WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.801 The Bible is God's word-- 00:01.868 --> 00:03.903 His mind in print. 00:03.970 --> 00:05.638 The truth found within its pages 00:05.705 --> 00:08.241 is simple and beautiful. 00:08.308 --> 00:09.075 But that doesn't mean 00:09.142 --> 00:10.610 some passages aren't hard 00:10.677 --> 00:12.011 to understand. 00:12.078 --> 00:13.179 On today's program we're going 00:13.246 --> 00:15.081 to look at three common Bible 00:15.148 --> 00:17.117 questions we receive at 00:17.183 --> 00:18.385 Tomorrow's World, and we're 00:18.451 --> 00:20.253 going to teach you how to answer 00:20.320 --> 00:22.255 those questions yourself, 00:22.322 --> 00:24.190 straight out of God's word. 00:24.257 --> 00:25.158 So, join us for a new 00:25.225 --> 00:27.894 installment of "Your Questions, 00:27.961 --> 00:29.763 the Bible's Answers." 00:29.829 --> 00:36.136 ♪ 00:36.202 --> 00:37.170 Greetings, and welcome to 00:37.237 --> 00:38.338 Tomorrow's World. 00:38.405 --> 00:40.407 If you're a new viewer, welcome. 00:40.473 --> 00:42.041 You'll soon find that we're not 00:42.108 --> 00:43.676 like most religious programs 00:43.743 --> 00:44.844 you see on television 00:44.911 --> 00:46.246 or the Internet. 00:46.312 --> 00:47.781 And, as our regular viewers know 00:47.847 --> 00:49.082 well, we don't ask you to 00:49.149 --> 00:51.017 simply take our word for 00:51.084 --> 00:52.419 the things we say. 00:52.485 --> 00:53.486 We ask you to believe your 00:53.553 --> 00:55.422 Bible, and to measure everything 00:55.488 --> 00:57.457 we tell you against the truth 00:57.524 --> 00:59.826 of God's eternal word. 00:59.893 --> 01:01.428 As King David says of God in 01:01.494 --> 01:03.963 Psalm 119 and verse 160... 01:13.273 --> 01:14.340 But that doesn't mean that we 01:14.407 --> 01:15.809 can't misunderstand the Bible 01:15.875 --> 01:17.410 from time to time. 01:17.477 --> 01:18.945 As we'll see, the Bible 01:19.012 --> 01:21.614 testifies of itself even that 01:21.681 --> 01:22.949 sometimes its meaning is 01:23.016 --> 01:25.151 misunderstood or, frankly, 01:25.218 --> 01:27.187 twisted by others. 01:27.253 --> 01:28.955 In such cases, the student of 01:29.022 --> 01:31.257 the Bible needs to strive to 01:31.324 --> 01:33.193 rise to the challenge. 01:33.259 --> 01:36.930 In 2 Timothy 2:15, the Apostle 01:36.996 --> 01:38.631 Paul encouraged his young 01:38.698 --> 01:40.600 protege to do just that, 01:40.667 --> 01:42.068 telling him... 01:54.347 --> 01:56.683 That's what we want to do. 01:56.749 --> 01:58.184 To rightly divide the 01:58.251 --> 02:00.119 word of truth. 02:00.186 --> 02:01.354 To help you do that, we're 02:01.421 --> 02:02.856 making available today one of 02:02.922 --> 02:05.124 our most in-demand resources, 02:05.191 --> 02:07.460 the 24-lesson Tomorrow's World 02:07.527 --> 02:09.362 Bible Study Course. 02:09.429 --> 02:12.031 The entire course is completely 02:12.098 --> 02:14.167 free, just like everything we 02:14.234 --> 02:16.035 offer on Tomorrow's World. 02:16.102 --> 02:17.203 Be sure to keep an eye out for 02:17.270 --> 02:18.571 the information you need to 02:18.638 --> 02:20.740 request your first lesson. 02:20.807 --> 02:21.841 But today, we're going 02:21.908 --> 02:22.742 to focus on three 02:22.809 --> 02:25.345 specific Bible questions. 02:25.411 --> 02:27.213 We enjoyed our first 02:27.280 --> 02:28.581 "question and answer" program so 02:28.648 --> 02:30.183 much, we couldn't help but do 02:30.250 --> 02:31.251 another one. 02:31.317 --> 02:33.019 And as we answer the questions, 02:33.086 --> 02:34.521 we'll illustrate the principles 02:34.587 --> 02:36.122 you can use in the future 02:36.189 --> 02:37.457 to answer Bible 02:37.524 --> 02:39.058 questions for yourself. 02:39.125 --> 02:41.160 Our three questions today are: 02:55.308 --> 02:56.543 Let's jump right in. 02:56.609 --> 02:57.744 Our first question is a 02:57.810 --> 02:59.579 common misunderstanding. 02:59.646 --> 03:01.814 Some teach that Jesus is divine, 03:01.881 --> 03:02.682 in some way, 03:02.749 --> 03:04.951 but is not actually God, 03:05.018 --> 03:07.186 just as His Father is God. 03:07.253 --> 03:08.888 They say Jesus is a created 03:08.955 --> 03:11.424 being, just like the angels. 03:11.491 --> 03:13.293 And one verse that is commonly 03:13.359 --> 03:15.461 pointed to for such claims is 03:15.528 --> 03:18.097 Revelation 3 and verse 14. 03:18.164 --> 03:19.866 There, in vision, the Apostle 03:19.933 --> 03:23.036 John sees the glorified Christ, 03:23.102 --> 03:24.871 who reveals messages to the 03:24.938 --> 03:27.574 Church of God, intended to span 03:27.640 --> 03:29.542 the centuries that would follow. 03:29.609 --> 03:30.343 John writes 03:30.410 --> 03:32.345 in Revelation 3:14... 03:44.857 --> 03:46.593 Those words, "the Beginning of 03:46.659 --> 03:48.928 the creation of God," seem to 03:48.995 --> 03:51.030 suggest to some that Jesus-- 03:51.097 --> 03:54.067 even in His divine existence 03:54.133 --> 03:56.002 before His life on earth-- 03:56.069 --> 03:59.238 was created by God. 03:59.305 --> 04:01.374 So, "Was Jesus created?" 04:01.441 --> 04:02.575 One of the principles we'll use 04:02.642 --> 04:03.977 on today's program to help us 04:04.043 --> 04:05.678 answer these questions 04:05.745 --> 04:07.046 is a vital tool for 04:07.113 --> 04:09.449 biblical understanding. 04:09.515 --> 04:10.984 When trying to find out what the 04:11.050 --> 04:12.585 Bible really says about 04:12.652 --> 04:14.487 something--in this case, the 04:14.554 --> 04:16.189 nature of Christ--it is 04:16.255 --> 04:18.358 important to "Examine other 04:18.424 --> 04:21.494 scriptures on the same topic." 04:21.561 --> 04:23.296 After all, the Bible--every word 04:23.363 --> 04:25.398 of it--is inspired by the same 04:25.465 --> 04:28.568 God, through the same Spirit. 04:28.635 --> 04:30.703 It does not contradict itself. 04:30.770 --> 04:32.639 The Son of God, Himself, Jesus 04:32.705 --> 04:34.907 Christ, tells us this in John 04:34.974 --> 04:36.943 chapter 10 and verse 35, 04:37.010 --> 04:37.877 where He says... 04:37.944 --> 04:39.846 "the Scripture cannot 04:39.912 --> 04:41.414 be broken." 04:41.481 --> 04:42.849 When we want to understand the 04:42.915 --> 04:44.951 fullness of God's mind on a 04:45.018 --> 04:47.487 subject, we want to rightly 04:47.553 --> 04:49.555 divide His word and look at the 04:49.622 --> 04:51.858 whole of that word and what it 04:51.924 --> 04:53.960 has to say about that subject. 04:54.027 --> 04:55.728 In this case, what does the 04:55.795 --> 04:57.497 Bible have to say in other 04:57.563 --> 05:00.099 places about Jesus Christ's 05:00.166 --> 05:02.969 existence with God before His 05:03.036 --> 05:04.871 incarnation in the flesh? 05:12.178 --> 05:13.546 There are many places in 05:13.613 --> 05:15.548 Scripture where we could turn, 05:15.615 --> 05:17.316 but since Revelation is Jesus' 05:17.383 --> 05:19.519 revelation to His servant John, 05:19.585 --> 05:21.454 let's turn to John's own 05:21.521 --> 05:24.357 gospel to see how he understood 05:24.424 --> 05:27.193 Jesus' pre-incarnate nature. 05:27.260 --> 05:28.461 Look at the very beginning of 05:28.528 --> 05:30.763 the book of John, starting with 05:30.830 --> 05:32.265 the very first verse... 05:50.283 --> 05:51.684 John here refers to Jesus 05:51.751 --> 05:53.252 Christ--or, in Greek, the 05:53.319 --> 05:55.421 "Logos," translated "Word" in 05:55.488 --> 05:56.856 the New King James. 05:56.923 --> 05:58.791 He makes this plain in the rest 05:58.858 --> 06:00.026 of the chapter, such as in 06:00.093 --> 06:02.095 verses 14 thru 18. 06:02.161 --> 06:04.397 And here John plainly says... 06:04.464 --> 06:09.168 the Word was with God--and was 06:09.235 --> 06:10.870 God--and They were together from 06:10.937 --> 06:13.139 the very beginning. 06:13.206 --> 06:15.875 More explicitly, John says... 06:15.942 --> 06:19.011 "All things were made through 06:19.078 --> 06:23.049 Him, and without Him nothing was 06:23.116 --> 06:25.585 made that was made." 06:25.651 --> 06:27.186 How plain. 06:27.253 --> 06:29.555 All created things were made 06:29.622 --> 06:31.491 through Him. 06:31.557 --> 06:32.859 This could not be true if Jesus, 06:32.925 --> 06:34.193 Himself, were one of 06:34.260 --> 06:35.762 the created things. 06:35.828 --> 06:37.697 This understanding of Christ as 06:37.764 --> 06:39.565 the Creator is taught plainly in 06:39.632 --> 06:41.834 many other passages as well, 06:41.901 --> 06:45.171 such as Colossians 1:16-17, 06:45.238 --> 06:49.742 Ephesians 3:9, Hebrews 1:2, 06:49.809 --> 06:51.544 and others. 06:51.611 --> 06:52.745 These and other scriptures in 06:52.812 --> 06:55.314 the Bible make it plain that all 06:55.381 --> 06:58.117 things were made through, by, 06:58.184 --> 07:01.854 and for Jesus Christ. 07:01.921 --> 07:03.956 This is why some other English 07:04.023 --> 07:06.325 Bibles translate Revelation 3:14 07:06.392 --> 07:08.394 differently, saying Christ is 07:08.461 --> 07:11.531 the "origin of God's creation" 07:11.597 --> 07:12.965 like the New Revised Standard 07:13.032 --> 07:15.468 Version, or the "source of 07:15.535 --> 07:17.303 God's creation" like the 07:17.370 --> 07:19.272 New American Bible. 07:19.338 --> 07:20.339 So, the answer to our question 07:20.406 --> 07:24.710 is, No, Jesus was not created. 07:24.777 --> 07:26.212 In the beginning He was with 07:26.279 --> 07:29.048 God, and He was God--one of the 07:29.115 --> 07:31.117 two members of the God family 07:31.184 --> 07:32.852 Whom we now call the 07:32.919 --> 07:35.254 Father and the Son. 07:35.321 --> 07:37.156 We'll move on to our second 07:37.223 --> 07:39.158 question in a moment, but first 07:39.225 --> 07:40.426 let me give you an opportunity 07:40.493 --> 07:42.562 to request today's free offer, 07:42.628 --> 07:44.230 the Tomorrow's World 07:44.297 --> 07:45.798 Bible Study Course. 07:45.865 --> 07:47.834 This study course is unique, 07:47.900 --> 07:49.101 designed to teach you what the 07:49.168 --> 07:52.471 Bible itself says, not what man 07:52.538 --> 07:54.373 says about the Bible. 07:54.440 --> 07:55.775 Created to allow you to progress 07:55.842 --> 07:57.777 at your own pace through the 07:57.844 --> 07:59.879 teachings of the Bible, this 07:59.946 --> 08:01.647 24-lesson study course is 08:01.714 --> 08:03.316 completely free. 08:03.382 --> 08:05.284 Every fourth lesson ends with a 08:05.351 --> 08:07.253 self-checking test, and with 08:07.320 --> 08:09.388 each answer key, we send you the 08:09.455 --> 08:11.958 next collection of four lessons. 08:12.024 --> 08:13.492 As always, there is no 08:13.559 --> 08:15.728 obligation, all lessons are 08:15.795 --> 08:17.230 free, and you can cancel the 08:17.296 --> 08:18.965 course at any time. 08:19.031 --> 08:21.133 All you have to do to start is 08:21.200 --> 08:23.336 order your first free lesson. 08:23.402 --> 08:25.304 Here's the information you need. 08:25.371 --> 08:26.839 And then I'll be right back to 08:26.906 --> 08:28.975 tackle our next Bible question 08:29.041 --> 08:30.676 and ask whether or not the 08:30.743 --> 08:33.179 Apostle Paul really said we 08:33.246 --> 08:35.781 should eat poisonous starfish. 08:35.848 --> 08:37.884 You don't want to miss it. 08:37.950 --> 08:39.819 For today's free offer call... 08:44.657 --> 08:45.825 Or go to... 08:50.429 --> 08:52.231 This clear and straight-forward 08:52.298 --> 08:53.466 resource will help you 08:53.532 --> 08:55.568 understand this vital truth-- 08:55.635 --> 08:57.169 straight from the 08:57.236 --> 08:58.804 pages of the Bible. 08:58.871 --> 09:00.072 If you're calling for the first 09:00.139 --> 09:01.774 time, you will also receive a 09:01.841 --> 09:03.509 free annual subscription to 09:03.576 --> 09:05.678 Tomorrow's World magazine. 09:05.745 --> 09:07.680 Ten inspiring issues discussing 09:07.747 --> 09:09.615 news, science, and modern 09:09.682 --> 09:11.617 culture will help you make sense 09:11.684 --> 09:12.685 of your world from 09:12.752 --> 09:16.022 a biblical perspective. 09:16.088 --> 09:17.490 Call today and join millions 09:17.556 --> 09:19.225 around the world who are turning 09:19.292 --> 09:21.627 to Tomorrow's World for truth, 09:21.694 --> 09:23.796 prophecy, and hope in these 09:23.863 --> 09:26.265 confusing times. 09:26.332 --> 09:28.267 Call now! 09:28.334 --> 09:29.368 Or go to... 09:37.810 --> 09:38.778 Welcome back. 09:38.844 --> 09:40.212 For our second question, some 09:40.279 --> 09:42.081 context will be helpful. 09:42.148 --> 09:43.382 Many viewers of Tomorrow's World 09:43.449 --> 09:45.651 and readers of our magazine--our 09:45.718 --> 09:46.852 free magazine that you'll 09:46.919 --> 09:48.354 receive in addition to today's 09:48.421 --> 09:50.189 Bible Study Course--have heard 09:50.256 --> 09:51.824 us explain the Bible's teaching 09:51.891 --> 09:53.993 in Leviticus 11 concerning 09:54.060 --> 09:56.395 clean and unclean animals. 09:56.462 --> 09:58.631 Clean animals, being those God's 09:58.698 --> 10:00.833 word says it is lawful to eat, 10:00.900 --> 10:02.835 and unclean animals, being 10:02.902 --> 10:04.837 those we're told are not 10:04.904 --> 10:06.539 lawful to eat. 10:06.605 --> 10:08.908 God's law is plain: Some 10:08.975 --> 10:11.444 animals are not to be eaten. 10:11.510 --> 10:12.578 And that brings us to our 10:12.645 --> 10:14.647 second question today: 10:20.820 --> 10:24.957 Let's look at 1 Timothy 4:4 and 10:25.024 --> 10:26.292 make sure we understand what 10:26.359 --> 10:28.094 is being asked. 10:28.160 --> 10:29.662 We read there that Paul 10:29.729 --> 10:31.130 wrote to Timothy... 10:39.638 --> 10:41.007 So, at first glance, you might 10:41.073 --> 10:42.775 think Paul is saying that we 10:42.842 --> 10:44.477 should throw out God's laws 10:44.543 --> 10:46.012 about what animals are clean or 10:46.078 --> 10:47.913 unclean, and many try to use 10:47.980 --> 10:49.281 this verse to make that very 10:49.348 --> 10:51.751 point--even though Paul said 10:51.817 --> 10:54.153 elsewhere that God's laws and 10:54.220 --> 10:55.755 commands in the Old Testament 10:55.821 --> 10:58.758 are holy, just, and good. 10:58.824 --> 11:00.793 Any time someone wants to use 11:00.860 --> 11:02.762 the Apostle Paul to make the 11:02.828 --> 11:05.264 Bible seem to say God's laws 11:05.331 --> 11:06.966 should be ignored, you should 11:07.033 --> 11:08.901 take warning--and not because we 11:08.968 --> 11:10.736 are warning you, but because the 11:10.803 --> 11:13.706 Bible itself warns you. 11:13.773 --> 11:15.141 We see that warning, written by 11:15.207 --> 11:19.178 the Apostle Peter, in 2 Peter 3, 11:19.245 --> 11:21.080 verses 15 and 16... 11:53.712 --> 11:55.848 So, Peter encourages us to be 11:55.915 --> 11:58.317 careful, lest we fall into the 11:58.384 --> 12:00.653 trap of those who twist the 12:00.719 --> 12:02.888 Apostle Paul's comments--which 12:02.955 --> 12:03.923 are sometimes hard to 12:03.989 --> 12:05.724 understand--to say 12:05.791 --> 12:07.159 something lawless that they 12:07.226 --> 12:09.361 were not meant to say. 12:09.428 --> 12:11.130 And, we have to admit, there are 12:11.197 --> 12:13.666 clearly many, many creatures 12:13.732 --> 12:16.302 that are not good for food. 12:16.368 --> 12:17.970 Animals such as the comb 12:18.037 --> 12:20.706 star--an intensely poisonous 12:20.773 --> 12:22.942 starfish, whose flesh contains 12:23.008 --> 12:25.478 tetrodotoxin, a deadly 12:25.544 --> 12:27.480 neurotoxin for which there 12:27.546 --> 12:30.049 is no known antidote. 12:30.116 --> 12:31.917 So, is Paul literally saying 12:31.984 --> 12:33.719 here to Timothy that God 12:33.786 --> 12:35.488 intended every creature He 12:35.554 --> 12:37.823 created to be edible? 12:37.890 --> 12:39.391 After all, eating a comb star 12:39.458 --> 12:41.660 sandwich may kill you, but the 12:41.727 --> 12:44.663 starfish is a "creature of God." 12:44.730 --> 12:46.899 Let's read more carefully by 12:46.966 --> 12:49.201 examining the context around 12:49.268 --> 12:52.037 the verse--another key 12:52.104 --> 12:54.273 to understanding the Bible. 12:54.340 --> 12:57.076 Here, let's go up a few verses 12:57.143 --> 12:58.410 and begin reading again in 12:58.477 --> 13:00.880 1 Timothy 4 and verse 1... 13:30.109 --> 13:32.344 Already, we've learned several 13:32.411 --> 13:33.679 important facts. 13:33.746 --> 13:35.080 First, Paul isn't speaking about 13:35.147 --> 13:37.183 God's law, at all, but about 13:37.249 --> 13:39.285 "doctrines of demons." 13:39.351 --> 13:41.187 It would be blasphemous to imply 13:41.253 --> 13:43.622 God's own laws originated 13:43.689 --> 13:45.558 in the demon world. 13:45.624 --> 13:46.992 Interestingly, Paul mentions 13:47.059 --> 13:49.962 examples: man-made regulations 13:50.029 --> 13:51.997 forbidding to marry and 13:52.064 --> 13:54.166 commanding to abstain from foods 13:54.233 --> 13:57.369 created by God to be eaten. 13:57.436 --> 13:58.704 Using the first tool we've 13:58.771 --> 14:00.406 discussed, looking at other 14:00.472 --> 14:02.007 verses that speak on the same 14:02.074 --> 14:03.943 topic, we see that Paul 14:04.009 --> 14:05.477 addressed the same problem in 14:05.544 --> 14:07.246 Colossians, calling such 14:07.313 --> 14:09.381 man-made restrictions the... 14:12.484 --> 14:14.320 [...not commands of God, and...] 14:19.992 --> 14:21.860 Are there false versions of 14:21.927 --> 14:24.263 Christianity that do impose 14:24.330 --> 14:26.699 man-made dogmas and doctrines, 14:26.765 --> 14:29.235 such as forbidding some to marry 14:29.301 --> 14:31.370 and abstaining eating animals 14:31.437 --> 14:33.739 God created to be eaten, 14:33.806 --> 14:35.741 such as beef from cattle? 14:35.808 --> 14:38.210 Yes, there are. 14:38.277 --> 14:39.845 "Fish on Fridays" and so-called 14:39.912 --> 14:41.380 "Christian vegetarianism," 14:41.447 --> 14:43.115 I'm looking at you. 14:43.182 --> 14:44.083 Paul is addressing 14:44.149 --> 14:46.318 these false beliefs. 14:46.385 --> 14:47.219 These are doctrines and 14:47.286 --> 14:48.687 restrictions that do not come 14:48.754 --> 14:50.322 out of the Bible, but from the 14:50.389 --> 14:52.324 traditions of men, 14:52.391 --> 14:53.626 and Paul calls them 14:53.692 --> 14:55.995 "doctrines of demons". 14:56.061 --> 14:58.163 He is clearly not talking about 14:58.230 --> 14:59.865 the instructions of the Bible, 14:59.932 --> 15:01.667 where God teaches exactly which 15:01.734 --> 15:04.470 animals He created--as it says 15:04.536 --> 15:07.506 in verse 3 of 1 Timothy 4--to be 15:07.573 --> 15:09.408 received as food. 15:09.475 --> 15:12.011 But let's get even more context 15:12.077 --> 15:12.911 and look at the verse that 15:12.978 --> 15:15.914 follows 1 Timothy 4:4... 15:22.388 --> 15:23.255 [Why? 15:23.322 --> 15:24.423 Verse 5...] 15:31.030 --> 15:33.032 Now, to be sanctified is to be 15:33.098 --> 15:35.534 set apart by God, and Paul here 15:35.601 --> 15:37.736 says he is speaking of food from 15:37.803 --> 15:39.505 creatures that have been set 15:39.571 --> 15:42.975 apart by the word of God, which, 15:43.042 --> 15:46.312 for Paul, was the Old Testament. 15:46.378 --> 15:48.314 Well what animals have been set 15:48.380 --> 15:50.282 apart by the "word of God" 15:50.349 --> 15:51.717 as created to be 15:51.784 --> 15:53.919 animals we can eat? 15:53.986 --> 15:55.154 The clean animals 15:55.220 --> 15:57.356 of Leviticus 11. 15:57.423 --> 15:59.458 Animals like the cow or bull, 15:59.525 --> 16:01.160 that have cloven hooves and chew 16:01.226 --> 16:02.861 the cud, for instance. 16:02.928 --> 16:05.230 The word of God sets them apart, 16:05.297 --> 16:07.666 as created to be good for food. 16:07.733 --> 16:09.835 In fact, no other animals in the 16:09.902 --> 16:12.671 world have been set apart by the 16:12.738 --> 16:14.506 word of God, other than the 16:14.573 --> 16:16.442 animals the Bible declares clean 16:16.508 --> 16:19.078 and available for meat. 16:19.144 --> 16:20.446 Certainly not our poisonous 16:20.512 --> 16:22.214 starfish friend. 16:22.281 --> 16:24.116 Reading the verses around 16:24.183 --> 16:26.352 verse 4 helps make Paul's 16:26.418 --> 16:27.920 meaning clear. 16:27.986 --> 16:30.356 The answer to our question "Does 16:30.422 --> 16:31.490 Paul tell Timothy that every 16:31.557 --> 16:33.559 animal [you could choose to 16:33.625 --> 16:36.228 consume] is good for food?" 16:36.295 --> 16:38.230 is no, the context and other 16:38.297 --> 16:41.633 passages indicate he does not. 16:41.700 --> 16:42.701 Paul was fighting against 16:42.768 --> 16:44.303 doctrines of demons and 16:44.370 --> 16:46.438 self-imposed, man-made 16:46.505 --> 16:48.440 restrictions, explaining that 16:48.507 --> 16:50.476 all of the creatures God set 16:50.542 --> 16:52.478 apart in His word are 16:52.544 --> 16:54.680 acceptable, not those animals 16:54.747 --> 16:56.248 God did not create to be eaten 16:56.315 --> 16:58.784 in the first place. 16:58.851 --> 17:00.786 Rightly dividing God's word 17:00.853 --> 17:02.921 takes skill, and a familiarity 17:02.988 --> 17:04.857 with the larger messages and 17:04.923 --> 17:06.959 themes of the Bible. 17:07.025 --> 17:08.460 And today's free offer, the 17:08.527 --> 17:10.629 24-lesson Tomorrow's World Bible 17:10.696 --> 17:13.265 Study Course has been especially 17:13.332 --> 17:16.335 designed to help you gain that 17:16.402 --> 17:18.070 intimate familiarity with 17:18.137 --> 17:20.005 the word of God. 17:20.072 --> 17:21.607 Here's the information you need 17:21.673 --> 17:22.975 to order your first four 17:23.041 --> 17:24.777 lessons, and don't go away, 17:24.843 --> 17:26.445 because I'll be right back 17:26.512 --> 17:27.913 to explain one of the most 17:27.980 --> 17:29.481 misunderstood verses 17:29.548 --> 17:31.150 in the Bible. 17:31.216 --> 17:32.885 This clear and straight-forward 17:32.951 --> 17:34.153 resource will help you 17:34.219 --> 17:36.088 understand this vital truth-- 17:36.155 --> 17:36.955 straight from the 17:37.022 --> 17:38.824 pages of the Bible. 17:38.891 --> 17:39.858 Call now! 17:39.925 --> 17:41.026 Or go to... 17:46.465 --> 17:47.433 For our third question, 17:47.499 --> 17:50.035 let's look at Luke 17. 17:50.102 --> 17:52.371 There, in verses 20 and 21, 17:52.438 --> 17:53.539 we read... 18:12.090 --> 18:13.892 Now some take note of those last 18:13.959 --> 18:15.894 few words and ask the following: 18:19.598 --> 18:20.999 The question is whether Jesus 18:21.066 --> 18:22.434 meant that the Kingdom of God is 18:22.501 --> 18:24.036 something only set up in the 18:24.102 --> 18:26.905 hearts of Christians--now--and 18:26.972 --> 18:28.807 not a literal, world-ruling 18:28.874 --> 18:30.609 Kingdom that is yet to come 18:30.676 --> 18:32.110 in the future. 18:32.177 --> 18:34.446 Now, this idea is explicitly 18:34.513 --> 18:36.215 reflected in some Bible 18:36.281 --> 18:37.950 translations, such as the 18:38.016 --> 18:39.852 Contemporary English Version, 18:39.918 --> 18:41.153 which translates Jesus' 18:41.220 --> 18:43.155 words of verse 20 as 18:43.222 --> 18:44.890 "God's kingdom isn't 18:44.957 --> 18:47.326 something you can see." 18:47.392 --> 18:48.126 But is this 18:48.193 --> 18:50.362 interpretation correct? 18:50.429 --> 18:52.097 Is the Kingdom of God just 18:52.164 --> 18:53.532 in your heart? 18:53.599 --> 18:54.867 Well, let's use the two tools 18:54.933 --> 18:56.368 we've already discussed. 18:56.435 --> 18:57.870 First, let's consider 18:57.936 --> 18:59.338 other verses. 18:59.404 --> 19:01.139 Passages such as 1 Corinthians 19:01.206 --> 19:03.609 chapter 6, verses 9 and 10, 19:03.675 --> 19:06.178 chapter 15, verse 50, and 19:06.245 --> 19:09.515 Galatians 5:21 plainly describe 19:09.581 --> 19:11.817 the Kingdom of God as something 19:11.884 --> 19:13.752 Christians will inherit in the 19:13.819 --> 19:16.455 future and do not yet have, and 19:16.522 --> 19:17.956 that it is something flesh and 19:18.023 --> 19:19.625 blood, like we are now, 19:19.691 --> 19:21.660 cannot inherit. 19:21.727 --> 19:22.828 In many passages, such as 19:22.895 --> 19:28.166 Matthew 25:31-34 and Mark 14:25, 19:28.233 --> 19:29.935 Jesus clearly describes 19:30.002 --> 19:31.069 the Kingdom as something 19:31.136 --> 19:33.105 Christians will inherit with 19:33.171 --> 19:35.674 His future Second Coming, 19:35.741 --> 19:37.309 not before. 19:37.376 --> 19:39.177 And Revelation 11:15 describes 19:39.244 --> 19:40.779 the inauguration of God's 19:40.846 --> 19:42.347 Kingdom as coinciding with 19:42.414 --> 19:44.516 Christ's return, as well, with 19:44.583 --> 19:46.752 other verses saying explicitly 19:46.818 --> 19:48.787 that Christ will rule over the 19:48.854 --> 19:51.823 world alongside His saints. 19:51.890 --> 19:53.158 And the Old Testament is filled 19:53.225 --> 19:54.760 with prophetic descriptions of 19:54.826 --> 19:56.929 that future world. 19:56.995 --> 19:58.463 Frankly, there are too many 19:58.530 --> 20:00.399 verses to refer to them all. 20:00.465 --> 20:01.934 But they plainly depict the 20:02.000 --> 20:03.969 Kingdom of God as being a very 20:04.036 --> 20:06.572 real Kingdom that will rule the 20:06.638 --> 20:09.474 world in the age to come. 20:09.541 --> 20:11.209 And let's use our second tool 20:11.276 --> 20:13.045 and look at the context by 20:13.111 --> 20:14.646 reading the larger passage 20:14.713 --> 20:15.847 in Luke 17... 20:43.375 --> 20:45.344 Notice that last part: 20:45.410 --> 20:47.112 the coming of Jesus Christ, the 20:47.179 --> 20:48.680 Son of Man, will be as when 20:48.747 --> 20:51.483 lightning flashes, which fills 20:51.550 --> 20:53.051 the entire sky. 20:53.118 --> 20:54.353 That's something very 20:54.419 --> 20:56.822 visible--in fact, accompanied 20:56.888 --> 20:58.423 by thunder, it can be 20:58.490 --> 21:00.025 impossible to miss. 21:00.092 --> 21:01.526 This does not sound like 21:01.593 --> 21:03.462 something invisible that exists 21:03.528 --> 21:05.330 only within your heart. 21:05.397 --> 21:08.066 Finally, let's use a third tool 21:08.133 --> 21:09.601 for understanding the Bible: 21:14.439 --> 21:16.475 Luke is not the only biblical 21:16.541 --> 21:18.243 writer to describe Jesus' 21:18.310 --> 21:20.278 comments about the Kingdom 21:20.345 --> 21:22.214 and its visibility. 21:22.280 --> 21:24.249 Look at a related passage as 21:24.316 --> 21:26.284 recorded by a different gospel 21:26.351 --> 21:29.121 writer, this time Matthew. 21:29.187 --> 21:30.889 Let's read Matthew 24, 21:30.956 --> 21:32.924 beginning at verse 23, and 21:32.991 --> 21:34.660 see what he adds... 22:15.067 --> 22:17.102 This additional witness records 22:17.169 --> 22:19.071 additional elements in 22:19.137 --> 22:20.672 Jesus' description. 22:20.739 --> 22:22.040 First, He isn't talking about 22:22.107 --> 22:23.675 something that cannot be seen at 22:23.742 --> 22:25.377 all, but rather He is warning 22:25.444 --> 22:27.312 that He will not return and 22:27.379 --> 22:29.648 establish His Kingdom in some 22:29.715 --> 22:31.550 secret location somewhere--some 22:31.616 --> 22:32.584 location that has to be 22:32.651 --> 22:34.853 figured out or hunted down. 22:34.920 --> 22:36.421 In fact, the Greek word 22:36.488 --> 22:39.057 translated "observation" in Luke 22:39.124 --> 22:41.960 17:20 can mean just that--a 22:42.027 --> 22:44.463 close and careful inspection, 22:44.529 --> 22:47.065 picking over minute details. 22:47.132 --> 22:48.533 The Weymouth New Testament 22:48.600 --> 22:50.368 translates Jesus' 22:50.435 --> 22:51.536 words of verse 20: 22:58.009 --> 22:59.711 That matches better Jesus' 22:59.778 --> 23:02.013 warnings to avoid those who say, 23:02.080 --> 23:04.349 "Hey, Jesus is in this hidden 23:04.416 --> 23:06.318 group or that secret place--you 23:06.384 --> 23:07.919 just haven't seen Him." 23:07.986 --> 23:09.454 He is saying the coming of 23:09.521 --> 23:10.422 His Kingdom will be 23:10.489 --> 23:12.424 very public and impossible to 23:12.491 --> 23:14.726 miss--like lightning filling the 23:14.793 --> 23:17.362 entire sky, or, as this passage 23:17.429 --> 23:19.498 adds, like a flock of eagles 23:19.564 --> 23:22.100 swarming around their dinner. 23:22.167 --> 23:24.536 Not secret at all, 23:24.603 --> 23:26.905 and extremely visible. 23:26.972 --> 23:28.073 So, what does He mean when 23:28.140 --> 23:29.207 He says "the Kingdom 23:29.274 --> 23:30.976 is within you"? 23:31.042 --> 23:32.611 Many other Bible translations 23:32.677 --> 23:35.280 get this verse more accurately 23:35.347 --> 23:36.848 than the King James and New King 23:36.915 --> 23:39.117 James--as much as I love 23:39.184 --> 23:41.019 them--by translating that phrase 23:41.086 --> 23:43.955 more clearly as "the Kingdom is 23:44.022 --> 23:47.225 among you" or "the Kingdom 23:47.292 --> 23:50.095 is in your midst." 23:50.162 --> 23:52.831 And that makes far more sense. 23:52.898 --> 23:54.766 Wherever Jesus went in His 23:54.833 --> 23:57.169 ministry, the people experienced 23:57.235 --> 23:59.738 a foretaste of the great Kingdom 23:59.805 --> 24:03.341 to come in tomorrow's world. 24:03.408 --> 24:05.210 So, let's summarize what we've 24:05.277 --> 24:07.245 learned today--but first I need 24:07.312 --> 24:09.047 to give you one more opportunity 24:09.114 --> 24:10.282 to request our free 24:10.348 --> 24:13.285 24-lesson Tomorrow's World 24:13.351 --> 24:14.886 Bible Study Course. 24:14.953 --> 24:15.887 This course is designed 24:15.954 --> 24:17.622 with you in mind. 24:17.689 --> 24:18.690 Whether you have never cracked 24:18.757 --> 24:20.559 open a Bible before or whether 24:20.625 --> 24:22.794 you're a long-time Bible reader 24:22.861 --> 24:25.163 looking to go deeper, this free 24:25.230 --> 24:27.632 course was designed for you. 24:27.699 --> 24:29.601 Order your first lessons right 24:29.668 --> 24:31.536 now, and I'll be right back to 24:31.603 --> 24:33.538 highlight the lessons you can 24:33.605 --> 24:35.674 begin applying today in your 24:35.740 --> 24:37.609 own Bible study. 24:37.676 --> 24:39.778 For today's free offer call... 24:44.749 --> 24:46.051 Or go to... 24:50.889 --> 24:52.257 This clear and straight-forward 24:52.324 --> 24:53.525 resource will help you 24:53.592 --> 24:55.627 understand this vital truth-- 24:55.694 --> 24:56.428 straight from the 24:56.494 --> 24:59.231 pages of the Bible. 24:59.297 --> 25:00.165 If you're calling for the first 25:00.232 --> 25:01.900 time, you will also receive a 25:01.967 --> 25:03.668 free annual subscription to 25:03.735 --> 25:05.904 Tomorrow's World magazine. 25:05.971 --> 25:07.873 Ten inspiring issues discussing 25:07.939 --> 25:09.774 news, science, and modern 25:09.841 --> 25:11.610 culture will help you make sense 25:11.676 --> 25:13.144 of your world from 25:13.211 --> 25:15.213 a biblical perspective. 25:15.280 --> 25:17.515 Call today and join millions 25:17.582 --> 25:19.251 around the world who are turning 25:19.317 --> 25:21.887 to Tomorrow's World for truth, 25:21.953 --> 25:23.989 prophecy, and hope in these 25:24.055 --> 25:27.025 confusing times. 25:27.092 --> 25:28.426 Call now! 25:28.493 --> 25:29.461 Or go to... 25:37.802 --> 25:39.104 Welcome back. 25:39.170 --> 25:40.071 We hope this episode of 25:40.138 --> 25:41.006 Tomorrow's World has been 25:41.072 --> 25:42.307 helpful for you. 25:42.374 --> 25:43.541 In addressing these common Bible 25:43.608 --> 25:45.977 questions, we've seen that Jesus 25:46.044 --> 25:48.613 was not created by God but, 25:48.680 --> 25:50.815 instead, existed in eternity 25:50.882 --> 25:52.250 past with Him. 25:52.317 --> 25:54.586 And that all created things 25:54.653 --> 25:57.789 were, in fact made through Him. 25:57.856 --> 25:59.157 We've seen that the Apostle Paul 25:59.224 --> 26:01.259 was not trying to say that you 26:01.326 --> 26:02.961 should be willing to eat any and 26:03.028 --> 26:05.263 every animal on earth, but those 26:05.330 --> 26:07.565 God created to be eaten 26:07.632 --> 26:09.000 are fair game. 26:09.067 --> 26:10.135 And we've seen that the Kingdom 26:10.201 --> 26:12.170 of God is not just something set 26:12.237 --> 26:15.206 up in your heart, but truly is a 26:15.273 --> 26:17.342 world-ruling Kingdom to be 26:17.409 --> 26:18.743 brought by Jesus Christ 26:18.810 --> 26:20.645 at His return. 26:20.712 --> 26:21.680 And we've answered those 26:21.746 --> 26:23.014 questions by employing three 26:23.081 --> 26:24.950 solid principles that you should 26:25.016 --> 26:26.685 always keep in mind when trying 26:26.751 --> 26:29.020 to understand a particular verse 26:29.087 --> 26:30.922 or passage of the Bible. 26:42.400 --> 26:43.969 With these principles in mind, 26:44.035 --> 26:45.737 you'll be well on your way to 26:45.804 --> 26:47.339 fulfilling that charge the 26:47.405 --> 26:49.140 Apostle Paul laid upon 26:49.207 --> 26:51.042 Timothy--and which, centuries 26:51.109 --> 26:53.111 later, he lays on all of us... 27:04.622 --> 27:05.857 If you are serious about doing 27:05.924 --> 27:07.325 that, and you recognize the 27:07.392 --> 27:10.295 eternal value that lies within 27:10.362 --> 27:12.197 the pages of the Bible, then I 27:12.263 --> 27:13.631 can't think of a better way for 27:13.698 --> 27:15.266 you to learn how to bring that 27:15.333 --> 27:17.869 eternal value out of the pages 27:17.936 --> 27:20.238 of the Bible and into your life 27:20.305 --> 27:21.973 than enrolling in today's free 27:22.040 --> 27:24.275 offer, the 24-lesson Tomorrow's 27:24.342 --> 27:26.678 World Bible Study Course. 27:26.745 --> 27:28.246 It's time to stop making 27:28.313 --> 27:30.048 excuses and start 27:30.115 --> 27:31.850 making things happen. 27:31.916 --> 27:33.952 I hope you will order your 27:34.019 --> 27:35.987 copy--and I hope you will 27:36.054 --> 27:37.756 come back next week. 27:37.822 --> 27:39.124 When you do, you'll find that 27:39.190 --> 27:41.026 Gerald Weston, Richard Ames, Rod 27:41.092 --> 27:42.394 McNair, and I will be here 27:42.460 --> 27:44.696 waiting for you, looking forward 27:44.763 --> 27:46.197 to sharing with you the hope of 27:46.264 --> 27:47.932 the coming Kingdom of God, the 27:47.999 --> 27:49.768 inspiring teachings of Jesus 27:49.834 --> 27:51.970 Christ, and the vital end-time 27:52.037 --> 27:53.872 prophecies of our day. 27:53.938 --> 27:55.373 Until we see you again, 27:55.440 --> 27:57.709 take care. 27:57.776 --> 27:59.411 For today's free offer call... 28:03.948 --> 28:05.150 Or go to... 28:09.254 --> 28:10.455 Call today and join millions 28:10.522 --> 28:12.257 around the world who are turning 28:12.323 --> 28:14.626 to Tomorrow's World for truth, 28:14.692 --> 28:16.895 prophecy, and hope in these 28:16.961 --> 28:18.329 confusing times. 28:18.396 --> 28:20.398 ♪ 28:20.465 --> 28:21.366 The preceding program is 28:21.433 --> 28:22.300 produced by the 28:22.367 --> 28:24.369 Living Church of God.