The final epoch of history which is marked by the coming of the Messiah and the establishment of God's kingdom. In the NT it is portrayed as the period between Jesus Christ's first coming and the consummation of all things at his return, and is marked by godlessness and the persecution of God's people.
OT expectation of the last days
The Messianic kingdom
Isaiah 2:2–4 parallel Micah 4:1–3 See also Isaiah 9:6–7, Isaiah 11:1–9, Isaiah 65:20–25; Jeremiah 33:15
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Then He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation, nor train anymore for war.
The restoration of Israel
Jeremiah 33:16; Hosea 3:5 See also Isaiah 25:9; Jeremiah 30:9, Jeremiah 50:4; Joel 3:1; Zechariah 8:23
In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
Afterward, the people of Israel will return and seek the LORD their God and David their king. They will come trembling to the LORD and to His goodness in the last days.
The day of the LORD
Isaiah 13:6–12; Ezekiel 30:3; Joel 2:11, Joel 2:30–31; Amos 5:18–20; Acts 2:19–20
Jesus Christ's coming introduces the last days
The timing of his revelation
1 Peter 1:20 See also Galatians 4:4–5
He was known before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in the last times for your sake.
The announcement of God's kingdom
Mark 1:15 See also Matthew 12:28 parallel Luke 11:20; Luke 4:43, Luke 8:1
“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
The fulfilment of Messianic promise
Luke 4:18–21 See also Isaiah 61:1–2; Matthew 11:4–5 parallel Luke 7:22
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
The outpouring of the Spirit
Acts 2:16–18 See also Joel 2:28–29; Ezekiel 36:27
No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.
Revelation in the last days
Hebrews 1:1–2 See also Matthew 13:16–17 parallel Luke 10:23–24; Romans 16:25–26; Ephesians 3:9; Colossians 1:26
On many past occasions and in many different ways, God spoke to our fathers through the prophets. 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.
Redemption in the last days
Hebrews 9:26 See also Daniel 9:24; Acts 2:21; Joel 2:32; 2 Corinthians 6:2; Isaiah 49:8; 1 Peter 1:18–20
Otherwise, Christ would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But now He has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
Features of the last days
Godlessness
2 Timothy 3:1–5 See also Daniel 12:10
But understand this: In the last days terrible times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, without love of good, traitorous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!
Deception and apostasy
1 Timothy 4:1 See also Matthew 24:4–5 parallels Mark 13:5, Luke 21:8; Matthew 24:10–12; 1 John 2:18–19
Now the Spirit expressly states that in later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,
Scoffing
Persecution
Daniel 11:33–35; Mark 10:30; Luke 21:12–17 parallels Matthew 24:9–10, Mark 13:9–13
Jesus Christ's return brings the last days to a close
It ushers in a new era
Hebrews 9:28 See also Matthew 13:49, Matthew 24:3
so also Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many; and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await Him.
It is identified with the day of the LORD
2 Corinthians 1:14; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Peter 3:10
Living in the last days
Hebrews 6:5 Between Jesus Christ's comings, believers have a foretaste of the age to come. See also Ephesians 1:19–21; Colossians 3:1–4; Hebrews 10:24–25
who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age —
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.