”We are currently living in the last days of the Church Age, but we are not in the last days of the Jewish Age. Paul was in the last days. Luther was in the last days. John Darby was in the last days. We are in the last days of the Church Age. But we are not in the last days of the Jewish Age. That is the tribulation.”
- Dr. Robert L. Dean
DOCTRINE OF THE LAST DAYS
TERMS RELATED TO ISRAEL:
a. Latter days: Isaiah 2:2; Deut 4:30, 31:29, Jeremiah 30:24, 48:47, Dan 2:28, 10:14
b. Last days: Jeremiah 49:39, 23:20, Hosea 3:5, Acts 2:17, Is 2:2, Ezek 38:16, Micah 4:1
c. Last day: John 6:39-40, 44,54, 11:24, 12:48
d. Latter years: Ezek 38:8
e. Time of the end: Dan 8:17
f. End of time: Dan 12:4
g. End time: Dan 12:9
h. End of the age: Dan 12:3
All of these terms are related to Israel... in Israel’s thought and in the terminology related to Israel, all of these terms relate to the end of the Jewish age and what they will go through in terms of judgments and in terms of various disturbances that give birth to the Messianic Age. So we have one set of terminology that is distinct to Israel. In Jewish and Old Testament thought, all of this turmoil that we call the Tribulation takes place at the end of the present age in the process of giving birth to the Messianic Age. We have the terminology birth pangs in numerous passages related to the Tribulation period.
TERMS RELATED TO THE CHURCH:
We must distinguish between the last days of the Church Age and the last days of Israel’s tribulation.
a. Later times: I Tim 4:1
b. Last days: James 5:3, II Tim 3:1, Heb 1:2, II P 3:3
c. Last times: I P 1:20
d. Last time: I P 1:5, Jude 18
e. Last hour: I J 2:18
All of these phrases refer to the entire Church Age. Folks ask if we are in the end times. The question is, whose end times?
… If you are alive in the Church Age, you are in the last days. I Tim 4:1
… In the New Testament, these terms refer to the entirety of the Church Age. Heb 1:2 If you were in the 2nd century you were in the last times. If you were in the 20th century you were in the last times.
… Thus this refers biblically to the last period in God’s timetable before the coming of the Messianic Age, also called the Millennial Kingdom. (The tribulation is the end of the Age of Israel.)
… In Jewish thought their last days would end with a series of judgments terminating the present age and inaugurating the Messianic Age.
Deuteronomy 4:30 “When you are in distress, and all these things come upon you in the latter days, when you turn to the LORD your God and obey His voice
Distress refers to the tribulation. “Latter days” is when Israel finally calls on the Lord.
Also see this free paper posted online:
Are We Living in the Last Days?
by Dr. Thomas Ice
https://pre-trib.org/dr-robert-thomas/message/are-we-living-in-the-last-days/read
Thanks for posting this. I don’t see anything I disagree with.
Paul was the Apostle unto the Gentiles. But more so, the church age Dispensation.
Since 1948 I think it’s safe to say God has been transitioning His focus back to the Jews for the stated purpose you addressed. (Romans chp 11)
I do believe we are approaching midnight on the church age Dispensation and the focus will then be on the 7 year tribulation in order to cause Israel to realize they Crucified their Messiah 2,000 years ago, and will return at the end of that tribulation period with the ones that have been raptured.
And then shall the Kingdom be established.
Zechariah 13:6
King James Version
6 And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends.