The Coming Day of the Lord*

      Both of what we call the Old Testament and the New Testament reveal details about the soon coming day of the Lord, or, as we know it, the return, or second coming, of the Lord. The signs that we see around us in world events and spiritual wickedness indicate that the return of our Lord is very soon.

     The prophet Zephaniah wrote: "Hold thy peace at the presence of the LORD God: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests...I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil...The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet...and I will bring distress among men, that they shall walk like blind men, because they have sinned against the LORD: and their blood shall be poured out as dust, and their flesh as the dung. Neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the LORD's wrath; but the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy: for he shall make a speedy riddance of all them that dwell in the land." (Zeph. 1:7, 12-18, excerpt).

     Zephaniah referred to a prepared sacrifice and invited guests. This brings to mind the marriage supper of the Lamb, which we will read about later in the Book of Revelation. In the time of the day of the LORD described above, men will not believe nor expect the LORD to do anything. However, Zephaniah wrote that the day is at hand. We will read later that Peter also warned about these scoffers who doubt a day of judgment or day of the Lord will ever come. It is a day of total destruction as we read above. Peter described it as a day of melting fervent heat. (2 Peter 3, see below).

     The prophet Joel also describes this day of the LORD to be a day of fire and flames and calls the people of God into action and repentance: "Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand...A fire devoureth before them (referring to a great strong people who will come); and behind them a flame burneth...nothing shall escape them." (Joel 2:1-3, excerpt).

    Joel wrote the command of the LORD to His people: "...turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning. And rent your heart and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil (see also 2 Pet. 3:9)....call a solemn assembly: gather the people, sanctify the congregation....Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O LORD, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?" (v. 12-17, excerpt).

     As Zephaniah wrote above, Joel also says that the day of the LORD that is near, comes with flames and fire. God's people are to be fasting, praying and weeping because that day will be devastating.

     Paul wrote to Timothy describing the perilous times that will come in the last days. He described those of ungodly character as being: prideful, covetous, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unholy, unthankful, false accusers, despisers of those who do good, lustful, loving pleasure more than they love God, and more. Also: "Having the form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). Persecution, as well as seducing evil and deception will grow worse. (v. 12-13). Isaiah also described the woes that would fall upon the covetous and those who called evil good, and good evil, even among His own people who did unjustly and corruptly to others for bribes, kindling the anger of God. (see Isa. 5:8-25).

 However, Paul advises Timothy to continue in the holy scriptures: "...which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction, in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect (meaning "complete, whole"), throughly (sic) furnished unto all good works." (v. 14-17).

      Paul's above description of the evil of the perilous days is exactly what we are seeing in society today. Where is the Church if we believe this Word? Jesus asked the question, "Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Lk. 18:8). We are to continue faithfully in the Word of God, and faith in Christ.

     As also mentioned above, Peter wrote to the church about the scoffers that would not believe that God would do anything to judge wickedness - that all continued as normal since the beginning. However, Peter pointed out that these same scoffers willingly ignore the fact that there had been a previous horrendous day of judgment and destruction when the LORD judged the wicked with a great flood of water. This time, Peter wrote, the judgment would be a great outpouring of fire against ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:3-8, excerpt). He also wrote: "But the day of the Lord, who will have patiently given men time to repent, 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 burnt up." (v. 9-10).

     Peter wrote that considering the dissolving away of the elements by fire (similar to a nuclear holocaust): "...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?" (v. 11-12). As Peter asked the question, he provided the answer: "Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness." (v. 13). He tells us to beware that we are not led away with the error of the wicked and fall from steadfastness in our faith: "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ..." (v. 17-18). We are to grow into the fulness of Christ. Are we ready? Do we understand what is at stake? Do we know Jesus with our head only, or have we made room for Him in our hearts?

     Amos wrote that the LORD would judge His people, who desired God's judgment to fall on others, for their insincere and hollow worship, even in their unacceptable offerings. He will judge them for worshipping the perverse and violent false gods of the cultures around them. He expects instead from His people "...to let judgment run down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (Amos 5:18-26, excerpt). Because God's own people had not returned to Him, He promised them: "Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel." (Amos 4:12). Have we prepared ourselves to stand before the Lord? Judgment begins in the house of the LORD, among His own people.

     King Hezekiah commanded the priests of God to prepare chambers in the house of the LORD. (2 Chron. 31:11). We are the temple of the Spirit of God. Have we prepared chambers in our living temple for the Lord? Our hearts are Christ's home. As He is allowed to fill our inner chambers, we then become filled with His light and change the atmosphere around us.

     David prayed to the LORD before all of the congregation: "O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this for ever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee." (1 Chron. 29:18).

     In Revelation 19, the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His bride has prepared and made herself ready. She has been robed with the pure white garments of righteousness: "And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb (meaning Jesus Christ). And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God." (v. 7-9).

     The warnings of the day of the Lord have been sounded for two thousand years and even before that by the prophets. We listen to the warnings of the weather forecasters, who are not always accurate, but are we listening to the warnings given by God, which are faithful and true? Some are already being pulled aside from the faith because of the errors of the wicked, but we are to be prepared, working and busy about the Kingdom of God. We are to be living as if He is returning today. There is a lost world filled with corrupt nations. The LORD says that if His people will turn from their own wicked ways, He would forgive them and heal their land. (see 2 Chron. 7:14). Are we the people of God? Then let us live and prepare for His soon coming.

*Based upon Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr.'s 1/25/26 message to the church. If you would like to hear the complete message, you can find it on the Facebook page of Kenneth E. Stevenson Jr. Dr. Stevenson's video messages are also found on You Tube at the Kenneth Stevenson channel. To contact or support this ministry, or to request prayer, you can write to PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705. To find out more about the Shroud of Turin, which is evidence of Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection, and to receive a free e-book now available in several languages, go to http://www.theshroudofturin.org/freebook. Also the book NAZAH: White Linen and the Blood of Sprinkling, written by Dr. Stevenson, is available on Amazon.