The last days are the general period before Christ's return, though the term is flexible. It first appears in Genesis 49:1, where Jacob foretells the tribes' destinies, and again in Isaiah 2:2 and Micah 4:1 for the time when God's Kingdom is established. In the New Testament the corresponding Greek term appears sixteen times. Depending on context, it can mean the day of Christ's return, the time of God's wrath, the Millennium, or even the whole Christian era. The clearest proof that these are the last days is Matthew 24:22. No flesh would be saved unless those days were shortened, and only since the atomic bomb of 1945 and the hydrogen bomb of 1952 has man been able to annihilate all life. Because man has never failed to use a weapon he invented, the danger is real. Luke 21:32 shows how long the last days last: the generation that sees the signs of the Olivet Prophecy fulfilled will not pass away before all is fulfilled. That is the generation that fought World War II and the Cold War, now in its seventies and eighties. The timing is not exact, since no one knows the day or hour. Rising religious deception, war, famine, pestilence and earthquakes are the beginning of sorrows. Matthew 24:14 applies to the Two Witnesses during the Great Tribulation, and Herbert Armstrong's work only prepared the way. The falling away of II Thessalonians 2:3, which the church has seen in recent years, is another sign. Scoffers who say Christ's return is distant assume events will continue as they always have, but Peter warns that this is a mistake.

The prophecy in Daniel focuses on events that unfold in the latter days, a period described as the time of the end when human transgression reaches its climax under continued Gentile dominion. This era follows the division of Alexander's empire and features the rise of a fierce king symbolized by the little horn, who emerges from one of the four successor kingdoms after 301 BC. The little horn grows powerful, exalts itself against the Prince of princes, removes the daily sacrifices, casts down the sanctuary, and tramples both the sanctuary and the host underfoot for a period tied to two thousand three hundred evenings and mornings, or eleven hundred and fifty days in its initial type. This vision connects directly to the abomination of desolation and anticipates a future fulfillment lasting one thousand two hundred and ninety days, as cross-referenced in Daniel 12, when public worship of God ceases once more. The same time setting appears in Daniel 11, where the king of the South and the king of the North engage in conflict at the time of the end, confirming that the latter days remain future and involve a world dictator who blasphemes and persecutes God's people before standing against Christ at His second coming. The little horn is broken without human means, underscoring God's sovereign control over world empires and His ultimate establishment of an everlasting kingdom through His redeemed people. This framework of latter-day events provides the chronological backbone for understanding the sequence from the Medo-Persian and Greek empires through Rome-like rulership to the final judgment, while reinforcing the call to study Scripture and pray in alignment with God's revealed purposes.

The sequence of prophesied latter-day events begins with the captivity and scattering of Israel followed by the tribulation of Jacob's Trouble. At an unknown time the great trumpet will be blown as the turning point that initiates deliverance for those about to perish. This trumpet corresponds to the sign of the Son of Man appearing in heaven and the angels gathering the elect at the return of Jesus Christ. Trumpets throughout Scripture signify alarms of war calls to assemble and commands to march and the Day of Trumpets in particular foreshadows the release of Israelite captives and the overthrow of worldly kingdoms when the final trumpet sounds and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of the Lord and of His Christ. After Jacob's Trouble ends God breaks the yoke from Israel's neck and brings the remnant back to the Promised Land in the Second Exodus. He applies both justice and mercy by correcting the people in measure for their sins yet refusing to make a complete end of them as He does with other nations. This restoration occurs not for Israel's sake but for the sake of His holy name which they have profaned. Once chastened Israel and Judah receive peace and prosperity under the perfect leadership of Jesus Christ as King and David as prince together with the twelve apostles as judges. They also enter the New Covenant receive the Holy Spirit and gain new hearts that enable them to keep the law in its spiritual intent. Jeremiah warns that in the latter days the whirlwind of the Lord's fury will fall on the wicked until He performs the intents of His heart. False prophets who deny the consequences of sin will be destroyed and only the remnant that survives the sword will find grace in the wilderness. God will then rebuild Israel with lovingkindness multiply the people grant abundant provision and lead them by rivers of waters in a straight way. The remnant will recognize their identity as God's people rejoice with gladness and experience lasting reconciliation with Him as their Father.