Beyond the End Times: The Rest Of...the Greatest Story Ever Told

Wow, this book really made me think! I have always held a futuristic belief in bible prophecy. For those new to eschatology, the futurists believe that the major bible prophecies concerning Christ's return, the resurrection, new heaven and earth, and the eternal judgement of all will be in the future--sometime after the rapture and Great Tribulation. Full preterists believe that all of these were fulfilled in 70 AD when the temple and city of Jerusalem were destroyed. Partial preterists believe some of these things were fufilled back then and the rest will be in the future. Noe is a full preterist--and he really got me thinking. I still don't believe that the 2nd coming, resurrection, and judgement were fufilled in AD 70, but I am really starting to think upon the possibility that the Great Tribulation was in the past and that the rapture is actually the future second coming of Christ. In other words, I am leaning towards partial preterism as a result of this book. Noe admits that he is not a bible "scholar", but he still makes a very compelling argument for most of the book, enough to get one seriously looking at Scripture and rethinking some of the "last days" doctrine that is so popular now. Noe has researched most his book well and presents it in a very easy to follow, believable fashion. I heartily recommend this book as fuel for thought.

I have studied the end times off and on now for almost 3 years. It started with a study on Revelation at my church. I read my bible more than ever while studying Revelation because in order to understand Rev., you simply have to! During my own personal study, something about the "Left Behind" theory just didn't seem to fit scripturally, even though I was raised to believe it. I delved deeper in scripture and read books on different end times "theories" and beliefs. I kept comparing scripture to scripture and would come up with contradictions with my old beliefs. I prayed that God would lead me to the truth. This view point (preterist) makes more logical sense and is more in line with the scriptures than anything else I have read. In the last chapter of Revelation Jesus told John 3 times "I am coming soon". Jesus himself told his disciples that all "this" (Matt 24) would be fulfilled during "this generation". Many have tried to spiritualize that statement, yet make others literal. Since there are so many instances where the disciples and Jesus said that the time was "soon" it makes perfect sense to take these "time stamps" literal.In Chapter 21 the New Jerusalem is described: "the old order of things is passed away", "I am making everything new", we get to drink from the "spring of the water of life", there is no longer any sea (no separation from God),"now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them". I believe most Christians would believe that the old order of things has already passed away and that we are already drinking from the water of life,we do not have a separation from God and that He dwells with us NOW. The New Jerusalem is present! We don't have to wait...we are living it as Christians. Yes, He also said there would be no tears/pain, but pain can also mean anguish and He was talking to believers THEN. Their anguish and tears were wiped away by the Holy Spirit.Also, while Daniel was told to "close up" his prophesies concerning end times, John was told NOT to seal his up because "the time is near". Daniel's prophies came totally true to the days he layed out if you believe the preterist view.I have found this view to be lacking in the inconsistencies that the other views seem to have. I have also found this view point reminds me of the tremendous gift (the Holy Spirit) that I have as a believer and the power He can give. I need to live my life for Christ now and make a difference for him now and not wait to be lifted out and hoping for an escape.I would highly recommend this book to every Christian believer who has studied and feels that the scripture isn't "matching up" to what they currently believe. This book lines up scripture and compares scripture to scripture so that you can see the Bible is a book of truth and common sense.

Response to the reader below:Clearly, the reader below hasn't read the book. He fails to realize that in 1 Peter 1:20 tells us clearly that Peter himself believed he was living in the 'last time'. Additionally, even the author of Hebrews believes he was living in 'last days' (Hebrews 1:2). Even John believed it was the 'last hour' (1 John 2:18). Furthermore, John 16:13 tells us that the Holy Spirit would guide the disciples in all truth. Now if they weren't living the end times, then we know something interesting: The Bible made a HUGE mistake. What do I mean? This means that Christians are totally deceived of their beliefs, since Jesus didn't come within the disciples generation (Matthew 24:34), and so salvation isn't available to anyone since Christ was to appear a 2nd time to bring salvation (Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 1:5). Therefore we can conclude a few things: 1) Jesus Christ was not God, because His prophecies didn't come true 2) Redemption is still unfinished today (1 Peter 1:5, Hebrews 9:28) 3) The disciples were wrong about when Jesus would come (1 Peter 4:7, 1 John 2:18) 4) THEREFORE, The Bible is fallible for the simple reason that the parousia of Christ never took place as the New Testament expectedAs a result, we have many harsh skeptics/liberals that are tearing apart Christianity to the point where Jesus is considered a lunatic. Thus, to believe in a future 2nd coming implies that all who believe in it are COMPLETELY deceived. In fact Christianity is a false religion and cannot be trusted with these kinds of inconsistencies-these are the harsh claims of non-Christians. As much as I once longed for a future coming of Christ, I realize how it cannot stand up to scrutiny. The ONLY solution to Jesus having been expected by his disciples to come in their own time is to accept the fact that He came just as he did.The biggest issue isn't about the sun, moon, stars, heaven/earth passing away, and all other 'not so easy' to understand things, but rather Jesus came or he didn't. If he didn't, then something's wrong, cuz his disciples must've been insane (yet we know the Holy Spirit came in Acts 2:4) and apparently it guided them in all truth (John 16:13).As for the passing of the heaven and earth, this page explains the reader's objection with a correct hermeneutical understanding:http://www.preteristarchive.com/Preterism/curtis-david_p_05.htmlI'm sure you're probably reading this and asking yourself, "If this is true, then where's my hope?" Unfortunately those who long for a future coming Christ are hoping to be raptured away from this world, as if this world will be utterly obliterated. Is this true? Eclessiastes 1:4, Psalm 78:69, Psalm 104:5, Psalm 89:36-37 and many other passages all confirm an unending world with Christ reigning on earth. Is the rapture really the blessed hope? I think this page gives a great understanding of the blessed hope:http://notdeceived.net/blessed_hope.htmSadly, the reader below (who says,

John did a wonderful job explaining how the "time of the end" was marked by the extinction of the temple worship and animal sacrifices. He also used applicable Bible references to support his position. This book really made me sit back and think about the personal ministry of Jesus Christ. More people need to do that :)

Modern day prophecy prognosticators have declared that the end is upon us and that the return of Jesus is near. Because of their faulty futurist paradigm it has lead to many embarrasing predictions and failed calculations regarding the rapture theory, the antichrist and so on. Though it makes for some great science fiction and monumental book marketing stratagem, the true Berean will mine the scriptures and test all things. Such is the case with Mr. Noe's book 'Beyond the End Times'. As a conservative evangelical scholar he brings back a reformist view with much added new light into the study of eschatology.The book is very easy to read while digging deep into the scriptures. He brings understanding to many prophetic themes such as the end of the age, the return of Christ, Daniel's 70 weeks and much more. By searching the original languages, the historical setting, and bringing the reader to an understanding of 1st Century thought, he brings clear and convincing proof of the past fulfillment of prophecy. This book will silence the skeptics, awaken the sleeping christian and arm the body of christ to get off it's duff and quit waiting for the giant ejector button in the sky to rocket them skyward.It's this kind of escapist theology that has caused the impotence of the church in our day. 'Beyond the End times' comes to grips with where we are at right now and the responsibility to put our hand to the plow instead of keeping our head in the sand.It forthrightly deals with many passages of scriptures that the church has shied away from for many years. The basis of the book is the Olivet discourse.Have you ever wondered about this passage in scripture? After Jesus goes into detail about the tribulation He says this,"Truly I say to YOU(that's the people that he was talking to back then, since we hadn't been born yet), THIS generation (not the next one or the next one or the one after that and so on...)will NOT (and I think no means no)pass away until ALL these things(that's everything Jesus just talked about from Mat.24:2-33)take place. This message was so clear that their is not one single new testament writer who does not convey this to the early church as that hope and promise of Christ's return taking place in their lifetime. This book will challenge your thinking and reform your doctrinal premise. Though it strikes at the heart of so much ingrained futurist teaching it does so with integrity,hermenuetical skill and clarity. If you want to be enriched and your faith to grow this book is for you. Otherwise, you can always feed your mind with the latest christian fiction and pretend that your getting a good dose of sound theology.But you will NEVER know the glory and wonder of Christ's return as found through sound biblical exegesis and expounded so brilliantly in 'Beyond the End Times'.