The World Will Not End in 2012, or Anytime Soon

After living for over half a century, passing through the alignment of the planets and Y2K, I'm hearing it again. This time rabble has it that the world will end in 2012. Once that passes, there will be other "discoveries" made and years set. Based on the Holy Bible, the world will not be destroyed until a set number of years are completed in the distant future from the initial publication of this article. However, some other things will definitely end, which all of us must be aware of.

We do have to realize that the physical world will end as it is at some point. By the Holy Spirit, Peter (2 Peter 3:10) writes, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." While that seems quite harsh, one should read in Revelation 21 and 22 about what follows the destruction of the earth. It is something to look forward to if one is ready.

World Vs. Age

So why do I assert that the Holy Bible clearly shows the physical world will not end in 2012, but that time is reserved for the distant future from the initial publication of this article?

First, let us clear up a matter regarding wording. In the New Testament (N.T.), which was written in Koine (Common) Greek, there are three Greek words which can be translated as "world," one of which is "aion." W. E. Vine¹ describes its meaning as, "An age, a period of time, marked in the N.T. usage by spiritual or moral characteristics..." From "aion," we get the English "aeon," meaning an immeasurably or indefinitely long period of time, age.

The phrase, "end(s) of the world," found in some versions occurs seven times in the New Testament: Matthew 13:39, 13:9, 24:3, 28:20, Romans 10:18, 1 Corinthians 10:11 and Hebrews 9:26. Except for Romans 10:18, the word for "world" is aion. The Greek word in Romans 10:18 means the inhabited earth where it is used to point out that the Gospel had been proclaimed great distances from Jerusalem.

Numerous events and conditions are prophesied by Christ Matthew 24, and if one is using an older translation, considering current events they can readily think that the world will soon be destroyed. But in verse 3, according to the actual Greek, the disciples did not ask Christ about the end of the world, but about the end of the age.

Many who study the Word of God feel there are a number of ages the earth must pass through before its destruction and re-creation. Some, like myself, see seven or eight time periods.

We are currently in the Age of the Church, or what some call the Age of Grace. Looking at the various ages that have occurred, each age concluded and the next began when certain significant events took place. For example, the first age, the Age of Innocence (or Paradise) ended with the sin of Adam and the promise of redemption from sins (Genesis 3:16).

Regarding the Church Age, many like myself feel the rapture of the true Church will mark its end². For those unfamiliar with the term, "rapture," the term expresses the truths found in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. "Rapture" is not based on a Greek word, but a Latin word used in the Vulgate that is equivalent to the Greek word for the term "caught up" in verse 17.

Given the fact that Israel was politically and geographically restored in 1948 (Isaiah 66:8), many of us feel the end of the Church Age, but not the world (earth), draws near. Though the earth will not be destroyed in the near future, given the description of the next age, those here for that next time period might wish it had been destroyed.

The next age, which some call "The Great Tribulation," can begin at anytime, which might, or might not happen, in 2012. Again, the fact that Israel is back on the map means the Temple could very well be rebuilt, which, in turn, would provide the fulfillment of 2 Thessalonians 2:4 where the Antichrist sits in the Temple, declaring himself to be God.

Seven Years

The ancient prophecy in Daniel 9:24-27 indicates God levied seventy sevens (translated weeks in some versions) upon His people, the Jews, and upon Jerusalem, as written in verse 24, "...to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy."

Though the Hebrew for "sevens" may be translated as "weeks," it can mean a set of seven years³, which the wording of Daniel 9:24-27 points to. Reading the passage carefully, we see Messiah would be cut off (which could mean killed) at the end of the 69th seven (seven sevens, and sixty-two sevens). Christ was crucified around 33AD. That left one set of seven years to be completed.

Verse 27 states, "And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate."

Based upon Christ's prophecies (Matthew 24:15) and other Scriptures, the "he" in verse 27 is the Antichrist, better known in Revelation as the Beast. We see from this verse that he will make an agreement with the Jews for seven years. The creation of that agreement starts the beginning of those seven years.

However, verse 27 shows the Antichrist (the Beast) will break that agreement after 3 and one-half years. The Jewish people will then face their darkest days, while the world goes through successive judgments from God. Both Old and New Testament prophecies state the nations of the world will then come against Israel. Armageddon will take place, and the Lord Christ Himself will appear. Revelation 19:20-21 states that then, "...the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshiped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh."

As of the date of the creation of this article, this last seven years of Daniel 9 has not occurred. Instead, the Church Age, or Age of Grace, came in.

Thinking in sets of seven years instead of weeks is supported by Daniel 8:14, 12:11, 12:12, Revelation 11:3, and 12:6, where the amount of days listed in each verse roughly corresponds to three and one-half years (the midst of the week).

Plus 1,000 Years

We read in Revelation 20 that after His victory at Armageddon Christ will physically rule on earth for 1,000 years. This, of course, is another time period, quite often referred to as the Millennial Reign. Israel will expand its borders (Ezekiel 48:1-29) and Jerusalem will be the capital of the world (Isaiah 24:23). If you are a non-Jew reading this who perhaps lives in Palestine, Lebanon, or some other country or territory that will be affected, according to Ezekiel, God will not forget nor neglect you. Depending upon certain conditions, you or your posterity could also dwell in the land.

One of the most important things about the Millennial Reign, and an objective of the previous time period, the Great Tribulation, is the spiritual salvation of the Jews that survived past Armageddon. If you will, please read at least Zechariah 12, especially verses 9 to 14.

Anymore, when I read that precious passage, tears come to my eyes, for it speaks of the spiritual salvation of the Israeli survivors of Armageddon. Note particularly verse 10: "And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn."

Jesus who was born in Bethlehem, known as Jesus (Yeshua) of Nazareth, Christ (Messiah), testified by the Apostles and Scripture itself to be the only begotten Son of God, pierced by Roman soldiers due to the will of certain Jews who would not commit to Him and accept. His Messiahship, will appear. The merciful grace of God shall be poured upon that Israeli remnant. Additional prophecies indicate non-Israelis will also commit to Christ.

Also, not only will Christ reign, but He will place under His authority throughout the earth those who had truly committed to Him prior to Armageddon (2 Timothy 2:12, Jude 14-15). All the kingdoms of the world will yield to this theocracy (Daniel 2:35, Revelation 11:15), the result being peace on earth for 1,000 years.

Well, certainly this has not occurred, so add 1,000 years before the destruction of the earth.

And A Little More

When I was a little tyke I heard that Armageddon was the final war. However, if we objectively read Revelation we will see future events for the most part in sequential order, at least from Revelation 19 to the conclusion of the book. Armageddon occurs in Revelation 19, but in Revelation 20:7-9 we see a battle involving Gog and Magog.

The actual length of this final battle is unknown. If Revelation 20:7-9 is a summary statement of Ezekiel 38:8 through much of chapter 39, then based upon Ezekiel 39:9 and 12 one might add at least just under eight years to the previous figures.

Summing Things Up

Mathematically, the seven years with the Millennial Reign and the final war add up to something over 1,007 years. This length of time automatically diminishes once the Antichrist makes that covenant with Israel as mentioned in Daniel 9:27. However, if you are not truly committed to Christ, in the merciful love of God I caution you that you have no reason to relax.

While the world will not be completely destroyed in the near future, if Christ is not your personal Savior and King your "world" can end at anytime. For example, Revelation 13 indicates that during the next age at some point you will not be able to buy or sell unless you have the mark of the Beast, managed by the False Prophet, on your forehead or your right hand. Your refusal to take the mark is your death sentence. If you do not have Christ as your Savior, looking at Revelation 5 to 19 the next time period will be worse than any other time in your life that you have gone through.

Aside from this, any of us can leave this physical life at any time. During our stay on earth we have the opportunity to join with, and stay with, Christ. By committing to Christ, God grants us the right to inherit Eternal Life (Matthew 9:29). Christ Himself in John 14:6 clearly said that He was the only way to the Father. In Christ's own words, without Him as our personal Savior we are already condemned (John 3:17). The belief required on our part is much more than mental assent (James 2:19), but requires our loving, trusting complete surrender to Him (Matthew 11:28-30, 13:44-46, Mark 10:15, Luke 14:33).

I strongly urge you to trust Him today. For those who are truly surrendered to Him, let us do what we can to be the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13) and the light of the world (Matthew 5:14) before our time expires, one way or the other.

Notes:

¹Vine, W. E.: An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words (Flemming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, NJ: 1966), Vol. 4, pp 233-234

²I am aware of the various views as to when the rapture will occur in respect to the Great Tribulation. I personally hold to the pre-tribulation position with modification. Regardless of what is believed, the point of all such prophecy is to be ready.

³Wilson, William: Wilson's Old Testament Word Studies (MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, VA: no year noted), pp 385 and 477

Final Comment: The purpose of this article is expressed in its title. Therefore no attempt was made to explore every theory, viewpoint and possibility regarding the rapture of the church, the Great Tribulation, or any other component of eschatology.