Um.
S1: All right. I'll let you off the hook on that one,
S1: but I won't let you off the hook in asking,
S1: how do we take advantage of these videos? You've got
S1: so many of them, and there's a subscription option, I'm told.
S1: How does this all work?
S4: Well, if you want to use it in coinciding with
S4: your reading of the Bible. You would just go to
S4: reading the Bible Fans.com. And that page there talks all
S4: about the program, the reading program, as well as the
S4: videos and how to get access to them.
S1: Okay, so this is a great series and I encourage
S1: you to check it out. One other thought that we
S1: might not have considered why these videos in understanding the scriptures,
S1: it seems obvious. It's nice to see this stuff, nice
S1: to see these places, but something that we might not
S1: have thought about that you have uncovered as you've worked
S1: on them.
S4: Well, you sort of told us in your introduction, John,
S4: the statistic that 99% of those who experience the lands
S4: of the Bible say it has a profound impact on
S4: their walk with God. Honestly, that's why I'm so committed
S4: to ministry. That includes the lands of the Bible because
S4: it impacts people. And I know, you know, as you've
S4: taken people to Israel, you've seen how they've reacted to it,
S4: how it's blessed them, how it's blessed you personally. But
S4: not everybody can go. And so these videos are really
S4: the next best thing to give them that encouragement.
S1: And we encourage you to check out Reading the Bible Lands.
S1: There's a link to Wayne's website at ours, the Land
S1: and the book org. Thank you for making the time
S1: to visit with us, Wayne. We sure appreciate you.
S4: Thank you John. It's always a pleasure.
S1: And our friend Charlie Dyer is back. He's got Bible
S1: answers for your Bible questions all ahead on the land
S1: and the book. Thanks for your company today at the
S1: land and the book. Nice to have you listening. And
S1: by the way, if you've ever got a comment for us,
S1: something that you'd like to share, maybe an encouraging word
S1: about how God has used the program. Our email address
S1: is the Land and the book@moody.edu. It's segment three. Charlie,
S1: what are we about to do?
S2: We're about to answer our listeners questions. If they've got questions,
S2: hopefully we have answers.
S1: All right. I'm looking forward to that. But, you know,
S1: Israel has been in the news a lot over the
S1: past year. And as we know, the Bible is pretty
S1: packed with end times prophecies about epic world events, the
S1: regathering of the Jewish people to their ancient homeland, and
S1: the ultimate event, Jesus soon return. And it's crucial, it
S1: seems to me, for us as believers, to have a
S1: proper understanding of Bible prophecy so that our view of
S1: the future is shaped by Scripture, not just today's headlines.
S2: Absolutely. And with this in mind, our friends at Life
S2: and Messiah have published a book titled God, Israel and
S2: Bible Prophecy, and they're offering it to listeners of the
S2: land in the book for a limited time. This informative
S2: book is focused on providing readers with a deeper understanding
S2: and greater appreciation of what God has in store for
S2: Israel and the nations by digging into what the scriptures
S2: say about these issues. Now, if you're interested in learning
S2: more about what God has in store, Door. Visit Life
S2: in Messiah org and click on the Moody Radio button
S2: to find out how you can receive your copy of God,
S2: Israel and Bible Prophecy. That's life in messiah.org.
S1: Roger has an interesting question. To start things off, what
S1: is your best guess as to what happened to Noah's
S1: Ark after the flood was over and civilization began again?
S1: He says, I don't know of any biblical description of
S1: what possibly happened to it, so I know this would
S1: be conjecture on your part.
S2: Yeah, my best guess. And really, that's all it can
S2: be right now, is that the Ark remained on Mount
S2: Ararat and likely disintegrated over time in a wet climate
S2: like the one there with rain and snow. Even the
S2: most durable wood would eventually decay. The next few chapters
S2: of Genesis tell us the descendants moved away from the area,
S2: eventually settling in modern day Iraq, where they built the
S2: Tower of Babel. The Ark simply fell into slow decay
S2: and decline, so whatever material remains there were, they likely vanished.
S1: Robert says our Bible group is studying numbers eight. Aaron
S1: lighting the lamps of the candlestick. Were there separate bowls
S1: on each branch that were removable to allow for lighting
S1: the center top bowl first, then from there lighting the
S1: six bowls on the branches from the top branch bowl.
S1: How did Aaron light the six branches from the center lamp,
S1: and how did they transport this lampstand when moving in
S1: the wilderness? Wanderings. In other words, how was the fire
S1: kept lit when transporting?
S2: Yeah, those are great questions. Now, the Bible doesn't really
S2: provide explicit answers. Now, I've taken the bowls on top
S2: to be part of the menorah that was made from
S2: a solid piece of hammered gold. Now, Jewish tradition adds
S2: some other details, but those details aren't found in the Bible.
S2: I don't believe the menorah was kept lit while they traveled.
S2: Likely either coals were kept in a container to help
S2: relight the lamps, or else they used flint to start
S2: a new fire, but the lamp was kept lit all
S2: night while the tabernacle was set up, but probably not
S2: when the tabernacle was disassembled and the pieces were then
S2: being carried along.
S1: A question from Eric. He says, are there any ministries
S1: that work in Israel to help needy people and help
S1: to tell people in Israel about Jesus? Is there a
S1: way to determine which ministries working in Israel are doing
S1: a good job for anybody who might want to donate?
S2: Yeah, and there are several ministries. And let me suggest two.
S2: This this isn't the total limit, but here's two that
S2: I can suggest. The first is Joel Rosenberg's Joshua Fund,
S2: and the second is the Jerusalem Assembly House of redemption,
S2: pastored by Menno Kalischer. Now both are evangelical and evangelistic.
S2: Both provide practical and spiritual help, and you can find
S2: more information on either group by googling them. That's Joel
S2: Rosenberg's Joshua Fund or Menno Kalischer. And if you Google
S2: his name and Assembly House of Redemption Jerusalem, you'll find them.
S1: This is the land of the book from Moody Radio
S1: answering your questions about the Bible prophecy in the Middle East,
S1: like this one from Richard. He says, I just finished
S1: reading your book, Charlie Experiencing the Land of the book,
S1: I loved it. I did have one question. You didn't
S1: include Cana in your travelogue, but I wondered if you
S1: had any information on it. Do you know anything about this? Yeah.
S2: Thanks for the comments on the book. The one main
S2: reason I didn't include Cana is I don't believe the
S2: traditional site is authentic. It's near Nazareth, but it fits
S2: when people are driving through the country. But it's probably
S2: not the one that was mentioned in John two. Now
S2: there are at least two other possibilities, but they're almost
S2: never visited by tourists. And as I was putting that
S2: book together, I couldn't include everything. So Cana was one
S2: that I chose to leave out.
S1: Jim wants to know, could you help me understand any
S1: differences between Calvinism and Reformed theology?
S2: Yeah, this is a difficult question, at least for me
S2: to answer, partly because it's more theological than biblical in nature.
S2: And I think also because different theologians disagree in their
S2: definition of those terms. So I start this way. Take
S2: what I'm going to say now with a heavy dose
S2: of salt. I would say those who hold to reformed
S2: theology are also Calvinists, but not all Calvinists accept all
S2: the tenets of reformed theology. It seems to me the
S2: dividing line centers around inspiration and authority of God's Word.
S2: Most reformed theologians accept biblical inspiration and authority, but I
S2: don't necessarily see that being true of all who claim
S2: to be Calvinists. Some schools, for example, that identify themselves
S2: as Calvinistic, don't necessarily hold to verbal plenary inspiration, while
S2: almost all reformed schools and churches do. Now, that may
S2: be a very simplistic answer, but it's probably the best
S2: I can provide.
S1: All right. A critical comment from James here. Holidays and
S1: events like Father's Day and Mother's Day seem to be
S1: only a US tradition. Seems like these days and traditions
S1: are made up for people in the USA. But imagine
S1: living in the Middle East or some other country and
S1: hearing programs that celebrate Father's Day or Mother's Day or
S1: some other made up US holiday. Christianity is not USA only.
S1: Who are you trying to please in your broadcast? Do
S1: the promoters of your program gear the land and the
S1: book to USA listeners only? When is Christianity going to
S1: stop being USA driven? Yeah, well.
S2: And I'll start this way. Actually, Mother's Day and Father's
S2: Day are celebrated beyond our borders. Now, the date isn't
S2: always the same, but Americans aren't the only ones celebrating.
S2: And the biblical injunction to honor our father and our
S2: mother really form a good foundation for setting aside a
S2: specific day to celebrate in this way. Now, in terms
S2: of who we're trying to please in the program, the
S2: real answer, I think, is the Lord. I believe the
S2: point of the devotional I gave on Father's Day, for example,
S2: was a reminder that God is the father to the fatherless.
S2: So I don't apologize for using the devotional to do that.
S2: We seek to honor the Lord, and one way to
S2: do that is to encourage listeners to obey God by
S2: honoring their parents. Holidays like Mother's Day and Father's Day
S2: just happened to be a natural time to remind people
S2: of that truth.
S1: Rene says, I was in a discussion the other day
S1: about forgiveness, and somebody said, forgiving isn't forgetting, it's just
S1: remembering without anger. They also suggested forgiveness can't be extended
S1: unless repentance is first expressed. Am I missing something?
S2: You know, I think some people do try to split
S2: hairs when they suggest we only forgive when someone truly repents,
S2: or that we can somehow forgive but not forget. Now, first,
S2: in Luke 23, Jesus prayed for the soldiers who were
S2: crucifying him, and he said, father, forgive them, for they
S2: don't know what they're doing. Now his prayer asking for
S2: forgiveness isn't based on any repentance on the part of
S2: the soldiers. Also in Matthew 18, when Peter asks how
S2: many times he has to forgive someone who sinned against him,
S2: Jesus doesn't condition forgiveness there on the need for repentance
S2: on the part of the offending party. Peter was willing
S2: to forgive seven times, but Jesus said, no, it needs
S2: to be 70 times seven, which I think is a
S2: hypothetical grand number suggesting you need to extend forgiveness an
S2: infinite number of times. Still another verse. Again, a bunch
S2: of verses come to mind, but still another one I
S2: think of is Ephesians 426. We're told when we get
S2: angry not to sin, and we're told to be sure
S2: not to let the sun go down on our wrath. Now,
S2: when it comes to the thought of forgiving is not forgetting.
S2: I struggle to match that up. You know, in Hebrews 812,
S2: God said, I will forgive their wickedness and will remember
S2: their sins no more. Now my fear is that when
S2: someone says, I'll forgive, but I won't forget, I'm not
S2: sure they've truly forgiven. And I think that's the point.
S2: Being stressed there in that Hebrews 812 passage. You know
S2: God can't ever forget something since he's omniscient. But the
S2: verses suggesting that true forgiveness from a human perspective is
S2: as if we've forgotten the offense that took place. I
S2: can't push the divine human analogy too far, but I
S2: think that's what it's being said there. So I believe
S2: when we forgive, even when someone hasn't asked to be forgiven,
S2: we're mirroring what Jesus did on the cross. And it
S2: allows us to guard against harboring resentment, which can produce
S2: a root of bitterness, which Hebrews 1215 says we're not
S2: supposed to have. One mark of true forgiveness on our
S2: part is that the memory of the offense will fade
S2: over time, so that we don't dwell on it.
S1: One last question from Jeanne. During the millennium, Satan will
S1: be bound, but will the demons and evil spirits also
S1: be bound?
S2: Now, I believe the demons will also be bound with
S2: Satan during the Millennial Kingdom. And I say that because
S2: in revelation 12, Satan is clearly pictured as the leader
S2: of the angels who rebelled against God. And when Satan
S2: was cast out of heaven, his followers, those fallen angels
S2: were cast out as well. So when Satan is then
S2: confined in the abyss for a thousand years, I believe
S2: the same thing will happen to his followers.
S1: Well, we'd love to hear from you again. And if
S1: you've got a question that you'd like to put before Charlie.
S1: Email is the ticket. And here's the address, the land
S1: and the Dot edu. That's the land and the book@moody.edu.
S1: And if you haven't checked out our podcast lately, it's
S1: there at the website. Share it with a friend. Won't
S1: you let them know about it when you visit the
S1: land and the book? Org. Charlie Dyer's devotional is next
S1: right here on the land and the book. Your Bible
S1: is not just a good book. It's a great book.
S1: It is utterly and entirely inspired. What does that mean?
S1: We'll dig into that as we hear from Charlie Dyer
S1: in a moment. His devotional, the last in his series,
S1: the three over 16 series, takes us to where today, Charlie.
S2: Uh, takes us to second Timothy 316.
S1: Okay, I'm looking forward to that right now, though, this
S1: Holy Land experience testimony you and I have got to
S1: take in, I love these.
S5: Hi, my name is Jack and this is my Holy
S5: Land experience. I've studied and taught the scriptures for over
S5: 40 years, since my recent first and only visit to
S5: the Holy Land on a moody tour. I now picture
S5: the settings of familiar stories with much more clarity. The
S5: bricks and the buildings are vivid. The river, the desert,
S5: the rocks and the forests are more real. All this
S5: brings life to my own visualization of Bible stories, and
S5: this translates to more real, more human stories that set
S5: a context closer to my life, closer to the way
S5: we all live than the images I had formed from
S5: flannel graphs and cartoon drawings. The real stories are human
S5: struggles taking place in a very real context that I
S5: can now better connect with and can help others better
S5: connect with.
S1: All right, the Breath of God is what we're considering
S1: in your devotional today, Charlie. Let you get at it.
S2: Ah. Thanks, John. This is the final week of my
S2: five week series on famous 316 of the Bible, and
S2: today finds us in a dark, damp, foul smelling prison
S2: cell in Rome. It's definitely not a scenic site. The
S2: iron bars, heavy chains and ever present Roman guards let
S2: us know that this is home to those most disfavored
S2: by Emperor Nero. Most of the prisoners are here awaiting
S2: the final disposition of their cases. And for the vast majority,
S2: that means official condemnation, followed by swift execution. For those
S2: fortunate enough to be Roman citizens, this means beheading. For
S2: those not so fortunate, it usually means crucifixion. The dampness
S2: inside the prison magnifies the chill from outside. The changing
S2: weather is a reminder that winter is on the way.
S2: Rome might house and feed its prisoners, but anything else,
S2: like a warm cloak, needs to be provided by family
S2: or friends. Otherwise the prisoner can spend the remaining time
S2: until his execution, simply trying to stay warm. We stand
S2: here trying to take in this scene of suffering and
S2: we find ourselves shuddering. Is it the cold, or is
S2: it the sheer horror of the place that sent that
S2: chill up our spine? As our eyes grow more accustomed
S2: to the darkness, we spot an unusual scene in the
S2: far corner. There in a cell, is a bedraggled prisoner
S2: speaking with another man. The second man is seated at
S2: a table holding a quill. Before him are blank pages
S2: of papyrus. As the prisoner speaks, the man dips the
S2: quill into an inkwell and then begins scratching out the
S2: words on paper. Curiosity draws us closer to hear what's
S2: being said. As we approach, we suddenly realize the disheveled
S2: prisoner who's speaking is none other than the Apostle Paul.
S2: We can't be sure, but the one serving as copyist
S2: seems to be Luke, the physician. In hushed tones. Paul
S2: is dictating a letter to be carried to his young
S2: disciple Timothy in Ephesus As we listen, our eyes moisten
S2: as we realize Paul is sharing his final thoughts, his
S2: last words with this one, who has been like a
S2: son to him. But about now I can hear you saying,
S2: wait a minute. I thought this series of messages was
S2: on the famous 316 of the Bible. Words of comfort
S2: and hope and inspiration. This sounds like a dark scene
S2: of sorrow and sadness, focused on a man unjustly accused
S2: and about to die alone. Where's the hope in this passage?
S2: Several times in Israel, I was with groups who visited
S2: the diamond cutting centers. Officially, we were there to learn
S2: about the diamond cutting industry. But in reality, the centers
S2: exist to try to sell diamonds to the visitors. I
S2: never purchased any, but I was fascinated to watch their
S2: sales technique. I noticed that they displayed the diamonds on
S2: a dark velvet background, with a strong light shining down
S2: from above. The light refracted from the many facets of
S2: the diamonds, and seemed to sparkle more intensely when set
S2: against the dark velvet. Well, gazing at the Apostle Paul
S2: dictating this final letter, that scene from the Diamond Factory
S2: is what flashes in my mind. Today's 316 blazes like
S2: a diamond glittering under a bright light, and it shines
S2: more intensely because of the dark background in which it's displayed.
S2: Paul doesn't sugarcoat his situation when the going got tough
S2: for Paul. Most of his friends abandoned him. He said
S2: that apart from a few notable exceptions, everyone in the
S2: province of Asia has deserted me. Later, he adds, Demas
S2: has deserted me. Only Luke is with me. At his
S2: first defense before the tribunal of Nero, no one came
S2: to my support. But everyone deserted me. These aren't the
S2: whinings of a bitter man, simply statements of fact. Paul
S2: knew it was only a matter of time, likely very
S2: little time before he would be sentenced to death and executed.
S2: The time has come for my departure, he says. But
S2: as bad as Paul's situation was, Paul wanted Timothy to
S2: know the world would someday grow even darker. He didn't
S2: know when, but he wanted Timothy to be ready. And
S2: Paul doesn't sugarcoat what the future holds. He introduces a
S2: laundry list of moral and spiritual decline with a stark
S2: note in chapter three, verse one. But mark this there
S2: will be terrible times in the last days and is
S2: charged to. Timothy is equally direct, but you keep your
S2: head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of
S2: an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry. No
S2: matter what happens all around you, Timothy, you have a
S2: job to do. So stay faithful and remain diligent. Okay, Charlie,
S2: but you still haven't explained why this particular 316 is
S2: so special. And that's what I'll do right now. I
S2: find it fascinating that in the very letter where Paul
S2: describes the darkness about to descend on the world in
S2: the last days. He also provides three of the most
S2: dramatic descriptions of the centrality and power of God's Word.
S2: And the middle one of the three is two Timothy
S2: 316 and 17. All Scripture is God breathed and is
S2: useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so
S2: that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for
S2: every good work. No matter where the world might go,
S2: Paul tells Timothy he needs to go back to the Bible.
S2: Paul first focuses on its origin. It's God breathed. The
S2: word translated, inspired in some English versions is the honestus,
S2: which literally means God breathed. God is the source of
S2: the Bible. And then Paul reminds Timothy of its essential usefulness.
S2: It's useful for teaching, that is, it explains what life
S2: is all about, how life works, and how it relates
S2: to God's ultimate plans. It provides the creed sharing the
S2: truth we need to know. But God's Word isn't just
S2: for our mind. It's also designed to impact how we live. Rebuking,
S2: correcting and training in righteousness to prepare us for every
S2: good work. Timothy. Focus on the Bible. It is sourced
S2: in God and it will help you know what to
S2: believe and how to act. How important is the Word
S2: of God? It's essential. In fact, Paul places this amazing
S2: 316 in a dramatic setting flanked by two other crucial
S2: truths about the Bible. In chapter two, verse 15, Paul
S2: exhorts Timothy to do your best to present yourself to
S2: God as one approved, a workman who does not need
S2: to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
S2: If you want to serve God well, then handle his
S2: word of truth faithfully and accurately. And on the other
S2: side of his 316 mountaintop, Paul adds his third exhortation
S2: on the Word of God at the beginning of chapter four,
S2: and he begins by invoking the presence of Jesus and
S2: God the Father as witnesses to what he's about to
S2: say in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
S2: who will judge the living and the dead. And in
S2: view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you
S2: this charge. Preach the word. Be prepared in season and
S2: out of season. Correct. Rebuke and encourage with great patience
S2: and careful instruction. The word translated preach is the verb kerusso,
S2: which has the idea of proclaiming or heralding. Timothy is
S2: to be proclaiming God's Word in any situation, correcting error,
S2: rebuking sinful action, and encouraging all to remain faithful. Well,
S2: as we get ready to leave this prison and return home,
S2: what does this final 316 have to do with our
S2: lives today? We live in a world that seems to
S2: be moving ever more rapidly toward the last days described
S2: by Paul in two Timothy three. But rather than becoming
S2: depressed or discouraged or defeated, Paul's message to Timothy and
S2: to us is to become dedicated to studying, obeying, and
S2: proclaiming God's life, giving word to a world that so
S2: desperately needs to hear what God has said. Remember, the
S2: Bible itself is God breathed, and the darker the world becomes,
S2: the brighter his light can shine through us as we
S2: take in His Word and then share it with others.
S1: Thank you Charlie. Always practical. That scene kind of grips
S1: me there, Paul, in that prison. Thank you. You can
S1: hear it all again. By the way, if you check
S1: out our podcast, it's available at our website. The land
S1: and the book. Dot org. All kinds of other great
S1: resources there as well. The land and the book.org. That'll
S1: do it for today's broadcast. Thanks for hanging out. Our
S1: host is Doctor Charlie Dyer. Our producer, Dan Anderson. I'm
S1: John Geiger, thanking you for being a part of the land.
S1: And the book, a production of Moody Radio, a ministry
S1: of Moody Bible Institute.