Often people see the drastic wars and changes taking place around the world and think these events portend the end of times. They may mistakenly apply passages about the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 that ended the Jewish system to the end of the world (Mt. 24:6; Mk. 13:7; Lk. 21:10-24). However, let us remember the final coming of Christ will be unannounced. Just after mentioning that heaven and earth will pass away (Mt. 24:35), Jesus went on to say, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only” (Mt. 24:36). There were signs leading up to the destruction of Jerusalem (Mt. 24:33), but not so with the end of the world.
The apostle Paul wrote, “For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, ‘Peace and safety!’ then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape” (1 Thess. 5:2-3). The unexpected timing of the event is compared to a thief in the night, the same way it is described in 2 Peter 3:10. Notice also, people will be saying, “Peace and safety!” not “doom and gloom!” as they often do presently regarding world events. Some will be eating and drinking and celebrating marriages when He comes (Mt. 24:38). The final coming of Christ will surprise people, and catch them off guard; thus, we always must stay ready (Mt. 24:42-44).
Jesus clearly taught there will be a “last day” (Jn. 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 12:48). In these statements, the Lord refers to resurrection and judgment occurring then. He is referring to the final “day of judgment,” a single event at the end in which all will be judged (Mt. 11:22, 24). All will stand before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:10; Acts 17:30-31).
While there will be a “last day” in the history of the world, let us not confuse it with the term “last days” in the Bible. Peter taught that the last days were inaugurated at Pentecost following the resurrection of Jesus when the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy of God pouring out His Spirit began (Acts 2:14-17). The writer of Hebrews refers to “these last days” (Heb. 1:2). “These” instead of “the” indicates the writer was living in them. Similarly, Peter referred to “these last times” (1 Pet. 1:20). Thus, the “last days” is the last age of time, the Christian age in which we live, before the end. The “last days” does not mean the last few years, months, or days before the return of Christ, but an entire period of history. The last days have already nearly spanned two thousand years. We in the twenty-first century are living in the “last days” just as Peter was in the first century.
Instead of being glued to the never-ending news cycle, trying to figure out what it all might mean, let us take time to focus on God’s word and be ready whenever the final judgment may come. If we are children of the day, walking in the light, that final day will not overtake us as a thief (1 Thess. 5:4-8). We can have confidence that whenever the Lord comes, we are walking in His light and are ready to live with Him forever.
