What is Eschatology?
By Carol and Paul Bernard
The term "eschatology" literally means the "study of last things" or "study of the end." The Greek root "eschatos" means "last," as in the last month of the year; the last week of the month; the last day of the week. Eschatology depicts & studies the very last of the days.
2 Timothy 3:1 speaks of the perilous times to come in the last days as do many other scriptures throughout the Old Testament to the New Testament. Many refer to "the Day of Lord" that is to come (2 Pet. 3:10-18, 1 Thess. 5:2, Matt. 25, John 6:39, Phil. 1:6, 1 Cor. 15: 24-26, Acts 17:30-31, Isa. 13:9-13, Rev. 20 to name a few).
What should our reaction be as we study the "last days?" Our reaction should not be fear, but rather, a call to prayer and action. Christians should study and know the truth about last days so they are not surprised by the signposts set before them. Titus 2:13 reminds us we should be expectantly aware that these events signal (the Bible often refers to them as "birth pangs") what is to come. We are "waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."
References: Rick Renner, Sparkling Gems II, 2016