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Spiritual Discernment in the Last Days Prophecy

Spiritual discernment in the context of "last days" prophecy involves understanding and evaluating spiritual phenomena, teachings, and events as they relate to the eschatological period described in scripture. The phrase "last days" refers to the time of the Messiah, a period understood by ancient Jewish tradition to be marked by significant spiritual outpouring and prophetic activity [12]. This era is also characterized by specific challenges to faith, necessitating careful discernment [2].

The New Testament identifies the "last days" as the period initiated by the coming of Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Peter, on the day of Pentecost, quotes the prophet Joel, stating, "It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams" (Acts 2:17) [1]. This passage indicates an increase in prophetic gifts and spiritual manifestations during this time. The "last days" are also referred to by various other terms in scripture, such as "the last time," "the appearing of Jesus Christ," and "the day of our Lord Jesus Christ," all pointing to the period leading up to and including Christ's second coming [3].

However, this period of heightened spiritual activity is also forewarned as a time of spiritual deception and apostasy. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Timothy 4:1, explicitly states, "Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils" [2]. This warning underscores the critical need for spiritual discernment to distinguish between genuine spiritual manifestations and deceptive influences. The presence of "scoffers" who mock divine revelation and the way of salvation through Jesus Christ is also predicted for the last days [14].

Spiritual discernment, therefore, becomes a crucial spiritual discipline for believers during this eschatological period. It involves the ability to perceive and judge spiritual realities, which is a gift of the Holy Spirit [13]. This discernment is not merely intellectual but is deeply connected to a person's spiritual state. Spiritual death, characterized by alienation from God, carnal-mindedness, and spiritual ignorance, hinders true discernment [4]. Conversely, prudence, which is intimately connected with wisdom, enables individuals to deal with knowledge, understand God's ways, and foresee and avoid evil [5].

The biblical emphasis on discernment is not limited to the New Testament. Old Testament prophets also spoke of a future time when God's people would understand His ways and execute true judgment [10]. The ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel, such as meekness, are perfectly expressed by Jesus the Messiah and are qualities that aid in spiritual discernment [6, 7]. Meekness, for instance, is a fruit of the Spirit and is essential for receiving the word of God and instructing those who err [6].

The concept of "spiritual death" is particularly relevant to understanding the need for discernment. It is described as an alienation from God, carnal-mindedness, and living in sin [4]. This state prevents individuals from truly understanding spiritual truths and makes them susceptible to error. Deliverance from spiritual death is through Christ, enabling believers to receive spiritual life and, by extension, spiritual discernment [4].

The prophetic landscape of the last days includes both the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and the emergence of new spiritual realities [8]. The "former things," or past predictions that have been fulfilled, serve as a basis for trusting God's future promises, including those concerning the Messiah [8]. This historical understanding of prophecy helps believers to discern the unfolding of God's plan. The ultimate fulfillment of prophecy includes the Lord being king and the end of idolatry, reaffirming Israel's ancient creed [9].

The challenges of the last days, such as spiritual refinement and facing trials, are presented in Revelation as a "wilderness" experience for the Christian church, where endurance and perseverance are necessary [11]. God provides refuge and escape for His people during these times, but discerning these provisions requires spiritual insight [11].

Sources

  1. Acts “‘It will be in the last days, says God, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions. Your old men will dream dreams. -- Acts 2:17”
  2. I Timothy “I Timothy 4:1 (DRC) — Now the Spirit manifestly saith that in the last times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to spirits of error and doctrines of devils,”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Second Coming of Christ, The — Time of, unknown -- Mt 24:36; Mr 13:32. Called the Times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord. -- Ac 3:19. Times of restitution of all things. -- Ac 3:21; Ro 8:21. Last time. -- 1Pe 1:5. Appearing of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:7. Revelation of Jesus Christ. -- 1Pe 1:13. Glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour. -- Tit 2:13. Coming of the day of God. -- 2Pe 3:12. Day of our Lord Jesus Christ. -- 1Co 1:8. Foretold by Prophets. -- Da 7:13; Jude 1:14. Himself. -- Mt 25:31; Joh 14:3. Apostles. -- Ac 3:20; 1Ti 6:14. Angels. -- A”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Death, Spiritual — Alienation from God is -- Eph 4:18. Carnal-mindedness is -- Ro 8:6. Walking in trespasses and sins is -- Eph 2:1; Col 2:13. Spiritual ignorance is -- Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16; Lu 1:79; Eph 4:18. Unbelief is -- Joh 3:36; 1Jo 5:12. Living in pleasure is -- 1Ti 5:6. Hypocrisy is -- Re 3:1,2. Is a consequence of the fall -- Ro 5:15. Is the state of all men by nature -- Ro 6:13; 8:6. The fruits of, are dead works -- Heb 6:1; 9:14. A call to arise from -- Eph 5:14. Deliverance from, is through Christ -- Joh 5:24,25; Eph 2:5; 1Jo 5:12. Saints are raised from -- R”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Prudence — Exhibited in the manifestation of God's grace -- Eph 1:8. Exemplified by Christ -- Isa 52:13; Mt 21:24-27; 22:15-21. Intimately connected with wisdom -- Pr 8:12. The wise celebrated for -- Pr 16:21. They who have Get knowledge. -- Pr 18:15. Deal with knowledge. -- Pr 13:16. Look well to their goings. -- Pr 14:15. Understand the ways of God. -- Ho 14:9. Understand their own ways. -- Pr 14:8. Crowned with knowledge. -- Pr 14:18. Not ostentatious of knowledge. -- Pr 12:23. Foresee and avoid evil. -- Pr 22:3. Are preserved by it. -- Pr 2:11. Suppress angry fee”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
  7. Zephaniah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zephaniah 3:12: 3:12 Jesus the Messiah perfectly expresses the ethical qualities predicted for the godly remnant of Israel (Isa 42:1-4; 53:3, 7-9; Zech 9:9; see Matt 11:28-30; 12:15-21; Phil 2:1-8; 1 Pet 2:23).”
  8. Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 42:9: former things--Former predictions of God, which were now fulfilled, are here adduced as proof that they ought to trust in Him alone as God; namely, the predictions as to Israel's restoration from Babylon. new--namely, predictions as to Messiah, who is to bring all nations to the worship of Jehovah (Isa 42:1, Isa 42:4, Isa 42:6). spring forth--The same image from plants just beginning to germinate occurs in Isa 43:19; Isa 58:8. Before there is the slightest indication to enable a sagacious observer to infer the coming event, God foretells it.”
  9. Zechariah (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Zechariah 14:9: 14:9 the Lord will be king: Zechariah envisions the ultimate fulfillment of many psalms (see Pss 47–48, 93, 97-99). • there will be one Lord: This promise reaffirms Israel’s creed (Deut 6:4) and signals a final end of all idolatry.”
  10. Zechariah (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Zechariah 7:9: Execute true judgment - See Isa 58:6, Isa 58:7; JeremiahJer 7:23; Mic 6:8, chap. 8.”
  11. Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 12:6: 12:6 Like the people of Israel who were spiritually refined in the wilderness (see Hos 2:14-15; Acts 7:38-45) and in exile (see Isa 5:13; Ezek 12:1-3), the Christian church must face its own wilderness. Revelation presents messages of endurance and perseverance in the face of trouble and shows that God provides places of refuge and avenues of escape for his people (cp. 1 Cor 10:13). 1,260 days: See study note on Rev 11:2-3.”
  12. Acts (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Acts 2:17: In the last days - The time of the Messiah; and so the phrase was understood among the Jews. I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh - Rabbi Tanchum says, "When Moses laid his hands upon Joshua, the holy blessed God said, In the time of the old text, each individual prophet prophesied; but, in the times of the Messiah, all the Israelites shall be prophets." And this they build on the prophecy quoted in this place by Peter. Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy - The word prophesy is not to be understood here as implying the knowledge and discovery of future ”
  13. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 2:10: revealed . . . by . . . Spirit--The inspiration of thoughts (so far as truth essential to salvation is concerned) makes the Christian (Co1 3:16; Co1 12:3; Mat 16:17; Joh 16:13; Jo1 2:20, Jo1 2:27); that of words, the PROPHET (Sa2 23:1-2; Kg1 13:1, Kg1 13:5), "by the word of the Lord" (Co1 2:13; Joh 20:30-31; Pe2 1:21). The secrets of revelation are secret to some, not because those who know them will not reveal them (for indeed, the very notion of revelation implies an unveiling of what had been veiled), but because those to whom they are announ”
  14. 2 Peter (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 2 Peter 3:3: To quicken and excite us to a serious minding and firm adhering to what God has revealed to us by the prophets and apostles, we are told that there will be scoffers, men who will make a mock of sin, and of salvation from it. God's way of saving sinners by Jesus Christ is what men will scoff at, and that in the last days, under the gospel. This indeed may seem very strange, that the New Testament dispensation of the covenant of grace, which is spiritual and therefore more agreeable to the nature of God than the Old, should be ridiculed and reproached; but the spiri”
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