More startling nearness statements.

Yes, something was up back then in Bible times and in those “last days.” Something so big and so near that it prompted the 1st-century, Holy Spirit-guided writers of the New Testament (John 16:13) to make or record such additional and startling statements as . . .

• …the end of all things is at hand  (1 Pet. 4:7 KJV)
• …the fullness of time was come  (Gal. 4:4 KJV)
• …the time is fulfilled  (Mark 1:15 KJV)
• …the fulfillment of the ages has come  (1 Cor. 10:11)
• …the ends of the world [ages] are come  (1 Cor. 10:11 KJV)
• …for these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled (Luke 21:22 KJV)
• …the time is short (1 Cor. 7:29)
• …for the world in its present form is passing away (1 Cor. 7:31)
• …it is the last hour . . . . This is how we know it is the last hour (1 John 2:18)

What’s the scoop? Why were they talking like this? Is it possible that these words literally mean what they say and, therefore, these writers said what they meant? If so, what could have been so monumental and so impending, right there and then and in their lifetime, to justify such emphatic and strong claims? The thoughtful answer to that question is, in our opinion, what should be termed the climax for the rest of the greatest story ever foretold. 

No question about it, the 1st-century followers of Jesus Christ lived in expectation of something big about to happen, very soon. For them, it was the “last hour.” But the last hour of what? Was this big event the proverbial end of the world? The end of time? Or the conclusion of human history? Obviously, it was not. So it had to be something else. If nothing of radical magnitude happened befitting this language and imminency (nearness), then these statements were misleading or mistaken, at best—which is exactly the interpretation that has been given to us by many modern interpreters!

Sources:

1 The Perfect Ending for the World by John Noe

2 The Last Days According to Jesus by R.C. Sproul

3 Last Days Madness by Gary DeMar

4 The Works of Josephus translated by William Whiston

5 Josephus the Essential Writings by Paul L. Maier