What is Eschatology?

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WHAT IS ESCHATOLOGY?

FIRST, let it be clearly understood that no attempt will be made in this booklet to exhaust the subject introduced by the question: "What is Eschatology?" Neither will there be any attempt made to define it. That which is infinite cannot, by its very nature, be defined. And Eschatology is infinite in nature and in scope.

The word, according to Webster's dictionary, comes from Greek "eschatos" meaning "last things" or "ultimate analysis," and "logos" meaning "science of." The science of last things, then, or the science of the ultimate analysis, is the best the dictionary can do for us.

However, this must not be considered a complete or even a very satisfactory definition, because, as we have said, the science is too big to be limited by definition.

Eschatology is true metaphysics. It is not a branch of metaphysics but is, rather, the main stem. Contained in that main stem are all the elements of future growth, future branching out, even though that stem is at present still in the sapling stage.

Let us examine the meaning of the word metaphysics in order to see better where we stand. According to the dictionary, the prefix "meta" means "after" or "beyond." Metaphysics, then, means after physics or beyond physics. The word "physics" means, of course, the visible phenomena, the effects, the socalled material world and the objects therein.

In the study of physics, we deal with these effects and learn the relationships existing between and among them. As an example, we learn that when a piece of wood is heated to a predetermined degree of temperature, it ignites and burns, being transmuted into gases and solids of a form different from the original substance. The chemist explains it as a result of the combination of the molecules of the wood with oxygen, and he is probably right as far as he goes.

Ask him why wood will react thus, whereas gold will not, and he will show you the difference in the makeup of the two substances and why they are not equally willing to combine with oxygen. And again he is probably right — as far as he goes. But ask him why wood is so constituted and why gold is so constituted, and you will find that you have asked a question beyond his ability to answer. And this kind of persistent, probing, progressive questioning brings us into the realm of metaphysics — beyond physics, beyond visible effect, into the universe of invisible cause.

We have said that Eschatology is not a branch of metaphysics but is, rather, the main stem. The metaphysics of chemistry, in which will be found the complete answer to the foregoing questioning, is, however, a branch of the tree. Let us forget it for the time being, therefore, as it should be obvious that if we are to climb this tree of life we must start at the bottom and take a firm grip on the trunk. Later, when we have ascended the main stem, will be soon enough to begin to think about branching out. For the present, we will keep our feet on the ground and content ourselves with that small portion of the tree which stands within our easy reach.

In Eschatology, we find that all life may be resolved into a single principle. And that single principle is a simple one. How different this concept of life is from the general worldly belief that life is endlessly complicated, hopelessly entangled.

I will state that single principle here and now but you must not allow yourself to feel disappointed if you do not seem able to grasp its full significance at once. Remember, if it were as easily grasped as all that, there would be no need for the great number of books which have been written on the subject, nor would there be any need of teachers to help students find their way through the maze of contrary human belief to the ultimate goal of complete understanding.

The single, simple principle may be stated thus: All cause and all effect in all the universe is mental in nature; and only that which is good and perfect is real. Or, more briefly: All is mind and is good.

Almost unbelievably simple, isn't it, and yet there is such power in this simple statement that to understand it — to know it and to feel it — is to be eternally and continuously well, happy, and successful.

This is that basic, fundamental portion of the tree of Eschatology which it is within your ability to grasp now. For fastest progress it is best to take up the study under a competent teacher, using the books written for that purpose by William W. Walter.

In his books, Mr. Walter has given you progressively, the results of his own lifetime of work in unfolding the truth of being. Having himself been healed of a supposedly incurable condition by the method of mental correction, he has devoted his life to the further study of the subject and to expressing his findings in such simple form and such plain language that there will never again be any cause for the truth to be hidden.

To read his books progressively is to watch a fascinating drama unfold as this man gradually and over a period of years grows out of the state of mind of believing, into the mature state of understanding, and records his growth as he goes along.

You will find his first books "churchy," reflecting plainly the fact that in his mind was present a remnant of the old belief in God as a mysterious Something far off, something to be prayed to or invoked, rather than a principle to be utilized. It was years before the true nature of this all power began to filter through and become plain to him. As it did, its effect became noticeable in his writings, and the careful student can watch this process unfold and proceed from year to year; from book to book.

His works are not mere story books, even though some are written in story form. They are all text books of a science and should be studied — mere reading for amusement is not enough.

I cannot possibly give you, within the limited scope of this little booklet, more than a hint of the vastness of the new vistas Eschatology will open for you. To "know thyself," to realize the true relationship between you (the cause) and your body (the effect of your very own thinking and believing) is only the first kindergarten phase of the science. But try to visualize what it will mean to you to gain conscious mastery over even that one thing, your body.

And having done that, then try to get the proper perspective on that first accomplishment, putting it in its proper relationship to some of the other things made possible to you through Eschatology — the understanding of the metaphysical significance of the objects in the visible universe, their true meaning, their true nature, their ultimate analysis. You will see then what a comparatively slight accomplishment the mastery of the body really is.

Yes, truly, Eschatology is important to you.