Use of the Term "Latter Days" in Paul's Letters

IV. Use of the Term “Latter Days” in Paul’s Letters

A. 1 Corinthians 10:11

B. Galatians 4:4-7

C. Ephesians 1:9-10, 20

D. 1 Timothy 4:1

V. Conclusion

A. The NT uses end time phraseology to connote the following:

1. The promised Messiah has come at last.

2. The promised reign of God, together with a Davidic king, has begun. The Enemy has been defeated.

3. The time of tribulation with deception, false teaching, and persecution has begun.

4. The time of Israel’s restoration has begun, evidenced by the resurrection of Jesus and the pouring out of the Spirit.

5. The end-time coming of the Spirit, the Temple, and the resurrection.

B. NT theology is essentially end-time theology.

1. The better we understand that the end times have begun and that they’re going on, the better we’re going to understand other doctrines.

C. Most of the inaugurated references to the “latter days” are in the plural, while the singular references tend to refer to the consummated form of the latter days.

The “Great Tribulation” and the Eschatological Character of Suffering: the Inaugurated End-Time Tribulation as an Ironic Aspect of the Beginning Kingdom

I. Daniel 2:28 and 10:14 Refer to the Latter Days

II. The Use of “Hour” in Daniel 8-12 and 1 John 2:18

A. See Jesus’ statements in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21

B. Daniel 8-12 as background for “last hour” in 1 John

1. The time of the enemy’s deception

2. The time of the enemy’s persecution of the saints

3. Opposition to God (covenantal disloyalty)/p>

4. Judgment of the enemy

5. Resurrection of the saints