I've spent a wealth of time reviewing the subject of Eschatology (though, probably not nearly as much as yourself).
My main thoughts are that most ignore the OT prophesies that detail the ends of things (especially the ones that have indisputably gone unfulfilled as of yet) and then simply start building theories off of non-exegetical interpretations of Mark 13, Matt 24, Luke 21, 1 and 2 Thesalonians and especially Revelations.
My view of "Heaven" is that it is the dwelling place of God; where he resides in his full glory. And where everything is as he desires it to be (which is why we pray "May your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven").
Most Westerners view the Consummation of the Age at the return of Christ to be the "end of things" (which is what Eschatology is the study of). However, this is inconsistent with Hebraic thought which is written in "Chiasms" (a literary device that orders things: beginning, middle, beginning). Western literature is always written: beginning, middle, end. So we would assume that Heaven is the end, whereas Revelations calls it something "new" as in a "new beginning"; "New Jerusalem" (Rev. 21:1).
In this Newness, God and us are in perfect communion, restored to our Original Glory. But, what does that exactly look like?
On the subject of heaven, seven years ago, a dental assistant I had died after her car left the road for no good reason. She was on a road that she never took and would have had no compelling reason to take. Therefore, there was a small amount of speculation that she had ended her life on purpose. Then the discussion came up if she would still go to heaven amongst her colleagues that were actually all Christians. When she passed away, I sent the doctor whose office she worked in a picture of the Eiffel tower because I truely thought of heaven as our hearts'desire. Now I realize through the Bible, that it is so much more than that. I was right in my thinking that this girl would no longer have her earthly struggles when she went to heaven, but it is more a reconcilliation with God when you go to heaven, isn't it?
Yes. We miss the point when we think of Heaven as the ultimate amusement park or spa in the sky. No doubt it will be very real--as I said earlier, the most real, most "concrete" thing we've ever known--but what makes it our true home and what makes it the place where we will finally be complete people, is the fact that we'll be with the One who created us.
Fish can only be truly at home (and truly fish) in water, because they are water creatures; people can only be truly at home (and truly human) in God's presence, because we are God creatures.
3 comments:
Mike,
I've spent a wealth of time reviewing the subject of Eschatology (though, probably not nearly as much as yourself).
My main thoughts are that most ignore the OT prophesies that detail the ends of things (especially the ones that have indisputably gone unfulfilled as of yet) and then simply start building theories off of non-exegetical interpretations of Mark 13, Matt 24, Luke 21, 1 and 2 Thesalonians and especially Revelations.
My view of "Heaven" is that it is the dwelling place of God; where he resides in his full glory. And where everything is as he desires it to be (which is why we pray "May your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven").
Most Westerners view the Consummation of the Age at the return of Christ to be the "end of things" (which is what Eschatology is the study of). However, this is inconsistent with Hebraic thought which is written in "Chiasms" (a literary device that orders things: beginning, middle, beginning). Western literature is always written: beginning, middle, end. So we would assume that Heaven is the end, whereas Revelations calls it something "new" as in a "new beginning"; "New Jerusalem" (Rev. 21:1).
In this Newness, God and us are in perfect communion, restored to our Original Glory. But, what does that exactly look like?
On the subject of heaven, seven years ago, a dental assistant I had died after her car left the road for no good reason. She was on a road that she never took and would have had no compelling reason to take. Therefore, there was a small amount of speculation that she had ended her life on purpose. Then the discussion came up if she would still go to heaven amongst her colleagues that were actually all Christians. When she passed away, I sent the doctor whose office she worked in a picture of the Eiffel tower because I truely thought of heaven as our hearts'desire. Now I realize through the Bible, that it is so much more than that. I was right in my thinking that this girl would no longer have her earthly struggles when she went to heaven, but it is more a reconcilliation with God when you go to heaven, isn't it?
Yes. We miss the point when we think of Heaven as the ultimate amusement park or spa in the sky. No doubt it will be very real--as I said earlier, the most real, most "concrete" thing we've ever known--but what makes it our true home and what makes it the place where we will finally be complete people, is the fact that we'll be with the One who created us.
Fish can only be truly at home (and truly fish) in water, because they are water creatures; people can only be truly at home (and truly human) in God's presence, because we are God creatures.
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