Posted on 03/14/2024 5:20:55 PM PDT by grumpa
Are you looking for current events to identify the “biblical last days?” If so, you are reading your own presuppositions into the text. Theologians call that “eisegesis.” That’s an illegitimate methodology for biblical interpretation. Instead, we should be trying to glean the meaning intended by the biblical authors themselves―and the understanding of the original audience, i.e. “exegesis.” Let’s avoid newspaper-eschatology and go to the Bible to define the “last days” or “end times.”
The Bible never speaks about the end of the world―only about end of the AGE. The King James Version of the Bible has misled readers for 400 years. For example, in the book of Matthew we see the phrase “end of the world” (Matthew 13:36-50; 24:2-3; 28:18-20). But the Greek word for “world” in these passages is not KOSMOS, but rather AION. AION is better translated as “age.” Most modern translations have corrected that error, rendering it “end of the age.” The END is about the close of the old covenant age, which ended in finality in AD 70 when Jerusalem fell and the temple was destroyed.
Now, let’s consider an important passage from the Old Testament: Daniel 12. This chapter is about the “TIME OF THE END” (12:4, 6, 8, 9, 13). The fulfillment of this passage is clearly delineated. It would be fulfilled when “the power of the holy people comes to an end” (12:7) and when “the regular burnt offering is taken away” (12:11). This clearly happened in AD 70 when God sent the Roman army as the instrument of his judgment against Old Covenant Israel. At that time, the temple was destroyed and the historic Jewish animal sacrifices for sin ended forever (Matthew 23:1-24:2; Luke 21:20-24). This was the Abomination of Desolation predicted by Daniel (12:11) and Jesus (Matthew 24:15). Jesus said all this would happen in his own generation (Matthew 23:35; 24:34).
In the New Testament, there are 19 primary texts about the last days, end times (or end of the age). The writers of the New Testament spoke with one voice that THEY were living in the last days. Contrary to popular opinion, the setting and fulfillment of the last days can only be placed within the first century! Here are seven passages, which one can ignore, futurize, or try to explain away―but you cannot do that and deal honestly with the text:
• “The appointed time has grown VERY SHORT. . . . For the present form of the world IS PASSING AWAY.” (Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
• “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, ON WHOM THE END OF THE AGES HAS COME.” (Apostle Paul, 1 Corinthians 10:11)
• “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in THESE LAST DAYS He has spoken to us by his Son. . . .” (Writer of Hebrews, Hebrews 1:1-2)
• “He has appeared once for all at THE END OF THE AGES to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” (Writer of Hebrews, Hebrews 9:26)
• “He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but WAS MADE MANIFEST IN THE LAST TIMES for your sake.” (Apostle Peter, 1 Peter 1:20)
• “The END OF ALL THINGS is AT HAND.” (Apostle Peter, 1 Peter 4:7)
• “Children, IT IS THE LAST HOUR.” (Apostle John, 1 John 2:18)
Here are the other twelve, which I suggest you look up and compare in context to the above: Matthew 13:38-42; 24:2-3; 13-16 (ref. v. 34); Acts 2:14-20; 1 Corinthians 1:8; 15:24; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Timothy 3:1-5; Hebrews 3:14; James 5:1-6; 1 Peter 1:5-7; Jude 17-23. It is clear. You cannot push the last days beyond the generation of men who were writing the New Testament without doing violence to the text.
There is only one logical conclusion. The last days are not about the end of the world. In fact, the Bible never speaks about the end of the physical universe, and indeed teaches that the earth abides forever in some sense (Psalm 78:69; 104:5; 148:3-6; Ecclesiastes 1:4; Ephesians 3:21). They are not about a supposed end of the Christian age, which has no end (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:31-33; Ephesians 1:20-22; etc.). They are not about a future millennium. Rather, they marked the last days of the OLD COVENANT AGE, which came to a violent end in AD 70 at the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple.
This is confirmed by the writer of Hebrews who declared, “In speaking of a new covenant, He makes the first one obsolete. And what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.” (Hebrews 8:13) So, what was coming to a close in the first century? The Last Days of what? The Old Covenant order!
Let’s put something else to bed. The last days/end times did not just begin in the first century―and continue until now. That would make the end time longer than the period to which it was an end! That is, we have been in the New Covenant era for 2,000 years, which is longer than the Old Covenant era which was 1500 years, beginning with Moses and lasted till the first century (Hebrews 8:5-13; 9:19-20; 10:28-29). “At hand” and “It is the last hour” cannot be 2,000 years later. The biblical last days were the END OF SOMETHING―NOT THE BEGINNING OF SOMETHING.
The culmination of the last days/end times were in the near future to the New Testament Writers:
• Writer of Hebrews―Hebrews 3:14
• Paul―2 Timothy 3:1-5
• Peter―1 Peter 1:5; 1 Peter 4:7
• John―1 John 2:17-18
• Jesus―Matthew 24:14 (ref. Luke 2:1; Romans 1:8; 10:18; 16:26; Colossians 1:6, 23)
AD 70 is when God judged Israel for her sins Matthew (Matthew 23:35), her refusal to accept Jesus as Messiah (Matthew 23:37-39), and for her participation with the Roman authorities in Jesus’ conviction and crucifixion (Matthew 27:24-25). This was the end of biblical Judaism. No longer would the temple be the focus of faith, but rather Jesus became the focus (John 2:19-21; Revelation 21:22).
Where do you suppose that these writers of the New Testament got such an idea? Well, from our Lord himself, of course, in such passages as Matthew 21-24. In these and many other passages, Jesus placed the “end” at the time of the destruction of the temple, during his own generation (Matthew 24:1-3, 14, 34).
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
“The world” in biblical terms is often synonymous with the current age in which humans are the rulers, and the devil has influence. The end of the world will occur when the devil is thrown out and God is in charge again. In other words the ending of this age marked by a significant and monumental change.
Sorry--God is already "in charge." Satan can do nothing without His approval.
puny humans! we spend FAR too much time wondering about signs and wonders but not even CLOSE to enough time examining how we conduct our lives on a day to day basis. if today was your last day, what difference does studying or guessing about the future make? live the Life and you will never need to know what happens in the end. that is what the Bible teaches and what Jesus wanted to impart to those who belong to Him. it ISN’T rocket science. it IS living a Godly Life. your choice...your consequences.
Of course. Do you happen to know what omnipotent means? That's God. Read Job for how Satan is limited.
"In charge" may not be exactly the correct phrase.
That is correct. We can only go by what you type. We are not mind readers. We cannot tell what you "meant."
In fact, the Bible never speaks about the end of the physical universe, and indeed teaches that the earth abides forever in some sense...
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. Rev 21:1 NASB 95
But in keeping with God's promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 2 Peter 3:13
For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. Isaiah 65:17
I’ve noticed the hatred for God and His Word especially Prophetic Word is making most of the scoffer go mad lately.
Satan really hates The Pre-Tribulation Rapture, so do his followers.
One thing I find fascinating with all of the scoffers is that they would much rather be living here “their best life now” then to be in Heaven with Jesus.
They all have that same mindset and attitude - it’s says all you need to know about their Christian walk.
They state “Please come Jesus, but not today and not too soon - I have stuff to do”.....
2 Timothy 4:8
Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
Maranatha!
That baseline assumption is such a joke.
Preterists are a joke.
Curious, do you know what omnipotent means and how God uses it?
And this hasn't happened.....because if it has we're all in a bad way.
“live the Life and you will never need to know what happens in the end”
Ok, I’ll bite...
If that was truly the case, why would The Great I Am - God even bother making 27% of His Word “Prophetic”?
To make it a big book so people will think they’re smart?
He proclaims the End from the Beginning
He is the Alpha & the Omega
He holds the keys to death and hades
He holds the souls of those written in the Book of Life
He wants us to know.....
We’re blessed by knowing Prophecy (Rev 1:3)
We can have confidence that He will work out all He has stated (2 Peter 1:21)
100% my FRiend/Brother.
Really, I don’t think there is such a thing as “exact verbiage”. Anything can be misinterpreted or taken out of context. It’s as much a responsibility of the listener to understand the intent of the speaker as it is the speaker to use the correct phraseology.
Meek is a heretic.
Bkmk
“That is, we have been in the New Covenant era for 2,000 years, which is longer than the Old Covenant era which was 1500 years, beginning with Moses and lasted till the first century...”
Soooooo..... what was the era(s) prior to Moses and it’s time-frame?
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