In this episode of the Theonauts we tackle one of the most debatable topics of theology… eschatology or the study of the endtimes. Since we’ve been doing The Theonauts we have circled this topic, but this time we are hitting it full force, face-on. Jeremiah is back from his sabbatical and we hit the ground running.
The Study of Endtimes
The goal of this episode is not to weigh-in too heavily on our individual opinions of end-times study, although that obviously happens. Our goal is to present the listeners with a broad range of ideas and opinions on the topic so they can branch out and study further. This will serve as a bird’s eye view of the study of the endtimes. Some of the topics we cover include:
Preterism – The belief that eschatological passages are primarily in reference to 70 AD and the destruction of the temple. Leaning largely on the wording of Matt 24:33-34, Revelation 1:1, and others.
Historicism – The belief that eschatological passages are being played out continually throughout history and ending at the end of the world.
Futurism – The belief that eschatological passages are in reference to future events which will happen over the course of a few years ending with the end of the world. Some text-verses include Matt 24:4-8, 11-14, 23-25, 30-31.
Spiritualism – The belief that eschatological passages are primarily symbolic of the Christian walk which is fulfilled in each one until the end of the world… if there truly is one.
These are the primary views of Eschatology. Within these views lie sub-divisions of thoughts, many diverge at the reading of Revelation 20 or the millennial passage. There are three primary views of this millennial period:
Premillennialism – The belief that Jesus’ second coming will occur shortly before a literal 1000 year reign.
Postmillenialism – The belief that Jesus’ second coming will occur at the conclusion of a literal 1000 year reign of Christendom.
Amillennialism – The belief that the 1000 year reign is not literal but figurative. There are many sub-divisions of what this metaphoric 1000 years represents.
And again there are two major divisions of thought concerning Revelation 21-22 in reference to Judgement and the New Jerusalem:
Literalism – The belief that the Great White Throne judgment and the New Heaven and Earth are literal or primarily literal.
Non-literalism – The belief that the Great White Throne judgment and the New Heaven and Earth are figurative or primarily figurative.
Regardless of your findings, The Theonauts urge you to study this for yourself. Be an echo of the Bereans in Acts 17:11. And remember that the promise of Revelation 1:
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this a prophecy aloud, and blessed are those who hear and obey the things written in it, because the time is near!
(Revelation 1:3 NET_FL)
This is a blessing to the one who reads it and heeds it, not to the one who fully interprets it properly.
Resources
Revelation: Four Views by Steve Gregg
Commentary of Revelation by EW Bullinger (Dispensational Futurist)
Apocalypse Code by Hal Lindsey (Dispensational Futurist)
THE Apocalypse Code by Hank Hanegraaff (Preterist)
A Case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger