January 2024 MBR The Christian Studies Shelf

The Christian Studies Shelf

From the Beginning of the End to the End of the Beginning
William S. Hyland
Lucid Books
https://lucidbooks.com
9781632966018, $24.99, PB, 416pp

https://www.amazon.com/Beginning-End-Present-Future-Created/dp/1632966018

Synopsis: Two warnings Jesus had expressed to His disciples in Matthew 24 serve as the driving force for "From the Beginning of the End to the End of the Beginning: The Past, Present and Future of Created Life" by William S. Hyland: "See to it that no one misleads you" (v. 4) and "the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah." (v. 37)

Hyland's concern is that the Church of Jesus Christ needs to prepare now for two trending threats, a subtle one to the US Constitutional democracy and the semi-veiled one to worldwide Christianity.

Hyland's structured approach in presenting his case begins with a perceptive commentary on Genesis to highlight the perfections of life's elements God had created. His purpose is to enable the reader to discern and recognize mankind's disregard for that perfection both in ancient times as well as in contemporary life. That knowledge Mr. Hyland believes is necessary in order to prepare the reader's defenses against all forms of deceit.

The last phase of this book focuses on the Apostle John's spiritually gained futuristic insights, particularly on the harsh challenges Satan's angels will thrust on believers in-and-of Jesus as they faithfully struggle to persevere in the thick of persecution at the 'end times.'

Critique: Of immense value to readers with an interest in Christian faith and prophecy, "From the Beginning of the End to the End of the Beginning: The Past, Present and Future of Created Life" is an erudite, informative, insightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking biblically based study that is germane to our understanding of current and forthcoming events with respect to the apocalypse and the second coming of Christ. While also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99), "From the Beginning of the End to the End of the Beginning: The Past, Present and Future of Created Life" is especially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, seminary, and college/university library supplemental Christian Theology/Prophecy curriculum studies lists.

Editorial Note: William S. Hyland earned a BA from Williams College in 1962 and an M.Div from Westminster Theological Seminary in 1980. From 1962 to 1976 he worked in financial management in New York and Philadelphia. From 1976 to 1996 he served as business manager and financial counselor at the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation. In 2004 he published Fresh Bait for Fishers of Men, which focused on creative concepts for twenty-first century biblical Christianity, and in 2020 a reference book entitled Biblical Concept of Hell . Since 1977 he has been a ruling elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture
R. C. Sproul
Ligonier Ministries
www.ligonier.org
9781642894615, $18.00, HC, 167pp

https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Sayings-Understanding-Difficult-Scripture/dp/1642894613

Synopsis: God gave us His Word so that we may know Him and live by His truth. So, what should we do when we're reading the Bible and a difficult passage stops us in our tracks? Sometimes the solution is right there on the page (if we know where to look) while other passages gain clarity in light of the rest of the Bible or its historical background. With the help of an experienced guide, we can overcome the obstacles to our progress and know God's Word more deeply.

With the publication of "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture", Dr. R.C. Sproul applies his wisdom as a theologian and Bible teacher to some of the most challenging verses in Scripture. By showing us how to navigate tough texts in the Old and New Testaments, he outlines key principles to help us grow in our knowledge of God.

Critique: Erudite, eloquent, informative, insightful, inspired and inspiring, "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture" is a seminal work of theological scholarship and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community, seminary, and college/university library Christian Theology & Biblical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum studies lists. It should be noted for seminary students, academia, clergy, and non-specialist general readers within the Christian community that "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture" is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939 - 2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was also first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew's Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. His radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, colleges, and seminaries around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone's a Theologian. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible.

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