Christian eschatology

This is an obscure prophecy, but in combination with other passages, it has been interpreted to mean that the "prince who is to come" will make a seven-year covenant with Israel that will allow the rebuilding of the temple and the reinstitution of sacrifices, but "in the middle of the week", he will break the agreement and set up an idol of himself in the temple and force people to worship it—the "abomination of desolation". Paul writes: ::Let no-one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. [2 Thess 2:3–4] ## Rapture *Main article: Rapture* The rapture is an eschatological term used by certain Christians, particularly within branches of North American evangelicalism, referring to an end time event when all Christian believers—living and dead—will rise into Heaven and join Christ. Some adherents believe this event is predicted and described in Paul's First Epistle to the Thessalonians in the Bible, where he uses the Greek *harpazo* (ἁρπάζω), meaning to snatch away or seize. Though it has been used differently in the past, the term is now often used by certain believers to distinguish this particular event from the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to Earth mentioned in Second Thessalonians, Gospel of Matthew, First Corinthians, and Revelation, usually viewing it as preceding the Second Coming and followed by a thousand-year millennial kingdom. Adherents of this perspective are sometimes referred to as premillennialist dispensationalists, but amongst them there are differing viewpoints about the exact timing of the event. The term "rapture" is especially useful in discussing or disputing the exact timing or the scope of the event, particularly when asserting the "pre-tribulation" view that the rapture will occur before, not during, the Second Coming, with or without an extended Tribulation period. The term is most frequently used among evangelical{{cite book |last= Akenson|first= Donald H.|author-link= |date= October 2018|title= Exporting the Rapture, John Nelson Darby and the Victorian Conquest of North American Evangelicalism|url= https://www.queensu.ca/history/research/books/exporting-the-rapture-john-nelson-darby-and-the-victorian-conquest-of-north-american-evangelicalism and fundamentalist Christians in the United States. Other, older uses of "rapture" were simply as a term for any mystical union with God or for eternal life in Heaven with God. There are differing views among Christians regarding the timing of Christ's return, such as whether it will occur in one event or two, and the meaning of the aerial gathering described in 1 Thessalonians 4. Outside of American Evangelical Protestantism, almost all Christians do not subscribe to rapture-oriented theological views. Though the term "rapture" is derived from the text of the Latin Vulgate of 1 Thess. 4:17—"we will be caught up", (Latin: rapiemur), Catholics, as well as Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, Lutherans and most Reformed Christians, do not generally use "rapture" as a specific theological term, nor do any of these bodies subscribe to the premillennialist dispensationalist theological views associated with its use, but do believe in the phenomenon—primarily in the sense of the elect gathering with Christ in Heaven after his Second Coming. These denominations do not believe that a group of people is left behind on earth for an extended Tribulation period after the events of 1 Thessalonians 4:17. Pre-tribulation rapture theology originated in the eighteenth century, with the Puritan preachers Increase Mather and Cotton Mather, and was popularized extensively in the 1830s by John Nelson Darby and the Plymouth Brethren, and further in the United States by the wide circulation of the Scofield Reference Bible in the early 20th century. Some, including Grant Jeffrey, maintain that an earlier document called Ephraem or Pseudo-Ephraem already supported a pre-tribulation rapture. ## The Second Coming *Main article: Second Coming* ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Second_Coming_by_G.Klontzas_(16th_c.).jpg" caption="Hellenic Institute of Venice]], Italy"] :: ### Signs of Christ's return The Bible states: ::Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven." [Acts 1:9–11] Many, but not all, Christians believe: 1. The coming of Christ will be instantaneous and worldwide. "For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." ~ Matthew 24:27 1. The coming of Christ will be visible to all. "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." Matthew 24:30 1. The coming of Christ will be audible. "And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." Matthew 24:31 1. The resurrection of the righteous will occur first. "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:16 1. In one single event, the saved who are alive at Christ's coming will be caught up together with the resurrected to meet the Lord in the air. "Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord." ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:17 ### Last Day Counterfeits In Matthew 24 Jesus states: ::For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. [Matthew 24:21, 24 NKJV] These false Christs will perform great signs and are no ordinary people "For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty." (Revelation 16:14) Satan's angels will also appear as godly clergymen, and Satan will appear as an angel of light. "For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works." (2 Corinthians 11:13–15) ### The Marriage of the Lamb After Jesus meets his followers "in the air", the marriage of the Lamb takes place: "Let us be glad and rejoice and give him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints" [Rev 19:7–8]. Christ is represented throughout Revelation as "the Lamb", symbolizing the giving of his life as an atoning sacrifice for the people of the world, just as lambs were sacrificed on the altar for the sins of Israel. His "wife" appears to represent the people of God, for she is dressed in the "righteous acts of the saints". As the marriage takes place, there is a great celebration in heaven which involves a "great multitude" [Rev 19:6]. ## Resurrection of the dead *Main article: Resurrection of the dead#Christianity* ### Doctrine of the resurrection predates Christianity The word *resurrection* comes from the Latin *resurrectus,* which is the past participle of *resurgere,* meaning *to rise again.* Although the doctrine of the resurrection comes to the forefront in the New Testament, it predates the Christian era. There is an apparent reference to the resurrection in the book of Job, where Job says, "I know that my redeemer lives, and that he will stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though... worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh I will see God" [Job 19:25–27]. Again, the prophet Daniel writes, "Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt" [Dan 12:2]. Isaiah says: "Your dead will live. Together with my dead body, they will arise. Awake and sing, you who dwell in dust, for your dew is like the dew of herbs, and the earth will cast out the dead" [Isa. 26:19]. This belief was still common among the Jews in New Testament times, as exemplified by the passage which relates the raising of Lazarus from the dead. When Jesus told Lazarus' sister, Martha, that Lazarus would rise again, she replied, "I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day" [Jn 11:24]. Also, one of the two main branches of the Jewish religious establishment, the Pharisees, believed in and taught the future resurrection of the body [cf Acts 23:1–8]. ### Two resurrections *Main article: Resurrection of the dead#Two resurrections of the dead* An interpretation of the New Testament is the understanding that there will be two resurrections. Revelation says: "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him a thousand years" [Rev 20:6]. The rest of the dead "did not live again until the thousand years were finished" [Rev 20:5]. Despite this, there are various interpretations: :According to the premillennial posttribulational position there will two physical resurrections, separated by a literal thousand years (one in the Second Coming along with the Rapture; another after a literal 1,000 year reign). :According to premillennial pre-tribulationists, there will be three further physical resurrections (one in the Rapture at the beginning of tribulation; another in the Second Coming at the final tribulation; and the last one after a literal 1,000 year reign). They claim that the *first resurrection* includes the resurrection in the Rapture, and that the resurrection in the Second Coming, the *second resurrection,* would be after the 1,000 year reign. :According to premillennial midtribulationists, too, there will be three physical resurrections (one in the rapture at the middle of tribulation; another in the Second Coming at the end of the tribulation; and the last one after a literal 1,000 year reign). And the *first resurrection* would be the resurrection in the Rapture, and the resurrection in the Second Coming, the *second resurrection,* would be after the 1,000 year reign. :According to amillennial position there will are two resurrections. The *first resurrection* would be in a spiritual sense (the resurrection of the soul), according to Paul and John as participation, right now, in the resurrection of Christ through faith and baptism, according to Colossians 2:12 and Colossians 3:1 as occurring within the millennium interpreted as an indefinite period between the foundation of the Church and the Second Coming of Christ, the *second resurrection* would be the general resurrection (the resurrection of the body) that would occur at the time of Jesus' return. ### The resurrection body The Gospel authors wrote that our resurrection bodies will be different from those we have now. Jesus said, "In the resurrection, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like the angels of God in heaven" [Mt 22:30]. Paul adds, "So also is the resurrection of the dead: the body... is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body" [1 Co. 15:42–44]. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the body after resurrection is changed into a spiritual, imperishable body: Both the righteous and the wicked will rise with immortal bodies. However, only the righteous will rise with four endowments: impassibility (incorruptibility), subtility (spirituality), agility (power), and clarity (glory). In some ancient traditions, it was held that the person would be resurrected at the same spot where they died and were buried (just as in the case of Jesus' resurrection). For example, in the early medieval biography of St Columba written by Adomnan of Iona, Columba at one point prophesies to a penitent at the monastery on Iona that his resurrection would be in Ireland and not in Iona, and this penitent later died at a monastery in Ireland and was buried there. ### Other views Although Martin Luther personally believed and taught resurrection of the dead in combination with soul sleep, this is not a mainstream teaching of Lutheranism and most Lutherans traditionally believe in resurrection of the body in combination with the immortal soul. Several churches, such as the Anabaptists and Socinians of the Reformation, then Seventh-day Adventist Church, Christadelphians, Jehovah's Witnesses, and theologians of different traditions reject the idea of the immortality of a non-physical soul as a vestige of Neoplatonism, and other pagan traditions. In this school of thought, the dead remain dead (and do not immediately progress to a Heaven, Hell, or Purgatory) until a physical resurrection of some or all of the dead occurs at the end of time. Some groups, Christadelphians in particular, consider that it is not a universal resurrection, and that at this time of resurrection that the Last Judgment will take place. ### Armageddon *Main article: Armageddon* ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/The_Lamb_Defeating_the_Ten_Kings,_about_1220_-_1235._Tempera_colors_and_gold_leaf_on_parchment,_The_J._Paul_Getty_Museum.jpg" caption="''The Lamb Defeating the Ten Kings'' (c. 1220–1235), miniature from [[Beatus of Liébana]]'s ''[[Commentary on the Apocalypse]]'' (''Commentarius in Apocalypsim''), [[J. Paul Getty Museum]], Los Angeles"] :: *Megiddo* is mentioned twelve times in the Old Testament, ten times in reference to the ancient city of Megiddo in the Jezreel Valley, and twice with reference to "the plain of Megiddo", most probably simply meaning "the plain next to the city".{{cite web | access-date = 2011-01-15}} Listing of the 12 Biblical Old Testament passages containing the word "Megiddo". None of these Old Testament passages describes the city of Megiddo as being associated with any particular prophetic beliefs. The one New Testament reference to the city of Armageddon found in Revelation 16:16 also makes no specific mention of any armies being predicted to one day gather in this city, but instead seems to predict only that "they (will gather) the kings together to .... Armageddon".{{cite web | access-date = 2011-01-15}} New Testament excerpt describing various apparent calamities of nature with respect to Armageddon. The text does however seem to imply, based on the text from the earlier passage of Revelation 16:14, that the purpose of this gathering of kings in the "place called Armageddon" is "for the war of the great day of God, the Almighty". Because of the seemingly highly symbolic and even cryptic language of this one New Testament passage, some Christian scholars conclude that Mount Armageddon must be an idealized location. R. J. Rushdoony says, "There are no mountains of Megiddo, only the Plains of Megiddo. This is a deliberate destruction of the vision of any literal reference to the place." Other scholars, including C. C. Torrey, Kline and Jordan argue that the word is derived from the Hebrew *moed* (מועד), meaning "assembly". Thus, "Armageddon" would mean "Mountain of Assembly," which Jordan says is "a reference to the assembly at Mount Sinai, and to its replacement, Mount Zion." The traditional viewpoint interprets this biblical prophecy to be symbolic of the progression of the world toward the "great day of God, the Almighty" in which the great looming mountain of God's just and holy wrath is poured out against unrepentant sinners, led by Satan, in a literal end-of-the-world final confrontation. Armageddon is the symbolic name given to this event based on scripture references regarding divine obliteration of God's enemies. The hermeneutical method supports this position by referencing Judges 4 and 5 where God miraculously destroys the enemy of His elect, Israel, at Megiddo, also called the Valley of Josaphat. Christian scholar William Hendriksen says: ## The Millennium *Main article: Millennialism* Millennialism (from millennium, Latin for "a thousand years"), or *chiliasm* (from the Greek equivalent), is the belief that a Messianic Age will occur on Earth prior to the final judgment and future eternal state of the "World to Come". Christian millennialism developed out of a Christian interpretation of Jewish apocalypticism. Christian millennialist thinking is primarily based upon the Book of Revelation, specifically 20:1–4, which describes the vision of an angel who descended from heaven with a large chain and a key to a bottomless pit, and captured Satan, imprisoning him for a thousand years: The Book of Revelation then describes a series of judges who are seated on thrones, as well as his vision of the souls of those who were beheaded for their testimony in favor of Jesus and their rejection of the mark of the beast: Thus, Revelation characterizes a millennium where Christ and the Father will rule over a theocracy of the righteous. While there are an abundance of biblical references to such a kingdom of God throughout the Old and New Testaments, this is the only reference in the Bible to such a period lasting one thousand years. The literal belief in a thousand-year reign of Christ is a later development in Christianity, as it does not seem to have been present in first century texts. ## The End of the World and the Last Judgment ### Satan released According to the Bible, the Millennial age of peace all but closes the history of planet Earth. However, the story is not yet finished: "When the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison and will go out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle, whose number is as the sand of the sea." [Rev 20:7–8] There is continuing discussion over the identity of Gog and Magog. In the context of the passage, they seem to equate to something like "east and west". There is a passage in Ezekiel, however, where God says to the prophet, "Set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him." [Ezek 38:2] Gog, in this instance, is the name of a person of the land of Magog, who is ruler ("prince") over the regions of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. Ezekiel says of him: "You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you..." [Ezek 38:2] Despite this huge show of force, the battle will be short-lived, for Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation all say that this last desperate attempt to destroy the people and the city of God will end in disaster: "I will bring him to judgment with pestilence and bloodshed. I will rain down on him and on his troops, and on the many peoples who are with him: flooding rain, great hailstones, fire and brimstone." [Ezek 38:22] Revelation concurs: "Fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them." [Rev 20:9] It may be that the images of fire raining down are an ancient vision of modern weapons, others would say a supernatural intervention by God, yet others that they refer to events in history, and some would say they are symbolic of larger ideas and should not be interpreted literally. ### The Last Judgment *Main article: Last Judgment* Following the defeat of Gog, the last judgment begins: "The devil, who deceived them, was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false prophet are, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever" [Rev 20:10]. Satan will join the Antichrist and the False Prophet, who were condemned to the lake of fire at the beginning of the Millennium. Following Satan's consignment to the lake of fire, his followers come up for judgment. This is the "second resurrection", and all those who were not a part of the first resurrection at the coming of Christ now rise up for judgment: John had earlier written, "Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power" [Rev 20:6]. Those who are included in the Resurrection and the Rapture are excluded from the final judgment, and are not subject to the second death. Due to the description of the seat upon which the Lord sits, this final judgment is often referred to as the Great White Throne Judgment. A decisive factor in the Last Judgement will be the question, if the corporal works of mercy were practiced or not during lifetime. They rate as important acts of charity. Therefore, and according to the biblical sources (Matt 5:31–46), the conjunction of the Last Judgement and the works of mercy is frequent in the pictorial tradition of Christian art. ## New Heaven and New Earth *Main article: New Earth (Christianity), World to come#Christian eschatology* ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Apocalypse_38._A_new_heaven_and_new_earth._Revelation_cap_21._Mortier's_Bible._Phillip_Medhurst_Collection.jpg" caption="Phillip Medhurst]]</ref> Collection"] :: ::quote But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. :: ### New Jerusalem *Main article: New Jerusalem* The focus turns to one city in particular, the New Jerusalem. Once again, we see the imagery of the marriage: "I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband" [Rev 21:2]. In the New Jerusalem, God "will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God..." [Rev 21:3]. As a result, there is "no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple." Nor is there a need for the sun to give its light, "for the glory of God illuminated it, and the Lamb is its light" [Rev 21:22–23]. The city will also be a place of great peace and joy, for "God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there will be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" [Rev 21:4]. #### Description The city itself has a large wall with twelve gates in it which are never shut, and which have the names of the twelve tribes of Israel written on them. Each of the gates is made of a single pearl, and there is an angel standing in each one. The wall also has twelve foundations which are adorned with precious stones, and upon the foundations are written the names of the twelve apostles. The gates and foundations are often interpreted as symbolizing the people of God before and after Christ. The city and its streets are pure gold, but not like the gold we know, for this gold is described as being like clear glass. The city is square in shape, and is twelve thousand furlongs long and wide (fifteen hundred miles). If these are comparable to earthly measurements, the city will cover an area about half the size of the contiguous United States. The height is the same as the length and breadth, and although this has led most people to conclude that it is shaped like a cube, it could also be a pyramid. ### The Tree of Life *Main article: Tree of life (biblical)* ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/42/Apocalypse_43._The_tree_of_life._Revelation_cap_22_v_2._Mortier's_Bible._Phillip_Medhurst_Collection.jpg" caption="NRSV}}</ref> a print from the Phillip Medhurst Collection of Bible illustrations in the possession of Revd. Philip De Vere at St. George's Court, [[Kidderminster]], England"] :: The city has a river which proceeds "out of the throne of God and of the Lamb". Next to the river is the tree of life, which bears twelve fruits and yields its fruit every month. The last time we saw the tree of life was in the Garden of Eden [Gen 2:9]. God drove Adam and Eve out from the garden, guarding it with cherubim and a flaming sword, because it gave eternal life to those who ate of it In the New Jerusalem, the tree of life reappears, and everyone in the city has access to it. Genesis says that the earth was cursed because of Adam's sin, but the author of John writes that in the New Jerusalem, "there will be no more curse". The *Evangelical Dictionary of Theology* (Baker, 1984) says: ## References ## References 1. (2010). "The Oxford Handbook of Eschatology". *[[Oxford University Press]]*. 2. {{bibleverse. Romans. 2:5–16, {{bibleverse. Romans. 14:10, {{bibleverse. 1. Cor. 4:5, {{bibleverse. 2. Cor. 5:10, {{bibleverse. 2. Tim. 4:1, {{bibleverse. 2. Thess. 1:5 3. {{Bibleverse. James. 5:8 4. {{Bibleverse. 1 Peter. 4:7 5. {{Bibleverse. 1 John. 2:18–28 6. Harris, Stephen L.. (1980). ["Understanding the Bible: A Reader's Guide and Reference"](https://books.google.com/books?id=TGJKeHOmGhwC&q=understanding+the+bible+harris). *Mayfield Publishing Company*. 7. For example, Chapter 6 of the Epistle of St Ignatius to the Romans. Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson. From Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 1. Edited by Alexander Roberts, James Donaldson, and A. Cleveland Coxe. (Buffalo, New York: Christian Literature Publishing Company, 1885.) Revised and edited for New Advent by Kevin Knight. <http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/0107.htm>. 8. Osborn, Eric Francis. (1973). ["Justin Martyr"](https://books.google.com/books?id=Wu6Nr1NgkP0C&dq=justin+martyr+-+eschatology&pg=PA198). *Mohr Siebeck*. 9. Alexander Roberts & James Donaldson, eds. ''Ante-Nicene Fathers.'' (16 vol.) Peabody, Massachusetts: Hendrickson, 1994. The writings of Ignatius and Justin Martyr can be found in Vol. 1; Tertullian, in Volumes 3–4; and Origen, in Volume 4. 10. Erwin Fahlbusch, Dietrich, "Eschatology", The Encyclopedia of Christianity (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Leiden, Netherlands: Wm. B. Eerdmans; Brill, 1999–2003), p. 122. 11. Murray, Iain Hamish. (1975). ["The Puritan Hope: A Study in Revival and the Interpretation of Prophecy"](https://books.google.com/books?id=G_spKwAACAAJ). *Banner of Truth Trust*. 12. (2000). ["Progressive Dispensationalism"](https://books.google.com/books?id=xsumJRsOWVMC&pg=PT12). *Baker Books*. 13. Walls, Andrew F.. (November 2016). "Eschatology and the Western Missionary Movement". *Studies in World Christianity*. 14. Chow, Alexander. (November 2016). ["Eschatology and World Christianity"](https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/27675823/Chow_Eschatology_and_World_Christianity_revised_.pdf). *Studies in World Christianity*. 15. Fergusson, David. (1997). "The Cambridge Companion to Christian Doctrine". *Cambridge University Press*. 16. "Jesuit scholarship rallied to the Roman cause by providing two plausible alternatives to the historical interpretation of the Protestants. 1. Luis de Alcazar (1554–1630) of Seville, Spain, devised what became known as the 'preterist' system of prophetic interpretation. This theory proposed that the Revelation deals with events in the Pagan Roman Empire, that antichrist refers to Nero and that the prophecies were therefore fulfilled long before the time of the medieval church. Alcazar's preterist system has never made any impact on the conservative, or evangelical wing of the Protestant movement, although in the last one hundred years it has become popular among Protestant rationalists and liberals. 2. A far more successful attack was taken by Francisco Ribera (1537–1591) of Salamanca, Spain. He was the founder of the 'futurist' system of prophetic interpretation. Instead of placing antichrist way in the past as did Alcazar, Ribera argues that antichrist would appear way in the future. About 1590 Ribera published a five hundred page commentary on the Apocalypse, denying the Protestant application of antichrist to the church of Rome." M.L. Moser, Jr., An Apologetic of Premillennialism, p. 27 17. M. L. Moser, Jr., An Apologetic of Premillennialism, pp. 26, 27. 18. H. Grattan Guinness, Romanism and the Reformation From the Standpoint of Prophecy, p. 268 (1887) 19. Rev. Joseph Tanner, Daniel and the Revelation, pp. 16, 17. 20. The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4 [4BC], p. 42. 21. Chuck Missler, 'Prophecy 20/20: Profiling the Future Through the Lens of Scripture', 2006. 22. Campbell. (2001). "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Book of Revelation". *Alpha Books*. 23. Taubes, Jacob. (June 2, 2009). ["Occidental Eschatology"](https://books.google.com/books?id=i3M8BfkFVsAC&pg=PA132). *Stanford University Press*. 24. Macey, Samuel L.. (1994). ["Encyclopedia of Time"](https://books.google.com/books?id=F7wNQk219KMC&pg=PA186). *Taylor & Francis*. 25. Keller, Adolf. (March 2007). ["Karl Barth and Christian Unity: The Influence of the Barthian Movement Upon the Churches of the World"](https://books.google.com/books?id=LxWdGpNzzaYC&pg=PA190). *Read Books*. 26. (April 2, 1987). ["ThirdWay"](https://books.google.com/books?id=zzpFaPwTQAYC&q=beast&pg=PA23). *Hymns Ancient & Modern Limited*. 27. Duff, Paul B.. (May 31, 2001). ["Who Rides the Beast?: Prophetic Rivalry and the Rhetoric of Crisis in the Churches of the Apocalypse"](https://books.google.com/books?id=5bCOXhf4sc4C&dq=beast+revelation+social+injustice&pg=PA70). *Oxford University Press*. 28. Christopher R. Smith, "Reclaiming the Social Justice Message of Revelation: Materialism, Imperialism and Divine Judgement in Revelation 18," ''Transformation'' 7 (1990): 28–33 29. Christoyannopoulos, Alexandre. (2010). "Christian Anarchism: A Political Commentary on the Gospel". *Imprint Academic*. 30. Craig R. Koester, ''Revelation'', AB 38A (New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2014), p. 579. 31. Koester, p. 684. 32. Koester, p. 506. 33. Stephen S. Smalley, ''The Revelation to John: A Commentary on the Greek Text of the Apocalypse'' (Downer's Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 2005), p. 337. 34. Erickson, Millard J.. (2001). ["The Concise Dictionary of Christian Theology"](https://books.google.com/books?id=n0liwAM9lGMC&dq=christian+idealism+eschatology&pg=PA95). *Crossway*. 35. Hall, Francis Joseph. (1922). ["Eschatology. Indexes: The Concluding Volume of the Series Dogmatic Theology"](https://books.google.com/books?id=1O8rAAAAYAAJ&dq=christian+idealism+eschatology&pg=PA13). *Longmans, Green and Company*. 36. David Chilton, 'The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation', Dominion Press, 2006. 37. SDA Bible Commentary 38. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 7:1–8 39. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 9:1–11 40. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 9:13–16 41. (September 2011). ["Every Prophecy of the Bible: Clear Explanations for Uncertain Times"](https://books.google.com/books?id=8tRHO_7E0M4C). *David C Cook*. 42. Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, p. 251. 43. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 11:1–12 44. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 11:3 45. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 12:1–6 46. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 13:1–8 47. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 13:11–18 48. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 13:18 49. {{bibleverse. 1Kings. 10:14 50. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 16:16 51. {{bibleverse. Judges. 5:19 52. {{bibleverse. 2 Kings. 9:27 53. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 17:1–5 54. {{bibleverse. Matthew. 23:35–37 55. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 17:9–11 56. Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, pp. 435–436. 57. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 20:1–3 58. David Chilton, 'The Days of Vengeance: An Exposition of the Book of Revelation', p. 494. 59. {{bibleverse. Daniel. 2:34–35 60. {{bibleverse. Revelation. 4:1 61. {{bibleverse. Matthew. 24:15 62. {{bibleverse. Ezekiel. 38 63. Chilton, The Days of Vengeance, p. 522. 64. Elliott, Edward Bishop. (1862). "Horae Apocalypticae". *Seely, Jackson and Halliday*. 65. Thomas, John. (1861). "Eureka: An Exposition of the Apocalypse (In Three Volumes)". 66. Gentry, Jr., Th.D., K. L. (1989). Before Jerusalem Fell. Retrieved from http://www.entrewave.com/freebooks/docs/a_pdfs/kgbj.pdf {{Webarchive. [link](https://web.archive.org/web/20130516224723/http://www.entrewave.com/freebooks/docs/a_pdfs/kgbj.pdf). (2013-05-16) 67. e.g. 312 AD to 1572, 538 AD to 1798, and 606 AD to 1870. See [[day-year principle]] 68. ["Commentary on the Bible by Adam Clarke: Daniel: Daniel index"](http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/cmt/clarke/dan.htm). 69. David T. Steineker, ''The Greatest Commandment: Matthew 22:37'' (Bloomington, Indiana: WestBow Press, 2010), p. 132. 70. Randall M. Miller, ''Religion and the American Civil War'' (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998), p. 115. 71. Douglas M. Strong, ''Perfectionist Politics: Abolitionism and the Religious Tensions of American Democracy'' (Syracuse, New York: Syracuse University Press, 2002), p. 30. 72. ["Amillennialism: Introduction and the Book of Revelation"](http://www.the-highway.com/amila_Hoekema.html). 73. see {{bibleverse. Acts. 23:8 74. {{bibleverse. Daniel. 12:2 75. ["Ezekiel 18:4"](https://biblia.com/books/nkjv/Eze18.4). *Faithlife.com*. 76. ["Death, the Threshold to Eternal Life – Liturgy & Worship"](http://www.goarch.org/ourfaith/ourfaith7076). *Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America*. 77. Robert L. Millet, ''By what Authority?: The Vital Question of Religious Authority in Christianity'' (Mercer University, 2010), p. 66. 78. {{bibleref2. 1 Thessalonians. 5:3 79. McNeile, A. H.. (1927). ["An Introduction to the Study of the New Testament"](http://www.katapi.org.uk/NTIntro/SynopGospel2.htm#IVIntEv). *University Press*. 80. Matt 23:37–38; Matt 24:1–2,15-21; Luke 13:34–35; Luke 21:20–21 81. [[Craig Blomberg]], Jesus and the Gospels, Apollos 1997, pp. 322–326 82. [[N. T. Wright]], Jesus and the Victory of God, Fortress 1996, pp. 348ff. 83. {{bibleverse. Matthew. 24:15. NKJV 84. {{bibleverse. Mark. 13:14. NKJV 85. (2004). "The Cross from a Distance: Atonement in Mark's Gospel". *InterVarsity Press*. 86. Detering, Hermann. (Fall 2000). ["The Synoptic Apocalypse (Mark 13 par): A document from the time of Bar Kokhba"](http://www.radikalkritik.de/Mk13%20JHC.pdf). *Journal of Higher Criticism*. 87. ''The Crisis Under Gaius Caligula'', Harvard University Press, 1976, {{ISBN. 0-674-39731-2. pp. 254–256: 88. Scherman, Rb. (Ed.), 2001, p. 1803 89. ["A New English Translation of the Septuagint. 40. Daniel"](http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/nets/edition/40-daniel-nets.pdf). 90. McKim, Donald K.. (2014). ["The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms, Second Edition: Revised and Expanded"](https://books.google.com/books?id=dEaTAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA261). *Presbyterian Publishing Corporation*. 91. (2005). ["Encyclopaedic dictionary of religion: Q–Z"](https://books.google.com/books?id=KakgvDxdbXwC&q=Encyclopaedic+Dictionary+of+Religion:+Q-Z). *Isha Books*. 92. {{bibleref2. 1 Thessalonians. 4:17. NASB 93. (2009). ["Dictionary of Biblical Prophecy and End Times"](https://books.google.com/books?id=xvFZDcJSgdMC&pg=PT692). *Zondervan*. 94. (1990). ["Mercer Dictionary of the Bible"](https://books.google.com/books?id=goq0VWw9rGIC&pg=PA736). *Mercer University Press*. 95. (2014-04-04). ["Raptured or Not? A Catholic Understanding – Catholic Update October 2005"](http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1005.asp). 96. Michael D. Guinan, "Raptured or Not? A Catholic Understanding", ''Catholic Update'', October 2005, https://web.archive.org/web/20140404105238/http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac1005.asp . Cf. [https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p1s2c2a7.htm "Catechism of the Catholic Church – The Profession of Faith"]. [[Holy See. Vatican]].va. Retrieved 2011-10-21. 97. Anthony M. Coniaris, "The Rapture: Why the Orthodox don't preach it," Light & Life Publishing, Life Line, September 12, 2005, Volume 2, Issue 3, available at https://web.archive.org/web/20121109035607/http://www.light-n-life.com/newsletters/09-12-2005.htm accessed January 27, 2012. 98. (2013-03-11). ["Is the Pretribulation Rapture Theory Biblical?"](http://reformedonline.com/view/reformedonline/rapture.htm). 99. See notes above for specific denominations (Catechism – Catholic, Light & Life Newsletter – Orthodox, Lutheran Witness – Lutheran, Reformed Online – Reformed). 100. Markham, Ian S.. (2013-01-16). ["The Student's Companion to the Theologians"](https://books.google.com/books?id=h6SHSAjeCrYC). *Wiley*. 101. Carl E. Olson, "Five Myths About the Rapture," Crisis pp. 28–33 (Morley Publishing Group, 2003) ("LaHaye declares, in Rapture Under Attack, that "virtually all Christians who take the Bible literally expect to be raptured before the Lord comes in power to this earth." This would have been news to Christians—both Catholic and Protestant—living prior to the 18th century, since the concept of a pretribulation rapture was unheard of prior to that time. Vague notions had been considered by the Puritan preachers Increase (1639–1723) and Cotton Mather (1663–1728), and the late 18th-century Baptist minister Morgan Edwards, but it was John Nelson Darby who solidified the belief in the 1830s and placed it into a larger theological framework."). Reprinted at http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=5788 . 102. (1993). "Progressive Dispensationalism". *[[Baker Publishing Group*. 103. ''The Scofield Bible: Its History and Impact on the Evangelical Church'', Magnum & Sweetnam. pp. 188–195, 218. 104. Ephraem the Syrian, JoshuaNet, 27 Jul. 2010. http://joshuanet.org/articles/ephraem1.htm & 1995 Grant R. Jeffrey, ''Final Warning'', published by Frontier Research Publications, Inc., Toronto, Ontario 105. [http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/OnlineLibrary/tabid/106/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/447/IID/82/LNG/en/7/The-Secret-Rapture/SC/R/Default.aspx The Secret Rapture] by Joe Crews 106. (July 14, 2015). ["Articles"](https://www.whitehorsemedia.com/articles/). 107. ["Free Book Library – Amazing Facts"](http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/OnlineLibrary/tabid/106/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/447/IID/9/LNG/en/7/Anything-But-Secret/SC/R/Default.aspx). 108. ["Rev 14:11 to 15:1 and 16:15 – AudioVerse"](http://www.audioverse.org/sermons/recordings/578/rev-14-11-to-15-1-and-16-15.html). 109. ["Secret Rapture Truth – Bible Prophecy"](http://www.rapturetruth.org/). 110. [http://www.amazingfacts.org/FreeStuff/BibleStudies/StudyGuides/tabid/105/ctl/ViewMedia/mid/453/IID/2-21/LNG/en/SC/R/Default.aspx?7=The-USA-in-Bible-Prophecy. The United States In Bible Prophecy] See Item # 15 111. Augustine. ["CHURCH FATHERS: City of God, Book XX (St. Augustine)"](https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/120120.htm). 112. ["CCC – Part 1 Section 2 Chapter 3 Article 11"](https://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p123a11.htm). 113. ''The Catholic Catechism'' by Father [[John A. Hardon]], p. 265 114. Adomnan of Iona. ''Life of St Columba''. Penguin Books, 1995, p. 193 {{ISBN? 115. Evangelical Lutheran intelligencer: Volume 5 – 1830 p. 9 Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Maryland and Virginia "Every one of those committed to our care is possessed of an immortal soul and should we not exceedingly rejoice, that we in the hands of the Supreme Being, may be instrumental in leading them unto "fountains of living water". 116. Ashton, Michael. ''Raised to Judgement Bible Teaching about Resurrection & Judgement'' Christadelphian, Birmingham 1991 {{ISBN?{{page needed. (May 2023) 117. Jordan, James B.. ["biblicalhorizons » No. 85: Some Observations"](http://www.biblicalhorizons.com/biblical-horizons/no-85-some-observations/). 118. Rousas John Rushdoony, ''Thy Kingdom Come: Studies in Daniel and Revelation'', p. 190. 119. [[William Hendriksen]], ''More Than Conquerors'', 163. 120. Tabor, James D.. (17 October 2011). "The Oxford Handbook of Millennialism". *[[Oxford University Press]]*. 121. Bobichon, Philippe. ["Millénarisme et orthodoxie dans les écrits de Justin Martyr"](https://www.academia.edu/36639639). *In Mélanges sur la question millénariste de l'Antiquité à nos jours, Martin Dumont (Dir.) [Bibliothèque d'étude des mondes chrétiens, 11], Paris, 2018, p. 61-82.*. 122. [[Ralf van Bühren]], ''[http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23753234.2017.1287283 Caravaggio's 'Seven Works of Mercy' in Naples. The relevance of art history to cultural journalism]'', in ''Church, Communication and Culture'' 2 (2017), pp. 63–87. 123. {{bibleref2. Rev. 21:1. NIV, Mortier's Bible, [[c:User:Phillip Medhurst. Phillip Medhurst]] 124. [[Second Epistle of Peter. 2 Peter]] {{bibleref2-nb. 2 Peter. 3:13. NRSV 125. {{bibleref2. Rev. 22:2. NRSV 126. [Rev 22:1]. 127. [Gen 3:22]. 128. [Gen 3:17] 129. Rev 22:3 ::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology) and is available under the [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the [article history page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_eschatology?action=history). ::