Are these the last days? Could Jesus return at any time to establish his thousand-year reign on earth? What is the nature of Christ's millennial kingdom referred to in the book of Revelation? What must happen before Jesus returns, and what part does the church play? Three predominant views held by evangelicals seek to answer these and related questions: premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial. This book gives each view a forum for presentation, critique, and defense. Besides each contributor's personal perspective, various interpretations of the different positions are discussed in the essays. Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond lets you compare and contrast three important eschatological viewpoints to gain a better understanding of how Christianity's great hope, the return of Jesus, is understood by the church. The Counterpoints series provides a forum for comparison and critique of different views on issues important to Christians. Counterpoints books address two categories: Church Life and Bible and Theology. Complete your library with other books in the Counterpoints series.

From the Publisher

The Book of Revelation. The Millennium. Two of the most fascinating and widely disputed topics in modern Christianity. What are we to make of the Bible's rich apocalyptic imagery? How much of it is a historical account? How much is prophecy that is unfolding today or that has yet to unfold, and how much illustrates timeless truths that transcend specific events of the past, present, or future? Two additions to the Counterpoints series now provide a forum for presentation and critique of, and interaction among, the predominant views on the book of Revelation and on the millennial reign of Christ and his Church. The contributors are eminently qualified to represent their various schools of thought. Like the other Counterpoints books, each of these volumes allows the reader to set the different views side by side to compare their strengths and weaknesses, gaining a better appreciation for other perspectives while strengthening or redefining his or her own. The premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial views are presented, critiqued, and defended in turn, beginning with editor Darrell Bock's overview of the different viewpoints.

From the Author

Darrell L. Bock (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary. Craig A. Blaising (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is the Joseph Emerson Brown professor of Christian Theology at Southern Baptist Theological College in Louisville, Kentucky. Kenneth L. Gentry Jr. (Th.D., Whitefield Theological Seminary) is professor of New Testament at Bahnsen Theological Seminary in Placentia, California. Robert Strimple (Ph.D., Trinity College, University of Toronto) is professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary