Water and Fire (September-October 2015)

September-October 2015
Volume 24, Number 5

The Day of the Lord will be a time of great tumult and chaos, when God will destroy the works of mankind and purify the earth for the reign of Christ. In Scripture, water and fire are primary elements that God uses to purify things for His use, so it should come as no surprise that prophecy reveals a prominent role for them in God's judgments before Christ returns.  (iStockphoto)

'Personal' from John W. Ritenbaugh
Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen):
Deference

"Deference" is a word that receives scant support in these days of individual rights and equality. Solomon, however, makes the subject of deference—that is, being properly respectful and submissive to an authority figure—a major part of Ecclesiastes 8. John Ritenbaugh urges Christians always to see God behind those in power over us, which will help in giving proper deference.

Ready Answer
What Does It Mean to Take Up the Cross?
by David C. Grabbe

Beyond the fact that our Savior Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross of some sort, He used its imagery to instruct His followers: He bids us take up our cross and follow Him. David Grabbe analyzes what Jesus' command would have meant to those who heard Him, showing that our Savior is asking us to follow His example of sacrifice in our own Christian lives.

Prophecy Watch
What a Difference a Day Makes
by Charles Whitaker

We have read the accounts in Scripture on the Day of the Lord, and there is no doubt that it will be a chaotic, horrifying time. God will use the forces at His disposal to bring drastic change to planet Earth. Charles Whitaker explains that two of those forces, fire and water, are cleansing agents by which God will purify the earth before the second coming of Christ.

WorldWatch
Anything Goes (Part One):
Transparency for the Transgender Agenda
by Joseph B. Baity

The LGBT movement has experienced a banner year. It has dominated the major headlines with the legalization of same-sex "marriage" and the widespread praise of Bruce Jenner's courage in "coming out" as a transgender person. Joseph Baity chronicles the path this movement has taken to get to this point.

Bible Study
Is Your Conscience a Good Guide?
by Martin G. Collins

For many, the nature of the human conscience, an individual's inner sense of right and wrong, is a difficult concept. Most importantly, can we trust it? Martin Collins examines the Bible's perspective on the conscience, showing that, while it may be God-given, it is not the final arbiter between what is good and what is evil.