LDS Books: Final Countdown

After six millennia of human history, seven events are about to lead the way to the Second Coming of Christ. These dramatic occurrences will seem supernatural and even unbelievable, as each emerges upon the stage of history in the final act of a drama that began six thousand years ago. In culmination of these events, Christ will return to the earth and the Millennium will begin.

For centuries the prophets have predicted the events preceding the Second Coming. Now, as time grows short, it is ever more important to be wary and watchful for the signs of the times. The events of the final countdown may seem unbelievable, but everything that has been predicted by the prophets will soon take place.

Reviews -

Few events are as discussed and speculated about as much as the Second Coming. It has long been prophesied by prophets the world over, and many religions have some sort of similar belief, that the world will come to an end and how it will take place. In "The Final Countdown: The Seven Final Events Before the Second Coming," author Clay McConkie looks at it from an LDS perspective, using the Book of Revelations, the Doctrine and Covenants, and also modern revelation, particularly through the Prophet Joseph Smith, to delineate the last events that will lead up to the return of Jesus Christ.

We begin with a chapter entitled "The Question of the Sixth Seal," in which the author attempts to define just where the sixth seal ends and the seventh begins. As we look at the prophecies that fall under those two headings and when the events mentioned therein are supposed to take place, we notice an overlap between them. The line seems a little bit fuzzy. As we go through the book, this fuzzy line is mentioned here and there, but I think that it's not so important to know what seal each event belongs to as to be paying attention to events as they happen and to be aware of them.

Other chapters are "A Time of Silence," "The Quiet Before the Storm," and one that held particular interest for me, "The Valley of Adam-ondi-Ahman." This valley is located in Missouri, and I had the opportunity to visit there as a teenager. It's a beautiful place, rich with spiritual feeling and historical importance. The chapter speaks of the gathering that has been foretold to take place there, and what that gathering will mean.

We also read about the law of restoration, the signs in the heavens, the gathering of the Ten Tribes, and the curtain of Heaven. In many of these instances, the author had to use conjecture, because so few of the details of these events are actually known to us. But he lays out the information that we do have and acquaints us with the things that are expected to take place.

This book is fairly short, only ninety-eight pages, so it doesn't go into a lot of depth and detail, but if you're looking for an overview of the final events to get them straight in your mind, it would be a good resource.