The following books by Ed Rickard are currently available.

Paperback or Kindle eBook

Signs of the Times: Reasons We Know the Rapture Is Near, by Ed Rickard

All true Christians eagerly await the return of Jesus Christ. An expectation that He is coming soon has been building among serious Christians for over a century. What is the evidence that indeed we do not have long to wait for this momentous turning point in history? The book we are offering carefully develops a proper framework for the study of Bible prophecy, shows in great detail how the present world conforms exactly to the world that prophecy sets before the Rapture, clearly lays out the characteristics of any professing Christian who is truly eligible to be taken by Christ, and gives a sobering picture of what will happen after the Tribulation begins.

This title is available from Amazon as either a paperback or Kindle eBook. Last revision was 8/17/22.

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Paperback

The Living Word: A Survey of Evidence That Jesus Is the Christ, by Ed Rickard

Anyone who wants to justify unbelief in Christ has an impossible task. He must arbitrarily, or with shallow excuses, throw aside a mountain of contrary evidence. He must pretend that all the Old Testament prophecies giving specific details of Jesus' life and ministry are merely a bizarre coincidence, unlike anything else to be found in the whole realm of human literature. He must cast aside all the eyewitness testimony affirming the miracles and resurrection of Christ. When told that the fathers of the church accepted a martyr's death rather than recant their faith, he must pronounce them fools. Someday he will stand before God in judgment. He will then realize that he has no case to present in his own defense.

This book is available from Amazon as a paperback. Last revision was 7/21/23.

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Paperback

To Our Rescue: The Crucifixion and Resurrection of Christ, by Ed Rickard

Here is a careful and detailed retelling of all events in Jesus' life from the Last Supper until His ascension. The account is enriched as much as possible by relevant ancient literature and by the findings of modern scholars. Yet beyond the basic facts, the account also illumines the spiritual dimensions of Jesus' experience and explains their significance for every reader. In brief, Jesus died to save us from our sins, and He rose again because He is the eternal God who will grant victory over death to all who believe in Him.

This book is available from Amazon as a paperback. It was published on 7/23/23.

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Paperback

The Nativity: All about the First Christmas, by Ed Rickard

The Biblical account of Christ’s Second Coming, when He descends through the clouds and puts down decisively every one of His enemies, shows Him in all His grandeur. In contrast, the Biblical account of His birth shows Him in all His humility, for to accomplish our salvation He was willing to become a helpless babe under the care of a Jewish couple who had neither wealth nor social prestige to recommend them. In all likelihood they were just teenagers living at the edge of poverty.

This book is available from Amazon as a paperback. Last revision was 1/1/23.

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Paperback or Hardcover

Daniel Explained: A Commentary on the Book of Daniel, by Ed Rickard

Here is one of the most comprehensive and extensively researched commentaries on the Book of Daniel ever written. It offers a thorough treatment of both the dramatic episodes and the prophetic visions. For each story about Daniel and his friends, it fills in the historical background and develops spiritual applications. For each prophecy, it furnishes a tightly reasoned interpretation accepting the prophecy as supernatural in origin. Over 460 pages in length, this commentary offers vital information to every reader.

Among other contributions, it amasses compelling evidence that the book is an authentic writing of Daniel, the great Jewish statesman who lived in the 6th century BC. It fully explains the riddle of the 69 weeks—the prophecy foretelling when Jesus would come. In its analysis of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream image, it is the first to establish conclusively what the feet represent. The feet—a picture of the final great empire before Jesus returns—are the United Nations, and the toes are the ten regional governments now embracing virtually all nations of the world. Also, it revives and defends the ancient view of the church that the Antichrist will come from Syro-Iraq.

The whole commentary is available from Amazon as either a paperback or hardcover. It is now in its fourth edition, published 7/20/20. Last revision was 10/26/22.

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Paperback

Treasury of Wisdom: Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount, by Ed Rickard

It would be no exaggeration to say that the Sermon on the Mount is the greatest ever preached. It is absolutely fundamental to the Christian life. You cannot pretend to make good decisions in life if your heart and mind have not been shaped by this sermon. Do you know it? Do you understand it? This book explores in detail the relevance of Jesus' sermon to the moral decisions required of a Christian in a complex world saturated with sin.

This book is available from Amazon as a paperback. The book was published on 2/7/24.

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Paperback

The Mighty God: A Survey of the Theistic Arguments, by Ed Rickard

Anyone who wants to deny the existence of God has an impossible task. He must arbitrarily, or with shallow excuses, throw aside a mountain of contrary evidence. He must decide either that our universe has existed forever, even though its energy is constantly draining to an unusable form, or that it sprang from nowhere out of nothing. He must pretend that the elegant design of our universe is the mere product of cosmic accidents. He must imagine that living cells with a complexity vastly greater than any machine man has built just came along by chance. He must fancy that his own powers of consciousness and reason sprang into being when nature happened to arrange mindless atoms in a certain way. Someday he will stand before God in judgment. He will then realize that he has no case to present in his own defense.

This book is available from Amazon as a paperback. Last revision was 7/27/23.

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Paperback or Hardcover

Primer of the Christian Life: A Detailed Map of the Pilgrim's Road, by Ed Rickard

This title is designed to serve as the textbook for a yearlong course on basic Christianity. The course objective is to teach in detail all the disciplines essential to growing in Christ. The thirty-four topics include faith, repentance, belonging to a church, daily devotions, prayer, finding God's will, the world, the flesh, the devil, witnessing, suffering, persecution, and our heavenly home.

A full discussion of each topic is followed by study questions. At the end of the book is a curriculum guide as well as an extended list of Christian biographies.

The course is best suited for college, but may be adapted for an adult class in church or a Bible class at the secondary level. Among its unique features is frequent use of illustrations from history and literature.

All the lessons are available on this website, but only the printed version includes the many scholarly references, the curriculum guide, and the list of Christian biographies. It also offers the convenience and eye appeal of a handheld book.

The whole primer is available from Amazon as either a paperback or hardcover. Last revision was 6/20/23.

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Paperback

Stories Rich In Meaning: The Parables of Jesus, by Ed Rickard

Jesus spoke in parables because hidden within these simple stories is profound spiritual truth. For many hearers this truth is inaccessible because their hearts have waxed gross, their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes are closed. Yet His beloved disciples in all times and places can understand the crucial lessons secreted away in the parables and from these draw guidance in their daily walk with God. Why? Because the Holy Spirit enables them to know and understand the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.

This book, which is available as a paperback, was published on 7/31/24.

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Paperback or Kindle eBook

James, Mirror for the Soul: Lessons on the Epistle of James, by Ed Rickard

The Epistle of James displays a striking familiarity with Jesus' mind and a profound grasp of Jesus' teachings. Even James's style, beautifully concise and poetic, is modeled after Jesus' sayings. This should come as no surprise. James was the slightly younger brother of Jesus. For years they were companions in play and work and every other realm of life.

James addresses a question of critical importance in our day, when many even in conservative churches are drowning in self-satisfied pseudoreligion. The question is, what is true godliness. To provide an answer, James reconsiders the virtues emphasized in Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. He makes godliness concrete by warning us against the many ways our lives might fail to shine with these virtues.

All the lessons are available on this website, but only the printed version includes the many scholarly references and the annotated bibliography devoted to important commentaries on the Epistle of James. It also offers the convenience and eye appeal of a handheld book.

This commentary is available from Amazon as either a paperback or a Kindle eBook. Last revision was 7/3/23.

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Paperbacks or Hardcovers

In Perils Abounding: Commentary on the Book of Acts, 2 vols., by Ed Rickard

The commentary is a work on several levels. The foundation is a lively retelling of events as recorded by Luke. Upon this, the commentary builds four kinds of discussion. The first, under the heading "Getting Practical," offers down-to-earth applications of the many spiritual principles emerging from Luke's account. The second, introduced as "Pondering a Question," explores the questions that occur to many readers. After the third heading, "Delving Deeper," comes a consideration of more challenging issues, such as historical background, fulfilled prophecy, errors in critical attacks, proofs of Luke's accuracy, theological implications, and reasons behind what the apostles did. Where appropriate, an even more technical commentary is provided under the heading, "Delving still deeper."

The commentary consists of two volumes. The first, covering Acts 1-14, and the second, covering Acts 15-28, are both now available from Amazon as paperbacks or hardcovers. The whole commentary is available here on this website. Last revision of volume 1 was 5/8/23; of volume 2, 3/22/23.

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Paperback

When Sin Led to Ruin and Faith to Victory: Commentary on the Book of Joshua, by Ed Rickard

This commentary examines the book that tells the sobering story of how sin led to ruin and faith to victory. A proud civilization on the uplands of Canaan thrived on every manner of disgusting wickedness, but God had His people, full of faith, raise such a thunder of shouts and horns that they brought down the walls of the land's first defensive city, Jericho, and afterward it was one miraculous victory after another until the enemy had no more will or strength to resist.

Besides retelling the story in a way that provides many details merely suggested or left obscure by the original text, the commentary draws out an abundance of practical applications. One of the most popular papers on the author's website, themoorings.org, is taken from his commentary on the first portion of chapter 1, where the Lord admonishes Joshua to be strong and very courageous. Courage is indeed a prerequisite to spiritual victories in our day, when hatred for the things of God is intensifying throughout mainstream culture.

All the lessons are available on this website, but the printed version offers the convenience and eye appeal of a handheld book.

The commentary is available from Amazon as a paperback. Last revision was 7/26/23.

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Paperback

The Vegetable Soup Gang, by Ed Rickard

Here is a collection of witty stories about a gang of wacky and winsome boys who attend Gracefaith Bible Academy in Weedyfields, USA. The gang includes Carrot (with uncommon good sense), Bean (the mechanical genius), Turnip (the poet and philosopher), Pepper (the local live wire), and Watermelon (the biggest kid anyone ever saw, and all muscle), as well as Radish and Peanut (two canine members). You will watch the gang attempt world-class soccer. You will share their wonderful time at camp. And you will follow them through whirling adventures as they tangle with wild animals, weird people, and withering danger.

The stories will appeal especially to boys, but wondering girls who want to figure boys out will also find them very worthwhile.

The whole collection is available as a paperback from Amazon.com. To read a sample, you may download chapter 1 in PDF format. The book was published in 2012.

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Paperback

Quest for a King's Bride, by Julie Rickard

Valdorian, the young king, has been told by his wisest counselor that it is time for him to find a wife. But no princess he knows seems like the girl of his dreams. Determined to find the right one, Valdorian sets off on a quest that will lead him to the unexplored Outer Lands, where danger and adventure lurk. How will he recognize his future queen? A pretty face can hide a nasty heart.

This fantasy-quest novel designed for teenagers is available as a paperback from Amazon.com. Although not published until 2017, much of it was written when Julie's sons were beginning to wonder where they should look for a lifelong companion.

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Paperback

Christian Virtues, by Ed Rickard

Here is the first volume in a projected series of studies searching Scripture for guidance on victorious Christian living. Called Stepping-stones,the series will cover a wide range of issues especially critical in today's world. It begins by laying a strong foundation for all ethical decisions. It views doing right as resting primarily upon five virtues: humility, wisdom, freedom from covetousness, thankfulness, and joy even in tribulation.

The book is available as a paperback from Amazon. The book was published 10/3/19.

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E-Program

Rickard, Ed. The Life and Hymns of Charles Wesley: A Program of Readings.

Seven readings span the whole life of Wesley, the first describing the childhood settings that shaped his mind and heart, the last recounting the special sorrows of his later life and explaining his final retrospective poem.

Paperback

Rickard, Ed. Physics: The Foundational Science. Pensacola, Fla.: A Beka Book, 1990.

This book is designed for use as an upper-level high school physics text. After being in print for about twenty years, the original edition was superseded by a revision made without Ed Rickard's participation. A copy of the revised edition may be obtained from the publisher at Pensacola, FL 32523-9160, or from abeka.com. The original edition, somewhat longer than the revision, may still be obtained from used book sources.