Podcast Summary: Grace in Focus — "An Overview of Eschatology"

Date: December 1, 2025
Host(s): Bob Wilkin and Phillipe Sterling
Episode Length: 13 minutes

Episode Overview

This episode of Grace in Focus kicks off a short theological series dedicated to the topic of eschatology—biblical study of the "last days" or end times. Hosts Bob Wilkin and Phillipe Sterling offer listeners a clear, engaging overview of dispensational eschatology, discussing concepts such as the Rapture, Tribulation, Millennial Kingdom, and the new heavens and new earth. The conversation is approachable, occasionally humorous, and rooted in Free Grace Theology. This summary covers the content-rich discussion and omits promotional and non-content segments.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

What Is Eschatology? (01:14–02:53)

• Definition: Eschatology comes from the Greek word eschatos, meaning "the last" or "things to come."
  • Phillipe Sterling: "Is eschatology about snails?"
    Bob Wilkin: "Oh, no, that's escargot. Your French is coming back to you." (01:41–01:44)
  • Phillipe Sterling: "Eschatos could refer just to the last of a series of things... but it's used in the New Testament often of the last days, right?"
  • Reference to Dwight Pentecost's influential work, Things to Come, as a resource on eschatology.

The Dispensational Perspective and the Next Event: The Rapture (02:53–04:47)

• Dispensational view: The next event in God's prophetic timeline is the Rapture—the resurrection and glorification of the church.

  • Bob Wilkin: "For us of the church age, the next thing is our resurrection or glorification in the Lord coming for the church and to take the church up to be with him in the air..." (03:02–03:42)
  • Paraphrases 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 about believers being "caught up" to meet the Lord.
  • The term "Rapture" comes from the Latin translation of "caught up"; the Greek word is harpazo, meaning to snatch up.

• Humorous explanation:
  Phillipe Sterling: "Harpazo is related to our word harpoon. Like we would harpoon a whale... they would harpoon them and pull them back, snatch them back to the boat. And Harpazo... Has this sense of being caught up." (04:14–04:47)

Rapture Depictions and Scriptural Limits (05:06–06:20)

• Pop-culture depictions (i.e., Left Behind) are mentioned, with skepticism about specifics like clothes being left behind or dramatic infrastructure failures.
  • Bob Wilkin: "Luhe (LaHaye) takes a fictional embellishment... we probably [are] wiser to limit ourselves... to much of the scriptural descriptions." (06:07–06:20)
• The hosts emphasize sticking close to the biblical record, noting that some details about rapture events remain unknown.

The Tribulation and Wrath of the Lamb (06:20–07:28)

• Following the Rapture, the seven-year Tribulation begins, described in Revelation 5–19.
  • Bob Wilkin: "Christ is given the authority... to unleash the wrath of the Lamb. And those are the seven seals, the seven trumpets, the seven bowls, the wrath of the Lamb..." (06:42–07:28)
  • The Tribulation fulfills prophecy and prepares Israel to receive Christ as King.

The Millennial Kingdom (Revelation 20) (08:09–09:43)

• Resurrections: Tribulation martyrs, Old Testament saints, and believers reign with Christ for 1,000 years; Satan is bound.
  • Bob Wilkin: "Tribulation believers who perished and... Old Testament believers... are resurrected and come to reign with Christ for a thousand Years, Satan is bound." (08:15–09:04)
• Longevity and partial removal of the curse:
  • Phillipe Sterling: "I take it... people will be 900–1,000 years old, still ecomethusela in longevity." (09:43–09:49)
  • Death still occurs, but longevity returns as in the pre-Flood era (cf. Isaiah 65:20).

The Great White Throne Judgment and Destruction of the Old Creation (09:53–10:47)

• Dispute as to the exact timing of the destruction of heaven and earth (before or after the Great White Throne in Revelation 20:11).
  • Phillipe Sterling: "Either the Great White Throne Judgment occurs on Earth, or it occurs out in space somewhere..." (10:26–10:47)

The New Heaven, New Earth, and New Jerusalem (10:47–12:09)

• Spectacular new universe:
  Bob Wilkin: "A new heaven and a new Earth. And then the new Jerusalem, you know, which comes down to the new Earth." (10:47–10:54)
  • New Jerusalem is described as "ginormous," possibly covering half the continental U.S. (11:03–11:09)
  • Humans will live in glorified bodies on a physical new Earth, not in a spiritualized "third heaven."
• Bob Wilkin: "The new heavens is all the planets will be new, the stars will be new. All the universe is going to be new, right?" (11:09–11:27)
• Bob Wilkin: "I imagine the new heaven, the new Earth, will be even more spectacular than the present one that we have. And of course there'll be no sin, no death." (11:27–11:44)
• Possibilities for "pristine" creation, easier space travel, and opportunities for service and exploration are playfully discussed.

The Practical Beauty of Eschatology (12:09–12:44)

• Eschatology is described as real, grounded, and hope-filled—not a vision of floating on clouds, but physical existence free of pain and suffering.
  • Phillipe Sterling: "We should not be thinking in terms of floating on clouds and strumming harps. We should be thinking in terms of living on the new Earth in actual physical, glorified bodies where we will never suffer anymore." (12:09–12:39)
  • Reward and rulership with Christ in both the millennium and on the new Earth are highlighted as incentives for faithfulness.

A Final Scripture on Heavenly Service (12:39–12:44)

• Bob Wilkin: "Yeah. Revelation 22 says, and his servants shall serve him." (12:39–12:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Is eschatology about snails?" — Phillipe Sterling (01:41)
• "Oh, no, that's escargot. Your French is coming back to you." — Bob Wilkin (01:44)
• "Harpazo is related to our word harpoon... Has this sense of being caught up." — Phillipe Sterling (04:14–04:47)
• "We should not be thinking in terms of floating on clouds and strumming harps. We should be thinking in terms of living on the new Earth in actual physical, glorified bodies..." — Phillipe Sterling (12:09–12:39)
• "Revelation 22 says, and his servants shall serve him." — Bob Wilkin (12:39–12:44)

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [01:14] – Introduction to eschatology and etymology
• [02:53] – Dispensational overview; imminent Rapture
• [03:42] – Paraphrase of 1 Thessalonians 4:16–17/Rapture explained
• [06:07] – Fictional depictions and scriptural restraint
• [06:42] – Seven-year Tribulation, judgments, and wrath
• [08:15] – Millennial Kingdom: participants and purpose
• [09:20] – Longevity, partial lifting of the curse
• [09:53] – Great White Throne Judgment; destruction of old universe
• [10:47] – New heaven, new Earth, and new Jerusalem
• [11:44] – No more curse, musings about space and future possibilities
• [12:09] – Eschatology as hope; life on new Earth, future reward

Tone and Takeaways

The conversation is light, approachable, occasionally humorous, and deeply rooted in scripture. The hosts combine clarity and warmth as they lay out complex theological concepts in accessible terms. Their discussion aims to inspire hope and practical anticipation for believers, emphasizing bodily resurrection, reward, and eternal meaningful service—not mere abstraction or escapist fantasy.

Next in Series

The upcoming episode will discuss "Five Views of the Rapture," continuing the practical and doctrinal exploration of eschatological themes.