Eschatology

1
Eschatology

• A Study of Last Things
• Prepared by Chris Reeves for the Memorial Blvd.
  church of Christ
• Fall Quarter 2004

2
Hadesthe realm of the dead

• Mt. 1123 the citizens of Capernaum would be
  brought to the grave in death (Hades)
• Mt. 1618 death (Hades) would not keep the
  church from being established
• Lk. 1015 the citizens of Capernaum would be
  brought to the grave in death (Hades)
• Lk. 1623 the rich man was in the realm of the
  dead (Hades)

3
Hadesthe realm of the dead

• Acts 227,31 Jesus body was not left in the
  grave, and his soul was not left in the realm of
  the dead (Hades) see Lk. 2343
• Rev. 118 Jesus resurrection gave him power
  over the grave (Hades)
• Rev. 68 the pale horse rider had authority to
  put to death (Hades)
• Rev. 2013-14 the realm of the dead (Hades)
  will give up its dead to stand in judgment

The mss used by the KJV has the Gr. word hades
in 1 Cor. 1555
4
Hadesthe realm of the dead

• A disembodied state - the soul departs from the
  body at death
• A conscious state the soul will have knowledge
  of the past and present after death
• A fixed state the soul of the dead will not be
  able to change its destiny
• An intermediate state the soul of the dead will
  leave this realm, stand before God in judgment,
  then be assigned to Heaven or Hell

5
Alleged Proofs of ReincarnationDoes the Bible
Teach Reincarnation?

• Proverbs 822-30 is a reference to
  reincarnation
• No, this passage is a reference to the wisdom of
  God personified (Prov. 81,12 see 120-33
  91-6)
• John the Baptist was Elijah reincarnated
• Answer John the Baptist came in the spirit and
  power of Elijah his office and function was just
  like that of Elijah (Mal. 45 Mt. 1113-14
  171-3,9-13 Lk. 117 Jn. 121 comp 2 K.
  29,15)
• Answer Death is necessary in the theory of
  reincarnation, but Elijah did not die (2 K.
  211-12)

6
Alleged Proofs of ReincarnationDoes the Bible
Teach Reincarnation?

• Jesus said, You must be born again
• Answer Jesus was talking about a spiritual
  rebirth that takes place in this life in order to
  be come a Christian in this life (Jn. 33,5 1
  Pet. 13,23)
• According to Matthew 1613-14, some Israelites
  accepted reincarnation, having been influenced by
  Eastern religion
• Answer No, they believed in a resurrection, not
  reincarnation (Mk. 614-15)

7
Alleged Proofs of ReincarnationDoes the Bible
Teach Reincarnation?

• The Bible teaches in the law of karma in Exodus
  205 John 91-3 and Galatians 67
• Answer Exodus 205 teaches that the consequences
  of a persons sins can be passed on to a future
  generation. John 91-3 teaches that pain and
  suffering are not always directly related to a
  persons sin. Galatians 67 teaches that actions
  have temporal and eternal consequences. One reaps
  what he sows in this life, and is judged one time
  for what he does in this life.

8
Alleged Proofs of ReincarnationDoes the Bible
Teach Reincarnation?

• Jesus taught that one can reach the perfect
  state of nirvana
• Answer Perfect in Matthew 548 refers to the
  complete and mature love of God love for
  friends and enemies
• Jesus went to India for 18 years (between age 12
  and 30) and became yogi guru of Eastern religion
• Answer There is absolutely no historical
  evidence of this (see Mt.1354-58)

9
Alleged Proofs of ReincarnationDoes the Bible
Teach Reincarnation?

• The Bible once contained references to
  reincarnation, but they were deleted by the
  Council of Nicea in A.D. 325, and the Council of
  Constantinople in A.D. 553
• Answer This is simply asserted without any
  historical evidence to support it. The Council of
  Nicea focused on the issue of the deity and
  humanity of Christ, not on reincarnation. The
  Council of 553 addressed to the teachings of
  Origin, not the Bible.

10
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• A literal, visible, and personal return of Jesus
  (Ac.19-11)
• Classical liberalism denies Jesus literal,
  visible, and personal return (see 2 Pet. 33-4).
• Others believe Jesus is coming and attempt to set
  dates (see 2 Thess. 22)
• Others hold erroneous beliefs about Jesus coming
  (see 1 Thess. 413-15)
• Others who hold the truth have lost sight of his
  coming and do not anticipate it (see 1 Thess.
  53)
• A second coming (Heb.928)

11
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• Jesus promise to return was believed by
• Himself (Jn. 143)
• The angels (Ac.19-11)
• New Testament Christians (1 Cor.1126)
• The Apostles (Heb.928)
• Who is coming?
• Jesus (1 Thess.416).
• Righteous saints (1 Thess. 414)
• Holy angels (Mt. 2531 Lk. 926 2 Thess. 17
  Jude 14)

12
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• When is he coming?
• At the end of the world age (1 Cor. 1523-24)
• At a time unannounced (Mt. 2513 1 Thess. 51-3
  2 Thess. 21-3 2 Pet. 310)
• Where is he coming from, where is he coming
  to?
• Coming from heaven (1 Thess. 416)
• Coming to meet the righteous in the air
  (1 Thess. 417 Ac. 19-11)

13
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• What will happen before he comes?
• Antichrists (1 Jn.218,22 43 2 Jn.7)
• Deception (2 Thess.29)
• Satan Loosed (Rev.203)
• Great Wickedness (1 Tim.41ff)

14
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• What will happen when he comes?
• Personally (1 Thess.416)
• Audibly (Jn.528 1 Cor.1552 1 Thess.416)
• Visibly (Ac.19-11 1 Thess.417)
• Unexpectedly (Mt.2442-44 2513
  1 Thess.51-4 2 Pet.310)
• Gloriously (Mt.2531 Ac.19-11 Phil.321
  Col.34 2 Thess.17-10)

15
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• What will happen after he comes?
• One Resurrection Both the Wicked and Righteous
  (Jn.528-29 Ac.2415 Rev. 2011-15)
• One Change in the Body (1 Cor.1550-54
  Phil.321 Col.34 1 Jn.32-3)
• One Reunion of the Righteous
  (1 Thess.416-17)
• One Deliverance of the Kingdom
  (1 Cor.1524)

16
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• What will happen after he comes?
• One Destruction of the Earth (Heb. 111 2
  Pet.310-12 Rev.2011 211)
• One Judgment Day for All Mankind (Mt.2531-46
  Jn.529 1248 Ac.1731 Rom. 216 1 Cor. 45
  2 Thess. 28-10 Heb.928 Rev.2012-13). A Day
  Of
• Separation (Mt.2532-33)
• Examination (2 Cor.510 Rev.2212)
• Vindication (2 Pet.33ff cf. Rev.69-11)
• Allocation (Mt.2534,41,46 Jn.529 Rom.24-11)

17
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• What will happen after he comes?
• One New Order (2 Pet.313 Rev.21-22)

18
The Second Coming of ChristWhat Does the Bible
Say?

• Are you just passing the time, or are you waiting
  for Jesus (Heb.928)?
• Jesus second coming what difference does it
  make?
• We have comfort and hope (1 Thess.417-18
  510-11 Tit.213 1 Jn.33)
• We have an incentive to godly living
  (2 Thess.110-12 2 Tim.47-8 Tit.211-14
  2 Pet.311-13 1 Jn.32-3)

19
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• The Old Testament introduces the concept of a
  resurrection
• God implied it (Exodus 36 Mt. 2223-33)
• Abraham believed it (Heb. 1119)
• Job believed it (Job 1414 1925-27)
• David believed it (Psa. 168-11 Acts 230-31)

20
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• Resurrection (Gr. anastastis a raising up) in
  the NT refers primarily to the rising up of the
  dead (except Lk. 234). There are five uses
• 1. Resurrection of Jesus (Mt. 2753 Ac. 122
  231 433 2623 Rom. 14 1 Cor. 1520-21 1
  Pet. 13)
• 2. Resurrection of all mankind (Ac. 42
  1718,32 1 Cor. 614 Phil. 310-11)
• 3. Resurrection (likeness) from the death of sin
  (Rom. 65 1 Pet. 321 Eph. 25-6 514 Col.
  212 31)
• 4. Resurrection miracle (Mt. 115 2752 Heb.
  1135)
• 5. Resurrection (triumph) over evil (Rev. 205-6)

21
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• Errors regarding the resurrection from the dead
• There is no resurrection (Mt. 2223-31 Mk.
  1218-23 Lk. 2027-36 Ac. 1718,32 236-8)
• Jesus was not resurrected (1 Cor. 1512-13)
• The resurrection is past already (2 Tim. 218)
• Modern errors on the resurrection are many
• No resurrection at all (atheism, liberal
  theology)
• Resurrection of the soul only (ancient Greeks)
• Resurrection (recreating) of the body and the
  soul (J.W.s)
• Three or more resurrections (premillenialism)

22
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• There will be a recompense (reward) at the
  resurrection of the just (Lk. 1414)
• The righteous are sons of God, sons of the
  resurrection (Lk. 2036)
• There is one resurrection of both the good and
  the evil with two rewards, life and judgment (Jn.
  529 Ac. 2415,21)
• Jesus makes the resurrection possible for all
  mankind (Jn. 1124-25 1 Pet. 13)

W.E. Vine refers to the first part and
second part of these verses in order to have
two resurrections separated by 1000 years (page
531)
23
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• The resurrection will be in the last day at
  the end at the last trumpet (Jn. 639-54
  1124 1 Cor. 1523-24,52)
• A resurrection body will be given to all the
  righteous (1 Cor. 1535-54)
• Incorruptible (v.42)
• Glorious (v.43)
• Powerful (v.43)
• Spiritual (vv.44-46)
• Heavenly (vv.47-49 see 2 Cor. 51-4 Phil. 321)
• Changed (vv.50-52)
• Immortal (vv.53-54)

24
The ResurrectionWhat Does the Bible Say?

• The righteous dead will be raised to join the
  righteous living in the air with Jesus
  (1 Thess. 414-16)
• The resurrection of the dead is a doctrine of
  first principles (Heb. 61-2)

25
The Destructionof the Heavens and Earth

• Some say the earth will not be destroyed
• The material universe is eternal (evolutionist)
• The earth will become a restored paradise for the
  righteous (J.W., Mormon, S.D.A, Assembly of God,
  etc.)
• Jesus will reign on the earth in Jerusalem for
  1000 years before destroying it (Baptist,
  Methodist, some Churches of Christ, etc.)
• However, the earth will be destroyed (Psa.
  10225-26 Heb. 110-12 2 Pet. 310-12)

26
The Destructionof the Heavens and Earth

• What Did Peter Say?
• The heavens sky and space (v.12 Gen.
  18,17,20)
• Shall pass away (Mt. 2435)
• With a great noise the noise of burning
• And the elements basic components of the
  material universe (v. 12 Gal. 43,9 Col.
  28,20 Heb. 512)
• Shall be dissolved (melt in the KJV) means
  to loosen, undo, break up (v.11,12)
• With fervent heat the heat of fire (v.7)
• And the earth the same earth God created
  (2 Pet. 35-7)

27
The Destructionof the Heavens and Earth

• What Did Peter Say?
• And the works that are therein (1 Jn. 217)
• Shall be burned up complete consumption (Gr.
  katakaio) (Mt. 312 1330,40 Lk. 317 Ac.
  1919 1 Cor. 315 Heb. 1311 2 Pet. 310 Rev.
  87 1716 188) (Note other versions have
  discovered, laid bare, etc., based on the Gr.
  heurethesetai found in some ancient manuscripts)
• New heavens and a new earth new in quality a
  new order of life (Gr. kainos)

28
The New Heavens and New Earth

• The New Heavens and New Earth
• It Is Not
• A renovated, revamped or restored earth
• It Is
• A promise of a new order for saints in Christ
  (Isa. 514-6 6517 6622) There is a newness
  for all men in Christ (2 Cor. 517 Rom. 64
  76 Gal. 615 Eph. 215 424 Col. 310) The
  old order was the Jews separated from the
  Gentiles it was done away at Christs first
  coming
• A promise of a new order for saints only in
  heaven (2 Pet. 313 Rev. 2011 211)
  There will be a new life for saints in heaven
  (Rev. 217 312 59 143 215) The old order
  is the life of all saints and sinners together on
  the earth it will be done away at Christs
  second coming

29
Attacks on the Bible Doctrine of HellHell
Watered Down

• Materialism man is made of material atoms only
  no spirit thus, no heaven or hell after death
  (c. 5th Century B.C.)
• Universalism all men find themselves ultimately
  in an eternal state of bliss (c. 2nd Century
  A.D.)
• Annihilationism the wicked pass into
  nonexistence either at death or the resurrection
  ( c. 4th Century
  A.D.)
• Conditionalism the belief that only the souls
  of the righteous will be given an immortal body
  (c. 12th Century A.D.)
• Humanism the belief that hell is a useless
  fable (c. 17th Century)

30
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Why study hell?
• It is a Bible topic
• It is a misunderstood topic
• It is an unpopular topic
• It is a neglected topic
• It is a rejected topic
• It is a topic of jokes
• Jesus had more to say on hell (Gr. gehenna), than
  anyone in the New Testament!

31
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Why will there be a hell?
• Some say, An all-loving God would not send
  people to hell
• True, but Gods love does not exclude punishment
  and wrath (Jn. 316,36)
• Remember
• God is a God of holiness (Hab. 113)
• God is a God of justice (Gen. 1825
  2 Thess. 15-9)
• God is a God of wrath (Rom. 25-9 Rev. 1410)
• God is a God of vengeance (2 Thess. 18)
• God is a God of indignation (Rom. 27
  Heb. 1027 Rev. 1410)

When some men fail to reconcile the Saviors
love with his doctrine of Hell, they drop one of
them Hell (Herbert Lockyer, Everything Jesus
Taught, page 493)
32
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• What is hell like?
• The KJV uses hell for the Hebrew word sheol,
  and the Greek words hades, gehenna and tartaros.
• Hell (the place of final punishment) is from
  the Gr. gehenna, referring to the valley of
  Hinnom, SE of Jerusalem (Josh 158 1816 Neh.
  1130 2 K. 2310 2 Chron. 283 336
  Jer. 732 196,11 3140)
• Gehenna is found 12 times in the NT
  Mt. 522,29,30 1028 189 2315,33 Mk.
  943,45,47 Lk. 125 Jas. 36

33
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• What is hell like?
• Lake that burns with fire and brimstone
  (Mt. 522 1342,50 189 Jas. 36 Rev.
  1410 1920 2010,14 218)
• Both soul and body punished (Mt. 529-30 1028
  Mk. 943-47 Lk. 124-5)
• Weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt. 812
  1342,50 2213 2451 2530 Lk. 1328)
• Judgment (Mt. 2333 Jn. 529 Heb. 1027)
• Outer darkness (Mt. 812 2213 2530
  2 Pet. 217 Jude 13)

34
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• What is hell like?
• Punishment (Mt. 2546 1 Tim. 69 Heb. 1028-29
  Jude 7)
• Suffering and torment (Rom. 25-9,12 2 Thess.
  19 Rev. 1410-11 218)
• Second death (Rev. 211 206,14 218 death
  is separation note the teaching of separation in
  these verses Mt. 529 723 812 1342 2546
  Lk. 1328 2 Thess. 19 Rev. 2215)

35
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Who will go to hell?
• Workers of iniquity (Mt. 713-14 21-23 1341
  Lk. 1327)
• The wicked (Mt. 1349)
• The devil and his angels (Mt. 2541 2 Pet. 24
  Jude 6 Rev. 2010)
• Those who stumble or cause stumbling (Mt. 529
  1341 Mk. 942-48)
• (Unfaithful) sons of the kingdom (Mt. 812 Lk.
  1328)

36
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Who will go to hell?
• Unprepared, unproductive (unprofitable) and
  uncharitable (Mt. 2213-14 2436 2546)
• Hypocrites (Mt. 2451 2315,33)
• Rich misers (Lk. 1619-31)
• Those who obey not the gospel (2 Thess. 18)
• Brethren who sin willfully (Heb. 1026-31)
• Sins of the tongue (Jas. 36)
• Apostate believers, backsliders (2 Peter 213,17)

37
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Who will go to hell?
• All who follow the devil (1 Jn. 38,10 Rev.
  1920 2010)
• All people not in the book of life (Rev. 2015)
• Fearful and unbelievers (Rev. 218)
• Immoral (Rev. 218,27 2215)

38
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• How long will hell last?
• Eternal fire (Mt. 188 2547)
• Eternal punishment (Mt. 2546)
• Unquenchable fire (Mk. 943,48 Mt. 312 Lk.
  317)
• The worm dies not (Mk. 948 see Isa. 6624)
• Eternal destruction (2 Thess. 19)
• Eternal judgment (Heb. 62)
• Eternal fire (Jude 7)

39
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• How long will hell last?
• The smoke of their torment goes up for ever and
  ever (Rev. 1411 2010)
• No rest day and night (Rev. 1411)

Hell will last as long as Heaven will
last Matthew 2541,46 Revelation 48
715 1411 2010 225
40
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• Not all believe that hell is eternal
• Denominations J.W.s, S.D.A., Christian Science,
  Church of England, Unitarian Church, W.W.C.G.,
  etc.
• Some brethren
• Jesse B. Ferguson (Spirit Communion, 1854)
• Edward Fudge (The Fire That Consumes, 1982 Two
  Views of Hell, 2000)
• Curtis Dickson (What the Bible Teaches About
  Immortality and Future Punishment, 1984)
• Samuel G. Dawson (Jesus Teaching on Hell, 1996)
• Dyrel Collins (Immortality Only in Christ, 2002)
• F. LaGard Smith (Afterlife, 2003)
• Homer Hailey (Gods Judgments and Punishments,
  2003)

41
Hell Eternal Punishment for the LostAnswering
Arguments

• Destroy (Mt. 1028), destruction (2 Thess.
  19) and punishment (Gr. kolasis) mean
  extinction or annihilation
• Destroy (Gr. appolumi) and destruction (Gr.
  olethros) mean ruin, or loss of well-being, but
  not annihilation (Lk. 924 154,24 1 Cor. 55)
  punishment is torture and is on-going (2 Pet.
  29)
• Eternal refers to the effectual, final
  consequence or result of judgment, not the
  duration of judgment
• Eternal (Gr. aion) can refer to an indefinite
  period of time (time without end) when modified
  by words like for ever and ever (Rev. 2010
  225)

42
Hell Eternal Punishment for the LostAnswering
Arguments

• Man does not inherently have an immortal soul.
  Both the soul and body cease to exist at death.
  Only the righteous are given an immortal soul and
  body in the resurrection.
• All men have an immortal soul now (Mt. 171-9
  2223-33 Lk. 1619-31 2343 2 Cor. 416 510)

43
Hell Eternal Punishment for the Lost

• What Can We Do?
• Fear hell (Mt. 1028 Heb. 1031)
• Sacrifice whatever to avoid hell (Mt. 529-30)
• Warn against hell as Jesus did (Lk. 125)
• Try to save others from the fires of hell (Jude
  22-23)
• Dont try to escape hell unprepared
  (Mt. 2333)

44
The Bible vs. Premillennialism
Bible Truth
1 Resurrection, 1 Judgment Day, 2nd Coming Jn.
528-29 Acts 2415 Heb. 927-28
Mt. 2434 Fulfilled in A.D. 70 No Rapture of
Saints Only 1 Thess. 417
Spiritual Kingdom Established Church Planned Mt.
1618-19 Eph. 310-11
Armageddon Past (Rev. 1616) Kingdom Already Est.
(Col. 113)
Saints in Heaven
Cross Planned Ac. 223
Jesus Failed Not Psa. 26 Jn. 174
Christ Reigns in Heaven Now with Dead Saints Ac.
236 Rev. 37,21 204,6
Earthly Kingdom Postponed Church Substituted
1000 Yr. Reign of Christ on Earth in
Jerusalem with Living Saints
Cross Not Planned
Jesus Failed
7 Year Tribulation of Mt. 24
Armageddon 2nd Resurrection Coming Saints
Judged Kingdom Established
Wicked in Hell
1st Resurrection Coming
Saints Secretly Raptured
3rd Resurrection Coming (Wicked)
Premillennial Theory
Wicked Remain