What Does the Bible Say About the End Times?

The Bible speaks clearly about the end of the age — not to terrify, but to prepare. Jesus will return, the dead will rise, and creation will be made new. For the believer, the end times are the "blessed hope" — the fulfillment of every promise and the beginning of forever with Christ. These fifteen verses trace the contours of what is to come: Christ's return, the resurrection, judgment, and the new heaven and earth.

1. 1.

   Matthew 24:42

   "Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming."

   The end times aren't a puzzle to solve but a reality to prepare for. Watchfulness is the posture of the ready.

2. 2.

   1 Thessalonians 4:16–17

   "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

   The promise of the end times is reunion — with Christ and with every believer who has died in faith.

3. 3.

   2 Peter 3:9

   "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

   The delay in Christ's return isn't neglect — it's patience. God is giving time for more to turn to Him.

4. 4.

   Revelation 21:1

   "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more."

   The end times culminate in a total renewal. Not escape from creation, but creation made new.

5. 5.

   Revelation 22:20

   "He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"

   The Bible's closing words are a prayer for Jesus' return. The church's longing is 'Come, Lord Jesus.'

6. 6.

   Matthew 24:36

   "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only."

   The exact timing is hidden even from angels. Speculation is futile; readiness is the only response that matters.

7. 7.

   1 Thessalonians 5:2–3

   "For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape."

   The day of the Lord surprises the complacent. It's not a day to fear for the ready, but to be alert for.

8. 8.

   Titus 2:13

   "Waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ."

   The end times aren't dread for believers — they're the 'blessed hope.' We look forward, not backward in fear.

9. 9.

   2 Timothy 3:1–5

   "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people."

   The last days will be marked by a corruption that looks religious but lacks power. It's a call to genuine faith.

10. 10.

    Daniel 12:1–2

    "At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt."

    The end times include unprecedented trouble and universal resurrection. Everyone will awake; the destination differs.

11. 11.

    Revelation 1:7

    "Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen."

    Christ's return will be visible to all. For some it will be joy; for others, mourning. Every eye will see.

12. 12.

    Mark 13:32

    "But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father."

    Even Jesus, in His earthly ministry, didn't know the hour. The timing belongs to the Father's sovereign plan alone.

13. 13.

    Luke 21:28

    "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

    The signs of the end aren't signals to panic — they're invitations to lift our heads because deliverance is near.

14. 14.

    1 Corinthians 15:51–52

    "Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed."

    The transformation of believers will be instantaneous and total. Mortality will be swallowed by immortality in a moment.

15. 15.

    Joel 2:31

    "The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes."

    The end times will be preceded by cosmic disruptions. The day of the Lord is both great and terrible — great for the saved, terrible for the lost.

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.