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Eschatology literally means the study of the eschaton, the times of the end, 'last things', or 'end times.' In Zoroastrianism, Christianity and in Norse heathen theology, eschatology is a theology concerning the end of the world, as predicted in the prophecies of these faiths, and as recorded in their sacred texts. It can also be the study of general afterlife concepts of other religions, especially the western monotheistic faiths. In this broader sense, eschatology can refer to the messiah, a messianic era, the afterlife, and the soulThis page is about the core essence of a being. For the music genre, see soul music; for the chief city of South Korea see Seoul. The soul in several philosophical movements and many religious traditions, is the core essence of a being. In some traditions in religions which have such beliefs.

The word is derived from GreekThe Greek language ( /Elini'k{/) is an Indo-European language which has existed from around the 14th century BC in the Cretan inscriptions called Linear B. Mycenaean Greek of this period is distinguished from later Classical or Ancient Greek of the 8th ce eskhatos meaning last, furthest, remote, with the root ex — "out of";

As far as we know, Zoroastrianism, by 500 B.C, had a fully developed concept of the end of the world as being devoured by fire, and is thus the oldest eschatology we know of.

Eschatologies of particular religions:

Ancient religions (no longer widely practiced)

• Ancient Aztec eschatologyThe Aztec believed that four worlds had existed before the present universe. Those worlds, or " suns," had been destroyed by catastrophes. Humankind had been entirely wiped out at the end of each sun. The present world was the fifth sun, and the Aztec tho
• Ancient Egyptian eschatology
• Ancient Greek eschatology
• Ancient Roman eschatology
• Ancient Norse eschatology

Modern-day religions (still widely practiced)

• Buddhist eschatology
• Christian eschatologyTympanum sculpture at the Abbey Church of Ste-Foy, Conques-en-Rouergue, France Christian Eschatology is the study of Christian beliefs concerning final events and ultimate purposes (from Gr. eskhatos last . In Christian theology, eschatology studies the c
• Hindu eschatology
• Islamic eschatologyIslamic eschatology is concerned with the Qiyamah ( end of the world) and the final judgement of humanity. Eschatology is one of the three main principles of Islam, alongside tawhid (the unity of Allah) and nubuuwa ( prophecy). Like the other Abrahamic re
• Jewish eschatologyJewish eschatology is concerned with Mashiach (the Jewish Messiah) the continuation of the Davidic line, and Olam Haba ( Hebrew for "the world to come"; i. the afterlife). The Hebrew word Mashiach (or Moshiach means anointed one and refers to a mortal hum
• Zoroastrian eschatology
• Neopagans and Wiccans believe that the entire Universe continues in endless cycles of birth, death, and rebirth.

Science has developed its own eschatologies, based on observation and rational speculation rather than traditional inspiration.

• cosmology deals with theories about the possible origins and the ultimate fate of the Universe.
• The multiverse idea might contradict the idea of a definitive end to existence itself, and the scientific study of time calls into question the very meaning of concepts like "beginning" and "end".
• The technological singularity would be an incomprehensible transformation of society by technological means. If it goes as expected it would be the end of human society as such.

Some have compared the Marxist belief in World communism as a form of eschatology.