Page 4 - Eschatology - Student Ebook

not really want us to understand prophecy and therefore, we should not waste our time trying to study
it.”

Revelation 1:1–3 (NIV84)1 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants
what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who
testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3
Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and
take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.

At the beginning of the book of Revelation we are told that Jesus wants us to know the things that must
soon take place. And He pronounces a blessing upon those who read, teach, hear, and keep what is
revealed in prophecy.

The first chapter of Revelation makes it clear that John was to write what Jesus Christ was revealing to
him so that the churches could read it and obey it. So, the book of Revelation is for us, believers in the
church of Jesus Christ, to study and to obey.

Revelation 22:6–7 (NIV84)6 The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The
Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that
must soon take place.” 7 “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the
prophecy in this book.”

At the end of the book of Revelation God again pronounces blessing on those who keep the words of
the prophecy of this book.

So, God clearly wants us to read, study, understand, teach and obey what He has revealed to us about
the future. Let us not be discouraged just because different people hold various views of how they
understand Biblical prophecy. Rather, let us double our efforts to come to a Biblical understanding of
what God has revealed. He wants us to understand prophecy and to live our lives in light of what He has
revealed.

Eschatology is more or less the study and interpretation of the verses in the Bible that predict future
events. Did you know that approximately one-fourth of the Word of God was prophetic (a prediction of
future events) at the time it was written? God has devoted much of His Word in telling mankind what to
expect in the future, so it must be important. It gives us opportunity to prepare because what God says
will happen, will happen!

If you place this topic in the time when the predictions were made, then eschatology is really the study
of the future events which will lead mankind toward the conclusion of history. All prophecy was
eschatological in nature! Some of the prophecies in the Bible have been fulfilled and some are yet to be
fulfilled in the future.

There are three basic viewpoints concerning the interpretation of prophecy. While each viewpoint is
distinct in its understanding of the future, they are all related to God’s covenants with the Jewish people
and especially to the covenant made with Abraham.

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