What Is Eschatology?
The End
If you have been with us from the very beginning of this website, you would know that we started this blog all the way back in July of 2023. That means with this month being June of 2024, we will have hit the one-year mark of Wyld Theology’s existence by the end of this series!! With that being said, what better way to close a year of blogging than by talking about the study of eschatology? In case you’re wondering what eschatology is, Merriam-Webster defines it as this, “A branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of humankind.” This essentially means that everything that has to do with the end times and the last days is all a part of the study of eschatology. This is why the book of Revelation is so commonly used when discussing eschatology and why Revelation will be one of, if not our most used source this month as we tackle this topic. I couldn’t agree more with David Murray when he says, “In addition to getting ourselves ready, eschatology should motivate us to help others get ready too. While obsession with the last things is dangerous, omission is even more dangerous.” Eschatology is an area of study where we must consider the signs, the times, and even the events that surround the end of mankind as we know it. Now that we know how momentous this study really is, let’s break it down as we prepare for this month’s study.
The Signs
To begin, probably the biggest area of study and the most popular aspect of the end times to debate would be the signs. The book of Revelation as we read it from John’s perspective, is one that is filled with signs. In fact, this is why there are so many disagreements with Revelation. A vast majority of people are trying to interpret what exactly these signs mean and whether to take them literally or figuratively. These options alone lead to many pathways and roads of thought that other people don’t conclude on. Consider this one passage in Revelation 5:6 “And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Seems pretty clear as to what's happening in this scene right? Didn’t think so. The book of Revelation and the study of the end times is full of signs and imagery that we must carefully dissect if we are to understand what God wants us to learn from this timeframe. The sad reality of all of this is that some people see just how difficult it is to decipher the end times that they would rather ignore its teachings than dive into this study. One of the biggest reasons they use for not studying eschatology too is by using what Jesus says in Matthew 24:36 “But about that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” While these words from our savior are of course true, this isn't an indictment against studying the end times. This is a warning from Jesus Himself to not pay attention to those who claim to know when exactly Jesus is coming back and to just pay attention to the signs that will happen when He returns. Make no mistake about it folks, the study of the end times is crucial, and even though this study won’t end with us discovering the date that Jesus will come back, it will better equip the church and followers of Christ to be ready for when this time ultimately comes.
The Events & Times
Furthermore, the other big aspects of eschatology have to do with the time and the events in which all these things occur. If you can remember back to 2012 when many people thought that the world was actually going to end, you remember that the reason for this crazy thought was because of the events of the Mayan calendar. And even though this prediction was obviously wrong, we must look at God’s Word even more so than a random calendar, because in the scriptures is where we find the true times and events that lead us to the end. Consider this sign from the book of Daniel which also has many prophecies about the end times in it. Daniel 9:25 says, “So you are to know and understand that from the issuing of a decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem, until Messiah the Prince, there will be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; it will be built again, with streets and moat, even in times of distress.” This prophecy seems to suggest that the temple being discussed in this passage will be rebuilt in Jerusalem before the end times actually take place.
This is just one of many events that we see take place in scripture that define the end times and their events. But what about the times? Are there certain aspects of scripture that would lead us to see the times in which Christ will return? To an extent, yes. There are multiple passages just like the signs, that lead us to understand what will be happening on earth when Jesus will in fact return. Look at what Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 3:1-5 “But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these.” This seems like a pretty solid description of the end times to just be overlooked, which is why we must take everything that God’s Word has to say on this topic into consideration. I know this is a lot to look into, but there’s a reason we are breaking this all down in multiple posts throughout this month. No matter where you stand on interpreting these issues or how familiar you are with them, I think all of us can benefit from a thorough study of eschatology.
Sources
[1] Blue Letter Bible. (n.d.). Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/
[2] eschatology. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eschatology
[3] 6 Practical Reasons to Study Eschatology by David Murray. (n.d.). Ligonier Ministries. https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/6-practical-reasons-study-eschatology
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