Eschatology precedes soteriology.
This little phrase from Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. encapsulates so much of Geerhardus Vos’ eschatological program. The phrase is meant to convey the idea that God has a plan of eschatological, consummated life laid out for Adam even before the fall into sin. Â The Covenant of Works was put into place with the offer of that reward.
When attempting to demonstrate this point, we often appeal to the Tree of Life and its “reappearance” in Rev 2:7 and 22:2, 14, 19. Â This occurrence demonstrates the realization of the blessings offered to Adam prior to the fall. But one place we do not often consider is the book of Job. Â Job 42 offers a similar perspective on the question of eschatology.
Job undergoes terrible trials and loses almost everything. Â Job was blessed in 1:2-3: “here were born to him seven sons and three daughters. Â He possessed 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and 500 female donkeys, and very many servants, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the east.” Â All of this he lost at the hands of Satan who received permission from God to persecute him. Â The book continues through several questioning episodes from Job’s friends who are convinced Job must have sinned in order to receive this portion. Â Retributive theology is at work among his cohorts. Â The LORD eventually speaks up in the face of Job’s questions.
Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me. Will you even put me in the wrong? Will you condemn me that you may be in the right? Have you an arm like God, and can you thunder with a voice like his? “Adorn yourself with majesty and dignity; clothe yourself with glory and splendor. Pour out the overflowings of your anger, and look on everyone who is proud and abase him. Look on everyone who is proud and bring him low and tread down the wicked where they stand. Hide them all in the dust together; bind their faces in the world below. Then will I also acknowledge to you that your own right hand can save you. (Job 40:6-14, ESV)
Shortly thereafter, in chapter 42, Job is restored, and this is the interesting eschatological point. Â Look at the details of his restoration in Job 42:12-13 “And the LORD blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning. And he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 yoke of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. He had also seven sons and three daughters.”
His blessings are doubled [except for the sons, an interpretive issue we'll save for another day]. Â The inheritance is expanded to his daughters – something unheard of in Job’s contemporary culture. Moreover, his daughters are named and the sons are not. Â This is perplexing, but I think is illustrative of the expansive reach of the New Covenant blessing (similar to how the covenant entrance sign of baptism is given to both men and women).
God’s plan and goal for a consummated glory was in place even before man fell into sin. Â It was set out for Adam to attain. Â He would have entered into eschatological, consummated life had he obeyed throughout his probation period. Â But he fell and now a second Adam must come to provide a way for God’s elect to reach that original goal.
This eschatology is behind the message of Job. Â Job’s “salvation” is not a return to his original blessing. Â Likewise, we do not look to the Garden as our heavenly reward. Â We look to the New Heavens and New Earth. Â Job is a prototypical righteous one who suffers while pointing to the eschatological one who comes to suffer vicariously. Â This is the Christ, the one who ushers in eschatological blessings greater than anything ever present before.
Camden,
Thank you for the reminder that “…no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared n for those who love him.†I agree that more often than not, most people think of heaven as a return to the Garden of Eden. What most people do not consider is what would have been Adam’s reward, and by extension our reward, if he had perfectly fulfilled the Covenant of Works and had been confirmed in his sonship? Of course, we know what that reward would have been because it actually lies in our future, thanks to the work of the second Adam.
Exactly – many people do not get the “eschatology precedes soteriology” phrase or understand its importance.
Edifying read, Camden ! Would you be able to suggest any good resources on Job, offering BT reflections along these lines ? If not, maybe we can have coffee sometime …
I haven’t read much regarding Job. We spoke about Job 42 in my Poets and Wisdom Literature course. Some of the peculiarities provoked by Vossian sensibilities. Coffee sounds like a plan! Indeed, I am a bona fide member of the Yellow Teeth Club.
Camden,
I heard Dr. Green’s lectures and they may have done more than simply “spark” your thoughts. You should have begun with a nod to him rather than Drs. Gaffin and Vos.
Great stuff. Vos inherited this view of eschatological protology from the Reformed theological tradition, specifically the federal theology of the seventeenth century. His was a further discussion with and unique development of things already present. Thanks.
This sounds a lot like Doug Green’s lecture from Poets class. Is that where you’re drawing this from?
Yes, Green’s lecture sparked my thought on the subject. He didn’t explicitly bring Vos into the discussion, but that was the direction of his lecture.