Fortunately, we are in the end of the world, and it's a great place to be. The beginning of the world was a world that was ruled by sin and death, with Satan being the Prince thereof, and it was a horrible place to be (you can reference this world any time by reading the Old Testament about such a world). The end of the world is a world that is ruled by the knowledge of eternal life, with JC being the King hereof, (you can reference that world at any time by reading the New Tastament about such a world).
If you read the book as if you have never read it before, this scenario becomes plain. It is woven throughout the whole story, about the end of the world, and it is a beautiful world, waiting to be discovered by any and all who will seek. This new heaven and new earth is all around us, it is not coming, it is here at hand, and it has nothing to do with anything physically changing, but with God changing our minds by his words, if only we will believe him, instead of man, and the eyes of our understanding will be opened.
The writer of Hebrew makes it perfectly clear that (Heb 1: ) 1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;
These are the last times, has been since God spoke to us by his Son, some 2000 yrs ago. Not a time to be fearful, but full of faith in JC's beautiful message.
And confirmed here also (Heb 9: ) 24 For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
25Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others;
26For 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.
It is abundantly clear the the end of the world is a time when Christ has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. Still living in sin? It's because you have refused to believe JC's message of good news, can't help but dwell in untruth (sin), if you don't believe the one our Heavenly Father sent who has the truth. Believe JC's message about the Father, and sin has been put away, and you will dwell in truth.
As for JC appearing in the clouds, it is not a one time event, here is an example: Mark 14: 60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
Here you have JC telling the high priest that he would see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven. That Priest is dead, yet he witnessed JC coming in the clouds of heaven.
In the clouds of heaven is the key. That phrase references the spiritual aspect of his coming. JC always warned us about the flesh and stated that it profits nothing, and always stated that it is the spirit that gives life. God is a spirit, and he seeks those who will worship him in spirit and in truth. Christ kingdom is not of this physical world, but is within us.
His coming in the clouds is like his going in the clouds for those who believe his message about our Father, peaceful. For those who are unbelieving, when he comes in the clouds for them, it is fearful and fiery, a time where the man of sin is consumed by the spirit of the Lord's mouth and the brightness of his coming. And that is apart from our gathering together unto God, that is a whole other matter,the time when we all leave this earth to go to the place JC has prepared for us, a true room in the Father's house, at our parting from the flesh.
The greatest event of all time isn't an ending to this physical world, or some great war, or medical breakthrough, but the greatest event of all time is happening each and everyday in the lives of every single person in the world as all of creation eagerly awaits the revealing of the children of God to each and every one of us. All of creation is waiting and watching every day to see who will see the truth of God that JC taught, of who God is (our Father), what we are (spirit like our Father, not flesh), and who we are (his children). And immediately all things are new. New heaven, new earth, and new creatures, Awesome! Death is a thing that happens to what was never alive (the flesh), and what is living was never dead, and never will die (our spirit), and this is revealed by the one the Father sent.
We are the apple of God's eye, he has us written on the palms of his hands. Not one of us is unimportant or unloved, and there is not one thing that can saparate us from God's love that JC taught us of: not life, nor death, height, nor depth, things present, or things to come. We are truly loved with an unconditional love, and nothing can seperate us from it (though, through the knowledge of good and evil, mankind doubts this).
Though, You'll never get this unadulterated news of pure goodness from any other source than from that best seller of all times spoken by the big man upstairs himself. That's why I have to always reference that book whose end is pure goodness anytime man tries to take advantage by the tactic of fear and terror. Watch whose message you preach, is their message a gainsaying message, said for their gain? Or are they convincing you of their message so they can obtain filthy lucre? JC's message is free, full of goodness, and only benefits you. The message of man is costly, full of evil, and only benefits them.
Every tree is know by it's fruit, I prefer to eat from the tree of life myself, which is Jesus Christ bearing eternal life, than that tree of good and evil that man and his organizations try to get you to eat of that bears death. Though, I tell you, that tree of death offered by men does look tempting, at least to the unsuspecting.
