'Almost Midnight' by Richard Thompson (New Wine Press, 2008, 255 pages, available from Amazon for £9.99)
The Times of the Gentiles
The basis of this book is an extensive examination of Luke 21:24 and the "much-misunderstood period which Jesus called 'the times of the Gentiles', and the main issues associated with it" (p9). Its chief message is how this period of punishment for the Jewish people (trampled on by the Gentiles) should be measured and how it is being implemented by God. Its underlying theme is therefore the role of Israel within God's end time scenario. Here is a fascinating study into the relationship between God's ancient people and the events still to come in 'the last days'.
This is not a book for the novice and is best seen as a more detailed analysis for those already well-informed about the basics of end time ideas and who are prepared to look again at Biblical chronology within Old Testament prophecies and the end time portions of the New Testament. It is a fairly complex book, at times rather crowded, with plenty to think about and work through.
However, the author is clear that his aim is not to "unravel these issues for the sake of intellectual argument, but to reveal more clearly how God views Israel, Europe and the Middle East in the run up to the return of Jesus" (p247). Furthermore, he discusses what our response should be - namely to turn to God for greater discernment and plead with him in prayer and petition, as Daniel did in his time (see Dan 9).
This fascinating, complex book is concerned with Israel's role in God's end time scenario.
Three Decades of Study
This is the author's first book and the result of thirty years' study in the scriptures on the subjects of Israel and the end times. Clearly this is his speciality and comes across as such. He also emphasises his own personal calling, explaining how several prophetic words and visions from 1977 onwards have spurred him on to be 'a watchman of His word' on these issues.
Approach
The book falls into three parts. The first examines Israel's place in history and the future, while the second explains how Israel functions as 'God's clock' to world events. His final section takes up the theme of the Roman Empire as an ancient kingdom and its modern equivalent, the EU.
The author provides lots of scriptures, usually quoted in full and often more than once. He repeats them whenever he feels the need to back up his argument. Clearly he is playing safe here but it can make the book a little tedious, even over-crowded; some sections are nothing more than Biblical quotes with little extra to connect them as though the essence of the book is to keep stringing the scriptures together.
Times and Dates
His main objective remains to "calculate the times", with details of how we are to understand the 'years' from the Biblical evidence. Clearly there is something in this, and others have done it before, so perhaps the main value of the book is as a useful comparison. What makes his contribution distinctive, however, is that he comes up with the notion that 2018 will be a significant year; this is where many of the chronological clues in end time prophecies come to a head.
He is keen to stress that this is not a prophetic statement from him, but he believes it is worth considering from the Biblical data whether 2018 will be "marked with a major event" (p133), if not the return of Christ then something else significant. So, for him, it is almost midnight, and for us, we have a couple of years left to investigate and decide for ourselves!
Second Book
Having published this book in 2008, the author clearly felt another on similar lines was needed a few years later, and so produced The Two Israels of God in the Last Days, (New Wine Press, 175 pages, 2012, £9.99). This may be a useful companion volume but there is a huge overlap and some parts are virtual repeats. Again the main purpose is to examine the prophetic timetable found in Biblical chronology and, as before, a lot of work is required by the reader to follow him through all this.
Thompson continues to show up the error of replacement theology but equally warns that being too pro-Israel can also lead to error. However, his main point is that far from abandoning the nation of Israel, God has a special place for her in fulfilling prophecy at the end of this age. Yes, she is in a time of judgement but this will end. It is all part of the preparation for the coming of her Messiah, at which point there will be restoration and a re-grafting into the cultivated olive tree.
Thompson's main point is that far from abandoning the nation of Israel, God has a special place for her in fulfilling prophecy at the end of this age.
Perhaps this book should be subtitled, Are we nearer midnight? It is left to the reader to decide.