The End of the World and the Bible

<h1>The End of the World and the Bible</h1>

by Robin Calamaio

<div align=justify>THE END OF THE WORLD AND THE BIBLE 
 
Robin Calamaio 
 
 
 
Introduction 
 
 Many people believe the world is approaching its end. Some think it will be destroyed by 
 
a nuclear or biological holocaust. Others believe some uncontrollable disease might arise because 
 
of overpopulation or pollution. Others fear a cosmic disaster, like a large meteor or a solar flare, 
 
or a hostile alien invasion, will one day bring our planet to ruin. One "think tank" annually 
 
presents a clock that shows how late they believe the hour to be. Recently, the time was set at 
 
five minutes until midnight. But, does the Bible address this subject? Is this earth doomed? If so, 
 
will this occur by man's hand, by natural disaster, or by some outside force? This Article 
 
investigates these questions. 
 
 There are two primary eschatological (end times) views in mainline Christianity. One view 
 
arises from Covenant Theology and the other from Dispensational Theology. These two 
 
systems of interpretation affect several areas of doctrine and practice in a general way, but the 
 
differences show up most markedly in their "End Times" teaching. In an attempt to fairly address 
 
this subject, I will first identify the broad planks of both systems. Please realize there are 
 
factions under the broad umbrella of each system. The second part identifies the common 
 
teachings of both systems - what they agree on. The third part addresses the primary differences 
 
between both systems. The forth part discusses the root cause of these differences. 
 
 
 
Broad Planks 
 
 Covenant Theology maintains there is only one Covenant (agreement) between God and 
 
man. It is a faith covenant. Covenant theologians developed a concept of "progressive 
 
revelation." From Genesis through Revelation, God progressively revealed more and more of 
 
His will, ways, and wants. People have always been called to respond by faith to whatever level 
 
of information they had. This faith response, or lack of it, has always determined one's 
 
relationship and standing with God. People of every age are either believers or unbelievers. Race 
 
and nationality are non issues. 
 
 Dispensational Theology emphasizes distinct historical periods when God implements a 
 
particular agreement - a unique agreement - with a particular group or person. This forms a 
 
Dispensation. Each Dispensation has its own required response for those under it. Some teach 
 
there are three (3) Dispensations while others say ten (10), but the most common teaching 
 
identifies seven (7). In that dominant faction, we are currently in the sixth (6th) Dispensation - 
 
the 
 
Church Age. In this system, Israel plays a major role in the end times. 
 
 If we first examine common teachings between the Covenant and Dispensational 
 
theologies, the importance of their differences can then be ascertained more accurately. I am 
 
deliberately targeting agreement in the "End Times" area. Adherents to either of the factions 
 
agree in much more than what is listed below. 
 
 
 
Common Teachings 
 
The Person of Christ 
 
 Both systems place Jesus Christ as the One before whom all end time events conclude. He 
 
will physically return to earth. He will conduct the Final Judgement. Everyone who has ever 
 
lived will be resurrected and the spirit/soul will be reunited with the body. These bodies will be 
 
indestructible. Every deed, word and thought will be accounted for. Believers will be pardoned 
 
for wrongdoings (by the blood of Christ), and rewarded for service. Unbelievers have no such 
 
hope. The Judgement is followed by an eternally fixed state, body and soul, in heaven or hell. 
 
 
 
Condition of the World before Christ Returns 
 
 The world will be in general moral decay before Jesus returns. Like Noah's day, violence 
 
will fill the earth. Like Sodom and Gomorrah, homosexuality will be prevalent (Gen 6:5,11 and 
 
19:1-29 with Lk 17:22-35. When homosexuality is in the open, all other sin behaviors are in full 
 
bloom. God's wrath is on the way - at least for that society [Ps 9:17 and I Cor 10:11]. This is 
 
why Christians resist open homosexuality.) 
 
 
 
The Destiny of This Earth and Universe 
 
 Both systems agree that Jesus is currently preserving our world. It is being reserved for 
 
fire. The heavens and earth will be melted down and recreated (II Pet 3:7-13). The new heavens 
 
and earth will be eternal and very different from our current order. There will be no decay (Ro 
 
8:19-22) and no longer any curse (Gen 3:17-19 and Rev 22:3). There will be no need for the sun 
 
or the moon's light (Rev 21:23) and yet, there will be no nighttime (Rev 21:1,25). Death will no 
 
longer exist. Mourning, crying and pain will pass away (Rev 21:4). All animals will peacefully 
 
coexist (Isa 11:6-9). Only righteousness will exist (II Pet 3:13 and Rev 21:8,27) with Jesus 
 
visibly ruling this active eternal state (Rev 22:5). The coming marvels are incomprehensible (Rev 
 
21:24 and I Cor 2:9). 
 
 
 
 These are just a few of the many points of agreement between the Covenant and 
 
Dispensational theologies. These are substantive. Differences center primarily on the specific 
 
events leading to the final Judgement. 
 
 
 
Primary Differences 
 
 Dispensational Theology (in most of its factions) makes a sharp distinction between 
 
Israel and the Church and believe the prophecies to ancient Israel must still be fulfilled. The 
 
future of the nation Israel is very prominent in this system (however, Historic premillennial 
 
Dispensationals do not make as sharp a distinction between Israel and the New Testament 
 
Church. They see many of the promises to Israel as conditional promises that Israel failed to 
 
attain. Many of those promises now fall to the New Testament Church). Premillennial, 
 
pretribulation Dispensationals believe the rapture of the Church is the next imminent event. 
 
This is when all believers are taken out of the world at the same moment. The earth is then void 
 
of all Christians and the Great Tribulation of seven (7) years begins (however, Historic, 
 
premillennial Dispensationals are posttribulational, meaning they believe the rapture of the 
 
Church and Christ's return occur at the same time. So ... the Church goes through the Great 
 
Tribulation). During the Great Tribulation, many horrible events occur. They include wars and 
 
persecutions, celestial disasters (a meteor, scorching heat, etc.), diseases, and natural disasters 
 
(huge hailstones, fire, volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.). See Revelation 6:1-17, 8:6 - 9:21, and 15:1 - 
 
16:21. Many are brought on by man, some are brought by angels (aliens to us), and some of these 
 
disasters are direct judgements from God. During the Tribulation, Israel becomes very prominent. 
 
The Temple has been rebuilt and the sacrificial system reinstituted. A revived Roman Empire 
 
arises forming a great economic and militaristic force. It is headed by the beast (Antichrist?) and 
 
a false prophet who displays great supernatural acts. During the Tribulation (halfway point) the 
 
Antichrist will set up his image in The Temple. This idolatry will cause a great uproar in 
 
Jerusalem followed by a great persecution of the Jews. In this distress, 144,000 Jewish 
 
evangelists arise (having recognized Jesus as the Messiah) and turn hoards of Gentiles to Christ. 
 
By the end of the seven (7) years, the armies of the world will gather in the valley of Armageddon 
 
to crush Israel. China even amasses a two-hundred million man army. Jesus then physically 
 
returns and crushes these armies. Babylon (the revived Roman Empire?) falls and the Antichrist 
 
and false prophet are damned. The Millennium (1000 year reign of Christ) then begins. Satan is 
 
bound, but at the completion of the 1000 years, he is released and instigates another rebellion 
 
which is crushed. The Final Judgement then takes place, followed by the eternal states. 
 
 Covenant Theology is simpler. For example, they maintain the world has always been in 
 
great tribulation. The world is simply moving to a point when God sees it like Noah's, or 
 
Sodom and Gomorrah's, time. God's patience then ends and Jesus returns for Judgement. This 
 
can happen right now. The rapture, resurrection of the dead, Final Judgement, and creation of the 
 
new heavens and earth, then occur. Everyone is then placed in his/her fixed, eternal state. 
 
Concerning the Millennium, they do not recognize a future, literal 1000 year rule of Christ. 
 
While referred to as Amillennialists (no millennium), they are actually, "Realized Millennialists." 
 
They maintain Jesus rules now. The Millennial rule began at the Resurrection (or before), and 
 
continues (See Jn 13:3). The 1000 year reign of Rev 20:4 is symbolic for Christ's current, and 
 
complete, reign. Concerning the nation Israel, they believe the true Israel is made up of all the 
 
people of faith. Christ came through the flesh Israel, but the true Israel has always been, and 
 
continues to be, made up of all believers regardless of nationality. Therefore the current nation of 
 
Israel is no more special than any other nation. 
 
 
 
"Birth Pangs" 
 
 There are many factions under the Dispensational umbrella. But one of Jesus' statements 
 
may be helpful here. He compared the end time events to "birth pangs" (Mt 24:8). All the end 
 
time positions (Covenant, Idealists, Preterists, Postmillennialists, Dispensationalists, etc.) are 
 
disagreeing over "birth pangs" (how many, what type, by whom, duration, etc.), but not on "the 
 
birth" that is coming! And just as a mother forgets the birth pangs once the child arrives, so 
 
also, when this age concludes, the pains will be forgotten as the redeemed will be occupied with 
 
the joys of God's eternal Kingdom (Rev 21:4). 
 
 
 
Root Causes of the Differences 
 
 How literal is prophetic scripture to be understood? The way this is answered determines 
 
what camp of interpretation one winds up in. Covenant Theology treats prophetic scripture 
 
primarily as symbolic. Dispensational Theology treats prophetic scripture primarily as literal. 
 
Neither system is pure in their stance - it is all a matter of degree. For example, both groups 
 
agree that the Babylon of the Revelation is symbolic for some city or country or economic system, 
 
or something because everyone understands that Babylon will never be rebuilt (Jer 50:39,40). 
 
Dispensationals maintain they are still handling prophetic scripture literally because this Old 
 
Testament prophesy makes it clear that there will never be a "real" Babylon again. But what 
 
about the 7 heads and 10 horns = the revived Roman Empire (Rev 13:1), or the weeks of Daniel = 
 
years (Dan 9:24-27), or Gog and Magog = Russia and Moscow (Rev 20:8)? Even the most literal 
 
of the Dispensationals acknowledge many symbols in prophetic scripture - in both the New and 
 
Old Testaments. Historic Premillennial Dispensationals even think the 1000 year reign of 
 
Revelation 20 is to be understood symbolically. So the real question is this: how do we know 
 
what prophetic scripture is symbolic and what is literal? I have no answer for this, but here are 
 
three important observations. 
 
 
 
1) God knows what is literal and what is symbolic. He may choose to grant insight to some 
 
Christians, but it is clear that many are teaching what they believe God has taught them, but 
 
indeed has not. For those who are not sure of being granted special insight into this type of 
 
scripture, it may be best to become familiar with all the various positions, without committing to 
 
any. Then see how things develop if you are around for it. I think this is the Pantheist position. 
 
It will all pan out in the end. 
 
 
 
2) What appears clearly literal may not be. The classic example involves John the Baptist and 
 
the prediction about Elijah in Malachi 4. It is clearly stated that Elijah was to come "before the 
 
great and terrible day of the Lord." When Jesus was quizzed on this, He stated, "Elijah already 
 
came ...." The disciples then understood this prophecy was referring to John the Baptist (Mt 
 
17:10-13)! The New Testament reinterpreted this Old Testament prophecy as one coming in the 
 
"spirit and power of Elijah" (Lk 1:17). If one is a literalist, John the Baptist cannot be the 
 
fulfillment of Malachi 4. Therefore, Jesus is not the Messiah. And even if Elijah is one of the two 
 
witnesses of Revelation 11, that does not change the fact that Jesus identified John the Baptist as 
 
Malachi's Elijah. The point is this: what appeared to be a literal prophecy in the Old 
 
Testament turned out to be symbolic. There was no hint this was symbolic prophecy. If God can 
 
reveal after the fact that an apparently literal prophecy was indeed symbolic, does He have the 
 
authority to do that again? If He can do that with Malachi, can He do that with other Old 
 
Testament prophecies? What about New Testament prophecies? The answer is obvious. This 
 
calls for great caution when interpreting prophetic scripture. In light of this, one wonders if there 
 
is any room for dogmatism in prophecy. 
 
 
 
3) Prophetic scripture creates a dilemma for the Christian. The Bible's primary purpose is 
 
communication. Its information is more important than anything else in existence. But what 
 
good is it if it doesn't mean what it says? That is the dilemma. Many Christians do not want to 
 
accept any ambiguity in Scripture. Ambiguity is weakness. That is why people gravitate toward 
 
dogmatic preachers who have all the Bible answers. That is a secure environment with no gray - 
 
all is black or white. But two unfortunate scenarios arise from this. First, those under this type of 
 
dogmatism tend to cling to, and propagate, what the "leader" teaches without questioning it. 
 
Second, if the dogmatism is questioned, the questioner is soon ostracized. 
 
 
 
 Most Christians have only been exposed to one "End Times" teaching. Often, they do not 
 
even know other systems of interpretation exist. Usually they do not even know the 
 
presuppositions of their own system, much less hear of the weaknesses of their interpretations. 
 
Over the years, many Christians, and churches, have divided over this issue. Why didn't God 
 
simply state the entire end times scenario in absolute clarity? He knows the end from the 
 
beginning, so why didn't He just give unmistakable names and dates? Why the riddles? It may be 
 
that this area of scripture is a testing ground to see who will grant liberty for diversity on this 
 
nonessential doctrinal element. Therefore, those who are approved in Christ and those who are 
 
factious (and ultimately outside of Christ) may be exposed (I Cor11:19). 
 
 
 
Conclusion 
 
 One of these eschatological systems may be correct, or more correct, than the others. But 
 
they can't all be right. But even with the very different beliefs, they all do agree on the most 
 
important of points. This area of study is interesting and instructive. It is my hope this Article 
 
has been helpful. May God grant insight and balance to all who seek to know more about, "The 
 
End of the World and the Bible." Lord bless you. 
 
 
 
Copyright 1999</div>

Article source: <a href="http://www.ArticlePros.com/society_and_culture/religion/article-85734.html">ArticlePros.com</a>
 
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		About the author
		Christian since 1977. 
 
*B.A., Bus. Admin. (Milligan College '90), 
*Associate of Divinity (Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary '86), and 
*Master of Divinity (Emmanuel School of Religion '92). 
 
Major writings include: 
 "No Tithe for the Christian," 
 "Love and the Bible," 
 "Death and the Bible," 
 "Abortion: How (and Why) Abortion Resides in the Weakest Form of Human Thought and Valuation." 
 "Capital Punishment and the Bible," and 
 "Evolution and Homosexuality." 
 
These, and many other unique, original articles, are freely available at www.freelygive-n.com . He considers it a privilege to share his work with you. 
		<a href="http://www.freelygive-n.com" target="_blank" title="will open in new window" class=blue>http://www.freelygive-n.com</a>				<input type=button class=asubm value="Other articles by Robin Calamaio" onclick="document.location='http://www.ArticlePros.com/author.php?Robin Calamaio'" style="height:20px;cursor:hand">
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