Welcome to the October, 2005, edition of Strong Tower Publishing's e-newsletter. In this issue:

* Prewrath view on the news?
* Strong Tower Publishing launches list of prewrath churches
* Why will there be sacrifices during the Millennium?
* Latest reader questions
* Self-publishing book available at publisher cost

PREWRATH ON THE NEWS?

In October, 2005, Strong Tower Publishing was contacted by a producer from ABC News Productions, the production arm of ABC News, which produces a variety of independent programming. ABC News Productions had been contracted by The Discovery Channel to produce a documentary on the end times, and this particular producer was responsible for looking into the social and political implications of the pretribulation rapture teaching. He contacted Strong Tower Publishing to gain an alternative viewpoint.

H. L. Nigro, Strong Tower Publishing founder and publisher, spent about an hour on the phone with the producer, discussing issues related to the end times. She also followed up with a personal appeal regarding his own willingness to consider the evidence for the trustworthiness of scripture.

In a personal email, she wrote: “While it might seem, on the outside, that Christians are a bunch of nutballs, the only reason we believe the scripture's teaching regarding the Second Coming is because history has proven that we can trust the scriptures regarding the First Coming.” She followed with a variety of evidence for the historical reliability of the New Testament and some recommended reading, including Lee Stroeble's “The Case for Christ” and Gary Habermas' “The Historical Jesus.”

Whether the producer will follow up and include the prewrath perspective in the documentary is unknown. Please be in prayer that God's hand will be in this production and will stir the heart of this producer to come to know Him.

STRONG TOWER LIST OF PREWRATH CHURCHES

One of questions we regularly receive at Strong Tower Publishing is how readers can locate churches that openly teach, or at least support, the prewrath view. So we decided to maintain a running list of churches that hold to or support it.

Currently, the list is short, but we anticipate that it will grow as readers learn about it and add their own church contacts. If you know of any churches teaching prewrath, please contact us!

The list to date is as follows:

Groveland Evangelical Missionary Church
5324 E Queenwood Rd.
Groveland, IL 61535
(309) 387-6447
Pastor Bruce Rocke

Christ Alive! Community Church
9330 W. Route 150
Edwards, IL (Northwest Peoria)
(309) 256-9120

Harvest Church of West Orlando
(Currently seeking building - call for location)
P.O. Box 783065
Winter Garden, FL 34787
(407) 383-3022
(407) 963-1249

Koinonia House Church
1034 Old Oak Road
East Alton, IL 62035
(618) 258-0434

First Baptist Church of Tupelo
300 N. Church Street
Tupelo, MS 38804
(662) 842-1327

Unity Baptist Church
3908 Hwy 17 South
Royston, GA 30662
(706) 245-8975

ONLINE DISCUSSION GROUP UPDATE

One of the questions that comes up from time to time on the Prewrath Only forum (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prewrathonly/) relates to the sacrifices that the Bible tells us will be made during the Millennium. How and why would there be sacrifices during this time if Christ has fulfilled the law? Once the law is fulfilled, can it be unfulfilled? This is a question that is disturbing to many believers, and one potential answer was recently posted on the Prewrath Only forum.

The answer comes from “Wilmington's Guide to the Bible” (1981), in which the author writes:

"... during the millennium, millions of children will be born and reared by saved Israelite and Gentile parents who survived the tribulation. In spite of their perfect environment, however, these 'kingdom kids' will need the new birth. As sons and daughters of Adam they, too, like all others, will require eternal salvation (Rom. 3:23; John 3:3). But how can these children be reached? What object lessons can be used?

“Here is a generation which will grow up with out knowing fear, experiencing pain, witnessing hatred, taking dope, or seeing a jail.

“This is one reason that the sacrificial system will be reinstituted during the millennium. These sacrifices will function as:

  1. A reminder to all of the necessity of the new birth.
  2. An object lesson of the costliness of salvation.
  3. An example of the awfulness of sin.
  4. An illustration of the holiness of God.

Does this response answer all questions? No, but it is an interesting viewpoint that allows us to start to make sense of this perplexing issue.

READER QUESTIONS

Q: I noticed on your Web site that you are interested in Bible prophecy. Have you ever considered interpreting Revelation as consisting of seven parallel accounts (rather than a single sequential account) of the End Times? If so, then you may enjoy visiting my Web site [removed], which shows the result of harmonizing the seven accounts of Revelation into a single, consistent, and detailed picture of the Last Days unlike anything previously proposed. [It] also uncovers many biblical mysteries that have remained hidden from mankind until the present time.

A: I have considered this, but there is overwhelming internal evidence that the seals, trumpets, and bowls are chronological. The language, order, organization, and structure of Revelation demand it. I am familiar with the overlap theory in its various forms - in fact, I have several discussions about it in “Before God's Wrath” - and it creates irreconcilable scriptural contradictions.

I also have an entire chapter in the book devoted to Revelation's internal evidence demanding a chronological reading of the seals, trumpets, and bowls. It's available as a free, downloadable PDF from the PrewrathOnly discussion group on Yahoo!, in the files section (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/prewrathonly/).

Q: First, during a recent church service, I heard the pastor talk about how the Holy Spirit will be taken out of the way when the Antichrist rises. It was my impression that the church would be active during the seven-year tribulation period and actually suffer a great persecution at the hands of the Antichrist during that time (and especially the great tribulation). I feel that the angel Michael (the restrainer) will rise up, and this allows the introduction of the Antichrist to the world. Will the Holy Spirit be on earth at this time?

Second, what is your impression of the current pope?

Third, the AC will attempt to destroy Israel. Will Israel be without (walls)  barriers, or will they be enclosed within walls like they are now? The Israelis have left the Gaza strip, which means that right now, they have basically enclosed themselves, have they not?

A: Will the Holy Spirit be on the earth during Daniel's 70th Week? Of course. Jesus promised us that a comforter, the Holy Spirit, would come, and throughout the New Testament scriptures, we are given many promises regarding His help, comfort, encouragement, teaching, and the like. These promises are open-ended and for all believers. There is no indication that this changes during the end times. In fact, believers will need Him then more than ever.

Also, scripture tells us that none comes to the Father unless the Holy Spirit draws him. Since we know that, at the very least, the faithful remnant of Israel is saved by the end of the 70th Week, the Holy Spirit must remain on earth. No salvation occurs apart from the Spirit, so if they are saved, the Holy Spirit must be very much active.

As for my impression of the current pope, he seems nice. I like that he is perceived as wanting to maintain the tradition of religious conservatism. Beyond that, I have no opinion.

On your last question, whether Israel will be a country literally “without walls” when the Antichrist arises, I don't try to interpret end-times prophecy by current events. It's so easy to say, "Is this the fulfillment? What about that?" So many times, it has seemed that we were on the brink, or that we were seeing certain events come to fruition, but then new events reversed the trend and prophetic fulfillment seemed to go back into remission. I believe that, when the end times are in the process of being fulfilled, there will be no question. It will be as obvious as the nose on our faces, and until then, I don't try to guess.

There are others who will disagree with me, and who feel that this type of speculation is of great importance, and I respect that opinion. As for me, I believe that it is most important to focus on sound doctrine and spiritual readiness, so whenever the pieces DO start to fall into place, we are ready.

SELF-PUBLISHING BOOK SOLD AT COST

Thinking about writing a book? Is self-publishing for you? For the last several years, Strong Tower Publishing has offered its book on self-publishing, “Do You Really Want to Self-Publish Your Book?” to authors who are investigating the options for self-publishing (also called subsidy publishing). While the information in the book is still relevant today, things change quickly in the publishing world, and it is time for a new edition. Strong Tower Publishing is overstocked on “Do You Really Want to Self-Publish?” and is offering it at cost - $2.25, plus $2.50 (economy) for envelope and shipping - to recipients of the Strong Tower Publishing newsletter.

If you would like to order a copy at this discounted price (price on the site is $7.50), you can send payment of $4.75 to the Strong Tower Publishing mailing address: P. O. Box 973, Milesburg, PA 16853; or you can send payment via PayPal to strongtowerpubs@aol.com.
More information on the book is available at www.strongtowerpublishing.com/self-publish.htm.

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