The Berean Call Podcast

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 begin 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, “Can we actually set a date for when the Antichrist will appear?”

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.

LUKE 12:20-21 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

LUKE 14:12-14 Then said he also to him that bade him, When thou makest a dinner or a supper, call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours; lest they also bid thee again, and a recompence be made thee. But when thou makest a feast, call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind: [who cannot repay] And thou shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense thee: for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

JOHN 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

JOHN 10:17-18 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

JOHN 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

JOHN 13:4-17 He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
ACTS 20:19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations [trials], which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:

ACTS 20:22-24 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

ACTS 21:13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

Tom: Welcome to Apostasy Update. I’m T. A. McMahon, and in this program we are following up with our addressing two separate prayer gatherings in Washington, DC. They took place the last weekend of September, and their professed goal was to pray for the United States. Both were led by individuals who claim that their efforts involved praying for America, that America would repent and turn back to God, and that He would bring about revival. Franklin Graham was the main figure in one group. He’s the son of Billy Graham and heads up the Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Leading the other program was Jonathan Cahn, bestselling author and pastor of Beth Israel Worship Center.

My guest to discuss what took place at the Washington gatherings is Dave James. He’s an author and Bible teacher as well as a longtime contributor to The Berean Call.

JAMES 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations [adversities; trials]; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

JAMES 1:6-8 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

JAMES 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

JAMES 2:14-16 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save [benefit] him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

JAMES 2:17-18 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

JAMES 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

JAMES 2:20-26 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

1 PETER 1:5-7 [You] Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial [genuineness] of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

1 PETER 1:8-9 [Jesus Christ] Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1 PETER 1:19-21 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Welcome to Apostasy Update. I’m T. A. McMahon, and in this program, we are addressing two separate gatherings in Washington, DC. They took place last weekend of September, and their professed goal was to pray for the United States. Both were led by individuals who claim that their efforts involved praying for America, that America would repent and turn back to God, and that He would bring about revival. Franklin Graham was the main figure in one group. He’s the son of Billy Graham, and he heads up Samaritan’s Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Leading the other program was Jonathan Cahn, best-selling author and pastor of Beth Israel Worship Center. My guest, as we discuss what took place at the Washington gatherings, is Dave James. He’s an author and Bible teacher as well as a long-time contributor to The Berean Call.

In this segment, Understanding the Scriptures, we continue our exploration of the doctrine of salvation, with the focus on the Old Testament Book of Isaiah. Again, along with Dave Hunt, here’s T.A. McMahon.

Tom: If you’re a new listener to the program, in this segment we’ve been…well, it really has to do with doctrine. We want to look at doctrine and understand biblical doctrine as best we can. And we’re looking at the scriptures. We’ve been studying, discussing, wrestling through the Doctrine of Salvation, and, Dave, for the last couple of weeks we’ve addressed Isaiah 53, and we see what God has done for us—His incredible love, and the sacrifice that He made for His glory, but because He loves us.

Continuing in this section, Understanding the Scriptures, the topic is the gospel of salvation. We’re really trying to, I mean we are taking awhile, but we’re really trying to zero in on exactly what the gospel is. Dave last week we talked about sin. We went back to the Garden of Eden and we recounted how sin entered in and our Lord said the day you eat of it you shall surely die. That’s what I want to talk about this week.

What does the death penalty mean? It is a process of a physical death; we mentioned that. But it also involves the wrath and punishment of God doesn’t it? And [it also means] separation from God forever.