2004 – Volume 15
The Nazarite Vow
Particulars of the Nazarite vow are found in Numbers chapter six. This vow was taken voluntarily, either man or woman, in respect to their faith and devotion to Jehovah. For the period of their vow the Nazarite would (1) abstain from wine or any product of the vine, even down to seeds or leaves, (2) let his hair grow uncut, (3) avoid contact with [...]
The Letter to Sardis (Revelation 3:1-6)
“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead’ ” (Revelation 3:1, NASB). SARDIS AND EPHESUS The messages to the seven churches in the book of Revelation have a fourfold reference. First, [...]
About our Chronology and Time Prophecies
"Without chronology," says Dr. Hales, "history would lose its most valuable characters of truth and consistency, and scarcely rise above the level of romance" - Martin Anstey, The Romance of Bible Chronology (1913). The Jewish nation had a Divine chronicler. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1:1). "Knowing this first, [...]
The Great River and the Waters of Life
SHILOAH'S SOFT WATERS Deep beneath Jerusalem there is a stratum of hard, impervious rock sloping gradually towards the southeast. All the rain that falls upon the city and filters into the ground finally gathers upon that unyielding shelf only to reemerge as springs upon the hillsides outside the city. The most famous of these springs is the "Virgin's Fountain" located halfway down the steep [...]
The Lord’s Jewels
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as [...]
The Way of an Eagle in the Air
As a boy, I was lying on my back one day in the woods in the Finger Lakes region of New York State, drinking in the beauty of nature. As I looked up through the foliage of the trees around me, I noticed a stirring overhead. Lo and behold, a bald eagle was resting on one of the upper branches, and not having seen [...]
An Altar to God
"No one should give the answer that it is impossible for a man occupied with worldly cares ...to pray always. Everywhere, wherever you may find yourself, you can set up an altar to God in your mind by means of prayer. And so it is fitting to pray at your trade, on a journey, standing at the counter or sitting at your handicraft. Everywhere [...]
Solomon’s Splendor Affirmed
"Thy wisdom and prosperity exceedeth the fame which I heard" (Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, 1 Kings 10:7). Archaeologist William Dever of the University of Arizona in Tucson adeptly observes that, "In the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, people are increasingly invoking archaeology in support of their cause." 1 In this regard, Solomon's wisdom and riches recently have been called into question and become part of [...]
The Epistle of Barnabas
There have been several other chroniclers in history as well as those who have written about time prophecies. Pastor Russell comments on the “venerable tradition” is in his second volume of Studies in the Scriptures, The Time is at Hand. “Here we furnish the evidence that from the creation of Adam to AD 1873 was six thousand years. And though the Bible contains no [...]
Peter and Mark in Babylon
“The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son” (1 Peter 5:13). This rather obscure scripture of greetings holds within it three enigmas. (1) Who is it that is in Babylon? (2) To which Babylon does the apostle refer? (3) What was the relationship between Peter and Marcus? It is the search for answers to [...]
Notes on Translation: Only Begotten
We owe a debt of gratitude to the clear explanation presented by Pastor Russell in The Atonement between God and Man (Study III). This study elucidates the confusing subject of "only begotten." In the Englishman's Greek Concordance we also find an invaluable study tool (now available keyed to Strong's Concordance), which shows the nine biblical uses of "monogenees." This is the single Greek word [...]
Hezekiah’s Song of Trust
"I will defend this city, to save it, for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake" (2 Kings 19:34). Sandwiched in between two wicked kings, Ahaz and Manasseh, Hezekiah was a reformer king in Judah. Although wavering at times in his faith, all in all he was one of the most remarkable rulers over the southern kingdom. Among the biblically recorded incidents [...]
Wycliff on Church Elections
John Wycliff (1329-1384) has well been called the “Morning Star of the Reformation,” and he is best remembered as the first translator of the Bible into English. Because the Papacy was in such disarray during his lifetime, he was able to write and act with a freedom that would not be matched until the great Reformation. To assure that the English people would not [...]
Robert Greathead
Historians frequently focus on those characters who both shape and are the products of their times. Luther was one such man who stood up against the prevailing religious oppression and bombast of his time and found that society was prepared to heed his message. John Hus (1369-1415 AD) a century earlier than Luther came to Bohemia preaching the same message of reform and zeal, [...]
With Many Thanks
The editors of this journal express their deep thanks to Bro. Jerry Leslie for his many years of devoted service to this publication, thereby promoting its uplifting influence among the brethren. This thanks is no doubt echoed by our many readers, specially those who know Bro. Leslie personally, and attest to the spirit of 2 Timothy 3:10 in his life and service to the [...]
Pray Without Ceasing
The Apostle says, "Pray without ceasing." That is, he teaches men to have the remembrance of God in all times and places and circumstances. If you are making something you must call to mind the Creator of all things, if you see light, remember the Giver of it, if you see the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in [...]
Antiquity of the Pentateuch
The integrity of the Old Testament is treasured by brethren of"like precious faith" (2 Peter 1:1). The circumstances of its production, and the authority by which it comes to us in its present form, is of interest to many. The early narratives in Genesis were assembled by Moses from extant written records which accumulated from the most ancient times as part of the historical [...]