The Study of Last Things - Part 2

As I mentioned in my last post, there are several aspects of eschatology that all orthodox Christian teaching agrees on. With the help of Grudem's Systematic Theology, here they are:

(A) The sudden, personal, visible, bodily return of Christ

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44, NIV)

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:3, NIV)

"“Men of Galilee,” they said, “why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.”" (Acts 1:11, NIV)

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first." (1 Thessalonians 4:16, NIV)

"so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. " (Hebrews 9:28, NIV)

"You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near." (James 5:8, NIV)

"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare." (2 Peter 3:10, NIV)

"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2, NIV)

"Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. So shall it be! Amen." (Revelation 1:7, NIV)

"He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20, NIV)

(B) We should eagerly long for Christ's return

"He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." (Revelation 22:20, NIV)

"It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:12-13, NIV)

"But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ," (Philippians 3:20, NIV)

"If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him. Come, O Lord!" (1 Corinthians 16:22, NIV)

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44, NIV)

(C) We do not know when Christ will return

"So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him." (Matthew 24:44, NIV)

"“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." (Matthew 25:13, NIV)

" “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13:32-33, NIV)

"You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”" (Luke 12:40, NIV)

(D) The final results of the return of Christ (*I'll have to come back to this in more detail later)

1. Judgment and punishment of unbelievers
2. Judgment and reward of believers
3. Believers living with Christ in a new heaven and new earth for eternity

I'll cover the areas of disagreement next time.