Leaving a legacy of faith, family, and sharing the love of God. 

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.

–John 11:25-26

Dear Friends,

Today, June 08, 2023, my father, Pat Robertson, has gone home to be with his Lord. My dad was at home, surrounded by his family when he entered glory and met his Savior face to face, whom he loved and served with his whole heart, mind, and being. My father was an extraordinary man by any standard. He was an evangelist, a humanitarian, an entrepreneur, an educator, an author, a statesman, a television personality, a man of global influence and tremendous vision. Perhaps most important though, he was a dearly loved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. For many of us, he was also a spiritual father, guiding us and teaching us to love the Lord and live lives worthy of the Gospel. In his final days, he often talked about heaven and his desire to be with Jesus. During one of these times of reflection he shared this with his two daughters and three of his granddaughters:

“I tried to listen to the Lord.
I loved you all.
I walked with the Lord.
I hope I’ve passed that on to you.”

We can only imagine the rich welcome my father experienced as he stepped into eternity. Perhaps millions from many tribes and nations came to greet and thank him for his part in sharing the precious Gospel of Jesus Christ with them. And I imagine my dad said to them the same thing he has said to us many times, “I was just an unworthy servant and have only done my duty. The Lord did it all, not me.”

My family and I thank you immensely for your prayers during this time as we grieve. We will always treasure the way my father encouraged us to trust in the Lord, no matter our circumstances. He recently recorded a message to share with his 14 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren, and I know it is one that he believed with all his heart.

“I want you to know that you can always trust in God. He will never fail you. He’s never failed me in my whole life, and He’ll never fail you. So, I want you to know that you can trust in Jesus Christ all the way through. Don’t ever doubt His goodness because He will always be there for you.”

We are strengthened by this message and the eternal hope that we have in Christ. Though we will miss him, we do not grieve as those who have no hope. As 1 Thessalonians 4 reminds us:

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

A memorial service will be held in the coming days. More details will be provided as they are available on CBN.com. Please visit CBN.com/Pat to learn more about my dad’s life and legacy.

As the CEO and President of CBN over these past 16 years, I remain deeply grateful for your prayers and support. The work of the ministry will continue, just as my father began it, preaching the Gospel to the world and preparing disciples in all nations.

Yours in Christ,

Gordon Robertson

Beloved former 700 Club co-host Ben Kinchlow remembers his time at CBN and his unique relationship with Pat Robertson.

Take a look back at some of the most memorable moments with Pat Robertson on The 700 Club.

THE ORACLES OF GOD

“What advantage has the Jew? Much in every way! For to them were committed the Oracles of God.” – Romans 3:1-2/

Order your copy of Oracles of God now!

The Oracles of God is a series of feature-length docudramas about the creation and canonization of the Bible. Featuring expert interviews, a cast of hundreds across three continents, and narration by actor Iain Glen (Downton Abbey, Game of Thrones), the project follows the history and archaeology behind the best-selling book of all-time. CBN Films is planning four parts:

• The Story of the Old Testament (now available)
• The New Testament (filming Summer 2023, release tentatively scheduled for Fall 2024)
• The Canon (Fall 2025)
• The Manuscripts (Fall 2026)

THE OLDEST WRITTEN LANGUAGE

The Bible, spanning 1,500 years and written in multiple languages by various authors, is believed to be guided by the Holy Spirit to convey God's truth on theology, history, and ethics.

The Hebrew Bible, known as the Old Testament, consists of three sections:

• The Law: The first five books, also called the Torah/Pentateuch.

• The Prophets: Including Joshua, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, and more.

• The Writings: Wisdom Literature containing Psalms, Proverbs, Job, etc.

Moses is traditionally credited as the author of the Law, with evidence supporting his familiarity with the world's first alphabet. However, Moses couldn't have been the sole author, as his death is recorded. It is likely the Torah originated with Moses, with later editors adding their own contributions.

Around 1000 BCE, during King David's time, the Torah and Hebrew traditions were compiled into book form. Scribes recorded the songs of David, including many Psalms attributed to him. King Hezekiah continued editing and compiling sacred texts around 800 BCE.

The world's oldest biblical text, dating to this period, contains the Priestly Benediction found in Numbers 6:24-26:

"May the Lord bless you and keep you...

May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

In 587 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar exiled the Hebrews to Babylon. During the exile, scribes copied manuscripts extensively due to the availability of materials.

After 70 years, the Jewish people were allowed to return from exile. Ezra, a skilled scribe, copied the Torah and collected historical, prophetic, and other writings. Ezra aimed to revive Hebrew language, customs, and knowledge of the laws.

THE SEPTUAGINT

The Torah was translated into Greek in the 3rd century BCE, known as the Septuagint (LXX). It became the Bible for Jews outside the Holy Land and was often quoted in the New Testament. The Greek Orthodox Church still uses the LXX. 

And while the Septuagint was probably the biggest translation job ever undertaken in the world, it brings up the question about accuracy. No translation is ever completely accurate, but a scholars will note that a word-for-word translation wasn’t necessarily the goal of the Septuagint project. Some parts are, in fact, very literal and close to the original Hebrew as could be rendered into the Greek. Others have been paraphrased to make the Hebrew text more intelligible or understandable. Scholars will also point out that the first Christians believed that the Septuagint was an accurate and faithful representation of what was said and what was meant in the original texts.

THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS

In 1947, Bedouin shepherds discovered scrolls and fragments in Qumran caves. The Dead Sea Scrolls, dating to the 1st century BCE and 1st century AD, provide insights into Jewish beliefs during Jesus' time. Comparisons with later Biblical manuscripts reveal remarkable similarities, indicating the accurate preservation of language.

The authors of the Dead Sea Scrolls formed a community in Qumran. Every letter and word in a scroll was counted, allowing up to three mistakes per page. Failure to correct them led to burning the entire manuscript.

Despite Roman campaigns against the Jews, the Dead Sea Scrolls survived while other artifacts were lost.

The discovery began with shepherds selling fragments to a shopkeeper. Professor Sukenik, an archaeologist, recognized their significance in 1947, coinciding with the UN vote for Israel's independence. His son later remarked, “It’s as if these manuscripts had been waiting in caves for two thousand years, since the destruction of Israel's independence, until the people of Israel had returned to their home and regained their freedom.”

Order your copy of Oracles of God now!

For more information regarding Oracles of God please visit www.cbnfilms.com.