The Puritan Hope Revival And The Interpretation Of Prophecy

Puritanism was an intensely eschatological movement. From the beginnings of the movement, Puritan writers developed eschatological interests in distinct contexts and often for conflicting purposes. Their reformist agenda emphasized their eschatological hopes. In a series of readings of texts by John Foxe, James Usser, George Gillespie, John Rogers, John Milton and John Bunyan, this book provides an interdisciplinary exploration of Puritan thinking about the last things.

Is there biblical evidence for a thousand-year earthly kingdom (the Millennium) ruled by Christ before the fulfillment of the new heaven and new earth? Revelation chapter 20 seems to suggest so, but few books of the Bible are so difficult to interpret. And a discussion of the Millennium branches out into many other theological questions about the end times (eschatology): Are these the last days? What must happen before Jesus returns? What part does the church play? This Counterpoints volume compares three views of the Millennium: Premillennial: Christ will come again before this kingdom is established. Postmillennial: our present age represents that kingdom and that the church is and must move toward the fulfillment of this kingdom. Amillennial: a future Millennium is not a literal kingdom, and when Christ returns, he will usher in an immediate new heaven and new earth. Robert B. Strimple, Kenneth L. Gentry Jr., and Craig A. Blaising offer their perspectives, giving their exegetical reasoning. Each of them then responds to the views held by their peers in a respectful and informative setting, making it easy for you to compare their beliefs and gain a better understanding of how this aspect of Christianity's great hope--the return of Jesus--is understood by the church. The Counterpoints series presents a comparison and critique of scholarly views on topics important to Christians that are both fair-minded and respectful of the biblical text. Each volume is a one-stop reference that allows readers to evaluate the different positions on a specific issue and form their own, educated opinion.

The emphasis of this book is on the Holy Spirit's role in evangelism and revival. It is not on the manifestation of the Spiritual Gifts.

About the Book Having the privilege to work with and caring for Palestinian and Messianic Jewish pastors for twenty-five years, Douglas saw the anguish and suffering of both Palestinians and Jews, and longed for reconciliation between the two groups. These pastors have become dear friends and both sides have suffered greatly from the injuries caused by the other side. Douglas experienced some of the hopelessness of a resolution, particularly from their political leaders. God promises that He will bring peace for both groups so they can genuinely reconcile with the other. This book is written to give hope for both Palestinians and Jews. About the Author Douglas W. Kittredge is a pastor who has engaged in reconciliation between Messianic Jews and Palestinian believers for over twenty-five years. The vision is to support the ministry of local Messianic and Palestinian congregations both in Israel and the West Bank. The roots of the conflicts in the region are not essentially political but are spiritual. The gospel of Jesus Christ alone can heal the fractures and conflicts in the Middle East. The author is a graduate of Wheaton College (BA); Westminster Theological Seminary (M.Div); and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (D.Min).

This volume reprints essays by seven authors from three continents, including two authors from India, who tell the story of British missionary to India William Carey (1761- 1834), whose famous ‘Enquiry’, An Enquiry into the Obligations of Christians to use Means for the Conversion of the Heathens (1792), changed history and made him not only the ‘Father of Protestant missions’, but also a forerunner of William Wilberforce, fighting against social injustice and preserving historic Indian languages for the people through research and printing. Even though Carey’s story has been told often, this volume concentrates on areas otherwise neglected: Carey’s theology and vision, Carey’s role as a social reformer, and Carey’s role as a leading linguist of Indian languages.

Are apostles amongst us today? According to a growing section of the church, the answer is yes. This book investigates and appraises that idea seeking answers to the following questions in the context of the church in the USA and particularly Britain: Is there a robust scriptural justification for the charismatic apostolate (CA) that most charismatic groups are proclaiming? How widespread is this belief and why has it become more commonplace? What kind of apostles are being advocated by influential popular teachers? What does church history and tradition have to offer to this idea? Is there a way to endorse and embrace ecumenically the CA? Does the CA have a future in the universal church? These are important questions to answer for the sake of the church's mission and health.

Over the last thirty years, conservative evangelicals have been moving to the Northwest of the United States, where they hope to resist the impact of secular modernity and to survive the breakdown of society that they anticipate. These believers have often given up on the politics of the Christian Right, adopting strategies of hibernation while developing the communities and institutions from which a new America might one day emerge. Their activity coincides with the promotion by prominent survivalist authors of a program of migration to the "American Redoubt," a region encompassing Idaho, Montana, parts of eastern Washington and Oregon, and Wyoming, as a haven in which to endure hostile social change or natural disaster and in which to build a new social order. These migration movements have independent origins, but they overlap in their influences and aspirations, working in tandem to offer a vision of the present in which Christian values must be defended as American society is rebuilt according to biblical law. This book examines the origins, evolution, and cultural reach of this little-noted migration and considers what it might tell us about the future of American evangelicalism. Drawing on Calvinist theology, the social theory of Christian Reconstruction, and libertarian politics, these believers are projecting significant soft power. Their books are promoted by leading mainstream publishers and listed as New York Times bestsellers. Their strategy is gaining momentum, making an impact in local political and economic life, while being repackaged for a wider audience in publications by a broader coalition of conservative commentators and in American mass culture. This survivalist evangelical subculture recognizes that they have lost the culture war - but another kind of conflict is beginning.