Features
Ephesus, the Burden of a Lost Love Revelation 2:1–7
The church of Ephesus was the first to be seen entering a crisis condition. Although commended for a number of things, this church had left its “first love.”
Smyrna, the Suffering Church, Revelation 2:8–11
Smyrna was a major commercial center in the first century, giving it fame as the pride of all Asia. Although it was a free city, it gave total allegiance to the Roman Empire as supreme.
Pergamum, the Worldly Church Revelation 2:12–17
Pergamum was noted for its pagan religions and many heathen temples. Among others, they worshiped Dionysus, the god of vegetation, and Aesculapius, the god of healing. A medical school was attached to this pagan cult...
Thyatira, the Idolatrous Church Revelation 2:18–29
Church discipline is almost unknown in our day. If and when a church does decide to exercise discipline over backsliding members, the individuals involved often leave the church and go to another one nearby.
Sardis, Alive But Dead Revelation 3:1–6
We have all attended funeral services at one time or another. In many cases, beautiful flowers are banked along an entire wall or occasionally cover all the walls of the room.
Philadelphia, Church of the Open Door Revelation 3:7–13
Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia, located in the province of Asia Minor, has always been my favorite among those found in Revelation 2 and 3 for three reasons: (1) Philadelphia was the ancient...
Laodicea, the Lukewarm Church Revelation 3:14–22
Christ addressed His final letter to the church of Laodicea, which was located in the Lycus Valley of southern Phrygia, midway between Philadelphia and Colosse. It was a significant commercial and banking center and was...
The Madness and Tragedy of 1492
No single event in the history of Medieval Europe stirs the imagination more than the expulsion of Spanish Jewry in 1492. It was the most infamous of all expulsions, striking an entire population of hundreds...
More In This Issue
In Search of Hearing Ears
No portion of the Word of God speaks to contemporary churches with more clarity than the messages Jesus Christ gave to the seven churches of Revelation 2 and 3. Comfort, advice, exhortation, warning and threatening...
The Sea of Galilee Part Three
Transitions can be very difficult, but most of us are called upon to make them from time to time. One of the most difficult transitions to make is a change of vocations.
Israel in the News Feb/Mar 1992
More than 100 Christian leaders, representing more than 20 million “Bible-believing” Americans, visited Israel recently with the Memphis-based Religious Roundtable. They came, along with a small group of Jews, to express their support...
The Truth Will Out
For years a perception prevailed that cast the liberal wing of mainstream Christianity as the true friends of Jewry, whose dialoguing with Jews was earmarked by no mention of Christ, and who actively promoted...
Zvi Feb/Mar 1992
Since suffering a heart attack several years ago, I must go to the doctor every four months for a checkup. There are usually many people waiting in the doctor’s office, and it often takes several...
Daily News from Israel
Humble Beginnings
In 1948, with the War of Independence under way Israel needed nearly every kind of weaponry, ammunition, and manpower to face the five Arab armies...
News Digest — 6/1/23
Hungary will be the first EU member state to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Foreign Minister Eli Cohen announced during a visit to Budapest Wednesday (5/30). “Hungary supports...
News Digest — 5/31/23
Meir Tamari, who was killed Tuesday afternoon (5/30) in a shooting attack was a relative of terror-victim Esther Horgan, who was murdered in December 2020. Horgan had...
News Digest — 5/30/23
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog and his wife Michal on Tuesday morning (30th) arrived for a state visit to Baku, Azerbaijan at the invitation of the country’s...
News Digest — 5/26/23
An attempted terror attack was thwarted in the Jewish settlement of Teneh Omarim, close to Hebron, on Friday morning (26th). Shortly before 10 am, a terrorist...
News Digest — 5/25/23
Israeli security forces arrested early Thursday morning (25th) a Palestinian terrorist fugitive involved in a September 2022 shooting and firebombing attack on...
How Israel and Hamas Treat Spies
Hamas charged three Palestinians in Gaza with collaborating with Israel and sentenced them to death and gave a fourth man a life sentence with hard labor on Tuesday (23rd)...
News Digest — 5/24/23
An Israeli Arab from Umm al-Fahm was arrested by the Shin Bet and Israel Police after he was recruited by Hamas to conduct a bombing attack on a bus in...