Customer Reviews

Heaven Misplaced: Christ's Kingdom on Earth

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is most likely one of Douglas Wilson's best. It is the most complete explanation of "hopeful optimism" I've ever come across. As always, Doug Wilson has a thorough understanding of the topic at hand and is an excellent expositor of Scripture. He is not afraid to trample our preconceived notions and in addition is an extremely persuasive writer.

Most Christians say that our accomplishments on earth are insignificant because we are merely "passing through" with heaven as our final resting place. Wilson, however, shows from scripture that this view is simply not biblical. When we die, it is heaven that we are passing through and when history is complete a glorified earth is where we end up forever. (After all, we don't pray that Christ kingdom will go; we pray that it will come.) Christians often misunderstand the passage where Christ says that He is going to prepare a place in heaven for us. John 14:2 says that "In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you." The Greek word translated "Mansions" is "mone" which is translated "rooms" in the ESV. Doug Wilson says: "The word denotes temporary lodging, as you would find in a hotel. In this case, it would have to be the nicest resort hotel you ever heard of-- a 5,000 star resort hotel." (Page 28)

He also shows that in the Old World order, the angels superintended the world, which is why they were able to judge the Old Creation with the seven bowls of wrath in Rev. Now, as the book of Corinthians tells us, we will judge angels. Man in Christ superintends this world and is surely taking dominion of it. Christ is on our side; we have nothing to fear. He has promised that He came to save the world (1 John 4:14, 2:2; John 4:42, 3:16-17, 1:29, 1:9; etc.) Notice that it does not say that he tried to save the world; he has already saved the world. He did not come to judge the world, but to save the world (John 12:47). Wilson says: "But what do most Christians think Jesus is going to do when all is said and done? Right. Judge the world." Humanity has been redeemed: mission accomplished.

Consequently, Wilson says: "The task of evangelism, now that Christ has risen, is not so much to run around at night, poking our flashlights into corners and cellars. Rather, the task of evangelism is more like pulling back the curtains. 'But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light' (Eph. 5:13-14). Get out of that bed! Christ will shine on you!" (page 71).

"Heaven Misplaced" is a real treat! Wilson describes it as "a small effort to get Christians to believe their Christmas carols year-round." Read it, enjoy it, and proclaim to the nations that Christ is enthroned as King.

I was expecting a more academic treatment of the whole eschatological debate. I've read Wilson's books before, and have always learned something, but was disappointed with this book.

The first problem I had with the book was the whole "Imagine if this was the way it was, and how wonderful that would be" attitude, which I found disconcerting to day the least. Warm fuzzy feelings aren't how one should choose their theology; theology should be chosen based on how it fits with the entirety of Scripture (in the case of Christian theology). The ultimate argument that Wilson presents seems to be little more than "wouldn't it be lovely to think so." I also found myself wondering whether Wilson was a Christian Universalist of some stripe, with his emphasis on the ultimate salvation of the whole world (page 32, "The gospel, as it was declared to Abraham, was that the heathen would all be converted," for example).

In spite of my disagreement with Wilson's eschatology (I could never tell if it was Preterism, Postmillenialism, or some strange hybrid), I found myself agreeing with some of what he said in the book. The point of chapter 4 ("Hope Incarnate") seems to be that Christians must live out the Gospel every day, and that we don't do it. I agree with him here, though I don't think this is tied to any particular eschatology. I wondered as I read if his own beliefs weren't a result of his rejection of dispensational premillenialism.

Wilson seems to contradict himself in chapter 5; he begins by saying that Christ did not come to judge the world, but then turns around and says that Christ would be judging the world. I understand what he was trying to say (now that I've re-read the chapter), but I think he could have made the point much clearer.

I'm giving the book three stars simply because there are messages in the book that need to be heard. But as a treatment of Christian eschatology, it falls short.

When we think of the End Times we usually think of earthquakes, floods, and nuclear explosions. From the hyper rants of Jack Van Impe to the silly scenes of Left Behind, evangelical culture has bombarded us with images of an apocalypse that is devastating and widespread -- one that will be preceded by a big, cruel magic trick.

Small pockets of Christians will vanish across the globe, disappearing from busy streets, bustling malls, and crowded airplanes. News anchors and political pundits will be speechless, unaware that they are representatives of a world full of sinners, left hopelessly to self-destruct under the grip of a soon-to-rise anti-Christ. In short, the minority of good folks will be gone, and everyone else will be doomed to hell.

But what if we've got it wrong? What if the events leading up to the Second Coming aren't as grim as we suspect? There will almost certainly be a tribulation period filled with conflict. But before that happens, what if those busy streets will be overwhelmingly Christian instead of overwhelmingly heathen? Yes, the above storyline often accepts that the Gospel will be proclaimed throughout the world, but what if most of the world will actually receive it?

It is this question that Douglas Wilson explores in his recent book, Heaven Misplaced: Christ's Kingdom on Earth. His answer?

Put plainly, before anyone goes to the Kingdom, the Kingdom is going to come to us -- and with force.

As Wilson says:

[T]he striking thing about the Second Coming is that it will be the culmination of what is happening right here, right now. The new humanity is going to be finally and completely formed and born, but it is this world that is pregnant with that glory. The relief will be great, but it will be relief from the travail of this world.

For Wilson, our planet is simply one of the "colonies of heaven," meaning that we are not to see ourselves as a "feeder town" for our colonizing power. Pointing to Paul's metaphor of "citizenship" to the colonized Philippians, Wilson makes it clear that "the mother country feeds the colonies."

From this foundation, Wilson walks us through the Bible, beginning with Abraham's covenant and climaxing with Jesus' birth, resurrection, and ascension. Throughout his exposition, Wilson points to many of the same Old Testament passages used to support his opponents' views, offering a unique interpretation based primarily on how the disciples and apostles of the early church interpreted the scriptures.

For example, why did the disciples believe that they were living in the "last hour"? Why did they say that Jesus was "coming quickly" and that the "time is near"? Why did Jesus himself tell his disciples that "this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place"?

Two thousand years later, we have three options. Either the disciples were altogether wrong, partially confused, or 100% correct. Wilson goes with the third option, arguing that God sent His Son and poured out the Holy Spirit back then to empower us and get us on track for building and furthering His Kingdom. The Apostle Paul, for example, thought Isaiah's prophecies about Christ's reign were being fulfilled in his very lifetime.

Hungry for more? Read the book.

By executing an intricate, line-by-line examination of the most pertinent Scriptures on the subject, Wilson successfully builds a fully fleshed narrative leading to a climax of earthly hope rather than earthly despair. As one final example that such "historical optimism" is not a fantasy, Wilson points to the message God sent to the shepherds on the first Christmas. In this angelic proclamation, Wilson believes God gave us a clear picture of his overarching vision for Jesus' mission -- one that ends in peace, not destruction.

As Wilson interprets it:

God has declared, through His angelic emissaries, His goodwill toward our world. He has declared His intentions for peace. He did not do this so we would then drastically restrict the message to a tiny "club for peace and goodwill." The gospel is for the world.

Wilson knows how radical this is. He recognizes the implications of his narrative and thus he approaches the subject with tact. He understands that the Church believes what it believes for a reason, and he takes the core scriptural concerns seriously. Indeed, after first reading his introduction I was a bit shocked that he asks the reader for a "willing suspension of belief." I personally saw it as a subtle concession that his theory was probably a bit weak in the knees. But as I continued reading, I soon realized that his request had much more to do with stunting our (read: my) typical, reactionary tendencies than it did with any lack of evidence on his part.

His analysis is entirely Biblically based and his conclusions, although controversial, are perfectly reasonable and reconcilable within the full scope of the Christian message. This doesn't mean I'm fully persuaded, but he certainly got my wheels turning.

Wilson provides an optimistic picture of an earthly future that is overwhelmingly heaven-oriented. For this to be true, we have a lot of work to do. But whether he's right or wrong, I think it's in the Church's best interest to assume the best and pursue our callings accordingly.

I've read many, many excellent Christian books, but if I had to compile a list of "essential Christian reads" this would make my list. Even if you don't agree with Wilson's eschatology, his presentation is so warm, encouraging, and full of Christian hope that you will find the brief sitting at his feat invigorating to your faith.

I approached this book with very little study of eschatology and no strong opinion either way. But as I read through his book I found myself saying, "yes of course...this is exactly what the text means" or "this is precisely the attitude and sense of mission that Christ meant to leave us with."

This is profound because it will ask you to re-consider if you are living as if Christ has already been victorious or if you are living as if one who is waiting for something else to happen first.

I enjoyed Douglas Wilson's short book and wish more Christians were better informed about this positive, optimistic viewpoint, though I'm still not completely convinced by it.

I think Postmillennialism has a lot going for it, when it is combined with a high view of the Bible and of God's sovereignty. Sometimes I wonder why more Christians do not see the advance of the gospel over the past 20 centuries as a clear sign that a pessimistic view of world history cannot be correct.

But I still waver between an optimistic Amillennialism and full-blown Postmillennialism.

One defect of the book is Mr Wilson's dogged use of the King James Version, especially in passages which he has to then translate for us! There are so many excellent 20th and 21st century English translations: even using the New King James would have improved the book for 21st century readers.

I'm still waiting for the killer punch Postmillennial book. Any suggestions?

Though I am not sure still where I stand on the Millennial debate, Douglas Wilson does a fine job of poetically but very earnestly distilling the view of Postmillennialism. This book is a great overarching perspective and makes a lot of sense out of very unclear Bible passages with very clear Bible passages. I would reccomend it to anyone, especially Premillennial folk.