Last days

[eclipsenow]

We are also all Futurists.

Nope! I'm not a futurist - because I use that term to describe people who see some sort of future time-table in Revelation (that's always just about to start in the next 7 years - and has been like that since the rise of the Millennial cults of JW and Mormonism.)

But Revelation isn't about the future, but the gospel.
It's about how to live as Christians in these Last Days, 2000 years and counting.
It's about the gospel hope that one day the Lord will return - which of course is still in the future. But Revelation is not about the future, it's about living life now before the Lord - and remembering our future hope.

The way 'futurists' would read Revelation makes the majority of the book utterly impracticable and mystical to people before 'now' - where I think John wrote Revelation to offer comfort to the Roman Christians about to experience the pain of Roman persecution.

 

[Marilyn C]

In Acts 2 Peter explains Pentecost from Joel:
“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people."

And again, John says it:

1 John 2:18 "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."

And again, in showing us the sufficiency of Scriptures to meet our needs and why we don't need prophets any more, Hebrews says:

Hebrews 1:1 "In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe."

The bottom line? We're in the End Game now - and have been for 2000 years. And might be for another 2000 years. Or the Lord Jesus could return in 2 seconds. We just don't know. So rather than try and guess at some non-existent 'Last Days' timetable (because everything's been fulfilled in Jesus already), get on with the gospel work. Because he will return! But also plan for your career and superannuation and retirement, because he might not yet.

 

[Marilyn C]

Nope! I'm not a futurist - because I use that term to describe people who see some sort of future time-table in Revelation (that's always just about to start in the next 7 years - and has been like that since the rise of the Millennial cults of JW and Mormonism.)

But Revelation isn't about the future, but the gospel.
It's about how to live as Christians in these Last Days, 2000 years and counting.
It's about the gospel hope that one day the Lord will return - which of course is still in the future. But Revelation is not about the future, it's about living life now before the Lord - and remembering our future hope.

The way 'futurists' would read Revelation makes the majority of the book utterly impracticable and mystical to people before 'now' - where I think John wrote Revelation to offer comfort to the Roman Christians about to experience the pain of Roman persecution.

Revelation is about the revealing of the Lord by the Father, as He is known in the heavenly realms.

The predominant aim of Revelation is the setting forth the splendours of the Son of Man, & to reveal His glorious person. There are four visions of the Son of Man as He is known in the heavenly realm & each vision in turn carries through to completion one aspect of the fourfold ministry of Christ which He exercised when on earth. His Kinship was expressed in Matthew, His Heirship in Mark, His Mediatorship in Luke, & His Judgeship in John.

Vision 1. CHRIST - Head of the Body. (Rev. 1 – 3)

This reveals the empowered Son of Man as the Sovereign Administrator.

`in His right hand He held 7 stars.`



Vision 2. CHRIST - HEIR. (Rev. 4 – 7)

This reveals the enthroned Son of Man as the Supreme Executor.

`in His right hand He held the 7 sealed book.`



Vision 3. CHRIST - MEDIATOR. (Rev. 8 – 13)


This reveals the exalted Son of Man as the Stately Mediator.

`in His hand is a sacred censor.`


Vision 4. CHRIST - JUDGE. (Rev. 14 – 22)


This reveals the entitled Son of Man as the Sublime Adjudicator.

`in His hand is a sharp sickle.`




To reveal Christ to us in Revelation, there are over three hundred & thirty references to the figures, shadows, symbols, types, patterns, persons, & buildings of the Old Testament.


This unveiling is the culmination of all the truths expressed from Genesis to Revelation, for all scripture is centered on one purpose and that is to reveal Christ to us in all His Glory.

 

[eclipsenow]

Revelation is about the revealing of the Lord by the Father, as He is known in the heavenly realms.

The predominant aim of Revelation is the setting forth the splendours of the Son of Man, & to reveal His glorious person. There are four visions of the Son of Man as He is known in the heavenly realm & each vision in turn carries through to completion one aspect of the fourfold ministry of Christ which He exercised when on earth. His Kinship was expressed in Matthew, His Heirship in Mark, His Mediatorship in Luke, & His Judgeship in John.

Vision 1. CHRIST - Head of the Body. (Rev. 1 – 3)

This reveals the empowered Son of Man as the Sovereign Administrator.

`in His right hand He held 7 stars.`



Vision 2. CHRIST - HEIR. (Rev. 4 – 7)

This reveals the enthroned Son of Man as the Supreme Executor.

`in His right hand He held the 7 sealed book.`



Vision 3. CHRIST - MEDIATOR. (Rev. 8 – 13)


This reveals the exalted Son of Man as the Stately Mediator.

`in His hand is a sacred censor.`


Vision 4. CHRIST - JUDGE. (Rev. 14 – 22)


This reveals the entitled Son of Man as the Sublime Adjudicator.

`in His hand is a sharp sickle.`




To reveal Christ to us in Revelation, there are over three hundred & thirty references to the figures, shadows, symbols, types, patterns, persons, & buildings of the Old Testament.


This unveiling is the culmination of all the truths expressed from Genesis to Revelation, for all scripture is centered on one purpose and that is to reveal Christ to us in all His Glory.

Nah, just doing a rinse and repeat doesn't actually undo my observations - or the many verses they are based on. You have selected a few Christological observations - and I think they are there - but that is most definitely NOT what the whole book is about. It's about suffering. John tells us so in the opening chapter. It's about the gospel in suffering.

1 The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place.​

(Roman persecution)

He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, 2 who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.​

He wanted HIS GENERATION to hear and obey it - not some weird mob 2000 years later. How did they benefit if - like your pretty picture says - all these events are far far off in the future?

John reminds us in picture language that no matter how hard it gets, take heart. The Lord will return one day!

7 “Look, he is coming with the clouds,”
and “every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him”;
and all peoples on earth “will mourn because of him.”
So shall it be! Amen.​

But the suffering is real!

9 I, John, your brother and companion in the suffering and kingdom and patient endurance that are ours in Jesus, was on the island of Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.​

He's literally in "iso-life" because of the Gospel. He's been banished to Patmos. So you're too simplistic in saying it's ONLY a Christological essay. It's very much that, but also very much about how that interacts with the suffering we'll experience in this world in these Last Days or "Millennium" - all 2000 years of it and counting.

 

[Douggg]

When the bible talks about the last days, what does it mean?

 

[eclipsenow]

View attachment 312575

Wow - another End Times Table.
Here, I've developed my own.
But just in case mine doesn't work out - let's stick with Peter's definition which was the Last Days started 2000 years ago. (See Acts 2)

 

[Douggg]

Here, I've developed my own.

Well, I agree that looks like something a non-futurist would come up with.

Here is my futurist chart.... How complicated is this to you, anyway?

 

[Marilyn C]

Nah, just doing a rinse and repeat doesn't actually undo my observations - or the many verses they are based on. You have selected a few Christological observations - and I think they are there - but that is most definitely NOT what the whole book is about. It's about suffering. John tells us so in the opening chapter. It's about the gospel in suffering.

So you're too simplistic in saying it's ONLY a Christological essay. It's very much that, but also very much about how that interacts with the suffering we'll experience in this world in these Last Days or "Millennium" - all 2000 years of it and counting.​

​

The Revelation of Jesus, is the unfolding of who He is and what He is doing from the heavenly realm. Suffering does NOT trump that. Jesus said we would have suffering in the world. However it is who He is and what He has done and will do that is the focus.

This unfolding of the Lord is the climax of all that has gone before. To make it just about encouraging people in the Roman Empire, is not realistic.

 

[Oseas]

When the bible talks about the last days, what does it mean?

Hebrews 1:1-3 King James Version
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath 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;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

The reply of "Original Happy Camper" by the Word of GOD was/is very important and well original, at last the Word is GOD. GOD spake in time past by the prophets, and as was above highlighted, GOD Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, in fact in these last two Days or last two thousand years(two millennia). What does the Son said about these last Days?
John 2:v.19 and 21:
19 - Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
21 - But he spake of the temple of His body.

By JESUS's words He is revealing two things: His ressurection after 3 days, and that He will raise up the Temple of His body - the Church - in this third Day, He is the stone, and upon Him He will build His Church - His body - and the gates of hell shall not prevail against her.

In fact we are already living in the beggining of the first century of the third millennium after Christ or third Day, as it is written, GOD Hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son.

In the other hand, the above words of JESUS were said by Him in the fourth Day, or around 4.000 years after Adam. JESUS said: My Father worketh hitherto, and I work- John 5:v.17. That said, we can see that from Adam until today have passed around 6.000 years or 6 GODs' Days of 1.000 years, so we are exactly in the turn of the sixth to the seventh Day.

That said, we cannot forget what is revealed by the Word of GOD: 1 Corinthians 16:v.24-28:
24 The END cometh, when He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when He shall have put down ALL RULE AND ALL AUTHORITY and power.

25 For He must reign, till He hath put all enemies under His feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27 For He hath put all things under His feet. But when He saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto Him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto Him that put all things under Him, that God may be all in all. AMEN.

Revelation 11:v.15 to 18:
15 - The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

 

[Oseas]

LAST DAYS

When the bible talks about the last days, what does it mean?

Anything after when it was written in the bible "we are in the last days."
So at least after the Nicene Creed, and probably way earlier.

For examples:
- 1 Timothy 4:v,1-2
4 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

- 2 Timothy 4:v.3-4
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

- 2 Pedro 3:v.2-4
2 You may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?

- 1 John 2:v.17-18
18 Little 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.
17 The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

There are other similar references in the Word of GOD, and all things above written fulfill LITERALLY because the Word is GOD, understand?

 

[Gregory Thompson]

 

[Jipsah]

Hebrews 1:1-3 King James Version
1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
2 Hath 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;
3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Hebrews 1:1-3 Korean Version
이는 하나님의 영광의 광채시요 그 본체의 형상이시라 그의 능력의 말씀으로 만물을 붙드시며 죄를 정결케 하는 일을 하시고 높은 곳에 계신 위엄의 우편에 앉으셨느니라

 

[Oseas]

Hebrews 1:1-3 Korean Version
이는 하나님의 영광의 광채시요 그 본체의 형상이시라 그의 능력의 말씀으로 만물을 붙드시며 죄를 정결케 하는 일을 하시고 높은 곳에 계신 위엄의 우편에 앉으셨느니라

Matthew 24:v.15 to 25 - KJV
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand: )
22 And except these days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.
23 Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not.
24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
25 Behold, I have told you before.

Mateus 24:v. 15 and 22-25 Portuguese (Brazilian)Version
15 Quando, pois, virdes que a abominação da desolação, de que falou o profeta Daniel, está no lugar santo (quem lê, que entenda),

21 porque haverá, então, grande aflição, como nunca houve desde o princípio do mundo até agora, nem tampouco haverá jamais.

22 E, se aqueles dias não fossem abreviados, nenhuma carne se salvaria; mas, por causa dos escolhidos, serão abreviados aqueles dias.

23 Então, se alguém vos disser: Eis que o Cristo está aqui ou ali, não lhe deis crédito,

24 porque surgirão falsos cristos e falsos profetas e farão tão grandes sinais e prodígios, que, se possível fora, enganariam até os escolhidos.

25 Eis que eu vo-lo tenho predito.

 

[cwb01]

Thanks to everybody who has replied to this thread so far. Yet a lot of the answers don't seem to reconcile these these verses:

Isaiah 2:2-4
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.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem:
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Acts 2:16-20
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
and 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
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.



Both Acts and Isaiah speak about "the last days". Yet Isaiah talks about a day when they shall not learn war anymore. It doesn't appear that has come to pass as of yet. In Acts Peter talks about the last days beginning on the day of Pentecost. This leads me to believe the "last days" starts on the day of Pentecost and goes till the very end. Am I wrong in my thinking? If so how so.

 

[cwb01]

Well, I agree that looks like something a non-futurist would come up with.

Here is my futurist chart.... How complicated is this to you, anyway?


View attachment 312581

So you believe the Gog Magog war happened in 1948? How did you come to that conclusion? Also do you believe The war in Ezekiel is the same as the on in Rev 20?

 

[Douggg]

So you believe the Gog Magog war happened in 1948? How did you come to that conclusion? Also do you believe The war in Ezekiel is the same as the on in Rev 20?

Gog/Magog has not happened yet. But is in the near future.

Gog/Magog in Ezekiel 38:39 is not the event in Revelation 20. It is the same nations involved, but not the same event.

 

[Semper-Fi]

Chronological Sequence of Prophetic Events.

 

[PesachPup]

Thanks to everybody who has replied to this thread so far. Yet a lot of the answers don't seem to reconcile these these verses:

Isaiah 2:2-4
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.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem:
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Acts 2:16-20
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
and 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
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.



Both Acts and Isaiah speak about "the last days". Yet Isaiah talks about a day when they shall not learn war anymore. It doesn't appear that has come to pass as of yet. In Acts Peter talks about the last days beginning on the day of Pentecost. This leads me to believe the "last days" starts on the day of Pentecost and goes till the very end. Am I wrong in my thinking? If so how so.

One would do well to compare what it says in Joel, from which Peter quoted.

Joe 2:28 KJV And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Act 2:17 KJV And 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:

It's virtually word for word with the exception of Peter substituting "in the last days" for "afterward". In Joel, it refers to what was previously just stated:

Joe 2:20-27 KJV 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Peter didn't quote this part of Joel. There are two important elements in this unquoted portion of Joel, [that will take place] beforehand...
1. Removing the northern army, and
2. Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel. And then comes the "afterward".

Peter was alluding to (he rightfully understood) the pouring out of the Holy Spirit afterwards upon ALL flesh. He rightfully recognized that what was being witnessed (by those around him who had asked) was the same manifestation of the spirit that would take place in the last days afterward of the events prior mentioned by Joel. The reason that Peter didn't include the prior verses from Joel was because the future fulfillment of Joel will truly be upon all flesh, as in all the house of Israel that survives the events of those days. This future fulfillment of Joel will be upon the whole remnant of Israel, as per Isaiah 10 (which Paul also understood and quoted in Romans 9 - 11) that [in that day] "though the house of Israel be [numbered] as the sand of the sea, yet only THE remnant would return unto the Lord GOD ".

Isa 10:20-23 KJV 20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Peter didn't say it was the last days, but only that what they were witnessing is what will happen in the last days... afterward! [UPON ALL FLESH]

A similar [THOUGHT] should also be taken for Peter's words in:

2Pe 3:2-4 KJV 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter is here also referencing a future time, in which he calls it "the last days", when men shall say,

2Pe 3:4-7 KJV 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Just before the DOTL begins, [yet it will be after the parousia/ coming of Christ, that] the survivors of the coming great tribulation will think (expressively) that they have escaped the judgment of God upon the wicked men of this world. But he says that this world will not perish [even by fire] before the judgment and perdition of ungodly men has taken place first...

2Pe 3:10-12 KJV 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

That time, when men shall question the seemingly failed judgment of God [WITH FIRE], will be the same time (Last days) when God shall pour out his spirit upon the whole house of Israel.

When James says,

Jas 5:3 KJV Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

He is not saying that it is the last days, but merely that rich men behave as if it were the last days, who think only of self preservation rather than the welfare of their soul, or the lives of others.

John said similar [as THAT OF] James when he says,

1Jn 2:17-18 KJV 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little 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.

John isn't saying that it is the last time. Notice how the beginning of verse 18, where he says "it is the last time", is actually part of the thought that he states in verse 17 when he said that All the world will pass away and the lusts thereof... THAT is the last time. He confirms that you know that Antichrist will truly come... in the last time!... whereby we know then it will be the last time. Antichrists were there in John's days, and even in our days are here, because men lust for the things that pass away. But in THE last days, Antichrist shall truly come because:
1. Men will still be lusting for the things that will pass away, and
2. In those days, things that men continue to lust for, will in fact, pass away in those days, because it is THE LAST DAYS!
The last days, those days, will be when God will bring to nought, those things that ARE [lusted after] , BY those things which ARE NOT [NOW! ].

1Co 1:27-29 KJV 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Be Blessed
The PuP

 

[claninja]

Thanks to everybody who has replied to this thread so far. Yet a lot of the answers don't seem to reconcile these these verses:

Isaiah 2:2-4
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.
And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem:
And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Acts 2:16-20
But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;
and 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
And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.



Both Acts and Isaiah speak about "the last days". Yet Isaiah talks about a day when they shall not learn war anymore. It doesn't appear that has come to pass as of yet. In Acts Peter talks about the last days beginning on the day of Pentecost. This leads me to believe the "last days" starts on the day of Pentecost and goes till the very end. Am I wrong in my thinking? If so how so.

Depends, is Isaiah’s oracle to be understood as literal or symbolic/parabolic/hyperbole?

1.) in the last days, how is mountain of the Lords house being established in the top of the mountains and all nations coming to it supposed to be understood? Literal or symbolic/parabolic/hyperbolic?

Isaiah 2:2-4 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.

Based on Hebrews, it seems it should be understood as symbolic/parabolic/hyperbolic for the church under the new covenant

hebrews 12:22-24 22But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,23and to the assemblya of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

2.) beating Swords into plowshares, etc.. is a Hebrew idiom for living peacefully. Therefore, I would argue this is hyperbolic language.

Israel was almost constantly at literal war with surrounding nations. They fought their way to the promise land with literal weapons, they fought wars under king David, they were fought wars when the kingdom was split into two. They fought a lot…

however, in the last days, those that the Lord rebuked were to turn from violence to peace under the new covenant.

And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

did the first century church, under the new covenant, make literal war against nations with swords and spears, just as old covenant Israel had?

No, under the new covenant they were called to live peacefully with all as far as we are able to. They were to overcome evil with good. They were to turn swords in plowshares and spears into pruning hooks.

Ephesians 6:12 12For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Romans 12:16-216Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly.h Never be wise in your own sight. 17Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.19Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave iti to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

 

[parousia70]

One would do well to compare what it says in Joel, from which Peter quoted.

Joe 2:28 KJV And it shall come to pass AFTERWARD, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions:

Act 2:17 KJV And 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:

It's virtually word for word with the exception of Peter substituting "in the last days" for "afterward". In Joel, it refers to what was previously just stated:

Joe 2:20-27 KJV 20 But I will remove far off from you the northern army, and will drive him into a land barren and desolate, with his face toward the east sea, and his hinder part toward the utmost sea, and his stink shall come up, and his ill savour shall come up, because he hath done great things. 21 Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice: for the LORD will do great things. 22 Be not afraid, ye beasts of the field: for the pastures of the wilderness do spring, for the tree beareth her fruit, the fig tree and the vine do yield their strength. 23 Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God: for he hath given you the former rain moderately, and he will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month. 24 And the floors shall be full of wheat, and the fats shall overflow with wine and oil. 25 And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpiller, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you. 26 And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the LORD your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed. 27 And ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the LORD your God, and none else: and my people shall never be ashamed.

Peter didn't quote this part of Joel. There are two important elements in this unquoted portion of Joel, [that will take place] beforehand...
1. Removing the northern army, and
2. Ye shall know that I am in the midst of Israel. And then comes the "afterward".

Peter was alluding to (he rightfully understood) the pouring out of the Holy Spirit afterwards upon ALL flesh. He rightfully recognized that what was being witnessed (by those around him who had asked) was the same manifestation of the spirit that would take place in the last days afterward of the events prior mentioned by Joel. The reason that Peter didn't include the prior verses from Joel was because the future fulfillment of Joel will truly be upon all flesh, as in all the house of Israel that survives the events of those days. This future fulfillment of Joel will be upon the whole remnant of Israel, as per Isaiah 10 (which Paul also understood and quoted in Romans 9 - 11) that [in that day] "though the house of Israel be [numbered] as the sand of the sea, yet only THE remnant would return unto the Lord GOD ".

Isa 10:20-23 KJV 20 And it shall come to pass in that day, that the remnant of Israel, and such as are escaped of the house of Jacob, shall no more again stay upon him that smote them; but shall stay upon the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, in truth. 21 The remnant shall return, even the remnant of Jacob, unto the mighty God. 22 For though thy people Israel be as the sand of the sea, yet a remnant of them shall return: the consumption decreed shall overflow with righteousness. 23 For the Lord GOD of hosts shall make a consumption, even determined, in the midst of all the land.

Peter didn't say it was the last days, but only that what they were witnessing is what will happen in the last days... afterward! [UPON ALL FLESH]

A similar [THOUGHT] should also be taken for Peter's words in:

2Pe 3:2-4 KJV 2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

Peter is here also referencing a future time, in which he calls it "the last days", when men shall say,

2Pe 3:4-7 KJV 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Just before the DOTL begins, [yet it will be after the parousia/ coming of Christ, that] the survivors of the coming great tribulation will think (expressively) that they have escaped the judgment of God upon the wicked men of this world. But he says that this world will not perish [even by fire] before the judgment and perdition of ungodly men has taken place first...

2Pe 3:10-12 KJV 10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, 12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

That time, when men shall question the seemingly failed judgment of God [WITH FIRE], will be the same time (Last days) when God shall pour out his spirit upon the whole house of Israel.

When James says,

Jas 5:3 KJV Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.

He is not saying that it is the last days, but merely that rich men behave as if it were the last days, who think only of self preservation rather than the welfare of their soul, or the lives of others.

John said similar [as THAT OF] James when he says,

1Jn 2:17-18 KJV 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. 18 Little 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.

John isn't saying that it is the last time. Notice how the beginning of verse 18, where he says "it is the last time", is actually part of the thought that he states in verse 17 when he said that All the world will pass away and the lusts thereof... THAT is the last time. He confirms that you know that Antichrist will truly come... in the last time!... whereby we know then it will be the last time. Antichrists were there in John's days, and even in our days are here, because men lust for the things that pass away. But in THE last days, Antichrist shall truly come because:
1. Men will still be lusting for the things that will pass away, and
2. In those days, things that men continue to lust for, will in fact, pass away in those days, because it is THE LAST DAYS!
The last days, those days, will be when God will bring to nought, those things that ARE [lusted after] , BY those things which ARE NOT [NOW! ].

1Co 1:27-29 KJV 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

Be Blessed
The PuP

In light of the above, ho do you exegete Hebrews 1:1-2?

1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;