How Will The End End?

Eschatology- From the Greek word eschatos meaning last, final, end. The study of last things, including Christs return, the future resurrection of the dead, the judgment, and the eternal state. The Four Big Players: Throughout the history of the church, Christians have wrestled with properly understanding the Bibles teaching of last things. Four theories/theologies have emerged: Historic Premillennialism, *Dispensational Premillennialism, Amillennialism and Postmillennialism *The Air Of American Evangelicalism Is Dispensational Premillennialism David Jeremiah, Tony Evans, Chuck Swindoll, Tim LaHaye (Left Behind series), all stand in this tradition. Because this understanding has won the day in modern times, tonights focus will mainly be geared toward the other three systems. Summary Of The Views: Dispensational PremillennialismChrist will return in two phases. First, he will come invisibly to take his church out of the world. This event is called the rapture and it will mark the beginning of a great period of tribulation on the earth. At the end of the tribulation, Jesus will raise all believers to eternal life, visibly return to earth and set up his kingdom where he will rule in Jerusalem over the earth for a thousand years. After this millennial reign, Christ will raise all unbelievers to judgment and bring the world into the eternal state. After the time of tribulation at the end of the church age, Christ will return to earth to establish a millennial kingdom. When He returns, He will raise all believers and immediately return to earth with them to set up his millennial reign on earth. Often this view is called posttribulational premillennialism. There is no literal future millennium (1,000 year reign of Christ where he rules over the whole world). The reign of Christ is to be understood as Christs rule through the church during this current age. The present church age will continue until the time of Christs return, when He will raise both believers and unbelievers. Believers to eternal life and unbelievers to eternal death; then the eternal state will begin.

Historic Premillennialism-

Amillennialism-

Postmillennialism-

Christ will return after the millennium. But the millennium is understood as a golden age at the end of the church age. In this scheme, the gospel is increasingly victorious as history progresses. Near the end of history, the whole world will be generally Christianized (not that every person will necessarily become a believer), and the church will give the kingdom to Christ when he returns.