The Doctrine of Eschatology - Last Things
Chris Hefner
Three Overarching Principles:
1. The Hebrew linear view of history means that the world is advancing toward a telos or end.
2. We need to enlarge our perspective on the subject of what is to come because of the vastness of what has been.
3. We would be wise to hold our eschatological perspectives a little less tightly than the other main doctrines of the Bible.
Three Overarching Eschatological Perspectives:
1. Futurism (associated with premillennialism): views the majority of eschatological references to be fulfilled in and around the second coming of Christ.
2. Preterism or realized eschatology is the opposite of futurism and sees almost all eschatology as fulfilled in the past, primarily with the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
3. Inaugurated eschatology is best described by the phrase “already and not yet.” While the OT perspective (prophecy) has been realized in Jesus (inaugurated), the consummation of the kingdom has not finally occurred.
Views on the Intermediate State:
Immortality of the soul—based on Platonic anthropology that the soul has always been and always will be.
Purgatory —those in a state of grace, but not spiritually perfect go into purgatory.
Soul sleep —soul reposes in a place of unconsciousness, until the resurrection.
Enter into God’s presence or into judgment.
Theological Takeaway: God gives to his people the doctrine of eschatology to encourage, to bring hope, and to alleviate, not create fear.
Worship Takeaway: The doctrine of eschatology is shaped by the King and his kingdom which points us to the God who is worthy of being worshiped.
Evangelistic Takeaway: Our hope in the King today means that we operate under his authority for his purposes —that is to proclaim the good news of the King’s salvation to sinners.
Relational Takeaway: A We can find encouragement together in the hope for God’s people—the hope of resurrection, the hope of eternity with Christ, the hope of the gathered worship of God by his people.
