Eschatology
Eschatology /ˌɛskəˈtɒlədʒi/ is a part of theology concerned with the final events of history, or the ultimate destiny of humanity. This concept is commonly referred to as the end of the world, end times, last days, or apocalypse.[1]
In the Baháʼí Faith, creation has neither a beginning nor an end;[2] Baháʼís regard the eschatologies of other religions as symbolic. Human time is marked by a series of Progressive revelations in which successive messengers or prophets come from God.[3] The coming of each of these messengers is seen as the day of judgment to the adherents of the previous religion, who may choose to accept the new messenger and enter the "heaven" of belief, or denounce the new messenger and enter the "hell" of denial. In this view, the terms "heaven" and "hell" become symbolic terms for a person's spiritual progress and their nearness to or distance from God.[3] The coming of Bahá'u'lláh (1817-1892), the founder of the Baháʼí Faith, signals the fulfilment of previous eschatological expectations of Islam, Christianity and other major religions.[4]
Apocalypse[edit]
The word apocalypse derives from a greek word meaning revelation, uncovering, or realization: Not in the sense of the civilization-building Revelations brought by the founders of great religions (i.e. Manifestations of God), but in the general sense of making something known which was previously hidden.
See also[edit]
- Lesser Peace § Preceding calamity – A predicted catastrophic event or events which, rather than involving the "end of the world", will serve to chastise and prepare humanity to shoulder the responsibilities of world order
References[edit]
- ↑ "BBC - Religions - Christianity: End Times". BBC Online. 2011-07-19. Retrieved 2017-11-10.
- ↑ Smith, Peter (2008). An Introduction to the Baha'i Faith. Cambridge University Press. p. 112. ISBN 978-0-521-86251-6.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Smith, Peter (2000). "Eschatology". A concise encyclopedia of the Baháʼí Faith. Oxford: Oneworld Publications. pp. 133–134. ISBN 1-85168-184-1. https://archive.org/details/conciseencyclope0000smit/page/133.
- ↑ Buck, Christopher (2004). "The Eschatology of Globalization: The Multiple Messiahship of Bahá'u'lláh Revisited (pp. 143–178)". In Sharon, Moshe (ed.). Studies in Modern Religions, Religious Movements and the Bābī-Bahā'ī Faiths. Boston: Brill. ISBN 9004139044.
