David Murray - Leadership for Servants

Six Practical Reasons to Study Eschatology

Oct 1, 2012 • By David Murray • 13 Comments

Harold Camping has a lot to answer for, not least that his outlandish views about the end of the world have increased skepticism, even among Christians, about the value of studying eschatology. Let me try to win you back by providing six practical reasons for studying the Bible’s teaching on the last things.

1. Eschatology helps us to teach the church

2. Eschatology helps us to worship God

3. Eschatology helps us to serve with zeal

4. Eschatology helps us to hope in the midst of trouble

5. Eschatology helps us to prepare for judgment

6. Eschatology helps us to look forward to heaven

You can read brief explanations of these points on the Ligonier blog where this article was originally posted.

Here are a few videos in which I try to summarize the main millennial views.

Amillennialism

Amillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

Postmillennialism

Postmillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

Premillennialism

Premillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

Dispensational Premillennialism

Dispensational Premillennial Timeline from Puritan Reformed on Vimeo.

13 Responses to “Six Practical Reasons to Study Eschatology”

  1. Aimee Byrd October 1, 2012 at 10:16 am #

    I always like to encourage people that eschatology has to do with the promises of God. In considering Hebrews 10:23, and chapter 11 following, faith looks forward to God’s promises. How could we not want to glorify him more by studying what he promises to do?

  2. Dario October 2, 2012 at 1:15 am #

    Hello Mr. Murray, which one do you side with the most and does siding with one really make a difference. I side more with the Amillenial view since I beli e the left behind series was veri misleading.

  3. Eduardo October 3, 2012 at 5:06 pm #

    Eschatology for dummies :-)

    I started as a dispensational, and then became historic-premill and finally (I hope) an optimistic amill.

  4. Hannah October 5, 2012 at 12:12 am #

    What does optimistic amillenialist mean as opposed to just amillenialist?

    • David Murray October 5, 2012 at 9:40 pm #

      Hannah it basically means that we still have hopes for great revivals of true Christianity around the world.

  5. Steve, Winnipeg, Canada October 5, 2012 at 11:55 am #

    These are the best brief visuals I have ever seen to describe the main positions.

    I can’t say for sure if I’d ever use them, but would you permit public showing of these in my church for teaching purposes? The original source fully credited, of course.

  6. Gilbert Gerbrandt October 5, 2012 at 12:47 pm #

    Very interesting ‘cartoons’.
    According to the Word of God I follow the historial Pre-trib., Pre-millenial view of Christ’s teach, two very basic reasons are:
    1. Before the tribulation when the Holy Spirit is ‘taken away’
    “I ain’t stayin” (pardon my english I am a retired business- man with a Masters degree in Theology)
    2. When the tribulation (Thess. and Rev. etc.) happen then we
    would know too the day ‘the second coming of Christ’ and
    that would make GOD a liar Matt.24:36 & Mark 13:32.

  7. Orlando Black October 6, 2012 at 10:44 am #

    Dispensational Premillennialist here. According to II Thessalonians Chapter 4, I believe that the next Major Event is The Rapture of The Church. Then the Antichrist will be revealed, then the Great Tribulation Period. Thank The LORD that JESUS is Coming for HIS Bride (The Church) First. :-)

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  1. Saturday Shout-Outs: Ralph West, Little Rock, & Ministry Links | H.B. Charles Jr. - October 5, 2012

    [...] Many Christians avoid the subject of the last days. Here are six practical reasons to study eschatology. [...]

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