Bible Question:

Is the world really coming to an end in 2001 (the REAL millennium)?

Bible Answer:

God has not told us when the world is coming to an end. Some have speculated that Jesus’ second coming will be very soon because Israel is back in the land once known as Canaan. While it is true that prophecy tells us Israel will be in the land, we have no clue as to exactly when He is coming. All we know is that He can come at any time.

Israel in the Land

Israel must be back in the land of Canaan when Jesus returns according to Matthew 24. The apostle Matthew records the following words of Jesus,

And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. Therefore when you see the ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION which was spoken of through Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains; (NASB) Matthew 24:14-16

This is a significant passage for three reasons. First, Jesus says the tribulation period at the end of the world comes when the gospel has been preached in the whole world. The gospel has not been preached in the whole world yet, so we are still waiting for the tribulation and the kingdom. There are still portions of the world that have not heard about Jesus. Second, the Abomination of Desolation will follow next. The Abomination of Desolation refers to the desecration of the Jewish temple, by Antiochus Epiphanes, king of Syria in approximately 168 B.C. Antiochus Epiphanes sacrificed a pig in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. That was the Abomination of Desolation. Jesus says the temple will be desecrated again. This means there must be a Jewish temple in Jerusalem in order for this to happen. That temple has not been built yet. Lastly, Jesus is telling Jews they should flee to the mountains when they see this. This comment assumes there are Jews in Judea.

No One Knows When

Jesus warned us that God the Father has not revealed the exact time of the end of the age.

But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so shall the coming of the Son of Man be. (NASB) Matthew 24:36-39

Conclusion:

The coming of the end appears to be distant even though it is closer. Jesus calls us to wait with eagerness. Come quickly, Lord Jesus!