January / February 2021
Volume 103, Number 1
In the Beginning: Battles of the Bible
The Christian is faced with many battles, beginning with his own sinful nature. We may learn from those battles in ancient times…read more
Abram and the First World Wars
Loyalty Rewarded
Nations have gone to war for a wide range of reasons, such as to protect or defend their territorial area, or access to valuable resources, or to be free from a domineering power. Five kings in the West, from the Valley of Siddim, were invaded, conquered, and put to a tribute by four kings from the East…read more
The Battle of Ai
Learning from Failure
The lessons that happened to Israel during the Battle of Ai (Joshua chapters 7 and 8) were written also for the instruction of the Gospel Age Church…read more
Deborah and Jael Prevail Over Three Canaanite Goddesses
Goddesses no Match for Women of God
The LORD is the only true, living God. No matter which gods are worshiped by mankind, none will ever defeat Jehovah. He will pass judgment on these gods. Understanding this explains what happened with Deborah, Barak, and Jael in their battle against the Canaanites in Judges chapters 4 and 5…read more
Gideon’s Victory
When Fewer is More
During the time of the Judges, the people of Israel would, at various times, forget their covenant relationship with Jehovah God, instead of seeking after strange gods…read more
News and Views
Current Events
Religious, social, political, financial, and news from Israel and the Middle East…read more
Today in Prophecy
The Decline of Faith and Morality
What is the connection between belief in God and morality? And how important are God and prayer in people’s lives? read more
A Brief Overview of Israel’s Battles with the Philistines
One with God is a Majority
One of the greatest foes of ancient Israel was the Philistines, a warlike, idolatrous people who resided in the western coastal region of Israel. The name Philistine means immigrants, perhaps alluding to their likely being from Crete (Caphtor), Amos 9:7. Scripture records eight battles between the Philistines and Israel…read more
Jehoshaphat’s Victory Without Battle
Prayer and Praise First
Jehovah God gave victory to many kings of Judah when they went into battle. But Jehoshaphat and his army were given victory without ever engaging in battle…read more
Battlefield Lessons for the Christian
The Battle Within Self
There are key lessons that God is teaching us through the battles of the Bible. These true accounts are for our admonition and instruction (Romans 15:4)… read more
Possible Prophetic Implications
Interpreting, with Eyes Open
We may be confident when the Bible identifies a notable event as a type/foreshadow of something later to come. When the Bible is not specific, we should allow some uncertainty but may consider whether an event might have a typical significance…read more
The “I Am” of Exodus 3:13-15
The Divine Name
In Exodus 3, Jehovah appeared to Moses in a burning bush near Horeb, commissioning Moses to lead Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land. There Jehovah revealed Himself in the phrase, “I AM THAT I AM.” read more
The Deceitfulness of Riches

Now Shipping — The RVIC (Revised Version Improved & Corrected)
The RVIC, 50 years in the making, is now available. This 8½ x 11 Bible of 918 pages comes in an elegant, superior grade (German meriva) black leather binding, with gold stamp and gold gilding. This 2020 edition includes the latest textual updates for the Old and New Testaments available today.
The goal of the RVIC is to affordably make available the most accurate English translation of the Bible.
The price is reduced to encourage orders. Comparable published Bibles of this quality sell for $70 or more.
You may secure a copy for $30, plus shipping, to US addresses. Contact:
Pastoral Bible Institute
The PBI@comcast.net
888 784-3724
Categories: 2021 Issues, 2021-January/February