The approaching day: In a dying world, there is hope for believers
The last 18 months or so, at the time of writing this, have been like nothing else we have ever experienced. A tragic situation, COVID-19, has been hijacked and exploited by world governments to introduce their demonic plan for global control. In this time, we have seen the results of major elections questioned; massive disruption of social life; the rise of anti-Christian actions; satanic social movements; and more. When we look around us, especially in the media, we see the unbelievable apostasy, or falling away from the truth, both inside and outside the Church, which Paul wrote about to the Thessalonian Church:
1Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 2That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 3Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 4Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. – 2 Thessalonians 2:1-4
Paul may as well have written this in 2020, so aptly we can apply his writing to our time. He clearly says that the coming of Jesus Christ will not take place unless the falling away takes place first. It is easy to become so involved with this that we follow the world and its system. In his letter to the Hebrews, Paul writes that because of what is going on around us, we will know the truth of the Word of God, we will understand more as the day of reckoning approaches. This day is inevitable. Let us look again what Paul writes:
19Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. – Hebrews 10:19-25
Many people say that Hebrews 10 is often difficult to understand, but it becomes a lot easier if we take it bit by bit. We are admonished in this part to hold onto what we have in Christ and not doubt, as the day of reckoning is approaching. Scoffers will laugh and say that nothing is going to happen (2 Peter 3:3-4). We may even be tempted to agree. After all, since the time that Paul and Peter gave their warnings, that great day, on which God will pour out His wrath on the world, has not yet arrived. But it will, and we are now about 2000 years closer to when the first warnings were given, and the signs are becoming more evident daily.
What is this “day”? The day of the Lord is the period, not just one 24-hour day, when God’s wrath will be poured out on the unbelieving mankind who will then be left on the Earth. He will then deal with each person who made the decision to denounce His goodness and call for repentance. When Peter writes about the scoffers, he describes unbelievers who say that God has not done anything about their wicked ways now, so why would He do so in future. Little do they know that the day is coming. That this day is more than just 24 hours is evident from the time period of the tribulation, which spans seven years.
What about believers? We will not be present when God pours out His wrath. How do we know this? Here is one proof:
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3For 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. 4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-5
Paul clearly distinguishes between those who are in darkness (them, they) and those who are in the light/day (ye, you). He writes to those who are in the light and are saved, about what will happen to those who are in darkness and what their destiny will be.
The unbelievers of the time at which the day of the Lord starts, will not expect it. In fact, they will experience peace. However, this is the false peace that the rider on the white horse brings in Revelation 6:2. This day will not overtake the believers because we will not be here. The day of the Lord is the period when He deals with an unrepentant world, not with those who followed Him. In addition, the believers will see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25) because we recognise the signs – the moral decay of millions of people, bolstered by laws that make this lawful, and at the same time make it illegal to speak out about it. The moral decay is the falling away from the truth of the Bible, God’s infallible Word. What are we as believers asked to do in this time? We have to be salt and light:
13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. – Matthew 5:13-14
We first have to be the presence that prevents, or at least slows down, social and moral rot and decay. Then we have to be the light, a beacon of hope to those around us. Will everybody follow the light? Not all will, but then they will never be able to say that they were not given the chance or shown the direction. We will not bring them to repentance, the Holy Spirit will. We just have to bring the message of hope, the gospel of Jesus Christ of salvation.
At the same time, we have to be careful that we do not become part of the apostasy and fall away from the truth ourselves. Unfortunately, some will. Two of the instructions Paul gives in Hebrews 10:25 is that we must not stop meeting as believers, even if today restrictions on movement are making this difficult. We should also exhort (encourage) one another to remain faithful. We owe this to one another as the Church of Jesus Christ, which He Himself is coming back very soon to take away before the Day of the Lord, which is fast approaching.
Conclusion
To close, be salt and light (outwards, to the world out there), but at the same time take care of one another (inwards, focussing on ourselves). We are not asked to be or do any more.