Theological Term of the Week: Eschatology

eschatology
The study of what the Bible says about final things (or last things), including both corporate or general last events like the return of Christ, the final judgment, and the millennial kingdom; and personal last events like individual death, and the intermediate state.

• In scripture:

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof:

E. The Contents of Eschatology: General and Individual Eschatology

1. General Eschatology. The name “eschatology” calls attention to the fact that the history of the world and of the human race will finally reach its consummation. It is not an indefinite and endless process, but a real history moving on to a divinely appointed end. According to Scripture that end will come as a mighty crisis, and the facts and events associated with this crisis form the contents of eschatology. Strictly speaking, they also determine its limits. But because other elements may be included under the general head, it is customary to speak of the series of events that is connected with the return of Jesus Christ and the end of the world as constituting general eschatology, — an eschatology in which all men are concerned. The subjects that call for consideration in this division, are the return of Christ, the general resurrection, the last judgment, the consummation of the Kingdom, and the final condition of both the pious and the wicked.

2. Individual Eschatology. Besides this general, there is also an individual, eschatology that must be taken into consideration. The events named may constitute the whole of eschatology in the strict sense of the word, yet we cannot do justice to this without showing how the generations who have died will participate in the final events. For the individual the end of the present existence comes with death, which transfers him completely from the present into the future age. In so far as he is removed from the present age with its historical development, he is introduced into the future age, which is eternity. In the same measure in which there is a change in locality, there is also a change of æon. The things touching the condition of the individual between his death and the general resurrection, belong to personal or individual eschatology. Physical death, the immortality of the soul, and the intermediate condition call for discussion here. The study of these subjects will serve the purpose of connecting up the condition of those who die before the parousia with the final consummation.

Learn more:

1. Samuel Parkison: What is Eschatology?
2. Christianity.com: What is Eschatology?
3. Monerism.com: The Mellennium - Major Views
4. Fivesolas.com: Eschatology Comparison
5. Costi Hinn: 4 Views on Eschatology

Related terms:

• already/not yet
• beatific vision
• final judgment
• kingdom of God
• parousia

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Sunday Hymn: Safely Through Another Week

Safely through ano­ther week
God has brought us on our way;
Let us now a bless­ing seek,
Waiting in His courts today;
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eter­nal rest,
Day of all the week the best,
Emblem of eter­nal rest.

Mercies mul­ti­plied each hour
Through the week our praise de­mand;
Guarded by al­migh­ty pow­er,
Fed and guid­ed by His hand;
Though un­grate­ful we have been,
Only made re­turns of sin,
Though un­grate­ful we have been,
Only made re­turns of sin.

While we pray for par­don­ing grace,
Through the dear Re­deem­er’s name,
Show Thy re­con­cil­èd face,
Shine away our sin and shame;
From our world­ly cares set free
May we rest this day with Thee,
From our world­ly cares set free,
May we rest this day with Thee.

Here we come Thy name to praise,
Let us feel Thy pre­sence near,
May Thy glo­ry meet our eyes,
While we in Thy house ap­pear:
Here af­ford us, Lord, a taste
Of our ev­er­last­ing feast,
Here af­ford us, Lord, a taste
Of our ev­er­last­ing feast.

May Thy Gos­pel’s joy­ful sound
Conquer sin­ners, com­fort saints;
May the fruits of grace abound,
Bring re­lief for all com­plaints;
Thus may all our Sab­baths prove
Till we join the church above,
Thus may all our Sab­baths prove
Till we join the church above!

—John Newton

Sunday Hymn: Approach, My Soul

Approach, my soul, the mer­cy seat,
Where Je­sus an­swers pray­er;
There hum­bly fall be­fore His feet,
For none can per­ish there.

Thy pro­mise is my on­ly plea,
With this I ven­ture nigh;
Thou call­est bur­dened souls to Thee,
And such, O Lord, am I.

Bowed down be­neath a load of sin,
By Sa­tan sore­ly pressed,
By war with­out and fears with­in,
I come to Thee for rest.

Be Thou my shield and hid­ing place,
That, shel­tered by Thy side,
I may my fierce ac­cus­er face,
And tell him Thou hast died!

O won­drous love! to bleed and die,
To bear the cross and shame,
That guil­ty sin­ners, such as I,
Might plead Thy gra­cious name.

Poor tem­pest toss­èd soul, be still;
My pro­mised grace re­ceive;
’Tis Je­sus speaks—I must, I will,
I can, I do be­lieve.

—John Newton