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Know YHWH

Last Things

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.’” — Revelation 21:1, 3

The Study of Last Things

Section titled “The Study of Last Things”

Eschatology — from eschatos (ἔσχατος) — “last, final, uttermost” — and logos (λόγος) — “word, discourse” — is the branch of theology concerned with the final destiny of humanity, the world, and all creation. The adjective eschatos appears throughout the New Testament: Peter declares at Pentecost that “in the last days” (en tais eschatais hēmerais, ἐν ταῖς ἐσχάταις ἡμέραις, Acts 2:17) God will pour out his Spirit. The Hebrew equivalent is ‘acharit hayamim (אַחֲרִית הַיָּמִים) — “the end of the days” — a phrase the prophets used to point toward YHWH’s ultimate purposes (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1; Daniel 10:14).

Far from being mere speculation about the future, biblical eschatology reveals the goal toward which all of God’s purposes move: the full restoration of his reign over a renewed creation and the eternal communion of God with his people.

The Shape of Biblical Hope

Section titled “The Shape of Biblical Hope”

Scripture presents the end not as destruction but as fulfillment. The story that begins in a garden (Genesis 1–2) concludes in a garden-city (Revelation 21–22). The God who created all things will make all things new.

The biblical hope includes:

  • The return of Christ — The parousia (παρουσία) — “coming, arrival, royal presence” — of the risen and ascended Lord, who will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead (Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17)
  • The resurrection of the body — The anastasis (ἀνάστασις) — “rising up, resurrection” — when all the dead will be raised, the righteous to eternal life and the unrighteous to judgment (John 5:28–29; Daniel 12:2)
  • The final judgment — The krisis (κρίσις) — “judgment, decision, vindication” — when God will set all things right, vindicating his justice and mercy (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:11–15)
  • The renewal of creation — The apokatastasis (ἀποκατάστασις) — “restoration, re-establishment” (Acts 3:21) — when heaven and earth will be united under Christ’s reign, free from sin, death, and every curse (Romans 8:19–21; Revelation 21:1–5)

Already and Not Yet

Section titled “Already and Not Yet”

A key insight of the New Testament is that the last days have already begun. With the coming of Christ, his death, resurrection, and the outpouring of the Spirit, the age to come — ho aiōn ho mellōn (ὁ αἰὼν ὁ μέλλων) — has broken into the present age — ho aiōn houtos (ὁ αἰὼν οὗτος). The word aiōn (αἰών) — “age, era, epoch” — is distinct from kosmos (κόσμος) — “world.” The New Testament speaks not merely of two worlds but of two ages that now overlap. Believers live between the “already” of Christ’s first coming and the “not yet” of his return. This tension shapes the Christian life: we are saved, yet we await the fullness of salvation; the basileia (βασιλεία) — “kingdom, reign, dominion” — has come, yet we pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10).

“For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.” — 1 Corinthians 15:22–24

Humility and Hope

Section titled “Humility and Hope”

Christians have long disagreed about the precise sequence and timing of future events. The great creeds affirm the essentials — Christ will return, the dead will rise, and God will judge — while leaving room for differing interpretations of prophetic literature. What unites all orthodox Christians is the confident hope that God’s purposes will be fulfilled and that the one who began a good work will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).

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