December 27, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast, 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)
Is the incarnation like Muhammad Ali boxing with one hand behind his back? Chuck - Springville, CA (15:10)
I was talking with a Seventh-Day Adventist. Which day should we celebrate the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? David - OK (17:38)
I have a friend who preaches and really loves Jesus, but he’s a Oneness Pentecostal. Is he born again? Gary - St. Louis, MO (20:04)
Can you explain 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17? Gary - St. Louis, MO (24:32)
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)
Is the incarnation like Muhammad Ali boxing with one hand behind his back? Chuck - Springville, CA (15:10)
I was talking with a Seventh-Day Adventist. Which day should we celebrate the Sabbath, Saturday or Sunday? David - OK (17:38)
I have a friend who preaches and really loves Jesus, but he’s a Oneness Pentecostal. Is he born again? Gary - St. Louis, MO (20:04)
Can you explain 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17? Gary - St. Louis, MO (24:32)
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 best of the Bible
answer Man broadcast with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of
the Christian Research Institute. Our purpose here at CROI 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
(00:29):
deviate from the plumb 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. Now here's the President of the
(00:52):
Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank for March RANDI. The Bible tells us that all
scriptures God breathe 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
(01:16):
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 around 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 line. First up as Joey listening in Springfield, Missouri.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Hi, Joey, Hey, how are I Thank you for taking
my call?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
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, well.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
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 not in bits,
(04:43):
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 this is very helpful to read the Bible using
a plan like the Legacy Reading Plan, which by the way,
(05:05):
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 in God.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
He still did.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
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 (06:21):
Okay, thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
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. Want to
go back to the phone lines and now talk to
read in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
I read how you doing, Kyle?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I have a question Hur's Kyle Orcylly 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.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
As well.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I don't see it anywhere in the biblical text.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
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, the 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,
(08:15):
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 (08:54):
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 mine 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,
(09:39):
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 savior,
Jesus Christ. Take communion this do until I come again.
And of course the hope for all of us certainty
(10:00):
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 whom the graves will come out.
(10:23):
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. And I don't see a secret
(10:43):
coming in First Thessalonians 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 on the web at equip dot org.
(11:05):
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 dial.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
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 and find articles by Hank, books,
(11:37):
CDs and DVDs. Again, that's equip dot org or write
criip O Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, ZIP
two eight two seven one. The Bible answer Man will
continue in just a moment. The Complete Bible answer Book
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Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most often
asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades
as host of The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more
than half a million copies already in print, this newly
revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike
sort through the truth on topics such as reliability of
(12:25):
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many more issues vital to a better understanding of God
in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive your
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(12:46):
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changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit
us at equip dot org. Has God Spoken? Are the
(13:08):
words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or are they
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in the making and based on two decades of research
and reflection, Hank Henigraph'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,
(13:32):
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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
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(14:19):
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Speaker 2 (15:10):
That the phone lines will talk next to Chuck in Springville, California, Hi,
Chuck Heiy.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
First of all, I'd like to get in a plug
for the Bible Answerman Christian Research Institute. Just this week
I had a visit from a couple of Jehovah's witnesses,
and I was able to gently steer the conversation to
who was Jesus. Oh yeah, insisted Michael the archangel.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
So we went to Matthew twenty two long about verse
forty four and forty five, and I asked, well, who
did David call Lord? And they said, well, Jesus did say,
we know we've got people waiting in the car we
need to call. I appreciate it, well done. I appreciate
(15:58):
your ministry where you have prepared me to share my faith.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
The emphasis on gentleness and respect might need that.
Speaker 6 (16:07):
But my question is.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Jesus Christ, of course, is one hundred percent divine. When
he took on humanity, he voluntarily limited his himself. And
I'm wondering if a reasonable analogy would be that when
Muhammad Ali was at the height of his prowess, if
it would be like if he'd tied one hand behind
(16:30):
his back and gotten in the ring. He still had
the full power, but he chose to limit himself.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, I mean, I think in principle that's right. I mean,
Jesus Christ set aside the prerogative for independently using his
divine attributes but as you're alluding to, he didn't divest
himself of a single attribute of divinity. Otherwise his atonement
would have been insufficient, because as God, his passion on
(16:57):
the cross was sufficient to atone for the sins of
the whole world. As man, he identified with us in
our humanity as the second atom who did what the
first atom could not do.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
Right, Okay, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't
too far out and left field there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Well. I mean, I think it's good to try to
use analogies to which people can relate, and I think
it's also wise to make the qualification that, in your
experience most analogies break down. But maybe this is a
way to humanize it or to give someone an idea
of what you're talking about.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Okay, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You got it, and thank you for your kind words
and for your call back to the phone lines. We'll
talk next to David listening in Oklahoma. Hi, David, are
you good? Thank you?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I had a question and spoke today with a coal
worker who was a seven day Adventist. We talked about
three or four different topics. But want to go home.
And there's some research on honor the Sabbath day Saturday
or Sunday.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
And I thought, I call that.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
You kind of edcab directly.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Well, I mean, I think what the issue here is
is a recognition that Jesus is the substance that fulfills
the types and shadows, and that it is in Jesus
that we have our sabbath rest. And therefore, for the
early Christian Church, the most dangerous snare to avoid was
(18:31):
a failure of recognizing that it was in Christ we
have our sabbath rest, and the reason we are celebrating
on the first day of the week is simply in
honor of the central pillar and the historic Christian faith,
which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But I think
it's important too to look at what Paul says in
(18:51):
Colossians chapter two. For those who have the opposite point
of view, which is that they want to worship on
Saturday as a post to Sunday, I find no problem
with that whatsoever, as long as you don't fail to
recognize that it is in Christ that you have your
sabbath rests. In other words, so the mphosis is in
(19:12):
the right place. But Paul says, don't let anyone judge
you by what you eat or drink, or with regard
to a religious festival, a new moon celebration, a Sabbath day,
these are a shadow of the things that were to come.
The reality, however, is found in Christ. And what's great
about that passage is Paul presents a descending order, as
(19:35):
it were, from annual to monthly to weekly celebrations. And therefore,
what's in view when he talks about a Sabbath day
is a weekly Sabbath. And again, the issue that Paul
is underscoring is that Jesus is the substance. Jesus is
the reality, and a failure to recognize that would be
(19:58):
missing the point entirely.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Okay, thank you, you.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Got to thank you so much for your call back
to the phone lines. We'll talk next to Gary listening
in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Hi Gary, Hi Ink, how are you today?
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Good?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (20:13):
Yes, I'm sure I have a question for you. But
first of I give you a little background about this person.
He lives here in my apartment building, and he is
very faithful to the Lord in his in his faith
and his zeal and his love and his service. He
(20:36):
also preaches here in the cafeteria in the basement every week.
Sometimes he has ten, sometimes he has two, sometimes he
has no one. But he preaches his sermon all the
way through for the benefit of those who might be
hearing him in the lobby. And he's been doing this
(21:00):
for five years that I've been here, and without fail.
I mean, this guy is in love with the Lord
and in doing everything he can every day to be
faithful and serve in his service as well. Now, the
(21:21):
problem that I have with him is that he's the
one that's Pentecostal. He doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity.
Now I don't know how to take that. Is this
man born again? Is he going to make heaven? I
don't know how he stands with the Lord, and I
can't figure that out. I know there are scriptures that
(21:43):
says if you don't have the Father, then you don't
have Jesus. If you don't have Jesus, you don't have
a father. So how do we interpret that?
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Well, here's the thing. I don't think it's the absence
of truth that damns. It is the despising of truth
that as And ultimately, I think what is required in
cases like this is great humility, which is to say
that when I come to the Bible, I would very
much like to remake Christ in modalistic terms, because that's
(22:18):
something that I can identify with as a human being.
But I think what we have to do rather than
trying to remake what we read is simply bow ourselves
before God's self revelation, which is to say, the Bible
is clear when it says that there's only one God.
Polytheism just isn't a part of biblical thought. The Bible
(22:42):
is also clear in saying that the Father is God,
the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God,
and then crystal clear in saying Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are eternally distinct, such that the Father sends the son,
the son prays to the Father, the Father never becomes
comes the Sun. So it's not a matter of modes,
(23:04):
it's a matter of persons and personal self distinctions within
the Godhead. Now, I freely confess, as I've said on
the show many times, that this is beyond my comprehension.
It's only something that I apprehend in scripture, and I'm
willing to bow my knee as a human being, a
finite human being before that revelation of God. And therefore
(23:28):
I say, though I don't comprehend it, I apprehend it,
and thus I have this wonderful notion. For the rest
of my life, I'll be exploring the majesty of the
God who has identified himself in scripture, and even an
eternity when I as at or see him face to face,
(23:49):
or have requisite knowledge of God, even then, I will
spend an eternity seeking to comprehend the vastness of the
one who saved me by his grace. So I think
all too often we have a prideful notion that we
can comprehend the God who saves us, and in doing
(24:11):
that we diminish God. He is far greater than our comprehension,
and He never gives us something that is illogical, whereby
we have to believe a contradiction. He does, sometimes, however,
clearly manifest the mystery that we will be exploring for
all eternity.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Amen, Can I ask you one more quick question? Yeah,
I've heard you speak about the rapture, and I just
want to ask you if you could explain to me
what about the verse in First Tasconians chapter four about
that event. Could you explain to me what that means
(24:53):
there's not a raptor as it seems to be.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
What does it mean, Well, certainly there's nothing in that
texts that communicates a pre tribulational rapture. The notion that
Christ comes down, hovers in mid air, reverses course and
takes Christians up to heaven with him what that passage is.
And I would counsel you to go to the passage
and read it in context. Paul's talking to people about
(25:20):
the resurrection, and he's saying that because of the resurrection,
we do not have to grieve like the rest of
men who have no hope, because those who have died
are not going to be left in their graves. In fact,
they're going to precede us, and then we're going to
meet them as it were in the air, and therefore
will be with the Lord forever. The picture is very
(25:41):
analogous to what we have in Revelation chapter twenty one.
God comes down to be with us, and as he's
coming down we greet him. But God himself is the
text says, will live with us. We will be as people.
He will be our God. He'll wipe every tear from
our eyes. There'll be no more death, or morning or
crying or pay for the old order of things has
(26:02):
passed away. We've got a time for this edition of
the Bible answer Man Broadcast. Thanks for tuning in. Look
forward to seeing you next time with more the show.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
We appreciate you tuning in to the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
If you've been blessed by the broadcast and want more
information to help you grow in the grace and knowledge
of God, go to our website at equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. To contact a resource consultant, call
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII again, that's eight eight
(26:34):
eight seven thousand, two seven four, or you can write
to us at Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code 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. The
(27:00):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection
of the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received
throughout his four decades as host of the Bible answer
Man Broadcast. With more than half a million copies already
in print, this newly revised and expanded. Collector's Edition helped
seekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
(27:24):
such as reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the
resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues vital to a
better understanding of God in Christ and our relationship to Him.
To receive your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book
Collector's Edition Revised and Expanded, call eight eight eight seven
(27:44):
thousand CRII and make a gift to support the Christian
Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand
CRII or visit us at EQUIP dot org.
You're just in time for the best of the Bible
answer Man broadcast with Hank Canagraph, the radio outreach of
the Christian Research Institute. Our purpose here at CROI 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
(00:29):
deviate from the plumb 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. Now here's the President of the
(00:52):
Christian Research Institute, Hank Canagraph.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Thank for March RANDI. The Bible tells us that all
scriptures God breathe 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
(01:16):
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 around 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 line. First up as Joey listening in Springfield, Missouri.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Hi, Joey, Hey, how are I Thank you for taking
my call?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
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, well.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
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 not in bits,
(04:43):
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 this is very helpful to read the Bible using
a plan like the Legacy Reading Plan, which by the way,
(05:05):
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 in God.
Speaker 4 (05:23):
He still did.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
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 (06:21):
Okay, thank you, I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
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. Want to
go back to the phone lines and now talk to
read in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (06:32):
I read how you doing, Kyle?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Thank you?
Speaker 4 (06:35):
I have a question Hur's Kyle Orcylly 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.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
As well.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
I don't see it anywhere in the biblical text.
Speaker 4 (07:09):
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, the 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,
(08:15):
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 (08:54):
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 mine 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,
(09:39):
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 savior,
Jesus Christ. Take communion this do until I come again.
And of course the hope for all of us certainty
(10:00):
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 whom the graves will come out.
(10:23):
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. And I don't see a secret
(10:43):
coming in First Thessalonians 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 on the web at equip dot org.
(11:05):
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 dial.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
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 and find articles by Hank, books,
(11:37):
CDs and DVDs. Again, that's equip dot org or write
criip O Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, ZIP
two eight two seven one. The Bible answer Man will
continue in just a moment. The Complete Bible answer Book
(12:02):
Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection of the most often
asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received throughout his four decades
as host of The Bible answer Man broadcast. With more
than half a million copies already in print, this newly
revised and expanded Collector's Edition helped seekers and skeptics alike
sort through the truth on topics such as reliability of
(12:25):
the Bible, religions and cults, the resurrection and afterlife, and
many more issues vital to a better understanding of God
in Christ and our relationship to Him. To receive your
copy of the Complete Bible Answer Book Collector's Edition, revised
and expanded. Call eight eight eight seven thousand CRII and
(12:46):
make a gift to support the Christian Research Institute's life
changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand CRII or visit
us at equip dot org. Has God Spoken? Are the
(13:08):
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 Henigraph'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,
(13:32):
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
(13:57):
dot Org. Anyone who's been paying attention knows there's a
war going on, not just on traditional morality, civility, and decency,
but even more fundamentally on historic notions of truth and
the enemy isn't just the onslaught of fake news, facilitated
by a post truth culture and turbocharged by growing legions
(14:19):
of ideological spinductors. Note the real enemies of truth range
from postmodernist convictions that there is no objective truth to
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Support Team members are not waving a white flag of surrender.
(14:40):
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To learn how you can make a difference and enjoy
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dot org. Let's return to your host and canagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
That the phone lines will talk next to Chuck in Springville, California, Hi,
Chuck Heiy.
Speaker 5 (15:18):
First of all, I'd like to get in a plug
for the Bible Answerman Christian Research Institute. Just this week
I had a visit from a couple of Jehovah's witnesses,
and I was able to gently steer the conversation to
who was Jesus. Oh yeah, insisted Michael the archangel.
Speaker 2 (15:35):
Yes.
Speaker 5 (15:36):
So we went to Matthew twenty two long about verse
forty four and forty five, and I asked, well, who
did David call Lord? And they said, well, Jesus did say,
we know we've got people waiting in the car we
need to call. I appreciate it, well done. I appreciate
(15:58):
your ministry where you have prepared me to share my faith.
Speaker 2 (16:02):
Thank you.
Speaker 5 (16:02):
The emphasis on gentleness and respect might need that.
Speaker 6 (16:07):
But my question is.
Speaker 5 (16:10):
Jesus Christ, of course, is one hundred percent divine. When
he took on humanity, he voluntarily limited his himself. And
I'm wondering if a reasonable analogy would be that when
Muhammad Ali was at the height of his prowess, if
it would be like if he'd tied one hand behind
(16:30):
his back and gotten in the ring. He still had
the full power, but he chose to limit himself.
Speaker 2 (16:35):
Yeah, I mean, I think in principle that's right. I mean,
Jesus Christ set aside the prerogative for independently using his
divine attributes but as you're alluding to, he didn't divest
himself of a single attribute of divinity. Otherwise his atonement
would have been insufficient, because as God, his passion on
(16:57):
the cross was sufficient to atone for the sins of
the whole world. As man, he identified with us in
our humanity as the second atom who did what the
first atom could not do.
Speaker 5 (17:10):
Right, Okay, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't
too far out and left field there.
Speaker 2 (17:14):
Well. I mean, I think it's good to try to
use analogies to which people can relate, and I think
it's also wise to make the qualification that, in your
experience most analogies break down. But maybe this is a
way to humanize it or to give someone an idea
of what you're talking about.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
Okay, thank you very much.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
You got it, and thank you for your kind words
and for your call back to the phone lines. We'll
talk next to David listening in Oklahoma. Hi, David, are
you good? Thank you?
Speaker 4 (17:47):
I had a question and spoke today with a coal
worker who was a seven day Adventist. We talked about
three or four different topics. But want to go home.
And there's some research on honor the Sabbath day Saturday
or Sunday.
Speaker 6 (18:05):
And I thought, I call that.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
You kind of edcab directly.
Speaker 2 (18:09):
Well, I mean, I think what the issue here is
is a recognition that Jesus is the substance that fulfills
the types and shadows, and that it is in Jesus
that we have our sabbath rest. And therefore, for the
early Christian Church, the most dangerous snare to avoid was
(18:31):
a failure of recognizing that it was in Christ we
have our sabbath rest, and the reason we are celebrating
on the first day of the week is simply in
honor of the central pillar and the historic Christian faith,
which is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But I think
it's important too to look at what Paul says in
(18:51):
Colossians chapter two. For those who have the opposite point
of view, which is that they want to worship on
Saturday as a post to Sunday, I find no problem
with that whatsoever, as long as you don't fail to
recognize that it is in Christ that you have your
sabbath rests. In other words, so the mphosis is in
(19:12):
the right place. But Paul says, don't let anyone judge
you by what you eat or drink, or with regard
to a religious festival, a new moon celebration, a Sabbath day,
these are a shadow of the things that were to come.
The reality, however, is found in Christ. And what's great
about that passage is Paul presents a descending order, as
(19:35):
it were, from annual to monthly to weekly celebrations. And therefore,
what's in view when he talks about a Sabbath day
is a weekly Sabbath. And again, the issue that Paul
is underscoring is that Jesus is the substance. Jesus is
the reality, and a failure to recognize that would be
(19:58):
missing the point entirely.
Speaker 4 (20:00):
Okay, thank you, you.
Speaker 2 (20:02):
Got to thank you so much for your call back
to the phone lines. We'll talk next to Gary listening
in Saint Louis, Missouri.
Speaker 6 (20:09):
Hi Gary, Hi Ink, how are you today?
Speaker 5 (20:12):
Good?
Speaker 2 (20:12):
Thank you?
Speaker 6 (20:13):
Yes, I'm sure I have a question for you. But
first of I give you a little background about this person.
He lives here in my apartment building, and he is
very faithful to the Lord in his in his faith
and his zeal and his love and his service. He
(20:36):
also preaches here in the cafeteria in the basement every week.
Sometimes he has ten, sometimes he has two, sometimes he
has no one. But he preaches his sermon all the
way through for the benefit of those who might be
hearing him in the lobby. And he's been doing this
(21:00):
for five years that I've been here, and without fail.
I mean, this guy is in love with the Lord
and in doing everything he can every day to be
faithful and serve in his service as well. Now, the
(21:21):
problem that I have with him is that he's the
one that's Pentecostal. He doesn't believe in the Holy Trinity.
Now I don't know how to take that. Is this
man born again? Is he going to make heaven? I
don't know how he stands with the Lord, and I
can't figure that out. I know there are scriptures that
(21:43):
says if you don't have the Father, then you don't
have Jesus. If you don't have Jesus, you don't have
a father. So how do we interpret that?
Speaker 2 (21:53):
Well, here's the thing. I don't think it's the absence
of truth that damns. It is the despising of truth
that as And ultimately, I think what is required in
cases like this is great humility, which is to say
that when I come to the Bible, I would very
much like to remake Christ in modalistic terms, because that's
(22:18):
something that I can identify with as a human being.
But I think what we have to do rather than
trying to remake what we read is simply bow ourselves
before God's self revelation, which is to say, the Bible
is clear when it says that there's only one God.
Polytheism just isn't a part of biblical thought. The Bible
(22:42):
is also clear in saying that the Father is God,
the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God,
and then crystal clear in saying Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit are eternally distinct, such that the Father sends the son,
the son prays to the Father, the Father never becomes
comes the Sun. So it's not a matter of modes,
(23:04):
it's a matter of persons and personal self distinctions within
the Godhead. Now, I freely confess, as I've said on
the show many times, that this is beyond my comprehension.
It's only something that I apprehend in scripture, and I'm
willing to bow my knee as a human being, a
finite human being before that revelation of God. And therefore
(23:28):
I say, though I don't comprehend it, I apprehend it,
and thus I have this wonderful notion. For the rest
of my life, I'll be exploring the majesty of the
God who has identified himself in scripture, and even an
eternity when I as at or see him face to face,
(23:49):
or have requisite knowledge of God, even then, I will
spend an eternity seeking to comprehend the vastness of the
one who saved me by his grace. So I think
all too often we have a prideful notion that we
can comprehend the God who saves us, and in doing
(24:11):
that we diminish God. He is far greater than our comprehension,
and He never gives us something that is illogical, whereby
we have to believe a contradiction. He does, sometimes, however,
clearly manifest the mystery that we will be exploring for
all eternity.
Speaker 6 (24:31):
Amen, Can I ask you one more quick question? Yeah,
I've heard you speak about the rapture, and I just
want to ask you if you could explain to me
what about the verse in First Tasconians chapter four about
that event. Could you explain to me what that means
(24:53):
there's not a raptor as it seems to be.
Speaker 2 (24:56):
What does it mean, Well, certainly there's nothing in that
texts that communicates a pre tribulational rapture. The notion that
Christ comes down, hovers in mid air, reverses course and
takes Christians up to heaven with him what that passage is.
And I would counsel you to go to the passage
and read it in context. Paul's talking to people about
(25:20):
the resurrection, and he's saying that because of the resurrection,
we do not have to grieve like the rest of
men who have no hope, because those who have died
are not going to be left in their graves. In fact,
they're going to precede us, and then we're going to
meet them as it were in the air, and therefore
will be with the Lord forever. The picture is very
(25:41):
analogous to what we have in Revelation chapter twenty one.
God comes down to be with us, and as he's
coming down we greet him. But God himself is the
text says, will live with us. We will be as people.
He will be our God. He'll wipe every tear from
our eyes. There'll be no more death, or morning or
crying or pay for the old order of things has
(26:02):
passed away. We've got a time for this edition of
the Bible answer Man Broadcast. Thanks for tuning in. Look
forward to seeing you next time with more the show.
Speaker 1 (26:11):
We appreciate you tuning in to the Bible answer Man Broadcast.
If you've been blessed by the broadcast and want more
information to help you grow in the grace and knowledge
of God, go to our website at equip dot org.
That's equip dot org. To contact a resource consultant, call
eight eight eight seven thousand CRII again, that's eight eight
(26:34):
eight seven thousand, two seven four, or you can write
to us at Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte,
North Carolina, zip code 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. The
(27:00):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition is the comprehensive collection
of the most often asked questions Hank Hannigraph has received
throughout his four decades as host of the Bible answer
Man Broadcast. With more than half a million copies already
in print, this newly revised and expanded. Collector's Edition helped
seekers and skeptics alike sort through the truth on topics
(27:24):
such as reliability of the Bible, religions and cults, the
resurrection and afterlife, and many more issues vital to a
better understanding of God in Christ and our relationship to Him.
To receive your copy of the Complete Bible answer Book
Collector's Edition Revised and Expanded, call eight eight eight seven
(27:44):
thousand CRII and make a gift to support the Christian
Research Institute's life changing outreaches eight eight eight seven thousand
CRII or visit us at EQUIP dot org.
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