hi green
'the last days' overwhelmingly means the BEGINNING of the last days right to the Second Advent - the church age, if you will).....the 'past days' being the Mosaic system, more broadly everything from before Jesus (BC/AD) (the closing out of what had come before Jesus by His overshadowing or super brightening everything that had come before) - the coming of Jesus marked the end of 'the times past', and marked the beginning of 'the last days'....
Hebrews 1
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe...
the writer of Hebrews said 'in these last days', and included himself in those last days (we're in these last days also: same era)....the days since Jesus arrived.
"last days": prophesied in
Joel, c. 835 BC < "in the past, God speaking to the forefathers through the prophets, like Joel"
Joel 2
The LORD Will Pour Out His Spirit
28 d “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,
and your young men shall see visions.
29 Even on the male and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit.
30“And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. 32And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the LORD has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the LORD calls.
Joel 2:28
"And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. (NIV)
“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, and your young men shall see visions. (ESV)
~
Acts 2
Peter’s Sermon at Pentecost
14But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day.b 16
But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:
17 “‘
And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servantsc and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
~
the last days
certainly did include the completion of scripture.
Hebrews 1
1In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2
but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe...
that book was written c. 68AD, very shortly after Jesus walked the earth - like about 35 years after (give or take).
and he said 'in these last days.
it was written AFTER Pentecost. which was also, according to Joel and Peter in 'the last days'.
peter said Pentecost was exactly what Joel (and other prophets) had foretold.
and it happened in the beginning of the 'last days'.
He did pour out His Spirit on "all mankind", green.
Acts 2
The Coming of the Holy Spirit
1When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and resteda on each one of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.
5
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.”
Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men
from every nation under heaven
we know the USA and Canada were not in actuality physically in person represented there. our nations didn't exist yet.
but Holy Spirit clearly had it recorded as
from every nation under heaven.
"all flesh" means the same as "every nation under heaven".
Pentecost happened at Jerusalem, not even a few miles away in Lebanon or over in Rome. Just at Jerusalem.
all flesh, from every nation under heaven means the Jews. that's to whom the miracle of Pentecost was promised, and upon whom it fell.
God is still speaking to Israel in Joel, and in Acts:
17 “‘
And in the last days it shall be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,
and
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and
your young men shall see visions,
and
your old men shall dream dreams;
18 even on my male servants and female servants
in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy.
that blessing opened up salvation to all the world.
that was a long time ago.
it's still as Miraculous as it ever was, we still read about it in awe and wonder, and we are still blessed (Praise be to God for the Good News) by the Gospel which has gone forth into literally all the world,
meaning the entire planet....by the Gospel preached globally.
since we have all we need in the God breathed scriptures, and since we have the Comforter Who seals each of us until the redemption of our bodies, we have everything we need.
don't we?
love you green
zone.
