The End of the World

The first coming of Christ marked the beginning of the end of the present era and of the creation as it now exists. The second coming of Christ will mark the end of this era. Scripture uses a variety of terms to describe this momentous event. The gospels describe heaven and earth as passing away (Matthew 24:35; Mark 13:31; Luke 21:33). Saint Paul writes: "The present form of this world is passing away" (1 Corinthians 7:31). Again, "The creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God" (Romans 8:21). The apostle Peter states: "The heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed" (2 Peter 3:10). The book of Hebrews adds that the earth and the heavens will perish, "like a garment they will be changed" (Hebrews 1:10-12). Scripture stops short of stating that this world will be totally annihilated. Whether the destruction of this world will be total annihilation or renovation is debatable. It is certain, however, that the world as it now exists, bearing the marks of sin and "subjected to futility" and decay, will cease to exist (Romans 8:20).