the berean searchlight...4 berean searchlight thanksgiving “being thus arrived in a good har-bor,...

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Berean SearchlightStudying God’s Word, Rightly Divided November 2003

2 Berean Searchlight

INSIDE THIS ISSUE November 2003

The Berean Bible Society is an organization for the promotion of Bible study by meansof newspaper series, recorded Bible lessons, and the distribution of Bible study literature.It is a non-profit organization, a work of faith supported by the gifts of Christian friends.

The Berean Searchlight is the official organ of the Berean Bible Society,and is sent free of charge to any who request it.

Editor: Paul M. Sadler; Composition and Layout: Kevin J. Sadler

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The Berean Searchlight (ISSN 0005-8890), November 2003. Vol. 64, Number 8.The Berean Searchlight is published monthly (except July) at no subscription price, by BereanBible Society, N112 W17761 Mequon Rd., PO Box 756, Germantown, WI 53022-0756.Second-class postage paid at Germantown, WI. POSTMASTER: Send address changes toBerean Searchlight, N112 W17761 Mequon Rd., PO Box 756, Germantown, WI 53022-0756.

Feature ArticlesStudies in the Book of Revelation—Rev. 1:11-20

Pastor Paul M. Sadler ........................................ 5Facts on Tithing

Pastor Ken Lawson ............................................ 10The Unveiling and Shining Forth of Grace

Pastor Cornelius R. Stam ................................... 13Putting Poppa in Perspective

Mr. Dave Allen .................................................... 21

DepartmentsThanksgiving ........................................................... 4Question Box ........................................................... 19From Our Mailbag .................................................. 26News and Announcements ..................................... 30

November 2003 3

Dearly Beloved,Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays

of the year. I’m not sure whether it’s the aromaof turkey and stuffing filling the house or the

family congregating at home. It’s probably a little bit of both. Theday begins at the crack of dawn with me helping my wife wrestle thatbig bird into the roaster.

Vicki loves to cook and bake, and our youngest, Tim, loves to eat.Incidentally, he’s 6’4” tall and weighs in at 220 pounds, so it’s a matchmade in heaven! In fact, Tim plans to hold out and only marry a galwho can cook. However, the chances of finding such a gal are prettyremote these days. The fact of the matter is that most young ladiestoday don’t know how to cook, and they have absolutely no desire tolearn. Love is: sweep me off my feet and take me out to eat! Thank-fully, in the Christian community there are exceptions to this generalrule. There’s still hope for Tim!

At Thanksgiving it’s a full-time job keeping Tim from eating every-thing in sight before the rest of the family arrives. Once the grandkidscome they help to run interference for Grandpa. Usually Cody and Iset the ambiance for the day by hauling in some logs to build a fire inthe fireplace. Katie, now 3, enjoys serving everyone tea and crumpets,which hopefully is a sign of good things to come. Carissa is at thatstage, now 1 plus, where she loves to hear herself, so Grandpap singsright along with her, to her amazement and everyone else’s as well.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without watching at leastpart of a football game, especially if the Packers or Steelers are playing.This normally gets everyone psyched up for a game in the backyard.Fear not, I don’t play anymore simply because I can’t afford to have a220 pound lineman falling on me at my age. At this point in my lifeit’s a matter of survival!

Around this time the dinner bell rings. After a season of prayer tothank our heavenly Father for His goodness and for all the blessingshe has bestowed upon us, we gather around the table to enjoy anunforgettable meal. These are the things of which memories aremade. Who says believers can’t have a good time! Sadly, what theworld calls a good time is usually associated with sin.

We pray that as you gather with family and friends during thisholiday, may you have a happy and joyous Thanksgiving in the Lord,and may each and every day in Him be filled with thanksgiving!

Gratefully yours,Paul M. Sadler, President

From theEditor to You:


ThanksgivingThanksgiving“Being thus arrived in a good har-

bor, and brought safe to land, they fellupon their knees and blessed the Godof Heaven who had brought them overthe vast furious ocean, and deliveredthem from all the perils and miseries

thereof, again to set their feet on the firm and stable earth, theirproper element.” —William Bradford, Plymouth Plantation

The Thanksgiving Holiday might not be celebrated in theUnited States today, were it not for a patient, persistent womannamed Sarah Hale. It is well known that the First ThanksgivingDay was celebrated by the Pilgrim Fathers in 1621 to give thanksfor their first harvest and safe arrival in the New World.

In 1789, President George Washington issued a Thanksgiv-ing Day Proclamation to commemorate the first Pilgrim celebra-tion. But Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the UnitedStates discontinued it, calling Thanksgiving, “a kingly practice.”After this, Thanksgiving was observed by some individualstates, and on whatever date suited their fancy.

Then in 1828, Mrs. Hale, the Editor of the magazine Godey’sLady’s Book and author of the poem, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,”began campaigning for the restoration of Thanksgiving as anational holiday. She wrote letters and sought appointmentswith national leaders from the President down. Time after timeshe was politely rebuffed, sometimes being told it was “impos-sible” and “impractical,” and sometimes being dismissed witha this-is none-of-your-business scolding.

Finally in 1863 President Lincoln listened seriously to herplea that North and South “lay aside enmities and strife onThanksgiving Day.” He proclaimed the fourth Thursday of No-vember to be the official National Thanksgiving Day. This daywas finally ratified by the U.S. Congress in 1941. —Selected

While we are grateful that our forefathers saw the need to estab-lish a national holiday to thank God for all His benefits, for the be-liever in Christ every day should be a day of thanksgiving. We shouldlift our heart daily in praise and thanksgiving to God for every bless-ing, both spiritual and material, that He has bestowed upon us. Asthe apostle says:

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing givethanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Onbehalf of our entire staff, may you and yours have a wonderful andblessed Thanksgiving Holiday! —Pastor Sadler

Studies in the Book of RevelationRevelation 1:11-20

By Paul M. Sadler

“What thou seest, write in abook, and send it unto the sevenchurches which are in Asia; untoEphesus, and unto Smyrna, andunto Pergamos, and unto Thya-tira, and unto Sardis, and untoPhiladelphia, and unto Laodicea.And I turned to see the voice thatspake with me. And being turned,I saw seven golden candlesticks.”

—Rev. 1:11,12

Having established that Johnwas writing to seven Jewish as-semblies in the coming day of theLord, he is instructed to sendwhat he has written to these as-semblies. This was accomplishedwhen the Book of Revelation wasincluded in the canon of HolyScripture. The same can be saidof all the futuristic prophesies ofthis period recorded in the OldTestament (See Ezek. 37:1-28).

When the trump sounds andthe dead in Christ rise and wewho are alive and remain arecaught up to be with the Lord, allbelievers will have been removedfrom the earth at the Rapture.

This naturally raises the ques-tion, how will those who makeup these seven churches in Asiabe evangelized at the beginningof the Tribulation? Before we ad-dress this question, we must firstconsider whether or not there willbe a gap between the Rapture ofthe Church and the beginning ofthe Tribulation.

Many capable Bible Teachersbelieve that it will be needful forGod to place an intervening pe-riod of one year between thesetwo events before He resumes theProphetic program. They feel itwill take at least this amount oftime for the Temple to be rebuiltto insure that the Anti-Christ canestablish a covenant with Israelbased upon the sacrificial system.This position is well worth yourthoughtful consideration.

However, the Scriptures havenothing to say about a gap be-tween the Mystery program andthe continuation of Prophecy.Since we are living in God’s par-enthetical age of Grace, which washidden from ages and generationspast, Paul would have naturallybeen the one to reveal this ifthere was to be a brief intervalbefore the day of the Lord. Butthe apostle is silent! We believewhen the trump sounds at theRapture it will break the silenceof the present dispensation asGod declares war on this Christ-rejecting world. This will mark

Olive Tree


the beginning of the Tribulation.Both events will be simultaneous.

But there is a greater issue thatis often overlooked in this discus-sion. If there is an interval afterthe Rapture, God will have leftHimself without a human testi-mony upon the earth, somethingHe has never done in the past.We believe the stage will have al-ready been set behind the scenesfor the immediate fulfillment ofprophecy following the catchingaway of the Church. It is true thatthe sacrificial system will have tobe in place at the beginning of theTribulation, but this could easilybe accomplished by using the Tab-ernacle, as they did in the days ofKing Solomon, until the Templeis built. Of course, some believethat Israel will rebuild the Templein her own strength near the endof the current age. It will thensimply be used by God to accom-plish His purpose in the comingday of the Lord.

THE TWO WITNESSES“And I will give power unto my

two witnesses, and they shallprophesy a thousand two hundredand threescore days, [3½ years]clothed in sackcloth” (Rev. 11:3).

It is our firm belief that thosewho make up the seven churchesin Asia will be evangelized by thefruits of the two witnesses. Whileit is generally believed that theyconduct their ministry during thelast half of the Tribulation, thisview does not align itself with theScriptures. We know that Godpronounces three woes in theBook of Revelation. The first isfulfilled in the first part of the

Tribulation (Rev. 9:12), the secondwoe in the mid-part (Rev. 11:14),and the third during the latter part(Rev. 12:12). This clearly indicatesthat the two witnesses will suffermartyrdom in the middle of theTribulation, since the second woeis a direct consequence of theirdeaths (Rev. 11:7-14).

As the sound of the trumpfades in the distance, the two wit-nesses will immediately appear inJerusalem, where they will con-fine their ministry for 3½ yearsin accord with the Great Com-mission (Acts 1:8 cf. Rev. 11:8).With the reinstatement of theprophetic program, signs, mira-cles, and wonders will accompanytheir proclamation of the king-dom gospel.

These two servants of the Lordare called olive trees that standbefore God (Rev. 11:4). The sym-bolic usage of the olive tree in theScriptures is to identify God’s wit-nesses (Rom. 11:16-24). With thecutting off of the Gentiles at theRapture, Israel will again be graftedback into her rightful position asthe witnesses of God, which thetwo witnesses here in Revelationrepresent. They will faithfully beartestimony that Jesus is the Christ(Messiah), the very Son of God(John 20:31).

“With the cutting offof the Gentiles at the

Rapture, Israel will againbe grafted back into herrightful position as thewitnesses of God....”

November 2003 7

On the day of Pentecost whenPeter preached the kingdom gos-pel in connection with the Spirit’smiraculous manifestations, it pro-duced amazing results—threethousand souls were saved in oneday. A few days later an additionaltwo thousand souls were added totheir number. As dawn breaks onthe Tribulation, God is going tocontinue the Prophetic programat the point it was interruptedshortly after Pentecost.

Consequently, the testimonyand prophecies of these two wit-nesses will produce the same re-sults as the ministry of the twelveat Pentecost. We believe they willbe responsible for the conversionof the 144,000 who are said to bethe firstfruits redeemed unto God(Rev. 14:1-5). These are 144,000Jewish missionaries who will evan-gelize the lost to Christ, whichhelps us to understand how theseven churches in Asia will comeinto existence. While we will seekto identify these two witnesses inanother lesson, they are sent fromGod at the beginning of the Tribu-lation so the testimony of God onearth is uninterrupted. If any manattempts to harm them in the daysof their prophecy they will expe-rience the swift judgment of God(Rev. 11:5).

THE SEVEN GOLDENCANDLESTICKS AND

THE SON OF MAN“And I turned to see the voice

that spake with me. And beingturned, I saw seven golden can-dlesticks; And in the midst of theseven candlesticks one like untothe Son of man, clothed with agarment down to the foot, andgirt about the paps with a goldengirdle” (Rev. 1:12,13).

The Greek word luchnia (can-dlestick) derives it meaning fromthe Greek word luchnos or lampstand. Both words are closely as-sociated with illumination or light.This reminds us of the golden lampstand in the Old Testament taber-nacle, which had seven lamps thatilluminated the Holy Place. Nonatural light was permitted in thetabernacle, only the light that Godforeordained. Thus, the goldenlamp stand typified Christ who isthe Light. “Then spake Jesus againunto them, saying, I am the light ofthe world: he that followeth me shallnot walk in darkness, but shallhave the light of life” (John 8:12).

As John turned, he saw sevengolden lamp stands, which as wehave seen are the seven churchesin Asia (Rev. 1:20). These king-dom saints had received the Light;therefore they were no longerwalking in darkness. In the midstof the seven churches the apostlesaw “one like unto the Son of man.”At first it may seem strange thatJohn seemed uncertain whetheror not the one whom he was be-holding was the Lord Jesus. Butwe must bear in mind that he hadnever seen the Lord in this man-ner before.


John was acquainted with theSon of man in his humanity. Heknew Him as the lowly Jesus whowas merciful and compassionateto all those who came unto Him,the One that suffered evil at thehands of man: “who, when He wasreviled, reviled not again; whenHe suffered, He threatened not;but committed Himself to Himthat judgeth righteously” (I Pet.2:23). John had never seen theLord as He is depicted here in themidst of the seven churches. Itwas a fearful and awesome sightthat left the apostle astonished.We should add, according to John’sgospel, the Son of man is also theJudge of all the earth. All futurejudgment has been entrusted toHim by God the Father (John5:22,26,27).

Paul never uses the title “Sonof man” in his Gentile epistlessimply because as members of theHis Body we do not know Christin either sense. He has madeHimself known to us as the Lordof Glory who is the Head of theChurch, the Body of Christ. Thosewho live in the future day of theLord are going to see the Son ofman coming in a flaming fire ofvengeance to execute judgmentupon His enemies.

“And in the midst of the sevencandlesticks one like unto the Sonof man, clothed with a garmentdown to the foot, and girt aboutthe paps with a golden girdle. Hishead and His hairs were whitelike wool, as white as snow; andHis eyes were as a flame of fire;And His feet like unto fine brass,as if they burned in a furnace; andHis voice as the sound of manywaters” (Rev. 1:13-15).

It is strongly implied here thatthe Son of man is standing in themidst of the seven churches. Infact, He is often described asstanding in the Book of Revela-tion (Rev. 5:6 cf. 14:1). This is inaccordance with the word of theprophet who foretold the eventsof the end times: “Arise, O Lord,in Thine anger, lift up thyself be-cause of the rage of mine en-emies: and awake for me to thejudgment that thou hast com-manded” (Psa. 7:6).

This is why Stephen’s hearerswere so infuriated when he sawthe Son of man standing at theright hand of the Father (Acts7:56). They understood that thismeant God was about to pour outHis wrath upon His enemies. Ofcourse, they could not even fathomthe thought that they were the en-emies of God. Consequently, theytook Stephen outside the city andstoned him. Instead of pouring outHis wrath, however, God usheredin the present age of grace, whichwas kept secret in time past. Thisis another example that God willresume the prophetic programwhere it left off. The Son of manwas standing before the interrup-tion of prophecy at the stoningof Stephen, and now He is seenstanding again by the ApostleJohn as prophecy resumes.

The Apostle John describes theSon of man as wearing a long flow-ing garment down to the foot.While this was common attire inbiblical times, John seems to beemphasizing that it was the gar-ment of a judge. It was appar-ently regal. Around His waist wasa golden girdle. Gold is a symbol

November 2003 9

of deity and rightly so here be-cause the Son of man is also theSon of God. The girdle speaks ofstrength. It was used to hold upthe garment around the waist inpreparation for battle. This samegarment will be sprinkled withthe blood of His enemies duringthe Battle of Armageddon at theend of the Great Tribulation (Rev.19:11-16).

John also noted “His head andHis hairs were white like wool, aswhite as snow,” which is a refer-ence to purity. White is a symbolof righteousness in the Scriptures(Rev. 19:8). Unlike the world wherethere are often miscarriages of jus-tice due to corruption, God’s judg-ments are just. Thus “His eyeswere as a flame of fire,” search-ing and exposing the evil deedsof men. Who will be able to standagainst Him at that day?

The apostle adds, “and His feet[were] like unto fine brass, as ifthey burned in a furnace.” Brassspeaks of judgment and fine brassthe execution of it with precision.In other words, the Son of manwill crush His enemies under Hisfeet (Isa. 63:3,4). Finally, Johnsays, “His voice [was] as the soundof many waters.” When the Sonof man spoke He did so with au-thority and power, so much so itwill cause the earth to quake in

the coming day of the Lord (Rev.16:17-19).

The description of the Son ofman woven throughout the nar-rative leaves little doubt that judg-ment awaits this sin-cursed world.But the believer will be secure,even if he suffers martyrdom atthe hands of the Anti-Christ. Thisis substantiated by John’s state-ment “He had in His right handseven stars.” As we noted earlier,these seven stars are the messen-gers or pastors of the seven as-semblies (Rev. 1:20). Even thoughthe kingdom saints never enjoyedthe assurance of their salvation aswe do today, they were neverthe-less eternally secure (John 10:27-29). This will be true of the futurekingdom saints as well. The sevenmessengers being held in the righthand of the Son of man are rep-resentative of this very truth.

“And when I saw Him, I fell atHis feet as dead. And he laid Hisright hand upon me, saying untome, Fear not; I am the first andthe last: I am He that liveth, andwas dead; and, behold, I am alivefor evermore, Amen; and have thekeys of hell and of death” (Rev.1:17,18).

John was so overwhelmed bywhat he saw that he fell at theLord’s feet as if he were dead.But the Lord laid His right handon the apostle and comforted himwith familiar words he had heardbefore: “Fear not!” I have con-quered death and I am alive for-evermore, and have the keys ofhades and death. This is a keypassage in our study as we willsee next month.

To Be Continued!

“The description of the Sonof Man woven throughoutthe narrative leaves little

doubt that judgment awaitsthis sin-cursed world.”


Facts on TithingFacts on TithingBy Pastor Ken Lawson

Our dear brother, Ken Lawson, is currently serving as the pastor of the GraceMemorial Church located in Edinburg, Illinois. Ken is also a well known con-ference speaker and frequently puts pen to page. On the subject before us, theadmonition of the Scriptures is clear: Tradition makes the Word of God of noneeffect! Sometimes we need to be reminded how important it is to remainconsistent with the Word, rightly divided. With this in mind, we’re sure you’regoing to benefit from Brother Ken’s insights on the topic of Tithing. —Ed.

1. The English word “tithe” aswell as its Hebrew-Greek equiva-lents “ma`aser” and “apodekatoo”means a tenth.

2. Many Christian churchespreach tithing as a means of sup-porting the work of the Lord to-day. There are many variationsof this theme. Some pay the localchurch one tenth of their income

after taxes and bills are paid; some pay before. Others demand tith-ing on unemployment, inheritance, gifts, tax refunds, social securityand even gambling winnings. The tithing issue has caused a greatdeal of strife and division in our churches over the years.

3. The most well known passage on tithing comes from the OldTestament book of Malachi 3:7-10. This Scripture has given rise tothe practice of “Storehouse Tithing.” Simply stated, the congregationis exhorted from the pulpit to channel all of their Christian givingthrough the local church (storehouse). If they wish to give to a Chris-tian organization, radio or television broadcast, etc., it must go throughtheir denominational machinery in order for the local church to get“credit.” Also the pastor and elders often must make the determina-tion if the cause supported by the giver is “worthy.”

4. This use of the Malachi passage is a good example of Scripturebeing taken out of its historical and dispensational context. “Thiswhole nation” in verse 9 is the backslidden nation of Israel, NOT thepresent day church (Malachi 1:1; 3:6). They were under the law ofMoses as a system of conditional blessing. Believers today are notunder the law but under grace (Romans 6:14). As such we have al-ready been blessed by God with all spiritual blessings in heavenlyplaces in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and are under a system of uncondi-tional blessing with grace on the throne (Romans 5:21).

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5. This should put an end to the common charge that believerswho don’t tithe are “robbing God” and will be “cursed with a curse.”The storehouse mentioned in verse 10 is not a local church but astorage bin or silo in the Jewish temple where the grain from theHebrew’s tithes was stored (2 Chronicles 31:4-12).

6. Under the law only agricultural products were tithed. Theyincluded grain, fruit, and livestock. Only products produced withinthe boundaries of the land of Israel were to be tithed. Jews living inGentile lands were exempt (Leviticus 27:30-34).

7. Others exempt from the tithing law included the hired hands,fishermen, miners, lumber workers, construction workers, soldiers,weavers, potters, manufacturers, merchants, government workers,and priests. In short, all who were not farmers were exempt.

8. A farmer with only 9 cattle did not tithe because the law speci-fied the “tenth which passeth under the rod.” Likewise a farmer with19 sheep paid only 1 sheep to the Lord’s tithe.

9. The Jewish farmers in the land could redeem (buy back) thetithes of their crops with a penalty of one fifth. In other words, if afarmer wishes to keep his tithe of grain worth $1,000, he could paythe cash equivalent of $1,200 (Leviticus 27:31).

10. Livestock could not be brought back nor could the farmerexchange a good animal for a bad one or vice versa. Any attempt tosubstitute any other animal other than the tenth which passed underthe rod would be penalized by the farmer forfeiting both the tenthand its substitute (Leviticus 27:33).

11. God ordained the Levites to be the ones to whom the tithewas paid (Numbers 18:21). They were one of the 12 tribes of Israel towhom no inheritance was given in the land. The Lord Himself and thetithes of the children of Israel was their inheritance. It was used forthe service of the tabernacle (later the temple) (Numbers 18:20-28).

12. It was unlawful for anyone outside of the tribe of Levi to re-ceive the tithe, such as prophets, preachers, kings or evangelists.

13. The Levites paid one tenth of their tithes to the high priest.Not all Levites were priests but only the sons of Aaron. The priestsdid not tithe.

14. The Lord Jesus Christ did not ask for or receive a tithe forsupport of His ministry. Being of the tribe of Judah (not Levi) Hecould not without breaking the law (Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5).

15. Neither Peter (not of the tribe of Levi) nor Paul (of the tribe ofBenjamin) could receive tithes for the support of their ministries.

16. Even the Jews do not practice tithing today because there areno Levites, priests, or temple worship in Jerusalem. Jewish rabbisknow biblical law well enough to know that tithing under the present


circumstances is unlawful. According to them, when the temple isrebuilt in Jerusalem with a consecrated altar with priests and Levitesofficiating, all Jews living within the biblical tithing zones will tithe.

17. Some Christian ministries today continue to support tithing,using the argument that it predates Moses and the law. But thisreasoning is not valid, for the Sabbath also predates the giving of thelaw (Exodus 16:23-29) and yet it is not binding on God’s people today(Romans 14:5,6; Galatians 4:9,10; Colossians 2:16,17).

18. Abraham gave tithes to Melchisedec, king of Salem, but thiswas the spoils of war, not the legalistic tithe of the land which Mosescommanded. Also, God did not command the tithe, Abraham choseto give it of his own free will (Genesis 14:17-23; Hebrews 7:1-10).

19. The only other scriptural reference to tithing before Moses isJacob. Again there is no command to tithe. In fact Jacob puts upnumerous conditions to be met before he will pay the tithe to theLord (Genesis 28:20-22).

20. The biblical references which address the tithing issues are:Genesis 14:20; 28:22; Leviticus 27:30-32; Numbers 18:20-28; Deuter-onomy 12:6,11,17; 14:22,23,28; 26:12; 2 Chronicles 31:5,6,12; Amos 4:4;Malachi 3:8-10; Matthew 23:23; Luke 11:42; 18:12; Hebrews 7:5-9.1

21. Paul the apostle to the Gentiles for this present dispensation ofGrace does not mention tithing but says a great deal about Christiangiving. Romans 15:25,26; 1 Corinthians 9:7-14; 16:1-3; 2 Corinthianschapters 8 & 9; Galatians 6:6-10; Philippians 4:10-19; 1 Timothy 5:9-18.

WHO is to give to the Lord’s work? The Christian! He givessystematically, sacrificially, and joyfully. TO WHOM does he give? ToChrist! FOR WHAT does he give? For the cause of Christ! NOT to aman or to a church, not for gain, but for the Gospel.

Endnote1. According to Deuteronomy 14:22,23,28; 26:12; and Amos 4:4, the tithe was onlygiven every three years.

“Even the Jews do not practice tithing todaybecause there are no Levites, priests,

or temple worship in Jerusalem.”

“Every man according as he purposeth in his heart,

so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity:

for God loveth a cheerful giver” (2 Cor. 9:7).

The Unveiling andShining Forth of Grace

(Grace—Part II)By Cornelius R. Stam

Sometimes believers become so busy serving the Lord that they forget theirroots. This series on “Grace” by Pastor Stam (which began last month withthe message: “The Dispensation of Grace, Mystery or Prophecy?”) is meant torekindle our joy for the faith that was originally handed down to us. —Ed.

“For the grace of God thatbringeth salvation hath appearedto all men.” —Titus 2:11

THE GREATESTREVELATION OF ALL TIME

To the Apostle Paul was com-mitted the greatest revelation ofall time: “the mystery,” the secretof the gospel and of God’s eter-nal purpose (Col. 1:25,26). To himwas entrusted “the dispensationof the grace of God” (Eph. 3:1-3).His ministry superseded that ofPeter and the eleven as, upon Is-rael’s continued rejection of Christand His kingdom, he became theapostle to the nations (Rom. 11:13).Solemn recognition was given tothis fact by the leaders of thetwelve (including Peter himself) asthey gave to Paul and Barnabasthe right hands of fellowship, ac-knowledging Paul’s divine com-mission to go to the Gentiles, andagreeing thenceforth to confinetheir own ministry to Israel (Gal.2:2,7,9).

In connection with this com-mission Paul was also the divinelyappointed minister of the Churchof the present dispensation, “theBody of Christ” (Col. 1:24,25).1 No

other Bible writer has one singleword to say about “the Churchwhich is [Christ’s] Body.” Noneof the other apostles mention it.Not only would we seek in vainfor such phraseology in their writ-ings, but we would seek in vainfor any discussion of the subject,for they do not discuss the Churchof which believers today are mem-bers. But Paul, who wrote moreof the books of the Bible than anyother writer, deals consistentlywith those truths which concern“the Church which is His Body”(Eph. 1:19-23).

THE REVELATIONLOST SIGHT OF

But this great revelation andthe glorious truths associatedwith it have been largely lost tothe professing Church.

The Church of Rome ignoresthe facts we have stated above,though they are clearly set forthin her own translations of theBible. She insists that the trueChurch of today is a perpetuationof that which was founded byChrist while on earth; a kingdomto be established on earth, overwhich Peter and the eleven were

November 2003 13


appointed to be heads and rulersduring His absence. And eventhough our Lord said nothingabout a prolonged absence or ofany succession of such rulers,Rome declares that her presentpope is a successor to Peter and,as such, the Vicar of Christ andsupreme Head of the Church onearth. Consistent with this sheholds that she is laboring to fulfillthe “great commission” given toPeter and the eleven, requiringwater baptism for the remissionof sins and claiming to possessmiraculous powers.

But Protestantism, while boast-ing freedom from the tyranny ofRome, has by no means emergedentirely from the shadows of thedark ages. She still suffers a Ro-man hangover. While renouncingpapal authority, she neverthelessstill clings to the Roman teachingthat the Church of today is a per-petuation of that to which ourLord referred in Matthew 16:16-18 and that it is God’s kingdom onearth. She too seeks to carry outthe “great commission” given toPeter and the eleven, though half-heartedly, for she cannot make upher mind whether water baptismis or is not necessary to the remis-sion of sins and is also confusedand disagreed as to whether ornot she possesses the miraculous

powers of what she calls the “greatcommission.”

Martin Luther, under God,shook Europe to its foundationswith a partial recovery of Paulinetruth, but the Protestant Churchhas done little to further that re-covery, so that rather than rec-ognizing the distinctive characterof Paul’s position as our apostle,most Protestants think of himsimply as one of the apostles,along with Peter and the eleven.In taking so short a step awayfrom Rome the Protestant Churchhas assumed a very weak position,for if Paul is to be considered asone with the twelve, Rome caneasily prove that Peter, not Paul,was appointed as their chief (SeeMatt. 16:19; Acts 1:15; 2:14,38;5:29, etc.).

THE EXTENT OFPAUL’S MINISTRY

Since Christendom has strayedso far and so long from the greatPauline revelation, she has lostsight almost completely of thevastness of his ministry and in-fluence, and the extent to whichhis message once became knownin the world. An example of thisis found in what Bible scholarshave done with Titus 2:11.

It is generally—and correctly—agreed that the epiphaneia in thispassage connotes a conspicuousor illustrious appearing, a shin-ing forth, and that the phrase “allmen” therefore does not signifyeach individual singly, but all mencollectively; all mankind. But fewcan quite believe even that underPaul’s ministry the gospel of God’sgrace shone forth to all mankind,

November 2003 15

that its proclamation ever be-came world-wide in scope. Theyconclude that Paul could not havemeant this in Titus 2:11; that hemust have meant only that thegrace of God, bringing salvationfor all, had appeared.

This problem seems to havetroubled even the translators ofthis passage, for Bible translatorshave never been agreed as to itstrue meaning.

According to some translations,like Darby’s New Translation, theapostle meant that the grace ofGod had appeared, bringing salva-tion for all men. According to oth-ers, like the Authorized (quotedabove) he meant that the graceof God had appeared to all men,bringing salvation. Still othersuse guarded phraseology, even tothe point of ambiguity, but mosttake one or the other of the aboveviews. The majority, probably, in-cluding some of those apt to bemost faithful in their renderings,conform in substance to the Au-thorized Version as quoted above.One cannot help feeling that wereit not for the translators’ doubtsthat Paul could have meant thatthe message of Grace was shin-ing forth to all mankind, all, ornearly all, would have renderedthe passage substantially like theAuthorized Version. In view ofthese doubts it is significant thatso many have rendered it like theAuthorized.

THE TWELVE ANDTHEIR COMMISSION

Apart from Paul’s statementin Titus 2:11 there is much Scrip-tural evidence that his message

did shine forth to all the knownworld. Before considering this evi-dence, however, let us first observethat the eleven, under Peter, hadpreviously been sent to proclaimtheir God-given message to allmankind. In the records of their“great commission” three differ-ent terms are used to emphasizethis fact:

“Go ye therefore, and teach[make disciples of] all nations”(Matt. 28:19 cf. Luke 24:47).

“Go ye into all the world, andpreach the gospel to every creature[i.e., all creation]” (Mark 16:15).

The reader is asked to remem-ber well these three terms: allnations, all the world and all cre-ation, for we are to find them usedagain in connection with the min-istry of Paul.

The Twelve (Matthias replac-ing Judas) began to carry out theirworld-wide mission, but nevergot beyond their own nation. Weshould always associate Acts 1:8with Acts 8:1 in our study of theActs, for Jerusalem, rather thanturning to Messiah so that theapostles could go on with their“great commission,” started a“great persecution” against theChurch there, with the result that“they were all scattered abroadthroughout the regions of Judeaand Samaria, except the apostles.”

The twelve have often beencharged with bigotry and unfaith-fulness for remaining in Jerusa-lem at this time. In fact, however,it was rare courage and fidelityto their commission that keptthem in Jerusalem while perse-cution raged and their very liveswere in danger. They remained


at Jerusalem for the same reasonthat the rest fled: because Jeru-salem was not turning to Christ.The first part of their commissionhad not yet been fulfilled, there-fore they were duty-bound to re-main there.

The twelve did not remain atJerusalem because they wereprejudiced against the salvationof the Gentiles. There is too muchscriptural evidence against this.They remained there becausethey had a clear understandingof the prophetic program and oftheir Lord’s commission (See Luke24:45; Acts 1:3; 2:4). They knewthat according to covenant andprophecy the Gentiles were to besaved and blessed through re-deemed Israel (Gen. 22:17,18; Isa.60:1-3; Zech. 8:13). Our Lord hadindicated no change in this pro-gram. He worked in perfect har-mony with it. Even before Hisdeath He had insisted that Israelwas first in God’s revealed pro-gram, commanding His disciplesnot to go to the Gentiles or to theSamaritans but to “go rather to thelost sheep of the house of Israel”(Matt. 10:6), and saying to a Gen-tile who came for help: “Let thechildren first be filled” (Mark 7:27).And later, in His “great commis-sion” to the eleven, He had spe-cifically stated that they shouldbegin at Jerusalem (Luke 24:47;Acts 1:8).

Peter certainly indicated hisdesire that the “commission” un-der which he worked would bringabout the fulfillment of the proph-ecies and the covenant to Abra-ham, when he said to the “menof Israel”:

“Ye are the children of theprophets, and of the covenantwhich God made with our fa-thers, saying unto Abraham, Andin thy seed shall all the kindredsof the earth be blessed.

“Unto you first God, havingraised up His Son Jesus, sent Himto bless you, in turning away ev-ery one of you from his iniquities”(Acts 3:25,26).

And Paul, though not workingunder this same commission, lateralso bore witness that Israel hadbeen first in God’s program, whenhe said to the Jews at PisidianAntioch:

“It was necessary that the Wordof God should first have been spo-ken to you…” (Acts 13:46).

It was only when Israel per-sisted in rejecting Christ and HisKingdom that God began to setthe nation aside, raising up Paulto go to the Gentiles with thegood news of salvation “by grace,”apart from the covenants andprophecies, and “through faith,”apart from works. It was then thatPaul went to Jerusalem “by rev-elation” and communicated to theleaders there that gospel whichhe preached among the Gentiles(Gal. 2:2). And those leaders, in-cluding Peter himself, gave toPaul and Barnabas the right handsof fellowship in official recogni-tion of the fact that Paul had been

“...if the twelve hadgotten their message

to all the world ‘the end’of that dispensationwould have come.”

November 2003 17

chosen by Christ as the apostleto the nations and that they werehenceforth to confine their min-istry to Israel (Gal. 2:7-9).

With this official recognitionof the divine purpose the apostlesat Jerusalem were “loosed” fromtheir original commission to makedisciples of all nations, and Paulalone could say:

“I speak to you Gentiles, inas-much as I am the apostle of theGentiles, I magnify mine office”(Rom. 11:13).

Arguments are sometimes pre-sented from church history toprove that the twelve did go toGentile territory; that not morethan one or two of them died inPalestine. But even if these ar-guments could be fully substanti-ated, this would not enter into thecase, for whatever the Circumci-sion apostles may have done af-ter the agreement of Galatians 2,they had no apostolic authorityamong the Gentiles, and after thedeclaration of Acts 28:28 they hadno apostolic authority whatever.What any of them wrote (of theScriptures) after that, they sim-ply wrote by inspiration of theHoly Spirit, just as any other Biblewriter.

Let us mark well, then, thatPeter and the eleven, who hadoriginally been sent to proclaimthe gospel of the kingdom to “allnations,” “all the world” and “allcreation,” never completed theirmission. Indeed, had they doneso that dispensation would havebeen brought to a close, for ourLord had said concerning the tribu-lation period (then imminent, butlater graciously postponed):

“And this gospel of the kingdomshall be preached in all the worldfor a witness unto all nations; andthen shall the end come” (Matt.24:14).

If, therefore, the pouring outof the Spirit had been followed di-rectly by the pouring out of God’swrath (both predicted in Joel 2 asquoted by Peter in Acts 2) Israelwould have turned to God in re-pentance and the twelve wouldhave proceeded to proclaim “thegospel of the kingdom” to all na-tions. That dispensation wouldthus have been consummated; theend would have come. But ratherthan send the judgment imme-diately, God interrupted the pro-phetic program and revealed Hissecret purpose, sending Paul forthto proclaim to all mankind “thegospel of the grace of God” (Acts20:24).

PAUL AND HISCOMMISSION

Surely no one even superfi-cially acquainted with the Bookof Acts or the Epistles of Paul willquestion the fact that sometimeafter our Lord’s commission to theeleven, Paul was sent, as an apos-tle of Christ, to proclaim to allmankind “the gospel of the graceof God.”

It is significant that the threeterms employed in the so-called“great commission” to indicate itsworld-wide scope are also usedin Paul’s epistles in connectionwith his ministry. Only, whereasthe twelve never got to “all na-tions,” “all the world” or “all cre-ation” with their message, Pauldid with his.

18 Berean Searchlight18 Berean Searchlight

In closing his epistle to the Ro-mans the apostle says:

“Now to Him that is of power toestablish you according to mygospel, and the preaching of JesusChrist according to the revelationof the mystery, which was keptsecret since the world began.

“But now is made manifest, andby the Scriptures of the prophets,according to the commandment ofthe everlasting God, made knownto all nations for the obedienceof faith” (Rom. 16:25,26).

And to the Colossians he writesconcerning “the truth of the gospel”:

“Which is come unto you, as itis in all the world; and bringethforth fruit, as it doth also in you…”(Col. 1:6).

“…which ye have heard, andwhich was preached to every crea-ture which is under heaven [allcreation under heaven]; whereofI Paul am made a minister” (Col.1:23).

Various arguments may be ad-vanced to prove that “the gospelof the grace of God” did not actu-ally reach “all the world” or “allcreation,” and we do not deny thatto those addressed “all the world”would doubtless mean all theknown world, and “all creation”would likewise mean all the cre-ation as they knew it. But thepoint is that whatever these threephrases mean in the so-called“great commission,” they mustalso mean in these statements byPaul, for the terms are exactlyidentical in the original.

We have seen how the twelvedid not get their message to “allnations,” “all the world” or “allcreation,” because, on the one

hand Israel rejected it and on theother hand God had a secret pur-pose to unfold. But Paul, to whomthis secret purpose was revealed,says he did get his message to“all nations,” “all the world” and“all creation.”

Whereas the twelve never gotbeyond their own nation in car-rying out their commission, it iswritten of Paul that during hisstay at Ephesus “all they whichdwelt in Asia [Minor] heard theword of the Lord Jesus” (Acts19:10). To the Romans he writes:“from Jerusalem, and roundabout unto Illyricum, I have fullypreached the gospel of Christ”(Rom. 15:19), and speaks of hisplans to go to Spain (15:24), planswhich may well have been accom-plished between his two impris-onments. Even of his helpers itwas said: “These that have turnedthe world upside down are comehither also” (Acts 17:6). And tothe Romans again he says: “yourfaith is spoken of throughout thewhole world” (Rom. 1:8).

With regard to this last state-ment it is argued by some thatsince Paul had not even been toRome by then, it must be thatbelievers from the JerusalemChurch got as far as Rome undertheir “great commission.”

We do not accept this as valid,for while indeed there were“strangers from Rome” presentat Pentecost, there is no indica-tion that there was any substan-tial number of these, or that thosepresent were even converted,much less that they started achurch at Rome. Thus those towhom Paul wrote at Rome could

November 2003 19

scarcely have been converts of theCircumcision believers at Jeru-salem. They had doubtless beenwon to Christ through those whomPaul had reached with “the gos-pel of the grace of God.”

This leads us to recognize an-other important fact. We haveseen from Matthew 24:14 that ifthe twelve had gotten their mes-sage to all the world “the end” ofthat dispensation would have come.This proves at the same time thatPaul was not laboring to fulfill the

Endnote1. Composed of Jews and Gentiles rec-onciled to God in one body by the cross(Eph. 2:14-16; I Cor. 12:13), as comparedwith the kingdom church, which hadthe reign of Christ in view (See Matt.16:15-18; 19:28; Acts 1:6; 3:19-21).

Question Box“Pastor Sadler, on page 8, the last paragraph of ‘In the Eye of the

Storm,’ you mention sharing passages of Scripture which appear tocontradict each other. Do you mean you contrast Prophecy truth withMystery truth? If that’s your meaning, I would like you to share someexamples with me. Thanks, in advance, for the ‘ammunition.’”

You hit the proverbial nail on the head, beloved. Here are a coupleof examples from Christ’s earthly (Prophecy) and heavenly (Mystery)ministries.

“And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, yeshall receive” (Matt. 21:22).

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know notwhat we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makethintercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom.8:26).

When we compare Matthew 21:22 with Romans 8:26 we have anapparent contradiction. Which passage is true? Both are true! How-ever, if we rightly divide the Word of truth we are to understand thatMatthew 21:22 is no longer binding upon us today. The prayer life ofthe believer in relation to the kingdom was closely associated withthe miraculous. Thus, whenever a kingdom saint prayed for some-thing in faith, he received it because this was the will of God for themat that time. Their prayer life was in accordance with the miraculousnature of the kingdom (Isa. 35:1-10).

“And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thyservants, that with all boldness they may speak thy Word, by stretch-ing forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may bedone….And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they

“great commission” to the elevenand that he did not preach thesame gospel as they, for then “theend” would have come in his day,since he says that his messagehad gone to “all the world.”

To Be Continued!


were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost,and they spake the Word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:29-31).

With the temporary suspension of the kingdom during the age ofGrace, according to the Apostle Paul, we don’t know what we shouldeven pray for much less how we should pray at times. Thankfully, theSpirit of God intercedes on our behalf with such feeling it cannot beexpressed in words. In the administration of Grace we must alwayspray, “As it is according to Thy will, oh, Lord!” More often than notwe find ourselves in the same quandary as Paul:

“For this thing [his thorn in the flesh] I besought the Lord thrice,that it might depart from me. And He said unto me, My grace is suf-ficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Mostgladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power ofChrist may rest upon me” (II Cor. 12:8,9).

This is the nature of grace! Which model is characteristic of yourprayer life—Matthew 21:22 or Romans 8:26?

Another example of the importance of distinguishing between thetwo programs of God is found in John 1:31,33 and I Corinthians 1:17.

“And I knew Him not: but that He [Messiah] should be made mani-fest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water....And I knewhim not: but He that sent me to baptize with water, the same said untome....” (John 1:31,33).

“For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: notwith wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of noneeffect” (I Cor. 1:17).

Is water baptism a requirement for salvation today, as it was underthe kingdom gospel? The answer is an emphatic: No! We are savedby grace through faith alone (Rom. 4:5 cf. Eph. 2:8,9). During theearthly ministry of Christ water baptism served a threefold purpose:First, it was practiced so Christ could be made known to Israel that Hewas indeed her Messiah. Second, it symbolized the washing away oftheir sins. And third, it was the means through which believing Israel-ites were inducted into the priesthood; seeing that Israel was promisedto be a kingdom of priests. Within these God-given parameters Johnthe Baptist and the twelve would have been out of the will of God ifthey had not baptized those who placed their faith in Messiah.

With the introduction of God’s secret purpose known as the Mys-tery, Christ is no longer being made manifest to Israel today. Wereceive the forgiveness of our sins by the shed blood of Christ, and asmembers of the Body of Christ we are not the priests of God. Rather,we are God’s ambassadors while Christ is in royal exile. Therefore ifwe want to be in the center of God’s will today, we must follow in thefootsteps of the Apostle Paul who was not sent to water baptize, but topreach the good news of Christ and Him crucified.

—Pastor Sadler

Putting Poppa in Perspective

Our beloved brother, Dave Allen, has been a great help to us in the work of theministry. As you know, he is the narrator of our “Books on Tape.” From time totime, Dave is a guest contributor to the Webb City Sentinel, his local newspa-per in Texas. Putting Poppa in Perspective appeared in the paper earlier thisyear. It is a touching account of his childhood, which reminds us of the impor-tance of the biblical injunction to honor our father and mother. —Ed.

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honorthy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with prom-ise;) that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on theearth.” —Eph. 6:1-3

Dear Reader: Perhaps you can relate to me—a “Slow Learner,” unpossessingof great intellect or sagacity. Throughout my life I have often misperceived andmisinterpreted the events I have experienced. Of course, this has lead to manymistakes and misunderstandings.

It is my humble prayer that the accompanying narrative will help you put yourearthly Poppa in proper perspective. And more importantly to aid in opening theeyes of your understanding to an accurate and appreciative perspective of yourHeavenly Father who always desires and provides His best for you. Ephesians6:1,2 enjoins us to obey our father and mother in the Lord and to give them honor.Swift exercise of these entreaties is the ideal. Even so, delayed appreciation ismuch preferred over its deficit. Pray for understanding and He will give it to you(Psa.119:125 cf. Eph. 1:15-19). Take it from a “Slow Learner.”

Memories are unique things. Some are vivid and realistic, whilesome are hazy and ephemeral. Some are accurate, while some

are skewed. Some are enjoyable, and some are far from pleasant.But all were generated from our personal perspective at the time thereal event occurred.

Sometimes these memories seem to be indelible, and we can’t seemto shake them. Yes, some unpleasant memories we’d prefer to forget!For example:

In 1956 when I was 13 years old, my perspective was that every 13-year-old boy in Webb City had a motor scooter or motorbike. Everyone,that is, except me! Jim Steele had a white Cushman named Rhoid-III.Bobby Foster had a brand-spanking-new Cushman Eagle, the top of theline; Gary Goswick had a Harley Hummer; Larry Weston had a beau-tiful black B.S.A. Others had Simplexes, Indians and even Nortons.

But me, I only had a pedal-powered 26-inch Schwin with four bas-kets on it, so I could deliver all my Joplin Globes, Webb City Senti-nels and Wise Buyers. If ever there was a true need for motorizedtransport, I was the poster boy!

Putting Poppa in PerspectiveBy Dave Allen


But try as I might with all the persuasive arguments I could mus-ter, Poppa was immovable in his objection. In fact, he was downrightunreasonable, a regular veto despot, spoilsport, kill-joy, an evil ogreof obstinacy. His answer was always “No. No. No. And I don’t wantto hear anymore about it. Not one word!”

How could I reason with such unreasonability, if I couldn’t evenbring up the subject?

Time for Plan B—Wordless, yet subtle, subliminal, psychologicalinfluence. I wrote off for every motor scooter, motorbike, motorcyclebrochure known to man. Soon the postman was staggering up ourporch steps laden with heaps of literature beyond the capacity of ourmailbox.

Plan C—Scatter them throughout the house. Motorcycles every-where: on the coffee table, under the coffee table, same for the bed-side tables, beside the commode, beside the bathtub, on the bed, underthe bed, anywhere there was a flat surface.

Brochures “inadvertently” got in Poppa’s truck, even in his toolboxes. Somehow, he managed to ignore them all!

Time for Plan D—Each time we visited Sears, “Monkey” Wards,OTASCO or Western Auto, I would gravitate to the motor scooter,motorcycle department, as if drawn by some invisible magnet. ThereI’d be mesmerized by motors of 5, 10, even 15 horsepower. Hypnotizedby the curvaceous sleekness of an Italian Vespa...only to be broughtout of my trance by Poppa’s finger-snapping instructions. “Let’s go,Dave, time to get home for supper.” Poppa seemed oblivious to myheartfelt yearnings.

Time for Plan E—A plan no truly loving parent could possibly resist.That night, after Mom tucked me in bed and shut the door, Plan Ewas put in motion. Knowing full well that Poppa always checked oneach of us boys before he went to bed, I began to set the stage. FirstI carefully positioned open motorcycle brochures across my stomachand chest, uppermost being my favorite, a B.S.A. like Larry Weston’s.It bore my personal inscription, “The best gift a father could give.”Propped up with two pillows, I staged the pièce de résistance. Faketeardrops from the water glass strewn across that particular page.Purposely leaving on my reading light, I drifted off to dreamland ridingmy new B.S.A., careful not to disturb the heart-tugging scene.

When I awoke, all my brochures were neatly stacked under mybed. At breakfast, there was no mention of anything even remotelyconnected to motorcycles or motor scooters. Nor did one magicallyappear on my birthday nor at Christmas. In point of fact I never didget one, just like I never got a horse when we lived on the farm at“Look Over Lodge.” Poppa was made of sterner stuff than I and im-mune to my entreaties. At least so I thought at the time from mybiased and limited perspective at age 13.

November 2003 23

Over the years, as I aged quickly but matured slowly, I expandedmy perspective and with greater depth of understanding interpretedthe entire motorcycle episode from a more accurate angle. It hasbecome a “Numbers Game” I play each year on my birthday. Here’show it works:

Take the age you are on your birthday and extrapolate back tothe year your father (or mother) was the same age. You should knowwhat is going on in your life on your current birthday. But go a stepfarther and using pen and paper recreate what was going on in yourparents life when they were the same age.

For instance in 1980, I was 37 years old, named “Salesman of theYear” for the second consecutive year for the Grand Lakes region. I’dbeen married 16 years and had another two years to go before ourfirst and only child, Amanda, would be born.

It was 1956 when Poppa turned 37. He was self employed out ofnecessity in a stagnant home-building era. He’d run up a $5,000 tab forsupplies at Russell Belden’s Electrical Supply in Joplin. He’d tried tokeep it secret, but Mom found out. She went back to work as a grocerychecker at Herrod’s Meat Market for the first time since I was bornin 1943. To Poppa’s embarrassment she made more than he.

In 1956, Poppa had three mouths to feed—Bob, age 3; Tom, age 9,and me, age 13—while I was reminding him relentlessly with multi-tudes of brochures of a $475 B.S.A. motorcycle he could not afford tobuy. In the five years since receiving Grandpa Ed’s inheritance, themoney which Poppa thought would last a lifetime, hadn’t! He had tosell his dream, “Look Over Lodge,” and move back to town. Born in1919 with sight in only one eye and later crippled by polio, no employerwould hire him. They only saw the liability of his impairments, not hisdetermination and quality work.

Many years later, I learned from Mom that he had tried to get mea B.S.A. in layaway with $50 down. It was Mom that cancelled it outand applied the $50 to Poppa’s electrical supply bill. It took her fiveyears, but she paid all $5,000 off in 1961, the year I graduated fromWebb City High School.

Each birthday when I play this game, the result is always the same.I am constantly amazed at how much Poppa and Momma accomplisheddespite trying circumstances and how consistently they provided theirbest to me and my brothers. It gives me a whole new perspective ofpast events. One that is accurate, not biased. A true perspective thatalways deepens my gratitude for their loving self-sacrifice.

Play the “Numbers Game” yourself. It will give you a fresh inter-pretation of many bygone misconceptions and an increased appre-ciation for both your parents. Then if they are still with you, do nothesitate to laud them with the love and appreciation they deserve.For, as they say here in Texas: “The well is seldom truly appreciatedtill it’s gone dry!”

HOLIDAY GIFT SETS

Exploring the Unsearchable Riches of ChristBy Paul M. Sadler

This work is a primer on the Grace messageHardcover—185 PagesIncludes Scripture Index

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THESE OFFERS END DECEMBER 31, 2003(Extended 21 days for all foreign orders)

Orders up to $20.00, please add $3.00 for postage and handling.Orders over $20.00, please add 15% for postage and handling.

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Things That DifferThe Fundamentals of Dispensationalism

By Cornelius R. Stam

An in-depth study of the Grace messageHardcover—292 PagesIncludes Scripture Index

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From Our MailbagActs 14:27

From Australia:“I am doing my degree in Christian

Theology; however, it is with a Pente-costal College. I found so many thingswrong with their doctrines—theycould not answer all of my questionsand tried to spiritualize everything.When I came into your message, itanswered all my questions and alsomade the Bible come alive.”

From Cameroon:“Dear brethren, it is a pleasure for

me to write to you for the first time.I wish to use this medium to encour-age all the readers of Berean Search-light that he who waits patiently onthe Lord Jesus Christ will have hisreward in Heaven. The Berean Search-light has been a big blessing to me,my friends, and my neighbors. I havenever regretted being part of thismarvelous publication.”

From Texas:“Many thanks for the new series

by Dennis Kiszonas. His article on‘Tongues’ has been especially timelyand will be a useful witness tool forfriends who are caught up in a ‘HolySpirit’ group—not really a church! Ilook forward to his future teachingsof Paul’s gospel.” (We have receivedmany such responses about Dennis’article on Tongues. If you enjoyed it,I’m sure he would appreciate hearingfrom you. He can be reached via e-mailat: [email protected]. Ed.)

From the Philippines:“I’ve received from the mail the

book, Things That Differ, some copiesof the Searchlight, and a few bookletsby C. R. Stam. I was very joyful uponreceiving them. I believe that theywill nourish my hungry soul for thetruth of God’s Word. Thank you verymuch. I don’t know how to express myoverflowing joy. The Berean Bible So-ciety is indeed a ministry of grace.”

GOD’S BLESSINGON BBS MINISTRIES

From the Internet:“Your magazine has been truly

wonderful and I thank you for the la-bor involved in getting this messageto so many. For me, learning aboutprayer now in this age has been sohelpful in answering all those doubtsand fears I had before. I am truly,truly grateful that I receive His peaceand not my own requests, which look-ing back over my life would not havebeen the best thing for me. That Heknows my needs and I can just restin that knowledge even makes theact of prayer very, very real and per-sonal. Again thank you for your min-istry and time.”

From Illinois:“I thank you very much. I received

my Searchlight today and enjoyed itvery much. Sure enjoyed the piece onUnanswered Prayer that Brother Stamwrote; he was truly a great man.”

From Connecticut:“I’ve just ordered ‘The Mystery,’ and

cannot wait to read it, and to pass iton. Each book I’ve received from BBShas given me a deeper understandingof the Word, rightly divided. Thankyou all at BBS; thank God.”

From Nevada:“Thank you for your consistent

encouragement to ‘Search the Scrip-tures.’ ”

From Colorado:“First of all, I want you to know

how thoroughly I have both enjoyedand appreciated Pastor Sadler’s se-ries on the Apostle Peter. The con-tent is so very, very enlightening.Perhaps you already have in mindpublishing it in book form.” (We havereceived many such requests the pastfew months. With God’s help, we cer-tainly plan to seek His direction onthe matter. Ed.)

November 2003 27

From British Columbia:“I also want to say how much I

enjoy the Berean Searchlight in itsnew form the last few years. The ar-ticles are excellent! I listen to a lotof Pastor Sadler’s tapes and tell myfriend they are a great help wherethere is no Grace Church.”

From Texas:“Your kind letter, which I received

a few days ago, lifted my spirits. I wasamazed that a man with all you haveto do, and all you have on your mind,would take time to write me suchan encouraging letter. I trust thatwhen you are 84 some young brotherwill be as kind to you.” (Pastor Shiflethas been an ardent defender of Paul’sgospel for many, many years. Hisprolific writings have brought bothlight and blessing to those seekingthe truth. I know Brother Shiflet willgreatly appreciate your prayers onhis behalf. Ed.)

From Florida:“Thank you for sending us the

Searchlight each month. I usuallyread it cover to cover upon arrival.Then I re-read it during the remain-der of the month. It is an excellentresource.”

From Pennsylvania:“I just received the August edition

and really do enjoy reading and learn-ing more about the character of Paulby Pastor Sadler. Paul’s teachingson the Mystery of grace and gainingmore knowledge on the dispensationsare really helpful in my walk withthe Lord. I’ve been able to share withmy daughter the past year, more andmore about our walk in faith by liv-ing in His grace, which really helpedher with her anxiety.”

From the Internet:“I thank God for leading me to your

publication that has opened my eyesto the truth of the day. It feels like itall makes sense now, and I pray thatyour message will be heard far andwide. I especially appreciate yourwebsite which has the ‘Bible StudyArticles’ section. I use this in my dailyBible study and I thoroughly enjoyreading the articles and searchingthrough my Bible in conjunction withthis. I thank God for you, kind breth-ren, for your work to show the truth,rightly divided.”

From Ohio:“Thank you for the message I just

read, In the Eye of the Storm by Pas-tor Sadler. It meant so much to me.Thank you for the Searchlight com-ing into my home every month. I prayyou continue in good health, and allthe staff.”

From the Internet:“When I read your emails, it is as

though they are little life preserversthat pull me back to the right pathagain, reminding me of what I know tobe true. Your letters bring peace andlove to my heart. That is why I valueyour correspondence. Not becauseyou say things to me to make me feelbetter, but because you give me theTRUTH THAT SETS ME FREE.”

From Florida:“I can’t tell you how much your ex-

planations mean to me—a light bulbcame on again. This was great—youought to be a teacher!” (Thanks forthe kind word. However, we’re not surewe are up to that challenge! Our hatis off to those believers who teach inpublic and Christian schools thesedays! Ed.)

“These [Bereans] were more noble than those in Thessalonica, inthat they received the Word with all readiness of mind, and searchedthe Scriptures daily, whether those things were so.” —Acts 17:11


Grace Singles ConferenceTheme: Building Christian Character

December 27-31, 2003

Featured Speakers:Joel Finck

Mike KeshanJohn FredericksenArlin Stratmeyer

Kevin Dickey

This is a 5-day opportunity for single Grace believers, age 18and older, to come together to hear good Bible-based messageson subjects pertinent to their spiritual needs.

Special Activities:Volleyball, Bowling, Snow Tubing, Mount Rushmore,

Crazy Horse Monument, and much, much more!

Hosting this year’s conference is:

Grace Bible Church of the Black Hills23781 Pine Haven Drive, Rapid City, South Dakota

For a brochure and schedule of events, please contact: PastorJohn Fredericksen, 23781 Pine Haven Dr., Rockerville, SD 57702,or phone: (605) 341-9692, e-mail: <[email protected]>.

Northeast Fall Bible ConferenceLocation: Eastport Bible Church

386 Montauk HighwayEastport, New York

Dates: November 9-11, 2003

Speaker: Pastor Paul M. Sadler

For directions and additional information, please contact:

Mr. Bob Tillinghast (631) 325-0525

November 2003 29

THE BBI BYLINE

The Difference Between Peter and PaulMatthew 16:13-19; Ephesians 3:1-7

By W. Edward Bedore, Th.D.Executive Director, Berean Bible Institute

Peter was the chief, or leader,of the twelve apostles called bythe Lord Jesus Christ during Hisearthly ministry to the nation ofIsrael. Peter was a follower of theLord Jesus from the time of Hisbaptism by John until the crucifix-ion. He was also an eye-witnessto the fact that Jesus Christ wasraised from the dead and ascendedto heaven. These things were allrequirements of those who wouldbe apostles to the twelve tribesof Israel (see Matthew 19:27-30;Luke 22:28-30; Acts 1:15-22).

To Peter, the Lord Jesus Christgave “the keys of the kingdomof heaven.” Peter’s message wasthat the long-awaited kingdom ofGod on earth would soon come.The Messiah was at the Father’sright hand waiting to return toearth to establish the Kingdomof God, where Israel would be re-stored to a place of prominenceand favor as a nation (see Acts3:12-26).

Paul, on the other hand, was ablasphemer and a persecutor ofthe kingdom church that Peterpresided over. He attempted toput an end to the preaching ofJesus Christ as the long-awaitedMessiah. However, because Is-rael’s national leaders rejectedthe Lord Jesus as the Messiah,God set Israel and the kingdomtemporarily aside (see Acts 6:8-7:60). He saved Paul, the leaderof the rebellion, in a miraculousway and commissioned him asthe Apostle to the Gentiles. Paul’sgospel message offers salvationto the Jew and Gentile withoutnational distinction through sim-ple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ(Romans 3:19-26). The believerof this new Dispensation of Gracebecomes a member of the Bodyof Christ and looks forward toeternity with the Lord Jesus inthe heavenlies (Ephesians 1:3,19-21; 2:4-6; Philippians 3:20-21;Colossians 3:1-4).

Spring Semester begins January 26, 2004!For more information about BBI, please contact Dr. W. Edward Bedore

at their new address: Berean Bible Institute, 116 S. Kettle Moraine Dr.,P.O. Box 587, Slinger, WI 53086-0587, or phone: (262) 644-5504, fax:(262) 644-5507.

“Only one life; ’twill soon be past.Only what’s done for Christ will last.”


BEN FRANKLIN coined the famous saying, “There are two things cer-tain in life—death and taxes!” For Wisconsin residents who place anorder for literature or tapes it is important to add 5.6% for taxes. Thussaith the State of Wisconsin! Thanks so very much for helping us outwith state business!

A CHANCE MEETING: This past summer my wife and I spent anafternoon at the Wisconsin State Fair. While browsing the exhibits wecame across a unique collection of lighthouse photographs by Ken andBarb Wardius. We extended an invitation for them to visit BBS, at whichtime they graciously gave us permission to use their work. Beginning withthis issue we will be incorporating these images from time to time into ourcollage of lighthouses. Ken and Barb have traveled extensively aroundthe State of Wisconsin in search of unique photo opportunities. They havean impressive gallery of photographs on various themes, some of whichappear on their website at: www.execpc.com/~slw81/. They can also bereached via e-mail: [email protected].

HOMEGOING: We want to extend our condolences to our dear brother,Paul Pontis, who lost his beloved wife, Jo, on September 7th. We lookforward to seeing her again at that day. Although his loss is great, Paul isstill very active in the work of the ministry as the following announcementdemonstrates.

*The picture of the lighthouse that appears on the front cover wastaken by Ken and Barb Wardius. The Wind Point Lighthouse is locatedin Racine, Wisconsin. This 112-foot lighthouse was built in 1880.

The Real Christmas StoryBy Paul R. Pontis

The Real Christmas Story contains a wealth of his-torical and biblical knowledge. Brother Paul Pontisdoes the reader a real service as he effectively chal-lenges commonly held traditions surrounding thebirth of Christ. Besides being enjoyable to read, thiswork is also a valuable reference guide.

This publication should be ordered directly from Brother Pontis at:118 Blandina Ct., Baxter Village, Fort Mill, SC 29708. The Real Christ-mas Story is a paperback book containing 121 pages—Price: $6.00,which includes postage and handling!

November 2003 31

PRICE LISTBIBLE STUDY BOOKS BY CORNELIUS R. STAM—FOUNDER

(Hardcover—Gold Stamped)Acts, (Commentary) Volumes I & II ...................................................... $20.00Acts, (Commentary) Volumes III & IV (w/Bible Index) ........................ 20.00Author’s Choice, The ................................................................................ 10.00Baptism and the Bible ............................................................................. 9.00Colossians (Commentary, w/Bible Index) ............................................... 13.00I Corinthians (Commentary) ................................................................... 11.00II Corinthians (Commentary) ................................................................. 11.00Divine Election and Human Responsibility .......................................... 9.00Galatians (Commentary, w/Bible Index) ................................................ 13.00Hebrews, Who Wrote It and Why? .......................................................... 9.00Holding Fast the Faithful Word (w/Bible Index) ................................... 13.00Lord’s Supper and the Bible, The............................................................ 8.00Man, His Nature and Destiny ................................................................. 11.00Memoirs of Pastor Cornelius R. Stam, The ............................................ 12.00Moses and Paul (w/Bible Index) .............................................................. 8.00Pastoral Epistles (Commentary) ............................................................. 11.00Paul, His Apostleship and Message (w/Bible Index) ............................. 10.00Romans (Commentary) ............................................................................ 11.00Satan In Derision ..................................................................................... 10.00Sermon on the Mount, The ...................................................................... 9.00I & II Thessalonians (Commentary) ....................................................... 10.00Things That Differ (w/Bible Index) ......................................................... 11.00True Spirituality (w/Bible Index) ........................................................... 10.00Two-Fold Purpose of God, The (w/Bible Index) ...................................... 8.00Two Minutes With the Bible ................................................................... 11.00

(Paperbacks)No Other Doctrine .................................................................................... $8.00Our Great Commission (w/Bible Index) ................................................. 8.00Present Peril, The ..................................................................................... 8.00Satan In Derision ..................................................................................... 8.00Things That Differ (w/Bible Index) ......................................................... 9.00

WRITINGS BY PAUL M. SADLER—PRESIDENTExploring the Unsearchable Riches of Christ (HC, w/Bible Index) ..... $11.00Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians (HC, Commentary, w/Bible Index)..... 15.00Triumph of His Grace, The (HC, w/Bible Index) .................................... 12.00Are You Secure? (Booklet) ....................................................................... 1.00Historical Beginning of the Church, The (Booklet) ............................... 3.00Institution of Marriage, The (Booklet) ................................................... 4.00Supernatural Sign Gifts of the Acts Period, The (Booklet) ................... 4.00Trials and Temptations (Booklet) ........................................................... 2.00

SPECIAL OFFERS26 Hardcover Books by C. R. Stam, Plus “No Other Doctrine,”

“Our Great Commission,” and “The Present Peril” ...................... $240.00Set of Current Booklets by C. R. Stam ................................................. 40.00Set by C. R. Stam (Books and Booklets) ............................................... 280.00Set on Acts by C. R. Stam (w/Bible Index) ........................................... 35.00

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“A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue,

but the parent of all the other virtues.”

the berean searchlight...4 berean searchlight thanksgiving “being thus arrived in a good har-bor,...

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