The following are notes and recordings of an Adult Sunday School class I taught at First Baptist Church of Ticonderoga, NY.
I am using the word “mere” in the same way that C.S. Lewis used it for Mere Christianity. There are certain tenants of eschatology (end times doctrine) that Christians of every end times position joyfully affirm. These are the orthodox tenets of eschatology. These things are so clear in the Bible’s teaching that disagreement is impossible without departing from sound doctrine.
Five Key Doctrines of Eschatology
1. Christ will come again (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 19:11-21).
2. Christ’s second coming will be a literal, physical, and visible return to the earth (Acts 1:6-11; Revelation 1:7).
3. Christ will resurrect the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous (John 6:40; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 20:11-15).
4. Christ will judge the living and the dead, both the righteous and the unrighteous (2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12; 2 Peter 3; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:3-4).
A. In this judgment, Christ will condemn the unrighteous to eternal punishment separated from God.
B. The righteous (those who are right with God through faith in Christ) will enter into eternal joy with Christ forever.
5. Christ will bring the New Heaven and New Earth (Isaiah 65:17; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-8)
Example of Doctrinal Statement Highlighting These Truths
“We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ will come again. His second coming will be a literal, physical, and visible return to the earth. (Acts 1:6-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Titus 2:11-14; Revelation 1:7, 19:11-21).
“We believe that Christ will gather his people to himself, and he will raise and judge all people. Those who have trusted in Christ, because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus for them and his righteousness being credited to them, will be with the Lord forever in glorified bodies in the New Heavens and New Earth. Those who unrepentantly rebel against God will be separated from the Lord forever in the Lake of Fire. (Isaiah 65:17; Matthew 24-25; John 6:35-59; 1 Corinthians 15:12-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; 1 Thessalonians 1:10, 4:13-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-12; 2 Peter 3 ; Revelation 20:11-15, 21:1-8).
“The Scriptures teach us that these realities should motivate us to live in holiness and godliness as we eagerly await Christ’s return. (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Peter 3:10-14)”
Lesson Recordings
Acknowledgement
I first had the idea to teach a Sunday School class titled “Mere Eschatology” after listening to a class on eschatology taught by Dr. Sam Waldron through Reformed Baptist Seminary.
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