Comprehensive Study Guide for Eschatology and the Book of Revelation

Course Logistics and Final Assessment Specifics

• Final Exam Structure and Weighting:   * The final exam constitutes $25\%$ of the final grade for the course.   * It consists of three distinct sections.   * Students are required to select one prompt from each of the three sections to answer.   * Each response should be approximately $250$ words in length.   * This differs from the weekly journal entries, which are typically $500$ word essays.   * The professor notes that the exam should be manageable for students who have consistently completed their weekly journals.
• Research Paper:   * This is identified as the biggest project of the semester.   * Some students are still in the process of completing this major assignment as the class concludes.
• Submission Procedures:   * For the final exam, students generally copy their composed text from a word processor and paste it into the provided text box on the course site rather than uploading separate documents.

Foundations of Eschatological Study

• Definition of Eschatology:   * From the Greek, it is the study of the "end" or last things.
• Scriptural Basis:   * The primary New Testament texts for eschatology are the Book of Revelation and Jesus's Olivet Discourse.   * The Olivet Discourse occurred when Jesus and his disciples were outside the temple; Jesus remarked that eventually, not one stone would be left on top of another.
• Hermeneutical Principle:   * The professor advocates for a literal interpretation defined by the original context: a text cannot mean what it could not have meant to the original author and the original audience.   * This challenges modern "magical" interpretations that treat Revelation as a prophecy specifically about the American church in the $20^{th}$ century.
• The Nature of Revelation:   * The book is filled with symbols that are often unfamiliar to modern readers.   * While inspired by the Holy Spirit and profitable ($2$ Timothy $3:16$), it must be interpreted within its historical and literary framework.

Schools of Eschatology: Premillennialism

• Core View:   * Jesus returns physically and visibly to Earth to establish a long kingdom age (the millennium) where the world reflects the Kingdom of God.
• The Millennium:   * Often equated to $1,000$ years, though the professor notes most do not take this as a strict calendar duration but as a "long time."
• Sequence of Events:   * Second Coming of Christ $\rightarrow$ Millennium/Kingdom Age $\rightarrow$ Final Conflict (Hell emptied of demons, Battle of Armageddon) $\rightarrow$ Final Judgment and Resurrection $\rightarrow$ New Heavens and New Earth.
• Tribulation Perspectives (Specific to Premillennialism):   * Pre-tribulation: Jesus returns "secretly" to gather his people (the Rapture) before the seven-year tribulation; then returns physically for all at the end.   * Mid-tribulation: The church experiences the first $3.5$ years of tribulation before being pulled off the planet.   * Post-tribulation: The church goes through the entire seven years of conflict before Christ's return.
• Interpretive Stance:   * Views Revelation as prophetic literature to be read in a linear, chronological fashion ($1:1$ through the end).

Schools of Eschatology: Postmillennialism

• Core View:   * A very optimistic perspective suggesting that through revival and the influence of the Holy Spirit, the church will succeed in Christianizing the world and culture.   * The church establishes the kingdom age on Earth without the physical return of Jesus first; Jesus returns "after" (post) this period.
• Interpretive Stance:   * Like premillennialism, it views Revelation as prophetic and chronological.   * However, it holds that Revelation was largely fulfilled in $70\,AD$ (the destruction of the Temple).   * Consequently, the church is currently free to define history as it moves toward ultimate success.
• Historical Adherents:   * Popular among revivalists like Charles Finney.   * Historically held by the Roman Catholic Church and Eastern Orthodox Church (where church and state are often linked via Patriarchs in regions like Constantinople and Moscow).   * Common in the Reformed tradition (John Calvin) and Presbyterian circles, often linked to the concept of "Theocracy."

Schools of Eschatology: Amillennialism

• Core View:   * Approaches the Book of Revelation as "Apocalyptic Literature" rather than linear prophecy.   * The term "amillennial" suggests no literal $1,000$ year earthly reign of Christ.
• Literary Structure:   * Uses "Poetic Parallelism": Multiple visions that start at the first coming of Christ and end with the return of Christ, then start over (e.g., Chapters $1-11$ and Chapter $12$ onward).   * Highly symbolic: Numbers like "$7$" or "$1,000$" are interpreted symbolically.
• The Millennium Symbol:   * The $1,000$ years (mentioned only in Revelation $20$) symbolizes the current "Church Age" or "Gospel Age."   * We are currently living in the millennium; it ends with the physical, visible return of Jesus to inaugurate the final ideal kingdom.
• Theological Prevalence:   * Considered the majority theological view among academic theologians and reformers like Martin Luther.   * Focuses on the mandate to preach the gospel to all people groups until the "house is full."

Speculation and Contemporary Issues in Eschatology

• Date Setting:   * The professor references the book "$88$ Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in $1988$."   * When the prediction failed, a second edition titled "$89$ Reasons Why Jesus is Coming Back in $1989$" was released.   * The professor emphasizes Jesus's statement that "no one knows" the time of his return.
• Practical Application:   * Regardless of the school (Pre, Post, or Amillennial), the goal of eschatology is to define purpose for the present road.   * It shifts focus from "scaring teenagers into behaving" or "escapism" to active participation in the Kingdom of God and fulfilling the Great Commission.

Questions & Discussion

• Discussion on Student Backgrounds:   * Latoya: Shared that she grew up in a tradition where premillennialism (Rapture and Tribulation) was "instilled" but not explicitly taught as a theological system until later academic study. It was simply assumed to be the truth.   * Danny: Likewise raised with premillennialism as the only known viewpoint. He now realizes that while it was his upbringing, it is not the only valid perspective. He emphasizes that the "end all, be all" is Jesus, not the specific timing of tribulation (Pre/Mid/Post).   * Professor's Response: Agrees that he also grew up assuming one way was true. Notes that eschatological charts used to be displayed behind pulpits to encourage good behavior.
• Discussion on Final Exam Submission:   * Danny: Asked if it is acceptable to submit three different Word documents for the three questions.   * Professor: Clarified that there is typically a single submission box on the course site. He recommends composing in Word but then copying and pasting the text into the provided box for grading.
• Symbolism of the Two Witnesses:   * The professor mentions the week $7$ exercise regarding the "Two Witnesses" in Revelation.   * Despite many complex interpretations, he suggests it is a symbol for the gospel being proclaimed followed by resurrection—a simple, powerful message of victory.
• Closing Prayer Concerns:   * A student in the class with epilepsy has been experiencing seizures, affecting her ability to complete coursework. The professor anticipates an "incomplete" grade will be granted to allow her time to finish.   * The professor concludes with a prayer for the students, their families, and the faculty/staff at Southeastern University.