© John Stevenson, 2012

Eschatology

And after He had said these things, He was And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a lifted up while they were looking on, and a

cloud received Him out of their sight. cloud received Him out of their sight. 1010 And And as they were gazing intently into the sky as they were gazing intently into the sky

while He was going, behold, two men in white while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. (Acts 1:9-10).clothing stood beside them. (Acts 1:9-10).

They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will

come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11).

Matthew 24:29Matthew 24:29But immediately after the tribulation

of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

Matthew 24:30-31Matthew 24:30-31“And then the sign of the Son of Man

will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.”

Matthew 24:40-42Matthew 24:40-42“Then there will be two men in the

field; one will be taken and one will be left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; one will be taken and one will be left.

42 “Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming.”

Revelation 1:7 Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the

clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

One return or two?One return or two?John Nelson Darby

RaptureRaptureJohn Nelson Darby

Jesus comes Jesus comes for his for his churchchurch

Second Second ComingComing

Jesus comes Jesus comes with his with his churchchurch

Matthew 24…and they will see the Son of man coming on the clouds of the sky with power and great glory. 31 And He will

send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather

together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to

the other.”

1 Thessalonians 4For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17

Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the

Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the

Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:51-53 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will

not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 But when this perishable will have

put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:58 1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be

steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

Church Age EternalState

SecondComing

• Revelation 20 literally

• Takes the language of “the last day” figuratively in John 6:40, 44, 54.

(“Rapture”)

Tribulation Millennium

Judgment

Church Age

“Rapture”

Tribulation Millennium EternalState

SecondComing

Judgment

• Artificially separates between different comings of Christ

• Tries to segregate Israel and church

Church Age

(Millennium) EternalState

(Tribulation)

• Views Revelation 20 as symbolic language

• Takes the language of “the last day” literally in John 6:40, 44, 54

SecondComing

Judgment“Rapture”

Church Age Millennium EternalState

“Rapture”Judgment

SecondComing

• Envisions the gospel as being victorious

• Takes the language of “the last day” literally

ShortMillennium

“Rapture”Judgment

SecondComing

Church Church(Eternal State)70

A.D.

• Denies any future Second Coming of Christ

• All prophecy fulfilled in the year 70 A.D.

2 Timothy 2:16-182 Timothy 2:16-18But avoid worldly and empty chatter,

for it will lead to further ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some.

Titus 2:11-14Titus 2:11-14For the grace of God has appeared,

bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Common Interpretations of Common Interpretations of the Book of Revelationthe Book of Revelation

• Idealist View: Sees the book as showing the spiritual battle between good versus evil.

• Preterist View: Focuses on the first century fall of Jerusalem as the backdrop of the prophecies of this book

• Historical View: Sees the prophecies as depicting the course of history in this age

• Futurist View: Sees most of the events of the book as taking place in a time of future tribulation followed by the Second Coming

Vision of Jesus and

Seven letters to

seven churches

1-3 4-7

Throne of God & Scroll

with seven seals

8-11

Seven trumpets

12-16

Christ, the

Dragon & the Seven Bowls

17-19

The Harlot

on Seven Hills &

the Bride

20

The King

reigns

21-22

New Heaven & New Earth

Each ends with a promise

of 2nd Coming

Christ wipes away every tear

(7:17)

Christ will reign forever &

ever (11:15)

Fall of the

nations

“It is done”

(16:17)

Rider on the White Horse (19:16)

Judge &

Lake of Fire

I am coming quickly (22:20)

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen– The Two Witnesses

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen– The Two Witnesses

• Temple language

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen– The Two Witnesses

• Temple language– Jesus with the Lampstands

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen– The Two Witnesses

• Temple language– Jesus with the Lampstands– The 24 Elders– The Crystal Sea

Symbolism in RevelationSymbolism in Revelation• Old Testament Allusions

– One like the Son of Man– Lion of the Tribe of Judah– The Four Horsemen– The Two Witnesses

• Temple language– Jesus with the Lampstands– The 24 Elders– The Crystal Sea– The ark of the covenant

And they gathered them together to the place which in

Hebrew is called Har-Magedon. (Revelation 16:16)