The Bible and the Future (Paperback)

~ (Author) "PROPERLY TO UNDERSTAND BIBLICAL ESCHATOLOGY, WE must see it as an integral aspect of all biblical revelation..." (more)
Key Phrases: great midpoint, major millennial views, earthly millennial reign, New Testament, Old Testament, Grand Rapids (more...)

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company; Rep. edition (March 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802808514
• ISBN-13: 978-0802808516
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #245,372 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive and cogent, yet lay accessible, November 24, 2002

By	Peter D. Glickenhaus (Morrisville, NC United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Put simply, Hoekema's book is simply a classic. Whether one agrees with him or not, one cannot find a better introduction to eschatology available from an amillennial perspective. There are a few unique contributions that this book contains:
(1) It shows how one can and should apply the already/not yet tension in eschatology. One cannot find this emphasis in many lay accessible books.
(2) It is not sensationalistic. While passionate about the things to come, he is careful not to fall prey to making prognostications.
(3) It does a good job of surveying the various millennial (and other eschatological) options in Christianity today without being overly simplistic and/or misrepresenting another position other than his own. This being so, he fairly and irenically shows why he holds his position.
(4) It represents a particular brand of amillennialism that understands the earthly prophecies of the OT not to refer to spiritual fulfillment in the church today (as many amills do), but in the new heavens and the new earth. In fact, his emphasis on the new earth in his book is surprisingly insightful.
(5) It also gives a very nice appendix which surveys the more recent developments in eschatological discussion (e.g., Cullman, Moltmann, Bultmann, Schweitzer, et al).

I do not agree with Hoekema on many issues. For instance, I am a partial preterist, and so I see a few passages in the past that he sees as still future. Also, I am a postmillennialist, thus seeing a more prosperous future for the pre-Advent church. Despite these differences, however, I gained a tremendous amount from reading Hoekema's book -- insights which I hope to help my own eschatological understanding to become more fully biblical. Let's all face it -- none of us probably has all our eschatology completely right. We need each other to appreciate all the variations and viewpoints the bible offers (see Poythress' "Symphonic Theology" for more on that subject).

In conclusion...

Whoever you are and whatever position you hold, it is doubtful that you can NOT benefit tremendously from a good reading of this book. If anything, it may just correct a misunderstanding of the amillennial position that many have today.

Happy reading!

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent presentation of Christian eschatology (Last Times), March 17, 1999

By A Customer

Hoekema delivers a very comprehensive, articulate, and biblical presentation. For Christians who are familiar with the different views of the millenium, his view is one of Amillenialism. Even if one does not agree with his disposition one will agree that his is well stated and honestly biblical in approach (whether completely accurate or not only God can reveal...and He will). Using his model of "already/not yet" for the Kingdom of God, the reader is in for an illuminating ride through the Scriptures in an attempt to come to a well-balanced eschatology. For anyone interested in Christianity of the Reformed ilk this is a classic work on the issue. Consistent, readable, and incredibly insightful, "The Bible and the Future" will instruct and inspire all Christians and offer hope and grace to those who aren't....yet.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, June 21, 1999

By A Customer

This is the best book on eschatology I have ever read. I keep turning to it again and again. It contains in-depth exegesis of most of the major passages. There are places where Hoekema seems to be too much of a slave to the Dutch Reformed tradition (such as his interpretation of Romans 11:26), but overall his exegesis is very sober and balanced. The writing is excellent and very easy to read. Hoekema interacts with other positions in a very fair and irenic manner. Even if you aren't amillenial, you need to read this book.