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Learn what eschatology is, where eschatological themes are in the Bible, why Christians should study eschatology, and more.

Share FacebookXLinkedInRedditEmail Definition of eschatology What does eschatology mean? The word “eschatology” comes from a combination of Greek words meaning “the study of last things,” or the study of the end times.1 In the article “Eschatology” in the Lexham Bible Dictionary (LBD) Page Brooks writes that eschatology includes death, the intermediate state, the afterlife, judgment, the millennium, heaven, and hell, but it also refers to the time of Jesus’ second coming. Keep reading to do a deeper dive into what eschatology is, where eschatological themes are in the Bible, why Christians should study eschatology—and more. You can start at the beginning and read to the end or jump to the topics that interest you. Eschatology in the Old Testament Eschatology in the New Testament What are the 4 views of the end times? Why study eschatology? Why is there so much disagreement about end times prophecy? Do the creeds agree on the end times? Recommended books for further study Where is the concept of eschatology in the Bible? According to Brooks, eschatological ideas develop progressively throughout the Bible. In this excerpt from LBD, you can explore where the concept of eschatology emerges in the Old and New Testaments. *** Eschatological ideas in the Old Testament Eschatological ideas develop progressively throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, the word שְׁאוֹל (she’ol) refers to the Underworld, the place where human souls go after death (e.g., Psa 6:4–5). The word ᾅδης (hadēs) is used in the Septuagint, which was translated around 200 BC. The New Testament uses ᾅδης (hadēs), which is often rendered “Hades” or “the grave” in English translations. Eschatology in the Old Testament may be said to begin with the garden of Eden, where God is in full presence with Adam and Eve. After the fall, humanity fell out of relationship with God. The remainder of the Old Testament and New Testament tells the story of God’s plan to restore his holiness among a holy people. For example, in Exodus 25:8, he commands the Israelites to build a sanctuary so that his presence may rest with them wherever they go. In the last chapter of Revelation, John the Apostle illustrates God walking once again with his people in holiness at the end of the age. The Old Testament idea of the afterlife has two distinct periods of development: Preexilic Hebrew literature—particularly the Psalms—that speaks about life, death, and the afterlife. Postexilic literature, which presents a greater understanding of the eschaton. The concept of שְׁאוֹל (she’ol) is central to the preexilic idea of eschatology. It is the earliest conception of afterlife found in the Old Testament and describes a general place where all the dead go regardless of their choices in life. For example, Job 7:9 speaks of the place where persons go and never return as they dissipate like a cloud or vapor. Psalm 6:4–5 asks who in שְׁאוֹל (she’ol) can give God praise. The Old Testament also depicts God rescuing individuals from שְׁאוֹל (she’ol). For example, in Jonah 2:2, Jonah states that God heard his crying out of the depths of שְׁאוֹל (she’ol). In Psalm 86:13, the psalmist records how God’s love rescued him out of the depths of שְׁאוֹל (she’ol). Such Scriptures suggest that God provides a place outside of שְׁאוֹל (she’ol), which may be termed “heaven” or the place of the presence of God. Postexilic Old Testament literature presents a more developed view of the afterlife, an abstract idea of resurrection and the afterlife in the presence of God. The prophets envisioned a close communion with God after death, and some alluded to resurrection but were uncertain as to its importance or extent. Such allusions to resurrection and [an] afterlife may be seen in various references in the books of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and parts of the Psalms. Eschatology in the New Testament The New Testament writers examined both personal and corporate eschatology that centered on God’s people being reconciled into God’s presence in the New Jerusalem, thereby symbolically returning to the garden of Eden. The eschatology in the Gospels centers on the breaking in of the kingdom of God. Opposition to God’s kingdom builds in the Passion Narratives, and Jesus foretells the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem and the “end of the age” in his Olivet Discourse (Matt 24:3–25:46; Mark 13:3–37; Luke 21:5–36). This continues the temple analogy started in the Old Testament as a symbol of God’s presence with his people. Since God’s judgment was pronounced on the temple system, the fate of the temple in Jesus’ time was sealed. The judgment on the temple was not “the end” by any means. Rather, it was the beginning of God’s purposes now being centered upon Jesus and the Church. In the Gospels, more words are used for the description of שְׁאוֹל (she’ol) and heaven. The word γέεννα (geenna) (Matt 5:22, 29; 10:28; 18:9, for example) originally denoted a valley near Jerusalem, the “Valley of [the sons of] Hinnom,” whic...

What Is Eschatology? 4 Views, Why There’s Disagreement & More