Understanding Isaiah and End Times Prophesy

This is core Christianity. When answering your questions about the Christian life Monday through Friday. Your hosts are author and seminary professor Dr. Michael Horton and Pastor atrial Sanchez call right now with your question. At 1833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 and now here's atrial Sanchez hello and welcome to another app code of the core I'm Pastor atrial Sanchez and I'm joined by Prof. Michael Horton and believe it or not this is a real special episode we have an announcement to make for you that you're gonna want to stay tuned for were practicing social distancing. Right now I'm actually not in the studio with Prof. Michael Horton were separated but were still communicating answering your questions about the faith gives the goal of your question.

If you have one or hear a lot of bad news these days.

It can be depressing, but it usually is depressing when you turn on the news but I feel like now almost more than ever have me with with all the things that are going on with the coronavirus.

It's hard to find good news Mike at I recently read something that you wrote about a good news story coming out of Africa. Can you share a little bit about that. Yeah, it's really amazing women of hope in Nigeria.

Some of our listeners may be familiar with Rafiki and it's an organization Christian organization based in Florida that has built all sorts of orphanages and villages for HIV-positive women and their children and really all across Africa.

They just done wonders. One way I would even known about this is my wife were on the board. They are not ones to their own horses just quietly do their work and this wonderful story is of women of hope in Nigeria making a beautiful African fabric making masks when they found out that the hospital local headquarters of the organization in Florida was needing masks these wonderful sisters in Christ, made hundred 35 masks in their production making more so here's a hospital now in Florida and ICU ward where people are able to have something that they couldn't get in. I got it all away from Africa for my dear sisters there who are themselves suffering the ravages of the HIV AIDS epidemic while here reminds me of what the apostle Paul said in second Corinthians 8 and he's writing about the generosity was given among the churches of Macedonia. Zoe says we want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty has overflowed a wealth of generosity on their part. What what a modern-day picture of that. Yeah it is. And I love that passage atrial because it's such a crazy mishmash of dissonant phrases and terms out of their extreme poverty. They were overflowing with joy and out of their poverty gave so generously, that is exactly the kind of workable Lord that only comes to the cross of Christ were you you know you're able to say it's not that I'm giving out of my abundance, giving out of my poverty. That's what a lot of these sisters are doing and they're just richly blessed by doing it. Praise the Lord.

I hope it that encourages you to think about the sacrificial giving you note a time like this when a lot of people are suffering through the gospel. We as believers in Jesus Christ are able to extend love service generosity to others because of what Jesus is done for us are excited to get into the program for today and hope that you continue to receive encouragement as we answer these questions about the fate let's go to the first question from Sandra Perry that according to the first Corinthians 14. There is such a thing still in the church and I was wanting to know what your perspective is that it thank you very much yeah think Sandra will as you know, there are different takes on a person within 14 and on the practice of tongues. In general, I think that we kind of jumped out of the gate a little too quickly on this question often by asking, is it still for today. The first question really is what is and when we when we look at the whole Bible, we begin to see that there are these really major episodes in the history of redemption that catch our eyes. For example, the Tower of Babel.

Recall that that's where humanity got together to try to build a tower reaching to the heavens.

Sort of like a you know a technological salvation were going to all get together to speak the same language and working out basically become God's and God descended on that proud building project and he scattered the nations and divided their languages. Now you next to. He's uniting the languages and so people are understanding the gospel. It's really important to notice their sick Sandra that in acts two.

It's not that people are speaking unintelligible sounds rather, the reason people are caught off guard all over the Empire there there for the feast of Pentecost is because they understand the gospel preached in their own language that was what was so offputting to what is this what's going on that we can understand the gospel.

These backwoods Galileans can't know our dialects and our different languages but here they are preaching the gospel in words that we can understand the whole point was that it was intelligible works. Not that it was unintelligible, but it was intelligible words that the speakers themselves had not learned they had learned those languages and so whatever tongues refers to them for 50 and 14.

They can't be unintelligible utterances and that's Paul's point, I think Paul's using a lot of sarcasm there in first Corinthians 14. Basically, I'd rather speak one intelligible word that a lot of gibberish and he says whatever you do whatever you do, do not speak in tongues, unless there's an interpreter. That's what happened.

It acts it asked to write a Pentecost they heard the gospel in their own tongue.

The whole purpose was to get the gospel out to as many people as possible.

Here they are gathered at Pentecost.

Another can all go back home and they don't take the gospel with them. That was the purpose of tongues. The purpose of tongues was not a personal private prayer language for your own benefit. Rather, it was to communicate the gospel. So Paul says don't do this in public worship unless there's interpretation there somebody here, there, who knows that language is able to interpret and definitely don't put off those who are gathered there. He said it must be for edification.

You can't edify unless you know the language it doesn't help anybody. Paul says if you're having sort of your private language over there and nobody else understands and if a non-Christian walks and he'll say you're mad everybody here is crazy and annual walk out.

So it's really clear that whatever tongues is first contents 14 is not to be practiced in public worship unless there's interpretation also clear whole purpose of tongues is not pretty personal edification.

But the case of the whole body. You know Mike, I remember years ago being at a church. They really could've benefited from hearing Paul's exhortation here. Look, if there's no interpreter what you guys do it because you know I've seen it work where you have a church service is going on were half the churches speaking in tongues, and it does seem like this is crazy. Not really anything intelligible happening so federal we have to understand is look.

Paul thought one of the expectations of Paul gives there in first grade. He is working is everything that's done needs to be done decently and in order and so often that's one of the things it seems to be missing in a lot of these movements is decency and order being submitted to the word of God. That's what we want to do is we open up the Scriptures we think about what the apostle Paul is saying here and so Mike, I appreciate how you broke that down there. Is there something there suspicious redemptive historical shift tongues is actually showing us that now the gospel is going out to the nations there in the first century we don't want to miss that crucial point exactly at the sign and also remember the previous chapter for scripting. 13 the famous love chapter Paul is already beginning to challenge the Corinthians to put love first and what has happened in court as you have a lot of folks who are basically proud of their spiritual superiority as they see it and they lorded over everybody else. They will have this extra experience. And Paul says if I speak with the tongues of men and angels, but have not love that I'm just complaining symbol and that crashing noise and I think what ever your take on tongues and what it is and whether it's for today. The main thing we have to take away from this is for the gospel.

The spreading of the gospel in the edification of the saints and it is not something that we use to beat up our brothers and sisters four: quote not having you folks federal introduce program by saying we had an announcement. We do not successfully watch this program in September 2018. Hard to believe it really is on hundreds of affiliates nationwide. Also as a podcast federal so much fun to do this with you.

I had a ball at our whole team makes this possible. People you don't hear behind the microphone who actually really make this happen in from the beginning. We plan to have a life program where were answering caller questions live every Monday through Friday and am excited to announce that work going to make this transition.

Our leadership team realized our plan of going live every day would be possible with my current teaching writing and travel schedule, but we wanted to do it.

We really want to do this life: program as we were planning to go, I would begin to look and pray for someone with deep radio experience who share our heart. The heart of core Christianity teach people the corkscrews of the Christian faith and were so excited to announce we found that person in Dr. Bill Meyer Bill joins us down today show welcome Bill Michael's great to be with you. Yes, great to be with you it really amazing that someone of your experience in stature and education, training and heart would be willing to join us in this endeavor goal is a veteran broadcaster folks. You may recognize his voice when he comes on he has a background in both general market and Christian radio.

He he also holds a doctoral degree in clinical psychology from Iowa University in Southern California. My alma mater, many listeners may be familiar with Bill's work for the national media meant ministry focus on the family and during his time at focus, cohosted the weekend magazine program. The family minutes with Dr. Bill Meyer and the family insights TV news feature also served as Dr. James Dobson's primary filling host on the Focus on the Family daily broadcast more recently built most of the morning show at KSP J radio in Houston and the faith radio network in Minneapolis. He currently hosts the overnight program on the Moody radio network and on Moody's praise and worship panel. Bill and his wife Lisa have three energetic teenagers and an even more energetic elaborate dual names party.

They make their home in Minneapolis and Bill is just great to have you on board. Thank you so much.

My kids just a blessing to be part of the core Christianity team. I have listened for a while and I believe so strongly in what you're doing this to such a huge need right now in the American church for people to understand the core tenets of their faith and to reach out to nonbelievers who don't understand what Christianity is all about and to be able to share that with them. Sure, that wonderful good news of the gospel and you and Israel have been doing that for the last couple of years and it's just it's a real blessing to be able to join you in that all I want to ask you a couple questions here. I'm sure audience like to get to know you better already know you.

Which came first euro well credentialed psychologist, but also very well known as a veteran of Christian radio. How did that blend happened. That's a great question.

I worked in general market radio for number of years that a couple of different cities. I was on the air in Seattle Washington in San Diego and then in Los Angeles. I did a morning show there for about five years for big FM station, but during that time I felt God, stirring my heart to go back to school so I entered graduate school and earn my doctorate in clinical psychology as you mentioned that Viola wonderful school that help me to integrate both the clinical psychology and Christian theology, and understand how the two of them fit together and from there I worked with the low income children and families at a Los Angeles county mental health clinic and during that time.

Focus on the Family reached out to me from Colorado and said, hey, would you consider joining our team and that was a great way for me to integrate my experience in radio with my education in psychology so I joined the team at focus was there for about eight years. You mentioned some of the different things I was involved with at focus that was a true blessing to be working with those great folks who have such a commitment to the family and keeping marriage is strong at helping parents to parent effectively. So here we are today.

I mean it's it's kind of come full circle in a way that I'm able to join your team.

Now, and I'm very excited about joining a drill I Israel I have gotten to know each other over the past couple of months and I just appreciate his pastor's heart just who he is as a person and so it's good to be a a lot of fun for us to work together. And of course you're not still be joining us on a regular basis are giving your insights which will be really exciting as well for listeners while you're raising three teenagers, Bill. I have to imagine that your psychoanalyzing yourself quite a bit every day. My you know a drill got younger kids hold your your oldest Israel.

So my oldest is eight years old and the youngest is a year old and so we been having a lot of fun quarantined together at my house. I will just tell you that 10 years from now.

It's a whole different ballgame. So when you when your oldest is 18 and you and your wife are pulling your hair out how how how I feel being quarantined with three very active teenagers in our home here. I feel your pain Bill.

I feel your pain. I think that by the time I get there there won't be any hair left so you know, one of the things I'm so excited as I know from the very beginning of our dream has been to have a life program were taking my calls and answering questions about the faith and and the dynamic exchanges with that so much. You were able to engage the caller in a way that is unique and and I think in a way that allows us to go even deeper into each question and so that's that. I know that's what they were hoping and Lord willing, we can we can launch in the fall I would love to just ask you who are listening right now to pray for us and to pray that that the Lord would open those doors to me more than anything. What we want to see what I want to see is people grow in their knowledge of the Lord in their love for the Lord. That's the goal that we want to see in pray for us. There's been nothing more encouraging to me a drill. I know you feel the same way than the messages we have heard from people who call in and also who leave messages that tells their story of of really how these truths have changed their life: tell us what's going on work shoot us an email. We love to hear what is happening and Bill.

I know you've received a lot of those letters over the years, you know, Mike.

What's interesting is right now during this whole coronavirus crisis. There are so many believers who have a lot of questions about your how could this happen to to our nation.

How could this happen to me and my family.

I've lost my job contracted the virus and so now more than ever I think it behooves us to be able to provide those answers to help people understand know God's ultimate plan. His big story for each one about and so boy you know it is difficult as this time is what a great opportunity to help equip believers to be able to share their faith in the hope that lies within.

Absolutely. I won't ask you for your of your favorite assignment and broadcasting bill but what excites you about working with April Sanchez encore Christianity one of the things that Israel does on a regular basis and course right now with social distancing is not able to meet with his his congregation, but on a regular basis.

He is answering many of these questions and he has a very diverse congregation with people from a wide variety different walks of life, and they regularly come to him and say hey pastor I don't understand this or how does my faith apply to this or what is this Bible passage main and so atrial over the last couple of years has really had an opportunity to engage in no be right there in the trenches and that comes across on the air. Mike as you know, and so that excites me to be able to to work with a pastor who is right there week to week engaging with these these difficult issues and able to really you know, bring them down to the level of the person in the congregation sitting in the pews so that they can clearly understand God's intent for their life. Yet he can drill down as deeply as he needs to on any question buddy. He can also hold somebody's hand and just pray with them.

I love that about a drill and I know that you and a drill root really going to be in sync.

As you take people's calls not only across the country, but around the world hey Bill, thanks for that, you know I'm really excited about getting to work with you and as you said earlier, you know we got to know each other over the last few months and have have a few good laughs and I think the Lord is really in a play.

I know that the Lord is really to bless us as we focus upon him upon his word and getting that message out is why we continue answering questions about the faith. Now with an Instagram message that we received from Josh. Josh asked, could you please explain Isaiah chapter 2 verse four.

It seems that Isaiah to one through three is about the last days which according to Hebrews 12 we are in. If that's true.

What is Isaiah 24 about and does it have anything to do with Joel chapter 3 verse 10. Thank you. Isaiah chapter 2 verses one through four I want to just read the text, the word that Isaiah the son of a Mohs saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains shall be lifted up above the hills and all the nations shall flow to it. And many people shall come and say come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord to the house of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways that we may walk in his paths for out of Zion shall go out the law. The word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples. They shall beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. What a beautiful portion is to be just the kind of thing that we hope for that. We long for. Especially in a moment like this pestilence wore those kinds of things that were experiencing a get you come to a text like Isaiah chapter 2 verses 1 to 4 and you think, wow, I can't wait for that day at and just one thing that I would want to visit your right on. This is a prophecy about the end times that in one sense where they are. Hebrews chapter 1 verse two talks about that, but even more clearly later in the book of Hebrews, the author, the Hebrews makes it absolutely clear that right now. When we gather together for worship as Christians were going to that mountain of the Lord that Isaiah chapter 2 talks about thinking of Hebrews chapter 12 beginning in verse 18. Listen to what the author the Hebrew set and then think about this in light of what we just read in Isaiah 24 you have not come to what may be touched is talking about Mount Sinai.

There blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest in the sound of a trumpet in a voice whose words made the hearers bag that no further message be spoken to them, they could not endure the order that was given.

If even a beast touches the mountain shall be stoned. Deep. So terrifying was the sight that Moses said, I tremble with fear, but you have come to Mount Zion's think about that for second he's writing to a group of believers in New Testament church and he says when you gather for worship. You have come to Mount Zion to the city of the living God of the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, so in one sense Josh.

When we come together as the church were coming before the heavenly Jerusalem. The mountain of the Lord.

That's the fulfillment in a real sense of Isaiah chapter 2 than what we do with a passage like Joel 310 so and I said to Fort talks about time of great peace then you get the Joel chapter 3 verse 10 and it sort of reverses that talks about a time of great war well were coming before the heavenly Jerusalem, and in a real sense every time we gather for worship, but the reality is, and I think is what Joel is getting at in Joel chapter 3 verse 10 there is coming a day of judgment. The second coming of Jesus Christ and asking to be a time of great conflict. Isaiah chapter 2 is this wonderful promise of the whole world gathering around the mountain of the Lord in the real sense of the work of Jesus Christ. Right now, that's us should read Isaiah 2 Hebrews 12 and think Lord store that to us, bring us back up the mountain you will.

Thanks for listening to court Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at court, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us.

Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together