About the Author:
CHARLES DYER (B.A., Washington Bible College; Th.M. and Ph.D., Dallas Theological Seminary) served as provost and dean of education at Moody Bible Institute before becoming Professor-at-Large of Bible at Moody and host of The Land and the Book radio program. Before coming to Moody, Charlie served for 20 years in multiple administrative and faculty roles at Dallas Theological Seminary - ultimately serving as Executive Vice President under Chuck Swindoll. In addition to his role as host of The Land and the Book radio program, Charlie is an Old Testament scholar and an authority on Middle Eastern history and geography. He also serves as Associate Pastor of Grace Bible Church in Sun City, Arizona. Charlie has traveled extensively throughout the Middle East for more than 30 years, leading more than 80 trips. He is the author of numerous books, including A Voice in the Wilderness, What's Next?, The New Christian Traveler's Guide, Character Counts: The Power of Personal Integrity, and Thirty Days in the Land with Jesus. His most recent book is The Isis Crisis. Charlie and his wife, Kathy, have been married for more than 40 years and have two grown children.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.:
When I think of the nation Israel, I am tempted to think of Humpty Dumpty. This once proud nation that humbled the Egyptian Empire in a slave revolt that led to a supernaturally blessed exodus; that caused the greatest armies of the known world to quake; that became the repository of divine law in the midst of a pagan lawless world...today finds itself broken by international isolation and a seemingly insoluble conflict with its Palestinian neighbors. And all the king's horses and all the king's men of this world's peace-brokering intermediaries can't seem to put it all back together again. This would be of little consequence if you didn't believe that God has a future for Israel. If the hand of God removed itself forever from His people when the Jews rejected Christ as Messiah, then Israel would be just another nation among many, stuck at the eastern end of the Mediterranean, surrounded and outnumbered by enemy states. But if you are among the many who believe that God's promises to Israel were unconditional-and that He ultimately will redeem them to Himself and restore His glory among them-then Israel becomes the strategic player in the future history of this world. Especially when that belief encompasses the promise that Christ's return to this planet will be to the Mount of Olives just outside of Jerusalem and that He will establish His reign on the throne of David as the fulfillment of the covenant that God make with David that his throne would last forever. Given this promise, Israel becomes the focal point of the attention of all of us who love His appearing. And it raises the suspicion that, behind the headlines, the hand of our sovereign God is working to put the pieces back together again. Throughout our long history, the Moody Bible Institute has been among those who see God's Word guaranteeing Israel's future. This belief has characterized and permeated our teaching...and has kept fresh our desire to see the salvation of His people. We are humbledto think that God in His extensive grace has grafted Gentiles in to the redemptive gifts of His Son and counted us among His very own. And this perspective has also kept our eyes focused heavenward as we wait expectantly for the rapture of His church...for we know that our summons home also signals the time when God will begin the consummation of His plan for His Chosen People Israel. It is my prayer that this work, written by leading members of our faculty, will reignite your desire for His return, encourage your confidence in His eternal plan in the midst of confusing and despairing headlines, and stimulate a new love for the people that He loves. Read it prayerfully and hopefully, looking for God to stir your heart again to love His appearing.
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