Be Berean

And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
(Revelation 21:1)

In the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the apostle John records, among other things, the end of the world. Unfortunately, some translations failed to reconcile the language with the meaning. Here follows two examples from the King James Version, where the translators, unintentionally, have created a seeming contradiction.

But Israel shall be saved in the LORD with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded world without end.
(Isaiah 45:17)

Here is Isaiah, the prophet of God, apparently saying the world will never end. The phrase rendered “world without end”, here in Isaiah is ‘ad ‘ôlâm ôlâm ‘ad (or something like that according to the Strong’s Hebrew Dictionary). This could be more correctly translated as “from one end of eternity to the other”. It does not speak of the world, this earth, but rather Israel.

Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
(Ephesians 3:21)

In this example, the Apostle Paul also appears to be proclaiming that the world will not end, in contradiction to the scriptures. In the Greek, in which Paul wrote, the phrase that has been translated as “world without end” is “aiōn aiōn” or literally “age after age”, figuratively “to the end of time”.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
(2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
(2 Peter 1:20-21)

The Bible is God’s word, infallible in its original manuscripts. The Dead Sea Scrolls have proven the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) to be true copies. The New Testament is so well documented that it just simply not in doubt as to the accuracy of its contents in the original languages. However human translators are imperfect and spoken languages change over time. If you want to learn God’s truth, then go to a church that teaches the Bible, and not just from the Bible. And if the church you attend teaches that the Bible is merely one book among many that inform us of God, then flee from that church as it is not Christian.

And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
(Acts 17:10-11)

Be Bereans; be like the Jews of Berea. Search the scriptures daily, check out what your pastor says. Check out what I say. Check out what the radio and television ministers say. If some one says, "the Bible says..."; go look it up! Find out for yourself and question everything, this way you will learn to divide the true from the false. If it is in your "denominational handbook" but it is not in the Bible, then it is time to lead a movement to bring your denomination back to God's Word.

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
(Galatians 1:8)

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
(2 Corinthians 11:14)

So, the next time you find a golden disk which claims to have the words of God on them, or some angel of light shows up and tells you that he's got the true scoop, don't believe it or him. And should some one else find some golden tablet, or have an angel of light appear to him and reveal "more" gospel, now you know that it is false and anyone who preaches these things is accursed.