Conditional Futurism: New Perspective of End-Time Prophecy

Description: Conditional Futurism introduces a new perspective of end-time theology (eschatology). The book holds to Christian futurism while integrating the Apocalypse of John with the conditional dynamics of prophecy taught in Jeremiah Ezekiel Daniel and various other books throughout the Old Testament. The new paradigm concludes that the final antichrist (also known as the man of lawlessness the beast and the eighth king) may read the apocalyptic prophecy of his doom while deciding instead to repent of evil and turn to the Lord which is a biblical option that would fulfill the divine purposes of the apocalypse. This cutting-edge scholarship also develops new biblical models of angels appearing as humans the descent of Christ into hell and the kings in Revelation that incorporate with this end-time theology that encourages hope in all circumstances. Endorsements: James Goetz leads us on a tour of the whole Bible from Genesis to Revelation to explore what it has to say about future judgment and salvation. He well appreciates that biblical prophesies can have multiple fulfillments and takes this into account in his wide-ranging explorations. Concerning judgment he argues that the many biblical texts relating to the future are not simply unconditional predictions of what will happen but are conditional outcomes. If we repent we can avoid the consequences that God says will be our fate. Goetz even holds out hope for postmortem conversion even from within the Lake of Fire itself. This is a perspective that warrants careful consideration and further exploration. Robin Parry author of The Evangelical Universalist James Goetzs thoughtful defense of Conditional Futurism should have great appeal to any evangelical who yearns for a wider hope. He persuasively argues first that Bible prophecies concerning future punishment typically forecast what will happen unless (or until) certain conditions are met and second that a strong biblical warrant exists for the possibility of postmortem conversions. His interpretation of the New Jerusalem with gates that never close is especially powerful in this regard. -Thomas Talbott Emeritus Professor of Philosophy Willamette University James Goetzs Conditional Futurism surveys the Bible from Genesis through Revelation focusing on predictions especially predictions of judgment. He concludes that these predictions were always conditional; that God would always relent if the recipients would repent. This leads him to the conclusion that even the antichrist might repent and be reconciled to Christ and to the conclusion that postmortem conversions are also probable. -Dale A. Brueggemann Missionary-Educator Though never a credo of orthodoxy the belief that not a single created being--even Lucifer himself--stands outside Gods redemptive reach has a history nearly as long as the Church itself. In Conditional Futurism Goetz analyzes key biblical covenants and prophecies through this grid in a simple straightforward presentation that suggests the Church rethink its position on postmortem conversions and end-time prophecy. All students of the Bible will find Goetzs selection and treatment of biblical passages both stimulating and challenging. -Rob Starner Professor of Greek and New Testament Southwestern A/G University Goetz has written a readable study suitable for lay readers interested in biblical end-times prophecies. Starting with a high view of Scripture he challenges the idea that these prophecies depict what will happen arguing that instead they can plausibly be seen as characterizing what would happen in the absence of repentance. Especially in the case of conservative evangelicals this book may motivate needed reassessment of popular interpretations of end-times prophecies. -Eric Reitan Oklahoma State University About the Contributor(s): James Goetz is an independent scholar.