Roughly 9 months ago in preparation for our study over the book of Revelation I started reading books regarding various Christian views on Scriptures dealing with the end-times.  Over that span of time I've blogged book reviews in an effort to be able to promote/recommend worthwhile readings for those who may want to dig a little deeper while we're in Revelation.  With that said, this is the last end-time review before the Revelation series begins this March.  However, at some point after the series kicks off I'll blog about my primary commentary & teaching resources that I'll be using while teaching through Revelation. 

     Todays book:

Christ's Prophetic Plans, A Futuristic Premillennial Primer

by John MacArthur & Richard Mayhue

     This book is written from a Dispensational Premillennialist perspective.  At this point I've reviewed one other end-time book from this position, J.C. Ryle's "Are You Ready For The End-Times."  As every other end-time book I've read the authors make a case for their position while simultaneously dismantling other popular interpretations, such is the nature of end-time studies.  I will say these authors were VERY confident in their position, more so than any I've read to this point (outside of Ryle who is one of my favs).  One critic from the Gospel Coalition's website even remarked, "the authors’ confidence in their conclusions exceeds the weight of their arguments."  In their defense, I suppose if you're going to write a book in support of a specific end-time position then you had better be confident, right?

     All in all, this book was written by good Jesus-loving, God-fearing authors who no doubt want to honor God's word and educate His people for His glory.  Though I'm currently not persuaded by the dispensationalists I found this book to be very valuable in understanding a futuristic interpretation to several hot eschatological passages. 

Here's how MacArthur & Mayhue's book was broke down:

Chapter 1 - What Is Dispensationalism? (Michael Vlach)
Chapter 2 - What Is Dispensationalism Not? (Michael Vlach)
Chapter 3 - Why Futuristic Premillennialism? (Richard Mayhue)
Chapter 4 - Why a Premillennial Rapture? (Richard Mayhue)
Chapter 5 - What About Israel? (Michael Vlach)
Chapter 6 - What About Revelation 20? (Matthew Waymeyer)
Chapter 7 - Does Calvinism Lead to Futuristic Premillennialism? (John MacArthur)
Chapter 8 - Does The New Testament Reject Futuristic Premillennialism? (John MacArthur)
Chapter 9 - Did The Early Church Believe In A Literal Millennial Kingdom? (Nathan Busenitz)
Chapter 10 - How Certain Is Futuristic Premillennialism? (John MacArthur)

Some concluding thoughts on end-time books and their positions:

     In 9 months of reading books on the end-times I've learned that these end-time authors all have one thing in common.  They each claim to have the "checkmate" questions or points that only supports their position and monumentally dismantles the other arguments, as if to have the one piece of the end-time puzzle that nobody else anticipated.  However, not to burst any bubbles, none of these authors presented an argument that the opposing side hadn't thought of yet.  For example, these Futuristic Premillennialists anticipated every critical argument against their position and addressed it in their book.  The authors supporting Amillennialism and Historic Premillennialism managed to anticipate and address their critics accurately too.  These guys have all done their homework.  They have responses ready for each and every critical question.  You may not agree with their answers but I can assure you they have them neatly prepared and ready for anyone looking to understand their bend on eschatology. 

     With that all said, I suppose that's why when it comes to end-time interpretations most all Christians agree these are largely secondary doctrinal issues.  To immediately throw a pastor or teacher under the bus because of their end-time views alone would be unwise, though some can obviously get out of control in this realm of study.  What I'm trying to say is that we can be on the same team and still disagree on the smorgasbord of end-time details.  It's complicated;)

May we find hope in end-time passages of Scripture and discuss them in a way that brings Him glory,

Cody Parman

Related End-Time Posts:

- A Case For Amillennialism, Kim Riddlebarger

- Eschatology For Your Earbuds

- 40 Questions About the End-Times (Eckhard Schnabel)
- Debates on the Millennium (Piper, Wilson, Storms, Hamilton)

- These Last Days, A Christian View of History (various authors)
- Are You Ready for the End of Time? (J.C. Ryle)

- Kingdom Come (Sam Storms)