I. Course Description BI 541 Eschatology Fall 2015 Syllabus Brother Gary Spaeth This course concentrates on the prophecies of God s Word for the future. Students are taught a pre-tribulation rapture position and how the events following the rapture unfold in Scripture. II. Course Objectives The student who successfully completes this course will be able to: Institutional Objectives* Program Objectives* Course Requirement 1 Explain the necessity of literal interpretation of Scripture as it pertains to correct doctrinal understanding. 1 1 A1c,C 2 Compare and contrast key Old Testament Covenants to identify there relation to Eschatology. 1 1 A2,C 3 Validate why the pre-millennial view of the Lord s return is the only view which fits with sound hermeneutical principles. 1 1 A1b,C 4 Critique the position of the pre-tribulation rapture of the church. 5 Analyze the significance of Daniel s 70 weeks and its relation to the tribulation. 1 1 A1c,A2 1 1 A1c 6 Organize the resurrections and judgments related to the final days and eternal state. 1 1 A3, B2 8 Describe the urgency of preaching the Gospel today in light of the imminent fulfillment of the end times prophesies. 2 2, 3 A3 *Institutional and Program Objectives are published in the current catalog. BI 541 Eschatology P a g e 1 Brother Gary Spaeth
III. Course Requirements 1. Projects A. Project 1 - Doctrine paper #1 - The Day of Christ. Study the Biblical usage of the phrases The Day of the Lord and The Day of Christ. Write a 2000 word paper discussing whether these are synonymous or separate events. From your study, also include your conclusion as to when this (these) day(s) will occur in the prophetic timetable of future events. DUE: October 22 nd B. Project 2 Doctrine Paper #2 Millennial Views Study the views of the Millennium and the Scriptures that are used to prove each view. Write a 2000 word paper discussing the argument for and against each view. Write a conclusion stating which view you believe has the must scriptural support. Be sure you support your conclusion with a plethora of Scriptures. DUE: November 17 th The following table will be used to grade these papers. Content Grading 60% Poor Fair Good Excellent Number of words 4 6 8 10 Use and quality of outside sources 4 6 8 10 Thoroughness of study 4 6 8 10 Clearness of writing 4 6 8 10 Addressing of issue 4 6 8 10 Scriptural defense is position 4 6 8 10 Grammar and spelling 30% Poor Fair Good Excellent Spelling 4 6 8 10 Grammar 4 6 8 10 Sentence Structure 4 6 8 10 Format 10% Poor Fair Good Excellent Title Page 0 1/2 1 2 Footnotes 0 1/2 1 2 Bibliography 0 1/2 1 2 Page Numbers 0 1/2 1 2 Margins and font 0 1/2 1 2 BI 541 Eschatology P a g e 2 Brother Gary Spaeth
2. Reading 3. Exams A. Reading - Understanding the Times, By Dr. Paul Chappell 224p After reading the book fill out the Required Reading Report Form, and include one typed paragraph of each chapter summarizing what impressed you the most in that chapter and why. DUE: September 22 nd B. Outside Reading The student is to read a total of 200 pages on Eschatology. The student is to keep a record on the Outside Reading Report Form. This reading is to be strictly on eschatology. You may include any reading in preparation for your research paper. This is in addition to your textbook reading. DUE: October 8 th C. Reading - Millennialism, by Charles L. Feinberg. 336p Read the entire book then write an 800 word summary of Feinberg s arguments for the Pre-millennial position. DUE: November 5 TH D. Reading - Things to Come, by Dwight Pentecost 583p Read pages 129-369 then find and list Pentecost s arguments for a pretribulation raptures, giving the Scriptural support for each. Below each argument, write a paragraph of analysis of each argument, stating if you agree or disagree with his assessment and why. The arguments should be typed including a statement that you have read the entire book at the end of the paper. DUE: December 8 th A. Midterm Tuesday, October 13 B. Final Thursday, December 10 9:00-10:20 IV. Course Grading Factors Projects ----------------------------------------------- 30% Reading ----------------------------------------------- 40% Exams ------------------------------------------------- 20% Attendance/Class Participation ------------------ 10% V. Format for all Papers All papers must follow these guidelines or they will receive a significant grade reduction. First page must be a Cover Page. (A sample is included on my website) Margins set to one (1) inch. Page Numbers on the bottom right of every page. Times New Romans or equivalent twelve (12) point font. BI 541 Eschatology P a g e 3 Brother Gary Spaeth
Direct and indirect quotes can only make up 20% of the content of your paper; to exceed this would be reflected by point reductions on the paper s content. Use only scripture references. Do not include the entire text of the scriptures. Only include portions of the verse that are absolutely essential. All papers and projects must be the student s own work. No student is permitted to work with another person on any paper or project unless the instructor has given his permission. All papers should be emailed to me using either Microsoft Word or PDF format by 5:00 PM of the date due. The class code (BI 541) and the title of the assignment MUST appear in the subject line of the email for you to get credit for your work. Once submitted, you should receive a confirmation email from me verifying I receive the assignment. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 24 hours of sending, please contact me immediately so you do not loose credit for the assignment. At my discretion, additional work may be given as extra credit, to make up for missed assignments, or to increase the student s overall grade. But NO additional work will be given if the student has not been doing his or her best throughout the semester. NOTE- MOST STUDENTS WHO DO NOT PASS THIS COURSE DO SO BECAUSE THEY DO NOT TURN IN THEIR ASSIGNMENTS! VI. Late policy: All class requirements are to be turned in by 5:00 PM the day they are due Any assignment turned in after 5:00 PM will receive a grade of 0%. Absolutely no late assignments will be accepted, as per the policy of West Coast Baptist College. If you have a question or an emergency comes up, please talk with your instructor for a possible solution before the due date. No excuses will be accepted after the due date. VII. Spiritual and Academic Integrity Classroom Behavior: A. Arrive on time!! If you arrive late, it is your responsibility to see the instructor after class to ensure your attendance has been recorded. Failure to do so will result in being marked absent for class. Please see instructor prior to the start of class if you need to leave early. B. No Sleeping during class! If you find yourself starting to fall asleep, you may stand in the back of the room until you are alert. C. No texting or use of mobile phone allowed, except for the purpose of taking notes. D. The use of the internet is not permitted during class, except by direction of the instructor. E. Each student must participate in class discussions. Bring notebook or computer to class to take notes. Attendance Policy If you are anywhere from 1 to 9 minutes late, you will be counted late; if you are 10 minutes or more late, you will be counted as absent. If you leave class 10 minutes or more early, you will be BI 541 Eschatology P a g e 4 Brother Gary Spaeth
counted absent. You are responsible to get the class notes from other students, and to make up any quizzes in the event of an absence. Makeup quizzes will be more comprehensive than the ones given in class. In your student portal, you are able to track your attendance. If you miss more than fifteen (15) percent of this class (3.5 days), you will be automatically dropped from the roster and receive an F for the course. The amount missed contains the accumulation of tardies, cuts, and any other absences. If you are absent on a quiz or test day, it is your responsibility to know what you have missed. Each student will have 48 hours (excluding weekends) from the end of class to make up the missed test or quiz. If these are not made up within that time frame, they will be recorded as a 0. If you do miss a test or quiz please email abigail.farren@lancasterbaptist.org to set up a time to come by and make up the test or quiz. Make-up times for Midterm and Final exams: 6:45-7:20 Tuesday-Friday mornings 1:00-2:00 Monday-Friday afternoons Academic Honesty Cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and any act designed to give an unfair advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submitting the same assignment for two courses or providing false or misleading information in an effort to receive a postponement or an extension on a test, quiz, exam, or other assignment) is considered cheating and will not be tolerated. Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one s own original work. Common forms of plagiarism are copying words or ideas and not giving the author credit for them by providing proper reference. Another author s specific words must be placed within quotation marks with an appropriate reference given. Another author s ideas must include an appropriate reference. VIII. Contact Information I hope you enjoy this course as much as I enjoy teaching it. If you are having problems, questions, or just want to talk, I encourage you to contact me in person, on the phone, or via email. If you need anything, please communicate with me! 1. Email Gary.Spaeth@wcbc.edu 2. Office Hours 2:00 pm 5:00 pm 3. Website http://spaeth.wcbc.edu 4. Cell Phone 661-466-7301 BI 541 Eschatology P a g e 5 Brother Gary Spaeth