To this point, we've talked about a single dispute that divides biblical scholars and students on eschatology: whether or Israel and the Church are to be kept distinct when interpretating prophecy. The question matters since any position that wants a literal...
Eschatology / End Times
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 2
In the first installment of this series, I talked about how certain systems of eschatology need the New Testament to distinguish between the Church and national Israel for certain elements of their eschatological system to work. Let me unpack that a bit again here by...
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 1
Naked Bible enthusiasts (and despisers) may recall that, long ago, I posted a list of presuppositions that are brought to the Bible that ultimately dictate one's position on eschatology ("end times"). I posted this because all too many Christians assume that their...
Does Prophecy Fail? An Inquiry into Handling Unfulfilled and Altered Prophecies in the Bible
Thanks to Mr. Molina for this convenient suggestion. I don't have to do much work here to start this off, and maybe this post will be all the farther this goes. A friend of mine, Dr. Bob Chisholm from Dallas Seminary, wrote a paper for a regional ETS meeting on this...
Why Do Christians Disagree About End Times?
That's the title of a new Mobile Ed mini-course I created for my employer Faithlife / Logos Bible Software. It's a short video introduction to some of the issues that undermine consensus in eschatology. Folks who follow this blog will have gotten more detail on these...
The Armageddon Code: New End Times Book That Actually Isn’t Trying to Merely Pump Sensationalist Speculation
I speak of The Armageddon Code: One Journalist's Quest for End-Times Answers, by Billy Hallowell. How do I know it isn't all about sensationalist nonsense? Because I was interviewed at length for it. Billy Hallowell is a writer for The Blaze and one of the Church...
The Real Mystery of the Shemitah: How Did Christians Become so Biblically Ignorant?
Back in 2012 I wrote a short response piece to Jonathan Cahn's inept handling of Scripture known as The Harbinger. I ended with this line: "A Christian enthralled by this twaddle deserves the label of biblical illiterate." I haven't changed my mind. But Cahn of course...
Why the Meaning of Daniel’s 70 Sevens (“Weeks”) is Not Self-Evident
Years ago I wrote a series of posts under the title "Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time." One of the fundamental goals of that series was to debunk the notion, held by countless Christians of all eschatological persuasions, that whatever view they...
Another End Times Swami (and How Not to Write a Press Release)
I received the following press release in my email today (no, I don't recall subscribing). Another prophecy researcher who will set everything straight. He could start with the person who wrote this terrible press release (or perhaps have decided not to write it...
Video Link to My First "Why Do You Believe What You Believe About End Times?" Session
I just saw that the link to my session at my church is up. For those interested, just click here. Editor's note: broken link removed, but here is the lecture: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QFXH-e_d4
Why an Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 15
Previous post found here: Debating the Date of Revelation: Pre-70 AD or 90s? I think this will be my last eschatology post in regard to listing things that have no clear answer or closure. I'll do one more where I sketch out my basic thoughts on eschatology (I can't...
Why An Obsession with Eschatology is a Waste of Time, Part 14
Nearing the end of this (have to check my list). It's time for "when was the book of Revelation written?" The two candidates are, of course, before or after 70 AD (the latter in the 90s). I think the most thorough recent discussion on this is by Greg Beale in his...
End Times Questions for the Left-Behinders, Part 1
Okay, I admit it -- I've worded this post for the search engines. Many of you know that I don't like ANY of the contemporary views of eschatology (end times); they all cheat. The only reason that they appear coherent is that their articulators make certain...