TOPIC 42 OF 47
The End Times
Living between Christ’s victory and the fullness of his coming kingdom.
THE MAIN TRUTH
We have been living in the end times since Jesus ushered in God’s heavenly kingdom on earth through the womb of Mary and out of the tomb of death.
The teaching
From the book · pages 128–130
We have been living in the end times since Jesus ushered in God’s heavenly kingdom on earth through the womb of Mary and out of the tomb of death. In Christ Jesus and his Church, the eternal life of the age to come has broken into the present evil age. We live in hope within the overlap of the two ages—the now and the not yet.
Jesus fulfilled all the promises, laws, and sacrifices of Israel. He brought the old covenant to an end through his saving work of the new covenant on the cross and through the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70—an event that foreshadows the end of this evil age. Each generation will face war and violence, tyranny and economic hardship, natural disasters, moral chaos, apostasy, and false religions. False teachings in the Church will spread, along with false prophets, antichrists, and the final Antichrist.
The darkness will grow darker, but the light of the Gospel will also spread and grow brighter under the suffering of the cross. In the end, Satan will launch a final assault against the Church, but on the Day of the Lord, Christ will return victoriously in glory.
Scripture foundations
All Scripture excerpts from this topic are presented below in the book’s order. Ellipses and bracketed explanations follow the manuscript. Select a reference to read the surrounding passage in the EHV.
Reading these passages together
The passages call for watchfulness amid suffering and deception. Read them with attention to their historical settings and their hope in Christ, resisting speculation and date-setting.
11 Scripture excerpt groups
SCRIPTURE 01
1 John 2:18; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 10:11 ↗
“Dear children, it is the last hour.” “The end of all things is near.” “. . . the end of the ages has come.”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 02
Mark 1:15 ↗
“‘The time is fulfilled,’ [Jesus] said. ‘The kingdom of God has come near!’”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 03
Ephesians 1:20-22 ↗
“. . . God worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places . . . not only in this age but also in the one to come. God also placed all things under his feet and made him head over everything for the church.”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 04
Galatians 1:4 ↗
“[Jesus Christ] gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age. . .”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 05
John 3:36; Hebrews 6:4-5 ↗
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal [of the age-to-come] life . . .” “. . . who have tasted the heavenly gift . . . and the powers of the coming age.”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 06
Hebrews 9:11,15; 10:9 ↗
“. . . Christ appeared as the high priest of the good things that were coming . . . he is the mediator of a new covenant.” “He does away with the first [covenant] in order to establish the second.”
Book page 129
SCRIPTURE 07
Luke 21:20; Matthew 24:6 ↗
“When you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.” “. . . all these things must happen; but that is not yet the end.”
Book page 130
SCRIPTURE 08
Matthew 24:7-12 ↗
“Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places . . . You will be hated by all nations because of my name. Then many will fall away from faith. They will betray each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because lawlessness will increase, the love of many will grow cold.”
Book page 130
SCRIPTURE 09
2 Timothy 3:1; 1 John 2:18 ↗
“But know this: In the last days there will be terrible times.” “The Antichrist is coming, just as you have heard, and even now many antichrists have come.”
Book page 130
SCRIPTURE 10
Isaiah 60:2; Matthew 24:14 ↗
“Look, darkness covers the earth and deep darkness the peoples, but the LORD will dawn upon you, and his glory will be seen over you.” “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.”
Book page 130
SCRIPTURE 11
Revelation 20:7-9; 2 Thessalonians 2:3,8; 2 Peter 3:10 ↗
“. . . Satan will be released . . . to gather [the nations] for battle . . . they surrounded the camp of the saints . . .” “. . . the man of sin is revealed—the son of destruction . . . whom the Lord Jesus will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy when he appears in splendor at his coming.” “The day of the Lord will come . . . ”
Book page 130
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture passages are from the Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV), copyright 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission, as noted in the manuscript.
PERSONAL REFLECTION OR GROUP DISCUSSION
Reflect and pray
What does it mean to live in the overlap of the present age and the age to come?
How does the book connect Jerusalem’s fall with the wider warning of judgment?
How can watchfulness produce faithful witness rather than fear and speculation?
A prayer
Lord Jesus, keep us watchful and steady in your Word. Guard us from deception and strengthen our witness as we wait for the fullness of your kingdom. Amen.