As many of you know, my wife has been pregnant for the past 40+ weeks. Throughout this time we have had the turbulent first trimester, the comfortable second trimester, and the return of morning sickness and growth spurts in the third and final trimester. Currently, we are 4 days overdue and being the theology nerd I am, I can not help but think of eschatology.
Eschatology is simply the study of the ‘last days’ or the end of human history as we know it. There are many forms of eschatology: Jewish, Christian, Mayan, and Secular (think of The Road, Book of Eli, Red Dawn, ect.). Throughout the course of Christian history there has been an anticipation for the return of Jesus Christ to restore creation and administer justice.
For the past three weeks, I have been living in a constant state of expectancy, awe, and tense anticipation as I wait for my daughter Anna to be born. I have been through the early stages of pregnancy with my wife; seeing Anna grow in my wife’s womb, while getting the occasional glimpses of Anna in ultrasounds and as she pushes her little baby parts against my wife’s belly. The morning sickness of the first trimester has passed, the relaxation of the second trimester has passed, and it is now time for Anna to be born, but still no labor pains. We had a date planned in our hearts that she would be with us, but it continually escapes us and we are forced to wait another day for the labor pains to begin.
Christian eschatology is much the same way. There have been times when groups within the church anticipated and hungered for Christ’s return and fixed a certain date in time. Their hearts were sold on a specific date for the redemption of the cosmos… but it doesn’t come! Christians still wait, pray and do all they can religiously to hasten the day of the Lord, but still the Lord waits in the fullness of time to come forth. Like my wife’s pregnancy the Lord will return to claim his bride, the Church and redeem the cosmos, but it may be when you least expect it.
