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ESCHATOLOGY
TTH 680Dr. Johnny Pressley May 17-21
3 semester hoursCincinnati Bible SeminarySummer 2010
Cincinnati ChristianUniversity
MonTue – ThuFri
10:00 am – 12:00noon8:00 am – 12:00noon8:00 am – 12:00noon
1:15 pm – 6:00 pm1:15 pm – 6:00 pm12:15 pm – 2:00 pm
Course Requirements
Attendance, class participation (10% of semester grade)
Three reading assignments (35% of semester grade)
One research paper (25% of semester grade)
Three exams (30% of semester grade)
Due Dates
June 4Exam 1July 9Book report 3
June 11Exam 2July 16Book report 4
June 18Exam 3July 23Research paper
June 25Book report 1July 28Last day for late work
July 2Book report 2July 30Grades submitted
Materials Needed
1.Anthony Hoekema, The Bible and the Future (Eerdmans, 1994)
2.Richard Kyle, The Last Days are Here Again: A History of the End Times (Baker,1998)
3.Kim Riddlebarger, The Man of Sin: Uncovering the Truth about the Antichrist (Baker, 2006)
Moodle
1.Course information will be posted online on Moodle (moodle.ccuniversity.edu)
a.Login with your username (student ID number) and password
b.Need help with login:
1)Contact the Registrar’s office (513-244-8170)
2)Or contact our Moodle Maven Suzanne Faber
( or 513-244-8475)
2.The Eschatology lecture notes will be posted on Moodle May 12
Course Objectives
The Eschatology course is an advanced level study of key themes related to the second coming of Christ: the day of Christ’s return, the resurrection and rapture, the Judgment, heaven and hell, rules for interpreting Biblical prophecy, “signs of the time,” the intermediate state of the dead, the millennium, and the Kingdom of God. Our goal will be to establish a solid Biblical position regarding these subjects and to challenge a variety of erroneous ideas.Upon completion of this course you should be able to:
a.Explain the most significant ideas in Bible prophecies of the end times and identify key Scripture passages
b.Critique many of the most popular speculations regarding end times
The following is a sampling of lectures planned for Summer 2010 (subject to change)
The return of ChristThe abomination of desolation
Death and hadesArmageddon
The resurrection and raptureDaniel’s seventy weeks
Judgment DayAntichrist and the man of lawlessness
Heaven and hellIsrael and the end times
The consummationDispensational Premillennialism
Interpreting Bible prophecyPostmillennialism
Key prophecy textsAmillennialism
The last daysPreterism
Signs of the end
Attendance
1.Attendance will be checked throughout the day and time missed will be logged
2.Course limit for being absent: no more than 6 hours
3.Attendance grade scale (rounded to the nearest hour):
0 absence= 1004 hours=88
1 hour= 975 hours=85
2 hours= 946 hours=82
3 hours= 916+ hours=Dropped
Reading Assignments
1.Reading
a.Read all pages in the three books assigned for this course
b.Note regarding Kyle
1)The Kyle book is out of print, but copies can be found (library, Amazon, etc.)
2)If you cannot find a copy, email Pressley for a substitute reading
2.Book reports
a.Write and submit a traditional graduate level book report for each of the assigned books
1)Write two book reports for Hoekema, one for each half of the book
2)Write one book report each for Kyle and Riddlebarger
3)The four book reports may be submitted in any order
b.Content
1)Introduce the book, the author, the author’s purpose
2)Summarize the things you found most helpful in Riddlebarger’s study
3)Conclude with an overall impression of the book
4)Add a reading postscript to the final page, telling me if you read the whole book, or if not, how many pages you read
c.Typing instructions
1)Typed double-spaced, 1 inch margins on all sides, 3-5 pages
2)A type font size similar to the text on this page (Times New Roman, 12)
3)Letter quality print that can be read easily
4)References to the book: parenthetical (Hoekema, 27)
5)First reference to a person: first and last names; thereafter: last name only
6)An appropriate graduate book report title page
d.Grading
1)Grading will take into account:
a)The quality of the content (i.e., careful thought, reasonable ideas, good expression)
b)The general appearance of the report (i.e., is the spelling, grammar, and neatness appropriate for graduate level work)
c)Your base score will be the percentage of the assigned pages you read
2)May be submitted as a paper copy or by email attachment
3)No credit for skimming pages
Research Paper
1.Write and submit a research paper related to our study
a.Topics must be approved in advance by Pressley
1)Submit your topic proposal by email
2)Give enough description that Pressley can understand what you intend to do
3)Approval (or rejection) will be given by email Reply
b.Guidelines for selecting a topic
1)Must clearly relate to the study of eschatology
2)Must demonstrate your ability to think theologically and develop an idea using all the relevant biblical data
3)Must be more than simply a summary of material presented in class
c.Suggestions will be given in class
2.Basic instructions
a.Typed double-spaced, 1 inch margins on all sides, 10-15 pages
b.A type font size similar to the text on this page (Times New Roman, 12)
c.Letter quality print that can be read easily
d.Traditional term paper format (with footnotes and bibliography) or parenthetical references (with bibliography)
e.Formal third person (no first person)
f.First reference to a person: first and last names; thereafter: last name only
g.Term paper style title page
h.5+ good reference sources
i.May be submitted as a paper copy or by email attachment
3.Grading will take into account:
a.The quality of the content (i.e., appropriate research, careful thought, good expression)
b.The general appearance of the term paper (i.e., is the spelling, grammar, and neatness appropriate for graduate level work)
Non-thesis Credit
1.A theology major wishing to take this course for non-thesis credit should submit the proper form during the week of class
2.Use the same instructions given above for research papers with the following modifications:
a.10+ good reference sources
b.Non-thesis length: 40-45 pages
Exams
1.Instructions
a.Three take-home exams, each covering one-third of our study material
b.Study guides will be posted on Moodle
2.On the exams you will be responsible for knowing:
a.Anything taught by the professor during class
b.Not the new material in the reading assignments
Late Work
Assignments received after a due date are late
a.Minus 5 points each day an assignment is late
b.Last date to submit a late assignment: Wednesday July 28
c.Penalties are based upon the date an assignment is received by Dr. Pressley
d.Early work is always received gladly
Grade Scale
A (100 – 95)B+ (91 – 89)C+ (82 – 80)D+ (73 – 71)
A– (94 – 92)B (88 – 86)C (79 – 77)D (70 – 68)
B– (85 – 83)C– (76 – 74)D– (67 – 65)
Miscellaneous
1.Any part of this course and its expectations may be revised by the professor as needed, with fair notice to be given in class
2.It is recommended that you save all graded papers and keep a log of your absences and tardies in case you later think there is a discrepancy with Dr. Pressley’s grading records
3.To contact Dr. Pressley outside of class:
On campus: The Seminary Dean’s office, Library/Grad building
Phone: (513) 244-8104Email:
Mailing address:Dr. Johnny Pressley
CincinnatiChristianUniversity
P. O. Box 4320
Cincinnati, OH 45204