The Gary DeMar Podcast

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 114 Gary addresses misconceptions about preterism, replacement theology, and the future of Israel, emphasizing biblical exegesis and historical context. He refutes charges of antisemitism and clarifies the biblical portrayal of Jerusalem and Israel's role in prophecy.

Gary discusses the biblical foundation of government, the role of Christians in politics, and how biblical principles should influence civil, family, and church governance. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the relationship between church and state and advocates for active Christian involvement in civil government based on biblical law.

Gary DeMar discusses the biblical perspectives and the responsibilities of pastors in addressing controversial issues. He critiques the arguments made by James Talarico, emphasizing the need for a clear understanding of the Bible's stance on abortion and the importance of teaching these principles in churches. The unborn child is considered a human being in biblical texts and pastors should be teaching these topics from the pulpit.

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 113 Using the movie Born Yesterday as an example, Gary discusses the history of prophetic speculation, its inaccuracies, and how to interpret biblical prophecy correctly. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the context and warns against falling for false predictions about the end times.  

Gary responds to a recent article by Christian apologist Greg Koukl about Christians being involved in culture and politics. Koukl strangely recommends not using Scripture to make arguments in moral debates, but instead using "common grace and natural revelation." Gary points out that this is a) nothing new, and b) begging the question because who gets to define what's "common" or "natural"? It's essentially every man for himself. Greg Bahnsen's book, By This Standard, can be found here: https://store.americanvision.org/products/by-this-standard-the-authority-of-gods-law-today 

Gary responds to a recent video clip from Lila Rose about abortion and the morality involved with the abortion debate. Every debate in culture is about much more than defeating the opponent, and Gary shows how he would argue the topic and recommends listeners learn the approach taught by Dr. Greg Bahnsen in his three-volume apologetics series that teaches how to "push the antithesis." Get the Bahnsen series here: https://store.americanvision.org/a/bundles/bahnsen-trilogy-2yt0 

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 112 Gary points out that many Bible prophecy writers, who claim to interpret the Bible "literally," don't actually do so. This is especially true of the so-called Battle of Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38-39. This battle is said to be fought with primitive weapons in ancient countries, with the goal of plundering gold, silver, cattle, and goods. The literalists seldom take these details literally.  

Gary highlights a few "non-negotiables" that he found online from a self-proclaimed "progressive pastor." Apparently, even progressives have limits to their open-mindedness, but this pastor can't appeal to the Bible he claims to believe, or to the "Jesus" he claims to follow, to bolster his own "progressive" agenda.

Gary weighs, measures, and analyzes the debate over transgender sports with track and field events. His expertise in this sport is both personal and deep. Gary threw the shot put competitively through high school, college, and at the masters' level. He makes it obvious how ridiculous it is to argue that there is no inherent genetic difference between men and women.

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 111 Gary answers a recent critic who questions whether he is a Christian. When Jesus says "a long time" in Matthew 24 and 25, does this indicate that He means people thousands of years in the future? Is He actually referring to a completely different audience than the one He was directly speaking to in the first century?

In this continuation of his first lecture given to a high school class, Gary points out that religion will always exist in society. If a culture does not recognize the biblical God, something else will always take His place. Even atheism is a religion, despite the denials of its adherents.

We must always begin with first principles in any debate. In this episode, Gary teaches students how to think about their own assumptions and foundations and why they believe what they claim to believe. Facts are important, but worldview precedes facts and interprets the facts.

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 110 Gary responds to a recent video by Joel Richardson about a Roman coin that he claims proves that the book of Revelation was written during Domitian's reign. Richardson challenges those who hold to an early date (i.e., before AD70) to answer his claims, even though he admits that the coin can't actually prove a late date. 

Gary briefly discusses the four major interpretive approaches to the book of Revelation. Futurism, Historicism, Idealism, and Preterism have all been promoted—to greater and lesser degrees—throughout church history. What others have believed in the past should not determine how the Bible should be understood, but what the Bible itself actually says.

Gary begins a short lesson on the four views of the book of Revelation. He begins with the most popular: futurism. The vast majority of futurists are premillennial and dispensational as well. A recurring problem with this view is that the dependent pieces of the system are simply not found in the Bible; they're just not there. 

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 109 Gary responds to a critic who challenges his interpretation of "this generation" in Matthew's gospel. The critic claims Gary is assuming what he has to prove, but Gary shows the opposite. Words like "generation" can be somewhat arbitrary, but when this phrase is read in other parts of the NT, especially Acts 2, it becomes clear that it is not about many generations, but about a very particular one: those hearing Jesus' words in the first century.

Gary begins to discuss the book of Revelation and points out important details that most modern Christians dismiss. Although the Bible is written FOR us, it wasn't written TO us. The vast majority of the New Testament is recording historical events and their significance. These past events still have great importance and meaning, especially for vindicating Jesus' authoritative claims about His identity.

Hermeneutics is the art and practice of interpretation. We use hermeneutics every day whether we realize it or not. We interpret not only the words people say, but how they say them and in what context. Understanding the Bible requires the same carefulness and deliberateness that we apply to the words and actions we encounter and interpret in our everyday lives.

Bible Prophecy Under the Microscope-Episode 108 Gary concludes his response to Ayo, who had questions about preterism and decided to return to dispensationalism. Gary shows how various passages in the New Testament, both in the Gospels and the Epistles, refer to the same first-century events. Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, and John were all speaking about what was happening, or about to happen, to them and their countrymen, not people thousands of years in their future.

Gary concludes his interview with Pastor Greg Chacon by dealing with questions about Israel. Dispensationalism has given most Christians an unhealthy allegiance to Israel and the belief that they must support whatever it decides politically. Eschatology has consequences, and good intentions can be used to promote evil agendas. Modern prophecy advocates are trying to rebuild the first century with a rebuilt "Roman empire" and a third temple in Jerusalem.