At the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Define eschatology.
- Describe the purpose and limits of Biblical prophecy.
- Briefly describe contrasting views with regard to Christ’s second coming.
God is Sovereign: Isaiah 46:9-11
• He knows exactly how history is going to play out, because He
determined____ it.
• He has purposed it, and He will____ bring it to pass.
• He has revealed His plan to an extent, but has not given us every
detail____.
The Purpose of Prophecy: Isaiah 48:5
• Prophecy proves the sovereignty____ of God.
• Prophecy demonstrates____ God’s omniscience.
• Prophecy proves____ that it is God who acts.
• Prophecy is not____ given so we can write history____ ahead of time!
The Second Coming is Future:
• Nobody fully understood the first Advent before____ it happened.
• Nobody now fully understands____ the Second Advent!
• Prophecy is given so we will recognize it when it happens, and understand
that it is the workmanship____ of Almighty God!
• But there is one undisputable truth: Jesus is coming again, and when He
does, He will raise up all who believe____ in Him. John 6:39-40
Biblical Terms Relating to Eschatology:
• Eschatos (2078) – A superlative meaning end of, last, latter end, lowest,
uttermost. Eschatology____, then, is the study of the end times.
• Parousia (3952) – Presence, coming____ or arrival. 1 Thessalonians 3:13;
4:15
• Apokalupsis (602) – Revelation, uncovering____, unveiling. 1 Corinthians
1:7; 1 Peter 4:13
• Epiphaneia (2015) – To appear____, to shine, to give light to. 1 Timothy
6:14; Titus 2:13-14
Contrasting Viewpoints on the Interpretation of Revelation:
The Preterist View:
- The book of Revelation describes past____ events.
- John used symbolic language to protest against the evils of the Roman____
- empire.
- Revelation recorded his conviction that God would eventually
- intervene____.
- The Historicist View:
Revelation describes a panorama of history____ from the First Century to
the Second Coming.
• View of virtually all of the Reformers____.
The Futurist View:
• Chapter 4 onwards deals with end-time____ events.
• Book not concerned so much with John’s time.
The Idealist View:
• The main thrust is concerned with inspiring suffering Christians to
endure____ to the end.
• Symbolic language is to be taken as imaginative____ descriptions of the
triumph of God.
Contrasting Viewpoints with regard to The Millennium. Revelation 20:2-3
Amillennialism
• There is no literal____ 1000 year earthly reign of Christ.
• We are now in the symbolic____ millennial period. Christ is now
reigning____ over the Kingdom of God on earth – although not all are
members.
• Before the end there will be a great apostasy____.
• Christ will return, followed by the resurrection____ of the just and the
unjust.
• This will then usher in the eternal____ state.
Postmillennialism
• The work of the church____ and true Christians will establish the millennium
sometime in the future.
• Jesus will return after 1000 years of righteousness____ on earth.
• The resurrection and judgment____ will then occur, ushering in the eternal
state
Historic Pre-millennialism
• We are now in the church____ age.
• Sometime in the future there will be a great apostasy____ and tribulation.
• Christ will return to establish His kingdom and resurrect____ the righteous.
• Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years.
• Following the millennium, the resurrection and judgment of the
unsaved____ will be accomplished.
• This will usher in the eternal state.
Dispensational Pre-millennialism
• We are now in the Church Age.
• Jesus will return secretly to rapture____ His church.
• Following the rapture, there will be great apostasy and tribulation____.
• We will then see the second coming____ of Christ with His saints.
• The resurrection of Old Testament and tribulation____ saints will occur.
• There will be a 1000 year earthly reign of Christ followed by the
resurrection____ and judgment of the unsaved.
• The eternal state will then be initiated.
