ESCHATOLOGY
In
Theology, the study of the biblical beliefs about the end of this
World, and what happens next, is called Eschatology. Here are the
main areas, in my opinion.
The
punishment of Israel, the Jewish people, for rejecting their Messiah:
this meant the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, and the
scattering of the people.
The
return of the Jewish people, and the restoration of their nation in
the Promised Land.
The
Rapture: the coming of the Lord Jesus to take His Bride, the Church
of Believers to share His glory in Heaven. The dead in Christ will
rise first, followed by those of the Church, who are alive on earth,
who will be changed, and caught up to be with Christ for ever.
At
some point there will be the First Judgment – which is not to judge
the eternal destination of God's People, but more an Awards Time. The
nature of this event is its main feature, not the timing.
The
Tribulation: when God lays severe punishment on the people and the
physicality of the Earth. Opinion is divided about which of these
events occurs first. They are called Rapture Pre-Trib and Rapture
Post-Trib.
Anti-Christ:
in the place of Christ, or against Christ; a World Ruler of horrible
cruelty. He may have experienced a resurrection, and facial injury,
will make a seven-year pact with the Jewish people, but will break it
half-way through, and will desecrate the Temple, which will have been
rebuilt by this time.
Glorious
Return of the Lord Jesus the Messiah, to rescue the Jewish people,
and to rule the World for a Thousand Years – the Millennium. Satan
is banished to the Pit for this epoch.
The Final, Eternal Judgement of ALL evil forces, and those humans outside God's Kingdom.
This is the Second Resurrection. At some time there will be this
Judgment: to condemn the unsaved rebellious to Eternal Damnation.
The
present Heaven and Earth are destroyed.
A
new Heaven and Earth are created.
The
Holy City, the New Jerusalem, comes to Earth to be God's Dwelling.
Acts
1:7
The Lord Jesus said to them: “It is not for you to know the times
or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”
The
first two items have already taken place.
Many
of the prophecies are in a style called Apocalyptic. This is found in
the histories of Joseph and the Pharaoh I Genesis chapters 37, 40 and
41. But the main passages are: Jesus' Prophecies in Matthew 24, Mark
13, and Luke 21. Other Scriptures can be found in Daniel, and
Zechariah, and of course, the book of Revelation – the Apocalypse.
Not all are in the style of strange, other-worldly visions.
