Rating: 
Summary: Good, but a little dull
Review: "A Case for Amillenialism" by Kim Riddlebarger is a great defense of amillenialism against dispensational premillenialism and postmillenialism, as well as a moderate introduction to the doctrine of the view.
There are two reasons why I only gave it 4 stars. First, it was a little dull. Reading it soon after Keith Mathison's "Postmillenialsim: An Eschatology of Hope", I found "Amillenialism" to be quite a bit duller. It took me a while to get through it. But, it does go deep, no doubt. It just takes a while.
Second, I wish he would have provided a stronger argument agaist preterism.
Other than those two things, I'd say this is the most accessible volume on the topic of amillenial eschatology.
In all thigs, soli Deo gloria.
Rating: 
Summary: A Fair Treatment of the Subject
Review: After trudging through some of the harder texts on this subject, Riddlebarger's book became very helpful to me in understanding not only the Amillennial position but the others as well. I believe that he treats each position fairly and provides an informed critique of each one and his own. A Case for Amillennialism is a great introduction to the subject of eschatology.
Riddlebarger balances biblical, historical and systematic theology wonderfully to give the reader a full orbed view of his subject. This will provide the reader with the foundation to continue on to some harder, yet very good books, such as Vos' Pauline Eschatology as well as Hoekema's The Bible and the Future.
This book is highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A Fair Treatment of the Subject
Review: After trudging through some of the harder texts on this subject, Riddlebarger's book became very helpful to me in understanding not only the Amillennial position but the others as well. I believe that he treats each position fairly and provides an informed critique of each one and his own. A Case for Amillennialism is a great introduction to the subject of eschatology.
Riddlebarger balances biblical, historical and systematic theology wonderfully to give the reader a full orbed view of his subject. This will provide the reader with the foundation to continue on to some harder, yet very good books, such as Vos' Pauline Eschatology as well as Hoekema's The Bible and the Future.
This book is highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Thorough Introduction to Amillennialism
Review: Dr. Riddlebarger's book is an excellent work on Amillennialism. While other books, perhaps those that adequately discuss each of the historical, orthodox views of the end of time, might be a better introduction to how those positions opposite amillennialism differ, this is an excellent introduction into the topic. The issue of the devil being bound in today's day remains one of the more thorny issues for amillenialism, and while his book does address this, it remains a point of fairly obvious contention for others. All in all, a very worthwhile book.
Rating:
Summary: A must read for every Christian
Review: Having recently moved from the 'wishy-washy' theology of the faith/charismatic movement a correct, bible based eschatological view was important. Yes, of course up to reading this book I still held to 'Dispensationalism' although I was becoming aware that there were some large 'theological holes'.What I really liked about Dr Riddlebarger's book was the comprehensive rebuttal of obvious and not so obvious objections that would come from the other positions. As has been said before the issue of Satan being bound according to Amillennialism could seem problematic: however there is sufficient New Testament scripture to show that this 'binding' does not mean the cessation of all satanic activity - satan is unable to deceive the nations (Rev 20); he has also been made a public spectacle (Col 2v15)... for the Christian satan really is a toothless lion. Against the dispensational view of satan which suggests there is a 'dualistic' battle with satan being an enemy able to inflict losses on Christendom and by default inflict losses on Christ... the Amillennial view is the scriptural view. I find more and more that our brothers and sisters who hold to 'faith/charismatic' theology and along with that 'Dispensational' theology tend not to be `thorough' or 'thoroughly honest' in terms of intellectually assessing theological positions. Mark Noll pointed out in his book 'The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind' that modern evangelicals are not known for their rigorous thinking, nor does popular evangelicalism tend to sustain the intellectual life. With hindsight I can see I was guilty of this attitude when first considering the Calvinist/Reformed position. I would therefore encourage all to read this compelling work and make an honest choice based on the position that gives the most compelling exegetical argument. Final word... our eschatological position (like most positions) will not bar us from heaven however it is only in walking in the truth do we glorify God... so everything counts!
Rating:
Summary: A Biblical Case Indeed!
Review: How refreshing it is to have a book written that claims a biblical case for a position and then actually delivers! Riddlebarger is both precise, intelligent, and most importantly, sound in his explanation of the Amillennial position. I find that it works on different levels of understanding as well. It's an excellent book for those who are new to the subject matter and also an invaluable resource for those who have studied the various positions for some time. If you're looking for a great definition and explanation of the often misunderstood amillennial position, this book is highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: A Biblical Case Indeed!
Review: How refreshing it is to have a book written that claims a biblical case for a position and then actually delivers! Riddlebarger is both precise, intelligent, and most importantly, sound in his explanation of the Amillennial position. I find that it works on different levels of understanding as well. It's an excellent book for those who are new to the subject matter and also an invaluable resource for those who have studied the various positions for some time. If you're looking for a great definition and explanation of the often misunderstood amillennial position, this book is highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Scholarly, but written for the layman
Review: I have instinctively gravitated toward the amillennial position after years of Bible study, not because I completely understood amillennialism, but because pre-millennialism contradicted some fundamental doctrinal beliefs I held.
I read "A Case for Amillennialism" in an effort to reconcile my instinctual position with scriptural evidence. It turns out that many of Dr. Riddlebarger's arguments flow from the same points that led me to amillennialism in the first place.
This book IS NOT an in depth interpretation of prophecy. It is a defense and description of the amillennial hermeneutic, and Dr. Riddlebarger does an excellent job of explaining why one should interpret Revelation in light of other New Testament writings instead of forcing Revelation to be the last chapter of the Old Testament.
This book will help anyone understand the need for a proper approach to prophecy, and if your goal is to delve deeper into the subject, this book is an excellent springboard.
Rating:
Summary: This is a good one
Review: I heard Kim Riddlebarger present this material in seminar form before the book came out. Very pursuasive and compelling. The book is not less so. He has a great handle on the issues and presents the material in a manner that is easy to follow, conclusive and clear. Great for the reader just getting started in the issues of the millennium, but is also instructive for the person who has already be working through this important issue. Great book for personal study, small group study or a Sunday school class. Also, a great give for you pastor or Bible school student. You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: A Formidable Exposition of Amillennialism
Review: Kim Riddlebarger has become part of an ever increasing chorus of scholars who are challenging much of the pop eschatology that has come to define much of service level evangelicalism. This book, I believe, is possibly the best defense of amillennialism since Hoekema and as such, is a book that all dissenters of amillennialism will have to reckon with. This book attempts to build a comprehensive defense of amillennialism from the ground up. It is very systematic in its presentation and I found this to be a highly attractive approach to eschatology. He spends a good amount of time in the first two sections of the book laying much needed groundwork for meaningful eschatology by getting into issues of terminology as well as biblical theology. Folks looking for a popular level of treatment here might get bogged down and even bored, but I found Riddlebarger's discussion to be very stimulating and intellectually rigorous. Riddlebarger's treatment of the already/not yet tension of the kingdom of God is outstanding (including his linear comparison of the 'this age/the age to come' dynamic of eschatology). It is clear that Riddlebarger has been greatly influenced by the likes of Vos and Ridderbos in his presentation of inaugurated eschatology, and is therefore in good company. In the process, he advances a decidedly covenantal theology. Riddlebarger clearly understands that amillennialism relies a great deal on the groundwork he erects in the first 2 parts of the book. As he repeatedly notes, if the inaugurated eschatology that is based on a covenantal hermeneutic is biblically sound, those who dissent from amillennialism are going to be left scrambling. Riddlebarger then moves on to Part 3, which is an exposition of key Biblical texts such as Daniel 9, Matthew 24, Romans 9-11, and Revelation 19-21. The novice to eschatology might find some rough sledding in these sections, particularly the Daniel and Romans sections, but I have to say that Riddlebarger's exegesis is thorough, logical, and compelling. This is no surface level treatment of these texts, but is rather an in-depth and well thought out presentation that interacts with a variety of views and a variety of Biblical texts in the process. Very good section. In the end, while I will note a few minor weaknesses below, this book is a 'must have' on eschatology, even if one dissents from amillennialism. This book provides a framework upon which all scholars who are interested in presenting a meaningful eschatology ought to follow. He builds a case from the ground floor, offers rigorous Biblical exegesis, takes on dissenting views, and arrives at well thought out conclusions. Riddlebarger's critique of Ladd's premillennialism is very good, and his argument in favor of a substantive role for ethnic Israel in the consummation of the Kingdom from an amillennial perspective is provocative. His critique of Robertson in particular represents, I think, where the future of amillennial scholarship is headed. I will note some weaknesses of the book that, while regretable, do not detract from the otherwise outstanding presentation given here. First, his critique of dispensationalism was overstated. There is no question in my mind that the brand of dispensationalism championed by the Walvoord, LaHaye, and Ice wing of dispensationalism is thoroughly beaten to a pulp in here. And while this is certainly an exercise that has merit, the fact is that this brand of dispensationalism has been in steady retreat for the last 50 years because of the problems that have been exposed by other scholars that long predate Riddlebarger. Riddlebarger's book could have been better had he interacted more substantively with the progressive dispensational movement that is likely where the future of respectable dispensationalism is headed. He interacts with Blaising and Saucy a little bit, but not as much as I would have liked. Second, Riddlebarger is occasionally guilty of employing the argument from silence to advance his points (actually to critique dissenting perspectives). While it's true that the argument from silence is not always a logical fallacy, it must be used very carefully and tightly in order to be a legitimate debate tactic. Unfortunately, Riddlebarger's use of it, though sparingly, struck me as getting too close for comfort to slipping into an informal fallacy. Lastly, as others have pointed out, the book cries out for a Scripture index and topical index that isn't there. So while the book isn't perfect, it is predominately outstanding and is definitely a book that will have to be contended with by those who hold to postmillennialism and all forms of premillennialism. It's definitely not the last word on the subject, but it's one of the more thoughtful and rigorous resources to hit the field of eschatology in several years.
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