So What is My Eschatology?

In a previous post I asked the question “So What is Your Eschatology?” Well, after presenting my basic view as “I don’t know,” I thought I should take a moment to record what I do see as certain and thus how I do approach the interpretive issues surrounding the debate between covenantal and dispensational theology. Below is my understanding of How Israel and the church fit together.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There are two parts of Israel:

1. The unbelieving nation that has been rejected and cut off from the special blessings of God.
2. The true Israel or remnant that was always faithful

• There always has been a true Israel in OT times, NT times and beyond.

The Tree

The nation of Israel has been cut off but the remnant was not. The remnant believed Christ. Modern day Messianic Jews constitute a portion of that remnant.

Gentiles who come to faith are grafted in with the remnant. There will come a day when all Jews, both those cut off and the remnant will come under rule of Christ along with all Gentiles. All will be held accountable for their wicked deeds and their faith/repentance or lack thereof.

Only the Church will be saved at the end of all things. The Church consists of the Jewish remnant and those Gentiles who have come to faith. All others will be held accountable for their wickedness without Christ and enter into eternal punishment – the wrath of God which is Hell.

Therefore what can be said of the end of days is there will be a visible return of Christ that will be recognized by the world. There will be a period of judgment against the world as Christ seeks to establish a new creation and there will be a period in which this world will be ruled by Christ. At the end of all things everyone will face judgment, both the living and the dead, and those who have placed their faith in Christ will enter into the fellowship of God in the new heaven and new earth while those who have not placed their faith in Christ will enter into a place of eternal judgment. This eternal judgment is the uninhibited righteous wrath of God which is Hell.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any questions? I only have one: Have you been grafted into that tree?