While some people believe that the world will never end, others believe that when the world ends, nothing will exist afterward. Both of these assumptions are not consistent with the biblical text. While Bible-believing Christians know that there will be a clear end to this present age, they also know that it will not be the end of existence, but rather the beginning of eternal existence. But what will happen before this present age is finally ended? This is a question that the Biblical text answers, but a question with which many Bible-believing Christians disagree. The word “eschaton” in the Greek language is translated as “final.” The definition of the word deals with the final or last things in the divine plan that are to take place before the very end. The study of these last things is then called eschatology. Many different eschatological perspectives are held within the Church, and while there is so much disagreement as to what the final things will be, there are many points on which every eschatological perspective can agree. After a careful study of eschatology, one must come away with a renewed appreciation for the significance of the work of Christ, an urgency for the proclamation of the gospel, and a confident hope in the return of Christ for his Bride.
The work of Christ in his life, death, and resurrection has struck a blow to death that death itself cannot overcome. When one is physically born into this world, a law of nature is that he or she will also die physically in this world. When Adam, the representative for all humanity, sinned in the garden against God, all humanity was then condemned to eternal spiritual punishment, which is known as the second death in the book of Revelation. But the plan of redemption was already in place from the beginning when God promised that the seed of the woman would bruise the seed of the serpent’s head.[1] This meant that Jesus would strike a fatal blow to death by overcoming the power of it through his resurrection.[2] Jesus provided, through his complete work on earth, a clear way of salvation from the second death of this world and to an eternal resurrection from the first death. When one is saved from this second death, Jesus called this event being born-again, or a second-birth. Dr. Steven Lawson once said, “If you are only born once, you will die twice; but if you are born twice, you will only die once.” This is a personal resurrection that is inaugurated at the moment of regeneration and will be consummated when Christ returns for His Church.[3] The significance of Christ’s complete work on work is significant to eschatology.
The second point that is significant to eschatology is the urgency of the proclamation of the gospel. As one studies eschatology, he or she may be moved to an overwhelming sense of praise to the One who has conquered death. He or she may also be moved to a greater acknowledgment of the weight of rebellion against the One who has conquered sin. But no matter what the other outcomes are to studying eschatology, one must come away with a significant burden and urgency to share the gospel of the kingdom. We see in Revelation 7.9-10 that there will be people “from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages” represented at the throne. Later in the book, John tells us that there will be a great worldwide judgment day.[4] Jesus also talked about the judgment day during His Olivet discourse.[5] When we think about the judgment day, we feel a sense of urgency to let people know about this way of salvation. This is why Jesus told his disciples that “this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”[6] Jesus gives us the direct command in the Great Commission to “go into all the world and make disciples of all nations.”[7] We must feel a sense of urgency to share the gospel, not only because we’re commanded to, but also because all people who are not saved in the end will be judged for their rebellion against God.
Along with a renewed appreciation for the work of Christ and a sense of urgency to share the good news to those who have never heard or do not believe, we must come away with a confident hope, or expectation, for Christ’s arrival at any second. In three different places, the return of Christ is described in terms of coming like a “thief in the night.”[8] We must always be ready for the appearing of our Savior. Paul describes in His letter to Titus that we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”[9] The word hope, as described in this verse, is a confident expectation. We must be confident and ready for the appearing of our great God and Savior who may come at any moment.
The confident expectation we have in the return of Christ, the high-priority we much have to share the gospel of the kingdom, and the renewed appreciation in the work of Christ are all results of a good study of the eschaton. We can be sure that, in the end, death will ultimately be destroyed when Christ comes for his bride, to judge, and to consummate his kingdom on earth. Let us say with John, “Come, Lord Jesus!”[10]
