Book Review: Jesus Wins (Dayton Hartman)

As I said in a previous review, Lexham Press has scores of books I’d like to review, both long and short. This is one of their shorter books that they sent me complimentarily, and I thought I’d write up a quick review of it. Dayton Hartman is an adjunct professor at Southeastern Theological Baptist Seminary and Judson College and is the lead pastor at Redeemer Church. He has also written Lies That Pastors Believe and Church History for Modern Ministry.

This is a short book. With two appendices, the book reaches to 78 pages (more with end notes). So it’s not long and could be read in one sitting (or five with kids). Trevin Wax writes the foreword and reminds us that the book of Revelation reveals Jesus, not “the specifics of a worldwide calamity reserved for the future” (xiii). It is to spur us to faithfulness because we know what the future holds: Jesus wins. 

Hartman gives us five chapters on the end times, constantly reminding us of the one truth that Jesus wins. He is reigning and he will return for our rescue. Eschatology is not supposed to scare us and give us the goosebumps as we speculate about the newest conspiracy. As Hartman writes, “Speculation deemphasizes Jesus and leads to fear” (8). He shows that in both the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene Creed were united in the hope of Christ’s return. Hartman even has a chapter which simply describes the different end time views. Though they have their differences, they all (the ones he writes about, that is) agree on Christ’s return. We are headed for a new global Eden where, like Adam and Eve, we will live with and work alongside God, only now as redeemed citizens of Christ’s kingdom. 

Recommended?

The daily news is pessimistic. Fearful stories grip us, but they can leave us anxious and apprehensive. We should have confidence in Christ’s return because he will bring justice. He will set things in order as they should be, and he will rule over all in righteousness and justice.

This is a good, short-and-simple book on how our eschatological focus should be Jesus and the fact that he wins. Jesus wins. Too many Christians make secondary matters (our end times views) more important than the gospel. Or at least, they make them so important that their views water out the gospel. Rather than disagreeing on small details, we can all agree on the fact that our hope is in Christ, who rules over all, and who will come and rescue us. Jesus wins. This would be a good book for the layperson to begin reading in their pursuit of understanding the end times. 

Lagniappe

• Author: Dayton Hartman
• Paperback: 91 pages
• Publisher: Lexham Press (January 16, 2019)

Buy it on Amazon or from Lexham Press!

Disclosure: I received this book free from Lexham Press. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.

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