Most people have an idea from whence they came. Some believe we are a product of a graceful God, and were designed to be like and love our Designer. Those that accept that oncology are "theists". Others believe we just happened by chance. Those who accept that oncology are atheists. Christians who fail to accept the creation account are de facto "atheists":
Romans 1:18 ...the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools...Knowing that there is God, according to verse 20, is seeing Him in the Creation. Conversely, those that can't see God in the Creation do not know Him! Many claim to be Christians, but deny the Creation. To know and be God's is to buy into the divinely provided ontology - since we are in the image of God, God created us that way. Christians are Christians because they believe that God can save them in the end. It follows, that if God has the power to save, and create Paradise to which we live in eternity, then God must have the power to create the Garden Paradise and its abode! Christians, it is that simple. Cease your unbelief. Quit diminishing Almighty God, or He just may prove you wrong. It appears that belief in the Creation is imperative to be born-again.
The emotion humans have that they know more than God is called "pride". Christians must submit that pride to be candidates for heaven. Submission is not half-way - we cannot believe that God can save, yet disbelief that He can create. Evolutions think they know better than God. Hence, evolutionists cannot be Christians. Scripture cause those double-minded people "fools" (verse 22). It is folly to think that one is a Christian when they don't believe in the Almighty.
I claimed earlier that human beings are immortal. The ontology of mankind is purity. We were designed in the image of God; hence, since God is "good", mankind was created good. We were not created with human flesh but imperishable. Mankind was designed to live forever - to be immortal. Our nature in the beginning was as free agents. We were endowed by our Creator with a will, just like God's will! God created everything of His own volition. Because we were designed in God's image, our will was also free. Free to do what? Decide our existence and our destiny. Our earthly existence is called life, and its study is philosophy, and our destiny, again, is eschatology.
The greatest philosophical question of all time was this: shall I ignore God's will in favor of my own? The answer to that question was eating of the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. It was a free choice but one with fatal consequences! The penalty, Adam was told in advance, was death. When Eve ate and didn't die, Adam ate as well. They tested God, and believed that God had lied to them.
The problem was that they lacked the knowledge of God. Compared to God, Adam and Eve were fools (verse 22 again). Since death had never before occurred, they misunderstood the concept of death. Nothing has changed! People still don't understand death! When they thought God foolish, their ontology established their eschatology. Their original nature was changed from innocence to rebellion, and their fate from life to death.
Now, let me explain immortality. Atheists - those who do not believe in God nor His power, hope to only molder in the grave. I believe that in the secret places of their minds, they know they deserve death and punishment but with their failure to accept God, do not have the "hope of salvation". Hence, their hope lies in the grave. There they can avoid eternal punishment, they think. They have deluded themselves into believing the original precept, "thou shall not surely die" (Genesis 3:4). Of course, atheists understand that someday they will indeed will physically die but deny that they will also die a spiritual death. There are two deaths by God's design. Most will never escape the first death, but some will the second death.
Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.Therefore, the eschatology of mankind is one of two things: immortality or spiritual death. Physical death is the birth canal to eternal life or to eternal agony. There is no relaxing in an eternal sleep as atheists believe.
Let me explain immortality. Everyone is immortal. Those who are fearful (of God), unbelieving (about God), murderers, whoremongers, sorcerers, idolaters, liars, and such will suffer the second death. Ontologically speaking, those who are only born once will suffer the first and second death. On the other hand, those born once, and then born again, should look forward to the second life. Ironically, or by Plan, being reborn a new creature provides a new earthly life in addition to eternal life.
Those who are not born-again have a bonus (sic) too - they will be immortal as well. Rather than eternally living, they will be eternally dying. Christians will suffer pain one time to obtain eternal life, whereas non-Christians will suffer physical death, then endure pain and isolation forever. That seems unfair but it is just because it's so simple to change eschatology; not the world's but are own! That one decision, just as the first one back in the Garden, is whether to submit to God's will - His authority or not. We don't have to wait to see how things turn out for us. Scripture tells us the future of unbelievers, believers, and the world. That is eschatology.
What better place to study eschatology than the Word of God? The apostle John was inspired to write down the study of the end-of-time. Our eschatology can be found in the Book of Revelation. It is as important to know eschatology as well as ontology. Eschatology is knowing what our ontology brought about. When Adam sinned, he probably wondered: and how does this turn out? Adam was safe by grace, and is now immortal. Adam lived 930 years with hope. Hope is life's highway to the end. Tomorrow, I will commence the study of the Book of Revelation, so you too will know: and how does this turnout?
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