Grace Institute: Systematic Theology: Eschatology: The Scripture

Eschatology Grace Institute for Biblical Leadership Winter 2006

I. The Scripture

A. Acts 1:6-11

• During Jesus final days on earth, the disciples ask him, “is it at this time that You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”
• Jesus tells them that it is not for them to know God's timeline, but they should instead focus themselves on being a witness of who Jesus is to the entire world.
• Jesus then ascends to heaven, leaving dazed disciples.
• Angels come and promise that Jesus would some day return the same way they saw him go.

B. The Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24 - 25)

1. The Context (24:1-3)

• Jesus and the disciples were admiring the beauty of the temple in Jerusalem.
• Jesus told them that it would not be long before the temple would be destroyed.
• Later that day, at the Mount of Olives, the disciples asked him when this would happen, and what would be the signs of the end of the age.

2. Matthew 24:4-15

• Jesus warns them not to be misled, for many people will claim to be the Messiah, and there will be many wars, earthquakes and famines.
• Two significant events will happen:
• The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world. (vs. 14)
• The Abomination of Desolation will occur in the temple. (vs. 15)

3. Matthew 24:21-31

• This time will be the Great Tribulation beyond anything that has or will ever again occur (vs. 21).
• When the Son of Man returns, it will be readily apparent to all (vs. 25-27, 30).
• The return of the Son of Man will take place immediately after the tribulation (vs. 29).
• The return of the Son of Man will gather His elect at this post-tribulation coming (vs. 31).

4. Matthew 24:34-44

• This generation will not pass away until these things take place (vs. 34).
• But no one, not even the Son of Man, knows exactly when it is going to take place (vs. 37)
• He will come when you least expect it (vs. 44).

C. Daniel's 70 Weeks

1. Background

• Daniel realizes that the 70 years of captivity prophesied by Jeremiah is about to be accomplished.
• Daniel prays to God, confessing his people's sin, and asking God, “What happens next?”
• God responds by sending Gabriel in a vision, who tells him the future of Israel.

2. Daniel 9:24-26

• The remaining history of Israel lasts 70 weeks (literally seventy sevens), or 490 years.
• The clock starts when the command to restore and rebuild Jerusalem is issued (vs. 25). According to Nehemiah 2:1-8, this took place on March 14, 445 BC.
• The streets and walls will be rebuilt during a period of 7 weeks and then 62 weeks.
• At the end of this time, the Messiah shall be cut off (vs. 26).

3. Daniel 9:27

• In the 70th week. Here the prince previously described in Daniel 7, as the growing horn of the beast will make a covenant with Israel.
• But three and a half years into this covenant, a prince will end the temple sacrifices and the abomination of desolation will take place. The abomination of desolation is referred to in Daniel 11:31 and 12:11, and refers to a sacrilegious event taking place within the temple.
• The prince will be destroyed.

D. Isaiah

1. Isaiah 65:17-24

• God will create a new heaven and earth (vs. 17a).
• The old heaven and earth will be forgotten (vs. 17b).
• There will be no more weeping and crying (vs. 18-19).
• There will be no more infant mortality and people will live for a long time (vs. 20).
• It will be a time of great prosperity (vs. 21-23).
• All creation will be in a time of peace (vs. 25)

2. Isaiah 66:15-22

• The Lord will come with judgment (vs. 15-17).
• The Lord will gather all the nations who will see His glory (vs. 18-19).
• The Lord will gather all Israel from among the nations (vs. 20-21).
• The new heaven and earth will endure (vs. 22).
• The offspring of Israel will endure as well (vs. 22).
• All mankind will bow before the Lord (vs. 23).
• Sinners will not die, being as in an unquenched fire (vs. 24).

E. 1 Corinthians 15

1. Background

• Some people in Corinth were teaching that people would not be raised from the dead.
• In this letter to the Corinthians what Paul reminds them what he had taught them about the resurrection. (vs. 1, 12)

2. 1 Corinthians 15:20-24, 51-58

• At the return of Christ, believers, both alive and dead, will receive changed bodies (vs. 51-52).
• Death will then be conquered (vs. 54-55)

F. Thessalonians

1. Background

• Paul wrote two letters to the church in Thessalonica.
• The Thessalonians seem to have some confusion regarding the resurrection and the return of Christ.

2. 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - 5:11

• The Lord will descend with a shout and a trumpet.
• The dead will rise first. Then, those alive will be caught up in the clouds with the Lord.
• The day is unknown. The Lord will come like a thief in the night.
• Be sober, paying attention.
• Believers are not destined for wrath.

3. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-15

• It appears that some Thessalonians believed the Second Coming had already taken place.
• Paul assures them that it has not because the signs had not been fulfilled yet:
• Apostasy must come first with the man of lawlessness or the son of destruction (vs. 3).
• He will sit in the temple and set himself up to be God (vs. 4).
• While there is lawlessness now, the lawless one won't come until the restrainer is removed (vs. 7)
• The Lord will kill the man of lawlessness (vs. 8).

G. Revelation

1. Background

• Revelation is a record of a vision the apostle John received while exiled on the island of Patmos.
• The first 3 chapters are messages from Christ to seven churches located in Asia Minor.
• Chapters 4-19 describes a time of tribulation filled with natural disasters and war. The key figure in the midst of this time is a man called "The Beast"

2. Revelation 19:11-16, 19-21

• Jesus returns as a warrior
• He defeats the beast and his followers

3. Revelation 20:1-15

• Satan will be bound for 1,000 years.
• Martyrs will be resurrected and reign with Christ during this time.
• At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan is released and defeated.
• At the end of the 1,000 years everyone else is resurrected and judged.

4. Revelation 21:1-6

• th will pass away.
• A new heaven and earth will be crated.
• God will dwell with men.
• There will be no sorrow
• The old heaven and earor pain.