For thousands of years, christians have been told by false prophets that they were in the end times...

The End of the Age

The "end times" is a term that sparks much debate and speculation. For centuries, people have associated it with apocalyptic visions, the end of world history, or catastrophic global events. However, from a preterist perspective, the Bible does not speak of the "end times" as the end of the physical world. Instead, it reveals the end of an age—specifically, the Old Covenant age—and the full establishment of the eternal New Covenant through Jesus Christ.

The End of the Old Covenant Age

In the New Testament, the "end of the age" refers not to the destruction of the earth but to the end of the Old Covenant and its temple-centered system. This transition culminated in the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple in AD 70, fulfilling the prophecies of Jesus and marking the passing away of the Old Covenant. As the writer of Hebrews declared, "In speaking of a new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away" (Hebrews 8:13).

This pivotal event was not the end of world history but the end of the Mosaic economy and the beginning of the eternal kingdom of Christ. The New Covenant—a spiritual and everlasting covenant—is now fully realized in Christ's reign.

Jesus’ Judgment Language in Matthew 24

One of the most misunderstood passages concerning the "end times" is Matthew 24. Many interpret Jesus' prophecy about the destruction of the temple and the signs of His coming as predictions about the end of the world. However, Jesus was addressing the imminent judgment on Jerusalem.

His use of apocalyptic imagery, such as "the sun will be darkened, and the stars will fall from heaven" (Matthew 24:29), mirrors the prophetic language of the Old Testament. For instance, Isaiah 13 uses similar cosmic symbols to describe God's judgment on Babylon. These expressions are not literal but symbolic of significant covenantal upheavals and divine judgment.

In Matthew 24:34, Jesus makes it clear: "Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all these things take place." The events He described—the temple's destruction, wars, famines, and the spread of the gospel—occurred within the lifetime of His contemporaries, culminating in AD 70.

The Apostolic Perspective on the "End Times"

The New Testament writers consistently affirm that they were living in the "last days" of the Old Covenant age:

Hebrews 1:2: "In these last days, He has spoken to us by His Son."
1 Corinthians 10:11: "Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come."

Over 100 time statements in the New Testament emphasize the imminent nature of these events, using terms like "soon" (Revelation 1:1), "at hand" (James 5:8), and "this generation" (Matthew 24:34). These phrases leave no room for a distant future fulfillment. The apostles understood that the Old Covenant was passing away and the New Covenant was being fully established.

Revelation and the Day of the Lord

The Book of Revelation, often misinterpreted as predicting events thousands of years in the future, explicitly claims to address things that were "soon to take place" (Revelation 1:1). The vivid imagery of judgment—the fall of Babylon, the great harlot, and the lake of fire—is best understood as describing God’s judgment on Old Covenant Israel, not the end of the world.

For example, "Babylon the Great" is a symbolic reference to Jerusalem, the city that rejected and crucified the Messiah. Revelation's focus is not on global catastrophe but on the covenantal transition from the Old Covenant to the New.

The Eternal New Covenant Age

With the Old Covenant age concluded in AD 70, the New Covenant age—the "new heavens and new earth"—has been fully established. This is not a physical new planet but a spiritual reality, as described in Isaiah 65 and 66. The New Covenant age is eternal and universal, bringing life, healing, and reconciliation through Christ.

Conclusion

The "end times" of Scripture refer to the end of the Old Covenant and the judgment on Old Covenant Israel, not the end of the world. Jesus’ teachings, the apostles' writings, and the Book of Revelation all affirm this covenantal transition.

Understanding the "end of the age" in this way not only resolves much of the confusion surrounding eschatology but also magnifies the glory of Christ’s finished work. His eternal kingdom is now reigning, and as His people, we are called to live in the light of the New Covenant—a kingdom without end, bringing healing to the nations.