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The Mystery of Catastrophe: Understanding God’s Redemptive Purposes for the Global Disasters of the Last Days
The Mystery of Catastrophe presents a clear, biblical case for God’s plans and purposes amidst tragedy.
Never in the history of the church has there been greater opportunity and greater ability to fully engage each catastrophe God brings. God is moving in the world in amazing ways. He determines the times and places of the nations and peoples of the earth. If God is the initiator of global disasters and wars and they are not random and purposeless acts, we should try to understand why they might be happening rather than ignore or oppose them.
In the Mystery of Catastrophe, you will learn to view catastrophes in an entirely new light. God uses natural and man-made disasters as his primary means of driving people to geographic locations of his choosing for the times of his choosing, to specifically position them to hear and believe in the one and only true God and salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. When Turkey opened the floodgates and allowed over a million refugees from the Syrian conflict and greater Middle East to pour into the Balkans toward western Europe many churches jumped at the opportunity to reach out the hundreds of thousands of refugees who were pouring through the region. It seems that God is setting the stage for the prophecy to be fulfilled, that the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Regardless as to how one feels about the Muslim refugee crisis, it is clear that followers of Jesus are called to share the gospel with all people. You will learn to see gospel opportunities when many others see only chaos. The closer we approach the time of Jesus’ return, the more natural and man-made disasters and calamities we will see. So also then will gospel opportunities increase—if we have eyes to see them. The Mystery of Catastrophe will help you recognize what God is doing in the midst of the many storms that are even now gathering on the horizon.
Never in the history of the church has there been greater opportunity and greater ability to fully engage each catastrophe God brings. God is moving in the world in amazing ways. He determines the times and places of the nations and peoples of the earth. If God is the initiator of global disasters and wars and they are not random and purposeless acts, we should try to understand why they might be happening rather than ignore or oppose them.
In the Mystery of Catastrophe, you will learn to view catastrophes in an entirely new light. God uses natural and man-made disasters as his primary means of driving people to geographic locations of his choosing for the times of his choosing, to specifically position them to hear and believe in the one and only true God and salvation through his Son, Jesus Christ. When Turkey opened the floodgates and allowed over a million refugees from the Syrian conflict and greater Middle East to pour into the Balkans toward western Europe many churches jumped at the opportunity to reach out the hundreds of thousands of refugees who were pouring through the region. It seems that God is setting the stage for the prophecy to be fulfilled, that the “gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come” (Matthew 24:14).
Regardless as to how one feels about the Muslim refugee crisis, it is clear that followers of Jesus are called to share the gospel with all people. You will learn to see gospel opportunities when many others see only chaos. The closer we approach the time of Jesus’ return, the more natural and man-made disasters and calamities we will see. So also then will gospel opportunities increase—if we have eyes to see them. The Mystery of Catastrophe will help you recognize what God is doing in the midst of the many storms that are even now gathering on the horizon.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published November 20, 2018
About the author
Joel Richardson
47 books123 followersJoel Richardson is a husband and a father committed to the pro-life and adoption movements. He is an artist, human rights activist, New York Times Bestselling author, internationally recognized speaker and recognized expert on Bible prophecy and the Middle East. Joel’s heart is thoroughly missional, with a deep love for Muslims and the peoples of the Middle East.
Joel has been also featured on, or written for numerous radio, television and news outlets across the world including the Glenn Beck Show, the Mike Huckabee Show, the Gordon Liddy Show, the Dennis Miller Show, Chicago Public Radio, the Steve Malzberg Show, the Sid Roth Show, Jewish Voice Today, Janet Folger, Jan Markell, Janet Parshal, Kirby Anderson’s Point of View, the New York Daily News, WND, the Blaze, Front Page Magazine and many others.
Joel has been also featured on, or written for numerous radio, television and news outlets across the world including the Glenn Beck Show, the Mike Huckabee Show, the Gordon Liddy Show, the Dennis Miller Show, Chicago Public Radio, the Steve Malzberg Show, the Sid Roth Show, Jewish Voice Today, Janet Folger, Jan Markell, Janet Parshal, Kirby Anderson’s Point of View, the New York Daily News, WND, the Blaze, Front Page Magazine and many others.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 24, 2020
A dear friend asked me to read this book and give my thoughts. I was intrigued at first. The book has some interesting and sometimes insightful things to say about catastrophes, the Lord's hand in them and how the church can be the church in any such situation. There are many things I felt the author simply over stated, pressed in areas that maybe better left to the Holy Spirit. Neither am I in agreement with the books eschatological underlinings.
May 19, 2019
Did Not our Hearts Burn?
This excellent work starts out as a biblical survey of catastrophe and lays out a theology of suffering, and then ties it all together with practical application on who should respond and how they should respond. Inspiring and clarifying with up-to-date research and first person accounts, every frontier missions organization should have recruits read and digest this book.
This excellent work starts out as a biblical survey of catastrophe and lays out a theology of suffering, and then ties it all together with practical application on who should respond and how they should respond. Inspiring and clarifying with up-to-date research and first person accounts, every frontier missions organization should have recruits read and digest this book.
November 19, 2022
Excelente libro! Con una mirada aguda, profunda, bíblica y testimonial de los planes de Dios sobre la tierra, el corazón de Jesús, los últimos tiempos y las misiones. Muy muy bueno!!
March 19, 2019
One of those books that changes world concepts
I'm not going to try to summarize this book. I am going to say READ IT. You probably won't agree with the authors about everything.. I didn't. But I doubt that you will be able to read it without being changed.
I'm not going to try to summarize this book. I am going to say READ IT. You probably won't agree with the authors about everything.. I didn't. But I doubt that you will be able to read it without being changed.
October 23, 2018
Great exposition of God redemptive plan!
I liked the research presented in a logical exposition making it interesting, thought provocative, intelligently written. Must be read and shared!
I liked the research presented in a logical exposition making it interesting, thought provocative, intelligently written. Must be read and shared!
October 25, 2018
This book lays out clearly God's strategic plan for the redemption of the world. The plan has all the parts right down to next step actions to take. Great job guys and may God multiply your troops around the world.
October 20, 2022
Great perspective
Definitely a worthwhile read, however, I do have some reserves about some of the author's opinions. Yet, I find his perspective persuasive and gracious.
Definitely a worthwhile read, however, I do have some reserves about some of the author's opinions. Yet, I find his perspective persuasive and gracious.
March 26, 2024
I disagree with the book's main premises, but there were some parts that provided good food for thought.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews