The Berean Call Podcast

1 CORINTHIANS 13:3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity [love], it profiteth me nothing.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:5 [Love] Doth not behave itself unseemly [shameful], seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1 CORINTHIANS 14:18-19 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: Yet in the church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others also, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:3-4 Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:5-6 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

2 CORINTHIANS 1:8 For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

2 CORINTHIANS 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.

2 CORINTHIANS 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound [abound] to the glory of God.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:13-14 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause. For the love of Christ constraineth us.

2 CORINTHIANS 5:14-15 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again

2 CORINTHIANS 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you.

We often hear from people who are suffering from various ailments and they don’t understand why they are being made to endure them. I don’t know the particular reason why Jesus doesn’t heal a person who is ill and who asks Him for healing. There are many conditions of suffering that of course Jesus knows about and for which we don’t understand the reasons. None of this negates the truth, however, that He certainly loves all those who cry out to Him to be healed. Psalm 22:24 tells us, “For He hath not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; neither hath He hid His face from him; but when he cried unto him, He heard.”

I also know that everyone who repents—that is, turns to Jesus for salvation and thereby receives the gift of eternal life—is healed spiritually. That person is born of the Spirit and will ultimately be with Him both temporally and eternally, no matter what earthly circumstances he or she may be enduring. Physical healing from the Lord, however, is only temporal and involves outcomes that God desires to accomplish to His glory and for the benefit of the person seeking healing. One can only wonder what betterments He has in mind, but our knowledge of His perfect love and compassion encourages us to trust Him to do what’s best for us (Matthew 9:36; 14:14), or for those we uphold in prayer.

Welcome to The Berean Call podcast. I’m T. A. McMahon, and I am blessed to have been a good friend and co-worker of Dave Hunt for almost 40 years. For many years, we recorded a radio program, Search the Scriptures Daily, and covered a wide variety of topics addressing issues related to biblical discernment. One of the first of Dave’s books that we published was called Countdown to the Second Coming. That book led to a series of discussions on this topic, which we will continue airing today.

The way things are going in the world, many are thinking about the return of Christ and when that might be, which is a subject of critical importance today. For example, one interesting point that comes up during this discussion is, “What will be the sign of the last times?”

This series was originally broadcast in 2003, but it is relevant to the world in which we live today. Among other topics, we will be discussing the Antichrist and how the church and many Christians even now are falling further into apostasy. Because it was broadcast in 2003, some of it may seem dated; nevertheless, the biblical content of our discussion is very much as important today as it was back then.

Too often, when the fulfillment of prophecy is explained and an attempt is made to fit it into contemporary times, it doesn’t work. Later events of history, such as advances in technology, political and social conditions, religious beliefs, and so forth, can render the explanations not viable. Although the discussions in this program took place 17 years ago, I believe we have avoided that problem. We hope you are edified by our discussion of the End Times. Let us know what you think.

ROMANS 9:1-3 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

ROMANS 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

ROMANS 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;

ROMANS 12:13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

ROMANS 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.

ROMANS 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

ROMANS 12:16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

ROMANS 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

ROMANS 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

ROMANS 14:15-17 But if thy brother be grieved with thy meat, now walkest thou not charitably. Destroy not him with thy meat, for whom Christ died. Let not then your good be evil spoken of: For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

ROMANS 14:18-19 For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.

ROMANS 15:1-3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.