THE END - Just what does this mean?

IS THE END NEAR?

“THE END - WHAT DOES IT REALLY MEAN?
When you hear the words “The end is near!” what comes to mind? Do you think of a wild-eyed preacher thundering from the pulpit and gesturing dramatically, Bible in hand? Or do you picture a bearded old man standing on a street corner, wearing a long robe tied at the waist with a rope, holding a sign bearing a doomsday message? Imagining such scenes may make some people feel concerned, while others may feel skeptical or even amused.

The Bible does state: “The end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) The same event is also called “the great day of God” and “Armageddon.” (Revelation 16:14, 16) True, there is much religious confusion on the subject and strange, gloomy notions abound. Nonetheless, the Bible itself is quite clear about the end​—revealing what it is and what it is not. God’s Word also helps us to see clearly whether the end is near. Best of all, it teaches us how to survive! First, though, let us clear up some misconceptions and establish a definition. What does “the end” really mean according to the Bible?

WHAT THE END IS NOT - THE END IS NOT AN EPIC, FLAMING DESTRUCTION OF THE EARTH.
The Bible states: “[God] has established the earth on its foundations; it will not be moved from its place forever and ever.” (Psalm 104:5) That scripture and others assure us that God will neither destroy the earth nor allow it to be destroyed​—ever!​—Ecclesiastes 1:4; Isaiah 45:18.

THE END IS NOT A RANDOM, UNSCHEDULED EVENT
The Bible reveals that the end is scheduled​—God has set a specific time for it. We read: “Concerning that day or the hour nobody knows, neither the angels in heaven nor the Son, but the Father. Keep looking, keep awake, for you do not know when the appointed time is.” (Mark 13:32, 33) Clearly, God (“the Father”) has scheduled the exact “appointed time” when he will initiate the end.

THE END IS NOT TRIGGERED BY HUMANS OR BY DEBRIS HURTLING THROUGH SPACE
What will bring about the end? Revelation 19:11 says: “I saw heaven opened, and look! a white horse. And the one seated on it is called Faithful and True.” Verse 19 continues: “And I saw the wild beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.” (Revelation 19:11-21) Though much of the language here is symbolic, we can readily discern this much: God will send an army of angelic creatures to exterminate his enemies.


A woman fears the end of everything as people around her try to escape the fire, smoke, and debris of a disaster

The Bible’s message about the end is good news rather than bad

WHAT THE END IS - THE END OF FAILING HUMAN GOVERNMENTS
The Bible explains: “The God of heaven will set up a kingdom [government] that will never be destroyed. And this kingdom will not be passed on to any other people. It will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, and it alone will stand forever.” (Daniel 2:44) As was stated earlier, in point 3, there will be an extermination of “the kings of the earth and their armies,” who will have “gathered together to wage war against the one seated on the horse and against his army.”​—Revelation 19:19.

THE END OF WAR, VIOLENCE, AND INJUSTICE
“[God] is bringing an end to wars throughout the earth.” (Psalm 46:9) “Only the upright will reside in the earth, and the blameless will remain in it. As for the wicked, they will be cut off from the earth, and the treacherous will be torn away from it.” (Proverbs 2:21, 22) “Look! I am making all things new.”​—Revelation 21:4, 5.

THE END OF RELIGIONS THAT HAVE FAILED GOD AND HUMANS
“The prophets prophesy lies, and the priests dominate by their own authority. . . . But what will you do when the end comes?” (Jeremiah 5:31) “Many will say to me in that day: ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them: ‘I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness!’”​—Matthew 7:21-23.

THE END OF PEOPLE WHO PERPETUATE AND SUPPORT THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
Jesus Christ said: “Now this is the basis for judgment: that the light has come into the world, but men have loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were wicked.” (John 3:19) The Bible describes an earlier worldwide destruction during the time of the faithful man Noah. “The world of that time suffered destruction when it was flooded with water. But by the same word the heavens and the earth that now exist are reserved for fire and are being kept until the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly people.”​—2 Peter 3:5-7.

Note that the upcoming “day of judgment and of destruction” is compared with the destruction of “the world” of Noah’s time. What world was destroyed? Our planet survived; it was “the ungodly people”​—God’s enemies—​who “suffered destruction.” During God’s upcoming “day of judgment,” those who choose to be God’s enemies will likewise be destroyed. But God’s friends will be preserved, as were Noah and his family.​—Matthew 24:37-42.

Imagine how splendid this earth will be after God eliminates all wicked influences! Clearly, the Bible’s message about the end is good news rather than bad. Still, you may wonder: ‘Does the Bible tell us when the end will come? Could it be near? How can I survive it?’

THEN . . . AFTER THE END
What will it be like after the end? Many scriptures describe that wonderful time. For example: “‘[God] will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain be anymore. The former things have passed away.’ And the One seated on the throne said: ‘Look! I am making all things new.’” (Revelation 21:4, 5) The end does not have to mean the end of your life. God wants us to survive, and he tells us how. You interested in finding out more? Try text me!

That's right, this is a personal letter to you!

Only 2 choices left

There are many things in this life that have choices. Here are a few:

Turn left or Turn right.
Either stand up or sit down.
Either take the car or walk.
Either go beach or stay home.
But then, there are a few more important choices.
Either do good to your neighbor, or don't.
Either choose to study the Bible . . . or don't. And then by extension, more specifically . . .
Either come to know the God of the Bible . . . or don't.

Did you know:
For thousands of years men have sought lasting peace and security, without success. But now the situation is most urgent because of the threat of nuclear war. A Canadian report warned: “There’s no such thing as a winnable nuclear war because its aftermath would be so appalling that the survivors would envy the dead.”⁠ Showing why, astronomer Carl Sagan stated: “There are now more than 50,000 nuclear weapons, . . . enough to obliterate a million Hiroshimas.” He added: “There is little question that our global civilization (as we know it . . . . italics mine) would be destroyed.”

Does living a life in war make any sense to you?


Doesn't a life of peace seem to be more enjoyable?


SUMMARY - TRUTH 1: JEHOVAH REVEALS THE FUTURE TO US
“From the beginning I foretell the outcome, and from long ago the things that have not yet been done.”​—Isaiah 46:10

What do we know about the time of the end? Daniel 7:13, 14

Jesus became King in heaven in 1914. Matthew 24:3-14

Jesus foretold critical times for humans. Revelation 12:7-9, 12

Shortly after Jesus became King, he threw Satan out of the heavens to the earth. Satan is furious because he has “a short period of time” left before God removes him.


TRUTH 2: WE ARE LIVING IN THE TIME OF THE END - “What will be the sign . . . of the conclusion of the system of things?”​—Matthew 24:3

Have you seen the fulfillment of Bible prophecies? Matthew 24:7; Luke 21:11

More than ever before, we see wars, hunger, earthquakes, and disease. 2 Timothy 3:1-5

The apostle Paul described how people would behave during the last days. Daniel 12:4

God is helping his people to understand the Bible more clearly than ever before. Matthew 24:14

The good news of the Kingdom is being preached all over the earth.


TRUTH 3: TAKE ACTION NOW TO PLEASE JEHOVAH - “Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night.”​—1 Thessalonians 5:2

Since the end is so close, what do you need to do? John 17:3

Take your study of the Bible seriously. Hebrews 10:24, 25

Learn more by attending the meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses. James 4:8

Make needed changes in your life so that you can draw closer to God. Luke 21:34-36

Avoid distractions, and focus your life on worshipping Jehovah.

Choose Life

Genesis 1:1 says that In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth. There are many places in the Bible that identify just who is this creator. One of those places is at Psalms 83:18 where it says, “May people know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth.”

On the earth, in a garden is where He originally placed His creation of Man. He called His creation by name, Adam. In time, He created a partner for him. Genesis 1:27 then says that he made them Male & Female. Eventually, Adam called his partner Eve. In Genesis 2:4 it says, “This is a history of the heavens and the earth in the time they were created.” In Genesis 2:21-22 He explains how He created them, male and female.



Genesis 3:1 introduces another character originally identified as a Serpent. In time, we learn that this original Serpent was actually a rebellious spirit creature who became desirous to receive Jehovah’s glory. He is identified at Revelation 12:9, “So down the great dragon was hurled, the original serpent, the one called Devil and Satan, who is misleading the entire inhabited earth; he was hurled down to the earth, and his angels were hurled down with him.” This original serpent chose poorly. He did not choose life. And he encouraged others also not to chose life. In his conversation with Adam and Eve, he encouraged them to be disobedient and therefore not to choose life.

It all began with a conversation between Eve and the original serpent. This conversation is found at Genesis 3:1-5. Here, the serpent said to the woman “Did God really say that you must not ear from every tree of the garden?” Unaware of any sinister act by this serpent, the woman simply responded to the command that Adam had relayed to her. In verse (2), she said, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden, (3) But God has said about the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden: ‘you must not ear from it, no, you must not touch it, otherwise you will die.’ 2 things have happened here. 1) it is revealed by her conversation that she knows what Jehovah told Adam about not eating from the fruit of this one particular tree and 2) she knows what is the meaning of death.

Now in verse (4) it is revealed what is the first lie ever told in the history of life. Here it says, “at this the serpent said to the woman: “you certainly will not die. (5) For God knows that in the very day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and bad.” Verse 6 says, “ . . . So she began taking of its fruit and eating it. Afterward, she also gave some to her husband when he was with her and he began eating it. . . .” So far, we have 3 individuals who chose death over life. 1) The serpent 2) Adam and 3) Eve. History will reveal that their choice was not good. It was as a result of this action (choosing death over life) that has caused us today to also make a similar choice. Will we choose life? Or will we choose death? A majority of mankind living today have not chosen life.

But for a minute lets first discuss some of those written down in history who chose life.
1. Abel chose life. Genesis 4:3-5 explain what happened to Abel and his brother Cain. In verse (3), “After some time, Cain brough some fruits of the land as an offering to Jehovah. In verse (4) But Abel brought some firstlings of his flock, including their fat. While Jehovah looked with favor on Abel and on his offering, (5) He did not look with any favor on Cain on his offering.” Why did Jehovah view Abel’s offering favorably and not Cain’s? Answer: Cain brought fruits, but Abel brought some firstlings of his flock, in other words, Abel brought the first and the best he had while Cain did not. Abel chose life whereas Cain chose poorly. Abel was remembered favorably and Cain was not.
2. There were no doubt others in the beginning of time that also chose life and were found pleasing to Jehovah, but here are a few notable ones. Next was Noah. Genesis 5:28-29 introduces this man to us. In verse (32), Noah becomes 500 years old and becomes father to Shem, Ham and Japheth. Genesis 6:8 says “But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. . . . and walked with the true God.” In verse (14) Jehovah asked Noah to build an Ark for the saving of human life. In verse (22) it says that “Noah did according to tall that God had commanded him. He did just so.” Noah, his 3 sons and their wives chose life.



Throughout the history of mankind as recorded in the Bible, there have been many humans that chose life over disobedience. So we must ask ourselves, what do I need to do to CHOOSE LIFE?

If it is your desire to please Jehovah there are some simple steps needed to make that choice:
1. Get to know God, first by knowing his name (Jehovah) then by using it. Psalms 83:18
2. Acknowledge that He is the true God and that all other gods are false. Know or learn what he expects from us. Does he just want us to be good people and not hurt our neighbors? Or is there more? Romans 10:2
3. Learn who he has identified and accepted as “His People.” Isaiah 43:10-11 says: “You are my witnesses, declares Jehovah, ‘yes, my servant whom I have chosen, . . . (11) I, I am Jehovah, and besides me, there is no savior.” Then in verse (12) again, he verifies: “So you are my witnesses,” ‘declares Jehovah, and I am your God.’”



There will be many choices you will have to make between now and the next day.
Do I turn left or right?
Should I take this job? Or that one?
Should I go here or there?



Not all choices you make will involve your life. But some will. And some will involve making decisions that could forever affect your relationship with your god. Whether or not you know or believe this, everyone on the face of the earth worships one god or another. In the Bible at 1John 5:19 it says, “We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.” Therefore, if you are not worshipping Jehovah, then you are under the control of the ‘wicked one.’ It will be a challenge to Choose life while under the control of this wicked influence. Because in order to Choose life, we must learn what it takes to identify a proper and acceptable direction and step outside of this worldly demonic influence. I would initially suggest going to your App store and download JW.Org and JW Library. There you will find a reference Bible which you should refer to often. If you choose to carry on this discussion, this is one of the publications I will be referring to. There is more to using this publications but I’ll save this for a future time when it becomes evident that you are interested.

Your first move would be to ask for a Bible Study and then decide if what your learning is what you want. You can find Jehovah's Witnesses in many locations near your home. They are currently looking for you. But you can find them doing what we call Cart Witnessing, or going from Door to Door or at your local Kingdom Hall. If you want me to locate one for you, LMK and I will look for one close to your home.