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