69 - Understanding of End Times, Part 1

Introduction to Eschatology and the Course Outline

Well, welcome to the striving for eternity Academy, this is a ministry of striving for eternity. I am Andrew Rappaport your instructor. And yes, I got a little bit too much Sun at the reason rally. Yes, I know I Did have suntan lotion.

It's not that I didn't it's just that I ended up wiping it all off and therefore I got burned. This is actually a week old, but that's okay I was out yesterday evangelizing and got a little bit more burned.

But we're glad to have you with us. This is as I said the striving for eternity Academy. This is our school of systematic theology and in this school as we've been going through this is lesson number nine 69 69 lessons.

And we're in book number four. In other words, we've had four different set basically sections that we're doing in this school and This is all in an introduction of theology. This is our what we're calling God's program for the ages the doctrine of the church and the doctrine of last things and so this is the lesson number five in that book and this is what we're calling the understanding of last Things and I encourage you to pick up a copy of the syllabus.

You can get it at the website striving for eternity org. In fact more specifically you can go to the store and pick it up at store dot striving for eternity dot org. While you're there, you can pick up a lot of other good products.

I think they're good anyway and Pick up some other syllabuses, by the way. There is a way to get bulk discount on the syllabuses. So if you were to to say want to get all four of the syllabuses for the systematic theology You could pick those up for 75 or you can get all six that we currently have or all six of the syllabuses you can get a six syllabuses actually for a hundred dollars, so you get better volume in discount, but Or better discount in volume.

I said that backwards didn't I? Yeah. All right so with that We're gonna look at the study of end times and I know there are some students That have been waiting for a very long time for us to finally get to the doctrine of end times and Some think thought we would never get here actually, some thought the second coming of Christ may appear before we got to this and Well, we may still be that's still a possibility because we're not gonna get to everything this week.

Why End Times Study Requires Humility and Care

But we're gonna start and we're gonna be looking into a lot of different things. Now. This is an area where it gets Shall we say controversial a lot of disagreement? There's there's people who feel very strongly on Their position in this area and one of the things I want to out the outset Encourage you with is the fact that we have to remember That though we think we're really really really really really right on this issue.

We could be wrong. All right. This is an area where scripture is not as clear as we would like it to be or as we think it is. You know many people were confused at the first coming many people Did not expect Christ to come the way he did in his first coming because they had an expectation Of how Christ was to come in his first coming and they were mixing up some of the first coming With the second coming and so what they were looking for was some of the things that are prophesied in his second coming in the first Coming and so the the whole thing that I'm trying to say with that is that we know that there has been Confusion in the past we should not think that there won't be confusion in the future now one of the things I also would like to say by way of Warning is that we really need to be careful.

I like what one of my Friends had said that he said referring specifically the book of Revelation. But this this actually works for all of the the study in the area of what's called eschatology. We're gonna get that in a minute, but the study of end times.

The issue is that you could look at it as more of like a political cartoon. In other words, you know years ago you could see a political cartoon in America where there's an American Eagle swooping down and picking up a bear and and back when the United States and and Russia were kind of at odds with one another people would see the United States as the Eagle the bear as the as Russia and they would get this idea of a general picture of this Eagle swooping down picking up a bear meaning like, you know Basically the America, you know Winning or taking off with with Russia type of thing and I'm not I'm saying that to say you get an idea of generalities in a Political cartoon, but it doesn't give you all the details and that's the thing I think that where we where we see is that as we look into these lessons you're gonna see a lot of people focus a lot of time on lots of details and.

Yet, how could there be such disagreement on these areas? With all these details and I think a lot of it as we're gonna see. Is gonna come to how you interpret the Bible the doctrine the study of hermeneutics?

We have a whole class on hermeneutics. That's part of our. You know, really it's gonna be I guess as we reshift things will be part of the school of systematic theology. That's probably where it would fit.

But the the whole idea of hermeneutics is how to study the Bible and that that comes into play. How do we deal with these many many passages that talk about Christ's second coming? This is the issue. There are lots of debates and we have to be careful on how we dialogue with one another on these issues.

I'm spending this much time to give a warning because of the fact that there is so much in this particular doctrine in this particular area where people seem to want to fight and argue and It's one where I think that it's it's not like the Calvinism or Minionism debate that people have where?

Typically what most of the time is happening in that debate is mischaracterizing of the other person's position. This one is one where I think really what is people are arguing from what the scripture does not say.

Now a lot of people are arguing and making a case for what they think scripture says. But don't really look at and say well the scripture doesn't actually say that and and they're drawing conclusions.

Based on presuppositions that they don't question where they have that presupposition. What you're gonna find is that the way that you handle your interpretation is going to affect the way you look at end times.

And we're gonna see that as we go through this lesson. Maybe not all this week. I'm gonna try to see how much we can get through. But the point being is if you look in your syllabus, and I hope you have a syllabus but if you look in your syllabus the doctrine of end times is often called Eschatology that's a big word to impress your friends.

What does eschatology mean? It is the doctrine or the study of end times? And so this is a study of the scriptures which promotes one of the most exciting and intriguing Topics among students. It's because it there's great confusion.

And endless speculation when it comes to the doctrine of end times there's really no end to the the different views and Speculations that occur actually I kind of find it funny. There seems to be more and more Speculation and more and more views that come up.

It seems almost yearly. It's important to study in times though and this is the thing what we want to do is we want to look today at the benefits of this study because a Lot of people will say well, why should I bother?

I mean isn't it better to study that which has already been revealed the His first coming the Old Testament study things that we know less speculation. I agree with you, but we have to admit that a majority of The Old and New Testament deal with Christ's second coming and because of that it's it's not a topic We should ignore.

That's the point since so much of Scripture Focuses on in times. I think that it is something that God wants us to study, but we're not going to have all the answers and Some people how does that make them uncomfortable?

It does because we want to have all the answers, but you know what Deuteronomy 29 29 It says that the secret things belong unto the Lord, but that which he has revealed to you obey and teach to your children.

You see we want to have all the answers, but we are not going to have all the answers. As much as we would want to have all the answers. It's not gonna happen and it's for that reason that we study these things and you know what this should do.

It should cause us to depend upon God. Because it should reveal to us. The most important thing it reveals to me and it should to you is that you and I are not God. We don't have all the answers and we won't have all the answers and in fact We shouldn't look to think that we will have all the answers.

We should depend upon God and look to what his word says. Could we be wrong in this area? Yeah, we someone is. I mean we can't all be right. But is it something I'm gonna separate over with with other Christians.

No, it's not. How should we approach the information on the doctrine of end times in the scriptures? These are some of the questions that we're gonna deal with today. There's two key areas That we desire to answer and that's going to be foundational to an understanding of last things the first is going to be the benefits of the doctrines and then the approach of the Doctrines of last times or last things end times.

The Value of Charts, Novelty, and Scripture over Speculation

All right, so that's gonna be a thing and as we go through this It's important to understand there are people that's when I say endless speculations. Let me get my this is just one of many charts that you will see if you go and look at end times.

Online you're gonna see tons of charts, but I'm just gonna hold this up because well it covers my face. There I am. All right, but but just take a look at this and look at all the detail. That's put in to this is someone put an awful lot of detail.

I had someone that that gave this to me and just look at all the detail that someone put. Can I get that all on well, I can get most of that on to screen. Look at all the detail. There's all I mean throughout this thing.

There's all these what that's just scrolled up. The there's all this detail that's in a chart like that and there's tons of those charts online. Everyone seems to have their own little chart. There's all these charts that people have for all the different views of end times.

Okay, granted more so in pre-millennialism just saying but and we'll get to what that means in a bit. But they're more known for all these different charts of showing the details of end times. What's gonna happen in what order things like that?

And as much as we want to have I'd be nice together all that detail have it all know that it's right. Know that we got it all we can follow the line. We just can't I mean those details might be right they you know.

A lot of my think would be but there's gonna be things that are wrong, you know, this is the issue. I mean there I will say this you should not base your doctrine or understanding of end times. Unlike a novel a fictional novel series like left behind.

Okay. I'm just saying Fictional novels should not be the basis for your theology. Okay. There's probably some things in there. I might I actually to be honest for for you know, complete, you know. Disclosure.

I haven't read the left-behind series. So I really don't know if I would agree or disagree with the theology taught in that. But I don't think that that's probably the best source for your theology on Eschatology.

All right. I think you should go to the scriptures. Or maybe go to the syllabus just saying you could pick up a syllabus and go to that. Just grab one of those right there the syllabus on the camera. On screen, all right.

The Greatness of God Displayed in Future Judgment

So let's start with the benefits of the doctrine of end time so let's let's look at the benefits and with this I want to say that while the Many may study The doctrine because it's interesting. It's intriguing.

It's it's one of two areas. I find that When people want to get into some study. There's there's a couple of doctrines they focus on they focus on salvation or end times and we've talked about this. Especially if you were in book number three, I guess it was where we talked about the doctrine of salvation we talked about this and I mentioned how so many people get into their theology at Salve the doctrine of salvation or the doctrine of end times and a lot of it's because there is some interest here.

There is some speculation. It is kind of neat to look for these different things. But the one point I want to point out is that's the bad place to start our theology. This is lesson number 69 and we're just getting to the end times now.

That means there's 68 lessons that came before it. You should study those you should really really really really really start at the beginning on the first few lessons we talked about the attributes of God because all of our theology and I've said this throughout these classes our Theology is built on the character of God.

Theo Ology God study of it's a study of God and that everything is going to be based on who he is. If you have a right understanding of the character of God, you're gonna have a better understanding of the end times.

You're gonna have a better understanding of salvation these doctrines where people fight over you're gonna see that there's a lot more clarity. If you have the nature of God, right? That's why it's so important to focus there to start there start with those lessons.

I'm not saying to shut this off right now and go there. Though that might not be a bad idea just saying. But the point being is you do want to have that foundation set first. Okay, so there's many people that study this because it's an interesting thing.

There's a speculation. There's a number of practical benefits. However to studying the doctrine of end times and and this is a thing that you know in all of my study In this area and I had to take a class in seminary and read many books on eschatology from many different points of view and one of the things I saw very little of is Giving some explanation to why should we bother?

I mean, why should I take the time to study out a doctrine that seems? confusing. Something that seems like we can't get answers we can't be as exact and absolute as we would like to be and That causes some of us to be like well, why should I even bother?

Why should I spend the time to do this kind of study and I understand that and. So what I want to do is start before we get in because we're gonna spend several weeks. Several lessons going through the doctrine of end times looking at different topics.

Getting into some controversy. Just saying I'm not afraid of that. I hope you're not either. I'm not going to agree with everything you believe. You're not going to agree with everything I believe. But that's okay.

The goal here is going to be that we at least fairly represent one another's positions that I hope We do. Second that we would be able to dialogue granted. It's me talking to you. I don't get to hear you unless you well email us you could email us.

So, you know that email us at strive at Academy at striving for eternity org. That's one way you can email us. Okay, just saying so you can email us. I threw you for a loop on that one. They will the engineer was not expecting that slide to have to come up.

All right enough fooling around so but you could dialogue with us and you know It'll get to me if you want me to respond you could let me know but the thing is is that we We are saying that we're cautious to say that there's an absolute that we could know this side of heaven.

I think that in hindsight We're gonna have 20 20 vision on the other side of heaven or the other side of these events. We're gonna know exactly how they were gonna happen this side and not as much as we would like.

Benefits of End Times Study: God's Greatness, Revelation, and Hope

Okay. All right so let's look at some benefits. The first benefit you see in your syllabus is it teaches us something of the Greatness of God the greatness of God. That's your blank greatness. It teaches us something about the greatness of God.

Let's take a look at Isaiah chapter 26. Isaiah 26 and verses 9 to 11. Isaiah 26 9 to 11 says my soul yearns for you in the night my spirit within me yearning. We earnestly sorry language night start again my soul yearns for you in the night my spirit within me earnestly seeks you for when your judgments are in the earth the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness if Favor is shown to the wicked.

It does not learn righteousness in the land of uprightness. He deals corruptly and does not see the majesty of the Lord. Oh Lord. Your hand is lifted up, but they do not see it. Let them See your zeal for your people and be ashamed let the let the fire.

For your adversity adversity, I can't speak and Adversaries I can't consume them. I'm sorry. So. But the point there is you see you see how Isaiah had this view of the greatness of God he In these things he could not see in these things is future judgment that he looked forward to.

What that caused Isaiah to see is how great God is. And I want to point that out to say that we don't study these things so we could say oh look at how I figured. All this out look, you know. Look at all the the details on my chart and how I figured out this versus that and this and this and this and I Can tie this verse with that verse and I understand there were many people that do all that.

They want to tie all these details together all through the scriptures and show how they all work out together. But the question is as you're doing this study, are you learning something about the greatness of God?

Do you see? The greatness of God in his plans for the future. Isaiah did. Isaiah looked to the future judgment of God and was like God you're so good. You are so great. That's should be our approach. Our view should be that we see God as being greater Than we did before.

That when we think about we look at the world around us and we could ask like the psalmist asks in Psalm 10. Like why is it Lord that the wicked prosper? I mean if you read Psalm 10. And I wish that we had time to to go through all of it.

I actually started using Psalm 10 as my open-air preaching Text when I want to open our preach. I know so a lot of guys have been going to Romans 1. I used to do that. I got a different passage. I used to go to 2nd Corinthians 5, but now what my kind of new favorite one is Psalm 10.

I like it because he said Oh Lord Do you stand far away. Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble in? Arrogance the wicked pursue the poor. Let them be caught in their schemes. They have devised for the wicked boast In of the desires of his soul and the one greedy for gain Curses and renounces the Lord in the pride of his face and the wicked does not Seek him.

All his thoughts are if there is no God well stop there in verse 4 of Psalm 10, but you see that that's the psalmist is going the Wicked seem to prosper. It looks like they're prospering and they're denying God and he goes on to say why he goes on in this psalm to explain that these wicked people they they they they look for the poor and needy and helpless and They take advantage of them and they boast about taking advantage of them and they do it because they think God will not see them.

And they end up saying that in verse 13. Why do the wicked renounce God and say in his heart you will not call me to account. They think if God doesn't exist God won't call me into account. I can do this wickedness and the psalmist is saying why does it seem like the wicked that deny God's?

Existence that think they're not going to come to account. Why is it look like they prosper here on earth as they take care not take care of but they abuse the the poor and the? Helpless. But he doesn't end that way see in verse 14.

He says the king is forever the nation's perish from his land. Oh Lord, you hear the desires of the afflicted you will strengthen their heart. You will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and to the oppressed so that Man who does who is of the earth may strike?

Terror no more so what you see in Psalm 10 is the psalmist is saying it seems like the wicked are prospering. But you know what it's only for a short time. They will prosper forever. No in fact when you see the psalmist looking to at the end of that psalm is he's looking to the future.

God is the king of kings and there is a day that these people who say I won't have to give an account for my Evil they're gonna have to give an account. What is the psalmist appealing to? Future judgment the end times.

That's what he's looking to and what does he get out of that? He sees that God is Greater he sees the greatness of God that should be our focus. We should focus on the greatness of God. Another thing that we see is John the the writer of the book of Revelation.

As long as the book of John first John second John third John, but John says John proclaims blessings. That's your blank their blessings. John proclaims blessings. Upon those who read hear and obey the prophecies in the book of Revelation.

This is Revelation chapter 3. Revelation chapter 3 and you see here. It says blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy and Blessed are those who hear and Who keep what is written in it for the time is near?

John is saying and this may surprise some but John is saying that there is a Blessing in just reading this book of Revelation that talks so much about end times. The first three chapters are not but after chapter 3 the rest of it from chapter 4 to 21 are all end times they're all focusing on future events and John says that you will receive a blessing from reading this book and.

And for some that seems strange like wait Andrew, what do you mean? What did John mean that we receive a blessing from this? What kind of blessing is this this thing this book confuses me it talks about, you know.

Some you know these there were a lot of different things, you know there it talks about these these beasts and these. You know different things that aren't clear and it's so confusing. How could you say I get a blessing.

Well here would be the the Real issue and this is where I think the primary blessings gonna be. I like what Richard Mayhew says in his commentary on Revelation. He basically says he could summarize the entire book of Revelation into two words.

And it's really it's true. You really can the entire book of Revelation can be summarized in two words. God Wins. I Love that, you know when I read through Revelation and I'd look I watched the news and I look at what's going on in the world.

Today you could sit there and get frustrated at things. But it's good to know when we look at the we know the ending of the story and the ending of the story is God wins. Maybe you're one of those types of people who likes to read a mystery novel by the last chapter first.

You want to see who did it so that then you figure out you read so you could put all the pieces together. I know I don't do that. But some seem to like to do that. My suggestion is read through it twice, you know.

But you know, it's it's a thing where that's what we have. We have the ending and as we read the book of Revelation, you should start the Bible again. And read through it now knowing God wins and as you see the wickedness like we read parts of in Psalm 10.

Go read all of Psalm 10 see what the psalmist is saying. And it's like it is it seems on earth like the wicked are prospering from ill-gotten gain and wickedness. But you know what in the end God wins.

God wins. I can rest assured that as evil as the world is getting as as these professing atheists want to start to persecute Christians and Punish Christians for having a belief in the truth. The reality is God wins.

When we see this evil in our world God wins. When we go as I did yesterday to New York City to evangelize and as much as I hate it the fact that New York City's passed a law that now public nudity is okay and We're sitting there and I we had a believer who's from out of town he's not from the area and he saw that he was outraged as he should be as I am and he was like we should call the police.

The problem is the police won't do anything. And we can look at this and see the wickedness and the evil that our country and our culture is giving itself over to. It's really a Romans one culture. They have so far gone beyond just the homosexual issue that you see him in Revelation one though, they'd be gone beyond that and they've given themselves completely over To wickedness and they want to call good evil and evil good and as we look at all that God wins God wins.

That's the the purpose of the book of Revelation. That's why it's such a blessing as you read this. It's gonna be confusing and you're there's gonna be things you're not understand, but God wins and We can rest in that.

We can rest in the fact that all like all the other prophecies all the has been fulfilled quite literally and Exactly. So the prophecies that have yet to be fulfilled will be fulfilled just as literally and just as accurately in the second coming and What we see in that is God wins.

Are you getting the point? Is this is this starting to hopefully be a blessing to you already? To know that as we look into all these things that have lots of speculation and lots of confusion the one thing we can rest on the one thing we can look at our culture and look at and then compare to This study of end times and know is that God? wins.

One other point is if you're a believer you're on the winning side. Well, everyone wants to be on the winning side, right? We're on the winning side. Because we're on God's side. One of the things that was asked of Abraham Lincoln was is God on our side and Abraham Lincoln said I don't know if God Is on our side.

The question is should are we on his? That's a good outlook. He wanted to make sure that we are following God not that we asked God to follow us so Studying the end times should show us something of the greatness of God.

It should according to John it should give a blessing to the reader. Let her see there is the tremendous amount of scripture given to this doctrine demonstrates the benefit of the study for example. One for every verse speaking of Christ's first coming.

There are eight speaking of a second coming. Is that a lot does that does that surprise you? I think I think John MacArthur said a third of the Bible refers to prophecy. It could be a third of the Bible or third of the the of the Bible refers to the second coming.

I forget which but I think I think it's like a third of the Bible or Might be two-thirds of Bibles prophecy and one-third is that is just that Christ first and second coming sound like that. But if there's an awful lot I mean when you think about it that for every verse and there's a many verses talking about Christ's first coming.

For every verse speaking of his first coming. There's eight speaking of his second coming. That tells me that this is something God wants us to study. I mean if it was something that he wanted us to put on the shelf and not think about and just me.

Leave that for the theologians then he wouldn't have put so much scripture dealing with it. I think that you and I as human beings we need the repetition. We kind of forget things and I think that's so much of the New Testament so much of the Old Testament.

Focuses on the second coming because what is our tendency if we can't comprehend it if we can't understand it. What do we want to do? We want to put it on the shelf and so many Christians. That's what they do with the study of end times.

They put it on the shelf and leave it to the theologians leave it to the pastor leave it to someone that wants to study It and they don't study these things. I'm not saying you have to be an expert in it.

But I am saying we shouldn't avoid it because much of the Bible is focused on this topic. All right letter D. Is that studying this doctrine provides comfort? Comfort that's your blank there comfort for those who grieve.

Studying this gives comfort to those who grieve. Let's take a look at 1st Thessalonians chapter 4. 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 and This is verses 4. Sorry, this is verses 13 to 18 so 1st Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 13 to 18.

But we do not want you to be Uninformed brothers about those who are asleep. That they may not grieve as others who? Do who have no hope for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again even so Through Jesus God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

For this we declare To you by a word from the Lord that we who are alive Who are let who who are left until the coming of the Lord? Will not proceed those who have fallen asleep 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.

The 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 we will always be with the Lord therefore Encourage one another with these words sit.

He's saying that should be an encouragement. Encourage one another with these words what words the words of the future the words of Christ's second coming his return. The fact that those who are in despair could rest assured.

That though there are loved ones have gone and been with the Lord. They're coming back again. Now if the Lord should tarry and we fall asleep it means to be dead. It's a it's a polite way of saying we would say in our day and age in some cultures that they they passed away.

That's the same as that. They went they they're asleep. It is a polite way to say they died and So he's saying to those who've died and if the Lord tarries when we die We will come back with the Lord according to that verse so.

That was interesting that be beep was Siri. Thinking I was calling her. I have Syria here. So it's actually my my clock telling me how much time we have left. Only 15 minutes left in class. Yikes. I better get moving.

But every once in a while Siri thinks I'm talking to her. She thinks everything's about her anyway. All right, so I don't know what I said that made her think to kick on but anyway. So it should give comfort letter e the second coming is a source of strength.

That's your blank there strength. The second coming is a source of strength for believers enduring these trials because you know what? We're not all I believe Gonna be with Christ in heaven. I think there's gonna be some believers that endure these trials.

There's differing views Between this and so something that if we well, let's go to 2nd Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians Chapter 4. 2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verses 16 to 18. Some would say we're going through this.

This is a description of the church today and this is what it's describing others like myself would say this is still you know Future that people will struggle but 2nd Corinthians 4 16 to 18 says so we do not lose heart.

Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day for this light momentary affliction is preparing us for the eternal weight of glory beyond all. Comparison as we look not to those things that are seen but to those things that are unseen for the things that are Seen are transient, but the things that are are Unseen are eternal and so this is on that I think this is on that I think would apply to those who are it doesn't apply to us today.

Yes, of course. It was even though it was written years ago that applies to us but I also think that this will be a source of Strengthening to those who go through the end times as I'm gonna view them.

Some you're gonna see some people that think that when we talk about these disasters that will happen on earth. Some see that as today and they will find that verse as a source of strength. I find it a strength for what we're going through but I don't think it's as bad yet as it's going to be and those that go through those trials are gonna see that as a sense sense sense of strengthening as well.

And so let's look at letter F here the motivation for Evangelism that's your blank their motivation for evangelism should be the result of our understanding of the doctrine of end times. We should have a greater desire to Evangelize because of an understanding of end times because we know that the Lord could return.

Let's look at 2nd Corinthians chapter 5. 2nd Corinthians chapter 5 verses 9 and 10. 2nd Corinthians 5 9 and 10 says so whether you are home. Whether you are at home or away we make it our aim to please him.

And home by the way means whether we're with Christ. Away means whether we're on earth so whether we're in heaven or on earth. We make it our aim to please him for we it is verse 10 now for we Must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ so each one may receive what is due.