What are we taught about the end of time?

The apostle Paul says, “For the form of this world is passing away” (1 Cor. 7:31). He wants to emphasize that everything in this present world is but uncertain appearances that will not endure. So we also read, “But the end of all things is at hand” (1 Pet. 4:7), and “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Pet. 3:10).

The Old Testament points frequently anticipates coming of our Lord on the last day, for example: “For behold, the LORD will come with fire, and with His chariots, like a whirlwind, to render His anger with fury, and His rebuke with flames of fire. For by fire and by His sword, the LORD will judge all flesh. And the slain of the LORD shall be many” (Isa. 66:15– 16).

Zephaniah the prophet says, “The great day of the LORD is near; it is near and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the LORD is bitter; there the mighty men shall cry out. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. ‘I will bring distress upon men, and they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like refuse.’ Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD’s wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by

1247 St. Jacob of Sarug, Memre 68 On the End and the Fearful Judgment.

the fire of His jealousy, for He will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land” (Zeph. 1:14–18) .

Malachi the prophet says, “‘For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘That will leave them neither root nor branch’” (Mal. 4:1) .

And Daniel the prophet saw in a dream: “I watched till thrones were put in place, and the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, its wheels a burning fire[; ] a fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened. I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame. As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time. I was watching in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:9–14) .

However, some interpret these Old Testament verses as referring to the first coming of the Lord Christ in which He was incarnate and became condemnation to those who did not believe in Him.[1248 ] We read in the Gospel of John: “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18).