The Eschatological Tension

This is the "Master File" for your teaching, integrating the text from Hoekema’s chapter with the amillennial perspective of Revelation and the full text of the CSB. It is structured to provide deep theological background while remaining practical for leadership.

The Tension of the "Already" and the "Not Yet"

Core Principle: The Overlapping of the Ages

Christian eschatology is not just about the future; it is about a present reality. The "Age to Come" has broken into this "Present Evil Age." We live in the tension between Christ’s decisive victory (First Coming) and His final triumph (Second Coming).

I. The Foundational Framework: The Holy Spirit as the "Pledge"

The presence of the Spirit is the primary evidence of the "Already." He is the arrhabōn—the down payment that guarantees the rest is coming.

The Conflict: We have the internal presence of God but still reside in mortal, decaying bodies.

The Verse: We ourselves who have the firstfruits of the Spirit groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23)

II. The Signs of the Times: Not Just for the End (pp. 69-70)

Hoekema argues that signs like the gospel reaching nations or the presence of antichrists characterize the entire church age, not just the final years.

The Missionary Sign: Preaching the gospel is a sign of Christ’s current victory.

This good news of the kingdom will be proclaimed in all the world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. (Matthew 24:14)

The Presence of the Enemy: The "last hour" began in the first century.

Children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. By this we know that it is the last hour. (1 John 2:18)

III. The Identity of the Church: New yet Imperfect (p. 70)

The church is a "both/and" community: a fellowship of those who are truly redeemed but still practically imperfect.

Pastoral Guidance: Do not address believers as "totally depraved," but as "New Creatures." Yet, treat one another with the grace required for "forgiven sinners."

The Verse: Brothers and sisters, if someone is overtaken in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual, restore such a person with a gentle spirit, watching out for yourselves so that you also won’t be tempted. (Galatians 6:1)

IV. Amillennial Perspective: The Already-Not Yet in Revelation

he Book of Revelation is often interpreted through Progressive Parallelism (or recapitulation). This means the book doesn't just tell one chronological story, but repeats the same era (the time between Christ's first and second coming) seven times from different perspectives.

Each of these "cycles" highlights the Already-Not Yet tension. Here are the specific references from Revelation that best illustrate this viewpoint:

Amillennial References in Revelation: The Already and Not Yet

1. The Kingdom Status (Revelation 1:5–6, 9)

Amillennialists point to the beginning of the book to show that the Kingdom is already a present reality for believers, even amidst tribulation.

The Already: We are currently a kingdom and priests.

The Not Yet: John describes himself as a "partner in the affliction" because the kingdom is not yet visible in its full glory.

...and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has set us free from our sins by his blood, and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father—to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. (Revelation 1:5–6)

2. The Victory of the Lamb (Revelation 5:5–10)

This is the central "Already" moment in the book. The Lion of Judah has already conquered through His death and resurrection.

The Already: The scroll of history is opened because Christ won the victory at the cross.

The Not Yet: The seals are broken one by one, releasing judgments and trials that continue until the end.

“Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5)

3. The Souls Under the Altar (Revelation 6:9–11)

Hoekema specifically mentions this passage on page 72. It is perhaps the clearest picture of the tension for the deceased believer.

The Already: They are given "white robes"—a symbol of their current victory and vindication in Christ.

The Not Yet: They cry out, "How long?" because the final judgment and the resurrection of their bodies have not yet occurred.

...He said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until the number would be completed of their fellow servants and their brothers and sisters, who were going to be killed just as they had been. (Revelation 6:11)

4. The Binding of Satan (Revelation 20:1–3)

In the amillennial view, the "thousand years" is the entire church age.

The Already: Satan is already "bound" in the sense that he can no longer deceive the nations to prevent the spread of the gospel (Matthew 12:29).

The Not Yet: Satan is not yet in the Lake of Fire; he is still "the god of this age" who prowls, and he will be released for a short time at the very end.

He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. (Revelation 20:2)

5. The Two Witnesses (Revelation 11:3–12)

Amillennialists often see the "Two Witnesses" as the Church in her missionary calling.

The Already: The Church has the "prophetic power" of the Spirit to witness effectively.

The Not Yet: The Church is still subject to being "killed" or persecuted by the world/beast until the final resurrection.

...the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet... (Revelation 11:11)

Teaching Outline Expansion: The Amillennial Perspective

Teaching Point: Recapitulation (The 7 Visions)

Explain to your class that Revelation is like a movie that shows the same car crash from seven different camera angles.

Camera 1 (Ch. 1-3): The Church struggling in the world.

Camera 2 (Ch. 4-7): The Throne room and the Seals (The Already victory).

Camera 3 (Ch. 8-11): The Trumpets (Warning judgments during the church age).

Final Camera (Ch. 20-22): The final defeat of the dragon and the New Jerusalem.

The "Newness" vs. "Impairment" (Revelation 21:1–5)

Amillennialists emphasize that the "New Heaven and New Earth" is the Not Yet becoming the Already in full.

Note that in Revelation 21:5, Christ says, "Look, I am making everything new," not "I am making all new things." * This supports Hoekema's point about continuity: God restores the original "good" creation rather than annihilating it.

Refined Lesson Focus: Why This Matters Today

If your students understand this amillennial "tension" in Revelation, it changes their prayer life:

They pray with authority: Because Christ has already conquered the Dragon (Rev 12:11).

They pray with patience: Because they know the full harvest is not yet here (Rev 14:14-16).

V. The Purpose of Suffering and the New Earth (pp. 72-75)

Suffering as "Not Yet": Pain exists because the results of sin are not yet fully eradicated. God uses this to produce character.

And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. (Romans 5:3–4)

The Continuity of Creation: Grace does not destroy nature; it restores it. The "New Earth" is this earth renewed and glorified.

Then the one seated on the throne said, "Look, I am making everything new." (Revelation 21:5)

Eternal Significance: Our work in this life (culture, family, labor) carries weight into the next.

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:58)

Hoekema defines the "Already" and the "Not Yet" as the underlying tension between the ____________________ of Christ and the final consummation.

According to the text, the Holy Spirit is described in the New Testament as a ____________________ or pledge of our future inheritance.

Hoekema argues that the "signs of the times" characterize the entire ____________________ era between the first and second comings.

In the amillennial view, the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20 represents the total duration of the ____________________.

Hoekema uses the Latin principle "Grace does not destroy nature but ____________________ it" to describe the continuity of the new earth.

A Christian's status as a "New Creature" refers to the "Already," while their status as an "Imperfect Person" refers to the ____________________.

In Revelation 6, the "souls under the altar" are given white robes as an "Already" victory but are told to ____________________ for final justice.

Amillennialism interprets the Book of Revelation using the principle of Progressive ____________________, where the same era is viewed from different angles.

Hoekema states that Christians can appreciate truth in non-Christian culture because of God's working of ____________________ grace.

Suffering in the life of a believer is described by Hoekema as a concrete manifestation of the ____________________.

Answer Key

First Coming (The tension begins with the inauguration of the kingdom during Christ's first advent).

Down payment (Derived from the Greek word arrhabon, referring to a guarantee of what is to follow).

Missionary (These signs are to be seen as occurring throughout the era of the church's mission).

Church Age (Amillennialism interprets the "thousand years" symbolically as the period between the first and second advents).

Restores (The principle Gratia non tollit sed reparat naturam emphasizes that God redeems His original creation).

Not Yet (This describes the final glorification and sinless perfection that believers still await).

Rest (Revelation 6:11 states they are to rest until the number of their fellow servants is complete).

Parallelism (Also called recapitulation; the method of seeing visions as overlapping rather than strictly chronological).

Common (The favor God shows toward all mankind, enabling cultural and scientific progress outside the church).

Not Yet (Suffering shows that the final state where "death will be no more" has not yet arrived).