S1: Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael. Right, gentlemen, it's Moody Radio's Bible
S1: study Across America, and we're talking about your questions about
S1: the Bible, God and the spiritual life. My name is
S1: Michael Melnick. I'm the academic dean at Moody Bible Institute,
S1: also a professor of Jewish studies and Bible right here.
S1: We're live today sitting around the radio kitchen table right
S1: here in Chicago, taking your questions from all across the country.
S1: So give me a call. The phone number is (877) 548-3675.
S1: That's (877) 548-3675. Remember, if you can't call, just go to
S1: our website open Line radio.org. Click on the Ask Michael
S1: a question link and you'll be able to fill out
S1: a form. Put your question there. Trish will put it
S1: in the mailbag. I hope you have your Bibles open,
S1: and you really do need a second cup of coffee
S1: to stay awake. And we're ready to talk about the scriptures.
S1: I wanted to mention something about our trip. Uh, it
S1: was a fantastic trip. I was away for two weeks.
S1: We went to, uh, Athens and Corinth and got on
S1: a ship and went to various islands like Patmos. That
S1: was not so much about the Apostle Paul, but, uh,
S1: revelation and John. And we went to Ephesus. We went
S1: to Pergamum, uh, we went to Philippi. Thessalonica. It was phenomenal. Uh,
S1: seeing those places and seeing the Bible come alive from
S1: the journeys of Paul for the most part. Uh, and then, uh,
S1: afterwards we went on for an extension for most of
S1: the group. About two thirds of the group went on
S1: to Rome, and I think it was in the Jewish
S1: quarter of Rome that I that had a most interesting experience.
S1: I was teaching about the history of the Jewish people
S1: of Rome from ancient times. I had to do it
S1: in about ten minutes. Ancient times, right up until today,
S1: including the Holocaust. And when I was talking about that
S1: at the end, I talked about God's heart for the
S1: Jewish people in Romans 1128 and 29 that though opposed
S1: to the gospel, Jewish people remain chosen and beloved, according
S1: to Paul, and also that God's calling of them and
S1: the gifts he gave the Jewish people, like the gift
S1: of the land, the gift of the covenants, all those
S1: still belong to the Jewish people, because the gifts and
S1: calling of God are irrevocable. And while I was talking
S1: about that, there were many, many Jewish people looking at
S1: the Jewish quarter, a very observant Jewish man and his
S1: wife came and stood right in the midst of my
S1: group and wanted to hear what I was saying afterwards.
S1: He wanted to know, what group is this? And I said, well,
S1: it's a group of people who love Moody Bible Institute
S1: and want to learn about the Bible. And I'm a
S1: professor at Moody Bible Institute. He said Moody Bible Institute
S1: in Chicago. Yeah. And then he said, well, why would
S1: a Christian school care about the Jewish people? And I said,
S1: because we are followers of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. And
S1: because of that, we care about his promises to the
S1: Jewish people. In fact, I told him about the summit
S1: opposing anti-Semitism, that Moody Bible Institute has a long history,
S1: a legacy of always opposing anti-Semitism, because we love the
S1: king of the Jewish people, and we want to see
S1: his heart for them. And so we're having the summit
S1: opposing anti-Semitism on November 9th right here at Moody Bible Institute.
S1: He was just amazed that and I think it's a
S1: really good testimony to our Jewish friends that this is
S1: really where we stand at Moody Bible Institute. I hope
S1: you'll want to come and learn how to oppose anti-Semitism
S1: as a follower of Jesus. Please join us on November
S1: 9th in Tory Gray Auditorium right here at Moody Bible Institute.
S1: We have wonderful speakers. It'll be just a great event.
S1: So check it out. Go to Openline radio.org and click
S1: on the link about the summit opposing anti-Semitism. And then
S1: join us on November 9th. And we're going to go
S1: to the phones right now. Uh, Renee in Pompano Beach, Florida,
S1: listening on w RMB. Welcome to Open Line, Renee. How
S1: can I help you today?
S2: Well thank you. Thank you.
S1: Did I say your name right? I know you're a man,
S1: but is it still Renee?
S2: Yes. It's Renee. Yeah.
S1: Is that. Are you French?
S2: No, no, actually, mom loved the name. The name? Actually,
S2: the etymology of the name is actually born again. Oh, really?
S2: You gotta love that. So, mom.
S1: Well, I've only met men named Renee. If they were
S1: from France or, like, Montreal or places like that. So
S1: that's interesting. One of the quick.
S2: Things, um, the name Renee is actually a masculine name.
S2: If you look it up everywhere else in the world,
S2: it's actually considered a very masculine name, except in America,
S2: where we add an extra E and everybody thinks it's female.
S2: So I see.
S1: There you go. Well, no, I know it's a masculine name, but, uh,
S1: only only French people, French speakers have I have met
S1: that use it as a man's name. But it's okay.
S1: I know you're a man. I just want to make
S1: sure I was saying it right. So that's.
S2: That's okay. That's okay. Um, I so appreciate your time. And, uh,
S2: just taking my call right now. Actually. Been walking with
S2: the Lord, uh, born again Christian for 24 plus years,
S2: give or take. My question is, really, I'm a strong
S2: believer in the pre-tribulation rapture, but I also have a question.
S2: You know, I've been coming across some pretty learned PhD
S2: doctors in, you know, in the faith as well, Doctor
S2: Michael Heizer and so on and so forth that are
S2: talking about a pre wrath, which is right around the
S2: midpoint rapture. And I wanted and they were saying, you
S2: know it's chronological. If you follow Matthew 24 and it's
S2: very plain to see in the pre-trib rapture is not biblical.
S2: I just wanted to get your point on your viewpoint
S2: on that as well, sir.
S1: Sure. Well, uh, first of all, as as someone with
S1: a doctorate, having a doctorate doesn't mean you know everything.
S1: Just so you know. Uh, you know, I am. I am.
S1: The people ask me about my doctorate. I say the doctorates.
S1: The last aspect of Western torture. Keep your hand in
S1: the fire long enough, and they'll they'll give you a doctorate.
S1: I had a professor that used to say, anyone can
S1: get a doctorate if you can endure the boredom. And
S1: so I agree with that. And so I'm not, you know,
S1: I guess maybe because I live among PhDs here, uh,
S1: that that's not always the sign of being. Right. Just
S1: so you know, even for me, I'm saying the same
S1: thing about me. You know, there are people. Let me
S1: let me tell you, there are a lot of people
S1: who disagree with things I say on this. And they
S1: they let me know very plainly, so that's fine. Uh,
S1: I still believe in the pre-trib rapture. Having read Matthew
S1: 24 many times, uh, the people who read it chronologically
S1: that hold to the pre-trib rapture when they read the
S1: verses in verse 42. Uh, I'm sorry, verse 40 through 42.
S1: Two men will be in the field, one will be
S1: taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at
S1: the mill, one will be taken and one left. Many
S1: pre-trib rapturists do not take that as the rapture. They
S1: take that as referring to being taken away to judgment.
S1: So that's a possibility. But I don't think that's the answer.
S1: I believe when you look at the question. Verse three,
S1: he was sitting on the Mount of Olives. The disciples
S1: approached him privately and said, tell us, when will these
S1: things happen? My first question is when. Let's call it
S1: question A, when, then. Question B and what is the
S1: sign of your coming and the end of the age?
S1: Question B is signs. Question A is when. Question A
S1: when will these things happen? Question B what are the signs.
S1: Okay so right. So a b when you look at
S1: the answer the Lord Jesus gives. Right. He doesn't answer
S1: the first question. He doesn't answer when he answers. What
S1: are the signs? He starts talking about signs, signs, signs.
S1: All these things are events at the beginning of birth pangs.
S1: And he's talking about signs, signs, signs when you see
S1: the abomination that causes desolation signs. These are all signs
S1: of the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation.
S1: What are the signs that you see before the Lord
S1: Jesus returns in judgment. Then the sign, verse 30 of
S1: the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and
S1: then all people of the earth. My version says, but
S1: literally in Greek it's the tribes of the land will mourn.
S1: That's a reference to Zechariah 1210. And they will see
S1: the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven
S1: with power and great glory. So there is again, it's
S1: taking you all through the signs. When Israel, finally, at
S1: the culmination of the tribulation period, believes the Lord Jesus returns,
S1: the Son of Man returns and establishes his throne. That
S1: continues all this discussion of signs through verse 35. Question
S1: B so there's question A, question B, answer B is
S1: called chiasm is what this is. Question A, question b,
S1: answer B, answer A picks up in verse 36. Now
S1: concerning that day and hour, no one knows neither the
S1: angels in heaven nor the son except the father only.
S1: And then it talks about how the days will be
S1: going on, just like in the days of Noah, and
S1: no one thinks anything's going to happen. And then boom,
S1: the rapture will hit. Two men will be in the field,
S1: one will be taken, one left. Two women will be
S1: grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore,
S1: be alert. Since you don't know what day your Lord
S1: is coming, it is imminent. It could happen at any
S1: moment for us. And you have to be ready. Because
S1: the Son of Man is coming at an hour you
S1: do not expect. That's the rapture that can happen any time.
S1: So I would see this as a chiastic structure. That's
S1: what it's called. Uh, a b b a. And if
S1: we read it that way, then it's, it's clearly a
S1: pre-trib rapture about when we don't know when it can
S1: happen at any moment. If it's pre-wrath, then we can
S1: look at it. Usually people look at it near the
S1: end of the seven years, not in the middle. And okay,
S1: we can say, okay, we know when it's going to happen,
S1: but this way the pre-trib rapture makes the most sense.
S1: Does that help?
S2: Oh, it absolutely does. And the other thing that I
S2: so appreciate about, appreciate about you and your ministry is
S2: the messianic viewpoint of it all to where the whole
S2: picture of it really, I think the Western culture, America,
S2: you know, we miss out so much on the Hebrew culture,
S2: which is what I like to teach also when it
S2: comes to the rapture. Um, how it just ties into
S2: it so perfectly. Um, you know how the the bridegroom
S2: goes to prepare a place and he comes back at
S2: any given moment, and we're not aware of the time,
S2: and the bride is to be.
S1: Don't you think that's interesting? Not just Matthew 24, but
S1: Matthew 25. The the virgins. You have to be ready.
S1: It kind of fits with the last part. Exactly. So anyway,
S1: thank thank you so much for your call, Renee. We're
S1: going to take a break here. And when we come back,
S1: we're going to take more of your questions. The phone
S1: number (877) 548-3675. Five. My name is Michael Redlich. This program
S1: is called Open Line. I'm so glad to be back
S1: with you after traveling for a couple of weeks. It's
S1: it's just a joy to be with here, with you,
S1: talking about your questions, having this Bible study across America.
S1: Stay with us. More to come right here on Open Line.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. So glad to be with you.
S1: My name is Michael Ray Dolnick, and it's always great
S1: to be with you. Studying the scriptures on a weekly
S1: basis right here every Saturday morning. It's our Saturday morning
S1: Bible study. Uh, all across America. You know, people would
S1: always the people who listen to Open Line are really
S1: a distinctive group of listeners, very, very different because Moody
S1: Radio listeners all love the Bible, but the Open Line listeners,
S1: they want resources that will really help them understand the
S1: Bible in a deeper way. And that's because the Bible
S1: is more than just a collection of ancient texts. It's
S1: it's God's masterpiece of literature, and it's his gift to
S1: us and to help us read it for all it's worth.
S1: I'd like to send you our current resource, which is
S1: called 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible. It's a
S1: super helpful book. Moody. Professor James Coakley wrote it. He's
S1: my colleague. He's my friend. He reveals how the same
S1: amazing techniques used by modern authors were employed by biblical
S1: writers long ago, and they were writing under the superintending
S1: of the Holy Spirit. God intended them to use those techniques,
S1: and as we read it, we get a fresh lens
S1: to understand the scriptures and to get more out of them.
S1: It gives really practical strategies in how to engage God's Word.
S1: It gives guidelines to keep you on track as you read.
S1: I think you're going to love this book. And it's
S1: yours if you give a gift of any size to
S1: open line. Just give a gift. And we want to
S1: say thanks by sending you a copy of 14 Fresh
S1: Ways to Enjoy the Bible. In fact, Jim will be
S1: on with me in a couple of weeks. Uh, to
S1: talk about this book. You're going to really love this book. Uh, anyway,
S1: to give your gift, all you have to do is
S1: go to Openline radio.org or call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122. And
S1: then when you give your gift remember ask for 14
S1: fresh ways to enjoy the Bible. And we're going to
S1: talk with Pamela in Kissimmee, Florida listening now on keys.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Pamela. How can I help you?
S3: Yes, yes. Good morning. Good morning Luke chapter five. Verse 14.
S1: Okay. Well. And what's your question?
S3: And I'm trying I'm trying to understand what was the
S3: sacrifice that Moses commanded for your claim for the. Oh,
S3: I see.
S1: Uh, I see. Uh, it says, reaching out his hand,
S1: verse 13, he touched him, saying, I am willing. Be
S1: made clean. Immediately the disease that skin disease left him.
S1: But he ordered him to tell no one. But go
S1: and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses
S1: prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them. That's
S1: in the book of Leviticus. There were sacrifices when people
S1: were cured of a skin disease. Then they had to
S1: go offer sacrifice. The priests functioned as sort of a
S1: health examiner and, uh, and to see that they were, uh, cleansed. Uh,
S1: I think that's that's what he's referring to. It's in.
S1: I think it's Leviticus 14 that you have the commands.
S1: It begins with skin diseases in chapter 13. And then, uh,
S1: chapter 14 has the sacrifices that someone is to offer
S1: when they get cleansed of the skin disease. Uh, yeah,
S1: that's what it is. Leviticus 13 and 14 is where
S1: you would read about that. By the way, Leviticus 1340
S1: has my life verse in it. If you want to
S1: know Leviticus 1340, are you ready to hear it, Pamela?
S3: Yes, absolutely.
S1: Here it is. This is my verse. If a man
S1: loses the hair of his head, he is bald, but
S1: he is clean. And that's, uh, my explanation for, uh.
S1: I may be bald, but I am clean. There we go. Yeah.
S1: That's good. Okay. It's not a skin disease. It's just
S1: male pattern baldness. That's it. Anyway, thank you for your call, Pamela.
S1: We'll talk soon. Uh, Sheldon in Chicago, Illinois, listening on Wmbi.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. How can I help you?
S4: Hello, doctor and family. My Christian family. Um, I'm reading
S4: Amos chapter six. I read through it this morning, but
S4: I'm stumped on verse ten where it says your uncle's
S4: will when it talks about the the ten men that
S4: will die in the house. Just because you have ten
S4: men doesn't mean you're safe. But, uh, God is cursing, uh, Israel.
S1: It's a judgment right there.
S4: Yeah, it's a judgment. He says, don't speak. He says, hush,
S4: don't speak to the other guy in the house unless
S4: the Lord curses or something to that effect. I don't
S4: understand that. That verse.
S1: Let me just tell you, this is why the Moody
S1: Bible Commentary is such a helpful resource. I'll read you
S1: the words of John Jelinek. He is now with the Lord.
S1: He was the academic dean of the Moody Theological Seminary. Uh,
S1: wonderful Old Testament scholar. Uh, and, uh, I had tremendous
S1: regard for him. He wrote our commentary on Amos. This
S1: is what he says. God's judgment would be such that
S1: if ten men took refuge in one house, they could
S1: not preserve their lives. Survivors, understanding that judgment proceeded from God,
S1: would not allow the Lord's name to be invoked or
S1: to be mentioned, lest that act draw God's attention and
S1: result in their deaths as well. God would command the
S1: utter destruction of all houses in Samaria, both great and small,
S1: and the houses of the rich and poor would perish
S1: with them. So that's it. They don't invoke the name
S1: of God because they didn't want to attract God's attention
S1: and bring further judgment upon them. So, uh, I, I
S1: hope that helps and encourage you to check out the
S1: Moody Bible Commentary. Uh, when you have a verse you
S1: don't understand, it's really very helpful. One of the things
S1: that we wanted to do when we did that commentary
S1: is explain the verses that people don't understand and tell
S1: us what they mean. So anyway, thanks for your call, Sheldon.
S1: And we're going to talk to Bob in Chicago, Illinois,
S1: listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line, Bob. What can
S1: I do for you today?
S5: God's blessings. Michael. Thank you. Where in the Bible can
S5: we find God's concept of free will? And what is
S5: its significance to us as believers?
S1: Well. I'm not sure. What are you talking about? I'm
S1: trying to. What are you getting at? Just free will
S1: in general.
S5: What? Yes. We discuss. I can't find it in the commentary.
S5: Anything about free will. And it's something that's discussed within
S5: the faith, with some significance that that. Well, okay, here's
S5: here's here's the conclusion. I've always heard God did or
S5: does not force his creations to love him or to
S5: follow his edicts. He doesn't force us.
S6: Know.
S5: We come to that under under free will. Okay. Making up. Okay.
S6: Let me just say.
S1: There are extremes. There's the very strong Calvinist that says
S1: everything is God's sovereign plan. And and we are almost,
S1: almost passive. I do believe in God's choice. I believe
S1: in predestination, uh, that God foreknew us all. That, on
S1: the other hand, the Bible says that people are responsible
S1: to believe and and as a result, uh, of of
S1: this every time the Bible tells people to believe. Like
S1: Paul talking to the the Philippian jailer in acts 16,
S1: believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is saying that
S1: people have a responsibility to believe. Uh, it's human responsibility.
S1: They're both true. They are both true. And since they
S1: are both true, I have to believe that this difficulty of, uh,
S1: what people call free will, I call human responsibility. And
S1: then divine sovereignty, they somehow make sense in the mind
S1: of God. But I certainly don't. I couldn't give you
S1: an explanation. I think that as high as the heavens
S1: are above the earth, so much so, as in that
S1: same way are my thoughts higher than your thoughts, and
S1: my ways higher than your ways? That's what God says
S1: in Isaiah 55, And one of the more interesting things
S1: I see is when it talks about human responsibility. It
S1: seems like there's always divine sovereignty linked to it. So
S1: for example, in Philippians two it says, work out your
S1: own salvation with fear and trembling. That sounds like it's
S1: a free will issue, right? But then it says, for
S1: it is God who is working in you, enabling you
S1: both to desire and to work out his good purpose.
S1: So divine sovereignty and human responsibility also, uh, in acts 427,
S1: a passage about human responsibility for the death of Jesus,
S1: it says in verse 27, in fact, in this city,
S1: both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the
S1: people of Israel, there was this whole big conspiracy of
S1: Jews and Gentiles conspiring against Jesus, assembled together against your
S1: holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. So it sounds like
S1: there's fully human responsibility for these actions. And then it
S1: says to do whatever your hand and your plan had
S1: predestined to take place. Divine sovereignty. What's my point? The
S1: Bible teaches both, usually in verses right next to each other. Uh,
S1: that's just how it is. I don't I can't say
S1: that I understand this. Uh, I think that this is
S1: an apparent contradiction. An antinomy is what J.I. Packer calls it, uh,
S1: an apparent contradiction, but it's not. It's fully resolved in
S1: the mind of God. And I just trust God that,
S1: you know, when when he tells me to do something,
S1: I'm responsible to respond to it. At the same time,
S1: I know that God is the one at work to
S1: to accomplish what he wants me to do. Uh, Bob,
S1: is that helpful?
S5: It is somewhat. Yes, it is helpful. Mike. Michael. Uh,
S5: but again, when we're, uh, when we're, uh, the Lord
S5: is leading us. Of course. Always. But sometimes, you know,
S5: it's the old. It's the, uh, Proverbs three five and
S5: six that don't believe in men, but believe in God
S5: and follow him.
S6: Mhm.
S5: But we have that confusion as we go.
S6: Through the process.
S1: It's not a confusion as long as we trust that
S1: it makes sense in the mind of God that there's
S1: God's sovereignty and human responsibility. They're both true and that's
S1: what we have to live with. Anyway I hope I
S1: hope that helps a little bit. Bob, thanks for your call.
S1: We're going to talk to Kevin in Indianapolis, Indiana, listening
S1: on WGN. R welcome to Open Line. Kevin, how can
S1: I help you?
S7: Well thank you. And am I coming through at that end?
S6: Just go.
S7: Ahead. You're at the end that matters here. The, uh,
S7: my question is, and actually, you laid the foundation for
S7: it with the previous question, uh, in Galatians. He, Paul,
S7: is actually famous in calling out the the Jewish believers
S7: who brought along, of course, circumcision, but other maybe not
S7: the only one little side checkpoints that were evidence that
S7: you are really?
S6: Yeah.
S1: What's your question, Kevin? We're running out of time here.
S7: Okay. Yeah. My question is, how does one, uh, become
S7: all things to all people as God, as Paul says
S7: that you might win a few and not have certain
S7: standards for. Okay, this is what the Christian life embodies.
S7: I feel like your question, your answer in the previous question,
S7: if you're trying to save time, that really answers it. Yeah. Well.
S1: Well, let me let me just say that the legalists
S1: in Galatia were some Jews and maybe even some Gentiles who, uh,
S1: Us accepted their idea of circumcision, but Paul actually had
S1: Timothy circumcised. After the Jerusalem Council. So circumcision for Jewish
S1: believers was perfectly okay. The problem was trying to force
S1: Gentiles to be circumcised, so they had to become Jewish
S1: before they believed in Jesus. Uh, anyway, we'll talk more
S1: about this later. Kevin, thanks for your call. We'll be
S1: right back here on Open Line with the Febc mailbag.
S1: Stay with us.
S8: And we're back.
S1: I'm so grateful that the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company partners
S1: with Open Line to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag.
S1: Febc is a terrific organization, the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company.
S1: They bring the good news to people via media, radio
S1: and personal engagement. There's always live people on the ground
S1: that will meet with others who are responsive to the
S1: good news, and I think it's a wonderful combination of
S1: of personal and and media interaction. And you can check
S1: out the Febc podcast to learn more about them by
S1: listening to. Until all have heard, just go to the Febc.
S1: Org website and you can click on their podcast and
S1: listen to it there. And many thanks for their participation
S1: with us here on Open Line. And now Tricia is. Yes.
S1: Joining me. Yes. Uh, so I bet you know what
S1: I know I said I wished you had been there,
S1: I really did. Even I both wished you had been in, in, uh,
S1: Athens and Istanbul. Well, we didn't go to Istanbul.
S9: We just landed in Istanbul. No, we didn't even go.
S1: We bypassed it. Oh, we were on a ship, and
S1: we went, uh, our last stop was Pergamum on the ship.
S1: And then we went from there to Philippi, actually more
S1: modern cities, but off, off the coast there. So.
S9: So if I look in the Bible, in the little
S9: maps in the back and I find these cities, then
S9: I can see where you went. Yes. For those Bibles
S9: that have. Well, look here, the missionary journeys of Paul.
S9: If I follow that, that's kind of what you did. Yep. Okay.
S1: So but we went, uh, from Athens. We started Paul
S1: went to Athens near the end of his journeys. But
S1: we started in Athens and saw Athens and Corinth, and
S1: we saw of the journeys of Paul. We saw Philippi
S1: and Thessaloniki and Thessalonica in biblical parlance, modern Thessaloniki, we
S1: saw Ephesus. It was really remarkable. It was great.
S9: So, so is the Greek that, you know, any kind
S9: of help or is that a different kind of Greek
S9: than they speak and use on signs?
S1: Utterly different.
S9: Okay.
S1: I couldn't understand a word the guides were saying when
S1: they talked to each other in Greek or whatever. But
S1: I could read signs because I know how to read
S1: Greek and and I could understand some of the signs,
S1: except if they used modern words. But, you know, some
S1: of the words are the same. And so I had
S1: a good time reading Greek. So yeah.
S9: Dusting that off. No, I've seen you translate stuff on
S9: the air here. So I know that you are actively
S9: using your Greek. Yeah. But it's, it's.
S1: Just like modern Hebrew is very different from Biblical Hebrew. Yes.
S1: So modern Greek is very different from Biblical.
S9: Greek, but there's some crossover with the letters and in
S9: the reading. Okay. Very cool. If people are interested and
S9: they want to see some photos from that. Um, our Facebook,
S9: our open line Facebook page has um, each day there's
S9: days anywhere from like, I don't know, 40 to 60
S9: pictures posted each day from the trip. If you want
S9: to see the beautiful, you had some beautiful weather. Yeah
S9: we did. If you want to see any of those
S9: pictures of the ruins and the different places.
S1: Although we were on a tall ship for six days.
S9: Okay.
S1: And it was a sail ship, you know. And 90%
S1: of the time it didn't use engines, it just used sails.
S1: And it got real windy. A couple of days. And
S1: the last night on the ship, I felt like we
S1: were sailing on an angle. Mhm. Because of the wind
S1: being so strong. Mhm. And unfortunately a couple of people
S1: didn't like that.
S9: No I'm sure that there were some stomachs that didn't
S9: like it.
S1: There were 3 or 4 out of 160. But a
S1: lot of us just sat on the deck looking at
S1: the stars and the sky and the moon, and it was,
S1: it was. I stayed up late. So what was the.
S9: What was one place that that like like we've talked
S9: about how when people travel to Israel, the Bible comes
S9: alive in in certain aspects. Was there one place that
S9: you saw that made. Um, the Bible. Some of the
S9: New Testament stuff come alive in a different way.
S1: Um, you know, uh, I stood at the Bema Seat
S1: in Corinth. This is an actual weight.
S9: We talk about it in, like this. Yeah. Future thing.
S9: A Bema seat.
S1: Is a judgment seat.
S9: Okay, so they existed before that Paul was talking about. Okay.
S1: And it's for a first century judgment seat. Okay. And Paul,
S1: that was in Corinth. Okay. And Paul uses that as
S1: sort of a, you know, the we'll all stand at
S1: the judgment seat of, of Messiah one day. Second Corinthians
S1: five nine. Right. 510 somewhere around there. But anyway, that's
S1: what Paul says, that we're going to stand at the
S1: judgment seat, and he's using the judgment seat of the
S1: he's writing to the Corinthians. They all know the judgment
S1: seat right there in Corinth. And he says, yeah, but
S1: there's even a bigger judgment seat. And so it's sort
S1: of like using what they know to tell about something
S1: else that's coming in first Corinthians three he talks about
S1: the judgment that will take place there of our works, whether, uh,
S1: not the judgment seat in Corinth, but there will be
S1: a judgment seat. And our works, whether wood, hay or
S1: straw or gold, silver and precious gems, they'll be tested
S1: by fire. And so I had the great privilege of
S1: teaching at the judgment seat there in Corinth. And so,
S1: so how Paul used that to teach the Corinthians about
S1: the future judgment seat. That was kind of a cool thing.
S1: There are some other places, like, uh, in Ephesus where,
S1: you know, you learn all about Artemis. Great is Artemis
S1: of the Ephesians. And, uh, there are proconsuls in place. And,
S1: you know, when when they say, look, they haven't made
S1: any trouble. If you have a complaint, take tells Demetrius
S1: take them there. Proconsuls. Well, there's always one proconsul, not two.
S1: And yet he uses a plural, Except I was reading
S1: history and archaeology. I found out that there had been
S1: a coup against the proconsul, the governor, and was replaced
S1: by the two people who had schemed against him as
S1: interim proconsuls. There were two at the time when Paul
S1: was there, and so that was kind of cool to
S1: see in acts 19. It uses the plural because there
S1: really were two. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, that was I
S1: had a fun time.
S9: Yeah, it sounds like it. Yeah. Very cool. Well, thank
S9: you for sharing. Just a glimpse of that trip. We
S9: missed you. We're glad you're back.
S1: Yeah, and now people say they want to go again.
S1: But I'm too tired to even think about it.
S9: Don't. Don't ask you right now. Yeah.
S1: All these people are saying, I want to go. I
S1: want to go. No I can't. I got back Wednesday
S1: and Thursday. I was back in class and back in
S1: the office and back in meetings. So there's a little bit.
S9: Of jet lag right now. You're probably feeling all right. Well,
S9: I evening.
S1: I'm on my fourth cup of coffee of the day,
S1: so I'm okay. When the coffee stops, I'll. I'll stop.
S9: Okay. Oh, well, I will ask. We'll try and fit
S9: in a couple mailbag questions, but thank you for sharing.
S9: Just a glimpse. I know listeners were very excited to hear,
S9: you know, highlights and hear, hear what you saw. It
S9: was great on the trip. Good. We'll welcome back. Kathleen
S9: in Ohio listens to Wtxf and wants to know what
S9: does Matthew 633 mean when it says to first seek
S9: the kingdom of God? What does that actually? Well, the kingdom.
S1: Of God is God's rulership. So, you know, we talk
S1: about the messianic kingdom because and that's the kingdom of God,
S1: because one day when Jesus reigns, the rulership of God
S1: will be over all the earth. But the kingdom of
S1: God is for us. It's begun already because Jesus is
S1: our King and he's our ruler. So when he says,
S1: seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, what we're doing
S1: is we're seeking God's kingdom over our lives, his rulership
S1: over our lives and his righteousness, his obedience to him,
S1: and righteous behavior for him in our lives. That's what
S1: he wants of us. So really what it's saying is
S1: in every situation we're in, what's our number one priority?
S1: What does God want of me? Here he is, my king.
S1: He is my ruler. When I sign off my letters,
S1: I copy Eva, who started doing this a number of
S1: years ago. So it was her idea and I said,
S1: I'll steal that. I sign my letters. All for the king.
S1: Do I mean it? Do I will I do everything
S1: that he wants? That's a great reminder for us. That's
S1: what it means to seek his kingdom and his righteousness.
S1: Do I want his rulership in my life? What does
S1: he want of me now? Right now? Today?
S9: So then, when living our lives that would come to
S9: play in the decisions that we're making, like if we're
S9: choosing to take a job or leave a job or, um,
S9: marry someone or these kinds of things, you know, change
S9: churches where we're we're seeking his rulership. Rulership.
S1: I'll just give you a great example. Uh, a student
S1: once came to Eva for advice, and she said that
S1: she had been offered. She was a comm student here
S1: at Moody. You know, there are only 18, 19 years old,
S1: so don't get too hard on her for what she says.
S1: But she was offered an internship to go work on
S1: an actual film and, you know, doing. And she wanted
S1: to know if it was. How can I know if
S1: it's God's will for me to do it? And he said, well,
S1: tell me about the film. And the film was really bad. Uh,
S1: virtually pornographic. Okay.
S9: So it was not a God honoring film. Yeah. Okay.
S1: And Eva said, how is that going to help on
S1: that film? Seeking God's kingdom and his righteousness. And she said, well,
S1: I could learn how to make films. And she said,
S1: that will honor God. And Eva said, find a different film. Okay.
S1: And to me, when we make decisions like that, that's.
S1: And the girl did. And everything worked out. Yeah. It
S1: was good. But the point of it is, uh, that
S1: when we seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, it should
S1: affect every decision we make.
S9: It should be a filter that's kind of that's overlaying
S9: everything as we look at it.
S1: Yeah.
S9: Exactly that. That. And if you do that enough, if
S9: you think about that intentionally enough, it should become second nature. Yeah. Um,
S9: to to decide or to see that, like, God would
S9: be honored if I do this. Yeah. Or at least
S9: it's not dishonoring God if I do this.
S1: What I would like of those who know me well,
S1: and I don't know if this would ever happen, but
S1: I would like people to say, you know what Michael
S1: always wanted to do God's will whenever he made. He
S1: didn't always, but he intended. His intention was always to
S1: do the will of God. That's. And that's what I
S1: want my intention to be. I would hope that each
S1: of us would want that to be the legacy that
S1: we leave, because we're seeking his kingdom first. So, okay.
S1: That's it. Thank you. Is there a quick question I
S1: can answer so I get at least two in here?
S9: Um, sure. Cameron in Illinois listens to WNBA. Um. Number nine. Yeah. Um,
S9: as I was reading through judges 21, I noticed that
S9: it made mention that the Israelites went up against Jabesh
S9: Gilead as they had not fought against the Benjamites and
S9: killed everyone who was not a virgin. My question is,
S9: how would they have known who the virgins were in
S9: the city? I assume that they wouldn't have asked, but
S9: when looking through commentaries, couldn't find the answer.
S1: You know, I don't know. I don't I don't think
S1: any of us could know. Uh, Maybe they were looking
S1: particularly at, uh, those who are married or those who were, uh.
S9: Young women who would have, you.
S1: Know, young women who were not married would have either
S1: been single or immoral. They would have known who the
S1: immoral women were. They would have known who the married
S1: women are. And I guess that's that's what I think
S1: the answer would be. Okay. I don't think they had
S1: scarlet letters on them. Right. That's that's what I would say.
S9: Okay. All right. Thank you. There are some questions like
S9: that that we we wonder. And at the same time,
S9: I mean, God can make that known to. Yeah. In
S9: a way, I don't think it had to.
S1: Be known supernaturally. I think they would have they would
S1: have been there and known. Okay. Yeah. Married women were
S1: not virgins. Uh, and then the immoral women were not virgins.
S1: And likely, maybe even single women would have been known
S1: for that, but I don't know. Okay.
S9: So. All right. Okay. Thank you.
S1: Thanks for those questions, Tricia. And, uh, when we come back,
S1: we'll take more of your calls in just a moment,
S1: so stay with us. That was the Febc mailbag. You
S1: can always write your question by going to Moody's on
S1: Open Line radio.org. Go to our website and click on
S1: the link that says Ask Michael a question. And Trish
S1: will put your question in into the mailbag. We're coming
S1: right back so don't go away. This is Michael Ray
S1: Dolnick and Tricia McMillan on Open Line. Friday. Welcome back
S1: to Open Line. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick and I've been
S1: having a great time in our Bible study across America.
S1: I do want to mention several things. Uh, I had
S1: a great time as we traveled journeys of Paul got
S1: to meet a lot of kitchen table partners. So grateful
S1: for all of you who listen. Grateful for those of
S1: you who have become kitchen table partners. And I'm grateful
S1: for those of you who will consider becoming kitchen table partners.
S1: People who give monthly to open line pray for open
S1: line to uh. I so appreciate you partnering with us
S1: and hope you'll consider doing that. And if you do,
S1: if you decide to do that, we will provide you
S1: with a Bible study moment every other week. It's an
S1: audio Bible study designed exclusively for our kitchen table partners.
S1: It shows up in your mail or your email, and
S1: you can click on it and listen to it. In
S1: order to become a kitchen table partner, call 88864471228886447122 or
S1: go to open line radio.org. Another thing I need to
S1: mention is the Chosen People booklet. It's about the fall
S1: feasts of Israel. Uh, it's uh, it's called Celebrate Israel's
S1: High Holidays. Uh, it really will explain the Feast of
S1: Trumpets or the Jewish New Year, the Day of Atonement, the, uh,
S1: also the Feast of Booths. And the way you can
S1: get your copy is go to Open Line radio.org and
S1: click on the link that says, uh, a free gift
S1: from Chosen People Ministries. So that's where you can get that.
S1: And then lastly, I want you to go to our
S1: web page, Open Line radio.org. We're having a summit here,
S1: a one day conference opposing anti-Semitism. It's a very important
S1: day for Christians to come together from all over the country,
S1: right here at Moody Bible Institute, to learn how we
S1: can stand with God's people, the Jewish people, his chosen people,
S1: and oppose this rising hatred of the Jewish people across
S1: the globe. Uh, how we can take our responsibility seriously
S1: as followers of Jesus to oppose this hatred. We need
S1: to do that. I hope you'll join us November 9th
S1: right here at Moody Bible Institute. Check out the link
S1: on our web page, Open Line radio.org. We're going to
S1: talk with Marsha in Tennessee. Mm. Listener. How can I
S1: help you today? Marcia?
S10: Hi. Um, I was watching the TV show last night
S10: about the Gospels, and it was talking about in Matthew
S10: that it told the lineage of Joseph. Mhm. But I
S10: was I've always understood that the Jewishness of a person
S10: is determined through the mother. And I didn't understand why
S10: it was so important to tell the lineage of Joseph
S10: and not the lineage of Mary. Well, but then one
S10: of your.
S1: Let me, let me, let me, let me, let me
S1: just say the idea that match of matrilineal descent for
S1: Jewish people is a very late concept in the Bible.
S1: It was not so. That was because so much anti-Semitism,
S1: Jewish women were frequently raped, and as a result of
S1: that it was unknown who the father was, so the
S1: rabbis decided to determine Jewishness through the mother rather than
S1: the father. And. But in the Bible, it's either um
S1: and the right to the throne of David came by
S1: adoption through through Joseph. That's what Matthew records. Uh, because
S1: that's his line is through Solomon and then, uh, through Mary.
S1: Luke records Mary's genealogy, and that shows that the Lord
S1: Jesus is an actual physical descendant of King David. So
S1: he truly is the son of David. And that's why
S1: both are given. Uh, Matthew gives Joseph's lineage the right
S1: through Solomon. And then, uh, Mary's lineage through Nathan shows
S1: that he is actually the son of David. So. Okay.
S1: Thanks for your call, Marsha. Okay. Uh, and, uh, Yee
S1: Ping in Chicago, Illinois, listening on Wmbi. How can I
S1: help you today?
S11: Hi. Good morning. Finally, I got through the line. Go
S11: ahead with your question.
S1: We're sort of at the end of the program. Yeah.
S11: Yeah. I just want to say one thing. I really
S11: appreciate your program. I learned a lot about the Hebrew Bible,
S11: but I. Only one question. You know, the Ten Commandments,
S11: they specifically said about honoring our parents, but not really
S11: how to teach our children. Is that because emphasize the relationship,
S11: our relationship with God?
S1: Well, I'll tell you why I think it is. I
S1: think there are other commandments in the law that teach
S1: about parental responsibilities. But we often think of the Ten
S1: Commandments when it talks about honor your father and mother,
S1: that it's referring to little children honoring their parents. I
S1: don't I don't believe that's how the Lord Jesus applied it.
S1: He talks about it in Matthew 15 about, uh, children.
S1: Adult children seeing their aged parents coming and and avoiding
S1: helping them by saying all their goods and wealth are
S1: devoted to God so they don't have to help their
S1: aged parents. And so I think this command, which was
S1: given to Israel, to the adults, that when your parents
S1: get old, don't abandon them. Don't think, oh, they're such
S1: a burden. Rather, honor your parents for what they've done
S1: for you and help them and encourage them and support
S1: them where you can. Be a strength to your parents
S1: when they get old. Not someone that don't treat them
S1: as if they are a burden. And I think that's
S1: what the Ten Commandments is saying when it says, honor
S1: your father and your mother. Uh, it's not talking about, uh,
S1: little children. It's really talking about you and me when
S1: we come to adulthood to care for, to respect, to
S1: honor those parents. That gave a lot for us. Uh,
S1: I hope that helps. Yi-ping. Uh, there's another time we
S1: can talk about what does the Bible say about parents
S1: responsibility to children? Uh, well, that's the program for the week.
S1: I can't believe it's over. It's the fastest two hours
S1: of the week for me. Thanks for listening, everyone. Especially
S1: those of you who called or wrote you, make this
S1: program possible thanks to the Open Line team. Tricia. Ryan. Tyra. Uh, tiara,
S1: all of you, for making Open Line possible. Keep in
S1: touch with us by going to our website, Open Line radio.org.
S1: It's got all the links you're looking for there. Keep
S1: reading the Bible and we'll talk about it next week.
S1: Open line with Doctor Michael Ray is a production of
S1: Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. Have a
S1: great day and see you next week.