Author: Christian Channel

Eschatology (Study End-Time Events)

Meaning
Eschatology is the study of end time events. It’s the study of those events surrounding the second coming of Jesus Christ. Depending on their view of Bible prophecy scholars can differ in their interpretations and how they view eschatological events. Where most see Bible passages as literal prophecy regarding future events, others look at Bible prophecy as a symbolic language meant to warn or guide us. And still others may blend both the literal and symbolic approaches. And to complicate matters the Bible contains prophetic visions that represent literal events, e.g. Daniel’s prophecy of the seventy weeks. This is the prophecy from which we get our seven year tribulation period. Evangelical Christians as well as the first century church have considered Bible prophecies as literal events where the context of the text leads us to do so. Whereas most liberal or secular scholars consider Bible prophecies as symbolic or figurative. They believe the passages are describing the moral battle between good and evil within the nature of mankind. People’s views tend to vary depending on their world view of miracles and the nature of God. Those who do not believe in a literal God or a God who is personal and wants a relationship with us, believe them to be about moral principles only.

However, one fact that’s important for us to understand in regards to Bible prophecies. Are those prophecies which have already come to fulfillment, happened just as the Bible said they would. And the debate is over whether or not the remaining prophecies will happen literally (like the others) or figuratively. Despite worldviews approximately one fourth of the Bible is prophetic in nature and half of those prophecies have been fulfilled literally. And the notion that Bible prophecy should be taken non-literally or allegorically has no basis scripturally. And most confusion or “Bible difficulties” stem from non-literal interpretations of scripture. In addition, when figurative language is used scripturally the Bible seldom leaves the interpretation up to the reader; but rather the figurative section of scripture is followed by an interpretation within scripture itself. Bible Prophecy can be broken into three major areas which include prophecies concerning nature, prophecies concerning the church and prophecies concerning the nations of the world and the nation of Israel.