The Covenantal Kingdom [Plastic Comb]

Ralph Allan Smith (Author)

Product Details

• Plastic Comb: 102 pages
• Publisher: Christian Liberty Pr (January 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1930092237
• ISBN-13: 978-1930092235
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,088,551 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ralph Allan Smith was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1949. He graduated with honors from Ohio University in 1967, majoring in Psychology.

He married his wife, Sylvia, in 1976 and in 1978, they both graduated from Grace Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree.

They moved to Tokyo, Japan in 1981 and have been working together at the Mitaka Evangelical church ever since. They home-schooled their three children.

Ralph also heads a small research institute which sponsors a web page at www.berith.org. Various essays and mp3 files are available there for free.

The three books published by Canon Press are all available for full view on Google Books.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fresh perspective & incisive analysis of the issues, October 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Covenantal Kingdom (Plastic Comb)

This brief, pithy introduction to the debate among a-, pre- and postmillennialists does far more than simply rehash the standard arguments. It shows how the biblical teachings on the covenant are importantly related to eschatology (i.e., Christian doctrine concerning the future course of history). To outsiders, and perhaps even for some Christians, debate over eschatology may seem like the equivalent of arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but nothing could be further from the truth. The author says it best in his introduction: "How we view eschatology not only determines our view of history, it also determines our view of everyday life in the present age. What are we living for? What kinds of goals ought we as Christians to pursue? What is the ultimate meaning of our labor in history? To be specific, should we invest our time, money and labor in projects that may take over 100 years to complete, that require sophisticated knowledge and technical ability, and that 'preach the Gospel' in a far less direct manner than passing out tracts? Is the ultimate meaning of our historical labor simply found in the number of people that we win to Christ, or does educational, scientific, artistic, political, and industrial work have ultimate meaning for a Christian also? These and many other questions that touch our daily life find their answers in our eschatological beliefs. It is this connection with everyday life which makes the eschatological debate inescapable -- for without answers to future questions, we cannot know how we ought to serve God in the present . . . " Another point recommending this book is that the author tries to set out his hermeneutic (interpretative) principles clearly and to give a biblical justification for them. Finally, the gentlemanly tone is commendable. The author went through a major transition, from espousing dispensational premillennialism to a postmillennial covenant theology, and he takes pains to avoid any hint of ridicule or disdain for opposing viewpoints -- he's been there himself.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Simple, Clear, Biblical Book, March 1, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Covenantal Kingdom (Plastic Comb)

This is for anyone who wants to read something simple but to-the-point on what the Bible has to say about how history ends. It looks at the issue from a profoundly Biblical point of view and shows why we can trust in the victory of the gospel on earth. No matter who you are, this book will benefit you.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good starter for the debate on eschatology, August 4, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Covenantal Kingdom (Plastic Comb)

If anyone wants a good introduction to the debate on eschatology, written by a former dispensationalist fundamentalist, then this is the book to get. It is quite short, but still not trivial, by any means. This book will help you see the importance of eschatology in your practical everyday life.