When is "the last day" as mentioned in the Gospel of John?

Question

John 6:39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.
John 6:40 For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 6:54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
John 11:24 Martha answered, "I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
John 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day.

I'm not asking for a prediction of date, year, time, but in the grand scheme of God's timetable, what events happen immediately before "the last day"?

Also, is it of any importance that each verse says "at" the last day? If so, what?

Answer 1

According to the notes in my NIV Study Bible, the expression "the last day" is found only in John in the NT. It is not the same as "in the last days".

Clearly, John is referring to the resurrection. As we know, there is to be a resurrection of both the saved and the lost. The term 'lost' is Jesus term for those not yet converted. "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost" (Luke 19:10) and "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel" (Matthew 15:24). Jesus claimed that the lost he came to save would not remain lost (John 6:39 also John 18:9).

Those who are saved will stand before the Judgement Seat of Christ after they die and after the Second Coming of Christ (Hebrews 9: 27, 28). Those who are lost will stand before the Great White Throne to be judged by God. It is difficult to know which comes first, the General Judgement (the separation of the saved from the lost - see Matthew 25:46) or the Christians' Judgement (when they are judged by their works - see 2 Cor. 5:10).

However, you asked 'What events happen immediately before the last day?' That would be the Second Coming, when every eye will behold Christ Jesus returning to earth in heavenly glory, and tremble.

One thing is clear - regardless of when these awsome events will take place, each and every one of us should be living in Christ as if he was going to come tonight. Not tomorrow, or the day after..... but NOW.

Great question - I don't think I've answered it fully, but you can be assured I'm going to dig a whole lot deeper into this! Oh, and I will be eagerly anticipating your comments because I have a sneaky suspicion you've got some input to share with us!

Answer 2

Matthew 24:14-15 "And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, whoso readeth, let him understand:"

Many standing in the "holy place" [pulpit] today are an abomination unto the Lord.Ministers who are no more than men pleasers and hirelings, liars, fornicators, thieves and robbers.Recently a homosexual was added to the ministry.Here is an abomination standing in the "holy place".

Answer 3

"For the time is at hand"... That is, when compared to eternity, all time and temporal things vanish, and are but of short duration. As to the time when the chief predictions should come to pass, we have no certainty, as appears by the different opinions, both of the ancient fathers and late interpreters. Many think that most things set down from the 4 th chapter to the end, will not be fulfilled till a little time before the end of the world. Others are of opinion, that a great part of them, and particularly the fall of the wicked Babylon, happened at the destruction of paganism, by the destruction of heathen Rome, and its persecuting heathen emperors. Of these interpretations, see Aleazar, in his long commentary; see the learned Bossnet, bishop of Meaux, in his treatise on this Book; and P. Alleman, in his notes on the same Apocalypse, tom. 12, who in his Preface says, that this, in a great measure, may be now looked upon as the opinion followed by the learned men. In fine, others think that St. John's design was in a mystical way, by metaphors and allegories, to represent the attempts and persecutions of the wicked against the servants of God, the punishments that should in a short time fall upon Babylon, that is, upon all the wicked in general: the eternal happiness and reward, which God had reserved for the pious inhabitants of Jerusalem, that is, for his faithful servants, after their short trials and the tribulations of this mortal life. In the mean time we meet with many profitable instructions and admonitions, which we may easily enough understand: but we have no certainty when we apply these predictions to particular events: for as St. Jerome takes notice, the Apocalypse has as many mysteries as words, or rather mysteries in every word.

Answer 4

You're right No man knows the day,time or hour. But we're given certain signs to look for. We're In those times spoken of In this verse. We are the generation that will not taste death. Get ready for The Rapture Is about to take place. We're to live Rapture ready ALL the time. Jesus will come as a thief In the night.

Answer 5

Jesus outlines the events in Matthew 24 & 25.....

Alot will come to pass before the return of Christ.
The "last day" refers to the resurrection.....or the day that we get our new, incorruptable bodies
(1 Cor 15:51-58)

Answer 6

The "last day", as I understand it, is the second coming of Christ. WHEN that day is no one knows. However, YOUR last day could be TODAY, or tomorrow. People die everyday and immediately face God. That being the case, what is the condition of our soul right now? Would we be ready to face Him if our time was up?

Answer 7

AFTer the millenium the unconverted before Christ will be brought back to human life..

Answer 8

It'll be when the Savior returns for the second time.

Answer 9

"The last day" is only known by God.

God is in control, you had better be ready!!!