Why did Islamic terror and the clergy sex abuse scandal take Christians by surprise? Because 100 years ago many churches tossed aside the 'historicism' of their founders. A new book by David A. Reed documents how the great preachers of the 1500s-1800s saw radical Islam and the Vatican as fulfilling prophecies about a 'man of sin, ' an 'antichrist, ' a 'beast' and a 'fierce ruler' who would imperil Christians and Jews. Instead, many churches now embrace 'dispensationalism'--a politically correct view that relocates these end-times villains to a future seven-year Tribulation, after believers are safely raptured to heaven. Or, 'preterism'--another politically correct view, that pushes the same villains back into the First Century. Reed's book quotes their sermons where the apocalyptic villains are neither ancient history nor a far-off future threat, but a clear and present danger. Back in 1520 Luther wrote to Pope Leo X that "the Church of Rome...has become the most lawless den of thieves, the most shameless of all brothels." Would Luther be surprised by the clergy sex abuse scandal uncovered by the Boston Globe's Spotlight team? To the Reformers, Islam was not a 'great world religion of peace, ' but rather a hostile kingdom set up in opposition to Christ, and foretold in Scripture. Radical Islam's role in the Holocaust--as uncovered recently by secular researchers--falls into place when the historicists' approach to prophecy is extended to our day, which is what NeoHistoricism does. NEOHISTORICISM is historicism brought up to date -- applying their methods to modern events. DAVID A REED served for a decade as a contributing editor of Dr. Walter Martin's "Christian Research Journal." He taught in 1997 and 2015 at the annual School of Theology at Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. His first book on biblical apologetics, published in 1986 by Baker Book House, sold more than 1/4-million copies in several languages. Since then he has authored twenty books on apologetics and Bible prophecy.
About the Author: DAVID A. REED served for a decade as a contributing editor of Dr. Walter Martin's CHRISTIAN RESEARCH JOURNAL. He taught in 1997 and 2015 at the annual School of Theology at Spurgeon's Metropolitan Tabernacle in London. His first book on biblical apologetics, published in 1986 by Baker Book House, sold more than 1/4-million copies in several languages. Since then he has authored twenty books on apologetics and Bible prophecy.