The Biblical Source of Eschatology
1. The
Scriptures are the valid source of information concerning the future. The
phrase, "prophecy of the
scripture" (2 Pet, 1:20),
means prophecy which is Scripture, from the opening word of Genesis to the closing word of Revelation all is
prophecy.
The word means essentially speaking for
God. Hence there are two kinds of prophecy in the Bible: historical, which
deals with things already come to pass; and predictive which deals with things
that are yet to come to pass.
2. Predictive
prophecy constitutes the great body of material from which the doctrines of
eschatology come. God alone knows the future. As encouragement and instruction
for His people the Lord declared through Isaiah, His prophet, "I am God, and there is none like Me,
declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that
are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my
pleasure" (Isa. 46:9-10).
Almost one third of the Bible is given over to the predictive element. This is
clear indication that God intended that His people should be properly informed
of the future. In comparing the proportion of emphasis given to the two comings
of Christ, it is interesting to note that for every prophecy concerning
Christ's first coming, there are eight, for His second. Yet the emphasis given
in theological teaching and preaching to eschatology is wholly out of balance
with the word of God.
3. Historical
prophecy, covering the other two thirds of the Bible, also provides a
storehouse of information concerning the future. The reason for this is
twofold. On the one hand there is
implicit within the facts of commencement and continuation the destiny and
outcome of things. On the other hand prediction of the future grew out of
historical situations. Therefore it was logical for the predictive elements to
be woven very naturally into the fabric of the word of God for the sake of
conditioning present life with the truth about the future. It is therefore to
be understood that the entire Bible becomes the source material from which the
doctrines of eschatology may be formulated.
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