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contradicted the teachings of Jesus, they just added ammunition to the skeptics'
claims against Jesus' divinity and the inerrancy of the Bible.
It is called the "battle for the Bible." And in America, especially over
the past 50 years, major denominations and seminaries have fallen victim to this
liberal/skeptic attack on the Bible and on the integrity and deity of Christ.
In sum, eschatology today is a most relevant topic and filled with
plenty of confusion, controversy, and lack of consensus. It is ripe for a fresh
approach.
Purpose of the Study
The purpose of this theorectical study is to analyze the four eschatological views
of the historic, evangelical, and conservative Church, regarding the return of
Christ, to determine their principal strengths and weaknesses and to synthesize
them into one meaningful, coherent, and consistent whole. This integration
process will be achieved by a solution of synthesis
i.e. keeping strengths and
discarding weaknesses.
Questions to Be Answered
The general research question to be answered is: What is the solution to
the confusion, conflict, and divisiveness of the Church's four eschatological
views of the return of Christ?
Secondary questions are:
1.
What is the methodology for that solution?
2.
How can the major strengths and weaknesses be identified and
demonstrated?
3.
Can only the strengths from these four views be synthesized into
one meaningful, coherent, and consistent whole?
4.
Have any such synthesization attempts been tried before and with
what degree of success?
Significance of the Study
If eschatology was only a small appendix of or minor conclusion to the
Christian faith, our lack of consensus might be viewed as majoring on a minor
or much to do about nothing. But as Daley understood, there is "an
eschatological dimension to every aspect of Christian faith and reflection . . . .