ESCHATOLOGY BOOK REVIEW

ESCHATOLOGY: BIBLICAL, HISTORICAL, AND PRACTICAL APPROACHES, D. Jeffrey Bingham and Glenn R. Kreiger (editors), Grand Rapids MI, Kregel Academic, 2016.

This book was written in honor of Craig Alan Blaising, one of the most modern authors on the subject. He was has had a great influence in eschatology, the last 20 years or so. He is one of the original authors of progressive dispensationalism. The book opens with a biography of him by Steven L. James.

This is not a book on end-time events. It is one consider issues within the eschatological field and the importance of eschatology as Biblical theology. The book itself is divided into four main parts:

·         The Doctrine of the Future and its Foundations

·         The Doctrine of the Future in the Bible.

·         The Doctrine of the Future in the History of Christian Thought.

·         The Doctrine of the Future and Christian Ministry.

Each division contain a series of studies by a series of authors. Each writing on some aspect of the sectional subject. The number of studies in each section are not equal (for example the first division has 4 studies, while second division has 8 studies). However, it does not affect the importance or significance of the studies or the section.

Rather than giving a blow by blow of the content of the book, as other reviews have done, let me point out some of the important features found concerning the subject. Significant areas give us the following to consider:

1.       0ne of the key enlightening chapter is by Stanley Toussaint and the concept of hope. He not only gives a good survey of hope thoughtout the Bible; but his comments on “I Am” are especially insightful. It is a different view and will make one reconsider the concept. He sees the importance of the phrase as God being the God of the patriarchs.  Laing and Laing give a good overall survey of the founding stones of prophecy.

2.       The second section of the book deals with the Old Testament. In this section there are two important and significant articles. Daniel Block deals with the heart of Moses contribution to the future, guiding us through Deuteronomy. He deals with the heart of prophecy—adversaries, vengeance, remnant, restoration, and redemption of the land. He endeavors to show that all of this has roots in Deuteronomy. This chapter will give insight to the book of Deuteronomy and the future. Klein points out the importance of hope and waiting as important aspects that permeate the Psalms. Both are essential to the subject of eschatology.

3.       The next section looks at the New Testament. Darrell Block presents the Gospel’s envision a time between Jesus and His second coming involves a period of time (may be relative short, or an extended period of time). He argues against those who hold to a vision of the immediate return of Christ taking place right after the resurrection. This is an excellent chapter.

4.       The section of Future in the History of Christian Throught will be of interest of those who are interested on the play of eschatology in history. In found the section interesting and informative. This is clearly the major section of the book. It deal with the eschatological beliefs of key theologians of history from the church fathers to modern thinking. its include millennial and amillennial theologians. All the chapters are informative. I especially like the chapters on Justin Martyr and Irenaeus of Lyons which laid the groundwork of eschatology: including the key concept of the possibility of the immediate return of Christ, a coming resurrection, the judgment of the wicked, and the millennial kingdom.  Augustine and his contributions were the non-literal approach to eschatology. He has been called the father of the Allegorical method in eschatology. This method continues to be followed to this day. No literal millennium. The church and the present age is the millennium. Bailey defends the traditional view of dispensational eschatology including the pretribulation view and premillennialism.

5.       The book ends with a section on the future and ministry. This seems to me to be the weakest section of the book. It deals with ministry in Pastoral care; it challenges; and the marketplace. The best of the three is on Pastoral care.  Audrey embraces the view that the church needs see eschatology as a direction for the church. Eschatology should be a springboard of consistent preaching, encouraging counsel, and active ministry in contemporary society. He combines the example of church history and nurturing through the word in times of persecution. The last two chapters to me simply fall short of the mark.

Overall this book is edifying, interesting, and worthwhile. It will be stimulating and a fine addition on the subject and for your library.

 I received this book free from Kregel Academic. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own