At the Last Trumpet: Jesus Christ and the End of Time (William Barclay Library)

Rating:
Summary: Mainline eschatology
Review: This is a beautiful book. Dr. Barclay is the consummate New Testament scholar, and this book is a compilation of topics from his Daily Study Bible series dealing with the subject of the Second Coming of Christ. In this book you will not discover people disappearing from airplanes due to a "rapture" or any of the other sensational fads of the "Left Behind" series; rather, you will be instructed in how Jewish apocalyptic thought combined with early Christians' hope for the second coming. You will learn much about how the symbols (and they are symbols) of the beast, 1,000 yr. reign, coming in clouds, etc. have been traditionally interpreted in mainline seminaries and churches. I find it terribly disappointing that Christians are lured into easy, simplistic, literalistic notions about the Bible's teachings rather than consulting educated yet understandable writings about the Bible such as Dr. Barclay's. As a Presbyterian elder, I am very proud to recommend all of Dr. Barclay's fine books to you with the prayer that they will bless your understanding of the Bible and draw you closer to Christ.