Ep.1223: Does the Bible Tell Us How the World Will End?
Finding great hope in prophecies that seem to predict the world’s end
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CHAPTERS
Theme Scripture: Psalms 46:1-2
Talking about the end of the world is scary. The amazing thing is that predicting it has been going on for thousands of years. Quoting a few lines from a 2009 Smithsonian Magazine article: “An Assyrian clay tablet dating to around 2800 B.C. bears the inscription: Our Earth is degenerate in these later days; there are signs that the world is speedily coming to an end; bribery and corruption are common; children no longer obey their parents; every man wants to write a book and the end of the world is evidently approaching." So, does the Bible actually tell us how the world will end? It doesn't, but the more appropriate question is, does it give us prophecies that describe how the world will dramatically change? Absolutely! We are not piling on to the mountain of end-of-the-world predictions here; instead, we are seeking to interpret world-changing events as prophesied in Scripture.
Dramatic Bible prophecies
Sometimes Bible prophecies can be really cryptic and mystifying, especially when they speak of the things like the earth collapsing or melting. We can look at what is being described and easily draw the wrong conclusions. The 46th chapter of Psalms is such a prophecy. It tells us of raging ocean waters, mountains shaking and falling into the sea and the earth melting. People seem to gravitate to the drama of these kinds of descriptions. They are the types of things you see in those end times, apocalyptic movies. As Bible-believing Christians, we have to ask ourselves if such statements in Scripture should be taken literally or figuratively.
So, does Psalm 46 tell us how the world will end?
According to this prophecy, will the physical earth be turned into a molten mass of liquified elements? Will all life cease to exist? If we say yes, then we have to answer the question of why. Why would God create this world, inhabit it with humanity, allow sin, and then bring a Savior only to utterly destroy it? Would this reveal a God of love, wisdom, justice and power, or a God of chaos, reactions and rage?
Fortunately, God reveals Himself to be the God of love, wisdom, justice and power. His stated intention regarding the earth is that it will remain forever (Ecclesiastes 1:4). That being said, what does having the mountains fall into the raging sea mean? It means trouble - world-changing, chaos-causing trouble.
Check out our April 4, 2022 podcast, “Does the Bible Tell Us How the World Will End?” for more. We examine the language Psalm 46 and define what these scriptural symbols mean. We then follow how these symbols apply in our present day. The conclusion is startling! We are here and now living in the time of this prophecy’s dramatic fulfillment. While this can be scary, it can also be comforting. Join us as we put the pieces together and watch God’s masterful plan unfold!
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Like a beautiful mosaic, the New Testament scriptures on the subject fit together like a puzzle and have to all be considered together in their entirety, not broken into pieces out of context. Jesus, in such passages as his parables in Matthew 13, gives useful information, and more supplied in the apostles’ letters, where we are told that everything will be normal with people going about their usual activities–when suddenly, unexpectedly, time will crash into eternity as this material dimension and universe disappears and dissolves in fiery conflagration and we, together with the resurrected dead of all ages, are then brought to appear before Christ in judgment, after which all are taken to their eternal dwelling place. Jesus says repeatedly in John 6 that this Resurrection will occur on the last day. After that, time will no longer exist, nor the elemental and molecular structure of this material universe of space and matter. The true eternal reality, a dimension that we know little about but where God dwells in eternity, will exist forever. The overwhelming lesson that we learn from this revelation which is given to us, even though quite vaguely, is that we must be always ready, for this will happen when least expected and with no opportunity then to be saved.
Thank you for your thoughts on this topic. Not only is context important but harmony between passages is essential in order to learn biblical truth. For example, the Apostle Peter said, “…the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.” (2 Peter 3:12)
This cannot be taken literally since heaven is the dwelling place of God. If the elements melting referred to the destruction of earth, then this would contradict other plain statements of scripture such as Ecclesiastes 1:4. “The earth abideth forever.” When referring to heaven and earth God said, “He created it not in vain.”(Isaiah 45:18)
When the Bible refers to the destruction of earth, it is symbolic of the removal of human institutions and governments. Fire is used in scripture to describe the testing and refining of everything it touches. Our faith is refined by fire. (1 Peter 1:7) This describes the trials we endure that strengthens our faith in God.
Zephaniah 3:8, 9 reveals the symbolic nature of fire. “Therefore, wait ye upon me, saith the LORD, until the day that I rise up to the prey: for my determination is to gather the nations, that I may assemble the kingdoms, to pour upon them mine indignation, even all my fierce anger: for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy. For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent.”
Notice the sequence of events in these verses. After the earth is devoured, (institutions of man destroyed) the people are taught a pure language (truth) so they can properly worship God. They will then turn to the Lord and “serve Him with one consent.” This describes inauguration of God’s kingdom on earth, the kingdom Jesus described us to pray for. “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10)
When referring to the 2nd Advent of Jesus, the Apostle Peter said, then would begin “the times of restitution of all things.” (Acts 3:21) The word restitution is important. It simply means something would be restored to its original condition. This refers back to the Garden of Eden when our first parents were perfect and lived in a paradise home. During the Times of Restitution mankind will be resurrected to the earth and brought back to human perfection. The earth will be restored to the paradise conditions enjoyed by Adam and Eve.
After the 1,000-kingdom described in Revelation 20:1-6, mankind will be given a final test during “a little season.” (Revelation 20:7-10) Those who prove faithful will be granted eternal life, here on a perfected earth. So, time will not end. In fact, the existence of eternity means time will never end. – Christian Questions
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