Lost World of the Prophets: this new book helps us better understand biblical prophecy

 From my Goodreads review: Walton comprehensively lays out the genres of prophetic writing and how we should read them. For example, not all prophecy is apocalyptic or future-telling or should be read that way. Most often prophecy is the explicit expression from a deity—in this case the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. He also covers the difficulties of scriptural prophecy that doesn’t seem to have occurred in the descriptive way that is expressed. However, he does compare the Hebraic prophetic writings to extant other Middle Eastern prophecies. This is enlightening to why and how well the Hebrews maintained their writings. It’s especially interesting that what survived in the Hebrew Scriptures, contrary to other practices, are not often complimentary to the king or priests God addresses. The author of this book covers the various forms and uses of prophecy.

This is not a commentary on prophetic scriptures but gives us the framework on how to understand the context and possible interpretations. Interestingly, for Christians, Walton covers key prophetic passages in the Greek scriptures (New Testament): Matthew 24-25 and Revelation. He does this to illustrate his principles for approaching prophecy and how they can/should be used throughout the Bible.

Though this author doesn’t address this, the writing of Jonathan Cahn in the “The Harbinger” is a poor interpretation of Hebrew prophecies directed at Israel. Cahn unadvisedly assumes they can be used as a prophecy for the United States in light of the events of 9/11/01. Walton would caution taking a word directed at one favored nation to another that may or may not be favored; likewise, taking a word directed at an unfavored nation cannot be applied to a favored nation. We might ask only how we might be guilty of similar practices as a nation as Israel, if we want to heed the indictments, judgments and instructions given to His people. Cahn overlooked that the USA is more like the Roman Empire or Egypt (where oppressed believers emigrated to escape persecution in their home country) than Israel. Walton’s treatise here helps us understand other books that claim to interpret prophecies.

I laughed when I read one of Walton’s subheadings: “Living in the End Times (Everyone Believes They Are, and That is Okay)”

Next time I have to teach a prophetic passage, or a passage that refers to earlier verses because the scripture writer believes it’s been fulfilled contemporaneously, I will refer to Walton’s book for guidance.

I appreciate having gotten an advanced copy from the publisher.