The End Of The World

It will come as a surprise to most Christians, but the scripture clearly tell us when "the end of the world" was - not will be!

If you've done much reading on this site you are probably already aware the world in question is not planet earth. Still, it may shock you to realize that scripture actually tells us when the world in question ended. Turn to Hebrews 9 and put on your thinking cap.

The context of the end of Hebrews 9 is the superiority of the sacrifice of Christ in contrast to the Old Covenant sacrifices. The author makes the argument that if the sacrifice of Christ was no better than that of bulls and goats, He would have had to suffer since before the foundation of the world. In contrast, he says, "but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. " (Heb. 9:26b, KJV)

There is no question the passage speaks of the superiority of His sacrifice by emphasizing that it was offered only once and would never be offered again. However, there is much more to be gleaned from this passage. First, let's realize the time in which this was written. In the previous chapter, the author stated, "When He said, 'A new covenant,' He has made the first obsolete. But whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." (Heb. 8:13) Contrary to the understanding of most Christians today, the Old Covenant system was still operating as this was written!

Yes, it efficacy had been superceded at the cross, but the system was still in operation and it was persecuting believers. In fact, Matthew 5:17-19 makes it clear that the system would not pass away until ALL the law and prophets had been fulfilled. We should not be surprised to see the disciples continuing to observe old covenant practices (albeit with a new understanding), but we must realize they were expecting a day in their lifetimes when those practices would end. Christ said that end would come in their lifetime and they were now getting old. They had every reason to believe the fulfillment was near.

Let's look again at Hebrews 9:26. Did you pay careful attention to those words? There is no question the KJV is a bad translation when it says "end of the world" but realize the KJV is consistent in the usage of these words. Whatever the KJV means by "the end of the world" is consistent with what it teaches elsewhere teaches about the end of the world (aion - the then present age). As we discuss at length elsewhere, it was the world of Old Covenant Judaism.

Don't miss the word "now" (nun - noon), The author uses "the end of the world" to describe "now." I haven't read a single commentator who even mentions the "now" in this passage and yet it is critical to properly understanding it. The Greek for "end of the world is sunteleia ton ainon which the New American Standard translates as "consummation of the ages." This is the only place this phrase appears in the New Testament. There are others that are similar but this one is unique. This combination of sunteleia (consummation) with the plural aionon emphatically states the completion of all things was occurring at the time this was written.

To be sure, the consummation was not a singular event. It involved the coming of Christ in the flesh, His earthly ministry (including His death and resurrection), His ascension and glorification, and his coming a second time to judge those who rejected him and reward those who were faithful. Scripture describes this period of redemptive history as "just the right time," "the proper time," and "the fullness of time." They, not we, were the so-called Terminal Generation.

To say that Christ came in the fullness of time, accomplished all His consummative work except His coming in glory stretches the meaning of consummation far beyond the breaking point.  Post-millennialists and Amillennialists agree that virtually everything in prophecy has been accomplished, yet they hold out for a future consummation. Hebrews 9:26 simply does not allow that possibility.  If the first century was the time of consummation, then everything involved with it had to take place in that time frame.

 The first century was a unique period of time which will never be repeated. It was indeed "once" for all time. Our refusal to believe what scripture has to say about the nature of Christ's coming in glory has led to more confusion than light. When we let scripture speak for itself, a glorious picture of Christ's work emerges. The old world ended...the old heaven and earth passed away . . . and the New Jerusalem arrived on schedule. "She is the mother of us all" (Galatians 4:26).

See also:     Covenant of Fire

© Copyright 2004 ~ Jim Wade