Yes…but maybe not in the way you think. At least since the 1970’s, American Evangelicalism has been fascinated with the thought of tracing world events and predicting Christ’s return. Ok, not EXACTLY predicting. After all, Jesus did say, “No one knows the day or hour.” Still, many might reply, “Yeah, but we can guess the season, right???” Sure, you can guess. And Scripture does give things to look for (Matthew 24, 2 Thessalonians 2, 2 Timothy 3). But folks in every generation have been convinced that “this must really be it!” In fact, such hype and fervent conviction reached a historic high back in the year 1,000 AD.
Interestingly, Scripture tells even the first generation of Christians that they are in “The Last Days”. “This [the phenomenon at Pentecost] is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: ‘And in the last days it shall be….’” (Acts 2:16-17). “Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come” (1 Cor. 10:11). “In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (Heb. 1:2). “The end of all things is at hand” (1 Pet. 4:7). “But you must remember [in thinking about the false teachers among you], the predictions of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ. They said to you, ‘In the last time there will be scoffers…’ “ (Jude 17-18). “I, John, your brother and partner in the tribulation…” (Rev. 1:9).
In short, the New Testament writers viewed this whole time between the two comings of Christ as “The Last Days” and time of apocalyptic trials. Yes, there will be a heighten time of intensity at the end: intensification in natural disasters, wars, famines, persecution by the state, depraved devotion to pleasure, powerful mystical delusions, and imposters in the church. But the book of Revelation and other passages view these phenomena as both cyclical and intensifying. In other words – these forces are already present in the world and have been since Christ’s ascension (2 Thess. 2:7, 1 John 2:18-22, 4:3).
What approach should we take then in thinking about the “Last Days”? Probably asking less about “when” and more about “How should I live?” The answer is given in 2 Peter 3:11-14: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to His promise we are waiting for a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.” May His peace be yours as you contemplate final things.