ISBN A New Heaven and a New Earth (Reclaiming Biblical Eschatology) book English Paperback 336 pages

In recent years, more and more Christians have come to appreciate the Bible's teaching that the ultimate blessed hope for the believer is not an otherworldly heaven; instead, it is full-bodied participation in a new heaven and a new earth brought into fullness through the coming of God's kingdom. Drawing on the full sweep of the biblical narrative, J. Richard Middleton unpacks key Old Testament and New Testament texts to make a case for the new earth as the appropriate Christian hope. He suggests its ethical and ecclesial implications, exploring the difference a holistic eschatology can make for living in a broken world.ContentsPreface: How I Came to Write This Book1. Introduction: The Problem of Otherworldly HopePart 1: From Creation to Eschaton2. Why Are We Here? Being Human as Sacred Calling3. The Plot of the Biblical StoryPart 2: Holistic Salvation in the Old Testament4. The Exodus as Paradigm of Salvation5. Earthly Flourishing in Law, Wisdom, and Prophecy6. The Coming of God in Judgment and SalvationPart 3: The New Testament's Vision of Cosmic Renewal7. Resurrection and the Restoration of Rule8. The Redemption of All ThingsPart 4: Problem Texts for Holistic Eschatology9. Cosmic Destruction at Christ's Return?10. The Role of Heaven in Biblical EschatologyPart 5: The Ethics of the Kingdom11. The Good News at Nazareth12. The Challenge of the KingdomAppendix: Whatever Happened to the New Earth?Index