Electronic Mail is a good reason to have a personal computer. It is fast, easy, and inexpensive, to send E-mail to recipients around the world. Now that fast, personal computer systems can be purchased for less than $1,000, you may want to join the electronic age with Internet Access and E-mail. For a flat $20 per month (some people pay less), we have unlimited access to the Internet at 56k modem speed, and our own E-mail address, info@giveshare.org.

In order to save costs, and deliver our Newsletter sooner, we are beginning an E-mail version of the Giving & Sharing Newsletter. You may receive our Newsletter in ASCII (Text) and HTML (Worldwide Web) format via Electronic Mail. Just E-mail us to subscribe to this FREE service. Tell us whether you wish to receive the E-Mail Giving & Sharing Newsletter in place of the printed copy, or in addition to the printed copy. International subscribers especially are requested to subscribe to the E-mail version, as our international postage costs are several times higher than postage to USA subscribers. E-mail recipients will receive their Newsletter sooner than the printed copy, and, as a bonus, will sometimes receive additional material, not included in our printed version. E-mail us at info@giveshare.org to subscribe.

Would you like other brethren to pray for you? Contact Rosy Halley at 4502 Skyline Dr, Chandler, TX 75758. Her electronic prayer line address has been changed to rosyhalley@tyler.net. Every Friday, Rosy E-mails an updated prayer list to those on her mailing list, performing a wonderful service to Sabbath-keepers.

Many books and articles about the Sabbath are devoted to questions such as, "Which Day is the Sabbath?" and, "How was the Biblical Sabbath Changed to Sunday?" These are important topics, and The Bible Sabbath Association distributes and publishes material on these subjects.

For Sabbath-keepers, however, there are relatively few books on the spiritual meaning of the Sabbath. Perhaps the premier work on the philosophy of the Sabbath is the classic book, The Sabbath: its Meaning for Modern Man, published in 1951 by the famous Jewish scholar, Abraham Joshua Heschel. This is not a book to speed read. Each sentence is weighty, and usually worthy of prayerful meditation. Although written from a Jewish perspective, Sabbath-keeping Christians can well relate to Heschel’s brilliant exploration of the spiritual meaning of the Sabbath.

Most religions have "holy places," or "sacred temples." The religion of the Bible, however, sanctifies holy time. In the Bible, no thing, no place on earth, is holy by itself. The Creator places His divine presence, not in a physical place, but in a place in time, where He meets His people. His Holy Sabbath is a "palace in time."

The Sabbath: its Meaning for Modern Man, a 118-page book by Abraham Joshua Heschel, is available for $11 postpaid from The Bible Sabbath Association, 3316 Alberta Drive, Gillette, WY 82718.

The BSA has reprinted another classic book, Spiritual Sabbathism, by A.H. Lewis (1910 edition), 84 pages, $7.50, plus $2.50 shipping.

  Our free article, "King James Version Errors," leaves out an important KJV usage. A misunderstanding of Matthew 24:24 in the KJV has led to erroneous beliefs. It says, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect." The word "very" has led some to believe in a caste system in God’s Church. Some believe they are the "very elect," the Philadelphians, while others of supposedly lower spiritual stature are merely "the elect," or, lukewarm Laodiceans. This faulty teaching, a pivotal doctrine of a large Church of God group, is the result of leaning on an outdated translation. The word translated "very" is Strong’s #2532, kai, a connection word with various meanings. The Englishman’s Greek Concordance shows that this word can mean "also, even, both, but, then, that, yet, for, or, when, therefore, if." Green’s Interlinear Bible shows that the literal translation here should be "even the elect." Even the elect can be deceived, so they better be on guard! Kai is translated "even" in Matthew 8:27, 25:29; Mark 6:2; Luke 12:7; Acts 5:39; Romans 5:7; Hebrews 11:19. The NIV, Amplified, and RSV concur that "even the elect," is the best translation of Matthew 24:24.

In King James English of the seventeenth century, "very" actually meant the same as today’s word, "even." In Luke 9:5, kai is translated "very," in the phrase "shake off the very dust from your feet." Likewise, the KJV translated kai in Luke 12:7, "the very hairs of your head are all numbered." As I get older, my hair count gets lower! One can easily see that "very" in these verses does not mean there are different classifications of dust or hair. Here, "even" is the best English translation of kai. There is no such Biblical concept as the "very elect."

If I have some Bible understanding that you do not have, I should not consider myself "the very elect," but I should share it with you, and bear it patiently if you do not see it as I do. Even the elect can be lifted up with pride. Those who wrongly think they are the "very elect," may be deceived by false prophets.

Seven Churches of Revelation

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