Fourteen prophecies of the latter days are set forth in the Old Testament Scriptures. A study of these will prove that the prophecy points to judgments and blessings associated with the days of the Messiah, and for the most part, they refer to the period of His second advent.

Those who are interested in making a thorough study of these fourteen prophecies, together with the context of each one, will find them very enlightening concerning the “end times.”

  1. Jacob gathered his twelve sons together that they might receive the individual blessing which he had for them and the tribes they represented. The record is given in Genesis 49:1-33. Carefully compare verses 1 and 28 for ample proof that this prophecy, and the blessings associated with it, have to do with “that which shall befall” Israel “in the last days.”
  2. Moses, moved by the Holy Spirit, promised mercy from God toward the people of Israel during their tribulation “in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 4:29-31).
  3. He also gave them the reason for the evil that shall befall Israel “in the latter days” (Deuteronomy 31:29).
  4. Jeremiah’s prophecy reveals the anger of the Lord, and the execution of the thoughts of his heart against the false prophets of Israel “in the latter days” (Jeremiah 23:14-20).
  5. He speaks further in chapter 30 and verse 24, declaring that “the whirlwind” of the Lord’s fury “shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked,” and that they shall consider it “in the latter days.”
  6. The same prophet speaks of the captivity of Moab “in the latter days” (Jeremiah 48:46-47).
  7. He speaks again of Elam who shall also be brought into captivity “in the latter days” (Jeremiah 49:39).
  8. The mighty army of God shall come up against Israel as a cloud to cover the land “in the latter days” (Ezekiel 38:14-23). In these verses, God declares that He Himself will bring this terrible army against His people, and cause “a great shaking in the land of Israel.” He also states that He Himself will plead against this invading army “with pestilence and with blood,” and that He will “rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many people that are with him, an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.” All these things God will do that He might magnify and sanctify Himself “in the eye of many nations,” and that they shall know that He is the Lord.
  9. We are told that Nebuchadnezzar’s dream was given that the old king might know what shall come to pass hereafter, and what shall be “in the latter days” (Daniel 2:28). For the most part, this dream had to do with God’s judgment upon the Gentile nations, however, the smiting stone which became a mountain that filled the whole earth refers to the kingdom of heaven and millennium.
  10. Daniel’s vision, recorded in Daniel 10:8-21, made him to understand what shall befall his people “in the latter days.” Note carefully the time element of verse 14.
  11. Isaiah has given us a clear picture of the establishment of the “mountain of the Lord’s house” above all other mountains and hills “in the last days” (Isaiah 2:1-4). The word “mountain” in the Scripture refers to government and the prophecy tells us that the government of the Lord will be above all other governments when Christ returns in power and great glory to judge among the nations.
  12. This same truth is brought out in Micah, chapter 4. “But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of the LORD our God for ever and ever.”
  13. Hosea speaks of these days in chapter 3, verses 3 to 5, as being a time when Israel shall return from her harlot ways to the Lord their God and to David their king, and shall fear the Lord and His goodness “in the latter days.”
  14. All of these judgments upon the enemies of God’s people, and the blessings which shall come upon Israel, are in keeping with the prophecy which God forced Balaam to make against Balak and his people. A careful study of Numbers, chapter 24, will reveal the fact that Balaam spoke of blessings for Israel and judgment upon their enemies at a yet future date. Beginning with verse 14, Balaam said to Balak, “And now, behold, I go unto my people: come therefore, and I will advertise thee what this people shall do to thy people in the latter days. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth. And Edom shall be a possession, Seir also shall be a possession for his enemies; and Israel shall do valiantly. Out of Jacob shall come he that shall have dominion, and shall destroy him that remaineth of the city.”

God Shall Turn Away His Anger

from Israel and be their salvation in the time of their helplessness at the close of this age. After He has redeemed His people from the hand of the enemy and has established them in their own land, under their own king, they shall worship Him according to Isaiah, chapter 12—”And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.”

Ten Men Holding the Skirt of a Jew

“Thus saith the LORD of hosts; It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come people, and the inhabitants of many cities: And the inhabitants of one city shall go to another, saying, Let us go speedily to pray before the LORD, and to seek the LORD of hosts: I will go also. Yea, many people and strong nations shall come to seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalem, and to pray before the LORD. Thus saith the LORD of hosts; In those days it shall come to pass, that ten men shall take hold out of all languages of the nations, even shall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, saying, We will go with you: for we have heard that God is with you” (Zechariah 8:20-23).

The Prominence of Jerusalem

is seen in all of these prophecies which point to the earthly ministry of Christ after His return in glory. Jerusalem shall be the center of world government, also the center of worship. Christ, the King, shall teach the nations how to get along without war and bloodshed. He shall also have the nations looking to Jerusalem for leadership in worship. Zechariah says, in chapter 14, verses 16 to 17—”And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles. And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” He states further in verse 20 that “in that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, HOLINESS UNTO THE LORD; and the pots in the LORD’S house shall be like the bowls before the altar.”

Thus we see that the one who was rejected as king by a wicked nation which said “we will not have this man to reign over us” will one day be received by the ones who pierced Him, and will be hailed as “King over all the earth.” This same one was rejected by the religious leaders of Israel as an imposter and a blasphemer, but when He returns at the end of this age He shall receive worship not only from His own people, Israel, but all the nations of the earth shall worship Him.