The Genesis Foundation - 250202

SPEAKER A Hello, welcome to Let God Speak. I am your host, Uriah St Juste. Many believe that the last book of the Bible, called Revelation, with its symbols and numbers, is too mysterious and cannot be understood. Some believe it is to be read and interpreted literally. Still others view Revelation, like the rest of the Bible, as God's love letter to the world and its central objective is to reveal Jesus. In today's study of the Bible, we will discover that to properly interpret the book of Revelation, we must study its ancient roots in the Old Testament. Stay tuned as we dive into the understanding of Revelation. As we study the topic the Genesis foundation on Let God Speak. On our panel today we have Harold Harker and Gayl Fong. Welcome Harold, and welcome Gayl. SPEAKER B Thank you. SPEAKER A Let's pray as we begin our programme. Father in heaven, we pause to recognise your glory. We pause to recognise your majesty and your power. But Lord, we are also deeply thankful for your love towards us. We are thankful, Lord, that although the whole universe cannot contain you, you desire to dwell in our hearts. And so, Lord, we invite you into our presence today in this studio. But also to those who are viewing and listening, Lord, we pray for a special presence with us and help us to be able to make sense of your word and may it give us hope and bring meaning to our lives. We ask it in Jesus name. Amen. As a response to the moral and cultural decline following the fall of the Roman Empire, which we call the Dark Ages, the Renaissance or period of rebirth, saw sweeping changes in philosophy, art, politics and science. One of the most important features of the Renaissance was the discovery of knowledge through primary sources. By going back to the foundation of ancient texts in the original languages in which they were written. Interestingly, this is the same period when the Reformation occurred in Christianity, leading to a rediscovery of God's truth in his word. Now Gayl, we are studying in this series how to understand and how to properly study Bible prophecy. But very early in this series we are studying the book of Genesis, which is not really considered to be a book of Bible prophecy. How is Genesis important in understanding Bible prophecy? SPEAKER C Well, Genesis is not only the first book of the Bible, but it also tells us how the things began. The very first verse in the Bible says in Genesis, chapter 1:1, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. So right here, this book of beginnings and Genesis means origin or beginnings. It sets the foundation for the entire Bible. SPEAKER A That's wonderful. It tells us how many things began. Now Harold, this next question seems to be an age old question and it seems to Be a question we often discuss on Let God speak. Many people ask the question, if God is so good and he's powerful, why is there evil in this world? How does Genesis help us to answer this question? SPEAKER B Well, Genesis tells us that God created the world. In chapter one, in verse 31, it says, Then God saw everything that he had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day, you know, the world was made perfect and just. In the next chapter or two, it says, in chapter three, here it says, then to Adam he said, because you have heeded the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, you shall not eat of it. Cursed is the ground. For your sake in toil, you shall eat it all the days of your life. But thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you. And you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, or for out of it you were taken from dust you are, and to dust you shall return. You know, we can't blame God for the evil. It was man's disobedience that sin enters the world, and with it it brings suffering and death. God didn't create it. It's through man's disobedience. SPEAKER A And it's beautiful that Genesis sets that foundation, not only telling us how the universe began, but how death and evil and suffering came into this world as well. Now, Gayl, the first prophecy in the Bible is actually found in Genesis. What is it, and is there any significance to it? SPEAKER C Yes, there is, right there in the book of Genesis. The very first prophecy is there in Genesis chapter 3 and verse 15. And just reading that passage, it says, and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. So this first prophecy actually contains the gospel, the good news of salvation. And while informing Adam and Eve of the consequences of their disobedience, God gives them the good news through the first Bible prophecy that he will provide a solution to get humanity out of the sin problem. And that's through the seed of the woman. And there's a capital S there when you read it in the scripture. In the singular, the promise of a promised baby would be the Messiah who would come to save his people from their sins. So this sets the foundation that all Bible prophecy is about the good news of salvation. Bible prophecy, it does bring hope. And when there is despair, it's wonderful to trust the prophecies. SPEAKER A And that's important that we focus on that. So it's not about beasts and scary things and dragons, but it's the gospel. It's the good news of salvation. Now, I cannot help but notice that the title of this study uses the metaphor of a building, the foundation of Genesis. And I know that in building, the foundation is laid first and everything else is built upon that foundation. Harold, does that idea come out in the way in which God communicates with us in terms of gradual building? SPEAKER B Sure. Proverbs, which is a great book of great sayings. It says, the path of the justice is like the shining sun that shines ever brighter until the perfect day. So we see the light more and more, and God reveals his truth that way. You know, Peter writes in the New Testament, he says, grow in grace. So we're growing and in the knowledge of your Lord and Saviour. So we know Jesus more. We grow in grace gradually as we keep looking to him. SPEAKER A That's wonderful. I remember when I got my first pair of glasses. Every two years I had to change them. And the prescription got getting stronger. And I asked and I was told that I couldn't handle the full strength at first, so it had to be eased up gradually. Now, Harold, you know, God reveals truth according to the time. Does that mean that God changes his truth to suit the time that we live? SPEAKER B Definitely not. Let me read from Isaiah. It says, the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. And so the world around us can change, but God's word is timeless. It's the same in all times over. In the New Testament, we have this, the Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever. So God is unchangeable. He's always the same and he's always loving. SPEAKER A Wonderful. That's great. And now, Gayl, I've heard many people say that the God of the Old Testament is full of wrath and, you know, vengeance. But you know, Jesus in the New Testament is gentle, he is meek, he is forgiving. How can we reconcile these two seeming differences in the same God? SPEAKER C Well, like Harold has shared the book of Malachi. Malachi, chapter three, verse six. The Bible says, for I am the Lord, I do not change, therefore you are not consumed. O sons of Jacob. Excuse me. So God does not change. He says God's character is constant, consistent. The God in the Old Testament is also portrayed in many places. And I think of in the book of Exodus, when he showed Moses his glory. He said, as merciful and gracious, slow to anger, long Suffering, he's steadfast in his love and he forgives iniquities. But Jesus is also portrayed in Revelation, if we go to the end of the scriptures, the end of the Bible, as riding on a white horse and with armies making war and a sharp two edged sword coming out of his mouth to smite the nations. When a Bible principle is repeated in in a different way, the meaning does not change, but further light on the same subject or truth is given. SPEAKER A So it's probably just like a coin. It's one side and the other side, but it's really the same coin and it's the same God. You also have both characteristics of God in the Old Testament and the New Testament coming through. Now Love, Gael, is a word that we use often, but sometimes it's difficult to define exactly what love is. But love is also a very powerful theme, an important theme in the Bible. How does Genesis lay a foundation to teach us what love is? SPEAKER C The very first mention of the word love is found there in the book of Genesis and the situation in which it's used. It's quite interesting because it's telling of how the Bible portrays love. And we find it in Genesis, chapter 22, verses 1 and 2. And it says now it came to pass after these things that God tested Abraham and said to him, Abraham. And he said, here I am. Then he said, take now your son, your only son whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I tell you now here God is asking Abram to Abraham to give up his only son whom he loved as an offering to him. And when we think that he had waited 100 years for this precious son, there's deep devotion and love there. We know that God did not make mean that Abraham actually would go through with killing his son, but he was testing Abraham to see how much he loved God. And I love how the land of Moriah, because that word means the Lord is my teacher. So he's teaching Abraham and what he taught him in this teaches us for all time as well. The first mention of love in the Bible in Genesis shows that that love is not selfish or self centred, but focuses on others. SPEAKER A That is very powerful that the first use of the word love in the Bible in Genesis, it lays that foundation that love and God's love is not self centred, it's giving and it's sacrificial. Now Harold, when love is now first mentioned in the New Testament in the Gospels, how is it Used well, in. SPEAKER B The New Testament, we have the four Gospels. The first three we call Synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. And the first time love is mentioned is at the baptism of Jesus when God spoke from heaven and said, this is my beloved Son. But, you know, John's Gospel takes another twist on this and uses the word love in another way that encompasses us. Let me read John 3:16. It's probably the best known verse in all the world. And as we read the Bible, it says, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. So loved. Another translation says that God loved the world so much. So this is the extent of God's love and it includes us. And he would be willing to sacrificially give up his only Son to die that the whole world, that means you and I as well, we can have eternal life through him. You know, this is the best portrait, the best picture of love that you could probably have. Love is selfless, it's sacrificial, it's giving, and it's always centred on others. SPEAKER A That's fantastic. And it's the same in the Old and New Testament. Now, Gayl, is it enough for us to know God's love and understand it and maybe even to explain it? Is that enough or does God want something more? SPEAKER C Well, to behold God's love is to be changed forever by it. And just reading in the New Testament, the Gospel of John, John chapter 13 and verse 14, the Bible reads, if I, then your Lord and teacher have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. So we know this was the last supper that Jesus had with his disciples and he set them an example there. So we should not only know about God's love and be able to explain it, but Jesus is instructing us to follow his example. He wants. He wants me. He wants us to grow into his. SPEAKER A Likeness and definitely serving others. You know, sharing the love, changing, letting it change us, and we loving others that way. Now, Harold, throughout Scripture we have a system of sacrifices and offerings and altars. And the central figure really in a sacrificial system is an animal, usually a lamb. Where is the first time that a lamb is mentioned in the Bible? SPEAKER B Well, we have gone back to the foundation and we go back again to Genesis. And the first time Lamb is mentioned, it's in Genesis. And I read from Genesis 22, verses 7 and 8. And Isaac spoke to Abraham, his father, and said, my father and he said, here I am, my son. And he said, look, the fire and the wood. But where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Abraham said, said, my son, God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering. And the two of them went together. You know, it supplies the answer. God is going to provide the answer. Abraham had faith in God that he would provide. And this is an amazing expression of the faith of Abraham that God will provide. And lamb is obviously typical of the great sacrifice of Jesus. SPEAKER A And that's what Bible prophecy all points to correct. Jesus, the lamb. Now, in this story, Gayl, earlier you mentioned that, you know, God didn't intend for Abraham to actually go through sacrificing his son. But I can't help wanting to know really what happened in the end. So Isaac asks, where is the lamb? So I'm asking you, Gayl, where. Where was the lamb? SPEAKER C Where was the lamb? Well, the Bible says that when Abraham was about to sacrifice his son Isaac, so he was actually, he'd already tied him on the altar and he was about to commit the act. God stopped him and praise the Lord. Yes. In Genesis 22:13, the Bible reads, then Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son. So a lot of significance in that verse. So the ram actually died in place of Isaac and the ram is representing Jesus. Jesus, who would one day die in the place of humanity. SPEAKER A Amen. SPEAKER C Caught there in the thicket by our sins. Yes, he stayed to die for us. SPEAKER A And God had actually provided that ram, which was what Abraham had said by faith. Now, Harold, we can't help but notice that Isaac asks, where is the lamb? But instead we have a ram. How do we explain that? Why a ram and not a lamb? SPEAKER B Well, the Bible doesn't really say, but let's look at the foundation in Genesis as we see that in Genesis 3, the lamb is. Is not mentioned. But it does say that God provided a skin for the clothing of Adam and Eve, and so it was slain to cover them. And then we have the first mention of the lamb by Isaac, but a ram is provided, which of course was a male sheep. Anyway, a lamb was killed at the Passover to save the lives everywhere in that house. Now, I go to the New Testament. John writes in chapter one, verse 29, the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And so here we have the ultimate revelation of who the lamb is. It's obviously identified as Jesus. He's the substitute for us for our sin. SPEAKER A Amen. That's a wonderful idea that the Bible paints, that it's an innocent animal that dies in the place of those who are actually supposed to die. Now, Gayl, we go to Revelation now, an actual understanding of Bible prophecy. And I want to read a verse found in Revelation, chapter 5, verse 5 and 6. John is in vision and he says, but one of the elders said to me, do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb. There is the lamb in Revelation as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. So here, Gayl, how does what we have been studying so far in the foundations of Genesis help us to understand who this lamb is and its significance? SPEAKER C Yes. Well, in Genesis, some Harold has mentioned there, the skin of the slain animal right there in the garden was used to cover Adam and Eve. And then we have God providing the ram to die in place of Isaac. And Genesis sets the foundation that Jesus is the innocent lamb slain in our place. And just reading In Revelation chapter 13 and verse 8, the Bible reads, all who dwell on the earth will worship him whose names have not been written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. So as we approach the Lamb in Revelation chapter 5, which appears as slain, it can only point to Jesus as the Lamb slain on our behalf to save us. SPEAKER A Wonderful. Now we go to another prophecy of another verse in revelation, Revelation chapter 1 and verse 18, and it says it's in red. In my Bible, that means Jesus is speaking. I am he who lives and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of death. Jesus says he holds the keys of death and Hades or hell. Harold, how can the foundational principles of Revelation help us to understand what Jesus was saying here? SPEAKER B Well, let's go back to Genesis again. We've seen there that when Adam and Eve sinned and they were told they would die, they experienced an innocent animal who died to provide their clothing, just representing Jesus who would die to cover our sins and to give us life. You know, the next death that they would experience was even more death, would more terrible. Let's think of Adam and Eve and the first death in their family was Cain, who killed his brother, brother Abel. And you know, I read in 1st Peter, chapter 4 and verse 18, Christ also suffered once for sins, the just, for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Being put to death in the flesh, but being made alive by the spirit, Jesus is qualified to conquer death and the grave because he was sinless, he didn't sin. And so for sinners, he gives us this hope to give eternal life if we will just trust him. SPEAKER A And that's the good news, that's the gospel. Now, Gayl, in Revelation 12:3, there's a great dragon with. You know, this just looks very scary and mysterious and open to many different interpretations, interpretation. Who or what is this dragon? SPEAKER C Well, Revelation 12 itself gives us the answer. And just reading verse nine of Revelation 12, the Bible says, so the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old called the devil. And Satan who deceives the whole world, he was cast to the earth and his angels were cast out with him. So God will really wants him identified. So he gives us all of his aliases and one of them is that old serpent. And this is an allusion to the foundational to that foundational principle in Genesis, when Satan appeared to Eve in the form of a serpent in Genesis chapter. SPEAKER A Three, he's the ultimate enemy in the Bible. Now, Gayl, again, Revelation 12, verse 9 says he deceives the whole world. How did he do so back in the Garden of Eden and is still doing so today? SPEAKER C Well, God had clearly said to Adam and Eve, to Adam, he would surely die. Genesis 3:4, if they disobeyed dying, they would die. So Genesis 3:4, the serpent says. Then the serpent said to the woman, you will not surely die. So actually contradicts. So at that time, the whole world consisted only of two people, Adam and Eve. And that lies being perpetuated. Today, many believe that people live on after death. But there is hope. And the scriptures give us the hope in Jesus. He is the resurrection and the life. He is returning to bring those back to life. SPEAKER A I think it would be a terrible thing for my loved ones who, if they have died and gone to heaven, they're seeing us. What's happening here on earth, that would be terrible. But the Bible gives us the good news and a better option. That's all the time we have for today's programme. Thank you so much, Gayl and Harold, for spending time with us. It is said that 100 years ago everyone owned horses and only the rich own cars. Today everyone owns cars and the rich own horses. Similarly, 100 years ago it seems like everyone went to church or at least believed in God. We cannot help but notice the decline in Christianity and a rapid increase in atheism or even a turn to mystical Eastern religions, particularly in the Western world. Many have lost their faith not in God, but in religion. If this is you, may I invite you to come back to the foundation, the Bible itself, read it prayerfully and ask God to lead you to the truth that you are searching for. We are glad that you have joined us today on Let God Speak. Remember, all past programmes plus teacher's notes are available on our website 3abnaustralia.org.au or you can email us if you wish on LGS@ 3abnaustralia.org.au. See you again next time. God bless. SPEAKER B You have been listening to let God speak, a production of 3ABN Australia television. To catch up on past programmes, please visit 3abnaustralia.org.au. Call us in Australia on 02 4973 3456. Or email [email protected]. we'd love to hear from you.