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 s=
erve 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 fo=
r 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 perceptiv=
e 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 orde=
r to prepare the reader's defenses against all forms of deceit.

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

Critique: Of immense value to readers with an interest in Christian faith a=
nd prophecy, "From the Beginning of the End to the End of the Beginning: Th=
e Past, Present and Future of Created Life" is an erudite, informative, ins=
ightful, thoughtful and thought-provoking biblically based study that is ge=
rmane to our understanding of current and forthcoming events with respect t=
o 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 esp=
ecially and unreservedly recommended for personal, professional, community,=
 seminary, and college/university library supplemental Christian Theology/P=
rophecy 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 1=
976 he worked in financial management in New York and Philadelphia. From 19=
76 to 1996 he served as business manager and financial counselor at the Chr=
istian Counseling & Educational Foundation. In 2004 he published Fresh Bait=
 for Fishers of Men, which focused on creative concepts for twenty-first ce=
ntury biblical Christianity, and in 2020 a reference book entitled Biblical=
 Concept of Hell . Since 1977 he has been a ruling elder in the Presbyteria=
n 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/16=
42894613

Synopsis: God gave us His Word so that we may know Him and live by His trut=
h. So, what should we do when we're reading the Bible and a difficult passa=
ge stops us in our tracks? Sometimes the solution is right there on the pag=
e (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 exp=
erienced 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 te=
acher to some of the most challenging verses in Scripture. By showing us ho=
w to navigate tough texts in the Old and New Testaments, he outlines key pr=
inciples to help us grow in our knowledge of God.

Critique: Erudite, eloquent, informative, insightful, inspired and inspirin=
g, "Hard Sayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture" is a semin=
al work of theological scholarship and unreservedly recommended for persona=
l, professional, community, seminary, and college/university library Christ=
ian Theology & Biblical Studies collections and supplemental curriculum stu=
dies lists. It should be noted for seminary students, academia, clergy, and=
 non-specialist general readers within the Christian community that "Hard S=
ayings: Understanding Difficult Passages of Scripture" is also readily avai=
lable in a digital book format (Kindle, $8.99).

Editorial Note: Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939 - 2017) was founder of Ligonier Minis=
tries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Or=
lando, Fla. He was also first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint A=
ndrew's Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible Colle=
ge, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. His radio program, Renewing=
 Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around t=
he world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul contributed dozens of art=
icles 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 Theo=
logian. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible.

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