End of The World vs. End of The Age

We have previously established that the “last days” referred to in the Bible were the last days of the Old Covenant. But doesn’t the Bible also speak of the end of the world? Well, yes and no. The phrase “end of the world” can be found in the Bible, primarily in the King James Version, but it is an unfortunate translation. Almost invariably, in passages that speak of the end of the world, or of the world to come, the Greek word that is translated “world” is “aion” (or “aioon”), from which we get our word “eon.” While “world” may have had that connotation in 1611 when the KJV was published, a more accurate translation of this word for contemporary English is “age,” as the translators of the New King James Version have shown. Provided below are the bulk of the passages in the KJV that refer to the end of the world, or the world to come, and their NKJV counterparts:

 

Matt 13:39-40

The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so shall it be in the end of this world. KJV

The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels.  Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. NKJV

 

Matt 13:49

So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just . . . .KJV

So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just . . . .NKJV

 

Matt 24:3

And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, “Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?” KJV

Now as He sat on the Mount of Olives , the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” NKJV

 

Matt 28:20

Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. KJV

 . . . teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen. NKJV

 

Mark 10:30

But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. KJV

 . . . who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life. NKJV

 

Luke 18:30

Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. KJV

 . . . who shall not receive many times more in this present time, and in the age to come eternal life. NKJV

 

Luke 20:34-35

And Jesus answering said unto them, “The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage . . . .” KJV

Jesus answered and said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.  But those who are counted worthy to attain that age, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage . . . .” NKJV

 

1 Cor 10:11

Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. KJV

Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. NKJV

 

Gal 1:4

Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father . . . .KJV

 . . . who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father . . . .NKJV

 

Eph 1:21

Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come . . . .KJV

 . . . far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. NKJV

 

Heb 6:5

And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come . . . .KJV

 . . . and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come . . . .NKJV

 

Heb 9:26

For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. KJV

He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. NKJV (emphases added)

It’s easy to see from the above KJV passages where the concept of the end of the world came from. It is equally easy to see from the NKJV that the “world” that was ending was not the physical world, but the world (or age) of Judaism and the Old Covenant. This is in complete agreement with what we have already studied concerning the last days and the transition of the covenants.

The previous is an excerpt from the chapter Revelation, A.D. 70 and The End of The World, in the book Behind the Veil of Moses, by Brian L. Martin.