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The '''End Times''', also called the '''Last Days''', refers to the period of time in Christian theology just before and during the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus Christ.  This period of time is foretold in the [[Old Testament]] prophetical books, such as [[Daniel]] and [[Ezekiel]], and in the [[New Testament]] with the [[Gospels]], several of the [[Pauline Epistles]], and in the [[Revelation]].  All theologians agree that the Bible spends a great deal of attention on the subject, but there is very wide disagreement as to the meaning.

The '''End Times''', also called the '''Last Days''', generally refers to the end of the world, or the end of time in religion. In Christianity, it refers to the time just before and during the [[Second Coming]] of Jesus Christ.  This period of time is foretold in the [[Old Testament]] prophetical books, such as [[Daniel]] and [[Ezekiel]], and in the [[New Testament]] with the [[Gospels]], several of the [[Pauline Epistles]], and in the [[Revelation]].  All theologians agree that the Bible spends a great deal of attention on the subject, but there is very wide disagreement as to the meaning.

[[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.