This is my Confession on Eschatology, which I wrote for my Systematic Theology 3 class. I thought I would post it here for your reading pleasure.
This confession on eschatology subscribes to an amillennial perspective for an examining committee that would expect a general survey of last things.
Prolegomena
I believe it is important to pursue an understanding of “last things” because it grounds the Church in what we are hoping for as we walk in faith until the end. Because our faith is rooted in being confident of the hope of resurrection, having a framework for the path in which our world is moving helps the Church maintain our faith in Jesus Christ until the end, while spurring us on toward sharing Christ with the world. (1 Cor. 13:13; Heb. 1:1)
Intermediate State
I believe that it is important to recognize that death is not the way things are supposed to be; death is our enemy. We should never celebrate the death of anyone, because death is not deliverance or victory. Our victory is in life after ‘life after death.’ (1 Cor.15:21; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
I believe we must limit our speculation about what our state between death and judgement might be like, because there is little biblical information.
I believe after death humans will still actually exist and later receive either judgment or justification. Though the body of a person has perished, and their soul has split from themselves, he or she still actually exists. (Phil. 1:21; Lk. 20-37-38, 23:43 and 46; Acts 7:59)
I believe when a follower of Jesus Christ dies, she will consciously exist with God and other saints in heaven until she is physically resurrected upon His return on the New Earth. When a non-follower of Jesus Christ dies, she is not with Christ and held apart from Him until His return for judgement. (Matt. 10:28; Lk. 12:5; Lk. 16:22-23; 1 Pet. 3:19; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Phil. 1:23-24)
The Second Coming of Jesus
I believe Jesus Christ will come again to set things right, to bring about God’s final act of re-creation, justice, and peace. (Rev. 21:1-5)
I believe Jesus Christ will come once to resurrect the dead for judgment or justification.
(Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:2; 1 Thess. 4:13-18)
Millennium View
I believe that the millennium does not refer to an impending reign of Christ. Instead, Christ is now reigning in and through His Church; the Kingdom-reign of which Jesus spoke began with His incarnation, has continued now through the Church, and will arrive in full upon His return. Revelation 20:1-10 should be interpreted symbolically rather than literally. (Matt. 28:19-20; Mk 1:15; Lk 4:18-2; Jn. 20:21-23; Revelation 20:1-10)
Last Judgement
I believe that a day of Great Judgement will one day arrive when Jesus returns to judge the living and the dead, believer and unbeliever alike. This judgement will separate believer and unbeliever, rendering due punishment and consequence for unbelief. (Matt. 22:1-14; 25:31-46)
I believe the Great Judgement will be universal, including demons and angels. (Rom. 14:10; Jm. 3:1; 1 Pet. 4:17; 2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).
I believe the Great Judgement will be total, revealing every individual person’s life-long acts of rebellious sin. For the believer, sin will be revealed as pardoned, justified sin. For the unbeliever, sin will be revealed as penalized, judged sin. (Ezk. 12:14)
I believe the Great Judgement is final. Humans are destined to die once and then face a one-time judgement without a second repentance post-judgement. (Heb. 9:27)
I believe judgement during the day of Great Judgement is based upon both grace and works: It is by grace we are rescued and freely justified, but the faith invested in that grace must be expressed in works; the grace given to humans through Jesus Christ by faith is fake and dead unless it is actively and deliberately expressed through works; no one will enter into the Kingdom by simply claiming the grace of God by faith, but only he who also does the works of Christ. (Gal. 5:6; Jam. 2:26; Matt. 7:21)
I believe the Holy Scriptures teach that rewards are promised to those who are in Christ, and are distributed in varying degrees. (Matt. 5:11-12; 6:16-21; 25:23; Lk. 19:11-27; 1 Cor. 3:14-15)
Hell
I believe that hell is both judgement and the consequence of the real choices of humans. People experience the consequence of hell because of their willful rebellion and rejection of Jesus and His Way, and are punished for that willful rejection. (Matt. 25:31-46; Mk. 9:42-49; Lk. 16L19-31)
I believe it is important to believe in the reality of judgement and consequence for unbelief rather than in the everlasting consequence of judgement for unbelievers. While the Holy Scriptures seem to indicate an everlasting physical punishment for those who reject Jesus and His Way, unending suffering would also seem to conflict with and discredit God’s love and justice. It is possible that unbelievers will be burned up and destroyed, rather than suffering in hell for eternity. (Rev. 14; 11; Matt. 25:46)
I believe those who have chosen the Way of Self and rejected Jesus and His Way will not be able to escape the consequences of judgement through a second salvation from hell. (Lk. 16:26)
New Creation
I believe the New Creation is the final stage in God’s redemptive plan for the world. While God has been progressively re-creating in Jesus Christ since His resurrection, God’s final act of re-creation will occur after the world has been judged at the Day of the Lord. (Rev. 20:11-21:5)
God’s final act of re-creation will result in a New Earth. God through Christ will come again to make all things on earth new, rather than scrapping His creation and starting over. (Rev. 21:1-4)
God’s final act of re-creation will cleans it of all wrong behaviors and sinful actions, rather than destroying the elements and things of the earth. (2 Pet. 3)
God’s final act of re-creation will bring all of creation back to the way He intended it to be at the beginning. Though God will not turn back the clock, destroying our human progress, creation will function and behave as God intended it to be when He originally crafted it. (Is. 65)
Doxology
Thanks be to God forever, in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
