New England theologian Jonathan Edwards came to prominence at the culmination of a dramatic paradigm shift in millennialism that had begun in the sixteenth century, declaring that a thousand-year earthly kingdom would arrive in the future. For Edwards, the land of Israel would be the ideal location of the millennial kingdom, and the people of Israel, after their restoration, would play critical and decisive roles in the millennium's commencement. Edwards's millennial vision was also cosmic, however, and included both Europe and China. Unlike his Protestant predecessors and his Puritan contemporaries, Edwards's millennialism de-centralized England and New England. Contrary to what many have argued, Edwards neither originated nor advocated the notion of the American redeemer nation. In America's Theologian Beyond America, Victor Zhu establishes the coherence of Edwards's Judeo-centric and cosmic vision of the millennial kingdom and argues that this vision is an indispensable part of Edwards's theological system. He highlights three theological loci in Edwards's millennialism: the greatness of God's divine sovereignty, the magnificence of His glory, and the capaciousness of His kingdom. Zhu demonstrates Edwards's conviction of the progressive realization of the kingdom, refuting the prevailing misinterpretation that Edwards thought the millennium was imminent. He explores Edwards's cosmic vision of the millennial kingdom, which extended from New England and Israel to China and other parts of the "heathen" world. In conclusion, Zhu examines the contemporary relevance of Edwards's millennialism in Chinese millennial movements.

About the Author
Victor Zhu received his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh in 2019. Zhu works as a lecturer and freelance researcher with interests in eschatology in the Reformed tradition, Puritan views of Israel, Chinese millennial movements, and Chinese-European cultural and philosophical interaction in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

Reviews
Zhu includes the fascinating history of Chinese Christian apocalyptic figures and beliefs as the question of the millennium resonated across the wider Christian community. An essential book for all Edwards scholars. * Choice *
Zhu's new interpretation of Edwards's millennialism challenges previous scholarship in a way that will encourage students of Edwards to consider his intellectualism beyond western thought. * John T. Lowe, Proceedings of the Wesley Historical Society *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197652671
Author Victor Zhu
Format Hardback
Page Count 272
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 522g
Dimensions(mm) 170mm * 226mm * 38mm