CCS Sys Theo Universal Eschatology Some Key Texts

CCS Sys. Theo Universal Eschatology

Some Key Texts and Genres • Ezekiel 40 -48 • Daniel • Various Minor Prophets • Matthew 24 -25 (Olivet Discourse) • 1 Corinthians 15 • 1 Thessalonians (Especially Chapter 4 -5) • 2 Thessalonians (Especially Chapter 2) • Titus 2: 13 • 2 Peter 3 • Revelation

Some Terms • Tribulation -The internal and external suffering of God’s people which, according to NT teaching, followers of Jesus Christ are to expect as a matter of course. The NT references to the “great tribulation” describe an unprecedented period of global suffering that will mark the time just prior to the parousia.

Some Terms • Rapture - From the Latin rapio (caught up), the belief that the church will be caught up (Greek harpazo, 1 Thess 4: 17) and united with Christ at his second coming. – Pre. Trib – Rapture happens before Tribulation Period – Mid. Trib- Rapture happens during Tribulation Period – Post. Trib - Rapture happens after Tribulation Period

Some Terms • Millennial Kingdom - Arising from the Latin word for “thousand, ” the millennium refers to the thousandyear reign of Christ mentioned in Revelation 20: 1– 8. – Pre. Mill – Rapture and Tribulation before literal 1, 000 year reign of Christ – Post. Mill – Future reign of Christ ushered in by global and exhaustive Gospel Progress – Amill – No literal 1, 000 years – spiritual ideals and Christ rules now in the hearts of the people

Some Terms • Second Advent/Coming - Literally meaning “coming” or “arrival, ” this term, “advent” refers to the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to provide salvation by his life, death, resurrection and ascension. Christians now anticipate a second advent when Christ will return to earth in bodily form to receive the church and to judge the nations.

Some Terms • Parousia -A Greek word used to refer to the second coming of Jesus Christ at the end of history. Literally, the term means “presence. ” Hence it designates Christ’s return as the point at which He will be fully present to the world or His presence will be fully revealed.

CCS Sys. Theo Universal Eschatology – Case Studies in 1 & 2 Thessalonians/Revelation

CCS Sys. Theo 1&2 Thessalonians

Eschatology in 1 Thessalonians • Study of Last Things • Imminence • Death • The Rapture • Day of the Lord

Eschatology in 2 Thessalonians • Study of Last Things • Day of the Lord • Discernment • Great Tribulation • Antichrist • Imminence

Day of the Lord • About 20 uses in the Old Testament • About 4 in the New Testament (2 in 1 and Second Thessalonians) • Get the broader view • Much like Jesus’ hour • Not just an hour = not just a Day – Refers to terrifying Judgment – Is a specific time within a specific age – Is fully enacted after the Seven Year Tribulation

CCS Sys. Theo 1 Thessalonians

1 & 2 Thessalonians Authorship: 1 Thessalonians 1: 1: Paul. Destination: Show Thessalonica on a map Origin: Paul first went to Thessalonica on his 2 nd Missionary Journey (Acts 17 -18). After, he went to Berea, Athens and then spent 18 months in Corinth (about 51 -52). While in Corinth, he wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Date: During his stay in Corinth: about A. D. 51 Audience: 1 Thess 1: 1 believers in Thessalonica Genre: Letter

Thessalonica Paul labors at Thessalonica; departs for Beroea, Athens, and Corinth (Acts 17: 1– 15; 18: 1).

Thessalonica Timothy rejoins Paul at Athens; is sent to strengthen the church at Thessalonica; rejoins him at Corinth (Acts 17: 14– 15; 18: 5; 1 Thess. 3: 1– 6).

Thessalonica Soon after Timothy’s return Paul writes two letters to the Thessalonians, c. A. D. 51 (1 Thess. 1: 1; 2: 17; 3: 6– 10; 2 Thess. 1: 1).

1 & 2 Thessalonians Authorship: 1 Thessalonians 1: 1: Paul. Destination: Show Thessalonica on a map Origin: Paul first went to Thessalonica on his 2 nd Missionary Journey (Acts 17 -18). After, he went to Berea, Athens and then spent 18 months in Corinth (about 51 -52). While in Corinth, he wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians. Date: During his stay in Corinth: about A. D. 51 Audience: 1 Thess 1: 1 believers in Thessalonica Genre: Letter

1 Thessalonians Outline: I. Paul's Authority and the Church’s Place with the Gospel as Center (1: 1 -3: 13) A. Introduction (1: 1 -10) B. Paul’s Ministry to Thessalonica (2: 1 -16) C. Paul’s Desire for Return for Encouragement (2: 17 -3: 13) II. Last Things and Final Instructions On Holy Living (4: 1 -5: 28) A. Instruction on Christian Living (4: 1 -12) B. Teaching on Last Things (4: 13 -5: 11) C. More Instruction on Christian Living (5: 12 -28)

Thematic Expansions in 1 Thessalonians Work of Faith 1: 5 -7 & 2: 1 -3: 5 1: 2 -3 Labor of Love 1: 8 -9 & 3: 6 -4: 12 Steadfastness of Hope 1: 10 & 4: 13 -5: 11

How many ways to skin a cat? • Why so many ways? – Thematic Analysis – Outline – Thematic Expansion • Different angles • We are after Meaning • Why not just an outline!?

How many ways to skin a cat? • Ancient World • Eastern World • Thought , communication and writing • Linear vs. Circular • Chiasms, Statement/Restatement, Etc. • Meaning is the key, not just Form

1 & 2 Thessalonians Purpose: The themes, portray the purposes of the epistles. “Remembering Truth, Excelling in Sanctification”

1 Thessalonians Purpose: 1) Questions about the authority and intensions of Paul (1 Thess 1 -3 ) 2) Encouragement in not being moved by false teachings, but rather Remember what was taught (1 Thess 1: 5; 2: 1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 13; 3: 3, 4; 4: 1, 2, 6; 5: 2 [2 Thess 2: 5 -6, 15; 3: 7]) 3) Motivation to pursue excellence in sanctification (1 Thess 4: 1, 10) 4) Comforting words on the coming of Christ and those who “fall asleep” before that event (1 Thess 4: 18, 5: 11) 5) Clarification on the Day of the Lord (1 Thess 5)

Remembering Truth • • “Just as You Know” “You Yourselves Know” “You Recall” “You are Witnesses” “You Heard from Us” “We Kept Telling You” “As You Received” “We…Told You Before

“Excel Still More” • 1 Thess. 4: 1 – Holiness – Explanation in vs. 2 -8 – Abstain from sexual immorality – Do not Transgress – Do not Defraud – Be Obedient to the Commands • 1 Thess. 4: 10 – Love – To all Men – See also: • Phil. 1: 9 • 1 Thess. 3: 12 • 2 Thess. 1: 3 – Why “still more? ” • God’s Character • Infinitude

Things to Come • Most likely an answer to a direct question • Not a new concept – “A faint cry”

A faint cry of what’s to come… • “To wait for His Son” 1: 10 – From heaven – Raised from the dead – Jesus – Rescues us from the wrath to come • “Presence of our Lord Jesus at His Coming” 2: 19 • “Coming of our Lord Jesus with His Saints” 3: 13

“Parousia” Presence

“The Day of the Lord” 1 Thessalonians 5 and 2 Thessalonians 1 -2

Things to Come • • • Most likely an answer to a direct question Not a new concept – “A faint cry” Purpose (So That) – encouragement – 13, 18 “Asleep” means dead The process – Coming of the Lord – Dead rise – Living “caught up”

“The Rapture” 1 Thessalonians 4

Views • • • Pretribulational Midtribulational Posttribulational Partial Rapture Prewrath • Pretribulational – Purpose (Daniel 9: 24)

Arguments Against Pre-Trib. • “Trumpet of God” – Before first Trumpet : Rev. 6: 16 – Mid-trib. View • “To Meet” (eis apanteesin) Matt. 25: 6, Acts 28: 15 & 1 Thess. 4: 17 – Harpadzo (Matt. 11: 12, 13: 19; John 10: 28 -29; 2 Cor. 12: 2 -4; Rev 12: 5 – Post-Trib View • Fear of Error (Cannot find enough Evidence) – Any-other-than-Pre-trib. View

Revelation 6: 16 • NAU Revelation 6: 16 and they said to the mountains and to the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb;

Arguments Against Pre-Trib. • “Trumpet of God” – Before first Trumpet : Rev. 6: 16 – Mid-trib. View • “To Meet” (eis apanteesin) Matt. 25: 6, Acts 28: 15 & 1 Thess. 4: 17 – Harpadzo (Matt. 11: 12, 13: 19; John 10: 28 -29; 2 Cor. 12: 2 -4; Rev 12: 5 – Post-Trib View • Fear of Error (Cannot find enough Evidence) – Any-other-than-Pre-trib. View

Matthew 25 and Acts 28 • 6 "But at midnight there • 15 And the brethren, was a shout, 'Behold, when they heard about the bridegroom! Come us, came from there as out to meet him. ‘ far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns NAU Matthew 25: 6 to meet us; and when [speaking of the ten virgins – or bridesmaids, not to be Paul saw them, he confused with the Bride] thanked God and took courage. NAU Acts 28: 15

1 Thessalonians 4: 17 • NAU 1 Thessalonians 4: 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

Harpodzo • NAU Matthew 11: 12 "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force. • NAU 2 Corinthians 12: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago-- whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man-- whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows-- 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.

Arguments Against Pre-Trib. • “Trumpet of God” – Before first Trumpet : Rev. 6: 16 – Mid-trib. View • “To Meet” (eis apanteesin) Matt. 25: 6, Acts 28: 15 & 1 Thess. 4: 17 – Harpadzo (Matt. 11: 12, 13: 19; John 10: 28 -29; 2 Cor. 12: 2 -4; Rev 12: 5 – Post-Trib View • Fear of Error (Cannot find enough Evidence) – Any-other-than-Pre-trib. View

Eschatology in 1 Thessalonians • Study of Last Things • Imminence • Death • The Rapture • Day of the Lord

Eschatology in 2 Thessalonians • Study of Last Things • Day of the Lord • Discernment • Great Tribulation • Antichrist • Imminence

Revelation Apokalupsis Iesou Christou

Revelation Authorship: Gospel of John, Epistles of John, Revelation: John, Son of Zebedee Destination: Show Churches on a map. Origin: John from exile (banishment) on the Island of Patmos, southwest of Ephesus. Date: Later date of 95 A. D. is preferred. Audience: Seven Churches in Asia and Cyclical Genre: Apocalypse, Prophecy and Letter

Genres • Apocalypse: An unveiling of “heavenly” mysteries • Prophecy: A foretelling of future events • Epistle: A personal letter with personal attributes

Interpretive Views of Revelation Preterist Revelation 1 -3 Historic Churches Revelation 4 -19 Symbolic of Contemporary Situations Revelation 20 -22 Symbolic of Heaven and Victory

Interpretive Views of Revelation Idealist Revelation 1 -3 Historic Churches Revelation 4 -19 Symbolic of Conflict of Good And Evil Revelation 20 -22 Victory of Good

Interpretive Views of Revelation Historicist Revelation 1 -3 Historic Churches Revelation 4 -19 Symbolic of Historical events: Fall of Rome, Islam, Catholicism and Ref. Revelation 20 -22 Final Judgment of some kind & Eternal State

Interpretive Views of Revelation Futurist Revelation 1 -3 Historic Churches and/or Stages of Church History Revelation 4 -19 Future Tribulation Revelation 20 -22 Millennial Kingdom, Judgment of Wicked & Eternal State

Revelation Authorship: Gospel of John, Epistles of John, Revelation: John, Son of Zebedee Destination: Show Churches on a map. Origin: John from exile (banishment) on the Island of Patmos, southwest of Ephesus. Date: Later date of 95 A. D. is preferred. Audience: Seven Churches in Asia and Cyclical Genre: Apocalypse, Prophecy and Letter View: Futurist

Revelation Outline: I. Introduction (1: 1 -8) A. Prologue (1: 1 -3) B. Greetings and Doxology (1: 4 -8) II. Vision of the Son of Man Among the Seven Churches of Asia (1: 9 -3: 22) A. The Son of Man Among the Lampstands (1: 9 -20) B. The Letters to the Seven Churches (2: 1 -3: 22) 1. To Ephesus (2: 1 -7) 2. To Smyrna (2: 8 -11) 3. To Pergamum (2: 12 -17) 4. To Thyatira (2: 18 -29) 5. To Sardis (3: 1 -6) 6. To Philadelphia (3: 7 -13) 7. To Laodicea (3: 14 -22)

Revelation Outline: III. Vision of the Seven-Sealed Scroll, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Signs, and the Seven Bowls (4: 1 -19: 10) A. The Seven-Sealed Scroll (4: 1 -8: 1) B. The Seven Trumpets (8: 2 -11: 19) C. The Seven Signs (12: 1 -14: 20) D. The Seven Bowls (15: 1 -19: 10)

Revelation Outline: IV. Vision of the Return of Christ and the Consummation of This Age (19: 11 -20: 15) A. The Rider on the White Horse and the Destruction of the Beast (19: 11 -21) B. Binding of Satan and the Millennium (20: 1 -6) C. Release and End of Satan (20: 7 -10) D. Great White Throne Judgment (20: 11 -15) V. Vision of the New Heaven and the New Earth and the New Jerusalem (21: 1 -22: 5) A. The New Jerusalem (21: 1 -27) B. The River of Life and the Tree of Life (22: 1 -5) VI. Conclusion (22: 6 -21)

Thematic Expansions in Revelation 1: 19 You have seen 1: 1 -20 Which are 2: 1 -3: 22 After these things 4: 1 -22: 21

Revelation Purpose: 1) To prepare believers for the Revelation of Jesus Christ 2) To Bless those who heed the words of the Book (1: 3) 3) To address issues with in seven churches in Asia (2: 1 -3: 22) 4) To reveal the divine judgments of the coming Day of the Lord 5) To pray to the Lord Jesus to return soon

Revelation Key Verse: Revelation 1: 3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near. (NAU)

Revelation Purpose: 1) To prepare believers for the Revelation of Jesus Christ 2) To Bless those who heed the words of the Book (1: 3) 3) To address issues with in seven churches in Asia (2: 1 -3: 22) 4) To reveal the divine judgments of the coming Day of the Lord 5) To pray to the Lord Jesus to return soon

Eschatology in Revelation • Study of Last Things • Day of the Lord • Millennial Kingdom • New Heaven and New Earth

A Brief Look at Eschatology

The Tribulation Revelation 4 -19

Millennial Kingdom Revelation 20

Views • • Premillennial Amillennial Postmillennial Panmillennial • Premillennial – Structure (Revelation 20: 1 -8)

What we DO Know • Jesus is coming back (Acts 1: 11) • We do not know when (Matthew 24: 36) • Perhaps today…

Day of the Lord • About 20 uses in the Old Testament • About 4 in the New Testament (2 in 1 and Second Thessalonians) • Get the broader view – Refers to terrifying Judgment – Is a specific time within a specific age – Is fully enacted after the Seven Year Tribulation

Passages of Interest • Matthew 24 -25 – Olivet Discourse [READ] • I Thessalonians 5 [READ] • 2 Thessalonians 2 [READ] • Revelation

When? • Moment or time? – “Peace and Safety” – “Thief in the night” – “Labor Pains” • Purpose – Encourage – now – “Children of the Day” – Not “of night or darkness” – Faith, love and hope – See 1: 2 -3 – Not destined for wrath

Personal Eschatological Perspective • Study of Last Things • Imminence (Reign of Fire) • Death • Parousia • Day of the Lord

Reign of Fire

Bedtime “Prayers” • Quinn Abercromby: What do we do when we are awake? The Children: Keep two eyes on the sky. Quinn Abercromby: What do we do when we sleep? The Children: Keep one eye on the sky. Quinn Abercromby: What do we do when we see them? The Children: Dig hard, dig deep, go for shelter, and never look back.

Personal Eschatological Perspective • Study of Last Things • Imminence (Reign of Fire) • Death • Parousia • Day of the Lord

the last verses HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED. . .

Because He Lives • And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to vict'ry, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

All Creatures of our God and King • And thou most kind and gentle Death, Waiting to hush our latest breath, O praise Him! Alleluia! Thou leadest home the child of God, And Christ our Lord the way hath trod.

Amazing Grace • Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail, And mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, A life of joy and peace. • The earth shall soon dissolve like snow, The sun forbear to shine; But God, who called me here below, Will be forever mine. • When we’ve been there ten thousand years, Bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise Than when we’d first begun.

And Can it Be? • No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine; Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach th’eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Are you Washed in the Blood? • When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white? Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright, And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

At the Name of Jesus • Brothers, this Lord Jesus shall return again, With His Father’s glory, with His angel train; For all wreaths of empire meet upon His brow, And our hearts confess Him King of glory now.

Be Still My Soul • Be still, my soul: the hour is hastening on When we shall be forever with the Lord. When disappointment, grief and fear are gone, Sorrow forgot, love’s purest joys restored. Be still, my soul: when change and tears are past All safe and blessèd we shall meet at last.

Blessed Assurance • Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine! O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood. • Perfect submission, perfect delight, Visions of rapture now burst on my sight; Angels descending bring from above Echoes of mercy, whispers of love. • Perfect submission, all is at rest I in my Savior am happy and blest, Watching and waiting, looking above, Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.

Come Thou Fount • O that day when freed from sinning, I shall see Thy lovely face; Clothed then in blood washed linen How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace; Come, my Lord, no longer tarry, Take my ransomed soul away; Send thine angels now to carry Me to realms of endless day. •

The Point Expectation

What happens at the end? • Judgments – The nature of judgment is the revelation of a person’s works and status – Jesus is the Judge (John 5: 22) – Some see a single general judgment (Reformed) – Some see multiple judgments • Judgment seat of Christ (Romans 14: 10 -12; 2 Cor. 5: 9 -10) – – – Rewards (1 Cor. 3: 14) Christ’s Bride (Rev. 19: 7 -8) Life deeds (2 Cor. 5: 10) Judgment of wickedness (1 John 2: 28) Ultimately for Christian, there is joy (Rev. 19: 7 -8)

Multiple Judgments Cont. Judgment of Tribulation Saints (Rev. 20: 4 -6) Judgment of OT Saints (Daniel 12: 2) Judgment of Living Israel (Zech. 12: 10 -14) Judgment of Gentile Nations (Joel 3: 1 -2; Matt. 25: 3146) • Judgment of Satan and the Fallen Angels (Rev. 12: 7 -9 & 20: 1 -3) • The Great White Throne Judgment of the Wicked (Rev. 20: 11 -15) • The Judgment of the Heavens and Earth (2 Peter 3: 10) • •

The Big Picture GOD and Man* Man vs. GOD GOD and a chosen People The GOD-Man*

What we DO Know • Jesus is coming back (John 14: 3) • We do not know when (Matthew 24: 36) • Perhaps today…

CCS Sys. Theo Universal Eschatology – Case Studies in 1 & 2 Thessalonians/Revelation