In “Yes, people are unconscious at death (part 3)” Jefferson Vann reacts to an article by Don Stewart which affirms that the dead are conscious during the intermediate state. This is the third part of my reaction to Don Stewart’s “Are People Unconscious at Death? (Soul Sleep).” Here is a link to the article in … [Read more...]
Book Review
Articles in this category reflect on a subject as treated by another published work. That work may be a book, an article in a periodical, or an online post. While most reviews will be of current material, some may focus on a work of historical importance.
Generally, reviews state the implied purpose of the work, evaluate the work as to whether it does or does not accomplish its purpose, and provide evidential references within the work to justify this evaluation.
Yes, people are unconscious at death (part 2)
In “Yes, people are unconscious at death (part 2)” Jefferson Vann reacts to an article by Don Stewart which affirms that the dead are conscious during the intermediate state. This is the second part of my reaction to Don Stewart’s “Are People Unconscious at Death? (Soul Sleep).” The article is part of a resource that is tied to the Blue Letter Bible, an online Bible Study … [Read more...]
Yes, people are unconscious at death (part 1)
In “Yes, people are unconscious at death (part 1)” Jefferson Vann reacts to an article by Don Stewart which affirms that the dead are conscious during the intermediate state. The Blue Letter Bible is one of a number of good, practical, free online resources for Bible study. A friend introduced me to that resource a few years ago, and I use it occasionally. I particularly … [Read more...]
Reformed Eschatology 101
BOOK REVIEW: As You See the Day Approaching: Reformed Perspectives on the Last Things by Van Raalte (Wipf & Stock, Eugene Oregon, 2016) Introduction This slim volume (169pp) is a fascinating anthology of papers about Reformed eschatology from the 2015 conference of the ‘Canadian Reformed Theological Seminary’ – a kind of ‘Reformed Eschatology 101’. Publication quality is … [Read more...]
BOOK REVIEW: ‘Firebrand for Hell Fizzles Out’
Hell: An Exhaustive Look at a Burning Issue (WestBow Press, Bloomington Indiana, 2012) by Eldon Woodcock This massive 640-page tome by the late Eldon Woodcock deserves the attention of anyone interested in the topic of eternal conscious torment (hereafter ECT) versus Conditional Immortality (hereafter CI). Woodcock’s elaborate, densely packed work contains 24 chapters, each … [Read more...]
The Interpretation of the Concept ‘Hades’ Described in Luke 16:19-31
BOOK REVIEW: The Interpretation of the Concept ‘Hades’ Described in Luke 16:19-31 – The Rich Man and Lazarus in the Light of the Historical-Grammatical Method (Verlag Dr Müller, Saarbrücken 2011) by Alfredo Jr. Agustin The Lukan parable of the Rich Man (sometimes aka ‘Dives’) and Lazarus is surely one of the foremost NT passages cited by dualists and defenders of eternal … [Read more...]
reading Sweet on Annihilationism
In “reading Sweet on Annihilationism” Jefferson Vann reacts to a paper rejecting that view. John C. Sweet describes himself as "an evangelical pastor" (2) and a student at Liberty University, and has recently submitted a paper comparing the theological view of hell with that which he labels "the annihilationist view." He refers to his view as "eternal torment" which he says … [Read more...]
Daring to Differ: Adventures in Conditional Immortality
BOOK REVIEW: Daring to Differ: Adventures in Conditional Immortality by Sidney Hatch ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sidney Hatch is a graduate of UCLA, California Baptist Seminary, and Dallas Theological Seminary. During World War II he served as a sergeant in the 86th Infantry Division which saw action in both the Philippines and Europe. After war Hatch proceeded to work in ministry in … [Read more...]
Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife
BOOK REVIEW: Heaven and Hell: A History of the Afterlife by Bart D. Ehrman About the Author: Bart D. Ehrman is the author or editor of over thirty books. He is a Professor of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Among Ehrman’s books are New York Times bestsellers Misquoting Jesus, How Jesus became God and The Triumph of Christianity. Heaven … [Read more...]
An Amateurish Plea for Soul Immortality
BOOK REVIEW: Life After Death in Christianity and African Traditional Religion: A Ruse or a Reality? (Lambert Academic Publishing, Erfurt 2019) by Mercy Chukwuedo Mercy Chukwuedo has recently published a few articles on afterlife issues, one of which inspired me to take issue with some of its more questionable claims. I then e-mailed her my short critique, but rather … [Read more...]