Sermons and Biblical Studies

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," February 2002 With somewhat overblown rhetoric, former President Bill Clinton spoke of the Kosovo Conflict, localized as it was, as “the great battle between the forces of integration and the forces of disintegration; the forces of globalism versus tribalism; of oppression against empowerment. . . .”1 It is … Continue reading “Globalism (Part Eight): A Force for Conflict”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," January 2002 The Word of God guarantees that, if we do not see God, then we will have difficulty keeping any kind of deep commitment, whether it is to our marriage, employment, or, most importantly, our relationship with God. An old American adage claims that “seeing is believing.” A … Continue reading “Do You See God? (Part One)”

by David F. Maas Forerunner, "Ready Answer," January 2002 My parents had barely reached their teenage years when the Great Depression ravaged the country. Characteristic of so many individuals who had lived through the Depression, they acquired the pack-rat habit of saving things, sentimentalizing clutter, fearful of throwing anything away because it might prove valuable … Continue reading “A Time to Throw Away”

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," January 2002 Just like a century ago, the march of global capitalism appears irresistible.1 In 1900, the first age of globalization was in its stride, American and British interests joining to create the biggest economy the world had ever seen. In relative terms, it was every bit as … Continue reading “Globalism (Part Seven): The Countertide Rolls In”

by Staff Forerunner, January 2002 Myopia is an abnormal eye condition in which light rays from distant objects, passing through the lens, focus in front of the retina instead of on it. This causes blurry vision. The more common term for this problem is nearsightedness, a malady that affects millions of people. Philosophically, we often … Continue reading “Christian Myopia”

by John O. Reid (1930-2016) Forerunner, "Ready Answer," December 2001 Some years past, on a trip to Portland, Oregon, I sat next to a lady attorney on the airplane. She had left the legal profession and entered the restaurant business, and as I sold to restaurants, we had common ground to carry on a conversation. … Continue reading “The Whole Truth”

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," December 2001 The Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of Islam's founder, Muhammad, perceives “a deep and vigorous countertide … a 'new tribalism'” shaping our world.1 The next two articles in this series will discuss the nature of … Continue reading “Globalism (Part Six): Tide and Countertide”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," November 2001 Many have noted that the September 11 bombing of the World Trade Center in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., has forever changed the way Americans live their lives. Gone is the foolish reliance on the supposed invulnerability and impregnability of fortress America. “Normalcy” … Continue reading “Is God to Blame?”

by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, November 2001 The following is an edited transcript of a special announcement given by Church of the Great God pastor John W. Ritenbaugh during Sabbath services on September 15, 2001. We have all been sobered by the events of September 11, and we have all done a measure of thinking … Continue reading “Divine Warning”

by Charles Whitaker (1944-2021) Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," November 2001 The truth is well understood in the United States as anywhere else: the Americans are already able to make their flag respected; in a few years they will make it feared. —Alexis de Tocqueville 1945. The bombings of spring and summer were ferocious. The United States … Continue reading “Globalism (Part Five): Globalism’s Teeth”