Eschatology - The Neglected Doctrine?

Yesterday I finished my last of four theology courses at Master's Seminary. This course focused on ecclesiology (the doctrine of the church) and eschatology (the doctrine of end times). After three intense weeks of reading, exams and much writing, I found myself coming back to this thought repeatedly, "Why is eschatology so neglected today?"

It is not as though the Lord intended to baffle us with his doctrine. The writers of sacred Scripture (who were inspired by the Holy Spirit) wrote that which was understandable. They did not sit, write and chuckle to themselves in knowing that they would be penning words (and doctrines) that would be debated and argued for centuries to follow.

Rather, we must hold forth the perspicuity of God's Word. Perspicuity is a word that means "clarity." The Bible is meant to be understood. That is the normal logic of interpretation. If something is written, it is meant to be understood. There is no hidden meaning, there is no allegorical interpretation intended. If we abandon literal interpretation and succumb to some hidden spiritualizing of the text, then all objectivity is lost. Then what remains is a bunch of subjective and personal opinions - none of which bear any authority. What was written was meant to be understood.

Furthermore, it is not as though the book of Revelation is some cryptic manuscript that is different than Mark or Ephesians or Isaiah. The book of Revelation is the Apostle John's account of what will take place in the future. This is what Revelation 1:19 (the theme verse) says:

Revelation 1:19 19 "Write therefore the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall take place after these things.

As we spent many hours working through a plethora of texts on how the events in the end will take place, I am more firmly convinced than ever of my premillennial doctrine. More specifically, I can understand how others come to various rapture views (within the Premillennial camp), but I still come back to the Pretribulational eschatological viewpoint. That is, that Jesus Christ Himself will rapture the church (that is all believers of this age) before the seven year tribulation which will take place (Rev 6-19) on this earth followed by the Second Coming of our Lord with his saints at the end of the Tribulation so as to establish his Kingdom on earth centered in Jerusalem for 1,000 (literal) years.

Are there those that object? Yes. Do I love them. Absolutely. Do I understand their viewpoints? Yes. Do I break fellowship with them and call them heretics? Absolutely not. I cherish my brothers and sisters who differ. Yet, I myself am absolutely convinced that eschatology ought NOT to be a neglected doctrine for its 'so-called' inability to be rightly understood. Much of the Bible is about eschatology. The Bible is meant to be understood. Therefore, eschatology was written for our understanding for our hope in the soon coming of our Savior!