DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What are the main differences between personal eschatology and general eschatology? Why might one be more immediately important to our daily lives?
Based on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19-31), what does the Bible suggest about what happens immediately after death?
How does the concept that “death is inevitable and judgment comes immediately after” (as seen in Hebrews 9:27) affect your understanding of life’s priorities?
What are the three main views regarding the millennial kingdom in Revelation 20? Which view do you feel is most accurate? Why?
How should the reality of heaven and hell impact the way we live?
SERMON MANUSCRIPT:
Of all the various topics in Scripture, Eschatology is hands down the most controversial. One tricky aspect of the Bible is determining what passages about the future mean. It’s far easier to connect the dots to something that has happened in the past than to something that will happen in the future. Therefore, some of these topics have an inherent sense of blurriness. Thus, we need to handle them with grace.
The Bible is true. God has a will and has made his will known to us in the Scriptures. The future will play out exactly as he plans and precisely as he says in his word. One day, the fog will be removed, and we will see with precise clarity how God’s plan will play out in the future. But, until that day, we’re left trying to see through the fog what God’s will is for the future.
PERSONAL ESCHATOLOGY
Now, some theologians divide Eschatology into two camps: personal eschatology and general eschatology. Personal eschatology seeks to answer the pressing questions of what will happen at the end of your life. General eschatology aims to answer the pressing questions of what will happen at the end of this world.
So, we will first spend some time swimming in the pool of personal eschatology, then get out and dive into the pool of general eschatology.
But, my pastoral warning for us before we begin is this: we’ve missed the point if we ever find ourselves more concerned with general eschatology than personal eschatology.
So, let's begin our discussion today by highlighting personal eschatology.
One thing I’ve loved about Harbor so far in this season of our life is that I’ve officiated more weddings than funerals. But I’m not ignorant of the reality that those numbers will eventually start to level out. The sobering reality of life is that death is inevitable; it’s coming for us all.
The Bible describes two people who escaped death, Enoch and Elijah. Enoch “walked with God and was taken (Gen. 5:24 and Heb 11:5),” and Elijah was “taken up in a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings 2:11).” Everyone else— Jesus included— has drank from the bitter cup of death. The unfortunate reality is that death is coming for us all. Our breaths on this planet are limited; only God knows how many we have left. So, as we approach our final breath, we’re left with the question, “What happens when we die?”
I think we come in contact with an answer in Luke 16:19-31. Here, Jesus tells a story to the Pharisees about a rich man and a poor man. The poor man dies and is carried to Abraham’s right side, next to the LORD. The rich man dies and is carried to torment in Hades.
“[19] There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. [20] And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, [21] who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. [22] The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, [23] and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. [24] And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ [25] But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. [26] And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ [27] And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father’s house—[28] for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ [29] But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ [30] And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ [31] He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”
Jesus’ words here teach us a few things about death (that I think the rest of the Bible affirms).
First, it teaches us that our souls don’t go to sleep when we die. We don’t just rest quietly until later; something happens right away. As we will see in a moment, the Bible discusses a future and final resurrection that will occur at the end of time. But until then, it seems our bodies will pass into what theologians call “the intermediate state.” This is a time when both believers and nonbelievers are conscious and awake. Like the rich man, nonbelievers will go to a place of torment. And like Lazarus, those in Christ will be with the Lord at Abraham’s right side. As Jesus himself says to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise.” On the other side of death, believers will have a conscious state of paradise with the Lord. And for nonbelievers, on the other side of death will be a conscious state of torment.
Second, I want us to see how death brings a sense of finality. There are no second chances after death. As the author of Hebrews puts it, “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…” As the rich man pleaded for mercy after his death, no mercy was left to give. There was a great chasm separating the two, preventing mercy from coming. Although a final judgment comes in the end, judgment comes at the point of death.
Third, this teaches us that death is something to dread for those outside of Christ and something to anticipate for those in Christ. In Philippians 1:21, Paul says, “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” For Paul, death was something he anticipated. A proper view of death for a Christian is one of healthy anticipation. Life is ministry, and death is gain. We never seek to cut our ministry short. We strive to serve Jesus as long as possible in this life. But, the longer we serve, the more our hearts beat for what is to come. Like a future trip to Disney, our hearts long to be with the Lord.
Now, I’m no fool. Chances are, many of us don’t look to death with hopeful anticipation. Chances are, some of us are terrified of what will happen to us after we die. Chances are, many of us are terrified of how we will die. In his book Everyone’s a Theologian, R.C. Sproul says, “We hold on tenaciously to life in this world because we are not really convinced of the glory that the Father has established in heaven for His people. Every hope and joy that we look forward to—and then some—will abound in this wonderful place. Our greatest moment will be when we walk through the door and leave this world of tears and sorrow, this valley of death, and enter into the presence of the Lamb.” So, a key element to the Christian hope is knowing that life after death is better than life before death.
MILLENNIAL KINGDOM
Now, let’s take a few minutes to explore general eschatology, answering the question, What is expected to happen at the end of time?
Let’s start with what theologians call the millennial kingdom. This is one of—if not the—most highly debated topics in eschatology. When you read Revelation 20, you will see John describing a 1,000-year reign of Christ when Satan will be seized and thrown into a bottomless pit. During this time, you see an apparent resurrection where the souls of those beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and the word of God came to life and reigned with Christ for this thousand years. After this, Satan will be released from his prison to deceive the nations.
This is what many will call the millennial (thousand-year) kingdom. Regarding this kingdom, there are essentially three main interpretations available to us: premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism.
PREMILLENNIALISM
The first interpretation of this chapter would be what we could call premillennialism. A premillennialist interpretation would be to interpret Revelation 20 as literally as possible. Pre-millennialism is the belief that Christ will return before the millennium to usher in this millennial age.
There are two different pre-millennium camps: historic premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism. Historic premillennialism holds that the church will experience tribulation before Christ returns. (I’ll talk more about the tribulation in a moment.) They also see no major distinction between Israel and the church. Dispensational premillennialism holds to the belief that the church will be raptured before the great tribulation. They also see a clear distinction between Israel and the church. When Satan is bound, Jesus will administer a Jewish political kingdom with its headquarters in Jerusalem. The temple will be restored, and the sacrificial system of the Old Testament will be reinstated.
Simply put, a premillennialist interpretation could be summarized as follows: the church age is where we are right now. This will continue until the millennial kingdom is established. A resurrection of believers (all or some?) will occur, and Christ will return. They will then reign on earth with Christ for one thousand years, after which the final battle will take place, and unbelievers will be resurrected to judgment. Then the eternal state will take place.
To support this idea, interpreters point to passages like Daniel 2:24, 7:13-14, Isaiah 11:6-9, Zechariah 14, and Jeremiah 23:5-6, which read,
- "And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed..." — Daniel 2:24
- “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom..." — Daniel 7:13-14
- “The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat..." — Isaiah 11:6-9
- "Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely..." — Jeremiah 23:5-6
POSTMILLENNIALISM
The second interpretation would be postmillennialism. Unlike premillennialism, this interpretation holds to the belief that Christ will return after the millennium. Most who hold this view interpret the 1,000 years as a figure of speech. This view holds that the growth of the gospel and the church will increase until a large portion of the world’s population is Christian, resulting in an age of peace and righteousness on the earth, at the end of which Christ will return. Post-millennialists believe the growth and expansion of this kingdom to be gradual, slow, and steady through evangelism, social reform, and cultural development. In other words, Christ is reigning, his kingdom is growing, and the gospel will ultimately transform the world.
To support this view, postmillennialism would point to passages like Matthew 13:31-33 where Jesus seems to suggest that the kingdom of God starts small but grows to have a vast influence over the world: "He put another parable before them, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’"
They point to passages like Isaiah 9:7, where he alludes to Christ’s rule gradually expanding: “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore."
They point to the great commission in Matthew 28:18-20 where we find an assumption of the guaranteed success of the gospel going into the world and transforming it: “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.’"
AMILLENNIALISM
The third interpretation would be amillennialism. Similar to postmillennialism, the amillennial position interprets Revelation 20 mainly in a figurative sense. But, unlike postmillennialism, amillennialism believes that there is no future millennium. Instead, the thousand years in Revelation 20 is figurative language describing the present church age. Therefore, the millennium is currently happening and will continue to take place until Christ returns. Simply put, this view is that Christ is reigning now, his kingdom is spiritual, and his return will bring about the final resurrection, judgment, and new creation all at once.
To support this idea, amillennialists point to passages like Luke 17:20-21 to show how Jesus’ kingdom is spiritual, not physical: “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst."
They point to passages like Colossians 1:13, where Paul teaches that the church is already a part of Christ’s kingdom: “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son."
They point to passages like Matthew 12:29, where Jesus uses similar language about binding Satan, “Or how can someone enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? Then indeed he may plunder his house.”
They point to passages like 2 Peter 3:10-13 and Romans 8:19-23, where it seems the Bible is alluding to the New Heavens and New Earth coming immediately after Christ’s return: "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved... But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Pt. 3:10-13)." “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved... But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (Rom. 8:19-23)."
If I’m honest, I’m not sure where I land here. I think, more than anything, I’m a pan-millennialist, which is the belief that it will all pan out in the end.
TRIBULATION
Now, as we swim in the deep waters of this conversation, there are a few different creeks and rivers we need to swim down! The first is the stream of the tribulation. When we use the word “tribulation,” we’re talking about a great trouble or suffering that will take place in the future.
In Matthew 24, we find Jesus talk about a coming tribulation, “[4] And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.
[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. [10] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Here, it seems that Jesus is saying that things will get worse before they get better. Before the end will come, things will get worse. Yet, as things get worse, the gospel will continue to spread. This is important because there is a debate over whether Christ will return before or after the tribulation. Are we pre-trib or post-trib?
The Bible seems to support a post-tribulation theology. In other words, Christ will return visibly and triumphantly after the tribulation. Things will get worse before they get better.
To support a pre-tribulation theology (the belief that Jesus will rapture his people before the tribulation), some will reference Revelation 3:10, which says, “Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth." The challenge in universally applying this verse to everyone is that it was directed toward a specific church during a particular time, the church in Philadelphia.
Many of you have likely seen or heard of the series “Left Behind.” The premise of this series is rooted in the idea that Christ will come and rapture up his people, and a great tribulation will take place for seven years before the end comes. I want to simply warn us to be careful not to get our theology from a movie.
Post-tribulation advocates that Christ’s visible and triumphant return will be after the tribulation. In other words, things will get worse before they get better.
FUTURE BODILY RESURRECTION
Now, amid all of this uncertainty, one thing is for sure. A future bodily resurrection will take place for all people in the future.
- Daniel 12:2 says, "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."
- John 5:28-29 says, "Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
- 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says, "Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."
- 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 says, "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord."
- Romans 6:5 says, "For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."
- Acts 24:15 says, "And I have the same hope in God as these men themselves have, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust."
FINAL JUDGMENT
Then, after this, we see that God will bring final judgement.
- In Matthew 12:36, Jesus says, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”
- In Matthew 25:31-46 he says, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats... Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.’”
- Revelation 20:11–15 says, “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done... And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:10 says, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
So, there is a future judgment in which all people—believers and unbelievers—will be judged. During this final judgment, we will be judged according to our works. And the consequences of these judgments are eternal.
Now, how do we reconcile this with being saved by grace? We are saved by grace through faith, and genuine faith produces good works. Therefore, our works/actions reveal whether or not our faith resides in Jesus. All whose faith does not reside in Christ will experience eternal damnation in hell. And all whose faith in Christ will experience eternal life with God in heaven.
HELL IS REAL
Now, what are some of the verses that speak on hell?
- Matthew 10:28 says, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
- Matthew 25:41 says, “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’”
- Mark 9:43-48 says, “And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”
- 2 Thessalonians 1:9 says, “They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.”
- Revelation 20:10 says, “And the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”
- Revelation 21:8 says, “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”
So, everyone whose name isn’t in the Lamb's Book of Life will be judged according to their works. Hell will be their eternal fate. Hell could literally be a lake of fire. Or the lake of fire imagery could be symbolic. If it’s symbolic, we must remember that all symbolism falls short of what it represents. Therefore, hell will be far worse than we could ever imagine. Hell is the absence of God (2 Thess. 1:9). Therefore, it is the absence of all things good.
HEAVEN IS GREAT
If hell is worse than we could ever imagine, heaven is greater than we could ever imagine.
- Jesus, in John 14:2-3 says, “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”
- Revelation 21:1-4 says, “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 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.’”
- Revelation 21:18-21 paints a beautiful picture, “The city was built of pure gold, like clear glass... the wall was of jasper, and the city of sapphire... The twelve foundations of the wall were adorned with every kind of jewel.”
- Revelation 22:1-5, “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb... In the light of the throne, they shall see no more darkness, and the night shall be no more. And they shall reign forever and ever.”
- 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 says, “For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling..”
- 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, “But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”
Again, the language used in Revelation could be literal or symbolic. But all symbolism falls short of what it represents. So, heaven is far greater than we could ever dream or imagine.
It is not a cloud where we will solemnly and endlessly sing. It is a new earth where we will dwell with God for all eternity. It is a place of unparalleled beauty. It is a secure and safe place prepared by Jesus. It is a heavenly community where we will dwell with God’s people in perfect fellowship forever. In his book Heaven, Randy Alcorn says, “Think of friends or family members who loved Jesus and are with him now. Picture them with you, walking together in this place. All of you have powerful bodies, stronger than those of an Olympic decathlete. You are laughing, playing, talking, and reminiscing. You reach up to a tree to pick an apple or orange. You take a bite. It’s so sweet that it’s startling. You’ve never tasted anything so good. Now you see someone coming toward you. It’s Jesus, with a big smile on his face. You fall to your knees in worship. He pulls you up and embraces you.”
COME LORD JESUS
Heaven is better, church! For those in Christ, the best of this life is a faint glimpse into what we look forward to in heaven one day! For those outside of Christ, the worst of this life is a faint glimpse into what hell will be. So, when it comes to the topic of end times, the proper heart posture of a believer is hopeful anticipation of Christ ushering in this new life. Although we don’t know what will happen between now and the new heavens and earth, we know that things will end well for those in Christ. We are pan-millennialists; things will pan out in the end! As Paul says in Titus 2:13, we are “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” As he says in Philippians 3:20, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body…” Therefore, we cry out, “Our Lord, come! (1 Cor. 16:22)”
We end our gathering every Sunday by quoting Revelation 22:20. In doing so, we’re not staking our flag in a particular eschatological camp. No! We’re corporately declaring a reminder that we have something to look forward to! Jesus is coming soon, and we want him to! Therefore, we cry, “Come, Lord Jesus!”