In this episode we interview Dalton Thomas, director of Frontier Alliance International (FAI). Having pioneered multiple ministries in the Middle East for the last decade, he shares with us his journey and some of the highs and lows associated with it. Dalton shares our conviction about the centrality of eschatology to the Gospel, and he is deeply motivated by the crucified Jewish Messiah, his return, and his inheritance among the Gentiles.

To connect with FAI, download their app or visit https://www.faimission.org.

In this episode we interview our dear friend David Gordon, pastor of People’s Church in Burlington, North Carolina.  David has been in full-time ministry for over 30 years and shares some of the experiences, challenges, and successes that have accompanied his journey in the Jewish apocalyptic framework for the Gospel.  Pastor David gives us practical insights into gaining clarity, confidence, and courage as we seek to be faithful witnesses to Jesus the Messiah.

In this special episode, John, Bill, and Josh discuss a pet project of theirs: the Nag Hammadi Library.  As we prepare for season 2 of our podcast, join us for this profound episode as we express the depths of revelation and keep the kingdom from withering within us. 

In this episode, we discuss practical points on how disciples live out and proclaim the gospel (as a first century Jew would have understood it) in light of the coming Kingdom of God, the resurrection of the dead, and the Day of the Lord.  As we conclude season 1 of our podcast, we wanted to take an entire episode to discuss how the theological content of our first 30 episodes plays out in the life of the messenger, how it affects the proclamation of the message, and how it should impact the community around them.

In this episode we address the subject of chiliasm, popularly known as millennialism. Though there are few references in the Scriptures outside of Revelation 20 to "a thousand years", chiliasm is seen in various Jewish apocalyptic texts. This created fertile ground for chiliasm to take root in the early church after the Revelation given to the apostle John. Though chiliasm has become a point of contention in various theological traditions today, our proclamation of the gospel should remain consistent with the apostles’ emphasis on the cross and the return of Jesus.

In this episode we give an overview of the major themes and features found in the book of Revelation. The book is frequently associated with bizarre imagery, and is often seen as difficult to understand. Yet, when compared with the imagery and features common to second temple Jewish apocalyptic texts, the language and message of the book of Revelation become simple and clear - eschatological trauma and tribulation before eschatological glory. 

In this episode, we take a look at the basic approaches to the Book of Revelation throughout church history: Futurism, Idealism, Historicism, and Preterism. The bulk of the content of the Book of Revelation is best understood in terms of the “messianic woes,” which were a defining component of the first-century Jewish apocalyptic narrative.  Though the book has been a source of much contention and debate throughout the ages, it can be demystified and become a source of encouragement and perseverance for any disciple of Jesus.

In this episode we discuss the clear emphasis on Jewish eschatology in the General Epistles of the New Testament. We work through a number of passages that demonstrate the apostolic strategy of utilizing apocalyptic expectation to motivate discipleship. Because the world will not always function in the way it currently does, the apostles encourage disciples to live according to what is to come. In doing so, this leaves modern-day disciples an excellent example to follow - whether we are leading a large church or a small group of disciples.

In this episode, we discuss what the Apostle Paul had in mind when he wrote about the kingdom of God in his letters. In the vast majority of his references to the kingdom, Paul speaks in line with first-century Jewish apocalyptic expectations. Three passages (Rom. 14:17; 1 Cor. 4:20; Col. 1:13) are commonly cited as evidence for realized eschatology. On closer examination, however, these passages actually make more sense when approached apocalyptically (but not as understood by the “apocalyptic Paul” movement, which is...... let's just say we don't like it). 

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this third Q&A episode.  Topics include how to approach apocalyptic literature, inaugurated eschatology, Bible translations, and reading the Hebrew Bible in relation to other Ancient Near Eastern literature. We also have a “rapid fire” round of questions and preview some of our upcoming episodes.  We welcome any questions relevant to the material we've been covering on this podcast, so send them in via the contact form on our website - apocalypticgospel.com.