Consistent eschatology (thorough-going eschatology) is a theory in theological and biblical studies that interprets Jesus "in exclusively eschatological terms". The view was initiated by Johannes Weiss, and "picked up, developed, and popularized" by Albert Schweitzer. It is an exclusive futuristic eschatology, the consistent interpretation of Jesus' eschatology as an expectation of an imminent end, and the thorough-going eschatology,Ted M. Dorman, "The Future of Biblical Theology," in Scott J. Hafemann (ed.), Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect, p. 252. the first position by Schweitzer.Charles M. Horne, "Eschatology: The Controlling Thematic in Theology," 60Kwang Kyung Hoon, Albert Schweitzer’s ‘consistent eschatology’ He used a thorough eschatology to provide a solution to the historical problems associated with Jesus' life.Oscar Cullmann, Salvation in History (New York: Harper and Row, 1967), 29 According to this view, asserted by Johannes Weiss (J. Weiß),Dale C. Allison, Jr, The Eschatology of Jesus, Apocalypticism in early Christianity, The origins of apocalypticism in Judaism and Christianity, ed., J.J Collins, & B McGinn (New York:Bloomsbury Publishing, 200), 268 the proclamation of Jesus, his actions and ministry are dominated by the eschatological expectation of the impending return.Jakub Urbaniak & Elijah Otu, "The dynamics of God’s reign as a hermeneutic key to Jesus’ eschatological expectation", HTS, vol 72, no 1 (2016) (For example, "the kingdom of God is at hand”. Mk. 1:15)
It has been described by one critic (George Eldon Ladd) as picturing: Jesus as a deluded Jewish apocalyptist who proclaimed an eschatological kingdom which never came and which never can come. Jesus had no message about the rule of God in the world or his divine purpose for mankind in history. He believed, mistakenly, that God was about to break off history and establish his eschatological kingdom in which he, Jesus, would be elevated to the glorious status of the Son of Man.
As a futuristic eschatology, it is in contrast to "realized eschatology", which sees the kingdom of God as not in the future but already completed in the ministry of Jesus Christ,Anthony A. Hoekema, The Bible and the Future, 297 (realized eschatology explaining the lack of apocalyptic upheaval and conquering Kingdom of God that Jesus's followers had been expecting). It has evolved into inaugurated eschatology which started the synthesis of the consistent eschatology of Schweitzer and the realized eschatology of C. H. Dodd.The Westminster Dictionary of Theological Term, Donald K. McKim, 106George Eldon Ladd, A Theology of the New Testament (1993) , page 70.Ted M. Dorman, "The Future of Biblical Theology," in Scott J. Hafemann (ed.), Biblical Theology: Retrospect and Prospect, 252.
See also Realized eschatology Apocalypticism Christian eschatology Idealism (Christian eschatology) Kingdom theology Jesuism Postmillennialism World to Come
References
Sources George Eldon Ladd (1959). The Gospel of the Kingdom: Scriptural Studies in the Kingdom of God. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. . Albert Schweitzer, The Mystery of the Kingdom of God: The Secret of Jesus' Messiahship and Passion. (1914), Prometheus Books. 1985.