Eschatology: : 1: a branch of theology concerned with the
final events in the history of the world or of humankind
2: a belief
concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind; specifically
: any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the
resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment [1]
In
other words, it means study of the End Times! (Queue in scary dramatic music)
Before we begin, I ask that we all approach this topic
with humility. There are so many teachings on this topic that it can get
confusing. Therefore, I ask that we press delete on everything we have ever
been told on this topic and let the Scriptures speak for themselves. No twists
or applying meaning to something that isn't there and that isn't being said. I
will do my best to do the same as I lead these sessions.
Let us always keep the prayer of Eph. 1:17 in our
hearts as we progress.
"that the God of our
Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you (us) the
spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him..."[2]
I.
Introduction to
Foundational Biblical Eschatology.
A.
It is my conviction that Biblical Eschatology is a
subject that is accessible to every believer, otherwise Jesus would not have
exhorted us to read and keep the words of this prophetic book.[3] This accessibility will be further enhanced
by employing effective tools and methodology to rightly divide the Word of God under the leadership and
illumination of the Holy Spirit. Jesus' teachings on eschatology will serve as
the backbone of these sessions.
B.
Before we continue, there are lies that the enemy has
placed on this topic that we must deal with.
Lie #1: The book of
Revelation is a scary book.
Lie #2: The book of
Revelation is too difficult to understand.
Lie #3: Studying the End
Times isn't necessary.
Satan has caused the Church to believe these
lies among many others on this issue, because in doing so he has robbed the
church of 3 blessings that Jesus tells us in verse 3 of ch. 1 in the book of
Revelation. Blessed is he who reads.., blessed is he who hears.., and blessed
is he who keeps the words of this prophecy. And these lies also rob us of the
faith spoken of in Hebrews 11, and in my opinion the helmet of salvation. (I
will elaborate on this a little later.)
C.
Is the book of Revelation a scary book? Why would we
view our "hope of glory" as something to fear? This is the purpose of
our salvation! This has been on God's heart since the fall of man and even
before the fall! Our King, our Bridegroom is returning and we are afraid of the
very text that reveals this to us! Why? Partly because we have been frightened
by teaching that warn us of what will happen if we are "left behind".
As well as the misunderstanding of the prophetic symbolism. So we would much
rather stick our head in the sand than look at this topic. This book should add
to our joy and strengthen our faith! For it is the completion of our salvation!
D.
Is this book too difficult to understand? As I stated above, I believe that the
understanding of this book is accessible to every believer. Why do I believe
this? Well, in Revelation 19:10b we are told;
".......For the testimony of
Jesus is the spirit of prophecy."
So true prophecy is to point us
to Jesus. Is this book not a prophetic book? What is the first verse of chapter
1?
"The Revelation of Jesus Christ...."
Rev. 1:1a
And in John 5:39 Jesus tells us;
"You search the
Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they
which testify of Me."
So ALL Scripture testifies and points to Jesus, is not one of
the Holy Spirit's "job descriptions" to reveal Jesus to our hearts?
"All that
belongs to the Father is Mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive
from Me what He will make known to you.” John 16:15 (NIV)
So why then, would the Holy
Spirit make the very book which IS
the Revelation of Jesus Christ and hide it in obscurity? Why would He make it
so difficult that not even an illiterate Christians in the early Church could
understand it but yet be expected to "keep those things that are
written..."? Any teaching that tells believers that this book is too
difficult to understand or too scary to
read borders; if not falls into heresy.
Heresy: an opinion, doctrine,
or practice contrary to the truth or to generally accepted beliefs or
standards.[4]
Why do I say this?
Because what kind of God would we be serving if He gave us a set of commands
but hid them in obscurity and then leaves us to our own devises to "figure
out" what He meant? He would be an unjust god and to declare God as unjust
is heretical! And does not 2 Timothy 1:7 tell us;
"For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."
Therefore, No!; this book is not difficult to
understand nor is it scary! It does require however, the whole testimony of
Scripture to understand. It is not an obscure and scary text.
E.
Is it necessary to
study the End Times? I have heard it said from many believers that they didn't
think it necessary to study this topic because they didn't see the value in
learning this information. They didn't think it necessary for their Christian
walk. Another reason that was given was because of the stigma that surrounds
this topic; they didn't want to be like "one of those weirdo's" that tries
to predict the return of Christ only to come out looking foolish....again.
However, it is absolutely necessary! Why? As I
stated earlier, to study this fills us with the faith spoken of in so many
passages of Scripture. Hebrews 11:1 for example;
"Now faith is
the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
This verse is quoted and preached
upon so many times, however I cannot recall any sermon preaching this verse in
its context. Not saying there aren't any, I just haven't heard any.
Remember, the Bible was not written with chapter
and verse divisions. Hebrews should be read as a whole. Therefore let us back
up just a few verses and see what is being spoken of here.
"For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I
will repay,” says the Lord.
And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a fearful thing to fall into the
hands of the living God.
But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you
endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you
were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you
became companions of those who were so treated; for you
had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of
your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for
yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your
confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that
after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
“For yet a little while,
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who draw back
to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. Now
faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."(Hebrews
10:30-11:1)
Suddenly this verse has a different
understanding to it as appose to just having faith to overcome a situation. Now
it seems to speak of having faith that He will return and bring justice on our
behalf and bring us into full salvation. That is where our hope lies. Which is
why I made reference to the helmet of salvation.
"And take the helmet of salvation (G4992),..."
(Eph. 6:17a)
Strong's G4992 σωτήριος (translation: sōtērios): the hope of (future) salvation.
Hebrews 11:1 and Eph. 6:17 are
exhorting us to have our minds set on our salvation to come. In other words we
are not discouraged nor deterred by what we see in front of us for our minds
are set on our salvation to come.
The Bible gives us three forms of
salvation in the Greek:
G4982: sōzō "I was saved"
G4991: sōtēria "I am being saved"
G4992: sōtērios "I will be saved"
Therefore to study and meditate on the return of
Christ is to set our hearts, our minds, and our eyes on our salvation to come.
In part, this is why we need to study this topic. It will help us build
endurance[5] and increase our faith and joy in Him.
II.
Why Must We Study The End Times? (Continued)
A. Jesus
Himself tells us throughout scripture to study the End Times by way of
exhorting us to "Watch and pray!" Watch for what exactly?
"Now learn this parable
of the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth
leaves, you know that summer is near. So you also, when you see all these
things, know that it is near - at the door!" (Matthew 24:32-33)
B. In
the 89 chapters of the Gospels 30 of them are teachings of Jesus specifically
addressing the End Times. There are several more passages where Jesus is making
references to the End Times, however it is not immediately obvious to the
reader without having an understanding of contextual background. And sometimes
certain phraseologies within His parables have their fuller meaning within the
context of the End Times.
C. For
example: Whenever Jesus refers to Himself as the "Son of Man", it is
a reference to the prophecies spoken in the book of Daniel.
".....One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven!....."
(Daniel 7:13b)
And when the time is
taken to study these passages, we find rather quickly that the context is His
second coming. Or when Jesus makes the reference "in that day"; He is
speaking of "the day of the Lord", which in many passages speaks of
the tribulation and His return.
“Many nations shall be joined to the Lord in
that day, and they shall become My people. And I will dwell in your
midst. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts
has sent Me to you." (Zach. 2:11)
"The Lord gives voice before His
army, For His camp is very great;
For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the Lord is great and very terrible; Who can endure it?" (Joel 2:11)
"The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord
come." (Joel 2:31 KJV)
And when Jesus makes
reference to the night hours in His parables, it speaks of the great darkness
that will be on the earth and a time when many will be asleep.
III.
How should we approach the topic of the End
Times?
A. Our approach and our
focus to any topic in scripture should always be with John 5:39 in the forefront of our minds,
asking the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ to us through the scriptures. Because it's
always been about Him!
B. I have heard many
different teachings saying that the reason the Lord gave us the book of
Revelation is for finances, to reveal the Anti-Christ, or to warn us to be
ready. However, in 3 of the 4 gospels the disciples ask Jesus what will be the
sign of His return and every time Jesus starts out with, "Take heed
that no one deceives you..."[6]. Then we see the book of Revelation
beginning with the declaration of this being the Revelation of Jesus Christ.
C. The major End Time
issue is going to be the same question Jesus asked His disciples, "Who
do you say that I am?" [7]. We are seeing this
today, so many teachings out there vying for our attention! Telling us
"look! Jesus is this way!" or "Jesus is like this!" or
"Jesus doesn't care about your sin, He extends grace!" So many
different teachings trying to deceive us into believing that Jesus is someone
other than what we see in scripture. There is one teacher/pastor out there
teaching that the emergence of gay marriage is the next revelation of God's
love and the Church is rejecting it. This is just one reason the Lord has given
us this book, so that we would not be deceived.
Closing:
As we progress through these classes, I pray that we would allow the
Holy Spirit to renew our minds and that we would see what He has intended for
us to see all along. And that He would fill us with the faith, hope, and joy
that this revelation was intended to bring us! I also pray that none of us
would allow the enemy to fill us with fear or discouragement as we begin to set
our eye on our salvation to come.
[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschatology.
[2] All scripture references will be in the NKJV unless otherwise noted.
[3] "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy,
and keep those things which are written
in it; for the time is near."
Rev.1:3.
[4]
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heresy.
[5] Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 12:1, James 1:3, Revelation 1:9, 2:19,3:10,13:10,
and 14:12.
[6] Matthew 24:4, Mark
13:5, and Luke 21:8.
[7] Matthew 16:15, Mark
8:29, and Luke 9:20.
