Eschatology-the study of last things–is extremely important to the health of the Church. As Kingdom citizens, we know that the Bible has much to say about people’s eternal state, the return of Christ, the end of the world as we know it, and how we should live in light of such realities.
However, in the sanitized western world where death is often clean and controlled and where time is seen as eternal and more valuable than gold, we often allow eschatology to stand at the back of the line. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible contains an eschatological thread woven into the fabric of God’s grand story. Trying to remove this doctrine is like the child that keeps pulling at the single thread on his sweater, only to ruin the garment. 
While we would never attempt to remove the eschatological matters found in the Scriptures, our lifestyles are often lived as if such teachings never existed.
Does the return of our Lord shape our thoughts and influence our daily Kingdom activities while in the marketplace, school, play, or the neighborhood?
Many of the first century believers lived with the hope of the imminent return of Christ.
We live with the hope that He will return only after we can get married, experience several years at a great job, have children, and finish that project we are so excited about (all for His glory–is what we tell ourselves, of course).
The first century believers were reminded that they are but a mist (Jas 4:14). The psalmist wanted to know how to number his days (Ps 90:12).
We live each day as if we are rock wall.
We live as if the world has a trillion tomorrows and we will be around to experience all of them. . . . We live as if the unbelievers around us will be around to experience all of them.
As Kingdom citizens, this world is not our home; we are just passing through. But we are passing through with a Kingdom purpose–a stewardship for which we will have to give account! In his classic work, Evangelism in the Early Church, Michael Green writes, “It is hardly surprising, therefore, that not only in the first and second centuries, but in later periods of the Church, missionary zeal has often flowered most notably in circles which held a strongly realistic hope and a likely expectation of the coming kingdom” (269).
May we not only study about death, the coming Kingdom, heaven, hell, the return of Jesus, and the end of the world, but let’s allow such biblical teaching to shape how we should now live as Kingdom stewards in a world where many have never heard of the Lord over time and eternity. May such teaching increase our zeal for God’s glory!
May we never attempt with our lifestyles to remove the eschatological thread that not only runs throughout the Bible, but is also woven into our very essence as well.
“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. . . . Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done” (Rev 1:17-18; 22:12, ESV).
———
I write this post on the day of Secret Church 13 with the title “Heaven, Hell, and the End of the World.” I hope that you will be participating in this year’s event. However, if you are unable, I want to encourage you to obtain the resources from the event when they become available. See here. They will not only assist you with a better understanding of eschatology, but will challenge you to apply such teachings to your life and church.
(Image credit: Microsoft Office)
Pingback: A trillion tomorrows