• 6.7.1: A
• 6.7.2: B
• 6.7.3: C
• 6.7.4: D
• 6.7.5: E
• 6.7.6: F
• 6.7.7: G
• 6.7.8: H
• 6.7.9: I
• 6.7.10: J
• 6.7.11: K
• 6.7.12: L
• 6.7.13: M
• 6.7.14: N
• 6.7.15: O
• 6.7.16: P
• 6.7.17: Q
• 6.7.18: R
• 6.7.19: S
• 6.7.20: T
• 6.7.22: V
• 6.7.23: W
• 6.7.24: X
• 6.7.25: Y
• 6.7.26: Z

Last Days

The final period of world history. In the Old Testament the term usually refers to the age of the Messiah, which would involve some kind of final judgment. Christians disagree among themselves about when the last days began. Some consider that the last days began fairly recently, such as with the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. They point to certain sayings of Jesus about events that would happen in the last days, which they claim are eerily similar to the situation in the world today (e.g. Matthew 24.3-14; Luke 21.24-27).

Others emphasise texts where the apostles seem to suggest that the last days had already begun in their own time (Acts 2.16, 17; 1 Corinthians 10.11; 1 John 2.18). Others have used an analogy with World War II to explain the concept of the last days more clearly. The Normandy landings on D-Day marked the beginning of the end of the Second World War in Europe, but not until VE Day the following year did that actually happen. Similarly, the last days are believed by some to mark the final chapter of life as we know it, even if the end is not yet in sight. It's worth noting, however, that Christians in every age have often thought that the end was near.

L

Last-judgment