New Creation Millennialism is a creative new offering on the same topic as the author's seminal 1992 monograph After the Thousand Years: Resurrection and Judgment in Revelation 20. It introduces a powerful new interpretative approach to chapters 19-21 of the Book of Revelation. Its conclusion--that the thousand years of Revelation 20:1-10 begins at the glorious, world-shattering coming of Jesus Christ and has the new creation as its setting--flows from four observations about the literary design of Revelation: (1) John narrates ten or more visions of the glorious coming of Christ, making a simple chronological reading strategy impossible. (2) John gives clear verbal indications that he understands his vision of a devil-led attack by "Gog and Magog" upon the "beloved city" (Rev. 20:7-9 || Rev. 20:13-15) as representing the resurrection and final judgment of the devil and "the rest of the dead," who, like the devil, are to be incarcerated in the underworld "until the thousand years are ended" (Rev. 20:2-3, 5, 7). (3) John gives clear indications that the new creation and the coming to earth of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-2) attend Christ's coming in glory and are not to be assigned to a place after the thousand years of Revelation 20 (compare Rev. 19:5-9; 21:2, 9). (4) John offers multiple clues that the visions he narrates in Revelation 19-21 cover the same eschatological subject matter as those Isaiah narrated in the Isaiah Apocalypse (Isa. 24-27). This study not only solves the historically perplexing puzzles of Revelation 20 but also points to a new and radical theological understanding of the final fate of the unrepentant. Chapter 1 presents a new exposition of Rev. 19:5-21:8, demonstrating the elegance and explanatory power of the new creation millennialism interpretive paradigm. Chapters 2 and 3 lay out the insuperable difficulties that are faced by historic premillennialism and amillennialism, respectively. Chapter 4 presents a rebuttal to key amillennial arguments against the possibility of a premillennial reading of Rev. 20:1-10. The Conclusion sums up the gains made by the new creation millennialism approach and offers some theological reflections. An appendix introduces a number of ancient and modern interpreters of Revelation that have contributed to the new creation millennium interpretive paradigm.

A fresh and highly illuminating approach to what is perhaps the most difficult chapter in the most difficult book of the New Testament. Mealy employs a carefully developed methodology which draws fully on the special literary techniques of Revelation, particularly its extensive use of internal cross-references, multivalent images and symbols, and complex Old Testament reminiscences. With its central thesis that Revelation 20.7-10 and 20.11-15 offer parallel representations of the resurrection and final judgment of the unrepentant, this study is destined to become a benchmark for future discussions not only of the millennium, but of the literary workings of Revelation as a whole.

Join New Testament scholar Thomas Schreiner as he explores the meaning and purpose of the book of Revelation. The book of Revelation can feel more intimidating to read than other books of the Bible. It invites readers into a world that seems confusing and sometimes even strange: golden lampstands, seven seals, a dragon, and a rider on a white horse. But at its core, Revelation is a message of hope written to Christians facing hardship, and it's worth the effort to read it and understand it. In this first volume in the New Testament Theology series, trusted scholar Thomas Schreiner walks step-by-step through the book of Revelation, considering its many themes—the opposition believers face from the world; the need for perseverance; God as sovereign Creator, Judge, and Savior—as well as its symbolic imagery and historical context. The Joy of Hearing brings clarity to the content and message of Revelation and explores its relevance for the church today.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thoughtfrom the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformationthese issues were of the utmost importance. In other religions, too, eschatological concerns were central. After the Enlightenment, though, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of phenomena that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. From the rapid expansion of fundamentalist forms of Christianity, with their focus on the end times; to the proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements; to the recent (and very public) debates about suicide, martyrdom, and paradise in Islam, interest in eschatology is once again on the rise. In addition to its popular resurgence, in recent years some of the worlds most important theologians have returned eschatology to its former position of prominence. The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology will provide an important critical survey of this diverse body of thought and practice from a variety of perspectives: biblical, historical, theological, philosophical, and cultural. This volume will be the primary resource for students, scholars, and others interested in questions of our ultimate existence.

Stanley J. Grenz describes four major views on the millennium held by evangelicals and assesses their strengths and weaknesses.

Analyzes what Jesus said about when he would return and the last days would arrive (as in Matthew 24:34). Defends the trustworthiness of Jesus' teachings.

The final book of the Bible, Revelation prophesies the ultimate judgement of mankind in a series of allegorical visions, grisly images and numerological predictions. According to these, empires will fall, the "Beast" will be destroyed and Christ will rule a new Jerusalem. With an introduction by Will Self.