I’m sure many people have noticed that a lot of Christians are connecting the current situation in the world to the End Times and the rise of the Antichrist. If you have religious friends or have Christianity as an interest you probably have seen numerous Facebook posts and Tweets that speak about us living just before the End. Many Christians are very excited about what is going on in the world. However, most people, including some Christians, think it is crazy for someone to be excited about the end of the world. Doesn’t the Bible say that it will be a time of horror? How could someone be excited about a time period that it will be full of death and destruction? Shouldn’t Christians just concentrate on the here and now or just converting people to Christ?
I understand why many people think like this. However, I believe that this comes from a misunderstanding of what Scripture teaches about the “end of the world.” The point of Scripture’s teaching on the End Times is not the atrocities or the Antichrist, but what comes afterwards. This age will come to an end with the return of Jesus Christ, and Christians should be excited about this event. Why? Here is a short list of what Christians can expect after “the end of the world”:
- A purification of our bodies. Christians know this as the resurrection body which we receive at our Lord’s return (1 Corinthians 15:52). Many Christians think we will be spiritual beings floating around on the clouds forever, but this is false. Scripture clearly teaches a physical resurrection and Paul says that these bodies will be like Christ’s. Yes, Paul calls our resurrection bodies “spiritual” and says that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 15:44, 50). However, in-depth studies have shown that most readers have misinterpreted these phrases. Spiritual is referring to the fact that our resurrection bodies will be led and filled with the Holy Spirit and “flesh and blood” is speaking about our current sinful bodies under the curse. See my article “What will the Resurrection Body be like” for more on this topic.
- The animal kingdom will also be renewed when Christ returns. Romans 8:18-23 tells us that all of creation will be liberated from the effects of sin when Christians receive their resurrection bodies. “Creation” in this context clearly refers to the subhuman world including both animals and the environment. For more see my series of articles on the New Earth beginning with part 1.
- The curse will be removed. This is taught in Romans 8:18-23 and in Revelation 22:3. The curse that was laid down in Genesis 3 is reversed. This means that all of the results of the curse, including disease, wars, famines, family problems, depression, and death (and others) will be removed from God’s creation.
Think about it. A world without disease, wars, divorce, suffering, ISIS, drug lords, Nazis, and death. Who would not be excited about that? To accuse Christians of being crazy because they want a perfect, sinless world where they can live with the Creator for all eternity makes no sense. You either do not understand Christian theology or you hate God.
What do you think? Are you excited about the return of Christ? I am.
