The End of the World According to Jesus of Nazareth

WHAT’S SO IMPORTANT ABOUT JESUS’ OLIVET DISCOURSE?

It’s the end of the world as we know it."

That’s what a lot of people have been saying lately.

This concept is known by many names: the Apocalypse. Judgment Day. Armageddon. Doomsday. Cataclysmic Annihilation. The Extinction Event. The End of the World.

Different names. Same idea.

But more than a trendy catchphrase, the prospect of our world coming to an end is more like a foreboding spirit and is actually quite serious. It’s like there’s something in the air telling us we’re getting precariously near closing time. It’s the collective sense that humanity is racing toward the final hour. That it’s Earth’s last call before things shut down for good.

Apocalypse is in the air. Like the cartoon I recently saw depicting a long-haired and bearded man clothed in a prophet’s garb, wearing a large sign that read, The End is Near. Following closely behind him was a similarly dressed man carrying his own sign that said, I’m the End.

All around us—from politicians to pundits to preachers—we’re hearing the same refrain repeated: The human race and planet Earth are dancing dangerously close to some sort of cataclysmic precipice of destruction. In fact, even the most secular voices are now forecasting a bleak future, including those who release what is called Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists. Each year since the dropping of nuclear weapons during World War 2, these experts have gauged and evaluated just how close they believe humanity is to a global extinction event through what they call The Doomsday Clock.

In January 2022, they posted this headline:

At Doom’s Doorstep:

It is 100 Seconds to Midnight¹

This headline marked the closest proximity to destruction they’ve ever set and is their most dramatic proclamation to date. In 2023, they moved the clock to 90 seconds to midnight. In 2024, they stated that it was still at 90 seconds. These bleak predictions underscore what they perceive as a potential series of existential threats to mankind that could result in a global catastrophic collapse and the end of civilization as we know it. They warn that unless we fundamentally alter our path, doomsday is inevitable and unavoidable. Among the threats they list are nuclear risks, bioweapons, famine, pandemics, and of course, climate change.

Almost everyone agrees that we are in an era of global crisis. Just consider where we are for a moment. We are living in an age saturated with wars, injustice, male governmental leaders identifying as women, human trafficking, out-of-control spending, irrecoverable debt, economic meltdowns, rampant immorality, the continual mass slaughter of innocent babies, and the death knell of reason and truth. It seems that we have grown accustomed to a global undercurrent of fear that lingers among us like a low-grade fever.

All this makes one wonder: Could humanity be a doomed race? Is this it? And if so, just how long will it be before this ship goes under for good? Though atheists and Bible-believers disagree as to the first cause of our origin, both argue that Earth and mankind did have a beginning. We just differ on how the beginning began and how the end will or could end.

How long before the bottom drops out and we plunge irreversibly into a bottomless pit of chaos and despair? Are we today literally seeing the handwriting on the wall? What will prove to be the tipping point—the final straw that breaks and sends us plummeting into the abyss? And most importantly, how are we to cope in the midst of this multifaceted pandora’s box of threatening calamities?

Yes, Earth is a planet in peril, and we are walking on the textbook definition of thin ice.

But does any of this really matter to us? Does it really impact our daily lives and families? Should we care…that much? After all, why dwell on this subject? And why even talk about the end of the world—a morbid, dark, depressing, seemingly unnecessary, and mostly irrelevant prospect? Why write an entire book discussing such a distasteful and disturbing topic when we are already occupied with surviving perpetual pandemics, fearing wars, fighting inflation, and trying to forage for some personal meaning in the midst of an already-messed-up age? Why add to our anxiety by obsessing over future doomsday scenarios? Isn’t that counterproductive?

The answer, of course, is yes.

However, at the same time, neither can any thinking person afford to simply dismiss or ignore the subject altogether, and here’s a major reason why:

Jesus Christ spoke about the end times, and in great detail.

For that reason alone, we cannot merely pass off the last days as some faith-based fantasy or Christian conspiracy theory.

For those who claim Christ as Savior (and for everyone else as well), this is simply not an option. As we will see, the crises that currently seem oceans away in distance and time may reach our shores (and lives) much sooner than we anticipate. Rather than fading into our memory like last year’s Super Bowl winner, the end times is a topic that, according to the Bible, simply isn’t going away. On an almost daily basis, we are confronted by global developments in government, morality, religion, and geopolitics that constantly remind us we are well down the path to prophetic fulfillment as described in Scripture.

Everyone acknowledges that life here on earth will end at some point in the future. But according to Jesus of Nazareth, it won’t be due to some rogue meteor, global warming, or an international thermonuclear meltdown. Just a few days prior to his crucifixion, Christ gathered with a small group of his disciples on the Mount of Olives just outside Jerusalem. There, he laid out God’s prophetic plan for the end of days. And if he is right about earth’s last days, wouldn’t it be smart to know just how it will play out before it happens?

Fortunately, the rest of Scripture also harmonizes with Jesus’ definitive narrative for the end of the world. In fact, it is repeatedly addressed, described, and prophesied in meticulous detail and in multiple places.

So to bring it a bit closer to home, wouldn’t you like to know whether the apocalyptic events described in the Bible could occur in your lifetime? If the present global shifts and trajectory of current world events signify that we may be very near to the close of history as portrayed in the Bible, wouldn’t you want to know? What if there was credible evidence to suggest that the beginning of the end was not centuries removed from us, but in reality, knocking at our front door?

Sounds a lot more relevant now, doesn’t it?

However, instead of sensational speculation and wild, reckless predictions concerning future days of destruction, prudence dictates that we go straight to the source and see for ourselves. In this book, we will tackle the topic by considering the words of the One who claimed to be truth incarnate (John 14:6). We will consult him who alone prophesies history in advance.

In other words, we will let Christ himself tell us what’s going to happen in his own unfiltered, unedited style.

Though this Jesus is not accessible by email, text, or Zoom call, he is nevertheless available, and he is able to speak directly to us through his written word, faithfully and accurately recorded in the Gospels. It is there on a hillside just outside Jerusalem where we are permitted to eavesdrop on a most interesting encounter between the Lord and his disciples. In a single sitting, the carpenter-rabbi-prophet reveals to them, and to us, the unparalleled prophetic narrative divinely destined to unfold in the last days. Apart from his gospel-saving message, it may prove to be the most valuable critical intel you’ve ever received. Compliments of Jesus of Nazareth.

Admittedly, a skeptical mind may object to the predictions of a first-century Jewish teacher. After all, just who is this Jesus of Nazareth that he should be qualified to speak on such topics, and do so some 2,000 years ago? Granted, he is universally seen as a good, kind, and loving man, but what valid reasons do we have to believe him regarding the future? Why trust his version of end-times events?

Fair enough.

With that in mind, before catapulting ourselves into Jesus’ version of the last days, it makes sense to first examine the man himself. What kind of person was he? What does the evidence suggest concerning him? And why would we, or anyone, embrace his views, and stake our very lives on his prophecies concerning the future?

The answers to those questions are critical, for they will not only help shape our beliefs concerning the end times, but also decide our own destiny as well.

Jeff Kinley

PART 1

WHO IS JESUS OF NAZARETH?

CHAPTER 1

WHO IS JESUS OF NAZARETH?—HIS WORDS

One of the tragedies of the modern era is that we appear to have lost the art of critical thinking. With the explosion of information and knowledge available literally at our fingertips, we may nevertheless still be the least-informed generation in history. Students graduate high school, and even college, lacking the skills to read proficiently or to do basic math. Few today care to know or even understand history.¹ And it could be argued that critical thinking isn’t the only skill we’re losing. The basic ability to think and form rational thoughts is now at risk as well. Caught in a confusing haze somewhere between reality and online fantasy, I would argue that we’re much better at emoting (I feel like…) than we are at actual thinking. And many today who reject traditional values and ideas do so not because of factual data or rational reasons, but rather, because of how they feel about an issue or what the accepted mainstream narrative pressures them to believe or say.

Bottom line: We could use a lot more thinkers and true skeptics in our world. And that, curiously enough, brings us to Jesus and his prophecies concerning the end of days.

Admittedly, a skeptical mind might naturally object to the apocalyptic predictions of a first-century Jewish rabbi. Again, just who is this Jesus of Nazareth that he should be credibly qualified to speak on such topics, and for his words to still have relevance some 2,000 years later?

In this chapter and the next, we’ll take an unfiltered look at this Jesus of Nazareth—his words, his works, and his person. From this we will address reasonable skepticism, answer important questions, understand more fully who he is, and learn why his prophecies concerning the end of the world can be trusted.

First, it must be acknowledged that no credible source today denies the historicity of Jesus Christ. Gone are the days when the Jesus myth could be argued. As early as AD 52, nonbiblical accounts were written attesting to the reality of Jesus’ life and death.² Those sources include the pagan historian Thallus (AD 52), the Roman historian Tacitus (AD 56–120), a Syrian philosopher named Mara Bar-Serapion (AD 70), Pliny the Younger (AD 61–113), Suetonius (AD 69–140), and the famous Jewish historian Josephus (AD 37–101).

Though stopping short of subscribing themselves to Jesus’ teaching, they all unanimously acknowledged his undeniable existence, documenting it for the ages.

WHAT HE SAID

As a teacher and communicator, Jesus Christ was unequaled. Though he never penned a manuscript, his teachings have inspired millions of books to be written. He was the master teacher, the quintessential communicator. But why? What made him so effective? How did he teach? And what was the impact of those teachings on his followers? Let’s look then at ten ways Jesus’ words and teaching were unique.

1. His Words Were Authoritative (Mark 1:22)

When Jesus taught, he did so with a sense of divine confidence. This was a stark contrast to the established religious leaders and influencers of his day. So fresh and rich were his words that multitudes were described as being amazed at His teaching (Matthew 7:28-29; Mark 1:22). The word amazed (Greek ekplesso) means to strike a person out of his senses—like being awestruck, shocked, or beside oneself. In short, Jesus brought the wow factor in his teaching, not because of some dramatic presentation method or due to his rugged handsome looks. On the contrary, Isaiah reminds us of how ordinary he looked, writing, He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him (Isaiah 53:2).

Because of his authoritative speech, Jesus’ audiences were left speechless; they were hanging on to every word He said (Luke 19:48).

2. His Words Were Challenging (Matthew 5–7; Luke 14:25-35; John 6:1-66)

Jesus’ words and message confronted the status quo of his day. Concerning one’s relationship with God, he challenged his listeners to rise above the accepted standards to achieve a new, deeper, more meaningful level of spirituality. The problem, he argued, was not primarily with one’s external behavior, but rather, with the condition of the heart (Mark 7:18-23). By contrast, the religious leaders of his time measured a person’s spiritual worth and merit based solely on external deeds committed or omitted. Jesus turned that idea inside out.

Jesus was never content to merely draw a big crowd (as some measure success in our day). Instead, he would often purposefully weed out those who were merely curious or casual in their commitment to him. And when he did so, he was met with opposition and mass withdrawal (John 6:66).

His words were challenging and demanding in that he asked his followers to be willing to love him above all other earthly relationships, even above the love of one’s own life (Luke 14:26). This devotion he demanded even included a willingness to die for him (verse 27). In fact, he required his disciples to surrender their concept of life itself to him and to submit their wills to his. Essentially, Christ challenged them to sign over the title deed of their souls to him and him alone (Matthew 10:38-39). Unless they did these things, Jesus boldly asserted, they simply could not be his disciples (Luke 14:26-27, 33-34). We can understand why he cautioned the crowds to count the cost before deciding to follow him (verses 28-32).

As the self-proclaimed Son of God, Jesus was willing to lay it all on the line for his Father, and he expected the same sacrifice from those who claimed him as their Lord (Matthew 10:24; John 15:18-25; 17:14, 18). If these same challenging words of Christ were proclaimed and preached more in churches today, would they empty them, or would a new breed of bold and courageous disciples be unleashed upon the world? And how much different would our culture be?

3. His Words Were Life-Changing (John 6:68)

Jesus’ teaching did far more than just fill people’s heads with knowledge. Instead, they imparted life itself. As Simon Peter confessed, You have words of eternal life (John 6:68). Due in part to his teaching, Christ’s followers came to believe and know that he was the Holy One of God (verse 69). Among some of his life-altering words were these:

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7).

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God (John 3:3).

Do not worry then, saying, What will we eat? Or What will we drink? Or What will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:31-34).

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36-37).

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you (Matthew 5:43-44).

Words of eternal life.

4. His Words Gave Hope (Matthew 11:28-30)

Christ appeared at a time when the Jewish people were not only under subjugation to a pagan Roman government, but also were weighed down by the extrabiblical religious laws created by the ruling religious leaders—the Pharisees and Sadducees. Because of this, his message included words that imparted much-needed hope to those who heard him. In that context, consider the following hope-infused offerings he gave to his people:

Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light (Matthew 11:28-30).

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:18-20).

I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst (John 6:35).

The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (John 10:10).

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one (John 10:27-30).

I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies (John 11:25).

Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also (John 14:1-3).

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

Words of hope that are still true for you today.

5. His Words Were Powerful (Mark 4:35-41)

Obviously, anyone can speak in grandiose, braggadocios language. But not everyone utters speech that actually suspends the laws of nature and the universe, altering both physical and chemical realities. Consider that, with a word, Jesus…

• transformed water into fermented wine (John 2:1-11)

• calmed a violent storm (Mark 4:35-41)

• healed the lame and those with leprosy (John 5:1-9; Mark 1:40-45)

• commanded supernaturally endowed demons to flee (Mark 1:21-28)

• cursed a fig tree (Matthew 21:18-19; Mark 11:12-14)

• raised the dead (Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-44)

Keep in mind that the circumstances surrounding these occurrences and the environments in which they took place prevent them from being explained away as mere mind tricks, sleight of hand, mis-direction, or illusionary magic. No, the aforementioned miracles Jesus performed (all originating solely from the words out of his mouth) were corroborated and verified by multiple eyewitness accounts. And as his own disciples noted, Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:41). Who indeed? What kind of person can alter chemical compositions, control the climate and physical environments, cure organic diseases, reverse the effects of muscular atrophy, create from nothing perfectly cooked food, shut down the forces of nature, and bring back to life a person who is confirmed to be dead? The answer to these questions brings us closer to the true identity of this carpenter from Nazareth.

6. His Words Were Prophetic (Matthew 26:2)

Those today who claim to be able to predict the future are a dime a dozen. Throughout history, there has been no shortage of self-proclaimed prophets and wannabe prognosticators. So, what makes Jesus’ predictions different? What sets