This is an important book with crucial things to say on the vital topic of overcoming in Jesus.

Setting the scene

In particular it presents a clear case for declining the popular belief in a pre-tribulation rapture in favour of being ready to face whatever may come upon the earth in the final days before Christ’s return.

The issue the authors debate is not whether we would prefer to escape tribulation but whether the Bible actually teaches such an escape; and if not, how we should live. Such readiness is important for any kind of suffering we may face.

The aim of the book has many facets. It is “meant to educate and encourage, to inform and inspire”, and perhaps most strikingly, to help us “resist a fear-based theology that would try to scare anyone with tales of the coming Antichrist” (p.15).

It is debatable whether, in general, joint authorship works well, but in this case it definitely does. The two authors dovetail well together but also complement each other. They start from different backgrounds but ultimately draw the same conclusions. Both relate how they had to be set free from simply believing what they were taught in their early days as Christians, and share their search for truth once they realised the Bible did not always say what they had been taught. Putting biblical texts in context is an essential part of their book.

The Left Behind series

Part 1 centres on questions raised by the Left Behind series of novels by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. Here, Brown and Keener search for any biblical justification for such writings. They show how certain theological positions and systems arose, and the reasons behind them. The authors share their journeys away from such views, which were strongly proposed to them as the only ones.

Both authors relate how they had to be set free from simply believing what they were taught in their early days as Christians, and share their search for truth once they realised the Bible did not always say what they had been taught.

One chapter contains an historical survey of views concerning such rapture positions, including why Left Behind was a ‘novel’ idea in more ways than one. There is also a good résumé of the views of J. N. Darby and dispensationalism. The question here is, should we dispense with dispensationalism, at least as it was originally proposed and is still often promoted?
This part of the book also includes a discussion of millennial views without which the rapture is an isolated event, lacking a key part of its context.

Looking at the Scriptures

Part 2 evaluates pre-tribulation arguments and post-tribulation passages, asking, ‘What does the Bible actually say?’ Starting with the Old Testament, the authors display their desire to be thorough, and that they are looking for principles rather than just proof texts, generally a good approach to take.

Brown and Keener also demonstrate how we have complicated matters by our various theologies, often creating dilemmas and asking questions which the Bible doesn’t consider, but which we still expect it to answer.

Part of this section contains a helpful explanation of the use of certain words within the New Testament. Brown and Keener also demonstrate how we have complicated matters by our various theologies, often creating dilemmas and asking questions which the Bible doesn’t consider, but which we still expect it to answer. This has only added to the confusion.
In short, the authors are prepared to put everything under the spotlight of Scripture, including views on such topics as God’s wrath, the ‘thief in the night’, the ‘any moment now’ proposal and, of course, the Antichrist.

Practical implications

Part 3 discusses the implications for us today. What actually is the tribulation? What do we mean by ‘the last days’? How can we be an overcomer in what is to come rather than simply hoping for a swift exit? Brown and Keener assert that we can live without fear in the light of a coming tribulation and be more than conquerors in such circumstances. Indeed, this is both pleasing to God and a great witness to others. Being strong in the Lord can replace a defeatist mentality.

The final chapter has more to say on suffering, perseverance, enduring and maintaining ‘Hope Beyond Tribulation’, which is the chapter’s title. There is also an important cautionary message towards the end of the book. “Sometimes when people discover what they think is a biblical truth, they promote it in a divisive way, as if it makes them better than others who have not discovered this insight” (p.200). The authors add that they do not want readers of this book to take this attitude in any way.

The authors are successful in explaining why fear should be replaced not by an escapist theology based on little, if any, biblical evidence, but by real trust in a God who can look after his people in every circumstance. There is no reason to be afraid at all!

No need for fear

Although this is not an academic work it does contain plenty of scholarly attention to detail based on years of intensive study of biblical texts in their original languages. Moreover, the authors humbly invite other scholars to “dissect our arguments to see if what we are saying is accurate” (p.15).

Their main motivation is that some “are terrified by the prospect of enduring the Tribulation. . . while still others remain confused as to exactly what the Bible says” (p.47). The authors are successful in explaining why fear should be replaced not by an escapist theology based on little, if any, biblical evidence, but by real trust in a God who can look after his people in every circumstance. There is no reason to be afraid at all!

‘Not Afraid of the Antichrist’ (236pp) is published by Chosen Books and is available from Blackwell's for the offer-price of £8.99 (inc p&p), or £4.74 on Amazon Kindle