SPECIAL TOPIC: THE LAST DAYS (and similar phrases)

This phrase refers to the future horizon of the particular biblical writer (see NIDOTTE, vol. 1, p. 362; G. B. Caird, The Language and Imagery of the Bible, chapter 14, "The Language of Eschatology," pp. 243-271). It denoted a time of fulfillment of God's promises and purposes.

  1. the Messianic kingdom, Gen. 49:1-27 (esp. 49:10); Num. 24:14-25 (esp. 24:17); Isa. 2:2; Jer. 48:47; 49:39; Ezek. 38:8,16
  2. Israel's rebellion, Deut. 31:29
  3. Israel's return to YHWH in repentance and faith, Deut. 4:30; Hos. 3:5; Jer. 23:19-22 (esp. 23:20)
  4. an end-time attack on the covenant people, Psalm 2
  5. temporal divine judgment on apostate Judaism involving the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple in A.D. 69-70, Ezek. 38:16; Dan. 2:28; 10:14. Daniel 9:24-27 links the Messiah's redemptive task and the destruction of the temple. See David Chilton, Paradise Restored
  6. exile, Amos 4:2

Only context can clarify which period. Be careful of allowing your systematic theology to fill in all the details!

This period of time goes by several names.

  1. end of the days, Num. 24:14; Deut. 8:16; Dan. 2:28; 10:14
  2. the last days, Jer. 23:20; 30:24; 49:39; Ezek. 38:8,16; Hos. 3:5; Joel 2:28 (Acts 2:17; John 6:39,40,44,54; 11:24; 12:48; 2 Tim. 3:1; James 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3)
  3. the last time, 1 Tim. 4:1; 1 Pet. 1:5
  4. the end of the times, 1 Pet. 1:20
  5. the last hour, 1 John 2:18

At the end of the last days is the "day of the Lord" (i.e., "the consummation," Matt. 13:36-43; 28:20; Heb. 9:26).

The Jews of the interbiblical period saw two ages: the current evil age of rebellion and sin (starting at Genesis 3) and the coming age of righteousness inaugurated by the coming of the Messiah (see SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH) in the power of the Spirit. The OT emphasizes the coming of the Messiah in judgment and power (i.e., like the Judges) to establish the New Age. However, it failed to see clearly the first coming of Jesus as

  1. the seed of the woman vs. the seed of the Serpent conflict in Gen. 3:15
  2. the person of Psalm 22
  3. the "Suffering Servant" in Isaiah 53
  4. the humble One riding the colt of a donkey in Zech. 9:9
  5. the pierced One of Zech. 12:10
  6. the temporal judgment on Jerusalem in Dan. 2:28; 10:14

From NT progressive revelation we know that God planned two comings of the Messiah. The period between

  1. Jesus' Incarnation (at Bethlehem)
  2. Jesus' baptism (i.e., beginning of His public ministry)
  3. Jesus' ascension

and

  1. the temporal judgment on apostate Judaism in A.D. 70 (i.e., Olivet Discourse, Acts 2:16-17; 1 Pet. 1:20; 4:7; 1 John 2:18; Heb. 1:2; see David Chilton, The Great Tribulation, pp. 40-52; Gary DeMar, Last Days Madness, pp. 37-41)
  2. the Second Coming or the consumation of the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:10; 28:20; John 5:26-29; 11:24; Acts 1:11; 1 Cor. 15:1-58; Phil. 2:10-11; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; Rev. 21-22; see William Hendrickson, More Than Conquerors)

It seems obvious to me that the inspired authors of the NT believed they lived in the last days. But the last days of what?

  1. human history
  2. the end of the age of the performance-based, national-based covenant

The temporal judgment of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple (cf. Matt. 23; 1 Thess. 2:14-16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10; Rev. 1:7) marked a significant transition to

  1. a grace-based covenant (cf. Jer. 34:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36)
  2. the fulfillment of Gen. 3:15, which involved the promised redemption of humans created in God's image and likeness. The Gentiles now could freely enter the Kingdom of God, through Christ by repentance and faith.

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: THIS AGE AND THE AGE TO COME

SPECIAL TOPIC: A SUFFERING MESSIAH

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