WEBVTT - Hour 2: Answering Bible Questions 0:00:08.510 --> 0:00:11.990 Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open 0:00:11.990 --> 0:00:15.680 Line with Doctor Michael. Right, gentlemen, it's Moody Radio's Bible 0:00:15.680 --> 0:00:19.790 study Across America, and we're talking about your questions about 0:00:19.790 --> 0:00:22.940 the Bible, God and the spiritual life. My name is 0:00:22.940 --> 0:00:25.939 Michael Melnick. I'm the academic dean at Moody Bible Institute, 0:00:25.940 --> 0:00:29.840 also a professor of Jewish studies and Bible right here. 0:00:29.840 --> 0:00:33.320 We're live today sitting around the radio kitchen table right 0:00:33.320 --> 0:00:36.800 here in Chicago, taking your questions from all across the country. 0:00:36.830 --> 0:00:44.240 So give me a call. The phone number is (877) 548-3675. 0:00:44.270 --> 0:00:51.260 That's (877) 548-3675. Remember, if you can't call, just go to 0:00:51.290 --> 0:00:55.580 our website open Line radio.org. Click on the Ask Michael 0:00:55.610 --> 0:00:57.950 a question link and you'll be able to fill out 0:00:57.950 --> 0:01:00.040 a form. Put your question there. Trish will put it 0:01:00.040 --> 0:01:03.580 in the mailbag. I hope you have your Bibles open, 0:01:03.580 --> 0:01:07.120 and you really do need a second cup of coffee 0:01:07.120 --> 0:01:12.459 to stay awake. And we're ready to talk about the scriptures. 0:01:12.459 --> 0:01:15.490 I wanted to mention something about our trip. Uh, it 0:01:15.490 --> 0:01:18.340 was a fantastic trip. I was away for two weeks. 0:01:18.340 --> 0:01:22.960 We went to, uh, Athens and Corinth and got on 0:01:22.959 --> 0:01:26.770 a ship and went to various islands like Patmos. That 0:01:26.770 --> 0:01:30.100 was not so much about the Apostle Paul, but, uh, 0:01:30.100 --> 0:01:34.569 revelation and John. And we went to Ephesus. We went 0:01:34.569 --> 0:01:41.170 to Pergamum, uh, we went to Philippi. Thessalonica. It was phenomenal. Uh, 0:01:41.170 --> 0:01:43.840 seeing those places and seeing the Bible come alive from 0:01:43.840 --> 0:01:48.730 the journeys of Paul for the most part. Uh, and then, uh, 0:01:48.730 --> 0:01:51.850 afterwards we went on for an extension for most of 0:01:51.850 --> 0:01:53.470 the group. About two thirds of the group went on 0:01:53.500 --> 0:01:57.100 to Rome, and I think it was in the Jewish 0:01:57.100 --> 0:02:00.070 quarter of Rome that I that had a most interesting experience. 0:02:00.070 --> 0:02:02.170 I was teaching about the history of the Jewish people 0:02:02.170 --> 0:02:05.650 of Rome from ancient times. I had to do it 0:02:05.650 --> 0:02:09.579 in about ten minutes. Ancient times, right up until today, 0:02:09.580 --> 0:02:13.390 including the Holocaust. And when I was talking about that 0:02:13.389 --> 0:02:15.730 at the end, I talked about God's heart for the 0:02:15.730 --> 0:02:19.389 Jewish people in Romans 1128 and 29 that though opposed 0:02:19.389 --> 0:02:23.530 to the gospel, Jewish people remain chosen and beloved, according 0:02:23.560 --> 0:02:28.090 to Paul, and also that God's calling of them and 0:02:28.090 --> 0:02:30.220 the gifts he gave the Jewish people, like the gift 0:02:30.220 --> 0:02:32.769 of the land, the gift of the covenants, all those 0:02:32.770 --> 0:02:35.110 still belong to the Jewish people, because the gifts and 0:02:35.110 --> 0:02:38.980 calling of God are irrevocable. And while I was talking 0:02:38.980 --> 0:02:42.010 about that, there were many, many Jewish people looking at 0:02:42.010 --> 0:02:46.330 the Jewish quarter, a very observant Jewish man and his 0:02:46.330 --> 0:02:48.010 wife came and stood right in the midst of my 0:02:48.010 --> 0:02:50.560 group and wanted to hear what I was saying afterwards. 0:02:50.560 --> 0:02:53.890 He wanted to know, what group is this? And I said, well, 0:02:53.889 --> 0:02:56.079 it's a group of people who love Moody Bible Institute 0:02:56.080 --> 0:02:58.540 and want to learn about the Bible. And I'm a 0:02:58.540 --> 0:03:01.750 professor at Moody Bible Institute. He said Moody Bible Institute 0:03:01.750 --> 0:03:05.920 in Chicago. Yeah. And then he said, well, why would 0:03:05.919 --> 0:03:11.770 a Christian school care about the Jewish people? And I said, 0:03:11.770 --> 0:03:16.750 because we are followers of Jesus, the Jewish Messiah. And 0:03:16.750 --> 0:03:19.720 because of that, we care about his promises to the 0:03:19.720 --> 0:03:24.399 Jewish people. In fact, I told him about the summit 0:03:24.400 --> 0:03:29.109 opposing anti-Semitism, that Moody Bible Institute has a long history, 0:03:29.139 --> 0:03:33.760 a legacy of always opposing anti-Semitism, because we love the 0:03:33.760 --> 0:03:36.640 king of the Jewish people, and we want to see 0:03:36.640 --> 0:03:39.370 his heart for them. And so we're having the summit 0:03:39.400 --> 0:03:43.420 opposing anti-Semitism on November 9th right here at Moody Bible Institute. 0:03:43.450 --> 0:03:46.690 He was just amazed that and I think it's a 0:03:46.690 --> 0:03:49.990 really good testimony to our Jewish friends that this is 0:03:49.990 --> 0:03:53.170 really where we stand at Moody Bible Institute. I hope 0:03:53.170 --> 0:03:56.780 you'll want to come and learn how to oppose anti-Semitism 0:03:56.780 --> 0:03:59.760 as a follower of Jesus. Please join us on November 0:03:59.760 --> 0:04:03.080 9th in Tory Gray Auditorium right here at Moody Bible Institute. 0:04:03.080 --> 0:04:07.880 We have wonderful speakers. It'll be just a great event. 0:04:07.880 --> 0:04:10.730 So check it out. Go to Openline radio.org and click 0:04:10.730 --> 0:04:14.240 on the link about the summit opposing anti-Semitism. And then 0:04:14.240 --> 0:04:17.750 join us on November 9th. And we're going to go 0:04:17.750 --> 0:04:22.910 to the phones right now. Uh, Renee in Pompano Beach, Florida, 0:04:22.940 --> 0:04:26.390 listening on w RMB. Welcome to Open Line, Renee. How 0:04:26.390 --> 0:04:27.229 can I help you today? 0:04:27.260 --> 0:04:28.610 Well thank you. Thank you. 0:04:28.790 --> 0:04:30.860 Did I say your name right? I know you're a man, 0:04:30.890 --> 0:04:32.360 but is it still Renee? 0:04:33.589 --> 0:04:34.789 Yes. It's Renee. Yeah. 0:04:34.820 --> 0:04:36.650 Is that. Are you French? 0:04:37.310 --> 0:04:40.580 No, no, actually, mom loved the name. The name? Actually, 0:04:40.640 --> 0:04:43.549 the etymology of the name is actually born again. Oh, really? 0:04:43.580 --> 0:04:44.690 You gotta love that. So, mom. 0:04:44.720 --> 0:04:48.020 Well, I've only met men named Renee. If they were 0:04:48.020 --> 0:04:51.740 from France or, like, Montreal or places like that. So 0:04:51.770 --> 0:04:52.910 that's interesting. One of the quick. 0:04:52.940 --> 0:04:56.190 Things, um, the name Renee is actually a masculine name. 0:04:56.190 --> 0:04:57.719 If you look it up everywhere else in the world, 0:04:57.720 --> 0:05:00.479 it's actually considered a very masculine name, except in America, 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:03.120 where we add an extra E and everybody thinks it's female. 0:05:03.150 --> 0:05:03.810 So I see. 0:05:04.050 --> 0:05:07.320 There you go. Well, no, I know it's a masculine name, but, uh, 0:05:07.320 --> 0:05:11.010 only only French people, French speakers have I have met 0:05:11.010 --> 0:05:14.580 that use it as a man's name. But it's okay. 0:05:14.610 --> 0:05:15.869 I know you're a man. I just want to make 0:05:15.900 --> 0:05:18.029 sure I was saying it right. So that's. 0:05:18.060 --> 0:05:21.480 That's okay. That's okay. Um, I so appreciate your time. And, uh, 0:05:21.480 --> 0:05:24.210 just taking my call right now. Actually. Been walking with 0:05:24.210 --> 0:05:27.090 the Lord, uh, born again Christian for 24 plus years, 0:05:27.120 --> 0:05:30.570 give or take. My question is, really, I'm a strong 0:05:30.570 --> 0:05:35.760 believer in the pre-tribulation rapture, but I also have a question. 0:05:35.820 --> 0:05:39.000 You know, I've been coming across some pretty learned PhD 0:05:39.000 --> 0:05:42.000 doctors in, you know, in the faith as well, Doctor 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:44.549 Michael Heizer and so on and so forth that are 0:05:44.550 --> 0:05:49.140 talking about a pre wrath, which is right around the 0:05:49.140 --> 0:05:52.290 midpoint rapture. And I wanted and they were saying, you 0:05:52.290 --> 0:05:55.690 know it's chronological. If you follow Matthew 24 and it's 0:05:55.690 --> 0:05:59.169 very plain to see in the pre-trib rapture is not biblical. 0:05:59.410 --> 0:06:01.150 I just wanted to get your point on your viewpoint 0:06:01.150 --> 0:06:02.080 on that as well, sir. 0:06:02.110 --> 0:06:08.679 Sure. Well, uh, first of all, as as someone with 0:06:08.680 --> 0:06:11.410 a doctorate, having a doctorate doesn't mean you know everything. 0:06:11.410 --> 0:06:16.659 Just so you know. Uh, you know, I am. I am. 0:06:17.140 --> 0:06:20.500 The people ask me about my doctorate. I say the doctorates. 0:06:20.500 --> 0:06:23.979 The last aspect of Western torture. Keep your hand in 0:06:23.980 --> 0:06:27.070 the fire long enough, and they'll they'll give you a doctorate. 0:06:27.100 --> 0:06:29.650 I had a professor that used to say, anyone can 0:06:29.650 --> 0:06:32.049 get a doctorate if you can endure the boredom. And 0:06:32.050 --> 0:06:36.010 so I agree with that. And so I'm not, you know, 0:06:36.040 --> 0:06:39.790 I guess maybe because I live among PhDs here, uh, 0:06:39.790 --> 0:06:43.780 that that's not always the sign of being. Right. Just 0:06:43.779 --> 0:06:46.060 so you know, even for me, I'm saying the same 0:06:46.060 --> 0:06:48.820 thing about me. You know, there are people. Let me 0:06:48.820 --> 0:06:50.200 let me tell you, there are a lot of people 0:06:50.200 --> 0:06:52.159 who disagree with things I say on this. And they 0:06:52.160 --> 0:06:57.200 they let me know very plainly, so that's fine. Uh, 0:06:57.200 --> 0:07:00.680 I still believe in the pre-trib rapture. Having read Matthew 0:07:00.710 --> 0:07:05.330 24 many times, uh, the people who read it chronologically 0:07:05.330 --> 0:07:08.719 that hold to the pre-trib rapture when they read the 0:07:08.720 --> 0:07:14.750 verses in verse 42. Uh, I'm sorry, verse 40 through 42. 0:07:14.780 --> 0:07:16.880 Two men will be in the field, one will be 0:07:16.880 --> 0:07:18.920 taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at 0:07:18.920 --> 0:07:21.140 the mill, one will be taken and one left. Many 0:07:21.140 --> 0:07:24.590 pre-trib rapturists do not take that as the rapture. They 0:07:24.590 --> 0:07:28.130 take that as referring to being taken away to judgment. 0:07:28.640 --> 0:07:32.240 So that's a possibility. But I don't think that's the answer. 0:07:32.240 --> 0:07:35.990 I believe when you look at the question. Verse three, 0:07:36.020 --> 0:07:38.840 he was sitting on the Mount of Olives. The disciples 0:07:38.840 --> 0:07:42.710 approached him privately and said, tell us, when will these 0:07:42.710 --> 0:07:47.869 things happen? My first question is when. Let's call it 0:07:47.870 --> 0:07:52.730 question A, when, then. Question B and what is the 0:07:52.730 --> 0:07:55.820 sign of your coming and the end of the age? 0:07:55.850 --> 0:08:01.760 Question B is signs. Question A is when. Question A 0:08:01.880 --> 0:08:05.120 when will these things happen? Question B what are the signs. 0:08:05.210 --> 0:08:11.030 Okay so right. So a b when you look at 0:08:11.030 --> 0:08:16.820 the answer the Lord Jesus gives. Right. He doesn't answer 0:08:16.820 --> 0:08:21.980 the first question. He doesn't answer when he answers. What 0:08:21.980 --> 0:08:27.080 are the signs? He starts talking about signs, signs, signs. 0:08:27.080 --> 0:08:30.410 All these things are events at the beginning of birth pangs. 0:08:30.500 --> 0:08:34.160 And he's talking about signs, signs, signs when you see 0:08:34.160 --> 0:08:39.860 the abomination that causes desolation signs. These are all signs 0:08:39.860 --> 0:08:43.160 of the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation. 0:08:43.610 --> 0:08:47.060 What are the signs that you see before the Lord 0:08:47.059 --> 0:08:51.990 Jesus returns in judgment. Then the sign, verse 30 of 0:08:51.990 --> 0:08:54.180 the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and 0:08:54.179 --> 0:08:57.150 then all people of the earth. My version says, but 0:08:57.150 --> 0:09:00.720 literally in Greek it's the tribes of the land will mourn. 0:09:00.750 --> 0:09:05.370 That's a reference to Zechariah 1210. And they will see 0:09:05.370 --> 0:09:07.770 the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven 0:09:07.770 --> 0:09:11.700 with power and great glory. So there is again, it's 0:09:11.700 --> 0:09:14.850 taking you all through the signs. When Israel, finally, at 0:09:14.850 --> 0:09:19.050 the culmination of the tribulation period, believes the Lord Jesus returns, 0:09:19.080 --> 0:09:23.069 the Son of Man returns and establishes his throne. That 0:09:23.070 --> 0:09:27.660 continues all this discussion of signs through verse 35. Question 0:09:27.690 --> 0:09:32.280 B so there's question A, question B, answer B is 0:09:32.280 --> 0:09:36.420 called chiasm is what this is. Question A, question b, 0:09:36.450 --> 0:09:42.240 answer B, answer A picks up in verse 36. Now 0:09:42.270 --> 0:09:46.020 concerning that day and hour, no one knows neither the 0:09:46.020 --> 0:09:49.270 angels in heaven nor the son except the father only. 0:09:49.270 --> 0:09:50.950 And then it talks about how the days will be 0:09:50.950 --> 0:09:52.450 going on, just like in the days of Noah, and 0:09:52.450 --> 0:09:55.059 no one thinks anything's going to happen. And then boom, 0:09:55.059 --> 0:09:58.720 the rapture will hit. Two men will be in the field, 0:09:58.720 --> 0:10:02.170 one will be taken, one left. Two women will be 0:10:02.170 --> 0:10:05.469 grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore, 0:10:05.500 --> 0:10:08.110 be alert. Since you don't know what day your Lord 0:10:08.110 --> 0:10:10.240 is coming, it is imminent. It could happen at any 0:10:10.240 --> 0:10:15.760 moment for us. And you have to be ready. Because 0:10:15.760 --> 0:10:17.590 the Son of Man is coming at an hour you 0:10:17.590 --> 0:10:20.950 do not expect. That's the rapture that can happen any time. 0:10:20.950 --> 0:10:24.219 So I would see this as a chiastic structure. That's 0:10:24.220 --> 0:10:28.750 what it's called. Uh, a b b a. And if 0:10:28.750 --> 0:10:31.719 we read it that way, then it's, it's clearly a 0:10:31.720 --> 0:10:35.380 pre-trib rapture about when we don't know when it can 0:10:35.380 --> 0:10:38.530 happen at any moment. If it's pre-wrath, then we can 0:10:38.530 --> 0:10:41.080 look at it. Usually people look at it near the 0:10:41.080 --> 0:10:44.110 end of the seven years, not in the middle. And okay, 0:10:44.110 --> 0:10:46.449 we can say, okay, we know when it's going to happen, 0:10:46.450 --> 0:10:50.410 but this way the pre-trib rapture makes the most sense. 0:10:50.440 --> 0:10:51.580 Does that help? 0:10:52.480 --> 0:10:54.490 Oh, it absolutely does. And the other thing that I 0:10:54.520 --> 0:10:57.400 so appreciate about, appreciate about you and your ministry is 0:10:57.400 --> 0:11:00.250 the messianic viewpoint of it all to where the whole 0:11:00.250 --> 0:11:04.540 picture of it really, I think the Western culture, America, 0:11:04.570 --> 0:11:07.660 you know, we miss out so much on the Hebrew culture, 0:11:07.660 --> 0:11:09.369 which is what I like to teach also when it 0:11:09.370 --> 0:11:12.640 comes to the rapture. Um, how it just ties into 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:16.750 it so perfectly. Um, you know how the the bridegroom 0:11:16.750 --> 0:11:18.820 goes to prepare a place and he comes back at 0:11:18.820 --> 0:11:20.920 any given moment, and we're not aware of the time, 0:11:20.950 --> 0:11:22.300 and the bride is to be. 0:11:22.450 --> 0:11:25.660 Don't you think that's interesting? Not just Matthew 24, but 0:11:25.660 --> 0:11:28.540 Matthew 25. The the virgins. You have to be ready. 0:11:28.570 --> 0:11:32.439 It kind of fits with the last part. Exactly. So anyway, 0:11:32.470 --> 0:11:35.380 thank thank you so much for your call, Renee. We're 0:11:35.380 --> 0:11:36.940 going to take a break here. And when we come back, 0:11:36.940 --> 0:11:39.280 we're going to take more of your questions. The phone 0:11:39.280 --> 0:11:46.610 number (877) 548-3675. Five. My name is Michael Redlich. This program 0:11:46.610 --> 0:11:49.010 is called Open Line. I'm so glad to be back 0:11:49.010 --> 0:11:52.280 with you after traveling for a couple of weeks. It's 0:11:52.309 --> 0:11:54.469 it's just a joy to be with here, with you, 0:11:54.500 --> 0:11:58.670 talking about your questions, having this Bible study across America. 0:11:58.700 --> 0:12:02.390 Stay with us. More to come right here on Open Line. 0:12:12.320 --> 0:12:15.440 Welcome back to Open Line. So glad to be with you. 0:12:15.470 --> 0:12:17.360 My name is Michael Ray Dolnick, and it's always great 0:12:17.360 --> 0:12:20.179 to be with you. Studying the scriptures on a weekly 0:12:20.179 --> 0:12:22.969 basis right here every Saturday morning. It's our Saturday morning 0:12:22.970 --> 0:12:28.699 Bible study. Uh, all across America. You know, people would 0:12:28.700 --> 0:12:31.790 always the people who listen to Open Line are really 0:12:31.820 --> 0:12:37.340 a distinctive group of listeners, very, very different because Moody 0:12:37.370 --> 0:12:40.460 Radio listeners all love the Bible, but the Open Line listeners, 0:12:40.460 --> 0:12:44.760 they want resources that will really help them understand the 0:12:44.760 --> 0:12:48.359 Bible in a deeper way. And that's because the Bible 0:12:48.360 --> 0:12:51.359 is more than just a collection of ancient texts. It's 0:12:51.360 --> 0:12:54.480 it's God's masterpiece of literature, and it's his gift to 0:12:54.510 --> 0:12:58.110 us and to help us read it for all it's worth. 0:12:58.230 --> 0:13:00.840 I'd like to send you our current resource, which is 0:13:00.840 --> 0:13:05.699 called 14 Fresh Ways to Enjoy the Bible. It's a 0:13:05.730 --> 0:13:10.500 super helpful book. Moody. Professor James Coakley wrote it. He's 0:13:10.500 --> 0:13:14.640 my colleague. He's my friend. He reveals how the same 0:13:14.640 --> 0:13:19.080 amazing techniques used by modern authors were employed by biblical 0:13:19.080 --> 0:13:24.840 writers long ago, and they were writing under the superintending 0:13:24.840 --> 0:13:27.660 of the Holy Spirit. God intended them to use those techniques, 0:13:27.660 --> 0:13:30.660 and as we read it, we get a fresh lens 0:13:30.660 --> 0:13:34.110 to understand the scriptures and to get more out of them. 0:13:34.320 --> 0:13:39.420 It gives really practical strategies in how to engage God's Word. 0:13:39.420 --> 0:13:43.270 It gives guidelines to keep you on track as you read. 0:13:43.270 --> 0:13:45.400 I think you're going to love this book. And it's 0:13:45.400 --> 0:13:47.679 yours if you give a gift of any size to 0:13:47.710 --> 0:13:50.290 open line. Just give a gift. And we want to 0:13:50.290 --> 0:13:53.560 say thanks by sending you a copy of 14 Fresh 0:13:53.559 --> 0:13:56.140 Ways to Enjoy the Bible. In fact, Jim will be 0:13:56.140 --> 0:13:58.240 on with me in a couple of weeks. Uh, to 0:13:58.270 --> 0:14:02.890 talk about this book. You're going to really love this book. Uh, anyway, 0:14:02.890 --> 0:14:04.900 to give your gift, all you have to do is 0:14:04.900 --> 0:14:15.790 go to Openline radio.org or call (888) 644-7122. That's (888) 644-7122. And 0:14:15.790 --> 0:14:19.480 then when you give your gift remember ask for 14 0:14:19.480 --> 0:14:22.900 fresh ways to enjoy the Bible. And we're going to 0:14:22.900 --> 0:14:26.440 talk with Pamela in Kissimmee, Florida listening now on keys. 0:14:26.470 --> 0:14:29.230 Welcome to Open Line. Pamela. How can I help you? 0:14:29.320 --> 0:14:37.210 Yes, yes. Good morning. Good morning Luke chapter five. Verse 14. 0:14:37.240 --> 0:14:41.570 Okay. Well. And what's your question? 0:14:41.600 --> 0:14:45.680 And I'm trying I'm trying to understand what was the 0:14:45.680 --> 0:14:49.670 sacrifice that Moses commanded for your claim for the. Oh, 0:14:49.670 --> 0:14:50.330 I see. 0:14:51.230 --> 0:14:55.100 Uh, I see. Uh, it says, reaching out his hand, 0:14:55.100 --> 0:14:58.400 verse 13, he touched him, saying, I am willing. Be 0:14:58.430 --> 0:15:02.150 made clean. Immediately the disease that skin disease left him. 0:15:02.150 --> 0:15:05.030 But he ordered him to tell no one. But go 0:15:05.030 --> 0:15:10.010 and show yourself to the priest, and offer what Moses 0:15:10.010 --> 0:15:15.740 prescribed for your cleansing as a testimony to them. That's 0:15:15.740 --> 0:15:19.070 in the book of Leviticus. There were sacrifices when people 0:15:19.070 --> 0:15:22.700 were cured of a skin disease. Then they had to 0:15:22.700 --> 0:15:28.250 go offer sacrifice. The priests functioned as sort of a 0:15:28.250 --> 0:15:35.930 health examiner and, uh, and to see that they were, uh, cleansed. Uh, 0:15:35.930 --> 0:15:39.980 I think that's that's what he's referring to. It's in. 0:15:40.010 --> 0:15:44.750 I think it's Leviticus 14 that you have the commands. 0:15:44.840 --> 0:15:50.930 It begins with skin diseases in chapter 13. And then, uh, 0:15:51.980 --> 0:15:56.990 chapter 14 has the sacrifices that someone is to offer 0:15:57.410 --> 0:16:02.030 when they get cleansed of the skin disease. Uh, yeah, 0:16:02.030 --> 0:16:04.520 that's what it is. Leviticus 13 and 14 is where 0:16:04.520 --> 0:16:08.270 you would read about that. By the way, Leviticus 1340 0:16:08.300 --> 0:16:12.080 has my life verse in it. If you want to 0:16:12.110 --> 0:16:15.860 know Leviticus 1340, are you ready to hear it, Pamela? 0:16:17.120 --> 0:16:18.620 Yes, absolutely. 0:16:18.650 --> 0:16:20.570 Here it is. This is my verse. If a man 0:16:20.570 --> 0:16:23.210 loses the hair of his head, he is bald, but 0:16:23.210 --> 0:16:28.820 he is clean. And that's, uh, my explanation for, uh. 0:16:29.090 --> 0:16:32.420 I may be bald, but I am clean. There we go. Yeah. 0:16:32.450 --> 0:16:37.100 That's good. Okay. It's not a skin disease. It's just 0:16:37.100 --> 0:16:40.680 male pattern baldness. That's it. Anyway, thank you for your call, Pamela. 0:16:40.680 --> 0:16:46.860 We'll talk soon. Uh, Sheldon in Chicago, Illinois, listening on Wmbi. 0:16:46.890 --> 0:16:49.170 Welcome to Open Line. How can I help you? 0:16:50.400 --> 0:16:56.640 Hello, doctor and family. My Christian family. Um, I'm reading 0:16:56.670 --> 0:17:00.570 Amos chapter six. I read through it this morning, but 0:17:00.570 --> 0:17:04.800 I'm stumped on verse ten where it says your uncle's 0:17:05.040 --> 0:17:07.620 will when it talks about the the ten men that 0:17:07.619 --> 0:17:09.480 will die in the house. Just because you have ten 0:17:09.480 --> 0:17:15.180 men doesn't mean you're safe. But, uh, God is cursing, uh, Israel. 0:17:15.210 --> 0:17:16.709 It's a judgment right there. 0:17:16.740 --> 0:17:21.929 Yeah, it's a judgment. He says, don't speak. He says, hush, 0:17:21.930 --> 0:17:25.170 don't speak to the other guy in the house unless 0:17:25.170 --> 0:17:28.020 the Lord curses or something to that effect. I don't 0:17:28.020 --> 0:17:29.730 understand that. That verse. 0:17:29.760 --> 0:17:31.200 Let me just tell you, this is why the Moody 0:17:31.200 --> 0:17:34.860 Bible Commentary is such a helpful resource. I'll read you 0:17:34.859 --> 0:17:39.250 the words of John Jelinek. He is now with the Lord. 0:17:39.250 --> 0:17:43.660 He was the academic dean of the Moody Theological Seminary. Uh, 0:17:43.660 --> 0:17:48.880 wonderful Old Testament scholar. Uh, and, uh, I had tremendous 0:17:48.880 --> 0:17:52.030 regard for him. He wrote our commentary on Amos. This 0:17:52.030 --> 0:17:55.390 is what he says. God's judgment would be such that 0:17:55.390 --> 0:17:58.750 if ten men took refuge in one house, they could 0:17:58.750 --> 0:18:03.850 not preserve their lives. Survivors, understanding that judgment proceeded from God, 0:18:03.850 --> 0:18:07.030 would not allow the Lord's name to be invoked or 0:18:07.030 --> 0:18:11.469 to be mentioned, lest that act draw God's attention and 0:18:11.470 --> 0:18:14.860 result in their deaths as well. God would command the 0:18:14.859 --> 0:18:18.460 utter destruction of all houses in Samaria, both great and small, 0:18:18.460 --> 0:18:21.790 and the houses of the rich and poor would perish 0:18:21.790 --> 0:18:24.190 with them. So that's it. They don't invoke the name 0:18:24.190 --> 0:18:26.320 of God because they didn't want to attract God's attention 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:31.570 and bring further judgment upon them. So, uh, I, I 0:18:31.600 --> 0:18:34.510 hope that helps and encourage you to check out the 0:18:34.510 --> 0:18:37.550 Moody Bible Commentary. Uh, when you have a verse you 0:18:37.550 --> 0:18:40.190 don't understand, it's really very helpful. One of the things 0:18:40.190 --> 0:18:42.709 that we wanted to do when we did that commentary 0:18:42.710 --> 0:18:45.740 is explain the verses that people don't understand and tell 0:18:45.770 --> 0:18:49.280 us what they mean. So anyway, thanks for your call, Sheldon. 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:53.030 And we're going to talk to Bob in Chicago, Illinois, 0:18:53.060 --> 0:18:56.570 listening on Wmbi. Welcome to Open Line, Bob. What can 0:18:56.570 --> 0:18:57.320 I do for you today? 0:18:57.980 --> 0:19:01.280 God's blessings. Michael. Thank you. Where in the Bible can 0:19:01.310 --> 0:19:06.350 we find God's concept of free will? And what is 0:19:06.350 --> 0:19:09.230 its significance to us as believers? 0:19:09.859 --> 0:19:17.899 Well. I'm not sure. What are you talking about? I'm 0:19:17.900 --> 0:19:20.150 trying to. What are you getting at? Just free will 0:19:20.150 --> 0:19:21.020 in general. 0:19:22.640 --> 0:19:27.889 What? Yes. We discuss. I can't find it in the commentary. 0:19:27.920 --> 0:19:31.879 Anything about free will. And it's something that's discussed within 0:19:31.880 --> 0:19:38.540 the faith, with some significance that that. Well, okay, here's 0:19:38.570 --> 0:19:42.950 here's here's the conclusion. I've always heard God did or 0:19:42.950 --> 0:19:47.989 does not force his creations to love him or to 0:19:48.020 --> 0:19:53.180 follow his edicts. He doesn't force us. 0:19:53.210 --> 0:19:53.840 Know. 0:19:53.930 --> 0:19:59.930 We come to that under under free will. Okay. Making up. Okay. 0:20:00.650 --> 0:20:01.610 Let me just say. 0:20:01.640 --> 0:20:07.670 There are extremes. There's the very strong Calvinist that says 0:20:07.670 --> 0:20:12.080 everything is God's sovereign plan. And and we are almost, 0:20:12.320 --> 0:20:16.280 almost passive. I do believe in God's choice. I believe 0:20:16.280 --> 0:20:22.040 in predestination, uh, that God foreknew us all. That, on 0:20:22.040 --> 0:20:25.130 the other hand, the Bible says that people are responsible 0:20:25.130 --> 0:20:31.189 to believe and and as a result, uh, of of 0:20:31.190 --> 0:20:36.000 this every time the Bible tells people to believe. Like 0:20:36.000 --> 0:20:41.490 Paul talking to the the Philippian jailer in acts 16, 0:20:41.490 --> 0:20:44.010 believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. That is saying that 0:20:44.010 --> 0:20:49.530 people have a responsibility to believe. Uh, it's human responsibility. 0:20:49.530 --> 0:20:55.290 They're both true. They are both true. And since they 0:20:55.290 --> 0:21:02.520 are both true, I have to believe that this difficulty of, uh, 0:21:03.720 --> 0:21:07.590 what people call free will, I call human responsibility. And 0:21:07.590 --> 0:21:11.940 then divine sovereignty, they somehow make sense in the mind 0:21:11.970 --> 0:21:15.060 of God. But I certainly don't. I couldn't give you 0:21:15.060 --> 0:21:18.240 an explanation. I think that as high as the heavens 0:21:18.240 --> 0:21:22.740 are above the earth, so much so, as in that 0:21:22.740 --> 0:21:25.619 same way are my thoughts higher than your thoughts, and 0:21:25.619 --> 0:21:28.350 my ways higher than your ways? That's what God says 0:21:28.350 --> 0:21:32.560 in Isaiah 55, And one of the more interesting things 0:21:32.560 --> 0:21:35.949 I see is when it talks about human responsibility. It 0:21:35.950 --> 0:21:40.870 seems like there's always divine sovereignty linked to it. So 0:21:40.869 --> 0:21:45.700 for example, in Philippians two it says, work out your 0:21:45.700 --> 0:21:48.310 own salvation with fear and trembling. That sounds like it's 0:21:48.340 --> 0:21:51.220 a free will issue, right? But then it says, for 0:21:51.220 --> 0:21:53.320 it is God who is working in you, enabling you 0:21:53.320 --> 0:21:55.810 both to desire and to work out his good purpose. 0:21:55.840 --> 0:22:04.119 So divine sovereignty and human responsibility also, uh, in acts 427, 0:22:04.150 --> 0:22:08.620 a passage about human responsibility for the death of Jesus, 0:22:08.710 --> 0:22:13.600 it says in verse 27, in fact, in this city, 0:22:13.600 --> 0:22:17.199 both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the 0:22:17.200 --> 0:22:19.480 people of Israel, there was this whole big conspiracy of 0:22:19.480 --> 0:22:24.040 Jews and Gentiles conspiring against Jesus, assembled together against your 0:22:24.040 --> 0:22:27.550 holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. So it sounds like 0:22:27.550 --> 0:22:30.979 there's fully human responsibility for these actions. And then it 0:22:30.980 --> 0:22:34.460 says to do whatever your hand and your plan had 0:22:34.460 --> 0:22:40.310 predestined to take place. Divine sovereignty. What's my point? The 0:22:40.310 --> 0:22:46.280 Bible teaches both, usually in verses right next to each other. Uh, 0:22:46.280 --> 0:22:49.700 that's just how it is. I don't I can't say 0:22:49.700 --> 0:22:53.000 that I understand this. Uh, I think that this is 0:22:53.000 --> 0:22:59.210 an apparent contradiction. An antinomy is what J.I. Packer calls it, uh, 0:22:59.210 --> 0:23:03.409 an apparent contradiction, but it's not. It's fully resolved in 0:23:03.410 --> 0:23:06.290 the mind of God. And I just trust God that, 0:23:06.320 --> 0:23:08.210 you know, when when he tells me to do something, 0:23:08.210 --> 0:23:12.530 I'm responsible to respond to it. At the same time, 0:23:12.650 --> 0:23:15.470 I know that God is the one at work to 0:23:15.500 --> 0:23:19.250 to accomplish what he wants me to do. Uh, Bob, 0:23:19.250 --> 0:23:20.960 is that helpful? 0:23:22.160 --> 0:23:25.970 It is somewhat. Yes, it is helpful. Mike. Michael. Uh, 0:23:25.970 --> 0:23:31.080 but again, when we're, uh, when we're, uh, the Lord 0:23:31.080 --> 0:23:35.430 is leading us. Of course. Always. But sometimes, you know, 0:23:35.460 --> 0:23:38.700 it's the old. It's the, uh, Proverbs three five and 0:23:38.700 --> 0:23:41.490 six that don't believe in men, but believe in God 0:23:41.520 --> 0:23:42.540 and follow him. 0:23:42.570 --> 0:23:43.080 Mhm. 0:23:43.350 --> 0:23:46.110 But we have that confusion as we go. 0:23:46.230 --> 0:23:47.100 Through the process. 0:23:47.430 --> 0:23:49.739 It's not a confusion as long as we trust that 0:23:49.740 --> 0:23:52.740 it makes sense in the mind of God that there's 0:23:52.740 --> 0:23:58.140 God's sovereignty and human responsibility. They're both true and that's 0:23:58.140 --> 0:24:01.169 what we have to live with. Anyway I hope I 0:24:01.200 --> 0:24:03.540 hope that helps a little bit. Bob, thanks for your call. 0:24:03.540 --> 0:24:07.470 We're going to talk to Kevin in Indianapolis, Indiana, listening 0:24:07.470 --> 0:24:09.810 on WGN. R welcome to Open Line. Kevin, how can 0:24:09.810 --> 0:24:10.620 I help you? 0:24:11.190 --> 0:24:15.030 Well thank you. And am I coming through at that end? 0:24:15.180 --> 0:24:15.540 Just go. 0:24:15.540 --> 0:24:19.770 Ahead. You're at the end that matters here. The, uh, 0:24:19.770 --> 0:24:22.740 my question is, and actually, you laid the foundation for 0:24:22.740 --> 0:24:28.560 it with the previous question, uh, in Galatians. He, Paul, 0:24:28.560 --> 0:24:35.070 is actually famous in calling out the the Jewish believers 0:24:35.070 --> 0:24:39.930 who brought along, of course, circumcision, but other maybe not 0:24:39.930 --> 0:24:46.680 the only one little side checkpoints that were evidence that 0:24:46.680 --> 0:24:47.790 you are really? 0:24:47.790 --> 0:24:48.030 Yeah. 0:24:48.060 --> 0:24:50.850 What's your question, Kevin? We're running out of time here. 0:24:51.270 --> 0:24:57.180 Okay. Yeah. My question is, how does one, uh, become 0:24:57.180 --> 0:25:00.420 all things to all people as God, as Paul says 0:25:00.510 --> 0:25:04.409 that you might win a few and not have certain 0:25:04.410 --> 0:25:08.940 standards for. Okay, this is what the Christian life embodies. 0:25:10.020 --> 0:25:12.689 I feel like your question, your answer in the previous question, 0:25:12.690 --> 0:25:15.750 if you're trying to save time, that really answers it. Yeah. Well. 0:25:16.290 --> 0:25:18.660 Well, let me let me just say that the legalists 0:25:18.660 --> 0:25:23.610 in Galatia were some Jews and maybe even some Gentiles who, uh, 0:25:24.340 --> 0:25:29.200 Us accepted their idea of circumcision, but Paul actually had 0:25:29.230 --> 0:25:34.330 Timothy circumcised. After the Jerusalem Council. So circumcision for Jewish 0:25:34.330 --> 0:25:37.810 believers was perfectly okay. The problem was trying to force 0:25:37.810 --> 0:25:41.500 Gentiles to be circumcised, so they had to become Jewish 0:25:41.500 --> 0:25:45.250 before they believed in Jesus. Uh, anyway, we'll talk more 0:25:45.250 --> 0:25:47.919 about this later. Kevin, thanks for your call. We'll be 0:25:47.920 --> 0:25:52.240 right back here on Open Line with the Febc mailbag. 0:25:52.240 --> 0:25:53.140 Stay with us. 0:26:06.550 --> 0:26:08.290 And we're back. 0:26:08.560 --> 0:26:12.640 I'm so grateful that the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company partners 0:26:12.640 --> 0:26:16.419 with Open Line to bring you the weekly Febc mailbag. 0:26:17.859 --> 0:26:22.090 Febc is a terrific organization, the Far Eastern Broadcasting Company. 0:26:22.090 --> 0:26:26.420 They bring the good news to people via media, radio 0:26:26.420 --> 0:26:29.510 and personal engagement. There's always live people on the ground 0:26:29.510 --> 0:26:31.670 that will meet with others who are responsive to the 0:26:31.670 --> 0:26:35.330 good news, and I think it's a wonderful combination of 0:26:35.330 --> 0:26:40.340 of personal and and media interaction. And you can check 0:26:40.340 --> 0:26:43.610 out the Febc podcast to learn more about them by 0:26:43.609 --> 0:26:48.200 listening to. Until all have heard, just go to the Febc. 0:26:48.470 --> 0:26:51.770 Org website and you can click on their podcast and 0:26:51.770 --> 0:26:55.460 listen to it there. And many thanks for their participation 0:26:55.460 --> 0:27:00.740 with us here on Open Line. And now Tricia is. Yes. 0:27:00.770 --> 0:27:04.250 Joining me. Yes. Uh, so I bet you know what 0:27:04.280 --> 0:27:06.320 I know I said I wished you had been there, 0:27:06.320 --> 0:27:10.910 I really did. Even I both wished you had been in, in, uh, 0:27:10.910 --> 0:27:15.080 Athens and Istanbul. Well, we didn't go to Istanbul. 0:27:15.080 --> 0:27:17.030 We just landed in Istanbul. No, we didn't even go. 0:27:17.240 --> 0:27:20.300 We bypassed it. Oh, we were on a ship, and 0:27:20.300 --> 0:27:23.820 we went, uh, our last stop was Pergamum on the ship. 0:27:23.820 --> 0:27:27.179 And then we went from there to Philippi, actually more 0:27:27.210 --> 0:27:30.720 modern cities, but off, off the coast there. So. 0:27:30.720 --> 0:27:33.420 So if I look in the Bible, in the little 0:27:33.420 --> 0:27:36.659 maps in the back and I find these cities, then 0:27:36.660 --> 0:27:39.179 I can see where you went. Yes. For those Bibles 0:27:39.180 --> 0:27:41.850 that have. Well, look here, the missionary journeys of Paul. 0:27:41.850 --> 0:27:44.880 If I follow that, that's kind of what you did. Yep. Okay. 0:27:45.330 --> 0:27:50.280 So but we went, uh, from Athens. We started Paul 0:27:50.700 --> 0:27:53.100 went to Athens near the end of his journeys. But 0:27:53.100 --> 0:27:56.730 we started in Athens and saw Athens and Corinth, and 0:27:56.730 --> 0:27:59.370 we saw of the journeys of Paul. We saw Philippi 0:27:59.369 --> 0:28:05.040 and Thessaloniki and Thessalonica in biblical parlance, modern Thessaloniki, we 0:28:05.040 --> 0:28:10.170 saw Ephesus. It was really remarkable. It was great. 0:28:10.170 --> 0:28:13.290 So, so is the Greek that, you know, any kind 0:28:13.290 --> 0:28:15.600 of help or is that a different kind of Greek 0:28:15.630 --> 0:28:17.850 than they speak and use on signs? 0:28:17.880 --> 0:28:18.899 Utterly different. 0:28:18.930 --> 0:28:19.590 Okay. 0:28:19.859 --> 0:28:22.440 I couldn't understand a word the guides were saying when 0:28:22.440 --> 0:28:26.730 they talked to each other in Greek or whatever. But 0:28:26.730 --> 0:28:29.520 I could read signs because I know how to read 0:28:29.520 --> 0:28:33.810 Greek and and I could understand some of the signs, 0:28:33.840 --> 0:28:36.810 except if they used modern words. But, you know, some 0:28:36.810 --> 0:28:39.030 of the words are the same. And so I had 0:28:39.030 --> 0:28:41.670 a good time reading Greek. So yeah. 0:28:41.700 --> 0:28:44.760 Dusting that off. No, I've seen you translate stuff on 0:28:44.760 --> 0:28:47.340 the air here. So I know that you are actively 0:28:47.340 --> 0:28:49.980 using your Greek. Yeah. But it's, it's. 0:28:49.980 --> 0:28:52.860 Just like modern Hebrew is very different from Biblical Hebrew. Yes. 0:28:52.860 --> 0:28:55.650 So modern Greek is very different from Biblical. 0:28:55.650 --> 0:28:58.170 Greek, but there's some crossover with the letters and in 0:28:58.170 --> 0:29:01.140 the reading. Okay. Very cool. If people are interested and 0:29:01.140 --> 0:29:04.350 they want to see some photos from that. Um, our Facebook, 0:29:04.380 --> 0:29:08.700 our open line Facebook page has um, each day there's 0:29:08.790 --> 0:29:11.880 days anywhere from like, I don't know, 40 to 60 0:29:11.880 --> 0:29:15.030 pictures posted each day from the trip. If you want 0:29:15.060 --> 0:29:18.150 to see the beautiful, you had some beautiful weather. Yeah 0:29:18.150 --> 0:29:19.680 we did. If you want to see any of those 0:29:19.690 --> 0:29:21.670 pictures of the ruins and the different places. 0:29:21.760 --> 0:29:24.310 Although we were on a tall ship for six days. 0:29:24.340 --> 0:29:25.000 Okay. 0:29:25.030 --> 0:29:30.100 And it was a sail ship, you know. And 90% 0:29:30.100 --> 0:29:33.400 of the time it didn't use engines, it just used sails. 0:29:33.430 --> 0:29:37.450 And it got real windy. A couple of days. And 0:29:37.750 --> 0:29:40.030 the last night on the ship, I felt like we 0:29:40.030 --> 0:29:44.290 were sailing on an angle. Mhm. Because of the wind 0:29:44.380 --> 0:29:47.890 being so strong. Mhm. And unfortunately a couple of people 0:29:47.890 --> 0:29:48.970 didn't like that. 0:29:48.970 --> 0:29:52.810 No I'm sure that there were some stomachs that didn't 0:29:52.810 --> 0:29:52.990 like it. 0:29:53.020 --> 0:29:56.200 There were 3 or 4 out of 160. But a 0:29:56.200 --> 0:29:58.360 lot of us just sat on the deck looking at 0:29:58.360 --> 0:30:01.690 the stars and the sky and the moon, and it was, 0:30:01.720 --> 0:30:04.450 it was. I stayed up late. So what was the. 0:30:04.690 --> 0:30:08.110 What was one place that that like like we've talked 0:30:08.110 --> 0:30:11.170 about how when people travel to Israel, the Bible comes 0:30:11.170 --> 0:30:15.520 alive in in certain aspects. Was there one place that 0:30:15.520 --> 0:30:19.430 you saw that made. Um, the Bible. Some of the 0:30:19.430 --> 0:30:22.070 New Testament stuff come alive in a different way. 0:30:22.100 --> 0:30:26.000 Um, you know, uh, I stood at the Bema Seat 0:30:26.000 --> 0:30:29.510 in Corinth. This is an actual weight. 0:30:29.510 --> 0:30:32.840 We talk about it in, like this. Yeah. Future thing. 0:30:32.870 --> 0:30:33.470 A Bema seat. 0:30:33.470 --> 0:30:34.490 Is a judgment seat. 0:30:34.520 --> 0:30:37.820 Okay, so they existed before that Paul was talking about. Okay. 0:30:37.850 --> 0:30:43.700 And it's for a first century judgment seat. Okay. And Paul, 0:30:43.940 --> 0:30:47.720 that was in Corinth. Okay. And Paul uses that as 0:30:47.750 --> 0:30:50.360 sort of a, you know, the we'll all stand at 0:30:50.360 --> 0:30:53.780 the judgment seat of, of Messiah one day. Second Corinthians 0:30:53.780 --> 0:30:58.010 five nine. Right. 510 somewhere around there. But anyway, that's 0:30:58.010 --> 0:30:59.959 what Paul says, that we're going to stand at the 0:30:59.990 --> 0:31:04.820 judgment seat, and he's using the judgment seat of the 0:31:05.210 --> 0:31:07.340 he's writing to the Corinthians. They all know the judgment 0:31:07.340 --> 0:31:09.800 seat right there in Corinth. And he says, yeah, but 0:31:09.800 --> 0:31:12.200 there's even a bigger judgment seat. And so it's sort 0:31:12.230 --> 0:31:15.200 of like using what they know to tell about something 0:31:15.200 --> 0:31:18.120 else that's coming in first Corinthians three he talks about 0:31:18.120 --> 0:31:22.740 the judgment that will take place there of our works, whether, uh, 0:31:23.100 --> 0:31:25.230 not the judgment seat in Corinth, but there will be 0:31:25.230 --> 0:31:29.250 a judgment seat. And our works, whether wood, hay or 0:31:29.250 --> 0:31:33.209 straw or gold, silver and precious gems, they'll be tested 0:31:33.210 --> 0:31:37.560 by fire. And so I had the great privilege of 0:31:37.560 --> 0:31:41.370 teaching at the judgment seat there in Corinth. And so, 0:31:41.370 --> 0:31:45.660 so how Paul used that to teach the Corinthians about 0:31:45.660 --> 0:31:48.450 the future judgment seat. That was kind of a cool thing. 0:31:48.840 --> 0:31:52.920 There are some other places, like, uh, in Ephesus where, 0:31:53.070 --> 0:31:55.350 you know, you learn all about Artemis. Great is Artemis 0:31:55.530 --> 0:32:01.350 of the Ephesians. And, uh, there are proconsuls in place. And, 0:32:01.380 --> 0:32:03.840 you know, when when they say, look, they haven't made 0:32:03.840 --> 0:32:07.680 any trouble. If you have a complaint, take tells Demetrius 0:32:07.710 --> 0:32:13.230 take them there. Proconsuls. Well, there's always one proconsul, not two. 0:32:13.260 --> 0:32:17.400 And yet he uses a plural, Except I was reading 0:32:17.400 --> 0:32:20.850 history and archaeology. I found out that there had been 0:32:20.850 --> 0:32:27.270 a coup against the proconsul, the governor, and was replaced 0:32:27.270 --> 0:32:30.090 by the two people who had schemed against him as 0:32:30.090 --> 0:32:32.910 interim proconsuls. There were two at the time when Paul 0:32:32.910 --> 0:32:35.520 was there, and so that was kind of cool to 0:32:35.520 --> 0:32:38.550 see in acts 19. It uses the plural because there 0:32:38.550 --> 0:32:42.150 really were two. Yeah, yeah. So yeah, that was I 0:32:42.150 --> 0:32:42.870 had a fun time. 0:32:42.900 --> 0:32:45.750 Yeah, it sounds like it. Yeah. Very cool. Well, thank 0:32:45.780 --> 0:32:48.570 you for sharing. Just a glimpse of that trip. We 0:32:48.570 --> 0:32:49.950 missed you. We're glad you're back. 0:32:49.980 --> 0:32:52.200 Yeah, and now people say they want to go again. 0:32:52.200 --> 0:32:53.910 But I'm too tired to even think about it. 0:32:54.060 --> 0:32:55.979 Don't. Don't ask you right now. Yeah. 0:32:56.010 --> 0:32:57.690 All these people are saying, I want to go. I 0:32:57.690 --> 0:33:00.510 want to go. No I can't. I got back Wednesday 0:33:00.510 --> 0:33:02.400 and Thursday. I was back in class and back in 0:33:02.400 --> 0:33:04.320 the office and back in meetings. So there's a little bit. 0:33:04.320 --> 0:33:07.140 Of jet lag right now. You're probably feeling all right. Well, 0:33:07.140 --> 0:33:08.040 I evening. 0:33:08.070 --> 0:33:10.140 I'm on my fourth cup of coffee of the day, 0:33:10.140 --> 0:33:14.320 so I'm okay. When the coffee stops, I'll. I'll stop. 0:33:14.950 --> 0:33:18.880 Okay. Oh, well, I will ask. We'll try and fit 0:33:18.880 --> 0:33:21.520 in a couple mailbag questions, but thank you for sharing. 0:33:21.520 --> 0:33:24.040 Just a glimpse. I know listeners were very excited to hear, 0:33:24.070 --> 0:33:27.310 you know, highlights and hear, hear what you saw. It 0:33:27.310 --> 0:33:30.340 was great on the trip. Good. We'll welcome back. Kathleen 0:33:30.340 --> 0:33:33.430 in Ohio listens to Wtxf and wants to know what 0:33:33.430 --> 0:33:37.660 does Matthew 633 mean when it says to first seek 0:33:37.690 --> 0:33:40.660 the kingdom of God? What does that actually? Well, the kingdom. 0:33:40.660 --> 0:33:46.090 Of God is God's rulership. So, you know, we talk 0:33:46.120 --> 0:33:49.330 about the messianic kingdom because and that's the kingdom of God, 0:33:49.330 --> 0:33:52.240 because one day when Jesus reigns, the rulership of God 0:33:52.240 --> 0:33:55.930 will be over all the earth. But the kingdom of 0:33:55.930 --> 0:33:59.950 God is for us. It's begun already because Jesus is 0:33:59.950 --> 0:34:04.600 our King and he's our ruler. So when he says, 0:34:04.600 --> 0:34:09.520 seek first God's kingdom and his righteousness, what we're doing 0:34:09.520 --> 0:34:14.149 is we're seeking God's kingdom over our lives, his rulership 0:34:14.150 --> 0:34:19.819 over our lives and his righteousness, his obedience to him, 0:34:19.820 --> 0:34:23.810 and righteous behavior for him in our lives. That's what 0:34:23.810 --> 0:34:25.910 he wants of us. So really what it's saying is 0:34:25.910 --> 0:34:30.230 in every situation we're in, what's our number one priority? 0:34:30.230 --> 0:34:33.770 What does God want of me? Here he is, my king. 0:34:33.770 --> 0:34:37.040 He is my ruler. When I sign off my letters, 0:34:37.040 --> 0:34:39.350 I copy Eva, who started doing this a number of 0:34:39.350 --> 0:34:42.320 years ago. So it was her idea and I said, 0:34:42.320 --> 0:34:45.140 I'll steal that. I sign my letters. All for the king. 0:34:45.170 --> 0:34:48.350 Do I mean it? Do I will I do everything 0:34:48.350 --> 0:34:51.620 that he wants? That's a great reminder for us. That's 0:34:51.620 --> 0:34:55.759 what it means to seek his kingdom and his righteousness. 0:34:56.390 --> 0:34:58.790 Do I want his rulership in my life? What does 0:34:58.790 --> 0:35:02.300 he want of me now? Right now? Today? 0:35:02.330 --> 0:35:06.620 So then, when living our lives that would come to 0:35:06.650 --> 0:35:10.010 play in the decisions that we're making, like if we're 0:35:10.010 --> 0:35:14.850 choosing to take a job or leave a job or, um, 0:35:15.450 --> 0:35:19.080 marry someone or these kinds of things, you know, change 0:35:19.080 --> 0:35:24.870 churches where we're we're seeking his rulership. Rulership. 0:35:24.900 --> 0:35:27.899 I'll just give you a great example. Uh, a student 0:35:27.900 --> 0:35:30.930 once came to Eva for advice, and she said that 0:35:30.930 --> 0:35:33.000 she had been offered. She was a comm student here 0:35:33.000 --> 0:35:36.090 at Moody. You know, there are only 18, 19 years old, 0:35:36.090 --> 0:35:38.399 so don't get too hard on her for what she says. 0:35:38.400 --> 0:35:42.060 But she was offered an internship to go work on 0:35:42.060 --> 0:35:46.350 an actual film and, you know, doing. And she wanted 0:35:46.350 --> 0:35:48.569 to know if it was. How can I know if 0:35:48.570 --> 0:35:51.480 it's God's will for me to do it? And he said, well, 0:35:51.480 --> 0:36:00.090 tell me about the film. And the film was really bad. Uh, 0:36:00.090 --> 0:36:02.100 virtually pornographic. Okay. 0:36:02.370 --> 0:36:04.920 So it was not a God honoring film. Yeah. Okay. 0:36:04.950 --> 0:36:07.020 And Eva said, how is that going to help on 0:36:07.050 --> 0:36:11.540 that film? Seeking God's kingdom and his righteousness. And she said, well, 0:36:11.540 --> 0:36:14.150 I could learn how to make films. And she said, 0:36:14.150 --> 0:36:18.170 that will honor God. And Eva said, find a different film. Okay. 0:36:18.200 --> 0:36:24.109 And to me, when we make decisions like that, that's. 0:36:24.320 --> 0:36:27.140 And the girl did. And everything worked out. Yeah. It 0:36:27.140 --> 0:36:32.839 was good. But the point of it is, uh, that 0:36:33.620 --> 0:36:37.370 when we seek God's kingdom and his righteousness, it should 0:36:37.370 --> 0:36:38.960 affect every decision we make. 0:36:38.989 --> 0:36:42.290 It should be a filter that's kind of that's overlaying 0:36:42.290 --> 0:36:43.820 everything as we look at it. 0:36:43.850 --> 0:36:44.150 Yeah. 0:36:44.180 --> 0:36:47.420 Exactly that. That. And if you do that enough, if 0:36:47.420 --> 0:36:52.310 you think about that intentionally enough, it should become second nature. Yeah. Um, 0:36:52.340 --> 0:36:56.390 to to decide or to see that, like, God would 0:36:56.390 --> 0:36:58.640 be honored if I do this. Yeah. Or at least 0:36:58.640 --> 0:37:00.950 it's not dishonoring God if I do this. 0:37:00.980 --> 0:37:03.560 What I would like of those who know me well, 0:37:03.560 --> 0:37:06.259 and I don't know if this would ever happen, but 0:37:06.260 --> 0:37:08.360 I would like people to say, you know what Michael 0:37:08.380 --> 0:37:11.410 always wanted to do God's will whenever he made. He 0:37:11.410 --> 0:37:14.860 didn't always, but he intended. His intention was always to 0:37:14.890 --> 0:37:17.410 do the will of God. That's. And that's what I 0:37:17.410 --> 0:37:20.589 want my intention to be. I would hope that each 0:37:20.590 --> 0:37:22.420 of us would want that to be the legacy that 0:37:22.420 --> 0:37:26.710 we leave, because we're seeking his kingdom first. So, okay. 0:37:26.739 --> 0:37:29.350 That's it. Thank you. Is there a quick question I 0:37:29.350 --> 0:37:31.120 can answer so I get at least two in here? 0:37:31.150 --> 0:37:38.140 Um, sure. Cameron in Illinois listens to WNBA. Um. Number nine. Yeah. Um, 0:37:38.170 --> 0:37:41.350 as I was reading through judges 21, I noticed that 0:37:41.350 --> 0:37:43.810 it made mention that the Israelites went up against Jabesh 0:37:43.810 --> 0:37:46.960 Gilead as they had not fought against the Benjamites and 0:37:46.960 --> 0:37:50.560 killed everyone who was not a virgin. My question is, 0:37:50.560 --> 0:37:54.489 how would they have known who the virgins were in 0:37:54.489 --> 0:37:58.000 the city? I assume that they wouldn't have asked, but 0:37:58.000 --> 0:38:00.489 when looking through commentaries, couldn't find the answer. 0:38:03.640 --> 0:38:05.890 You know, I don't know. I don't I don't think 0:38:05.890 --> 0:38:08.690 any of us could know. Uh, Maybe they were looking 0:38:08.690 --> 0:38:15.259 particularly at, uh, those who are married or those who were, uh. 0:38:16.640 --> 0:38:18.950 Young women who would have, you. 0:38:18.950 --> 0:38:21.530 Know, young women who were not married would have either 0:38:21.530 --> 0:38:24.350 been single or immoral. They would have known who the 0:38:24.350 --> 0:38:26.300 immoral women were. They would have known who the married 0:38:26.300 --> 0:38:28.489 women are. And I guess that's that's what I think 0:38:28.489 --> 0:38:31.070 the answer would be. Okay. I don't think they had 0:38:31.070 --> 0:38:34.549 scarlet letters on them. Right. That's that's what I would say. 0:38:34.580 --> 0:38:37.040 Okay. All right. Thank you. There are some questions like 0:38:37.040 --> 0:38:40.459 that that we we wonder. And at the same time, 0:38:40.489 --> 0:38:43.670 I mean, God can make that known to. Yeah. In 0:38:43.670 --> 0:38:44.450 a way, I don't think it had to. 0:38:44.450 --> 0:38:46.670 Be known supernaturally. I think they would have they would 0:38:46.700 --> 0:38:50.660 have been there and known. Okay. Yeah. Married women were 0:38:50.660 --> 0:38:56.060 not virgins. Uh, and then the immoral women were not virgins. 0:38:56.060 --> 0:39:01.879 And likely, maybe even single women would have been known 0:39:01.880 --> 0:39:03.650 for that, but I don't know. Okay. 0:39:03.680 --> 0:39:05.450 So. All right. Okay. Thank you. 0:39:05.480 --> 0:39:09.390 Thanks for those questions, Tricia. And, uh, when we come back, 0:39:09.420 --> 0:39:11.850 we'll take more of your calls in just a moment, 0:39:11.850 --> 0:39:15.120 so stay with us. That was the Febc mailbag. You 0:39:15.120 --> 0:39:18.540 can always write your question by going to Moody's on 0:39:18.540 --> 0:39:22.049 Open Line radio.org. Go to our website and click on 0:39:22.050 --> 0:39:24.000 the link that says Ask Michael a question. And Trish 0:39:24.000 --> 0:39:26.790 will put your question in into the mailbag. We're coming 0:39:26.790 --> 0:39:28.830 right back so don't go away. This is Michael Ray 0:39:28.830 --> 0:39:41.910 Dolnick and Tricia McMillan on Open Line. Friday. Welcome back 0:39:41.910 --> 0:39:44.939 to Open Line. I'm Michael Ray Dolnick and I've been 0:39:44.940 --> 0:39:47.310 having a great time in our Bible study across America. 0:39:47.340 --> 0:39:50.069 I do want to mention several things. Uh, I had 0:39:50.070 --> 0:39:53.939 a great time as we traveled journeys of Paul got 0:39:53.940 --> 0:39:57.090 to meet a lot of kitchen table partners. So grateful 0:39:57.090 --> 0:39:59.400 for all of you who listen. Grateful for those of 0:39:59.400 --> 0:40:02.040 you who have become kitchen table partners. And I'm grateful 0:40:02.040 --> 0:40:05.180 for those of you who will consider becoming kitchen table partners. 0:40:05.180 --> 0:40:07.850 People who give monthly to open line pray for open 0:40:07.850 --> 0:40:11.989 line to uh. I so appreciate you partnering with us 0:40:11.989 --> 0:40:15.830 and hope you'll consider doing that. And if you do, 0:40:15.860 --> 0:40:18.770 if you decide to do that, we will provide you 0:40:18.770 --> 0:40:21.200 with a Bible study moment every other week. It's an 0:40:21.200 --> 0:40:25.250 audio Bible study designed exclusively for our kitchen table partners. 0:40:25.250 --> 0:40:28.940 It shows up in your mail or your email, and 0:40:28.940 --> 0:40:30.830 you can click on it and listen to it. In 0:40:30.830 --> 0:40:39.560 order to become a kitchen table partner, call 88864471228886447122 or 0:40:39.560 --> 0:40:43.250 go to open line radio.org. Another thing I need to 0:40:43.250 --> 0:40:46.279 mention is the Chosen People booklet. It's about the fall 0:40:46.280 --> 0:40:51.650 feasts of Israel. Uh, it's uh, it's called Celebrate Israel's 0:40:51.650 --> 0:40:55.610 High Holidays. Uh, it really will explain the Feast of 0:40:55.610 --> 0:40:59.870 Trumpets or the Jewish New Year, the Day of Atonement, the, uh, 0:40:59.870 --> 0:41:02.870 also the Feast of Booths. And the way you can 0:41:02.870 --> 0:41:05.870 get your copy is go to Open Line radio.org and 0:41:05.870 --> 0:41:09.890 click on the link that says, uh, a free gift 0:41:09.890 --> 0:41:12.919 from Chosen People Ministries. So that's where you can get that. 0:41:12.920 --> 0:41:14.779 And then lastly, I want you to go to our 0:41:14.780 --> 0:41:19.130 web page, Open Line radio.org. We're having a summit here, 0:41:19.160 --> 0:41:24.739 a one day conference opposing anti-Semitism. It's a very important 0:41:24.770 --> 0:41:27.650 day for Christians to come together from all over the country, 0:41:27.650 --> 0:41:30.290 right here at Moody Bible Institute, to learn how we 0:41:30.290 --> 0:41:35.090 can stand with God's people, the Jewish people, his chosen people, 0:41:35.090 --> 0:41:39.650 and oppose this rising hatred of the Jewish people across 0:41:39.650 --> 0:41:45.080 the globe. Uh, how we can take our responsibility seriously 0:41:45.080 --> 0:41:49.070 as followers of Jesus to oppose this hatred. We need 0:41:49.070 --> 0:41:51.200 to do that. I hope you'll join us November 9th 0:41:51.200 --> 0:41:53.810 right here at Moody Bible Institute. Check out the link 0:41:53.810 --> 0:41:57.770 on our web page, Open Line radio.org. We're going to 0:41:57.770 --> 0:42:03.830 talk with Marsha in Tennessee. Mm. Listener. How can I 0:42:03.860 --> 0:42:05.120 help you today? Marcia? 0:42:06.650 --> 0:42:10.100 Hi. Um, I was watching the TV show last night 0:42:10.100 --> 0:42:14.390 about the Gospels, and it was talking about in Matthew 0:42:14.390 --> 0:42:19.730 that it told the lineage of Joseph. Mhm. But I 0:42:19.730 --> 0:42:24.920 was I've always understood that the Jewishness of a person 0:42:24.920 --> 0:42:29.900 is determined through the mother. And I didn't understand why 0:42:30.650 --> 0:42:34.460 it was so important to tell the lineage of Joseph 0:42:34.460 --> 0:42:37.850 and not the lineage of Mary. Well, but then one 0:42:37.850 --> 0:42:38.120 of your. 0:42:38.239 --> 0:42:40.250 Let me, let me, let me, let me, let me 0:42:40.250 --> 0:42:44.750 just say the idea that match of matrilineal descent for 0:42:44.750 --> 0:42:49.910 Jewish people is a very late concept in the Bible. 0:42:49.910 --> 0:42:53.689 It was not so. That was because so much anti-Semitism, 0:42:53.690 --> 0:42:58.940 Jewish women were frequently raped, and as a result of 0:42:58.969 --> 0:43:02.430 that it was unknown who the father was, so the 0:43:02.430 --> 0:43:07.589 rabbis decided to determine Jewishness through the mother rather than 0:43:07.590 --> 0:43:13.740 the father. And. But in the Bible, it's either um 0:43:13.739 --> 0:43:17.489 and the right to the throne of David came by 0:43:17.489 --> 0:43:22.980 adoption through through Joseph. That's what Matthew records. Uh, because 0:43:22.980 --> 0:43:28.200 that's his line is through Solomon and then, uh, through Mary. 0:43:28.230 --> 0:43:32.430 Luke records Mary's genealogy, and that shows that the Lord 0:43:32.430 --> 0:43:36.660 Jesus is an actual physical descendant of King David. So 0:43:36.660 --> 0:43:39.450 he truly is the son of David. And that's why 0:43:39.480 --> 0:43:43.590 both are given. Uh, Matthew gives Joseph's lineage the right 0:43:43.620 --> 0:43:49.320 through Solomon. And then, uh, Mary's lineage through Nathan shows 0:43:49.320 --> 0:43:52.890 that he is actually the son of David. So. Okay. 0:43:52.890 --> 0:43:57.120 Thanks for your call, Marsha. Okay. Uh, and, uh, Yee 0:43:57.150 --> 0:44:00.580 Ping in Chicago, Illinois, listening on Wmbi. How can I 0:44:00.580 --> 0:44:01.540 help you today? 0:44:01.690 --> 0:44:08.530 Hi. Good morning. Finally, I got through the line. Go 0:44:08.530 --> 0:44:09.460 ahead with your question. 0:44:09.489 --> 0:44:12.130 We're sort of at the end of the program. Yeah. 0:44:12.340 --> 0:44:15.910 Yeah. I just want to say one thing. I really 0:44:15.910 --> 0:44:20.169 appreciate your program. I learned a lot about the Hebrew Bible, 0:44:20.200 --> 0:44:24.670 but I. Only one question. You know, the Ten Commandments, 0:44:24.760 --> 0:44:31.569 they specifically said about honoring our parents, but not really 0:44:31.600 --> 0:44:36.400 how to teach our children. Is that because emphasize the relationship, 0:44:36.760 --> 0:44:39.219 our relationship with God? 0:44:39.340 --> 0:44:41.320 Well, I'll tell you why I think it is. I 0:44:41.320 --> 0:44:43.989 think there are other commandments in the law that teach 0:44:44.020 --> 0:44:48.879 about parental responsibilities. But we often think of the Ten 0:44:48.880 --> 0:44:51.790 Commandments when it talks about honor your father and mother, 0:44:51.790 --> 0:44:54.970 that it's referring to little children honoring their parents. I 0:44:54.969 --> 0:44:58.420 don't I don't believe that's how the Lord Jesus applied it. 0:44:58.450 --> 0:45:04.660 He talks about it in Matthew 15 about, uh, children. 0:45:05.020 --> 0:45:10.060 Adult children seeing their aged parents coming and and avoiding 0:45:10.060 --> 0:45:15.250 helping them by saying all their goods and wealth are 0:45:15.250 --> 0:45:17.020 devoted to God so they don't have to help their 0:45:17.020 --> 0:45:20.859 aged parents. And so I think this command, which was 0:45:20.860 --> 0:45:25.600 given to Israel, to the adults, that when your parents 0:45:25.630 --> 0:45:28.750 get old, don't abandon them. Don't think, oh, they're such 0:45:28.750 --> 0:45:32.320 a burden. Rather, honor your parents for what they've done 0:45:32.320 --> 0:45:36.370 for you and help them and encourage them and support 0:45:36.370 --> 0:45:40.149 them where you can. Be a strength to your parents 0:45:40.150 --> 0:45:43.960 when they get old. Not someone that don't treat them 0:45:43.960 --> 0:45:46.239 as if they are a burden. And I think that's 0:45:46.239 --> 0:45:48.700 what the Ten Commandments is saying when it says, honor 0:45:48.700 --> 0:45:54.370 your father and your mother. Uh, it's not talking about, uh, 0:45:54.520 --> 0:45:58.410 little children. It's really talking about you and me when 0:45:58.410 --> 0:46:02.130 we come to adulthood to care for, to respect, to 0:46:02.160 --> 0:46:05.399 honor those parents. That gave a lot for us. Uh, 0:46:05.400 --> 0:46:08.730 I hope that helps. Yi-ping. Uh, there's another time we 0:46:08.730 --> 0:46:11.130 can talk about what does the Bible say about parents 0:46:11.130 --> 0:46:15.540 responsibility to children? Uh, well, that's the program for the week. 0:46:15.540 --> 0:46:18.810 I can't believe it's over. It's the fastest two hours 0:46:18.810 --> 0:46:21.390 of the week for me. Thanks for listening, everyone. Especially 0:46:21.390 --> 0:46:24.450 those of you who called or wrote you, make this 0:46:24.450 --> 0:46:30.060 program possible thanks to the Open Line team. Tricia. Ryan. Tyra. Uh, tiara, 0:46:30.090 --> 0:46:33.930 all of you, for making Open Line possible. Keep in 0:46:33.930 --> 0:46:37.260 touch with us by going to our website, Open Line radio.org. 0:46:37.260 --> 0:46:39.420 It's got all the links you're looking for there. Keep 0:46:39.420 --> 0:46:42.600 reading the Bible and we'll talk about it next week. 0:46:42.660 --> 0:46:45.780 Open line with Doctor Michael Ray is a production of 0:46:45.780 --> 0:46:49.440 Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. Have a 0:46:49.440 --> 0:46:51.180 great day and see you next week.