Necessity of Understanding Eschatology?

Recently in the "Scriptural Debates" forum IntheLight started a thread concerning eschatology called "Post trib rapture and the sheep/goat judgment" that was very thought provoking and has received no critical response yet. It brought back some old instincts of mine concerning these things. How much does it really matter that we understand eschatology? Before I go off on my thoughts about this question, I would like to get others opinions. Here's a quote from one of my favorite professors I have had in the past. "If eschatological fulfillment stands to New Testament prophecy as New Testament fulfillment stands to Old Testament prophecy, then we are in for some surprises."- Robert Wennberg

I think some of the details probably are not so important, and frankly, I think the Scriptures are rather vague concerning the details on purpose. The matter is where one's hope lies. If one hopes for a pre-trib rapture, and none happens... then was the hope they had really a delusion? Is this persons hope not misplaced? The same goes for mid and post tribers. If one turns out to have a misplaced hope... a false hope, then couldn't this have a major impact on how one lives their Christian life. Can we truly live a faithful Christian life if what we hope in turns out to be false?

It seems to me that the emotional and spiritual stakes for the pretribber are the highest. If the pretribber is wrong, they will very likely be quite unprepared to face the intense persecution they will face. If the posttribber is wrong, he will have had nothing to lose, for he has been ready to live or die for Christ, come what may.I like what my grandfather, a largely self-educated Pentecostal pastor used to always tell us with regard to the issue of end times. He would say, "LIVE (spiritually expectant) like Jesus could return at any time; PLAN as if you have the rest of your life to work for Him on earth.

If the pretribber is wrong, they will very likely be quite unprepared to face the intense persecution they will face.With all due respect, I'm not sure I like this line of thinking. To say that a belief in pre-trib rapture can make a weak Christian is to ignore the many martyrs who give their lives for Jesus each day. Furthermore it denies the power of the Holy Spirit to counsel, comfort, and give us strength. To say that Christians will fall due to unexpected hardships is to deny the work of the Holy Spirit.In Christ,Ron

Hi Ron,Those who are "martyred everyday" certainly would be quite stunned to think, prior to their martrydom, that they wouldn't be raptured out of martyrdom. I also don't think that pretribulationism necessary makes for weak Christians, just that it certainly doesn't prepare them for the worst.The following webpage has many articles which raise serious questions about the pretrib rapture theory. Especially thorough is Michael Cordner's article, "The Rapture of the Church." http://twtministries.com/articles/4_eschatology/index.html

I also want to say that the issue of eschatology generally makes no difference in how one lives the Christian life. We will all answer to God for the lives we have lived, and must live every day in recognition of that reality. Christ's call of his followers to holiness is the same, regardless of their views of the end times.I have rarely read more convicting sermons on holiness than those of John Wesley, who was amillenial (as far as scholars can determine), or those of Charles Finney, who was postmillenial.