Marcellus Kik changed my thinking on eschatology. He has an incredible gift for interpreting Scripture with Scripture and eroding one's presuppositions. An incredible book and great addition to a theologian's library.
A Book that should be read by all Christians
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 18 years ago
In this day and age of the End Times Industry where American Christians compare their plight in regards to morality, to the deepest level, and earthquake, and hurricanes as evidence of the Last Days, this book provides the proper historical context for the eschatological passages in the Bible. Kik uses scripture to interpret scripture and properly reveals the true nature of the the Messianic Kingdom, in terms of its purpose and scope. When this is done all the sensationalism of dispensationalism, antichrist, one world government, chip in the hand and the forehead all become what they really are, "Silly conjectures with no basis in scripture". This book is going to offend diehard dispensationalists in that it totally refutes their eschatological view. It also offends the amillenialists, but truth is obligated to only offend those that are at variance with it.
This book was very helpful in keeping the apocalyptic languages in context - both biblically and historically. Just to keep this review shorter than it could be, let me just say that the author of the book doesn't spin a bias on certain verses to fit a preconceived interpretation. Everything seemed to be well done. If you are a premillennialist (meaning you believe in the rapture of the church while a world-oppressing "antichrist" nukes the world to bits) and you are bummed out and over-stressed from confusion of the-more-you-learn-the-less-you-learn cycle, this book is for you. Also, if you are new to the bible (or even a skeptic of the bible) and don't understand biblical symbollic language, this book is for you as well. The same figures of speech God uses to promise He will destroy Egypt and Babylon are used in Matthew 24 in concern with Jerusalem. The author shows how throughout the word of God, especially in the Old Testament, when God says a nation will be punished to an end, it happens. How much more of when God speaks of Jerusalem being destroyed in the same way? If you are serious about understanding the history of fulfilled prophecy, give your brain and soul what they are due and read "An Eschatology of Victory". It is a must have for any serious bible student who would collect only valuable biblical study commentaries which will be relevant for generations. I haven't come across one like it yet, enjoy! Philippians 1:9-11, Mark 16:15-16. God bless your studies!
A real eye-opener
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 25 years ago
For those Christians who think the world is going to get worse and worse, with the Church becoming more and more impotent, until we're all taken up by the so-called "Rapture," this book provides a seriously different, and more Biblical, perspective. It gives the clearest, most coherent interpretation of Matt. 24 I have ever read. I would like to challenge all dispensationalists to read this book and see if your perspective isn't changed.
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