LAST DAYS - A JEWISH PHENOMENA

    Introduction-

    An understanding of what the "Last Days" were/are is vital to properly understanding the New Testament. Misunderstanding of "Last Days" has led many, maybe most into confusion. They may not realize their confused state, but that doesn’t mean that many are not confused. I suppose the reasoning has been that the last days arrived or had arrived at the first Pentecost after Jesus death and since nothing has happened to change that, we are still in the last days. But . . . something did happen to change that; it makes perfect sense and it is what the Bible teaches.  We will be using the New King James Version.

    A fundamental principle of Bible understanding is that prophecies and their subsequent fulfillment were to come to an end.

    Statements of Jesus

    Luke 21:20-22

    But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near.  Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her.  For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.

    In this statement Jesus is very plain and very direct. In the preceding verses, Jesus spoke of the persecution his followers would suffer while preaching the Gospel. He then tells them to be patient. This is immediately followed by the above scripture. Note the order: preaching of the Gospel, then the end, or completion, of "all things which are written."

    Matthew 24:13-16 is another passage of scripture teaching the same thing.

    But he who endures to the end shall be saved.  And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.  Therefore when you see the "abomination of desolation," spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand), then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.

    This is the order given by Christ in the first century for the first century. He says in Matthew 24:34,

    "Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place."

    Matthew 5:17-18

    Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.  For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

    In this passage Jesus spoke of fulfillment and the law passing away. It’s interesting that heaven and earth passing away are part of the fulfillment. This is of course from prophecy and was part of Israel’s hope. Isaiah 65:17 says:

    For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.

    This is followed by prophecies of what comes to be known as "New Jerusalem" and does not refer to the physical heavens and earth, but to a change in order, rule and authority. Jesus reference to this passage and the association of it to the completion of the law is significant and cannot be ignored.

    Matthew 28:19-20

    Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

    Remember the order: Preach the Gospel, then the end. This passage is no different. Jesus promised to be with those to whom he was speaking - the eleven disciples (verse 16). He would be with them, even to the end of the age.

    The seventy week prophecy of Daniel 9. Daniel 9:24 says:

    Seventy weeks are determined

    For your people and for your holy city,

    To finish the transgression,

    To make an end of sins,

    To make reconciliation for iniquity,

    To bring in everlasting righteousness,

    To seal up vision and prophecy,

    And to anoint the Most Holy.

    The phrase to which we draw attention in this section of our lesson is "to seal up vision and prophecy." This is in harmony with the teachings of Jesus and can be expressly seen in the passages which have been discussed in this section. If vision and prophecy were to be sealed up in the 70 weeks, then Revelation must have been written during the 70 weeks and must also deal with the destruction of Jerusalem. If not, why not?

    God had a plan which was scheduled for completion with the coming of Christ and the subsequent destruction of Jerusalem including the temple and thus the total social, religious and economic structure of the nation of Israel.

    This great judgment was addressed by the prophets. We will note only two passages.

    Malachi 4:1 says:

    For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up, Says the Lord of hosts, That will leave them neither root nor branch.

    Joel 2:28-31 says:

    And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions.  And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.  And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.

    We choose these two passages because the association we can make to the teaching of John, the baptizer and Peter, the apostle. In Malachi 4:5-6 the coming of Elijah is prophesied. Jesus says this was John, Matthew 11:13-14. John in his teaching speaks of a great burning. Matthew 3:10 records John saying:

    And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

    Note the expression "even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees." This was already in progress and the passage speaks of events in that age.

    Peter quotes Joel’s prophecy in Acts 2 and identifies it with the "last days." Acts 2:16-17.

    What we see in these passages is the teaching by Jesus, John and Peter concerning a judgment - an end time judgment. These passages show a completion of that which was to be judged.  They look to the day of the Lord.   

    When all the prophecies had been fulfilled, God's plan to save man would be complete.  We have not discussed all of these things, but the passages given are plain and cannot be ignored in terms of an ending of old things and a beginning of new things which will be discussed shortly.

    We must also understand, in view of things coming to an end, that the expression "last days" expresses a termination, an ending, or a completion. As a term it should not be hard to understand. If a doctor tells you that you are in your last days, you would immediately consider that you would soon die. If we say something is in it’s last days, we mean that it is ending. The teaching that the last days began at Pentecost and haven’t ended yet is pure fiction and is false. Such an understanding is against the natural understanding of language and against the hopes and expectations of the prophets of both the Old and New Testament. When Peter cites Joel’s prophecy, the phrase "last days" needs to considered from clear teachings set forth by all the prophets, including Jesus.  Specifically we should consider Matthew 24:34:

    Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place.

    Teachings from Daniel

    Daniel 8:16-18

    And I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, who called, and said, "Gabriel, make this man understand the vision."  So he came near where I stood, and when he came I was afraid and fell on my face; but he said to me, "Understand, son of man, that the vision refers to the time of the end."

    Daniel 10:14

    "Now I have come to make you understand what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision refers to many days yet to come."

    Daniel also speaks of an everlasting kingdom

    Daniel 2:44

    "And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever."

    Now we can surely see that in Daniel something is to begin and something is to end.

    Jesus said in Matthew 24:14-22

    "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come. " Therefore when you see the `abomination of desolation,' spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place" (whoever reads, let him understand),  "then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains.  "Let him who is on the housetop not go down to take anything out of his house.  "And let him who is in the field not go back to get his clothes.  "But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days!  "And pray that your flight may not be in winter or on the Sabbath.  "For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.  "And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved; but for the elect's sake those days will be shortened.

    Let me suggest here that the "elect" were part of what was to begin and the "great tribulation" brought an end to what was to end. The preaching of the Gospel was necessary for both the beginning and the ending of those things of which Daniel speaks. Forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ, eliminated the need for the sacrifices of the Law; that age was to end.  Forgiveness, through the sacrifice of Jesus, the Christ, was - and is - and will be forever the basis of having a relationship with God in His kingdom.

    Christ's kingdom, as addressed in Acts through Revelation, was the beginning of the age to come.  Those in a proper relationship with God are citizens in that kingdom.  It began in the New Testament's present age and remains for us now and throughout all the ages to come.  It is that "everlasting kingdom" which Daniel says was to begin "in the days of those kings."  Is there anyone who will deny that "the days of those kings" were the days of the first century AD?

    Daniel 12:11-13 places the abomination of desolation at the end of the days.

    And from the time that the daily sacrifice is taken away, and the abomination of desolation is set up, there shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days.  "Blessed is he who waits, and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days.  "But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.

    Prophetical last days

    Whether translated as last days, latter days or end days the thought is the same. Last, latter or end is the hinder most part of a specified set of days.

    That last days were coming and could be expected is undeniable.

    Ezekiel 38:15-16

    "Then you will come from your place out of the far north, you and many peoples with you, all of them riding on horses, a great company and a mighty army.  "You will come up against My people Israel like a cloud, to cover the land. It will be in the latter days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me, when I am hallowed in you, O Gog, before their eyes."

    Hosea 3:4-5

    For the children of Israel shall abide many days without king or prince, without sacrifice or sacred pillar, without ephod or teraphim. Afterward the children of Israel shall return and seek the Lord their God and David their king. They shall fear the Lord and His goodness in the latter days

    Micah 4:1-2 and Isaiah 2:2

    Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it.  Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

    Jeremiah 23:20

    The anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has executed and performed the thoughts of His heart. In the latter days you will understand it perfectly.

    Isaiah 46:10 speaks of "Declaring the end from the beginning."

    Daniel’s prophecies have already been noted.

    Certainly these passages show why the Jews of Jesus' day would have "expectations" of an end.

    Peter’s reference to last days.

    Acts 2:16-21

    "But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.  I will show wonders in heaven above And signs in the earth beneath: Blood and fire and vapor of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.  And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved."

    In this passage Peter spoke to Israelites. It has everything to do with what had been prophesied.  It is that which they, as first-century Jews expected to come.  Note in verse 14, Peter says:

    "Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and heed my words."

    In verse 22 which follows the quotation, Peter continues his address beginning with:

    "Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth. . . ."

    Since Peter is speaking to Jews, we must understand his language in the terms that they understood. The "last days." context must include the prophecies we have noted thus far. 

    Jesus addressed an end when speaking to his Jewish audience, just as Peter does here. To understand this expression outside of the context of Jewish understanding is a violation of all teaching concerning the consideration of context.

    II Peter 3:1-3 -

    1 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),  that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.  knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.

    In this passage we see the appeal to the words spoken by the holy prophets. This shows then that the last days is a consideration of what the prophets have said. We note also Peter's record that the apostles addressed the same thing. Where did they do this? Do we have a record of it? I believe we have a record of Peter, Paul and James addressing it. We would also include the author of Hebrews.

    We have pretty well covered what was spoken before by the holy prophets. The prophecies are definitely under consideration in this passage from Peter.   What about the teaching of the Apostles? We have noted Peter’s teaching in Acts 2. Let’s also look at his teaching in Acts 3:19-21:

    Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,  and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

    In this passage we find that Jesus is to be in heaven until the restoration of all things which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets. Here we have a reference to Jesus in heaven and a time limit for his reception. Heaven was to receive Jesus until the restoration of all things, which God spoke by the mouth of all his holy prophets.

    How long would that be? The time would be near when Jerusalem was surrounded by armies. This was the time when all things which were written were to be fulfilled. According to Luke 21:32 this was to happen in that generation.

    Were there "last days" of the Jews as the people of God? Yes,  definitely. So when Peter spoke to Jews regarding last days, of what other last days would he be speaking?

    From where did the concept come that we are still in the last days that begin at the Pentecost of Acts? From where did it come? It did not from God nor from his inspired word. The inspired word teaches fruition of all the Prophetical teaching and the complete and final destruction of Jerusalem, including the Jewish earthly temple.

    Destruction of the temple with all the records, meant no more priestly lineage, no more sacrifices, no more temple to face when praying from every synagogue in every part of the world. This destruction meant that there would be no more yearly trips for the feast of the Passover and the feast of weeks.

    Paul’s reference to last days.

    II Timothy 3:1-13

    "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come:  For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!  For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was.  But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance,  persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra -- what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me.  Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.  But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

    If Timothy was not going to be part of the last days, Paul would not need to warn him. Paul said to him, "But know this. . ." This must be understood to mean that Timothy needed to know. Therefore, Timothy was in the last days and should take heed to Paul’s warning. In verse 5 Timothy was told to turn away from such people as Paul described.

    In verse 13 we find that the evil would grow worse and worse. This limits the time to that period of time for the reason that moral values are cyclic and have not by any means been growing steadily worse since the first century. One only has to read the histories to learn that there have been periods of relative high morality and that the moral moors of the first century reached a low peak possibly to have never been equaled.

    The then present age.

    In Ephesians 1:21 Paul speaks of that age and the one to come. Christ was seated, according to verse 21,

    far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

    "This age" that Paul refers to was not the age we continue to live in now awaiting Jesus, but was the age they were then in. In chapter 2 verse 7, Paul mentions "ages to come." We are now in one of those ages to come. This supports that the last days were for that age of Paul’s day. There is no way possible that Paul’s "this age" refers to the age we are in now.

    In Titus 2:12 & 13, Paul speaks of this present age in which they were "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." This once again points to an end of that age.

    The Jews who rejected Christ were fighting to end that age in victory for the earthly Jewish Nation. They fought against the Christians who taught otherwise.  The New Testament, especially Acts, reveals a record of their persecution.

    To the Christian, many of whom were Jews, the end meant vindication of their teaching and their belief in the prophecies of Jesus the Christ in the Jewish last days.

    Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.  Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!

    Matthew Henry says of these verses:

    "The coming of the Lord to punish the wicked Jews was then very nigh, when James wrote this epistle; and, whenever the patience and other graces of his people are tried in an extraordinary manner, the certainty of Christ's coming as Judge, and the nearness of it, should establish their hearts. The Judge is now a great deal nearer, in his coming to judge the world, than when this epistle was written, nearer by above seventeen hundred years; and therefore this should have the greater effect upon us."

    Here he recognized that James is addressing the Jewish expectation of coming judgment.

    His belief in a yet to come judgment is not based on James statement here. He is simply using James warning as an illustration for the judgment he believed was yet to come.

    Johnson says in People’s New Testament Commentary

    *To the coming of the Lord.* That would bring relief. The primary reference is to the relief from Jewish persecution which followed the Lord's coming in judgment on the Jewish nation.

    I guess somewhere he sees a secondary reference. He doesn’t say from where.

    For our purposes of "Last Days" we see he is in agreement that James writes to the immediate time.

    New Bible Commentary says

    While most of the writers probably expected this to happen within their lifetime, it is a tension that is always `in the air', for no-one knows when it will be, next second or next century.

    This is a typical belief of many about the nearness statements in the New Testament. I believe it is a misuse of Jesus statement in Matthew 24:36,

    "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only."

    Paul, James, and Peter were inspired men who made these nearness statements.

    In Matthew 24, even those who see two comings recognize a break at verse 36.

    To say that these inspired men were wrong is a call straight from the skeptics, agnostics, and atheists. If these men were wrong, then inspiration means nothing.