BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 1 Bible Believers’ Bulletin Vol. 42 No. 2 “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17) February 2018 The Pre-Tribulation Rapture By Brian Donovan 4:13-18), and that this event must The Bible-believing Christian, at precede the great tribulation period, some point in his Bible reading, comes since the Lord Jesus Christ “deliv- to the conclusion that the Bible is to ered us from the wrath to come”, as be taken literally and always tries we “wait for his Son from heaven” to make the doctrinal application of (I Thessalonians 1:10). The literal a passage first, before making any return of the Lord Jesus to this earth spiritual application second. Since takes place at the end of the tribulation “All scripture is given by inspira- period which is called “the great day tion of God, and is profitable for of his wrath” (Revelation 6:12-17). doctrine” (II Timothy 3:16), the Bible The Bible student should notice that believer will recoil from any teaching this event takes place at the opening that spiritualizes a verse of the Bible of the sixth seal (verse 12) at the end while it misses the literal and doctrinal of the tribulation period. The church meaning of the text. age saints are previously referred to The same is true when it comes being presented as a “chaste virgin to the teaching of the pre-tribulation to Christ” during the church age (II rapture of the body of Christ. When Corinthians 11:2), but by the time of the verses connected to this subject the second coming of Christ to physi- are taken literally, the reader can only cally reign on the earth, the church come to the belief that the Lord Jesus has already been married to him, Christ will call out the saved of the having been made ready (Revelation present Church Age, both those who 19:7), by going through the judgment have already died, along with those seat of Christ (II Corinthians 5:10). who remain alive (I Thessalonians She is then able to follow behind the Lord when he returns to clean up and In This Bulletin rule this earth (Revelation 19:11-14) The Pre-Tribulation Rapture...... 1 at his second coming. The only way My Friend...... 2 for this to happen would require that The Reality of Eternity...... 15 the church be caught up to heaven The Ultimate Fence Straddler...... 24 before both the tribulation and the second advent. Unless the Bible is America’s Mental Decay...... 31 Continued on 9 Page 2 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN My Friend By Dr. Peter S. Ruckman with God or the Bible, but he took “His mouth is most sweet: yea, that boy on as his orderly anyway, he is altogether lovely. This is my as long as he didn’t read the Bible in beloved, and this is, my friend, O Conwell’s tent. daughter of Jerusalem” (Song of Russell Conwell had a ceremonial Sol. 5:16). saber with an inscription in Latin that The text you just read is the end of translated as: “True friendship is eter- an answer given by the bride of Christ nal.” One night as Captain Conwell to a question, posed twice back up in was out of camp on an errand to get verse 9: “What is thy beloved more his company’s back pay for the men, than another beloved . . . ?” In oth- the Confederates attacked. When er words, what makes your Beloved, Conwell got back to his men, the the Lord Jesus Christ, so special? So camp had been burnt to the ground, from verse 10 to verse 16, the bride along with a railroad bridge nearby. describes her Beloved to the ones In the attack, as all the men were re- who asked her about Him. It is ob- treating across that bridge that had vious from reading the passage that been set to flames, John ran back to she is in love. The bride of Christ is the captain’s tent to get that ceremo- enamored with her Saviour. He is not nial sword. By the time that boy got only her Beloved, He is her Friend. back across that bridge, it was in full There are some things I want to blaze, and his clothes were on fire. say about this Friend and friendship. His buddies put out the fire in the True friendship is eternal. Back in the creek under the bridge, but that kid last half of the nineteenth century, was in such bad shape, he had to go there was a famous (at that time) to a field hospital, where he died two Baptist pastor named Russell Con- days later. well. He wasn’t much of a preach- While dying in that hospital, John er, but he was a great motivational asked to see the captain, but Conwell speaker who built the largest Baptist didn’t make it there before his aid work at that time. died. When Conwell got to that hos- Before he was saved, Conwell pital, he was given his sword and told served as a captain in the Union what Johnny had said about seeing Army during the Civil War. He had him before he died. Conwell’s con- become an “agnostic” (a polite term science just ate him alive over that. for an atheist) at Yale University, and He remembered cussing that boy out he was a godless cuss. But when he for reading the Bible in his tent, and was put in charge of Company D of John in tears said to him, “Captain, I the Second Massachusetts Artillery, love you, but you are a wicked man.” he was assigned a sixteen-year-old Conwell looked at the inscription on boy named Johnny Ring as an aid. that sword and said to himself, “Will That boy obeyed everything Conwell I ever see Johnny again to beg his told him to do but one. He had prom- forgiveness for my ill-treatment?” ised his dying mother that he would No, Captain, you won’t; not in the pray and read the Bible every night. state you’re in. That boy is in a place Conwell didn’t want anything to do Continued on 3 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 3 My Friend Continued from 2 John 4:10). you aren’t going in the state you’re in. We have all sorts of songs about Six months later, Conwell got hit this Friend: “What a friend we have by a shell in battle. While he was in in Jesus All our sins and griefs to the hospital, a Baptist chaplain came bear,” “I’ve found a Friend, oh, such by to see him. The two talked about a Friend! He loved me ere I knew Conwell seeing that boy again, and Him,” “Jesus! What a friend for sin- the chaplain told him the only way ners,” etc. Jesus said, “Henceforth I would be to trust the Saviour that boy call you not servants . . . but I have trusted. So Conwell got saved and called you friends” (John 15:15). told the chaplain, “I must serve God, Back in the early pioneer days of not only for myself, but for Johnny the Old West, things were rough for Ring.” And he did. That teenage boy preachers. I have an incident in my showed true friendship to that god- files of some preacher saying toa less captain. Because of that friend- bunch of cowboys who could barely ship, the captain got saved, and the read or write, “Has Jesus got a friend friendship became eternal. That’s in this house?” After several times of the way the friendship is between driving that question home, one old me and Jesus Christ: it’s an eternal cowpoke got up, banged the dust off friendship. his ten-gallon hat, and said, “Well, True friendship is eternal: it lasts. me.” That parson thought he had him When Kennedy died, his widow set a convert. “Are you Christ’s friend?” up “the eternal flame” outside his asked the preacher. “Not really,” said grave. It was a gas light. It hadn’t the cowboy, “but any man that ain’t been burning 24 hours before some- got no more friends than that, I guess one blew it out. That’s not how friend- I’ll stand up for Him.” That’s the way ship with the Lord is; no one is going it is today: Jesus Christ doesn’t have to blow that out. very many friends right now. I have a photograph at home of an Next, Jesus is a beloved friend. I oak tree that grew up through a tomb- had rather listen to Jesus Christ and stone that read: “For time and eter- His words than the pope, the press, nity.” But that marble slab didn’t last the people, or anybody else. My rela- through time, much less eternity; an tionship with Jesus Christ is like that oak busted it in two. A million years of Jonathan and David: Jonathan from now, I’ll still have my Friend. loved David “as he loved his own The first thing I want to say about soul” (1 Sam. 20:17). that friendship is that He was my Folks are always saying, “Ruck- friend before I was His. Jesus Christ man isn’t very friendly.” You’d be was known for receiving sinners amazed how many friends I’ve got (Luke 15:2) and being a friend to that are real friends. They aren’t them (Matt. 11:19). He died for me friends because they’re blood rela- when I was His enemy (Rom. 5:10). tives or for political advantage. The That Bible says He loved us before friends I have are my friends be- we loved Him (1 John 4:19), and He cause they’re friends of Christ and loved us when we didn’t love Him (1 Continued on 4 Page 4 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN My Friend Continued from 3 It’s like Orpah kissing her mother-in- I’m a friend of Christ; they believe the law and saying, “I won’t leave you” Book and I believe the Book. I have (Ruth 1:9–10, 14). The next verse af- had friends and loved ones stick ter that says Orpah went “back unto with me until I made one decision her people, and unto her gods” with which they disagreed; then they (Ruth 1:15). She didn’t mean any- dropped me like a hot rock. When a thing she said. preacher drops Ruckman as a friend, Phoney love; pretend love. “We you can mark it down that he dropped love Bro. Ruckman; we pray for him. Ruckman first. I have never dropped He just doesn’t know who his real a friend of mine first. I don’t take my friends are.” You’d be amazed at friendship that lightly. what an instinct I have for knowing I tell my boys all the time, “Make when people really appreciate me some friends.” Why? You’re going to and when they don’t. You aren’t going need them. to make a dime with me; I’ve always A young man went off on his own been suspicious. I’m suspicious of and wrote back to daddy, “I’m here everybody; I’m suspicious of myself. in a strange town with no money and I look in the mirror every morning and no friends. What do I do?” His daddy say, “What are you up to now?” wrote back and said, “Make some I have been that way for so long friends.” that when folks treat me mean, I’m A boy and his daddy watched right at home. It’s when someone in horror as a woman jumped off a tries to “butter me up” that I think, bridge into a river below. The boy “What is that dirty dog up to?” asked his dad, “Why did she do that?” But Jesus Christ is a faithful friend. The dad said, “I don’t know; maybe He said, “Greater love hath no man she felt like she didn’t have a friend in than this, that a man lay down his the world.” That boy said, “She isn’t life for his friends” (John 15:13). going to find any down there in the A real friend is like ivy: the greater water, is she?” the ruin, the closer he clings. I have a God said Abraham was His friend faithful friend in Jesus Christ. An old (2 Chron. 20:7; Isa. 41:8; James hymn says: 2:23). Jesus said, “Our friend Laza- rus sleepeth” (John 11:11). Jesus “There is an Eye that never sleeps even called the guy who sold Him Beneath the wing of night; out, “Friend” (Matt. 26:49–50). Je- There is an Ear that never shuts sus didn’t sell Judas out; Judas sold When sink the beams of light. the Lord out. Christ was a friend to the traitor to the very end. “There is an Arm that never tires A true friend is hard to find; a faith- When human strength gives way; ful friend is hard to find. Jesus Christ There is a Love that never fails is a faithful friend. When earthly loves decay.” Judas sold Christ out while pro- fessing to love Him. Judas betrayed Back around 1950, I got in a first- Jesus with a kiss. Phoney, fake “love.” Continued on 5 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 5 My Friend Continued from 4 Back in 1987, I was in another bad rate mess. I had a whole town against situation. I thought I was going to me, two families against me, and a have to sell my house to meet the re- shrink against me; all of them were quirements of the law. I had already trying to lock me up in a “nut house” paid the house off. It’s pretty rough to and take my kids from me. After all have to sell the house once you’ve that had gone on for a while, some paid it off. Krauts came over from Elberta, Ala- About that time, a couple of friends bama. They set some chairs around of mine, from a small town in Texas, in a circle in my front yard and sat chipped in and paid off that settle- down and said, “Now Dr. Ruckman, ment in full. You know who got them we’ve heard all kinds of things about to do that? My Friend! If I can be a this situation; now we want to hear friend to God, I’m not going to wor- your side.” I gave them my side. ry much about the rest of the crowd Those were some of my friends, and that’s against me. they were sent there by my Friend. Back at Brent Baptist Church, I One time I was having a hard had a member named John Boscher. time making payments on a house. He had to go into the Army, and they I didn’t see any way in the world I were stationing him over in Germany. could make it. I had a meeting at a He was a former Roman Catholic church in St. Petersburg, Florida, who had just gotten saved. He was and the only place the church could in a rough company, and he was wor- put me up for the meeting was the ried he wouldn’t have any Christian house of a widow and her two daugh- fellowship and that he would back- ters. When the meeting was over, the slide. He was in a real “sweat” about church gave me a pretty good offer- it. ing, but not enough to take care of Before he left, I had prayer with the house payment. Before I left the him. I said, “Don’t worry; you’re in the home where I had been staying, that Lord’s hand.” widow gave me a check. I thanked He said, “I know, but what of it?” her and left to go catch my flight at I took him over to the passage in the airport. I didn’t look at that check Song of Solomon 5 and read him until I got on the airplane. That check verse 14: “His hands are as gold was enough to meet the house pay- rings.” ment. Along with that check was a I said, “You’re in gold hands. And note from that widow: “This is thank- I read in my Bible where He made ing God for a preacher who practices the stars with His fingers (Psa. 8:3). what he preaches.” That woman was Do you think Someone with a hand one of my friends. of gold, who can create stars with “A man that hath friends must His fingers, can’t pick you out a few shew himself friendly: and there is Christian friends?” Sure He can. a friend that sticketh closer than a Is Jesus Christ your Friend? Are brother.” (Prov. 18:24). you a friend to Jesus Christ? No real I don’t know if you have a friend friend of Jesus Christ would ever raise like that or not. I’ve got one. Continued on 6 Page 6 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN My Friend Continued from 5 takes off the mask of friendship, and Mary up to a level even with Him. No there’s Satan. He says, “Pal, take a real friend of Jesus Christ would ever cup of liquid fire and drink a toast to lie about His birth and resurrection. everlasting despair!” You picked the No real friend of Jesus Christ would wrong friend. lie about His second coming. No real But that scene could have gone friend of Jesus Christ would accuse another way. Another fellow meets Him of being a fornicator or a polyga- you and says, “I’m your friend. I’m mist. No true friend of Jesus Christ headed on a trip. Do you want to go would accuse Him of being a homo- with me?” So you go with Him. The sexual. No real friend of Jesus Christ first thing He does is cut a big sack would go through the Gospel of John off your back that had been tied to and say that 80% of it isn’t true. No you and weighing you down. But then true friend of Jesus Christ would re- He takes you into a dimly lit room, duce Him to the level of a fornicating, and you can’t see where you’re go- murdering epileptic like Mohammed ing. But He’s right there with you, or a lazy bum like Buddha. leading you. You say, “Do you know A true friend of Jesus Christ where you’re going?” “Yes,” He says, wouldn’t do those things. When you “just stick with me, and I’ll lead you run into some “theologian” or scholar through here.” or professor or writer who does, mark He takes you through that dark- it down, that person is NOT a friend ened room, through a door, and into of Jesus Christ. a blast furnace. You say, “Why are Be careful how you pick your we going through here?” He says, friends. You might run into someone “It’s the only way to get where I’m go- who says, “I’m your friend; follow ing. Don’t worry, I’ll be with you the me.” So you follow him, and he takes whole way.” you to a party where there is plenty of So you follow Him through that booze, plenty of sex, plenty of drugs, fire. On the other side, He puts His plenty of music, plenty of money, etc. arm around you and opens a door But then he leads you out a back into a well-lit, air-conditioned room door of the place, and you find your- with nice chairs and a place to eat. self in a desert. Pretty soon a vulture You rest a little there. Then He gets is circling over your head. up and says, “Let’s go a little farther.” You say, “Where are we going?” You step outdoors and begin climb- Your friend says, “Never mind; just ing a mountain. You climb higher and come with me.” He leads you down higher, and the sun becomes brighter into a swamp, with snakes slithering and brighter. Pretty soon your Friend all over the place. You push your way says, “We’re almost there now.” He through there trying to keep up with leads you up one last steep slope, your friend. You step out onto a preci- and at the top is a city of pure gold, pice that gives out from under you, 1,500 miles square. You picked the and you plummet into a lake of fire. right Friend. You yell up to your buddy and Do you know that Friend? You say, say, “You tricked me!” He laughs and Continued on 7 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 7 My Friend Continued from 6 out to see what was going on. Lord “I know Jesus.” Which Jesus? Paul Claverhouse called her over and put talks about someone preaching “an- a thumbscrew on her. He turned that other Jesus” than the One in that thumbscrew till it drew blood and she Book (2 Cor. 11:4). There’s all kinds screamed. of fake Jesuses running around. John Brown and his wife came out If I asked you if you knew Teddy of the house, and Brown said, “You Roosevelt, and you said, “Sure, I don’t have to do that. You don’t have know him. He had a New Deal and to torture the lassie. I’m the only one set up Social Security and had the who knows where Mr. Atkins is.” Hoover Dam built and made it illegal Claverhouse said, “Well, my fine to own gold.” I say, “No, I mean Ted- fellow, you’ll tell us where he is, or dy Roosevelt.” else.” You say, “Why, of course I know John Brown said, “You’ll not get it him. He had a dog named Fala and out of me.” a wife named Eleanor. He always With that, Claverhouse took a smoked a cigarette on a stick and gun and pointed it like a telescope at had to be in a wheelchair because he John Brown’s head, and said, “You’ll had polio when he was younger.” tell us, or we’ll blow your brains out.” You’ve got the wrong Roosevelt. Brown turned to his wife and said, You’re talking about Franklin Delano “I’m going to leave you, darling. Re- Roosevelt, not Theodore Roosevelt. member our wedding vows and take Are you talking about the Jesus care of the children.” of the Holy Bible when you say you Four soldiers fired at John Brown’s know Him? I’m talking about the Je- head and blew it all over that front sus who was virgin born, lived a sin- porch. Mrs. Brown held out her apron less life, was God incarnate, loved and began gathering the fragments you, died for your sins, rose again to of bone and brain in it. Claverhouse justify you, and is coming again—that said, “Now my good woman, how do Jesus. He’s my Friend. Do you know you feel about your bonnie man now?” Him? She didn’t look up at Claverhouse; Back in the seventeenth century she just kept picking up the pieces. when the Catholics were trying to She said, “I always did think well of bring the Scotch into submission, him. He always treated me right. I the papists sent a man named Lord never thought better of him, though, Claverhouse to the home of a Scots- than I think right now.” man named John Brown. John Brown I want you to know something: was a Christian. He was hiding an I have never thought better of my evangelical preacher named Atkins. Friend than I think right now. Atkins had been teaching the Bible all over the country, and the Catho- “How tedious and tasteless the lics wanted him dead. hours Lord Claverhouse came to John When Jesus no longer I see! Brown’s house with a bunch of troops, Sweet prospects, sweet birds, and and John Brown’s daughter came Continued on 8 Page 8 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN My Friend Continued from 7 get bitter and rebellious because of sweet flow’rs, the circumstances through which Have all lost their sweetness to the Lord puts him. He feels that if me. the Lord really was his friend, He The midsummer sun shines but wouldn’t treat him the way He has. dim, But that Bible says, The fields strive in vain to look gay; “Faithful are the wounds of a But when I am happy in Him friend; but the kisses of an enemy December’s as pleasant as May. are deceitful” (Prov. 27:6). Christian, pray the Lord will make “His name yields the richest per- up those rough circumstances, not fume, necessarily by changing them, but And sweeter than music His voice; by making His presence real to you His presence disperses my gloom, as you go through them. Where the And makes all within me rejoice. Lord is real to you, it makes up for I should, were He always thus almost anything, and where He’s not, nigh, you can’t take anything. Someone Have nothing to wish or to fear; once said, “Lord, I can take anything No mortal so happy as I; with your smile, but nothing with your My summer would last all the year. frown.”

“Content with beholding His face, My all to His pleasure resigned; Handbook of No changes of season or place, Would make any change in my Manuscript mind. While blessed with a sense of His Evidence love, A palace a toy would appear; Presents arguments for the King And prisons would palaces prove, James text that have never been If Jesus would dwell with me there. refuted, including evidence that the phony “Septuagint” never “My Lord, if indeed I am Thine, existed before A.D.100. Excel- If Thou art my sun and my song, lent study for those whose faith Say, why do I languish and pine? And why are my winters so long? in the King James Version has Oh, drive these dark clouds from been attacked. the sky, Thy soul-cheering presence re- $ 95 store; 13 Or take me to Thee up on high, RK-93 Where winter and clouds are no Ringbound...... RK-93RB $1695 Hardbound (Red)...... RK-93HR $2195 more.” John Newton Hardbound (Green)...RK-93HG $2195 Sometimes a child of God can (Plus postage—see pg. 22) BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 9 The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Continued from 1 be disowned and damned by Him at not taken literally and the passages the day of judgment. He then goes are spiritualized, the pre-tribulation on to apply the kingdom of heaven rapture of the body of Christ, as well parables and the Sermon on the as his pre-millennial return, are the Mount doctrinally to the church age, obvious conclusions of the Bible with his main proof text being Matthew reader who believes the words mean 7:21 “Not every one that saith unto what they say. me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the Those who try to refute the literal kingdom of heaven”. The old “if you interpretation of the Bible, as Origen were really saved” trick is pulled out (254 AD) with his extreme spiritual- of the hat to teach Lordship Salva- izing of almost every New Testament tion, or more properly called, “I need doctrine, as Augustine (400 AD) to have works to prove my salvation”. who put a stranglehold on millennial All this in spite of the fact that Paul teaching for a thousand years of tells the Christians at Corinth to turn anti-church history with his City of a saved brother over to Satan for the God, as Thomas Aquinas (1250 AD) destruction of the flesh (a Christian who claimed the spiritual reign of the can physically die when he lives after church fulfilled the millennium, as the flesh-see Romans 8:13), yet his John Calvin (1500 AD) who said the spirit is still saved in the day of the number 666 (Revelation 13:18), the Lord Jesus (I Corinthians 5:5). The number 144,000 (Revelation 14:1), “apostle of the Gentiles” (Romans and the number 1000 (Revelation 11:13) is ignored as they run back 20:1-6) are not to be taken literally to James (who is not writing to the and anyone who did so was in the church, but to the “twelve tribes world of fiction, must by default, re- which are scattered abroad” James fuse to take the Bible to mean what 1:1), to apply “Ye see then that by it says literally. works a man is justified and not One result of the spiritualizing of by faith only” (James 2:24) and on the word of God is the belief that and on they go, making the Bible a there are no dispensations, and every book of contradictions. passage is directed to the Christian, The most common refutation including the promises given to the of both dispensationalism and the nation of Israel. In a book trying to pre-tribulation rapture of the church refute dispensationalism, an author concerns itself with “historical”, “tradi- named Gerstner refers to the eternal tional” or even “baptistic” views, rather security of the believer as an “utter than what the scriptures actually say. travesty”, and backs up his teaching Opponents of the pre-tribulation rap- with what he calls “John MacArthur’s ture of the church make a mountain epochal book”, saying that if a sin- of trying to show that it is a relatively ner does not take up Christ’s cross new teaching and was not taught in and follow Him, that person does the early church. Some will attempt not have saving faith in Him and will Continued on 10 Page 10 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Continued from 9 unaware that he was coming to the to make the teaching originate with same conclusions that Bible readers a teenaged Scottish girl named Mary had already come to over the previous McDonald in 1830, when she had a 1700 years of church history. Any Ro- typical trembling, feverish, charis- man Catholic would be as surprised matic vision where she supposedly as Lacunza, when it comes to what saw Christ’s coming in two stages, the Bible actually says, since they with believers being raptured before are kept in the dark regarding the the tribulation period. Others try to pin scriptures, as they get a cheap re- the blame on John Nelson Darby of placement with the traditions of men. the Plymouth Brethren in 1827, who Lacunza’s book was removed from wrote in detail of the pre-tribulation circulation by the Spanish Inquisition rapture of the church age saints and in 1819, and then later placed on the greatly influenced C.I. Scofield in the Forbidden Index in 1824 by Pope Leo USA and his reference study Bible XII, certainly good Indicators that he published in 1909. Darby taught that was on to some scriptural truth. When the kingdom preached by the Old a Christian is more concerned about Testament prophets was NOT the whether a belief is “traditional”, or same as the church age and was to “historic”, or even “baptistic”, instead be taken literally to be a physical, of what the scriptures actually say, he Jewish, earthly kingdom. Others back will be led astray by the traditions of up the origination of the teaching to men, making the word of God of none 1790 with the completion of a three- effect (Mark 7:13). This fear of man volume work by the Roman Catholic leads to a snare (Proverbs 29:25) Jesuit Emmanuel Lacunza, which was that will prevent the believer from called The Coming of the Messiah in getting advanced revelation from the Glory and Majesty. The most impor- scripture that was previously hidden. tant information about this “Jesuit” Look at what the apostle Paul would seems to be conveniently omitted have missed if he took the “historic” by the proponents of this argument, position. The revelation of a “mystery particularly the fact that when Pope which was kept secret since the world Clement XIV banned the order of the began” (Romans 16:25) would have Jesuits in 1773, Lacunza was forced been denied. The Lord dispensed to withdraw and begin an intense truth to Paul (Ephesians 3:2) that was personal study of the Bible, leading made manifest “by the scriptures him to conclude, among other things, of the prophets” (Romans 16:26), that the second coming of Christ was proving that there are some hidden a different event than the end of the truths in the scriptures that as yet have world and the last judgment, and that still not been revealed. Whenever his coming necessarily preceded the the Lord begins to reveal some of thousand year reign of Christ on earth. these “secret things” (Deuteronomy Lacunza believed that he had made 29:29), instead of seeing “whether some new and important discoveries, Continued on 12 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 11 NEW GOSPEL TRACT TR-42 4¢ each

A. THE FIRST CROSS Here is the unregenerate sinner. He is THE THREE “dead in trespasses and sin” (Eph. 2:1). He dies IN his sins (John 8:24), with his sins CROSSES ON him. This impenitent thief refuses the Sin-bearer (John 1:29) and trusts his own righteousness. He dies because “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). He lives and dies alone in the world without hope and without God (Eph. 2:12). He can profess ANYTHING: to be innocent, guilty, holy, defiled, sincere, wicked, hopeful, confident, unsure, doubtful, humble, or cocksure. It wouldn’t affect his eternal destiny one way or another. He dies unforgiven, unre- deemed, and unfit to enter the presence of an almighty, holy, sinless Creator. B. THE THIRD CROSS Here is the saved sinner. Regardless “And when they were come to the place, of his profession, religion, race, creed, sex, which is called Calvary, there they crucified background, education, talent, intellect, him, and the malefactors, one on the right money, or ethical standards, he dies for- hand, and the other on the left” (Luke 23:33). given, redeemed, and in fellowship with his Creator. He cannot kneel to pray, get The three crosses on Calvary’s hill define baptized, join any church, take the sacra- every man or woman who has ever lived. ments, or “live it.” He is dying condemned, There is no avoiding one’s place among those under the wrath of human and divine three crosses by any means. Everyone will justice, and he can do nothing but believe find himself on one of those three crosses. on the Saviour whom God sent to atone for

his sins. This he does by faith, at the most every religious “do-gooder” on this earth. inopportune time. Under seemingly im- Religious “do-gooders” trying to “help hu- possible circumstances, he confesses Christ manity out” (John 11:48) had Jesus Christ as a King with a kingdom, when Christ is nailed to the cross. Everyone reading this dying as a criminal with NO kingdom (Luke print is on either the first cross or the third 23:42). The penitent thief is saved by grace cross. The only “middle ground” is Jesus through faith in the finished atonement of Christ Himself. Jesus Christ. He dies with sin IN him, but You can have your sins forgiven like the no sin ON him. penitent thief. All you have to do is come to C. THE MIDDLE CROSS Jesus Christ in simple faith and sincerity, The middle cross presents “the Lamb saying something like this: of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). There is sin ON Him “Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, and un- but no sin IN Him (1 Pet. 2:24, 3:18). Christ’s less you save me, I am lost forever. I come to you sinless life was the damnation of this world the best way I know how, believing you died for (John 15:22–25). By it, He ran Buddha, Mo- my sins and rose again to give me eternal life, hammed, Mary, and the Popes off the track and asking that you save me. I receive you as (Heb. 12:1–2). The condemnation of this my Saviour and trust you to forgive and justify world is that men will NOT receive a sinless me, and present me without fault before God’s man as their substitute (John 3:16–18). They throne in the day of Judgment.” will insist on “living it,” “living a good life,” or on “making the world a better place to live in.” The middle cross cancels all of their ambitions and fondest dreams. It shows that only a sinless man can enter God’s presence with favor. Without receiving that sinless Man (1 Tim. 2:5), the “doors to heaven” are shut. It reveals the depravity in the heart of www.kjwww.kjv1611.org 1611.org Page 12 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Continued from 10 when he was forced out of the Jesuit those things were so” by searching order and into the Bible. Traditional “the scriptures daily” (Acts 17:11), Baptists will point out that Lacunza jealous brethren will cry out because was a Jesuit, unable to answer the they did not see it. Instead of refuting teaching. Similar to the brethren of with the scriptures, they will post and the late 1900’s who could only point tweet and whine, as they cling to their out that “he’s been divorced”, when “historic” and “baptist” positions. they could not answer with scripture. Throughout her history, the Ro- Still, others try to credit the origin man whore has always been careful of the pre-tribulation rapture of the to prevent her members from finding church to a book by a Baptist pastor out “what saith the scripture,” and in Philadelphia named Morgan Ed- instead fills the void with her pagan wards in 1788. Edwards separated rituals and traditions. This is evi- the rapture from the literal return of denced in writing, as found preserved Christ to earth as being three and in the National Library of Paris, Folio one-half years apart. He taught that No. 68, Volume 2, pages 650-651, the “event that will usher in the millen- where the Roman Catholic cardinals nium will be the coming of Christ from warned Pope Pius III, saying, “Of paradise to earth with all the saints all the advice that we can offer your he had taken up thither about three holiness we must open your eyes and one-half years before...”. Pastor well and use all possible force in the Edwards somehow got the idea that matter, namely, to permit the reading the tribulation period to come would of the gospel as little as possible in all only last forty-two months and that the the countries under your jurisdiction. church was not going to be present Let the very little part of the gospel on earth during that time. suffice which is usually read in the Other opponents to the teaching Mass, and let no one be permitted to back it up to 1700 to an English- read more. So long as people will be man named John Asgill who was content with the small amount, your removed from England’s Parliament interest will prosper, but as soon as and imprisoned for blasphemy for the people will want to read more, your writing that the church saints would interest will fail. The Bible is the book, be raptured without dying, although it which more than any other has raised does not appear that Asgill was plain against us the tumults and tempests about the rapture taking place before by which we have almost perished. In the tribulation. fact, if one compares the teaching of Whether the “recent” date that the Bible with what takes place in our opponents try to use for this “new churches, he will soon find discord, teaching” is 1830,1827, 1790,1788, and will realize that our teachings or 1700, they must come to grips with are often different from the Bible, a number of 4th to 5th century Latin and oftener still, contrary to it.” This manuscripts that contain a sermon is what Emmanuel Lacunza found out Continued on 13 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 13 The Pre-Tribulation Rapture Continued from 12 the time of the end” (Daniel 12:9). by a Psuedo-Ephraen Syrius, which The Lord Jesus told the apostles that contain the following quote of a very there were some things that he could clear belief in the pre-tribulation not reveal to them at that time, since rapture of the church where he said, they could not bear them, but would “all the saints and elect of God are be shown at a later time (John 16:12). gathered prior to the tribulation that So even if it were true (which has been is to come and are taken to the Lord shown it is not) that the pre-tribulation lest they see the confusion that has rapture of the church was a recent overcome the world due to our sins”. teaching by the dispensationalists, Yet regardless of how ancient or that fact by itself would not necessarily recent a Bible teaching may be, the negate the truth of it. real issue is whether it is according to The pre-tribulation rapture of the scripture or not. As a Bible-believing church age saints is also required by Christian, I have little concern for the fact that during the tribulation, a who believes a certain doctrine, or different gospel will be preached called how far back it can be traced to being “the everlasting gospel” (Revelation understood and taught. If you found 14:6), and its message is not simple out that outdoor street preaching was faith in the death, burial, and resur- being taught that “it simply does not rection of the Lord Jesus Christ. The work today” in the “Pastors Schools” tribulation saint must “endure unto of modern King James Bible believing the end” to be saved (Matthew 24:13), teachers and preachers, would that and refuse to take the mark of the amount to anything as to whether beast, or he will be damned (Revela- it is right and scriptural? If the Lord tion 14:9-10). Refusing to rightly divide revealed the antichrist to you through the word (II Timothy 2:15), the op- the scriptures, would you refuse to ponents of dispensationalism simply acknowledge it because you do not place all of Matthew 24 in the past (70 know of anyone else who believes AD), spiritualize the literal return of that is possible? Not all prophecy has Christ (Matthew 24:30) to mean that it been understood throughout both the refers to him coming into the heart of Old Testament times and the Church the believers during the church age, Age, and the fact that the Holy Spirit and then fall back on their cute little teaches revelation of scripture in anti-scriptural sayings such as, “If you stages as the body of believers can are really saved then you will endure handle them does not negate the truth to the end and will not take the mark of any teaching. For instance, Daniel of the beast.” But all this does is make was given prophecy that covered an the Bible contradict itself since it is enormous amount of future time and obvious that during the tribulation, a even as the author of the writing, he sinner’s salvation hinges on him DO- asked what the revelations meant and ING something to stay saved, which was told, “Go thy way, Daniel: for the definitely is NOT true of the sinner’s words are closed up and sealed till salvation during the church age. Page 14 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN Bad Attitude Baptist Blowout — February 15–18 — Speakers for this Blowout: ● David Walker ● Andrew Saucier ● Adam Trosclair Evening Services—6 P.M. Morning Services (Beginning Fri.)—10 A.M. Bible Baptist Church 1175 Jo Jo Road Pensacola, FL 32514 For more information call (850) 477-8812 / 476-2945

One word did the job for America; it had emotional ap- peal coupled with psychotic content. That word was “DIS- CRIMINATION.” It is the lever by which the lid was pried off the entire nation to let in the most im- moral jungle culture that ever destroyed a nation. 100 Pages — Gluebound Full Color Cover RK-2210 $ 95 (Plus postage—see page 22) 9 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 15 The Reality of Eternity By Zack Colvin You see, what the Christian has to As most people go about their day in remember is that everything he does these times, the thought of eternity or has an eternal consequence or re- any eternal things is very distant from ward. Everything the Christian plans, their minds. With all of the physical and everything he or she does throughout material duties of life, such as jobs, the day, every word that is spoken, families to take care of, going to the every bit of it is to be done in light of grocery store, running errands and so things that will take place after this life on, there just isn’t much time to think is over: the rapture of the church, the about eternity. Often the thoughts of Judgment Seat of Christ, and the mil- eternity get smothered by these duties lennial reign of Jesus Christ. Honestly, of life, even for a Christian, and the most Christians give more thought to reality of eternal things doesn’t seem the condition of their bank account, very apparent. It often seems that the the condition of their retirement plan if material things are what really matter. they have one, or whether or not the Yet we are told in 2 Corinthians 4:18, improvements they are making to their “While we look not at the things house are a worthy investment or not. which are seen, but at the things They will spend hours at the computer which are not seen: for the things researching what type of vehicle will be which are seen are temporal, but the best investment to make or what the things which are not seen are type of career to plan for, one that will eternal.” bring them the most income in life. So the Christian who intends to All of these things are certainly im- make eternity a reality in his own life portant things to consider in this life, and will have a constant struggle to make by no means am I reproving somebody sure he doesn’t get so entangled with for researching something before he material things that the eternal things makes a decision. As a matter of fact, can’t be seen. There will need to be it would be foolish not to, since you are a steady diet of the eternal book, the to be a good steward of the money the KJV 1611, in his life. There will need Lord allows to pass through your hands. to be a steady dialogue between him But so often, these considerations are and the Lord Jesus Christ through the only ones given attention. The real- prayer. (Remember, true prayer is ity of eternity, the fruits of the Judgment not just over meals, or just when you Seat of Christ, and the thought of laying have a need, or even just one time a up “treasures in heaven” (Matt. 6:20) day. True prayer is a steady dialogue seldom enters the mind. Yet it’s these between you and your Saviour [“Pray latter considerations that are not just without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17); “… more important, they are really the only men ought always to pray, and not to things that matter. faint” (Luke 18:1)].) Without these two The surprising thing about many forms of spiritual engagement, there Laodicean Christians is that they live will be no reminders of eternal things, much like an atheist when it comes to and therefore no attention given to the practical everyday life. They think that things that matter the most, as you go just because they don’t think about through life: eternal things. Continued on 16 Page 16 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Reality of Eternity Continued from 15 pleted. Prioritizing responsibilities is the eternal things throughout the day, that way that most people avoid being too eternity is not even real. Yet eternal distracted from their purpose. things are what need the more atten- Dr. Ruckman used to say repeat- tion. Arguably, the main reason eternity edly, “Duties never conflict!” This is is not a reality to many Christians is that obviously somewhat of a paradoxical there is very little engagement of the statement because duties always con- spiritual sources the Lord has given us flict. But the statement is designed to to set our “affection on things above” make you think, which worked on me (Col. 3:2): the Bible and prayer. for quite some time. The idea is that if But there is one major device of something is a true duty, it will never Satan, used especially in these last conflict with something that isn’t a true days, to keep the Christian’s attention duty. It will always take precedence over on temporal things of this life, and that is those things that aren’t as important. simply through distraction. Throughout In other words, you’ve got to set your history, there have always been things priorities straight! to distract men and women from their But there are a few things that have true purpose for existence. become real problems in the Christian Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art life. They have taken many Christians worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and from being fruitful in their Christian life honour and power: for thou hast cre- and have literally given them a “crop ated all things, and for thy pleasure failure” in as little as just a few years. they are and were created.” These things are certainly tools used According to that verse, every man by the devil to derail the Bible-believing and woman born on this earth has one Christian, distract him from his true pur- purpose for existing: in this life and in pose, and keep him from bringing the eternity, they are to bring pleasure to Lord pleasure and glory. This is Satan’s the Lord God Almighty. Anything that main purpose in the life of a Christian, detracts from that one purpose should since he can no longer destroy his be labeled as a distraction from the soul once he is saved. But trying to reality of eternity and a thief of God’s get Christians to realize the danger of pleasure. this is like trying to get a politician to Distractions in life are a very normal stop lying. It’s just not going to happen. part of life that must be faced and must Satan’s devices for distracting be avoided and even fought against if their attention from eternal things and one intends on accomplishing even conforming them to the world have the basic duties of life. If the student become very subtle in these last days plans to learn his subject, he has to of Laodicea. The Laodicean is pleased fight off daydreaming and distractions with himself as long as others are fooled that would keep him from paying at- by his superficial walk with the Lord and tention. If the laborer plans to get his don’t recognize his spiritual blindness work done, he often needs to lay aside and nakedness. His own lukewarmness his mobile phone, free his hands of deceives other lukewarm Laodiceans any extra weight, and get to work; or pretty easily because both are so fo- he won’t be able to get his work com- Continued on 17 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 17 The Reality of Eternity Continued from 16 and has given him distractions by the cused on the outward appearance and thousands. From sunrise to sunset, this temporal life that they don’t even there is something beeping at your recognize it, or else don’t dare “call side to make sure you are notified of the baby ugly,” as they say. But while the latest updates and reminders. If it’s this man is so focused on making sure not a computer at your desk, it’s a cell to clean the outside of the platter and phone on your hip or in your purse. If ensure that the average Laodicean is it’s not a cell phone, it’s a “smart” tablet fooled, he doesn’t realize, or maybe in a convenient case for you to keep doesn’t even care, that he has allowed by your side all day long. If it’s not a the devil to distract him from his pur- cell phone or a tablet, it’s a “smart” pose for existence and from the reality watch that you can wear around your of eternity. wrist, for those who don’t want to have In the Old Testament history of the the inconvenience of having to reach Jews, there were constantly things ris- in their pocket and pull out a phone ing up to distract them from the Lord (that’s a lot of work, you know). Pretty and keep them from His pleasure. If it soon you will have the opportunity to wasn’t their own hearts lusting after the have your smart device installed on ways of the other nations and desiring your person somewhere, possibly in to be like them, it was the idol worship the hand or forehead so you don’t ever and wicked practices of the heathen have to part with it. It will even have the that distracted them and lured them into capability of paying for things directly temporal pleasure instead of eternal from it, just as your “smart” phones have reward. The devil, capitalizing on the today. These devices are designed “for impatience and dissatisfaction of their your convenience” in order to keep you hearts, lured them to instant gratifica- abreast of important things like news tion through idol worship and conformity (most of which you would be better off to the nations around them, just as the not knowing. There is nothing “new devil does today. For the most part, under the sun,” Eccl. 1:9), weather men are impatient. They are in large updates, new software updates, credit number dissatisfied because they are card charges, bank account deposits, constantly trying to be satisfied with app updates, game scores, Facebook temporal things, and no man can ever updates, tweets, emails, text mes- be completely satisfied with temporal sages, reminders, calendar notifica- things. The wisest man who ever lived tions, alarms, and depending on how aside from Jesus Christ proves this truth involved a person is in all of the latest through the entire book of Ecclesiastes. technology, the list could literally go on So Satan capitalizes on these faults of forever. You know, the kinds of things impatience and dissatisfaction in men that really matter in this life! today and tempts them with distractions With all of these beeps and no- of instant gratification to keep them from tifications, there is no time for your being fruitful for Jesus Christ. mind to wake up in the morning with The technology industry has re- thoughts of the Lord and what can be ally capitalized on the impatience accomplished for Him. If you do get up and dissatisfaction in modern man Continued on 18 Page 18 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Reality of Eternity Continued from 17 or to make sure you set your alarm so early enough to take time to read the that the little devil can wake you up greatest book in the world and spend in the morning. So instead of being some time in prayer, you will be inter- able to close your day with thoughts rupted continuously by a little beeping of the Lord and His goodness toward devil at your side so that you can’t you that day, or to think of where you focus your attention long enough on failed Him and what it’s going to take what you’re reading or praying about the next day to keep from failing Him for the Lord even to be able to speak again, or to simply clear your mind and to you. It’s no wonder Christians are let the Lord speak to you, the little devil so ignorant of the Bible these days. If once again has distracted you from fruit you manage to get some scripture in bearing for Jesus Christ and from the your heart and get your thoughts es- reality of eternity. tablished by committing your works to Enough already about all of the the Lord through prayer, as you begin things that man can do nowadays as your work day, you won’t be able to a result of modern technology! Very think spiritually about the matters at few of the things that most people brag hand, the circumstances surrounding about being such a convenience are you, or the people you come across things that the Lord could care less because the little devil at your side about. But what does that matter as will continue its beeping notifications long as you get a little temporal plea- or you will be driven to consult it for sure, right? Enough already about “old- some kind of information that you timers” not wanting to keep up with the can’t remember because you’ve got times of technological advancements! your entire life wrapped up in the little The “old-timers” got a lot more done devil. So instead of being able to apply for the Lord than any five modern men the scriptures that you just read that you know, guaranteed. They had time morning to the situations of your work to talk to the Lord throughout their day day, and instead of being concerned and let the Lord guide their thoughts enough about the people around you without something interrupting them to get the truth to them (saved or lost), every thirty seconds. They had time and instead of thinking about the one to think about the eternal souls they that deserves your attention more than came across and weren’t in a hurry anybody else (the Lord Jesus Christ), to keep up with the schedule that the your thoughts and your actions are little devil has mapped out for them. completely distracted because of a And to think that much of the claims little devil at your side or in your pocket for the importance of the computer or on your wrist. If you manage to get and smartphone are that more can through the day with a spiritual mindset be accomplished in a lesser amount and with some type of fruit bearing for of time! More what? More distraction Christ, when you finish the day and at- from what really matters, that’s what! tempt to get some rest, you will need Here’s a really deep thought to to consult the little devil for what news consider: being busy is not always you missed that day, or for an email being productive. Furthermore, simply that was supposed to come through, Continued on 20 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 19 Bro. Donovan’s Meeting Schedule February 9–11 April 6–8 Blessed Hope Baptist Church Bible Baptist Church 9754 University Ave. NW 619 Albemarle Road Coon Rapids, MN 55448 Asheboro, NC 27203 Pastor Kyle Stephens Pastor Tom Cochran (763) 783-8195 (336) 625-6095

March 9–11 May 4–6 Red Lion Bible Church Lakeside Baptist Church 105 Springvale Rd. 3055 Bacom Point Road Red Lion, PA 17356 Pahokee, FL 33476 Pastor Steve Schmuck Pastor Ted Hines (717) 244-3905 (561) 924-7592

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Should America What You Need A World in Leaders of Give Away to Know About Crisis Looking the Islamic Con- God’s Land? the Islamic Threat for a Leader spiracy

176 pages 100 pages 101 pages 194 pages GN-9005 CL-3111 GN-9010 CL-3112 $600 $600 $600 $600 Page 24 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Ultimate Fence Straddler (Part Two of Two) words God wants us to have in Eng- [Editor’s note: The following ma- lish. “Ruckman” taught that upon that terial is taken from correspondence Book being completed, God Almighty from PBI graduate Art Barton as part breathed life into it (Heb. 4:12) just of the requirements for his Master’s as He “inspired” Adam (Gen. 2:7 cf. of Theology degree. The material Job 32:8) from Dr. Ruckman is taken from, but “Some, like Mr. Peter Ruckman not limited to, his works Why I Be- . . . .” “Ruckman” had an earned lieve the King James Bible is the doctorate from Bob Jones Universi- Word of God and Bible Babel.] ty, issued by the founder of that in- We have been examining an un- stitution; that’s “Doctor” to you, bub. published copyrighted work by a Rev. “. . . have gone so far as to suggest Jerrold Thomas, a Professor in the that we should correct the Greek and department of Bible and Christian Hebrew on the basis of the KJV text.” Ministries at the former Tennessee “Ruckman” didn’t “suggest” any- Temple University. The work starts thing of the sort. He demonstrated out by telling you there is no inerrant, to the tune of at least sixty cases (in infallible Bible which you can read and ten articles) where the Authorized hold in your hand. It ends by transfer- text did exactly that (see Vols. 1 & ring the authority of God’s Book into 3 of Twenty-two Years of the Bible the hands of a bunch of sinners who Believers’ Bulletin). Every English think they are smart enough to cor- Bible corrects “the Greek” in Mat- rect what God said. thew 28:1; none of them translate Now although this excerpt of Pro- the plural word for sabbath (sabba- fessor Thomas’ is part of a larger ton). What does he mean “suggest”? work on “Bible Study Hermeneutics,” Page 1 of this “Ruckmanitis” trea- it actually has nothing to do with tise—“I know this is God’s word be- how to study or interpret the Bible cause it speaks to me . . . This posi- (“hermeneutics”). The Rev. Thomas tion has led to the more radical KJV is fixated onone man: Peter S. Ruck- only groups, some of whom (i.e., man. He has “Ruckmanitis.” “Jerry” Peter Ruckman and his followers) says in his letter to Bro. Barton, “Un- have gone off into downright heresy fortunately, for reasons touched on by supposing that only their chosen in the attached material, some advo- Bible translation is inspired and iner- cates of the KJV as an English text rant.” have gone on to affirm that the KJV Three lies right in a row. “Ruck- was directly inspired by God . . . .” man” never taught the KJV is God’s “Ruckman” never taught the King word because it “speaks to me,” he James Bible “was directly inspired by never “chose” any “Bible translation” God” in the sense of being inspired to be “inspired,” and he never said exactly as the “originals” were. What “only” the KJV was inerrant. “Ruck- “Ruckman” taught was that the Holy man” has given you, in writing, three Spirit led the AV translators in their times, his reasons for believing the choice of words so that the words King James Bible is the word of God: of the Authorized text are the very Continued on 25 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 25 The Ultimate Fence Straddler Continued from 24 modern versions don’t do that; they once in 1964 (Bible Babel), again in lead you to believe that every word 1983 (Why I Believe the King James comes from the “originals.” Bible is the Word of God)—a ser- 6. The dishonesty, pride, and in- mon preached at least thirty times consistency of the AV’s critics con- through a 62-year ministry), and vinced “Ruckman” it is the word of finally in 2011 (“Why I Believe the God. You can tell something about King James Bible is the Holy Scrip- a man or a book by its enemies as tures” in Happy Birthday, KJV). Not much as its friends. “Ruckman” may once did “Ruckman” ever say he be- be a negative critic of the ASV, the lieved it because it “spoke to him.” RSV, the NIV, the NKJV, and the 1. “Ruckman” gave the fact that, ESV, and the men connected with in the providence of God, it was pub- translating and promoting those per- lished before English deism, French versions of the holy words of God; skepticism, and German rationalism. but isn’t it amazing that after over The “learned men” that translated it 150 times through that Book (AV hadn’t been infected with infidelity 1611), he never managed to find one from Christian education yet. mistake in it. Professor Thomas must 2. It was the only Bible translated be a great deal more critical and under the authority of a king (Eccl. negative than “Ruckman” to be able 8:4). to profess having found mistakes in 3. It has no copyright. A man’s the greatest Book ever written. words can be copyrighted; not God’s Rev. “Jerry” tries desperately to words. find a “middle ground” between “pre- 4. It has the promise of preserva- ferring” the KJV and his fellow faculty tion (Psa. 12:6–7). Psalm 12:7 has members (Afman, Robinson, et al.) been changed in the new versions who think he is full of beans. It is this so that it is no longer a promise that kind of wishy-washy fence straddling God will preserve His words. that refuses to take a stand (if we are 5. “Ruckman” believes the King to believe some of the graduates of James Bible is the word of God be- TTU) that eventually led to the de- cause of the honesty of its trans- mise of Tennessee Temple. Thomas’ lators. Not only were they better “middle ground” ends up being the equipped, scholastically, than the re- “middle ground” taken by every apos- visers and translators of the modern tate Fundamentalist who preceded versions to fulfill the task to which him: “use” the King James, without they were appointed, but they actu- believing it, because you “prefer” it, ally believed that they were dealing and reserve to yourself the right to with the words of God. Whenever change anything in it with which you they had to add words for clarity that don’t agree. That is the exact posi- weren’t in the Greek and Hebrew tion of John R. Rice, Gary Hudson, texts with which they had to work, Bobby “Scumner,” R. L. Hymers Jr., they were honest with their readers Bob Jones Jr., Bob Jones III, Stewart and indicated what they had done Custer, Fred Afman, James Combs, by putting those words in italics. The Continued on 26 Page 26 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Ultimate Fence Straddler Continued from 25 definitive passages for their respec- et al. Of course, they all might not tive doctrines. But the AV will give agree to the number or type of chang- Christ the preeminence in both pas- es to be made, but every one of them sages when the ASV, NASV, RSV, will correct the Book somewhere, be- NIV, and ESV won’t. Ditto in Mat- cause that is how to become “recog- thew 1:25, 16:13; Luke 2:33, 23:42, nized” as a “scholar.” 24:51–52; John 1:18, 3:13, 16, 7. That Book (the AV 1611) dem- 18:36; Acts 4:27, 30, 9:5–6; Colos- onstrates itself to be the word of God sians 1:14; etc. The mark of a Bible by its chapter and verse system. You version or translation chosen by the can see this illustrated over and over Holy Spirit (not “Peter Ruckman and again throughout scripture in such his followers”) is that it testifies of Je- passages as Genesis 5 and Acts 5 sus Christ, not deny Him or dishonor and Romans 5, Genesis 13 and Rev- Him (John 15:26). elation 13, Genesis 10 and Acts 10 “Ruckman” didn’t believe that and Romans 10, etc. But nowhere Book because it “spoke to him”; that is it more pronounced than in the is the Neo-orthodox position taken book of Isaiah. There are 66 chap- by apostates like Jerrold Thomas ters, matching the 66 books of your who “prefer” it rather than believe it. King James Bible. There is a division Page 3 of this mess: “Dr. Peter in style (so much so that the higher Ruckman claims” “the KJV is the in- critics invented a “deutero-Isaiah” for errant representation of the Original chap. 40–66) between chapters 39 Manuscripts.” He does?! Would the and 40 like there is between the 39th Reverend Professor care to docu- book in your Bible (Malachi) and the ment that statement with “chapter 40th book (Matthew). John the Baptist and verse” from any of Ruckman’s shows up in Isaiah 40 (vs. 3) just as 120-plus works? Surely with that he does in book 40 (Matt. 3:3). Chap- much material in print, “Jerry” can find ter 66 matches book 66 (Revelation) where “Ruckman” actually said that. with “new heavens” and a “new No? Of course not. “Ruckman” earth” (Isa. 66:22 cf. Rev. 21:1). is not daft enough to claim to know 8. And finally, “Ruckman” believed what “the Original MSS” said when the King James Bible to be the word he doesn’t have them and can’t find of God and the holy scriptures be- them or read them because they cause it is the only version on the don’t exist. As the Professor very market that consistently gives the well knows, “the original manuscripts preeminence to Jesus Christ (Col. . . . HAVE ALL PERISHED.” What 1:18). Old “Jerry” tries to dismiss “Ruckman” claims is to have the the fact that the modern translations words of God in his own language, (and the Greek texts from which they the words which God wants him to come) attack the doctrine of the Trin- have, and that those words are with- ity in 1 John 5:7 and the doctrine of out proven error. the Incarnation in 1 Timothy 3:16 “Jerry” runs on ten pages (twelve by saying neither verse is a “central if you count the letter to Bro. Bar- proof text.” That’s a lie; they are the Continued on 27 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 27 The Ultimate Fence Straddler Continued from 26 was two years old. That, in all like- ton) without ever giving you a ref- lihood, was an unsaved man who erence where the King James has had more spiritual discernment than a mistake. Surely a Professor of a saved professor at a Fundamental Bible could discuss the mistakes university. in a Bible if he thought it contained Then for good measure, in the errors. If you don’t believe it, check November 1989 Bulletin (“Hym- out Satan’s Masterpiece, the New ers’ Fraud and the Baptist Bible ASV, where Ruckman will give you Tribune”), you were given a citation 77 pages on what’s wrong with that from Theodore Letis where “Wood- “Bible.” Ditto the 56 pages in About bridge and Balmer admit ‘it is true the New King James Version, the 33 that in the 17th century a good num- pages in About the New Scofield Bi- ber of Christians esteemed that the ble, and the 41 pages in The NIV: An Bibles they held in their hands were In-Depth” Documentation of Aposta- infallible . . . .’ Whitaker used the sy. If “Ruckman” ever tells you there word ‘originals’ interchangeable for are errors in a Bible, you might as both the autographs as well as his well sit down and get comfortable, present copies.” And then, to rein- because he is going to be a while; force that last observation with a def- he won’t stop at any less than fifty inite example, John Bunyan (1680) (and it will usually be more). “Jerry” was quoted as saying he believed is trying to “buffalo” his ministerial his English Bible to be a true copy of students; he’s just “blowing smoke.” the original. Here’s an old “chestnut” Jerrold Evidently, Mr. Jerrold Thomas Thomas drags out of Bobby Hym- is not too well read. The typical re- ers’ bag of tricks: “Nobody until Peter sponse of Alexandrian apostates like Ruckman who had any acquaintance Thomas is go to Christian men who with the text of Scripture held Dr. expressed belief in the King James Ruckman’s position; he is the first.” Bible and appeal to the Adamic na- The Professor is taking a page out of ture in all believers that seeks to ex- Adolf Hitler’s playbook: repeat a lie alt its authority over the authority of long enough and loud enough, and God’s word: men like W. B. Riley and people will come to believe it. This David Otis Fuller “did not hold Dr. was dealt with way back in May 1989 Ruckman’s position.” in the Bulletin. A quote was given “Ruckmanism in 1919,” Bible Be- to Bro. Thomas from William Lyons liever’s Bulletin, May 2012: “Back in Phelps, Professor of English Litera- 1920, W. B. Riley believed the King ture at Yale University, 1923: “Our James Bible was ‘parachuted’ down English translation is even better from Heaven by God.” (I add that it than the original Hebrew and Greek. was typed on a German typewriter.) I have no theory to account for the You can find that in George Dollar’s so-called inspiration of the Bible. But work The History of Fundamental- I am confident that the Authorized ism. You reckon Jerrold Thomas Version was inspired.” That state- agrees with W. B. Riley on that one? ment was made when “Ruckman” Continued on 28 Page 28 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Ultimate Fence Straddler Continued from 27 than the differences that may divide And it might surprise the Rev. us. I recently told someone criticiz- Jerrold Thomas to learn what David ing ‘Ruckmanism’ that they can rest Otis Fuller actually believed about assured of one thing, Peter Ruck- the King James Bible and “Ruck- man WILL NOT ROB SOMEONE OF man.” From a letter to “Ruckman,” THEIR BIBLE.” December 3, 1967 (cited in The Jerrold Thomas will. He will steal Last Grenade, 1990, pg. 79): “I be- the only thing that “unites us” and re- lieve THERE ARE NO MISTAKES place it with himself. How’s that for a OR ERRORS IN THE KJV.” Is that church splitter? clear? Does that match “Jerry’s” “IN- “Peter Ruckman’s view . . . squeez- TRODUCTORY PREMISE” (see part es out true evangelism.” Ah, blow it 1 of this article)? Of course not. The out your nose, fella! If you want to Professor is too lazy to find out what know how much “true evangelism” for Fuller actually believed. which “Ruckman” was responsible, Fuller continuing: “God bless just get any report of his summer you, Peter. Keep up the ‘good fight prison “junkets,” in which hundreds of of faith.’” Ah! So David Otis Fuller grown men, women, and teenagers— wasn’t quite at odds with “Ruck- some of whom had committed three man” as Jerrold Thomas would have felonies before they were thirteen you believe. These fellows are so years old—got saved by the preach- crooked that if they fell into a barrel ing of the old black Book by a man of fish hooks, they’d never get stuck. who believed it from cover to cover, Back to page 4 of Thomas’ work: including the cover (“Holy Bible”). “Peter Ruckman’s view fosters a Hundreds (literally!) came to faith in critical, argumentative spirit which Christ without ever having their faith splits churches . . . .” No, what splits in the Book shaken one time. churches are preachers who, while “One of the problems which has in Bible school, have been talked out led to positions like that of Dr. Ruck- of their faith in the Book that saved man has been the lack of alternatives them and got them in the ministry, available.” Nuts! Pecan nuts, cashew who in turn talk their congregations nuts, Brazil nuts, macadamia nuts! out of their faith in the Book. Any- What led to the “positions like that of one who still stands on the Book is Dr. Ruckman” was the abandonment considered a “church splitter,” but it of the Reformation text in English is the “scholarship-only” cultists who (AV 1611) for the Dark-Age Roman introduced multiple authorities and Catholic text of the Jesuits (RV, ASV, split their congregations down the RSV, NASV, NIV, ESV, etc.). With the middle. NKJV, it was the correction of your Here is a quote from a pastor in King James Bible with Syrian Greek Grayling, Michigan (cited in The instead of Egyptian Greek; the Alex- Last Grenade, pp. 116–167): “Dear andrians simply switched the authori- Dr. Ruckman, Praise God for your ty they substituted for the King James stand on the old KJV! The Bible Bible. which UNITES US . . . is greater Continued on 29 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 29 The Ultimate Fence Straddler Continued from 28 if “Ruckman” never taught them such There are only two “alternatives”; heretical radicalism, who did? In the there is no “middle ground.” You will end, you only have two choices: God either accept the Book as the final or the devil. Only R. L. Hymers was authority, or you won’t. If you choose brave enough to say the devil does it. the latter, ultimately man becomes That is, if these radical heretics were the authority. You will change the led by the Holy Spirit, they would re- Book based on your opinions or the alize no Bible is infallible. There are opinions of others—humanism, pure “radical heretics,” and then there are and simple. “Ruckman’s position” is radical heretics. to take the authority away from man Now we will leave things right (any man, including “Ruckman”) and there. In the end, Rev. Jerrold Thom- put it back where it belongs: in God’s as has no authority higher than his Book. own “noodle.” “Ruckman” may be “Jerry’s” problem is the same as a critical, divisive, negative, argu- his fellow “professors”: he equates mentative, radical, heretical “church “Ruckman” with the Book, or at splitter”; but there is one thing “Ruck- least with belief in the Book. Under man” has never professed to be. He “Objections to the KJV,” he gives: has never professed to be smart “The KJV is the choice of heretical enough to correct that Book. As far radicals like Peter Ruckman.” That’s as he is concerned, “let God be someone who is scared out of his true, but EVERY MAN a liar” (Rom. wits by a red-neck mullet fisherman 3:4); especially a “good, godly, dedi- and hockey player from Pensacola, cated” man. “Ruckman’s authority is Florida. There are literally hundreds the words in a Book—the scriptures of people who believed that Book be- in English. fore they ever heard of “Ruckman.” P.S. “ALL SCRIPTURE is given Are they all “radical heretics”? Well, by inspiration of God.” The Victory of Light The inspiring story of the late Rev. Sam Stern, who was born in Poland and ordained as a rabbi. He fled from the Nazis to Russia with other Hasidic youth who posed as Polish. As a refugee after the war, he lived in a DP camp for several years. Rabbi Stern was then called to Providence, RI to serve in his capacity as a rabbi. Soon after, he found his Messiah Jesus Christ in his new homeland and dedicated his life to serving his Lord. $ 95 BG-1091 8 (Plus postage — see page 22) Page 30 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN The Covenants Of the Bible A detailed study from the Sunday School of Bible Baptist Church on the Biblical covenants that form the foundation of dispensational theology. In this series, Dr. Ruckman teaches on how God deals with mankind throughout history by establishing seven covenants with the representatives of humanity, races, and nations. As in all of his teachings, Dr. Ruckman “rightly divides” the word so you will know what parts of those covenants are still binding on us today, what parts have already been fulfilled, and what parts await fulfillment in the future. (Nearly 18 hours of teaching.) DS 120080 MP3 CD $ 95 (Plus postage—see page22 22) DECEMBER’S SERMONS Brian Donovan Zack Colvin God’s Portrayal of Himself The Loving Kindness of the Lord Raise Your Own Ebenezer The Birth of Christ Home Luke: The Great Divider Manasseh: Help for the Backslider All of December’s sermons on one MP3 The Three Greatest Events of the World $ A New Beginning DC 1712 12.95 Tracts from Chick Publications CK 1072

$425 CK 85 per pack of 25 of the SAME TITLE CK 99 These three tracts all present the Lord Jesus Christ coming to save sin- ners. They are especially well received by young people of all ages. Use this time of year as an open door for evangelism. Chick tracts get read. (Plus postage—see page 22) BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 31 America’s Mental Decay By Robert Militello America has been under the “Thou wilt keep him in perfect preaching of “the gospel of the peace, whose mind is stayed on grace of God” (Acts 20:24) since thee: because he trusteth in thee” long before it declared indepen- (Isa. 26:3). dence in 1776. Churches here num- A 1992 study by the National In- ber more than all the rice paddies stitute of Mental Health found that in Asia. No nation on this earth in Jews suffer from certain mental ill- the last 2,000 years has heard the nesses at higher rates than others. call to get right with God more than These illnesses included major de- these United States. There are con- pression, dysthymia, schizophre- sequences to ignoring that call, just nia, and simple phobia. Jews have as there are consequences for a be- pioneered the fields of psychology liever who walks after the flesh and and psychiatry. Peace of mind and not the Spirit. fellowship with the one, true God “For to be carnally minded is cannot be purchased by the riches death; but to be spiritually minded of men. There is a peace only God is life and PEACE” (Rom. 8:6). can give. A mind at rest and at peace with “And the peace of God, which God is a rare thing today. Ignoring passeth all understanding, shall the One who created you and is keep your hearts and MINDS seeking fellowship with you, leads through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). ultimately to a depression of mind Why did I bring up this point about and soul that is making the pharma- Jews and mental disorders? The Jew ceutical companies rich. was to play the key role in God’s plan “Now consider this, ye that for- to restore fellowship with the human get God, lest I tear you in pieces, race. Israel was made a priestly na- and there be none to deliver” (Psa. tion unto God. They fell from their 50:22). spiritually exalted status, and they Our society is being torn to pieces fell hard. There is something in their right before our eyes. TV news at DNA that goes back to their forefa- night amply confirms this. thers and binds them to God in a A few years after I retired from most unique way. Jesus, as a Jew, New York City government, I re- was connected to Almighty God like ceived a notice that my retiree’s no other man who walked this earth. health coverage was expanded to “For in him dwelleth all the ful- include a wide array of psychotro- ness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. pic drugs. My first thought was that 2:9). it took New York City quite a while Jews were made to be connected to acknowledge that many active to their God like freight cars to a die- and retired employees were “nut sel locomotive. Fellowship brings jobs” who needed to be medicated. peace, and a mind and heart discon- Believe me, the stress of the “Big nected from the God of peace is a Apple” and the subway commute field where only weeds will grow and can push many normal people over mental disorder follows. Continued on 32 Page 32 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN America’s Mental Decay Continued from 31 children sense a rapidly diminishing the edge. Although I was thought influence of the word of God in our of by many as a “religious nut,” my land and a growing spirit of compro- sanity was never doubted due to the mise among God’s elect. Soon, the quality and consistency of my work. body of Christ must be removed. Getting things done in a timely and “When I was daily with you in professional manner turns critics the temple, ye stretched forth no into admirers, albeit grudgingly. For hands against me: but THIS IS those who were “burned out” by liv- YOUR HOUR, and the power of ing and working in New York City, the darkness” (Luke 22:53). chemists working feverishly on new Thanks to smart phones, comput- compounds offered hope. Psychoac- ers, tablets, and every device that tive drugs were marketed as a great connects our society with what is new blessing for those who seemed called social media, we have become to have lost their way in life. Anything a nation of narcissistic children. I but Jesus, that is what this world will like the Mayo Clinic’s definition of ceaselessly promote. Narcissistic Personality Disorder. It Psychotropic drugs change brain says this is a MENTAL DISORDER function and lead to alterations in in which people have an inflated perception, mood, consciousness, sense of their own importance and a and behavior. Anti-anxiety and anti- deep need for admiration and a lack depressant pills are now the big of empathy for others. It goes on to moneymakers for the drug manu- state that behind this mask of ultra- facturers. Valium, Xanax, Librium, confidence lies a fragile self-esteem Klonopin, Prozac, Zoloft, etc., are that is markedly vulnerable to the the big sellers for a growing popu- slightest criticism. lation of bipolar, hyper-anxious, ab- You are living in the Laodicean normally depressed, and borderline church age and the spirit of “me” neurotics who largely believe that has infected Christians dramatically. taking God’s word literally is a form The more you hear Christians ask- of mental illness. If you don’t believe ing other Christians, “What do you that our God plays with the minds think?”, you know immediately that of those who hold His word in con- the word of God is not being stud- tempt, you know little to nothing of ied—very sad! Who cares what the spiritual world enveloping the you think or what President Trump material creation. thinks, or what any fool on TV or in The powers of darkness affect- Hollywood thinks? What does the ing American social life and people’s scripture say about this or that mat- minds are much more active now ter? That’s what counts. Men’s opin- than ever before. These powers ions and judgments are polluted by were dramatically energized when sin and self love. They stink worse our Supreme Court redefined God’s than an open trash container in the law on marriage. Sodomites and sex back of a Chinese restaurant. perverts rejoiced. They were signifi- Man doesn’t have any solution cantly emboldened. All the devil’s Continued on 33 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 33 America’s Mental Decay Continued from 32 to many evils besides road rage, is to the anxiety epidemic that engulfs becoming more and more noticeable our society. The Mayo Clinic offers across our nation. I believe cable this advice for counselors: “If you TV and now social media have con- recognize aspects of narcissistic tributed enormously to the growing personality disorder, with feelings stress people experience daily. of attendant sadness, recommend a Life being lived in the fast lane mental health provider. Getting the is too much for most people to deal right treatment can help make the with. Peace of heart and mind has client’s life more rewarding and en- become so elusive. God’s word joyable.” won’t help if the Book He left us re- There it is, anything but Jesus. mains closed and His preachers ig- Megachurch pastors specialize in nored. There’s a fearful price to pay positive messages that make their for stopping your ears to the Holy congregants feel better. These men Spirit. Lightning often causes fire, are not ministers of the gospel. As and America is a spiritually dry and narcissism spreads, their “church- parched land right now. So what can es” will grow. Your Best Life Now by our leaders look forward to? Joel Osteen, a Houston televange- “And the LORD said, My spirit list, helped multiple thousands allay shall not always strive with man” fears that their covetousness was an (Gen. 6:3). Thank God, my Saviour impediment to realizing the peace is longsuffering. The fact that Ameri- that “passeth all understanding” ca still stands is evidence of that at- (Phil. 4:7). The devil uses “Pastor tribute. Nevertheless in Psalm 103:9, Joel” to pour cold water upon any the Bible says, “He will not always hint of conviction a Christian may chide: NEITHER WILL HE KEEP experience in his soul. It’s all about HIS ANGER FOREVER.” feeling good about yourself, right? The percentage of Christians who After all, doesn’t God want me to be actually believe the AV 1611 is God’s happy? pure word has shrunk dramatically Dr. Ruckman often said that light since “Christian” TV came on the rejected becomes lightning. Well, scene in the early seventies. King the evidence for this being so is all James pastors and teachers are few around us. When I left Brooklyn for and far between, even among the Florida in 2000, road rage was a millions who claim to be Baptists. growing problem. Drivers with short With the church losing its saltiness, fuses were breaking under the stress America lost its fear of God. Sin, of getting to or from some place in judgment, and hell became words the shortest amount of time. Now, to be avoided. With pulpits filled with the Holy Spirit allowing more by men who were afraid to offend and more demonic spirits to play on anyone, the peace that passeth all the minds of countless thousands understanding was unknown to mil- of motorists, road rage is a national lions professing faith in Jesus Christ. nightmare. The frenetic pace of life Christianity that wishes to appear re- in New York City, which gives rise Continued on 34 Page 34 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN America’s Mental Decay Continued from 33 when you reject the effort of a soul- spectable in a society becoming in- winner exhorting you to be recon- creasingly more degenerate has no ciled with God. There is no place real peace to offer anyone—young, in America where you can escape old, or in between. gospel broadcasting on TV or radio. “There is no peace, saith the Roadside billboards, tracts left in re- LORD, unto the wicked” (Isa. strooms, family members, friends, 48:22). and coworkers not afraid to witness On the contrary, there is a reap- show the passion of the Holy Spirit in ing of stress, anxiety, narcissism, striving with lost sinners. How does and mental derangement appear- one run away from all this and yet, ing more and more frequently in our with determination, seek for peace of fast-growing population of pill-happy mind? neurotics. Psychotropic drugs are The practice of psychiatry has ex- a mainstay in prison infirmaries. ploded in the last forty years. “I have Ask any correction officer in a state an appointment with my therapist” is prison. Years ago, Pastor Lester commonly heard among prominent Roloff characterized America as an people, celebrities, and those who insane asylum run by the inmates. don’t mind revealing the secrets of He should see this place now. Thank the heart to an overeducated quack God, he can’t. rather than opening the scriptures Back in the seventies, some of my and crying out to God for help. Amer- coworkers were regular users of Va- ica is like a dog track where speedy lium. Also, many smoked pot when greyhounds race after a mechani- the opportunity afforded itself. I won- cal rabbit (peace of mind), but never dered how someone could drink two catch it. Life without Jesus Christ or three cups of coffee when arriving ends in hell; exhausted dogs eventu- at the office and later smoke weed to ally lay down and die—who is better relax. Often, I would hear someone off? say, “I’m stressed.” This served as a “And he said unto them, Take justification for poisoning one’s brain heed and beware of covetousness: by inhaling a burning weed. Ironical- for a man’s life consisteth NOT in ly, many who behaved this way were the abundance of the things which gym members fixated on “staying in he possesseth” (Luke 12:15). shape.” It is not hard to detect the There is a covetousness in the plague of irrationality that affects our natural man that, even with the minds due to the effects of sin and new birth, is hard to contain. Put- the ongoing rejection of Holy Spirit ting televisions in living rooms and conviction. bedrooms across America did for Life in America in 2018 is becom- the desire to possess what gasoline ing increasingly torturous for those does for a fire. Images on a screen, who are lost and without hope. “The first on small black and white tubes, way of transgressors is hard,” but now on giant, color flat screens saith the scripture (Prov. 13:15), but presented to our eyes things that we oh, how much harder it becomes Continued on 35 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 35 America’s Mental Decay Continued from 34 patients brought their fears to Jesus. ought to purchase in order to make Have you ever heard of a “Christian” our lives more enjoyable. Like chil- psychiatrist? Is there a “rap” music dren in a candy shop, we get excited station in China? over sweets, and the desire to pos- Living in America in 2018 is far dif- sess more of life’s dainties inflames ferent from what it was in the fifties our souls. Jesus did not overstate and sixties. Two of the fastest grow- the threat to the health of one’s soul ing manifestations of mental degen- when He said, “beware of covet- eracy, transgenderism and pedophil- ousness.” Paul grasped the gravity ia, were hardly known. If they existed of the Lord’s admonition in Philippi- (and most likely they did), they were ans 4:11. well buried in the darkest corners of “Not that I speak in respect of family and community life. Did you want: for I have learned, in what- know that after World War II the FBI soever state I am, THEREWITH TO produced short educational films on BE CONTENT.” the dangers posed by homosexuals? Imagine the pastors of these pros- What everyone of them understood perous megachurches preaching to be perversion has now achieved this stuff. What about 1 Timothy 6:8? social acceptability. How did this “And having food and raiment happen? let us be therewith content.” The accepted yardstick for deter- There are places in the New Tes- mining what is sinful and what is not tament where the man in the pulpit, was God’s word, EVEN FOR THE with few exceptions, would have to LOST. That is certainly not the case ignore if he wants to “succeed in the today. Hollywood, academia, sci- ministry.” Laodicean Christians have ence so-called, and the mass media no room on their menus for spiritual waged unrelenting war against God’s food that is not loaded with fructose moral compass. Elected officials and other sugars. fearing for their jobs started to sign “Acquaint now thyself with him, on to the satanic dictum that what is and be at peace: thereby good good and what is evil is in the eye of shall come unto thee” (Job 22:21). the beholder. The church of God, us- As our society drifts further and ing corrupt “Bibles,” could not stem further away from the knowledge of the assault of immorality. Termite God, it will rely more and more upon damage takes a while to show up. education, science, and to some de- Now, it is everywhere in evidence. gree, religion (not the new birth) to Big cities are hothouses for the allay the growing anxiety and fear spread of psychotics, but suburbs God puts into the hearts of those have caught up. Thanks to internet who scorn His Son. Lost people, access, even rural communities are though loathe to admit it, are often hatching their share of screwballs. disturbed with thoughts of judgment. God help Christians who have chil- Anxiety does not appear out of thin dren that will soon have to deal with air. Psychiatrists would not be able to this world. These children will face fill up their appointment calendars if Continued on 36 Page 36 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN America’s Mental Decay Continued from 35 The conscience obviously can be challenges and experience situa- seared in youth. Teaching middle tions that my parents did not have to school in Pensacola some years give much thought to. back helped me to realize just how “This know also, that in the last open the minds of even pre-teens days perilous times shall come” (2 are to suggestions of evil. The word Tim. 3:1). “seared” appears only one time in Well, they are here. For children the King James Bible—1 Timothy around the world, these days pose 4:2. There, it is connected to the con- threats to their safety and well-being science. Our God-given conscience, that ought to cause their parents or which animals do not have (so much guardians to cry out to God and to be for the theory of evolution), can be ever so vigilant. burned away very easily when the Only God knows what is going on will yields to evil. Mental aberrations in houses across our nation where do not take root overnight. A turn- souls with unstable and morally ing away from the law written on our bankrupt minds sit in front of screens hearts by God rots the mind like can- that display filth and perversion con- cer in the bones. There is too much tinually. Imaginations get stimulated, idle time in the lives of most of our and the minds of these sick souls population. “The devil’s workshop” become more and more diseased. (idle time) is a very busy place these We are harvesting a bumper crop days. of mentally damaged people ruled “And I gave my heart to know by base instincts that will only get wisdom, and to know madness worse. Right now, society’s only de- and folly: I perceived that this also fense is incarceration and psycho- is vexation of spirit” (Eccl. 1:17). tropic drugs. That’s what happens Why did Solomon want to know to a nation that has light and puts it madness? Curiosity is often a great out. Singing “God Bless America” is danger. Eve brought down the whole becoming a chore for those who see human race because she wanted to things from God’s point of view—His know good and evil. word. “This is an evil among all things Mental dysfunction can appear that are done under the sun, that at an early age. Sometime ago, I there is one event unto all: yea, watched a report of a boy taken into also the heart of the sons of men juvenile custody for torturing pet ani- is full of evil, and MADNESS IS mals. There is more of this going on IN THEIR HEARTS WHILE THEY than you would imagine. When the LIVE” (Eccl. 9:3). Nine times (fruit- boy was questioned as to why he bearing number) the word “mad- thought to do such things, he replied, ness” appears in God’s word, five “I was bored.” God puts a conscience times in Ecclesiastes. Sin is mad- in our minds to help regulate our be- ness, and the fruit of sin is death. All havior as we grow. Where was this men are born spiritually deranged. boy’s conscience? Surely, he knew Nicodemus had trouble with that. what he was doing was evil. Continued on 37 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 37 America’s Mental Decay Continued from 36 ten law like a Jew, I had it written on Jeremiah wrote that the heart is not my heart, and I broke it every time just wicked, but “desperately wick- I felt like it. In case you didn’t know ed: who can know it?” (Jer. 17:9). it, the pleasures of sin swiftly silence Madness was one of the curses put the voice of conscience. on those Jews who disobeyed the “For God hath not given us the law; see Deuteronomy 28:28. Dr. spirit of fear; but of power, and of Ruckman called that chapter the love, and OF A SOUND MIND” (2 most terrible chapter in the Bible. Tim. 1:7). The curse of the law was upon me God’s Holy Spirit enables us to act before Jesus saved me. Although I’m rationally and wisely. We now have a Gentile and did not have the writ- Continued on 38 THE CREED OF THE ALEXANDRIAN CULT

1. There is no final authority but God. 2. Since God is a Spirit, there is no final authority that can be seen, heard, read, felt, or handled. 3. Since all books are material, there is no book on this earth that is the final and absolute authority on what is right and what is wrong, what constitutes truth and what constitutes error. 4. There WAS a series of writings one time which, IF they had all been put into a BOOK as soon as they were written the first time,WOULD HAVE constituted an infal- lible and final authority by which to judge truth and error. 5. However, this series of writings was lost, and the God who inspired them was unable to preserve their content through Bible-believing Christians at Antioch (Syria), where the first Bible teachers were (Acts 13:1), and where the first missionary trip originated (Acts 13:1-52), and where the word “Christian” originated (Acts 11:26). 6. So God chose to ALMOST preserve them through Gnostics and philosophers from Alexandria, Egypt, even though God called His Son OUT of Egypt (Matthew 2), Jacob OUT of Egypt (Genesis 49), Israel OUT of Egypt (Exodus 15), and Joseph’s bones OUT of Egypt (Exodus 13). 7. So there are two streams of Bibles. The most accurate—though, of course, there is no final, absolute authority for determining truth and error; it is a matter of “pref- erence”—are the Egyptian translations from Alexandria, Egypt, which are “almost the originals,” although not quite. 8. The most inaccurate translations were those that brought about the German Reformation (Luther, Zwingli, Boehler, Zinzendorf, Spener, et al.) and the worldwide missionary movement of the English-speaking people: the Bible that Sunday, Torrey, Moody, Finney, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Wesley, and Chapman used. 9. But we can “tolerate” these if those who believe in them will “tolerate” US. After all, since there is NO ABSOLUTE AND FINAL AUTHORITY that anyone can read, teach, preach, or handle, the whole thing is a matter of “PREFERENCE.” You may prefer what you prefer, and we will prefer what we prefer. Let us live in peace, and if we cannot agree on anything or everything, let us all agree on one thing: THERE IS NO FINAL, ABSOLUTE, WRITTEN AUTHORITY OF GOD ANYWHERE ON THIS EARTH.

This is the Creed of the Alexandrian Cult. BER ­ —88 Page 38 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN America’s Mental Decay Continued from 37 sue your parents in court. The in- access to the peace that “passeth ternet, more than any other inven- all understanding” (Phil. 4:7). If we tion, has brought upon us the days do not regularly feed on God’s word, of Noah. In those days before ca- that peace will continue to elude us. tastrophe struck, God said of man, The new birth may not completely “and that every imagination of the cancel the potential for madness thoughts of his heart was only evil which we all have. continually” (Gen. 6:5). The next Paul said that in him “dwelleth verse tells us that our Creator was no good thing” (Rom. 7:18). Sin sorry He made man. is present with us until death or the In our lifetime, we have seen the rapture. If we yield to it and allow potential for evil and mayhem grow it to reign over our mortal bodies, wildly, even overwhelming law en- could not God allow our madness forcement agencies and threatening to bring us to a very sad end? Yes, national governments. The restrain- He can, and I have seen it happen ing hand on evil, a work of the Holy to saved people. Some that I have Spirit, is being relaxed more and known were driven to suicide by more each year. A nation with nucle- madness. ar weapons and led by a borderline Can the devil get your mind after psychotic can throw the entire globe you are saved? Obviously he can. into a panic. Fear and anxiety can Psychotropic drugs, psychiatric help, cause even rational minds to leave and twelve-step programs won’t help the path of common sense. How a believer who will not abandon a much longer will the Lord refrain filthy lifestyle. Paul told the Corinthi- from afflicting the nations with mad- ans that he would turn “such a one ness? over to Satan for the destruction Only a Christian can have hope of the flesh” (see 1 Cor. 5:5). Sadly, in a world such as this. Ours is the for many Laodicean believers, the Blessed Hope of Titus 2:13. When madness of sin will only end with our Lord left this world, He promised death. If you are a King James Bible His disciples He would not leave us believer, wonderful, but there is no comfortless. As we see things spin- special immunity given you if you are ning out of control in 2018 and the slow to practice holiness. How can years following, if we are still here, our society not pay dearly for all the Titus 2:13 will be constantly on the light God has generously poured out minds of God’s people everywhere. on our nation? We should live in a state of expec- In just 25 years, the internet has tancy. This will cultivate a spirit of connected billions of souls around holiness and keep up from losing the the world like nothing before it. Sick- fear of God. We need that! minded souls with runaway thought “And that, knowing the time, lives now have all kinds of perverse that now it is high time to awake images available to them on their out of sleep: for NOW IS OUR SAL- screens. The internet has sites that VATION NEARER THAN WHEN WE can teach you to make bombs and BELIEVED” (Rom. 13:11). BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN February 2018 Page 39 RADIO LOG TV & Satellite

ALABAMA ALABAMA Huntsville-Decatur Andalusia–Ch. 63 10:00 AM Sun. WBXR 1140 AM 10:30 A.M. Sat. Covington Co.–Ch. 42 10:00 AM Sun. Mobile Opp–Ch. 59 10:00 AM Sun. WIJD 1270 AM 8:30 A.M. Sat. UHF–Ch. 25 10:00 AM Sun. WIJD 97.9 FM 8:30 A.M. Sat. CALIFORNIA Lancaster CALIFORNIA KFXM 96.7 FM 7:30 A.M. Sun. San Pedro–Cox Communications 6:30 PM Fri. kfxm.com (streaming) 7:30 A.M. Sun. San Diego–Cox–Ch 24 & 18 4:00 PM Wed. COLORADO San Diego–Time Warner–Ch 16 Time varies Aurora KLTT 670 AM 10:30 A.M. Sun. CONNECTICUT FLORIDA Willimantic–Charter Comm.–Ch 192 5:30 PM Tue. Pensacola WEBY 1330 AM 8:00 A.M. Sun. IDAHO WNVY 1070 AM 3:30 P.M. Sat. Pocatello–TCI Cable–Ch 12 1:00 PM Sun. ILLINOIS 2:30 PM Tue. Bone Gap IOWA WXWS-LP 100.1 FM 1:30 P.M. Dubuque–Media Com–Ch 81 Times Vary 9:30 P.M. INDIANA Indianapolis MASSACHUSETTS WBRI 1500 AM 6:00 P.M. Sat. Springfield—Public Access–Ch 12 5 PM Mon. KANSAS Kansas City MICHIGAN KCNW 1380 AM 6:30 P.M. Sat. Battlecreek–Access Vision–Ch 11 3:00 PM Sat. LOUISIANA Alexandria-Lafayette-Lake Charles MONTANA KWDF 840 AM 9:00 A.M. Sat. Missoula—MCAT–Ch 12 2:00 PM Mon. MICHIGAN Lupton NEW YORK WMSD 90.9 FM 8:15 P.M. Wed. Broome—Time Warner–Ch 6 4 PM Mon. /6 PM Wed. MISSISSIPPI Tupelo Buffalo–Public Access–Ch 20 5:05 PM Sun. WCPC 940 AM 10:00 A.M. Sat. Elmira–Corning–Ch 1 9:00 AM Sun. NEBRASKA Farmington Time Warner–Ch 1 28:00 PM Sun. Omaha-Lincoln Mid-Hudson Cable–Ch 1 13 PM Wed. KLNG 1560 AM 6:00 P.M. Sat. Lockport–Ch 20 LCTV 4:00 PM Mon. NEW MEXICO 10:30 AM Tues. Albuquerque-Santa Fe 10:00 PM Fri. KXKS 1190 AM 11:00 A.M. Sat. Suffolk–Ch 20 12:30 PM Sun. KKIM 1000 AM 8:00 A.M. Sat. Woodbury–Cable Vision–Ch 7 14:00 PM Fri. NORTH CAROLINA China Grove NEW MEXICO WRNA 1140 AM 2:30 P.M. Sun. Albuquerque Community Cable–Ch 27 5:00 PM Mon. Kannapolis WRKB 1140 AM 2:30 P.M. Sun. Los Alamos–PAC 8 6:00 PM Sun. PENNSYLVANIA 2:00 PM Tue. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton NEW ZEALAND WITK 1550 AM 6:00 P.M. Sat. Mainland TV Nelson 9:00 AM Sun. SOUTH CAROLINA OKLAHOMA Greenville Tulsa—Ch 47-2 (antenna) 6:00 PM Fri. WLFJ 660 AM 7:00 A.M. Sun. VIRGINIA PENNSYLVANIA Richmond York–York CATV–Ch 16 9:00 PM Mon. WDZY 1290 AM 9:00 A.M. Sat. 3:00 PM Tue. WDZY 103.3 FM 9:00 A.M. Sat. TENNESSEE WYOMING Pikeville–S.E. Tenn. St. Regional Cody KOFG 91.1 FM International SS Hour 10:30 A.M. Sun. Correctional Facility Times Vary 6:00 P.M. Sun. TEXAS Theological Seminar of Air 1:30 A.M. and 4:P.M. Sat. Abilene–KTXS–Ch 12 7:00 AM Sun. 2:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. Sun. Brownwood–Ch 777:00 AM Sun. CANADA San Angelo–Ch 55 7:00 AM Sun. Thompson, MB CHTM 6 10 A.M. Theo. Seminar of the Air 9:30-10:00 A.M. Sun.

WIDE COVERAGE­—DIRECT TV—SATELLITE—INTERNET

Satellite LESEA BROADCASTING AMOS SATELLITE— G6 Ch. 15 “C” band (99 degrees W) 7 PM ET Fri. —METV 6 PM Sat. and 1 PM Sun. Coverage­—Southern Canada, whole U.S., Hawaii, Northern Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, Saudi Mexico, Caribbean Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Qatar, Cyprus, Dubai, UAE G4 Digital Transponder #21 1 PM Sunday (Central) (Cable 24 all Israel) Frequency 4124 MH (101 degrees W) —FETV 8 PM Fri. (GMT) Coverage—All North America Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania Direct TV Satellite PAS-10, 3,924 Mhz. vertical polarity, 3,003 Msyb/s Channel 367 7 PM Eastern Fri. symbol rate, 2/3FEC Final Fight Bible Radio finalfightbibleradio.com 5 A.M. & 5 P.M. (PST) Mon.-Fri. Page 40 February 2018 BIBLE BELIEVERS’ BULLETIN Non-Profit Organization REQUESTED Pensacola, FL Pensacola, Permit No. 768 No. Permit U.S. Postage Paid Postage U.S. ELECTRONIC SERVICE ( beneath the name on label Expiration date or status is located Change of Address ❑ Change of ❑ Name Removal ❑ Renewal ❑ New Subscription ( Foreign—Airmail ($35.00) ❑ 3rd Class ($14.00) ❑ 1130 Jo Road 1130 1st Class ($22.00) ❑ Pensacola, Florida 32514 Canada & Mexico Airmail ($25.00) Canada & Mexico Bible Baptist Church ❑