Eschatology

prophecy

any & all predictions of Scripture made prior to fulfillment, many of which have already been fulfilled (exiles/captivities, Messianic ministry, vicarious death, etc)

eschatology

prophecies specifically involving the end time events (last things), which have not yet been fulfilled

dispensational interpretation

approach to interpretation characterized by consistent contextual literalism

replacement theology

false belief that the church replaces israel in the covenants and promises

dispensations

dispensational interpretation typically leads to the identification of a series of dispensations in scripture in which God deals with mankind in different ways. there is no universal list of dispensations; however, some are commonly accepted; these include the following: Innocence, Conscience, Civil Government, Patriarchs/Promise, Law, Grace, and Millennium

millennialism

doctrine of the literal, physical reign of christ for 1000 years on earth

premillennialism

teaching that christ will return to earth before the millennium

pre-tribulation rapture

teaching that church age saints will be raptured/resurrected at the close of the church age and before the tribulation

rapture

the bodily resurrection and departure of church age saints (both dead and living) to be with the Lord

first resurrection

the resurrection of believers to eternal life

mystery

a truth revealed in the NT that cannot be discerned from the OT alone

judgment seat of christ

judgment at which christians will be rewarded for faithful service to christ

day of the LORD

an all-encompassing term to describe the period of time that begins after the rapture and continues through the “tribulation,” the second coming, and millennial kingdom (christ’s established kingdom on earth)

tribulation

God’s 7 year judgment of the world for its sin and rebellion and His purification of Israel; “time of jacob’s trouble” (god will pour out his wrath on mankind and the physical creation; it is a time when satan will seek to overthrow the rule of god and annihilate his chosen people israel)

beginning of sorrows

first half of the tribulation (3 ½ years)

abomination of desolation

midpoint of the tribulation when the antichrist breaks his covenant with israel

great tribulation

second half of the tribulation (3 ½ years)

second coming

physical return of Christ to earth to deliver israel from destruction and to inaugurate his earthly kingdom

millennium

time of christ’s physical reign on earth for 1000 years (“the kingdom,” “millennial kingdom,” “marriage supper of the Lamb”)

great white throne judgment

judgment of the unbelieving dead

second resurrection

the resurrection of the unsaved to appear before the great white throne judgment, where they are consigned to eternal death (“the second death”)

lake of fire

permanent place of punishment, created for the devil & his angels, but accommodating the unbelieving of all ages (this is the eternal state of the unsaved following the great white throne judgment); place of eternal death and eternal separation from God

new heaven & new earth

recreated universe, sinless, perfect, where God will manifest His presence in the New Jerusalem (the eternal dwelling of the saved)

compartment view

the view that hell had two parts/compartments (luke 16:19, the rich man & lazarus)

hell

hebrew, sheol (also translated “grave”); greek, hades

upper sheol

place of comfort & rest (aka abraham’s bosom, paradise)

lower sheol

place of anguish & torment (aka bottomless pit, abyss, hell)

first heaven

earth’s atmosphere

second heaven

space

third heaven

uniquely designated abode or dwelling place of god