Thoughts from the Editor (page
1)
Jane S. Hancock
“Safe in Jehovah’s keeping,
Led by His glorious arm.
God is Himself my refuge,
A present help from harm.
Fears may at times distress me,
Griefs may my soul annoy;
God is my strength and portion,
God my exceeding joy.
“Safe in Jehovah’s keeping,
Safe in temptations’ hour,
Safe in the midst of perils,
Kept by Almighty power.
Safe when the tempest rages,
Safe though the night be long;
E’en when my sky is darkest,
God is my strength and song.”
On the back cover of “The Christian in Military Service,” a small
pamphlet written by Otis Q. Sellers during World War II, he quotes this poem by
Sir Robert Anderson.
Although at the present time many serve their country in the military, I thought,
when I read the title of the pamphlet and the poem on the back, that just being
a Christian in today’s world sets us apart. And having a personal God, One
Who has spoken, One Who has made Himself visible, One Who has acted, makes me
different from everyone I know outside of my little Word-of-Truth family.
My friends, many who became my friends through my work in education, who are colleagues
at the University of California in Los Angeles, are wonderful people. They have
values; they care; they believe in social justice; they vote; they are activists
in politics and education; they are good parents and family members; they are
intelligent. They, too, are appalled by some of the horrors, sins, satanic events
that take place in our society today. They lead moral lives, a quality often exhibited
by people who are not Christian. And that’s a good thing, leading moral
lives. If they didn’t, they couldn’t be my friends. But I don’t
think a single one has a personal relationship with God, even with Jesus Christ.
And although many are familiar with the Bible as “a piece of literature,”
that’s all it is to them.
So, this is my world. I remember when I went off to college—so many, many
years ago. I needed to know what to do and how to act at a small liberal arts
college with a Methodist background—yes, a Christian background—where
religion was a required subject. What did I do on Sundays?
I tried going to a local church with my roommate—once or twice. I thought
it would be good to “keep a Sunday in my life.” But the service was
devoid of Biblical instruction and full of ritual and social activities. After
two months in the religion class where every day the professor said that the stories
in the Old Testament were just stories, my dad intervened and I got permission
from the dean to take a logic class, instead. I survived in my first adventure
outside my safe family world with my beliefs intact because of two things: my
dad had taught me to have principles and live by them and he had taught me that
I could draw on the resources of God every moment of every day and every night,
at any time, in any place.
My principles are based on what is good in the sight of God. At an early age I
fortified myself with principles based on what God would have me do. I refuse
to surrender them under any circumstances. At an early age, I knew that I could
talk to God at any time, in any place. He has kept me steady in times when I could
have, should have fallen apart. He takes care of me.
As Sir Robert Anderson says, He is my refuge, my strength, my exceeding joy, my
safe harbor, my song, my rock.
As it says in this song by C.D. Martin we like to sing:
“Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.
All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.”
“And that from a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able
to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus”
(2 Tim. 3:15).
“The LORD is my rock . . . .” (Psalm 18:2).
From the Director
David R. Hettema
With this Bulletin mailing, we are pleased to send
you some new and interesting items of value from The Word Of Truth Ministry. Milton
Hammond has written another More Seed & Bread, titled My
Righteous God, intended to bring glory to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
We have also enclosed some previously-published, precious “old treasures”
as described in Matthew 13:52. They are two of Mr. Sellers’ earlier Seed &
Bread studies: Number 26, The Divine Purpose; and Number 27, The
Kingdom of God. The two studies are well worth rereading many times.
I urge you to carefully consider what is said in these two Seed & Bread
leaflets; it will refresh your spiritual thinking and prepare your mind for the
truth of what is yet to be within the coming Kingdom of God.
Also, within your packet for you to look over and consider, you will find two
charts, Number One and Number Two, and also there is an orientation
sheet describing the charts. These charts have to do with our on-going
study of The Seventy Weeks Prophecy as revealed in the book
of Daniel. The charts are intended as an abbreviated introduction to Daniel’s
yet to be fulfilled prophecy of the 490 years that are designed by God for His
people Israel and the City of Jerusalem.
For those who want to look further into this subject,
there will be thirty-plus studies on cassettes or disks about The Seventy Weeks
Prophecy that will be made available in the near future from The Word of Truth
Ministry. These studies have exposed previously unrecognized deep and valuable
truth concerning the “consummation of the eon.” We are continually seeking for
the truth, remembering the Apostle Paul’s advice: If anyone thinks that he
knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know (1 Cor. 8:2, NKJV).
Any questions? Please feel free to write or call us at the Pasadena home office
address or contact our e-mail address: wordoftruth@earthlink.net.
A SPECIAL NOTE:
If You Have Recently Ordered From Our Web Site Any of the
Limited-time, Specially-priced Bound Volumes of Seed & Bread, Bound Volumes
One & Two (See Offer Page 4):
Seed & Bread, Bound Volumes One & Two
are very popular items lately--our existing stock has been exhausted again! We
will be binding additional volumes, but all unfilled orders will not be shipped
until early next year. If you have placed an order for these in November or December
of 2006, we will honor your order and price. If you have any questions, please
contact us at The Word of Truth Ministry home office in Pasadena, California.
&
We Get Letters
“Snail Mail”:
“I do enjoy the [More] Seed & Bread
studies. As you issue new ones, please send them to me.”
“I am to thankful for having heard Mr. Sellers from many
years ago, and learned previous truths. I thank God daily for these blessings.
. . . Isaiah 40:5 is a favorite verse of mine. Yes, the future is so good under
God’s care.”
“I have enjoyed every page of the December issue [2005]
of [the] Bulletin, both agreeing and learning . . . I am studying and enjoying
the three new [More] Seed & Bread [leaflets] you enclosed.”
E-mail:
“I am sure enjoying “The Word of Truth” [magazine excerpt]
that you send out periodically. My daughter Karen says she reads it in its entirety
and then goes back with her Bible to read it again. She is a real believer in
the Truth. She says she feels alone in her beliefs, as all of her friends are
only interested in what they believe. So [she] and I spend a lot of time on the
phone discussing our beliefs. But both of us feel very comforted in our simple
knowledge of Biblical truths. Someday we will all be ‘enlightened.’. . . O Glorious
Day!!!”
“[Mr. Sellers] was such a kind, nice man. I always thought
his voice was so mild and soft spoken. To be able to study his ideas and interpretations
is refreshing. Thanks again!”
Our Honorary Agent
In Great Britain
Look up the interesting web site from “across the pond”! Our
honorary agent, George T. Morris, provides a supply of Word of Truth materials.
A list of materials and prices will be sent. Please write or e-mail:
Mr. George T. Morris
67 Wood Lane, Sutton Coldfield,
West Midlands, B74 3LS
United Kingdom
E-mail: geo.morris@virgin.net
Web Site: christianindividualism.info
|
Sunday Morning: Director David Hettema and Bob Hammond, the piano player,
select some hymns at the beginning of the service at the Pasadena home office.
In the background on left is the chart used with the study on Daniel's Seventy
Weeks Prophecy.
|
Bible Study Satellite Group Locations
Many Bible study
groups formerly visited by our late teacher, Otis Q. Sellers, continue meeting
throughout the United States. As a service to those who lack a local Bible study
location, preferring to study God’s Word and fellowship with similar believers
utilizing Sellers’ Bible study materials, we now have some locations available.
Below is a compilation of those who have graciously shared their locations and
contacts with us, as a result of our last request in the Bulletin.
We desire making available those Bible study
groups not listed, but only with their advance permission. Would you like your
group listed in this Bulletin? If you happen to be one of these Word of Truth
“satellite” Bible Study Groups and would like to have your group listed in future
communications, please send us by “snail mail” or e-mail basic information, such
as location, meeting frequency/times, host/moderator, contact information, and
any additional comments. May our gracious God bless all!
In Southern California (Los Angeles Area):
The Word of Truth Ministry, 228 N. El Molino Ave.,
Pasadena; Sundays from 10:45 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mr. David Hettema presides; Dr.
Milton Hammond alternates. Hettema may be reached at (626) 794-0819. Hymn “sing-a-long”
before service. “We continue studies based upon the Biblical records of our Bible,
and written/spoken words of the late Otis Q. Sellers.”
In New York (New York City Area):
The YMCA, 125 W. 14th
St. (between 6th & 7th Avenues), New York City, the last Sunday of each month
from 2 to 4 p.m. Mr. Luis Casillas, moderator. Contact Mr. Mike Steele by e-mail:
quickby@juno.com. “We use O.Q. Sellers’
Seed & Bread leaflets (found on www.seedandbread.org)
as a guide for our discussions.”
In New York:
Endicott, No regular schedules. Contact Mr. Robert
Briggs at (607) 746-4870 for information.
In New Jersey:
430 Boulevard Ave., Pitman, Mondays from 7:30
to 9:30 p.m. Mr. Sam Marrone presides as host and may be reached at (856) 589-6256.
Marrone notes, “Bring your Bible and a hunger for the Word.”
In Texas (Houston Area):
5847 Chinaberry Drive, Houston, Sundays from
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 or 1 p.m. Mr. and Mrs. Don Black are hosts and may be contacted
at (713) 462-2250. “We usually listen and study one of Otis Sellers’ tapes.”
In Minnesota (Twin Lakes Area--Prior Lake, Eagen, Forest Lake):
Twin Lakes, Every other Friday, 6:15 p.m. Mr.
Nathan C. Johnson presides and may be reached at (651) 737-0144. Johnson encourages:
“Please contact me, and come enjoy your time around God’s Word with us.”
News Briefs
We are happy to announce that it finally made it on our Web
site and is available this year—The REAL Story of Christmas! There
on the “Christmas Season Special Page,” you may read or download Grace Publications’
transcribed version of Otis Q. Sellers’ The REAL Story of Christmas, available
as a PDF format file and/or Mark Hammond’s informative PowerPoint Slide Show.
Throughout the months of December and January, we have
been offering 50% (or greater) discounted Bible study materials.
The first of these specials include specially discounted
copies of David Hettema’s booklet, The 8 Signs of John’s Gospel, particularly
written with younger people in mind! A single copy was $4.50 and is now offered
for $2; 10 copies were $40 and are now offered for $15.
The second part of these specials, reiterated from our
last mailing, show discounted prices concerning the Otis Q. Sellers’ “TL-Series”
Audio MP3-CD Ministry. Each compact disk (CD) contains 10 studies or “TL” Bible
studies, which are in numerical order from TL-001 through TL-400. A single disk,
formerly $15, is now offered at $10, which averages $1 per every 45-minute
message. A complete set of 10 disks was $125 and is now offered for only $75.
(Sorry, we cannot discount these further for larger quantities; also, we cannot
discount the cassette tapes).
The third part of our specials is a real space-saving
and paper-saving bonus! The publications come in “handily-stored-on-shelves” and
“easily-carried” smaller sizes, anywhere from 5-1/2” x 8-1/2” (individual Seed
& Bread leaflet sizes) to 6” x 9” (Otis Q. Sellers’ Bible study subjects
booklets). All WOTM written materials and publications (including the Seed
& Bread, Bound Volumes One & Two) are now offered at 50 percent off
the present prices shown on our Web site. Also, if you want even greater space
savings, all of Sellers’ written studies have been placed onto Compact Disk format,
and are on sale at 50% of the prices shown on the website ( www.seedandbread.org ).
To order any of the above items, check our product
listings ( found either in our written listings, or on the Web site), list what
you desire (complete names/titles of the item[s] you desire, quantities of each
item, and the costs of each item, and the total amount per order) and send us
your order with delivery instructions. We cover all shipping and handling costs.
Please include check or money order in U.S. dollars, made out to The Word of
Truth Ministry, for the total amount due and mail to:
The Word of Truth Ministry
228 El Molino Avenue
Pasadena, CA 91101-1675.
For orders pertaining to anything in stock, please allow
four to eight weeks for delivery. For all other orders, kindly allow longer processing
times. For the status on any order, you may contact us by “snail mail” at the
above address or you may contact us by e-mailing at wordoftruth@earthlink.net.
Why we have making such drastic price reductions? We
decided that it would be much better to have these materials in YOUR hands than
on OUR shelves! Our gracious Lord has provided us with strong and consistent supporters,
who dearly love His Word and the in-depth studies presented by the late Mr. Sellers;
we feel that at this time it is appropriate to help you, our readers, as we also
have been helped. This Joyous Season, commemorating the earthly birth of our Savior,
the Lord Jesus Christ, also seemed like the perfect time to do this!
Additionally, we wish to sincerely thank all those at
this time who have helped to make these offers practically and financially feasible!
Please feel free to take advantage of these offers thru
the end of January 2007.
BIBLE STUDY AUDIO TAPES
By Otis Q. Sellers, Bible Teacher
For those preferring the convenience of the original audio
cassettes, the entire Tape Library (TL) series, consisting of numbers TL-001 to
TL-570, is still available. A complete subjects list may be obtained from the
home office in Pasadena, California, or writing/e-mailing:
The Word of Truth Ministry
Mrs. Gwen Staiger, Recorder
121 Wood Oak Dr., Joshua, TX 76058
E-mail: gsrecorder@sbcglobal.net
The Word of Truth Ministry Wishes to Extend Heartfelt
SEASON’S GREETINGS
To All of Our Readers, Believers in Our Great God, Even
Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Peace on Earth & Good Will Towards Men
“Rock”: A Word Study
By Mark B. Hammond
In the vignette of Matthew 16:13-20, we come across a
challenging passage which reads:
“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this
rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against
it” (Matt. 16:18, NKJV).
The key to this passage is our understanding of
this apparently simple word “rock.” A study of this term and its usage throughout
Scripture is worth undertaking and the truth that we can glean will greatly assist
our comprehension. As a common theme, “rock” is frequently used in Scripture as
a symbol of the character of God. “Rock” is something that is solid; it is something
of which one can confidently build upon. Referring to Matthew 7:24-27, we can
see Christ’s illustration of this principle. Consulting a concordance of the Old
Testament (O.T.) Hebrew, we find several key words that are translated “rock”
(or “stone”) and we would garner much from a thorough examination of these, including
their various shades of meaning, their usage, and their interchangeability into
the New Testament Greek.
Key Old Testament Words Translated “Rock”:
ghal-lah-meesh (flint) –
page 434.
mah-gohz (strength or fortress) –
page 740.
seh-lag (rock) – page 878.
tzoor (of/out-of/upon the rock) –
pages 1069-1070.
Key Old Testament Words Translated “Stone”:
eh-ven (stone) – pages 11-13.
eh-ven (stone) – page 13 (another
listing).
gheh-res (potsherd) – page 466.
The basic meanings conveyed above are derived from consistent
rendering of the numerous Biblical occurrences. (Exhaustive references for all
occurrences can be found in The Englishman’s Hebrew and Chaldee Concordance
of the Old Testament, Fifth Edition, on the page numbers indicated above.)
Having identified the basic and consistent meanings, a review of several passages
that highlight the usage of the term “rock” are in order.
Usage Examples from the O.T.
In contrast
to those worshipping heathen gods, the Hebrews were constantly reminded of Jehovah,
the Living God, their protector, their fortress and their “rock.”
Deut. 32:30-31 (NKJV):
“How could one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand
to flight, unless their Rock had sold them (sold them out), and the LORD
had surrendered them? For their rock is not like our Rock, even our enemies themselves
being judges.”
Exodus 33:21:
(Speaking to Moses:) And the LORD said, “Behold, there
is a place beside Me, and you will stand upon the rock.”
Additional usage of the term “rock” in the books of Samuel,
Psalms, and Isaiah communicate various “solid” aspects of God’s character and
His roles (KJV):
1 Sam. 2:2 . . . . . . . “neither is
there any rock like our God.”
2 Sam. 22:2 . . . . . .
“The Lord (Adonai) is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.”
2 Sam. 22:47 . . . . .
“blessed be my rock . . . the God of the rock of my salvation.”
Psalm 18:2 . . . . . .
“my God, my strength (rock)”
Psalm 18: 31 . . . . .
“who is a rock save (except) our God?”
Psalm 18:46 . . . . .
“and blessed be my rock.”
Psalm 31:3 . . . . . .
“Thou art my rock and my fortress.”
Psalm 94:22 . . . . .
“my God is the rock of my refuge”
Psalm 95:1 . . . . . .
“the rock of our salvation”
Isaiah 26:4 . . . . . .
“the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength (the Rock of Ages).”
The vast majority of these occurrences are used directly
in conjunction with the name(s) of God, i.e. Jehovah (GOD) and/or Adonai (LORD).
Most often, the nation of Israel is in view. Infrequently, the O.T. authors recorded
statements, which stretched beyond the immediacy of Jehovah, the “Eternal Rock.”
For example, Psalms 118:21-22 points to God’s Savior, the Chosen Messiah by using
the figurative image of a stone, having the same character as the rock from which
it is/was derived.
Psalms 118:21-22:
(Hebrew poetry; a repetition of ideas, as opposed to rhyme
or cadence:) I will praise You, for You have answered me, and have become my
salvation (NKJV). The stone (eh-ven) which the builders
refused is become the head stone of the corner (KJV).
The prophetic imagery recorded in the book of Daniel
provides an even more dramatic illustration of the Messiah, i.e. the “stone”:
Daniel 2:31-35 (KJV):
31. “Thou, O king, sawest, and behold a great image. This great image,
whose brightness was excellent, stood before thee; and the form thereof
was terrible.”
32. “This image’s head was of fine
gold, his breast and his arms of silver, his belly and his thighs of brass,
33. “His legs of iron, his feet part of iron
and part of clay.”
34. “Thou sawest till that a stone (eh-ven)
was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were
of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces.”
35. “Then was the iron, the clay, the brass,
the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff
of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, that no place
was found for them: and the stone (eh-ven) that smote the image
became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth.”
The interpretation follows immediately in the Biblical text.
Daniel 2:44-45 (KJV):
44. “And in the days of these kings shall
the God of Heaven set up a kingdom (mal-choo; compare to mah-lach,
to reign, and mis-rah: government), which shall never be destroyed:
and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in
pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever.”
45. “Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone
(eh-ven) was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it
brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great
God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream
is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure.”
The interpreting of this symbolic imagery is the key
to understanding the truth that it conveys. In verse 45, we recognize the term
“mountain” as a commonly used Scriptural figure of speech that represents a “kingdom”
(a government, specifically a monarchy). We can infer that the “stone” represents
our Messiah (Christ), the King, of God’s ever-flowing (eternal) government, Who
was “cut out of the mountain without using hands.” What a wonderful image to illustrate
God’s chosen King! He (Christ) is of the same character and qualities as Jehovah,
the “Eternal Rock.”
In conclusion, we return to the New Testament, in Matthew
16:13-20, where we started this study, and apply what we’ve learned to “dig up”
or “mine” additional truth from God’s Word. (See the resultant translation below.)
A Resultant Version Translation of Matthew 16:13-20:
13. When Jesus came into the borders of Caesarea
Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”
14. And they said, “Some say ‘John the Baptist’;
some ‘Elijah,’ and others ‘Jeremiah,’ or one of the prophets.”
15. He said to them, “Who do you all say that
I am?”
Notes: The word translated “you all” (Greek: autois)
is the plural noun; Jesus was communicating this message to all Twelve
Apostles.
16. And Simon Peter answered and said to him, “You
are the Christ, the Son (Greek: huios = representative) of the Living
God.”
17. And Jesus replied to him, “You are blessed, Simon
Barjona (son of Jona); for flesh and blood (human kind) has not
revealed this to you, but rather My Father who is in the heavens.”
18. “I say also to you all, that you all are rock (Greek:
petros; masculine noun), and upon this rock (Greek: petra;
feminine noun used with a feminine pronoun) I will build My out-called ones
(Greek: ekklesia), and the gates of the grave (Greek: hades,
denoting here the power of the grave; the state of death) will not prevail
against it.” (Greek: katischuo = prevail, indicating that the
grave will not have full power to retain it’s captives in light of Christ’s power).
19. “And I will give to you all the keys to heaven’s government; and
whatsoever you all shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever
you shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
Notes: The word “keys” is not literal, but is rather
a symbol of God’s power.
20. Then He commanded His disciples that they should tell no man that
He was Jesus the Christ (Jeshua Messiah).
In conclusion, we note that in Matthew 16:18,
the word “rock” is contrasted with the “out-called ones,” i.e. His disciples.
Jesus was declaring what He would build His ekklesia upon. Just as He (Christ)
was of the same character and qualities of the “rock” (Jehovah), this was also
true of Simon Peter, and it was true of the disciples that partook of Jesus’ character.
(Editor’s Note: For further reading, see
Otis Q. Sellers’ Seed & Bread No. 116, I Will Build of Me.)
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God;
And every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love”
(1 John 4:7-8, KJV).
|
