Whether you’re religious or atheist, most people are curious about the end of the world. For this blog, “world” includes earth and the rest of the universe. We all have the sense that the world will not go on forever. Even the 2nd law of thermodynamics supports the notion of an end to all thing’s material.
Though curious, many people are not overly interested in the end of the world. If, however, some notable person predicts a soon-to-occur date, it’s likely to pique the attention of people.
How Will You Escape?
The Bible speaks about two ends: a “world end” and a “personal end.” Regarding the personal end, Hebrews 9:27 has this to say: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” We don’t need the Bible to drive this fact home. There is death and decay all around us. While the world is sure to end, Heaven and Hell are eternal and have no end.
As of this writing, there have been over 37 million deaths globally in 2023. This would put the daily average death toll at 162,280 people. That’s about 2 people dying every second. Of these millions, few know when their life will end. Before I finish this blog, a staggering 20,285 people will have died.
The universal end will have its day too. Isaiah put’s it so beautifully in chapter 34, verse 4 of his prophecy: “And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree.”
The Apostle Peter also describes the universal end: “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (2Peter 3:10) The only thing missing is the “when.”
When Will the World End is Based on Apostolic Teaching
According to Scripture, we can be sure that the world’s end will not happen for at least 1,007 years from this moment. We know that the 7-year period of tribulation has yet to come. Many Bible scholars predict that this event is not too far off, as so many significant prophecies have already been fulfilled; the most noteworthy being the reestablishment of Israel as a nation, in 1948.
The tribulation period will end at the 2nd coming of the Lord Jesus to the earth. “And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed.” (Revelation 20:4 & 5)
So, the 7 years and 1,000 years equals 1,007 years. Therefore, the world cannot end until the close of the 1,000-year reign of the Lord Jesus on earth. I’m hoping these Scriptural facts will give all of you a sense of peace regarding the end of the world. There’s much more that can be said about the tribulation and the reign of Christ, which I hope to cover in future blogs, Lord willing.
However, I would be remiss to close here if I didn’t discuss a little more about the personal end. I would like to return to Hebrews 9:27: “And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment.” When a person dies, it’s their end of the world. If we’re going to discuss the end of the world, doesn’t it make sense, then, to discuss the elephant in the room? Specifically, where will you go when your end comes? It can only be one of two places; Heaven or Hell. Heaven is the place where people go that have been born-again. Those, who have trusted in the Lord Jesus for salvation.
Full Assurance Regardless of When the World Will End
Salvation is not a complex theological topic that only the wisest of scholars can understand. It is so simple that children can understand it: “Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, ‘Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’” (Matthew 19:13 & 14)
Even children can accept that they’re sinners and can understand, to some degree, that a holy God will not accept sin. Even at an early age, they can understand the concept of punishment for wrongdoing. They also have a real sense of what love is. It’s not such a far leap, then, to understand that God loves us so much that He wants us to be with Him.
Children can also grasp that their personal sins prevent them from being with God. They can understand that this loving God would send His own Son to pay the penalty for their sins. They can further understand that His sacrifice makes it possible for them to be with God. All that’s left is for them to trust what God said is necessary for salvation. Specifically, that God did, indeed, send His son to the cross of Calvary to pay the debt we owed for our sins.
Surely, if a child can understand, then every adult can comprehend this simple message of salvation. Over 3,000 years ago, David, King of Israel, trusted God for salvation: “The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
A young child and a mighty warrior king have the wisdom to seek God for salvation; what’s holding you back? Act quickly; salvation is not available once a person has reached their personal end.
A Roman jailer asked the Apostle Paul and his companion, Silas, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved? They said, Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” (Acts 16:30 & 31)
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