The Last Days

By Robert Gromacki, Th.D.
Professor, Bible and Greek, Cedarville College, Cedarville, Ohio

Many expressions in Scripture point to the “End Times,” sometimes called the “Last Day or Days,” “Latter Days,” “Last Time or Times,” “Last Hour.” The various expressions are related to the creative-redemptive program of God for this time-space universe and they point to a specific time period: the termination of God’s purpose for a special group of people. At least four major time periods can be designated with the descriptive title of “the last days:”

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ. Peter claimed Jesus Christ “was manifest in these last times” to die for the sins of the world: 1 Peter 1.20. This statement corresponds to the “fullness of time” when God sent His Son to be the Savior: Galatians 4.4. In a similar concept, God has “in these last days spoken unto us by His Son,” Hebrews 1.2.
The Last Days of Israel or the Final Days before the New Covenant. God’s program for Israel began with His covenant promise to Abraham He would make out of the patriarch a “great nation,” Genesis 12.1-3. For the next 2000 years, God worked out His creative-redemptive program in and through the people of Israel. That phase ended with the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. In the last days of Israel, the nation will experience unprecedented distress, trouble and tribulation, Deuteronomy 4.30; 31.29 and Jeremiah 30.24, occurring during the predicted “seventieth week,” Daniel 9.24-27, and an invasion from a northern confederation of armies which will be destroyed directly by God: Ezekiel 38.16. At this time, Israel will go through national repentance and conversion, Deuteronomy 4.30; Hosea 3.4,5 and Romans 11.26,27, and will enter into the full blessings of the new covenant during the Millennial Kingdom: Jeremiah 31.31-37. The Kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus Christ on the throne of David in Jerusalem, will be established with Israel as the dominant nation: Daniel 2.44,45. Israel will thus experience the total fulfillment of all the divine unconditional covenants: Abrahamic, Land, Davidic and New: Deuteronomy 4.30. The blessings of Jacob upon his twelve sons will thus be finalized.
The Last Days of Gentile World Dominion. This time period, called “the times of the Gentiles” by Jesus Christ, Luke 21.24, began with the destruction of the Jewish kingdom by the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzer in 586 B.C. and essentially involves the dominion of Gentile nations over the world and Israel from the destruction of the ancient Jewish kingdom to its re-establishment when Jesus Christ returns to earth. The Battle of Armageddon will end Gentile rule forever and will usher in the Millennial and Eternal Reign of Christ: Daniel 2.28 and Revelation 16.13-21.
The Last Days of the Church Age. The apostles warned the last days of the Church Age would be marked by doctrinal apostasy: 1 Timothy 4.1-3; 2 Peter 3.3,4 and Jude 17-19; moral deterioration: James 5.3 and 2 Peter 3.3; and the rise of many antiChrists: 1 John 2.18,19. The apostles also warned their readers the features of the Last Days were present in their own day: 2 Timothy 3.1-5 and Jude 4,17-19. Thus, the last days for the Church Age were as imminent as the Rapture itself. Whenever the Rapture occurs, the climax of personal salvation will happen and the Church Age will end: 1 Peter 1.5.