Eschatology

Eschatology is the formal study of the final destiny of humanity and the universe. The term originates from the Ancient Greek word "eschatos," meaning "last," combined with "-logy," meaning "the study of."

It examines expectations regarding the end of the present age or human history. This field explores whether the world ends in destruction or through a process of transformation. Some thinkers view these endings as literal events. Others view them as metaphors for a spiritual reunion with the divine.

Many traditions follow a linear cosmology. This means they view time as a straight line moving from a beginning toward a specific end. In Judaism, the "end of days" is linked to the Messianic Age.

This era involves the in-gathering of the Jewish diaspora and the coming of a Messiah. It includes the resurrection of the righteous and the creation of a new heaven and earth. The scholar Maimonides described this era as a time without hunger, war, or rivalry. In this view, the entire world will focus on knowing God.

Christianity also operates within a linear framework. Christian eschatology focuses on the ultimate destiny of the individual soul and the created order.

A central event is the Second Coming of Christ. This follows a period of tribulation and the rise of the Antichrist. The Book of Revelation provides explicit descriptions of a new earth. Islam also contains details regarding a Day of Judgment. This is preceded by the appearance of the Masīīḥ ad-Dajjāl. It is followed by the descent of ƚīsa, who triumphs over the false Messiah. This sequence ends with the sun rising from the west and the start of the Qiyāmah.

In contrast, Indian religions often hold cyclical worldviews. They see time as a series of repeating cycles involving decay and rebirth. In Hinduism, the end of a cycle occurs during the Kali Yuga. This cycle concludes when Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu, descends on a white horse. This event leads to the regeneration of the world to begin a new cycle. Buddhism also describes cycles of time. The Buddha predicted his teachings would be forgotten after 5,000 years. Later, a bodhisattva named Maitreya will appear to rediscover the Buddha Dharma.

Eventually, the world faces destruction through seven suns.

Zoroastrianism offers one of the oldest recorded eschatologies. It features a doctrine called Frashokereti, which is a final renovation of the universe. This process ensures that good will eventually prevail over evil. According to the Bahman Yasht, the world will experience many hardships before this. These include shorter days and a more barren earth. A savior called the Saoshyant will eventually arrive to bring the resurrection of the dead. During this time, a molten river will flow across the earth. The righteous will pass through it safely, while the sinful will be destroyed. This leads to a state where humanity lives without hunger, thirst, or injury.

Gnosticism presents a different vision of the end. Some Gnostic texts, like the codex "On the Origin of the World," describe cosmic changes. They suggest the sun and moon will darken as stars change course. This period involves wars between kings and great thunder. The heavens of the Archons are said to collapse. Eventually, light will cover the darkness to form something greater than before. In this system, individuals are judged according to their deeds and their "gnosis," or special knowledge.

Since the 18th century, scientific discourse has also addressed the end of the world. This shift occurred as humans developed the concept of "deep time." Scientists began calculating the estimated age of planet Earth and the universe. They proposed several theories regarding the ultimate fate of the cosmos. These include the "Big Rip," where space expands too quickly. There is also the "Big Crunch," a collapse of matter. Other theories include the "Big Bounce" and the "Big Freeze," also known as heat death. Modern commentators also study global catastrophic risks that could lead to human extinction.