John F. Walvoord (May 1, 1910 – December 20, 2002) was a Christian theologian, pastor, and president of
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) is an evangelical theological seminary in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system dispensationalism. DTS has campuses in Dallas, Houston, and Washington, D.C., as well as extension ca ...
from 1952 to 1986. He was the author of over 30 books, focusing primarily on
eschatology
Eschatology (; ) concerns expectations of the end of the present age, human history, or of the world itself. The end of the world or end times is predicted by several world religions (both Abrahamic and non-Abrahamic), which teach that nega ...
and theology including ''The Rapture Question'', and was co-editor of ''The Bible Knowledge Commentary'' with
Roy B. Zuck. He earned AB and DD degrees from
Wheaton College, an AM degree from
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private research university in Fort Worth, Texas. It was established in 1873 by brothers Addison and Randolph Clark as the Add-Ran Male & Female College. It is affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciple ...
in philosophy, a Th.B., Th.M., and Th.D. in
Systematic Theology
Systematic theology, or systematics, is a discipline of Christian theology that formulates an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It addresses issues such as what the Bible teaches about certain topic ...
from Dallas Theological Seminary, and a Litt.D. from
Liberty Baptist Seminary.
History
Walvoord was brought up in a Christian home, but had little interest in the faith until he was fifteen, when his family moved to Racine after his father accepted a position as superintendent of the junior high. They joined the Union Gospel Tabernacle where he committed his life to Christ after attending a Bible study on
Galatians Galatians may refer to:
* Galatians (people)
* Epistle to the Galatians, a book of the New Testament
* English translation of the Greek ''Galatai'' or Latin ''Galatae'', ''Galli,'' or ''Gallograeci'' to refer to either the Galatians or the Gauls in ...
.
After continuing his education at Wheaton College, Walvoord went on to Texas Christian University and Dallas Theological Seminary where he completed his Th.D. in 1936. Seminary president and mentor
Lewis Sperry Chafer
Lewis Sperry Chafer (February 27, 1871 – August 22, 1952) was an American theologian. He co-founded with his older brother, Rollin T. Chafer, Dallas Theological Seminary and served as its first president, and was an influential proponent of Chr ...
appointed Walvoord to the position of registrar. During his tenure, he also taught systematic theology at the seminary, and pastored the Rosen Heights Baptist Church in Fort Worth. Walvoord became more involved in the administration of the school, serving as Chafer's assistant and secretary to the faculty, and upon Chafer's death in 1952, became the seminary's second president where he served until his retirement in 1986.
In addition to his responsibilities at the seminary, Walvoord earned a reputation as one of the most influential
dispensational theologians of the 20th century and played a prominent role in advocating a
rapture of Christians from the earth prior to a time of great tribulation, followed by a literal thousand-year millennial reign of Christ, and a renewed focus of God on the nation of Israel (which he associated with modern day
Jews
Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...
) as distinct from the church. As part of his Dispensationalist theology, he claimed there was prophetic Biblical justification for the restoration of a
Jewish state
In world politics, Jewish state is a characterization of Israel as the nation-state and sovereign homeland of the Jewish people.
Modern Israel came into existence on 14 May 1948 as a polity to serve as the homeland for the Jewish people. ...
in
Palestine.
Stephen Sizer; an Anglican vicar who gained a Masters in Theology from
Oxford University
Oxford () is a city in England. It is the county town and only city of Oxfordshire. In 2020, its population was estimated at 151,584. It is north-west of London, south-east of Birmingham and north-east of Bristol. The city is home to th ...
and is a prominent critic of
Christian Zionism; lists Walvoord as one of the "leading dispensationalists who are also overtly
Zionist
Zionism ( he, צִיּוֹנוּת ''Tsiyyonut'' after '' Zion'') is a nationalist movement that espouses the establishment of, and support for a homeland for the Jewish people centered in the area roughly corresponding to what is known in Je ...
" including also
Charles Ryrie
Charles Caldwell Ryrie (March 2, 1925 – February 16, 2016) was an American Bible scholar and Christian theologian. He served as professor of systematic theology and dean of doctoral studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and as president and pro ...
,
Dwight Pentecost
John Dwight Pentecost (April 24, 1915 – April 28, 2014) was an American Christian theologian, best known for his book ''Things to Come''.
Pentecost was born in Pennsylvania and died in Dallas, Texas. His wife was Dorothy Harrison Pentecost (Jun ...
,
Eric Sauer,
Charles Dyer and
Hal Lindsey
Harold Lee Lindsey (born November 23, 1929) – known as Hal Lindsey – is a best-selling American evangelical writer. He is a Christian Zionist, a dispensationalist and a television host. He wrote a series of popular apocalyptic books – beg ...
.
[ Retrieved on 20 March 2018.] All associated with the Dallas Theological Seminary.
Selected publications
* ''The Revelation of Jesus Christ'', John Walvoord,
Moody Publishers
Moody Bible Institute (MBI) is a private evangelical Christian Bible college founded in the Near North Side of Chicago, Illinois, US by evangelist and businessman Dwight Lyman Moody in 1886. Historically, MBI has maintained positions that have ...
(1966),
* ''Daniel: The Key to Prophetic Revelation'', John Walvoord, Moody Publishers (1971),
*''Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis'',
Zondervan
Zondervan is an international Christian media and publishing company located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Zondervan is a founding member of the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association (ECPA). They are a part of HarperCollins Christian Publ ...
. (1974, rev. ed. 1976 and 1990),
* ''Jesus Christ Our Lord'', John F Walvoord, Moody Publishers (1974),
* ''Major Bible Themes'' (with Lewis Sperry Chafer) (1974)
* ''The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation: A Historical and Biblical Study of Posttribulationism'' (1976)
* ''The Rapture Question'' (1979)
* ''The Millennial Kingdom'' (1983)
* ''The Bible Knowledge Commentary'', (with Roy B. Zuck), Cook Communications (1989),
* ''The Holy Spirit: A Comprehensive Study of the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit'' (1991)
* (contributor) ''Five Views on Sanctification'' (1996)
* (contributor) ''Four Views on Hell'', Zondervan Corp. (1996),
* ''Matthew: Thy Kingdom Come'', The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago (1974),
* ''The Final Drama: Fourteen Keys to Understanding the Prophetic Scriptures'', Kregel Publications (1998),
* ''Every Prophecy of the Bible'', Cook Communications (1999),
* ''The Church in Prophecy: Exploring God's Purpose for the Present Age'',
Kregel Publications
Kregel Publications is an Evangelical Christian book publisher based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It has three subdivisions: ''Kregel Publications'', ''Editorial Portavoz'' and ''Kregel Parable Bookstore''.
History
The company was founded in 1909, ...
(1999),
* ''The Power of Praying Together: Experiencing Christ Actively in Charge'', (with Oliver W. Price) Kregel Publications (1999),
* ''Major Bible Prophecies'', Zondervan Corp. (1999),
* ''Blessed Hope'', (Autobiography with Mal Couch), AMG Publishers (2001),
* ''Prophecy in the New Millennium'', Kregel Publications (2001),
References
Audio programs
Harold Camping (Amillennialism) vs. John Walvoord (Premillennialism)– 1980 debate MP3
{{DEFAULTSORT:Walvoord, John
1910 births
2002 deaths
Christian writers about eschatology
Christian Zionists
American Presbyterian ministers
Wheaton College (Illinois) alumni
American Christian theologians
Texas Christian University alumni
Dallas Theological Seminary alumni
Dallas Theological Seminary faculty
20th-century American clergy