The end of the world is a topic that has fascinated people for millennia. It is referenced in many religions and cultures, but is particularly significant in Christianity due to biblical prophecies about the end times.
Some key questions addressed in the Bible include:
- What signs and events will precede the end?
- Will there be a rapture of believers before a period of tribulation?
- How and when will Jesus return?
- What will the final judgment be like?
- What will eternity look like for believers and nonbelievers?
This article will provide an overview of what the Bible says about the end times and the end of the age. It will examine biblical prophecies, the sequence of end time events according to Scripture, and the ultimate destiny of mankind. Understanding these truths helps Christians live in godly anticipation of the return of Christ.
Biblical Prophecies About the End Times
The Bible contains many prophecies about the end times in both the Old and New Testaments. Here are some of the key passages:
Old Testament Prophecies
The Old Testament contains numerous prophecies about the “day of the Lord” and the end of the age.
These include:
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Isaiah 13:6-13, which describes the day of the Lord as a time of destruction on the whole earth when God will punish the world for its evil.
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Daniel 12:1-3, which speaks of a time of great distress when the power of God’s people will be shattered. After this time, there will be a resurrection and judgment.
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Joel 2:28-32, which says God will pour out His Spirit on all people prior to the coming day of the Lord. The sun will be darkened and the moon turned to blood before that great and dreadful day.
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Zechariah 14:1-21, which describes the Lord returning to the Mount of Olives. On that day, there will be no light, only darkness. But ultimately, the Lord will become king over the whole earth.
New Testament Prophecies
In the New Testament, Jesus and the apostles give many warnings about the end times:
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Matthew 24-25, where Jesus describes the signs of His coming and the end of the age. He speaks of wars, famines, false prophets, and the gospel being preached to all nations.
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11, where Paul tells the Thessalonians about the return of Christ, the resurrection of the dead, and the coming of judgment.
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2 Timothy 3:1-9, which warns that difficult times will come in the last days when people will be lovers of themselves and pleasure rather than lovers of God.
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2 Peter 3:3-13, which scoffs at those who doubt Jesus’ second coming. Peter states the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire until the day of judgment.
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation provides the most vivid picture of the end times, including:
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Seven seals, trumpets and plagues depicting disasters and judgments (Revelation 6-16).
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The return of Christ on a white horse, defeating the beast and false prophet (Revelation 19).
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Satan being bound and thrown into a bottomless pit for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:1-3).
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Satan’s final defeat when he is thrown into the lake of fire (Revelation 20:7-10).
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A new heaven and new earth where there is no more suffering (Revelation 21-22).
Signs of the End Times
The Bible mentions several signs that will indicate the end times are near. These signs are described in passages such as Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21.
Some of the key signs include:
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Wars and Rumors of Wars: Conflict and war will increase leading up to the end times. Nations will fight against each other and there will be threats of war.
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Natural Disasters: There will be an increase in famines, earthquakes, pestilences, and other natural disasters.
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False Prophets: Many false prophets will arise and deceive people with false teachings.
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Increase in Sin: Lawlessness, wickedness, and immorality will be rampant. Love for God and others will grow cold.
These signs indicate the world is headed for difficult times prior to Christ’s return. While the exact timing is unknown, Jesus instructs believers to watch for these signs as indications His coming is drawing near.
The Rapture
The rapture is an eschatological concept among some Christians, particularly within branches of American evangelicalism, consisting of an end-time event when all Christian believers who are alive, along with resurrected believers, will rise “in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.” The origin of the term comes from the Koine Greek word ἁρπάζω (harpazō), which means “to snatch, seize, catch away.”
The passages in the Bible that are associated with the rapture concept are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 and 1 Corinthians 15:51-54. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 states that the dead in Christ will be resurrected first, then believers who are alive will be “caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 says that at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable and the living believers will be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
There are differing views within Christianity on the timing of the rapture in relation to Jesus Christ’s second coming. The pre-tribulation view believes the rapture happens before the tribulation period. The mid-tribulation view has the rapture occurring halfway through the tribulation. Post-tribulationists believe the rapture happens after the tribulation.
The Great Tribulation
The Great Tribulation refers to a 7-year period of intense suffering and turmoil that will occur prior to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This time is prophesied in the Bible, particularly in the books of Daniel and Revelation. It will be initiated by the Antichrist’s rise to power and his breaking of a peace treaty with Israel halfway through the 7 years.
The Great Tribulation is characterized by the Antichrist’s global government and rule, war, persecution of believers, natural disasters, and God’s wrath poured out on the earth. The Antichrist will demand worship and obedience. Those who refuse to worship him or take his mark will likely face imprisonment, torture, and even death. However, God will protect and provide for those who remain faithful to Him during this time.
While the Great Tribulation will be an incredibly difficult time, it will end with Jesus’ return to defeat evil and establish His millennial kingdom on earth. God will deliver His people as He has promised.
The Second Coming of Christ
The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ will physically return to earth in the future. There are over 300 prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah’s first coming, and nearly as many about His second coming. At His ascension, two angels declared to the disciples that “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven’” (Acts 1:11).
When Christ returns, it will be a visible, audible, triumphant event that every person on earth will witness. Revelation 1:7 says, “Look, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him; and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.” Christ will return as King of kings and Lord of lords to defeat the Antichrist, the False Prophet, and Satan himself at the battle of Armageddon. He will establish his millennial kingdom on earth, headquartered in Jerusalem. The Second Coming is the blessed hope for believers, when Christ will resurrect the dead in Christ and rapture living believers to meet him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
The Millennial Kingdom
The Millennial Kingdom refers to the thousand-year reign of Christ described in Revelation 20. During this time, Satan will be bound and thrown into the bottomless pit (Revelation 20:1-3). With Satan absent, there will finally be peace on earth. As Isaiah 2:4 states, “He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
Christ will rule the world from Jerusalem with justice and righteousness (Isaiah 11:4-5). The saints who were resurrected or raptured will reign with Christ over the nations (Revelation 20:4-6). There will still be mortal inhabitants on earth who live ordinary lives and repopulate the earth. With Satan bound and Christ reigning, lifespans will be greatly extended as in the early days of creation. Isaiah 65:20 states that a person who dies at 100 will be thought to be cursed.
The Millennial Kingdom will fulfill many of God’s promises to Israel. David’s throne and kingdom will be reestablished under Jesus Christ’s authority (Isaiah 9:7, Luke 1:32-33). Israel will finally dwell securely in their land (Ezekiel 34:25-28). The Millennial Kingdom will demonstrate that Christ is the only true Messiah and King that can bring lasting peace and justice to the world.
The Final Judgment
The Bible teaches that there will be a final judgment where everyone will stand before God and be judged for their deeds. This is described in Revelation 20:11-15, which says that the dead, great and small, will stand before the throne of God. Books containing records of everyone’s deeds will be opened, including the Book of Life. Those whose names are not found in the Book of Life will be thrown into the lake of fire.
Jesus also talked about the final judgment in Matthew 25:31-46, in a parable about the separation of sheep and goats. The sheep represent righteous believers who cared for others, while the goats represent the unrighteous who did not help others. The sheep will receive eternal life, while the goats will go away into eternal punishment. This parable illustrates that faith in Christ should be evident through actions, as believers will be judged according to their deeds of compassion.
At the final judgment, there will be a separation between those who placed their faith in Christ and lived accordingly, versus those who rejected Christ or lived in open rebellion against God. Every person’s eternal destiny will be determined based on whether their name is written in the Book of Life. This judgment highlights the need for people to repent and trust in Christ as Savior before it’s too late.
New Heavens and New Earth
The Bible describes that God will ultimately destroy the current fallen world and create a new perfect creation free from sin and death. This is described in Revelation 21, which says “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.”
The new creation will be completely renewed and restored to God’s original perfect design. It will be a place of righteousness where God dwells with His people (Revelation 21:3). The prophet Isaiah also spoke of this time, saying “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind” (Isaiah 65:17).
The new heavens and new earth will be free from the curse of sin that entered the world through Adam and Eve’s disobedience. There will be no more pain, suffering, crying or death (Revelation 21:4). It will be a perfect paradise, similar to the Garden of Eden but even more beautiful and glorious than we can imagine. This is the ultimate hope for all believers as we look forward to eternity with Christ.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the Bible contains many prophecies and descriptions about the end times and the end of the world. These include the rapture, when believers will be caught up to meet Christ in the air, the Great Tribulation, a period of immense suffering on earth, the second coming of Christ, when he will defeat evil and establish his millennial kingdom on earth, the final judgment, when all people will be judged for their actions, and the creation of new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
While we cannot know exactly when these events will occur, we are instructed to live godly lives, share the gospel, and be prepared for Christ’s return. The end times may seem frightening, but God promises to be with believers through any tribulation and welcome them into eternal glory in the new creation. Trust in Christ and continue living faithfully while awaiting his glorious second coming.
