Throughout history, there have been many predictions and beliefs that the end of the world is near. These beliefs are usually based on religious or cultural interpretations of events and prophecies. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the idea that we are living in the end times.
In the United States, around 40% of adults say they believe “we are living in the end times,” while 58% say they do not believe we are living in the end times, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
In general, those who hold apocalyptic beliefs are more likely to see current events as signs of the end times. These beliefs can be influenced by religious teachings, personal experiences, or even popular culture. For example, some Christians believe that the end times will be marked by natural disasters, wars, and the rise of a global leader. Muslims, on the other hand, may see signs of the end times in political turmoil and societal upheaval. Other groups, such as New Age believers, may view the end times as a spiritual transformation or awakening.
Christians are divided on this question, with 47% saying we are living in the end times, including majorities in the historically Black (76%) and evangelical (63%) Protestant traditions. Meanwhile, 49% of Christians say we are not living in the end times, including 70% of Catholics and 65% of mainline Protestants who say this. Viewed more broadly, the share of Protestants who say we are living in the end times is greater than the corresponding share among Catholics (55% vs. 27%).
About three-in-ten or fewer people from non-Christian religions (29%) and those with no religious affiliation (23%) say we are living in the end times. (Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and other smaller non-Christian religious groups are included in the survey and represented in the “other religions” category, but there were not enough respondents in these groups to analyze separately.)
In addition, Black Americans (68%) are much more likely than Hispanic (41%), White (34%) and Asian (33%) Americans to believe humanity is living in the end times. And adults in Southern states (48%) are more likely to say this than those living in the Midwest (37%), Northeast (34%) or West (31%).
Americans without college degrees are more likely than college graduates to believe humanity is approaching its end, as are Americans with lower income levels when compared with those with higher incomes. And Republicans and Republican-leaning independents are more likely than Democrats and Democratic leaners to express this belief.
Pew Research Center asked Americans about the end times as part of a wider survey about religion and the environment, partly to assess whether views about the end times are related to views on the environment.
The survey also examined Americans’ beliefs about a core principle of Christianity: the belief that Jesus will someday return to Earth, in what is often called the “second coming. It is essential to note that the belief in the end times is not necessarily a negative or ominous one for everyone who holds it. For some, it may be a source of comfort or hope, as they believe that the end of the world will bring about a better future. Others may see it as a warning to change their behavior or work towards a more just and equitable society.
When asked if Jesus “will return to Earth someday,” more than half of all U.S. adults (55%), including three-quarters of Christians, say this will happen. Protestants in the evangelical (92%) and historically Black (86%) traditions are more likely than other Christians to say there will ultimately be a second coming of Jesus. Roughly 4 in 10 Americans either do not believe Jesus will return to Earth (25%) or say they do not believe in Jesus (16%).
Respondents who said they believe Jesus will return to Earth were also asked how sure they are that this will happen during their lifetime. 1 in 10 Americans say they believe the second coming of Jesus will definitely or probably occur during their lifetime, 27% are not sure, and 19% say the return of Jesus will definitely or probably not occur during their lifetime.
That said, in all religious groups, people are more likely to express uncertainty over the timing of Jesus’ return than to express the sense that it will happen in their lifetime. For example, about seven-in-ten evangelicals say either that they are not sure Jesus will return during their lifetime (50%) or that Jesus will definitely or probably not return during their lifetime (21%). And nearly two-thirds of those in the historically Black Protestant tradition say they are either unsure of the timing (47%) or that it will probably or definitely not happen during their lifetime (17%).
In conclusion, the percentage of the population who believe that we are living in the end times differs depending on a degree of factors, including religious affiliation, cultural background, and personal experiences. While these beliefs may be influenced by current events or societal trends, they are ultimately shaped by deeply held beliefs and values. Whether one sees the end times as a source of hope or fear, it is clear that apocalyptic beliefs continue to have a significant impact on individuals and communities around the world.