Skip to main content

Eschatology







Eschatology: Biblical, Historical and Practical Approaches Edited by D. Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn R. Kreider

This new book that celebrates the birthday of Dr. Craig Blaising, pioneer in the field of eschatology and dispensationalism.  Written by 30 scholars and teachers, many who are personal friends of Dr. Blaising, this volume ranges from biblical perspective on the Second Coming and end times all the way down to a contemporary engagement of the theology of Jurgen Moltmann.  Written from primarily a Baptistic perspective, these chapters give us a robust view of how evangelicals might view the end times with a lens towards the present kingdom of God and its future installment.

Drawing on the work of Blaising regarding the unity of biblical theology as a whole, D. Jeffrey Bingham writes in the first chapter, “The continuity of the Testaments is to be found in the one Christ to whom they both witness in their own inspired manner.  They tell us of a Christ who is not outside of the creation, but who as Creator and Redeemer joins himself to it by manifesting himself progressively within history…(51).”  Each dispensation is given a unity by the one Christ who became flesh and will raise and gather his people.  The covenant promises that God has made will come to fruition because God has brought them to completion by God himself, in the person of Christ.  This reminder of the unity of the testaments and the faithfulness of God is part and parcel of a robust theology, and one which is heartily endorsed by Blaising.

Darrell Bock in his chapter on The Doctrine of the Future in the Synoptics points out some key elements of sound eschatological thinking in his subsection about the future of the individual.  Bock points to accountability, instant blessing, knowing him, and the image of outer darkness as vantage points for the individual and the future.  Bock writes, “These are folks who have a connection or association with Jesus, but who lack a genuine faith connection to him.  This is why the language is about not knowing him.  Superficial association with Jesus does not survive the accountability that comes with future judgment (208).”  Bock points to Luke 12 in this context but a case is also made from Matthew 25 about not knowing Jesus in a real and meaningful way.  The future is ripe with blessing and vindication for those who respond to God in faith, fulfilling the plan or program of God that was his in the beginning.

From beginning to end, I thought this book was a helpful and challenging engagement in the realm of eschatology.  Although I was a bit annoyed at the overwhelming nature of Baptist thought in most of the pages, I did find Kevin D. Kennedy’s section on the diversity of Baptist beliefs on the doctrine of the future very illuminating and eye-opening.  I hope that many will find something to chew on as they read through this work.


Thanks to Kregel Academic for this book in exchange for an honest review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Rise of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman

  The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self by Carl Trueman Navigating the culture that we take up residence in, with its laser focus on sexual identity, tolerance, and an individualism that raises its head at every corner, Christians need a robust account of how we got to this point in our Western culture without retreating to our churches nor morphing with the latest trends.   Carl Trueman, professor of religion and theology at Grove City College, brings his keen historical research to bear on this issue in his new book, The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self.   Part historical survey and philosophical analysis, Dr. Trueman traces the trajectories of key thinkers such as Rousseau, Freud, and Marx, while also incorporating the insights of Charles Taylor and Phillip Rieff to form a cogent argument as to how we got to this point in our history, both in our expressive individualism and sexual freedom outlooks.   The book is surprisingly insightful and yet demands from the reader the pa
Post a Comment
Read more

The Conditioned Mind

The Conditioned Mind: Overcoming the Crippling Effects of Sin and Guilt by Michael J. Mannia Counselor and author Michael J. Mannia knows firsthand how the spiraling of sin and guilt can eat away at life.  His new book, The Conditioned Mind, is a look into how believers can overcome the effects of sin and guilt and live in the freedom that we have in Christ.  Through a careful look into the patterns that we develop and the mindsets that we get ingrained in, Michael is able to offer ways through guilt that bring freedom and healing.  I think this is not only a timely but a book that aims toward bringing real healing to its readers. In the first chapter Michael looks at two needs that we have: our need for love and our need for security.  Love isn’t something optional for the human race, but something it needs at its core.  “Additionally, we need to reciprocate love.  We need to feel loved as much as we need to love others (8).”  Love is a two-way street that inv
Post a Comment
Read more

Passover and Jesus

The Messiah in the Passover , Edited by Darrell Bock and Mitch Glaser Why should Christians celebrate and remember the Passover?   This is a striking question that needs to be understood as well as the historical and theological context of the Passover.   However obscure we sometimes view the Old Testament, there is some significant reasons why we should reach back and study the Passover.   Mitch Glaser in the Introduction states, “When Christians celebrate the Passover, they grow in their understanding of the Old Testament, affirm the Jewishness of the Gospel, deepen our understanding of the Lord’s Supper, and build community with fellow Christians…” (20).   This book is answer to why celebrate the Passover but even more importantly an answer to what the Passover is and what it signifies to us today.   The various contributors of this book, Messiah in the Passover, bring a wealth of ministry experience in relating the Jewishness of both Jesus and the Old Testament to
Post a Comment
Read more