Unraveling the EndUnraveling the EndA Biblical Synthesis of Competing ViewsA Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views

““Few doctrines unite and separate Few doctrines unite and separate Christians as much as eschatology...Christians as much as eschatology...

...One of the most divisive elements in ...One of the most divisive elements in recent Christian history.”recent Christian history.”

Christianity TodayChristianity Today February 6, 1987; p-1-IFebruary 6, 1987; p-1-I

The Gloria PatriThe Gloria Patri

Glory be to the Father, and to the Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.Son, and to the Holy Ghost.

As it was in the beginning, is now As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. and ever shall be.

World without end, Amen.World without end, Amen.

FoundationalFoundational Beliefs:Beliefs:

Inspiration, Inerrancy & InfallibilityInspiration, Inerrancy & Infallibility

TrinityTrinity

Deity of ChristDeity of Christ

Test everything, hold on to the good Test everything, hold on to the good 1 Thess. 5:21 1 Thess. 5:21

More noble character More noble character Acts 17:11Acts 17:11

2 Guidelines 2 Guidelines

1)1) Sola Scriptura Sola Scriptura

MPC Core ValuesMPC Core Values

TRUTHTRUTHThe Bible is our ultimate guide and authority, the standard The Bible is our ultimate guide and authority, the standard by which by which we live. Our world is filled with we live. Our world is filled with competing ideascompeting ideas and values, voices and values, voices everywhere demanding attention and allegiance. Sometimes, it's everywhere demanding attention and allegiance. Sometimes, it's easy to becomeeasy to become confused. confused. Are there absolutes? Is anything Are there absolutes? Is anything absolutely right-or absolutely wrong?absolutely right-or absolutely wrong? How can I sort things out and How can I sort things out and make sense out of all the confusion? make sense out of all the confusion? We believeWe believe the Bible the Bible is God's is God's written word. It helps us understand our world and ourselves. From written word. It helps us understand our world and ourselves. From beginning to end, it reveals the heart of God and His way of life. The beginning to end, it reveals the heart of God and His way of life. The Bible introduces us to Jesus Christ, God's Living Word. The Bible Bible introduces us to Jesus Christ, God's Living Word. The Bible explains God's love and His desire to be in a life-giving relationship explains God's love and His desire to be in a life-giving relationship with us.with us.

2 Guidelines2 Guidelines

1)1) Sola Scriptura Sola Scriptura

2)2) In LoveIn Love

Overview – 13-Week SeriesOverview – 13-Week Series

• Lay out the divisive area of eschatology.Lay out the divisive area of eschatology.• Explore 7 reasons why your view (or non-Explore 7 reasons why your view (or non-

view) is so vital. view) is so vital. • Contrast the essence of the end-time Contrast the essence of the end-time

fiasco vs. divine perfection.fiasco vs. divine perfection.• Present the four major views and their big Present the four major views and their big

problems.problems.• Begin the unraveling process.Begin the unraveling process.• Offer a solution of synthesis.Offer a solution of synthesis.

What is eschatology?What is eschatology?

• TechnicalTechnical: A subset/branch of Theology: A subset/branch of Theology

Gr. Gr. Theos Theos (God) + Latin suffix- (God) + Latin suffix- logylogy = the = the study of God and his relations with man study of God and his relations with man

and and the universe.the universe.

EschatologyEschatology: Gr. : Gr. Eschatos Eschatos (last) + (last) + logy logy = = the study of last things.the study of last things.

• PracticalPractical::

EschatologyEschatology = the study of the completion = the study of the completion of of God’s plan of redemption (salvation).God’s plan of redemption (salvation).

Four Chief Moments (Events)Four Chief Moments (Events)

1)1) The Return (Second Coming) of Christ The Return (Second Coming) of Christ

2)2) The Judgment The Judgment

3)3) The Resurrection of the Dead The Resurrection of the Dead

4)4) The Consummation – or “end of the The Consummation – or “end of the world”world”

5)5) *The Afterlife*The Afterlife

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital (or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved? How much of the Bible is involved?

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved? How much of the Bible is involved?

““It has been argued that no less than It has been argued that no less than two two

thirdsthirds of the content of the New Testament of the content of the New Testament

is concerned directly or indirectly with is concerned directly or indirectly with eschatology.” eschatology.”

R.C. Sproul, “A Journey Back in Time,” R.C. Sproul, “A Journey Back in Time,” TabletalkTabletalk, January 1999, 5., January 1999, 5.

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved? How much of the Bible is involved?

““an eschatological dimension to every aspect of an eschatological dimension to every aspect of Christian faith and reflection . . . . because it Christian faith and reflection . . . . because it touches so many of the central themes of faith.”touches so many of the central themes of faith.”

Brian E. Daley, Brian E. Daley, The Hope of the Early The Hope of the Early Church Church (Cambridge, MA.: Cambridge University (Cambridge, MA.: Cambridge University

Press, Press, 1991), 21991), 2..

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved?How much of the Bible is involved?

2)2) How much salvation do we currently How much salvation do we currently have?have?

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved?How much of the Bible is involved?

2)2) How much salvation do we currently How much salvation do we currently have?have?

3)3) How much of the kingdom do we How much of the kingdom do we currently have?currently have?

““One dare not think he or she can properly One dare not think he or she can properly interpret the Gospels without a clear interpret the Gospels without a clear understanding of the concept of the kingdom of understanding of the concept of the kingdom of God in the ministry of Jesus . . . . [however] the God in the ministry of Jesus . . . . [however] the major hermeneutical difficulty. . . lies with major hermeneutical difficulty. . . lies with understanding ‘the kingdom of God.’”understanding ‘the kingdom of God.’”

Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth Read the Bible for All Its Worth (Grand (Grand

Rapids, Rapids, MI.: Zondervan, 1981), 131, 113.MI.: Zondervan, 1981), 131, 113.

Supportive QuotesSupportive Quotes• "the great omission . . . why . . . today's church [is] so weak" "the great omission . . . why . . . today's church [is] so weak"

Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard, The Divine ConspiracyThe Divine Conspiracy, 40f., 40f.

• "reductionism of the gospel" "reductionism of the gospel" Darrell Guder, Darrell Guder, The Continuing Conversion of the The Continuing Conversion of the ChurchChurch, , xiiifxiiif.  .  

• ““the gospel we proclaim has been shrunk” the gospel we proclaim has been shrunk”

Robert Lynn, “Far as the curse is found” in Robert Lynn, “Far as the curse is found” in Breakpoint WorldviewBreakpoint Worldview magazine, Oct. ’06, 14. magazine, Oct. ’06, 14.

• ““we have settled for a little gospel, a miniaturized version that we have settled for a little gospel, a miniaturized version that cannot address the robust problems of our world” cannot address the robust problems of our world”

Scot McKnight, “The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel” in Scot McKnight, “The 8 Marks of a Robust Gospel” in Christianity TodayChristianity Today magazine, March 2008, 36. magazine, March 2008, 36.

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved?How much of the Bible is involved?

2)2) How much salvation do we currently How much salvation do we currently have?have?

3)3) How much of the kingdom do we How much of the kingdom do we currently have?currently have?

4)4) What do you do with the modern-day What do you do with the modern-day nation of Israel?nation of Israel?

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

5)5) It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.

““In seminary I was exposed daily to critical theories In seminary I was exposed daily to critical theories espoused by my professors regarding the Scriptures. espoused by my professors regarding the Scriptures. What stands out in my memory of those days is the What stands out in my memory of those days is the heavy emphasis on biblical texts regarding the return of heavy emphasis on biblical texts regarding the return of Christ, which were constantly cited as examples of errors Christ, which were constantly cited as examples of errors in the New Testament and proof that the text had been in the New Testament and proof that the text had been edited to accommodate the crisis in the early church edited to accommodate the crisis in the early church caused by the so-called parousia-delay of Jesus. . . . caused by the so-called parousia-delay of Jesus. . . .

It is my fear that evangelicals today tend to underplay It is my fear that evangelicals today tend to underplay the significance of the problems . . . . .the significance of the problems . . . . . ””

R.C. Sproul, R.C. Sproul, The Last Days According to JesusThe Last Days According to Jesus (Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 14-15, 17.(Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998), 14-15, 17.

““the phenomenon of disconfirmed expectation . . . .the phenomenon of disconfirmed expectation . . . .

[not] particular to Marxian thought or limited to modern [not] particular to Marxian thought or limited to modern political structures . . . .political structures . . . .

back much further in time and thought to the early back much further in time and thought to the early centuries of Christianity when various Christian centuries of Christianity when various Christian communities struggled to come to terms with the failure communities struggled to come to terms with the failure of the parousia . . . .of the parousia . . . .

gave rise to the need for interpretation of the traditions gave rise to the need for interpretation of the traditions so as to justify them in light of what had so as to justify them in light of what had not not happened.” happened.”

Robert P. Carroll, Robert P. Carroll, When Prophecies FailedWhen Prophecies Failed (New York: A Crossroads Book, 1979), 2.

““it was the definite conviction not only of Paul, but of all it was the definite conviction not only of Paul, but of all Christians of that time, that they themselves would Christians of that time, that they themselves would experience the return of the Lord. . . .experience the return of the Lord. . . .

around the middle of the second century . . . the around the middle of the second century . . . the Shepherd of Hermas thinks he has found a solution . . . Shepherd of Hermas thinks he has found a solution . . . the Parousia—the Lord’s return—has been postponed the Parousia—the Lord’s return—has been postponed for the sake of Christians themselves . . . . for the sake of Christians themselves . . . .

At first, people looked at it as only a brief postponement, At first, people looked at it as only a brief postponement, as the Shephard of Hermas clearly expresses. . . . But as the Shephard of Hermas clearly expresses. . . . But soon . . . it was conceived of as a longer and longer soon . . . it was conceived of as a longer and longer period, until finally—this is today’s situation . . . .” period, until finally—this is today’s situation . . . .”

Kurt Aland, Kurt Aland, A History of Christianity A History of Christianity (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980), 87, (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1980), 87, 91-92.91-92.

““by-product of failed eschatological hope – a by-product of failed eschatological hope – a way of coping intellectually with the non-way of coping intellectually with the non-fulfillment of first-century apocalyptic fantasies.” fulfillment of first-century apocalyptic fantasies.”

““the fulfillment of their early hopes was surely the fulfillment of their early hopes was surely delayed,” [it] “required” [a] “reorientation of the delayed,” [it] “required” [a] “reorientation of the time-line of its eschatological hope.”time-line of its eschatological hope.”

Brian E. Daley, Brian E. Daley, The Hope of the Early The Hope of the Early Church Church (Cambridge, MA.: Cambridge University (Cambridge, MA.: Cambridge University Press, Press, 1991), 3.1991), 3.

““When the consummation was postponed,” [this When the consummation was postponed,” [this necessitated] “the reinterpretation of biblical necessitated] “the reinterpretation of biblical passages that had carried eschatological passages that had carried eschatological connotation . . . toward a more complex connotation . . . toward a more complex description of the life of faith . . . in the description of the life of faith . . . in the development of Christian eschatology.”development of Christian eschatology.”

Jaroslav Pelikan, Jaroslav Pelikan, The Christian Tradition: A The Christian Tradition: A History of Development of Doctrine History of Development of Doctrine

(Chicago: (Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, The University of Chicago Press, 1971), Vol. 1, 1971), Vol. 1, “The Emergence of the Catholic “The Emergence of the Catholic Tradition,” Tradition,” 123-124.123-124.

““I am concerned with Christ as He appears in the I am concerned with Christ as He appears in the Gospels . . . there one does find some things that do not Gospels . . . there one does find some things that do not seem to be very wise. . . . For one thing, He certainly seem to be very wise. . . . For one thing, He certainly thought that His second coming would occur in clouds of thought that His second coming would occur in clouds of glory before the death of all the people who were living glory before the death of all the people who were living at the time. There are a great many texts that prove at the time. There are a great many texts that prove that. . . . He believed that His coming would happen that. . . . He believed that His coming would happen during the lifetime of many then living. That was the during the lifetime of many then living. That was the belief of his earlier followers, and it was the basis of a belief of his earlier followers, and it was the basis of a good deal of his moral teaching.”good deal of his moral teaching.”

Bertrand Russell, Bertrand Russell, Why I Am Not A ChristianWhy I Am Not A Christian (New York: A Touchtone Book by Simon & (New York: A Touchtone Book by Simon & Schuster, 1957), 16.Schuster, 1957), 16.

““The whole history of ‘Christianity’ down to the The whole history of ‘Christianity’ down to the present day . . . is based on the delay of the present day . . . is based on the delay of the Parousia, the nonoccurrence of the Parousia, Parousia, the nonoccurrence of the Parousia, the abandonment of eschatology, the process the abandonment of eschatology, the process and completion of the ‘de-eschatologizing’ of and completion of the ‘de-eschatologizing’ of religion which has been connected therewith.”religion which has been connected therewith.”

Albert Schweiterzer, Albert Schweiterzer, The Quest of the Historical The Quest of the Historical JesusJesus (New York: The Macmillan Company, eighth (New York: The Macmillan Company, eighth printing, printing, 1973), 360.1973), 360.

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

5)5) It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.

6)6) It makes a difference in your worldview.It makes a difference in your worldview.

““If we think we are facing an irresistible cosmic If we think we are facing an irresistible cosmic force of evil, it will invariably lead to giving in and force of evil, it will invariably lead to giving in and giving up - usually with very little resistance. If giving up - usually with very little resistance. If you can convince yourself that you are helpless, you can convince yourself that you are helpless, you can then stop struggling and just "let it you can then stop struggling and just "let it happen." That will seem a great relief - for a happen." That will seem a great relief - for a while...But then you will have to deal with the while...But then you will have to deal with the consequences. And for normal human beings consequences. And for normal human beings those are very severe.”those are very severe.”

Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard, The Divine ConspiracyThe Divine Conspiracy (San (San Francisco, CA.: HarperSanFranciso, 1997), 343.Francisco, CA.: HarperSanFranciso, 1997), 343.

7 Reasons Why Your E/T View 7 Reasons Why Your E/T View (or Non View) Is So Vital(or Non View) Is So Vital

5)5) It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.attack on the Bible and Deity of Christ.

6)6) It makes a difference in your worldview.It makes a difference in your worldview.

7)7) It makes a difference in your life and It makes a difference in your life and family.family.

SUMMARY:SUMMARY: 7 Reasons Why Vital7 Reasons Why Vital

1)1) How much of the Bible is involved? How much of the Bible is involved? 2)2) How much salvation do we currently have?How much salvation do we currently have?3)3) How much of the kingdom do we currently How much of the kingdom do we currently

have?have?4)4) What do you do with the modern-day nation What do you do with the modern-day nation

of Israel?of Israel? 5)5) It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic It’s the focal point of the liberal-skeptic

attack on the Bible and Deity of Christattack on the Bible and Deity of Christ..6)6) It makes a difference in your worldview It makes a difference in your worldview 7)7) It makes a difference in your life and familyIt makes a difference in your life and family

Unraveling the EndUnraveling the EndA Biblical Synthesis of Competing ViewsA Biblical Synthesis of Competing Views