God has a master plan for the Universe, and it includes you.
Do You Know What It Is?
Reviews
Reviews
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GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR FUTURE: Purpose, History,
and Destiny of Humanity as Revealed in Scripture
by David Charles Cole
A comprehensive introduction to the Bible that treats
it as an instruction manual for morality.
it as an instruction manual for morality.
Debut author Cole asserts that relying upon Scripture for moral guidance has become unfashionable, thus leaving younger people rudderless in a world of temptation. However, he believes that the path to salvation is charted in the Bible, when properly understood.
The author grants that Scripture can be complex— it communicates different messages to different people, sometimes employs hyperbole, and often engages in cryptic symbolism— but that doesn’t mean that its principal points can’t be understood. Cole offers a comprehensive guide to the Bible that takes novices on an impressively thorough tour.
He begins with the account of Jewish history provided in the Hebrew Scriptures, followed by a chronicle of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ; he then discusses the future as prophesied, and the nature of moral obligations and God’s promises.
Cole uses the King James Version of the Bible, and only slightly revises the text to make it more accessible to modern readers. His book concludes with a series of appendices, some of which discuss relevant contemporary issues, such as the conflict between divine creation and evolution and the biblical stance on astrology.
The crux of Cole’s reading is that the Bible isn’t merely one book among many, but the revealed word of God, given to humanity to assist people in their earthly lives. His mastery of the material is extraordinary, especially as he’s neither a professional historian nor theologian, and he dexterously links the ancient message of the Bible to modern life. For example, there’s an engaging discussion of the doctrine of election (the idea of being “chosen by God for His purpose”) and an account of 20th-century Zionism.
The prose is habitually clear and highly readable by even the least knowledgeable beginner. However, some moments are overly strident, leaving no room for philosophical discussion (Don’t be deluded into thinking Satan is not real or lacks great power).
Still, for religious readers in need of assistance interpreting the Bible, this is a sound one-volume introduction.
A thorough, well-organized guide to biblical study.
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The answers to the question that most Christians have asked for centuries: What is God’s Plan for my life? Is one that many have asked, but few have found the answer that they thought was the right one. The author of this book has the wisdom and the knowledge to help discover what God’s Plan For Your Future Purpose is. Through- out the book many of the verses of the Bible are put together with the notations from the author with explanations to give his take on what God is saying to each of us.
The best way to get to know someone is to spend time with them. By spending time reading God’s word you will come to have a better understanding of what His Plan is for you.
Some of my favorite lines from the book; “By returning the first of the harvest to God the people acknowledged all good things come from Him and everything belongs to Him. In return, they anticipated He would provide a fruitful harvest.”
Christ’s resurrection is the ultimate “first fruits” returned to God the father.
The author, who is 81 years old, shows the reader church history as well as God’s Plan for Our Future through the scriptures. “God’s plan for humanity is unfolding day by day. History will continue to run its course until the end of time.” “Scripture reveals a great deal about what is to come, but does not disclose when the end will come.” The present interval will end without warning, ushering in the end times.
Scripture offers signs to watch for, but does not disclose where we are in the final countdown to the end of days. Is it possible to know the plans that God has for your life? The answer can be found in the scriptures. Learn how to find your way by following His Way. “God’s message is clear. His plan is certain.”
My absolute favorite line: “The glorious news is that death is not fatal. It is a link between the temporary life of the body and the eternal life of the soul, the end of one reality and the beginning of another, a boundary rather than a chasm.”
The author has studied the scriptures and shares his wisdom and knowledge with his readers. I have rated this book a solid 5 out of 5. I would be happy to read more of the works of this author. It appeared that the book had been edited and very well written.
There are numerous books in this genre. This one is at the top of my list.
[Following is a review of "God's Plan For Your Future" January 10, 2019]
4 out of 4 stars
God’s plan for your future by author David Charles is not one of those common books of our day, but an in-depth Bible study with the power of taking you through the eternal Word from Genesis to Revelation with unusual excitement and enthusiasm.
The insights the book provides right from the very first pages for our modern society answer many of the questionings of this unprecedented era of high intellectual and scientific activisms and preponderance. God’s plan for your future is a guided path to establishing yourself upon the unshakable foundation of the Word of God in a modern and science-guided world. Reading it, you can sense the author is a deep man of wisdom, experience and study in the Word of God.
If you are groping for more light in the eternal Word of God or looking for any up-to-date Bible study to drive you to the Word with excitement every morning and again in the evening, and expose you to depth of understanding in seasons and phases of God’s operations and plans for humanity, this book is for you. The book will make you explore the Bible from Genesis to Revelation with unusual light, enthusiasm and depth. Sometimes you could not just put it down, so inspiring, revealing and insightful. This book can make your Bible from the Old Testament to the last chapter of the New Testament, a new and open book for you.
The book is a bit too extensive and comprehensive, but I'm sure this is one the reason why it is so unique, profound and complete. Apart from the profondeur of the book, what I really loved the most about it is its easy-to-read, simplistic and captivating style.
I rate this book 4 out of 4 stars. I would have given it more stars if only this were possible. I loved it to the very core and detail.
I warmly recommend this book to every christian who desires to experience the deeper dimensions of hunger and understanding of the Word of God, and to all that are groping now for light and guidance from the Word of God for the twenty-first century.
There is nobody I would not recommend this book to, it is historically fascinating and spiritually enthralling. God’s plan for your future is not just a book, it is a personal adventure into and through the eternal Word.
(NetGalley is a service to help readers of influence discover and recommend new books to their audiences)
****
Overall Rating: Recommend
There is much to admire about the author's approach. The contents are mostly about the history of God's working with humanity from Creation onward from a historical perspective. The last third of the book looks towards prophecy, and there the author has much to say that resembles other prophetic speculation of a pro-Israel nature.
The author is praiseworthy in seeking to defend the worth of the Bible and to point out the Bible's moral and ethical demands as they relate to the sanctity of life and sexual morality.
I find much to praise about this book. The contents are sprawling and immense, although the ending is very much to the point. The first half of this book is taken up by a few very long chapters that detail the history of God's working with man, beginning with the Creation through the flood to the selection of Abraham and the Patriarchs and the Exodus of Israel from slavery and their failures in the wilderness as well as throughout the period of Joshua and Judges and the kingdom into exile and return and on and on. The author spends a bit of time talking about the relationship between Islam and Roman Catholicism and the antichrist, and also talks about the failure of modern society relating to the fall of Rome as well as the wickedness of ancient Israel.
There is much prophetic speculation here, especially towards the last part of the book, and the book as a whole ends with a series of appendices that relate to matters of contemporary interest like evolution, abortion, sexual immorality, the genealogies of Jesus Christ, and other mini-sermons of like kind. If you like the author's approach in general you will probably like these too.
