ESCHATOLOGY

Eschatology is a study concerned with what are believed to be the final events of history, the ultimate destiny of humanity — commonly referred to as the end of the world. Let us go into some of them.

Baha’i Faith

Some teachings like the Baha’i Faith hold that human time is marked by a series of progressive revelations in which successive messengers or prophets come from God. The coming of each of these messengers is seen as the day of judgment to the adherents of the previous religion, who may choose to accept the new messenger and enter the 'heaven' of belief, or denounce the new messenger and enter the 'hell' of denial.

Islam

Followers of Islam are taught that on judgment day, the works of man will be judged on the scales of Justice and believers whose good works outweighs the bad receives eternal life!

Some of these teachings are useful because when we look carefully there are elements of the truth in them.

Prophecy by Jesus

We obtain clarity about the events of these times from the prophecies of Jesus the Son of God. And so as was recorded in the Bible (Mathew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21) when Jesus was asked about the close of the age, He warned the disciples to be careful as many false prophets will come in His name to lead human beings astray. We will hear of wars and rumors of wars and there will be famines and earthquakes. Then a period of great tribulation was predicted such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, and never will be! At this same period however is the time when the true teachings of Christ will be preached to the entire world as a testimony to all nations.

We need to note that the End-Time does not mean the end of the world as many often assume, but the end of a great epoch. The Biblical accounts speak of the “close of the age”.  After this close of the age begins a New Time, in which the Kingdom of God is to be established on earth: the Thousand-year kingdom of Peace. The transition from the Old to the New Time is formed by the period of the World Judgment also called the Last or Final Judgment.

Without the World Judgment the New Time cannot begin, because there must first be a thorough cleansing from all evil, so that the foundation for the new Kingdom will be pure and clear.

From all indications and recent severe happenings we can sense that we are at the period that had been foreseen. We stand in the Judgement, the time of reckoning! There is so much to say on this subject but I wish to pause here for now.