The Doctrine of Eschatology

Introduction

Eschatology comes from the greek word “eschatos,” which means last, and “ology” the study of. Therefore Eschatology is the study of last things

Different views on Eschatology

Premillennialist

Christ will come for the saints before the global and cataclysmic 7-year tribulation period. At the conclusion of the 7-year tribulation period, Jesus will come again. He will defeat the anti-Christ, the False Prophet and those who received the mark of the beats. Satan will be cast into a bottomless pit and Jesus will reign for 1000 years. After the reign, Satan will be loosed again to deceive the nations one last time. This will end in a final defeat for Satan, in which he will be cast into the Lake of Fire. Following this is the Great White Throne Judgement where Jesus will decisively and clearly declare all those that went to Hell as guilty, and they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

Postmillennialism

The millennial is an era (not necessarily a 1000 years) during which Christ will reign over the earth, not from a literal or earthly throne, but through the gradual increase of the Gospel and its power to change lives. After the gradual Christianization of the world, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked.

Amillennialism

The Kingdom of God was inaugurated at Christ resurrection, at which point He gained victory over both Satan and the curse. Christ is now reigning at the Father’s right hand over His church. After this present age had ended, Christ will return and immediately usher the church into their eternal state after judging the wicked.

Why are there different views?

Each view takes a different hermeneutical (interpretation) approach.

Premillennialist - Literal-grammatical-historical - Dispensational - The church does not fulfill the promises given to national Israel.

Postmillennialist - Figurative - Covenant Historical (speaks of the different covenants of the Bible as manifestations of grace) - The church does fulfill the promises given to national Israel.

Amillennialist - Figurative - Covenant Redemptive (Speaks of how the covenants of the Bible are under the Covenant of Redemption) - The church fulfills the promises made to national Israel.

One clear text to support the premillennialist view

Revelation 20:1–6 “And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Different views on when the rapture will happen

Post-Tribulation

Mid-Tribulation

Pre-Tribulation

Revelation 3:10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”

The second coming of Jesus has two aspects: 2 Thessalonians 2:1–2 “Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.”

The speaks of two separate events:

The gathering together is the rapture

The day of Christ is when He comes to defeat the anti-Christ and the False Prophets and the those who received the mark of the Beast.

The term “church” - the term “church” occurs 7 times between Revelation 2-3 but not once from 6-19, which deal specifically with the Tribulation period.

The Chronological events of the end times

The rapture

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

The Tribulation period

The Tribulation - The first 3 1/2 years - Matthew 24:4–14

False Messiahs

Wars and rumors of wars

Famine, pestilence, and earthquakes in various places (Luke 21:11).

Persecution of the righteous

Defection of false believers

The Gospel proclaimed throughout the world

The Great Tribulation - The second 3 1/2 years - Matthew 24:15-28

The abomination of desolation

Peril and calamity

Deceivers

Vultures gathering

The second coming of Christ - Matthew 24:29–30 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

The Battle of Armageddon - Revelation 19:11-21

The Millennial Reign - Revelation 20:1-6

The final battle - Revelation 20:7-10

The Great White Throne Judgement - Revelation 20:11-15

The new heaven, earth and Jerusalem - Revelation 21