By: Gen. Jim – 10/29/24
We’ve been hearing a lot about the END lately. The internet is flooded with Last Days /Last Times /Last Hour /The End stuff. Rightly so. The world is ripe for THE END… it seems. Both Christians & non-Christians are talking, writing, discussing it. Some believers are warning the world to get ready by repenting. Thank God for these, for an unrepentant person will not enter the Kingdom of God. Still others are warning the lukewarm, i.e. “puke warm” Church it had better go “HOT” or lose out with God. Thank God for these. Sadly, too many believers don’t give a damn about those going into everlasting DAMNATION. And there are those believers in a pre-tribulation rapture where God will whisk them up, up & away… avoiding God’s judgments upon those “left behind” (see my “Rapture” articles for all this.).
Last Days
Heb. 1:1,2 tells us that God has spoken to us by His Son Jesus. The author uses the words “last days,” i.e. “these days;” the turn of the ages is “now.” The author shares the view of 1 Peter 1:20 – speaking of Jesus being manifest (revealed) in “these last times” – rather than holding that the END is still ahead, e.g. 2 Peter 3:3 where Peter wrote about the “last days;” Jude 18 where he wrote about the “last time;” & 2 Tim. 3:1 where he wrote about the “last days” / “perilous times.”
There is no doubt that the “Last days” refers to the Gospel dispensation, meaning, there will be no time followed by any other dispensation. Some scholars believe the LD or ET (last days/end time) will be terminated (Jewish Church). There is only one “Last Days.”
Peter wrote that Jesus “was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” Jesus came first to redeem the lost; His second advent will be to resurrect those who are His. His call-to-ALL is in progress as I write. Once this dispensation has ended, there will not be another – for it is the LAST. Peter explains Christ’s death in terms of the predetermined plan of God. Paul wrote “… He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world…” Eph. 1:4. Jesus’ appearance (i.e. manifestation/revealing) came by His incarnation, resurrection, & exaltation. He did this ONCE in “the last days.”
The author of Hebrews also uses the phrase “end of the world” (Heb. 9:26). Again, the conclusion of the Jewish dispensation /Christian dispensation. The Jewish dispensation ended so as to make the Christian dispensation one that consist of Jewish converts & pagan converts.
Peter again speaks of the end in 4:7. That statement is connected to vs.6, “For this reason the gospel was preached.”
Paul, in 1 Cor. 15:24, wrote “Then comes the end, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule & all authority & power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.” 1 Cor. 5:24-26. Paul uses the words “end” (vs.24 twice) & “last” (vs.26).
The “Kingdom” Paul speaks of (vs.24) is the mediatorial Kingdom, which comprehends all the displays of His (Jesus) grace in saving sinners (lost Jews/Gentiles), and all His spiritual influence in governing the present (end time) Ekklesia/Church.
The rule & authority & power I believe refers to all earthly governments & men/women in high & low positions. I believe Paul also was referring to the “BIG 4” in Eph. 6. The END will come! We can count on it. When all satanic/human rule, authority, & power have been put under Christ’s feet (dominion). Luke 1:33 says that Jesus “will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His Kingdom these will be NO END.” No longer will Satan, demons, devils, evil men/women rule. Although these do rule now, never forget that God rules through Christ Jesus, who has all rule/power/authority… and who delegates R/P/A to those whom He chooses… but all this will END when the END comes.
Early Christian Beliefs
What did the Anti-Nicene fathers & the pre-Nicene Christians believe?
Let’s start with Lactantius (b.250-d.325, a Roman rhetoric teacher converted to Christianity). He wrote several things in ref. to the “last days:”
“The voices also of the prophets of the world, agreeing with the heavenly, announce the END & overthrow of all things after a brief time. They describe the LAST old age of the wearied & wasting world, so to speak.” (304 A.D., 7:212);
“It was necessary that, as the END of the world approached, the Son of God would descend to the earth.” (304 A.D., 7:108);
“I have already shown above that when six thousand years are completed, this change must take place. So the LAST day of the extreme conclusion is now drawing near… All expectation does not exceed the limit of two hundred years [before the completion of this six thousand years]. The subject itself declares that the fall & ruin of the world will shortly take place. However, while the city of Rome remains, it appears that nothing of this kind is to be feared. But when the capital of the world will have fallen… who can doubt that the END has now arrived to the affairs of mm & the whole world? It is that city, & only that city, that still sustains all things.” (304 A.D., 7:220)
First John 2:18 talks about, “… it is the LAST hour; & as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the LAST hour.”
Sadly, the modern Church is packed with religious antichrists… talking but not living. John was writing about the LAST dispensation of grace & mercy to humankind. Some believe this epistle was written after – not before – the destruction of Jerusalem, for Israel was full of unbelievers.
(read text like Mt. 7:15; 24:11,12,24,25 etc.)
Personally, I do not believe the END of the world is upon us; I do, however, believe we are living in the END time.
When John wrote, “it is the LAST time,” or as another version says, “it is the LAST hour.” “The LAST hour” reflects on each anthological conception of history derived from apostolic though going back to Jesus Himself (see Jn. 6:39,40,44,45; 11:24; 12:48; 1 Pet. 1:5). The early Church believed the second coming of Christ was at the door. Well, folks, time still moves forward towards the END… towards the long-awaited apocalyptic time. But, as Acts 1:7 says, “It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in His own power.” Yet we still have “date-setters,” always wrong! Finality will finally appear, For eschatology is a historical as well as a theological truth. Not only have Christians predicted “the END” on certain days, week, month, years, but pagans in many religions & thoughts have done the same.
Epochs & cycles have come and gone – yet the END has not come. No man or woman or devil can decisively determine human destiny, while the Spirit can show us many future things, “the END” is left up to God alone.
We can look at all the present social/religious/political etc. catastrophes – and there are plenty to scare the HELL out of us! – but every generation has had its share of the frightenings. Every generation God brings the human race face-to-face with His judgments/punishments. Each generation had its “repent, & believe the gospel,” the BAD NEWS of DAMNATION with the GOOD NEWS of SALVATION which imposes a great constraint & urgency upon both the Church & the world.
Antichrist, in one sense, is the spirit of doubt, unbelief, error, sin. Both complacency & apathy can cause one to lose their faith as well as fear & unbelief.
Barnabas (b.70-d.100 A.D.), in his epistle wrote: “We take earnest heed in these LAST days.” He went on to say, “Attend, my children, to the meaning of this expression, ‘He finished it in six days.’ This implies that the Lord will finish all things in six thousand years, for a day is with Him a thousand years.” (1:146)
He, like others, have stated this “time” for the completion of all things. Early Christian writers such as Clement of Alexandria & Origen mentions him in their writings. The Book of Acts mentions him (see 11:22-24)
Ignatius wrote: “The LAST times are come upon us.” (105 A.D., 1:54);
Hermas wrote: “when the tower is finished & built, then comes the END. And I assure you it will be finished soon.” (150 A.D., 2:16);
Irenaeus wrote: “The advent of the Son of God took place in these LAST times – that is, in the END, rather than in the beginning.” (180 A.D., 1:331). He continued with, “But now, since the LAST times are [upon us], evil is spread abroad among men” (1:462); “In as many days as this world was made, is so many thousand years will it be concluded… For the day of the Lord is as a thousand years; & is six days created things were completed. It is evident, therefore, that they will come to an END at the sixth thousand years.” (180 A.D., 1:557)
END
If one goes to a Heb./Gk. concordance & look up the word “end,” you’ll be there a considerable length of time. There are many definitions.
To start, the first mention is found in Gen. 6:13: “And God said to Noah, ‘The END of all flesh has come before Me, & the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will DESTROY them with the earth.”
We need go no further, for this tells us that God brought down His severe judgment/punishment upon humankind because of violence! I daresay this generation in which we live is far worse than in Noah’s day. Just the sheer magnitude of universal abortion alone = violent murder, not to mention other forms of violence & other crimes & sins. We can understand “the END is here!” being proclaimed by both the Church & paganism/humanism.
The Hebrew word for “end” is “qêts,” meaning “an extreme, process,” from “qâtsats,” meaning “to chop off (lit. or fig.), cut asunder, in pieces, utmost.” This says it all – a violent END!
When Peter wrote, “the END of all things is at hand; therefore be serious & watchful in your prayers” (1 Pet. 4:7), he, along with Paul put forth a WARNING to be SERIOUS & WATCHFUL” (Peter); “it is high time to AWAKE out of sleep; for now, our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore, let us cast off the works of darkness… put on the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Paul) Rom. 13:11-14.
The Greek word for END is telos, “to set out for a definite point or goal, conclusion, termination, purpose, finally, & uttermost.”
Jesus spoke of the END when He said, “… the harvest is the END of the age,” or as some versions read, “end of the world.” Jesus used a different Gk. word, “sunteleia,” meaning “entire completion, i.e. consummation (of a dispensation)” There was the END of the racial/Jew dispensation when Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, i.e. when the Gentiles were invited into His Kingdom, not just the Jews. Paul called this “the mystery which has been hidden from ages & from generations,” Col. 1:26. This mystery was “Christ in you (us), the hope of glory” (vs.27). This universal salvation invitation ENDED the “Jew only.” But Jesus was speaking about the FINAL END in Mt. 13:39,40,49.
The author of Hebrews uses the Gk. word for END, e.g. Heb. 9:26: “… but now, once at the END of the ages He (Christ) has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” The Gk. word (END) used also means completion of a dispensation, from sunteleō, “to complete entirely, finish, fulfill.”
I guess Matthew 24 is one of the most read chapters concerning “the END!” Even non-Christians quote from it in ref. to the Great Tribulation which is to be THE SIGN of the END of the world. Well, Jerusalem went through her G.T. in 70 A.D. But was this the “END” so many thought it to be, or is this “END” yet to come (a Universal Great Trib.)?
Mt. 24:3 Was being discussed in the whole chapter, Jesus’ coming & the END of the ages (or world as the KJV reads). vv.3,6,13,14 speak of “the END”; Mt. 28:20 speaks of “the END of the world.”
The questions were (in Mt. 24:3):
1 – “When shall these things be?” (in ref. to vss.1,2);
2 – “What shall be the sign of thy coming?” The Gk. word “coming” is by now a technical term for the 2nd Advent, used to refer to the visit of a monarch. The Gk. word parousia means to bring near, i.e. advent, return (spec. of Christ to punish Jerusalem, or finally the wicked, presence);
3 – “The END of the world?”.
We know that Jesus’ first coming closed out the dispensation /age of the racial Jew; the second advent will close out the human dispensation, i.e. the sheep will be separated from the goats, the wheat from the tares: “When the Son of man shall come in His glory… And before Him shall be gathered all nations: & He shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats,” -Mt. 25:31,32. Verses.31-46 speaks of the LAST judgment. This final judgment will be TERROR for the goats, i.e. one’s without mercy: “Depart from Me, ye CURSED, into everlasting fire…” vs.41 (see also Rev. 20:10; Enoch 10:13; Jude 6,7 etc.). The everlasting fire is Gehenna.
One “sign” Jesus spoke of is “many shall come in My name, saying, ‘I am Christ;’ & shall deceive many.” (24:5). We do not know how many false Christs have come. Even in our generation there have been those claiming to be “Jesus” or “Christ” (there is one on the internet now making this claim). Another “sign,” wars/rumors of war, vs.6. Well, we’ve got plenty of this as I write this article. Nuclear war is on the table! One can speculate forever about the END but rest assured, the END WILL COME!!! Dark shadows, BLACK shadows cover the nations. It is being reposted that Christian persecution/prosecution is high worldwide. Here in America, with Biden/Harris in power, Christians don’t feel safe. Neither do the republicans, the patriots etc. They are truly wicked. Joe Biden, Kamala Harris et al. But the American Church is in a state of backsliding, yeah, even apostasy. Even the Roman Catholic pope has called Jesus a LIAR, claiming ALL religions lead to Christ or are equal to Christianity. HA! This dress wearing pervert will certainly face God’s WRATH!
Specious “isms,” poor earthly faiths, men’s/women’s disloyalty, children’s rebellion, liars, deceivers, perverts, murderers, etc. multiply daily. The evidence of TRUTH – Biblical Truth – is so small & feeble. We need a Spiritual Revolution!!!
This current age is one of DEFECTION. The Bible tells us to ENDURE to the END (Mt. 24:13). Churches all across this “once great land,” have either thrown in the towel or are so beat down they are barely alive. I know we (ACMTC) have been persecuted, prosecuted, & put in prison for our faith. But rest assured, we have not betrayed Christ. NO! We’re fighting every day.
Persecution is promised. Prosecution & prison will many times follow persecution. But the very persistence of endurance is a heart of hope – we hope things will get better. But we also know if we do not fight & endure, Christ will frown on us.
Treachery & fidelity are enemies of each other. We either remain true to our Lord or we become a snake, flake, & a fake… like so many professors of the Christian faith have become. God knows the difference between the precious & the vile, between the true & the false. Under the threshings of persecution multitudes have fallen away… and are falling away. Some, too many have kicked back & let others fight the WAR (Wage Aggressive Resistance). Standing up for Biblical Truth will sharpen our focus in our warfare, not turning & running away. Our dependence on God – not government – becomes a fact rather than a phrase. True comradeship is like spiritual glue, it holds us together during attacks of the enemy.
It is true: for the follower/disciple/soldier/saint of Christ the world is an alien world. The Word tells us “Love not the world nor the things in the world,” yet I dare say most of the Christian Church is in bed with the world in one way or the other. Love-of-the-world will zap our love for Christ. You know this.
The Christian faith is on trial as I write. God is forcing His people to choose Him or the world.
There are times in our walk/war that “having done all” we can only “stand” (Eph. 6:13). There is nothing wrong with standing as long as we do not faint. True, at times, help tarries. We feel betrayed. But this only will make us stronger within if we do not surrender to the enemy. Endurance under fire for Christ’s sake makes the enemy fearful. It is not time to RETIRE; it is time to REFIRE! Therefore, fight till the END!
Matthew 24:14 says: “This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto ALL nations; & then shall the END come.”
Has this been done? This verse proves what I have stated, Jewish exclusiveness has been removed. The WORLD has become what the Jewish nation once was; a nation chosen by God. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – Jn. 3:16 [note: the words “only begotten” is explained very well in W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of N.T. words. He states that the phrase “Only Begotten Son” must not be taken to mean that Christ became the Only Begotten Son by Incarnation. One can read his take on p.140 (17th pub., 1966).]. Also, one can read his expository on the word END, which he explains the meanings of the nouns, the verb, & the adjective.
Noun: Telos/τέλος;
Sunteleia/συντέλεια;
Peras/πέρας;
Ekbasis/ἔκβασις
Verb: Teleō/τελέω
Sunteleō/συντελέω;
Plēroō/πληρόω;
Adj.: Eschatos/ἔσχατος
(see pp.26-28).
So, the Bible speaks of the “last days,” “last time,” “last hour,” “the end” etc., time run out! Time run out, i.e. the period under the Jewish dispensation: the time running out of the gospel dispensation. The “last things,” the “end of times,” the “latter end” all will be fulfilled. What will we do until “all things” have been fulfilled? I don’t know about you but I plan on enduring /standing /abiding in Christ (menō/μένω), courageously standing under suffering (Hupomenō/ὑπομένω), bear up under persecution (Pherō/φέρω), carry on under attacks (Hupopherō/ὑποφέρω), endure my tribulations (Anechō/ἀνέχω), remain steadfast & patient (Kartereō/καρτερέω), suffer long under pressure (Makrothumeō/μακροθυμέω), & remain under His commandship (Hupomonē/ὑπομένω).
More on the Early Christians
Tertullian (b.160, d.230 A.D.) wrote: “Two comings of Christ have been revealed to us: … a second coming, which impends over the world, now near its CLOSE. In it, all the majesty of Deity will be unveiled.” (197 A.D., 3:35); He continues: “We are those ‘upon whom the ends of the ages have met, having ENDED their course.’” (198 A.D., 4:23); “As the conquering power of things, evil is on the increase – which is the evidence of the LAST times.” (212 A.D., 4:74).
Origen (b.185, d.255) wrote “… turning to the religion that in the LAST days has shone forth through Jesus Christ.” (248 A.D., 4:558).
Cyprian had plenty to say concerning the END: “These things have been foretold as about to happen at the END of the world. And it was predicted by the voice of the Lord & by the testimony of the apostles that now that the win is failing, & the Antichrist is drawing near, all good things will fail. However, evil & adverse things will prosper. Yet, in the LAST days, evangelic vigor has not failed in the Church of God.” (250 A.D., 5:371);
“Wars continue frequently to prevail; death & famine accumulate anxiety; health is shattered by raging diseases; & the human race is wasted by the desolation of pestilence. Know that all this was foretold for evils are to be multiplied in the LAST times.” (5:459);
“Since now the END of the world is at hand, turn your minds to God, in the fear of God.” (5:464). Good advice from Cyprian.
He continues: “Beloved… the Kingdom of God is nearly at hand! The reward of life, the rejoicing of eternal salvation, & the perpetual gladness & possession of Paradise that were lately lost – are all now coming with the passing away of the world. Already heavenly things are taking the place of earthly.” (5:469). Here he is describing the END of one dispensation & the eternal dispensation of another.
He continues: “What a grandeur of spirit it is to struggle with all the powers of an unshaken mind against so many onslaughts of devastation & death! What sublimity, to stand erect admid the desolation of the human race & not to lie prostrate with those who have no hope in God – but, rather, to rejoice.” (5:472);
“The ENDING & COMPLETION of the world, the hateful time of the Antichrist, is already beginning to draw near.” (250 A.D., 5:496).
Part Two
Eschatology (Greek eschatos = furthest) is the branch of Christian theology, or doctrine, dealing with death – resurrection – judgment, immortality, etc. It deals with the END.
Matthew 24:14 is an “E” text: “This gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all nations, & then the END will come.”
1 Cor. 15:24 is another one: “Then comes the END, when He delivers the Kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an END to all rule & authority & power.”
2nd Thess. 2:3 is yet another: “For that DAY will not come unless the falling away comes first, & the man of sin is revealed…”
Peter writes, “… the heavens will pass away… the elements will melt with fervent heat… the earth & the works… will be burned up… looking for new heavens & a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” -2 Pet. 3:10,13.
The next 3 quotes from Revelations speak of the END:
“Behold, He is coming with clouds, & every eye will see Him… And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.” – Rev. 1:7;
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, & they will prophesy one thousand & two hundred & sixty days…” -Rev. 11:3;
“Now when the thousand years have expired, Satan will be released from his prison & will go out to deceive the nations.” -Rev. 20:7,8.
Some find this last text troubling. One theologian has written: “These can be only symbolical representations, utterly incapable of the sense generally put upon them.”
Grant you, Revelation is hard to understand, therefore, I will put forth quotes from the early Church fathers. It is up to us if we believe or disbelieve what they have written concerning eschatology.
To start, I quote Melito (d.190 A.D.), bishop of Sardis in Asia. Little remains of his writings. “So, also will it be at the END time; There will be a flood of fire, & the earth will be burned up… mankind, too, will be burned up… but the just will be preserved from His anger.” (170 A.D., 8:755,756). Melito no doubt was referring to Peter’s quotes in 2 Pet. 3:7,12.
Irenaeus writes: “Why do we speak of Jerusalem? After all, … the whole world must also pass away, when the time for its END has come… the chaff… may be consumed by fire.” (180 A.D., 1:466)
Tertullian wrote many things concerning the END, so I’ll shorten some of his writings: “… we know that a mighty cataclysm hangs over the whole earth. In fact, the very END of all things threatens dreadful woes…” (197 A.D., 3:42,43);
“What a spectacle is that fast-approaching return of our Lord! … what a glorious rising of the saints! … Yes, & there are other sights; that LAST Day of Judgment.” (197, 3:91); “… the very heavens will be rolled together… In fact, they will come to nothing, along with the earth itself.” (200 A.D., 3:496);
“The stars too will fall… the mountains will melt… the sea will be no more… all these passages (are not figuratively interpreted)… For figurative speech necessarily arises out of realities.” (200 A.D., 3:497);
“After its 1,000 years are over…, these will follow the destruction of the world & the burning of all things at the judgment… we will be removed to that Kingdom in heaven.” (207 A.D., 3:343);
“Jesus was questioned by His disciples concerning those things were to come to pass… He spoke about the things that will concern all nations – up to the very END of the world…” (210 A.D., 3:561);
“For that day will not come, unless indeed there first comes a falling away…” (210 A.D., 3:563);
“After the casting of the devil into the bottomless pit for a while, the blessed prerogative of the first resurrection pray be ordained from the thrones… after the consignment of him to the fire, the judgment of the final & universal resurrection may be determined…” (210 A.D., 3:563);
“[Enoch & Elijah] are reserved for the suffering of death, that by their blood, they may extinguish the Antichrist.” (210, 3:227,228);
“… They will be standing at LAST on His right hand & His left… Now, what are all these things but most certain proofs of a bodily appointment & destination?” (210, 3:571).
Lactantius had plenty to say about the END/eschatology. He starts out with, “This unrighteous age, having run the course of its appointed times, should come to an END.” (304-313 A.D., 7:196)
From here on I’ll only quote certain passages, for many are long:
“… Therefore, it must come to pass that all nations will be beaten with heavenly stripes… the righteous… will be set free… Therefore, as the END of this world approaches, the condition of human affairs will undergo a change… As a result, these TIMES of ours… (future) incurable evil… for righteousness will greatly decrease, & impiety, avarice, desire, & lust will greatly increase…”
“At that time, there will be no faith among men, no peace, kindness, shame, or truth. As a result, there will be no security, no government, nor any rest from evils. The entire earth will be in a state of tumult. Wars will rage everywhere… The west will be reduced to servitude.” (304-313 A.D., 7:212)
Lactantius continues: “At that time, civil discords will perpetually be sown… kings will divide the world – not to govern it, but to consume it… a most powerful enemy will arise… he will be made the ruler of all. He will harass the world with an intolerable rule… He will change laws & appoint his own (evil). He will contaminate, plunder, spoil, & put to death!”
Sounds like he is describing Antichrist here.
He continues: “Then, in truth, a detestable & abominable time will come… cities will be utterly overthrown & will perish… unseasonable rains… barren drought… cold… excessively hot… Awe-inspiring signs in heaven will confound the minds of men with the greatest TERRORS…”
We’ve been hearing things like this for years now, but the END has not fully come.
He continues: “Stars will fall… mountains will also fall… the sea will be rendered unnavigable… And then the trumpet will be heard from heaven… (men) will call upon God, but He will not hear them. Death will be desired, but it will not come (he obviously is speaking of Rev. 9:6 here)… the human race will be so consumed… Two-thirds of the worshippers of God will perish as well. But the third part, which will have been proved faithful, will remain…” (304-313 A.D., 7:214))
Lactantius is not through, he went on to write:
“When the END of the times draw near, a great prophet will be sent from God to turn men to… God… he will close heaven & cause it to withhold its rain… (after this) another king will arise… born from an evil spirit… He will fight against the prophet of God & will overcome & slay him…” (7:214)
“After these things… not all men will be judged by God… only those who have practiced the religion of God… the Holy Scriptures testify that the wicked will not rise to condemnation (see Ps. 1:5) … only those who have known God will be judged. And their deeds, their evil works, will be compared & weighed against their good ones… Those persons whose sins will exceed (their good works) either in weight or in number will be scorched by the fire & burned… those who are filled with complete justice & maturity will not feel this fire…” (7:216,217)
Here is one last quote:
“When the 1,000 years of the kingdom have ended… Satan will be loosed again. Being sent forth from prison, he will go forth & assemble all the nations, which will then be under the dominion of the righteous… then the LAST anger of God will come upon the nations & will utterly destroy them… The whole race of the wicked will utterly perish… the second & general resurrection of all mankind will take place. In this, the unrighteous will be raised to everlasting punishments.” (304-313, 7:221)
Mark M. Felix wrote: “As to the burning up of the world, it is a foolish error to deny that fire will fall upon it in an unforeseen way, or to deny that the world will be destroyed by fire… who would question the fact that all things that have had a beginning will perish? All created things must come to an END!” (200 A.D., 4:194);
Hippolytus wrote: “When the 62 weeks are fulfilled, & Christ has come… the TIMES will then be accomplished… Elijah & Enoch will appear. And in the midst of it, the abomination of desolation will be manifested – the Antichrist…” (205 A.D., 5:182). He continues with, “when… the judges & the King of kings comes, He will overturn the whole dominion & power of the Adversary. He will also consume all of them with eternal fire of punishment. But to His servants, prophets, & martyrs, and to all those who fear Him, He will give an everlasting Kingdom.” (5:190)
The following are quotes from Origen: “… The END of the world, then, & the FINAL consummation will take place when everyone will be subjected to punishment for his (or her) sins. This is a time that God alone knows, when He will bestow on each one what he deserves.” (225 A.D., 4:260);
“Jacob is the first one who provides any information about the END of the world… Dear Lord & Savior… says, ‘Heaven & earth will pass away, but My Word will no pass away.’ So He points out that the (heavens/earth) are perishable & must come to an END.” (4:341);
“He is taking sin away from every individual in the world until sin is taken away from the whole world. Then, the Savior delivers the prepared &completed Kingdom to the Father – a Kingdom in which no sin is left at all…” (228 A.D., 4:317);
“However, it is likely that before the second & more divine coming of Christ, John or Elijah will come to bear witness about life.” (9:345)
Novatian comments on the world being dissolved: “The world is so established by a bonded union that no force can dissolve it – except when He alone who made it commands it to be dissolved. He will do this for the purpose of bestowing other things (which are greater) upon us.” (235 A.D., 5:612)
Now we come to the bishop of Lycia, who was the author of several theological/moral works, Methodius.
He begins with: “It is not satisfactory to say that the universe will be utterly destroyed & that the sea, earth, & sky will no longer exist. For the whole world will be deluged with fire from heaven & burned for the purpose of purification & renewal. However, it will not come to complete ruin & corruption…” (290 A.D., 6:365);
“… God did not establish the universe in vain or only for it to be destroyed, as those weak-minded men say. Rather, He made it to exist, to be inhabited, & to CONTINUE. For this reason, the earth & the heaven must exist again after the burning & shaking of all things.” (6:366);
“There is no contradiction nor absurdity in Holy Scriptures. For it is not ‘the world’ that passes away, but the ‘fashion of this world.’ … so we can look for creation to pass away, as if it were to perish in the burning, in order for it to be renewed… However, it will not be destroyed… Now, since the earth is to exist after the present age, there must also be inhabitants for it. These persons will no longer be subject to death… they will live in all happiness without change or decay…” (290 A.D., 6:366).
Commodianus comments on the Day of Judgment by saying, “I will add something about the Day of Judgment, on the account of the unbelievers… the fire of the Lord sent forth will be appointed… newness of sky & of everlasting earth is arranged. Afterwards, those who deserve it are sent away to the second death; but the righteous are placed in inner dwelling places.” (240 A.D., 4:212);
“… the dead should rise again… those, too, will rise again who have been burned with fire in this world… for the wicked are burned up with divine fire. The creature burns with groaning in the anger of the Highest God… What is more, they will be judged again when the (1,000) reign is finished. Those who treat God as of no account will perish by fire… all flesh… will be plunged into Gehenna. They bear their punishments in the world.” (240 A.D., 4:218)
[note: see my articles on Hell/Hades, Hell/Gehenna). Jesus spoke of both Hades & Gehenna.].
Are you ready for what lies ahead? None of us know the day or the hour when we (personally) will die. But one thing is sure – the END will come! All must be judged by the Great Judge for what we did & did not do.
Cyprian sums it up in 7 words: “The END of the world comes suddenly.” (250 A.D., 5:553)
Victorinus, in 280 A.D. wrote this about Hades: “When the three years & six months are completed in the preaching of Elijah, [Satan] will be cast down… for up until that time he had had the power of ascending. And all the apostate angels, as well as the Antichrist, must be raised from Hades…” (7:356)
Hades, according to Scripture is the place (like jail i.e. confinement before prison) where the unrighteous are held till the final judgment: Gehenna is the place (prison) where the unrighteous will spend eternity. My mind cannot process that! But annihilation is never mentioned in either the O.T. or the N.T. The Bible never mentions putting the wicked/unrighteous OUT OF EXISTENCE. There are those who adhere to this false doctrine but no author of the Bible – even Jesus – never mentions it.
Fin
The truth is, we all must face God in the END. Every soul will be judged. The Bible is not a politically correct/woke Book; it is the “Sword that Cuts, & the Fire that Burns!” Matthew 25:34,41,46 is plain: the righteous will receive BLESSEDNESS; the unrighteous EVERLASTING FIRE. Jesus uses the (Greek) word, Gehenna, in Mark 9:47,48. The NKJV et al. versions use “hell fire,” which is Gehenna (vs.47) & “the fire is not quenched” (vs.48). Jesus quotes from Isaiah 66:24, “For their worm does not die, & their fire is not quenched…”
Gehenna is everlasting; Hades will, in the END, be cast into the lake of fire according to Rev. 20:14.
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