"Going beyond the common "text-in-context" approach to Paul's letter to Timothy, Dr. Henry T. Hudson introduces "pretext-and-subtext" into his exposition. He does this in order to bring home to the hearts of contemporary Christians what lay at the center of Paul's concern for the challenges that were before Timothy as he took over the leadership of the Church. Paul was in prison in Rome and was awaiting execution. The madman Nero was emperor. There were many false prophets abroad, and Christians everywhere were suffering persecution. Paul even told Timothy that "in the last days perilous times shall come." How would he then counsel him? He was, comparatively speaking, a young man. He was also afficted with frequent infirmities. Pastor Hudson explores what Paul wrote, and he does so, trying to enter into the mind and heart of Paul. He is of the opinion that what he wrote has pratical bearing for Christians facing the challenges of life in the twentieth century."

This book, "Putting It All Together," is a collection of studies that appeared in a serial form in Dr. Hudson's monthly "Bible" study mailings. They attempt to show how certain key words dispersed throughout the "Bible" interrelate. The end result serves to highlight the unity and continuity underlying the whole of "Holy Scripture." Also, by applying the hermeneutical principle of progressive revelational development, he explains not only how the various parts and doctrines integrate but how they point toward one grand finale.

Rather than a verse by verse exposition of the Revelation, Dr Henry T. Hudson follows what he calls "A Pass in Review." He is interested more in the sweep of the book than in the jots and tittles. His conviction is that when a reader is able to comprehend the interrelationships between the various sections he will be able to apprehend its main message. As stated in this book, he does not want "any single tree" to block the view of the whole forest.

It is a well known fact that the Revelation has been judged to be the most difficult book in the Bible. John Calvin, who wrote a wealth of commentaries on the books of thew Bible, wrote no commentary on the Revelation. Thomas Jefferson removed the book from his Bible. Carl Jung was of the opinion that no one believes the prophecies found therein. And even the "Blessed Jerome" was of the opinion that the Revelation "has as many interpretations as it has words," and "the layers of its meaning exceed the numbers of its words," but as Dr. Hudson points out, the opening verses make it very clear that there are both spiritual and practical blessings waiting for those who receive, search, and keep its message. He insists, those who possess the right spiritual attitude of both mind and heart will find that the book is "like a light that shineth in a dark place," and that it is an integral part, yea it can be called the climax of biblical prophecy.

The front cover comes from a portion of the fresco of Luca Signorelli (circa 1499 AD) that appears on the walls and ceiling of the Cathredral in Orvieto, Italy.

The Bible uses the analogy of physical birth and growth in order to illustrate how one becomes a child of God, and how as such, spiritual growth and development then become possible. Dr. Hudson expounds systematically how the biblical principles in the analogy should be understood and applied. His discussion of Diet and Discipline, under the regimen of faith, carry over into steady spiritual growth and development. He invites all Christians to consider what is expected of them, even in their daily living, if they expect to bring glory to God. He does not pull any punches, but lets his reader know that continuing a childlike level of development can not only bring discontentment to himself, but also great displeasure to God.

"Ahead Lies Yesterday and Tomorrow" begins by answering the three major problems that seem to conspire in turning people away from a sincere attempt to understand Bible prophecy: i.e. (1) figurative language, (2) impracticability and irrelevance, and (3) controversy among so-called "experts."

The format follows the principle of progressive revelational development. It unfolds a panorama of the content of Holy Scripture, and it demonstrates how the various parts come together into a unified whole.

The title of the book was suggested by the words of Nathaniel West, one of America's greatest scholars of biblical prophecy, who wrote: "All history is in some sense 'typical.' That which has been, is, and that which is, shall be."

Thus, not only "tomorrow" lies in the future, but also so does "yesterday." This insight is clearly suggested by the Lord Jesus Christ who said: "And as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man....Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed." Luke 27:26-30.

This book by Dr Henry T. Hudson is a collection of studies that first appeared in serial form in his monthly Bible study mailings. They are selections from his written dialogue with various pastors over the last ten years. Apart from the first four, which are inserted by way of emphasizing the authority of Holy Scripture, the rest focus, as the subtitle declares, on reviewing and refining dispensational thinking in areas such as: Biblical prophecy, the Kingdom of God, and the nature of the mystery that was revealed to the Apostle Paul. While accepting and advocating the pragmatic value of the dispensational approach to the Bible, Dr. Hudson is never-the-less of the opinion that some of the deductive reasoning associated with this approach has allowed questionable premises to dictate faulty interpretations. In consequence, there are chinks in the armor.

"Thessalonians: Then & Now" works on the assumption that what Paul had to say to those he addressed, concerned matters they could understand. While they were not seminary trained professional theologians, or pastors, they could nevertheless as rank and file work a day Christians, understand the face value meaning of his words. More than this, what Paul had to say had practical bearing on their lives at that moment in history. Hence, while 1900 years of Christian history may have added a superfluity of extra-biblical traditions to Christian faith and practice, the original fountain remains, and modern day Christians can still drink there and receive spiritual nourishment for their lives today.

"Thessalonians: Then & Now" is a book that does not reflect any particular biased contemporary denominational agenda, but instead it seeks to permit the text to speak for itself and thus allow Christians to relate biblical truth to their personal lives in the world in which we live.