末世论(eschatology)

指关於末日之事的教义。神秘末世论讲宇宙（秩序）和混沌（混乱）之间永世之争，以命定之事的实现为大自然的完善化。历史末世论则认为，命定之事的实现乃是历史的实现、调整或变化。真正的历史末世论见於希伯来系各宗教（犹太教、基督教、伊斯兰教），而且不完整地见於琐罗亚斯德教。《旧约》末世论认为，折磨以色列人而使他们濒於灭亡的灾难，其原因在於犹太人不遵从上帝的律法和旨意。基督教末世论集中在基督这个人物，弥赛亚（messiah）将会返回重建上帝之国（Kingdom of God）。千禧年论（mellennialism）特别强调基督再次降临，并在世上建立正义王国。伊斯兰什叶派认为︰救世主马赫迪（Mahdi）降临进行最後审判，善人将上天堂（heaven），恶人则下地狱（hell）。

English version：

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.