The End of the Age

"So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just, and cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 13:49-50)

I find it hard to believe that bible teachers cannot seem to understand the context of the above passage. If they would just read and study the above along with Mark 13, Luke 21, Matthew 24 and 25 and the books of Daniel and Revelation they would not apply the above verses to their horrible views about a mythological “hell” being the "furnace of fire" and a place of eternal torment for all mankind except Christians.

The above passage and those related to it deal with Israel as a Nation, the chosen people of God among all the people of the earth, most of whom rejected Jesus as their Messiah at his first coming.  And at "the end of the age" (this age in which we are still living) most in Israel will still be rejecting Jesus as they are today.  All who reject Jesus are wicked for such rejection and will be excluded from reigning with Jesus when Jesus returns to establish the Kingdom on this earth. Instead, they will be cast out into the figurative “furnace of fire”, and they will be “wailing and gnashing of teeth” because they have been excluded from reigning with Jesus. They will all die during that age and not resurrected until the end of that 1,000 year Kingdom Age. Those who followed Jesus and have believed during this age will be resurrected to immortality at the beginning of the Kingdom Age to rule and reign with Christ for the ages of the ages.

However, God is not done with unbelievers, for they will later be “made alive” and “confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”, all to the “glory of God” who will then make “all things new”.

"As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive...every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true." (1 Corinthians 15:22; Philippians 2:10-11; Revelation 21:1-5)

“For if the dead are not raised…your faith is worthless…Then those also who have fallen asleep…have perished…. If we have hope in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (1 Corinthians 15:16-19)

People are born and live with various problems…ALL have problems. You’re particular problem does not dictate you are more to be pitied than someone else. Many Christians deal with their mental and physical state by seeking and hoping for some miracle from God to cure them….and some get temporary relief and attribute it to prayer …but we all will eventually check out of this present evil age!

Some can’t deal with their problems…so they check out early. Don’t feel sorry for them, and don’t condemn them. They just play the hand that was dealt to them. I have found that there is only one thing that gives HOPE…the biblical promise of life after death, where there is no more tears, pain, sorrow... or pity.

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away…and God Himself will be among them…and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away…these words are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)

The above says God “will be” with them. So in a sense He is not with us now. For now we can only….

“…see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known…now faith, hope, love, abide these three…” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)

Evil abides in this present age, but also “faith, hope and love”. I can’t prove the Bible is true and I can’t prove that there is a God. I have never heard from Him or seen Him in person…unlike some folks claim. 

But I do know what the Bible teaches because I read it, and if it is God’s Word, and I have chosen to believe that it is, then the present evil is temporary and the really good stuff is eternal and yet to come...therefore I have HOPE.

Speaking to the Jews, Jesus told them…

“I will come again and receive you to myself…” (John 14:3)

As time went by without the return of Jesus some Jewish followers begin to wonder if he would actually come. Peter wrote them and said…

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise… but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish…” (2 Peter 3:9-13)

Peter was reminding them that the fact that Messiah Jesus has not yet returned to established the Kingdom on earth promised to Israel did not mean he had changed His mind, but that God was being patient with Israel. Peter warned them that there would be “scoffers” among them as time went by and Jesus had not returned. Nevertheless, Peter told them that…

“…we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” and that with the Lord “one day is as a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:3-13)

All mankind have the promise from God of the return of Jesus and so should patiently wait for God to complete his plan to save ALL and make everything new…

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I am making all things new. And He said, Write, for these words are faithful and true." (Revelation 21:1-5)