Eschatology

1
Eschatology

• It was exactly the same thing with me. Right
  before I died I saw this bright light

2
Eschatology

• Death and the Intermediate State
• A. Death
• We are all mortal. 1st Cor. 1526, 54-57,
  death is our last (but defeated) enemy.
• Stemming from our sinfulness, death is contrary
  to Gods initial purpose in creation.
• Death is only defeated by Gods grace in the
  resurrection, which continues realizing Gods
  eternal purpose.

3
Eschatology

• Death and the Intermediate State
• B. The Intermediate State
• The period between death and the general
  resurrection. This is a period of awaiting the
  full consummation and bodily resurrection.
• Most of the language for this period is highly
  metaphorical, so caution is necessary

4
Eschatology

• Death and the Intermediate State
• B. The Intermediate State
• (1) Righteous Dead Instead of soul sleep, NT
  speaks of personal, conscious existence of those
  who have died yet before the resurrection. Luke
  2343 2 Corinthians 51-10 Philippians 119-26
• Believers in place of blessedness awaiting the
  fullness of next age at the resurrection.

5
Eschatology

• Death and the Intermediate State
• B. The Intermediate State
• (2) Unrighteous dead again, biblically there is
  evidence of conscious existence, though the
  primary reference (Lazarus and the rich man) does
  not deal with this issue primarily.

6
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• A. Resurrection
• Christian hope in the resurrection is grounded
  in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1125 2 Cor.
  51-10 1 Cor. 1542-49), though it appears even
  in the OT (Isaiah 2619).
• NT speaks of the resurrection most clearly on
  the basis of Jesus teaching. Mark 1226-28 John
  2529

7
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• A. Resurrection
• The Resurrection brings Gods honor and glory
  brings glory to the Son, and thus the Father and
  the Holy Spirit. Phil. 210-11
• Who is resurrected? We are, with our character
  and personalities. This is why present
  development is important. 2 Cor. 510

8
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• A. Resurrection
• The Resurrection is an act of the Triune God.
  Romans 811 1 Peter 13
• B. Last Judgment
• NT passages indicate that upon the cessation of
  this present age there will be judgment. Matt 25,
  1 Cor. 1552-54 John 519-29

9
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• B. Last Judgment
• (1) For those who have faith in Jesus Christ,
  life is the promised end of judgment. We already
  have that life. John 5 Romans 59 Col. 34
• (2) For those who reject the truth of God in
  Jesus there is Gods judgment of wrath, though
  this is not Gods desire. 2 Peter 219, 38-10

10
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• Too often our ideas of Hell are non-biblical.
• Two words used in the NT
• (1) Gehenna from Hinnom Valley beside
  Jerusalem. Place of sacrifice to Moloch (2 Kings
  163 216), and Jeremiah pronounces threats over
  the valley (732, 196).

11
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• (1) Gehenna associated with Gods judgment upon
  the disobedient.
• In NT times, trash dump for the city, with
  smoldering fires.
• Gehenna is the location of permanent (eternal)
  punishment (Mark 943 and 48).

12
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• (2) Hades associated with the OT concept of
  sheol, the dark and watery realm of the dead
• NT, Hades appears to receive the souls of the
  unrighteous dead (but cf. Acts 227, 31)
• Souls in Hades are delivered up at the
  Resurrection for Judgment.

13
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• Death metaphor used to indicate the fate of
  those who do not believe in Jesus Christ.
• This indicates our absolute fixity, an utter
  inability to act, to be creative, to be with
  others, yet one must acknowledge their
  culpability.
• Absolute isolation from God and others

14
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• Hell is also the final abode of Satan.
• Revelation 2010 and 2 Peter 24 both speak of
  Satan and his messengers being cast into the lake
  of fire for eternal punishment.
• Annihilationism asserts that we are not created
  immortal, so those who continue in sin are
  annihilated after the Last Judgment.

15
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• Annihilationism Future life is gift only
  granted by God to humans who have faith in Jesus
  Christ.
• Still hold to a literal Hell, yet the punishment
  is not eternal/unending. Those in Hell cease to
  exist.

16
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• C. Hell
• Annihilationism Most who hold this position
  assert that unending suffering is inconsistent
  with the biblical view of God.
• Problem the terms describing eternal lifes
  duration are often the same that describe eternal
  punishment. (e.g. Matt. 2531-46)

17
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• D. Heaven
• The present earth and heaven disappear, and a
  new heaven and earth are given. 2 Peter 311-13
  Revelation 211
• Eternal life is not simply unending life.
• Eternal life describes the quality of life
  life in fellowship with God. John 171-3, 1 Peter
  14 Revelation 212-5

18
Eschatology

• Resurrection, Judgment, Life Everlasting, Heaven
  and Hell
• D. Heaven
• The future life is imperishable, undefiled, thus
  not transient or affected by time.
• Just as God was in the beginning, Lord without
  end, we look forward in anticipation and
  expectation to our full inclusion in His glorious
  Kingdom.