"Theology proper / Paterology"( The study of God the Father.)

 Theology proper is the study of God and His attributes. Theology proper focuses on God the Father. Paterology comes from two Greek words which mean "father" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of the Father." Theology proper answers several important questions about God: Does God exist? God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. 
                   The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence. What are the attributes of God? In the words of the hymn writer, “immortal, invisible, God only wise…most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, Victorious, thy great name we praise.” Knowing God’s attributes leads to glorifying and praising Him. 
                 What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean it is not true or not based on the teachings of the Bible. Is God sovereign, or do we have a free will? When we talk about free will, we are usually concerned with the matter of salvation. 
                  Few are interested in whether we have the free will to choose salad or steak for our dinner tonight. Rather, we are troubled over who exactly is in control of our eternal destiny. Theology proper discusses God's omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. It teaches us about who God is and what He does. 
                     Paterology focuses on how God the Father is distinct from God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Only by knowing who God is and what He does can we properly relate to Him. Many people have unbiblical perceptions about God that affect how they understand Him. Some people see God as a brutal tyrant, with no love or grace. Other people see God as a loving friend, with no justice or anger. Both perceptions are equally incorrect. God is full of mercy, love, and grace - and at the same time righteous, holy, and just. God grants mercy and sends judgment. 
                  God punishes sin and forgives sin. God will grant believers entrance into Heaven and send unbelievers to Hell. Theology proper gives us a more complete understanding of who God is and what He does. Romans 11:33 is perhaps a good summary verse for theology proper / Paterology: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" 

 "What is Christian Theology?" 

 The word “theology” comes from two Greek words meaning “God” and “word.” Combined, the word “theology” means “study of God.” Christian theology is the study of what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe. Many believers treat Christian theology as something that is dividing, something that should be avoided. In actuality, Christian theology should be uniting! 
               The Word of God teaches truth and we are to be united behind that truth. Yes, there are disagreements and disputes in Christian theology. Yes, there is freedom to disagree on the non-essentials of Christian theology. At the same time, there is much that Christians should be united over. A biblically-based Christian theology will enable us to better understand God, salvation, and our mission in this world. 
                For some, the word “theologian” conjures up images of crusty old men poring over dusty volumes of ancient texts in dimly-lit rooms, studying things completely removed from real life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God, literally God-breathed, and is indispensable to us because it makes us complete, lacking nothing. To be a theologian is to be one who seeks the face of God in order to encounter the creator of the universe and His Son, Jesus Christ, and embrace Him as Lord of our lives, so that He becomes the center of our desires, affections and knowledge. 
                 This intimacy spreads into all aspects of our lives thrilling us with its blessings, comforting us in times of loss, strengthening us in our weaknesses and upholding us to the end of our lives when we will see Him face to face. Scripture is God's story and the more we study His Word, the better we know Him. Below are the various categories of Christian theology. Understanding what the Bible says about the various areas of Christian theology is key to spiritual growth and effectiveness in the Christian life.

Christology(The study of the Person & work of Jesus Christ)

The word "Christology" comes from two Greek words meaning "Christ / Messiah" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of Christ." Christology is the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. There are numerous important questions that Christology answers: Who is Jesus Christ? Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, or a good teacher, or a godly man. 
               The problem is, the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man. Is Jesus God? Did Jesus ever claim to be God? Although Jesus never uttered the words “I am God,” He made many other statements that can’t be properly interpreted to mean anything else. What is the hypostatic union? How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? The Bible teaches that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, that there is no mixture or dilution of either nature, and that He is one united Person, forever. 
               Why is the virgin birth so important? The virgin birth is a crucial biblical doctrine because it accounts for the circumvention of the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man. What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus is not God’s Son in the sense of how we think of a father/son relationship. God did not get married and have a son. Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is God made manifest in human form (John 1:1,14). A Biblical understanding of Jesus Christ is crucial to our salvation.
                Many cults and world religions claim to believe in Jesus Christ. The problem is that they do not believe in the Jesus Christ presented in the Bible. That is why Christology is so important. It helps us to understand the significance of the deity of Christ. It demonstrates why Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Christology teaches us that Jesus had to be man so that He could die - and had to be God so that His death would pay for our sins. It is perhaps the most important area of theology. Without a proper understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what He accomplished, all other areas of theology will be errant as well. 
                An in-depth study of Christology has incredible personal impact on the believer’s daily life. As we delve into the heart of Jesus, we begin to grasp the amazing concept that He, being fully Man and fully God, loves each of us with a never-ending love the extent of which is hard for us to imagine. The various titles and names of Christ in the Scriptures give insight into who He is and how He relates to us. 
                 He is our Good Shepherd, leading, protecting and caring for us as one of His own (John 10:11,14); He is the Light of the world, illuminating our pathway through a sometimes dark and uncertain world (John 8:12); He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), bringing tranquility into our tumultuous lives; and He is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), the immovable and secure base who we can trust to keep us safe and secure in Him.

Pneumatology (The study of the Person & work of the Holy Spirit.)

 The word Pneumatology comes from two Greek words which mean "wind, air, spirit" and "word" - combining to mean "the study of the Holy Spirit." Pneumatology is the study of God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. It answers numerous important questions about the Holy Spirit: Who / what is the Holy Spirit? There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. 
               Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power God makes available to followers of Christ. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? When / How do we receive the Holy Spirit? This discussion is controversial because the ministries of the Holy Spirit are often confused. 
                The receiving / indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation. How can I be filled with the Spirit? 
                 It is important to distinguish between the indwelling and filling of the Spirit. The permanent indwelling of the Spirit is not for a select few believers, but rather for all believers. This is in contrast to the commanded filling of the Spirit found in Ephesians 5:18. Are the miraculous gifts of the Spirit for today? This is not a question of can the Holy Spirit give someone a miraculous gift. The question is does the Holy Spirit still dispense the miraculous gifts today. 
                   Above all else, we entirely recognize that the Holy Spirit is free to dispense gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Many Christians have an unbiblical perception of the Holy Spirit. Some understand the Holy Spirit as a power or force given to us from God. This is not Biblical. Pneumatology teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a Person, with a mind, emotions, and will. The Holy Spirit is Jesus' "replacement" on earth (John 14:16-26; 15:26; 16:7). 
               The Holy Spirit is received at salvation (Romans 8:9) and is the permanent possession of every believer in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Pneumatology helps us to understand these issues and recognize the Biblical roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. The study of Pneumatology is of immense benefit to the Christian. In the pages of Scripture, we come face to face with the third Person of the trinity, God himself in spirit, and we see His very personal and intimate ministry to us. 
                       Through Him, we come to know God’s love for us “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). To understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to find joy in His role as our Comforter (John 16:7; Acts 9:31) who not only helps and comforts us, but who comes to our rescue when our hearts are so burdened we cannot even pray for relief (Romans 8:26). 
                   When we pursue the knowledge of the Holy Spirit we find, to our great delight, that He not only lives within us, but He does so forever, never to leave or forsake us (John 14:16). All these truths are burned into our hearts when we study Pneumatology. A good summary verse for Pneumatology is John 16:8-11, "When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

Bibliology(The study of the Word of God.)

 Bibliology is the study of the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible is the inspired source of knowledge about God, Jesus Christ, salvation, and eternity. Without a proper view of the Bible, our views on these and other issues become clouded and distorted. Bibliology tells us what the Bible is. Common questions in Bibliology are: Is the Bible truly God's Word? 
                Our answer to this question will not only determine how we view the Bible and its importance to our lives, but also ultimately will have an eternal impact on us. What is the canon of Scripture? The basis of Christianity is found in the authority of Scripture. If we can't identify what is Scripture, then we can't properly distinguish any theological truth from error. 
                  What does it mean that the Bible is inspired? While there are different views as to what extent the Bible is inspired, there can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word, in every part of the Bible, is inspired by God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Does the Bible contain errors, contradictions, or discrepancies? If you read the Bible, at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors - you will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easy-to-understand book. 
                    Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible? Among the proofs for the divine inspiration of the Bible are fulfilled prophecy, the unity of Scripture, and the support of archeological findings. Its most important proof, however, is in the lives of those who read it, believe it, and live according to its precepts. Bibliology teaches us that the Bible is inspired, meaning it is "breathed out" by God. A proper Bibliology holds to the inerrancy of Scripture that the Bible does not contain any errors, contradictions, or discrepancies. 
               A solid Bibliology helps us to understand how God used the personalities and styles of the human authors of Scripture and still produced His Word and exactly what He wanted to be said. Bibliology enables us to know why other books were excluded from the Bible. For the Christian, the Bible is life itself. Its pages are filled with the very Spirit of God, revealing His heart and mind to us. 
            What a wonderful and gracious God we have! He could have left us to struggle through life with no help at all, but He gave His Word to guide us, truly a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). A key Scripture on Bibliology is 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Soteriology(The study of salvation through Jesus Christ.)

 Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. Soteriology discusses how Christ's death secures the salvation of those who believe. It helps us to understand the doctrines of redemption, justification, sanctification, propitiation, and the substitutionary atonement. Some common questions in studying Soteriology are: Once saved always saved? Perhaps the most heart-wrenching fear some believers live with is that we can do something to lose our salvation. 
                 But the Bible speaks clearly about the eternality of our salvation and how we are preserved by the One who bought us with His blood. Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus and do certain things? Is baptism required for salvation? What is baptismal regeneration? Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. 
                 While baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, the Bible is clear that baptism is not a requirement for salvation. What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation? Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ. 
                    What does it mean to be a born again Christian? The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." It is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes—a spiritual transformation. Other than Christology, Soteriology is the area where Christianity is the most different from the cults and other world religions. Understanding Biblical Soteriology will help us to know why salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. No other religion bases salvation on faith alone. 
                  Soteriology helps us to see why. A clear understanding of our salvation will provide a "peace that passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) because we come to know that He who can never fail is the means by which we were saved and the means by which we remain secure in our salvation. If we were responsible to save ourselves and keep ourselves saved, we would fail. 
                 Thank God that is not the case! Titus 3:5-8 is a tremendous summary of Soteriology, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Christian Anthropology(The study of the nature of humanity.)

 Anthropology is the study of humanity. Christian Anthropology is the study of humanity from a Christian / biblical perspective. It is primarily focused on the nature of humanity - how the immaterial and material aspects of man relate to each other. Here are some common questions in Christian Anthropology: What does it mean that man is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27)? The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. 
               It is that which sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the “dominion” God intended (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially. Do we have three parts or two parts? Are we body, soul, and spirit - or - body, soul-spirit? Human beings were intended to have a relationship with God, and as such, God created us with both material and immaterial aspects. 
                  The material aspects are obviously those that are tangible and only exist as long as the person is alive. The immaterial aspects are those which are intangible: soul, spirit, intellect, will, conscience, etc. These characteristics exist beyond the physical lifespan of the individual. What is the difference between the soul and spirit? It is important to understand that both refer to the immaterial part of man, but only the "spirit" refers to man's walk with God. The "soul" refers to man's walk in the world, both material and immaterial. 
                     What is the origin of the different races? The Bible does not explicitly give us the origin of the different "races" or skin colors of humanity. In actuality, there is only one race - the human race. Within the human race, there is vast diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics. Christian Anthropology deals with who we are and how we relate to God. Whether people are inherently good or inherently sinful is crucial in determining how our relationship with God can be restored. Whether the souls of human beings carry on after death determines in large part our view of our purpose in this world.
               Christian Anthropology helps us to understand ourselves from God's perspective. When we delve into this subject, we get a clearer understanding of our fallen nature, and this leads to a sense of wonder at the love of the Savior who saw our helpless state and went to the cross to redeem us. When we accept that sacrifice and receive it as our own, our natures are transformed by God who creates in us a completely new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). 
               It is this new person who can relate to Him as we should, as His adored children. A key verse on Christian Anthropology is Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Crd:christianity.com/gotquestion/Chistianthoelogians

Hamartiology(The study of the nature and effects of sin.)

 Hamartiology is the study of sin. Hamartiology deals with how sin originated, how it affects humanity, and what it will result in after death. To sin essentially means to "miss the mark." We all miss God's mark of righteousness (Romans 3:23). Hamartiology, then, explains why we miss the mark, how we miss the mark, and the consequences of missing the mark.
            These are some important questions in Hamartiology: What is the definition of sin? Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18). Did we all inherit sin from Adam and Eve? Romans 5:12 speaks to this, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Are all sins equal to God? There are degrees to sin some sins are worse than others.
               At the same time, in regards to both eternal consequences and salvation, all sins are the same. Each and every sin will lead to eternal condemnation (Romans 6:23). How can I know if something is a sin? There are things that the Bible specifically mentions and declares to be sin.
                    The more difficult issue is in determining what is sinful in areas that the Bible does not directly address. It might seem that studying a depressing subject like sin would be counter-productive for the Christian. After all, aren’t we saved from sin by the blood of Christ? Yes! But before we can understand salvation, we must first understand why we need salvation.
               That is where Hamartiology comes in. It explains that we are all sinners—by inheritance, by imputation, and by our own personal choice. It shows us why God must condemn us for our sins. Hamartiology points to the solution for sin the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
                 When we truly come to grips with our sinful natures, we begin to fathom the depth and breadth of the nature of our great God who, on the one hand, condemns sinners to hell in righteous judgment, then, on the other hand, satisfies His own requirement for perfection.
                Only when we understand the depth of sin can we understand the height of God’s love for sinners. A key Scripture on Hamartiology is Romans 3:23-24, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Angelology(The study of angels.)

Angelology is the study of angels. There are many unbiblical views of angels today. Some believe angels are human beings who have died. Others believe that angels are impersonal sources of power. Still others deny the existence of angels entirely. A biblical understanding of angelology will correct these false beliefs. Angelology tells us what the Bible says about angels. 
                 It is a study of how the angels relate to humanity and serve God's purposes. Here are some important issues in angelology: What does the Bible say about angels? Angels are an entirely different order of being from humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. 
                    God created the angels, just as He created humanity. Are angels male or female? The Bible does not necessarily support the gender of angels being male or female. Whenever gender is “assigned” to an angel in Scripture, it is male (Genesis 19:10,12; Revelation 7:2; 8:3; 10:7), and the only names assigned to angels are Michael and Gabriel, generally considered masculine names. 
                Do we have guardian angels? There is no doubt that good angels help protect believers, reveal information, guide people, and, in general, minister to God’s children. The difficult question is whether each person or each believer has an angel assigned to him/her. 
                  Who / What is the angel of the Lord? The precise identity of the “angel of the Lord” is not given in the Bible. However, there are many important "clues" as to his identity. What are cherubim? Are cherubs angels? Cherubim / cherubs are angelic beings involved in the worship and praise of God. In addition to singing God's praises, they also serve as a visible reminder of the majesty and glory of God and His abiding presence with His people. What are seraphim? 
             Are seraphs angels? Isaiah chapter 6 is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim. The seraphim ("fiery, burning ones") are angelic beings associated with the prophet Isaiah's vision of God in the temple. Angelology gives us God's perspective on angels. Angels are personal beings who worship and obey God. God sometimes sends angels to "interfere" in the course of humanity. 
               Angelology helps us to recognize the warfare that exists between God's angels and Satan and his demons. A proper understanding of angelology is very important. When we understand that angels are created beings, just as we are, we realize that worshipping or praying to angels robs God of the glory that belongs to Him alone. It was God, not angels, who sent His Son to die for us, who loves and cares for us, and who alone is worthy of our adoration.

Christian Demonology (The study of demons.)

Demonology is the study of demons. Christian demonology is the study of what the Bible teaches about demons. Closely related to angelology, Christian demonology teaches us about the demons, what they are and how they attack us. Satan and his demons are fallen angels, real personal beings who wage war against God, the holy angels, and humanity.
                Christian demonology helps us to be aware of Satan, his minions, and their evil schemes. Here are some important issues in Christian demonology: What does the Bible say about demons? The Bible indicates that the demons are fallen angels – angels who along with Satan rebelled against God. Satan and his demons now desire to deceive and destroy all those who follow and worship God. How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven? Satan fell from heaven because of the sin of pride, which led to his rebellion against God.
               The actual time of his fall is not recorded in Scripture. It may have occurred outside time as we know it, that is, before the creation of time and space. Why did God allow some of the angels to sin? The angels who fell and became demons had a free-will choice to make – God did not force or encourage any of the angels to sin. They sinned of their own free will and therefore are worthy of God's eternal wrath. Can Christians be demon possessed? We strongly hold to the belief that a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon.
                    We believe there is a difference between being possessed by a demon, and being oppressed or influenced by a demon. Is there activity of demonic spirits in the world today? Considering the fact that Satan "walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8) and knowing that he is not omnipresent, it is logical to assume that he would send his demons to do his work in this world.
                       Who or what were the Nephilim? The Nephilim ("fallen ones, giants") were the offspring of sexual relationships between the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-4. There is much debate over the identity of the "sons of God." Many people believe Satan and his demons are only personifications of evil. Christian demonology helps us to understand the nature of our spiritual enemy.
                  It teaches us how to resist and overcome the devil and his temptations. Praise God for the victory over darkness through our Lord Jesus Christ! While the Christian should not be obsessed with demonology, a clear understanding of demonology will help calm our fears, keep us watchful, and remind us to stay close to our Lord Jesus Christ.
                   We have the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, and "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). A key Scripture related to Christian demonology is 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

Ecclesiology( the study of the nature and mission of the church)

Ecclesiology is the study of the church. 
The word Ecclesiology comes from two Greek words 
meaning "assembly" and "word" - combining to mean 
"the study of the church." The church is the assembly of 
believers who belong to God. Ecclesiology is crucial to understand 
God's purpose for believers in the world today. Some important issues in Ecclesiology are: What is the church? 

Many people today understand the church to be a building. 
This is not the biblical understanding of the church. The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. What is the purpose of the church? According to Scripture, the purposes / activities of the church should be: 
(1) teaching Biblical doctrine, (2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, (3) observing the Lord’s supper, and (4) praying. 

What is the importance of Christian baptism? 
According to the Bible, Christian baptism is simply a step of obedience,
 a public proclamation of one’s faith in Christ alone for salvation. 
While baptism is not required for salvation, it is an act of 
obedience and faith evidence that salvation is a reality 
in a person’s life. 
 What is the importance of the Lord's Supper / Christian Communion? 
A study of the Lord’s Supper is a soul-stirring experience because of 
the depth of meaning that it portrays. It is an “acted out sermon,” remembering our Lord’s death and resurrection, and looking to the future for His return in glory. 
What does the Bible say about the form of church government? The Bible teaches that church leadership consists of a plurality of elders along with a group of deacons who serve as servants of the church. 

But it is not contrary to this plurality of elders to have one of these 
elders serving in the major “pastoral” role. Ecclesiology helps us to understand the role of the church and our role in the church. It teaches us about the ordinances of the church, how church leadership is to be chosen and structured, 
and what the church is to be doing in regards to believers 
(worship and discipleship) and unbelievers (ministry and evangelism).

A Biblical understanding of Ecclesiology would go a long way to correct 
many of the common problems in churches today. Above all, 
we must understand that the church is the Body of Christ and
 that each of us has a specific function and role within that body. 
A key Scripture on Ecclesiology is Acts 2:42,
 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and 
to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." 
(source:gotquestion)

Christian Eschatology (The study of the end times / last days.)

  Eschatology is the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times. Many treat Eschatology as an area of theology to be avoided. Of course, Eschatology is not as crucial as Christology or Soteriology. That does not mean, though, that it is unimportant to a Biblical worldview. 
            How we understand Eschatology has an impact on how we should live our lives and what we are to expect to occur in God's plan. Some important issues in Eschatology are these: What is the Rapture? The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible. The concept of the Rapture, though, is clearly taught in Scripture. 
              The Rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the Tribulation period. When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation? Will the Rapture occur before the Tribulation, at the middle of the Tribulation, or at the end of the Tribulation? What is the Second Coming and why is it important? Why is it so important for Jesus Christ to return? When is Christ going to return? 
             What will be the signs of Christ's return? Is the millennium literal or figurative? The fulfillment of many of God’s covenants and promises rest on a literal, physical, future kingdom. There is no solid basis to deny of literal understanding of the Millennial Kingdom and its duration being 1000 years. 
              Will the generation that saw Israel re-formed as a nation still be alive for the Second Coming? It is not Scriptural to teach that the generation that sees Israel become a nation will also see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This may be the case, but Scripture does not specifically say so. The Bible describes a terrible period of tribulation in Revelation chapters 6-18. 
              Will this Tribulation be preceded by the Rapture, will it conclude with the Rapture, or has it in fact already occurred? These different perspectives have a great impact on what we should be preparing ourselves for. Eschatology helps us to understand the Bible's prophetic passages and how to live our lives in response to what God is going to do in the end times. 
               There is a great deal of controversy in Eschatology, but that does not relieve us of our responsibility to study and understand what the Bible teaches about the end times. An understanding of Eschatology will eliminate many of the fears we have about the future. Our God is sovereign, He has a plan, and it will all unfold according to His perfect will and timing. 
                This is a great encouragement to those who are in Christ! A key verse on Eschatology is Titus 2:13: "we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."