什麼是末世論

指關於末日之事的教義。神祕末世論講宇宙（秩序）和混沌（混亂）之間永世之爭，以命定之事的實現為大自然的完善化。歷史末世論則認為，命定之事的實現乃是歷史的實現、調整或變化。真正的歷史末世論見於希伯來系各宗教（猶太教、基督教、伊斯蘭教），而且不完整地見於瑣羅亞斯德教。《舊約》末世論認為，折磨以色列人而使他們瀕於滅亡的災難，其原因在於猶太人不遵從上帝的律法和旨意。基督教末世論集中在基督這個人物，彌賽亞（messiah）將會返回重建上帝之國（Kingdom of God）。千禧年論（mellennialism）特別強調基督再次降臨，並在世上建立正義王國。伊斯蘭什葉派認為︰救世主馬赫迪（Mahdi）降臨進行最後審判，善人將上天堂（heaven），惡人則下地獄（hell）。

eschatology

Theological doctrine of the “last things,” or the end of the world. Mythological eschatologies depict an eternal struggle between order and chaos, and celebrate the eternity of order and the repeatability of the origin of the world. Historical eschatologies are grounded in datable events that are perceived as fundamental to the progress of history. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have historical eschatologies. Old Testament eschatology sees the catastrophes that beset the people of Israel as due to their disobedience to the laws and will of God, and holds that conformity to God's will result in renewal and the fulfillment of God's purpose. In Christianity, the end times are thought to have begun with the life and ministry of Jesus, the messiah who will return to establish the Kingdom of God. Millennialism focuses especially on Christ's second coming and the reign of the righteous on earth. In Shiite Islam, the mahdi, or restorer of the faith, will come to inaugurate the last judgment, in which the good will enter heaven and the evil will fall into hell.