THE END OF THE WORLD— ¡WHY IT'S GOOD NEWS!

The prophets of the day of final judgment always talk about the "end of the world." What does the Bible say? ¿And why is it called good news? 

Choose a year — any year — and probably someone somewhere has predicted that it will be the “end of the world”.

Some may base their predictions on Nostradamus or the Maya or tea leaves or corn circles. But many say they base their predictions on the Bible.

There is a whole field of biblical study known technically as eschatology — the study of the “last” things, of prophecies of the “time of the end” and beyond. But not everyone who studies the biblical prophecy of the end time proposes specific dates or walks around shouting or speaking to himself.

And it may be surprising to some, but the "end of the world" is really good news!

¿What do you mean by "end"?

Some who predict the “end of the world” base their terminology on the translation of the New International Version of verses such as Matthew 24: 3, where the disciples asked Jesus Christ, “When will that happen, and what will be the sign of your coming? and the end of the world? ”

The word translated end here is from the Greek word sunteleia, “ll llr a realization together” (“Vine's Full Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words”), “end, end”). Vine’s continues to say that “end of the world” is disorienting; that "consummation of the century" is more appropriate. "The word does not denote a termination, but the events reach a climax."   

Jesus Christ expressed it in terms of bad and good news: “Because then there will be great tribulation, which has not been since the beginning of the world until now, nor will there be. And if those days were not shortened, no one would be saved; but because of the elect, those days will be shortened” (Matthew 24: 21-22).

The worst time in human history is very bad news. But Christ will intervene to prevent the total destruction of the human race. And from then on it's good news! We will talk later about the good news.

¿What do you mean by "world"?

The King James Version Review of 1960 and other modern versions clarify Matthew 24: 3. The disciples were asking about the "end of the century." The Greek word aion means "an era, a period of time." Like the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Middle Ages or even the golden age of television — they are all part of the age of the bad human government of the earth. The apostle Paul called it the "present evil age" (Galatians 1: 4).  

¿Why is it good news?

The message of Jesus Christ was the "gospel of the kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14). Gospel means good news. So how is it that "the end of the world" or even "the end of the century" is good news?  

The Bible puts things in perspective. This evil century of misery and suffering will be replaced by a wonderful world ruled by our perfect Savior — the Kingdom of God . 

The era of war will be replaced by the era of peace (Isaiah 2: 4).

The era of scarcity, for the era of abundance (Amos 9:13).

The age of hate, for the age of love (1 Corinthians 13: 4-13).

The era of sin and evil, by the age of obedience and goodness (Revelation 22: 14-15).

The era of futility and corruption, for the era of freedom and glory (Romans 89: 20-21).

The era of selfish tyrants, for the era of leaders who are true servants (Matthew 20: 25-26).

Acts 3:19 calls the age to come as "refreshment times"! Who could deny that this world desperately needs refreshment times? Many inspiring biblical passages describe this next era of utopia.

The analogy of labor and birth pains.

The Bible gives another analogy that describes the end of the age of man and the beginning of the age of God — the analogy of pregnancy that culminates in birth. The world of the end time is experiencing labor pains (the word pains in Matthew 24: 8, means " labor pains ") while anxiously awaiting the birth of a new era — the Kingdom of God. 

"Because we know that all creation groans to one, one is already in labor pains so far" (Romans 8:22).

¿Ok, when?

Hopefully, in light of these writings and the world today, you have convinced yourself that the end of this century or era and the second coming of Jesus Christ to establish the Kingdom of God, is the best news that this world can hear. Thus, perhaps you will also want to know, "when?"

Jesus Christ did delineate the main tendencies and the prophetic framework. He tells us to "watch, therefore, at all times praying" and to distinguish the "signs of the times" (Luke 21:36; Matthew 16: 3). But can we know exactly when?

"But of the day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but only my Father" (Matthew 24:36).

We must be engaged in the work of spreading the good news and living more and more by the perfect laws of the Kingdom of God. So, even if we don't know exactly when the end will come, we will be prepared.

The good news is that it's not really about the end. It's about the beginning of a much better world!