Professor: Dr. Cornelis P. Venema (USA)
Time: Mondays and Thursdays 18:00-20:00, starting from September 14 , 2020 – September 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 28th, October 1st.

Place: Every participant connects to online live lectures (Zoom) from their homes. Registered students will receive the link.
Language: English, with simultaneous translation channels in Latvian and Russian

ABOUT PROFESSOR

Cornelis P. Venema is the President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, Dyer, Indiana.

He also serves as an Associate Pastor at Redeemer United Reformed Church in Dyer, and is co-editor of the Mid-America Journal of Theology and contributing editor of a column on doctrine for the monthly periodical The Outlook.

Venema, Ph.D. from Princeton Theological Seminary is author of several books including his major work on Biblical view of future things  “The Promise of the Future” (2000) and “By His Spirit and Word: How Christ Builds His Church” (2015)

Cornelis Venema is married to Nancy, and they have four children. He has regularly taught at Baltic Reformed Theological Seminary since 1999.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A theological study of the doctrine of eschatology or the last things. A study of personal and general eschatology, including attention to death, the return of Christ, the millennium, the resurrection, and the last judgment. An investigation of a Reformed approach to the doctrine of eschatology in the tradition of John Calvin, utilizing the classic confessions of the Reformed tradition and the writings of leading Reformed theologians. The course will include a comparison of a Reformed approach with alternative approaches in the Roman Catholic and Protestant traditions.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To acquaint students with the traditional distinction between individual and general eschatology, and the respective topics treated in each division.

2. To identify and know the key biblical evidence relating to the topics of eschatology.

3. To acquaint students with the Reformed confessions’ teaching on the topics of eschatology.

4. To define such key eschatological concepts as: the structure of biblical eschatology, the intermediate state (terms: Sheol, Hades, Gehenna, paradise), amillennialism, historic premillennialism, dispensationalism, postmillennialism, signs of the times, the concomitants of Christ’s return (final judgment, heaven, hell, the new creation).

5. To identify and memorize the principal Scriptural texts and confessional articles that relate to the doctrine of eschatology.

ABOUT THE CLASSES:

Registration for the course till September 7.

Participation fee is 10 EUR (includes course syllabus and readings).

Signing up for the course and additional information : Janis Perkons, phone +371 26356030, janis@brts.edu.lv

COURSE REQUIREMENTS FOR STUDENTS:

For pastoral students:

• Attendance.
• Required readings

1)  Venema, Cornelis. Christ and the Future. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2008. 216 pp. (A condensation of: The Promise of the Future. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2000. 512 pages.)

2)  “Glossary of Terms,” pp. 501-12 in The Promise of the Future.

• Final exam on both lectures and textbook reading
• Course paper – each student will be expected to write a five page paper on the biblical understanding of the “millennium” of Revelation 20:1-6. In the paper, the student should interact with the four major “millennial” views, and also state his/her own view.

For Christian leaders’ program students::

• Attendance.
• Required readings:

1) ~50 pages from Venema, Cornelis. Christ and the Future. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 2008.

2)  “Glossary of Terms,” pp. 501-12 in The Promise of the Future.

• Final exam on both lectures and textbook reading.
• Course paper – each student will be expected to write a five page paper on the biblical understanding of the “millennium” of Revelation 20:1-6. In the paper, the student should interact with the four major “millennial” views, and also state his/her own view.