Then Cometh The End
2 Corinthians 15:24
It is not our intention to present a study on the Sonship and when it will (or did) end. We would, however, like to direct your attention to the phrase used by the apostle in this verse: “Then cometh the end.”
We are accustomed to life and things having a life expectancy that is limited. We are familiar with the end of life by our contact with death through loved ones. We are accustomed to one form of government being replaced by another, of presidents replacing presidents. Through all these forms of tradition there is also a feeling of continuation. While a loved one dies, life for others continues. On the political front one force is removed and succeeded by another.
In this sense we are not accustomed to the finality of things as is here conveyed to us through the inspired pen of the apostle Paul. He is telling us that an end in the sense of finality — an end with no succeeding events to continue what has ended with others — will come. It is this end that stirs our interest and arouses our anticipation in things yet not seen by our mortal eyes.
An End Of What?
Now we know the Bible teaches us that there is neither beginning of days nor ending of time for God. God is not governed by time (2Peter 3:8). So, Paul in speaking of an end is in no sense of the word making any reference to a time when God shall cease to be God.
The end under consideration here must concern things that are not eternal, those things that had a beginning and thus have been touched by the death causing influence of mortals and sin. Things that have known the touch of Satan and this world shall have an end.
It is with this thought in mind that we find ourselves stirred with great anticipation for that day when all things temporary shall be removed and only those things eternal shall exist.
The End Of Satan’s Influence
Satan, the instigator of all evil and all sin, shall at that time cease to exist as an influential force in the world and from among the people of God. For millenniums he has reigned as the “prince of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2). He has been recognized as the “god of this world” (2Corinthians 4:4), as the “ruler of the darkness of this world” (Ephesians 8:12). He has harassed
the saints of God through the years. He has rejoiced at the many who have fallen because of his evil influence upon their lives.
Satan must have felt great satisfaction when the first family was driven from the Garden of Eden. The gross sinfulness of the Antediluvians, the Sodomites and others must have brought him great satisfaction, for he was the instigator of their troubles.
It was Satan who influenced the first murder, and each murder since that day. It is his delight to bring souls down to sinful destruction and thus deprive them of eternal life. It is Satan who has influenced the propagation of every false doctrine that leads people away from the truth. The apostle Paul described the devil “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” (1Peter 5:8). Knowing his eternal doom, he is determined to have as much company as he can get to go with him to that eternal place called the Lake of Fire.
But as the archenemy of all righteousness his days are numbered. The final conflict that shall bring an end to his days of evil will be the battle of Gog-Magog (Revelation 20:7–10). At this time, he will be taken and cast into the lake of fire where he will be for eternity. There shall surely be rejoicing among all the host of heaven when the deceiver of all mankind, and the one who forsook his place as one of the angels anointed of God to follow his path of selfish pride that will eventually end in his being forever and ever barred from the earth and heaven. This will then be the end for Satan and his influence.
The End Of Death
We frequently find ourselves confronted in some form or another with death — loved ones called from our side, saints are called away from our assemblies and, if the Lord tarries, we too shall be called from this life to go by the way of the grave. None are exempt from death in this life if the Lord tarries His coming. Death has visited and will visit every home and every family. None have been exempted from the sorrows of this unwelcome visitor to our homes and lives.
Yet some day this too shall end. Funeral homes, cemeteries and all companies associated with death shall have business no longer. Detroit will turn out no more hearses at that day. The preacher’s guide to proper funeral procedures will become obsolete and of no use on that day. No long funeral processions and no tear stained eyes on the day when death shall end.
Man’s long search for the fountain of youth will come to an end as God bestows perpetual health upon all His children when death shall be no more. The wonderful promise of I Corinthians 15:54,55 shall then come to pass and the voices of the angels will blend with all those who have escaped the hold of death on that day when it too shall end. “Death is swallowed up in victory. 0 death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
An End To Wars
Much of this nation’s budget is directed toward weapons of warfare. The sophistication of some of today’s weapons of warfare is mind-boggling. Man has come a long way from the time when they fought with clubs, stones, and spears. With his advancement of warfare technology, he has brought himself and the rest of the world to the brink of annihilation.
Today there is germ warfare, laser weapons that can cut through people and things, bombs that can obliterate entire cities, missiles that can be guided hundreds of miles to a target. The entire world lives on the precipice of cataclysmic destruction. Even as this article is being written thousands are dying in various countries where warfare is being fought. Countries and governments are toppling as revolutionary forces invade country after country and overthrow the leaders. Africa has been a prime example of the ravages of warfare in the past few months. Vietnam has been a bloody reminder in our recent past of the destruction of life to Americans. Families have been separated by wars. Children have been left fatherless by war. Wives are
made husbandless by warfare.
All these things shall come to an end one day when Jesus shall come to bring peace and a kingdom to this earth. When sin has run its course and men have stood before the King and Judge of all mankind’s sins, when the graves give up their dead and they are ushered before the great throne of judgment, when every son of Adam shall be called forth to meet with the Judge of judges and when sentence has been passed and all the lost whose names are not in the Book of Life are cast out into the lake of fire, then there shall be a new heaven and a new earth ”“wherein dwelleth righteousness” (2Peter 3:12).
End of Sickness And Sorrow
While all the weapons of warfare will become obsolete on that day, there will also come an end to one of the fears that confront every home and person — sickness and sorrow. Soon the time will come when such things will not be known any longer.
Doctors, hospitals, drug stores issuing forth their drugs will on that day run out of business when the King shall bring an end to all sickness and sorrow. Perfect health will be granted to every child of God, who enters the glory of heaven’s riches on that day,
Visiting hospitals can be a very discouraging thing today as one can witness the pain and sickness that is so prevalent in our land today. Sickness that leaves many with excruciating pain and discomfort may be witnessed any day in any hospital. Someday this too shall end.
John, the apostle, writes in the book of Revelation about the conditions that shall exist in that day when all these things shall end. In describing the conditions that will prevail at that time he mentions those things that shall NOT exist any longer to torment mankind in that day. Listen to him as he speaks of a time when there shall be:
“No more sea” — Revelation 21:2
o Sea speaks of trouble and chaos in the scripture types. Trouble on that day shall be no more. It too shall end.
“No more death” — Revelation 21:4
o The last man will have died and come forth to judgment. The stalker of every man shall be driven out forever from the presence of mankind.
“Neither sorrow” — Revelation 21:4
o Sorrows that have furrowed our brows will no longer weigh heavily upon mankind when it has come to an end.
“Nor crying” Revelation 21:4
o God Himself will wipe all the tears from our eyes on that day when He brings to an end all things that cause tears and despair.
“Neither … any more pain” — Revelation 21:4
o Not a one of Adam’s sons has been exempted from the sufferings of pain in his life. It too shall end.
“No more curse” — Revelation 22:3
o The curse of Eden shall be lifted and come to an end at that day when all the children of God shall rejoice in His presence.
This day shall not come any too soon for those who have prepared themselves for the coming of the Lord. What a great day of rejoicing there shall be for all those privileged to join that company of redeemed pilgrims who shall rejoice around the throne of Jesus and exalt Him for delivering them from these things.
