Speaking of God’s appeals to the Jewish people, Paul declares, “(He) …hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things…” (Heb. 1:2). Some would link this wording with prophetic passages, such as Isaiah 2:2-4, claiming the “last days” were fulfilled in the first appearance of our Lord, rather than at his future coming. There is no justification for such a conclusion.
Paul’s claim is that in His final appeal to the Jews, God would manifest Himself to the nation through His Son. Surely the Jews would see and believe in the Son. But the Jews spurned the signs and miracles, ridiculed the message and finally killed the Son of God who was sent to save them.
The last day(s)
The phrase “last day” occurs only eight times in all of scripture (Neh. 8:18, and seven times in John). In Nehemiah, the term is applied to the “last day” of the feast of tabernacles. In six of the seven references in John’s gospel, Jesus is clearly referring to the time of the resurrection.
“Last days,” similarly occurs but eight times (Gen. 49:1; Isa. 2:2; Mic. 4:1; Acts 2:17; II Tim. 3:1; Heb. 1:2; James 5:2; II Pet. 3:3). Genesis 49:1 speaks of events beyond the immediate future of the sons of Jacob. Most were fulfilled in the next several centuries. As stated in a previous article, the Isaiah and Micah prophecies refer to events which have not yet taken place. Thus the Old Testament uses the phrase to refer to events some time future to the prophecy.
The New Testament references appear to use the term as applying to the end of the Jewish age and also to the end of the Gentile era.
James 5:3 refers to the punishment of those who seek wealth by means of cruelty. Many such Jews were killed by the Romans and their own countrymen in A.D. 70. A similar fate no doubt awaits the cruel of today during the anarchy that will inevitably accompany the pouring out of God’ s judgments upon the world. II Timothy 3:1 and II Peter 3:3 must be speaking of those “last days” before the coming of our Lord. Both write of events that have not yet occurred.
In the phrases “last day” and “last days,” Paul uses eschatos for “last.” (“Eschatology” comes from this word.) Liddell and Scott define the word as “the furthest, uttermost, extreme; the most remote; the furthest each way.” Kittel states, “the general use is for what is last materially, spatially, or temporally…the eschatological use derives from what is last in time.”
Latter days
This term occurs 11 times in the Old Testament, but not at all in the New. It is the same Hebrew phrase as that translated “last days.” In the Pentateuch (Genesis through Deuteronomy), it may speak of events which were then future in the history of Israel. It occurs four times in Jeremiah, one time in Ezekiel, twice in Daniel and one time in Hosea. “Latter day” (singular) only occurs in one place, and that may be questionable. Job 19:25 has, “I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.”
Last time
In various forms, the phrase occurs in five New Testament passages. I Peter 1:5 uses it in reference to the time not yet come when the faithful will be glorified. He appropriately uses kairos for “time.” Kairos usually refers to a specific time period, a season. It can mean “an occasion, i.e. set or proper time.” Peter is referring to a specific time when the people he is speaking of will “be revealed” in glory.
In I John 2:18, the writer twice uses hora for “time.” Kittel says, “this word first means a ‘right, fixed, or favorable time, for sowing, for marrying, etc.” It is thus appropriate for the appearance of the anti-Christ system which characterizes this present era.
The final use is in Jude 18, where he states there would be “mockers in the last time…” Here, Jude uses the word chronos which can mean course or span of time, even point of time. That would fit very well in this place: there will be “mockers at that point in time.”
Peter also used the term “last times” in I Peter 1:20. Speaking of Jesus’ first appearing, he said, “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” Peter used the Greek words chronos eschatos, which parallels Paul’s reference in Hebrews 1:2. He referred to those specific last times, when the Jews rejected their Messiah, and those who recognized him would be blessed.
The phrase “latter times” occurs only in I Timothy 4:1. There Paul speaks of a period of declension of faith which began in his day but reaches its climax before the coming of the Lord.
The end of the days
Daniel includes much pertinent information relative to the “last days.” In the final chapter, he speaks of a time when great pressure will be upon his people, a time when it will become necessary for “Michael…the great prince” to stand up and fight for the people.
Giving several different time periods, he makes the point that, “Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly.” The wise will understand; the wicked will not. The wise will enter the kingdom in the end of the days; the wicked will not be allowed in. Daniel is told at the end of his book, “Go thy way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and stand in thy lot at the end of the days.”
Distress of nations
As some of the disciples of Jesus spoke to him of the temple, they began to ask him questions pertaining to the future. Following a very specific presentation, Jesus perhaps stunned them by saying, “Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring.”
Jesus plainly told them of the specific time when he will return; it will follow the release of Jerusalem from under the control of the Gentiles. It will be a “time of trouble such as never was;” “upon the earth” there will be great “distress of nations, with perplexity.” This distress is emphasized by the use of the word sunoche, which means extreme anxiety, over anxiety, distress. The people will be in a “state of a quandary.” There will literally be no way out; they will be perplexed. They will be at the point when “men’s hearts will be failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming to pass.” Jesus goes on to say, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up…for your redemption draweth nigh.” This did not take place when Peter preached to the multitude in Acts 2; it has never taken place — but it will, soon.
May we take the proper steps to be able to recognize the “last days” and keep ourselves ready to meet our Lord when he comes.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One