When will be the end?

     It is an absolute Biblical certainty the world as we know it will come to an end.  The age of the Church is nearing completion.  This age will be followed by seven years of great tribulation ending with the return of Christ to establish His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem.

     “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.”  Matthew 24:36

     Jesus very clearly states that the day of His return has not been revealed.  Note how detailed His return time; i.e. day and hour.

     Jesus continued by stating that mankind in general gives little thought or priority to the end of this age.  Life goes on as if the problems of the world will work themselves out without divine intervention.

     “But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.  For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage…and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.”  Matthew 24:37-39

     The world will be taken by surprise at Christ’s return.

     “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.”  Matthew 25:13

     After Jesus’ resurrection, and just prior to His ascension, the disciples asked if it was the time for Jesus to restore Israel as a nation.

     “Therefore… they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’  And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’”  Acts 1:6-7

     After Jesus’ ascension, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, His followers began to look forward to His return. 

     “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.  For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.  For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they shall not escape.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-3

     Just as in ages past when false prophets assured Israel that there was peace, and God wouldn’t destroy them, so it will be as the end of the current age quickly approaches.

     “Then I (Jeremiah) said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD!  Behold, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured (true) peace in this place.’”  Jeremiah 13:13

     The false prophets provided words to itching ears.  They said all was well, having overlooked Israel’s sin and God’s holy nature.

     God replied to Jeremiah that such false prophets would be killed in the same manner they proclaimed would not befall the Jews.

     God also told Jeremiah not to pray for the Israelites because their sin had taken them beyond the point of no return.

     After Jesus’ disciples accepted the fact that He would be absent for an undisclosed, but predetermined, period of time, they began to teach other believers to ‘walk in wisdom’ each day until His return. 

     This series began with the creation of the solar system which provided man with a means to place ‘time’ in its proper perspective.  The day will come when the sun will no longer be needed and time will be no more.

     That will occur after the church age, after the tribulation, after the millennial kingdom, and after the earth is renewed.

     “There shall be no night there:  They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light.  And they shall reign forever and ever.”  Revelation 22:5

     And for those who think this life is the most significant time of man’s odyssey:

     “Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble.  He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.”  Job 14:1-2

     This life is but a fleeting moment compared with eternity.

    

    

Time of the end

     The phrase ‘time of the end’ typically refers to the return of Christ after the seven year tribulation period.

     Previous columns have detailed the atrocities of Antiochus Epiphanes of the Seleucid Empire, who is referred to as king of the north in the book of Daniel.  Antiochus was the precursor of the future king of the final world kingdom, i.e. the anti-Christ.

     Recall that some of the Jews would not bow down to him at the expense of their lives.

     “And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time.”  Daniel 11:35

     This verse reveals such suffering and oppression of the Jews in the 2^nd century BC will be experienced up to the ‘time of the end’ because it is still for the ‘appointed time.’

     ‘Time’ in the above refers to the ‘right’ or ‘proper’ point in time on the linear time span.

     We’ll see shortly that the ‘time of the end’ can refer also to the end of the world system as we know it.  The term ‘appointed time’ means a ‘pre-determined time.’

     The ‘time of the end’ is also a significant teaching in the New Testament.  Jesus’ disciples were very interested in the time Jesus would return to establish His kingdom.

     “Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying... ‘What will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’”  Matthew 24:3

     ‘End’ does in fact mean ‘termination.’  Interestingly ‘end’ in this context is from the Greek (aion) which is the same word used for ‘age.’  Therefore, each age has an ending, except the new heaven and new earth.

     Jesus addressed the disciple’s question relative to the end of the current age.

     “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars.  See that you are not troubled, for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.”  Matthew 24:6

     Wars are to be expected during the present age, but they do not define the ‘end.’  In fact Jesus said that such things were just the beginning of sorrows.  The use of ‘sorrows’ describe the pain experienced in childbirth.  When such pain begins it will accelerate until the birth occurs. 

     Then Jesus provided a glimpse of when the end would take place.

     “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”  Matthew 24:14

     The final worldwide preaching of the gospel is described in the Revelation.

     “Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth – to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people – saying with a loud voice, ‘Fear God and give glory to Him, for the hour of His judgment has come…’”  Revelation 14:6-7a

     The Bible reveals many ‘signs of the times’ provided for man to recognize the reality of prophetic Scripture but skeptics were not convinced.  Recall Jesus’ words to the Pharisees and Sadducees when they asked for a sign of Jesus’ authority.

     “He answered and said to them, ‘When it is evening you say, “It will be fair weather for the sky is red.” And in the morning, “it will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.”  Hypocrites!  You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.’”  Matthew 16:2-3

     And while many ‘signs of the times’ were listed by Jesus as He described future events such as in the Olivet Discourse, many signs were provided hundreds of years prior.

     Consider the following prophetic message given to Daniel relative to the mid-point of the future tribulation.

      “And he (anti-Christ) shall speak pompous words against the Most High, shall persecute the saints…and shall intend to change times and law…”  Daniel 7:25

     The Hebrew for ‘change’ means to ‘alter’ or be ‘diverse,’ while ‘times’ imply appointed times such as Jewish or Christian holidays.

     Is there any such movement in America today?

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com

    

Time is finite

     Recall the time dimension can be expressed as either a point on the linear time span, or a period on the span determined by a beginning or ending point.

     If a ‘when’ is involved the Greek base is kairos which means an ‘appointed, set, fixed, or definite’ point on the linear time span.

     However, if the time in question is ‘how long,’ the Greek is chronos which means an ‘interval, or period’ of time.

     When John was sent to prison shortly after baptizing Jesus he announced:

     “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand…”  Mark 1:15

     ‘Time’ in this verse means the ‘pre-appointed, set point, or event’ on the time span of history had arrived.  ‘Fulfilled’ means ‘completed.’  In other words, the time period leading up to the arrival of the Messiah was completed.

     Paul likewise spoke of a point on the time span as he described the redemption made possible by Christ.

     “…which He…having made known to us the mystery of His will…that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ…”  Ephesians 1:8-10

     Paul explained that the mystery of redemption was revealed at the exact predetermined time in history.  Again, ‘fullness’ means ‘complete.’

     In another teaching Paul used the analogy of a new Christian being similar to a child.  A child, even though being an heir, was likened to a slave until a certain level of maturity was reached.

     “…but (a child) is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.  But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son…”  Galatians 4:1-4

     In this case ‘time’ is a ‘how long,’ or a period of time, while ‘fullness’ as we’ve learned means ‘end’ or ‘accomplishment.’  And again, the time was appointed by the Father.

     In his letter to Titus, similar to his letter to Timothy, Paul acknowledged that God’s plan was devised before time began, but was revealed at the exact (proper) time as history unfolded.

     “…in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word…”  Titus 1:2-3

     When Paul addressed the crowd at Athens he also spoke of God’s sovereignty relative to the time dimension.

     “And He (God) has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their pre-appointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings…”  Acts 17:26

     ‘Determined’ and ‘pre-appointed’ are also synonyms for ‘ordained.’  Paul shortly thereafter spoke of a future appointed event, or ‘when’ on the time span.

     “…but now (God) commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness…”  Acts 17:30b-31

     The time of the future judgment of the world was ordained before the dimension of time existed.

     A millennium prior to Paul’s speech at Athens, Solomon spoke of God’s sovereignty relative to time - present and future.

     “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1

     ‘Season’ in this verse likewise means an ‘appointed or determined time.’  The word ‘time’ in the present context means the ‘right’ time.

    And then Solomon spoke of the same judgment as did Paul 1000 years earlier.

     “God shall judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”  Ecclesiastes 3:17

     The Bible tells succinctly what the Christian should be doing during the time period preceding the return of Christ.

     “See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”  Ephesians 5:15

     The Greek basis for ‘time’ in this verse is very revealing.  It not only means ‘season,’ but it has the rich meaning of a ‘period of opportunity.’  The Greek for ‘redeeming’ means not to allow the moment to pass by unheeded, but to make the best use of the time knowing Christ will return at a specific, pre-appointed, ordained time to judge the earth.

    

     

'Time' was provided for man's understanding

     ‘Time’ is a dimension that God provided to enable man to understand His plan for those created in His image.  Time had a beginning and, after running its course, will cease to be.

     Time is a linear function from beginning to end with two aspects, i.e. a point on the linear span called ‘when’ and a period of time called ‘how long’ defined as a period occurring between two points on the span.

     God displayed His unfathomable sovereign power in creation prior to the advent of time, which He provided just prior to the creation of Adam.

     Paul confirmed that God’s plan for His chosen was devised before time began.  God would reveal His plan and its components in exact order and in exact timing for man to be able to comprehend what He was doing.

     “…God…has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”  2 Timothy 1:9

     Thus God’s plan for man was determined long before the dimension of time was established.

     The writer of Genesis provides details on the origin of time.  Time was provided on the 4^th ‘day’ of creation.

     “Then God said, ‘Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night, and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years…’”  Genesis 1:14

     The Hebrew for ‘seasons’ means ‘appointment’ which, among other things, would signal the timing of the future Jewish feast days to be revealed in God’s time.

     The Hebrew for ‘days’ does in fact mean ‘time,’ either between two points on the linear time span or a specific point of time on that span as previously defined.  ‘Years’ means a ‘revolution of time,’ or ‘to return,’ and/or ‘repeat.’  Such describes the earth’s annual journey around the sun.

     Notice that there would be lights, i.e. plural, meaning luminous bodies.  Light in the singular had been provided earlier.

      “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep.  And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.  Then God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light.”  Genesis 1:2-3

     ‘Light’ in this case means ‘illumination’ or ‘enlightenment.’  Such light defines the presence of God and His glory.

     Time was provided for man’s benefit.  God is not limited to the time dimension; thus, days and years are not binding on God and His works.

     “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past, and like a watch in the night.”  Psalm 90:4

     The Hebrew for ‘thousand’ is the quantity of years as we know it today; however, related synonyms include ‘extreme’ and ‘innumerable.’  

     Yesterday does indicate a day as we know it and a ‘watch in the night’ is from the Hebrew defining a four hour time period.

     The Apostle Peter reiterated that God’s days and years were not limited to the same finite dimensions as He provided to man.

     “But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day.”  2 Peter 3:8

     The Greek word for thousand also has several meanings similar to the Hebrew including a literal finite thousand or ‘innumerable.’ 

     The same Greek word for thousand (chilioi) is found in the following:

     “Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus…and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.  But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished.”  Revelation 20:4b-5

     Pre-millennialism regards the thousand year period as strictly literal.

     The relevance of time becomes more intriguing when considering the present church age defines the time gap between Daniel’s 69^th and 70^th prophetic weeks.  A ‘week’ in the Hebrew is seven, therefore, seventy weeks equates to 490 years.  The 70^th week of seven years defines the quickly approaching tribulation.

     We’ll examine other aspects of Biblical time in the next few weeks.

    

     Share your thoughts walt.thrun@gmail.com