Biblical Principle #115: Jacob Prophesied about the Last Days

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Principle

Jacob prophesied about the last days.

Explanation

As Jacob was near death, he assembled his sons and prophesied about each of them. He introduced the conversation by saying:

1 Now Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:

Genesis 49:1 OSB

Chronologically, this is the first mention in the Bible of there being something called “last days.”

This matter-of-fact mention of last days without additional context indicates:

1. Jacob obviously knew that there would be some form of future end of days.
2. Jacob’s family must have been aware of this fact, for the text records no follow-up or clarifying questions about Jacob’s statement.

The question this should raise for us as readers is: the last days of what, exactly? We must guard against assumptions based on what we have been taught.

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