THE DAY OF THE LORD

The Bible tells us about the Day of the Lord. The prophecy of Jesus coming to save the world from sin that was inherited by the first man Adam, has been fulfilled. Jesus has completed His first Advent by birth and dyeing on the cross. The word advent simply means “coming”. We observe advent at Christmas time, as we remember Christ coming to earth as a baby. When I say “The Day of The Lord” I am speaking off Jesus second coming Advent. Jesus is coming again for His believers the church, and at that time the unbelievers will be judged. Believers who expect Jesus to return is called an Adventist, those who believes in pre-tribulation rapture would be the one’s expecting Jesus to return at any moment, that great day of the Lord. “Hallelujah”

The second coming of Christ is referenced many times in Scripture, with over 1,500 passages in the Old Testament and one out of every 25 verses in the New Testament mentioning the Messiah’s return. In Amos 3:7, you will read about Israel’s guilt and punishment. Through God servant “Amos” Israel was warned of theirs sin and punishment. “Surely the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets”. As it is in this present day, all people are warned about sin and their failure to read and follow the Bible, the Holy Word of God. The people of God show their disinterest and their neglect to follow His Word. They are told about blessing and cursing if they fail to do so, and disobedient will bring an end result of blessing if they are obedient to God and cursing if they are not obedient to God. Such as we reflect upon a scripture in Genesis 3:14-19. Their disobedient brought about cursing for Adam and Eve, and also spiritual separation from God for eternity. Their sin of disobedient brought about a cursed universe, which was satisfied by Christ the baby coming as the Savior of the world to save mankind from sin. This was the first Advent of Jesus coming to wash away the sting of sin and death that our before hand parents caused. He was born and crucified on the cross for the very reason of forgiveness of sin, and to save the world from sin forever.

In short, the return of Christ brings about what is referred to as the Kingdom of God in Scripture. Referring to God’s absolute rule over all the earth and His creation of mankind. The existence of all kingdoms will be destroyed, and only the Kingdom of God will be left standing. To accomplish that, Jesus ushers in two different judgments, two different resurrections, and two different eternities.

In 1Thessalonian 4:16-17 Paul stated, “The Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with trumpets called of God, the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so, we will be with the Lord forever”.

The present age, however, will conclude with the return of Christ. All the church creeds that are orthodox include the idea that Christ is coming again as revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. Christ Himself spoke on this extensively in Matthew 24. In Jesus’ second coming to the earth, He will set up His Kingdom for a thousand years and reign on the throne of David (Luke 1:32-33, Rev. 20:4-6)

When Jesus returns, He will be ready for war (Revelation 19:11-16). The nations will be gathered to fight against Jerusalem (Zechariah 14:2-13) in what we call the battle of Armageddon. But that will be the day that Jesus returns. “His feet will stand on Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west, forming a great valley, with half of the mountain moving north and half moving south” (v 4). It will be a unique day in the history of the world. “On that day there will be neither sunlight nor cold, frosty darkness, a day known only to the Lord, there will be no distinction between day and night. When evening comes, there will be light” (verses 6-7). God’s enemies will be defeated, and the antichrist and the false prophets will be “thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning fire” (Revelation 19:20). Jesus will set up His Kingdom, and “The Lord will be King over the whole earth” (Zechariah 14:9)

In establishing His Kingdom on earth. Jesus will first set up judgement for those who are still alive after the tribulation and who are on the earth at the time of the second coming. This is referred to as the “judgement of the righteous and unrighteous” or also “judgement of the nations” (Matthew 25:31-46). Those who survive this judgment will remain on the earth and enjoy a time of peace and prosperity with Christ for 1,000 years (referred to as the millennium, (Revelation 20:4-6). Those who are found guilty in this judgement are curse and sent to “the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthews 25:41). Satan is bound and forbidden to act during the millennium (Revelation 20:1-3).

During this time there will also be a resurrection of all believers in God (Revelation 20:4-6) These resurrected believers will join believers who are alive at the time of Jesus coming, and also those that Jesus Christ brings with Him from heaven, and all will live with Jesus during His 1,000-year earthly reign.

At the end of the millennium, Satan will be released, and one final battle will occur, which will rapidly be worn by Christ (Revelation 20:7-9). Satan is then permanently cast in the lake of fire. At this point the second resurrections will occur, and another judgement. Unbelievers will be resurrected and judge at what is called the great great white throne judgement, based on their works, they will be assigned to the lake of fire (Revelation 20:11-15).

So, the return of Jesus will usher in two different eternities – one with God and one without Him. This truth is captured in two verses in the book of Malachi. “Surely the day is coming, it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant persons, and every evildoer will be stubble, and in the day that is coming it will set them on fire. Not a root or a branch will be left. But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and folic like well-fed calves” (Malachi 4:1-2).

What happens when Jesus returns? Evil is defeated, the earth is restored, and God wins. Your response to Jesus’ return depends on your relationship with Him. It will either be as John Macarthur calls it, “the greatest calamity in all of human history” or the fulfillment of the Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13). Faith in Christ make the difference. “But when the Son of man returns, how many will Jesus, The Lord of all creation find on the earth who have faith in Him?” (Luke 18:8)

Jewel Of Nuggets / Jewels for The Soul Blog April 10, 2022, Praise the Lord!!!