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Approaches to the interpretation of the book revelation
Christian view of life after death
Approaches to the interpretation of the book revelation
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Eschatology has long fascinated many including myself since the beginning of time. There is just something that tends to fascinate our finite minds of the end of times. Over this time, many thoughts and perceptions has arouse from a wide variety of sources including scholars, theologians, scientists, sociologist, religions, colts, and many more. Consequently, each sources’ idea are different and unique from the others. The particle eschatology that is found throughout the New Testament tends to be the most studied and quoted collections of eschatological ideas that have been around since the creation of the Canon thousands of years ago. There are numerous books in the New Testament that directly and indirectly allude to the end of times. The most famous of these books, Revelation, is debated to be the most iconic literacy book on eschatology that answers a lot of question an as well creates a score of other new questions. …show more content…
This concise paper will investigate and elaborate on the themes and ideas on eschatology that are found in the New Testament and will begin to draw forth connections and present arguments and conclusions from these themes and
LaHaye, Tim, and Ed Hindson. The Popular Encyclopedia of Bible Prophecy. Eugene, OR.: Harvest House Publishers, 2004.
The 21st century is the age of information and technology and as the human species continues to advance there are growing concerns that the human race is close to its end. Jerry Oltion uses his text Judgment Passed as an allegory for the belief of the Christian salvation and the state of the modern world. In Jerry Oltion’s text planet Earth is depleted, causing humans to send astronauts into space to colonize another planet named Dessica (Oltion). These astronauts are in space for twelve years and when they return to Earth they learn that the end of the world has occurred without them. The astronauts learn through old newspaper articles that Jesus Christ returned to earth and saved everyone. This causes the astronauts to ponder the reason they were not saved like all the people on Earth and the other colonies in space. Throughout Judgment Passed there are metaphors for the Christian belief of what happens after death such as the realm of limbo and then there are the metaphors that are a depiction of today’s world and its possible future such as Jesus Christ representing a hierarchy political figure. Therefore, Judgment Passed is more than a short narrative for entertainment, it is allegory for the Christian belief system and it is a metaphor for the human condition of the modern world.
Within the Abrahamic religions eschatology brings forth much debate, this is to include Ezekiel’s chapter 38-39 in reference to Gog and Magog. The prophecies from Isaiah to Revelation are interwoven therefore making it important to identify, and understand the accomplices, interludes, geography, and various elucidations which assist in accurately analyzing and understanding this prophecy. It is important to acknowledge that “the major interpretive difficulties in these two chapters are the identity of characters and places, as well as the time when these events occur.” There are vast elucidations regarding the invasion of Gog and Magog, therefore, requiring a concentration on Dispensationalism and various scholars interpretations to include: “John Walvoord, beginning of the tribulation; D.L. Cooper, before the tribulation; A.C. Gaebelein, beginning of the millennium; Charles Feinberg, end of the tribulation; and C.C. Ryrie, multiple fulfillments,” each having its own strengths and weaknesses, is the basis of this work. This being said, this paper will not postulate a conclusive resolution when concerning this prophecy, rather it will patron an culmination of the tribulation position, as many souls have disputed over this topic throughout the centuries.
Throughout many of Paul’s letters there are many debates pertaining to the authorship, destination, date, and the purpose. In the book of Ephesians many scholars debate on the authorship and if Paul actually wrote the letter, or if it was a scribe. Although there are some debates on whether Paul actually wrote it or not, he does refer to himself twice in the letter. In 1:1 and in 3:1 Paul states himself, 1:3 states, “For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles” (NIV) In verse 1:3 Paul states that he is a prisoner, therefore it is debated that he did not specifically write this because he was imprisoned in Rome at this time. According to Wallace “This, of course, is not to say that the letter must be by Paul, but it is to argue that without such internal testimony, no such claim could be made” (Wallace). Many scholars also debate on the vocabulary usage and the structure of the letter. Some believe that the structure is similar, but the vocabulary seems to be different than his New Testament epistles. Hoehner claims that,” Though the book has a close affinity with Colossians, critics claim that Ephesians is uncharacteristic of Paul” (Hoehner 613). The destination of Ephesians is somewhat debated, but many do believe that the letter was sent to the church of Ephesus. “Some to claim that Ephesus is a better starting point, others suggest Caesarea.” (Wallace) Although this is an argument that has many valid points, it is obvious that Paul was imprisoned in Rome while he wrote Ephesians. It is said by Hoehner that “Ephesians was probably delivered by Tychicus (Eph. 6:21-22), who also took Paul’s letter to Colossians (Col. 4:7-9)” (Hoehner 613). As for the date goes m...
The Gospel of Matthew exhibits the plan of atonement and salvation for all people and the beginning of a new era. The Kingdom has come. Matthew’s Gospel is eschatological. Through the direct use of and allusions to the Hebrew scriptures, as well as fulfillment citations Matthew clearly connects Jesus’ life and ministry with Israel’s traditions and promised history.4...
Understanding the Bible and other holy texts in relation to human history is a challenging enterprise. Daniel Friedmann, in his third book of religious interpretation, tackles a truly daunting question: Do our holy texts offer solid clues as to when the world as we know it may come to an end? Roadmap to the End of Days contends that through study of scripture and history it is indeed possible to recognize events that will preclude the end of human history and the exact time frame in which our end of days will most likely occur.
In the Eschatological meaning of the book of Ruth by Abraham D. Cohen, the author translates the word for redemption in Hebrew for the reader as ge’ulah. This Hebrew word is mentioned seventeen times throughout the article; therefore the reader can infer the underlying importance of this major argument of ‘redemption’. The author uses an anagogical approach and
This essay argues that the eschatology of the Book of Revelation is an integral part of John’s attempt to form a literary world in which the forms, figures, and forces of the earthly realm are critiqued and unmasked through the re-focalization of existence from the perspective of heaven. It attempts to show that, in response to the social, political, religious, and economic circumstances of his readers, the Book of Revelation forms a counter imaginative reality. Through drawing upon an inaugurated sense of eschatology and evocative imagery, John pulls the reader in and shows them the true face of the imperial world and consequences of its ideology, forcing the reader's allegiance to fall with either ‘Babylon’ or the New Jerusalem. Before beginning this essay proper, it is important to first comprehend some of what is meant by the term eschatology, and how it is understood in the Book of Revelation. Eschatology is that part of theology which deals with conceptions of the ‘end times’ and of the final things of the world and humanity.
Immortality, redemption, emancipation and deliverance have always been the highest spiritual aims of mankind as well as his innermost aspirations. Throughout the ages his spirit has relentlessly soared towards these eternal peaks that lie beyond the comprehension of ordinary human understanding. He has always tried to decipher the larger meaning and purpose of human existence and of its link with the entire creation. Man’s quest has been to identify the powers governing life and how his life fits into the greater scheme of things whereby this universe exists. Where science and rationality failed to find any Cosmic significance in human existence, the spiritual approach not only found a meaning but also connected it
Pentecost, J Dwight. Things to Come: A Study in Biblical Eschatology. Grand Rapids, MI: Academie Books, 1964.
The Exodus of the Hebrew people out of Egypt as depicted in the Holy Bible is controversial. A literal, Biblical reading depicts inexplicable supernatural events suggesting the influence of the God of the Hebrews. There are three main theories about the Exodus Event. The first is that the event occurred exactly as accounted in the Bible, miraculous events included. Secondly, that the Exodus did occur, just not as the Bible describes. The last is that the event never occurred. The explanation of these theories will be presented in this paper.
One of the structural features of apocalyptic is that events and times are often arranged into distinct units, or epochs, which are then ordered into significantly numbered sets. 3, 4, 7, 10 and 12, and their multiples are especially significant. The seventy weeks of years in Daniel 9 is a prime example. This periodisation of history both highlighted the idea that the number and length of these units was determined - thus, despite all present circumstances, Gods purposes would ultimately be achieved; and to give the sense that the reader was positioned somewhere close to the end of the times described. That the number of days determined at the end of Daniel (12:11-12) are contradictory suggests that they were not to be taken literally.
In the Bible, Old and New Testament, the word “prophecy” is discussed. Prophecy is defined as “a statement that something will happen in the future; the inspired declaration of divine will and purpose” (http://www.merriam-webster.com). Prophecy was used to predict the future or what is forthcoming to the people of God. The Prophets of the Old Testament were spokespersons of God and they were selected to foretell the word of God. The prophecies were used to predict the future and to give warning to the people of Israel. Many believe these prophecies have a great influence on the New Testament. “Prophets occupy a unique place in Israel’s future traditions and they contributed to one third of the Old Testament” (Varughese, A., 2003, p.284). The utterance of these Prophets helped shaped the stories of the New Testament.
In this paper, I will examine Jesus’ resurrection from the dead because, according to many scholars, there is no other event in the life of Jesus that is as significant. In order to better comprehend the magnitude of this event, I will begin by looking at what can be discerned from the Resurrection of Jesus. Then, I will explore the two different kinds of resurrection testimony that there are: the confessional tradition and narrative tradition. For the confessional tradition, I will look at a few examples including St. Paul’s confession in First Corinthians which is composed of four parts: Jesus’ death, the question of the empty tomb, the third day, and the witnesses. For the narrative tradition, I will briefly examine the two sources of information
Wright turns his attention to the word “resurrection.” He explores the way ancient writers and thinkers have used the term. He writes: “The word resurrection in its Greek, Latin, or other equivalents was never used to mean life after death. Resurrection was used to denote new bodily life after whatever sort of life after death there might be” (p. 36). Resurrection meant bodies, yet modern writers have taken resurrection to be synonymous for “life after death” (p. 36). Wright then continues with the early Christian meaning of resurrection, even including seven mutations of the Jewish resurrection belief from which Christians derive their belief.