Welcome to the Mail Room for Present Truth Magazine! This is where we post some of the interesting email which we receive from our viewers. All of our viewers are invited to E-mail us your comments and views and we will post these for all to consider!
Dear editors of Present Truth Magazine,
I am writing you from Ukraine from the town Ivano-Frankivsk situated in the Western part of our country near Carpathian Mountains.
We are the group of believers gathered to teach the Gospel using the Heidelberg Catechism and Calvinist's teaching. In Ukraine is very less knowledge about Reformation, about Presbyterian Church. And in the same time our people are very religious. But the most people ( belonging to the Orthodox Church) still believe in good works which can save them and worship the bones of saints. Yong people are involved in the same religious rituals and it is very pity.
We are small community but we have started the work of the Charity Christian Fund “Solidarity” ( www.solidarnist.com.ua ) and help many poor orphans in the frames of food bank project and we are also working in prevention of HIV and drug abuse which are a very big problem in Ukraine at the present time.
We are very much interested in spreading information about our life and activity, and we hope to find the partners abroad in your country as well as volunteers which can visit us and help in Gospel preaching and charity activity.
We appreciate very much your help in publishing the information about our community. If you have any question we'll answer with the pleasure.
Best regards,
Andrei Mikitin
Sichowyx Strilciw STR 34
Ivano-Frankivsk 76018
UKRAINE
www.solidarnist.com.ua
info@solidarity.if.ua
info@solidarnist.com.ua
0380-50-373-02-36
Zionism Today
From: Goldstein, Clifford
To: Bill Diehl ptruth@cox.net
Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 3:15 AM
Subject: Cliff Goldstein to Bill
Bill, while I agree with your theology regarding Israel do you have to state it in such a hateful racist, anti-semitic way? Couldn't you state it a little more tactfully, something like, "Though we know there are numerous sides to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and we recognize the right of any state to have safe and secure borders, we don't see the Jewish state as a fulfillment of prophecy" or something like that. As you have it now, it's very offensive, very unchristian. Please give my comments some consideration. You have so much good stuff on your site, but this ugly blob ruins it.
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From: Bill Diehl
To: Cliff Goldstein
Sent: Friday, July 28, 2006 12:05 AM
Subject: Cliff Goldstein to Bill
Cliff---Is it "tactful" or just outright disingenuous to recognize "numerous sides" to the Palestinian conflict?....When a group of Zionists decide to steal the land of the Palestinian Arabs in 1946 and justify their racist state by citing and misusing the covenantal promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the only "side" to take is to condemn this territorial land-grab and also condemn the erroneous misuse of the Old Testament scriptures which seeks to give this land-grab theological legitimacy . Whenever anyone points out the horrendous terrorist acts of the Zionists against the Arabs and the British during the post World War II era, and even unto the present, the immediate response of the Zionists is to shout "Anti-Semitism", "racism", and "unchristian Jew-hater" as you do in your criticism of me. I absolutely reject your criticism and false accusations.
I have given your comments thoughtful consideration and in turn perhaps you might give some consideration to the way the Lord Jesus Christ warned unbelieving Israel of immanent doom and allowed the Roman armies to cut off the nation of Israel in AD.70. The Lord Himself through His miraculous conquest of Canaan established the nation of Israel as His own covenantal people and then He Himself ended that covenant when they rejected their Messiah and King. Was Christ being "unchristian" when He referred to the Jews who rejected their Messiah as the blasphemous "synagogue of Satan" who "say they are Jews but are not" ?
And now today's Zionists are, through illegitimate force of arms (arms provided by the western powers), seeking to re-establish what Christ has brought to an end. He will never allow another " Israel " to be restored as a nation in Palestine . Their house is left unto them desolate and empty. The terrible suffering which the Jewish people have endured since AD.70 cannot be used as justification for the establishment of a renewed state of " Israel ". Most Orthodox Jews recognize this fact and thus many of the Orthodox do not support the re-establishment of a modern state of Israel and actively oppose it vocally.
The "ugly blob" is not my outcry against the false theology and the injustices of the Zionists (whether secularists, Christian Futurists, or Jewish nationalists) against the Arabs but rather your blindness to the heart-breaking plight of the dispossessed Palestinians and your refusal to cry out and condemn the abominable misuse of the Old Testament by the Zionists in order to justify the stealing of Palestine from the Arabs. Are the Arabs "terrorists" ? of course they are!! They are using the only method they have at hand to take back what they have lost at the hands of a huge USA supplied Zionist military machine. The hatred and tactics of the Arabs Muslims towards Zionism will know no bounds in their efforts to dislodge the invaders of their land.
Justice will have the final word in the matter. Woe to those who seek to rebuild what God has replaced.
——————
From: Bob Brinsmead
To: Bill Diehl
Subject: Zionism
Bill: In the same vein you could say that the Pilgrim Fathers and other US immigrants stole the land from the indigenous Indians (and the Pilgrim Fathers used religion to justify that, citing their settlement as a new Exodus in which they settled in the new promised land, and proceeded to drive out the heathen Canaanites – that is, Indians.) And in the same vein you could say that the English Australians stole Australia from the Aborigenes, but appealed to no religion to justify the European settlement. History is about a lot of harsh political realities. Modern Israel is a secular state, and I don't see much evidence that it appeals to religion to justify what it does in defending itself, whereas the Arabs do appeal to Islam to support what they are doing. To undo history now whether in respect to the Arabs, Indians or Aborigenes would be harder than unscrambling an egg. But above all, I am not comfortable when I hear people, including yours truly, so arrogantly and confidently talk about the will of God in world affairs as if they were God's vicar on earth. It would be less ridiculous to say that you knew for sure that God was on the side of the Dodgers rather than the Cardinals.
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From: Bill Diehl
To: Bob Brinsmead
Subject: Zionism
Bob, Yes, history is just full of examples of injustice. So should we just turn a blind eye to all injustice? I don't think so. At least not as long as we still have the freedom to speak out for the down-trodden victims of military oppression, whether it is Zionist oppression in Palestine or Muslim oppression in Sudan. To compare the conquest of Muslim Palestine by the modern state of Zionist Israel to a Dodgers versus Cardinals baseball game or the colonialist conquest of America and Australia is not quite like comparing apples with oranges.
One must live in a historical vacuum for one to say as you do,
"Modern Israel is a secular state, and I don't see much evidence that it appeals to religion to justify what it does in defending itself, whereas the Arabs do appeal to Islam to support what they are doing."
From its very beginning those who created and now defend modern Israel have appealed to the Old Testament promises of God to legitimatize their cause. My statement of opinion regarding the Palestinian question is based upon what Christ said when He warned the people of Israel living in the first century AD. Time will tell whether I am correct or not, whether I am setting myself up as a "vicar of God on earth" or not. I suppose you might accuse anyone of being a "pope" whenever anyone expresses an opinion about any subject or topic. You seem to believe that "justice" is merely always relative to ones particular point of view and never able to be determined from God's perspective. In this you and I will just have to agree to disagree.
———————
From: Bob Brinsmead
To: Bill Diehl
Subject: Zionism
Bill, I am sorry that you missed my point. Let me put it another way. It seems to me that our confidence that we speak on behalf of God or what is God's will is generally in inverse proportion to what we really know and understand about the Transcendent, Inscrutable Reality we call God. It generally turns out that those who are the most certain that they know what is God's will in respect to the governance of the cosmos are not only completely wrong, but thoroughly dangerous. Far safer is be more agnostic or admit that all that we know about such things could be written on a postage stamp with a very large piece of chalk.
———————
From: Bill Diehl
To: Bob Brinsmead
Subject: Zionism
But I didn't miss your point, Bob. You and I each have mutually exclusive world views which cannot be reconciled. Your world view sees God as being almost, if not entirely, transcendent and inscrutable. My world view sees the transcendent God as the One who has reached out to man to reveal Himself, not just through distorted and incomplete nature, but also through His word, the Bible and ultimately through the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see my world view as mythological and dangerous and I see your world view as blindness and unbelieving of God's word.
Humanists can never see Christian authors like Peter, Paul, and John as anything other than lunatics because Christians see history as a divine drama which is meaningful and having a beginning and an ending --- a conflict between good and evil, truth and error, God and Satan. Christians who accept God's word as doctrinally authoritative in cosmology and morality can speak with an authority which drives thorough-going humanists and agnostics up the wall and causes them to squirm. That is why they are so quick to point out all of the errors and mistakes of those who throughout history have ignorantly and with false motives taken the word of God and misused it.
The full implications of the word of God if true are shocking to the humanists --- those implications being that there is eternal life for those who believe and bow the knee to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and there is eternal death for those who are unbelieving and stiff-necked. Your illustration of the postage stamp and the piece of chalk is very clever and brings a smile but for all of its cleverness it is totally wrong. God has revealed much more than some are willing to admit to.
Deuteronomy 29:29 29 "The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.
John 20:27 - 21:1, 24-25 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" 29 Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." 30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name......: 24 This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25 And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written . Amen.
The Transcendent One has become the Immanent One through His word, and the Word made flesh---Jesus Christ. This is the testimony of faith. God has given us His Logos which is received through faith. Paul tells us in his epistle to the Hebrews what faith is...
Hebrews 11:1 NLT What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.
That is why I finished my last post to you stating that we will have to just agree to disagree.
————————
From: Clifford Goldstein
To: Bill Diehl
Subject: Zionism
I was very saddened and shocked by Bill, a so-called Christian and proponent of the gospel; that he could give such a hate-filled racists responses spoke volumes to me about him. By their fruits, Jesus said, you will know them. I know more, now, that I ever really wanted to know. I was truly saddened. Cliff
Regeneration and Repentance
Dear Present Truth Magazine, to quote your "denial" #6 on the front page of your web site:
"6. Any teaching which declares that repentant sinners must be sanctified or regenerated before they can be justified is a serious departure from the word of God."
Come now, Bill. Are suggesting an unregenerate sinner can repent?
You have created a "false dilemma". Just because repentance can not merit heaven does not mean repentance is not required for justification in the final judgment.
Let's not confound the legal requirement with the moral and conclude no moral requirement is necessary for salvation.
The reformation clearly distinguishes between the meritorious cause and the instrumental cause of salvation. And they don't use one to deny the other.
Bill Sorensen
2/17/2006
Ed: The link that is associated with "regenerated" above will clarify what we mean by "regeneration" not being a prerequisite for justification.
Costly Grace
Bill, You have published the chapter on costly grace by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. All the Christian radio stations spout the other kind of grace. You don't have to do anything to be saved except show up for church on Sunday morning . . and, oh, give us 10% of your money. I know that as Dietrich says that after all, in the end, we are saved by grace. But I also know that one does not experience the true blessings of God unless he spends a whole life seeking him with all his heart, all his soul, all his mind, and all his strength. I think that unless people are motivated to take up the call of discipleship, they are being sold short. So why are all the ministers selling their followers short? It's so dreadfully sad. . .evil. I want to do something to help change this.
I am Catholic. Somehow people are being sold short on this side too. All the people caught up in busy work and experiences. God needs people who seek him endlessly and keep their eyes fixed on him.
Tom 2/18/2006
I Cannot Tolerate Your Lies!!!
Dear "Present Truth," I don't know what kind of a church group you are, but I do know your statements about the teachings of my Traditional Catholic religion (especially the Council of Trent) are so totally distorted that they constitute a complete fabrication or, in other words, a lie. In no way, shape or form do we believe in the "inherent goodness of man," let alone that as a basis of salvation.
It must be pointed out that the Roman Catholic Church in the 2nd Vatican Council completely changed our religion, forcing those of us who believe in the older religion (the Gospels, of the Salvation of Jesus on the Cross) to leave. Anything you see in the post-Vatican II "modern" Roman Catholic Church and Papacy does not represent the Gospel of "Salvation" by the BLood of Jesus Christ, which it is quite obvious you people do not believe in, i.e. that there is only true Salvation by the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ. Therefore, you are not "saved" regardless of your claim to being "Christians" by your denial of the Cross of Jesus on Calvary as an actual "Substitutionary Sacrifice" or "Atonement" for all human beings as "SINNERS", which also you obviously fail to believe, that human beings are all "Sinners" and have completely fallen short of the Glory of God.
You see, we only have the true Gospel, that mankind are all sinners, thus requiring the 2nd person of the Godhead, named Jesus Christ, to come into the flesh in order to die as the only complete and total Sacrifice to God the Father for the sins of mankind, and only through faith in JESUS, then following the commandments of JESUS (to be baptized, to confess our sins, to follow a life where JESUS sanctifies us) can we reach heaven. And whatever you people believe is a bunch of bunko baloney, because outside the Cross of Christ there is NO SALVATION under any other name under heaven.
So now you know how to be saved. Don't ever say I did not tell you.
P. S. The only possible motivation for your telling such total lies about our Council of Trent doctrines has to be to make your own heretical religion sound like the "truth." There is only ONE TRUTH, that Jesus died for sinners. By that standard, let God be true and all men, including your heresies, be liars. I cannot tolerate your lies!!! Our true Traditional Catholic religion (pre-Vatican II, Council of Trent) believes all men are sinners, separated from God. You do not have the true writings of Trent, nor the true doctrines of our church. You are under the Protestant heresy and no doubt a multitude of other heresies. The Protestant heresy is that the Bible is a matter of "private interpretation." I'm sure if we knew of your heresies, the list couldn't fit into one room. Thus the usual arrogance of alleged "Christians" who never bother to confess their daily sins to anybody, yet condemn True Catholics for confessing before a priest, to hide the fact they are completely ignoring the Bible, allowing their sins to get worse and worse until their death, claiming it's between "them and God". I know because all the so-called "born-agains" around me are doing drugs, using prostitutes, alcoholics, blasphemers, hate-filled, etc. They never go to church, yet brag of being "saved" and allegedly knowing the Bible. I do not know of one alleged "born again" that attends church. I do know of adulterous born-agains and drug addict born-agains though who pour their stinking booze on the face of a picture of the Lord Jesus I gave them to try to get a little God into their pathetic lives.
I guess I should apologize. I just hate hearing such flat-out lies told to attack my beautiful Catholic religion as printed on your web site. However, you are whatever you are and will continue to tell whatever lies and wild stories you feel necessary to further your cause, I am sure! PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND TO MY LETTERS!!! I have blocked you from my E-mail as a precaution.
Oia'i'o,
Maulena Oke'a
2/15/2006
False Gospel?
Hello brothers and sisters in our same Master and perfect Savior, Christ Jesus. It seems you've left out some things (and added another) to the gospel statement at the top of your page. Here's some good news: Paul clearly states the gospel to believe and the confession to confess for righteousness and salvation and he even explains it in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 and in Romans 10:9-10.
So, of course, this is the most fundamental thing I could write to you about, and it's necessity is the reason, loved brothers and sisters in our same God, Jesus, that I'm bringing this up.
The top of your page says that believing that Jesus lived a sinless life is part of the gospel. Of course this is an important point (and maybe even needed), but it's not part of the gospel as far as I've been able to find in God's Bible. So you added that one. You changed the point of Jesus' death by only saying that Jesus death is atoning - but the Bible's wording is better, because it says that "Christ died for our sins" and "according to the Scriptures", adding the important Scriptures clause, and subtly taking away the knowledge that it was God's PURPOSE to died for the PURPOSE of atoning our sins (and not that His death just happened to atone, which I don't think most people, when reading what you've written down here, are subverted by it, but the language you use tends toward this other meaning).
Lastly, and perhaps the worst and perhaps the most obviously deviating part of your statement is leaving out God's burial, and His resurrection on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and all the credible list of credible witnesses who sited Him and even communed with Him after His resurrection. And you left out the part about confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus to be saved, which Paul clearly states in Romans 10:10 is the very thing, along with belief (which he here specifies that belief is of the resurrection), that leads to salvation.
In sum, you added the fact of Jesus' sinlessness to the gospel that God told us through His servant Paul, and you left out from it Jesus' burial, resurrection on the third day, according to the Scriptures, and the long list of witnesses who saw Him after His resurrection. You also leave out confessing with your mouth the Lord Jesus to be saved.
THIS IS IN FACT PERVERTED GOSPEL LOVED CHRISTIANS - RUN FAST AWAY FROM IT. AS SOON AS YOU UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS.
Jeremy Bickel
12/14/2005
From Uganda
Hi Mr. Bill,
I heard about you from Pastor Lubuto and since then we have studied the web site. Much as I have some few things I did not agree with you like deliberate on clean and unclean foods. But I have so much liked your good approach to justification by faith. I struggled with being good enough and things never worked out. I work as a nurse and I had worked for the SDA church for many years. It so happened that I became pregnant and I was burned from service and I was thrown out. I also felt I had failed my God, employers and I so much wanted one day to get married but the chance never came my way. Its bitter to be neglected by the church you love.
When I read your presentations and we studied them over and over hope came back. I felt happy to know that still God loves me despite failing him and my unfaithfulness. I want to lead a victorious life. I still have problems with being a single lady and at a time I want so much make love. I will try to avoid where I can. Thanks you for giving the hope again.
I love the SDA church but association with the present truth has given better hope for eternity.
Ester
12/14/2005
In Home Bible Class
Bill,
Hi, my name is Rich Stevens and I live in White Bluff, TN. I have started a bible study in my home and I was doing some research on line about Faith Righteousness. I was instantly taken to Present Truth Magazine. I want you to know that I really appreciate the things I have read, and am thrilled to know that there are others out there that believe. I haven't read everything, but I am moved beyond words to be able to find this type of information/teaching on the internet. Thank you so much for what you do. How can I receive this magazine either in print or e-mail format. Please let me know.
Again, thank you for the work you do in Christ,
Rich Stevens
10/08/2005
Thanks For the Web site
Bill, when the world gets me down, I think of you often and realize we are only here for a short time and that I need not be discouraged because in the long run, Jesus is coming back to execute judgment and everything gets turned around down here. You bless more people than you probably will ever know.
Thanks.
George Martinet
08/11/2005
Amazing!
I have just come across your web site. Amazing! How come I've not seen this before? Absolutely enlightening material and excellent reference source. Is there somewhere I can go to find more about the background and persons involved?
When I'm in a better position, I'll certainly give some financial support.
Sincerely,
Kevin Ferris
07/03/2005
Good News For Uganda
To the people of God,
I am Adam and I love to know more about God. One of these day I met a man on the street giving out tracts and he gave me a tract called "Have you heard the... Good news! Your sins are Forgiven!!". After I read it I wanted to get more to study but I could not find him anywhere. Good enough the tract had a web site where I have got this E-mail address and I would like to know if you have any representative in Uganda? Please give me his address such that I can contact him or her, if not then help me in any way you can.
Yours truly,
Adam
01/12/2005
Ghana E-mail
Please I want to receive the magazine which you publish. A friend of my told me how good the magazine is and I know it will help me to grow in Christ. Thank you.
Mr Samuel A Marh
Tema New Town, Ghana.
Can God Forgive All Kinds of Sin?
Sir: I've believed in Jesus since I was small but in the last year and a half I've been a sinner and it reads in the bible that adulterers will be judged. So, are you saying that any sin, no matter what degree of sin, can be forgiven? I used to walk a straight line and I judged so many for doing the same and then I fell in love with someone with whom I should have never even spoken to other than in passing and this has torn me into a million pieces and I no longer know who I am and I do not talk to God because like Eve, I fear him and I am ashamed.
09/07/2002
Literal Translation of the Bible
Sirs: Having been a Christian for some 30 years... and a Methodist for about 40 years... I have run into a statement that has thoroughly stumped me. A daughter of a Theology Professor at Emory University is a member of our church and has hit me with this statement, "I don't mind a Bible Study if it isn't based on a literal translation of the Bible and its Verses." Huh? She furthered her explanation by saying she didn't believe the Bible to be inspired, but that it was written by ordinary people just like you and me.
How on Earth do I address this? Do you have an article already housed in your archives I could refer to?
Leslie Thomas
September 10, 2002
Dear Leslie, This is a common opinion of those who endorse "Christian existentialism". Here is an excellent article that you will really enjoy which attempts to explain the error of this school of thought. God bless you as you lift up Jesus as Savior and Lord. Your servant in Christ, Bill Diehl.
The Devil's Ministry
Now we know the source of your ministry — the Devil himself! You have refused to respond as to why you keep your denominational affiliation from those visiting your web site, so it is clear by your silence you are all sons of Satan doing his bidding on earth! — It seems painfully obvious who your father is, he was a deceiver from the beginning and the truth is not in him. Aping your father you are trying to deceive those people who go to your web site by failing to indicate your denominational affiliation or if not officially affiliated that, you are doctrinal fellow-travelers with the Seventh Day Adventists. This is wholly demonic in nature, you are afraid if you tell people who you are they won't read your teachings and be thus deceived and contribute money to your so-called ministry. Shame on you all for lying by omission!
Rev. David R. Miser
New Song Ministries
08/15/2002
Their "Worm" Never Dies
Dear Sirs or Madam:
In your article concerning hell. when you quoted Mark 9:44-48 you did not mention the part about "Where their worm never dies". If that is not referring to the man then what does it mean?
Thank you for an answer.
Bill Scudder
08/16/2002
Editor. The phrase which our Lord uses in Mark 9:44-48 , "where their worm never dies" is referring to the worms that eat the dead bodies of those who rebelled against the Lord and refused to believe and repent of their sins. There may be a foot note in your KJV translation which clarifies the meaning of the word "worm" as being the maggots that eat the dead bodies of the enemies of God. Our Lord is quoting from Isaiah 66:22-24 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. 23 And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD. 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh."
These texts are not referring to an "immortal soul" as the "worm" that does not die. The "worm" being referred to are the worms that are eating the dead bodies of the lost. See also Isaiah 51:7 "Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people in whose heart is my Law; fear ye not the reproach of men, neither be ye afraid of their revilings. 8 For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation from generation to generation." And Isaiah 14:11 "Thy (Lucifer) pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee." Here again worms are used to describe the fact that the enemies of God will die and their bodies consumed by worms. "Worm" is not used to mean an immortal undying soul. The Lord in Mark 9:42-44 is using a double analogy to describe the condition of the lost, i.e. worms eating the dead bodies of the lost and also the eternal fire of God to burn up the lost in "gehena". Gehena was the term used for the garbage dump that was located outside of the city of Jerusalem which burned the rubbish of the city and the smoke from this heap arose continually and the fire never went out as the rubbish was consumed. The people hearing Christ use this term understood what He was referring to.
The phrase "eternal fire" is also used to describe the fire that fell upon the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah. Another term which our Lord uses to describe the fate of the lost is "cast into outer darkness".
I know that this reply is very brief and that there are many texts to consider regarding the terms which the word of God uses to describe the fate of the lost. The main text to consider is the account found in Genesis regarding the fall of man and his expulsion from Eden. When Adam was warned not to eat of the forbidden fruit, he was told that if he ate the fruit he would surely die. An angel was stationed at the entrance to Eden to keep Adam and Eve from eating any longer from the tree of life and thus live forever. Also note that in the earth made new after the resurrection of the redeemed, God's people will once again eat of the tree of life in a restored, sin-free, deathless universe. I hope that this reply clears up some of the meaning of the texts that you mentioned. God bless, Bill Diehl
Baptism to Be Saved?
Sirs: Does it say in the bible that it is necessary for one to be baptized in order to be saved? or is it by grace alone thru faith alone? — I was wondering this because I grew up in grace thru faith; but now I am at college and this church say you NEED to be baptized to be saved. Thanks a lot.
Greg
01/15/2002
Dear Greg, No one is saved by being baptized by immersion, but all who are saved will be willing to obey our Lord's command for all believers to be baptized by immersion. Baptism is a public demonstration that the believer has put his faith in the sinless life and atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. He is publicly witnessing to all that he has now turned from the old man of sin and is now living in the new life of the Spirit. The burial in the water represents death to our old life of willful sin and disobedience while the coming up out of the water represents our being born again to a new life of willing obedience.
The same could be said of observing the Lord's supper. No one is saved by observing the Lord's supper, but all who are believers in Christ will be willing to partake of the elements symbolizing the blood and body of our Lord given for the redemption of the world.
Also let me point out that no one is saved by observing the two great commandments to love our Lord with all our hearts, minds, and souls, and strength; and to love our neighbors as ourselves. But all who are saved will be seeking through the strength of the Holy Spirit to fulfill all the Ten Commandments of the Lord which the two great commandments summarize.
In other words, we are not saved by any of our works, but all who are saved will be seeking to live in obedience to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord. Being baptized, observing the Lord's supper, keeping God's commandments, and filling our lives with good deeds never saves us, but the saved man will be always seeking to be a faithful obedient servant of Christ.
If the college you are attending says that baptism is necessary before one can be saved, then this is not in harmony with the gospel truth of justification by God's unmerited grace alone through faith alone in the sinless life and atoning death of Christ. This false view of baptism is called "baptismal regeneration" and is a false view of baptism which is identical to the Roman Catholic view of baptism.
If I have not made the matter clear to you brother, please get back to me again, because this is a very important matter for all Christians to understand. God bless you. BD., editor
Tithing Mandatory For Christians?
Sirs: Is 100% of tithe money only meant to go towards pastor wages? Can tithe ever be used towards evangelism materials, or does God say that it has to be paid by "offerings" only and never tithes?
With Warm Christian Love,
Tony Valentino
01/13/2002
Tony, There is no mention in the New Testament as to how gifts to help the gospel should be used. The early Christian apostolic church was never mandated to pay tithe as the Israelites were under the Levitical law in the theocracy of Israel. Offerings under Christ are totally free will and never by mandate.
Those who mandate that Christians MUST pay tithe are misusing the word of God and placing a law upon Christians which the apostles never demanded. Please read Paul's counsel regarding giving for the Christian church members. The same is true regarding dietary laws. If a believer tithes and observes the dietary laws this should be only between the individual and God. We should never judge what another gives or what another eats. God bless you brother, BD.
The Shaking of Adventism
I am not accustomed to writing a response to anyone else's criticism of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, but I feel the urge to do so now. I just pray that I can, for once in my life, express myself so that my true convictions can be known!
I came across your Web Page by accident, while looking for some answers to other information about our church's history and divisions. The link to your page was a long way past the first page of links and so I feel that I was lead, so to speak, to find the above mentioned book and then read the "Conclusion" part of it. It was refreshing to find someone else who feels that the church and/or members are acting in the way that the author described! I have become pretty discouraged as of late by the various attitudes as were described!
I've tried discussing these same issues with members of my church's Board of Directors and have always been met with a cold shoulder by the people who I hoped would discuss those same issues with! So, after several failed attempts, I finally stopped, not knowing where to find answers to my questions.
I want to thank you for publishing the articles that are presented on your Web Page, and you can be sure that I have printed them out and will distribute them to other members of my church. Since I am the Librarian of our church, I have a great position to do so! I know that others will welcome these articles as well, as they kind of give a large amount of validation to my thoughts and beliefs. Thanks so much and I know that God will continue to bless your efforts in spreading the truth to those who are truly seeking it! Sincerely . . .
Jean
6/2/2001
A Thank You
I truly thank God for His faithfulness. These articles have ministered truth to my soul. For I too have suffered much confusion from current day Pentecostal / Charismatic (Word of Faith) error. The Word of God is so rich when I look to Christ and His finished work at Calvary. I thank God for His Goodness and Immutable purposes. Keep on preaching the truth! The LORD bless you and keep you.
Malcolm A. Hawkins
Vallejo, CA
5/29/2001
A Thank You
The Lord graciously brought me to Himself sometime in the spring of 1972. In combination with various Christian witnesses, the meditation of scripture AND in particular the written magazine of Present Truth as it related the doctrine of justification by faith (I believe one of the articles was written in part by Martin Luther or quotations from him) my eyes were opened! Over the years I have often wondered about your group and still want to know about Mr. Robert Brinsmead and Mr. Geoffrey Paxton—are they still living and what are they involved in? I am indebted to their labors as well as those active behind the scenes. Thank you. By His grace ALONE
Raymond Froehlich
5/28/2001
Editor: Around 1990 I felt that it was a shame that the publication was not continuing and I decided to post all of the Present Truth Magazine journals on the internet in 1996. I had to sell my house to raise the money to do it but have never regretted the cost involved with the web site. Many, many have been blessed by the material that is on the web site. It is email like yours that make it all worthwhile to me.
Who Are You?
Dear PT, I was amazed to stumble across all the old Present Truth material you have assembled, including the letters to the editor, and posted on the net. Your web site doesn't make it clear exactly who you are -- can you clarify?
It also posts material written and broadcast by Bob Brinsmead, who I had heard no longer professes the beliefs that he promulgated in Present Truth. Am I incorrect in this? It would be good to hear from you. Yours sincerely,
Peter Gadsby
Australia
5/27/2001
Editor: I was involved with Present Truth Magazine from 1965 onward. Bob B. abandoned the gospel in 1980 when he came under the influence of existential humanism and abandoned "sola scriptura". I still consider him my friend. Through his teaching he lead me to Christ when I was only 21 years old.
Perfect Love
I have just read the article "A Review of the Awakening Message" by Robert D. Brinsmead. I have to say that while he presents a logical argument against the doctrine of entire sanctification, he has also failed to realize the Biblical teaching of entire sanctification. Wesley's teaching that Holiness, or sanctification is a "second work of grace" is true. He was merely reawakening the Church of the Biblical teaching. God did not intend for man to live in sin. Thus, He sent His Son to atone for our sins--Completely. If we say the sacrifice on the cross did not completely atone for our sins (forgiving and completely cleansing) then we are saying Christ's sacrifice is meaningless.
While God is perfect to forgive and cleanse, we also hold this "treasure in earthen vessels." Because we are human and not divine we will always be prone to sin. Christian perfection does not mean that we become perfect as God is perfect, but that our love toward God becomes more perfect (we fall deeper in love with God). John Wesley did not "invent" this theology. He merely brought awareness to what the Bible teaches about being pure and holy. We cannot be pure and holy unless God removes the inbred sin nature within our hearts. Just a few thoughts and comments.
Rodney Birch
Library Director
Vennard College
5/23/2001
Editor: Thanks for your recent email and comments. The word of God certainly urges us to be entirely sanctified to Christ through obedience to the faith. Every true Christian who is trusting only in the sinless life and atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ for his acceptance before God is seeking to overcome every wrong word, thought, and deed in his life that is contrary to the will of God. Those who are not seeking entire holiness of heart and soul and deed are not Christians. Wesley never claimed to have attained to the state of sinlessness of character however. Those who claim to be as sinless of heart as our Lord Jesus Christ are not.
If one defines "entire sanctification" as living without sin then there is no such thing as "entire sanctification". We all sin and continually fall short of the glory of God. Thus we all continually need to trust in the sinless life and atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ for our acceptance with God and the gift of eternal life. I am sure that you know that there is still sin in your life as there is in mine, but we as Christians hate our sin and we repent daily and continue to trust only in the perfect righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ to reckon us sinless before God.
Thus we can say with the apostle John that anyone who is sinning is of the Evil One. This is so in the sense that anyone who is committing high-handed, continual, willful disregard for the Law of God, the Ten Commandments, is not a saved person. This does not mean that Christians never sin. There is a sin that is unto death and there is sin that is not unto death. Willful, high-handed, continual, and deliberate disregard for the commandments is sin unto death. The sins of falling short of the glory of God which Christians commit and which are continually confessed before God are not sins unto death. Every true Christian prays the prayer for forgiveness and trusts in the perfect righteousness of Christ and thus his sins are not imputed to him and he is a justified and continually sanctified believer. But while we are continually being sanctified, none can say that we are "entirely sanctified" or that we have perfect love. We press on towards the mark but do no claim to have attained the mark of our high calling in Christ.
Back Issues for the Library
Dear Mr. Diehl:
The Presbyterian Church of America Historical Center seeks to document the larger story of the conservative Presbyterian movement of the 20th century. Your magazine, as I can attest from my own college years, was one of many instruments used of the Lord in the resurgence of the Reformed faith in the latter half of the twentieth century. Thus it is appropriate that we have among our holdings a collection of issues of Present Truth Magazine.
I am writing you in search of two things. One would be some sort of history of the magazine and its founders. If this is already posted on your site, please let me know and I will simply download it. Otherwise, think such a history would be a great addition to your web page, and an account of God's working that I would very much like to preserve.
Secondly, I would like to ask if any back issues of the magazine are still available? While I see that you have posted the content of many issues, for archival purposes the original printing is preferable for a number of reasons. Per your listing of the volumes, we have here numbers 2, 5, 10, 14, 18, 27 and 32. I seem to remember once having issue #3 as well, but gave it away long before I was blessed of the Lord to come into this work as an archivist.
If you can't help me on this last request, I certainly will understand. Hopefully should you ever come across extra copies in years to come, you might remember us.
Blessings in the Lord,
Wayne Sparkman, Director
PCA Historical Center
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, MO
March 15, 2001
Dear Brother Sparkman, I have not forgotten your email to me from March 15, 2001. Last month I came into possession of a substantial number of original issues of Present Truth Magazine. I would be glad to send any issues that I have here for your archives as you requested. Just let me know which issues you would like and I will send you what I have.... God bless you in Christ Jesus as you contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. Bill Diehl, editor. 05/17/2002
Old or Young Universe?
Dear Bill, It was good to meet you at our recent meetings in Loma Linda. I read with interest your explanation of the time prophecies. I didn't have a clear view of your interpretation. Is this a generally accepted understanding of the time prophecies by "evangelical Adventists"? Or are there variations?
You mentioned that Des Ford has given up the literal creation and short chronology. I don't want to bother him directly. Could you explain his view of the origin of man and the fall? Was there a long period of creations and destructions before God came in and created man? What is the significance of the weekly Sabbath to him? Why is he so insistent on keeping the weekly Sabbath? If you aren't sure, I can ask him directly. I have his email address.
Just a word about whether the whole universe was created 6000 years ago or not. I have no problem with believing that there was a gap between the original universe of Gen. 1:1 and verse 3 when God fixed up this world. Mars might be an example of a dormant world ready to be fixed up for habitation. As to the fourth commandment, "For in six days the Lord created heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is"--this does not have to be an all-inclusive term for the whole universe. On the second day God created the sky and called it "heaven" (v. 8)--the same word as in verse 1 (shemayim). So there is a greater and a lesser meaning of "heaven." On the third day He created the dry land which he called "earth" (aretz)--again there is a large meaning of "earth" as the whole world, and a smaller meaning, dry land. When He created the dry land, the waters gathered into the seas. So when the fourth commandment says "In six days the Lord created heaven and earth and the sea and all that in them is," it is referring to the sky, the dry land, the sea, and all the life in them, the work as described in days 2, 3, 5, and 6 of creation.
Just a thought.
I don't have a lot of time for reading long documents, so have mercy. We do need to be patient with each other where our understandings of Scripture vary.
My best to you.
Sincerely,
Bea
4/18/2001
Editor: I have read Ken Ham's (Answers in Genesis) discussion of Genesis 1-3 and he seems to be able to show very conclusively that the Bible teaches a 6,000 year old universe. The "gap theory" cannot be supported either from the text or context of Genesis.
Name Calling?
I wish you would refrain from using such pejorative terms as "immature" to describe the majority view of the Seventh-day Adventist Church concerning the interpretation of Daniel 8:14. If you have ever dealt with evolutionists, you will discover that the main part of their method of countering creationism is to use disparagement and mischaracterization of the wisdom, intelligence, and even honesty of creationists. You are using exactly the same methods. This is especially inappropriate, because your position is wrong, and rests on scholarship that can be persuasively refuted.
The only reason why anyone sees 1150 days in Daniel 8:14, is because they are trying to make the Bible text fit their preconceived theory that the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 was fulfilled in the career of Antiochus Epiphanes. As I write this, I am referring to an article by Dr. Siegfried J. Schwantes, in the book Symposium on Daniel, which is Vol. 2 of the Daniel and Revelation Committee Series, edited by Frank B. Holbrook, and copyrighted in 1986 by the Biblical Research Institute. 'Ereb Boqer, the expression used in Daniel 8:14 that is translated "days" in the KJV, and evening-mornings in some other translations, is not a term that is used in the Bible to refer to the daily morning and evening sacrifice (the tamid ). The word tamid is not in the text, and the way the tamid sacrifices are usually referred to throughout the Bible is "morning-evening," not "evening-morning."
In the Bible, Genesis particularly, "evening-morning" is the formula used to refer to a day, which consists of the dark portion of the day followed by the light portion, reckoning from sunset to sunset. Furthermore, the words are singular in number, therefore must be taken as a unit. It is contrary to the grammar of the text to try to make it apply to morning sacrifices and evening sacrifices. The only reason why anyone tries to interpret this in such a way, is so that they can manufacture evidence to support the idea that the number given, 2300, should actually be divided into half, so it can more easily be made to fit the Antiochus Epiphanes interpretation. By the way, you should be concerned about the origin of the Antiochus Epiphanes interpretation. This view is a part of the preterist interpretation of Daniel, which was invented by a Jesuit scholar in an attempt to counter the Protestant interpretation which identified the Papacy as the Little Horn of Daniel 7. Actually, it goes back even further than that. This interpretation was originated by the Maccabees, in an attempt to give scriptural legitimacy to their assumption of power.
Jewish tradition glorifies the Maccabees, but the prophecy of Daniel 11:14 characterizes them as "the violent ones among your people," and exposes this very subterfuge by predicting that they would "lift themselves up in order to fulfill the vision, but they will fall down." Their false attempt to wrest the time prophecy of Daniel 8:14 to support their claim to power is actually predicted in this prophecy of Daniel 11:14. So by taking up the interpretation first enunciated by the Maccabbees, you are perpetuating the self-serving, Bible-wresting propaganda of the Maccabeean thugs (who, remember, are the ones who ultimately sold out Israel to Rome).
Ron Lambert
4/15/2001
Editor's reply: We at Present Truth Magazine reject the Maccabean interpretation of Daniel 8. In Daniel 7 the fourth beast with the little horn is obviously the Roman Empire out of which arises the Papacy. The little horn of Daniel 8 represents the same desolating Papacy as the little horn of Daniel 7. Daniel 9 confirms that the "Desolator" is pagan and papal Rome. Rome cuts off the Messiah in the first half of the final week then Rome seeks to destroy the people of the Messiah in the second half of the final week. See also Revelation 12. The Messiah, Jesus Christ, witnessed for a literal 3 and 1/2 years and was then crucified, buried and resurrected. The Church witnesses for "3 and 1/2" metaphorical years and is then crucified, buried, and resurrected. The theme of the Church's recapitulation of the sufferings of Christ is a major theme in Revelation. Daniel 9 lays the foundation for this theme.
H.M.S. Richards or Des Ford?
Hi Present Truth Magazine. I think you are mistaken in your efforts to discredit the significance of 1844. I still like HMS Richards much better than Desmond Ford.
Gerry C. Wagoner
4/15/2001
Editors: The date, October 22,1844, is not to be found in the Bible. No matter how one may try to manipulate the meaning of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation. For anyone to write a book entitled "1844 Made Simple" is to either knowingly or unknowingly seek to perpetuate an immature view of the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation upon the purchased possession of Christ, the Christian church. It is one thing to do so ignorantly and immaturely as did the pioneers of Seventh-day Adventism, but it is quite another thing to do so today with the advance in understanding of the apostolic gospel of the New Testament.
All that the pioneers of Seventh-day Adventism affirmed as beginning in the year October 22, 1844, in actual fact began at Pentecost. This includes the sealing of God's people, the hour of God's judgment, the day of atonement, the last days, the latter rain, the high priestly ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ in the most holy place of the heavenly sanctuary, the "1260 days" of the church's fleeing into the wilderness, and the "ten horned Beast" of pagan Rome followed by the "Little Horn" or "Image to the Beast" of papal Rome making war against the church and the gospel of Christ. Daniel 8:14's "2300 evening and morning sacrifices" until the temple is "restored" refers to the restoration of the apostolic gospel and the evangelical church that was cast down by the "Little Horn" of papal Rome. The Protestant Reformation, which is still a work in progress, perfectly fulfills this allegorical prophecy of restoration.
The entire Messianic era is symbolically portrayed in Daniel and Revelation as the final "3 and 1/2 times" or "1260 days" or "forty two months" of the final week of the seventy weeks of Daniel 9 when the "desolating prince" places the "abomination of desolation". This "Desolator prince" makes war with the "Messiah the prince" until the "consummation is poured out upon the Desolator". The conflict between the Messiah and the Desolator is symbolically portrayed as reaching a climax before the end of the 1260 symbolic days. Thus Daniel 8:14 is symbolically pointing us to the restoration of the spiritual Temple of the church and the full truth of the gospel prior to the end of the allegorical "1260 day" era, NOT to a literal date in the year 1844.
As our Lord's ministry was for 3 and 1/2 literal years, the church must minister the gospel to the world for "3 and 1/2" symbolic years clothed in sackcloth while fleeing from the wrath of the Dragon who seeks to destroy her (see Rev. 12). These apocalyptic time periods are symbolic and allegorical in nature and are not to be taken as literal periods of years such as from AD. 538-1798 or from 457 BC. unto 1844 AD. The only literal time period given in Daniel is the "seventy-sevens" from the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem unto the Messiah the prince, our Lord Jesus Christ.
Gabriel is the angel who gave this time prophecy to Daniel and it was Gabriel the angel who announced its FULFILLMENT to the priest Zacharias and the young virgin Mary. Zacharias was told by Gabriel that his wife would give birth to John the Baptist who would herald and prepare the way for the appearance of the Messiah. The virgin Mary was told that she would give birth to the Anointed One, the Messiah Himself.
Christ's ministry from His anointing in the Jordan River until He was "cut of, but not for Himself" lasted for the first half of the final "seven" of the prophecy. Then we see that it is in the second half of the final seven that the Desolator sets up the "abomination of desolation" in the temple until the final "consummation which is determined is poured out upon the Desolator". This final "3 and 1/2 years" of the "seven" when the desolating Little Horn power makes war with the people, the temple, and the truth of the Messiah is applied by the New Testament as a symbolic term for the Christian era when pagan and papal Rome would make spiritual warfare with the church of Christ.
Pagan Rome with its armies put and end to the temple in Jerusalem in AD. 70 thus fulfilling Christ's prediction that, because of Israel's rejection of her Messiah, Rome would desolate the temple and the city as "the abomination of desolation". Then after the fall of the Roman empire, papal Rome, which supplanted the imperial Roman empire as the "Desolator", "healed the deadly wound" that Rome suffered in the fall of the Roman Empire by placing the throne of Rome inside the church itself. The apostle Paul, in 2 Thess 2, refers to the removal of imperial Rome which "restrained" the full-blown appearance within the Christian church of the one referred to as the "Man of Sin".
Thus the papal "pontiffs" now sit upon the old throne of the Roman Caesars, but now call the throne "the throne of Peter". The "seat of the Beast" has become the "seat of the false prophet" who sits in the Temple of the church claiming to speak for Jesus Christ. This is the apostate one who is in fact the Antichrist, the Desolator who has assumed the false identity of spokesman or "Vicar" of Jesus Christ.
The extreme historicist schema that applies the "1260 days" as a literal 1260 year period from AD.538 to AD.1798 is over-literalizing the historical method of Biblical interpretation. This over-literalizing also applies to the application of the "2300 evening and morning (sacrifices)" of Daniel 8:14 to a literal time period from 457 BC. to AD. October 22, 1844. The Bible is just NOT teaching that these prophecies are to be interpreted as anything like traditional historicists attempt to do. The "day for a year" principle (which is valid for the "Seventy Sevens" of Daniel 9 since this is an obvious play upon the "Seventy Years" of Babylonish captivity of Israel prophesied by Jeremiah) is being overly applied to the "Forty two months" and the "1260 days" of John's book of Revelation.
The New Testament has allegorized the final half of the final week of Daniel the ninth chapter and applied it to the Messianic era beginning with the "anointing" of the church at Pentecost unto the ending of the Christian era when the gospel invitation ceases at the end of the age as the "two witnesses" lie dead in the streets of spiritual "Sodom". Revelation 11 is NOT referring to the French Revolution and Revelation 13 is NOT referring to the Unites States of America. The "ten horned Beast" and the "image to the Beast" is referring to pagan and papal Rome respectively for the allegorical era of the "1260 days" of the "abomination of desolation".
In other words, the "seven heads" of the ten horned beast refer to the rule of the Caesars while the "eighth head" (Rev 17) refers to the "false prophet" of papal Rome after the seventh head receives a "deadly wound". The "falling of the stars" and the "dark day" and the "Lisbon earthquake" are NOT to be found in the book of Daniel or Revelation and it is time that the historicist school of prophetic interpretation comes to realize this and admit to the fact that we have been immature in our understanding of these prophecies. The goal of Present Truth Magazine in wishing to see a clear break with the immaturity of the past is NOT to undo or destroy the influence of the Advent movement in its outreach and warning to the world. It is only after a complete and thorough reformation of this movement away from the immaturity of the past that real headway will be made in accomplishing the high calling to bring the evangelical gospel to the world. While we are urging the world to reject the false teachings of the Man of Sin, it is obvious to many within Adventism that this movement has its own work of reformation to accomplish. This reformation will EVENTUALLY be accomplished with or without this generation of Adventists. God bless the Seventh-day Adventist movement. Editors.
Not Being Fair
I am disappointed beyond words by your rather insensitive and unfeeling comments to and about Cliff Goldstein, and for many reasons. First, and foremost, Cliff is a brother in Christ. You may or may not agree with his theology or his eschatology. But to de facto assign "immaturity" to the views of someone with whom you disagree is not the best way to win them over. Frankly, your arguments are diminished in my own eyes by the way in which you state your case. I sincerely hope you find a better way to bring forth your points moving forward. Second, you appear not to have taken Cliff up on his offer of sending you his latest book and reading it for yourself before passing judgment. Cliff is one of our best writers, and one of the best in or out of the Adventist Church. The devotional he gave at the "Westpoint of Evangelism" in Simi Valley last December was one of the best talks that I've heard in ages; it was sheer poetry in its phrasing, utter logic in its presentation and pure gospel in its message.
I say all that not to build up Cliff, per se, but to suggest, again, that this is someone whose views merit serious and respectful consideration . You may agree with him. You may disagree. But to dismiss his work out of hand -- which your e-mails to Cliff seem to do -- is, to me, rather foolhardy and does not reflect the maturity and depth of thinking that you have shown in so many other situations. I believe, as many do, in the 1844 message. It helps me understand a great deal about Bible prophecy that had confused me previously. And while I would prefer that everyone see the verity of this message, I am not going to ram it down anyone's throat. I am certainly willing to entertain respectful discussion and review of these points. And I would hope, overall, that God will be far more kind to me in any of my failings than, frankly, some of your messages have been towards what you perceive to be Cliff Goldstein's errors.
Whatever your final thoughts on the doctrines taught and affirmed by the Seventh-day Adventist Church, Bill, you very much need to take a break, take a deep breath, and consider seriously whether or not your approach to those with whom you disagree is in keeping with the Gospel message you so fervently proclaim. May God guide your heart in this matter. Respectfully,
Mark Kellner
A Cult?
Prior to going to your site, I was on a Christian site that was discussing whether or not Seventh Day Adventists were a cult. Someone had replied, and in their reply, your site address was listed. I was intrigued by this person's reply, so I went to your site, and have been reading extensively for the past three hours. My question, are you a Seventh Day Adventist and if so, why has Ellen White's teaching not been mentioned? I do agree with much, if not everything, I have read thus far. I belonged to an SDA church a few years back and their teachings relied heavily on the writings of Ellen White. I always felt very uneasy about that, in fact, it was one of the reasons I left SDA. I would much appreciate a reply. Thank you in advance for your time! Yours Truly,
Cindy
2/24/2001
Editors: Please read "This We Deny" on the front page of the web site—Denial # 69-74. From this editor's observations, most Seventh-day Adventists have come a long way since the days of their pioneers of the19th century. Their heterodox "1844 doctrine" is seldom taught to the members any more and Ellen G. White's writings are no longer considered "inerrant".
Invisible Church?
Dear Friend. You must know Ty Gibson and Bob Jorgenson? Am I right? They believe in this visible and invisible church nonsense also. There are only two churches, Satan's and GOD'S. You are either in one or the other. This nonsense is from THE CATHOLIC CHURCH, A.T. Jones exposed this years ago and so did Martin Luther.
Pastor Les Balsiger
10/13/2000
Literal Genesis Creationism?
Sirs: Could you please let us know if you at Present Truth Magazine accept the literal Genesis account of creation?
Regards, Tom
California 5/19/2000
Editor: Tom, those who deny the historicity of the Genesis account of creation are offering a metaphorical interpretation which is completely theologically unsatisfying and reflective in content of those liberal Protestant theologians who have taken over the mainline denominations which were once the main stay of Biblical gospel teaching. It only takes one or two generations of "metaphorizing" the Genesis account of creation until the entire apostolic Pauline gospel is reduced to a mere ecumenical humanistic moralism and social gospel as we see today in the Wesleyan, Calvinist, and Lutheran religious streams today.
It seems like a very small and insignificant departure from the "faith once delivered to the saint" to allow an allegorical or parable interpretation of the Genesis account to be taught along side of the evangelical gospel, but with the passing of time this small departure from the word of God will widen more and more and become like the proverbial snowball rolling down a hill which gains in size and momentum as it rolls along. Who would have guessed 100 years ago that the mainline evangelical denominations would today be openly advocating Neo Darwinian evolution and millions of years of death and suffering as the means that "God used to create all the life on Earth"? Who would have guessed that they would be advocating a humanistic moralist view of why Christ died on the cross and deny that our Lord Jesus Christ was the eternal creator God incarnate? Who would have guessed that the truths of the Bible would be so compromised so as to allow all the mainline Christian denominations to seek reunification with the unbiblical and mythical religion of Papal Rome? How do they all fit Darwinism into the Christian message? By declaring that God at some point in the evolutionary process put an "immortal soul" into the evolved human animal and thus made man in the "image of God".
Where did all this departure from the faith begin? It all began with the denial by the leaders of these denominations of the literalness of the Genesis account of creation, the fall of man, and the entrance of sin and death as found in the Bible. Without this historical foundation for the Christian faith, the entire structure falls down like the tower of Babylon. With the first question of whether the Serpent in the Garden was real comes the next question of whether the Devil and his demons are real. Then the next question is whether the Garden was real or even if Adam and Eve were real!!!
It is for this reason that the seventh day Sabbath will be a test of loyalty for the entire world in the last days. The Sabbath is the linchpin which holds together the entire foundation of the Christian plan of salvation. Without a literal six day creation of which the Sabbath is a memorial, there can be no meaning to the message of the salvation of death deserving sinners by the unmerited grace of God alone through faith alone in the sinless life and atoning death of Christ alone as revealed in the Bible alone.
The Protestant Reformation will push onward and be brought to its conclusion regardless of those who wish to compromise on the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Give it the label of "fundamentalism" or whatever some choose to call it, without a firm stand upon the literal creation account of Genesis, the Christian message will lose its power to save and will open the world to the deceptions that will shortly overtake all the peoples of the world who love a lie rather than the truth.
The challenge as to whether the Bible account of creation is "scientific" and the suggestion that it is merely "theological" in nature like Paul's epistle to the Romans is not a new challenge. The simple answer to this challenge is that the Bible account is "scientific" if by that term we mean that the Genesis account relates literal events which factually took place in time and were recorded by God's prophets historically and accurately.
Of all the four "solas", Sola Scriptura is the most fundamental and important of all. Without a high view of the Bible and the Genesis account of creation, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, and Solo Christo become mere sentimental drivel of a by gone era and something to be looked back upon with a warm fuzzy glow like the belief in Santa Claus.
This sentimentalism is the mind set of many former Christians who have given up faith in the word of God as it reads. Many have lost their firm hold upon their faith in the Bible as the true word of God and the Protestant movement as the final restoration of all the truth that the Antichrist has cast to the ground. They have become so involved and distracted by the politics and side issues within their religious communities that they fail to see the forest because of the trees. They so pick and pick at the immature theological and character flaws of the pioneers of the Protestant movement that they faint along the way and lose their faith. They fail to see that there is within this movement a God ordained purpose being fulfilled. The true evangelical gospel of Jesus Christ is developing and being proclaimed just as surely as within the Jewish nation of the first century God was moving and acting to bring forth the everlasting gospel to take to all the world.
Most of the Jews never knew that the day of their visitation had come and gone without their having even recognized its passing. They were so involved in the distractions of the day and the politics of the day and the popular personalities of the day that they did not notice that the day of their visitation had passed. Their humble unrecognized Messiah had come to them born in a stable and recognized only by uneducated shepherds and despised Gentile pagans coming from distant lands with their gifts and worship. Their King proclaimed to them the free gift of eternal life and the forgiveness of their sins, but they chose Caesar as their only king and elected to nail this "imposter" who claimed to be God to a cross. When Jerusalem their holy city was destroyed thirty years later they were amazed and never knew why God had finally forsaken them. They had allowed their false prophets and false messiahs to drown out the simple gospel message that had been proclaimed throughout their city by an unpopular "sect" that was despised by the liberal Sadducees who called them "fundamentalists" and the conservative Pharisees who called them false prophets of "cheap grace".
The comparison of the literal creation account of Genesis to the medieval error of the flat earth as the center of the universe is ridiculous and is a mere straw man argument. The fact is that the Darwinian theory of origins and the big bang theory are on shakier scientific ground than they have ever been. The scientific community is frantically seeking to prop these theories up with more and more incredible mathematical gymnastics and distorted interpretations of fossil finds, but their mythologies are sounding more and more like drowning men grasping at straws. The very labels with which these secular humanists are painting the young universe Biblical creationists are falling back upon their own heads as events like the eruption of Mt. St. Helens are blowing to pieces the revered theories of all the cosmologists in archeology, geology, anthropology, biology, and physics. With each new discovery of the scientific community the simple historical account of Genesis 1 11 becomes more and more believable and logical to the honest inquirer after truth. God Himself is verifying His word and is confounding all the pride and unbelief of the world's great men of science falsely so called.
In the final days of this earth every lie of the Enemy will be exposed and God's word will be validated as true for all men of true faith and then the end will come. There will be no fortress of lies in which to hide. The walls of Jericho are and will continue to come tumbling down. God is looking for men and women of faith who will join the march around city whose foundations are lies and whose founder is the father of all lies.
Bill