David Jeremiah (1) (1941–)

Well-known Christian pastor and author Dr. David Jeremiah offers insights into the Rapture. He explains the differences in the Rapture and the Second Coming of Christ and the confusion offered by different approaches to end times prophecies. He explains the need to be ready at any moment because we already see many of the signs of the second coming--and the Rapture comes before this. Dr. Jeremiah uses a story in each of the 31 chapters to help convey the message of the chapter. These work well. He discusses the timeline for the Rapture, Tribulation, Second Coming, etc. while acknowledging that we need to be ready because no one knows the hour.… (mer)

First sentence: Our world is in bad shape, and sometimes we feel that way too, don't we? In our better moments we know we're encompassed by God's blessing, yet we seem to struggle mightily with anxiety, fear, resentment, and discouragement. The chaos of the world seeps into our hearts. Fear can erode faith if we let it.

I appreciated how David Jeremiah spins the 'end of the world' to 'the world of the end.' This isn't a book necessarily about the WHEN of "the end of the world," nor does it try to focus on specifics--piecing together news headlines and scriptures taken out of context. This is about the 'birth pangs,' or the time before the 'end of the world.' This time could span--has spanned--decades, centuries, etc. No one knows the exact day and time of his coming, or the proper start to the end of the world, the tribulation. But we can study Jesus' words to his disciples about the end times. We can study Revelation and other passages of Scripture. We can piece together principles on how those teachings should shape priorities. How we live day by day should reflect our study of these end time prophecies. Not so we can debate. Not so we can argue. Not so we can prep--literally. Not so we can live in fear OR live recklessly.

His chapter titles are themed and thought-provoking:

In a World of Deception, BE HONEST
In a World of War, BE CALM
In a World of Disasters, BE CONFIDENT
In a World of Persecution, BE PREPARED
In a World of Betrayal, BE FAITHFUL
In a World of Lawlessness, BE KIND
In a World of Bad News, BE THE GOOD NEWS
In the World of the End, BE DETERMINED

I enjoyed reading this one more than I thought I would. It was good.

Quotes:

I can't get excited about any book that inspires concern about future events but ignores what God wants us to do today. My study of prophecy convinces me that God intends knowledge of future events to help us occupy our world with a sense of urgency until the Lord returns. (20)

The Bible: need it, read it, heed it, and speed it on its way to others. (43)… (mer)