DEFINITION OF THE TERMS OF ESCHATOLOGY

THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF THE TERMS OF ESCHATOLOGY

 

 

Eschatology is the term used to describe that area of Biblical teaching dealing with the final outcome of things. Implicit in the very nature of things, where there is commencement and continuation, there must inevitably be a consummation. The Bible teaches very clearly that there was a commencement of this present order of things by creation (Gen. 1:1). "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." It also makes very clear that there is a continuation of this present order by the preserving power of God (Neh. 9:6). "Thou, even thou, art LORD alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee." In addition, the Bible also teaches that there is movement in the plan of God toward the final outcome, the consumma­tion of all things. "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. . . And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all" (1 Cor. 15:24, 28).

1.   Eschatology as a term in its present form does not appear in the Bible. But the idea is prevalent everywhere throughout the Scriptures. This term is derived from a compound in the Greek language: "eschatos" meaning last or latter, and "logos" meaning discussion or doctrine. Both of these words do appear in the original Greek of the New Testament. When placed in combination the resulting word means a discussion of last things. From Genesis to Revelation in the most amazing places, under varying conditions, with the faintest touch or in extended passages the doctrine of consummation unfolds.

2.   Latter as a term used in connection with some events often denotes the outcome of things. As for instance, "In the latter times some shall depart from the faith" (1 Tim. 4:1): Or the great "husbandman waiteth . . . until he receive the . . . latter rain" (James 5:7). Or yet again in reference to an individual who is again entangled in the world, "the latter end is worse with them than the beginning" (2 Pet. 2:20).

3.   Last as an adjective appears over and over again in rela­tion to events and circumstances that describe the outcome of things. "In the last days perilous times shall come" (2 Tim. 3:1) "There shall come in the last days scoffers" (2 Pet. 3:3). "As ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many anti­christs; whereby we know that it is the last time" (1 John 2:18).

4.   End is a term also used in discussing eschatological outcome. Christ had in mind the final outcome when He said "the end is not yet" (Matt. 24:6), "But he that shall endure unto the end" (Matt. 24:13), "then shall the end come" (Matt. 24:14). This is even more clearly indicated by such statements, "the harvest is the end of the world”, "so shall it be in the end of this world" [Grk. Age], "and what shall be the sign . . . of the end of the world." [Grk. Age] (Matt. 13:39, 40; 24:3).

5. In its various usages most often appears in passages discussing the consummation of all things. It is usually rendered into English in the King James Version by the term "world". It will appear in such passages as "this world" (Matt. 12:32), and "the world to come" (Mark 10:30). The expression "forever" (John 6:51) is a translation of this word. Likewise also the word "evermore" (2 Cor. 11:31), or "world without end", (Eph. 3:21), or "forever and ever" (Rev. 1:6) are combinations of this word.

It is enough to conclude at this point by saying that the methods of expressing the outcome of things in the Scripture is inexhaustible. The eschatological idea is inextricably woven into the text of the Bible and provides the solid basis for unfolding the doctrine of future and final things. To that extent in which God has spoken on "things to come" (John 16:13) it is possible to pro­ject the future into the present for the sake of His own.