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Suggestions for Studying Eschatology (end-times)

Related articles

Interpreting OT Narratives Interpreting the OT Law
Interpreting Hebrew Poetry Interpreting Wisdom Literature
Interpreting the OT Prophets Interpreting the Four Gospels
Interpreting the Parables of Jesus Interpreting the Book of Acts
Interpreting NT Letters Understanding End Times (Eschatology)
Interpreting the Book of Revelation

Understanding Eschatology (End Times)

The word 'eschatology' is derived from Greek words meaning the study of the last things. These include Jesus' second coming, the final judgement and the establishment of the new heaven and new earth, as well as any events which are thought to happen just before that.

The second coming of Christ is mentioned over three hundred times in the New Testament, so it is clearly a very important part of the Biblical revelation, and certainly the most important event yet to take place in the future.

It is most important that we get our understanding of the second coming primarily from our study of the Bible, rather than from books, magazines, videos or teaching from other people. All these need to be tested (1 Thess 5:19-22), as our knowledge and prophecy is imperfect (1 Cor 13:9-12).

Some principles for approaching eschatological passages

1. We need to keep in mind that there are three basic and very practical purposes for the teaching on eschatology in the New Testament. Probably the most important purpose is as a call to a holy and blameless life (2 Pet 3). We need to be ready to meet Jesus, as we do not know when he will come. The promise of his coming is also a comfort to those suffering in this life, particularly those suffering persecution. There is a better life coming, therefore there is hope. It is also an implicit call to evangelise the lost, before it is too late.

2. An important principle of Bible study is that we should start with the clear passages, those passages easier to understand. There is clear teaching on the second coming in some of Jesus’ parables, and Paul’s letters. With that light we can then approach the more difficult passages. It is unwise to start by studying Daniel and Revelation.

3. There is a priority of the New Testament over the Old Testament. The Bible gives us a progressive revelation, with a greater revelation given in the New Testament. We need to see how the New Testament writers saw the fulfilment of prophecies, especially those concerning the nation of Israel (Amos 9:11-12, Acts 15:16-17). Promises originally given to Israel are often widened to include people from all nations.

4. It is important to recognise that predictive prophecy is only fully clear after its fulfilment. The predictions in the OT concerning Jesus' first coming were not fully understood until after the event. In eschatology, we are looking to the future, so no one can be dogmatic. None of knows exactly what is going to happen.

5. In studying Daniel, Revelation and other difficult books, as in all books, we must remember the basic principle of interpretation. We need to ask the question, “What did this mean to the author and the original readers?”, and base our interpretation on that.

6. We need to be aware of apocalyptic language, where symbolic language is used to describe events or spiritual truths. Much of the Book of Revelation is written in this style. In the Apocrypha, there is a book of additions to the book of Esther, written much later than the original book. These passages describe Mordecai's dream, predicting what is about to happen in the book. They are in apocalyptic style. It is a helpful example of apocalyptic writing, because we can be certain of what it means.

Mordecai's dream
Noises and confusion, thunders and earthquake, tumult on the earth! Then two great dragons came forward, both ready to fight, and they roared terribly. At their roaring every nation prepared for war, to fight against the righteous nation. It was a day of darkness and gloom, of tribulation and distress, affliction and great tumult on the earth! And the whole righteous nation was troubled; they feared the evils that threatened them, and were ready to perish. Then they cried out to God; and at their outcry, as though from a tiny spring, there came a great river, with abundant water, light came, and the sun rose, and the lowly were exalted and devoured those held in honour. (A:5-11)

Now follows the Book of Esther

After the end, Mordecai sums up as follows
I remember the dream that I had concerning these matters, and none of them has failed to be fulfilled. There was the little stream that became a river, and there was light and sun and abundant water - the river is Esther, whom the king married and made queen. The two dragons are Haman and myself. The nations are those that gathered to destroy the name of the Jews. And my nation, this is Israel, who cried out to God and were saved. (F:5-9)

This dream, described in such dramatic language, is actually the story of Esther!

7. It is not good practice to build significant doctrines on something which is only mentioned once in the Bible, or only in obscure passages. For example, the millennium is only mentioned once (Rev 20). We should build our understanding from things which are mentioned frequently and consistently throughout the Bible, in NT as well as OT.

8. We should not forget that many predictions in both Testaments have already been fulfilled in history. These can be in the Fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians in 586 BC, and the return from exile after 539 BC, or in the siege and capture of Jerusalem by the Romans in AD 70. It is important for us to know about the important events in biblical history.

Related articles

Interpreting OT Narratives Interpreting the OT Law
Interpreting Hebrew Poetry Interpreting Wisdom Literature
Interpreting the OT Prophets Interpreting the Four Gospels
Interpreting the Parables of Jesus Interpreting the Book of Acts
Interpreting NT Letters Understanding End Times (Eschatology)
Interpreting the Book of Revelation

The Bible

Pages which look at issues relevant to the whole Bible, such as the Canon of Scripture, as well as doctrinal and theological issues. There are also pages about the Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha and 'lost books' of the Old Testament.

Also included are lists of the quotations of the OT in the NT, and passages of the OT quoted in the NT.

Old Testament Overview

This is a series of six pages which give a historical overview through the Old Testament and the inter-testamental period, showing where each OT book fits into the history of Israel.

New Testament Overview

This is a series of five pages which give a historical overview through the New Testament, focusing on the Ministry of Jesus, Paul's missionary journeys, and the later first century. Again, it shows where each book of the NT fits into the history of the first century.

Introductions to Old Testament Books

This is an almost complete collection of introductions to each of the books in the Old Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Introductions to New Testament Books

This is a collection of introductions to each of the 27 books in the New Testament. Each contains information about the authorship, date, historical setting and main themes of the book.

Old Testament History

Information about the different nations surrounding Israel, and other articles concerning Old Testament history and the inter-testamental period.

New Testament History

Articles which give additional information about the history and culture of the first century, giving helpful background knowledge for the Gospels and Paul's travels.

Old Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for OT studies. These include a list of the people named in the OT and confirmed by archaeology. There are also pages to convert the different units of measure in the OT, such as the talent, cubit and ephah into modern units.

More theological topics include warfare in the ancient world, the Holy Spirit in the OT, and types of Jesus in the OT.

Studies in the Pentateuch (Gen - Deut)

A series of articles covering studies in the five books of Moses. Studies in the Book of Genesis look at the historical nature of the early chapters of Genesis, the Tower of Babel and the Table of the Nations.

There are also pages about covenants, the sacrifices and offerings, the Jewish festivals and the tabernacle, as well as the issue of tithing.

Studies in the Old Testament History Books (Josh - Esther)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the history books. These include a list of the dates of the kings of Israel and Judah, a summary of the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel, and studies of Solomon, Jeroboam and Josiah.

There are also pages describing some of the historical events of the period, including the Syro-Ephraimite War, and the Assyrian invasion of Judah in 701 BC.

Studies in the Old Testament Prophets (Is - Mal)

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the OT prophets. These include a page looking at the way the prophets look ahead into their future, a page looking at the question of whether Satan is a fallen angel, and a page studying the seventy weeks of Daniel.

There are also a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of two of the books:
Isaiah (13 pages) and Daniel (10 pages).

New Testament Studies

A series of articles covering more general topics for NT studies. These include a list of the people in the NT confirmed by archaeology.

More theological topics include the Kingdom of God and the Coming of Christ.

Studies in the Four Gospels (Matt - John)

A series of articles covering various studies in the four gospels. These include a list of the unique passages in each of the Synoptic Gospels and helpful information about the parables and how to interpret them.

Some articles look at the life and ministry of Jesus, including his genealogy, birth narratives, transfiguration, the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, and the seating arrangements at the Last Supper.

More theological topics include the teaching about the Holy Spirit as the Paraclete and whether John the Baptist fulfilled the predictions of the coming of Elijah.

Studies in the Book of Acts and the New Testament Letters

A series of articles covering various studies in the Book of Acts and the Letters, including Paul's letters. These include a page studying the messages given by the apostles in the Book of Acts, and the information about the financial collection that Paul made during his third missionary journey.

More theological topics include Paul's teaching on Jesus as the last Adam, and descriptions of the church such as the body of Christ and the temple, as well as a look at redemption and the issue of fallen angels.

There are a series of pages giving a commentary through the text of five of the books:
Romans (7 pages), 1 Corinthians (7 pages), Galatians (3 pages), Philemon (1 page) and Hebrews (7 pages)

Studies in the Book of Revelation

Articles containing studies and helpful information for the study of the Book of Revelation and topics concerning Eschatology (the study of end-times).

These include a description of the structure of the book, a comparison and contrast between the good and evil characters in the book and a list of the many allusions to the OT. For the seven churches, there is a page which gives links to their location on Google maps.

There is a page studying the important theme of Jesus as the Lamb, which forms the central theological truth of the book. There are pages looking at the major views of the Millennium, as well as the rapture and tribulation, as well as a list of dates of the second coming that have been mistakenly predicted through history.

There is also a series of ten pages giving a detailed commentry through the text of the Book of Revelation.

Inductive Bible Study

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study the Bible inductively, by asking a series of simple questions. There are lists of observation and interpretation questions, as well as information about the structure and historical background of biblical books, as well as a list of the different types of figures of speech used in the Bible. There is also a page giving helpful tips on how to apply the Scriptures personally.

Types of Literature in the Bible

These are a series of pages giving practical help showing how to study each of the different types of book in the Bible by appreciating the type of literature being used. These include historical narrative, law, wisdom, prophets, Gospels, Acts, letters and Revelation.

It is most important that when reading the Bible we are taking note of the type of literature we are reading. Each type needs to be considered and interpreted differently as they have different purposes.

Geography and Archaeology

These are a series of pages giving geographical and archaeological information relevant to the study of the Bible. There is a page where you can search for a particular geographical location and locate it on Google maps, as well as viewing photographs on other sites.

There are also pages with photographs from Ephesus and Corinth.

Early Church Fathers

These are a series of pages giving biographical information about some of the more significant early church fathers, such as Irenaeus, Origen and Tertullian, as well as some important groups and events in the first centuries of the church.

Artifacts in the British Museum relevant to Biblical studies

These are a series of pages describing artifacts in each gallery of the British Museum, which have a connection with the Bible.

Biblical Archaeology in Museums around the world

A page with a facility to search for artifacts held in museums around the world which have a connection with the Bible. These give information about each artifact, as well as links to the museum's collection website where available showing high resolution photographs of the artifact.

There is also page of photographs from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem of important artifacts.

Historical documents

These are a series of pages containing historical documents which give helpful information for Biblical studies. These include Hittite suzerainty treaties with a similar structure to the Book of Deuteronomy, different lists of the New Testament books and quotations from Josephus and other ancient writers.

Life Questions

These are a series of pages looking at some of the more difficult questions of Christian theology, including war, suffering, disappointment and what happens to those who have never heard the Gospel.

How to Preach

These are a series of pages giving a practical step-by-step explanation of the process of preparing a message for preaching, and how to lead a small group Bible study.

Information for SBS staff members

Two pages particularly relevant for people serving as staff on the School of Biblical Studies (SBS) in YWAM. One gives helpful instruction about how to prepare to teach on a book in the SBS. The other gives a list of recommended topics which can be taught about for each book of the Bible.