The destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 AD was the formal end of the Old Covenant era, and the final piece in the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant. The writer of Hebrews refers to the Old Covenant as “obsolete and aging”, and asserts that it “will soon disappear” (Heb.8:13). He writes while the Jewish Temple of Jesus’ day was still in existence in Jerusalem, and speaks of the Temple and the daily animal sacrifices being made there in a present tense (Heb. 5:1-3; 7:23-28; 8:3-5; 9:6-10, 13, 25; 10:3, 11; 13:10-11). In saying the Old Covenant will soon disappear, he clearly is referring to the coming destruction of the Temple, which would occur in 70 AD.

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The establishment of the New Covenant had already begun with the birth of Jesus some 70 years earlier. This created a period of an “overlap of the Covenants”, as the Old Covenant, with its worship centered at the Temple in Jerusalem, was continuing as it had, while the New Covenant, centered on Jesus, was also being established.

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The prophet Daniel in the Old Testament seems to refer to this period in speaking of the “time of the end” (Dan. 8:17 and 19, 11:35 and 40, and 12:4 and 9). This overlap is also referred to at many points in the New Testament. Peter quotes Joel 2:28 in explaining the experience at Pentecost as happening “in the last days” (Acts 2:17). Peter later writes of “the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Ptr.1:5), and of Christ having been revealed “in these last times” (1 Ptr.1:20), and asserts that “the end of all things is near” (1 Ptr.4:7). Jude paraphrases Peter in referring to evil men “in the last times” then (2 Ptr.3:3, Jude 1:18). Paul instructs Timothy in light of their living “in the last days” (2 Tim.3:1-5), and writes to the Corinthians about “us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come” (1 Cor.10:11). James warns his rich readers of that day who have hoarded wealth “in the last days” (James 5:3). John even writes of then being “the last hour” (1 Jhn.2:18). The writer of Hebrews speaks of “these last days” (Heb.1:2), and can talk of Christ having sacrificed himself on the cross “at the end of the ages” (Heb.9:26). Although these passages have often been quoted as referring to now or as still future, in fact the context in each case makes it clear that they refer to events taking place in the lifetime of the original readers/hearers. And with these passages in mind, it becomes easier to understand what Jesus Himself meant in speaking of “the end of the age” (Mt.13:39, 40, 49; 24:3; 28:20).

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