“Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand” (Revelation 1:3).
A Book of Prophecy
Revelation is the last book in the Bible, written around A.D. 95 by the Apostle John. He was banished to the island of Patmos (East of Greece in the Aegean Sea) because of his faithfulness to Christ (1:9). The Lord Jesus gave John this “revelation” (a “revealing,” “unveiling,” or a compendium) of the past, present, and what was to come (v. 19).
That “which shall be hereafter” (v. 19) refers to the events that will occur in connection to Christ’s second coming which include the rapture of the Church, the Day of the Lord – the time when Christ will unleash His wrath on a world which has rejected Him – and Christ’s physical return to establish His Millennial Kingdom on Earth.
This will occur sometime in the second half of “the 70th Week of the Book of Daniel” (Daniel 9:27) – the final 7 years of this age of human history.
The Book of Revelation is a letter, prophecy, and apocalyptic Jewish literature – a specific genre, or type of writing within the general style of prophetic texts. Prophecy is dispersed throughout the Old and New Testaments. There are hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, many which have been fulfilled, and many more which will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Coming.
A “Dismissive” Viewpoint
An estimated 25 to 35 percent of the Word of God is prophetic, which is a crucial component of Scripture. The accuracy of prophecy is one of the confirmations which prove the Bible is indeed the specific Word of God, and that it is reliable, true, and vital to humanity.
However, many believers are uncomfortable studying Bible prophecy, often claiming prophetic passages can be confusing, divisive, and difficult to understand. Others are not uncomfortable with prophecy, but view it as something which will come to pass no matter what, whether or not we study or understand it.
Their thinking is: The End-Times are the End-Times; what will happen, will happen. Our responsibility is to preach the Gospel TODAY, and let God worry about tomorrow, particularly the End-Times.
Almost dismissively, those with such a viewpoint proclaim themselves proponents of “Pan-Eschatology” – the mindset that all things will “pan out in the end.” Despite this prevalent thinking, this is – in no way –a proper biblical thinking. In fact, it is contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture.
Promised Blessing
Far from instructing readers to relegate prophecy to the attic of discarded Scripture, the Bible promises a blessing for those who read, hear, and take to heart what the Book of Revelation says (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). By implication, this extends to the entire Bible, INCLUDING prophetic passages, as there are more than 300 quotes or references from the Old Testament in Revelation.
This reality negates the dismissive attitude of the “Pan-Eschatology” advocates, who tend to downplay the importance of the Old Testament. Why is this? To understand the final book of the New Testament (and, of course, the entire Bible), one must understand the Old Testament, and particularly its End-Times prophecies.
Nowhere in the Bible is it taught that believers should not concern themselves with prophecy because all things will “pan out.” Rather, prophecy teaches the opposite: God has a specific and intricate plan for the end of the age, and He expects His people to learn for themselves through the diligent study of His Word what that plan is.
Ignorance of truth is not a virtue, nor is it bliss.
Negative Effects
“Pan-Eschatology” is not something to take lightly or brush off. This way of viewing prophecy serves absolutely no good purpose, and hinders spiritual growth. Ignoring End-Times prophecy is a gross neglect of Scripture, ALL of which the Apostle Paul tells us “is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Furthermore, because “Pan-Eschatology” prevents believers from learning the truth of this crucial component of God’s Word, Satan gains the opportunity to swoop in and blind believers with his lies. They can be walking right into end-time scenarios the Bible warns about and not even know it. If Satan can use “Pan-Eschatology” to keep believers ignorant in End-Times matters, he will certainly take advantage of it.
A Challenge
If you lean toward the “Pan-Eschatology” viewpoint, my challenge to you is this: Study prophecy. Look at the hundreds of prophesies already fulfilled, and grasp just how faithful God is in doing what He says He will do.
Next, study the prophecies which will see their fulfillment in the End-Times, when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5). Learn all you can about End-Times prophecy with an unwavering fidelity to Scripture, strive to put together the pieces of the prophetic puzzle to see what God has done and will do.
Don’t be content to sit in the dark and wait for things to “pan out.” World events are already falling into place which will lead to the climatic 7 years of human history. Dive deep into the waters of God’s prophetic Word, and do not fall into the trap of “Pan-Eschatology”!
Revelation is the last book in the Bible, written around A.D. 95 by the Apostle John. He was banished to the island of Patmos (East of Greece in the Aegean Sea) because of his faithfulness to Christ (1:9). The Lord Jesus gave John this “revelation” (a “revealing,” “unveiling,” or a compendium) of the past, present, and what was to come (v. 19).
That “which shall be hereafter” (v. 19) refers to the events that will occur in connection to Christ’s second coming which include the rapture of the Church, the Day of the Lord – the time when Christ will unleash His wrath on a world which has rejected Him – and Christ’s physical return to establish His Millennial Kingdom on Earth.
This will occur sometime in the second half of “the 70th Week of the Book of Daniel” (Daniel 9:27) – the final 7 years of this age of human history.
The Book of Revelation is a letter, prophecy, and apocalyptic Jewish literature – a specific genre, or type of writing within the general style of prophetic texts. Prophecy is dispersed throughout the Old and New Testaments. There are hundreds of prophecies in the Bible, many which have been fulfilled, and many more which will be fulfilled at Christ’s Second Coming.
A “Dismissive” Viewpoint
An estimated 25 to 35 percent of the Word of God is prophetic, which is a crucial component of Scripture. The accuracy of prophecy is one of the confirmations which prove the Bible is indeed the specific Word of God, and that it is reliable, true, and vital to humanity.
However, many believers are uncomfortable studying Bible prophecy, often claiming prophetic passages can be confusing, divisive, and difficult to understand. Others are not uncomfortable with prophecy, but view it as something which will come to pass no matter what, whether or not we study or understand it.
Their thinking is: The End-Times are the End-Times; what will happen, will happen. Our responsibility is to preach the Gospel TODAY, and let God worry about tomorrow, particularly the End-Times.
Almost dismissively, those with such a viewpoint proclaim themselves proponents of “Pan-Eschatology” – the mindset that all things will “pan out in the end.” Despite this prevalent thinking, this is – in no way –a proper biblical thinking. In fact, it is contrary to the clear teaching of Scripture.
Promised Blessing
Far from instructing readers to relegate prophecy to the attic of discarded Scripture, the Bible promises a blessing for those who read, hear, and take to heart what the Book of Revelation says (Revelation 1:3; 22:7). By implication, this extends to the entire Bible, INCLUDING prophetic passages, as there are more than 300 quotes or references from the Old Testament in Revelation.
This reality negates the dismissive attitude of the “Pan-Eschatology” advocates, who tend to downplay the importance of the Old Testament. Why is this? To understand the final book of the New Testament (and, of course, the entire Bible), one must understand the Old Testament, and particularly its End-Times prophecies.
Nowhere in the Bible is it taught that believers should not concern themselves with prophecy because all things will “pan out.” Rather, prophecy teaches the opposite: God has a specific and intricate plan for the end of the age, and He expects His people to learn for themselves through the diligent study of His Word what that plan is.
Ignorance of truth is not a virtue, nor is it bliss.
Negative Effects
“Pan-Eschatology” is not something to take lightly or brush off. This way of viewing prophecy serves absolutely no good purpose, and hinders spiritual growth. Ignoring End-Times prophecy is a gross neglect of Scripture, ALL of which the Apostle Paul tells us “is given by inspiration of God” (2 Timothy 3:16). Furthermore, because “Pan-Eschatology” prevents believers from learning the truth of this crucial component of God’s Word, Satan gains the opportunity to swoop in and blind believers with his lies. They can be walking right into end-time scenarios the Bible warns about and not even know it. If Satan can use “Pan-Eschatology” to keep believers ignorant in End-Times matters, he will certainly take advantage of it.
A Challenge
If you lean toward the “Pan-Eschatology” viewpoint, my challenge to you is this: Study prophecy. Look at the hundreds of prophesies already fulfilled, and grasp just how faithful God is in doing what He says He will do.
Next, study the prophecies which will see their fulfillment in the End-Times, when Christ will return to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:5). Learn all you can about End-Times prophecy with an unwavering fidelity to Scripture, strive to put together the pieces of the prophetic puzzle to see what God has done and will do.
Don’t be content to sit in the dark and wait for things to “pan out.” World events are already falling into place which will lead to the climatic 7 years of human history. Dive deep into the waters of God’s prophetic Word, and do not fall into the trap of “Pan-Eschatology”!
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