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“This book is a game changer. It persuasively overturns the narrative that futurist eschatology was not a major consideration until the modern church era. Offering analysis of primary sources, Svigel demonstrates that not only did the earliest church fathers understand Scripture to teach a premillennial kingdom, but some even held to an imminent assumption (rapture) of the church. With the bonus of multiple helpful excurses, Svigel has provided a tremendous resource for those wanting a deeper dive into Christianity’s earliest eschatology.” Cory M. Marsh, Professor of New TestamentSouthern California Seminary- “Michael Svigel has penned a masterful tome that deserves to stand on every theologian’s bookshelf. Combining high-end scholarship with clear, readable prose, this book refutes the mistaken notion that premillennial and pretribulational theology arose only in the nineteenth century. Rather, these important doctrines find their grounding in the pages of Scripture and the first generations of ancient Christian writers.” Bryan Litfin, Professor of Bible & TheologyRawlings School of Divinity, Liberty University
- “My friend and colleague, Dr. Michael Svigel, has done all of us in ministry a huge favor in writing his newest book The Fathers on the Future. In his inimitable, down-to-earth, yet substantive style, Michael leads us on a tour of the past to listen to the ancient church fathers and hear their voices on eschatology and the end times. This excellent volume combines Michael’s immense scholarship with his keen understanding of the pulse of current ministry culture and shows us a calm and compelling hermeneutic of our times. You need this book.” Mark M. Yarbrough, PresidentDallas Theological Seminary
- “I have been hoping for years that someone would highlight the futurist, premillennial eschatology of Irenaeus and the significance of this great theologian for current discussions and debates over eschatology. And here it is! Michael Svigel offers us a masterful discussion of eschatology, rooted in Scripture, and also in interaction with the most significant early church theologian who addressed eschatology—Irenaeus.” Michael J. Vlach, Professor of TheologyShepherds Theological Seminary
- “In The Fathers on the Future, Michael Svigel makes a unique, biblical, and longlasting contribution to the field of patristic eschatology. Taking seriously the nearly universal theological and exegetical ideas of the Ante-Nicene Fathers regarding the Last Days, this meticulously researched yet practical work revives the past from its shadows, shedding light on our current understanding of the future. This is a must-read for anyone interested in Christ’s second coming as seen through the eyes of those closest to the apostles—with strong relevance for us today.” Steven D. Aguzzi, Theology DepartmentDuquesne University
- “Throughout the centuries, Christians have discussed and debated varying eschatological views. One way to renew a vision of the future is to review visionaries from the past. Michael Svigel’s provocative retrieval of ‘Irenaean premillennialism’ does not fit seamlessly into modern systematic taxonomies. Readers from all eschatological commitments will find their horizons broadened, allowing rays from the early church to illumine the variegated contours of ‘last things.’” Paul Hartog, Professor of Theology Faith Baptist Theological Seminary
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Order The Fathers on the Future
in paperback or ebook here.
In the midst of today’s end-times confusion and controversy, The Fathers on the Future: A 2nd-Century Eschatology for the 21st-Century Church retrieves the foundation and framework of the most ancient church’s eschatological expectations and builds upon that foundation in a way that addresses both classic and contemporary concerns.
This page contains links to the supplementary Go Deeper Excurses in The Fathers on the Future and are intended to be used in conjunction with the main text.
A brief summary of each chapter and corresponding online excurses is available here.
1 Who Was Irenaeus of Lyons and Why Does He Matter?2 Had Adam and Eve Eaten from the Tree of Life?3 Bodily Resurrection in the History of the Church4 “Your Will Be Done” as “Your Kingdom Come”5 Ancient and Modern Challenges to Early Premillennial Testimonies6 The Eschatology of Didache 167 The Chiliasm of the Epistle of Barnabas8 The Coming Kingdom in Irenaeus, Tertullian, and Hippolytus9 The Advent and Advance of Amillennialism10 What Are We Seeing in Old Testament Prophecy: Fantasy, Photo, or Figure?11 The Coming Kingdom in the Old Testament: Detailed Analysis of Key Passages12 Expectation of the Coming Kingdom in the Intertestamental Period13 Hoekema’s and Merkle’s Approaches to Old Testament Restoration Prophecies14 The Case for Concurrent Periods in Acts 3:19–2115 The Case for a Three-Stage Resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:20–2816 Who, What, When, and How of Revelation: Pre-interpretive Issues17 Revelation 19:11–20:10 as a Single Progressive Vision18 A Survey and History of Interpretations of Revelation 20:1–319 A Critique of Beale’s Interpretation of Revelation 20:1–320 A Detailed Examination of the Two Resurrections in Revelation 2021 The Future Restoration of Israel in the Early Church22 The Old Testament and the Day of the Lord23 Joel 2 in Acts 2: The Day of the Lord in Peter’s Sermon24 The Last Trumpet in 1 Corinthians 15:52 vs. the Seventh Trumpet in Revelation 11:15 25 Who (or What) Is the Restrainer in 2 Thessalonians 2?26 The Mystery of Babylon the Great27 Escape from the Coming Wrath in the Shepherd of Hermas28 The Rapture of the Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 as an Actual Event
28.5 Supplementary Excursus: Irenaeus of Lyons and the Assumption of the Church29 Diverse Interpretations of the Male Son of Revelation 12
All Go Deeper Excurses are copyright © 2024 by Michael J. Svigel. All rights reserved. No content from this page may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.
About the Author
Dr. Michael J. Svigel is chair and professor of theological studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. He has authored or co-authored several books, including RetroChristianity: Reclaiming the Forgotten Faith (2013), The Center and the Source: Second Century Incarnational Christology and Early Catholic Christianity (2016), Urban Legends of Church History: 40 Common Misconceptions (2020), and The Shepherd of Hermas: A New Translation and Commentary (2023). As a recognized scholar in both the early church and eschatology, he frequently addresses these themes in books, articles, and conferences to international audiences. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three grown children: Sophie, Lucas, and Nathan.