What does the Bible say about end times?
The Scriptures describe the reign of Christ as a present reality rather than a distant future event. When Jesus ascended to the Father, He was seated at His right hand and given authority over all things in heaven and on earth (Ephesians 1:20-21). His kingdom is not a political entity waiting to be established but a spiritual reign that is already advancing through the preaching of the Gospel and the growth of the Church (Matthew 28:18-19). While some anticipate a future earthly rule, Jesus emphasized that His kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36). Instead, His reign coexists with the present age, where His followers are sent out to proclaim His lordship.
Throughout this age, the world experiences both the expansion of God’s kingdom and the persistence of evil. The “signs of the times” described in Scripture—such as false teachers, wars, persecution, and lawlessness—have been evident throughout history and will continue until the end (Matthew 24:6-14). These events are not necessarily indicators of an approaching temporary reign but the characteristics of life in a world where Christ’s rule is opposed. Rather than awaiting a future kingdom, the Church is called to recognize Christ’s present authority and remain faithful in the midst of tribulation. The kingdom advances as the Gospel is proclaimed to all nations, even as darkness remains until the final day.
When Christ returns, He will bring history to its climax in a single, decisive event. The dead will be raised, and all will stand before Him for judgment (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; John 5:28-29). Scripture does not describe multiple returns or resurrections, but one final day when Christ appears in glory (Revelation 1:7). His coming will not introduce an intermediate age but will directly establish the eternal state, where righteousness will dwell (2 Peter 3:13). The wicked will face judgment, while the righteous will enter into everlasting life. The culmination of this redemption is described as a “new heaven and a new earth” where sin, suffering, and death will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4).
The promises given to Abraham and the prophets are fulfilled in Christ and His people, not in the restoration of a national kingdom. God declared that through Abraham’s offspring, all nations would be blessed (Genesis 22:18), a promise ultimately realized in Jesus and the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s people (Galatians 3:29). Many Old Testament prophecies about the renewal of Jerusalem and the restoration of God’s people find their fulfillment in the Church and the new creation. The vision of the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 is not the rebuilding of an earthly city but a symbolic image of God dwelling eternally with His people. The ultimate hope of Scripture is not a temporary restoration but the full renewal of creation under Christ’s rule.
From the beginning, God’s purpose has been to establish an everlasting kingdom, not a temporary reign. Daniel prophesied that the dominion given to the Messiah would be an eternal dominion, never to be destroyed (Daniel 7:14). The final chapters of Revelation show the fulfillment of this promise as Christ restores all things, bringing His people into an eternal inheritance where He reigns forever (Revelation 22:3-5). Rather than waiting for a future earthly kingdom, believers are called to live in the reality of Christ’s present reign, anticipating the day when His victory will be fully revealed, and all things will be made new.
