How do you feel about
December 21, 2012, the date
on the Maya calendar that
many have been saying would
bring worldwide change?
Depending on what you expected, you might be
relieved, disappointed, or
indifferent. Was it just another
incorrect prediction for the end
of the world? What about “the end of the
world” described in the Bible?
(Matthew 24:3, King James Version) Some fear that the
earth will be burned up. Others
are fascinated by end-time
scenarios. Many have simply
grown tired of being told that
the end is near. But could those be reactions to fiction rather
than to fact? You might be surprised to learn
what the Bible really says
about the end of the world.
Not only does the Bible give
reasons to look forward to the
end but it also acknowledges the frustration that can set in if
the end seems to be overdue.
We invite you to consider the
Bible’s answers to some
common questions about the
end of the world. Will the earth be burned
up? THE BIBLE’S ANSWER: “[God] has founded the earth upon its
established places; it will not
be made to totter to time
indefinite, or forever.”— PSALM 104:5. The earth will not be
destroyed, either by fire or by
any other means. Instead, the
Bible teaches that this planet is
mankind’s eternal home. Psalm 37:29 says: “The righteous themselves will possess the
earth, and they will reside
forever upon it.”—Psalm 115:16; Isaiah 45:18. After God created the earth, he
said that it “was very good,”
and he still feels that way.
(Genesis 1:31) Far from planning to destroy it, he
promises to “bring to ruin
those ruining the earth”—and
to protect it from permanent
damage.—Revelation 11:18. You may wonder, though,
about 2 Peter 3:7. That Bible verse says: “The heavens and
the earth that are now are
stored up for fire.” Does this
not show that the earth will be
burned up? Actually, the Bible
sometimes uses the terms “heavens,” “earth,” and “fire”
figuratively, as symbols. For
example, when Genesis 11:1 says: “All the earth continued
to be of one language,” it uses
“earth” to mean human
society. The context of 2 Peter 3:7 shows that the heavens, earth,
and fire mentioned there are
also symbols. Verses 5 and 6 draw a parallel with the Flood
of Noah’s day. On that
occasion, an ancient world was
destroyed, yet our planet did
not disappear. Instead, the
Flood wiped out a violent society, or “earth.” It also
destroyed a kind of “heavens”
—the people who ruled over
that earthly society. ( Genesis 6:11) In the same way, 2 Peter 3:7 foretells the permanent destruction of wicked society
and its corrupt governments as
if by fire. What happens at the
end of the world? THE BIBLE’S ANSWER: “The world is passing away and so
is its desire, but he that does
the will of God remains
forever.”—1 JOHN 2:17. “The world” that is to pass
away is, not the earth, but the
world of mankind whose lives
are not in harmony with God’s
will. Just as a surgeon might
remove a cancerous tumor to save a patient’s life, God will
“cut off” the wicked so that
good people can truly enjoy
life on earth. (Psalm 37:9) In that sense, “the end of the
world” is a good thing. Such a positive view of “the
end of the world” is implied by
the Bible translations that
render this expression “the
conclusion of the system of
things” or “the end of the age.” (Matthew 24:3; New International Version) Since
both humankind and the earth
survive the end, does it not
seem reasonable that a new
age, a new system of things,
would follow? The Bible answers yes, for it speaks of
“the coming system of things.”
—Luke 18:30. Jesus called that
future period “the
renewal of all
things.” At that time,
he will restore
humanity to the conditions that God
originally intended.
(Matthew 19:28, NIV) We will then enjoy A paradise earth with securi
and prosperity for all.—Isaia 35:1; Micah 4:4. Work that is meaningful and
satisfying.—Isaiah 65:21-23. The curing of all disease.— Isaiah 33:24. The reversal of aging.—Job 33:25. The resurrection of the dead. John 5:28, 29. If we do “the will of God,”
what he asks of us, we need
not fear the end of the world.
Instead, we can look forward
to it. Is the end of the world
really near? THE BIBLE’S ANSWER: “When you see these things occurring,
know that the kingdom of God
is near.”—LUKE 21:31. In the book The Last Days Are
Here Again, Professor Richard
Kyle writes that “sudden
change and social chaos create
an atmosphere conducive to
predictions of the end of the world.” That is especially the
case when the change and
chaos seem hard to explain. However, the Bible prophets
who spoke about the end were
not trying to explain baffling
events of their day. Instead,
they were inspired by God to
describe conditions that would indicate an imminent end of
the world. Consider some of
those prophecies and decide
for yourself whether they are
being fulfilled in our time. Wars, famines, earthquakes, and epidemics of deadly
disease.—Matthew 24:7; Luk 21:11. Significant increase in crime. Matthew 24:12. The ruining of the earth by
mankind.—Revelation 11:18. People who love themselves,
money, and pleasures but do
not love God.—2 Timothy 3:2, 4. The breakdown of the family.
—2 Timothy 3:2, 3. General apathy toward the
evidence of the approaching
end.—Matthew 24:37-39. As Jesus said, seeing “all these
things” lets us know that the
end of the world is near.
(Matthew 24:33)