>> Jeff Chamblee: M It's Fireaway Friday on Exploring the Word. This is your chance to ask us your Bible question at 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840. You can also email your [email protected] or visit facebook.com exploring the word. Exploring the Word. It's Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio.

>> Bert Harper: Well, a lot of people love Friday because it's the week, but here at afr, we love Friday because it's Fire Away Friday and we get to get a lot of phone calls from people all over the United States. And every once in a while, we'll even get some from outside the States about a few times that's happened. And that number, if you would call and ask your Bible question is 888-5898-884108-88589, 8840. Alex and I would love to talk with you and hear your question, and we'll do our best to give that biblical answer. Uh, our goal is to know Jesus and make him known. Well, Alex, it's been, uh, uh, let me see. It's been one week since we've done Fire Away Friday. So you ready to do it again?

>> Alex McFarland: I am ready. And here's that number. It's 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840. We've been in the book of numbers. We had a great prayer day this week, but you can ask any Bible question you want, and we will do our best to give you a, a good, solid answer. And you know what? I was thinking about something. Um, in the 16 years of this show, uh, we've had the great privilege of ministering to people and doing our best to lift up Jesus. But I think you and I both have grown and, uh, I think you and I have been enriched, uh, doing the studying and the research to carry out this show, don't you think?

>> Bert Harper: I know I have. And let me just say, some of the questions and comments that our listeners, our callers have made has enriched my life and made me dig deeper and think wider and deeper. And so we want to say thank you and, uh, enjoying doing that, sharing this time with you. We also hope it gets you ready for Sunday. I hope, uh, let me just say, Sunday worship. What a way to honor the Lord Jesus and make much of him. So find your way to a church, worship him, participate, sing, give, and, uh, let God reign in your life. Well, Alex, man, people are already calling in and we'll get to as many calls today as we can. That number, one more time, 888-589-8840. And, Alex, you ready to go to the phone lines 4.

>> Alex McFarland: Where shall we begin?

>> Bert Harper: Let's start in Texas with Lavon. Lavon, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Thank you. I called last week, and I only got one of my questions answered, so I called again this week to get the other one.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, let me say thank you for your persistence. Lavon, go ahead.

>> Caroline: This has been bothering me for a long time. I have asked my pastor about it, and he said that the book of Job was written by Job. It's his story. I said, no, the Bible says it's not unknown author. So at the beginning of Job, Satan goes to God and says, you know, God says, how do you like my servant? He says, well, he's doing, you know, I love my servant. He's doing good and all that stuff. And Satan says, well, if you let me have, you know, my way with him, then he'll turn against you. Okay, that's the conversation between God and Satan. At the end of Job, God condemns Job for not being faithful enough when he was faithful, but he never tells Joe why all this stuff happened to him. I need to know who put that in the Bible. If it wasn't Joe.

>> Alex McFarland: Mark, it was Joe.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Hey, unknown did write it. We. We don't know. Uh, Alex, as far as we know, the Bible scholars that I listen to and know more about it than I do, uh, they tend to think it's unknown. Ah. It's not necessarily an autobiography, is it?

>> Alex McFarland: No. Um. Uh, ultimately, the Holy Spirit wrote it and gave the words. Uh, these were actual, um, historical accounts that happened, though. And it doesn't definitively say, you know, who the author was. And really at the time he went through the things. Um, and you and I counted when we talked through this, that job went through 17 trials and severe things, and Satan had the, uh, chance to beat up on Job. The one thing he couldn't do was kill him. Um, so, uh, Satan was only operating within boundaries set by God. But here's the thing. Job went through all these things to silence the mouth of the one the Bible calls the accuser. And, uh, I think there's a great lesson in that for any of us. If we're going through some trials or testings and we think, you know, why. Why am I going through this hard time? Well, if for no other reason to keep praising and trusting God and not fall into the snare of the accuser or the brethren, who would love for us to join in, in slandering God, but really the definitive human penman, uh, through which these Holy Spirit words were given, we just don't know.

>> Bert Harper: And the way it's presented, I, I love it myself. It's possibly the earliest book we have. Now, again, Genesis goes, goes back further than Job does, but far as what took place and how it happened and it being recorded, it was an early one. And, uh, it's so it's been around. And also I would say this, uh, about the Book of Job and what I have learned from it. The advice that is given, uh, may or may not be good. Uh, as I read some of them, Eliphaz, Bildad, uh, and Zophar. But then Elihu, the last one, he's a younger guy, he comes up and sometimes we need to hear those younger voices, Alex. And that was true with Elihu. He had more, uh, he had a biblical worldview, more than the other three guys, let me put it that way.

>> Alex McFarland: He really did. Now, you know what's interesting? We really don't know who wrote Job. Um, Encyclopedia Britannica says this is one of the masterpieces of world literature. Isn't that amazing? Here's the good thing about Elihu. He was an eyewitness to all these events. He was a friend of Job. He's the one in job 32. And following that emphasizes that Job is, and we all should praise God. And Elihu, of all of Job's friends, is one who doesn't get a rebuke by the end of the book. Now, some traditions said Elihu was the writer. Jewish history says it was Moses. And I don't know, I've heard 10 million times the five books of Moses. So if Moses was the human penman of Job, there would be six books of Moses. I just don't know. I think it's lost a history. Um, might have been Elihu, but we just don't know.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, sort of like the Hebrews of the Old Testament. We don't know who wrote Hebrews. For sure. We don't know.

>> Alex McFarland: That's good analogy.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah. Well, uh, uh, Lavon, we hope that helped and thank you for calling a second time to get the last part of the next question. We appreciate you splitting them up that way. That helps us. Let's go to Tennessee and talk to Mary. Mary, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, I had a question about.

>> William: I had found about this place called Love Packages, and they collect using new books, Bibles and tracts to deliver around the world where people may not have access to Bibles. They collect both English and Spanish. They started in Illinois and they've expanded to Alabama and they can actually come to where you're at and pick up stuff. But I'm wondering how do you decide or make decisions on what would be good to pass on in that way?

>> Bert Harper: Okay. I'm familiar with this ministry. Matter of fact, the former editor of the Stand, uh, Randall Murphy, uh, he's how I got in contact with them. And I've given them several of my books. And they give them. And if they're commentaries and books like that, they're very helpful, Alex. And uh, anything like that. So if you have a library that is very good now, they will, they will go through them to make sure they're biblical. But, uh, give those books and they're put to use because of uh, they, they send them to English speaking people in the third world and it really makes a difference. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, they're, they're really good and I think they're very theologically sound. I mean they, in addition to people donating good Christian materials, they partner with like Lifeway and Baker books. I've written four books for Baker and uh, David C. Cook, which is a great publisher. And so I think they're very sound. You know, I've gone through my library and then I've had things sent to me and whenever I've had things that were, you know, unsound or. Um, just earlier this week I was given some Mormon literature stuff, like I throw it away. I don't want that kind of stuff in circulation.

>> Bert Harper: And you don't want to pass it on either. No, no, that's right. Okay. Uh, we hope that helps Mary. And it is a good, great ministry in uh, Illinois and uh, Alabama. Those are the places.

>> Bert Harper: And thank you so much.

>> Bert Harper: Let's go to Anita in Texas. By the way, that number is 888-589-8840. Triple 858-98840. Let's go to Tennessee and talk to Gary. Gary, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Hey guys, thanks.

>> Caroline: Taking my call. I just wanted to ask, uh, you about the witch of Endor over in First Samuel.

>> Caroline: Uh, Saul doesn't see anything. He doesn't hear anything. It's all from the witch.

>> Caroline: Is she telling the truth or is she lying or what? And I'd be interested in knowing Yalls interpretation of that passage.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Gary, listen, uh, you're not the first one to ask that. I can tell you. Uh, that has been a very common question, Alex. Uh, just because it happens one time, does it mean it's going to happen again? Or did God intervene in something that wasn't so good to show himself strong?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, yeah, I think this was, uh, a one time, never to be repeated occurrence. And even the witch of Endor, it says that she shouts. Could be translated she kind of screams in fear because, I mean, you know, she was, uh, one of these, uh, that would take people's money and go through some masquerading or something, and suddenly, you know, uh, Samuel appears and, uh, you know, Saul is doing something that is strictly prohibited for anybody. The ancient Israelites, certainly Christians today, engaging in sorcery. And by the way, let me just say this, um, a medium, a fortune teller, a seer, the horoscope don't ever have anything to do with any of that. Folks, if you're a child of God, you're led by the Holy Spirit, the word of God. Bert, um, any sort of, um, divination is 1000% off limits for any of the people of God, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And something that we're going to study next week in Numbers is Balaam, uh, who was a seer. Uh, he had some truth because God used him too, to speak truth to Balak. Uh, but yet he was not who he should have been. Matter of fact, Peter and others in the NewSong Testament, man in Revelation, they let him have it. So these soothsayers and people, uh, like that, uh, we need to lay that stuff down. Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me clarify something. People ask the question, did the witch of Endor summon up Samuel? And I'm going to say, uh, no, but yes. Now let me explain what I mean. Samuel appeared. This is in 1st Samuel 28:7. And following it wasn't by her power or anything like that. And let me just say, no human has the power to control the spirits. Certainly the spirits of the departed. God allowed that to happen. Really?

>> Bert Harper: For the condemnation of Saul, I think that's exactly right. Hey, we've got lines open, so give, uh, us a call with your Bible question. 8885-898840-88858-9840. We'll be right back.

>>  : The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content through the app on your phone, smart device or Roku. Just go to your app store or visit afr.net listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app.

>> Bert Harper: My faith don't flinch at your shoulder.

>> Caroline: You thought you had the last land. You thought this song was over. You ain't my king.

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word. It's fire away Friday. Hey, I want to hear from some first time callers. If you've never called in, we want to hear from you. Don't be shy. If you've got a Bible question, Bert Harper and I will give you a biblical answer. I the number is triple 858-98-8840. That's triple 858-9840. You will get through. We have lines open and while we, uh, queue up some telephone calls and Bible questions, um, I want to, uh, give a big shout out to a great church. Socastee Baptist Church in South Carolina. Pastor Micah Laine, Socastee Baptist. I'll be there in revival later this month. I can't believe it's May, but Sunday, May 17, morning and evening. And we're just going to be preaching, um, revival and seeking the Lord, but also, uh, praying for America. We really are a lot to pray about and um, the, of course the war and the world situation. And I've got a lot on my calendar. In just four weeks, our first of, uh, seven summer youth camps will be starting in Montana. So I just appreciate everybody's prayers and as we go to the calls, uh, Bert, where are you going to be this weekend, brother?

>> Bert Harper: Oh, I'll be back at Ozark Baptist Church. Church. I've been there now a little over a year as their interim pastor. Looking forward to it. May is a good time to preach concerning the family, Mother's Day. And so I'm going to bring a message about the biblical view of marriage and I'm looking forward to sharing that. So if anybody lives in northeast Mississippi, go to Ozark Baptist Church at 11 o'. Clock. I'll be preaching. We'll have great worship, so we'd love for folks to come. Well, Alex, Anita, you know, she called but she was having phone difficulties and she got a hold of Richard, uh, who answers our phone and this is her question.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay.

>> Bert Harper: Will only save people go into the millennium.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay. Um, no, I think there'll be a lot of children and there'll be quite a number of people for one, the redeemed of the ages, I think will have access to planet Earth during the millennial kingdom at the end of The Battle of Armageddon. Christ comes back on a horse, followed by 10,000 times 10,000, which is really a very pictorial way of saying nearly immeasurable number. Now, there will be a people alive that go into the millennial age that are children. Uh, I think there will be children born during the millennium. But you see, the people that grow up during the millennial age, they still will need to accept Christ. And that's why at the very tail end of the millennium, when Satan is loosed for just a moment and there is yet another rebellion, proving that, um, the unredeemed heart, apart from the control of Jesus Christ, still has this propensity to sin.

>> Bert Harper: We really do. And so, Anita, sorry about your phone, but we're glad you talked to Richard and, uh, our phone screener. And we appreciate that. Let's go to Texas. And is it Tandy Way?

>> Caroline: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, tell me a little bit about that name, Tandy Way. Is that, is that a nickname or a real name or what?

>> Caroline: No, no, it is an African name. It means beloved.

>> Bert Harper: Oh, man, NewSong York. Well, I love that American.

>> Caroline: But my parents had African friends, and here I go with the, uh, African name.

>> Bert Harper: Hey, listen, that is precious. Tandy Way.

>> Caroline: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Uh, did everybody have. Did they ask you where did that. People like me, where it comes from all the time. Okay.

>> Caroline: It originated in South Africa. And some will just start speaking. I'm like, oh, no, no, no, just the name.

>> Bert Harper: Well, hey, is that name written in the Lamb's book of life? And you've been born again.

>> Caroline: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. God knows that name. Okay, enough. Uh, Pendulum, thank you for calling. Give. Uh, what's your question today?

>> Caroline: Okay, if you can simplify it for me, Um, I know, uh, it's about the curse of Ham, and I know it wasn't him that was cursed, it was his son. Um, but a lot of slave masters, they use that curse to justify slavery. And I don't know why, because even a friend of mine that has studied the Bible, she believes it. She says, yes, it's in there. And I said, okay, I can't find it. But how, how could people, how could a generation use that as a justification?

>> Bert Harper: M. You say they did not have a biblical worldview. It was Alex. Can you misuse the Bible to justify wrong?

>> Alex McFarland: Yes. And some people have done that. It's very sad. And it's. It's very sad that some have tried to use, uh, the so called curse of Ham. The. The idea that Noah cursed Ham and all of Ham's descendants, and that was used to justify the African slave trade. That's tragic, and that is absolutely wrong. And this is. Um, let's kind of go through this. First of all, let me says Noah did not curse Ham. The curse is on Canaan, Ham's son. Nowhere does. Now, there was Shem, Ham and Japheth. And it's a fascinating thing that all of the ethnicities of the world come from these sons. And by the way, if you want to Google it, uh, Jon MacArthur had a great, great teaching on. And he's in heaven now. All the ethnicities. I don't say all the races because there's one race.

>> Bert Harper: What is that? Let me say the human race.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And we're all human beings. Uh, there's different ethnicities and different cultures, but we're all human beings. So this is really significant that, um, Noah blessed his other sons, but Ham does not receive a blessing. Um, and so it doesn't mean there's a curse on all of Ham's descendants. Now, um, Genesis 9 speaks of Canaan, and it really means the father of Canaan. So here's the thing. Canaan and Ham were involved in sinning against Noah. Um, Canaan was apparently right there when Noah. Remember, Noah got drunk, and it says his father's nakedness was uncovered. Um, now the bottom line is, it's almost like a prophecy. It's not a curse. Like, I think the way it would be worded would be, um, a proactive curse. Um, here's the thing. Noah learned about the sin of Ham, and he was naked. And apparently they mocked him, laughed at him. We don't really completely know what it involved, but it was bad that Noah was drunk and passed out. And so one line of Ham's posterity would suffer. Okay. Um, Noah foresaw that the Canaanites, in their wickedness, would, uh, get, um, all this punishment. And frankly, there was a lack of blessing on Ham because he was not of good character. But that does not mean that all of the descendants of Ham are invariably bound to suffer, to be exploited, to be enslaved. And frankly, most scholars believe that it was really during the time of Joshua that the Canaanites, uh, persecuted the descendants of Ham and the descendants of Shem, by the way. So here's the thing. Um, Canaan, the son of Ham, did go through hard times. And it says, cursed be Canaan. And when Canaan, you know, was the descendants of Canaan, they had a hard time. They were in battles. They were killed. But, Bert, I think two things I want to say, and I realize this is a little bit lengthy. Number one, all of the descendants of Ham, which would include ethnically Africans. That does not. In no way, in no universe could that legitimately be construed to mean slavery is justified. Never. But the other thing that most scholars believe, the, the, the cursing of Canaan and the hard times they went through have long since been completed. And so let me just say, even if it was a curse, um, Jesus is the curse breaker.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: And so we have freedom in Christ. I know, um, I've kind of gone longer than I should. But nowhere can you justify racism, human trafficking, the exploitation of those weaker, uh, or taking advantage. And certainly not, uh, racism or slavery or even the sad things of the Jim Crow South. I've heard stories in the 1800s that horribly misguided people would try, in the south would try and use the Bible to, um, justify slavery or Jim Crow bias. And that's very, very wrong, isn't it, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And what took place in the 1850s and northern tier of their states, the Great Prayer Revival. And, uh, started in NewSong York City. Jeremiah Lanphear. It swept across the northern tier of states. Yeah, there was some misguided people started out of that, but by and large, so great. And the abolitionists grew and multiplied. And it was amazing that God would, uh, say this curse was so bad in the south that that revival did not come in the south where slavery, uh, was being practiced. I think that says a lot. Uh, Tandy Way, thank you for calling and thank you for sharing us with your name. Uh, so thank you so much. Let's go to West Virginia. David, Go right ahead. Thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Hey, uh, uh, thank you. Ah, so I don't have a question, but I am first time caller. Um, I just want to say God bless you guys. Um, you know, uh, four years, uh, recovering addict.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. We gonna take time out just to praise God for you, David, for what God's done. Go right ahead, man.

>> Caroline: Um, you know, last two years I've been the youth pastor at our church or garden assembly of God. You know, God just been very blessful and praise the Lord. Yeah, I love you guys. You guys are, ah, corporate prayer is awesome, you know.

>> Bert Harper: Hey, David, uh, Brent, put David on hold. Could you and Richard talk to David, uh, get his address? We want to send him something for four years. We want to celebrate that and say praise God. What with God. So guys put him on hold. Uh, anyway, y' all got him on hold. Okay, we're good then. Thank you so much. Let's go to Texas and talk to Gary. Gary, thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Yes, my question is the references in the Bible when they're talking about tear their clothes. We know that there could be a Walmart right down the road where they could just go get some more. I'm sure they were hard to come by. So what is meant by tearing their clothes?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Gary. It is. Shows you the severity of their repentance, of their grief for sin. Yes. Their covering. Uh, think about that, Alex. Uh, go back all the way to Adam and Eve after they sin. What did God do? He put covering upon them, the shed and the blood. But it shows the, the, the audacity of man to go against God. Add to that. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. There's at least seven times in the Bible where people are said to tear their clothes. You know, uh, you know, it's. It's like when, uh, they thought that, um, Joseph had, had died. Reuben, uh, in Genesis 37, ripped his clothes. All right. As the caller pointed out, clothes were a very valuable thing in the ancient world, and it was a sign of profound grief or mourning or stress. It could be a big sign of anger. You know, in Mark 14, when Jesus really did claim to be God and the one and only, um, Messiah, the high priest ripped his clothes. So indignation, anger, or mourning.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, uh, we hope that helps. Gary. Uh, I don't think we've had that question, so that was a neat question. Good one to ask. Let's go to Virginia. Donna, thank you for calling. Go right ahead. Donna, be sure and turn your radio off. Donna, are you there? Yes, go right ahead. Thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Yes, and I heard that bird is going to be talking on marriage, so maybe this will be an easy one.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. I hope. Hey, that's a big subject. Go ahead, Donna.

>> Caroline: I have a young relative who is, uh, living with a woman and says he doesn't need to get married. And there's nothing. I am looking for some verse in the Bible that would, I could use to point out to him the necessity of getting married, um, and having, you know, clergy or God involved. It's not. He's saying he just took vows, him and his girlfriend together, but I don't know.

>> Bert Harper: Okay. Uh, the Bible does say something about obeying the laws of the land. And you go back to Adam and Eve, and, uh, I'll probably use this Sunday at Adam and Eve's. It was a marriage. Yes. And God did perform it. Yes. He was the minister performing it. He was the best man, and he gave the bride away. Same One, Alex, you know, the Bible affirms marriage. It affirms it from the beginning, all the way through the scriptures, doesn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really does. And here's the thing. Marriage is a picture of Christ and the church. One of the reasons that in our own lifetime, uh, marriage and family, I think, has been so much under attack is because marriage is a picture of the gospel. And like Francis Schaeffer said, the great biblical worldview leader, he died in, I think, 1986. But he said marriage and family, the home was designed to prepare our hearts for the gospel. Now, I want to be clear about something that this generation needs to hear. Marriage is m not merely coupling. Even a lot of kids that I talk to in church, they'll think, well, you know, you fall in love and, well, you move in together. We're a couple now. It's more than coupling. And by the way, I would encourage people to read Ephesians 4. 5 says those who commit sexual immorality outside of marriage are not inheritors of the kingdom of God. That's in Ephesians 5. Now, God forgives, but we need to do marriage life his way, not the ways of the world. Stay tuned. We've got a break. We're back after this.

>> Bert Harper: Right now, the voices in our culture

>> Bert Harper: are loud, but truth is often silent. And today, preborn needs you to help speak that truth. Women facing unplanned pregnancies are often pressured to act quickly before they have time to pause, breathe, or, uh, hear the truth about life, dignity, and hope. But I refuse to be silent, and I'm asking you to join me. At preborn network clinics, a woman is welcomed with compassion and given a free ultrasound. She sees the life growing inside her, often for the first time. And in that sacred moment, fear gives way to clarity. And she's offered something the abortion industry will never provide. The hope of Jesus Christ.

>> Bert Harper: This April, our goal is to have

>> Bert Harper: 11,000 gospel conversations in preborn network clinics, trusting God to bring the increase as we remain faithful to speak. You can help make that possible by sponsoring ultrasounds. Just $28 provides one ultrasound. $140 sponsors five ultrasounds for mothers in crisis. Every dollar helps save babies and share the good news of Jesus Christ. To donate, dial £250 and say the keyword baby. That's £250, baby. Or visit preborn.com host that's preborn.com host.

>> Bert Harper: That is Brent Austin music. I'm telling you, what if, uh, there's a drummer involved? Brent loves it. He makes sure he hears that we got two musicians here on Exploring the Word, and Bert is not one of them. But Alex plays the guitar, Brent the drums. And no, I'm not going to sing either. Bert plays the radio. I play the radio, and it has static when I touch it. But anyway, it's good to have you on this Fire Away Friday, and we've got callers coming in. We may have room for one more. So if you got, uh, a real question, we'd love to Hear it at Triple 858-98840. And let's go to Iowa and talk to Doug. Doug, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hey, gentlemen.

>> Caroline: To glory.

>> Caroline: To God be the glory. So nice to catch you with my question. Uh, I'm blessed to have been saved last year. Um, and much of my family, all independently, are coming, uh, to God and to Christ, known as our Lord and Savior. Uh, and I've never been, never felt better. I've always had a good life. But, uh, this is the life God always intended for me to be, following him, uh, and letting him lead me, uh, and what a powerful God we serve.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Doug. Wait just a minute, brother. This testimony deserves some praise to God. How old are you, Doug?

>> Caroline: Sir, I'm 51 years old.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And the last year or so. The last year has been better than the first 50 years, is that what I heard you say?

>> Caroline: Absolutely. I see the first 50 as a much regret and that I wasn't, uh, using them to worship our Lord and Savior. Absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: Well, I want to use this because, uh. So you're recommending anybody who's out there listening, and they've never come into this relationship with Jesus Christ you recommended Alec. Is that what I understand?

>> Caroline: I would say without debate, nobody's life has ever been, um, negate or in any way, um, lessened through a faith, through their faith in our Lord and Savior.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Doug, I know I get to your question, but this is just too good of a testimony to not let others hear it. But go right ahead with your question, brother. Thank you for calling.

>> Caroline: Oh, thank you for taking. Sir, My question is I've always. Because I'm still young in my faith, and I'm trying to understand, interpret, um, exactly what it says and, and what it means. But in interpreting, I've always understood God to be all knowing, all present, uh, and. And nothing surprises him. He's aware of all things, whether they're past or future. So I'm just a little lost. Where it says in, uh, Genesis 6, chapter 7, um, where it Says in the Lord regretted, or excuse me for six, uh, verse six. I might have that all backwards. I apologize. I'm nervous, uh, that the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth and agreed. And I take that as Lord being surprised or God being surprised by humanity. And I wouldn't think he could be, given my knowledge.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Doug, thank you for calling. And I, uh, want to put in at a minute. We'll put you on hold. We want to get your address too. And, uh, I'm generous today, I guess, but. Alex. Okay. He regretted making man. Uh, some translations kind of shift that drift, that if I understand it right, he was grieved. Um, you know, uh, God, we can grieve God. The Holy Spirit of God grieves. And so it hurts God. Does anything catch God by surprise? Let me answer that first. Jesus certainly was. He was amazed and marveled at the faith of a centurion when he said, I've not found so great a faith, not even Israel. He was also marveled at the unbelief of those that were in Nazareth. So God can be amazed. Uh, does that mean he was surprised enough that he didn't see it coming?

>> Alex McFarland: Uh, no. Um, God is omniscient. And that means all knowledge. Nothing takes God by surprise. Looking at Genesis 6:6 in, uh, the original language, the wording there, and I realize English translations, uh, of Genesis 6:6 will say that God was sorry he had made man. But if you look at the larger context of it, you know, it says that man is just being continually evil. Genesis 6, the wickedness of man says, my spirit will not strive with man forever. And the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his evil continually. Now, the English translation says, and the Lord was sorry that he had made man on the earth and was grieved in his heart. So look this up. It doesn't mean that God was, uh, surprised. Uh, oh, my goodness, I didn't see this coming. Not at all. It really means to sigh with lament or rue. In other words, grieve for one thing, because God loves us and he desires to bless us. God was sorry that, uh, we were destroying ourselves physically and spiritually. I mean, when we make poor choices and we suffer at the, you know, result of those choices, God is not happy when we hurt ourselves. But I think that it, what it's meaning in Genesis 6:6 is, and I, uh, have to believe it's about that way today. God sees the, how thoroughly we've Chosen sin over salvation. How thoroughly we've chosen evil over righteousness and blessing that his heart is heavy. We have a compassionate God and when we, we do the evil things that destroy ourselves. He's not happy about that, is he?

>> Bert Harper: He is not. And um, I. The sovereignty of God is strong. The sovereignty of God. He's in control and his omnipresence. God is able to uh, reveal himself at any place at any time. This is not uh, pantheism that God is in everything and everything is God. No, God is God. But he can reveal himself in power at any place. He can do it on uh, we've recently gone around the moon, at least those four astronauts did. And guess what? God was there, even there, revealing himself. With those pictures. God revealed himself. So uh, God, if there's any limit to God, it's God limiting himself. You catch what I'm saying, Alex? That's what Jesus did when he was born of man. He limited himself to be in one place at one time. And uh, so it's uh, it's. The sovereign of God is amazing and we serve that kind and that God. So. Thank you, Doug. Hope that helps. Okay, put him on hold and let's, let's get that information. Tony from Arkansas. Go right ahead. Tony.

>> Caroline: Yeah, Burton, Alex. Uh, I'm gonna make this quick because I want to listen to your answers on the radio. You call this Fire Away Friday. So I'm gonna fire away. I got my, I'm not a first time caller but I got my friend with me, Steve from Texarkana and uh, I'm from Hot Springs and we uh, are paper carriers and we communicate on the phone at night while we're working. And me and him had a question and ah, we asked questions to ourselves. Eventually I said to him, uh, well we need, that's a Burton Alex question, you know. And I said so we're together today. We're together today. And I said well let's call him and see. So what our question was, I'm going to ask this and fire it away and then I want to hang up and listen to Yalls answer. But uh, we had a question. Uh, when Jesus Christ was resurrected, when he resurrected from the dead, he went and got the keys to death, hell and death. And he released some the people from there and we wanted to know where they went to after they were released and was that considered purgatory? And then the other question is, is where do our souls go when we die?

>> Caroline: Does it.

>> Caroline: Do we stay in the grave or do we go uh, because it's not Judgment time yet. So we don't know if that might be Judgment Time or, or. Or is. Uh, or do we just wait till judgment and our souls are we just in purgatory?

>> Bert Harper: Tony, thank you. And Steve, thank you for duo calling. This is good. Alex. Those people that were released into Jerusalem, uh, it was for a while, and then they went back to where they were from, or did they have a whole new place to go to?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, this is great question. First of all, Revelation 1:18, Jesus does hold the keys to death and Hades, or death and the grave. So, yes, he, uh, is the arbiter of eternity, that's for sure. And the other thing, um, to his question, I'm kind of answering it backwards maybe. Second Corinthians 5, 8 says, uh, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So when a Christian dies, they are immediately in the presence of God. We don't just lay in the grave until the trumpet sounds. But, um, the thing about those that appeared after Christ's resurrection, this is called the phenomenon of Matthew 27 and Matthew 27, 51, 54. Um, specially, uh, talks about after Christ died on the cross. Um, and let me read this. Um, you know, the veil of the temple was torn, and in verse 52 it says, and the graves were opened, and many of the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming out of the graves after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Now, um, when Jesus rose, it's almost like his resurrection was such a powerful happening of the power of God that almost the residue of it touched some of the nearby saints in the graves. Uh, the resurrection of Jesus was a picture of the. The ultimate resurrection, the first resurrection where the dead in Christ will rise. And that's, of course, in 1st Corinthians 15 and also 1st Thessalonians 4. Let me say what this is. I believe that 40 days later, when Jesus ascended to heaven, they did too. Or maybe they were only appearing for a little while and then they were gone. Maybe they got raptured like Enoch, but I don't think they lived out decades and decades and died a second time. Do you, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: No, I don't say. No, I do not. Now, Lazarus did.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, that's different.

>> Bert Harper: It's different. Completely different situation in this. And again, we had a question of the difference in paradise and heaven. And Jesus says, today you will be with me in paradise. And I know this. Jesus is at the right hand of the Father. He's in the Third heaven. We know that because, uh, of, uh, Paul being caught up in seeing that. And so paradise in heaven, uh, seems to be, uh, congruent with one another, Alex. And so I believe they did go. Now, when they wince the question. Okay, yeah, it's not if, it is when. And we don't know that. But no, I. There's no evidence of them living like Lazarus did and die the second time. And, uh, we appreciate that, man. Tony, thank you.

>> Alex McFarland: Uh, can I throw an idea?

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay. Abraham's bosom is a term that's only found once in the NewSong Testament, uh, and that's in Luke 16 about the rich man and Lazarus. And, um, sometimes it's translated Abraham's side, and sometimes it's translated paradise. Now, this was the holding place of the saved dead before the resurrection of Christ. And when Jesus said to the penitent thief on the cross, today you'll be with me in paradise. Maybe, just maybe, I'm not going to be dogmatic about it. Okay. When Jesus expired on the cross, um, and the penitent thief died on the cross, there was an unbelieving thief. Remember the one man said, lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. That believing thief might have been the last soul to ever go to Abraham's bosom, also known as Paradise. Now, he wasn't there five minutes because Jesus went and took the souls of the believing dead to heaven properly. You know, Jesus. Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth, led captivity, captive, and gave gifts to men. So that is a little bit speculative.

>> Bert Harper: It is. But we do know this paradise in heaven, regardless where Jesus is, if that captivity led captive, it's those in the holding place called paradise, which the great gulf was fixed between. It's in the presence of God the Father and Jesus Christ at the right hand of the Father right now. And, uh, that's where we go. That's immediate. And so thank you so much, Tony and Steve, man combo. And keep that paper delivering going and keep listening to exploring the word. Let's go to Tennessee. Ivy, you've been waiting and waiting. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Well, I had been told that you fellows didn't really want to talk to lawyers. Especially not lawyers.

>> Bert Harper: Oh, man. Hey, Ivy, go ahead. We'll talk to you.

>> Caroline: Okay.

>> Caroline: You know I'm kidding. A southern boy has to kid. So I'm so glad to get to talk to you too. You guys are great warriors for Christ, and I know it. And, uh, by the way, speaking of that, the name Roger Stacey or James Rogers. Hey, they Are. We'll go ahead.

>> Bert Harper: Roger. Stacey, go ahead. He's a brother in Christ, missionary, pastor, good friend.

>> Caroline: Yes. James Rogers, also. They're both close friends of mine, and they moved to Mississippi, so I'm still here in Tennessee.

>> Bert Harper: Well,

>> Bert Harper: hey, Ivy, the rapture takes place straight up over Mississippi, you know, so you'll slant in. Okay, enough of this, Ivy. Go ahead. I'm having too much.

>> Alex McFarland: I got to say this before Ivy gives his question. Brother, you are a great American, and we're honored to hear from you.

>> Bert Harper: We are, Ivy. Go right ahead, brother.

>> Caroline: Well, I'll thank you for that, gentlemen, but I'm more impressed with what you do, and I'm trying to be there right on the front lines with you. Actually, it was less a question now, is it more Was a comment on some of the things you fellows have said. I'll talk very fast. Job was one of the first books in the Bible that I, as a boy, latched on to. And I've always thought that ironic that somebody who was in his early teens would find it so intriguing. And even at that age, when I was not nowhere near being a mature Christian, Alex, I said to myself, this has got to be one of the most profound books ever written. And I continued to hold that view. And in fact, sometime when I was in college, I think it was, came, uh, across some writings by one of the world historians, and he made the same declaration. But what I wanted to say more than anything else is, to the folks, Job also is about the brevity of our lives. Do not miss anything, folks.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. Ivy. Thank you, Helen from Alabama. Call back next week. We couldn't get to your comment about tearing the clothes. Uh, we would enjoy hearing that, so we'd appreciate it, Alex. Hope you have a great weekend, brother.

>> Alex McFarland: Y', all, too. Hey, uh, folks, be in church on Sunday. God bless you.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you for listening. And continue listening to American Family Radio. Even on the weekend the lineup changes, but it is still strong and powerful. Thank you for listening. Have a great weekend.

>> Alex McFarland: M. The views and opinions expressed in

>> Caroline: this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those

>> Alex McFarland: of the American Family association or American Family Radio. M.

It's Fire Away Friday!