Handout - Western Christadelphian Bible School

Session 6: A Time Frame for The Last Days
Analysis of “Last Day” Terms
1 There are at least eight related “last days” phrases in the A.V. They are found in a total
of about 40 verses. The following list is probably not quite complete:
(a) “Last Day(s)” - 3 references in the Old Testament, 11 in the New:
(i) Gen. 49:1; Isa 2:2; Mic. 4:1. (Hebrew - 'achariyth (last) yowm (day).
(ii) John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; John 11:24; John 12:48; Acts 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:1; Heb.
1:2; Jam. 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3. (Greek: eskátais enérais - plural except in John).
(b) “Latter Days” - 11 references, all in the Old Testament:
Num. 24:14, Deut 4:30, Deut 31:29, Jer 23:20, Jer 30:24, Jer 48:47, Jer 49:39,
Ezek 38:16, Dan 2:28 (Aramaic), Dan 10:14, Hos 3:5. (Hebrew identical to “Last
Days”).
(c) “The Last Time(s)” - 3 references: 1 Peter 1:5 (Greek: kairo eskáto); Jude 18
(Greek: eskátou tou krónon); 1 Peter 1:20 (Greek: eskátou ton krónon).
(d) “Latter Time(s)” - 2 references:
Dan 8:23; 1 Tim 4:1;
(e) “A (the) Last Hour” - 2 references: 1 John 2:18 (twice). (Greek: eskáto ‘ora).
(f) “The Time of the End” - 5 references, all in Daniel:
Dan. 8:17; Dan 11:35; Dan. 11:40; Dan 12:4; Dan. 12:9. (Hebrew: `eth (time)
qets (end)).
(g) “The End of the Days” - 1 reference only: Daniel 12:13 (Hebrew: qets (end)
yowm (day)).
(h) “The Latter Years” - 1 reference only: Ezek 38:8 (Hebrew: 'achariyth (last)
shaneh (year)).
Application of the Various “Last Days” Terms
2 One cannot sustain a clear distinction between the various "last days" phrases. They
are all more or less synonymous. In particular, the phrases used, in and of themselves,
make no distinction between, and don’t define “the last days of Judah’s
commonwealth” or “the last days of the Gentiles”. Such distinctions are entirely
hypothetical and support for the hypothesis depends on a predetermined view of
prophecy and a subjective choice of examples. Taking a broader view, the Last Days
are the time when:
(a) By inference, the ultimate antichrist, the man of sin, will be revealed (1 John
2:18. Note that the last time (literally hour) is, in Nestle’s Greek, a last hour.
John was discussing neither the antichrist nor the last hour. See also vs 22; 1
John 4:3; 2 John 7.)
(b) There will be perilous times, characterised by scoffers (2 Tim 3:1, 1 Tim 4:1, 2
Pet 3:3).
(c) Gog will invade Israel (Ezek 38:8, 16).
Page 54