Something unexpected

Here's something unexpected: The website "Omnilexica" ("for all your dictionary needs!") lists my book, Biblical Eschatology, under its category "Printed dictionaries and other books with definitions for [the word] COME," and then quotes from the book, as follows:

Biblical Eschatology (2013)
by Jonathan Menn
"Thus, the age to come is the reign of Christ; the reign of Christ has already begun (Acts 2:29–36; Eph. 1:21)."

The complete entry may be found here: http://www.omnilexica.com/?q=come

The New Jerusalem

Last Sunday I preached on Rev 21:1-22:5 concerning the new heaven and new earth, i.e., "the new Jerusalem." Although we all tend to wonder about what eternity will be like, an interesting thing I discovered in preparing that message is that the Bible tends not to answer the questions regarding eternity that most of us ask and is not explicit or clear about most of the things that we are interested in. Nevertheless, in apocalyptic, symbolic language, Rev 21:1-22:5 makes clear that if we are faithful to Christ in this life, we are guaranteed an everlasting existence fantastic beyond our imagination.

Both the audio and PDF of that and other sermons are available for free on the "sermons" page of the ECLEA website: http://www.eclea.net/sermons.html

ECLEA's impact outside of East Africa

I recently received an email from George Okuta, one of ECLEA's Kenya regional coordinators. he mentioned that he had been teaching some of ECLEA's material in both South Africa and Zambia. Here is a portion of what he said:

"I have shared with even Muslims here about leadership (1 Timothy). Everything is OK. Thanks for inspiring me and the ministry. I am not the same. I am now going to schedule myself for Zambia and other parts for this ministry. The reception about the teaching in south Africa was good."

This is the very thing ECLEA stands for: equipping the church leaders of East Africa so that they can then teach and equip others, both in East Africa and beyond. Thank you for your faithfulness Rev. George.

The Great Cosmic Drama

Last week I preached on Rev 12:1-17. The message was entitled "The Great Cosmic Drama." Revelation 12 gives the grand sweep of church history. It tells us that we are central players in a vast cosmic drama that includes both supernatural and human beings, heaven and earth. It tells us not only what is happening to God's people, but why. 

Both the audio and written sermon are available on the "sermons" page of the ECLEA website: http://www.eclea.net/sermons.html

Biblical Eschatology book listed in cyclopaedia.net article

My book, Biblical Eschatology, is listed as one of the source books on the term "inaugurated eschatology" in the cyclopaedia.net article entitled "Inaugurated eschatology." Here is the link: http://www.cyclopaedia.info/wiki/Inaugurated-eschatology

Biblical Eschatology quoted in "Coalbiters" blog

On June 23, Jeffrey Thompson's blog, "Coalbiters" (musings on theology and scripture), quoted from my book, Biblical Eschatology, regarding the key issues and terms pertaining to eschatology. Here is the link: http://cslewisandcoalbiters.blogspot.com/2014/06/gcli-and-eschatology.html

Wipf & Stock Eschatology Collection

If you use Logos Bible Software and are interested in eschatology, check out the Wipf & Stock Eschatology Collection, which pairs my book, Biblical Eschatology, with Phillip J. Long's Jesus the Bridegroom! https://www.logos.com/product/43420/wipf-and-stock-eschatology-collection

The difference of ECLEA

I recently returned from three weeks in Tanzania and Kenya where I was teaching East African church leaders with Equipping Church Leaders-East Africa (ECLEA).

 While there, I included the following as part of my report from the field:

I have been in Tanzania for over a week. One Tanzanian church leader told me that several Western missions come to Tanzania, but ECLEA is the only one he knows that actually gives responsibility to the Tanzanians instead of having the Westerners do all the teaching. I am happy to hear that that others see that ECLEA is serious about its name (we actually equip church leaders of East Africa and prove that by making sure that they teach), but am also sad that that is relatively rare.

I received the following reply from Bishop Barnabas Mpekethi of Kenya:

Barnabas Mpekethi

Praise Jesus brother Jonathan. What you doing in our region (E.A.) no man can really pay you or do any compensation of your devotion. It's true guys from western countries come, do their business, and teach false doctrines. I thank God because ECLEA has added value to our thinking, challenged the false elements in me, and also many African ministers of the gospel.

To be sincere, we have been preaching total rubbish and illiteracy to our people. But now, though far we were before you came to us, now we have the clue and the goal of our preaching and teachings. You are a gift to us and the African Church. Your hard labour will be rewarded by God Almighty.
How you leave your family now and then, visiting people and places you don't even know and how you cope with them is also a total risk to your life. I promise to emulate you because you are a good example.

God bless you and see you through.
Bsp Barnabas
RPC CHURCHES-KENYA

Please note: I do not say any of this to show "what a good boy am I." I'm not. I know myself too well. Also, I have been working in East Africa for several years now, so I do know many of the places and people, and there really is little risk to my life. I say this, rather, to emphasize that we in the West have an opportunity to make a difference in a vital and strategic part of the world. I tell my East African friends, "You can teach better than I can, because you know the language, you know the culture, and you can relate biblical truths to fellow East Africans in ways that resonate with them."

The people I work with through ECLEA are as smart, dedicated, and sincere (or more so) than anyone I know in the West, and they work under generally more unfavorable conditions than we do. They simply need to be equipped with the resources and tools which many of them now lack and empowered to do the job themselves, rather than Westerners doing everything for them. That is why ECLEA exists. Through working together, by God's grace we will see transformation occur.

A definite need for studying end times

I just returned from East Africa. While I was away, someone whom I do not know posted a 5-star review of my book, Biblical Eschatology, on Amazon. The review bore the above title and is as follows:

A definite need for studying end times., June 21, 2014

By 

Clff - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Biblical Eschatology: (Paperback)

With a strong emphasis on good hermeneutics Jonathan Menn presents an excellent study of eschatology. This is a very scholarly study that helps the student understand Revelation 20 in particular. Mr. Menn admits to holding the amillennial position. This is one of three books I recommend for serious students of end times.

 

For all reviews of the book on Amazon, please go here:  http://www.amazon.com/Biblical-Eschatology-Jonathan-Menn/product-reviews/1620325799/ref=cm_cr_dp_see_all_summary/182-3816635-7206410?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&sortBy=byRankDescending