The phrase “last days” is a common one throughout Scripture, especially with the prophets of the Old Testament. They often speak of the “last days” and other derivative phrases such as “days are coming” or “latter days” or “in/on that day”. The Hebrew words for “last/latter” and “days” can be understood “end” and “times/age” respectively. As a result, this look at Christian last days is more popularly known and studied as “end times doctrine” today.
As is typical with the prophets and prophetic books in general, the texts share vivid imagery and are figuratively rich. Prophets were, after all, “Seers” — God primarily showed them these things. To be sure, the internet is full of very colorful and highly speculative content regarding the last days. There are even complex mathematical calculations put forth to determine the timing of the Christian last days often revolving around the figuratively charged books of Daniel and Revelation.
Instead of relying on manmade speculation and imagination, can we look to God for the answer? If Scripture interprets Scripture, we should be able to determine the “when” of the Christian last days topic within the full context of Scripture.
How Scripture answers "When are the Christian last days?"
Scripture tells us the Christian last days began on the day of Pentecost after Jesus’ resurrection and ascension1 and continue to this present day, until the “day of the Lord”12. In the normal course of their writing, all of the New Testament writers refer to their time as the last days or some variant1,2,3,6,7,8,9,11,12,13,14 – whether “last time”2, “end of the ages”3,13, “last times”6, “last hour”7, “days are coming”10, “these days”8,11, or even “this salvation”9.
Furthermore, we have the prophets that spoke of the “last days”1,4,5,10 (not an exhaustive list) coupled with the New Testament writers that by inspiration interpreted that what the prophets prophesied about began during their days (the first century)1,4,8,9,10,12. These are evident with a quick reading/review, but possibly the most involved and interesting is Jeremiah10. His prophecy (given the confirmation and interpretation of it by inspired, New Testament writers) and the broader context of verses with other characteristics of the last days is worth a read10.
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
1
Peter, an inspired writer, is interpreting a prophesy from Joel (2:28-32) and in so doing he declares that day (the day of Pentecost) as the ushering in of “the last days” prophesied by Joel. He says that they were witnesses of the pouring out of the Spirit on all flesh.
2
Jude refers to their present time as the “last time.”
3
Paul refers to his time as “the end of the ages.”
4
Fast forward about 700 years from Isaiah, and Matthew records and interprets Isaiah’s “former time – latter time” prophesy to the time of Christ (Matthew 4:12-17). Specifically, after Jesus’ tempting by Satan in the wilderness, He retires to Galilee where he “began to preach.” Thus, Galilee (where Jesus preached) was made glorious and those there where shown the light of the gospel.
5
Based on the interpretation that God gave to Daniel, the “latter days” would consist of a kingdom with three distinct qualities:
- Set up by the “God of heaven” (2:44),
- Represented by a “stone cut from a mountain” (2:45) that itself “became a great mountain and filled the whole earth” (2:35),
- Lasting forever, bringing other kingdoms to an end (2:44).
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
While Daniel doesn’t tell us exactly when this happens, we can track it based on historical facts. Nebuchadnezzar’s dream included his own kingdom (the head of gold) followed by three more kingdoms (the last of these a “divided kingdom”) before the final, everlasting kingdom from God. History records the kingdoms following Babylon as Medo-Persia, Greece, and Rome. If this aligns with Nebuchadnezzar’s image, Rome would be the iron, and, eventually the iron mixed with clay (its demise). This would put God’s eternal, spiritual kingdom (stone) during/succeeding the Roman kingdom – the first century – the “last days.”
6
Peter calls the first century manifestation of Jesus the “last times.”
7
John identifies the first century, Christian times as “the last hour.”
8
Peter says that all the prophets spoke of “these days” (those were first-century, “Christ appeared” days).
9
Peter is speaking of the fulfillment of the prophets’ mission and objective. Their “work” was for the benefit of the Christians at that time (and now), during the day of salvation (1 Corinthians 6:2).
10
These four verses in Jeremiah are quoted by at least one New Testament writer and referenced by others. The Hebrews writer directly ties this “new covenant” in the “days coming” to the new covenant in Jesus Christ (Hebrews 8:7-13 and again in 10:16-17). This is an inspired writer telling us (e.g. God telling us) what Jeremiah meant.
!! scripture-block context extra important here !!
Additionally, we have other New Testament, inspired writers expressing the same sentiment of Jeremiah’s prophecy if not directly quoting it. For example, Paul in 2 Corinthians 3:3 and Romans 11:27 or John in Revelation 21:7. The contexts for all of these (and more) confirm Jeremiah’s prophesy that “days are coming” came in the first century.
11
The writer identifies the days of Christ as the “last days”.
12
Peter again links a present reality (scoffers) to the period (last days). Therefore, according to Peter (and the “holy prophets” and the “commandment of the Lord and Savior”), they were living in the last days. Further, he distinguishes their time (the “last days”) from the final judgement (“day of the Lord”) later in the text.
13
Jesus appeared “at the end of the ages.”
14
Jesus indicates two distinct times or days – “this age” and “the age to come.” If demarcated by covenants, Jesus lived his days living under the old (Mosaic) covenant (e.g. “this age”) and ushered in the new covenant (e.g. “the age to come”).
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