Eschatology 1

Eschatology is traditionally associated with Eschatology is traditionally associated with ideas about the end of time: how will the ideas about the end of time: how will the world end, and what will occur? What will world end, and what will occur? What will happen at death?happen at death?

Biblically, eschatology is more fundamental Biblically, eschatology is more fundamental than only future contingencies. By the than only future contingencies. By the Spirit’s power, we begin to live already in Spirit’s power, we begin to live already in the new life God has brought into being in the new life God has brought into being in Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

EschatologyEschatology

I. Initial Points on EschatologyI. Initial Points on Eschatology

1. Eschatology is a larger topic than simply the 1. Eschatology is a larger topic than simply the final consummation of history.final consummation of history.

It keeps theology from becoming static.It keeps theology from becoming static.

We experience a foretaste of our future life in We experience a foretaste of our future life in Christ with God through the Holy Spirit.Christ with God through the Holy Spirit.

Eschatology has informed and shaped all our Eschatology has informed and shaped all our theological statements.theological statements.


I. Initial Points on EschatologyI. Initial Points on Eschatology 2. Jesus’ work is eschatological by its nature.2. Jesus’ work is eschatological by its nature.

In Jesus, the end of the world has come, and In Jesus, the end of the world has come, and God’s judgment and sovereign Kingdom God’s judgment and sovereign Kingdom are new, present realities.are new, present realities.Jesus defeats demons: Matthew 8:29Jesus defeats demons: Matthew 8:29The ruler of this world is defeated: John The ruler of this world is defeated: John 12:31-3212:31-32


I. Initial Points on EschatologyI. Initial Points on Eschatology 3. While God brings the new reality, God has 3. While God brings the new reality, God has

chosen to bring this new life to pass in and chosen to bring this new life to pass in and through through ourour choices and actions.choices and actions.

4. Eschatology concerns not just my ultimate 4. Eschatology concerns not just my ultimate fate, but others and all of creation. Escha-fate, but others and all of creation. Escha-tology is therefore universal in orientation.tology is therefore universal in orientation.1 Cor. 15:20-28; Revelation 21:1-21 Cor. 15:20-28; Revelation 21:1-2


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of Eschatology

An eschatological orientation has been An eschatological orientation has been indispensable for the Christian Gospel from indispensable for the Christian Gospel from the beginning.the beginning.

Why is eschatology essential for Christian Why is eschatology essential for Christian faith and life? How may eschatology inform faith and life? How may eschatology inform how we live and act as Christian believers?how we live and act as Christian believers?


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyA.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology Etymology: Etymology: χχ, “last” or “final”, “last” or “final”

óó, “word, “word Literally, discourse or discussion of the last Literally, discourse or discussion of the last

things.things. When was it first used? 1644 by Philipp When was it first used? 1644 by Philipp

FriedliebFriedlieb


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyA.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology Implications: 1) Up to the 17Implications: 1) Up to the 17 thth-century, the -century, the

church spoke of these topics but in church spoke of these topics but in different contexts.different contexts.Context of the coming of God’s Kingdom Context of the coming of God’s Kingdom in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy in Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.Spirit.



A.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology

Implications: 2) Eschatology is directly Implications: 2) Eschatology is directly relevant for Christians as speech about relevant for Christians as speech about God.God.

Sauter: Eschatology is “talk of God which is Sauter: Eschatology is “talk of God which is determined by God’s coming.”determined by God’s coming.”


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyA.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology Moltmann: “Christian eschatology speaks of Moltmann: “Christian eschatology speaks of

Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ and hishis future.” future.” Christian eschatology attempts to point to the Christian eschatology attempts to point to the

future, but the present is not devoid of the future, but the present is not devoid of the future since Jesus Christ is a living and future since Jesus Christ is a living and present reality through the Holy Spirit.present reality through the Holy Spirit.


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyA.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology The Kingdom of God, fully enacted in Jesus The Kingdom of God, fully enacted in Jesus

Christ, awaits its full consummation and Christ, awaits its full consummation and manifestation, and we hope for this in the manifestation, and we hope for this in the present because of its presence among us.present because of its presence among us.

The future is to be The future is to be ourour future, and we future, and we anticipate it in our present lives.anticipate it in our present lives.


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyA.A. The Meaning of EschatologyThe Meaning of Eschatology God’s Kingdom is not one possibility among God’s Kingdom is not one possibility among

many, but the very future toward which many, but the very future toward which God is moving history.God is moving history.

Hope as faithful assurance in God is thus the Hope as faithful assurance in God is thus the essential virtue for eschatological essential virtue for eschatological thinking.thinking.




In eschatology, we are seeking to perceive a In eschatology, we are seeking to perceive a reality that is present yet not fully reality that is present yet not fully realized: the Kingdom of God.realized: the Kingdom of God.

Dangers: 1) these are truly future realities we Dangers: 1) these are truly future realities we seek to perceive in faith;seek to perceive in faith;




Dangers: 2) differing hermeneutical Dangers: 2) differing hermeneutical approaches to the texts;approaches to the texts;

3) no one biblical passages incorporates all of 3) no one biblical passages incorporates all of the aspects of Christian hope;the aspects of Christian hope;

4) extremism threatens the Church’s views.4) extremism threatens the Church’s views.


II. The Meaning and Shape of EschatologyII. The Meaning and Shape of Eschatology B. The Shape of EschatologyB. The Shape of Eschatology Eschatology covers topics associated with the Eschatology covers topics associated with the

end of this age and the beginning of the end of this age and the beginning of the next.next.

Kingdom of God, the biblical vision, Kingdom of God, the biblical vision, death/resurrection of the dead, judgment, death/resurrection of the dead, judgment, eternal life are all interrelated topics.eternal life are all interrelated topics.



B. The Shape of EschatologyB. The Shape of Eschatology

The goal is faithfulness to the Gospel, not The goal is faithfulness to the Gospel, not anthropological issues.anthropological issues.

Eschatology is grounded in the life of Jesus Eschatology is grounded in the life of Jesus Christ as the One who continues to live Christ as the One who continues to live and reign.and reign.


Spiritual

Eschatology 1