The Day of the Lord

 Introduction

Laziness has blinded the Church in its study of God’s Word. The Church seems to believe it can quicken “The Day of the Lord.”

“The Day of the Lord” will not come without signs, so we must be vigilant in our faith.

Various Fellowships say that their missionary endeavor is to quicken the day of the Lord. Quickening, “The Day of the Lord” is a wrong motive for spreading the Word of God; saving the lost soul is the real purpose of missionary pursuits.

Matthew 24:4-14 says,

            And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must occur, but that is not yet the end. For nations will rise against nations, and kingdoms against kingdoms, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. Then they will deliver you to tribulation and will kill you, and all nations will hate you because of My name. Many will fall away, betray, and hate one another at that time. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness increased, most people’s love will grow cold. “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.

 Proclaiming the Word

The Church cannot hasten Christ’s return, as catastrophic events will happen, so Christians must prepare and never lose hope. Christ will come back according to God’s timetable. God will command his angel to proclaim the everlasting gospel to all humanity. God will complete the evangelism of the world, not the Church.

Revelation 14:6-7 says,

And I saw another angel flying in mid-heaven, having an eternal gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters.

Why do Christians ignore or skate around these verses in Revelation? God will declare the gospel to all people and languages by the voice of an angel. Christians are only workers and cannot spread the Good News as commanded. God will perform this task at His convenience. Humanity will hear the truth through the voice of one who cannot lie.

Humanities Judgment

When the Lord returns, He will judge all humanity. The Lord will settle all accounts.

Romans 14:9 says,

Christ died and lived again to be Lord of the dead and the living.

Acts 10:42 says,

And he commanded us to preach to the people and testify that God appointed him (Jesus Christ) to be judge of the living and the dead.

God’s Day Approaches

Matthew 24:36 says,

But no one knows of that day and hour, not even the angels of heaven or the Son, but the Father alone.

God’s day is coming, and one day this world will end. God will persevere only so far, then the end. Jesus commanded the Church to spread the gospel to all. But remember, one must keep one’s ego in check, so this work is not in the flesh. Many devout Christians fall prey to their ego in frustration because few souls will enter the kingdom.

Acts 1:8 says,

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.

Matthew 22:14 says,

For God called many, but few chosen.

One must be a faithful witness of Jesus Christ while still on earth. Eventually, God will be responsible for the delivery of the gospel to humanity. In Corinthians, God will cause growth, not man.

1 Corinthians 3:7 says,

So then, neither the one who plants nor waters is anything but God who causes the growth.

Our part is to plant the seed of life, or we water. It is God’s responsibility for the increase in His salvation plan.

So, the day of the Lord will come, and here is a question from Luke’s Gospel.

Luke 18:8 says,

I tell you, He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, will He find faith upon the earth when the Son of Man comes?

The Rapture

So, in Scripture, where is this secret delight where all Christians will avoid God’s wrath and not see the tribulation? Only this is possible with a stretch of the imagination or a blatant misinterpretation of the Word of God.

The Pre-Tribulation Rapture started around the 1800s and had no early church fathers supporting this alternative. A clandestine joy is only a few hundred years old. This idea of a Secret Rapture may have developed in Scotland. Christians cultivated this belief that God would disconnect them from the persecution soon to be on earth.

The Origin of the Concept of a Pre-Tribulation Rapture

2 Timothy 3:12 says,

All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will see persecution.

Various believers only see this misery of seven years of sorrow and pain for the unbeliever. The book of Daniel shows the first half of these seven years as a peaceful time. We may understand the books of Daniel and Revelation through serious Bible study.

Many Christians embrace a Secret Rapture, knowing they will avoid suffering. Scripture teaches something different from the way men look at the end times. If one is God’s child, they will suffer persecution. Look at what is happening to the Christians in the Arab and African world today with their persecution. (see 2 Timothy 3:12) One should also look at what is happening in America today and see what the United States Government is trying to do by taking away our freedom of religion.

Christians alive during the tribulation will go through it, but it is the Wrath of God we will not go through when it comes. After opening the sixth seal, terror will fill the earth as it never was and will be again. Christians will not go through the Wrath of God because God will remove the Holy Spirit, and without the Holy Spirit, NO ONE could survive.

Revelation 6:12-17 says,

I looked when He broke the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, as a fig tree casts its unripe figs when shaken by a great wind. The sky was split apart like a scroll when rolled up, and every mountain and island moved out of its place. Then, the kings of the earth, the great men, the commanders, the rich, the strong, and every enslaved person and freeman hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?

Revelation16:17 says,

Then, the seventh angel poured his bowl into the air, and a loud voice came out of the temple from the throne, saying, “It is done.”

There was no more hope for humanity, for the Holy Spirit was no longer on earth to convict humanity of unrighteousness. God gave them several opportunities to confess their sin, but they rebelled and cursed God. God destroyed man at the seventh bowl of wrath poured out.

2 Timothy 3:12 says,

All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will see persecution.

However, true believers will not see the Wrath of God that will come upon humanity. But believers will see persecution in this life.

The Armor of God

As warriors of God, we must wear armor that protects us from harm. This defensive and offensive armor is honoring God through His Word.

Ephesians 6:10-17 says,

Finally, be strong in the Lord and the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of God so you can stand firm against the devil’s schemes. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. So take up the whole armor of God so you can resist the evil day and, having done everything, stand firm. Stand firm hence, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with preparing the gospel of peace; besides all, taking up the shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Conclusion

Here is a question: are you awaiting the Rapture or the return of Jesus Christ? These two events are unique; one is cowardly, and the other brings joy. The one you choose will change how they understand the Word of God. Persecution will happen while in the Army of God on earth.

The Church must prepare for battle every day, awaiting the Lord's return. God's only protection is His armor, so use it well.

Fight the good fight, stay the course, and eternal life with Jesus Christ is the reward.

Even Jesus did not want to go to the Cross and suffer persecution, yet He did His Father’s will.

In Luke 22:42, it says,

Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours.

Jesus must suffer pain before going back to His Father. The Lord shows us we must endure to the end, and then we receive the prize.

Sola Scriptura–By Scripture Alone

Sola Fide–By Faith Alone

Sola Gratia–By Grace Alone

Solus Christus–By Christ Alone

Soli Deo Gloria–Glory to God Alone

Copyright George L Gallant, ©2021, Update: ©2024

New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)