December 11, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (12/11/25), Hank shares thoughts on 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Hank also answers the following questions:
What is the best place to start reading the Bible? Joey - Springfield, MO (3:59)
Can you clarify your comments on the Rapture not taking place before the tribulation? Reid - TN (6:29)
What do modern Christian wedding ceremonies have in common with ancient Old Testament Jewish weddings? Bobby - Princeton, KY (15:14)
Isn’t God’s proper name Yahweh? Why don’t you use it? Rob - Branson, MO (16:58)
If God created all things, including Lucifer, where did Lucifer learn to sin? Doug - Fort Worth, TX (20:14)
Hank also answers the following questions:
What is the best place to start reading the Bible? Joey - Springfield, MO (3:59)
Can you clarify your comments on the Rapture not taking place before the tribulation? Reid - TN (6:29)
What do modern Christian wedding ceremonies have in common with ancient Old Testament Jewish weddings? Bobby - Princeton, KY (15:14)
Isn’t God’s proper name Yahweh? Why don’t you use it? Rob - Branson, MO (16:58)
If God created all things, including Lucifer, where did Lucifer learn to sin? Doug - Fort Worth, TX (20:14)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
You're just in time for the Bible Answer Man broadcast
with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute.
Our purpose here at CRII is to equip Christians to
provide Biblical answers to life's most important questions, to read
the Bible for all it's worth, and counter the teachings
of cults and world religions that deviate from the plumb
(00:30):
line of God's word, because life and truth matter. For
more information, to order resources or donate, call eight eight
eight seven thousand CRII, or go online to equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded.
(00:50):
Now here's the President of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank for much, Randy. The Bible tells us that all
scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that the men of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And one
(01:15):
of those equipped in the Bible is Timothy. And Paul
says to Timothy, in the presence of God and of Christ,
Jesus will judge the living of the dead, and in
view of his appearing in his kingdom. I give you
this charge. Preach the word, be prepared in season and
out as season. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience
(01:39):
and careful instruction. For the time will come when men
will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit
their own desires, they'll gather round them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They'll turn their ears away from truth, turn aside to miss.
(02:00):
But then Paul says to Timothy, you keep your head
in all situations, endure hardship, do the work an evangelist.
Discharge all the duties of your ministry. And then Paul
makes a farewell speech in which he makes clear that
he knows what is going to happen. He knows that
(02:25):
he's going to be poured out like a drink offering.
But he's fought the good fight, he's finished the race,
and he kept the faith. And then says, now there
is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on
(02:45):
that day, and not only to me, but also to
all who have longed for his appearance. Do you long
for his appearance? And when he appears, will you be
found faithful and fruitful as believers. He has left us
here for a reason. It isn't just a mark time.
(03:07):
It's to make a difference, not just a temporary difference,
but a difference of eternal significance. That's why we ask
people to stand with this ministry prayerfully and financially, to
touch the lives of people. Not to give to us,
but through us, to be equipped and right now to
(03:30):
equip you. Has God spoken? This book will give you
proof of the Bible's divine inspiration. Available for your gift
to the ministry, you can check it out online at
equipped dot org. It's prepared in memorable form so that
you can not only read, but remember. And if you
can remember and recall, you can use the information to
(03:55):
reach people. While there's yet time. Let's go to the
phone lines. First, is Joey listening in Springfield, Missouri?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Hi, Joey, Hey, how are I Thank you for taking
my call?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You're welcome.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
My thing is we talk about the Bible. What is
the best place to start to give back to Jesus
and God's word? I mean, we could start from Jenice,
but would that be the right place to start?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Well, I mean all the scriptures God breathed. But I
think for new believers there are sometimes good things to
start with the Gospel of John, I think is a
wonderful place to start reading the Bible. But one of
the things I've laid out is a legacy reading plan
that teaches new believers and people that have been in
the faith for a long time to read the Bible
(04:41):
not in bits, but rather in books, and read those
books in such an order that you start getting the
imprint of the author. Because though all scripture is God breathed,
God worked through human beings and their personalities and their
styles come out. So there is very helpful well to
read the Bible using a plan like the Legacy Reading Plan,
(05:04):
which by the way, I have as an appendix I
and has God.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Spoken I know, like jeb is one of the best
books I used to love to read. When you have
so many people saying how they suffered, and Job suffered
a lot and he got a lot bad from God
because he believed in God so much. And you know
when people tell him not to blame a god, he
still did.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, And I think that Job is great to gain
this eternal perspective as a new believer to realize more
and more deeply that we are living with eternity in mind.
The famous words of Job, though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him again? He was looking to
God because he didn't have an answer to all the
(05:48):
problems that he had, right, because God doesn't always answer
the why question. He teaches us to trust Him in
the midst of our wives. But as a new believer,
I think that there are books like John that a
great place to start. But with the Legacy Reading Plan,
you can jump in at any time and just follow
the plan and learn to read the Bible. As I said,
(06:10):
in books, not just in bits, because if you don't
understand the sustained argument that a Biblical author is making,
you can often miss the meaning.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Okay, thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Hey, you got it. If you want to hang on,
I'd be happy to send a copy of the Legacy
Reading Plan to help out in that way. I want
to go back to the phone lines now, talk to
Read in Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I read, how are you doing, Kyle?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I have a question, Hur's kyle 'cylly and ask you
about the rapture And you've said that the rapture would
not take place before tribulations.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
No, when I say with respect to a pre tribulational
rapture is that it's a fairly new idea in church history,
and that because it's new doesn't mean it's not true.
But you should examine it carefully to see if there's
a biblical precedent for teaching it. As well. I don't
see it anywhere in the biblical text.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
What is the text?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, that's my point. I don't know anywhere in the
Biblical text that it's taught. And the passages that are
typically used to teach a pre tribulational rapture a Revelation
chapter three or John fourteen, as well as First Thessalonians
chapter four. But if you actually go to the passage
or memorize it as I have, you find that there
is no pro tribulational rapture taught in First Thessalonians chapter four.
(07:33):
In fact, quite to the contrary, it teaches the great
and glorious truth of resurrection.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
But why is everybody I know, every church I know,
and you see it on TV preachers and evangelism, and
everybody is preaching if the rapture is near and close.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Well, I think there are a lot of people that
hold to this idea that God has two distinct people,
and that those two distinct people have two distinct plans,
which necessitates two phases of the second coming, a secret coming,
a tribulation, and then a second coming after seven years.
So I think the idea itself is imposed on the scripture,
(08:14):
and that's how that paradigm comes about. I don't think
it comes from a natural reading of scripture. I've certainly
open minded, and I have listened carefully to those that
teach it and discuss this matter with them thoughtfully, but
I have not had anyone show me. For example, Tim
Lahay is very clear that John fourteen adamantly teaches a
(08:38):
pertribulation rapture, But if you go to John fourteen, I
don't know how you can find one there. Certainly, first
Thessalonians chapter four, I mean, you don't have a secret
coming there followed by a seven.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Are the majority of the people label a false truth?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well, the timing of the tribulation and the meaning of
the millennium are secondary issues, but I certainly do not
think that these are things taught in the scripture. In
other words, I think it's something that you're imposing on
the scripture rather than taking from the scripture. If you
read Revelation chapter twenty, it talks about a thousand years.
But again, you want to learn to mind the Bible
(09:16):
for all its wealth, you have to understand Revelation chapter
twenty the only place that supposedly this thousand year semi
golden age is taught. But when it's taught, it's always taught,
along with a rebuilt temple and reinstitute of temple sacrifices.
And again, if you listen to Tim la Hey, he
believes those sacrifices are actually efficacious for ceremonial and cleanness,
(09:38):
which is to say they atone for sin. Again, I
disagree with that point of view, and I don't think
that the thing we want to go back to as
animal sacrifices. But remember the sacrifice of our Lord and
Savi you Jesus Christ, take communion. This do until I
come again. And of course the hope for all of us,
(09:59):
the certainty that the Bible communicates is that Jesus Christ
will appear a second time. And Jesus made that clear.
When he does, all who are in the graves will
come out, some will rise to live, and some will
rise to be condemned. I take that literally. I think
Jesus Christ is coming back, and when he does, all
(10:21):
who the graves will come out. And therefore I disagree
with those that say that there's going to be the
pro tribulational rapture of saints who have died and those
who are alive. Of course, at the time of a
pro tribulational rapture, now Jesus said, when he comes back,
all who in the grace will come out, some will
rise to live, and some will rise to be condemned.
(10:41):
And I don't see a secret coming in for Stisalonians
chapter four. In fact, what you see there is the
Lord comes down with a loud command, with the voice
of the archangel, with the trumpet call of God. But again,
these are matters that we can debate vigorously. We ultimately
don't have to divide over them. I've written about this
in a book called The Apocalypse Code. Check it out
(11:02):
on the web at equip dot org. We'll be right
back at just a few moments with more of your
questions right here on the Bible answer Man broadcast. So
please don't touch that.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Dial to find out more about the materials mentioned on
the show. Call a CRII resource consultant toll free at
eight eight eight seven thousand cri that's eight eight eight
seven thousand CRII. Our website is also an excellent reference
destination to help you. Just go to equip dot org
(11:34):
and find articles by Hank, books, CDs and DVDs. Again,
that's equip DOTRG or write crip O Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, ZIP two eight two seven one. The Bible
answer Man will continue in just a moment. Has God Spoken?
(12:07):
Are the words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or
are they, in fact the very words of God himself.
Three years in the making and based on two decades
of research and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental book Has God
Spoken answers what is surely the most important question facing
our world. In Has God Spoken? Memorable proofs of the
(12:31):
Bible's Divine inspiration, Hank counters the contentions of the Bible
attackers and clearly shows that belief in the Holy Scriptures
is not a guess or wishful thinking. It is the
only logical conclusion after an honest examination of overwhelming evidence
order has God spoken from the Christian Research Institute by
calling eighty eight seven thousand CRII or go online to
(12:54):
equip dot org. Equip dot org breaking the Code. If
the Book of Revelation has become an international obsession, the
result has been rampant misreading of scripture, bad theology, and
even bad politics and foreign policy. In the Apocalypse Code,
(13:15):
find out what the Bible really says about the end
times and why it matters today. Hank Canagraph argues that
the key to understanding the Last Book of the Bible
is the other sixty five books of the Bible, not
current events or recent history. The Apocalypse Code offers sane
answers to some very controversial questions, such as what does
(13:36):
it mean to take the Book of Revelation literally? Who
are the Antichrist and the Great Horror of Babylon? And
what is the real meaning of six hundred and sixty six.
Order the Apocalypse Code by Hank Cantagraph today, available in softcover,
MP three, CD or MP three download from equip dot
org or call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. Bertrand
(14:01):
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(14:22):
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(14:45):
life and truth. Check out the benefits of membership at
equip dot org. Once again, that's equip dot org. Now
(15:07):
back to the Bible answer Man broadcast and your host
and Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Thank you very much, Randy in let's go right back
to our callers. Next up is Bobby listening in Princeton, Kentucky. Hi, Bobby, Hey,
how you doing? Hey good?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
My question deals with the ceremony of the Christian wedding,
And actually I'm doing some research for my pastor.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
At my church.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
What aspects of the Christian modern day Christian wedding ceremony
would be parallel to perhaps the first century Judeo Christian ceremony,
or even before that.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Well, I mean, one of the things you see if
you look at biblical weddings is that they really took
the wedding seriously. So you not only have the parallel
of a wedding gown and a veil and a headdress
and these kinds of things, but you also have celebration.
And that celebration even after the merrymaking that takes place
(16:11):
and the bride is escorted to her nuptial chamber by
her parents, in the groom by his companions or the
bride's parents, even after that consummation of the marriage on
the very next day, the festivities continue for seven days.
So there's a real sense of celebration that takes place
(16:33):
in the biblical wedding, and there are parallels, but certainly
the point is this is something that is celebrated in community,
and it is something that is celebrated in commitment, such
that there is a commitment for the two who are
joined as one to honor and cherish one another until
(16:55):
death do us part. Let's go back to the phone lines.
Talk to Robin Brinson, Missouri.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
Hi, Rob, Hello, Hank Hi, I have a question here
pertaining to God and his actual real name, which in
my opinion is should be Yahweh, and that should be
used whenever his name is spoken. And I wondered why
(17:24):
you didn't use his name like that.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Well, how do you pronounce it?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Well, actually it's as we all know, the Bible was
written in the Hebrew and then in Grief. But I
guess it's actually yah yahweh.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Well how do you know that? I mean, because if
you go to the Hebrew, you don't have any vowels.
So you've added some vowels, an A and an E
in order to come up with a pronunciation. But biblically,
what you have is the unspeakable four letters y H
(18:03):
WH or the tetragrammaton, and it represents the name of God.
And only God himself can say I am that I am,
which is what yahweh means. Now, whenever we pronounce it,
we're adding vowels, we're adding something. So these are unpronounceable letters.
You have four Hebrew letters. Those letters have been transliterated,
(18:30):
the vowels have been added to them for the purposes
of pronunciation. And so even if you look at how
it's interpreted or given to us in the New Testament.
The New Testament itself interprets it as Lord, but doesn't
give us the unspeakable four letters, but it gives us
(18:53):
a way of talking about the name of God. There
are other ways of talking about God as well the
title of God. We can talk about King of kings
and Lord of lords. But the unspeakable four letters or
the tetragrammatan represent the name of God. And the name
Yahweh carries with it the concept of eternal or self existence,
(19:14):
and therefore it is frequently applied to Christ. For example,
if you go to Romans ten thirteen, calling on Yahweh
again at pronunciation, that's interpretive because we've added our own vowels.
Calling on Yahweh and calling on Jesus Christ are equated,
demonstrating that Jesus Christ is God. Also, by the way,
the apostle John wrote that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus.
(19:38):
The glory of Jesus and the glory of God are
thus equated. So the point here is that the sacred
name is not actually Yahweh but y h wh And
by the standard of people that want us to use
that name, they violated the principle by adding to God's
name by adding an A in an ea, So there's
(20:01):
no real warrant for claiming to know exactly how God's
name was pronounced, but the unspeakable for letters point to
the fact that God's name is to be revered as holy.
We'll go back to the phone lines. Talk to Doug
listening in Fort Worth, Texas. Hi, Doug, he.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
Thank you for taking my call. Sir, you're welcome. My
question is if God created all things, and all things
created by him, and Lucifer, whom he created, fail from
grace while in heaven, how did Lucifer learn Where did
Lucifer learn how to sin him to do this act?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, remember that angels are sentient, rational beings, which means
that they have what's called intentionality. They have the ability
to think about something, the capacity of the mind to
think about something beyond themselves. So sat was fully capable
of understanding what sin is and what its consequences are
(21:07):
without ever having to experience it before understanding it, so
he could understand it before he ever experienced it. And again,
as a rational sentient being, non corporeal, non physical, but
a being, nonetheless, he could think about these things, and
he could exercise intentionality.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
So does that mean that God did in fact created sin.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
No. God, God created the page that turned into No.
God created the potential for sin. I mean the very
fact that he created Satan with intentionality as a sentient
being means that God created the potential for sin. Whenever
there is will or volition, there is the potential for sin.
(21:58):
So God didn't create sin. He created the potential for
sin because there was a choice, an intentionality in the
being that he chose, and as a result of creating
that potential, that potential can be exercised. And that's precisely
what happened when Satan exercised his intentionality as a rational
(22:21):
sension being.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
Okay, so then God, when he created luciferne that he
would sin and fall from grace. Is there right?
Speaker 2 (22:31):
God knows all things? Yes, absolutely, But the fact that
God knew what would happen does not mean that God
is the cause of what happened. The fact that you
know things in your past, things that happened to your past,
does not mean that what you know about is something
that you actually caused.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Okay, I'm just trying to understand. I'm really not trying
to be argumentative at all.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
No, No, I want you to understand. I appreciate you
following going up with questions, because that's the whole point
to understand.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Yes, sir, so, is this why then there will be
a new heaven and a new Earth. After Christ comes
back and takes control of the earth and we go
through all the situations and revelation for it, there will
be a thousand years of peace, and then he will
loose stating again, and then at period of time he
(23:26):
will be found and put into the Lake of fire
and says there will be a new heaven and new earth.
Is that the reason for the new heaven is because
sin did exist? I guess in first heaven.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Well, one of the things you said with respect to
revelation I wouldn't go along with. But in terms of
the general point, the general point is Adam and Eve
fell into lies of perpetual sin to me by death.
And then the rest of the Bible's God's unfolding plan
of redemption, which does culminate in a new heaven and
new Earth wherein dwells righteousness, so that paradise lost will
(23:58):
become paradise stored. We will forever be able not to sin.
We will be restored. We will be what we would
have been if sin had never come into the world.
Will be resurrected, immortal, imperishable, and corruptible. That's the hope
of the believer. Not only so, but the universe itself
will be restored. It now groans intravail, awaiting its liberation
(24:20):
from bondage to decay. But then it will be restored.
God does not scrap things, he redeems them. The universe
will be redeemed. We too will be redeemed and resurrected.
And that is the unfolding plan of redemption. So out
of the sin of Adam and Eve comes the best
(24:42):
of all possible worlds, a world that is restored, a
world in which we'll be able to learn and grow
and develop without error and forever explore the glory and
grandeur of God's created handiwork, and the glory and grandeur
of the One who saved us or redeemed us by grace.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
Okay, well here again, I'm just I'm curious if there's
gonna be a new Heaven and a new Earth Heaven
as it exists now, I'm not saying it will discard it,
but what is there gonna be to Heaven.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Now, well, think about it this way. We can speak
about heaven as being with the Lord. It's described in
various ways in the Bible as Abraham's bosom or paradise.
So absent from the body, present with the Lord is
in a way talking about heaven. But Heaven ultimately is
pointing towards the universe restored to what it once was.
(25:41):
As Christians, we're not platonic. We don't think we're gonna
be going somewhere up there someplace, drumming a harp and
a cloud. No, we believe in a physical universe restored.
That is what heaven is. So Heaven will be a
place when this universe becomes para has restored. No more death, morning, crying,
(26:02):
or pain for the old work for things will have
passed away. Behold, all things become new out of time.
For this edition of the Bible Lissmen broadcast. Look forward
to seeing you next time with more of the broadcast.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Thank you for joining us today. Our mission at the
Christian Research Institute is to defend the faith, answer Bible questions,
and encourage Christians to watch their life and doctrine closely,
to find resources to help equip you go to equip
dot org. That's equip dot org, or call us at
(26:34):
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. You can also write
CRII at Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
two eight two seven one. The Bible answer Man Broadcast
is supported by listeners like you. We're on the air
because life and truth matter. Has God Spoken? Are the
(27:08):
words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or are they,
in fact the very words of God himself? Three years
in the making and based on two decades of research
and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental book Has God Spoken answers
what is surely the most important question facing our world.
In Has God Spoken? Memorable proofs of the Bible's Divine inspiration,
(27:32):
Hank counters the contentions of the Bible attackers and clearly
shows that belief in the Holy Scriptures is not a
guess or wishful thinking. It is the only logical conclusion
after an honest examination of overwhelming evidence. Ordered Has God Spoken?
From the Christian Research Institute by calling eighty eight seven
thousand CRII, or go online to equip dot org. Equip
(27:57):
dot org
You're just in time for the Bible Answer Man broadcast
with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of the Christian Research Institute.
Our purpose here at CRII is to equip Christians to
provide Biblical answers to life's most important questions, to read
the Bible for all it's worth, and counter the teachings
of cults and world religions that deviate from the plumb
(00:30):
line of God's word, because life and truth matter. For
more information, to order resources or donate, call eight eight
eight seven thousand CRII, or go online to equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. The following program was pre recorded.
(00:50):
Now here's the President of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank for much, Randy. The Bible tells us that all
scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting,
and training in righteousness, so that the men of God
may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. And one
(01:15):
of those equipped in the Bible is Timothy. And Paul
says to Timothy, in the presence of God and of Christ,
Jesus will judge the living of the dead, and in
view of his appearing in his kingdom. I give you
this charge. Preach the word, be prepared in season and
out as season. Correct, rebuke, and encourage with great patience
(01:39):
and careful instruction. For the time will come when men
will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit
their own desires, they'll gather round them a great number
of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They'll turn their ears away from truth, turn aside to miss.
(02:00):
But then Paul says to Timothy, you keep your head
in all situations, endure hardship, do the work an evangelist.
Discharge all the duties of your ministry. And then Paul
makes a farewell speech in which he makes clear that
he knows what is going to happen. He knows that
(02:25):
he's going to be poured out like a drink offering.
But he's fought the good fight, he's finished the race,
and he kept the faith. And then says, now there
is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which
the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on
(02:45):
that day, and not only to me, but also to
all who have longed for his appearance. Do you long
for his appearance? And when he appears, will you be
found faithful and fruitful as believers. He has left us
here for a reason. It isn't just a mark time.
(03:07):
It's to make a difference, not just a temporary difference,
but a difference of eternal significance. That's why we ask
people to stand with this ministry prayerfully and financially, to
touch the lives of people. Not to give to us,
but through us, to be equipped and right now to
(03:30):
equip you. Has God spoken? This book will give you
proof of the Bible's divine inspiration. Available for your gift
to the ministry, you can check it out online at
equipped dot org. It's prepared in memorable form so that
you can not only read, but remember. And if you
can remember and recall, you can use the information to
(03:55):
reach people. While there's yet time. Let's go to the
phone lines. First, is Joey listening in Springfield, Missouri?
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Hi, Joey, Hey, how are I Thank you for taking
my call?
Speaker 2 (04:05):
You're welcome.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
My thing is we talk about the Bible. What is
the best place to start to give back to Jesus
and God's word? I mean, we could start from Jenice,
but would that be the right place to start?
Speaker 2 (04:18):
Well, I mean all the scriptures God breathed. But I
think for new believers there are sometimes good things to
start with the Gospel of John, I think is a
wonderful place to start reading the Bible. But one of
the things I've laid out is a legacy reading plan
that teaches new believers and people that have been in
the faith for a long time to read the Bible
(04:41):
not in bits, but rather in books, and read those
books in such an order that you start getting the
imprint of the author. Because though all scripture is God breathed,
God worked through human beings and their personalities and their
styles come out. So there is very helpful well to
read the Bible using a plan like the Legacy Reading Plan,
(05:04):
which by the way, I have as an appendix I
and has God.
Speaker 3 (05:08):
Spoken I know, like jeb is one of the best
books I used to love to read. When you have
so many people saying how they suffered, and Job suffered
a lot and he got a lot bad from God
because he believed in God so much. And you know
when people tell him not to blame a god, he
still did.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
Yeah, And I think that Job is great to gain
this eternal perspective as a new believer to realize more
and more deeply that we are living with eternity in mind.
The famous words of Job, though he slay me, yet
will I trust in him again? He was looking to
God because he didn't have an answer to all the
(05:48):
problems that he had, right, because God doesn't always answer
the why question. He teaches us to trust Him in
the midst of our wives. But as a new believer,
I think that there are books like John that a
great place to start. But with the Legacy Reading Plan,
you can jump in at any time and just follow
the plan and learn to read the Bible. As I said,
(06:10):
in books, not just in bits, because if you don't
understand the sustained argument that a Biblical author is making,
you can often miss the meaning.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
Okay, thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:22):
Hey, you got it. If you want to hang on,
I'd be happy to send a copy of the Legacy
Reading Plan to help out in that way. I want
to go back to the phone lines now, talk to
Read in Tennessee.
Speaker 4 (06:31):
I read, how are you doing, Kyle?
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I have a question, Hur's kyle 'cylly and ask you
about the rapture And you've said that the rapture would
not take place before tribulations.
Speaker 2 (06:46):
No, when I say with respect to a pre tribulational
rapture is that it's a fairly new idea in church history,
and that because it's new doesn't mean it's not true.
But you should examine it carefully to see if there's
a biblical precedent for teaching it. As well. I don't
see it anywhere in the biblical text.
Speaker 4 (07:08):
What is the text?
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, that's my point. I don't know anywhere in the
Biblical text that it's taught. And the passages that are
typically used to teach a pre tribulational rapture a Revelation
chapter three or John fourteen, as well as First Thessalonians
chapter four. But if you actually go to the passage
or memorize it as I have, you find that there
is no pro tribulational rapture taught in First Thessalonians chapter four.
(07:33):
In fact, quite to the contrary, it teaches the great
and glorious truth of resurrection.
Speaker 4 (07:39):
But why is everybody I know, every church I know,
and you see it on TV preachers and evangelism, and
everybody is preaching if the rapture is near and close.
Speaker 2 (07:50):
Well, I think there are a lot of people that
hold to this idea that God has two distinct people,
and that those two distinct people have two distinct plans,
which necessitates two phases of the second coming, a secret coming,
a tribulation, and then a second coming after seven years.
So I think the idea itself is imposed on the scripture,
(08:14):
and that's how that paradigm comes about. I don't think
it comes from a natural reading of scripture. I've certainly
open minded, and I have listened carefully to those that
teach it and discuss this matter with them thoughtfully, but
I have not had anyone show me. For example, Tim
Lahay is very clear that John fourteen adamantly teaches a
(08:38):
pertribulation rapture, But if you go to John fourteen, I
don't know how you can find one there. Certainly, first
Thessalonians chapter four, I mean, you don't have a secret
coming there followed by a seven.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Are the majority of the people label a false truth?
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Well, the timing of the tribulation and the meaning of
the millennium are secondary issues, but I certainly do not
think that these are things taught in the scripture. In
other words, I think it's something that you're imposing on
the scripture rather than taking from the scripture. If you
read Revelation chapter twenty, it talks about a thousand years.
But again, you want to learn to mind the Bible
(09:16):
for all its wealth, you have to understand Revelation chapter
twenty the only place that supposedly this thousand year semi
golden age is taught. But when it's taught, it's always taught,
along with a rebuilt temple and reinstitute of temple sacrifices.
And again, if you listen to Tim la Hey, he
believes those sacrifices are actually efficacious for ceremonial and cleanness,
(09:38):
which is to say they atone for sin. Again, I
disagree with that point of view, and I don't think
that the thing we want to go back to as
animal sacrifices. But remember the sacrifice of our Lord and
Savi you Jesus Christ, take communion. This do until I
come again. And of course the hope for all of us,
(09:59):
the certainty that the Bible communicates is that Jesus Christ
will appear a second time. And Jesus made that clear.
When he does, all who are in the graves will
come out, some will rise to live, and some will
rise to be condemned. I take that literally. I think
Jesus Christ is coming back, and when he does, all
(10:21):
who the graves will come out. And therefore I disagree
with those that say that there's going to be the
pro tribulational rapture of saints who have died and those
who are alive. Of course, at the time of a
pro tribulational rapture, now Jesus said, when he comes back,
all who in the grace will come out, some will
rise to live, and some will rise to be condemned.
(10:41):
And I don't see a secret coming in for Stisalonians
chapter four. In fact, what you see there is the
Lord comes down with a loud command, with the voice
of the archangel, with the trumpet call of God. But again,
these are matters that we can debate vigorously. We ultimately
don't have to divide over them. I've written about this
in a book called The Apocalypse Code. Check it out
(11:02):
on the web at equip dot org. We'll be right
back at just a few moments with more of your
questions right here on the Bible answer Man broadcast. So
please don't touch that.
Speaker 1 (11:12):
Dial to find out more about the materials mentioned on
the show. Call a CRII resource consultant toll free at
eight eight eight seven thousand cri that's eight eight eight
seven thousand CRII. Our website is also an excellent reference
destination to help you. Just go to equip dot org
(11:34):
and find articles by Hank, books, CDs and DVDs. Again,
that's equip DOTRG or write crip O Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, ZIP two eight two seven one. The Bible
answer Man will continue in just a moment. Has God Spoken?
(12:07):
Are the words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or
are they, in fact the very words of God himself.
Three years in the making and based on two decades
of research and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental book Has God
Spoken answers what is surely the most important question facing
our world. In Has God Spoken? Memorable proofs of the
(12:31):
Bible's Divine inspiration, Hank counters the contentions of the Bible
attackers and clearly shows that belief in the Holy Scriptures
is not a guess or wishful thinking. It is the
only logical conclusion after an honest examination of overwhelming evidence
order has God spoken from the Christian Research Institute by
calling eighty eight seven thousand CRII or go online to
(12:54):
equip dot org. Equip dot org breaking the Code. If
the Book of Revelation has become an international obsession, the
result has been rampant misreading of scripture, bad theology, and
even bad politics and foreign policy. In the Apocalypse Code,
(13:15):
find out what the Bible really says about the end
times and why it matters today. Hank Canagraph argues that
the key to understanding the Last Book of the Bible
is the other sixty five books of the Bible, not
current events or recent history. The Apocalypse Code offers sane
answers to some very controversial questions, such as what does
(13:36):
it mean to take the Book of Revelation literally? Who
are the Antichrist and the Great Horror of Babylon? And
what is the real meaning of six hundred and sixty six.
Order the Apocalypse Code by Hank Cantagraph today, available in softcover,
MP three, CD or MP three download from equip dot
org or call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. Bertrand
(14:01):
Russell famously said most people would rather die than think,
and many of them do not so with CRI Support
Team members. Support Team members are not only serious thinkers,
but their membership and CRI's Support Team helps to equip
hundreds of thousands of fellow believers around the globe each
(14:22):
and every month. Are you not a member, then you're
missing out. Not only do Support Team members form the
backbone of Christian Research Institute's outreaches, but they enjoy their
selection of resources from our Equipping Essentials Library to discover
how you can make a difference twenty four to seven
and equipping believers at home and abroad to stand for
(14:45):
life and truth. Check out the benefits of membership at
equip dot org. Once again, that's equip dot org. Now
(15:07):
back to the Bible answer Man broadcast and your host
and Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Thank you very much, Randy in let's go right back
to our callers. Next up is Bobby listening in Princeton, Kentucky. Hi, Bobby, Hey,
how you doing? Hey good?
Speaker 5 (15:22):
My question deals with the ceremony of the Christian wedding,
And actually I'm doing some research for my pastor.
Speaker 6 (15:30):
At my church.
Speaker 5 (15:32):
What aspects of the Christian modern day Christian wedding ceremony
would be parallel to perhaps the first century Judeo Christian ceremony,
or even before that.
Speaker 2 (15:45):
Well, I mean, one of the things you see if
you look at biblical weddings is that they really took
the wedding seriously. So you not only have the parallel
of a wedding gown and a veil and a headdress
and these kinds of things, but you also have celebration.
And that celebration even after the merrymaking that takes place
(16:11):
and the bride is escorted to her nuptial chamber by
her parents, in the groom by his companions or the
bride's parents, even after that consummation of the marriage on
the very next day, the festivities continue for seven days.
So there's a real sense of celebration that takes place
(16:33):
in the biblical wedding, and there are parallels, but certainly
the point is this is something that is celebrated in community,
and it is something that is celebrated in commitment, such
that there is a commitment for the two who are
joined as one to honor and cherish one another until
(16:55):
death do us part. Let's go back to the phone lines.
Talk to Robin Brinson, Missouri.
Speaker 6 (17:02):
Hi, Rob, Hello, Hank Hi, I have a question here
pertaining to God and his actual real name, which in
my opinion is should be Yahweh, and that should be
used whenever his name is spoken. And I wondered why
(17:24):
you didn't use his name like that.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
Well, how do you pronounce it?
Speaker 6 (17:29):
Well, actually it's as we all know, the Bible was
written in the Hebrew and then in Grief. But I
guess it's actually yah yahweh.
Speaker 2 (17:42):
Well how do you know that? I mean, because if
you go to the Hebrew, you don't have any vowels.
So you've added some vowels, an A and an E
in order to come up with a pronunciation. But biblically,
what you have is the unspeakable four letters y H
(18:03):
WH or the tetragrammaton, and it represents the name of God.
And only God himself can say I am that I am,
which is what yahweh means. Now, whenever we pronounce it,
we're adding vowels, we're adding something. So these are unpronounceable letters.
You have four Hebrew letters. Those letters have been transliterated,
(18:30):
the vowels have been added to them for the purposes
of pronunciation. And so even if you look at how
it's interpreted or given to us in the New Testament.
The New Testament itself interprets it as Lord, but doesn't
give us the unspeakable four letters, but it gives us
(18:53):
a way of talking about the name of God. There
are other ways of talking about God as well the
title of God. We can talk about King of kings
and Lord of lords. But the unspeakable four letters or
the tetragrammatan represent the name of God. And the name
Yahweh carries with it the concept of eternal or self existence,
(19:14):
and therefore it is frequently applied to Christ. For example,
if you go to Romans ten thirteen, calling on Yahweh
again at pronunciation, that's interpretive because we've added our own vowels.
Calling on Yahweh and calling on Jesus Christ are equated,
demonstrating that Jesus Christ is God. Also, by the way,
the apostle John wrote that Isaiah saw the glory of Jesus.
(19:38):
The glory of Jesus and the glory of God are
thus equated. So the point here is that the sacred
name is not actually Yahweh but y h wh And
by the standard of people that want us to use
that name, they violated the principle by adding to God's
name by adding an A in an ea, So there's
(20:01):
no real warrant for claiming to know exactly how God's
name was pronounced, but the unspeakable for letters point to
the fact that God's name is to be revered as holy.
We'll go back to the phone lines. Talk to Doug
listening in Fort Worth, Texas. Hi, Doug, he.
Speaker 7 (20:20):
Thank you for taking my call. Sir, you're welcome. My
question is if God created all things, and all things
created by him, and Lucifer, whom he created, fail from
grace while in heaven, how did Lucifer learn Where did
Lucifer learn how to sin him to do this act?
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Well, remember that angels are sentient, rational beings, which means
that they have what's called intentionality. They have the ability
to think about something, the capacity of the mind to
think about something beyond themselves. So sat was fully capable
of understanding what sin is and what its consequences are
(21:07):
without ever having to experience it before understanding it, so
he could understand it before he ever experienced it. And again,
as a rational sentient being, non corporeal, non physical, but
a being, nonetheless, he could think about these things, and
he could exercise intentionality.
Speaker 7 (21:31):
So does that mean that God did in fact created sin.
Speaker 2 (21:35):
No. God, God created the page that turned into No.
God created the potential for sin. I mean the very
fact that he created Satan with intentionality as a sentient
being means that God created the potential for sin. Whenever
there is will or volition, there is the potential for sin.
(21:58):
So God didn't create sin. He created the potential for
sin because there was a choice, an intentionality in the
being that he chose, and as a result of creating
that potential, that potential can be exercised. And that's precisely
what happened when Satan exercised his intentionality as a rational
(22:21):
sension being.
Speaker 7 (22:23):
Okay, so then God, when he created luciferne that he
would sin and fall from grace. Is there right?
Speaker 2 (22:31):
God knows all things? Yes, absolutely, But the fact that
God knew what would happen does not mean that God
is the cause of what happened. The fact that you
know things in your past, things that happened to your past,
does not mean that what you know about is something
that you actually caused.
Speaker 7 (22:51):
Okay, I'm just trying to understand. I'm really not trying
to be argumentative at all.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
No, No, I want you to understand. I appreciate you
following going up with questions, because that's the whole point
to understand.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
Yes, sir, so, is this why then there will be
a new heaven and a new Earth. After Christ comes
back and takes control of the earth and we go
through all the situations and revelation for it, there will
be a thousand years of peace, and then he will
loose stating again, and then at period of time he
(23:26):
will be found and put into the Lake of fire
and says there will be a new heaven and new earth.
Is that the reason for the new heaven is because
sin did exist? I guess in first heaven.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Well, one of the things you said with respect to
revelation I wouldn't go along with. But in terms of
the general point, the general point is Adam and Eve
fell into lies of perpetual sin to me by death.
And then the rest of the Bible's God's unfolding plan
of redemption, which does culminate in a new heaven and
new Earth wherein dwells righteousness, so that paradise lost will
(23:58):
become paradise stored. We will forever be able not to sin.
We will be restored. We will be what we would
have been if sin had never come into the world.
Will be resurrected, immortal, imperishable, and corruptible. That's the hope
of the believer. Not only so, but the universe itself
will be restored. It now groans intravail, awaiting its liberation
(24:20):
from bondage to decay. But then it will be restored.
God does not scrap things, he redeems them. The universe
will be redeemed. We too will be redeemed and resurrected.
And that is the unfolding plan of redemption. So out
of the sin of Adam and Eve comes the best
(24:42):
of all possible worlds, a world that is restored, a
world in which we'll be able to learn and grow
and develop without error and forever explore the glory and
grandeur of God's created handiwork, and the glory and grandeur
of the One who saved us or redeemed us by grace.
Speaker 7 (25:02):
Okay, well here again, I'm just I'm curious if there's
gonna be a new Heaven and a new Earth Heaven
as it exists now, I'm not saying it will discard it,
but what is there gonna be to Heaven.
Speaker 2 (25:17):
Now, well, think about it this way. We can speak
about heaven as being with the Lord. It's described in
various ways in the Bible as Abraham's bosom or paradise.
So absent from the body, present with the Lord is
in a way talking about heaven. But Heaven ultimately is
pointing towards the universe restored to what it once was.
(25:41):
As Christians, we're not platonic. We don't think we're gonna
be going somewhere up there someplace, drumming a harp and
a cloud. No, we believe in a physical universe restored.
That is what heaven is. So Heaven will be a
place when this universe becomes para has restored. No more death, morning, crying,
(26:02):
or pain for the old work for things will have
passed away. Behold, all things become new out of time.
For this edition of the Bible Lissmen broadcast. Look forward
to seeing you next time with more of the broadcast.
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Thank you for joining us today. Our mission at the
Christian Research Institute is to defend the faith, answer Bible questions,
and encourage Christians to watch their life and doctrine closely,
to find resources to help equip you go to equip
dot org. That's equip dot org, or call us at
(26:34):
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII. You can also write
CRII at Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina,
two eight two seven one. The Bible answer Man Broadcast
is supported by listeners like you. We're on the air
because life and truth matter. Has God Spoken? Are the
(27:08):
words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or are they,
in fact the very words of God himself? Three years
in the making and based on two decades of research
and reflection, Hank Henagraph's monumental book Has God Spoken answers
what is surely the most important question facing our world.
In Has God Spoken? Memorable proofs of the Bible's Divine inspiration,
(27:32):
Hank counters the contentions of the Bible attackers and clearly
shows that belief in the Holy Scriptures is not a
guess or wishful thinking. It is the only logical conclusion
after an honest examination of overwhelming evidence. Ordered Has God Spoken?
From the Christian Research Institute by calling eighty eight seven
thousand CRII, or go online to equip dot org. Equip
(27:57):
dot org
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