Eschatological Reversal in the Scriptures

Eschatological Reversal

What is Eschatological Reversal?

• This is a theological term that refers to
  the study of eschatology - the theology of the end times
• Eschatological reversal means that the present
  situation will be reversed during the end times [when the new
  heavens and the new earth is created] - meaning those who have,
  will not have, and those who do not have, will have
• We can understand eschatological reversal
  through scripture passages in the New Testament
• The Magnificat of Mary gives a glimpse of this
  "...He has pulled down princes from
  their thrones and exalted the lowly. The hungry he has filled
  with good things, the rich sent empty away." [Lk 1:52-53]
• The Beatitudes also present the reality of eschatological reversal
  "...Happy those who mourn: they shall be
  comforted.
  
  
  Happy those who hunger and thirst for what is right: they
  shall be satisfied. [Mt 5:5-6]
• The parable of the rich man and Lazarus:
  
  
  "There was a rich man who used to dress in purple and fine
  linen and feast magnificently every day. And at his gate there
  lay a poor man called Lazarus, covered with sores, who longed
  to fill himself with the scraps that fell from the rich man's
  table. Dogs even came and licked his sores. Now the poor man
  died and was carried away by the angels to the bosom of Abraham.
  The rich man also died and was buried. 'In his torment in Hades
  he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off with Lazarus in
  his bosom..." [Lk 16:19-24]
• There are many other passages in the Scriptures
  that present a glimpse of the
  the end times. The basic message
  of this end reality means that those who are now in situations
  of poverty, suffering, and affliction, will in the end receive
  the reward of a good life - something opposite to what they are
  presently experiencing. And those who are eating
  magnificently like the rich man, will in the end experience the
  opposite - suffering, torment and want.