"What in the World is Going On?" by David Jeremiah

David Jeremiah needs no introduction.  He's a leading figure among Evangelicals and serves as senior and preaching pastor of a very influential church in America.  He's a best-selling author of multiple books covering many different topics and has a radio show that reaches many every day.  One of his most recent books, titled What in the World is Going On?: 10 Prophetic Clues You Cannot Afford to Ignore, tackles the issue of eschatology - the study of the end times.

Before one can review or critique the book, one must understand Jeremiah's eschatological standing.  He is a dispensationalists.  He believes in the Pre-Trib rapture and affirms premillenialism.  He quotes guys like Tim Lahaye favorably and holds to an eschatology currently popular and mainstream among American Christians.  That itself is not controversial, but a necessary understanding one must have in order to read and assess this book.

The author offers what he calls "10 prophetic clues" regarding the end times.  I interpretted this as clear and distinct signs, but the book doesn't really offer that.  Instead, what he offers is ten unmistakable events that will either lead to eschatological events or are eschatological events.  For example, the author dedicates a chapter on oil.  Nowhere in end time prophecy in Scripture does it say that oil will be a sign of the end times.  However, what Jeremiah sees with the issue of oil (and how it is the "black gold" of our society that drives everything including political alignments, trade, and peace agreements) as a pivotal issue that will likely usher in end times issues.  It is because of oil that middle eastern countries are major factors in international politics.  It is over oil that many nations have fought while others have entered into trade agreements. 

Also, there are chapters that we have no clear and present sign.  One such example is his chapter on the Antichrist.  Jeremiah correctly notes that who we refer to as the Antichrist goes by a number of names in Scripture and only the Epistles of John mention antichrist(s).  However, that does not mean that the Antichrist is the product of wishful thinking or foolish predictions.  Jeremiah lays out the biblical evidence for the Antichrist and discusses what he will be like, how he will rise to power, and what he will do.  However, the Antichrist is not clearly known right now.  Instead, what Jeremiah does is discuss issues like the European Union and the role it might play as a fulfillment of Daniels prophecy.

Jeremiah offers a fascinating book but nothing really new.  Anyone familiar with the writings of Lahaye or John Hagee have heard similar things before.  Though Jeremiah is more reserved in his interpretations and applications than similar authors (including Lahaye, Hagee, and Joel Rosenberg), the same arguement is made.  Israel is seen as the center piece and key to end times fulfillment.  The birth of nation gets the first chapter for that very reason.

For those wishing to understand dispensationists more this is a fairly good place to start.  Jeremiah walks the reader through the biblical text without sounding academic and stuck in an ivory tower, nor does he sound like the stereotypical dispensationists who believes President Barack Obama to be the Antichrist.  For those who reject dispensationism may want to stay away.  You will disagree with his conclusions and applications.  But at the end of the day the same advice can be given to every eschatological book especially ones that seek to offer the reader clear and present "signs of the times."  Jeremiah simply adds to a conversation that has been going on for some time.


I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”





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Pastors Blog - "Storm Warning" by Billy Graham
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Reviews - "Heaven" 
Pastors Blog - The Early Church Fathers on the Rapture:  Some Quotes 
Pastors Blog - Weekly Recommendation:  "The Theology of the Book of Revelation" 
Pastors Blog - Sermons on the Olivet Discourse 
Pastors Blog - Billy Graham on Eschatology 
Review - "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns 
Review - "Saint Patrick" by Jonathan Rogers
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Review - "Sir Winston Churchill"