The Mystery Of Israel And The Middle East: A Prophetic Gaze Into The Future, by James W. Goll

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Chosen Books in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.]

In general, it may be fairly said that I take a dim view of prophetic speculation. Overall, I have to say that I did not find this book to be quite what I expected. What I expected to find was someone whose prophetic mindset was going to lead them into dangerous speculation about the exact shape of the future. What I found instead is that this book is far more historical in nature than I had expected, and though it is written from a perspective different from my own, it certainly was interesting and enjoyable to read this book, and far more worthwhile and informative than I expected it to be. If the author makes much use of biblical patterns to view the past, present, and future, that is certainly something I can understand from my own practice, and I found much in this book to pique my interest, and even those discussions about the future were rather sober-minded in their approach.

This book begins with a foreword and introduction that frame a discussion of the prophetic word of Scripture with an understanding of those who consider themselves to be contemporary prophets. After that twelve chapters divided into four sections. The first section, on prophetic beginnings (I), discusses the birth of Israel (1), the breakup of the Soviet Union (2), and the awakening of Israel and the Church to God’s plans for both (3). This is followed by a section on the prophetic and the prayer (II), which includes chapters on what it means to be appointed a watchman (4), praying for the fulfillment of the gathering of Israel (5), and the Mordecai calling in times of persecution (6). After this comes a look at the prophetic promise (III) for those the author labels as children of Hagar (7), Sarah (8), and Keturah (9) in the Middle East. The fourth section of the book then provides the titular prophetic gaze into the future (IV), with a discussion of the destiny of Jerusalem (10), God’s road map (11), and the great hope for humanity (12). After this there are appendices that deal with an overview of Israel’s history (i), coming humbly to Israel (ii), praying for Israel and the Middle East (iii), as well as endnotes, a glossary, and an index, together enduing up around 300 pages in length.