The liberal media makes fun of believers by showing a raggedy-dressed man holding up a sign saying, “It’s the end of the world.” But those with some reverence for the Bible are concerned that our world is soon coming to an end. They view rising crime, atrocities by ISIS, and the risk of nuclear holocaust as real threats to the very existence of planet earth. Is the end near?

After viewing the temple, the disciples came to the Lord Jesus Christ asking, “what shall be the sign of Thy coming, and of the end of the world” (Matthew 24:3)? The phrase “the end of the world” has been widely misunderstood. It does NOT mean mankind will be extinguished from the face of the earth, or that the world itself will be obliterated. The consistent testimony of Scripture reveals this will never happen. Jehovah promised Israel the land of Canaan as “an everlasting possession” (Genesis 17:5-8). Jews with the righteousness of faith were told they would be resurrected into a divine Kingdom, and God “shall place you in your own land” (Ezekiel 37:14). Even though the earth eventually will be purged by fire to prepare for an eternal state for Israel (II Peter 3:10-14), redeemed Jews will occupy the earth as “an everlasting possession.” The phrase “the end of the world” is a rewording of the phrase “the time of the end” as found in Daniel 8:17; 11:35; 12:9. A careful study of these passages, as in Matthew 24, refers to end times when Israel will go through seven years of prophesied tribulation. The Lord Jesus defined this phrase in Matthew 13:36-43, 48-50 in the parable of the tares and good seed. He described a coming time when lost souls would be gathered and cast “into a furnace of fire…then shall the righteous shall shine forth…” These events refer to the seven years of tribulation culminating with the Savior establishing His world-wide reign which will mark the end of Satan’s reign as “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4), and the end of Gentile domination over Israel and her promised land (Luke 21:20-24).

There is an end coming for the world as we know it. The Savior will come to rapture members of the Body of Christ to heaven and subsequently fulfill every promise to Israel. Believers must stand secure in God’s promises, and live in constant expectation that He may begin this process at any moment.