4 - A Review of D. Brent Sandy, Plowshares and Pruning Hooks: Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic

D. Brent Sandy, a professor at Grace College in Winona Lake, Indiana and professing dispensationalist has become a major voice within evangelical academia calling for a paradigm shift in the interpretation of prophecy. He proposes to de-emphasize the search for meaning in the details of prophetic literature. This approach, he hopes, will minimize eschatological disagreements among Christians and lead to more unity in the Body of Christ. Citing results of modern language study that emphasizes the use of speech and text over their literal assertions, he argues that traditional dispensational emphasis upon a literal hermeneutic too often misses the point that biblical prophets intended to make to their audiences, leads to unnecessary sensationalism, and distorts the primary aim of prophetic literature.