Raptureless: An Optimistic Guide to the End of the World

AW Tozer said, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” Up until recently, I believed in a God who used sickness, disease and death to fulfill His holy purposes.When Holy Spirit has rewrote that within me, I was still left with a conflict: God is always good and wants good things for His creation, except at the end of the world where He will take away His favorites and mercilessly torture everyone else.If you have ever struggled with the elitism, racism and fear that come out of beliefs such as the rapture, the great tribulation, antichrist, preferential treatment for modern Israel, moral decline and remnant theology, I strongly urge you to read Raptureless: An Optimistic Guide to the End of the World by Dr. Jonathan Welton. You may not agree with everything he says, but you need to know there are rational, optimistic alternatives.As a conservative Baptist dispensationalist cessationist ultra-literalist, the idea of no rapture and no giant war at the end of the world was a completely foreign concept to me. But the more I read, meditated on and prayed about Dr. Welton's brilliant nook the more sense it makes. It lines up absolutely perfectly with the Kingdom theology I now find myself invested in, and Holy Spirit brought it to me at just the right time in my journey.Unlike every other view of eschatology I've ever heard, Welton's view is optimistic, encouraging and unifying. That burden I will gladly bear.

Raptureless is a new look regarding the end times. This is a much discussed topic for those who are followers of Jesus Christanyone and everyone to read Rapturless. Jesus teaching was simplistic and profound. Jonathan's teaching mirrors the same style........James AThis view though different from what I have been taught is well supported by Church History , the Bible itself and gives great hope. I have listen to the audio version of Raptureless several times and each time I listen I can feel the Supernatural Presence of the Holy Spirit. I highly encourage

Awesome book! Are you a bible scholar or someone who goes to church regularly- I am!(30years born again believer) I HAVE NEVER HARD THE LIKE OF THIS TRUTH in church before !. Why are all the major churches keeping this quiet .This truth will set you free-really! You want the blue pill or the red pill ! (matrix movie.)In church we hear about the end times (just look at the news)the rapture(Jesus is coming back 1947,67,2000,2007 even this week!) Obama is the antichrist, OMG the new world order ,the aliens are coming to get us .Stop! This is all a pile of theologicl,,dispensational, ,fear mongering by legalistic control freaks preying on the innocent , unsuspecting, ignorant and gullible. its a different religion to the real Christianity . This book explains the truth of the end times which really was the end of the age of Moses in ad 70 ,the heavens and the earth were the temple , the greek was never translated correctly ,it was never a global event but a local event , the rapture isn't in scripture, Daniel refers to Jesus not a antichrist, The truth is that the kingdom of God is advancing and the world is improving and we have everything we need , we shouldn't be waiting for Jesus He is waiting for us , We are in the new covenant now and Jesus Christ has been revealed because what was hiding him has been removed ,as shown by the book of revelation .want to start a revolution or a reformation read this book everything will become clear

Absolutly loved this book! If you question mainstream Christianity's view on the end of times, get this book. If you are open-minded and would like to learn another viewpoint that is supported by scripture get this book. Since I became a Believer I have questioned mainstream Christianity view on the end of times. This book has absolutly plugged some holes, for me. It is well-written, easy to read and understand and has truly opened my eyes up. If you are interested in eschatology this is a must read!

Two things cannot be true while contradicting each other. This is something that has always limited me in my prayer life. Why? Well consider the following: I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people-- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.It is impossible to completely obey this scripture while simultaneously waiting for the Antichrist, and the great tribulation to arrive. This book has a lot of good things about it, but the most important thing to me was to prove beyond any reasonable doubt that the great tribulation, or "Jacob's Trouble" was fulfilled at the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 ad. If you will read this book with an open heart, you will arrive at the same conclusion I did, and it will liberate you from a fatalistic world view that robs you of your authority in Christ, and your ability to bless the nations in prayer.

For me personally, I have grown up with the old school of thought that the events spoken of in Matthew 24 and in Revelation are still going to take place. From Rapturless to The Art of Revelation, author Jonathan Welton systematically eradicates those notions by using facts, history and the Inspired Word of God. This book has empowered me as a believer to understand all that our Lord Jesus has done for us. I now know that God is truly a loving and gracious God and that there is no wrath to be poured out over me. This doesn't cause me to live a messed up life of no rules but has brought me to the realization that I have been made free and freedom is something so powerful. I can freely preach without feeling condemned if I do mess up. I am driven by the fact that I am now convicted of my righteousness because my sin was dealt with at the cross. You need to cast your current lenses aside and read this book with an open mind. And if your are someone that wants to believe in something that needs to make logically sense, this is for you.

It's possible that everything you thought you know is wrongI have listened to a lot of teachings on End times and it was always based upon taking certain scriptures to prove their perspective. I began reading this book as a sceptic but with each explanation my "but what about" was answered in a very clear manner. Jonathan does an incredible job of taking you on a journey that unveils all the scriptures regarding end times in such a way that you are left with a decision - because if this is true it changes everything about my relationship with God, people and this world. It means I must choose to repent - to change my way of thinking.

Jonathan's writing is clear and understandable on what, for many, is a subject that's difficult to grasp and understand. It's a timely book for this generation from a young(ish) author. Jonathan clearly outlines his own position and journey (so we understand where he's coming from theologically) and this is followed by an explanation of how the so-called Rapture view began. This historical perspective is crucial in understanding the context of the growth of this eschatological (end time) perspective. Why? Because, as he points out, believers are to weigh and discern what is prophesied or interpreted, led by the Spirit. When we understand both context and circumstances of an idea, development or concept, this is much easier to do. The history then makes it clear that the Rapture perspective is recent and didn't figure in early church history. This might give doubt to a rapture-believer, but not confirm it to them. However, Jonathan then weighs in with scriptural interpretation (e.g. Matthew 24, the Thessalonian passages etc) and relevant history from Eusebius, arguing convincingly, in my opinion, that Jesus and Paul were talking about what could happen within one clear generation from his death...AD70.The historical evidence was what first convinced me, as I am a historian and know the wider events to be true. In relation to a prophetic interpretation, we are still called to understand the times, to be prepared for God to do new things and to expect him to reveal more of himself and his ways to us as we mature, and even to have a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of scripture, but none of these expectations take away from Welton's conclusions. (In fact, the revelation that there is more of God and his nature and actions to be revealed is a hopeful and joyful result of realising that Creation as we know it isn't going to be under the extreme judgment and tribulation of the dispensationalists.) Our prophetic understanding of God's living word isn't complete and never will be and at every level, scripture has constantly shown itself to be God-breathed and open to a man's faith. So, although Welton has written an excellent interpretation that for me, argues convincingly and historically, I'm sure more will be revealed... Overall, a great read and well written. It's about time someone said it.

Excellent work! A must read for anyone that has nagging questions about what has become mainstream religious "accepted truth" about our world and its future. Jonathan ties together ancient scripture with recorded history to dispel so many destructive concepts that have crept into mainstream teaching and preaching.

I have often described myself as a pre-mid-a-post-milliennialist, because I agree with them all while I am listening to them or reading them and have serious doubts about them later. I found this book fascinating and pretty well-researched - and, oh, how I hope Jonathan Welton is right! It is a wonderful relief to be released from various extremely pessimistic world-views and allowed to b e optimistic about what God is going to do in the world. I have always been suspicious of those who claim to be able to see into the future and identify 'the antichrist' and forecast the series of events that will lead up to the end of the world, ever since as a teenager I came upon some booklets written by an elderly friend during the second world war, identifying Hitler as the antichrist. In my 53 years as a Christian, I have heard many a theory - even Henry Kissinger was identified as the antichrist because his name could be made to add up to 666. I have been told that the Pope's telephone number is Vatican 666. Hal Lindsay was wrong in the bestseller 'Late Great Planet Earth' (terrifying a young mother I knew because it led her to picture herself trying to protect her four young children during the cataclysm) but it doesn't seem to have stopped him. I am so sick of various preachers making their name by preaching a certain end-time theory and completely ignoring the fact that many of their predictions have turned out to be mistaken.That was my rant! Jonathan Welton agrees with much of it and presents an interpretation of prophecy which allows us to perceive God as kind and as working in our world through generous grace. He says what I have often thought and been unable to express effectively. I am not an idiot - I have a degree in Biblical Studies and have taught the Bible for many years. However, church culture is a powerful influence and I floundered as I tried to evaluate what I I was taught. Thank you, Jonathan Welton - you have released me!

This book has helped me clarify a lot of unclear teaching about the future of Christianity. The content of this book and the understanding of scripture it brings will usher a freedom and perspective into your heart that will change your life. Good job Jonathan.