The Apostles taught that the end time was the last age of man’s dominion over the earth, that it had already begun, and that it would end with the Lord’s return to reign eternally over all things in heaven and earth.

In 1 John 2:18, John writes, “Little children, it is the last time; and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists, whereby we know that it is the last time.”

John speaks in the present tense in reference to “the last time,” singular, as a specific designation. Other apostles also make it clear that when they speak of the last or end time, they are referring to the current period that is to continue until the end of the world.

The term “last days” refers to an age that began during the time of the apostles and culminates with the return of Christ. This clarification addresses the conundrum regarding the prophecies fulfilled during the destruction of the temple and those expected to occur in the end of days. By viewing the fulfillment of all the prophecies from the time of Christ until his return within the same age—the third age—there is no conflict in the period of fulfillment.

The third age is the last of three 2000-year periods that together form a 6000-year dominion of mankind over the earth. This 6000-year period aligns with the first six days of creation in the Book of Genesis—one day represents 1000 years—mankind is given six days to labor, then comes rest.

It was a shared belief among early Christians and Jews that human history would conclude at the end of 6,000 years. A passage in the book of Psalms correlates 1,000 years with one day. Jewish sages used this passage to support their writings. They taught that there would be two ages, each of 2,000 years; at the end of the 4,000 years, Messiah would appear, bringing in the messianic age.

However, the allotted 4000 years for Messiah’s coming passed, and the Messiah failed to arrive—or so they presumed. Having rejected Jesus as the Messiah, they reasoned that the Messiah did not come on account of their many sins. It was then determined that 2,000 more years would be allotted, during which the Messiah could come at any time.

If the Messiah did not appear during the 2,000-year extension, he must come at the end of it, whether Israel was ready or not, because the six days—6,000 years foreshadowed in Genesis before the Sabbath Day—would expire.

Early Christians also embraced Psalm 90 and the belief that each day in Genesis represented 1,000 years of man. In 2 Peter 3:8, he states, “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”

Simon Peter’s statement is understood in two ways. One interpretation is that time is irrelevant to God, which is certainly true, while the other interpretation is that God uses one day to represent a thousand years; both interpretations are valid. The teaching that a day represents 1,000 years of mankind’s dominion over the world is still embraced among religious Jews and by many Christians.

A conundrum in Genesis lends credence to the concept that a day represents 1,000 years. The first words God speaks in the Bible are, “Let there be light.” However, the sun, the moon, and the stars were not created until the fourth day.

If the six days in Genesis correspond to 6,000 years, then 4,000 years represents the completion of the fourth day, which is when the sun appeared—a sign in creation that foreshadows the coming of the Messiah before the end of the year 4,000. This conclusion aligns with the hope of the Jewish sages before they believed the prophecy failed. Conversely, Christians see fulfillment of the prophecy in Christ, who came first to offer salvation and who will come again to make reckoning. At his return, all the remaining prophecies from his initial appearance will be fulfilled. And He shall reign forever and ever. – Concluded: Part 2 of 2