Are We Living in the Last Days? Four Views of the Hope We Share about Revelation and Christ’s Return Bryan Chapell. Baker Books, 2024.
Eschatology, or the study of end times, can be fascinating and frustrating. Many believers are truly curious about what the Bible says concerning the return of Christ and what follows (and precedes) this glorious biblical promise. Yet there are major differences even among conservative evangelical Christian teachers and theologians.
To help Christians carefully sort through the major positions, Bryan Chapell has written “Are We Living in the Last Days?” In this accessible and fair volume, he explains four influential perspectives concerning end time events: the dispensational premillennial view, the historic premillennial view, the amillennial view and the postmillennial view.
Chapell was the president emeritus of Covenant Theological Seminary (Presbyterian Church in America) in Creve Couer, Missouri, and is pastor emeritus of Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, Illinois. He now leads Unlimited Grace Media and is the author of numerous books, including the highly regarded “Christ-Centered Preaching.” Evangelical Christians from across the denominational spectrum will find this book on eschatology very understandable, extremely clear and exceptionally fair.
Chapell presents each view in its most persuasive form and shows the strengths and weaknesses of each. He is evenhanded in his approach and does not slant the presentation in favor of his preferred view.
“We don’t serve God’s interests by assuming those who differ with us in these perspectives are less holy or less intelligent,” he observes (p. 162). He shows how many biblical themes about the end times are held in common despite the different views, and he stresses the essentials all believers should prioritize whatever their perspective. If you want a clear, fair and enjoyable book that helps explain the end times, I doubt you will find one better.
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