The term ‘triage’ means to sort. In a hospital waiting room, they sort out who is most serious and needs to be seen first. Not all our theological or eschatological beliefs are of equal importance. Some are essential to salvation and others are speculative.
For example, one must believe in Jesus (John 3:16) and His sacrifice on the Cross and Resurrection to be saved (Rom.10:9-10, 1 Cor.15:1-4). One’s end-time beliefs have nothing to do with the New Birth experience.
There are some Biblical beliefs that are of great importance but do not affect our salvation. For example, the formula used in water baptism, or whether or not one receives the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, or laying on of hands for the sick. Important, yes; essential for salvation, no.
JESUS IS COMING AGAIN
In the book of Revelation I found seven statements that Jesus is coming soon (Rev. 1:3, Rev.3:11, Rev. 22:6, 7, Rev.22:10, 12, Rev.22:20). But ‘soon’ is a relative term. This was said over two thousand years ago and it has not happened yet. But I am convinced that it is a true statement and may happen soon.
TIME, TIMES, HALF TIME, 1260 DAYS, 42 MONTHS, 3 ½ YEARS
These are terms found in the book of Revelation also (Rev.11:2, 3, Rev. 12:6, 14, Rev.13:5). Understanding how these times fit into the return of the Lord will affect when and how we believe He will return.
There are three major beliefs about when Jesus will return. They are premillennial, post-millennial, and amillennial, with some differences. Most of the early church fathers were premillennial such as Papias, Irenaeus, and Justin Martyr with the caveat that Jesus was coming before the millennium but after the tribulation and before the wrath of God would be poured out. Augustine, Martin Luther, and John Calvin were amillennial, believing the millennium was not to be taken literally. Jonathan Edwards, Charles Finney, and most of the leaders of the Second Great Awakening were postmillennial. Many modern theologians also hold the postmillennial position, such as F.F. Bruce, D.A.Carson, Robert Gundry, William Lane, George Eldon Ladd, J. Howard Marshall, Leon Morris, and Merrill Tinney.
Each of these three positions has some merit and you can find Scripture passages that hint at it. We most often interpret end-time events by what we have been taught or how we interpret what is happening in our world today – which I believe to be one of the least accurate ways to interpret Scripture. Do you remember 88 REASON WHY JESUS IS COMING IN 1988? Date setting has always been wrong and continues to be so. The Bible is clear that no one knows the season, day, or hour when Jesus will come (Acts 1:6-7, 1 Thess.5:1-11).
It would probably be helpful if we would re-read the New Testament end-time Scriptures as if we were reading them for the first time without any preconceived notions.
Some people have built their whole ministry on this one subject matter, and woe to the person who disagrees with their positions! Relax! Give others some grace on this topic.
What we believe about the end times is important but should not be the basis for fellowship among Christians because there is much about it that we do not know. We could even call our beliefs of the end time as ‘tertiary’ or third-level beliefs.
Jesus is definitely coming again! Be ready! If He doesn’t come in our lifetime, He is still coming! If He comes before the tribulation, in the middle, or at the end of it, He will still come! If He comes for us in death, so be it! In any case, we will see Him face to face (Rev.22:4, 1 Cor.13:12).