The glorious day of the Lord that is foretold in scripture implies different things to different people. Sublime for some and horrific for others. To true followers of Christ, it denotes the ultimate inheritance of the kingdom that Jesus promised through the New Covenant (Hebrews 9:15). For unbelievers, that glorious day will mean ultimate despair and condemnation; it is a terrifying revelation of what is to come – judgement that is uncompromising and nonnegotiable.
In Ephesians 1:13-14, Paul discloses, “And you were also included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of His glory.”
Psalm 37:28 proclaims, “For the Lord loves justice; He will not forsake His saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off.” Knowing this, Paul advises in 1 Corinthians 4:5, “Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of the heart. At that time each will receive their praise from God.”
How will that glorious day impact you? The Bible is clear that not everyone will be saved and some who claim to be righteous will be disappointed on that day. Jesus warned, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from Me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 21-23).
GOD WARNS OF HIS IMPENDING JUDGEMENT
Throughout the Old Testament God warns of His impending judgement through His prophets. Joel 3:12-14 warns, “’Let the nations be roused, let them advance to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, for there I will sit to judge the nations on every side. Swing the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, trample the grapes, for the winepress is full and the vats overflow – so great is their wickedness!’ Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.”
And the prophet Zephaniah predicts the whole earth will be judged in the day of the Lord in the first chapter of his writings. He declares, “The great day of the Lord is near” (Verse 1:14), “That day will be a day of wrath” (verse 1:15), and “’Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to save them on the day of the Lord’s wrath.’ In the fire of His jealousy the whole earth will be consumed, for He will make a sudden end of all who live on the earth.” (verse 1:18). The great day of the Lord will be an ominous day for those who oppose God.
In Revelation 16:13-16 we read, “Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. ‘Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed.’ Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”
The sovereignty of God will be on full display on that great day! Joel 2:11 says, “The Lord thunders at the head of His army; His forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys His command. The day of the Lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?” In this passage the profit underscores the omnipotence of the Almighty since no one can withstand His power – bad news for the self-righteous and good news for those who trust in the name that is above all names (Philippians 2:9).
Revelation 19:11-16 records the return of Christ along with the armies of heaven to battle against the nations of the earth. John writes, “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself.
He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of His mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”
REASON TO REJOICE
These foreboding images, despite their severity, ought not to trouble those who have placed their trust in Christ. In fact, they are reason to rejoice. Peter discloses in his second epistle, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destructions of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13).
Furthermore, Peter declares in Acts 2:20-21, “The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the great and glorious day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” He quotes the prophet Joel and connects the scriptures to their fulfillment through Christ.
Paul teaches that believers who pass away before this time will be equally blessed. “According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and 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.” (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17).
In 1 Corinthians 15:20-24 Paul emphasizes the truth of Christ’s resurrection and declares, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when He comes, those who belong to Him. Then the end will come, when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.”
UNITED WITH JESUS
Additionally, Paul writes in the sixth chapter of Romans that Christians are destined to be united with Jesus when our time on earth is completed, “Or do you not know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” (Romans 6:3-5). Furthermore, we will be united with Jesus in his conquest on that great day when He returns.
And in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Paul declares, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but to all who have longed for His appearing.”
Titus 2:11-14 reveals, “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good.”
The glorious day of the Lord remains hidden beyond the horizon of our personal space-time continuum and may not perceivably impact our lives in the foreseeable future. However, when one considers the fragility and brevity of a human life, we can potentially be faced with the cessation of our ability to accept the salvation that promises that the glorious day of the Lord will find us enlisted in Christ’s army. It is therefore incumbent upon us to be judiciously proactive in our discipleship with Jesus. Today is the day of salvation!
One thing is for certain. That day will be inescapable and unmistakable. Jesus said, “For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:27). Revelation 1:7 discloses, “’Look, He is coming with the clouds,’ and ‘every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him’; and all peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him.’” Paul asserts, “that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” That day will be a day of triumph!
True believers are not citizens of this world but citizens of heaven (Philippians 3:20). The glorious day of the Lord will signify a homecoming to our Father’s house, where Jesus is preparing a place for us. Paul advises in Colossians 3:2-4, “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.” What a glorious day that will be!
