End times: What young evangelicals believe?
End Times Survey
Teleios conducted a survey regarding biblical knowledge of end times in Christian adolescents and millennials. The levels of responses may indicate that when Bible instruction is given on end times passages it is generally correct. However, additional focused biblical teaching may provide greater confidence to these young believers to understand what the Bible says about the future and their confidence of salvation that is to come.
End Times Survey Summary
Teleios conducted a survey regarding biblical knowledge of end times on an Instagram account frequented by Christian adolescents and millennials. There were 678 responses. The majority of responders were: female (67%), 34 years old (73%), from the United States (60%) and evangelical (74%).
A plurality of respondents (38%) believed that prophetic literature in the Bible should be interpreted in a normal literal way; otherwise, how the original author intended it, whether a letter, poetry or symbols related to an actual event.
Regarding specific questions on the end times, when a response was marked, participants mostly answered in a biblically consistent way. For example, for the rapture the majority identified that it will occur at a time only known by God (78%), when believers will be taken to meet Christ (58%). For the tribulation, 51% noted that it was a seven-year time period and 42% knew it will happen just before Christ’s return to the earth. Respondents indicated clearly ‘eternity’ is a believer’s lasting presence with God (71%).
For the Kingdom of Christ, 36% thought it is a time of peace and prosperity on the earth. However, 57% believed the Kingdom is heaven which may not be the case as these locations are described differently in scripture (Danial 7:27)
Nonetheless, the total percent of correct biblical answers were relatively low (30-55%) even though the percent of wrong answers were generally even lower (<30%). Those marking unsure’ typically were between 10-20%.
These levels of responses may indicate that when Bible instruction is given on end times passages it is generally correct. However, additional focused biblical teaching may provide greater confidence to these young believers to understand what the Bible says about the future and their confidence of salvation that is to come.
Wellbeing scores were generally good (4.5 on a scale of 0-6 with 6 being best) and consistent with our past research. However, those who demonstrated a greater knowledge of eternity as represented in book of Revelation reported on average better wellbeing (P=0.029). Interestingly, this finding is consistent with the book of Revelation (1:3) itself in that it promises to those who read it persistently will be blessed (happy).
END TIMES SURVEY
Teleios’ most recent survey explored biblical knowledge of the end times. There were 681 responses. Below are explanations of biblical importance.
#9 The Rapture (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 4:1; 1 Corinthians 15:50-58)
| Survey Responses | |
| Will occur at a time known only by God | 78% |
| Is when Christ raises Christian believers to meet Him | 58% |
| Is when Christians are taken out of the earth before the tribulation | 58% |
| Is when Christ comes again in the clouds | 38% |
| Occurs at the same time as Christ’s second coming | 36% |
| Is when Christ removes obedient Christians but leaves disobedient Christians to face the tribulation | 32% |
| Is when Christ comes to earth to establish His Kingdom | 22% |
| I am unsure | 10% |
This event occurs, at a time known only by God, when Christ returns in the clouds to take believing Christians out of the world to be with Him for eternity. The rapture initiates the tribulation (see below). Although beliefs differ, the church is taken out of the world before the tribulation God promises Christians they will not know His wrath (Revelation 3:10) which is the purpose of the tribulation. The church is not mentioned in tribulation passages.
#10 The tribulation (2 Thessalonians 1:5-2:12; Revelation chapters 4-18: Matthew 24:4-28; Danial 9:27)
| Survey Responses | |
| Period of 7 years on earth | 51% |
| Of suffering to an extent not known previously in the world | 48% |
| Just before the glorious second coming of Christ | 42% |
| Of God’s purposeful and directed judgment for unforgiven sin | 38% |
| When the church is not present on earth | 35% |
| I am unsure | 20% |
| When the gospel will be preached throughout the world | 15% |
| Of final judgment on the Jews to cause them to turn to Messiah | 14% |
| To punish sinful Christians | 12% |
This is a seven-year period of God’s wrath upon the world to bring the final judgement before the second coming of Christ, which occurs at the end of tribulation. Although a time of terrible suffering God will allow the gospel to go forward to the world still giving unbelievers an opportunity believe.
#11 1000-year reign (Revelation 20:1-7; Jeramiah chapters 23,31-33; Ezekiel chapters 36-38; Isaiah chapters 59-66)
| Survey Responses | |
| Heaven | 57% |
| A time of peace and prosperity on earth | 36% |
| Initiated by the Second Coming of Christ | 33% |
| A 1000-year reign of Christ as king on the earth | 31% |
| A time when Satan and the antichrist are imprisoned | 30% |
| A physical kingdom appearing at Christ’s second coming | 23% |
| Demonstrated in our times by its spiritual manifestations; the church and the Holy Spirit | 18% |
| I am unsure | 16% |
This period is also known as the: kingdom of God, Christ or heaven, eternal Kingdom, or thousand-year reign. This period of a 1000 years is when Christ will rule from Jerusalem over earth as King. The kingdom will include both Jews and Gentiles. It is predicted extensively in the Old Testament as the promised rest for the Jewish nation and will be a time of world peace and prosperity.
#12 End times biblical literature (such as the Book of Revelation, the “Olivet discourse” Matthew 24 and 25; 1 Thessalonians 4 & 5; 2 Thessalonians 2)
| Survey Responses | |
| Should be understood literally as prophetic images that represent real future events | 38% |
| Should be believed exactly as written | 28% |
| I am not sure | 18% |
| Should not be taken literally but figuratively as representing Christ’s second return | 14% |
Although opinions vary, proper interpretation of scripture should be a normal literal meaning which includes the style of literature in the original text. For instance, prophecy literature should allow symbols to be symbols, as intended by the original author, to represent actual events, without spiritualizing or discounting the intended symbolism (1). The answers to the remaining questions in the survey below are based on a normal literal interpretation of scripture. Other alternative beliefs about end times scripture exist but are not included here because of the lack of support in scripture.
#13 Eternity (Revelation chapters 21-22)
| Survey Responses | |
| Represents all believers’ glorious eternity with God and Christ | 72% |
| Is manifested by a new Earth and New Jerusalem | 35% |
| Occurs after the unsuccessful rebellion of the Antichrist, Satan and unbelievers at the end of 1000-year reign | 22% |
| Occurs after the 1000-year reign of Christ | 22% |
| I am unsure | 18% |
| Will be preceded by the great white throne of judgment of unbelievers | 18% |
This period, after the 1000 -year reign of Christ, commences when Satan, the Beast and unbelievers will be loosed and rebel again. God will judge them in the second great judgement after which a new and glorious heaven and New Jerusalem will descend from above. Believers will live eternally with God, fulfilling their great hope and God’s promise.
Further reading
- Ryrie CC. Basic theology: A popular systematic guide to understanding biblical truth. Moody Publishers, 1999.
- Chafer LS. Systematic Theology. Abridged Volume II. Kregel Publications, 1947.
You can find the complete data for this survey here
What do young evangelicals believe about the future?
A plurality of respondents (38%) believed that prophetic literature in the Bible should be interpreted in a normal literal way; otherwise, how the original author intended it, whether a letter, poetry or symbols related to an actual event.
Regarding specific questions on the end times, when a response was marked, participants mostly answered in a biblically consistent way. For example, for the rapture the majority identified that it will occur at a time only known by God (78%), when believers will be taken to meet Christ (58%). For the tribulation, 51% noted that it was a seven-year time period and 42% knew it will happen just before Christ’s return to the earth. Respondents indicated clearly ‘eternity’ is a believer’s lasting presence with God (71%).
For the Kingdom of Christ, 36% thought it is a time of peace and prosperity on the earth. However, 57% believed the Kingdom is heaven which may not be the case as these locations are described differently in scripture (Danial 7:27)
Nonetheless, the total percent of correct biblical answers were relatively low (30-55%) even though the percent of wrong answers were generally even lower (<30%). Those marking unsure’ typically were between 10-20%.
These levels of responses may indicate that when Bible instruction is given on end times passages it is generally correct. However, additional focused biblical teaching may provide greater confidence to these young believers to understand what the Bible says about the future and their confidence of salvation that is to come.
Wellbeing scores were generally good (4.5 on a scale of 0-6 with 6 being best) and consistent with our past research. However, those who demonstrated a greater knowledge of eternity as represented in book of Revelation reported on average better wellbeing (P=0.029). Interestingly, this finding is consistent with the book of Revelation (1:3) itself in that it promises to those who read it persistently will be blessed (happy).
All the findings of the survey can be found here (https://www.surveymonkey.com/
About Teleios – Teleios is a non-profit foundation, seeks to demonstrate the truth of Scripture and the Christian faith through the scientific method by providing evidence for the positive results of a biblically-based lifestyle. Prior studies conducted by Teleios have shown that the practice of the Christian faith (praise, prayer, fellowship, service and Bible study) and security of salvation increases well-being while reducing guilt.
