The concept of the “end of the world” is not found in the Bible. It’s a mistranslation; the Bible actually refers to the “end of the ages.”
In 1 Corinthians 10:11, Paul writes, “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, to whom the end of the ages has come.” In this context, “them” refers to Old Covenant Israel, as Paul declares that the end of the ages has arrived for them.
Furthermore, Hebrews 9:24-26 explains, “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer Himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own; for then He would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.”
Isn’t it evident that with the incarnate coming of Jesus Christ, Old Covenant Israel reached the end of the ages?
With the temple destroyed and the Old Testament regulations no longer applicable, this signifies the conclusion of the Old Covenant era, paving the way for the New Creation or New Covenant era, as ushered in by Christ Jesus. Consequently, Paul asserted in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
Isn’t the New Covenant also the everlasting covenant? Hebrews 13:20 states, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant.” Since it is an eternal covenant, why do we still hear teachings about an impending end? Doesn’t this seem contradictory to God’s word?
Scripture only mentions two ages. Jesus Christ said, “And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:32)
Paul also mentions these ages: “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:21)
Additionally, Paul writes, “For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding Him up to contempt.” (Hebrews 6:4-6)
Scripture also notes, “As Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, ‘Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming and of the end of the age?’” (Matthew 24:3)
Have you noticed that the disciples associated the destruction of the Jewish temple with the return of Christ and the end of the age? Remember the Bible speaks of only two ages: the coming of Jesus Christ marked the coming end of the first age, and His return will bring it to completion. The New Covenant is eternal and therefore has no end. As a result, the disciples of Christ were living in the intermediate period of the two ages. This concept is highlighted in the Book of Hebrews, which states: “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets; but in these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed the heir of all things, through whom also He created the world.” (Hebrews 1:1-2)
According to the Bible, what age should we be in today, millennia after the destruction of the temple? It seems illogical for Christians to talk about a coming end. The Jewish temple has long been gone, just as Christ Jesus had declared its end, making it unreasonable for some Christians to discuss the rebuilding of the temple, especially since the Bible does not indicate that a third temple in Jerusalem will be constructed. This belief is not a Christian teaching; rather, it stems from those who continue to adhere to Judaism, which implies a rejection of Christ Jesus. Sadly, numerous Christians have fallen to this lie.
Claims regarding the rebuilding of the Jerusalem temple have been circulating for decades, and those who support these teachings can be compared to the boy who cried wolf. Deuteronomy 18:15-22 cautions us against such individuals, identifying them as false prophets. Conversely, any assertions that contradict Christ’s declarations inadvertently label Jesus a liar. No wonder, Paul asserted and declared: “Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” (1Ti 4:16)
Many Christians mistakenly believe that the doctrine of Christ’s return is a minor issue that does not impact one’s salvation. However, the doctrines of the Bible are interconnected; they form a unified teaching about Christ Jesus and His offer of salvation.
Consider John 14:1-7:
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am, you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?”
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him.”
This passage emphasizes the importance of understanding Christ’s teachings, including His return, as part of the holistic message of salvation.
Jesus emphasized two important points here. First, He is the only way to the Father. Second, no one will be able to be where He went until He returns. Jesus said, “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, you may be also.”
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Peter , in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share freely, for you freely receive. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessing!
Psalms 34 and 35, both written by David, should be recognized as a single unit. They were composed after he fled from Saul and following his humiliating encounter with Achish, the king of Gath. You can find an explanation of their background in my previous blog post, “Immanuel, Our Confidence.” This post serves as a continuation. These two psalms express deep trust and confidence in God, even while David was still being hunted by Saul.
> David’s cry for God’s help may be seen through Psalm 35:1-3.
Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of the shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, “I am your salvation!“
David continued to seek the Lord’s deliverance, and Psalms 34 and 35 were likely written before Saul’s death. The account reminds us that God does not need earthly weapons to bring rescue. As seen in Exodus, He parted the Red Sea, allowing Israel to cross safely, and then let the waters fall back, destroying the Egyptians who pursued them. David, being a man of war, expressed his prayers using the battle imagery of his era, calling upon God to rise and fight against his enemies on his behalf.
> Next, David justified his call for God’s help – he was innocent of any wrongdoings, yet his enemies wanted him dead. See Psalm 35:4-8.
Let them be put to shame and dishonor who seek after my life! Let them be turned back and disappointed who devise evil against me! Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away! Let their way be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them! For without cause they hid their net for me; without cause they dug a pit for my life. Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him: let him fall into it – to his destruction!
> Actually David wasn’t simply calling for God’s help, he sought God’s justice. See Psalm 35:9-16.
Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD, exulting in His salvation. All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?
Malicious witnesses rise up; they ask me of things that I do not know. They repay me evil for good; my soul is bereft. But I, when they were sick – I wore sackcloth; I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed on my chest. I went about as though I grieved for my friend or my brother; as one who laments his mother, I bowed down in mourning.
But at my stumbling they rejoiced and gathered; they gathered together against me: wretches whom I did not know tore at me without ceasing; like profane mockers at a feast, they gnash at me with their teeth.
Background: The lad David first served as armor-bearer for Saul (1 Samuel 16:21), while also tending his father’s flock in between (1 Samuel 17:15). Later, he sought Saul’s permission to confront Goliath, at a time when no soldier in Israel dared to face the mocking Philistine champion (1 Samuel 17:31-37). After his victory, David continued to fight Saul’s battles and succeeded, earning the people’s song: “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7). This stirred Saul’s jealousy, and he began to seek David’s life (1 Samuel 18:7-8, 18:25). As a result, David fled from Saul (1 Samuel 20:1). Clearly, David had done no wrong against the king. It was in the face of this injustice that he cried out for God’s urgent deliverance (Psalm 35:17-21).
How long, O Lord, will you look on? Rescue me from their destruction, my precious life from the lions! I will thank You in the great congregation; in the mighty throng I will praise You.
Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!”
You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! Awake and rouse Yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!
Hebrews 2:12 cites Psalm 35:18, a reference to the perfect church of Jesus Christ, as noted in Hebrews 12:22–24; similar to Psalm 111:1, Scripture says, Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
> “Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is His work, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused His wondrous works to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and merciful.” (Psalms 111:2-4)
> “The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy; they are established forever and ever, to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. He sent redemption to His people; He has commanded His covenant forever. Holy and awesome is His name!” (Psalms 111:7-9)
Jesus Christ, in the Gospel, speaks of God’s work: “My Father is working until now, and I am working (John 5:17).” What, then, have the Father and Jesus been working on? They are engaged in the New Heaven and the Earth, His New Covenant Creation, as seen in Genesis 2:1–3: “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished His work that He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work that He had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that He had done in creation.”
Continuing on with Psalm 35, David calls on God against his foes in Psalm 35:19–21. In Psalm 35:22, LORD appears first in full capitals as “YAHWEH/YHWH,” Hebrew Strong #H3068, noted initially in Genesis 2:4; this name connects to the LORD God who created the first heaven and earth through Adam’s account. Then, Lord is “Adonay, H136,” in Hebrew.
“Let not those rejoice over me who are wrongfully my foes, and let not those wink the eye who hate me without cause. For they do not speak peace, but against those who are quiet in the land they devise words of deceit. They open wide their mouths against me; they say, “Aha, Aha! Our eyes have seen it!” You have seen, O LORD; be not silent! O Lord, be not far from me! Awake and rouse yourself for my vindication, for my cause, my God and my Lord!” (Psalms 35:19-23)
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of the Old Testament suggests Adam likely recognized God by a personal or covenantal name from the beginning, which the English Bible renders as “LORD” in all caps to convey the Covenant Name of God.
In Psalms 34 and 35, David uses the LORD’s covenant name twenty-five times. Within Psalm 35 alone, the word “Lord” appears three times as “Adonay” (Hebrew Strong’s #136). According to the Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Definitions, Adonay serves as a reverential title for YHWH (translated “LORD” in all capital letters) in Jewish tradition. This distinction is evident in Psalm 35:23, where David calls out, “my God and my Lord!”—a phrase echoed in the New Testament when Thomas addresses Jesus in John 20:28, saying, “My Lord and my God!”
Similarly, the Septuagint’s Greek translation of Psalm 35:23 uses the same words for “Lord and God” found in John 20:28. This suggests David was seeking more than just physical deliverance from his enemies; he was appealing for vindication on the Day of Judgment. As he writes in the following verse, “Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to Your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me!” (Psalm 35:24).
I noted earlier that David appeared to link Hebrews 12:22–24, the perfected Church of Jesus Christ, with Psalm 35:18. Scripture in Hebrews 10:30 declares, “For we know God who said, ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’” Paul addresses who will judge His people in 2 Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
David’s appeal extended beyond physical rescue. As Jesus remarked to his contemporaries, “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day. He saw it and was glad (John 8:56).” David sincerely pursued God’s salvation and deliverance in Christ Jesus.
“Vindicate me, O LORD, my God, according to Your righteousness, and let them not rejoice over me! Let them not say in their hearts, “Aha, our heart’s desire!” Let them not say, “We have swallowed him up.” Let them be put to shame and disappointed altogether who rejoice at my calamity! Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me!”
David’s appeals for justice rested not on his own righteousness but on Christ’s through faith in Him. In Psalm 35:27, Jesus Christ answered, “Let those who delight in My righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, ‘Great is the LORD, who delights in the welfare of His servant!’”.
Have you personally encountered the fullness of God’s grace in your life?
Many Christians often miss how Christ Jesus speaks through the Scriptures, particularly the Old Testament. Job is introduced as a man who is blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil (Job 1:1). He suffered greatly due to Satan’s attacks, yet not because of any sin. When his friends insisted that his pain was caused by wrongdoing, Job defended himself passionately and questioned God (Job 3-31).
God’s response was to point Job toward the wonders of creation, revealing His power and sovereignty (Job 38-41). This humbling encounter led Job to declare, “I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You” (Job 42:5). Similarly, David’s relationship with the Lord deepened as he realized his human limitations and God’s ability to save and deliver. Finally, despite Paul’s power to heal and even raise the dead, he confirms in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s grace suffices for every weakness, because His strength is clearest when we are weak.
Likewise, for us Christian workers or pastors, Paul states in the amplified Bible version: “We Christian workers hold this precious treasure—the divine Light of the Gospel—in fragile, human vessels of earth, so that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be seen as coming from God rather than from ourselves.” (2 Corinthians 4:7)
David’s distress toward his enemies led him to foresee in Psalm 35 the salvation found through faith in Christ Jesus. By Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension, He took His place at the Right Hand of God’s power (Matthew 26:64; Hebrews 1:1-3). This idea aligns with Jesus’ remark in John 2:19: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” John clarified Jesus talks about the temple of His body, the Church (John 2:21; Colossians 1:18) In this context, Jesus refers to His church founded upon His resurrection (Matthew 16:18), so the gates of Hades or death will not overcome it.
David therefore rightly ends his Psalm, saying: “Then my tongue shall tell of Your (Christ Jesus’) righteousness and of Your praise all the day long.” (Psalms 35:28)
Where would David sing His praise in Psalm 35:28? Scripture states, “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel. (Hebrews 12:22-24, NASB)
Christ Jesus’ Day of Judgment then encompassed people who have passed away and were waiting in Hades, the place of death for both the righteous and the wicked, just as it was illustrated by the Lord through His parable of the “Rich Man and Lazarus” (Luke 16:19-31).
It was a mistake to teach that the righteous would go straight to heaven after death even before Jesus Christ’s return at His Second Coming. See John 14:3; Jesus Christ told His disciples, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may also be.”
Then in John 14:6, Jesus assured the disciples saying, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Despair not, for Jesus also told Peter with regards to John, “If it is My will that he [John the apostle] remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!” (John 21:22)
Jesus Christ hinted that His return would be during the lifetime of the apostles (Matthew 10:23; 16:28; Mark 9:1; Luke 9:27), specifically while John was still alive. If Jesus Christ failed on His words, then He can’t be the Great Prophet Moses spoke about; see Deuteronomy 18:15. “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, from your brothers – it is to Him you shall listen.” Would you rather listen to your pastors or follow the traditional teaching concerning the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, or believe Jesus Christ our Lord and our God?
The apostle Peter, preaching in the Temple area, confirmed that Jesus Christ indeed was the prophesied Great Prophet of God, see Acts 3:19-23.
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago, Moses said, “The Lord God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to Him in whatever He tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that Prophet shall be destroyed from the people.”
Here is the challenge: Should we rely on Jesus Christ and His Word, or on modern Christian teachings that imply Jesus is arriving soon?
In the face of such profound questions, we can look to the enduring faith of those who came before us. David, for instance, could have easily lost faith in God when Saul pursued him and when he suffered humiliation before Achish, king of Gath. Although he was known as a mighty warrior of Israel, he pretended to be insane before Achish out of fear (1 Samuel 21:12–15). Yet, David did not give up; he held firmly to his faith.
Our life’s journey will always have its ups and downs. There will be times that we may lose control of our lives, tossed to and forth by the waves of our circumstances. In the midst of great storms or great waves of the sea, the sun remains but is covered by darkness. Similarly, Jesus Christ our Lord is not missing in moments of uncertainty or despair. Trust God, especially when all seems to have been lost.
In conclusion, David sought the justice of God rather than the judgement of men. It is far better to appear wrong in the sight of people yet remain righteous before the Lord. We must not seek human approval but God’s, for ultimately, it is Him to whom we are accountable. David’s confidence lay not in his own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord, whom he foretold in Psalm 35.
Note: We haven’t explored Psalm 34. Lord willing, that shall be my next blog writing.
Peter, in the words of Acts 3:6, declared, “I possess neither silver nor gold, but in the name of Jesus Christ, I offer you what I have.” Share this article freely, for you freely receive. Take note, underlines and highlights are clickable links for definitions or Bible references. Stay updated by heading to our about page and subscribe directly to receive notifications in your inbox. Blessings!
