The End of the World
2 Peter 2:1-3 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”
There is no doubt but the world is moving to crisis after crisis. It is amazing and scary to watch and listen to the wicked people. The worst of the wicked will call anyone who opposes their wickedness dark names. If you stand for righteousness, do not respond to the wicked in kind. Our duty is to conduct ourselves in the spirit of gentleness and with soft words. Don’t be a wimp, but be strong with the truth of Holy Scripture.
The End of the World was not a strange term to Jesus Christ and the early church. Secularists of our generation have created a mindset that immediately labels anyone using such terminology as a religious nut. The truth is that there cannot be a Biblical New World Order and the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ until the present order comes to an end. Therefore, the present world as we know it is going to end and a new world begin. Nothing in Scripture is prophesied more clearly. We must rescue this truth and begin again to preach “The End of the World.” Satan is afraid of such truth and, especially, truth that convicts the unsaved. Without question he is the mastermind behind the silence in the church about impending judgment and the “End of This World.”
Early church preaching rings with the shattering message of judgment and the coming darkness. Peter wrote to the believers among the many churches, “But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).
They lived in constant readiness for the kingdom of God to be established and warned that the present world order as they knew it had to end first. Nobody cared too much about worldly goods and building personal empires, for they all knew it could be gone in a moment. Some of them sold everything they had and gave to the kingdom for the good of everyone.
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet” (Acts 4:33-37).
It was a mindset unknown to today’s church because they knew this world was going to end. They actually expected it in their lifetime and wanted their riches to be invested in the eternal kingdom. This was the Lord’s intention for His church.
Biblical discipleship will not return to the church until we re-establish the kingdom message. Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence” (John 18:36).
This world order has to end for the visible appearance of His kingdom to appear. You cannot mix the old with the new unless the new is spoiled and becomes like the old. Jesus’ kingdom is presently invisible, a spiritual kingdom in our hearts as we live only for Him, but soon the old will end and His kingdom will begin right here on this earth. He said, “Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5). That was not some figurative statement, but a clear promise to His own. We will spend at least seven years in Heaven after the Rapture before we share in Christ’s establishment of His earthly kingdom.
The Signs Are Everywhere: It’s Almost Over
Jesus Christ’s disciples asked Him a three-part question that promoted some of His most incredible teachings on this subject. Let’s look at these three questions. “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” (Matthew 24:3).
Jesus had warned them of the destruction of the temple and the coming judgment upon Jerusalem. They asked Him about the time of that judgment, but also about His coming again and what they called the end of the world. The first part was fulfilled in AD 70 when the Romans smashed Jerusalem and ended that great city as a Jewish city for nearly 1,900 years. The Jewish people reclaimed the city in 1967 after 1,897 years.
They were very specific in their question about the end of the world, and Jesus gave them a specific answer. Notice that He mentioned the end of the world three times in the next eleven verses or the first part of His answer. After speaking of “wars and rumors of wars,” he said, “but the end is not yet.” Later, He stated, “But he that shall endure to the end, the same shall be saved.” He then gave the last of the signs that must occur and stated, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:14).
1 John 4:1-2 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.”
Let me give you the total context of this great reference to the end of the world. Please read it carefully.
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows.
“Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come” (Matthew 24:3-14).
Jesus Taught Powerful Truths About The End
The Rapture of the Bride of Jesus Christ needs no sign for us to expect Him at any moment, but there is a multitude of signs that relate to the end of this wicked world order ruled over by the devil. Satan has never been very smart, and a Bible student can easily detect His masteries of lies.
The environmental movement of the world has affected a large portion of churches, and many professing Christians have become wild-eyed environmentalists. Many Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are now full-blown “dominion theology” believers working to establish what they believe is the kingdom of God on the earth. The Book of Revelation is rejected by this crowd as a literal book of the prophetic future because they see it as “doom and gloom.” Terrible disappointment is just ahead for anyone who has rejected the “end of the world” truths that represent such a clear message in the Holy Bible. This world order is going to crash, and the sounds of that crash will echo to the Heavens.
Look at some of the signs Jesus gave in the Matthew 24 teachings we just shared in this article:
- “Take heed that no man deceive you.” Never has there been more false teachings and doctrines flooding the religious world. Many believers have rejected the Bible as the final word on all truth, and now they are extremely vulnerable.
- “For many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ’; and shall deceive many.” The new generation of deceivers is quick to fill their dark teaching with a sprinkling of Jesus’ name and some of His wonderful truths. Then they mix in their false ideas that destroy and deceive. Nothing is more dangerous than a mixture. It is even worse than total error.
- “And ye shall hear of wars and rumors of wars.” Our globe is a powder keg of fighting, massacre, and civil wars. We have seen so much carnage on the news that it barely gets our attention. India’s recent explosion of five different nuclear devices is an excellent measure of the state of world tension. Many noted world analysts are predicting a nuclear war in the Middle East at any moment.
- “Famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in divers places.” The record number of these kinds of death-dealing events is no longer a question. Tens of thousands are dying from famine and pestilence. Africa is facing a plaque of the AIDS virus that will certainly continue to spread on a worldwide scale. AIDS, along with many other fatal diseases, fits perfectly the Biblical warning of pestilences.
- Jesus paused at the end of verse six to warn that the end is not yet. After verse seven, He stated, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.” Everything Jesus stated in verses four through seven has been evidenced to some degree from the time of the early church. Then He describes additional signs that are more pronounced today than ever in church history.
- “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you.” Our congress has been debating a “Christian Persecution” measure for months because of worldwide persecution of Christians. Right here in America there is a dedicated effort to stop every public reflection of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Hornets basketball team in our city of Charlotte has prayer before each game, but refuses to allow anyone to participate unless they agree not to use the name of Jesus in the prayer. Our city council and county commissioners have faced a constant barrage of evil persons determined to stop prayer in Jesus’ name. There is a worldwide spirit of evil hatred against the power and person of Jesus Christ unknown in world history.
2 Thessalonians 2:7-9 “For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders.”
“And ye shall be hated of all nations for My name’s sake.” This verse of Scripture must be seen in a double sense. It relates to the Christians because Jesus was talking about believers and to the believers, but He was also talking to Jewish believers. The hatred of Bible-believing Christians is no less pronounced than the hatred of Jewish people.
The anti-Semitism that is reflected in the Arab world is more understandable than the anti-Semitism in religious people. There are whole ministries that operate on their hatred of Jewish people. There is not a more diabolical expression than that which motivates “hatred of Israel.” Sure, the Jews as a nation are still in unbelief and are indeed enemies for the gospel’s sake. Their unbelief has blinded their eyes to the gospel, but the Scripture clearly warns us to be free of pride and to expect “all Israel to be saved.”
I believe we are seeing the final expression of hatred for the Jews that will usher in the Antichrist’s reign. The same Hornets basketball team here in Charlotte that forbids prayer in Jesus’ name also forbids anyone praying in Hebrew. Those were the only two restrictions. That would be odd indeed if you did not understand this great teaching of Jesus Christ in Matthew 24. Notice those words again: “Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake” (Matthew 24:9).
Of all the religions in the world, the only two to be forbidden in the prayer were the two ideas of fundamental Christianity and fundamental Judaism. The only friend Israel has at the United Nations is the United States of America. [With a change of administration] this Scripture could be perfectly fulfilled, if we could not already count it fulfilled.
- “And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.” This verse speaks specifically of men and women who call themselves apostles, prophets, etc. Our world is suddenly, in the last 10 years mainly, being inundated with so-called prophets and apostles. From what was called the “Kansas City Prophets,” we now have thousands spreading religious viruses throughout the church. Any man or woman that calls themself or allows others to introduce them as a prophet or a prophetess is dangerous.
- The Lord has always had prophets, apostles, pastors, teachers, and miracle workers in His church, but they were men who rejected such titles lest they gather to themselves honor that belongs only to the Lord. We are all servants and, whatever our calling may be, we have no right to exalt ourselves so that we can then demand an audience of the people. The Lord Himself exalts and debases and we give Him alone the glory. Flee for your life when someone calls themself a prophet or an apostle. They certainly fit this Scripture perfectly.
- “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” This speaks specifically of the great apostasy that we are experiencing at this very moment. “Iniquity” – or a better word is “lawlessness” – perfectly describes the present church world. The church is full of men and women who believe they are a law unto themselves and will not listen to the “unaltering truth of Holy Scripture.” You can quote the words of God that demand separation and holiness, and the people will simply say, “I’m not convicted of that,” and they believe that settles it.
This very term “iniquity/lawlessness” is a profound image of today’s church world; and because of this lawlessness “the love of many shall wax cold.” You cannot be ready for His return and the end until your will is totally surrendered to His perfect will as revealed in the Bible. If there is an ounce of “lawlessness” in you, then you must find the mourners’ bench of repentance and confess it to the King.
- “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.” It is very evident that the Lord Jesus knew the struggle of the righteous in the times right before the end. Seven times the same idea was recounted to the church in Revelation two and three. “To him that overcometh,” etc., was the closing promise to all seven churches representing the church period or dispensation. The apostasy of this hour has convinced a multitude of church members to ignore the Scriptures that teach total discipleship and complete separation from the world. There are going to be some angry church members and children of compromising churches and families when they suddenly realize they have missed the Rapture and are being thrust into the Tribulation.
- “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.” It is a testimony to the mercy of God that the last sign and action that He has determined before the end is the preaching of His kingdom. If you are a faithful servant of Jesus Christ, then do not fear that the devil can stop you from proclaiming the truth of the gospel. It is thrilling to me to know that our God will protect the true messengers right down to the moment of the Rapture and the beginning of the end. The last sign before the end is a man of God in the pulpit telling the lost how to be saved.
Luke 21:34-35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.”
Jesus Was Not Embarrassed To Talk About The End of the World
If Jesus was willing to freely speak of the end of this age and the final judgment of a wicked world, why should we not speak freely about the same? It is unbelievable how utterly lost is this incredible message to our sin-sick world. Hope is quickly vanishing from the political world. Military experts speak of inevitable conflicts and impending dangers. The secular media is more willing to talk about the hopeless future than the church.
We must show the world that the end of this age is at hand. No, we should not set dates or try to scare people for the sake of its effect on their spiritual commitment. But, we must preach the whole Word of God, including eternal damnation and the coming judgment of God. God can no more ignore the plague of sin that grips this world than He ignored it in Biblical history. Sin always has consequences, and to preach otherwise is to be a false prophet. This is not a message of doom; it is a message of hope.
The End Is Just the Beginning
The “New World Order” that the devil’s crowd has fostered is a masquerade and imitation of the real. The real “New World Order” is the Biblical kingdom of Jesus Christ. That kingdom cannot mix with a world ruled by greed, love of money, and love of pleasure. Every principle of this present world order must be judged and eliminated. Then He will establish His kingdom to last forever.
Daniel saw this heavenly kingdom established without human hands. Listen to his description from the vision of Nebuchadnezzar which was from the Lord:
“And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever. Forasmuch as thou sawest that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it brake in pieces the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, and the gold; the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass hereafter: and the dream is certain, and the interpretation thereof sure” (Daniel 2:44-45).
No human hands, no “Kingdom Dominion” preachers, no post millennialist will help establish this kingdom. It will be the supernatural hand of the great God and His Son, Jesus Christ. The most mindless idea I have ever heard from a religious source is the new doctrine of a manmade kingdom. The new kingdom must be established and ruled by the King of kings.
The end of the present world order is the beginning of the glory of this kingdom. After one thousand years of His physical reign in Jerusalem, the new Heaven and the new earth will be manifest to the world. John clearly shows that the old must end for the new to begin.
He stated, “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Revelation 21:1-3).
The truth about the end of the world is one of the most glorious messages in Holy Scripture. Let’s tell the world about it!