Scripture Reading: 2 Timothy 2:14-19

Last Things

Intro.

1. Eschatology: The study of last things. The legitimate, Biblical study of “last things” has been hijacked by many false doctrines that twist the Scriptures through myopic hermeneutics and hysterical expectations.

a. Premillennialism: Corrupt definitions of the kingdom and God’s promises to Israel.

b. Preterism (Realized Eschatology, AD 70): Among other things, it unduly focuses on the last days of the Jewish economy and concludes that we now live in the “eternal days”. Fails to accept that OT Hebrews prophets spoke, not only of the end of Judaism, but also of the last period of time in which we now live, 1 Pet. 1:10-12.

2. False doctrines re. “last things” invariably distort the covenants, the promises of God, the church and the Christian’s hope, 2 Tim. 2:15-18.

3. Vital that we know the Scriptures to prevent twisting and falling away, 2 Pet. 3:16-18.

I. THE LAST DAYS OF THE JEWISH NATION, Matt. 23:37-24:2.

A. Israel Rejected the Messiah, therefore, Israel was Judged by God.

-Day of the Son of Man: Judgment applied, Lk. 17:26-30, 37.

B. Jesus Announced the End of the Jewish Nation, Matt. 24:3-14 (14).

1. Prophetic language of judgment and His power, Matt. 24:25-31.

2. In the midst of His judgment God would also be gathering His elect, Matt. 24:31; cf. Rom. 11:1-7.

II. THESE LAST DAYS, Heb. 1:1-2.

A. God has Revealed Himself (His Will) to Mankind from the Beginning of Time, Rom. 1:19.

1. The Patriarchal Age (Adam to Moses), Rom. 5:14.

a. The fathers distinct from Moses, Jno. 7:22.

b. The twelve patriarchs, Acts 7:8-9.

2. The Mosaic Age (Moses to Christ), Matt. 17:3-5; Acts 3:19.

a. The giving of the law, Rom. 9:3-5.

b. The promise of a Prophet, Priest and King, Deut. 18:18-19; Psa. 2:6-7; 110:1-4 (Zech. 6:12-13).

c. Son of God was sent “under the law”, Gal. 4:4-7.

d. A tutor to bring men to Christ, Gal. 3:24-25.

3. The Gospel Age (Christ to the end of the ages), Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 1:4-8; 2:17-21 (Joel 2:28).

a. Days of calling sinners to salvation, Acts 2:21 (remnant of grace in Christ, Isa. 11:10-12; Rom. 11:5; 15:12).

b. Days of restoration of all things spoken by God since time began, Acts 1:6-7; 3:19-23; Heb. 9:9-10 (Messianic, Isa. 49:5-6).

c. Days of redemption by the blood of the Lamb, 1 Pet. 1:17-21.

III. THE LAST DAY.

A. A Day of Resurrection, Jno. 6:39-40, 44, 54.

1. Jesus had taught this, cf. Jno. 11:23-24.

2. Day of the “last trump”, 1 Cor. 15:52 (1 Ths. 4:16).

B. A Day of Judgment, Jno. 12:48.

1. Son of man comes in His glory and nations gathered, Matt. 25:31-33 (46).

2. Great white throne judgment, Rev. 20:11-15.

3. The judgment seat of Christ, 2 Cor. 5:10.

C. A Day of Reward, 2 Tim. 4:8, 18.

1. On that day: Day of His return and reward, 2 Tim. 1:12.

2. Receive the heavenly inheritance, 1 Pet. 1:4-5.

3. Enter the everlasting kingdom, 2 Pet. 1:10-11. (Has not yet happened – AD 70 says it has, and that we are now living in the “eternal days”.)

4. We eagerly wait for the Savior and entrance into eternal glory on that day, Phil. 3:20-21. Not yet happened; this is our living hope (1 Pet. 1:3-4).

Conclusion

1. Preterism defines everything from the end of the Jewish nation in AD 70. By doing so, it distorts and corrupts the covenants, the promises of God, the church and the Christian’s hope.

2. Be aware and prepared to reject this error and those who advance it, for it destroys faith and souls, 2 Tim. 2:16-18; Jude 3-4; Rom. 16:17.