Another event to take place in the last days is of course,
4) The “Great time of Trouble”,
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt 24:21)
“At that time (the Time of Jacob’s Trouble) Michael (meaning “who as God,” one representing God, our Lord) shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and age-lasting contempt (the Millennial age).” Dan 12:1, 2
So yes, it’s true the last days did not start in 1914, they started long before this depending on what perspective you take. As for the date 1914 A.D. this marks the end of the times of the Gentiles.
“And they (the Jews) will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
The “Times of the Gentiles” is a period of 2520 years, from the year B.C. 606 to and including A.D. 1914. (For more insight on this please see our blog post, “The Times of the Gentiles”.
Nevertheless 1914 does mark the beginning of the great time of trouble. The event is a period of time not just a specific day, thus designated, the “great TIME of trouble”, and will reach its finality or climax in Armageddon.
Armageddon the day “in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Pet 3:10) The present world or age, “this present evil world”, must make way, be dissolved, crushed, put to an end, making way for the Lord’s kingdom. (See Dan 2:35, 44)
We know when it started, but we can’t be sure when it will end, even as it is written:
“Heaven and earth [the present ecclesiastical and social order] will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matt 24:35, 36)
Now in regards to Joel’s prophecy as quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:16-21, the last days referred to here are not in reference to days starting on Pentecost.
As is the custom of God to hide the truth, both form the true Church as well as from the “worldly wise”, (i.e., the Nominal church) until the “due time” for its understanding, often times in symbols, parables, and or dark (hidden) sayings and etc., so likewise it appears to be the divine intention here in Joel’s prophecy.
However, the hiding or concealment here consists not so much in stating matters in symbols or in dark sayings, but in stating the facts in reverse order, that is stating the first fulfillment last, and the last first. And such is God’s custom: He gave the natural seed of Abraham and its promises first and the spiritual and chief seed last; yet in the full completion of his plan, the spiritual seed must be glorified before the natural can have its promises fulfilled (Heb 11:40).
If we transpose the words of Joel, we can see the two outpourings of gifts, etc., clearly–thus: “And also upon the servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” [This was fulfilled in the Lord’s servants at Pentecost.]
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, [declare] and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
For more on this prophecy please see “The Spirit Poured upon All Flesh”.
4) The “Great time of Trouble”,
“For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt 24:21)
“At that time (the Time of Jacob’s Trouble) Michael (meaning “who as God,” one representing God, our Lord) shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people; And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, Even to that time. And at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, Some to everlasting life, Some to shame and age-lasting contempt (the Millennial age).” Dan 12:1, 2
So yes, it’s true the last days did not start in 1914, they started long before this depending on what perspective you take. As for the date 1914 A.D. this marks the end of the times of the Gentiles.
“And they (the Jews) will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” (Luke 21:24)
The “Times of the Gentiles” is a period of 2520 years, from the year B.C. 606 to and including A.D. 1914. (For more insight on this please see our blog post, “The Times of the Gentiles”.
Nevertheless 1914 does mark the beginning of the great time of trouble. The event is a period of time not just a specific day, thus designated, the “great TIME of trouble”, and will reach its finality or climax in Armageddon.
Armageddon the day “in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” (2 Pet 3:10) The present world or age, “this present evil world”, must make way, be dissolved, crushed, put to an end, making way for the Lord’s kingdom. (See Dan 2:35, 44)
We know when it started, but we can’t be sure when it will end, even as it is written:
“Heaven and earth [the present ecclesiastical and social order] will pass away, but my words will by no means pass away. But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matt 24:35, 36)
Now in regards to Joel’s prophecy as quoted by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:16-21, the last days referred to here are not in reference to days starting on Pentecost.
As is the custom of God to hide the truth, both form the true Church as well as from the “worldly wise”, (i.e., the Nominal church) until the “due time” for its understanding, often times in symbols, parables, and or dark (hidden) sayings and etc., so likewise it appears to be the divine intention here in Joel’s prophecy.
However, the hiding or concealment here consists not so much in stating matters in symbols or in dark sayings, but in stating the facts in reverse order, that is stating the first fulfillment last, and the last first. And such is God’s custom: He gave the natural seed of Abraham and its promises first and the spiritual and chief seed last; yet in the full completion of his plan, the spiritual seed must be glorified before the natural can have its promises fulfilled (Heb 11:40).
If we transpose the words of Joel, we can see the two outpourings of gifts, etc., clearly–thus: “And also upon the servants and handmaids in those days will I pour out my Spirit.” [This was fulfilled in the Lord’s servants at Pentecost.]
“And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophecy, [declare] and your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions.”
For more on this prophecy please see “The Spirit Poured upon All Flesh”.
