Eschatology is the study of last things and future events. It is derived from the Latin word eschatos, which means "last, final, or end." It is used mostly among Christians because the Bible gives many prophecies concerning future events, some of which are already fulfilled. Whenever Christians discuss eschatology, there always seems to be disagreement, because it is a very complicated subject. That is why I feel it is very important that we all understand the difference between essential eschatology and peripheral eschatology.
There are several things that fall under essential eschatology. Jesus Christ will come to the earth again someday. It will be an imminent event, which means that absolutely nobody but the Heavenly Father knows when He will accomplish it. Nobody can know the hour, day, or even the year in which Christ will return. When He does, the entire world will see Him, all will know that it is Him, and all will bow down to worship Him. All of the dead will be raised and judged with perfect fairness. God's believers/saints will live with Him for eternity, and all unbelievers/heathen will be cast into the lake of fire with Satan. Without a doubt these future events are among the essentials of authentic Christianity. Lose one and you lose the Gospel. There seems to be little disagreement over this among most evangelical/born again Christians. (See also the page titled, What Do Christians Believe?)
However, among Christians there is a vast amount of disagreement over just how God will accomplish these things. Is God finished working through the nation of Israel; has the Church replaced Israel as God's covenant people? (Dispensationalists say "no," while everyone else says "yes.") Are we to expect gradual worldwide revival or seven years tribulation before the second coming of Christ? (Postmillennialists say "gradual worldwide revival," while everyone else says "seven years tribulation.") For those who say "seven years tribulation," will the Church have to live through any part of that period? (Pretribulationists say "none," while posttribulationists say "all," and midtribulationists say "half.") Is the 1000-year reign of Christ (Rev. 20:4-7) literal or figurative? (Premillennialists say "literal," while everyone else says "figurative.") Just how much of the Book of Revelation is fulfilled right now? (Preterists say "most or all," while everyone else disagrees to a significant extent.) Just how many resurrections and judgments will God execute? Is the "beast" an actual human ruler (the antichrist), or merely a personification of anti-Christian rulers in general? All of these questions are of peripheral importance. I believe that to place any of these debates (as important as they may be) under the essential category of eschatology is to be divisive and unfruitful (see also the page titled, What Is a Peripheral Christian Debate?).
I am a premillennialist with dispensational/pretribulational leanings, yet my life has been deeply touched by the ministries of Walter Martin (who was a posttribulationist) and D. James Kennedy (who was an amillennialist). By contrast, I am disturbed by some of my fellow dispensational premillennialists who slouch toward sensationalism (Hal Lindsey, Jack Van Impe, Grant Geoffrey) or divisive dogmatism (John Hagee, Zola Levitt). I would encourage everybody in the Family of God to study the subject of eschatology, to carefully consider all schools of thought, then draw their own conclusions based upon the Bible (God's written Word).
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