Biblical Teachings on the Last Days
The biblical concept of "the last days" refers to a significant period in God's redemptive plan, often understood as the era between Christ's first and second comings [5]. This period is characterized by both the fulfillment of God's promises and the emergence of challenging circumstances.
The phrase "in the last days" appears in various New Testament texts. For instance, 2 Timothy 3:1 warns that "in the last days there shall come perilous times" [2]. Paul describes the moral decay and godlessness that will mark this era, including people being lovers of self, money, boastful, proud, disobedient to parents, unholy, and without self-control [7, 8]. Similarly, 2 Peter 3:3 states that "there shall come in the last days scoffers" who will mock the promise of Christ's return [10, 11]. These scoffers are described as those who belittle and make fun of the truth rather than engaging with evidence or logic [5].
Despite these negative characteristics, the "last days" are also understood as a time of divine outpouring and spiritual manifestation. The prophet Joel's prophecy, quoted by Peter in Acts 2:17, speaks of God pouring out His Spirit "in the last days" upon all flesh, leading to visions, dreams, and prophecy among people of all ages and social standings [9]. This highlights a key aspect of the last days as the final dispensation of God's kingdom on earth, marked by an unprecedented distribution of the Holy Spirit [9].
The "last days" also encompass fundamental Christian doctrines such as the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment. Hebrews 6:2 lists "the future life of the dead, and of the judging on the last day" as foundational teachings [1]. The resurrection is a doctrine found in both the Old and New Testaments, expected by Jews, and preached by the apostles [4]. The judgment, predicted in the Old Testament, is a "first principle of the gospel" and will be administered by Christ [3]. Augustine, a prominent patristic theologian, emphasized that while the last day of the world is distant, individuals should consider their own "last day" to avoid spiritual slumber [6]. He also noted Peter's predictions concerning the destruction of the world in the last days [11].
Prophetic texts, such as Micah 4:1, also speak of the "last days" as a time when "the manifested mountain of the Lord shall be prepared on the tops of the mountains," drawing many nations to seek instruction from God [12]. This suggests a period of global spiritual significance and divine revelation.
Sources
- Hebrews “Hebrews 6:2 (BBE) — The teaching of baptisms, and of the putting on of hands, and of the future life of the dead, and of the judging on the last day.”
- II Timothy “II Timothy 3:1 (YLT) — And this know thou, that in the last days there shall come perilous times,”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Judgment, The — Predicted in the Old Testament -- 1Ch 16:33; Ps 9:7; 96:13; Ec 3:17. A first principle of the gospel -- Heb 6:2. A day appointed for -- Ac 17:31; Ro 2:16. Time of, unknown to us -- Mr 13:32. Called the Day of wrath. -- Ro 2:5; Re 6:17. Revelation of the righteous judgment of God. -- Ro 2:5. Day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. -- 2Pe 3:7. Day of destruction. -- Job 21:30. Judgment of the great day. -- Jude 1:6. Shall be administered by Christ -- Joh 5:22,27; Ac 10:42; Ro 14:10; 2Co 5:10. Saints shall sit with Christ in -- 1Co 6:2; Re 20:4. Sh”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection, The — A doctrine of the Old Testament -- Job 19:26; Ps 16:10; 49:15; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14. A first principle of the gospel -- 1Co 15:13,14; Heb 6:1,2. Expected by the Jews -- Joh 11:24; Heb 11:35. Denied by the Sadducees -- Mt 22:23; Lu 20:27; Ac 23:8. Explained away by false teachers -- 2Ti 2:18. Called in question by some in the church -- 1Co 15:12. Is not incredible -- Mr 12:24; Ac 26:8. Is not contrary to reason -- Joh 12:24; 1Co 15:35-49. Assumed and proved by our Lord -- Mt 22:29-32; Lu 14:14; Joh 5:28,29. Preached by the Apostles -- Ac 4:”
- 2 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Peter 3:3: 3:3 in the last days: Peter was not merely predicting an event in the future; he was speaking about his readers’ situation. In the New Testament, the last days refers to the period from Jesus’ first coming to his second coming (see Acts 2:17; Heb 1:2). It is the time when God’s promises are fulfilled. • scoffers will come: See Prov 1:22; 9:7-8; 13:1. Rather than using evidence and logic to argue, scoffers belittle and make fun of the truth.”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — ON THE WORDS OF THE GOSPEL, MARK XIII. 32, "BUT OF THAT DAY OR THAT HOUR KNOWETH NO ONE, NOT EVEN THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN, NEITHER THE SON, BUT THE FATHER. (part 1): 1. THE advice, Brethren, which ye have just heard Scripture give, when it tells us to watch for the last day, every one should think of as concerning his own last day; lest haply when ye judge or think the last day of the world to be far distant, ye slumber with respect to your own last day. Ye have heard what Jesus said concerning the last day of this world, "That neither the Angels”
- 2 Timothy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Timothy 3:1: 3:1–4:8 Timothy must stay on course through difficult times ahead. 3:1-5 Paul describes what people will be like in the last days (see also 1 Tim 4:1-5; 2 Pet 2:1-22; 3:3; Jude 1:18), which had already begun (2 Tim 3:5, 6-9).”
- 2 Timothy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Timothy 3 (introduction): INTRODUCTION TO 2 TIMOTHY 3 In this chapter the apostle delivers out a prophecy of the last days, showing how perilous the times will be, describing the persons that will live in them, and what will be their end; and in opposition to these men, proposes himself an example in doctrine and sufferings; and encourages Timothy to persevere, and highly commends the sacred writings. The prophecy begins Ti2 3:1 the description it gives of hypocrites, formal professors, and false teachers, that should rise up in the last days, and perilous times spoken of, is ”
- Acts (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Acts 2:17: in the last days--meaning, the days of the Messiah (Isa 2:2); as closing all preparatory arrangements, and constituting the final dispensation of God's kingdom on earth. pour out of my Spirit--in contrast with the mere drops of all preceding time. upon all flesh--hitherto confined to the seed of Abraham. sons . . . daughters . . . young men . . . old men . . . servants . . . handmaidens--without distinction of sex, age, or rank. see visions . . . dream dreams--This is a mere accommodation to the ways in which the Spirit operated under the ancient”
- 2 Peter (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Peter 3:3: Knowing this first,.... In the first place, principally, and chiefly, and which might easily be known and observed from the writings of the apostles and prophets; see Ti1 4:1; that there shall come in the last days scoffers, or "mockers"; such as would make a mock at sin, make light of it, plead for it, openly commit it, and glory in it; and scoff at all religion, as the prejudice of education, as an engine of state, a piece of civil policy to keep subjects in awe, as cant, enthusiasm, and madness, as a gloomy melancholy thing, depriving men of true pleasure; and th”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 18.--WHAT THE APOSTLE PETER PREDICTED REGARDING THE LAST JUDGMENT. (part 1): Let us now see what the Apostle Peter predicted concerning this judgment. "There shall come," he says, "in the last days scoffers. ...Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."(1) There is nothing said here about the resurrection of the dead, but enough certainly regarding the destruction of this world. And by his reference to the deluge he seems as it were to suggest to us how far we”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 30--WHAT MICAH, JONAH, AND JOEL PROPHESIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NEW TESTAMENT. (part 1): The prophet Micah, representing Christ under the figure of a great mountain, speaks thus: "It shall come to pass in the last days, that the manifested mountain of the Lord shall be prepared on the tops of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall hasten unto it. Many nations shall go, and shall say, Come, let us go up into the mountain of the Lord, and into the house of the God of Jacob; and He will show us Hi”