Sermons and Biblical Studies

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," December 2006 Literature and history are full of stories about competing brothers and sisters. The technical term that psychologists and behavioralists use to describe this sort of competition is “sibling rivalry.” These internecine conflicts go all the way back to Cain and Abel, the first two siblings born … Continue reading “All About Edom (Part One)”

by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," December 2006 In reading Leo Tolstoy's book, The Death of Ivan Ilych, I became familiar for the first time with the Latin maxim, “Respice finem” which in English means, “Consider the end!” (see Deuteronomy 32:29 for a similar admonition from God). Spiritually, we all know that we must do this. … Continue reading “Consider the End!”

by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, December 2006 Gnosticism is difficult to define because it comes in so many flavors and interpretations. By itself, it is not a separate denomination or religion but a religious philosophy. It is a framework from which to explain the nature of God, creation, good and evil, man, and the purpose … Continue reading “Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part Two: Defining Gnosticism”

by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, "WorldWatch," December 2006 The inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union on January 1, 2007, marks a significant turning point in its history—though not necessarily in a positive way. Strategic Forecasting (Stratfor) puts it this way: The inclusion of Bulgaria and Romania in the European club will transform … Continue reading “Is France Ditching the EU?”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," November 2006 For many years, the message I have given on the Feast of Tabernacles' opening service has been titled “The Handwriting Is on the Wall,” which comes from Daniel 5:5-6: In the same hour the fingers of a man's hand appeared and wrote opposite the lampstand on the … Continue reading “Power Belongs to God (Part One)”

by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," November 2006 To anyone other than a Bible student, the Philistines are merely a long-forgotten people, the subject of old, dusty volumes of equally dry and irrelevant history. Surprisingly, even the dictionary contains little useful information on them. Webster's Dictionary provides a typical definition: “a native or inhabitant … Continue reading “Who Were the Philistines?”

by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, "WorldWatch," November 2006 In his January 29, 2002, State of the Union Address, President George W. Bush identified North Korea, Iran, and Iraq as countries that posed the greatest threat to the West in general, and to the United States in particular. In that speech, he put those countries on … Continue reading “The Axis of Evil and the Western Coalition”

by John O. Reid (1930-2016) Forerunner, "Ready Answer," November 2006 “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” —Matthew 12:34 When we were first called and entered the church, we found that, rather than just attending church services on a Saturday, we were admonished to study God's Word and pray daily. Ministers, … Continue reading “Out of the Abundance of Our Prayers”

by David C. Grabbe Forerunner, December 20, 2006 During the last few years, an increasing number of movies and books have introduced and emphasized a major heresy that the true church had to contend with during the first century. The present-day heresy is not in exactly the same form as was its counterpart during the … Continue reading “Whatever Happened to Gnosticism? Part One: False Knowledge”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," November 17, 2006 The previous article laid a foundation to enable us to see more clearly why works are required. They have a direct connection to the fulfillment of God's creative purposes and our spiritual well-being. While it is certainly true that works cannot earn us salvation, they play … Continue reading “Is the Christian Required To Do Works? (Part Six)”