In 2 Peter 3:10-13, the Bible says, "But the day of the Lord will
come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a
great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the
earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." {11}"Therefore,
since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought
you to be in holy conduct and godliness," {12}"looking for and hastening
the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be
dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?"
{13}"Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and
a new earth in which righteousness dwells."
This passage teaches that the end of the world will: 1) Come
unexpectedly; 2) Involve the destruction of the present universe; 3) Be
motivation to live godly and look forward to the day; 4) Usher in a new
order of existence for God's people.
The Bible compares the end of the world to the time when Jerusalem
was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70 (Matthew 24:3-51). The same sense
of urgency and godly living that is highlighted in 2 Peter 3, is also
spoken of in Matthew 24.
The end of the present world is tied strongly to the Second Coming of
Christ (2 Thessalonians 1:7-12). In 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18, the Bible
says, "For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in
Christ will rise first." {17}"Then we who are alive and remain shall be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.
And thus we shall always be with the Lord." {18)"Therefore comfort one
another with these words." This passage shows that the resurrected
saints will forever go and be with the Lord at the end of the present
world.
The Bible says that at the end of the world Jesus will deliver the
kingdom and the authority He has over it to God the Father (1
Corinthians 1:23-28). This is the culmination of the word of Jesus and
His disciples on earth as the church is transformed into the fullness of
being the bride of Christ (Revelation 19:7-9; 21:1-9; 22:17).
The Bible says that though this world will come to an end, there will
be no end to the kingdom that belongs to the Lord (Luke 1:33). In
Hebrews 6:11 "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence
to the full assurance of hope until the end." Therefore, those
who are members of the kingdom of God and are diligent in the Lord's
service until the end of time on earth will be received into heaven
(Revelation 2:25-29). Until that time the Bible tells the Christian to
be, "serious and watchful in prayer...", in view of the end (1 Peter
4:7). In any event, we should understand that the Lord alone is in
control of when and how the end of the world comes (Revelation 22:13).