IS THE END NEAR? -WHAT THE END IS NOT

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 upon it is called Faithful and True."  Verse 19 continues:  "And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their enemies 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. 

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 the 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 darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked." (John 2:19) 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?'

Next time: IS THE END NEAR?

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015