Armageddon

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A copy of this book is available at the Denison Public Library

236.9 EHRMAN

 

 

 

 

Armageddon: What the Bible Really Says About the End by Bart D. Ehrman

 

There are many different views about the Bible and  what it says about the end of the world. The most common viewpoint these days is that the book of Revelation, as well as numerous other verses scattered throughout the book, say that a judgement is forthcoming. Often the proponents of this viewpoint say it is basically "just around the corner". This is the prominent viewpoint by evangelical Christians, most familiar to many through a recent series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins.

Ehrman addresses these viewpoints with a critical eye, and explains that, through an objective reading of these scriptures, that the prevailing viewpoint has some points that need addressing.  First he takes the reader on a overview of the content in the book of Revelation. Then over the course of the book he addresses how the book itself was viewed down through history.  

One of the points he makes is that the current viewpoint only came into existence about 150 years ago. Prior to that many Christians had a different viewpoint of what the book contained, whether it was viewed at all. In the beginning, when the book was first compiled, for instance, there was even a debate as whether it qualified to be included in the official Bible at all.

Over the course of the book Ehrman points out some of the failed interpretations of the contents.  See, when people started to believe that the book predicted a forthcoming apocalypse, as opposed to it being just a symbolic representation of the ongoing battle between good and evil, some people tried to calculate when the "end of the world" was coming. 

There have been many.  And when the proponents of specific times put forth their predictions, all of them have failed to be correct.  Such people like Hal Lindsey, famed author of The Late Great Planet Earth (in which he predicted the end to come sometime in the 80's), have put forth their predictions in print. These viewpoints became popular and, on occasion, proved to be disastrous.  Some believers sold all their worldly possessions believing that the end was nigh. And the well-known events surrounding David Koresh and the Branch Davidians even resulted in mass deaths.

Ehrman's viewpoints of course are bound to be controversial, especially with adherents of the ongoing and imminent end that evangelicals hold. But his ideas can give pause to those with an open mind willing to look objectively at his arguments. His main point that I found worth considering is that the Bible should be read as a complete book, rather than the pick and choose references to individual verses that those evangelicals use to validate their viewpoints. He also makes note of the various interpretations that some use to translate such things as saying that "days" in some of the prophetic verses mean "years".

While the book may not change your already established worldview of the coming future, I think it could give way some serious contemplation of possibilities.  Dispute or accept them as you will.

 

Until next time, happy browsing.

Quiggy

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