INTRODUCTION: OUR OBSESSION WITH THE END OF DAYS
1. Lindsay Rothfeld, “Why We’re So Obsessed With Zombies,” Mashable, March 12, 2015, accessed January 25, 2016, http://mashable.com/2015/03/12/zombie-obsession/#sUfDQfvSpkqj.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Kelsey Geiser, “Stanford Scholar Explains Why Zombie Fascination Is Very Much Alive,” Stanford Report, February 20, 2013, accessed January 26, 2016, http://news.stanford.edu/news/2013/february/why-zombie-fascination-022013.html.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
CHAPTER 1: WHY THERE’S SO MUCH DEBATE OVER THE END TIMES
1. Michael Heiser, in discussion with the author, October 29, 2015.
2. Joel Rosenberg, in discussion with the author, September 11, 2015.
3. Ibid.
4. Michael Brown, in discussion with the author, December 12, 2015.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Rosenberg, discussion.
9. Ibid.
10. Ron Rhodes, in discussion with author, September–November 2015.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Heiser, discussion.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Jeff Kinley, interview by Billy Hallowell, The Church Boys, TheBlaze, audio, December 4, 2015, accessed February 2, 2016, https://soundcloud.com/thechurchboys/ep-47-trying-to-be-wrong.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ed Hindson, in discussion with the author, September 4, 2015.
27. Ibid.
28. Kinley, interview.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
31. Tim LaHaye, in discussion with the author, November 28, 2015.
32. Ibid.
33. Greg Laurie, in discussion with the author, December 16, 2015.
34. Ibid.
35. Ibid.
36. Ibid.
CHAPTER 2: THE RAPTURE AND WHETHER IT’S BIBLICAL
1. Pew Research Center, “Global Survey of Evangelical Protestant Leaders,” June 22, 2011, accessed January 7, 2011, http://www.pewforum.org/2011/06/22/global-survey-of-evangelical-protestant-leaders/.
2. Rhodes, discussion.
3. Jeff Kinley, Wake the Bride (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2015), 57.
4. Mark Hitchcock, in discussion with the author, September 9, 2015.
5. Mary Fairchild, “What Is the Rapture?”, About.com, August 5, 2015, accessed February 2, 2016, http://christianity.about.com/od/faqhelpdesk/a/whatisrapture.htm.
6. Ibid.
7. Hitchcock, discussion.
8. Jennifer LeClaire, “Despite Popular Theology, Apologist Says Rapture Movies Are Not Biblical,” Charisma News, August 5, 2014, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.charismanews.com/culture/44904-despite-popular-theology-apologist-says-rapture-movies-are-not-biblical.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Christianity History, “John Nelson Darby,” ChristianityToday.com, August 8, 2008, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/131christians/pastorsandpreachers/darby.html?start=2.
12. Ibid.
13. Matt Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”, desiringGod.org, January 23, 2006, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/what-does-john-piper-believe-about-dispensationalism-covenant-theology-and-new-covenant-theology.
14. LeClaire, “Despite Popular Theology, Apologist Says Rapture Movies Are Not Biblical.”
15. William Lane Craig, in discussion with the author, September 23, 2015.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Billy Hallowell, “Does the Bible Predict God’s End-Times Destruction of Syria—and Is Prophecy About to Unfold Before Our Eyes?”, TheBlaze, June 17, 2013, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/17/does-the-bible-predict-gods-end-times-destruction-of-syria-and-is-prophesy-about-to-unfold-before-our-eyes/.
19. Hank Hanegraaff, in discussion with the author, October 2, 2015.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Heiser, discussion.
23. Billy Hallowell, “Is the Rapture Biblical—and Will Non-Christians Really Be ‘Left Behind’? Theologians Battle Over End Times Prophecy,” TheBlaze, September 29, 2014, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/09/29/is-the-rapture-really-biblical-theologians-battle-over-end-times-prophecy/.
24. Kinley, Wake the Bride.
25. Craig, discussion.
26. Billy Hallowell, “End Times Expert Breaks Down Revelation—and Reveals Why He’s Convinced There Will Be a ‘Rapture,’” TheBlaze, December 4, 2014, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/12/04/this-is-a-powder-keg-authors-end-times-warnings-about-chaos-in-the-middle-east-the-antichrist-and-the-rapture/.
27. Ibid.
CHAPTER 3: DIGGING DEEPER: PRE-TRIBULATION RAPTURE THEORY
1. Rosenberg, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. Hitchcock, discussion.
4. Rosenberg, discussion.
5. Ibid.
6. Rosenberg, discussion.
7. Hitchcock, discussion.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Rhodes, discussion.
11. Hindson, discussion.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Hitchcock, discussion.
15. Hindson, discussion.
16. Rosenberg, discussion.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Kinley, Wake the Bride, 65.
CHAPTER 4: OTHER IDEAS ABOUT THE RAPTURE
1. Hanegraaff, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. Ibid.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Brown, discussion.
7. John Piper, “Definitions and Observations Concerning the Second Coming of Christ,” desiringGod.org, August 30, 1987, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/definitions-and-observations-concerning-the-second-coming-of-christ.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ron Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2014).
11. Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, second edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 1998), 1214.
12. Ibid., 1230.
13. Ibid.
14. Steve W. Lemke, “The Biblical Case for Mid-Tribulationalism,” New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, accessed February 2, 2016, http://www.nobts.edu/faculty/itor/lemkesw/personal/midtribulationism.html.
15. Brown, discussion.
16. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 113.
17. Erickson, Christian Theology, 1230.
18. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 119.
19. Ibid., 121.
20. Sam Storms, in discussion with the author, November 2015.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
28. Douglas Wilson, in discussion with the author, November 2015.
29. Ibid.
30. Ibid.
CHAPTER 5: THE TRIBULATION
1. LaHaye, discussion.
2. Tim Lahaye Ministries, “Pre-Trib FAQ,” accessed January 6, 2016, http://timlahaye.myshopify.com/pages/pre-trib-faq.
3. Ibid.
4. John Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 49, no. 4 (December 2006).
5. LaHaye, discussion.
6. Hindson, discussion.
7. LaHaye, discussion.
8. Ibid.
9. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 139.
10. Ibid., 140.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Heiser, discussion.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Storms, discussion.
17. Ibid.
CHAPTER 6: THE ANTICHRIST
1. Rosenberg, discussion.
2. Hitchcock, discussion.
3. Brown, discussion.
4. LaHaye, discussion.
5. Gregory H. Harris, “The Wound of the Beast in the Tribulation,” Bibliotheca Sacra 156 (October–December 1999): 459.
6. Brown, discussion.
7. Hanegraaff, discussion.
8. LaHaye, discussion.
9. Rosenberg, discussion.
10. Hitchcock, discussion.
11. Rosenberg, discussion.
12. Ibid.
13. Hitchcock, discussion.
14. Ibid.
15. Rosenberg, discussion.
16. Hitchcock, discussion.
17. Ibid.
18. Stephen J. Nichols, “Prophecy Makes Strange Bedfellows: On the History of Identifying the Antichrist,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 44, no. 1 (March 2001): 87–105.
19. Rosenberg, discussion.
20. Nichols, “Prophecy Makes Strange Bedfellows: On the History of Identifying the Antichrist,” 75.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid., 79.
CHAPTER 7: THE DEBATE OVER THE NATURE OF THE BEASTS
1. Storms, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Arius,” last modified April 9, 2014, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/biography/Arius.
4. Storms, discussion.
5. Ibid.
6. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Antiochus IV Epiphanes,” by Hans Volkmann, last modified May 5, 2014, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/biography/Antiochus-IV-Epiphanes.
7. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 144.
8. LaHaye, discussion.
9. Ibid.
10. Storms, discussion; Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Titus,” last modified February 7, 2014, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/biography/Titus.
11. Storms, discussion.
12. Hanegraaff, discussion.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Hank Hanegraaff, “Who Is the Antichrist?” Christian Research Institute, June 10, 2009, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.equip.org/article/who-is-the-antichrist/.
18. Hanegraaff, discussion.
19. Hank Hanegraaff, The Complete Bible Answer Book, collector’s edition (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2009), 163.
20. Hanegraaff, discussion.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Shane Wood, in discussion with the author, November 2015.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Heiser, discussion.
28. Ibid.
29. Storms, discussion.
30. Ibid.
31. Ibid.
32. LaHaye, discussion.
33. Harris, “The Wound of the Beast in the Tribulation.”
34. Ibid., 461.
35. Ibid., 462.
36. Ibid., 462.
37. Ibid., 463.
38. Charlie Restivo, “Revelation 13:11–18,” sermon, Calvary Chapel of Westchester County, November 2, 2014, MP3 format, http://www.calvarychapelwestchester.org/index.php?option=com_biblestudy&view=studieslist&t=1&Itemid=156#.
39. Merriam-Webster Online, s.v. “gematria,” accessed January 11, 2016, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispensation.
40. Roger Barrier, “What Is the Meaning of ‘666’ in Revelation?”, Crosswalk.com, November 4, 2013, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/ask-roger/what-is-the-meaning-of-666-in-revelation.html.
41. Rhodes, discussion.
42. Ibid.
43. Restivo, “Revelation 13:11–18.”
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid.
46. Harris, “The Wound of the Beast in the Tribulation,” 467.
47. Wood, discussion.
CHAPTER 8: THE GREAT MILLENNIAL DEBATE
1. Wilson, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. Rosenberg, discussion.
4. Ibid.
5. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” 771.
6. Ibid.
7. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 241.
8. Ibid.
9. William Lane Craig, “Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 10): Views on the Millennium,” transcript, September 10, 2014, Defenders Podcast, Reasonable Faith, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.reasonablefaith.org/defenders-2-podcast/transcript/s13-10.
10. Storms, discussion.
11. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation.”
12. Laurie, discussion.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. John Hagee, in discussion with the author, December 2015.
17. Ibid.
18. Craig, “Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 10): Views on the Millennium.”
19. Storms, discussion.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Sam Storms, “The Amillennial View of the Kingdom of God,” SamStorms.com, March 15, 2007, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/the-amillennial-view-of-the-kingdom-of-god/.
25. Craig, “Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 10): Views on the Millennium.”
26. Ibid.
27. Storms, “The Amillennial View of the Kingdom of God.”
28. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” 780.
29. Wilson, discussion.
30. Rhodes, discussion.
31. Ibid.
32. R. Fowler White, “Agony, Irony, and Victory in Inaugurated Eschatology: Reflections on the Current Amillennial-Postmillennial Debate,” Westminster Theological Journal 62, no. 2 (Fall 2000): 162.
33. Storms, “The Amillennial View of the Kingdom of God.”
34. Craig, “Doctrine of the Last Things (Part 10): Views on the Millennium.”
35. Bill Bright, “Catch Excitement for the Gospel,” Cru.org, accessed January 7, 2016, http://www.cru.org/train-and-grow/transferable-concepts/help-fulfill-the-great-commission.html.
36. Craig, discussion.
37. Wilson, discussion.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid.
40. Ibid.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid.
44. Ibid.
45. Craig, discussion.
46. Hanegraaff, discussion.
47. Ibid.
48. Ibid.
49. Ibid.
50. Ibid.
51. Ibid.
CHAPTER 9: UNDERSTANDING SCRIPTURE AND ESCHATOLOGY
1. Wayne McDill, “7 Principles of Biblical Interpretation,” LifeWay.com, March 12, 2014, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.lifeway.com/pastors/2014/03/12/7-principles-of-biblical-interpretation/.
2. Ellen White, “Defining Biblical Hermeneutics,” Bible History Daily, October 13, 2014, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/bible-interpretation/defining-biblical-hermeneutics/.
3. McDill, “7 Principles of Biblical Interpretation.”
4. White, “Defining Biblical Hermeneutics.”
5. “What Is Biblical Hermeneutics?”, gotQuestions.org, accessed January 8, 2016, http://www.gotquestions.org/Biblical-hermeneutics.html.
6. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Hermeneutics,” accessed January 8, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/topic/hermeneutics-principles-of-biblical-interpretation.
7. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Biblical Literature,” last modified September 28, 2015, accessed February 3, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/topic/biblical-literature/The-critical-study-of-biblical-literature-exegesis-and-hermeneutics.
8. LaHaye, discussion.
9. Ibid.
10. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Biblical Literature.”
11. Ibid.
12. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
13. Ibid.
14. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 22.
15. Ibid., 23.
16. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
17. Merriam-Webster Online, s.v. “dispensation,” accessed January 8, 2016, http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dispensation.
18. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 20–22.
19. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
20. Jeff Kinley, in discussion with the author, November–December 2015.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Rhodes, discussion.
25. H. Wayne House, “The Future of National Israel,” Bibliotheca Sacra 166 (October–December 2009): 473.
26. Darrell Bock, in discussion with the author, October 2015.
27. Ibid.
28. Ibid.
29. Frederic R. Howe, “Does Christ Occupy David’s Throne Now?”, Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society (Spring 2006): 65.
30. House, “The Future of National Israel,” 468–469.
31. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 27.
32. Ibid., 26.
33. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
34. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 26.
35. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
36. Kinley, discussion.
37. Larry D. Pettegrew, “The New Covenant and New Covenant Theology, The Master’s Seminary Journal (Fall 2007): 181.
38. Ibid., 182.
39. Perman, “What Does John Piper Believe About Dispensationalism, Covenant Theology, and New Covenant Theology?”
40. Kinley, discussion.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. LaHaye, discussion.
CHAPTER 10: UNDERSTANDING REVELATION
1. Bock, discussion.
2. Denny Burk, “Jim Hamilton on His New Revelation Commentary,” DennyBurk.com, January 11, 2012, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.dennyburk.com/jim-hamilton-on-his-new-revelation-commentary/.
3. Bock, discussion.
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Brown, discussion.
7. Ibid.
8. Laurie, discussion.
9. Ibid.
10. Wilson, discussion.
11. Cornelis Venema, “Interpreting Revelation,” Tabletalk, January 1, 2012, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/interpreting-revelation/.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Wilson, discussion.
15. Venema, “Interpreting Revelation.”
16. Laurie, discussion.
17. Richard L. Mayhue, “Jesus: A Preterist or a Futurist?” The Master’s Seminary Journal 14, no. 1 (Spring 2003): 10.
18. Wilson, discussion.
19. Venema, “Interpreting Revelation.”
20. Wilson, discussion.
21. Hanegraaff, discussion.
22. Ibid.
23. Wood, discussion.
CHAPTER 11: PRETERISTS
1. Mayhue, “Jesus: A Preterist or a Futurist?”, 10.
2. Riley O’Brien Powell, “What’s Preterism?” LivingtheQuestion.org, accessed January 8, 2016, http://livingthequestion.org/resources/.
3. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation.”
4. Mayhue, “Jesus: A Preterist or a Futurist?”, 10.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid., 13.
9. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” 767.
10. Christian History, “A.D. 70 Titus Destroys Jerusalem,” ChristianityToday.com, October 1, 1990, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ch/1990/issue28/2808.html?start=1.
11. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation,” 768.
12. Riley O’Brien Powell, “Coming of God,” LivingtheQuestion.org, accessed January 11, 2016, http://livingthequestion.org/coming-of-god/.
13. Wood, discussion.
14. Ibid.
15. Stanley D. Toussaint, “A Critique of the Preterist View of the Olivet Discourse,” Bibliotheca Sacra 161 (October–December 2004).
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid., 470.
18. Ibid., 484.
19. Mayhue, “Jesus: A Preterist or a Futurist?”, 20.
20. Toussaint, “A Critique of the Preterist View of the Olivet Discourse,” 484.
21. Ibid., 470.
22. Ibid., 487–488.
23. Powell, “Coming of God.”
24. Don Preston, in discussion with the author, October 2015–January 2016.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Powell, “Coming of God.”
28. Toussaint, “A Critique of the Preterist View of the Olivet Discourse,” 489.
29. Mayhue, “Jesus: A Preterist or a Futurist?”, 17.
30. Noē, “An Exegetical Basis for a Preterist-Idealist Understanding of the Book of Revelation.”
31. Hank Hanegraaff, “Who or What Is the Great Prostitute of Revelation 17?”, Christian Research Institute, April 13, 2011, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.equip.org/bible_answers/who-or-what-is-the-great-prostitute-of-revelation-17/.
32. Ibid.
33. Powell, “What’s Preterism?”
34. Ibid.
35. Billy Hallowell, “Does the Bible Predict End Times Destruction in Syria? Expert’s Key Question About ‘Prophetic Implications’ Involving Russia and Iran,” TheBlaze, October 2, 2015, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/02/does-the-bible-predict-end-times-destruction-in-syria-experts-key-question-about-prophetic-implications-involving-russia-and-iran/.
36. Ibid.
37. Powell, “What’s Preterism?”
38. Preston, discussion.
39. Ibid.
40. Ibid.
41. Wilson, discussion.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid.
44. Ibid.
CHAPTER 12: THE END TIMES ARE UPON US, ACCORDING TO SOME
1. Laurie, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. Billy Hallowell, “Are the End Times Upon Us? Author Says ‘Unrestrained Immorality’ Mirrors ‘Pandemic Godlessness’ Seen in the Bible,” TheBlaze, May 2, 2014, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/05/02/are-the-end-times-upon-us-author-says-unrestrained-immorality-mirrors-pandemic-godlessness-seen-in-the-bible/.
4. Hindson, discussion.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Hallowell, “Are the End Times Upon Us? Author Says ‘Unrestrained Immorality’ Mirrors “Pandemic Godlessness’ Seen in the Bible.”
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Rosenberg, discussion.
14. Rhodes, discussion.
15. Rosenberg, discussion.
16. Billy Hallowell, “Author Reveals the Five Signs That He Says Are ‘Flashing Warning Lights’ That the End Times Could Be Nearing,” TheBlaze, June 22, 2015, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/06/22/author-reveals-the-five-signs-that-he-says-are-flashing-warning-lights-that-the-end-times-could-be-nearing/.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Hindson, discussion.
21. Kinley, interview.
22. Hindson, discussion.
23. Kinley, interview.
24. Ibid.
CHAPTER 13: GOG, MAGOG, AND THE REESTABLISHMENT OF ISRAEL
1. Joel Rosenberg, “With Russian & Iranian Forces Now Engaged in Combat in Syria, People Are Asking, ‘What Is the War of Gog & Magog?’ Here’s the Answer, Part One,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, October 8, 2015, accessed February 4, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/08/with-russian-iranian-forces-now-engaged-in-combat-in-syria-people-are-asking-what-is-the-war-of-gog-magog-heres-the-answer-part-one/.
2. James Rochford, “The Regathering of Israel,” Evidence Unseen, accessed January 14, 2016, http://www.evidenceunseen.com/articles/prophecy/the-regathering-of-israel/.
3. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Babylonian Exile,” last modified November 25, 2014, accessed February 4, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/event/Babylonian-Exile.
4. Jeff Kinley, in discussion with author, November–December 2015.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Aryeh Spero, in discussion with the author, December 2015.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Heiser, discussion.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Joel Rosenberg, “What Is the War of Gog and Magog? Part Three—the Good News,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, May 12, 2011, accessed February 4, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/12/what-is-the-war-of-gog-and-magog-part-three-the-good-news/.
21. Joel Rosenberg, “What Is the ‘War of Gog and Magog’? Part One,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, May 9, 2011, accessed February 4, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/09/what-is-the-war-of-gog-and-magog-part-one/.
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Rhodes, discussion.
26. Ibid.
27. Rosenberg, “What Is the ‘War of Gog and Magog’? Part One.”
28. Hindson, discussion.
29. Joel Rosenberg, “What Is The War of Gog and Magog? Part Two,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, May 11, 2011, accessed February 4, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2011/05/11/what-is-the-war-of-gog-and-magog-part-two-as-we-remember-israels-63rd-day-of-independence-is-this-prophetic-war-close-at-hand/.
30. Rhodes, discussion.
31. Hindson, discussion.
32. Rhodes, discussion.
33. Rosenberg, discussion.
34. Joel Rosenberg, “Answers to the Most Frequently Asked Questions About the ‘War of Gog & Magog.’ Part Four in Our Series on the Prophecies of Ezekiel 38–39,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, October 15, 2015, accessed February 4, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/15/answers-to-the-three-most-frequently-asked-questions-about-the-war-of-gog-magog-part-four-in-our-series-on-the-prophecies-of-ezekiel-38-39/.
35. Ibid.
36. Kinley, discussion.
37. Ibid.
38. Ibid.
39. Laurie, discussion.
40. Ibid.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Sam Storms, “Revelation 20:1–15—Part I,” SamStorms.com, April 21, 2007, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.samstorms.com/all-articles/post/revelation-20:1-15---part-i.
44. Ibid.
45. Ibid.
46. Sam Storms, “Armageddon (What and When?),” SamStorms.com, September 28, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.samstorms.com/enjoying-god-blog/post/armageddon--what-and-when-.
47. Kinley, discussion.
CHAPTER 14: ISRAEL’S ROLE IN THE END TIMES
1. Rosenberg, discussion.
2. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Israel,” accessed January 12, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/place/Israel.
3. Rosenberg, discussion.
4. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 33.
5. Ibid., 34.
6. Wilson, discussion.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy.
10. Hank Hanegraaff, “Who Started Replacement Theology?, and Q&A,” Bible Answer Man, audio, August 28, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://streaming.integrationworks.com:3000/archive/BAM20150828.mp3.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. Hanegraaff, discussion.
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Ibid.
23. R. Scott Clark, “Covenant Theology Is Not Replacement Theology,” The Heidelblog (blog), August 21, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://heidelblog.net/2013/08/covenant-theology-is-not-replacement-theology/.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Wilson, discussion.
27. Ibid.
28. Heiser, discussion.
29. Ibid.
30. Rhodes, discussion.
31. Laurie, discussion.
32. Ibid.
33. Ibid.
34. LaHaye, discussion.
35. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy.
36. Ibid.
37. Kinley, discussion.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid.
40. Ibid.
41. Ibid.
42. Ibid.
43. Ibid.
44. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy.
45. Ibid.
46. LaHaye, discussion.
47. Ibid.
48. Ibid.
49. Hagee, discussion.
50. Ibid.
51. Ibid.
52. “Will all Israel Be Saved in the End Times?” gotQuestions.org, accessed January 19, 2016, http://www.gotquestions.org/all-Israel-saved.html.
53. Ibid.
54. Ibid.
55. Wilson, discussion.
56. Kinley, discussion.
57. Ibid.
58. Ibid.
59. Ibid.
60. Ibid.
61. LaHaye, discussion.
62. Ibid.
CHAPTER 15: SYRIA’S CURRENT UNRAVELING AND ITS TIE TO BIBLICAL PROPHECY
1. Rosenberg, discussion.
2. “Pentagon Weighing Use of Military Force to Protect U.S. Trained Syrian Rebels If They’ve Come Under Fire by Russia,” TheBlaze, October 2, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/02/pentagon-weighing-use-of-military-force-to-protect-u-s-trained-syrian-rebels-if-theyve-come-under-fire-by-russia/.
3. Joel Rosenberg, “Putin Orders Russian Military Forces Into Combat in Syria, Just Miles From Northern Border of Israel. Russian Forces Working Closely With Iran. Here’s the Latest,” Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, October 1, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2015/10/01/putin-orders-russian-military-forces-into-combat-in-syria-just-miles-from-northern-border-of-israel-russian-forces-working-closely-with-iran-heres-the-latest/.
4. “Russia Kills US-Backed Syrian Rebels In Second Day of Air Strikes as Iran Prepares for Ground Offensive,” Telegraph, October 2, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11903702/Russias-Vladimir-Putin-launches-strikes-in-Syria-on-Isil-to-US-anger-live-updates.html.
5. Rosenberg, “Putin Orders Russian Military Forces Into Combat in Syria, Just Miles From Northern Border of Israel. Russian Forces Working Closely With Iran. Here’s the Latest.”
6. Laurie, discussion.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Billy Hallowell, “Does the Bible Predict God’s End-Times Destruction of Syria—and Is Prophecy About to Unfold Before Our Eyes?”, TheBlaze, June 17, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/06/17/does-the-bible-predict-gods-end-times-destruction-of-syria-and-is-prophesy-about-to-unfold-before-our-eyes/.
10. Yasmine Hafiz, “Isaiah 17:1 Is Syria War Part of Jesus’ Second Coming? Christians and Muslims Quote Scripture,” Huffington Post, August 29, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/29/syria-jesus-second-coming_n_3830214.html?utm_hp_ref=religion.
11. Joel Rosenberg, “Does Bible Prophecy Foretell the Destruction of Damascus?”, Joel C. Rosenberg’s Blog, June 28, 2012, accessed February 5, 2016, https://flashtrafficblog.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/does-bible-prophecy-foretell-the-destruction-of-damascus/.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Hallowell, “Does the Bible Predict God’s End-Times Destruction of Syria—and Is Prophecy About to Unfold Before Our Eyes?”
15. Ibid.
16. Hank Hanegraaff, “Metaphorical Descriptions of Heaven, and Q&A,” Bible Answer Man with Hank Hanegraaff, audio, June 19, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/bible-answer-man/player/questions-and-answers-350263.html.
17. Ibid.
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
21. Ibid.
22. Candida Moss, “Sorry, Evangelicals, Syria Will Not Spur the Second Coming,” The Daily Beast, September 5, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/09/05/sorry-evangelicals-syria-will-not-spur-the-second-coming.html.
23. Ibid.
CHAPTER 16: THE BLOOD MOONS BATTLE
1. Bruce McClure and Deborah Byrd, “What Is a Blood Moon?”, EarthSky.org, September 22, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://earthsky.org/space/what-is-a-blood-moon-lunar-eclipses-2014-2015#tetrad.
2. Liz Klimas, “See the Awesome Pictures and Video of Last Night’s First of Four ‘Blood Moons,” TheBlaze, April 15, 2014, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/04/15/see-the-awesome-pictures-and-video-of-last-nights-first-of-four-blood-moons/.
3. Religion News Service, “This Sunday’s Fourth ‘Blood Moon’—What Is God’s Divine Billboard Saying?”, news release, September 24, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://pressreleases.religionnews.com/2015/09/24/this-sundays-fourth-blood-moon-what-is-gods-divine-billboard-saying/.
4. Billy Hallowell, “Is the Coming ‘Blood Moon’ a Biblical Sign From God That Something Earth-Shattering Is About to Happen to Israel?”, The Blaze, September 25, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.newsjs.com/url.php?p=http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/09/25/is-the-coming-blood-moon-a-biblical-sign-from-god-that-something-earth-shattering-is-about-to-happen-to-israel/.
5. Amazon.com, “Four Blood Moons: Something Is About to Change,” accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.amazon.com/Four-Blood-Moons-Something-Change/dp/1617952141/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392059041&sr=8-1&keywords=Four+Blood+Moons%3A+Something+Is+About+to+Change.
6. Mark Biltz, in discussion with the author, December 19, 2015.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Ibid.
11. Hallowell, “Is the Coming ‘Blood Moon’ a Biblical Sign From God That Something Earth-Shattering Is About to Happen to Israel?”
12. Ibid.
13. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 1401 to 1500 (1401 CE to 1500 CE),” NASA Eclipse Web Site, accessed January 13, 2016, http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE1401-1500.html.
14. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 1901 to 2000 (1901 CE to 2000 CE),” NASA Eclipse Web Site, accessed January 13, 2016, http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/LEcat5/LE2001-2100.html.
15. Hallowell, “Is the Coming ‘Blood Moon’ a Biblical Sign From God That Something Earth-Shattering Is About to Happen to Israel?”
16. Ibid.
17. Ibid.; National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 1901 to 2000 (1901 CE to 2000 CE).”
18. Hallowell, “Is the Coming ‘Blood Moon’ a Biblical Sign From God That Something Earth-Shattering Is About to Happen to Israel?”
19. Ibid.
20. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, “Five Millennium Catalog of Lunar Eclipses: 1901 to 2000 (1901 CE to 2000 CE).”
21. Hallowell, “Is the Coming ‘Blood Moon’ a Biblical Sign From God That Something Earth-Shattering Is About to Happen to Israel?”
22. Ibid.
23. Ibid.
24. Ibid.
25. Ibid.
26. Ibid.
27. Ibid.
28. Kenneth L. Waters Sr., “Does the Bible Predict the Blood Moon’?” Belief (blog), CNN.com, April 14, 2014, accessed February 5, 2016, http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/14/whats-up-with-the-blood-moons-prophecies/.
29. Danny Faulkner, “Will Lunar Eclipses Cause Four Blood Moons in 2014 and 2015?”, Answers in Genesis, July 12, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/moon/will-lunar-eclipses-cause-four-blood-moons-in-2014-and-2015/.
30. Ibid.
31. McClure and Byrd, “What Is a Blood Moon?”
32. Ibid.
33. Biltz, discussion.
34. Ibid.
35. Ibid.
36. Hagee, discussion.
37. Ibid.
38. Ibid.
39. Ibid.
CHAPTER 17: JESUS’S SECOND COMING IN LIGHT OF HIS FIRST
1. Billy Hallowell, “They Did Something to the Bible That Had Never Been Done Before. And It Was So Powerful That It Left Them in Tears,” TheBlaze, October 12, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/10/12/they-did-something-to-the-bible-that-had-never-been-done-before-and-it-was-apparently-so-powerful-that-it-left-them-in-tears/.
2. Brown, discussion.
3. Rhodes, The 8 Great Debates of Bible Prophecy, 42.
4. LaHaye, discussion.
5. Kinley, discussion.
6. Ibid.
7. Hallowell, “They Did Something to the Bible That Had Never Been Done Before. And It Was So Powerful That It Left Them in Tears.”
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Billy Hallowell, “Famous Author Reveals Biblical Prophecies That Pushed Him Over the ‘Tipping Point from Skeptic to Believer,’” TheBlaze, November 17, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2015/11/17/famous-author-reveals-biblical-prophecies-that-pushed-him-over-the-tipping-point-from-skeptic-to-believer/.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Kinley, discussion.
14. Ibid.
15. Brown, discussion.
16. Ibid.
17. LaHaye, discussion.
18. Ibid.
CHAPTER 18: THE FAILURE OF END-TIMES DATE SETTING
1. Randall Balmer, “The Great Disappointment: When the World Fails to End on Schedule,” Religion Dispatches, May 25, 2011, accessed February 5, 2016, http://religiondispatches.org/the-great-disappointment-when-the-world-fails-to-end-on-schedule/.
2. Billy Hallowell, “‘It Seems Embarrassing’: Failed doomsday Preacher Harold Camping Offers an Apology . . . Sort of,” TheBlaze, November 1, 2011, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/11/01/it-seems-embarrassing-failed-doomsday-preacher-harold-camping-offers-an-apology-sort-of/.
3. Ibid.
4. “What Happened on May 21?”, Family Radio, Internet Archive, accessed January 13, 2016, http://web.archive.org/web/20111019171607/http://www.familyradio.com/x/whathappened.html.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Ibid.
10. Nicola Menzie, “Family Radio Founder Harold Camping Repents, Apologizes for False Teachings,” Christian Post, October 30, 2011, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.christianpost.com/news/family-radio-founder-harold-camping-repents-apologizes-for-false-teachings-59819/#r3YxHuRiyeEiu5bW.99.
11. “An Important Letter From Mr. Camping—March 2012” Family Radio, Internet Archive, accessed January 13, 2016, https://web.archive.org/web/20120311172055/http:/www.familyradio.com/announcement2.html?keepThis=true&TB2_iframe=true&height=440&width=611.
12. Ibid.
13. Justin Berton, “Biblical Scholar’s Date for Rapture: May 21, 2011,” SFGate.com, January 1, 2010, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Biblical-scholar-s-date-for-rapture-May-21-2011-3204226.php.
14. Ibid.
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Rick Paulas, “Life After Doomsday,” VICE.com, November 7, 2014, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.vice.com/read/life-after-doomsday-456.
18. BBC News, “‘Rapture’: Believers Perplexed After Prediction Fails,” May 22, 2011, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-13489641.
19. Steve Gorman, “California Doomsday Prophet Harold Camping Dead at 92,” Reuters, December 17, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-doomsday-prophet-idUSBRE9BG16320131217.
20. Elena Garcia, “Fearful Teen Commits Suicide Due to Harold Camping’s Judgment Day Prediction,” Christian Post, May 26, 2011, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.christianpost.com/news/fearful-teen-commits-suicide-on-eve-of-harold-campings-rapture-50542/.
21. Paulas, “Life After Doomsday.”
22. Rachel Cole, “10 Failed Doomsday Predictions,” Encyclopaedia Britannica, accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/list/10-failed-doomsday-predictions.
23. L. Michael White, “Prophetic Belief in the United States: William Miller and the Second Great Awakening,” PBS.org, accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/apocalypse/explanation/amprophesy.html.
24. Balmer, “The Great Disappointment: When the World Fails to End on Schedule.”
25. Ibid.
26. Elizabeth Lechleitner, “Seventh-Day Adventist Church Emerged From Religious Fervor of 19th Century,” Seventh-Day Adventist Church, accessed January 13, 2016, https://www.adventist.org/en/information/history/article/go/0/seventh-day-adventist-church-emerged-from-religious-fervor-of-19th-century/.
27. Ibid.
28. Seventh-Day Adventist Church, “Seventh-Day Adventist World Church Statistics 2014,” accessed January 13, 2016, https://www.adventist.org/en/information/statistics/article/go/0/seventh-day-adventist-world-church-statistics-2014/.
29. Lechleitner, “Seventh-Day Adventist Church Emerged From Religious Fervor of 19th Century.”
30. Cole, “10 Failed Doomsday Predictions.”
31. Encyclopaedia Britannica, s.v. “Montanism,” accessed January 13, 2016, http://www.britannica.com/topic/Montanism.
32. Jim Liang, “5 Things to Know About Montanism,” Transformed (blog), Western Seminary, January 7, 2014, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.westernseminary.edu/transformedblog/2014/01/07/5-things-to-know-about-montanism/.
33. Heiser, discussion.
34. Ibid.
35. Ibid.
CHAPTER 19: WHERE PEOPLE STAND ON THE END TIMES
1. Shibley Telhami, “American Attitudes Toward the Middle East and Israel,” Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, December 3, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Reports/2015/12/04-american-public-opinion-israel-middle-east-telhami/2015-Poll-Key-Findings-Final.pdf?la=en.
2. Pew Research Center, “U.S. Christians’ Views on the Return of Christ,” Pew Research Center, March 26, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.pewforum.org/2013/03/26/us-christians-views-on-the-return-of-christ/.
3. Religion News Service, “Shock Poll: Startling Numbers of Americans Believe World Now in the “End Times,” press release, September 11, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://pressreleases.religionnews.com/2013/09/11/shock-poll-startling-numbers-of-americans-believe-world-now-in-the-end-times/.
4. Ibid.; Billy Hallowell, “Are the Bible’s End Times Prophecies Coming True? Here Are the Stunning Stats Showing What Americans Think,” The Blaze, September 12, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/09/12/shocking-number-of-americans-believe-were-now-living-in-the-end-times-as-described-in-the-bible-poll-finds/.
5. Ibid.
6. LifeWay Research, “Many Americans Link U.S. Military Strike in Syria to End Times,” September 13, 2013, accessed February 5, 2016, http://www.lifewayresearch.com/2013/09/13/many-americans-link-u-s-military-strike-in-syria-to-end-times/.
7. Ibid.
8. Ibid.
9. Shibley Telhami, interview by Billy Hallowell, The Church Boys, The Blaze, audio, December 23, 2015, accessed February 5, 2016, https://soundcloud.com/thechurchboys/ep-50-soi-guess-this-would-be-our-christmas-show-then.
10. Ibid.
11. Ibid.
12. Ibid.
13. Ibid.
14. Telhami, interview by Billy Hallowell; Telhami, “American Attitudes Toward the Middle East and Israel.”
15. Ibid.
16. Ibid.
17. Telhami, “American Attitudes Toward the Middle East and Israel.”
18. Ibid.
19. Ibid.
20. Ibid.
CHAPTER 20: WHERE PROTESTANT PASTORS, PRIESTS, AND MINISTERS STAND ON THE END TIMES
1. This survey, sponsored by Charisma Media, was conducted by LifeWay Research through phone interviews between January 8 and January 22, 2016. One thousand senior pastors, ministers, or priests were randomly selected from a list of all Protestant churches to participate in the survey.
CONCLUSION
1. Heiser, discussion.
2. Ibid.
3. “The Daniel 11 Prophecy: Antiochus to Antichrist,” Joel’s Trumpet, August 1, 2012, accessed February 10, 2016, http://www.joelstrumpet.com/?p=3722.
4. Laurie, discussion.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.