The last days began with Jesus
In the Bible, “the last days” does not always mean only the final few years before Christ returns. The writers of the New Testament describe their own time as the last days because Jesus had come, offered himself for sin, risen from death, and begun God’s promised kingdom work (Hebrews 1:1-2; 1 Peter 1:20).
That means end-times prophecy has an already-and-not-yet shape. Some promises began to be fulfilled in Christ’s first coming. Others remain ahead. This helps explain why the apostles could speak of living in the last days while also urging believers to wait expectantly for Jesus.
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;
Pentecost was a clear fulfilment
At Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came upon Jesus’ followers in Jerusalem. When the crowd wondered what was happening, Peter directly connected the event with Joel’s prophecy that God would pour out his Spirit in the last days (Acts 2:16-17).
Peter did not treat Joel’s words as a distant puzzle only for a future generation. He saw God’s promised work beginning right there. People from many places heard the message, and the church began to grow. It was a sign that God was gathering people to himself through the risen Christ.
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:
Jerusalem’s fall was foretold
Jesus warned that Jerusalem would be surrounded by armies and face severe destruction (Luke 21:20-22). Within that same teaching, he spoke about the suffering and scattering that would follow (Luke 21:23-24). Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed by Roman forces in AD 70, an event many Christians understand as a fulfilment of this warning.
Christians do differ over how much of Jesus’ teaching in Luke 21 points to AD 70 and how much points beyond it to his final return. Still, the destruction of Jerusalem shows that biblical prophecy is not merely abstract speculation. Jesus’ words had real weight in history.
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
What is still to come
Fulfilment has begun, but the story is not finished. The New Testament holds out the hope that Jesus will return openly and personally (Acts 1:11). It also speaks of the resurrection of the dead and of death itself finally being defeated (1 Corinthians 15:52-54).
So it is wise to be hopeful without becoming overly certain about modern headlines, dates, or detailed timetables. Jesus called his followers to stay watchful and faithful, not to panic or make predictions (Matthew 24:36; Matthew 24:42). The centre of Christian end-times hope is not fear. It is the return of Jesus and the restoration God promises.