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Handbook of Biblical Prophecy
Book by Armerding, Carl E., Gasque, W. Ward
Paperback
First published June 1, 1978
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January 7, 2026
There is not a lot I can find fault with in this excellent collection of essays. Each contribution (16 in all) to the anthology was clearly written with the objective of ensuring that even the casual reader would come away understanding some fundamental concepts related to biblical prophecy particularly those that are eschatological in nature. The second coming or advent of the Messiah (the "parousia" in Greek) takes centre stage in the book but there is also some treatment given to Messianic prophecies and prophecies concerning the two peoples of God - Israel and the bride of Christ.
Some of the various hermeneutical frameworks, which have held sway in various segments of Christianity over the ages, are plainly explained. The reader will come away from the book with a very good appreciation of what are the key interpretative elements of pre-, a-, and post-millenialism.
The main points I take away from reading this excellent handbook are:
1) Though many interpretative frameworks have evolved over the ages, a few common threads exist in almost all of these. Those common threads are (i) Christ will return; (ii) At His return He will judge the quick and the dead; (iii) the present age will end and Christ's Kingdom (His political Lordship) will be established on earth as we enter a new age and enlarged expression of God's reign. It is therefore more productive for practicing Christians of all stripes and hue to recognize these common threads than to spend time arguing over minutiae and differing perspectives on less fundamental aspects of eschatology such as the timing of the so-called rapture. The fact that my Christian brother believes in a pre-tribulation rapture, and I don't, is no grounds for me to see him as being anyone less than my brother in Christ who the Lord loves as much as He loves me. The Christian tent is big enough to accommodate pre-, mid- and post-rapture believers.
2) The judgments of God executed during this age are meant to have an educative effect. Before the judgment of God comes the delivery of His word through his anointed and appointed prophets. We do well to heed their words for by so doing we avoid God's judgment during this age. So were the people of Nineveh able to do in the time of Jonah since they repented from their misdeeds after the reluctant prophet eventually delivered God's message to that sinful city.
3) Prophecy concerning Christ's return is not intended to lull the Church into cloistered retreat mode as far as social activism is concerned. Instead, prophecy about the Messiah's parousia should fire up a revolutionary and muscular brand of Christianity, which speaks out boldly against all forms of injustice, hatred, and discrimination
The Handbook of Biblical Prophecy is more than a good read - it is an excellent read.
Some of the various hermeneutical frameworks, which have held sway in various segments of Christianity over the ages, are plainly explained. The reader will come away from the book with a very good appreciation of what are the key interpretative elements of pre-, a-, and post-millenialism.
The main points I take away from reading this excellent handbook are:
1) Though many interpretative frameworks have evolved over the ages, a few common threads exist in almost all of these. Those common threads are (i) Christ will return; (ii) At His return He will judge the quick and the dead; (iii) the present age will end and Christ's Kingdom (His political Lordship) will be established on earth as we enter a new age and enlarged expression of God's reign. It is therefore more productive for practicing Christians of all stripes and hue to recognize these common threads than to spend time arguing over minutiae and differing perspectives on less fundamental aspects of eschatology such as the timing of the so-called rapture. The fact that my Christian brother believes in a pre-tribulation rapture, and I don't, is no grounds for me to see him as being anyone less than my brother in Christ who the Lord loves as much as He loves me. The Christian tent is big enough to accommodate pre-, mid- and post-rapture believers.
2) The judgments of God executed during this age are meant to have an educative effect. Before the judgment of God comes the delivery of His word through his anointed and appointed prophets. We do well to heed their words for by so doing we avoid God's judgment during this age. So were the people of Nineveh able to do in the time of Jonah since they repented from their misdeeds after the reluctant prophet eventually delivered God's message to that sinful city.
3) Prophecy concerning Christ's return is not intended to lull the Church into cloistered retreat mode as far as social activism is concerned. Instead, prophecy about the Messiah's parousia should fire up a revolutionary and muscular brand of Christianity, which speaks out boldly against all forms of injustice, hatred, and discrimination
The Handbook of Biblical Prophecy is more than a good read - it is an excellent read.
Displaying 1 of 1 review