In the Latter Days by Melvin Johnson

 

IN THE LATTER DAYS

Melvin Johnson

“Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.” Genesis 49:1.

The patriarch Jacob was speaking from his death bed to his twelve sons, and these last words of his have been preserved as a prophecy for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. There is no intention here to dwell in particular on that prophecy; rather to consider the peculiar significance of the Hebrew ACHARITH which Jacob used in this instance, rendered here as "in the last days.”

This term is found in some sixty passages of the Hebrew Scriptures where ACHARITH is rendered in various ways though seldom "in the last days" as we find it here in Genesis, More often and more accurately it is rendered as "the latter days", … latter instead of “last.” The same ACHARITH appears as "the latter days" in Numbers 24:14 which we shall consider here later, then again in Deuteronomy 4:30 and in eight further passages; it also appears as "latter end" in seven others.

 

“The latter days" or "latter end" is found to be a substantial era of Israel’s future history after God renews His covenant relations with that nation. It is an era distinguished from Israel ^t s ancient national history and is appropriately called "the latter days,” not as if it were to be her last days but because it presupposes a previous era of former days characterized by the law and the prophets. That previous era extends back to the time of Moses and forward from thence to include the time of John the Baptist, last of the ancient Hebrew prophets, though our Lord called him also "more than a prophet." Matthew11:9-13; Luke 16:16.

Israel 's future era of "the latter days" is widely misunderstood as if it were only some relatively brief period between the completion of "this current era" (Romans 11:5) and the beginning of a new millennium at our Lord’s personal revelation to Israel. While it is true that there is where the latter days of Hebrew prophecy apply, they are not just a brief period at the end of this eon. They constitute rather an independent era, an extended season, to follow this current era after that terminates with the fulfilment of Pauline prophecy at I Thessalonians 4:15-17 and I Corinthians15:51-53. At some further time thereafter, a time not now revealed, Israel ^t s prophetic era of "the latter days" will begin, and we are about to observe why it must embrace a long span of premillennial history which draws near to a close when our Lord returns to Mount Olivet and reveals Himself to Israel (Acts 1:11; Zechariah 14:4), though it may also extend briefly beyond; long enough to include what Isaiah terms “a conclusive and decisive accounting" (Isaiah 10:23; Romans 9:28, Concordant Literal New Testament) That appears to coincide with the completion of those 2300 literal days of Daniel 8:13-14 which necessarily extend 1010 days beyond those 1290 days that intervene between the removal of the Levitical "daily sacrifice" and the setting up of a certain “abomination of desolation.” Daniel 12:11-13.

 

The fact that the era of ^t' the latter days" does constitute an extensive period of future history is supported by much Hebrew prophecy; more than we could adequately consider in present available time and space. There is, however, one aspect of prophecy we can more briefly observe which by itself should establish that “the latter days” is an era of its own when Israel, as a covenant nation, will be living and serving under a Levitical priesthood of a future and long-enduring law economy, to be superseded by the Melchisedec priesthood at our Lord ^t s personal return to Israel. (Hebrews 7:11-12)

 

All this becomes further apparent when we note that Israel’s resettlement in the promised land at “the latter days”, after they are first restored to covenant during an intervening period in some prophetic "wilderness" (Ezekiel 20:33-42), is also coincident with a contemporary revival of other ancient nations in “the latter days"; nations not now existing as such but who were contemporary to Israel during her former era of the law and the prophets. Present descendants of those former nations cannot be ethnically identified now until they are divinely restored as future nations, because now their ancestral lines are obviously even more obscure than those of the present descendants of Israel; yet prophecy shows they will be reestablished as nations to experience a future span of history under their former national names.

 

This is something we ought to recognize as being even more phenomenal than the future identity of Israel’s individual tribes which prophecy clearly affirms although we are not told how even that can be and will be accomplished, After a previous era of her former days when Israel first had been a nation of twelve distinct tribes, we know she went into captivity and we are told from her own Scriptures that she will be restored as a future nation of the same twelve tribes. "The Lord bringeth back the captivity of His people" (Psalm 14:7). "Behold, 1 will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents" (Jeremiah 30:18), Future descendants of Israel will be restored to the promised land according to their designated tribal allotments (Ezekiel 48) and those among them who then will serve in the Levitical priesthood must be no others than the sons of Zadok (Ezekiel 48:11) who was the tenth generation from Aaron, the great grandson of Levi (I Chronicles 6:1-8), Therefore when the future identity of the tribe of Levi is somehow reestablished by a divine foreknowledge not now revealed to us, only those males of thirty years and upward who are also from the lineage of Zadok will be acceptable as priests from all of Levi’s descendants.

Yet prophecy is equally clear that other nations, such as Moab and Ammon who were nations at the time of Moses, are also to be restored as future nations under their former national names “in the latter days.” Thus, we read, for example, "I will bring again the captivity of Moab in the latter days" (Jeremiah 48:47) ; I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon (Jeremiah 49:6) ; and “I will bring again the captivity of Elam." (Jeremiah 49:39) Moab and Ammon were descendants of Lot, and the nation of Elam from the lineage of Shem (Genesis 10:22) was apparently the predominant power in lower Mesopotamia as far back as the time of Abraham. (Genesis) These former nations will be restored as nations in a future era of "the latter days," just as Israel will be restored to become once again God's exclusive covenant nation,

 

In that prophetic era of “the latter days” all other nations will both rise and fall. They will experience first a time of peace and prosperity together with Israel; then a further period of wars, famines and pestilence contemporary to the time of Israel’s future apostasy. Unlike all other nations, Israel will survive as a nation which both the law and the prophets affirm with emphasis: "I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt.” (Leviticus 26:45) "Though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee (*see below) ; yet will I not make a full end of thee but I will correct thee in measure and will not leave thee altogether unpunished." (Jeremiah 30:11) Israel will survive her apostasy “in the latter days" after she receives her necessary deserved correction.

(*) Any Gentiles reconstituted as nations in the millennial era or later will share the blessings of God 's covenant with Israel only if they honor and obey Israel's God-given law. Gog and Magog will be destroyed as nations, due to their post-millennial revolt (Revelation 21:24; 20:8-9)

She will be born anew out of Zion's last travail; a nation then born in a day, 

Isaiah 66:8-9, Zechariah 3:9.

 

Balak, king of Moab in the time of Moses, was deeply grieved to hear of Moab’s ultimate fate at the hands of Israel in some prophetic time then dimly distant. “I will advertise thee,” said Balaam the prophet, "what this people (Israel) shall do to thy people (Moab) in the latter days. , I shall see Him but not now… there shall come a Star out of Jacob, a Scepter shall rise out of Israel and shall smite the corners of Moab. Prophecy also indicates, as we shall find here later, why Moab and Ammon together with Edom (of Esau) will first escape the future fate of other nations but afterward Moab together with Ammon and Edom will become victims of Balaam’s prophecy “in the latter days.”

Yet much earlier in that era of those "latter days" Gentile nations and Israel will be living at peace with each other and Gentiles will be blessed for their blessing of Israel, even as God made promise to their father Abraham on behalf of his seed (Genesis 12:3). It appears that some Gentile nations then will be actively assisting Israel with her future reconstruction work, much as Persian kings did in post-exile days after the Babylonian servitude, though conceivably on a much larger scale.

This is dramatically portrayed by the vision which appeared to Zechariah who prophesied in post-exile days, as did also the prophet Haggai, when Jeshua and Zerubbabel were about to begin the building of a new temple after their return from Babylon, The prophecies of those days by Zechariah and Haggai are obviously focused on a then future reconstruction and a temple of far greater glory, This is clearly implied where Haggai refers to a new "house" that will excel the glory of the former, to which he adds, 't And in this place will I give peace saith the Lord of hosts.” Haggai 2:9. The temple which the people of Judah built in those former days was definitely not greater than the previous temple and it was followed by wars rather than peace. Yet meanwhile the prophet Zechariah relates a remarkable vision to indicate a most cooperative attitude on the part of certain Gentile nations at some prophetic future time. "Then I lifted up mine eyes," he said, ^t' and behold four horns, ⁿ And I said unto the angel that talked with me, ^t What be these?' And he answered me, 'These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem.’ And the Lord showed me four carpenters. Then said I 'What come these to do?’ And he spoke saying, ‘These are the horns which have scattered Judah… but these are come to fray (or help) them, to cast out the horns (the powers) of the Gentiles, which lifted up their horn over the land of Judah to scatter it." Zechariah 1: 18-21.

Thus the prophet had foreseen a distantly future time when the (symbolical) "horns" of Gentile power first will have scattered Judah, Israel and Jerusalem as though to the four corners of the earth; yet after Israel’s future exodus from all nations and their reoccupation of the promised land, the Gentiles then as carpenters will come to a previously scattered Israel and help her rebuild!

The prophecies of Daniel and Revelation are focused especially on that part of "the latter days" after Israel (then long restored) begins once again to apostatize; yet those two prophecies were seen and heard by Daniel and John from two widely separated perspectives of time, long past and far future, What Daniel reveals from Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, his own visions and a messenger’s interpretation is all parallel to the revelations received by John on Patmos when he had been transported in spirit to the Lord's day (Revelation 1:10) which other prophecy locates at or near the last extremity of "the latter days" (the Hebrew ACHARITH) Thus what Daniel had perceived only from the distant past John was privileged to see and hear from a time so far future that he must “turn about to look for the voice which spoke” (Revelation 1:12). What still remains to us as prophecy is what John saw and heard as if it were already history.

While Daniel revealed that the great image the king had seen vas relevant to four successive world kingdoms, beginning with Babylon as the head of gold, he still prefaced the entire revelation by saying first that God had thus made known "what shall be in the latter days.” Daniel 2:28. While the kingdoms symbolized by gold, silver, brass and iron would successively rise and fall, Daniel's interpretation requires also that they shall co-exist at a future time, for he reminded the king that in his dream he had seen the image standing until all of its parts were "broken to pieces together" (Daniel 2:35; our emphasis).

Then when Daniel himself had seen a vision of four beasts which were explained to him as representing four kingdoms symbolized by a lion, bear, leopard and a mysterious ten-horned monstrosity, it becomes enlightening to note that in some late 42 months of the latter days, all these characteristics reappear in one future symbolic beast with mouth like a lion, feet like a bear, body like a leopard and ten horns (Revelation 13:1-2). In Daniel’s vision the fourth beast had certain features in common with the great image; brass for the nails and iron for the teeth, two metals identified with the great image whose midsection was of brass but it had legs and feet of iron (7:19), The fourth beast also shared one unique feature with something Daniel was to see in a further vision. On the fourth beast it was a strange little horn which came up among the ten and displaced three of them. In his further vision Daniel saw two domestic animals, a ram and a goat, which were explained to him as meaning Persia and Grecia respectively; the two kingdoms which succeeded Babylon in that order, as hi story also confirms. The goat in Daniel’s vision had first a notable horn which later was broken (commonly associated with Alexander, “the first king”) and in place of that horn carne up four others. Then from one of those came forth a little horn very remindful of the one which appeared on the fourth beast of Daniel ^t s previous vision.

Thus since the brass and the iron of the great image reappears in the fourth beast of Daniel’s first vision; and since the strange "little horn" appears in both of Daniel's two visions, it appears that all three revelations are interrelated in some particulars, Quite obviously they all have a factual basis in the ancient history of Babylon, Persia and Grecia, seeing that all these former kingdoms are mentioned in the prophecy; yet when the messenger spoke to Daniel about all this, he placed his first and foremost emphasis not on that historical background; rather he stressed the purpose of the vision; exactly when it applies, ^t' Understand O Son of man," said he , ^t' at the time of the end shall be the vision. “in the last end of the indignation IN THE LATTER DAYS" (Daniel 8:17). Here again we have the Hebrew ACHARITH for "the latter days," though rendered slightly different as "the last end of the indignation" or “in the latter time.”

Consequently, for at least some part of  “the latter days,” this apparently requires a temporary restoration of former kingdoms like Babylon, Persia and Grecia; and from among those restored nations an evil man of destiny will emerge who will supersede certain other rulers, like the little horn in Daniel’s visions which displaced certain others: and that one will for a time succeed in consolidating a world dominion which appears to John in vision as one composite beast having all the characteristics which Daniel had seen separately as a lion, bear, leopard and a ten-horned monstrosity, the latter itself having the characteristics of more than one kingdom, for it had brass as well as iron.

John in vision sees that composite beast near the zenith of its glory to be followed shortly by its ultimate dissolution, It represents a great political world complex which in that day is ruled by the sixth of seven kings, five having fallen while another then must yet appear for “a short space” (Revelation 17:10). Then in a late 42 months one of those seven kings will return to power far greater than before after he is previously said to have been mortally wounded as though by a sword; yet now, behold, he lives as though immortal and he revels in the whole world’s acclaim (Revelation 13). His new reign becomes he eighth though he, as a person, is one of the former seven (

Revelation 17:11).

Until then it appears that the beast consists first of seven confederate powers, as denoted by seven heads, but also ten subordinate powers represented by ten horns which at first are not honored with crowns as they will be later in a final 42 months (compare Revelation 13:1 with 12:3) These subordinate powers seemingly will be pressing for their separate autonomies and for a very short time they too "receive power as kings one hour with the beast:” apparently no more than 42 months.

 

Meanwhile according to the revelations given to John, it appears that all political power together with all world wealth and commerce will be under the powerful influence and control of an evil supranational institution, religious or philosophical in character. This was envisioned to John as a woman of fabulous luxury called “BABYLON THE GREAT,” and John saw the woman as being carried and supported by the beast; apparently therefore not a political power in itself but one which all political power must reckon with and recognize. John was told that the woman symbolically represents "that great city which reigneth over (our emphasis) the kings of the earth” (Revelation 17:18).

 

The prophetical and typical counterpart for all this is doubtless found in Zechariah chapter five which refers to a “house” – like Israel’s temple was commonly called a house – but this one is identified with “wickedness” (verse 8). It will be built and designedly well established in the land of Shinar, the area where the ancient tower of Babel was built (Genesis11:2).

 

In Revelation 18 John witnessed the sudden destruction of that future world-renowned city, Babylon the Great , and in 19:20 he beheld an equally sudden destruction of the beast which until then will be allied with and supporting that fabulous city.

 

A long-range approach to all this was also revealed to Daniel in the third year of Cyrus when a messenger spoke to him saying, “I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people ‘IN THE LATTER DAYS’” (Daniel10:14; our emphasis) From there the prophecy appears to proceed with events now fulfilled in the ancient history of Persia and Grecia to and including verse 20 which reads in part : "Then shall stand up… a raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom; but within few days he shall be destroyed." That has been generally applied to Seleucus, one of the four provincial rulers who succeeded Alexander the Great. That one is said to have sent an emissary to Jerusalem to plunder Israel's temple (see II Maccabees 3:4 onward).

 

Then verse 21 begins, “In his estate"… referring not necessarily to some immediate successor but one to arise eventually in that former estate, "In his estate shall stand up a vile person.” At that point the prophecy seems to shift abruptly to the era of the latter days when "the little horn" is due to appear by some political renascence from one of the four sub-dominions of ancient Grecia. We recall that the little horn must appear from one of those four (8:8) but not until "at the time of the end”, the latter time of their kingdom when the king of fierce countenance. “shall stand up" (8:23). The remainder of chapter 11 relates the many exploits of that evil character who for a brief time "in the latter days" is to personalize the symbolic beast of Revelation until at length the beast is "cast into the lake of fire burning with sulfur” (19:20) and the flesh of its supporting army is devoured by  the birds of heaven (19:17,18), all of which accords with Daniel’s vision: "1 beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body destroyed, and given to the burning flame" (Daniel 7:11)  

 

Meanwhile in the last five verses of Daniel 11 we read of the many conquests by that "vile person" until at last "he shall come to his end and none shall help him. Yet first we are told that "many countries shall be overthrown… the land of Egypt shall not escape… the Libyans and the Ethiopians shall be at his steps;” but to all these there are three notable exceptions. "These ," we read, “shall escape out of his hand; Edom, Moab… and the children of Ammon.” We are about to find, however, that they will suffer a different fate, no less severe, and that will fulfil Balaam’s prophecy.

 

Edom from the descendants of Esau, Jacob ^t s brother, as well as Moab and Ammon, the descendants of Abraham's nephew Lot, are more closely related to Israel than other Gentiles. More was to be expected of them as near relatives, so any past offence of theirs against Israel remains especially grievous to Jehovah, for ^t' He that touch— eth you," said the prophet, "toucheth the apple of His eye.” Zechariah 2: 8.

Edom 's offence appears in Judges 11:17 when Israel had sent messengers asking permission only to pass peacefully through their land, yet we read "the king of Edom would not hearken.” The offence of Ammon and Moab appears in Deuteronomy 2 where Moses relates, "They met you not with bread and with water in the way, when ye came forth out of Egypt; and because they hired against thee Balaam the son of Beor … to curse thee Nevertheless the LORD thy God, • turned the curse into a blessing.”

 

A type of the future destruction to befall Ammon, Moab and Edom (the latter identified with Seir and Bozrah where those of Edom dwelt) is found in

II Chronicles 20:20-24. Note there that while the children of Judah did nothing but sing and praise the Lord, their adversaries from Ammon, Moab and mount Seir were set one against the other and "everyone helped to destroy another" until we read they were all "dead bodies fallen to the earth and none escaped.” So shall it be "in that day; a great tumult from the LORD shall be among them; and they shall lay hold everyone on the hand of his neighbor, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of his neighbor. " Zechariah14:13.

 

Thus prophecy shows that the LORD will execute a private and personal vengeance on Bozrah and the land of Idumea where those of Edom dwelt, "The sword of the LORD is filled with blood … for the LORD hath a sacrifice in Bozrah and a great slaughter in the land of Idumea (Isaiah  34:6) "Who is This That cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah, … garments like him that treadeth in the winefat?” In reply that One answers, "I will tread them in Mine anger and trample them in my fury For the day of vengeance is in Mine heart and the year of My redeemed is come" (see Isaiah 63: 1-4 and Revelation 14:19-20). Judgement will  be no less severe on Ammon and Moab, for we recall how Balaam prophesied so long ago, "There shall come a Star out of Jacob, And a Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And shall smite the corners of Moab." Numbers 24:17. "As I live, saith the LORD of hosts… Surely Moab shall be as Sodom and the children of Ammon as Gomorrah… My people shall spoil them and the remnant of My People shall possess them." Zephaniah 2: 9.

 

In this long paper, which already may seem much too long, we have touched only synoptically on vast areas of Hebrew prophecy to serve as a preview of Israel’s future rise to national glory, her further apostasy and ultimate deliverance. Until very recently, less than seven years ago, much truth had remained obscure to us because the “seventy weeks of years" in Daniel had been long and of course unintentionally misapplied mainly to the past.

 

Except for our late Brother Steedman's discovery, we all might still remain unaware that the Hebrew MASHIACH does not mean "Messiah" as it is mistakenly rendered in the King James Version. Until we were reminded of this, it was quite reasonable to assume that Andrew as well as the Samaritan woman (John 1:41; 4:25) might have read about their expected Messiah in Daniel of Israel’s Torah, but they had not.

 

Israel’s fond hope for the appearing of their Messiah had been – as it still remains – a long cherished national tradition … a true hope we all know Israel is yet to realize … but the name "Messiah" had appeared nowhere in the Hebrew Scriptures. From "The Messianic Idea in Israel" by Joseph Klausner… a writer himself sharing Israel's hope…  we find this confirmed in two different ways. There we are reminded correctly that MASHIACH always signifies anointed everywhere in Scripture; and, secondly, that "Messiah" was published “for the first time" (our emphasis) "in the Book of Enoch; and specifically in that part (quote) "which was composed, in the opinion of all the best scholars, in the time of Herod the Great,

 

Thus when MASHIACH in Daniel 9:25-26 is properly rendered, as it now also appears in late and revised versions, it relates not to our Lord Jesus Christ but to a future anointed king in Israel who will be deceived by that one indicated by the “little horn" so prominent in Daniel’s prophecy. The vast areas of prophecy which belong to "the latter days" require and include the future “seventy weeks of years" which lie within this present eon but beyond "this current era."

 

The approaching renascence of Israel as a covenant nation must be, even now, a thought most precious to the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; a timely thought we too may explore and consider unto His delight. (The End)