[.ca] Postmillennialism: An Eschatology of Hope (ISBN 0875523897)

Postmillenilism Brings Out the True Message of Scripture:
Mr. Mathison's work is a breath of fresh air and a sigh of relief for the many perplexed minds today who have been bombarded with prophecies of a coming tribulation and Christianity's supposedly utter failure to convert the world in the face of a growing "Antichrist" power. After reading Mathison's book, it is easy to see why Postmillenialism gives the only correct view of God's plans and purposes as revealed in Scriptures. Indeed, victory over sin and Satan and not the rise of evil and Antichrist, is the true message of the Bible. This theme fits remarkably well with the rest of Scripture and when viewed in this light, the many seemingly difficult passages suddenly fit together and the harmony between the various accounts in the old and new testaments render the entire Bible a very interesting, awe-inspiring story ever written. Read this book. And then read Kenneth Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion" and "Before Jerusalem Fell". Then you will have a complete dose of the Eschatology of Hope, and a renewed appetite for Bible reading. I'm confident Mathison's work will have great positive impact on the thinking of many Christians as it attracts more and more people to its clear, logical and sensible arguments for an eschatology of hope.

It gets better!:
I grew up in the Roman Catholic Church but wasn't educated (like most Catholic children) in the amil beliefs of the church. The instruction I received regarding eschatology was from my dispensational Baptist/Methodist/PCUSA friends who had bumper stickers on their cars that said stuff like "Warning: In case of rapture, this car may be unmanned." I just accepted this all as being the truth and never gave it much research. Besides, a family priest once told me, "most people aren't smart enough to really understand Revelation, anyway." As other people who have reviewed this book will note, you should read this book if you've never really questioned your eschatology and want to read it for yourself rather than relying on popular culture and apocalyptic fiction to teach you how to think. Mr. Mathison does a tremendous job explaining the basics of postmillennialism to the Christian masses. It is an excellent choice for just about anyone with a desire to know more.

Good Introduction for Reformed people to Postmillenialism:
Postmillenialism is most popular among the Reformed community, and Mathison's book is basically a message to them. The pre-millennial views are pretty much cast off without need of a great deal of argument. It is the a-millennial (or pan-millennial, really) views that are reduced. Post-millennialism can be proved accurately from Scripture, and Mr. Mathison outlines these proofs as well as lovingly arguing against the doctrines of the other two views. Really, the only fault (which isn't even that) is Mr. Mathison's repetitiveness. Perhaps, it was necessary, but it's a particular pet peeve with me.

FOR THEIR MANY WORDS:
For some years now there has been a serious need for a Biblical attempt at a refutation of a true, scriptural teaching that has been gaining adherents among the theologically reforming. This is not it! That teaching, commonly known as Preterism, proclaims that the Final Advent has been completely misunderstood by 99.9% of ALL theologians over the past 2000 years. We show from scripture that it is to be totally identified with the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70, and hence there is NO future (we would say "third") coming of Christ. Although advocates of this view enlist the names of men like Spurgeon, John Owen, and Philip Mauro into their ranks, the fact is, there are many more Bible scholars and theologians that have advocated the doctrines of Preterism as they are currently propagated. And for GOOD reason: this teaching spells the end of Pharisaical, unbiblical Christianity. This is one reason why Hypo-Preterism is in a doctrinal decay, with new eisegesis, ever more bizarre teachings, and heretofore unknown "discoveries" from the pages of Scripture. Dr. Keith Mathison and Dr. Ken Gentry are to be condemned for their efforts at dividing Christians in order to keep their jobs as Pharisees and HIGH Priests of the obsolete Old Covenant. Some of the finest Bible scholars and theologians in today's Reforming churches show quite clearly the serious problems with unorthodox Hypo-Preterism. Potential buyers should not be swayed by scurrilous attacks on the book and its authors by the Hypo-Preterists who have posted insulting and condescending reviews. They don't want you to read this book...which is all the more reason that you should. And so should they!

Beware the Creedalism:
THEIR DOOM AND GLOOM CONTINUES The Hyper-Creedalists and their false gospel continue. Mr. Mathison makes the unscriptural claim that if the time statement is not there then it is not near. One wonders if he has read the bible-specifically Ezekiel 12:25 "For I the LORD will speak, and whatever word I speak will be performed. It will no longer be delayed, for in your days, O rebellious house, I will speak the word and perform it," declares the Lord GOD. In Mr. Mathison's books " Postmillennialism " and " The Shape of Sola Scriptura ", he shows himself not to be a defender of the gospel as taught in scripture at all, but rather a pseudo-intellectual needing a remedial course in logic. Mr. Mathison and his ilk (Gentry, Sandlin, Crisler, West, North, Sproul Jr., Seraiah, Hill, Pratt, Adams, Wilson, Jones, Strimple, Riddlebarger and all the other self-appointed defenders of their revisionist view of orthodoxy) are Creedalists pushing their Creedalism- not bible believing Christians contending for the faith that " was once for all " entrusted to the saints- as they want you to believe! In what follows, these claims will be supported. In appendix three of his book "Postmillennialism" you find "A Brief Critique of Full Preterism" where he accuses preterists of attacking the creeds, not distinguishing between ecumenical creeds and denominational confessions and seriously misunderstanding the Reformation doctrine of sola Scriptura. Mathison claims biblical interpretation "necessarily sinks into the sea of subjectivity" if creedal orthodoxy is not maintained as a boundary. He quotes Mr. Sandlin from his paper Hymenaeus Resurrected, "Sola Scriptura means that the Bible in the context of Christian orthodoxy is the sole, ultimate touchstone for faith and practice." Really? Notice the complete absence of subjectivity and vicious circularity in that quote, all us hypers should become hypo-preterists immediately-DO NOT PASS GO, DO NOT COLLECT $200.00!-NOT!! Mr. Mathison and ilk-GET THEE TO A LOGIC CLASS!!! One should not miss the arrogance in Mathison's reply to a recent preterist post -not that arrogance is completely absent here ("Answer the fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit") - and the ad hominem approach taken by the aforementioned writers. About this book Mathison writes, "The project is a critique of hyper-preterism (not preterism)...." as if they are the only ones that correctly use the term. He further states about the author of the article, that he raises, "...some questions that adherents of biblical Christianity cannot answer...." No sir, Mr. Mathison, only adherents of Creedalism cannot answer the questions. Mr. West writes that preterists are full of satanic pride. Gentry says preterists are all unemployed but have internet access (Golly, I wonder how we pay for it, Mr. Gentry?) When informing his "flock" about Walt Hibbert's alleged mis-interpretation of Jesus pronouncement in Luke 21:22 that when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies it was for the fulfillment, "...of all that was written....", Gentry said "all does not mean all" and, "...when you answer one preterist fly all the other preterist flies come to his funeral. The reports of our death are greatly exaggerated!!!