Christ returning one day to judge the living and the dead has been a belief of Christians throughout the ages. More recent interpretations of biblical texts on this topic have reinforced a rather dark picture of our planet’s future, where the fires of judgment will destroy the heavens and the earth on the day of the Lord. Despite this predominate way of interpreting the biblical witness, there are alternative ways of envisioning the judgment of God and the return of Christ. In this study, we will explore apocalyptic scriptures through a hopeful lens, so that we may better understand these difficult teachings and how the future redemption of humanity and this earth may be less violent than commonly understood.
