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: Hebrews

Class: Hebrews


Week #13: December 5- 9
Professor: Pastor Paul Harbourne

Pastor Paul Harbourne

Assignments: Read through Hebrews twice and the textbook, Everyman's Bible Commentary: the Epistle to the Hebrews by Charles F. Pfeiffer, before the final exam.

Pastor Harbourne was born and raised in Toronto. After working in the computer industry for over decade, Pastor Harbourne and his wife, Kim, decided to attend Word of Life Bible Institute in 1993. After graduation in 1994, he obeyed God’s call to come to Owen Sound and minister with WOL Canada. Later, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Prairie Bible College. In July 2008, Pastor Harbourne accepted the call to be pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Collingwood, ON. He and Kim live in Collingwood with their three children, Tyler, Lindsay and Brendan.

"I loved his fatherly approach to teaching and his willingness for us to make sure we could understand everything. Under his teaching, Hebrews became not only understandable, but also applicable."
- Monica, Stratford

The Epistle to the Hebrews is an interesting book from the New Testament. Not much is known about the origin of this letter. Who wrote it, where it came from and was it written to any specific church are questions that remain unanswered. However, because of the many Old Testament references, Hebrews was mostly likely written to a primarily Jewish audience.
The superiority of Christ is the theme of Hebrews. The author, through heavy doctrine, proves that Christ is better than any Old Testament tenets, such as the sacrificial system and the priesthood. But this epistle is not just for Israel. The message of Hebrews is that Christ is enough. Christians need to realize that He is all they need. Not only does the author prove that Christ is better, but the author also presents to believers several warnings about falling away. When looking at the letter as a whole, one will discover that over-all, it is an extremely encouraging book, and some of the last few verses display this encouragement.


"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. I appeal to you, brothers, bear with my word of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly."
- Hebrews 13:20-22

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