I wish I could say that I was one of those smart kids who always loved history. Yet, in one sense, I guess that I did—although perhaps without realizing it.

I was always enthralled with old black-and-white television shows that whisked me to an earlier time that seemed both simpler and, yet, exhilarating. I found many aspects of the past fascinating. I was particularly mesmerized by the Middle Ages—especially as they set the stage for the dawn of the Reformation.

Put a dry history book in front of me, though, and I would have been entirely unenthused—unless, perhaps, it was a volume about the history of sports.

I did love Bible history, though, as well. I remember that in my middle years in Lutheran grade school, my teacher would begin the day by reading an extended passage of Scripture. When he got to the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, I recall listening as though I were following on a horse behind King David. I even scribbled the words “David stories” next to those books in the table of contents of an old Bible.

I had outstanding history teachers and classes in high school and Bible college, and that’s when a formal love of history really began to click for me.

But it was in seminary that I began to think purposely and deeply about the historical nature and background of the Bible. Unlike other religious books, the Scriptures are built upon history in such a way that if Biblical history were not true, then the Bible itself would be invalidated (see, for example, 1 Cor. 10:1-11).

I began to realize what an incredible shame it is when Bible-believing preachers who ought to know better allegorize the details of Old Testament history. In this manner, they commit an injustice with regard to the text that is similar to that of liberal scholars, who deny its historicity. In the end, both negate—whether outrightly or in practice—the literal, grammatical, historical meaning of the text, searching instead for some deeper piety.

My Old Testament professor and theological mentor, Dr. John Whitcomb, modeled an entirely different approach. Dr. Whitcomb spent decades refining his famous Bible chronology charts, [i] and his manner of teaching on historical passages was spellbinding. I found the challenge of putting the pieces of the inspired Hebrew Scriptures together—fixing the sequence of events solidly in my mind, and matching people, actions and dates with precision—to be riveting. I experienced firsthand the velocity of the blessings that flow to those who approach the text reverently and literally.

In this regard, the Apostle Paul stated in Rom. 15:4:

“For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

I learned to love the Old Testament, and the Hebrew language behind it, in a way that I had not previously imagined.

As I have matured in my theological and ministerial pursuits, I have also grown more deeply in my appreciation for the impact that the Bible has had upon all of history.

Specifically, I find that my interests have run on two parallel tracks: Old Testament and church history—particularly Reformation history, focusing on the 16^th and 17^th centuries and the subsequent development of dispensational theology. I see these interests as complementary. Just as we can learn from the characters and events in Biblical history, so we can learn similarly from church history—but it must be real church history, not a version created out of one’s imagination—using many of the same interpretive tools.

I have shared before how the months of September, October and November are the church history phase of my year. As the wheat is transformed into gold and the geese fly south, I can hear the echoes from the Middle Ages. I sense the darkness about to be vanquished by the light once again.

If you had asked me at six years of age what holiday we celebrate on October 31st, I would have responded, “Reformation Day.” It seems that these impressions that were engraved so deeply on my young mind have forcefully reemerged.

I relish the opportunity to teach through the Reformation once again this year, and I pray that it might work toward the “learning” of all who hear, to increase their “hope.”

What an astounding thing it is to grasp that God is the superintendent of history!

“A posterity shall serve Him.
It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,
They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born,
That He has done this” (Ps. 22:30-31).

Paul J. Scharf (M.A., M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary) is a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in Columbus, WI, and serving in the Midwest. For more information on his ministry, visit sermonaudio.com/pscharf or foi.org/scharf, or email pscharf@foi.org.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.

[i] Dr. Whitcomb produced seven charts, and there are three more in the same set that were done by his colleague at Grace Theological Seminary, Dr. James L. Boyer. For information, see “Charts”; Whitcomb Ministries; n.d.; https://www.whitcombministries.org/charts.html; Internet; accessed 25 August 2022. It should be noted that Dr. John MacArthur bases much of his understanding of Biblical chronology on these famous charts by Whitcomb and Boyer, and gives them credit for the use of several of them on the copyright page—even in the new edition of his famous study Bible. See John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible, 2^nd ed., English Standard Version (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2021), p. iv.

Totalitarian government – one party, despotic, and communist- is how this type of government is described in the dictionary. The party that stole the election is just that. Most of the leaders are Godless – sexual deviants, transvestites, thieves, liars, etc. But that’s what you would expect from those who have been given over to a reprobate mind. They’re following Satan, whether they know it or not.

They are determined to destroy all law-abiding people. Most of all, they seek to destroy Christianity with its “old-fashioned laws.” In doing so, they refer to themselves as progressives. But that title is misleading since sin is as old as mankind itself; so if you are a Christian, a Jew, or a conservative – you are in their crosshairs. Today they are even going after Amish farmers who fail to meet their guidelines on growing food.

Lacking any semblance of common sense, these people demand their own way and are unwilling to listen to reason, so they will not debate an issue or abide by existing laws. They support burning, looting, and getting high as a way of life. But alas, people in their right minds with a degree of morality are becoming fed up with their foolish agenda. Even once complacent Christians are now beginning to smell the coffee. Maybe it has something to do with our fake Federal Government arming the IRS. It seems they can’t get enough blackmail money to give to other rogue governments.

Already they are raiding the oppositions’ homes in the wee hours of the morning armed with poor excuses and machine guns. Thought police will arrest you for expressing your opinion about anything contrary to what they espouse and want you to believe no matter how crazy. Things like men giving birth, redefining a woman, many genders, etc. But then, the Bible warns us in 2nd Timothy that this will happen in the last days.

Christians and other conservatives are becoming aware of the travesty they are facing, yet they remain calm, knowing that the slightest resistance will ignite a firestorm of wrath. If the midterm elections go as they should and the conservatives take over the government, then maybe we can clean house and return to normalcy once again. By normalcy, I mean back to some sort of rational governing.

A note of caution: if you vote in the primaries and the midterms, you must be careful to scrutinize the candidates because anyone can run. In Florida, a man who dared run for the governorship was found in a hotel room passed out and lying naked on the floor in a puddle of vomit. It seems that he was participating in a drug-fueled orgy with another man who thought he was dead. The desk clerk captured a photo of the candidate on his cell phone – disgusting! He was a Democrat. They sure seem to be obsessed with sex and other worldly pleasures.

There are others who pose as Republicans until they get elected, then turn into RINO Democrats, which they were all along. This is a new tactic that the Democrats are using. Consider Liz Chaney, Colorado Sen. Kevin Priola, and other interlopers. It’s beginning to look like these people only want the cushy job of sitting behind a desk and living on the dole while their leaders wage war on us “deplorables.”

Before Sunday’s service, I spied a young man who appeared to be Hispanic, cradling a big Bible under his arm and talking to two other men. One was an older black man, and the other was an older white man. Being the outspoken guy that I am, I said to the young man, “You must be a Baptist. Only Baptists carry their Bibles around like that.” He replied in the affirmative, “Yes, I am,” to which the black man said, “I’m a Pentecostal.” The other man was an usher at the Presbyterian church I’m currently attending. I thought, “how strange.”

The usher then began telling me what he knew about prophecy and mentioned Johnathan Cahn’s latest book. I was taken by surprise at the diversity and subject matter. Who would have thought that one day you could have three men from three denominations talk to one another so openly? That encounter strengthened my belief that there was yet hope for the future of our Christian faith – at least for another little while.

Jonathon Cahn is a name that engenders disbelief in modern-day prophets. I must confess that I have read everything he’s written – but very carefully. The first reason for disbelief is because he always dresses in all black – just like Johnny Cash – which makes it hard to not believe that his attire is just a marketing ploy. And you can answer me this: Why does he always couch his revelations in fictional narratives? Why doesn’t he just spit it all out? Ah, but at least he doesn’t wear torn skintight jeans with a shirt hanging out over their belly like most preachers today.

It’s gotten to the point where we have Bible prognosticators referring to themselves as Prophets or Latter-day Prophets. Some even refer to themselves as Apostles – quite heady stuff. You’re more likely to find these people at the bank rather than on the streets of Calcutta sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But alas, I must confess that I was going to refer to myself as an “Evangelist” and would have been justified according to Webster’s dictionary. However, I thought the term sounded a little too pretentious, and only Billy Graham could fit that title in modern times. Alas, we need many more men to fill the gap he left in these Last Days. Charlatans, money-hungry phonies (both men and women) seeking fame and fortune are mostly what we currently have.

I guess Jonathan Cahn is the best we can do.

P.S. I got an email from Sid Roth wanting to heal my infirmities. I wonder how much money he is charging these days for curing toenail fungus. It seems everybody who emails me wants money – and they already have tons of it!

Keep looking up, “for your redemption draweth nigh.”

YBIC

Jim Towers

You can write me at jt.filmmaker@yahoo.com or visit me at my website www.propheticsignsandwonder.com and visit me at www.dropzonedelta.com