How to Read Prophecy & Apocalyptic Literature Like Adults - With John H. Walton

Rethinking Faith

This week Hebrew Bible Scholar Dr. John H. Walton joins the show to discuss his new book, "The Lost World of the Prophets: Old Testament Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature in Ancient Context". Walton claims that being responsive to God is at the heart of prophecy, but average readers of ancient prophecies and apocalyptic literature often come away thoroughly perplexed. Are the prophets speaking about their own times, about our present, or about some still-unrealized future?

It's common to study prophecy with a focus on the sole question of prediction and fulfillment, either for the sake of apologetics or for understanding the end times, but such an approach fails to track with the original intent of the authors. We need to shake loose both from a paradigm of reading prophecy as an offer of mysterious divination as well as from the habit of constructing eschatological timelines of any sort. Walton helps us answer the question, "How do we read prophecy and apocalyptic literature like responsible adults?". Enjoy!

RESOURCES:

The Lost World of the Prophets (Book)

Dr. John Walton

THEOLOGY BEER CAMP 2024: Use code RETHINKINGBAGGINS for $25 off!

Join the Patreon for bonus episodes and an Add-Free listening Experience.

*A special thanks to Josh Gilbert for managing the podcast, Marty Fredrick for producing the podcast, and Dank Koch for providing music for the podcast. Love you guys <3*

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices