The Holy Scriptures know no time that is more important for mankind than the great day of God. The prophecies of the Old Testament speak frequently of it, and especially those of the New Testament.
The earth is to be made subject to a momentous period of time just before the Coming of Jesus when certain events are to occur in their order.
* The wrath of God will be poured out upon the disobedient in the form of the seven last plagues. Revelation 15-16.
* The Second Coming is connected with the resurrection of the righteous dead and the transformation of the living saints. Matthew 27:52-53.
* Then the 1000-years of the earth remaining desolate and Satan being bound, with his evil angels will begin, when at the same time the saints in heaven will take part in determining their sentences. Revelation 20:1-6.
* Then the ungodly will be resurrected. They will gather as a vast army around the heavenly city which will come down to earth at the end of the 1000-year period, and try to conquer it. Revelation 20:7-8.
* Then fire will rain upon them and all sin and sinners will be utterly consumed, to be no more. Thus the earth will be purified from all the deeds that have been done upon it. Revelation 20:9-10.
* Then the voice of God will create a new heaven and new earth wherein shall dwell righteousness. This paradise will house the saved ones of all ages, so that they may be in joyful communion with the Lord for all eternity. Rev. 21:1-6.
No more will sin and sinners disrupt the harmony and bliss of the new, everlasting work of God after it is renewed, as eternal love will bind the hearts of all. The great day of God will fulfill the greatest desires of the faithful – it will bring them full deliverance. It will not only save them from the gloom of sin, but it will also destroy sin itself, and the curse that followed in its train.
But for the ungodly, this will be a terrible day of darkness, a day when many will be seeking the Word of the Lord but will not find it, a day when God’s Spirit will not strive with men anymore. Then many will realize, terrified, that the day of salvation has passed, and they will cry with anguish of mind:
“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jer. 8:20.
But our heavenly Father is striving, even today, to prevent our taking part in this sorrowful experience. He is offering to us his salvation so that we can look without fear to the Coming of Christ and welcome him at his appearance as our great Commander:
“This is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” Isaiah 25:9.
Thus the prophets of old could see that great day in vision. And what they saw, looking into the future, of the great events at the end of this earth’s history, was portrayed by them most skillfully in symbols, on the canvas of the prophetic word.
The prophetic description of this day
When we are faced with the sure prophetic word, we see the following: Dark and threatening clouds cover thickly the heavens, lightened from time to time by terrible flashes of lightning. Dreadful thunders are heard in the distance, that follow after them and shake the earth. Rev. 16:17, 18.
“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. A day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.” Zeph. 1:14-16.
In this gloom and darkness, we can recognize the faces of the inhabitants of the earth – pale, filled with fear and terror. They are all horrified. The rich man no longer boasts of his treasures. Ezek. 7:19. The haughty look is humbled and everything that is puffed up, is lowered in the dust. Isa. 2:11, 12. The ungodly seek to hide from the eyes of him who is coming in glory. They run to the mountains and plead to them to cover them. This is what they prefer, instead of seeing Him whom they have so tenaciously rejected.
The greatest earthquake of all time causes its destructive effects. Rev. 16:18. Rocks are broken, mountains are shaken and the mounts are moved from their places. Jer. 2:24. Desolation, devastation, and destruction are everywhere. Are we to wonder then that the prophets, after seeing the manifestation of the wrath of God, ask the question: “Who is able to stand”? Rev. 6:12; Joel 2:11.
A warning to prepare
Not all are going to be found unprepared when the judgments of God begin to fall on the earth. The inhabitants of earth will hear a message in relation to this which will warn them of the judgments coming and offer them to put away sin and prepare for the Coming of the Lord in the clouds of heaven.
“And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.” Rev. 14:6-7.
This message will be proclaimed to all men – not only to the children of the world but also to those who profess to love God. None will be excused if they refuse to heed this warning call and fulfill its requirements.
God desires that by adhering to it men will separate from their sins, accept the righteousness of Christ, and wait for the Coming of the Lord. He desires their salvation so that this day will not be a day of gloom to them but a day of gladness – the glorious fulfillment of the expectation of all the Old Testament prophets and the highest hope of all Christians.
“And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.” “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Rev. 22:12, 14.