Barry
04-23-2006, 08:42 AM
Eschatology is an interesting study.
The study of end times raises many questions.
We are one hand forced to many startling conclusions of a definitive finality that took place in the first century AD.
On the other hand we seek answers for life today in connection with how we see and perceive that life.
So then on one hand we are faced with an incredible end that cannot be duplicated, and on the other hand we try to reconcile life today as we see it and the need for some type of continued response to what is now in our past and behind us.
One of my favorite approaches to this subject is to look for patterns of life that eschatology itself describes or illustrates or is comprised of. The application would not be to recreate a new eschatology as such because we must IMO still except the finality of what was made final in the first century.
But this does not mean that eschatology was not itself built upon greater fundamentals of life and life development.
One such so called fundamental or principle or precedent that may be seen is perhaps:
What is positive, or properly ordered, or beneficial, or productive when given time will eventually over take or overcome that which was not. In this way then we may see greater fundamentals of life expressed in the Adam to Christ history of eschatology.
It is not necessarily that such will happen in ones own lifetime. But that you (we) are participating in an eternal process and eternal truth that has a fondamental life meaning and purpose.
In this way then we can see both the eschatological finality and move beyond it as well as see and participate in what is an even more comprehensive life principle in our day and time.
So that while comprehensive justification of life is given in AD 70, life application continues on in the greater sphere of the continued application of God's sovereignty which extends beyond eschatology.
The fulfillment of all things written does not nullify the larger meaning and purpose and direction of life itself and our participation in this temporal existence.
IMHO that life application is best understood in the framework of relationship.
In this way then we may endeavor to both learn from eschatology while at the same time put it behind us and move on.
Any thoughts?
Barry
The study of end times raises many questions.
We are one hand forced to many startling conclusions of a definitive finality that took place in the first century AD.
On the other hand we seek answers for life today in connection with how we see and perceive that life.
So then on one hand we are faced with an incredible end that cannot be duplicated, and on the other hand we try to reconcile life today as we see it and the need for some type of continued response to what is now in our past and behind us.
One of my favorite approaches to this subject is to look for patterns of life that eschatology itself describes or illustrates or is comprised of. The application would not be to recreate a new eschatology as such because we must IMO still except the finality of what was made final in the first century.
But this does not mean that eschatology was not itself built upon greater fundamentals of life and life development.
One such so called fundamental or principle or precedent that may be seen is perhaps:
What is positive, or properly ordered, or beneficial, or productive when given time will eventually over take or overcome that which was not. In this way then we may see greater fundamentals of life expressed in the Adam to Christ history of eschatology.
It is not necessarily that such will happen in ones own lifetime. But that you (we) are participating in an eternal process and eternal truth that has a fondamental life meaning and purpose.
In this way then we can see both the eschatological finality and move beyond it as well as see and participate in what is an even more comprehensive life principle in our day and time.
So that while comprehensive justification of life is given in AD 70, life application continues on in the greater sphere of the continued application of God's sovereignty which extends beyond eschatology.
The fulfillment of all things written does not nullify the larger meaning and purpose and direction of life itself and our participation in this temporal existence.
IMHO that life application is best understood in the framework of relationship.
In this way then we may endeavor to both learn from eschatology while at the same time put it behind us and move on.
Any thoughts?
Barry