What does "the end of the world" mean?

Question

Is it when the human race ends? Or when life as we know it ceases to exist? Or when the planet earth is non - existant? Or something else?
Also, what is Armageddon?

Answer 1

Thoughts of an ultimate doom of mankind then are partly, if not entirely, based upon this avoidance technique of the mind; that it likes to think collectively rather than individually when it comes to considering possibilities most dire and cataclysmic in nature, like dying. By doing just that our mind shares the burden of such heavy thoughts, as by convincing itself that if this is to happen, it is to happen to everyone.

The uncertainty about the end of the world gives the mind room for hope, whereas if dying is only a personal matter then there is no escape. When we think of the end of the world we say, ‘this might happen, or this might not happen, and if it does not happen then if not us our children will live one.

If we consider all religions as a common human endeavour to find a singular unifying principle in life then we can see that religion have a lot to say about this matter. Human spiritual and religious thoughts take into account not only what we have as certainties of life but also the uncertainties of what is beyond life and therefore beyond our comprehension. Religion offers us a solution, a way to be certain about everything, certain about life in all possible ways, a certain life after a certain worldly death.

http://uk.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-_f0Tu4kic6e_K8FnfZnOPxde?bid=519&yy=2007&mm=5

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/profile-info-AA11792099

Answer 2

Because you mention the Armageddon it is convenient to connect that and "the end of the world."

That phrase "end of the world" is found here:
Matthew 13:39 The enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels.

It refers to Armageddon.
------------------
If you read the parable about the wheat and the tares in that chapter you see the angels being sent out to gather the tares up and burn it in fire. That is what Armageddon is about, it is the final conflict in which Jesus, his Saints, and the angels bind Satan and the demons in the abyss.

They battle the forces of Satan, all the nations of this world. During this time, anyone not a Christian in an approved condition with God and Christ die, every single one. The Bible states that there will not be many people left globally.
---------
Thus it is the end of our present system of things. God's kingdom with Christ as king shall from then on rule the earth which will be turned into a paradise.

Christ and the Saints shall reign the earth from heaven. (Rev 5:8-10, particularly 10)

See the God's Kingdom page
http://bythebible.page.tl/God-h-s-Kingdom.htm

Answer 3

What will happen with Armageddon is something we can only speculate on right now, because the details of the events were written through the eyes of a man that lived many centuries ago, and he used analogues to the things he knew from his environment to describe what he saw. What we know is that it will be the final battle for the souls of humanity, and the good guys will win, taking the souls of everyone who believed with them to Heaven, be it a different plane of existence, a newly formed area on Earth, whatever.

Answer 4

All of the above. Let's hope we come to our senses before it happens. As for Armageddon, it's just the religious concept of destruction of Planet Earth due to our "sin." It couldn't hurt to stop war and hatred and begin to conserve our resources so that the human species can continue to live on this planet for a long time to come.

Answer 5

It could mean all or either of the above. Armageddon comes from the Bible the book of Revelations 16:16, the last book of the new testament. The place of the final conflict between Christ and antichrist.

Answer 6

Armageddon is a reference to the final battle listed in the book of Ezekiel which takes place at the valley of Meggido. The term however has come to refer to anything with 'finality' to it. It references complete annihilation.

Answer 7

To me, the end of the world would be when ALL life is permanantly extinguished, and Earth is left as a dead planet.

Answer 8

something greek i think?

end of the world means end of planet earth and all life form in it.

Answer 9

I always took it as the Earth not existing anymore.

Answer 10

All of the above. Things often have more than one meaning, you know.