Dear Mr. Froese,I have been reading the Midnight Call magazine for many years, and the “Letters to the Editor” section is the first area that I turn to. In the May 2014 issue, in the answer to the question “Flesh and Blood,” you made a comment that, “Therefore, the people entering the millennium are not believers necessarily.” I have been taught by certain pastors and commentators that only the righteous will enter the millennium, and that there is Scripture to support this view. They say that the earth will be repopulated, and there will be unbelievers that are born during the millennium. When Scripture refers to the nations being ruled by a rod of iron, does this refer to actual countries or groups of people?I would appreciate further explanation of this event. -C. Sellers, IN
Dear Mr. Froese,My current understanding of the gathering together of the elect and first resurrection is that this occurs at the second coming of Christ our Lord. The Apostle Paul describes this in his letter to the Thessalonians. That said, I don’t believe the Church is appointed unto wrath. In other words, the wheat will remain separate from the chaff until the Lord’s return.Also, I do not think the nations of the world will be in complete unity under the Antichrist. It is rather a picture of iron and clay not cleaving together. Iron represents the Roman Empire, clay the masses of humanity. The forces of the Roman Antichrist are armies, not civilians. Also, Revelation relates to Daniel, where we get prior prophetic insight.In other words, I do not believe that true Christians will have or take the mark of the beast. And, somehow, there will be pagan Gentiles who avoid the mark and go into the millennium. The Antichrist system of the beast will scatter the power of the holy people. In fact, it has done so for 2,000 years. And the books of Daniel and Revelation continue to be fulfilled. Yet, we know, the gospel will be preached to the very end.My intention is not to get involved in a Socratic dialogue, or to be involved in sophistry. Still, there are important questions to be asked, even of ourselves. For example, was it right or wrong from a Scriptural perspective for the founders of our nation to carry out the American Revolution? Is there ever a right time to bear the sword? If so, when? And how can this be done without it being in conflict with the Sermon on the Mount?The devil is at war with mankind. He hates Adam’s seed. He knows his time is short. Therefore, he goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. He is also at war with the earth, for it is God’s creation. He is anti-man, anti-nature, and anti-Christ. Yet, what sayeth the Scripture? “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Isn’t that great! And isn’t that to be our attitude at all times?Furthermore, to answer my own question, governments established by God are to bear the sword justly. I am certain America’s founders saw themselves in this light. -S. Anawalt, WA
Dear Sir,For a number of years now, I have enjoyed reading many of the articles in the Midnight Call, overlooking your belief in eternal security. But it disturbs me greatly when false statements are made about what I believe. The seven statements made by Rene Malgo in his article, “How Sure Is Salvation?” are all false.Never is God’s power underestimated. We believe we are transformed (saved) by grace through faith, both being the gift of God.Jesus took all of our sins upon Himself, but our past sins only are forgiven when we are saved (Romans 3:25). Future sins are covered only when repented of, not automatically without repentance.When we are saved, the Lord doesn’t take away our free moral agency and make robots of us. Nor does He keep us faithful, but the Holy Spirit does enable us to be faithful and obedient.If it is not possible for a saved person to fall away, why all the admonitions and warnings in the Bible? And why are we exhorted in Jude 21 to keep ourselves in the love of God?It seems that those who embrace the doctrine of eternal security gloss over some of the “ifs” found in God’s Word, such as Romans 11:22; Hebrews 3:14, 6:4-6; 10:26-31; and 2 Peter 1:10; 2:20.We are taught to “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: looking diligently lest any man fail of (fall back from) the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:14-15).Many who sin when they want, believing their sins are automatically covered by believing in eternal security, certainly are not on the narrow road that leads to life. We would rather be safe than sorry. -R. Diffenderfer, FL
Dear Mr. Froese:First, I think your Midnight Call magazine is the best publication around and I am also glad to be a supporter of your ministry.I have a question that I hope you can explain to me in a letter. I have been taught that it has been approximately 6000 years since Adam and Eve. Approximately 2000 years until Abraham, 2000 years until the first coming of Christ and then 2000 years to the present. How do we know how many years there were from Adam to Abraham and so on? Are times and dates indicated in the Old Testament Scriptures or historical writings that tell us? -R. E. in Washington, NJ
Dear Brother Froese,In regard to Brother Jonathan Cahn’s book, The Harbinger, I would like to know what is on your heart concerning the message/warning that the book outlines regarding the remedial judgments that are being brought upon our nation, that if not heeded will lead to the complete destruction of America. I have a feeling that you have not read the book, so I’ll just highlight one specific point concerning how our Sovereign Lord God deals with rebellious humanity. To begin, our Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever, as He does not change in the way in which He metes out His righteous judgments against a people/nation that turns its back on Him. And this brings me to the singular point that I’d like to call your attention to in The Harbinger. It is my conviction, as it is Brother Cahn’s, that our Lord does not change in regard to how He judges the nations. He is using the exact same pattern on our nation that He used on His chosen people Israel. That’s it, and that is the one point I’d like to highlight concerning Brother Cahn’s book. I believe your response will be bathed in prayer, and I look forward to hearing your reply. Thank you and may our Lord continue to bless you in all He sets your hands to do for His glory and honor.-J. Conti, CT