Will the World End Today?

Question

With everything that is happening in the world, it makes me ask if the world will end today.

Answer

The short answer is: "I don't know, I can tell you tomorrow."

Though many signs of Christ's coming may be seen through redemptive history, Matthew 24:6 states: "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." The Kingdom of God has been inaugurated in Christ and continues through his church, yet the time of its consummation is unknown to us.

The day and the hour of the Christ's Second Coming and the end of this world as we know it is known by only one person - God the Father. However, though mankind does not know the time, this does not prevent false predictions as with Harold Camping, Jehovah's Witnesses, Ellen White, the founder of Seventh Day Adventism, Joseph Smith, the founder of what is now Mormonism, and others.

Even though we do not know the time of his coming, we are to remain prepared (Mark 13:32-37; Rom. 13:11-14; 1 Thess. 5:1-11, etc). Revelation 22:20 states, "...'Yes, I am coming soon.' Amen. Come, Lord Jesus." Can you say these words in all sincerity? Is this your prayer and praise, or are you a little frightened about his coming and the judgment that follows? If you are frightened (Jude 1:22-23), pray that he will enable you to come to him (John 6:44, 65), and he will give you peace about his coming (John 14:1-3; Rom. 5:1-2). You can be sure that he will leave none of his elect behind (Isa. 53:6; Matt. 18:11-14; 1 Pet. 2:25).