Inspired by Roy Runyon's Comment https://www.facebook.com/.../posts/1782700222618111/...

Introduction:

Futurists need to ask themselves the question, when did the Christian age begin? I think nearly everyone will agree that it began on Pentecost with the inauguration of the kingdom/church, and the beginning of the Great Commission. Thing is, when did Jesus appear? When did Jesus speak to the apostles? That was during His ministry, which (wait for it) preceded Pentecost! So if (since) Jesus' ministry is included in "these last times" and "the end of the age" (Heb 9:26), then the LAST times and the END of the age cannot by any stretch of the linguistics refer to the BEGINNING of the Christian age.

Let's take that truth and unpack it with Scripture.

Jesus Appeared in the Last Times

• Hebrews 9:26 makes it clear:

"Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world, but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been revealed to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself."

• This consummation of the ages is not the start of the New Covenant age, but the closing of the Old. Jesus' appearance and death were part of bringing that age to its end.

Peter Echoes the Same Thought

• 1 Peter 1:20 says:

"For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you."

• Peter was writing to first-century believers and telling them that those were the last times. Jesus' appearing was part of that timeframe.

The End of the Age Was Already in View During Jesus' Ministry

• In Matthew 24:3, the disciples asked:

"Tell us, when will these things happen, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?"

• Jesus then described events leading up to the destruction of the temple, warning them about what would happen in their generation (Matthew 24:34).

• That means the end of the age wasn't a distant future, it was unfolding before their eyes, and Jesus was guiding them through it.

The Christian Age Was Not the Start of the Last Days

• Acts 2 records Pentecost, which marked the start of the Church's mission. But as Roy rightly pointed out, Jesus' ministry preceded Pentecost.

• Therefore, if Jesus spoke during the last times, and those times predate the Christian age, then the last days must belong to the end of the Old Covenant, not the beginning of the New.

Conclusion:

Roy Runyon hit the nail on the head. Futurists have to deal with the timing. You cannot logically say the end of the age began after Pentecost if Jesus' earthly ministry was already in that time period.

The last days were the final stretch of the Old Covenant, culminating in the judgment on Jerusalem. They are not our future, they are in the past. The age we live in now is the result of their end and His victory.