Contents:

Part One: The Problem of Time

Part One is a survey of different solutions proposed by prominent scholars an attempt to account for an assumed delay or failure of Christ's end-of-the-age Parousia in first century time, as taught and expected by Christ and the early church. It is shown that the "problem of time" is rooted, not in Scripture, but in man's failure to recognize that N.T. eschatology pertained to the consummation of the O.T. aeon - a cross-determined eschaton that extended from the Cross to the A.D. 70 consummation (Mt 24).

1. Pre-Cross Time: The Imminence versus the Remote Future of Last Things
2. Post-Cross Time: The Past, Present and Future of Last Things
3. The Time Problems of Consistent Eschatology
4. C. H. Dodd and Realized Eschatology
5. Cullmann's "Mid-Point" in Redemptive History 6. History and Eschatology in Conflict

Part Two: Dispensational Premillennialism
A Literalizing, Postponing Hermeneutic

The sharp contrast between the postponement hermeneutic of Dispensationalism and the function of the Cross regarding the fulfillment of God's promises to Israel is brought out in Part II. The short period of time between the Cross and Christ's parousia was age-changing time. It had the meaning of fulfillment - not postponement.

1. The Kingdom Postponement Theory
2. Israel's Future in Light of the Cross
3. The Perversion of Christ's Parousia
4. The One Body
5. Jew-Gentile Oneness in Christ
6. The Time Problem in Dispensationalism

Part Three: The Millenium in Revelation 20

A positive exegesis is made of the Millennium within the framework of Christ's age-changing reign from the Cross to the A ;D. 70 consummation of the Jewish earthly commonwealth. This first century setting for the Millennium accents the weaknesses and the wide range of radical difference of Pre- and Amillenarianism.

1. The Time Frame of the Millennium
2. The Reign of the Saints
3. The Binding of Satan
4. The Loosing of Satan
5. The First Resurrection
6. The Passing of Heaven and Earth

Part Four: Amillennialism
An End Time Dichotomizing Hermeneutic

Attention is given to the non-millenarian practice of dividing the ONE cross-determined eschaton into two eschatons separated by centuries of time, to the effect that Christ's Cross and Parousia become counteractive rather than coactive in their age-changing function.

1. Israel's Future in Romans 9-11
2. The Seventieth Week of Daniel
3. The Olivet Discourse

Part Five: The Resurrection of the Dead

Section I - The Imminency of the Resurrection

The imminency of the resurrection of the dead in apostolic time is shown to be anchored in the decisive resurrection of Christ - the firstborn from the dead. This Cross-determined resurrection from sin-death was tied to the coming of the kingdom of God at the consummation of the old aeon of sin and death.

1. Resurrection and the Cross
2. Resurrection and "The Age to Come"
3. Resurrection and the Eschatological Spirit
4. Resurrection and the Kingdom of God
5. Resurrection and the Hope of Israel

Section II - Bodily Resurrection in 1 Cor. I5

An extensive study (over 300 pages) is made of bodily resurrection, in which it is shown that an assumed spiritual resurrection in Romans 6-8 versus an assumed physical resurrection in 1 Cor. 15 is foreign to the thinking of Paul. The futuristic dimension of the resurrection in Romans 6-8 is in complete agreement with bodily resurrection defended by Paul in 1 Cor. 15. The author shows that the two dimensions of resurrection peculiar to the Gospel's covenantal transition period (the already but not yet) pertained to the one Cross-determined resurrection of which Christ was the Firstfruit.

1. (Verses 1-11) The Common Ground of Resurrection Faith
2. (Verses 12-19) If the Dead Rise Not
3. (Verses 20-28) Christ's Pre-Parousia Consummating Reign
4. (Verses 29-34) The Solidarity of the Living and the Dead
5. (Verses 35-44) The Resurrection of the Body
6. (Verses 45-49) The Earthly versus the Heavenly Man
7. (Verses 50-58) The Defeat of Death

Part Six: The Significance of Realized Eschatology

Some concluding observations are made on the present fulness of life in Christ in terms of the everlasting New Covenant, and from this perspective the author shows the relevancy of the gospel in today's world in light of its fulfilled eschatology. The concept that the unique eschatological existence or consciousness of the early church must be duplicated in every generation runs counter to God's completed work in Christ. A fulfilled hope is not a destroyed hope.

1. Realized Eschatology and the Christian Age
2. Realized Eschatology and the Parousia of Christ
3. Realized Eschatology and Baptism
4. Realized Eschatology and the Lord's Supper
5. The Relevancy of the Everlasting Gospel in Light of Realized Eschatology
6. Realized Eschatology and Confidence in God's Word
7. Some Pertinent Questions Concerning Fulfilled Eschatology