Book Reviews
Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary
The Essential Arthur W. Pink Collection
The Great Christian Revolution
The Light and the Glory
The Timetables of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events
Noah Webster's
1828 Dictionary
Besides
our Bible, the most important and most often used book in our home library is
our Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary.
We use it during school and for Bible studies, discussions, writing, and family
reading-pretty much all the time. We strongly encourage you to purchase one for
your own family and use it often. It is truly vital to imparting true wisdom.
To order yours, contact 800-352-3223 or www.face.net.
Here
is how marriage is defined in a modern dictionary (1980): "The mutual relation
of husband and wife: the institution whereby men and women are joined in a
special kind of social and legal dependence for the purpose of founding and
maintaining a family."
Here is how marriage is
defined in the Webster's Dictionary (1828): "The act of uniting a man and a woman for life;
wedlock; the legal union of a man and a woman for life. Marriage is a contract
both civil and religious by which the parties engage to live together in mutual
affection and fidelity, till death shall separate them. Marriage was instituted
by God Himself for the purpose of preventing the promiscuous intercourse of
sexes, for promoting domestic felicity, and for securing the maintenance and
education of children. 'Marriage is honorable in all and the bed undefiled'
(Hebrews 13)."
The Essential
Arthur W. Pink Collection
The Essential Arthur
W. Pink Collection, which includes The
Attributes of God, The
Sovereignty of God, The
Beatitudes and The Lord's Prayer, is a must for every Christian's bookshelf. Not only
have we purchased one for each of our children, but our church has also
purchased one for each family, which we use during our corporate Bible study
time. Apart from the Bible, this book has been one of the most enlightening,
edifying, and humbling books that we have ever read. Why? Because it is mostly
scripture, but organized in such a way as to bring God's Being into a glorious
light. It not only gives a deeper insight and understanding into the awesome
Maker of us all, but also expresses through scripture His sovereignty over
everything, bringing a peace upon its readers that surpasses all understanding.
Arthur
Pink's Preface says, "'Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby
good shall come unto thee' (Job 22:21). 'Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise
man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not
the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that
he understandeth and knoweth Me, that I am the Lord' (Jer. 9:23,24). A
spiritual and saving knowledge of God is the greatest need of every human
creature.
"The foundation of all
true knowledge of God must be a clear mental apprehension of His perfections as
revealed in Holy Scripture. An unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor
worshipped. In this book an effort has been made to set forth some of the
principal perfections of the Divine character. If the reader is to truly profit
from his perusal of the pages that follow, he needs to definitely and earnestly
beseech God to bless them to him, to apply His Truth to the conscience and
heart, so that his life will be transformed thereby.
The Great
Christian Revolution
The Great Christian
Revolution by Otto Scott is absolutely one
of the most fascinating, informative, and important books we have ever read,
which no study of American history should be without. To understand American
history, one must thoroughly understand the Reformation, and before one studies
the Reformation, one must understand the pagan cultures of Greece and Rome and
why we needed a Reformation.
Never
have I highlighted so much in one book. Never have I sat for hours on end late
at night and read ahead to find out more. Never have I learned so much about
the history that inevitably forged this nation and understood so clearly why
our forefathers took such great pains to set forth such a strong foundation of
government through the Bill of Rights and our Constitution. And never have I
felt so responsible for fighting to maintain the freedoms we enjoy, all because
so many generations of godly men suffered at the hands of tyrants and fought so
bravely for the freedom we now enjoy.
As Otto Scott says it
so well, "If Christianity had not appeared, Rome would have continued its fall
and been succeeded by the warlike tribes of pagan Europe. The culture of the
ancients, with their wars, human sacrifices, injustices and barbarities, would
have continued repetitively until today, like the incoherent histories of Asia
and Africa.
"It was Christianity
alone that brought intellectual and spiritual hope, an end to human sacrifices,
and the recognition of individual rights to the world. No other religion ever
created a church that limited governments. That limitation enabled the free
Christians of Europe to clear the land of great forests, to tame the wild
beasts and wild tribes, to develop better methods of agriculture and
manufacture, to build cities, to create cultures that were diverse but united
in a single faith, to erect the largest, richest, and most polyglot
civilization the world has ever known.
"This book tells you
the significance of Christianity to our civilization. It also tells you, if you
have eyes to see, that no civilization has ever risen without a faith and that
none has ever outlasted the loss of its faith. It reminds you of the
sacrifices, setbacks, and triumphs of Christians through roughly 1,600 years.
It points-like a tutor in print-toward your own evaluation of what you have
inherited (no matter who you are), what it means to keep this civilization-and
what it could mean to lose it.
"No matter what the
unfortunate students in our anti-Christian schools are told, this is a Christian civilization. Its marvels, spread
throughout the world, could not have been conceived, let alone created by any
other civilization. Christianity, in other words, revolutionized the world.
"Human
sacrifice was a religious rite practiced in every country, by every religion
until Christianity appeared. Until then, humanity sought to assuage universal
feelings of guilt through the sacrifice of innocent children, women, and men.
After Jesus-the Final sacrifice-appeared, individual rights (and
responsibilities) were held to be God's gifts.
"That
astonishing beginning marks the start of the Great Christian Revolution. Never
has so broad a sweep of Christian history been so swiftly or dramatically told.
"We learn about the
500-year long struggle to convert the savage tribes of Europe and the rise of
the most variegated, wealthy, powerful, and intellectual civilization in the
history of the world.
"The
issues that enabled the rise of Christendom are described in terms of people
and behavior-not abstractions. The Renaissance, with its pagan undertones,
material advances and spiritual decline, appears as it did when it was alive.
The vicissitudes of the Reformation-especially in England and Scotland-are
clarified.
"We learn why the Scots
called their King James VI (later James I of England) 'Shamie Jamie,' and why,
for religious reasons, his son King Charles I was the first European monarch to
be tried, sentenced and executed by his own people.
"We learn why thousands
of British subjects fled the Restoration to these shores, why traditional
defense of the monarchy led England to call the villainous King Charles II a
'merry monarch'-and where the men of Philadelphia learned the ideas that shaped
our original Constitution.
"Those puzzled at the
clutter of the faith today will find a refreshing clarity in The Great
Christian Revolution."
The Light and
the Glory
The Light and the Glory
by Peter Marshall and David Manuel is an
absolute must for every family's library because it imparts the truth about
America's Christian heritage. It is one of those books that you will not want
to put down and one whose words will continue to fill your family with awe for
Almighty God's continual working upon earth for His holy purpose. In turn, it
will become a constant source of assurance of God's sovereignty as you witness
the miraculous direction of events in bringing His people to America and
directing them to produce the most Christian nation ever known to man.
The authors of this
book painstakingly combed countless numbers of original ledgers, diaries, documents,
and other original sources to obtain the truth about our Christian heritage and
then compiled these facts into a book that tells His Story, displaying the
works of His Hand.
In this book you will
witness the covenant relationship that our founders entered into with their
heavenly Father and with other members of the Body and the blessings they
incurred. "This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall
meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all
that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you
will have success" (Josh. 1:8).
It was this covenantal
living that formed the solid backbone of this nation's Christian foundation.
For the Pilgrims and the Puritans who followed truly yielded their entire lives
to Christ, whom they considered not only to be their Savior but their Lord and
Master, committing themselves to the obedience of God's law. Hungering for
God's Word, they continually searched the scriptures for guidance for their
daily walk and civil affairs. They also continually searched their hearts for
unrepented sins, which they followed with fasting and prayer.
But
even as diligent as they were to abide in God's will, as happens in every
generational shift, the prosperity that God brought upon their parents'
obedience became the idols of their children, which hardened their hearts
towards the Providential Hand that supplied their abundance. They, then,
"ceased to correct and admonish one another and their children, choosing
instead, greed, privacy, independence, and idolatry." Self-reliant and
self-confident, they turned their backs upon God and, in turn, God chastened
His people by unleashing His wrath upon them until the people once again
humbled themselves and returned to covenantal living. This, then, brought God's
mercy, protection, and prosperity once again.
A cyclical pattern from
liberty to bondage becomes quite apparent when one studies both His Word and
His Story. For throughout time, God's people have gone into exile for their
failure to seek God's truth and live according to His Word. Beginning with
God's outpouring of mercy and blessings, manifested in prosperity and
protection, God's people respond in humility, gratitude, and faithfulness, but
in time, arrogance, independence, and unfaithfulness. This subsequently brings
about God's chastening of famine and bondage, which eventually brought the
people back to God in humility and repentance, starting the cycle once again.
"They captured
fortified cities and a fertile land. They took possession of houses full of
every good thing, hewn cisterns, vineyards, olive groves, fruit trees in
abundance. So they ate, were filled, and grew fat, and reveled in Your great
goodness. But they became disobedient and rebelled against You, and cast Your
law behind their backs and killed Your prophets who had admonished them so that
they might return to You, and they committed great blasphemies. Therefore You
delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them, but when
they cried to You in the time of their distress, You heard from heaven, and
according to Your great compassion You gave them deliverers who delivered them
from the hand of their oppressors. But as soon as they had rest, they did evil
again before You; therefore You abandoned them to the hand of their enemies, so
that they ruled over them. When they cried again to You, You heard from heaven,
and many times You rescued them according to Your compassion, and admonished
them in order to turn them back to Your law. Yet they acted arrogantly and did
not listen to Your commandments but sinned against Your ordinances, by which if
a man observes them he shall live. And they turned a stubborn shoulder and
stiffened their neck, and would not listen" (Neh. 9:25-29).
"... they hated
knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the Lord. They would not accept my
counsel, they spurned all my reproof. So they shall eat of the fruit of their
own way, and be satiated with their own devices. For the waywardness of the
naive will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. But he
who listens to me shall live securely, and will be at ease from the dread of
evil" (Prov. 1:29-33).
Therefore, after God's
chastening, He would turn His children back to covenant with Him once again as
at the time of Nehemiah. "Now the rest of the people, the priests, the Levites,
the gatekeepers, the singers, the temple servants, and all those who had
separated themselves from the peoples of the lands to the law of God, their
wives, their sons and their daughters, all those who had knowledge and
understanding, are joining with their kinsmen, their nobles, and are taking on
themselves a curse and an oath to walk in God's law, which was given through
Moses, God's servant, and to keep and to observe all the commandments of God
our Lord, and His ordinances and His statutes" (Neh. 10:28,29).
How often have you
heard pastors in America deny God's chastening, yet everyone who reads God's
Word and studies history knows that God controls all events and continually
chastens His people for their rebellion. So where are we today? "Listen to the
word of the Lord, O sons of Israel, for the Lord has a case against the
inhabitants of the land, because there is no faithfulness or kindness or knowledge
of God in the land. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing and
adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. Therefore
the land mourns, and everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts
of the field and the birds of the sky, and also the fish of the sea disappear.
Yet let no one find fault, and let none offer reproof; for your people are like
those who contend with the priest. So you will stumble by day, and the prophet
also will stumble with you by night; and I will destroy your mother. My people
are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I
also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of
your God, I also will forget your children" (Hos. 4:1-6).
Not only are most
people in this land biblically illiterate, but also few know at what price our
fathers obtained our freedom and, sadly, through neglecting our Christian
heritage, we have laid the foundation for tyranny and God's wrath once again.
But homeschooling offers us a window of hope, for God has given us the perfect
opportunity to teach ourselves and our children the truth about God's
providential working through the lives and events that have occurred prior to
our existence and, with that understanding, to directly relate the events of
today to His Hand. God says in Proverbs 10:14: "Wise men store up knowledge ..."
He goes on to say in Proverbs 15:14 that "the mind of the intelligent seeks
knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds upon folly."
Sadly, though, even
some Christian curriculum companies use secular materials for teaching history.
Scripture, however, tells us that only Christians can discern truth and obtain
knowledge. Therefore, do not waste your time feeding yourselves and your
children folly, but use materials that are written by Christians, especially
when it comes to His Story.
"Therefore My people go
into exile for their lack of knowledge; and their honorable men are famished,
and their multitude is parched with thirst" (Is. 5:13). "The fear of the Lord
is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction" (Prov.
1:7). "The lips of the wise spread knowledge ..." (Prov. 15:7).
Let
us heed the following truth of Jeremiah 3:12-15: "Go and proclaim these words
toward the north and say, 'Return, faithless Israel,' declares the Lord; 'I
will not look upon you in anger. For I am gracious,' declares the Lord; 'I will
not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have
transgressed against the Lord your God and have scattered your favors to the
strangers under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice,' declares
the Lord. 'Return, O faithless sons,' declares the Lord; 'For I am a master to
you, and I will take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will
bring you to Zion.' Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will
feed you on knowledge and understanding."
We need to follow
shepherds after God's own heart who feed us knowledge and understanding. This
certainly pertains to Peter Marshall and David Manuel, who lead us into the
sweet valleys of understanding how our Good Shepherd led His people to the rich
pastures of this land.
Within these pages the
authors give us personal glimpses into the lives of other extraordinary
shepherds like Bradford, Winthrop, Cotton, Hooker, Mather, Edwards, Whitefield,
Washington ... whom God used to lead His people. And it is these men's
self-sacrificial and obedient testimonies, along with the rest of the Body's
response to trials and tribulations, that make evident God's divine presence in
their lives.
As you witness these
godly lives of those who have gone before you, you will experience an
introspective search of this divine walk within yourself, within your Body, and
within your civil government. For this great cloud of witnesses will not only
encourage you to examine yourselves, but will also encourage you to press on in
carrying out the work that they began.
"Therefore, since we
have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every
encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with
endurance the race that is set before us ... But you have come to Mount Zion and
to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of
angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in
heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made
perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled
blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Heb. 12:1,22-24).
The Light and the Glory's accurate accounts of the people and events that
shaped our Christian heritage fully displays the true meaning of One Nation
Under God, which brought liberty for all. But as we know, with liberty comes
responsibility, for without knowledge of God's Word and His working and without
obedience, His people return to bondage. Let us, then, take up the banner and
teach our children the precious testimony of God's sovereignty and of those who
toiled for our freedom so that they can fully understand and appreciate God's
providential working. And through following the examples that God has laid out
before us, let us press on to secure the freedoms that we let slip through our
hands for lack of knowledge. May God forgive us for neglecting so great a
heritage by letting it fall into ruins, and may He give us the strength to
rebuild those ancient walls upon the holy foundation He laid some 500 years
ago.
"And those from among
you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age-old foundations;
and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets
in which to dwell" (Is. 58:12).
The Timetables
of History: A Horizontal Linkage of People and Events
The
Timetables of History by
Bernard Grun is by far the most valuable compass available for navigating
through God's story of time. Both indispensable and crucial to anyone wishing
to see the width and breadth of God's magnificent Divinity and the scope of His
divine wisdom, parents need only to open its pages to see its priceless
content. Spanning time between 5000 B.C. to 1978 with detailed information
about the people and events throughout make this the most comprehensive
timeline available. Yet one just has to gaze upon its horizontal columns, which
categorically orders specific information under the headings of
History/Politics, Literature/Theater, Religion/Philosophy/Learning, Visual
Arts, Music, Science/Technology, and finally Daily Life to see how easily it
will enable them to journey through the annals of our Creator. Linking the
inseparable components of time by weaving the people and the events into a
beautiful tapestry brings both clarity and order to such an immense wealth of
information.
Time
stands still for no one, yet with the help of this book we may turn back the
hands of time while we explore the persons and events that God used to shape
the course of His Story. Tonight, for instance, I spent over an hour reading
and highlighting the people and events that I considered pertinent to our
coverage of the years between 1508 and 1543.
Michelangelo
paints the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, creates "Moses," part of Pope Julius'
II tomb, paints the Last Judgment on the altar wall of Sistine Chapel, and
completes the Medici tomb. Henry VIII becomes king of England and marries six
different times. Leonardo da Vinci designs the horizontal water wheel. Pope
Julius II forms the Holy League. DŸrer paints the Adoration of the Trinity and
the Four Apostles. Hans Holbein the Younger settles in England and paints Henry
VIII, while Raphael paints Julius II, designs excavation of ancient Rome, and
is appointed architect-in-chief of St. Peter's in Rome. Copernicus states that
the Earth and the other planets turn around the sun. Balboa discovers the
Pacific Ocean; Ponce de Leon discovers Florida; Ferdinand Magellan passes
through the Straits of Magellan into the Pacific Ocean; Jacques Cartier voyages
to the St. Lawrence River, Montreal, and Quebec; and Hernando de Soto explores
Florida and discovers the Mississippi River.
Thomas
Wolsey is appointed cardinal and Lord Chancellor of England then falls from
power, while Thomas More takes his place only to be executed soon thereafter.
Erasmus publishes the New Testament; Martin Luther posts his 95 theses on the
door of the Palast Church in Wittenberg, which brought about the Protestant
Reformation in Germany; Ulrich Zwingli's preaching in Zurich begins the Swiss
Reformation; John Calvin ignites the fires of Reformation in France, while John
Knox leads the Reformation in Scotland. The English reformer William Tyndale is
burned at the stake. Luther translates the Old and New Testament into the
German language, and John Calvin writes The Institutes of Christian Religion. The crowning of Charles V as the Holy
Roman Emperor was the last imperial coronation to be done by a pope. Henry VIII
is recognized as supreme Head of the Church in England. The spinning wheel came
into general use in Europe, while Halley's comet made a few heads spin itself.
Just studying each of
these people and events alone will keep us very engrossed for quite some time
as we truly live these 35 years for ourselves. Kings and queens, statesmen and
scoundrels, scientists and artists, discoverers of both land and truth, all
reflect God's signature touch upon all mankind as He shapes His Story for His
glory. SDG - Soli Deo Gloria - to God alone the glory!
Tiger and Tom
and Other Stories for Boys
Tiger
and Tom and Other Stories for Boys
by J. E. White is an excellent collection of stories that reveal the importance
of temperance, duty, purity, honesty, honor, God's great mercy, conquering a
wicked temper, repentance, sacrificial giving, obedience, compassion, and much
more. The stories are well written and very interesting, so they hold young
children's attention while teaching great spiritual truths.
Consider
the following advice as just one of many great lessons imparted in this book:
"My dear boys, do you flatter yourself that it is a trifling thing to do wrong,
'only this once'? If so, stop and consider, how often not only the young but
those of mature years yield to this deceptive and alluring thought and take the
first steps in a career of sin, when, could they but see the end of the path
which they are so thoughtlessly entering, they would shudder with horror. They
do not realize that sin once indulged in hardens the heart, and that one step
in the downward path leads to the broad road."
"How
many parents yield to the pleadings of their children to be indulged 'this
once,' who find that to deny after once being indulged, cost a greater effort
than to have stood with firmness to conviction of consequence and true
principle."
Although we all love
these precious stories, Jon particularly enjoys reading them again and again to
Jedidiah and Josiah. This is a "must" edition for your son's library.
The Basket of
Flowers
The
Basket of Flowers by
Christoph von Schmid is available through SAT Publications (541-471-0491,
satpub@cdsnet.net) and would make an excellent addition to your family's library.
All of us thoroughly enjoyed this precious story about the afflictions of a
father and his daughter and how they bore them patiently, fully trusting their
beloved Lord and Saviour. Jon and I often cried throughout this book as we
witnessed such Christlike spirits in the characters, the love they had for each
other, their trust in God alone, their faithfulness to Him, and His
faithfulness to His children. It was especially a wonderful testimony of a
godly father's faithfulness to pass on God's instructions for a life that would
be pleasing to Him.
Let
me just share the preface with you, since it describes this treasure so well: "The
Basket of Flowers is
translated from the French.... This is the extent that we know about the origins
of this excellent little volume. But its value lies not in its lineage but in
its content. The content is thoroughly scriptural and God-honoring. Its theme
is similar to that of the Book of Ruth in the Scriptures-the Gracious
Management of Divine Providence.
"The
story centers on James, a godly gardener, and his young daughter, Mary. Their
happy and simple life is disrupted when Mary is accused and convicted of theft.
At her trial, Mary tells the truth, maintaining her innocence in spite of great
pressure. Convicted as thief and accomplice, Mary and her father begin their
sentence for the crime. Continuing his lessons from nature about the gospel of
the Lord Jesus Christ, James encourages Mary through this trial and prepares
her for the next, greater blow. The ground, plowed deep by affliction and
lovingly sowed with Precious Seed, brings forth fruit meet for the Master.
"Of
particular encouragement to modern readers is the constant demeanor and
unchanging attitude of the godly gardener and his daughter in the midst of
their trials. There are no situational ethics here; the character is not
changed by outward afflictions or prosperity. The image formed by God is a
lasting one.
"It
is without reservation that we commend to you dear Reader, this book. May its
lessons encourage your Christian walk and cause you to resort to prayer
unceasingly, that you might be found in Christ in that Great Day."
Isn't the preface alone
enough to grab your heart and interest? This is must reading for all families
so that they may learn how to bear trials patiently, knowing that momentary
affliction is nothing compared to an eternity with Christ.
Victoria at
Table with Family and Friends: Treasured Recipes for Memorable Meals
Victoria at Table
with Family and Friends
is a delightful book, now out of print, but a jewel worth possessing. Put out
by Victoria magazine
(unfortunately out of circulation), whose reputation for beauty and penchant
for fine dining surpasses all other publications that I have ever been
intimately acquainted with, makes this a must for your daughter's repertoire of
wonderful recipes. For years we have enjoyed delicious meals garnered from my Victoria magazines, so as I was perusing the
shelves of recipe books at a particular used bookstore, I was delighted to find
such a treasure, and I immediately gathered it up in my arms to surprise Sonia.
You are already familiar with some of its star-studded recipes such as Squash
Soup and Marbled Pumpkin Cheesecake that we published in previous issues of our
newsletter. Not only is this book beautiful to look at, but also it is great to
use, for all the recipes have been delicious.
There's No
Place Like Home
Allow me to recommend
my own book, There's No Place Like Home,
as the perfect gift for your daughter to encourage and equip her to be a
devoted wife, loving and fun mother, and a keeper of a lovely home. Inside its
covers, she will find over 250 pages filled with encouraging, inspirational,
and practical articles on decorating, parties, family celebrations, seasonal
traditions, gardening, gift ideas, delightful ideas to surprise each family
member, creative teaching ideas for practically every subject, unit studies,
history notebooks, seasonal activities, child training, organization, toddlers,
marriage, recommended reading, games, traveling, meals, encouragement when
faced with trials, a biblical worldview, raising godly leaders, devotions, and
many, many articles on the blessed joy of motherhood.
This is a book that
will not only help impart a vision and purpose for being a wife and mother, but
its helpful and timeless articles will also be referred to over and over again,
through the generations, as There's No Place Like Home has a legacy of helping families, now even second
generations, to achieve a standard of excellence in everything pertaining to
the home and family. I do sign books, so if you would like for me to sign one
for your daughter, just let me know.
The Blood of
the Moon
The Blood of the
Moon by Dr. George Grant is a very
important book. Considering that Islam is the fastest growing religion with
over one billion followers, that no nation has never peacefully converted to
Islam, that complete military subjugation of the earth is mandated by the
Muslims' god, Allah, and that the annihilation of every Jew and Christian
guarantees the Muslims entrance into their paradise, as Christians, it is
imperative that we understand the truth about Islam and its historical conflict
with God's people and the Western world.
After interviewing
American generals, Israeli military intelligence, Palestinian Intifada leaders,
Arab journalists, Christian Arabs, exiles, publishers, and writers, and after
studying Arabic documents, Dr. George Grant has once again composed his
thorough research into another brilliant book-this time an exposŽ of Islam and
the Muslim faith. In The Blood of the Moon,
Dr. Grant thoroughly covers this religion, carefully detailing biblical,
historical, and political facts. His chronological history of the Middle East,
viewed in light of his clear understanding of God's Word, clearly explains why
every "would-be" conqueror of the Middle East has failed to bring peace to this
volatile area. Even America's foreign policies have failed-all because leaders
failed to recognize and understand the spiritual battle and the spiritual
passion that fuels this conflict.
Going back to the first
attempt to establish a new world order in Babel (the root of humanism), Dr.
Grant explains the profound difference between a Christian worldview centered
on Christ and a humanistic worldview centered on man, culminating in the
present day United Nations. Dr. Grant exposes this organization as a
masquerader of an angel of light, all while promoting violence and globalism.
So what is the intent
of Islam? Consider these facts about events that have occurred in our lifetime.
Several years before he signed the extraordinary Camp David accord with Israel,
Egyptian President Anwar Sadat said, "The assassination of Arab brethren, like
Goliath, by Jewish sheepherders like David, is the sort of shameful ignominy
that we must yet set aright in the domain of the occupied Palestinian
homeland."
"About the same time,
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat declared: 'Be assured that the many
indignities heaped upon the Palestinian people since ancient times must and
shall be avenged. Israel's policy in the occupied territories is little more
than an extension of the imperialist tactics of the conqueror Joshua. Surely
the judgment of Allah is reserved for them until Palestine is transferred ... to
Islam. Ishmael shall have his revenge.'"
In 1989, all of Iraq's
most prominent Islamic leaders attended a lavish pagan festival of the ancient
Mesopotamian goddess of fertility, Ishtar. "Celebrated in a newly consecrated
temple district, it was the centerpiece of Saddam Hussein's week-long revelry.
The bronze talisman of Ishtar, a faithful reproduction of an ancient idol from
the time of Nebuchadnezzar, was unveiled. Saddam Hussein stepped onto a
strobe-lit platform and announced the commencement of a new world order, taking
the ancient pledge of Kings: 'I will wash my hands and feet in the blood of the
infidels for the glory of Mesopotamia forever.'" Dr. Grant then goes on to
explain the biblical history of Babylon, which the Bible epitomized as "the
essence of evil."
"Saddam Hussein
announced his intentions to restore Iraq's Babylonian heritage. He launched ...
excavation and reconstruction of the ancient city. At the dedication of the
newly reconstructed Ishtar Gate, he said, 'Glorious ... Babylon is ... rising
dignified and holy, ... the phoenix of the new time rises alive from the ashes of
the past.... Babylon ... the seat of eternal wisdom.... Here is Babylon.'" (See Rev.
14:8; 16:19; 17:1-18; 18:1-24.)
"In 1978, Syria's
leader, Hafez, feted his community with a lavish celebration. A solid gold
statue of the ancient Assyrian deity, Ashur, was dedicated.... Hafez summarizes
his Assyrian ambitions.... 'We are the heirs of Sennacherib.... Assyria must once
again unite the Arab world against the imperialism of the Infidel, the
interloping of the West, and the encroachment of the Jew.... Indeed nothing can
stand in our path ... we shall prevail.... Jihad.'" (See Is. 36:10-20; Nah. 1:1-15;
Nah. 3:12-19.)
Between 1967 and 1971
the Shah of Iran staged the most extravagant coronation the modern world has
ever known. According to the Shah, "... our nation only now begins to assume its
proper place among the great nations of the earth. Persia shall arise."
Later after the
Ayatollah Khomeini deposed the Shah, Khomeini asserted, "... these symbols of our
great heritage shall give new impetus to the export of our revolution. Soon the
spirit of Allah will sweep the faithful Umma of the Persian hoard across the
earth: first, Jerusalem will be liberated for prayer, then, the Great Satan
will be humiliated and crushed, and finally our Jihad will free the oppressed
masses on every continent. The governments of the world should know that Islam
cannot be defeated. Islam will be victorious in all the countries of the world,
and Islam and the teaching of the Koran will prevail all over the world. We
have no choice but to destroy those systems of government that are corrupt....
This is the duty that all Muslims must fulfill ... throughout the infidel West ...
to garnish the blessing of Allah."
Dr. Grant powerfully
ends with God's answer!
Jon
and I strongly encourage you to read this book together as a family, carefully
studying its vast historical and biblical content. For information on the
publisher, visit www.thomasnelson.com.