Paul Luckraft reviews 'The Returning King: Is God Preparing Israel for the Messiah?' by Claire Lambert (Instant Apostle, 2015)

This is a delightful and well-written book, wonderfully descriptive and full of rich phrases which keep you turning the pages from the sheer pleasure of reading. It comes from the heart and tackles the topic of Jesus' return not as a deep theological analysis but as a personal narrative, which nevertheless shines a light on the role of Israel and the Jews in the future plan of God.

Journey to Jerusalem

The author states the main purpose of the book is "to open eyes to God's current and future intentions for Israel" (p13), but the way this is done is quite special and possibly unique. The book is in two sections and the first of these, Walls of Revelation, contains six chapters of "personal context which serves as a framework for all that follows" (p13). This is a testimony of how Clare came to a personal revelation of what she is about to share and how her perspective was radically altered regarding the Jewish people.

As the wife of a Baptist minister in a suburb of North-West London, Clare had contact with many Jewish families in the neighbourhood but admits that her particular brand of Western-based Christianity was devoid of the Jewish-rootedness that might have had an influence. Then one day she received an invitation to go on a study tour based at Yad Vashem and, encouraged by her husband who had enthusiastically returned from a previous tour, she set out on a journey of discovery and transformation.

This is a delightful and well-written book, wonderfully descriptive and full of rich phrases.

The key moment was at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Among the towering stones of that great city surrounded by Orthodox Jewish women clutching scriptures and muttering prayers, she experienced a divine encounter. Clare relates it "was as if I had pressed my palm against His cheek and He held me there with his gaze...[then came] just a whisper, a fleeting thing, but there was nothing more real to me in that moment...the glimpse of God's heart in these simple words: 'I love these people. I love this place'" (p20).

From that moment of revelation came a whole new perspective and a deep conviction that Jerusalem is being prepared for a homecoming. Its King will return one day.

Preparations for His Return

After sharing more details of her personal awakening and what this would now mean in terms of her ministry and calling, Clare spends the rest of the book encouraging us to anticipate Christ's return and to recognise God's preparation of the Jewish people to receive him as their King. Her use of Scripture is accurate and helpful. In all her writing she has a gentle approach, reminding us of basic biblical truths rather than being demanding or insistent.

In one chapter she starts to unpack what God is doing in the Islamic nations. "All the while that God is...opening eyes to the importance of Israel, He is newly awakening a group of people who have been imprisoned in darkness for too long: the Muslims" (p95). She recounts how all across the Middle East and North Africa Muslims are having dreams and visions of Jesus in what she calls "a wave of God's saving power" (p95). This cannot be coincidence! Her analysis of this significant move of God (a rescue mission) is clear and firm.

Clare's use of her own personal testimony is a special and possibly unique way into looking at God's purposes for Israel.

Clare also wants us to be aware that what she is writing about falls into the sphere of spiritual warfare and that there is a need for watchmen (and women). She talks also about the Jew-hatred that is spreading across Europe and exhorts us as Christians "to stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters, advocating on their behalf, standing against the propaganda and lies that muddy the waters and blind us to the anti-Semitism that underpins much of this distortion" (p116).

Inspiring and Heart-warming

Finally, she encourages the Church to restore its Hebraic roots and explore its Jewish heritage, especially the biblical feasts. As always there is a sensitive though forthright consideration of what needs to be done to make a real difference.

This may not be a theological book full of doctrine but it is biblical, embracing many prophetic scriptures, and how she came to believe them – and why we should too! Her testimony is inspiring and heart-warming. After her life-changing trip to Israel she acknowledges a remarkable shift in her heart, impacting her emotions as well as her thinking. It is this she wishes to share, and through the pages of this book she has indeed done this extremely well. Highly recommended.

The Returning King (160 pages) is available to purchase from CFI for £9. Also available from Amazon.