The Last Days
-Introduction
-In the lesson this morning, we looked at Isaiah 2:1-4.
-In that lesson, we talked about exalting the church and placing an emphasis on
teaching those around us.
-Tonight, I would like to return to Isaiah 2:2 and focus on one particular phrase - “And
it shall come to pass in the last days...”
-Misunderstandings About The Last Days
-You’ve probably heard the term “last days” used by somebody when referring to a
supposed period of time shortly before the 2nd coming of Jesus.
-times of trouble, despair - pre-millennialist teachings of rapture, tribulations,
anti-Christ, Armageddon, etc.
-Sometimes you’ll hear people made references to “wars and rumors of wars.”
-When conflicts arise in the world, such comments become more common.
-This seems to be the case when turmoil heightens in the Middle East, especially
when it involves Israel.
-Because of God’s relationship to Israel in the O.T. and pre-millennialist teachings
regarding God’s supposed future plans for Israel in the future, many are very
sensitive to matters involving that nation.
-Josh 2:8-11 - Rahab’s words - Some seem to maintain a similar approach even today.
-Many fail to realize that the physical nation of Israel is no longer God’s chosen people.
-Matt 23:37-38; Rom 9:1-8, 32-33; Rom 10:1-3; Matt 3:5-10
-overall point of the book of Hebrews
-Gal 6:15-16 - Israel of God - spiritual people
-With the current situation in the Middle East, we’re bound to hear statements involving
“wars and rumors of wars.”
-Matt 24:6 - context: destruction of the temple and Jerusalem
-Last Days
-Time as we know it can be divided into three periods/ages: Patriarchal, Mosaic,
Gospel/Christian
-With this being the case, what are the last days? - The Gospel/Christian Age
-So, we are currently living in the last days.
-Isa 2:2 (Mic 4:1) - When were these things fulfilled? - Acts 2
-Dan 2:28, 44; Joel 2:28; Acts 2:16-17
-Acts 3:22-24
-Heb 1:2
-1 Pet 1:20
-Summary and Invitation
-The “last days” as used in the scriptures refers to the Gospel Age in which we now live.
-The “last days” will continue until the 2nd coming of Jesus.
-That’s what we must be preparing ourselves for - 2 Pet 3:10-14.
-What about you? Are you prepared?
-Have you obeyed the Gospel? If not, believe in Jesus as the son of God (John 8:22-24;
20:30-31); confess your faith (Rom 10:9-10, Matt 10:32), repent of your sins (Luke
13:3,5; Acts 17:30), be baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16; Gal 3:26-29)
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel, have you remained faithful? If not, confess your
shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9; Acts 8:22-24).