<< 1 >>
Rating: 
Summary: Jesus is here with us today!
Review: After reading this book for the second time, I had to come back here and udpate my review. I wish there could be an option to give this book 100 stars, but unfortunately, that is not possible.Every Christian caught in the "Rapture fever" should consider reading this book with an open mind, and with the Bible in the other hand, while putting the other "end of the world" books down. The Parousia appears to be THE authority on eschatology. Russell provides excellent biblical support for every single one of his arguments, and he is succesful in proving that the second coming of Jesus already took place in 70 AD, when the Jewish temple and jewish religious system was destroyed, to allow the creation of a "new heaven and a new earth" for us Christians. Some of Russell's biblical arguments are: - Malachi 4:5 where the coming of Elijah is predicted and Matthew 11:4 where Jesus tells the disciples that John the Baptist was the Elijah that was to come - Matthew 24 and Luke 21, passages that clearly discuss two events (the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of the Son of Man) taking place at the same time - Matthew 24:34 where Jesus says in plain terms that all the things he described will take place during that generation - Matthew 10:23 where Jesus tells the disciples that they will not finish going through the cities in Jerusalem before his coming will take place. Russell's book is the best resource, and the authority on the subject, unlike other christian fiction books with no basis in reality or scripture. The Bible was written for plain people, to be understood by plain and uneducated people. Christians do not need a theology professor with a PHD or a highly educated preacher to explain to them what Revelation is all about. Like Russel did, the Bible should be read for what it is, from a historical perspective. When a reader does that, the Bible will all make sense, without the aid of theologians and hyperactive, "armaghedon" bent preachers. When John wrote Revelation and sent it to the "seven churches of Asia" he did not bundle the letter with a 10,000 page commentary to help them understand it, yet the readers knew exactly what John was writing about! This book is a MUST BUY for every christian! Also highly recommended from amazon.com is Josephus Flavius: The Wars of the Jews, an excellent addition to The Parousia!
Rating:
Summary: Jesus is here with us today!
Review: After reading this book for the second time, I had to come back here and udpate my review. I wish there could be an option to give this book 100 stars, but unfortunately, that is not possible. Every Christian caught in the "Rapture fever" should consider reading this book with an open mind, and with the Bible in the other hand, while putting the other "end of the world" books down. The Parousia appears to be THE authority on eschatology. Russell provides excellent biblical support for every single one of his arguments, and he is succesful in proving that the second coming of Jesus already took place in 70 AD, when the Jewish temple and jewish religious system was destroyed, to allow the creation of a "new heaven and a new earth" for us Christians. Some of Russell's biblical arguments are: - Malachi 4:5 where the coming of Elijah is predicted and Matthew 11:4 where Jesus tells the disciples that John the Baptist was the Elijah that was to come - Matthew 24 and Luke 21, passages that clearly discuss two events (the destruction of Jerusalem and the coming of the Son of Man) taking place at the same time - Matthew 24:34 where Jesus says in plain terms that all the things he described will take place during that generation - Matthew 10:23 where Jesus tells the disciples that they will not finish going through the cities in Jerusalem before his coming will take place. Russell's book is the best resource, and the authority on the subject, unlike other christian fiction books with no basis in reality or scripture. The Bible was written for plain people, to be understood by plain and uneducated people. Christians do not need a theology professor with a PHD or a highly educated preacher to explain to them what Revelation is all about. Like Russel did, the Bible should be read for what it is, from a historical perspective. When a reader does that, the Bible will all make sense, without the aid of theologians and hyperactive, "armaghedon" bent preachers. When John wrote Revelation and sent it to the "seven churches of Asia" he did not bundle the letter with a 10,000 page commentary to help them understand it, yet the readers knew exactly what John was writing about! This book is a MUST BUY for every christian! Also highly recommended from amazon.com is Josephus Flavius: The Wars of the Jews, an excellent addition to The Parousia!
Rating:
Summary: Realized Eschatology - hermeneutics at it's best!
Review: J. Stuart Russell's nineteenth-century classic is a feast for students of hermaneutics and linguistics. Contending that christological eschatology has been realized via the ushering in of a New Testament economy Russell's book is quite organized and carefully argued. Regardless of one's viewpoint on final things the Parousia is a quality work of christian scholarship and will be of value even if the reader cannot reach the same conclusions. It remains an important treatment on the subject of biblical eschatology.
Rating:
Summary: April Fools
Review: James Stuart Russell's "Parousia" is an excellent introduction to Preterist eschatology. Like Calvin's "Institutes", it will provide a starting point for eschatological studies for many years to come. Russell is to be commended for not falling prey to traditionalist saws and creedalist axes by standing with the Scriptures and against claims for the sacrosanct historical understanding of the church, which did not even begin to become democratic until Gutenberg. For example, where do the Scriptures teach the perspicuity of Scripture? Did Peter teach it when he said that some of Paul's saying were hard to understand [2 Peter 3:16; and that from an inspired Apostle!]. It is God's glory to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search out a matter [Proverbs 25:2]. Why do some people insist that all of these concealed matters were discovered by bishops and presbyters in the first few centuries AD? Why has no one over the centuries disputed the claims of the church "fathers", except for those minor disincentives like beheading, the rack, and the good ole bonfires of the vain getting in their way. Traditionalists had to get out of the way of the Gutenberg bus. I shouldn't have to tell them what to do with the Internet train.
Rating:
Summary: Honest Conclusions
Review: Rather than repeat the statements by others, I will just say these few words concerning this book. J. S. Russell was by no means the first to write about the Preterist point of view; there were many others stretching back to the second century that wrote very compelling papers on the topic. What set Russell apart is the honest, straightforward fashion in which the text is presented. Very few scriptures were left "in the dark" in this brief book. It makes for a very easy read, compared to the more "scholarly" tomes that have been written on the topic. The only negative was the brevitic way that Russell handled the 1,000 year reign. Though I disagree with his theory, I wholeheartedly support his unique perspective on the subject matter. I would recommend this book to anyone that desires a better understanding on eschatology. After all, if C. H. Spurgeon and R. C. Sproul consider the book something to be studied, then who am I to disagree?
Rating:
Summary: Another Solid Defense of Biblical (Preterist) Eschatology
Review: This book attempts to look at every verse in the New Testament which refers to the coming, the Second Coming, of Jesus Christ. It actually comes up a bit short in doing so, but probably approaches at least 98% of the verses. Russell thoroughly shows by the historical contexts, the persons written to, and the Greek that it is impossibe for the Second Coming to be other than a first-century event. How can one refute the Greek texts, such as in 2 Tim. 4, which says "who is about to judge." Why don't the translators translate that 9-letter word which means "about" in the sense of "immediacy," "at the door"? Why do they leave it out completely? Is it because they insist on their own views over truth? Evidently, for Russell shows that there is no way to understand the Second Coming outside the first century when one takes the Greek as it is written, and written to the first-century believer. There are two errors in Russell's book that does not contradict the final conclusion of the book. Russell's dealings with 1 Thess. 4:17 and Rev. 20 indicate a need for more thinking. These verses, though still misunderstood among preterists today, are coming to better light in how they fit the preterist view. The 1000 years in the Greek is literally the 1000s years, referring not to a time period, but to an earlier non-time reference. In Rev. 7 & 14, the 144,000 is actually 144,000s and the the 12,000 references are 12,000s. In other words, the period of time in Rev. 20 is not a 1000 years, but the 1000s years, the term 1000s being a qualitative rather than quantitative description of the period of reigning: it was the years of the reign of the thousands earlier defined in chapters 7 & 14 of Revelation. That reign was between 38 and 40 years. Russell also fails to link 1 Thess. 4:17 with some other important references in 1 Cor 15 and 2 Cor. 5:1-4. The activity of this verse is not something that happens as a group, but something that happens to every believer as they die, and this verse concerns those who die after 70 AD versus verse 16 which refers to what happened in 70 AD to saints who had died up to 70 AD at the SEcond Coming of Christ. Nevertheless, this book is a must read for anyone who truly takes the revealed truth of scripture seriously and puts truth above tradition, feelings, popularity, etc. Read this and DeMar's "Last Days Madness," and then try to figure out how anyone can believe "left behind" theology. It's because the truth as so competently revealed in this and DeMar's book is being deliberately hidden from the people by the sensationalists, the false prophets who continue to predict, fail, and rewrite their false predictions. Any person sincerely looking for biblical truth in the area of eschatology will have to face this book and DeMar's book. To refuse to do so would be to deliberately ignore important historical and foundational hermeneutical documents that are critical to making sure we are letting the Bible interpret the Bible. But I'm sure there are many of a certain group who would rather be "left behind" than face these matters openmindedly. Russell's and DeMar's books are THE extra-biblical standards available today that must be faced, and they are irrefutable concerning the fact that the Second Coming is past, if one remains true to scripture.
Rating:
Summary: Another Solid Defense of Biblical (Preterist) Eschatology
Review: This book attempts to look at every verse in the New Testament which refers to the coming, the Second Coming, of Jesus Christ. It actually comes up a bit short in doing so, but probably approaches at least 98% of the verses. Russell thoroughly shows by the historical contexts, the persons written to, and the Greek that it is impossibe for the Second Coming to be other than a first-century event. How can one refute the Greek texts, such as in 2 Tim. 4, which says "who is about to judge." Why don't the translators translate that 9-letter word which means "about" in the sense of "immediacy," "at the door"? Why do they leave it out completely? Is it because they insist on their own views over truth? Evidently, for Russell shows that there is no way to understand the Second Coming outside the first century when one takes the Greek as it is written, and written to the first-century believer. There are two errors in Russell's book that does not contradict the final conclusion of the book. Russell's dealings with 1 Thess. 4:17 and Rev. 20 indicate a need for more thinking. These verses, though still misunderstood among preterists today, are coming to better light in how they fit the preterist view. The 1000 years in the Greek is literally the 1000s years, referring not to a time period, but to an earlier non-time reference. In Rev. 7 & 14, the 144,000 is actually 144,000s and the the 12,000 references are 12,000s. In other words, the period of time in Rev. 20 is not a 1000 years, but the 1000s years, the term 1000s being a qualitative rather than quantitative description of the period of reigning: it was the years of the reign of the thousands earlier defined in chapters 7 & 14 of Revelation. That reign was between 38 and 40 years. Russell also fails to link 1 Thess. 4:17 with some other important references in 1 Cor 15 and 2 Cor. 5:1-4. The activity of this verse is not something that happens as a group, but something that happens to every believer as they die, and this verse concerns those who die after 70 AD versus verse 16 which refers to what happened in 70 AD to saints who had died up to 70 AD at the SEcond Coming of Christ. Nevertheless, this book is a must read for anyone who truly takes the revealed truth of scripture seriously and puts truth above tradition, feelings, popularity, etc. Read this and DeMar's "Last Days Madness," and then try to figure out how anyone can believe "left behind" theology. It's because the truth as so competently revealed in this and DeMar's book is being deliberately hidden from the people by the sensationalists, the false prophets who continue to predict, fail, and rewrite their false predictions. Any person sincerely looking for biblical truth in the area of eschatology will have to face this book and DeMar's book. To refuse to do so would be to deliberately ignore important historical and foundational hermeneutical documents that are critical to making sure we are letting the Bible interpret the Bible. But I'm sure there are many of a certain group who would rather be "left behind" than face these matters openmindedly. Russell's and DeMar's books are THE extra-biblical standards available today that must be faced, and they are irrefutable concerning the fact that the Second Coming is past, if one remains true to scripture.
Rating:
Summary: CHRIST CAME AS HE SAID!
Review: This book should be read carefully by every serious students of the Bible. Russell, contrary to most exegetes, has taken at face value the numerous time statements relating to the coming (parousia = presence) of the Lord. If you hold tenaciously to the futurist interpretation, you will probably not accept Russell's conclusions. Yet it is a biblical fact that the primitive Christians were expecting some events in their own generation. For those interested, I am currently working on a French edition of Russell's book. Write me at:eschaton25@hotmail.com
Rating:
Summary: Eschatology at its best
Review: This is the most amazing and scholarly work on eschatology I have ever read (and I've read many). J.S. Russell received his Master's degree at the age of 19 (when most of us are either graduating high school or just starting college). He has such a reverence for the Word of God over tradition. He never forces the text and seems to refute every other angle imaginable. This is a MUST read for any serious student of the Bible.
Rating:
Summary: Eschatology at its best
Review: This is the most amazing and scholarly work on eschatology I have ever read (and I've read many). J.S. Russell received his Master's degree at the age of 19 (when most of us are either graduating high school or just starting college). He has such a reverence for the Word of God over tradition. He never forces the text and seems to refute every other angle imaginable. This is a MUST read for any serious student of the Bible.
<< 1 >>
| 
