Grace Institute: Systematic Theology: Eschatology: Conclusion

Eschatology Grace Institute for Biblical Leadership Winter 2006

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IV. Conclusion

A. Don't Get Freaked Out!

Many Christians avoid talk of the end times. This prospect of a Great Tribulation, or the judgment of God is a troublesome teaching that we would just as soon avoid. However, God reveals prophesy to us, not so we will be scared or upset. Instead he gives us knowledge so we will not be misled by those who teach falsely about the coming of Christ.

(2 Thessalonians 2:1-2 NIV) Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come.

B. Be Encouraged, Stand Firm!

Other Christians love to speculate about the end-times. The best selling Christian books, both fiction and non-fiction, are about eschatology. We love to create charts and diagrams and seek answers to what will happen in the future. But God does not reveal to us everything about the future. But often such talk scares us or causes us much undue concern.

He specifically hides from us the date of His coming and many of the circumstances surrounding His return. God's point in giving us prophesy is not so that we will gain perfect understanding of the future, but so that we will grow in our maturity in the present!

(1 Thessalonians 5:11, 15-17 NIV) Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing… So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

(1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

C. Be Ready!

To all believers, the doctrine of the Second Coming has a single point. Because we do not know exactly when the end will come, you must be ready. After Jesus teaching on the end times in Matthew 24, he gives two parables in Matthew 25 to illustrate this point.

1. Parable of The Ten Virgins

There were 10 virgins awaiting the bridegroom. Five brought sufficient oil to keep their lamps lit all night. Five ran out of oil in their lamps, so they left to purchase more oil. The bridegroom came while the five were gone, and missed the wedding feast. (25:1-13). The point of the parable is:

(Matthew 25:13 NIV) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour.

2. Parable of the Talents

A master gave three of his slaves 5, 2, and 1 talents before leaving on a journey. The first two doubled their money before the master came back. The servant with 1 talent buried his talent in the ground. The master rewarded the first two, but he threw out the other servant. The point of the parable is this:

(Mat 24:44 NIV) So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

D. In the Meantime, Be His Witness

What does it mean to be ready? It means to be about the mission that God has given us. Rather than speculating about the coming of the kingdom, Christ wants us to be his witnesses on the earth now:

(Acts 1:7-8 NIV) He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

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