A fresh look at an old subject. The author addresses the study of the book of Revelation and Eschatology with an emphasis on the Kingdom. Notably, the results are conclusively Preterist in content by the eyes of the author, of the mildest of forms. Coming from several years of end-times research, and many more of that of Bible knowledge, this book focuses on the prophesies of Daniel, as well as the Gospels, to prove with reasonable certainty (to the author) that the reasonable whole of the book of Daniel is concluded and fulfilled, and much of the Revelation of John. The book follows in an "at-face-value" approach, allowing normal customs of language, demonstrating a concise and historic progression of events, with the destruction of the temple on 70 AD, the Second Jewish Revolt of 135 AD being the winepress of God's wrath, the seven bowls of wrath poured out upon Rome in what is known as the Crisis of the Third Century to destroy Rome, and a literal, already-fulfilled Millennium in the Middle Ages. The focus of the book is doctrine of the Kingdom, which demonstrates its centrality in the entire subject. It is the asserted that the study of Eschatology is the study of the Kingdom (this is repeated throughout the book). Including a look at the parables of Jesus, and taking Jesus' introductory declaration of Mark 1:15 to be clearest statement of the Kingdom, this book side-steps the fruitless debates of the Schweitzer, Dodd, and Ladd, of "consistent", "realized", or "inaugurated" Eschatologies, and steps directly to an "everlasting eschatology". Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. Ps 145:13 Generally relying upon the KJV version for the development of key issues, except where a nuance is better brought out by another version as indicated, the author develops the case, 'sola scriptura', that the Kingdom is indeed here, and that it relates to the first coming of Christ. Of note, the author specifically interprets the Olivet Discourse as being divided, based upon the merits of a study of the word "Eutheos" in Matthew 24:29. "Eutheos", when compared throughout the New Testament, often implies an unspecified time gap, representing hours, days, or even months. This, combined with a reading of the traditional "time texts", Matthew 24:34&36, the author sees that the v36 "but of that day and hour" specifically excludes the v29-31 "that day" from the "these things" of v4-22. As such, the "this generation" applies precisely and exactly to the generation then alive during the giving of this discussion, as per the traditional partial-Preterist position. However, it clearly excludes the obvious Second Coming references in vv29-31. Additionally, the author makes specific reference to the verses of Daniel 11:40-43 as pertaining to the Battle of Actium in 31 BC, or the foundation of the Roman Empire, which is shown to be the fourth Kingdom of Daniel 2,7. These two facts place the Great Tribulation of Daniel 12 and Matthew 24 decidedly in the first century, the 70AD destruction of Jerusalem, according to the author. The author then divides the body of Revelation into two prophecies, as per the two prophetic commissions in Revelation 1 and 10. Using a 68-70AD, post-Neronic, pre-fall of Jerusalem date for the book, Rev 6-11 corresponds to the destruction of Jerusalem, while Rev 12-19 are clearly seen in historic events and detail the further punishing of the Jewish nation, followed by the final overthrow of the beast, Rome. Woven throughout the book, the author attempts to depict the great contrast of ages. For 1,000 years, Babylon, in four different stages, ruled the known world. Then, after it was broken small at the conversion of Constantine, the Kingdom of God ruled for its 1,000 years. We are now in that "short time", looking towards a Gog Magog conflict, and the fulfillment of the Israel promises in between Revelation 20:10-11.

The Pentecostal Manifestos series aims to speak for and to a rising, outward-looking generation of Pentecostal scholarship. Written by both established and newly emerging scholars, the various "manifesto" volumes are to be creative statements, marked by rigorous theological scholarship, reflecting a distinctly Pentecostal engagement with wider themes and concerns in Christian thought today. --

Providing unique perspectives drawn from Russian Orthodox sources not easily found in the Western world, this book explores questions regarding the nature of God's existence and the immortality of the human soul. It includes many examples of the awareness of life after death and argues that the expectation of a future life and faith in God form the foundation of a well-ordered life. This insightful look into the Orthodox Christian theology offers hope of something greater than a temporal existence and discusses questions relevant to every human being.

A startling exploration of the history of the most controversial book of the Bible, by the bestselling author of Beyond Belief. Through the bestselling books of Elaine Pagels, thousands of readers have come to know and treasure the suppressed biblical texts known as the Gnostic Gospels. As one of the world's foremost religion scholars, she has been a pioneer in interpreting these books and illuminating their place in the early history of Christianity. Her new book, however, tackles a text that is firmly, dramatically within the New Testament canon: The Book of Revelation, the surreal apocalyptic vision of the end of the world . . . or is it? In this startling and timely book, Pagels returns The Book of Revelation to its historical origin, written as its author John of Patmos took aim at the Roman Empire after what is now known as "the Jewish War," in 66 CE. Militant Jews in Jerusalem, fired with religious fervor, waged an all-out war against Rome's occupation of Judea and their defeat resulted in the desecration of Jerusalem and its Great Temple. Pagels persuasively interprets Revelation as a scathing attack on the decadence of Rome. Soon after, however, a new sect known as "Christians" seized on John's text as a weapon against heresy and infidels of all kinds-Jews, even Christians who dissented from their increasingly rigid doctrines and hierarchies. In a time when global religious violence surges, Revelations explores how often those in power throughout history have sought to force "God's enemies" to submit or be killed. It is sure to appeal to Pagels's committed readers and bring her a whole new audience who want to understand the roots of dissent, violence, and division in the world's religions, and to appreciate the lasting appeal of this extraordinary text.

Fruitful relationships and constructive interaction between religions have become more important than ever. But what about the issues of truth and conflicting truth claims? Is it a betrayal of one's own faith to acknowledge the truth of other religions? The current work is the first English translation of "Gott ohne Grenzen", published in 2005. In this much acclaimed study, Perry Schmidt-Leukel defends religious pluralism showing under which presuppositions Christians can accept other religions as equally valid without denying their differences. He discusses in detail how the pluralist position opens up new perspectives in Christianity's dialogue with Jews, Muslim, Hindus and Buddhists. Schmidt-Leukel, Perry, Prof. Dr., ist Professor für Religionswissenschaft und interkulturelle Theologie an der Universität Münster. Er ist am Exzellenzcluster Religion und Politik der Universität Münster beteiligt. Er ist Mitglied im international advisory board des Forschungsprojektes 'Religion und Dialog in modernen Gesellschaften' an der Akademie der Weltreligionen der Universität Hamburg. Seine Schwerpunkte sind unter anderem Theologie der Religionen, interreligiöse Beziehungen, christlich-buddhistischer Dialog und Pluralismusfähigkeit der Religionen.

This volume presents two works by Gabriel Marcel. The first, Tragic Wisdom and Beyond, a collection of his later writings, shows the impact of his encounter with the later writings of Heidegger. The second, Conversations between Paul Ricoeur and Gabriel Marcel, is a series of six conversations between Marcel and his most famous student.