Earthquakes in Various Places Earthquakes are prophesied events of the last days. Richard Ritenbaugh shows that the Bible considers them to be divine warnings and signs.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Five) We live in a society where both food and information are readily available. John Ritenbaugh asks, "What is our approach to them? How are we using attitude toward and application of them makes all the difference.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Four) John 6 has always been a difficult chapter to explain. However, within his series on the physical/spiritual parallels in the Bible on eating, John Ritenbaugh shows how clear Jesus' teaching is and what it means to us.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part One) The Bible frequently uses analogies from physical life to explain spiritual principles. Food and eating are no exceptions. In fact, there are over 700 references to eating in Scripture. The lessons we can learn from them must be important!

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Seven) Our physical bodies, like the walled cities of ancient times, have a defense system to keep out invaders. Spiritually, how well do we maintain our defenses against error and contamination? John Ritenbaugh urges us to listen diligently to God's Word for true nourishment.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Six) We live in a society where both food and information are readily available. John Ritenbaugh discusses the importance of mastering self-control and a true Christian's necessity of seeking truth by which to live his life.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Three) We are what we eat. The same can apply spiritually to what we put into our minds. John Ritenbaugh shows that God wants us to desire His Word with the eagerness of a baby craving milk.

Eating: How Good It Is! (Part Two) The Bible mentions eating around 700 times, highlighting the broad practicality of the Bible's instruction. Its lessons for us are drawn from life itself, and eating is a major part of everyone's experience. By studying eating in the experiences of others, we plumb a deep well of instruction from which we can draw vital lessons to help us through life.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eight): Death It is amazing to consider that, despite the fact that every human being will face death, so very few take the time to contemplate it, much less prepare for it. In covering the comparisons in Ecclesiastes 7:1-4, John Ritenbaugh surveys the Bible's attitude toward death, particularly its insistence that we should allow the reality of death to change our approach to life.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Eleven): Paradox, Continued The spiritual paradox that Solomon relates in Ecclesiastes 7:15 is followed by a warning of danger about a Christian's reaction to it. John Ritenbaugh assures us that confounding trials are not punishments from God for unrighteousness but tests of faith in which He is intimately involved to prepare us for the world to come.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fifteen): Deference "Deference" is a word that receives scant support in these days of individual rights and equality. Solomon, however, makes the subject of deference—that is, being properly respectful and submissive to an authority figure—a major part of Ecclesiastes 8. John Ritenbaugh urges Christians always to see God behind those in power over us, which will help in giving proper deference.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Five): Comparisons The content of Ecclesiastes 4 is a series of comparisons based in the everyday life of a society—from the gulf between the powerful and those they oppress to the various attitudes that people bring to their daily work. John Ritenbaugh explains that Solomon provides these comparisons to indicate the choices we should make to live better lives in alignment with God, even in an "under the sun" world.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Four): Other Gifts One of the lessons of Ecclesiastes is that God is intimately involved in the lives and futures of those He has called into His purpose. To this end, He has given His people tremendous gifts that, if properly used, will build their faith and draw them closer to God. John Ritenbaugh encourages us that we matter to God: He wants to see us succeed in life and be prepared for life in His Kingdom.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Fourteen): A Summary Calling Ecclesiastes 7 "the most significant Old Testament chapter I have studied," John Ritenbaugh summarizes the many lessons Solomon teaches in its twenty-nine verses. Along with its central paradox, the chapter emphasizes the importance of an individual's lifelong search for wisdom, closing with an admonition that mankind has brought his problems on himself.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Nine): Wisdom as a Defense Ecclesiastes is a book of wisdom. The kind of wisdom that it teaches, however, is not of the purely philosophical variety, but is a spiritual sagacity combined with practical skill in living. John Ritenbaugh explains that this kind of godly wisdom, if applied, will protect a Christian as he experiences the trials and tribulations of life in this world.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part One) Among the Old Testament's books of wisdom, Ecclesiastes stands as one seemingly out of place: full of frustration, blunt, and even a little hopeless. However, since God is its ultimate Author, its themes are realistic and necessary for us to grasp. With this article, John Ritenbaugh begins an extended series on Ecclesiastes and its trove of deep understanding.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Seven): Contentment A major theme of the book of Ecclesiastes is satisfaction. In his wisdom, Solomon assiduously sought out the answer to the question, "What brings a person true satisfaction?" John Ritenbaugh proposes that God desires far more for us than mere satisfaction: He wants to give us real contentment, a state that comes only through a relationship with Him.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Six): Listening When Solomon visits the Temple, he comes away from his observations of the worshippers with a sense that too many treat religion far too casually and carelessly, forgetting that they are coming before the great God. As John Ritenbaugh explains, Solomon admonishes his readers to listen to God's Word when they approach Him and to be careful to follow through with what they promised when they made the covenant with Him.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Ten): Paradox Ecclesiastes 7:15 contains a saying that does not ring quite true in the Christian ear. In this way, it is a paradox, an inconsistency, something contrary to what is considered normal. John Ritenbaugh establishes the foundation for a comprehensive understanding of Solomon's intent, showing that he is cautioning us to consider carefully how we react to such paradoxes in life.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Thirteen): Confessions As he closes the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon makes a confession about the search for wisdom, saying that, even to him, true wisdom remained beyond his grasp. Acknowledging this truth, John Ritenbaugh explains that, while wisdom will ultimately elude us too, we must continue to seek it because pursuing it is itself a great reward.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Three): Time Ecclesiastes 3 is among the best-known chapters of the Bible, and its major theme is a subject that concerns us all: time. Solomon reveals that God is solidly in control of time. John Ritenbaugh teaches that knowing that God is sovereign over time should fill a Christian with faith in God's work in him, in the church, and in His plan for humanity.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Twelve): Paradox, Conclusion The paradox that Solomon mentions in Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 is not in itself a difficult concept. The problem is that Solomon provides little in terms of an answer to the spiritual dangers that can arise from it. John Ritenbaugh reveals that a Christian's peril lies in his possible reactions to the paradox—the most serious of which is an impulsive lurch into super-righteousness.

Ecclesiastes and Christian Living (Part Two): Works In his masterwork, the book of Ecclesiastes, Solomon frequently touches on the subject of work due to its central place in both human and divine life. John Ritenbaugh explains that God works all the time—in fact, it is the first thing we see God doing in His Book—and we must follow His example to become skilled in living as He does.

Economics in Prophecy With both the United States and Europe dealing with an impending financial disaster, the world today is full of economic news. Economic terms and philosophies are common knowledge to many. While many doubters think that the Bible is not sophisticated enough to comment on such modern ideas, Richard Ritenbaugh explains that God's Word does indeed factor economics into the end-time equation in its prophecies.

Ecumenism or 'Mystery Babylon'? Late summer 1993 saw the Parliament of the World's Religions descend on Chicago, where delegates signed "The Global Ethic", a code for the world's religions to follow. What does this mean for religion in America? Is Mystery Babylon rising?

Elijah and John the Baptist Despite the greatness of the Old Testament prophets, Jesus declares that none was greater than His cousin, John, known as "the Baptist." John Ritenbaugh explains that Jesus clearly says that John fulfilled Malachi 4:5-6 as the prophesied Elijah to come.

Elijah's Dose of Reality Sometimes, we get down because we think that all our labors for God have gone unnoticed. Elijah did, and his story points out a major lesson we all would do well to heed today.

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman, Part I: Reviving God's Children Some Old Testament stories read like parables, and Elisha's miracles in II Kings 4 are good examples of this. Richard Ritenbaugh draws parallels between modern church history and the second of these miracles.

Elisha and the Shunammite Woman, Part II: Serving God's Children Comparing God's true ministers to false ministers—and seeing their fruit—reveals how the church must be revived spiritually. And "sneezing" plays a major role!

Elisha, the Young Men, and the She-Bears The prophet Elisha's encounter with the youths of Bethel poses a problem for some Bible readers. Elisha's curse and the subsequent she-bear attack seem excessive to critics. How could a prophet of God act with such cruel vengeance against mere children? Ted Bowling examines what the text of II Kings 2:23-24 actually relates versus what people assume it says.

Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: The Promise and the Reality (Part One) Stem-cell research has recently been in the news as a few bills wound their way through the U.S. Congress. Charles Whitaker takes the opportunity to explain the details of embryonic stem-cell research, exposing some of the hidden truths science and business interests do not want the public to know.

Embryonic Stem-Cell Research: The Promise and the Reality (Part Two) Biotechnology, particularly stem-cell research, is the future—or so screams the media, as well as many scientists, actors, and politicians. Charles Whitaker, however, begs to disagree: While we have been inundated by hype, the realities of stem-cell research have been hidden from the public.

Enter the Joy of Your Lord! Happiness — everybody wants it, many pursue it, but who enjoys it for any length of time? We listen with disbelief when someone claims to know the way to lasting happiness now, in this life. Is lasting happiness achievable today? Or must we wait until the resurrection at Christ's return?

Eroding Religious Freedom Freedom of religion in America is being slowly eroded rather than removed en masse. Richard Ritenbaugh presents several examples, then shows how the Bible encourages us in such times.

Essays on Bible Study Bible study is an essential tool for Christian growth, but sometimes people get off track in their studies. Richard Ritenbaugh provides a few guidelines in three essays originally written for the CGG Weekly newsletter: 'The Jewish Testament?' 'Prophecy's Place' 'Putting Out Flawed Study Practices'

Eternal Torment? Many nominal Christians believe in an ever-burning hell where the wicked are tormented forever. Though they might point to Revelation's Lake of Fire or to Jesus' mention of Gehenna fire as support for such an idea, the Bible does not teach the pervasive doctrine of hell as a place of eternal torment. Richard Ritenbaugh contends that, instead, God will eradicate all sin and wickedness, not punish for it forever.

Europe Edges Toward Common Army The European Union stepped closer to fielding a common army when it revitalized the Western European Union to protect its interests.

Europe Steps to the Right In 1993 many of the governments in Europe turned conservative, leading to speculation that Europeans were ready for a leader to step up to solve their problems. Could this be a forerunner to the Beast rising?

Europe: A Prescription for Revolution The waning days of 1992 saw circumstances in Europe in a precarious state. Even now, Europe is ripe for a leader who can bring all the disparate parties and ideologies together. What will it take to bring the Beast to power?

Every Word? A common scriptural refrain—and especially in the book of Deuteronomy—is God's admonishment to be careful to observe His commands. Pat Higgins applies the principle of being careful to observe to two verses that have great significance to us as we near the end of the age, as our carefulness in living by God's every word may have life-or-death consequences.