Students of American literature are familiar with Edgar Allan Poe’s famous fictional story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” in which a woman is mistakenly buried alive by her twin brother, only to escape from her coffin and cause her brother’s death by the shock of seeing her again. Today, premature burial is extremely rare, at least in a physical sense. In a spiritual sense, however, it happens more often than we realize! Baptism is a ceremony described in the Bible as a symbol of conversion—the death of our sinful past as we rise to experience a new life of joy and victory in Jesus. Our former life of self-pleasing and rebellion against God is buried and left behind. Jesus made clear that it is important to know what the Bible says about baptism. And without understanding the true meaning of baptism, many people are being buried alive!

Students of American literature are familiar with Edgar Allan Poe’s famous fictional story, “The Fall of the House of Usher,” in which a woman is mistakenly buried alive by her twin brother, only to escape from her coffin and cause her brother’s death by the shock of seeing her again. Today, premature burial is extremely rare, at least in a physical sense. In a spiritual sense, however, it happens more often than we realize! Baptism is a ceremony described in the Bible as a symbol of conversion—the death of our sinful past as we rise to experience a new life of joy and victory in Jesus. Our former life of self-pleasing and rebellion against God is buried and left behind. Jesus made clear that it is important to know what the Bible says about baptism. And without understanding the true meaning of baptism, many people are being buried alive!

While General Douglas McArthur was commander of U.S. Army Forces in the Far East during World War II, the American-occupied Philippines was invaded by Japan. Defense was futile, and on February 22, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered General MacArthur to leave the Philippines. Once in Australia, MacArthur gave a famous speech in which he said, “I shall return.” On October 20, 1944, MacArthur made good on his promise when he waded ashore with his troops on the island of Leyte. Before long, liberation came to the Philippines.

While General Douglas McArthur was commander of U.S. Army Forces in the Far East during World War II, the American-occupied Philippines was invaded by Japan. Defense was futile, and on February 22, 1942, President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered General MacArthur to leave the Philippines. Once in Australia, MacArthur gave a famous speech in which he said, “I shall return.” On October 20, 1944, MacArthur made good on his promise when he waded ashore with his troops on the island of Leyte. Before long, liberation came to the Philippines.

When Mary-Ellen was asked why she was a practicing witch, the answer she gave surprised the questioner. She said, “As a child, I was raised in a hellfire and brimstone-spitting church. I was told God would burn people—even old people and little children—for as long as time should last. I decided that if that’s what God is like, I’d be better off without Him!” Mary-Ellen wrestled with a commonly-asked question: “Would God really do that?”

When Mary-Ellen was asked why she was a practicing witch, the answer she gave surprised the questioner. She said, “As a child, I was raised in a hellfire and brimstone-spitting church. I was told God would burn people—even old people and little children—for as long as time should last. I decided that if that’s what God is like, I’d be better off without Him!” Mary-Ellen wrestled with a commonly-asked question: “Would God really do that?”

In 1981, not long before he died, writer William Saroyan was quoted by the Associated Press as having said, “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?” That’s a question every person alive must eventually face. What happens when a person dies? Does the Bible tell us? And how is the subject important in the overall picture of Bible truth? In order to understand how human beings end, we must first examine how human beings were originally made.

In 1981, not long before he died, writer William Saroyan was quoted by the Associated Press as having said, “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?” That’s a question every person alive must eventually face. What happens when a person dies? Does the Bible tell us? And how is the subject important in the overall picture of Bible truth? In order to understand how human beings end, we must first examine how human beings were originally made.

Unemployment is no trivial matter. During the first decade of the 21st century, the global economy contracted, and jobs became much more difficult to find. It isn’t usually good news to find out that someone is out of work. But what if you found out Satan was out of a job? What if something happened that was so epic that Satan found himself unemployed—for 1,000 years?

Unemployment is no trivial matter. During the first decade of the 21st century, the global economy contracted, and jobs became much more difficult to find. It isn’t usually good news to find out that someone is out of work. But what if you found out Satan was out of a job? What if something happened that was so epic that Satan found himself unemployed—for 1,000 years?