The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast

In this episode we discuss the parable of the persistent widow from Luke 18. Jesus speaks this parable in context to the discussion of the sudden and apocalyptic coming of the messianic kingdom in Luke 17:20-37. As has been common throughout Jewish liturgical history, this parable is spoken to encourage faith and prayer for the coming of the Messiah and the day of the Lord.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the dishonest manager from Luke 16. Within an apocalyptic context, the parable is quite simple and straightforward. The dishonest manager responds wisely in light of his own future judgment, whereas the “sons of this age” (v. 8) respond unwisely with their “unrighteous wealth” (v. 11), spending it on that which does not lead to “eternal dwellings” (v. 9) in the age to come.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this twelfth Q&A episode. Among many topics, we discuss dispensationalism, Galatians and circumcision, interacting with other disciples who hold to supersessionism and preterism, the idea of Jesus as a failed apocalyptic prophet, and how first century Jews understood “Abraham’s bosom”. 

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In this episode we discuss the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son found in Luke 15. Jesus uses familiar imagery in each of these parables to indict the religious leaders for their lack of concern for the sinners and marginalized within Israel. Particularly, the imagery of sheep/shepherds and God as Israel’s father were commonly known based on the covenant (Deut 32) and the prophetic tradition (Isa 63; Jer 50; Ezek 34; etc.). Rather than an individualized or ethnicized interpretation, these parables are best understood in an intra-Jewish (apocalyptic) context.

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In this episode we discuss the parables of the Tower and the Army in Luke 14. As with his other parables, Jesus affirms the apocalyptic framework that was common in first century Judaism. He calls the crowds to persevering discipleship by "hating" one’s life and renouncing family, possessions, and security in order to “complete the tower” (Luke 14:28-29) and endure until the end and, thus, to inherit eternal life.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the Barren Fig Tree from Luke 13:6-9. This parable uses familiar imagery from the prophets to reiterate the urgent need to repent and to live life in light of the coming judgment. Within the context of Jewish remnant theology, this parable is best understood as Jesus reminding his audience that unless they repent (vv. 1-5), they will be cut down and perish in the coming judgment. 

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the Rich Fool from Luke 12:13-21. Jesus exhorts his followers to steward wealth with sobriety in light of the coming judgment and the age to come. The apocalyptic context of the parable is often overlooked in commentaries, but Jesus’ words to his first-century hearers are just as applicable today as they were then (if not more!). 

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10:25-37, emphasizing divine mercy and love of neighbor. The immediate context of the parable highlights many apocalyptic themes which frame its interpretation. This parable was spoken not to subvert Jewish apocalyptic eschatology or define a new kingdom ethic, but like many of Jesus’ other parables, was given to evoke a moral response of repentance in light of the age to come and the day of judgment.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the talents from Matthew 25:14-30. Like many of Jesus’ other parables, common apocalyptic themes frame his message. The day of judgment and accounting is foregrounded in light of Jesus’ call to live faithfully and wholeheartedly for the age to come. These common apocalyptic themes are then rehearsed immediately after the parable of the talents in Matt 25:31-46.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the wise and foolish servants in Matthew 24 and the parable of ten virgins in Matthew 25. The parallels in Mark and Luke indicate that the details communicated in the parables need not be understood allegorically. Rather, Jesus is simply exhorting his disciples to sobriety and urgency in light of common Jewish apocalyptic expectations concerning the day of God and the coming of the Messiah. 

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this eleventh Q&A episode. Among many topics, we discuss supersessionism, God’s purposes for the Gentiles in this age and the age to come, and Zionism.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the wedding feast from Matthew 22 and Luke 14. In both accounts, apocalyptic themes set the context for the telling of the parable. While typically viewed as a parable about salvation history and 70AD, Jesus’ primary audience is expressly named as “the chief priests and Pharisees” (Matthew 21:45). The parable is simply about responsiveness to Jesus’ and John’s proclamation of the coming judgment, kingdom, and resurrection (cf. Luke 14:14).

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the tenants from Matthew 21:33-45. This parable, spoken against the chief priests and Pharisees, condemns the corrupt stewardship of their authority and their mismanagement of the Temple. Rather than an annulment of the covenant between God and Israel and an affirmation of supersessionism, the parable is a strong affirmation of God’s enduring covenant with the people of Israel and intention for the Temple within the commonly held Jewish apocalyptic ideas of the day.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the vineyard laborers from Matthew 20:1-16. Following the story of the rich young ruler and the disciples’ inheritance of the twelve thrones in the age to come (19:16-30), this parable highlights the “payment of wages” (20:8) and God’s generosity toward Israel’s marginal (i.e. the disciples). Thus, both sections conclude with the apocalyptic, two-age saying, “the first [in this age] will be last [in the age to come]” (19:30; 20:16). 

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As we briefly survey ‘the Gospel’ in the New Testament writings, we find that the phrase imports a body of pre-existing Jewish ideas. We touch on its origins in the prophetic writings and in later Jewish apocalyptic literature to highlight how a Jew in the first century would have heard John the Baptist, Jesus, or one of the Apostles using this Jewish term to refer to their own message.

In this first episode of The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast, Bill, John, and Josh introduce themselves, give some background and vision for the topics to be discussed in future episodes, and explain the podcast's somewhat odd title.

The first episode of The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast with Bill Scofield, John Harrigan, and Josh Hawkins will release on July 1, 2020! For more on our podcast, visit us on our website at apocalypticgospel.com or follow us on Twitter at @ApocGospel.

In this episode we discuss the parable of the unforgiving servant from Matthew 18:21-35. Jesus speaks forcefully of divine mercy and forgiveness within the traditional Jewish apocalyptic expectations concerning the “settling of accounts” (v. 23). When this eschatological framework is marginalized or ignored, the gravity and impact of Jesus’ teaching concerning forgiveness is lost. 

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In this episode we discuss the parable of defilement in Matthew 15 and Mark 7. The parable is set in context to Jesus’ conflict with the Pharisees concerning the hypocrisy of their traditions. The explanation of this parable, particularly in Mark’s gospel, has been widely used to support the idea that Jesus abrogated the Torah’s dietary instructions. By examining the context and the various translations of Mark 7:19, it becomes clear that Jesus is actually upholding Jewish dietary laws and is simply emphasizing “the weightier matters of the law,” so to speak.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the strong man from Matthew 12. After healing a demon-possessed man, Jesus responds to the accusation of the Pharisees that he drove out the demon by the power of Satan. The parable of the strong man is part of a larger argument that the Pharisees’ accusation is both illogical (vv. 25-29) and immoral (vv. 31-32), which is the basis of their eschatological judgment (vv. 36-37). The parable simply argues that Jesus’ power over demons proves that he is indeed “the Son of David” (v. 23), and he will thus plunder Satan’s house at the end of the age.

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In this episode, we discuss the parable of the children in the marketplace from Matthew 11 and Luke 7. This short parable follows a complicated discussion about the imprisonment of John the Baptist, but is often read outside of that context and through the lens of realized eschatology. Rather than reimagining the commonly held Jewish apocalyptic eschatology of the time, the parable was simply an indictment concerning the false accusations of the religious leaders that John was demonized and Jesus was a glutton. On the day of judgment, the wisdom of their lives will ultimately be vindicated.

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the wineskins (and the patched garment) from Matthew 9, Mark 2, and Luke 5. Contrary to the popular interpretation of a radical redefinition and subversion of Jewish apocalyptic eschatology, this parable communicates the simple principle of dysfunctionality or maladaptation. You cannot force Jesus’ disciples to fast while the Messiah is with them. It does not work. But when he is “taken away” (cf. Isa 53:8 LXX), they will fast. Through this parable, Jesus (and the Gospel authors) sought to establish the discipline of fasting in the early church.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this tenth Q&A episode. Among many topics, we answer your questions about the parable of the mustard seed and leaven, replacement theology, understanding the role and purpose of Israel, and we make some observations about tithing and Greek words in the New Testament. 

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In this episode we discuss the parable of the two houses and the words of Jesus immediately leading up to it in Matthew 7:15-27. Much of the imagery is drawn from the Tanakh and 2nd Temple literature, and the ideas would have been commonly understood within the Jewish apocalyptic narrative. Jesus criticizes and corrects the leadership of Israel for their hypocrisy and pretense, calling his disciples to radical obedience to his words and a singular focus on the age to come.

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In this episode, we discuss the metaphors found in the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). After first rehearsing the importance of seeing the teachings of Jesus in their historical context, we look at the familiar metaphors of salt, light, the eye as the lamp of the body, and the narrow gate. These metaphors were common tools used to communicate a familiar prophetic message to the people of Israel in context to their covenantal calling. 

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In this episode we discuss the parables of the net, the hidden treasure, and the pearl from Matthew 13. These three parables maintain the same Jewish apocalyptic eschatological context highlighted in the explanation of the parable of the weeds (Matthew 13:36-43). The parable of the net reinforces the context of an eschatological judgment, with the righteous inheriting eternal life and the wicked, eternal destruction; while the parables of the pearl and treasure portray the wisdom of the person who gives everything to inherit eternal life on the last day.

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In this episode, we explore the parable of the wheat and the tares/weeds, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the leaven. In light of common Jewish apocalyptic expectations, these parables all communicate a common theme of the flourishing of the wicked in this age and God’s patient response toward evil. Rather than positive parables speaking of the growth of a spiritualized kingdom, these parables are primarily negative in tone meant to indict pride and hypocrisy in light of the coming judgment.

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In this episode, we examine Jesus' parable of the sower found in Matthew 13:3-9. We begin by reviewing popular contemporary interpretations of the parables. As a feature particularly important to all of them, we delve into the Jewish tradition of using agricultural metaphors in communication, with a focus on second-temple literature's emphasis on the sowing and reaping motif in discipleship. Within that historical context, we explore how this understanding provides deeper insight into the parable of the sower.

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In our opening episode for season 4 of our show, we introduce the parables of Jesus and discuss his intended audience and their purpose. Rather than a redefinition of Jewish eschatology or Jesus giving new, gnostic revelation, the parables are spoken to the calloused and are meant to evoke a moral response of repentance. Jesus’ parables are communicating the same ideas as Israel’s prophetic tradition, highlighting the need for covenant faithfulness in light of Israel’s assumed apocalyptic eschatology.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this ninth Q&A episode. We discuss revival, the Trinity, and different hermeneutical tools that Christians have used over the centuries. We also explore how Paul uses the Hebrew Bible, and conclude with some thoughts on some common critiques on the historicity of the Tanakh. 

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Resources:

Blasphemy and Exaltation in Judaism - Darrell Bock: https://amzn.to/3EHH1Fo The Jewish Targums and John’s Logos Theology - John Ronning: https://amzn.to/3g42tdF Inconsistency in the Torah - Joshua Berman: https://amzn.to/3MruBDm Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament - James Pritchard: https://amzn.to/3Vt4Wyf

Our YouTube channels:

Bill: https://youtube.com/channel/UC2d-sl7y9qVzNO5Q1ZnKTgQ John: https://youtube.com/channel/UCQ1av6sMf4gJF1-XzfOBSzw Josh: https://youtube.com/channel/UCdPUmfz4hx49LbZR5w_B4HQ

In this final episode of the season, we discuss Ezra-Nehemiah, and 1-2 Chronicles and their later interpretation in second-temple apocalyptic literature. Being traditionally understood as the head of the Great Sanhedrin, Ezra in particular is transformed into an apocalyptic prophet proclaiming the urgency of the end of the age. The Chronicles largely summarize earlier content of 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings with an emphasis on messianism, which plays into eschatological expectations in the second-temple period.

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In this episode, we discuss the book of Daniel and its influence on later Jewish apocalyptic literature and the New Testament. We highlight particular themes common to the apocalyptic worldview, including the kingdom of God, the son of Man, and the eschatological persecution of the saints. Daniel is best understood and read through the lens of God’s covenantal faithfulness to Israel and its projection forward in an apocalyptic view of history. 

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In this episode, we discuss the Five Scrolls: Song of Solomon, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther. Though seemingly disparate in content, authorship, chronology, and genre, Jewish tradition groups these five books within the Ketuvim. We discuss some of the reasons why, and how later tradition reads these books messianically and eschatologically. 

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Resource: Targum and Testament Revisited by Martin McNamara - https://amzn.to/3L6DGB4

In this episode we continue our interview with David Mitchell, Biblical scholar and pastoral musician. We explore some of the eschatological themes found in the Psalms and how these play out in the prophetic literature. We also look at the themes of the Psalms in apocalyptic literature, which give context to the New Testament’s quotations of the Psalms, especially Psalm 110.

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In this episode we interview David Mitchell, Biblical scholar and pastoral musician. We explore some of his work on the Psalms from his book The Message of the Psalter: An Eschatological Programme in the Book of Psalms. David discusses the primary theme of his book with us – namely, that the Psalms have been organized in a way that is intended to convey an eschatological narrative. David shares some of the other theories behind the organization of the Psalms, and then shares a few examples to help illustrate how both the content and the redaction of the Psalms were intended to heighten eschatological expectation. 

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In this episode we begin our discussion of the Ketuvim with the Wisdom tradition in the Tanakh. Along with the prophetic tradition, the wisdom tradition played a key role in the development of Jewish apocalypticism. Today we survey the Psalms, Proverbs, and Job, highlighting how they are incorporated into later apocalyptic themes such as the delineation of the righteous and the wicked at the final judgment, the resurrection of the dead, and messianic hope.

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** We had a little trouble with our recording this week. You may hear some small audio clicks and pops during this episode. Our apologies!

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this eighth Q&A episode. Topics include the relationship of apocalypticism to pacifism and fatalism, Messianic Judaism, and the importance of historical studies. Also, don’t miss our rapid fire round (which, as usual, is not so rapid).

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In this episode we finish our discussion of the Minor Prophets with Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. We discuss the various themes found in each book and the role that these post-exilic prophets play in the development of apocalyptic thought. Generally written around the building of the second temple, the authors consistently use apocalyptic scenarios to motivate Israel’s covenant faithfulness in the stewardship of their election.

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In this episode we discuss the minor prophetic books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. As we’ve seen already in the other prophetic books from Isaiah to Amos, the themes of covenant discipline in light of eschatological hope are highlighted repeatedly throughout. Each book has its own particular emphasis and angle, but the covenantal cycle from Deuteronomy 28-30 is always presumed, and this cycle is pushed to its ultimate end by later apocalyptic writers and the authors of the New Testament.

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In this episode we begin our discussion of the Minor Prophets with the books of Hosea, Joel, and Amos. As with the other written prophets, “the Book of the Twelve” highlights the themes of covenantal maintenance, eschatological distress, and ultimate restoration for Israel. Hosea’s marriage imagery, Joel’s emphasis on the day of the Lord, and Amos’ concern for injustices are all framed within the common covenantal narrative.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this seventh Q&A episode.  Topics include Gentiles and the Torah, scholars like Albert Schweitzer and C.H. Dodd, John 3 and Ezekiel 36, and God’s promises. We also give some practical advice about how to relate to others who see the Gospel differently. 

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In this episode we discuss the book of Ezekiel and its later interpretation in apocalyptic literature and the New Testament. Just as with the other written prophets, Ezekiel continues the theme of covenantal maintenance, using Israel’s history as a mechanism to describe their future eschatological exile and redemption. Several features in Ezekiel become important to the later apocalyptic writers, including heavenly visions, eschatological imagery, and the way in which these serve to communicate the certainty of God’s covenantal promises. 

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In this episode we discuss the book of Jeremiah and the playing out of the covenantal cycle as developed in Deuteronomy. Various passages illustrate this cycle, but chapter 25 particularly sets the pattern of covenantal determinism which is developed in the apocalyptic literature. A unique example of the forward projection of Jeremiah’s covenantal cycle is also seen in the Baruch tradition.

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In this episode we discuss messianism in the book of Isaiah. In light of the day of the Lord and the coming restoration of creation, Isaiah portrays the Messiah as the head of Israel, who will redeem Israel and glorify Jerusalem. The Messiah functions as a servant of Israel who heals the nation and leads her to her glorious destiny. As Paul would put it, “I tell you that Messiah became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs” (Romans 15:8).

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In this episode we look at the theme of redemption and restoration in the Book of Isaiah. The language of new heavens and new earth is uniquely Isaianic and captures the Jewish idea of the restoration of creation. However, this hope is understood in light of the covenant and the glorification of Jerusalem. The apocalyptic idea of the resurrection of the dead develops within this context and finds its epicenter on Mount Zion.

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In this episode we discuss how Isaiah is understood and pushed forward by later apocalyptic writers, Jesus, and the authors of the New Testament. Isaiah begins the written prophets in the Nevi'im, which revolve around the maintenance and projection of the covenant through divine judgment and redemption. The primary elements of Jewish apocalyptic thought (the day of the Lord, the resurrection of the dead, and the coming Messiah) are all heavily influenced by the Book of Isaiah. In this episode we focus on the theme of theophany and the day of the Lord.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this sixth Q&A episode.  Topics include enjoying life within an apocalyptic view of the world, the meaning of “ekklesia”, the messiah’s relationship to the day of the Lord, the parable of the wineskins, revivals within an apocalyptic view, and how to weed through various competing theological narratives. 

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In this episode we give a brief overview of 1 and 2 Kings and focus on the unfolding and later projection of David’s dynasty. After the failure of the Davidic monarchy, Solomon is idealized and anticipated by the prophetic tradition, wisdom literature, and second-temple literature as the king who is filled with God’s wisdom and who leads the nation in righteousness and obedience. Rather than redefining or reimagining this expectation, the New Testament reinforces the hope for the restoration of David’s throne in Jerusalem.

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In this episode we discuss 1 and 2 Samuel, and particularly the Davidic covenant in 2 Samuel 7, with an eye toward its forward projection in the Tanakh, second-temple literature, and the New Testament. God’s election of David’s family and the city of Jerusalem play out in subsequent prophetic and apocalyptic traditions. God’s faithfulness to David and his descendants become the crucible of his faithfulness to creation as a whole. 

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In this episode we discuss the books of Joshua and Judges and how they are understood in second-temple apocalyptic literature. Though not often talked about, when they are referenced, they are assimilated into the later apocalyptic tradition. The lack of references is also discussed in light of apocalypticism downplaying synergism and human involvement in ultimate salvation. Similarly, the rise of the martyrdom tradition in second-temple Judaism coincides with the development of apocalyptic hopes. 

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In this episode we look more deeply at Deuteronomy and highlight how the Covenant and the Law are projected into the future both within the book of Deuteronomy as well as by later Jewish writers. Deuteronomy describes a cycle of covenant breaking, exile, repentance, and return that later becomes the foundation for Jewish eschatological conviction. This cycle thus becomes the engine of the apocalyptic hermeneutic in the second-temple period and in the New Testament.

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In this episode, we give a brief overview of the book of Deuteronomy. We discuss some of the major themes of covenant, law, and land as we survey the book chapter by chapter. The book of Deuteronomy is often neglected in Christian tradition, but it was foundational for the oracles of the prophets and later the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. 

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In this episode we look at several themes in the book of Numbers that are pushed forward apocalyptically by second-temple literature and the New Testament. Many events in the Book of Numbers–for example, the manna, the snake on the pole, and the wanderings of Israel in the wilderness–are interpreted typologically within a Jewish apocalyptic framework. Though typology has been used throughout church history to change the Jewish hope, Jesus and the apostles simply assume an apocalyptic narrative when they speak of people and events from the Tanakh typologically.

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In this episode we look at how Second Temple Jews, Jesus, and the apostles understand and project forward the major themes of Leviticus. Similar to how other themes in the Tanakh are “apocalypticized,” offering and sacrifice, the priesthood, and the calendar of feasts and holidays are understood in light of apocalyptic eschatology. For Jesus and the apostles, the major themes in Leviticus reinforce their native worldview and apocalyptic expectations rather than redefine them.

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In this episode we discuss how Second Temple Jews understood Moses and Mount Sinai. The giving of the Torah accompanied by angels, the revelation of the age to come, and the projection of Sinai eschatologically are all presumed by Jews at the time.  These ideas, for example, are reflected in the account of the Mount of Transfiguration and in encounters with angels throughout the New Testament.

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Resource: From Sinai to Zion by Joel Richardson: https://joelstrumpet.com/?page_id=5755

In this episode we discuss the important figure of Moses, who takes on a unique authority in Second Temple literature, extending the narrative found in the Tanakh. Because of his special relationship with God, he is given unique revelation of the end times and the coming Messiah. Moses is also viewed as something of a precursor to the Messiah, one who will build God’s house and restore the kingdom to Israel. 

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 In this episode we look at Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons and how Second Temple Jews read and interpreted them. Particularly, The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs gives us insight into how Jews framed the election and future of Israel. Jews at the time were not myopic nationalists who were unconcerned and uninformed about the nations, but rather they extended the Tanakh’s framework of the redemption of the nations by means of the salvation of Israel. 

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Resource: Mind the Gap by Matthias Henze: https://amzn.to/388tuZn

Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this fifth Q&A episode.  Topics include realized eschatology, dispensationalism, and supersessionism, the Transfiguration, and the New Covenant. 

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In this episode we discuss how Jews in the Second Temple period framed Abraham within the apocalyptic narrative of redemptive history. The covenant with and election of Abraham was commonly understood in light of the eschatological judgment and the resurrection of the dead. Additionally, Abraham’s faith was also celebrated by Jewish writers of the period, but always in context to Israel’s eschatological hope. This helps us better understand the passages in the New Testament about Abraham and faith.

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In this episode we interview Rabbi Joshua Berman, professor of Tanakh at Bar-Ilan University in Israel. Rabbi Berman discusses some of his work related to critical scholarship and the Torah as well as some of his thoughts about Jewish election, the covenant, and the purpose of the Tanakh. He explains how through the election of Abraham, God creates a national culture among his descendants to be walked out as a holy people amidst the other nations. As an orthodox Jew living in the land, Rabbi Berman also gives his thoughts about the world’s present perception of Israel and what the future might hold for them as a people.

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In this episode we discuss the election of Abraham and its development in Second Temple Literature and the New Testament. God’s choice of Abraham after the Tower of Babel is understood as the antidote for the idolatry and rebellion that had come to define the rest of the world. Rather than modern concepts of election as developed in the Reformation, Second Temple Jews and the apostles of Jesus maintain the native context of God’s choice of Abraham’s descendants in the administration of redemptive history. 

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Studies in Torah class from The Ark Network: https://www.thearknetwork.org/studies-in-torah-class/

In this episode we discuss the rebellion narratives found in early Genesis. In Eden’s garden in Genesis 3, in the consensual marriage of the sons of God and the daughters of men in Genesis 6, and at Babel’s tower in Genesis 11 we see not only a paradigm for the redemptive narrative, but also of the great judgment on the Last Day. We develop the consistent pattern that binds the narratives and the role that they all play in presenting a paradigm for the eschatological redemption.  

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Studies in Torah class from our friends in The ARK Network: https://www.thearknetwork.org/studies-in-torah-class/

In this episode we discuss creation as a paradigm for redemption. We looked at Genesis and the creation narrative as the seedbed of eschatological expectation in Jewish tradition. The Tanakh, like the later second temple Jewish literature, sees eschatological hope for everlasting life in context to a new heavens and a new earth. By the time of the New Testament writers, conversations related to eschatology and eternal life were conceptually inseparable from a renewed creation. 

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In this episode we begin our discussion on Genesis and the Torah, highlighting some of the primary themes in the creation narrative of Genesis. While often read differently in our modern context than it would have been in the Ancient Near East as well as in second temple Jewish texts, the creation of the heavens and the earth sets the framework for divine sovereignty and for the future expectation of redemption. 

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In this episode, we interview Dr. Matthew Thiessen, associate professor Religious Studies at McMaster University. We discuss the anti-Jewish bias often brought to the scriptures by traditional Christian readings of the Tanakh, and how this bias radically affects our readings of Jesus and Paul. 

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In this episode we look particularly at the issue of supersessionism, the idea that Israel and the Old Testament has been superseded and replaced by Jesus, the Church, and the New Testament. We dive into R. Kendall Soulen’s classic treatment on supersessionism in “The God of Israel and Christian Theology”, examining the various aspects of punitive, economic, and structural supersessionism and their effect on our reading of the Scriptures. 

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In this episode we introduce the themes for season 3 of our show. The Tanakh (a Hebrew acronym for the Law, the Prophets, and the Writings) is the foundation for “the Gospel” as Jesus and the apostles understood it. In season 3, our aim is to work through the books and main themes of the Tanakh to give disciples of Jesus confidence that if all you have is the Tanakh and some of the sayings of Jesus, you would in no way be disadvantaged in preaching the Gospel or discipling someone.

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Bill, John, and Josh tackle your questions in this fourth Q&A episode. Topics include Messianic Judaism, the New Jerusalem and the heavenly mountain, inaugurated eschatology, and our usual rapid fire round with questions on the pre-tribulation rapture in John 14, the renewal of our minds, and Jewish prayer books. We also briefly give vision for our show’s next season. Don’t miss it!

In this episode we reflect on some of our favorite points from our last four interviews with Seth Roach and Daniel Jordan, Marc Tuzzolino, Joe and Terrie Wise, and Stephanie Quick and Devon Phillips. We discuss their testimonies and how the Jewish apocalyptic framework for the Gospel has impacted their lives and ministries. We reflected on how each of them imparted incredible wisdom for disciples to stay the course in light of the return of Jesus and the day of judgment.

In this episode we interview Stephanie Quick and Devon Phillips, laborers with Frontier Alliance International based in Northern Israel. Stephanie is a writer and producer and cohosts The Better Beautiful Podcast with Jeff Henderson, and Devon is a writer and contributor to FAI’s publication, THE WIRE. Stephanie and Devon share their experiences as they minister among Muslims and Israelis in the Middle East, and challenge Western believers to embrace the Gospel of the Kingdom wholeheartedly as the Day of the Lord draws near.

In this episode we interview Joe and Terrie Wise, currently serving as pastors in California’s Central Valley. Joe and Terrie share their experiences as church planters, pastors, and mentors over the last 34 years of ministry. Their mission is to encourage wholehearted love and faithfulness to Jesus in light of the age to come. Despite the challenges they’ve faced, they continue to be an example of faithfulness to young disciples as they encourage others to set their hope fully on the return of Jesus.

In this episode we interview Marc Tuzzolino, founder and leader of the Apocalyptic Accountability Group based in the Chicago area. Marc shares from the heart about his own history and how a season of reworking the Gospel led to deliverance from a life of immorality. Since then, Marc has seen tremendous fruit as he has led other men into fearing God and living a life of obedience and transparency in light of the day of judgment.

In this episode we interview Seth Roach and Daniel Jordan. Seth and Daniel have been involved with Torben Søndergaard and The Last Reformation movement, and they share about their fresh call to a wholehearted lifestyle of obedience to Jesus in light of the hope of his return. Seth and Daniel’s stories are provoking and encouraging to hear as they describe the Spirit’s witness to the Gospel with power, miracles, and deliverance.

In this episode we reflect on some of our favorite points from our last four interviews with Joel Richardson, Tim Miller, Mark Klafter, and Asher and Zachary. We discuss how Jewish election and eschatology give direction and help navigate the complexities of unfolding world events, as well as how the apocalyptic lens for the Gospel gives a sense of stability in the midst of difficulty and serves as a "guard rail" against licentiousness.

In this episode we interview Asher and Zachary, two young adults who have committed their lives to be disciples of Jesus. They share their journey of how they came into an understanding of the Gospel, what challenges they’ve faced specifically as young adults, and how the election of Israel, the return of Jesus, and the age to come have motivated righteous living among an otherwise self-centered generation of young people.

In this episode we interview Mark Klafter, a Jewish believer in Jesus and the son of a Hungarian Holocaust survivor. Mark was born in New York City in 1950 and came to know the Lord in a radical way in 1973. Mark shares his life story and how he came to identify as a Jewish disciple of Yeshua. From his long relationship with Art Katz to his encounter with the God of Israel at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem, Mark’s journey has led him to understand the centrality of Israel and the Jewish people to the gospel.

In this episode we interview Tim Miller, a missions trainer, Bible teacher, and the founder of the Daniel Training Network, a resource development ministry committed to equipping the church to follow Jesus faithfully until he returns. Tim shares some of his experiences over the last twenty years of ministry serving in various parts of Africa and the US. In addition to telling some dramatic stories, Tim encourages us to remain faithful through the simple elements of discipleship.

In this episode we interview Joel Richardson, speaker, author, teacher, and filmmaker. Joel's primary passion is to see the Gospel proclaimed throughout the Muslim world. He discusses how the Jewish apocalyptic framework for the Gospel has affected his life and ministry and given him tremendous hope in the midst of adversity and suffering. Meditation on the tangible hope of the restoration of all things and the resurrection of the dead propels us through the "meat grinder" of this age.

Connect more with Joel and his ministry at https://joelstrumpet.com

In this episode we reflect on some of our favorite points from the first four interviews of this season with David Gordon, Dalton Thomas, Dick Brogden, and Richee Parks. Because we did not want to fill the interviews with a lot of our own commentary, we decided to take a full episode to reflect on some of the things that were said. (Also, don’t miss the intro where we make fun of Bill’s taste in movies!)

In this episode we interview Richee Parks, who works full-time with the Daniel Training Network in Bloomington, MN. Richee is a husband and father of four and has a heart for youth ministry. He discusses discipleship within the family and among today’s youth, exploring some of the challenges faced in leading young people in modern “comfort Christianity” to become faithful witnesses of the gospel.

In this episode we interview Dick Brogden, founder of the Live Dead movement that plants churches among unreached people groups. Dick and his wife Jennifer have served as missionaries for 29 years working in Africa and the Middle East. They are deeply driven by the cross and the return of Jesus. Dick shares some personal stories and challenges disciples to live wholeheartedly for the Gospel. Buckle up, listeners... Dick's words will challenge you!

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.

In this episode we look at the relationship between the kingdom of God and prayer.  The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:2-4), the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-8) and Jesus’ exhortation to prayer (Luke 21:34-36) are discussed in light of Jewish apocalyptic expectations. Rather than the common tendency to realize or spiritualize themes in these passages, Jesus exhorts his disciples to sobriety and to live in anticipation of the coming kingdom and redemption through prayer.

In this episode, we discuss the kingdom and expectations concerning the coming of the messiah and the eschatological banquet developed in the prophets, second temple literature, and the New Testament.  The messianic banquet was forefront in the minds of Jesus and the apostles, particularly at the Last Supper. Rather than realizing or redefining these expectations, Jesus affirms the first century Jewish hope of “eating and drinking” at the messianic table (Luke 22:30) in the age to come. 

In this episode we discuss some of the ideas of “hell” that were common in the first century Jewish world.  Modern problems of worldview and translation often present the idea of hell as a metaphysical reality instead of the overtly eschatological reality that is actually being emphasized by Jesus.  “Gehenna”, a Greek word used in the New Testament often translated as “hell”,  is best understood in context to second temple Jewish literature and apocalyptic expectations.

In this episode we frame Matthew 5-7 within the framework of first century Jewish apocalypticism. Rather than introducing a universalized, spiritual definition of the kingdom of God, Jesus is functioning as a prophetic renewalist, calling Israel to repentance and wholehearted repentance. Hypocrisy and pretense will ultimately be exposed on the day of judgment. The hearer ought to live authentically and accordingly.

In this episode, we discuss Jesus’ words in Matthew 5 and Luke 6.  The Beatitudes are often understood as abstract attributes that Jesus is exhorting his hearers to emulate. However, viewed in light of the apocalyptic tradition, the Beatitudes are understood as a discipleship mechanism to encourage perseverance unto the inheritance of the kingdom of God and eternal life. 

In this episode we place the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-55) into the covenantal/apocalyptic setting in which Mary spoke it.  The song significantly parallels that of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1-10 and echoes the themes that were expressed related to the covenant and God’s final vindication of His people. Likewise, Mary understands the birth of Jesus in context to the Davidic covenant, the day of judgment, and other major first century Jewish apocalyptic themes. We hope that this episode transforms and enriches your experience of Christmas and that it can truly become a source of encouragement as you eagerly wait for the blessed hope.  Make Christmas Great Again!

In this episode we spend some time working through many of the parables of Jesus, which have a long history of (mis)interpretation. The parables are often mobilized as evidence for realized eschatology in the teachings of Jesus. However, when taken within the context of first century Jewish apocalyptic expectations the meaning and purpose of the parables become strikingly clear. Rather than redefining the kingdom of God, the parables are aimed primarily at Jesus’ unrepentant audience to awaken sobriety and the fear of God related to the coming judgment.

In this episode we work through some of the main passages in the Gospels referencing the kingdom of God that are commonly used to support realized eschatology.  Passages that describe the kingdom being “at hand”, the kingdom “coming upon you”, or the kingdom being “within you” are most easily understood within a Jewish apocalyptic framework.  Rather than Jesus and John the Baptist redefining or reimagining the common expectation of Jews in the first century, they simply affirm the words of the prophets about a future eschatological day of judgment and messianic kingdom.