Do not worry...

With so much chaos and confusion in the world today, many wonder if we are living in the End Times. Maybe you’ve heard predictions of when the world will end. Or perhaps you’re too afraid to even think about it. It’s true that the world is straying from God, and the Bible points to several warnings we can see all around us. But, in John 16:33, Jesus Christ says, “In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

By understanding what God says about the end of the world as we know it, there can be peace in our hearts. How bad is the world going to have to get before God finally steps in and Jesus comes back? The Bible warns us against making precise predictions about the exact time of Jesus’ return—but His return is certain, and we may well be living in the last days before He comes again. The Bible says, “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:12).

Shortly before returning to Heaven Jesus told His disciples that someday He would come back to establish His Kingdom. But before that could take place, He said, certain things would have to happen—and we see many of these today. For example, He said that before His return the Gospel must be preached throughout the world (see Mark 13:10). Never before has this been possible—but now it is, through radio and the Internet and other modern means of communication.

You also have placed your finger on another sign Jesus gave: Satan’s final attempt to halt God’s work through a massive onslaught of evil. Our world is no stranger to evil; Satan has always been working to stop God’s plans. But God’s enemies now have access to modern weapons of mass destruction, and no one can predict what the outcome will be. Jesus said, “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. … Nation will rise against nation” (Matthew 24:6-7). How will the world end? firmly in God’s hands, and the world as we know it will only pass away when God intervenes to bring it to an end.

Does that mean we’ll never experience wars, plagues, or natural disasters that look like they might bring life to an end (just as they have in the past)? It’s certainly possible; God hasn’t promised to deliver us from such tragedies. But they aren’t the end, and even in the midst of these we can trust God’s promise to be with us. Jesus said, “Such things must happen, but the end is still to come” (Matthew 24:6).

What will the end be like? For one thing, it will be sudden and unexpected—and most people will be unprepared. Just as in the days of Noah’s flood, a catastrophe will suddenly overtake the earth—and then it will be too late to turn to God. The Bible also hints at total, fiery destruction. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything … in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). The good news is, we need not need fear that day if we know Christ.