Arma-God! Armageddon! Or is it?
Still, I have had a great interest in finding a good resource that thoroughly explains the eschatological (end-times) view that most, if not all, of the biblical prophecies related to the 'end of the world' came to pass exactly as the bible said they would and exactly when Jesus, Paul and other biblical writers said they would: before the generation of Jesus' time had passed. And they came to pass with the destruction of the Temple in AD 70. This viewpoint is called Preterism. While I dislike labels, if one needed to label my understanding of biblical prophecy, then this is the one that can be used.
The resource I sought came to me through the Speakeasy Network in this thoroughly researched and detailed book, Christian Hope through Fulfilled Prophecy. by Charles S. Meek. Meek is the founder of the website FaithFacts and a contributor to the Fulfilled Covenant Bible. The book arrived on my doorstep a few days ago from the author himself. Many thanks to both Mike Morrell of Speakeasy for having it sent (after some technical issues I encountered trying to order the book) and to Mr. Meek for sending it.
If you are confused or feeling helpless about the seeming hopelessness of our lot living here in the 'end times,' take heart and dig into this book. It rights some of the tilt-a-whirl effects of the terrifying images put forth by the 'Left Behind' perspective and illuminates prophetic scriptures in the light of historical context, language of origin, and the intended audience of the prophecies given in Scripture. The author explains the role that Jewish apocalyptic literature plays in the writings about the 'end-times' and there is also a brief primer on the importance of and the science/art of biblical interpretation.
Consider this: what if the Bible doesn't even actually ever mention the end of the phyiscal/natural world, but rather the end of an AGE - that is, the age of the Old Covenant (old world) and the ushering in of the 'new world' (New Covenant age). Yes, the people living just after Christ's ascent into heaven indeed faced the end of the 'world'. But it was not the end of the natural world, like REM sings about, it was the end of the world as they knew it. Meek delves into the words used in the original texts which differentiate natural world (or creation) from a system of world order. Woo! That changes things a little bit, doesn't it? But wait! There's more! Much more. I recommend this book if you are inclined to study this further.
Yes, pondering these things raises a whole lot of other questions. No, not even all preterists agree on the details of everything, but neither do all premillenialists, postmillenialists or amillennialists agree on every point of their eschatologies. If you ask me, preterism answers more questions and clarifies more issues than any of the rest of them.
But that's just my conviction.
Be the judge for yourself and check out what is presented in the pages of this book. This book might pull the rug out from under your theological feet if you've never challenged what you were raised to believe about biblical prophecy, Armageddon, John's Revelation and the END. But it could be a fun ride - one that ends in renewed hope and peace.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR,Part 255.
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