• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

"The End of the World"...What is it the End of?

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
We hear this expression a lot.....but from the Biblical perspective, what does "the end of the world" really mean?

Is it the end of the planet?
The end of life as we know it?
Will it have survivors?
What will life be like after this event?
Why would a loving God bring about such a thing?

The following article is from a Watchtower article that many may find helpful in answering those questions....

wp_E_20150501_lg.jpg


"When you hear the words “The end is near!” what comes to mind? Do you think of a wild-eyed preacher thundering from the pulpit and gesturing dramatically, Bible in hand? Or do you picture a bearded old man standing on a street corner, wearing a long robe tied at the waist with a rope, holding a sign bearing a doomsday message? Imagining such scenes may make some people feel concerned, while others may feel skeptical or even amused.

The Bible does state: “The end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) The same event is also called “the great day of God” and “Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:14, 16) True, there is much religious confusion on the subject and strange, gloomy notions abound. Nonetheless, the Bible itself is quite clear about the end—revealing what it is and what it is not. God’s Word also helps us to see clearly whether the end is near. Best of all, it teaches us how to survive! First, though, let us clear up some misconceptions and establish a definition. What does “the end” really mean according to the Bible?

WHAT THE END IS NOT
  1. THE END IS NOT AN EPIC, FLAMING DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH.

    The Bible states: “[God] has established the earth on its foundations; it will not be moved from its place forever and ever.” (Psalm 104:5) That scripture and others assure us that God will neither destroy the earth nor allow it to be destroyed—ever!—Ecclesiastes 1:4; Isaiah 45:18.

  2. THE END IS NOT A RANDOM, UNSCHEDULED EVENT.

    The Bible reveals that the end is scheduled—God has set a specific time for it. We read: “Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. Keep looking, keep awake, for you do not know when the appointed time is.” (Mark 13:32, 33) Clearly, God (“the Father”) has scheduled the exact “appointed time” when he will initiate the end.

  3. THE END IS NOT TRIGGERED BY HUMANS OR BY DEBRIS HURTLING THROUGH SPACE.

    What will bring about the end? Revelation 19:11 says: “I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True.” Verse 19 continues: “And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.” (Revelation 19:11-21) Though much of the language here is symbolic, we can readily discern this much: God will send an army of angelic creatures to exterminate his enemies.

The Bible’s message about the end is good news rather than bad

WHAT THE END IS
  1. THE END OF FAILING HUMAN GOVERNMENTS.

    The Bible explains: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom [government] that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44) As was stated earlier, in point 3, there will be an extermination of “the kings of the earth and their armies,” who will have “gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.”—Revelation 19:19.

  2. THE END OF WAR, VIOLENCE, AND INJUSTICE.

    “[God] is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth.” (Psalm 46:9) “Only the upright will reside in the earth, and the blameless will remain in it. As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous will be torn away from it.” (Proverbs 2:21, 22) “Look! I am making all things new.”—Revelation 21:4, 5.

  3. THE END OF RELIGIONS THAT HAVE FAILED GOD AND HUMANS.

    “The prophets prophesy lies, and the priests dominate by their own authority. . . . But what will you do when the end comes?” (Jeremiah 5:31) “Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’”—Matthew 7:21-23.

  4. THE END OF PEOPLE WHO PERPETUATE AND SUPPORT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS.

    Jesus Christ said: “Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked.” (John 3:19) The Bible describes an earlier worldwide destruction during the time of the faithful man Noah. “The world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people.”—2 Peter 3:5-7.
Note that the upcoming “day of judgment and of destruction” is compared with the destruction of “the world” of Noah’s time. What world was destroyed? Our planet survived; it was “the ungodly people”—God’s enemies—who “suffered destruction.” During God’s upcoming “day of judgment,” those who choose to be God’s enemies will likewise be destroyed. But God’s friends will be preserved, as were Noah and his family.—Matthew 24:37-42.

Imagine how splendid this earth will be after God eliminates all wicked influences! Clearly, the Bible’s message about the end is good news rather than bad. Still, you may wonder: ‘Does the Bible tell us when the end will come? Could it be near? How can I survive it?’

AFTER THE END
What will it be like after the end? Many scriptures describe that wonderful time. For example: “‘[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’ And the One seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:4, 5) The end does not have to mean the end of your life. God wants us to survive, and he tells us how."

https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/wp20150501/what-does-the-end-mean/
 

LightofTruth

Well-Known Member
We hear this expression a lot.....but from the Biblical perspective, what does "the end of the world" really mean?

Is it the end of the planet?
The end of life as we know it?
Will it have survivors?
What will life be like after this event?
Why would a loving God bring about such a thing?

It is not the end of the planet.

For those who are to rule with Jesus, it means an end of death for them. Because they are to be raised immortal at his coming. So the life of the faithful as they know it now will be much different.

There will be many mortal survivors who will be ruled with a rod of iron.

The nations will have to submit to the rule of Jesus and his saints.

God will bring about such a thing because the rule of the wicked is not to last.

"When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan." Pro 29:2
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
It is not the end of the planet.

Yes....just as in Noah's day (which Jesus compares with his second coming) the planet remained whereas the wicked were dispatched. They were warned about God's intentions but chose to ridicule his servant rather than to listen to him and save themselves. (Matthew 24:37-39; 2 Peter 3:3-4)

For those who are to rule with Jesus, it means an end of death for them. Because they are to be raised immortal at his coming. So the life of the faithful as they know it now will be much different.

Yes....the ones chosen for rulership in heaven with Jesus will experience a resurrection just like Christ's.....to immortal spirit life in heaven. Their mortal flesh will be shed and they will be given a spirit body in order to dwell in the presence of God....something no mortal can do. But the Bible indicates that only a chosen "few" (144,000) will have that privilege. (Revelation 14:1-5) The rest of the faithful ones will live forever on earth where God intended for us to live in the first place. What was taken from us in Eden will be given back to those who qualify for life in Paradise. The first paradise was here on earth and it will be restored. It is what the thief who hung alongside Jesus was promised....to be with Jesus in Paradise, not heaven. (Luke 23:43)

There will be many mortal survivors who will be ruled with a rod of iron.

There will be earthly survivors of the end times. (Revelation 7:9-10; Revelation 7:13-14) The wicked will be dispatched, separated from the "sheep", the "goats" will be destroyed in the same place that God has prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

According to the Bible, there will be faithful ones, (those who have not received a heavenly calling) who will be resurrected to life on Earth, (John 5:28-29) those who lived and died before Christ instituted the New Covenant, and opened the way to heaven with his own death and resurrection. These ancient servants of God always looked forward to an earthly resurrection, which was foretold in the Hebrew scriptures. They will join all the other faithful ones of old who looked forward to God's Kingdom rule on earth.

The nations will have to submit to the rule of Jesus and his saints.

Since the earthly survivors of the great tribulation will more than likely welcome back the ones who died faithful to their death first, (the righteous) these will become teachers of the "unrighteous" who will also be resurrected to life on earth, many of whom died in ignorance, never having had an opportunity to know God or his Christ in the past. Since satan and his hordes will be out of action, (Revelation 20:1-3) there will be no evil influences in the world to sabotage that Theocratic education program. But since all will still have free will, any who do not comply with God's directions will not be permitted to stay and spoil life for others. (Isaiah 65:20) The 'lake of fire' remains for any wrongdoers in the future.

God will bring about such a thing because the rule of the wicked is not to last.
The rule of the wicked was never intended to last....it was permitted by God only to see how many of us would stay faithful under test. Remember Job...and who it was that brought about his trials. What was the devil trying to prove?

"When the righteous are numerous, the people will rejoice, but when the wicked are ruling, people will groan." Pro 29:2

This has been man's plight up to now.....Solomon could write these words because his rule was one of Israel's most peaceful. But the rule of wicked ones before and after him were a different story.
 

Hockeycowboy

Witness for Jehovah
Premium Member
Nice post!
There will be many mortal survivors who will be ruled with a rod of iron.
You could put it like that, but only in the sense that the laws given at that time, will be firm, they will last. And no one will “get away with it”, as some do today.
But Christ’s rulership will never be harsh (he never was, with the innocent), but caring.
God will bring about such a thing because the rule of the wicked is not to last.

In fact, no hurtful ones will be around, period! Psalms 37:10-11.
That fact is touched on, @ Revelation 21:1....where it says “the sea is no more”? That symbolic language can be understood by reading Isaiah 57:20.

Take care.
 

LightofTruth

Well-Known Member
Yes....just as in Noah's day (which Jesus compares with his second coming) the planet remained whereas the wicked were dispatched. They were warned about God's intentions but chose to ridicule his servant rather than to listen to him and save themselves. (Matthew 24:37-39; 2 Peter 3:3-4)



Yes....the ones chosen for rulership in heaven with Jesus will experience a resurrection just like Christ's.....to immortal spirit life in heaven. Their mortal flesh will be shed and they will be given a spirit body in order to dwell in the presence of God....something no mortal can do. But the Bible indicates that only a chosen "few" (144,000) will have that privilege. (Revelation 14:1-5) The rest of the faithful ones will live forever on earth where God intended for us to live in the first place. What was taken from us in Eden will be given back to those who qualify for life in Paradise. The first paradise was here on earth and it will be restored. It is what the thief who hung alongside Jesus was promised....to be with Jesus in Paradise, not heaven. (Luke 23:43)



There will be earthly survivors of the end times. (Revelation 7:9-10; Revelation 7:13-14) The wicked will be dispatched, separated from the "sheep", the "goats" will be destroyed in the same place that God has prepared for the devil and his angels. (Matthew 25:41)

According to the Bible, there will be faithful ones, (those who have not received a heavenly calling) who will be resurrected to life on Earth, (John 5:28-29) those who lived and died before Christ instituted the New Covenant, and opened the way to heaven with his own death and resurrection. These ancient servants of God always looked forward to an earthly resurrection, which was foretold in the Hebrew scriptures. They will join all the other faithful ones of old who looked forward to God's Kingdom rule on earth.



Since the earthly survivors of the great tribulation will more than likely welcome back the ones who died faithful to their death first, (the righteous) these will become teachers of the "unrighteous" who will also be resurrected to life on earth, many of whom died in ignorance, never having had an opportunity to know God or his Christ in the past. Since satan and his hordes will be out of action, (Revelation 20:1-3) there will be no evil influences in the world to sabotage that Theocratic education program. But since all will still have free will, any who do not comply with God's directions will not be permitted to stay and spoil life for others. (Isaiah 65:20) The 'lake of fire' remains for any wrongdoers in the future.


The rule of the wicked was never intended to last....it was permitted by God only to see how many of us would stay faithful under test. Remember Job...and who it was that brought about his trials. What was the devil trying to prove?



This has been man's plight up to now.....Solomon could write these words because his rule was one of Israel's most peaceful. But the rule of wicked ones before and after him were a different story.

I think a lot of this depends on whether there is to be a rapture or not. A rapture is basically the resurrection of the faithful who died in Christ and a translation of the living faithful at his second coming.

I think the rapture will be an actual event. And I also think that those are the ones whom John saw as
"the four living creatures" and "the elders".
They, therefore, would be a distinct group from the 144,000 because they would have already been made immortal by resurrection or translation.
 

David1967

Well-Known Member
Premium Member
from the Biblical perspective, what does "the end of the world" really mean?

From my understanding (which is admittedly lacking) I see it as more of a 'reset'.
(Sorry Deeje. I noticed after I posted that this was JW only directory.)
 

LightofTruth

Well-Known Member
Concerning the 144,000:

To be bought from among mankind as first fruits does not necessarily imply that they had been made immortal.


"for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in your body."

"You were bought with a price; stop becoming slaves of men."

"These are those who have not been defiled with women, for they are virgins"

"And I heard another voice from heaven saying, "Come out from her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins, and so that you will not receive her plagues, "

I think the 144,000 who know the Lamb and his Father are going to be faithful believers who have developed in Jerusalem after the rapture and who will not worship the beast and his image. And those mortals will be the ones who will win the victory in the end(with the help of Jesus and his immortal saints) over those who worship the beast.
The 144,000 will be the mortal ones who are to restore the kingdom of God on earth. Working behind the scenes in all this will be the heavenly kingdom of immortal ones as represented by the four living creatures and the elders.

When God's judgments are in the earth, the immortal saints who had been resurrected or translated, are to take part in executing those judgements along with Jesus. Those judgments will come in the form of war, famine and pestilence. Until the time (3.5 years) when the victory of the faithful 144,000 is won. Then the kingdom of God will be established on the earth, and it will continue for 1,000 years.
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
From my understanding (which is admittedly lacking) I see it as more of a 'reset'.

Hi David, nice to hear from you...
You are right, it is a "reset" of sorts...but it's a reset of what humans lost in Eden. Human hearts are programmed for a very different life.....this one does not suit any person with a modicum of decency or a love of what is good.

We sure do need a reset.
Revelation 21:2-4 is what God's servants can look forward to. ;)

(Sorry Deeje. I noticed after I posted that this was JW only directory.)

No worries David, I'm sure your comment didn't constitute debating. :)
 

Deeje

Avid Bible Student
Premium Member
I think a lot of this depends on whether there is to be a rapture or not. A rapture is basically the resurrection of the faithful who died in Christ and a translation of the living faithful at his second coming.

I think the rapture will be an actual event. And I also think that those are the ones whom John saw as
"the four living creatures" and "the elders".
They, therefore, would be a distinct group from the 144,000 because they would have already been made immortal by resurrection or translation.
Since this is a DIR, would you like to take this discussion to another more appropriate forum?
I will open a new thread and tag you....
 
Top