1. Eschatology

2. English Definitions Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary defines “eschatology” as a noun, derived from the Greek eschatos [last, farthest], which entered English vocabulary in 1844, as “(1) a branch of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or of mankind; (2) a belief concerning death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of mankind; specifically: any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment.”

3. English Definitions The Concise Oxford English Dictionary offers a more abridged definition, saying that “eschatology” refers to “the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and destiny.”

4. Greek Definitions Thomas defines the Greek adjective eschatos, a word of uncertain origin, as descriptive of that which is “last, extreme” [2078]. BDAG define it as generally “last,” specifically, pertaining to being at the farthest boundary of an area, farthest, last; pertaining to being the final item in a series, least, last in time; pertaining to furthest extremity in rank, value, or situation, last: last, least, most insignificant.

5. REFERENCE TO PHYSICAL OBJECTS The Remotest Part/Ends of the Earth (Acts 1:8; 13:47) The Last Coin in One’s Possession (Matt. 5:26; Luke 12:59)

6. REFERENCE TO AN ORDERED GROUPING The Last Individual in a Group (Matt. 20:8, 12, 14, 16) The Last Seat at a Table (Luke 14:9, 10) The Last in a Series of Events (Matt. 27:64; 1 Cor. 4:9; Rev. 2:19; 15:1; 21:9)

7. REFERENCE TO THE EXALTED POSITION OF JESUS CHRIST He is the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45) He is the First and the Last (Rev. 1:17; 2:8; 22:13)

8. REFERENCE TO RANK, POSITION, OR STATE OF BEING The Last State Being Worst (Matt. 12:45; Luke 11:26; 2 Pet. 2:20) The Last State Being Better (Matt. 19:30; Mark 9:35; 10:31; Luke 13:30)

9. THE LAST IN A TIME SEQUENCE The Last Day of a Feast (John 7:37) The Last Individual to Die (Mark 12:22) The Last Action to be Taken (Mark 12:6) The Last Appearance of the Risen Savior (1 Cor. 15:8)

10. The Last Days The Gospel Age/Dispensation (Acts 2:17; Heb. 1:2; 1 Pet. 1:20; 1 John 2:18) Difficult Times in the Future (2 Tim. 3:1; 2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 18) The Final Day of Judgment (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 11:24; 12:48; 1 Cor. 15:26, 52; 1 Pet. 1:5; James 5:3)