BOOK DESCRIPTION
Is there hope beyond the elect? What did the earliest Christians believe about prophecy, judgment, and salvation?
In ESSAYS IN EARLY CHRISTIANITY, Jonathan Ramachandran explores ancient theological possibilities grounded in Scripture and the writings of the earliest Church Fathers. With careful adherence to the historical-grammatical method and a commitment to literal biblical interpretation, Ramachandran revisits the long-forgotten Chiliasm model—a belief in the literal thousand-year reign of Christ on earth—as taught by voices like Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, and Papias.
This volume offers bold insights into the prospect of Non-Elect Salvation—the idea that some may be saved outside the elect Bride of Christ, not through presumption, but through divine mercy and postmortem judgment. Through in-depth analysis of Scripture and early Christian testimony, Ramachandran raises provocative questions: Are there two distinct resurrections separated by 1,000 years? Do Revelation and 1 Corinthians 15 describe gradations of resurrection glory? Could the “surprised sheep” of Matthew 25 represent non-elect salvation?
Designed for pastors, seminary students, and thoughtful churchgoers, this accessible yet rigorous work is not speculative theology but evidence-driven inquiry. Readers are invited to examine early Christian prophecy with open Bibles and discerning minds—testing all things and holding fast to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
BOOK DETAILS
- Publisher Christian Publishing House
- Publication Date: July 13, 2025
- Language: English
- Print length: 432 pages
- ISBN-10: 1949586421
- ISBN-13: 978-1949586428
- Item Weight: 1.27 pounds
- Dimensions: 6 x 0.98 x 9 inches
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jonathan Ramachandran is a self taught theological enthusiast who loves the Chiliasm Church Fathers and tries to understand Prophecy of the Bible with their writings. He can be contacted at CoachJonathanRamachandran@gmail.com, runs his theology blog being a freelance missionary of tentmaker style at www.AnonymousChristian.org and lives in Malaysia where he is an operations manager for an engineering company.
Jon is a freelance preacher who is active both online and offline who has baptised some of his students into Christianity. His varied full time working experience includes working with Christian ministries dealing with charity, seismic engineering, educational centre management, teaching Math at schools (elementary and high school with a competition touch) and is one of Malaysia's IMO coaches. His qualifications include having graduated with Bsc. Actuarial Science degree as a Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) Scholarship recipient, Exam P (Probability) of Society of Actuaries, representing Malaysia to the International Math Olympiad (IMO 2002 at Glasgow, UK) after winning 2nd place (Silver) with "full marks" in the highest 'Sulong' individual category for the Malaysian National Math Olympiad (OMK, Olimpiad Matematik Kebangsaan, year 2002), Bronze in national Physics competition in Malaysia (year 2000) and Distinction in the Australian national Chemistry quiz (Year 2001, senior division).