When are the last days? (9) 2 Peter 3:1-9

Let us conclude our study of this phrase, last or latter days with one more OT usage and then the NT passages.

·        Hosea 3:5: Hosea is consistent with other passages we have seen.  The latter days are the time when the children of Israel return to and seek the LORD their God and David their king.  This is the conclusion of the story of Hos. 1-3 where Hosea’s wife returns to her harlotry and at God’s command Hosea goes to bring her back.  It illustrates God’s love for Israel, love that will drive Him to bring her back from spiritual harlotry.  The reference to David makes it clear that this happens in connection with the time of Messiah’s reign.

We now come to the NT.  Remember, the NT has much to say about the latter days but it is these passages that use the phrase we are considering.  We just want to know, in those instances, what time frame they have in mind.  Remember too that the age in which they write is the time between the first and second comings of the Messiah (Eph. 1:20-23).

·        2 Pet. 3:3; Jude 1:18: Peter and Jude saw it as a time when people would mock the idea of Jesus return.  Both are writing reminders, repeating teaching their listeners had already heard.  Both attribute their teaching to the apostles of Christ although Peter also references holy prophets.  In both it is possible that they are referring to the day in which they write as being the last days, but they are not specific.  What they say is that their audience (including us) need to be aware that these kind of people will be coming.  But we would argue that the use of last days differentiates the context from the rest of the letter they write.  In other words they are warning us of hard times, and then saying we should not be surprised because we have been told this will characterize the last days. 

·        1 Tim. 4:1; 2 Tim. 3:1: Paul saw it as the time of terrible apostasy.  In 1 Tim. 4:1-5 the issue is false and I would suggest strange doctrine.  In 2 Tim. 3:1-9 the issue is aberrant lifestyles of people who seem to profess to follow Christ.  As with Peter and Jude, Paul is warning Timothy to be on the lookout for corruption in the Church, and in the process says that this should be no surprise because it is characteristic of the last days.

We would say that these NT passages show us how to use this term.  The writers do not know for sure that the day they write is or is not the last times.  That is the nature of a hope that is immanent.  The return of Christ, especially as you consider the removal of the Church at the rapture, is an any time event.  So as we look around and see the mockers and the false teaching and sinful living we are not surprised.  We can look back and see that, in fact, the times of the apostles were not the latter days.  It was not the time of the events that revolve around the establishment of Messiah’s kingdom.  We look at our day and we see more mockers and more apostate belief and behavior and we say, I am not surprised because this is how it will be in the last days.  

It is likely that we can also say that, as the age of the Church continues, the world around us will look more and more like the last days.  The idea that things will get worse is consistent with the point when the restrainer is taken out of the way and the mystery of iniquity operates unchecked (2 Thess. 2:7).  It accords with Jesus’ teaching that as the time of His appearing drew near the world would be characterized by the days of Noah and the days of Lot, days of great wickedness (Luke 17:26-30).

The point of all this is not just knowledge but rather knowledge that will help us to rightly divide the Word of truth!  God has had in mind latter days in human history, and especially Israelite history, in which God’s plan to exalt His Son will come to fulfillment.  God has been telling us about this time since the first book, Genesis.  We need to understand that the use of this phrase throughout the entire Bible has been consistent.  

And once we have rightly divided the Word of truth then there is the right application to our lives.  One great danger we face is to think that those days will never come; that Christ will not return; that how we live our lives is of no consequence eternally.  Reject such thinking.  God is patiently giving men opportunity to turn to Christ; that is so characteristic of His love and grace.  But do not confuse delay with denial.  God will exalt His Son when He is revealed from heaven.  NOW is the day of salvation.  Today is the day to trust God’s offer of salvation through faith in His Son.  

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)