End Times

What does the Bible say about the end times and the return of Jesus?

The Bible teaches that history is moving toward Jesus’ visible return, when God will raise the dead, judge with perfect justice, defeat evil, and renew creation for his people.

• Matthew 25:1–13 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. But the wise ones too…
• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death , so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have…
• Revelation 21:1–5 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice…
• 2 Peter 3:9–13 The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elem…

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Are storms or disasters God’s judgment?

God has used disasters as judgment at times in the Bible, but Jesus warns us not to assume every storm today is God punishing specific people; our response should be humility, repentance, and mercy.

• Luke 13:1–5 At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this way? No, I…
• Romans 8:18–23 I consider that our present sufferings are not comparable to the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not by its own will, but because of…

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What is the rapture? Is the rapture biblical?

Some end times teachings are clear from Scripture, such as Christ’s second coming and the final judgment. Whether there will also be a “rapture” of the church—with Christians taken up to avoid a tribulation period—is a matter of speculation among Christians.

• 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 Brothers, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death , so that you will not grieve like the rest, who are without hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, we also believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have…
• 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
• 1 Corinthians 15:51–58 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in an instant, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must…

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Does the Bible predict the end of the world (Doomsday Clock fears)?

Scripture teaches that Jesus will return to judge and renew creation, but it does not give a date or approve human countdowns—so we can be prepared without panic.

• Matthew 24:36–44 No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and…
• 2 Thessalonians 2:1–3 Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to Him, we ask you, brothers, not to be easily disconcerted or alarmed by any spirit or message or letter seeming to be from us, alleging that the Day of the Lord has already c…

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Are earthquakes and disasters signs of the end times?

Earthquakes and disasters can remind us we live in a broken world and that Jesus will return, but Jesus warned they are not a date-by-date “countdown” to the end.

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