What does "then the end will come" mean in 1 Corinthians 15:24? Immediate Context (1 Corinthians 15:20-28) Paul is defending bodily resurrection. The structure is: 1. Christ the “firstfruits” (v 20). 2. “Those who belong to Him” at His parousia (v 23). 3. “Then the end” (v 24), the telos—the completion of God’s redemptive program. Meaning Of Τελος (“End”) Telos denotes consummation, goal, completion—not annihilation of creation but fulfillment of purpose (cf. Romans 10:4; 1 Timothy 1:5). Paul therefore speaks of the climactic phase in which every enemy is subdued (Psalm 110:1) and death itself is destroyed (15:26). Eschatological Sequence 1. Present Church Age: Gospel proclaimed (Matthew 24:14). 2. Second Coming: visible, bodily return of Christ (Acts 1:11). 3. Resurrection of believers (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). 4. Reign of Christ until every opposing power is conquered (15:25; Daniel 7:13-14). Many readers see this reign as the millennium of Revelation 20; others view it as His current heavenly reign culminating on earth. 5. Final Abolition of Death: “The last enemy to be destroyed is death” (15:26). 6. Delivery of the Kingdom to the Father (15:24, 28). At that moment the mediatorial kingship of the Son is merged into the eternal, undivided reign of the Triune God (Revelation 22:3-5). 7. New Heavens and New Earth (Revelation 21:1). Relation To Other Scriptures • Isaiah 25:8 “He will swallow up death forever.” • Daniel 12:2 “Many who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake.” • 2 Peter 3:10 “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” • Revelation 11:15 “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.” Historical And Manuscript Witness 1 Corinthians is preserved in p46 (c. AD 175-225), א, A, B, C, D, confirming the wording of v 24 virtually unchanged. Early patristic citations (Irenaeus, c. 180; Tertullian, c. 200) quote the verse, demonstrating continuity. The consistency across thousands of Greek MSS, Latin, Coptic, and Syriac versions undergirds textual reliability. Archaeological & Extra-Biblical Corroborations • The Nazareth Inscription (1st-century edict against grave robbing) implies an official Roman response to claims of an empty tomb. • Ossuary of James (inscribed “James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus”) reinforces historical setting of Jesus’ family. • Dead Sea Scrolls (e.g., 1QIsaᵃ) show the prophetic text cited by Paul (Isaiah 25:8) matches today’s Bible almost verbatim, underscoring transmission accuracy. The Resurrection As Foundation For “The End” The minimal-facts approach (accepted by critical scholars) affirms: Jesus’ crucifixion, empty tomb, post-mortem appearances, and origin of the disciples’ belief. Since Paul’s flow of thought hangs on the historical resurrection (15:3-8), “then the end” is inseparable from that historical event. If Christ is risen, the telos is guaranteed. Creation And Young-Earth Timeline A straightforward reading of Genesis genealogies (cf. Ussher’s 4004 BC date) places Adam roughly 6,000 years ago. The global Flood (Genesis 6-9) 1,656 years later explains widespread fossil graveyards and polystrate trees. Dinosaur soft tissue and measurable C-14 in diamonds (RATE project) indicate far younger ages than conventional deep-time assumptions, dovetailing with the imminent consummation described by Paul. Destruction Of All Rule, Authority, Power “Destroyed” (katargeō) means “rendered powerless.” Christ progressively nullifies demonic, human, and even death’s dominion. Revelation 20:10-14 portrays Satan cast into the lake of fire and Death and Hades likewise judged—a concrete depiction of katargeō. Handing Over The Kingdom Christ, having completed the redemptive mission, presents a purified, glorified creation to the Father. Yet verse 28 shows no subordination of essence: “that God may be all in all.” The Son’s voluntary mediatorial role concludes; the ontological equality within the Trinity remains. Practical Implications Believers live in “penultimate time,” assured of victory yet called to steadfastness: • Evangelize (1 Corinthians 15:58 “always abounding in the work of the Lord”). • Pursue holiness, knowing current choices resonate into eternity (2 Peter 3:11-14). • Face death without fear, since it will itself die (Hebrews 2:14-15). Invitation To The Skeptic Historical evidence for the resurrection, manuscript integrity, and observable design in nature cumulatively invite rational trust in Christ. If the resurrection occurred, “then the end” is not myth but your personal future. Repent and believe the gospel (Acts 17:30-31). Conclusion “Then the end will come” marks the divinely appointed climax when the risen Christ abolishes every enemy, eradicates death, and ushers creation into unbroken fellowship with the Father. Scripture, history, science, and transformed lives converge to affirm that this telos is both certain and near. |
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