A Second Look at the Second Coming is a balanced, well-researched treatment of the end times, interpreted from the Christian East by faithful Orthodox saints, martyrs, and Spirit-filled fathers of the faith. Historic Christian teaching on the rapture, the millennium, the state of Israel, and the role of the church in the last days is something quite different from what is commonly taught in today’s evangelicalism.
“For many ‘born-again’ fundamentalists, belief in Christ is intimately linked with belief in the state of Israel. An ardent support of Israel, regardless of Israeli state policy, is often used as a litmus test for a true Christian. Criticism of Israel is interpreted by the ‘born-again’ fundamentalist as evidence of an allegiance to Satan’s camp, of a complicity in the New World Order and the coming system of Antichrist, and of a lust for the great whore of Babylon.” (Page 9)
“In 1 Kings 4:25 and Micah 4:4, the fig tree is not a symbol of Israel, but of prosperity. In fact, there is only one place in the Bible where the fig tree clearly does represent Israel, Luke 13:6–9.24 Here Jesus states that if the tree doesn’t bear fruit then it should be cut down—which is precisely what happened to Israel in A.D. 70. We might also point out that nowhere in this passage in Luke is there a suggestion that Israel would be restored again as a nation.” (Page 28)
“For instance, today’s popular belief that Christ will establish a thousand-year ‘millennial’ kingdom on earth at His return is hopelessly irreconcilable with the Nicene Creed’s plain assertion that Christ’s Kingdom will have ‘no end.’” (Page 12)
“True doctrine must have the marks of being: (1) the universal teaching of the Church; (2) the consistent teaching of the Church since antiquity; and (3) the teaching held by the consensus of the Church.” (Page 47)
“The Church didn’t ‘replace’ Israel; the Church is and has always been the continuation of Israel.” (Page 90)