Are These the Last Days?

Are These the Last Days? examines Jesus’ Olivet Discourse in Matthew 24, exploring what He prophesied about the destruction of Jerusalem, the signs of the times, and His return.

In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul guides readers through one of the most debated passages in the New Testament. He considers the disciples’ questions about the timing of the temple’s destruction and the end of the age, then works carefully through Jesus’ response—covering the signs preceding Jerusalem’s fall, the nature of the great tribulation, and the coming of the Son of Man.

Sproul gives particular attention to the interpretive challenges raised by Jesus’ statement that “this generation will not pass away until all these things take place.” He presents a case that much of the Olivet Discourse refers to the judgment that fell on the Jewish nation in AD 70, when the temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were dispersed—events that inaugurated what Scripture calls “the times of the Gentiles.” Along the way, he engages competing eschatological frameworks and the principle of dual prophetic fulfillment, while also addressing the Christological question of how Jesus’ two natures relate to His prophetic knowledge.

The booklet concludes with a pastoral call drawn from Jesus’ parable of the faithful and wicked servants, urging readers toward consistent faithfulness and readiness for Christ’s return. As part of the Crucial Questions series, this resource offers a concise and accessible introduction to a subject that continues to generate significant interest and discussion among Christians.

Key Themes

• The destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy
• Interpretive approaches to “this generation” and the timing of prophetic events
• The relationship between the fall of Jerusalem and the age of the gentiles
• Faithful stewardship and readiness in light of Christ’s return

Featured Quotes

“When prophecies are made, they can have an initial fulfilment within a time frame of one generation and then have an ultimate fulfilment many years later.”

“Christ has bought us for Himself, and He has given us a task to perform whether we can physically see Him or not. May He find us faithful when He comes.”