There is scarcely a more passionately debated topic within Christianity than Eschatology (the study of future events). John MacArthur admits this in his book The Second Coming: Signs of Christ’s Return and the End of the Age. MacArthur comes across as one who is convinced of the value of what he has to say but is nonetheless irritated by the persistent irrelevant chatter that too often surrounds the topic. As a result he does expose the folly of the half-baked future snoopers who are consumed with making the UN the one world religion as they sit in their lawn chairs waiting for the rapture.
In addition, MacArthur takes aim at preterism, the view that the prophecies of Matthew 24 were all fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. He also distinguishes between partial preterism and hyper preterism. The main difference between the two here is the denial of a bodily future return of Christ and a literal bodily resurrection of the dead (this is denied by hyper preterists not partial preterists).
The book is not an active assault on preterism (of any form) however, it is a passive engagement of these systems through a promotion of a literal premillennial return of Jesus Christ.
The book is in large part an expositional teaching through Matthew 24-25, also referred to as the Olivet Discourse. Along the way MacArthur maintains three helpful features that make this book a helpful and worthwhile read:
-1- Clear: MacArthur has come to be known as the guy who can take a complex passage or concept and easily explain it. You cannot help but understand the Second Coming better after reading this book.
-2- Consistent Hermeneutic: the book is also a study in hermeneutics. The author regularly pulls you aside to confirm why he concludes what he concludes. Over and over again he says things like, “if the simple sense makes the most sense seek no other sense.” For example in discussing the oft debated passage of Matthew 24.34 referring to “this generation” MacArthur interacts with the Preterist view that this generation was those whom Jesus was speaking to:
“But if verse 34 is to be understood with such wooden literalness, the rest of the Olivet Discourse must be spiritualized to otherwise interpreted figuratively in order to explain how Christ’s prophecies could all have been fulfilled by A.D. 70 without His returning bodily to earth” (p.80).
-3- Ethical Eschatology: Too often people (particularly futurists) get so caught up in charts and graphs that the real issue gets lost. The reality of the Second Coming is that it should radically change the way we live now. The author regularly revisits this need. In good homiletical fashion MacArthur finds regular application necessary in this book. The final chapter is even a concise call to be ready, How to Prepare for Christ’s Return.
As is the case with MacArthur’s preaching this book is an edifying tool. The reading level is not difficult even considering the subject. I would recommend it both to folks who want to get there feet wet studying eschatology as well as a tool for those who are seeking answers to intermediate level questions. To this end the glossary at the end most certainly will prove helpful.
You may buy this book on Amazon.