ESCHATOLOGY SYLLABUS

Course Outline:

Part 1: Historical Introductions

Section 1: Eschatology in the Early and Medieval Church

Section 2: Eschatology in the Reformation and Modern Church

Part 2: Structural Considerations

Section 1: The Two Ages

Section 2: The General Judgment

Section 3: The Eschatological Kingdom

Part 3: Special Questions

Section 1: The Gospel Age

I. The Intermediate State

II. The Earthly Prospects

III. The Church/Israel Distinction

Section 2: The Imminent Return

I. Pre-Tribulationism

II. Date-Setting (Or Calculationism)

III. Preterism

Section 3: The Bodily Resurrection

I. The Fact of the Final Change

II. The Character of the Final Change

III. The Permanence of the Final Change

IV. The Time of the Final Change

V. The Contrast in the Final Change

Section 4: The Eternal State

I. Of the Wicked [The Doctrine of Eternal Punishment]

II. Of the Righteous [The Doctrine of the Redeemed Earth]

Course Reading:

Required Reading: Anthony Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, [287 pp.] This is due by the last day of the lectures, but recommended completion is prior to the second week of lectures.

Extra Credit Reading: Herman Bavinck, The Last Things, [160 pp.] This is due by the last day of the lectures, but recommended completion is prior to the second week of lectures.

Suggested Reading: Geerhardus Vos, Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation, chapters 2, 11, 12, 24 and Pauline Eschatology, ch. 1-12.

Course Grading

Grading will be based on daily short-answer quizzes (40%) on the previous day=s material, a final exam (50%), and the completion of the required reading (10%). The completion of Bavinck will bring an extra credit of 5% on the course grade. All the questions on the final exam will be taken from the daily quizzes and are due two weeks after the date of the final lecture.