I was just talking with Kelly briefly last night about heaven, the end of the world, and what comes after last night. Although I’m a pastor, we don’t talk about things like this all of the time. Then, lo and behold, I come across this video excerpt of Bishop N. T. Wright discussing heaven, the afterlife, and the connections between those two things and the call to justice today. I believe this excerpt is linked with the release of Wright’s most recent book, Surprised by Hope.
While the interviewer describes Wright’s views as “a radical departure from traditional belief,” what he is outlining in this view is not altogether that different from postmillennialism or amillennialism. The Left Behind series of books and movies, which are referenced in this excerpt, are classic examples of premillennialism. or what Dallas Willard discusses in The Divine Conspiracy: that we are intended to rule (have dominion) over all creation and are prepared for that in life now – “that God assigned to us collectively the rule over all living things on earth, animal, and plant” (22).
Regardless of the view of the end times, this is a very well-done excerpt that might be helpful for your own consideration, and also as a conversation starter with friends about the meaning of life.
For a much more entertaining and humorous approach to the same material, you may want to watch Bishop Wright’s interview by Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report here.
Discover more from Matthew Erickson
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Matthew Erickson 
The implications for this view of eschatology are significant for the here-and-now. If Bishop Wright is correct (which I am inclined to think that he is), it certainly has huge implications as to how we live in the world now. He has an interesting article that reflects much of what he said in the interview that you posted and how it relates to the Gospels and political theology.
http://www.christiancentury.org/article.lasso?id=4862
Thanks, Matt, for sharing this…