SABBATH THOUGHT 2025-08-09—THE END OF THE AGE?

May God bless you on His Sabbath day!

The Bible contains many prophecies that pertain to what is referred to as “the end of the age.” I have heard this phrase for decades and it is likely you have, too. But what or when is the end of the age? Is it The Tribulation? The Day of the LORD? The Great White Throne Judgment? A review of scriptures shows it is not always easy to pin it down but, before looking into this, note these six major prophetical end time events referenced throughout:

1)     THE BEGINNING OF SORROWS: A time when there is great deception by False Christs, wars, famines, pestilences, and earthquakes. This period is rarely specifically evident in Scripture, Daniel 11 being one exception. (Matt. 24:4-8)

MATTHEW 24:4-8 And Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many. 6 “And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. 7 “For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in various places. 8 “All these are the beginning of sorrows.

2)     THE TRIBULATION: Part of the Day of Trumpets. The time of trouble after the Beginning of Sorrows when the saints are afflicted and killed and all flesh could perish. It begins at or after the Abomination of Desolation and there is great deception by False Christs. (Matt. 24:15, 21-24)

MATTHEW 24:15, 21-24 “Therefore when you see the ‘abomination of desolation,’ spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place” (whoever reads, let him understand), … 21 “For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be. 22 “And unless those days were shortened [limited], no flesh would be saved; but for the elect’s sake those days will be shortened. 23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There!’ do not believe it. 24 “For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

3)     DAY OF THE LORD: Part of the Day of Trumpets. The Day of the LORD is synonymous with the 7th Trumpet. Of particular note are the First Resurrection and the subsequent Seven Bowls or Vials that are the vengeance of God upon the earth. (Matt. 24:29-31; Rev. 15:7; Rev. 16:1)

MATTHEW 24:29-31 “Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 30 “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 31 “And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

REVELATION 15:7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls full of the wrath of God who lives forever and ever.

REVELATION 16:1 Then I [John] heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, “Go and pour out the bowls of the wrath of God on the earth.”

4)     DAY OF ATONEMENT (COVERING): The period of time that follows the Day of the LORD when Jesus Christ rescues captives and brings them to Jerusalem to establish a covenant with them. (Joel 2:12-17; et al)

5)     THE MILLENNIUM (TABERNACLES): The 1,000-year reign of Jesus Christ and the resurrected saints. (Rev. 20:4-6)

6)     GREAT WHITE THRONE JUDGMENT: Post millennial judgment to eternal life or death. (Rev. 20:11-15)

OLD TESTAMENT

The phrase “end of the age” is actually from the New Testament, not the Old. In the Old Testament, there are two primary Hebrew words used in the context of the end times. The first is H0319 ‘achariyth (ach-ar-eeth’), which means last or end. The following are verses from the KJV and its variants that translate it as “last” or “latter” days (days is the separate word yowm).

GENESIS 49:1 And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you [nation of Israel] in the last [H0319 = last] days:

General description of the 12 Tribes of Israel in the last decades of the end times.

NUMBERS 24:14, 17 “And now, indeed, I [Balaam] am going to my people. Come, I will advise you [Balak] what this people [Israel] will do to your people [Moab] in the latter [H0319 = last] days.” … 17 “I see Him [Jesus Christ], but not now; I behold Him, but not near; a Star shall come out of Jacob; a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, and batter the brow of Moab, and destroy all the sons of tumult [Edom, Seir, Amalek, Kneites, Asshur, Eber].

DAY OF THE LORD—A future fulfillment since Israel never completely destroyed Moab in 2 Kings 3 and the Scepter of Israel (Jesus Christ) takes vengeance upon those who harmed Israel.

DEUTERONOMY 4:23-30 “Take heed to yourselves [nation of Israel], lest you forget the covenant of the LORD your God which He made with you, and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of anything which the LORD your God has forbidden you. 24 “For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. 25 “When you beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the LORD your God to provoke Him to anger, 26 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed. 27 “And the LORD will scatter you among the peoples, and you will be left few in number among the nations where the LORD will drive you. 28 “And there you will serve gods, the work of men’s hands, wood and stone, which neither see nor hear nor eat nor smell. 29 “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter [H0319 = last] days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice

DEUTERONOMY 31:29 “For I [Moses] know that after my death you [nation of Israel] will become utterly corrupt, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you. And evil will befall you in the latter [H0319 = last] days, because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands.”

THE TRIBULATION—These have been at least partially fulfilled several times but this very likely still has a future fulfillment.

JEREMIAH 23:6-9, 19-20, 31“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. 6 In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “that they shall no longer say, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up the children of Israel from the land of Egypt,’ 8 “but, ‘As the LORD lives who brought up and led the descendants of the house of Israel from the north country and from all the countries where I had driven them.’ And they shall dwell in their own land.” 9 My [Jeremiah’s] heart within me is broken because of the prophets; all my bones shake. I am like a drunken man, and like a man whom wine has overcome, because of the LORD, and because of His holy words. … 19 Behold, a whirlwind of the LORD has gone forth in fury– A violent whirlwind! It will fall violently on the head of the wicked. 20 The anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter [H0319 = last] days you will understand it perfectly. … 31 “Behold, I am against the [false] prophets,” says the LORD, “who use their tongues and say, ‘He says.’

JEREMIAH 30:18, 22, 24 “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; the city shall be built upon its own mound, and the palace shall remain according to its own plan. … 22 ‘You shall be My people, and I will be your God.’ ” … 24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not return until He has done it, and until He has performed the intents of His heart. In the latter [H0319 = last] days you will consider it.

THE TRIBULATION & DAY OF ATONEMENT—After the Day of the LORD and before The Millennium. God punishes Israel (The Tribulation as prophesied in Num. 24:14) and then rescues them (Atonement). (Judah was captive in Babylon along with Jeremiah when he wrote it.)

JEREMIAH 48:47 “Yet I will bring back the captives of Moab in the latter [H0319 = last] days,” says the LORD. Thus far is the judgment of Moab.

JEREMIAH 49:39 ‘But it shall come to pass in the latter [H0319 = last] days: I will bring back the captives of Elam,’ says the LORD.”

DAY OF ATONEMENT—After the Day of the LORD and before The Millennium. God punishes the nations who punished Israel and then rescues them. (Judah was captive in Babylon along with Jeremiah when he wrote it.)

EZEKIEL 38:8, 12, 16 “After many days you [Gog] will be visited. In the latter [H0319 = last] years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. …  12 “to take plunder and to take booty, to stretch out your hand against the waste places that are again inhabited, and against a people gathered from the nations, who have acquired livestock and goods, who dwell in the midst of the land. … 16 “You will come up against My [the LORD’s] people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter [H0319 = last] days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes.”

AFTER THE MILLENNIUM—Gog (and Magog) is specifically mentioned after the 1,000 years (Rev. 20:7-8).

DANIEL 8:17, 19, 23, 25 So he [an angel] came near where I [Daniel] stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end [H7093 = end].” …  19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time [H0319 = last] of the indignation; for at the appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed] the end [H7093 = end] shall be. … 23 “And in the latter time [H0319 = last] of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. … 25 “Through his cunning he shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.

See next section below.

DANIEL 10:14 “Now I [an angel] have come to make you [Daniel] understand what will happen to your people in the latter [H0319 = last] days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come.”

This is a precursor to the chapters 10-12 (see below).

HOSEA 3:5 Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They shall fear the LORD and His goodness in the latter [H0319 = last] days.

DAY OF ATONEMENT—After the Day of the LORD and before The Millennium. Israel is rescued from captivity and seeks king DAVID. (The 10 Tribes were captive in Assyria along with Hosea when he wrote it.)

ISAIAH 2:2 Now it shall come to pass in the latter [H0319 = last] days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow to it.

MICAH 4:1 Now it shall come to pass in the latter [H0319 = last] days that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it.

DAY OF ATONEMENT—After the Day of the LORD and before The Millennium. People are going to the newly founded or established House of the LORD.

The other word used that is used in an end time construct is H7093 qets (kates), which means end. The following are verses from the KJV and its variants that translate it “the end” or “time of the end.” Take particular note that it is always used with “appointed time” (H4150 = mow`ed).

ISAIAH 14:31 Wail, O gate! Cry, O city! All you of Philistia are dissolved; for smoke will come from the north, and no one will be alone in his appointed times [H4150 = mow`ed].” 32 What will they answer the messengers of the nation? That the LORD has founded Zion, and the poor of His people shall take refuge in it.

DAY OF ATONEMENT—After the Day of the LORD and before The Millennium because Philistia is destroyed by God and people are going to the newly founded or established Mount Zion.

DANIEL 8:17, 19, 23, 25 So he [an angel] came near where I [Daniel] stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, “Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end [H7093 = end].” …  19 And he said, “Look, I am making known to you what shall happen in the latter time [H0319 = last] of the indignation; for at the appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed] the end [H7093 = end] shall be. … 23 “And in the latter time [H0319 = last] of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. … 25 “Through his cunning He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule; and he shall exalt himself in his heart. He shall destroy many in their prosperity. He shall even rise against the Prince of princes; but he shall be broken without human means.

DAY OF THE LORD—A future fulfillment since transgressions reach fullness or completion. Also, the Prince of princes is Jesus Christ, and the destruction of the fierce king is by divine means. NOTE: Verse 19 is the only one in the Bible that includes H0319, H7093, and H4150.

DANIEL 11:6, 27, 29, 35, 40 “And at the end [H7093 = end] of some years [not TIME of the end] they shall join forces, for the daughter of the king of the South shall go to the king of the North to make an agreement; but she shall not retain the power of her authority, and neither he nor his authority shall stand; but she shall be given up, with those who brought her, and with him who begot her, and with him who strengthened her in those times. … 27 “Both these kings’ hearts shall be bent on evil, and they shall speak lies at the same table; but it shall not prosper, for the end [H7093 = end] will still be at the appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed]. … 29 “At the appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed] he shall return and go toward the south; but it shall not be like the former or the latter. … 35 “And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end [H7093 = end]; because it is still for the appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed]. … 40 “At the time of the end [H7093 = end] the king of the South shall attack him; and the king of the North shall come against him like a whirlwind, with chariots, horsemen, and with many ships; and he shall enter the countries, overwhelm them, and pass through.

BEGINNING OF SORROWS & THE TRIBULATION—As a future fulfillment referring to wars (Beginning of Sorrows?) and people being made “white” or pure through The Tribulation (Rev. 7:14).

DANIEL 12:1-4, 9-10 “At that time Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever. 4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end [H7093 = end]; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” … 9 And he said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end [H7093 = end]. 10 “Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

DAY OF THE LORD—A time of trouble never before seen and a resurrection to eternal life.

HABAKKUK 1:5-7, 2:3 “Look among the nations and watch– Be utterly astounded! For I [the LORD] will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you. 6 For indeed I am raising up the Chaldeans, a bitter and hasty nation which marches through the breadth of the earth, to possess dwelling places that are not theirs. 7 They are terrible and dreadful; their judgment and their dignity proceed from themselves. … 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time [H4150 = mow`ed]; but at the end [H7093 = end] it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. … 14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

DAY OF THE LORD—As a future fulfillment since the earth has never been filled with knowledge of God’s glory.

JEREMIAH 8:7 “Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times [H4150 = mow`ed]; and the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of the LORD.

THE TRIBULATION—As a future fulfillment from the veiled reference to the “time of their [Israel’s] coming” punishment.

NEW TESTAMENT

In the context of end times, the NT uses the word aion, which is Greek for eon or age but it is an indefinite period of time[1]. However, it is often used with the Greek word sunteleia meaning end, which gives rise to the phrase “end of the age.”

HEBREWS 9:26 He [Jesus Christ] then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He [Jesus Christ] has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST—2,000 years ago.

MATTHEW 13:37-43 He [Jesus Christ] answered and said to them: “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 “The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 “The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 “Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 “The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 “and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 “Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

DAY OF THE LORD—Resurrection of the righteous and death of the unrighteous in the Lake of Fire at the return of Jesus Christ (Matt. 24:50-51; 25:14-30).

MATTHEW 24:14 “And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.

DAY OF THE LORD—Preaching the Gospel to the entire world is only done by an angel (Rev. 14:6-7). This is followed by the First Resurrection (Rev. 14:14-15) and the destruction of the wicked (Rev. 14:17-19, 15:1).

I recognize that there are other scriptures not included. But what stands out is that “latter days,” “last days,” “time of the end,” and “end of the age” refer to a variety of events that occur during the end times. All the conclusions about these events are my personal assessments and, given the complexities of prophecy, will likely be viewed differently by others. Regardless, the important takeaway is that the end of the age can refer to a variety of events including the punishment of Israel (The Tribulation); the return of Jesus Christ; the vengeance of God, the First Resurrection, destruction of the wicked (Day of the LORD); and rescue of captives (Atonement/Covering).

What is also interesting is that The Millennium and post-millennial events (Great White Throne Judgment) do not seem be included as events of “the end of the age” except for Gog and Magog in Ezekiel 38. But the end of the age can have a broader meaning as when Jesus used the word or phrase to indicate this PHYSICAL age or the SPIRITUAL age, not specific events. Also, “appointed times,” generally indicates a future time (even when referring to holydays) but especially when used with “time of the end.” It does not seem to add any special emphasis to it either.

So how close is the end of the age? The apostles John and Jude thought it included their days (Jude 1:18; 1 John 2:18) and I suspect that Jesus would consider the whole of the last 2,000 years as part of the end of the age. However, we are well at the end of that time and, yet, specific end-time prophecies remain unfulfilled. Personally speaking, the phrase “end of the age” is not tied to the events of Trumpets, Atonement (Covering), or Tabernacles. Not only are they short-lived but the goal is the Kingdom of God, not the tribulations and afflictions one must go through to get there. And for the suffering we will endure, we have this assurance:

MATTHEW 28:20 “… I [Jesus Christ] am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

For me, the “end of the age” occurs when this physical universe is destroyed. That opens the door to the next one, an eternal age, with the revealing of the New Heavens and New Earth:

REVELATION 21:1, 3 Now I [John] saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. … 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.

May God’s grace and peace be upon you!

Steven Greene

https://sabbathreflections.org

sabbathreflections@gmail.com