Iran:The Coming Crisis by Mark Hitchcock

            There appears to never be a shortage of books on Bible Prophecy and end time events in the United States. However, there does at times appear to be a lack of understanding of the subject by masses. Mark Hitchcock is one author who has become well known on the topic of prophecy in recent years. I had not previously read any of his works and I was given a copy of "Iran: The Coming Crisis" to read for free through the book review program for bloggers, available at http://www.bloggingforbooks.org. I was not required to write a positive review.

            First, this book was first published in 2006 and was written in the context of Iran coming into more prominence on the world scene at the time. Second, the author is a pre-tribulationist This is reflected in his views throughout the book, and he does explain the reasons for his position. A couple of things are in his favor in the book, one of which is the need that there is for people to understand Bible prophecy. Second, he is obviously very intelligent in both scripture and political events. Many of the things you may have missed in the news, he covers quite well.

            I did not, however, find this book to be simple enough for me. While I recognize the importance of explaining current events in the light of Bible prophecy, I felt that the world events were overemphasized at the expense of the scripture they support. It would have been nice to have focused primarily upon the scriptures, as a teaching tool and the events to support them, rather than the other way around. Also, since the book was originally published in 2006, it would have been nice to see this newer edition updated with information that has come out since 2006.

            Who should read this book? Anyone who loves to study Bible prophecy, or anyone who wants to understand a little better about what is going on in the nations of the world and what scripture says about it. If you are a frequent TV viewer of world news, you might benefit better than others who would otherwise be lost in the information. Jesus declared that He is coming soon. I hope that this book will make you more certain of that fact and help to prepare you for when He comes again.

The Holy Land Key by Ray Bentley

             Bible prophecy is a fascinating subject that captures the hearts and minds of many Christians and non-Christians alike. An equally captivating subject is the geopolitical events that surround the Middle East. And when the focus is on the nation of Israel, the debate that connects the two subjects can become almost as heated as the daily drama that unfolds in this area, the most volatile region of the world. In Pastor Ray Bentley's new book, The Holy Land Key, he tackles these controversial areas by offering a non-traditional perspective on the subject, by exploring the people who live in the land, both Jewish and Palestinian.
             Pastor Ray Bentley has Pastored Maranatha Chapel in San Diego, part of the Calvary Chapel movement of churches, for decades. He has also spent many years exploring both the land and the people of Israel. Throughout the pages of his book, he offers a unique perspective of the importance of Israel, by painting the portraits of the people who live there and who have developed the land. Many of the stories he tells are of those he has known personally.
            The book is interesting and will challenge your perspectives. If you have a bias for or against any of the ethnic groups found in the land of Israel, you will have a hard time accepting his analysis. If, however, you wish to learn more about what the Bible states about the nation of Israel, how the groups living there interpret these passages in their lives, and how these truths should affect you, then I believe that you will find the chapters to be enlightening.
            I received this book for free through the "Water Brook/Multnomah Publishing Group" for this review. It was a little bit overwhelming with the information in a couple of areas. But I did enjoy it, recommend it for students of Bible prophecy. I particularly found fascinating the section on the 'Blood Red Moons'. I hope that you will choose to read it and will grow in your knowledge of the scripture and the nation of Israel. You can learn more about the book at http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalog.php?work=225724