A textually meticulous account of the end of days that should appeal to devoted Christians.
An instructional manual targets those preparing for the rapture and the second coming of Christ.
According to Agbor (What You Need to Know About Marriage, 2013), the rapture and the second coming of Christ are some of the least understood parts of the Bible, but both are of central significance. In fact, they are often confused with each other, although they are theologically and historically distinct. The rapture—described in the New Testament—actually occurs in five stages, the first of which was Jesus’ Resurrection. The remaining four stages provide an escape from the suffering of the Great Tribulation—the Antichrist’s seven-year reign—for all true believers, including those alive and dead, as well as saints and some Jews. During the rapture, Jesus appears as a man in the clouds but never sets foot on Earth. The second coming, in contrast, is detailed in both the New and Old Testaments: Jesus physically returns to Earth to deliver judgment to unrepentant sinners. The second coming ends the Great Tribulation and establishes Christ’s reign for 1,000 years. While the rapture will be invisible to the faithless, the second coming will be seen by believers and nonbelievers alike. Agbor also offers a historical analysis of the edicts God transmitted through Jesus to the seven churches in Asia Minor, as chronicled in the book of Revelation, and unearths their relevance to present-day Christians. He devotes seven chapters to a discussion of the seven basic deceptions employed by Jesus’ enemies against believers, which culminate in useful advice for the “aspiring Christian” who wants to plan for the end of days. The book is mostly addressed to Christians, and while there is no shortage of references to the Bible, this is a decidedly unscholarly work, written to be easily accessible. Agbor presents his argument with great care, and many of his observations are unconventional: for example, the rapture will not be preceded by a series of signs but will be abrupt and unexpected. Some readers will likely struggle with the author’s confidence and sense of urgency—he is convinced that the rapture is imminent and that Jesus personally commanded Agbor’s own commitment to full-time ministry.
A textually meticulous account of the end of days that should appeal to devoted Christians.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: March 29, 2017
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.
Greed, depravity, and serial murder in 1920s Oklahoma.
During that time, enrolled members of the Osage Indian nation were among the wealthiest people per capita in the world. The rich oil fields beneath their reservation brought millions of dollars into the tribe annually, distributed to tribal members holding "headrights" that could not be bought or sold but only inherited. This vast wealth attracted the attention of unscrupulous whites who found ways to divert it to themselves by marrying Osage women or by having Osage declared legally incompetent so the whites could fleece them through the administration of their estates. For some, however, these deceptive tactics were not enough, and a plague of violent death—by shooting, poison, orchestrated automobile accident, and bombing—began to decimate the Osage in what they came to call the "Reign of Terror." Corrupt and incompetent law enforcement and judicial systems ensured that the perpetrators were never found or punished until the young J. Edgar Hoover saw cracking these cases as a means of burnishing the reputation of the newly professionalized FBI. Bestselling New Yorkerstaff writer Grann (The Devil and Sherlock Holmes: Tales of Murder, Madness, and Obsession, 2010, etc.) follows Special Agent Tom White and his assistants as they track the killers of one extended Osage family through a closed local culture of greed, bigotry, and lies in pursuit of protection for the survivors and justice for the dead. But he doesn't stop there; relying almost entirely on primary and unpublished sources, the author goes on to expose a web of conspiracy and corruption that extended far wider than even the FBI ever suspected. This page-turner surges forward with the pacing of a true-crime thriller, elevated by Grann's crisp and evocative prose and enhanced by dozens of period photographs.
Dogged original research and superb narrative skills come together in this gripping account of pitiless evil.Pub Date: April 18, 2017
ISBN: 978-0-385-53424-6
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: Feb. 1, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 15, 2017
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
BOOK TO SCREEN
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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