Promise of the Future [Hardcover]

Cornelis P. Venema (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000

The Promise of the Future says Sinclair Ferguson, introduces us to the full range of biblical teaching on eschatology (the study of the last things). It rightly stresses that...as Simon Peter pointed out on the Day of Pentecost, the resurrection of Christ and the gift of the Spirit mean that the future has invaded the present, so that we are already living in 'the last days'...I believe that you will find the study on which you are about to embark both intellectually satisfying and spiritually enriching.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 560 pages
• Publisher: Banner of Truth (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851517935
• ISBN-13: 978-0851517933
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,066 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A true optimistic amillennialist!, June 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Promise of the Future (Hardcover)

Cornelis Venema has done the church a wonderful service by writing a comprehensive and accessible text on eschatology from a consistently Reformed perspective. The book thoroughly covers all of the important topics in both individual and cosmic eschatology: death, the intermediate state, the second coming, signs of the times, millennial views, the resurrection of the body, final judgment, heaven, and hell. He does so in a fair and irenic manner.

I would take issue with a few interpretive details, but these minor quibbles do not detract from my overall enthusiasm for the book. I would highly recommend it to anyone seeking a good single volume resource on eschatology.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Most Comprehensive Book on Eschatology I've Read, September 16, 2009

By 

Carl Gobelman (Vernon Hills, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Promise of the Future (Hardcover)

Eschatology is a hot topic in Christian literature as evidenced with the hugely popular "Left Behind" series. Much of the popularity of that series was due to the sensationalism of the particular eschatological viewpoint espoused in that series. That eschatological view is Dispensational Pre-Millennialism. It's popularity comes from the fact that is makes for good drama (as the series revealed). Up until about nine months ago, it was an eschatological viewpoint I adhered to and defended. After interacting with others who didn't hold this eschatological view, I decided to do some research into it. I began by reading Kim Riddlebarger's "A Case For Amillennialism" which gave me enough reason to change my eschatological view. It also provided a good foundation to read The Promise of the Future by Dr. Cornelis P. Venema.

This book is easily the most comprehensive book on Christian eschatology I've ever read. It is so much more than a comparison of millennial views. It takes a scholarly look at all aspects of Christian eschatology. Dr. Venema, Professor of Doctrinal Studies and President of Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, IN, breaks down his investigation of eschatology into six sections. In section one (The Future is Now), Dr. Venema shows that Christianity is a religion of hope that is based in the word of God. The overall story of Scripture is one of Paradise Lost and Paradise Regained, and the first advent of Christ marked the beginning of the last days.

Section two of the book (The Future Between Death and Resurrection) looks at the doctrine of the intermediate state. Dr. Venema looks first at un-Biblical views of the intermediate state before presenting the Biblical case for that doctrine. He closes that section with a look at purgatory. Section three (The Future of Christ) addresses the second coming of Jesus. This is by far the most important doctrine of the NT as it is the centerpiece of Biblical expectation. It is not only the doctrine which forms the Christian hope, but it also provides the motivation for holy living in the here and now. One of the best parts of this section is Dr. Venema's presentation of the return of Christ as a consummating event. This is an argument that is setting the stage for Dr. Venema's critique of Dispensationalism. Far from being just one stage of the end times, the return of Christ is the consummating event of the NT age. He concludes this section by reinforcing the fact that no one knows when Christ will return.

Section four (The Future Marked by the Signs of the Times) covers three chapters and goes into great detail regarding the signs that herald the return of Christ. These signs are found in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24). Dr. Venema breaks these signs down into two categories: Signs of God's grace and signs of opposition and judgment. Examples of the former are the gospel being preached to all nations and what that means as well as the salvation of "all Israel." While the latter is evident in the tribulation, the apostasy, the antichrist and the judgment of God.

Section five (The Future of the Kingdom) forms the heart of the book. It encompasses five chapters and consumes nearly 200 pages. In this section, Dr. Venema discusses all of the major millennial views. He first does a dispassionate presentation of the different positions quoting primary sources for each, and then proceeds to evaluate these views based on a critical examination of the Scriptures. There is a whole chapter devoted to Revelation 20, the central text in the millennial debate. Dr. Venema conclude the book with a section discussing the future of all things, which goes over the events that occur at the return of Christ -- e.g., the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the new heavens and new earth.

If I were to critique the book, it would be in three areas. The book is long (about 490 pages in length of just text). While this isn't a problem for me, I can see how this might intimidate the casual reader. To the end, Dr. Venema has released an abridged version of this book for popular consumption titled "Christ and the Future: The Bible's Teaching About the Last Things." My second critique is that Dr. Venema doesn't really provide a clear exposition on Daniel 9:24-27, which is one of the key texts from a Dispensational perspective in support of their view. This omission doesn't weaken his argument, but it makes it less complete. Finally, I had a hard time with chapter 14 concerning the final judgment which goes into questions about the final judgment including degrees of reward in heaven. I had understood that believers do not undergo the final judgment and that we all receive the same reward. Dr. Venema challenged my thinking in this area. While that might not really qualify as a critique, it does serve as a reason for me to look into this matter further. If you were taught similarly to me, this might make you take notice too. I don't refute Dr. Venema's position because it may be more of my previous dispensationalism talking than clear, cogent reasoning.

As far as what this book has in its favor, the tops of the list is its comprehensiveness. As previously mentioned, this book weighs in at nearly 500 pages of text. If you want a clear and complete picture of eschatology, this is the book for you. This book contains a copious amount of footnotes too, which allow Dr. Venema to elaborate more on certain points. There is a lot of primary material cited as well; Dr. Venema wanted to make sure he was accurately portraying opposing views in their own words. The book is indexed by persons, Scripture and subjects. Finally there is an extensive bibliography. It's main strength is its readability. I was surprised at how quickly I read through it; for a theological book, it was a `page turner.'

If you want a comprehensive work on eschatology from a Reformed Amillennial perspective, look no further than "The Promise of the Future"

21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, challenging, inspiring, and highly recommended, June 6, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Promise of the Future (Hardcover)

In The Promise Of The Future, Cornelis Venema, Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid- America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana, provides a major examination of biblical teachings on the future of the individual, the church, and the universe as a whole. The Christ-centered nature of biblical teachings on the future is emphasized, as is the importance of the church's historic confessions for an understanding of eschatology. The Promise Of The Future is informative, challenging, inspiring, and very highly recommended reading for students of Christian theology, biblical studies, eschatology, and prophecy.