Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 64 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sound arguments for a different point of view, April 21, 2004
This review is from: End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World (Paperback)
Based on the popularity of various books and ministers these days you would think that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the basics of the end times. The sequence is pretty straight forward - rapture, seven years of tribulation, Christ's second coming, establishment of God's kingdom on earth. While that seems to be the program that sells the most books, it is not the only opinion on the end times. Some people believe the rapture will come before the tribulation, others that it will come half way through the tribulation, others that it will occur at the end of the tribulation, and still others that there will be no rapture at all. Why all the different opinions? Prophecy is open to various interpretations. In "End Time Delusions" author Steve Wohlberg provides a solid and convincing case for questioning if there will be a rapture as it is traditionally taught. He also discussed exactly what the tribulation is, the problem of the antichrist, Christ's second coming, and various other ideologies related to the end times. Throughout the book he points out that for the first century and a half or so nobody interpreted the rapture or tribulation the way it is done now. That is not to say they did not consider end times events the way it is taught today. Quite the opposite, some of the early church fathers that he quotes point out why they believe the way they do and why other beliefs are in error. These beliefs that they considered erroneous include concepts like a pre-tribulation rapture. This book is important because it provides a logical explanation of an alternative view of prophecy. Well organized and well-presented, "End Times Delusions" is a solid argument against the mainstream position on the end times and a recommended read to anyone who wants to understand alternative theories.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Introduction to Historicism, November 19, 2005
This review is from: End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World (Paperback)
This is a good introduction for those who are interested in a comprehensive, but not in-depth, review of the historicist view. Wohlberg covers a lot of ground in 200 pages, so he does not look at alternative interpretations of passages or examine potential textual difficulties. He simply presents the interpretation as he sees it. This is appropriate to the book's intended audience, however, which appears to be a popular audience, not a scholarly one.
The book is, unfortunately, light on what I consider to be the most difficult interpretations - namely, the trumpets and bowls of Revelation - but so are most historicist books I've reviewed recently.
In terms of style, this book is well written. Wohlberg is, however, fond of complementing his arguments with elaborate and sensational phrases such as "earthshattering" and "bombshell," which can be repeated several times in a single chapter. Several times, he compares his arguments to the iceberg that sunk the Titanic (futurism). This kind of self-congratulation gets old very quickly, and it is irritating and distracting in an otherwise professional presentation.
The most disturbing aspect of Wolberg's presentation, however, is that he presents historicism, not only as the preferred view, but the only interpretation leading to life. He regularly ties futurism and preterism to the spirit of antichrist and leading, using his own words, "potentially, to hell." This belief is based on the standard historicist interpretation that the papal system is the Antichrist of prophecy, and that the school of futurism was invented by - and, thus, is wholly a deception of - this system. Therefore, Wohlberg suggests that anyone holding the preterist or futurist view is subject to the coming wrath and judgment upon this papal system, even to the point of leading individuals to eternal judgment. The idea that one's end-times views - in and of themselves - could lead to eternal destruction is a disturbing and theologically unsound viewpoint that is woven throughout an otherwise good book.
In all, my criticism are minor. This is a well-done book and, considering its intended purpose and audience, a good introduction to historicism for anyone researching this view.
- H. L. Nigro, author of "Before God's Wrath: The Bible's Answer to the Timing of the Rapture"
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An important view to consider!, June 9, 2007
This review is from: End Time Delusions: The Rapture, the Antichrist, Israel, and the End of the World (Paperback)
This is an important book on the endtimes, offering a cohesive theory which I believe is more true to scripture than the predominant dispensational view. Steve Wohlberg did an excellent job explaining the historicist view in a logical, sequential manner. The result is a page-turning, easy to understand book that will provide many "light-bulb" insights. His teaching on the 70 weeks of Daniel (that they were over around 34 A.D. and that the time period was a last chance for Israel to stay true to God in order to continue to enjoy His divine favor as a nation) are very persuasive. If he is correct, and I believe he is, the future tribulation will not be a circumscribed period of 7 years like most people think.
I have read quite a few eschatology books in the last year in order to better discern and discuss the end times with a relative who is very focused on this now. This book was the best I have read, although The Apocalypse Code by Hank Hanegraff, and A case for Amillenialism by Kim Riddlebarger were also excellent. Even though The Apocalypse Code is from a partial preterist viewpoint, it corroborates a lot of the information in End Time Delusions (especially if you believe that there will be dual or multiple fulfillments of prophecies), as does A Case for Amillenialism. Both A Case for Amillenialism and End Time Delusions look to the New Testament for the interpretation of the Old. Many NT passages explain how OT passages were fulfilled in Christ, which the dispensational view seems to ignore or outright contradict. I initially avoided Mr. Wohlberg's book because of its historicist view, as Vern Poythress, in The Returning King, stated that it was the least credible of the four endtime views. I changed my mind after viewing the DVD, Messages from Heaven. If these "Marian" visitations continue to increase and strive for global acceptance, Wohlberg may well be right about the identity of the beast. I am so glad I did read End Time Delusions as I found it to actually be the most plausible endtime view.
My only objection to the book is the same one H.L. Nigro stated in his review -- the book's suggestion that those holding to the preterist or futurist views are not only wrong, but in danger of God's wrath. Revelations is a difficult book, and sincere Christians with a high view of scripture and orthodox beliefs can legitimately come to a variety of conclusions in their view of endtimes. As we near the return of Christ, it should become ever more clear which is right.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/01/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192250339_.gif){kind=small}
