The Left Behind Author is Digging into Biblical Archaeology

Jumping back and forth in time at a breakneck pace, Dead Sea Rising is a thriller as only Jerry B. Jenkins can tell it. Biblical history combines with gripping contemporary mystery. Just be aware — you’ll be hooked.

— James Scott Bell, International Thriller Writers Award Winner

From our favorite #1 New York Times bestselling author, comes a new work of Christian fiction grounded in archaeological and historical facts. Left Behind author Jerry B. Jenkins new work is shaking up the mystery genre by digging into ancient times. Taking you all the way back to 2000 BC, Dead Sea Rising follows the story of Terah, the father of Abraham, who serves in the court of King Nimrod. The story also follows Nicole, a modern day archaeologist who is attempting to dig for Biblical artifacts in Saudi Arabia and gets caught up in a dark and dangerous plot.

Why it’s important to read Christian fiction

There are thousands of entertainment options in our digital media-drenched world, but only a small percent of those entertainment options offer a Christian worldview that can help guide readers, watchers, and listeners, towards the truth. Most books and movies today, even those that are supposedly “family friendly”, contain messages that promote immorality, self-indulgence, atheism, violence, and contempt for the Christian faith. That is why it’s more important than ever to engage in entertainment that helps Christians to pursue their relationship with God and lead non-believers to the truth. While books like Dead Sea Rising may be Christian fiction, they can still serve as a great resource for helping to reach out to non-believer, or those who have walked away from the Faith.

What’s next for Jerry Jenkins?

Dead Sea Rising is the first book in Jerry’s new Dead Sea Series. As added inspiration for the books, Jerry will be traveling to Israel and the Mediterranean in September of 2019 with the series’ consultant, Dr. Craig Evans. Dr. Evans is a world-renowned, New Testament scholar who has been featured on documentaries focusing on the life of Jesus and the work of the Early Church. Together, Jerry and Dr. Evans will bringing unique insight and leadership to this incredible Christian cruise that will take travelers to Rome, Malta, Crete, Jerusalem, Qumran, Bethlehem, Galilee, and more!

 

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source https://livingpassages.com/2019/01/left-behind-author-archaeology/

Joel Richardson on Why Israel Matters

What is the Book of Revelation really about? A lot of Christians have wrestled with the End-Times prophecy over the years, but Joel Richardson sees it this way: the specifics of the End-Times are just steps leading up to the most significant event – the return of Jesus.

Jesus should always be the focus of our Biblical study. But it is still important to understand the role of Israel in the End-Times? Does Israel (as a nation) still have a role in the future fulfillment of Scripture?

“There is a restoration of the kingdom of Israel that is coming.” Joel said, addressing the congregation of Grace Church St. Louis.

During his address, Joel focused particularly on the covenant God made with Israel through the Old Testament Patriarchs, going all the way back to Genesis 15:

And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.

And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. – Genesis 15:5-7

God made a direct promise to the father of the Jewish nation, that the Jewish people would grow beyond number. God also told Abraham that the reason Abraham had been brought out of Ur was so that he could take possession of the land of Israel.

In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates… – Genesis 15:18

Not only did God give the land to Abraham, but to ALL of Abraham’s descendants, the land of Israel was their birthright forever.

“The Lord is not just the God of Israel” Joel continued. “It has always been for everybody, however, his original plan: to begin with this piece of land …has never changed.”

In conclusion, we see, as Joel points out, that Israel was the means by which God reached out to all the other nations and kingdoms of the earth. It was by Abraham’s bloodline that the Messiah came to be born. Israel mattered, will always matter, because it was through Israel that salvation was offered to the world by our Lord Jesus.

Israel will always be the promised land, that is one of the reasons why we hope you get a chance to see it for yourself! In April of 2019, Joel is traveling to Israel and he invites you to join him on a journey that will take in the best of the Biblical sites.

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source https://livingpassages.com/2019/01/joel-richardson-israel-tour/