The Apocalyptic Gospel Podcast

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...

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 m...

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. Buckl...

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 ret...

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...

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 lif...

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 co...

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 traum...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 J...

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 i...

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 authenticall...

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, a...

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 redefi...

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 re...

In this episode we briefly survey the history of interpretation concerning "the kingdom of God" in the New Testament. In particular, the last century has seen a surge of studies grappling with the first-century context of this controversial phrase. Various theological camps wrestle with the idea of the kingdom in different and often conflicting ways. In the end, Jewish apocalypticism makes the mos...

In this episode we present an introduction to the "kingdom of God" as understood by a first-century Jew: the Davidic, messianic kingdom as presented by common Jewish expectation at the time.  Beginning with 2 Samuel 7 and the prophets then moving through the Targums and other Second Temple literature, we present a brief survey of the kingdom of God and the Jewish apocalyptic themes that accompanie...

This episode is a teaching that Bill Scofield gave in a small group setting. Beginning with an overview of how Jews came to think about eschatology in the first century, Bill goes on to develop John chapter 3 where he illustrates that Jews, including Jesus and his followers, maintained an apocalyptic eschatological framework. We hope it is an encouragement to you.