Why Eschatology?
We have heard it said,
“What does the study of eschatology really matter?”
“It’s not a salvation issue.”
“Just give people the gospel to get them saved.”
“Eschatology has nothing to do with salvation.”
The definition of eschatology is the study of the last-days generation of the Old Covenant that God had with the Physical Nation of Israel.
I would agree with the point that an understanding of eschatology alone does not save an individual. We see believers of fulfilled eschatology from nearly every mainstream denomination.
They see eschatology clearly, but they have dismissed the Apostles’ teachings about salvation. We know and have received the Apostolic message of the one God, repentance, water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the born-again experience of the infilling of the Holy Spirit, followed by a separated lifestyle of holiness unto the Lord. We agree with John 3:5 Amen.
So why does a proper understanding of eschatology matter?
Why promote something other than repentance, water baptism in the Name of Jesus Christ, and the new birth?
Are we going to pick and choose which part of God’s Word we will believe?
The same God that said, “Repent: for the kingdom of God is at hand.” Matthew 4:17 also said, "Assuredly, I say to you, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom” Matthew 16:28
Does it really matter if we have a Biblically sound understanding of eschatology?
Yes, it does matter.
If anyone, is going to speak the Words of God to their generation, he is required to speak “all” the Words not a select few. Not 10 percent of the message, not 50 percent, not 75 percent, not even 90 percent is enough.
You might say, “Well, 90 percent is more than most; but how can you say that?” I’m only repeating what God has already said, Exodus 24:8 "And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, “This is the blood of the covenant which the Lord has made with you according to all these words.”
Deuteronomy 12:28 – “Observe and obey all these words which I command you”
When God gave a word to the children of Israel, He told His prophet, “Therefore you shall speak all these words to them” Jeremiah 7:27.
“Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” Acts 5:20; there is no doubt what God requires when it comes to His Word.
I have also heard some say, “We walked in the light that we had, and God honored it.” Amen, He did. My God is gracious and kind, faithful and true.
When God, out of His great love for us, brings us more Truth, are we justified saying that God has always accepted the old; why should we change now with the new?
Hear what the Scriptures say, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19
When God brings more light, He expects us to follow that light. What we believe and say does matter.
When we speak the Words of God, we are His ambassadors, Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 2 Corinthians 5:20
When God allows us to see more truth, God expects us to walk in it. That doesn’t mean we don’t struggle and wrestle with ourselves while the Truth is making us free.
This is the process of dying daily. We do not drive stakes of tradition down, but we should always be willing to follow Truth wherever Truth leads and at whatever the cost the Truth requires.
I would like to use three scriptures to make a point about how we handle the Word of God.
For example, 1 Corinthians 15:14-15 says this: "14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because rwe have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise".
Paul was addressing that some were saying that Jesus was not raised from the dead. Paul states that if he and the Apostles were saying that God did something (raised Christ) that He had not done, they would be false witnesses of God.
That would also apply to, if we say God did not do something that His Word declares He has done, that makes us false witnesses also.
Second, 1 John 1:10 “If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
If we contradict what God has said, we make Him out to be a liar. Either what God has said is true or what man says is true. There is no partial Truth.
In many Churches today, preachers are telling their congregations that some Scriptures are not as important as others.
Some have actually used the term “diminished Truth” to describe Biblical concepts that they themselves don’t understand and don’t want to understand. God made it very clear in His Word that there is no diminished Truth. Deuteronomy 4:2, 12:32, Jeremiah 26:2
Third, 1 John 5:10 “He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son.”
If God has declared it in His Word and we believe it not, we make Him out to be a liar.
From these three scriptures, we see that if our beliefs and statements about the timing and nature of the return of Christ do not line up with scripture, we are found false witnesses.
If our view of eschatology differs from what God has already declared in His Word and choose not to believe the record that God has declared of His return, we are making Him out to be a liar. Romans 3:4 “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. ”
So, with these things in mind, how should we approach God’s Word concerning eschatology or any subject? Like the Bereans, who received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so Acts 17:11. It is better to say nothing than to falsely represent the Truth.
Conclusion
In Hebrews 6:1-2, the Bible gives us a list of the principal doctrines of Christ. The principle foundational doctrines of Christ that are listed here are:
Repentance from dead works and faith toward God,
The doctrine of baptisms (both water baptism and Holy Spirit baptism)
the laying on of hands, and of the resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
Notice the topics of eschatology that are included in this list. Eschatology was considered one of the foundational principles of the Apostolic doctrine.
Everywhere the Apostles went, they declared the imminency of the coming eternal judgment and the resurrection of the dead. This is why many first-century believers sold their lands and houses to provide for those who lacked. Acts 4:34-35
Many preachers today take the subjects of the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment and apply it to an unknown futuristic time when in actuality, these are foundational teachings that the Apostles taught 2,000 years ago everywhere they went.
Ephesians 2:20 says that we are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets and Jesus Christ being the chief corner stone.
Part of this foundation is eschatology – the resurrection of the dead and the eternal judgment. This occurred in AD 70 when Jesus returned. The word foundation means the beginning of something.
Part of this foundational message of Jesus and the Apostles included the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. There is no other foundation. 1 Corinthians 3:11
Eschatology matters because God’s character is on the line. Either God is true, or God is a liar. What we believe about God’s record concerning His return determines if we make Him out to be a liar and are found false witnesses of God.
If we speak the whole Truth of the Word of God, the blessing of our faith in God is upon us. “…. That You may be justified in Your words, And may overcome when You are judged.”. Romans 3:4
We must be found in the Truth, faithfully proclaiming all the Words of Life to our generation.
There is a lot more that can be said on the matter, I just hope that this has encouraged the student of the Word of God to study and faithfully stand on the Truth and “to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints..” Jude 1:3. God bless the study of His word.
