Key Issues: On the Doctrine of Eschatology

1. Realized Eschatology: There are many major issues related to the Doctrine of Eschatology. One of those key issues is the doctrine of Realized Eschatology, highlighted by C.H. Dodd and many others. According to this doctrine, “the content of Jesus’ message was not a future coming and a future kingdom, rather with the advent of Jesus, the kingdom of God had already arrived.”[1] They support this view by interpreting Mark 1:15 as a present kingdom rather than something that will happen in the future. They think that God’s kingdom has already come, therefore, there is no future kingdom because Jesus' eschatological work has been completed. Therefore, they don’t look for the prophecies in the New Testament to be fulfilled in the future because they have already been fulfilled or realized. [2] They take Luke 10:18 as one of the examples where Satan’s fall from heaven is seen as the triumph of God. On the other hand, they believe that “eternal life is already our possession.”[3]

2. Pretribulation Rapture: The other key issue in the doctrine of end times is the theology of “Pretribulation Rapture.” According to this doctrine, the church will not go through tribulation because Christ will come and take the church. Therefore, before the great tribulation hits the World, the church will be raptured, hence, they will not go through persecution. Moreover, according to the doctrine of “Pretribulation Rapture” Christ's coming would be in secret because no unbelieving eye will see it (1 Thess 4:17). And at this time Christ will not come all the way down to the earth, however, Christ will return on the earth with the church when the tribulation period is over. This is so that He can reign with the church for the millennial kingdom on the earth. Hence, the doctrine of Pretribulation Rapture holds the two phases of Christ’s comings, which is biblically incorrect.

Personal Statement

1. Realized Eschatology: It would not be right to promote the “Realized Eschatology” because we are yet to see the fullness of God’s Kingdom in the new heaven and new earth.

2. Pretribulation Rapture: On the other hand, the theology of “Pretribulation Rapture” is also irrelevant as the church will go through persecution or tribulation before Christ returns.

Warrant for Position

1. Realized Eschatology: The Doctrine of Realized Eschatology should be corrected because it is not completely accurate according to the biblical scriptures. It is right to say that when Christ came, the Kingdom of God came with great force on this Earth. However, the Kingdom of God is still progressing in every Christian believer’s life and is yet to come in the lives of the unsaved people. Moreover, the kingdom of God is also progressively being manifested to believers in Christ, but it will not be manifested or completed until Christ returns. With that, for sure, God triumphed over the Satanic kingdom when Jesus, with his disciples, cast out demons and healed the sick (Luke 10:17-18 ESV). However, this defeat should be seen as an eternal and final defeat when Christ returns and eventually destroys all the works of the enemy (Revelation 20:10). On the other hand, it is also clear that Christian believers do have Christ’s power of authority to destroy the works of the enemy (Luke 10:19). However, the enemy still looks for an opportunity to bring hindrance and destruction over Christian believers and non-Christians. Biblical scriptures speak of Satan’s active opposition. Exemplar: 1 Peter 5:8, “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”, and 2 Corinthians 2:11, “that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes.” On the other hand, biblical scripture like John 5:24, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life,” should be understood as something we do possess now, however, it will be completely manifested once we die and are resurrected through our faith in Christ in our glorified bodies. In this present age, we have issues like suffering, the existence of all evil things, sickness, and the nature of sin.

Therefore, it would not be right to say that eternal life is completely manifested and there is no future event related to it. Biblically, there will be a day (in heaven) when we won’t have any more problems. Indeed, it will happen in the coming final, culminating Eschatological event. Revelation 21:4, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Moreover, Jesus was so clear that His kingdom was not of this World (John 18:36). Therefore, every believer of Christ should look for the future Kingdom where we will live with Christ for eternity.

2. Pretribulation Rapture: There is no clear biblical support or evidence for the Doctrine of Pretribulation Rapture. Biblical scriptures say that the church will be present during the great tribulation period. Matthew 24 ESV calls our attention to the sign of the end of the age. One of those signs would be persecution against Christ-followers: Matthew 24:9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake.” Some may take this verse and use it only in the context of the Apostle's persecution. However, we all live in the end days since the Pentecostal or Apostle days, therefore, we need to see this scripture's relevance even for our day. Alongside this, from Mark 13:19-20, we understand that before Christ comes there will be a great tribulation, but for the sake of the elect (the church), that tribulation will not last long. Therefore, it is clear that even the church would suffer, but somehow, God would protect some from the severity of the tribulation (Rev 3:10).

With that, from 2 Timothy 3:12, we understand that faithful persons of God will be persecuted, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” According to Acts 14:22, the church would enter into God’s kingdom through many tribulations: “Through many tribulations, we must enter the kingdom of God.” On the other hand, according to the Apostle John’s highlight of Jesus’ high priestly prayer in John 17:15, God amid the tribulation can preserve his people, “I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one.” However, it may still not mean that no one will suffer because of the tribulation. We don’t know who will suffer, more or less. Exemplar; Paul's suffering was more severe than the Apostle John's. Moreover, it would be important to question that if Jesus saves the church from the tribulation period, then wouldn’t Jesus be so unfaithful to all the Apostles who were martyred for their faith? But that’s not true because even in our days we do see persecution and tribulation in different parts of the World. Some of them had to go through severe persecution unto death, but no one escaped or experienced rapture. Therefore, it would be wise to conclude that there is no certain timing that we can predict for tribulation because it can happen anytime, anywhere at different intensities, and we should not teach the doctrine of the Pretribulation Rapture, because both biblically and practically it is irrelevant. With that, the scriptures are also clear that when Christ returns every eye will see him “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen,” (Revelation 1:7).

In Matthew 24:27, “For as the lightning comes from the east and shines as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” Therefore, there is no reason to say that Christ will come secretively.

Bibliography

1. Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology, Third Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2013. 1064

2. Ibid.

3. Ibid.