The End of the World

The Reformers were not so taken with end things, but there certainly have been frenzied seasons, of last things hoopla, since the 16th century A.D.

It is true that the end of the world is coming. No one knows the exact date, except God Himself (Mt 24:36). The end of the world is actually the end of the physical universe, as we know it, today. It will all end with fire (2 Pet 3:10–12). This fact has many people uptight.

When Jesus taught His Olivet Discourse (Mt 24–25; Mk 13; Lk 21), during His week of passion, He conveyed crucial information about the events of this future day in human history. The last day of world history is called “The Day of the Lord” and “The Judgment Day” because it is the day of our Lord Jesus’ return to earth. He says, “Behold, I am coming quickly (Rev 22:20).”

The Second Advent, or second coming of Jesus Christ, will be unlike His first advent. He is coming to judge the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 2 Tim 4:1; 1 Pet 4:5). This is the day of vengeance (Dt 32:35; Jer 46:10), the day of God’s wrath against sinners (Rev 19:15). Jesus Christ is the dread champion (Jer 20:11), who will slay His opposition with the sword of His mouth (Rev 1:16; 2:16; 19:15, 21). It will be a terrible day for those who stand against Him.

Because there has been rebellion against God and His Anointed since the beginning (Gen 3; Ps 2), every soul from history will be conjoined to its body in the resurrection of judgment (Jn 5:28–29). Those outside of Christ, who are not of God (Jn 8:47), will face the justice of the One they maligned and blasphemed (Mk 3:29). He is the judge of the whole earth (Gen 18:25).

The crimes of humanity are the lawless sins that have deemed every person “guilty” before God (Jas 2:10; 1 Jn 3:4). There is none righteous (Rom 3:10), and all are deemed “unjust” (1 Pet 3:18). The unrepentant are children of the devil (1 Jn 3:10), sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2), children of wrath (Eph 2:3). Their appointment is the second death, the lake of fire (Rev 20:14–15).

Eternal damnation is in outer darkness (Mt 8:12), where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Mt 13:42, 50), for the worm does not die (Mk 9:44, 46, 48), in the fiery hell of eternal punishment (Mt 25:46; Jude 7). In other words, righteousness and justice will prevail against the wicked reprobate (Rom 9:22), who hated God (Rom 1:30), hated Jesus (Jn 15:18), and who loved the dark world, but who had no love for God in their hearts (Jn 5:42).

When the Son of Man comes with His angels, in the glory of His Father (Mt 13:41; 16:27; 25:31), then He will be glorified among His saints, on that day (2 Thess 1:10). For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first (1 Thess 4:16).

The living saints, on that day, will follow as they are caught up together in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air (1 Thess 4:17). Thus, we see that the Day of the Lord is also a day of salvation. Our Lord will destroy His enemies, and at the same time, He will gather His chosen people to Himself (Mt 24:31; Mk 13:27). They will join Him in judging angels (1 Cor 6:3).

King Jesus will appear in the sky with power and great glory (Mt 24:30). This event is the blessed hope of all the saints (Titus 2:13), who themselves will receive unfading crowns of glory (1 Pet 5:4), life (Jas 1:12), and righteousness (2 Tim 4:8), to be cast before the throne (Rev 4:10), in worship of God and of the Lamb, who sits at the center of the throne (Rev 7:17), at the right hand of God the Father (Acts 2:33), in majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1).

This is our God, who reigns with the sovereign power, as Lord of all (Mt 28:18; Acts 10:36). In that day, the kingdom of the world will have become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever (Rev 11:15). For His dominion is an everlasting dominion (Dan 4:34), and His kingdom endures, forever (Dan 2:44) because it is a heavenly kingdom with no end (Lk 1:33), where righteousness dwells (2 Pet 3:13), along with those brought safely into it (Col 1:13; 2 Tim 4:18; Rev 1:6).

My dear reader, it is always my intention to have you examine yourself. Your life is but a vapor (Jas 4:14). You came into this world with nothing, and you will soon leave with nothing (1 Tim 6:7). This is why the Bible’s assessment of life in this fallen world is…vanity (Eccl 1:2; 12:8). Therefore, in heeding the Word of God, the sinner is commanded to repent from sin and rebellion, to turn to Christ Jesus in humble submission (Acts 17:30).

The Day of the Lord is fast approaching; therefore, you are to redeem the time, for the days are evil (Eph 5:16; Col 4:5). You must walk in the light (1 Jn 1:7), as a child of light (Eph 5:8; 1 Thess 5:5), whose light shines before men (Mt 5:16) because He has shined in our hearts, to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 4:6). He is the Light of the world (Jn 8:12; 9:5) and the world to come (Rev 21:23).

My plea is for you to come into the light, as He is in the light, for it is marvelous (1 Pet 2:9), if you have not already called upon His name (Joel 2:32). It is my prayer that by His grace given, you will store His Word in your heart, as precious treasure with infinite value, for heaven and earth will pass away with fervent heat, but the Word of God and of Christ stands forever and ever (Is 40:8). Amen.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

December 23, 2022