EXCELLENT ACADEMY ONLINE LESSONS

ESCHATOLOGY

What is eschatology?

- Eschatology, from the Greek word ‘eschatos’ meaning ‘at last, finally or the end of all

Things’. Associated with the following words;

1. 2

nd advent, from Latin word advenire meaning ‘to come’ meaning the 2nd coming of

Jesus in glory.

2. Parousia – is a Greek word for Second Advent, presence or arrival, especially a royal visit.

3. Apocalypse – Latin word ‘apokalupto’ which means to reveal what has been previously

Been hidden, ‘unveiling, or revealing of future events.

Why Paul Taught on Eschatology?

Paul was responding to the special concerns of the 1st century Christians especially those at

Corinth & Thessalonica:

- Confusion as some were saying there is no resurrection of the dead 1 Cor 15:12.

- Some were being baptized on behalf of the dead 1 Cor 15:29.

- Questions concerning the nature of the resurrected body. How are the dead raised? With what

Kind of body do they come? 1 Cor 15:35.

- The Thessalonians, in particular, were concerned about their departed brothers and sisters in

Christ. Paul sought to comfort the distressed church concerning some of their baptized converts

Who had recently died (1 Thess 4:13-18). Had the departed Christians forfeited their places in

Christ’s eternal kingdom?

- To refute false teachings concerning the resurrection of the dead two Thess 2:1-2 various.

Speculations concerning the timing of Christ’s return. Believers had been taught and made to

Understand that the Christ’s second Coming would take place in their lifetime. Premature death had

Not been anticipated.

- The Corinthians were arguing over the bodily resurrection (1 Co 15).

 Events of the Last Day
1. Jesus will come for the 2nd time (Jn 6:40,44).

2. The dead will be raised, both the righteous and unrighteous (Jn 5:28,29).

3. The righteous living will be bodily changed or transformed (1 Co 15:52).

4. The righteous dead will be reunited with their resurrected bodies (1 Thess 4:14-16).

5. Judgment of the living will occur (Jn 12:48).

6. All the righteous will ascend to heaven (1 Thess 4:16,17).

7. The present earth and heavens will pass away (2 Pt 3:10,11).

8. Satan, his angels and the wicked will be cast into hell (Mt 25:41).

CONCEPT OF ESCHATOLOGY
1. Timing of the ‘End Times’

- Pauline doctrine concurs with the teaching of Jesus Christ that the time and the day is

Unknown.

- Jesus refused to set any date for his 2nd coming Mk 13:32, ‘But of that day or that hour no

one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father …’

- Jesus taught on preparedness & watchfulness in the parable of the ten maidens/virgins.

- Paul discourages speculation about the exact time of Christ’s return and urges the

Thessalonians to be alert, prepared and watchful 1 Thess 5:1-11. See Ewbank p103

2. The Messianic Banquet or the Wedding feast

- The future kingdom is viewed as a Messianic Banquet or the marriage feast. In Christian

Circles it is interpreted as the wedding of the Lamb Luke 14:15ff.

3. Judgement Seat of Christ

- Both the righteous and evil ones are to appear before the judgement seat of Christ 2 Cor 5:10,

‘For we must all appear before the Judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive good

Or evil, according to what he has done in the body’.

- Paul wrote that Jesus will, ‘judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his

Kingdom…’ 2 Tim 4:1. All the hidden things will be made manifest (Mt 10:26; Mk 4:22, (At

17:31; see 10:42).

3. The Resurrection of the Dead

- In the future there is going to be a bodily resurrection of all saints but in the state of a spiritual

Body. The body will be raised because in the grave it has only fallen asleep. Through the eyes

Of God, physical death is simply falling asleep. However, it is the body that sleeps until the

Resurrection.

- Being questioned by the Sadducees about the resurrection of the dead, Jesus noted that, the

Raised saints will be equal to angels and be called sons of God Luke 20:35-36.

- The resurrection will occur in an instant: Paul revealed that in the last day the trumpet would

Sound and ‘we shall all be changed - in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye” (1 Co 15:51,52).

It will not be a time when men have time to think and prepare. Paul simply stated, "The dead

In Christ will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed" (1 Co 15:52).

- Paul notes that the resurrected physical body will never exist again as it existed in this life, 1

Co 15:44. The body is raised, ‘imperishable’, ‘raised in glory’ & ‘raised a spiritual body’. The

Saints shall be clothed with what the Scriptures refer to as a “building from God” (2 Co 5:1),

“A glorious body” (Ph 3:21), “a spiritual body” (1 Co 15:44).

- At resurrection the physical natural body will be the same but changed and glorified and

Raised as a spiritual body.

- The dead in Christ will rise first then the physically alive will be transformed and clothed

With an incorruptible spiritual body.

- 1 Thess 4:16 ‘… And the dead in Christ will rise first; then we who are alive, who are left

Shall be caught up together with them in the clouds…’ See also 1 John 3:2 and Phil 3:21.

Place for the righteous and unrighteous

- Jesus taught that the physically dead yet righteous would resurrect to inherit eternal life John

5:28-29.

- Petrine theology teaches that, the righteous will then dwell in the eternal ‘new heavens and

New

Earth’ (2 Pt 3:13) which will be a habitation for their spiritual body.

Eternal Death
- Jesus taught that the physically dead yet righteous would resurrect to eternal punishment John

5:28-29.

- Pauline theology teaches that, the unrighteous, will be confined to the destruction of hell (2

Thess 1:7-9).

Rewards in the future

- The righteous are to be rewarded e.g. the beatitudes Mt 5, the labourers in the vineyard, the

Wedding garment, the talents and the pounds.

- The resurrected righteous saints will; live forever be with the Lord (1 Thess 4:17), raised to

Everlasting life (Jn 5:29), (Mt 25:46), raised to receive glory (Rm 8:18; 1 Co 15:43), raised to

Have an incorruptible body (1 Co 15:42), raised to receive immortality (1 Co 15:50-54), raised

To receive a reward (Lk 14:12-14).

Punishment of the unrighteous – Lake of fire

- The unrighteous will be raised to face eternal punishment and hell fire e.g. Mt 7:21-23, woe

Oracles Lk 6:24-26, the dragnet, wheat and the weeds.

- see the predictions by John the Baptist, chaff and unquenchable fire.

- The unrighteous will be raised for judgment (Mt 7:23; 24:41; at 10:42; 2 Co 5:10), for certain

Punishment (Mt 25:46), to experience God's wrath (Rm 2:5; 1 Thess 1:10) & for certain

Destruction (2 Thess 1:9; Ph 3:19).

The Last or Second Coming or of Jesus Christ

- Jesus is coming again on earth. Technically speaking, it is His second coming in a visible

Manner and His final coming for the purpose of judgment. The Hebrew writer said that Jesus

Would visibly appear a second time (Heb 9:28).

- Jesus will come back in the clouds, Acts 1:9-11, ‘This Jesus, who was taken up from heaven,

Will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.’ See also Rev 1:7, 1 Tim 6:14, 2

Tim 4:1, 8.

-Paul notes that Jesus is coming with a great noise with a shout, with the voice of the archangel

In addition, the sound of a trumpet 1 Thess 4:16, 1 Co 15:52.

- Jesus’ coming in the last day, therefore, will be a final coming in judgment. It will be the

Last personal appearance to the inhabitants of the world, but a final coming in judgment of
Things that pertain to the world.

- Jesus appeared in the flesh in the first coming, and He will appear a second time to be

Seen.

- The day & time of Jesus’ second coming is unknown to mortal man, 2 Peter 3:10, ‘But the

Day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise,

And the elements will be dissolved …’

- Jesus is coming with a fearful fire of destruction and judgement of the unrighteous, 2 Thess

1:8,9, ‘… when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire,

Inflicting vengeance upon those who do not know God and upon those who do not obey the

Gospel of our Lord Jesus. They shall suffer the punishment of eternal destruction and exclusion

From the presence of the Lord…’ . It is a consuming fire of destruction of the material world (2

Pt 3:10,11).

- Jesus is coming with his angels, ‘Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels’

(2 Thess 1:7). This is a prophetic picture of God coming in judgement.

- Jesus is coming with the departed saints. Jesus will be coming ‘with all His saints’ (1 Th

3:13). Paul wrote, “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, God will

bring with Him those who have fallen asleep (1 Thess 4:14). The souls and spirits of those

Who have died in Christ will also be with the heavenly host of Jesus’ appearing. It will be a

Spectacular event and a scene that every inhabitant of the world shall witness. The departed

Saints will be coming to receive their resurrected bodies

BAPTISM
Rite of Water Baptism
Water baptism is an important Christian sacrament to be observed by every believer.

The English word “baptize.” is a transliteration of the Greek word ‘baptizo’ to express the

Action of immersion, dipping, submerging or plunging. Textual meaning refers to baptism

As burial Col 2:12. According to Romans 6:3-5 Paul says that as Jesus was buried in the
Tomb, so we are buried by baptism in a tomb of water. As Jesus was resurrected from the

Tomb, so we are resurrected from the waters of baptism. In order to be in the likeness of

Jesus’ death, we must be buried in water.

Baptism is divided into 3 phases: 1. Jewish ritual purification of the proselytes, 2. Baptism

Ministry of John the Baptism in preparation for the coming of Jesus 3. Baptism in the church

Age.

NB the Christian way of baptism according to scripture involves immersion in water as

Opposed to sprinkling of water.

it is important that in Christianity repentance & forgiveness of sins precede water baptism.

A person believes in Jesus Christ and is immediately baptized Acts 2:41, 16:14-15, 8:35-

36. Special conditions for baptism to be administered include, repentance and availability

Of much water for example John’ baptism ministry, baptism of Jesus, Philip & the Ethiopian

Eunuch, quote Jn 3:23, Mt 3:16, Acts 8:38-39.

Significance of Baptism

1. Baptism signified a ‘cleansed nature’ among the Jewish converts that is the proselytes.

2. John the Baptist used baptism to prepare the way of the Lord, requiring everyone,

Not just gentiles, to be baptized because everyone needs repentance. However, it was a

Bit different from the Christian baptism in the early church Acts 18:24-26, 19:1-7

3. Baptism done for the remission of sins was the initial form of baptism introduced by

John the Baptist Jn 1:19-28, Mt 3, Lk 3:3, Acts 2:38.

4. Jesus himself outlined the reason for his baptism even though he was a sinless man, that

Is ‘to fulfil all righteousness’ Mt 3:13-16.

5. Baptism in water is obedience to the gospel commandment. Jesus commanded it to

Be done by converts in all nations until the very end of the age. Christian baptism is one

Of the ordinances that Jesus instituted for the church. Just before his ascension, Jesus

Said, Quote Matthew 28: 19-20. The commandment specifies that Christians be

Mandated to ‘teach, make disciples & baptize.

6. Christian baptism has a deeper significance. It is through Christian baptism that a

Person is admitted into the body of Christ, which is the church. Baptism is done in
The name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

7. When the Christians are saved, they are ‘baptized’ by the Spirit into the body of Christ,

Which is the church whether one is a Jew or a Gentile, slave or free. Quote one Corinth

12:13. Baptism has a unitary effect.

8. Christian baptism is the means by which a person makes a public profession of faith

In addition, discipleship.

9. Christian baptism illustrates, in dramatic style, the death, burial & resurrection of

Christ. It illustrates one’s death to sin & new life in Christ. In baptism one is raised to

A brand new life Colossians 2:12.

10. Being submerged in water represents death to sin, & emerging from the water

Represents the cleansed, holy life that follows salvation Quote Romans 6:4. Thus

Baptism is an outward testimony of the inward change in a believer’s life.

THE PASSION NARRATIVES OF JESUS

Passion – the suffering of Christ during from the early part of his ministry up his last days -

Associated terms; death, martyrdom, suffering and persecution. Understood in the context of

The Old Testament i.e. the ‘Suffering Servant’ of Isaiah [Isaiah 53]. The suffering and death

Of Jesus as both a human and a divine cause.

The Passion Predictions

- Passion predictions refer to the prophetic utterances of Jesus when he was foretelling his

Actual suffering, arrest, trial and death to be accomplished in Jerusalem. This marks a dramatic

Turning point towards the end of the Galilean ministry when Jesus began to speak ‘plainly’ and

‘Openly’ about His cross Mt 16:21, Mk 8:32.

- Predictions on the impending suffering of Jesus were confined to the disciples of Jesus only.

The 1st one given after Peter’s great confession at Caesarea Philippi Mk 8:30, the 2nd soon after

The transfiguration experience Mk 9:9, the 3rd at a secret meeting in Galilee Mk 9:30-32 & the

Last one on the way to Jerusalem Mk 10:33-34. The main emphasis was on arrest, rejection,

Suffering, treatment with contempt, betrayal and death.

Request by the Sons of Zebedee [Mk 10:35-45, Mt 20:20-28]

- The remarks made by Jesus in response to the request by James and John hints on his passion.

- The ‘cup’ was a common Jewish metaphor for joy or divine wrath against sin. Jesus was to

Bear the wrath of God’s judgement against sin in place of sinners. Campbell states that the cup

Is symbolic of suffering, as in Isaiah 51:17,22 and ‘baptism’ is symbolic of His death Romans

6:3-4.

- The death of Jesus was meant to be a ‘ransom price’ i.e. is a sacrifice for the sins of many.

Campbell notes that the passion and death of Jesus was fulfilling the role of the Suffering

Servant of Messiah Isaiah 53:11-12

EVENTS IN JERUSALEM – THE PASSION WEEK

Conflicts with the Jewish Officials

1. Cleansing of the temple Mk 11:12-19 – v18-19, the Pharisees and the scribes began to

Devise ways on how to destroy him.

2. Confrontation with the Priests and Elders [The question about Jesus’ authority] Mk

11:20-33, Jesus answered through the parable of the wicked tenants Mk 12:1-10, the son killed

In the parable symbolizes Jesus himself. Jewish officials tried to arrest Jesus but feared the

Crowd.

3. Confrontation with Pharisees and Herodian’s Mk 12;13-17. The Pharisees and the

Herodian has sought to entrap Jesus through the question concerning payment of imperial taxes

To Caesar.

Passion and Death of Jesus Mt 26:6 – 28:20

The pace is now rapid

At the Passover Feast at Jerusalem Jesus experienced a mysterious soul conflict which was in

Anticipation of the more severe or intense soul-conflict in Gethsemane (John 12:21-33). G.T

Manley states that, Jesus spoke of his death as the sowing of a seed, which would bear ‘much

Fruit’

The Anointing at Bethany Mt 26:6-13

Judas Betrayal Agreement Mt 26:14-16

Last Supper Mt 26:17-30 [26-30]

Prediction of Abandonment & denial 26:31-35

Gethsemane 26:36-46

The Arrest 26:36-46

The Trial of Jesus 26:57-68

Soldiers Treatment of Jesus 27:27-31

ENTERPRISE
2. Delineate the link between the Christian faith and enterprise.

3. Examining texts in the New Testament that promote enterprise.

4. How do Zimbabwean churches promote enterprise?

- Enterprise refers to the various forms of innovative entrepreneurship, which generate income.

These are commercial business ventures, projects, firms aimed specifically at growth and

Profit.

Forms of Enterprise in the Gospels

- Olive tree gardens e.g. Mt of Olives Mk 11:1ff.

- Vineyards and wine presses Mk 11:1ff, 12:1ff.

- Temple tax Mt 17:22ff.

- Tax collectors and taxation Mt 22:15ff, e.g. Levi, Zacchaeus Lk 19.

- Money changing

- Sheep breeding

- Investments e.g. the talents and pounds

-fishing

- Carpentry e.g. Joseph , Mark 6

- healing the sick, physicians e.g. Luke.

Forms of enterprise in today’s churches

Fishing
Minining
Selling
Carpentry
Healing the sick