What are the "Last Days?"

I heard the term "last days," and see a basic confusion with many who are trying to understand this term. What are the "last days," if they were designated as such in the apostles' time, and are also used for the end of the age?

Really, I think we need to understand that the term often reflects the fall of a civilization, such as when Israel declines as a nation of God, and is close to national judgment. It involves a state of apostasy from the true faith, and is accompanied by an imminent judgment of God against that nation. That is why it is termed "the last days," because a nation is close to coming to an end.

The entire NT era is, as I often point out, a period of "great tribulation" for the Jewish People. In Jesus time, Israel was coming to an end. It was the "last days" for Israel in the present era. They were engaged in the worst kind of apostasy--the rejection of their own Messiah, and the rejection of his eternal atonement for their sins. They were insistent in living in their own sin nature, independent of God, and covering it up with a facade of allegiance to the Law of Moses.

Their judgment would come about 40 years after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, in 70 AD. Clearly, those were the "last days" for Israel, even though there remains a future Hope for Israel, when Messiah returns.

So Israel came into a time of punishment called "the Great Tribulation." They were destroyed as a nation by the Romans, and sent into an age-long exile called the "Jewish Diaspora." Some like to identify the "Great Tribulation" as only 3.5 years at the end of the age, when Antichrist rules, persecutes the Church, and brings all kinds of calamities upon the earth from God.

But the truth is, the "Great Tribulation" began with Israel's "last days," when Israel fell into great apostasy and lawlessness, and came under an age-long period of judgment. During this same period, the Gospel message has been extended to non-Jewish nations, to enable them to learn the same lessons that Israel has learned, with the same results. Nations rise, become Christian, and then they backslide, sin, and come under judgment. Their "last days" ensue.

I hope this helps you understand why, biblically, the "last days" started back in the time of Israel's Roman judgment and continues until today? It isn't just the Rule of Antichrist, or an end-time period in which plagues are sent out into the earth. No, this is an age-long process in which nations hear the Gospel, respond, and then ultimately fall away, with few remaining to be faithful to the Lord.

Thinking in terms of a thousand years is like a day when it has passed, a thousand years is like a day to our Father, think in terms of the figures provided by the Bible and you will need to consult the lunar calendar used until the Romans replaced it with a solar version for the church.

According to the lunar calendar which goes back to Adam , almost, we are coming to the close of the sixth millennium. After all counting in this manner there are only seven days of time. Jesus Yeshua came on the beginning of fourth day leaving the creation with two days remaining before the thousand years of peace, rest.

This understood, we are at the portal of the seventh millennium. Sabbath.

The term "Last days" has to do with the Lord's return to the earth to end the age and all of the events of wrath that precede it.

In order to understand what and when the "Great Tribulation" is we must go to Matt.24:15-22. Jesus said that GT begins when the abomination that causes desolation is set up in the holy place within the temple. In Daniel 9:27, he prophesies of that ruler, the antichrist, making a seven year covenant with Israel, where in the middle of that seven years, he causes the sacrifices and offerings to cease and sets up that abomination that causes the desolation, which is what Jesus was quoting from.

From the time that Jesus quoted Daniel 9:27 until the destruction of the temple, no seven year covenant was made and no abomination was set up in the holy place. Therefore, since these events being the word of God must take place, then they are still future events.

At some point after the church has been gathered, that antichrist which is represented by the first seal rider on the white horse, will establish his covenant with Israel allowing them to rebuild their temple and begin to offer sacrifices. In the middle of that seven years--3 1/2 years later--will stop the offerings and sacrifices and will set up that abomination in the holy place, which I believe is synonymous with the image that the false prophet has the inhabitants of the earth make, as described in Rev.13:14-15. Israel's fleeing described in Matt.24:15-22 is synonymous with the woman/Israel fleeing out into the wilderness as described in Rev.12:6, 14

The great tribulation will take place within the last 3 1/2 years of that seven year period leading to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age. During that time the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments will also be taking place.

Gonna have to agree.. something like Ahwatukee said. Great tribulation has not happened. Whats coming is worse then anything in history.. the Church is still here.. well we have all power all authority over the enemy.. kinda difficult for him to pop up and do lying wonders with us still here that have ALL power all authority over him. I will say I read as we all do all the things that must happen and for me it seemed as if 30-80 years left for some of these things yet.. look what happen in a moment COVID and how the world is using it. Now we here more variants are coming.. far worse then the one before.. almost time for someone to step up with all the answers lol

Gen_49:1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.

Isa_2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Mic_4:1 But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it.

Act_2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

2Ti_3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Heb_1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

2Pe_3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

Joh_6:39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.

Joh_6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh_6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh_6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Joh_11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.

Joh_12:48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

The term "Last days" has to do with the Lord's return to the earth to end the age and all of the events of wrath that precede it.

In order to understand what and when the "Great Tribulation" is we must go to Matt.24:15-22. Jesus said that GT begins when the abomination that causes desolation is set up in the holy place within the temple. In Daniel 9:27, he prophesies of that ruler, the antichrist, making a seven year covenant with Israel, where in the middle of that seven years, he causes the sacrifices and offerings to cease and sets up that abomination that causes the desolation, which is what Jesus was quoting from.

From the time that Jesus quoted Daniel 9:27 until the destruction of the temple, no seven year covenant was made and no abomination was set up in the holy place. Therefore, since these events being the word of God must take place, then they are still future events.

At some point after the church has been gathered, that antichrist which is represented by the first seal rider on the white horse, will establish his covenant with Israel allowing them to rebuild their temple and begin to offer sacrifices. In the middle of that seven years--3 1/2 years later--will stop the offerings and sacrifices and will set up that abomination in the holy place, which I believe is synonymous with the image that the false prophet has the inhabitants of the earth make, as described in Rev.13:14-15. Israel's fleeing described in Matt.24:15-22 is synonymous with the woman/Israel fleeing out into the wilderness as described in Rev.12:6, 14

The great tribulation will take place within the last 3 1/2 years of that seven year period leading to the Lord's return to the earth to end the age. During that time the seals, trumpets and bowl judgments will also be taking place.

Please read post #11, where I explain my position in more detail. Where we disagree here is that the AoD refers to Antichrist--I see it referring to the 70 AD destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. Discussing the 70th Week of Daniel and the 7 Seals of Revelation are peripheral to the focus I have here. We can discuss that elsewhere.

First of all, I never said that the AOD was the antichrist. Likewise, the AOD cannot be the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. And the reason why is that it is described as an object of idolatry, a detestable stench that goes up before God. Gabriel describes the AOD in the following manner:

"And from the time the daily sacrifice is abolished and the abomination of desolation set up, there will be 1,290 days.

The AOD is an object that is going to be set up in the holy place, which is the room just outside of the holy of holies.

These are events that are going to take place within the last seven years leading up the Lord's return to the earth to end the age and therefore cannot be events of 70 AD.

From the time that Jesus quoted Daniel in Matt.24:15 until the destruction of the temple, no seven year covenant was made and no abomination was set up. These are future events.

The seven seals will take place in chronological order, followed by the Trumpets and then the bowl judgments, which Jesus returning to the earth to end the age after the 7th bowl has been poured out.