The End Times Series

Depending on what you’ve heard, it certainly can be confusing. However, it should give us great comfort to know that God has a plan for our world, and it is all coming together according to His Divine purpose. Almighty God, who knows the end from the beginning, will make sure that everything turns out right in the end! First I will give you a little Historical background, and then I will offer my personal thoughts on the subject.

1. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The theories about the end times are sometimes described as Eschatology. Eschatology is the Theological term for the study of the end times or last days. One of the most prevalent theories regarding the end times espoused today is called Dispensationalism. This theory is fairly recent in terms of the span of Christian history. It was not until the late1800’s that it came into prominence by a man named John Nelson Darby.

Darby was an Anglo-Irish evangelist, originally associated with the Plymouth Brethren. In 1848, he became involved in a complex dispute among the Plymouth Brethren that resulted in a split between “Open” Brethren and “Exclusive” Brethren. After that time, Darby was recognized as the dominant figure among the Exclusive Brethren. The Exclusive Brethren has been described as a separatist Christian group, a controversial offshoot of the Plymouth Brethren.

John Darby is considered the father of modern Dispensationalism. Its name comes from the fact that dispensationalists see biblical history as best understood in light of a series of dispensations in the Bible. Each dispensation is said to represent a different way in which God deals with man. According to C. I. Scofield, “These periods are marked off in Scripture by some change in God’s method of dealing with mankind, in respect to two questions: of sin, and of man’s responsibility”.

John Darby taught, and most subsequent dispensationalists have consistently maintained, that God looks upon the Jews as his chosen people and continues to have a place for them in the dispensational, prophetic scheme of things. While many traditions of Christianity teach that the Jews are a distinct people, dispensationalism is unique in teaching that the Church is a provisional dispensation, until the Jews finally recognize Jesus as their promised Messiah during the trials that dispensationalists envision coming upon the Jews in the Great Tribulation.

Darby also proposed a teaching that he called the “secret rapture”. The term rapture, which means to transport or carry away, is of Latin derivation. The word rapture is not found in the Bible. It is possibly a reference to a Scripture verse in 1 Thessalonians 4:17 “we shall be caught up.” The rapture is an event in certain systems of Christian Eschatology whereby it is believed that Jesus Christ will return and take all Christians living on the Earth up into Heaven. The term “rapture” is usually applied specifically to the belief that Christians will be taken into heaven prior to the Second Coming of Christ.

Of course there have been numerous variations on this subject since then. But even from this brief summary, you should be able to see that it can easily get rather involved.

2. PERSONAL THOUGHTS

When I studied Christian Eschatology in seminary, we examined various theories regarding the end times. I was introduced to the Pre, Mid, and Post Tribulation theories. I could best relate to the Pan theory that my professor also mentioned. As he said, according to the Pan theory, it will all pan out. And I agree! I am by no means being facetious. I am confident that the Lord God Almighty is in complete control, and it will all pan out in the end! This may be a simplistic approach, but I do believe it is at least an honest one. Only God knows the real outcome of this old world, and there is nothing we can do about it.

3. BIBLICAL FACTS

Will the Lord return? Yes, He will! That has already been foretold, but when, where and how, that’s His prerogative. Jesus Christ himself said that only the Father knew the time. “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.” (Matthew 24:36)

Furthermore, when Christ ascended the angel of the Lord gave this admonition: “And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, You men of Galilee, why stand you gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven. Then they returned . . . .” (Acts 1:10-12)

We need to stop gazing up into Heaven trying to figure out when He will return, and get about the Father’s business. I adhere to the admonition of the Apostle John, author of Revelation, the book about the end times. “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2-3)