The End Of Time — What Will Happen According To The Bible
The phrase, "THE END OF TIME," refers to the end of the present age, or dispensation, the end of the period of age known as "the last days." The apostle Peter quoted the prophet Joel, "And it shall be in the last days, saith God, I will pour forth of my Spirit upon all flesh" (Acts 2:17). This same phrase is found in II Tim. 3:1, and II Pet. 3:3. "The last days" of these passages is a phrase that refers to the present age, and not to a time subsequent to the present dispensation. John wrote, "Little children, it is the last hour" (I Jno. 2:18). "Hour" is used by John for a period of time. We are now living in the last hour, the last age.
A Harvest
In the parable of the tares Jesus showed some things that would happen at the end of the world. The good seed of the parable represents the children of God, and the tares the children of the Devil. Jesus said, "The harvest is the end of the world," or "the consummation of the age," the marginal reading of the American Standard Version. "As therefore the tares are gathered up and burned with fire; so shall it be in the end of the world." In the harvest, which is the end of the age, the wicked shall be cast into the furnace of fire. "Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father." This is the end of the period known in the New Testament as the "last days," the end of time. This will be the time of the passing of the present order of things, and according to God's promise, the beginning of the new heavens and the new earth. (II Pet. 3:10-13).
According to the Bible the second coming of Christ will be at the end of time. Jesus taught that he was coming again, a second time (Jno. 14:2,3). When Jesus ascended into heaven the apostles were watching, and two men stood by them in white apparel, "who also said," ... "this Jesus. who was received up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye beheld him going into heaven" (Acts 1:10,11). Faithful disciples of Christ assemble on the first day of the week to partake of the Lord's supper, and in doing this they show their faith in the promise of the Lord's coming. (I Cor. 11:26) To the Hebrews the Holy Spirit said, "And inasmuch as it is appointed unto men once to die, and after this cometh judgment; so Christ also, having been once offered to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time, apart from sin, to them that wait for him, unto salvation" (Heb. 9:27,28).
Kingdom To Be Delivered Up
"What will happen according to the Bible" when Jesus comes? When Jesus comes the second time he will deliver up the kingdom of God. "Then cometh the end," ("at his coming") "when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have abolished all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be abolished is death" (I Cor. 15:24-26). Christ could not deliver up the kingdom to God when he comes, if he did not have the kingdom now, if he were not enthroned now. So, Jesus will not set up his kingdom on earth to reign a thousand years at his coming. I have read a paper named, THE EXHORTER, which claims to be "A PUBLICATION OF CHURCHES OF CHRIST," dated January, 1969. One writer in this issue of the paper states that Zechariah 14 "gives the general outline of the end-time situation." The claim is made that the "mount of Olives will split," literally, "forming a great valley through which the remnant may escape." Zech. 14:9 is quoted by the writer in support of the statement that when the mount of Olives is split, "Then he will set up His own kingdom over all the earth." The writer further declares that Israel will return to God, to be re-instated in its land, "and to lead the world in a new era of righteousness and peace."
The Throne
It is generally accepted that the prophecy of Zechariah 14 was fulfilled in the first coming of Christ and in the destruction of Jerusalem. In the February, 1919, issue of the same paper the position is set forth that "When Christ descends from on high as these Scriptures predict he will, it is then that he will sit on his throne, the throne of David, of 'the throne of his glory,' Luke 1:32,33. Now read what the Spirit says through James in Acts 15:14-17." The prophecy referred to in Acts 15 was quoted by James to show that what Amos prophesied was fulfilled in the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles. This is quoted as fulfilled, by James, and shows that since this prophecy has been fulfilled and the "tabernacle of David has been built again" that the Gentiles "may seek after the Lord." But if the "tabernacle of David" has not been rebuilt then the Gentiles do not even have the opportunity of being saved from sin. Hence, according to this theory the Gentiles cannot now be saved through the gospel of Christ.
But Jesus is on his throne now, he occupies the only throne he will ever occupy and has all the authority it is possible for one to have. It was foretold by the angel Gabriel that Mary would conceive and bring forth a son, "and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end" (Lk. 1:31-33). John and Christ preached the "kingdom of heaven is at hand;" the twelve apostles preached that the "kingdom is at hand;" the seventy disciples were sent out by Jesus and commanded to preach, "the kingdom of God has come nigh unto you" (Lk. 10:9). Jesus said to some of his disciples, "Verily I say unto you, There are some of them that stand by, who shall in no wise taste of death, till they see the kingdom come with power" (Mk. 9:1). The word "verily" means truly, surely. Yet, we are told that the kingdom of Christ has not come yet, and will not come until Jesus comes again. Then, Jesus' "verily" was untrue. Or some of the ones to whom Jesus spoke are still living! The apostle Peter affirmed that Jesus was raised up to sit on David's throne (Acts 2:31). He was raised and sat on the throne when he ascended to heaven (Heb. 1:3; 8:1,2). Turn and read these passages. Jesus began to reign when he began to sit. But he began to sit when he ascended, hence he began to reign when he ascended. Paul said, "he must reign," which shows that he is reigning now. He must reign till all his enemies are put under his feet. Death will be abolished when the last dead person is raised.
Zechariah prophesied that the man whose name is the Branch "shall build the temple of the Lord; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and shall be a priest on his throne" (Zech. 6:12,13). Christ built his temple, the church (Matt. 16:18; Eph. 2:190. He now sits and rules and is a priest on his throne, Jesus Christ is now seated on His Father's throne (Rev. 3:21). But this is also David's throne. "Solomon sat on the throne of David his father" (I Kings 2:12). But, "Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah as king instead of David his father, and prospered" (I Chron. 29:23). When Solomon sat on the throne of Jehovah, he also sat on the throne of David, as these scriptures say. Therefore, when Christ sat on the throne of Jehovah when he ascended he also sat on the throne of David. So, Jesus is sitting and reigning on David's throne, which is his by right of inheritance, now, and must reign until he has abolished death.
Furthermore, as prophesied Jesus was to be a priest on his throne at the same time he was sitting and ruling on his throne, as stated in Zech. 6:12, 13. But Jesus cannot be a priest on earth. Inspiration says, "Now if he were on earth, he would not be a priest at all...." (Heb. 8:4) Therefore, since he was to be priest and king at the same time and he cannot be a priest on earth, he will never reign as king on a literal throne on earth. Why does not some one who claims that Christ is going to reign on a literal throne on earth when he comes answer this argument. The inspired man says if he were on earth he would not be a priest; the uninspired man says he will be a priest on earth. Take your choice!
But there is more. Jeremiah prophesied that no man of the seed of Coniah, who is also called Jeconiah (I Chron. 3:16); and Jehoiachin (II Kings 24:6); would "prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah" (Jer. 22:30). Coniah was the last king to rule in Judah that had God's approval. Both Matthew and Luke trace the lineage of Christ back through Shealtiel and Zerubbabel, who were descendants of Jechoniah or Coniah (Matt. 1:11-13; Luke 3:27). Since Christ is of the seed of Coniah, and since no man of his seed can sit and rule on David's throne in Judah, it follows that Jesus Christ cannot sit and rule on David's throne on this earth. Either the prophecy of Jeremiah is true or it is not true. It being true, a descendant of Coniah cannot sit and rule on a throne in Judah, upon this earth.
Resurrection
At the end of time, when Jesus comes, according to the Bible the dead will be raised. Jesus said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour cometh, in the which all that are in the tombs shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of judgment" (Jno. 5:28,29). Paul, before Felix, affirmed "that there shall be resurrection of both the just and the unjust" (Acts 24:15). This certainly means the dead — all of the dead. Jesus showed that the judgment of the wicked would be at the same time that the righteous are raised from the dead. Jesus said, "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my sayings, bath one that judgeth him: the word that I spake, the same shall judge him at the last day" (Jno. 12:48). Jesus also said, "For this the will of my Father, that every one that beholdeth the Son, and believeth on him, should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (Jno. 6:40). According to these two statements those who reject the word of Jesus will be judged at the last day; but the righteous, those who believe on Jesus Christ, will be raised up at the last day. Since the righteous will be raised when Jesus comes, at the "last day;" and since the wicked are to be judged the "last day," then, the wicked as well as the righteous are going to be raised at "the last day."
The revelation of Jesus Christ, the coming of Christ, will be at the time of the punishment of the wicked and glorification of the saints. Paul wrote, "...at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with the angels of his power in flaming fire, rendering vengeance to them that know not God, and to them that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus: who shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he shall come to be glorified in his saints,...in that day" (II Thess. 1:7-10). At the "revelation of Jesus Christ, he will recompense affliction to the wicked. He will take vengeance on them that obey not the gospel. The disobedient will be punished with eternal destruction from the Lord and the glory of his power. The righteous at the same time will be rewarded with eternal rest. This will take place when Jesus comes, at the revelation of Jesus from heaven, not a thousand years later. This punishment of the wicked will be at the same time of the glorification of his saints. The bodies of the saints shall be changed into the likeness of his glorious body. (Phil. 3:20)
Judgment
The coming of Christ will also be the time of the judgment of the great day. "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then shall he render unto every man according to his deeds" (Matt. 16:27). Note the word "then" — then he shall reward every man according to his works or deeds. This is "when the Son of man shall come," it is then, not a thousand years later, that he will render to every man, not just the righteous, according to his deeds. Mark 8:38: "Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." This will be judgment on the wicked, when he comes, on those who were ashamed of him, and of whom the Son of man shall be ashamed. The day of judgment is certain and it is when Jesus comes. "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment" (II Pet. 2:9). Jesus said, concerning those who would not receive the apostles, "Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment, than for that city" (Matt. 10:15). Paul said concerning the judgment of the last day, "Inasmuch as he hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he bath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he raised him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). The Lord will come, the dead will be raised, all will be judged; the righteous shall go into eternal life; the wicked into eternal punishment (Matt. 25:46). Death and Hades are to be destroyed at the judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). The judgment is at the last day (Jno. 12:48). The present order of things will pass away when "the day of the Lord will come as a thief" (II Pet. 3:4-13). According to those who teach that Jesus will set up his kingdom on earth when he comes, the judgment of the wicked is to take place at the close of the period of tribulation. Yet, Peter teaches that the heavens and earth will pass away at the time of the coming of Christ. "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are therein shall be burned up" (II Pet. 3:10). So, according to the ones who teach Christ is not reigning now in his kingdom, you have the beginning of the kingdom of Christ on earth without an earth!
Why bring Christ back to this earth? His work of redemption is finished. His authority is all inclusive. His kingdom is a reality, Col. 1:13, "And hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." He is enthroned in David's throne. His name is above every name. He has entered into his glory, therefore he has entered into his kingdom. His work on earth is finished. At the end of time according to the Bible Jesus Christ will come, and the dead will be raised the judgment of men will occur, Christ will deliver up the kingdom to the Father "that God may be all in all," the heavens and the earth that are now shall pass away, the righteous shall dwell in the new heavens and the new earth, and the wicked shall suffer punishment, even eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and the glory of his power. Prepare to meet thy God.