S1: Hello friends. It's time for the second hour of Open
S1: Line with Doctor Michael Moody Radio's Bible Study Across America.
S1: This is where we talk about your questions about the Bible,
S1: God and the spiritual life. My name is Michael Melnick,
S1: and this is my last week as academic dean and
S1: professor of Jewish studies and Bible at Moody Bible Institute.
S1: On Tuesday, I'm going to become emeritus dean and Jewish
S1: studies professor. Uh, but I'll still be here. Those of
S1: you who heard about that change that's coming. People sent
S1: in all these notes saying, are you going to stay
S1: on open line? Of course I'm going to stay on
S1: open line. That's what I love to do. I love
S1: answering your questions. So I'm so grateful that Moody Radio
S1: is going to keep me on the air answering your
S1: questions about the Bible, God, and the spiritual life. In fact,
S1: I'd like to answer your questions today. So give me
S1: a call. The phone number here is (877) 548-3675. That's (877) 548-3675. Great.
S1: Time to call at the beginning of the hour. If
S1: you can't call or you can't get through, just go
S1: to our website, open Line radio.org. Click on the Ask
S1: Michael a question button and you'll be able to post
S1: your question there. And Trish will put it in the mailbag.
S1: And we'll talk about it in upcoming weeks. I hope
S1: you have a second cup of coffee, and I hope
S1: you still have your Bible open, because we're going to
S1: talk about the scriptures in just a moment. Before we do,
S1: I do want to mention, uh, that this is our
S1: last broadcast at the end of June, which means that
S1: our fiscal year is over on Monday, and it would
S1: be just a great time for Moody Radio for you
S1: to give a gift of any size to help us
S1: financially at this time to to meet the budget, so
S1: to speak. And, uh, we'd really appreciate it. I appreciate
S1: all your generosity. All year long, all the time. Uh,
S1: you this listener, audience, this audience is more generous than
S1: I ever could have imagined. And I so appreciate it.
S1: And if you do give a gift of any size,
S1: we want to say thank you by sending you a
S1: copy of the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. It is like one
S1: of my favorite resources we've ever offered. Uh, it's just
S1: this little Bible dictionary, handheld size. You can open it.
S1: You see an event in the Bible as you're reading
S1: or a person, uh, or some, uh, holiday. And you think,
S1: I don't know what that is? You can look it
S1: up in the Ultimate Bible Dictionary. It's a great resource
S1: to have. Uh, and it's it's yours when you give
S1: a gift of any size. We just want to say thanks.
S1: If if you want to receive that, uh, this is
S1: the last weekend that that will be offered, uh, the
S1: phone number, if you'd like to give a gift and
S1: receive the ultimate Bible dictionary is (888) 644-7122. Uh, or you
S1: can go to open line radio.org. And I so appreciate
S1: being publishers for producing this little book. Uh, that's the
S1: same publishing house that produces the Bible translation that I
S1: use all the time, the Holman Christian Standard Bible. It
S1: is a terrific translation. And, uh, it's also this book,
S1: this ultimate Bible dictionary is a great tool, great help
S1: for you. As you study the Bible again, call (888) 644-7122
S1: or go to Open Line radio.org. And we really do
S1: appreciate your end of year gift, we're going to talk to, uh, Rob.
S1: I think I'm saying this right in Chicago listening on WNBA.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Ricky. Am I saying your name right?
S2: Yes, you absolutely are. Thank you for taking my call.
S1: Sure. How can I help you?
S2: Oh, okay. So I have a friend who is not
S2: quite a believer, but is questioning about the 144,000, and
S2: I don't know, I'm an avid Bible reader, but I
S2: just don't know. I do understand it has something to
S2: do with the Great Tribulation and who will go to heaven.
S2: She thinks only 140,000 are going. Could you just sort
S2: of give me just a little something on that?
S3: Sure.
S1: I'll help you understand about the 144,000. Okay. Well, uh,
S1: that's the 144,000 are described in revelation seven. And when
S1: this takes place, when there will be these 144,000, it
S1: will be in a future time. In the Bible that's
S1: called the tribulation. It's also called the the time of
S1: Jacob's trouble.
S3: Okay.
S1: And it's going to be a time. It's also the
S1: 70th week of Daniel from Daniel chapter nine. It's a
S1: week of years, a seven year period. And during that
S1: seven year period, uh. Israel is facing a great deal
S1: of oppression. There will be a false false messiah, a
S1: political ruler. By that. We don't know his name, but
S1: the Bible calls him. The beast calls him the Antichrist.
S1: There's different names the the man of sin and Second
S1: Thessalonians chapter two. Uh, but there's all these different names
S1: for him. But that's who will be involved. And during
S1: that time it will be, you know, we often think
S1: of it as being the worst time on earth, but
S1: it will also be the time of greatest revival. And
S1: what it says in revelation seven is that God is
S1: going to seal or set apart servants. Uh, and they
S1: there will be 144,000 of them, all from the 12
S1: tribes of Israel, 12,000 from each tribe. And that makes 144,000.
S1: And they are sealed or set apart, identified as belonging
S1: to the Lord. There are Jewish people who will come
S1: to know the Lord during the tribulation period, and then
S1: it's not really clear what they will do. It doesn't
S1: state it explicitly, but the very next paragraph talks about
S1: how that there's going to be multitudes from every nation,
S1: tribe and people and language who are going to be
S1: worshiping the king. So it appears that this 144,000 Jewish people,
S1: they're going to be like 144,000 Jewish. Billy Graham's proclaiming
S1: the gospel in that tribulation period. So that many, many
S1: people from every nation will come to know the Lord.
S1: That's who the 144,000 are.
S3: Oh. Thank you. Does that help?
S2: Yes, absolutely. It does not mean that only 144,000.
S1: Know, in fact, that it's it's the 144,000 that makes
S1: it possible that God's going to use to reach the
S1: nations with the good news of Jesus?
S2: Yes. Oh, thank you so much. I will, that helps
S2: me and I can hopefully help her. So thank.
S3: You. Great.
S1: Thank you. Rishi. I appreciate your call. Okay. You have
S1: a good day. Uh, we're going to talk to O'Farrill.
S1: Listening in Miami, Miami, Florida and W.r.m. Welcome to Open Line. O'Farrill.
S1: Is that your first name? O'Farrill.
S4: Yes. And I can tell you a quick story. I
S4: love Israel. Um, my name is Irish. I was in
S4: the Air Force and when I went to my room,
S4: they said, you're in the wrong room. And I said, no,
S4: they sent me here. So we're expecting some Irish guy
S4: named O'Farrell. So I'm African American, so the Lord purposely
S4: chose me because I just love people all over. But
S4: a long time. Um, my question is, I was I
S4: had some Jewish guys. I don't know if I'm. And
S4: they were doing some construction on my home, but they
S4: were astonished when they seen the menorah in my windowsill.
S4: And I said, um, I said, I've come to understand
S4: that we're saved by grace, but there's some things that
S4: we're required. Like we keep the commandments because Christ said,
S4: if you love me. And then I heard you say
S4: last week that we don't have to keep Sabbath. And
S4: yet when I had an encounter with a rabbi and
S4: when he introduced me to some things and he really
S4: opened up my eyes, he said, when you read the
S4: New Testament, it only speaks of the Sabbath. So where
S4: does it say that it's okay? Because my understanding through
S4: teaching is that it was the Roman government that changed
S4: the day and everything. So as I'm sharing with them,
S4: I'm like, wow, I'm trying to identify. But then I'm saying,
S4: do we have okay, so so it's about okay.
S1: Let me see if I can if I can help you. O'Farrell. Um,
S1: there's nothing wrong with keeping the Sabbath if that's what
S1: you want to do. However, there isn't, uh, an obligation to, uh,
S1: to keep the Sabbath in, uh, in Colossians. Chapter two,
S1: verse 16, it says, therefore, don't let anyone judge you
S1: in regard to food and drink or in the matter
S1: of a festival, or a new moon or a Sabbath day.
S1: These are a shadow of what was to come. But
S1: the substance is the Messiah. So what Paul is telling
S1: the Colossians, who weren't Jewish, they were Gentile believers in
S1: Jesus that don't let anyone put pressure on you to
S1: keep the festivals or judge you if you don't keep
S1: the new moon or the Sabbath day, which are Jewish, uh,
S1: expressions of of faith. And and so that's what I
S1: was saying, but I, I want to say on the
S1: one hand, you don't have to keep Saturday Sabbath the way,
S1: for example, Judaism teaches it. However, I think there's a
S1: principle in the law of Moses that we need to
S1: have a day for rest, physical rest, and spiritual renovation.
S1: Spiritual renewal. We need we need that kind of day.
S1: Every one of us does. And in Romans 14, it says,
S1: one man honors one day above another. Another one views
S1: them all alike. Let each man be convinced in his
S1: own mind. And so it seems to me that the
S1: Bible is clear. You don't have to keep the Sabbath
S1: as traditionally kept in Judaism. On the other hand, you
S1: have to pick a day for spiritual rest, physical rest,
S1: and spiritual renewal. That's what, uh, establishing a Sabbath. That's
S1: the principle taught, uh, in Exodus 20 and Exodus uh,
S1: 31 about the Sabbath, that the principle is we need
S1: a day for rest and renewal. And I hope that helps.
S1: We're going to take a break here. And when we do,
S1: when we come back, we'll take more of your calls. Uh,
S1: you're listening to Open Line. And the great questions that
S1: our callers have about how to study the Bible, how
S1: to obey the Bible, how to live out the faith, uh,
S1: how to understand God. That's what we're talking about right
S1: here on Open Line. We'll be right back in just
S1: a moment, so stay with us. Welcome back to Open Line.
S1: So glad to be with you today. Uh, we're talking
S1: about your questions about the Bible, God and the spiritual life.
S1: There's a couple of lines open now. You can call (877) 548-3675.
S1: We'll try and get to all your calls in just
S1: a moment. Uh, I do want to mention that I
S1: appreciate working with this team. It's, as I said, we're
S1: at the end of the fiscal year, and it gives
S1: me a great time. And our team has expanded a
S1: little bit. I've gotten to know to hear. I've gotten
S1: to know Lisa. I appreciate Omar becoming our engineer and
S1: doing such a great job with it. And, uh, also Tricia,
S1: who just always tells me what to do. Keeps me
S1: in line. Really appreciate her. What a great team and
S1: I so appreciate another part of the team. Or is
S1: everyone that listens to Open line and calls up and
S1: asks your questions? That's part of the program and and
S1: you're part of the team. And I especially appreciate the
S1: people who have become kitchen table partners, people who give
S1: monthly so that we can be on the air weekly,
S1: ministering and answering questions of people who really have great
S1: questions about the Bible. And so, uh, and someone Tricia
S1: actually just reminded me that if you become a kitchen
S1: table partner, we not only send you a digital Bible study,
S1: an audio Bible study in your email every other week, uh,
S1: Bible study moment. But besides that, you get a really
S1: cool mug. When you become a kitchen table partner, you
S1: get a copy of the Romans commentary from the Moody
S1: Bible Commentary. There's some great, uh, aspects, but mostly I
S1: appreciate not just that you get those things, but I
S1: appreciate your kindness to me by becoming a kitchen table partner.
S1: If you have been listening for a while and you thought, well,
S1: I've given an occasional gift, but I'd like to become
S1: a kitchen table partner. What you have to do is
S1: call (888) 644-7122. Or you can just go to open line
S1: radio.org and become a kitchen table partner right there. We're
S1: going to talk to Bonnie in South Carolina listening to WGBH.
S1: Welcome to Open Line, Bonnie. How can I help you?
S5: Thank you very much. I appreciate what you do. And
S5: I have a question. Um, as I'm reading, especially in
S5: the Psalms, such as Psalm 19 and 119, um, I
S5: come across the words testimony, statutes, precepts, law, judgments, commandments.
S5: And I'm wondering, are these, uh, words used inner? To
S5: to explain the same thing? Or do they have a
S5: different meaning?
S1: Well, there are synonyms that have different aspects to them,
S1: nuances to them, but they're basically synonyms. Uh, I believe
S1: I posted I have to I have to find it. Uh,
S1: I don't Trish may be able to find it. I
S1: went through the different words that are used that you're
S1: describing in Psalm 119, and I made a little, uh,
S1: sheet that we posted on Facebook a couple of years
S1: ago with the different nuances of all these words. I'll
S1: try and find those for you, Bonnie, and get those posted.
S1: Are you on Facebook?
S5: No, but I'll ask a friend to help me there.
S1: Well, well, you know what? I'll see. Maybe. It probably
S1: won't be this week. Maybe next. By next week, we'll
S1: be able to get those posted. Or in a couple days,
S1: we'll find that sheet. And, uh, you know what? Uh, Bonnie, if, uh,
S1: if you hang on, uh, I'll have Lisa pick up
S1: your your call and she'll get an email address where
S1: we can mail that to you.
S3: Okay.
S5: That would be fine. Thank you so much I appreciate that.
S3: Okay.
S1: Yeah, you hang on, though. Lisa's got to pick up
S1: your call or to hear her. Someone's going to talk
S1: with you in a minute. Okay. Thank you. Bonnie, appreciate
S1: your call. Uh, we're going to talk to Ron in
S1: Florida listening online. Welcome to Open Line. Ron. How can
S1: I help you?
S6: Hey, Michael. Uh, happy Saturday, and congratulations on your new status.
S6: It sounds like you're going into some kind of partial
S6: retirement or something, but, uh. That's great.
S3: Well, actually, I'm I'm.
S1: Retiring to only do about 2 or 3 full time jobs. Uh. Uh,
S1: but I'm actually kind of retiring from education is what
S1: it is from, uh, you know, the, the, the classroom
S1: and the and the, uh, although I just taught for
S1: a week at Dallas Theological Seminary, and I'm scheduled to
S1: teach there again, I'll still teach adjunct various places, but, uh,
S1: I'm going to retire officially from Moody Education. That's all. Wow. Uh,
S1: still radio, still speaking for Moody at conferences and, uh,
S1: still representing Moody as best I can. Uh, that's my
S1: alma mater. I love this school. I've taught at Moody.
S1: Now I'm in my almost completed 32 years, so. Wow. Yeah. It's, uh,
S1: Moody used to have a blue logo, and someone once said, when.
S1: When you cut me, I bleed moody blue. So. Yeah,
S1: that's that's really true of me.
S6: Well, that's a blast from the past. Anyway, let me
S6: get to my question. So in in the in Jesus's
S6: prayer in the garden before his crucifixion, before his arrest,
S6: he I mean, there's no indication that anyone was there.
S6: And there are other parts of the Bible I can't
S6: remember specifically now, but in my reading I've I've wondered
S6: this about several parts. So if no one was there, um,
S6: and I have no doubts that that, uh, that the,
S6: the words recorded really were said and everything. I'm just
S6: interested to know, how could they have been recorded, uh,
S6: word for word, if no one was actually there listening
S6: to them or witnessing what happened?
S1: First of all, I would caution you to thinking against
S1: thinking that we have a verbatim transcript of what was said.
S1: I don't think we do. Um, if I if, you know,
S1: you might have a conversation with someone and I say, hey,
S1: what what'd you say? You'll tell me what you said.
S1: And the substance of the conversation. And it'll be accurate,
S1: but it wouldn't be a transcript like you have in court.
S1: Isn't that true? Yes. That. That's sort of the way
S1: we have information in the Gospels. It's why when there
S1: are conversations happening and they're recorded in multiple gospels, that
S1: that they're not exactly the same.
S6: Because that still leaves the question of how Jesus.
S1: How did.
S6: They recorded in the garden if he was alone?
S1: Sure. That that's my first part of the answer is
S1: I want you to caution you against thinking it's verbatim. Secondly. Now,
S1: the second part of your question, uh, let's think about
S1: the Lord Jesus is alone with the Samaritan woman talking
S1: to her at the well. Right? And the disciples come
S1: and they find out. And but we have in the
S1: Gospel of John the entire conversation that the Lord had
S1: with her. I'm going to give you this radical idea.
S1: They said, Yeshua, what did you say to that woman?
S1: And he told them the conversation. Just like I said,
S1: my wife will sometimes see me talking to a neighbor.
S1: What did you say to Bob over there? And, well,
S1: I'll recount the conversation. I believe that's what happened very often.
S1: Another example is if Balaam was on top of a mountain,
S1: how is it that Moses knew to record what Balaam's
S1: oracles were? Well, it tells us in numbers 31 that
S1: Balaam was captured and executed for his provocation of Israel,
S1: to enter into idolatry and engage in terrible behavior. And
S1: he was executed for that. But I believe he was
S1: debriefed before he was executed. And I'm sure he said, well,
S1: I didn't curse you. Listen to the blessings that I
S1: gave you. And he told Moses the story of the
S1: donkey and then the oracles. And Moses said, thank you
S1: very much, but he still executed him. Uh, but that's
S1: how I think things were known by people relating what
S1: was said. I don't think there's any big mystery about it. Okay, okay.
S6: The one of Jesus in the garden, though, is a
S6: stickier one because he prayed that prayer. He went back
S6: to the disciples. They were asleep, and then he was arrested.
S1: Mhm.
S6: He could have told them after his resurrection.
S1: Could be.
S6: Yeah.
S1: Yeah. I it's not like he never talked to them again.
S1: You know I don't find it so problematic. Uh, he
S1: spent 40 days with them teaching them everything they needed
S1: to know, guiding them into all truth. So I don't
S1: think that's so much of a problem. Okay.
S6: Okay. Michael.
S1: Okay. Thank you. Ron. Really appreciate it. Uh, we're going
S1: to talk to Nancy in Zephyrhills, Florida, listening on KSL.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Nancy. How can I help you today?
S7: Yes. Good morning. I was wondering about the two witnesses
S7: in the book of revelation, and my study guides will
S7: tell me that they suppose this to be Moses and Elijah.
S7: But I was thinking that it's probably Enoch and Elijah,
S7: because those were the two individuals that never faced death.
S7: God took them up into heaven, and I thought that
S7: would be a better explanation of the two witnesses than
S7: assuming it would be Moses. What do you think?
S1: Well, I think, uh, what do I think? Well, I
S1: don't think it has to be someone who never died.
S1: So I don't think it has to be Enoch. I
S1: think when you look at the description of them, it
S1: says in revelation 11, these men, verse six, these men
S1: have the power to close up the sky so that
S1: it does not rain during the days of their prophecy.
S1: That sounds like Elijah, right? And then it says they
S1: also have the power over the waters to turn them
S1: into blood and to strike the earth with every plague
S1: whenever they want. That sounds like Moses. So Elijah and
S1: Moses is where they get it, but I'm not sure.
S1: I'm not. We'll see when it when it happens, I
S1: won't see. But when it happens, people will see. I'm
S1: not sure if this is literal Elijah and Moses, or
S1: so much as two prophets who will arise, who will
S1: be like Moses and Elijah in what they can and
S1: cannot do. It may be Moses and Elijah.
S8: Or are you in your car?
S1: Or it could very well be someone in the spirit
S1: and power of Moses and Elijah. Okay, Nancy.
S7: No, I was thinking that it might be because there
S7: was a prophet who said that Elijah would return.
S1: Yeah, I think Elijah will return. Malachi chapter four. But
S1: that's at the end of the tribulation period. Not necessarily
S1: here in revelation 11. Okay.
S8: Okay.
S7: All right. Thank you.
S1: Very much. You know, listen, Nancy, you don't have to
S1: agree with me at all. I'm just telling you the
S1: best I as I understand scripture. Okay. But if you
S1: think it's Enoch and Moses or Elijah, Enoch and Elijah,
S1: that's fine. Uh, you know, we'll see with these kinds
S1: of prophetic issues, I think it's important. Just wait and say, well,
S1: we'll see when it happens. Who's who's got it right.
S1: So okay, we're going to talk to, uh, Jerry, uh,
S1: in Ohio listening to CRF. Go ahead with your question
S1: right away because we're up against a break, Jerry.
S9: My question is about, uh, Matthew, um, 2339. Why did
S9: he say you will not see me again until you say,
S9: blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
S9: What's your view on that?
S1: He's talking to Israel. Oh, Jerusalem. Jerusalem. I would have
S1: gathered you as a mother hen gathers her chicks, but
S1: you were unwilling. Now your house, your temple, is going
S1: to be left to you desolate. That's what the context is.
S1: And he says, and you won't see me again until
S1: you welcome me back. Until you welcome me back. That's
S1: what the phrase blessed is. He who comes in the
S1: name of the Lord means. And so the key to
S1: the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation is
S1: for Israel to welcome the Messiah back. And when Israel
S1: welcomes Jesus, just like Zechariah 1210 describes, when they see him,
S1: he will. When they call on him, he will return.
S1: They will see him. And that's the key to the
S1: end of the tribulation and the beginning of the kingdom.
S1: When Israel receives the Messiah, we'll be right back. Thanks
S1: for your call, Jerry. Stay with us. This is open
S1: line with Michael Radonich. And we're back. I'm Michael Redlich,
S1: and joining me right now for the Febc mailbag is
S1: Tricia McMillan. Far Eastern Broadcasting Company does so much to
S1: bring the gospel to people all around the globe, through
S1: media and through personal engagement. Uh, it's a great ministry.
S1: I hope you'll check out their website febc. Org. It
S1: also has a link there also on your whatever source
S1: you use for your podcast, you can get the podcast
S1: called Until All Have Heard featuring Ed Cannon. I think
S1: you'll really enjoy listening to that. Give you a wider
S1: picture of what God is doing through the world, and
S1: we appreciate Febc partnering with us to bring you Openline. Well, uh, Tricia, uh,
S1: we've got the mailbag here, and I know that you've
S1: been working hard on it. Uh, sometimes people send you
S1: questions and they want to know why it is that
S1: their question didn't get on the air. And the reason
S1: is we're trying to make our way through it, I
S1: know that, but then sometimes people ask questions in a
S1: really kind of unclear way. What do you do when
S1: someone asks a question that's not real clear?
S10: I try and write them back and say, what is
S10: it exactly that you're trying to find out? Because sometimes
S10: there's this, um, other reason that they're looking it up.
S10: They teach a Bible study, and they just that wasn't
S10: pertinent to the question itself, but it helps in us
S10: answering it. Sometimes it's, um, sometimes the question.
S1: Is just not clear.
S10: Yeah, sometimes it makes a lot of sense. When I
S10: read it, I'm like, oh, that's a great question. And
S10: then I talk with you and I try and ask
S10: it and I realize, wait, I don't actually know what
S10: they're asking. Um, so so I do try and write
S10: you back if, if I don't understand it, because I
S10: want to make sure that your question actually gets answered,
S10: that you're asking and that you're satisfied with that question.
S1: Yeah, I appreciate that you do that so much. Because,
S1: you know, sometimes when people ask me a question on
S1: the air and I don't understand it, I ask for clarification.
S1: Can't do that with a mailbag question. So that's why.
S10: I'm the one who has to clarify it. And if
S10: I don't know, then we're not going to be able
S10: to give you a good answer.
S1: Exactly. Okay. Well, what have we got today?
S10: All right. First question is from Chris in Arkansas. Listens
S10: to I listen to Open Line every week on my
S10: local radio station in Mena, Arkansas. And thank you.
S1: Thank.
S10: You, thank you. Yeah, I've been watching a documentary series
S10: about the origin of Christianity within Judaism. In one episode,
S10: they claim that the apostle Paul was an anti-Semite according
S10: to first Thessalonians 214 through 16. And this came as
S10: a complete shock to me. Can you offer any insight
S10: into this notion and the verses?
S1: You know, this is kind of interesting. I wrote an
S1: article for Bibliotheca Sacra called Was Paul anti-Semitic? That was
S1: the name of the article, and it was a reappraisal
S1: of First Thessalonians 214 through 16, which, uh, I don't
S1: know if I could find that article. Bibliotheca Sacra is
S1: an academic journal published by Dallas Theological Seminary. And the
S1: reason I'm interested in this passage is it was part
S1: of my master's thesis, and it's even I deal with
S1: it in a little booklet that's available on the internet.
S1: I think we can link that on our Facebook page, right?
S10: Yes we.
S1: Can. Yeah. Um, and so it's part of my, uh,
S1: interest level for my master's thesis and journal article I've written.
S1: And here's what I would say. Clearly, Paul wasn't anti-Semitic everywhere.
S1: When he's on trial, what does he say? I am
S1: a Jew of Tarsus. He's on trial for the hope
S1: of the resurrection. He's a Hebrew of Hebrews. He's a Pharisee.
S1: He says, uh, he doesn't. He always identifies as a
S1: Jewish person. Uh, anti-Semitism, by the way, defined is Jewish
S1: hatred of the Jewish people. He always identifies as a Jew. Secondly, uh,
S1: he talks about his great compassion and love for the
S1: Jewish people. In Romans three. He talks about that Jewish
S1: people have the advantage of being the guardians and preservers
S1: of Scripture. Uh, from them came the oracles of God.
S1: He said, uh, he also talks in Romans nine that
S1: were he Able, he would be willing to go to
S1: hell if only his Jewish brethren could believe and and
S1: go to heaven. Uh, he's willing to give up his
S1: relationship with the Lord if that would mean the redemption
S1: of his people. How does this sound? Like hatred? Uh,
S1: he says, I wish I could. This is Romans 9392.
S1: I have intense sorrow and continual anguish in my heart,
S1: for I could wish that I myself were cursed and
S1: cut off from the Messiah. For the benefit of my brothers,
S1: my countrymen, by physical descent, they are Israelites. And he
S1: talks about all the benefits, the blessings that God has
S1: given the Jewish people. Uh, and he talks about in
S1: Romans 11 how inappropriate it is for believers to be
S1: hateful of Jewish people. He says, because they are loved.
S1: Verse 28, they are loved because of the forefathers. Uh,
S1: and he says, God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
S1: He tells Christians not to be ignorant of God's plan
S1: for the Jewish people. He says, uh, I don't want
S1: you to be unaware of the mystery that God has
S1: for them. And then he also says, don't be conceited.
S1: Don't be arrogant toward those branches. The original, uh, to
S1: the Jewish people. So those are some of the things
S1: Paul is certainly not anti-Semitic. So when you come to
S1: first Thessalonians 214, where it talks about, uh, the Thessalonians,
S1: you brothers became imitators of God's churches, uh, that are
S1: in Judea. Since you have suffered the same things from
S1: people of your own country, just as they did from
S1: the Jews who both killed the Lord Jesus and the
S1: prophets and persecuted us. They displeased God and are hostile
S1: to everyone. So is he saying all Jewish people did this?
S1: I think the answer is this. He says that the
S1: Thessalonians experienced persecution from their own country. They country. They
S1: experienced persecution from Gentiles, just as the Jewish believers in
S1: Judea suffered persecution from the Jewish leaders. He's using the
S1: word the Jews, just like the Apostle John does the
S1: gospel in the Gospel of John, where he uses the
S1: term Jews generally to speak of of the leadership that
S1: was opposed to Jesus and not all Jewish people. And
S1: that's what Paul is doing here, the Jewish leaders who
S1: killed the Lord Jesus. Not alone. They were part of
S1: the conspiracy of guilt between, uh, the, uh, the Roman
S1: leadership and the Jewish leadership together engaged in this conspiracy
S1: of guilt. You can read that in acts 427 and 28, uh,
S1: that they there was a conspiracy of guilt between Herod
S1: and Pontius Pilate. And there is also the Jewish leaders
S1: and the Roman soldiers, and all together they conspired to
S1: kill the Lord Jesus. He's only talking about those Jewish
S1: leaders here. And they persecuted Paul. Certainly did. And they
S1: displeased God. The Jewish leaders certainly displeased God and are
S1: hostile to anyone that wanted to believe in Jesus. That's
S1: not all Jewish leaders, even. But the predominant leadership really
S1: were opposed to Jesus. He's talking about a select, simple group.
S1: Not all Jewish people. And he says, uh, how do
S1: I know this? Because they were the ones trying to
S1: keep Paul from speaking to the Gentiles. Uh, not all
S1: Jewish people, just those Jewish leaders there in the Sanhedrin
S1: in Jerusalem. And, uh, this is then saying that they
S1: will bring upon themselves judgment. It's, uh, a kind of
S1: it's called a proleptic aorist, an heiress that is so
S1: certain that it will come that it's spoken of as
S1: a completed action. But that's actually talking about A.D. 70,
S1: when the judgment will come. Just as you know, for
S1: rejecting the Messiah, the leadership, rejecting the Messiah. That's what
S1: that's about. So here's the point I'm making. If, you know,
S1: I was talking a lot, lot, lot. But here's the point.
S1: Paul was not hateful of all Jewish people. In fact,
S1: he had a great compassion for them. And in this verse,
S1: he's talking about a select group that were hostile. And
S1: not all Jewish people. And he's he's just stating the
S1: facts that they were opposed to Jesus, opposed to the gospel,
S1: opposed to proclaiming it. And as a result, they will
S1: face judgment.
S10: Okay. I hope that helps, Chris. Um, as you as
S10: you continue reading, um, our next question. Yeah.
S1: Wait, wait. Are you going to post that? Yes. Maybe
S1: we can on the Facebook page.
S10: Yes, I'll post it and I'll post it on the
S10: website as well for people. I'll see if.
S1: I can find a copy of that article I wrote
S1: on the journal. Okay. Uh, maybe we can get that
S1: posted too.
S10: Okay. We'll see. Okay. So. But it was called. They
S10: called me Christ killer. Right. Is the booklet. Is the
S10: booklet that you wrote okay, I will I will pull anti-Semitic.
S1: Is the article I wrote okay.
S10: Okay. All right. Yeah. We'll see what we can find.
S10: And I will post whatever we find on our website.
S10: Our next question is from Jean in Georgia, who listens
S10: to I Know Jesus and the Holy Spirit as a
S10: comforter and teacher to believers here on earth. What happens
S10: to the Holy Spirit when we get to heaven?
S11: You know.
S1: God has not disclosed that fully to me. No, he's
S1: still going to work. Uh, what I was thinking of
S1: is the picture of heaven in Romans, in revelation chapter one,
S1: where it says, uh, grace and peace to you. Verse
S1: four in the middle from the one who is, who
S1: was and who is coming. Then it says, from the
S1: seven spirits before his throne are the seven spirits. That's
S1: another way of talking about the Holy Spirit. The reason
S1: he is called the Seven Spirits is based on Isaiah 11,
S1: where it talks about the anointing of the Holy Spirit
S1: on the Messiah. And it has seven times seven anointings
S1: and as a result of that, he's called the seven
S1: spirits in revelation chapter one. And so he's before the
S1: throne of God, facilitating worship. Uh, that's what I can tell.
S1: And we will be worshiping God. And as a result,
S1: I think part of the way the Holy Spirit will
S1: do it is he will facilitate that worship through us
S1: before the throne of God. That's at least one thing
S1: I know the Holy Spirit will do when we get
S1: to heaven.
S10: Okay. Okay. Um, so that was revelation one four. Yeah. Okay. Okay.
S10: So still continuing to work.
S1: And yeah, the thing about it, the Triune God is eternal, right?
S1: Forever was he was. He is. And he will be.
S1: And so but you know, he hasn't disclosed everything the
S1: Holy Spirit will do. We'll see. Okay.
S10: Well. Thank you. Thank you for that. Um.
S1: Yeah.
S10: All right.
S1: Yeah. Yeah. Well, that was great. Thank you so much
S1: for bringing those questions. I really appreciate it. And we'll
S1: talk more about those questions coming up, uh, next week.
S1: Thanks for all you do and putting the mailbag together.
S1: You can always reach us by going to Openlibrary.org and
S1: click on Ask Michael a question and, uh, and just
S1: we'll put it in the mailbag. That was Tricia McMillan.
S1: I'm Michael Zelnick. We'll be right back with more in
S1: just a minute. Welcome back to Open Line. So glad
S1: that we're together studying the word together today. Uh, hope
S1: you've had a great Saturday, and we'll continue to enjoy
S1: your weekend. Now, a couple of things I need to mention.
S1: First of all, you're aware, I am sure that Israel
S1: is in a tough state right now. They're in the
S1: midst of a war started by Hamas. They just came
S1: out of a 12 day war with Iran. It's it's
S1: quite a challenge in Israel. And people will wonder, well,
S1: what does the future hold? Chosen People Ministries, one of
S1: our partners here on Open Line, is offering a free
S1: ebook that will give you the answer to that question.
S1: It's called Israel's Glorious Future. The book details God's faithfulness
S1: to his covenant promises and shows how God will be
S1: faithful to those very same prophets, promises, and prophecies made
S1: about Israel. If you'd like a free copy of Israel's
S1: Glorious future, just go to openlibrary.org. That's our website, openlibrary.org.
S1: Scroll all the way down. You'll see a link that
S1: says A free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on
S1: that and then you'll be taken to a page where
S1: you can sign up for your very own copy of
S1: Israel's Glorious Future. And also, I do want to mention, too,
S1: that there's the Bible Conference on a tall ship in
S1: the Caribbean coming up in December. If you're interested in that,
S1: go to that same website, Open Line radio.org. Scroll down
S1: all the way to the link that says Michael's personal website.
S1: And when you go to my website, you'll see the
S1: link to that upcoming trip in December, if you're interested
S1: in being part of that. Now we're going to go
S1: right to the phones to Julie listening in Florida on 91.1.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Julie. How can I help you today?
S12: Hi. Thank you so much for taking my question. Um,
S12: so my question is, with everything happening with Israel right now,
S12: you I come across two kind of groups of Christians.
S12: The first that say pray for Israel. You know, the
S12: Bible tells us whoever blesses Israel will be blessed. Then
S12: you have another group of Christians that say, The Israel
S12: of today is not the Israel of the Bible, that
S12: the Israel of today is those grafted into the body
S12: of Christ. And if you believe that Israel today is Israel,
S12: the Bible, it's, um, dispensationalism, replacement theology, and that you're
S12: a Zionist. So this really has me confused on this issue.
S12: And I was wondering if you can give me some
S12: clarification on that.
S1: Sure. Well, first of all, I did a whole program
S1: with Chris Fabry this past Thursday about this subject and
S1: right in the middle of writing a book about it. So, uh,
S1: looking to the past, if you want to go to
S1: the website, to the Chris Fabry live website and listen
S1: to that program from Thursday, that might be helpful to
S1: people who are interested in this subject. And then also, uh,
S1: hang on. Hopefully by the fall, that book will be
S1: out on the subject about biblical Israel versus modern Israel. Okay. Okay.
S1: That's the first thing. Secondly, to call someone a Zionist, unfortunately,
S1: has been made into a dirty word, a Zionist. Zion
S1: refers to Jerusalem and then ultimately the whole land of Israel.
S1: A Zionist is someone who believes that the Jewish people
S1: have the right of self-determination in their ancient homeland. It
S1: doesn't mean anything other than that that Israel has a
S1: right to exist. And so saddened that Zionists somehow has
S1: become something bad. I used to have a button many
S1: years ago that I would put on my jacket that said,
S1: God is a Zionist because God believes in the right
S1: of Israel. He's the one that brought them back to
S1: the land of Israel. So now the question, first of all,
S1: is biblical Israel, modern Israel the same as it was?
S1: Is it the same today as it was in the Bible? Well,
S1: it's not exactly the same. Uh, Israel had a monarchy
S1: in the Old Testament. Today it's got a prime minister.
S1: It's not a king. It was a theocracy governed by
S1: God in the Old Testament. Today it's a democracy. It's
S1: a secular democracy. And so it's not the same. Here's
S1: what's the same. The in the in the Bible, Israel,
S1: the land of Israel, is the nation state of the
S1: Jewish people today, the land of Israel, the State of
S1: Israel is the nation state of the Jewish people. Same
S1: difference may be governed differently, but it's the same. Uh, secondly,
S1: those who want to argue that it's different, uh, misunderstand
S1: the the New Testament very plainly. The New Testament teaches
S1: that God is faithful to his promises to literal Israel.
S1: He's not going to take the promises of literal Israel
S1: and give them to the church. The church has great promises,
S1: not the same as the promises to Israel. God's going
S1: to be faithful to his promises. In fact, Romans nine
S1: through 11 teaches, you know, Romans eight ends with, nothing's
S1: going to separate us from the love of God. And
S1: you can just hear the objector saying, well, what about Israel?
S1: You know, God, God's not been faithful to them. And
S1: so Romans nine through 11 is the vindication of God
S1: that he's going to keep every promise to Israel. And
S1: that's how we know that he'll keep his promises to us.
S1: So if I can just direct you, there are a
S1: lot of verses we could look at. You'll have to
S1: wait for my book for that. But Romans 1128 says
S1: this regarding the gospel. They are enemies for your advantage.
S1: But regarding election or chosenness, they are loved because of
S1: the patriarchs, since God's gracious gifts and calling are irrevocable.
S1: So it is. It's recognizing that Jewish people are opposed
S1: to the gospel, and that's the advantage of Gentiles. That's
S1: why the gospel went out to the Gentiles. But regarding election,
S1: which is just a big word for chosen chosenness regarding
S1: their being chosen, they remain loved because of the promises
S1: that God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. There's no
S1: replacement theology. God's going to keep his promises to Israel. Why?
S1: Because his gracious gifts and his calling of Israel are irrevocable.
S1: Can't be changed. What is it talking about when it
S1: talks about the gracious gifts? Romans nine four, it says
S1: they are Israelites, and to them belong. And that whole
S1: sentence is governed by a present tense. Intense. Theirs are.
S1: The adoption as sons. God called Israel, my son in
S1: Exodus four. The glory. The covenants, including the land covenant,
S1: the giving of the law, the temple service and the promises,
S1: including the promise of the Messiah and the promise of land.
S1: The patriarchs are theirs, and from them by physical descent
S1: came the Messiah. So God's going to keep every promise
S1: to Israel. There's no replacement theology. I think it's crucial
S1: that we understand that, that there truly is a blessing
S1: in the Abrahamic covenant. God will bless those who bless
S1: the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Those who bless
S1: Israel will be blessed, and God will treat those with
S1: contempt who have treated Israel with contempt. I think that's
S1: a good basic principle. If you're interested in a whole
S1: book about replacement theology, Geology. There's a book by Michael Vlock.
S1: Has the church replaced Israel? Great book. You might be
S1: interested in that. Does that help at all, Julie?
S12: It does. Thank you. Because I fall under the first
S12: category where I'm praying for Israel. I want Israel to
S12: be safe. So I just didn't understand that other way
S12: of thinking.
S1: But that's it. Hey, thanks so much for your call.
S1: That's the program for the week. I can't believe it's over.
S1: We had a great time talking about it, but we'll
S1: be back next week thanks to the Open Line team. Tricia. Tahira, Omar,
S1: Lisa and Rihanna. Keep in touch with us by going
S1: to our website openlibrary.org. It's got all the links you're
S1: looking for, so don't miss out there. Keep reading the Bible.
S1: We're going to talk about it next week. Open line
S1: with Doctor Michael Riedel is a production of Moody Radio,
S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. Have a great weekend.