Help with solid sermon series from different eschatological perspecitves

[Paul1976]

Hi All,


I've been in dispensational "moderate Calvinist" (i.e. Arminian w/ Eternal Security) circles for most of my life, and it is only in the past 3-4 years I've started to come to my senses and have moved to a broadly reformed position. I have a great deal to learn and test against the scriptures, and am currently thinking through eschatology. I recently have read several books (A Case for Amillennialism, The Bible and the Future) and listened to a FANTASTIC 82-sermon series by Art Azurdia on the Revelation from a broadly amillennial perspective. Compared with everything I was taught from a dispensational perspective, amillennialism is clearly more consistent with scripture as a whole, and gives the Revelation far more relevance and comprehensibility than it had before. I've also learned that short, simplistic summaries or looking at just one or two passages is not helpful - systems really need to be examined holistically.

However, I don't believe I've given other eschatologies a fair chance. I'm asking for those who hold other eschatological systems (historic premmillennialism, postmillennialism, partial preterism, and others?) to suggest what they consider to be the best resources representing their view. While I'd love to be able to read solid books, I have a severely limited amount of reading time due primarily to having two children under three as well as leading a small group. The 50-60 minutes in my car per day is my best time to listen, which means sermon series I can download on .mp3 are the most useful resource to me. I can potentially read a book or two, so feel free to recommend those also, but I'm really looking for solid sermon series. I would picture series on the Revelation to be the most useful for comparing views, but I'm open to other suggestions. I do realize that there is a LOT more to an eschatological system than the Revelation, but it seems to be the best overall book to compare from.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jerusalem Blade]

Hi Paul,

While I can't in good conscience recommend other eschatological systems as you request, and as I see you've already listened to Azurdia's excellent sermons, I can only recommend Greg Beale's (amil) sermon series at Monergism: http://www.monergism.com/blog/exposition-revelation-mp3-series-g-k-beale. He has a different kind of passion than Arturo, and is known as one of the very best expositors of Revelation.

By the way, welcome to PB!

 

[Paul1976]

Thanks very much Steve,

If I had to guess, I suspect I will stay with amillennialism. Before hearing Art's sermon series, I didn't see amillennialism as a strong system, and I still can't think of simple arguments to support it. However, after seeing Revelation come to life through Art's sermon series in so many wonderful ways, it's clearly closer to the truth than anything I'd heard before. The other systems don't sound as strong, but I do feel I owe them a chance. If nothing else, understanding them better will make me more confident in my convictions than I am now.

I've heard consistently great things about Gregory Beale. I have his Revelation commentary, although I don't know that I will have time to read it anytime soon. My oldest daughter consistently chooses "The Cat in the Hat" or "The Belly Button Book" over virtually all theological books when presented a choice at bedtime. I downloaded the sermons you pointed me to, and will certainly listen to them. However, I will probably do this after checking out series from other perspectives.

God bless,

 

[MW]

I still can't think of simple arguments to support it.

Perhaps this will help. Amillennialism teaches that the present reign of Christ at the right hand of the Father is the millennium. In Him all fulness dwells and He is the head of all principality and power. He is the head over all things to the church. He has power over all flesh to give eternal life to as many as the Father has given Him. He must reign till all His enemies are made His footstool. When this is properly appreciated it becomes clear that any scheme which postpones the millennium is effectively postponing the reign of Christ and undermines our faith in Him as the Lord of all things in the present.

 

[Andrew P.C.]

Paul,

Since no one has given you any resources for the Post Millennial view let me suggest some. Greg Bahnsen has a great small book called "Victory In Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism". This book is a great introduction and is small enough to read in a day or two. Another one to pick up is by Keith A. Mathison called "Postmillenialism: An Eschatology of Hope". Also, Kenneth Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology".

Also, a few websites for resources:

http://postmillennialismtoday.com/

http://postmillennialism.com/

 

[TylerRay]

Paul,

Since no one has given you any resources for the Post Millennial view let me suggest some. Greg Bahnsen has a great small book called "Victory In Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism". This book is a great introduction and is small enough to read in a day or two. Another one to pick up is by Keith A. Mathison called "Postmillenialism: An Eschatology of Hope". Also, Kenneth Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology".

Also, a few websites for resources:

http://postmillennialismtoday.com/

http://postmillennialism.com/

I'll just note that Andrew has provided resources from the Partial-Preterist Postmillennial position. These are no doubt some of the best resources available from that perspective, but I want to note that Partial-Preterists do not have a monopoly on Postmillennialism.

 

[Andrew P.C.]

Paul,

Since no one has given you any resources for the Post Millennial view let me suggest some. Greg Bahnsen has a great small book called "Victory In Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism". This book is a great introduction and is small enough to read in a day or two. Another one to pick up is by Keith A. Mathison called "Postmillenialism: An Eschatology of Hope". Also, Kenneth Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology".

Also, a few websites for resources:

http://postmillennialismtoday.com/

http://postmillennialism.com/

I'll just note that Andrew has provided resources from the Partial-Preterist Postmillennial position. These are no doubt some of the best resources available from that perspective, but I want to note that Partial-Preterists do not have a monopoly on Postmillennialism.

Tyler,

Thank you for the note. Yes, these guys are Partial Preterists. If you wanted one from an Historicist view then Rushdoony's "Thy Kingdom Come" would be of help. Ian Murray's "The Puritan Hope" would be good as well.

 

[TylerRay]

Paul,

Since no one has given you any resources for the Post Millennial view let me suggest some. Greg Bahnsen has a great small book called "Victory In Jesus: The Bright Hope of Postmillennialism". This book is a great introduction and is small enough to read in a day or two. Another one to pick up is by Keith A. Mathison called "Postmillenialism: An Eschatology of Hope". Also, Kenneth Gentry's "He Shall Have Dominion: A Postmillennial Eschatology".

Also, a few websites for resources:

http://postmillennialismtoday.com/

http://postmillennialism.com/

I'll just note that Andrew has provided resources from the Partial-Preterist Postmillennial position. These are no doubt some of the best resources available from that perspective, but I want to note that Partial-Preterists do not have a monopoly on Postmillennialism.

Tyler,

Thank you for the note. Yes, these guys are Partial Preterists. If you wanted one from an Historicist view then Rushdoony's "Thy Kingdom Come" would be of help. Ian Murray's "The Puritan Hope" would be good as well.

Andrew,

Rushdoony's book actually gives an idealist/recapitulative reading of Revelation (one of the few idealist and triumphalist [call it Optimistic Amil, if you like] treatments of Revelation that I've come across in print).

For an audio series from an optimistic amil/recapitulative-postmil perspective, Rev. Todd Ruddell's chapter-by-chapter treatment is excellent.

From an historicist-postmil perspective, check out Rev. William Mencarow's (I'll warn you--it's rather long).

 

[MW]

If the desire is to hear all sides, the Meaning of the Millennium provides four views from respected authors.

 

[Paul1976]

I think for a postmillennial perspective, starting with the dominant view would be best. Would that be the partial preterit view, or another?

 

[NoutheticCounselor]

I would love to read about the Historic Premill position or listen to a few sermons explaining it. Any suggestions?