| Author | Message | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
One of James White's favorite one-liners was, "There are no days later than last." At first blush this sounds like a tautology or statement that loops back upon itself and renders itself meaningless. But judging from the contexts in which he used it, I think he meant that "the last days" did not begin until just after midnight of October 22, 1844. I'd like to know what YOU think. This is an open book pop quiz, and so you may refer to Bible texts to support your position, and you're welcome to quote authors other than yourself. (Yes, you're ALL authors who dare to post on THIS website!) Multiple choice: 1. "The last days" haven't begun yet. 2. "The last days" began on October 22, 1844 or the day after. 3. "The last days" will begin January 1, 2000. 4. "The last days" will begin on January 1, 2001. 5. "The last days" began on the Day of Pentecost. 6. "The last days" began on the first Christmas, the day of Jesus Christ's birth. 7. "The last days" will begin with the first shot fired in the Battle of Armageddon. 8. None of the above. Thanks for participating. I look forward to your answers! Jude | ||
| Praise999 |
My vote is # 6. I'll post my Biblical support later. This is an interesting poll. | ||
| Timo K. |
My vote is # 5. Pentacost is refered to as the starting of the fulfillment of the prophesy of Joel.(Joel.2:28) The last days started at pentacost and ends when Jesus returns. timo | ||
| jtree |
None of the Above. The Last days, are a few days before the last day. *____0 Happy New Year with more Happy Days ahead. Love many, Worship One! | ||
| Onesimus |
Jude, I love your question. My answer is #5 at Pentecost. Acts 2:17 says (quoting Joel) "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people." This occured on Pentecost Sunday, thus initiating "the last days." (See Acts 2:4) Resting in Him, Onesimus | ||
| Bruce H |
Onesimus I agree with you about the Last days. | ||
| Susan |
I tend to think #6 is the best answer. The phrase "last days" in Hebrew occurs 13 times in the OT. Sometimes it meant the future, but most of the time it refered to the Messianic age. In Hebrews 1:1-3 It contrasts "in the past" (prior to Christ's coming) with "these last days"(the Messianic era inaugurated by the incarnation). I must admit that I'm using my NIV study bible and Zondervan's Topical Bible to help with my study of this. In 1John 2:18 it talks about the last hour/last days as a time when many antichrists will come forth. These are folks who are against Christ. Haven't there been antichrists since His birth? King Herod didn't want Him around. And it continues to this day. Just my 2 cents worth. Hope it helps. In Christ Alone, Susan | ||
| Praise999 |
DISCOVERIES. Since posting my vote on the 27th, Iíve discovered a few things. * The phrase ělast daysî does not appear anywhere in the book of Joel. * ěIn the last daysÖî comes from Acts 2:17, where Peter quotes/interprets Joel. Peter says, in response to the charge that those filled with the Holy Spirit were drunk, ěíIn the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.íî * This certainly seems to suggest that the ělast daysî began at Pentecost. * However, what Peter says doesnít rule out the possibility that the last days could have begun earlier than Pentecost. Iíve also discovered * We have no record of Jesus using the phrase ělast days.î * The phrase ěend of the ageî is found only in the book of Matthew: in chapter 13 where Jesus tells about the wheat and tares growing together until the harvest, in chapter 24 when the disciples ask about the end of the age, and chapter 28 when Jesus closes ěthe great commissionî with the assurance ěsurely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.î SUPPORT FOR # 6 Perhaps Jesus provided us with the answer in his statement, ěI tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.î Matt. 24:14, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32 * This declaration is in Jesusí discourse on future events and is recorded in all three synoptic gospels. (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 are remarkably similar, particularly when contrasted with the dissimilarities in the birth and resurrection stories found in the 3 gospels.) * Notice the emphatic quality in Jesus statement: ěI tell you the truthî and ěcertainly not.î * Notice, too, the phrase ěthese thingsî includes the coming of false christs, sun darkened (ěsigns in the heavensî), gospel to all the world (Matthew), and the Son of Man coming in clouds. * Notice the word ěallî ń nothing was to be left out. * For hundreds of years, people have debated the meaning of these enigmatic words. ěI tell you the truth, this generation will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.î * The meaning of the phrase ěthis generationî has been interpreted a number of ways -- * Some say it means the generation of people that Jesus was talking to. Others say that it refers to those that are alive when Christ comes. Some say the Jewish race and others the human race. * However, ěgenerationî can also mean a stage of development. This meaning is most often used in describing technological development where one stage is significantly more advanced than the previous stage. For example, we talk about ěthis generationî vs. ěthe next generationî of computers. * A restatement with this connotation of the phrase ěthis generationî would read, ěI tell you the truth, this stage in salvation history will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.î Or ěI tell you the truth, this stage in my redemptive action will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened.î * The birth of Christ marks the beginning of this stage or the ělast days.î Two thousand years seems like a long time for the "last days." However, Peter points out, ěBut do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.î (2 Peter 3:8) * Jesus discourse in all three chapters begins with a warning against being deceived. "Watch out that no one deceives you." (Matthew & Mark), "Watch out that you are not deceived." (Luke) * Jesus seems to be saying, "You can't possibly know and understand. But it is alright not to know. Just don't be deceived by thinking that you do know." Thanks Jude, for the opportunity to wrestle with this interesting question. | ||
| Jude the Obscure |
Praise, all I can say is: Wow! When you go after meaning, you really go! You don't just refer to what someone else has written. Thanks for the depth of support for your position. I'm learning from all respondents to this poll. And I think every one is saying something of value to hear. --Jude |
