Customer Reviews

Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach

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This book addresses issue of differing views of future events (end times) with the readability of a typical high school book. Dr. Benware manages to be thorough while at the same time to keep moving.

He begins with a basic review of the principles of interpretation and why people's views differ. (If you have always assumed that scriptures are difficult to understand, otherwise there wouldn't be such varied opinions, this section will be very valuable to you. Scriptures are not so difficult to interpret; it is simply that each person approaches scripture with a particular set of rules for interpretation. Different rules give different results.)

Next he goes through all the major issues of end-time prophecy, presenting each significant view of the issue. For each view, he presents the arguments for it, and why others reject such an argument. While he treats each view evenly, he makes no pretense of hiding his own opinion. This frankness allows the reader to understand clearly what is being said without needing to wonder about hidden agendas. It seems to me that he is fair in his assesments, but I admit to being of the same school in terms of rules for interpretation.

(Dr. Benware approaches scripture assuming that it says exactly what it means. This literal approach permits figures of speech when obvious and allegories where indicated. However, if the plain sense of a passage makes sense, then the approach is not to seek some mystical meaning instead of what it plainly says. The first section of the book gives the clearest explanation I've ever read of how the allegorical approach to scriptural interpretation developed from an effort to reconcile Biblical teaching to Greek Gnosticism. This section alone is worth the price of the book, without consideration of end-times prophecies.)

"Understanding End Times Prophecy" is an overview that requires no prior knowledge yet is not dumbed down, since theological terms are not avoided, just explained. This book does more than lay out the usual amillenial-postmillenial-premillenial viewpoints; it goes deeper to first address the underlying theologies from which the differing endtimes interpretations arise, explaining the significance and present relevance of the different covenants God made with the nation of Israel. I very much appreciated that since how one views the covenants greatly affects worldview, the Church, Israel, and endtimes prophecy. The rapture, tribulation, and millenium are discussed as expected for this type of book, but Benware goes the extra mile in mentioning more recent rapture view variations. There's an interesting final section, "Understanding the Future of the Individual" that gets into death theories and the eternal state. I recommend this book for accessibility and breadth, but for more focused depth on the timing of the rapture, birth pangs, Day of the Lord, consider checking out "Maranatha" by Renald Showers, also a dispensationalist.

Writer is a dispensational pretrib author and so he definitely bends his thoughts in that direction. He starts off by talking about the covenants and their history and goes into great detail about each thought on the Millennium and each thought on the tribulation. Overall felt it was well put together and fair to each disposition, just remember that he does write and refute based on his theology, which I really liked. If you want a book that shows all sides from their own theologians pick up Zondervan's "Three Views on the Millennium"

For anybody who would like to know about interpreting the end times Biblically, and knowing the various views of eschotology this is a must read. The author obviously has his own eschotological perspectives (Pre-trib dispensationalism) but gives a fair and thorough representation of all of the views. The writer lays the basic foundations first then builds from there, showing the reader the history and the arguments that the supporters of each of the views give. There is a lot of talk about and interest in the end times these days. With so many theories floating aroud this is a must read for anyone who is interested in truly knowing end times prophecy.

Have conflicting interpretations of Bible prophecy left you confused about God's plan for your future? Read this book and you will become convinced that Paul Benware's pretribulational, premillennial, dispensational exposition of the Scriptures best explains what is ahead for mankind.

Benware, a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary, bases his teachings on a literal (grammatical-historical) interpretation of Bible Scriptures. This view leaves room for the interpretation of some words and phrases as being symbolic or figurative, but it insists that the Bible means what it says unless allegorical meanings are obviously intended. (The "Beast," for example, symbolizes the Antichrist, but "one thousand years" means one thousand years.) Most conservative, evangelical Christians, including those in most mainstream denominations, accept this view of Bible prophecy. I believe that you will accept it too, if you ask God's Spirit to guide and illuminate your studies.

Edwin Scroggins is the author of Bible Prophecy in a Nutshell: A Mini-Survey of God's Great Plan of the Ages

A quick and easy run down of the basics of Eschatology. Mr. Benware did a fine job providing us with a concise "map" of the end times.

This book is a great one for those who do not understand what the Bible says about the end times, which are truly coming. As we look at what is happening in the middle east we can see that God is still at work with his people, the Jews. This book gives clarity to these times, especially the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. I would recommend it to any one who is not sure of what is happening in the world today, and especially if you do not know Jesus as your Savior. He is the answer to all of the problems and questions that are out there and He can give you peace in this troubled world.

The authors make a very good point that Biblical prophecy must be interpreted 'literally' as is all the Bible.

With that in mind I had hoped to read a book that would actually 'explain' the Revelation. However, reading further I discovered the authors merely reiterate the same old information; although they did it very well and at a level which is easily understood, I think that is commendable.

I know God did not give the Revelation to John as a cruel joke to humanity, something we could never possibly hope to understand correctly. The authors do explain that God is perfect and so His word is perfect, therefore, if there are inconsistencies in teaching it must be human beings who make the errors because God does not make mistakes. It was refreshing to hear it from that perspective because then at least I have hope there is an answer to this current enigma in God's word.

This book is going back to Amazon. It will cost me half as much to ship it back as I paid for it, but I would like to make a point.

False advertising: Benware is billed as "comprehensive". It is anything but "comprehensive".

Simplistic: If you want another "Dispensationalism is right and anyone who disagrees with me is not reading the Bible . . ." approach, then buy this book. Just another person shouting down anyone who wants to make up his mind on his own about what the Bible teaches.

Unscholarly: Anyone who understands the "Historic Premillennialism" position will cringe at the dismissive and impoverished views of Benware on this subject. Terrible scholarship.

The date of Revelation: Wow, unbelievable dogmatism.

If you've read LaHaye, etc., the people who are adamantly opposed to any interpretation other than Dispensationalism - even in the face of certain facts - you don't need this book. It's been written a hundred times over. It's a waste of time.

Don't bother. Don't waste your money. There are some "comprehensive" end-times books out there. This one is all about the "I'm right; everyone else is wrong" approach to Dispensationalism.