Mark Hitchcock

I read this book as an antidote to reading John Hagee's book Four Blood Moons. This book was written at least in part as a response to Hagee's book. Hitchcock gave me some hope again that there are still some pastors with a balanced view of prophecy. Hagee, quite frankly, was profiteering on his reputation as a prophecy teacher/pastor. Hitchcock gives sound reasons why Hagee is not making any sense in his book. At the same time, Hitchcock is able to provide SOUND reasons to continue to pay show more attention to prophecy. I highly recommend Blood Moons Rising, even if only for the third appendix in which he gives his "proposed" chronology of the events to come in the end times. You may not agree with it all, but then again, Hitchcock is not saying you have to. This is his best attempt at making sense of what is still to come.
I will also point out that Hitchcock is much more irenic than I can hope to be. He is still building bridges and giving people a chance to seek for unity and to give people a chance to grow.
On the other hand, I do not feel the need to be as gracious as he was here. I do not believe that I will ever read anything by or listen to anything that Hagee promotes. Someone for whom I have great respect will have to point me towards something that he or she feels Hagee has said or done that merits consideration first. Hitchcock shows excellent theological knowledge and balance as well as good writing and sound logic. He is insightful and helpful. If Biblical prophecy interests you, you will find much to benefit in this slim book. show less

This book gives a very plausible description of what would happen if electric power was off for a few months. But, as I read I was wondering: where is the “Christian” part of the story? It appears later in the book, and it takes over. But I would not call it Christian. I would be better described as anti-Christian or even better, satanic. A part of the story is a very twisted version of the temptation of Christ. I am not sure that the Christ figure even believes in God.

This book show more doesn’t end. It just stops. Leaving me very depressed and wish I hadn’t read it. I will not be reading other titles by these authors. Believers will not like the ending of this book. Don’t read it. show less

Thought provoking book about near death experiences, both what many people claim happened to them and what the Bible says will happen. There's lots of rhetoric on both sides of the argument, and Hitchcock sites many different sources for each. Ultimately he wants us to see that these 'visits to heaven' aren't in keeping with the Christian faith, and that to believe in them is selling out faithfulness in God's word.
The writing is straightforward and meticulous, and the book is laid out in an show more organized methodical fashion, which helps keep all these ideas straight.
Well written & thought provoking, this one will keep you thinking long after you put it down.
*I received an arc from NetGalley for an honest review show less

The Coming Apostasy: Exposing the Sabotage of Christianity from Within by Mark Hitchcock and Jeff Kinley is a very highly recommended plea to the church to return to sound Biblical teaching.

Apostasy is falling away from the faith. It is the rejection of sound and wholesome teaching that is based on the Bible. The Bible warns that, "For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will show more tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths." 2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)

"Apostasy represents an abandonment of faith, and it can happen over time without a person realizing it. In fact, just the opposite may occur, as pride mixed with false doctrine leads to an attitude of superiority, complacency, and self-righteousness." Authors Hitchcock and Kinley have four purposes for writing this book: (1) to help Christians understand what apostasy is; (2) to help us understand that it’s surging all around us and is a serious sign of the end times; (3) to guard us from spiritual shipwreck and the danger of sinking; and (4) to help us understand the truth so that we stay on course as we await Christ’s return.

Many Christians can see that we are living in a time when sound doctrine is under siege and the Bible is being reduced to an outdated book of suggestions. It seems that people are more concerned with how they feel about whatever moral or theological topic is under consideration rather than what the Bible says. As pride mixes with false doctrine, it "leads to an attitude of superiority, complacency, and self-righteousness." Individuals, churches, and whole denominations are subject to a falling away from sound doctrine. Our guide to what is right and wrong should be the Bible.

The word of God does not change - people do. God does not compromise or rewrite his truth - people do. And in our quest to be relevant and up-to-date we are trying to please unbelievers by compromising the very inerrant and infallible word of God. Bringing home the point that it is currently unconscionable that we are even considering negotiating with a certain ideology that believes they have "holy mandate" to subjugate or kill outsiders. Right now Hitchcock and Kinley are spot on in their observation that: "The war in the East is to establish a religion. The war in the West is to eradicate a religion."

The Coming Apostasy is well written and organized, making it easy for readers to follow and understand the points being made. I agree with everything written in it, although I would prefer one or maybe two translations of the Bible be used rather than five, or at least do a parallel version to see/compare alternate translations. This is just a personal preference, but I also understand why different translations can make points easier to comprehend for a wide variety of people.

Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Tyndale House Publishers.
on 3/5/17: http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1929979255 show less