The Fall of Jerusalem and the Coming of the Son of Man
Sermonette by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker, focusing on Matthew 10:23, submits that the formula "the coming of the Son of Man" (in its various formats) is code for "the Day of the Lord." (Not in scope are the several non-prophetic uses of the formula). The formula, which appears most often in the Olivet Prophecy, does not support the …
Stay in Jerusalem
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Charles WhitakerCharles Whitaker, focusing upon the proclamations of two Gentile kings (Cyrus and Artaxerxes) in the book of Ezra, examines the impact they had on the remnant of Israel- as well as the lessons we may derive from their lack luster behavior. Those who returned to Jerusalem did not completely fulfill their commission, failing to …
Jerusalem and the Plan of Redemption
Sermon by Martin G. CollinsIn reviewing Jerusalem's history, Martin Collins maintains that the archeological and topographical confusion associated with the city of Jerusalem typifies the chaos extant in the world's major religions, many of which locate their spiritual roots in it. Ironically, the city whose etymology means "city of peace" is …
Lamentations (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, creating a hypothetical scenario in which God sends the Russians- to devastate America and reduce it to a vassal state, suggests that such a catastrophe would resemble the conditions described by the Book of Lamentations. The Scriptures describe the Chaldeans as a bitter and hasty nation, ruthless and …
Lamentations (Part Five; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh investigates the second chapter of Lamentations, which reflects the emotional state of a stunned observer, realizing that God had wreaked havoc and destruction upon His chosen people, making them the focus of scorn and ridicule of all of their enemies. Chapter three focuses on the abject terror and hopelessness …
Lamentations (Part Three; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughAs Lamentations opens, Jerusalem is personified as a widow who has had to endure the destruction of her family as well as the mocking scorn from the captors.
Lamentations (Part Three)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh warns that these laments contain little that is jovial or uplifting, but instead are saturated in despair, sorrow, mourning, and even recrimination against God on the part of a personified Jerusalem, whom God depicts as a grieving widow, blaming others for her troubles while overlooking her own sins as the …
Lamentations (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reflecting on the recent solar eclipse, reminds us that in the peoples of past cultures believed that solar and lunar eclipses were omens of impending tragedy, leading to rituals to combat their influence. Although the Bible uses the imagery of the eclipse to portend the confusion at the end of the age, …
Lamentations (Part Two; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh contends that while Scripture does allow for individuals to share their faults with one another for encouragement and brotherly advice, no man has the power to forgive sins or grant absolution, a prerogative retained by Christ and God the Father alone. Trusting human allies rather than God to also seems to be a …
Psalms: Book Three (Part One)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, aligning Book Three of the Psalms with the hot summer months, the Book of Leviticus in the Torah, the Book of Lamentations in the Megilloth, and Summary Psalm 148, indicates that this portion of Scripture deals with the somber theme of judgment on a people who have rejected their God and have produced a …
Lamentations (Part Seven)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh begins by recapping the first three chapters of the Book of Lamentation: "Woe is me" (Chapter 1), "God did it" (Chapter 2), and "If God is behind it, it must have been good" (Chapter 3). He then focuses on the themes of the chapters 4 and 5. Chapter 4 is a summation of how low God …
Lamentations (Part Four)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, while acknowledging that technology has given modern culture some marked advantages over ancient societies, laments that the fields of psychology (with its propensity to deny sin) and mental health have not kept up with advances in the "hard" sciences. Instead of resolving basic interior problems, modern …
Lamentations (Part Eight)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughAs we approach the coming self-examination prior to Passover, we can apply six significant lessons taught to ancient Israel through the book of Lamentations.
Lamentations (Part Five)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, continuing his excursion through the Book of Lamentations, observes that the expressions of sorrow in the Psalms far outnumber expressions of praise, indicating that the Hebrew culture has almost made the lamentation an art form. An organizational pattern useful in the examination of these lamentations is …
Lamentations (Part Seven; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh, focusing upon Lamentations 3 and 4, which show the stark contrast of a once proud people (secure in their wealth, technology, and cleverness) suffering bitter persecution and humiliation at the hands of a people considered by them to be their moral inferiors. In the midst of this suffering, in which the ravages …
Lamentations (Part Four; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh explores the second chapter of Lamentations, preceding the first chapter in time sequence, describes the stunning and disorienting shock of seeing the total systematic devastation and utter destruction of something formerly considered indestructible, and realizing that God was responsible for the devastation. The …
The Doctrine of Israel (Part Five): A Remnant of Judah
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughDespite her former relationship with God, absolutely no nation could ever out-sin Judah, even though God had given her multiple warnings to repent.
Psalms: Book Three (Part Two)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, reminding us that the ninth of Av, occurring at sundown tonight, July 25,2015, a time when the Jewish community will commence the fast of Tisha b'Av, recounts the horrific disasters which have embroiled Judah/Levi over the years, including the destruction of both Solomon's Temple and Herod's Temple, the first …
How to Survive Exile
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, addressing our current scattered state as a form of exile, asserts that exile has been a form of punishment God has used from the very beginning, with our original parents through the patriarchs, through the ancient kingdoms of Israel and Judah, right up to the present time. God exiles to punish for sin, …
Fully Accepting God's Sovereignty (Part One)
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by John W. RitenbaughWe are mandated to live by faith, being given trials of faith in order to chisel our character. We must totally and unreservedly accept God's sovereignty.
City of Peace
Feast of Tabernacles Sermon by Martin G. CollinsMartin Collins, reflecting on Jerusalem's current reputation for violence, murder, immorality, multi-culturalism, and conflict, looks at the city's history and at its prophesied status as the capital of God's Kingdom. The reputation for the City of Peace derives from Abraham's tithing to the King of Peace, Melchizedek. Mount …
Love Thy Neighbor
Sermon by John O. Reid (1930-2016)John Reid, reflecting on the prophecies in the book of Amos, recognizes that while it applied to our forebears in ancient Judah and Israel, it applies just as certainly to modern Israel, plagued with the same sins as our forebears, guilty of violating its covenant with God, establishing a syncretistic religion and treating the …
Lamentations (Part Six)
Sermon by Richard T. RitenbaughRichard Ritenbaugh, asking why Christians should ruminate about sorrow and grief instead of focusing on happy thoughts, reminds us that death and suffering are staple features of the human condition and that we need to learn how to handle grief and loss, thereby becoming a witness for those who do not yet know the truth. Isaiah …
Lamentations (Part Eight; 1989)
Sermon/Bible Study by John W. RitenbaughJohn Ritenbaugh observes that Lamentations 4 contains a series of contrasts, showing the indignities suffered by a once proud and seemingly invincible people reduced to servitude and abject humiliation because of the sin of idolatry, entered into as a result of economic and political alliances - leading to the adoption of …
