From Pentecost To Patmos

A companion to Jesus and the Gospels, Blomberg's ECPA Gold Medallion winner, From Pentecost to Patmos introduces serious Bible students to the depths of information found in Acts through Revelation.

Pairing depth of scholarship with contemporary application, the authors of From Pentecost to Patmos have produced a unique introductory New Testament textbook. Craig Blomberg and Darlene Seal provide the context and clarity that readers need to better understand Acts through Revelation, showcasing the historical, linguistic, and theological implications found in each book. This second edition includes expanded footnotes and a lengthier, up-to-date introduction to Paul. Newly added review questions, maps, and diagrams enhance the scholarship and make the resource truly user-friendly.

John Weston has spent many years leading tours of Biblical sites in the Middle East. Now he has brought together a series of meditations, first on the Isle of Patmos, and then on each of the seven churches in present-day Turkey which are mentioned in the early chapters of the book of Revelation in the Bible. With his attractive, alliterative style, the author transports the reader to the place where the Apostle John saw his apocalyptic vision of Jesus Christ. What was it like? What were the themes which were unfolded to him? Reading the first chapter, one could almost be sitting in the Apostle's cave on the Isle of Patmos as the tour guide sets the scene! At appropriate points the explanation is reinforced with a familiar (or unfamiliar) hymn. John, in his vision, received dictated letters for seven first-century churches in cities of the country which is now Turkey. The author leads the reader to each church in turn and the significance of the correspondence it received is reviewed from historical, prophetic and topical points of view. Strong arguments are advanced for the continuing relevance of these letters to churches and individual Christians today. The tour ends with a grand review of each place visited and the comparative lessons to be learned. So is the book simply a tour guide? As preparation for, a souvenir of, or a virtual replacement for a tour of Patmos and the Seven Churches, this book is ideal. But it is much more than that. As an easy-to-read meditation on the early chapters of the book of Revelation, considered within the framework of the prophetic and practical teachings of the rest of the Old and New Testaments, it is a valuable aid to those who really want to know the relevance of Revelation for the twenty-first century Christian.

The New Testament contains numerous statements by Jesus and New Testament authors that seem to suggest that Jesus was coming back soon, in their lifetime! But two thousand years later here we still are. How do we handle this apparent "failed prophecy"? Did Jesus and his followers get it wrong? Did they miscalculate the timing of Jesus' return? Or were Jesus and the authors of the New Testament anticipating something else? The purpose of this book is to examine this issue by looking in detail at the New Testament texts that seem to promise that Christ is coming back right away. It will provide a possible answer to these questions in light of the tension between the promised imminent return of Christ and its delay.

In this book, Craig Blomberg addresses the tough questions about the place and purpose of wealth and material possessions in a Christian’s life. He points to the goodness of wealth, as God originally designed it, but also surveys the Bible’s many warnings against making an idol out of money. So are material possessions a blessing for which we should long? And what are the dangers that the use or abuse of material possessions can produce? Blomberg expounds upon how the sharing of goods and possessions is the key safeguard against both greed and covetousness. He expands on the concept of giving generously, even sacrificially, to those who are needier, demonstrating how Christians can participate in God’s original good design for abundance and demonstrate the world-altering gospel of Christ. Is there any one key to keeping possessions in their proper, God-intended perspective? Are there limits on how rich we should become or on how poor we should allow others to get? What does a truly Christian economic system look like? How does the Bible’s teaching on wealth fit into the gospel?