CHAPTER 14
THE LAST THINGS
Many children are very interested in what will happen at the end of the world. Lots of people are ready to give lots of answers. On things that really matter the Bible is very, very clear.
This world will not go on for ever. One day it will be burned up by fire. God has promised that He will never drown the world again—whenever we see the rainbow in the sky we are reminded of this—but He will one day destroy it by fire.
Where many people have gone wrong—even good people—is in trying to fix a date. In the past all kinds of dates have been suggested; but they have come and gone, and nothing has happened. The year 1870 was one date that various people suggested as the end of the world. Well, girls and boys who enjoy history at school will know that all kinds of important things did happen in 1870; but that is now over a hundred years ago, and the world still goes on.
Lots of guesses do not do any good, especially when the important things are clear. It was the Lord Jesus Himself who spoke so much about the end of the world—and what He has not told us, it is best not to try to find out.
Before the world ends His second coming will take place. He once came as a baby to Bethlehem (His first coming) and He will come again at the end of time (His second coming). Though there are many mysterious things the Lord made four things very clear:
He will come personally. Just as He bodily ascended into heaven, so bodily, personally He will return to the earth (Acts 1: 11).
He will come in great glory—not as He once came, a helpless babe, but with all the holy angels with Him (Matthew 24: 30, 31; Mark 13: 26).
His coming will be visible—everyone will see Him return. It will not be a hidden, secret thing (Luke 17: 24; Revelation 1:7).
His coming again is certain. Whatever people say, Jesus will come again (Mark 13: 31; Luke 21: 33).
Many children have heard people talk about 'the millenium'. Whatever is the millenium? The word itself means 'a thousand years', and godly people have been divided in their beliefs about the 'thousand years' (mentioned in Revelation 20).
Some believe that Jesus will come again, and then reign personally on Earth for 1000 years. Then the end of the world will come.
Some believe that there will be 1000 years (or a very long time) of great blessing on Earth; then Jesus will come. Then the world will end.
Some believe there will not be any 1000 years of blessing, but Jesus will come, and that will be the end.
Good people have believed each of the three views but we cannot feel that Jesus will veil His glory a second time to reign personally on Earth. We believe the coming of Jesus will usher in the end of all things, and the judgement day.
At the end of all things, not only will the world be destroyed but all people who have ever lived will be judged. Jesus Himself will be the Judge. Some will still be alive when Jesus comes; those who are dead, righteous and wicked, will rise from the dead—body and soul will be united.
The Lord Jesus as Judge will set all His people on the right hand. He will say to them, 'Come in, ye blessed,' and they will enter Heaven for ever and ever. Heaven is a beautiful place—no sin, no sorrow, no suffering. The glory of heaven is the Lord Jesus Himself. All are perfectly happy.
The rest, on Jesus' left hand, will be cast into hell for ever and ever. Jesus will say, 'Depart, ye cursed.' They will suffer and be in pain; this is the punishment for their sin against God.
Let us be clear. God's people do not go to Heaven because they are any better but because through God's grace they are saved.
A girl or a boy often asks, 'What happens when we die?' Our souls immediately go back to God and enter Heaven or hell; our bodies lie in the grave until the resurrection at the end of time.
You might ask: but what about those whose bodies have been burned, or eaten by wild beasts or cannibals? Our only answer is: what is impossible for us is easy with God. A few pieces of a jigsaw puzzle a little boy can easily gather together; so it is an easy thing for God to gather together every particle of our bodies, whatever has happened to them.
An old lady once had an ugly looking bulb; she put it in the ground, and in the spring there was a beautiful flower. She was reminded that this is the way the Lord speaks of the resurrection of His people (1 Corinthians 15: 35-38; 42-44). When the Lord Jesus spoke (as He did so often) about the last things—death, His second coming, the end of the world—it was never just to interest people, or amuse them, or to answer silly questions. He always added: 'Be ye therefore ready,' or, 'Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.'
A Christian lady had a wicked husband who never went to church or chapel or read the Bible. One day he became most interested in what would happen at the end of the world. He began to spend all day reading the Bible, and his wife was delighted. But, sad to say, his life was no different: he never prayed; he never went to chapel; he went on in his wicked ways. It was just a hobby like gardening or woodwork. We do not want to be like that.
The parables Jesus told (like The Ten Virgins, or The Man Without the Wedding Garment) all clearly teach that we need to be ready.
Then what is it to be ready for when Jesus comes— either when we die, or the second coming? Jesus said, 'Ye must be born again.' If you are born again of the Holy Spirit, you will repent, you will be sorry for your sins and turn from them; and you will believe in the Lord Jesus and ask Him to forgive you and take you to heaven. We need the Lord Jesus to make us ready, washing us in His precious blood, and clothing us in the wedding garment of His righteousness.
To God's people the second coming will be a most wonderful and blessed time; it will be the time when all God's purposes are complete and He will be glorified for ever and ever.
Years ago a boy had spent much of the weekend talking about the second coming to an old minister who was staying at his house. Much was said and many questions were asked. On the Monday morning the boy took the old man to the station. As his train was pulling in he turned to his young friend and said, 'We have talked a lot about the second coming but the vital thing is to have an interest in His first coming.'
Prepare me, gracious God
To stand before Thy face . . .
In Christ's obedience clothe,
And wash me in His blood;
So shall I lift my head with joy
Among the sons of God.
Suggested Bible readings
Matthew 24: 36-42.
Matthew 25: 1-13.
1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18.
Revelation 7: 9-17.
Revelation 20: 11-15.