Online StoreOnline Store
VideosVideos
Words and ArticlesWords & Articles
Jay's BlogJay's Blog
Discussion BoardDiscussion Board
What's NewWhat's New
Jay's BioJay's Bio
About UsAbout Us
DonateDonate
FeedbackFeedback
SearchSearch
HomeHome

Jay Rogers
International Director
Jay Rogers

The Forerunner

Mikhail Gorbachev - A Modern Cyrus?

4/91

A Time magazine article recently described the precarious balance in which the tenure of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev is hanging. "He may be the most widely disliked figure in the Soviet Union, yet he is convinced that he alone can avert outright warfare among tribes and factions that hate one another even more than they hate him" ("The Conductor of Discord," March 25, 1991, p.33).

Gorbachev stands on a narrow precipice. On either side are civil war with social anarchy or a return to the iron hand of a repressive dictatorial government. The condition of the Soviet Union at this moment is extremely urgent. Forces which seem out of control have been unleashed which either threaten to destroy the Soviet republic or promise to bring lasting change and permanent freedom. Caught in the fulcrum of the mechanism of change, Gorbachev is being used as an instrument to bring freedom to many long repressed people.

Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev has brought some very real changes to the style of leadership within the Soviet Union. Despite the turmoil that has occurred under his leadership, Gorbachev is unlike all of the Soviet leaders of the past, who have refused to talk with the heads of state of the free world. Gorbachev once spent many hours with Margaret Thatcher debating the power of the free market verses Marxism. Only the two of them and the Soviet president's interpreter heard the conversation. Gorbachev made everyone else leave the room.

He also spent a lot of time speaking with President Reagan. The ideas of liberty and freedom being sown into his heart and mind began to take root and overturn the falsehoods of communism. Those ideas of freedom went deep into his heart and prospered because it was really God who sent them.

Other Soviet leaders have always presented very formal canned speeches, while Gorbachev has stimulated the minds of people all over the world with fresh ideas. This dramatic change has affected all of Soviet society, especially the young people. In an interview with some 20 year-old Soviets, Public Radio reported on perestroika ... The question was asked: "What does it mean to you?"

One responded: "It means that we can think for ourselves ... Before we were expected to only do as we were told. What we speak in the kitchen can be published in the paper. There is a feeling that we can change things. We will never allow the cult of personality worship to happen again. We keep feeling that something within us needs to be changed, but we don't know what it is."

What is the driving force behind all of the changes the past few years have brought to the Soviet Union? The answer to this question can only lie in an unseen force in history which is pulling the Soviet people toward a greater destiny. It is as if the God of all history has said to the Soviet Union, "I'm going to put my hook in your jaw and turn you around and rain fire upon you. Is not my word like fire and like a hammer that shatters the rock?"

While we must always keep in mind the diabolical nature of the communist system of government, as well as a realistic understanding that a few reforms will never renew a governmental system whose foundational principles deny personal freedom, truth and the existence of God, we must not ignore the possible beginnings of freedom that are stirring within the Soviet Union today.

God has foretold in His word that every nation, every tribe, and every kingdom of this world is destined to come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.While the earmarks of repression are still observable in the Soviet Union and while oppression still continues, the seeds of communism's downfall have already been planted.

Perhaps history will record that the unseen hand of God moved through Gorbachev and his policy of glasnost to insure the complete destruction of communism - an event scheduled on God's calendar in order to establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.

In the West's fear of the spread of communism, we have missed a vital truth. There is a great destiny for this nation. The question has never been - "Could the West contain communism?" - but rather - "Could communism resist freedom?"

Some of the most obvious recipients of the benefits of perestroika have been the Soviet Jews. The number of Soviet Jews returning to Israel in 1990 exceeded the expected 150 thousand, as thousands of last minute arrivals landed in Israeli airports in late December before the impending Persian Gulf War. This year the total number of Soviet Jews returning to Israel under Gorbachev may approach one million.

Like King Cyrus, the Persian who promised safe passage to returning Jews coming out of the fallen Babylon in the 6th century B.C., Gorbachev is allowing an ancient prophecy to be fulfilled. The Prophet Jeremiah proclaimed that the Lord would bring "the sons of Israel from of the land of the north and from all the countries where he had banished them" (Jeremiah 16:14,15). Today Gorbachev is allowing Soviet Jews to be restored to their biblical homeland.

Financing this tremendous task, Christians and Jews from all over the world are sponsoring the Soviet Jews' safe passage out of the Soviet Union. Forbidden to take Soviet wealth out of the country, many Jews are being greeted at the Jerusalem airport by a banner that reads "International Christian Embassy Jerusalem."

Many Jews, who have been falsely taught that Christianity is at the source of the vast anti-semitism of Europe, are visibly overcome with emotion at the first sight of their homeland. The thought that Christians have actually helped them to come home is unbelievable. A great reconciliation of Jews and Christians around the world is occurring as a result of the sponsored airlifts.


Up one level
Back to document index
The Real Jesus

The Real Jesus:
A Defense of the Historicity and Divinity of Christ

Who is the Real Jesus?

Ever since the dawn of modern rationalism, skeptics have sought to use textual criticism, archaeology and historical reconstructions to uncover the "historical Jesus" -- a wise teacher who said many wonderful things, but fulfilled no prophecies, performed no miracles and certainly did not rise from the dead in triumph over sin.

Over the past 100 years, however, startling discoveries in biblical archaeology and scholarship have all but vanquished the faulty assumptions of these doubting modernists. Regretably, these discoveries have often been ignored by the skeptics as well as by the popular media. As a result, the liberal view still holds sway in universities and impacts the culture and even much of the church.

 

This presentation explodes the myths of these critics and the movies, books and television programs that have popularized their views.

Presented in ten parts -- perfect for individual, family and classroom study -- viewers will be challenged to go deeper in their knowledge of Christ in order to be able to defend their faith and present the truth to a skeptical modern world – that the Jesus of the Gospels is the Jesus of history -- "the same yesterday, today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).  He is the real Jesus.

Speakers include: George Grant, Ted Baehr, Stephen Mansfield, Raymond Ortlund, Phil Kayser, David Lutzweiler, Jay Grimstead, J.P. Holding, and Eric Holmberg.

Ten parts, over two hours of instruction!

Running Time: 130 minutes


$19.95

ORDER NOW!

For more information


The Beast of Revelation: IDENTIFIED

Who is the dreaded beast of Revelation? Now at last, a plausible candidate for this personification of evil incarnate has been identified (or re-identified). Ken Gentry's insightful analysis of scripture and history is likely to revolutionize your understanding of the book of Revelation -- and even more importantly -- amplify and energize your entire Christian worldview!

Historical footage and other graphics are used to illustrate the lecture Dr. Gentry presented at the 1999 Ligonier Conference in Orlando, Florida. It is followed by a one-hour question and answer session addressing the key concerns and objections typically raised in response to his position. This presentation also features an introduction that touches on not only the confusion and controversy surrounding this issue -- but just why it may well be one of the most significant issues facing the Church today.

Ideal for group meetings, personal Bible study -- for anyone who wants to understand the historical context of John's famous letter "... to the seven churches which are in Asia." (Revelation 1:4)

For more information

Beast of Revelation

Running Time: 145 minutes
(Available in DVD only)

$17.95
ORDER NOW!


God's Law and Society

INCLUDES A FREE
ON-LINE STUDY GUIDE!


God's Law and Society
powerfully presents a comprehensive worldview based upon the ethical system found in the Law of God.

Sixteen Christian leaders and scholars answer some of the most common questions and misperceptions related to this volatile issue:

  • Are we under Law or under Grace?
  • How does the Old Testament Law apply today?
  • Can we legislate morality?
  • What about the separation of Church and State?
  • Was America founded as a Christian nation?
  • What would a Christian America look like?

    Download the free
    Study Guide!

  • Perfect for group instruction as well as personal Bible study. Speakers include: George Grant, Howard Phillips, R.C. Sproul Jr., Ken Gentry, Gary DeMar, Jay Grimstead, R.J. Rushdoony, Steven Schlissel, Andrew Sandlin, Eric Holmberg, and more!

    Ten parts, over four hours of instruction!

    Running Time: 240 minutes

    Watch over 60 streaming videos from God's Law and Society at:
    The Second American Revolution

    Price reduced!
    $39.95
    $19.95

    ORDER NOW!

    For more information


    Amazing Grace: The History and Theology of Calvinism

    Over four hours of instruction!

    Just what is “Calvinism?” Does this teaching make man a deterministic robot and God the author of sin? What about free will? If the church accepts Calvinism, won’t evangelism be stifled, perhaps even extinguished? How can we balance God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? What are the differences between historic Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism? Why did men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edwards and a host of renowned Protestant evangelists embrace the teaching of predestination and election and deny free will theology?

    This is the first video documentary that answers these and other related questions. Hosted by Eric Holmberg, this fascinating three-part, four-hour presentation is detailed enough so as to not gloss over the controversy. At the same time, it is broken up into ten “Sunday-school-sized” sections to make the rich content manageable and accessible for the average viewer.

    For more information

    Amazing Grace

    Running Time: 257 minutes
    $19.95
    ORDER NOW!



    The Forerunner Forum is the discussion group for this web site.
    The purpose of the group is to engage in discussion about the
    articles on-line. If you want to discuss any article or video on
    this web site, visit The Forerunner Forum.

    Google
     
    Web forerunner.com

    VIDEOS | WORDS | BLOG | DISCUSSION | WHAT'S NEW | ABOUT US | FEEDBACK | SEARCH | DONATE | JAY'S BIO | HOME

    For more information, contact:

    The Forerunner
    jrogers@forerunner.com
      
    P.O. Box 362173
    Melbourne, FL 32936-2173

    RSS

    Use an RSS Feed Reader?

    Subscribe to
    The Forerunner!

    What is an RSS Feed?

    YouTube
    The Forerunner TV!

    Featured Product
    If you like the articles on this website, you may also be interested in:

    Featured Articles

    Live Seminar!


    Real Jesus

    The Real Jesus Update

    The Real Jesus:
    A Defense of the Divinity and Historicity of Christ

    is now available! This is a two hour, ten minute presentation debunking the myths about Jesus propogated by liberal theologians, which seem to be repeated endlessly in the popular media. You can order the newly expanded and improved DVD version hosted by Eric Holmberg and view some video clips from "Podcast" version as well ...

    continued ...