Outline of Systematic Theology (XI) — Eschatology

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Chapter 10: Eschatology

I. Basic Concepts of Eschatology

A. The Rapture

Key Scriptures:
1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 1 Corinthians 15:51–54; John 14:3

Description of the Rapture:

  1. Christ descends into the air.
  2. Believers who have died in Christ will be resurrected.
  3. The bodies of living believers will be transformed.
  4. All believers, living and dead, will receive glorified bodies.
  5. All believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air.
  6. Christ will take all believers into heaven.

Timing of the Rapture:

  1. Pre-Tribulation View: Rapture occurs before the seven-year Tribulation.
  2. Mid-Tribulation View: Rapture occurs in the middle of the Tribulation.
  3. Post-Tribulation View: Rapture occurs after the Tribulation.
  4. Partial Rapture View: Only some saints are raptured before the Tribulation.

B. The Great Tribulation

Definition:
A seven-year period before Christ’s second coming when Satan persecutes Israel and believers, leading to many martyrs. During this time, God’s wrath is poured out upon an unbelieving world.

Key Scriptures:
Revelation 6–19; Daniel 9:24–27; Matthew 24; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Thessalonians 2:2

Description:

  1. The Tribulation is God’s judgment upon the whole earth (seals, trumpets, bowls).
  2. It begins after the Rapture.
  3. It lasts seven years (Daniel 9:24–27).
  4. It consists of two equal periods of three and a half years.
  5. In the first half, Israel makes a covenant with the Antichrist.
  6. In the second half, the Antichrist breaks the covenant (“the abomination of desolation”).
  7. The latter half is called “the Great Tribulation,” “the Day of the Lord,” or “the Time of Jacob’s Trouble.”
  8. It ends with the Battle of Armageddon and Christ’s return.

Purposes:

  1. To prepare Israel to receive the Messiah’s kingdom (Deut. 4:30; Matt. 24:9–26; Rev. 7:4–8; Dan. 12:1).
  2. To bring judgment on unbelieving nations (Rev. 3:10; 6:15; 13:11–18; 14:8; Matt. 24:4–28).

C. The Second Coming of Christ

Key Scriptures:
Zechariah 14:1–4; Matthew 24–25; Revelation 19:11–21

Description:

  1. Christ will literally and bodily return to earth, fulfilling Acts 1:9–11.
  2. His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem (Zech. 14:4).
  3. His return will end the Battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:16; 19:11–21).
  4. The Antichrist and the False Prophet will be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 19:19–20).
  5. Christ will judge surviving Israelites (Matt. 24:29–25:30; Ezek. 20:34–38).
  6. Christ will judge surviving Gentiles (Matt. 25:31–46).
  7. The saved (Jews and Gentiles) enter the Millennial Kingdom; unbelievers are cast into the lake of fire.
  8. Tribulation martyrs will be resurrected to reign with Christ (Rev. 20:4).
  9. Old Testament saints will also be resurrected (Dan. 12:1–2).
  10. The Millennial Kingdom begins and lasts 1,000 years.

D. The Millennial Kingdom

Key Scriptures:
Zechariah 14:9–11; Revelation 20:4

Description:

  1. Duration: 1,000 years (Rev. 20:4–7).
  2. Characteristics: righteousness (Isa. 26:2), obedience (Jer. 31:33), holiness (Isa. 6), truth (Ps. 85:10–11), fullness of the Spirit (Joel 2:28–29), peace (Isa. 2:4), joy (Isa. 9:3–4), glory (Isa. 35:2), release from the curse (Isa. 11:6–9), health and healing (Jer. 30:17).
  3. Christ will reign personally on earth.
  4. Satan will be bound in the abyss for 1,000 years (Rev. 20:1–3).
  5. Afterward, Satan will make one final rebellion (Rev. 20:7–10).
  6. The Millennium fulfills the Abrahamic, Davidic, and New Covenants (Gen. 12; 2 Sam. 7; Jer. 31).

Views on the Millennium and Christ’s Return:

  1. Postmillennialism:
    • Christ returns after the Millennium.
    • The world becomes Christianized through the church.
    • Israel’s promises are fulfilled spiritually in the church.
  2. Amillennialism:
    • The church age is the Millennium.
    • No literal thousand years.
    • Israel’s promises are spiritually fulfilled in the church.
  3. Premillennialism:
    • Christ returns before the Millennium.
    • He personally establishes a literal 1,000-year kingdom.
    • Israel and the church remain distinct.

E. The New Heaven and New Earth

Key Scriptures:
Revelation 21:1–22:5; 1 Corinthians 15:24–28

Description:

  1. Time ends; eternity begins.
  2. Follows the Great White Throne Judgment.
  3. Christ delivers the kingdom to the Father (1 Cor. 15:24–28).
  4. Unbelievers suffer eternal punishment in the lake of fire (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:14–15).
  5. Believers dwell eternally with God and the Lamb (Rev. 21–22).

F. Judgments

1. Judgment Seat of Christ:

  • For believers — works are tested (Rom. 14:10–12; 1 Cor. 3:10–15; 2 Cor. 5:10).
  • Salvation is secure; only the value of works is judged.
  • Determines rewards.
  • Likely occurs after the Rapture and before the Second Coming.

2. Old Testament Saints:

  • Judged at the end of the Tribulation to enter the Millennium (Dan. 12:1–3).

3. Surviving Jews of the Tribulation:

  • Judged on faith in Christ as Messiah (Matt. 25:1–30; Ezek. 20:34–38).

4. Surviving Gentiles (Sheep and Goats Judgment):

  • Judged by their treatment of Israel, revealing their faith (Matt. 25:31–46).

5. Tribulation Martyrs:

  • Resurrected and rewarded before the Millennium (Rev. 20:4–6).

6. Satan and Fallen Angels:

  • Cast into the lake of fire after the Millennium (Matt. 25:41; Rev. 20:10).
  • Believers will somehow participate in judging them (1 Cor. 6:3).

7. Great White Throne Judgment:

  • For all unbelievers of all ages (Rev. 20:11–15; John 5:29).
  • They are judged by their deeds and cast into the lake of fire—the second death.

II. Introduction to Dispensationalism

A. The Seven Dispensations

  1. Innocence: Genesis 1:28–3:6 — Adam and Eve before the Fall.
  2. Conscience: Genesis 4:1–8:14 — Human responsibility governed by conscience until the Flood.
  3. Human Government: Genesis 8:15–11:9 — Institution of civil authority; ended at Babel.
  4. Promise: Genesis 11:10–Exodus 18:27 — Abrahamic covenant; faith-based relationship before the Law.
  5. Law: Exodus 19:1–Christ’s crucifixion — Israel governed by Mosaic Law; ends at the cross.
  6. Grace (Church Age): Acts 2–Rapture — Salvation by grace through faith; Church distinct from Israel.
  7. Kingdom: Revelation 20:1–5 — The Millennial reign and the eternal state (New Heaven and Earth).