From Bill Sutter’s Desk Jul/Aug 2006
Much more than a trip—an experience of a lifetime! That’s the way it is when you travel to Israel with The Friends of Israel. And that’s the way all 128 of us felt during…
July/August 2006
Eye on the Middle East Jul/Aug 2006
Speaking before the British House of Commons on June 8, 1982, President Ronald Reagan gave his famous “evil empire” speech in which he affirmed the reality of evil in the world and insisted…
Ignoring the Obvious
While Americans burn time arguing the merits, or lack thereof, of the absurd fiction The Da Vinci Code (24 percent of its readers said the novel aided their “personal growth and spiritual understanding”), a real-time…
They Cry in Silence Jul/Aug 2006
Thousands of people rallied in Washington on April 30, hoping to pierce the conscience of America concerning the slaughter that continues in the Sudan. The focus of the demonstration was to protest…
Jihad, American Style
A crusade is under way to rid America of Christianity. If this statement seems harsh to you, you may change your mind after reading this article.
In Exile for the Word
John, the apostle and pastor of the church in Ephesus, was exiled to the island of Patmos in A.D. 95, according to church historian Eusebius. It was here that the book of Revelation—the final…
Ephesus: Serving Without Love Revelation 2:1–7
The church in Ephesus had much going for it. Yet it was deficient in an area that many of us are deficient in today. And God was not pleased.
Smyrna: The Suffering Church Revelation 2:8–11
Smyrna was named for the word myrrh, an aromatic gum resin that is bitter to the taste but sweet to the smell. It was used to embalm the dead in the first century…
The Peril of Compromise Revelation 2:12–17
Contrary to what some people believe, Satan’s throne is not in hell. In ancient days, it was in the sophisticated city of Pergamos, which also had a church.
The Truth About the ‘Synagogue of Satan’
What did the Lord mean when He used the words synagogue of Satan in His revelation to His beloved apostle John in Revelation 2:9 and 3:9? The Greek word translated “synagogue” literally means…
Who Are the Church ‘Angels’?
Who are these “angels”? The Greek term aggeloi means “messengers.” Each of the seven messengers was assigned to one of the seven churches, and each received Jesus’ remarks to his church. Are they heavenly “spirit-messengers,” as the term is usually used? Or are they human messengers?
Up, Up, and Away!
The language of this verse makes it clear that the church will not go into the Tribulation. This hour of trial will be a time when God’s wrath will be poured out upon…
Hold Fast Revelation 2:18–29
All eyes were riveted on the television monitor in the lobby as a second plane slammed into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The previous night, a guest speaker at Friends of Israel’s…
Sardis: Averting Spiritual Suicide Revelation 3:1–6
How can a church that seems spiritually alive actually be dead? It happens all the time. The symptoms may surprise you. But, praise God, there is a cure.
Philadelphia: The Little Church that Could Revelation 3:7–13
No matter the nature or size of life’s obstacles, Jesus expects His church to take advantage of the doors He has opened. To the brethren at Philadelphia, the Lord described Himself as the one…
Danger! Lukewarmness Ahead Revelation 3:14–22
God was upset with the church in Laodicea. And He explained its condition using a comparison the Laodiceans would have no trouble understanding.
Israel’s Defilement Removed
Zechariah 13:1–9: In the previous chapter, we saw God pour out His grace on Israel, resulting in the nation’s redemption, its reconciliation to God, and its renewed covenant relationship with Him. In chapter 13, Zechariah…
God Is Moral Part Six
Earlier parts of our study examined sexual violations and perversions of God’s moral absolutes and fixed order of moral law. Now we will begin to examine another violation and perversion of those moral…
The Perfect Triad
If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that the Israelites made it through the Red Sea because it was low tide or because they “knew where the stones were,” I’d be rich…
Israel in the News Jul/Aug 2006
A senior Palestinian Authority (PA) religious leader has said on a PA-affiliated Web site that Christian Zionists worship “Satan as God.” So reports Palestinian Media Watch (PMW). The author of the PMW article…
Zvi Jul/Aug 2006
I have lived in Israel 58 years now. And in Jerusalem, particularly in the ultra-Orthodox quarter, men do not speak with women or girls. Men must speak with men, and women with women, especially when…