Lecture 13: Eschatology

Question 1

Define historical premillennialism.

Answer 1

Christ will appear before the millennium, to usher in the thousand year reign, but only after Christians/the church endure a tribulation beforehand.

Question 2

Which eschatological beliefs did Augustine hold?

Answer 2

He was originally a postmillennialist but changed to an amillennialist.

Question 3

What do preterists often deny with respect to Christ?

Answer 3

Christ’s divinity

Question 4

What does amillennialism believe about the resurrections? Give two possibilities.

Answer 4

• The first is spiritual, when we accept the gospel, and the second is bodily.
• The first is that of the soul, for the saints to rule with God in heaven, and the second is the bodily resurrection.

Question 5

Give another name for tribulational premillennialism.

Answer 5

Dispensational premillennialism

Question 6

Define the historical view of eschatology.

Answer 6

Some prophecies may have been fulfilled and some have yet to take place. The predicts were meant to unfold through the history of the church.

Question 7

When does amillennialism believe the final judgment will occur?

Answer 7

Immediately after Christ’s second coming

Question 8

Define the symbolist view of eschatology.

Answer 8

The events spoken of should not be identified with any specific historical event because they refer to timeless truths.

Question 9

Define millennium.

Answer 9

Literally, “thousand years”. It refers to the thousand years in Revelation 20:1-8.

Question 10

Define amillennialism.

Answer 10

There is no literal, earthly reign of Christ. Most of revelation should be interpreted symbolically and we should not read too much into these events to be literally revealed.

Question 11

Define the preterist view of eschatology.

Answer 11

All parts of prophecy have already been fulfilled. The predictions were contemporary to the writer and were fulfilled in the past.

Question 12

Define the futuristic view of eschatology.

Answer 12

Most prophecies haven’t yet taken been fulfilled but they will be in the future.

Question 13

What does historical premillennialism believe about the rapture?

Answer 13

There is no rapture.

Question 14

Realized eschatology is a synonym for which view?

Answer 14

Preterist

Question 15

Give a notable preterist eschatology theologian.

Answer 15

Albert Schweitzer

Question 16

Give another name for dispensational premillennialism.

Answer 16

Tribulational premillennialism

Question 17

What apocalyptic literature was produced during the intertestamental period?

Answer 17

Pseudepigrapha

Question 18

Define eschatology.

Answer 18

Eschatology is the study of things pertaining to the end or fulfillment of history. It addresses both the end in the sense of the “last thing” (eschatos) as well as ultimate purpose (telos).

Question 19

Which eschatological view did Aquinas, Luther, and Calvin hold?

Answer 19

Amillennialist

Question 20

Give two examples of apocalyptic writing in the Old Testament.

Answer 20

• References to Zion

- Daniel 12 speaking of the resurrection

Question 21

Give a criticism of amillennialism.

Answer 21

The distinction of the two resurrections is difficult to justify since the Bible uses the same word for both.

Question 22

Give another word for the symbolist view of eschatology.

Answer 22

Idealist

Question 23

Define postmillennialism.

Answer 23

Christ appears after the millennialism. We are already in the millennial age as the influence of Christianity increases and the kingdom of God grows in power.

Question 24

Give two other names for amillennialism.

Answer 24

Realized or symbolic millennialism

Question 25

In postmillennialism, what does the rider on the white horse represent?

Answer 25

It represents the Lord claiming victory over his enemies through the preaching of the gospel.

Question 26

Which patristic theological is associated with historical premillennialism?

Answer 26

Irenaeus