#22 End Times Vocabulary Refresher

Core Eschatological Terms

Eschatology — The theological study of the “last things.”

Apocalypse — A revelation or unveiling; often associated with prophetic disclosure of divine mysteries.

Parousia — Greek term meaning “presence” or “coming,” used in the New Testament for Christ’s return.

Rapture — From the Latin raptura (from rapio, “to seize or catch up”), referring to the catching up of believers described in 1 Thessalonians 4:17. In many modern systems—particularly dispensationalism—this event is distinguished from the visible Second Coming of Christ and treated as a separate coming occurring before a future tribulation. Because the New Testament commonly uses parousia for Christ’s return, separating the rapture from the Second Coming effectively implies a Third Coming of Christ.

Antichrist — From the Greek antichristos. The prefix anti- can denote not only opposition but also substitution; thus the term can mean one who stands in place of Christ or presents himself as the Vicar of Christ, rather than one who is openly against Him.

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Millennial Positions

Views concerning the “thousand years” reign of Christ in Revelation 20.

Premillennialism — Christ returns before the millennium.

Historic Premillennialism — Early Christian form of premillennialism without modern dispensational distinctions.

Dispensational Premillennialism — Modern premillennial system distinguishing Israel and the Church*. (*Church is used for believers due to dispensationalists predominantly holding to a universal invisible church theory).

Postmillennialism — Christ returns after a future era of gospel prosperity.

Amillennialism — The millennium symbolizes Christ’s present reign rather than a future earthly kingdom.

Chiliasm — Ancient term for belief in a literal thousand-year reign.

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Interpretive Approaches to Prophecy

Methods used to interpret prophetic literature, especially Revelation.

Preterism — Most prophecy fulfilled in the first century.

Partial Preterism — Many prophecies fulfilled in the first century but Christ’s return remains future.

Full Preterism — All prophecy fulfilled in the first century.

Historicism — Revelation unfolds progressively through church history.

Futurism — Most of Revelation describes future events.

Idealism — Revelation symbolically portrays the ongoing conflict between good and evil.

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Tribulation Timing Views

Views concerning the elect’s relation to a (or the) future tribulation.

Pre-Tribulation — Believers are removed before the tribulation.

Mid-Tribulation — Believers are removed halfway through the tribulation.

Post-Tribulation — Believers remain through the (or a) tribulation and meet Christ at His return.