The Day Of The Lord

The greatest themes in the Bible are the fall and restoration of man and Jesus' first and second coming. The Bible teaches how man was created in the image of God and given dominion over the earth and how man transgressed God's law and brought sin and death upon all of mankind. The good news is sin and death will not rule forever. At Jesus' first coming on the cross, He paid the price for Adam's transgression of the law, and then was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of power and given a name above every name. All power in heaven and earth has been given to Jesus as He is currently waiting for the time to totally vanquish His enemies when He puts the last enemy of death under his feet and ends Satan's rule. This will happen when He comes on "The Day of The Lord." What is the day of the Lord? The day of the Lord is the day Jesus comes in power and great glory to execute judgment against the wicked and to gather the righteous as wheat into His barn. The day Jesus comes is referenced throughout Scripture countless times as: the day of the Lord; the great day of the Lord; the great and dreadful day of the Lord; the day of the Lord's anger; the day of the Lord's wrath; the day of the Lord Jesus; the day of our Lord Jesus Christ; the day of God; the day of judgment; the day of redemption; the day; that day. Those that live in darkness will be caught unaware and unprepared when the day of the Lord comes. Peter and Paul both write about how the day of the Lord will come suddenly like a thief comes in the night when the heaven shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat. "But THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." [2 Peter 3:10-13 KJV] "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that THE DAY OF THE LORD SO COMETH AS A THEIF IN THE NIGHT. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them." [1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 KJV] Jesus said to take heed to the condition of our heart so "That Day," the day of the Lord, doesn't come upon us unawares. For as a snare it shall come upon all that dwell upon the whole earth. "And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so THAT DAY come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. [Luke 21:34-35 KJV] Believers who live by the light of the truth found in the Bible will not be in darkness that "the day of the Lord" should over take them like a thief in the night because they are children of the light. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that THAT DAY should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. [1 Thessalonians 5:4-8 KJV] "At that day" refers to "the day of the Lord" where believers will receive a crown of righteousness at His appearing. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me AT THAT DAY: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. [2 Timothy 4:8 KJV] The day of the Lord is the day of His appearing; it is a day of great hope and rejoicing for those that are ready for His appearing. When Jesus appears, every eye shall see Him on the day of the Lord and those living dedicated to Him shall see Him as He is and shall be made like Him. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. [1 John 3:2-3 KJV] The great and venerable day of the Lord has always been the great hope of God's people throughout the ages, but has also been a truth that has been too often neglected. The hour of Jesus' coming is drawing near; may we be ready! Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. [Titus 2:13-14 KJV]