Christopher Glyn

The second book of Kings depicts Israel as a land divided, being ruled by wicked kings who lead the Israelite people only further into idolatry and sin. Throughout this period, the prophets, notably Elijah and Elisha, bring hope for repentance and reformation by performing astounding miracles and spreading the word of God. Their efforts to lead the Israelites from their stubborn and disobedient path are chronicled in 2 Kings and, once again, God shows...

The book of Nahum speaks of the prophet by the same name that was sent to the wicked city of Nineveh to prophesy of their impending doom because they had repented only temporarily and returned soon after to sin. Nahum portrays the dangers of false and inconsistent piety and faithfulness to God as well as the consequences which follow.

The final book of the Bible, Revelation was written by the Apostle John during his exile to the Isle of Patmos. This book contains the clearest prophecies about the second coming of Jesus in the Bible and predicts both the judgment to come upon the non-believers in the Tribulation, as well as the infinite rewards for the true Christians. A thrilling, engaging and truly inspirational book, Revelation reveals the final chapter in the Earth's history...

The first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch, were written by Moses and are an important introduction to the rest of the Bible as they contain the history of the Jewish people from the creation of the world to their exile in the desert for forty years. These books also contain the divine laws which form the basis of Judaism and give instructions on how to live a holy life as God's chosen people.

The book of Exodus details the events that led up to the mass departure of the Israelite people from Egypt, where they had been slaves for hundreds of years. The early life of Moses, the author of all five books of the Torah, is recounted in these passages and depicts his journey from being raised as a prince of Egypt to becoming the leader of the Israelites and delivering them from Egyptian bondage. At the end of Exodus is a set of laws, including...

Something of a sequel to the book of Exodus, the book of Leviticus continues to relay God's commandments to the Israelites - but in more detail. Here, Moses gives divine instructions on the procedures and traditions used in sacrifice, atonement and daily life, many of which are still adhered to by the Jewish religion today. Throughout this book, the idea of God's holiness is emphasized, as well as the understanding that God's chosen people were to...

The last of the Gospels, the book of John was written by the disciple John the Beloved. This gospel emphasizes the undeniable truth that Jesus was the Son of God, and demonstrates the need for this belief in order to be saved. John includes many miracles performed by Jesus throughout his life as proof of his divinity. As the disciple whom Jesus loved, John also inspires a deep love of God through his writing and encourages a closer relationship with...

Similar to 1 Chronicles, 2 Chronicles is the history of the Israelites retold from the perspective of the prophet Ezra. This book begins with the reign of King Solomon and the subsequent division of Israel into the northern and southern tribes. The latter, who were led by King Solomon's son, Rehoboam, and their continued waywardness, are the focuses of these passages, as well as the eventual overthrow of the Israelites by the Assyrians and the Babylonians....

The book of Joel was written before the destruction of Israel and, like the other prophetic books of the Old Testament, prophecies of the judgment to come upon them. Joel draws upon the signs of nature and natural forces to predict their impending downfall, as a result of the Israelites' continued rebellion and sin.

The story of Ruth was written during the time of the judges in Israel and portrays an alternate view of the otherwise graphic and immoral events which took place as a result of the Israelite's sin and unfaithfulness to God. Although it is also a beautifully written love story, Ruth is an encouraging reminder that obedience to God and adherence to His laws, even in difficult times, brings blessings and rewards.