Estes são os últimos dias? (Questões Cruciais Livro 19)

Crucial Questions #20

by R.C. Sproul

Guerras e rumores de guerras, terremotos, desastres naturais, revoluções internacionais. Jesus disse que todas essas coisas precederiam sua volta, no fim dos tempos. Parece até que Jesus estava descrevendo nossa época atual. Mas será que ele estava mesmo prevendo os eventos que vemos diariamente nos jornais?

Neste volume da série Questões Cruciais, o Dr. R. C. Sproul examina a profecia de Jesus sobre o fim dos tempos para responder à importante pergunta: Estamos vivendo nos últimos dias? Talvez a resposta o surpreenda, mas este livro o ajudará a interpretar cuidadosamente as profecias de Jesus, enquanto o grande dia de sua volta é aguardado.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Christianity, Nonfiction, Religion, Spirituality, Audiobook

66 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Dr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.

Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.

Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.

He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.

Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.

Reviews

[Charles van Buren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting examination of the Olivet Discourse

By Charles van Buren on June 10, 2019

Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase

This little book is more of a commentary on the Olivet Discourse found in Matthew 24 than an attempt to give a definitive answer to the question. Dr. Sproul holds that many, if not all of the Olivet prophecies came to pass during the time of the generation which Jesus was addressing. His arguments are both sound and intriguing even if one disagrees. The meaning of some other Biblical prophecies which may concern the last days are not explored in as much detail.

Dr. Sproul is a noted reform theologian. Reformed Theology is not so much new as it is an effort to return to the principles of the Reformation. Among the theologians whom they hold in esteem are Martin Luther and John Calvin.

At this time, June 10, 2019, Amazon is offering a number of R.C. Sproul's Crucial Questions series free.

[Bobby · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really good analysis on the Olivete Discourse but he 1) doesn't answer the question of the book 2) posed more questions and left them unanswered and 3) Started answering questions but then shifted to a new topic before answering it. I feel like this book needs to be much longer to reach its purpose.

[Remibelio Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Por lo tanto, la pregunta obvia es, ¿qué estarás haciendo cuando él venga? ¿Encontrará que has sido fiel, no casual u ocasionalmente, sino todo el tiempo? Cristo nos ha comprado para él, y nos ha dado una tarea que realizar, ya sea que podamos verlo a él físicamente o no. Esperamos que cuando él venga nos encuentre fieles.
-Sproul

[Tommy Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

No surprise knowing who the author is that this is a superb read. Great evaluation of the Oliver Discourse. It really pushes your mind to go and study Matthew 24.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: In the middle of the nineteenth century, a serious potato famine struck the nation of Ireland. Facing starvation, multitudes of people fled to other countries to seek sustenance. Some boarded ships and sailed for the New World, with many finally landing in New York City. Among those immigrants was my great-grandfather, who came to the United States from Donegal in the northern province of Ulster.

Based on the title alone, readers might think this is a book about current events, about watching the news with Bible in hand looking for signs and clues and answers to when Jesus is coming back. But Are These the Last Days? is a commentary on the Olivet Discourse. Sproul seeks to unpack the meaning and relevance of Jesus' prophecy. Was the Olivet Discourse about the end of the Jewish age? Was it about prophesying about the destruction of the temple and the destruction of Jerusalem? Or was Jesus referring to END TIMES end times--the end of the world and the final judgment?

Sproul argues that "when Jesus spoke about “the end of the age,” I am convinced that He wasn’t talking about the end of the world, but about the end of the Jewish age." In other words, "It seems to me that the most natural reading of Matthew 24:29–35 would be that everything Jesus said would happen has already taken place in history. He was not referring to a yet-future fulfillment from our standpoint. He was referring to a judgment upon the nation of Israel that took place in AD 70."

After verse thirty-five, Jesus shifts his focus from 'the end of the age' (the end of the Jewish age) to the end of all ages (the end of the world). The first half of the prophecy has been fulfilled. Readers can have hope that the second will be fulfilled as well. It was not for his disciples to know WHEN the end of the world is to come. And it is not for us to know today. I'm always skeptical of anyone--everyone--who makes claims to the specifics. (This day, this month, this year, this generation).

Does this teaching have relevance? YES. A thousand times yes. Generally speaking, every passage of scripture is in some way or other relevant. But specifically this passage is about how to live in light of the coming end of the world, in light of the coming again of our Lord and Savior?

Favorite quotes:

All of us are slaves of one sort or another. We’re either slaves of Christ or slaves of sin. There’s no other option for humanity.

The most serious and fatal self-delusion of the wicked is their belief that God will not judge them. The Bible tells us that God is long-suffering and patient. The reason for this kindness and mercy is to give us time to repent and turn to Christ. But we should never assume that God’s gracious patience means that He won’t call us to account.

[Clay Graham · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this as an introduction to partial preterism, then check out his series called "The last days according to Jesus" on the Ligonier site (https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series...) and then this series from Jeff Durbin on Matthew 24 (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...).

[Rodrigo Lira · Rating 4 out of 5]

Livro muito bom! Apesar de não concordar totalmente com o posicionamento escatológico do Dr. Sproul, o livro traz informações muito importantes a partir de uma abordagem interessante e uma leitura fluida e agradável.

[C.T. Eldridge · Rating 2 out of 5]

This booklet was pretty disappointing, and I honestly I don’t think that it answers the question the title of the book asks, at least not straightforwardly. The whole booklet is an interpretation of Matthew 24. Sproul argues that the entire chapter relates to what happened in 70AD and the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus I think (though again he never says this directly) that he answers the titular question, ‘No, we are not in the last days, at least insofar as Matthew 24 is describing the last days.’

I follow Sproul’s exegesis up until v. 36. I do think that everything described before then does relate to Jerusalem’s destruction, but then he maintains that Jesus *continues* to describe the same event, which exegetically makes no sense to me. The events of vv. 4-35 are clearly stated to have signs preceding their occurrence, while the events of vv. 36-51 have no signs. So how can they be same event? R.T. France’s interpretation is much more compelling than what Sproul lays out.

So all in all my search for a booklet length explanation of the Bible’s view on the end times continues.

[Chloe Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Are We in the Last Days? by R.C. Sproul is a concise and accessible introduction to eschatology, providing a clear overview of key biblical passages and perspectives on the end times. As always, Sproul’s teaching is rooted in Scripture and presented with clarity, making complex theological concepts approachable for readers. However, the brevity of the book leaves some topics feeling underdeveloped, and readers looking for a more in-depth treatment of eschatology may find it lacking. While it serves as a helpful primer, it’s best suited for those new to the subject or seeking a straightforward summary rather than a comprehensive analysis.

[Gustavo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excelente análisis!

Creo que el título no refleja de manera precisa el tema del libro, pero el escritor hace un muy claro análisis interpretativo de Mateo 24.

[Vini · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an easy read. Pick this up or listen to its audiobook for a thorough examination of what the texts of Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21 really have to say to this generation.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Partial-preterist view.

[J.R. Kovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first introduction to this end times view

RC Sprouls convincingly lays down the interpretation of the Olivet Discourse in a persuasive argument that has me adopting his view. His teaching series "The Last Days According to Jesus" present much of the same argument.

[Matheus Peixoto · Rating 3 out of 5]

Uma excelente introdução ao tema. Leitura fácil porém rica.

[Nicholas Seders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Doesn't Answer the Question
While this is a good exposition of the Olivet Discourse, it only covers that passage. The booklet does encourage us to stay watchful and ready for the return of Christ, which is always a good reminder; however, it fails to address the reason why the reader cracked it open in the first place.

[John Yelverton · Rating 5 out of 5]

R.C. Sproul takes the Olivet Discourse and breaks it down into a concise and well thought out argument and outline in order to make sense of one of the most confused passages in all of Scripture, and he does it in a way that shows he's after the truth of the passage and not a theological agenda.

[Rene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book more for its practical focus for christians specially in last chapter

[Theresa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't impressed.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

A brief (55 small pages) treatment of Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24. It's so brief that it really just whets your appetite to study Matthew 24 more. Given the title of the booklet, I expected an explanation of how the phrases "last days," "those days," and "that day," are used in the Bible, but that's absent.

Sproul believes that Mt 24:4-35 refer to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 (and events leading up to it), and that Mt 24:36-44 refer to AD 70 and possibly also Jesus' final appearance.

Sproul clearly states, "I do not propose an infallible interpretation. Though I am convinced that there is merit to my conclusions, I am aware that many Christians throughout history … have come to different conclusions."

Notes
The Destruction of the Temple
"To the Jews, the term generation referred to a time frame of roughly forty years."

The Signs of the Times
When Jesus spoke about "the end of the age" He wasn't talking about end of world, but about end of Jewish age (from Abraham to AD 70).

Signs Jesus gives in Mt 24:5-8 aren't about end of time, but about destruction of Jerusalem (AD 70).

Josephus writes of false prophets claiming to be Messiah, severe famines, serious earthquakes, and great persecution in decades before AD 70.

The Great Tribulation
Jews viewed Antiochus IV Epiphanes' building a pagan altar in Jewish temple in 168 BC as fulfillment of "abomination of desolation" prophecy in Dan 9:27; 11:31; 12:11.

"Abomination of desolation" mentioned by Jesus in Mt 24:15-28 could refer to Caligula putting his statue inside temple (40 AD) or to Zealots committing atrocities in temple (69 AD) or to Roman standards in temple.

"If Satan can do a miracle, then the New Testament view of miracles as a means to authenticate the gospel message becomes invalid. … This doesn't mean that God's people can't be deceived by trickery. Clearly, we can, or else Jesus wouldn't have warned against it."

Corpses and vultures referred to in Mt 24:28 may refer to Rome as a bird of prey circling. Eagle was chief symbol of Roman army.

The Coming of the Son of Man
Divine judgment is frequently communicated by metaphor and figures. Is 13:10; 34:4; Amos 5:20.

Josephus records strange events occurring AD 60-70, including astronomical events which could be fulfillment of Mt 24:30.

"It seems to me that the most natural reading of Matthew 24:29-35 would be that everything Jesus said would happen has already taken place in history. He was not referring to a yet-future fulfillment from our standpoint. He was referring to a judgment upon the nation of Israel that took place in AD 70."

The Day and the Hour
In Mt 24:36 Jesus is basically saying "these things will all take place within next 40 years, but I don't know what year, month, day, or hour." In this case He was speaking from His humanity, which isn't omniscient.

Jesus "goes on to describe the circumstances of His coming. I'm not sure if He is simply speaking of the judgment of Jerusalem or also about what will happen at the time of His final appearance."

[Thaddeus · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice little booklet focusing on Jesus' Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24 & 25. Dr. R.C. Sproul is an amazing teacher - with profound clarity and depth - and this shows again here in this title for the Crucial Questions series of booklets. This series is especially helpful for its concise answers to essential questions about the Christian faith. Sproul deals with the text and walks the reader through many of the difficult parts of the Olivet Discourse, such as:
- What events were Jesus referring to when he spoke about the signs of the end of the age?
- What is the abomination of desolation?
- What do his parables in these chapters mean?
This serves as a great introduction for students of the Bible and new believers who are curious about these perplexing sayings of Christ. However, it must be noted that Sproul seems to take a Preterist view of these passages (I'm not sure what his full eschatological/millennial stance is) and doesn't really interact substantially with other views of these passages - although brief mention and response is made to some other proposed interpretations. But, given the length of this short booklet, it is understandable that it is not a thorough exposition. For that, one would have to look at his book or teaching series "The Last Days According to Jesus."

All in all, this is a great little resource and I'd highly recommend it together with the rest of booklets from this series!

[Daniely · Rating 4 out of 5]

Si quieres una respuesta concreta, exacta y extensa a la pregunta de si estamos en el final de los tiempos; lamento decirte que este libro no es para ti (además de que es muy corto). Toca el tema de manera superficial y al final hace el énfasis de que seamos siervos prudentes para que cuando Cristo vuelva nos encuentre fieles. Si quieres profundizar mas en el tema te recomendio el libro de escatología: La Biblia y el Futuro de Anthony Hoekema.

Me encantó que explicara que él simplemente esta sumando a las muchas posturas que hay sobre la interpretación del texto principal, y uno decide si tomarla o dejarla. Da pruebas convincentes para sostener su postura. Se puede decir que no es tan difícil de entender. En una parte hace una breve explicación hermosa de la encarnación de Jesús.

En conclusión, los versos que hablan del fin como el pasaje de Mateo 24, no son tan sencillos como parecen...

Algunas de mis frases favoritas:

"Todos somos esclavos de algún tipo u otro. O somos esclavos de Cristo, o somos esclavos del pecado."

"El buen siervo, el siervo bueno y prudente, es aquel que hace lo que su amo lo llama a hacer."

"Por lo tanto, la pregunta obvia es, ¿qué estarás haciendo cuando él venga? ¿Encontrará que has sido fiel, no casual u ocasionalmente, sino todo el tiempo? Cristo nos ha comprado para él, y nos ha dado una tarea que realizar, ya sea que podamos verlo a él físicamente o no. Esperamos que cuando él venga nos encuentre fieles."

4/5
🌟🌟🌟🌟

[Aaron W. Matthews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put this book down for awhile. I’m not sure why. When I picked it back up today, I started at the beginning and finished it entirely (it’s short). First, I respect Dr. Sproul immensely. He has written over 90 books, and I would love to read every single one. But, secondly, he presented something that I had never heard in breaking down The Oliver Discourse in this book. I followed along. I understand what he has said. His exposition is succinct and well-done. And, third, I think he is right. Just because I’ve been taught something my whole life, and even studied and taught much of those same beliefs myself, doesn’t mean they are always correct. This book taught me. It persuaded me. It challenged my comfort-zones and long-held beliefs. And I feel like it will be convicting and challenging me henceforth. I’m very glad I picked it up again and read it to its conclusion. I like that Sproul teaches and presents persuasive arguments in a humble, genuine way. He’s not dogmatic on everything, but his words hold merit. He believes them. That is evident. I appreciate his authenticity and presentation a great deal.

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, on-point examination of the Lord's Olivet Discourse as recorded in the Gospels. The great R.C. Sproul tackles the question of what Jesus was actually talking about regarding future events in the Discourse, with Dr. Sproul making a strong case that He was primarily (though perhaps not exclusively) speaking to the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 as opposed to the End of Days. This is an excellent introduction to an avenue of prophetic thought that many believers are never adequately exposed to. Is Dr. Sproul correct in all his interpretations? I am reluctant to say, but he certainly provides his readers with food for thought.

[Kayla Strata · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought provoking little booklet on a topic I have never studied as a follower of Christ. To be honest, it never occurred to me there was more than one point of view on Christ returning.

This little piece will definitely be a starting point in any journeys I take to explore the different view points on Christ’s return.

I knocked a star off just because the audio version is way more didactic than charismatic which is a personal point of non-preference. The presenter is very well spoken himself.

[Rusty Bullerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of the Olivet discourse

This is a short and readable overview and explanation of Jesus'prophecy on Mt. Of Olives. R.C. Sproul specializes in clearly explaining things and he does a great job here. This will g


This is a brief exposition of Jesus' prophecy concerning the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem in 70 AD. R.C. Sproul explains it clearly while looking at different options. I recommend it.

[Luke Schmeltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book on the coming of the Lord, Sproul presents some interesting opinions. I had some thoughts in common with Sproul, but his preteristic interpretation of the passage in Matthew 24 seemed to go further than I would agree with. Regardless, Sproul presents an interesting exegetical argument and has some very good insights on the nature of the prophetic portions of the Bible. I came to some different conclusions than Dr. Sproul, but it was still a great read.

[David Sanders · Rating 2 out of 5]

Weak Effort

While I agree with the premise that “the last days”, in the New Testament, referred to the end of the Jewish Age, culminating in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the writer wanders off into ambiguity concerning the meaning of Matthew 24. He seems to think, but never makes it clear, that Jesus’ prophecies of the “last days” may have a dual fulfillment. I, personally, don’t see that at all. Over all, this just seems like a pretty lame stab at this topic.

[Rickie Allen Higgins]

Definitely good for thought and interesting

Interesting, thought provoking and somewhat of a different take on things. I won't say that I would agree with everything that is written here, and yes I am a Christian, but the author brings up some very good points to ponder.All in all I still believe it's worth the time to read. Definitely a thumbs up.👍

[Taylor McBride · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faithful to the text

Dr. Sproul as always did good in this short study of the Oliver Discourse. While I personally was seeking something more, I believe it serves as an excellent beginning place for someone studying the aforementioned discourse and I would recommend it to anyone who was beginning a study on end times.

[Hyacinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

R. C. Sproul methodically goes through this question with a fine tooth comb. He uses scripture, historical documentation and historical events to answer a compelling question, are these the last days. As we look at the times, it is clear that some spiritual undercurrent is shifting. I found this an energetic, refreshing read.