Excessive emphasis on details in eschatology can lead to a couple of problems. One is the possibility of disappointment, both in witnessing and in Christian growth. If, in the process of witnessing to someone (or in a tract), certain future events are predicted, those predictions being represented as the teaching of the Bible (rather than as one’s own understanding), and the events later do not happen or clearly cannot happen, the hearer of the predictions will regard the Bible as being in error, rather than just a particular person’s or group’s interpretation. In the same way, if the hearer of the predictions is a Christian and has put considerable faith in the predictions, their relationship with Christ could be adversely affected. James, speaking of Christian teachers generally (James 3:1-12), emphasized the greater responsibility teachers have to be careful in how they act and in what they teach. The reputation of Christ is in Christians’ hands, a responsibility Christians need to take seriously; our excesses reflect negatively on Christ. Another problem that comes with over-emphasis on specific details in eschatology is misdirected energies. Teachers who make eschatology their focus take pains to make their teachings interesting, and rightly so. Given the close relationship between current events and some end-times teaching, it is very easy to get caught up in the fascination of staying current and of speculating as to how events might dove-tail with various aspects of end-times teachings. Christian teaching and learning should not be boring, but this kind of fascination can be very time consuming (and expensive, too). It can become very easy to neglect personal Christian growth, one’s family, and Christian service.

What is needed is to keep teaching about eschatology in balance. The fact that Jesus will return is certainly a fundamental teaching of Christianity, and should be taught as such among Christians. At a more personal level, the prospect of seeing Jesus face to face should be dear to every Christian’s heart. Our proper focus should be on the One Who is returning rather than on the details of how He will return. Jesus gave His followers tasks of several kinds: outreach; discipling; personal growth; fellowship in the church; service and leadership in the church and community. Eschatology touches several of these tasks, but it isn’t a task in its own right. Vision (prophecy and purpose), our relationship with Christ, Christian character, and Christian service need to be kept in balance. Jesus said, "No man knows the day or hour," and end-times prophecy is so couched in symbol and metaphor that Christians need to be careful to distinguish between what the Bible states clearly and what is some people’s opinion of how certain Bible passages should be interpreted. Most teaching about the details of how Jesus will return is in the realm of opinion. One thing that is certain is that believers need to be prepared both for an imminent return and for a prolonged delay: be ready at any time to meet Jesus face to face; plan your life and ministry for a long lifetime of service. Christians from different traditions often view the book of Revelation and other prophetic passages differently, yet without denying that Jesus will return. As noted, the symbolic and metaphoric language of end-times prophecies makes for these differences of understanding. Even when their understanding differ, Christians need to remember that they are still brothers and sisters in Christ, and that having differing opinions of how to interpret the details of end-times prophecy is not a sufficient reason for division in the Body of Christ. Putting it more plainly, Christians should not reject or condemn each other over disagreements about the details of eschatology. Christian love should be bigger than that.