End-Time Terms
(Terms of
Eschatology)
Amillennial -- (prefix "a," "no"). The belief that there will no literal 1000 year reign of Christ. Thus Revelation 20 is taken symbolically, not literally, by adherents of this view. Amillennialists generally believe that Israel has been permanently set aside for all time and that God's current plan of salvation involves only the church.
Apokalupsis (Apocalypse) -- Greek word for "revelation," or "unveiling," or "uncovering." The visible appearing of Jesus to the world in full power and splendor. Also refers to the appearance of the antichrist on the stage of history following the rapture (2 Thessalonians 2).
Day of the LORD -- An extended period of time during which God openly intervenes in human affairs both in regard to judgment and blessing. In the present age justice is deferred or works out only slowly, judgment is largely withheld or restrained and God's people await the fulfillment of his promises and plans for them. Although Jesus the Lord rules over the universe He has not yet reigned on earth. This makes the famous prayer Jesus taught the disciples the most-often prayed and as yet unanswered prayer in the Bible, "...Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven..."
Dispensationalism -- Teaching that history is divided into various time periods during which God moves in the world in certain distinctive ways. Hence, "dispensation of innocence," "dispensation of government," "dispensation of law," "dispensation of grace," and "kingdom economy," etc. The Greek word means "economy" or "administration." Several different schools of Dispensationalism exist.
Dominion Theology -- Teaching that the church is responsible for taking over the world in the name and power of Christ. Associated with "reconstructionism," also known and "theonomy."
Epiphaneia -- Greek word meaning "A shining-forth," refers to the visible appearance of Jesus at the close of the age. Used in 1 Tim. 6:14, 2 Tim. 4:1,8; Matt. 24:27, 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Titus 2:13. The words parousia and epiphaneia are combined in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, translated "his appearing and his coming."
Great White Throne of Judgment -- This will be the judgment of the dead, the unsaved throughout history. Revelation 20:11-15 gives vivid detail of the events that will happen. The record books will be opened and the wicked shall be judged according to their works. All who's names are not found (and none will be) in the Lamb's book of life will be cast into the lake of fire.
Judgment Seat of Christ -- The judgment of all believers. The Greek word for "seat" is "bema." The bema was the raised area or chair where the judge sat. This judgment takes place after the rapture during the tribulation period. It will be a judgment, not a social event. Believers will be judged based upon their works, whether good or bad. Some believers will suffer great loss and weep in bitter tears as they realize the total extent of their wasted life, others will rejoice with many blessings and rewards. No unbelievers will be present at this judgment of the saints.
Lake of fire -- The eternal home of the damned. There is theological debate as to whether Hell and the lake of fire are the same place. Revelation 20:14 says that Hell and death will both be cast into the lake of fire. "Hell" in this context may refer to the damned of hell, not necessarily the place in itself. Death will be gone forever, sent to the lake of fire never to return. Those damned to the lake of fire at the great white throne of judgment will be the last souls ever to die. Regardless, the outcome is still the same--all Christ-rejecters will suffer eternal death apart from God.
Last Days -- The entire period between the first and second advents of our Lord Jesus Christ. Since Jesus ascended into heaven from the Mount of Olives, 40 days after His resurrection, we have been living in the "last days." Eschatology is the body of knowledge concerning the "last things," or the end of the age and the future.
Midtribulation -- The belief that Jesus raptures the church half-way through the seven-year tribulation period.
Millennium -- (Latin, mille = thousand; Greek: chilloi = thousand, hence chiliasm). The Biblical teaching based on Revelation 20 that Christ will literally, physically reign on earth following the present age, for one thousand actual calendar years. This is the literal plain teaching of the Word of God.
Parousia -- Greek word meaning "coming alongside and remaining with" someone. Describes the Second Coming of Jesus for His own. Used in Matthew 24:3,27,37,39; 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 5:23, 2 Thessalonians 2:1, James 5:7, 8; 2 Peter 1:16, 3:4; 1 Corinthians 15:23.
Premillennial -- The belief that Christ returns visibly and bodily at the beginning of the thousand-year reign of Christ on the earth. He will rule the nations from Jerusalem. God will resume salvation work for Israel as a nation immediately after the departure or "rapture" of the true church.
Pretribulation -- The teaching that Jesus comes for His bride, the true church, at the beginning of the tribulation period. This is the "pretribulation rapture." A believer can only conclude a pretribulation rapture if the Word of God is taken literally.
Postmillennial -- The belief that Christ will return at the end of the present age to take over the earth. Meantime, He is assumed to reign on earth through the church now. Postmillennialists do not necessarily believe in a literal millennial age. Satan was defeated at the cross and is now bound, hence the final triumph of the church in history is assured.
Postribulation -- Belief that Jesus will come for His people at the end of the tribulation period, but prior to the Millennium. This heresy is popular with adherents of the newer modern Bible versions. All of the modern Bibles remove key Scriptures such as "Two men shall be in a field, the one taken and the other left." The Word of God plainly teaches that the rapture will be a surprise, it will come as a thief in the night.
Rapture -- The event when Jesus Christ will return "for" His own. In the Latin Bible rapere meaning "to catch up," is the translation of the Greek harpazo, 1st Thessalonians 4:17. The coming of Jesus to take His church out of the world, "like a thief in the night", i.e., suddenly, unexpectedly. Dates for this event can not be predicted from the Bible. Peter warned that there would be scoffers in the last days who would mock saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? (2nd Peter 3:4). We are reminded in 2nd Peter 3:9 that God is long-suffering, not willing that any should perish. This is the only reason preventing the Lord's immediate return. As the world increasingly becomes apostate and blinded by Satan, it can only mean that the rapture is drawing nearer faster and faster.
Replacement Theology -- Teaching in some circles today to the effect that the church has replaced Israel permanently in the plan of God. Usually associated with an amillennial view of eschatology.
Second Coming -- The time when Jesus Christ will return "with" His own at the end of the tribulation period. This will be a victorious return when Christ and the Saints shall fight at the Battle of Armageddon and conquer the Devil's trio: The beast, the false prophet, and the Antichrist.
Tribulation Period -- The end-time period of judgment of the earth with great out-pouring of wrath on mankind from God. The 70th Week of Daniel. From Daniel we know this period to be just 7 years in length. The first-half is normally assumed to be relatively peaceful. The last half of this "week" (3-1/2 years) is "the great tribulation," or "the time of Jacob's trouble" when most of the terrible judgments in the Book of the Revelation occur. The first half of the tribulation period is marked by apparent world peace, especially in the Middle East as Israel's false prophet and the political/military leader of the Western confederation of nations contrive a "successful" peace plan. (Isaiah calls coming this treaty Israel's "covenant with death.") The onset of the Great Tribulation is marked by failure of this peace treaty and the desecration of the Third Temple in Jerusalem by the "man of sin." During the tribulation period Israel is once again the focus for events in the Bible. Jerusalem will again be the center of reference for what God is doing in the world as was the case through the Old Testament period up until Israel's rejection of Yeshua as Messiah after His Palm Sunday entry as legitimate King in the line of David His father.
