If the world were ending, what would you do? Lately, that question has felt less like a distant hypothetical and more like something we might actually have to face. Every time we turn on the news, there’s another reminder: natural disasters are becoming more extreme, food and water shortages are becoming more common, and people are turning against each other in fear and anger. Are we living in the end times?
We’ve heard about the Bible’s prophecies of the world's last days for as long as the New Testament has existed, but recently, it seems they’ve started to feel less like distant warnings and more like a puzzle coming together. What exactly does Scripture say about the end times? And how do these ancient words compare to the world we’re living in today? In this post, we’re going to explore these prophecies—not just as abstract predictions, but as something that might actually be unfolding around us.In Matthew 24, we see the disciples have the same question: thankfully, they received an answer.
If the World Was Ending....
Or is it already? Learn what the Bible has to say about the end of the world.
In answer to this question, we find guidance on what to expect in the days to come, including:
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The emergence of false prophets and saviours (Matthew 24:4-5; 1 John 4:1-3; Matthew 24:11)
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Wars and rumours of wars (Matthew 24:6-7)
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Natural disasters and plagues (Matthew 24:7-8)
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Persecution of the Christians (Matthew 24:9)
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Hate will increase (Matthew 24:10-12)
Now, each of these things gives us signs of the end nearing; however, they are simply what is happening before the end—or, as Jesus puts it, “…the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8, NIV).
Soon, things are predicted to take a turn for the worse, as the pains seem to worsen. 7 angels come from heaven, bringing ‘plagues’ upon the earth – much like that of Egypt’s plagues in Exodus 7-11.
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First plague: Painful sores upon those who have the ‘mark of the beast’ (don’t worry, we’ll explain soon) (Revelation 16:2)
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Second plague: The sea becomes blood and kills all that is in it (Revelation 16:3)
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Third plague: The rivers and seas become blood (Revelation 16:4)
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Fourth plague: The sun will become relentlessly hot and burning (Revelation 16:8)
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Fifth plague: Sores, darkness and excruciating pain will attack those who are with the beast (Revelation 16:10-11)
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Sixth plague: The Euphrates river will dry up, allowing armies to attack Jerusalem (Revelation 16:12-16)
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Seventh plague: There will be noises, thunderings and lightning along with a massive earthquake that will be the largest ever to occur (Revelation 16:17-18) and Babylon will fall.
Yet, the Bible also tells us that even up until the very end, life will continue much as it always has—people working, buying and selling, and celebrating milestones like marriage (Matthew 24:36-41). This makes Jesus' warning in Matthew 24:42 all the more powerful: ‘You do not know on what day your Lord will come’ (NIV). In other words, the world won’t come to a screeching halt before the end arrives. It will happen in the midst of everyday life.
Now, this sounds, honestly, quite terrifying. However, it’s important to remember that God is always with us. He promises to care for us, and support us, even amidst the trials we face – even amidst the fear of the end of the world (Isaiah 41:10). Secondly, most of these plagues only happen to those with the mark of the beast – which doesn’t have to be any of us (we’ll dive deeper into this soon). Finally, this last thought brings us much-needed hope in these challenging times. Even as life on earth becomes more difficult, we can find reassurance in knowing that we continue on, carrying with us the hope that Jesus' return is closer than ever before. It’s a reminder that, no matter how tough things get, we’re never without hope.Now, this isn’t it – in fact, it’s just a small overview. If you want more information about these signs, go to adventist.org. But what about the mark of the beast? This is something that we know we need to avoid… but can we even know what it is? Is it a physical mark some will receive… or something else entirely? The answer begins with more prophecy – specifically what’s known as the three angels messages.The Three Angels' Messages
The First Angel's Message
Then I saw another angel flying in midair, and he had the eternal gospel to proclaim to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people. He said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heavens, the earth, the sea and the springs of water.”
Revelation 14:6-7, NIV
The first message is perhaps the most straightforward. The end of times is upon us, and the gospel is to be told to all, as we receive the chance to worship God in the final ‘hours’ of the Earth’s history. Here, we receive the first of the important messages: to turn to God before it’s too late.
This ‘eternal gospel’ makes it clear that it isn’t something new that the angel is proclaiming – rather it’s the age old message of salvation, which we know as the gospel through Mark 16:15:‘He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation’
Mark 16:15, NIVFinally, the hour of judgement isn’t exactly as terrifying as it sounds. Although we will be judged at the end of time, this record-keeping comes with two saving points:
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We’re not judged based on how good we are alone. If we had to be perfect on our own to make it to heaven, none of us would get there. No matter how good we try to be, or even think we are, the simple truth is that we’ve all sinned. But here’s the good news: we don’t have to worry. We don’t have to rely on our own strength to save us—we rely on Jesus. Remember the gospel? This is it. I like to think of it like a court case: we’ve committed the crime and we deserve the sentence. But here's the twist—if we accept Jesus' gift of forgiveness, our past is wiped clean. All we have to do is accept Him.
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This second part means that not only are we not being delivered a death sentence at the judgement, but we’re receiving a reward far greater than any court-appointed payout could ever be. Rather than be sent to death, we’re appointed as a member of Heaven, and are given eternal life with the One who loves us most – our Heavenly Father.
So, remember, judgement isn’t something to fear. Rather, we’re able to look forward to it, as we know that it’s not the end of us – it’s the end of sin, and it’s pain and suffering.
This angel’s message is important as it reassures what we already know: not only does God have a plan of salvation in place, but He’s going to make sure the whole world hears about it, and gets the chance to get onboard before the outcome is decided.The Second Angel’s Message
“A second angel followed and said, “‘Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great,’ which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries.”
Revelation 14:8, ESV
This second message is a bit more confusing. Rather than being direct, we see the common Biblical metaphor of Babylon as worldly knowledge. Originating with the ‘Tower of Babel’ and the confusion that followed it, Babylon is mentioned several times in the Bible as a metaphor for wickedness and the righteous destruction that is destined to fall upon it (Isaiah 21:9; Jeremiah 50:24; Jeremiah 51:64).
This is in comparison to those following God’s word, who are warned not to participate in the ‘adulterous’ activities. In this metaphorical context, we can infer that adulterous activities are the rejection of God, as Babylon leads others away from the truth into a life of sin. In terms of future events, this is instructing us that at an upcoming point in history, we will be experiencing the ‘fall’ of a great deception, which has previously led God’s people astray. While the exact details surrounding this event are not shared with us in this passage, many Biblical scholars have used other Biblical texts in order to make sense of this passage. While we’re simply providing a brief overview in this blog, there are a few great resources out there explaining this topic more in depth. If you’re interested to read more about this, go here.The Third Angel's Message
And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, “If anyone worships the beast and its image and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also will drink the wine of God's wrath, poured full strength into the cup of his anger, and he will be tormented with fire and sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever, and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name.”
Revelation 14:9-11, ESV
This is perhaps the most confusing – and definitely the most divisive – out of the three given messages. In this we are given two of modern Christianity’s main questions:
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What is the mark of the beast?
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Are those with the mark of the beast really tormented forever?
These are no small questions. The answers not only teach us how to avoid aligning ourselves with God’s enemy, but they also reveal the consequences for those who choose that dark path. But eternal burning? No matter how bad someone may be, how could a good God allow such a fate? To say it acutely, here at Hope.Study we have Biblical evidence to believe that our God wouldn’t do that. To learn more about why, try reading these free resources: ‘Do You Have the Mark of The Beast?’ and ‘Where on Earth is Hell?’ They go much more in depth then we can here.
For now, let’s just look at a short summary of the mark of the beast.
This is perhaps a prime example where the Bible seems unclear on a subject – until paired with other verses. As any good researcher does, we begin with the obvious: searching the other sections of Revelation for similar keywords, starting with ‘beast’.
When we look into it, we see the word ‘beast’ mentioned seven times in Revelation alone. Perhaps the most prominent mentions are in Revelation 13, where John describes the two ‘beasts’ that rise out of the sea and of the earth to persecute the church (Revelation 13:1, 13:11). These two beasts are widely regarded to symbolise false worship, as they not only attempt to change God’s law (Revelation 13:4-6, 13:14) but also persecute those who choose to follow God’s teachings instead (Revelation 13:16-17). Those who bear the ‘mark’ are those who choose false worship, standing in contrast to those who follow God and receive His ‘seal’—the sign of His salvation. According to Ephesians 1:13 and Ephesians 4:30, this ‘seal’ represents the Holy Spirit, a gift given to help us know how to follow God (John 14:26). However, while everyone has the opportunity to receive it, not all choose to accept it (Matthew 12:31-32). The difference lies in the choice: embracing God’s truth or turning away toward deception.
So, how does this all relate to the end of the world? These messages show not only what will happen – but what’s happening now. The events listed in these passages aren't just in the future: in fact, many of them are already occurring. So, as Jesus said, keep watch and be ready – why wait for tomorrow, when we can be sure of what side of history we’re on now?
So, what does this all mean?
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