Contemporary options in eschatology: A study of the millennium [Paperback]

Millard J Erickson (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 197 pages
• Publisher: Baker Book House (1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0801032628
• ISBN-13: 978-0801032622
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,360,088 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Millard J. Erickson (B.A., University of Minnesota, B.D., Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.A., University of Chicago, Ph.D., Northwestern University) has taught theology at several evangelical seminaries. He has written over twenty-five books and numerous articles. He and his wife, Virginia, have three daughters and live in Mounds View, Minnesota.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Grasping The Parousia Easier When Erickson Explains!, July 24, 1998

By 

Bob "...think!" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Options in Eschatology: A Study of the Millennium (Paperback)

As of this writing (July 1998) this book is "out of print". That is too bad. With so much garbage being churned out in the name of prophecy nowadays, someone searching for a real study of historical, biblical positions is out of luck. So if you CAN get this book, DO SO.

Erickson is a prolific author and impressive scholar. He is currently a professor at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and Baylor University. His credentials are apparently unimpeachable. And his work in this book reflects that, with a couple of minor exceptions if one is a beginning student.

"Contemporary Options..." is a wonderful study that delineates the varying modern understandings about the last days: Pre-Millennialism, Post-Millennialism, and A-Millennialism. A chapter is spent describing each of these positions: Overview, History, Tenets, and Evaluation. A chapter is also devoted to each view of when the so-called "rapture" of the church will occur (! Pre- and Post- Tribulationalism)! Though he has his OWN view about which of these is the proper view, Erickson shows himself capable of allowing the reader to decide...he does not dogmatize OR indoctrinate. Only in his "p.s." at the end of the book does he mention his personal position.

A predominate view of the past 150 years, dispensationalism (a premillennial view) is given a good treatment as well. Erickson devotes a chapter to this widely held view of biblical interpretation. Also worthy of note is how the book begins: with a quick couple of chapters of how some others have interpreted eschatological material: to wit, Albert Schweitzer (so-called "Consistent" Eschatology), Charles Dodd (so-called "Realized"), Rudolf Bultmann ("Existential") and Jurgen Moltmann ("Hope").

The primary problem with the book (or perhaps with this reader!) is the challenge of understanding all that Erickson is saying in regard to the int! erpretation of some particular Greek phrases and tenses. P! ortions of the book seem to assume familiarity with the ancient language that most of us probably don't have. Despite this, however, the "gist" of the idea is understandable.

Also a minor disappointment was that Erickson does not touch too much upon the preterist or historical interpretation of prophecy, though they ARE mentioned. A complete study of prophecy or eschatology should involve a review of these positions. But again, don't let this keep you from reading the text. The book is outstanding in reviewing the modern positions described above.

All in all, Erickson does a TREMENDOUS job explaining for the layman or student these competing ideas. And he ends with the reminder that as fascinating as eschatology is, we need not allow it to divide Christianity!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Solid Introduction, December 21, 2002

By 

Jacob Aitken I (Pineville, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Contemporary Options in Eschatology: A Study of the Millennium (Paperback)

With the reputation of a man like Dr. Erickson, one comes to expect good scholarship. Erickson does a masterful job a FAIRLY and OBJECTIVELY examinig each viewpoint. He lists the pros and cons of each position (he even critiques his own!) without name calling and mud-slinging, which we see enough of in today's echatology. One might wonder what the first chapters have to do with eschatology, but hang in there because he describes not only the echatology, but the theology of prominent, however somewhat neo-orthodox theologians. With a firm grip on this,one may confidently enter the book. Overall, it is a great handbook on introductory eschatology. Its flaws are not enough discussion on a prominent position such as preterism, however it is mentioned. If you are a student in New Testament or Systematic Theology, this book is an essential.

5.0 out of 5 stars ONE OF THE FIRST 1970s BOOKS TO COMMUNICATE OTHER "OPTIONS" THAN THE PRE-TRIB, PRE-MILL, September 27, 2010

By 

Steven H. Propp (Sacramento, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Contemporary Options in Eschatology: A Study of the Millennium (Paperback)

Millard Erickson is a theologian of significant stature (e.g., see his Christian Theology). This 1977 book (along with IVP's The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views) was one of the first to make evangelical Christians aware that there were other eschatology "options" than, say, the dispensational view of Hal Lindsey.

Erickson first summarizes Albert Schweitzer, C.H. Dodd, Rudolf Bultmann, and Jurgen Moltmann; then he fairly surveys the "Millennial Views" of Postmillenialism, Amillennialism, and Premillennialism, followed by the "Tribulational Views" of Dispensationalism, Pretribulationism, Posttribulationism, and "Mediating Positions."

Erickson's own position (finally stated in the Conclusion section) is that "posttribulational Premillennialism seems to me the most adequate position. The exegetical arguments for a premillennial coming, particularly those based on Revelation 20, seem to me persuasive. At the same time, the Biblical testimony seems clearly to favor the interpretation that the church will be on earth during the tribulation but will be sustained by the gracious protection and provision of God."

Here are some representative quotations from this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED book of eschatology:

"(Postmillenialism's) optimism concerning the conversion of the world ... seems somewhat unrealistic in the light of recent world developments. The percentage of Christians in the world is not increasing. In fact, a lower percentage of the world's population is even nominally Christian than was the case ten, thirty, or fifty years ago. Even the opportunities for propagating the gospel seem to be fading." (Pg. 71)

"One objection (to Premillennialism) is the sparseness of Biblical references to the millennium. Surely if this is as important a doctrine as premillennialists claim, it ought to be mentioned more than once in the whole of Scripture." (Pg. 104)

"A further problem is that an earthly millennium is theologically superfluous... Why should there be an earthly reign of Christ at all? Why should we not move directly from the second coming of Christ to the judgment and then to the ultimate states of destiny of both the righteous and the unrighteous?" (Pg. 106)

"These teachings suggest that the coming of Christ could occur at any moment. If events such as the tribulation must first come to pass, the point of saying 'You do not know the time' is difficult to see." (Pg. 139)

"While the rapture ... is supposed to be relatively inconspicuous, not seen by unbelievers, its description ... makes it sound like something unmistakable. The suggestion of posttribulationists that this refers not to a 'coming for' the church but to a single, second advent of Christ seems to fit the description better." (Pg. 142)