When it comes to the topic of humanity’s final destiny, almost everyone has something to say that is either slightly or largely different from the next person. Countless authors have written about it and possibly even more sermons have been preached, speculating about the events described in the last book in the Bible.
YouTube has numerous videos on the topic of eschatology and there are often various scholars pointing to different Old or New Testament passages to prove their point. For the most part, no one is completely able to know who is wrong and who is right because what is being talked about has not happened yet. I should clarify that history has proven some individuals wrong, who were misled enough to say that the end of the world was going to happen in 2000 because of Y2K, or in 2012 because of the Mayan calendar.
The word revelation is defined as a previously unknown fact that is unveiled in a dramatic or supernatural way. Christians only know what is said to happen in the future because John was inspired to write about it in the book of Revelation. There are a total of 22 chapters and some tell us about the age that John lived in, while other chapters speak of an age that has yet to arrive.
How you distinguish between those two ages will determine if you are dispensational or believe in covenant theology. I confess that there was a time not long ago when I could not explain the difference between the two, and if you had asked me 10 years ago what I believed about Jesus’ return, it would have been a different answer than the one I give today. I will probably have a different answer in another 10 years, if Jesus tarries.
Dispensationalism historically makes a major distinction between Israel and the church, whereas covenant theology does not. Neither covenant nor dispensational theology have any bearing on our salvation, and that is important and good to remember. Nowhere in scripture does it say that we have to know exactly what is going to happen in the future. Sadly, some people think that we do, and they are dogmatic about it especially around the dinner table during the holidays.
We are simply instructed in chapter one of the book of Revelation to read what is written and to listen and obey, and we are promised blessings. “Having it all figured out” is not in there and neither is the specific day of Christ coming mentioned, only God knows the hour. His desire while believers wait is for us to be looking for our King’s return.
If you have looked forward to the birth of your child or grandchild, then you can relate to the reality that while we don’t know when we will finally be face to face with that baby, we sure do get excited as the signs tell us we are getting close. Perhaps you’ve been married and remember what it was like seeing your spouse at your wedding ceremony, grooms next to the pastor or brides holding the arm of their father.
Similarly, Christians long for the day when our Redeemer comes for His church and we don’t want to be found sleeping. Instead, we look excitedly, knowing that today we are closer to Jesus’ return than we were yesterday. We study scripture and learn what it says will be happening in the world when things are getting close to that time. Although an expecting mother can feel that nine months is taking forever, she knows that one day the baby will come, and she will finally be able to hold and kiss the one she has been feeling move in her all along.
I don’t know about you, but I have never loved anyone more than my Savior, and I have never gone so long without being able to see and hold kiss the feet of Someone that I have loved that much. One day I will, and that glorious occasion will surpass all of my greatest expectations and my wildest dreams.
The furthest thing from my mind will be whether I was right or wrong about the timing of my Lord’s return. A more virtuous mindset would be to focus on being the peacemaker described in Matthew 5:9 and rejoicing in the hope that we have in redemption. I am reminded of Billy Graham’s words, “I have read the last page of the Bible. It is all going to turn out all right.”
Brandon Lengtat was born and raised in Tehama County. He has four children and has been married for over eighteen years. He is an elder at Christ Community Church of Vina and serves in the children’s ministry.
