Christ and the Future: The Bible's Teaching About Last Things

This book is an abridgement of Dr. Venema’s highly acclaimed, major study, The Promise of the Future. Prepared especially with the non-specialist reader in mind, Christ and the Future expertly summarizes the Bible’s teaching about the last things. The Christ-centred nature of the biblical teaching on the future is the main emphasis throughout, as the author shows us the future of the individual, the church, and, indeed the whole universe.

About the Author

Cornelis P. Venema is President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana. He also serves as an Associate Pastor at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Dyer, and is co-editor of the Mid-America Journal of Theology and contributing editor of a column on doctrine for the monthly periodical The Outlook.

Educated at Dordt College, Iowa (BA, 1975), and Calvin Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan (BD, 1978), Venema received his Ph.D. in 1985 from Princeton Theological Seminary for his work on The Twofold Nature of the Gospel in Calvin’s Theology. While studying at Princeton from 1979 to 1981, he was a Teaching Fellow in the Department of Theology. He served as pastor of the Christian Reformed Church of Ontario, California, for six years and in South Holland, Illinois before going to Mid-America Reformed Seminary.

Dr. Venema’s books, Heinrich Bullinger and the Doctrine of Predestination: Author of “The Other Reformed Tradition”? and Accepted and Renewed in Christ: The “Twofold Grace of God” and the Interpretation of Calvin’s Theology (developed from his Ph.D. thesis), reflect his interest in these Reformers. He has also written several other books including, for the Trust, The Promise of the Future (and a Study Guide for this); Christ and the Future; The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ; and Getting the Gospel Right, the latter two being assessments of the so-called ‘New Perspective on Paul’.

Cornelis Venema is married to Nancy, and they have four children.