Vol 76 Issue 07

Mr. Wigger is a member of the Protestant Reformed Church of Hudsonville, Michigan. Sister-Church Activities One of our sister churches in Singapore, the First Evangelical Reformed Church, sponsored a two-day Reformation Day Conference on November 25 and 26. Prof. H. Hanko, professor of church history and New Testament in our seminary, spoke both nights on the theme, “Passion for the Old Truths.” Congregation Activities This fall the young adults of our four Chicago-area churches decided to depart from their Bible study of last year and study various figures of church history using Portraits of Faithful Saints, by Prof. H. Hanko,...

From Sacrament to Contract: Marriage, Religion, and Law in the Western Tradition, by John Witte, Jr. Louisville, Kentucky: Westminster John Knox Press, 1997. x + 315 pages. $24 (paper). [Reviewed by the editor.] Scholarly as this book on marriage is and objective as it tries to be, it is obviously occasioned by deep concern for the family in America today. The book is part of the series, “The Family, Religion, and Culture,” which is devoted to a thorough study of the family in all ages and from many points of view. Concern for the family in America and in Western...

Rev. VanOverloop is pastor of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Michigan. Dedication Address To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  I Peter 2:4, 5 That which brings us together tonight is the dedication of a building, a church building. First we moved sand, then we watched the cement foundations being laid in the trenches dug for them. Then we saw the block walls...

Prof. Decker is professor of Practical Theology in the Protestant Reformed Seminary and a member of Georgetown PRC. Opening Remarks We thank and praise God tonight for making it possible for us to have this beautiful building. When we held our first worship service (and it was my privilege to conduct that service) on September 5, 1993 in the gym of Bauer Elementary School, none of us dared to think that within the next five years we would number over one hundred families and be able to build this building. Even when we were organized on March 2, 1994, none...

Prof. Hanko is professor of Church History and New Testament in the Protestant Reformed Seminary. Introduction In the last article (September 1, 1999) I introduced our readers to John Cassianus and Faustus of Riez. These were the two men who, while Augustine was still living, made serious objections to Augustine’s views. They did not like Augustine’s sharp and unequivocal defense of sovereign grace rooted in eternal predestination. Three remarks are necessary before I spell out the specific views of these two men. In the first place, these men did not write personally to Augustine and express disagreement with his position....

When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) then let them which be in Judea flee into the mountains: let him that is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house: neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. Matthew 24:15-18 Jesus spoke of various signs of His second coming, such as false Christs and false prophets; wars and rumors of war, with nation arising against nation; wickedness, hatred, and betrayals, even...

Rev. VanBaren is a minister emeritus in the Protestant Reformed Churches. Newsweek—and Prophecy Last time I pointed out a feature article in U.S. News and World Report: “Is the Bible True?” Newsweek, November 1, 1999, weighed in with another article related to the Bible and the millennium. It examined especially the book of Revelation and its prophecy of the end of the world. It is striking that the national magazines pay such close attention to Scripture and its prophecy as the new millennium approaches. Striking, it is, because obviously the writers and editors do not believe the testimony of an...

Time, as the swinging pendulum, Brings the new millennium. Man fears what is to transpire, Hearing the predictions dire. Some are worried, many fret Over things unseen as yet. People prepare in rapid paces, For preservation of the races. While others plan to celebrate This much anticipated date, With merriment and revelry They’ll celebrate the century. Millennium markers are on the rise As Y2K is commercialized.

Rev. Bruinsma is pastor of Kalamazoo Protestant Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan. A Sure Standard. Now we face a new millen- nium. What must our call- ing be as we step over the threshold of the old and into the new? Are we called to join hands with the apostatizing church world and lighten up a bit? Should we quit warring and simply learn to get along? Soldiers of Christ, we are fighting a warfare and we may not give in to unbelief and the lie! Our calling at this point in the history of the world is to bear...

Rev. Kuiper is pastor of Southeast Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel” (Is. 7:14). “And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger” (Luke 2:12). A sign not merely of identification, but a sign of all Jesus’ work “that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich” (II Cor. 8:9). What are...