Category: 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 Read more

Christianity teaches that a living person on earth consists of a physical body and a spiritual soul. Our bodies are subject to physical aging and inevitable death. But was it always so? Theological opinions vary widely on this question. Some believe that the natural condition of mankind before the Fall is immortality, at least from the Read more

The period of time just after death until the general resurrection (the time when the soul is not associated with a physical body) is referred to as the intermediate state. This section will first discuss the Roman Catholic beliefs about the intermediate state and then discuss the major protestant views. Roman Catholics believe that a saved Read more

This section will now begin to address theological topics related to scriptural prophesy about future events. A bit of humility is advised. Charles Hodge is well worth listening to in this regard. He writes: “Prophecy is very different from history. It is not intended to give us a knowledge of the future, analogous to that which history Read more

The Millennial refers to the period of time after Satan is bound when Christ will reign over the earthly Messianic Kingdom for 1000 years. This is only referred to once in the Bible. “Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they Read more

The doctrine of the Rapture is primary based on the following single verse, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who remain, will be caught up together with Read more

In the time of Jesus, the two major Jewish sects were the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The Pharisees believed in resurrection, angels, and spirits whereas the Sadducees did not. The Sadducees try to trick Jesus on this issue by asking him who a widow who has lost multiple husbands will be married to after being resurrected. Read more

In Greek, the judgement seat of Christ is called the bēma. A bēma (βῆμα) was a platform used in tribunals from which orators addressed the citizens as well as the courts of law. In one use, a bēma was something an accused person walked up to in order to receive judgement. The word is used twice in Read more

There are not extensive passages in the Bible that specifically address the end of the world and the creation of the New Heaven and New Earth, but those that do are in agreement. The book of Revelation states, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth Read more

There are many passages in the Bible that speak of heavenly rewards. But most of these passages can reasonably be interpreted as the reward being eternal life in Heaven. But there are some passages that suggest that some may receive higher levels of heavenly rewards than others. Some other passages mention specific rewards that can be Read more