The End Time: What Is It?
The End Times: What Is It?
When we hear the term “end times,” our minds often conjure images of doom, gloom, death, destruction, and the cessation of the world. However, “end times” means the “end of the age,” as derived from the phrase “end of the world” in Matthew 24:3:
“And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
A quick check in Strong’s Concordance reveals that “world” in this context means “age.”
But what is an age?
An age can be described as a period dominated by a central figure or prominent feature. Examples are the “age of Pericles” or the “age of space.” Like dispensation, it is a divinely ordained order prevailing at a particular period in history. It is a divine ordering of the affairs of this world.
For example, the dispensation of grace, which refers to the period in which God offers salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, emphasizing grace over law. The era began with Christ’s resurrection and continues until His return. This can also be referred to as the “age of grace.”
What, then, is the “end of the age,” “end of the world,” or “end times”?
Simply put, it is the period when our current divinely ordered phase of God’s plan for humanity (grace) transitions to the next phase of God’s plan for humanity. It shall be characterized by distinct events, culminating in the second coming of Jesus Christ. These events will be experienced both locally and globally. They will also be seen as global events but with local ramifications.
It’s important to note that if Jesus Christ were to return today, He would reign on earth for another one thousand years. Therefore, the end of times are not about the cessation or destruction of the world but rather, the beginning of a new era in human history.
Revelation 20:4 states:
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”
Reigning simply means governing. Jesus Christ shall govern the earth for a thousand years, a period known as the millennial reign of Christ.
Now, imagine a time when Christ, the lover of mankind, governs humanity. What an amazing season that will be! For a glimpse of this, see Isaiah 11:6-10.
