eschatology

Rick Becker (rbecker@refractal.com)
Thu, 15 May 1997 06:57:47 -0400

>Geoff Bagley wrote:
>
>In some ways it is asking a similar question as to when did hominids become
>human but looking at where we are going rather than from where we have
>come. Obviously, eschatology has something to say to this, but some I meet
>with and hear, would deny God and Jesus intervening in the sense of the
>traditionally held views of the second coming, etc.
>
>-----
>Paul Arveson replied:

>In terms of integrating faith with science, there have been vast amounts
>written on origins, but very little on eschatology. The current Big Bang
>scenario has a physical origin at about 10^10 years ago, but also predicts
>a continuation into the future of over 10^100 years, depending somewhat on
>the curvature of spacetime. This implies that at present the universe is
>VERY YOUNG, less than one ten billionth of its eventual age. What does
>theology have to say about the rest of this time period? I don't know of
>many who even want to speculate about matching this up with Christian
>eschatology as described in the Revelation. Any takers?
>
>
I'll stick my neck out. It's an area I've been doing a lot of thinking
about. Please note, that this does not mean to imply that I have understood
anything I ponder.
With that caveat, I'll give it a try.

Frankly, I'm having less and less of a problem with reconciling my
understanding of science and theology as I grow in my understanding of both.
(btw: my graduate work was in evangelical theology, and my growing passion
is in physical cosmology.) I've become a big fan of Paul Davies, and fell
asleep last night contemplating eleven dimensions. If I ever get a chance
to finish off my last few courses, I want to pursue the relationship between
Biblical miracles and quantum physics. By extension, that would also
include Creation and the Eschaton. It seems to me that the Lord exhibits
both a sublime precision and a wanton disregard for "the Numbers".

When I contemplate Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle against the fact that
we are composed of third-generation star stuff, deposited from everywhere,
around this local gravitational warp in spacetime, in the precise
proportions for life; and that the Very One who created all this, *foreknew*
me and redeemed me for a purpose beyond my purview. These can become Large
Thoughts. Whether it's 4004 years, or 10^10, doesn't matter quite so much
as my task in the here and now proclaiming God's redemptive message any way
he provides the opportunity. I have no problem with apparent extravagant
"waste" on God's part to achieve his purposes. How many baby sea turtles
die for every one that lives to maturity? How many seeds from a generation
_don't_ become plants that bear seeds? How many people don't get saved?

It's been my experience that unbelievers frequently throw up 'scientific'
problems with Christianity to avoid messy topics like sin and death. It's
easier to respond to the deflection than it is to get to, or back to the
real issues.

As far as eschatology is concerned, I just reread Revelation a few weeks
ago. It gave me the chills, as always. What was different this time was
that I noticed the evidences of 'signs in Heaven' mentioned as
realistically as good old Hale Bopp. Why not? If the heavens were Spoken
into being, why should they have to run what we consider to be the full
course of our predictions? I'll start digging out Scriptures and other
references to amplify my points, but I don't think there is anything too
controversial about my interpretations.

As Christians we have to take this all very seriously, because we just may
have the opportunity witness and witness to these events. As I have
observed the history of Biblical prophecy I am amazed at how clearly it
seems to speak after the fact. Look at Isaiah and David as they spoke of
Christ. Pretty clear, now.

We may be able to look back 10^X years back in time, but did you ever stop
to think that if the sun collided with a black hole, right here in the
neighborhood,
we wouldn't even know about it until eight minutes after it was over? You
may have twenty minutes left on a parking meter, but if you are ready to
leave you don't hang around to use up all the time do you? What's 10^90
years to God?
Time is just as much a part of creation as matter. God exists beyond it,
before it, and after it.

Rick Becker

Jeremiah 33:2-3

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