Publisher's Synopsis
Stories about the end of the world based on "biblical prophecy" have sold millions of books and influenced conservative politics, but just how biblical are they? Does the Bible warn of a coming thermonuclear war triggered by an attack on Israel by her enemies? Does the New Testament promise born-again Christians that they will be lifted into the air to escape the troubles to come? Does the book of Revelation say that Jesus Christ will kill hundreds of millions of people in a bloodbath at Armageddon to begin God's kingdom on earth? "When Time Ends" places the biblical passages behind popular end-times books in their historical and literary contexts and concludes that the Bible's messages are quite different. Instead of postponing the kingdom of God to the future, voices of prophecy and apocalypse in the Bible encourage Christians to realize the kingdom on earth now through forgiveness, compassion, and reconciliation, persevering in their faith despite the overwhelming injustice and violence that surrounds them. Proceeds from sales of "When Time Ends" are donated by the author to The Fellowship of Reconciliation.
