THE END OF THE WORLD

An interested reader recently questioned this blogger as to whether or not everyone will have heard the gospel prior to the end of this age. "I thought before the world ends that everyone will have heard of Jesus Christ and heard the Bible," posited the inquirer, "and you say that people will be saved during the Tribulation Period. Will they still go to Hell?"

Indeed, that is a fair question which, incidentally, reminded this writer of what Jesus' disciples asked of Him just prior to His Olivet discourse found in Matthew chapter 24. In the latter half of verse 2 of that chapter Jesus, after viewing the Jewish Temple, declared unto His disciples "...There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down." Jesus was referring to the then future Roman conquest of Jerusalem and its destruction under Titus which occurred in 70 A.D.

Their curiosity awakened, Jesus' disciples then proceeded to pop the question as recorded in verse 3: "And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?"

The end of the world. The mere thought of that climatic and sure event engenders fear into the hearts of many though it need not be so. With the chaotic situation in which the world now finds itselt, many Christians (and unsaved alike) are acquiring a greater interest in the study of biblical prophecy as they long to learn what God's Word has to say concerning the unfolding events marking the end of this age.

For the answers to questions many have regarding end-time proceedings we need look no further than the Scriptures. We dare not rely upon human reasoning as demonstrated by the foolish and failed predictions in recent months by Harold Camping concerning setting dates for the return of Christ. The best commentary on the Bible is the Bible itself so to its pages we turn.

What is the next event awaiting fulfillment according to God's calendar of time? God's schedule of events, listed in chronological order, are as follows:

1) The Rapture of the Saints - 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
2) In Heaven, the Judgment Seat of Christ for Christians - Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 3:12-15
3) On earth, the Great Tribulation Period - Matthew 24:15-26; Daniel 12:1
4) The Second Coming of Christ to earth - Revelation 19:11-16; Matthew 24:27-31
5) The Battle of Armageddon - Revelation 19:17-19
6) The Judgment of the Nations - Matthew 25:31-46
7) The Millenial Reign of Christ; Satan bound 1,000 years - Revelation 20:1-6
8) Satan loosed; the Battle of Gog and Magog - Revelation 20:7-9
9) Satan's doom - Revelation 20:10
10) The Great White Throne Judgment of the Unsaved - Revelation 20:11-15
11) Eternity in Heaven with Jesus for all Christians - Revelation 21 and 22

With these future happenings in mind let us now consider, first of all, if there shall ever come a day wherein the world as we know it will cease to exist. What saith the Scriptures? "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with a fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up" confirms 2 Peter 3:10.

Continuing in Peter's epistle we find, "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness" (2 Peter 3:13). Jesus Christ Himself will one day remake this old, sin-stained, corrupt earth into something wonderfully new that will never bear the dreadful marks of sin.

Quite natural would it be for one to inquire as to when Christ will establish the new heavens and a new earth. In anticipation of such curiosity may I present Revelation 21:1 where the apostle John writes, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." The new Heaven and new earth will appear immediately following the millenial reign of Jesus Christ and the final judgment of the unsaved dead at which time all sin and rebellion will be forever subjucated.

Secondly, let us consider whether everyone will have heard the gospel of Jesus Christ and had access to the Bible prior to the rapture of the Church. I suspect questions along this line arise from the passage in Matthew 24:14 wherein it reads, "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

To what "end" was Jesus referring to when He spoke these words over two-thousand years ago? Since this earth and life upon it, albeit tumultuous, will continue after the saints are caught up to Heaven it is evident that Jesus was not here alluding to the rapture of believers as the "end." Thus, the "end" of which Jesus spake would seem to refer to the end of the Tribulation Period.

In his commentary on the New Testament Dr. John Walvoord explains the gospel witness that will be propagated during the coming Tribulation Period:

"Though this will be a terrible time of persecution, the Lord will have servants who will witness and spread the good news concerning Christ and His soon-coming kingdom" (THE BIBLE KNOWLEDGE COMMENTARY; David C. Cook Publishers; 77).

That the gospel shall be preached during the 7-year Tribulation Period and multitudes will be saved as a result (see Revelation 14:6 and Revelation 7:9-14) would surely indicate the "end" has not yet occurred. No, the "end" that Jesus spoke of would more fittingly coincide with the conclusion of the Tribulation Period.

Though millions will be saved during this time of awful plagues and judgment on earth, may this writer hasten to say that of those that will be born again there number will not, I repeat, not, consist of any who heard the salvation message in this present day of grace yet rejected it.

Upon what do I base this sad but accurate conclusion? 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12:

"For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he [Holy Spirit] who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked [Antichrist] be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

Every person who sits under the preaching of the gospel yet rejects its truth is destined, barring death, to go through the Tribulation Period. Every individual who refused to deal with the claims of Christ as presented in the Bible or, perhaps, spurned a gospel tract will enter the Tribulation Period to believe the lie of the Devil. Having rejected God's offer of salvation in this day of mercy, the doom of the lost man is sealed, his place in the fires of Hell secure as if he were already there.

God is now in the midst of calling out a people for His name, but God is under no obligation whatsoever to extend His mercy to mankind forever and He will not. For this very reason the apostle Paul exhorted in 2 Corinthians 6:2 that "...now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." Similarly in Hebrews 4:7 the writer pleads, "...To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts."

Jesus Christ may part the eastern sky at any moment to beckon His children Home. The rapture of the saints may occur before this very day is ended. In the words of Evangelist Ron Comfort the rapture is a "sure event, a sudden event, a sublime event and a separating event." The question arises - will you be caught up to be with Jesus when the rapture occurs or will you be left behind, separated from saved loved ones to endure the horrors that will befall planet earth during time of great Tribulation?

Make sure of Heaven today. "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:13). "Whosoever" surely includes you! God help you to do it. And if you are saved maintain an upward look for our redemption draweth nigh! Thanks for reading. David.