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Below you will find some unusual items related to God’s ‘frowning providence’ of sending the coronavirus worldwide. In order to fit these special items, we delay printing of other articles that were planned for this issue. We trust the reader understands the appropriateness of addressing the current issues in the church and world. We did not ask anyone to produce special articles. Rather, we noticed what pastors and consistories were doing to care for their flocks in these unusual times, and then asked for permission to print what they had produced: A special sermon, “Coronavirus and the King,” edited for...

Death. The last enemy. When it comes, death tears apart body and soul, leaving behind sorrow, loss, and pain. In God’s sovereign providence, death is very much on the minds of people all around the world as new counts of deaths caused by the coronavirus are reported daily in the news. When this issue was planned, we knew nothing of the scourge that was coming. Death itself is painful. It is not natural, for it is God’s punishment for man’s sin. The child of God does not have a terror of death, for our Lord went through death that He...

Often the editorial for the May 15 issue of the SB previews the agenda of the synod of the PRCA. This year, however, for the sake of continuity, we decided to print Prof. B.Gritters’ second editorial on the implications of Calvinism, in his series on “What It Means to Be Reformed.” Prof. Gritters will be laying down his pen for the summer in order to speak and preach for a month in Singapore, and we judge it best to include this editorial before the series is interrupted. Accordingly, the annual preview of the agenda for the PRCA’s Synod (to begin...

I am enclosing a review that I re­cently wrote of Dr. Kenneth Gentry’s postmillennial book He Shall Have Dominion. It occurred to me that you might have some interest in the review due to the fact that your name is mentioned both in his book and in my review. I hope I have not misrepresented your views in any way. Your recent series of editorials entitled “A Defense of (Reformed) Amillennialism” was most helpful to me. Thank you for the good work you are doing.

Recommended Works on Eschatology I thank you for your good work in producing The Standard Bearer. I look forward to each issue and read it cover to cover. Could you send me a copy of the Belgic Confession? In addition, could you advise me as to the best books, publications, etc. that you would recommend on defining and defending the amillennial position in eschatology? (Mr.) Jim Pierson Maryville, TN Response: Receive with our compliments a copy of the Belgic Confession, as well as a copy of the Heidelberg Catechism and of the Canons of Dordt – the confessions of the...

Experimental Religion In a book review in the Standard Bearer (August 1, 1991), you wrote about the “second blessing” heresy, which “holds before the saint the real possibility of virtual perfection in this life.” You placed this under the general heading of “experimental religion,” which you said runs the danger of separating from “solidly doctrinal Christianity.” I understand the danger of “second blessing” as championed by certain Arminian denominations, but “experimental religion” is a term that has been used by (or about) some who are solidly in the Calvinistic tradition, such as M’Cheyne, Brainerd, Edwards, and Guthrie. They have spoken...

The Editorial Committee hereby informs the readers of the Standard Bearer of a significant development as regards the position of editor of the Standard Bearer. In the October 1, 2003 issue, Prof. Engelsma informed the readers of the Standard Bearer of a change forthcoming (“New Editor Sought”). He had notified the magazine staff (that is, the department editors) that he would not be available for reappointment as editor for the next volume year (i.e., volume 81, beginning October 1, 2004), citing his age and the number of years that he had borne the load of this work. With much regret, the...

A few comments before my question. As I was growing up, my parents always emphasized to us children the importance of church membership. This included membership in the church with the three marks of a faithful church as described by Article 28 and 29 of the Belgic Confession. My father, who served many years as elder in the church, reminded us not a few times that when the elders had their meetings with those who desired to leave the denomination, these individuals were warned that leaving was sin. If they persisted in their request, they were sent a certificate of...

The Apocrypha Doctors “She suffered Many Things of Many Physicians” (Standard Bearer, Sept. 1, 1994) dealt with one of my favorite Scripture passages from Mark 5:21-34. Perhaps the saddest commentary in verse 25 is the observation that she “had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse.” How terrible of those doctors to take this poor woman’s money without truly healing her. It is certainly quite possible that some of those physicians were “faith” healers who claimed to her that they could produce a miraculous healing when they really did not possess that power. I would,...

Grammatical-Historical-Spiritual Exegesis” In the October 1, 1994 issue of the <=”” i=””>, Prof. Engelsma called Mr. Harold Camping back to the grammatical-historical-spiritual method of Bible interpretation. Would you please explain more fully what this is, for those of us who would want to tread carefully on the “holy ground” of Jehovah’s Word? Is the grammatical-historical-covenantal (method) something different? Are there books or literature that you can recommend on this topic? I and others will be eagerly awaiting your response.  D. Scott Connerley  Bloomington, IN Thank you for your article, “Lessons from the Recent False Prophecy of the Date of the End of...