Escathology Unlimited

Dennis Mather

• Publisher: PageTurner, Press and Media
• Year: 2020
• ISBN:
  9781649084026
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Religion

This is the third in a series of books that emphasize time is running out for this world as we know, Jesus is coming back soon.

However, the author wanted to go further and encourage Christians who find themselves "watching for the Lord's return." He does this by stressing the fact that all born-again Christians are going to be residing in New Jerusalem someday with their savior, Jesus Christ.

Copyright © 2020 by Dennis Mather

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All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or manner, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the express written permission of the copyright owner except for the use of brief quotations in a book review or other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

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Created in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020919504

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-64908-403-3

eBook 978-1-64908-402-6

Republished by: PageTurner Press and Media LLC

Publication Date: 10/20/2020

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To order copies of this book, contact:

PageTurner Press and Media

Phone: [phone]

[email protected]

www.pageturner.us

Preface

The theology that pertains to things that happen in the last days is quite often called ‘prophecy’, but the technical term is ‘eschatology’.

In the Old Testament prophecy was “predictions”, but now in this day and age it is, ”speaking forth the written Scripture”.1 This is because we now have the completed Word of God in our present canon of scripture, and we need no further predictions pertaining to the last days. Scripture just needs to be diligently studied, so that the Holy Spirit can illuminate it for you.

The next thing that’s going to happen in history is our “Blessed Hope”, or the rapture (Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). It is my favorite part of the doctrine of last things, because I’m going to participate in it!

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1 James Strong says in his dictionary, The Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (New York and Nashville: Abingdon Press), (item #4396) that a prophet is someone “who has insight into divine things and speaks them forth to others.” This refers to our modern day preachers who expound the Scriptures in such a manner that people are compelled to hear.

Chapter One

A Systematic Theology of Eschatology

Eschatology is the Greek words ‘eschatos’2 and ‘ology’ put together. Eschatos means “latter end” and speaks of those things that will be happening at the end of, and directly after, our present dispensation.3

And “ology” means “science” in Greek.

We do not know exactly when these events will take place, because “it is not for you to know” (Acts 1:7). However, we can know the general time frame (Luke 21:29-32), and one of the best ways of knowing this is the fact that Israel is being regathered (Ezekiel 36:24 ; Ezekiel 37; Zephaniah 3:14-20; Zechariah 10:8-11; Mark 13:27-29). She is getting ready for having her Messiah sitting on David’s throne in Jerusalem during the Millennium. This is happening, even though Israel is now in a state of unbelief.

On top of this, the ‘gathering around Jerusalem for battle’ (Zechariah 14:2; Revelation 16:16; 19:19) that is spoken of in the Bible is beginning. This is because of the hatred of many people for the Jewish state, especially those in her immediate vicinity.

We will examine these things and seven others in this treatise. They are: 1.) the apostasy; 2.) the rapture; 3.) the tribulation period; 4.) the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ; 5.) the resurrections and judgments; 6.) the millennium; and 7.) the new Heaven and new earth.

1. The Apostasy:
   The apostasy is where we are living right now and is based upon the fact that “the mystery of lawlessness is already at work” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). The stage is being set for those things that are going to happen right after our present dispensation ends. So it is good to know what is going on in our present day.
   Many things are included in this apostasy. Three of these are: 1.), mankind is now in a condition that is commensurate with that which is depicted in 2 Timothy chapter three, verses 1-7. It is speaking of gross immorality; 2.) there is an increase of knowledge in the latter days predicted by Daniel in Daniel chapter 12, verse 4; and 3.) the world can only think of one thing, and that is the quest to become a one-world society.
   So it can be seen by these facts that we are in the last days just prior to the rapture of the Church (Matthew 24:32,33,37; 2 Thessalonians 2:7,8).
2. The Rapture:
   The rapture is when born again Christians of all nations will be delivered from “the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:10; Revelation 3:10; Daniel 12:1b). It is the event that will end the church dispensation and is the next event in eschatological history.
   It is accomplished by our being caught up into the clouds to be with Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:51-54; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18) and is certainly our “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13). It is also why everyone who is born again is at the ‘marriage’ and the ‘marriage supper’ of the Lamb in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:8; Revelation 19:7,9) while everyone who did not participate in it is left on earth to go through the Great Tribulation.
3. The Great Tribulation:
   The Tribulation is that period of time between the rapture and the glorious second coming of Jesus Christ. It takes place on earth while born again believers are in heaven.4 It has also...