The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy: Understanding the Ongoing Controversies

Ron Rhodes has done an admirable job of covering the major beliefs and disagreements regarding Biblical property concerning the second coming of Jesus Christ. I recommend this book for everyone interested in this subject.

I happily give this a 5 star rating. Many reasons.Ron writes in a kind and even handed fashion. Preface and Postscript he reminds the reader to debate, not divide, and to remain charitable throughout. He wants to help us understand the viewpoints of others within Christianity on these large debatable issues, so that we are not just setting up straw men in order to knock them over or yelling over each other’s heads.Unwilling to divide over non-essentials of the faith, he still understands the debates and is able to give a generous thumbnail sketch of each position. However if you need ammo for your next big round of the pre trib post trib rapture or the dispensational versus covenant wars, this is just a sketch to acquaint us with the landscape on which the battles are being fought.Ron gives us his position in each of the debates, but frames the arguments well enough that people from other positions will feel quite comfortable in his descriptions of their positions. He outlines strengths and weaknesses of each position including his own.Each section deals with one of these 8 debates, and includes chapters on major points within each debate.I won’t review each chapter but I’ll finish with a quick look at debates 1 and 2 as an example.Debate #1: Should Prophecy be interpreted literally or allegorically? In that section for example he has 2 sub chapters entitled 1. The Hermeneutics of Bible Prophecy: Literal or Allegorical and 2. Covenant Theology versus Dispensationalism.In that first chapter Ron looks at how the church began to move from a literal interpretation to an allegorical one and why. He points out that this makes a BIG HUGE difference to how we see things like the millennial reign of Christ or whether Israel was replaced by the church.In explaining the literal position he quickly removes a common straw man argument. He explains clearly that the literal method doesn’t eliminate figures of speech, the use of symbols and parables. He explains how this is determined within a literal understanding. So glad he covers this as it is one of the most annoying features in any debate between these systems and takes up a lot of time often obliterating the actual arguments pro and con. He does this sort of straw man clearing up throughout the book.The second chapter deals with Covenant theology versus Dispensational Theology. He gives a thumbnail sketch of both classical and modified covenantalism, along with traditional, revised and progressive dispensationalism. All 5 use a literal hermeneutic for the basics of the faith but begin to differ sharply when it comes to prophecy.I wish I’d had this years ago. I had a dear friend who was and is firmly amillennial. If I’d had more of an understanding of the Reformed Covenant Theology that she was coming from, maybe I could have explained things better. As it is, we have never argued about it, merely agreeing to disagree and laughing over the possibilities of meeting in the Rapture.Debate #2 Are Israel and the Church Distinct in Bible Prophecy gets right down to something sweeping thru the church and that is the theological underpinnings of replacement theology. Dr. Rhodes does a good job of that, For more on that Hal Lindsay wrote a really good book, long since out of print that I have and recommend called The Road to Holocaust. I just bought Dr Reagans newest book The Jewish People: Rejected or Beloved which I hope is along those lines, but I’ve not delved into it yet.Later in the book such popular topics as when the Ezekiel invasion occurs, how Daniel’s 70th week relates to Revelation and whether we CAN identify Babylon or not.Ron Rhodes is a gentleman and a scholar. More important he writes well, and is easily understood. This isn’t something only a person with a theology degree can plow thru, this is something for ordinary Christians to enjoy whether they know anything about prophecy or not. Highly recommended.

I bought this book with great expectations, but found that a more accurate title would have been something like: "My Personal Views on the 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy." Rather than getting a scholarly and unbiased delineation of the various perspectives held by Christians, this book was peppered with Dr. Rhodes' own biases and a myriad of arguments to persuade readers why his views are correct. Did I expect the author not to include his own perspective? No. I only wish he would have spent more time outlining all sides of the various debates rather than trying to disprove views he doesn't hold himself.For example, in Dr. Rhodes' delineation on the debate regarding the concept of the rapture, he goes to great lengths arguing for a pretrib rapture - his view - but very little effort presenting other perspectives. In fact, he spends more time arguing against the other perspectives than he does highlighting why others favor them. Moreover, he cites a handful of scripture verses - Romans 13:11-12; 1 Cor 1:7; Phil 4:5; etc. - which he declares "clearly (teach) an imminent rapture." Yet, each of those verses can apply to the Lord's Second Coming. Not a single one "clearly" makes the case for a rapture. Indeed, Matthew 24:21-22 states that the tribulation will be cut short "for the sake of the elect" (NIV). While there may well be chosen believers born after the start of the tribulation, the verses seem to indicate that the elect on the earth prior to the beginning of the tribulation will still be here during the tribulation.Ultimately, the Holy Spirit rather than man is the final arbiter of truth. While it may be useful and even fun to engage in debates on the various prophecies of the Bible - I did buy his book after all :) - the core message of the Bible is what really matters. Jesus is "the way, and the truth, and the life." On that there should be very little debate among Christians. Maranatha!

I look forward to the Lords return even more now that I have a better understanding. Thanks Ron, keep writing!

Very prompt service. Book in excellent condition. A thoroughly good read. Needs reading several times to balance the points of debate. Very enjoyable and helpful with my adult bible class

Great reference

Far too simplistic, the author has an annoying habit of ignoring the strongest arguments which contradict (or refute) his views.