Michelangelo’s controversial (in all sorts of ways) “Last Judgement” (1536-1541) painted above the altar in the Sistine Chapel depicts the Final Judgment and its opposite outcomes of eternal damnation and eternal life. (The image found here is in the public domain.)
What happens to one’s soul when one dies? What happens when Christ comes in glory to judge the living and the dead? Are there really places called heaven and hell? That there are questions about the so-called “last things” is really no surprise, since we all likely are facing temporal death and an eternal outcome that depends on our relationship to God, whether or not we let the Holy Spirit lead us to repent of our sins and trust God the Father to forgive those sins for the sake of His Son, Who died on the cross in our place. Although the last things usually come at the end of systematic presentations of doctrine, they are not of least importance, for our earthly lives are geared toward them.
In our Sunday Adult Bible Class during the summer months of 2019, we attempt to answer those questions and others under the heading of “eschatology” (the teaching about the last things) on the basis of Holy Scripture as believed, taught, and confessed by the Lutheran Confessions and those who hold to them. All are welcome to participate “on site” or “on line”. (Those only participating online are welcome to submit questions using the contact information at right, and we will attempt to address them during the run of the course.)
Week 12 – August 25, 2019 – The Consummation of the Gospel in the Heavenly Life of the Blessed
Audio Handout
Week 11 – August 18, 2019 – The Consummation of the Law in the Finally Impenitent: Hell and Eternal Damnation
Audio Handout
Week 10 – August 11, 2019 – The End of the World
Audio Handout
Week 9 – August 04, 2019 – Lutheran Doctrine and Practice Today (5): Sin (off the regular topic)
Audio Handout
Week 8 – July 28, 2019 – Lutheran Doctrine and Practice Today (4): Triune God (off the regular topic)
Audio Handout
Week 7 – July 21, 2019 – The Final Judgment
Audio Handout
Week 6 – July 14, 2019 – Bodily Resurrection of the Dead
Audio Handout
Week 5 – July 07, 2019 – The Final Advent of Christ
Audio Handout Appendix
Week 4 – June 30, 2019 – The Intermediate State
Audio Handout
Week 3 – June 23, 2019 – Temporal Death (2)
Audio
Week 2 – June 16, 2019 – Introduction (2) & Temporal Death (1)
Audio Handout
