The Last Days?

“THE LAST DAYS” We are in the times of the ‘latter years’ as we speak. The latter years are not the same as the ‘last days’. The ‘last days in the Bible always refer to the last days of first century Jerusalem. Genesis 49 is the first time we see the phrase ‘last days’: Genesis 49:1 says “And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” He goes on to tell each of the sons things that will happen to their descendants: Genesis 49:5-7 says “Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.” Jacob tells these brothers their descendants destiny based on what they did. Levi represents the Law of Moses. The Law curses you, it will kill you. Notice how Jacob cries not to enter their assembly. He’s interceding for Grace and mercy not to enter the habitation of the Law because it is the ministration of death. Then he says that they would be scattered. Moses says something different concerning Levi; he says they would teach judgments, laws and burn sacrifices (Deut.33:8-11). Moses represents the Law, but Jacob prophesies before the Law was given showing us that in the last days of first century Jerusalem that the Law of Moses would be removed and replaced by the Grace of God. Jacob also prophesies of Judah that in the last days that he would be a Lion that would rule with a scepter that wouldn’t depart from him. Jesus Christ was that Lion and he is the Saviour and Ruler of all. Isaiah chapter two explains that in the last days of first century Jerusalem that the mountain of the Lords house would be established in the top of the mountains and exalted above the hills and that the nations of the Gentiles would be assembled at this mountain. This mountain is Christ’ kingdom. Daniel also explains that this mountain would fill the whole earth (Daniel 2). The kingdom was established in the last days; a generation before the destruction of Jerusalem. Luke says the kingdom would come without observation, meaning no one would see it come, but it came with a sound on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit was given. Peter explains the coming of the Spirit of God: Acts 2:17-20 says “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy: And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke: The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come:” The giving of the Spirit of God was the refreshing he promised in Isaiah. It would also be given before the day of the Lord which came to pass in A.D. 70 upon Jerusalem. Paul prophesied that in the last days perilous times would come: before the fall of Jerusalem an increase of wickedness did rise as a fulfilment of Paul’s words. The term ‘latter years’ comes from the book of Ezekiel chapter 38 verse 8. God was speaking to Gog in this chapter and says “After many days thou shalt be visited: in the latter years thou shalt come into the land that is brought back from the sword, and is gathered out of many people…” The word ‘years’ in the Hebrew is Shaneh meaning a revolution of time; but it comes from a root word called Shanah which means to duplicate, do again, double, repeat, or do the second time. The latter years are a repeat of the last days of Israel, but its with a greater intensity, that is double the intensity of what it was before. Ecclesiastes 3:15 says “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been; and God requireth that which is past.”

-Anthony D. Booker