In traditional Christianity the end (or more properly, the eschaton) isn't a destruction of the cosmos, but its restoration and renewel. We see history and the universe as teleological, there is a telos, a goal or a purpose toward which all things are heading, and that telos is Jesus Christ.

The universe, created through God's Word (Jesus) is purposed and destined to be consummated in Him. St. Paul in his epistle to the Colossians says, "By Him [Jesus] and for Him were all things made;" there is a distinct purpose found in Jesus toward which all things are heading. Paul, in his epistle to the Romans speaks of the "groaning" of all creation, longing and looking forward to its renewal,

"...that creation itself would be set free from bondage to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of God's children."

That is, even as Christians hope for the resurrection of the dead at the Parousia, so even all of creation will partake in that moment when "corruption shall put on incorruption" and "mortality will put on immortality".

In the Acts of the Apostles, in his sermon, St. Peter speaks of the time of Christ's Parousia as an Apokatastasis Panton, a restoration of all things (the NAB translates this as "the time of universal restoration").

Historically Christianity does not see the eternal purpose of humankind as living in a spiritual existence "in heaven", but as fully bodied, resurrected human persons sharing in the eternal life of God, being like the Resurrected Christ in His transfigured glory. And that Creation is not to be obliterated, but restored, renewed. The beginnings of the universe's restoration and renewel begins in Jesus who rose from the dead and then in the saints who are sharers in the resurrection of Jesus--first through the life of the Spirit poured out on Pentecost and finally at the Parousia when the dead will rise; and in this the whole created order is restored, renewed. This is the Age to Come which we see promised not only in the New Testament, but also by the ancient Hebrew Prophets who spoke of a time when there would no longer be war or violence; the image showing us a time when a small child can play near a viper's den without fear, where wolf and lamb lay together in peace. Death is no more, nor fear or pain or anguish.

In our Creed we read, "we look for the resurrection of the dead ... and everlasting life in the Age to Come." This is the Christian hope, into which we were baptized and given the Holy Spirit. This hope for redemption, renewel and restoration of all things wholly consumes the Christian life. Proclaiming God's kingdom right now in feeding the hungry, taking care of the poor, in decrying the injustices of the rich and powerful all have to do with the conviction that the present state of affairs are temporal and have no legitimate meaning. This understanding of the temporality of glory and power, arguably, is found even in churches which have historically been aligned to the state. For example, historically when the Pope entered the church he removed the papal tiara (a symbol of his role as earthly ruler of the papal states) because in the Church that power is fundamentally meaningless.

In the 4th century, St. Ambrose of Milan barred Theodosius from entering his church after the massacre at Thessalonica, and the emperor sat in ashes and sackcloth in repentance before finally being able to receive the Eucharist again. Kings and emperors have no authority in the Church, because the Church represents a different kingdom, God's kingdom.

I mention this because it's intimately linked to the Christian conviction that the present state of things is "falling away", violence, death, war, murder, our inhumanity to man, etc are all part of the old order of things which in the wake of the Crucified and Risen Jesus has lost all power and authority of any significant meaning. The Church, in proclaiming God's kingdom, is to reach out to the powerless because in God's kingdom "the least is greatest" and "the greatest among you will be your servant", and in the Age to Come all the wealth and glory of kings and potentates will have amounted to nothing. So Jesus says, "Blessed are the poor" and "Blessed are the hungry" and "Blessed are the meek" and "Blessed are the peacemakers"--but "Woe to the rich" and "Woe to the satisfied".

Having our "reward (or treasure) in heaven" has nothing to do with some ethereal, spiritual "crown" but about understanding that what is of real value are those things often considered of least value here. Grace, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, love, meekness, servanthood, etc. This is what God values, and is what will matter in eternity. We treasure these things now because in the Age to Come these are what are valuable and meaningful.

And I'm ranting, I apologize. But this encompasses a number of topics about which I find fascinating and am passionate about. Hopefully it wasn't too unintelligible.

-Jon

In Judaism --- It's very, very simple.

The importance of our life, which is the only one we know and only one we know we have for the simple fact that we just don't know anything more then what we presently have thus know, and what we can't possible even begin know is really unknown to us to even begin to speculate.
[Sorry if I sounded like Donald Rumsfeld with all my "known knows & unknown knows :)]
But IT IS THIS life where the "importance of our life" is placed on.

Should we worry about doing good now in this life because by doing so it will give you the best seat in the house later on in "the next life"? --Or do you just do good because it's needed for whatever reason [feeding hungry children now for instance] in the here & now?
For it's the child and the child's life today that matters, and not your comfort level in another lifetime.

Do you give money to chartiy [to a children's hospital for cancer treatment, research & development to cure cancers] in this life because by doing so it will more you up in the ranks in the eyes of your deity? ---Or do you just give to charity out of the goodness of your heart because your funds will go towards treatments for those who can't afford the high costs of such treatments.  And your funds will go towards R&D that hopefully will find a cure for some or all cancers that plague us mammals now therefore help to eliminate some sufferings in this lifetime?
Just do good & right & hold to non-blind justice and you're on the right track. 

I could go one with other points/examples but when it comes to whatever "next" life we shall have or not have since it's pure speculation as to whether or not there is an "afterlife" at all.
Is that we don't let ourselves worry or concern ourselves with such a speculative notion because we figure the best thing to do in such a situation, is to let go, and let God worry about it.

It's just that easy.  Nothing complex about it and why should it be comlpex for us anyway? --Don't we have enough to deal with & worry about with what we are doing to each other & therefore ourselves?

Anyway, that's my share of my rant. ;)

Deism has neither a creation story nor an end time prophesy. While we believe in a Creator because we find it illogical that everything that exists happened by accident or random chance, we base what we know on observation and reason. When I die I will either have a continued existence or I won't. Since there's nothing I can do about it, I don't worry about it. Que sera sera.

Science tells me that as the Sun accumulates helium at it's core, it's luminosity will increase and the radiation reaching Earth will also increase raising the Earth's temperature. As the temperature rises the amount of inorganic CO2 will decrease to the level that plant life will be unable to survive causing oxygen levels to drop to levels that cannot support animal life. This should happen between 500 million to 900 million years from now so I doubt that we really have to worry about that either.

I went to a Pentecostal Church once, (I have been to others) but this one was different for me. The preacher said the devil is in the "very air we breath", direct quote.  That's when I knew I was not going back.

They actually believe this wonderful planet is ruled by a devil, and that their own god allows this. That they want to go to a god, that would allow such a thing, disturbs me on so many levels all by itself.

The old expression, "look for evil and you will find it, Or look for good and you will find it" There are an awful lot of people looking for evil.

People aside, this is an incredible world, one that should be cherished and enjoy to the best of our abilities. Life is far from perfect, but this is a lovely place and a blessing. It is not ruled by any Christian devil.

This type do not even see the good in their own lives, IMO

Is that really all there is to any of it?  Knowing that everything,  sooner or later, ceases? 

Well, that is just part of it.  My own tradition has the story of "Ragnarok".  But it is not really about that all things must end, but focuses on how one meets that end.  In Asatru we are known for being pragmatic.  The end will come, no matter how we try to stave it off.  The desire for longer life alone, is a fool's errand. 

The importance becomes in not that it will end, that is unavoidable, but in how it will end, and how one chooses to meet that end. 

If that's the case, why encase it in the  mysterious guise of religious philosophy?

If one looks at the teachings in this light, they do become representative of the teachings in general.  In Ragnarok, the gods meet great enemies, and destroy them, although, in most cases they meet their own end as well. 

In Christianity, their god finally exerts the control that has been preached of.  Etc. 

The teachings can really be taken as a microcosm of the belief structure itself. 

all