Over the past 50 years of my life I have heard people say we are living in the last days or the time of the end. What are the “last days” referring to in the Bible? Do you think we are truly living in the last days now?

Every generation since Jesus died on the cross has been sure of Christ’s return during their lifetime. So, again how do we know where we stand today concerning the “last days?”  Remember, it’s been two thousand years since Christ died on the cross and Peter said in I Peter 1:20 that Christ was manifest in these “last days.”

ISRAEL THE KEY!

The signs that the prophets of the Old Testament spoke of and the signs Jesus Christ spoke of as well as many of the writers of the New Testament, pointed to His Second coming as being fulfilled at a much later date than when they wrote those prophecies.

We read in Daniel 12:4 the following: “But thou, 0 Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end:“ Basically the book was sealed until the time of the end. This generation is seeing those signs come to pass. The knowledge to understand the prophecies has been delivered to the faithful by way of God’s Holy Spirit.

Until 1948 most Bible teachers were searching for alternative interpretations of the scriptures that contained the signs of the last days. Why? Because many saw no possibility of Israel ever being a nation re-established and living in the land God promised them. During WWII when so many Jews were slaughtered during the Holocaust, besides being a horrible tragedy and a very significant blight on the humanity of mankind, it must have been terribly disappointing for prophecy buffs of the time. Six million Jews had just been horribly eliminated from the face of this earth so how could God’s chosen people ever be expected to become a nation once again?

Today we can look at Scriptures which foretold of Israel being back in their God -given land and see that prophecy was fulfilled exactly as God said. Israel today is a very well established nation, powerful, self-governed, with an entrenched foothold in the land God gave them.

Talking about Israel in Ezekiel 36:24 God says: “For I will take you from among the heathen, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own land.”

Ezekiel 37:21: “Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will take the children of Israel from among the heathen, whither they be gone, and will gather them on every side, and bring them into their own land.”

Isaiah 11:11: “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the Lord shall set his hand again the second time to recover the remnant of his people, which shall be left, from Assyria, and from Egypt, and from Pathros, and from Gush, and from Elam, and from Shiner, and from Hamath, and from the islands of the sea.”  This verse tells us there will be a re-gathering and return of the Jews back to the covenant land God established specifically for the Jewish people. Clearly God’s end time plans were predicated on Israel returning to their promised land.

Those individuals in past generations who diligently studied their Bibles knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that until Israel was an established nation once again and dwelling in the land God promised them there could be no Second coming. The Bible is clear as to the signs we are to look for and yet many refuse to seek a clear understanding. Jesus is our sign giver. The Old Testament prophets, through the inspiration of God wrote down earth’s future history and God preserved those words for all the future generations.

Along with Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, we have all the Minor Prophets who, even though they are referred to as minor, contributed major prophetic insight into the last day’s events. Amos 9:14-15: “And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.”  This is just one of the numerous end time prophecies that are recorded in the books of the so called Minor Prophets. Actually minor only means shorter in length, not subordinate at all in regards to importance.

Prophecy has been placed in the Bible by God to bring us to a deeper understanding of just what the future history of the world holds. Not only do we discern that God’s word is true, but from prophecy, both fulfilled and not yet fulfilled, we recognize the End Times are yet to come. Yes, we are living in the End Times and have been since Jesus died on that cross, but our “current generation” is the generation  living in the very last days of the End Times.

Even though we can’t help being concerned about Israel and the fact that they are surrounded by their enemies, enemies bent on their total destruction, God has promised Israel that they will never again be pulled out of their land. God’s mighty hand is covering Israel and that’s a fact we witness every day. Their enemies will never be successful in their attempts to wipe Israel off the map.

It should come as no surprise that even though the Hamas terrorists lob rocket after rocket into Israel, year in and year out, the destruction of property and the taking of innocent Israelis lives is quite minimal. The taking of an innocent life is tragic under any circumstance, but the very fact that Hamas has launched literally thousands of rockets into the land where God’s people dwell with hardly any effect should give all people pause. We must come to the conclusion that God’s people are divinely protected and established where God wants them.

Perhaps the most intriguing and controversial prophetic passage in the Bible is contained in the Olivet Discourse. This dynamic “end times” message by Jesus, contained in Matthew 24 and 25, Mark 13, and Luke 21, describes major events that will impact the Jewish people just before the Lord returns to set up his kingdom.

This remarkable prophecy, given by Jesus on Mount Olivet after leaving the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, was his response to three questions from His disciples. 1– When shall these things be.2– And what shall be the sign of thy coming.  3– And what shall be the sign of the end of the world (age)?”

His answer to those questions alludes to the generation that will be living on the earth when Christ returns. Some believe that the generation Jesus was talking about in the Olivet Discourse was the generation that passed away in 70 A.D. But that does not fit within the context of a literal return of Christ back to earth, as described in the Scriptures preceding and following the parable of the fig tree. When the many signals Christ gave for the Tribulation in his Olivet discourse “begin” to occur at the “same time,” and with “greater frequency and intensity,”  then the end-time generation can know Jesus’ coming is near.

WHAT IS A GENERATION?

A generation begins with the birth and ends at the death of an individual or at the death of individuals who are living at about the same time. There is much disagreement among both secular and religious writers concerning the length of a generation. Is the length of a generation only forty years, as believed by many or could it be longer?

When Israel became a nation in 1948, some believed that Israel’s birth date marked the beginning of the generation that would see all the events leading up to the second coming of Christ. This theory was based upon the generation alluded to in the parable of the fig tree, in which the fig tree was symbolic of the nation Israel, Mark 13:28-33: ”Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When her branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is near: So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors. Verily I say unto you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done. Heaven and earth shall pass away; but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. See Hosea: 9:10 about Israel representing the fig tree: ¹⁰ I found Israel like grapes in the wilderness; I saw your fathers as the firstripe in the fig tree at her first time. Many people believe that the birth of Israel in 1948 marked the beginning of the generation that would be alive at Christ’s return.         .

END-TIME GENERATION PUZZLE

In 1988, when forty years had passed without fulfillment of any of the events surrounding the Second Coming of Christ, the forty-year generation theory fell into disrepute. Either 1948 had not been the starting date for the generation described in the fig tree parable, or a generation must be longer than 40 years.

Additional arguments put forth claimed that 1967, the year Jerusalem was captured by Israel, or some other future date could be the birth of the generation that would see the return of Christ. Some proponents of the “end times” generation theory questioned whether forty years was actually the length of a generation today. Is there any evidence to suggest that the length of a generation is longer than forty years? Just how long is a generation today? Is there an answer to the generation question?

The length of a generation has not always been constant since the days of Adam and Eve. Before the biblical flood, the average life span of man was over 900 years. Today, if a person lives to be a hundred years old, it is a special occasion in which the person is accorded celebrity status.

THE FLOOD’S EFFECTS

In order to understand how long a generation is today, it will be helpful to know what the length of a generation was before the Flood and what happened to the life span of man immediately following the Flood. Has man’s life span increased, decreased or stayed the same down through the centuries?

Before the Flood: Life span of the patriarchs averaged around 930 years.

The life span of the patriarchs decreased from generation to generation as a result of the earth’s changing environment brought about by the breakup of the “fountains of the deep” located within the earth and the “windows of heaven” spoken of in Genesis 7:11. These catastrophic occurrences, according to some scientific authorities, disrupted a protective environmental shield that had prevented the earth from receiving damaging ultraviolet rays from the sun. With the deterioration of that shield, things upon earth, including human life, began to degenerate and deteriorate at a much faster rate. Life span decreased as a result.

After the Flood: Life span of man began to decrease rapidly

Noah and his family lived on both sides of the flood. Noah was 500 years old when the flood waters covered the earth. He lived 350 years after the flood and was 950 years of age at his death. After the flood, Shem, Noah’s son, lived to be 600 years. He was nearly 100 years old when the flood occurred. He lived an additional 500 years after the flood. The age of each successive generation continued to decrease to the point that Abraham lived to be only 175 years old. The regression of age continues with Abraham’s son Isaac living to be 180, Jacob 147, Joseph 110, Levi 137, Kohath 133, and Amram, who was Moses’ father, 137.

We recall that the average length of a generation was about 930 years for those living before the Flood but decreased to around 120 years by the time Moses crossed the Red Sea and began his forty-year sojourn in the wilderness of Sinai. Since there are not very many l20-year-old men walking around today, it is apparent that the average lifespan is no longer 120 years.

Eli, a high priest and judge of Israel whose life bridged the 13th and 12th centuries BC, died at the age of 98 years. According to the Scriptures, he was considered to be a “very old” person at the time of his death.

A VIEW FROM THE PSALMIST

Disregarding untimely or unnatural deaths due to epidemics, famine and war, there is evidence in the Scriptures and in recent history to support a 70-80 year life span for the past 3000 years. The evidence for a 70-80 year lifespan was present during the 10th century B.C. during the reign of King David (c.1010-970).

About 400-500 years after the Exodus (c. 1450 B.C.), the life span of man seemed to level off at around 70-80 years. This was around 1000 B.C. during the days of Kings Saul, David, and Solomon. Perhaps the most significant declaration in the Bible for the life span of man is given in Psalm 90:1-13. The Psalmist states that the life span of man is seventy years with eighty years being the upper range of normal life expectancy: “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God … For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night … For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: We spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off and we flyaway … So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. Return, 0 Lord, how long?”

Ironically, Moses, who lived to be 120 years old, is credited with writing this Psalm during the 15th century B.C. Moses may have been suggesting a new life span for man, since the 70-80 year statement does not coincide with his age or the age of his contemporaries, Aaron and Joshua.

THE GENERATION OF DAVID

As David approached the end of his life, he was considered to be an old man by those living at that time. The Scripture tells us: “So when David was old and full of days, he made Soloman his son king over Israel” 1 Chronicles 23:1. The significant years of David’s life are given in 2 Samuel 5:4: “David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.” “So David slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David. And the days that David reigned over Israel were forty years,” l Kings 2:10.

Acts 13:36 concludes: “For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers and saw corruption.” The Scriptures reveal that David served his generation and was seventy years old when he died.

A contemporary of David, Barzillai the Gileadite, was considered to be an old man during the days of King David’s reign. The Scriptures report: “Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even fourscore years old, and Barzillai said unto the King, How long have I to live, that I should go up with the king unto Jerusalem? I am this day fourscore years old, let thy servant, I pray thee, turn back again, that I may die in mine own city, and be buried by the grave of my father and of my mother” 2 Samuel 19: 32-37.

 Both David at 70 years and Barzillai at 80 years were considered to be “old” and “very aged” men nearly 3000 years ago, and both of their life spans coincided with the 70-80 years described in Psalm 90.

Evidence discussed thus far indicates that the life span of man leveled off at around 70 to 80 years during the reigns of King Saul, David, and Solomon and has remained about the same for the past 3000 years (1000 BC to 2000 AD). Fluctuations in lifespan have occurred due to war, famine, disease and other factors. People are most likely to grow old in rich countries, where there are sufficient medical and sanitary facilities, clean drinking water and enough food at their disposal. In poor countries, these facilities often are insufficient, with the result that infant and child mortality is very high.

If 70 to 80 years still represents the length of a generation, as described in Psalm 90:9,10, one would expect the life span of those living today to be close to that figure. According to the 2002 World Almanac and Book of Facts, the average life expectancy in the United States is 77.26 years (74.37 years for males and 80.05 years for females). For Israel it is 78.71 years (76.69 years for males and 80.84 years for females).

Again in Luke’s version of the fig tree parable, which mentions the fig tree (Israel) and all the trees, (nations of the world) Judges 9:8-20 states: “And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. Verily I say unto you. This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away” Luke 21:29-33.

If the length of David’s generation, Christ’s generation, and those living today is 70-80 years (a 3000 year span), it would be reasonable to conclude that the generation Christ was talking about in the parable of the fig tree will also be 70-80 years in length. If the fig tree in this parable represents the nation of Israel, as many prophetic scholars believe, and the generation that is described has a lifespan of 70 to 80 years, then we see several strong indicators that the generation Christ was talking about has already been born. That would mean that the return of Jesus Christ to establish his reign for a thousand years is close at hand.

The end-time events described in the Olivet Discourse (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the Book of Revelation 11:1-2 could not have taken place without Israel back in their land. Israel’s return to the land of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the 20th century after dispersion by the Roman armies in 70 A.D. is the most important event that signals the soon return of Jesus Christ. Israel’s rebirth as a nation has also served as a catalyst for other end-time prophecies that are beginning to converge on the world scene. The pieces necessary for development of the end-time prophetic puzzle began to fall in place between the middle of the 19th and first half of the 20th century when the Jewish people began coming back to their homeland in record numbers.

A movement called Zionism encouraged the Jewish people to return to the “Promised Land” and brought about the Balfour Declaration in 1917, a statement by Great Britain that supported a home for the Jewish people. After much negotiation and endorsement of a partition resolution by the United Nations in 1947, the rebirth of Israel (Isaiah 66:7-9) took place on May 15, 1948. Following a period of wars between the Jewish and Arab nations in 1948, 1956, 1967, and 1973, peace negotiations have been ongoing and will continue until a covenant (Daniel 9:27) is confirmed between “the prince that shall come” (Antichrist) and the nation of Israel.

Today, it has been sixty five plus years since Israel became a nation again. From the information in this article we know that a generation today is between 70-80 years. From the prophetic scriptures presented here in this article we also know that Christ Himself said some two thousand years ago that once Israel becomes a nation again (which they did in 1948) the generation born at that time, some would live to see His “second coming.” Now, if we take the longest time of a generation today which is around 80 years, then the second coming of Christ will be approximately somewhere around the year 2028. However, the Rapture precedes the second coming by about seven years. The Rapture then should not happen any latter than 2021. But, remember if we take the lower figure for a generation which is 70 years, then the second coming could be around 2018. That would have put the Rapture around the year of 2011. It did not happen then, or yet, but what it does means is that the Rapture is very, very close. It can happen right now, or anywhere between the next 7 years, (approximately), because again we cannot set a specific date which only God knows.

Another important indicator that shows we are truly living in the “last days” is God’s seven thousand year plan for mankind.

The Bible teaches that the universe, including the heavens and the earth, was created in six days, Exodus 20:11: ¹¹ For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.

God designed the seven day week for man, Exodus 20:9-10: ⁹Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates.

The number seven is very significant in the Bible. Seven is representative of a week of seven days, or completion. In II Peter 3:8 the term day can represent a thousand years: ⁸ But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. Thus, we have a correlation between the “week” and the seven thousand year plan of God for mankind.

What this means is that each of the seven days of creation week represent one thousand years in God’s plan for man. The seven days equal seven thousand years. God has given man the first six thousand years to live, toil, marry, raise a family etc. and come to the realization that he needs God in his life. God gave man free will to make his own decisions on how to live his life, but God is not willing that any should perish, so God also provided a way for all men down through the generations of time to reach out to Him (God) for coming into a right relationship with Him and receive eternal life with Him in peace and joy forever and ever.

The seventh thousand years is the culmination of all the previous six millennia of mankind in which he has lived and toiled. It represents the final time when God will usher in peace and rest, patterned after the creation week of six days (man) and one day of rest (Sabbath).

We are very close to the end of the six thousand years allotted to man. From Adam to Abram who became Abraham, there is about a two thousand year span of history between these two men. We have approximately another two thousand year time span from Abraham to the time of Jesus. Then from Jesus crucifixion to our present day, we have a third time span of approximately two thousand years.

It is now known Jesus was born somewhere between 7 BC and 4 BC on our current Gregorian calendar. This information tell us then that Jesus died somewhere around AD 26 to AD 30 on our current Gregorian calendar.

In Acts 1:9-11 we read:  ⁹ And when he (Jesus) had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. ¹⁰ And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; ¹¹ Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.  This is talking about His second coming. From the time Jesus was taken into heaven, it would be another two thousand years until His second coming. We are at the end of that two thousand year time span but, it could still be approximately another seven to fourteen years until He returns.

From Jesus death somewhere around AD 26 to AD 30 as mentioned above, then coming forward two thousand years brings us to somewhere around the year 2026 to 2030 when He will return to this earth at His second coming. This also fits in with the prophecy about the generation born when Israel becomes a nation. Scripture say’s that some from that generation would live to see Christ second coming. Remember, if we take the 80 year generation span from 1948 to our present time, it comes out to the year 2028, or right in the middle of the time span above in this paragraph for the end of the six thousand year period allotted for man to rule himself.

In summary, we have learned that the average time of a generation today is somewhere between 70-80 years. Taking the 80 year generation time span, Christ second coming will be approximately around the year 2028. Taking off 7 years for the tribulation period brings us to the year 2021, or approximately the time for the Rapture of the Church. Taking the 70 year generation time span, the second coming of Christ would be around the year 2018. Taking off 7 years for the tribulation period brings us back to the year 2011. We know the Rapture did not happen then and has not happened yet, but it could still take place from now or any time between the next 5 years.

No one knows the exact time when Christ will return because of the 10 year gap in the length of a generation being between 70-80 years. All we can say is that the second coming could take place anywhere between 2018 and 2028. The Rapture could take place any time from now (2013) up to the year 2021.

Friend, we are in the last days of the time of the end. Jesus Christ “will” return to planet Earth during the last part of mankind’s 6,000^th year. That time is very close, believe it or not.

If you are an unbeliever in the one true God of the Bible, then you need to understand that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Salvation can only come through Christ Jesus as it tells us in Acts 4:10-12: ¹⁰ Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. ¹¹ This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. ¹² Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  In Romans 6:23 we read: ²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Eternal life is a free gift but, in order to receive eternal life you “must” believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus and that His shed blood at Calvary paid for all of your sins. Good works done by man do not help for salvation. You must believe all this by FAITH, because without faith it is impossible to please God, Hebrews 11: 6: ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

My job as a true Christian believer is to help others come to the knowledge of the truth. We are not trying to force any of these things on anyone. YOU HAVE FREE WILL TO BELIEVE ANYTHING YOU WANT BUT, I ASSURE YOU, YOU WILL NEVER BE SORRY IF YOU BELIEVE BY FAITH IN THE DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF CHRIST JESUS “ALONE” FOR YOUR SALVATION.

Before closing, remember if you are a true Christian believer you will be part of the Rapture and escape the 7 years of the horrible tribulation which will come on all who are left behind after the Rapture. Anyone in unbelief at the time of the Rapture will go through what is called the Great Tribulation: Matthew 24:21-22: ²¹ For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. ²² And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.

II Corinthians 6:2:  ²(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

There you have it, folks………….You still have time to be part of the Rapture but, you need to make up your mind now before it’s too late. The last days are upon us. Choose wisely! I hope to see you there in the Rapture!

Maranatha, (Lord come)

John