"For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night," my favorite response to doomsdayers and predictors of the end time. Similar verses are found in more than one book of The Holy Bible. Two of the most commonly known are in 2 Peter and 1 Thessalonians. Apostle John, "The Revelator," writes of his dreams/visions and details in the Book of Revelations events that will precede the end of times. Believers look for the rapture, tribulation, millennium, and other events that according to John's writings will follow the ride of the most famous of all the horses and horsemen mentioned in the Bible. In one of over a dozen books he's written, the spiritual adviser to twelve U. S. Presidents takes a close look at what these four symbols mean, where they came from, where they are going, and what we can do about it.
The Disciples expected the Second Coming to occur in their lifetime. Believers in every succeeding generation have seen the signs and expected it, too. Billy Graham heard the sound of the hoofs in 1983 and wrote Approaching Hoofbeats: The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. My copy came from a garage sale back in Louisiana about five or six years ago. We are approaching the thirtieth anniversary of the publishing of this book, so it's a good time to read what Reverend Graham had to say twenty-seven years ago, put my ear to the ground, and see if I can hear anything.
Most of the books and literature to which I have been exposed regarding the apocalypse have been scholarly, text book type, studious works that were not necessarily easy to read. Graham's writing sounds conversational, friendly, and appealing. It's almost as if he recorded the text and then edited it — maybe he did. When this book appeared out of a pile in a garage sale, I flipped through it, added it to my purchases, and tucked it away for a future read. Not sure how I decided it was time to read it the other day when I unpacked a box and found it, but it made it's way to my nightstand and atop the queue of books to read.
Article comments
1 - Victor Lana
I think this is an enlightening review. In the grand scheme of things, what is 25 years? The concept of "time" is where we need to rethink things.
Something being said to be "near" in the Bible is like saying Alpha Centauri is our closest star. There is being near and then the distance that still exists.
2 - FCEtier
Thanks Victor.
I know in my own perception, I hear the word "near" and automatically think, "in my lifetime". It's hard to resist.
3 - tom chastain
billy graham has a new book out called storm warning on thmas nelson publishing its in the stores now and online great gift idea and wonderful idea for a Bible study
4 - FCEtier
What's it called Tom? Sorry, I couldn't resist!
5 - tom chastain
billy graham has a new book out called storm warning on thmas nelson publishing its in the stores now and online great gift idea and wonderful idea for a Bible study
6 - Lynn Voedisch
Good thing I read until the end. You sum it up nicely.
It is quite possible to be a Christian (of some shape or variety) and not believe that Revelations should be part of the Canon. I'm one of those. Churches battled for many years, hundreds, over whether "John's" dream (and no one knows who really had the vision) had any particular merit. I, and many thelogical thinkers back me up, feel that it completely misrepresents the theme and quest of Christ's mission. He was a prophet of peace and unquestioning love, yet in Revelations he carries a sword and is quick to swoop down on his enemies.
This is my belief only--and certainly an minority one. There is no time or space to go through the argument thoroughly.
However, you do a good job here of making Graham the humble messenger. He did a similar thing in a book on Angels: Messengers of the Divine (not entirely sure of the title). You will find it amusing that I don't believe in Revelations, but I do believe in angels. Graham does a fine job of bringing that subject down to earth, so to speak.
If I couldn't stop arguing with him, I'd probably read this book, but you did a good job presenting the flavor of it.
7 - FCEtier
Thanks Lynn. Since his focus was only on the four horsemen, Graham just covered the first six chapters of Revelations. I'm not sure if he ever addressed the remainder in subsequent writings or not.