Eschatology

The existence of evil is pointed to as evidence against the preterist (past-fulfillment) position and the consummation of “all things” circa A.D. 70 to which we adhere as part of our eschatological synthesis position (see again “Two Creations”  and “End-time Views“). The traditional assumption and emphasis of Christian eschatology and classic objection generally goes like this. “At the ‘restoration of all things’ (Acts 3:21 NAS), God will finally deal with evil and make an end to it in order to restore this world back to its original, pristine, pre-Fall perfection”—i.e., an evil-less, new or re-creation, called a “paradise restored.”

That is—someday all evil will be removed from planet Earth and a utopian, physical paradise, once again, set up. Billy Graham explains his belief in this future reality this way: “Our world will never be perfect – not until Jesus comes back to destroy all evil and injustice, and usher in his rule of perfect justice and peace” (Billy Graham, “My Answer,” The Indianapolis Star (Indianapolis, IN), 17 November 2011, E-4).

Conversely, Gordon J. Spykman in his systematic theology textbook made a very apropos eschatological statement in this regard, “If we get the ‘first things’ wrong, ‘last things’ will also turn out wrong . . . .” (Gordon J. Spykman, Reformational Theology: A New Paradigm for Doing Dogmatics (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1992), 152). How true, because we indeed have gotten first things wrong. The assumption of a an evil-less new or re-creation in a “paradise restored,” has been shown to be an invalid assumption, regardless of where one places the time of consummation, since evil was a part of that “very good” creation from the beginning. God Himself put it there during the creation week.

Sadly, therefore, the hope of many Christians is a misguided hope. They are looking for an evil-less earthly world someday that is different from what God created and now sustains. Supposedly, all this will be part of God’s ultimate triumph. But does this utopian belief line up with the Bible? Indeed, this old order has already passed away (Heb. 9:10; Matt. 23:38) and yet these “evil” realities are still present in our world. Furthermore, in the last chapter of the Bible’s last book of Revelation and in the “new heaven and a new earth” and “the Holy City, the new Jerusalem” that comes “down out of heaven” to earth (Rev. 21:1-2) evil is still present. It lies just outside the gates of the new Jerusalem on earth: “Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood” (Rev. 22:15). Also, the nations enter this city for “healing” (Rev. 22:2b). What do they need to be healed of if all evil is gone?

Source:

1 Why Not Evil? (future book – est. 2014) by John Noe