The Christian’s hope is the visible, bodily, glorious return of the Lord Jesus Christ on the clouds of heaven with the resurrection of the Christian’s body, the public vindication of the Christian at the last judgment, and the enjoyment of the glories of the new creation. In the Reformed Doctrine of the End series, the author writes on eschatology in service of the church’s hope. As Engelsma demonstrates, the last things—centrally the coming of Christ—are the purpose and goal of all the revelation of God in scripture, from beginning to end. This book will encourage the Christian as he heeds Christ’s instruction regarding that coming: “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
In this 2nd volume, the reader learns that the truth central to all eschatology is the second coming of Jesus Christ itself - what the Greek of the New Testament promises as the parousia, literally the presence (of Jesus Christ). All other aspects of the biblical doctrine of the coming of Jesus are subordinate to this coming, either leading to it, accompanying it, or proceeding from it. Therefore, the proper subtitle of this second volume is The Coming of Christ.
The coming of Christ Jesus, with all that is related to it, will be the “end.” Such is Jesus’ own description of his coming in Matthew 24:14: “And then shall the end come,” which might be paraphrased, “And then shall the goal be reached.” The coming of Christ, with all that precedes and follows, is the goal of God, not only with the events of the last days but also of all history. All the events belonging strictly to the last things, all the history of the New Testament church, all the history of the world beginning with its creation, and all the doctrines of the Christian faith have the coming, or presence, of Jesus Christ as their goal.
This is the importance of the content of this volume. This is why the outstanding promise of the gospel is that uttered by Jesus himself: “I come quickly” (Rev. 22:12). And this is why the fundamental prayer of the church is, in response, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Rev. 22:20).
Read reviews by Justin Smidstra (PRCA), Mitchell Dixon (Presbyterion, Covenant Theological Seminary).
David J. Engelsma served as minister to several Protestant Reformed congregations until he was appointed to the Protestant Reformed Seminary in 1988 as professor of Dogmatics and Old Testament studies. He also served as editor of the "Standard Bearer" from 1988-2002. Prof. Engelsma has lectured and preached throughout the British Isles on behalf of the British Reformed Fellowship, which is devoted to the spread and defense of the Reformed faith in the United Kingdom. He lives in Grand Rapids, MI, with his wife and is the father of 9 children. He has authored many RFPA books.
- 192 pages
- ISBN 978-1-7368154-3-4
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The Church's Hope: The Reformed Doctrine of the End - Vol. 1, The Millennium (eBook)
