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?"
Answer built on scripture-blocks below
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;
This is what the prophet Joel had prophesied about, that in the last days God would pour His Spirit out on all flesh and people would prophesy, see visions and have dreams.
Peter is preaching on the day of Pentecost in Jerusalem. The people had just witnessed a “rushing wind” and “tongues as of fire” resting on them (vss 2,3). What they witnessed, Peter describes as a fulfillment of Joel’s prophesy and quotes directly from (Joel 2:28-32).
Applying Acts 2:16-17 to this question...
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.
But you must remember, beloved, the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.
Remember the predictions of Jesus’ apostles. They said that in the last time there would be scoffers (derisive, mocking) that follow their own wicked desires.
Jude’s letter to Christians warning them of false teachers that have “crept in unnoticed” (vs 4).
Applying Jude 1:17-18 to this question...
Jude refers to their present time as the “last time.”
Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.
These things happened as an example and were written down for our instruction during the end of the ages.
Paul is relating the events of the children of Israel during Moses’ time and reminding the Christians of his day (first century) about their example.
Applying 1 Corinthians 10:11 to this question...
Paul refers to his time as “the end of the ages.”
But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
But there will be no sorrow for her who was in anguish. Formerly, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was brought into contempt, but in the latter time the way of the sea beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations, is made glorious. The people there walked in darkness, but have seen a great light. They lived in a land of great darkness, but now a light shines on them.
In the midst of a rebuke of Jerusalem for, among other things, their cry to “mediums and necromancers” (8:19), God (through the prophet Isaiah) says they will be in “distress and darkness” (8:22) as a result…”there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish.” The context then shifts to contrast “the former time” (Isaiah’s day) with “the latter time”.
Applying Isaiah 9:1-2 to this question...
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’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness, He retired to Galilee, where He “began to preach.” Thus, Galilee (where Jesus preached) was made glorious, and those there were shown the light of the gospel.
but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and he has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will be in the latter days. Your dream and the visions of your head as you lay in bed are these:
There is a God in heaven that revealed to King Nebuchadnezzar the mystery that will happen in the latter days.
In his second year, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had a dream that bothered him but nobody could interpret it for him…until he called on Daniel. His dream (vss 32-35) was of a large image, “The head of this image was of fine gold, its chest and arms of silver, its middle and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly of iron and partly of clay. As you looked, a stone was cut out by no human hand, and it struck the image on its feet of iron and clay, and broke them in pieces. Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold, all together were broken in pieces, and became like the chaff of the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away, so that not a trace of them could be found. But the stone that struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.”The interpretation given to Daniel from God was that each component represented kingdoms that would follow his own, until in the latter days there would be a kingdom that stood forever.
Applying Daniel 2:28 to this question...
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).
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.”
He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
He (Jesus) was foreknown before creation, but was made visible in these last times for your sake, through whom you are believers in God. God raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory in order that your faith and hope are in God.
Peter is writing to Christians in difficult times, reminding them of their calling to be holy (vs 16) and to continue in their faith of Jesus.
Applying 1 Peter 1:20-21 to this question...
Peter calls the first-century manifestation of Jesus the “last times.”
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
Brothers, it is the last hour, and many antichrists have come just as you heard would happen. This is how we know it’s the last hour.
The Apostle John is writing to Christians to remain steadfast. After reminding them that they are “not of this world”, he calls to their attention those who are personally antagonistic to Jesus (“antichrist”) and His teaching. He marks those false teachers and implores his “children” to “let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (vs 24). The objective John’s letter is to encourage Christians to continue to “practice the truth” and “walk in the light” (1 Jn 1:6,7). Throughout it, John refers to believers as those who are “born of God”. (2:29, 3:9, 4:7, 5:1, 4) It’s a phrase that he actually introduces in his gospel where he opens, “But to all who did receive him [Jesus], who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” (Jn 1:12-13)
Applying 1 John 2:18 to this question...
John identifies the first century, Christian times, as “the last hour.“
Moses said, The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your brothers. You shall listen to him in whatever he tells you. And it shall be that every soul who does not listen to that prophet shall be destroyed from the people. And all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and those who came after him, also proclaimed these days.
Moses said that God would raise up a prophet like him from amongst you and to him you will listen (Deuteronomy 18:15). Further he said that any that don’t listen will be destroyed (Deuteronomy 18:19). All the prophets from Samuel onward have proclaimed these days.
Peter (with John) is addressing the crowd gathered at Solomon’s porch in his second recorded sermon. He refers to the prophets and their testimony as his primary argument for the “times of refreshing” – the sending of the Christ – that they were experiencing (vs 20).
Applying Acts 3:22-24 to this question...
Peter says that all the prophets spoke of “these days” (those were first-century, “Christ appeared” days).
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
The Holy Spirit (e.g. “the Spirit of Christ in them”) predicted Christ’s suffering and subsequent glories through the prophets who, when they prophesied about salvation (or, “grace that was to be yours”), wondered and inquired about it themselves. However, they were told they weren’t serving themselves but you [Christians then and now] with the things that have now been fulfilled (“announced”) in the revelation of the gospel by the Holy Spirit.
Peter’s letter(s) of encouragement to the saints who were facing great persecution and longing for their reward in Christ Jesus — revealed to them in the “last time” (vs 3). He goes on to tell them to be prepared for Jesus’ revealing (vs 13).
Applying 1 Peter 1:10-12 to this question...
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).
Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, Know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
The Lord says there is a time when He will make a new covenant with Israel and Judah, unlike the covenant made with their fathers after coming out of Egypt. They broke that one, though God was their husband. Under the new covenant, God will put His law within them and write it on their hearts. It will be known that He is their God and they are His people. They will no longer need to teach each other to know the Lord, for all will know Him, from the least to the greatest. He will forgive their sins, and remember them no more.
Jeremiah’s book of prophecy as the people of Judah (the northern tribes of Israel already long lost to Assyrian captivity) are faced with Babylonian captivity. Jeremiah’s main message (from God) is that they should not resist and they will be there for seventy years. However, for this specific question the context around this passage is critical and actually begins back in chapter 30.
Applying Jeremiah 31:31-34 to this question...
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).
Hebrews is an inspired writer telling us (really God telling us) what Jeremiah meant. Peter’s statement9 in practice.
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 prophecy that “days are coming” came in the first century.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
In a previous time God spoke to man through the prophets, but now (“these last days”) He has spoken through His son, Jesus Christ. Additionally, God appointed Him heir of all things and through Him created the world.
The opening to the letter of Hebrews. Written to Jews who had believed and obeyed the gospel. The writer is beginning his argument and evidence for why everything is better in Jesus by pointing to the prophets (and angels) who had, in times past, delivered God’s message.
Applying Hebrews 1:1-2 to this question...
The writer identifies the days of Christ as the “last days”.
that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
Remember the holy prophets' predictions and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles. Know first that scoffers will come in the last days, following their own, selfish lusts.
As in his first letter, Peter is still warning of false teachers in his second letter. In this context not only does he remind them their presence is evidence that they are in the “last days”, but he encourages them of what comes next — the “day of the Lord” (vs 10).
Applying 2 Peter 3:2-3 to this question...
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.
Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
Nor was it (necessary) to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest does – entering the holy places to offer blood that’s not his. If it was, he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. Rather, he has appeared once for all at the end of ages in order to put away sin by sacrificing himself.
The Hebrews writer is in the midst of his argument about why Jesus and the new covenant are better than the old – here specifically arguing about His superiority as a High Priest.
Applying Hebrews 9:25-26 to this question...
Jesus appeared “at the end of the ages.”
Therefore I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven people, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.
Therefore I [Jesus] tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven – not in this age, or in the age to come.
Jesus is in the midst of his public ministry. He is teaching harder sayings and the division between those that accept him and those that don’t is becoming starker.
Applying Matthew 12:31-32 to this question...
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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