When are the Last Days according to the Bible?

[glen smith]

The Apostle Peter quoted by Saint Luke that they were living in the last days.
Acts 2:16-17 KJV
16But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
17And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

The Apostle Paul writes that it is on him and on the Corinthians that the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV
¹¹Now all these things happened unto them for examples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
1 Corinthians 10:11 ESV
¹¹ Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come.

The Apostle Peter writes that the Lord Jesus was manifested in these last times.
1 Peter 1:20 KJV ²⁰Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

The Apostle John writes it is the last time because there are many antichrists.
1 John 2:18 KJV
18Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2.18 ESV
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

Hebrews identifies the time in which he writes are the last days.
Hebrews 1: 1-2 KJV
1God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

Peter, Paul, John, and the writer of Hebrews wrote that they were living in the last days, last time, last times, last hour, or the ends of the world are come. Obviously, these men did not believe that they were living in a time when the end of the earth was about to happen.

So, what period of time did the term “the last days” refer to in their understanding?
What was the event that ended the last days?

What age does the Bible indicate comes after the last days?
How about the age to come?

Age to come scriptures

Matthew 12:32 ESV
And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

Mark 10:30 ESV
who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and in the age to come eternal life.

Luke 18:30 ESV
who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life.”

Luke 20:35 NIV
But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage,

Ephesians 2:7 NASB
so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

1 Timothy 6:19 HCSB
storing up for themselves a good reserve for the age to come, so that they may take hold of life that is real.

Hebrews 6:5 ESV
and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come,

What is between the last days and the age to come?

[Lou Newton]

Men look upon time far different that God does:

Ps 90:4
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But 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.

Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

So it seems that God has endured many 1000's of years since the beginning of days because He calls Himself the Ancient of Days, or the One who has seen many 1000 year days.

So man looks upon the last days as a very short period of time, thinking of 24 hour days.

But God is referring to 1000 year long days.

So the last days could simply be the days after Jesus died and rose from the dead.

One could speculate that we have had close to two "days" since Jesus was born. Jesus was in the grave for two whole 24 days and rose at the start of the 3rd day. So the last day could be coming very soon. For Jesus lived 33 years and then died and rose from the dead. It will soon be the start of the 3rd 1000 year day.

[glen smith]

Men look upon time far different that God does:

Ps 90:4
A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.

2 Peter 3:8
But 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.

Daniel 7:9
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire.

So it seems that God has endured many 1000's of years since the beginning of days because He calls Himself the Ancient of Days, or the One who has seen many 1000 year days.

So man looks upon the last days as a very short period of time, thinking of 24 hour days.

But God is referring to 1000 year long days.

So the last days could simply be the days after Jesus died and rose from the dead.

One could speculate that we have had close to two "days" since Jesus was born. Jesus was in the grave for two whole 24 days and rose at the start of the 3rd day. So the last day could be coming very soon. For Jesus lived 33 years and then died and rose from the dead. It will soon be the start of the 3rd 1000 year day.

This would not be my explanation.

[glen smith]

These "end is near" passages might need considering.

James 5:8 New International Version (NIV)
8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

1 Peter 4:7 New International Version (NIV)
7 The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31 New International Version (NIV)
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

1 Corinthians 10:11 New International Version (NIV)
11 These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.

1 John 2:18 New International Version (NIV)
Warnings Against Denying the Son
18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour.

Revelation 22:10 New International Version (NIV)
10 Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near.