Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 117:466 (Apr 1960)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

---

BSac 117:466 (Apr 60) p. 172

Book Reviews

The Apocalypse Today. By Thomas F. Torrance. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, 1959. 155 pp. $3.00.

This series of expository sermons by the professor of Christian dogmatics in the University of Edinburgh attempts to explain the book of Revelation in terms a layman can understand. In general the amillennial interpretation and contemporary historical fulfillment of the prophesies of Revelation are followed in keeping with the title of the book. In a word, the main burden of the book of Revelation is presented as being fulfilled in the church today in its struggles, prosecutions, failures, and triumphs. The millennium of chapter twenty “is the vision of the silver lining behind history” (p. 136). He continues: “The convulsions at both ends of the thousand years emphasize dramatically the fact that the Kingdom is in the midst of the world here and now, throwing the world into a vast crisis beginning with Calvary and culminating at Armageddon. Throughout it is the power of the resurrection that really rules, for Christ is even now King of kings and Lord of lords” (p. 136). This is essentially the Augustinian view that Revelation twenty is a recapitulation of the struggles of the church featured in the earlier chapters. He conceives of chapter twenty-one and twenty-two as in some sense contemporary but more so eschatologically future.

Though the interpretation will be found quite unacceptable to premillenarians, there is much that makes this book worth-while. The author’s style is lucid and understandable and is one of the best simple presentations of the amillennial interpretation of the book of Revelation to appear in some time. Further, it is significant that this Scottish scholar openly expresses confidence that John the Apostle wrote the book of Revelation. Many of his interpretations are remarkably similar to premillennialism such as his identification of the rider on the white horse in Revelation 6 as Antichrist and the woman of chapter twelve as Israel. A high reverence for the person and work of Christ is observed. The style is devotional and inspirational rather than theological or controversial. Students of all branches of theology will find this volume worth reading.

J. F. Walvoord

The Christ Of The Earliest Christians. By William M. Ramsay. John Knox Press, Richmond, 1959. 163 pp. $3.00

As stated by James S. Stewart in the foreword, the supreme question in theology is: “What think ye of Christ?” (p. 9). The author attempts an answer to the question based on his research in his academic dissertation for the doctor’s

BSac 117:466 (Apr 60) p. 173

deg...

visitor : : uid: ()