Bulletin of Prophetic Historicism

24 December 2013                                                                    Editor and Proprietor

                                                                                                   Edwin de Kock

Bulletin # 11

The editor/proprietor assumes responsibility for his own contributions. He is not, however, responsible or liable for the ideas expressed in pieces by other writers, also sometimes mentioned or cited.

                             An Excellent Christmas Present

     A mere two months ago, in the previous Bulletin, I wrote: “By the time you read this Bulletin, the manuscripts for Volumes 1, 2, and 3 are all with the printers. The first proofs should reach us within days. We are hoping that the whole edition will be ready in time for Christmas and the rest of the holiday season.”

     Well, The Truth About 666 and the Story of the Great Apostasy (2013) has now been printed—3,000 sets of it. We are reissuing this work as three separate but interrelated volumes. On Friday, 1,000 sets (84 boxes) arrived here and were carried into our home. The cover of each soft-cover book is a different color, and the three of them are very attractive as they lie together on our table. Volume 1 (314 pages) is salmon red; Volume 2 (203 pages), a light green; and Volume 3 (326 pages) canary yellow. Inserted at the back of Volume 1 is a data CD. On it are several items, including the texts that make up the book. This takes the place of a printed index.

     And will these books be able to reach you by Christmas on December 25? Apparently not. But this is the Roman Catholic date. It is also enthusiastically recognized by Wal-Mart and other American merchants. But not everybody follows the Gregorian calendar, so named because it was introduced by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582. For religious reasons, however, the Eastern Orthodox Church has not accepted it and therefore celebrates Christmas on January 7. Therefore, in Greece, Bulgaria, Russia, and several other countries this is their special day. As Protestants, we can follow their example!

     The first edition of The Truth About 666 was published in 2011 as a hardcover book (three volumes in one, I called it) and consisted of 874 pages. It garnered praise and excellent recommendations from an impressive number of Seventh-day Adventist scholars. In the new edition, these are cited on the back covers, where several more have been added. They now include Mark A. Finley, Larry R. Moore (President of Southwestern Union Conference), Jack J. Blanco, Norman R. Gulley, and Walter J. Veith.  

     Dr. Blanco was formerly Dean in the School of Religion at Southern Adventist University, and Dr. Gulley, a research professor in Systematic Theology at the same institution. Like other Seventh-day Adventist scholars, both of them have high praise for my book. The latter wrote: “The Truth About 666, Edwin de Kock’s magnum opus, is the definitive publication to date for the historicist understanding of Vicarius Filii Dei in Rev. 13:18.” And Dr. Veith said: “I highly recommend The Truth About 666 and the Story of the Great Apostasy. It is a must read for all who love truth.”

     One drawback of the first edition is that some could have found is sheer size and 874 pages intimidating. Yet even so, many have been pleased by its readability. Recently, Jon Paulien, Ph.D., Dean of Religion at Loma Linda University—who has been studying the first edition as part of his research—wrote to me:  “I have just started reading your book on the number 666. Wow! You have such a delightful writing style. It reads like a story book or a novel. I was figuring it would take me three or four months of spare time to get through, but I’m already at page 270 and it is hard to put down.” This is not to say that Dr. Paulien and I necessarily agree about all the issues raised in my book, but he does like the way I write, which, dear friend, I trust will also be true of you.

     Incidentally, this reaction to my style reminds me of how the late Alfred Nahman, my Jewish Christian friend in South Africa, reacted to my second work. “Your book, The Use and Abuse of Prophecy: History, Methodology and Myth [2007], is truly a masterpiece. There is so much that one can learn by reading and studying it. I would like to call it the Compendium of Prophecy or the Readers’ Digest of Prophecy. It is a mine of information. Very readable and exciting—almost like a detective story!” Do you have this book?

     But to come back to The Truth About 666: if you like Bible prophecy, please ensure that you acquire it, if you have not already done so. Also, as a Christmas or other gift, buy it for friends who share your interest. As promised, the whole set of three retails for only $40.00, plus $5.00 shipping and handling in the United States.

     There are also very good discounts for larger quantities. A box of The Truth About 666, containing 12 sets (36 individual books), would normally retail at $480. But it is available at a wholesale price of only $240, with a discount of 50 percent. But five boxes of 60 sets (180 individual volumes), bring a deep discount: 60 percent! That is, instead of paying $2,400, the wholesaler pays only $960. Shipping and handling plus insurance will be extra.

     Unfortunately we still owe the printers part of the production cost. Also still needed are funds to pay for shipping these volumes to different points of sale in the United States. Assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. The most concrete way of helping is to buy my book and make it available to others. For instance, we would like to ship at least a box of books to a dear brother who sends truth-filled literature to jails in Ghana. If you wish to help, please get in touch with me.

                                  The Other Books and More Savings

     Our other recent publication is Christ and Antichrist in Prophecy and History (2013), an updated version of my first book in this genre, which was first printed in 2001.

     It has been highly praised by Seventh-day Adventist and other scholars for its research as well as its pleasant style and was prescribed for Master of Divinity seminary students at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, by two professors on three occasions. Do read about it on propheticum.com. 

     Christ and Antichrist covers a much larger period of time than The Truth About 666, from Nebuchadnezzar’s time and even earlier, down to the Second Coming. If you do not yet have Christ and Antichrist, you really need to acquire it. And it, too, would make an excellent gift for the festive season.

     For this, too, we have special discounts. For 10-21 copies it is 40%, for 22-109 it is 50%, and for 110 or more it is 60%.

     There is also a bargain for readers who would like to possess all four my books on prophecy. For them, there is the following very special jumbo pack:

Christ and Antichrist in Prophecy and History (2013)                                      19.95

The Truth About 666 and the Story of the Great Apostasy, 3 Vols. (2013)        40.00

The Use and Abuse of Prophecy: History, Methodology, and Myth (2007)       14.95

Seven Heads and Ten Horns in Daniel and the Revelation (2012)                    20.00

     This is a total retail price of $94.90, which does not include shipping and handling. But if you buy them all together, I can discount it to $85.00 and also pay for sending the six books to you by priority mail in a medium flat-rate box. For this, the postage is $12.35, at least for the time being. That makes a total savings of more than $22.00. 

                                     A Spanish Translation

     We have made no progress is finding somebody to translate Christ and Antichrist into Spanish at a price that we can afford. Please help us with your prayers, advice, and inquiries.

                                          Items Added to Our Website

     Under All Publications before Sample Chapters, please visit In Three Volumes to view the front covers of The Truth About 666, Volumes 1-3, and on the back covers note he recommendations, some of them brand new.

     Also, under Articles and Letters, please read Ria’s letter (Christmas, 2013), which surveys this ministry over a period of more than twenty years. Some of this material has never been published before. You are bound to find it interesting.

     As usual, this Prophetic Bulletin is also being added to the website.

                                        Contact Reminder

     Please feel free to get in touch with us, in one of the following ways, which is also our order of preference:

E-mail: edwdekock@hotmail.com

Telephone: (956) 583-2859

Mailing address: 12916 Los Terrazos Blvd., Edinburg, TX 78541

     This Bulletin and other items will be added on website propheticum.com.

     All helpful suggestions will be welcomed and considered. Please forward this information to your friends.

     God bless you abundantly—and have a wonderful festive season! We cannot begin to imagine this ministry without your prayers and involvement. You and the Lord keep us going.