Headlines stir panic and predictions spark debate, but the Bible offers something better: peace, perspective, and a path forward in the last days. Instead of treating the last days as a mystery to decode, Scripture shows us how to live with steady faith, genuine love, and real hope right now.
When people hear the phrase “the last days,” it usually raises a lot of questions, like:
- Are we living in the last days right now?
- What signs should we be looking for?
- How should followers of Jesus respond when the world feels chaotic?
- And yes, even practical questions like, if the end is near, do I still need to pay my bills?
The news is loud, division is everywhere, and the world can seem like it’s spinning off its axis. Some people are sure Jesus is coming soon (just look at the headlines). Others are skeptical, especially when they see dramatic charts, timelines, or YouTube predictions about the apocalypse.
Wherever you land, it’s natural to wonder what the Bible says about the last days and what it means for the way we live right now.
Big Ideas
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The Bible tells us the last days began almost two millennia ago, and we’re still living in them today.
- Followers of Jesus are called to live with courageous compassion, generosity, integrity, and love in the last days (right now).
- Jesus does not want us to spend our time trying to figure out the exact date of His return. Instead, He calls us to live faithfully while waiting.
When Are the Last Days?
According to the Book of Acts, the “last days” started when Jesus came to earth, died, rose again, and sent the Holy Spirit following His ascension.
Fifty days after Jesus’ resurrection, Jesus’ followers gathered for a Jewish festival celebrating God’s provision called Pentecost. In that moment, God’s personal presence, the Holy Spirit, filled the believers. The Spirit allowed them to share the good news of Jesus with people in dozens of languages.
Peter (an early Jesus follower) stood to explain what was happening by quoting the prophet Joel and said,
“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. …’” Acts 2:17 NIV
That means the “last days” began two thousand years ago, and we’re still living in them today.
We’re Living in the Last Days
Instead of being a countdown clock, the last days are a way of talking about the time period between Jesus’ first coming and His promised return. It’s the season of history we’re in right now, where God’s Spirit (His personal presence) is at work in the world and the good news of Jesus Christ is spreading to all the nations.
When you read “last days” in the Bible, don’t think panic, prediction, or doomsday prep. Think promise.
So when you read “last days” in the Bible, don’t think panic, prediction, or doomsday prep. Think promise. It’s a reminder that history is headed somewhere and has a trajectory toward Jesus’ eventual return.
What Are the Signs of the Last Days in the Bible?
When you start looking up Bible verses about the last days, you’ll find lists of “signs” of Jesus’ impending return. These signs escalate, especially in books like Revelation, to include divine judgment from supernatural entities, apocalyptic violence, and the end of the world as we know it.
Some people even try to line up every news headline with a verse. But remember, the last days aren’t a future world order; they’re our present reality as we wait for Jesus’ return.
The Bible doesn’t give us signs to fuel fear or speculation. Instead, the authors of Scripture want us to have realistic expectations of what life is like in a broken world.
Here are a few signs of the last days that the Bible talks about:
- False prophets and deceiving spirits. Jesus said, “Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people” (Matthew 24:11 NIV). Paul (an early church leader) writes that some will follow “deceiving spirits and things taught by demons” (1 Timothy 4:1 NIV). In other words, in the last days, not every spiritual teaching is trustworthy.
- People living by their own desires. Paul describes the last days as “terrible times” where people are “without self-control, brutal … lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NIV). In the last days, people will chase their desires instead of God’s others-focused way of life.
- Trouble in the world. Jesus talked about wars, famines, and earthquakes. He called them “the beginning of birth pains” (Matthew 24:8 NIV). Like contractions, these events remind us that something new is coming. This means that the last days will be full of violence, natural disasters, and general chaos.
The Signs Are Not a Countdown
Reading about wars, disasters, and false teachers can feel like looking at today’s headlines. It’s no surprise people predict Jesus must be returning soon. But these signs have always been true. For two thousand years, every generation has thought it might be the last.
The Bible’s signs aren’t meant to fuel fear or speculation. They’re an honest description of a broken world that Jesus is working to redeem through His Church.
But wouldn’t it be nice to know the timeline of Jesus’ return? Maybe, but Jesus told His followers not to worry about the exact timing of His return.
Jesus Told Us Not to Worry About the Timeline
Jesus didn’t predict the end, and He doesn’t want us to try either. Jesus said,
“But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” Matthew 24:36 NIV
Jesus didn’t focus on predicting the end, so why should we?
Predicting usually adds anxiety, but trusting the Father brings peace. Another way to describe a lifestyle of trusting God is living by faith—faith that God loves us and is working for our good, even when we don’t have all the details.
How to Live in the Last Days
The Bible spends far more time showing us how to live in the last days than telling us how to predict them.
Here are a few clear invitations we see:
- Stay alert through prayer. Jesus told His followers to “watch and pray”. Prayer keeps our hearts awake to God’s presence and helps us face today with peace instead of panic. Paul put it simply: “pray continually” and “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
- Grow in love for God and for people. When the world feels divided or cold, the call is simple: love the Lord with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself. Paul prayed that the Thessalonians’ love would “increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). We need that kind of love just as much today.
- Practice self-control through the Holy Spirit. The Bible says that in the last days, people will be “without self-control, brutal, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” Spirit-led self-control sets us apart in a world chasing its own desires. Paul reminded his readers that God’s will is for us to live holy lives, learning to control our bodies in ways that honor Him (1 Thessalonians 4:3–5).
- Share the good news of Jesus. The Thessalonians became known far beyond their city because “the Lord’s message rang out” from them (1 Thessalonians 1:8). Our lives can echo the same way. Every act of kindness, every conversation about faith, every step of generosity matters in the last days.
- Scroll and watch wisely. Doomscrolling, sensationalist influencers, and even political outlets often amplify fear that the end is near. Jesus never told us to measure our faith by headlines or hype. He told us to test every voice by Scripture and by its fruit. Paul echoed this when he wrote, “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober” (1 Thessalonians 5:6).
Boldly Facing the Last Days
Jesus calls His followers to boldly do good until He returns. Our mission is to make the earth more like heaven through daily acts of love, forgiveness, and service.
So let’s avoid mindsets like, “Jesus will fix it, so the world’s problems aren’t my problems,” or, “If things get worse, that means Jesus is coming soon.” The last days aren’t a reason to retreat. They’re a chance to live with love, care, and courage.
A Jesus-Centered Perspective on the Last Days
If you’re feeling anxious about the state of your life or the state of the world, pause and take a deep breath. World history is not slipping out of God’s hands. He created this world, and none of its twists or turns catches Him off guard.
So when the latest news report causes you to feel fear, grief, or anger, remember the words of Jesus:
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV
That’s the perspective that helps us live with clarity, care, and courage in the last days.
How This Helps Us Today
Instead of asking, “Is Jesus coming back soon?” maybe the better question is, “How can I live with faith, hope, and love today?”
If Jesus has already overcome the world, then the ways we should live in the last days change. So instead of asking, “Is Jesus coming back soon?” maybe the better question is, “How can I live with faith, hope, and love today?”
That’s the kind of life that points people to Jesus, no matter what tomorrow is like.
Here are four simple ways the Bible’s perspective on the last days can impact our lives:
- How does it help us pray? The Bible shows us how to approach God and ask for strength, peace, and boldness.
- How does it help us view ourselves? The Bible tells us we are loved and called by God, no matter what’s going on around us.
- How does it help us view others? Through the Bible, we see every person as a loved child of God, worthy of love—not as an enemy to be defeated, or a nobody to be ignored.
- How does it help us show love to others? The Bible encourages us to give voice to our hope, lead others toward peace, and live generously in any situation.
Don’t Panic. Live With Courage
Are we in the last days? Yes. But that’s not a reason to panic. It’s a reason to live with courage.
The signs remind us that the world is broken and Jesus will make it whole again. Until then, we turn to Him, serve faithfully, wait with expectation, and love deeply.
You don’t need to figure out the timeline. You can stop doomscrolling headlines and start focusing on faith, hope, and love. Take heart. Jesus has overcome the world. And yes, you should probably still pay your bills.
More on Jesus’ Return
Jesus told simple stories using everyday imagery to reveal deep spiritual truths (called parables). Here are a few parables Jesus told about how to live well while waiting for His return: