LESSON 1: Eschatology

SUPPLEMENTARY: Life of St. John Baptist De La Salle

LESSON 1: Eschatology

Eschatology - derived from the word “eschatos” meaning last/final, the study of “endings” or the end of things, includes beliefs about end times, return of Christ, resurrection of the dead, final judgement, and the hope of eternal life

  1. The Return of Christ (Parousia) - we believe in the Second coming of Christ, the belief that Jesus will return to earth at the end of time in glory and power.

  2. The Resurrection of the Dead - we believe in the resurrection of the dead, both the just and unjust. At the parousia, the dead will rise with glorified bodies, reunited with their souls and judged accoding to their deeds.

  3. The Final Judgement - we believe that Jesus Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead

  4. The Hope of Eternal Life - we believe in the hope of eternal life which is the promise of sharing in the divine life of God for all eternity

  5. The Renewal of Creation - we believe in the renewal of creation, wherein God will make all things new and bring about the fullness of his kingdom

The Story of the Bamboo Tree - the story of how a bamboo tree grew so much slower, and grew 5ft tall after 5 years and a hundred ft tall after 6 months. It turns out the roots were growing underneath developing a strong support system

Lesson: It teaches the value of persistence. In order to grow and reach our full potential, it is essential to build a support system no matter how long it takes

Wheat = people of God, Good, goes to heaven

Tares = Bad people, goes to hell

Christian Vision and Story:

Saint Thomas Aquino - a Dominican priest and Theologian widely celebrated for his profound intellect and ability to integrate faith with reason

  • known as “Dumb Ox”, “Angelic Doctor”, “Doctor Communis”, “Doctor Universalis”

  • recognized the importance of self-examination and meditation in the pursuit of truth, urging individuals to develop virtues such as critical thinking, intellectual humanity and open-mindedness

His Prayer

Critical Thinking - essential during making informed and effective life decisions as it allows you to analyze situations

Ways to make use of your Critical Thinking in Decision-making

  • Enhancing Problem-solving skills

  • Avoid Impulsive Decisions

  • Evaluating Information and Evidence

  • Improving Decision Quality

  • Enhancing Communication and Collaboration