Much of the time when we consider scriptures referring to the end of the world we think of the end of the physical earth and all the inhabitants within. It could be thought of as a complete cosmic destruction of planet earth and the physical heavens. However, many of the words in the scripture interpreted world are from a Greek word aion and means a period of time or an age. So when the disciples ask Jesus when the end of the world shall be, I believe they are referring to the end of the Old Covenant age.
Matthew 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?"
The time was held in place by the Covenant God had established in the earth, which was coming to its end or fulfillment when Jesus walked in the earth. In fact He was and is the fulfillment of it, and the fulfillment of all things.
In Matthew 24 there is another word used for world besides age. In fact, there are multiple Greek words used for the word world in our Bible, but let's concentrate on the one in Matthew 24:14, where Jesus says the gospel must be preached in all the world. The word here means land, the globe, or the Roman empire. If I consider it as the Roman Empire then the Apostles would have went forth into the entire world, preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom before the end came precisely forty years later at the destruction of Jerusalem.
Matthew 24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.
The Apostle Paul actually says the Gospel was preached in all the world in his day. If we trace his footsteps or journeys we may see that Paul, led of the Spirit of God, went forth into the Roman Empire and all the world preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God prior to the destruction of the Jerusalem. We can see that Paul and the other Apostles were the bearers of good news, and were heralding the arrival of the New Covenant in midst of the earth as the Old Covenant was physically dismantled before them. The Old Covenant was taken away in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the New Covenant was established in Him. However, that which was taken away was visibly manifest in their midst when the Old Temple was brought to its end, and the New Temple (The Church) was gathered to the LORD as His dwelling and house of worship in that day.
Romans 10:18 "But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world."
Colossians1:23 "if so be that ye continue in the faith, grounded and stedfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye heard, which was preached in all creation under heaven; whereof I Paul was made a minister."
This NEW is that which every believer is a participant and partaker of. This NEW is that which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory to God in the Highest!
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