Why am I passionate about this?
I am the director of Equipping Church Leaders-East Africa. East African church leaders (and most Christians everywhere) are interested in eschatology (the study of the “last things”). I have been fascinated by this subject for decades, particularly since I attended a church that took eschatology seriously. After a time, however, I realized that something was amiss in that pastor’s understanding of eschatology. That motivated me to study eschatology on my own and begin compiling an extensive library on the subject. While pursuing my M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, I wrote two major papers on the subject and now have written the most comprehensive synthesis on biblical eschatology currently available.
Jonathan's book list on Biblical eschatology that are understandable and not nuts
Why did Jonathan love this book?
B. J. Oropeza’s 99 Reasons Why No One Knows When Christ Will Return was written in 1994 when there was rampant speculation in some circles that the year 2000 would be prophetically significant. Nevertheless, the book remains a worthwhile corrective against end-times speculation and date setting. Each of his reasons deals with popular speculations concerning the soon-appearing of Christ. Each reason is concisely stated (1-3 pages, except for reason 40 concerning the return of Israel to Palestine [5 pages]). Oropeza deals with multiple reasons why date-setting is counterproductive and concludes with a chapter on what we can know about the future and guidelines for interpreting prophecy. While somewhat dated, the book is enjoyable and makes one shake one’s head that people could have had such bizarre eschatological views.
1 author picked 99 Reasons Why No One Knows When Christ Will Return as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.
First it was Y2K and the foreboding year 2000, then a Christian radio show predicted the end in 2011, and then the Mayan calendar set the date for December 21, 2012 --- what will be next? A crescendo of predictions arise from Bible-believing Christians, from cult groups, and from self-appointed prophets. We all know that the Bible says Christ will come back and the end of the world will take place. The questions that millions have asked is – When? With every failed forecast, however, a trail of people is left behind, people who become disillusioned with Christ and Christianity.…
- Coming soon!