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Dictionary:

eschatology

  (ĕs'kə-tŏl'ə-jē) pronunciation
n.
  1. The branch of theology that is concerned with the end of the world or of humankind.
  2. A belief or a doctrine concerning the ultimate or final things, such as death, the destiny of humanity, the Second Coming, or the Last Judgment.

[Greek eskhatos, last + –LOGY.]

eschatological es·chat'o·log'i·cal (ĭ-skăt'l-ŏj'ĭ-kəl, ĕs'kə-tə-lŏj'-) adj.
eschatologically es·chat'o·log'i·cal·ly adv.
eschatologist es'cha·tol'o·gist n.
 
 
Literary Dictionary: eschatology

eschatology [esk‐ă‐tol‐ŏji], the theological study or artistic representation of the end of the world. Eschatological writing is found chiefly in religious allegories, but also in some science fiction. The term should not be confused with scatology, which is the scientific or humorous consideration of excrement. See also anagogical, apocalyptic.

 
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: eschatology

Theological doctrine of the "last things," or the end of the world. Mythological eschatologies depict an eternal struggle between order and chaos and celebrate the eternity of order and the repeatability of the origin of the world. The most notable expression of mythological eschatology is in Hinduism, which maintains belief in great cycles of the destruction and creation of the universe. Historical eschatologies are grounded in datable events that are perceived as fundamental to the progress of history. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all have historical eschatologies. Eschatology in the Hebrew Scriptures sees the catastrophes that beset the people of Israel as due to their disobedience to the laws and will of God and holds that conformity to God's plan will result in renewal and the fulfillment of God's purpose. In Christianity, the end times are thought to have begun with the life and ministry of Jesus, the messiah who will return to establish the Kingdom of God. Millennialism focuses especially on Christ's second coming and the reign of the righteous on earth. In Shi'ite Islam it is believed that the mahdi, or restorer of the faith, will come to inaugurate the last judgment, in which the good will enter heaven and the evil will fall into hell. In Buddhism, eschatological traditions are associated with the Buddha Maitreya and with Pure Land Buddhism, as well as with individual efforts to achieve nirvana.

For more information on eschatology, visit Britannica.com.

 
Philosophy Dictionary: eschatology

(Greek, eschatos, the last) The formation of ideas about the end of life, or the end of the world, and in Christian theology, the last judgement and resurrection.

 
Asian Mythology: Eschatology

Eschatology is the branch of mythology or religion that is concerned with questions such as death, judgment, and heaven and hell. Resurrection and underworld (see Underworld) myths, for instance, are, therefore eschatological myths.

 
Obscure Words: eschatology


a branch of theology concerned with the end of the world
 
Islamic Dictionary: eschatology

A branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind; a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of mankind; belief about the Last Judgment.

 
Wikipedia: eschatology
For the eschatological beliefs of various religions, see End Times.
For the book by Pope Benedict XVI, see Eschatology (book).
For a scientific assessment, see Risks to civilization, humans and planet Earth, End of planet Earth and Ultimate fate of the universe.
For the religious movement created by William W. Walter, see Eschatology (religious movement).

Eschatology (from the Greek ἔσχατος, Eschatos meaning "last" and -logy meaning "the study of") is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world. While in mysticism the phrase metaphorically refers to the end of ordinary reality and reunion with the Divine, in many traditional religions it is taught as an actual future event prophesied in sacred texts or folklore. More broadly, eschatology may encompass related concepts such as the Messiah or Messianic Age, the end time, and the end of days.

The Greek word αἰών (aeon), meaning "age", may be translated as "end of the age (or historical period[1])" instead of "end of the world". The time distinction also has theological significance; while the end of time in mystical traditions relates to escaping confinement in the "given" reality, some religions believe and fear it to be the literal destruction of the planet (or of all living things) - with the human race surviving in some new form, ending the current "age" of existence.

Most Western monotheistic religions have doctrines claiming that "chosen" or "worthy" members of the one true religion will be "spared" or "delivered" from the coming judgment and wrath of God. For Judaism, see Isaiah. For Christianity, see the Book of Revelation. They will be ushered into paradise either before, during, or afterwards depending upon the end-time scenario to which they hold.

Philosophy

Eschatology has also been a belief shared, sometimes theorized, by philosophers. Saint Augustine has been one of the most famous eschatological thinkers, followed by Hegel's philosophy of history, and, some have argued Marxists – as a secular religion. Theodicy has gathered together most Enlightenment thinkers, among whom are Kant and Rousseau.

More recently, many involved in futures studies and transhumanism note the accelerating rate of scientific progress and anticipate a technological singularity in the 21st century that would profoundly and unpredictably change the course of human history.[2] Artist/futurist Michael E. Arth, for example, speculates about the emergence of a hive-like distributed being that would be self-conscious, integrated into a future version of the Internet, and also able to exhibit any individualized form, or speak any language. This collective intelligence, UNICE: Universal Network of Intelligent Conscious Entities, would connect everyone on the planet before it spreads outward into space.[3]

For the eschatological beliefs of various religions, see: End Times.

See also


Notes

  1. ^ Achtemeier, P. J., Harper & Row, P., & Society of Biblical Literature, Harper's Bible Dictionary, San Francisco: HarperCollins Publishers, 1985, ISBN, s.v. "eschatology"
  2. ^ "The Law of Accelerating Returns"
  3. ^ Information about UNICE

External links

A Limited Selection of Books

General (Alphabetical by author)

"The Invisible War" by Donald Grey Barnhouse ©1965; Zondervan Publishing House (Ministry Resources Library).

"How to Recognize the Antichrist" by Arthur E. Bloomfield ©"1975; Bethany Fellowship "The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow" by Constance Cumbey ©1983; Huntington House Inc.

"Number in Scripture" by Ethelbert W. Bullinger, D.D.; ©1967; Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 67-26498; ISBN 0-8254-2204-3

"A Planned Deception: The Staging of A New Age 'Messiah'" by Constance Cumbey ©1985; Pointe Publishers, Inc.

"Hidden Prophecies in the Psalms" by J.R. Church; ©1986; Prophecy Publications, Oklahoma City, OK 73153; ISBN 0-941241-00-9

"Gorbachev: Has the Real Antichrist Come?" by Robert W. Faid ©1988: Victory House Publishers.

"The Man The False Prophet and The Harlot", subtitled "The Name of the Antichrist Finally Revealed" by Dr. Anthony M. Giliberti ©1991; Published by "This Is The Generation" Library of Congress Catalog Number 90-93451 ISBN 0-9628419-0-0.

"Send This Message to My Church: Christ's Words to the Seven Churches of Revelation" by Terence Kelshaw ©1984; Thomas Nelson Publishers.

"The Truth About Armageddon" by William Sanford Lasor ©1982; Harper & Row Publishers.

"A Survey of Bible Prophecy" by R. Ludwigson ©1951; (1973, 1975; The Zondervan Corporation).

'Code'-Type Books

“The Bible Code” by Michael Drosnin; ©1997; Published by Simon & Schuster, 1230 Ave. of the Americas, New York, NY 10020. ISBN 0-684-81079-4.

“Bible Code II: The Countdown” by Michael Drosnin; ©2002 One Honest Man, Inc. Published by Penguin Books Ltd., Registered Offices, 80 Strand, London WC2R 0R1, England.

The Book of Daniel compared to the Book of Revelation

"Daniel and Revelation" subtitled "A Study of Two Extraordinary Visions" by James M. Efird ©1978; Judson Press, Valley Forge, PA 19481 ISBN 0-8170-0797-0

"Daniel's Prophecy of the 70 Weeks" by Alva J. McClain 1940, ©1969; Academie Books/Zondervan House.

Dispensationalism School of Thought (listed alphabetically by author)

"A Cup of Trembling" by Dave Hunt ©1995; Harvest House Publishers, Eugene, Oregon 97402; ISBN 1-56507-334-7.

"Global Peace and the Rise of Antichrist" by Dave Hunt ©1990; Harvest House Publishers Library of Congress Cataloging in Publishing Data; ISBN 0-89081-831-2.

"How Close Are We?" by Dave Hunt ©1993 Harvest House Publishers. (NOTE: The author has a new, updated book titled "When will Jesus Come?".

"Peace, Prosperity, and the Coming Holocaust" by Dave Hunt ©1983; Harvest House Publishers.

"Whatever Happened to Heaven?" by Dave Hunt ©1988; Harvest House Publishers. ISBN 0-89081-698-0 (pbk.)

"Not Wrath but Rapture!" by H.A. Ironside; NO DATE; published by Loizeaux Brothers, Inc.

"Armageddon, Oil and the Middle East Crisis" Revised, by John F. Walvoord ©1974, 1976, 1990; Zondervan Publishing House, 1415 Lake Drive, S.E., Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506; ISBN 0-310-53921-8

"Satan is Alive and Well on Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey with C.C. Carlson ©1972; Zondervan House.

"The Late Great Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey with C.C. Carlson ©1970; Zondervan House.

"The Liberation of Planet Earth" by Hal Lindsey ©1974; The Zondervan Corporation.

"There's a New World Coming" by Hal Lindsey ©1973; Vision House.

"The Rapture" by Hal Lindsey ©1983; The Aorist Corporation Bantam Books.

"The Terminal Generation" by Hal Lindsey with C.C. Carlson ©1976; Fleming Revell.

"The Revelation Record" by Henry M. Morris ©1985; Tyndale House Inc. and Creation Life Publishers.

"Things to Come" by J. Dwight Pentecost ©1958; Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49506.

"Dispensationalism Today" by Charles C. Ryrie ©1965; The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago.

"Israel In Prophecy" by John F. Walvoord ©1962; Zondervan Publishing House.

"The Church in Prophecy" by John F. Walvoord ©1964; Zondervan Publishing House.

"The Millennial Kingdom" by John F. Walvoord ©1959; by Dunham Publishing Co. Academie Books published by Zondervan Publishing House, 1415 Lake Drive. S.E., Grand Rapids Michigan 49506. (NOTE: See Millennium on Wikipedia).

"The Nations in Prophecy" by John F. Walvoord ©1967; Zondervan Publishing House. (NOTE: this book may have been combined with other similar titles by Walvoord into one new volume).

"The Return of the Lord" by John F. Walvoord ©1955; Zondervan Publishing House Library of Congress Cat. #77-106423.

"The Rapture Question" by John F. Walvoord (Revised & Enlarged) ©1974; The Zondervan Corporation.

Post-Tribulation School of Thought

"The Church and the Tribulation" (subtitled: "A Biblical Examination of Post-tribulationism") by Robert H. Gundry ©1973; Zondervan Corporation.

"The Tribulation People" by Arthur Katterjohn with Mark Faculer ©1975; Publisher - Creation House.

"Lord, When?" by Arthur Katterjohn with Mark Faculer ©1976; Publisher - Creation House (Can be used independently or in conjunction with "The Tribulation People" by the same authors.

"The Incredible Cover-Up" by Dave MacPherson ©1975; by Logos Internation.

"Christians Will Go Through the Tribulation" by Jim McKeever ©1978; Alpha Omega Publishing Company.

"Now You Can Understand the Book of Revelation" by Jim McKeever ©1980; Omega Publications.

"City of Revelation" subtitled "A Book of Forgotten Wisdom" by John Michell ©1972; Ballantine Books (first printing: 11/73 Library of Congress Cat. No. 72-88116 SBN 345-23607-6-150. (NOTE: this book contains information on Gematria, a mathematical science).

"The Secret Book of Revelation" (subtitled: "The Last Book of the Bible") ©1979; by Gilles Quispel Collins St. James Place, Comdon, 1979.

"The Pre-Wrath Rapture of The Church" by Marvin Rosenthal ©1990; Thomas Nelson, Inc. ISBN 0-8407-3160-4.

Amillenial School of Thought

"1994?" by Harold Camping; ©1992; Published by Vantage Press, Inc., 516 West 34th Street, NY, NY 10001. ISBN 0-533-10368-1; Library of Congress Cat. Number is Unknown.

"Shock Wave 2000!" subtitled "The Harold Camping 1994 Debacle"; by Robert Sungenis, Scott Temple, and David Allen Lewis; ©1994 New Leaf Press, Inc., P.O. Box 311, Green Forest AR 72638; ISBN 0-89221-269-1; Library of Congress: 94-67493.

See also

  • [1] Rapture Ready website
  • [2] The Berean Call, a web-ministry of Dave Hunt
  • [3] Christian Apologetics & Research Ministry

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Literary Dictionary. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms. Copyright © Chris Baldick 2001, 2004. All rights reserved.  Read more
Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. © 2006 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Philosophy Dictionary. The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy. Copyright © 1994, 1996, 2005 by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.  Read more
Asian Mythology. A Dictionary of Asian Mythology. Copyright © 2001, 2002 by David Leeming. All rights reserved.  Read more
Obscure Words. © 2008 by Michael A. Fischer http://home.comcast.net/~wwftd.  Read more
Islamic Dictionary. Copyright © 2002 yourDictionary.com. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Eschatology".  Read more

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