Everyone fears the word. After the end what happens? Even with a story. When I came to the alphabet E with the word “end” I could not continue. Then I realize that the end is not really the end. Lewis wrote: “All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on for ever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”― C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle
CS Lewis was careful and thoughtful when he penned the end story. He opened another door for the reader who wants to know what next and whether there will ever be a sequel. That was why I stopped for five years after writing the second last chapter of a series of four out of five children’s books. It sounds somewhat incredible for any serious writer. What happened? Someone asked. Nothing. The truth is nothing happened after the second last chapter of each book. But surely not many will take such a long pause? You asked. Then you heard silence. A long pause. That was what I heard too in the spirit. Some books can become prophetic. If we are not serious of the accuracy of what end they are created and meant to be in their final choices, we better not write the end.
A DICTIONARY FOR NAVIGATORS ON SPIRITUAL ROUGH WATERS chapter 5: E is for the END word
I read up the meaning of the word “end” by some scholars. Strong’s concordance shows two words, ‘telos’ 5056, and ‘sunteleia’ 4930. I have pondered on both and will quote a few verses to illustrate each of these two words.
telos 5056 end, i. e. a. termination, the limit at which a thing ceases to be, the end of all things (i. e. of the present order of things), as in
1 Peter 4:7 NKJV But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
Some scholars have pointed out that Peter could have repeated what the Lord Jesus had warned, and referred to the impending destruction of Jerusalem or Peter’s own and other Christians’ trials and likely death. On the other hand it should be noted that Jesus was referring to the greater events about His own return and the scale of impact that would be be global and far greater than limited locational Jerusalem and the Jews.
The same word ‘end’ is also used in 1 Corinthians 1:8 NLT “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.” This is very clear that there will be an end of all things when the Lord Jesus returns. This is a fact that the apostles believed and had taught all believers. About the return of the Son of man, everywhere in the Scriptures it is represented that it will come at an unexpected hour, as a thief in the night, and when the mass of people shall be slumbering in false security, Matthew 24:37-39 as sudden as the time of Noah, Matthew 24:42-43 no one knows the hour; 1 Thessalonians 5:2 the Thessalonians believers knew the suddenness of that day when it comes; Luke 21:34 lest that day comes on you unexpectedly.
‘sunteleia’ 4930, entire completion, i.e. Consummation (of a dispensation) — end. The word is used in Daniel 12:4, denoting a time at the end when people seek knowledge fervently and vastly, and 12:13 which denotes the end of Daniel’s earth time, and another end which will come when he will arise to receive his inheritance.
“The word sunteleia signifies a bringing to completion together, marking the consummation or completion of the various parts of a scheme. The word does not denote a termination but the heading up of events to the appointed climax. ” (VIne’s Complete Expository Dictionary)
Jesus spoke of the end of age when He will send His angels to separate the wicked from among the just, remove from His kingdom all things that offend and those who practice lawlessness. (Matthew 13:39, 40, 49,50) In Matthew chapter 13 He used parables to illustrate what will happen at the end of the age, that there would be a separation between the wicked and the righteous. (Read the parables of the wheat and the weeds, and the parable of the fishing net).
The word ‘end’ is also used to denote the consummation of the ages in Hebrews 9:26. “but now, once at the end of the ages, He (Christ) has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” 1 Peter 1:20 “God chose Him as your ransom long before the world began, but now in these last days He has been revealed for your sake.” The history of all preceding ages was a preparation for the manifestation of the Christ. All subsequent history develops the results of that manifestation.
We can see that the word ‘end’ does not necessarily mean THE END. Indeed there is a demarcation line drawn, which shall end the age before that line. After that line there is another beginning of another age. This is the Christian hope and assurance of our belief.
There are many unknowns that are real and existing after crossing the demarcation line for each of us. Reading the Bible we know enough to give us the hope and the faith to walk by the Spirit towards finish line on this side of the line. The line has two sides. On the other side it is a beginning line.
Aptly declared by Lewis, all our life and adventures in this world had only been a cover and title page.
kainotes, 2021-12-19
Kenneth E. Hagin quotes
sound mind journal 