Eschatology is the study of final things or end time events. Over the years I had experienced much confusion in the study of eschatology, due to not having established some guidelines for drawing conclusions. The Lord made it clear to me that the most important criteria was that it agree with his clear teachings in the gospels. In this study I will use the following three guidelines:
GUIDELINE # 1
A conclusion can only be drawn when it is in agreement with the rest of the Bible. Some teachers have established major doctrines using only one proof text. Consistent scriptural teaching with several supporting passages that agree on a certain point will help eliminate error.
GUIDELINE #2
Plain statements which need no interpretation hold precedence over vague, figurative, symbolic or obscure scriptures. This is especially true when dealing with dreams and visions. They never take precedence over the plain teachings of scripture. Difficult passages must be interpreted in the light of well established scriptural teaching. Throughout the bible dreams and visions normally are not to be taken literally. They are usually in figurative speech, or in sign language, they speak a language of their own. Dreams and visions must never be interpreted in such a way as to contradict plain statements of scripture.
HOW MANY SPIRITS DOES GOD HAVE?
As an example of how we should deal with a vision let's use the following example:
The scriptures consistently teach that there is one Spirit of God. It is referred to as the Holy Spirit. There seems to be no argument amongst Christians about this fact. But if we take the book of Revelation literal then we have a very confusing issue arise about the Holy Spirit. In Revelation we find many references to the seven Spirits of God.
'To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words Of him who holds the seven spirits of God... " (Rev. 3:la) 'These are the seven spirits of God. " (Rev. 4.5b) "..which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Rev. 5:6b)
So here is proof that God has seven spirits- right? Wrong. We base our doctrine on the consistent teaching of scripture and interpret the vision in the light of those truths. Yet when it comes to end time events and the second coming of Christ some have formulated entire doctrines on one scripture reference out of the book of Revelation and disregard all other scripture. The doctrine of the resurrection is one blatant example, as you well see in chapter six, "The Two Resurrections".
GUIDELINE #3
The teaching of Jesus and the apostles are to be held in irrefutable honor. If Jesus and the apostles taught on the subject, then we must build our foundation on what they taught. Jesus taught much about His second coming. "If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing " (II Tim. 6:3,4a) He specifically states that to digress from the exact teachings of Jesus Christ is not wholesome. "But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." (II Cor 11:3,4) Christ taught a very simple gospel, and a very simple eschatology as you will see. Some have made it complicated and confusing. Let us believe the simple truths of Christ.
SUMMARY
In summary, we have set forth three simple rules for understanding eschatology:
1. Consistent scriptural teaching.
2. Plain statements hold priority over dreams, visions, sign language and obscure portions.
3. Our conclusions must be in agreement with the eschatology of Jesus and the apostles.
Eschatology will be not be confusing if we will build our foundation upon these three simple guidelines.