The English term "eschatology" is the result of the compounding of two Greek words: eschatos, which means "last" and logia, which means "word" or "discourse". Etymologically, then, eschatology is "the study of last thing." The term is derived from certain Biblical passages that speak of "the last days" (II Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2), "the last time" (I Peter 1:20; Jude 18), "The last hour" (I John 2:18), and other similar phrases. Eschatology involves the study of the Biblical data regarding the providential flow of history as it develops toward to a foreordained consummation. Its focus is on the developmental unfolding of the Kingdom of God in history, the second coming of Christ, the Resurrection of the Dead, the final Judgment, and the Eternal State.
Eschatology is unavoidably related to another word "teleology", which likewise is the result of compounding of two Greek words: teleos, meaning "end" and "logia" (word). teleology is therefore the "study of the end".
Teleology addresses the issue of "what is God's ultimate goal?" It is directly related to eschatology for all teleological issues lead to eschatological positions.
Without a proper, Biblically consistent, teleology and eschatology we are unable to accurately interpret the past we fail to have insight into the present, and we have a distorted vision of the future.
The purely futuristic approach to prophecy either ignores, or circumvents, certain passages which are declared to be "near", "at hand", or "about to take place". In other words, they fail to address the time frame references of the text.
This futuristic approach virtually dismisses the significance of what occurred in A.D. 70. with the distruction of Jerusalem and the end of the old covenant system. It reads all prophecy as coming to fulfillment at the close of the church age. It ignores Jesus' words of Matthew 24:34 which states "this generation will not pass away until all these things take place."
The preterist approach, on the other hand, sees some events taking place in or around A.D.70. They view the term "last days" (as opposed to "the last day") referring to the end of the Old Testament priesthood, the sacrificial system, and the temple in Jerusalem (Matt.. 24:2). Hebrews 8:13 tells us, the Old Covenant was "becoming obsolete and ready to disappear".
This approach may seem "unusual" to many today, but historically this view has been common. Commentators such as John Owen, John Brown, Matthew Henry, as well as many others held this view.
The preterist approach sorts out that which was fulfilled in the past and that which remains to be fulfilled in the future.
1) Scripture must be used to iterpret Scripture. (II Peter 1:20)
2) The primary purpose of prophecy is not to predict the future, but to call God's people back to the covenant. (Rev. 19:10)
3) We must deal with time frame references relating to the coming of the Lord. (Matt. 10:23,16:27-28,24:34,James 5:7-8, Rev. 1:1,1:3,1:19,22:6,22:10)
4) Jesus came in judgment of Jerusalem in A.D.70.
5) The Olivet Discourse (Matt. 24:1-34, Luke 12, Mark 13) is not primarily about the Second Advent. It is a prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70.
6)"The Last Days" is a Biblical expression for the period between Christ's Advent and distruction of Jerusalem in A.D.70 the "last days" of Isreal and the Old Covenant.
7)The book of Revelation is not to be interprented "futuristically"; for its first century readers, its message was "contemporary," and the time of its fulfillment was "at hand".
8) The "thousend years" of Revelation 20 is symbolic for a long period of time.
9) Satan was defeated and bound by Jesus at the Cross. (Heb. 2:14)
10) All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus Christ in this present age. (Matt. 28:18)
11) Christ has declared that His Church would be victorious on earth in this present age. (Matt.16:18,I cor. 15:25-27,Psalms 110)
12) The Church, empowered by the Holy Spirit, will continue to advance the Kingdom of God, dispite opposition from the worlds system. (Isa 49:18-22,Isa 60:1-5)
13) All of Christ enemies will be subdued under His Reign heaven (Ps. 110). He will remain in heaven intell all of His enemies have been defeated. The last enemie. Death will be destroyed when He returns. (I cor. 15:25-27)
14) Before the Second Coming of Christ, there will be the conversion of large numbers of ethnic Jews to the Christian faith. (Rom. 11:25-26)
15) Before the Second Coming of Christ, the vast majority of the earth will be converted to the Christian faith. (Matt.28:19-20)
16) The "First Resurrection" is a spiritual resurrection: our justification and regeneration in Christ. (Eph. 2:5-6, Col. 2:11-13, I John 3:14)
17) Christ will return on the Last Day, when the resurrection and the Last Judgment will occur. (John 6:39-40, 44, 54)
18) Historically, the Church has always stood with its greatest influence, when it's eschatology was one of victory rather than defeat.
This paper was submitted by Don Walker
If you would like to know more about eschatology or the preterist view. Please e-mail my dad, Don Walker @
Email: Basileai_@yahoo.com
or visit him on the web @ www.angelfire.com/mo/Basileia
THANK YOU!!!
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