From Splendor to Shadow. As part of the Conflict of the Ages series, Prophets and Kings stands out in its narration of both the ups and downs of God's people. From Israel's greatness under Solomon's reign, to her downfall during the Babylonian captivity, and the subsequent history up to the time of Christ, God always had His faithful few who stood for truth in every circumstance. From Splendor to Shadow is a condensed version of these fascinating experiences, and details the lives of so many godly men and women who have gone before us.
- From Splendor to Shadow
- Why You Should Read This Book
- The Glorious Destiny Israel Might Have Had
- Chapter 1—Solomon's Spectacular Beginning
- Solomon's Dream From God
- How to Succeed as a Leader
- Solomon's Brilliant Success
- Chapter 2—Solomon's Magnificent Temple
- The Surpassing Beauty of the Temple
- God's Glory Fills the Temple at Its Dedication
- Solomon's Prayer
- The Lord Warns the King Against Backsliding
- Israel's Greatest Glory
- Chapter 3—Prosperity and Pride Bring Disaster
- The Warning and Solomon's First Wrong Step
- Wealth and Fame Bring a Curse
- Attractive Women Prove a Snare
- None of Us Is Wiser Than Solomon
- Chapter 4—How Solomon Missed His Chance
- Steps That Led to Apostasy
- Visit of the Queen of Sheba
- Another Gross Perversion of God's Plan
- Christ and Solomon Contrasted
- Chapter 5—Solomon's Deep Repentance
- A Prophetic Warning Arouses Solomon
- Solomon Acknowledges His Sin
- Counsel to Youths
- Only Obedience Keeps From Apostasy
- The Effects of Solomon's Apostasy
- Chapter 6—Rehoboam's Arrogance: The Rending of the Kingdom
- The Mistake That Could Never Be Undone
- Rehoboam Fails
- The Aftereffects of Rehoboam's Apostasy
- Chapter 7—Jeroboam Leads Israel Back to Idol Worship
- The King's Defiance Rebuked
- How a Prophet Was Tricked Into Disobeying
- God's Judgment on Jeroboam
- Chapter 8—National Apostasy Brings National Ruin
- King Asa's Good Rule
- A Signal Victory Gained by Trusting God
- Ahab's Wicked Reign Begins
- Chapter 9—Elijah Confronts King Ahab
- Priests of Baal Keep the People Deceived
- Drought and Famine for Two Years
- Chapter 10—The Voice of Stern Rebuke
- Hospitality Rewarded
- Three Years of Drought
- The People Are Finally Ready for Reformation
- Brave Prophet, Guilty King
- Need of Reform Today
- Chapter 11—God Vindicated on Mount Carmel
- No One Has the Courage to Stand With Elijah
- The Prophets of Baal Give Up
- Fire From Heaven Answers Elijah's Simple Prayer
- The Priests of Baal Unrepentant
- Chapter 12—The Prophet Loses Faith, and Panics
- Jezebel Threatens Elijah's Life
- Elijah's Lack of Faith
- Elijah's Utter Despondency
- Chapter 13—“What Doest Thou Here?”
- Many Today Have Not Bowed to Baal
- In Times of Weakness, Trust in God
- Chapter 14—God's Call to Modern Apostates
- How Christ Upheld the Sabbath
- Elijah Is Needed Today!
- The Test That Will Come to All
- Chapter 15—Jehoshaphat, the King Who Believed God
- Jehoshaphat Makes a Mistake
- Armies That Threaten to Destroy Judah
- A Battle Won by a Choir Singing
- Chapter 16—The Fall of the House of Ahab
- Ahaziah Follows the Ways of His Father and Mother
- Modern Satanic Forms of Worship
- Jehu Takes the Kingship
- Chapter 17—Elisha Called to Succeed Elijah
- A Young Man Who Rejected Christ's Call to Service
- The Great Results of Elijah's Work
- Many Will Be Translated Without Tasting Death
- Chapter 18—The Healing of the Waters
- The Lord Still Heals the Bitter Springs
- Chapter 19—Elisha, Gentle Prophet of Peace
- A Family's Hospitality Is Rewarded
- The Poisoned Pottage Made Edible
- Chapter 20—Captain Naaman Healed of Leprosy
- A Captive Girl Encourages Naaman to Seek Healing
- Elisha's Servant Has the Spirit of Judas
- Chapter 21—Elisha's Closing Ministry
- God Honors Elisha's Prophecy
- Elisha's Message Reached the Honest in Heart
- Talk Courage and Hope
- Elisha's Last Days
- Elisha Faithful to the End
- Chapter 22—Jonah, the Prophet Who Ran Away
- Jonah Cast Overboard
- Jonah's Day, and Ours
- Chapter 23—The Decline and Fall of Israel
- Hosea's Gracious Appeals
- Judgments Stayed for a Season
- Swiftly the End Came
- Chapter 24—A Nation “Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge”
- Israel, “Wanderers Among the Nations”
- Chapter 25—Prophet With a Message of Hope
- Isaiah Sent When God's Purposes Seemed to Be Failing
- Final Success Assured
- Chapter 26—Isaiah's Message: “Behold Your God!”
- The Gospel to All the World
- God Will Accept Unworthy Sinners
- The Lord Will Receive You
- Chapter 27—Ahaz Almost Ruins the Kingdom
- Great Peril for the Chosen Nation
- Chapter 28—King Hezekiah Repairs the Damage
- Celebrating the Passover
- The Reformation Spreads
- Chapter 29—Visitors From Babylon See the Wrong Things
- Hezekiah's Tragic Pride
- Our Words Can Help Others
- Chapter 30—An Angel Slays the Assyrian Army
- Faith Inspires Faith
- Judah's Leaders Pray With Contrition
- The Taunts of the Enemy
- The Lord Responds to Judah's Pleadings
- Isaiah's Message Concerning Sennacherib
- Deliverance Comes
- Lessons From the Proud Assyrian Empire
- Chapter 31—Isaiah's “Good News” for All the Nations
- The Captivity Brought “Good News” to Many
- The Church Takes the “Good News” to the World
- Chapter 32—Manasseh and Josiah: The Worst and the Best
- Josiah Resolves to Be True to His Trust
- Habakkuk Bows in Submission to the Lord
- Faith Will Sustain God's People Today
- Chapter 33—The Long-lost Law Book Discovered
- Young Josiah Does All He Can Do
- The King Consults the Lord's Prophetess
- Three-Hundred-Year-Old Prophecy Fulfilled
- Chapter 34—Jeremiah, the Man Who Felt God's Anguish
- A True Prophet Always “Builds”
- God's Marvelous Loving-Kindness
- Jeremiah's Courage Saves His Life
- Jeremiah's Peaceful, Shrinking Disposition
- Chapter 35—Judah's Amazing Stubbornness
- The Faithful Youth Were Encouraged
- The Perversity of King Jehoiakim
- How God Tries to Save Us
- Jeremiah's Second Book
- Chapter 36—Zedekiah, Judah's Last King
- Why Submission Was So Important
- Jeremiah Opposed by Arrogant False Prophets
- Ezekiel Shown Abominations in the Temple
- Chapter 37—Zedekiah Fails His Last Chance
- A Vacillating King's Secret Rendezvous
- An Ethiopian Saves Jeremiah's Life
- Zedekiah Has No Moral Stamina
- The Babylonians Respect Jeremiah
- Chapter 38—Not All Was Lost!
- Jeremiah Overwhelmed With Temptation to Doubt
- Encouragement When All Seemed Lost
- The Church of God Comforted
- The New Covenant Will Solve the Problem of Apostasy
- Chapter 39—Daniel a Captive in Babylon
- Idolatry and Seductive Temptation
- Daniel Appeals to Another Authority
- The Great Results of True Health Reform
- The Secret of Daniel's Success
- Chapter 40—Nebuchadnezzar's Dream of World Empires
- Daniel's Opportunity Has Come
- Daniel's Refreshing Honesty
- The King Is Humbled
- Why Nations and Empires Fail
- Chapter 41—Three Hebrews in the Fiery Furnace
- The Golden Image: The Eternal Glory of Babylon
- The King Tries to Pressure the Hebrews
- God in the Furnace
- A Time of Trouble Such as Never Was
- Chapter 42—Nebuchadnezzar's Seven Years of Madness
- The Attempt to Discover the Meaning
- Nebuchadnezzar's Short-lived Repentance
- Chapter 43—Belshazzar's Feast: Babylon's Last Night
- A Portent of Doom to the King and Guests
- Daniel Holds the King's Sin up Before Him
- Interpretation of the Writing on the Wall
- God's Restraining Hand Removed
- Prophecy Fulfilled
- A Power Overrides the Affairs of Men
- Chapter 44—Daniel in the Lions’ Den
- A Vain King's Remorse
- Daniel Is Thrown in the Lions’ Den
- God Is Able to Deliver
- Daniel the Same in Adversity or Prosperity
- Chapter 45—Cyrus Sets the Exiles Free
- The Time Prophecy Unfolds
- Faithful Daniel Identifies Himself With Unfaithful Israel
- A Carryover From Israel's Ancient Unbelief
- Chapter 46—Bitter Opposition Fails
- Why the Samaritans’ Help Was Refused
- God's People Must Guard Against Subtle Influences
- The Battle Behind the Scenes
- God's Work Grinds to a Halt
- God Sends a Comforting Message
- The Promise of Temporal Prosperity
- The Encouraging Visions of Zechariah
- Chapter 47—Satan, the Accuser; Christ, the Defender
- How Satan Works
- Satan Tries to Discourage God's People
- The Blotting out of Sins
- Chapter 48—The Secret of Success in God's Work
- Man's Way Contrasted With God's Way
- The True Glory of the Second Temple
- Chapter 49—Esther, the Hebrew Girl Who Became Queen
- The Death Decree Against God's People
- The Great Prayer Meeting
- Chapter 50—Ezra, the King's Trusted Friend
- Ezra Studies to Show Himself Approved
- Ezra Becomes a Mouthpiece for the Lord
- The Third Decree Makes Complete Provision
- God's Providence Manifest in Artaxerxes’ Decree
- Only the Trustworthy Are Chosen
- Chapter 51—Ezra Sparks a Spiritual Revival
- The Beginning of Reformation
- The Cause of Corruption: Setting Aside God's Law
- We Are Entering the Last Battle of the Controversy
- Chapter 52—Nehemiah, Man of Prayer and Action
- Nehemiah Waits for God's Opportunity
- God Gave Nehemiah Courage
- Chapter 53—Nehemiah Accomplishes the “Impossible”
- How Nehemiah Won Support
- Nehemiah's Example Wins the Day
- Building With One Hand, Fighting With the Other
- Chapter 54—Nehemiah Bravely Rebukes Selfishness
- The Gospel Can Cure Modern Economic Injustice
- Chapter 55—Union With the World Hinders God's Cause-
- God's Servant Sees Through the Plot
- Chapter 56—The Joy of Forgiveness and Healing
- Chapter 57—Nehemiah's Painful Work of Reformation
- The Leaders Had Favored Wrong
- Constant Struggle With Opposing Elements
- “Nehemiahs” Today Lead Out in Sabbath Reformation
- Chapter 58—Darkness Precedes the Dawn
- How the Sanctuary Services Revealed the Saviour
- The True Character of the Messiah Revealed
- The Important Work: Deliverance From Sin
- The Time of Christ's First Coming Specified
- Chapter 59—Where Is God's True Israel?
- Malachi Reveals the Secret of Prosperity
- How the Sanctuary Services Were Perverted
- Israel Rejects Her Messiah
- A Self Application
- The New Israel Which Replaces the Old
- Light Will Penetrate the World's Darkness
- Chapter 60—Visions of a Glorious Future
- Human Pride Will Be Laid Low
- The Resurrection From the Dead