What does the Bible say about the end of the world?
The Bible presents a comprehensive view of the end times that emphasizes ongoing spiritual realities rather than just future events. Throughout Scripture, believers are taught to expect tribulations in this present world, as Jesus himself said, "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). This teaching is grounded in the understanding of God's providence, that He preserves, accompanies, and directs the entire universe through all circumstances.
For followers of Jesus, death represents a temporary separation that leads to resurrection. The book of Revelation particularly illuminates this truth by revealing Jesus Christ as the reigning King, both now and for all eternity. This revelation calls the church to live with an eternal focus, especially evident in chapters 20, 21, and 22, which describe the fulfillment of God's kingdom.
The symbolism in Revelation serves a deeper purpose than merely predicting future events. The opening of the seven seals in chapters 6-8:1 demonstrates Jesus's ultimate authority over heaven and earth. Rather than placing all these events in the future, the supernatural elements in Revelation form part of a larger narrative that encompasses both Old Testament Israel and the church. Indeed, most of Revelation explains the nature of the world in the present age, the time between Christ's ascension and His second coming.
Revelation 21 portrays the New Jerusalem as the ultimate fulfillment of God's kingdom, where Jesus reigns as King, His people are united, and His glory dwells among the people. When Scripture speaks of Christ's second coming, it uses cloud imagery to convey that Jesus will come from the spiritual realm, not from another earthly location. This emphasizes that believers are destined for a real kingdom where they will exist as real people, bowing before the real King Jesus.
The Bible's teaching about the end times focuses less on providing a detailed timeline and more on encouraging faithful living in light of Christ's present reign and future return. It presents these truths through symbolic representations of the ongoing conflict between good and evil, always emphasizing the ultimate victory belonging to Jesus Christ. This understanding calls Christians to center their attention on Christ's present reign and the hope of the eternal kingdom rather than becoming preoccupied with predicting specific events or creating detailed timelines of future occurrences.
Verses about the end of the world:
Matthew 13:39-40, "The harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the end of the age."
John 5:28-29, "Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment."
2 Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."
Revelation 20:11-12, "Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done."
1 Corinthians 15:24-26,"Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death."
