Book: THE SECOND COMING:
Why Jesus Isn't Coming Tonight.
THE SECOND COMING: Why Jesus Isn't Coming Tonight.
Table of Contents:
Section 1. Introduction:
Chapter 1. The Lay of the Land.
Outlines the different views on the rapture and Second Coming.
Chapter 2. Principles of Interpretation.
Outlines the basic principles of interpretation used by evangelicals and defines what each one means.
Chapter 4. Some working Definitions.
Defines some words and phrases in a way most futurist interpreters agree with.
Chapter 4. Getting an Overview of the End.
Gives a structure of events from Matthew 24. A "coathanger" outline to hang ideas on.
Section 2. Survey of the Bible Teaching.
Takes five sections of Scripture and, using the definitions given and principles of interpretation outlined in Section 1, goes through nearly every verse referring to the Second Coming, Rapture or end times (the ones I left out are few, and don't materially change the conclusions arrived at).
Chapter 4. The Coming of the Lord in the Old Testament.
Covers the basic ideas in the Old Testament surrounding the Second Coming.
Chapter 5. The Coming of the Lord in the Teaching of Jesus.
Chapter 6. The Coming of the Lord in the Letters of Paul.
Chapter 7. The Coming of the Lord in the Rest of the Epistles.
Chapter 8. The Coming of the Lord in the Book of Revelation.
Chapter 9. Summary of the Bible Teaching on the Second Coming.
Books.
Books.
This is a subject more likely to raise heat than just about anything else in the Bible. What fun!
So to tackle it one needs some guidelines. What I do in this book is lay out:
1. Some basic principles of interpretation that most evangelical interpreters agree on.
2. Some commonly held definitions of words and phrases (with Biblical justification for that definition).
- then I rigorously apply them to the passages that deal with the Second Coming. My observation is that many other writers SAY they are following these principles but, when push comes to shove, they readily abandon the principles if it means their pet theory will not survive. They also abandon commonly held definitons and invent novel definitions without indicating that they are doing so. To me that is intellectually and spiritually dishonest. So along the way I point out where and how such faulty thinking exists and exactly what thinking is going on instead.
In spite of that the book is quite readable. Any technical terms I define so we all know what I mean.
My view is that, if the principles and definitions are right , and are correctly and systematically applied, then we should all end up with the same answer to the question - after all English grammar and vocabularly has a limited meaning. If we don't get the same answer then one of us is breaking the rules of the English language. So see if you can catch me out.
But, on the other hand, how intellectually honest can you be if the conclusions don't match your previously held belief?
Section 3. Some other Questions.
Chapter 10. Why Jesus Isn’t Coming Tonight.
Gives understanding of one primary reason why Jesus can't come yet.
Chapter 11. The Day and the Hour.
How exact can we get on the date and time?
Appendix to Chapter 11. The Early and Latter Rains.
Appendices.
Things I would rather not discuss but someone will say, "What About…?"
1. The Restrainer.
Why it is probably not the Holy Spirit.
2. The Wrath of God.
Is not the same thing as the Tribulation.
3. The Doctrine of Imminency.
Is internally illogical and contradictory - and contradicts scripture!
4. Israel or the Church?
How the New Testament writers use Old Testament symbolism. And why we should do the same.
Conclusion.
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