Only Things That Are Eternal Shall Remain

What do the Last Days really mean?

There are warnings about the Last Days and what to expect.  We know that the things that are seen are only temporary, whilst the things that are unseen are eternal - (talking of Spiritual things or things that our mortal eyes cannot perceive):

^'Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.' (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NIV)

In the following verses, 'Land' can refer to literal land, or it can refer to us:

'Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God.  But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.' (Hebrews 6:7-8 NIV)

One thing I like to bear in mind is that the Last Days may be the Biblical Last Days - the Day of the Lord's Return -  or it could be that our own Last Day may come at any time before then, for we don't know when our personal hour to pass from this life will actually come.  The question is always this, "Are we ready"? And are we watching out for the signs of the Lord's return?  In Matthew 24:42-44 we are told that He will come "like a thief in the night".  We are also told that no-one knows the day or the hour of his return, only God has this knowledge.  Unfortunately too, there have already been many false predictions that the "end is nigh" and so it's all too easy to decide that any prophecies in this respect today will end up the same way.  However, even that is foretold in the Scriptures!

I believe this important chapter below gives us good insight as to why so many people might not be ready, but if we are to be ready, what sort of people we need to be:

The Day of the Lord 

'Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Saviour through your apostles.
 

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgement and destruction of the ungodly.
 

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
 

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
 

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
 

Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.' (2 Peter Chapter 3 NIV)