THE LAST DAYS: PROPHECY VS. MYSTERY

By Mike Hammond – Out of Tradition Into Truth

⸻

INTRODUCTION

Few phrases are misunderstood in modern Christianity as much as the words “the last days.” Nearly every preacher, headline, and conversation about the end of the world seems to claim that we are “living in the last days.” But to understand that phrase biblically, it must be rightly divided. The term “the last days” appears in both prophecy and mystery, yet it does not mean the same thing in both. The King James Bible makes a clear distinction between the last days of Israel’s prophetic program and the last days of the Body of Christ’s dispensation of grace. When we ignore that difference, we mix Israel’s program with ours and end up in confusion.

⸻

THE LAST DAYS FOR ISRAEL (PROPHECY PROGRAM)

When the Bible speaks of “the last days” in prophecy, it refers to the final period of Israel’s history before the establishment of the earthly kingdom promised to their fathers. The prophets called this time the “time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7), and it would lead directly into the reign of the Messiah on earth.

Isaiah prophesied:

“And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains…” (Isaiah 2:2)

Daniel spoke of what would happen “in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28). Micah echoed the same phrase:

“But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established…” (Micah 4:1)

These prophets were not describing the Church Age or the Body of Christ, but Israel’s future kingdom. Peter confirmed this understanding in Acts 2 when he quoted Joel’s prophecy, saying:

“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…” (Acts 2:16–17)

Notice that Peter spoke to “Ye men of Israel” (Acts 2:22). Pentecost was not the beginning of the Body of Christ but the beginning of Israel’s last days, had their prophetic program continued. Those last days would have included the tribulation period and the return of Jesus Christ to establish His kingdom on earth.

However, Israel fell in unbelief, and that prophetic timeline was interrupted. The last days of Israel were paused when God revealed the mystery to Paul and began a new dispensation—one that was kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25, Ephesians 3:9).

⸻

THE LAST DAYS FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST (MYSTERY PROGRAM)

The apostle Paul also spoke of “the last days,” but his context was entirely different. Paul’s “last days” are not the end of prophecy but the decline of the dispensation of grace before the catching away of the Body of Christ.

Paul wrote to Timothy:

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.” (2 Timothy 3:1)

Paul did not describe tribulation, earthquakes, or signs in heaven. Instead, he warned of spiritual decay, moral corruption, and apostasy within the professing church. These last days concern the departure from sound doctrine, not the fulfillment of prophecy.

He continued:

“For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy…” (2 Timothy 3:2)

The “last days” in Paul’s letters describe the closing condition of this present grace dispensation, not the approach of Israel’s kingdom. These are the last days of the Body’s witness on earth, a time marked by humanism, self-worship, and a rejection of Pauline truth.

Paul also foresaw this doctrinal collapse:

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

This describes the end of the mystery program. Before Christ returns to Israel to fulfill prophecy, He will first call His Body home (1 Thessalonians 4:16–17). The rapture will end the dispensation of grace, and only then will Israel’s prophetic “last days” resume.

⸻

PROPHECY AND MYSTERY ARE NOT THE SAME

To confuse these two sets of “last days” is to destroy the distinction between prophecy and mystery. The prophets spoke of a time of judgment and restoration for Israel, while Paul spoke of a time of spiritual apostasy and departure from truth among Gentiles.

PROGRAM: Prophecy (Israel)

AUDIENCE: Israel and the nations

MEANING OF “LAST DAYS”: The conclusion of Israel’s prophetic timeline leading to Christ’s return

EVENTS INCLUDED: Tribulation, Second Coming, Kingdom

PROGRAM: Mystery (Body of Christ)

AUDIENCE: The Body of Christ

MEANING OF “LAST DAYS”: The final decline of the dispensation of grace before the rapture

EVENTS INCLUDED: Apostasy, rejection of truth, perilous times

When preachers today claim that we are seeing the fulfillment of Joel’s prophecy or the signs of Matthew 24, they reveal that they have not rightly divided the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Those passages concern Israel’s “last days,” not ours. The Body of Christ is not waiting for the tribulation but for the appearing of the Lord in the air.

⸻

CONCLUSION

The “last days” mean two entirely different things depending on which program of God you are studying. For Israel, they refer to the final stage of prophecy before the earthly kingdom and Christ’s return. For the Body of Christ, they refer to the closing of the mystery dispensation, marked by spiritual decline and apostasy before the catching away.

The prophetic last days end with Christ coming to earth, while the mystery last days end with the Body of Christ going to heaven. Until that moment, we are to stand fast in Pauline truth, holding to sound doctrine, and proclaiming the gospel of grace that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, and that our salvation is by faith alone in His finished work and through the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3–4; Ephesians 1:7).