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A little more than a year ago Ms. Prata wrote another article with a similar title. The premise back then was also the same, and in a similar fashion she failed to connect the study of eschatology to anything relevant to one's Christian walk.
As you read this, imagine you know absolutely nothing about end times theology. Then ask yourself if the reasons Ms. Prata gives to study the end times really justify her point. We would say no. None of her reasons are bolstered by knowing eschatology. None of her reasons are impacted at all by knowing eschatology. Every principle she gives remains in existence apart from eschatology.
And there is a paucity of Scriptural documentation for her assertions.
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I am a fervent believer in the sufficiency of and the importance of all of scripture. (We don't think that all Scripture is equally important. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful... [2Ti. 3:16] "God-breathed" and "Useful" does not mean all Scripture is equally important.
In fact, no Christian reads the Bible in a way that puts equal importance on every part. No theologian makes the case for the equal importance of every passage to the others. No one approaches the Bibles this way. We all have favorite books or verses. We all admit that certain parts of the OT aren't terribly relevant. We all find varying degrees of relevance and power all throughout the Bible.)
Around a quarter to a third of all scripture deals with last things, known as the study of Eschatology. That's a lot. (The amount of Scripture on a topic does not indicate importance.)
I am also a believer in the clarity of the Word. This is known as the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture.
In other words, God didn't set down His clear revelations to us throughout the Bible only to purposely muddy Last Things. It's ALL clear, if one studies hard and remains submitted to the illumination of the Spirit. Eschatology can be understood, if not 100% just like any other doctrine, at least with a high degree of confidence, just like any other doctrine. (The author clearly does not understand the doctrine of Perspicuity:
Therefore, since it comprises so much of the Bible, we should be studying it. (The amount of material is not necessarily indicative of importance.)
Since the Spirit promised to illuminate the Word to us, (Psalm 119:130) we should be studying it with the expectation that we can know to such a degree that we can and will cling to the promises made in the doctrine of Last Things, and obey the commands within them. (This conclusion is not justified by the author's provided reasons.)
Because there are promises and commands within the study of Eschatology, it is doubly critical that we consider the Doctrine of Last Things just as important as the rest of the Doctrines of God, such as the Doctrine of Man, the Doctrine of Sin, the Doctrine of Angels, and so on. (This is a bare assertion.)
Eschatology should not be relegated to a back room because it's allegedly too hard. (Is this the only reason one would not value eschatology? In fact, we don't find eschatology "too hard," we find it to be less relevant to living a fruitful and holy Christian life than almost anything else in the Bible.)
I want to encourage you all to read and study with confidence and joy.
My own personal testimony regarding this issue is:
Remember, Last Things is the only doctrine and Revelation is the only book where Jesus promises that if one reads it you will receive a blessing. This promise is made twice in the book, once at the beginning and once at the end.
Further, there are numerous places where the blessing of keeping the commands of the Word is noted, including
The author has yet to establish eschatology as crucial, or even important.)
Dr. Nathan Busenitz delivered this "Premillennialism and History" lecture (also below embedded video) at The Master's Seminary Chapel last year. He began with the following premises:
Why does eschatology matter?
We can have proper hermeneutics without giving a single thought to eschatology.
We are commanded to have hope, and can trust Him completely, which has nothing to do with eschatology.
The command to holiness is a principle found all through Scripture in great detail, regardless of how eschatology applies.
Remember our thesis. We asserted that having no knowledge of eschatology would not come to bear on any part of a fruitful and holy Christian life. The author has not demonstrated otherwise.)
It isn't just theoretical theology, eschatology matters.Here is the video if you care to watch. Enjoy His word, all of it, including Last Things!
“Premillennialism and History ” by Dr. Nathan Busenitz - TMS Chapel - February 6, 2018 from The Master's Seminary on Vimeo.
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I am a fervent believer in the sufficiency of and the importance of all of scripture. (We don't think that all Scripture is equally important. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful... [2Ti. 3:16] "God-breathed" and "Useful" does not mean all Scripture is equally important.
In fact, no Christian reads the Bible in a way that puts equal importance on every part. No theologian makes the case for the equal importance of every passage to the others. No one approaches the Bibles this way. We all have favorite books or verses. We all admit that certain parts of the OT aren't terribly relevant. We all find varying degrees of relevance and power all throughout the Bible.)
Around a quarter to a third of all scripture deals with last things, known as the study of Eschatology. That's a lot. (The amount of Scripture on a topic does not indicate importance.)
I am also a believer in the clarity of the Word. This is known as the doctrine of the Perspicuity of Scripture.
In other words, God didn't set down His clear revelations to us throughout the Bible only to purposely muddy Last Things. It's ALL clear, if one studies hard and remains submitted to the illumination of the Spirit. Eschatology can be understood, if not 100% just like any other doctrine, at least with a high degree of confidence, just like any other doctrine. (The author clearly does not understand the doctrine of Perspicuity:
So, what does this doctrine not mean, and what does it mean?
First, perspicuity does not mean that all of Scripture is equally clear as to its precise meaning...
Second, the doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture does not mean that the teaching of Scripture is everywhere equally simple. There is a difference between clarity and simplicity...
Third, perspicuity does not mean that interpretation, explanation, and exposition by a Bible teacher are never necessary...There are a variety of views on the eschatology of the Bible, and its study can be profitable. However, the end times as a doctrine is not automatically high importance simply by being in the Bible.)
Therefore, since it comprises so much of the Bible, we should be studying it. (The amount of material is not necessarily indicative of importance.)
Since the Spirit promised to illuminate the Word to us, (Psalm 119:130) we should be studying it with the expectation that we can know to such a degree that we can and will cling to the promises made in the doctrine of Last Things, and obey the commands within them. (This conclusion is not justified by the author's provided reasons.)
Because there are promises and commands within the study of Eschatology, it is doubly critical that we consider the Doctrine of Last Things just as important as the rest of the Doctrines of God, such as the Doctrine of Man, the Doctrine of Sin, the Doctrine of Angels, and so on. (This is a bare assertion.)
Eschatology should not be relegated to a back room because it's allegedly too hard. (Is this the only reason one would not value eschatology? In fact, we don't find eschatology "too hard," we find it to be less relevant to living a fruitful and holy Christian life than almost anything else in the Bible.)
I want to encourage you all to read and study with confidence and joy.
My own personal testimony regarding this issue is:
- It has brought me bountiful awe. I read Revelation and literally sometimes my breath is taken away with the majesty of Jesus. Nowhere in scripture is He seen as He is now except in Revelation, and it's simply awe inspiring. And yet for all His glorious majesty seen in that book, including His righteous wrath, when we further realize He is friend and father too, it brings me to my knees. (This justifiable awe has nothing to do with eschatology. Reading Revelation has nothing to do with studying eschatology. His majesty, righteous wrath, and His status as friend and father are truths not related to eschatology.)
- It has given me a perspective of eternity that helps me in the present. For example when an enemy sees to take my job or malign my reputation with heinous slander, (and these things have actually occurred in my Christian life), I look to last things and realize this IS but a short affliction. This perspective helps. (Again, this has nothing to do with eschatology.)
- Knowing what is going to happen to the ungodly gives me a gratitude I can't even express in words. I was a sinner who justifiably would receive the wrath we see in the prophetic books and other verses. There but for the grace of God go I, said John Bradford in the mid-sixteenth-century, seeing prisoners led to execution. (Knowing what will happen to the ungodly is not a necessarily related to end times study. Knowing that we are spared this fate is not necessarily related to eschatology.)
- It enhances my love for first things. My favorite books in the Bible are Genesis and Revelation. Seeing God's activity from beginning to end allows me a perspective of His work I would otherwise miss, I think, if I did not study Eschatology as much as I do. (Again the author does not address how eschatology SPECIFICALLY comes to bear regarding these reasons. Every one of them can be articulated apart from end times doctrine. None of them are relevant to the matter at hand.)
Remember, Last Things is the only doctrine and Revelation is the only book where Jesus promises that if one reads it you will receive a blessing. This promise is made twice in the book, once at the beginning and once at the end.
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. (Revelation 1:3).
Behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of prophecy in this book. (Revelation 22:7).(The author is either ignorant, or is lying to us. Doctrine is not being discussed in these two verses. The "words of this prophecy" are, and the obedience to them is.
Further, there are numerous places where the blessing of keeping the commands of the Word is noted, including
Ja. 1:25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it — he will be blessed in what he does.
Jn. 13:17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.He would not have made that promise of blessing while tricking His children by making it impossible to understand it. (Nothing in the Bible is impossible to understand, but things can be difficult. Or obscure. Or have a variety of interpretations. Or even different levels of importance.
The author has yet to establish eschatology as crucial, or even important.)
Dr. Nathan Busenitz delivered this "Premillennialism and History" lecture (also below embedded video) at The Master's Seminary Chapel last year. He began with the following premises:
Why does eschatology matter?
1. Hermeneutics. One's view of last things reveals his approach to interpreting the scriptures.
2. The issue of hope. God has given promises in His word as to what the future entails. These promises are the substance of our hope. We as believers are called to pace our trust in those promises.
3. Holiness. Last Things, the truth about what us to come are revealed to us in the scriptures to impact and motivate our lives in the present. An accurate understanding of last things is necessary to equip us to obey in the present. Our future hope promotes present obedience.(None of these things come to bear on eschatology specifically.
We can have proper hermeneutics without giving a single thought to eschatology.
We are commanded to have hope, and can trust Him completely, which has nothing to do with eschatology.
The command to holiness is a principle found all through Scripture in great detail, regardless of how eschatology applies.
Remember our thesis. We asserted that having no knowledge of eschatology would not come to bear on any part of a fruitful and holy Christian life. The author has not demonstrated otherwise.)
It isn't just theoretical theology, eschatology matters.Here is the video if you care to watch. Enjoy His word, all of it, including Last Things!
“Premillennialism and History ” by Dr. Nathan Busenitz - TMS Chapel - February 6, 2018 from The Master's Seminary on Vimeo.
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