Verse by Verse Bible Study with Dr. Wayne Barber · The John Ankerberg Show

God, Do You Know What You Are Doing? | Part 1

April 8, 2026·18 min·1 clip

Dr. Wayne Barber asks if you've ever secretly questioned God's control during confusing world events like the Persian Gulf War.

John Ankerberg introduces the episode, featuring the late Dr. Wayne Barber teaching from the book of Revelation. Barber begins by acknowledging listener anxiety during confusing world events, specifically referencing the Persian Gulf War news coverage. He asks if people secretly question God's control over circumstances. Barber shares a personal anecdote about a ski trip in Colorado where a boy's runaway ski caused panic, illustrating the fear of a world without divine order. He critiques the idea of God as a distant, powerless figure. Barber warns about the influence of filtered news reports from war zones, cleared by the Iraqi government. He presents a binary choice: listen to the world or listen to God, emphasizing the need to think biblically rather than being swayed by events. The teaching shifts to Revelation chapter 5, where the apostle John is shown a vision in heaven. Barber describes John's previous visions of the throne, elders, and living creatures. He focuses on a book in the right hand of God, written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Barber explains that the right hand symbolizes God's power and control, citing Exodus 15:6 and Psalm 118:15-16. He details that the book is comprehensive, with writing on both sides indicating nothing can be added—unlike human books that require updates. Barber notes the book's uniqueness: it is opened by breaking seals, not by reading, and initially, no one in heaven is found worthy to open it. The episode ends with a teaser about the Lamb being examined in the next part.

As heard by us

A steady Revelation 5 study that answers anxiety with the certainty of God's throne.

Revelation 5 is framed here as a chapter about control, not panic. Dr. Wayne Barber asks the question many believers carry when the news feels unsettled: does God really know what He is doing?

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Why you'd press play

You get Revelation 5 as a verse-by-verse look at the book in God's hand, with the pace kept deliberately unhurried.

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