Key #1. We are not awaiting the ‘Last Days’, we are in them!
According to Peter, the Apostle, ‘The Last Days’ began on the Day of Pentecost after our Lord’s crucifixion and resurrection. This Pentecost was the birthday of the church. Peter stood in Solomon’s portico and told the assembled crowd, “This is what was spoken by the prophet Joel.” Acts 2:16, 17 “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; To paraphrase, Peter said, “THIS IS IT! What you are witnessing is the outpouring of The Holy Spirit! The Last Days are here!
These passages (Acts 2:17-21; Joel 2:28-32) conclude with descriptions of the wrath at the end of the age that have not yet occurred.
Key #2. We are not awaiting tribulation, we are in it!
John the Apostle penned Revelation in AD 96. The Church was already undergoing their 3rd great persecution. Can we call these persecutions – tribulation? The Apostle John does. In Rev.1:9, John says, “I, John, who am also your brother and companion in tribulation…”
The ‘Last Days’ is not just a 7 year period when God’s wrath is poured out. Many would agree that our generation may be the last generation before our Lord’s return, but still fail to see that the ‘Last Days’ have been going on for almost 2000 years. The events of the end time are ever growing in intensity and frequency until Christ returns. Jesus describes this in Matthew 24: 4-8. He gives an overview of the ‘last days’ and indicates that the signs will continue until the end; as ‘birth pains’ so grow in intensity and frequency until childbirth.
The tribulation is not just seven years of judgment, but has already lasted 1985 years since the Cross-Resurrection Event! There is coming, however, a ‘Great Tribulation’ that will define the final seven years before Christ’ Second Coming! A correct scriptural view of these two periods of time is essential to a correct interpretation of other events in Revelation.
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