Bible Encyclopedias
Day, Last

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

(ἡ ἐσχάτη ἡμέρα , hē eschátē hēméra ): Repeatedly used by Jesus in Jn (John 6:39 , John 6:40 , John 6:44 , John 6:54; John 11:24; John 12:48 ) for the day of resurrection and judgment (see ESCHATOLOGY OF THE NEW TESTAMENT ). Compare the usage in the Old Testament (Isaiah 2:2; Micah 4:1 ) and the New Testament (Acts 2:17; 2 Timothy 3:1; 2 Peter 3:3; 1 John 2:18; Judges 1:18 ) of "last days" and "last time" to denote the Messianic age. See LATTER DAYS; LAST DAYS; LAST TIME .

In John 7:37 , "the last day, the great day of the feast" refers to the eighth day of the feast of Tabernacles. This closing day was observed as a Sabbath (Leviticus 23:36 ). On it the libation of water made on other days was not made; hence, the allusion of Jesus to Himself as the Giver of the living water.