Watchman Archives

We are thankful for the opportunity to edit Watchman now and in the forseeable future. If the Lord tarries, we will continue in the work. There is no religious significance to the year 2000, but as the new millenium begins we excitedly look forward to our time together in a study of God’s word.

Abortion is an abomination against God. It is the sin of murder. It destroys life. In genesis 9:6, God said to Noah a truth that remains, “Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed.” All of those people who are involved in the process of abortion are guilty of sin before God and will pay the wages of their sin, in the only appropriate way, with the loss of their eternal souls, condemned to a Devil’s Hell throughout all eternity, “into the fire that shall never be quenched – where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched” (Mark 9:43b-44).

Yes, there is a parking lot near a place remarkably like the place described in the Bible as “the place of the skull.” Busses and taxis come and go regularly as though unconcerned by the momentous events that brought eternal life to man. But it really doesn’t matter. Jerusalem isn’t holy any more, and parking lots cannot diminish from the holy events that took place nearby. Besides, Jesus isn’t buried in that tomb, even if it was the actual tomb occupied by our Lord. He is risen!

Understanding Bible love will enable us to be rooted and grounded in the love of Christ which passes all knowledge (Ephesians 3:17-19), so that all things may work together for good in us (Romans 8:28). Because genuine love is rooted in a devotion to God, obedience to his will should be the ambition of every saint; tolerance of error must be anathema. True love intervenes when the devil assaults a brother or sister in Christ and when heresy is proposed.

Si aceptamos esta verdad, rechazaremos las teorías con respecto a la tabla geológica y no habrá razón alguna para no aceptar la sencilla verdad de la creación de todo en seis días literales como la Biblia afirma. “Sea Dios veraz, y todo hombre mentiroso; como está escrito: Para que seas justificado en tus palabras, Y venzas cuando fueres juzgado” (Rom. 3:4).

Brethren, more and more we will find ourselves on an “island” in our appeal to truth. However, we should heed the apostle Paul, and diligently strive to “let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.”

God once spoke unto men by the Old Testament prophets, but now he speaks unto us “by his Son” (Hebrews 1:1, 2). We no longer appeal to quaking, shaking Sinai, but unto the heavenly Mt. Zion (Hebrews 12:18-28). We no longer hear Moses who spake on earth but our Lord who speaketh from heaven. The voice from the earth, the Old Testament, spoke of both incense and the instrument. The one who speaketh from heaven speaks of neither.

Working with an interpreter is not a daunting task. It can even make preaching easier because one has more time to think in between sentences. If we will recognize some of the possible problems such work presents it will help us to avoid them and be more effective in teaching the Gospel via this means. Hopefully, this article will aid brethren in achieving these ends.

It is a wonderful and blessed thought to know that we can be free from bondage to Satan and sin. When one obeys from the heart “that form [pattern] of doctrine,” then he will no longer be a slave to the devil, but a servant of Christ (Romans 6:16-17).

The General Theory of Evolution is an intellectual house of cards. It will eventually go the way of all of the great scientific errors that preceded it. Meanwhile, the plain truth stands unblemished and irrefutable: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Man may hide from this all-important truth, but he cannot escape it.

While on earth, Jesus claimed to be of the one divine nature the Old Testament revealed. After Jesus declared to the Jews that Abraham looked forward to His coming, the Jews asked how He could act as if He knew Abraham though He was not yet 50 years old. Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The claim was an unmistakable identification with the I AM (God) of the Old Testament (cf. Exodus 3:14).

The beautiful city of Caesarea was a very important place during New Testament times. The city stood on a busy caravan trade route between Tyre and Egypt. Though the city had no natural harbor, it nevertheless was a center for maritime trade as well. Herod the Great, when he constructed the city, built a remarkable “artificial” harbor to protect boats from stormy seas. The elaborate structure was built with materials that call to mind the concrete of our day.

In New Testament times Capernaum was not alone but was just one of quite a number of thriving communities in this area. The ruins of Capernaum are located in the northwest of the shoreline of Galilee. It is not certain how large a population Capernaum had but it is thought to have been under 2,000. There were several larger towns nearby but Capernaum looms large to us because so much happened in Capernaum during the ministry of Christ.

Yes, great things took place at Caesarea Philippi some 2000 years ago. Though we are separated by time and miles, we need to realize that the place is not what holds meaning to us, but what occurred there at the rugged slopes of Hermon, and the source of Jordan so long ago. This is what truly matters. This is the reverse of what many think. You see, from Matthew, Mark, and Luke, we have shown that rather than the place giving significance to the event, the event gave significance to the place!

In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the crowds in Jerusalem, you can stand at the Northern Palace Villa atop Massada, look out at the miles of desolate Wilderness, and visualize the loneliness and suffering of our Lord as His great war with the Devil was fought and won. “Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.”

Prior to the ministry of our Lord and to “fulfill all righteousness,” He waded down into the muddy waters and was baptized of John (John 3:13-17). Many others were also “being baptized by him in the Jordan River confessing their sins. (Mt. 3:5,6). Though the heavens and the earth pass away with fervent heat, the deeds performed by the righteous and unrighteous alike along this historic body of water shall surely precede them into the judgment.

The Sea of Galilee is not holy anymore, but holy things happened on it and around it. It is still fascinating to visit for it has never moved, sitting in the same place where it was when Jesus walked on it and taught the multitudes around it. If you can visit Israel, be sure to include the Sea of Galilee. You will never read your Bible with more complete understanding than when you touch the waters of Galilee.

Any child of God would do well to take advantage of any opportunity he or she might have to visit the land of Jesus.

As the twentieth century slips into the shadows of history, the church of Jesus Christ is challenged to be more than the artificial churches around her. Rather than reflect a dumbed-down theology, she must restore her attention to the finer and deeper details of God’s blessed word. Christians must demand the whole counsel of God be preached and evangelists must refuse to provide anything less even when threatened with unpopularity or unemployment (Acts 20:27, 2 Tim. 4:1-5).

If we are going to have the zeal, which is the opposite of apathy, we must find the igniting source of the fire defined by the word zeal. Apathy is the absence of caring which produces very little if any activity. The lack of caring naturally comes about due to a lack of knowledge, interest, exercise, and effort.