#79 – Global Crises and the End of the World

May 7, 2020

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Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley explore how to think about global crises and what the Bible says about the “last days.”

Questions Covered in This Episode:

It is not uncommon, in the face of global crises, for conversations to pick back up regarding the end times, the last day, the end of the world, the 2nd coming of Christ. Have you heard this or felt it during these strange days of the world reeling from the COVID pandemic?
Why does it seem like people are drawn to this question/idea?
How do you respond when someone asks you, “Are we living in the end times?”
Is Jesus's return imminent?
Should we live as though his return is imminent? What does that look like?
What are the different views on the end times?
What are the essential beliefs about the end of the world?
Q&A:
What is the significance of the daughters of Zelophehad, historian numbers, why would that provision have already been in the law?
How would I talk about the end times with high school students?
What is orthodox belief?

Helpful Definitions:

False Stories: All of us are living in the midst of a narrative that informs us on what the good life is. By default all of us are living in false stories and need to be invited to participate in the true story - the Christian story.
Progressivism: The story that says, “Things are continually getting better.” Advancements in science, technology, economics, etc., are constantly improving the human condition. The good life is the belief that through human ingenuity, we are better today than yesterday and we will be better tomorrow than we were today.
Pre-Millennialism: The view on the end times that we are existing prior to a millennial reign of Christ Jesus, it typically treats the millennial reign as a defined 1,000 year period that will occur. Within this view there are different views on the rapture and tribulation.
Amillennialism: The view on the end times that the millennial rule and reign of Christ is a real thing but doesn’t have a time signature. With the coming of Christ Jesus, there was a millennial rule and reign that we are currently living in that is between the already and the not yet. We are living in the millennial rule and reign of Christ Jesus that will be consummated in the second coming of Christ Jesus. Typically do not hold to a view of rapture or tribulation.
Post-Millennialism: The view on the end times that a progressive reality that Christ Jesus has inaugurated the Kingdom of God and that even now is beginning to restore, remake, and recreate the world through Christ Jesus’ rule and reign and the Spirit empowering life of God’s people, the body of Christ on earth, who are functioning as the primary ministers of reconciliation bringing all things back into union with Christ Jesus. Either believe this is going to happen after a defined period of time has elapsed, or that this will happen progressively over time and be consummated with the return of Jesus Christ.
Theological Triage: The effort to rank different doctrines differently.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

Matthew 23-26, 1 Thessalonians 4-5, Revelation 20-21, Matthew 16
The Apostles’ Creed
“Three Views on the Millennium and Beyond” by Darrell L. Bock
“Revelation 1-11” The Bible Project
“Revelation 12-22” The Bible Project
“The Last Battle” by C.S. Lewis
Nicene Creed
Chalcedonian Creed

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Jen, JT, and Kyle explore how to think about global crises and what the Bible says about the “last days.”

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