The specific date as to when the world will come to an end is not known by man. The Apostle Peter says in II Peter 3:10, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up". This event could not come unexpectedly as a thief in the night if the date were known. God will not reveal the date to man.
Two big events will take place at the end of the world, according to Peter. First the heavens shall pass away with a great noise. This means the atmosphere will pass away with one big explosion. And second, the elements shall melt with fervent heat. Man knows approximately 105 elements in science. The great majority of these are called natural elements. For example, hydrogen and oxygen are well known elements. The proper combination of the two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen will make water. These two elements, hydrogen and oxygen, will melt with fervent heat, as well as all the other elements out of which this material earth is made. The great result of these two events will be, "the earth also and the works therein" shall be burned up. This earth will be destroyed with all of the banks, land, building, and other material possessions.
A sobering question is raised by Peter in the very next verse in II Peter 3:11, 12. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hastening unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.-" There is but one answer to this sobering question raised by Peter aild that is, be prepared to meet God every night when you go to bed. The way of righteousness is the only way to live and each individual should try to be the very best person in the sight of God every day that he lives on earth.
God will take care of the Christians when the world comes to an end, because Paul states in I Thessalonians 4:16,17, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with him in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord." Paul states specifically that the dead in Christ and that the Christians that are alive on earth shall be cared for in the second coming of Christ at the end of the world. Christians who died before the world comes to an end shall be raised first, and then living Christians shall be caught up with them to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord!
A Christian lives with the assurance that God will take care of him at the end of the world, whether he is living or dead. In view of the fact that the world is coming to an end, it is very important for you to know the Bible answer to the question, What must I do to be saved?