Eschatology

:For the book by Pope Benedict XVI, see Eschatology (book). For non-religious theories about the end of the world, see End of civilization.

Related Topics:
Eschatology (book) - End of civilization

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Eschatology (from the Greek eschatos meaning "last" + -logy) is a part of theology concerned with the final events in the history of the world or the ultimate fate of human kind, commonly phrased as the end of the world. In many religions, the end of the world is a future event prophesied in sacred texts or folklore. More broadly, eschatology may encompass related concepts such as the messiah or messianic era, the afterlife, and the soul.

Related Topics:
Greek - -logy - Theology - History of the world - Fate - Human kind - Religion - Prophesied - Sacred text - Folklore - Messiah - Afterlife - Soul

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The Greek word eon means "age"; some translations may read "end of the age" instead of "end of the world". The distinction also has theological significance, for the "end times" in many religions may involve the destruction of the planet (or of all living things), but with the human race surviving in some new form, ending the current "age" of existance and beginning a new one.

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Most religions have doctrines claiming that 'chosen' or 'worthy' members of the one true faith will be "spared" or "delivered" from the coming judgement and wrath of God. They will be ushered into paradise either before, during, or after it depending upon the end-time scenario to which they hold. As well as the wrath of God at the end of the age there is the wrath of man.

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