How much of the end-times prophecy has been fulfilled?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

The Bible presents evidence that the “last days” began at the first coming of Christ. The New Testament describes Christians as living during the “last days” and points to the difficulties they’ll face. The apostle Peter thought of Pentecost as fulfilling the last days’ prophecy of Joel (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17) and warns of “scoffers” in the last days who will attempt to sow doubt about Christ’s Second Coming (2 Peter 3:2-3). The apostle Paul warns Timothy to avoid people living overtly sinful lives during the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Both the Old and New Testaments contain prophecies about a global government that seems similar to the EU (Daniel 7:20; Revelation 13:1). Though no one knows when the end will come (Mark 13:32), believers are urged to live holy lives, to make disciples, and to anticipate the future coming of Christ.

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• Daniel 7:20 predicts a future global government, a revived Roman Empire, that resembles today’s European Union.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• New Testament writers considered that they were already living in the "last days." Second Peter 3:2-3 says, "You should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires." The writer believed this prediction was already coming true in his own time.
• Hebrews 1:2 says, "In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." The coming of Jesus appears to be the starting point of what the biblical writers considered the last days.
• The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, "But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people" (2 Timothy 3:1-5). Telling Timothy to "avoid such people" shows that the apostle Paul thought these "last days" were already in progress.
• In Acts 2:17, Peter quotes the prophet Joel, saying, "And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh." Peter taught that the Day of Pentecost was a fulfillment of this prophecy.
• The prophecies described in Revelation 13:1 also point to a global government, similar to today's European Union.

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

1914, 1988, 2011, 2012—these aren’t random dates. They mark just a few of the failed predictions about the last days made by people or groups who ignored what Jesus taught: “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

Rather than worrying about when the end will come, Christians should make the most of every day telling others about Christ (Ephesians 5:15-16). Rather than stockpiling food and ammunition, we should “lay up treasures in heaven” (Matthew 6:19-21) by furthering God’s Kingdom here and now. Certain events may connect to end times prophecies. But we shouldn’t link every other newspaper headline to a Bible prediction and use it to predict a date of Christ’s Second Coming. Instead, Jesus called us to be “good and faithful servant[s],” doing His work until He returns (Matthew 25:21).

UNDERSTAND

• The last days began with Christ’s first coming, with some end-times prophecies already having been fulfilled.
• There are still end-times prophecies that have not yet been fulfilled.
• The timing of Christ’s return is unknown, so Christians should live faithfully for God as they await His return.

REFLECT

• How are you living today in light of the fact that the last days (not the end times as we refer to it) began with Christ’s first coming?
• How are you reflecting God to others and living faithfully on mission while anticipating Jesus’ return?
• How can you focus more on being faithful in your daily life rather than trying to predict end-times events?

ENGAGE

• How do we reconcile fulfilled prophecies with those that have yet to occur as we study Scripture?
• How do we as believers live faithfully while waiting for Christ’s return?
• How do end-times prophecies impact our view of modern events?