The Signs of the Times by Greg Laurie

Laurie admits that every generation in recent history has thought theirs would be the final one. Nonetheless, he thinks the current signs indicate we “may be” very close to the Lord's return. (10) He identifies the typical signs of wars, natural calamities, false teaching in the church, establishment of the nation of Israel, etc. He advocates a timeline of rapture, attack on Israel, emergence of Antichrist, tribulation, Armageddon, etc. He takes us through John's visions in Revelation giving his suggestions as to the participants and the events.

As with any book on prophecy, I am picky about how Scripture is used. One of the verses Laurie says indicates Christians will be removed in the rapture before the tribulation is 1 Thess. 5:9. (47) Laurie takes the wrath we won't suffer as being in the tribulation. The next verse, however, clearly indicates that Paul was writing about the wrath of God's judgment on sin that Jesus suffered for believers through His death. I think this is an example of believing an idea and then finding verses to support it.

Christians who are well read on prophecy will not find much new on the topic in this book. The strength of this book, I think, is Laurie's teaching that Christ's eminent return should cause us to want to live a more godly life, one with integrity and purity. (27, 39) To help Christians in this endeavor, Laurie gives good teaching on hot topics including good answers to those who oppose Christian beliefs. He writes about angels and demons, heaven and hell, and judgment, for example.

I recommend this book to Christians who are not looking for new ideas in prophecy as much as desiring to be encouraged to live God pleasing lives as we look for the Lord's return. This is an updated edition of the book released in 2010.

My rating:4/5 stars.

Greg Laurie is the senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside, California. He speaks on the ministry's radio program, A New Beginning, and hosts the television program, Harvest: Greg Laurie. He is the author of more than seventy books. He and his wife live in California.

Charisma House, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.