Product Description

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #637604 in Books
• Published on: 2006-01-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

From the Back Cover

About the Author

Customer Reviews

Prophetic Timing
In matters of the heart, timing is crucial. In the fulfillment of Bible Prophesy, God's timing rules. Prayer is extended daily for God's will-- in His timing. But what is God's timing and how does one know? Don Finto has presented a compelling case for the Bible to be the core element in understanding modern times in God's Promise and the Future of Israel. Using Bible Prophesy as the wall map upon which present day history is pinned, Finto observes the unfolding of Israel's history as a pivot point upon which God's promises in scripture are coming to fruition. Five significant scenarios which have been taking place in this generation clearly align with God's promises for His Chosen People and with the period in history prophesied as "the last days." He likes to refer to these as intersections of God's promises with God's timing:

* The reestablishment of the State of Israel in 1948,
* The retaking of Jerusalem in the Six-Day War of June 1967,
* The opening of Jewish eyes to the message of Jesus,
* The revivals around the world, and
* The increasing awareness within the Church of the Jewish roots for the Christian faith.

Don Finto prefaces two purposes for the book: "to look at the intersection of promise and timing in our day, and to provide answers to questions about Israel and the Jewish people." His heart is clearly filled with love for God and His Chosen, and he is quick to inform the reader that the book is not just about Israel and the present days. "It is about a God who loves and comes to free us to be who we were created to be. It is about a forever-loving, covenant-keeping God." Israel is a clear reminder that God has not forgotten His People. In the same manner He has not forsaken the Gentiles who are essentially adopted into the family and are integral parts of His plan. To that extent the book is also about the reader. God calls each person to His purpose, and neither man nor woman can escape His call. "That God-shaped vacuum within you will know peace only as you rest in Him and He in you."

The second half of the book is dedicated to clarifying contemporary questions regarding Israel, their Arab brothers, their Christian brothers and how Christians should be responding to the challenges of this invigorating time. His perceptions and recommendations are profound, and his timing couldn't be better.

Israel, Christians and The Way
In the introduction, the author talks about the closer relationship developing between Jews and true Christians and the rise of Messianic Judaism. The two stated aims of this book are (a) examining the intersection of Biblical promise and timing in our day (b) providing answers about Israel and the Jewish people to Christians and Jews.

Part One: The Time Has Come, deals with the 1948 rebirth of the nation of Israel, the 1967 restoration of Jerusalem to Israel, the growth of the Messianic Jewish movement and the revival among the nations.

The first chapter discusses biblical examples of God's intervention when His promise and timing intersected in the past, provides evidence of His faithfulness and points to the ways in which promise and timing are coming together in our time. Chapter Two shows how the rebirth of the nation of Israel is the most spectacular fulfillment of prophecy in the last two thousand years.

In the next chapter, Finto talks about Israel's reclamation of her ancient capital in 1967, nineteen years after the rebirth of the nation, according to the promise, while chapter four explores the fast growing Messianic Jewish movement both in Israel and throughout the world, which is another fulfillment of ancient prophecy. Chapter 5 provides evidence of the astonishing growth of Christianity in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The final chapter of part one shows how the church of the early 21st century is awakening to the Jewish roots of her faith.

Part Two: Questions People Ask About Israel and the Middle East, attempts to answer the plethora of questions by Jewish and Christian people raised by the developments described in the first section of the book.

Chapter Seven: What About The Arabs? explores the hidden brotherhood between Arabs and Jews as descendents of Abraham, the reasons for the current antagonism and the ultimate good news for the Arab nations. The next chapter addresses the question: Does the land still belong to Israel?, demonstrating that this is indeed the case.

In chapter nine, Finto looks at the question of the millennial reign of King Yeshua and the fullness of God's restoration of mankind and nature. Then he addresses the question of what Messianic Jews believe. The members of the early Church did not call themselves Christians; they were Jewish followers of Yeshua and they used the term The Way and were called Netzorim (Nazarites). It was only at the infamous Council of Nicea when the Gentile Church formally separated from the Jewish root.

The reasons why the Church should embrace her Jewish roots are the subject of chapter eleven. As Israel's younger brother, the Church is coming into an awareness of her Jewish heritage. The final chapter looks at the question of how Christians should respond. Finto calls Christians to unconditional love for all Jewish people and to support the state of Israel and those in the Diaspora. Guidelines are provided for believers to make a difference at this crucial time in world history.

Appendix A is a suggested Bible Reading Plan and Appendix B provides quotations from past generations of the saints on Israel and the Jewish people, including quotes from the marginal notes in the Geneva Bible of 1560, William Perkins (1579), Elnathan Parr in The Plain Exposition (1620), John Owens speaking before the House of Commons in 1649, John Brown in Exposition of Romans (1666), Robert Leighton in a sermon in 1642, Samuel Rutherford in a letter of 1633, Increase Mather in his book The Mystery Of Israel's Salvation Explained And Applied (1669), James Durham (1680), John Albert Bengel, Thomas Boston from a 1716 sermon, Jonathan Edwards, Charles Simeon and Charles Spurgeon (1855).

Appendix C provides contact information for various ministries like Beit Asaph, Beit Immanuel, El-Roii, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Kehilat HaCarmel, Maoz, Revive Israel, Tents Of Mercy and Tikkun. Websites and the names of contact persons are supplied.

Appendix D is a bibliography of recommended reading, including books by James W Goll, Keith Intrater, Dan Juster and David H Stern. To these, I would like to add the following works which I have found to be valuable and inspiring:

In Defense of Israel by John Hagee
Our Father Abraham by Marvin R Wilson
Ruth & Esther by Frank Morgan
Standing With Israel by David Brog
Why Care about Israel? by Sandra Teplinsky