Deeper look into order of End Time events

The phrase “end of days” is often used to describe a cessation of planet Earth. Speculation as to how this occurs varies.

The more sensational concepts are often described as events of biblical proportions. Some examples are nuclear conflagration, pandemic disease, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts and ice-age induced climate change.

Hollywood makes money exploiting fear of the unknown, but a knowledge of God’s Word will dispel any fear in those searching for truth.

Consider the record of Genesis 8:22: “While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” (All verses from the Authorized King James Version unless otherwise noted)

While the Earth remains we shall have all that verse promises; however, we have some concerns as the Bible speaks of three different heavens and earth. Bible scholars agree the heavens and earth of today are the second, though they disagree as to how the first was destroyed. One thing is certain — it overflowed with water. Thus, many believe the great flood of Noah’s day was the cause.

II Peter 3:5-7 offers the following: “For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”

We learn from II Peter the current heavens and earth will be judged by fire; however, Revelation 21:1, 4-5 has great news; “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first (protos) heaven and the first (protos) earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former (protos) things are passed away. And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.”

The Greek words translated first in Peter are “protos,” a contracted superlative of “pro,” meaning before. Considering the scope of God’s Word a better translation is former as the subjects are three in number. Each succeeds the other and they don’t exist together in time (i.e., the first was replaced by the second, which will be replaced by the third).

The event taking place is not at issue; how and when is. It’s not ours to know when, but we are given adequate information as to how.

The disciples asked Jesus this in Matthew 24:3b, “… what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world (age)?” Jesus went into great detail recorded in part in verses 6-8, “And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all [these things] must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these [are] the beginning of sorrows.”

None of these things are new, but the intensity and frequency with which they occur is ceaselessly accelerating. Yet, we’re told these are just the beginnings. Pay special attention as the disciples asked not only about end times, but also about the Lord’s coming knowing one advances the other.

We’ve learned the Son of Perdition will have a seven-year reign, but in its last phase our Lord will return to annihilate him.

II Peter 3:12-13 says we should be “looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”

God shall wipe every tear from every eye. No more sorrow and pain. What a day that will be. We really have something about which to rejoice and tell others — Jesus Christ’s return!

Revelation 20:6 states, “Blessed and holy [is] he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.”

Next we’re given more events to consider, chiefly the resurrections, of which there are two.

The Rev. Linus A. Mathis III is the founder and director of Frontier Christian Ministries.