ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

 

          The author wishes to express his thanks to all those who had a part in the publishing of this book.  Thanks to all those who participated in the prepublication sale, helping to make the publishing of this volume a reality.  Thanks also to Elder Milburn Cockrell of Mantachie, Mississippi for reading and correcting the original manuscript.  Brother Cockrell has provided help and encouragement as the author’s mentor in the writing ministry for many years.  Thanks also to Brother Joe Pemberton whose computer expertise made this book possible as he patiently helped the author in getting the volume ready to print.  A hearty thank you must also go to Elder Dan Ferrell who systematically taught the truths of premillennialism from the pulpit while the author was a member of Wilmington Baptist Temple from 1980 to 1985.

          Many thanks to the author’s faithful wife Tammy, and their three children, Katie, Joshua, and Aaron for their patience, understanding, and support of his writing ministry.

          A special thanks goes to the saints at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Ohio whom the author has the privilege of pastoring.  They had to “endure” the contents of this volume on Sunday evenings for several months.

          While preparing this volume, I came to appreciate the valuable and untiring assistance of Brother Terry Morgan on previous projects.  Though Terry did not assist in the publication of this volume, he and his wife Debra, have always encouraged the author in the writing ministry.  For this the author is eternally grateful.  Proverbs 3:27 declares: “Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thine hand to do it.”

 

DEDICATION

 

        The author wishes to dedicate this volume to Brother Greg Rittenhouse.  Brother Rittenhouse was the first man to ever witness and preach the true Gospel of the grace of God to me.  He would often remind me of the imminent return of Jesus Christ and the wrath of God that awaited me if I did not repent and trust in the Lord.  Even though my life was characterized by sin and wickedness, Brother Rittenhouse never gave up on me but consistently witnessed to me and prayed for the Lord to save me.  God was pleased to open the eyes of this blinded sinner in Brother Rittenhouse’s living room in November of 1980.  Ever since I first met Brother Greg he has always manifested a sincere desire to see sinners saved by the sovereign grace of God.  I am eternally grateful to God for using Brother Greg as the instrument to preach the Gospel of Christ to me, and for patiently discipling me while I was a babe in Christ.    He has proven to be a true and faithful friend to me through the years demonstrating the truth of Proverbs 17:17 and 18:24 which state: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity...A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”