by Staff Forerunner, "Ready Answer," February 1997 Recently, a major magazine cover touted the salaries of well-known personalities in business, entertainment and sports. Salaries and “personal worth” ranged from the very high millions of dollars to billions, for the likes of Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey and Michael Jordan. Financial magazines publish articles like this frequently. … Continue reading “Does God Want You to be Rich?”
The First Commandment (1997)
by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," January 1997 Christians should have a great interest in the subject of idolatry because of its major importance to morality and our relationship with God. We ought to be constantly refining our understanding of it so we can avoid allowing anything to come between us and God. Perhaps for … Continue reading “The First Commandment (1997)”
Be My Valentine?
by Mike Ford (1955-2021) Forerunner, January 1997 “Cupid, draw back your bow And let your arrow go Straight to my lover's heart For me. . . .” Sam Cooke sang those words back in 1961, and “oldies” radio stations still play the song on occasion. Oddly enough, Sam Cooke was killed at the relatively young … Continue reading “Be My Valentine?”
‘. . . And Not a Drop to Drink’
by Martin G. Collins Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," January 1997 Speaking of Judah in the end time, the Eternal prophesies through Ezekiel: They shall eat bread by weight and with anxiety, and shall drink water by measure and with dread, that they may lack bread and water, and be dismayed with one another, and waste away … Continue reading “‘. . . And Not a Drop to Drink’”
Time and Life
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Ready Answer," January 1997 Since creation, time has always fascinated mankind. Shortly after creation, men had devised time-keeping devices and calendars based on the orbits of the earth and moon. They could easily predict the cycles of the moon and the changing of the seasons. As men's scientific and mathematical … Continue reading “Time and Life”
Parables and a Pearl
by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," December 1996 If we want to understand certain parts of the Bible, we must understand parables. It is truly a shame that our Western culture has not developed and used parables nearly as extensively as people did in the ancient Middle East. This form of instruction has not taken … Continue reading “Parables and a Pearl”
Are These the Last Days? (Part 2)
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," December 1996 As complex and anxious as our lives are, the first four seals (Matthew 24:4-7; Revelation 6:1-8) can seem somewhat impersonal as signs of the end. Wars, famines, disease and death may happen to other people in other places, but often they do not hit very close … Continue reading “Are These the Last Days? (Part 2)”
The Formula for Overcoming
by David F. Maas Forerunner, November 1996 How many of us, over the course of our spiritual lives, have encountered a persistent fault, habit or character flaw that has left us with a helpless sense of frustration? Maybe a better question is, “How many have NOT had such an encounter?” Overcoming constitutes a year-round, lifelong … Continue reading “The Formula for Overcoming”
Are These the Last Days? (Part 1)
by Richard T. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Prophecy Watch," November 1996 How long do we have to wait until Christ returns to set up His Kingdom? How long until our change comes? These are very current questions in the greater church of God. Some people say we still have a few hundred years. Many predict twenty to … Continue reading “Are These the Last Days? (Part 1)”
The Final Harvest
by John W. Ritenbaugh Forerunner, "Personal," September-October 1996 For some reason, cemeteries fascinated my father. Quite frequently when I was a young boy, after church on warm summer Sundays, he would take the family on a tour through Allegheny Cemetery about two miles from the Methodist church we attended. It was an old-style cemetery with … Continue reading “The Final Harvest”