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NASB | Hebrews 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Hebrews 1:2 has in these last days spoken [with finality] to us in [the person of One who is by His character and nature] His Son [namely Jesus], whom He appointed heir and lawful owner of all things, through whom also He created the universe [that is, the universe as a space-time-matter continuum]. |
Bible Question: When did the last days start? When will the last days end? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Val, I waited purposefully to provide an answer to this question, just to see what answers would be given, even though I already had a good idea of what kind of answers they would be. Whenever the "last days" are spoken of in Scripture, one has to take into account as to how it relates to Israel or if it relates to the church. In the passage that you have specified: Hebrews 1:2, this passage, along with Acts 2:17, 2 Tim. 3:1, James 5:3, 2 Peter 3:3, relates to the church, and the "last days" as related to the church began with the advent of Christ (Heb. 1:2), but this expression also has special reference to the time of apostasy at the end of the age (2 Tim. 3:1), and would end with the 2nd Coming of Christ (2 Thess. 2:1-8). See also 1 Tim. 4:1, 1 Peter 1:5,20; 1 John 2:18; Jude 18. However, in relation to Israel, the "last days" takes on a different perspective: Isaiah 2:2-4, Micah 4:1-7, Num. 24:14, Deut. 31:29, Jer. 23:20, 30:4-10,24, 49:39, Ezek. 38:16, Dan. 2:28, 10:14, Hosea 3:5. If you look at the Prophecy of the Seventy Weeks in Daniel 9:24-27, we know that several things happen in the span of 70 weeks (or 490 years) that are spoken of in Daniel 9:24 which include: finish transgression, make an end of sins, make reconciliation for iniquity, bring in everlasting righteousness, seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the Most Holy. The beginning of the seventy weeks is fixed as "the going forth of the command to restore and build Jerusalem" and its wall (Dan. 9:25). The only decree in Scripture authorizing the rebuilding of the city and its wall is recorded in Nehemiah 2; dated in "the month of Nisan, in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes" (that is, 445 B.C.), it is well attested in ancient history. From this date as a beginning, the first sixty-nine weeks reach to "the Messiah, the Prince." It is generally agreed that the prophecies of the Messiah being "cut off" (Dan. 9:26) and the rebuilt city and sanctuary will again be destroyed (Dan. 9:26) took place with the crucifixion and destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The main events of the 70th week (Dan. 9:27) have not yet been fulfilled (see Matt. 24:6,15). Therefore, during the interim between the 69th and 70th weeks there must lie the whole period of the Church set forth in the NT (see "mystery" spoken of in Ephesians 3) but not revealed in the OT. This interpretation is found in the Church Fathers. One possible explanation of this "mystery" is that the end of the 69th week came when Christ entered Jerusalem (the triumphal entry), but the Jews did not accept Him as their King. From that point, God the Father stopped the 69th week and will start the 70th week when the covenant (spoken of in Daniel 9:27) is signed. In the time between the 69th and 70th weeks is the time "until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in." (see Luke 21:24, Romans 11:25, Rev. 11:2, 16:19) So, taken in relation to Israel, the "last days", spoken of in Daniel 9:24-27, began in Nehemiah 2 with the command to restore and build Jerusalem, and will rapidly begin again when a secret covenant is signed (Daniel 9:27), and end when Christ returns and slays antichrist with "the brightness of His Coming" (2 Thess. 2:8). After the Lord returns as King of Kings, it will take Israel 3 days (Hosea 6:1-3) for the entire nation to be completely saved. Blessings to you, Makarios |