Prophecy The Books

I bought this book after seeing the WONDERFUL reviews here and it really is that good. Dave really covers, Judaism, catholicism, and the muslem dealings around the Middle East well. I've read many latter-day commentaries and this book is truly 1-of-a-kind. It's really to bad the book is out of print. BUY IT USED!

This book by Dave Hunt shows the kind of truth through research and un-biased insight into the Middle East that is hard to find. It is an easy read, well thought out, well researched, and helped this reader to fully understand the delicate relationship that the Jews have been forced to balance in the past, present, and will in the future. Their plight is truly amazing. It is worth a great deal of attention and study for anyone interested in understanding the truth about what the Holy Bible says about God's chosen people, the Jews, and their God given right to Israel.

This book examines the role of Jerusalem in World events, both from a secular and Biblical perspective, with a major emphasis on Biblical prophecy. The fundamental Biblical prophecy used behind this work being that of
Zechariah 12;verses 2 to 9, where Jerusalem is described as being a "cup of trembling" to the nations and that all who burden themselves with it shall be "cut in pieces". The prophecy also being used to describe the coming of all nations against Jerusalem & Israel in the latter days.

Written in 1995 this book needs an update in relation to the World & regional events that have occurred since then. However, the essential truths upon which this book is based still apply and become more and more evident with each passing day.

The historical role of Jerusalem is examined together with that of the Jewish people. Sections also being devoted to the subject of anti-Semitism (hatred of the Jews), Islam, terrorism and how the Bible & the Quran present the issue of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. The involvement of the Catholic Church and Christianity play no small part in this discussion. Not least of the issues studied is the manner in which elements of the modern day Church view the situation, with Zionism and the doctrine of replacement theology also investigated.

The book would not be complete without an in depth study of the present day conflict raging over the Holy Land between the Israelis and the Palestinians and indeed the issue is appropriately addressed.

The book declares that if Israel expects to make a "just and lasting peace" with the Palestinians/Muslims then it is an utter delusion. The contents of the book describing that any "peace with Islam" requiring "total submission to Allah". The phased plan of eradicating Israel is examined in the context of how it is being applied to the Palestinian issue where any/all land ceded by Israel is described as being used as a platform from which to obtain more and more land until the eventual objective is obtained.

The book clearly showing that there can be no lasting peace until the return of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. Reference also being made to the temporary "pseudo-peace" of the coming anti-Christ and the rebuilding of the Jewish Temple.

The contents of this work are quite comprehensive and it is difficult to refer to them all in a review.

The book concludes with a call to repentance and a personal faith in Jesus Christ. A call to repentance also being made to Israel and the Israeli Government. The latter also being encouraged to repent of "imagining that they could bring peace through their own efforts" and to repent of trying to barter land that the Bible declares should "never be traded or sold". A land described as being God's land given as an eternal inheritance to the Jewish people. A parallel call to repentance is also made to the Arab people's in relation to their hatred towards the Jewish people and their rejection of God's gift of the "promised land" to the Jews.

This is a useful addition to anyone's library on the Middle East.

The world as we know it will not exist after Purim if what he says is true. Dave does not lie.

..with this confused mess?
What about page 20 where Jeremiah 7:7 is quoted without the very important conditions specified in verses 5 and 6. Israel did not keep those conditions and suffered the consequences. Or page 130 where Daniel 8:25 is misquoted. Chapter 8 doesn't even mention the Antichrist - it is a prophecy about Antiochus Epiphanes. Note that even scholars who do not believe in predictive prophecy are clear on this - their argument is that is it so accurate that it must have been written after the event. The word that Hunt says is "peace" is actually "deceit" - a very accurate description of the rise to power of the man who did his best to destroy Israel between 168 and 164 BC. Unfortunately, these basic errors by the author undermine his entire premise - which takes up most of the rest of the book.

The book is appealing of course - who of us wouldn't like to know what is going to happen next? But the Bible is pretty clear on this topic - there is only one event left in God's plan of history: judgement day. Hunt has weaved together a horrible mess of opinion polls, quotes from the Jerusalem Post and out-of-context quotes from the Bible in order to sweat the details - and it shows. Much of his attempt to reconcile current affairs with biblical prophecy is now amusingly dated, since current affairs tend to change rather rapidly (and this book was written in 1995).

Avoid.

A lot of commentators have attempted to create a study of the book of Revelation that would take into account all of scripture. Some have done so with varying degrees of success but none so well, in my view, as Dr. Hahn.

Dr. Hahn's careful and well-reasoned study takes the preterist (primarily first-century fulfillment) hypothesis and makes the case quite convincingly. At the same time, he does well to point out the strengths of other views that help shed light on ways it describes an "already but not yet" view of church history. Further, Dr. Hahn draws on, what now seems obvious, analogies to Christian liturgy as a recurring theme in the book. See also his book or EWTN video series, _The Lamb's Supper_ for more on the liturgical connections.

Having studied the various views of this difficult topic, my conclusion is that Dr. Hahn has done the best job yet of explaining the mysteries it contains and plumbing the deepest depths to provide the greatest appreciation we might have for it. If you had time for but one study on the book of Revelation, this would be your best choice. Dr. Hahn's discussion is clear, well-researched, and inspiring. No student of eschatology can afford to ignore this study.

I've listened to this entire tape series twice, and I highly recommend it for the following reasons. First, Dr. Hahn produces the greatest number of connections I've ever heard between the Old Testament, the apocalyptic passages in the synoptic Gospels and St. John's Apocalypse providing maximum insight to what the early Christians, who were Jewish converts, would have heard in the visions. He proceeds to tie these insights into the events directly experienced by the early Church in the 1st century, culminating in the destruction and fall of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.

Secondly, he presents these explanations in a very rich, exciting way which is eminently practical for the lay Christian, the clergy-man or the Theologian. He cites sources regularly for the listener who wishes to dig deeper.

Lastly, it is the most even-handed treatment of interpretive views which are not his own. His counter-arguments to other interpretations cite biblical, historical and empirical evidence, not merely denominational or political opinions. For example, he never condemns the Futurist view, believing it to have merit as the other views. However, he gives examples of how often in the past the those who have applied specific prophecies to world events have been proven wrong. Well worth the investment in time and cost; everyone should take away something regardless of interpretive prejudices at the start.

Another Scott Hahn masterpiece. He reads Revelation like he reads the rest of the bible, in a way that brilliantly connects the New Testament to the Old Testament. Drawing from plenty of outside sources, such as the Church Fathers and *Legends of Jerusalem*, you don't have to worry that you're getting only one man's opinion on this very complicated book.

This book of the bible is so full of weird signs and events, that it's no wonder there are hundreds of differing interpretations. It's no wonder LaHaye and Jenkins can make millions on a series like *Left Behind*. It's no wonder people are still scanning the headlines (especially after 9/11/01) to see if they can tell who The Beast is, when the 666 is coming, if the AntiChrist has finally arrived.

Scott Hahn brings the book back into it's original context: 1st century Jerusalem. Suddenly, the book isn't quite so hard to interpret, because we're looking back and interpreting, in a sense, based on "old newspaper headlines," not looking to future newspaper headlines. This gives us an incredible benefit!

Hahn reveals his own personal view about the binding of Satan as well - a view I've never heard anywhere else. It comes at the end of the study, and I don't want to give it away, but it'll spin your head for sure!

Get this series, and you'll be much better prepared for the real "end times."

First, a heads up: I hear tell that it's excellent publisher is now producing this series in a CD format w/ special study guide.

Second, and in any event, I couldn't recommend more highly Scott Hahn's work on the Apocalypse -- /especially/ when used in conjunction with one or more of the following books:

(a) Michael Barber's /Coming Soon: Unlocking the Book of Revelation and Applying Its Lessons Today/ (Emmaus Road)

(b) David B. Currie's /Rapture: The End-Times Error that Leaves the Bible Behind/ (Sophia Institute) -- This book is far more than "just" a "Left Behind" refutation (though it is that): it also provides a detailed yet easily understandable interpretation of the two most eschatologically-charged Books within Scripture -- Daniel and Revelation.

(c) Further, there is now (at long last) a book giving the disguised "liberal" ideologues a run for their money with respect to the Book of Daniel -- and Daniel **exclusively**. The author, John S. Evans, does this in an eminently scholarly fashion that is, at the same time, widely accessible to the lay reader. Though written from the perspective of one who is non-Catholic, it dovetails beautifully with Hahn, Barber and Currie (in the respective works noted above). Also, while Currie engages in incisive exegesis of the Book of Daniel, Evans's analysis of Daniel is book-length in character and thus allows for greater space to be dedicated to defending/interpreting Daniel and the Book of Daniel *alone*. What results is an analysis of the authorship, dating and eschatological implications of said Book that is far more detailed than any other I've come across. (Nevertheless, Evans and Currie greatly complement one another, with both contributing -- each in their own unique fashion -- to a sound and strong defense and exegesis of this, one of the most assailed Books within the Old Testament.) Entitled /The Four Kingdoms of Daniel: A Defense of the "Roman" Sequence With AD 70 Fulfillment/, please see my review of this powerful work for further details (the bottom line being that the purchasing this book is imperative for truly appreciating the prophetic and eschatological import [past and future] of this most awesome of works of Holy Writ.)

The previous three recommendations (as well as Hahn's series itself) are brought forth utilizing a theory that has come to be known as "preterism" --that theory which argues for various prophesied events having already been, in some fashion, fulfilled -- *while by no means /necessarily/ indicating a past fulfillment of /all/ eschatological prophecies*. "Partial-preterist" is usually the name given to those who (a) espouse some past fulfillment of eschatalogical prophecies while (b) deny the theory espoused by "total preterists" that absolutely all prophecies related to the "end times" have been exhaustively fulfilled.

Nevertheless, another preteristic theory may be brought forth -- also compatible (just as is "partial preterism") with the traditional, historic Christian faith on the End Times: i.e., that *all* of the eschatological prophecies have *in one or another sense* been fulfilled, but /not/ in **final, exhaustive or superlative** fashion -- the latter being another fulfillment that is yet to come. As Hahn, Barber and Currie are each at pains to point out, "multiple fulfillments" of prophecy may be instanced throughout salvation history by way of events of the past acting -- through the Sovereign Lord of history -- as "types" of things yet to come. Accordingly, we can indeed allow for both a full-throttled preterism as well as a futuristic outlook with respect to the Eschaton.

(d) With this caveat, I introduce my last recommendation (a work that has been vouched for by EWTN, Father William Most and many other orthodox theologians, living and deceased): I speak of Desmond Birch's /Trial, Tribulation and Triumph: Before, During and After Antichrist/; this voluminous tome is one of those exceedingly rare books able to suggest a plausible perspective regarding a **futurist** eschatological scenario that is, at the same time, perfectly orthodox in its perspective (maintaining fidelity to the Scriptures and to the variety of testimonies to the Living Tradition of the Church - from the Fathers and Doctors all the way up to the recent 1997 universal Catechism). True enough, Birch does not approach eschatological matters using any sort of preterism, but what I hope to have indicated in the preceding paragraphs is that the two outlooks on eschatology are indeed compatible.

At any rate, I hope to have provided some direction for those who are presently wandering in (to mix metaphors) the "seas" of the eschatological "wilderness".

Dr. Hahn, who has personally esposed many of the Historicist, Preterist, Futurist, and Spiritual/Idealist views of Rev. 1-19, as well as Premillennial, Postmillenial and Amillennial interpretations of Rev. 20, in this tape series shows the fundamental basis for interpreting Revelation is a postmillenial preterist view. He then uses the spiritual senses of scripture to illustrate how to arrive at proper methods of interpreting Revelation to arrive at the Historicist, Futurist, and Idealist views. Since in this view the millenium already occurred, the view is similar to the Amillenial view, yet is Postmillenial. Given the riches of this point of view, one can now understand why a premillenial view (such as that exposed by Timothy LeHaye author of the Left Behind series) is biblically inconsistent (just look at Rev 1:1). After all the biblical author said ~2000 years ago it must occur soon and it did (God cannot lie or error - if God says something it must happen). Dr. Hahn explains how it happened and gives scholarly references that support his view. Dr Hahn uses the type of the End and the judgement to form the Analogical sense in which the each of the other views (Historical, Futurist, and Idealist) is properly viewed. Finally he unviews the bride of Christ, the Catholic Church, which has been wed to Him in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Absolutely loved this book. After the passing of my grandmother it really helped me feel better about where she is and where we are going. Will give anyone a better understanding of life and the "afterlife". Have passed it on to friends and recommended it to many others.

EVIDENCE FROM BEYOND has confirmed my own spiritual journey. As A. D. Mattson expressed it, I, too, know I am a spiritual being spending time in this physical body, but I am not this body. Thank you, A. D., Margaret, and Ruth for bringing us a book of wisdom, love and concern for humanity and our beautiful planet! "Must reading" for spiritual seekers! Jeanne G. Lewis, Reviewer for Spiritual Frontiers Fellowship, Int'l.

In this work a Lutheran pastor, A.D.Mattson died in 1970. During his life-time he was very interested in the paranormal and according to this book in 1971 he began to give messages from beyond the grave to his daughter Ruth Mattson Taylor.
Pastor A.D. Mattson discusses many subject concerning the here-after. He tells of animals waiting for their beloved masters to die so they maybe reunited; and if they had no one to love them how they are absorbed in a universal force for animals; one for dogs, one for cats, etc. He tells of children that have died growing up and waiting for their parents and he speaks of the importance of prayer, love and worship, all told to those whom are clairvoyant and are interrupting his messages.

I believe this is an excellent New-Age book and would be of great interest to those who wish to study more on subjects such as reincarnation and are interested in physic powers and those who are clairvoyant. I hold a different Christian belief concerning the here-after, so although many of the subjects were interesting I did not agree with what was being told. However, for those who hold to these beliefs this work would be a real page-turner. Again, very well written but only recommended for those interested in the paranormal.

As a big fan of Neale Donald Walsch's Conversations with God books, I am open to the concept of information being "channeled" from the other side to human hosts, and so I read this book with an open mind. By the time I finished, however, I have to say I was a little more than skeptical.

The book portends to be a description of the spiritual realm as told by a long-dead Lutheran theologian named A.D. Mattson to British psychic Margaret Flavell, who relates a view of the afterlife that seems remarkably "earth-like", complete with universities, classes, concerts, and even jazz bands and theaters. I was especially surprised the afterlife is so time driven, with "A.D." telling his host that he is leaving in May and will return in December. Apparently, there are even calendars in Heaven.

Okay, so why not. Maybe A.D. just brought a little bit of Earth with him into the afterlife (sort of his way of adjusting to his new existence, etc.) Where they lost me, however, was later in the book where A.D. talks about his expedition into outer space where, in order to survive, he was forced to take on an insect-like body (complete with bug eyes) while he visited human-like creatures living on the surface of Venus (there were no people living on Mars, however, A.D. informs us sadly, lest we imagine he is making all this up.) Now I consider myself a pretty reasonable fellow about these sorts of things, but even I have to draw the line somewhere, and bug bodied ghosts visiting Venusians is where I draw it.

Clearly this book is nothing more than a fantasy invented from the fertile imagination of two elderly women who seem to enjoy all the attention immensely (this is not their first book on the subject apparently). Not that they are doing this knowingly-I really believe they are convinced every word they got from A.D. was the gospel and they wrote it down faithfully. I just think they conjured up this fantasy from years of studying the paranormal (Flavell, after all, is a life-long psychic) without realizing it was simply a reflection of their own beliefs externalized in the form of a communication from a dear friend who has been dead a very long time. Pity too, because I was really enjoying the whole thing until the last few chapters, which is where the wheels fell off.

That's not to say this book didn't have some interesting things in it. I liked some of the stuff about reincarnation and interaction with the Earthly plain, though there wasn't anything in it that was particularly original or hadn't been written about extensively by other New Age writers over the years (obviously to serve as the source for some of their own imaginings.) As far as "evidence" from beyond, however, the book is a disaster which is more likely to dissuade rather than convince anyone who considers logic a good thing. The "evidence" is purely anecdotal in any case, and consists of nothing more than how closely the ideas expressed by A.D. from the afterlife corresponded to the beliefs and opinions he held before he died (what a surprise!) Fortunately, there is no real harm done as long as one takes Miss Flavell-like most "channelers" making the rounds nowadays-with a very large grain of salt. Stick with Walsch; you get everything you would out of this book without all the goofiness.

There are too many tales out there for us to deny our spiritual side and this one was most intriguing. I have sent copies to friends who have lost loved ones in hopes it answers some questions. Yet it raises questions as well. Our life at the next level appears involve our personal life experiences. A.D's experience reflects the values of his time and place on earth. It's very Westernized.. I have to believe a soul from the Indian sub-continent or one from a recent life in China, would be unlikely to reflect similar experiences to Margaret Flavell in the same circumstances. In fact, I'd love to hear their stories as well. A cynic from a conservative, controlling religious viewpoint might suggest the entire book is a hoax used to justify political positions such as pro-choice, gun control and world peace. Yet, it is exactly for those reasons I want to believe I have just read a book which has enhanced my life. This one, and the next.

This book is a great resource for a balanced and biblical view of this subject. If you are not a cessationist yet do not appreciate the way the prophetic gift is approached and practiced with such excess and error in many contemporary expressions of Christianity, than this book will be of great value. I have been pastoring for 22 years and a seminary graduate (GCTS). I have found that when the gift of prophecy is allowed to find expression in a Biblical way in a church body it can be a great blessing. Grudem's book demonstrates fine scholarship in a very readable style, address all areas concerning this subject and is of great help in developing a biblical approach.

This book is very scriptural and very thorough. Wayne explains in detail the verses that are used, considering the original language also. It is an eye-opener and a must-read for anyone interested in prophecy. It is the best book I have ever read on prophecy.

Wayne Gruden's book, The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today, is a comprehensive and biblical review of prophecy in the Scriptures. With balanced hermeneutical methods, he unveils the nature of the Old Testament prophets, the prophetic ministry of the New Testament, and the value and practice of prophecy in the contemporary church. Combining sound deductive reasoning with a relevant didactic approach, he also discusses the issues that have emerged within evangelical Christianity regarding the office of apostle and prophet, clearly rejecting their contemporary usage with solid exegetical evidence. He also tackles those who position themselves on both sides of the spiritual gift spectrum- the "cessationists", who believe that the prophetic gifts are no longer for today, and those in the charismatic camp who place an overemphasis on prophecy. He strikes a practical balance, encouraging both sides to take a closer look at the biblical data and be receptive to a new approach. With Scriptural safeguards in place, he also encourages those who have never been exposed to the gifts of prophecy to expand their understanding and be open to the experience of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Beginning in the Old Testament, Grudem states that the prophets functioned as messengers from God who spoke with absolute divine authority. Since the prophets' words were the very words of God, the messages were beyond challenge and demanded strict obedience. However, in the New Testament, the apostles took over where the Old Testament prophets left off. Citing a number of parallels, Gruden notes how the apostles were divinely appointed, spoke with absolute divine authority, and wrote the inspired books that make up the canon of the New Testament (27-29, 235). Though the apostolic ministry ended when the apostles passed away, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost bestowed the gifts of the Spirit upon the church, enabling people to prophesy revealed messages from the Lord. Though the nature of the gift of prophecy is delivered through imperfect human means and requires evaluation by the church, it is for the church's benefit and is intended to be in operation until the return of Christ.

Grudem, as an ordained Baptism pastor, is surprisingly refreshing in his approach toward spiritual gifts. He repeatedly highlights Paul's exhortation in 1 Corinthians to "eagerly desire" the gifts of the Holy Spirit and especially the gift of prophecy. Throughout the book, he highlights how prophecy is intentionally designed for the "upbuilding", encouragement, and comfort of the church and is a ministry all believers can potentially participate in and develop through sound biblical teaching and the leading of the Holy Spirit (140).

Regarding the controversial issue of the office of the prophet in the contemporary church, Grudem provides a number of biblical examples that deny the existence of the office of the prophet even in the early church. He states that there is no evidence of tension between the gift of prophecy and the office of prophet anywhere in the New Testament (157). In other words, there did not exist any privileged group who held a leadership position over those who had a prophetic gift among the churches. He also states that no one had the ability to prophesy at will, but the gift of prophecy was instead a spontaneous gift, used whenever someone received a revelation from the Holy Spirit (170). Additionally, Grudem notes how the prophetic gift was something that could mature and develop through faith, and was not something someone had ownership of, emphasizing the "progressive" over the "possessive" nature of prophecy in the New Testament (175). Thus, the office of prophet was not in operation in the early church and is therefore incongruent with the context of the contemporary church.

The author also illustrates how the gift of prophecy, or congregational prophecy, was never considered on the same level with Scripture. Instead, prophetic utterances were subject to the authority of Scripture and the careful evaluation of the church (209). He provides five different examples in the New Testament where prophecy was placed in a subordinate role to Scripture, citing how the church is called to "test" and "weigh" prophetic words, and how, on at least two occasions, prophecy was either inaccurate or disregarded (286). The nature of prophecy in the New Testament is thus, not authoritative, but is instead the impartation of divine revelation conveyed to and through an imperfect human being, or as Grudem defines it as, "an unreliable human speech-act in response to a revelation from the Holy Spirit" (76).

The author's description of apostles, as an exclusive group of divinely appointed and empowered men who operated under the same authority as the Old Testament prophets, is a novel perspective that has significant theological implications for the evangelical church. If it is true that the apostles held a divinely appointed position that enabled them to preach repentance, deliver people from demons, and heal the sick with greater authority and spiritual power than the rest of the church, then any contemporary teaching that suggests that the believer has the same authority as the apostles would be inaccurate. As an example, the passage in Matthew 10, where Jesus gives his disciples authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness, is often preached and applied to contemporary Christians who believe they too, possess the same authority for deliverance and healing in their own context. However, if this authority was only granted to the apostles, who operated under a parallel authority to the Old Testament prophets, this exclusive authority cannot be applied to other followers of Christ. Though there are other passages in Scripture that denote the believer's authority in Jesus' name, Christians would be in error if they appropriated apostle-only passages and applied them to their own lives. However, since this is a common belief among evangelicals, could these Christians have a false sense of spiritual authority, believing they have the same authority as the apostles? Though Grudem does not address these issues, his theological understanding of apostles necessitates a reexamination of how certain apostle-only New Testament passages are personally applied in the contemporary church.

Another area that Grudem discusses is the role of women in regards to prophesying and judging prophecies in the church. He states that New Testament teaching clearly encourages women to participate fully in the prophetic gifts but forbids them, or exhorts them to "keep silent" with regards to the evaluation of the prophetic words. Paul's instructions, though considered gender disparate by the current cultural context, conversely highlights the inclusive nature of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Understanding that the divinely imparted message is filtered through the human mind, men and women will prophecy differently, according to the uniqueness of their gender, enabling a creative interpretative method that has the ability to speak intimately and powerfully to everyone in the church. Though the ecclesiastical leadership roles differ when it comes to judging the validity of the prophecies, the prophetic gifts are equally available to both genders and are designed to operate corporately and speak personally.

I believe that Reformers should read this book. It is accurate and informative. It will help destroy some of the myths surrounding the gift of prophecy and will bring you closer to God's desire. Being Reformed (CRC), I have had many questions about the gift of prophecy (gathered over many years and many book). Almost all of them have been answered here. As J.I. Packer wrote, this book is "Careful, thorough, wise, and to my mind, convincing." I agree. You will find scripturally-based answers to what the gift is, who can have it, how it is used, and how it can benefit the Church. I highly recommend it, as well as they CRC Acts of Synod 1973 (nearly 30 years old!). This book is much newer, but covers much of the same ground. Read it and pray for God's illumination on the matter.

Wayne Grudem is a scholar, and his approach to the New Testament gift of prophecy is refreshing in that he appeals to the thinking Christian.

Grudem correlates the Old Testament prophet to the New Testament Apostle, while arguing that the New Testament gift of prophecy is not infallible, verbally inspired speech; it is simply God bringing a thought to the mind of a believer. Grudem's argument here is pretty strong, if incomplete, I think.

On the other hand, he quotes many Charismatic authors (in a positive light, mostly) who state that the flesh affects almost all prophecy. Although prophecies need not deal with predicting the future, those prophecies which do attempt to predict the future, according to the charismatic source quoted, are wrong about 80% of the time. If we (and Grudem does not do this)project the same rate of return for non-futuristic prophecy, what we end up with is perhaps 20% of all prophecies being acutally true. If 20% of verifiable prophecies are true, then we should logically project that number to non-verifiable prophecies.

Prophecy then is God (perhaps) bringing something to the mind of a believer -- about 20% of the time believers sense a prophecy. Of course, our sinful natures may corrupt even some genuine prophecies, and no prophet is infallible. His/her prophecies must each be evaluated, not necessarily by church leaders, but by individual Christians (so there is no official word as to what we should bank on, except if heresy is involved and the elders must step in). And this gift, with all this uncertainty and potential falliblity attached, is supposed to edify the church.

Incredible as this seems, Grudem does make a good argument for the above (although he does not correlate the 80% of future-oriented prophcies with non-future). Some of his points seem valid, espeically his distinction between the Old Testament gift and the New, between God bringing something to mind in a general way (while the prophet uses his own words to express what he senses) and inspired speech.

Perhaps a better position would be that some of the early church prophets were somewhat closer in authority to Old Testament prophets, and did, in fact, prophesy with "Thus says the Lord," but that others (the majority) were given a thought regarding what God was doing or wanted done (God bringing something to mind, an experience many Christians with various stances on spiritual gifts have sensed). Perhaps that first initial aspect of the gift is no longer with us (and thus no new infallible revelation), while the second form (God bringing something to mind)is. Of course this seems to be the case with the Apostles (specially empowered founders of the church) in contrast to modern missionaries (apostes in the sense of sent ones) who are sent to regions beyond but do not bear the authority of the founding apostles.

Whether Grudem's conclusions are correct in totality, in partiality (my view), or not at all, this is the type of work we need to read for intelligent study of these difficult and divisive issues. A nice break from mindless assertions or studies with pre-existing agendas. We need to be open to the Scriptures, but must avoid playing spiritual "pretend" games.

I recommend this work to parties on all sides of the issue.

It was a daunting task to follow up the terrific Speaking Dreams and Severna did an admirable job. The story and characters are well devolped and the book is light on science fiction as usual. The book does a good job of going in a different direction than the first and is a must read if you enjoy Ms. Park's work.

Severna Park is a beautiful writer. Sci Fi enthusiastics can read Hand of Prophecy as a rambunctious and fast-paced action tale, but I preferred to read it on the level I believe she meant it to be read - a social critique. She's a passionate and brilliant writer.

Frenna is one of those characters that seize the reader immediately and drag him or her into the story. Superb world-building, terrific plot, intense action--this is one terrific novel.

I bought this book on the strength of its blurb alone, yet what the book contained blew all parameters of my expectations into orbit. I doubt if i've read a book that weaves the genres of sc-fi and action/romance/historical together so well.

Park's gender reversal (her trademark) gives light to some wonderful female characters; from Troah who is determined to exact her revenge on those who have betrayed her, to Hallie the blonde Amazonian warrior whose armour is as strong as her compassion (I've never been so worried over a character's survival when Hallie's fighting Rampage) and onto the protagonist herself Frenna who looks so fragile it seems she will break at any second but shows more determination than anyone else in the story. The whole slavery angle was addressed perfectly and leaves a thousand oppotunities for sequels or follow on stories.

Most importantly the whole love side of the novel was delivered in a way saying: 'it doesn't matter who you love as long as they love you'. We can see how that backfires for Althea and Leiban, and how despite the loyalty the boundaries of 'slave' and 'free' still dominate the lives of the characters in the book. This is good route on Severna's part because it stops love obstructing the slave/non-slave relationship and prevents a novel that balances passion with survival from turning into a 'love conquers all' romantic epic. Basically, this is one of the better books I've read this year and probably THE best sc-fi book I've ever read. Severna Park manages to combine strong characters, painful anticipation and occasionally obtuse humour to create a book that this reader won't be forgetting in a hurry.

Maybe.

Other reviewers have given the gist of the plot, but I don't agree with their ratings, that's why I review this book. LeGuin in Four Ways of Forgiveness has written better about slavery and how it destroys the owned and owners.

Octavia Butler in The Kindred writes better about the sexual relationship in slavery between owned and owner. In that book there are outsiders who make it easier for us to empathize.

Many of Samuel R. Delaney's books are about unequal sexual relationships. I prefer his too.

I liked Hallie in this book, but Frenna was too distant, too strange, ultimately an unsatisfying hero, for me. Troah was too too scary to also be sympathetic, as I think she was supposed to be, eventually.

In my opinion, it is worth reading, if you don't expect too much from it. And you've read the others first.

I wish the author would have had the courtesy to inform the reader not only the purpose of his book but also his church affiliation at the beginning of his book.

On page 302 (of 334 total pages) the author informs us that the proposition on his book is that when Jesus returns the world will end, physical life will be no more, and time will be no more. A few go to Heaven the masses go to Hell without end.....

The author in the last chapters finally explains to his readers that he believes in "Baptismal Regeneration". A typical Church of Christ doctrine. If you aren't baptized you're not saved. Salvation is NOT by faith alone.

I could have saved my money had I known this before I bought his book.

The author prides himself on his knowledge of the books of Daniel and Revelation but I've yet to know any one who knows exactly how to interpret those books of the Bible. Too much "symbolism" to know exactly what God meant. But the author seems to think he knows.

If you're a Church of Christ member then buy the book otherwise be warned.

I've read this book a couple of times. It's very good, providing a solid challenge to futurism. The author writes from an historicist view, which is certainly not unique to the Churches of Christ. Do not let the author's church affiliation keep you from reading his book. One reviewer seemed to think it was a problem. It's not. The subject crosses all denominations. Yes, the last chapter of the book talks about baptism. So what? Exhorting believers to be baptized is a solid biblical teaching.

Elliot has managed to get us back to serious biblical inquiry in the midst of nonsense surrounding the end of the world and the return of Jesus Christ. This book may prove offensive to some, but only if they keep their ears and brains in shut down mode. Easily readable and easily
understood. Elliot backs his statements up with biblical references and support from the earliest church fathers throughout the ages that make his work worth owning. Throw out all that nonsense about the European common market and modern beliefs about an anti-christ kingdom-read this and think for a change.

This is an excellent book written with a refreshing, Biblical viewpoint regarding controversial "End-Time" subjects. It leaves the reader with the opportunity to investigate, on his/her own, the scriptures related to each issue. You will be amazed at the clear insight it gives from a solid Biblical stance. The writer points the reader to God's Word and gives a fair open evaluation of the popular viewpoints regarding each "End-Time" subject and allows the reader to make a final conclusion.

The people that win in the end are they that have Christ in their lives. This book points you to Christ, His Church and His Word. You owe it to yourself to take a fresh look into the "End Times".

Carry this book with you on the airplane. Be sure and plan to bring an extra copy, or two, to give to those who inquire about it.

David Vaughn Elliott is the son of the late Mark Elliott from
Cinncinatti Bible; went into NYC in 1950's with Go Ye Chapel Elmer Kyle etc. Was responsible for eventually establishing the Tenth Street Church of Christ, In NYC where and under whom I was converted along with many other youth during the 50's and 60's; Was responsible for starting the work that is in San Salvador;
then also to Guatemala where Denny Martin is now responsible. He was always "Vaughn" (and his wife Margaret) to us till he moved to El Salvador where "Vaughn" could not be pronounced and "David" is a good easy "Spanish" name. His son is David Lawrence Ellliott who is the one we always known as David. Today I differentiate as David V. or David L. since both are preachers and now both at Lawrence Church in MA.

In any case, there is no keener mind than Vaughn's when it comes to tackling problematic prophetical and historical matters, unless you include David L, his son, who does not like to see his name in print with honors, but "honor to whom honor is due" is scriptural. Vaughn is detailed and very thorough, yet ends up with simple outlines which any one of us simple ones can tackle. His son David L. has also inherited his mind, sometimes, I fear, with more details and yet with as simple outlines as his Dad.

Although Vaughn may think he is getting "older", his mind is as sharp as I remember when I met him in 1959 or so in regards to the Scripture material. He and Margarett and David L. are still developing together much literature that is helping many in both the English and the Spanish churches.

Although much of the items of NOBODY LEFT BEHIND has been done in Spanish, it is one of the few things that Vaughn has done in ENGLISH first for a long time; (he has also done some work with Stuart Merrill for Russia).

The book is highly recommended for everyone. One brother recently told me that he gave a copy to a brother and student who is Premillenial. Upon reading Vaughn's book, he came back and told my friend that he wants to continue studying and is "willing to change my view now".

You can get Vaughn's book and be able to make comments and post them to the site that has beem set up which allows everyone to see at Amazon. You may also want to subscribe to Vaughns, "Nobody Left Behind" web site where he continues to write a monthly prophetic insight.

God Bless

Jaffet

As of writing - October 2002, none of the things predicted in this book have happened! Also, the obviously pro-American stance of the author is nauseating - but will appeal to bible-belt Americans. He thinks all 3 of Nostradamus' antichrists are going to be Muslim's who will be unfairly attacking the good Christian Godly American's and their allies - Garbage. There is nothing Godly or Christian about our degenerate Western societies. It is far more likely the 'beast' will be America. Especially in view of its current sinister administration and their immoral bullying activities in the middle-east right now. They are the ones unfairly picking on the Muslims, not vice versa.

I found this book to be very interesting and a fun read. Very quick reading. If you are a Nostra fan, this is the book for you......whether you believe any of it, I guess is up to you.

Although I agree with the other readers who praise this books' revelations and I think possible that we are already in the maelstrom of World War III which is going to last for more than 20 years, some very important prophecies of Nostradamus are missing in this work, like the more than ten quadrants that deal with the appearance and the terrible strike on Earth of a comet near this millenium. The famous quadrant about the "year 1999 and seven months" is also misinterpreted according to my opinion. Nostradamus wrote in a carefuly misleading way and I think that this particular quadrant is refering to the 1999 war in Yugoslavia and the NATO bombing campaign. As we know Operation Allied Force lasted for 72 days. If someone divides this period in 12 "months" and then take the 7/12 of these ("seven month") then he has the exact date of the bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade ("he will bring back the King of the Mongols") from a B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber ("will come from the sky the Great King of Terror"). Before and after this unlucky hit the war was going perfectly for the NATO forces which didn't suffer a single casualty in combat ("Before and after Mars rules happily"). Also the writer does not interpret well the X-74 quadrant which I'm afraid speaks of a fiery comet appearing in our times.

Our Lady Queen of Peace told Irish mystic Christina Gallagher, on October 23, "The Blessed Mother desires that the President of the United States not come forward to order an attack on any country. The consequences of this would be drastic. This is what China is waiting for. One slip of your pen would mark the start of the Third World War. This is not what God desires. . . . There are cells of Al Queda all over the United States and in many other countries. They are plotting their next scare tactics. They have many in mind. They plot against the United States and many countries. Their deepest hatred is for the United States. Their first action is fear followed by terror followed by bloodshed."
If the US invades Iraq, China will invade Taiwan shortly afterwards.
If we do not invade, China will lack the strategic opportunity to seize Taiwan and World War III can be lessened or averted.
Shortly, we will know the truth. Feast of the Immaculate Conception Dec 8th, 2002

I strongly recommend this book. I like it for two reasons. First, it is very easy to read and follow, the author has a solid argument and some novel theories on the way people interpret Nostradamus. The author is an historian and he has his feet on solid ground. Unlike other books, like "Nostradamus prophecies for America" by David Ovason, Montaigne's book is not limited to reinterpret old quatrains related to events that happened a long time ago. In fact, he is trying to interpret the quatrains before the events described happen. This is very difficult to accomplish and he deserves some credit for trying very hard to get it right. Second, Montaigne describes a sequence of events almost identical to that described by the prophecies treasured by the Holy Catholic Church for hundreds of years, and the few points that he is not very certain about are those very nicely explained in the catholic prophecies (specially those related to the identity and roll of the Great Monarch or Great King and the change in location of the residence of the Pope). I would recommend people to read Catholic Prophecy by Yves Dupont, after reading this book. They both seem to complement each other. It all seems to make sense. Finally, the prophecies do not say that all of the events will happen in the year 2002. They say that the pieces of the puzzle will begin to align themselves in the direction place at that time. If you watch the news today, they all talk about Bush sending troops to the Middle East and Muslim people protesting against the USA. We are getting close to the point when all the things described in the book could happen. Therefore, I would recommend everybody to read the book, pray and prepare yourselves, regardless of your faith. May God bless you all.

A good basic primer for those wanting to learn more about service to the Orisha and the Obi form of divination.

I loved this book when I read it years ago. I loved the book "The Diloggun" by this author even more. It is sad that we will never read anything else by this author ever again; after a two year battle with cancer, the author has died. The loss of his voice is a terrible thing for us all,indeed.

Regards Obi divination this book offer a narrow view of this theme. The introduction is well done, with myths about obi, however there is few information about how to use this powerfull oracle. It doesn't explore the nine positions, the segments position in opon and also the Odu asnpect. In despite of Obi Oracle is not for cast Ifa as we do with opele and not for we speak through òrúnmìlà the Odu messages and orientation is an olodumare tool and for this reason is allways present and usefull and Obi can be used as an Oracle for we talk with the Ori and Orixá and receive consistent information and orientation for our lives, avoiding to handle with expensive Ifa works. One can find here some useful information when he wants to work with a Orixá oriented Oracle, which is, in fact, very comom. But be advised for the lack of information for understand the Obi Oracle.

I have read many books on the religion. I have never read a book that dealt solely with Obi divination. Even though I have santo done, I never in my wildest dreams believed that this system of divination was so intense, or so in depth, that it demanded a book of its own.

I was wrong.

Some of the material I've heard before orally. The myth of Obi I've heard many times, although never written as beautifully as Ochani has written it. The myth of Biague and Adiatoto I've heard, but I've never seen as much detail in the story. I've never heard the patakis of the coconut palm, nor had I ever heard the story of how Obatala distributed the mysteris of Obi to all the orishas.

Yet all my elders, after having read my copy of the book, agree these stories are all true. And Ochani is the most wonderful storyteller.

But what really floored me is that in all my years, I've never head about "apere ti obi." I approached my madrina with many questions regarding this system, and she told me that, yes, it is an old way to read Obi that was prominent in Cuba many generations ago. She said it was in place even before the cabildo societies that solidified our own lukumi practices. However, she herself had never met anyone but one person who knew how to use that system. Her interpretations were always accurate and right on the money, but because she herself could not cast diloggun, she never shared her secrets with anyone.

And my madrina says that the art of apere as presented by Ochani sounds exactly like what that old woman did. That old woman's name who used apere ti obi was Modesta Morera, Alaraba, ibae, and she was crowned to Iroko in Matanzas. However, because Iroko cannot be crowned direct, she was done Yemaya oro Iroko, and her ordination in Cuba was the only one ever done to Iroko. She was crowned in the 1950s in Matanzas by someone named Cheo Shango, Shango Lari, ibae.

How Ochani learned these secrets we have no idea. He must either be REALLY dedicated to the religion, or is one heck of a researcher.

I think everyone in the religion should read this book. Because aleyos who have received warriors have the right to read obi, even they should read it with the permission of their godparents.

An excellent book, Ochani. PLEASE keep writing for us all!

Every one who is a follower of any Orisha path should learn to consult and communicate with ones ruling Orisha and the Orisha in general. Everything from small offerings of candles, to coins, and liquor can be given to the Orishas, but first one must consult with them, to see if they except the offerings, and if not, is their anything else, one can give to please them. But not just with offerings, but in life's trivial pursuits one should consult the Orisha before making any serious decision.

Obi is an oracle used buy all followers of Orisha, and many use this ancient oracle to find out yes and no answers to their questions. But Obi divination is more than that, and it is through this book and the help of ones Godparents that one can begin to learn and understand Obi divination.

This book is written in the Lucumi tradition, and it is excellent. In it you will learn the history of Obi divination in the Americas, you will read Patikis on Obi, Biaque, and the Coconut Tree. You will learn some of the various Orishas one can communicate with using this ancient oracle. You learn Lucumi, Mojubares, used prior to consulting with the oracle. You learn the various patterns and their meanings. This book is beautifully written and well researched.

Ache to Ocha'ni Lele, who is becoming such an important voice in the Orisha traditions of the Americas. But as the author will state, this is an oracle that should be learned through the hands of an experienced elder in the Tradition. For further study on this ancient oracle, and for those Aborishas who have the sacred capacity of the orishas, I also recomed these other books on the subject, also sold at Amazon.com.
Awo Obi: Obi Divination in Theory and Practice 1890157295 and The Little Oracle That Goes a Long Way: Ifa's Obi Abata

Having delivered over 45,000 personal prophecies to people that he has ministered to in over fifty years of ministry Bill Hamon's words as a modern day prophet are certainly words you want to pay some close attention to.

God called me to the prophetic ministry a little over four years ago. He gave me the gift of word of knowledge, the gift of word of wisdom and the gift of prophecy and I was able to perform in those gifts as I prophesied but I had to buy a book to understand what they are and more about the gifts I was active in. I searched for a book on the gifts of the Spirit for two years before giving up and then the Lord brought a book across my path through a friend. In that book I learned about the three prophetic gifts but didn't learn much about the role of a prophet.

Bill's book is comprehensive on the role of a prophet and the role of personal prophecy in their lives. The book is full of personal stories that illustrate his points and full of scriptural supports. It is a book that I know I want to lend to a couple of friends, but rather then lending it I might simply buy them copies as I know I want to read this book from cover to cover again.

No person taught me how to prophesy and though I have done a lot of prophecies for people they have not been so much for people I know but for strangers. The Holy Spirit has been a very good guide.

I wonder at the Lords wisdom bringing me across this book as I searched for where my prophetic site was ranked on Google two days ago. I think the Lord allowed me to learn a lot about prophecy and the role of a prophet on my own so that this book would confirm many things that I know.

If you would like the gift of prophecy Bill suggests you seek the Lord in prayer and have a prophet lay hands on you and pray the prayer of faith.

It is obvious this book wasn't just written easy. A lot of work has gone into planning the chapters, the subject headings and then the massive research that has gone into backing up everything he says with a scriptural supporting passage.

If you have a calling on your life toward the prophetic I would say this book is a must for you.

And if you live in charismatic circles and you have received personal prophecies that you still have not seen come true in your life this book is very comforting and very informative.

It mentions a service closing at 9pm and Bill starting to minister in the prophetic at that time and not finishing to 12am. Three hours of speaking the prophetic over hundreds of people is a level of anointing and ability I am yet to see in my life.

Well worth the money and well worth the time you will invest in reading it. I have read it in a day. You won't want your copy to leave your sight either.

This is a very informative book. I believe that anyone with the prophetic giftings should read this book and even those who do not operate in the prophetic but have been given prophetic words. It helps one understand what type of gifting they may be operating in and how to apply it. Very good. It also will help you to understand a word given and how to apply it.

I have read this book over and over again. Every time I read it, I notice gold nuggets I overlooked before. One thing the Lord made stand out in my spirit while reading this book was that I really have to walk in his love and learn more about it in order to operate effectively in any ministry. The Word does say that if we prophecy, prophecy will cease if we have not love. The Word says that without love, none of the other gifts mean anything. If we don't love those around us the way the Lord would, what makes us think we would be set loose on his church. It has answered so many questions about prophets and personal prophecy that I couldn't get anywhere else. Though we all have pastors, teachers, etc., they are human as well and aren't always available or easy to get time with. It was wonderful to find a book to feed my hungry heart without having to arrange to talk to someone else. I couldn't stop reading and the more I read, the hungrier I became...sort of like a starving child sitting down to his/her first meal after a week with no food. Now, I can always refer back to the book if I have forgotton something (we always go back for seconds to the food we enjoy the most). There have been times when I wasn't comfortable to ask anyone about prophecy and the prophetic ministry and I found my answers in this book. I had been in prayer about the many questions I had and would ask Jesus tons of questions...why this, why that, etc. and ask him to provide to me the answers. The Lord certainly has answered prayer with this book and has given me more information that what I even had asked for (Ephesians 3:20). Praise God!

Dr. Hamon has hit the nail on the head once again. He has saved us countless hours of pain and heartache by sharing his prophetic experiences and lessons with us in this book. Prophecy and the Office of Prophet are essential to the success and the growth of the Body of Christ. Dr. Hamon has removed the mystery surrounding this office and gift.

PROPHETS AND PERSONAL PROPHECY: GOD'S PROPHETIC VOICE TODAY (hereafter, PPP) (Shippensburg, Pennsylvania: Destiny Image Publishers, Inc., 1987/2000) is one of a growing number of "how to" guides concerning the Christian charismatic "gift of prophecy" and its exercise by and on behalf of believing Christians today in the United States and in many countries around the world. I think I am correct in saying that this particular book has the distinction of being the first of its type in modern times. As one of the "seminal fathers" of the present Christian "prophetic movement," and as a respected authority on the subject of "personal prophecy," Dr. Bill Hamon offers practical guidelines and numerous case studies from both his personal and his professional life as a pastor; itinerant prophet; and founder of his own prophetic training institute in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

PPP is neither a theological, nor a biblical justification for the practice of prophecy in our day; rather, it is intended as a "practical handbook for those who are already convinced that prophets operate [legitimately] in the Church today, who have themselves received a personal prophecy, and who want to respond properly and fruitfully to what God is saying to them" (pp. 14-15). By its own self-description, PPP is a book designed for and targeted toward a niche audience comprised of Christians from Pentecostal, Charismatic, "restoration," "faith," and "kingdom" churches (pp. 8-9).

Hamon presupposes the divinely endowed prophetic gift to be alive (though sometimes dormant) within the body of Christ today just as it was in the first century after the Holy Spirit had been poured out upon the 120 disciples on the day of Pentecost. Hamon views the modern Christian prophets' words of direction as supplementary to the instruction of Holy Scripture and never contrary to it. He explains that God speaks by his Spirit through the Christian prophet for edification, comfort, and/or direction in the same way he did in biblical times. As the gift of prophecy was present in the lives of certain Old and New Testament persons, so it is still available to believers today. "Activation" of the prophetic gift may require the "laying on of hands" by a "prophetic presbyter" or "prophetic presbytery" along with oversight and ongoing training to reach fruitful maturity. The differentiation between a "rhema" word of God (i.e., original, Holy Spirit inspired words not recorded in the Holy Bible) and the "logos" word of God (i.e., those words which are already recorded as Holy Spirit inspired words from the biblical writers) is also presupposed as an important foundational tenet for this study.

Given the book's ancient (and now revived) subject matter, it is plainly unique in the field of the "Christian charismata" today. For the unfamiliar reader, PPP should prove intiguing with its many "real life" illustrations and stories. Given its ground-breaking character, and the potential audience it might receive as such, I found it regrettable that the manuscript could not have been given a more professional preparation. Greater care during its final revision and preparation for publication would have enhanced its appeal for many additional readers beyond the niche audience. Numerous routine copyediting problems are still evident in the text. Distracting and idiosyncratic habits of capitalization and boldface usage have been retained. Chapter two has (by specific direction of the author) boldfaced every appearance of the word "prophet(s)," and the words "biblical" and "Scripture" are found with and without capitalization throughout the book. The use of hyphens, dashes, italics, and ellipses are often clumsily executed and also without consistency. A dictionary; a writing style manual; and a determination to stay consistent, would have solved these errors and would have improved readability. As one writing style manual admonishes: "--concerning what some may regard as 'trivial departures from convention'--it should be remembered that they stop the reader and make him think of your incompetence instead of your ideas."

PPP is also in need of a "glossary" of technical terms. The number of unfamiliar terms and expressions is substantial even for someone like myself with personal exposure to the prophetic movement. I counted more than twenty terms (charismatic church expressions) that would be unintelligible to the unfamiliar first-time reader. Sometimes a definition is provided within the narrative, but not usually on the first appearance as it should be. Given the large number of Scripture references cited throughout the book, a "Scripture index" would have been much appreciated, and would have encouraged revisits. Again the writer's adage: "Always see your copy as it will look to a stranger"--is important to remember.

Despite the many technical shortcomings, the book has sold extremely well as a P-O-D ("print-on-demand") publication having sold more than 100,000 copies in its first dozen years of availability (probably many more in the last six years), and has been translated into at least six languages! The personal magnanimity of brother Hamon; the charisma of his unique ministry and message; and what is likely a growing and acute hunger for this new genre of Christian literature have, I am sure, all served to explain the book's popularity. I guess when your target audience is large enough, and you are well-known to that audience as a man of integrity for nearly fifty years, a poor presentation is excusable and apparently of little account to the hungry reader.

Content/originality = 5
Writing/style = 3
Literary/technical = 1
------------------------
Overall average = 3

This book is a must-read for anyone who is interested in learning about Orthodox eschatology, the Rapture, Dispensationalism, or Christian Zionism. The only real complaint I have is that Frazier takes a rather snide, resentful, sometimes arrogant tone when addressing certain points. But, he is well organized and provides information essential to American Christians who want to learn more about the end-times.

I have also read "Ultimate Things" (see another reviewer's reference above). In my opinion, Frazier's book is superior. The reviewer above felt that Frazier "left out" something that Engleman included, namely the interpretation that Russia figures centrally into certain references.
While many Orthodox Christians may agree with Engleman, a lot of us that don't come from the Russian jurisdiction are not so ready to fill in all the blanks the same way he does. What the above reviewer sees as fact, I found strange, and it is the only part of Engleman's book I think is a little off-center. Perhaps Frazier could have included Engleman's interpretation as a possibility, but I think it better to seek the opinion of the Church as a whole before proclaiming it to be factual.

Overall, "A Second Look" is a wonderful book. I recommend it to anyone.

The book is tendentious and polemical, very selective in its use of both biblical and historical evidence, and littered with unwarranted ad hominem snipes at those who endorse the view that national Israel constitutes a theologically potent reality. It is simply false, as the author repeatedly asserts and implies, that all those who take national Israel seriously as a potent theological reality are uneducated sensationalists. A perusal of monumental works by Robert L. Thomas and Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum, to name just two contemporary examples, ought to dispel such notions very quickly.

In view of the stress that Eastern Orthodoxy places on the Fathers and Tradition, a particularly noteworthy example of the one-sided use of evidence I am talking about is the book's misrepresentation of the prominence of Chiliasm in the Early Church. As has been documented by serious Protestant historians of all millenial persuasions for generations, the Early Church of the first three centuries was substantially Chiliastic. In fact, the DECRETUM GELASIANUM, which is a too-little known record of interpretations that the Nicene Fathers place on the Nicene Creed, demonstrates this reality to be true as late as the Council of Nicea, since the Fathers' interpretation of the words "His Kingdom shall have no end" is decidedly Chiliastic. It is also a matter of record that a crucial "not" in words of Justin Martyr testifying to the prevalence of Chiliasm in his day was altered by later, anti-chiliastic editors (the "not" being either added or omitted from the original - I forget which) to make him appear to be saying the opposite - i.e., that Chiliasm was NOT prevalent. (For more details on these matters, and on Chiliasm in the Early Church, cf. G. N. H. Peters, THE THEOCRATIC KINGDOM, Vol. I., who in turn cites many eminent and often anti-chiliastic historians as coming to the same conclusion.)

Overall, I would say the book is useful insofar as it makes manifest the weakness and one-sidedness of the traditional Eastern Orthodox view on matters relating to the theological significance of national Israel.

The world is going crazy with the "End Times" mania, and T.L. Frazier incorporates the Apostolic teachings of what the original Christian Church has to say on the subject.

The book is indeed a valuable blessing from God, as so many hungry people are being led astray with the nonsensical teachings of Hal Lindsey, Zola Levitt, and John Hagee (and unfortunately, countless others). There is a reason why the Lord tells us that we will never know when He will return again, only God in Heaven does. Why we men continue to try to figure out God's will, I will never know. But this book will help us understand that speculation on the frantic topic is merely a distraction, and non-scriptural.

This book is an excellent guide to searching the scriptures for God's true feeling on man's quest to BE God, and to debunk the blind leading the blind. Do yourself a favor and read this book with an open heart. You will indeed be blessed! Order fast - the rumor is that this book will not be available long!

Any Christian studying eschatology will encounter the theological system known as dispensationalism. Enter any Christian bookstore and survey the books on endtimes themes and the vast majority will likely be dispnesationalist titles. One might easily conclude that it is the Church's traditional eschatological position.

Thus it may come as a shock that dispensationalism is a novel doctrine without historical support. Furthermore, it does not, as its backers claim, take the Bible literally but rather forces contextually isolated Scripture passages into a system with little concern for original intent. Having its origins in the eighteenth century, it gained a foothold among Fundamentalists with their acceptance of the Scofield Reference Bible and then in wider Protestant circles with the publication of Hal Lindsay's The Late Great Planet Earth. Since then, it has grown even more pervasive through the wide popularity of the Left Behind novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins.

Into this mess steps T. L. Frazier of the Eastern Orthodox Church. In A Second Look at the Second Coming, Frazier provides a powerful critique of dispensationalism that shows the reader the Scriptural missteps, newspaper exegesis, historical ignorance, and cultural parochialism at its core. Not only does he succeed in laying waste the entire system, but he also places in contrast the eschatological understanding of the Church Fathers. Their wise and humble council stands in sharp contrast to the lurid sensationalism championed by today's "prophecy teachers."

Frazier begins with a discussion of the cultural upheaval that tool place in the late 1960s and provided dispensationalism a receptive audience. In this context, Lindsay's The Late Great Planet Earth is just another of the gloom and doom books then a mainstay of popular culture. Lindsay thus stood in the midst of a boom in doomsday scenarios.

Frazier then outlines the history of eschatalogical thought. This serves to demonstrate the complete novelty of dispensational beliefs. Dispensationalist authors will frequently point to certain early Church Fathers as supporting their views, but Frazier quickly dispels this myth. While Fathers such as St. Irenaeus and St. Justin Martyr did have premillennialist views (dispensationalism has a premillennialist orientation), they were most definitely not dispensationlists. Their views (called historic premillennialism) did not entertain dispensationalist distinctives such as a rapture of the Church into heaven prior to the tribulation so God can again deal with the Jewish people. The early premillennialists believed the Church was the true spiritual Israel built upon the faithful remnant of Jews who had accepted Jesus as their Messiah and God's only dealing with the Jews in the future would be to call them to the Church. Furthermore, they held the Church would not be raptured into heaven but endure the tribulation under God's protection after which Christ would return to establish His kingdom. Such a straightforward view is a far cry from the exegetical and logical gymnastics the dispensationalists engage in to make their convoluted system work.

Having demonstrated that the dispensationalism has no historical basis, Frazier then proceeds to prove it has no basis in Holy Scripture either. Beginning with the New Testament teaching of the Church as spiritual Israel, he clearly lays out the misreadings of Holy Scripture and the bizarre twists and turns the theology must take in order to make this strange system make any sense at all. Thus we end up with the unjustified dividing of eschatological passages into "rapture" and "second coming" based upon their system with no basis in either the text or the historical understanding of the Church. In fact, as Frazier points out, there is no passage any dispensationalist can point two where it is mentioned that Jesus will come back twice. Without the preexisting assumptions of their system, it is doubtful anyone would even consider it a possibility.

The dispensationalist rendering of the Church as a parenthesis between God's dealings with national Israel comes in for severe criticism Not only does it do violence to the text of Holy Scripture, but ends up with our standing before God judged by our relationship with a secular nation instead of our relationship with Christ. Without their system, the confusion evaporates.

Frazier then moves on to confront the dispensationalists' best arguments directly. In his analysis, he exposes their ignorance of Church history, complete misreading of apocalyptic symbolism, and their confusion over the literary genres that make up the Holy Scriptures and how each should be approached. Such poor exegetical methodology is emblematic of dispensationalism and inevitably leads to misunderstandings of original meaning and intent.

Expanding on this theme, Frazier points out how the dispensationalists' erroneous conclusions lead to fruitless speculations attempting to correspond current events to Scriptural prophecies and a defeatist orientation that undermines the Christian's responsibility to his fellow man. Even worse, when their predictions fail to come to fruition, they bring the Gospel into disrepute and undermine the faith of those Christians who equate this system with Biblical truth.

Frazier's main plea throughout is that in approaching such a difficult text as the Apocalypse of St. John (often called the Book of Revelation), we should seek the wisdom of the early Church who were the closest to the Apostles' teaching. To this end, he closes with an interpretation that is in keeping with the historic beliefs of the Church. He does not claim it to be the only such interpretation - there were disagreement on details in the early Church as there are now - but it is one that makes sense in the Scriptural and historical context of the Church.

The historic Churches have until recently largely ignored dispensationalism and underestimated the confusion it would cause for their own faithful. Thankfully, authors have come forward to set the record straight. As one of the earliest of these efforts, A Second Look at the Second Coming set a high standard. It is absolutely essential reading for any Christian interested in eschatology.

Mr. Frazier has written an excellent book, most especially in debunking the pop-culture viewpoints featured in books like "The Late Great Planet Earth" and so forth. However, as an Orthodox student (though not necessarily a very learned one) of the End Times, I felt that he left one very crucial element out. On page 161 of his book, Mr. Frazier states that nobody knows exactly who the "restraining power" is. There are many Orthodox Christians, myself included, who would dispute him on this. Mr. Dennis Engleman, author of "Ultimate Things," takes the viewpoint (which I also share) that the last Russian Tsar, the newly-canonized St. Nicholas II, was the "restraining power," whose removal in 1917 was a fulfillment of the prophecy in II Thessalonians 2:7. If we admit that St. John Chrysostom and other Holy Fathers took the Roman Emperor/Empire as the "restraining power," then why should we look for any other interpretation? Certainly there were enough Orthodox saints and other luminaries over the last several centuries who saw Russia as the "Third Rome" to at least take this under consideration.

It is difficult to imagine (though it is certainly possible) that a man of Mr. Frazier's caliber would not know of this interpretation (also held by St. John Maximovitch of San Francisco and other Orthodox luminaries of our time), and yet he never even seems to address it. This, for me, made the book much less than it might have been. It is still an excellent book as far as it goes, but I wish he had at least chosen to address that crucial issue. While I would recommend Engleman's book as the best on this subject that I have read to date, I would still also recommend reading this one after reading Engleman's.