2 Timothy 3:1 English Standard Version (ESV) But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.

2 Peter 3:3 English Standard Version (ESV) knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.

Acts 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV)  “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

Do you have an idea what “last days” means? There is a hope in us, looking forward to God’s promises that have not yet been actualized. We understand that His final promise comes on judgement day but there are things we look forward to before that final promise.

Some of those hopes we have are tied to prophetic words about the last days. The last days of what? What is coming to an end here? Do we all have the same understanding? Do we agree upon what is ending? Do others have a different opinion or are we just assuming that we all agree?

Matthew 24:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. ¹³ But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

His disciples were asking about the end of an age, not days, not time, not earth, all which will end but is this the answer to the end of the church age? If our hope is to last until the end of the church age then the term “last days” takes on a whole different meaning.

Matthew 24:15 English Standard Version (ESV)

The Abomination of Desolation

¹⁵ “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

Jesus continue to speak about days after He answers the question that may be related to the church age. The object of discussion is the land of Judea and its inhabitants. It is not the end of days.

Acts 18:9 English Standard Version (ESV) And the Lord said to Paul one night in a vision, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent,

Was Paul asleep when he had this vision? If so why not call it a dream? Dreams are the product of the human mind and visions are the product of the spirit. Dreams are unreliable and visions from God are reliable.

We have heard stories coming out of Islamic countries where Muslims are converting to Christianity because of their dreams. These are being reported as dreams but are they really visions?

How would a Muslim know that their vision was from our Lord Jesus Christ? I would suspect that the Lord made himself known in the same manner that the vision was given. Strong visions carry with them a sense of reality that defies reason.

Acts 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV) “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;

I am an old man, a Christian of some maturity, so why is it that I would have dreams and not visions?

1 Corinthians 2:16 English Standard Version (ESV) “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

When our minds become more Christ like then the mind can dream dreams in agreement with the will of God. All that we know about our God and Savior is available to keep our dreams in line with the bible and these truths.

With this increase of young men coming to Jesus by strong visions in the night, is it a sign that God’s spirit is being poured out upon the last days? One thing that must be noted is the term “on all flesh”. While I am sure that those chosen by God to be called to His Son will respond, I do not know how those that are not chosen will act.