Dr Paul Allen

When Christians are asked which millennial view they hold, some of the more cynical among them will sometimes answer: “I’m a pan-millennialist. I believe it will all pan out in the end.” Much of this cynicism is due to frustration over the seemingly never-ending debates about the last things. It may also be due in some cases to exasperation with the endless train of falsified predictions of the rapture and/or second coming of Christ.  For centuries, misguided teachers have repeatedly promised or strongly suggested to their contemporaries that they are the generation that will finally witness the end. I mean, isn’t it as plain as day that Napoleon Bonaparte was the Antichrist and that his exile was a sign that the end of the world was imminent?  Some Christians who lived in that generation thought so. Their generation was not the first to fall into the trap of date-setting, and it certainly wasn’t the last. For centuries, numerous Christians have compared the headlines of their day with

English: Sign in Spanish for Family Radio's prediction of the end of the world, on 12th Avenue between Broadway and Acoma Streets, behind Golden Triangle Liquor Store, in Denver. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Harold Camping – who predicted the end of the world would come on May 21, 2011, among other dates – has died at the age of 92, according to an email from Family Radio . Camping, co-founder of Family Radio and controversial doomsday radio Bible teacher, died on Sunday at around 5:30 p.m., according to the Family Radio Network email sent out Monday evening. "On Saturday, November 30th, Mr. Camping sustained a fall in his home, and he was not able to recover from his injuries. He passed away peacefully in his home, with his family at his side," the email reads. Camping made national as well as global headlines in 2011 when he proclaimed that Judgment Day would come on May 21. Thousands of listeners of Camping's radio show around the world believed him and man

Image via Wikipedia Apart from the sacraments, there is probably no division of systematic theology that is the source of more controversy than eschatology (the doctrine of the last things).  Among believing Christians , one finds amillennialists, postmillennialists, and premillennialists.  Among premillennialists, there are disputes over the relationship between the “rapture” and the “great tribulation.” In order to find one’s way through the maze, it is helpful to know about some of the better books on the subject. The following works are some of those I have found most helpful.  General Eschatology All of the standard systematic theology texts have sections on eschatology. Some of the more thorough discussions are those in Herman Bavinck’s  Reformed Dogmatics  and in Michael Horton’s  The Christian Faith .  There are also specialized works focusing on eschatology. Among the best are the following:  Cornelis Venema.  The Promise of the Future . Venema’s book is pro

The end came, albeit two days late, for hundreds of Family Radio billboards across the nation May 23. While the tear-down of the apocalyptic billboards marked a conclusion to Family Radio's public ad campaign, private donors remain frustrated with the organization's use of their funds.  The $100 million campaign, which centered on ads that read, "Judgment Day, May 21: the Bible guarantees it," was funded in part by contributions from hundreds of donors.  Most of the funds came from the sale of a television station and a radio station, a Family Radio spokesman said. But some donors sacrificed their life's fortunes, even jobs, in anticipation for the "guaranteed" end and are now in dire financial straits; others are simply frustrated and in search of recompense. With millions of dollars in family estates, wills, and personal funds pledged in support of a now defunct prophecy, is there any legal recourse for donors? If history is any indication, it would

Image by youngmoigle via Flickr (Author: Phil Cooke)  According to radio preacher  Harold Camping , Jesus should be returning by 6pm California time last Saturday, and the whole thing should start with a big earthquake (not entirely new to LA people.)   All other mainstream, orthodox Christians disagree (including myself) with Mr. Camping’s prediction.  We believe that the Bible is right when it says that only the Father knows the day and time of His return.  By 6pm, we should all see that once again Harold Camping got it wrong.  But let me tell you what he got right: Getting the message out there. Over the last few months, a remarkably tiny group of people have done a brilliant job sharing their message with the world.  Inaccurate, wrong, or wacky – they have told their story far better than major Christian denominations, mega-churches, and supposed “media” ministries have done.   I travel more than most people, and I’ve seen their  billboard campaign  in cities like Los Angeles