Early Christian Beliefs About the Last Days

Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version) Direct teaching

The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, lest we despise the riches of His goodness and forbearance.

Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Short Version) Supporting witness

The last times are come upon us. Let us therefore be of a reverent spirit, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it tend not to our condemnation.

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Direct teaching

...not to fail to write to you from what I possess, for your purification. We must be careful in these last days; for the entire past time of your faith will profit you nothing, unless now in this wicked time we also resist coming sources of danger, as befits the children of God. To prevent the Black One from entering, let us flee from every vanity, let us completely hate the works of wickedness. Do not live a solitary life, as if already justified; but gathering together, seek what benefits everyone. For the Scripture says, “Woe to those who are wise to themselves, and prudent in their own view!” Let us be spiritually-minded; let us be a perfect temple to God. As much as possible, let us meditate on the fear of God, and keep His commandments, so we may rejoice in His ordinances. The Lord will judge the world without favoritism. Each will receive according to his deeds: if he is righteous, his righteousness will go before him; if he is wicked, the reward of wickedness is before him. Be careful, lest, resting at ease as those who are called, we fall asleep in our sins, and the wicked prince gains power over us and drives us from the kingdom of the Lord. Pay more attention to this, m

Barnabas, The Epistle of Barnabas Supporting witness

We take earnest heed in these last days;

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

...given at the appointed times. For He was promised by the prophet Joel, but given by Christ. “In the last days,” says the prophet, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon my servants and my handmaids.” And the Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted; and whose you retain, they shall be retained.” But this Holy Spirit the Lord Christ at one time calls the Paraclete, and at another declares to be the Spirit of truth. And He is not new in the Gospel, nor was He newly given. For it was He Himself who accused the people in the prophets, and in the apostles gave them the appeal to the Gentiles. For the former deserved to be accused because they had despised the law. And those of the Gentiles who believe deserve to be helped by the defense of the Spirit, because they earnestly desire to attain to the law of the Gospel. Certainly, in the Spirit there are different kinds of offices, because in the times there is a different order of occasions. Yet because of this, He who carries out these offices is not different, nor is He another in acting this way. Rather, He is one and the same, distributing His offices according to the times, the occasions, and th

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

...given at the appointed times. For He was promised by the prophet Joel, but given by Christ. “In the last days,” says the prophet, “I will pour out of my Spirit upon my servants and my handmaids.” And the Lord said, “Receive the Holy Spirit: whose sins you remit, they shall be remitted; and whose you retain, they shall be retained.” But this Holy Spirit the Lord Christ at one time calls the Paraclete, and at another declares to be the Spirit of truth. And He is not new in the Gospel, nor was He even then newly given. For it was He Himself who accused the people in the prophets, and in the apostles gave them the appeal to the Gentiles. For the former deserved to be accused, because they had despised the law. And those of the Gentiles who believe deserve to be aided by the defense of the Spirit, because they eagerly desire to attain to the Gospel law. Certainly, in the Spirit there are different kinds of offices, because in the times there is a different order of occasions. Yet because of this, He who carries out these offices is not different, nor is He another in doing so. He is one and the same, distributing His offices according to the times, and the occasions and impulses of t

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book V Direct teaching

...r also spoke, saying, "Let Us make man in Our image and likeness," revealed Himself to men in these last times, creating eyes for the man who had been blind in the body he inherited from Adam. Therefore, the Scripture, indicating what would happen, says that when Adam hid himself because of his disobedience, the Lord came to him in the evening, called him, and said, "Where are you?" This means that in the last times, the very same Word of God came to call man, reminding him of his actions, in which he had been hidden from the Lord. Just as God spoke to Adam in the evening, searching for him, so in the last times, through the same voice, He has sought out his descendants and visited them.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book IV Supporting witness

...e Father, His kingdom, and His plans, which the Son of God fulfilled when He came to earth in these last times. You can't say these events happened by some kind of chance, as if the prophets were speaking about someone else and it just so happened to align with the Lord. All the prophets prophesied these things, but they never happened to any of the ancients. If these events had occurred for any of them in ancient times, the prophets living later wouldn't have predicted these things would happen in the last times. Additionally, among the fathers, the prophets, and the ancient kings, there is none in whose life any of these things specifically took place. All prophesied about the sufferings of Christ, but they themselves did not endure sufferings like what was predicted. The events related to the Lord's passion, which were foretold, happened in no other case. At the death of none of the ancients did the sun set at mid-day, the temple veil torn, the earth quake, rocks split, or the dead rise. None of them rose on the third day or were taken into heaven, nor did the heavens open at their ascension. The nations did not believe in the name of any other, nor did any among them, once d

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness

and relate why the advent of the Son of God took place in these last times, that is, in the end, rather than in the beginning [of the world];

Didache, The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Direct teaching

For in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned into wolves, and love shall be turned into hate;

Hippolytus, Connection to 2 Peter 3:3 Direct teaching

"Know this first, children, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts.

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

because even thus it must be in the decline of the world, since the Holy Spirit foretells and forewarns us by the apostle, saying, In the last days, says he, perilous times shall come, and men shall be lovers of their own selves, proud, boasters, covetous, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, hating the good, traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a sort of form of religion, but denying the power thereof.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

XXXII. For in the last days false prophets shall be multiplied, and such as corrupt the word;

Cyprian, Treatises Direct teaching

...ld.” John 16:33 And when He was questioned by His disciples about the sign of His coming and of the end of the world, He answered and said: “Take care lest anyone deceive you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am Christ,’ and will deceive many. And you will begin to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled, for these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines, earthquakes, and pestilences in every place. But all these things are the beginnings of travailings. Then they will deliver you up into affliction and will kill you. And you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will be offended, and will betray one another, and will hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and will deceive many. And because wickedness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end, the same will be saved. And this Gospel of the kingdom will be preached throughout all the world, as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. “When, therefore, you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the

Tertullian, Scorpiace Supporting witness

...hild; and children will rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death," He has clearly announced, with reference to the others, this kind of unrighteous conduct, which we do not find shown in the case of the apostles. For none of them experienced a father or a brother as a betrayer, which very many of us have. Then He returns to the apostles: "And you will be hated by all men for my name's sake." How much more will this be true of us, for whom there is the necessity of being handed over even by parents. Thus, by assigning this very betrayal now to the apostles, now to all, He pours out the same destruction on all the possessors of the name, on whom the name will rest together with the condition that it is an object of hatred. "But he who will endure to the end, this man will be saved." By enduring what, if not persecution, betrayal, and death? For to endure to the end is nothing else than to suffer the end. And therefore there immediately follow the words, "The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his own lord." Because, since the Master and Lord Himself stood firm in suffering persecution, betrayal, and death, much more it will be the duty

2 Peter 3:3 Direct teaching

Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

2 Timothy 3:1 Direct teaching

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Jude 1:18 Direct teaching

They said to you, “In the last time there will be scoffers, following their own ungodly passions.”

1 Peter 4:7 Supporting witness

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

Mark 13:7 Supporting witness

But when you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be troubled; for such things must happen, but the end is not yet.

Matthew 24:6 Supporting witness

And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not troubled; for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Direct teaching

...rds: “Gather yourselves together to me, you sons of Jacob, that I may tell you what shall be in the last days,” or “after the last days.” If, then, there are last days, or a period after the last days, the days that had a beginning must necessarily come to an end. David also declares, “The heavens shall perish, but You shall endure; yea, all of them shall wax old as does a garment: as a vesture shall You change them, and they shall be changed: but You are the same, and Your years shall have no end.” Our Lord and Savior indeed, in the words, “He who made them at the beginning made them male and female,” Himself bears witness that the world was created. And again, when He says, “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My word shall not pass away,” He points out that they are perishable and must come to an end. Moreover, the apostle, in declaring that “the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of Him who has subjected the same in hope, because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God,” plainly announces the end of the world. He does so also when he again says, “The fashion o

Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Supporting witness

If, then, there be last days, or a period succeeding the last days, the days which had a beginning must necessarily come to an end.

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh Direct teaching

Now, forasmuch as the seasons of our entire hope have been fixed in the Holy Scripture, and since we are not permitted to place the accomplishment thereof, as I apprehend, previous to Christ's coming, our prayers are directed towards the end of this world, to the passing away thereof at the great day of the Lord — of His wrath and vengeance — the last day, which is hidden (from all), and known to none but the Father, although announced beforehand by signs and wonders, and the dissolution of the elements, and the conflicts of nations.

Hippolytus, Treatise on Christ and Antichrist Direct teaching

For in distinguishing the kingdoms that are to rise after these things, he showed also the coming of Antichrist in the last times, and the consummation of the whole world.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

But the things which are said by prophets and seers to be about to happen before that last ending comes upon the world, I will subjoin, being collected and accumulated from all quarters.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Direct teaching

For He has determined at the last times to pass judgment on the living and the dead, concerning which judgment I shall speak in the last book.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

but the people of God during those three days shall be concealed under caves of the earth, until the anger of God against the nations and the last judgment shall be ended.

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

... for a thousand years. But if anyone examines the divine writings, he will find out in what way the end will come, and what outcome awaits the affairs of men. The voices also of the prophets of the world, agreeing with the heavenly prophets, announce the end and overthrow of all things after a short time, describing, as it were, the final old age of the world, worn out and wasting away. But I will add the things that prophets and seers say are about to happen before that final end comes upon the world, gathering and bringing them together from every side.

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...s will come with Him. Here are the words: ‘I watched until the thrones were set; and the Ancient of days sat, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of His head like pure wool. His throne was like a fiery flame, His wheels like burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. Thousands upon thousands ministered to Him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The books were opened, and the judgment was set. I then watched the voice of the great words which the horn speaks: and the beast was defeated, and its body destroyed, and given to the burning flame. The rest of the beasts were taken away from their dominion, and some life was given to the beasts for a season and time. I saw in the vision of the night, and, behold, one like the Son of man coming with the clouds of heaven; and He came to the Ancient of days, and stood before Him. And those who stood by brought Him near; and He was given power and kingly honor, and all nations of the earth by their families, and all glory, serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which will not be taken away; and His kingdom will not be destroyed. My spirit was chilled within my body, and the

Justin Martyr, Dialogue with Trypho Supporting witness

...e. There will be no longer young people who die prematurely or old people who do not live out their days. For someone who is a hundred years old will be considered a youth, but a sinner who reaches a hundred years will be accursed. They will build houses and live in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit and drink the wine. They won't build for others to live in or plant for others to eat. For like the days of the tree of life will be the days of My people, and the work of their labor will be plentiful. My chosen ones will not labor in vain or bear children destined for misfortune, for they will be a seed blessed by the Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will say, 'What is it?' Then wolves and lambs will feed together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox, but the serpent will eat dust as its food. They will not harm or destroy each other on My holy mountain," says the Lord. We understand that the phrase, "Like the days of the tree of life, so will be the days of My people; the work of their labor will be plentiful," subtly predicts a thousand years. Since Adam was told that he would die on the

Hippolytus, Exegetical Fragments Supporting witness

...n abomination of desolation to the world, and he will reign for one thousand two hundred and ninety days. Blessed is the one who waits and comes to the one thousand three hundred and thirty-five days. For when the abomination comes and makes war on the saints, whoever survives his days and reaches the forty-five days, while the other period of fifty days goes forward, to that person the kingdom of heaven comes. Antichrist, indeed, enters even into part of the fifty days, but the saints shall inherit the kingdom along with Christ.

Lactantius, The Epitome of the Divine Institutes Supporting witness

When the last end shall begin to approach to the world, wickedness will increase;