THE LAST DAYS MYSTERY.

LAST DAYS.

Scripture uses the expression "last days" to describe the final period of the world's existence. In the Old Testament, prophets depicted the last days as the time when the Messiah would arrive (see Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1). The New Testament writers actually saw themselves as witnesses who were watching the last days unfold. Peter, for instance, explains in his famous Pentecost speech that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit fulfills the words of Joel found in Joel 2:28: "In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy" (Acts 2:17-18). Similarly, the author of the letter to the Hebrews declares, "Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. But now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son" (Hebrews 1:1-2). The completed work of Christ-his life, death, and resurrection-has propelled us into the final stage of human history where the battle for salvation will be waged.

The plural form-"last days"-may give the impression of a period with no definite beginning or end. This assumption seems to be confirmed by the fact that this final age has already lasted for many centuries. Seen from the perspective of eternity, however, it is no more than a short time. In every generation, the end of this final age is always near. For this reason, Jesus insisted that we remain vigilant, because we know neither the day nor the hour of his return (Matthew 24:44; 25:13).

THE LAST DAYS IN SCRIPTURE

Scripture teaches that the Last Day-the Day of Judgment-will conclude the end times. In the Old Testament, this moment is spoken of as the "Day of the Lord." Often it is described as an awful day of wrath against the unrepentant. Yet for the faithful, it will be a day of salvation and vindication. Jeremiah and Isaiah, for instance, predicted that during the Day of the Lord, God would wage war against all wicked nations and establish his rule in the eternal city of Zion (Isaiah 4:2; 11:10; Jeremiah 50:3-32; see also Joel 2:1-3; 3:9-16; Amos 5:18-20; 9:11; Zephaniah 1:7-18). God will either acquit or punish his subjects based on their conduct. Those faithful to the covenant will prosper, but those who are disloyal will perish. The prophet Habakkuk identifies the righteous person as the one who is faithful (Habakkuk 2:4).

The New Testament writers accepted these ideas, but also interpreted them in the light of Jesus' words and work. They believed that God appointed Christ to be judge of the living and the dead (Acts 10:42; 17:31). For this reason, both believers and unbelievers must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive blessing or condemnation, according to what they have done with their lives (2 Corinthians 5:10; see also. Romans 14:10). Paul and John both state that people will be judged according to whether or not their deeds were pleasing to God (2 Corinthians 5:10; Revelation 20:12). This teaching does not, however, contradict the notion of grace. It is true that no one has met God's perfect standards. All have sinned and therefore deserve to be punished (Romans 3:23). Our guilt is undeniable, but we can escape the wrath of the last judgment. Our means of rescue is the death and resurrection of Christ, for Jesus' act of righteousness leads to acquittal and life for all people (Romans 5:18). Those who trust in Christ are not condemned (John 3:16-18) and can enter the Day of Judgment with confidence (1 John 4:17), for their names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life (Revelation 21:27). Those who reject Christ have no such recourse. They must face the Day of Judgment with no advocate and will face condemnation (Revelation 20:11-12).

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAST DAYS

The authors of the Bible attached a great deal of importance to the signs and events of the last days. The Day of the Lord, which they saw as the climax of all history, would overtake the world suddenly (1 Thessalonians 5:2). John linked the last days with the spread of evil. "It is the last hour," he wrote, "and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come; therefore we know that it is the last hour" (1 John 2:18, RSV). This last of the last days will bring the final judgment for enemies of the gospel. But it will also begin the renewal of our fallen world and the restoration of the created order. In the new heaven and the new earth, all of God's purposes in creation are brought to fulfillment. When we are at last fully conformed to our Redeemer's likeness, we will enter into the enjoyment of his eternal glory (Romans 8:19-25; 1 John 3:2; Revelation 21:1-8).

Moreover, Paul reminds Christians that this last day (which he calls simply "the Day") will disclose the quality of their spiritual lives. It is not their salvation that is at stake; rather, this test will reveal whether a believer will meet Jesus with confidence or with shame at his coming. "Each man's work will become manifest," Paul writes; "for the Day will disclose it....If the work which any man has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved" (1 Corinthians 3:13-15, RSV).

Finally, the Bible assures us that this Day of Judgment will be followed by the everlasting day of Christ's kingdom. It is a dawn of triumph and resurrection, when Christ has promised to raise up everyone who believes in him (John 6:39-44, 54). The former last days are like night compared with the glory that will be revealed when Christ returns to usher us into his heavenly kingdom (see Romans 13:11-12).

The last days are the prelude to the final judgment of unbelievers and time of preparation for the dawn of eternal glory for believers. For Christ's faithful followers, they are days of joy and blessing as the church awaits redemption. They are days, too, of trial and affliction for the church of Christ. But God has given us the assurance of his Spirit in our hearts, the foretaste of the full banquet, the down payment that promises payment in full (Romans 8:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Corinthians 5:5; Ephesians 1:14). The realization that we are in the last days ought to have a dramatic effect on the quality and intensity of our living here and now (see 2 Peter 3:11-14). Meanwhile, we should take comfort from Paul's words that the sufferings of these last days are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (Romans 8:18).