An examination of the Scriptures shows that there are five references to the last days (Acts 2:17; 2 Tim 3:1; Heb 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Pet 3:3) and two referring to the last times (1 Pet 1:20; Jude 18). In four of the seven, the author considered that he was living in the last days. For example, Heb.1:2 states that Jesus ministry on earth was in the "last days". This does not make sense if the last days come just before the Second Coming. However if this refers to the last days of the Kingdom of Israel before it would be destroyed by the Roman Emprie this makes a great deal of sense. 

When we remember that Hebrews, James (1:1), and Peter's letters were written to Jewish Christians and that Timothy was a Jew this really makes sense; all the references to the last days were in epistles written to the Jews. They would have understood that they were in the last days of their nation.

The Last Days refers to the period between Jesus birth and the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, when the Roman Empire would end the Kingdom of Israel, destroy the temple and scatter the Jewish people amongst the nations.

Of course, God promised to protect the Jewish people, and bring them back to the land again, but that happens in the Times of Distress (and has nothing to do with the Last Days).

This means that Scripture references to the last days have already been fulfilled. They don’t describe a future event, so it is futile to believe that we are living in the last days.

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