Sunday: In These Last Days
The first paragraph of Hebrews reveals that Paul believed he was living in “the last days.” Scripture employs two expressions about the future that have different meanings. The prophets used the expression “last days” or “latter days” to talk about the future in general (Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Jeremiah 23:20). The prophet Daniel used a second expression, “the time of the end,” to talk more specifically about the last days of earth’s history (Daniel 8:17, Daniel 12:4).
Read Numbers 24:14-19 and Isaiah 2:2-3. What did God promise He would do for His people in the “latter days”?
Image © Pacific Press from GoodSalt.com
Several Old Testament prophets announced that in the “latter days” God would raise up a King who would destroy the enemies of His people (Numbers 24:14-19) and who would attract the nations to Israel (Isaiah 2:2-3). Paul says that these promises were fulfilled in Jesus. He defeated Satan and, through the proclamation of the Gospel, is attracting all the nations to Himself (Colossians 2:15, John 12:32). In this sense, then, “the last days” have begun because Jesus has fulfilled God’s promises.
Our spiritual fathers died in faith. They saw and greeted the promises from “afar,” but did not receive them. We, on the other hand, have seen their fulfillment in Jesus.
Let’s think for a moment about God’s promises and Jesus. The Father promised that He would resurrect His children (1 Thessalonians 4:15-16). The wonderful news is that He initiated the resurrection of His children with the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:20, Matthew 27:51-53). The Father also promised a new creation (Isaiah 65:17). He has begun to fulfill that promise by creating a new spiritual life in us (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15). He promised that He would establish His final kingdom (Daniel 2:44). He inaugurated that kingdom by delivering us from the power of Satan and installing Jesus as our ruler (Matthew 12:28-30, Luke 10:18-20). This is only the beginning, however. What the Father began to do in Jesus’ first coming, He will bring to completion at the second.
| Look at all the promises God fulfilled in the past. How should this help us to trust Him for the promises not yet fulfilled? |
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There is a tendency by some to put an "end-time" interpretation on the expression, "in thee last days" but I think the writer of Hebrews is simply contrasting what is happened in the past with the present. It makes good sense to replace the figure of speech, "in these last days" with a simple "now". and in the context of the rest of what Hebrews has to say, it is essentially a contrast between the old Jewish theology and the present Christian theology.
That interpretation does not deny hope for the future. In fact when you think about it, it provides the basis for that hope. Neither does it deny the past but points to the turning point of the cross.
I appreciate the significance of the "now" interpretation and perhaps a modern application is this: Some of us make a big thing about the past, our history, and our heritage. Others make a big thing about the future, fulfilment, close of probation and apocalyptic events. But we live now - the nexus between the past and the future - and in that context it is our relationship with Jesus "now", "in these last days" that is important.
From the quote in Heb 1:1,2. Do we still need prophets now?
Someone actually asked in sabbath school class yesterday if there are prophets now in the SDA church.
It depends a little bit on how you define a prophet. The definition that a prophet is one who foretells the future is a very narrow definition as it misses a much wider variety of prophetic actions. Maybe we should do a study on the work of prophets and then answer the question.
it is interesting to read about the company of prophets who prophecies in Samuel and Kings. What did they prophecy? I submit that their prophecy was praise.
"we live now - the nexus between the past and the future - and in that context it is our relationship with Jesus "now", "in these last days" that is important."
Well said Maurice.
We should try to apply the same principle to all areas of our lives. It is important to do things such as take vacations and intentionally spend time with family & friends in the now. Too often we put things off...until retirement or when it is convenient. That never happen for some as, by retirement or convenience come around, poor health sets in, relatives/friends passed away, or migrated etc.
Ephesians 5:15-16 tells us
"See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise.
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil."
Redeeming the time...opportunities missed, sometimes cannot be recalled.
Unfortunately, I find many put off vital social connections until they meet at a wake or funeral. Not the happiest time to do this.
It is as if we are too busy to live life to the full.
Great comment Maurice. But I would like to ask your opinion that "now" is relevant over time. What our ancestors see and what we see is very different (past and current).
To witness God's wonderful promises are obtained through patience (Heb 6:12,15). Abraham had to wait many long years before realizing the fulfillment. The promises are also kept by faith (Rom 4:20, 21). Jesus called him "the Promise of My Father." The forgiveness of sins and the Holy Spirit are linked in Acts 2:38. And Revelation 14:12 The Patience of the Saints.
I believe there is a difference in witnessing God fullfillin His promises for those of us who are still here and those who have past away. And the fulfillment of God's promises must encompass the meaning of Revelation 14:12. If God does not come today and I am asleep, I will have to go to sleep knowing that God (through Jesus) will continue and that those who will wake up first in the 2nd coming are are included.
I guesss what I asking you to comment on is that I can explain to other about Jesus fulfilling prophecy, but how do I explain in layman's term from the pew to the individuals I witness to about being able to witness the continued process of God's promises?
Thank you for your help and your patience in my lengthy question.
An interesting observation Nelson. I will try and illustrate my perspective with a life experience.
I grew up in place called Oropi (Maori transliteration of European. There is a long story in the name but I won't tell it here) When I looked out from our home I saw a row of bush (forest) covered hills to the east. For the first seventeen years of my life those hills defined the east for me. But I moved away and while east did not change, i had to use different landmarks to define my east. And sometimes the new landmarks and the east took a little time to merge in my mind. When I go to the northern hemisphere my brain does a flip and I actually think that east is west for a while (because the sun is in a different part of the sky). Significantly the east never changes but the landscape and the brain does and it takes a little bit of time to sort out and get reorientated.
Perhaps the spiritual lesson is that we need to sort out in our mind what are the constants (east) and the variables (landscape) of our Christian experience. Both are important but it is also important to work out their function.
As an addition to my illustration, sometimes I revisit my childhood home and those stable old hills are no longer covered with forest but are rolling hills of pastureland. And they appear to have grown a lot smaller than I remember them too. The sun still rises in the same place but I have to adapt my thinking to the "now" landscape because I cannot turn the clock back to what it was like 70 years ago. I wish I could but I know I cannot. Yet in a special way, my past helps inform my "now".
I will leave it to you to draw a spiritual lesson from that.
The "last days" are characterized as the time when, in contrast to the times past when God spoke through prophets, God has spoken through his Son. In other words, the coming of the Messiah signals the arrival of the last days.
The entire focus of the NT is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ as described 2,000 years ago. We should not be confused: this is also the theme of the Letter to the Hebrews. Often people ask, "what has Jesus been doing since then?" This question would have made no sense to Paul, as Jesus continues to do what he did then. "He ever lives to make intercession . . ." and his role as High Priest, which he began 2,000 ears ago when he ascended to the right hand of the Father, is still his role as High Priest.
Jordan - may I offer for your consideration a somewhat different view of the position and work associated with Christ Jesus as our Lord and Savior - i.e. 'High Priest'?
The wording "He ever lives to make intercession .." is in the context of us 'ever' being in Him; us being in Christ Jesus, and Him being in the Father, brings us into the presence of the Father at all times. Christ Jesus being considered as a 'High Priest' is due to His ever being IN the Father's presence.
Therefore: "Hence too He is able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, seeing that He forever lives to plead for them" (being continuously in the Father and we in Him) - Heb.7:25 Weymouth New Testament.
Being hid in Christ Jesus means that the believer is contineously covered by His righteousness; this implies the 'ongoing/contineous' presence-of-intercession by being found in Him, therefore covered by His righteousness.
The believer has been accepted by the Father when being found in Christ Jesus and covered by His Righteousness - forever covering the believer's shortcomings. Our position in Him assures us that our shortcomings are covered by His gracious Mercy.
It is for us to believe this, to come to the Father with a contrite heart by Faith as we claim the Name of Christ Jesus for our covering; being found in Him, we are assured to receive compassioned understanding and willingness to have our shortcomings forgiven.
The Savior's Love is ever present and His willingness to forgive is ongoing; it is left to the believer to seek His forgiveness by coming to Him by faith, believing that the Savior hears and forgives him.
Your perspective is also my perspective, I think.
Perhaps we agree that "in Christ" we receive all the benefits of the atonement, as they are mediated to us by Christ who is in a very special position to do so "at the right hand of the Father. When we speak of him as "High Priest" we are simply changing metaphors. (No doubt there will be more discussion on this in future weeks!)
Jordan - I appreciate your response. Yes, for the believer to be in Christ means that he is fully covered, no gaps or openings between him and Christ's covering righteousness; the Savior never separates from His child of faith when communing with the Father.
I see in as a complete spiritual union, one with Him in Spirit. Should parts of the old nature emerge, being found 'uncovered', this is immediately recognized and addressed by Him who makes us aware of it, reminding us of His Grace and Mercy to bring about healing for the inclusion of the covering by His righeousness. The believer's response to the awareness and the desire to become 'whole' is the act of the will, submitted by faith to do the will of the Father, and so coming to Christ Jesus for healing.
I see the believer's 'being in Christ' like a baby in the womb of its mother - though we are separate, we are wholly dependent on Christ Jesus' cover of righteousness for everything. Just like the baby, though separate in the flesh when encased by the womb of its mother, it's needs are entirely 'covered' in that it receives a constant supply of 'nutrition' flowing from its mother through the abilical cord to the baby - nutrition to nourish the whole of the living soul.
Atonement is the work of God, accomplished outside of our finite mind's full understanding of the ever-present, life-sustaning value of His Love.
Thank God for He is always faithful! We (I) have this chance to begin a new spiritual life every day! Hopefully, may every new begining be a little higher, towards heaven! Learning with the past but leaving it behind! Hoping for Jesus's second coming but living as totally fulfilling God's will for our (my) lives (life) in the present!
I need God's mercy and the Holy Spirit today! Grace!
"These last days" indeed these are the last days as Adam, Abraman & David waited for the "Seed","King", "Son"," Redeemer"and this happened two thousand years ago. In our generation, we are only waiting the "NEW EARTH/NEW HEAVEN", the second coming our Savior Jesus Christ.Therefore we should accept that we are living in the last days as God LORD has spoken through His son - Jesus Christ.
Adam and Eve thought when they had their first child that was the redemption story
Daniel thought 70 years has been completed restoration of Israel will usher in the golden age for the nation of Israel
The disciples thought now with the resurrection of Christ the kingdom would be established in Christ.
Even the disciples spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth believing the coming of the Lord was eminent.
Many non-Adventist theology teaches there will be millennium of peace on this earth.
There is one common thread runs through all: we like to read and grasp what we want from these words.
John 5:39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me,
We study the scriptures to support our viewpoint not to learn about Him and his plan.
Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing
without revealing his plan
to his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
He is willing to reveal his plan unto us, are we willing to listen?
God’s revelation through Jesus, however, was superior to the revelation that God had made through the prophets, including John,because Jesus is a greater means of revelation. He is God Himself, who created the heaven and the earth and rules the universe. For Paul, the deity of Christ is never in question; it is assumed.
Why didn't Jesus Himself mention anything about "latter days" or "Last days" or "The time of the end" etc.? To me, starting with Deuteronomy 4:30 the context here is about God's people being dispersed throughout the entire world. Therefore, and again to me, all these three phrases mean the same thing as also "The end of time." We are there now and have been ever since Jesus fulfilled all that the symbolism of the "Day of Atonement" signified when He arose from death and has been in Heaven for over 2,000 plus or minus years interceding in our behalf to His Father until He returns "In power and great glory."
Believing the Truth found in Scripture to establish my understanding and perspective of Life, I appreciate greatly to be able to read the history and future of this world and mankind like a book which I can read from cover to cover; its revelation, described in detail, is accompanied by the admonition to prepare for the end. God reveals His work chapter by chapter, stage by stage, as He prepares to provide for all who believe a new earth and new heaven to continue their life.
As far as I know, only Christians have the understanding and perspective that includes the Beginning of time, spanning eons of time, to give time for the Creator to calibrate life in every day's 'Now' with the purpose to create a new earth and a new heaven. Every living person experiences their own ‘now’, though this corporate ‘Now’ is special. It commenced with the resurrection and departure of Christ Jesus and His promise to return; His return will end everyone's ‘nows’ in this old world.
The Creator makes an attempt for all mankind living in this last dispensation to become aware of His return. Therefore, what is the most important decision man needs to consider in his ‘now’? Is it not to believe that which he has heard and to act upon it? The Scriptures reveal that this world has been allocated an unknown time in which to prepare for the coming of the new earth and a new heaven.
Though this revelation is mind-bending and almost too unbelievable, all are called upon to believe and accept the Way the Creator offers to escape the inevitable. Every day’s ‘Now’ offers another opportunity to do so. If we value our current life, the gift given to us by the Creator of all life, ought we not greatly welcome the Creator’s offer to save it?
In the Old Testament, there was a season of time where a lon- awaited promise – a promise of a Savior, a promise of a salvation yet to come – seemed dormant and forgotten. There was a hush, a quiet from heaven for 400 years.
For 400 years, there was no further prophetic word from God to His people concerning His promise of salvation. What would it look like? When would they see this word, this hope fulfilled?
Life was lived, generations came and went, and I imagine some people wondered if God had forgotten about His promise. Or had they done something wrong? When might they see this promise fulfilled? What would it look like? God never forgot His Word concerning bringing hope and salvation to all people. He saw the end from the beginning and was ushering His promise to fulfillment.
And through ordinary people, the promise arrived. An angel visited a young girl named Mary and announced the promise God spoke hundreds of years earlier was being fulfilled. God began moving people and circumstances into place to show His Word would be fulfilled in full, exactly as He promised.
On the night Jesus was born, God sent an angel to some shepherds in the field, filling the sky with the brightness of His glory and issuing a proclamation of awe and wonder and joy like the world had never heard, delivering this Good News that would bring great joy to all people:
What makes it so beautiful is that this time, when God spoke to His people, He sent this Good News to ordinary people. This time, the promise did not come through a prophet or preacher. It came through a young girl. It was announced to simple shepherds. He broke through every barrier, every assumption, every boundary, every limitation. He was speaking to the shepherds, just as He was to every person who would one day hear: “Listen carefully.” This message is for you. He made it clear that the Good News of salvation had arrived: Jesus, the Savior of the world was born, and this Good News was meant for all people.
With the arrival of Jesus, God fulfilled the covenant promise made hundreds of years earlier. It was what it looked like for a long-awaited promise to be fulfilled. A Savior, Jesus, who is Christ the Lord, was born to save us from our sin, to bring hope, to set things right between God and humanity.
The quiet of 400 years is a myth. Europeans simply didn't have many Jewish documents from the Greek and early Roman occupation. But now, since the discoveries at Nag Hammadi in Egypt, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and a dozen other important sources from the last 150 years or more, we know that God was working and speaking through many in the Diaspora. We have many important inspired writings such as the Books of Enoch, which are quoted by the New Testament writers.
In addition, as we know from many writings, the world was bing prepared by the Spirit for the coming Messiah. In every nation, religious inquirers and prophets --Zoroastrians, Mithraism, Hellenics-- can be seen as forerunner of the Christ. Read CS Lewis and other British evangelicals who have written extensively on this.
God's spirit of prophecy is silent only if we are not listening in these last days. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
Thank you for pointing this out.
We live as a vapor in time. Here today and gone tomorrow. James 4:14. Therefore now is the time to believe what we have heard, and act on it. Now is the time to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
In our now relationship with Christ, we can have peace of mind in our present world of dishevel by reviewing Gods promises. Hebrews 13:5-6. 1John 2:24-25. John 3:16. John 14:1-3. Psalms 23:3.