Word Studies: Eschatology

Class: Eschatology

Week #12: April 30 - May 4
Professor: Mr Mark Strout


Assignments: Textbook reading: Students will be required to read the section on eschatology in Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie. Essay reading: Students will be required to read two short essays before the final exam. While working through these, they will be required to look up and read all of the biblical passages mentioned in the essays except for those which are underlined.



Mr. Strout attended our New York campus of Word of Life Bible Institute in 1982, after which he was a youth pastor for 8 years at Huntingville Community Church in Sherbrooke, Quebec. He went on to pastor 3 years at Grace Chapel in Sherbrooke. Mr. Strout joined the new French ministry of WOL at Parole de Vie and served as the director of the Bible Institute at PdV from 1994 until 2002. During that time he obtained his Master of Ministry degree from Baptist Bible Seminary. In July of 2002 he assumed the role of Director of Francophone Ministries for Word of Life Canada. In August 2009 Mark and his wife Laurie relocated to Schroon Lake (NY) where he is the Executive Dean of the Bible Institute.


Another class about End Times? Not exactly. Eschatology is a study of future events however, Mr. Strout enables the student not only to process what the Bible says about the future but also to understand God's plan for human history from beginning to end. Scripture is the foundation of what Mr. Strout teaches and he places major emphasis on considering all of scripture when it comes to interpreting prophecy.

  "It was sweet. The teacher taught in a way that was easy to understand. I was able to grasp the concepts. Mr. Strout cleared up a lot of things for me."
- Nathan, Goulais River

Mr. Strout also had the opportunity to present two seminars: "Walk through the Land" and Walk through Jerusalem." With these presentations, the students were able to experience the land of Israel and its capitol, Jerusalem, through the eyes of someone who had been there many times.

"I enjoyed Mr. Strout's presentations on Israel and Jerusalem. His travels have given him useful experience that enabled him to expound upon the land and the people."

- Rob, Beamsville

Word Studies: Ecclesiology

Class: Ecclesiology

Week #8: April 2-6
Professor: Pastor Bob Snell

Assignments: Read chapters 69-76 from Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie.

Pastor Snell grew up in New Brunswick in a godly pastor’s home and was converted as a young boy. From 1972 – 1976 he attended the University of Guelph where he received an Honours BA in sociology and history. Between 1977 and 1980 he studied at London Baptist Bible College and Seminary graduating with his Masters of Divinity. In August of 1980 he was married to Joanne Higginson in Meaford, Ontario. He has pastored for more than 30 years in southern Ontario at Emmanuel Bible Church in Simcoe and First Baptist Church in Waterloo, where he currently ministers. Pastor Snell has been privileged to travel worldwide to places like Bolivia, Israel and the Philippines in service for the Lord. He has spoken often at conferences, retreats and Bible Colleges. He also serves as a member of the Word of Life Canada Board of Directors and is a Corporation Member of ABWE Canada.

study of the Church, including organization, ordinances, purpose, destiny

What is the church? Many people consider the church as the a large stone building they go to every Easter and Christmas holidays. However, according to the scriptures, the church is much more than a building. The church constitutes not only the universal body of believers but also the local body. Pastor Snell seeks to help each student understand the different aspects of the church. The Spiritual gifts, offices, ordinances, types of government, mission, discipline and future of the church are detailed and explained so that the students are able to know what the Bible says about each aspect. One can appreciate the perspective with which the teacher approaches this class. Pastor Snell lists the Word of God as the first textbook to be used in the course. This emphasis on scripture shows his passion for teaching the truth. Pastor Snell left this message for the students:

"This past week, not only have I been impressed with the students and their maturity, I have also been blessed with the engagement in class fellowship and company. I enjoyed my time with the guys in devos and am glad I was able to be involved in the lives of the students."

- Pastor Snell, Waterloo

The students said:

"It was a very interesting to learn about the different church offices and the various styles churches have practiced. The varying views on communion helped me consider what scripture had to say about it."
- Ryan, Wyoming

"Ecclesiology was a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of God's purpose for the church. I really appreciated Pastor Snell's teaching and walked away with a new appreciation for my local church and my place in it."

- Heather, Owen Sound


Scripture needs to be the foundation not only for doctrine but also your life....

Get a foundation in God's Word at the Word of Life Bible Institute.

Word Studies: Theology

Class: Theology

Week: This class spans the entire academic year.
Professor: Mr. Doug Reider


Assignments: Read assigned chapters from Basic Theology by Charles Ryrie every week. Write one Theology Essay and one Position Paper per semester.

Mr. Reider was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and raised in Maryland. After high school, he attended George Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. He later received a Master of Divinity at Capital Bible Seminary. He acted as Assistant Pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Desiring to become involved as a missionary in Eastern Europe, Mr. Reider attended Word of Life Bible Institute, graduating in 1992. He was soon accepted as a missionary to Poland. After Mr. Reider and his wife, Sue, were married, they headed to Poland three years later. Because of medical difficulties, the Reiders returned in 1999. In 2000, Mr. and Mrs. Reider, along with their two children (Sam and Daniel), moved to Owen Sound to head up the Bible Institute project. Mr. Reider is our Academic Dean and one of our professors, teaching Systematic Theology and Greek.

This course is designed to study the biblical doctrines of orthodox Christianity concerning five areas of Systematic Theology: Bibliology (the study of the Bible), Theology Proper (the study of the Godhead), Anthropology (the study of man), Hamartiology (the study of sin),Christology (the study of Christ), Soteriology, Angelology, Pneumatology, Ecclesiology, and Eschatology. The desire is to take our knowledge of Scripture and from that come to understand what we believe and, therefore, discern the difference between truth and error.


“The Bible is the greatest of all books; to study it is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.”

― Charles C. Ryrie

Part of the mission statement of the Word of Life Bible Institute is that each student comes to intimately know the Word of God. One cannot go through life believing something without foundation to what he believes. Theology class provides each student with that foundation. Mr. Reider teaches through the basics of Systematic Theology, scratching the surface of the major doctrines. Later on in the year, several guest lecturers come on campus to teach Eschatology, Ecclesiology and Pneumatology which allows Mr. Reider to teach through the book of Romans in the spring semester. Theology class helps students not only understand the Bible but able to apply doctrine to practice. This class also helps students come to an understanding regarding why they believe rather than just what they believe. Here's what the students had to say:

"Mr. Reider's enthusiasm makes class fun and engaging!"

- Nick, Arthur

"Theology class with Mr Reider definitely sparked my interest in theology. Before coming to the BI, I never knew much of what theology was or why we study it, but going through it I learned many things My favourite areas to study were Angelology,  Hamartiology and Eschatology, I can now recognize many different beliefs and am now able to clarify what I believe and why I believe what I believe."

- Jaramie (Alumni), Muskoka

"Going through theology with Mr. Reider has given me the opportunity to see all the view points on major issues facing the Christian in the world today. Furthermore, I now have clearer and deeper understanding of the Bible and better knowledge of Christ."

- Lucas, Wyoming

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