Bible Eschatology in English

ESCHATOLOGY: THE DOCTRINE OF FUTURE THINGS

I. THE SECOND COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

A. Postmillennial View

1. Meaning. The Second Coming of Christ is after the

Millennium.

2. Order of events. The latter part of the Church age (that is,

the last 1,000 years of it) is the Millennium, which will be an era of

peace and abundance brought about through the efforts of the Church.

After this, Christ will come. Then will follow general resurrection and

judgment and eternity.

3. Method of interpretation. Postmillennial interpretation is

largely spiritualized with regard to prophecy. However, Revelation 20

will be fulfilled in the earthly kingdom that is brought in through the

efforts of the Church.

B. Amillennial View

1. Meaning. The Second Coming of Christ is at the end of the

Church age and there is no earthly Millennium. Strictly, amillenarians

believe that the present state of the righteous in heaven is the

Millennium, but there is no earthly Millennium.

2. Order of events. The Church age will end in a time of

trouble, Christ will come, there will be general resurrection and

judgment, then eternity.

3. Method of interpretation. Amillennial interpretation

spiritualizes the promises made to Israel as a nation and says they are

fulfilled in the Church. According to this view, Revelation 20 describes

the scene of souls in heaven during the time between the first and

second coming of Christ.

C. Premillennial View

1. Meaning. The Second Coming of Christ will occur before

the millennium.

2. Order of events. The Church age ends in the time of

tribulation, Christ returns to the earth, He sets up and rules His

Kingdom for 1,000 years, the resurrection and judgment of the unsaved

occur, then eternity.

3. Method of interpretation. Premillennialism follows the

plain, normal, literal, historical, and grammatical method of

interpretation. Revelation 20 is understood literally.

4. The question of the Rapture. Among premillennialists

there is no agreement as to the time of the Rapture.

II. THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH

A. The TIME of the Rapture. Postmillennialists and Amillennialists

both see the Rapture of the Church at the close of this age and

concurrent with the Second Coming of Christ. Among Pre-millennialists

there are several views.

1. Pretribulation Rapture

a. Meaning: The Rapture of the Church (i.e., the coming of

the Lord in the air for His saints) will take place before the seven-year

period of the Tribulation begins. Therefore, the Church will not go

through any of the Tribulation period according to this view.

b. Proof cited: (1). The Promise to be kept out of the hour of

trouble (Rev. 3:10). (2). The removal of the residence aspect of the

indwelling Spirit's work in believers requires the removal of believers

too (2 Thess.2). (3). The tribulation is the time of outpouring of the

wrath of God and the Church is exempt from wrath (Rev. 6:17, cf.

1 Thess. 5:9).

2. Midtribulation Rapture

a. Meaning: The Rapture will occur after three and a half

years of the Tribulation have passed.

b. Proof cited: (1). The last trumpet of 1 Corinthians 15:52 is

the same as the seventh trumpet of Revelation 11:15, and that is

sounded at the middle of the Tribulation. (2). The great Tribulation is

only the last half of Daniel's 70th week, and the Church is promised

deliverance only from that (Rev. 11:2; 12:6). (3). The resurrection of the

two witnesses pictures the Rapture of the Church, and their

resurrection occurs at the middle of the period (Rev. 11).

3. Post-tribulation Rapture

a. Meaning: The Rapture will occur at the end of the

Tribulation. The Church will be on earth during the entire Tribulation.

The Rapture is distinct from the Second Coming though separated by

only a very short interval of time.

b. Proof cited: (1). The Rapture and the Second Coming are

described by the same words. (2). Preservation from the wrath means

supernatural protection while living in that time, not deliverance from

the period (as Israel was protected from the plagues while living in

Egypt). (3). Saints are seen on the earth during the Tribulation (Matt.

24:22).

4. Partial Rapture

a. Meaning: Only saints who are worthy will be raptured

before the wrath of God is poured out; those who have not been

faithful will remain on the earth to endure the Tribulation.

b. Proof cited -- verses like Heb. 9:28, which require

preparedness.

B. The Description of the Rapture

1. The scripture. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; 1 Corinthians

15:51-57; John 14:1-3.

2. The Events. a. The descent (Return) of Christ.

b. The Resurrection of dead in Christ.

c. The change (Transformation) from

mortal to immortal bodies for Christian living at the time.

d. The meeting (Re-union) with Christ in the

air to ascend to heaven.

III. THE TRIBULATION

A. Its Duration. It is the 70th week of Daniel and is therefore of

seven years' duration (Dan. 9:27). Half the period is said to be 42

months or 1,260 days (Rev. 11:2-3).

B. Its Distinctiveness (Matt. 24:21; Rev. 6:15-17).

C. Its Description.

1. Judgment upon the world. The three series of judgments

describe these judgments (seals, Rev, 6; trumpets, Rev. 8-9; vials,

Rev. 16).

2. Persecution of Israel (Matt.24:9, 22; Rev. 12:17).

3. Salvation of multitudes (Rev. 7).

4. Rise and Dominion of Antichrist (2 Thess. 2; Rev. 13).

D. Its End. The Tribulation ends in the gathering of the nations to

the battle of Armageddon and the Return of Christ to the earth

(Rev. 19).

IV. THE MILLENNIUM

A. Definition. The Millennium is the 1,000-year period of the

earthly reign of Christ in fulfillment of the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New

covenants.

B. Its Designations. The Millennium is called the kingdom of

heaven (Matt. 6:10), the kingdom of God (Luke 19:11), the kingdom of

Christ (Rev. 11:15), the regeneration (Matt. 19:28), the times of

refreshing (acts. 3:19), and the world to come (Heb. 2:5).

C. Its Government. 1. Its Head will be Christ (Rev. 19:16).

2. Its Character. A spiritual reign that will

bring in peace, equity, justice, prosperity, and glory (Isa. 11:2-5).

3. Its capital will be Jerusalem (Isa. 2:3).

D. Its Relation to Satan. During this period Satan will be bound

until the very end, when he will be loosed in order to deceive the

nations and lead one final revolt against Christ (Rev. 20). Satan will be

defeated and cast into the lake of fire forever.

V. THE FUTURE JUDGMENTS

A. Judgment of Believers' Works.

1. Time. After the Church is raptured.

2. Place. In heaven.

3. Judge. Christ.

4. Subjects judged. All in the Body of Christ.

5. Basis. Works done since time of salvation.

6. Result. Rewards or loss of rewards.

7. Scripture. 1 Cor. 3:11-15; 2 Cor. 5:10.

B. Judgment of the gentiles (or Nations).

1. Time. At the second Coming of Christ.

2. Place. Valley of Jehoshaphat.

3. Judge. Christ.

4. Subjects judged. Gentiles living when Christ comes.

5. Basis. Treatment of Christ's "brothers," i.e., Israel.

6. Result. Saved to enter the Kingdom, or lost and cast into

lake of fire.

7. Scripture. Matt. 25:31-46; Joel 3:2.

C. Judgment of Israel.

1. Time. At the Second Coming of Christ.

2. Place. On the earth.

3. Judge. Christ.

4. Subjects judged. Jews who are living when Christ comes.

5. Basis. Acceptance of Messiah.

6. Result. Saved to enter the Kingdom, or lost.

7. Scripture. Ezekiel 20:37-38.

D. Judgment of Fallen Angels.

1. Time. Probably after the Millennium.

2. Place. Unspecified.

3. Judge. Christ and believers.

4. Subjects judged. Fallen angels.

5. Basis. Disobedience to God in following Satan in his

revolt.

6. Result. Cast into the lake of fire.

7. Scripture. Jude 6; 1 Cor. 6:3.

E. Judgment of the Unsaved Dead.

1. Time. After the Millennium.

2. Place. Before the Great White Throne.

3. Judge. Christ.

4. Subjects judged. All unsaved men who have died from the

beginning to this time.

5. Basis. Rejection of the Savior places them in this

judgment, but they are shown on the basis of their own works that they

deserve eternal punishment.

6. Result. Lake of fire.

7. Scripture. Rev. 20:11-15.

VI. THE RESURRECTIONS

A. The Resurrection of the Just (Luke 14:14; John 5:28-29).

1. Includes the dead in Christ, who are raised at the Rapture

of the Church (1 Thess. 4:16).

2. Includes those saved during the Tribulation period (Rev.

20:4).

3. Includes Old Testament saints (Dan. 12:2 - some believe

they will be raised at the Rapture; others, at the Second Coming).

All these are included in the first Resurrection.

B. The Resurrection of the Unjust

All unsaved people will be raised after the Millennium to

stand before the Great White Throne in judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). This

second resurrection results in the Second death for all involved.

(Taken from RYRIE STUDY BIBLE, by Dr. Charles C. Ryrie)