As the Apostles wrote the New Testament, under the inspiration of the Spirit, they emphasized the return of Jesus–that it was a reality, that it was to be expected, and that it was to be applying a good, purifying and clarifying kind of pressure to all our thinking and living. But some times Christians feel a certain reluctance to talk about it. Why?
Craig Blaising offers some thoughts:
…in spite of the apostolic emphasis on the relevance of Old Testament prophecy, many today avoid the topic of eschatology. Many pastors do not preach on it, and many teachers do not teach it. And why is that?
Because, they say, it is controversial.
But what part of theology is not controversial?
. . . Any area of theology can become controversial. That does not excuse us from an obligation to study and understand God’s Word nor from the responsibility of declaring to the church the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
Pastoral neglect of eschatology has a negative impact on sanctification because such neglect hinders the church’s maturation in hope.
Hope and holiness go together.