Vol. 5, No. 12 |
December 2003 |
~ Page 13 ~ |
Question: "Are we living in the last days?" Answer: Yes. Carefully study the following thoughts and passages:
The Old Testament prophets said, "the mountain of the Lord's house" [i.e., the church] would be "established" [i.e., built] in the LAST DAYS. "And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it" (Isaiah 2:2). "Now it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it" (Micah 4:1).
The church Jesus promised (cf. Matthew 16:18-19) was established on the day of Pentecost following the resurrection of the Lord (cf. Acts 2:47), thus, the LAST DAYS [i.e., the Christian age] began in Acts 2, in fulfillment of Jesus' promise. In fact, Peter told his audience that what was happening on that very occasion in Acts 2 was in fulfillment of Joel's prophecy that was to come to pass in the LAST DAYS. Compare Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:16-17. Hence, the LAST DAYS began on Pentecost.
Thus, we are now living in the LAST DAYS and we have been living in them for nearly 2,000 years. The New Testament says, "God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the father by the prophets, has in these LAST DAYS spoken to us by His Son..." (Hebrews 1:1-2a.) Here the inspired writer makes it clear that the LAST DAYS were currently in effect. If the last days were already in effect at that time, then we must conclude that they continue today.
Review: The church was to begin in the LAST DAYS (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1). The church was established on Pentecost; hence, the LAST DAYS (i.e., the Christian age) began on that occasion (Acts 2:17ff). Thus, the LAST DAYS continue today and will not cease until Christ returns (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 15:24-26).