The Last Days

by Terry Wane Benton

Did you know that the "last days" can mean the last phase of earth-life that can itself involve "ages" of time? Peter said that what happened on Pentecost was part of the "last days" predicted by Joel (Acts 2:16,17), and then Paul said Jesus had spoken in "these last days" (Hebrews 1:1f). So, we could think of earth-time as divided into several periods—preparation time and then the last phase. There is no indication as to how long "the last days" might last.

The preparation time leading up to Jesus' coming in the flesh to present us with His great spiritual riches and blessings, arming us in the battle against sin and condemnation, spanned approximately 4,000 years. The "last days" we entered since His coming in the flesh have been almost 2,000 years. These "last days" were to involve "ages to come" (Ephesians 2:7). The book of Revelation used a figure of a long time when speaking of Jesus reigning 1000 years (Revelation 20). That too would be part of the "last days" that included "ages to come."
Since the 1000 years was a figure of speech, not a literal number, a figure used for a long time, we have been in the last days at least from Pentecost, as mentioned in Acts 2, until now. These last days will end when He comes again to take us home (I Thessalonians 4:13-18; II Peter 3:8-13).

These last days will end with the earth passing away in fervent heat, and our mortal bodies will be changed into immortal bodies (I Corinthians 15:22ff). So, we are in the last days, and we have been in the last days for nearly 2000 years. It could end at any time, or it could last for a long time yet to come.

Many alarmists deceive themselves into thinking that we are just now entering the last days, and they would have us believe that there are prophecies that describe a countdown to the Lord's coming. They are deceived and deceiving others. The Lord could return now, but it won't be because He gave us some signs to look for. He gave signs that led to the coming wrath on Jerusalem (Matthew 24:1-34), but he gave no signs to help us calculate His final coming (Matthew 24:35ff). It will come as a thief in the night! Be ready all the time, because you know not when the Lord may come! This is the last phase (last days) of Earth and mortal life, but it involves a long period (ages to come). We don't know how much earth-time is left! Be wise, always be ready for death or the final coming to end this mortal age.