It is a testament to John Piper....the men....and women....that his ministry has gathered around it. R. C. Sproul's ministry....ligonier.org....had and has strong doctrinal defenders of the faith as a part of it....and also John MacArthur....but the ministers who surround John Piper....in their writings which is all that I know of them....have a profound unction about them that sets them apart! Today's offering on the website....desiringgod.org....is just one of the many and almost daily examples. Please listen to this most needed thought on....Why We Long For Revival....which is the title of the eleven minute message by a man....Jon Bloom.
I wanted to lead off this post on Bible prophecy with the above because the message that I have is the same as the message by Jon Bloom.....it is not prophecy per se that we want to see....but Jesus....the fulfillment of all biblical prophecy!
I suspect that Christians....from greyheads to new believers....to pastors....will be paying more attention to prophecy in the Bible....this in the near future if it is not already happening. The daunting question for many will be...'where do I start.' I'll give some advice here to those who may be interested. Begin with the three extended passages of what is known as....'the Olivet Discourse'....in Matthew 24 and Mark 13 and Luke 21. This is important because the disciples directly asked Jesus when the end of all things will be....and this was His answer!
As far as Revelation is concerned....the first six chapters would be enough for now....with particular attention paid to the 'seven letters to the seven churches'......and the 'four horsemen' of chapter six.
You probably already highlight in your Bible....well get another color....and as you read anywhere in God's Word....and you come across a verse or passage that obviously refers to the last days....highlight it in that color. As time goes on you will come to see just how often the Bible speaks of the end of the end time....and therefore how important it is....and you will be surprised at how often Paul and Peter and John wrote on these things.
There are five longer books of the prophets in the Old Testament....referred to as the major prophets only because of the length of these books. One would naturally want to go to Daniel first but I recommend Jeremiah. My wife and I and extended family have reservations for a showing of Sight & Sound's....(Lancaster, PA)....most recent musical/play offering....Daniel. Last year it was....Moses. Daniel has the lion's den and the fiery furnace and the giant statue....and the book indeed is essential understanding in the last day....but it is Jeremiah that is meant to prepare us for these last days....because by understanding Israel and Judah before and during Nebuchadnezzar's taking away of Daniel....and subsequent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple....in understanding this....we should clearly see ourselves today!
All of the other prophecy books of the Old Testament should be read....incorporated here and there with everything else....for they also speak not only to Israel and Judah.....but to America....and the church.....and the world!
Prophecy or not....we should always be in the Psalms....for there we learn how truly to worship.....but the Psalms have last days prophecy all through them.
This post is for those folks who do not think that they already know it all. There is an advantage to some who come to Christ late in life....or are new to their faith in Christ....in that they may not be hardened after years or decades of lukewarm weekly Bible study hours....(the summers excluded for family vacations)....user friendly churches....and powerless sermons. This is not a weekly study that I propose here!
I generally do not just recommend.....prophecy books....that are available everywhere.....but there is a commentary on Jeremiah that I found particularly helpful in that it did not claim to know all the answers....but was....I thought anyway....very profound on the implications of Jeremiah's words and warnings. It's an old book that I came across by chance....(except there is no....chance)....but can still be ordered on Amazon for $12.99....Jeremiah/Lamentations....The Preacher's Commentary....by John Guest....but even here....do not be bogged down in one book for a couple of weeks....but live in God's Word....and reading books only as interludes!
Note: For those so intensely desiring to understand God's prophetic word to us today....that they do not even want to wait for an Amazon delivery....(that's the way I am)....and who live in Western Pennsylvania....there is a Christian bookstore that had a number of these books on the shelf? La Tienda Christian Book Store....Ambridge. I suggest though that you call first.
