Christian eschatology, a major branch of study withinย Christian theology, deals with โlast thingsโ. Suchย eschatologyย โ the word derives from two Greek roots meaning โlastโ (แผฯฯฮฑฯฮฟฯ) and โstudyโ (-ฮปฮฟฮณฮฏฮฑ) โ involves the study of โend thingsโ, whether of the end of an individual life, of theย end of the age, of the end of theย worldย or of the nature of theย Kingdom of God. Broadly speaking, Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of individualย soulsย and of the entireย created order, based primarily uponย biblicalย texts within theย Oldย andย New Testaments.
Christian eschatology looks to study and discuss matters such asย deathย and theย afterlife,ย Heavenย andย Hell, theย second comingย ofย Jesus, theย resurrection of the dead, theย rapture, theย tribulation,ย millennialism, theย end of the world, theย Last Judgment, and the New Heaven andย New Earthย in theย world to come.
Eschatological passages appear in many places in the Bible, in both in the Old and the New Testaments. Many extra-biblicalย examples of eschatologicalย propheciesย also exist, as well asย church traditionsย relating to the subject.
History[edit]
Eschatologyย is an ancient branch of study in Christian theology, informed by Biblical texts such as theย Olivet discourse,ย The Sheep and the Goats, and other discourses of end times by Jesus, with the doctrine of theย Second Comingย discussed byย Paul the Apostle[1]ย andย Ignatius of Antiochย (c. 35โ107 AD),[2]ย then given more consideration by the Christian apologist,ย Justin Martyrย (c. 100โ165).[3]ย Treatment of eschatology continued in theย Westย in the teachings ofย Tertullianย (c. 160โ225), and was given fuller reflection and speculation soon after byย Origenย (c. 185โ254).[4]ย The word was used first by the Lutheran theologianย Abraham Caloviusย (1612โ86) but only came into general usage in the 19th century.[5]
The growing modern interest in eschatology is tied to developments in Anglophone Christianity.ย Puritansย in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly interested in aย postmillennialย hope which surrounded Christian conversion.[6]ย This would be contrasted with the growing interest inย premillennialism, advocated by dispensational figures such asย J. N. Darby.[7]ย Both of these strands would have significant influences on the growing interests in eschatology inย Christian missionsย and in Christianity inย West Africaย andย Asia.[8][9]ย However, in the 20th century, there would be a growing number of German scholars such asย Jรผrgen Moltmannย andย Wolfhart Pannenbergย who would likewise be interested in eschatology.[10]
In the 1800s, a group of Christian theologians inclusive ofย Ellen G. White,ย William Miller (preacher)ย andย Joseph Bates (Adventist)ย began to study eschatological implications revealed in theย Book of Danielย and theย Book of Revelation. Their interpretation of Christian eschatology resulted in the founding of theย Seventh-day Adventist church.
Christian eschatological views[edit]
The following approaches arose from the study of Christianityโs most central eschatological document, theย Book of Revelation, but the principles embodied in them can be applied to all prophecy in theย Bible. They are by no means mutually exclusive and are often combined to form a more complete and coherent interpretation of prophetic passages. Most interpretations fit into one, or a combination, of these approaches. The alternate methods of prophetic interpretation,ย Futurismย andย Preterismย which came from Jesuit writings, were brought about to oppose theย Historicismย interpretation which had been used from Biblical times[11][12][13][14]ย that Reformers used in teaching that the Antichrist was theย Papacyย or the power of theย Roman Catholic Church.[15]
Preterism[edit]
Preterismย is a Christian eschatological view that interprets some (partial preterism) or all (full preterism)ย propheciesย of theย Bibleย as events which have already happened. This school of thought interprets theย Book of Danielย as referring to events that happened from the 7th century BC until the first century AD, while seeing the prophecies ofย Revelationย as events that happened in theย first century AD. Preterism holds thatย Ancient Israelย finds itsย continuation or fulfillmentย in theย Christian churchย at theย destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
Historically, preterists and non-preterists have generally agreed that the Jesuitย Luis de Alcasarย (1554โ1613) wrote the first systematic preterist exposition of prophecyโVestigatio arcani sensus in Apocalypsiย (published in 1614)โduring theย Counter-Reformation.
Historicism[edit]
Historicism, a method of interpretation ofย Biblical prophecies, associatesย symbolsย with historical persons, nations or events. It can result in a view of progressive and continuous fulfillment of prophecy covering the period fromย Biblical timesย to theย Second Coming. Almost[quantify]ย allย Protestant Reformersย from theย Reformationย into the 19th century held historicist views.[16]
Futurism[edit]
Inย Futurism, parallels may be drawn with historical events, but most eschatological prophecies are chiefly referring to events which have not yet been fulfilled, but will take place at the end of the age and theย end of the world. Most prophecies will be fulfilled during a global time of chaos known as theย Great Tribulationย and afterwards.[17]ย Futurist beliefs usually have a close association withย Premillennialismย andย Dispensationalism. Futurist beliefs were presented in theย Left Behindย series.
Idealism[edit]
Idealismย (also called the spiritual approach, the allegorical approach, the nonliteral approach, and many other names) in Christian eschatology is an interpretation of the Book of Revelation that sees all of the imagery of the book asย symbols.[18]
Jacob Taubesย writes that idealist eschatology came about asย Renaissanceย thinkers began to doubt that theย Kingdom of Heavenย had been established on earth, or would be established, but still believed in its establishment.[19]ย Rather than the Kingdom of Heaven being present in society, it is established subjectively for the individual.[20]
F. D. Mauriceย interpreted the Kingdom of Heaven idealistically as a symbol representing societyโs general improvement, instead of a physical and political kingdom.ย Karl Barthย interprets eschatology as representing existential truths that bring the individual hope, rather than history or future-history.[21]ย Barthโs ideas provided fuel for theย Social Gospelย philosophy in America, which saw social change not as performingย โrequiredโ good works, but because the individuals involved felt that Christians could not simply ignore societyโs problems with future dreams.[22]
Different authors have suggested thatย the Beastย represents various social injustices, such asย exploitation of workers,[23]ย wealth, the elite, commerce,[24]ย materialism, and imperialism.[25]ย Variousย Christian anarchists, such asย Jacques Ellul, have identified theย Stateย andย political powerย as the Beast.[26]ย Other scholars identify theย Beastย with the Roman empire of the first century AD, but recognize that the Beast has significance beyond its identification with Rome. For example, Craig R. Koester says โthe vision [of the beast] speaks to the imperial context in which Revelation was composed, but it does so with images that go beyond that context, depicting the powers at work in the world in ways that continue to engage readers of subsequent generations.โ[27]ย And his comments on the whore of Babylon are more to the point: โThe whore [of Babylon] is Rome, yet more than Rome.โ[28]ย It โis the Roman imperial world, which in turn represents the world alienated from God.โ[29]ย As Stephen Smalley puts it, the beast represents โthe powers of evil which lie behind the kingdoms of this world, and which encourage in society, at any moment in history, compromise with the truth and opposition to the justice and mercy of God.โ[30]
It is distinct fromย Preterism,ย Futurismย andย Historicismย in that it does not see any of the prophecies (except in some cases theย Second Coming, andย Final Judgment) as being fulfilled in a literal, physical, earthly sense either in the past, present or future,[31]ย and that to interpret the eschatological portions of the Bible in a historical or future-historical fashion is an erroneous understanding.[32]
Comparison of Futurist, Preterist and Historicist beliefs[edit]
| Eschatological Topic | Futurist belief[citation needed] | Preterist belief[33] | Historicist belief[34] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Futurists typically anticipate a future period of time when Bible prophecies will be fulfilled. | Preterists typically argue that most (Partial Preterism), or all (Full Preterism) Bible prophecies were fulfilled during the earthly ministry of Jesus and the generation immediately proceeding it, concluding with the siege and destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. | Historicists typically understand the prophecies to be continuous from the times of the prophets to the present day and beyond. | |
| โThe 144,000โ Revelation 7:1โ8 | Various interpretations of a literal number of 144,000, including: 144,000 Evangelical Jews at the end of the world, or 144,000 Christians at the end of the world. | A symbolic number signifying the saved, representing completeness, perfection (The number of Israel; 12, squared and multiplied by 1,000, representing the infinite = 144,000). This symbolises Godโs Holy Army, redeemed, purified and complete. | A symbolic number representing the saved who are able to stand through the events of 6:17. |
| Locusts released from the Abyss Revelation 9:1โ11 | A demonic host released upon the earth at the end of the world. | A demonic host released upon Israel during the siege of Jerusalem 66โ70 AD. | The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries. |
| Large Army from the Euphrates, an army of โmyriads of myriadsโ Revelation 9:13โ16 | Futurists frequently translate and interpret the Greek phrase โmyriads of myriadsโ as meaning a โdouble myriadโ, from which they develop the figure of 200 million. Futurists frequently assign this army of 200 million to China, which they believe will attack Israel in the future. Many Bibles employ a Futurist interpretation of the original Greek when they adopt the figure of 200 million. | Preterists hold to the original Greek description of a large army consisting of โmyriads of myriadsโ, as a reference to the large pagan army, which would attack Israel during the Siege of Jerusalem from 66โ70 AD. The source of this pagan army from beyond the Euphrates is a symbolic reference to Israelโs history of being attacked and judged by pagan armies from beyond the Euphrates. Some of the Roman units employed during the siege of Jerusalem were assigned from this area.[35] | The Muslim Arab hordes that overran North Africa, the Near East, and Spain during the 6th to 8th centuries. |
| โThe Two Witnessesโ Revelation 11:1โ12 | Two people who will preach in Jerusalem at the end of the world. | The two witnesses and their miracles symbolize the ministries of Moses and Elijah, who in turn symbolize โThe Lawโ and โThe Prophetsโ, the Old Testament witnesses to the righteousness of God. When the armies of Rome laid siege to and destroyed Jerusalem in 70 AD, it appeared that the Two Witnesses had been killed. | The two witnesses (AKA โtwo olive treesโ and โtwo candlesticksโ) are the Old and New Testaments. |
| โ1260 Daysโ Revelation 11:3 | A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) at the end of the world during which Jerusalem is controlled by pagan nations. | A literal 1260 days (3.5 years) which occurred โat the end of the worldโ in 70 AD when the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem was decisively destroyed at the hands of the pagan Roman armies following a 3.5-year Roman campaign in Judea and Samaria. The โTwo Witnessesโ appeared to be dead for 3.5 years during the siege of Jerusalem but were miraculously resurrected as the Early Church. | 1260 days = forty and two months (vs. 11:2) = a time, times and the dividing of time (Dan 7:25). 1260 years during which the two witnesses are clothed in sackcloth, typically understood[dubiousย โย discuss]to represent the time from 538 to 1798 A.D., the time of Papal authority over the Christian church. |
| โThe Woman and the Dragonโ Revelation 12:1โ6 | A future conflict between the State of Israel and Satan. | Symbolic of the Old Covenant Church, the nation of Israel (Woman) giving birth to the Christ child. Satan (the Dragon) was determined to destroy the Christ child. The Woman (the early church), fled Jerusalem before its destruction in 70 AD. | The Dragon represents Satan and any earthly power he uses. The woman represents Godโs true church before and after Christโs birth, death, and resurrection. The Woman flees to the desert away from the dominant power of the 1260 years. |
| โThe Beast out of the Seaโ Revelation 13:1โ8 | The future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians | The Roman Empire,ย persecuting the early churchย during the rule of Nero. The sea symbolizing the Mediterranean and the nations of the Roman Empire. | The Beast is the earthly power supported by the Dragon (Satan). It is the Papal power during the same 42 months mentioned above. |
| โThe Beast out of the Earthโ โThe False Prophetโ Revelation 13:11โ18 | The future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians. | The apostate rulers of the Jewish people, who joined in union with the Roman Empire to persecute the early church. | The first is the U.S.A. The second is a future religio-political power in which everyone is forced by the first power to receive the mark of the beast. |
| โThe Number of the Beast, 666โ Revelation 13:18 | The number identifying the future empire of the Anti-Christ, persecuting Christians. | In Hebrew calculations the total sum of Emperor Neroโs name, โNero Caesarโ, equated to 666. The number more broadly symbolises the Roman Empire and its persecution of the early church. The number 666 also symbolises an apostate ruler as King Solomon was, who collected 666 talents of gold annually. 1Kings 10:14 | cryptogram of one of the names of the pope โ the False Prophet: Vicarius Filii Dei, v and u = 5, i = 1, l = 50, c = 100, d = 500[dubiousย โย discuss] |
| Armageddon Revelation 16:16 | A future literal battle atย Megiddoย in the Jezreel Valley, Israel. | Megiddo is utilised as a symbol of Godโs complete victory over His enemies. The battle of Armageddon occurred 2000 years ago when God used the pagan armies of Rome to comprehensively destroy the apostate worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Revelation 16:16 Judges 5:19 2Kings 9:27 | A symbolic name concerning the ongoing battle between Jesus and Satan. |
| Mystery Babylon The Great Harlot Revelation 17:1โ5 | Futurists compose various interpretations for the identity of โMystery Babylonโ such as the US, or the UN. | The corrupted city of Jerusalem, who united with pagan nations of the world in their idolatrous practices and participated in persecuting the faithful Old Covenant priests and prophets, and the early church of the New Covenant. Matthew 23:35โ37 | A virtuous woman represents Godโs true church. A whore represents an apostate church. Typically,ย Mystery Babylonย is understood to be the esoteric apostasies, andย Great Harlotย is understood to be the popular apostasies. Both types of apostasies are already at work, ensnaring the unwary. |
| Seven heads and ten horns Revelation 17:9โ11 | Futurists compose various interpretations. | As the Bible text explains, the seven heads are seven mountains. This is a direct reference to theย Seven hills of Rome. It is also noted that the seven hills โrefer to seven kingsโ. This is a reference to the Caesars of Rome. At the time of the writing of the Revelation, five Caesars had already fallen (Julius Caesar,ย Augustus Caesar,ย Tiberius Caesar,ย Caligulaย andย Claudius Caesar), โOne isโ (Nero, the sixth Caesar, was on the throne as John was writing the Revelation), and the seventh โhas not yet comeโ. (Galba, the seventh Caesar, reigned for less than 7 months).[36] | Various interpretations. |
| The Thousand Years The Millennium Revelation 20:1โ3 | The Millennium is a literal, future 1,000-year reign of Christ following the destruction of Godโs enemies. | The Millennium is the current, ongoing rise of Godโs Kingdom. The Millennium is a symbolic time frame, not a literal time frame. Preterists believe the Millennium has been ongoing since the earthly ministry and ascension of Christ and the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and is ongoing today.[37] Daniel 2:34โ35 | The time period between Christโs Second Advent and the rapture of all the righteous, both living and formerly dead, from off earth and the third Advent which brings the New Jerusalem and the saints to the planet. While the saved are gone, the planet is inhabited only by Satan and his hosts, for all the wicked are dead. |
| โThe Raptureโ Revelation 4:1 | The Rapture is a future removal of the faithful Christian church from earth. | Preterists generally recognize a future โSecond Comingโ of Christ, as described in Acts 1:11 and 1 Thessalonians 4:16โ17. However, they distinguish this from Revelation 4:1 which is construed by Futurists as describing a โRaptureโ event that is separate from the โSecond Comingโ. | |
| โThe Great Tribulationโ Revelation 4:1 | The โGreat Tribulationโ is a future period of Godโs judgement on earth. | The โGreat Tribulationโ occurred 2000 years ago when apostate Israel was judged and destroyed by God, culminating in the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem at the hands of the pagan armies of the Roman Empire. The early Church was delivered from this period of judgment because it heeded the warning of Jesus in Matthew 24:16 to flee Jerusalem when it saw the pagan armies of Rome approaching. | The Great Tribulation was a period of persecution for the Church for 1260 years from 538 to 1798 AD at the hands of papal authorities.[dubiousย โย discuss] |
| โThe Abomination that causes desolationโ Matthew 24:15 | The Abomination that causes desolation is a future system of idolatrous worship based at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. | The Abomination that causes desolation was the pagan armies of Rome destroying the apostate system of worship at the Temple in Jerusalem 2000 years ago. | |
| โGog and Magog invasionโ Ezekiel 38 | Ezekiel 38 refers to a future invasion of Israel by Russia and its allies, resulting in a miraculous deliverance by God. | Ezekiel 38 refers to theย Maccabeesย miraculous defeat of theย Seleucidsย in the 2nd century B.C. As Chilton notes, โThe wordย chiefย is, in the Hebrew,ย rosh, and according to this view, it does not pertain to Russia.[38] |
Preterism v. Historicism[edit]
Expositors of the traditional Protestant interpretation of Revelation known asย Historicismย have often maintained that Revelation was written in AD 96 and notย AD 70.ย Edward Bishop Elliott, in theย Horae Apocalypticaeย (1862), argues that John wrote the book in exile onย Patmosย โat the close of the reign of Domitian; that is near the end of the year 95 or beginning of 96โ. He notes that Domitian was assassinated in September 96.[39]:47ย Elliot begins his lengthy review of historical evidence by quotingย Irenaeus, a disciple ofย Polycarp. Polycarp was a disciple of the Apostle John. Irenaeus mentions that the Apocalypse was seen โno very long time ago [but] almost in our own age, toward the end of the reign of Domitianโ.[39]:32
Other historicists have seen no significance in the date that Revelation was written, and have even held to an early date[40]ย while Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr., makes an exegetical and historical argument for the pre-AD 70 composition of Revelation.[41]
Historicism v. Futurism[edit]
The division between these interpretations can be somewhat blurred. Most futurists are expecting aย raptureย of the Church, anย antichrist, aย Great Tribulationย and aย second comingย of Christ in the near future. But they also accept certain past events, such as the rebirth of the State ofย Israelย and the reunification ofย Jerusalemย as prerequisites to them, in a manner which the earlier historicists have done with other dates. Futurists, who do not normally use theย day-year principle, interpret theย Prophecy of Seventy Weeksย in Daniel 9:24 as years, just as historicists do. Most historicists have chosen timelines, from beginning to end, entirely in the past,[42]ย but some, such asย Adam Clarke, have timelines which also commenced with specific past events, but require a future fulfillment. In his commentary on Daniel 8:14 published in 1831, he stated that the 2,300-year period should be calculated from 334 BC, the yearย Alexander the Greatย began his conquest of the Persian Empire.[43]ย His calculation resulted in the year 1966. He seems to have overlooked the fact that there is no โyear zeroโ between BC and AD dates. For example, the year following 1 BC is 1 AD. Thus his calculations should have required an additional year, ending in 1967. He was not anticipating a literal regathering of the Jewish people prior to the second coming of Christ. But the date is of special significance to futurists since it is the year of Jerusalemโs capture by Israeli forces during theย Six-Day War. His commentary on Daniel 7:25 contains a 1260-year period commencing in 755 AD and ending in 2015.[43]
Major theological positions[edit]
Premillennialism[edit]
Main article:ย Premillennialism
Standard premillennialism posits that Christโs second coming will inaugurate a literal thousand-year earthly kingdom. Christโs return will coincide with a time of great tribulation. At this time, there will be a resurrection of the people of God who have died, and a rapture of the people of God who are still living, and they will meet Christ at his coming. A thousand years of peace will follow, during which Christ will reign and Satan will be imprisoned in the Abyss. Those who hold to this view usually fall into one of the following three categories:
Pretribulation rapture[edit]
Main article:ย Pretribulationism
Pretribulationists believe that the second coming will be in two stages separated by a seven-year period of tribulation. At the beginning of the tribulation, true Christians will rise to meet the Lord in the air (the Rapture). Then follows a seven-year period of suffering in which the Antichrist will conquer the world and persecute those who refuse to worship him. At the end of this period, Christ returns to defeat the Antichrist and establish the age of peace. This position is supported by a scripture which says, โGod did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.โ [1 Thess 5:9]
Midtribulation rapture[edit]
Main article:ย Midtribulationism
Midtribulationists believe that the Rapture will take place at the halfway point of the seven-year tribulation, i.e. after 3ยฝ years. It coincides with the โabomination of desolationโโa desecration of the temple where the Antichrist puts an end to the Jewish sacrifices, sets up his own image in the temple, and demands that he be worshiped as God. This event begins the second, most intense part of the tribulation.
Some interpreters find support for the โmidtribโ position by comparing a passage in Paulโs epistles with the book of Revelation. Paul says, โWe shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changedโ (1 Cor 15:51โ52). Revelation divides the great tribulation into three sets of increasingly catastrophic judgments: the Seven Seals, the Seven Trumpets, and the Seven Bowls, in that order. If the โlast trumpetโ of Paul is equated with the last trumpet of Revelation, the Rapture would be in the middle of the Tribulation. (Not all interpreters agree with this literal interpretation of the chronology of Revelation, however.)
Posttribulation rapture[edit]
Main article:ย Post-Tribulation Rapture
Posttribulationists hold that Christ will not return until the end of the tribulation. Christians, rather than being raptured at the beginning of the tribulation, or halfway through, will live through it and suffer for their faith during the ascendancy of the Antichrist. Proponents of this position believe that the presence of believers during the tribulation is necessary for a final evangelistic effort during a time when external conditions will combine with the Gospel message to bring great numbers of converts into the Church in time for the beginning of the Millennium.
Postmillennialism[edit]
Main article:ย Postmillennialism
Postmillennialism is an interpretation of chapter 20 of theย Book of Revelationย which seesย Christโsย second comingย as occurringย afterย the โMillenniumโ, aย Golden Ageย in whichย Christian ethicsย prosper.[44]ย The term subsumes several similar views of the end times, and it stands in contrast toย premillennialismย and, to a lesser extent,ย amillennialism.
Postmillennialism holds that Jesus Christ establishes his kingdom on earth through his preaching and redemptive work in the first century and that he equips his church with the gospel, empowers her by the Spirit, and charges her with the Great Commission (Matt 28:19) to disciple all nations. Postmillennialism expects that eventually the vast majority of people living will be saved. Increasing gospel success will gradually produce a time in history prior to Christโs return in which faith, righteousness, peace, and prosperity will prevail in the affairs of men and of nations. After an extensive era of such conditions Jesus Christ will return visibly, bodily, and gloriously, to end history with the general resurrection and the final judgment after which the eternal order follows.
Postmillenialism was a dominant theological belief among American Protestants who promoted reform movements in the 19th and 20th century such as abolitionism[45]ย and theย Social Gospel.[46]ย Postmillennialism has become one of the key tenets of a movement known asย Christian Reconstructionism. It has been criticized by 20th century religious conservatives as an attempt toย immanentize the eschaton.
Amillennialism[edit]
Main article:ย Amillennialism
Amillennialism, in Christian eschatology, involves the rejection of the belief thatย Jesusย will have a literal, thousand-year-long, physical reign on the earth. This rejection contrasts withย premillennialย and someย postmillennialย interpretations ofย chapter 20ย of theย Book of Revelation.
The amillennial view regards the โthousand yearsโ mentioned in Revelation 20 as aย symbolicย number, not as a literal description; amillennialists hold that theย millenniumย has already begun and is identical with the currentย church age. Amillennialism holds that while Christโs reign during the millennium isย spiritualย in nature, at the end of the church age,ย Christ will returnย inย final judgmentย and establish a permanent reign in the new heaven and new earth.
Many proponents dislike the name โamillennialismโ because it emphasizes their differences with premillennialism rather than their beliefs about the millennium. โAmillennialโ was actually coined in a pejorative way by those who hold premillennial views. Some proponents also prefer alternate terms such asย nunc-millennialismย (that is, now-millennialism) orย realized millennialism, although these other names have achieved only limited acceptance and usage.[47]
Death and the afterlife[edit]
Jewish beliefs at the time of Jesus[edit]
See also:ย Second Temple Judaism
There were different schools of thought on the afterlife inย Judeaย during the first century AD. Theย Sadducees, who recognized only theย Torahย (first five books of the Old Testament) as authoritative, did not believe in an afterlife or any resurrection of the dead. Theย Pharisees, who not only accepted the Torah, butย additional scriptures as well, believed in theย resurrection of the dead, and it is known to have been a major point of contention between the two groups (seeย Acts 23:8). The Pharisees based their belief on passages such asย Daniel 12:2, which says: โMultitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.โ
The intermediate state[edit]
Main article:ย Intermediate state
Some traditions (notably the Seventh-day Adventists) teach that theย soul sleepsย after death, and will not awake again until theย resurrection of the dead, while others believe the spirit goes to an intermediate place where it will live consciously until the resurrection of the dead. By โsoulโ, Seventh-day Adventists theologians mean the physical person (monism), and that no component of human nature survives death; therefore, each human will be โrecreatedโ at resurrection. The biblicalย Book of Ezekielย provides substantiation for the assertion that souls experience mortality, โBehold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.โ (Ezekiel 18:4)ย [48]
Theย Catechism of the Catholic Churchย says:Each man receives his eternal retribution in hisย immortal soulย at the very moment of his death, in aย particular judgmentย that refers his life to Christ: either entrance into the blessedness ofย heavenโthrough aย purificationย or immediatelyโor immediate and everlastingย damnation. (Sect. 1022)
Purgatory[edit]
Main article:ย Purgatory
Some denominations (a notable exception areย Seventh-day Adventists) affirm the statement from theย Catechism of the Catholic Churchย (above), with the exception of the parenthetical phrase, โthrough a purification or immediatelyโ. This alludes to the Catholic belief in a spiritual state, known as Purgatory, in which those souls who are not condemned to Hell, but are also not completely pure as required for entry into Heaven, go through a final process of purification before their full acceptance into Heaven.
Eastern Orthodoxy and Protestantism do not believe in Purgatory as such, though the Orthodox Church is willing to allow for a period of continued sanctification (the process of being made pure, or holy) after death. Most Protestants reject the doctrine of Purgatory on the basis that first, Christ has already made full atonement for their sins on the cross, thereby removing all obstacles which prevent them from coming directly into the presence of God after death; and second, it is not found in theย Protestant Bible.
The Great Tribulation[edit]
Main article:ย Great Tribulation
The end comes at an unexpected time[edit]
There are many passages in the Bible, both Old and New Testaments, which speak of a time of terrible tribulation such as has never been known, a time of natural and man-made disasters on an awesome scale. Jesus said that at the time of his coming, โThere will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever will be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the electโs sake, those days will be shortened.โ [Mt 24:21โ22]
Furthermore, theย Messiahโs return and the tribulation that accompanies it will come at a time when people are not expecting it:Of that day and hour no-one knows; no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. [Mt 24:36โ39]
Paul echoes this theme, saying, โFor when they say, โPeace and safety!โ then sudden destruction comes upon them.โ [1 Thess 5:3]
The abomination of desolation[edit]
Main article:ย Abomination of desolation
The abomination of desolation (or desolating sacrilege) is a term found in theย Hebrew Bible, in theย book of Daniel. The term is used byย Jesus Christย in theย Olivet discourse, according to both theย Gospel of Matthewย and theย Gospel of Mark. In the Matthew account, Jesus is presented as quoting Daniel explicitly.Matthew 24:15โ26 (ESV) โSo when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.โMark 13:14 (ESV) โBut when you see the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not to be (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.โ
This verse in the Olivet Discourse also occurs in theย Gospel of Luke.Luke 21.20โ21 (ESV) โBut when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountainsย โฆโ
Many biblical scholars[49]ย conclude that Matthew 24:15 and Mark 13:14 areย prophecies after the eventย about theย siege of Jerusalemย in AD 70 by the Roman generalย Titus[50]ย (seeย Dating of the Gospel of Mark).
Preterist Christianย commentators believe that Jesus quoted this prophecy in Mark 13:14 as referring to an event in his โ1st century disciples'โ immediate future, specifically the pagan Roman forces during theย siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD.[51][52]
Futurist Christiansย consider the โAbomination of Desolationโ prophecy of Daniel mentioned by Jesus inย Matthew 24:15ย andย Mark 13:14ย as referring to an event in the end time future, when a 7-year peace treaty will be signed between Israel and a world ruler called โthe man of lawlessnessโ, or the โAntichristโ affirmed by the writings of the Apostle Paul inย 2 Thessalonians.
Other scholars conclude that the Abomination of Desolation refers to the Crucifixion,[53]ย an attempt by the emperor Hadrian to erect a statue to Jupiter in the Jewish temple,[54]ย or an attempt by Caligula to have a statue depicting him as Zeus built in the temple.[55]
The Prophecy of Seventy Weeks[edit]
Main article:ย Prophecy of Seventy Weeks
Many interpreters calculate the length of the tribulation at seven years. The key to this understanding is the โseventy weeks prophecyโ in the book of Daniel. The Prophecy of Seventy Septets (or literally โseventy times sevenโ) appears in the angelย Gabrielโs reply to Daniel, beginning with verse 22 and ending with verse 27 in the ninth chapter of theย Book of Daniel,[56]ย a work included in both theย Jewishย Tanakhย and theย Christianย Bible; as well as theย Septuagint.[57]ย Theย prophecyย is part of both theย Jewishย account of history and Christian eschatology.
The prophet has a vision of the angel Gabriel, who tells him, โSeventy weeks are determined for your people and for your holy city (i.e., Israel and Jerusalem).โ [Dan 9:24] After making a comparison with events in the history of Israel, many scholars have concluded that each day in the seventy weeks represents a year. The first sixty-nine weeks are interpreted as covering the period until Christโs first coming, but the last week is thought to represent the years of the tribulation which will come at the end of this age, directly preceding the millennial age of peace:The people of the prince who is to come will destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it will be with a flood, and till the end of the war, desolations are determined. Then he will confirm a covenant with many for one week. But in the middle of the week, he will bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations will be one who makes desolate, even until the consummation which is determined is poured out on the desolate. [Dan 9:26โ27]
This is an obscure prophecy, but in combination with other passages, it has been interpreted to mean that the โprince who is to comeโ will make a seven-year covenant with Israel that will allow the rebuilding of the temple and the reinstitution of sacrifices, but โin the middle of the weekโ, he will break the agreement and set up an idol of himself in the temple and force people to worship itโthe โabomination of desolationโ. Paul writes:Let no-one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [2 Thess 2:3โ4]
Rapture[edit]
Main article:ย Rapture
The rapture is an eschatological term used by certain Christians, particularly within branches of North Americanย evangelicalism, referring to anย end timeย event when allย Christianย believersโliving and deadโwill rise into Heaven and joinย Christ.[58][59]ย Some adherents believe this event is predicted and described in Paulโsย First Epistle to the Thessaloniansย in theย Bible,[60]ย where he uses the Greekย harpazoย (แผฯฯฮฌฮถฯ), meaning to snatch away or seize. Though it has been used differently in the past, the term is now often used by certain believers to distinguish this particular event from theย Second Comingย ofย Jesus Christย to Earth mentioned inย Second Thessalonians,ย Gospel of Matthew,ย First Corinthians, andย Revelation, usually viewing it as preceding the Second Coming and followed by a thousand-yearย millennial kingdom.[61]ย Adherents of this perspective are sometimes referred to asย premillenialistย dispensationalists, but amongst them there are differing viewpoints about the exact timing of the event.
The term โraptureโ is especially useful in discussing or disputing the exact timing or the scope of the event, particularly when asserting theย โpre-tribulationโย view that the rapture will occur before, not during, the Second Coming, with or without an extendedย Tribulationย period.[62]ย The term is most frequently used among Christian theologians andย fundamentalist Christiansย in theย United States.[63]ย Other, older uses of โraptureโ were simply as a term for any mystical union with God or for eternal life inย Heavenย with God.[64]
There are differing views among Christians regarding the timing of Christโs return, such as whether it will occur in one event or two, and the meaning of the aerial gathering described in 1 Thessalonians 4. Many Christians do not subscribe to rapture-oriented theological views. Though the term โraptureโ is derived from the text of the Latin Vulgate of 1 Thess. 4:17โโwe will be caught upโ, (Latin: rapiemur),ย Catholics, as well asย Eastern Orthodox,ย Anglicans,ย Lutheransย and mostย Reformed Christians, do not generally use โraptureโ as a specific theological term, nor do any of these bodies subscribe to the premillennialist dispensationalist theological views associated with its use, but do believe in the phenomenonโprimarily in the sense of the elect gathering with Christ inย Heavenย after his Second Coming.[65][66][67]ย These denominations do not believe that a group of people is left behind on earth for an extendedย Tribulationย period after the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:17.[68]
Pre-tribulation rapture theology originated in the eighteenth century, with the Puritan preachersย Increaseย andย Cotton Mather, and was popularized extensively in the 1830s byย John Nelson Darby[69][70]ย and theย Plymouth Brethren,[71]ย and further in the United States by the wide circulation of theย Scofield Reference Bibleย in the early 20th century.[72]ย Some, including Grant Jeffrey, maintain that an earlier document called Ephraem orย Pseudo-Ephraemย already supported a pre-tribulation rapture.[73]
The Second Coming[edit]
Main article:ย Second ComingIcon of the Second Coming. Greek, ca. 1700 A.D.
Signs of Christโs return[edit]
See also:ย Maranatha
The Bible states:Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, โMen of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.โ [Acts 1:9-11]
Many, but not all, Christians believe:
- The coming of Christ will be instantaneous and worldwide.[74]ย โFor as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.โ ~ Matthew 24:27
- The coming of Christ will be visible to all.[75]ย โThen the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.โ Matthew 24:30
- The coming of Christ will be audible.[76]ย โAnd He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.โ Matthew 24:31
- The resurrection of the righteous will occur.[77]ย โFor the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.โ ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16
- In one single event, the saved who are alive at Christโs coming will be caught up together with the resurrected to meet the Lord in the air.[78]ย โThen we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.โ ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:17
Last Day Counterfeits[edit]
In Matthew 24ย Jesusย states:For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:21, 24 NKJV]
These false Christs will perform great signs and are no ordinary people โFor they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.โ (Revelation 16:14) Satanโs angels will also appear as godly clergymen, and Satan will appear as an angel of light.[79]ย โFor such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.โ (2 Corinthians 11:13โ15) โAs his crowning miracle, Satan will claim to be Jesusโ[79]ย (Matthew 24:23, 24).As the crowning act in the great drama of deception, Satan himself will personate Christ. The church has long professed to look to the Saviourโs advent as the consummation of her hopes. Now the great deceiver will make it appear that Christ has come. In different parts of the earth, Satan will manifest himself among men as a majestic being of dazzling brightness, resembling the description of the Son of God given by John in the Revelation. (Revelation 1:13โ15).ย The Great Controversy, p. 624.[80]
The Marriage of the Lamb[edit]
See also:ย Lamb of God
After Jesus meets his followers โin the airโ, theย marriage of the Lambย takes place: โLet us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.โ [Rev 19:7โ8] Christ is represented throughout Revelation as โthe Lambโ, symbolizing the giving of his life as an atoning sacrifice for the people of the world, just as lambs were sacrificed on the altar for the sins of Israel. His โwifeโ appears to represent the people of God, for she is dressed in the โrighteous acts of the saintsโ. As the marriage takes place, there is a great celebration in heaven which involves a โgreat multitude.โ [Rev 19:6]
Resurrection of the dead[edit]
Main article:ย Resurrection of the dead ยงย Christianity
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Doctrine of the resurrection predates Christianity[edit]
The wordย resurrectionย comes from the Latinย resurrectus,ย which is the past participle ofย resurgere,ย meaningย to rise again.ย Although the doctrine of the resurrection comes to the forefront in the New Testament, it predates the Christian era. There is an apparent reference to the resurrection in the book of Job, where Job says, โI know that my redeemer lives, and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth. And thoughโฆ worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I will see God.โ [Job 19:25โ27] Again, the prophet Daniel writes, โMany of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.โ [Dan 12:2] Isaiah says: โYour dead will live. Together with my dead body, they will arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust, for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the deadโ. [Isa. 26:19]
This belief was still common among the Jews in New Testament times, as exemplified by the passage which relates the raising of Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus told Lazarusโ sister, Martha, that Lazarus would rise again, she replied, โI know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.โ [Jn 11:24] Also, one of the two main branches of the Jewish religious establishment, the Pharisees, believed in and taught the future resurrection of the body. [cf Acts 23:1โ8]
Two Resurrections[edit]
Main article:ย Resurrection of the dead ยงย Two resurrections of the dead
An interpretation of the New Testament is the understanding that there will be two resurrections. Revelation says: โBlessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him a thousand years.โ [Rev 20:6] The rest of the dead โdid not live again until the thousand years were finishedโ. [Rev 20:5]
Despite this, there are various interpretations:According to the premillennial post-tribulational position there will two physical resurrections, separated by a literal thousand years (one in the Second Coming along with theย Rapture, another after a literal 1,000 year reign);According to premillennial pre-tribulationists there will be three physical resurrections more (one in the Rapture at the beginning of tribulation, another in the Second Coming at the final of tribulation, the last one after a literal 1,000 year reign), they claim that theย first resurrectionย includes the resurrection in the Rapture and the resurrection in the Second Coming, theย second resurrectionย would be after the 1,000 year reign;According to premillennial mid-tribulationists there will be three physical resurrections too (one in the rapture at the middle of tribulation, another in the Second Coming at the finale of tribulation, the last one after a literal 1,000 year reign), theย first resurrectionย would be the resurrection in the Rapture and the resurrection in the Second Coming, theย second resurrectionย would be after the 1,000 year reign.According to amillennial position there will be only two resurrections, theย first resurrectionย would be in a spiritual sense (the resurrection of the soul), according to Paul and John as participation right now, in the resurrection of Christ, through faith and baptism, according to Colossians 2:12 and Colossians 3:1 as occurring within the millennium interpreted as an indefinite period between the foundation of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ, theย second resurrectionย would be the general resurrection (the resurrection of the body) that would occur at the time of Jesusโ return.[81]
The resurrection body[edit]
The Gospel authors wrote that our resurrection bodies will be different from those we have now. Jesus said, โIn the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven.โ [Mt 22:30] Paul adds, โSo also is the resurrection of the dead: the bodyย โฆ is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body.โ [1 Co. 15:42โ44]
According to theย Catechism of the Catholic Churchย the body after resurrection is changed into a spiritual, imperishable body:
[999] Christ is raised with his own body: โSee my hands and my feet, that it is I myselfโ; [553] but he did not return to an earthly life. So, in him, โall of them will rise again with their own bodies which they now bear,โ but Christ โwill change our lowly body to be like his glorious body,โ into a โspiritual bodyโ [554][82]
In some ancient traditions, it was held that the person would be resurrected at the same spot they died and were buried at (just as in the case of Jesusโ resurrection). For example, in the early medieval biography ofย St Columbaย written byย Adomnan of Iona, Columba at one point prophecies to a penitent at the monastery onย Ionaย that his resurrection would be in Ireland and not in Iona, and this penitent later died at a monastery in Ireland and was buried thereย [83]
Other views[edit]
Althoughย Martin Lutherย personally believed and taught resurrection of the dead in combination withย soul sleep, this is not a mainstream teaching ofย Lutheranismย and most Lutherans traditionally believe in resurrection of the body in combination with theย immortal soul.[84]
Several churches, such as theย Anabaptistsย andย Sociniansย of the Reformation, thenย Seventh-day Adventist Church,ย Christadelphians,ย Jehovahโs Witnesses, and theologians of different traditions reject the idea of the immortality of a non-physical soul as a vestige ofย Neoplatonism, and otherย paganย traditions. In this school of thought, the dead remain dead (and do not immediately progress to aย Heaven,ย Hell, orย Purgatory) until a physical resurrection of some or all of the dead occurs at the end of time. Some groups,ย Christadelphiansย in particular, consider that it is not aย universal resurrection, and that at this time of resurrection that theย Last Judgmentย will take place.[85]
Armageddon[edit]
Main article:ย Armageddon
Megiddo is mentioned twelve times in theย Old Testament, ten times in reference to the ancient city ofย Megiddo, and twice with reference to โthe plain of Megiddoโ, most probably simply meaning โthe plain next to the cityโ.[86]ย None of these Old Testament passages describes the city of Megiddo as being associated with any particular prophetic beliefs. The oneย New Testamentย reference to the city of Armageddon found inย Revelation 16:16ย also makes no specific mention of any armies being predicted to one day gather in this city, but instead seems to predict only that โthey (will gather) the kings together to โฆ. Armageddonโ.[87]ย The text does however seem to imply, based on the text from the earlier passage of Revelation 16:14, that the purpose of this gathering of kings in the โplace called Armageddonโ is โfor the war of the great day of God, the Almightyโ.ย Because of the seemingly highly symbolic and even cryptic language of this one New Testament passage, some Christian scholars conclude that Mount Armageddon must be an idealized location.[88]ย R. J. Rushdoonyย says, โThere are no mountains of Megiddo, only the Plains of Megiddo. This is a deliberate destruction of the vision of any literal reference to the place.โ[89]ย Other scholars, includingย C. C. Torrey,ย Klineย andย Jordanย argue that the word is derived from theย Hebrewย moedย (ืืืขืโ), meaning โassemblyโ.ย Thus, โArmageddonโ would mean โMountain of Assembly,โ which Jordan says is โa reference to the assembly at Mount Sinai, and to its replacement, Mount Zion.โ[88]
The traditional viewpoint interprets this Bible prophecy to be symbolic of the progression of the world toward the โgreat day of God, the Almightyโ in which the great looming mountain of Godโs just and holy wrath is poured out against unrepentant sinners, led by Satan, in a literal end-of-the-world final confrontation. Armageddon is the symbolic name given to this event based on scripture references regarding divine obliteration of Godโs enemies. The hermeneutical method supports this position by referencing Judges 4 and 5 where God miraculously destroys the enemy of His elect, Israel, at Megiddo, also called theย Valley of Josaphat.[citation needed]
Christian scholarย William Hendriksenย says:
For this cause, Har Magedon is the symbol of every battle in which, when the need is greatest and believers are oppressed, the Lord suddenly reveals His power in the interest of His distressed people and defeats the enemy. When Sennacheribโs 185,000 are slain by the Angel of Jehovah, that is a shadow of the final Har-Magedon. When God grants a little handful of Maccabees a glorious victory over an enemy which far outnumbers it, that is a type of Har-Magedon. But the real, the great, the final Har Magedon coincides with the time of Satanโs little season. Then the world, under the leadership of Satan, anti-Christian government, and anti-Christian religionโthe dragon, the beast, and the false prophetโis gathered against the Church for the final battle, and the need is greatest; when Godโs children, oppressed on every side, cry for help; then suddenly, Christ will appear on the clouds of glory to deliver his people; that is Har-Magedon.[90]
The Millennium[edit]
Main article:ย Millennialism
Millennialism (fromย millennium, Latin for โa thousand yearsโ), orย chiliasmย (from theย Greekย equivalent), is the belief that aย Golden Ageย orย Paradiseย will occur onย Earthย prior to theย final judgmentย and future eternal state of the โWorld to Comeโ.
Christian millennialism developed out of a Christian interpretation of Jewishย apocalypticism. Christian millennialist thinking is primarily based upon the Book of Revelation, specifically 20:1โ6,[citation needed]ย which describes the vision of an angel who descended from heaven with a large chain and a key to a bottomless pit, and captured Satan, imprisoning him for a thousand years:
He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years and threw him into the pit and locked and sealed it over him, so that he would deceive the nations no more, until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be let out for a little while.โโRev. 20:2โ3
The Book of Revelation then describes a series of judges who are seated on thrones, as well as his vision of the souls of those who were beheaded for their testimony in favor of Jesus and their rejection of the mark of the beast. These souls:
came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. (The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy are those who share in the first resurrection. Over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him a thousand yearsโโRev. 20:4โ6
Thus, Revelation characterizes a millennium where Christ and the Father will rule over a theocracy of the righteous. While there are an abundance of biblical references to such a kingdom of God throughout the Old and New Testaments, this is the only reference in the Bible to such a period lasting one thousand years. The literal belief in a thousand-year reign of Christ is a later development in Christianity, as it does not seem to have been present in first century texts.[citation needed]
The End of the World and the Last Judgment[edit]
Satan released[edit]
According to the Bible, the Millennial age of peace all but closes the history of planet Earth. However, the story is not yet finished: โWhen the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea.โ [Rev 20:7โ8]
There is continuing discussion over the identity ofย Gog and Magog. In the context of the passage, they seem to equate to something like โeast and westโ. There is a passage in Ezekiel, however, where God says to the prophet, โSet your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him.โ [Ezek 38:2] Gog, in this instance, is the name of a person of the land of Magog, who is ruler (โprinceโ) over the regions of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Ezekiel says of him: โYou will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with youโฆโ [Ezek 38:2]
Despite this huge show of force, the battle will be short-lived, for Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation all say that this last desperate attempt to destroy the people and the city of God will end in disaster: โI will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed. I will rain down on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him: flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone.โ [Ezek 38:22] Revelation concurs: โFire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them.โ [Rev 20:9] It may be that the images of fire raining down are an ancient vision of modern weapons, others would say a supernatural intervention by God, yet others that they refer to events in history, and some would say they are symbolic of larger ideas and should not be interpreted literally.
The Last Judgment[edit]
Main article:ย Last Judgment
Following the defeat of Gog, the last judgment begins: โThe devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.โ [Rev 20:10] Satan will join the Antichrist and theย False Prophet, who were condemned to the lake of fire at the beginning of the Millennium.
Following Satanโs consignment to the lake of fire, his followers come up for judgment. This is the โsecond resurrectionโ, and all those who were not a part of the first resurrection at the coming of Christ now rise up for judgment:
I saw a great white throne and him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away, and there was found no place for them. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works. And Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire. [Rev 20:11,13-15]
John had earlier written, โBlessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power.โ [Rev 20:6] Those who are included in the Resurrection and the Rapture are excluded from the final judgment, and are not subject to theย second death. Due to the description of the seat upon which the Lord sits, this final judgment is often referred to as theย Great White Throne Judgment.
A decisive factor in the Last Judgement will be the question, if the corporalย works of mercyย were practiced or not during lifetime. They rate as important acts of charity. Therefore, and according to the biblical sources (Mt 5:31โ46), the conjunction of the Last Judgement and theย works of mercyย is very frequent in the pictorial tradition of Christian art.[91]
New Heaven and New Earth[edit]
Main articles:ย New Earth (Christianity)ย andย World to come ยงย Christian eschatologyA new heaven and new earth[Rev 21:1], Mortierโs Bible,ย Phillip Medhurstย Collection
But, in accordance withย his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home (2 Peterย 3:13).
The basic difference with theย promises of the Old Testamentย is that in Revelation they also have anย ontologicalย value (Rev 21:1;4: โThen I saw โa new heaven and a new earth,โ for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any seaโฆโHe will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more deathโ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed awayโ) and no longer justย gnosiologicalย (Isaiah 65:17: โSee, I will create/new heavens and a new earth./The former things will not be remembered,/nor will they come to mindโ).[92][93]
New Jerusalem[edit]
Main article:ย New Jerusalem
The focus turns to one city in particular, theย New Jerusalem. Once again, we see the imagery of the marriage: โI, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.โ [Rev 21:2] In the New Jerusalem, God โwill dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God..โ [Rev 21:3] As a result, there is โno temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its templeโ. Nor is there a need for the sun to give its light, โfor the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its lightโ. [Rev 21:22โ23] The city will also be a place of great peace and joy, for โGod will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.โ [Rev 21:4]
Description[edit]
The city itself has a large wall with twelve gates in it which are never shut, and which have the names of theย twelve tribes of Israelย written on them. Each of the gates is made of a single pearl, and there is an angel standing in each one. The wall also has twelve foundations which are adorned with precious stones, and upon the foundations are written the names of the twelve apostles. The gates and foundations are often interpreted[by whom?]ย as symbolizing the people of God before and after Christ.
The city and its streets are pure gold, but not like the gold we know, for this gold is described as being like clear glass. The city is square in shape, and is twelve thousandย furlongsย long and wide (fifteen hundred miles). If these are comparable to earthly measurements, the city will cover an area about half the size of the contiguous United States. The height is the same as the length and breadth, and although this has led most people to conclude that it is shaped like a cube, it could also be aย pyramid.
The Tree of Life[edit]
Main article:ย Tree of life (biblical)The tree of life[Rev 22:2], a print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations in the possession of Revd. Philip De Vere at St. Georgeโs Court,ย Kidderminster, England.
The city has a river which proceeds โout of the throne of God and of the Lamb.โ [Rev 22:1] Next to the river is the tree of life, which bears twelve fruits and yields its fruit every month. The last time we saw the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden. [Gen 2:9] God drove Adam and Eve out from the garden, guarding it with cherubim and a flaming sword, because it gave eternal life to those who ate of it. [Gen 3:22] In the New Jerusalem, the tree of life reappears, and everyone in the city has access to it. Genesis says that the earth was cursed because of Adamโs sin, [Gen 3:17] but the author of John writes that in the New Jerusalem, โthere will be no more curse.โ [Rev 22:3]
Theย Evangelical Dictionary of Theologyย (Baker, 1984) says:
The rich symbolism reaches beyond our finest imaginings, not only to the beatific vision but to a renewed, joyous, industrious, orderly, holy, loving, eternal, and abundant existence. Perhaps the most moving element in the description is what is missing: there is no temple in the New Jerusalem, โbecause the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.โ Vastly outstripping the expectations of Judaism, this stated omission signals the ultimate reconciliation.
