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'''Eschatology''' (Greek '''εσχατος''' or ''eschatos'' the last and '''λογος''' or ''logos'' a word) is the study of the last things that the [[Bible]] or other religious texts predict will happen to the world and mankind.

'''Eschatology''' (Greek '''εσχατος''' or ''eschatos'' the last and '''λογος''' or ''logos'' a word) is the study of the last things that the [[Bible]] or other religious texts predict will happen to the world and mankind.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thought--from the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformation--these issues were central importance to theologians.  After the [[Enlightenment]] of the 18th century, however, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of [[Fundamentalism]] that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. Furthermore there has been a proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements.

Eschatology is the study of the last things: death, judgment, the afterlife, and the end of the world. Through centuries of Christian thought—from the early Church fathers through the Middle Ages and the Reformation—these issues were central importance to theologians.  After the [[Enlightenment]] of the 18th century, however, many religious thinkers began to downplay the importance of eschatology which, in light of rationalism, came to be seen as something of an embarrassment. The twentieth century, however, saw the rise of [[Fundamentalism]] that placed eschatology back at the forefront of religious thought. Furthermore there has been a proliferation of apocalyptic new religious movements.

[[File:End-time.jpg|thumb|400px|Dispensationalist interpretation]]

[[File:End-time.jpg|thumb|400px|Dispensationalist interpretation]]

= Christian Eschatology =

= Christian Eschatology =

=== Does the world have an end? ===

=== Does the world have an end? ===

[[Jesus Christ]] made repeated reference to a sorting-out of saved and lost people at "the end of the world." Moreover, most of the [[prophets]] whose writings survive today made some reference to prophecies that would not be fulfilled within the time frame of the Bible--including many that, many commentators suggest, remain unfulfilled to this day.

[[Jesus Christ]] made repeated reference to a sorting-out of saved and lost people at "the end of the world." Moreover, most of the [[prophets]] whose writings survive today made some reference to prophecies that would not be fulfilled within the time frame of the Bible—including many that, many commentators suggest, remain unfulfilled to this day.

=== Different schools of thought ===

=== Different schools of thought ===

The [[Bible]] describes multiple [[covenant]]s that God has held with mankind since creation. In this regard, two competing theories are current.

The [[Bible]] describes multiple [[covenant]]s that God has held with mankind since creation. In this regard, two competing theories are current.

# [[Covenant theology]] holds that God has had only ''one'' covenant with mankind, despite the plethora of apparent covenantal decrees throughout the [[Old Testament]]. Before the coming of Jesus, God's covenant was with national [[Israel]], this theory states; now that Jesus has come and gone and will come again, the blessings initially provided to Israel now apply strictly to the church--defined in this context as the body of believers in Jesus as the looked-for Christ (literally, "Annointed One," transliterated ''Messiah'' from [[Hebrew]]). Detractors of this school of thought often call it "replacement theology," the notion being that the Christian church somehow "replaces" the [[Judaism|Jews]] in God's favor.

# [[Covenant theology]] holds that God has had only ''one'' covenant with mankind, despite the plethora of apparent covenantal decrees throughout the [[Old Testament]]. Before the coming of Jesus, God's covenant was with national [[Israel]], this theory states; now that Jesus has come and gone and will come again, the blessings initially provided to Israel now apply strictly to the church—defined in this context as the body of believers in Jesus as the looked-for Christ (literally, "Annointed One," transliterated ''Messiah'' from [[Hebrew]]). Detractors of this school of thought often call it "replacement theology," the notion being that the Christian church somehow "replaces" the [[Judaism|Jews]] in God's favor.

# [[Dispensationalism]], however, holds that God's relationship with mankind has undergone a number of changes from one ''dispensation'' to the next. Most dispensational theorists identify seven of these dispensations, of which mankind is now in the sixth--and the seventh remains for mankind to experience. No replacement of the Jews is expressed or implied--because God will physically [[Rapture (Christian)|remove]] the present membership of the church and concentrate all His Attention on the Jews.

# [[Dispensationalism]], however, holds that God's relationship with mankind has undergone a number of changes from one ''dispensation'' to the next. Most dispensational theorists identify seven of these dispensations, of which mankind is now in the sixth—and the seventh remains for mankind to experience. No replacement of the Jews is expressed or implied—because God will physically [[Rapture (Christian)|remove]] the present membership of the church and concentrate all His Attention on the Jews.

==== A Thousand Years of Peace ====

==== A Thousand Years of Peace ====

The Book of [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] makes prominent reference to an era lasting for a thousand years--a "millennium"--during which God will physically confine [[Satan]], and after which Satan will be released for one last period.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Revelation|chap=20|verses=1-3|version=KJV}}</ref> But Jesus says, in the New Testament, that He will return to earth again after ascending into heaven The obvious question arises: when will Jesus return, in relationship to this thousand-year period of peace?

The Book of [[Book of Revelation|Revelation]] makes prominent reference to an era lasting for a thousand years—a "millennium"—during which God will physically confine [[Satan]], and after which Satan will be released for one last period.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Revelation|chap=20|verses=1-3|version=KJV}}</ref> But Jesus says, in the New Testament, that He will return to earth again after ascending into heaven The obvious question arises: when will Jesus return, in relationship to this thousand-year period of peace?

1. [[Premillennialism]] holds that Christ will return to earth ''before'' the thousand years begin, and that during that thousand years He will rule the world and mankind directly from the city of [[Jerusalem]], which He will use as His capital city.

1. [[Premillennialism]] holds that Christ will return to earth ''before'' the thousand years begin, and that during that thousand years He will rule the world and mankind directly from the city of [[Jerusalem]], which He will use as His capital city.

2. [[Postmillennialism]] holds that Jesus will wait to return ''after'' the thousand years have passed--and that the thousand years have either already passed or are passing right now.

2. [[Postmillennialism]] holds that Jesus will wait to return ''after'' the thousand years have passed—and that the thousand years have either already passed or are passing right now.

3. [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)#Amillennialism|Amillennialism]] holds that no such thousand-year period of peace has occurred or will occur. The "thousand years" mentioned in Revelation, adherents say, are merely a metaphor for a long period of promulgation of the [[Gospel]] to the world.

3. [[Revelation, Book of (historical exegesis)#Amillennialism|Amillennialism]] holds that no such thousand-year period of peace has occurred or will occur. The "thousand years" mentioned in Revelation, adherents say, are merely a metaphor for a long period of promulgation of the [[Gospel]] to the world.