There has been a great deal of discussion lately predicting that this "world will come to an end" due to climate change, or nuclear war, etc. Even some sincere but Christians who are unschooled in the Bible fear that these prophets might be right, since our Lord Jesus did in fact speak several times using the words “the end of the world.”

However, all these prognostications are wrong.

According to the Bible the world, or earth, will never come to an end. In your Bible the word “world,” which our Lord uses in this connection, does not refer to the earth, or even the people on it. The old Greek word for “world” in these verses is “aion,” which means “age.” Several Biblical ages in God’s program have already come to an end, and others will, but no matter what destructive weapons man may devise, the earth will never be destroyed.

In Isaiah 45:18 we read: “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens: God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it; He created it not in vain; He formed it to be inhabited: I am the Lord, and there is none else.”

Some say, “But doesn’t Revelation 21:1 predict “a new heaven and a new earth”? Yes, but the context clearly indicates that this refers to the future renewing or restoration of the present heaven and earth, not the creating of different ones. Environmentalist are concerned for the environment which we should care for, but they don’t realize God will restore the earth at the right time. Verse 5 says: “He that sat upon the throne: said, Behold I make all things new.”

Note: He didn’t say “I make all new things,” but “I make all things new.” There is a notable difference here.

We should not be concerned about “the end of the world,” but rather be concerned about the end of this present age in which we live under “the dispensation of the grace of God,” for God has never promised how long this age will last.

Every hour that He delays the return of Christ to recall His “ambassadors,” is an hour of wonderful grace, in which men may “be saved by grace, through faith in Christ” who died for our sins. This is why Paul urges us, saying:

“¹ We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. ² (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, Now Is The Accepted Time; Behold, Now Is The Day Of Salvation.) 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (KJV)