Theological Term of the Week

eschatology
The study of what the Bible says about final things (or last things), including personal last events like individual death and the intermediate state; and corporate or general last events like the return of Christ, the final judgment, the millennial kingdom, etc.

• In scripture: 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

• From Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem:

No matter what their differences on the details, all Christians who take the Bible as their final authority agree that the final and ultimate result of Christ’s return will be the judgment of unbelievers and the final reward of believers, and that believers will live with Christ in a new heaven and a new earth for all eternity. God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit will reign and will be worshiped in a never-ending kingdom with no more sin or sorrow or suffering. [page 1094]

Learn more:

1. GotQuestions.org: What is Christian Eschatology?
2. Christian Apologetics and Research Ministries: What is Eschatology?
3. Monerism.com: The Mellennium - Major Views
4. Fivesolas.com: Eschatology Comparison
5. Greg Herrick: Eschatology: End Times
6. Louis Berkhof: Systematic Theology: The Doctrine of the Last Things

Related terms:

• parousia
• second coming

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