Jeff Swanson
ThePlanBible, 2010, 4,156 pp., $9.99
A disclaimer or sorts to begin. I knew a minister many years ago who kept—in her massive purse—a slip of paper that contained detailed instructions for what to do if you awaken in the middle of the night while sleeping in the jungle and find you are being devoured by a giant python. I must confess I read The Plan Bible with the same sort of distance. It is completely foreign to my way of thinking but essential to those who deal with such things on a daily basis. Swanson and I do not agree on a great many things theologically speaking, but still I found this book fascinating.
Essentially we are talking about this: “Every single scripture in the Bible arranged by order of event as it actually took place or will take place” (according to the author who prefers to refer to himself the developer)—all of history, past, present and future events laid out according to God’s plan. This is the Bible in order. We begin before the beginning and end with eternity. Swanson also points out exactly where we currently are on that timeline. (Spoiler: We’re close to the end.)
The Plan Bible is a downloadable book that allows readers to click and jump around in the book from verse to verse and time to time. There are multiple dating systems for comparison. A little confused? Once you get the hang of the system it’s not so bad.
Think about it. All of time—past, present and future—is in the Bible. God’s entire 7,000-year plan is available; we just need to put in an order that can be understood. That’s the premise. Put your personal theology aside for a second and think about what it would be like to have all the pre-creation verses together.
As I mentioned, Swanson and I differ quite a bit theologically; but I’m sure he never expected everyone would go along with the plan. (I think the earth is older than 6,000 years and will continue long after 7,000 years have passed.) That being said, The Plan Bible is painstakingly put together in a way I never have seen. I’m a huge fan of new translations. I love being taught something new about the book that has been a part of my life for all of my life. It’s like hearing the acoustic demo version of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” when you already know every note of the album version. Reading the Bible never should be like the radio edit that just leads to elevator music.
The Plan Bible is an excellent resource for any ministry whether you teach it as (pardon the pun) gospel or just use it as a resource to broaden the way you look at the timeline of Scripture.
