Everyday Eschatology

Not only did Jesus ascend into heaven after his resurrection but, Scripture tells us that he will return.

Jesus is coming back, we need to be ready.

Key Points & Scriptures

Key scripture: Acts 1: 1 – 11

2 thousand years later and we’re still waiting for Jesus to come back. Has he forgotten? Did the angels get it wrong? Has he changed his mind? 

The answers are no, no and no.

Eschatology simply means the study of the last things. 

We don’t need to study the last things everyday, but we need to live everyday in the light of the fact that Jesus is coming back.

This doctrine has to make a difference to how we live, it’s not just something in the future that has no impact now.

We need to do our best to avoid confirmation bias

• It’s been my observation that this doctrine, almost more than any other, causes people to dig their heels in and shut down to other possible interpretations of the events outlined in scripture.

• This results in us suffering from confirmation bias and only picking scriptures that we feel support our position.

• Can I counsel that we hold our position with a little humility? At the end of the day, the return of Jesus is going to be a sovereign act of God that doesn’t depend on our Theology.

• Nobody will be standing there when Jesus comes back saying “see..told you I was right”. 

• This subject has divided believers and at times has become divisive.
  • We need to do it differently!!
  • It’s OK to differ on the exact details!!
  • You might disagree with some of what I say.That’s fine!!

• If we approach it correctly, this is a subject that brings hope, unity, joy and fruitfulness to our Christian walk.

1. What does Scripture teach? – Let’s start with the stuff that all mainstream Christians believe and agree on.

• That Jesus will return in bodily form.

1 Thessalonians 4:16

• That his return will be a spectacular event. If we’re still alive, we’re not going to miss it.

Revelation 1: 7

• We don’t know when Jesus will return

Matthew 24:44

• While we don’t know when Jesus will return. Scripture teaches that it could happen at any moment AND that certain things must happen before his return. Here are a few:

1. The gospel must be preached to all nations.

Matt 24:14

2. False signs and wonders. 

Matt 24: 23-24

3. The coming of the man of lawlessness. 

2 Thess 2

4. Signs in the heavens 

Matt 24: 29-30

5. There are also some things that the book of Daniel talks about that many people believe still need to happen (But there is no overall consensus on what they will be) 

Dan 2, 7-12.

• The return of Jesus will renew all things. 

Rev 21 & 22

2. What is going to happen? 

• First thing is to understand that there are a number of components involved:
• The tribulation – A time of suffering and judgment that will last 7 years
• The millennium – a period of time, said to be 1000 years where Christ Rules on earth
• The Rapture. Where the church is caught up to meet Jesus in the air.
• The final judgment of reward for believers and punishment for unbelievers

3. What will the sequence of events be?

• Depending on how you interpret various scriptures, events happen in different orders. 

• One of the most convincing from my perspective is as follows:

i) The Tribulation will occur first. 

(There are differing ideas as to when the Rapture will take place. Either before, during or after the tribulation. This places it either as a separate event where God rescues his Church or at the same time as Jesus’ final return.)

ii) The return of Jesus

iii) Followed by the millennium reign of Jesus

iv) The final judgment.

v) Then the new heaven & the new earth

4. How should this influence how we live now?

• We need new rules to play by different rules. 

Romans 8: 1-2

• We need a kingdom mindset.

• When we live by the law of the Spirit, we begin to change and the results start to show.

Gal 5: 22-23

• We need to be people of vigilance
  • Matt 25: 1- 13

• We need to be people of discipline.

1 Corinthians 9: 24 – 27

• We need to be people of faith

Luke 18:8 

• We need to be people of hope.

• We need to be people of joy.

Conclusion

My conclusion is simple: Jesus is coming back, we need to be ready.

Hebrews 11 talks about the great OT heroes of faith and says that they lived by faith and even though they didn’t receive the things promised, they welcomed them from a distance, admitting they were strangers on earth. 

Even if Jesus doesn’t return in our lifetime, we need to have the same attitude as they did and position ourselves to welcome the promise from a distance and consider ourselves as strangers on earth.

Final 2 verses of the bible:

Rev 22: 20-21

20 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen

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