From Eternity to Here: Rediscovering the Ageless Purpose of God (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: ageless purpose, other living stones, divine frustration, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit, New Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

From Eternity to Here presents the sweeping saga of God's greatest passion. Comprised of three thematic stories, each theme explores the timeless purpose of our God and His plan and mission for the church.

"From Eternity to Here is a masterpiece. A must read for those who believe and for others who want to believe. It reads like a movie on paper."
~Dr. Myles Munroe, pastor and author of Rediscovering the Kingdom and God's Big Idea

"Too often we see people react to what they don't like about the church. In From Eternity to Here, Frank Viola offers up the doctrine which causes him to act on behalf of the church. Make no doubt about it--Frank is a provocateur and an artist-- and both come through in this book. Frank continues to challenge the church-at-large with a powerful mind, an impassioned voice, and a love for the Bride of Christ. You need to get this book and wrestle with Frank through the biblical passages regarding our identity in Christ as His body and the mission our God has entrusted to us."
~Ed Stetzer, author of Breaking the Missional Code.

"In From Eternity to Here, Viola shows us that we've settled for dry doctrines and rote religious behavior when what God wants--and what God has always wanted--is to engage us in a passionate love story that will never end. As Viola unfolds the glorious story of God's quest for a bride, readers will find their imaginations inspired and their lives transformed. The sheer beauty of God's magnificent plan compels our allegiance and revolutionizes our lives. This re-telling of the `old, old story' is a much needed gift to the church today."
~Greg Boyd, pastor, theologian, and author of Letters from a Skeptic, Myth of a Christian Nation, and God at War.

"Of all the sticks of TNT that Frank Viola has launched into a sleepy, status quo church, this grenade has the most explosive potential to make the church unashamed of the gospel and to release God's dynamic power for salvation." ~Leonard Sweet, Drew University, George Fox University.

"Some books are meant to be read and shelved but that's not true of the classics. Books become classics when they speak to new generations who were not even born when they were written. From Eternity to Here is a book for this hour, without a doubt. But it will be a classic for generations to come. This book has captured truth in simple language that speaks to the heart, not just the head."
~Dr. Ralph W. Neighbour, author of Where Do We Go From Here?

"Viola artfully weaves his own story into the drama of redemptive embrace, making God's love both a deeply personal affair as well as something of an existential quest in which we all have a part to play. As such it is `the old, old story' retold for a new and contemporary audience. It is a great work of narrative theology made very accessible for any reader."
~Alan Hirsch, missional strategist and author of The Forgotten Ways.

"This poetic exposé by Frank Viola is indeed a masterful work of art--a modern day mystical classic for sure. It is with a burning heart that I commend to you From Eternity to Here."
~Dr. James W. Goll, author of The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence.

"Frank Viola is the heir apparent to classic Deeper Christian Life teachers, faithfully bringing their core ideas into the 21st century with his own fresh insight. Visio Dei (the face of God) meets Missio Dei (the mission of God) in this passionate examination of what motivates the very heart of God!
~Mike Morrell, Graduate Fellow in Emergent Studies, M.A. in Strategic Foresight, Regent University.

"I have read just about everything Frank Viola has written, and his passion for seeing people experience vintage Christianity is contagious. This book brings you creatively into the biblical story by immersing your heart and mind in the great adventure of what God has for our life."
~Dan Kimball, pastor and author of The Emerging Church and They Like Jesus but Not the Church.

"I couldn't put this book down. Viola does an exceptional job of unpacking metaphors and connecting biblical threads that deal with Christ and the church. From Genesis to Revelation, Viola pulls together the sacred plans that God unveils for the Bride of Christ. Pushing in full force the concrete elements and literary connections of Christ and the church--the piece de resistance of the biblical narrative--Viola makes a substantial plea for the church to live in its true identity."
~Brian Orme, pastor, editor, and freelance journalist.

"From Eternity to Here takes you on a guided tour of the Bible, tracing three interwoven storylines from Genesis to Revelation. It will help new readers of the Bible get the big picture, and it will help seasoned Christians remember what really matters."
~Brian McLaren, author and activist.

"Frank sidesteps the maze of ecclesiastic labels to get to the heart of what church really is and how God sees it. Using the biblical metaphors of church and fleshing them out with the whole sweep of Scripture, Frank gives us fresh insight into the church as Bride of Christ, House of God, Body of Christ, and the Family of God. I feel Frank's unique contribution has to do with passion and romance, elements of God's intention with his people. This is often missing in `missional' books written by men unhealthily driven by purposeful objectives. Frank reminds us that the church is glamorous and God is concerned with more than just getting the job done."
~Andrew Jones, Missional Cell Developer for Church Mission Society.

"Frank Viola has been one of my favorite authors for years. Common threads run through his books: Organic spiritual life without organizational hierarchy, and real relationships with God and each other that are free of suppressive religious tradition. Frank's viewpoints are well grounded in both Scripture and history. From Eternity to Here reveals the startling but simple fact that God has already accomplished His ultimate goal in the resurrected Christ. We are the focus of His passionate love, and we have received the capacity to love Him in return forever--for free, a gift that will never be taken back. We can begin right now ... it's easy!"
~Don Francisco, singer and songwriter.

"Here is a book that lets you hear the ancient whisper of the God that "so loved the world," a whisper that has often been hard to hear amid all the noise, clutter, and meanness of Christendom. Listen and hear of a God who loves humanity so much that He can't help but enter the mess we've made of the world and help us re-imagine it.
~Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and recovering sinner.

"I appreciate this message so much. It is a very clear articulation of the subject and will press folks to that one thing I hold most necessary: daily fellowship."
~DeVern Fromke, teacher and author of Ultimate Intention and Unto Full Stature. --Christian Book Reviews

Product Description

Deep within God's Word lies a wondrous story like no other. A drama that originated before time began. An epic saga that resonates with the heartbeat of God. A story that reveals nothing less than the meaning of life and God's great mission in the earth.

From Here to Eternity presents three remarkable stories spanning from Genesis to Revelation. Each story traces a divine theme that is woven throughout scripture. Seen together, they offer an extraordinary glimpse into God's highest passion and grand mission. What you discover will forever change your view of life, the church, and our magnificent God.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (March 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1434768708
• ISBN-13: 978-1434768704
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,117 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Bride, A House, & A Body, March 6, 2009

By	Kevin Bowman "http://www.kevinjbowman.com" (Roselle, IL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Have you ever read one of those books that articulated everything you already knew into far better words than you could articulate them? Have you devoured a book because it gave reason and explanation for truths that you merely feel? Have you ever known that this book you are giving your time and thought to, is to become a field guide for the journey you are already on? Have you ever finished a book with the words, "I need to buy a copy of that for everyone I know?"

I have had that happen twice in my life. The first time was several years ago when I read Tom Davis' "Fields of the Fatherless". Then the second was last night as I finished Frank Viola's "From Eternity to Here." This book rocked my world not because it introduced a new idea, but because it quilted together the very truth of God, and his passionate needs, desire, and longing for community with his creation.

The book is divided into three sections. The first section lays out the Biblical narrative in such a way that it emphasizes the church as the bride as an eternal passion of God from before the beginning of time. Perfectly connecting the heroes of the Old Testament, with the wonder and mystery of John's gospel and apocalypse, Viola illustrates that the church as the bride is not a metaphor to help us better understand the authority structure of the Christian home, but instead it is the deep mystery of God hidden in Christ before the foundation of the world.

In the second section, Viola repeats his wonderful ability to beautifully connect the Biblical narrative together to elevate in our minds the importance of God's search for a dwelling place. From the foreign land where he sent Abraham, to the tabernacle of Moses and the tabernacle of David, to Solomon's Temple, through the incarnate life of life Jesus, and ultimately into his church which is the House of God, the Lord's resting place.

Finally in his third section, Viola switches from story teller to scholar to reveal the depth of meaning in the gospels and in the Pauline writings about the church as the body of Christ. This section does not read with the majestic eloquence of the first two, and yet it's content resonates deeper, and more meaningfully than any other in the book. Once again Viola slaughters theologians desire to reduce the the realities of God's Kingdom into a metaphor, this time it is the body of Christ. Viola notes with meticulous detail how the church is the REAL physical incarnation of Christ on earth now. He reinforces our dependence on Christ and gives us truth to use as a weapon against Satan's attack on our worth and righteousness. As Christ is the head and mind of the church, we are it's body, and we are therefore in a mutual need of eachother for the life giving dependence of a physical body. He ties all the thoughts together, to note how if we are the "seed of heaven" then as a new species on earth we live not intertwined into the affairs of the old species, but as colonist of the new Kingdom which is fulfilled at the reconciliation of all things.

This book is Viola's magnus opus! I have read his other three books, and they are each great teaching. However, this work is not a book to be studied, it is a very window into the passionate erotic love of God for his creation, and for his desperate need to extend the community of the triune God among them. I say without reservation, this book will change the way you see God. It will set you free from the limited metaphor of systematic theologies. It will release you from the minimized boxed God of a religionist allegorical reinterpretation of the narrative of God. It will welcome you as participants into God's eternal purpose.

Erasmus famously quipped, "when I have a little extra money I buy books, if there is any left over I buy food." Reading this book is more important than any meal you will eat this week. If you must go hungry, and get a hold of the book. "From Eternity to Here" will feed you from a source that this world knows nothing about.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Upside Down Christianity!, March 23, 2009

By	Matthew Hunt - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Length:: 0:45 Mins

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh, NOW I get it!, April 7, 2009

By	Deborah Kiblinger (Goodfield, IL) - See all my reviews

This book delivered above all that I expected. After all, the title is pretty bold (I think). Just think about it...From Eternity to Here? What does that mean?

I've been a Christian for most of my life and this book is so affirming in many ways. Frank's explanations of The Bride of Christ, The House of God, and finally, the Body of Christ and the Family of God brought so many things together for me in terms of our identity as people. This book had so many OMG moments for me. I devoured the book in one weekend but I will definitely reread it with highlighter in hand. This book is more than a 'good read'. It was an absolute God Encounter. Thanks Mr. Viola for writing it.