It is an absolute Biblical certainty the world as we know it will come to an end. The age of the Church is nearing completion. This age will be followed by seven years of great tribulation ending with the return of Christ to establish His earthly kingdom in Jerusalem.
“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” Matthew 24:36
Jesus very clearly states that the day of His return has not been revealed. Note how detailed His return time; i.e. day and hour.
Jesus continued by stating that mankind in general gives little thought or priority to the end of this age. Life goes on as if the problems of the world will work themselves out without divine intervention.
“But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage…and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.” Matthew 24:37-39
The world will be taken by surprise at Christ’s return.
“Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.” Matthew 25:13
After Jesus’ resurrection, and just prior to His ascension, the disciples asked if it was the time for Jesus to restore Israel as a nation.
“Therefore… they asked Him, saying, ‘Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ And He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.’” Acts 1:6-7
After Jesus’ ascension, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, His followers began to look forward to His return.
“But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3
Just as in ages past when false prophets assured Israel that there was peace, and God wouldn’t destroy them, so it will be as the end of the current age quickly approaches.
“Then I (Jeremiah) said, ‘Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, the prophets say to them, You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured (true) peace in this place.’” Jeremiah 13:13
The false prophets provided words to itching ears. They said all was well, having overlooked Israel’s sin and God’s holy nature.
God replied to Jeremiah that such false prophets would be killed in the same manner they proclaimed would not befall the Jews.
God also told Jeremiah not to pray for the Israelites because their sin had taken them beyond the point of no return.
After Jesus’ disciples accepted the fact that He would be absent for an undisclosed, but predetermined, period of time, they began to teach other believers to ‘walk in wisdom’ each day until His return.
This series began with the creation of the solar system which provided man with a means to place ‘time’ in its proper perspective. The day will come when the sun will no longer be needed and time will be no more.
That will occur after the church age, after the tribulation, after the millennial kingdom, and after the earth is renewed.
“There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:5
And for those who think this life is the most significant time of man’s odyssey:
“Man who is born of woman is of few days and full of trouble. He comes forth like a flower and fades away; he flees like a shadow and does not continue.” Job 14:1-2
This life is but a fleeting moment compared with eternity.