What is meant by the last days or the latter
days. This term has roots in the Old
Testament. We want to study what is
meant by these days. But additionally, our study will take us to
some of the most marvelous Messianic prophecies. This is for our enjoyment of Christ as well
as a reminder of God’s grip on the future.
In advance let us state what we think will be
found concerning the “when” issue. The latter days in English is less precise
and might lend itself to the idea that these are the times of the Gentiles, the
time essentially between the two appearances of our Lord Jesus Christ. The last
days might indicate to us what we will also find, that there is an emphasis
on the ending of the latter days. There is a culmination of events in the
return of Christ to reign on earth.
·
Gen. 49:1,8-12: Gen. 49 contains the final words
of Jacob to his sons. To each he makes a
prophecy, some of them being difficult to understand clearly. Two of the sons are emphasized: Judah and
Joseph (49:22-26). This fits with Jacob’s
previous relationship in which he entrusted Benjamin into the care of Judah
(Gen. 42) and in his giving the double-portion to Joseph (Gen. 48).
o Judah’s
prophecy recognized his leadership position among the brothers (your brothers shall praise … your father’s
children shall bow down before you) as well as his leadership in the
eventual nation. Judah was the first
tribe to step up after the death of Joshua and to seek to deal with the
remaining opposition in the land (Judges 1).
Judah was be as a lion cub (aggressively fierce) and an old lion (regal
and secure).
o The
most fascinating part of the prophecy is in 49:10. Judah is seen as the eventual resting place
for the eventual king. The scepter and the lawgiver refer to symbols of kingly authority. One refers to his sovereignty, the other to
his power to establish laws. These will
remain in Judah until Shiloh comes
and then to Him shall be the obedience of the people.
§ What
is meant by until Shiloh comes? The first capital of Israel was at Shiloh but
Shiloh was in the tribal territory of Ephraim.
Psalm 78 tells why God rejected Shiloh and chose Jerusalem, the city of
David, to be the place where He put His name.
Jacob is not referring to this city.
§ Rather,
Shiloh refers to a person, a leader
to whom the people will give obedience. The
Hebrew term means the peaceable or
prosperous one and refers to Messiah who also will be the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5) and the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6). Shiloh (Messiah) has come but to Him the
people are not yet obedient. That requires His return in power and glory when all Israel will be saved (Rom. 11:26f)
and He will inherit the nations (Ps. 2:6).
A broader study shows that the Jewish Rabbis and early church fathers
saw this as Messianic.
So the latter days for Jacob involve the reign
of Messiah, the Davidic King, from the tribe of Judah.
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