The Day of the Lord

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..." (II Peter 3:10)

Let us be reminded lest we forget the purpose of it all; the reason we have made sacrifices, and why we continue to make sacrifices and to deny ourselves: because we still believe that "The Day of the Lord" will come!

This second epistle, beloved, I write unto you... Peter was writing this second epistle because people always need to be reminded about something that is spiritual. People never forget something that is natural or carnal.

"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance; That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of tthe Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts," (II Peter 3: 1-3)

There will be some that will trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be many things that shall rise up, but you must hold the confidence that Jesus Christ promised and declared: that "… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) I do not care how hell seems to be pounding against the doors or if it looks as if the Church is going to tumble over —God's Word is sure.

We told you previously that evil seducers shall wax worse. We do not look for times to get any better; they are going to get worse. You had better prepare yourselves before they come. Only those who are sincere, those who have completely surrendered and have their minds made up, will be able to stand in that time of trouble.

There are some that say "Where is the promise of His coming? We have heard about His coming." They look on it as being some fictitious story. In this time of great learning when they are ever learning, but never coming into the knowledge of the Truth (scientific experiments). When you tell them that God is coming to destroy the whole earth, they look on you as if you are superstitious— as if you are mad. But, nevertheless, THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME. And how is it coming? Will there be a notice in your local paper? On your radio? Or on your TV screen? No announcement! You will be at your job doing your work—"one" will be taken and "the other" left: for in a moment…There will be no time to confer one with the other. :He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Revelation 22:11) No time for repentance! No time to make a decision for Christ! It will be an instantaneous, a spontaneous action: the day of the Lord.

Someone may ask, "Is this referring to twenty-four hours?" No! It refers to a very long period: a period that shall precede it. This period shall start off with a time of trouble as Daniel talked about in Daniel 12:1. "…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Jesus records it also in Matthew 24:21 to let us know that there has never been a time like this, and indeed, it shall become more intense. "For then shall be a great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

During this time of trouble, the Church shall be caught away. Then that "wicked one" that "man of sin" recorded in Thessalonians is going to have his full sway. (See II Thessalonians 2:2-9) The daily sacrifice will have been taken away; the prayers of the saints (the ones who are baptized in water in the name or Jesus Christ and have continued steadfastly in the faith). They have not gone out to seek some other way to appease what they want to do, or what they think is right. They have stayed in the holy place. They have not gone out and founded a church, themselves, and then try to put Bishop Johnson's name on it as Founder. The Bible says, "…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:…" (Revelation 21:8)

Those who are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and have the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues and have continued steadfastly, are going to be with the Lord in the mid-air. Those who are "just baptized" will NOT be there! And let me make that perfectly clear. I thought that would wake you up. THOSE WHO ARE JUST BAPTIZED WILL NOT BE IN THE BRIDAL FEAST WHEN WE ARE UP THERE WITH THE LORD. This is an exclusive feast; this is an exclusive affair. The only ones that are invited must be born again of both the water and the Spirit. Nobody else can come. One tried to come in who was not right and was asked, "How cometh thou?" How are you coming in here and you do not have your wedding garment on? Not dressed right. You better make sure you are dressed right or you will not be able to come in. "…when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11-13)

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. However, the Lord is going to be merciful and he is going to judge those that are righteous. He is not going to judge holy folks. Anytime you are to be judged, you are not going to make it. You should judge yourself when you are holy because you are to have the job to be judges with the Lord. As princes and rulers, you are going to reign with Him. All the righteous dead, the old testament saints—those who came through great tribulation. Those who are baptized in Jesus name and do not have the Holy Ghost, but have done everything they know is right to do (tarried every day and every night, all the time continuously). They are coming with the righteous dead because they are only righteous; they are not holy, yet. That will be after the battle of Armageddon.

After this time, there will be the great war between the holy and the unholy forces, and the lord shall come back on the earth and destroy all the wicked with the brightness of His coming. Then will be a time. The righteous shall come on later.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation,…" (Revelation 7:9, 13 & 14) This is a part of this long day, but the revenge has not ended yet.

During the time in tribulation there shall be great suffering and the waters shall be turned to blood. They shall be smittened by the sun and by sores which will not heal. They shall bite their tongues for pain, They shall be smittened with blindness and other things: From this darkness shall come the various beasts that shall be pestilence, and the other things that shall come upon them. And yet, with all this, they shall not repent; They have taken the mark of the beast and have worshipped his image.

But, the day of the Lord will come and during the time of the Millennium reign which shall follow tribulation. Tribulation is in between the "End" of the dispensation of grace and "just before" the Millennium reign. For grace shall end, oh yes, it shall. They are going to seek Him, but they will not find Him. They shall call, but He shall not answer. Why is it? Because "grace" has ended. The mercy door will be closed. There was a cry in the street saying, "Behold the bridegroom cometh," and you did not go in. Knock on the door—too late.

A thousand years are finished when Satan shall be loosed for a short season. He is going to gather together these wicked folks. Still with all of this, with all the experience, with all the Word—They shall not change. You know there is a wickedness that will not change.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;" (Revelation 19:17) A great feast: the dead that die in the war between the righteous and the unrighteous forces. "That ye may eat the flesh of kings…"(Revelation 19:18) Rulers are going to die; great men are going to die, poor men. People that no one knows their name, but those who were there when they were born. Obscure, but his faith will be the same as one who is known the world over, if he is wicked.

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh (Revelation 19:19-21) The Sword proceeded out of His mouth—the sword of the Word. All God has to do is to speak it. If He says "Live," you live. If He says "die," you die.

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed for a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had nor worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark…" (Revelation 20:1-4) You know the Bible is written in a way that you have to know it all to understand it. One would think that the fire was already burning from the 20th verse on, because it says, "They were cast into the lake." But actually the fire will not start until after the thousand years is over. Satan is going to be bound: he cannot be cast into the fire until after he is loosed a season. He will be held intact during the thousand year reign when a holy people shall live on this earth. They shall be born holy as God intended for it to be in the Garden of Eden. God's purpose is going to be worked out—His original purpose, because Satan will not be here to tempt. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. (Revelation 20:7) (Also see Revelation 20:8-15)Do not be deceived: for the "Day of the Lord" will come. It is going to last forever and ever. There will be no more returning. You shall be lying in hell calling for mercy—mercy ended. PREPARE YOURSELF!

"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." (II Peter 3:10)

May the Lord bless you, and count you worthy to escape the fires of hell in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.