End of the World

As we have seen in the first of this study, the Biblical phrase, "end of the world", is only found in the KJV. It is rightfully rendered as end of the age, in most other modern translations. The Bible does not actually speak of the end or the destruction of this material earth. There are Scriptures that would lead one to believe this earth and its creation is forever. Some will argue and say, "What about the new heaven and new earth?". Yes, there will be a time when the heaven and earth will be new. The word used here for new is the Greek word, kainos. Vines notes about the use of this word,

kainos (καινός, 2537) denotes “new,” of that which is unaccustomed or unused, not “new” in time, recent, but “new” as to form or quality, of different nature from what is contrasted as old. Kainos is translated “fresh” in the RV of Matt. 9:17; Mark 2:22

So here we see that the new heaven and new earth can mean a fresh, or renewed heaven and earth. It will be a heaven and earth without the curse of sin weighing it down, wherein dwells righteousness. Paul, in Romans 8, alludes to this,

21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.
23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Paul leads us to believe that when we have received the full adoption of sons, i.e., the redemption of our bodies, at the final resurrection, then creation itself will be set free from the burden of the sin curse. However, the fulness of this topic must be left for another time.

When the Bible speaks of the end of the age (end of the world [KJV]), it is speaking of the end of the age of the Law, which was the present age, Jesus and the Apostles lived in. The great sign of the end of that age would be the destruction of the Jerusalem temple. As I have stated elsewhere, the New Testament writings know only two ages. They are designated as, this age and the one about to be or the one coming , Matt. 12:32; Luke 18:30; Eph. 1:21. The "this age" always referenced the current age in which they were living, the age of the Law. The age to come is a reference to the Messianic Age or Kingdom, which is everlasting [Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; 1Tim. 6:14-16; 2Pet. 1:11; et al]. Since it is an everlasting age, there can be no age after it. The Bible knows nothing of a Church age. That is a dispensational invention.

The relationship of the Last Days to the End of the Age is this. The last days are those days in which the Messiah is bringing salvation and judgement, as Peter proclaimed on the Day of Pentecost. Technically, the last days began in AD 30 with the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Christ. They ended in AD 70 with the annihilation of the Jerusalem temple and its whole sacrificial system. It was at that point, the Israel constituted by covenant at Sinai, ended and was ground to powder. The Old had to be done away, to fully bring in the New. The writer of Hebrews makes this clear, when he states, 8:13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

These were called the last days for good reason. They were the last days of the Age of the Israel constituted at Sinai. When the temple disappeared, so did the very reason for its existence. They could no longer keep the covenant God made with them at Horeb. He left them only two choices: Believe upon His Son and become a part of The Israel of God, or receive the full weight of God's judgement. It is for this reason that Peter pleaded with those present on Pentecost, "Save yourselves from this perverse generation."

Are We Living In the Last Days?

This question has been asked by many people, countless times. After seeing what we have, the technical, Biblical answer is No, we are not living in the last days, as defined by the Bible. However, realistically, we are all living in the last days. Since none of us have a promise of being alive tomorrow, then today could be your last day or my last day. If you are breathing, you are living in your last days. The clock on your last days began ticking the moment you were born. Every day, the clock ticks closer to D-Day, i.e., Departure Day. So, it is advisable to not spend all your time running after the lastest prophecy teacher, to oooh and aaah over his latest analysis of the news. Then you are compelled to buy his latest book or DVD, so he might maintain his lavish lifestyle. These false teachers, " through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you." Don't be an Athenian Christian, spending all your time running after the latest prophecy fad[Acts 17:21]. The Lord commanded us to "occupy till I come." To occupy means to be busy about your assigned task, which is doing your part to expand His Kingdom by preaching the gospel and loving Him.

To wrap it up, in the Scriptures, the term end of the age, refers to the end of the then current age Jesus and His Apostles were living in, the Age of the Law. With the resurrection and ascension of Christ to the right hand of God, began the last days of the Sinai age. In these last days, also called the days of Messiah, were days of salvation for both Jew and Gentile, and days of judgement, the day of the Lord, upon the rebellious Judaics. For a detailed study in this topic, I would suggest my most recent book, Creating The Israel of God.