Eschatological Beliefs and Teachings
Key ideas
Apocalyptic
ideas of the
early church
Resurrection
Life After
Death
Sources of Authority
●
Christians believed that Jesus would return to Earth and
replace the sinful and evil world in which they lived.
The book of Revelation-the end of time is imagined
and described( frighteningly and dramatically)
●
Most Christians believe that God has a plan that is yet to
be completed and the end time is a different way of
expressing this belief.
‘He shall come to judge the living and the dead’
The Creed- Second Coming
●
People living in early times believed the end of the world
was near- they lived with this expectation in mind.
●
●
Humans possess an immortal soul that cannot be seen
Possessions of the soul makes humans unique.Christians
believe that Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to heaven
showed that there is life after physical death.
●
Human life is sacred.
●
Christians believe that Jesus’ resurrection and ascension
to heaven showed that there is life after physical death.
●
Their mortal bodies will die but their spiritual bodies will live
on
●
At the end of time all the dead will be raised to be judged
by God
Many Christians believe that at the end of time all
the dead will be raised to be judged by God.
“The Lord God formed the man from the dust of
the ground and breathed into his nostrils the
breath of life, and the man became a living being.
(Genesis 2:7)
- ​‘so it will me with the resurrection of the dead ….
The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised
imperishable …. it is sown a natural body, it is
raised a spiritual body’
(1 Corinthians 15:42,44)
-​‘My Father’s House has many rooms; if that were
not so would I have told you that I am going there
to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare
Parousia
Hell
●
Events in the world are not random and uncontrolled but a
part of God’s plan which in the end will have a good
outcome.
●
Some Christians believe that unless they help others their
salvation and eternal life in heaven will be at risk
Also known as judgement day or doomsday
-
it is the future return of Jesus to earth (the second coming)
●
It is the final and eternal judgment by God of everyone
●
It will result in the glorification of some and punishment of
others based on their actions and thoughts
●
It occurs after the resurrection of the dead which is the
reuniting of a person’s soul with their own physical body
●
Literal hell: ​A place of eternal punishment for sinners and
non-believers. In the past hell was used to scare people
into following Christianity with the fear of hell. However
today there is a stronger focus on God’s agape and
forgiveness, and the Church encourages believes to seek
out God’s love rather than live in his fear.
●
Metaphorical hell: ​At death there is complete annihilation
of the soul and the body.
●
Metaphorical hell: ​A way of expressing an eternal
existence without God’s presence and blessing. Biblical
descriptions of hell are symbolic to help people grasp a
a place for you , I will come back and take you to
be with me that you also may be where I am’
(John 14:1-3)
-28 ​Do not be amazed at this, for the hour is
coming in which all those in the memorial tombs
will hear his voice
-29 ​and come out, those who did good things to a
resurrection of life, and those who practiced vile
things to a resurrection of judgment.
(John 5:28, 29)
”It is better for you to lose one part of your body
than for your whole body to go into hell.”​ - Matthew
5:29-30
“Away to the eternal fire which has been prepared
for the devil and his angels!” ​- Matthew
difficult idea.
Heaven
●
Hell is hardly mentioned in the Bible, the concept of Hell
was developed after Biblical times. In the Old Testament
which is called “sheol”;it is place of departed spirits, but not
necessarily of punishments.
●
for Christians, being in heaven means being in the eternal
presence of God. Although is it commonly described as a
place because many people give it physical character
many Christians believe that it is a state of mind.
●
Heaven is described using many images, including blinding
light, singing and beauty. These for Christians are an
attempt show in a limited way how perfect heaven will be.
●
In heaven suffering and evil do not exist.
●
This belief in heaven encourages Christians to serve God
and obey him. It can also be used as a means of comfort in
times of suffering.
●
Christians believe that after death this is where they will
eternity.
Purgatory
●
Purgatory is a state where your soul is not pure enough for
heaven but not evil enough for hell
Soul
Some Christians are ​dualists. ​They believe that the body and
the soul are separate: the soul is the eternal part of the
person that goes on.
Revelation 4 in the New Testament. This chapter
speaks of ​‘a rainbow resembling an emerald’
encircling the throne of God. From this throne
come ​‘flashes of lightning, rumblings and pearls of
thunder.’
‘There will be no more death or mourning or crying
or pain.’ ​(Revelation 21:4)
Roman Catholic Churches teaches about
purgatory
“Propitiation for those who had died, in order that
they might be released from their sin”
”Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation
comes from him.”
- Psalm