Deliverance Now and Not Yet: The New Testament and the Great Tribulation

by C. Marvin Pate, Douglas W. Kennard

Deliverance Now and Not Yet follows Albert Schweitzer’s view of mystically dying with Christ and Merkabah mysticism at Qumran to propose that the New Testament pictures Christ’s atonement with mystical implications. These pictures set up three forms of New Testament consistent, inaugurated, and realized. With regard to the relationship of the Church and the Great (1) Paul and John present deliverance now (realized eschatology), and (2) the rest of the New Testament presents deliverance not yet in two categories – (2a) Mark, James, Peter, and Jude present deliverance not yet (consistent), and (2b) Matthew, Luke – Acts, Hebrews, and Revelation portray deliverance as now and not yet (inaugurated eschatology). Taken together, the Christian’s experience of the Messianic woes and mystical expression of the Kingdom prompts us to long deeply for the climactic expression of the Kingdom of God.

633 pages, Hardcover

First published August 13, 2003

About the author

C. Marvin Pate (PhD, Marquette University) is professor of biblical studies at Ouachita Baptist University. He is the author and editor of numerous works, including Four Views on the Book of Revelation; The Writings of John: A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles, and Apocalypse; Romans (Teach the Text Commentary Series); and From Plato to Jesus.