The Book of Revelation is probably the first part of the Bible that comes to mind when conversations turn to the end times, but there are verses all throughout Scripture that speak on the end of days.
Although “the end times” refers to when the world as we know it will come to an end, Christians believe that is also when Jesus returns and will reign openly on the Earth. The people of the world will be judged and either spend eternity in God’s kingdom or eternally separated from Him (a state many describe as “hell”).
Besides speculating when the end times will occur, Christians often focus on the “signs of the times”—attitudes and events the Bible says will be typical of the last days that will precede the day of the Lord (a reference to Christ’s return).
So what does the Bible say about the end times, or things that will happen in the last days?
Ahead are five popular Bible verses that describe the last days.
2 Timothy 3:1-5 – Ungodly Attitudes and Behaviors
“But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”
2 Peter 3:3-4 – Impatience With Looking for Christ’s Return
“Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. They will say, ‘What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.’”
Luke 21: 25-28 – Everyone Will See Jesus Return to Earth
“There will be signs (attesting miracles) in the sun and moon and stars; and on the earth [there will be] distress and anguish among nations, in perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea and the waves, people fainting from fear and expectation of the [dreadful] things coming on the world; for the [very] powers of the heavens will be shaken. Then they will see THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD with [transcendent, overwhelming] power [subduing the nations] and with great glory. Now when these things begin to occur, stand tall and lift up your heads [in joy], because [suffering ends as] your redemption is drawing near.”
Matthew 24: 36-37 – Only God Knows the Day Jesus Will Return
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – People Will Abandon the Faith
“Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons. These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.”
