Are We Living in the Last Days?: Four Views of the Hope We Share about Revelation and Christ’s Return

by Bryan Chapell

Will Jesus's return be preceded by a single world government? Will every person have a government-issued ID or mark? Does Christ return once or twice? Will believers go through a Great Tribulation? Will there be a literal battle of Armageddon? Does it even matter what we believe about future events?

Biblical prophecies about the end times have confused, confounded, and even divided God's people for centuries. But the reason Scripture gives us hints about the future is to provide the encouragement we need to endure the present, confident that God keeps his promises.

In this balanced look at four major views of the end times, bestselling author Bryan Chapell explains the primary ways Christians have interpreted biblical prophecy about the last days, not so that we might pick a hill to die on but so that we can cling to what unites us in Christ. No matter what end times view we find most compelling, in God's plans we can find strength for today and hope for tomorrow.

Genres: Theology, Christian, Audiobook

256 pages, Paperback

Published February 6, 2024

About the author

Bryan Chapell is the president of Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, the denominational seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America. He began teaching at Covenant in 1984 after ten years in pastoral ministry. Chapell has a BSJ from Northwestern University, an MDiv from Covenant Theological Seminary, and a PhD in speech communication from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

Before becoming president in 1994, he served for six years as vice president for academics and dean of faculty. He is a speaker in churches and conferences around the country, preaching and lecturing on topics including grace, marriage, and journalism. Chapell's online broadcast ministry, Living Christ 360, contains additional resources in his areas of expertise.

Reviews

[Michael Blythe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a nice read. Chappell offers a basic understanding of the various end times views and concludes with drawing together the elements each camp agrees upon. It’s a nice little resource.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really appreciate the ministry and writing of Bryan Chapell, and this book was no exception. He provides a good overview of different eschatological views, but he does so in a way that seeks to promote unity in the body of Christ.

Those unfamiliar with certain end times views will find helpful overviews here, and they'll also find exhortations to humility and to a gracious disposition toward believers of differing convictions.

"... as we cover views that describe the near and far perspectives on the prophecies that span the time from the first coming of Christ until his second coming, let’s remember we are describing differences among those who are our eternal brothers and sisters in Christ" (p.36, Kindle).

"Not all passages are so puzzling. The basic message of Scripture is beyond doubt: Jesus is coming again to judge the wicked and to bless those who have placed their faith in him with eternal peace and righteousness. Whatever view you take of the events that lead to that culmination, *you’ll be more confident of your Savior’s plan and your understanding of how it unfolds when you’re courageously firm about what’s clear in Scripture and graciously tentative about what will only be known when Christ appears*. We should respect the humble wisdom of the great Bible scholars of other ages who tell us that it’s part of the character of Scripture prophecies not to be framed so as to be understood fully before the event. Like the parables of Jesus, the intention of prophecies is to hide some things and disclose other things lest we become proud or passive in our knowledge of God’s intentions" (p.165, Kindle)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

8/9/2024 * 4.5 stars
Very interesting and balanced overview of the four main views of the end times. I listened to it on Hoopla because I'll be studying Revelation again in Bible Study Fellowship this year, and while I lean more amillennial, I thought this would be good preparation. And actually I should probably read it again, or at least re-read and review parts of it, so I'll probably buy a print copy.

[Debbie Peterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book does exactly what it sets out to do and what I needed it to do- lay out the major end times views with clarity and charity. I enjoyed the final chapters on what all believers hold in common and the hope that we share. This book will be a help to me in teaching Revelation in an interdenominational ministry.

[Jesse Faris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly accessible, with respect for all views

[Adam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helpful, balanced, perhaps a little benign.

[David Lasseter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I see this as a very good introduction to the most popular eschatological views. I am not settled in my own view, and I took this as a balanced look at all with no push in any direction. I think he does a good job of emphasizing the commonalities in all and the desire that they not be reasons for division among the faithful.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent resource on Revelation

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the unending growing landscape of books about the end times, Bryan Chapell's "Are We Living in the Last Days? Four Views of the Hope We Share about Revelation and Christ's Return" stands out as a sure and steady resource for those seeking clarity on the often intricate and mystifying subject of eschatology.

Cards on the table, Bryan Chapell is my favorite pastor and writer. He has written the most impactful books I have read in the areas of preaching, devotionals, hermeneutics, worship, and children's books. I watched the lectures that this book sprung out of, and I became excited to see that material come into print.

What sets this book apart is its commitment to simplicity without sacrificing depth, making it an accessible read for both theological students and curious believers. A nice treat are the charts in the back which are some of the most helpful to visual learners.

The author takes readers on a guided journey through the maze of eschatological thought, presenting various perspectives with fairness and objectivity yet with an ecumenical spirit emphasizing 15 aspects of the hope all Christians share. No matter where you land on a specific issue, Chapell offers a respectful exploration of each viewpoint, fostering a spirit of dialogue rather than dogmatism.

The book's strength lies in its clarity of exposition. Chapell breaks down complex theological concepts into bite size portions and avoiding unnecessary jargon. This makes the book not only informative but also an engaging read for those who may be daunted by the seemingly abstract nature of prophetic discussions.

Chapell also brings a pastoral touch to his writing, recognizing the real-world implications of eschatological beliefs. Chapell states: "In the Bible, remembrance is faith in the past tense that believes what God has done; trust is faith in the present tense that acts on who God is; and hope is faith in the future tense that recalls and acts upon what God promises." There are so many comforting and Christ-glorifying sentences throughout. Please get this book. The Holy Spirit wants our heart, head, and hands to be shaped by the sure promise that we are more than conquerors and to live with a sure and steady Savior.

In conclusion, "Are We Living in the Last Days?" by Bryan Chapell is a 5-Star commendable contribution to the field, offering readers a well-organized, fair-minded, and accessible guide to the complex terrain of eschatology. This will be the go-to book I recommend for this subject matter at a beginning and intermediate knowledge of eschatology. Bryan Chapell's work provides a solid foundation for making sense of the millennium and navigating the broader landscape of end-times theology.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence (from the introduction): Though it happened several years ago, I could take you to the precise location where a dear woman, who loved me and wanted to protect me, whispered a warning. As I passed her pew to greet early arrivers for the worship service, she caught my arm and pulled me down close enough that no one else could hear her say, "My friends say you don't believe that Jesus is coming back."

Bryan Chapell takes readers on a journey through four views of the 'end days' in his newest book. The views are Dispensational Premillennial (with a side dose of Progressive Dispensational Premillennial), Historic Premillennial, Amillennial, and Postmillennial. He shares what makes each unique and different. He references the history of these positions in the church throughout the centuries. Some views are relatively 'new' and others are more ancient. He gives an overview of each and mentions "famous" theologians/pastors who've held those views and are associated with those views. After walking readers through what makes each view different from one another--in an organized and logical way--he then shares what all views have in common. He focuses on things that unite believers instead of dividing them. Much of the book is spent on two issues: how do believers interpret Old Testament prophecy in regards to Israel and in regards to the church? where does Israel fit into God's future plans? Each of the four views (five views really) has answers on these points.

It's not fair, of course, to say it is spent on two issues...it's just that that is the root of all the other issues, topics, and subjects. Much time is spent on the rapture, the second coming, the millennial reign, judgment, new heavens and new earth, etc. But why the views differ comes back to the root issues--the Israel question, if you will.

It is meant to be an introduction to a subject. He is not trying to bring all the depth and substance. He wants to cover the basics of each in a reader-friendly way. To be honest, if he went into more depth I'm not sure I could have gone with him without drowning.

The book does offer discussion questions for each chapter and summaries. I definitely appreciated the "Digging Deeper" appendix.

One thing that I want to mention is that this was my first time hearing that there were three premillennial views to choose from. I'd never heard of progressive dispensationalism OR historic premillennialism.

This one has given me much to think about.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are interested in learning about biblical end times, this new book Are We Living in the Last Days – Four Views of the Hope We Share about Revelation and Christ’s Return by Bryan Chapell is a good book that covers the four major views of end times.

The author provides description with explanations and Scripture, history of the viewpoint, along with information from well-known scholars that explain each of the four without giving a personal viewpoint, so you can decide for yourself. The viewpoints covered are: Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism.

I have studied these viewpoints some prior, and I don’t tend to get caught up in the different views, but I do tend to align with one more-so than the others. This book didn’t change my mind, but it did give me an understanding of the differentiating viewpoints. Along with reminders that in the end what we believe to be true, it doesn’t matter, because the fact is Jesus is coming again, and that is clear amongst all the end times views and Scripture. That is what is important letting the Scripture provide us with truth and not add to it or take away from it.

Here are some quotes from the book:

Ultimately, the Bible’s prophecies are meant to dry our tears, fuel our endurance, and brighten our paths so that we can fulfill God’s purposes with confidence in His promises.
We don’t have to know the exact timing of the events of the last days to benefit from knowing the types of events and experience that lead up to Christ’s return.
Our differences are distractions if they undermine our confidence in the truth of Scripture or our ability to see how it gives us definite hope for today and needed strength for tomorrow.
One of the reasons godly people vary in how they interpret biblical prophecy is that they view biblical history differently.
Like the parables of Jesus, the intention of prophecies is to hide some things and disclose others’ things lest we become proud or passive in our knowledge of God’s intentions.
We can see that each of the millennial views answers the question, “Is there a future for Israel?” in different ways.
But we need to remember that people aren’t saved from hell and secured for heaven because they have a correct view of the millennium.

[Bernie Cummins · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARE WE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS? Bryan Chapell
The author of this very enlightening and spiritually educational book, explains well the different theological positions and beliefs, in relation to the main schools of thought, regarding the final and ultimate destiny of humankind. This is eschatology made relatively straightforward and understandable. This is ‘Last Days’ theology for the everyday Christian. Bryan Chapell's main Biblical sources are the visions of Daniel, the last day teachings of Jesus Christ and most predominantly the last book of the Bible. This is the Revelation of John the Apostle, written around 96 AD/CE on the Isle of Patmos, in the Aegean Sea, close to the west coast of modern Turkey.
The comprehensiveness of this book is seen by the old fashioned type of line drawing diagrams, illustrating the events’ timelines of the main schools of eschatological belief, having been previously described by the author in a neutral manner. Only after this, does the Presbyterian church minister author reveal, the one he believes to have the most sound basis. Bryan Chappell gives us as well, several chapter based, study questions for small groups or for personal contemplation. All in all he gives us a lot to mulch over, to make our own decision to where we are presently, in our chosen Last Days events sequence! A very readable and highly recommended study book.

Thank you NetGalley for the reading arc.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapell states up front his intent is to provide an overview of the primary eschatological views (Dispensational Premillenialism, Historical Premillenialism, Amillenialism, and Postmillenialism) for the average Christian. It’s not intended to be a theological or academic deep dive of each perspective, nor is it meant to argue for or against any of the views.

Chapell does an admirable job remaining balanced to the point where it’s difficult to even infer his position from the book.

Most importantly, what Chapell achieves is making it abundantly clear that a Christian’s interpretation of Scripture when dealing with prophecy and the end times is not salvific. He reminds the reader there are brothers and sisters in Christ who hold to each of those views and that should not divide us. While we may disagree on our eschatology, there are essentials of the faith that should unite us (he even spends a couple chapters laying those things out).

I appreciated this book and will use it as a quick reference when I need a reminder of some of the key points in a particular view.

[Christopher Humphrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book, and I highly commend it to every Bible student who wants an understanding of the various positions held by faithful Christians regarding the last days, and especially the second coming of Christ and the millennium. Unfortunately, this topic has been divisive among believers in the past. It should not be so. Yes, believers should seek to understand what the word of God teaches, however, topics like the end times must be approached with a certain humility, given the fact that there are rational positions held by a broad range of faithful Christians throughout the history of the church. This book should at least give those who are overly dogmatic on the subject some pause.

This would be an excellent book for a church Bible study to work through, or for a small group to read and understand together. The author has done a great service to the church by authoring this book. Happy reading!

[Lisa Plunkett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated how the four views of the end times was broken down for someone new to eschatology. It really helps me better understand where people are coming from with their understanding even of how the Old Testament relates to the New Testament if I know how they view Christ’s return. I especially liked how he was unbiased and repeatedly highlighted the ways in which all four views are similar. This took me longer to read than a typical book of its length because I wanted to pace myself. I purposely only about one view at a time so I could let it sink in before reading about the next which means some days I only read a couple chapters. For me, this helped me not confuse Traditional Dispensational Premillennialism and Historic Premillennialism, for example. I would recommend this to anyone who is studying Revelation or who is interested in different end times views.

[A.C. Cuddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Are we living in the last days”? In light of current events, that is the question a lot of people are asking. This and other questions are answered in this very well researched and well documented book by author Bryan Chapell.

The author presents the four major views of the end times to explain the primary ways Christians have interpreted biblical prophecy about the last days. This is a very in-depth read which I would suggest requires more study than a casual read.

Disclosure: I received this book free via NetGalley. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.

[Mary Erickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A winsome, charitable overview of the four major views that Christians hold about the end times: Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Amillennialism, and Postmillennialism.

This is a great resource for Christian believers: for Christians who are entrenched in their own viewpoint and could benefit from understanding that other faithful believers hold other interpretations, and also for Christians to remind ourselves what unites us all--the promise that Jesus will return, and that we will be with Him for eternity.

Well-written and non-contentious presentation...with helpful charts!

[Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have wanted to read a book like this for years. Not only does Chapell do an excellent job in making the 4 major viewpoints of eschatology understandable, he is incredibly charitable in his approach. He celebrates what makes each view commendable, raises the right questions about challenges, and carefully explains what the reader needs to weigh to make up one’s own mind. The unity of belief surrounding every view is also outlined and elevated as most important. I learned a lot not just about the views, but also how to be gracious to the brothers and sisters who may differ from what I personally believe but will be together with me in the eternity with Jesus we all long for.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, you don't have to agree with everything the author writes in the book to enjoy and learn from it. There were some things he shared I was not so sure about. I took time and researched on my own and sometimes changed my mind and sometimes didn't. The book is good, and you will come away learning something or at least understanding the end times better.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the temporary digital ARC that I read and gave my honest opinion of.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for those intimidated or overwhelmed by the study of Revelation. I appreciated the straightforward and unbiased explanations of the 4 main views within the christian church. I also appreciated the repetition and rephrasing, which helped when trying to understand some of these complex ideas.

[Jason Bollinger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this work. Great job of honoring the heart of different positions and giving clarifying descriptions. Definitely learned a lot and will continue to use content as a reference for teaching in the church.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great reference book for what the Bible says about the last days on earth. The author explains the various beliefs and give scriptures that are used for each.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent objective summary of the major viewpoints on eschatology while at the same time, focusing on the things all believers have in common, regardless of end times views. Great reference.

[Josaia Nieves · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book!

Being new to all of the terminology used in theology and the end times understanding (eschatology), Dr. Chapell brought forth the four main views in a simple way that was easy to understand and digest. I can say that I now have a good view of the four points of Dispotational Pre-Mil, Historic Pre-Mil, A-Mil, and Post-Mil. But what I appreciated the most was that Dr. Chapell didn't put forth his viewpoint; he just wanted to describe them all and give the strengths and weaknesses of each of the end times viewpoints in the church. He also made sure to put at the end of the book what we, as Christians, should be focusing on, which is, in my view, the main fundamentals of the church. He also emphasizes the main point, which is that "We are living in the Last Days." All in all a fantastic read. Come, Lord Jesus!