The Victory of Christ's Kingdom: An introduction to Postmillenialism

Rating:
Summary: Reexamine your eschatology in 2000!
Review: At the dawning of a new millennium, many Christians are reevaluating their eschatology. If you are open to do this, I encourage you to check out this book.

In the early 1980s, I heard a lot about the coming end-times and I was sure it would occur sometime by the end of the next decade. Most evangelicals, if you asked them 10, 15, or 20, years ago, would have doubted that we would be here on the eve of a new millennium still debating end-time events. It is still generally true that most evangelicals believe that these are the end-times and that Jesus will return in their life-time. The idea that we are in the end-times is pervasive. Even many non-Christians see the future as holding a disaster that could destroy human life on planet earth.

The Christian ought to have a hope of redemption and restoration in the end-times. This is clear from the prophecies of the Bible. Like many Christians I have tried with difficulty to reconcile the biblical promises of great increase for the kingdom of God in the Last Days with the traditional dispensationalist view of the Great Tribulation being an end-time event. How can Satan be alive and well on the planet earth and the Church be victorious at the same time? I began struggling with this tension shortly after my conversion about 14 years ago.

For instance, in my missions endeavors in Russia, I have heard preachers saying that the openness in Russia is just for a time and that we have ony six months (then they said a year, then two years at the outside) until the door slams shut again. Now in 1999, Communism is at its lowest ebb of the last 100 years in Russia. The Russian parliament has a lower communist representation than most of the governments of Europe.

One missions expert said that the Great Commission must be fulfilled by 2000. Now that his prophecy has failed, he is predicting judgment on the church in America for its failure to bring revival. IÕve heard famous preachers saying that we only have a few more years until the rapture, the Antichrist and the Great Tribulation comes.

Thankfully, about 11 years ago, I read a very interesting book that helped me readjust my view of the end-times:

The Victory of ChristÔs Kingdom: an introduction to postmillennialism by John Jefferson Davis.

It is 100 pages of dynamite. I first read this book in 1989. Through this slim volume, I became a postmillennialist in one afternoon at the beach. Thankfully, the book has been reprinted (after a few years out of print) as an paperback and you should waste no time to order it right now

As a Christian publisher, I have since circulated many articles promoting the victorious ecclesiology of postmillennialism. John Jefferson DavisÕ book is among the best available.

Postmillennialism sees a gradual long-term expansion of the kingdom of God through outpourings of the Holy Spirit fostering Revival within the Church, and also the transformation of entire nations through Spiritual Awakening. This process may take many centuries to complete.

In contrast, the premillennial doctrine puts ChristÕs Kingdom in a retreat mode, although sometimes it forbodes brief victory for the Church just before the return of Christ.

Postmillennialism is the exact opposite: it puts Satan in a retreat mode (Satan is bound according to Rev. 20) for many generations hence (perhaps even for many more centuries or maybe even millennia!) and forbodes a brief apostacy in the Church at the very end of history.

We are talking here about the difference between an eschatology of victory and an eschatology of defeat.

IÕd like to write a longer review, but right now I am busy with my Y2K Manifesto: 00 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in 00. So far it is a slim tome. :-)

Also, check out the newly released video: The Beast of Revelation: IDENTIFED --

Rating:
Summary: Simple and irenic, yet scholarly
Review: This book is a simple introduction to the eschatological position known as Historic Postmillennialism, as opposed to the secular and liberal varieties. It's a quick, easy read that:

(1) corrects common misconceptions about this view of eschatology (or, rather, view of history),

(2) shows that this view is not one uncommon to the church, as it has been espoused by some of the greatest theologians that have ever influenced the church to date, and

(3) surveys the Old and New Testamental witness to this system with

(4) offers brief rebuttals to common objections.

This is certainly not one of the most detailed expositions of Postmillennial thought, and it was not intended to be. But for someone who hasn't the time to read a 200+ page book on the subject, this is the book for you. Given a good afternoon, you could easily polish it off.

If interested in this topic further, I would recommmend Bahnsen's "Victory in Jesus" (available from Covenant Media Foundation - cmfnow.com), Mathison's "Postmillennialism," and Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion." Gentry's is by far the most extensive.

Enjoy!!

Rating:
Summary: Simple and irenic, yet scholarly
Review: This book is a simple introduction to the eschatological position known as Historic Postmillennialism, as opposed to the secular and liberal varieties. It's a quick, easy read that:

(1) corrects common misconceptions about this view of eschatology (or, rather, view of history),

(2) shows that this view is not one uncommon to the church, as it has been espoused by some of the greatest theologians that have ever influenced the church to date, and

(3) surveys the Old and New Testamental witness to this system with

(4) offers brief rebuttals to common objections.

Parts 1-3 are excellent and, while brief, bring out the salient elements of the Postmillennial argument. While believing this millennial outlook to be biblical and defensible, I don't find his arguments against the common critiques of Postmillennialism very compelling. Thus, my 4 star rating. If this portion were more convincing, I wouldn't hesitate to give this book a full 5 stars.

This is certainly not one of the most detailed expositions of Postmillennial thought, and it was not intended to be. But for someone who hasn't the time to read a 200+ page book on the subject, this is the book for you. Given a good afternoon, you could easily polish it off...