Eschatology is the branch of Christian systematic theology that focuses on the end times prophecy, the second coming of Christ, and eternity future. Eschatology seeks to answer the following questions:
What are the last days?
Are we living in the last days?
When did the last days begin?
Are the last days and the end times exactly the same?
What is the Rapture?
What is the Great Tribulation?
What is the Second Advent?
What events are associated with the second coming of Christ?
Has all Bible prophecy been fulfilled or is there still unfulfilled prophecy?
Will humanity create a New World Order (global government) before the end?
Who or what is the Antichrist?
What is the Millennium and what is it about?
Does the Bible teach reincarnation?
What is the resurrection of the dead?
What is Judgment Day and what is it about?
What is Heaven and what is Hell?
What is the New Heaven and New Earth?
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FOUR CATEGORIES OF BIBLE PROPHECY
The four categories of Bible prophecy are Messianic,
Semitic, Ecclesiological, and Eschatological.
MESSIANIC PROPHECY – gives prophetic events directly
pertaining to Jesus Christ the Messiah. More than 330 prophecies in the Old
Testament pertain to the first coming of Jesus Christ. More prophecies of both
the OT and NT will be fulfilled by Christ after His second coming. Messianic
prophecy ties in with the other three categories of Bible prophecy.
SEMITIC PROPHECY – prophesies events pertaining directly and
exclusively to the Jews and National Israel, including the destruction of
Jerusalem in 70 A.D., their Diaspora (scattering) among the Gentiles, their
restoration as a sovereign nation during the last days, and their ruling the
whole world during the future Millennium with Jesus Christ as their King.
ECCLESIOLOGICAL PROPHECY – prophesies events pertaining to
the Church during the Church Age, including the Great Commission of preaching
the Gospel, as well as the Great Apostasy, the Rapture, and the eternal reign
in Heaven with the Bridegroom Jesus Christ.
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CHRISTIANS AND ESCHATOLOGY
Christians are more divided over eschatology than all the other divisions of systematic theology. Christians diversify in interpretation of end times Bible prophecy more than any other subject in the Bible. Some Christians are dispensationalists, while other Christians interpret the Bible's prophecies in various other ways. No one can say for absolute certainty who is exactly correct on all prophetic interpretation, except when an obviously false prophecy is made. God did in fact give us a great deal of information about the future, but some key information remains a mystery and is known only by God Himself; for example, the exact timing of the second coming of Christ (Mark 13:32; Acts 1:7) and the secrets of Daniel's sealed scroll (Daniel 12:9). The prophecy of Daniel says that knowledge will increase in the last days (Daniel 12:4). Although prophecy constitutes almost 30 percent of the Bible, its importance is constantly downplayed by those who dismiss it as having no practical significance or by those who object to it on the grounds that it is only a "fad" that takes people's eyes off Jesus. Bible prophecy is important because God personally revealed some of His plans for the future, and He wants us to know those plans and how those plans will affect us and all of creation. Of the nearly 30 percent of the Bible that consists of prophecy, more than half of it pertains to the end times and eternity. There are many disagreements among the Christian denominations over the exact picture of the end times, but one group in particular, the Evangelical Protestant Christians generally agree on eight (8) theological points in eschatology: (1) We are currently living in the last days, (2) There will be a second coming of Jesus Christ, (3) The Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached worldwide, at least until the end of the world, (4) There will be a resurrection of the dead for both the righteous and the unrighteous, (5) There will be a Judgment Day in which everyone will be accountable to God, (6) There is an eternal destiny for both the saved and the unsaved, and (7) God will make all things new in His creation, whether physically, spiritually or both. An eighth (8) eschatological belief is that most Evangelical Christians also believe the Church will be taken up to Heaven during an event called the Rapture, but there are differing views of the Rapture among Evangelicals. Plus some Evangelicals, such as postmillennialists and some amillennial preterists, doubt that a literal Rapture will occur.
WE ARE CURRENTLY IN THE LAST DAYS
The word ESCHATOLOGY is derived from the Greek word eschatologia (εσχατολογία), meaning "study of last things." The moment in world history known as the Eschaton (Greek εσχατον) includes all events that transpire just before, during and after the second coming of Jesus Christ. Virtually all evangelical Christians agree that we are living in the Last Days, but not all of them agree on exactly when the Last Days began. Some believe the Last Days began 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ was baptized and began preaching His Gospel to the world, and that the Last Days will span the entire Church Age and the remainder of human history until Judgment Day. Those Christians base their belief on Hebrews 1:1, 2, which says "God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds". To support their view, these Christians add that Jesus' apostles personally believed that their own era in history was the Last Days. For example, Paul described his time as the "ends of the ages" in 1 Corinthians 10:11; John described his time as "the last hour" at 1 John 2:18. In Acts 2:17, Peter said at Pentecost that God will pour out His Spirit "in the last days" and the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost and beyond, plus Peter described salvation as having been revealed "in these last times" at 1 Peter 1:20. Peter also said at 1 Peter 4:7 that "The end of all things is at hand." Other Christians argue that Jesus spoke of the Last Days in the FUTURE TENSE when He predicted certain future events in His Olivet Discourse, such as widespread deception, an increase in lawlessness, worldwide preaching of the Gospel, and many other signs occurring to great extremes on a global scale. Jesus indicated that the signs would occur just prior to His second coming, the Parousia (Matthew 24:1-51; 25:1-46; Luke 17:20-37; 21:5-38, Mark 13:1-37). Obviously the vast majority of those signs mentioned by Jesus had not yet come to pass during the 1st Century A.D, despite the apostles describing their own era as the Last Days. Thus roughly half of all Bible scholars conclude that, if the Last Days began 2,000 years ago, then there must also be a period in human history marking the Last of the Last Days, the Time of the End, or the End Times, with all the events predicted by Jesus occurring within the last generation. Jesus foretold that "This generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place" (Matthew 24:34).
WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF THE LAST DAYS?
knowledge will increase, both biblical and worldly knowledge (Daniel 12:4)
false prophets and false christs (Matthew 24:5, 23, 24)
mass deception by false prophets (Matthew 24:11)
wars and rumors of wars (Mathew 24:6)
nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom (Matthew 24:7)
famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places (Matthew 24:7)
intense hatred and persecution of Christians (Matthew 24:9; 2 Timothy 3:12)
lawlessness will abound and increase (Matthew 24:12; 2 Timothy 3:13)
the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12)
worldwide preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 24:14)
fearful sights and great signs from heaven (Luke 21:11, 25)
distress of nations on the earth (Luke 21:25)
men’s hearts failing them from fear (Luke 21:26)
people destroying the earth (Revelation 11:18)
The apostle Paul gave more signs of the Last Days at 2 Timothy 3:1-5:
"But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power."
Virtually all of these types of event have been occurring throughout history, but all of these types of events will increase in both severity and frequency as the Second Coming of Christ approaches.
WE AWAIT THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST
The vast of Christians expect Jesus Christ to literally return to earth at some point in the future. Christians call the return of Christ the Second Advent or the Parousia (Greek παρουσία = "presence" or "coming"). There is overwhelming evidence in the Bible of the expectation, the certainty, and the critical importance of the return of Christ. Every book in the New Testament except for Galatians, Philemon, and 2 and 3 John refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ, either directly or indirectly. On average, 1 in every 25 verses in the New Testament refers directly or indirectly to the return of Jesus Christ. It is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament, and the NT contains 260 chapters, which means that the second coming of Christ is referred to about 1 1/2 times per chapter in the New Testament. There are more prophecies in the Bible referring to the second coming of Jesus as King and Judge than there are prophecies referring to His first coming as a suffering servant. Everyone will see Jesus when He comes (Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27, 28; Revelation 1:7). The most vivid picture of the second coming of Christ is recorded at Revelation 19:11-16 about Armageddon. Perhaps the most powerful scripture explaining the second coming of Christ is Hebrews 9:28 which says, "So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him, He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation." There are numerous descriptions of Christ's second coming. Most of them describe the event as occurring at an unexpected time (Matthew 24:44), that it will be glorious, powerful and traumatic to the world but a moment of great joy for believers (Matthew 24:30; Luke 21:27, 28; 1 Peter 4:13; Revelation 1:7). Some of the Bible passages point to the Rapture (Matthew 24:40-42; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18), others point to Armageddon (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2:8; Revelation 19:11-16), others point to the Millennium (Isaiah 11:1-10; Luke 1:32-33), and others point to the final judgment (Matthew 25:31-46; Jude 1:14, 15). People accuse Dispensationalists of believing that the second coming of Christ has three stages: the coming of Christ for the saints at the Rapture; the coming of Christ to the earth at the end of the Great Tribulation; and Christ’s coming to render final judgment at the end of the Millennium. The typical Dispensationalist, however, believes the actual second coming of Christ is at the end of the Great Tribulation.
THE GOSPEL WILL BE PREACHED WORLDWIDE BEFORE THE END ARRIVES
Just before ascending to Heaven, the Lord Jesus Christ instituted the Great Commission for the Church (Matthew 28:19; Mark 16:15, 16; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8). In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus prophesied that "this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14). The apostle Peter hinted that the Church actually hastens the second coming of Christ by continually spreading the Gospel. (2 Peter 3:12). So in the present age we do right to expect that Christian evangelism shall reach the uttermost parts of the earth during the Last Days, and that all nations shall receive the offer of salvation, before the final appearance of Christ.
THERE WILL BE A RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD
The vast majority of Christians expect the righteous and the unrighteous to be resurrected from the dead in body and soul. The Bible does not teach reincarnation, it teaches only resurrection. We live only once and are judged afterwards (Hebrews 9:27). Bible passages about the resurrection of the dead include the following:
"For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God," --- Job 19:25, 26
"Your dead shall live; together with my dead body they shall arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust; for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead." --- Isaiah 26:19
"And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt." --- Daniel 12:2
"Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation." --- John 5:28, 29
"I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust." --- Acts 24:15
"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." --- 1 Thessalonians 4:16
"But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years." --- Revelation 20:5, 6
Paul goes in depth on the resurrection of Christ and the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:12-58. Paul was seeking to refute Gnosticism, Epicureanism and other heretical views that were infiltrating the early Church. Such heresies taught that the resurrection was either spiritual (bodiless), symbolic, or completely none existent. Paul taught that the resurrection of the dead is important because without the resurrection, Christ is not risen from the dead, and the Christian's faith would be in vain if Christ did not rise from the dead. Paul then goes on to explain the marvelous change that the body undergoes when it is resurrected. There is both continuity and change in the resurrection, like a seed of grain that is sown into the ground and changes into a growing plant that reaches maturity. "So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." (1 Corinthians 15:42-44). Those who are redeemed as new creatures in Christ will receive a glorified body that is in the likeness of Christ's glorious resurrected body (Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2).
THERE WILL BE JUDGMENT DAY IN WHICH EVERYONE WILL BE JUDGED BY GOD
Christians believe that there will be a Judgment Day in the future. God the Father has appointed all judgment to the Son, so Jesus Christ will be the judge of all (John 5:22; Acts 17:31). Since Almighty God is a God of perfect justice, everyone will be judged by God in one way or another to give an account (Romans 14:10-12). The Judgment Seat of Christ is for the saved (2 Corinthians 5:10-12), while the Great White Throne Judgement is for the unsaved (Revelation 20:11-15). Judgment does not always mean wrath and condemnation. Various types of rewards and crowns will be determined for each saved person, while a dreadful sentence of eternal punishment will rendered to each unsaved person (Matthew 25:14-30). Judgment will not be a trial for the unsaved; instead, judgment for them will be the day of sentencing or vindication of God's justice and His wrath against sin. Judgment will be a day of separating forever the righteous and unrighteous (Romans 2:5-11).
THERE WILL BE AN ETERNAL DESTINY FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING
Christians generally believe that each of person will face an eternal destiny in one of two places: Heaven or Hell. Jesus spoke a parable that vividly described Heaven and Hell as real literal places, not as symbols of certain concepts (Luke 16:19-31). Each person has an appointment with death after which one of these these eternal destinies will follow. In broad terms, Heaven is the gift of God granted to anyone who repents and accepts His Son Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, whereas Hell is a place of punishment for rejecting God and His Son Jesus. Heaven is described as the most amazing place imaginable, the Paradise of God (Luke 23:43; John 14:1-3; 2 Corinthians 12:4; Revelation 2:7), whereas Hell is described as a place of unimaginable torment that goes on for all eternity (Isaiah 66:24; Revelation 14:9-11). God loved the world in such a way that He provided His only begotten Son as a way of salvation from the eternal destiny of Hell (John 3:16; Romans 6:23). God has no pleasure in the death of the wicked and desires that everyone come to repentance (Ezekiel 33:11; 2 Peter 3:9). Our eternal destiny, either heaven or hell, salvation or damnation, depends in part on our response to God's love. Unfortunately, the Bible does not offer us a middle path that lays somewhere between Heaven and Hell. The decision we make for or against Jesus Christ will decide our eternal destiny. It should be noted that there is less and less consensus among Christians over the reality of Hell. There are an increasing number of Christians who believe that the wicked will be annihilated instead of eternally punished consciously in Hell. Such Christians believe that only those who are redeemed in Christ and taken to Heaven will exist forever, and that the suffering inflicted as punishment upon the wicked will be temporary until they are finally annihilated. The Jesus' descriptions of Hell DO NOT support annihilationism, nor does the book of Revelation.
GOD WILL MAKE ALL THINGS NEW
Christians generally believe God will make all things new, whether the newness is brought about in a physical sense, in a spiritual sense, or both (Revelation 21:5; Acts 3:21). Almighty God promises to create a New Heaven and a New Earth that will be filled only with the perfect righteousness and holiness He intended for His creation, and it will be incorruptible and eternal (Isaiah 65:17; 66:22, 23; Romans 8:18-23; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-4). There are passages of scripture that, if taken literally, say that God will destroy the physical heavens and the planet earth (Isaiah 51:6; Matthew 24:35; 2 Peter 3:10-12; Revelation 20:11), then afterwards He will create a whole new creation, a new heaven and a new earth. The exact nature and exact arrangement of the new creation is unknown, but the Bible says that the sun and moon will not exist in the new creation, nor will the day and night cycle exist, but God will be the only source of light (Revelation 21:22-23). It is also said that the sea will not exist in the new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1). Evangelical Christians like Randy Alcorn believe the phrase "new heavens and new earth" is just a synonym for the new, redeemed universe God intends to create, and that all things from both heaven and earth will be brought together as one in Christ (Ephesians 1:10). The whole new creation will be called "Heaven" or "Paradise," and it will be an intermix of features from both heaven and earth. For example, prophecies in the Old Testament speak of animals and people coexisting peaceably in healthy and prosperous conditions (Isaiah 11:6-9; 65:17-25; ). Other prophecies describe everyone as knowing God (Jeremiah 31:31-34), and God Himself dwelling with His people amidst perfect conditions (Revelation 21:3, 4). The tree of life that once existed in the Garden of Eden will also exist in the new creation (Revelation 22:2). Jesus said that marriage between individuals will not exist in the future age of Heaven (Luke 20:34-36). However, Jack Van Impe and a number of other Christians believe that the physical planet earth will never be literally destroyed but simply cleansed of all wickedness and restored to a permanent state of perfection. Van Impe bases this idea on scripture references like Ecclesiastes 1:4 and Ephesians 3:21, but this idea does not refute Matthew 24:35. In Koine Greek (the Greek of the New Testament), there are two words that are translated as "new" in our English Bibles: neos (νέος) and kainos (καινός). One Greek resource states: As distinct from néos, "new in time," kainós means "new in nature" or "new in quality" (with an implication of "better"). Both néos and kainós suggest that which is "unfamiliar," "unexpected," or "wonderful," and the distinction fades with time. That fact that kainos should not be taken as something totally new can be seen in a verse like 2 Corinthians 5:17 which says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (Greek καινή κτίσις = kaine ktisis); old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new! (Greek καινα = kaina)." Quite obviously, a person is not wiped out of existence and replaced with something totally new when they become a born again Christian; instead, the person's nature is changed into a new nature. There is both continuity and change in the person who becomes a born again Christian. The same Greek word kainos for "new" is also used in 2 Peter 3:13 and Revelation 21:1, 5 to describe a heavens and earth this is "new in nature" instead of "new in time". Thus the Bible indicates there will be both continuity and change as God dissolves this present creation with fire and create a new creation that is "delivered from the bondage of corruption" (2 Peter 3:10-12; Romans 8:21). Hell, the place of eternal punishment for the wicked, will probably be positioned in a separate dimension of space-time that is parallel to the new creation, and only Almighty God will be able to access that dimension to open or close the gates of Hell.
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THE INFORMATION BELOW FEATURES THE DIFFERENCES THAT CHRISTIANS HAVE WHEN IT COMES TO INTERPRETING BIBLE PASSAGES ABOUT PROPHECY. SOME CHRISTIANS ARE FUTURISTS, SOME ARE PRETERISTS, SOME ARE HISTORICISTS, AND SOME ARE IDEALISTS. THESE FOUR VIEWS OF BIBLE PROPHECY CONTRIBUTE TO THREE ESCHATOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVES OF THE 1,000 MENTIONED IN REVELATION 20:1-10, SPECIFICALLY AMILLENNIALISM, PREMILLENNIALISM AND POSTMILLENNIALISM.
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FOUR VIEWS OF BIBLE PROPHECY
FUTURISM = Futurism presents a view of Bible prophecy that is entirely in the future. According to futurism, the majority of the prophecies in Daniel, the Olivet Discourse, and Revelation chapters 4-22 will not be fulfilled until the future Great Tribulation and beyond. Events associated with the revealing of the Antichrist, Armageddon, and the transpiring of the Millennium are in the future. Futurists are also the most literal in their interpretation of prophecy passages. While all dispensationalists are futurists, not all futurists are dispensationalists.
PRETERISM = Preterism presents Bible prophecy as having already been fulfilled in the past. teaches that all Bible prophecy is actually recorded history instead of prophecy about the future. According to preterists, the latest Bible prophecies pertained to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D and the rise of Roman Catholicism before 400 A.D. According to the preteristic view, the 70 Weeks of Daniel 9:24 have already been fulfilled. There are partial preterists and there are full preterists; the former consider some or most Bible prophecies as having been fulfilled in the past, while the latter consider 100% of Bible prophecy as having been fulfilled in the past.
HISTORICISM = Historicism presents a view of Bible prophecy that is always in the present. Historicism is an eschatological view that portrays the prophecies of Daniel and Revelation as a panorama, in which all the prophecies are being fulfilled throughout the history of the Church Age. Historicism looks for parallels between Bible prophecies and major people and events in history. Most historicists believe that the prophetic events written in Revelation, Daniel, Matthew, etc. repeat over time, that the events which have already taken place will occur again in lesser or greater magnitude.
IDEALISM = Idealism presents a timeless, non-chronological view of the Bible's prophetic messages. Instead of interpreting Bible prophecy as an indication of eschatological events that are yet to be fulfilled or that have been fulfilled; idealists interpret Bible prophecy as representative of the ongoing conflict between good and evil, using symbolic and metaphorical language.
THREE ESCHATOLOGICAL VIEWS OF THE MILLENNIUM
Revelation 20 is one of the most intensely debated chapters in the entire Bible, especially in regard to the 1,000 year Millennium. Interpretations of the Millennium revolve around one of the following three perspectives:
AMILLENNIALISM = Amillennialism views the 1,000 years as symbolic instead of literal. The millennium symbolically spans from the Cross to the end of the Church Age. The millennium describes the present reign of the souls of deceased believers with Christ in Heaven. Satan was bound by Christ's work on the Cross, but he will be unbound near the end of the age to wage war against the God's saints. The symbolic millennium will end at Christ's second coming, which will be followed by the general resurrection, the final judgment, and Christ's reign over a perfect kingdom in the eternal state of the new heaven and new earth. Most amillennialists hold to some form of preterism or idealism when interpreting Bible prophecy, plus they believe the Church has replaced Israel in God's plans. Proponents of amillennialism include Roman Catholicism and most followers of Reformed Theology.
PREMILLENNIALISM = Premillennialism views the Millennium as a literal 1,000 years, and Christ will return just before the Millennium begins. God redeemed His saints at the Cross. Upon His return, Christ will defeat the Antichrist, bind Satan into the abyss, and deliver Israel and His saints, then He will institute His kingdom of 1,000 years upon the entire inhabited earth. Christ's earthly kingdom will be manifested as a literal, visible reign of peace, prosperity and righteousness on the earth. Satan will be released from the abyss at the end of the 1,000 years to wage war against God's people, only to be defeated and cast into Hell. After the general resurrection, the final judgment, and the renewal of the heavens and the earth, the Millennial Reign will merge with the eternal kingdom, and the Lord will reign forever with the saints. This is perspective based on futurism, and is held by dispensationalists and by those holding to historic premillennialism.
POSTMILLENNIALISM = Most postmillennialists view the Millennium as a literal 1,000 years, but some see it as symbolic. According to postmillennialism, Christ will return at the end of the 1,000 years. Postmillennialism has a positive and optimistic view of humanity's efforts to solve the world's problems. According to this view, Satan will be rendered powerless on the earth because of the evangelism of the Gospel. The whole world will eventually become Christianized, resulting in a long period of peace and prosperity called the Milliennium. This period will close with Christ's second coming, the resurrection of the dead, the final judgment, and the eternal state with Christ reigning alongside His saints. Most postmillennialists have either a preteristic or historicist view of Bible prophecy. Forms of postmillennialism include kingdom now theology, dominionism and reconstructionism.
ESCHATOLOGICAL TERMS
Antichrist – The false Messiah, energized by Satan, who will arise in opposition to God, Christianity and Israel just prior to Christ’s Second Coming (2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; Revelation 13:1-18). Most futurists believe there will be a powerful charismatic Antichrist figure in the future, but preterists and others believe the Antichrist or Man of Sins is the Pope of the Catholic Church and has been so for centuries.
Armageddon – The war between Christ and the armies of the Antichrist at the end of the Great Tribulation; the enemies of Christ will be consumed by His coming (Revelation 16:14-16).
Day of the Lord – The period that begins suddenly with the destruction of the ungodly (including Antichrist and his followers; see 1 Thessalonians 5:2, 3).
Dispensation – Any one of the seven ages of human history in which God exercises His sovereignty and providence in a unique way. The period known as the End Times begins at the latter end of the Church Age, and it spans through the Great Tribulation, the Millennium and the final judgment. Those who hold to supersessionism or covenant theology do not believe in dispensations, but only the Old Testament age, the Church Age, and eternity future.
End Times – The epoch in which some of God’s people will be severely tested by tribulation (Daniel 11:33-35), as a rebel king affronts the Messiah (Daniel 8:17-25), and invades Israel (Daniel 11:40-45). It is the apocalyptic time leading up to the resurrection and judgment (Daniel 12:1-2). Not to be confused with, but included in, the Last Days.
Eschaton – (Greek εσχατον = eschaton = "the last") The climax of history at which Christ returns to end all wickedness, deliver His chosen people, judge all humanity, and fully establish His eternal kingdom over heaven and earth.
Last Days – The epoch that began with the earthly ministry of Christ (Hebrews 1:2), was marked by the outpouring of the Spirit on Pentecost (Acts 2:17), and that will continue well into the Millennial Reign, the general resurrection and the final judgment, when the Lord rules the nations from Jerusalem (Micah 4:1-4). Daniel refers to the final segment of this period as the “Time of the End” (Daniel 12:4, 9, 13).
Mystery – (Greek μυστήριον = musterion = "mystery") A mystery in the New Testament is not something obscure or incomprehensible, but rather a truth that can only be known by divine revelation or by special insight given only to those initiated into God’s spiritual family. (Revelation 10:7)
New World Order – A name given to the worldwide governmental, economic and religious system that is proposed by certain powerful entities who intend to change every aspect of human civilization through syncretism, occultism, and political scheming. Futurists believe that the Beast or Antichrist will take control of the New World Order after he comes to power, though the New World Order will already be established before he appears on the scene.
Great Tribulation – A period of unparalleled hardship (Daniel 12:1; Matthew 24:21, 22) and Satanic persecution directly preceding the Coming of Christ. Most dispensational Christians believe the Great Tribulation will last for seven years (beginning at the Confirmation of Covenants), but others believe it will last for three and a half years (beginning at the Abomination of Desolation) until the onset of Armageddon. It is also called the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” (Jeremiah 30.7) since Israel will endure much of the brunt of the persecution, along with the tribulation saints. Preterists believe the Great Tribulation was the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D.
Rapture – Although the word "rapture" is not found in the Bible, it is based on the Greek word (ἁρπάζω = harpazo), which means "to seize upon with force" or "to snatch up," as found in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. The Rapture refers to the catching up to the clouds of Christians who are alive at the coming of Christ, an event immediately preceded by the resurrection of Christians who have already died. Whether the Rapture will occur before, during or after the Great Tribulation is hotly debated among Christians.
Second Advent – Also called “Second Coming.” (Greek παρουσία = parousia = "presence" or "coming") The return of Jesus Christ in glory, as differentiated from his first coming in as a suffering servant and the Lamb of God. Jesus Christ will return in bodily form that will be visible to everyone on earth. Christ is returning to destroy His enemies, glorify His elect, and establish His eternal kingdom. (Acts 1:11; Revelation 1:7).
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