In The Chronicles of Narnia, a hopeful beaver speaks the profound words of a prophecy about the return of Aslan, the Great Lion and ruler of their world. And Mr. Beaver’s words ring true for every hopeful heart that has believed the story of the Bible and put their trust in our King, Jesus.

Wrong will be right,
when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth,
winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane,
we shall have spring again.
(C.S. Lewis, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe)

What if every wrong were made right—every unjust deed brought to true justice? What if there were a day when sorrows ceased—a day when you’d never have to say goodbye again? What if all that hardens your heart, frustrates you, and chills your attitude were banished from existence, so that summer was always the season of your soul? What if there were no more death, no more bidding farewell to good things, but instead, always, always life? What if all that’s sad and wrong were, as one author puts it, “to come untrue”?

What Happens at the Close of Our Story?

It feels like a fairy tale, doesn’t it? We end all our fairy tales this way. “And they lived happily ever after.” Why is that? Because we know the hope of a happy ending is not just the stuff of make-believe—it’s our story (Revelation 21-22). We long for happy endings because a happy ending is what God created us for—it’s what’s coming.

But we forgot something which Mr. Beaver’s recitation included—The arrival of the King. We leave him out of our fairy tales—except sometimes we do include him under the guise of the prince.

There is a close to our story—the story of this world—just like there’s a close to all other stories. It closes with the coming of our King (1 Thessalonians 4:16). He will close the chapter of this weary broken world and bring those who love and trust him into a new chapter—one that never ends and is far better than the first.

God has always planned for his visible Kingdom to be among us. But the only way to reunite heaven and earth was to restore rebellious hearts to a right relationship with him through a substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. Jesus, the King of kings, the Son of God, went to the cross “for the joy set before him”—to pay for the sins of all who will trust in him, and to give them new hearts that are ruled by His Spirit, who can enjoy his presence and loving relationship for all eternity (Hebrews 12:2).

A Reckoning at the King’s Return

But all this beauty and delight and peace in the Bible and that Mr. Beaver speaks about are preceded by a reckoning and a roar. Before the Lion shakes his mane, he bares his teeth. So it will be with the true end of all things.

When the true King of Righteousness returns, all who have put their trust in him, who have humbly let him clothe them in his righteousness, who have lived in loyalty to him and obedience to his Word, and who have awaited his return in love—they shall “love his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

But so there will be many who have denied his existence, defied his Word, rejected his good news of free forgiveness, who will shake their fists and receive the due reward for rebelling against the King of kings (Revelation 19:11-15).

Evil will meet its death, and evil includes those who have refused to accept his cleansing and his reign in their lives. He promises to put away all that is not good, and to punish those who have contributed to the evil in the world by putting them outside his kingdom for an eternity in hell. When the King comes, he establishes his kingdom, but he also rids the world of tyrants and traitors (Revelation 20; 1 Corinthians 6:8-10; Matthew 7:21-23).

A Happy Ending for All Who Love the King

The curse, or “winter” as Lewis describes it, that lies over our world will be lifted and replaced with the glories of the new Creation. The end of the story will start just like the beginning—no death, no pain, no tears, just life on earth delighting in God’s presence and his gifts (Revelation 21:4). When the King comes, will you recognize him? Will you be looking for him? Will you love his appearing?

He wants you to come into his kingdom (Revelation 3:20; Romans 10:9; Acts 4:12). Do you know you need his mercy, his forgiveness, his righteousness, and his love? He is ready to welcome you in, if you will bow your heart before him and ask him to help you love him with the love he is worthy of.