Transcript

10 days to Christmas Day; get that shopping done

>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. this sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Bert Harper: Merry Christmas as a public service announcement. 10 days, no, 15 days to Christmas Day's the 10th. 15 days. Get that shopping done.

Burt Harper and Alex McFarland discuss the book of Isaiah

This is Burt Harper One along with Dr. Alex McFarland. M and Alex, we're in the book of Isaiah. It's a great book. But chapter 23, finishes up the judgments against the nations all around Judah. But also yesterday and day before. We spent a good bit time in chapter 22 concerning the judgment of Judah. But here in chapter 23, tyre and Sidon, they haven't skipped out on the judgment, have they?

>> Alex McFarland: No, they really haven't.

>> Bert Harper: Bert.

>> Alex McFarland: It's great to be with you on exploring the word. And we're, you know, almost we're, I don't know, a week away, but we're about halfway through Isaiah. But here's the thing. The, the Phoenicians, fascinating country really and people group. it may be the Phoenicians that invented crucifixion as a means of execution and now the Romans really employed it. But in, in 23 there, there are predictions against Tyre T Y R E and they're also mentioned in Ezekiel. But the Phoenicians are under God's judgment. And verse 9 of 23 says that they are filled with pride, pompous pride. the, the people of Tyre were renowned. They were a maritime people and they, they were renowned for trading by sea. But God says Tyre is going to be brought down. And Bert, it's kind of graphic but Tyre is compared to a prostitute. It is and it's very sad. Tire had with their business dealings. I guess kind of the comparison is they prostituted themselves out to the world but in the end all the riches and wealth will be relinquished, and redistributed according to the Lord's purposes.

>> Bert Harper: It is. And it's amazing in these chapters that we've gone over and it's going to continue in chapter 24 through 27 which is more judgment, but it's hope in the judgment of a probably worldwide judgment. We're looking at tribulation, how he concentrates on the cities. Now I've noticed that, and especially when I got to chapter 24, 27 and following, the city is mentioned I think eight times I, if I remember right. But he did that also before. Now what does this mean you remember, in Acts 1:8, when it says, you know, you shall be witnesses. Where do they start? In Jerusalem? The city. Now, I know you can look at it geographically, and that's true, but you also look at it in the way that you say. And that is the city, a concentrated group of people. And one of the saddest things, I think, that has happen in the last 50 years, maybe 60 years of the church is leaving the city areas and go out to the suburbans. And it's left, a. M. Lot of the major, major cities, drought, of a church preaching the word downtown because it was difficult and hard. But does God want us to go to the hard places, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: God definitely wants us to go to the hard places. That's why, you know, we try to do, college campuses. And Bert, I've got the great privilege at the end of January, I'll be in two different colleges in Mississippi to speak. I would ask people to pray. I've always wanted to do a big event at Berkeley University, which is just kind, ah, of the seat of, oh, my goodness, the most woke liberalism imaginable. that's just something I want to do. So folks pray that I'll get an open door to go to Berkeley at some point. But to your point, Bert, we are to go to the hard places. And many of our inner cities are just spiritually bankrupt. They really are. Like the, like tyre of Isaiah 23.

>> Bert Harper: Exactly.

>> Alex McFarland: But we, Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, the uttermost parts of the earth. don't you see? Isn't it like concentric circles outward? It is that we are to take the gospel anywhere, to everywhere and to everyone.

>> Bert Harper: It is. And it's not to be done. okay, after I get this done, I go to the next one. No, it's to be done all. Some will go to the city or stay in the city. Some will go out. But it's not done just. Okay, progressively. It's done all at the time. We do missions, and it includes all of those. And, it didn't mean start and stay for what? No, start and go out. What did God do in Jerusalem, man? He sent the dispersion. And guess what? They went all over the Roman Empire when. When they did not voluntarily do it. And they wanted to gather around each other in Jerusalem because this was home. This is protection. God sent difficulty for them to go out, and they did. And it changed the world as well. Well, here in chapter 23, you do tyre and Sidon, as you said, Maritime they, they were shipped. Now the ships in that day, they stayed close to the coast. They didn't go way out like they started to. And when Columbus, and Magellan and everyone, they were going around the world and out in the deepest parts of the sea, they stayed close to the coast. And here it would be taken that they, because of their difficulty and their industry of shipping and everything, it, it not only influenced them, Alex, it would influence everybody from Cyprus to Canaan. when we found this out during COVID when the issue of shipping and, and being able to get your product from one place to another, when that occurs, you, have all kinds of difficulty, don't you?

>> Alex McFarland: absolutely. I'd forgotten about that. My m. Goodness. During COVID when they talked about supply chain. Yes, when that was interrupted.

Isaiah says that the wealth of the nations serves God's purposes

let me digress for just a moment. And 23 is all about Tyre. Now here I said, really, the riches of Tyre is going to get confiscated and used for the Lord's purposes. And when we get to the end of Isaiah, kind of chapter 60 and 61, Isaiah says, that the wealth of the nations serves the purposes of God. And really there is kind of a messianic prophecy in this that ultimately all of the world will be brought under the subjection of Jesus and will, you know, everything will serve Jesus right. Now, fallen men believe that they own things and none of us really owns anything. it's all the Lord's. But, in Ezekiel 26 there is a prophecy against the Phoenician government and the commercial entities of Tyre. And Ezekiel 2, just like Isaiah talks about Tyre, the pride of Tyre, T Y R E, the exploitation of the people of God. And in fascinating prophecy in Ezekiel, it says Tyre, I'm against you. I'll bring nations against you. And the sea casting up its waves, the walls will fall. I, will pull down her towers, scrape the island clean. And it's a fascinating prophecy in Ezekiel that it says that, the Lord will make Tyre a bare rock, a place to spread fish nets, and you will never be rebuilt. And so Nebuchadnezzar attacked tyre about 550 years before the birth of Christ. Alexander the great in the 3007 B.C. attacked Tyre, killed 8,000 men. And you know what's amazing? the island of Tyre. And this was true at least up until the early 2000s, maybe still is. they spread out fishing nets to dry in the sun. And after Alexander the Great, just ransacked tyre in 332-bc- it never ever Was rebuilt.

>> Bert Harper: Never was.

>> Alex McFarland: Isn't that amazing?

>> Bert Harper: It is. And here it is. And Isaiah telling, all about that, as you said. Now, there's two things that I wanted to make out in chapter 23, because it sounds a lot like the other chapters when it comes to the judgment. But the one that I really wanted to make sure everybody gets is in verse nine. Because this is a repeated ver. word that you have in. In many of these chapters concerning judgment. The Lord of hosts has purposed it. Now, again, two things about that. That means he has purpose behind what he is doing, but also it is sure that it will be done. Alex, take that in judgment. Yes, you do. But guess what else you take it at. you take it also in blessing. God has purposed it. He will bring it about. And so here in this, he's purposed it to happen. And as you said, Tyre is. Where is it? well, you know, it's drying fish. Okay. Fish nets.

Burt: There are warnings of judgment in Isaiah 24, but also salvation

The other thing that I thought was very, very severe in this. And again, that, Isaiah would speak to this, and I think it is this in verse 11. To destroy. That's the last phrase. To destroy its strongholds. Now, that is judgment. But again, I'm looking at it from a reverse order also. He has given us what is in our lives as believers to the tearing down other strongholds that Satan himself would have in our lives. So when I see this, and I see, okay, God's judgment is sure. He tears down strongholds in our lives. When he is blessing, he tears down the bad strongholds that would hold us back. That's the God we serve, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: It is. It is. Amen. And so in Isaiah 24, I mean, we've said it a number of times. I'll say it again. There are warnings of judgment, really promises, and I guess I should say warnings of judgment. But there is the redemption of God and the restoration for all who turn to him. So the earth we know from Genesis 3, the Earth is under sin, and as such, under the fall, the curse. You know, Bert, I'll tell you what would be a fascinating study, is to talk about, what all of the created world is touched by the curse. And, you know, in joy to the world, which I love that song, says, no more let sin and sorrow reign. And it says, he comes to make his glory known. Far as the curse is found. How far is the curse found? Well, throughout the whole wide world, you know. But Isaiah in 5 and 6 says, the earth lies defiled under its Inhabitants, for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant. Therefore a, curse devours the earth, and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt. This is in chapter 24. But sin left the earth desolate. Jesus comes to restore all things. And, chapter 25 is really going to be some promises of salvation. All right, there's this, you know, very severe condemnation and pronouncement of judgment, but there's also the promise of salvation. And that's kind of, the tone we get in chapter 25.

>> Bert Harper: It is. Now there's a turn at the beginning of chapter 24. What you have in the previous chapters are specific judgments on specific outcomes. I would say countries and cities. But here in chapter 24, listen to this. It's pretty. And you brought it up. Behold, the Lord makes the earth empty and makes it waste and man. Then you read verse two. it is pretty powerful. As with people, so with the priest. As with a servant, so is the master, and he goes all the way. Verse 3, the land shall be entirely emptied and utterly plundered. The Lord has spoken it. And notice again, verse four, the earth, the world. Verse five, the earth. Verse six, devoured the earth. This is talking about total judgment, Alex. And I do really believe this is referring to tribulation. We've seen signs of it before. But in chapter 24, I believe Isaiah is seeing past all the specific places and look at the earth. It's going to take place in that seven years of judgment. Well, this is Burt and Alex. This is exploring the word. We're in the book of Isaiah. and we'll return with more right after this break.

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>> Caroline: They do an ultrasound. And that's when everything changed.

>> Alex McFarland: Because when I saw my baby and when I heard her heartbeat, that was it.

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>> Alex McFarland: Now I am forever changed and Christmas.

>> Bert Harper: Is my favorite day Love has come.

>> Alex McFarland: To loose us from chains and underneath all the things from mistletoes to the bells that ring Runs the same beautiful.

>> Caroline: Frame.

>> Alex McFarland: And I can hardly wait to see the gifts he has for you.

>> Caroline: And me but we could never do.

>> Alex McFarland: Enough to earn this great amazing love and old.

Bert Harper: We really go all out for Christmas music

Welcome back to Exploring Word. You know, I kind of let that play a while. I was listening to those words, Bert. And, Brent Austin, who is our producer, he picks great music all year long, but at Christmas we, we really go all out for Christmas music, don't we?

>> Bert Harper: There we do. We start December 1st or it's the first Monday in December, whatever. And, we play it, try to play it all month, and we enjoy it. We like the older ones, we like the newer ones. And so, we, we enjoy the Christmas music. We do.

>> Alex McFarland: Hey, we're gonna have a great show tomorrow, folks. you know, Fridays, we call it Fire Away Friday. But we really, Christmas comes around and we just, take all kind of calls. We give a lot of Christmas information. And Bert, I've been doing a lot, a lot of reading and, studying and I've got some Christmas data that, might be brand new. And I've, I, feel like I, I learn right much about Christmas. And we've, got, next Friday, I mean tomorrow, I should say, and then next week some great programming. So, we'll just enjoy the Christmas spirit together. how about that, everybody?

>> Bert Harper: We'll do it and we'll do that trivia. We've got our questions. We're going to ask our questions, Brent, Alex and myself. And if you call in and you can answer them, if you watch trivia, matter of fact, tomorrow I'll be on today's issues for Trivia Friday. I'm one of the, you know, visiting professors, so I'm going to be trivia all day. I'll do it that morning, then I'll come back on Exploring the Word. And we're having Christmas trivia there where we have our questions and you can ask your questions and we'll do our best to answer them. And each one of us, let me tell you this, each one of us has a mystery question. And if you can, get that answered, Brent has some great gifts that he's going to send to those that answer it correctly. so we're looking forward to it.

>> Caroline: It.

>> Alex McFarland: Listen to this, folks, on, today's issues. And it's been my Privilege to be on there many times. But they have what Tim, Wildmon calls Learning University. Right?

>> Bert Harper: That's right.

>> Alex McFarland: And, Brother Harper, don't you hold the distinguished chair of professor of All Things Mayberry?

>> Bert Harper: I do. And I have my Mayberry question for tomorrow. Already have it. Yeah. It's not going to be connected with the Christmas. One of the things we ask about Mayberry. How many Christmas programs did the Andy Griffith show do? This is not one of the questions, so. I know. Answer it. It's one. And, so. Yeah, and you told me that years ago.

>> Alex McFarland: And I would have bet money there was more than just one episode.

>> Bert Harper: That's it. But it is a good one. It's still. When they talk to people that are Andrew Griffith show fans, like I am, you are. what's one of your favorites? It's still ranks up there as one of the favorites. It was good. Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you'll be on tomorrow.

Bertrand Russell: When we praise God, we glorify him

Well, folks, right now we're in Isaiah, chapter 25. And, let me. Let me just say this. it begins with a hopeful note. and as we said, you know, 24 kind of concludes. It sounds like the Great Tribulation, the Earth reeling to and fro. Kind of reminds me of like 2 Peter 3, 10 that talks about the heavens and the planets melting with a fervent heat. and I personally think that really in chapter 24, 18, 23 speaks of the Great Tribulation and the earth just convulsing and under judgment. But 25 begins, O Lord, thou art my God. I will exalt thee. I will praise thy name, for thou hast done wonderful things. Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. Isn't that something God's teaching, God's revelation, God's counsels, It doesn't just say it contains truth. No, his counsel is. Is truth.

>> Bert Harper: It is. It is, Alex. And notice. I can't help my eyes go to it. Notice this. O Lord, you are my God. I will exalt you. I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things. Verse 2. For you have made a city, and it's therefore the strong people will glorify you in verse three. Now, okay, I could not help but contrast that with what we see Satan, doing when he says, I will lift up my feet, I will sit on the throne. I will. No, what we really do when we praise God, Alex. Glorify him. Really. That's what we're to do in worship. now, songs. I like the mixture of songs. Now, I'm not Talking about the old and new, but I am talking about those that teach that it's all about who God is, but then also what God has done for us. When you have those mixtures, and that's what you have in God's songbook, which is called the Psalms, you have who God is, but also, the psalmist will break out, look what God has done for us. So when we are praising him and glorifying him, and that's what chapter, 25 prays to the kingdom and the king for what he's done, there's this attitude of who he is, but also what he has done. So, Alex, when you combine those two things in your attitude, in your worship, I really believe you get a. I'm going to not use the word complete, but a bigger sphere of what God has done for us because of who he is.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well, and you know, God is the foundation of all things. I mean, scholars will often talk about God as uncreated, eternal, self existent. In other words, God is not depending on anything or anyone outside of himself. And, you know, Bert, let me digress for just a moment. Say that, they, you know, scientists, they say they're always looking for a renewable source of energy. you know, gas burns up, so they got to drill for more oil. But oil comes from up out of the ground. And, you know, people worry, okay, what if it runs out? Well, I don't think it will. That's another story. But here's my thing. So they look at solar power because the sun, you know, is burning and generates heat and light, but the sun hasn't been around forever. And here's the thing. If you look at creation, which is very temporary, contingent, the creation runs because it is dependent on God. And only God is the source of all power, all wisdom, all knowledge. he is the foundation of everything. Bert, if I said, you know, every train has to have a locomotive, the train doesn't pull itself, you say, well, there's a lot of boxcars. It doesn't matter how many box cars. If that train is moving somewhere, there's got to be an engine that's pulling it. God is the engine on which all of reality depends, isn't He?

>> Bert Harper: He really is. And this is why we worship him. This is why we serve Him. And that's why we do explore in the Word that we may know the God of the Bible. we don't teach just so you'll know the Bible. We want you to know the God of the Bible. That is Revealed himself in the Father, Son, Holy Spirit. That ministering to us in what he's done. We talk about it quite often. now, notice all this in chapter 25. Again, it's Israel's praise for the blessings that God has. And just let me say, this is for Israel. But when we read it, we see what he's done for us. Alex. Notice, in verse six, in this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all people a, feast of choice pieces. Feast of wines, of the lees. O fat things full of marrow, of wine, well, refined wines in the leaves. And notice all of that. What all people. Now, what Israel was to do, they were to be a blessing to all the people. God had given them what they needed in order to carry out God's mission for them. God had a mission for them. Anybody that God chooses. Okay, the apple of his eye, the bride, the church, whoever you. A church? We are on mission. He's chosen us to carry out his mission. And what is it that his name may be known through all the earth. And here in this. I just. It just attracted me to it. The Lord of hosts will make for all people. And he lists all those things that the Lord God will wipe away tears from our faces in verse eight. For the. And look at the word.

George Bailey: I challenge every Christian to read Isaiah 25, 8

It finishes up with, for the Lord has spoken. Alex. I believe Isaiah got words from the Lord and he would speak it. And he said, you know what? When God says it, that settles it.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. well, that is absolutely true. And I love this. In chapter 25 verse, you know, it's talking about bringing down the noise of strangers and the mountains, you know, being restored and people being blessed. let me read verse 8. He will swallow up death in victory.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

>> Alex McFarland: And the Lord God will wipe away tears from all the faces, and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from all the earth. For the Lord hath spoken it, and it shall be said in that day. Lo, this is our God. We have waited for him, and he will save us. This is the Lord that's in all camps. This is Almighty God. We've waited for him, and we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. I want to challenge every everybody to read and just ponder on Isaiah 25, 8, and 9. This is so beautiful. And by the way, of course, the wiping away of every tear from every eye. We read that again in the book of Revelation, Bert. isn't. It isn't Isaiah. We say it's very Messianic, which it is it's very eschatological eschatology, the end times. There's a lot in here that really echoes of the things that we read in Matthew 25 and the book of Revelation. The consummation of all things, including the wiping away of every tear.

>> Bert Harper: It does the other thing that is repeated. You couldn't help but notice that about the tears. Alex, that just blessed me. But verse nine. We have waited for him, and he will save us. Then this is the Lord. We have waited for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Now, jumping ahead. And we do that every so often in Isaiah because of how it fits together in chapter 40. Remember that verse, verse 31. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint. Waiting on the Lord. It doesn't mean we fold our tents and just sit there. No, we wait doing his purpose. We wait fulfilling his calling. In our life, it's waiting expectantly. So when you wait upon the Lord, it's. It's still a matter of faith. And here, faith is enjoyed. Notice we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. this sounds a lot like. I'll say the psalmist and Isaiah had a lot in common. they were poets at heart. You catch what I'm saying?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: And it's beautiful language. I just love that. We have waited for Him. We will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. He will deliver, won't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He really will. Verse, 11 talks about him spreading out his hands. Hey, let me just say this about waiting on the Lord. Sometimes, and this is one of the hard things to do, and it takes a little bit of maturity and trust, but sometimes you're in God's waiting room. Maybe you're praying for a loved one who's not well, and you wish that they would, be healed today. And so you keep on praying. Maybe you've got a loved one that's away from God, a prodigal child, and you're praying. You got to wait on God, Bert. two, nights ago, Angie and I did what we do, at Christmas, we watched It's a Wonderful Life.

>> Bert Harper: Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay.

>> Bert Harper: Got that. Got that off your checklist? Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, I'll watch it again. There's plenty of time. I can promise you. I'll watch it at least one more time between now and Christmas. But the opening thing, George Bailey is very, very upset because the bank is floundering. And all that. So there are these angels and they say, go get clearance. And clearance comes. They said, we got an assignment. You got to go help George Bailey. Many, many people are praying for him. And Clarence goes, what's wrong? Is he sick? And the angel says, worse, he's depressed. he's discouraged. And I want to say this one of the, one of the things that if you turn to the Lord, he'll help you out of this, this hole to be discouraged. Don't be discouraged. You can wait on God. God is worthy of your trust.

Alex: Many times while we're waiting on the Lord, the prayer

>> Bert Harper: Amen, Alex. He is. And you do wait on him. He's at work. Now let me give you a biblical example, Alex, that I think you and I have both talked about that. And see, I want you to respond to it. Let me see. The children of Israel were in Egypt. They were in bondage, and they were praying that God would send to deliver. A little boy was born. And that's when little boys, the fir. You know, they were being slain and everything. But these, you know, this, this mother found a way to sa her child's life. Raised in Pharaoh's home. Yes, he. I'm not going to go through, everything. But he had to get out of Dodge, as they say, and he went to the desert, and there God spoke to him. And he was a Shepherd for 40 years. And he saw the burning bush and God called him back. Okay, and now it had started, but the prayer had honestly been answered 80 years beforehand. You got it. I mean, what were they praying? God would send us a deliverer. Yes, he had been sent. Now he had to be trained. He had to have sufficiency in what he knew to do. And God was training him. Many times while we're waiting on the Lord, the prayer, honestly, and I don't know, I don't know how it's said to say it, the prayer is already in the process of coming about in our time. Waiting on the Lord, expectantly, serving him, doing what he wants. It's vital. And I think that's what we get in chapter 25 here, about waiting for him, and he will save us.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, they wait on the Lord, and in his time, he does all things, and he does all things well. And so ultimately, but people of God, they, they see that death is swallowed up in victory. But it's in Jesus, isn't it? In Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory. And the day is coming, guarantee it. It's a promise of God when there will be no more tears. Keep your eyes on Jesus. And you know Bert, in the NewSong Testament, speaking of our journey down here it says our temporary light affliction. There's something coming that's eternal and wonderful and that's to be with Jesus. Hang in there, Christian. It's going to be okay.

>> Bert Harper: Wait upon the Lord. I say wait upon the Lord. He is the one. Your bible question you got for us? Here's the number. 888-589-8840. We would love to hear from you today.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Every day AFA offers biblical insight on issues that others aren't willing to touch in the hopes that you'll become a a world changer. That's why we're offering an in depth worldview training course called Activate. Thirteen different professors teaching 18 sessions, all available online, including a printed workbook to help you apply what you've learned and one year access to AFA streaming content to give you even more resources. Find out more about Acctivate and sign up today at activate.afa.net.

>> Alex McFarland: Honor, goodwill, peace for everyone. Mercy. Favor, grace for all who come. and the Savior.

>> Caroline: Find the Father's love.

>> Bert Harper: It's Jesus. Come on. Amen. It is Jesus. He has come. born of a virgin, conceived of the Holy Spirit and he has dwelt upon among us. And he has paid the price and overcome sin and death. He's seated at the right hand of the Father. Trust him today. Don't wait. Do it today.

Alex: We've got a lot of calls on eschatology today

Well Alex, we've got a lot of calls so I'm not even going to give the number because we got so many people that are waiting. Let's get to as many as we can today. Does that sound good to you?

>> Alex McFarland: Let's do. Where should we start?

>> Bert Harper: Let's go to Illinois and talk to Tim. Tim, thank you for calling. Yes sir.

>> Caroline: I'm gonna try to sneak in two questions. My first one is in the script. I apologize, I don't know the exact scripture reference but where Jesus says that he did not come to judge the world but another gospel. He says that for Jesus did come for judgment. And I think, I think it's trying to say Jesus was the tool or the person that God uses to judge if you'll put their faith in him. And then the other one is I keep getting asked question on eschatology at work if we're preach it or post trip. I believe my friends referencing like a pastor Jeff Durham and he's talking about that we're pro post tribulation right now. Just if you could shed some light on that.

>> Bert Harper: Hey Alex, since we got so many calls, we'll take, your go ahead and answer. We'll see how many we can get in today.

>> Alex McFarland: In John chapter three, Jesus said this. And he had a twofold mission. and within the front and back of his mission, to suffer, pay, sin and rise, and then to return and rule and reign, there's an interval that we call the church age. And you know, in. In John 3:17, of course, John 3:16 is very, very famous. But in John 3:17, Jesus said, For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. But, Bert, after all these years of, the gospel going forth, there is a time when, yes, Jesus will judge the world in his first coming. He came to pay the sin debt and die for our lostness when he returns. Yes, he most certainly will judge the world then, won't he?

>> Bert Harper: He's given all, God the Father has given all judgment to his Son, and he will do it righteously, always.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me just say this about the preacher. I am pre tribulational. I believe there's going to be the rapture, then the tribulation. And I know there's some godly people that think, that, you know, there'll be no rapture. in our book, we've got a brand new book out, and it's available through afa. And I'm not saying this just to try to sell a book, but really, to do it justice because it is pretty in depth. Bert and I did a book called 100 Bible Questions on Prophecy and the End Times. It's published by Broad Street. but, Bert, I will say this, that, I don't see the world waxing better and better. I see the world waxing worse and worse. And I got to say this. During COVID and there was terrorism, there was Middle Eastern instability and all these things. I was on a show with a reformed Scottish, Presbyterian minister. we were in Greenville, South Carolina, on a radio show. And he said on live radio, he said, well, that he was, amillennial and post trib. And he said, but to look at the world in the daily newspaper, pre tribulationalism almost certainly is true.

>> Bert Harper: Wow.

>> Alex McFarland: I mean, that was pretty wild.

>> Bert Harper: It is. It shall wax worse and worse and get bad, bad before he comes back in glory. But before he comes back in glory, he's coming back to receive his bride. I believe that as well, Tim. Thank you.

Terry asks for prayer for his grandson Kai who has undiagnosed illness

Let's go to Mississippi. And it's Terry. Terry, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: hi Alex and Burt, Love you guys. Well, blessings I was going to ask for, I was going to ask for prayer for my six year old grandson. His name is Kai K A I He's been in and out of the hospital for the last couple of months with an undiagnosed illness, very high white blood count. They've ruled out leukemia which gave us a great, that was a huge blessing. but you know, we're a Christian family and our churches are praying and our families praying and I wanted to have our family to pray for Kai, man.

>> Bert Harper: Listen Terry, we are your grandchildren. God knew grand they are. So let's do that. Alex, Zard, if I pray, lead us. Father, I thank you for Cheri, I know what it is, the heart of a grandparent for those grandchildren for Kai right now I pray that the diagnosis would be found and then I'd pray for the treatment. But Father, I pray that you would bless this family in the meantime and that Father, that those nurses, doctors and others that are involved, that you'd give them wisdom even beyond what they would think, that they would look unto you and you'd give them wisdom. You're the great physician, so you can reveal and you can heal either way you want. So Father, I pray that you would help Terry, her family and Kai. In Jesus name, Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Terry, thank you for calling. We appreciate that so much. Let's go to Georgia and it's John. John, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yes, sir. I, I just was wondering when, you know, I have trouble explaining to people how they, they say that the world is millions of millions of years old and the Bible says it's, you know, not that old. And I just want to have something to, to counteract, you know, and tell them how to explain that. I don't understand it myself. So I hope you could help me.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, like I said, got too many calls. You take this, go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, I don't believe that there was a destruction of the created Earth. See, I've heard people say, and it's really related to something called the gap theory, that there was the, the perfect Earth, there was the, the chaotic Earth, then there was the Edenic Earth. and a lot of what it is, they believe that after Genesis 1:1, because where it says the Earth was without form and void and the spirit of God hovered over the deep, over the waters. I'm not going to go into it because I don't want to give Any really publicity. There was a man about 100 years ago that kind of came up with this idea, and it was pop in a couple of study Bibles. And really the whole gap theory, that from Genesis 1, verse 1, to Genesis 1, verse 2, there was this gap of millions of years. Part of the reason that I don't like that is, number one, textually, it's not there. Even I was in a debate, you might say, with some old Earth creationists, one of whom was, William Demski, great Christian brother, but an old Earther. But even he. He said the old Earth position you would never get from the text alone. So what it was, it was an attempt to try to compromise and harmonize with Darwinism. And I don't think we have to do that. I think if you read Genesis 1 and 2, Bert, you get six literal creation days after which God rested.

>> Bert Harper: One of the things that I heard that I think might help on this, John, is the. The magnetic pull in the north pole. Since they've been keeping up with the power of the M magnetic. The reason the compass works in points north is because it has diminished over a few years. I can't tell you the percentage, but it is diminished. If that is true and it's been consistent, for millions of years, the magnetic pole at the north would be. Would have been so strong that it would have been impossible for people to even walk with their, you know, with their legs, Alex. And I don't know if you've heard that, but that really got me. And it is. It has diminished some. Now the whole idea is. The idea is it has been consistent. We don't know that for sure, but it's been consistent so far as long as they've been keeping that data. So we appreciate that so much. Hope that helps. Let's go to Louisiana and talk to Katharine. Catherine. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hi. love and appreciate you all very much.

Our church has a jail ministry and this Saturday we are doing a program

I have a prayer request. Our church has a jail ministry. And last year the officer at the jail asked if we could prepare some kind of a program for the inmates. So this Saturday we are doing a program. So I just want to praise all those guys that are going to be hearing this message.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Catherine Renfro, Praise God for your church doing that. Let me tell you, the church that I pastored here in Tupelo, West Jackson Street Church, we did a Christmas pageant when I was pastoring there. This is when we did five years. We called it Mayberry Christmas. And we worked with a, sheriff. And on the night before it was Open to the public. He was able to bring those people who were incarcerated there and he would bring them there to the church. Now we had to clear everything out and have it ready for them, but he would bring them there. And listen, we saw lives changed and people come to the Lord and why would they come? Because hey, that means they were out of jail for that two hours. And so. And we saw God do great things. So Katharine, we're going to believe that. We really do. Amen. Alex, that's. That's churches doing something about the Great Commission, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: And prayers for all the churches this month doing outreach and hey, one thing that we do, and I've always done it, is we try to take, the youth or adults and we go caroling at some of the rest homes and the shut ins and there's still time, get up half dozen people and go, go minister the love of Christmas to some people.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Let's go to Tennessee. James, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Yes. Did you say James?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, sir. I'm sorry, I didn't say it. Yes, yes, go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Yes, thank you.

There's one disciple that's unnamed in Luke 24 and 13

Alex, and Burke, I have a question in regards to, St. Luke 24 and 13. The two disciples on their way to Media. There's one disciple that's unnamed. Can you tell me the. The name of the un. The unnamed disciple.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh yeah. Thank you. I love Luke 24. God bless you, sir. Behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about three score furlongs. They talked together of all these things. And it came to pass, while they commended together, communed and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. And their eyes were holden that they would not know him. And of course they went. one of them, Cleopas, speaks and Bert. I don't know. I always thought it was two on the road to Emmaus. And Jesus appeared to him and their eyes were opened and they realized it was Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, two of them in verse 13 and one of them was revealed in verse 18. And just let me say this, James, we don't know. It would be speculation all the way. There's no other scripture. Because that's been asked. I wondered who it was. A, lot of churches do the Emmaus Walk. I've heard a lot of lives. It's been changed by what they do on that weekend. The Emmaus Walk. Alex, that's one of the things we're going to have to wait to heaven to find out who the Other one was. Aren't we.

>> Alex McFarland: I'm telling you. Brother James, thank you for listening. God bless you.

>> Bert Harper: I wish we had an answer, but we don't.

>> Alex McFarland: We don't know where else. Bert.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. We're going to stay in Louisiana, and it's Jerry. Jerry. Thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Yes, yes, I appreciate you taking it.

Alex from Arkansas has a question about Luke. Can you shed some light on that

yeah, I have a question about Luke. Nine. I mean, nine, Luke, the word 62. It really bites me. it's, he who has his hands on the platter and looks back. It's not worthy of the kingdom of God, and that really bothers me. Can you shed some light on that?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, let me give you another biblical, and I'll throw it to you. Alex, I said I was going to let you answer, but I can't resist that. There was a woman that was coming out of Sodom and Gomorrah, and she looked back and what happened to her? Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: are you talking about Lot's wise?

>> Bert Harper: I am talking about mislot.

>> Alex McFarland: well, you know, we're to be salt and light, but she was a little too salty.

>> Bert Harper: She was. And she looked back, and it's looking back, longing for. That's. It's right there in the Hebrew text. Alex, what about that? When in Luke. Is it looking back?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And what I think it is, it's like, falling away. And I'm looking at this, and it says, looking on the things behind. And the word looking there, like you say, it's like a longing. you know, this is kind of graphic language, but the Bible speaks of a dog returning to its vomit. I'm gonna share that I have seen a dog vomit. Turn right around and then eat it. That's really gross, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It is.

>> Alex McFarland: That's a very unsettling image, but that's what it would be if a Christian. You start out with and for Jesus, and then you go back into the world. we've all heard of preachers gone bad. We've all heard of Christians falling away. that's what it is. And Jesus says, look, if we're headed to the kingdom of God, stay on that path. Don't fall back, don't go back. Stay on the heavenly highway.

>> Bert Harper: One more thing real quick before we go to land. We're going to get to you, Linne. Looking back, you'll never, never have a straight row. Looking backward, you got to look forward to you go. You don't look backward. Linne from Arkansas. We don't have a lot of time, but go ahead, Linne, please Okay, real quick.

I wanted to know what the Bible says about incense

>> Caroline: I wanted to know what the Bible says about incense. There's some modern church lyrics that say, let the incense arise and all that. And I don't remember the context, but anyway, I thought it was more, Do you call it liturgical thing?

>> Bert Harper: Anyway, should be prayer, shouldn't it, Alex? Yeah, yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: The. The Bible, in the book of Revelation, says that the. The incense of heaven is like the prayers of the saints going up. and that's in Romans 5, verse 8. The prayers of the saints are golden bowls of incense. And in the Old Testament, of course, like in Exodus, chapter. Chapter five, Exodus, chapter 30, the priestly work, involved incense and the smoke. It's pictorial of the invoking of the Holy Spirit.

>> Bert Harper: I think they're using it in a po. The ones I've heard is in a, you know, a poetic way, Alex. You know, different churches come, you know, fire from heaven, you know.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: Church.

>> Alex McFarland: Different churches do different things in worship. And that's okay as long as we're still trusting in Jesus and not these outward physical things. Cause, Bert, our walk with the Lord and our worship of the Lord, it's from the heart by faith, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. Alex, it's been good to be with you, but we are looking forward. Tomorrow. Tell someone about our program then. Tomorrow. It's going to be a fun day. Brent will be ready with his questions, and we want to know what Brent's questions are about Christmas. We're looking forward to it. Thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.

>> Alex McFarland: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.