“But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:” Acts 2:16-18, KJV
NOTE #1: In Acts 2:16-18, the Apostle Peter — who had just been filled with the Holy Spirit — is clearly saying two things: Joel’s prophecy was being fulfilled at that time during the First Century, and that period was also the Last Days. The phrase last days does NOT mean from 30 AD to the 21st Century, as some modern, Futruist-leaning Bible teachers erroneously teach. That is a false doctrine of men.
“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN [meaning Paul and other First Century Christians] unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then WE WHICH ARE ALIVE AND REMAIN [meaning Paul and other First Century Christians] shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18, KJV
NOTE #2: The fact that in 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 the Apostle Paul includes himself by saying we is clear proof that he was expecting Christ’s soon return, and he was hoping to still be alive to witness it.
“God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath IN THESE LAST DAYS spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;” Hebrews 1:1-2, KJV
NOTE #3: In Hebrews 1:1-2, the phrase “last days” refers to the very end of the Prophet Daniel’s 70 weeks — or 490 years — prophecy. It has nothing to do with our modern times, as Futurists claim.
“For yet a little while, and he that shall come [meaning Jesus] WILL COME, and WILL NOT TARRY.” Hebrews 10:37, KJV
NOTE #4: In Hebrews 10:37, the phrase “a little while” does NOT mean 2,000 years in the future as the Futurists claim.
“Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together FOR THE LAST DAYS . . . Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for THE COMING OF THE LORD DRAWETH NIGH.” James 5:2-3, 7-8, KJV
NOTE #5: In James 5:2-3, 7-8, the Apostle James is likewise confirming that it was the Last Days, and he was convinced that Jesus would be returning soon.
“But the END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7, KJV
NOTE #6: 1 Peter 4:7 confirms the phrase “in these last days” mentioned in Hebrews 1:1-2 above.
“Little children, IT IS THE LAST TIME: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby WE KNOW THAT IT IS THE LAST TIME.” 1 John 2:18, KJV
NOTE #7: In 1 John 2:18, not once, but twice, the Apostle John tells his readers that it is the Last Time, or the very end of the Prophet Daniel’s 70 weeks prophecy.
Conclusion: Peter, James and John — who were Jesus’ inner circle — as well as the Apostle Paul, were all convinced that Jesus would return during their lifetimes, exactly as He had promised them in these verses:
In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also . . . I will not leave you comfortless: I WILL COME TO YOU.” John 14:2-3, 18, KJV
How can so many modern, Futurist-leaning Christians continue to resist the plain truth of the Scriptures?
Please also refer to the article called “Jesus Christ’s Return: Have We Been Deceived?”, which you can find at the following URL:
Please note that in the following verses, the word “blameless” is derived from the Greek word “anegkletos”, which means to be free from fault and defect or unsullied:
“So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 1:7-8, KJV
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” Philippians 2:15, KJV
“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Ephesians 5:21-33, KJV
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:23, KJV
“I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession; That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ: Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;” 1 Timothy 6:13-15, KJV
“Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” 2 Peter 3:13-14, KJV
“Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. And he laid his hands on them, and departed thence.” Matthew 19:13-15, KJV
“And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” Mark 6:5, KJV
“Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.” Luke 4:40, KJV
“And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.” Luke 13:13, KJV
“Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” Acts 6:6, KJV
“And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.” Acts 9:17-18, KJV
“And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.” Acts 13:3, KJV
“And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.” Acts 19:6, KJV
“And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him. Acts 28:8, KJV
“And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:” Matthew 3:16, KJV
“For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.” John 3:34, KJV
“And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?” Mark 5:30, KJV
“And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all.” Luke 6:19, KJV
“And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Luke 8:46, KJV
“For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;” Colossians 1:19, KJV
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” Colossians 2:9, KJV
“He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” John 7:38, KJV
“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth . . . And God said, Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters. And God made the firmament, and divided the waters which were under the firmament from the waters which were above the firmament: and it was so. And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day . . . And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good . . . And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.” Genesis 1:1, 6-8, 14-18, 20, KJV
“And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.” Genesis 15:5, KJV
“That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;” Genesis 22:17, KJV
“And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed;” Genesis 26:4, KJV
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.” Exodus 32:13, KJV
“The LORD your God hath multiplied you, and, behold, ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude.” Deuteronomy 1:10, KJV
“And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.” Deuteronomy 4:19, KJV
“Thy fathers went down into Egypt with threescore and ten persons; and now the LORD thy God hath made thee as the stars of heaven for multitude.” Deuteronomy 10:22, KJV
“And ye shall be left few in number, whereas ye were as the stars of heaven for multitude; because thou wouldest not obey the voice of the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 28:62, KJV
“They fought from heaven; the stars in their courses fought against Sisera.” Judges 5:20, KJV
“Their children also multipliedst thou as the stars of heaven, and broughtest them into the land, concerning which thou hadst promised to their fathers, that they should go in to possess it.” Nehemiah 9:23, KJV
“Is not God in the height of heaven? and behold the height of the stars, how high they are!” Job 22:12, KJV
“Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth [constellations of the Zodiac] in his season? or canst thou guide Arcturus with his sons?” Job 38:31-32, KJV
“For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.” Isaiah 13:10, KJV
“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” Isaiah 14:13, KJV
“And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light. All the bright lights of heaven will I make dark over thee, and set darkness upon thy land, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 32:7-8, KJV
“And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; and it cast down some of the host and of the stars to the ground, and stamped upon them.” Daniel 8:10, KJV
“Thou hast multiplied thy merchants above the stars of heaven: the cankerworm spoileth, and flieth away.” Nahum 3:16, KJV
“Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:” Matthew 24:29, KJV
“But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, And the stars of heaven shall fall, and the powers that are in heaven shall be shaken.” Mark 13:24-25, KJV
“Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars [planetes aster], to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.” Jude 1:13, KJV
“And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.” Revelation 6:12-14, KJV
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars . . . And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.” Revelation 12:1, 4, KJV
