The last days is a common phrase in 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 last days is more popularly known and studied as “end times doctrine” today.
As is typical with the prophets and with 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 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 last days topic within the full context of Scripture.
how Scripture answers "When are the last days?"
Scripture tells us the 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.
the answer above is built on and footnoted with the following scripture-blocks
1
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). They were speaking in tongues (the native language of the many different nationalities present – vs 6). It was an obvious miracle since they were known Galileans (vs 7) and did not speak those languages naturally.
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
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).
Jude refers to their present time as the “last time.”
3
These things happened as an example and were written down for our instruction during the end of the ages.
Paul refers to his time as “the end of the ages.”
4
But there will be no sorrow for the woman [Jerusalem] in pain. Formerly, the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was worthless/disrespected, but now it is glorious. The people there groped in the darkness, but now they can see. 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”.
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
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.
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
He [Jesus] was present before creation, but was made visible for your sake, through whom you are believers in God during these end days. 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.
Peter calls the first century manifestation of Jesus the “last times.”
7
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 that 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).
John identifies the first century, Christian times as “the last hour.”
8
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).
Peter says that all the prophets spoke of “these days” (those were first-century, “Christ appeared” days).
9
The prophets prophesied about the salvation through Christ (or, “grace that was to be yours”) and wondered themselves about the timing and person that would be Jesus as they predicted His sufferings and glories. Yet, they were told they were serving someone else with the things (prophesies) that have now been fulfilled (“announced”) in the revelation of the gospel by the Holy Spirit.
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
The Lord says there is a time when He will make a new covenant with the Israel and Judah, unlike the covenant made with their fathers after coming out of Egypt. They broke that one, even though they entered it with God. The new covenant coming in later days will be written on their hearts. It will be known that He is their God and they are His people. 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. It’s there where several references to these “last days” are referenced by the prophet:
- “For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” (30:3)
- “And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him. 9 But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.” (30:8-9)
- “The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this. At that time, declares the Lord, I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.” (30:24-31:1)
- “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that as I have watched over them to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant, declares the Lord.” (31:27-28)
- “In those days they shall no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’ But everyone shall die for his own sin. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.” (31:29-30)
- “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when the city shall be rebuilt for the Lord from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. And the measuring line shall go out farther, straight to the hill Gareb, and shall then turn to Goah. The whole valley of the dead bodies and the ashes, and all the fields as far as the brook Kidron, to the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, shall be sacred to the Lord. It shall not be uprooted or overthrown anymore forever.” (31:38-40)
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
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.
Opening to the letter of Hebrews, written to Jews that 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) that had, in times past, delivered God’s message.
The writer identifies the days of Christ as the “last days”.
12
You should remember that the prophets and apostles predicted 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).
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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