All Things New Review

All Things New: Heaven, Earth, and the Restoration of Everything you Love

Author: John Eldredge

Genre: Religious

First Take: Quite interesting

When did I read it? 2018

Details:

This was an interesting pitstop in my reading during late 2018 early 2019. My belief about the afterlife is that when we die, we are buried in the “covered place” (hell) and await the resurrection of the dead by Jesus Christ when we will spend the kingdom of God on earth assisting with creation’s perfecting. So, frankly and without arrogance, this book isn’t really that ground breaking to me.

Confronting for some…

For those who have a vision of an eternity in the clouds, this book is probably pretty confronting. As one reviewer says, “This book doesn’t only challenge our idea of what our life with Christ will be in the hereafter, it completely shatters and corrects our paradigm…”

Based around Matthew 19:28, “the renewal of all things”, John builds a premise that we will get everything back in essence, to the Edenic state.

Shifting Understanding is Interesting

I found it really interesting how John’s belief went from (what I view as) error to a correct understanding. I am not trying to be condescending, but I found this quite fascinating. I get personally quite frustrated with how things that appear to me to be quite clear in scripture, are ignored and avoided by people who seem otherwise intelligent and knowledgeable. It’s a character flaw in me, I know…

Shortfall

John’s flaw in this book is that he doesn’t explore 2 Corinthians 15:24-24. The “kingdom” lasts for a millennium (which of course is a long time for us now), but it is really just a blip in the greater purpose of God. Eternity with God is a much more epic consideration and “All things new” really misses it. For a more nuanced read of this subject, I suggest Frank Viola’s “From Eternity to Here”.