jjares reviewed on 4/3/2021 + 3284 more book reviews

First, I must admit that I'm not a Bible scholar in any sense of the word. Others may have a different view of this book because they have more knowledge than I have. With that stated clearly, here's my insight into this work. I was impressed. Why? There are almost as many interpretations of the end of the earth as there are churches in the world. How does someone clarify the differences? This book makes an incredible effort to do just that.

Almost since the beginning of time, man has thought about, discussed, and argued over death, immortality, and eternity. Even non-Christians are aware that religion has strong views on life, death, and the end of the world. Although most (if not all) Christians look to the Bible for enlightenment. However, as the Christians have splintered into various factions, the views on these important matters have become more fragmented. That is one reason I'm so impressed with this book.

There are four main discussions
* Christian Concepts of Life, Death, and Immortality,
* The Second Coming,
* Satan and Hell,
* Heaven and Salvation.

Then, this book discusses the Catholic Church's eschatology. Charles Rivers then explains terms (I'd never heard): millennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism. But what I really want to mention is the theory of dispensationalism (an interpretive system related to the Bible that considers Biblical history as divided by God into dispensations, or defined periods or ages to which God has allotted distinctive administrative principles). It is the fascinating story of how dispensationalism evangelicals have been instrumental in helping create a state of Israel and who also push for them to be restored to the Holy Land. Their reasoning? They are trying to help facilitate the "end of times."

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