Great Prophecies of The Bible [Paperback]

Ralph E. Woodrow (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 7, 1971

While not written in a divisive spirit, this book does challenge some popular present-day views on prophecy, presenting the older, historicist view regarding the abomination of desolation, great tribulation, fleeing to the hills, fig tree, etc. Explains reasons for believing Daniel's 70th week pertains to Christ, not Antichrist; why the reformers linked the prophecies about the "man of sin" or Antichrist with the Papacy. 37 illustrations.

Editorial Reviews

From the Author

On the subject of Bible prophecy, most of the Christians I knew when I was a young preacher had been influenced by the "dispensational" interpretation of prophecy as taught in the notes of the Scofield Bible. There was a lot of talk about the "rapture." Though the word did not actually appear in the Bible, I found it was commonly used to describe that time when believers would be "caught up...in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air" (1 Thes. 4:17). But the question was: Would this catching up or rapture be a separate event from the return of Christ at the end of the age?

According to the dispensational outline, Christ would return in two separate events--first in the air, before the tribulation, to gather his own (the rapture)-and then, at the end of the tribulation period, he would come again, this time openly and in glory (the revelation). Thus the rapture was set in contrast to the revelation and TWO second comings (or two stages of the second coming) were taught.

I once read the entire New Testament through to see if I could find any scriptures that taught the return of Jesus would be in two stages. After carefully searching, I could find none.

In time I would learn that not only was the two-stage return of Christ not found in the Bible, according to history it was not taught during the early centuries of the church; it was not taught by any of the reformers such as Luther, Calvin, or Wesley; it was not taught by anyone until around a century and a half ago! It has been a puzzle to me how some will contend for the old-time faith in other areas, yet hold a viewpoint that did not surface until comparatively modern times concerning the return of Christ.

About the Author

In addition to authoring over a dozen books, Ralph Woodrow has had the opportunity to speak for many Churches and groups of various denominations during 40 years of ministry--including camp meetings, conventions and conferences. Through a unique set of circumstances he was put into the ministry at age 18. His ministry began in Canada, where he went as a pianist for an evangelist--but soon several Churches and groups opened their doors for Ralph to preach extended revival meetings. When he returned home after a few of months of ministry in Canada, God continued to open doors for him to preach the Gospel--holding revivals at many Churches and denominational rallies. As a single man of 21 he felt led to hold tent revivals and also to preach on the radio, with good results from both. From these early beginnings sprang an inter-denominational ministry, through which many effective doors of ministry open to this day.

In his early teens, he began to search the Scriptures--becoming intrigued to discover things in the Bible that he hadn't been taught. Similarly, he began to discover that some of the things he had been taught were not in the Bible. Ralph memorized hundreds of Scriptures as a teenager--his whole life revolved around studying God's Word and seeking God's will for his life. He preached his first sermon when he was 15 in their local Church. He spent much time at the Church, doing anything he could to serve the Lord--mowing the lawns, cleaning the Church, praying, and attending the meetings where he grew in the Spirit-filled life.

Throughout his ministry, in addition to preaching the Gospel at large, he has shared neglected biblical truths. AS AN AUTHOR, he is known for his scholarly research, along with his emphasis on the importance of love and unity. He emphasizes that if Christians disagree on some points of doctrine--they should disagree agreeably--knowing that all Christians agree on more than they disagree. Books he has authored total over a half million in print. Also, he has shared printed sermons with a select list--since 1961. Woodrow was born in San Jacinto, California and grew up in nearby Riverside. He and his wife, Arlene who is also a minister and writer, minister in various capacities locally in addition to periodically ministering throughout the U.S., and sometimes in Canada.

FREE-learn more about Woodrow's ministry. Send a legal size SASE and request "Celebrating 40 Years Ministry" ('97) and the January '98 "Palm Springs Letter."

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Ralph Woodrow; 2 edition (June 7, 1971)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0916938026
• ISBN-13: 978-0916938024
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #545,539 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #33 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Religion & Spirituality > Christianity > Reference > Prophecies

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Return to History, December 10, 1999

By 

Robert Wanamaker (Schenectady, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Prophecies of The Bible (Paperback)

In a very convincing, well documented way Ralph Woodrow makes clear what is often confusing in the context of the very young futurist approach to explain Biblical prophecy. He instead uses the historical approach, a method which has stood the test of time. The book answers those unresolved questions for a reader curious about a more historical explanation of what has already happened to fulfill Biblical prophecy and what Christians can expect to happen in the future of the Church. Well worth reading.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Truth Revealed, August 19, 2000

By 

Ivan (Holbrook, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Great Prophecies of The Bible (Paperback)

Mr. Woodrow has pointed out that many people have departed from the purity of the simple Gospel (page 165). He uses organized facts to refute "dispensational" misinformation. Woodrow uses details in a clear manner to expose modern false teachings about Daniel's 70th week. He clearly shows that there is not a 2000-year gap in the 70-week period described by the prophet Daniel. Every Bible student should own this book and give it as a gift to anyone they care about. Although I have not agreed with all of Ralph Woodrow's books, I highly recommend the scholarship in "Great Prophecies of the Bible."

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Agree or Disagree, But This Is a Great Presentation, October 10, 2005

By 

H. L. Nigro - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Great Prophecies of The Bible (Paperback)

"Great Prophecies" looks at four critical end-times topics from a viewpoint that is little discussed today, but which was the dominant viewpoint prior to the explosion of futurism in the early 1800s. This view is called "historicism," or sometimes "the fulfilled prophecy" interpretation, and takes the position that many of the key prophecies, such as the rise of the Antichrist, the Great Tribulation, and Daniel's 70th Week, have already been fulfilled.

Over the years, I have done some research on the "fulfilled prophecy" position, but I was left with more questions than answers. Woodrow, however, has done an outstanding job of both explaining the position - marrying together scripture and historical fact - and anticipating readers' questions or rebuttals and responding to them in the text. Almost as soon as you say to yourself, "Yes, but what about...," he anticipates the question and responds to it a few sentences later. You may not always agree with his answers, but they are always well-reasoned, which is a welcome relief from much of the skin-deep scholarship we read today.

The "fulfilled prophecy" view does not suggest that the Second Coming is also fulfilled, but it does separate the 70th Week, the Great Tribulation, the rise of the Antichrist, and other prophecies commonly accepted as future from the Second Coming. In this view, the Second Coming is the only prophecy yet to be fulfilled - thus fulfilling the prophecies that "no man knows the hour or the day" and that Jesus will return "as a thief."

While there are many elements to the fulfilled prophecy view that I struggle with, particularly certain imprecision in the fulfillment of Matthew 24 and Revelation, I acknowledge that this is a powerful presentation of an alternative view. I do wish that Woodrow had covered Revelation and the fulfilled prophecy's position on these prophecies, but he did not.

Still, as Woodrow has written, "Right or wrong...should we not at least inquire why these men [such as Wyclif, Huss, Luther, Calvin, Knox, Zwingli, Tyndale, Foxe, Newton, and Wesley] felt this way?" I agree. As true students of scripture, with open and humble hearts before the Lord, I believe that, when arguments are well presented, biblical, and historical, they should be considered. If we reject historicism in favor of futurism, let us do so with full knowledge of the scholarship and history behind this position.

Therefore, even if one walks away disagreeing, at the very least, this book deserves a serious read.

- H. L. Nigro, author of "Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture"