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Revelation Six - When The Four Horsemen Ride

The Day Of The Lord - Part Four

JOHN LITTLE

JAN 13

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We have come at last to the New Testament, which is where most Christians first learn about the 'Day of the Lord'. However, even here we find ourselves looking at the context of five verses that speak of four different Days of the Lord.

This proves yet again, that the Day of the Lord is not a simple term that many would like you to believe. And, even though these references in the New Testament are written in Greek, they came from Hebrew speakers who knew what the Day of the Lord meant in the Hebrew Scriptures.

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If you thought that the New Testament was going to make it easier for you to understand the 'Day of the Lord', think again. Acts, Corinthians, Thessalonians and 2 Peter each speak of a different Day of the Lord.

That's right.

Four different Days of the Lord.

Mind blowing, right?

So, let's dive in, with Peter speaking in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:20
The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:

I've already made reference to this in The Day Of The Lord - Part Two. And, there's no way that I'm going to disagree with Peter on this, even though it sounds an awful lot like what we would see in the Book of Revelation.

Remember that this is the Day of Pentecost, when the Holy Spirit descended upon everyone, and they all spoke in the languages of the foreigners that were around them. This shocked everyone, but Peter said that this was a part of the prophecy given in Joel 2. So, let's read again what Peter said in Acts 2:

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:
20 The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the great and notable day of the Lord come:
21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
And, if you'll remember what happened, when Jesus died on the Cross:
44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
- Luke 23 (KJV)

And, Matthew adds this:

50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
- Matthew 27 (KJV)

This three hour period of darkness has always been difficult to understand. No lunar eclipse has ever lasted longer than minutes. So we have only two possibilities:

A massive solar event that ejects a gigantic cloud of dust. (We've seen this happen on other stars.)

A volcano somewhere, throws up a vast cloud of dust that turns the sky dark.

Either option would also have turned the moon blood red, when night fell.

So, all of this supports what Peter was saying, that at the time of the death of Jesus and then Pentecost, Joel's prophecy was fulfilled. However, we still have the problem of what the 'Day of the Lord' means for this moment. Remember that every time we see the Day of the Lord, there's always judgment.

So, who is being judged?

The unbelieving Jews.

From the moment that Jesus died, salvation could no longer be found through temple sacrifices and the following of Torah. And, I cannot find a more terrifying judgment than that.

Now, those Jews who were faithful followers of God before Jesus began His ministry, would have joined themselves to Christ and would have become Christian. And, we will see this happen again, when God redeems Israel by causing them to have faith in Jesus Christ.

However, that moment in time will be far more deadly, with billions of people dying and our world lying shattered. Unfortunately, there's a lot of science to back up what the Bible says about that moment in time, and you can see it here:

Ezekiel's Fire
https://ezekielsfire.com

Just remember that the Day of the Lord that Peter and Joel were speaking of must be the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Christ - followed by the anointing of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. To say anything else would require us to call Peter a liar, and I just won't do that.

The next two references in First and Second Corinthians are different.

1 Corinthians 5:5
To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

There was a young man in the church of Corinth that was committing adultery with his father's wife. Here's what Paul said about that:

1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife.
2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you.
3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed,
4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ,
5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
6 Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
- 1 Corinthians 5 (KJV)

What is this 'Day of the Lord Jesus'?

Well two chapters earlier, Paul says this:

11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
- 1 Corinthians 3 (KJV)

So what Paul appears to be saying here, is that the Day of the Lord Jesus is the judgment of our works. Those of us who have served the Lord well, will have unburnable rewards. However, those things that we have done that were worldly, will have those works burned up. But, this raises a rather thorny issue:

I know people who were pastors and missionaries who totally rejected Christ.

Completely.

Utterly.

Without reservation at all.

Worse, you would not have known them to be capable of such a thing. To this day, I will never forget the moment when a friend told me that a missionary that I knew well had become an Atheist. I had heard this man preach. I knew the work that he had been doing. I was beyond horrified.

How could such a Godly man, turn and reject Christ so thoroughly?

And, I have many other stories just like that, that I could tell. Far too many. But, that one was the most personal.

Will this man who rejected Christ so thoroughly - and I mean THOROUGHLY - be saved so as by fire?

When Paul was talking about this adulterous young man, there did not appear to be any rejection of Christ involved at all. Just the sin of adultery. And by handing him over to Satan, it appeared that Paul was also offering hope that the young man would repent - which did happen.

I don't want to get into the Once Saved Always Saved (OSAS) debate. That is a fruitless argument that no one has the answer to, except God. But, I do know that God can and will erase your name from the Book of Life:

19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

- Revelation 22:19 (KJV)

And that's just for taking away from the Book of Revelation!

What about a complete rejection of Christ?

I know that people have all kinds of things to say about this subject. But, I don't care about ANY of those explanations. I just want to stay as far away as possible from having my name erased from the Book of Life. I would rather die horribly than ever risk taking even one step closer to THAT.

We have something to fear, and we'd best not forget that.

2 Corinthians 1:14
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Here is this second reference to the Day of the Lord Jesus that Paul makes to the church in Corinth. Here's the context:

12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
13 For we write none other things unto you, that what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
14 As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are our's in the day of the Lord Jesus.
- 2 Corinthians 1 (KJV)

Paul is speaking here of his own service to God, part of which was at this church - as well as their service to God in their help towards him. And, he's saying that this will be their rejoicing, their reward in the day of the Lord Jesus. And, yet again, Paul refers to the judging of our works in chapter five:

10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
11 Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.
- 2 Corinthians 5 (KJV)

And, his point about knowing the 'terror of the Lord' is important for all of us to understand. There's a line that we had better not cross, or we will suffer great loss of reward - or worse - in the Life to Come.

So again, it seems clear that Paul's reference to the Day of the Lord Jesus is the judgment of our lives. It's the Day of Rewards. But, I fear for some that it will be a day of terrible judgment, and I hope that I'm wrong.

1 Thessalonians 5:2
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

This reference to the Day of the Lord comes right in the middle of a discussion about the Last Days, the Resurrection, and the Rapture that happens afterwards. So, let's look at the context, while reminding ourselves that the chapter break was inserted by a Roman Catholic priest 800 years ago:

Chapter 4
13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Chapter 5
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
- 1 Thessalonians 4-5 (KJV)

So, is this the Day of the Lord Jesus, that Paul spoke of to the Corinthians?

No. Paul was born a Hebrew speaker and was truly fluent in the Hebrew Scriptures. He knew EXACTLY what the Day of the Lord was, and he confirmed it in the next verse:

Sudden Destruction

So, what is this Sudden Destruction?

Well, it happens when the Resurrection occurs. Paul makes that clear in verse 14 of chapter 4.

So, when is this Sudden Destruction?

The Second Coming and the Battle of Armageddon, where God judges those who come against Him.

Yes, there are many 'sudden destructions' in the Bible. We've talked about quite a few of those. But, when the context is the Resurrection, that tells us that the sudden destruction that Paul is referring to is the last great battle before the Millennium. It can't be anything else.

If it were BEFORE the Great Tribulation, there would be no 'sudden destruction' to be concerned about. We would all be gone before such a thing happened. But, we have even better proof that mere logic.

After describing the military conquests of the Antichrist in chapter 11:21-45, Daniel describes the Resurrection that comes after the Great Tribulation:

1 And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: 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.
2 And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
- Daniel 12 (KJV)

Again, remember that the chapter break between 11 and 12 is artificial. It was placed there by a Roman Catholic priest 800 years ago.

The point is this. In the Last Days, the Day of the Lord is the Battle of Armageddon and God's judgment upon the nations. That Day of the Lord is also the moment in which those of us who are dead will rise from the grave, and those of us still alive will be caught up into the air, to be with the Lord.

We don't have a second option here.

2 Peter 3:10
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.

Now, we come to the 23rd and last reference to the Day of the Lord. But, like the 22 other references, there is some confusion involved.

What Day of the Lord is Peter talking about?

Well, to answer that, let's look at the context of what Peter is saying:

5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
10 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.
11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12 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?
13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
- 2 Peter 3 (KJV)

Peter starts out his discussion of the Day of the Lord, by talking about how the earth was destroyed in the Great Flood. That was indeed a Day of the Lord. All the unbelievers died, and the only ones that were saved were Noah and his family. But, Peter is contrasting that Day of the Lord with a different one.

This Day of the Lord will be the destruction of everything. Not one thing on this earth, or in the heavens will survive - except the Angels and ourselves. Not even the earth or heaven will continue to exist. Those in the Lake of Fire will survive, but probably won't want to.

Everything will dissolve in fire. Everything.

So, when is this Day of the Lord?

11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
- Revelation 20 (KJV)

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
- Revelation 21 (KJV)

So, the Day of the Lord that Peter is talking about is the one at the end of the Millennium. That is when the final and last judgment will be made upon those in rebellion against God. Peter might even be making a passing reference to the Millennium when he speaks of a thousand years is as a day and a day is as a thousand years, in verse 8.

Oh, and for those who wish to claim that Peter is denying the Millennium, you can forget that. He is specifically speaking about this last Day of the Lord, because we will finally be able to live in the New Jerusalem. Yes, we will be given rewards at the first resurrection. But, the ultimate reward of living in the New Jerusalem will need to wait until the Millennium is over.

For those who persist in denying the Millennium and ignoring the proof about it in Revelation 20 and Zechariah 14... Well, I have this verse for you:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

- Revelation 22:19 (KJV)

Never ever take ANYTHING away from the Book of Revelation. It would be better to agree that it's there and that you don't understand it - than to claim that it isn't there and have your name erased from the Book of Life.

Next week, Lord willing, we'll summarize everything.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
שאלו שלום ירושלים

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My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also will reject you... Hosea 4:6

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Keep this ministry alive with a donation.

Subscribe for free to Revelation Six and receive my articles in your inbox:

And, read my two books:

https://whengogcomes.com/

https://ezekielsfire.com/

I created five Android Apps that will help you read through the Bible in a Year. You can find them here:

https://revelationsix.com/android-apps/