Eschatology: The Doctrine of Last Things Explained

Jesus is coming back on April 6, 793; and April 5, 1719; and, on October 22, 1844; Let’s not forget to mention somewhere between September 11-13, 1988… and May 21, 2001; and September 29, 2011, and August 23, 2013… just to name a few.

In the case of end time prophecy, there are at least 183 recorded (and failed) predictions concerning the end of the world. Perhaps we could solicit a band to write a song called, “It’s the end of the world as we know it!”

Apart from disagreements concerning the ordinances of Baptism and Communion within the church, there is perhaps no division of theology that is the source of more deep controversy than eschatology (the doctrine of the last things). There are so many differing opinions regarding end-time events that it would be impossible to attempt to even discuss the reigning positions in a short blog. 

Among Christians, there are those who call themselves amillennialists, postmillennialists, and premillennialists. And there are even divisional breakdowns within those camps. There are dispensationalists, preterists, moderate preterists, and even hyper-preterists. And this is the shortlist. 

Because of the amount of disagreement from so many learned ministers and theologians over the centuries, one might be tempted to throw their hands in the air and simply say it does not really matter what we believe concerning end-time events since we cannot seem to know with certainty. Some may muse, “They are hidden in the Father, so why bother?” Even the Son of God exclaimed in Matthew 24:36, “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

What, then, shall we do?

Perhaps we should consider that Eschatology was not given to us in God’s Word for us to iron out all the details. Maybe it is not given so that we can attend the next study on The Book of Revelation or The Book of Daniel so that we can pridefully announce in condescending language that we have somehow solved all the future mysteries of God. Since we do not even have all of the first sentence of the Bible in Genesis 1:1 figured out comprehensively in our finite minds, how can we claim to have a comprehensive understanding of that which has not yet come to pass? 

What then, IS the point of studying end-time events? The answer is profoundly simple. It is presented in God’s Word and therefore a dutiful and worthwhile endeavor of our prayerful and studied attention. How we understand Eschatology has an impact on how we should live our lives and what we are to expect to occur in God’s plan that exalts and glorifies Him. 

It seems to be the mission of many students of the Bible to dig for the final answer concerning the end of days. And I know I must be careful here, but I believe this is wrong-headed for us as believers. This way of searching the scriptures leads many of us to find answers for ourselves and about ourselves. Where am I in all of this? How does it apply to ME? It is always exciting to know something. It can add to our Christian experience.

But this way of studying can easily distract us from the central character of God’s Word. Eschatology can easily become about US and our ‘walk’ or our ‘personal journey’ because focusing on experiences is exciting and sensual. 

It is easy to fix our eyes more closely on the way things will shake out than to fix them on our exalted King… It is easier to fix our eyes on this world and our experiences and our systems of thought than the glorified King of Kings. 

We must strive to keep before us that the number one deceit of the enemy, both in the world and in the church, is to have our eyes shifted from the glory of Christ towards ourselves or our circumstances or our personal speculations. 

We must be careful not to place our eyes and our hearts on event patterns or events predicted. Under this system, Eschatology becomes an idol. Because whether we rightly or wrongly believe that the end-time prophecies have already come to pass, are currently coming to pass, or will someday come to pass, whether in full or in part… What we know for CERTAIN is that Jesus is coming back! He is coming back because he promised to return! 

Eschatology was given to cause us to fix our gaze upon the risen Christ! Eschatology points to the finished, continuing, and consummate work of Christ and that it will be fully realized and revealed in Him… That he will have dominion… The dominion lost in Adam will be regained and consummated in the Obedient One. We will share in His glory at His return, and therefore we are not fix our eyes on the how the end comes to pass, but on HIM who brings it to pass. 

Eschatology is Christology made manifest. So, what does that mean?

It means that our view of end-time events should be so closely wrapped up in Christ that we never lose sight of the object of our worship. 

In Romans 11:36 we are reminded, “For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory forever. Amen.” This includes all things past, present, and future. 

On the night before Jesus’ death, while gathered with His disciples, Jesus said something extraordinary in John 14:2, “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?”

This comes in the form of a promise. It is as if Jesus is saying, “Would I let you persist in a charade if this were not all true?” And then He goes on to say in verse 3,  “And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that where I am, you also may be.”

In the meantime, we wait, and we trust! And with good reason. We are certainly not the only curious ones concerning the end-times. When Jesus ascended to the Father, some of His disciples were also curious about the establishing of His Kingdom and authority. 

“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” - Acts 1:6-11

“And so, as the church we are to be obediently following His word, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” - Titus 2:13 

So, when is Jesus coming back? I don’t know, you don’t know, and neither does anyone else. We ought to go about our Father’s business living as though Christ will return by lunchtime today but planning our lives as though it will be 100 more generations of faithful Christian obedience by us and our offspring before He returns.

So that, on that day, He may be honored with all that is due Him to the praise of His glorious and exalted name!

Check out these podcast episodes on Biblical Prophecy!