Today’s New Reason To Believe

Kenneth Richard Samples

How can a Christian think about eschatology (the study of “last things”) in a careful and intellectually responsible manner?

Let me offer three suggestions for believers to carefully consider when approaching the controversial theological topic of the “end times.”

1. Understanding the Bible’s Apocalyptic Literature

Evangelical theologian and eschatology specialist George Eldon Ladd notes the following:

Revelation is the most difficult of all New Testament books to interpret, primarily because of the elaborate and extensive use of symbolism.

Both apocalyptic books of the Bible (Daniel and Revelation) are very challenging to understand and properly interpret. Throughout church history biblical scholars and theologians have come to a variety of different positions on how these books are to be understood.

Acknowledging this diversity of thought should cause Christians to be measured and cautious in what they assert about the Bible’s teaching on eschatological issues. Far too many believers think that their specific interpretation of end times passages is synonymous with what the Bible actually reveals about the topic. Remember, the Bible must be responsibly studied through a careful analysis of literary genre, grammar, and context.

2. Mere Christian Eschatology

While significant differences over the final events of human history exist, nevertheless all historic Christian theological traditions affirm essential core orthodoxy when it comes to eschatology. Parts two and three of this series elaborate on five significant events on which believers agree. Here’s that list enumerated once again:

Five Point Mere Christian Eschatology

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

General Resurrection of the Dead

Final Judgment of Humankind

Eternal State

New Creation

3. Learning the Major Views on Eschatology

Because the study of future things is a hotly contested topic in Christian theology, believers should take the time and effort to study the field. If you have only been exposed to a form of premillennialism (which is very popular today among evangelicals), then consider looking into one of the best books on the amillennial and postmillennial positions. Or if you have only been exposed to amillennialism (probably the overall Christian consensus position over the centuries), then try reading the best books that defend a form of premillennialism.

Our churches stand to benefit when its members grow in their knowledge of the Bible and of historic Christian doctrine. I strongly recommend that pastors and teachers in churches and colleges encourage their people to read broadly on the topic of eschatology. It is certainly acceptable for churches and Christian colleges to affirm and defend a particular view concerning last things, but those affirmations mean a whole lot more when all the major views have been considered.

Here are a few good books explaining the different evangelical Christian positions on eschatology:

Historic Premillennialism:
George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed Hope.

Dispensational Premillennialism:
John F. Walvoord, The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation.

Postmillennialism:
John Jefferson Davis, Christ’s Victorious Kingdom.

Amillennialism:
Anthony Hoekema, The Bible and the Future

Future articles explore other issues relating to Christian eschatology.

For an introduction to the topic of general eschatology, see Donald G. Bloesch, The Last Things and Robert Clouse ed., The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views.

by Jeff Zweerink

“So David made a name for himself when he returned from killing 18,000 Arameans in the Valley of Salt. And he put garrisons in Edom. In all Edom he put garrisons, and all the Edomites became servants to David. And the LORD helped David wherever he went.” 2 Samuel 8:13-14 (NASB)

The Bible contains records of the checkered history of Edom–the land where the descendants of Esau lived (now southern Jordan). During the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, the king of Edom refused passage to Moses and his people on their journey to the promise land (Numbers 20:14-22). Later, David conquered Edom (see map below), as described in 2 Samuel, but the inhabitants of that region remained a thorn in Israel’s side until the Assyrians conquered Israel.

Extrabiblical evidence shows that the kingdom of Edom existed during the 8th and 9th centuries B.C., yet David’s reign started in the 11th century B.C. Some have argued that the lack of extrabiblical evidence for the existence of Edom during David’s time means that the Bible is not a reliable historical document. Recent excavations in the relevant region now provide the support needed to refute such an argument.

According to an article published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, parts of an extensive copper mine in the Edom region date to the 10th century B.C. In fact, the authors argue that most of the mining activity occurred during the reigns of David and Solomon. This fits well with the biblical account where Solomon undertook many construction projects that required a wealth of mined metals.

While this evidence does not prove explicitly that the biblical account is correct, it does supply support for the thesis that the kingdom of Edom existed three centuries earlier than the current scholarly consensus allows. It also provides a reminder (when seeking extrabiblical evidence in support of the Bible) that the absence of evidence does not give evidence of absence.

Kenneth Richard Samples

How can a Christian think about eschatology (the study of “last things”) in a careful and intellectually responsible manner?

Let me offer three suggestions for believers to carefully consider when approaching the controversial theological topic of the “end times.”

1. Understanding the Bible’s Apocalyptic Literature

Evangelical theologian and eschatology specialist George Eldon Ladd notes the following:

Revelation is the most difficult of all New Testament books to interpret, primarily because of the elaborate and extensive use of symbolism.

Both apocalyptic books of the Bible (Daniel and Revelation) are very challenging to understand and properly interpret. Throughout church history biblical scholars and theologians have come to a variety of different positions on how these books are to be understood.

Acknowledging this diversity of thought should cause Christians to be measured and cautious in what they assert about the Bible’s teaching on eschatological issues. Far too many believers think that their specific interpretation of end times passages is synonymous with what the Bible actually reveals about the topic. Remember, the Bible must be responsibly studied through a careful analysis of literary genre, grammar, and context.

2. Mere Christian Eschatology

While significant differences over the final events of human history exist, nevertheless all historic Christian theological traditions affirm essential core orthodoxy when it comes to eschatology. Parts two and three of this series elaborate on five significant events on which believers agree. Here’s that list enumerated once again:

Five Point Mere Christian Eschatology

Second Coming of Jesus Christ

General Resurrection of the Dead

Final Judgment of Humankind

Eternal State

New Creation

3. Learning the Major Views on Eschatology

Because the study of future things is a hotly contested topic in Christian theology, believers should take the time and effort to study the field. If you have only been exposed to a form of premillennialism (which is very popular today among evangelicals), then consider looking into one of the best books on the amillennial and postmillennial positions. Or if you have only been exposed to amillennialism (probably the overall Christian consensus position over the centuries), then try reading the best books that defend a form of premillennialism.

Our churches stand to benefit when its members grow in their knowledge of the Bible and of historic Christian doctrine. I strongly recommend that pastors and teachers in churches and colleges encourage their people to read broadly on the topic of eschatology. It is certainly acceptable for churches and Christian colleges to affirm and defend a particular view concerning last things, but those affirmations mean a whole lot more when all the major views have been considered.

Here are a few good books explaining the different evangelical Christian positions on eschatology:

Historic Premillennialism:
George Eldon Ladd, The Blessed Hope.

Dispensational Premillennialism:
John F. Walvoord, The Blessed Hope and the Tribulation.

Postmillennialism:
John Jefferson Davis, Christ’s Victorious Kingdom.

Amillennialism:
Anthony Hoekema, The Bible and the Future

Future articles explore other issues relating to Christian eschatology.

For an introduction to the topic of general eschatology, see Donald G. Bloesch, The Last Things and Robert Clouse ed., The Meaning of the Millennium: Four Views.