Introduction to the Doctrine of Last Things

The study of the doctrine of last things is called eschatology. Eschatology is from the Greek word éskhatos (ἔσχατος) meaning last. Scripture uses this term to refer to the last days (éschatai hemerai; Is 2:2), the last time (éschatos ton chronon; 1 Pt 1:20), and the last hour (éschate hora; 1 Jn 2:18).

Eschatology is typically sub-divided into general eschatology and individual eschatology. General eschatology addresses expected future events such as the second coming of Christ, the general resurrection, the last judgement, and the final condition of the saved and the unsaved. Individual eschatology addresses what happens to an individual after physical death such as the fate of the soul and the intermediate state between physical death and also the general resurrection.