Letter from a “Ruckmanite”
March 2008, Bible Believers’ Bulletin
Dear Dr. Ruckman,
I am writing this letter to tell you “Thank you very much.” Through a series of events in my family’s life over the last three months, I have been going through a very tough time spiritually, and I have recently begun reading several of your books.
Back in August my husband lost his job in Ohio. He did find another job, but it required us to pick up our lives and move to Indiana. My husband is originally from Indiana, so it was a welcome move for him; but I had lived my entire 25 years in Ohio and never thought I’d move.
Unfortunately, because of this move, we had to leave my family and all our friends, and worst of all, the church that we loved so dearly. We have been struggling to find a home church, and have had no luck at all so far. The first church we tried not only refused to use the AV Bible, but they had almost no scriptural teaching at all.
One of the “silver linings” in all this is that even though I have yet to find employment, while I have been home, I have been reading a great deal. About a year ago, my dad left a few books for me to read, but I never got around to it. One of those books was An Understandable History of the Bible, by Dr. Samuel Gipp. I started reading it and finally understood why my dad and grandfather were so “die-hard” for the King James AV 1611 Bible. Before, I had never realized the magnitude of the Book that I had carried to church with me. I have always had a King James Bible, but never understood the differences between it and the newer versions.
The other book that was left was The Revelation of Jesus Christ: The Bible Believer’s Commentary Series, and I’ll tell you that I picked that book up 3 times and tried to read it and never got past the introduction. I had done the same with your Commentary Series book on Genesis, but had never gotten past the first chapter. But when I picked up that book on Revelation in November of this year, I couldn’t put it down. I finished it in only eight days, which is quite a feat for me [since] I have a three-year old and a one-and-a-half year old at home with me.
That book opened my eyes to so much. All my life I had heard my dad and grandfather talk about the Rapture, the Second Coming, and the Tribulation; but I never understood the context of what they were talking about. I had heard them talk about a Pre-Trib Rapture, a Mid-Trib Rapture, and a Post-Trib Rapture; and that always confused and scared me. I wondered if I would have to go through any part or all of the Tribulation. After your explanation of the timeline and the visual aid of drawing a timeline on paper of when these events would happen and explanation of how all the events apply historically, spiritually, and doctrinally to me, I felt a security in my salvation that I had never felt before.
After I finished Revelation, I started on your commentary books on Romans and Job. I have just two chapters left on Romans, and I’m half way through Job. My next two reading projects are your commentary book on Genesis and Israel: A Deadly Piece of Dirt.
I wanted to let you know that your style reaches me, and the way that you explain things in your book, showing Scripture with Scripture is so easy to understand, that I don’t see how any of the other versions of the Bible can be taken seriously.
I would like to thank you for your teachings that I have read in your books. My father and grandfather have always spoken highly of your teachings, and although I was too young at the time, apparently I have heard you speak before. I appreciate the time you have taken from your very busy schedule to read this letter. Even though it’s a little long, the gist of it is to let you know how much I have enjoyed your books, how much they have touched me, and through blessings of the Holy Spirit, how I have finally become sure of my salvation. As most new Christians probably go through, I had doubts creeping in my mind that I “didn’t do it right,” but a comment you made in your book on Romans about if God held you over the Lake of Fire and you had to tell Him why you should not go to Hell, my answer is a loud and proud “By the shed blood of my Saviour Jesus Christ!!”
Sincerely, a “Ruckmanite.”