Page 74 - Daniel

The phrase “in the latter days” is Aramaic, almost a transliteration of a
Hebrew expression that is common in the Old Testament. Daniel was
unquestionably using the Aramaic in the same sense as its Hebrew
counterpart; and, accordingly, its definition should be based on Hebrew
usage. The expression is found as early as Genesis 49:1 where Jacob

predicted the future of his sons. The term is employed by Balaam in
Numbers 24:14 and Moses in Deuteronomy 4:30 and 31:29 in
connection with the future of Israel. An examination of these prophecies
indicates that the latter days include much that is now history. But with
reference to the consummation in messianic times, Jeremiah used the

expression a number of times to refer to the climax of the age relating to
the second coming of Jesus Christ (Jer. 23:20; 30:24; 48:47; 49:39).
Ezekiel identified the times of the invasion of Gog and Magog as “in the
latter days” (38:16). The expression is also found in Hosea 3:5 and
Micah 4:1 in reference to the messianic age.

On the basis of scriptural usage, it is clear that “the latter days” is an
extended period of time regarded as the consummation of the prophetic
purview involved in each instance. Accordingly, Culver’s definition is
accurate that the expression “refers to the future of God’s dealings with
mankind as to be consummated and concluded historically in the times

25
of the Messiah.” He goes on to point out that the expression always has
in view the ultimate establishment of the messianic kingdom on earth,
even though “the latter days” include events now history, such as the
division of Israel in the Promised Land. On the basis of usage in the Old
Testament, it can be concluded that the expression is larger than that of
messianic times specifically, but that it always includes this element in
its consummation.

In the New Testament there is allusion to the Old Testament concept
in Acts 2:17–21 (cf. Joel 2:28–32), but elsewhere reference to “the last

days” (John 6:39, 40, 44, 54; 7:37; 11:24; 12:48; Acts 2:17; 2 Tim. 3:1;
Heb. 1:2; James 5:3; 2 Pet. 3:3) and “last time” (1 Pet. 1:5, 20; 1 John
2:18; Jude 18) must be interpreted contextually and is not always the
same concept as “the latter days” (cf. John 7:37). The latter days for
Israel are not precisely the same as the last days for the church, as the
Old Testament characteristically spans the present age without including
the church in its consideration.