THE END OF ALL THINGS Eschatology is the study or knowledge of last things. By its very nature, it tends to thrust men into speculation and profitless areas of thought. Curiosity and intellectual novelty often find an open door when men approach this subject. Notwithstanding this propensity, we must not draw back from a sober consideration of the grand conclusion of "all things." -- Tomorrow:
"The end of all things is at hand; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God" ( Peter 4:7-10, NASB)
AN OBJECTIVE KINGDOM
The Kingdom of God is an objective one. Divine purpose is being fulfilled among the sons of men! A plan conceived before the foundation of the world is in the process of completion within the very domain governed by Satan, the "prince of this world" (John 12:31; 14:20; 16:11). "Principalities and powers in heavenly places" are privy to the fulfillment of this objective, and it is a grand sight to behold (Eph 3:9-10). The Scriptures provide us with key events pertaining to the fulfillment of this purpose. They verify that "nothing is too hard for the Lord" (Jer 32:17). In Scripture, as well as in personal experience, it is confirmed, "the LORD'S hand is not so short that it cannot save; neither is His ear so dull that it cannot hear" (Isa 59:1).
Think of how the Lord's Christ was brought into the world in spite of the focused murder of holy people from "righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, the son of Berechiah" (Matt 23:35). Obstacles, like the people of God in hard bondage, barren women, the slaughter of infants, and a deluge of false and aggressive prophets could not stop the coming of the Savior into the world. Jew and Gentile were brought into one God-glorifying body under what appeared to be impossible circumstances. Satan was defeated by means of death, and the Law that was against us was taken out of the way. All of this was the fulfillment of Divine intention. God's purposes are always brought to culmination. How well it is stated through Isaiah the prophet. "Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, Declaring the end from the beginning And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, 'My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure'; Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it" (Isa 46:9-11).
When we address of "the end of all things," we are dealing with the grand culmination of God's purpose in all of its details. He will then be "justified in all of His sayings." He will "overcome" in an obvious manner (Rom 3:4). What He has determined shall be brought to completion in the most precise manner. Not one jot or tittle will be omitted in the fulfillment of His will.
SHROUDED IN MYSTERY?
Because of the tendency of men to speculate in the consideration of "last things," some have chosen to ignore them. Such individuals take the position that little or nothing can be known of these "things." There are no real signs of "last things," they affirm, and therefore they treat them as though they were inconsequential. There is a principle declared in Scripture that touches upon this subject. "Surely the Lord GOD does nothing Unless He reveals His secret counsel To His servants the prophets" (Amos 3:7). Whether it is for blessing or cursing, reward or judgment, the Lord takes measures to ensure people can be ready. If they are caught "unawares," it is not because they had to be. Hardness of heart obscures Divine intent more than a lack of revelation.
This principle is seen in the appearance of Jesus to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Heb 9:26). When Jesus was born, "there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel." Because of that expectation, and the presence of the Holy Spirit upon Him, "it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ" (Luke 2:25-26). When he saw "Holy Child" and blessed Mary and Joseph, an elderly widow named Anna, who fasted and prayed continually in the temple, "began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem" (Luke 2:38, NASB). If people were sensitive to the working of the Lord, there was evidence of the appearing of the Messiah. John the Baptist was sent to "prepare the way of the Lord" by bringing that expectation to a peak.
When Jesus was challenged by the religious leaders to show them a sign, He upbraided them for being obtuse, and unable to detect the signs around them. "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.' And in the morning, 'There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Do you know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but cannot discern the signs of the times?" (Matt 16:2-3). There were indicators, Divinely appointed, that loudly declared the Messiah was among them – but they could not perceive them. Their hearts were hard, and thus their perceptive powers were dull and incapable of seeing the sign.
If that was true of Christ's first appearance, is there a soul amongst us naive enough to believe Christ's "appearance the second time" will have no indicators? I suppose some learned scribes could have cited previous periods of time when similar signs existed. They could have reasoned there was nothing truly unique about the times in which they lived. However learned their explanations might have been, they would have been 100% wrong!
The point to be seen is this: God does not burst upon men without warning. They must, however, be alert and sensitive. Their ears must be pointed toward heaven, and their eyes looking upward. If the mighty God readied men for the entrance of Jesus into the world the first time, is there a thinking person who will dare to assume He would not do the same in regard to the Lord's appearance "the second time" (Heb 9:28)?
I have often heard men say Christ's second coming and the end of the world will not be attended by signs or indicators. Some dare to chide people for believing such things, offering paltry explanations of passages of Scripture that contradict their silted opinions. It is not possible to overstate the seriousness of such misrepresentations, or the damage they bring to the hearts of men. We will find this approach contradicts the thrust of revelation and the nature of God.
When John the Baptist was preparing the way for the Lord's Christ, "the people were in a state of expectation" (Luke 3:15). They sensed something was in the wind, so to speak. The power and preaching of John the Baptist brought that expectation to a high level. The reason for his ministry was the preparation of the way of the Lord! It is God's manner to do things this way! Divinely appointed events are preceded by appointed preparations and indicators.
EMBRACES SEVERAL MAIN BODIES OF REVELATION
A review of last things is all-encompassing. Time will not allow an adequate coverage of these things. It will be of profit, however, to mention some of the areas addressed by "the end of all things." This involves more than an abrupt conclusion, although it is true that "the end" will be abrupt. Words like fulfillment, conclusion, completion, finish, accomplishment, achievement, and realization are associated with "the end." The grand objective of God will then be brought to culmination.
Some of the matters associated with "the end of all things" are good to ponder. They speak of a heavenly objective that will be brought to a full and final conclusion. Think of The Return of the Lord Jesus, the destruction of the heavens and the earth, Divine objectives for the Jews and Gentiles, the overthrow of apostate Christendom, the removal of the devil, the final overthrow of death in the resurrection, the reward of the saints, the punishment of the wicked, and the fulfillment of the Prophets. This is not to mention the complete frustration of Satan's intentions, the maturity of the saints, and the justification of God in all of His sayings. We have, to be sure, come to a "large room" (Psalm 31:8) in the consideration of "the end of all things."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to approach the subject of "the end" in a state of great alertness of heart and mind.