Eschatology, a Broad Perspective From Genesis to Revelation 2/21/2016 1

Our Considerations The Unique Character of Our Times The Four Principal Views of Eschatology The Timeline and Sequence of Major Prophetic Events in Scripture The Four Covenants Impacting Eschatology The Seven Feasts of Israel Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream: Dan 2 Daniel’s Vision of the Four Beasts: Dan 7 Daniel’s Vision of the Ram a Goat and the Beast: Dan 8 2/21/2016 2

History – a Great Commission View Consider: – Christ is the center point of history – Latter days are best cast as progress of the Great Commission (Mt 28: 19-20) toward its ultimate fulfillment in the global propagation of the Gospel 2/21/2016 3

Olivet Discourse Disciples’ Three Questions (Mt 24: 3) – “When will these things be?” – “What will be the sign of your coming?” – “…and of the end of the age?” The Answers – Answer to 1 st question found in Lk 21: – Answer to 2 nd question found in Mt 24: – Answer to 3 rd question found in Mt 24: /21/2016 4

Signs of the End of the Age Mt 24 “v4…See to it that no one misleads you. v5 For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. v6 And you will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars; see that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. v7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. v8 But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” New American Standard Translation 2/21/2016 5

Emerging Trends of Our Times Establishment of the Jewish State Pervasive chaos/crisis in governments & nations in diverse areas of the world Rise of Russia as a militarily powerful nation hostile to Israel with designs on the Middle East Alignment of Russia, Iran, and other Middle Eastern nations Globalization of all nations and economic and political relationships Global falling away from natural law and Christianity Sexual revolution and disintegration of the family especially in the West Increasing acceptance of abortion and euthanasia as normative Worldwide proclamation of the Gospel 2/21/2016 6

Emerging Trends of Our Times The explosion in persecution Rise of Islam and its militant hatred for Israel, Jews, and Christians Increase in number, size, and impact of wars worldwide Unprecedented turmoil and hostility between nations and ethnic groups Unprecedented fears of natural and man-made cataclysms Rise of the Middle East and Israel as the #1 trouble spot in the world Availability of weapons of devastating mass destruction Unique possibility of world-wide plagues Explosion of technology and its capacity to communicate globally instantly, control much of what impacts our lives, and digest enormous amounts of information in moments of time giving powerful elites the ability to control the masses as has never been possible in the past 2/21/2016 7

Telos A telos (from the Greek τέλος for "end", "purpose", or "goal") is an end or purpose, in a fairly constrained sense used by philosophers such as Aristotle. It is the root of the term "teleology," roughly the study of purposiveness, or the study of objects with a view to their aims, purposes, or intentions.Aristotleteleology 2/21/2016 8

Metanarrative A metanarrative in critical theory and particularly in postmodernism is a narrative about narratives of historical meaning, experience or knowledge, which offers a society legitimation through the anticipated completion of a (as yet unrealized) master idea.critical theory postmodernism The term was brought into prominence by Jean- François Lyotard in 1984, with his claim that the postmodern was characterized precisely by a mistrust of the grand narratives (Progress, Enlightenment emancipation, Marxism) that had formed an essential part of modernity (i.e. metanarratives are created and reinforced by power structures and are therefore untrustworthy)Jean- François LyotardProgressEnlightenment emancipationMarxismmodernitypower structures 2/21/2016 9

Post Modernity & the Attack on Telos or Metanarrative A culture that doesn’t think in terms of stories to describe the way the world works -- Beginning, Challenges, and an End Gospel narrative’s creation, its great struggle in the catastrophe of the fall, and an end in Christ’s victory over sin – Parallel narrative one of failure on the part of those who reject Christ’s provision and their eternal destruction in disobedience/unbelief Endless flow of life without defined purpose outside of the present moment (e.g. at the heart of much in media, movies, electronic games) Life as a sequence of random events to which we react for a time until the next meaningless but challenging circumstance occurs Mindset makes the Biblical/Gospel narrative incomprehensible to people; no thought of life created by God with structure, purpose and an end state 2/21/

Eschatology The end point of the Biblical metanarrative Directly opposed to the endless purposeless flow of modern life Defines the conclusion of time as we know it and the transition into eternity Everything has a specific purpose and life itself for every person is a story with an ultimate conclusion “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, on account of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat!” II Pet 3: New American Standard Translation 2/21/

The Next Several Weeks Feb 28The Four Principal Views of EschatologyChris Mar 6 IBC Band – No Morning Song Mar 13The Timeline and Sequence of MajorClint Prophetic Events in Scripture Mar 20The Four Covenants Impacting EschatologyJim Mar 27Easter – He is Risen!! Apr 3IBC Band – No Morning Song Apr 10The Seven Feasts of IsraelJon 2/21/

SEE YOU NEXT WEEK!!! 2/21/