Most interpretations fit into one, or a combination, of these approaches. They are by no means mutually exclusive and are often combined to form a more complete and coherent interpretation of prophetic passages. The following approaches arose from the study of Christianity's most central eschatological document, the Book of Revelation, but the principles embodied in them can be applied to all prophecy in the Bible. Their interpretation of Christian eschatology resulted in the founding of the Seventh-day Adventist church.
White, William Miller and Joseph Bates began to study eschatological implications revealed in the Book of Daniel and the Book of Revelation. In the 1800s, a group of Christian theologians inclusive of Ellen G. However, in the 20th century, there would be a growing number of German scholars such as Jürgen Moltmann and Wolfhart Pannenberg who would likewise be interested in eschatology. Both of these strands would have significant influences on the growing interests in eschatology in Christian missions and in Christianity in West Africa and Asia. This would be contrasted with the growing interest in premillennialism, advocated by dispensational figures such as J. Puritans in the 18th and 19th centuries were particularly interested in a postmillennial hope which surrounded Christian conversion. The growing modern interest in eschatology is tied to developments in Anglophone Christianity. The word was used first by the Lutheran theologian Abraham Calovius (1612–86) but only came into general usage in the 19th century. 160–225), and was given fuller reflection and speculation soon after by Origen (c. Treatment of eschatology continued in the West in the teachings of Tertullian (c. 35–107 AD) in his epistles, then given more consideration by the Christian apologist, Justin Martyr (c. Ĭhristian eschatology is also discussed by Ignatius of Antioch (c. 95, criticizes those who had doubts about the faith because the Second Coming had, in his view, not yet occurred. The First Epistle of Clement, written by Pope Clement I in ca. Other scholars, however, believe that the New Testament epistles are an exhortation to the early church believers to patiently expect the imminent return of Christ, predicted by Himself on several occasions in the gospels. According to some scholars, the Second Epistle of Peter explains that God is patient and has not yet brought about the Second Coming of Christ, in order that more people will have the chance to reject evil and find salvation (3:3–9) therefore, it calls on Christians to wait patiently for the Parousia and to study scripture. Other eschatological doctrines can be found in the Epistle of James, the First Epistle of Peter, the First Epistle of John.
Christian eschatology is an ancient branch of study in Christian theology, informed by Biblical texts such as the Olivet discourse (recorded in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21), The Sheep and the Goats, and other discourses of end times by Jesus, with the doctrine of the Second Coming discussed by Paul the Apostle in his epistles, both the authentic and the disputed ones. Jesus Himself referred to His Second Coming numerous times in the gospels: just a few examples are Matthew 24:27 Matthew 24:37–39 Matthew 26:64 Mark 14:62. Many extra- biblical examples of eschatological prophecies also exist, as well as extra-biblical ecclesiastical traditions relating to the subject.Įschatology within early Christianity originated with the public life and preaching of Jesus. Broadly speaking, Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of individual souls and of the entire created order, based primarily upon biblical texts within the Old and New Testaments.Ĭhristian eschatology looks to study and discuss matters such as death and the afterlife, Heaven and Hell, the Second Coming of Jesus, the resurrection of the dead, the rapture, the tribulation, millennialism, the end of the world, the Last Judgment, and the New Heaven and New Earth in the world to come.Įschatological passages appear in many places in the Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments. Eschatology – the word derives from two Greek roots meaning "last" ( ἔσχατος) and "study" (- λογία) – involves the study of "end things", whether of the end of an individual life, of the end of the age, of the end of the world, or of the nature of the Kingdom of God.
Christian eschatology, a major branch of study within Christian theology, deals with the doctrine of the "last things", especially the Second Coming of Christ, or Parousia.