Before I launch into my review, there are two points of
consideration. I was provided this book for review by the publisher for an
honest and unbiased review.
Second, if you want to focus on the controversy surrounding the
book then you can go to this link http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?id=41804 or to this one http://worthypublishing.com/blog/news/robert-jeffress-claims-obamas-policies-are-paving-the-way-for-a-future-world-dictator-in-his-new-book-perfect-ending/
but as for me and my review, we will focus on the good and the bad
of the book. The cultural and political jabs taken in the book are a matter of
subjective analysis of which the attention paid to them helps to sell books.
So what do we really have here? The bottom line is that it’s
another book on prophecy – the end times – eschatology – or whatever subject
categorization you wish to put on it? Well, that’s precisely what we have here
in Robert Jeffress newest volume Perfect
Ending.
Why another book with a dispensational slant to the end times? Jeffress’s
motive in producing another volume on eschatology is that it will be “a
powerful incentive for you to clothe yourself in holy conduct and godliness as
we look forward to His certain return.” (p.27). Thus we have the underlying
emphasis of the book. It is practical. It is motivational.
Jeffress achieves this in every chapter. Each of his chapters is
interspersed with personal stories and practical illustrations which keep the
reading of the book fast-paced. But the dilemma is that it should not be read
as a fluffy Christian novella. It should be studied, digested and lived. In
fact given the approach and structure of the book it seems like it may have
been the result of an extended sermon series.
A couple of highlights: First, there is an excellent discussion on
“reckon” (Galatians 3:6-8) on pages 35-38 detailing how that one single word
proves that salvation is by faith alone in Christ and not faith plus something
else or someone else.
Second, I found Chapter 9, “Rewards in Heaven,” to be most intriguing.
In this chapter Jeffress details the rewards to be “earned” by unbelievers and
Believers. Without divulging the content, it should be most frightening for
unbelievers and quite motivational for Believers.
About a year ago I taught an adult Sunday School class on
Revelation. In preparation for the class I collected a number of books both
print and digital. They were all informative and helpful, but I wish I had this
book as a resource. It separates the material into study-size sections and even
provides study questions as an appendix.
If you’re a pastor or a teacher about to embark on a journey
through “the end times,” you need to include Perfect Ending as a resource.
