Great Prophecy Books
These are the new books I’ve been using for the recent Daniel series at CT. They are immanently useful, so here they are in the order of my recommended reading…
Global Economy
The Coming Economic Armageddon: What Bible Prophecy Warns about the New Global Economy, by David Jeremiah. I quote extensively from this book in my recent blogs because Dr. Jeremiah compiled an exhaustive list of research in this well-written, fascinating book. It describes the recent, rapid globalization of our economy. Jeremiah is a sane Christian teacher, not an alarmist or conspiracy theorist. “Economic Armageddon” sounds alarmist, perhaps, but the same terminology is used by the President, economists, and congress as they fight over staggering budget deficits. Did you know this year’s budget deficit will top $1.6 trillion? Do you realize how unprecedented it is?
Jeremiah’s theme is the global consolidation of financial markets, banks and the interdependence of national economies among the G-20. Since the economic collapse in ‘08, these trends are moving too quickly for most of us to keep pace with, but Jeremiah captures a glimpse of the ferocious global activity among G-20 members to avoid another catastrophic landslide.
Every chapter is accompanied with sound, biblical application for the individual Christian, so it isn’t a dry book on the new macroeconomics. He sticks close to the Bible. His section about Joseph’s life in Egypt is quite handsome. Why he charges so much for his books is beyond me (unless money is a goal, I guess).
Available in Nook, Kindle, and paperback format for about $10. Highly recommended!
Fulfilled Prophecy in the Modern Era
What in the World is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore, by David Jeremiah. Written months before the economic disaster of 2008, Jeremiah covers the basic fulfilled biblical prophecies, minus the economic globalization (necessitating Economic Armageddon as an addendum to this book in 2010). Again, his research is tremendous, as well as his biblical exegesis and practical application for the Christian. I liberally plagiarized his material covering Israel’s gathering and the monstrous importance of Mideast oil today, both of which explain why the Bible says nations will gather for war in such a dessert wasteland. (His speculation about the Garden of Eden as the source of Arab oil fields is a stretch, however.)
He offers educated guesses about America’s role (or lack thereof) in Bible prophecy which are at least interesting and biblical, however speculative. His explanation of Islam’s role in geopolitics is educational, but probably over-exaggerated. (Islam is really dominating Europe?) The recent Russia-Iran connection which he documents is fascinating for its novel appearance in history, and clearly predicted in Ezekiel 38. His description of Armageddon is essentially right-on because he sticks close to Daniel 11.
Overall, it’s a good book with good research, and definitely worth reading.
Available for Kindle for about $10, and in paperback for about $4.99 at B&N Marketplace. (Not available for the Nook.) Very recommended.
Signs of the Times: What the Bible sayas about The Rapture, Antichrist, Armagedon, Heaven and Hell, by Greg Laurie (2010).
This is a solid overview of basic End Times prophecy, probably geared more for evangelistic purposes, whereas Jeremiah’s book is geared for in-depth study.
Laurie is, of course, a famous evangelist with tremendous fruit, so it’s a solid book, biblically. Recommended for younger or student audiences.
This is apparently only available for Kindle for about $10, and one of the reasons I eventually invested in a Kindle.
Book of Daniel
The Handwriting on the Wall, by David Jeremiah (2008). Decent exegesis, with only minor errors (in my opinion). Available in paperback or the Kindle for about $10 (not the Nook).
Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation, by John F. Walvoord (1989). This is the definitive book on Daniel exegesis, because nobody else has come close to the scholarship or depth of this book. Walvoord was clearly motivated to present solid scholarship for the Dispensational camp (thank God!). Not recommended for light reading, but great for teachers and in-depth study of Daniel. If you bother to study this, you should also study Walvoord’s companion volume, The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Interestingly, both books are available on the Kindle, not the Nook. What’s up with that?
General Eschatology
The Prophecy Answer Book, by David Jeremiah (2010). This is a little pocketbook “reference” for all the various elements coming together in the modern era, and would make a great book for smaller study group discussion. Available in Nook, Kindle (costs less than the Nook), hardback and paperback editions for about $5, and even as an audiobook (about $11).
Are These the Last Days? by Greg Laurie (2005). Highly readable, interesting, with sound, biblical exegesis. Laurie explains the more controversial issues like the Rapture, “Absent America”, and really the book is highly focused on the Second Coming of Christ and afterwards (final judgment, heaven, etc.), like the true evangelist he is.
The book is written primarily for younger Christians, but it’s absolutely fascinating for an old grouch like me. Laurie’s love for Jesus shines in this book. Available in Kindle (for $6), but not the Nook, and paperback (for about $2 from Amazon right now).
It may be obvious by now that I spent considerable time reading Dr. Jeremiah’s writings. Why? Because they are highly relevant and well-researched, but also I am curious about Jeremiah’s take on it. He’s a pretty solid Dispensational exegete.
3 thoughts on “Great Prophecy Books”
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I’m currently reading “Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World” by David Jeremiah, and it’s an excellent read. It picks up where “What in the World is Going On?” left off, right after the economic meltdown. It’s a message of hope in dark times. Very inspiring.
[Keith, I found this on the net! Vera]
DAVID JEREMIAH – PLAGIARIST
by Louise Norman
Quite some time ago I came across an article titled “Pretrib Rapture Dishonesty” by Dave MacPherson on the Powered by Christ Ministries site. Halfway down was a photo of Pastor David Jeremiah next to a statement claiming that his book “Escape the Coming Night,” published in 1990, “massively plagiarized” Hal Lindsey’s 1973 book “There’s A New World Coming.” Readers were also told to type in “Thieves’ Marketing” on MSN and Google.
I decided to examine those two books and eventually discovered incredible amounts of plagiarism in Jeremiah’s book on at least 45 pages (MacPherson said he found it on 47 pages), most of it discovered in the last half. For example, there are 165 lines of text on pp. 202-206 in Jeremiah’s “Escape,” and more than half of these lines – 84 lines! – were clearly lifted from Lindsey’s “New World” without giving Lindsey any credit.
Speaking of plagiarism, let’s compare the books in question:
Lindsey (p. 256): “The…skill of the great Designer” has “gone into the making of these gowns. They are to be made of fine linen” which “symbolizes the righteous deeds done by the saints while they lived on earth.”
Jeremiah (p. 203): “The wedding gown will be made by the master Designer, and it symbolizes the righteous deeds done by the bride on earth….” “The…wedding gown” is made of “fine linen….”
Lindsey (p. 255): “…I believe that the friends of the Groom who will attend…include both the Old Testament saints and the Tribulation saints….”
Jeremiah (p. 204): “I believe Israel…will be present, along with the saints who survive the Tribulation and the resurrected Old Testament saints….”
Lindsey (pp. 259, 260): “Think of how many Old Testament prophets and how many millions of saints have longed to see the moment when Jesus would return to earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords and establish His kingdom of justice, equity, and peace….”
“It always amazed me that so many professing Christians and ministers doubt that Jesus Christ will literally, visibly, and personally come back to this earth.”
“The Prophet Zechariah predicted five hundred years before Christ was born that His foot would first touch the earth at the Mount of Olives….”
Jeremiah (pp. 205, 206): “From Old Testament prophets to present-day believers, millions of saints have longed for the moment they could see Jesus return as King of Kings and Lord of Lords to establish His kingdom of peace and justice….”
“It is amazing to me that many teachers and pastors…doubt that Christ will return in person.”
“…the prophet Zechariah predicted (500 years before Christ was born) that His feet would stand on the Mount of Olives….”
You have just seen a tiny fraction of the plagiarism in David Jeremiah’s “Escape the Coming Night.” Note that plagiarists often add, subtract, or change words (including the order of words in a sentence) in order to conceal their thievery.
Incredibly, Jeremiah’s “Notes” section in the back of his book lists many popular prophecy books of our time that are still being published, but for some strange (or not so strange) reason he doesn’t list any of Hal Lindsey’s books including the one I just featured!
I wonder how many other commentaries on the book of Revelation have lines that should be stamped “STOLEN”!
Well, maybe you’re right Louise, but I’ve seen him attribute Lindsay before–I think in Economic Armageddon he did. But if he is lifting Lindsay’s material (and it’s not entirely clear that he is), I suppose Lindsay should take it up with him, wouldn’t you agree? Besides, in a way we’re all “plagiarizing” from the Bible anyway!