An annotated bibliography on Eschatology
Rev. Timothy Brown
Cornerstone EPC, January 2009
Allis, Oswald T. Prophecy & The Church. Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co. 1947.
Though this book is older, it is very informative. Written from a Reformed perspective
(note the publisher). Helpful for dispensational vs. covenant especially as it relates to
eschatology.
Bauckham, Richard. The Theology of the Book of Revelation. Cambridge University
Press. 1993
The two major themes in this book of the high Christology and the experience of
martyrdom. His lack of grounding in the specific interpretation (more idealist) is
probably the chief weakness. He must argue around the immanence passages of
Revelation.
Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation. Eerdmans/Paternoster. 1999.
This is a huge book. It broke by book budget while in seminary. Beale’s
contribution as an idealist is to investigate the OT illusions in the book of
Revelation. As I said in my class, you aren’t fluent in the book of Revelation until
you can speak “Old-Testament.” Beale is like the Berlitz ™ of the OT in
Revelation.
***Boettner, Loraine. The Millennium. Presbyterian and Reformed. 1957.
After a long hiatus the postmillennialist school is making it’s come back. Here’s
Boettner’s early effort at giving a biblical, reasoned basis for the view. 400+ pp.
Chilton, David. The Days of Vengeance. Dominion Press. 1987.
This commentary is the best investigation of the Preterist view. Close use of the
OT imagery used to demonstrate that Jerusalem destroyed in 70 AD was the
fulfillment of Revelation 4-19. This is interpretation which is more truly literal
than any dispensationalist can muster.
Clouse, Robert, editor. The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views. Intervarsity Press.
1977.
This book is a counter-point approach where four authors go head to head and
you decide. The topic is the millennium and the four authors represent historic
premillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, postmillennialism, and
amillennialism. Have fun!
***Gregg, Steve. Revelation—Four Views. Nelson. 1997.
This is a must read for anyone who wants to become familiar with the four major
views of Revelation. Gregg puts the four views in a parallel commentary format.
You can read all the way through one view, or compare side by side. Gregg is so
good at the summary, it’s hard to tell his own view.
*** (3-4 stars represent highly recommended)
An Annotated Bibliography on Eschatology
Rev. Timothy Brown
****Gentry, Kenneth L. Jr. Perilous Times. Covenant Media Press. 1999.
This book has been the most helpful and illuminating guide for the formation of my
views. It is not long (160 pp.), but it covers the most important passages in
eschatology—Dan. 9, Matthew 24, 2 Thess 2, Rev. 13 & 17. If you can only read one
book on eschatology, start here.
Gentry, Kenneth L. He Shall Have Dominion. Institute for Christian Economics. 1997.
This is not a book so much about eschatology, but the implications of an optimistic
eschatology. Since so many of the implications of pessimistic eschatology are all
around through amillennialism and dispensationalism, I thought this book is worth
consideration. It’s demanding, but then again so is having a biblical world view.
Grenz, Stanley J. The Millennial Maze. Intervarsity Press. 1992.
Want to learn more about the millennium? Here’s a one volume paperback on
how to look at the different views.
Hoekema, Anthony. The Bible and the Future. Eerdmans. 1979.
An amillennial defense which is good introduction to eschatology in general.
Good critique of dispensationalism. Also has a generally reformed view of
Romans 9-11 (yet differs from the Puritans—cf. Puritan Hope)
***Holford, George Peter. The Destruction of Jerusalem: An Absolute and Irresistible Proof
of the Divine Origin of Christianity. Covenant Media Press. 2001.
This is quite the book! Originally published in 1805, it has been republished in a very
readable format. If you want to know the summary details of the destruction of
Jerusalem following the history of Josephus and connecting it to the Olivet Discourse
of Matthew, Mark and Luke, this book is a must read. Being the oldest book on my list,
it reads with more difficulty, but is definitely worth reading. It made me tear up to hear
the clear portrayal of the destruction of Jerusalem with it’s significance woven in.
Only 69 pages.
***Kik, J. Marcellus. An Eschatology of Victory. Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co.
1971.
This is the book that started it all for me. I was unconvinced of postmillennialism until
I read this book. As an optimist, he works through both the Olivet Discourse and
Revelation 20 (the millennium). On the latter he does a masterful job at connecting
John 5 to Revelation 20. He argues convincingly that the first resurrection is spiritual
rebirth (you’ll have to read the book to get the rest.) Rather compelling.
Ladd, George Eldon, A Commentary on the Revelation of John. Eerdmans. 1972.
Ladd represents the futurist view as a non-dispensational (this view is called
historical premillenial futurist).
An Annotated Bibliography on Eschatology
Rev. Timothy Brown
LaHaye, Tim & Ice, Thomas. Charting the End Times. Harvest House. 2001.
I acquired this book because it is a good one volume summary of the
dispensational view. It’s not academic—just lots of charts. I would be careful of
the work in this book, because many times dispensationalists assume connections
between bible passages that are assumptions—i.e. that Dan 9 speaks of the antiChrist, that Daniel’s vision in 10-12 is still future, etc.
****Mathison, Keith A. Dispensationalism: Rightly Dividing the People of God?
Presbyterian & Reformed Publishing Co. 1995.
This book only touches on eschatology; it really drills down on the issue of “who are
the people of God?” This apparently ends up being just as important! Mathison’s title
is a question and he answeres it convincingly and yet concisely. If you’re a
dispensationalist, I dare you to read this book.
**Murray, Iain H. The Puritan Hope: Revival and the Interpretation of Prophecy. The
Banner of Truth Trust. 1971.
This book is worth reading because it speaks of the hope of the post-millenial view that
was embraced by the puritans. Murray does a wonderful job connecting the hope of
Israel’s conversion to Christ with the hope of worldwide revival before Christ’s return.
**Peterson, Eugene. Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John & the Praying Imagination.
Harper and Row. 1988.
As the subtitle connotes, this book is more of a devotional play by play of Revelation. It
is really in the idealist school. I find Peterson’s text eye-opening as we see the world
from heaven’s eye.
Riddlebarger, Kim. A Case for Amillennialism: Understanding the End Times.
Baker Books. 2003.
Riddlebarger makes his case indeed. The best debater against any position is someone
who formerly held that view. He tackles the most notable passages and takes aim at the
dispensationalists. In my opinion, he shares undue pessimism about the advance of the
gospel in the church age (viewing the kingdom as too spiritual for me). Ironically, this
makes him practically congruent with dispensationalists who believe Jesus is not yet
truly reigning either. Ultimately, I think this view that spiritualizes the kingdom is just
as poisonous. Yet this book is well argued and is a helpful guide in may ways.
Rushdoony, R. J., Thy Kingdom Come: Studies in Daniel and Revelation. Thoburn Press.
1978. (Also re-published by Ross House Books, 2001.)
Rushdoony takes a more idealist view of Daniel and Revelation. He doesn’t use the
numbers to refer to specific frames of time, but more for meaning. His primary
contribution is the portrayal of God and Christ as sovereign over humanity.
Sproul, R.C. The Last Days According to Jesus. Baker. 1998.
A thorough discussion of the partial-preterist position. This book covers the whole
bandwidth of eschatology passages but with special consideration of the Olivet
Discourse. Accessible and illuminating!
An Annotated Bibliography on Eschatology
Rev. Timothy Brown