Day One
The Confusion of Knowing Too Much
My sister
Anita is a lawyer. She has taken and passed the Bar Exam in
I think the
Biblical topic of “End Times” is one of those areas. We have countless
books on the topic of the interpretation of End Times. There are
preachers on television and going to various churches speaking entirely on
their interpretation of the End Times. I even took a group of youth to a
youth conference years ago where, to my dismay, the entire conference was the
speaker giving a detailed account of his interpretation of what would take
place at the Return of Christ.
It is a
fascinating topic. If you ask a group of Believers what Biblical book or
topic they would like to study you can almost count on over half of the group,
if not over two thirds, saying that they want to focus on the book of
Revelation and the topic of End Times. Granted, it is as
interesting and fascinating as going to the latest blockbuster science fiction
movie.
The biggest
problem in tackling the topic of End Times is that there are so many solid
Biblical experts giving so many different interpretation and details. It
is easy, in the midst of all those interpretations and details, to become
overwhelmed. It is equally possible, and probable, to not only become
overwhelmed but to lose our focus entirely.
As we look at
the topic of End Times we will not attempt to become so entranced in details
that we forget the point. This week, as well as next Sunday in the
message, we will get a grounding that will hopefully allow us to have the
basics which will in turn allow us to understand the point.
Let’s just
start with the most basic of element of the topic of End Times which is the
word “Eschatology.” You have probably heard this word before, it is the
word usually used in the discussion or presentation of the Biblical account of
the end of this world. The word “eschatology” comes from the two Greek
words “eschatos” which means “last”,
and the word “logos” which means “reason” or “science.” So,
“eschatology” means “the science, or reasoning, of last things”. As in
the word “ordinance” which we looked at a couple of weeks ago, you will not
find the word “eschatology” in the New Testament, but it’s idea is very
obvious.
As we look at
“eschatology” it is important that we understand why we are taking the time to
look at this topic. Read II Timothy 3:1-9 and II Peter 3 to determine the
reason for looking at “eschatology.”
Why to you
think it is important for you to take a moment this week to look at this topic?
Day Two Essential
Fact
Prior to
getting married I was an expert on many things, including how to do my
laundry. You put all your whites together, as many as humanly
possible to cram into the machine, and put the temperature on hot and, if you
wanted the clothes really white, you would put in about a ¼ of a bottle of
bleach (more if you wanted them extra white). Then, after this was done,
you would put all the colored clothes, regardless of color, once again cramming
as many as humanly possible into the machine, and put the temperature on warm
wash and cold rinse (because you still needed some level of heat to burn the
dirt and stench out of the clothes). You did not put bleach into the
colored cycle. However, if you were pouring the bleach into the white
cycle and some of the bleach landed on your colored clothes you simply take
those newly bleached clothing articles and put them in with the whites and add extra
bleach to make those newly “white” articles.
I survived
this way until I was 33 and married someone else who had other interpretations
regarding laundry. She disagreed with my whole “cram all that you can
into the washer” theory, as well as my liberal use of bleach. These and
other interpretational differences led to my banishment from the laundry
room. That was when I discovered my new “mess it up and you don’t have to
do it ever again” theory and philosophy of life.
Even though
Andrea and I have different interpretations and approaches to doing the laundry
I must concede that there are certain undeniable facts pertaining to the
task. Fact number one is that cramming too much laundry is not good for
your washing machine. This may be why
I have owned many washing machines over the course of my life. The second
fact is that bleach is not truly a miracle washing agent. This is why
many of my clothes have been declared “not allowed outside of the house” by my
wife and daughters. In the midst of varied interpretations on any topic
you can usually find some basic facts and truths.
This is, of
course, true with the topic of Eschatology. That fact is that Christ will
return. Our focus here is on what is commonly referred to as the
“Second Coming of Christ.” Look at the Christ’s own teaching in Matthew
25:31-46 regarding His second return.
It is tough
to Biblically dispute the fact that Christ will return. However, Christ Himself, had much to say preparing His followers about false
signs and claims in regard to His return. What were some warnings Christ
gave in Matthew 24?
Note: Did Matthew 24:34 cause you any
problems? Join the crowd, this verse has perplexed many. The word
“generation” is the problem, we look at that to mean
that those present would experience the return of Christ which, of course, does
not appear to be the case. Our problem is with our interpretation of the
word rather than the passage itself. Scholars have described many
possible explanations including that “generation” is actually a reference to
the destruction of
What was the
attitude his followers had in Titus 2:13 regarding the promised return of
Christ?
What is your
attitude?
Day Three Essential Fact
(part two)
Every year,
at around the same time, Andrea calls our pediatrician and books an appointment
for us to bring all five kids in at the same time to receive our flu
shots. It may shock you, but a few of our children, especially one in
particular, are not really fond of this yearly event. It has been this
resistance that has caused Andrea and me to get our shots with the kids at
their doctor. This has not really relieved the resistance or anguish
experienced by one of our children who is very opposed to receiving the
shot. While four of the children bravely face the shot, and even mom and
dad hide our own hesitations, this one child still stands in a corner vehemently
and adamantly protesting the entire shot experience. We have tried to
emphasize that it is not that bad, and even the four
siblings have assured this child that it is not traumatic. Still, every
year, the shot is received as if it was a torture that even the Geneva
Convention would condemm.
We have
attempted to explain that the shot, while momentarily minimally painful, will
keep us from being very sick. We have assured this child that the pain of
the immunization is nothing compared to the sickness we could experience.
Still, the pain of the shot is so feared that nothing else can be comprehended.
The return of
Christ is sometimes that way. We get so focused on the false
interpretations (as we saw yesterday) that we easily forget the basic truth and
facts of the return of Christ.
First, the
return of Christ is an assured fact. The Old and New Testament are full
of references to the fact of Christ’s return. Look at one (one of many)
of these in Hebrews 9:28.
Second, we do
not, and cannot know when the
return of Christ will take place. Look again at what Christ, Himself,
said in Matthew 24:36 in regard to the time of
His return.
Further, we
are not even to attempt to speculate the day or time of His return. Look
at Acts 1:7.
Third, the return
of Christ will be outward, visible, and personal. Look at Acts 1:11 to
see a description of the nature of His return.
Take a moment
to review the basic facts from yesterday and today.
1.
There will be many false
claims and teachings regarding the return of Christ.
2.
It is a fact that Christ
will return.
3.
We do not and cannot know when He will return.
4.
His return will be
outward, visible, and personal.
Day Four Rapture,
Tribulation, and Millennium
This summer,
as part of her preparation to serve on the staff at the kid’s camp, Andrea
received a manual she was expected to read through. Now, while I would
take the manual to camp and possibly read through it quickly in the parking
lot, Andrea took this responsibility seriously and carefully studied each page
of the manual. One evening as we sat on the couch and she began to read
to me a list of words that were not allowed, by staff or campers, at the
camp. First of all I have to admit that we did not recognize some of the
words and had no idea what they meant. Andrea then asked if we should
possibly go over this list with Isaiah so he would know that these were
forbidden words. It didn’t take us long to realize that probably by
sharing these words with Isaiah there was a greater chance he would use them
than if we were to just take our chances. Sometimes ignorance works out
best.
Eschatology
has some words like that. Words that are in the
vocabulary of many Christ believers/followers. Words that
are used but not always understood. Words that can have
different meaning to different listeners. Words
that can be defined and/or explained differently by respected experts.
Rapture,
Tribulation, and Millennium are the three words that fit this definition in
regard to Eschatology. Please remember that the devotional this week,
as well as the message this Sunday, is not intended to give us a detailed
description as to the events of any one interpretation of Eschatology.
The intent is to provide a grounding in the topic and
hopefully a purpose to investigating the topic even briefly.
Let’s take a brief look at each of these words in the most simple of terms:
Rapture
As we have
seen with other key words, the word “Rapture” is not necessarily a Biblical
word, but instead it is a Biblical concept. Simply put, it refers to the
time when believers will be “taken up” to meet the Lord in the air. We
see this described in I Thessalonians 4:17. There are many
different views and much disagreement as to the timing and nature of the
Rapture, but much agreement on the basic fact that there will be a rapture.
Tribulation
A time of
distress, pressure, and affliction defines the time of tribulation. In
Matthew 24:8-14 we see Christ define this time as a time of faith testing and
persecution. As in the case of the Rapture, the fact of a Tribulation is
disputed by few of those who follow Christ and are considered experts in this
topic. However, that is where much of the agreement stops. There is
much debate and disagreement in regard to the timing of the Tribulation.
Many believe that it will take place following the rapture and others say it
will come before, while others believe that it refers to the persecution
suffered by Christ believers/followers since the time of Christ.
Millennium
While
“Rapture” and “Tribulation” have brought about much discussion and debate, the
“Millennium” has probably created the most controversy within the discussion of
Eschatology. It comes from one small passage found in Revelation 20:1-7,
where we see a thousand year period mentioned. Basically, this is a
thousand year binding of Satan during which there is a reign of Christ.
The controversy is once again in the timing. There is a Postmillennial view that believes that Satan will be bound
and then the world will get progressively better for a period of one thousand
years and then Christ will return. The Premillennial
view says that Christ will return to a world that is wicked and will reign over
it for the one thousand year time period while Satan is bound. Then there
is the Amillennial view which basically holds that
the time period, as well as the details of Eschatology are
more to be taken symbolically than literally. All views hold that there will
be a release of Satan after the time period for a short time and then final judgement.
What do
you do with such basic information?
Many people decide to spend their time developing detailed accounts of how and
when all of this will take place. The truth is that many of those people
end up developing accounts that are far more detailed than God probably ever
intended. We have just scratched the surface of these topics but have
still seen some important basic points:
1.
We have hope in the fact
that we will not be abandoned.
2.
We must grow strong in
our walk with Christ for we will face trials.
3.
In the end, Christ will
reign.
Day Five
Hope
I remember
going to see the movie “Jaws” when I was in High School. In the opening
scene there is a girl running out into the ocean to take a nighttime
swim. As she gets out into the ocean the camera switches to a position
where you just see her from underneath in a sillouette
with the dark night barely visible through the water. Then you begin to
hear the music…da, da….da, da…. The rythym of the beats gets quicker and louder and then you
see her from above once again. She is now looking around with a sense of
fear, then it happens, her head goes under. She is back up and then under
again numerous times and then finally she is gone.
I remember
going to see the movie numerous times with my friends and each time sitting in
the theater prior to the movie wondering “Why I am watching this again?”
We loved it and dreaded it at the same time. It was fantasy yet somehow
felt a little too real. I have never felt quite the same swimming in the
ocean, or even a lake for that matter, ever since.
Probably, if
the truth be told, we approach the topic of Eschatology with the same sense of
fantasy and dread. We have a certain enjoyment in the fantasy aspect but
then dread what it could all mean.
The problem
with making Eschatology fantasy is that it is too easy to escape the purpose of
why God revealed these things to us in the first place. While the book of
Revelation details seven churches and their situation we often want to spend
more time on the speculation of the rest of the book. The truth is that
Eschatology is meant to prepare and encourage us rather than to entertain us (Hebrews
What does
Revelation 1:3 say about the purpose of Eschatology?
What does I
Thessalonians 4:18 say we should do with our knowledge of Eschatology?
What are you
going to do?