The Berean Call Podcast

<p>Question: During the past Sunday evening Bible study, the following was presented: Some [astrological] constellations corresponded with the tribes of Israel: Judah—Leo; Dan—Scorpio; Benjamin—Gemini. Further, the tribes in the wilderness were arranged around the Tabernacle according to the “mirror reflection” of where their corresponding constellation was located in the heavens. How does one research whether or not these things are true?</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First of all, is this idea anywhere taught in Scripture? Certainly not! Secondly, it has been pointed out numerous times that the “Signs of the Zodiac correspond to the position of the sun relative to constellations as they appeared more than 2,200 years ago” (<a href="https://bit.ly/3CsoGxi" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3CsoGxi</a>). However, practitioners of Astrology, and in particular those who make their living on it, would say (without any evidence) that this makes no difference. Further, their argument is in direct conflict with verifiable science as much as it is with the Word of God.</p><p><br></p><p>Indeed, the Lord says in Jeremiah 10:2, “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”</p>

<p>On this program, this is following the first installment of A.D.: The Bible Continues, which we’ve been talking about. We mentioned it on the - well, we started to address it in our first part of this program. But now, many of you viewers - I don’t know how many - but you’ve had an opportunity to see the entire production - that is, the first installment. What they’re hoping to do is have a series which runs for, I think, 12 programs, but that’s going to depend on how well it did in terms of its ratings. </p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>On this program and next week, the subject is the upcoming NBC special broadcast on Easter Sunday titled A.D.: The Bible Continues. It is a followup to the series aired on the History Channel and its theatrical spinoff Son of God, and my guest to discuss this production and the problems with translating the Bible visually is J.B. Hixson. J.B. is the author, Bible teacher - he’s a Bible teacher and radio host. His ministry is Not By Works, and can be found at <a href="http://www.notbyworks.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.notbyworks.org</a>, and you can go on his website to order his latest book The Great Last Days Deception.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: Psalm 40:6 reads, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” Why did David say this verse when a good chunk of Leviticus made rules on sacrifice?</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First of all, because he was inspired by the Lord to write this down. Secondly, he’s referencing 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel was inspired to say, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”</p><p><br></p><p>Further, he is speaking prophetically of the Lord Jesus. Verse 7 of Psalm 40 reads, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.”</p><p><br></p><p>Hebrews 10:5 explains further, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me….”</p><p><br></p><p>Simply put, David wrote this verse because he was inspired by the Lord to do so and it speaks emphatically of the end of the Levitical sacrifices. In Hebrews 10:9, God inspired the writer to say, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”</p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>There are three closely related statements by Christ to His disciples which have created much controversy over their interpretation: 1) "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19, 18:18); 2) "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching [concerning] any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19); and 3) "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (John 20:23).</p>

<p>The topic for today is Roman Catholicism - in particular, and fundamentally so, the gospel that the Church of Rome teaches and preaches, and I guess it’s about a billion and a quarter or so Catholics accept, or actually are obligated to accept. And our guest to discuss this subject is Jim McCarthy. He’s the author of a number of books, including The Gospel According to Rome and Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical. He’s also produced a terrific documentary, a DVD titled Catholicism: Crisis of Faith.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: I have a question which simply asks, “In view of all the Lord has done for believers, why do some fall away or go into apostasy?”</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First, as Scripture tells us, there are those who claim to be believers, who have never been saved (See—<a href="https://bit.ly/41D6NWQ" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/41D6NWQ</a>). Apostasy has been a part of every generation since the beginning and fall of mankind. Scripture tells us that it will culminate in the last days when the Antichrist is revealed. His religion will be an apostate Christianity—it will accommodate all religions. Although the apostasy will not be fully realized until after the Rapture of the church, its development has been ongoing from the time when sin entered the human race. Furthermore, down through biblical and church history, many true believers, either in ignorance or because of the weaknesses of their flesh, have contributed to apostasy. Solomon seems to exemplify this, he also married pagan women, which was contrary to Scripture. These women turned him to idolatry and he built temples for them to worship their false gods.</p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: Why do so many focus on President Trump and America in regards to Israel? I am expecting all nations to turn against Israel, but others seem to think America is the answer to Israel’s problems. I have quite a few of your books (Dave Hunt and T. A. McMahon) and have been getting your newsletter for many years. I’m not swayed by these kinds of ideas, but I am bewildered at what is being promoted. Building the Third Temple? I know some are working on breeding red heifers, too.</p><p><br></p><p>Response:Some may consider America and President Trump to be the answer to Israel’s problems, but Scripture has another view. In Joel 3:2, the prophet writes, “I will also gather all nations, and will bring them down into the valley of Jehoshaphat, and will plead with them there for my people and for my heritage Israel, whom they have scattered among the nations, and parted my land [emphasis added].”...</p>

<p>Islam teaches that on the “last day” (which literally cannot come until Muslims have murdered all Jews on earth) all Muslims whose good deeds outweigh their bad deeds will enter Paradise. Following the example of their prophet Muhammad, killing non-Muslims, especially Jews, is among a Muslim’s best deeds. Dying in the process of killing any non-Muslim in jihad is the only assurance of Paradise that Islam offers. This is the tragic lie that motivates suicide bombers in Israel, Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere to deliberately target defenseless women and children.</p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p><br></p><p>Our topic for today, as Gary mentioned, is - it’s a documentary series…well, actually, we’re going to talk about the latest of the series - dealing with false teachings and practices in the church today. And our guest to discuss this subject with us is Caryl Matrisciana, the producer, director, and writer of Wide Is the Gate. Caryl also produced Yoga Uncoiled, which is without a doubt, in my view, the best documentary on yoga from the perspective of biblical Christianity. </p><p>Caryl, welcome to Search the Scriptures 24/7.</p><p><br></p><p>Caryl: Thank you so much for allowing me to be your guest, Tom. It’s wonderful being here with you.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<p>The topic for today is Roman Catholicism - in particular, and fundamentally so, the gospel that the Church of Rome teaches and preaches, and I guess it’s about a billion and a quarter or so Catholics accept, or actually are obligated to accept. And our guest to discuss this subject is Jim McCarthy. He’s the author of a number of books, including The Gospel According to Rome and Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical. He’s also produced a terrific documentary, a DVD titled Catholicism: Crisis of Faith.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: I have a Bible question which I don't understand—would you mind teaching me? In a Zoom Bible study originating from a Hong Kong Ministry, the teacher who is teaching suggested it is permissible to worship and sacrifice to the LORD at the high places since the Temple wasn't built yet and is forbidden after the Temple was built:</p><p><br></p><p>But thus shall ye deal with them; ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire (Deuteronomy 7:5); And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place. Ye shall not do so unto the LORD your God. But unto the place which the LORD your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there, even unto his habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come: And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks…. (Deuteronomy 12:3-6)</p><p>1 Kings 3:2-3 said that Solomon offered 1,000 sacrifices to the LORD at the high place at Gibeon and after that God was revealed to him and accepted him, but in 2 Chronicles 1:5 Solomon actually went to the Tabernacle and offered at the brazen altar. So, did he do the right thing? </p><p><br></p><p>Response: 2 Chronicles 1:3 tells us that Solomon, early in his reign and before the temple was built, worshiped at a high place. Verse 3 reads, “So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness.” We know that the tabernacle was set up there. But, both Deuteronomy 7:5 and 12:3-6 clearly tell us that all the pagan materials are to be removed from the high place prior to any worship of the Lord. A “high place” itself is not a pagan location, except if the statues and the other things used in their rituals are there.</p><p><br></p><p>Consequently, the reason Solomon worshiped at this particular high place was, as already noted, that the tabernacle was set up there. It was the same tabernacle that the children of Israel, according to the instructions given Moses, had constructed in the wilderness. Therefore, before the construction of the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, the tabernacle was what God had chosen for the sacrifice and worship by Israel.</p><p>It has been pointed out that Solomon’s father King David had previously worshiped the Lord at this high place in Gibeon. First Chronicles 16:39 notes, “[David left] Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon….” The tabernacle was where the altar of burnt offering had been set up (see 1 Chronicles 21:29).</p><p><br></p><p>Again, it was not the high place itself that made it a suitable place for the sacrifices, but rather a place cleansed of all pagan paraphernalia and with the tabernacle already set up there.</p>