Eschatology Study Outline



Unit 1 – Lesson 1

Eschatology Study Outline

I. Introduction

A. What is eschatology?

1. Definition – made up of two Greek words: eschatos which means “last” and logos which means “word” or “study of.” Eschatology is the study of the last things. One important point needs to be made.

a. It could refer to the entire church age leading up to the second coming of Christ.

b. Or it could refer to the final events that precede the coming of Christ.

c. The study of eschatology also includes topics such as the resurrection and final judgment.

While the study of eschatology focuses on the end times; these end times events are not the goal of history. These end times events are the events that will finally consummate history. The goal is the eternal state and all that it entails. The events of the end times simply means to an end.

2. Gospel eschatology? This is a phrase I borrowed from Samuel Waldron in his book The End Times Made Simple. In one sense the phrase is a refutation of a lot of modern eschatological teaching, but it is also provides necessary and helpful boundaries to our study of eschatology. The main point is this – we must make sure that our eschatology is consistent with the gospel we proclaim. If the two (gospel and eschatology) are not in harmony then we must rethink our system. We will aim at developing a gospel eschatology.

B. Study objectives

1. Investigation – throughout the course of this study we will survey and evaluate the major Protestant eschatological systems. There are four main systems: Dispensational Premillennialism, Historic Premillennialism, Postmillennialism and Amillennialism.

a. When evaluating these systems we will begin by examining their theological presuppositions and core beliefs. These presuppositions typically govern the way biblical passages related to the end times are interpreted; that is why these presuppositions must be understood before we even address the relevant biblical texts.

b. We will then evaluate those presuppositions in light of the message of Scripture. In other words we will ask the question—are these presuppositions biblically sustainable?

2. Theology/Polemics[1] – we will also look at all of the relevant biblical passage and other end time’s issues in order to construct a theological system that best fits the analogy of Scripture.[2] Two things need to be said up front:

a. In order to be fair I think it is necessary for me to tell you up front that I believe Amillennialism is the most accurate eschatological system and therefore will be the system that is defended.

b. Polemics not only sets out to positively defend something it is also concerned with refuting error. A good deal of time will be spent refuting the unfortunate error of Dispensational Premillennialism, i.e. “Left Behind” eschatology.

3. Application – we will then seek to understand the practical significance of eschatology as it relates to our overarching theological system as and our Christian practice.

C. Challenges to the study of eschatology

1. Definitions – each of the major eschatological systems define eschatological terms differently; this obviously makes communication and understanding difficult. Here are some of the words that are defined differently: millennium, rapture, tribulation and Israel.

2. Many of the passage dealing with the end times are prophecies, visions or apocalyptic literature – this can make interpretation difficult. An important principle is to interpret the more difficult passages in light of the clearer passages.

3. End times fiction – beginning in the 1970’s (Thief in the Night) and continuing on to this day (Left Behind) a particular form of eschatology (Dispensational Premillennialism) was fictionalized in movies and books. This fiction has become the rule for understanding the events surrounding the end times.

4. Eschatology in the grand scheme of theology – the study of eschatology has become speculative, fanciful and rooted in fear. This has produced within the church both wild speculation and apathy. The biblical goal of eschatology is to provide hope for those suffering because of their testimony.

5. Determining the connection between modern eschatological thought and the gospel? I know that we have not even stated to unpack the full significance of this of this statement but we must remember that God’s own unity demands that our eschatology be thoroughly aligned with the gospel.

D. Eschatology and Christian fellowship

1. Millennialism is not addressed directly in the major reformed confessions. However some eschatological systems are not consistent with the theology of the Reformed confessions.

2. Eschatology should not be used as a barometer for fellowship. Differences in eschatology are certainly not as important as differences in our understanding of the gospel. To dispute ones eschatology is certainly not to question their salvation. The one exception would be if someone did not affirm the 2nd coming of Christ itself, as that is intimately related to the gospel.

3. However, eschatology is important in the grand scheme of ones theological understanding and thus error must be addressed and corrected.

II. Unit 1: Laying the Foundation – Establishing an Eschatological Baseline

A. Jesus Christ – the heart of eschatology

B. Two important question

1. What is the purpose of creation – because of the fall creation needs to be redeemed – eschatology fulfills the purpose of creation and thus what is the goal of history – Most studies of eschatology seek to answer the question “how” the end times will unfold. The real question needs to be “why.”

1. What is the promise of the covenant? .

C. What is the biblical timeline for history?

The analogy of Scripture establishes the principle that Scripture must interpret Scripture and that the clearer passages of Scripture must interpret the less clear passages. These passages are both clear and establish a basic timeline for eschatological expectation.

1. Two Ages

2. 1 Corinthians 15/Hebrews 1:13; 2:5-8

3. Matthew 25:31-46

4. Romans 2:1-16

5. 2 Peter 3:1-18

III. Unit 2: Survey and Evaluation of Premillennialism and Postmillennialism

A. Two broad categories

1. Premillennialism – the end of the age will occur prior to the reign of Christ

a. Dispensational Premillennialism

b. Historic Premillennialism

2. Postmillennialism – the end of the age will occur after the reign or Christ

a. Amillennialism

b. Postmillennialism

B. Dispensational Premillennialism

1. Origins

2. Major tenets

3. Daniel 9:24-27; Psalm 72:8-14; Isaiah 65:20; Zechariah 14:6-21

4. Evaluation

C. Historical Premillennialism

1. Origins

2. Major tenets

3. Evaluation

D. Postmillennialism

1. Origins

2. Major tenets

3. Evaluation

E. Theonomy

IV. Unit 3:Amillennialism

A. The millennium – Revelation 20 (Eph. 1:18-2:7; Col. 2:12; John 5:24-25; 1 Cor. 15:15-19)

B. Signs of the Times

1. The preaching of the gospel to all nations.

2. Signs of opposition

a. Tribulation

b. Great tribulation

c. Apostasy (1 Timothy 4:1-5; 2 Timothy 3:1-4:8)

d. Antichrist “man of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 1:6-7; 2:1-17)

3. Signs of judgment

C. The return of Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:13; 4:13-5:11)

D. The kingdom of God/Christ

1. Origin – when did it begin

2. Nature – what is it like (1 Peter 4:12-19)

3. Tribulation/Blessing (success) – moving toward consummation at the 2nd coming.

E. The last days/end times

F. The church and Israel

G. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24/Mark 13)

V. Unit 4: The Book of Revelation

A. Overview of the book as a whole

B. Investigation of the major themes

VI. Unit 5: What Difference does it make? Understanding the practical significance of eschatology.

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[1]Polemics is the act of giving a defense.

[2]The analogy of Scripture as defined by the Westminster Confession of Faith I:IX – “The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself: and therefore, when there is a question about the true and full sense of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), it must be searched and known by other places that speak more clearly.”

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