Perspectives in Pentecostal Eschatologies

During the mid-twentieth century Pentecostal theology was co-opted by fundamentalism and its dispensational brand of millennial eschatology. Fundamentalist dispensationalism not only reinterpreted the original Pentecostal vision of the latter-rain outpouring of the Spirit in the last days but undercut its raison d'etre as a people empowered by the Spirit of Pentecost to participate in the kingdom of God. Yet eschatology is much broader than twentieth-century dispensationalism, and Pentecostal eschatology is diverse, reflecting the diversity of Pentecostal and Charismatic spiritualities. There is no one Pentecostal eschatology but many Pentecostal eschatologies. This collection of essays from established scholars and rising stars offers fresh perspectives in eschatology for the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. The fresh readings of eschatology in this volume are valuable because they demonstrate that Pentecostals no longer need to look to others to interpret their theology for them but can stand as scholars and thinkers in their own right. ""Doesn't the otherworldliness of Pentecostalism result in a view of the end times reducible to the doctrine of the rapture of the church? Not according to the biblical scholars, historians, ethicists, and theologians who have contributed to this book. Those who overlook it will be 'left behind' on the breadth and depth of current Pentecostal thinking about eschatology!"" --Amos Yong School of Divinity, Regent University ""This multi-Authored volume offers a comprehensive view of eschatology from a Pentecostal perspective starting with a solid biblical basis, going through various significant and sometimes controversial issues in Pentecostal theology, and concluding with contextual applications. It shows that Pentecostal theology is far from monolithic but nevertheless insightful and attentive to today's societal problems."" --Hans Schwarz University of Regensburg, Germany ""This important collection makes a splendid contribution towards a new understanding of contemporary trends in Pentecostal eschatology. Its different interdisciplinary perspectives make it one of the leading texts on the subject."" --Allan Anderson University of Birmingham, UK Peter Althouse is Assistant Professor of Theology at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He is author of Spirit of the Last Days (2003) and coeditor of Winds from the North (2010). Robby Waddell is Associate Professor of New Testament at Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida. He is author of The Spirit in the Book of Revelation (2006).