MacArthur's Millennial Manifesto

by Samuel E. Waldron

Book Overview

At the 2007 Shepherds' Conference, Pastor John MacArthur delivered a controversial message entitled, "Why Every Self-Respecting Calvinist is a Premillennialist". In this book, Dr. Sam Waldron addresses the assertions of MacArthur historically, exegetically and theologically. Although his arguments are rigorous, the entire tenor of the book is level-headed and irenic. This "friendly response" grants modern day Amillennialists the opportunity to thoughtfully...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 098021792X
• ISBN13: 9780980217926
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Reformed Baptist Academic Press
• Length: 188 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Solid Response!

This is a cogent rebuttal to John MacArthur's comments at the 2007 Shepherd's Conference. John MacArthur deserves a lot of respect, but he was simply wrong when he said that every self-respecting Calvinist should be a premillenialist. The book does a fine job of showing why MacArthur's statement is wrong and provides a solid case for the amillenial position on Israel and the Church. Waldron deals with MacArthur in a very respectful and honorable way. He writes in an engaging and compelling fashion. If you have any experience reading about theology, I think you will find this a quick read. I could spend a lot of time getting into the specifics, but I think its best to just get the book and read it yourself. I think if you are open to hearing something new and are interested in eschatology and Israel/The Church, you will not be disappointed regardless of what perspective you come from.

A Master's Manifesto

When MacArthur came out with his claim about Calvinism and Premill views, there was no end to the blogging, the accusations and more. While, admittedly I find the whole MacArthur message troubling and cannot for any reason discover why a man who speaks with Ligonier and Together for the Gospel Conferences, well, why did he need to seek disunity at all? The complete text of MacArthur's message is included for the person who has not heard it (thank you for the inclusion). But the outstanding fact of this book is stated in the description...in the most winsome and perceptive manner possible, Sam Waldron dismantles this manifesto from top to bottom. Waldron admits that while some Amill. spokespeople do make mistakes, MacArthur has blatantly and wrongly used poor sourcing, poor exegesis, poor logic, and a critical flaw in biblical studies. He even labels people who are Post-Mill as representatives of the Amill position. That is just a complete lack of good study--a point not often seen in MacArthur's presentations. Waldron does a superb job of looking at history. He takes MacArthur out to the "wood shed" a few times to show him that MacArthur's own logic sets up a lot of paper tiger arguments for the Calvinists to be scolded as he does in his manifesto. The greatest benefit of the book is NOT what you think. You would think that the value is found in dismantling of the manifesto given out by John MacArthur. However, the superb worth of the book (and it is worth every penny you pay for it) is in the clear, articulate, and historically accurate presentation that Waldron gives for the hope, the zeal, and the passion found in John Calvin and the Amillennial Eschatology. It is a superb outline of the beliefs, the biblical texts, the errors that have been corrected, the mis-representations of all millennial views and in fact leaves the reader with a greater hope that the New Israel of today has a wonderful mission, a story to tell, an evangelism that is powerful, and biblical basis that is unbeatable. I have many books in my library that explain the many views of the millennium, but this one will be a premier copy for its succinct analysis, its clarity, its humility and its overall presentation of the biblical message.

Must a Calvinist be a Dispensationalist?

If you are looking for a good a-millennial response to a pre-millennialist's understanding of a-millennialism, this book is for you. Samuel Waldron's "MacArthur's Millennial Manifesto" is an excellent work that contributes to our understanding of the biblical issues concerning the millennium, the relationship of Israel and the Church, the identity of the Jew, the relationship of the OT and the NT, the promise of the gospel, and the principles of sound Bible interpretation. In 2007, Dr. John MacArthur stirred the waters of controversy at his own Shepherd's Conference by declaring that all self-respecting Calvinists should be pre-millennialists. He argued in his keynote address why he believed that Calvinism comported better with pre-millennialism than a-millennialism. Dr. MacArthur suggested that a-millennialism tends toward Arminianism, doesn't adhere to a literal hermeneutic, and accused a-millennialist of teaching "Replacement Theology"; that is that the Church replaces Israel. Dr. Sam Waldron, a proponent of a-millennialism, has taken up the task of providing a cogent rebuttal to Dr. MacArthur's arguments with great respect and Christian grace. He systematically interacts with MacArthur's arguments from his message and some of the writings of his faculty of Master's Seminary. Waldron's book even supplies the complete text of MacArthur's message so the reader is able to read his entire original statement in context. This is a great benefit for all readers regardless of their agreement with MacArthur or Waldron. It enables the reader to interact with both men's positions for the mastering of the issues. Dr. Waldron, with deftness and precision, displays the issues that are at stake in this debate, corrects some common misunderstandings of a-millenialism and offers some very cogent exegetical challenges to dispensational pre-millennialism. Dr. Waldron cogently puts forward the a-millennialism's position on hermeneutics, Israel, Gentiles, millennium, the gospel, and the church and offers a sound a-millennial response. This book is of a great benefit to all readers, pre-millennial, a-millennial, and post-millennial alike because you get to interact with two good minds over biblical texts and issues on which faithful Christians disagree. Agree or disagree with the Dr. Waldron's conclusions, the reader is given a tremendous amount of biblical data to work through in a manner that promotes respect for all individuals and positions involved. This book is highly recommended for anyone who new to the millennial debate who wants to know what issues are at stake from both a pre-millennial and a-millennial perspective. The book is beneficial because both MacArthur's and Waldron's commitment to serious theology permits both the pre-mill and the a-mill positions are well represented. Its benefit to the reader is augmented by Waldron's not seeking to destroy a "straw man" nor does he attach MacArthur's character but sticks to the issues. Wald