Dear Friends,

Something is making some people look at the Bible more seriously these days and something else is making others turn away from the Scriptures.

Could that something be the coming year 2000? In my own view, unbelievers everywhere are considering life on a cosmic scale—that perhaps the world really will come to an end, or the Messiah will arrive, or Armageddon will happen, etc., etc. A few believers are concerned about the same milestone, but as we have taught many times, the Bible does not direct us to any conclusions about dates. We should never forget that the Rapture of the Church is imminent and no other prophesied event has to happen before it.

This new interest in Scripture seems to be happening because of a more skillful witness by the church almost everywhere, and that in turn is a result of the teaching of excellent Bible churches, widespread publications, and television programs. The liberal churches go along in their inexplicable ways virtually ignoring Scripture, but there is a new look in many communities of very large and triumphant churches teaching Scripture verse by verse on a continual basis. That has resulted in a certain amount of hearty revival.

On the other hand, rational thought, man’s reason, secular humanism, etc., are competing with the Bible these days. A few of our viewers were offended by the appearance of Professor Gerald Schroeder on our television program simply because his explanation of creation is supported by rational sources—physics textbooks, the Theory of Relativity, and the like. But I believed that Schroeder was perfectly Biblical in all that he said. Now the textbook we are arguing about at the various colleges presents a departure from Scripture. Promising to educate people in the Bible, the colleges using such textbooks really present non-Biblical views, such as Replacement Theology. Finally, in a recent article in the New York Times, a Union Theological Seminary graduate urges his readers to embrace the New Age movement if they want to be true Christians. This last example represents the victory of human thinking over Scriptural revelation and it, frankly, must be the road to Hell.

A Dallas Morning News article dated October 31 about faith and reason caught my eye. It seems that the Pope “criticizes ‘Bible-only’ thinking” and that “the Pope’s point is that Scripture always needs to be interpreted. The rule of Christian faith, he says, is unity among three sources of truth: Sacred Tradition, Sacred Scripture, and the Magisterium of the Church (Magisterium is a technical word for the teaching authority of the Catholic hierarchy).”

The Pope seems to be a leader of some of those who are turning away from Scripture. Please don’t write to me about how terrific your Catholic church or the Pope is—I’ve heard it before, but I am taking the man at his word and quoting him exactly. John Paul II’s three sources of truth are highly various: Sacred Tradition is a fine thing, but gives us little in the way of knowledge of God; Sacred Scripture is the source of all truth; and the Magisterium of the Church is just nonsense. No particular church has any authority other than as it quotes Scripture accurately and interprets it precisely.

The article goes on, “the Pope’s concern here is the ‘Biblicism’ of conservative evangelicals. Now evangelicals are hotly competitive with Roman Catholicism, especially among Spanish-speaking people in the United States and Latin America. The most recent policy statement from the Pontifical Biblical Commission, seems more worried about Biblical ‘fundamentalism’ than about attacks on Scriptural tradition from liberal scholars.”

Well, I certainly hope that fundamentalists who read the Bible literally are more effective than liberals and, as matter of fact, they are. That brings me back to my point about revival today. It is happening not just in Latin America but among the Jews, among the atheistic Russians, among Africans, in fact, almost everywhere where it is not forbidden in the world. Even in Red China, where one worships on pain of real punishment, there is Christian revival. Conceited Europe, with its long tradition of intellectualism, seems to be the last to come to any sort of Godly truth, but even there inroads are being made. It almost seems as though teams are being chosen for the upcoming big contest called The End.

The comment about interpretation is the final escape of the unbeliever who is trying to avoid Scriptural truth. Obviously, we all interpret the Bible, but when, for example, a Jewish person tells you that Isaiah 53 is about the land and not about the Messiah, you have some worldly bias operating. When a liberal tells you the forty days of the flood could just as well mean 40,000 years, you have a similar avoidance of simple Scriptural fact. When university administrators will grapple with a sister ministry for months rather than simply get rid of a bad textbook, you have human tendencies like pride, earthbound “wisdom,” and fear at work.

In any case, it is as though The End were near indeed when we see populations polarizing the way we currently are and religious leaders fighting against Scriptural truth in printing. This coming year we will discuss the “nitty gritty” End Times prophecy in view of the coming millennium. We believe that many souls will be saved and those who don’t listen well will at least understand better what is happening when they confront the Antichrist in The End that is inevitably coming.

Our next series will be on Scriptural truth as it relates to science. The Science of God will feature Dr. Schroeder again, along with some other Israeli scientists commenting on the Bible and how it relates to their work. After that—prophecy, prophecy, prophecy until we possibly come to “The End itself.” Be sure to stay tuned and thanks for all of your help.

Since Israel is the major issue of End Times prophecy, this may be the last year to go and see it in this life! Our Spring 1999 Deluxe Tour is scheduled for April 18–28, and the Grand Tour for April 14–28. Springtime in Israel—the green hillsides of Galilee, the flowers blooming (“the lilies of the fields”) in the fields where our Lord walked—these images will stay with you for the rest of your life! Grand Tour passengers will trace Paul’s travels as they visit Athens, with its Acropolis and Mars Hill, and Corinth. The Mediterranean cruise to the Greek islands of Mykonos, Patmos, Rhodes, and the city of Ephesus is simply a spiritual experience in itself!

But first we are offering a Caribbean Cruise, February 5–8. Why not take a long weekend to work on a winter tan or spend time relaxing in the sun while sailing through the lovely Bahamas, including Nassau and Cococay! I will be speaking and leading Bible studies each day on board our luxury cruise liner. The cruise starts when you leave your home on Friday morning, February 5, and you’ll be back Monday evening, February 8.

We are very conscious of your support and how you make this ministry run. As I informed you in our last issue, any gifts now before year’s end would be a wonderful help to us. My 60th birthday is December 3, and your giving to the ministry would be an excellent present for me! It is also the 20th anniversary of Zola Levitt Ministries, thanks to all our loyal supporters. All gifts will be gratefully accepted and put to immediate use for the Kingdom. Thank you for your help and your prayers.

Please consider this idea that came to me recently. Our ministry brings a great many people to Christ simply by teaching the Scriptures. In the upcoming year we will be able to make an especially powerful argument for salvation. After all, the Bible provides prophecy in order to warn people of the end of the world. It stands to reason that if they are already thinking about the end, then we have their attention. If we have the funds in the next year, we intend to undertake some national, prime-time one-hour specials. We will cover such issues as the computer problems with year 2000, the Bible codes, and of course, very complete information about Israel. In this manner we will appeal to the unbeliever when he is most vulnerable; that is, when he’s thinking about the end of the world. I would really appreciate your support and your prayers for this very important project. Thanks.

Have a happy holiday season and remember to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

Your messenger,

Zola

Zola Levitt Ministries is ECFA approved and has Charity Navigator’s top rating of 4 stars.

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