A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days by Jonathan Bernis

 Surprising Insights on Israel, the End Times and Popular Misconceptions

“What if everything you know about the End Times is wrong?” –Johnathan Bernis

I  have always been intrigued by the subjects of Israel and the End Times. Perhaps it is something I inherited from my mother, a woman who read every piece of material she could find on the subject. Unfortunately, as with anything, there is a lot of bad information that has been mixed up with the good. Anyone with the internet can Google the words “End Times” and come up with an endless amount of websites, many of which provide misinformation.

Who was Jesus (Yeshua)? He was a Jew. Who were his disciples? Jews. His parents? Jews. Jesus (Yeshua) celebrated the feasts, observed the Sabbath, and even said in John 4:22 that “salvation is from the Jews”. As believers grafted into God’s people Israel, do we sometimes forget who our Savior is and where He came from? Is it possible that we have left behind our roots, thinking that Israel no longer matters?

Messianic Rabbi Jonathan Bernis sets the record straight by answering these questions and more in his book  A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days, A: Surprising Insights on Israel, the End Times and Popular Misconceptions. Bernis discusses his own path to salvation and coming to know Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah. He shares how, throughout his time in ministry, a great number of Jews have also come to know Christ as Lord and Savior. What is Israel’s role in End Times prophecy? How can we, as Christians, help usher in these final days? What is our role, or more importantly, what is Israel’s role? If you want to know, the Bible has the answers. In “A Rabbi Looks at the Last Days” Bernis offers guidance through the scriptures as he takes you on a journey of discovery and reminds you of where our Savior truly came from.

What I liked…

The author’s energetic and lively writing is not only evangelistic but entertaining. He remains truthful and Biblical throughout the book while refraining from sounding condescending. In recent years, I have begun to discover a few things about the End Times that tend to go against the more popular views. For so many years I was taught without ever looking into God’s Word for myself. While the subject can be daunting and confusing at times, the truth is in the Bible for anyone who wants to take a good look. Bernis makes it clear that Israel’s salvation plays a vital role, one that must not be overlooked.

I enjoyed looking at the Bible and Christianity through the perspective of one who rejected Jesus (Yeshua) as Messiah for so many years. Bernis shares that what you are preaching is not necessarily what Jews are hearing. He covers the history of anti-semitism and how the Jews have been persecuted time and time again, often by “Christians” who forebode them from observing the Feast Days or other such Jewish Biblical traditions.

“The Bible declares that there is only one plan of salvation for all people,” Bernis says. Jew and Gentile alike, we are all sinners and we all need Jesus (Yeshua) the Messiah to save us from those sins. He explains that when Jews hear the name “Jesus” they hear “God of Christianity”. They are not being shown the Messiah in a way that they can accept Him. We need to show them Jesus (Yeshua) in a new light and Bernis shares just how to do that in his book.

I truly enjoyed how informative and eye opening this book was. I was not bored, but rather thirsted for more. There are scripture references throughout and I had to keep my Bible close at hand so I could look something up when I needed to. I would often get side tracked and read a whole chapter in the Bible so that I could put Bernis’ references into context. His interpretations are right on and leave nothing to question.  I am planning on passing this book around to people I know so that they too can gain a new perspective on the subject of the End Times, Israel, and the promise of salvation for both Jew and Gentile.

Recommendation…

Are you ready for your eyes to be opened? Do you have questions about how to witness to your Jewish friends? Do you want to know what the Bible says about these (present tense) last days? Then read this book. Don’t forget that in the end it is up to you to study the Bible and see what God’s Word says. Teachers are great, but in the end only the Holy Spirit within you can ultimately reveal the truth. Pray before, during, and after you read this book. You may just gain a new understanding of Bible prophecy and come to know your Savior even more personally than before.

About the Author…

Jonathan Bernis, president and CEO of Jewish Voice Ministries International, lives in Phoenix with his wife and daughters. Other books by Jonathan include  A Rabbi Looks at Jesus of Nazareth and Confessing the Hebrew Scriptures. You can learn more about Jonathan and his ministry by visiting JewishVoice.org.

 

I received this book for review through the Bethany House Blogger Program. I was not asked to write a positive review. All views and opinions expressed are solely and completely my own. This post also contains affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy to read more.

Copyright © 2013 Sara Ella