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THE LAST DAYS
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If this phrase was speaking of our day, the twenty-first century, I can’t help but wonder what First Century Christians must have thought it meant. Nothing in the letters is said to indicate that it was not for them, but some generation over 2000 years in the future. Some have tried to make it applicable to both their generation and ours. Beside the fact there is no basis for doing this, the whole of scripture indicates, without a doubt, that it was a term they were familiar with from the Old Testament, and when mentioned by the New Testament writers they understood it to apply to their generation, not ours.
Lets take a moment to look at the scriptures that use this term. We also want to apply three important rules of Biblical interpretation; who is writing the letter, to whom is it being written, and finally, when is it being written. Remember we are reading someone else’s mail. We have to sit with them and hear the message as if for the first time. What did they understand, what was the message first for them, then for us.
17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’ Acts 1:17-21 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation)1996.
Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost quotes from the prophet Joel. (Joel 2:28-32) His message is that the out pouring of the Holy Spirit is the fulfillment of this
prophecy. That being the case, they were in the period the Bible refers to as “the last days.” Now we turn our attention to the letters of the New Testament. Remember that all of these verses were written prior to AD 70. In fact, within the period between AD 62-69, the last ten year period leading up to AD 70 and the destruction of the Jewish nation.
1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you.
2 Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten.
3 Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have
stored up your treasure!
James 5:1-3 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
James gave a strong rebuke to the wealthy and their misuse of their riches. In a time that they should have especially been willing to share, they were hoarding. Notice verse three. The wealthy, living in “the last days”, “you”, “your”; do you see how personal this is. Lets see another one.
4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”.........
20 For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you" I Peter 1:4-5, 20 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
Peter speaks of a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. There salvation! Then in V: 20, He speaks of Christ coming and walking the earth for their sakes. The One known before the foundation of the world, came and walked here during “the last days.” The Life of Christ on earth was during this period call “the last days.” Now look at Peter’s second letter.
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts,
4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
II Peter 3:1-3 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
Peter reminds them that there would be disbelief and deception before Jesus would return in His Kingdom. Stop here and read, Matt. 24:23-26, 37-39; Acts 6:14. Now note
verse three. WHEN would they doubt his coming - “the last days”. Maybe this would be a good time for a question. Last days of WHAT? This period between the Birth, Life, Death, Resurrection of Jesus and the promised destruction of the Jewish nations, these were the last days of the Jews! The prophets spoke of it. Jesus spoke of it. The Apostles
and the disciples spoke of it. Peter now writing only about 3 to 4 year before AD 70 speaks of it. Let’s move on, there is more.
1 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways,
2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”
Heb. 1:1,2 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
When did Jesus speak to them? When did Jesus walk the earth? “In these last days”. Jesus was living and teaching during the period call “the last days.” Hebrews may have been written as late as AD 69, right on the threshold of AD 70 and the coming destruction. Some were losing hope, ready to quit the race, but the writer urges them to hold on. Ok, two more to go.
17 But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”
Jude 17,18 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
This admonition sounds a lot like the one we looked at from II Peter 3:1-3. Same situation, and basically the same admonition. Jude says you were told this would be the way it would be. WHEN? “In The Last Time”. Different Greek word used by Jude, but still means “age” or period of time. Those who received Jude’s letter were living in “the
last time.”
18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.
I John 2:18 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation)1996.
Remember the words of Jesus in Matt. 24:23-28
23 “Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or ‘There He is,’ do not believe him.
24 “For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.
25 “Behold, I have told you in advance.
26 “So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.
27 “For just as the lightning comes from the east and flashes even to the west, so will the coming of the Son of Man be.
28 “Wherever the corpse is, there the vultures will gather.
The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (La Habra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
John says the “antichrists” (plural) have appeared, and because they have appeared, John says we KNOW it is the last hour. Now the time is very, very close. The signs that Jesus gave are beginning to happen, but the death and destruction haven’t started yet. Now it is not “last time”, “last days”, it is “the last hour.”
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. II Tim. 2:15 The New American Standard Bible, 1995 Update, (LaHabra, California: The Lockman Foundation) 1996.
This challenge to Timothy from Paul is also a challenge to us all. The greek word used here literally means, “to cut straight”. It has been translated “rightly divide”. Lesson? Be careful how you cut, divide the word. Remember you are reading their mail. Sit with them. Understand with them. Then we will “cut it straight.”
There is still more....to be continued.
Lee Hodges
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