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The End Times Made Simple
Rapture?A Pre-Trib?A Post-Trib?A Millennium?A Confused? You should be!A In today's Evangelical Christian world, eschatology a€"" the study of the "Last Things" - has been turned into a sort of pseudo-science with a plethora of authors claiming to know exactly the scenario of events that are to take place just prior to the Lord Jesus Christ's return, as well as what the eternal state will be like.A Often, these authors come to rather bizarre and unbiblical conclusions. Piece by piece, Samuel E. Waldron strips away years of false teaching and faulty exegesis thrust upon the church to reveal what the Bible, in its own simple but profound way, says about what will happen at the end of this present age.
250 pages, Paperback
First published August 22, 2002
19 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Samuel E. Waldron
52 books25 followersDr Sam Waldron is the academic dean of MCTS and professor of Systematic Theology. He is also one of the pastors of Heritage Baptist Church in Owensboro, KY. Dr Waldron received a B.A. from Cornerstone University, an M.Div. from Trinity Ministerial Academy, a Th.M. from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary, and a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. From 1977 to 2001 he was a pastor of the Reformed Baptist Church of Grand Rapids, MI.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 25, 2024
The first 70 pages present a concise presentation of Amillennialism.
The rest of the book just wasn't worth it. It addresses outdated topics, is poorly written, and simply doesn't compete with more recent books. I really like other books by Waldron but won't be suggesting this one.
The rest of the book just wasn't worth it. It addresses outdated topics, is poorly written, and simply doesn't compete with more recent books. I really like other books by Waldron but won't be suggesting this one.
October 30, 2021
Coming from an amillennial perspective, this books deals deftly with how to understand the End Times using a consistently biblical hermeneutic. It is very easy to read, nicely organized, and makes serious use of the Scriptures. This would likely be the first book I'd recommend to someone who wants a better understanding of eschatology.
February 13, 2024
Excellent work on the study of eschatology by Waldron. He works through the various eschatelogical positions while exegeting scripture to come to his conclusion.
I do, however, wish he would have spent more time on postmillenialism and its distinction to amillenialism. I understand that Pre-Mil Dispensationalism is big right now, so that was more important, but I would like to see more contrasts on the post-mil side.
I do, however, wish he would have spent more time on postmillenialism and its distinction to amillenialism. I understand that Pre-Mil Dispensationalism is big right now, so that was more important, but I would like to see more contrasts on the post-mil side.
July 15, 2019
It is a great book on eschatology from an Amillennial perspective. Waldron really does keep things simple. While there are some weighty matters dealt with in this work, he keeps it on a level just about anyone can understand!
It gets 4 stars because Waldron used endnotes and not footnotes.
It gets 4 stars because Waldron used endnotes and not footnotes.
June 20, 2022
Pienso que muestra una buena defensa en contra de la posición Premilenialista Dispensacional en la que muchos de nosotros fuimos enseñados y que creímos durante mucho tiempo sin mirar una interpretación adecuada de las profesias. Este libro es un un comienzo para profundizar en el fin de los tiempos.
December 9, 2020
Simple But at Times Simplistic
Hard to rate this book. At times it is very helpful. In other places, it is very disappointing and unconvincing. Some general observations:
Simplistic: At times this is so simple, it’s simplistic.
Dogmatic: Filled with declarative statements that are often assumed and stated with little or no proof.
Combative: Lacks an irenic spirit at times and overstates the consequences of opposing views without acknowledging or addressing the weaknesses of his own view.
Assumptions: At points, the exegetical work is unconvincing and hermeneutical assumptions are made that become preconditions that then “clearly demand” his conclusions.
Endnotes: Few things are more frustrating in a book like this than forsaking footnotes!
Distracting: Editing at times is hard to understand when it comes to delineating points.
Best for those already convinced of the amillennial position to teach others in a “simple” way. Waldron is gifted in outlining doctrine, packaging principles, and presenting it in an understandable manner.
Good for those who are not amillennial to get a simple (but at times simplistic) overview of the position and its arguments.
Excellent on those aspects of eschatology that all positions hold in common: resurrection, eternal wrath, and the ultimate goal of a new creation.
Overall, this book would benefit from acknowledging and addressing the weaknesses of its own position. No one eschatological position has all the answers in such a way that there are not difficult passages to handle and questions to answer. Waldron seems unaware that his position is not without difficulties or that differing views have positive contributions.
I’m glad I read it and will return to it, but the overall approach falls short of four stars.
Hard to rate this book. At times it is very helpful. In other places, it is very disappointing and unconvincing. Some general observations:
Simplistic: At times this is so simple, it’s simplistic.
Dogmatic: Filled with declarative statements that are often assumed and stated with little or no proof.
Combative: Lacks an irenic spirit at times and overstates the consequences of opposing views without acknowledging or addressing the weaknesses of his own view.
Assumptions: At points, the exegetical work is unconvincing and hermeneutical assumptions are made that become preconditions that then “clearly demand” his conclusions.
Endnotes: Few things are more frustrating in a book like this than forsaking footnotes!
Distracting: Editing at times is hard to understand when it comes to delineating points.
Best for those already convinced of the amillennial position to teach others in a “simple” way. Waldron is gifted in outlining doctrine, packaging principles, and presenting it in an understandable manner.
Good for those who are not amillennial to get a simple (but at times simplistic) overview of the position and its arguments.
Excellent on those aspects of eschatology that all positions hold in common: resurrection, eternal wrath, and the ultimate goal of a new creation.
Overall, this book would benefit from acknowledging and addressing the weaknesses of its own position. No one eschatological position has all the answers in such a way that there are not difficult passages to handle and questions to answer. Waldron seems unaware that his position is not without difficulties or that differing views have positive contributions.
I’m glad I read it and will return to it, but the overall approach falls short of four stars.
May 19, 2021
When you promise to make things simple, you should do it. Waldron does not. A few general comments first. The book is a confusing mish-mash of challenges and points that seem unconnected to the theme of his book. If someone has an eschatology that is supposed to prove premillenialism (and all other views but his own) wrong then one should expect a detailed, comprehensive, verse by verse explanation of what Revelation, Daniel, Matthew, Thessalonians, and Corinthians mean in this new eschatology as opposed to his understanding. If 70 A.D. fulfilled much of these verses and books, then exactly what historical events explain the catching away, the star that fell from heaven, the four horsemen, the mark of the beast, the beast, the false prophet, to mention a few. Waldron does not attempt this. He attempts to refute the main verses that support premillenialism but often leaves out key passages. He uses the Westminster and Baptist confessions frequently as "proof texts" and sets up a straw man of Left Behind reading Neanderthals as his whipping boy. In chapter 21 (Arguments Against Pretribulationism) Waldron points out that in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 the Greek word apantesis is used to describe the saints meeting Christ in the air. One of pretribbers strongest arguments, in my opinion, is differentiating this coming of Christ with the final coming of Christ after the Tribulation. It simply makes no sense that Christ would rapture believers living and dead, meet them in the air, and then turn them all around and head back to earth. Yet that is exactly Waldron's position. Unfortunately, he jumps on the word apantesis to "prove" his point. He correctly points out that the same word was used in Matthew 25 to describe how the ten virgins went out to meet the bridegroom. Only five were ready and did this, of course. However, Waldron says they met him and "return with him to the wedding feast". But nowhere in this Scripture does it say they RETURNED to the wedding feast. According to Jewish custom of the time more than likely they were at the Bride's home, went to meet the Groom, and then went with him to his father's house and the wedding feast. Which is actually pretty much the way pretribbers view the events of the rapture. So Waldron may have inadvertently supported a view opposite of his own. The most egregious error that Waldron makes is his strong defense of replacement theology - his contention that Israel has been replaced by the church in God's plan and blessings. A horrible belief! Waldron's main tactic is to stress that there are only two ages: this age and the age to come but then, conveniently for his theology, creates an intermediate age to explain some difficult passages. Pretribbers explain the millennium as an intermediate age by the way. The first 22 chapters are these attacks mostly on Pretribulationism that he seems to think are slam dunks but generally he has ignored alternative thinking on the passages he cherry picks. Chapter 23 is kind of an odd one - What Does the Bible Teach About the Resurrection? Not that it is a bad section - it's actually his best so far. But up to this point in the book each chapter has been devoted to the many ways he has determined that pretribulationism is absolutely wrong; but this chapter - not a peep about that. To his credit he makes this wonderful statement about our resurrection bodies: "Most blessed of all, perhaps, the new body is the sign and seal of that condition in which fellowship with God has been perfected. It is indwelt, ruled, and energized to the highest degree by the Spirit of God. Its union with God in Christ, its possession of the highest divine favor is unchangeable, immutable, and irreversible. It is a Spiritual and heavenly body." Another great quote: "Why would God raise the wicked from the dead, if punishment is not eternal or if the wicked were simply to be annihilated?" Perhaps Waldron's book challenging John MacArthur will be more complete but I truly was astounded at his poor writing and reasoning. I honestly want to understand amillenialism but I will have to look elsewhere for an explanation.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 10, 2020
Sam Waldron is a great Bible teacher. He does a fantastic job of using history, confession, and most importantly, Scripture to support his views. He also is not afraid to interact with other dissimilar views (even when some of those are historical amill views). The content of the book was excellent (for that reason you should read it!)
For me, Waldron demonstrated the following in this book:
1. Eschatology is not optional, tedious, or separate from the gospel.
2. Pre- and post- mill interpretations have significant flaws that the amil position can easily explain.
3. Sometimes we must reject the eschatological teaching we were brought up in. After all, Scripture is our authority NOT tradition.
My only critiques of the book were editorial and printing related:
1. A scripture index at the back of the book would have been great.
2. The foot notes were placed at the end of the book rather than below the text or at the end of the chapter (fixed in the sequel “More of the End Times Made Simple.”)
3. The text was almost a hazy, dotted, light grey color (also fixed in the sequel).
Overall, a great book. I recommend reading this book, watching his free eschatology lecture series online (monergism.com) from CBTS, and reading other similar authors to compare eschatological views (e.g. Riddlebarger, Sam Storms, Hoekema).
For me, Waldron demonstrated the following in this book:
1. Eschatology is not optional, tedious, or separate from the gospel.
2. Pre- and post- mill interpretations have significant flaws that the amil position can easily explain.
3. Sometimes we must reject the eschatological teaching we were brought up in. After all, Scripture is our authority NOT tradition.
My only critiques of the book were editorial and printing related:
1. A scripture index at the back of the book would have been great.
2. The foot notes were placed at the end of the book rather than below the text or at the end of the chapter (fixed in the sequel “More of the End Times Made Simple.”)
3. The text was almost a hazy, dotted, light grey color (also fixed in the sequel).
Overall, a great book. I recommend reading this book, watching his free eschatology lecture series online (monergism.com) from CBTS, and reading other similar authors to compare eschatological views (e.g. Riddlebarger, Sam Storms, Hoekema).
October 19, 2022
The study of end times (eschatology) is a controversial subject which has resulted in much division among brothers and sisters in Christ. False teaching has twisted Bible prophecy out of context into bizarre interpretations that seem straight out of science fiction.
What I really appreciated about this book was the way it simplified the different views of end times, compared each to Scripture, then backed up and zeroed in on specific Bible passages using biblical hermeneutics.
I also appreciated the humility of the author as he addressed the complexity of this topic, even to the point of showing that we can only go so far in understanding some points of eschatology since we're still living in the time before Jesus' second coming.
The book is divided into three parts:
✨How old is your eschatology? (Gospel eschatology compared to the different forms today)
✨ Eschatology made simple (Bible interpretation, the Bible's own system, the judgment, the kingdom of God, Revelation)
✨Next question please (four sections addressing questions related to the present church age, the imminent return of Christ, the resurrection, and the eternal state)
What I really appreciated about this book was the way it simplified the different views of end times, compared each to Scripture, then backed up and zeroed in on specific Bible passages using biblical hermeneutics.
I also appreciated the humility of the author as he addressed the complexity of this topic, even to the point of showing that we can only go so far in understanding some points of eschatology since we're still living in the time before Jesus' second coming.
The book is divided into three parts:
✨How old is your eschatology? (Gospel eschatology compared to the different forms today)
✨ Eschatology made simple (Bible interpretation, the Bible's own system, the judgment, the kingdom of God, Revelation)
✨Next question please (four sections addressing questions related to the present church age, the imminent return of Christ, the resurrection, and the eternal state)
September 1, 2022
The book is divided into three parts: the first is a brief survey of eschatology in the history of the church, while the second and main part introduces the subject of eschatology from the Holy Scriptures. In the third part, the author answers specific questions related to eschatology such as: 'Are Israel and the church distinct peoples of God?' or 'Can the date of Christ's coming be calculated?'
The author's style is clear and concise and the writing is kept in a manner just about anyone can understand. The arguments are nicely organized in 25 chapters throughout 242 pages.
I gave it four stars (ISO five) because of editorial and printing-related critiques: on some pages the print is faint and hard to read, the charts are poorly laid out, and a scripture index is missing. Also, would have preferred footnotes over endnotes.
Overall a great book on eschatology from an Amillennial perspective and a book warmly recommended to someone who wants a better understanding of the subject.
The author's style is clear and concise and the writing is kept in a manner just about anyone can understand. The arguments are nicely organized in 25 chapters throughout 242 pages.
I gave it four stars (ISO five) because of editorial and printing-related critiques: on some pages the print is faint and hard to read, the charts are poorly laid out, and a scripture index is missing. Also, would have preferred footnotes over endnotes.
Overall a great book on eschatology from an Amillennial perspective and a book warmly recommended to someone who wants a better understanding of the subject.
November 7, 2018
The title of this book conveys the content to the dot. Nothing about intricate bible prophecy or vague typology, just straightforward analysis of eschatological texts. Waldron does an excellent job by not simplifying the biblical texts, but showing how modern evangelicalism has made the doctrine of the end times so scattered that Christians fail to realize how clear the Bible is when it comes to the study of last things. Waldron has an overarching amillennial interpretation, but this book would educate the non-ammillenial just as well. I give it four stars because the text in the book is very light and difficult to read. I noticed several typos as well, and the charts/graphs appear to be smushed together and poorly laid out.
April 7, 2023
Waldron has a very unique style that takes getting used too. I enjoy the structure of his writing and how he goes about explaining things. However, I wish he would have more thoroughly presented his counter arguments. It seems as though beyond explaining the main eschatological views at the beginning, any counter argument got a very brief explanation before it received a thorough dismantling. I also felt he was a bit inconsistent in his treatment of Scripture, but I am far from a hermeneutic or textual critic to judge that. All in all, this was a good read for better understanding a variety of eschatological components for someone who had minimal understanding going in (and a dispensational background)
December 19, 2022
I greatly enjoyed reading "The End Times Made Simple" and appreciated the many, many uses of the texts of Scripture. Many of the verses were provided within the book while others were referenced for further study. The book provided information on various eschatological views while providing the view on that position which seemed most biblical. This book can be read alone, but can also be read in conjunction with an open Bible for a more complete study of this topic.
February 7, 2021
Refreshing to see a consistent eschatology that takes into account Scripture’s literary, redemptive-historic hermeneutic. Too many read a literal reading into a multiplicity of literary genres and fail to divide the text rightly when it comes to end times. This book is accessible to all and yet still weighty in its content.
March 23, 2022
Lo hubo recomendado Sugel Michelén y por supuesto no me decepcionó. Es bastante sencillo y claro como lo indica su portada (a menos que no conozcas la Escritura) y diré que lo considero de lectura obligada para todos quienes tengan una postura escatológica.
June 25, 2025
He really made it simple.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews