We ended our summer Bible studies this week with a brief survey of what theologians call eschatology – the teachings of the Bible about the second coming of Christ and His reign here on earth.  We were talking about what people commonly call “the end times.”  Yes, I’ll admit, that’s a fairly unusual way to wrap up a summer Bible study!  But it made sense given where we were in our study of Joel.  I also have to say I loved hearing the stories of students pouring over the Scriptures last night, wrestling with difficult passages and trying to piece the whole thing together into a coherent timeline. For our staff team, the conversation didn’t end last night.  The highlight of my day in the office today was an impromptu, hour long conversation with our whole team and Will Pavone about some of the more nuanced sections of this discussion.

Before I make my main point for this post, I need to say one other thing: any “brief survey” of eschatology is bound to raise as many questions as it answers.  We knew that going into this week – so if you’re feeling that way, don’t let it worry you.  Some of you were exposed to brand new sections of the Bible last night.  Some of you heard a different view than the one you’ve grown up hearing.  So, don’t worry if you don’t feel like you’ve mastered the subject.  But don’t throw in the towel either.  Let your questions fuel your curiosity.  Keep reading, keep thinking and keep asking your small group leaders and our staff team for help when you need it.

For this post, I want to address one of the major questions we all wrestle with when studying this topic is: does all of this make any impact on our lives today?  Why should I care?  Does this even matter?  To that question, let me give one simple answer.  There are many others we could talk about – God’s sovereignty over human history, God’s provision for Israel, God’s faithfulness to His promises, etc…  But the verse I want to insert into this discussion is 1 Thessalonians 4:13, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.”  The second coming of Christ, our eternity with Him, His provision of a glorified body, reigning with Him in the Kingdom and all that is in store for us should be a massive source of hope for us in life.  It’s a promise that we will be reunited with believing family and friends in eternity.  We grieve the loss of a loved one for sure.  But that grief is changed by our hope in a bodily resurrection.  The grave is not the end!  There is more to come.  There is eternity.  Together.  With God.  Joyous.  Worshipping. Transformed.  Holy.  His.

So, yes, all of this matters.  The details too.  But those details are held together by a story that shouts hope to you and me today.  Paul couldn’t stand the thought of the Thessalonian church missing out on that hope.  I don’t want you to either.