The Last Days

[Justin108]

For those believing we live in "the Last Days", a few questions...

1. How do you define "the last days"?

2. When do you think "the last days" officially started?

3. How long a period do you expect "the last days" to last? Considering the name "the last days", should one not expect the last days to be... a few days? If you think the last days have been going on since 1914, shouldn't it then be called "the last decades" or at least "the last years"? Does the term "the last days" not strongly imply a period of just a few days?

4. How would you distinguish the last days from the not-so-last days? How would the world have to look like for us to not be living in the last days? For example, suppose you believe we live in the last days due to war and natural disasters. Would your idea of the not-so-last days be a world completely void of war and natural disasters? What was the tipping point for you? What exactly happened that made you think "ok it's officially the last days"? Was it a specific war? A specific disaster? A specific president?

5. How long do you estimate "the last days" to last? Will the end of the world be next year? Before 2020? Will it be this century? Will it be this millennium?

[2timothy316]

[Replying to post 10 by Justin108]
I'm not understanding why that was so hard? I added nothing that wasn't in the scriptures I gave you.

[2timothy316]

The last days is a period of wars, natural disasters, civil unrest etc all happening that the same time before the Great Tribulation.

There we go! Attaboy. That's a definition.

Now on to my other question. When exactly did "the last days" start? I'm looking for a year. On what year did it start? If that's too precise, at least tell me what decade? Do you believe it started in 1914? You're a Jehovah's Witness if I recall? Correct me if I'm wrong.

First, the reason I believe the last days started in 1914 is not just simply because I'm a Jehovah's Witness. I believe it because it's the only date that matches the time periods the Bible speaks of the book of Daniel that also coincides with the conditions we see in the world today that Jesus spoke of in Matthew. The scriptural evidence should be the focus for those that wish to know God.

I will be very brief. The book of Daniel gives the timeline. Then other scriptures give the meanings of terms like what a 'time' is and 'day for a year'. Giving these terms their meaning gives us how many years between the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE and the end of the 'appointed time of the nations'. That gives the date of 1914. Which wouldn't be impressive if World Word I had not broke out in the same month that the time 'appointed time of the nations' period was said to have ended. Since that time we have been seeing the things Jesus and Paul spoke out. If things were peaceful now, and there was never a single world war plus the world didn't seem to be on the brink all the time since, then these days couldn't be the last days and the interpretation of the book Daniel was wrong. Yet, everything is lining up just as the Bible says. Everything we see happening in the world seems to be heading toward a massive crisis that the world has never seen before. Exactly what that is, no one knows. Yet everyone with their eyes open sees that we cannot continue the way mankind is acting toward each other and toward our planet and expect to be ok.

[JehovahsWitness]

Below is the Jehovah's Witness understanding.

1. How do you define "the last days"?

The "last days" (also refered to as "The End times" or "The Lord's day" "The Parousia"...) can be defined as the period of time that leads directly into the Great tribulation (the destruction of the present world system of thing)

2. When do you think "the last days" officially started? October 1914

3. How long a period do you expect "the last days" to last? For one biblical "generation"

Considering the name "the last days", should one not expect the last days to be... a few days?

No, the word "day(s)" don't have to be taken literal. We sometimes use the word to describe a "period of time" eg "In my grandfathers day they didn't have computers"

If you think the last days have been going on since 1914, shouldn't it then be called "the last decades" or at least "the last years"? Does the term "the last days" not strongly imply a period of just a few days?

See above

4. How would you distinguish the last days from the not-so-last days?

Jesus (and other bible writers, notably Daniel, Isaiah, the Apostles Paul and The Apostle John's Revelation ...) outlined a composite sign comprising of various elements, few of which are in themselves are unique but like lines in a finger print together build a unique picture of a particular time in human history.

What exactly happened that made you think "ok it's officially the last days"? Was it a specific war? A specific disaster? A specific president?

See above

5. How long do you estimate "the last days" to last?

See Answer #3

6. Will the end of the world be next year? Before 2020?

Nobody knows. Maybe, maybe not. It's certainly possible.

7. Will it be this century? Yes I believe so.

8. Will it be this millennium? Yes, absolutely.

RELATED POSTS

What are "the last days"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 24#p891124

Is it possible to pinpoint exactly when this present system will be destroyed?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 23#p891423

What is the "generation" Jesus referred to?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 19#p752219

How specific can we be regarding end time prophecies?
viewtopic.php?p=1047971#p1047971

FURTHER READING:

Are We Living in the Last Days?
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... last-days/

1914 A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... -prophecy/

RELATED POSTS


How do Jehovahs arrive at 1914 being a pivotal year in bible chronology?
viewtopic.php?p=891124#p891124

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

THE GENTILE TIMES , THE LAST DAYS and ...THE GENERATION

[Justin108]

[Replying to post 10 by Justin108]
I'm not understanding why that was so hard? I added nothing that wasn't in the scriptures I gave you.

I asked for a definition and instead you gave me several paragraphs of useless information. Was the definition in there somewhere? Probably. But I'm not exactly eager to delve through paragraph after paragraph to finally find an answer to my question.

[Justin108]

I will be very brief. The book of Daniel gives the timeline. Then other scriptures give the meanings of terms like what a 'time' is and 'day for a year'. Giving these terms their meaning gives us how many years between the destruction of Jerusalem in 607 BCE and the end of the 'appointed time of the nations'. That gives the date of 1914.

Can you please give me the verses in the book of Daniel you're referring to and how they add up to 1914?

[Justin108]

3. How long a period do you expect "the last days" to last? For one biblical "generation"

How long is one biblical generation? In (human) years. A rough estimation will do.

7. Will it be this century? Yes I believe so.

Why do you believe so? The Jehovah's Witnesses of the 1900's probably believed it would happen in that century as well. If "the last days" weren't wrapped up in the last 100 years, why do you expect it will be wrapped up in the next 100 years?

[JehovahsWitness]

3. How long a period do you expect "the last days" to last? For one biblical "generation"

How long is one biblical generation? In (human) years. A rough estimation will do.

HOW LONG IS THE GENERATION JESUS REFERED TO IN MATTHEW 24v35?

A little under two average human lifespans (roughly about 120-160 years)

Definition of GENERATION
1 a : a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor
b : a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously the younger generation
c : a group of individuals having contemporaneously* a status (such as that of students in a school) which each one holds only for a limited period
d : a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generation

contemporaneous: Existing, occurring, or originating during the same time



FURTHER READING
https://fosterheologicalreflections.blo ... genea.html



GLOSSARY OF TERMS [END TIMES]


How specific can we be regarding end time prophecies?
viewtopic.php?p=1047971#p1047971

To learn more please go to other posts related to...

THE GENTILE TIMES , THE LAST DAYS and ...THE GENERATION

[Justin108]

3. How long a period do you expect "the last days" to last? For one biblical "generation"

How long is one biblical generation? In (human) years. A rough estimation will do.

A little under two average human lifespans (roughly about 120-160 years)

Definition of GENERATION
1 a : a body of living beings constituting a single step in the line of descent from an ancestor
b : a group of individuals born and living contemporaneously the younger generation
c : a group of individuals having contemporaneously a status (such as that of students in a school) which each one holds only for a limited period
d : a type or class of objects usually developed from an earlier type
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/generation

So we can expect the end of the world by 2074?

[JehovahsWitness]

[Replying to post 18 by Justin108]

Jesus said to "Keep in expectation" so I expect it later today. You can expect it when ever you like but the Lord said nobody is in a position to predict a precise year ( "day or hour") as you have done with your date.

JW

[JehovahsWitness]

Why do you believe so? The Jehovah's Witnesses of the 1900's probably believed it would happen in that century as well. If "the last days" weren't wrapped up in the last 100 years, why do you expect it will be wrapped up in the next 100 years?

Because I believe we are living at the time Jesus prophecied about, prophecies that identify our times as being the " last days " fast approaching the end of the "generation" Jesus mention in Matthew 24:35.


JW

RELATED POSTS

What are "the last days"?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 124#891124

What is the "generation" Jesus referred to?
http://debatingchristianity.com/forum/v ... 219#752219



FURTHER READING:

Are We Living in “the Last Days�?
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... last-days/

1914​—A Significant Year in Bible Prophecy
https://www.jw.org/en/publications/book ... -prophecy/