Are We Living in the Last Days?
Many evangelical Christians believe we are living in a period of time designated under the dispensation of Grace called, “The Last Days.” But what precisely does that mean?
Theologians believe Christianity is divided into different time periods called dispensations.
The number of dispensations vary typically from three to eight. Seven is a common number in scripture and means completion.
The typical seven-dispensation hierarchy is as follows:
1. Innocence-From Adam to expulsion from the Garden of Eden. The Adamic period or the dispensation of the Adamic covenant or Adamic law.
2. Conscience–From the Fall in the Garden of Eden to the Great Flood.
3. Human Government–From after the Great Flood, to the Tower of Babel. Noahide period
4. Promise –From Abraham to Moses. Ends with the 40 years in the wilderness. Abrahamic law or Abrahamic covenant
5. Law–From Moses to the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The Mosaic Law .
6. Grace–From the cross to the rapture followed by the Great Tribulation Age of Grace.
7. Millennial Kingdom– A 1000 year reign of Christ on earth in Jerusalem, to God’s judgment.
We are currently living under the Age of Grace sometimes referred to as The Last Days. Since we are under the last dispensation, as believers, we are anxiously awaiting the return of Christ.
Scripture reveals considerable information about this time period in which we are currently living.
2 Timothy 3–4 “But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.”
Most of us would agree that we have seen an intensification of aberrant behaviors in our lifetime. There is an epidemic of drug addiction, murders, human trafficking and sexual predators. We have experienced mass shootings, rioting and looting at alarming rates.
The government has legalized what God has deemed sinful and promotes, encourages, and accepts deviant behavior. If you disagree with this leftist view then you are bullied and labelled worse than the oft quoted “Politically Incorrect.”
Luke 21:25.”And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
We are experiencing floods, tsunamis, hurricanes, tornadoes, fires, and earthquakes at an alarming rate and most recently a worldwide pandemic.
Matthew 24:34 “Verily I say unto you, this generation shall not pass till all these things be fulfilled.”
Some of the confusing terms or questions we wrestle with are:
· How long is a day?
· How long is a generation?
In reference to a day, scripture reveals in, 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.”
So that leaves us wondering, Just How long is this period we refer to as The Last Days?”
Matthew 24 revealed that this generation would not pass until these things are fulfilled. So how long is a generation?
Depending on how the word is used it can mean 30 years (as a generation labelled Baby Boomers, Millenniums, Gen Xers etc.) Other times it merely means a long period of time or a time period of creation.
All of this still leaves us perplexed and wondering if the return of Jesus is eminent.
Matthew 24:36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”
However, the Bible is clear that we should live as though He is returning at any moment!!
Revelation 16:15 “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.”
So how are we to structure our lives in the meantime?
Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
All of our lives Christians have been taught to be in constant prayer in all things! Now more than ever we need to practice what we have been taught and become Prayer Warriors!
Prepare
Matthew 25:1–4 “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.”
Let’s not allow Christ to return and find us like the unwise virgins who were not prepared when the bridegroom came for them. We want Jesus to find us prepared and anxiously awaiting His return. He is our bridegroom ready to take us to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!
Matthew 25:19–30 “After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.20And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.21His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.22He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.24Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:25And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.26His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:27Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.28Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.29For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.30And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
In summation, it appears that scripture does not reveal when Jesus will return, but succinctly directs that while waiting we are to be patient, pray fervently, and work for the kingdom .
Matthew 6:20 “But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:”
