Introduction to Eschatology
Background
There are several fields in Theology: Soteriology refers to the doctrine of salvation; Anthropology
refers to the doctrine of man; etc. “Eschatology” refers to the doctrine of “last things”. The word
is comprised of “eschatos”, usually translated “last” (Cp. Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2), and “logos”, which
means word or message. So Eschatology is the study of the events that surround the Second
Coming of Christ, the consumation of His Kingdom, and the ushering in of the eternal state.
Systems of Eschatology
When considering the Biblical data concerning “last things”, our minds strive to systematize the
information at hand. For instance, we are concerned with what events will occur at the end, and
the order of those events. Historically, it has been helpful to label one’s eschatological system by
considering the return of Christ in relation to the “Millennium”. The term is comprised of the Latin
word for 1000, “mille”, and the word for year, “unum”. The term refers expressly to the 1000 year
period of time referred to in Rev. 20. If one believes that Christ will return before this period of
time, he is called a “premillennialist”. If one believes that Christ will return after this period, he is
called a “postmillennialist”. If one believes that there will be no age to come essentially different
from the New Testament age in which we now live, he is called an “amillennialist”.
In addition to these three major divisions, there are a number of shades or flavors to each view.
For instance, there are some postmillenialists who believe the millenial age will be brought into
being very slowly through social changes. These we might label “gradual postmillenialists”.
Other postmillenialists believe the millenium will be introduced very radically through various
judgements from God’s Throne. These we might label “catastrophic postmillenialists”.
Especially is this true of premillennialism. Two major schools of thought, both premillennial, but
radically different in nature, are called “dispensational premillennialism” and “historic
premillennialism”. The differences between these two views are so large that they qualify as
completely separate systems of eschatology, even though they share a common belief in a
millennial age following the return of Christ. As such, we’ll treat them as such in our study.
Historic Premillennialism
Typically believes in one people of God and one way of salvation. Christ will return to
earth and reign as King over all the earth for 1000 years before a final rebellion and
judgment, followed by the eternal state. The millennial age will be an age of great peace
and prosperity, during which the curse will be partially lifted from the earth.
Dispensational Premillennialism
Typically believes that the Kingdom of Israel and the Church are distinct. Often claims
that God has an earthly purpose for Israel and a heavenly purpose for the Church. The
millennium will be preceded by the rapture of the church, a period of intense tribulation,
and the conversion of the Jews. The Jews are to have an exalted position during the
millennium.
Postmillennialism
Typically believes that a golden age of Christianity will precede the the coming of Christ.
Though not all are Christians, Christianity will dominate the political, economic and social
aspects of culture over the entire earth. Christ’s Kingdom will successfully overcome all
false religion and ideas contrary to God, after which Christ will return to earth in triumph.
Amillennialism
Typically believes that the 1000 year period rmentioned in Rev. 20 is a symbolic
representation of the New Testament age. There are to be a co-development of both
good and evil in the earth until the return of Christ. The conditions we now face will be
those which are present when Christ returns, with the possible exception of an escalation
of Satanic activity just prior to Christ’s coming. The Second Coming of Christ and the
judgment that follows will usher in the eternal state.
The History of Eschatology
Certain eschatological systems have tended to dominate at certain times in Christian history. It
appears that Premillennialism was the predominate view during the first three centuries of church
history. Augustine paved the way for the amillennial view, which then predominated for the next
1000 years. The Reformers tended to embrace Augustine’s view, but many of the Anabaptist
groups then present held to premillennialism. Premillenialism was widely held among the early
Puritans, but eventually would give way to a decidedly postmillennial position. The social form of
postmillennialism was especially strong at the end of the nineteenth century when it was thought
that the advances in industry and science, coupled with worldwide missionary activity, would
cause Catholicism and Islam to be defeated and usher in Christ’s Kingdom. However, by the
mid-1800s, millenialism once again began to rise, both among the Plymouth Brethren group in
England and among various Adventist grounds in the USA. Throughout the 1900s,
premillennialism of the dispensational flavor steadily gained ground until it became the dominant
eschatological position, and it remains so today.
Warnings Concerning Eschatology
It’s important to recognize certain dangers in a study of this sort. For one thing, we tend to be
critical of those holding other eschatological views than our own. In some cases, one cannot join
a church, or, at least, is viewed with a great deal of suspicion, if he doesn’t hold a particular view.
We need to recognize that all true Christians are agreed in their belief in a literal, bodily return of
Christ to earth in glory. But Christians have never been completely agreed on the particular
details of Christ’s return. The major confessions of Christ’s Church have asserted the fact of
Christ’s return, but have wisely avoided dealing with other specific events surrounding it.
Much of our eschatological understanding will be determined by our hermenuetic, the principle by
which we interpret scripture. For instance, the dispensational premillennialist leans heavily upon
a literal method of interpreting prophecy, while the amillennials tends to see many prophetic
expressions as figurative or spiritual. As a result, sometimes those who understand prophecies in
another sense than the most literal sense are charged with liberalism and not taking God’s Word
seriously. But there is a world of difference between a liberal who refuses to believe what is in
God’s Word and one who submits himself to the authority of God’s Word but arrives at a different
conclusion as to what that Word is actually saying. For this reason, we need to treat those with
opposing views with charity. We need to recognize that, while we ourselves may have come to
other conclusions, our opponents may well be submitting themselves to the very best
understanding they have of what God says in His Word.
Further, we need to always have an open mind on the subject remain humble and teachable.
Good men, godly men, scholarly men have disagreed on this subject. Obviously, since all views
can’t be right, many giants in the faith have been wrong about this matter. So may we midgets
enter this study with fear and trembling, admitting that we too may well be wrong ourselves.
Most of all, may we remember that the Christian ready for His Lord’s return is not the one who
has worked out all the details ahead of time, but he who is doing what His master told him to do.
That person is ready, regardless of how or when Christ returns.