Eschatology and End Times Prophecy
What is Eschatology and End Times Prophecy?
The word theologians commonly use to refer to beliefs about the future, and mainly about the ultimate end of the globe, is eschatology. It comes from the Greek word eschatos, meaning final, or last. When we discuss about Gods plan for the future of creation, including animals, humans and the atmosphere, we are discussing about eschatology.
Eschatology and end times prophecy
Four important areas of study related to the eschatology or end times are:
- The Rapture or Second Coming
- Whether or not there will be a tribulation period and earthly millennium?
- The resurrection of the dead (both saved and unsaved)
- The final judgment
Within Eschatology, many specific areas of interest are generally addressed: they contain:
The Rapture: The word “rapture” favors to a Latin term that means to be “caught up”. The Bible speaks undoubtedly of a time when followers in Jesus will be taken to be with him in an instant. This event can take place any moment (known to as the imminent return of Jesus) and is explained clearly in (Thessalonians 4:13-18.)
The Tribulation: in the final days, Revelation, Daniel, and other prophecies speak of serious times of judgment and suffering that will take place over a 7-year period. An international leader called as the Antichrist will control and emerge all finance and commerce(Revelation 13). Others believe that this tribulation period spoken of has already occurred in AD 70.
The second coming of Jesus Christ ): A pretribulational theology view (the teaching that the rapture will take place before the 7 years of tribulation) targets on the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of the tribulation period at the last battle of Armageddon. Jesus defeat Satan and those who follow him, and then Christ starts his reign the Davidic throne in Jerusalem for the millennial ruling. The traditional Church view however shows that the Second Coming and the so-called Rapture are one and the same event.
The Millennium and Beyond: There is a talking regarding whether the millennial ruling is figurative or literal. A literal perspective teaches that one-thousand years mentioned 4 times in (Revelation 20:1-7) favors to a literal one-thousand period during which Jesus will reign as king with his People in Jerusalem. At the finish of this period will be a last rebellion, a last judgment, and a new earth and heaven where Jesus will reign with his people forever from the freshly heavenly city (Revelation 21-22).
The role of Israel in the End times: Theologians have discussed the role of Israel in the end times in different ways over the centuries. Many teach today that Israel has a different end time future than that of the Church, but Scripture nowhere reveals this in plain language, rather the very opposite is the case.
