Secondly, regarding my quotation of C.S. Lewis, which Mr. Garringer terms “the most disturbing example of John’s abuse of sources outside of Scripture.” When this quote appeared in BTET’s first edition (July 1999) it was not fully or properly reproduced. However, and as I informed Mr. Garringer during our private email correspondence prior to the posting of his article, this was fully corrected in the second edition (May 2000). I further suggested that if he was going to persist in using this criticism against me, he should at least update it. Apparently, he has chosen not to do so.

Thirdly, regarding BTET being named by Christianity Today magazine as one of the top three books in its “The Millennial Book Awards” article (Oct. 25, 1999, pp-77-78). This article is in the public domain and a documented fact. At the bottom of the first page in BTET’s second edition, this recognition is printed and referenced. FYI – the winning book was: The New Millennium Manual: A Once and Future Guide by Robert G. Clouse, Robert N. Hosack, and Richard V. Pierard, Baker Books. BTET was a “runner-up” along with Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond by Darrell Bock, editor, Zondervan. I considered these two other books reputable since they were written by legitimate scholars and published by credible publishers. I still do. Check out the article for yourself. And please note that even though writer, Mark Galli, terms BTET “unconvincing (at least to this amillennialist),” he concedes that it—i.e., “preterism does have an internal logic that makes for exegetically interesting reading.”

Fourthly, regarding my use of a Josephus’ quote to support my claim that first-century Jews considered their Temple as “a heaven and earth.” This reference was a minor part of one of “Ten Revelational Insights” I presented in a forty-one-page chapter re: the true identity of “The New Heaven and New Earth.” Even if Mr. Garringer’s understanding of Josephus’ language is the correct one (and I am not convinced it is), he leaves the impression that my whole case rests on this one minor, supportive point. It does not. But so far, he has not addressed any of my other, more substantial, and scriptural insights.

(For an exposition of what the Jewish Rabbis taught and believed about their Temple as the center of the earth and its connection with heaven, see Abraham Cohen, Everyman’s Talmud: The Major Teachings of the Rabbinic Sages (New York: Schocken Books, 1949, 1995), 30-43.)

Fifthly, my understanding of the eternality of the present earth, the sky, the sun, the moon, and the heavens, etc. is based on Scripture (Gen. 8:21-22; Eccl. 1:4; Ps. 78:69; 89:36-37; 93:1; 96:10; 104:5; 119:90; Eph. 3:21, and many more). It is not based on the findings of secular scientists, the so-called second law (theory) of thermodynamics, or entropy, or a cited newspaper article. I see no reason to change what I’ve written, based on Mr. Garringer’s criticism, so far.

Sixthly, regarding my attribution of Isaiah 40:22 to a cited Christopher Columbus quote. Perhaps, this is Mr. Garringer’s most valid criticism. While I have not consulted the books he referenced, I have placed his comments on this issue in my “next edition-revision” file for BTET. (I have a similar file for each of my books and other writing projects.) At that time, I will reconsider his criticism on his point. But this issue is so minor in support of the major contention made in this chapter that if I determine he is right, I will simply delete this reference.