📖 Overview
Promised Messiah is a theological work by Bruce R. McConkie that examines prophecies and doctrines concerning Jesus Christ's mortal ministry and future return. The book analyzes both ancient and modern scripture to establish patterns in messianic prophecy.
McConkie presents detailed scriptural analysis from the Old Testament, New Testament, Book of Mormon, and Latter-day Saint texts to trace predictions of Christ's first and second comings. His research covers prophetic writings spanning thousands of years and multiple religious traditions.
The work focuses on key theological concepts like the nature of prophecy, divine foreknowledge, and the role of covenant relationships in religious history. Each chapter builds on previous sections to construct a framework for understanding messianic prophecies.
The text serves as both a scholarly reference and a doctrinal exposition on the relationship between prophetic writings and religious faith. Through its systematic approach, the book explores fundamental questions about divine communication and the purpose of prophetic revelation.
👀 Reviews
Readers describe this doctrinal work as dense but informative, with detailed analysis of prophecies and scriptures about Jesus Christ's Second Coming. Many reviews note that it requires multiple readings to fully grasp.
Readers appreciate:
- Comprehensive scriptural citations and cross-references
- Clear explanations of complex theological concepts
- Historical context for prophecies
- Strong organizational structure
Common criticisms:
- Academic writing style can be difficult to follow
- Some passages are repetitive
- Length and depth may overwhelm casual readers
- Limited coverage of non-LDS perspectives
Ratings:
Goodreads: 4.5/5 (82 ratings)
Amazon: 4.7/5 (31 ratings)
Deseret Book: 4.8/5 (13 ratings)
One reader noted: "McConkie's thoroughness makes this a reference I return to often." Another mentioned: "The formal language takes getting used to, but the content rewards patient study."
Some readers recommend starting with simpler doctrinal books before tackling this volume.
📚 Similar books
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The Life and Teachings of Jesus Christ by Richard Neitzel Holzapfel and Thomas A. Wayment A volume combining historical context, scriptural analysis, and doctrinal insights about Jesus Christ's mortal ministry.
The Life and Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith by Richard E. Turley Jr., William W. Slaughter An exploration of Joseph Smith's prophetic role and teachings regarding the restoration of Christ's gospel in modern times.
The House of the Lord by James E. Talmage A study of temples throughout religious history and their connection to Christ's redemptive work.
The Articles of Faith by James E. Talmage A systematic explanation of fundamental Mormon beliefs about Christ's gospel and its restoration in the latter days.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔹 Bruce R. McConkie wrote this book while serving as an apostle in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and completed it just two years before his death in 1985.
🔹 The book explores over 300 prophecies about Jesus Christ found in ancient scripture, detailing how they were fulfilled during His mortal ministry.
🔹 As part of McConkie's six-volume "Gospel Series," Promised Messiah serves as a companion to his earlier work "The Mortal Messiah," which focuses on Christ's earthly life.
🔹 The author spent over 20 years researching and writing the book, drawing from his extensive knowledge of biblical languages and ancient Near Eastern history.
🔹 Though published in 1978, the book remains one of the most comprehensive Latter-day Saint works on messianic prophecy, containing nearly 700 pages of detailed analysis and commentary.