CHAPTER: TEN

ESCHATOLOGY: DOCTRINE OF LAST THINGS

Eschatology means the theology of last things. It deals with the consummation of

all things. In Christian theology, the term Eschatology specifically focuses on the study

of the prophecies of the Bible, primarily those prophecies that are yet unfulfilled. It

includes biblical teaching concerning the intermediate state, the resurrection the Rapture

of the church, and the second coming of Christ, and the millennial kingdom.1

10.1 Rapture of the Church

The word rapture does not occur in the Bible. The Greek term meaning

“caught up” is harpazo, which means to “seize suddenly” or “snatch”. In Latin

the word is rapio, which means to seize and carry away; it is from this Latin

word that the term “rapture” comes. The concept of the “carry away” or the rapture of

the church is clearly taught in Scripture (1 Thess. 4:17).2

10.1.1 The Views of the Rapture

There are four different views regarding the rapture of the believers:

[Link] Partial Rapture

Partial rapture teaches that only those believers who are “watching” “praying”

and “Waiting” will be rapture. They teach that only those who “have love His appearing”

(2 Tim. 4:8) and “those who eagerly await Him” (Heb. 9:28) will be raptured.3
1
Stanley M. Horton, Our Destiny Biblical Teaching on the Last Things (Missouri: Gospel
Publishing House, 1996), 122.

2
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 413.

3
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 413.
70
[Link] Mid-tribulation Rapture

Mid-tribulation holds that the Rapture will occur at the middle point of tribulation

period. According to this view, the church goes through the first half of the tribulation but

is spared the worst of the tribulation in the last three and a half years.

[Link] Post-tribulation Rapture

Post- tribulation believes that the church will be presents on earth during the

tribulation period and the Rapture will occurs at the end, or near the end, of the

Tribulation. At that time, the church will meet Christ in the air and then return to earth for

the commencement of Christ’s Kingdom on earth. According to this view, the church

goes through the entire seven-years Tribulation.4

[Link] Pre-tribulation

Pre- Tribulation holds that the rapture of the church will take place before the entire

Seven-years of tribulation period begins; the church will meet Christ in the air. Then after

the conclusion of the tribulation, the Lord will return to earth with His people to set up

His millennial kingdom.5

Pre- Tribulation view fits in best with the future hope the Bible presents. Believers,

who are told repeatedly to be watchful and to wait for God’s Son from heaven (1 Thess.

1:10), are never told “to watch for the Great Tribulation”.

10.2 Judgment Seat of Christ

4
Charles C. Ryrie, ASurvey of the Bible Doctrine, 169.

5
Charles C. Ryrie, ASurvey of the Bible Doctrine, 169.
71
 In second Corinthians 5:10 and Romans 14:10, although in the latter passage of

corrected reading is “judgment seat of God,” it is stated that believers are to be brought

into an examination before the Son of God. This event is explained in more detail in 1

Corinthian 3:9-15, a matter of such seriousness demands careful attention. This judgment

seat of Christ is also known as Bema judgment6.

10.3 Marriage of the Lamb

Prior to the second advents, the marriage of Christ and the church takes place in

the heaven, when Christ return with His bride in Revelation 19:7 the marriage has already

taken place. The marriage has reference to the church and takes place in heaven; whereas

the marriage supper has reference to Israel will take place on earth in the form of the

millennium kingdom.7

10.4 The Great Tribulation

This is the period of future seven years duration describes in Revelation chapter

6-19. This period is mentioned in the prophecy of seventy weeks in Daniel 9:24. During

this period God judges an unbelieving world and the disobedient people, Israel.

10.4.1 The Nature of Tribulation

The tribulation is a relatively short period of time where everyone will experience

worldwide hardships disaster famine, war, pain and suffering. Jesus said it will be a time

6
J Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come: A Study on Biblical Eschatology (Findlay, Ohio: Dunham
Publishing Company, 1958), 219.

7
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 392-393.
72
of tribulation “such as has not occurred since the beginning of the world until new, nor

never shall (Matt. 24:21)”.

10.4.2 The Purpose of Tribulation

Daniel 9:24, speaks of a period of time that God has given, “to finish

transgression to put an end to sin, to made reconciliation for inequity, to bring everlasting

righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy, to anoint the most holy,” God declares that

seventy weeks will fulfill all this things.8

10.4.3 Israel in the Tribulation

In the middle of the week, the tribulation a great persecution will break out

because the Anti-Christ will break the covenant and let Israel to flee from their land. The

war will be disaster for the attacking Israel because God will intervene, unbelieving Israel

will be deceived by the false prophets and believing Israel will be witness Christ (Rev.

7:1-8).

10.4.4 The Program of the Ant-Christ

Antichrist will do many things while here on earth. He will act as powerful,

Peaceful political leader. He will oppose Christ and substitute himself before the Second

coming of Christ. He will do as he pleases. He will speak blasphemies against God. He

will divide the land among those who honor him (Rev. 13:6).

10.5 The Second Coming of Christ

At the end of the tribulation Christ will return physically to earth to render

judgment and to inaugurate the millennial kingdom (Zech. 14:9-21; Rev 20:4). The Old

Testament and tribulation saints will be raised at that time to inherit the kingdom. At the

8
S. Michael Houndmann, Got Question?, 211.
73
Second Advent Christ will judge Jews and Gentiles. The Jews be judged on the basis of

their preparedness and their faithfulness as stewards of the word of God (Matt. 25:14-30).

The saved Jews will enter the millennial kingdom (Matt. 25:21).While the unsaved will

be cast into the outer darkness (Matt. 25: 30).9

10.6 Armageddon War

At the end of seven years tribulation, there will be a great war called Armageddon

war. It is the Hebrew expression formed from word “arm” means “mountain” and

“Megiddo”, referring to a location in northern Palestine (Rev.16:16). The Battle is to

punish the nations and to deliver the nation of Israel (Rev. 19 1.21). The armies of the

earth will defeat by the Lord. The beast and False Prophets will be cast into the lake of

fire and Satan will be bound (Rev. 20:3, 10).10

10.7 The Millennium

10.7.1 Meaning of Millennium Kingdom

The Millennium means the thousand years reign of Christ upon the earth

(Rev.20:1-4). Some think that it is the continuation of the Kingdom ages broken off by

the unbelief of the Jews at the time of the apostles. The millennium begins with the

coming of Christ with his saints; with the revelation of the Christ after the great

tribulation (Matt. 24:29, 30) at the close of the seventieth week of Daniel (Dan. 9:24;

9
J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, 285.

10
Hibou Khumba, “Eschatology” (Unpublished class note in Systematic Theology-3, CCIU, Fall
semester 2020). 47.

74
Rev. 19:11-14). Then comes the destruction of antichrist, the binding of Satan, and the

destruction of the enemies of God’s people (Rev. 19:20).11

10.7.2 Views on the Millennium Kingdom

[Link] Amillennial View

This views hold that there will not be a literal, future millennium. Amillennial do

not deny the literal return of Christ, but they reject a literal thousand years reign of the

Christ on this earth. According to Amillennialism, the kingdom of God is present in the

church age, and at the consummation of the present age, the eternal state is inaugurated

without any intervening millennium.12

[Link] Post-millennial View

Postmillennial may be defined as “that view of the last things which holds that the

kingdom of God is now begin extended in the world through the preaching of the gospel

and the saving work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of individual, that the world

eventually is to Christianized, and that the return of Christ is to occur at the close of a

long period of righteousness and peace commonly called ‘Millennium’.”13

[Link] Pre-millennial View

Pre-millennialism believe our Lord Jesus Christ will return before the millennium

to reign as priest- King on the earth for a thousand years of blessing and peace, fulfilling

Bible prophecy literally (Revelation 20:1-6).

11
William Evans, The Great Doctrine of the Bible (Chicago: Moody Press, 1912), 240.

12
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology, 384.

13
Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology.386.

75
10.8 Gog and Magog War

In the millennium reign the believers will be free from the evil, since the Satan

will be bound after the triumph of Armageddon war. But the believers will have the same

sin nature. After millennium reign Satan will be released from been bound, and there will

be war which is known as Gog and Magog war. Many of the unsaved will joint with

Satan to organized war against the Saints but there will be fire from heaven will

destroyed them and finally Satan and his followers will be cast into the lake of fire. After

this war there will be eternal Judgment i.e. White throne judgment.

10.9 The Great White Throne Judgment

The final judgment constitutes the termination of God’s resurrection and

Judgment program. It will takes place after the millennial reign of Christ (Rev.20:5, 12-

13), is between heaven and the earth (Rev. 20:11-15). In this judgment unbelievers will

be cast into the lake of fire, which resulted in the eternal separation from God. 14 This

judgment is for the people who are not found written in the book of life, a book where the

name of those who are going to Heaven are written.

10.10 The Final State

Hell: It is a place of eternal conscious punishment for the wicked (Matt.25:30;

Rev.14:10-11). Jesus refers to hell the unquenchable fire (Mark 9:43), and says that hell

is a Place “where their worm not die and fire is not quench”.15

14
J. Dwight Pentecost, Things to Come, (Secunderabd: Om Books, 1999), 423.

15
Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, 1148-1149.
76
 Heaven: The destiny of believers, believers will enjoy an eternal fellowship in

Christ’s company (John 14:2). There will be joy, and happiness in Christ’s presence.

Believer’s eternal dwelling place will be the New Heaven and New Earth (Is.6:56:17;

Rev.21:1-22:5).16

10.11 The New Jerusalem

The New Jerusalem is the picture as a holy city, coming down out of heaven;

many understand that the New Jerusalem will over the earth. It is literal city because it

has measurement (Rev. 21:16). The city itself will be securing it measures fifteen

hundred miles large wide and high with the throne of God at the top (Rev. 21:12-13; 15-

18). The foundation stones are adorned with various kinds of precious stones and the

fellowship with men (Rev. 21:19-20; 22:3-5).17

Summary of the Findings

The doctrine of Eschatology clearly proved that there is life after death. All the

death men and women both the believers and non-believers will raise from the death, the

non-believers will be put to the lake of fire and be burn forever. But the believers will

live glorious in the heaven with God. It is clearly said that there is heaven, hell, death and

resurrection. No men can deny the truth of God that revealed in the scripture. Therefore,

those who come under the cross of Christ will be delivered from the wrath of the Holy

God and will live with Him in the New Jerusalem.

16
Henry C. Theissen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, 398.

17
Henry C. Theissen, Lectures in Systematic Theology, 398.
77