by Larry Lounsbury

Created on: June 18, 2009   Last Updated: June 21, 2009

Eschatology's is the Doctrine of "Last Things"


In our world , the range of religious Eschatology's dealing with the Doctrine of "Last Things" can seem both similar and diverse. In fact there appears to be a complex connection that some believe to be a link to a past that ebbs and flows with time. What appears to be a Tower of Babel in the religious world that is actually a new type of Rosetta Stone waiting for some Scholar to finally decipher its code for the last days.

Throughout the centuries many people throughout the world have searched the various supposed Holy books to find out what will happen after we pass on. Some believe we are just part of a system of chaos that happened by chance, existing in a meaningless universe "...where we should eat drink and be marry..." . Alternative theories to this view concern reincarnation; while another is spiritual existence and eventual resurrection. The majority of western religions embrace the belief that when a person dies, they either go to Heaven or Hell. Eastern religions contend that this human existence is merely one in as ongoing series of lives.

Although the world of Judaism cannot be defined solely in terms of religious beliefs, for the religious practices of Jews vary greatly, one unifying feature among Jews is "belief in the oneness of God who works in and through historical events and who has in some manner chosen the Jewish people as agents (Hopfe & Woodward, 2001, p. 240).According to Judaism, an individual serves God by studying the scriptures and following what they teach. These teachings include both ritual practices and ethical laws. Judaism also teaches that all people are created in the image of God and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Thus, moral and ethical teachings are as important in Judaism as teachings about God (Bowker, 2003, p. 128).

Jews by tradition believe that God would send a Messiah to save them. A commonly held view is that in the near future there will be a series of wars and other great calamities. In Ezekiel it is revealed that the Messiah will succeed in rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple, where the sacrificial system will be re-established. Warfare, hatred, and hostility will cease and a new era will be ushered in during which all of mankind will acknowledge that God is the sole ruler and the Jewish people will study the Torah and observe its precepts in a spirit of total dedication. This period is called the Messianic age. it is supposed

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