Are We Living in the Last Days?
Bible Study Notes | October 7th, 2026
Theme: Understanding Bible Prophecy and How We Should Live While Waiting for Christ[Text Wrapping Break]Key Scripture: Matthew 24:3[Text Wrapping Break]Supporting Scriptures: Matthew 24; Acts 1:6–11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13–18; 2 Timothy 3:1–5; 2 Peter 3:3–14; Daniel 9:27; John 14:1–3; Revelation 22:20
Introduction — Everybody Wants to Know What Time It Is
Whenever something major happens in the world—war breaks out, nations are in conflict, natural disasters occur, violence increases, or society seems to be changing rapidly—somebody eventually asks:
“Do you think we are living in the last days?”
That question is not new.
The disciples themselves wanted answers. In Matthew 24:3 they came privately to Jesus and asked:
“Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?”
They wanted to know when. They wanted to know what signs they should look for. And for generations, believers have continued asking those same questions.
But there is a danger in studying prophecy. We can become so interested in what is going to happen tomorrow that we overlook what God expects from us today.
Bible prophecy isn’t merely intended to satisfy our curiosity. It should strengthen our faith, encourage our hope, and affect the way we live.
So our study is built around two questions:
Are we living in the last days?
And more importantly:
If these are the last days, how should we be living?
Discussion Questions
- When you hear “the last days,” what comes to your mind first—fear, curiosity, excitement, concern, or hope? Why?
- Why do major world events often cause people to become more interested in Bible prophecy?
- How should studying the return of Christ change the way a Christian lives right now?
- What Does the Bible Mean by “The Last Days”?
We often hear the phrase “last days” and immediately think about the final few days or years before Jesus returns. But Scripture uses the phrase more broadly.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter quoted Joel:
“And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh…”[Text Wrapping Break]—Acts 2:17
Hebrews 1:2 also says that God:
“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son…”
The New Testament church already understood itself to be living in a period in which God’s redemptive plan was moving toward its culmination in Christ.
So when we talk about the last days, we shouldn’t only think about something that begins when the world reaches a certain level of trouble. The church has been living with the expectation of Christ’s return for generations.
The Disciples Wanted a Date—Jesus Gave Them a Duty
Acts 1 helps us understand this.
After Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples asked:
“Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”
They wanted Jesus to tell them when.
Jesus responded:
“It is not for you to know the times or the seasons…”
But then He immediately said:
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses…”
Notice what happened.
They asked for a calendar.[Text Wrapping Break]Jesus gave them a commission.
They wanted information about the future, but Jesus reminded them of their responsibility in the present.
That’s important for us because sometimes we want God to explain everything that’s coming when God is saying:
“You already know what I told you to do.”
We don’t know the date of Christ’s return.
But we know we’re supposed to witness.
We know we’re supposed to serve.
We know we’re supposed to love.
We know we’re supposed to make disciples.
We know we’re supposed to live holy lives.
So instead of spending all of our time trying to determine when He’s coming, perhaps we should spend more time making sure we’re doing what He commanded until He comes.
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think Jesus redirected the disciples from the timing of His kingdom to the work they had been called to do?
- What responsibilities has Jesus given the church while we wait for His return?
- If the church genuinely believed Jesus could return at any time, what should look different about our ministry and our lives?
- What Will the Last Days Look Like?
Paul gives us a striking description in 2 Timothy 3:1:
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.”
The word perilous points to difficult, dangerous, and troublesome times.
But notice something interesting about Paul’s description.
He doesn’t begin by talking about earthquakes.
He doesn’t begin with wars.
He doesn’t begin with politics.
He begins by describing people.
He says people will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, unthankful, unholy, unforgiving, without self-control, and lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God.
So one sign of difficult times is not simply what is happening around us.
It is what is happening inside people.
A Form Without the Power
Then Paul says:
“Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.”
That’s especially challenging because now the issue comes closer to the church.
A person can have the appearance of religion without experiencing transformation.
You can know when to stand in church.
Know when to say amen.
Know church language.
Know Scripture.
Know songs.
Know religious traditions.
And still resist the power of God to change your heart.
So when we read 2 Timothy 3, we shouldn’t only point outside the church and say:
“Look at how bad the world has become.”
We should also ask:
“Is any of this getting into me?”
Prophecy should not only make us inspect society.
Prophecy should make us inspect ourselves.
Jesus Said, “Don’t Be Troubled”
Matthew 24 speaks about wars, rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, persecution, deception, false prophets, and lawlessness.
Yet in the middle of describing troubling events, Jesus says:
“See that ye be not troubled.”
That’s a powerful command.
Jesus tells them that troubling things will happen without requiring them to become troubled people.
The believer can be aware without becoming afraid.
We can pay attention without panicking.
We can watch what’s happening without allowing every news report to determine whether we have peace.
Our confidence isn’t based on the condition of the world.
Our confidence is based on the character of our God.
Discussion Questions
- Read 2 Timothy 3:1–5. Which characteristics do you see most clearly in our society, and which ones should the church be careful not to allow into the church?
- What does having “a form of godliness” without its power look like in practical Christian life?
- How can we remain watchful about what’s happening in the world without becoming fearful, anxious, or consumed by it?
- Three Major Events Associated With the End Times
When Christians discuss the end times, three major events frequently become part of the conversation:
The Rapture of the Church[Text Wrapping Break]The Great Tribulation[Text Wrapping Break]The Second Coming of Christ
Christians don’t agree on every detail concerning the precise timing and relationship of these events. Those differences are worth studying, but they should never cause us to lose sight of what Scripture makes clear:
Jesus Christ is coming again.
The Rapture — A Message of Hope
First Thessalonians 4:16 says:
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…”
Verse 17 continues:
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air…”
But don’t miss verse 18:
“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
Paul isn’t giving the church something merely to debate.
He’s giving grieving Christians something to believe.
Believers who have died have not been forgotten.
The grave isn’t the end.
Death doesn’t get the final word.
Jesus does.
So the coming of Christ should give the believer hope.
The Great Tribulation — God Is Still Sovereign
Jesus says in Matthew 24:21:
“For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world…”
Daniel also contains important prophetic passages concerning tremendous future events.
The details can become complicated, but the central truth is simple:
God never loses control.
What looks chaotic to us is not chaotic to God.
Nothing catches God by surprise.
No ruler can overthrow His authority.
No crisis can cancel His purpose.
No event can rewrite what God has already determined.
History is not wandering toward an unknown conclusion.
History is moving toward God’s appointed conclusion.
The Second Coming — The Center of the Story
Jesus said:
“I will come again, and receive you unto myself…”[Text Wrapping Break]—John 14:3
Revelation 22:20 says:
“Surely I come quickly.”
This is where we have to be careful with end-times study.
We can spend so much time talking about the Antichrist that we don’t talk about Christ.
We can become fascinated with beasts, numbers, wars, judgments, signs, and prophetic timelines while overlooking the central Person of prophecy.
The greatest message of the end times isn’t:
Something is going to happen.
It’s:
Somebody is coming.
And His name is Jesus.
Discussion Questions
- Why should the promise of Christ’s return bring hope and comfort to believers rather than simply fear?
- How does knowing that God remains sovereign help us when world events appear chaotic or uncertain?
- Why is it important to keep Jesus—not the Antichrist, signs, or prophetic speculation—at the center of our study of the end times?
- Don’t Predict the Date — Prepare Your Life
Jesus makes something very clear in Matthew 24:36:
“But of that day and hour knoweth no man…”
Throughout history, people have attempted to calculate the date of Christ’s return.
Every failed prediction should remind us that Jesus didn’t tell us to figure out the date.
He told us to be ready.
There is a difference between prediction and preparation.
Prediction asks:
“When is He coming?”
Preparation asks:
“If He came today, would I be ready?”
What Would You Change?
Suppose somebody could prove to you beyond any doubt that Jesus was coming tomorrow.
What would you do differently today?
Would there be somebody you need to forgive?
Would there be somebody you need to apologize to?
Would you pray differently?
Would you witness to somebody you’ve been meaning to talk to?
Would you stop something you know isn’t pleasing to God?
Would you finally do something God has been telling you to do?
Now here’s the real challenge:
Why wait until tomorrow?
If you know something needs to be changed before Jesus returns, why not change it now?
If somebody needs to be forgiven, forgive them now.
If you need to obey God, obey Him now.
If you need to make something right, make it right now.
If somebody needs to hear about Jesus, tell them now.
Readiness is not something we should wait until the last minute to develop.
Readiness should be the normal condition of the Christian life.
Discussion Questions
- What does being spiritually “ready” for the return of Christ look like in everyday life?
- If you knew Christ was returning tomorrow, what would you do differently today—and why shouldn’t those things be important now?
- What are some things believers tend to postpone because we assume we have more time?
- Should Christians Be Afraid of the End Times?
When Jesus talked to His disciples about leaving, He began John 14 by saying:
“Let not your heart be troubled…”
Then He gave them the reason they didn’t have to live with troubled hearts:
“In my Father’s house are many mansions…”
He said:
“I go to prepare a place for you.”
And then:
“I will come again.”
Notice where Jesus places their confidence.
Not in knowing everything that would happen.
Not in understanding every prophetic detail.
Not in avoiding every difficult circumstance.
Their confidence was supposed to be in Him.
Our Hope Is a Person
Christian hope isn’t simply believing that everything in life will turn out the way we want.
Our hope is knowing that regardless of what happens, we belong to Jesus.
That’s why believers don’t have to approach the end times with terror.
It doesn’t mean difficult days will never come.
It doesn’t mean Christians will never experience suffering.
It means suffering doesn’t get the final word.
Trouble doesn’t get the final word.
Death doesn’t get the final word.
Jesus gets the final word.
The believer can look toward the future with confidence because the same Jesus who saved us, keeps us, walks with us, and promised never to leave us has also promised:
“I will come again.”
Discussion Questions
- Why do you think end-times teaching sometimes produces fear when Jesus intended His promises to produce hope?
- How does John 14:1–3 help a Christian face an uncertain future with confidence?
- What is the difference between trusting God with the future and simply assuming nothing difficult will ever happen?
- Don’t Get So Busy Looking That You Stop Working
Acts 1 gives us one of the best pictures of how Christians should approach Christ’s return.
Jesus ascended into heaven.
The disciples stood there staring upward.
Then two men in white apparel appeared and asked:
“Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?”
Think about that scene.
Jesus had just told them:
“Ye shall be witnesses.”
Then He ascended.
And immediately they were standing still looking toward heaven.
The message was essentially:
Don’t just stand there looking—go do what He told you to do.
Jesus is coming back.
But until He comes, there is work to do.
Don’t Let Prophecy Become a Distraction
There is nothing wrong with studying Daniel.
Study Revelation.
Study Matthew 24.
Study the Rapture.
Study the Tribulation.
Study the Second Coming.
But don’t become so interested in the details of Christ’s return that you neglect the duties Christ gave you.
We can know Daniel and still fail to love our neighbor.
We can understand Revelation and still refuse to forgive somebody.
We can debate the timing of the Rapture while never witnessing to anybody.
We can identify what we believe are signs of the times and still neglect people who need ministry right in front of us.
Knowing what’s coming is valuable.
Doing God’s will until it comes is essential.
Jesus hasn’t called the church simply to wait.
He has called us to work while we wait.
Discussion Questions
- How can studying Bible prophecy become a distraction rather than something that strengthens our Christian walk?
- What specific work has Jesus given the church to continue doing until He returns?
- If Jesus does not return during our lifetime, what should we be doing now to prepare the next generation to remain faithful?
Closing — Don’t Just Ask What Time It Is
We started this lesson asking:
“Are we living in the last days?”
But perhaps the more important question is:
“If these are the last days, how should I be living?”
Second Peter 3:11 asks:
“What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?”
That’s where prophecy should take us.
Not just to information—but transformation.
Don’t spend all your time examining the world without examining yourself.
Don’t get so busy watching for signs that you stop serving.
Don’t become so interested in when Jesus is coming that you forget what Jesus told you to do until He comes.
So while we wait:
Keep praying.[Text Wrapping Break]Keep serving.[Text Wrapping Break]Keep loving.[Text Wrapping Break]Keep forgiving.[Text Wrapping Break]Keep witnessing.[Text Wrapping Break]Keep worshiping.
Watch—but keep working.
Wait—but keep worshiping.
Look for Him—but keep living for Him.
Because one day we won’t be asking:
“Is Jesus coming?”
The promise will become reality.
The One who said,
“I will come again”
will come again.
Until then:
Be ready. Stay faithful. Keep working. Jesus is coming again.