The Last Days

It is often a question in eschatological discussion: “Do you think we live in the last days?”. Over the summer I’ve had the privilege to preach through the book of Hebrews. The book of Hebrews opens with these words:

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. (Hebrews 1:1-2 NIV)

1 Πολυμερως και πολυτροπως παλαι ο Θεος λαλησας τοις πατρασιν εν τοις προφηταις 

2 επ εσχατων των ημερων τουτων ελαλησεν ημιν εν υιω ον εθηκεν κληρονομον παντων δι ου και τους αιωνας εποιησεν (Thomas Newberry and George Ricker Berry, The Interlinear Literal Translation of the Greek New Testament (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2004), Heb 1:1–2)

The epistle to the Hebrews was a first century document, coming into broader circulation among churches in and around the Mediterranean basin towards the second half of the first century. Both the inspired writer of the epistle to the Hebrews and his first century audience were already in the “last days”. What exactly does this phrase mean? Does Hebrews have an eschatological outlook introduced in the verse few verses? 

In order to properly arrive at the intended meaning of the original author, we must ask good questions of the text. Sound exegesis often begins with asking good questions that are invited by the sacred scripture itself. Let us ask some questions together to learn what this phrase “these last days” means, and then see whether or not Hebrews is a book oriented with “eschatology” in mind. 

Our first question: what exactly does this phrase “these last days” mean in the context of Hebrews 1:1-2?

There are two time indicators included in these opening verses “the past” (verse 1) and “these last days” (verse 2). It is a comparative structure putting two ideas (in this case time periods) in contrast to one another. The first time period mentioned in verse 1 has an accompanying statement related to time “at many times”. This is not a comparative idea or period of time to be set unto itself. The other seemingly related time statement (“many times”) is related to the activity of God speaking. When did God do that speaking (through the prophets in many ways)? God spoke to “our ancestors” in “the past”. When did that past time change into the time of “these last days” (when God has spoken by His Son)? After the time of the ancestral prophets and during the time of this one identified as God’s Son. 

We can say then that Hebrews has two different periods of time in mind at the outset of the book, a time before, and a time after. What distinguishes these two times? These two time periods are each defined by the method of God’s revealing Himself. In the first time period (the past) God spoke through the prophets. In the second time period (these last days, the present period of the inspired writer) God has spoken by His Son. 

To illustrate what we read regarding “these last days” in these verses we can view a timeline:

Everything before “these last days,” in the timeline spoken of in Hebrews 1:1-2, was the past. God speaking by his Son is the hinge upon which history has turned. 

We’ve seen that there is clearly a meaning of distinction and comparison between the times past, and times present wrapped up in the phrase “these last days.” This phrase clearly contains a time referent. Now we need to unpack whether or not this phrase has an eschatological referent. In other words, we’ve seen that this phrase in Hebrews 1:2 uses “last” by way of comparison to the time of God’s revelation through the prophets, but now we need to see why the era of God’s revelation by the Son is “last”. 

A brief word study on “εσχατων” (the Greek word for last used in 1:2) demonstrates that this word most often is used in the New Testament with finality in mind. The word is used more than 50 times throughout the New Testament. In the gospel of Matthew, the word is used regarding making a payment in sum total down to “the last penny” (Matthew 5:26). In the gospel of John, the word is used to describe the day of resurrection by Jesus “And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day” (John 6:39). In Peter’s sermon on Pentecost in Acts the Apostle ties together a prophecy given to Joel and then applies the prophecy to the events of Pentecost: “in the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people” (Acts 2:17). In 1 Corinthians 15 the word is used 4 times: 

• First, speaking of Christ’s appearance to Paul post-resurrection (15:8), 
• Second, speaking of the final enemy to be destroyed being death (15:26),
• Third, in regards to Christ as the “last Adam” (15:45), and lastly (pun intended)
• Fourth, speaking of the great resurrection at the “last trumpet” (15:52). 

When we come to Hebrews 1:2 and we see “these last days”—we ought not think that these days are anything less than the final, concluding, end of days. 

The phrase “these last days” is only used a single time in Hebrews. This emphasizes that the definition and use by the author is given significant meaning in the immediate context as used. If the phrase was used multiple times throughout the book, we may have reason to compare and contrast those various uses. But with this single use we see from the author’s perspective there is an expectation that this juxtaposition of time (past & present) and the word choice (last) are sufficient for the original audience to comprehend the communicative intent of the writer. 

The time of the Son inaugurated “these last days”. We can say with confidence and conviction, by studying God’s Word, under the blessed illumination of the Spirit, that you and I today live in “these last days.” Our present age is categorically much the same as those original audiences of the 1st century. We live in the age of the Son. 

What will end these last days? What is the next hinge which history will then conclude, and eternity begin? While the inspired writer to the Hebrews only used the phrase “these last days” once, he left his original audience with no doubt as to what the great event is at the end of these last days:

28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. (Hebrews 9:27-28 NIV)

The next time you hear or read the question “do we live in the last days?” respond by asking if the person has read Hebrews 1:1-2. Then, as the conversation allows, share how the New Testament describes the present era, after Christ’s incarnation, as “these last days.”