January 2011 Letters

From Ontario:

Dear Mr. Coupland, I went to a couple of health food stores to get hydrogen peroxide but was unable to make a purchase. Do you have any suggestions as to where I can go?

Thanks Ontario:

Once again, alternative treatments are forced to take a step backwards.  Readers may recall from earlier articles how I have praised the many benefits of hydrogen peroxide (food grade, 35%).  Well it no longer is readily available to the public.  Most health stores that have previously carried this product have pulled it from their shelves. They now have to be licensed to sell it, (I’ve yet to find out the cost of the licence), and must also send their staff for training on the proper way to handle it.  Fortunately you can still buy it directly from the manufacturer, Sprout Master.   (www.sproutmaster.com)

From Washington State:

Dear Editor: What is this Òvercomer`s doctrine that I am hearing much about. It sure seems strange to me.

Editor’s Comment:

I answered a similar question a number of years ago but basically said that volumes could be written on this subject but it may be that when lecturers talk about “overcomers,” they really mean a separate class of rulers and I have no problem with this because it is Scripturally based. Among the Christian body, there will be rulers, I’m sure you agree. Still, there is a doctrine that is growing leaps and bounds throughout the Israel movement and I have a difficult time with it, despite it being embraced by some of the most knowledgeable Bible scholars. They teach that each has an appointed time and at the outset of the Millennial Kingdom, only a portion of the dead in Christ and the Living in Christ will be represented, that is, the “overcomers.” The balance will be progressively brought into the Kingdom over the course of the 1,000 year period. While this may be a revelation to you, it should be mentioned that others believe that only the rulers or “overcomers” will be in the 1,000 year reign and that the balance of Christians won’t see the Kingdom until the 1,000 years have expired.

“The living, at the Lord’s Coming, will not go before the dead..”

I can’t tell you when this doctrine caught fire, I never heard of it until the past number of years and I must confess that I don’t hold with it. The word “overcomer” is not even in the Bible, although 1 John 5: 5 describes those that overcome the world as believers that Jesus Christ is the son of God. Certainly those that embrace the doctrine would not disagree with this, only the timing of the resurrection and/or translation. Frankly, however, I don’t see how 1 Thessalonians 4: 16 can be interpreted any other way than written, that is “and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” Instead of going into detail myself, let me quote from page 148 of Howard Rand’s Study in Revelation. At least, it clears up any confusion for me. Rand, probably one of the great modern trees that Ida Ferguson wrote about, writes, “Paul comforts those whose friends and dear ones have fallen asleep in Christ. The living, at the Lord’s coming, he says, will not prevent, or as the Greek word phthano means, “precede” those who sleep. The order of events is now given. The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God – “The dead in Christ shall arise first.” The Greek word translated “first” means – “before anything else, in time, space, etc.” This Greek word appears in at least fifty other passages, every one of which signifies “before” or “preceding in time.” Paul thus says the living, at the Lord’s coming, will not go before the dead, but that the dead will arise first. Therefore, the graves will give up their dead before the living are affected. The time element between the resurrection of the dead and the event that follows is not given. It may be hours, days or a few weeks, we do not know. The Apostle declares that afterwards, “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds.”  (1 Thess. 4: 15-17).”

Thanks for your good question Washington State. I hope this at least gives you further food for thought. I’m sure it will invoke further comment from those who believe in the doctrine and we shall welcome their letters.