Bible prophecy: The End Is a New Beginning

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If there is no hope of life after death, we would be foolish to give our lives to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:19). Teachings about the future are an important part of the Christian faith. The Bible announces wonderful good news for us. Since some of the details are not clear, we need to focus on the main message.

The purpose of prophecy

Prophecy is not only information about the future — it has a more important purpose. It encourages us today that life has meaning and purpose, even though life can be difficult. We can be full of hope, because God is preparing us for a wonderful future of love, joy, peace, and prosperity.

God inspired prophecy to be in the Bible not only to tell us things in advance, but also to point us toward God. It tells us who God is, what he is like, what he is doing, and what he wants us to do. Many prophecies have already been fulfilled, and we are still waiting for some to happen.

Prophecy is part of God’s larger purpose for humanity — he wants to live with us forever, sharing in his life of love. Prophecy helps in that by pointing us to Christ and salvation in him. Prophecy strengthens our faith in Christ (John 14:29) and gives us hope for the future (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).[1]

If we don’t accept the salvation that Jesus gives us, it won’t do us any good to know the future. It is only through Christ that we can be part of the kingdom that will last forever (Daniel 7:13-14, 27). Bible prophecy tells us:

• • God is in control of history (Daniel 4:17)
  • Christ will return
  • he will be the judge and the king
  • God wants us to live forever (2 Peter 3:9)
  • he has saved us (1 John 2:1-2)
  • all evil will be defeated, all injustice and suffering will end (1 Corinthians 15:25; Revelation 21:4).
  • our work is not in vain – it has purpose
  • God will reward us.

Prophecy tells us that money (and things that money can buy) is not important in the long run. Prophecy encourages us to value our relationship with God — that’s what will last forever. He will be faithful to us, so we can be faithful to him (2 Peter 3:10-15; 1 John 3:2-3). Prophecy should turn us to God, who has a wonderful future for us; it is not for our curiosity.

Prophecy also warns people: There will be a judgment. People who don’t want Christ will not be happy that he is in charge. Prophecy encourages people to repent (Zechariah 1:3-4). God may predict punishment, but he will bless instead, if the people repent (Jonah 3:10; see also Jeremiah 18:7-10).

The return of Christ and the final judgment

The key event of the future is the return of Christ. Jesus told his disciples he would “come again” (John 14:3). He also warned his disciples not to waste their time trying to figure out when that will be (Matthew 24:36). He criticized people who thought that time was short (Matthew 25:1-13). He also criticized people who thought there would be a long delay (Matthew 24:45-51). No matter what, our responsibility is the same: to be ready.

When Jesus rose into heaven, angels told the disciples that Jesus would also return (Acts 1:11). His return is “the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13). Peter said that Jesus would be “revealed” (1 Peter 1:7, 13). Hebrews 9:28 says that he “will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.”

There will be “a cry of command, with the archangel’s call and with the sound of God’s trumpet” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). It will be obvious to everyone.

Two other events will occur when Christ returns: the resurrection and the judgment. Dead Christians will rise when Jesus returns, and those who are alive will rise to meet him (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). “At the last trumpet,” Paul writes, “the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52). We will be made glorious, powerful and we will never die (verses 42-44).

Christ “will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other (Matthew 24:31). Jesus will send out his angels at the end of the age, “and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers” (Matthew 13:40-41). Some will be chosen as “his elect”; evildoers will be sent away (see also Matthew 25:31-46).

Jesus will come with his angels, “and then he will repay everyone for what has been done” (Matthew 16:27). When the master returns, there will be a judgment (Matthew 24:45-51; 25:14-30).

The Lord “will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive commendation from God” (1 Corinthians 4:5). God already knows each person, and in that sense, judgment is already under way. But then it will be made public for everyone to see.

The fact that we will live again, and that we will be rewarded, is a great encouragement. After discussing the resurrection, Paul exclaims:

Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord because you know that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:57-58)

The last days

Some people ask, “Are we living in the last days?” The answer is “yes”—and it has been correct for 2,000 years. Peter quoted a prophecy about the last days and said it applied to his own day (Acts 2:16-17). So did the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:2). On the cross, Jesus triumphed over the enemy and began a new age.

Wars and troubles have plagued humanity for thousands of years. Will it get worse? Probably. Then it might get better, and then worse again. Or it will get better for some people and worse for others. The misery index goes up and down throughout history, and this will continue.

But through the ages, it seems that some Christians want it to get worse. They almost hope for a Great Tribulation, the worst time of trouble the world will ever see (Matthew 24:21). They are fascinated with the Antichrist, the Beast, the man of sin, and other enemies of God. They often think that news events indicate that Christ will soon return.

Jesus predicted a time of terrible tribulation (Matthew 24:21). Most of what he predicted in Matthew 24 happened during the siege of Jerusalem, A.D. 70. Jesus was warning his disciples about events that they would live to see. People in Judea would need to flee (verse 16).

Jesus predicted constant tribulation until his return. “In the world you face persecution,” Jesus said (John 16:33). Many of his disciples gave their lives for their belief in Jesus. Trials are part of the Christian life; God does not protect us from all our problems (Acts 14:22; 2 Timothy 3:12; 1 Peter 4:12). Even in the first century, antichrists were at work (1 John 2:18, 22; 2 John 7).

Is a Great Tribulation predicted for the future? Many Christians believe so. But millions of Christians throughout the world face persecution today. Many are killed. For each of them, the tribulation cannot get any worse than it already is. Terrible times have afflicted Christians for two thousand years.

Our Christian responsibilities are the same whether the Tribulation is near or far. Speculations about the details do not help us become more like Christ; they are not a good use of our time.

The millennium

Revelation 20 speaks of a 1,000-year reign of Christ and the saints, followed by a rebellion (verses 1-9). Some Christians interpret this literally as a 1,000-year kingdom of Christ. Others view it figuratively, as a poetic way of referring to the rule of Christ in the church before his return.

The number 1,000 may be used as a general large round number (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 50:10). There is no way to prove that it means exactly 1,000 in Revelation. Revelation is written in highly figurative and poetic language. No other scriptures say that a temporary kingdom will be set up when Christ returns. Daniel 2:44 suggests that the kingdom will be eternal, without any crisis 1,000 years later.

After the 1,000-year kingdom, the wicked will be raised and judged (Revelation 20:5). But Jesus’ parables suggest that the good and the bad are judged at the same time (Matthew 13:49; 25:31-46; John 5:28-29). The millennium was not part of Jesus’ gospel. Paul wrote that the righteous and the wicked will be raised on the same day (2 Thessalonians 1:6-10).

Scriptures can be found in support of each view.[2] But this much is clear: The time period described in Revelation 20 will come to an end. It will be followed by an eternal and glorious new heavens and new earth, which are far better. When we think about the wonderful world tomorrow, we should focus on the eternal, perfect kingdom!

An eternity of joy

What will eternity be like? We know only in part (1 Corinthians 13:9; 1 John 3:2), partly because all our words are based on the world today. Jesus described our eternal reward in several ways: It will be like

• • finding a treasure,
  • inheriting many possessions,
  • ruling a kingdom,
  • attending a wedding banquet.

It is like all these things, but much better. Our eternity with God will be better than our words can describe.

David said: “In your presence there is fullness of joy; in your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11). The best part of eternity will be living with God, being like him, seeing him as he really is, knowing him more fully (1 John 3:2). This is the purpose for which God made us, and this will satisfy us and give us joy forevermore.

And in 10,000 years, with zillions yet to come, we will look back on our lives today, marveling at how quickly God did his work in us. It was only the beginning, and there will be no end.

Endnotes

[1] For more on this, see “How to Interpret Prophecy,” at https://learn.gcs.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=4271.

[2] For details, see “Three Views of the Millennium,” at https://learn.gcs.edu/mod/page/view.php?id=4275

Author: Michael Morrison, updated 2025