| Foreknowledge and Predestination | There is considerable controversy about whether God is omniscient. Does God have perfect foreknowledge and how does He foreordain those who will be in the first resurrection? This message, as part of a series on the Nature of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, comprehensively addresses the subject with its various questions. |
| The Origins of Jesus Christ | This paper is the result of years of study, meditation, research, and gradual growth in understanding. It is companion to a number of other papers done on the nature of God, with more in the pipeline. I've tried to write to you, the person diligent in Bible study, so that you might readily understand the material in these 26 pages. You will also be challenged and stimulated to further study and excellent questions. The vastness of the subject requires more than a little personal effort at checking the biblical references and giving lots of thought and careful consideration. |
| Witness and Accountability— Responses to the Gospel | The sad lesson of biblical history is that man too often chooses to reject God's revelation. What can we learn from the biblical record of mankind's resistance to the witness of God to help us comprehend more fully our obligations to live the message of the Gospel?. Are we faithful witnesses to God and to His Word? |
| Resistance! Sin and our Spiritual Immune System | How strong is our spiritual immunity, our resistance level, when trials and temptations beset us? Do we really understand the nature of the forces that are constantly at work to attempt to weaken us? God has made available a powerful set of tools to help us to strengthen our spiritual immune system. |
| Will the Millennium be a Utopia? | A review of some previous assumptions about Christ's millennial rule. Considers notions of utopia, past, present and future, and re-examines the fundamental truths about how God works in human beings. |
| Glory | Examines the Glory of God, and of Jesus Christ, in contrast with human glory. How God has predestined His saints to glory, and how they are to glorify Him. |
| The Law is Spiritual | We are told by the apostle Paul in Romans 7:14 that 'the Law is spiritual'. What does that mean? Do the answers lay the foundations for truth in the inner man? Do we want truth in our inner being? |
| The Banquet of God | Considers the nature and timing of the Wedding Supper of the Lamb to which the saints of God who form the Bride of Christ are invited. |
| Promises to the Churches | Considers Revelation chapters 2 and 3, the spiritual weaknesses of the Church of God amidst its strengths, as diagnosed by Jesus Christ, reflecting on His rebuke and His admonition as they may relate to the saints today. Also examines the promises made by Christ to the overcomer who does indeed take to heart the diagnosis, the warnings and the encouragement. |
| The Convocation and Assembly of the Saints | Why has God commanded festivals and celebrations? They all reflect what God has done, is doing, and will do. The religious commemorations and convocations are not for that poorly-recognised nation called Israel—they are for all mankind. |
| Satan and History | The "Problem of Evil" is one of the great issues of philosophy and religion, and is more often addressed in movies. Descriptions are graphic, causes are frequently well explained, but the origins of evil are not understood. With ignorance or idolatrous notions about God and what the Almighty defines as good, it is impossible to comprehend that whatever is not of God is evil. The Day of Atonement deals with the problem of evil. |
| A Memorial of Blowing of Trumpets—The Day of Blowing the Trumpets | Most of us who try to observe the Festivals and Sabbaths of the LORD tend to assume that we know what they mean and portend. This paper opens up more of the significances of the Feast of Trumpets. Crucial issues in regard to the biblical calendar are also addressed. |
| Jericho & Babylon—and the Trumpets of God | Looks at some of the symbolism found in the description of the destruction of ancient Jericho and Babylon and shows how they slot into the biblical accounts in the panorama of end-time events as depicted by the trumpet blasts of the Book of Revelation. The role of the saints in God's judgment of this civilisation. |
| Mind Control | How well are we serving God with our minds? Via the thoughts and actions of our minds, are we overcoming more successfully, or are we being overcome by the world? The nature of the thinking that serves God and that which is resistant to His will. |
| The Remnant—Gathering the Lost Sheep | The numerous prophetic passages describing the scattered saints, their experiences, and their final gathering provide marvellous material for further examination and discussion. The overtones and implications are awesome, wonderful and fearful. |
| What is Man? | The answer is directly related to the Nature of God and of Jesus Christ. The relationship of Father and Son, the purpose the Father had in mind for the Son, and the bringing forth of the children of God are all wonderfully inter-linked. The subject matter is far larger and greater than what this relatively short paper tries to convey. |
| Biblical Examples | How alert are we to the personal lessons for us contained in the examples of men and women in the Bible? Do we take them to heart? And how does this affect the godly examples we ourselves are to be? What sort of examples are we? |
| Conflicts of Interest & the Nature of Love | Serving others without competing with one’s own interests. Is it possible to love and serve someone without being motivated by hidden agendas? |
| Fruitfulness | From Christ's parable of the vineyard, of the vine and the branches, and other similar imagery and parables involving fruit-trees and fruit, what can we as Christians learn about spiritual fruitfulness? |
| Deception and Deceit | Considers the nature of deception and deceit. The role of sin in deception and self-deception. |
| Spiritual Lethargy | Identifying and overcoming spiritual lethargy. Running the Christian race with zeal and endurance. |
| Hope | Considers the nature of Christian hope, the hope of our calling, as well as lost hope and hopelessness. What is the value of hope, and what is the effect of hope on our spirits? What was the hope of Jesus Christ, and of the prophets? |
| The Old and the New Leaven | Examines the meaning and symbolism behind the putting out of the old leaven and the putting in of what is unleavened. |
| Godly Self-Examination | How can we ensure that our hearts are clean before God, and that any process of spiritual self-examination we undertake is honest and effective, and approved of by God? |
| Righteousness, Faith and Life | Considers the righteousness of God, the inseparable bond between righteousness, faith and life, and how we are imputed righteousness through faith. The righteous example of Joseph. |
| The Biblical Calendar 3: What is the Biblical Calendar? | This paper summarises the previous two papers on the subject and shows the errors in the current Hebrew calendar. |
| The Biblical Calendar 2: The Heavens Declare the Glory of God | Introductory paper two. The times and seasons of prophecies correspond to the times and seasons of the sacred festivals (Gen 1:14-18; Ps 104:19; 136:5-9). The sacred seasons, which we understand in part, are in direct relationship to the created relationships of sun, earth, moon and stars. |
| The Biblical Calendar 1: Types of Things in Heaven | Introductory paper one. The year 2000 brings with it not only more scattering of the sheep, more disintegration in the world, but also more confusion about where we are in time with respect to prophecy. The Y2K fizzer illustrates the desire of many to hurry disaster in the world so that Christ might return sooner. False prophets and prophecies will continue to abound. However, just as the Lamb of God was foreordained before the creation of the universe and according to an exact time, so was the Pentecost of Acts 2 exactly 50 days after the resurrection of the Son of God. The coming of the Messiah will be precisely when the Father has ordained. (Mt 24:36; Acts 1:7). |
| The Shepherd of Israel | How do we recognise who the Shepherd of Israel is? What Scripture says is not all that you might think. |
| Spiritual Gifts | How well do we comprehend the nature of the gifts of the Holy Spirit imparted to Christians by the grace of God? |
| Spiritual Healing | Though it might seem relatively easy to recognise physical illness within one's own life or that of another, this is not the case with spiritual sickness. |
| Wisdom—and how to obtain it | Biblical definitions of the wisdom Christians are exhorted to obtain. Destroying and rejecting wisdom. |
| Perception and Deception | As Christians, how well do we evaluate our own hearts and motives when it comes to thinking and judging correctly, and how perceptive are we in discerning error that may present itself to us? What are the criteria we use to evaluate and make judgments about what we hear and see? |
| Gog and Magog—and Mankind's Final Rebellion | The lesson of Gog is sobering as well as encouraging: God will judge all evil and evil-doers, but He also gives men space to repent and delivers and perfects His people. |
| Pilgrims in the World: Parts 1& 2 | Most of us recognise that the Bible teaches that all Christians are sojourners, pilgrims, strangers in the world. What do these ideas mean? |
| Ecclesiastes: What's Worth Working For? | An examination of Solomon's exploration of the dilemma of life under the sun. |
| The Priesthood of God | Considers some of the ways in which God's promises to His people of old have their fulfillment in the Israel of God being perfected today. How is the Church the spiritual priesthood of God? |
| Symbols in Rev 12:1-3 | The symbolism of Revelation 12 is immensely rich. This paper considers the first three verses, and even then the subject deserves more exposition. |
| With the Heart | Focuses on what the Scriptures teach Christians about worshipping God with the heart, especially in the areas of obedience, faith, repentance, forgiveness and in the practice of godly love. |
| The Nature of Jesus Christ 1: Was Jesus "true God and true Man"? | This paper, as part of a series, explores the mystery of the nature of God and His Son. Tradition, not Scripture, says that the incarnate Jesus was "true God and true man". Biblical proofs are offered that show the dubiousness of such belief. What is the significance of the sinless Son of God increasing in wisdom, knowledge and learning obedience? |
| The Nature of Jesus Christ 2: Philippians 2:6-11—the Incarnation | The Incarnation, described in Philippians 2:6-11, is one of the greatest biblical mysteries full of theological controversy. This paper offers exposition that cuts through the arguments and false claims so often presented. Furthermore, it gives added meaning to the promise of salvation and resurrection for the saints. |
| The Nature of Jesus Christ 3: Who is "the Son of Man"? | The Son of Man is a biblical title that provokes remarkable controversy in christological debates. This paper offers strong biblical response to scholars' arguments and to those who have vague and poorly-informed notions. |
| Elihu and Job: Preparing the Way to Liberation | We have all wrestled with the problem of suffering. Why is there so much suffering, misery, oppression and loss of liberty everywhere we might care to look? The poetical masterpiece of the Bible called 'Job' gives wonderful answers. Job's friend, Elihu, addresses these problems so powerfully confronting Job. |
| Christian Conscience | Considers the nature of the conscience and its role in the Christian's life. |
| The Heritage of Israel and the Centrality of the Gospel | Addresses the very widespread tendency within many Christian groups to separate and distinguish between Old Testament Israel and the Church of New Testament times. The paper sets out to clarify the identity of Christians in relation to Old Testament Israel. |
| Mt 18:15-17 and Conflict Resolution | What is Christ actually teaching Christians in these verses of Matthew 18, and how do they fit into the dynamics of conflict resolution within the Body of the Church? |
| The Former and the Latter Rain—and God's Harvest of Righteousness | Considers how the agricultural cycle of Palestine, with its two annual harvests, pictures the two major stages of the spiritual harvest of souls, the harvest of human beings into the Kingdom of God. |
| Principles or Ideologies? | This message, dealing with fundamental issues which affect all cultures, is loaded with much scope for discussion and meditation. It is also an attempt to encourage people to more closely examine their real reasons for believing what they do, and why. Why do we really think, say and do what each of us believes, says and does? |
| The Lesson of Israel—and Lessons from Israel | Considers the purpose and the lesson of ancient Israel as well as the vital lessons Christians need to learn in this age from Israel's wilderness experience. |
| Overcoming and the Passover Season | God asks us to observe commemorations of His Plan with hearts that are right in His eyes. This message is mindful of the fact that factionalism and prophesied disintegration of God's Church would continue to the very end (Jer 23; Ezk 34). What should be our attitudes—godly attitudes that are essential for all time—as we prepare for the Passover season? |
| The Wavesheaf of Israel | Examines the spiritual symbolism of the ceremony of the "Wave Sheaf Offering" (Lev 23:9-14), as set down in the sacred calendar of God, and its relevance for Christians today. |
| The Government of God | What does each of us think the much-used phrase, "the Government of God", means? How would each of us describe the Government of God? What are its main biblical characteristics? What is God's view of government among His people? Out of the abundance of one's heart one governs. |
| Leprosy and the Condition of the Heart | The Book of Leviticus details the process of identifying and being cleansed from the plague of leprosy. Does this procedure have other applications for Christians today? |
| Symbols of the Crucifixion | The cross of Christ is a powerful symbol carrying many important spiritual lessons for us. |
| The Passover and the Lord's Supper | This paper attempts to comprehensively explain the differences between the Old Testament Passover, the New Testament Lord's Supper, and the first night of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We are assured that a coherent biblical presentation shows how these differ and what their significances are for Christians today. |
| Christian Sovereignty: Godly Rulership | Examines the nature of the authority granted to man and, more specifically, the authority bestowed by God upon His saints. |
| Fear and Relationships | Our experience of love in the churches is sparse, if not entirely lacking. What is the love the Bible describes? The primary reason for lack and inexperience is fear of of love. How does love challenge our humanity? A careful study of this paper should prove to be a new and godly experience. |
| Spiritual Responsiveness: How do we hear God? | How do we correctly hear God so that we can be responsive to Him? |
| Measuring Ourselves—according to God's Standard | As we reflect back over recent years, we've surely noted the deterioration in the world and the relentless march of folly into what the Bible says will happen to the world. So, as a rather ominous time confronts us for 1999, what should we be doing and what standards should we be setting for ourselves? |
| Aspects of Christian Judgment | What sort of judgments do Christians make and what criteria are used in making them? |
| A Prayer for Power | Considers how Christians may receive the Power of God. |
| The Powers of the World | What are some of the powers that govern the world and how do men try to cope with the vastness of the world and the forces that confront them? |
| Access to Power | Examines the notion of having access to the Power of God. |
| Love's Fool | Considers the love of God in action through the example of the apostle Paul in his second letter to the Church in Corinth. |
| Spiritual Blindness and the Hardening of the Heart | What is the nature of the spiritual blindness that prevents people who are witness in word or in deed to the truth of God from accepting it—and can we also be affected? |
| Christian Fatherhood and Parenting | Addresses this very practical subject by examining the relationship of parents and children, as well as Christian marriage. |
| What should Mankind do? | What should mankind do? The obvious answer is: Turn to God! This message is seen as part of an urgent effort to explain the problems of good and evil. The deeper nature of repentance is addressed. When profoundly experienced, people are readied for what God wants to do with those who are His—preach His Gospel. |
| The Great Multitude and the Elect of God | Discusses the 144,000, the Elect of God, and the Great Multitude of the Book of Revelation. The nature and timing of the Wedding Supper is also considered. |
| Christian Dominion: Overcoming a Reliance on Rules | Discusses the battle between faith and works of the law. Blind obedience is contrasted with internalising the law of God in our hearts. Becoming convinced of and convicted by the truth. |
| The Perfection of the Saints | Re-emphasises the hope of the firstfruits of God and their importance to Him. How the elect saints will learn and impact others for a thousand years as they participate in Christ's rulership over this whole earth. |
| Atonement and Azazel | This paper gives a fairly comprehensive definition of the biblical meaning of Atonement and Azazel. |
| The Justice of God | A biblical examination of how God judges man. The principles upon which man's judgments and justice system are based are contrasted with godly principles of justice. |
| Mankind and the Sabbath | "Mankind and the Sabbath" is a pre-Feast message. It seeks to answer the question, 'What does the creation Sabbath symbolise?' . |
| A Sense of Place—Tabernacle and Tent | Another pre-Feast message. It is oriented towards focussing the mind on the true sense of Christian belonging in an alien world. |
| The Parenting of God | The way God parents His children reveals so much about how we should raise our own children. The Scriptures also show that principles in God's parenting should be manifested in our daily lives, in the relationships between sheep and shepherds, and these principles need to be known for application in the Kingdom of God. |
| In the Name of God | As Christians, and as 'members' of whatever Christian incorporations we might be a part, we see and hear all done 'in the Name of God.' Wars are carried out in the Name of God. Most of us, wherever we might be, may have already experienced at least one division in our Church. The newly-formed and the former group speak and act in the Name of God. Who may claim to speak and act in the Name of God? |
| The Olivet Prophecy | "The Olivet Prophecy" is a study guide for the Bible student. Matthew, Mark, and Luke are compared in parallel columns. Other relevant parallels are also given. Many, if not all of us, have had or still have notions about prophecy that are quite erroneous. Quotes from Mr Armstrong date back to 1928 and the first PT of 1934. All that is presented can be readily verified. Your questions are welcomed. |
| Confidence in God | How can one measure one's calling, one's being chosen by God, being taught by God, and be certain about one's Christianity? What are the biblical criteria for assessing where one stands before God and how does one attain certainty in that? It is recommended that readers take their time in meditating about, considering, and checking all the Scriptures given plus any others recalled or sought out. Your questions and discussion are most welcome. |
| Bondage or Freedom? | The Passover season commemorates the sufferings, death, and resurrection of the Lamb of God. God's sheep follow the Lamb wherever He goes: this includes following the Shepherd of our lives out of this world, crucifying the flesh, sharing in His sufferings, and experiencing the joy of victory over sin. This message is also intended to help with practical life application. |
| Considerations of Prophecy | This first of a series on Prophecy addresses some basic errors of interpretation, though more will follow. Some principles for correct understanding are also laid. Readers are urged to check all the Scriptural references given. |
| Elements of Genuine Faith | 1998 and the time immediately ahead show indications—internationally, nationally, and even locally—of considerable trials and heartaches. Each of us will experience further testing of our true faith. What are our primary needs? |
| Tasks for a better Future | Perhaps you've found the past year very disturbing. 1998 will not be better—in fact many trends show it will be worse. What do you need to do to help ensure your spiritual, psychological, cultural, and social conditions are better? |
| Where is the Church? | This message seeks to address a common question many may have heard before. However, the approach is one you may have not heard before. It provokes one to ask hard questions of oneself. The answers will probably surprise you. |
| The Old and New Covenants | What are the old and new covenants? Does God call us into a different type of relationship to that into which he called ancient Israel? Did God offer ancient Israel a covenant that was second-best? Why is the new covenant better than the old covenant? |
| God's Covenant with David | When does Israel receive the blessings of the covenant? Who sits on David's throne today? |
| The Eden of God | The Garden of God, the Garden of Eden, the Paradise of God, the Kingdom of God, and the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, have common factors. How? |
| The Making of Men and Women: Leaders for the Kingdom of God | What is needed so that God may make people, who were not wise according to the flesh, were not mighty, not noble, but were foolish, weak, base, and despised into saints who put to shame the wise of the world, and confound the mighty things honoured in the world? |
| The 3rd Commandment | False doctrines about the nature of God, about the names of God, are condemned. Jesus Christ wants His brothers and sisters in the family of God to know the Name of God, to live by the Name of God, and to glorify His Name. |
| As Balanced as Christ | When is anger ungodly, as opposed to being timely and appropriate? When is happiness discordant? When is criticism fitting? How is the righteousness of Jesus Christ applied in all situations? |
| The Nature of Deceit (2): Fear of the Truth? | Why is there such reluctance to prove all things from Scripture? Why do people rely on people, and contradict what was said by Jeremiah, who spoke to the religious people of his day and who speaks to the religious people of today also: Cursed is the man who trusts in man? |
| The Will of God | Frank Sinatra's song, I Did It My Way!, and songs with similar messages since, illustrate to us—quite graphically—that the normal way of the human being is antagonistic, disinterested, and very resistant to the Word & will of God! |
| Aspects of God's Time | Where do we go for guidelines to show us how God deals with the organisation of time, His calendar, and hence a better understanding of the sequence of prophecy? |
| The Nature of Deceit (I): Recognising the Truth | All around the world people want the answer to this basic question: Whom can I really trust? Who's telling the truth? |
| Dire Straits or Strait Gate | The more godly each of us is, the more the ungodly find themselves condemned without anything being said. The more Christlike we are, the more exposed the unrepentant finds himself. The ensuing envy produces malicious retaliations. |
| What is Truth? | Orest Solyma's response to the UCG Pastoral Committee's request to clarify his doctrinal position on the nature of Jesus Christ, tithing, modern Israel and predestination. |
| Pride and Humility | Today Christ could be arrested for assault, unruly conduct, damage to public property, disturbance of the peace—amongst other things. Was He humble? And did those who thought they knew the Scriptures consider Him as humble? |
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