What on Earth Is God Doing?

Dr. Renald Showers, in his book "What on Earth is God Doing?" takes the reader through history showing the conflict that is taking place between the sovereign God of the Universe and Satan, the angelic being, who appears as an angel of light. Beginning with Adam and Eve and journeying through the OT, Dr. Showers shows how God overrides Satan's ploy to prevent Jesus from coming into the world. Since Jesus did come, the author notes how Satan tried to prevent Jesus from going to the cross, but failed, and how Satan has brought Apostasy into the church through out church history only to see God's faithfulness in overcoming the attempts of Satan. Much of the conflict on the world scene can be traced to this cosmic battle between the sovereign God and Satan. This book enables the reader to see the conflict that is going one in history, even to this present day, historically and personally. It is a must read.

It is a pleasure to recommend this noteworthy addition to Dr. Showers growing collection of biblical studies in which he shows us the "continuing war of the ages between God and Satan". He goes on to state that over the ages humanity has been wrestling with three major questions: Where have we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going? These questions set the stage for the author's chapter-by-chapter development of a philosophy of history as shown in the Bible--from eternity past to eternity future. Along the way, Renald Showers gives us glimpses of how this battle between God and Satan has played out during various periods of history. During the past, present, and future we can see how this unfolds according to God's sovereign will. Being faithful to the use of a single normative method of interpretation across the whole of Scripture, Dr. Showers viewpoint is naturally premillennial, pre-tribulational, and normative dispensational. In looking back at history, it is interesting to note that the apostasy of the church is linked to its becoming the official and only religion of the Roman Empire in 380 A.D. At that time, the church began to Christianize pagan practices (syncretism), and when joined with the state started persecuting other religions. Even though all other attempts since then have resulted in the same disaster (look at most of Europe), some evangelicals believe we should try again, and that we must subdue the world with Christianity so that Christ will be able to return... Dr. Showers also shows how allegorical methods of interpreting the Scriptures can be traced back through Roman Catholic St. Augustine to Origen (185-254 A.D.). Through the influences of men like St. Augustine (354-430 A.D.), many errors entered the church, and church tradition became equal to, or above the authority of the Bible. Through his adoption of allegory, St. Augustine also became the first to reject premillennialism and taught that the Roman church is the kingdom. He also misinterpreted Scripture to support his persecution of groups like the Donatists who separated from and opposed the Church of Rome and infant baptism. This laid the groundwork for the Inquisitions. St. Augustine thus became the most influential of the founding fathers of the Roman Catholic Church, but it is ironic that he is still venerated by many influential evangelicals today like John Piper. Since it is usually glossed over by historians, be sure to read the section, "The Internal Attacks Against Protestantism" which relates a brief history of groups like the Anabaptists and their persecution by other Reformers. Although John Calvin isn't mentioned by name, he was the most infamous. Finally, chapter 8 has a good discussion of the end times--from the rapture of the church to eternity future. While my edition is only about 130 pages, as a history enthusiast, I still appreciated the author's concise treatment of each period. If you don't have the time or money to invest in

I've had a great time reading this short book. Historical events are seen, at last, from a meaningful perspective: the long conflict between God's plan and Satan's revolutionary plan to spoil it. This is a gigantic work of synthesis of historical events, all flowing to an inevitable conclusion. But if it was (it is) inevitable then "why does God let the rebellion go on so long? Why couldn't He have demonstrated His sovereignty by crushing Satan as soon as he rebelled?" Well, the answer comes out pretty obvious at the end of the book. If you are the kind of history buff that always wonders why we still have so much evil in our crazy world -despite all the efforts against (apparently)- then this is your book. If the trees don't let you see the wood, this will provide you with just the right vantage point.

Excellent overview of what God is doing in the world. This is a favorite in our library and to give as gifts.

This book looks at the expanse of human history from a biblical point of view, linking and making sense of its great figures/events/ movements, and in the process addressing the huge questions of life--who are we, what's the meaning of it all, why do the wicked prosper, how's it going to turn out, and so on. The author starts out in eternity past (pre-Adam and Eve) and keeps the flow of history moving along quickly and connectedly, all the while in parentheses noting the relevant verse citations to back up his assertions, evidencing that this philosophy of history is not based on private speculation, but on what is revealed in the Bible by a God who transcends time and space and really does have a plan that runs thru history.