The end is now: Augustine on History and Eschatology

• Published in: HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies
• Main Author: Johannes van Oort
• Format: Article
• Language: Afrikaans
• Published: AOSIS 2012-05-01
• Subjects: Augustine (354–430), history, time, eternity, City of God, Hesychius, chiliasm
• Online Access: https://hts.org.za/index.php/hts/article/view/1188

This article dealt with the church father Augustine’s view on history and eschatology. After analysing the relevant material (especially his City of God and the correspondence with a certain Hesyschius) it was concluded that, firstly, Augustine was no historian in the usual sense of the word; secondly, his concept of historia sacra was the heuristic foundation for his idea of history; thirdly, the present is not to be described in the terms of historia sacra, which implies that he took great care when pointing out any instances of ‘God’s hand in history’; fourthly, the end times have already started, with the advent of Jesus Christ; fifthly, because of the uniqueness of Christ’s coming, it runs counter to any cyclical worldview; sixthly, identifying any exact moment of the end of times is humanly impossible and seventhly, there is no room for any ‘chiliastic’ expectation.