February 6, 2025 • 28 mins
On today’s Bible Answer Man broadcast (02/06/25), Hank answers the following questions:
What happens when we die? Must we wait for the Second Coming, or do we go immediately to be with the Lord? Kathy - Salt Lake City, UT (1:24)
What day should we worship? What about the Sabbath Day? Beatrice - Bakersfield, CA (5:12)
Is the mark of the beast symbolic, or is it a literal mark? Brian - Merced, CA (15:10)
Why do you not believe that God has a literal throne? Don - Oklahoma City, OK (20:23)
What happens when we die? Must we wait for the Second Coming, or do we go immediately to be with the Lord? Kathy - Salt Lake City, UT (1:24)
What day should we worship? What about the Sabbath Day? Beatrice - Bakersfield, CA (5:12)
Is the mark of the beast symbolic, or is it a literal mark? Brian - Merced, CA (15:10)
Why do you not believe that God has a literal throne? Don - Oklahoma City, OK (20:23)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to the Bible answer Man Broadcast with the President
of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canigraph. Our mission is
to equip you with answers to share the hope that
you have within you because life and truth matter. Why
because being armed with truth will equip you to counter
the corrosive worldviews at work in our world today, while
(00:30):
experiencing the authentic Christian life will make you a winsome
witness of the purpose of life, which is to experience
union with God and Christ, both for today and for
all eternity. For more information about CRII and the Bible
answer Man Broadcast, our phone number is eight eight eight
seven thousand CROI. You can find us online at equip
(00:53):
dot org. The following program was pre recorded and now
here's Hank Hannah.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you very much, Randy. As always, it is great
to be in studio as you answer your questions throughout
the United States and Canada. You can contact us in
various ways on the web, equipped dot org, via the
mail at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip
code two eight two seven to one, and through our
resource consultants at Triple eight seven thousand, and the letters CRI.
(01:23):
A lot of people hanging on will go right to
our phone callers. First up today is Kathy Salt Lake City, Utah.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Hi, Kathy, hiks, thanks for taking my call, my pleasure.
On another program, I heard you talk in depth about
Jesus's words about the end times and also about revelation.
I thought what you had to say made a lot
of sense, but I also came away being really confused.
So I guess my question is do we have to
(01:54):
wait for a second coming or when we die we
go straight to be with Christ.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
What happens, well, what happens when you die? You're absent
from the body present with the Lord. So at death
there's an un natural rending between body and soul. The
body is buried, the soul goes to be with the Lord.
If you are a believer, what happens when Jesus comes
a second time or appears a second time? As the
(02:21):
writer of Hebrews puts it, At that time, those who
have died in Christ are resurrected, immortal, imperishablely in corruptible.
And that's why Paul says, we do not grieve like
the rest of men.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Who have no hope.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We believe that Jesus died and rose again. And so
we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in him. That we will literally be
raised when Jesus returns at the last trump at the
loud command of the archangel, at the trumpet call of God.
When that takes place, the bodies in graves will arise, immortal,
(02:59):
lif imperishable, incorruptible, will be changed in a moment and
twinkling of an eye. So the body and the soul
will be reunited and will be what we were always
intended to be, will be real, physical human beings living
in a real physical universe, with a real, physically resurrected Christ.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But as far as you're concerned, our scriptures do not
give us any indication of when that event may take place.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Well, they don't. They give us no indication of that whatsoever.
They do tell us that that will happen. In fact,
if you look at Revelation chapter twenty one, you hear
a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling
of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be as people, and God himself will be
(03:47):
with them and be their God, He'll wipe every tear
from their eyes. There'll be no more death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things
has passed away. And then we have the assurance that
he who was seated on the throne is saying, I'm
making everything new, and that these words are trustworthy and true.
(04:10):
So we can absolutely depend on the fact that Jesus
will return a second time, and when he does, he
will put all things to right.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
The dead will be.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Raised, the problem is sin and Satan will be fully
and finally resolved, and this universe that now groans and
travail will be liberated from its bondage to decay. All
of that we can believe with certainty because the Bible
clearly and emphatically teaches it, and we can demonstrate that
the Bible's divine as opposed to merely human in origin.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
So there's no way then that the second Coming. I
always wondered if the second Coming wasn't this when we died,
and that's when we saw him again, and that was
like the second Coming.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
No, Jesus Christ will appear a second time, and that
is a yet future event that does not dependent on
when we die. It depends on when he returns to
bring a resolution to all things.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Okay, that clears up a lot for me. Thanks a lot,
you got it.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Beatrice is next listening in Bakersfield, California.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Hi, Beatrice.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Oh it's such a pleasure. I'm just so happy that
you took my call. Thank you. I just started listening
to you and I had a question on the Sabbath,
because I've gone to the seventh Day advantage off and on,
and I wanted to know, what did you think about
(05:37):
the sab Is the Sabbath being the day to worship, Well,
it's not.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We worship on the first day of the week in
a remembrance of the resurrection. This is precisely what the
early Christian Church did. They changed the day of worship
from Saturday to Sunday, and within weeks, thousands of Jews
willingly gave up a theological tradition that had given them
their national identity. God himself had provided the early Christian
(06:06):
Church with a new pattern of worship through Christ's resurrection
on the first day of the week. Not to mention
the fact that the Holy Spirit's descent came on Pentecost Sunday.
But this is something that you always see in scripture.
You see a pattern, but that pattern has a different emphasis.
For example, in Genesis, the Sabbath was a celebration of
(06:29):
God's work in creation. After the Exodus, the Sabbath was
a celebration of God's deliverance from oppression in Egypt and
as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
emphasis of the Sabbath was on the celebration of rest
we have through Christ, who delivers us from sin in
the grave, and therefore, for the emerging Christian Church, the
(06:53):
most dangerous snare was a failure to recognize that Jesus
was the substance that filled the symbol of the Sabbath,
and therefore we do not have to be slavishly bound
to Sabbatarian laws. The Sabbatarian laws themselves tell us that
if anyone doesn't need to work on the Sabbath, they
had to be put to death. But Paul explains that
(07:16):
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us, and therefore the shadow has
given birth to a reality, and that reality is found
in Jesus Christ, and that's why we celebrate resurrection every
(07:36):
single Sunday because we have our rest in Jesus Christ,
who fulfills all the mandate of the law.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Okay, now I'm slow to understand, so you have to
speak more simplest for me, because you say that what
I thought you said was that it has been changed. Now,
what isn't that one of the taint the moments? And
(08:07):
you don't change the law of God.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
No, we're not changing the law of God. What we're
saying is that we are celebrating the Sabbath on the
first day of the week because Christ has come as
the substance that fulfills the types and shadows. This is
the very reason that we no longer use temple priests
and sacrifice, because the ultimate sacrificial Lamb has come, and
(08:33):
because the substance has come, we now celebrate the substance
rather than the shadow. But that does not change the
fact that we set aside one of seven days to
celebrate the rest we have in Jesus Christ.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
But okay, you say that you celebrate it. But okay,
but it's still celebrate it. It's not God that's said
to celebrate it. Isn't it still on the tent commandments?
And we should keep it the tink commandments.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
But we need to recognize that civil and ceremonial laws,
the laws that are part of a theocratic system, mosaic law,
et cetera, have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And yes,
it is right for you to say that the moral
aspects of the law are things that have not been abrogated.
(09:34):
But we have to recognize that substance comes and shadow
is supplanted. And that's why the New Covenant is better
than the Old Covenant, because the blood of Jesus Christ
is better than the blood of bulls and goats. So
it is a dangerous snare to fail to recognize that
(09:56):
Jesus is that substance that fulfills the symbol of the Sabbath.
And yes, we do continue to celebrate that Sabbath, but
on the first day of the week in recognition of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the bottom line. Again,
I've written about this in various places. You can check
(10:18):
it out in the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
available through the ministry at the Christian Research Institute.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
You can order your copy of the.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition on the webit equipped
dot org. You can do so through the mail at
Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip
code two eight two seven one. You can also talk
to our resource consultants Triple eight seven thousand and the
letters here. I'll be right back in just a few
moments with more answers to your questions right here on
(10:47):
the Bible Answerman Broadcast.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Oh please don't touch that dial.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's character Pharimir voices
the thoughts of countless soldiers throughout history. War must be
while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would
devour all. But I do not love the bright sword
for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor
the warrior for his glory. I love only that which
(11:13):
they defend. If you two love what together we defend,
our faith, biblical truth and our freedoms. Become a member
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Book Collector's Edition revised and expanded. Call eight eight eight
(11:38):
seven thousand CRII or visit our website at equip dot org.
That's eight eight eight seven thousand CRII, or simply visit
our website at equip dot org. Hank Hanigraph will be
back right after the break. 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. The number of wolves surrounding
the Christian flock is growing, and they relish nothing more
than docile's sheep, utterly incapable of defending themselves from militant
(13:11):
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biblical Christianity are growing dangerously, but Christian Research Institutes Support
Team members aren't in favor of feeding these wolves. Instead,
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(13:32):
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(13:52):
Once again, that's equip dot org. Has God Spoken? Are
the words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or are
they in fact the very words of God himself? Three
(14:15):
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.
Hank counters the contentions of the Bible attackers and clearly
(14:36):
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 equip dot org. Equip
(14:56):
dot org and now here's Hank anagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Let's say for much ready, let's go right back to
our phone callers, Doctor Brian in Mesaid, California, by Brian.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Hello, Hank. I'd like to say this is the first
time caller, longtime listener. I have a lot of respec
for your radio show. Yeah, my question is about the
It's about the book Revelation and having to do with
the number six sixty six as the mark of the beast.
I was wondering whether you think this is actually actually
(15:38):
a literal number, literal or symbolic mark, because there have
been some claims out there by well mostly on the Internet,
that the mark of the beast is the r f
I D chip radio frequency identification and I was wondering
what your thoughts about that are if it's really a
literal mark, or if it's symbolic for something, or if
(15:59):
there's meaning behind it.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, first of all, recognize that internet lies travel halfway
around the world before truth has had the chance to
put its boots on, and so the Internet is fraught
with misinformation and disinformation, and we need to learn as
Christians to use discernment skills. And the way we would
(16:21):
use discernment skills in this case is to recognize what John,
the author of Revelation wrote. He told a first century
audience that with wisdom and insight they would be able
to calculate the number of the beast, for it is
man's number. His number is six hundred sixty and six. Well,
(16:43):
obviously no amount of wisdom and insight would have enabled
a first century audience to calculate the number of a
twenty first century beast, and it would have been cruel
and dangerously misleading for John to suggest a first century
crit Christians that they could identify the beast if, in fact,
(17:04):
the beast was a twenty first century individual or institution.
So if we read John for all he's worth, we
recognize that he's telling a first century audience that they
are going to be able with wisdom and understanding to
identify a beast in their midst. And therefore also.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
Some claims out there. I don't know who it's by, though,
that the number six sixty six calculates as the Roman
emperor Nero.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Well, I think that's a perfectly plausible explanation. In fact,
I show in a book called the Apocalypse Code how
numbers can be transposed into letters, and how through what
is called gametria, you can identify Nero Caesar as the
(18:00):
beast that John is identifying in the Book of Revelation.
And remember that this makes sense because Revelation tells us
that the looming apocalypse is on the horizon, that the
time is near, and all these things will take place soon.
Soon and near mean exactly that soon and near. So
(18:21):
John is warning the seven churches in the province of
Asia that there is a looming apocalypse and that they
are called to be faithful and fruitful. They'll suffer for
a short time, but their vindication will be an eternal vindication.
Speaker 7 (18:37):
That's very good.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Well, yeah, thank thanks for the insight on that and
the answer.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Thank you so much. And of course paranoid prophecy. Pundits
today are touting vera chip technologies the mark of the
beast spoken of in Revelation thirteen. The contrary to that
kind of newspaper eschatology, there's no biblical basis for believing
that the mark of the beast is a silicon microchip. Biblically,
(19:04):
the mark of the beast is a parody of the
mark of the Lamb. I've explained that many times on
the Biblance men broadcast the mark on the foreheads of
the one hundred and forty four thousand, or the full
complement of God's people in Revelation fourteen symbolizes identity with
the Lamb, and in the same way the mark in
Revelation thirteen symbolizes identity with the beast. And we have
(19:29):
to remember that the forehead in the hands of Old
Testament believers symbolized the belief and behavior of those believers.
In other words, what they believed in, how they behaved
mark them as either belonging to God or belonging to Satan.
And therefore John's reference to the mark of the beast
(19:51):
in Revelation is securely tethered to scripture. The notion that
the mark of the beast is a Sunday worship practice,
or a Social Security card or a silicon microchip, has
no biblical basis whatsoever. Therefore, we must renew our minds,
(20:15):
be transformed in our minds by learning to mine the
scriptures for all their worth. Let's go back to the
phone lines. Next up is done. He's in Oklahoma. A.
I don how you doing, henk, Well, I'm doing fine,
good talking to you.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
My question is about on another day you were talking
about physical and spiritual and you talk about the fact
that you didn't think that God had a literal throne. Well,
let me ask you a question. What are you sitting
in right now?
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I'm sitting in a chair.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Okay. What's the chair made of?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I'm not sure. Okay, it looks like plastic.
Speaker 7 (20:54):
What I'm trying to point out is this right here. Okay,
both of y'all are arguing from a position, but you're
not carrying your position to a logical conclusion, and so
you're going to be continuously going off on a tangent,
so to speaking. No, you tell me if I'm right
on this when I'm saying this, Okay, everything in existence
(21:16):
is God material, the only thing in existence is God
and therefore God material. If you want to call that spirit,
as the Bible does, then okay, you can call it spirit,
But then spirit is an anthropomorphic term to help us
understand God material. So what you're sitting in right now
(21:41):
is actually spirit material reform reconstituted in some way. If
we don't go to the point or the idea that
literally something can come from nothing, Not even God has
the power to create something from nothing.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Now, hopefully you're not trying to get a panthe worldview
or a pententheistic mind.
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Or what I try to define is only something carried
to its logical conclusion. You have to carry every proposition
to its logical conclusions.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Right, But what you're saying is simply untrue from a
Biblical standpoint. Creation is brought into existence and sustained by
God and is not part of God. The biblical worldview
says God created everything ex nihilo out of nothing, and
certainly Mormons and others they contend that matter has co
(22:34):
existed eternally with God. But the opening statement in the
Bible says something far different. In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth and points to the truth
that God created everything out of nothing. Let's get to
the point that you made at the very beginning, and
then we'll get into some of the ramblings later on.
The issue here is, do you believe that God has
(22:55):
a literal golden throne? Is that what you're suggesting you are?
Speaker 7 (23:00):
Let me explain why. Okay, you exist right now, right,
yes I do. Okay, if you exist and your spirit material, okay,
and you have to come from God because nothing.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
What is spirit material?
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Spirit material is God material because nothing can exist outside
of God. Nothing can exist outside of God. So everything
that is in existence is a reconstitution or a reformed whatever.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Well, I mean, okay, but in all due respect, I mean,
evidently you're a very erudite individual, so you know that
what you're communicating has nothing whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
To do with a biblical worldview.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The doctrine of creation ex Nihilo rules out the idea
that finite realities like time and space and matter emanate
from the essence of God. Creation is neither divine nor
a derivative of God's essence. But the point here that
you started with is a point that I want to
(24:04):
drive home. God does not sit on a literal throne.
And when the language of scripture is hijacked by people
who do not want to take seriously the literal principal
biblical interpretation, you end up with nonsense. But when the
Bible says that there are seven golden lamp stands, do
(24:25):
you believe that there are actually seven golden lamp stands?
Speaker 7 (24:28):
When and where are you talking about? We're at where
do these lamp stands exist at?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Well, this is where John has the vision and he
sees Jesus walking among seven golden lamps.
Speaker 7 (24:40):
Answer it. Let me answer it with a question, no,
no answer it.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Do you believe that when Jesus is standing among seven
golden lampstands, that he's actually standing amongst seven physically golden lampstands. Okay, well,
the Bible says something different. So what I'm trying to
point out is that when you do that, you wreak
havoc with the Bible's own interpretation, because the Bible says
(25:05):
that the seven golden lamp stands are seven churches. Not
only so, but the Bible also talks about seven golden bulls,
and those bulls are full of incense. Well, if you
actually take your hermeneutic you say, well, these are actually
seven golden bulls and they're full of incense. But the
(25:26):
Bible contradicts you. The Bible says, no, they are not.
The Bible says they are the prayers of the saints.
So the point here is that we want to read
scripture in light of scripture, rather than trying to impose
a foreign worldview on the Bible. A and B interpret
(25:47):
the Bible other than the way that the Bible interprets itself.
I'm gonna have to let you go. I want to
thank everybody for tuning into this edition of the Bible
Answerment broadcast. This ministry could not continue without your prayers
and without your financial support.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
You be generous.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
We'll use the resources for God's glory and for the
extension of His kingdom. Again, thanks for tuning in. We'll
see it right here next time with more of the show.
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
CRI 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. The Complete Bible answer Book
(27:02):
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
(27:25):
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
(27:46):
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.
Welcome to the Bible answer Man Broadcast with the President
of the Christian Research Institute, Hank Canigraph. Our mission is
to equip you with answers to share the hope that
you have within you because life and truth matter. Why
because being armed with truth will equip you to counter
the corrosive worldviews at work in our world today, while
(00:30):
experiencing the authentic Christian life will make you a winsome
witness of the purpose of life, which is to experience
union with God and Christ, both for today and for
all eternity. For more information about CRII and the Bible
answer Man Broadcast, our phone number is eight eight eight
seven thousand CROI. You can find us online at equip
(00:53):
dot org. The following program was pre recorded and now
here's Hank Hannah.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Thank you very much, Randy. As always, it is great
to be in studio as you answer your questions throughout
the United States and Canada. You can contact us in
various ways on the web, equipped dot org, via the
mail at box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip
code two eight two seven to one, and through our
resource consultants at Triple eight seven thousand, and the letters CRI.
(01:23):
A lot of people hanging on will go right to
our phone callers. First up today is Kathy Salt Lake City, Utah.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
Hi, Kathy, hiks, thanks for taking my call, my pleasure.
On another program, I heard you talk in depth about
Jesus's words about the end times and also about revelation.
I thought what you had to say made a lot
of sense, but I also came away being really confused.
So I guess my question is do we have to
(01:54):
wait for a second coming or when we die we
go straight to be with Christ.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
What happens, well, what happens when you die? You're absent
from the body present with the Lord. So at death
there's an un natural rending between body and soul. The
body is buried, the soul goes to be with the Lord.
If you are a believer, what happens when Jesus comes
a second time or appears a second time? As the
(02:21):
writer of Hebrews puts it, At that time, those who
have died in Christ are resurrected, immortal, imperishablely in corruptible.
And that's why Paul says, we do not grieve like
the rest of men.
Speaker 4 (02:34):
Who have no hope.
Speaker 2 (02:34):
We believe that Jesus died and rose again. And so
we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who
have fallen asleep in him. That we will literally be
raised when Jesus returns at the last trump at the
loud command of the archangel, at the trumpet call of God.
When that takes place, the bodies in graves will arise, immortal,
(02:59):
lif imperishable, incorruptible, will be changed in a moment and
twinkling of an eye. So the body and the soul
will be reunited and will be what we were always
intended to be, will be real, physical human beings living
in a real physical universe, with a real, physically resurrected Christ.
Speaker 3 (03:17):
But as far as you're concerned, our scriptures do not
give us any indication of when that event may take place.
Speaker 2 (03:27):
Well, they don't. They give us no indication of that whatsoever.
They do tell us that that will happen. In fact,
if you look at Revelation chapter twenty one, you hear
a loud voice from the throne saying, now the dwelling
of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be as people, and God himself will be
(03:47):
with them and be their God, He'll wipe every tear
from their eyes. There'll be no more death or mourning
or crying or pain, for the old order of things
has passed away. And then we have the assurance that
he who was seated on the throne is saying, I'm
making everything new, and that these words are trustworthy and true.
(04:10):
So we can absolutely depend on the fact that Jesus
will return a second time, and when he does, he
will put all things to right.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
The dead will be.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Raised, the problem is sin and Satan will be fully
and finally resolved, and this universe that now groans and
travail will be liberated from its bondage to decay. All
of that we can believe with certainty because the Bible
clearly and emphatically teaches it, and we can demonstrate that
the Bible's divine as opposed to merely human in origin.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
So there's no way then that the second Coming. I
always wondered if the second Coming wasn't this when we died,
and that's when we saw him again, and that was
like the second Coming.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
No, Jesus Christ will appear a second time, and that
is a yet future event that does not dependent on
when we die. It depends on when he returns to
bring a resolution to all things.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Okay, that clears up a lot for me. Thanks a lot,
you got it.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Beatrice is next listening in Bakersfield, California.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
Hi, Beatrice.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
Oh it's such a pleasure. I'm just so happy that
you took my call. Thank you. I just started listening
to you and I had a question on the Sabbath,
because I've gone to the seventh Day advantage off and on,
and I wanted to know, what did you think about
(05:37):
the sab Is the Sabbath being the day to worship, Well,
it's not.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
We worship on the first day of the week in
a remembrance of the resurrection. This is precisely what the
early Christian Church did. They changed the day of worship
from Saturday to Sunday, and within weeks, thousands of Jews
willingly gave up a theological tradition that had given them
their national identity. God himself had provided the early Christian
(06:06):
Church with a new pattern of worship through Christ's resurrection
on the first day of the week. Not to mention
the fact that the Holy Spirit's descent came on Pentecost Sunday.
But this is something that you always see in scripture.
You see a pattern, but that pattern has a different emphasis.
For example, in Genesis, the Sabbath was a celebration of
(06:29):
God's work in creation. After the Exodus, the Sabbath was
a celebration of God's deliverance from oppression in Egypt and
as a result of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The
emphasis of the Sabbath was on the celebration of rest
we have through Christ, who delivers us from sin in
the grave, and therefore, for the emerging Christian Church, the
(06:53):
most dangerous snare was a failure to recognize that Jesus
was the substance that filled the symbol of the Sabbath,
and therefore we do not have to be slavishly bound
to Sabbatarian laws. The Sabbatarian laws themselves tell us that
if anyone doesn't need to work on the Sabbath, they
had to be put to death. But Paul explains that
(07:16):
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by
becoming a curse for us, and therefore the shadow has
given birth to a reality, and that reality is found
in Jesus Christ, and that's why we celebrate resurrection every
(07:36):
single Sunday because we have our rest in Jesus Christ,
who fulfills all the mandate of the law.
Speaker 5 (07:46):
Okay, now I'm slow to understand, so you have to
speak more simplest for me, because you say that what
I thought you said was that it has been changed. Now,
what isn't that one of the taint the moments? And
(08:07):
you don't change the law of God.
Speaker 2 (08:09):
No, we're not changing the law of God. What we're
saying is that we are celebrating the Sabbath on the
first day of the week because Christ has come as
the substance that fulfills the types and shadows. This is
the very reason that we no longer use temple priests
and sacrifice, because the ultimate sacrificial Lamb has come, and
(08:33):
because the substance has come, we now celebrate the substance
rather than the shadow. But that does not change the
fact that we set aside one of seven days to
celebrate the rest we have in Jesus Christ.
Speaker 5 (08:51):
But okay, you say that you celebrate it. But okay,
but it's still celebrate it. It's not God that's said
to celebrate it. Isn't it still on the tent commandments?
And we should keep it the tink commandments.
Speaker 2 (09:11):
But we need to recognize that civil and ceremonial laws,
the laws that are part of a theocratic system, mosaic law,
et cetera, have been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. And yes,
it is right for you to say that the moral
aspects of the law are things that have not been abrogated.
(09:34):
But we have to recognize that substance comes and shadow
is supplanted. And that's why the New Covenant is better
than the Old Covenant, because the blood of Jesus Christ
is better than the blood of bulls and goats. So
it is a dangerous snare to fail to recognize that
(09:56):
Jesus is that substance that fulfills the symbol of the Sabbath.
And yes, we do continue to celebrate that Sabbath, but
on the first day of the week in recognition of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That's the bottom line. Again,
I've written about this in various places. You can check
(10:18):
it out in the Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition,
available through the ministry at the Christian Research Institute.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
You can order your copy of the.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
Complete Bible answer Book Collector's Edition on the webit equipped
dot org. You can do so through the mail at
Post Office Box eighty five hundred, Charlotte, North Carolina, zip
code two eight two seven one. You can also talk
to our resource consultants Triple eight seven thousand and the
letters here. I'll be right back in just a few
moments with more answers to your questions right here on
(10:47):
the Bible Answerman Broadcast.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
Oh please don't touch that dial.
Speaker 1 (10:51):
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien's character Pharimir voices
the thoughts of countless soldiers throughout history. War must be
while we defend our lives against a destroyer who would
devour all. But I do not love the bright sword
for its sharpness, nor the arrow for its swiftness, nor
the warrior for his glory. I love only that which
(11:13):
they defend. If you two love what together we defend,
our faith, biblical truth and our freedoms. Become a member
of CRI's support team today by calling eight eight eight
seven thousand CRII, and as our thanks, Hank Hanigraph will
personalize to you a copy of his Complete Bible Ancer
Book Collector's Edition revised and expanded. Call eight eight eight
(11:38):
seven thousand CRII or visit our website at equip dot org.
That's eight eight eight seven thousand CRII, or simply visit
our website at equip dot org. Hank Hanigraph will be
back right after the break. 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. The number of wolves surrounding
the Christian flock is growing, and they relish nothing more
than docile's sheep, utterly incapable of defending themselves from militant
(13:11):
secularists at home to militant Islamists abroad. The assaults on
biblical Christianity are growing dangerously, but Christian Research Institutes Support
Team members aren't in favor of feeding these wolves. Instead,
each day they're making possible an array of outreaches that
defang these wolfpacks with solid arguments and evidence that have
(13:32):
stood the test of time. What's more, Support Team members
are equipping themselves with criis Equipping Essentials, a handpicked collection
of the best apologetics tools around. Your selection of resources
are just our way of saying thanks. To learn more
about the benefits of membership, simply visit equip dot org.
(13:52):
Once again, that's equip dot org. Has God Spoken? Are
the words of Scripture merely human in origin? Or are
they in fact the very words of God himself? Three
(14:15):
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.
Hank counters the contentions of the Bible attackers and clearly
(14:36):
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 equip dot org. Equip
(14:56):
dot org and now here's Hank anagraph.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
Let's say for much ready, let's go right back to
our phone callers, Doctor Brian in Mesaid, California, by Brian.
Speaker 6 (15:16):
Hello, Hank. I'd like to say this is the first
time caller, longtime listener. I have a lot of respec
for your radio show. Yeah, my question is about the
It's about the book Revelation and having to do with
the number six sixty six as the mark of the beast.
I was wondering whether you think this is actually actually
(15:38):
a literal number, literal or symbolic mark, because there have
been some claims out there by well mostly on the Internet,
that the mark of the beast is the r f
I D chip radio frequency identification and I was wondering
what your thoughts about that are if it's really a
literal mark, or if it's symbolic for something, or if
(15:59):
there's meaning behind it.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Well, first of all, recognize that internet lies travel halfway
around the world before truth has had the chance to
put its boots on, and so the Internet is fraught
with misinformation and disinformation, and we need to learn as
Christians to use discernment skills. And the way we would
(16:21):
use discernment skills in this case is to recognize what John,
the author of Revelation wrote. He told a first century
audience that with wisdom and insight they would be able
to calculate the number of the beast, for it is
man's number. His number is six hundred sixty and six. Well,
(16:43):
obviously no amount of wisdom and insight would have enabled
a first century audience to calculate the number of a
twenty first century beast, and it would have been cruel
and dangerously misleading for John to suggest a first century
crit Christians that they could identify the beast if, in fact,
(17:04):
the beast was a twenty first century individual or institution.
So if we read John for all he's worth, we
recognize that he's telling a first century audience that they
are going to be able with wisdom and understanding to
identify a beast in their midst. And therefore also.
Speaker 6 (17:26):
Some claims out there. I don't know who it's by, though,
that the number six sixty six calculates as the Roman
emperor Nero.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
Well, I think that's a perfectly plausible explanation. In fact,
I show in a book called the Apocalypse Code how
numbers can be transposed into letters, and how through what
is called gametria, you can identify Nero Caesar as the
(18:00):
beast that John is identifying in the Book of Revelation.
And remember that this makes sense because Revelation tells us
that the looming apocalypse is on the horizon, that the
time is near, and all these things will take place soon.
Soon and near mean exactly that soon and near. So
(18:21):
John is warning the seven churches in the province of
Asia that there is a looming apocalypse and that they
are called to be faithful and fruitful. They'll suffer for
a short time, but their vindication will be an eternal vindication.
Speaker 7 (18:37):
That's very good.
Speaker 6 (18:38):
Well, yeah, thank thanks for the insight on that and
the answer.
Speaker 2 (18:43):
Thank you so much. And of course paranoid prophecy. Pundits
today are touting vera chip technologies the mark of the
beast spoken of in Revelation thirteen. The contrary to that
kind of newspaper eschatology, there's no biblical basis for believing
that the mark of the beast is a silicon microchip. Biblically,
(19:04):
the mark of the beast is a parody of the
mark of the Lamb. I've explained that many times on
the Biblance men broadcast the mark on the foreheads of
the one hundred and forty four thousand, or the full
complement of God's people in Revelation fourteen symbolizes identity with
the Lamb, and in the same way the mark in
Revelation thirteen symbolizes identity with the beast. And we have
(19:29):
to remember that the forehead in the hands of Old
Testament believers symbolized the belief and behavior of those believers.
In other words, what they believed in, how they behaved
mark them as either belonging to God or belonging to Satan.
And therefore John's reference to the mark of the beast
(19:51):
in Revelation is securely tethered to scripture. The notion that
the mark of the beast is a Sunday worship practice,
or a Social Security card or a silicon microchip, has
no biblical basis whatsoever. Therefore, we must renew our minds,
(20:15):
be transformed in our minds by learning to mine the
scriptures for all their worth. Let's go back to the
phone lines. Next up is done. He's in Oklahoma. A.
I don how you doing, henk, Well, I'm doing fine,
good talking to you.
Speaker 7 (20:30):
My question is about on another day you were talking
about physical and spiritual and you talk about the fact
that you didn't think that God had a literal throne. Well,
let me ask you a question. What are you sitting
in right now?
Speaker 4 (20:46):
I'm sitting in a chair.
Speaker 7 (20:48):
Okay. What's the chair made of?
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I'm not sure. Okay, it looks like plastic.
Speaker 7 (20:54):
What I'm trying to point out is this right here. Okay,
both of y'all are arguing from a position, but you're
not carrying your position to a logical conclusion, and so
you're going to be continuously going off on a tangent,
so to speaking. No, you tell me if I'm right
on this when I'm saying this, Okay, everything in existence
(21:16):
is God material, the only thing in existence is God
and therefore God material. If you want to call that spirit,
as the Bible does, then okay, you can call it spirit,
But then spirit is an anthropomorphic term to help us
understand God material. So what you're sitting in right now
(21:41):
is actually spirit material reform reconstituted in some way. If
we don't go to the point or the idea that
literally something can come from nothing, Not even God has
the power to create something from nothing.
Speaker 2 (21:58):
Now, hopefully you're not trying to get a panthe worldview
or a pententheistic mind.
Speaker 7 (22:03):
Or what I try to define is only something carried
to its logical conclusion. You have to carry every proposition
to its logical conclusions.
Speaker 2 (22:12):
Right, But what you're saying is simply untrue from a
Biblical standpoint. Creation is brought into existence and sustained by
God and is not part of God. The biblical worldview
says God created everything ex nihilo out of nothing, and
certainly Mormons and others they contend that matter has co
(22:34):
existed eternally with God. But the opening statement in the
Bible says something far different. In the beginning, God created
the heavens and the earth and points to the truth
that God created everything out of nothing. Let's get to
the point that you made at the very beginning, and
then we'll get into some of the ramblings later on.
The issue here is, do you believe that God has
(22:55):
a literal golden throne? Is that what you're suggesting you are?
Speaker 7 (23:00):
Let me explain why. Okay, you exist right now, right,
yes I do. Okay, if you exist and your spirit material, okay,
and you have to come from God because nothing.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
What is spirit material?
Speaker 7 (23:16):
Spirit material is God material because nothing can exist outside
of God. Nothing can exist outside of God. So everything
that is in existence is a reconstitution or a reformed whatever.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
Well, I mean, okay, but in all due respect, I mean,
evidently you're a very erudite individual, so you know that
what you're communicating has nothing whatsoever.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
To do with a biblical worldview.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
The doctrine of creation ex Nihilo rules out the idea
that finite realities like time and space and matter emanate
from the essence of God. Creation is neither divine nor
a derivative of God's essence. But the point here that
you started with is a point that I want to
(24:04):
drive home. God does not sit on a literal throne.
And when the language of scripture is hijacked by people
who do not want to take seriously the literal principal
biblical interpretation, you end up with nonsense. But when the
Bible says that there are seven golden lamp stands, do
(24:25):
you believe that there are actually seven golden lamp stands?
Speaker 7 (24:28):
When and where are you talking about? We're at where
do these lamp stands exist at?
Speaker 2 (24:34):
Well, this is where John has the vision and he
sees Jesus walking among seven golden lamps.
Speaker 7 (24:40):
Answer it. Let me answer it with a question, no,
no answer it.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
Do you believe that when Jesus is standing among seven
golden lampstands, that he's actually standing amongst seven physically golden lampstands. Okay, well,
the Bible says something different. So what I'm trying to
point out is that when you do that, you wreak
havoc with the Bible's own interpretation, because the Bible says
(25:05):
that the seven golden lamp stands are seven churches. Not
only so, but the Bible also talks about seven golden bulls,
and those bulls are full of incense. Well, if you
actually take your hermeneutic you say, well, these are actually
seven golden bulls and they're full of incense. But the
(25:26):
Bible contradicts you. The Bible says, no, they are not.
The Bible says they are the prayers of the saints.
So the point here is that we want to read
scripture in light of scripture, rather than trying to impose
a foreign worldview on the Bible. A and B interpret
(25:47):
the Bible other than the way that the Bible interprets itself.
I'm gonna have to let you go. I want to
thank everybody for tuning into this edition of the Bible
Answerment broadcast. This ministry could not continue without your prayers
and without your financial support.
Speaker 4 (26:02):
You be generous.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
We'll use the resources for God's glory and for the
extension of His kingdom. Again, thanks for tuning in. We'll
see it right here next time with more of the show.
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
CRI 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. The Complete Bible answer Book
(27:02):
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
(27:25):
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
(27:46):
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.
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