Episode 53 begins a series focused on various aspects of the “end times.” This podcast clarifies the nature of the end times and provides comforting thoughts as we face this fearful subject.

 

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The Future of the Teachings of Jesus
The End Times–Part 1 (Ep. 53)
Comforting Thoughts
May 2025

 

The time of the end. Consider the following verses from the great end times prophet Daniel:

 

Understand, O son of man, that the vision is for the time of the end. (Dan 8:17)

 

Behold, I will make known to you what shall be at the latter end of the indignation; for it pertains to the appointed time of the end. (Dan 8:19)

 

At the time of the end the king of the South shall attack him; But the king of the north shall rush upon him like a whirlwind…. (Dan 11:40)

 

What does Daniel mean by “the time of the end?” In each of these verses Daniel refers to “the time of the end.” End of what? What does Daniel mean by “the time of the end?” Is he referring to the end of everything, the end of the world, the end of all life on our planet? It is these kinds of thoughts that naturally come to mind when we think of “the time of the end.” However, a study of prophecy reveals that “the time of the end” does not refer to the end of the world, rather it refers to a time when the present world order will be destroyed, and an entirely new world order will come into being.                                                                                               The end of the present world order is the percussor to a new and better age. The prophecy of “the time of the end” is not merely the prediction of a future world calamity; more importantly, it is the revelation of the coming of the necessary precursor to a new and better age. This new age will be a time of improved government, society, economics, culture, and civilization. We will experience significant growth and progress in morals, and ethics. Mankind will advance from our present material age to a more spiritual age characterized by the more perfect doing of the will of God. But before this new order of living can come to the earth the old order, the secular, authoritarian, corrupt, and evil governments under which we presently live must be destroyed. It is this failed rule of the kingdoms of men that must be ended to make way for the coming of a new and higher phase of the kingdom of God. This is true just as an old and dilapidated house must first be destroyed before a new and better home may be erected on that site.

Verses depicting the transition from “the end times” to the kingdom of God. The following verses from Daniel help make clear that “the time of the end” is merely the destruction of the failed rule and ways of men that makes way for the coming of the kingdom of God to rule over the nations of the earth:

 

          And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, nor shall its sovereignty be left to another people.

          It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. (Dan 3:44)

 

          But the court shall sit in judgment and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end.

          And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom and all dominions shall serve and obey them. (Dan 7:26-27)

 

The end times judgments of God are directed at the secular, evil, and ungodly. This coming of a bright new spiritual age to replace our present secular and materialistic age is great good news and gives us an inspiring hope for the future. It means the time of the end is merely a forerunner to a better world for us all. But before this better world comes, we must recognize that the events of the end times mean that great tribulation, suffering, destruction, and death are coming to our world. This is most clearly and vividly detailed in the book of Revelation. However, even here among the many plagues and desolations of Revelation we may find solace. For prophecy, and especially Revelation, make clear that God’s terrible judgments are not directed at the Godly, but rather towards the secular, evil, and ungodly who dominate our world and persecute the true followers of God. This time of judgment–”Judgment Day”–has come because of the great evil and oppression that has come over our world. It is focused on the transgressors of God’s will, and not upon those who seek to follow in the way of Jesus and true religion.

God’s judgment of the secular and evil oppressors.  Following are numerous verses from Revelation that help make clear that these judgments are on those who have chosen evil and godlessness over the good, the will of self over the will of God.

 

          I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne; they cried out with a loud voice, “O sovereign Lord…how long before thou wilt judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell upon the earth?” Then they were…told to rest a little longer until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren should be complete…. (Rev 6:9-11)

 

          Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the generals and the rich and the strong, and everyone… hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne and from the wrath of the lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come and who can stand before it?” (Rev 6:15-17)

 

          Then I saw another angel… saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees till we have sealed the servants of our God upon their foreheads.” (Rev 7:2,3)

 

          And the 24 elders…fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying “We give thanks to thee…that thou hast taken thy great power and begun to rule. The nations raged, but thy wrath came, and the times for the dead to be judged, for rewarding thy servants…and those who fear thy name…and for destroying the destroyers of the earth. (Rev 11:17,18)  

 

          And another Angel… followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink the wine of God’s wrath poured unmixed into the cup of his anger and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur…. (Rev 14:9,10)

 

foul and evil sores came upon the men who bore the mark of the beast and worshipped its image. (Rev 16:2)

 

men were scorched by the fierce heat and they cursed the name of God who had power over these plagues, and they did not repent and give him glory. (Rev 16:9)

 

men gnaeed their tongues in anguish and cursed the God of heaven for their pain and sores and did not repent of their deeds. (Rev 16:10,11)

 

          And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who sits upon the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured and with it the false prophet who in its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword…. (Rev 19:19-21)

 

Summary. In summary, even though all must endure the end times and its fearsome events we may be somewhat consoled by realizing that the time of the end is not directed at the Godly, but rather against godless evil men who dominate our world.  And it is most encouraging to realize that this time of tribulation will be followed by a new world characterized by vastly improved morals, ethics, and spirituality. Our material age will be ended, and the kingdom of God will come to rule the nations of the world.

 

 

 

 

         

 

 

 

 

 

 

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