Vol 71 Issue 14

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Evangelism Activities The Evangelism Society of the Randolph, WI PRC sponsored a recent lecture at the Central Wisconsin Christian High School in Waupan, WI. This lecture, entitled “Enduring the Great Tribulation,” was given by Rev. Ron VanOverloop, pastor of the Georgetown PRC in Bauer, MI, and was a follow-up of a lecture he gave there last April 15, entitled, “The Lord’s Return, Is It Near?” The Church Extension Committee of the Loveland, CO PRC made a recent request to their fellow church members to supply names and...

The later Homer Hoeksema was professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. God’s Creation of Man (3): Created in God’s Image Adam, if we may phrase it in this way, must have had the surprise of his life on the sixth day of creation-week when he first opened his eyes upon the wonders of God’s handiwork. What we are trying to emphasize is that Adam’s experience, as he came from the hand of his Creator, was unique. There is nothing that lies within the scope of our earthly experience to which it may be compared. Perhaps...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction Presbyterianism was established in Scotland only after bitter struggle. If Andrew Melville, whose life we discussed last time, was the father of Presbyterianism, Alexander Henderson, more than any other, was responsible for fixing it firmly in the kirk of Scotland—although even after his life the struggle continued for some few years. The Stuart kings were on the throne of Scotland, all of them strong proponents of the divine right of kings and eager to be the absolute monarchs which their predecessors had been. Specifically,...

Rev. Woudenberg is pastor of the Protestant Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. Genesis 17:7 If there was one thing central to our difficulties with the Liberated churches, it was certainly to be found in their view of the covenant of grace. To them it was crucially important; to us it presented endless problems. As we have noted at various times in the past, the difficulties in...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary.\ A House Divided That is the situation in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC): she’s a house divided. Divided is the CRC on the issue of women in office. Twice in recent years the CRC synod decided to open all offices in the church to women, and twice subsequent synods refused to ratify those decisions and make the necessary changes in the CRC Church Order. Last year the synod refused to admit women to the offices of minister and elder on the ground that this is...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The concept nations is very important throughout the Scriptures. The first times the word appears is in Genesis 10, where we have the generation of Noah and the mention of Nimrod, and in Genesis 11 where we have the incident of the tower of Babel. The beginning of Nimrod’s kingdom was Babel or Babylon in the land of Shinar (Gen. 10:10, Dan. 1:2). It is clear, therefore, that Nimrod was the first man to aspire to world dominion, the first type of the Antichrist, and the chief enemy of the church...

Mr. Schipper is a deacon in Southwest Protestant Reformed Church. “Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.”  Psalm 41:1 Our first article concerning the office of deacon noted that deacons stand in the office of Christ in the church. In particular, deacons represent Christ as He is our merciful High Priest. It is instructive to ask why the office of mercy is connected to the high priestly aspect of Christ’s office. The first thought we usually have in connection with the high priest concerns the sacrifices. We think especially of his...

The Christ, by Israel long expected— He is born! Events occurred as God the Lord directed— He is born! In a stable, born of virgin lowly, Jesus Christ, the Sinless One, Most Holy, Following the plan of God’s decree He is born! At the time selected in eternity He is born! His, a life like ours, with one exception— Suff’ring One! Each word and deed was totally perfection— Suff’ring One! Throughout His life on earth: humiliation! Then Passion Week—the final degradation Of holy Jesus, hanging on the cross. Suff’ring One! Rejected by His Father—greatest loss! Suff’ring One! Dark the day...

Appearance of Evil I always look forward to reading the Standard Bearer. And I do mean, “look forward.” I’m always behind on my reading! Thanks to Rev. Bruinsma in the September 15, 1994 issue urging us to walk a godly path in life. I like his quote highlighted on page 489. However, I’d ask that he take a second look at the word “appearance” (eidos) in I Thessalonians 5:22. I was reading in Strong’s, Vine’s, and BAGD. The passage actually exhorts us to abstain from true forms of evil, not, as Rev. Bruinsma seems to be saying if I understand him correctly,...

The name by which the distinctively Reformed doctrine of the last things is known is “amillennialism.” This name derives from the 20th chapter of Revelation. Six times in verses 1-7 is mentioned a period of “a thousand years.” An angel binds Satan for “a thousand years” (vv. 1, 2). The result is that Satan cannot deceive the nations for “a thousand years” (v. 3). John sees certain souls living and reigning with Christ “a thousand years” (vv. 4, 6). The rest of the dead lived not again until the “thousand years” were finished (v. 5). When the “thousand years” expire,...