The End of Days: Essential Selections from Apocalyptic Texts--Annotated & Explained

by Robert G. Clouse (Commentary)

Teachings about the end times can clarify your beliefs and energize your own spiritual journey. Christian concepts of the end times involve complex beliefs that have developed over the centuries. They range from popular ideas about the rapture when believers will be swept up to meet Christ in the air, to suspicions about the Antichrist who will deceive and enslave the world, to teachings about the millennium when Christ himself will return victoriously to earth to reign in peace for a thousand years. And Christians have disagreed, sometimes violently, on exactly how and when these events will occur―or whether they will occur at all. With insightful and broad knowledge of the historical, religious and contemporary contexts of these writings, distinguished scholar Robert G. Clouse guides you through the fascinating and intricate world of apocalyptic literature. He examines key verses from Christian and Hebrew scriptures; visionary writings from Augustine and other Church Fathers; accounts of radical millennial movements of the 1600s; bold sermons from preachers such as Jonathan Edwards and Dwight L. Moody; and popular books circulating in our own day, including 1970s prophecy sensation The Late Great Planet Earth and the mega-bestselling Left Behind novels. Accessible facing-page commentary explains the apocalyptic writings for you even if you have no previous knowledge of Christian teachings on the end times. Will Christ come on the clouds in power and in judgment? Or is it up to us to usher in the golden age of the millennium? Or is the millennium spiritual, made real only within believers' hearts? This book will help you understand the complex Christian visions of the end of the world.

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 8, 2007

Reviews

[Mark Speed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book - thoroughly researched and well-presented. It must have been painstakingly difficult for the author to have put this together - clearly someone who knows his subject inside-out. Although I was using it as a reference book to fact-check, I also found it very easy to read.

I used it to research and fact-check when I was working on my solo comedy The End of the World Show and then subsequently on Apocalypse Later: A guide to the end of the world by Nice Mr Death. I couldn't find another book quite like it on dealing with Christian eschatology. Whether you're coming at this from the angle of spirituality, or as an anthropologist (or even just a Christian apologist!) then this is a great resource.

[Stosch · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terrible. 2 stars because they did do some work researching but editor is an Evangelical...yeh.. a lot of nonsense.