The Last Days

When some read the title of this article, they may have a misunderstanding. It is quite possible that many will think that I am referring to the immediate days prior to the Lord’s return. However, that is not completely accurate. On different occasions, the Bible has references to the “last days”, and we should diligently study so that we can understand what is meant.

First of all, let us eliminate some things that will help us. Matthew 24:4-34 does not describe the return of Jesus before the end of time. Those verses describe different “signs” that pointed to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. In particular, we should notice that Jesus declared that “…This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled” (Matt. 24:34). All of the aforementioned in the conversation was to take place before the end of that current generation. Therefore, “the last days” are not described in those verses.

Instead, one should focus his attention on verses that actually do speak of “the last days”. Take for instance the book of Hebrews. The inspired author began his letter by stating, “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” (Heb. 1:1-2). That means that “the last days” were already in existence when the book of Hebrews was written. That was almost 2,000 years ago! We have been living in “the last days” all of our lives! How is it possible that “the last days” would be such a long period of time? The answer to that is found in understanding the true history of mankind. Time can be broken down into three distinct time periods. The first time period was from Adam to Moses. This is often referred to as the Patriarchal Age. The reason for such a designation is because during that period, God dealt directly with the patriarchs of families. This is seen in how God communicated with Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as how Job offered for his family members (Gen. 3:9-11; 6:13; 12:1-3; 22:1-3; Job 1:5). This time period included many amazing things, such as creation, the flood, and the confounding of language at the Tower of Babel. Yet, this time period was not intended to be the only one.

When the book of Exodus begins, there is a focus on a select group of people. These people were Abraham’s, Isaac’s, and Jacob’s descendants know as the Israelites. It is told of their enslavement and multiplication in the land of Egypt. One is soon introduced to a man named Moses. This man was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of Egyptian bondage. It was also he who became the great lawgiver to the nation of Israel. The Old Law, or the Law of Moses, was given to Israel, and they entered
into a covenant with God. This was the introduction of the Mosaic Age. This time period continued into the first century A.D. It was then, that a man named John, began to preach the coming of the kingdom (Luke 16:16). Jesus furthered that same message after His baptism (Matt. 4:17). This was preparing for a transition from physical Israel to spiritual Israel (Gal. 6:16). The Old Law of Moses was to be removed. Paul wrote, “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross” (Col. 2:14). Paul also mentioned, “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator” (Gal. 3:19). This time period was also notable for many amazing things such as David and Goliath, Samson, Daniel in the Lion’s Den, etc. Yet, this time period was not intended to be “the last days”.

As was mentioned earlier, mankind has been living in “the last days” for almost 2,000 years. This time period is called the Christian Age. It is also the last age of mankind, hence, “the last days”. There will not be another time period on Earth. In one of his letters, Paul described what “the last days” would be like. He wrote, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away” (2 Tim. 3:1-5). All of those things mentioned exist in the current age. It is easy to identify that we are indeed living in “the last days.”