Systematic Theology, Volume 4: Church and Last Things (Systematic Theology: In Four Volumes)

Volume Four has two major sections. Part One deals with ecclesiology, the doctrine of the church. We will first discuss the church’s origin (chapter 1), then the nature of the invisible (universal) church (chapter 2), followed by the nature of the visible (local) church (chapter 3). After this, we will treat the government (chapter 4), ordinances (chapter 5), and ministry (chapter 6) of the visible church, followed by the relation of church and state (chapter 7).Part Two deals with eschatology, the study of the last things, and has two subsections: personal eschatology (chapters 8–12) and general eschatology (chapters 13–17). We begin with the intermediate state and the resurrection (chapter 8), the final state of the saved (heaven—chapter 9), and the final state of the lost (hell—chapter 10). Following these are examinations of the Roman Catholic doctrine of purgatory (chapter 11) and the theories of annihilationism (chapter 12). The final section opens with a study of the interpretation of prophecy (chapter 13), followed by a treatment of God’s kingdom (chapter 14) and God’s covenants (chapter 15). Finally, we will cover Christ’s return (the Second Coming) and the Millennium (chapter 16), and then the Tribulation and the Rapture (chapter 17)CONTENTSPart One: The Church: (Ecclesiology)Chapter One: The Origin of the Church.......................... 17Chapter Two: The Nature of the Universal Church................. 43Chapter Three: The Nature of the Visible Church(es) .............. 65Chapter Four: The Government of the Visible Church.............. 104Chapter Five: The Ordinances of the Visible Church ............... 146Chapter Six: The Ministry of the Visible Church (Spiritual Gifts)..... 187Chapter Seven: The Relationship of the Church to the State......... 215Part Two: Last Things: (Eschatology)Chapter Eight: The Intermediate State and the Resurrection ........ 247Chapter Nine: The Final State of the Saved (Heaven) .............. 294Chapter Ten: The Final State of the Lost (Hell) ................... 327Chapter Eleven: The Alleged Temporary State of the Saved (Purgatory)..362Chapter Twelve: Annihilationism ................................ 390Chapter Thirteen: The Interpretation of Prophecy ................. 413Chapter Fourteen: The Kingdom of God ......................... 459Chapter Fifteen: The Covenants of God .......................... 499Chapter Sixteen: The Second Coming and the Millennium.......... 547Chapter Seventeen: The Tribulation and the Rapture............... 597AppendicesAppendix One: Only the Apostles Spoke in Tongues at Pentecost .... 662Appendix Two: Were Tongues a Real Language?................... 664Appendix Three: Has the Gift of Miracles Ceased? ................. 671Appendix Four: Ultradispensationalism........................... 680Appendix Five: Does the Resurrection Body Have the Same Particles As Before Death? 90Appendix Six: Reincarnation.................................... 692Appendix Seven: The General Councils of the Church and the Development of Roman Catholicism. 704Appendix Eight: The Role of the New Testament Apostles........... 721Bibliography.................................................. 727Scripture Index............................................... 736Subject Index................................................. 750 Read more