Chapter One: Introduction to Eschatology
This chapter, is divided into four major divisions, provides basic concepts of the doctrine of Eschatology:
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Meaning of Eschatology
Eschatology means the study of last things or future events (i.e. prophecies). That study can cover all things that were future at the time of their writing, or it can include only those things which are still future from our present vantage point. It deals with the consummation of all things, both those things which relate to individuals and to the world.
Everyone has some sort of eschatology. For many moderns, eschatology is a study in despair, for all things will end in death - the death of the individual and the death of the universe. For others the despair is modified by a vague hope in some sort of life after death. For the Christian the Bible provides clear and detailed teaching concerning the future so that he may know with certainty what lies ahead.
1.2 The Scope of Eschatology
The study of last things includes the Biblical teaching concerning the Great Tribulation, the Resurrections, the Rapture of the church, the Second Coming of Christ, the Millennium and the Eternal State.
1.3 The Purpose of Our Study
We enter upon our task, not simply to satisfy our curiosity, but because we sincerely
want to know all that the Spirit of God has to tell us about the future.
The time clock of human history seems to be sounding its final strokes. Yet millions of people have never heard the gospel. As we study prophecy, we should allow the Holy Spirit to challenge us as never before with the urgency of the hour, and with holy zeal to take the message of redeeming love to the ends of the earth before it is too late.
1.4 The Importance of Eschatology
Because there is much divergence in this area of doctrine, and because some things are not crystal clear, some assume that eschatology should be given a lesser importance than other areas of Biblical truth. Is there any area of doctrine that has not been debated? Think of the Trinity or predestination. Yet we do not, nor should we, shy away from a detailed study of these teachings. Similarly we must not slight what the Bible says about the future. In addition, God expect all believers to study Bible prophecy diligently (Daniel 12:4, 9-10; Revelation 1:1-3; 3:6; 10:11; 22:10).
For the believer, the knowledge of prophecy:
provides joy in the midst of affliction (2 Corinthians 4:17);
cleanses and encourages holy living (1 John 3:3);
is profitable, like all Scripture, for a number of important needs in the Christian's life (2 Timothy 3:16-17);
gives facts about life after death (2 Corinthians 5:8);
gives truth about the end of history;
gives proof of the reliability of all Scripture, for the number of prophecies that have come to pass precisely as predicted cannot be accounted for by chance but only by God; and
draws our hearts out in worship to the God who is in complete control and who will accomplish His will in history.
To slight prophecy is to miss these benefits.
1.5 The Method of Study
Remember that God has not revealed all the details of His will. Approach your study with due humility. As you read the Scriptures daily, jot down in your Bible notebook the prophetic information you are able to glean. Concentrate upon the following crucial prophetic passages:
Psalm 2;
Isaiah 9:1-7;
Daniel 2:31-45; 7:2-14;
Amos 9:8-15;
Zechariah 14:1-21;
Matthew 24:1-25:46;
Romans 11:25-32;
1 Thessalonians 4:15-18;
2 Thessalonians 1:5-2:12;
1 Corinthians 15:51-58; and
Revelation 19:11-22:2.
Get a clear conception of the prophetic order of events and your present status in the total scheme. Read carefully all the passages of Scripture suggested in the chapters which follow. There is no substitute for this. Our convictions must ever be based squarely upon the Word of God.
2. ACCURACY OF BIBLE PROPHECY
The various books of the Bible were written over a period of some fifteen hundred years. Many of the earlier prophecies were fulfilled before the entire Bible was completed. Their fulfillment is a guarantee that other prophecies, relating to what is still in the future, will similarly be fulfilled.
2.1 Already Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies
Read Jeremiah 25:11 in the light of 2 Kings 25:1-21. The prophet Jeremiah declared that the "whole land" would become a desolation, and that the king of Babylon would prove to be a mighty conqueror. A few years later his prophecy was fulfilled: Judah was overthrown and entered upon her seventy years of Babylonian captivity. Or compare Daniel 5:27, 28 with 5:30, 31, where the announcement of the imminent transfer of Belshazzar’s Babylonian Empire to the Medes and Persians is at once followed by the statement that in that night Belshazzar was slain and Darius the Mede took possession of his kingdom.
Other Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in New Testament times. For example, Isaiah 7:14 and Matthew 1:22, 23. The virgin birth of Christ, prophesied by Isaiah, became a reality at the advent of the son of God. Micah’s prediction (Micah 5:2) that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem was marvelously fulfilled at the Savior's birth (Compare Matthew 2:3-6). The rejection and sufferings of our Lord were foretold by Isaiah (53:3-7). His crucifixion was announced in detail by the psalmist about a thousand years before it took place (Psalm 22:1-18). His burial was described in advance by Isaiah (compare Isaiah 53:9 with Matthew 27:57-60).
His resurrection was foreseen by David (compare Psalm 16:8-10 with Acts 2:25-31; 13:35-37). His ascension was proclaimed centuries before it occurred (compare Psalm 68:18 with Ephesians 4:8). Actually, so many Old Testament prophetic utterances were fulfilled in the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Christ that, even if we had no New Testament, we could reconstruct large portions of the life of Christ on the basis of what the Old Testament prophets foretold (see Luke 24:25-27).
2.2 Not Yet Fulfilled Old Testament Prophecies
The Old Testament prophets faithfully recorded prophecies, not only concerning Christ’s sufferings on earth, but also concerning "the glory that should follow" (1 Peter 1:10, 11). The sufferings of the Son of God are past. His glory is still ahead. Read Psalm 2; Isaiah 9:7; 11:4-9; Micah 4:1-5; Zechariah 14:1-9. Such passages refer to events still in the future. Christ’s dramatic return for the dread battle of Armageddom, His glorious reign over the earth - these have not yet taken place. But they are clearly delineated in the pages of the Old Testament. And just as the Old Testament prophecies concerning our Lord’s first coming were meticulously fulfilled, so are these prophecies concerning His second coming sure of fulfillment.
2.3 Already Fulfilled New Testament Prophecies
The Lord Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He would suffer, be killed and raised again the third day (Matthew 16:21; 17:22, 23; 20:17-19). His predictions soon came to pass. He warned that Judas would betray Him (Matthew 26:24, 25), that His disciples would all be offended (Matthew 26:31) and that Peter would deny Him (Matthew 26:34). Events proved that His words were true.
After His resurrection He told His disciples that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). This empowering occurred at Pentecost (Acts 2:4; compare Joel 2:28, 29). He stated that Jerusalem would be destroyed (Luke 21:20-24), a tragic event which took place in AD 70, when the capital fell to the armies of the Roman general, Titus.
2.4 Not Yet Fulfilled New Testament Prophecies
Innumerable New Testament predictions await fulfillment. Christ spoke about His second coming to receive believers unto Himself (John 14:3); about Anti-Christ and the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:15, 21); and about His coming in majesty to the earth (Matthew 24:29-31). All this is still in the future. The New Testament epistles abound in prophetic statements which await fulfillment. And the Revelation is a prophetic classic replete with predictions, as yet unfulfilled, concerning dramatic events to come.
2.5 Conclusion
The remarkable precision with which Biblical prophecies have already been fulfilled fortifies our conviction that the Word of God is sure and that the prophetic picture of the future is accurate and trustworthy. Those who have not yet trusted Christ as Saviour should sense, as they study things to come, that Christ’s return may be very near and that they should turn promptly and humbly to Him for salvation before it is everlastingly too late.
3. DEFINITION OF TERMS
Before proceeding to deal with specific aspects of the last-day events, there is benefit in defining some basic terms:
The rapture (translation) of the church is the catching away of the church from earth to heaven.
The judgment seat of Christ is the place where Christ judges Christians, immediately after their rapture, on the basis of their conduct as Christians, resulting in a receiving of rewards by some and a sense of loss for others.
The marriage supper of the Lamb is a term used in Revelation 19:7-10 to refer to the specific occasion, occurring sometime between the rapture and the revelation of Christ, when the church is eternally united to Christ as His bride.
The great tribulation is a period of seven years, beginning shortly after the rapture, when judgment is meted out upon the world at large for its sinfulness of past ages. At this time the restored nation of Israel is tried by the fire of suffering to bring the Jews to a receptive attitude toward Christ as their Messiah-Deliverer. Because the last half of this period is more severe in the degree of suffering experienced, the term is often used in reference only to the last three-and-a-half years of the total seven while the first half of this period is known as the beginning of the sorrow.
The revelation of Christ is a term commonly used to designate the return of Christ to the earth at the conclusion of the great tribulation, when He comes with the saints of the church, raptured seven years before, to bring deliverance for Israel which is being oppressed by the Antichrist.
The battle of Armageddon, a name taken from Revelation 16:16, designates the battle in Israel which brings the great tribulation to a climax, as the Antichrist triumphs over the Jews to seize Israel's homeland for himself. Part of the struggle, probably its beginning, takes place at the historic battle scene of Megiddo, well north of Jerusalem, but descriptive passages show it will end at Jerusalem.
The judgment of Gentiles is an occasion of judgment, immediately following the time of Christ's deliverance of Israel from the Antichrist, when a determination is made regarding which Gentiles will be permitted to enter the millennial period. The criterion for judgment will be personal righteousness as believers in Christ, evidenced by the attitude of each shown during the great tribulation toward Christ's "brethren," the Jews.
The millennium is a period of one thousand years, beginning soon after the judgment of Gentiles, when Christ rules in perfect righteousness and continual peace over the state of Israel, in particular, and over all the world, in general, with resurrected saints, now glorified, acting as assistants in this rule. The term millennium is from the Latin mille, a thousand, and annus, a year, means a thousand years. It is not found in Scripture, but the term "a thousand years" occurs 6 times in Revelation 20:2-7. The Greek term chiliasm frequently occurs in theological literature and denotes the doctrine that Christ will come and set up an earthly kingdom for a thousand years. The fact of such a kingdom is firmly established in the teaching of the Old Testament, but the book of Revelation gives its duration.
The great white throne judgment follows the millennium and is the occasion when the unsaved of all ages will receive their sentence of eternal punishment in hell for their sin.
The premillennial view of last things holds to the existence of a literal, earthly millennium, as just defined, and believes that the rapture of the church precedes it.
The postmillennial view holds to the existence of a literal millennium, resulting from the spread of the Gospel and the Salvation of a vast number of people, with Christ returning to the earth at its conclusion.
The amillennial view, denying the existence of a literal millennium, sees the millennial promises as being fulfilled in a spiritual kingdom; some adherents hold that this kingdom is Christ's rule over His church here on earth and others that it is God's rule over the saints in heaven.
The pretribulational view holds that the rapture of the church will be not only premillennial but pretribulational; that is, it will occur before the beginning of the great tribulation, meaning that the church will not experience this severe period of suffering.
The posttribulational view agrees with the pretribulational view that the rapture will be premillennial, but holds that it will occur after the great tribulation, meaning that the church will be on earth during this seven-year period.
The midtribulational view also agrees that the rapture will be premillennial but disagrees in holding that it will occur at the midpoint of the great tribulation, meaning that the church will not experience the last half of this period when suffering will be the most severe.
The pre-wrath view of the rapture departs from the customary two-fold division of the seventieth week of Daniel 9:27 and suggests that a threefold division (i.e. "beginning of birth pangs," "great tribulation," "day of the Lord") is more valid. The rapture will occur before the "day of the Lord" (Revelation 6:12-17). In this way, believers escape the "wrath" of God as promised in 1 Thessalonians 5.
The partial rapturism view holds that the unspiritual part of the church will pass through the tribulation, but the mature and Spirit-filled will be caught up before tribulation.
4. OUTLINE OF FUTURE EVENTS
Before we begin a detailed analysis of the leading events to come, it is wise for us to have an overall appreciation of what the future has in store. Then we can see each item in historical, prophetic perspective. The Old Testament prophesied that the Messiah would come into the world. Some passages said that He would suffer (Psalms 22 and 69), others told of His glory (Psalms 2 and 72). The prophets wondered how both could be true (1 Peter 1:10, 11). The explanation is that Christ came and suffered at His first advent and will come again in glory at His second advent.
With regard to Christ’s first coming, one prophet said that He would come to Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) and another said that He would come to Jerusalem, riding on an ass (Zechariah 9:9). Both of these were literally fulfilled (Matthew 2:1; 21:1-11). With regard to the second coming, some verses speak of His coming for His saints (John 14:3), while others speak of His coming with His saints (1 Thessalonians 3:13). Thus, there must be a time lapse between the two advents. We shall consider coming events in their chronological order.
Please note that there are various options of the order of prophetic events. I will base on the pretribulational premillennial option to provide some basic Bible prophecy knowledge to the readers. After this, I would examine all the available options of Eschatology and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each option.
4.1 Preparation for Christ's Return
The way will be paved for the coming of the Savior. The "signs of the times" which indicate the imminence of His return. Sin, unbelief, formalism, false cults, indifference and callousness will abound. And certain specific historical events will take place. God’s discerning people may behold some of these predicted events occurring today.
4.2 The Rapture of the Saints (Church)
This is the first event in the prophetic program. All believers will be caught up to meet their Savior (1 Corinthians 15:51-56; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18). We learn that the Lord will descend with a shout; believers already dead will rise first from the dead; living believers will be changed and given a new body; they will be caught up into the air and all this will be sudden. When will this take place? The Lord would have us to be ready and watching for Him at all times; thus no dates are given.
4.3 The Judgment Seat of Christ
They will receive their rewards at His judgment seat and be forever with Him. The term "judgment seat" (Greek, bema) suggests rewards, not punitive judgment. "We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Believers will not be judged for their sins at this event because "there is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1). At the judgment seat of Christ rewards will be given to believers for faithful, sacrificial service (1 Corinthians 3:13-15).
4.4 The Marriage Supper (Feast) of the Lamb
When rewards for faithful service have been given, the marriage supper of the Lamb will take place (Revelation 19:7-9). The Lord and His own will enter into inexpressible joy.
4.5 The Great Tribulation (The Time of Jacob's Trouble)
Earthquakes, storms, famines and epidemics are the common experience of mankind, and wars have caused the death of millions throughout the history. But the Bible speaks of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:14). In Matthew 24 Jesus taught about a coming period of trouble known as "the beginning of sorrows." This will be followed by the greatest tribulation the world has ever known (Matthew 24:8, 21). Many more details are given in pictorial, apocalyptic form in Revelation 6-18. God will punish the Jewish nation for crucifying His Son, and so will allow them to be persecuted. Jew-hating Gentiles will go too far, and the wrath of God will for this and other reasons be poured out on the nations as well. At first men will be filled with fear (Revelation 6:15-17), but they will nevertheless refuse to turn to God in repentance (Revelation 9:20, 21; 16:9, 11).
The Great Tribulation will come after the Church is taken away (Revelation 3:10), and before Christ returns in glory. Daniel the prophet spoke of seven years of desolation (Daniel 9:27). The first three and one-half years may be calm and prosperous, but the last half will be terrifying. God will raise up witnesses (Revelation 11:3-12) to the truth during the tribulation also and many Jewish people will be converted and saved (Revelation 7:1-8) and many Gentiles will also be converted and saved (Revelation 7:9-17).
Antichrist will be revealed (Revelation 13:1-6, 11-18). The Great Tribulation will smite-the most intense, excruciating period of suffering ever known. If you are not yet a believer, put your trust in Christ at once. Then you too may escape the horrible agony which will grip the apostate earth culture from which the true Church will have been removed.
4.6 The Return of the King with His Church (The Revelation of Christ)
This is one of the crowning events of Biblical prophecy. The Lord Jesus will return to earth in power and great glory at the conclusion of the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:29, 30). He comes with the saints of the church, raptured seven years before, to bring deliverance for Israel which is being oppressed by the Antichrist. Israel will mourn as they remember how their nation rejected the Messiah (Zechariah 12:10). The battle of Armageddon will be fought. Antichrist, the coming world dictator, will be overthrown. Christ will triumph over the massed military might of earth. He will demonstrate that He is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:11-21).
4.7 Binding of Satan
Satan will be bound and completely restricted from exercising any influence during Christ's millennial rule (Revelation 20:1-3). He will be cast into the "bottomless pit."
4.8 Resurrections of Old Testament Saints and Tribulation Martyrs
Jewish believers from Old Testament times (Daniel 12:2) and the tribulation martyrs are to be raised at the close of the Great Tribulation (Revelation 20:4). The unbelieving dead will remain in the graves for another 1000 years (20:5). Their resurrection and judgment at the end of the Millennium is described in Revelation 20:7-15, and noted in the last phrase of Daniel 12:2.
4.9 The Judgment of the Living Nations / Gentiles and Establishment of the Kingdom
Then will come the judgment of the living nations (Matthew 25:31-46). Gentiles who have shown their faith in God by helping His people, the faithful Jewish remnant, will be admitted to Christ’s kingdom. Others will be led away to eternal punishment. When all evil elements have been purged, Christ will set up His earthly kingdom. The boundaries of the nation of Israel, "from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates" (Genesis 15:18), will have to be defined. This will not be difficult at the time, however, with all opposing powers now defeated and Christ in complete authority over the world. In addition, appointments of glorified saints to their respective positions of rule will be made.
4.10 The Millennium
With these matters effected, the glorious period of the millennium will begin. Old Testament prophecy tells of a golden age in the future, when the Messiah will reign as King over the whole earth. In Revelation 20:4 He is seen reigning for a thousand years. The earth was put under a curse because of Adam’s sin (Genesis 3:17, 18), and the ground now produces thorns and weeds. Paradise will be restored (Revelation 2:7) and the desert will "blossom like the rose" (Isaiah 35:1). Wild animals will be tame (Isaiah 65:25), and all creation will be delivered from suffering (Romans 8:19-22). There will be no war (Isaiah 9:7) and crime will be at a minimum.
In Revelation 17 and 18 we see the end of commercialized religion. A simple spiritual order will suffice in the millennium. Sickness and death will be the exception rather than the rule. People will live to a great age (Isaiah 65:20). Those who are spared to enter the millennial kingdom may not be many in number but the world’s population will increase, and the Christ the King will provide for all. All who enter the kingdom will be sons of God (Matthew 25:34). Their children born during the millennium will have the opportunity of being born again, and many will be. Satan will be bound (Revelation 20:2) and his hosts of evil spirits will also be restrained. In Isaiah 60:12 we see that Israel will be the leading nation of the world. This place will be given to her by the King of Israel, the Lord Jesus Christ. The twelve apostles will join the Lord Jesus in ruling Israel (Matthew 19:28). Christians are members of Christ’s body, they will go wherever He goes (John 14:3).
4.11 The Loosing and Doom of Satan
During the millennium, with Christ on the throne, all men will be forced to obey. At the end of the thousand years, Satan will be loosed for a time (Revelation 20:3). He will gather an innumerable army for the last great effort to overthrow the throne of God. This army will all be destroyed by fire from heaven (Revelation 20:9); Satan will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10) and all resistance to the reign of God will be over forever.
4.12 The Judgment of Unbelievers at the Great White Throne
Then will come the Second Resurrection. We have observed that the dead in Christ rise from among the dead at the rapture, before the kingdom is set up but the resurrection of Christ guarantees that all men will rise again (1 Corinthians 15:22). Every non-believers will stand before God complete with body, soul, and spirit. Only the unsaved will appear at the Great White Throne, where the books will be opened and every man judged according to his works. The Lord will sit on the throne as Judge (John 5:22). There is no salvation for those who have rejected Christ in this world (Revelation 20:11-15).
4.13 The Eternal State (New Heaven and New Earth)
Time is like a tiny beach surrounded by an infinite ocean of eternity. Before the creation of the world there was a measureless period called eternity. When time ceases to be measure, we will come to the eternity of the future. "From eternity to eternity thou art God" (Psalm 90:2). The word "eternity" means an endless period of time. This universe, defiled by sin, will be destroyed by fire, and God will create new heavens and a new earth (2 Peter 3:10-13). Isaiah says the old will not be remembered (65:17). John had a vision of the new heaven and earth (Revelation 21:1). During the millennial period of the present earth, righteous shall rule (Isaiah 32:1), but in the new earth righteousness shall dwell (2 Peter 3:13). Redeemed man in eternity will not be as limited as he is now (note: even better than Adam in the time period at the Garden of Eden!) The reign of believers will be forever (Revelation 22:5). We will be with Christ (John 17:24). We will be joint-heirs with Christ (Romans 8:17). We will be like Christ (1 John 3:2). We shall at His right hand for evermore (Psalm 16:11)!
The outline of prophetic events is illustrated in the following charts:
(Source: The Second Coming of Christ, p. 38, Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1922 Edition, by Clarence Larkin)
(Source: The Book of Revelation - A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, p. 30, Sun Publishing Company, 1996 Edition, by Clarence Larkin)
The relationship between different eschatological positions is illustrated in below chart:
5. REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDATION FOR FURTHER STUDY
Basic Theology, Section XIII, Chapter 77, ChariotVictor Publishing, 1999 Edition, by Charles C. Ryrie.
The Second Coming of Christ, p. 38, Rev. Clarence Larkin Estate, 1922 Edition, by Clarence Larkin.
The Book of Revelation - A Study of the Last Prophetic Book of Holy Scripture, p. 30, Sun Publishing Company, 1996 Edition, by Clarence Larkin.